The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 NO. 489 • MONDAY, MAY 26, 2014 • N 100.00 FAMILY PLANNING
cmyk
Pg. 19
Engaging Women In Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Advocacy
INT’L FEATURES
Pg. 24
Putin’s Dinner With Journalists
Oshiomhole to inaugurate boards, c’ttees today
BENIN CITY – Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State will today Monday May 26, 2014 inaugurate the Christian Pilgrims Welfare Board and its Muslim counterpart.
Venue of the inauguration is the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City at 3pm. Also, the Governor will
tomorrow, Tuesday May 27, 2014 inaugurate the Edo City Transport Service (ECTS) and the committee on Forestry Management.
The inauguration is slated for the Banquet Hall, Government House, Benin City, beginning at 11am. A statement by the Chief of Staff, Continues on page 2
Chibok Girls
We ’ll not negotiate with criminals - Mark
IKOM - The Senate President, David Mark, has restated Federal Government’s resolve to fight insurgency and other security challenges, saying government will not negotiate with criminals. Mark stated this in Ikom at an e m p o w e r m e n t programme organised by the Senate Leader, Victor Ndoma-Egba, for his constituents in the Cross River Central Senatorial District. According to the
Senate President, the Federal Government has the resources to deal with insurgency, criminals and those blackmailing it. “Anytime I have an opportunity in these times to make a comment, I take pains to
say something very important. This government will not yield to blackmail. “This government cannot negotiate with
criminals and this government will not exchange people for criminals, a criminal will be treated like a criminal. “This government will,
at no distant time, bring the issue of Boko Haram and insecurity in the northern part of this country to a long term and logical conclusion.
“We will mobilise all resources. If people declare war on us, we will also declare war on them. Continues on page 2
HIV/AIDS, Polio Eradication
SURE-P sets aside N12bn LOKOJA - The Presidential Committee on SURE-P has said that the committee had set aside N8 billion in this year’s budget to reduce mother to child transmission of HIV/ AIDS in the country. Hajia Halima Alfa the convener, maternal child health in the committee, made the disclosure yesterday in Ankpa, Kogi State. She said the money would be spent on the procurement of testing equipment, drugs, education and enlightenment of Nigerians. She said the committee would pay attention to rural areas
where several patients affected by the disease due to ignorance, lack of accessibility to quality medical care and poverty reside. Alfa said the committee also set aside N4 billion to pay its counterpart fund to Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to eradicate polio among children. She said the money was to complement the efforts being made by international donors and relevant government agencies to eradicate polio from the country. She said the committee had also concluded arrangements to construct additional 500 primary healthcare
centres in different parts of the country in 2014. She said that the construction of the 500 centres would bring to over 1, 700 the numbers of such health facilities constructed by the committee since its inception in 2012. Alfa said that over 1,200 nurses, pharmacy technicians and other categories of health workers had been Continues on page 2
NAVY WEEK: L-R: Commandant, National Defence College, Rear Adm. Patrick Agholor; Chief of Defence Intelligence, Rear Adm. Gabriel Okio; Director, Project Implementation Monitoring and Evaluation, Rear Adm. James Akinwale and Representative of the Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Ameen Ikioda during the 2014 Navy Week Interdenominational Church Service in Abuja yesterday.
Anambra Gov orders low-key children’s day celebration
Chibok Abduction:
TIT BIT
AWKA - The Anambra Children’s Day will be celebrated with less fanfare as a sign of
“A bad apprentice in the business of governance provides the excuse of ‘the learning process’ for his continued lack of improvement”. - Kingsley-Ogbeide-Ihama
ABUJA The Presidency yesterday described as “unfortunate and absolutely untrue’’ a report that President
concern for the abducted school girls in Chibok, Borno. Governor Willie
Obiano, gave the directive in a statement signed by the State Commissioner for
Information, Culture and Tourism, Chief Tony Onyima in Awka.
Jonathan not booed in S/Africa - Presidency
Goodluck Jonathan was jeered at during the inauguration ceremony of President Jacob Zuma
in South Africa. A statement issued in Abuja by the presidential spokesperson, Dr
Reuben Abati, said the allegation as contained in the media report was the handiwork of detractors. Continues on page 2
“The directive is a mark of solidarity with the over 200 female students of Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok, Borno, abducted by the Boko Haram Sect last month,” the statement read. The governor said that the traditional matchpast by school children, had been shelved. Continues on page 2
News
We ’ll not negotiate with criminals Continued from page 1 “If Boko Haram and their supporters are not ready for peace, we will be glad to deal with them in the manner people deal with terrorists and insurgents. It is not by negotiation,’’ Mark said. He expressed happiness that a cordial relationship exists between Ndoma-Egba and Gov. Liyel Imoke of Cross River. The Senate President said the Senate Leader had attracted meaningful, sustainable development and empowerment programmes to the state. Mark said if Ndoma-Egba was re-elected for another term at the Senate, he would no doubt attract more of such empowerment programmes to the state. “I have not come here for a campaign. We are here to support Ndoma-Egba. There are two persons who make the Senate a very important institution in our democracy and very stable. “These are the Deputy President and the Leader of the Senate,’’ he said. In his remarks, Imoke urged legislators from the state to engage in meaningful and sustainable empowerment
Oshiomhole to inaugurate boards, c’ttees today Continued from page 1 Government House, Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon requests guests to be seated 30 minutes before inauguration. The statement added that this publication supercedes an earlier one on the matter. See Details on page 26
programmes as well as give a good account of themselves. “This is what the Senate Leader has done today. We want to see sustainable empowerment. He has made us proud at the National Assembly. “Nigerians should continue to give our leaders all the support they need to succeed, to avoid distractions in their resolve to deliver on their mandate.’’ Earlier, Ndoma-Egba had said the empowerment programme was the fifth this year in the health, education and agricultural sectors in his
constituency. “We have been giving out cars before now. Today, we are giving out 50 cars, a number of oil mills, a number of corn mills, and video viewing centres. “We have done our scholarship for last year and we are doing more this year,’’ he said. Ndoma-Egba urged those yet to benefit from the empowerment programme to be patient as their turn would certainly come “for the rain to fall on you’’. Also speaking at the occasion, the PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Adamu
Mu’azu, said the party was happy that its representatives had been “building structures which promote the well-being of our people and democracy’’. “Through this, we will keep democracy alive. We should continue to empower people, promote goodwill and support government,’’ he said. Mu’azu was represented by Dr Steve Oru, the PDP Chairman (South-South). The ceremony was attended by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, and the Chairman of PDP in Cross River, John Okon, among other dignitaries.
Jonathan not booed in S/Africa Continued from page 1
He said officials in the Presidency were shocked to read the report on arrival in the country from South Africa on Saturday evening. “This is absolutely untrue and those who are peddling that kind of misinformation are being unfair. “They are being uncharitable and it fits into an ongoing attempt to throw just about anything at this administration in an attempt to discredit the administration. “If anything, what we witnessed in South Africa was that the people of South Africa showed much appreciation of President Jonathan’s presence at the inauguration ceremony,’’ Abati said. He said President Jonathan received great hospitality in terms of the response from the people at the ceremony. The presidential spokesperson said the allegation that Jonathan was jeered at over the situation of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno was false. “The whole world recognises the challenge we face in Nigeria at the moment
in relation to the abduction of the girls and the challenge of terrorism. “The outrage is shared both by Nigerians and other people all over the world. But the world also realises that terrorism is a global challenge,’’ he said. Abati reiterated the commitment of the Federal Government to rescuing the schoolgirls and overcoming the challenge of terrorism. “This administration will continue to show a great resolve to deal with this problem. The momentum is on. “The categorical message
from government is ‘No!’ to Boko Haram, ‘No!’ to terrorism. “The people of Nigeria are calling on the terrorists to release the girls. Government is saying that it will do everything within its power, explore all options and leave no stone unturned to ensure that our girls are brought back. “In that regard, there is a meeting of minds and Nigerians can be very sure that President Jonathan is really committed to this effort to ensure that the girls are brought back and safe,” he said.
Continued from page 1
release of the kidnapped school girls, and for an end to terrorism in the country. May 27 is set aside by the United Nations to remember and celebrate the world’s children. It is also a day to reflect on the importance of children as leaders of tomorrow and what the future has in store for them.
Chibok Abduction
He enjoined heads of primary and secondary schools to instead, hold special prayer sessions in their schools for the release of the girls. The statement further enjoined all churches in the state to conduct special prayers for the immediate
Know your state of health before exercise - Doctor ABUJA - Dr Ben Uchegbe, an Abuja-based medical practitioner, has advised Nigerians to endeavour to know their state of health before engaging in any physical exercise to prevent heart attack Uchegbe, a general practitioner at the General Hospital in Minna, Niger State, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen yesterday. He said that physical exercise could be dangerous if the person was hypertensive or had heart disease.
“It is always good to know the state of your health before engaging in any vigorous exercise; try to check your blood pressure and other tests to know the condition of your health. “Exercise must not be vigorous; one can form the habit of using stairs instead of the lift, walk around the house or stroll along the street”. The doctor urged people to cultivate the habit of engaging in regular physical exercise because it enabled one to get rid of excess fat and also to get more oxygen into the body.
HIV/AIDS, Polio Eradication Continued from page 1 employed by the committee. She said that over 50 ambulances had also been purchased and deployed to the healthcare centres for the use of the people. The convener said the committee also introduced Conditional Cash Transfer scheme to encourage pregnant women and nursing mothers attend clinic. She said that pregnant women and nursing mothers were being paid N6, 000 as
transport fares. She said that pregnant women were given ‘’ Mama kits” which contain all the items needed for delivery. She said the committee in collaboration with the 36 state governments and the FCT would soon float graduate internship programme. She said that under the programme, over 100, 000 unemployed graduates would be engaged for a period of one year. She said that each participant in the internship programme would collect N40, 000 per month.
Uchegbe said frequent and regular physical exercise would boost the immune system and help to prevent ‘diseases of affluence’ such as heart disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes and obesity. He also advised expectant
mothers to engage in regular exercises as these would keep their organs active as they had the tendency of developing hypertension. “A pregnant woman can walk round the house twice every morning; it must not be a very serious excises,’’ the doctor advised.
Activist calls for diversification of Nigeria’s economy BENIN CITY - An activist, Rev. David Ugolor, has called for diversification of Nigeria’s economy to reduce dependency on the export of crude oil. Ugolor, the Executive Director, African Network on Environment and Economy Justice (ANEEJ), made the call in Benin City in an interview with newsmen. He said that the high unemployment rate in the country would reduce if the economy is diversified. The activist also blamed the country’s economic challenges on unreliable power supply, insecurity and decaying infrastructure. He said that the country’s economy could be revived through private sector participation and stressed the
need for investment in agriculture and infrastructure. He urged the Federal Government to create an enabling environment for the private sector to thrive. “You will understand that before the discovery of oil in 1957, agriculture used to be the mainstay of the economy. “But with the discovery of crude oil, people moved from the rural to urban areas in search of work in the oil sector, thereby abandoning the agriculture sector,” he said. On the challenges posed by unreliable power supply, Ugolor said the much needed diversification of the economy would not happen when virtually every Nigerian provides power for himself/ herself.
Chibok Girls: We ’ll not conceal our findings - C’ttee MAIDUGURI The Presidential Fact-Finding Committee on the Abduction of the Chibok School girls said yesterday that it would not sweep any of its findings under the carpet. The Spokesman of the Committee, Mr Kingsley Osadolor, said in a statement in Maiduguri that this would enable the committee to produce credible reports at the end of its assignment. Osadolor said the committee held consultations with wide range of stakeholders during its visit to Maiduguri. “Members of the committee arrived in Maiduguri, the state capital, on Sunday, May 18. “Over the past eight days, the committee held consultations and interactions with a broad spectrum of stakeholders and credible sources relevant to the committee’s assignment. “Among those with whom the committee interfaced are the Shehu of Borno, military commanders, heads of paramilitary formations, the state Commissioner of Police, and state Director of the Department of Security Service. “The committee also had intensive engagement with the Principal, Vice Principals (Administration and Academic) of Government Secondary School, Chibok, where the mass abduction took place; the Matrons of the hostels, the head cook, and security guards on duty on the day of the incident (April 14, 2014). “Others with whom the committee interacted are the Borno State Commissioner for Education, the Borno State Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima; and Borno Elders Forum,’’ he said. Osadolor said the committee also interacted with the District Head of Chibok, representatives of the Chibok communities, and the local government chairman. He said that the committee
found the interactions very useful and had made tremendous progress in its assignment “In the course of its mission to Borno State, the factfinding Committee amassed a treasure trove of information on the abduction of the Chibok schoolgirls and insurgency in general. “But specific details cannot be given just yet,’’ Osadolor said. He said that the committee returned to Abuja on Sunday after spending the past week in Borno, where the mass kidnap by Boko Haram insurgents took place. “After the trip to Abuja, the committee will return to Borno , specifically to interface with the families and communities in Chibok,’’ Osadolor said. According to him, the visit to Chibok has not been undertaken at this time, because in the course of the interactions with stakeholders, pertinent issues arose. “These impact directly on aspects of the committee’s terms of reference. “That is, to mobilise the surrounding communities and the general public on citizen support for a rescue strategy and operation, and to articulate a framework for a multi-stakeholder action for the rescue of the missing girls. “The delayed visit to Chibok has been discussed with representatives of the communities. “The committee notes with satisfaction, the emerging stakeholder consensus on the appropriate framework for the rescue agenda. “The Chairman of the Factfinding Committee, Brig.General Ibrahim Sabo (rtd), wishes to appeal to all, especially the media, not to capitalise on the delayed visit by the committee to Chibok, to agitate already frayed nerves,” pleaded the spokesman.
Anambra lawmakers vow to assist unmask Boko Haram insurgents AWKA - Mr Ebele Ejiofor, a lawmaker in Anambra House of Assembly, yesterday promised that lawmakers in the state would support efforts to combat insurgency in the country. Ejiofor, who represents Anaocha 1 Constituency, said this in an interview with newsmen in Awka. He said that a group of campaigners, under the aegis of Crime Prevention Campaign of Nigeria (CPCN), had vowed to unveil identities and negative activities of the Boko Haram sect. Ejiofor said that the group made the promise when it held its annual delegates conference in Agulu, Anaocha Local Government Area of Anambra State. “The National Trustee of the group, Mr Charles Hopst, during the annual national delegates conference, declared his willingness to
expose the identity of the insurgents. “If he has such a data to expose the activities of the insurgents as claimed, the legislators will stop at nothing to assist in unmasking these heartless people. “Their activities have become too inexplicable that no sacrifice would be too much to stop their senseless killings. We have lost so many people and properties. “We urge the CPCN and other concerned citizens with information on how to tackle this problem to come forward to save our country,’’ Ejiofor said He recalled that the CPCN was formed shortly after the late Head of State, General Sani Abacha, convened a workshop on crime prevention to assist security agencies in crime detection and prevention.
News Uduaghan Explains Cancellation
Recruitment:
By INNEH BARTH
ABUJA - Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has advanced reasons for the state government cancellation of the recruitment exercise recently embarked upon, noting that the recruitment had already been marred by crisis even before it started. The governor who stated this at a press briefing in Asaba, said; “Before we started the recruitment exercise there was already a crisis, when you pay about three hundred thousand naira to get a job and when you are employed you have to steal to make up. I have directed the head of service to find the best way to employ qualified Deltans.” Uduaghan however condemned the spate of bombing in the Northern part of the country and called on Nigerians to pray fervently as there is nothing
God cannot do. “We must not assume that what is happening in the North does not affect us. Whenever it happens all Nigerians are affected. We must be conscious of our environment, Endeavour to know your neighbours and be at alert always,” he counseled. He explains that Delta state will not cerebrate the forth coming anniversary democracy day due to the ongoing crisis in the country.”
Governor Adams Oshiomhole and HRH Edomwonyi Iduoze Ogiegbaen, Enogie of Egbaen-Siluko during a visit of the Enigie in Edo South to the Governor in Benin City yesterday.
AFUZE – In his determined effort to boost immunization exercise in Owan East Local Government Area, the council boss, Chief (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai weekend, donated 11 motorbikes and a Hilux Jeep to the National Programme on Immunization (NPI). Presenting the items, Chief Ijegbai said the items were donated to ensure that personnel
of the department reached the hitherlands for effective coverage during immunization days. He assured that his administration would continually ensure that quality health care delivery gets to the nooks and crannies of the Local Government Area. Chief Ijegbai noted that a healthy nation is a wealthy
LG Boss Boosts Immunisation nation, a development, he said, necessitated his administration’s determination in making healthcare delivery accessible to all. The council boss warned that any health workers found wanting in the discharge of his
She assured that the items would be put into judicious use in order to ensure that everyone participated in the immunization exercise which will definitely help in eradicating killer diseases from the society.
EDSOGPADEC Desirous Of Dev Riverine Areas - Chairman BY VICTOR OMOALU
Maj-Gen Abubakar Gana, Commandant, Nigerian Army College of Logistics presents a plaque to Governor Adams Oshiomhole during a courtesy visit of the directing staff and students of the College to the Governor in Benin City.
duties would be sanctioned accordingly. Mrs. Patricia Isumaten who received the items on behalf of the department, commended the Owan East Council boss for his continued support to the health department.
BENIN CITY – With the execution of a people – oriented projects across the Oduna Ward in Ovia North East Local Government Area, the Oduna Youth Congress (OYC) has paid a “thank you” visit to the Edo State Oil and Gas producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOGPADEC) for fulfilling on its mandate to the people. Addressing members of the OYC, Chairman of EDSOGPADEC, Barr. Vincent Uwadiae stated that the commission is desirous of developing oil riverine areas in line with the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s developmental policy in the state.
Uwadiae who noted that the present commission is a complete departure from what it used to be, said it has so far trained over 200 youths across the local government area in various skills as well as empowering them with incentives to enable them empower themselves economically. He noted the peoples observations and further appealed them to be patient and give the state government and the commission’s initiative a chance to succeed, while assuring of the completion of all projects embarked upon by the commission. The EDSOGPADEC boss pointed out that government projects could not be sustained as occasioned by constant
vandalism and therefore advised the people to guard and protect them jealously. Spokesman for the OYC, Omaghomi Olu-Derimo had said their visit was to express gratitude to the commission for the people –oriented projects executed in Oduna Ward. He listed the projects to include staff quarters at Gelegele; Solar powered borehole/block of school at Ikpako; staff quarters at Ughoton, a block of classroom at Egbetan, court room/Solar powered borehole at Oduna as well as police station at Ibi Igbineh. Appealing to the commission to expedite action on the ongoing rural electrification project in the area as well as empowering the youths, Olu-Derimon pledged the congress unalloyed support for the commission.
the Staff Training Centre, Mr. Alabi said they were satisfied with the quality of staff on ground and hoped that the dream of Edo State becomes a reality. He hinted that ASCON in the past has carried out similar exercise in some states of the federation and other countries, including Liberia, Ethiopia and Zimbabwe. With the Commissioner were Mr. Aflred Omorogbe Olaye; Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Establishment and Special Duties, Mrs. Julie Olatunji; Director, Staff Training Centre and other Directors.
Comrade Didi Adodo, Commissioner, Ministry of Environment and Special Duties
Staff Training Centre To Become Mgt Devt Institute - Commissioner ENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo has expressed the state government determination to transform the Staff Training Centre to a Management Development Institute. Commissioner Adodo expressed the state government position when he received a fourmember delegation from the Administrative Staff College of Nigeria (ASCON) who are in the state to access the facilities on ground for the Institute. The Commissioner who received the delegates on behalf
of Governor Adams Oshiomhole stated that the visit would afford the team the opportunity of assessing the facilities on ground in terms of manpower and infrastructure. He revealed that when the nomenclature is changed, the new Institute would be empowered to offer wide range of courses, including Administrative, Accounting and Computer Studies for both junior and senior management cadres in Edo State Ministries, Departments, Agencies and Boards as well as attract students from the private sector in
addition to the secretarial studies currently being offered by the centre. Comrade Didi stated that the initiative is to meet the global trend of human resource development and capacity building for effective service delivery in line with global best practices. It is our hope, he said, that the centre in particular and the state in general would benefit immensely from the wealth of experience in the area of upgrading the Staff Training Centre (STC) as demonstrated in some other states.
He emphasized that the Governor is looking forward to receiving a robust and detailed proposal from ASCON as this would enable the legislative arm of government to effect the necessary changes and therefore called for urgent synergy to actualize this dream. Leader of ASCON delegates, Mr. Bayo Alabi who is also the Director of Studies said that when the Management Development Institute comes on board, it would engage in Training, Research and Consultancy. After the tour of facilities at
South-South
Ugborodo Crisis: Security Agencies Set Agenda By BETTY IDIALU
WARRI - Towards ensuring that lasting peace returns to the troubled Ugborodo community, in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta State,members of the newly constituted 21- man committee have been charged, to return to the creeks and ensure that all arms in possession of the youths are mopped up as this is the only way the desired peace of the community can be achieved. The Ugborodo-Ogidigben is the host community to the $16 billion Gas City Project expected to take off soon. The charge was at a meeting by the representatives of the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Army, the Nigerian Air force, the Nigerian Police and the State Security Service (SSS) in Warri, Delta State Captain Musa Gemu, Commander, Nigerian Navy Ship (NNS) Delta who chaired the meeting on behalf of the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), gave this charge during a short meeting held between security agents and members of the committee at the Naval Base in Warri, Delta State with a call on members of the committee to be transparent in their dealings with members of their
community. Captain Gemu, said members of the committee, which was inaugurated last Monday to interface between the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), executors of the Gas City Project - and the people of Ugborodo, while ensuring that they are transparent in their dealings, they should encourage their people to mop up arms used and buried in swamps during the leadership tussle that engulfed the community some time ago. “Go and tell your youths to bring out their arms buried in the swamps noting that if they refuse to do so and they come out again to cause any havoc, the full weight of the law will be meted out on them,” the naval boss warned. Commander NNS Delta while speaking in the presence of representatives of the Chief of Naval Staff, Chief of Air Staff, the Chief of Army Staff, and the Inspector General of Police, advised the committee members that apart from mopping up arms, they should ensure that all the people chased away during the leadership crisis return,as this would signify the beginning of a lasting peace that would usher in the eventual
Democratic Dividend
Trad Ruler Appeals To Delta Govt By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM UTE-ERUMU (DELTA) – The traditional ruler of UteUrumu in Ika North East Local Government Area of Delta State, Chief Sunday Abiamuwe, has appealed to Delta State Government to extend democratic dividend to his community. Chief Abiamuwe made the appeal during an interview with The Nigerian OBSERVER in his palace, lamenting that his community has no government presence. The traditional ruler who noted that his community is still drinking from pond-water also urged in the Delta State Government to construct the road linking Ute-Okpu and UteEnugu to make it easier for them to evacuate their farm produce to urban areas as farming is the chief occupation. Chief Abiamuwe thanked the Obi of Ute-Okpu who is also controlling UteErumu as a clan under UteOkpu, for his fatherly role displayed within the community and outside Ute-Okpu/Ute –Erumu community and prayed God to
give him wisdom, strength, resources to move his community to a greater height. In another development, Chief Vicent Isibor, the Odogwu of Ute Okpu Ute-Erumu community has appealed to the sons and daughters of the community, at home and in diaspora to come home and contribute their quota for the development of Ute-Okpu, Ute-Erumu community.
For Peace C’ttee groundbreaking ceremony of the Gas City Project and the
Export Processing Zone at Ogidigben by President
Goodluck Jonathan in due course. Chairman of the committee, which was constituted last Monday, Mr Austin
Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker Edo State House of Assembly (left) and Dr. Matie Obazee, President World Organisation of Family Doctors, Africa Region during the Organisation’s courtesy call on the Speaker in his office recently. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN
Training: Ijaw Group Demands By BETTY IDIALU
WARRI - A group under the aegis of Egbema Gbaramatu Graduates Employment Front (EGDF) has rejected the slot allotted them in the Chevron Ogere Vocational Training Programme (VTP) and demanded the for admission of all those interviewed to assuage alleged marginalization of Ijaw people in previous exercises by the multi national oil company. In a statement signed by Mr. Moses Yabrade and Mr. Asoki Victor, Chairman and Secretary respectively and made available to the press, the group expressed displeasure over the manner with which Chevron shared the training job slots for the Ogere Training Programme. The group alleged that the Ijaws have been marginalized, deprived and shortchange in all ramifications since the inception of the programme some years back as the figures clearly show
More Slots adding that the hardship facing Ijaw communities were caused by oil and gas exploration and exploitation operation by Chevron. “Chevron has conducted over 5 vocational training programmes (VTP) at Ogere and abroad during the millennium and have trained over 500 personnels for employment with the entire Egbema and Gbaramatu constituting less than twenty (20) persons of the said figure which is less that 0.5% on the average, not to mention the fact that only 10 persons from Egbema and Gbaramatu extraction have been employed by Chevron direct job openings over the years.”The group stated. While lamenting the marginalization, the body said “It is also on record that we are very much underemployed in
Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (arrowed) in a group photograph with some pupils of Our Lady of Apostle Primary School shortly after the pupils observed the House Plenary recently. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN
labour and casual jobs that does not need any serious qualification, not to mention the fact that we do not have anybody in the managerial level of Chevron system despite the fact that some of our personnel have proven themselves worthy of such position because they pulled the company through and sustained its daily operation during the Warri crisis,” the statement held. The statement said that due to the fact that they were absolutely underemployed by Chevron over the years, tension rose to red alert in 2012, where all Egbema and Gbaramatu graduates resolved to shut down Chevron operations entire in the swamp, but for the quick intervention of the elders, kings, and Regional Development Committees that prevailed on them. The group chided Chevron for reneging on all agreements reached in the past to correct the perceived marginalization of their people and urged Chevron to address the lopsidedness in the employment of over 500 workers employed to manage the EGTL Plant and other facilities through Ogere and Chevron direct employment. “On this note, we call on the Delta State Government and Egbema -Gbaranmatu Communities Development Foundation (EGCDF) to prevail on Chevron with regards to this issue and arrive at a favorable conclusion before it becomes too late since our patience has limit and we will not listen to pleas from any quarters if all our candidates and the 2008 waiting list are not absorbed.” The release stated.
Oboroegbeyi, said the meeting with the security agents was their first since inauguration, adding that with peace finally achieved in the area, all communities located around Ogidigben would benefit from the project. “The struggle is over. We have keyed into the philosophy of the project; peace has returned,” said Mr. Ayo Ayomike, Secretary to the committee, while speaking to journalists on the committee’s readiness to ensure lasting peace in the community after the meeting .
Be Zealous In Practice, Trad Doctor Advises Colleagues By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM
AGBOR – A Traditional Medicine Practittioner, Dr. (Mrs.) Ezuzu Uje in Ika South Local Government Area of Delta State has advised her colleagues to make sure that they carry out their duties with zeal and honesty to avoid being ridiculed. Dr. (Mrs.) Ezuzu-Uje, a member of National Association of Nigerian Traditional Medicine Practitioners, Delta State Chapter also called on the three tiers of government to look beyond the problems confronting the association and find ways of enhancing its awareness and values. Dr. (Mrs.) Ezuzu-Uje, while addressing the newsmen at her country home (Alihame) recently claimed that herbalists in Nigeria could do better than their counterparts in the Western world as their (herbalists) drugs do not only serve as food supplements but also as therapy for illness. According to her, having practiced traditional medicine for over 40 years, after she learnt the practice through her late father, Dr. (Mr.) Akabah Ekpenisi, she has used her roots and herbs to assist people with different ailments. She paid tribute to her superiors in the practice, saying many of them mentored her.
Dr(Mrs.) Ezuzu-Uje
South-South EDSG To Assist Rainstorm Victims OKOKHUO – Residents of Okokhuo Community and its environs have been assured of government’s readiness to come to their aid in the face of the hardship they are currently undergoing following the recent rainstorm disaster that ravaged the locality. The Chairman of Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission Barr. Vincent Uwadiae disclosed this yesterday while on a visit to the locality to assess the level of damage caused by the rainstorm. Barr. Uwadiae who told the people that he was in the area on the instruction of Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomole assured the owners of the over 60 houses which roof were either blown off or had their building collapsed that everything will be done urgently to ameliorate their suffering. The oil and gas commission chairman assured the people that Okokhuo Secondary School founded in 1980 and which was worst hit by the rainstorm disaster, that a team of Engineers will be dispatched there immediately with a view to constructing new block of classrooms for the over 500 students of the school. Responding, the Councillor representing the area Hon. J.O. Otabor thanked the Edsogpadec boss for responding to their plight and called on the state government to send help to the people and the school
urgently as those affected have been living at the mercy of God. In the entourage of the Edsogpadec’s boss were the member representing Ovia North East Local Government Area on the Board of the Commission, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa the member representing Edo North Senatorial district on the Board of Edsogpadec Hon. Lukman Muhammad. Other Commissioner of Edsogpadec Board, , the Permanent Secretary and Secretary to the Board, Barr Duke Osunbor as well as some management staff of the Commission.
Shell Spends N492m On Scholarship
The SSG Edo State, Prof Julius Ihonvbere (right) in a handshake with the National President, Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, Mr Bode Adeaga during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City. PHOTO: QUEENNETH A. OROBEDO.
Democracy, Children’s Day Celebrations
Uduaghan Declares Fasting, Prayers For Nigeria By BETTY IDIALU
ASABA - Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan has said that the 2014 Children’s and Democracy Day celebrations will not be celebrated with the usual fanfare as a result of the security challenges currently facing the country. Addressing a press conference to kick-start the Democracy Day programme of activities in Asaba, the Governor explained that the Democracy and Children’s Day celebrations would be marked in the state with fasting and prayers for the nation. In particular, Uduaghan who called for the observance of a minute silence in honour of those that died in a Jos explosion said: “These are trying times for us as a nation. Two days ago there was twin blast in Jos train terminal and several persons lost their lives. This calls for deep sober reflection and vigilance by all”.
According to him, “because of the situation of things in the country, we have decided that 2014 is not a year of celebration but a year of serious prayers,” adding, “on May 27, Children’s Day, we are going to get our children to fast and pray. “Our children will pray for Nigeria, they will pray for their colleagues who have been kidnapped, and they will pray that our children should be encouraged to be educated rather than be discouraged from being educated,” the Governor said, stating, “On the 29th of May, we will pray because there is nothing God cannot do.” Governor Uduaghan said, “as a state, we had challenges but they were overcome through prayers,” adding that President Goodluck Jonathan and his team were doing a lot to deal with the security challenges, noting, “let me assure all of us that the life and property of all Nigerians are
dear to the heart of the President.” Governor Uduaghan disclosed that his administration has taken proactive steps to ensure that Delta State was safe from any form of attack and urged residents of the state to be security conscious. “We must be conscious of our environment. We must be conscious about the people around us. We must be conscious about cars parked in public places. We must be conscious about who we give our houses to as landlords. We must be alive to security challenges.” He disclosed that due to the excesses of cattle rearers which has led to destruction of farmlands, rape of women and killing of some Deltans, security operatives in conjunction with the Nigeria Immigration Service have embarked on a mission to remove all illegal immigrants and Nigerians with evil intents.
The SSG Edo State, Prof Julius Ihonvbere (6th right) in a group photo with a delegation of Nigerian Institution of Surveyors, led by the National President, Mr Bode Adeaga during a courtesy visit to Government House, Benin City.
“We had challenges of other nationals invading Delta State. Some were coming in trucks, some coming in as cattle rearers, but as a matter of fact, nonNigerians who are here illegally are being taken care of by the immigration.” The Governor explained that, “the exercise was not meant for Nigerians with legitimate businesses in our midst,” but warned, “we shall not allow those who are not legally acceptable to be with us.” On the 2015 general elections, Dr Uduaghan stated that all aspirants for political offices were free to pursue their consultations and ambition peacefully and should avoid actions capable of causing breach of the peace. He said, “We are not against anyone’s ambition. What we are against is anybody overheating the system, a life lost in your attempt to get a position is a life that cannot be replaced, don’t incite people either by publication or action, don’t accumulate weapons because, you may not have opportunity to use them. “If you are in my cabinet and you want to campaign for elective position, you are free to leave my cabinet. My responsibility is to guide the transition process in a very peaceful manner so that no life is lost and those who are going to vote for their candidates do that without threat of any kind.” Dr Uduaghan stated that besides the peace and security that his administration has restored to the state, tremendous success has been recorded in the infrastructure and human capital components of his three point agenda.
PORT HARCOURT - Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) has spent N492 million on its Niger Delta Post Graduate Scholarship award to 30 beneficiaries, an official said. The company’s Managing Director/Country Chair, Mr Mutiu Sunmonu, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the company spent N164 million annually on every batch of 10 beneficiaries. He explained that the company had so far run the scheme for three years, starting from 2010/ 2011 batch. He said the scholarship enabled the beneficiaries to obtain second degrees in top rate universities in the UK. Sunmonu named the institutions as Imperial College, London; University College, London, and the University of Leeds, which were in partnership with Shell. Sunmonu said that the amount spent on the scheme was not too much of a burden to the company compared to the amount spent on its other scholarships that had run for many years. ‘’It is something we will continue to do very gladly because we believe that the results are showing. ‘’We are happy to see young graduates, coming from the Niger Delta, being able to play key roles in the oil and gas industry in the country,’’ he said. Sunmonu said that the beneficiaries were selected purely on merit within the states in which the company operated in the Niger Delta region, namely, Bayelsa, Delta and Rivers. ‘’We don’t want to send them to some tiered second universities; that is not the idea, that is not best for them and that’s why we targeted those universities.’’ Sunmonu explained that the concept behind the scheme was deeply rooted in the company’s desire to help develop capacity in the Niger Delta. He said the story following the Niger Delta region had been that there were not enough people from the region in the oil and gas industry, especially at the senior level. Sunmonu said that this prompted the company to tackle the situation ‘’not by some funny affirmative action, not by doing some kind of quota system’’ but through a credible scheme. ‘’We believe that everybody has talent. ‘’So, what we are trying to do is to help develop talent such that everybody, no matter where you come from, you can compete effectively with any other person from other regions in the country,’’ he said. The 2012/2013 batch was hosted to a dinner by the company during which the beneficiaries were received back to Nigeria and they bid farewell to the scheme. Sunmonu congratulated the beneficiaries, who were the third batch, for successfully completing their Master of Science degree programmes.
South West Chibok School Girls
SSANU Urges FG To Intensify Rescue “Boko Haram activities have Efforts become an assault on our
The Acting Chairman of The Joint Tax Board, Alhaji Kabir Mashi (2nd right), Chief Oseni Elamah, Executive Chairman Edo State Internal Revenue Service (3rd right) during a courtesy visit of the Joint Tax Board to the Benin Monarch, Oba Erediauwa recently.
IBADAN - The Western Zone of the Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (SSANU) has urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts in the rescue of the school girls abducted in Chibok, Borno, by the Boko Haram sect on April 14. The SSANU National VicePresident, South West, Alfred Jimoh and Zonal Secretary, Abdussorbur Salam, made the call in Ibadan in a letter sent to President Goodluck Jonathan. The letter, which was sent through the Oyo State Government, was received by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Ismael Alli. The letter entitled, “Urgent Need for Decisive Action on Insecurity and Terrorism in Nigeria,’’ was submitted shortly
after a peaceful rally. A copy of the letter made available to newsmen urged Jonathan to be courageous in exposing all culprits and sponsors of the Boko Haram sect. The union in the letter noted that the abduction of the students for over 30 days had introduced a dangerous dimension to the current spate of insecurity in the country. “The abduction has created doubts in the hearts of Nigerians over the competence of the country’s security agencies in taming the new wave of terrorism in the land. “Our concern as SSANU in the Western Zone is that these ugly trends of insecurity and terrorism are gradually making frightening inroads into institutions of learning.
sensibilities as a people. “It has also brought untold hardship on Nigerians who now live in palpable fear as no one knows who is next. “Nigeria is at war and as Commander-in-Chief, there should be no sleep or rest for Mr President till our enemies are vanquished,’’ the union said. Receiving the letter, Alli commended the union over its peaceful demonstration pressing for the release of the abducted girls. Alli, who called on all Nigerians to be vigilant and security conscious, added that “ the abduction of the over 200 girls is condemned by the Oyo State Government because these are our future leaders.’’ Reports say that more than 500 SSANU members were present at the forum.
IBADAN - The Oyo State Commissioner for Culture and Tourism, Mrs. Adetutu Adeyemi, has urged the Yoruba to preserve their culture to prevent its extinction. Adeyemi made the call in Ibadan at the 2014 World Culture Day organised by the Oyo State Council for Arts and Culture in collaboration with National Institute for Cultural Orientation, (NICO). The theme of the celebration was “Cultural Entrepreneurship Development in Nigeria.’’ Adeyemi, who was represented by the Director of Culture in the ministry, Mr Gideon Olugbenga, said culture “ is the totality of people’s way of life.’’ She expressed concern that the Nigerian society was being negatively influenced by foreign culture and arts. “The way things stand, our indigenous languages, mode of worship, etiquette, festivals and all aspects of traditional living are indeed in danger of extinction. “We should reflect on every aspect of our cultural endeavours; where we are, what we have done
and what we are to do. “We must realise that the future of the cultural heritage must be guaranteed,” she said. Also speaking, an official of NICO, Mr. George Kayode, stressed the need for the Yoruba to encourage cultural actors and players to become entrepreneurs. “We need to promote cottage businesses based on local skills where almost each locality will have a service or product to showcase. “Also, we need to help our cultural actors and players, especially the young ones to turn their skills and talents into vocation,” he said. He called for the establishment of an Institute for Cultural Entrepreneurship Development to promote discovery and development of cultural entrepreneurs. “We further suggested that the institute be domiciled in the local government areas for easy access to the local regions where local and raw talents abound. “This may discourage the rush to the city if properly managed,” Kayode said.
LAGOS - Authorities of the Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo, approved a new academic calendar for the 2013/2014 session, in the midst of an indefinite strike declared by lecturers of the institution. Reports state that the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), LASU chapter, had on May 20, declared an indefinite strike at the university. Their demands, amongst others, is for the reduction in the institution’s hike in school fees. The university’s Deputy Registrar, Mrs. A.T Fatogun, in a signed bulletin, admitted the commencement of the lecturers’ strike but urged the students to go about their normal academic activities. The calendar has scheduled May 19 and May 20 for students’ resumption and online registration, while lectures would hold for 11 weeks from May 19 to August 1. Meanwhile, the authorities said it had informed the state government of the development
and was already looking into the grievances of the union. The ASUU Chairman, LASU, Dr Adekunle Idris, told newsmen that their strike also included the repeal of the ‘no vacancy, no promotion’ policy and the implementation of the University Miscellaneous Provision (Amendment) Act of 2012. The chairman noted that ASUU members had fully complied with the strike and that academic activities at the institution had been suspended until their demands were met. In reaction to the approved academic calendar, Idris said that it does not affect the lecturers strike. He stated that students had the right to go about their normal academic activities but lecturers would not be available to teach. “ASUU strike does not stop students from their academic activities as they can make use of the classes to study but no lecturer would be there to teach them,’’ he said.
Preserve Your Culture, Yoruba Urged
The Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah (middle) explaining a point to other Chairmen of State Internal Revenue Services during a sight seeing to the underground drainage system by Ekenwan Road constructed by the state government as part of activities to mark the 129th meeting of the Joint Tax Board in Benin City recently.
Afenifere Condemns Jos Bomb Explosions
LAGOS - The Pan PanYoruba Socio-political Organisation, Afenifere, condemned the latest twin bomb blasts in Jos, Plateau, describing it as “a ferocious war against humanity’’. Afenifere’s reaction to the development is contained in a statement issued in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Yinka Odumakin. It would be recalled that twin explosions occurred at the Jos Terminus Market on Tuesday, claiming many lives and destroying property. Afenifere observed that the sophistication of Boko Haram operations clearly showed that its activities were fully backed by some forces that could be traced. “In a country where residents of the best cities find Internet access very difficult, Shekau, who is supposed to be in some
forest, loads 50 minutes video on You Tube at the drop of the hat,’’ it said. The group said the attacks of the sect were ruthless and devastating and urged the Federal Government to move to unmask their sponsors. Afenifere noted the
coincidence of the explosions on the same day the Nigerian Senate extended the emergency rule in three North-Eastern states. “This is another sign that the prosecutors of this war are far more determined than we are ready to admit,” it
said. The group urged the Federal Government to adopt a holistic approach in the fight against the Boko Haram sect with the aim of ending their terrorist activities. “We cannot continue to bury the dead, sympathising with the wounded and waiting for where the next bomb will explode,’’ it said.
Stop Patronising Quacks, Expert Advises Pregnant Women
OKITIPUPA (ONDO STATE) - A medical expert, Dr Olumide Akadiri, has warned pregnant women against patronising quacks. He told newsmen in Okitipupa, Ondo State, that majority of the deaths involving pregnant women were caused by patronage of quacks. Akadiri, who is also the Chief Medical Director of the
State Specialist Hospital in Okitipupa, said that the best place to seek proper medical attention was a government hospital. “ In this civilised age, I am still surprised that pregnant women still patronise quack doctors instead of going to the hospital. “Most of the death of pregnant women recorded are caused by these quacks
because they are not qualified. “I urge our pregnant women to register for their antenatal in the hospital to get proper medical advice to safeguard their health,” Akadiri said. He said government hospitals had been equipped with sophisticated machines and experienced doctors to attend to patients at affordable cost.
LASU Releases Academic Calendar
Lagos Sudden Death: Medical Institute Initiates Action LAGOS - The Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos has initiated an action plan with the goal of eradicating sudden deaths in Nigeria by 2020. The decision was reached in Lagos at the end of a stakeholders’ meeting to investigate the causes of sudden death in Nigerian adults. A communique made available to newsmen in Lagos said the institute was concerned about the increase in sudden deaths among Nigerian adults. The communiqué was signed by Dr Bamidele Iwalokun of the
Department of Molecular Biology and Dr Nkiruka Odunukwe, Head of Noncommunicable Diseases, respectively of the research groups. It agreed to collaborate with pathologists from the six geopolitical zones on a nationwide mortality survey to evaluate and identify the causes of sudden deaths in adults in the country. The communiqué said that the action plan would be implemented in two phases, to involve a retrospective survey of general mortality and sudden death cases in the past 10 years
LAGOS - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said the inauguration of its new office in Alimosho Local Government Area of Lagos was part of efforts to give Nigerians the best in 2015. Dr Adekunle Ogunmola, the Resident Electoral Commissioner of INEC, Lagos State, spoke in Lagos at the official inauguration of the prototype office. Reports state that the office consists of five rooms, a store and a conference centre. Ogunmola said: “The opening of this office today shows that INEC is making everything possible to give Nigerians the best by 2015. “We thank the local government for accommodating us; In fact, when they called us to say that a plot of land was ready for us in Lagos to erect our office, we were surprised. “When we informed the headquarters about the development, they asked us the local government we would prefer and we told them Alimosho Local Government because of its peculiar complaints and its population.’’ He said the commission would ensure it created new polling booths in the area before 2015, pledging that better services would be provided for the people. In his remark, the Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Transport, Mr
Bisi Yusuf, urged INEC to create offices in more wards and constituencies. Yusuf, who stood in for the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, said that an office was not enough for the people. He also requested for more polling units in the local government area. “Considering the population of the local government area, it will not be out of place to request for more polling booths. “This will enable all eligible voters to perform their civic duties. “We thank INEC for building an edifice of this type and we hope that it is going to be a home for one man, one vote; one woman, one vote. “It should not be affiliated to any political party, ‘’ he said. In his contribution, the Executive Chairman of Alimosho Local Government, Mr Sola Adekunle, urged INEC to de-congest the polling booths.
in Nigeria. “The reports of incidences of sudden deaths among Nigerians have increased, yet there is no integrated data with scientific explanation on sudden deaths in the country. “The burden and risk factors associated with sudden deaths remain largely unknown, especially in the northern part of the country, due to poor postmortem examination
Plan
practices, lack of awareness about sudden deaths and relevance of autopsy. “In the southern part of the country, cases of sudden deaths have been poorly evaluated for associated risk factors to inform decisions and policies for prophylactic and preventive interventions. “There is a need to develop
reliable bio-markers for early identification of high risk Nigerians, in order to avert the occurrence of sudden death in such individuals in the nearest future,’’ the communiqué stated. According to the body, safe, cheap, accessible and acceptable bio-markers will also be developed for better stratification of patients into prophylactic, preventive and treatment groups, to avert sudden death cases in the country.
The stakeholders’ meeting was chaired by Prof. Innocent Ujah, Director-General of the institute. Earlier at the opening of the meeting, Ujah said that cardiovascular diseases, cancer and diabetes accounted for 80 per cent of the noncommunicable deaths globally. He urged the stakeholders to come up with suggestions that would help to inform research for policy development.
INEC Inaugurates New Office
Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, member representative Uhunmwode Constituency, Edo State House of Assembly (arrowed) in a group photograph with members of Youths of Uhunmwode For Positive Change during their courtesy visit to the lawmaker in her office in Benin City recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.
2015 Elections Not Do-Or-Die Affair LAGOS - The Bishop Emeritus, Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion, Rev. Adebola Ademowo, urged politicians not to see the 2015
election as a do-or-die affair. Ademowo told newsmen in Lagos that politicians should rather emphasise qualitative service to the electorate. He urged the Independent
Lagos Begins Teaching Of Chinese Language In Schools
LAGOS - The Lagos State Government has said that it had commenced pilot teaching and learning of Chinese (Mandarin) Language in five schools in the state. The state Commissioner for Education, Mrs Olayinka
Oladunjoye, told newsmen in Lagos that the pilot programme started in 2013 in Bolade Junior Grammar School and Oshodi and Ikeja Junior Grammar School. Others are Immaculate
A cross-section of Catholic women during the prayer session in Benin City for the release of the kidnapped Chibok schools girls. Photo: MOSES OBOH.
Heart Comprehensive Junior High School, Maryland; Mende Junior High School, Maryland and New Era Junior Girls School, Surulere. The commissioner said that the state had also introduced teaching of German Language through a partnership with a German school. “Let me report that Birch Freeman Senior High School, Surulere, is the pilot school for teaching of German Language. “Already, our officials have visited the school to ascertain the level of commitment of the German Embassy to the project. Oladunjoye said that consultants in Lagos Mandarin Junior Club had developed and demonstrated the use of Chinese Language software proposed for primary and secondary schools. She said that the state was currently studying the software and that a decision would be made soon. The commissioner also said that 35 students selected from the state’s six education districts went to Porto-Novo, Republic of Benin, for Easter camp school exchange programme.
- Ademowo
National Electoral Commission (INEC) to use the opportunity of the next general elections to prove that it was committed to conducting hitch-free polls. “The Federal Government should ensure that all electoral rules are enforced. “Anti-democratic attitudes such as political thuggery, rigging, politics of bitterness and acrimony, leading to politicallymotivated assassinations should be jettisoned. “A new political orientation that will ensure the success of the forthcoming electoral process should be enthroned,” he urged. The cleric stressed the need for election of credible,
committed and patriotic leaders in 2015. He urged that Nigerians should actively participate in electoral process. “To forestall a situation where wrong people are elected into public offices, INEC should ensure a high degree of transparency in the forthcoming general elections,” he added. He urged Nigerians to come together as a nation and oppose tribalism, nepotism and favouritism and allow God to take His rightful position in the country. “My plea to Nigerians is to intensify prayers for our nation for good governance and in the states and in the church,” he said.
ATM Dispenser Error:
Association Advises Bank Customers LAGOS - Dr Uju Ogbunka, President of Bank Customers Association of Nigeria (BCAN), has urged bank customers not to depend on Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) for payment in emergency situation. Ogbunka said in an interview with newsmen in Lagos that such act should be discouraged because of dispense error associated with ATMs. He was reacting to a barrage of complaints associated with dispense error by ATMs in emergency situation. A dispense error happens when ATMs debit bank customers’ accounts without physically paying them. The error, most times, is attributed to cash jam in the machines and link problem between bank servers and their service providers among others.
Ogbunka said that BCAN helps bank operators and regulators to collaborate with customers in settling disputes that arise in the course of banking transactions. He said that an ATM was prone to such error being a mechanical device, noting that it could be caused by irregular power supply. Ogbunka urged customers to embrace other alternative channels of payment such Point of Sale terminals (PoS), online banking and agent banking. Ogbunka, who is also the Registrar, Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), added that customers’ acceptance of other channels of payment would boost the financial inclusion programme. He also said that financial inclusion was needed for the benefit of the citizenry and the growth of the economy.
Across The Nation Water Exposed To Excessive Heat Dangerous OMU-ARAN (KWARA)- A medical doctor, Samuel Onuh, says consuming sachet water (popularly called pure water) that is exposed to excessive heat could be harmful to the body. He stated this in Omu-Aran, Kwara, in an interview with newsmen. Onuh , who works at the General Hospital, Omu-Aran, said excessive heat could facilitate the release of certain chemicals into the packed water, which are injurious to the body. He said while some hawkers always exposed water to heat and the sun’s rays, thereby causing havoc to the human system, when consumed. Onuh urged members of the public to be wary of the kind of water they consumed, to guard against infections. “Exposing sachet water to heat beyond room temperature could melt some of the chemicals used in making the polythene bags,
Kwara Deploys Security Agents To School
- Expert
which are poisonous to the body. “Polythene bags are semipermeable, retailers could have separate refrigerators for sachet water, to avoid contamination,” he said. Onuh advised producers of sachet water to enlighten retailers, especially hawkers, on the danger inherent in exposing such items to excessive temperatures. He urged personnel in sachet production factories to always adhere strictly with public hygiene measures, in order to eliminate water-borne infections such as typhoid, cholera and diarrhoea. “There must be periodic checks of the personal hygiene of all production staff and the source of water used in production,” Onuh added.
Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Chief (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai (right) receiving a plaque from Dr. Dafe Akpocha, Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa during the centre’s presentation of an award of Excellence to him.
Fire Razes Gombe Grains Market GOMBE- No fewer than 200 stores and property worth millions of naira were destroyed in an inferno that gutted Gombe Grains Market. Alhaji Usman Adamu, the Caretaker Chairman of the Grains Market Association, told newsmen that the incident happened at about 3 a.m. Adamu said that most members of the association lost their goods. “As at now, we have not assessed the damage but millions of naira was lost, because most of the produce are beans, bambara nuts and such bags cost between N15,000 and N18,000.” According to him, the disaster was due to an electrical spark from one of the shops in the market. He appealed to governments at all levels to immediately assist the traders to cushion the effects of the disaster on them. Malam Dahiru Adamu, the Director, Gombe State Fire Service, said that the service received the report at about 3. 35 a.m. and immediately rushed to the scene to quench the fire. Correspondent, who visited the scene around 8.30 a.m. , reported that firefighters were still putting out the fire.
Director General, Centre for Democratic Governance in Africa, Dr. Dafe Akpocha (left), decorating the Chairman of Owan East Local Government Council, Chief (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai with the muffler of the Super Eagles supporters club during the presentation of an award of Excellence to the Chairman by the centre.
Fast-Track Renewal Of Driver’s Licence,
BAUCHI- Some drivers in Bauchi have called on the Federal Road Safety Corps, to fast-track the process of renewal of driver’s licence. In an interview with newsmen,
Rising Cases Of Cancer Worries Expert LAGOS-A Radiologist, Prof. Ifeoma Okoye, has called for concerted efforts towards tackling the rising burden of cancer in the country. Okoye, the founder of Breast without Spot (BWS), an NGO, told newsmen that the 2014 world cancer report confirmed that inequality existed in cancer control and care globally. According to her, by 2025, almost 80 per cent of the increase in the number of all cancer deaths will occur in the less-developed regions. “We are generally talking about increasing cancer burden in low and middle income countries; it’s not Nigeria specifically, but because we are in Nigeria, we talk Nigeria. “But if you compare, perhaps, the burden in South Africa and Nigeria, probably it will be skewed toward Nigeria because the infrastructure in South Africa
ILORIN-The Kwara State Government said security agents had been deployed to Iketa Grammar School in Osi Local Government Area where masquerades and hoodlums disrupted academic activities. Alhaji Lamidi Alabi, the Permanent Secretary in the state Ministry of Education and Human Capital Development, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Ilorin. According to him, the state will not allow anyone to undermine the peaceful co-existence of the people in the name of religion. He said some masquerades and hoodlums brandishing cutlasses and charms disrupted academic activities in the school in an attempt to protest the use of hijab by female Muslim students. Alabi, who had already met with stakeholders in Osi community, said all missionary schools now belong to government. The permanent secretary added that schools were not meant to propagate a particular religion but to promote education. “We are running a secular system in the country, including Osi, and all religions are represented. “ The Muslims can wear their hijab and the Christians their beret. “ The government position is clear that every child’s right is represented and protected and it is the responsibility of stakeholders to underscore such rights. “ Security agents will be in place to deal with any miscreant because the state can only progress where there is peace,’’ he said. Reports say that the Olosi of Osi, Oba Saliu Abdulkareem, recently advised Muslim and Christian students to stop wearing hijab and beret in order to allow peace to reign in the school and the host community.
is much better than the one in Nigeria. “And there is a lot of political will as well. They brought out a lot of money to vaccinate loads of nine-year-old with the HPV vaccination in South Africa. “So, the political will should be there. We‘ll like to see a similar level of commitment from our government in Nigeria. “I wish the President’s attention can be called to this cancer issue so that he can readdress World Cancer Declaration and see the targets. “And see how we can sustainably work as a country; all hands (must be) on deck to achieve those targets. “Nigeria has the capacity, we have the funding to do that“. The professor stressed that inequality contributed to the high burden of cancer, especially in developing countries, Nigeria inclusive.
they said that nine months after applying for the license and completing the due process, they were yet to be issued same. Alhaji Ibrahim Musa, a civil servant, said he applied for the license since in May 2013 but was given a temporary one, which expired in November 2013. Musa said that up till now, he had not been issued the new license despite the fact that the temporary one had expired. “I applied for the license in May 2013 and was given a
Drivers Advise FRSC temporary one, which expired in November 2013. “As I am talking to you now, I have not received the new one despite regular visit to the licensing office to check,” he said. Musa John, a commercial driver, complained that he applied for the license in June 2013, but had not received the new one. “The last time I went to check,
I was told that the license had not arrived, but that I should get my temporary one photocopied, so that it would be sent to Abuja for confirmation,” he said. Malam Mohammed Kolo, the Public Enlightenment Officer of the FRSC, Bauchi Sector ACommand, told newsmen that the command was aware of the problem. According to him, the
Aspirant Wants INEC To Enforce BAUCHI- Alhaji Ali Wakili, Campaign Rules an All Progressive Congress (APC) Senatorial aspirant in Bauchi State, has urged the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), to sanction politicians currently flouting its campaign rules. Wakili is one of the politicians aspiring for Bauchi South Senatorial District’s ticket in 2015. The aspirant told newsmen in Bauchi that many politicians in the state were currently campaigning through various means. Wakili recalled that INEC had in an interactive session with politicians recently, drawn their attention to Section 99 (2) of its
Act, which allows for campaign only three months to election date The aspirant insisted that it was the responsibility of INEC to treat all equally and sanction those flouting its rules and regulations on campaign. “I told INEC at the meeting that if it can get those in authority to stop campaigning before the right time, no other politician will have the audacity to break the rules,” he said. Wakili noted that the rules were already being broken by top politicians in the state, hence the need for INEC to have the courage to match its words with action, by calling defaulters to
order. Reports state that INEC had been warning politicians and political parties in the state to avoid illegal campaign and wait for the proper time. However observes that aspirants seeking for political offices, both at the state and at the national levels, engage in campaigns openly. Our correspondent round Bauchi metropolis, saw campaign posters and bill boards on display along major highways, just as radio stations feature campaign jingles and sponsored political programmes.
command is doing everything possible to retrieve the licenses from the headquarters. “The command is aware of the problem and we appeal to all those who are yet to get their own, to exercise patience,” Kolo said. Meanwhile, a community leader in Bauchi metropolis, Alhaji Dandada Amadu, has appealed to motorcyclists in Bauchi, to desist from violating traffic light rules. Amadu, who is the Ward Head of Gwallaga quarters, said in an interview with NAN in Bauchi, that the brazen disregard for traffic lights in the metropolis had caused a lot of mishaps. He said that such mishaps occurred mostly at intersections, where traffic lights were provided. According to him, commercial motorcyclists are mostly responsible for such violation, adding that they are always in a hurry to move. “As ward heads, we have been receiving reports from our people about the habits of some motorcyclists, who are disregarding the traffic lights while crossing the roads. “We are appealing to such persons to respect the law and always wait for the lights to give them the go ahead before moving,” he pleaded.
Abuja Water Corporation Boss Okays Water Matering ABUJA- The water metering system has been identified as an efficient tool to curb wastage and achieve accountability in state water corporations. Mr Shayo Holloway, the Managing Director, Lagos Water Corporation, made this known to the newsmen on the sidelines of a water reform programme in Abuja. Holloway said the water metering system, if inculcated, would reduce what he described as the great loss of water unaccounted for by boards in their service delivery. “The metre has an enormous value, it monitors water usage and water tariff collation to aid the smooth running, operation and maintenance of infrastructure of water agencies. “Collation efficiency is important; this cannot be achieved with backdated systems, therefore, we need to move away from that to metering. “With metering, we will be able to reduce our current style of ‘unaccounted-for-water’, which currently stands at 60 per cent. “Ideally, we are looking at achieving at least a maximum of 15 per cent unaccounted-forwater, if we have the reform initiatives put in place.’’ The director pointed out that public, private partnership and commercialisation programmes would fast-track service delivery to Lagos residents. He also advocated for technology advancement in handling water structures, to ensure safe and sustainable delivery of water services in the country.
“Data management is a key issue; there is the need to invest in our IT systems and on human capacity to improve on this. “We need to explore private partnerships and accelerate commercialisation options, to maintain and run our water services because we are still deriving part of our subventions from the state government.’’ However, Holloway said the operations of the corporation was challenged by manpower shortage, data management, funds and institution of a management board. “We have an aging staff; we need to recruit and train young officers but we are confined and restrained by lack of funds and current embargo on employment. “A lot needs to be done; although Lagos is faced with the challenges of population, we, however, want to convert that challenge of population to an asset.
Barr. Vincent Uwadiae (fourth right) and Hon. Lukman Muhammad (fifth left) inspecting some of the houses recently destroyed by rainstorm in Okokhuo Community in Ovia North-East L.G.A. of Edo State.
Chartered Jet: Reps To Begin Investigation
ABUJA- The Speaker, House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, has directed the Public Accounts Committee to investigate the alleged N10 billion spent by the Petroleum Resources Minister on chartered aircraft. The House, on March 27, mandated the Public Accounts committee to investigate the minister, Deziani AllisonMadueke, for allegedly using state funds in the last two years to charter, operate and maintain a jet for personal use. The probe, which was
expected to begin on March 28, was suspended on alleged court order. Tambuwal, who was reacting to a newspaper publication that he ordered the suspension of the investigation, gave the directive at plenary in Abuja. He explained that at no point did he order the suspension of the investigation based on the order of the court, adding that it was only put on hold to seek legal advice. “I directed that the investigation should be put on hold until some of the legal issues were sorted out.
Nigeria, China To Commemorate 10 Years Of Partnership ABUJA- The Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Gu Xiaojie, says Nigeria and China will mark 10 years of their strategic partnership to demonstrate strong bilateral relations between both countries. Xiaojie stated this night in Abuja at a reception to mark his assumption of duty in Nigeria. He said that the decision to mark the 10th anniversary of the partnership was reached during the recent state visit of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang to Nigeria. He said that Nigeria-Sino
relations received a strong boost with the state visit, adding that both leaders reviewed achievements recorded in economy, trade, energy, infrastructure, aerospace and education sectors. “The two leaders agreed to maintain the momentum of exchanges of visit at all levels, including between governments, political parties and legislatures, in order to promote mutual understanding and trust.’’ Xiaojie, who described the May 6 to May 8 state visit by Li
as a huge success, noted that it coincided with the World Economic Forum for Africa (WEFA) hosted in Abuja. He said the Forum provided an opportunity for China to promote its programmes in Africa and highlight its prioritisation of infrastructure development in its cooperation with the continent. The ambassador re-echoed Li’s speech at WEFA which highlighted China’s four guiding principles on cooperation with Africa.
“I therefore direct that the matter should continue and the committee should turn in their report,” he said. The House also mandated its Committee on Treaties and Agreements and Commerce, to invite the Minister of Trade and Investment to brief the House on the proposed EU Economic Partnership Agreement ( EPA) with Nigeria. This resolution followed a motion moved by Rep. Micah
Umoh ( PDP-Akwa Ibom) which was unanimously adopted without debate. According to Umoh, the proposed EPA by the EU would be in favour of the economy of Europe and to the detriment of Africa. Umoh said that if the agreement was endorsed by Nigeria, the country would become a dumping ground for European goods. “If Nigeria endorses the new
European Union Economic Partnership Agreement, we will inadvertently transfer job opportunities of our children to their children,” he said. Umoh said that the agreement would also foreclose market competitiveness of Nigeria’s manufactured products. The lawmaker warned that if Nigeria went ahead to sign the October. 1 agreement, her rising status as an economic power would be undermined.
Nigeria Needs 35,000 Sanitary Inspectors ABUJA- Nigeria needs no their job, who will do it for them? - Official fewer than 35,000 sanitary “The states are to make officers to promote disease control and ensure a healthy nation, Mr Kehinde John, a health official, has said. John, the Director, Environmental Health, Federal Ministry of Health, stated this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said that in a country of about 170 million people, 7,000 sanitary inspectors was inadequate to check and monitor the hygienic conditions of the populace. “Nigeria is about 170 million and we have less than 7,000 sanitary inspectors to manage this people. “The World Health Organisation’s standard says one
sanitary inspector to 8,000 inhabitants; we need nothing less than 35,000 sanitary inspectors in this country. “Therefore, more sanitary inspectors should be employed.’’ According to him, the employment of more sanitary officers will reduce the burden on the primary and secondary healthcare services in eradicating diseases. John noted that many trained health officers who were unemployed could be engaged in house-to-house inspection. He called on governments at all levels, especially, the local governments, to employ enough officers. “The local governments are supposed to employ them but they are not given the opportunity or they just say they cannot pay; if they cannot do
policies technically to support the local governments and carry out supervisory visit; the Federal Government needs the sanitary inspectors.’’ John explained that the environmental health officers’ scheme is a global nomenclature, adding that their duties were fundamental to better living. On the Ministry of health’s Roll-Back-Malaria scheme, he said there was only one sanitary inspector on the programme whereas one officer was needed in each state to coordinate the programme. He listed Ministries of Water Resources, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Rural Development as places where environmental health officers could function but which were not recruiting the officers.
Bandwidth Services
FG To Licence Companies
One of the buildings recently destroyed by rainstorm in Okokhuo Community in Ovia North-East Local Government Area of Edo State.
ABUJA- The Federal Ministry of Communications Technology has initiated a plan to license telecommunications infrastructure companies to provide bandwidth services to Nigerians. The ministry stated this in a progress and programmes report made available to the newsmen in Abuja. The report said that the initiative would ensure faster deployment of National Broadband Network (NBN) plan across the country. It said that the infrastructure companies (INFRASCOS) would provide intercity fibre which will include the provision
of metro fibre. The report stated that under the initiative, geographically focused INFRACOS would provide wholesale bandwidth services on a non-discriminatory, open access and price regulated basis. “The objective of the initiative is to stimulate a new national broadband network that is not only more widespread, but also faster and more secure than what is available today. “We are confident this will stimulate other sectors of the economy and lead to higher economic benefits for the country.
Business + Economy NGO To Disburse Loans To Youths
Okokhuo Secondary School, Okokhuo in Ovia North-East L.G.A. of Edo State recently destroyed by the rainstorm which ravaged in the area. Photo: SHAFT AGBONRHIENRHIEN
CBN Extends Agric Credit Scheme LAGOS- The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) says it has extended the Commercial Agricultural Credit Scheme from September 30, 2016 to September 30, 2025. Notice of the extension is contained in a circular issued by Mr Kelvin Amugo, the bank’s
Director of Financial Policy and Regulation Department in Lagos. The circular, tagged: “Revised Strategy for the Implementation of Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme” to commercial banks, quoted
Amugo as saying the extension was to enhance credit supply to farmers. The extension took effect from May 14, he said, and urged commercial banks to educate their clients on the new development.
The reports state that the scheme is to fast track the development of the agriculture sector. The scheme provides credit facilities to agriculture enterprise at a single digit interest rate.
Un-Accessed Funds: Provost Blames Institutions ABUJA- Dr Iyela Ajayi, Provost, Federal College of Education, Okene, Kogi has blamed universities and other tertiary institutions for failure to access the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETfund) intervention. Ajayi said this in Abuja in a paper on “overcoming obstacles of accessing and effective utilisation of TETFUND intervention” at a conference on transparency, accountability and ethical values in tertiary institutions. The conference was jointly organised by the Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), TETFUND and the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values. Ajayi also blamed the fund
administrators for the inability of the institutions to access the fund. He said failure of managers of tertiary institutions to plan on the effective utilisation of the intervention funds was a major factor hindering access to the fund. “Some institutions either do not have or lack adequate planning on what they intend to do with the allocation yearly. “Lack of planning, use of
unqualified professionals, engagement of incompetent contractors and appointment of unqualified TETFUND desk officers are major factors responsible for failure of intuitions to access intervention funds,” he said. The provost also attributed difficulties in accessing the fund to inadequate comprehension of the requirements for accessing it on the part of the tertiary institutions.
Ajayi said delay in honouring invitations by institutions for project monitoring on the part of TETFUND had over the period resulted to delay in the disbursement of fund. “It takes a minimum of two weeks for TETFUND to honour invitations probably because of shortage of manpower and this is not in the interest of institutions that are ready to access the fund.
ABUJAA NonGovernmental Organisation, Taylors Foundation, has said that it had concluded plans to give loans to support youth entrepreneurship. The founder of the organisation, Mr Winston Taylor, told newsmen in Abuja that the loan was aimed at assisting youths affected by disasters and other societal problems to set up small scale businesses. He said that the initiative was to help promote harmonious coexistence in communities plagued by poverty and other forms of injustices. “We assist families who can take in a child or children into their family. We provide financial support and regular check and monitoring on all looked-after children’s education and progress. “We also help to integrate exoffenders back into the communities; we provide information on money and resources management,” he said. Taylor said the foundation was working on giving youths skills
Train Farmers In Mechanised Agriculture, Don Urges FG LAGOS- Dr Olusola Longe, a crop expert from the Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, has urged the Federal Government to train farmers in mechanised farming, to boost food production in the country. Longe told newsmen in Lagos that the training should cover all parts of the agricultural sector. He said that it should be carried out through the farmers associations, so that farmers would be able to attend in large numbers. The crop scientist, who
Vehicle Tariff Dispute Costs FG Revenue Loss LAGOS- A Lagos-based lawyer and Alternative Dispute Resolution expert, Mr. Valentino Buoro, has said that the current dispute over the new tariff on imported vehicles had cost the nation huge revenue loss. Buoro said in a statement in Lagos that the pivotal role of maritime activities in the nation’s
economy made it imperative for a quick resolution of issues arising from the new policy. It also urged the Federal Government and the feuding Freight Forwarders to embrace mediation in resolving the dispute to avoid collapse of the sub-sector and the attendant
negative impact on the economy. “The Federal Government and the Freight Forwarders are currently losing huge sums of revenue as a result of the avoidable disagreement and consequential disruption of import activities in this area,” it said.
to succeed through training and short courses in different areas of endeavour. He said the foundation was working globally to build a future for the less privileged in the society; tackling issues affecting vulnerable children in society and promoting education and equality. He also said the foundation, in collaboration with local communities, was tackling child slavery and victims of injustice and poverty. “Beyond financial support, education grants and skills acquisition, the foundation facilitates collaboration with corporate bodies to achieve its objectives.” Taylor said the foundation was created out of strong desire to change the world for the better by providing humanitarian, legal and financial aid to victims of injustice and poverty. “We protect lives, educate children and adults, provide resources and care; we provide stability and small loans for new beginnings,” he said.
It said Buoro, who is also the Associate Convener of the Standing Conference of Mediation Advocates, an international non-profit organisation, said government was constitutionally empowered to enact policies it considered best for the nation’s economy.
lectures at the Department of Crop Science, Soil and Entomology, said that the training would help farmers to be self-sustaining and contribute towards the development of agriculture. He said that government should also acquire modern machinery that would be used to carry out the exercise. “Mechanised farming is an important medium which encourages large scale farming and improves the quality of farm produce for commercialisation. “It also allows farmers to work on larger expanse of land, to increase their productivity,” Longe said. He said that government should also help to maximise the resources in the agricultural sector by providing farmers with necessary incentives needed to increase production.
NGO Urges FG To Build ABUJA- One Africa, a South Warehouses Africa-based NGO, urged the Federal Government to establish warehouses to avoid massive waste of agricultural produce. The Deputy Director of the organisation, Mrs Nachilala Nkombo, made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. Nkombo decried the practice of contracting warehouses to the private sector, stressing that it is the sole responsibility of the government to set up warehouses to store agricultural products. She further the government to support farmers through improved access to land, identifying other challenges confronting farmers to include
the lack of access to credit facilities and infrastructure. The said the provision of all these would address the problems of crop wastage. “Government needs to provide funds to support improved access to land management, credit facilities and infrastructure. “A lot of farmers already producing end up experiencing food waste due to the lack of storage facilities.” Reports say that as part of the mandate of the NGO, it carries out research to ensure that governments across Africa fulfilled their pledge in reducing poverty.
L-R: Member, Enugu Coalition of Professional and Business Associations (ECOPBA), Lady Claire Asogwa; Vice President, Izo Ramsy Onyia and secretary, Sir Emeka Okereke, briefing newsmen on decisions reached at their conference in Enugu recently.
Agriculture DO land, seeds and crops have a gender? Perhaps they do in sub-Saharan Africa, where women produce up to 80% of foodstuffs for household consumption and sale in local markets, according to a report by the World Bank and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). For crops such as rice, wheat and maize, make up about 90% of food consumed by rural dwellers, it is women who mostly sow the seeds, do the weeding, cultivate and harvest the crops and sell surpluses. And for secondary crops such as legumes and vegetables, says the FAO, “Women’s contribution…is even greater,” adding that it’s as if only women are involved in producing these crops. What’s more, they make and tend the gardens that provide much-needed nutritional and economic well-being. Feeding the continent While women farmers are essentially feeding the continent, they have remained largely in the background, calling little attention to themselves and receiving little help. But this situation is changing as they spearhead efforts to transform Africa’s agricultural landscape. Take for example Grace Kamotho, a lecturer at Karatina University in Nairobi, Kenya, where she also trains farmers in new farming technologies and practices that lead to higher productivity. “Being an African woman,” she told Africa Renewal, “I recognize the fact that women are more associated with food preparation and care of the family than men, and I understand the importance of feeding families with appropriate and balanced diet.” Ms. Kamotho recently participated in a training workshop on vegetable production in greenhouses, at Volcanic Institute’s Centre for Agricultural Development and Cooperation in Israel. Here she gained knowledge about seed and vegetable seedling cultivation, among other subjects. She said the training’s focus on vegetables was necessary because in rural Africa, vegetables supplement meals of maize, rice, potato, cassava or yam, and are a good source of proteins.
“Women tend to shop or procure food for their families, which in some cases means growing it in kitchen gardens,” she says. But women farmers go beyond tilling the soil: they also ensure prudent food management—deciding what to keep for the household and what to sell. “When a drought or economic crisis hits, women feel the pinch most, as they have to find ways to provide for their families,” says Ms. Kamotho. Comparing men and women farmers Despite the role and impact of women in African agriculture, there’s still an unsettling disparity in the support they receive compared to men. A World Bank report states that in Nigeria, for example, while women constitute about 60% to 80% of the agricultural work force, men generally make key farm management decisions. “As a result, agricultural extension services throughout the country have traditionally focused on men and their production needs.” In their book Transforming Gender Relations in Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa: Promising Approaches, authors Marion S. Davis, Cathy Farworth and Melinda Sundell argue that women’s productivity is lower than that of men because they have limited access to resources such as land, credit and other production inputs. In an interview with IRIN, a UN humanitarian news service, Ms. Sundel said that in Kenya, the value of female farmers’ tools was about one fifth that of their male counterparts’. Credit is undoubtedly necessary to acquire land, machinery, fertilizers, irrigation and high-quality seeds, and to hire labour. Moreover, when women’s access to finance is restricted in comparison to men’s, it creates a power imbalance that affects women’s ability to negotiate their role within households, according to the International Center for Research on Women (ICRW). Some banks set up roadblocks to getting the necessary capital, such as the need for a male guarantor or the requirement that a beneficiary must be literate, notes the World Bank in its 2009 Gender in Agriculture Resource Book. Makhtar Diop, the World Bank vice-
Gendering Agriculture: Women Spearhead Efforts To Feed The Continent president for Africa, warns that “the status quo is unacceptable and must change so that all Africans can benefit from their land.” Financing problems The ICRW believes that women farmers who own property and have access to finance will have greater bargaining authority and control over their incomes. In addition, studies show that women are more likely than men to spend their incomes on their families’ food, education and health. Lawson Lartego Late, director of the economic development unit at Care USA, a humanitarian organization, told the US magazine Forbes that “when it comes to finance, we need to apply a gender lens. When you look at how people get access to financial services, especially here in Africa, agriculture is underserved.” The UN and other nongovernmental organizations are investigating and implementing projects that provide greater access to micro-credit for women farmers. The Hunger Project (THP), a US-based international NGO with offices across the world, has
“In a study of western Kenya, SAINI found that female-headed households had agricultural yields that were 23% lower than those of male-headed households, and attributed the difference to less secure access to land and lower educational levels.”
By NIRIT BEN-ARI created a micro-finance programme that involves giving training, financial advice and credit to African female farmers. THP has to date loaned about $2.9 million to women farmers in Benin, Burkina Faso, Ethiopia, Ghana, Malawi, Mozambique, Senegal and Uganda. As a result, beneficiaries raised their production levels. Soro Yiriwaso, another micro-finance institution based in Mali, supports women in the southern part of the country in boosting food security. Women represent 93.5% of Soro Yiriwaso’s borrowers, while two thirds of its loan portfolio goes to agriculture. Between 2010 and 2012, under its Prêt de campagne scheme, the institution gave agricultural loans to women members of recognized cooperatives in 90 villages at the start of the planting season. These loans are repaid with interest after harvest. African leaders’ lifeline African leaders have also pledged to help women farmers under the 2003 Maputo Declaration (the Comprehensive Africa Agricultural Development Programme), which is intended to increase support for smallholder farmers. ActionAid, an international aid agency, has urged these leaders to fulfil that pledge lest farmers be unable to maintain the fight against hunger. “If women are given equal access to land, seeds, as their male counterparts, we can reduce hunger in the
world by 140 million people, which is about 17% of people who are living hungry.” One reason African women are largely excluded from decision-making in their homes and communities, and underrepresented in leadership roles, is their high rate of illiteracy. But according to the Swedish Agricultural International Network Initiative (SAINI), when women are given the chance, the farms they run perform just as well as those headed by men—or even better. In a study of western Kenya, SAINI found that female-headed households had agricultural yields that were 23% lower than those of male-headed households, and attributed the difference to less secure access to land and lower educational levels. A male farmer from Zambia told SAINI that “there were men who have died and left their spouses and children. Their farms are still functioning and are even better after their deaths. This is because the women were involved in planning and decision-making.” Bright future Fortunately, the future is bright for women farmers. They are benefiting from more training opportunities, incentives and other programmes designed to equip small-scale women farmers with information, skills and other inputs to improve crop quality and quantity. For example, in the Mbeya region of Tanzania, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is providing
women farmers with agronomy training that addresses gender-related norms and attitudes that discourage them from engaging in coffee production. These farmers learn how to improve coffee quality and quantity, which in turn increases their incomes. The Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), an organization that promotes the productivity and livelihoods of smallholder farmers, has teamed up with Tanzania’s agriculture ministry to launch the Integrated Soil Fertility Management programme to promote improved soil health through intercropping cereals with legumes. Under this programme, women receive information on soil fertility through community radios, mobile phones and agriculture extension workers. Any transformation in Africa’s agriculture will depend on women’s participation. “Investing in women’s economic empowerment is a high-yield investment, with multiplier effects on productivity, efficiency and inclusive growth for the continent,” says Kathleen Lay from ONE, an organization campaigning to end global poverty. The International Fertilizer Development Center, an organization that focuses on enhancing agricultural productivity in developing countries, puts it succinctly: “The African farmer is primarily a woman farmer. And she is a good farmer who can feed her family and her continent if she is given the tools and the opportunities to do so.”
AS global outrage continues to pour at Boko Haram’s abduction of more than 200 school girls, all students of the Government Girls Secondary School, Chibok in Borno State, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER notes with sadness that today marks the 42nd day in captivity of those innocent girls, whose freedom the dreaded Islamic Sect has hinged on swapping with their (Boko Haram) members in various prisons and detention camps across the country. THE sect leader, Abubakar Shekau, recently released a video recording showing more than 100 of the girls together in a rural setting in which he offered to exchange them for captured Boko Haram adherents in various prisons across the country. The video clips, if anything, raised the hopes that the location could be found using a combination of ground forces, state-ofthe-art intelligence and surveillance planes. FOR the avoidance of doubt, The NIGERIAN OBSERVER is vehemently opposed to Boko Haram’s proposal to the federal government to swap detained insurgents for the more than 200 school girls abducted by the terror group in Borno State for a number of reasons. FIRST, besides the protests by groups across the globe expressing condemnations at Boko Haram’s action, there is already an international team in place to rescue the abducted girls. The United States, Britain, France, China and Israel as well as Nigeria’s immediate
THE NIGERIAN
Swapping Boko Haram Prisoners For Chibok Girls
neighbours, Chad, Cameroun and others have joined in the hunt for the girls. It will be fool-hardy not to allow this team exhaustively carry out its rescue operation than accept the Boko Haram proposal. SECONDLY, it is senseless and thoroughly wrong for the federal Government to condescend to exchanging criminals for abducted girls. It will be a bad precedence and a notorious reference point in future should the federal government start to negotiate with these faceless terrorists along the lines of their proposals. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER considers it a very wrong step to take. The government should never trade the girls but face the terrorists squarely. They are criminals and should be treated as such. IT is our considered view that the government should use all resources at its disposal, national and international to crush Boko Haram. The more reason why the government should do so is the fact that some people have become unnecessarily sentimental, speaking from both sides of their mouth, especially northern Elders whose remarks and language betrayed
support for the notorious Sect. They are a disappointing lot. ANOTHER reason the government should not swap Boko Haram criminals for our Chibok girls is the fact that government would have sanctioned illegality and compromised the essence of leadership and rulership. If the government dares it, it would have provided a new platform for Boko Haram and other terror groups to commit more heinous crimes and then, turn around to ask for this manner of swapping which to us is quite unthinkable. Indeed, it would amount to the federal government negotiating from the position of fear, weakness and intimidation, with all the available international and global support. YET another reason the federal government should not swap Boko Haram prisoners for our abducted innocent Chibok girls is that the students are innocent persons who should not be exchanged for the Boko Haram criminal murderers. This is why it will be morally wrong to do so, because it would amount to equating the girls with criminals. LASTLY, what is the clear agenda of the Boko Haram Sect? What are they actually fighting for? Other than cause the reign of terror through sponsorship of religious extremists and political pugilists who have failed to gain certain positions in government? They are criminals and their sponsors are enemies of the Nigerian State; pure and simple, and should be treated as such.
View Point THE World Economic Forum (WEF) on Africa has for more than two decades proffered suggestions on how to tackle Africa’s economic problems and foster growth. This year’s summit, which has “Forging Inclusive Growth; Creating Jobs’’ as its theme, took place in Abuja and witnessed the participation of over 1,000 delegates from about 70 countries. The delegates included heads of state and representatives of governments, leaders of youth organisations, economists, investors as well as leaders of local and international organisations. The conference was, therefore, a think-tank session whose outcome was expected to the pave way for the future development of Africa, particularly with regard to efforts to engender inclusive growth. Experts are of the opinion that the Forum’s theme is quite apt, considering the growing challenges of unemployment and poverty facing the region At the end of the meeting, the participants unanimously agreed that Africa had the wherewithal to transform its economy and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youth. The participants, however, underscored the need for African leaders to synergise and work out ways of facilitating regional integration in various sectors of the economy. They identified infrastructure, agriculture, industrialisation, trade, entertainment and education as the key sectors that could drive inclusive growth in Africa, while
calling for increased efforts to tackle the growing menace of insecurity in the region. Nevertheless, Africa has been able to record appreciable economic development, particularly in the last 10 years, with expected accelerated growth of 4.7 per cent in 2014 and 5 per cent in 2015, according to the projection of international financial organisations. In spite of this growth patterns, the continent is bedevilled by high poverty and unemployment rates and this has become a major source of concern for most African leaders. President Goodluck Jonathan, in his opening remarks, commended the international community for their support for antiterrorism efforts in Nigeria which had the largest economy in Africa. He stressed that tangible
President Goodluck Jonathan
Echoes From World Economic Forum On Africa By EDITH IKE-EBOH
efforts must be geared toward ensuring that the high unemployment rate in the region was reduced. He said that 75 million young people globally were unemployed, adding that Africa’s unemployment rate stood at 20 per cent, while that of Nigeria was 24 per cent. Jonathan noted that African leaders should make pragmatic efforts to achieve inclusive growth via purposeful programmes, aimed at creating job for the youthful population in the region. “Job creation must be what should occupy the time of every African leader; it is also one that keeps me awake at night,’’ he said.
All the same, the Chinese Premier, Li Keqiang, expressed optimism that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) would aid efforts to address issues relating to inclusive growth, which had remained a major challenge to the region. He stressed that the enormous potential of the African economy had attracted a lot of Chinese investment, while providing more room for China’s economic development. He noted that ChinaAfrica relations had stood the test of time, pledging that China would always work with Africa in efforts to put in place a new framework for enhanced economic cooperation.
Keqiang expatiated that China would upgrade the China-Africa cooperation in response to new development needs of Africa, while elevating the strategic partnership to a new level. He stressed that China would continue to give priority attention to infrastructure development in its cooperation with Africa, particularly in the area of transportation so as to promote connectivity on the African continent. “Coming out from my meetings with African leaders, I see the need to develop three major networks of high-speed railway, expressway and aviation in Africa. “China is ready to
“Nevertheless, Africa has been able to record appreciable economic development, particularly in the last 10 years, with expected accelerated growth of 4.7 per cent in 2014 and 5 per cent in 2015, according to the projection of international financial organisations.”
provide financial, personnel and technological support for infrastructure development in Africa. “China will step up its investment and financing cooperation with Africa by providing an additional 10 billion U.S. dollars in credit to make its pledged credit line to rise to a total of 30 billion dollars. “Besides, China will vigorously advance the African talent programme, providing 18,000 government scholarships for African students and training 30,000 African professionals in various areas,’’ he said. Keqiang pledged that China would also train more technical personnel for Africa, adding that it was ready to accept any form of joint venture or cooperative venture with Africa. In efforts to engender inclusive growth in Nigeria, Jonathan said the ongoing transformation agenda of his administration had focused
on particular areas that would drive the growth. The president noted that the rebasing of the Nigerian economy, which made the country’s economy the largest in Africa, also opened new opportunities for the improvement of several sectors of the economy. He said that the sectors included agriculture, services and entertainment, among others, adding, however, that the 2014 budget was specifically designed to create more jobs. He noted that Nigerian youths had been empowered through initiatives such as “YouWin (Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria) scheme, SURE-P (the Subsidy Reinvestment and E m p o w e r m e n t Programme) and Young Entrepreneurs programme. “We are engaging with the private sector to tackle infrastructure problems; we are also trying to change the mindset of our young Continues on pg. 14
View Point Continued from pg 13
people to understand that after school, they do not have to depend on government jobs,’’ he added. Some experts who spoke at the Abuja WEF on Africa said that African leaders must synergise in efforts to develop vital sectors of the economy, Prof. Mthuli Ncube, a Chief Economist in African Development Bank (AfDB), said that Nigeria, Kenya and South Africa, as major economies in the region, must work together to ensure inclusive growth in Africa. He said that if the three countries could join forces, the current average poverty rate of 48 per cent in Africa could be reduced. He, nonetheless, stressed the need to stimulate the growth of the informal sector of the economy, which comprised many small businesses. Nevertheless, Mr. Seyi Bickersteth, the Chairman, KMPG’s Global Africa Practice, emphasised that structured efforts must be geared towards improving intra-African trade, which currently stood at 12 per cent. “For us to have a positive growth, we need to integrate and get rid of those guys at the borders to reduce cost and time of business and movement,’’ he said. Bickersteth noted that border checks remained a major hindrance to free movement of goods within Africa, adding that energy problems should be addressed, as part of efforts to stimulate the growth of businesses that would create jobs and reduce inequality indicators. Speaking on the forum, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala,
the Minister of Finance, commended the various individuals and companies that came up with ideas on how to move the region forward, particularly those that shown interest in happenings in Nigeria. “We welcome independent companies that took time to look at what government is doing and objectively tell us what they observed; we welcome their report,’’ she said. Okonjo-Iweala said that areas such as productivity gaps, tracking of government policies’ implementation and corruption had, therefore, become priority areas of interest for the government. “Our major focus now is on how to create jobs, improve infrastructure and human capital. “You know that when telecoms came into Nigeria, it took about a year plus before we began to reap the benefits. “Take power, for instance, we looked at it and saw that the private sector ought to be carried along and that is what we have done. “It will take a year or may be a year and six months for the citizens to start seeing the real benefits,’’ she said. The minister, nonetheless, underscored the need to link skills to education, adding that the government also had to scale up its service delivery. However, the major expectation of most Nigerians is that the WEF on Africa will facilitate job creation, increased investments, poverty reduction and improved security in the country and Africa at large. The citizens’ expectation
...Economic Forum On Africa
is somewhat reinforced by the Safe Schools Initiative, which was launched by Nigerian business leaders in partnership with government, media, civil
Newspapers, said that the idea behind the initiative was to ensure that children remained in schools, while ensuring the release of the abducted schoolgirls.
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister for Finance
society, youth, parents and teachers via the Global Business Coalition for Education. A 10-million-dollar fund is to be set up for the pilot project involving 500 schools in northern Nigeria, following the kidnap of more than 200 schoolgirls in Chibok in April UN Special Envoy for Global Education Gordon Brown, who was in Nigeria for the WEF on Africa, said that the Safe Schools Initiative would seek additional resources from international partners and the government to scale up its programmes. Mr. Nduka Obiagbena, the Publisher of Thisday
police, community leaders and the youth,’’ he said. Sharing similar sentiments, Brown said: “I believe that the headline ‘Save Our Girls’ in every
He noted that apart from creating a community of interests, the Forum was also committed to improving the state of Africa.
Olusegun Aganga, Minister for Trade & Investment
“This is a great opportunity to create change that is needed in Africa; we also appreciate the solidarity we witnessed in this Forum, particularly in efforts to combat terrorism in the region...’’ He said that the initiative, which would start with 500 pilot schools in northern states, would focus on school and community interventions as well as vulnerable children. “The initiative, which will facilitate the creation of community security groups to promote safe zones for education, will consist of teachers, parents,
“Take power, for instance, we looked at it and saw that the private sector ought to be carried along and that is what we have done. It will take a year or may be a year and six months for the citizens to start seeing the real benefits...’’
part of the world has inspired the United Nations and created awareness even in the remotest parts of the world. “In the long term, the initiative will focus on the physical protection of schools, providing school guards in partnership with the Nigerian authorities, and provision of communication tools, among others,’’ said Brown, a former British prime minister. All in all, Mr. Phillip Rosler, a Managing Director of WEF, described the WEF on Africa in Abuja as very successful, saying that the event “tried as much as possible to create a community of interests’’.
Rosler, who described the WEF on Africa in Abuja as one of the best in the Forum’s history, said that the Forum agreed to invest 48 billion dollars in areas such as skills acquisition, infrastructure, energy, health and education in Africa “This is a great opportunity to create change that is needed in Africa; we also appreciate the solidarity we witnessed in this Forum, particularly in efforts to combat terrorism in the region,’’ he added. Analysts are of the opinion that with continuous deliberations on Africa, efforts to create jobs and stamp out inequalities in the region will soon yield tangible results.
Discourse “An age-friendly physical environment that promotes the development and use of innovative technologies that encourage active ageing is very important. More should be done to expose, investigate and prevent discrimination, abuse and violence against older persons...”
Caring For The Elderly In Nigeria SOCIOLOGISTS always underscore the need for all members of the society to make pragmatic efforts to cater to the needs of elderly or aged persons. Gerontologists, experts in the field of medical science that deals with diseases and problems of old people, particularly emphasise that this category of people needs special care. They insist that the government and other stakeholders ought to initiate concrete plans on how to care for the elderly and make them useful in the society. The Nigeria Society of Gerontology and Geriatrics (NSGG), therefore,
By FEMI OGUNSHOLA
underscores the need to have a national ageing policy to address the perceptible challenges facing old citizens of the country. Prof. Adesola Ogunniyi, the Chairman of the NSGG, said that the policy was somewhat imperative in view of the claim of the United Nations (UN) that Nigeria had about 8.1 million old people, with a growing ageing population. He noted that if the UN figure was anything to go by, concrete efforts should be made to initiate a credible national policy for the elderly to look after the interests of old persons.
Ogunniyi said that the NSGG was established to complement government’s efforts to protect the interests of the elderly and facilitate their access to good health care services. Reinforcing the professor’s views, Mr. Adeola Adeniji, an 82-year-old resident of Abuja, argued that Nigeria did not have adequate plans for the elderly. He said that he had never received any form of assistance from the government, adding that old age had somewhat become a source of worry for most Nigerians because of the
plight of old people in the society. Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs. Elisabeth Moro, 75, said that life after her retirement from public service had been somewhat harrowing and difficult. She said that due to the fact that she was unable to build a house while in service, she had since been facing untold embarrassment by her landlord whenever it was time to pay rent. Supporting such claims, Mr. Yinka Ajomole, the Executive Director of NSGG, observed that there was no concrete policy formulation and implementation process for the aged in Nigeria.
“She underscored the need for Nigeria to formulate a national policy for the aged, adding, however, that the input of all the stakeholders in the proposed policy was essential. Aboderin said that the policy should also look into how to cope with the growing number of older people in the country and the implications.”
He said that the dearth of research data on ageing in the country also constituted a major setback to efforts to ascertain the current status of elderly Nigerians. He, nonetheless, assured the public that the NSGG was committed to enhancing the capacity of the elderly to remain productive members of the society. Ajomole said that the society was complementing the efforts of nongovernmental organisations, community-based organisations and the government at all levels to increase public awareness on the challenges facing the elderly. He, however, recommended the development of a shared vision and common standpoint with passionate people on ageing in efforts to foster the evolution of strategic relationships within the society. He said that the society would also encourage the conduct of enlightenment campaigns to change the negative attitude of most people toward the elderly. He, however, argued that the adoption of an evidencebased approach to policy programmes and strategies would also improve the quality of life of the aged. Nevertheless, Ajomole advised the government to incorporate ageing education into the curriculum of educational institutions at all levels and the programmes of the sectors so as to ensure better living standards for old persons. He also suggested that the rights of the elderly to better living conditions ought to be discussed at the ongoing national conference. All the same, Hajiya Zainab Maina, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, said that efforts were underway to domesticate regional and international instruments to address issues relating to ageing. The minister, who gave the
assurance at a recent stakeholders’ consultative and policy summit organised by NSGG in Abuja, conveyed the government’s concern about the increasing apathy of citizens toward caring for the elderly. She, however, conceded that care for the elderly had declined considerably because of prevailing economic challenges. Maina noted that the breakdown of extended family support system for older persons and rural-urban migration of younger persons in search of more favourable living conditions had also affected care for the elderly. However, Dr Isabella Aboderin, a member of NSSG’s Board of Trustees, said that it was important for all stakeholders to brainstorm on ways of improving the wellbeing of the elderly. She underscored the need for Nigeria to formulate a national policy for the aged, adding, however, that the input of all the stakeholders in the proposed policy was essential. Aboderin said that the policy should also look into how to cope with the growing number of older people in the country and the implications. Ms Roseline Kihumba, Partner Relations Adviser, HelpAge International, a rights-based international non-governmental organisation, said that old persons should have access to age-friendly and affordable health care services. “An age-friendly physical environment that promotes the development and use of innovative technologies that encourage active ageing is very important. “More should be done to expose, investigate and prevent discrimination, abuse and violence against older persons,’’ she said. All in all, analysts stress the need to make pragmatic efforts to promote the wellbeing of old persons because the youth of today will definitely become the elderly of tomorrow.
ELECTION rigging, insecurity, youth unemployment and development are critical issues which poses great threat to the survival of constitutional democracy in Nigeria. Electoral fraud has become a major set-back in the process of entrenching democratic values in this country. The political elites, particularly the unpopular candidates are the major perpetuators of electoral fraud designed to impose themselves on the very people who do not want their representation or leadership. It is therefore sad to note that the same class of politicians who imposed themselves on the people turns around to inflict pains of poverty, neglect and bad governance which have resulted in grave insecurity, posing threat to the peace, unity and progress of Nigeria. As a political scientist and keen player in Public and International Affairs, I find it extremely difficult to place the political and leadership intents of our political actors. I do not really know the ideology behind their kind of politics. For example, one can no longer differentiate “democrats” from the “Republicans” or the Democrats and Republicans from the core “Socialists”. The system has become a mix-up of confused political actors who do not really know what political ideology is all about. This has accounted for the massive defection of politicians in Nigeria from one political party to another without the application of basic moral, socio-economic and political values and/or considerations. How do some of these political actors explain the merger of two political parties that have different political ideologies? How are they able to blend smoothly without recourse to the core values of constitutional democracy? Why should they base their merger on the basis of just “winning elections” only and not consider whether or not the political
marriage is rooted on solid foundation with regards to political ideology? These questions beg for answers and they really get me cracked-up. If the idea of democracy is all about winning elections, then Nigeria is still far from being a democratic nation. The rule of the game is that democracy is anchored on certain values proposed to the electorate by the political parties and their candidates. It is on the basis of the different values and ideas that the people are able to correctly and precisely choose the party that best suits their yearnings and aspirations. The lack of these factors has robbed off on the political gaming in this country where people go for the names of personalities in a political party and not the ideology of the party. The names of political parties seem to matter most in Nigeria. It is sad, it is painful and we need to have a re-think and begin to adjust our mentality towards perfecting the series of defects rearing their ugly heads in our attempt to entrench result oriented democracy culture. Electoral fraud or election rigging therefore is highly prompted by lack of political ideology, sound and well articulated political manifesto coupled with the desperate attempts by unpopular candidates to impose themselves on the electorate. The actual rigging starts during party primaries where huge bribes are offered to party delegates and top party men and women by contestants. Party leadership and delegates are consulted ahead, several wee-hours meetings are held aimed at scheming out credible candidates who lack the financial resources to match their political opponents. The party primaries become the breeding grounds for the technical criminal training required to scheme through the next levels of the electoral process. Once the fraudulent primaries are concluded through violence, falsehood, bribery and other social and
Focus Election Rigging, Insecurity criminal vices, the battle ground then shifts to the various offices of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). This is where the battle of who-is-who is fought at all cost. This is where multiple connections at high places are employed to rig elections. Visit upon visits to INEC offices, phone calls, well crafted late hours and early bird meetings are hosted by major stakeholders in the system which cut across party lines and divide. At this level, issues relating to club affiliation, occult membership and other undemocratic variables are put on the table for consideration. At the end, certain class of people emerges as winners of the election but not necessarily the best among the contestants. Fraud has been perpetuated and election concluded. The case is more deadly and financially costly at the governorship and presidential elections. It is also costly, too, in some federal constituencies and senatorial districts depending on the degree of lack of acceptance of a political candidate by his people. The unpopular candidates who are desperate to win elections are the most deadly species we have in this country. It has been alleged that they import arms and ammunitions, train and equip our youths to assist them in perfecting their selfish and self-centered political ambitions. This has accounted for the high level of insecurity and increased criminality in our society today. The youths are left with their assault riffles and ammunitions after elections which they use for other criminal engagements once elections are over. They are forced to this point of criminality due to the failure of the political class, elected representatives and governments at all levels to rehabilitate or integrate these
teaming youths into deliberate and progressive social security programmes and sponsored vocational skills that would make them better members of the social milieu. Constituency allowances and constituency project funds find their way to private pockets while the people are left to waste away in acute poverty and high tension hunger which has fuelled serious security
past and present leaders and the political actors should be held responsible for the decay and retrogression experienced so far as a nation. Those shifting blames should be regarded as mere “political craftsmen and women” employing dubious and deceitful political skills to play on the intelligent of Nigerians. They are mere political shenanigans hitting up the polity for self political gains. They are gaming
Nigeria. It is rumoured that the fierce battle between the Presidency and the House of Representatives is as a result of the President’s refusal to engage in “father Christmas” style of leadership which the elected representatives enjoyed in precious administrations. Dr Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, they say, had blocked and sealed some of the major holes were the
tr fu ce ge
problems in the country. Some state governors and other major players at the federal levels are also busy stuffing their local and foreign bank accounts with public funds. Pending criminal court cases against some past and present political actors and public servants lay credence to this fact. In a nutshell, the
politically and their views should be left in the dust bin of political irrelevance. This should be so because they are the same people who have been reshuffled and recycled in our economic and democratic struggles as a nation. It is therefore a truism that the spate of insecurity in Nigeria is largely traced to bad governance from 1960 till date and not necessarily the fault of President Jonathan’s administration alone. In fact, it is on record that the Jonathan’s administration blocked N25 billion leakages in the agricultural sector alone. The partial removal of petroleum subsidy has also raked in several billions of
“national cake” is previously depleted and shared through the back doors. They are said to be furious about the President’s decision to monitor constituency project monies which the honourable members see as their own share of the dividend of democracy. All of these put together and many more will surely make this country ungovernable for Mr. President. Furthermore, it has been alleged that some folks in the North are boiling over the privatization of federal government owned corporations like Power Holdings of Nigeria (PHCN), Nigerian Airways, et al, which use to be the drainage pipe connected to the national
to p de acc sen Tr Ini to wi Lu Ne Af typ tel jin adv scr new on spe tab be con par
“The case is more deadly and financially costly at the governorship and presidential elections. It is also costly, too, in some federal constituencies and senatorial districts depending on the degree of lack of acceptance of a political candidate by his people.”
By DR FRED LA
Pr of M w is co ha
Focus y And Youth Development
ATIMORE OGHENESIVBE
reasury for the siphoning of unds for private use by ertain powerful forces in that eo-political zone. Another offence of Mr. resident is the appointment f a Southern as Petroleum Minister since 2011, a woman for that matter, who s soft spoken, harmless in onduct but an Aso Rock too ard and extremely difficult
penetrate for “shop, I shop” als. This may have counted for the television nsitization by the ansformation Agenda itiative Group which refers “change” as a difficult task ith reference to Martin uther King of America, elson Mandela of South frica, and others. More these pe of electioneering evision commercials, radio ngles and newspapers vertisements will flood our reens and prime spots in wspapers and magazines ce campaign commences as ecified in the INEC time ble. Certainly, Nigerians will able to compare and ntrast as to which political rties and candidates they
will vote for. The North that is crying “hullaballoo” today has been in charge of the affairs of this nation for more than any region or geo-political zone since 1960. Since independence, the North governed this country and her resources for close to 46 years and was unable to provide sound education and technical skills seriously needed by the youths of the Northern region. The
Northern leaders like their counterparts in other parts of the country also concentrated on lining their pockets with huge financial resources at the detriment of the vast majority of Nigerians including the good people of the Northern region. The Abacha and Babaginda loots are good examples of such financial crimes and recklessness. In the present democratic experience, Northern leaders are yet to justify the huge financial resources that have been allocated to them from the federal purse. Their past and present public office holders, politicians, past presidents, past heads of state, past and present
members of the national assembly and governors have also failed their people to a high degree. The gross underdevelopment in the north which has forced the vast majority of the Northern youths into street begging and criminality justifies this fact. Acute poverty occasioned by bad governance and reckless corruption has made the Northern youths readily available for extensive use by the Boko Haram terrorist group which has held Nigeria spell-bound for over five years now, inflicting pains, sorrow and tears on millions of Nigerians through their bombings and blood thirsty criminal tendencies. It is therefore safe to assert that some of our political actors, if not all of them, are guilty of election rigging, bad governance, youth underdevelopment and other defective leadership actions and inactions which have resulted in the present state of insecurity in Nigeria. Those calling for the head of President Jonathan are the same people who have been managing the affairs of this country both during civilian and military administration of this country. They are like “coca-cola” soft drink, always present and available for use by successive governments. They collaborated with the military and the political class to empty the national, state and local government treasuries. And in all of these, it is the Nigerian people particularly the youth that are directly and indirectly affected negatively by the financial rascality and gross incompetent of our past and present leaders. The state of insecurity cannot be managed or curtailed effectively if governments at all levels continue to ignore youth empowerment, development and socio-economic integration. The local, State
and the federal governments including elected representatives at all levels must take a decisive action to judiciously use government monies to develop infrastructure, provide technical education and skills for our teaming youths and at the same time begin to invest heavily in science and technology. More monies must be voted for capital projects and propeople deliberate projects by the three tiers of government. Political parties particularly the ruling PDP should set standards of performance for her governors, political appointees and elected representatives so as to enhance service delivery which would ultimately raise the standard of governance. Education should continue to top our budgets while governments at all levels must collaborate to solve the problem of unemployment, science and technology. Power, housing schemes, social welfare packages for citizens, good roads network, rehabilitation and construction are an integral part of national development. Transparency and fight against corruption should be uppermost such that death penalty or life imprisonment should be entrenched in our constitution, criminal codes and other vital legislation so as to drastically curtail the scourge of official stealing and corruption in our country. Special Constitutional and Financial Crimes Courts should be established through legislative instruments so as to quickly and decisively handle and dispense justice in matters relating to financial crimes and election petitions. Fast and competent dispensation facilitates national progress and inculcates moral and high ethical values on the people. It is therefore essential that governments at
all levels must begin deliberate collaborations to address some of these issues rocking the boat of our national progress, peace and unity. In the light of the above, it is absolutely necessary for the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to be well funded by the federal government to provide electronic gadgets and highly sophistical online and/or internet data base that would make it impossible for political actors and their collaborators to rig elections. Advanced electronic voting is key and will enhance sound democratic principles and political participation in our electioneering process. Basic and concrete political ideologies are necessary ingredients for national development. Credible elections and sound political ideologies will ensure that only popular and qualified candidates are fielded for elections and are elected to represent the people. The Jonathan administration should do all it can to provide the huge funding required while INEC makes concrete efforts to get the financial support of donor agencies and foreign governments to procure and use sophisticated gadgets and equipment to conduct elections so as to eliminate rigging and political criminality from our electoral system. Our youths should no longer be trained on how to handle weapons of mass destruction for the sake of elections. Nigerian youth are entitled to economic, social and vocational empowerment and training. The national assembly should muster the political will to enact laws that will sanction and punish election riggers and their criminal collaborators and partners in crime. The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in collaboration with the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) and the Guild of Editors of Nigeria should embark on local, national and
overall sensitization of the people particularly the youths to shun all forms of electioneering vices and criminality. Election rigging is anti-people, anti-progress and anti-development and those indulged in rigging should be treated as common criminals, exposed and jailed for not less than twenty-five years imprisonment with hard labour without the option of fine. And in addition, anyone pronounced guilty by a competent court of Law or electoral tribunal should be rusticated and prevented from political participation and appointment into political offices. They are the ones causing this nation bitter pain, inestimable measure of agonies and insecurity. They should be treated as enemies of our country which is why the people must opt for a drastic change for the better in 2015. The people should rise up to the occasion and elect popular and credible candidates and at the same resist the criminal forces of electoral fraudsters and their collaborators. Election riggers have ruined the lives of most of our youths while many have died in the process of assisting political actors to achieve their selfish and anti-democratic scheming and criminalities. Enough is enough. 2015 should be the starting point to confront and mess-up any criminal political actor who want to use our youths to perfect their dirty political tendencies. They have wrecked enough havoc on our polity and nation. They must not be allowed again to promote acrimony, hate and criminality in our quest for a virile economy and steady progress in advancing our political culture and constitutional democracy. Dr. Fred Latimore Oghenesivbe, is a member of the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), a Public Affairs and Political Analyst and National President of the Green White Green Vanguard, a socioeconomic and political advocacy group based in Lagos, Nigeria.
“The Jonathan administration should do all it can to provide the huge funding required while INEC makes concrete efforts to get the financial support of donor agencies and foreign governments to procure and use sophisticated gadgets and equipment to conduct elections so as to eliminate rigging and political criminality from our electoral system.”
Politics
Addressing Challenges Hindering Implementation Of African Charter
Democracy: THE Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union (AU), on January.30, 2007, adopted the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. The document is designed to institutionalise and entrench a democratic culture in Africa, through the conduct of impartial, credible, honest and fair elections, uphold the rule of law and the protection and respect for human rights, among others. The charter which came into force on February.15, 2012 outlined the principles and standards for political, economic, social and cultural governance in Africa. The coming into force of the charter followed the signing and ratification by not less than 15 African countries. But since the charter came into force, only 22 of the 53 AU member-states, including Nigeria, have so far signed and ratified the charter. Twenty-four others have signed but not ratified it, while seven have not committed themselves in any way to the document. The vision of the charter is that it will be an important instrument to positively influence the lives of ordinary Africans and boost development in Africa. Worried about the slow acceptance of the charter, the Political Affairs Department (PAD) of the AU, in collaboration with other partners recently organised a consultative workshop in Dakar, Senegal. The partners were the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IDEA) and the African Governance Institute (AGI). The primary aim of the workshop was to engage civil society organisations (CSOs), the media and member-states in the advocacy for the ratification, domestication, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the charter. More than 100 experts, drawn from 20 AU memberstates, Belgium, the U.S. and Germany attended the workshop. Setting the tone of the gathering, Dr. Mamadou Dia, the Head of Division, Department of Political Affairs (DPA), said “the workshop would focus on the role of civil society organisations, and the media in promoting the values of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance. “It will also focus on civil society organisations and the
media as key partners in the process of development of mechanism, guidelines and tools to assess the implementation of the African Charter on Democracy.” According to him, the workshop will draw attention to strategies to strengthen the popularisation of the charter and its optimum application. Amb. Mustaq Moorad, the African Regional Director of International IDEA, said that his organisation, made up of 29 countries, six of them in Africa, was keen on seeing to the full domestication of the charter in the continent. As a legal basis for IDEA’s intervention, Moorad said his organisation and the AU signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2007. “The MoU was operationalised through a Joint Activity Plan (JAP), which is the foundation of the partnership between International IDEA and the AU’s Department of Political Affairs. “The charter serves as a central instrument outlining the principles and standards for political, economic, social and cultural governance in Africa”. Noting that the media and civil society organisations were essential for building and strengthening democracy, he said they had important roles to play in ensuring that citizens were at the heart of democracy and that democracy itself was central to citizens’ aspirations. Experts during the threeday consultative workshop identified the challenges working against the domestication of the charter in African countries. Dr Jinmi Adisa, Director of Citizens and Diaspora Organisations Directorate (CIDO), AU Commission said the issue of democracy, elections and governance should be seen as a community concern. He sees the solution to the problem as one that should involve all stakeholders. He advised the AU, to factor in the issue of capacity support, capacity building and accountability as part of the process in order to achieve the set goals. Participants also identified ignorance on provisions of the charter as being responsible for its slow implementation. They said that most of the
By JOE BANKOLE
so-called stakeholders such as the media, civil society organisations as well as the citizens of the various member-states are oblivious of what the charter contains. They also said that certain key words that define the assignment before them might not even be understood by the ones expected to work with the charter. Experts however devoted time to explain some of the key words in the charter. Mr Mbari Calixte Aristide,
charter. They identified that the charter seeks to “demolish the faulty foundation of deceit of some African political leaders.’’ African leaders are known for altering the constitution in order to perpetuate themselves in office. In re-directing the minds of these African political leaders, Prof Abubakar Momoh, the Executive Director, Democratic
Senior Political Officer of the PAD, explained what ‘ratify’ meant in the charter. He said that to ratify meant commitment to implement and put the required domestic legislation in place to drive the process of domestication. According to him, it means that any state that signed and ratified the charter has committed itself to complying with the provisions and implementing the agreed component for the overall benefit of its people. He said that signing the document on the other hand meant that the state had identified with the idea and was considering other aspects of the process of implementation and domestication. After the explanation of the basic words, the participants examined the challenges hindering acceptance and implementation of the
Institute of Nigeria, sounded a note of caution. He advised that in order to achieve success with the process of winning the political heads in the various member-states to the side of those angling for the charter’s domestication, persuasion rather than confrontation should be employed. Momoh advocated the bridging of the urban/rural divide, which limits the discussion of salient issues affecting the continent to the urban areas rather than the entire community. According to him, vernacular should be used to disseminate information about the charter in the various African communities. Momoh also identified the challenge of gender bias as one that required the attention of sponsors of the domestication of the charter in member-states.
He noted that in terms of demographic indices, women form a large chunk of the population, but were not given their rightful place in political participation. To enable them participate actively in the process, Momoh advised that this bias should be removed through deliberate strategies to factor them into the efforts to domesticate the document. The executive director further said that with the adoption of the charter, the AU now had a roadmap, but needed a road plan to
Participation of the legislature, he hoped, would fast-track domestication of the charter by member-states. With the benefit of hindsight, participants believe that African leaders would not want popular revolt like the Arab Spring, a groundswell of people’s revolt that saw political changes in some Arab countries, repeated in their countries. The remedy they say, is the domestication of the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance by
navigate through this road successfully. He suggested that such a plan should identify and adopt separate and workable strategies for member-states that had signed and adopted the charter, as distinct from those that merely signed, but had not adopted it. Momoh said this would ensure that the right steps is taken to advance the process from each of the points reached by the individual states. Participants also suggested that the charter should be translated into the various local languages, in order to popularise it. A participant, Mr. Awwal Ibrahim Rafsanjani of the Civil Society Advocacy Centre in Nigeria, further suggested that the legislature of the various member-states should be involved in the whole process.
all the AU member-states. Participants commended the organisers for a timely effort, noting that the engagement of the media and civil society was in the right direction. They say that the combination of the media and civil society in a mutually beneficial way, will galvanise the populace around the common objective. Analysts say that combined efforts of the media and civil society organisations will popularise the spirit and letter of the charter. This they say will lead to a monumental pressure by African citizens on their political leaders, which will ultimately lead to the enforcement of the ideals of the charter. Participants are hopeful that in the next few years, the objectives of the workshop will be attained.
With Eranga Isaac 08059233001
Family Planning suggested step is about safety. The World Health Organization (WHO) tells us that pregnancy alone can lead to gender-based violence (GBV) for some, especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. We also know very clearly now that GBV can increase women’s vulnerability to HIV and that—conversely— an HIV diagnosis can provoke or exacerbate GBV. It is also clear to any who have experienced GBV that fear of violence is as big as actual violence—and the emotional and psychological effects of violence or fear of violence can last years after the actual physical signs may have faded away. This is being borne out in recent research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. There is a wonderful website and book called Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt, who explains very compassionately how critically important it is to a baby’s well-being that she or his mother is psychologically and emotionally healthy, while the child is in the womb and in the first hours, days,
psychological, physical, and sexual safety for all women and girls at all times. And we need institutional care and safety for all women at all times. We need to ensure that every woman knows that whenever she goes near a health center she will be guaranteed confidentiality, support, dignity, and respect. 3 - Negotiating when, where, how, with whom we have sex, with safety and— heaven forbid, with pleasure—is way out of the reach of so many women and girls around the world. This must change. Of course all of us women and girls need information, education, skills, and consent. And surely we all need to have our rights to bodily autonomy upheld, as Kate Gilmore was explaining. What I find quite strange about this Women Deliver conference is that in all the sessions I have gone to, I have heard very little mention of Millennium Development Goal 3. Yet surely MDG 3 is critical to achieving all the MDGs? Why is MDG 3 missing from the debate? I
and weeks of the child’s birth. I use the term “mother” here advisedly, in the context of this strong mother/child dyad and in recognizing the critical importance of this primal bond between a woman and her baby in these early stages of the child’s life. If this bond is damaged in any way, it can have far-reaching effects on the child’s development, which can carry on into adulthood. So even if anyone felt that they had no interest in a woman’s health in her own right, surely they ought to be concerned, for the baby’s health, to ensure that we all support the development of that bond as best we can. So it is clear, surely, that a healthy baby needs a healthy mother. So let’s make sure that we make this happen. We need to ensure
am not aware that we have achieved it. I really believe that we all need to be ensuring that we include MDG 3 in all our debates both now and beyond 2015. And my last point in relation to sex is that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls, in all our diversities, and the MNCH agenda are inseparable. Indeed I would say that the MNCH agenda is a sub-set of the SRHR agenda. We can only achieve effective and successful MNCH if we set it within the wider enabling environment of comprehensive SRHR for us all. Fourth step is about support. Women “do” peer support really well. I was talking to a senior bank executive a few years ago and he said that if you tell a man something he tells no one and keeps it to himself. Whereas if
Engaging Women In Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Advocacy
THE role of women in Maternal Newborn and Child Health Advocacy and Services cannot be overemphasized. Below are six steps suggested by Alice Welbourn, Founding Director of Salamander Trust. The first suggested step is that we keep things simple. We all have really complex lives and simplicity is always welcome! Here are some examples of how to keep things simple. Firstly, language. As I have explained elsewhere, we know now from recent scientific research that use of positive language actually makes us feel good because of increased oxytocin and serotonin levels in our bodies. It also enables us to use our right brains more. Left brains are great for doing things to do with engineering or medicine. But when it comes to the socio-political dimensions of health, which as Kate Gilmore just explained is what we are talking about here, it is really useful for us to enlist the support of our right brains, where creative thinking and the development of “out of the box” positive future possibilities resides. It’s also a good idea, wherever
possible, to use clear language. One medical doctor I know asked me what “MNCH” is—and if these letters were even a problem for her, then it goes to show how much we need to think about use of everyday language wherever possible, so as not to make people feel alienated. Next, I suggest that we offer dual protection (for example, protection against unplanned pregnancies and against sexually transmitted infection [STI] transmission) to all women and children, irrespective of their HIV status. I suggest this especially because we have heard from colleagues in this region, for instance, that women with HIV are only offered condoms at health centers and no other contraceptive, on the basis that they shouldn’t be having sex anyway, let alone daring to think of having children. Yet as we all know, it is now possible for women with HIV to have 99 percent HIV-free babies through normal vaginal delivery, so this practice is unjust and unscientific. We all know how much health workers are
held in esteem in their communities. So just imagine if all health staff treated all women and girls equally, regardless of our status. That would send out such a powerful message to the communities where they work. My third suggestion is that we make all services available, affordable, acceptable, and accessible to women and girls. Let’s make services fit for people instead of going on expecting people to fit into services. Like Cinderella and the glass slipper, we all need to think about putting our feet in the shoes, or the sandals—or even the bare footprints—of women and girls whom we Anyone wanting to support women and girls needs to ensure that they entirely understand things from their
perspective if they hope to have any success. Of course the best way to do this is to involve women and girls in the design, planning, implementation are wanting to use the services, and monitoring and evaluation of services and related advocacy work. Everyone who is really involved in something wants to see it being successful. My fourth suggestion for keeping things simple is for us to talk about “women” and “girls” instead of “patients” and “mothers.” Why is it that we keep defining our gender with labels that associate us with other people or contexts? As appendages to other priorities? Let’s just stick to women and girls whenever we can, so we are defined in our own rights rather than in relation to others. 2 - The second
To be continued
“My third suggestion is that we make all services available, affordable, acceptable, and accessible to women and girls. Let’s make services fit for people instead of going on expecting people to fit into services.”
Health “Because the ones that are not organic have health implications. If we must use those ones that are not organic, we must use them according to regulations.”
Health Hazards of Forcing Fruits To Ripe
MRS Amara Egwu, a London-based Nigerian, returned home and bought some bananas for her child only to found that they did not ripen naturally. Her friend was quick to alerted her that most fruits sold in the market were forced to ripe through the application of carbide and other ripening chemicals. “I was really shocked when I noticed the whitish substance on the banana; but I never gave a thought that it was carbide. “The effect of calcium carbide on fruit is that it appears to be ripened and therefore look attractive to a customer, while it is not as sweet as it ought to be had it matured naturally,” Egwu observed. Experts say that ripening is the final stage
By OKON EDEM/EDITH NWAPI
of the maturation process in fruits when they change colour, soften and develop flavour, texture and aroma. It is a process when fruits become more palatable, sweeter, less green, and softer; and it occurs naturally. However, most fruit dealers and traders now engage in the habit of forcing fruits to ripe prematurely by applying chemical substances including carbide. Experts warn that this practice is dangerous to human health and can cause damage to the liver and other vital organs of the body. Miss Ebere Nwachukwu, an industrial chemist, condemned the practice of forcing fruits to
ripe through the application of chemicals. Nwachukwu said that this practice could cause fruits to lose their natural ingredients and supplements they were meant to provide. “Fruits are widely distributed in nature, commercially important and nutritionally indispensable food commodity. “Being part of a balanced diet, fruits play a vital role in human nutrition by supplying necessary growth enhancing ingredients essential for maintaining normal health.” Nwachukwu said that treating fruits with carbide was hazardous to health as they contain traces of
arsenic and phosphorous which, when dissolved in water, produces acetylene gas. She explained that acetylene was a chemical compound not good for the body. According to Nwachukwu, the consumption of such fruits might affect body organs and cause health problems like headaches, dizziness, mood disturbances, sleepiness, mental confusion, and memory loss. She stressed that the practice of ripening fruit with chemicals should be discouraged due to the associated health hazards. “Even though the acidity of fruit increases as it ripens; its higher acidity level does not make it
“However, most fruit dealers and traders now engage in the habit of forcing fruits to ripe prematurely by applying chemical substances including carbide.”
sweeter.” The industrial chemist further explained that the harmful effects of diseases like obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disorder and cancer could be limited by the potentiality of fruits, if they were allowed to ripe naturally. Corroborating Nwachukwu’s views, Dr Adamu Onu of Garki Hospital, Abuja, said that forcing fruits to ripe prematurely was dangerous to health, adding that it could cause damage to the liver and other vital organs of the body. Onu added that the application of chemicals on fruits can distort the natural taste and flavour of fruits. Prof. Peter Onwualu, Director-General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC), also warned against the use of nonorganic substances to ripen fruits. Onwualu agreed that some non-organic chemicals if applied on fruits could be harmful to human health. According to him, organic substances refer to a class of molecules that contain carbon, adding that the class of molecules includes everything likely to be considered edible. Onwualu advised people to be careful of the kind of fruit ripening substance they apply, adding that some could be injurious to health. He called for a regulation that would discourage the use chemicals for fruit ripening. He said that the use of chemicals for fruit ripening
was an issue for regulatory agencies like the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) and NAFDAC to take seriously. He urged the regulatory agencies to conduct checks on those who use non-organic chemicals to ripen fruits and bring them to book. “Some of the chemicals are dangerous; what the council recommends is that if people must use fruit ripening materials, we recommend more of organic-based ripening substances. “Because the ones that are not organic have health implications. If we must use those ones that are not organic, we must use them according to regulations. “Because there are regulations that say it must not be more than a certain concentration, so that it does not affect the health of people,’’ Onwualu said. He advised Nigerians to embrace natural means of ripening fruits, saying that natural means were the best. Mrs Alice Akudo, a fruit seller at the Wuse market, said she cannot deny the practice among her colleagues. “It is true that most of our fruit dealers indulge in the use of strong chemicals to force fruits to ripe prematurely. Experts say that calcium carbide is a dangerous and corrosive chemical compound that is made of carbon and iron, and commonly used for welding purposes. They advised that the relevant agencies should educate fruit dealers on the danger of using carbide to ripen fruits for human consumption.
Archival Matters
Parables Of Efe Osafuomwan
ACCORDING to Efe Osafuomwan, anchor man of MAN AROUND TOWN programme of Independent Radio, Benin truth is one quantity which has few advocates. Indeed in Nigerian he argues that most people prefer lies, untruths and falsehoods. That is why he often says: “No be say truth day fear., De problem be who go talk-am.” I agree with Efe Osafuomwan proverbial postulation. Hence, I speak truth in this column every Monday within the ambience allowed by my morality, the law, constitution, God spirituality and the editorial rules of a state-owned newspaper. So far, so well. Now, if the truth must be told today, it is that Nigeria is a vehicle with a knock engine. This explains why the country is not really working. If a knock vehicle cannot take you to your destination, then don’t expect a motor-less nation to do so except you have hallucinations. People consider Nigeria to be a scrap for several reasons that space wouldn’t allow to be fully enumerated. However, as food for thought let’s take a cursory look at some of them. Enter the Chibok incident. It is over a month since students of Government Girls Secondary School in Chibok, a town in Borno State, were kidnapped. Till date, the federal and Borno Government cannot tell Nigerians the accurate number of the students abducted by the Boko Haram insurgents. This goes to show that Nigeria as a country lacks a foolproof demographic accounting system of every citizen in the country. To capture how heinous this gaffe is let’s assume you are a father whose building has collapsed while you are at work. You rush home.
By MICHAEL ODIGBE
Rescuers ask you how many of your children are trapped in the rubble and you begin to spew out guess figures. Will sympathizers take you serious? Imagine, a father cannot give an accurate statistics of his children trapped in a rubble!! That is scandalous. The same scenario is playing out today. It is over a month now that our Chibok girls were abducted. Yet we don’t know how many of them are missing. It is a pity we are preparing for a national census in 2016 valued at billions of naira. But we cannot carry out a simple arithmetical computation of our missing girls from Borno State alone. What is more? Our leaders claim they are fighting Boko Haram insurgency which has a transnational configuration. But no serious effort has been put in place to cut off their supplies of arms, ammunitions, funding, food, and medication. Similarly, the internal affairs ministry in 2013 informed us that we have 84 legal routes but 1479 illegal ones that lead into our country. So, tell me how Boko Haram terrorists wouldn’t easily be our next door neighbour? Commonsense ensure that we fence our buildings, homes, stadia and gardens to keep off intruders. But our visionless leaders since independence didn’t bother to build a human, physical and electronic perimeter fences round Nigeria. The project doesn’t interest them. What does is looting our public resources. It is where you put your mouth, you place your heart and development priorities. Again, we were told by the federal government in December 2013 that the nation has in its custody about 1,400 Boko Haram
suspects. After this revelation, the issue become dead letter. They weren’t charged to court. It is only now the government is announcing that it wants to take them to court. That is Nigeria for you where we make and unmake the rule of law which prescribes speedy trial for every suspect. Well, don’t expect too much from a filibustering government which speaks from both sides of the mouth
like a fish!! Exaggerated expectations in Nigeria of today will only give you cardiovascular accident. The cinematographic drama in the mismanagement of our Chibok girls episode is also available for free in the power sector. Last year, the government said it was privatising PHCN with the aim of improving the supply of power. However, the contrary has been the case.
Rather than deliver on the power mandate, government is only supplying staid fairytales to Nigerians, that are noting more than febrile attempts to rationalise abysmal failure in government PHNC privatisation effort. For instance, government denied ever promising EL Dorado in the power sector. It forget that what citizens expected was atleast a stability of energy supply at the level PHCN left the scene and thereafter a futuristic
requires about 3.7 billion dollars from these private investors to stabilize and raise our power supply to enviable levels. Government didn’t tell us when the dollars will roll in, however. Hmmm, this could be a long wait for adequate power supply by Nigerians. A hungry man who sends a chameleon to the market will die of hunger. Indeed what we have in our hands presently is a privatisation of PHCN gone awry and undertaken by government so as to transfer
paying the monthly fixed change ranging from N750 – N141, 748 to the Electricity Distribution Company. Here, again, is another government deceptive bait. What the public is demanding is that the fixed charge payment should be scrapped because it has no place in free market privatisation. Price fundamentalism operates in it. There is no room for arbitrary fixed charges imposed on customers by the regulatory commission. At this juncture, it shouldn’t be assumed that Nigeria’s problem are traceable only to our leaders. Followers also
gradual progression to improved power delivery to the people. Another Goebbelian rationalisation. Government propagated that unless private investors put their money in the power sector. Nigerians should forget about an end to their energy problems. During the Global World Forum held in Abuja from May 7-9, 2014, government announced that Nigeria
the heavy blame burden on its head to the new owners of PHCN. To rub in this strategy of escapism, government announced to the high heavens that the new power firms which bought PHCN are owing it N10 billion. Therefore, atleast, it is “assisting” them with credit facilities to succeed. So, if they fail, the government shouldn’t be blamed. While Nigerians are yet to come to terms with these realities of government rationalisations of its failure to take darkness away from Nigeria, another thriller was let loose on the people in 2014. Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission on April 30, 2014 stated that a customer who experiences power outrages continuously or cumulatively for 15 days would be exempted from
share in the malaise. Herein comes the relevance of Efe Osafuomwan’s second parable. Hear it: “If there is no band in the home, it is the father’s duty to provide it. Once the band is supplied and isn’t played, hold his children responsible, not the father.” Simply put, Efe Osafuomwan is saying that it takes two to tangle in a nation – the leaders and the followers. That is the truth who he also emphasizes should always be told by Nigerians. Therefore, Nigeria is a product of the interactions between bad leaders and followers. Hey Prof. Chinua Achebe, are you there? You can see that you erred by saying THE TROUBLE WITH NIGERIA are our leaders alone.
“What is more? Our leaders claim they are fighting Boko Haram insurgency which has a transnational configuration. But no serious effort has been put in place to cut off their supplies of arms, ammunitions, funding, food, and medication.”
Science
With Oyakhilome Clementina
Major Biomes Of The World THEY are found either in the tropical or temperate regions of the world. Rainfall is the main Ecological factor and two seasons do exist (Dry and Wet) in the temperate area, temperature is the main ecological factor with four seasons, namely summer, autumn, winter and spring. The World Major Biomes Include (A) Tropical rain forest, (B) Savanna, (C) Desert (D) Afro-Alpine and Tundra regions THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST Rainfall here is abundant and evenly distributed throughout the year. It supports a Luxiriant vegetation. Trees here are very tall with a strata, plant like epiphytes, climbers, shrubs and herbs do exist there. It is characterised by low light intensity, high humidity, still air and damp floor. Trees that do exist here include Mahogany, Iroko etc with broad dark leathery leaves, which prevents the leaves from fungal and bacterial growth. They also have pointed leaf mouth, so as water to flow quickly out of the leave. They also have thick bark to prevent great harvoc like internal injury to it, during the advent of fire outbreak. Tropical rainforest are located in three main areas of the equator. The largest being the amazon basin of South America while the next is indomalayan in the east indices, malaiyan and Vietnam and the third is the central and west Africa. SAVANNA It is dorminated by tall grasses and sparsely scattered shrubs and trees. They are found in all countries except in the cold Antarctic. Animals here tend to Aestivate meaning going to sleep when the weather is very hot, during the dry summer time and hibernate or go into an inactive state during the cold winter. Grass land is a zone of intense farming because the soil is rich in nutrients with a lot of enough pasture for graying. DESERT Desert are found in the western side of the land masses except sahara desert which extends across Africa. The annual rainfall mean, is less than 25mm. The temperature is very high during the day, because of the hot sun and low at night. The temperature during the day that is so high makes a lot of evaporation to take place, causing sparse vegetation, that do not support plant growth. Plants found here are date palm, cactus, prickly pear and sage brush. The animals found here are Apus, Camels, Lizards, rodents, scorpions and antelopes. These animals are able to conserve water, because it is not all the time they come in contact with water. AFRO – ALPINE They occur on the peaks of mountains especially in east Africa temperature here is very low because of the presence of snow which covers the area for about four to five months of the year which makes the trees not to grow tall because of harsh climatic conditions. Majority of the plants found in this zone are perennial plants like Bulbs, some of which have very short growing seasons. TUNDRA Tundra zone is a very cold biome whose top soil has thorns with a sub-soil that is usually frozen. It has long ICY winters and very short summer of three months with an average temperature of 10oc The vegetation comprises mainly of dwarf shrubs, grasses, sledges, lichens and Mosses. The plants here have very short growing season sixty days. TEMPERATE DELIDOUS FOREST TROPICAL RAINFALL
1. 2. 3. 4.
It has a few number of species It has a great variety of free species most of Most of the plants here are decidous the plants here are evergreen Epiphytes Epiphytes do not exist here exist here The animal species found in this The animal species found in this zone are zone are deer, raccoons and salamanders. mammals, reptiles and birds ECOLOGICAL FACTORS COMMON TO ALL HABITATS The factors common to all the habitats include, oxygen, light, temperature, pressure, wind and hydrogen ion concentration (PH). While the ecological factors that are found only in aquatic habitats include salinity, dissolved oxygen transparency or turbidity and current tides and waves. The ecological factors found only in terrestrial habitats include relative humidity edaphic and topographic factors. FACTORS THAT AFFECT POPULATION GROWTH 1. Miciration 2. competition 3. Food 4. Predation and Parasitism 5. Space 6. mortality/Nationality ECOLOGICAL FACTORS These are the biotic factors that affect living things in their habitat. They also determine the type of biotic community found in a particular habitat. TEMPERATURE This is the degree of hotness or coldness of a body. It is usually influenced by sunlight. It varies from place to place. There is a temperature range in a terrestrial habitat than that of an aquatic habitat from research, it has been found out that in an aquatic habitat, the temperature decreases with depth. Organisms that are living need an optimum temperature for their metabolic activities. Most animals die at high temperature and become inactive at low temperature. RAINFALL All living things require water to survive especially in a fresh water habitat, without little or no salt content. Rainfall is the most important climatic factor. LIGHTS Plants need light for the synthesis of their food. Light loving animals and active during the day, some like to stay under shade, some come out at night and light penetration is restricted by depth. WIND Wind carries current and waves do carries rain bearing clouds that influences climate, helps in the dispersal of seeds and fruits and also aids in pollination of some plants that are wind pollinated like the maize plant. HYDROGEN ION CONCENTTRATION (PH) This is the acidity or alkalinity of water. PRESSURE It decreased with increase in height in terrestrial habitat but will increase with an increase in the depth of aquatic habitat.
Issues
Tackling Corruption In Nigeria
THE task before the National Conference is a welcome development, though its effectiveness and success depends on the government because its decision may not be implemented. I wouldn’t say, there is nothing anybody can do if the government fails to implement its conclusion. The National Conference came to be because of the outcry of Nigerians. Now that the National Conference is here, there are some issues they must look into. To solve the problem of corruption is one of the things they must seek solution for. And if we want to solve corruption problem in Nigeria there is a place to begin. The starting point is the allowances of some groups of Nigerian workers. The traveling allowances of our government officers are phenomenon. Should it be so? What are the allowances of our public office holder? It is only Nigerian officers that allegedly sit on the first class section when they enter the aeroplanes. Who pays for it? They are paid for out of official allowances. How can official allowance be so large? Those of other countries are not allowed that fabulous allowance, why are we
By D. RICHARD OBASUYI
different in Nigeria. Nigerians would like to know. How can we vote people into offices and they use all our money to travel. They are cheaper means of travelling. If they are honest to the people who voted them into offices and if they love this country they should be honest enough to accept what is going on in other countries. By so doing, they can best deal with anyone who is found to be corrupt. You cannot solve corruption when you who is supposed to solve it is also corrupt. If corruption is to be solved, our politicians must be honest. They must have to deny themselves of some illegally acquired wealth. This is the foundation period of Nigeria. And if the foundation we build is faulty our children yet unborn will curse us. All of us in Nigeria want to go to America, Great Britain, Germany and all other European countries. Why? Because we see a beautiful country, we see country where there is justice. We see a country where there is fair play for everybody. Why can’t we do the same thing here in
Nigeria. Let me give my experience in London, England. It is not my country, yet I got justice over those who own the country. What happened? I went to a
shirt again. They refused to take the shirt and give me my money. I took the shirt to Customer Complain Bureau. I was asked to come back a few days later. I went back to them. They gave me the shirt to take to the store and collect my money. That was what I did and I got my money back.
Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Chairman
store in London and bought a beautiful shirt I love. When I got home I discovered that the shirt was not slim fit. I took it back to the store and demanded that they should slim fit the shirt. They refused and said that it was not possible to do it. I said they should give me my money, I don’t need the
When was their system established? Was it the day I had problem with what I bought? Certainly not! Their fathers laid honest foundation for their country. Let none of our leaders rejoice that they are scooping large sums of money to themselves now. It is curse they are heaping for their
“Let us make political office less attractive. By so doing, only those who have the interest of the nation at heart, and not those who want to amass wealth unto themselves using politics as a cloak, will seek political offices.”
“Nigeria is as a white cloth we want to fold. Who will fold the white cloth when everybody’s hand is soiled with corruption gains. Let me tell you, to solve corruption in Nigeria, it must take deliberate effort of our leaders.” children. And unless our politicians are able to subdue the cravings in themselves to amass wealth fraudulently, taking advantage of ignorant Nigerians, we are laying faulty foundation for this country. If there is no one to ask us, God will one day ask us. This situation whereby senate members, honourables and other government officers allegedly scoop exorbitant allowances for themselves is unconstitutional or at least should be unconstitutional. The National Conference is the forum where such issues could be discussed and firm stand taken as to what should be reasonable allowances of our public office holders. If the allowances of the National Assembly members are reasonable it will be to their praise and blessing. Every one in Nigeria should know that you don’t have to be corrupt to be rich. Nigeria is a democratic nation and in democracy it is government of the people for the people and by the people. Let the people decide what should to the traveling allowances of our public servants. I am saying this because this is the root of corruption. And if Nigeria is to get rid of corruption, it should start with the public office holders. Thanks to Mr. President who
demanded that his salary should be reduced when he assumed office. That was honest to an extent but much is still required. People rush into politics and want political offices because of the exorbitant gains in the offices. Political offices is not a do or die affair for many politicians. Why? The answer is not hard to know. If the gains of political positions are not rosy we will not kill each other for it. Let us make political office less attractive. By so doing, only those who have the interest of the nation at heart, and not those who want to amass wealth unto themselves using politics as a cloak, will seek political offices. If these politicians can love this nation above their own personal interest we will subdue corruption in this nation, and be in a position to face this giant as David faced Goliath, we will only be shouting. “Thief, thief, thief,” without anybody coming out to arrest the thief. At least, the thief will go free and live sumptuously above everyone. Nigeria is as a white cloth we want to fold. Who will fold the white cloth when everybody’s hand is soiled with corruption gains. Let me tell you, to solve corruption in Nigeria, it must take deliberate effort of our leaders. We must accept what is hard to accept, and we must do what is hard to do.
YOU can’t say Vladimir Putin lacks a pointed sense of humor. The entrée at the Russian president’s dinner for news agency editors on Saturday night was “Crimean flounder.” No kidding. As dinner was ending in the ornate Konstantinovsky Palace, Putin was asked whether he speaks regularly with U.S. president Barack Obama. “We have some contacts,” he shrugged. “But now I have to go speak with Mr. (Francois) Hollande and Mrs. (Angela) Merkel,” the French president and the German chancellor, respectively. With that he gave a champagne toast, and left. But before that he spoke at length on many topics during a three-hour interview before and during a seven-course dinner that included “soft smoked sturgeon salad” and “white asparagus soup with black caviar” as well as the recently Russified flounder. The topics ranged from the over-arching (Ukraine and the prospect of a new Cold War) to the less wellknown (the status of four islands disputed by Japan and Russia, in response to a Japanese editor’s query). The former communist quoted the Bible several times, dismissed suggestions that he wants to recreate the former Soviet Union, and said he doesn’t want a new Cold War. He also declared himself “liberal” on social and sexual mores, but added that people should not be “aggressive” in foisting their values on others. Speaking in Russian, with simultaneous translation into seven other languages, Putin came across as a clever, articulate man, with a grasp of the intricacies of issues, big and small. But the strongest impression, which emerged time and again, was of Putin’s strong sense of aggrievement over the
International Features Putin’s Dinner With Journalists West’s relegation of Russia, in his view, to second-tier status. It’s bitter. And it’s personal. “I always treat our partners with due respect,” he said at one point, “and I hope others treat Russia and me, personally, in the same way.” Regarding Obama’s denunciation of Russia’s annexation of Crimea, Putin snapped: “No one should talk like that to Russia.” At another point during dinner he declared: “If Russia is only allowed to sit next to someone and listen to what others say” at international conclaves, “that is not the rightful role for Russia.” He also decried “rude, forceful action against Russian interests” that might have led to Ukraine joining NATO and deploying missiles within easy range of Russia. He added: “(The West) should have considered the consequences” of encouraging such behavior. When an Italian editor asked about his reaction to rising nationalism and right-wing radicalism in Western Europe, Putin replied: “I hope you are not blaming us for that!” The editor hadn’t suggested, even indirectly, that Russia was to blame. And the notion that he is trying to re-create the old Soviet Union, Putin declared, was “a tool in the information war” fomented by Western media. The dinner for journalists culminated the three-day St. Petersburg
International Economic Forum, a discussion and networking event, patterned after the annual talkfest in Davos. The forum’s aim was to attract foreign investment, which Russia badly needs. Its economy is teetering on recession, and the Ukraine crisis has helped spark what the central bank put
forum, at the urging of the Obama administration. And despite Putin’s desire to focus the conference on investment opportunities, the discussion kept returning to Ukraine. After his speech to the conference’s plenary session on Friday, for example, Putin sat for an on-stage interview with
saying in the Bible, ‘Thou shall not make a graven image,” he explained. “That said, I love history and read it a lot, and I surf the web a lot. I often ask myself what other leaders would do in my situation.” But Putin expansively answered most questions, including one from a German journalist about
Vladimir Putin, Russia President
at almost $64 billion in net capital flight in the first three months in the year, almost as much as in the whole of last year. Putin pointed repeatedly to a recent commercial success: his new deal to provide China with $400 billion of natural gas over three decades. But most American chief executives stayed away from the
CNBC Europe anchor Geoff Cutmore. At one point, when Cutmore kept pressing Putin on Ukraine, the president snapped: “Oh, come on, really. You are a difficult man to deal with!” During the dinner with journalists he declined to name the national leader, past or present, he admires the most. “There is a
widespread Russian revulsion at the recent winner of the annual Eurovision song contest: an Austrian bearded male drag artist wearing a dress. “The Bible talks about the two genders, man and woman, and the main purpose of union between them is to produce children,” Putin explained. “For us it is important to
reaffirm traditional values.... I personally am very liberal (on matters of personal morality). People have the right to live their lives the way they want. But they should not be aggressive, or put it up for show.” On the sidelines of the economic forum there was lots of talk about moving past politics - as if the Ukraine crisis was akin to an everyday spat between Tories and Liberals, Democrats and Republicans, or Social Democrats and Christian Democrats - and getting on with business. The head of the Russian subsidiary of a major American manufacturer expressed hope that the current EastWest crisis would pass within months. And a Russian journalist said he expected that the RussianAmerican tensions would ease after Obama leaves office. But asked for evidence to support their views, neither the businessman nor the journalist had much to offer. And the war of rhetoric shows little sign of abating. Commenting on Britain’s Prince Charles, who compared Russia’s seizure of Crimea to Hitler’s aggression, Putin said: “It reminds me of a proverb: If you are angry, that means you are wrong.... This comparison is not acceptable. It is not what monarchs do.” And at another point, the Russian president observed: “We have a saying: ‘You cannot make other people like you’.” Courtesy Reuters
“On the sidelines of the economic forum there was lots of talk about moving past politics - as if the Ukraine crisis was akin to an everyday spat between Tories and Liberals, Democrats and Republicans, or Social Democrats and Christian Democrats - and getting on with business.”
International Ukraine Holds Election Amidst a.m. EDT), authorities said. KIEV/DONETSK, Ukraine None were open in the city of Tumoil - Ukrainians voted yesterday in Donetsk. a presidential election billed as the most important since they won their independence from Moscow 23 years ago, but armed pro-Russian separatists disrupted voting in eastern regions of the former Soviet republic. Early signs pointed to a high turnout in sunny weather in an election where the main candidates, including frontrunner Petro Poroshenko, a confectionery magnate, are promising closer ties with the West in defiance of Russia’s President Vladimir Putin. But the absence of over 15 percent of the electorate, in Russian-annexed Crimea and two eastern regions where
fighting with pro-Moscow rebels continued on Saturday, may mar any result - and leave the Kremlin questioning the victor’s legitimacy, for all Putin’s new pledge to respect the people’s will. Voting began in most of Ukraine at 8 a.m. (1 a.m. EDT) and will end 12 hours later, when exit polls will indicate a result ahead of an official outcome on Monday. Only about 20 percent of the polling stations in the heavily industrialized, Russian-speaking Donetsk region, which has 3.3 million registered voters, were working as of 9:30 a.m. (2.30
CHRISTIANAH
Weds
IZEVBUWA The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Williams Omotokunbo Christianah (A Business Woman) and Mr. Inneh Izevbuwa (A worker) took place on Saturday 24th May, 2014 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Sunday .A. Oluleh-Williams, Comrade Inneh Igbinosa Inneh, Barr. Lewis Inneh. Miss Sussan Anetor, family members, relations, friends and well-wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations! Photo: SONNIE .E.
“These are extremely important elections. We have to make sure Ukraine becomes a truly independent country, a powerful independent state that nobody will be able to push around,” said pensioner Mikhailo Belyk, 65, casting his ballot at a crowded polling station in a southeast district of the capital Kiev. Sounding an equally upbeat note, businessman Viktor Sypchenko, 45, said: “I am voting for my children and their future. I hope we can break free from our awful past.” The picture emerging in the east was more confused. European election monitors have largely pulled out of the Donetsk region for their own safety, citing a campaign of “terror” by proRussian separatists against Ukrainian electoral officials. At a school in a Donetsk suburb, pensioner Grigory Nikitayich, 72, was unhappy about being denied the right to vote for Poroshenko. “I don’t even know where I can vote. No one has said anything. What kind of polls are these? Things are bad.” Others also complained of being prevented from voting, in some cases because ballot papers had not been delivered due to security concerns after at least 20 people were killed in the region during fighting over recent days. Polls make Poroshenko, known as the “chocolate king” because of his confectionery empire, overwhelming favorite to win Sunday’s election. The biggest question is whether he can take over 50 percent to win outright. If not, a run-off vote will be held on June 15. He was a strong backer of the protests against Moscow-backed president Viktor Yanukovich last winter and has sought a quick victory by warning that new unrest might prevent a second round. His closest, if distant, rival is Yulia Tymoshenko, a former prime minister. She remains a divisive figure to many, more closely linked than Poroshenko with the economic failures and graft that have blighted postSoviet Ukraine. “It is time to hold a referendum on joining NATO to restore peace in Ukraine,” said Tymoshenko after voting in her native city of Dnipropetrovsk in central Ukraine. Russia is fiercely opposed to Ukraine joining the Western military alliance. As Yanukovich’s fiercest rival, Tymoshenko may benefit from the fact that few of the 5 million voters in his eastern power base regions of Donetsk and Luhansk may be able to cast ballots for any of the 21 candidates.
RACHAEL
CHANGE OF NAME
Weds
NDUKA – I formerly Elizabeth Ngozi Nduka, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Elizabeth Ngozi Salami. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
OSAITE The solemnization of marriage between former Miss Rachael Omoyemhe Jatto (An Executive Officer) and Mr. Osaite Owie Onaghinor (A Civil Servant) took place on Saturday 24th May, 2014 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Prince A. J. Owie Onaghinor, Mr. Jatto .O. Bernard, Chief D.A. Ehondor (The Obahiagbon of Benin). Hon Lawrence Ojo Oboh (JP), family members, relations, friends and well-wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations! Photo: SONNIE .E.
GOVERNMENT SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT This is to inform the General Public that the Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole will inaugurate the following Boards and Committee as follows: Christian Pilgrim Welfare Board and Muslim Pilgrim Welfare Board Date: Monday, 26th May, 2014 Time: 3.00pm Edo City Transport Service Board and Committee on Forestry Management Date: Tuesday, 27th May, 2014 Time: 11.00am The ceremonies will hold at the Banquet Hall Government House, Benin City. Guests are expected to be seated 30 minutes before inauguration time. The names of members are as follows: EDO CITY TRANSPORT SERVICE BOARD: 1. HON. SUNNY UYIGUE – CHAIRMAN 2. ALHAJI JIM GARUBA – VICE CHAIRMAN 3. MR. CHARLES ALOAYE 4. MRS. PHILO EKHORAGBON 5. MR. HENRY AGHO 6. MR. DENIS OMO-COLE 7. HON. S. N. OKOH 8. EDNA OMOROGBE 9. BARR. EDDY SADOH 10. PASTOR ISIKPE KADIRI 11. MR. STEPHEN IMODU 12. MR. FRANK DAVID 13. OMOLE BENJAMIN 14. MRS. ROSALINE AKHERE ILUOBE 15. HON. ANTHONY EIMINOWELE CHRISTIAN PILGRIM WELFARE BOARD: 1. BISHOP PETER IMASUEN – CHAIRMAN 2. PASTOR EGHOSA OMORUYI 3. PROPHETESS DUPE BENSON 4. EVANG. E. O. AGBONIFO 5. REV. ABIOLA OMOBUDE 6. APOSTLE FIDELIS SHANU 7. PASTOR EMMANUEL BRAIE 8. PASTOR ODION OSAYOMWANBO 9. PASTOR ROSE AHUNWAN 10. DEACON M. I. OMORUYI 11. PASTOR STEPHEN OKUGBE 12. REV. SYLVESTER OSAGIE 13. PASTOR EMMANUEL ONAIWU 14. PASTOR DANIEL EDOBOR 15. MR. JAMES ASHORE 16. MR. GABRIEL UMOLE 17. MRS. CHRISTY AUDU 18. THOMAS ATEMA 19. JOHN ASEKHOME 20. MRS. VERO OREKPITE 21. MR. PATRICK OJO 22. MRS. ODIHIRIN JANET 23. IBHALU PATRICIA 24. EHIZOJIE PATRICK 25. MRS. JULIET EMIONWE 26. HELEN OIGBOCHIE 27. DEBORAH OFURE OKOSUN 28. MR. JOLY IBIZUGBE 29. MR. SAMSON IDEHEN 30. MR. OSARO ERIBO 31. REV. L. A. OHENHEN 32. REV. ANDY EBOH 33. BEST IRIABE 34. REV. (BARR.) SOLOMON W. AKHIGBE
35. 36. 37. 38.
LADY M. N. OSULA MOST SNR. AP. R. E. OMORO REVD. MONDAY MADUKWE REV. OLU ADERIGBIGBE
MUSLIM PILGRIM WELFARE BOARD 1. ALHAJI IGIENEGBAI – CHAIRMAN 2. ALHAJI ENABULELE ABDULFATTAH – VICE CHAIRMAN 3. ALHAJI S. M. O. MOMOH 4. ALHAJI ABDULKADIRI MOMODU 5. ALHAJI IBRAHIM INUAGHATA 6. COL. UMAR OTOKITI (RTD) 7. ALHAJI MOHAMMED IGHILE 8. YUSUF SUMAILA 9. ALHAJI DAUDA OKHOMINA 10. MR. BALOGUN ADE 11. BARR. JIMOH LAWAL 12. ALHAJI YAKUBU OBOH 13. ALHAJI YAHAYAH AMEN 14. ALHAJI BABA SANNI 15. ALHAJI B. J. IDEGBESOR 16. ALHAJI D. M. D. GARUBA 17. ALHAJI ABDULRAMAH MOMOH 18. MOHAMMED FATIMA 19. MALLAM BELLO OBADAN 20. HAJIA ADIKETU 21. HON. ALHAJI EGBEDION 22. MRS. O. E. RUKAIYAT 23. MRS. MAZIAM ABDULAHI 24. ALHAJI ZAKARI BARKUM 25. MALLAM MAURUF IBRAHIM 26. HAJIA ATIE URNARIE 27. ALHAJI AHMED E. ISMAILA 28. DR. MUSA OROBOR 29. EBOWE HASSAN 30. BADAMASI SALIH 31. HAJIA ZULE YAHAYA 32. UMORU MUTALA 33. HABIB OMORU 34. MUSA MOHAMMED 35. OMORU-FARUK OMOGBAI 36. SHAIBU MAMEDU 37. HAJIA FATIMA ADAMU 38. BELIYU YAMAH 39. MRS. SALAMUTU BELLO COMMITTEE ON FORESTRY MANAGEMENT: 1. HON. SAMSON ABU – CHAIRMAN 2. MR. DENNIS EDOMWONYI 3. MR. LAWRENCE IDABIE 4. MR. BENSON U. OGBEBOR
5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. 46. 47. 48.
MR. ANTHONY ISERHIENHEN MR. OSAGIE EDOSOMWAN MR. EHIGIATOR OSAMWONYI IGHIWIYISI NOMWENGHO MR. PAUL AVANRENREN MR. VICTOR EKHATOR MR. ROLAND OSARENMWINDA PRINCESS SONATAN EWEKA BETA MABIRI MR. OLADOKUN OSAGIE MR. PETER IMUETINYAN MR. JOHN ENADEGHE MR. BALOGUN B. O. MR. MICHAEL ADESUNLOYE ALHAJI ZAFARU ALOAYE ANTHONY AKPOGOMEH MR. MOMOH SULE HAJIA RUKAYETU HARUNA VICTOR OGEDENGBE MR. F. K. IFIDON MR. MONDAY ALAO PETER IMAFIDON CHARLES OSEMEDE AGWI VASCO JAMES EROMOSELE GODWIN OMEDE FRANCIS UBENE MR. CHRISTOPHER AIKOHI HON. JOHN ILEGBINOSA HON. BORONI AIGBOKHAEBHOLO ABDULAZEEZ MUHAMMED AWEL ALHAJI MUHAMMED ABUBAKAR MR. RICKY EHIOROBO MR. KINGSLEY UYIGUE MR. OSAZE URHOGHIDE MR. JIMOH FADAIRO SUNDAY OSAGUONA OSAGIE EDOKPAYI CHRIS IYIRHIARHO PAUL OKPE EVANS OKUNGBOWA ALHAJI ADAMU TIJANI SANUSI MOMOH-DEJI IKHUMETSE MOMODU
This announcement supersedes the one earlier published, please.
Signed: Hon. Patrick Obahiagbon, Chief of Staff, Government House
Opinion
Towards Treading The Path Of Patriotism WHEN Nigeria’s national pledge was coined, the consideration of the author(s) was essentially centred on the need for the citizens to be patriotic through loyalty, faithfulness and honesty in all aspects of life to their fatherland. Indeed, Nigerians during the colonial era tried, though vaguely to toe the path of patriotism until the mid 70s when things began to fall apart, resulting in the current malady involved in the acquisition of materialsm. Since then, acts associated with decoruim and decent conduct have eroded or completely disappeared from the culture and tradition of the people as hardwork and honesty now for the wretched of the earth leaving the country in a decadent state where only the conscienceless thrive. But in spite of all these, there are still few Nigerians who refused to be swayed by the emerging circumstances that would make many to conclude that “If you can not beat them, you join them”. One of such Nigerians who refused to
By MORRISON HAYBLE join them is ACP David Jimwan who rather chose the path of hardwork and good name in his service to the nation. ACP Jimwan stood himself out from the popular bandwagon effect as a typical good Nigerian. When in October, 2012, on assumption of office at Auchi as the new Police Area Commander after the unfortunate demise of his predecessor, Haruna Gabriel, little did the people know that he arrived with genuine desire and patriotic zeal, not just to serve, earn his pay and leave but actually to make an impact. In less than two months of his arrival, ACP Jimwon received very embarrassing embrace from a group of hoodlums who attacked Auchi town on the 26 th November, 2012 causing the death of many and destruction of property including the Area Command building which was completely levelled down with the aid of explosive devices. Also
affected in the same manner is the building housing the Divisional Police Officer yet
but instead, temporarily took solace under the mangoe tress in the premises. The unfortunate development did not go
Foluso Adebanjo, Edo State Commissioner of Police
to be raised to this day. However, after the attack neither the Area Commander nor his supporting staff had a place to operate as office
down well with the new Area Commander and he moved to conquer the situation, seeking a permanent solution to the
office accommodation problem. Recognising the fact that government response to this demand might take enternity to come, and believing in private partnership for positive result, as government alone could not be depended upon entirely for everything, ACP David Jimwan Commenced an unbelievable and gigantic storey building project to give the Area Command a befitting office complex. It took the Area Commander few months of relentless commitment and sacrifice to go round his well wishers, friends and sympathisers far and wide, cap in hand seeking support to ensure the fruition of the building project that will afterall, not bear his name as owner. ‘What is now a beautiful edifice housing the Edo North Area Command is the aftermath of ACP Jimwan’s selfless desire to have it done. Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso Adebanjo who was amazed remarked while officially commissioning the complex last month that Jimwan is an example of a new Nigerian and called for emulation from all ranks and files to move the country forward. The COMPOL was but full
of praises and commendation for the rare demonstration of patriotism in the service of his fatherland. Tributes for the Area Commander also came from the chairman, Police Community Relations committee, Auchi Chapter, Alhaji Auidu Momodu who described him as a wonderful officer, the type he had never seen. “Can you imagine the huge sacrifice he mad to erect that office, not his property”. How many Nigerians can do same these days? Alhaji Momodu asked rhetorically. The soft spoken Police officer had said when asked how he came about the initiative that he refused to be frustrated by the circumstances that greeted his resumption of Auchi in less than 60 days. He noted that the ugly development was enough to discourage anybody but it was not to b e adding that he took the step because he was convinced that what is worth doing is worth doing well. ACP Jimwan was quick to add that he erected the building not to gain favour but out of sheer concern. What David Jimwan will not take away when his transfer is eventually due is the building he laboured to erect but in all of these he will certainly take away good name imprinted in gold.
Entrepreneurship The Way Forward For Nigerian Youths “IF opportunity doesn’t knock, build a door’’-Milton Berle ‘’Entrepreneurship is the process of identifying and starting a new business venture, sourcing and organizing the required resources, while taking both the risks and rewards associated with the venture. “Entrepreneurship” may result in new organizations or revitalize mature organizations in response to a perceived business opportunity’’-Chartered institute of Economics and Corporate governance. Meanwhile, An entrepreneur is seen as one who organizes and manages a business undertaking, assumes the risk for the sake of profit, an entrepreneur sees an opportunity, makes a plan, starts the business and manages the business. He receives the profits. A new business started by an entrepreneur is referred to as a startup company. In recent years, the term has been extended to include social and political forms of entrepreneurial activities.
Nigeria like most developing nations of the world is faced with countless problems and callous realities which include scarcity, unemployment, kidnapping, conflicts and diseases. These situations pose great challenges to the existence of youth in Nigeria. This problem is said to be traceable to the level of corruption and other illegal activities carried out by those at the top. A greater proportion of the nation’s population is made up of youths under 30. Therefore, it can be asserted that Nigeria has a youth economy. All cannot be gainfully employed by the government but all should be empowered and counseled by relevant government and private institutions to reduce the high rate of menace in the society. Governments and big private bodies must thus encourage entrepreneurship. There are several ways of promoting entrepreneurship among Nigerian youths and this would help in tackling the series of problems being
By GIDADO YUSHAU SHUAIB encountered by this vulnerable group in the society. These will require that the youths be empowered with creative problem solving skills. The training of graduates, literate and illeducated, who can function effectively in the society for the betterment of themselves and the society at large. Another way that entrepreneurship and
creativity could be encouraged is by teaching or nurturing on entrepreneurial skill at an early age. Thus tertiary institutions offering entrepreneurial courses should be strengthened while programs can be organized to educate Nigerians both literate and illiterate about the relevance of entrepreneurship to the individual and the
community. In reshaping Nigerian youths for the abolition of unemployment and the use of entrepreneurship, there would be need to transform them into self-sufficient, ambitious and skillful members of the society, who take advantage of relevant legal opportunities in the society. Individuals who go for non degree training in skills acquisition with
entrepreneurial background are also not left out. All must have a high level of creativity and innovation and the ability to think about the future and relate these ideas to business. Finally, with the spirit of oneness, inter faith and inter tribal existence and the desire for collective survival and the discarding of the idea of survival of the fittest, there will be a steady growth of development, mutual support and adequate networking among the Nigeria youths.
“In reshaping Nigerian youths for the abolition of unemployment and the use of entrepreneurship, there would be need to transform them into selfsufficient, ambitious and skillful members of the society, who take advantage of relevant legal opportunities in the society.”
AWC Qualifier
AYC Qualifier
Flying Eagles Breeze Pass Tanzania
Super Falcons Trounce Rwanda NIGERIA’S senior women football team, the Super Falcons, on Saturday in Gisenyi trounced hosts Rwanda 4-1 in a first leg match in the 2014 African Women Championship (AWC) qualifiers. n the match monitored from Abuja, the Falcons started the game brightly by dominating proceedings, but they also threw away the many scoring chances they created. Asisat Oshoala, however, opened scoring in the 37th minute with a volley from inside the box, while Desire Oparanozie set up Oshoala three minutes later for the second goal. The six-times African champions made it 3-0 immediately after resumption when team captain Evelyn Nwabuoku found Esther Sunday who beat the Rwanda goalkeeper with a low shot. Rwanda pulled a goal back in the 65th minute when Clementine Mukamana’s free kick beat Precious Dede in goal for Nigeria. Seemingly stunned by the goal, the Nigerian girls piled
pressure on their hosts and Oparanozie was brought down inside the penalty box. She rose to convert the resultant penalty kick for the Falcons’ fourth goal in the match. Speaking after the game, Falcons’ coach Edwin Okon said it was a good game for her side, even though he felt the scoreline did not justify the game. He said the Falcons should have scored more goals if they had converted the numerous chances created. “It is a good game, a good win. We did not expect it to be this easy, but we take positives in the girls’ teamwork. But they lost so many scoring chances. “However, we shall go back and work on them to ensure that they do not repeat the misses again in Nigeria,’’ Okon said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the second leg of the qualifier will be played in Nigeria on June 7. The AWC is scheduled to hold in Namibia from October. 11 to October. 25.
Aminu Maigari, NFF President
Basketball Enthusiasts Hail Olajuwon’s Ambassadorial Appointment BASKETBALL enthusiasts on Saturday hailed the promote the face of appointment of Hakeem Olajuwon a two-time U.S. basketball in Africa,’’ National Basketball Association (NBA) League Champion Pinheiro said. and Basketball Hall of Famer, as Africa NBA Ambassador. A former National Coach, Olajuwon was on May 21 equipment and clinics for Ganiu Otenigbagbe, who named the NBA African coaches and league players, played a prominent role in Ambassador to help in the not necessarily to take players discovering Olajuwon, described the appointment as development of basketball on abroad. wonderful. “However, it is a good the continent. He said that Olajuwon was He would be working in development that one of ours collaboration with Amadou has been given an equal to the task. “It is a great development; Gallo Fall, the NBA Vice- ambassadorial role to help to President Africa in Johannesburg, South Africa. The basketball aficionados gave the commendation in interviews with NAN in Lagos. Agboola Pinheiro, Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) Board Member, said Olajuwon and the NBA Africa programme should develop the African Basketball Leagues. “In the past, the NBA programme has always done basketball clinics and taken some of our players overseas. “This alone cannot bring development; they have to look at the areas of developing the leagues financially, even if they will monitor how their money is being used. “They also should be Hakeem Olajuwon looking at materials,
Olajuwon has always wanted to help. “This is coming at a time when basketball is no more a small sport in Nigeria and in the rest of Africa. “Olajuwon is a great person; I am very happy for him. “He is very humble and has done the nation proud by his successes in the U.S. “His experience in the sport will be beneficial for us in Africa - the technical experience and equipment needed to help develop the game. “Olajuwon is a down to earth person; he knows what we need in Africa to develop the game, and we will feel his impact. “ I urge all basketball federations in Africa to work with him,’’ Otenigbagbe said. Gbade Olatona, Lagos State Basketball Associations (LSBBA) Technical Adviser, described Olajuwon as a resourceful individual, who really needed to help develop the game in Africa. “He is one person that has been too quiet ever since he retired. The ambassadorial role given to him will surely
bring him out of his shell. “He will surely make a great impact because of his vast experience and ability to understand the African terrain, since he is the product of the system,’’ Olatona said. Olumide Oyedeji, Nigeria’s widely-travelled player and D’Tigers’ Captain, told NAN that the appointment was a great gain for Nigeria and Africa. “It is a great development for Nigeria and Africa as a whole; during his career, he played to the highest level any player can dream of. “I have no doubt that he can use his connections and vast experience to change and promote the face of basketball in Africa. “He was my motivator and mentor; he is someone that cares; I have worked with him many times and felt his impact in my life,’’ Oyedeji said. NAN reports that since 2003, the NBA has worked with community-based organisations to create 38 places to live, learn or play in Africa, including youth hostels and sports complexes.
THE Flying Eagles on Saturday beat their visiting Tanzanian counterparts 4-1 in Kaduna to qualify for the third and final round of the 2015 African Youth Championship (AYC) qualifiers. The national under-20 men’s football team qualified on a 6-1 aggregate, after winning the first leg match two weeks earlier 2-0 in Dar es Salaam. They will now face the winners of the second round match between Lesotho and Angola in August to secure a berth at the AYC in Senegal in March. In the match played at the Ahmadu Bello Stadium in Kaduna, hosts Nigeria took the lead in the seventh minute through Alhassan Ibrahim whose low shot beat goalkeeper Hamad Joma. However, the Ngorongoro Heroes drew level after 16 minutes, when Banda Hassan curled a free kick from outside the box beyond Flying Eagles goalkeeper Joshua Enaholo. Musa Yahaya put Nigeria in front again in the 33rd minute, moments after Taiwo Awoniyi threw away a sitter and Wilfred Ndidi’s header off a corner missed target narrowly. Two minutes later, Awoniyi made up for his several misses with a third goal for the Flying Eagles, who continued to control proceedings. Ibrahim would have made it 4-1 three minutes before half time, but chose to shoot at goal and missed the mark. Substitute Chidera Eze made the game safe for the Nigerian side in the 69th minute by scoring their fourth goal. That the match venue was filled to capacity for the game.
Flying Eagles Coach, Manu Garba
Champions League...Champions League...Champions League...
Ancelotti Hails Victory REAL Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has hailed the attitude of Gareth Bale after the Welshman scored the decisive goal that lifted the Spanish giants to Champions League glory. With a pulsating final between city rivals Real and Atletico Madrid finely poised at 1-1, Bale struck five minutes into the second period of extra time to break the hearts of the recentlycrowned Primera Division champions. Having missed several chances throughout normal time, including a clear cut opportunity when through on goal when the game was still goalless, Bale held his nerve to steer a header into an empty net after Angel di Maria had seen his initial shot saved by Atletico goalkeeper Thibaut Courtois. His persistence impressed Ancelotti, who said: “It was very important because he had tried before, but he was unlucky in front of goal. “But he turned up when he was needed.” It is the second time that Bale has scored a crucial goal in a cup final in his first season with Real, with his solo match-winning goal against Barcelona in the Copa del Rey earning rave reviews. Bale’s strikes in showpiece encounters will go a long way to silencing the critics that doubted his ability to live up to his world record £85.3million price tag, and Ancelotti is confident the former Southampton and Tottenham midfielder is capable of improvement. “All season Gareth has been good and he will be better next year,” Ancelotti added.
Marcelo’s strike and Cristiano Ronaldo’s penalty gave the scoreline a rather flattering look as Real claimed a 4-1 victory and finally sealed the dream of ‘La Decima’, their 10th European Cup triumph. “We’re very proud of having won this for all Madrid fans,” Ancelotti said. “Happiness is giving happiness to those who always follow us. The fans are very happy and that makes us happy. “I have had a fantastic group of players who have always been professional and they showed that in this match too. Not only those who were delighted to be playing, but also those who were not playing. “We’ve worked hard this season to achieve this.” Atletico had looked on course for a famous double as, having wrapped up the La Liga title last week, they took a 36th-minute lead on Saturday night through Diego Godin’s header. Yet their failure to double their lead ensured they were on the back foot for much of the final half hour and their defence was finally breached in the third minute of added-on time when Sergio Ramos headed home from a corner. From then on, there was only going to be one winner, with several Atletico players showing visible signs of fatigue, yet boss Simeone, who was involved in an ugly on-field spat with Real defender Raphael Varane before the final whistle, was proud of his players. “This fixture doesn’t deserve one tear, when you give your life, there’s nothing to say,” he said.
Real Madrid players celebrating their champions league triumph.
Real Seals 10th Title
THERE was something magical surrounding this season’s Champions League showpiece even before Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid produced one of the great finals at Benfica’s Stadium of Light on Saturday. Spanish media estimated 100,000 people made the trip across the border to Lisbon but only around 40,000 of those had tickets to see Real beat Atletico 4-1 after extra time in the first final between two teams from the same city. “It was a special night, you could just feel something in the air,” Real manager Carlo
Ancelotti told reporters of the memorable final littered with records. “I was not sure it was so magical when we were losing with time running out, but you felt something magical might happen in this stadium and in this city, and luckily for us it did.” It was the highest-scoring final
Atletico Face Tough Task To Stay Top IT took Atletico Madrid 40 years to reach a second European Cup final and it might be a similarly long wait for a third appearance with wealthy clubs set to poach the La Liga champions’ key assets. A week after Diego Godin headed the goal against Barcelona that won them the La Liga title for the first time since 1996, the Uruguayan nodded in a corner against Real Madrid in the final of the Champions League in Lisbon. They looked set for a miraculous league and European double before Sergio Ramos equalised in the 93rd minute to force extra time and deflate Atletico, who collapsed to a 4-1 loss after the extra 30 minutes. The effects of a limited squad
• Diego Simeone
finally catching up with them against a blockbuster Real lineup, clearly fresher as the game wore on. The loss resembled their sole previous final appearance when they were denied victory in the 1974 European Cup final against Bayern Munich by a late equaliser before losing the replay 4-0. Despite their remarkable successes this season, they look ahead with an uncertain future with financial limitations making it a tough task to keep hold of their star names. The combative Diego Costa, who has been their talisman in attack this season with 36 goals, has been strongly linked with a move to Chelsea, while promising goalkeeper Thibaut
Courtois could join him at Stamford Bridge if an agreement to either extend his loan deal or sign him outright cannot be reached. Clubs have also cast admiring glances at wingers Arda Turan and Koke, who is still only 22, and while Atletico were able to cope with the loss of Colombian striker Radamel Falcao last season, they are unlikely to be able to withstand any more purging. On top of that, Simeone’s squad is full of players aged around 30 - with youthful potential looking limited. That despite Atletico boasting one of the strongest youth academies in Spain that has produced the likes of international striker Fernando Torres and goalkeeper David De Gea, but holding on to the talent has been a problem. Now, though, there is only sympathy in the Spanish press for Atletico, who lost the final in the cruellest of ways, and Simeone in particular. He pushed his players as much as he could but boiled over in the final stages when he confronted Real defender Raphael Varane on the pitch. “Simeone experienced for the first time in his short career as a coach the bitter side of a final,” read Spanish daily Sport. Having wiped away the tears of disappointment, a defiant Simeone was convinced that
Atletico can come back stronger. “I said to the players, the game today didn’t deserve tears because when you give your all you have to have your head held high,” the Argentina told reporters. “We were beaten having done our best. This means that we will grow from this. It puts us in a position to continue competing and the opposition know what they are up against.”
since Liverpool’s 3-3 draw with AC Milan in Istanbul in 2005 as Real became the first team to score four in a final since the Italians beat Barcelona 4-0 in 1994. It was also the first final since Manchester United beat Benfica 4-1 in 1968 that a side had scored three times in extra time to win the European Cup after the game finished level at 1-1 after 90 minutes. Extra time was needed after Benfica’s Eusebio wasted a chance to win it with seconds remaining at the end of normal time at Wembley before United prevailed 4-1 to become the first English winners of the European Cup. A year earlier, in the only other final to be played in Lisbon before Saturday’s match, Celtic became the first British team to win it when they beat Inter Milan 2-1 at the National Stadium. But while Celtic’s survivors of that night, known as the ‘Lisbon Lions’, were feted in the Portuguese capital this week, Eusebio’s absence was felt. The all-time great of Benfica
and Portugal’s most loved player died earlier this year as did Mario Coluna, another pillar of the Benfica side that won the European Cup in 1961 and 1962 when they beat Real Madrid 53. That was one of the 13 European Cup finals Real have now taken part in and while Saturday’s eventually ended in glory with the elusive “La Decima”, or 10th victory, it followed a familiar pattern. In five of their 10 victories, including Saturday’s, Real have fallen behind and had to turn matches around to win. In the first final in 1956 they trailed Reims 2-0 before winning 4-3 and in 1960 they fought back to beat Eintracht Frankfurt 7-3 after the Germans took the lead. On Saturday, a goal deep into additional time at the end of 90 minutes from Sergio Ramos levelled the scores at 1-1 and sent the game into extra time, where Gareth Bale, Marcelo and Portugal’s current poster boy, Cristiano Ronaldo, scored to give Real victory.
Triumph Makes Sacrifices Worthwhile - Di Maria REAL Madrid’s Angel Di Maria accepted a man-of-thematch award from Alex Ferguson on Saturday and said winning the Champions League made a sore leg and a year of sacrifice worthwhile. Real Madrid’s Argentinian midfielder Angel di Maria (L) vies with Atletico Madrid’s forward David Villa during the UEFA Champions League Final Real Madrid vs Atletico de Madrid at Luz stadium in Lisbon, on May 24, 2014. The Argentine worked tirelessly down the wing to keep his side in the final of Europe’s elite club competition after Atletico went 1-0 up after 36 minutes at the Stadium of Light. In extra time, he had to drop back because of an injured leg and allow substitute Marcelo to
surge forward. But Di Maria finished the game and his efforts were instrumental in Real’s 4-1 win. “I felt a small pain in the back of my leg. I couldn’t really run so I decided to stay back and have Marcelo play in front of me,” the 26-year-old Argentina international said. “For me it’s fantastic to have won this cup - it’s a dream I’ve had since I was a small child. “As the group we worked very hard all year long. We lost La Liga... we’ve made many sacrifices all the year and it’s great to win it,” he added. Real faded in the Spanish title race and finished third in the Spanish league behind Atletico and Barcelona. Di Maria, who played for Benfica before joining Real, said
he felt at home back in the Portuguese club’s stadium. “I was happy here and did some good things here that got me the move to Real Madrid and it really makes me happy to win Champions League here too.”
• Di Maria
Marquinho s Wary of Luiz Signing
Ancelotti Delivers Real’s Missing Trophy THE Italian, who had signed a three-year deal, told president Florentino Perez as much. ‘La Decima’ had turned into somewhat of a curse for the La Liga giants, who were without an appearance in the UEFA Champions League final since 2002. But that changed in Lisbon on Saturday as a 4-1 win over city rivals Atletico Madrid saw Real to a record 10th title. Plenty of credit must go to Ancelotti, who has brought stability and led them to a double in his first season in charge. “On my first day, when I went to the Santiago Bernabeu trophy room, I said to the president that there was one cup missing and that we should try to get it this season,” Ancelotti said after Saturday’s win. “We’ve managed to do that. “I’ve felt a lot of trust in me from the whole of the club, and we’ve had the composure to win games.” Real did it the hard way as Diego Godin opened the scoring for Atletico, capitalising on goalkeeper Iker Casillas getting caught in no-man’s land. Ancelotti’s men needed until the 93rd minute to level as
Ancelotti with the trophy
Sergio Ramos headed in a Luke Modric corner to force extratime. “What was most difficult was to get the equaliser,” Ancelotti said. “We didn’t have any space, Atletico defended very well, but we tried every way possible, right to the end – we managed to do it and then the game changed completely. “The goal we scored gave us a lot of strength and after that perhaps we wanted the victory more.” Angel Di Maria’s dazzling run and strike, well saved by Thibaut Courtois, led to Gareth Bale putting Real ahead in extra-time. Marcelo and Cristiano Ronaldo, never to be denied, added the polish against the tired-looking La Liga champions. “I am lucky, but not for this game,” Ancelotti said.
• Sergio Ramos with the UEFA champions league trophy
Sergio Ramos Dedicates Goal To Fans
SERGIO Ramos dedicated his stoppage-time equaliser to all Real Madrid fans after the club’s Champions League triumph on Saturday, calling it his “most important goal.” Real were two minutes away from watching local rivals Atletico celebrate with the European Cup when Ramos rose to head a corner kick into the bottom of the net. Los Blancos went on to win the trophy in extra time, and the 28-year-old defender was quick to label his equaliser the top goal of his career. “This goal isn’t mine, it is for all Real Madrid fans, my family and all who supported us to the
end,” Ramos said. “We deserve this after so many years. “It’s my most important goal. It’s incredible to make the fans happy by fighting to the end. “I can’t explain what I feel. It all happened so fast that I didn’t even realize it . We have made history before a great rival. We toast the Champions League victory to all who love football.” Gareth Bale gave Real the lead in extra time, and later insisted that he and his teammates always
Atletico Can Be Proud - Simeon DIEGO Simeone told his players to keep their heads up after Atletico Madrid fell just minutes short of winning the Champions League, saying, “We know we’ve given it our all.” Los Rojiblancos led for nearly an hour after Diego Godin opened the scoring in the 36th minute, but Sergio Ramos scored on a header in stoppage time to equalise. Real Madrid went on to win 4-1 in extra time, but Simeone said Atletico played a match of which they can be proud. “You have to look at it overall,” Simeone said. “Madrid were better in the second half, they kept us in our half and we couldn’t get out. Football is wonderful because of that. People say that winning is the most important thing, but the support we’ve had from people tells you there’s another side to it. I told my players that, when you’ve played as well as they did tonight, to keep their heads up and start thinking about next season. “You can lose or you can win — this time it’s our turn to lose and we know we’ve given it our all. People responded to what the team have done and that allows
us to grow further and continue to compete. “It’s not sadness, it’s bitterness. I feel bitter that I didn’t reach our objective. I wish I could have won the way I wanted, but I couldn’t — though I can overcome this. I know that, once you’ve given your all, there’s other players and another match. In life, and in football, you’ve got everything one day, then you’ve got nothing the next — you have to keep going. Atletico captain Tiago agreed that his teammates delivered to the best of their abilities. “We gave everything and at the end we had no more strength left,” Tiago said. “We gave it all but we are sad because we had it so close. All we can do is be thankful and we will keep it alive for our club. I am proud of our team “ Simeone gave a start to striker Diego Costa, who was managing a recent slight tear to a hamstring. Costa only lasted nine minutes before he had to be replaced, using a valuable substitute that Atletico could have used to kill off the game. The Argentine manager owned up to his decision. “It was my responsibility to have [Diego Costa] play and
obviously I made a mistake because I had to switch him as early as I did; obviously he wasn’t as good as he had been the day before,” Simeone said. “That was my decision to make. We looked at each other, we caught each other’s eye, and we didn’t want to waste part of the game with one less player.” Atletico can take solace in the knowledge that they won’t end the season empty-handed, having already bested Real and Barcelona for the title in La Liga. “The supporters should be proud of an excellent season, they shouldn’t waste a single second being sad,” Simeone said. “Once you’ve given your all, you can’t go around licking your wounds — you have to come back and compete next season, go around annoying other teams and being pests next year too. “Now we’ll do the same thing we always do. On Monday we’ll start preparing for next season, see who’s coming in and who’s leaving and see the options for new players. Once we’ve done the work with the club’s sporting management, we’ll have a break with our families, watch the World Cup and then excitedly begin again.”
believed they could come back to win, despite being behind for most of the final in Lisbon. “For us, when we play our own football we win matches and it was literally just about attacking and keep doing what we do best,” Bale told Sky Sports. “We believe in that and we believed if we kept doing that we would win.” During normal time it looked like being a frustrating evening for Bale, with the former Spurs winger missing three decent opportunities, but the Welshman was pleased to see his efforts rewarded in the end. “I’ve learned from past experience to just keep going,
forget about the chances you’ve missed, and keep persevering. Th ankfully I got the decisive goal,” he added. “It was great to see it go in.” Angel Di Maria, who set up Bale’s winner by zigzagging into the box, said attaining La Decima would not be the end of the club’s quest for trophies. “It’s an amazing relief. I can’t believe what we have achieved this year,” the Argentina international said, according to SportYou. “We could have done the treble but we missed the League at the end. This team has ... a lot to give yet
MARQUINHOS arrived in the French capital from Roma in July and made 32 appearances in his debut season - winning both Ligue 1 and the Coupe de la Ligue. However, the French champions announced that a deal had been reached on Friday to sign Luiz from Chelsea adding another central defender for Marquinhos to compete with next term. The Brazilian trio of Thiago Silva, Luiz and Marquinhos will vie for spots in Laurent Blanc’s defence next year and the former Corinthians man expects a tough challenge to play regularly. “(Luiz) is a great guy and a great player. Besides, I think he made the right choice by committing to PSG,” he told Le Parisien. “Now when you see players like David Luiz arrive, it looks even more difficult for me but I’m happy in my head and I will work more.” Marquinhos, unlike Luiz, is not in Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad for the FIFA World Cup having made one appearance for his country in a friendly against Honduras last year. He has been the subject of regular speculation linking him with a move to Barcelona and the defender stated he will discuss his future at PSG with the club. “I have a contract that goes until June 2018. We will talk with the club and my agent about my future because this is a very important season for me,” he added. “If Barca are interested in me, obviously, it’s something that’s nice. “It’s flattering because Barcelona are a club that has won all the competitions in the world. Other than that, I cannot say anything else about Barca.”
Real May Bid For Suarez REAL, who clinched the UEFA Champions League crown with an extra-time victory over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, have long been linked with a move for the Uruguay international. Suarez scored 31 times in just 33 Premier League matches to finish as the division’s top scorer this season, earning him the PFA Player of the Year award. Calderon, who was responsible for signing the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Arjen Robben during his time at the Bernabeu, claims the club could make Liverpool an offer for their star striker. “Of course Real Madrid could bid for him,” he told The Daily Star. “With Real Madrid, you have to expect anything – that’s for sure.” Calderon suggested that Suarez could serve as a replacement for France
international Karim Benzema. “Benzema is a good player but it’s true he didn’t score as many goals as people thought he should,” he added.
• Luiz Suarez
Suarez has fitness concerns ahead of the FIFA World Cup in Brazil after undergoing surgery on a knee injury.
Gerrard To Consider England Future STEVEN Gerrard could quit England after the World Cup but has promised not to “leave anyone hanging” for a decision once the tournament is over. The 33-year-old will captain Roy Hodgson’s side in Brazil, where Italy, Uruguay and Costa Rica lie in wait in the group stage. Gerrard believes England can spring a surprise at a tournament he concedes could be his last, but the Liverpool midfielder, who turns 34 next week, insists no decision has been made yet. “I’m not going to leave anyone hanging,” Gerrard said. “Don’t worry, as soon as the World Cup is over I’ll sit down with the manager at the right time and I’ll make the decision. “I can be open and honest with you now that I haven’t made that decision because I haven’t had the chance to chat with the manager at length over it. “But I’ll be chatting to [Liverpool manager] Brendan Rodgers, Roy Hodgson and a few important people around me whose opinion I respect, players I’ve played with. I’ll chat to them all and make the right decision at the right time. “It will be very close after the World Cup I’ll make that decision. It does to depend on how the World Cup goes, how I perform, how the team performs. Am I still going to be wanted after the World Cup? These are all the questions we’ll have to sit down and answer. “I won’t stay around if I’m not wanted. I hope I perform to the level where I am wanted and I’ve got that difficult decision to make.” That determination to succeed this summer may well see Gerrard usurp David Beckham as the most-capped outfield player in England’s history. He is only six caps shy of Beckham’s record of 115, which he would equal by featuring in all of the Three Lions’ pre-tournament friendlies and group-stage matches. “It is a target but it’s not a very important one,” Gerrard said. “It’s not one I’ve thought about a lot but I have thought about it.
“To get close to David Beckham, to match him, or to go ahead of him would be an unbelievable achievement. “He’s a hero of mine, I was lucky enough to play with him. He’s a top role model and a top player as well. “I have thought about it and it would be very nice from a personal point of view. But you guys know me well enough now to know what my targets are and that’s to get out of this group. “It’s a tough group, every game is going to be tough but I believe and I’m confident that we’re capable of getting out of it.” Meanwhile, Roy Hodgson is expecting Sir Dave Brailsford to give a pep talk to his England squad this week ahead of the World Cup. With the Group D opener against Italy less than three weeks away, the Three Lions will be following-up their Portugal training camp by meeting up again at St George’s Park on Monday. This will be England’s last week on home soil, with a friendly against Peru at Wembley on Friday before they jet off to Miami and then on to Brazil. Before heading off to the warmer climes of Florida, Hodgson is hopeful that Brailsford, the man who has masterminded British cycling’s impressive rise, will speak to his squad to offer an insight on how to fulfil potential and seize the moment. “We’re hoping Dave will come to St George’s and speak to the players alongside [psychiatrist] Steve Peters next week,” the England boss said. “Steve’s there because he’s working with us. “Dave’s working hard and he’ll do his utmost to be there. I can’t ask to pin him down because he’s got a big, big job and part of his big job doesn’t really involve coming to St George’s Park to speak to England players, but I’m hopeful.”
Sir Dave Brailsford
Brailsford To Give England Squad ‘Pep Talk”
World Cup:
ROY Hodgson is expecting Sir Dave Brailsford to give a pep talk to his England squad this week ahead of the World Cup. With the Group D opener insight on how to fulfil against Italy less than three potential and seize the weeks away, the Three Lions moment. will be following-up their “We’re hoping Dave will Portugal training camp by come to St George’s and meeting-up again at St speak to the players alongside George’s Park on Monday. [psychiatrist] Steve Peters This will be England’s last next week,” the England boss week on home soil, with a said. “Steve’s there because friendly against Peru at he’s working with us. Wembley on Friday before “Dave’s working hard and they jet off to Miami and then he’ll do his utmost to be there. on to Brazil. I can’t ask to pin him down Before heading off to the because he’s got a big, big job warmer climes of Florida, and part of his big job doesn’t Hodgson is hopeful that really involve coming to St Brailsford, the man who has George’s Park to speak to masterminded British England players, but I’m cycling’s impressive rise, will hopeful.” speak to his squad to offer an As well as being optimistic about Brailsford speaking to
Missing World Cup Could Kill Suarez - Gerrard STEVEN Gerrard says missing the World Cup would “kill” Liverpool teammate Luis
• Steven Gerrard
Suarez with the Uruguay striker facing a fitness race to make the tournament. Suarez underwent knee surgery earlier this week and is confident of his chances of lining up for his country in Brazil with Uruguay set to face England in Sao Paulo on June 19. The Uruguayan FA also maintain Suarez will be ready even though he faces between three to six weeks to recover. Gerrard is quoted British newspapers a saying: “From a really, really selfish point of view it would help England against Uruguay if he wasn’t available, of course it would. “But knowing Luis as a mate and a friend and a teammate with Liverpool, I know that [missing the World Cup] would absolutely
kill him. I wouldn’t wish an injury on any of my fellow professionals. “We’ll have to wait and see. I know he’s a fighter and he’ll do everything he can to be fit. If he’s not available it’s a shame for him personally. “If he’s not available it can only be a help for England. I know him personally and I wish him well. I just hope he’s fit as soon as possible, certainly for when we go back with Liverpool. “The final group game and then Liverpool would be fine. From a selfish point of view he’ll understand that.” Suarez is remaining positive and last night tweeted: “My dream remains intact. I will be there.”
his players, Hodgson is also upbeat about England’s chances in Brazil this summer. After a string of disappointing major tournaments, the public feeling is one of more of hope than expectation heading into the World Cup. The last tournament was Hodgson’s first in charge, with England going out of Euro 2012 on penalties at the quarter-final juncture to Italy, but the Three Lions boss believes he now has a deeper pool of talent at his disposal. “There’s so much competition for places at the moment that it would be very bold of me to say ‘this is my best team’, especially in those front positions there’s an awful lot of competition and an awful lot of talent,” he said. “That will obviously occupy my thoughts. At the back I suppose people might argue there’s more chance of suggesting there’s a goalkeeper and a settled back four. Once you go outside of that however there are so many possibilities. “Around Steven Gerrard as a fixed point in midfield, there are so many opportunities for the other five that whatever team I end up picking there’ll be people looking at the bench that day and saying ‘I’d have picked him instead’ but that’s good, because that hasn’t always been the case. “I think you need more than one to 11. You need that bench, so that when you look along it you see players you
can send on when things aren’t going so good. “You want to be excited by what you see. ‘I’ll put him on because he might change something’ and I think we’ve got that this year. “With respect to the 2012 group, I don’t think we had it to anywhere near the same extent.”
Fiorentina In For Tottenham Duo VINCENZO Montella is desperate to add to all areas of the Fiorentina squad this summer, and has set his sights on two Tottenham players. Tuttosport report that the coach has asked the Viola hierarchy to add to the squad during the off-season, in a bid to challenge for the Champions League places next term. And the paper claims that they will move for two Spurs men first – defender Vlad Chiriches and attacker Iago Falque. The Romanian centre-back has only been at White Hart Lane for a season, but has failed to impress in a stuttering Spurs side. As such, the Tuscan outfit are confident they can prise him away, but could find Tottenham’s +10m (£8m) asking price a little tricky. Falque meanwhile, has been superb whilst out on loan at Rayo Vallecano this term, and could be bought for as little as +1.5m (£1.2m).
CMYK
Denouncing Self-Serving Politics Of Defection LAST week, I took the pains to explain to some former members of our party, the All Progressive Congress (APC), in Edo State of the dangers of their impending actions. By Monday, some of them refused to hearken to the voice of reasoning and chose to pitch tents with the good-fornothing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which from all records has nothing to offer Edo people. When we throw caution to the winds in taking decisions, we fail to understand that history lay ambush with an indelible note pad. Good or bad, we are recorded appropriately. The questions for those who decamped are: what is their motive? Why did this set of APC members chose to move from PDP to APC and back to PDP again? From all indications, it is not really about freedom of movement or freedom of association or flawed party congresses as they have told the world. What about the issue of party ideology? What about the desire to give positive change to the grassroots- the poor and marginalised citizens? What about the promotion of democratic ethos and pathos which are the hallmark of democracy? Where do they stand in all of these? What has happened in APC that has not happened in triple measure in the PDP? What did Chief Tony Anenih and Vincent Ogbuluafor not do in Edo PDP? The genesis of the crisis in Edo PDP was properly captured by the Elder statesman, Chief (Dr.) E. K. Clark OFR, CON in an advertorial published on page 49 of the VANGUARD of Friday, May 27, 2011. In his open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan and National leader of the PDP, Clark stated among others: “It would be recalled in 2008 during the state congress held in Benin
City, the former Governor Prof. O. Osunbor’s faction including former Governor, Dr. S. O. Ogbemudia and Admiral Mike Okhai Akhigbe, held their Congress in Ogbemudia stadium, Benin City with the officials from the PDP National headquarters and INEC in attendance. And another congress held by Chief Tony Anenih faction the same day at NTA, Benin City. No party official from the National Secretariat, Abuja and no INEC official attended. Surprisingly, Prince Vincent Ogbuluaforcontrolled National Working Committee (NWC) recognized the Anenih faction and gave them the chairmanship and control of the party.” Sadly too, it was this illegality of the PDP national secretariat under Vincent O g b u l u a f o r orchestrated by the manipulations of Anthony Anenih that led to crisis that engulfed the Edo PDP and led it to its conflagration and nunc demitis. Now those running to the same PDP, what is the guarantee that history will not repeat itself? I am particularly stunned that my brother and friend, Pastor Osagie-Ize Iyamu could join the opposition party after the brickbat between him and the PDP leadership in Edo State. Only in June last year, Osagie-Ize Iyamu engaged Chief Dan Orbih in a war of words. Pastor Osagie IzeIyamu, had said that the crises within PDP and a godfather led to the failure of the administration of former governor, Lucky Igbinedion. This prompted the Edo State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Chief Dan Orbih, to fire back at the then National Vice Chairman (SouthSouth) of Action Congress of Nigeria. Orbih said “Ize-Iyamu was the principal actor in parties that contributed to the failure
of the Igbinedion administration.” Describing his allegation as baseless and mischievous, Orbih further said “ Ize-Iyamu’s statement as the former Secretary to the State Government, SSG, to Lucky Igbinedion’s administration, had exposed the kind of
process to get redress. That is a typical way a democrat should behave. His leaving the PDP recently for the APC is because of the overbearing and inordinate ambition of Mr. President who is desperate to hang on to power at all cost. He, again exhausted the PDP mechanism
not want to risk their fate in the hands of the spineless PDP led by garrulous gangsters who would stop at nothing in pillorying the state. This is why the APC will sweep the 2015 polls in Edo. We have done it before and we would do it again. Edo people would turn out again to give APC massive votes as usual because the party under Adams Oshiomhole has established confidence
Pastor Osagie Ize-Iyamu
people who were the nucleus of that government. He insisted that “for a man who was the SSG to say that the party then in power did not have a manifesto showed how shallow those who were at the centre of that administration were.” Now they are together in marriage of strange bed fellows. Prince Tony Omoaghe on his part had running battles at different fronts with Chief Tony Anenih for several years. How is he going to face him in the PDP that he has jumped into? Running from pillar to post or from frying pan to fire just because you want to make a point or be noticed is not a cure for challenges in a political party. There are laid down procedures. If Rotimi Amaechi felt that General Ousegun Obasanjo rigged him out of the governorship primaries and decamped to another party, he certainly would not have become governor all his life. But he had a date with destiny, he followed all party procedures, when he did not get justice and against all odds, he resorted to legal
for conflict resolution. The immaturity in PDP even saw him being victimized even into the Governors forum, where he defeated his only challenger, Governor of Plateau state, by 19:16 votes only for President Jonathan to publicly recognise the man with 16 votes. Is that the party, these Edo people have gone to join? The point remains that politicians in Nigeria need to make effort to strengthen our nation’s democracy. Why would actors not exhaust mechanisms put in place for dispute resolution before jumping into another party? Those who left the APC were quite impatient and are as good as having committed political suicide. At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the APC own Edo State and other parties, including the PDP are spectators. I say this because of the “Oshio Baba” political machine that has squashed opposition in the state through visible developments going on in all parts of the state. It is unprecedented in the history of Edo State and Edo citizens would
in their hearts over the years. Edo people cannot also forget in a hurry their bitter experience in the hands of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. Some say it is People Deceive People. As a party, the APC has kept its own side of the contract with Edo people. Today, public schools have regained the appeal they were known for with well motivated teachers, even though the state is still interested in making them better positioned to deliver quality services to our children. The roads are all wearing new looks. Old ones are being re-constructed and new ones opened up. Communities that never had potable water where the PDP government said water can never be gotten are now enjoying clean water. Who does not want to sustain this development? Who will see light and says he prefers darkness when you are not a principality? Unless Edo citizens want to continue lamenting after 2016,
By DAN OWEGIE they must rise up to challenge the rudderless PDP which pauperized them over the years. The political maturity of Edo people has gone beyond the one some selfish and self serving political shenanigans and neophytes would bamboozle them again. Edo people are highly enlightened people and they know those who mean well. They know the party that deceived and fooled them for ten years. They know those who cared less about the flood in Benin, they know those who ensured that roads were death traps. Edo people know those who made their children study under trees and leaking school roofs without teachers. Edo people know those who allowed Boko Haram insurgency to develop tap root in the country before they woke up from their deep slumber to realise that the Nigerian armed forces, still using arms and ammunition purchase during the Biafran civil war was ill-equipped to tackle insurgents equipped with the stateof-the-art arms and ammunition. Edo people and indeed Nigerians know the party that has promoted bribery and corruption to the level of Sodom and Gomorrah Biblical era. International anticorruption watchdogs, Transparency International and Mo Ibrahim have continued to rate Nigeria high in corruption under the PDP federal government. Why the defections from APC? These are people who want Governor Adams Oshiomhole to stop the developmental works going on in the state and bring the money to the table for sharing. Some desperately wanted to be appointed Commissioners, Special Advisers, Special Assistants, Executive Directors and Board members. These greedy expectations are the conduits from where the state bleeds and the
APC government ably led by Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has pontificated that it is not prepared to subject the state to financial hemorrhage. So, hiding under party congress to decamp is a mere subterfuge after all. Otherwise, there have been several congresses, primaries that have been organised by the party even in the days of AC and ACN and these defectors and their cronies were silent. Why did they not run away during previous congresses if it was not in their favour? For us in APC, the migration of such characters is good riddance to bad rubbish. Edo people must not lose sleep over their defection. Edo people must keep an eye on them because the development of the state cannot be at the behest of a few greedy and self-serving politicians who are lost in the delusion that the future of Edo State lies solely in their hands. Edo people must be resolved this time around, we need to take our destinies in our hands and ensure continuity in development. On a larger note, we need to redeem our country from the hands of the People Deceive People at the federal level. We need to ensure that the kind of dividends of democracy we currently witness in Edo, Lagos, Ekiti, Ondo, Imo and other non-PDP states can begin to happen in other states and at the Federal level. Nigerians are in a hurry to have regular power supply, potable water, good roads, qualitative, not quantitative education, full employment and security of lives and property. Only the APC can make this happen, certainly, not the PDP. ·Mr. Dan Owegie is a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress of Nigeria, Edo State.
Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor. BARR. SOLOMON IMOHIOSEN (KSJI)-(07030699646). Deputy General Manager (Marketing) (08023457566), Assistant General Manager (Advertisement) (08023808856) Lagos Office: 25A Alli Street, Off Tinubu Square, Lagos Island, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631.