Nigerian observer 26 08 2013

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

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PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968

ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg. 21

One-Chance Robbers Are In Town

INT’L FEATURES Pg 24

Population Plus Climate Why Coastal Cities Will Face Increase Risk

• Vo l . 38 NO. 296 • MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 20 13 • N100.00

UNIBEN VC denies governorship ambition

By ANDY EGBON

BENIN CITY – Vice Chancellor, University of Benin, Professor Osayuki Godwin

Oshodin has denied having governorship ambition.

Speaking with

newsmen in Benin City, Professor Oshodin said “I am into pure academics, I am not a

politician, I don’t belong to any political party”.

The speculation that he intends to vice for Edo State governorship he said has provoked Continues on page 2

Gov Suntai returns, keeps mum ABUJA - Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba yesterday arrived in Abuja after 10 months of medical treatment abroad after being involved in a plane crash on October 25, 2012.

Suntai arrived at the against speculations old wing of the Nnamdi that he had lost his Azikwe International memory.

Airport, Abuja, aided to “We were excited to alight from the aircraft at see him and it is about 1.10 p.m. and understandable that immediately proceeded after the long trip, he to Jalingo. was weak and tired.

It would be recalled “But, we were thrilled that Suntai, alongside by the fact that he some of his aides, was recognised everyone by involved in a plane crash name which shows that he piloted in Yola. he is mentally alert and Suntai did not talk to lucid,’’ Dara said. newsmen but one of his He noted that the associates, John Dara, governor ’s mental said that the governor alertness indicated that was mentally alert as he was capable of taking

• 10 months after copter crash over the affairs of the state.

“That itself is a clear indication that he is

capable of running the affairs of Taraba as the governor.

“We had no doubt in

our minds that when he gets back to Jalingo yesterday, it will be up to his doctor to say

whether he will resume today or in a couple of days to come.

Continues on page 2

Guild honours 7 editors, inducts 61

ASABA - The Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) at the weekend in Asaba honoured three senior journalists of and seven others with fellowships The beneficiaries from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) are the Acting Managing Director of NAN, Mr. Jide Adebayo; the immediate past Editor-In-Chief, Mr. Olusegun Aribike; and Mr. Buki Ponle, Managing Editor.

Mr. John Ndukauba, a former Deputy Editor-InChief , also bagged the fellowship.

At the climax of its 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference, the Guild also inducted 61 new members drawn from different media organisations.

The induction which witnessed a huge turnout of guests, had Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta as host. The theme of the three day conference is “Nigeria Beyond Oil: Role of Editors”.

Meanwhile a renowned journalist, Mr Richard Ikiebe, has urged the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to establish a fund for management and leadership training for editors in media organisations.

Ikiebe, in a presentation at the 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference, in Asaba, Delta, at the weekend, lamented that not many publishers and chief executive officers of media organisations had received training in m a n a g e m e n t , leadership and media business.

According to him, the persons that will succeed in real management and

leadership of media organisations are those not afraid of information technology and the intricacies of business.

He also charged the Guild to establish fellowship chairs for the middle class and retiring journalists to stimulate responsibility and professionalism in media practice.

Ikiebe, who is the Director, School of Media and

the three oil-producing local government areas

them.

Mr. Orobosa Omo-

ARRIVAL: Governor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba State during his arrival at the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja yesterday.

Ozekhome’s kidnap: Threat to peace, Continues on page 2

BENIN CITY - Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ has condemned the kidnapping of a

human rights human rights lawyer, Chief Mike Ozekhome along the Benin-Auchi

road on Friday.

ANEEJ in a statement

Edo assures communities of quality of the state that it would BENIN - Edo State Duties, Oil and execute quality and Government has project Special Gas, gave the sustainable projects for assured the people of Ojo, the Edo State Commissioner for

assurance in Benin in an Continues on page 2

- ANEEJ

signed by its Executive Director, Reverend David Ugolor, described the kidnapping of the human rights lawyer as a threat to peace, development and human rights struggle in the country.

ANEEJ said it is sad

that those who over the years have risked their lives even at the expense of their own resources to agitate and advocate for a truly better Nigeria are now victims of kidnapping.

This, according to ANEEJ represents a new phase of the underworld men to Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

News

UNIBEN VC denies governorship ambition

Continued from page 1

negative reactions from his detractors who felt they have to discredit him ahead of the ambition in order to frustrate his chances of succeeding Comrade Adams Oshiomhole as Governor of Edo State.

Such detractors, he said are mostly among the staff of the University who were recently sacked by the University’s Governing Council for various offences.

Because of my ambition, what I have been able to do in the last four years, so many people are agitating, thus one would be a good material to sell, he said.

He said the rumour mill is undated with insinuations that he, the Vice Chancellor was responsible for the sack.

According to him, “I am just on ordinary member of council, I don’t have anything to say again once it gets to council and council takes that decision”.

“Management has no control over council and once council takes decision, it is their decision, not Vice Chancellor’s decision”.

“If I want to be sacking people, I just couldn’t sit down here and say, you are sacked. I don’t have that power, it is only council”, he said.

The Vice Chancellor remarked that the recently sacked staff possess characters which do not qualify them as members of any academic community as UNIBEN. He said they facilitated the admission 142 candidates as students of the institution by helping the students forged documents at the point of

entry before guiding them to their final year of study.

Citing the Deputy Director of Central Records Processing Unit (CRPU) Kehinde Dokun Samuel as example, the Vice Chancellor said the beneficiaries of their corrupt practices provided information for their prosecution which culminated in dismissal.

According to him, part of measures put in place for the sanitisation of the university’s system was the screening of students of the institution, following which a total of 142 final year undergraduates were discovered to have been admitted without possessing the requisite qualification.

According to Professor Oshodin, “when they were screened out, they started volunteering information” while pleading that their case be not refered to the police, “otherwise, they would be ruined for life”.

“That was how the names of all these people (dismissed staff) came, how they

themselves used to implement other peoples pictures”.

“Somebody else would do JAMB, carry another person’s picture and put it on top”, he said.

Professor Oshodin disclosed that Kehinde Samuel was a professional in that area.

“When this thing is investigated, many of them would go to jail for life because, I have never

worked in CRP, they are the ones doing it,” he concluded.

He advised those not satisfied with the decision of the Governing Council on the sack to seek redress at the appropriate court of law rather than resorting to blackmail and propaganda.

Efforts to get the views of Kehinde Dokun Samuel and or any other member of sacked staff were unsuccessful.

Continued from page 1 “But he is clearly okay and able to function,’’ Dara said.

He said that his (the governor) decision not to talk to newsmen might be because of the long journey.

“Talking to newsmen can be spontaneous and organised. So, we felt that when he has rested well, it will be easier for him to address Nigerians,’’ Dara said.

Another close associate of Suntai, Rima Shamulu, said the decision to take over the ruling of the state lied with

him in line with the provisions of the constitution.

“There are provisions in the constitution for you to take over or not to.

“And if he gets back to Jalingo yesterday, and he transmits a letter to the state assembly through the speaker that he has arrived, that is all; he can take over as the governor.

“I don’t know why there are speculations around because there is constitutional provision when someone becomes too sick to function; it is not for us to speculate.

“And with the way I saw him, he is allright,’’ Shamulu said.

Suntai was transferred from hospital in Yola to the National Hospital, Abuja, on October 26, 2012, preparatory to his being flown to Germany for further medical treatment.

About one hour after the governor was admitted into the intensive care unit of the hospital, President Goodluck Jonathan visited him.

The president confirmed then that Suntai’s condition was stable and urged Nigerians to thank God for sparing the governor’s life.

Suntai returns

Guild honours 7 editors

Continued from page 1 Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Lagos, said that 35 journalists, mainly women, were trained by the university, this year.

He added that the institution had also ran a course on leadership and governance for media practitioners within and outside the country.

He called for donation of books on mass communication written by Nigerians and Africans and that there was a dearth of indigenous journalism books.

In his presentation on “Life

After The Chair, The Editors’ Colloquium”, a media consultant, Mallam Garba Shehu, advised editors to cultivate the act of investment, especially in stocks, as “provision” for retirement.

He also recommended book writing for retiring editors as it was necessary for them to share their experiences while on the job.

He said that retirement would kill the editor and stressed that editors should “plan well, live well while on the job so that they would be comfortable in retirement”.

likes of Mike Ozekhome from being the voice of the voiceless in the society.

ANEEJ however appealed to all human rights activists in the country not to be discouraged, instead they

should see the situation as a challenge that must be brought to an end by the human rights community.

ideology in relation to leadership, it has embarked on the execution of quality and sustainable projects for the people.

“The relationship between my ministry and the agencies is that of supervision; it is our responsibility to ensure that these projects are executed according to specifications of the designs.

“The era of tokenism and self-aggrandisement when you can just erect one structure and call it VIP toilet is gone.

“The state government has come up with standard prototype of projects it hopes to provide for the people,”he said.

On the reduced incidences of youth restiveness in the oil bearing communities, OmoOjo said that the Adams Oshiomhole’s administration tackled the problem as a

major assignment on assumption of office.

“We quickly repositioned the ministry in such a way that both the host communities and the oil companies belived in us as an unbiased umpire to mediate between them.

“Because of our sincere and genuine mediation tactics, stakeholders have started to rely on the ministry’s statutory role to be able to bring peace within their host communities,” he said The commissioner said that the mediation had resulted in the optimisation of oil production by the operating companies in the area.

Members of the oil producing communities in the state had in a meeting with the state government urged it to ensure that they fully benefited from the oil resources in the area.

Ozekhome’s kidnap: Threat to peace Continued from page 1

destroy what it’s left in Nigeria.

“In recent time in Edo State we have observed a twist in the kind of people who are now victims of kidnapping.

“These people, like students, primary school teachers and bad as it may be, even children have been abducted by kidnappers in the state, some of whom have to sell all their life earned valuable properties to regain freedom and such victims would be more or less back to square one.”

“This also shows that kidnapping is somehow increasing poverty and fast frustrating families in the country”, said ANEEJ. Furthermore, ANEEJ said that people who engaged in the act of kidnapping should no longer be treated as kidnappers but as terrorists because they have shown that they are enemies of the state, bent on inflicting more pains on the average and the very poor in the society and as well as discourage the

Edo assures communities

Continued from page 1

interview with newsmen.

Omo-Ojo said that the projects would be executed through the Edo State Oil Producing Areas Development Commission (EDSOPADEC).

Omo-Ojo said that EDSOPADEC was currently executing 169 various projects that would help to bring speedy development to the councils - Ovia NorthEast, Orhionmwon and Ikpoba-Okha.

He said that the projects, which included school buildings, solar-powered bore-holes and health centres, were in different stages of completion.

He said that the agency also embarked on the construction of a 10-km road in each of the the areas to link their communities.

“Because of the state government’s shift in

DG wants ICRC Act amended ABUJA - Mr. Aminu Diko, Director-General, Infrastructure Regulatory Concession Commission (ICRC), has called for an amendment of the commission’s 2005 Act to ensure effective regulation of Public Private Partnership projects (PPP) in the country.

Diko made the call in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

“We noticed that the law is not too strong; when we started operations, the first board looked at it and thought it needed to be amended to make it more robust.

“The board set up a committee and gave it the mandate to review the law, and it has done that.

“It has been sent to the presidency for approval before it will be sent to the National Assembly.

“What we are trying to do is to amend some of the provisions that would help us to operate in compliance with the law,’’ he said.

Diko said that the law requires competitive bidding for any projects, but did not say what should be done to violators.

He noted that those were the areas in the Act that require amendment, adding that doing so would empower the commission to sanction persons who tried to corrupt the system.

He said it was unfortunate that most ministries, departments and agencies were not interested in the PPP project, adding that it

was a challenge facing the commission.

He said that there was need to educate the public on the importance of PPP in the country.

“That is why every MDA that we go to now, the supervising minister will gather the top officials for us to teach them about the complexes, importance and intricacies of PPP,’’ he said Diko said that the three major functions of the commission was to promote the use of PPP in delivering infrastructure services, assist MDAs in structuring their transactions and ensure that both parties comply with the terms of agreement.

He said that ICRC in collaboration with the Federal Capital Territory had effectively monitored the Katampe District project under PPP which had been concluded.

Diko said that the commission was also monitoring the compliance processes on some legacy concessions executed before the establishment of the commission.

“We have itemised the issues, planned how to follow up; and we are doing them, essentially in the ports, the Lagos International Trade Fair, the Tafawa Balewa Square, and the Murtala Muhammed Airport.

“If the law does not give you the power to sanction anybody for not supplying information or making any data available to you, it may reduce the efficiency in your function,’’ he said.

Experts visit alleged oil leakhadsite begun investigations into

YENAGOA - A team of oil experts comprising officials from Chevron company, have undertaken a Joint Investigation Visit on the company’s oil field off Bayelsa coastline where a leak was alleged to have occurred.

The team, including National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and representatives of Koluama 1 and 2 coastal communities, participated in the visit.

Residents of Koluama communities had alleged that the leak impacted on their environment and urged the government to ensure prompt investigation into the incident.

However, Chevron in a statement signed by Mr. Deji Hastrup, the General Manager, Policy, Government and Public Affairs unit, said the company did not record any oil spill in the area.

Mr. Adeyinka Adewumi, Head of NOSDRA’s Zonal Office in Port Harcourt, told newsmen that the agency

the incident.

Adewumi said that NOSDRA officials, Chevron and representatives of the host communities in Koluama, Southern Ijaw council area of Bayelsa, had visited the site.

“Chevron reported a leak in their field and our officers, Chevron representatives as well as community representatives and other agencies in the sector visited.” he said.

Mr. Sale-Epri Mathew, a resident in Koluama who participated in the visit, told newsmen that the team visited the site at Middleton production platform.

Mathew said that the joint team was at a pipeline location which connected Middleton and Pennington production platforms during the visit and found some quantities of crude at the site.

“We observed that people involved in illegal bunkering may have been behind the leak but it appeared that the pipeline was not having much oil when they struck.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Inside Edo Development: Esogban Tasks Edo Indigenes Abroad

By ANDY EGBON BOSTON - Solicitation for investment in Edo state took a center stage in discussions held recently by the Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri (OON) with some Edo State indigenes in the United States of America.

The Esogban told a gathering of Edo people in Boston, Massachusetts that the measures put in place by Governor Adam Oshiomhole presented great opportunities for investments.

The meeting which was facilitated by Premier Edo organization, The Benin Club of Massachusetts touched on key issues of great importance to the state and its people, with the opportunities for questions and answers.

He called on Edo people in the diaspora to partner with the state for meaningful development of their homeland, adding that even if they cannot immediately invest in businesses they should consider owing their own homes in their own country.

Chief Edebiri commended Edo state government for its development program, including road construction and rehabilitation of dilapidated schools and other infrastructural facilities, with special reference

to Benin City which he described as “now a pride of the nation.”

“At a time in the state, there were banks everywhere while industries were hard to find and the money from abroad help to get the economy going”, adding that since the Oshiomhole’s administration came to power the state has witnessed unprecedented industrial development.

The Esogban thanked those who have already embarked on development projects in and contributed immensely to the economic growth of the state.

He acknowledged that people left Nigeria for different purposes and that as soon as those purposes are fulfilled they should return home to help develop their country.

Chief Edebiri said the Oba of Benin Omo N’ Oba N’ Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erdiauwa has always stood firm for the development and security of the state, working tenaciously with the state government and that such efforts have continued to bear great fruits, with less crime in Edo State.

He noted that most of the crimes, especially kidnapping and armed robbery in state were perpetrated by criminals from outside the state who use Benin

City as a transit point in their criminal adventures.

He attributed the cause of crime to inordinate ambition and avaricious tendencies and advised the people to follow the path of righteousness by living a modest and responsible life.

The Esogban assured that the Palace of The Benin Monarch would continue to work with the state and federal governments to fight crime and ensure security of lives and properties.

Chief Edebiri preached unity and patriotism among Edo people in the diaspora, advising that in the pursuit of their dreams, they should not lose

Jesus Breeds Ministries International Inc recently held its National Convention 2013 at the Church’s premises. L-R: Pastor Anthonia Ogbeifun, Pastor Sylvester Mughele and Senior Elder A.I. Osayande at the occasion. Photo: JAMES OMOREBOKHAI.

Oredo LG Empowered To Collect Revenue 24hrs - Chairman BENIN CITY – The Chairman, Oredo Local Government Council, Hon. Osaro Obazee has reiterated that the council is legally empowered to collect revenue 24 hours of the day.

At a meeting with the council revenue agents, the chairman stated that collection of revenue within the local government area would henceforth be done throughout

The Esogban of Benin Kingdom, Chief David Edebiri (left), presenting books to the President, Benin Forum, Massachusetts, Mr. Anthony Omoruyi.

the 24 hours of the day.

Hon. Osaro explained that the initial suspension of revenue collection at night was due to the allegation that a “suya man” was killed by an Oredo revenue collector.

According to him, upon investigation and discovery, the story was a cooked-up one, he has given the agents a go ahead to continue their duties as usual.

He also warned that anybody who is trying to take advantage of his restricted statement will be sanctioned according to the law.

The council boss also frowned at the attitude of revenue agents who grant unauthorised interviews to pressmen, especially agents who lack adequate knowledge and information about revenue allocation and collection and therefore warn revenue agents to desist from granting press interview without express permission of the appropriate authority.

Speaking further, the chairman also encouraged the agents to endeavour to meet remit stipulated revenue to the council promptly in other to enable the council run smoothly.

However, he did not hesitate to say that agents who

will not be committed to keeping their own part of the revenue agreement as directed by the council would run foul of the law as penalty would be withdrawal of their licence.

While encouraging the agents not to take laws into their hands in dealing with the public, he also sounded a note of warning to them who move from one revenue base to the other due to proximity to desist from such, saying it is an act of indiscipline.

Agents in attendance promised to discharge their duties with prudency and sense

of responsibility. They also promised to work according to laid down rule.

Meanwhile the chairman has promised to facilitate the necessary support in ensuring that youths in the local government area are empowered.

He made this declaration when “Dream Alive with Pikolo” team visited him to solicit for support in order to ensure that the aim of the team which is to curb vices and create employment in the society by engaging the youth in entertainment is actualised.

By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM

people working on the field and to improve on the lives of people in the state.

Ishaka, disclosed that Edo State is doing well in terms of surveillance performance, adding that the WHO is out to improve on the performance of officers on the field through collaboration with informants and focal persons in order to achieve maximum output.

Asked on what the WHO and the state are doing to ensure that polio is totally eradicated from the state, Dr. Ishaka said the WHO has provided series of vaccines to all the Health Centres so as to prevent measles and tuberculosis from the state.

He therefore called on all stakeholders to disseminate the message on polio eradication to the people of the state.

incidences of rape, armed robbery, hooliganism, street urchins, assault and cultism and its related activities.

Noting that the applaud the outfit has been getting from members of the public is enough impetus for greater commitment from its members, he solicited for cooperation from the Igbanke community in order to reduce crime to the minimum in the locality.

According to him, “we need money to finance our operation, we need operational vehicles, and we need other logistics if we must sustain and improve on our achievement so far”.

He disclosed that the outfit have prosecuted several cases since inception while many others are at different stages of prosecution in the law court.

While urging the Igbanke community to be law abiding, he also cautioned the vigilante members against abusing their position by using it for selfish gains.

Vigilante Boss Lauds Achievement

IGBANKE - The Chairman of the Vigilante outfit in Igbanke, Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State Deacon Johnson Efagwu said the outfit has become a spotlight following its efficient performance since its inauguration.

Deacon Efagwu who spoke with newsmen at Igbanke listed the areas where the outfit has made marks to include reduction in the

Etsako Central Trains Polio Officials

FUGAR – Etsako Central Local Government Council has held a training programme for informants and focal persons on polio.

Declaring the training open, the Director of Primary Health Care in the local Government Area, Dr. Alfred Eshiemoghie said the essence of the training was to ensure that polio cases are easily detected.

He called on people of the local government area, the informants and focal persons to always report cases of polio to the officers in charge of the training so that government can provide the necessary drugs and vaccines.

Also speaking, the officer in charge of surveillance in the local government area, Mrs. Evelyn Etu said the

training was about enlightenment, stressing that the local government was doing everything humanly possible to eradicate polio in the society.

On his part, the State World Health Organisation (WHO) representative, Dr. Ishaka Ayode said one of the core functions of the (WHO) is to improve on the knowledge and skills of the

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Across The Nation Jang Urges Nigerians To Embrace Dialogue JOS - Plateau Governor, Jonah Jang, reviewed the security challenges in the country and declared that Nigerians must embrace dialogue to bridge existing communication gap.

“We must promote more dialogues so as to bridge communication gaps and boost mutual confidence and understanding,’’ he said in Jos at the commencement of an inter-cummunion dialogue and conflict mediation, organised for communities in Plateau.

The dialogue, sponsored by the Canadian Embassy, is being organised by the Centre for Humanitarian Dialogue.

According to the governor, “it is only through such dialogues that solutions to the lingering issues could be found’’.

“Dialogues are very crucial because they are the processes for sharing our feelings, interests and needs toward harmoniuos co-existence,’’ he said.

Jang lamented that the com-

DAMATURU - Alhaji MaiAliyu Usman, the Special Adviser to Yobe Governor on Education, has urged the Federal Government to assist the state to rehabilitate schools destroyed by insurgents.

“Yobe Government requires special intervention fund to rehabilitate structures destroyed by insurgents across the state,’’ Usman told newsmen in Damaturu.

The adviser said that more than 209 classrooms were destroyed across the state, adding that the classrooms needed urgent attention for normal school activities to resume.

“Yobe Government has commenced renovating the structures, equipment and furniture, but the exercise is capital intensive. It is, therefore, necessary for the Federal Government and philanthropic organisations to

assist the state.

“I have toured the state and submitted recommendations to the government on the state of infrastructure, laboratories, hostels, classrooms and other facilities that need rehabilitation.”

Usman said some of the existing structures in primary, secondary and tertiary institutions were also in need of renovation to provide conducive teaching and learning environment.

He described the splitting of the ministry of education into lower and higher education as convenient for administration and promotion of education in the state.

“This will create administrative convenience to fast-track educational development in the state,” he added.

ARGUNGU(KEBBI STATE) - A Retired High Court Judge in Kebbi state,Hon.Justice Zakari Gulma,62,has taken to teaching in primary schools as his post-retirement hobby.

Gulma, told newsmen in Argungu that prior to joining the judiciary sector in 1980, he had served as a teacher for 10 years.

He stated that his love for

teaching in a village school was to enable him contribute in raising the standard of education, considering the dearth of teachers The former judge explained that for this reason, he decided to resume teaching at the Fadama and Argungu Emirate Model primary schools in 2012, after his retirement.

munities had opted for violence to resolve their differences for the past 10 years, instead of the dialogue they were currently exploring, pointing out that no one had gained from the bloodshed.

“That we are all here, is a confirmation that we are all losers in the violence we opted for. So,

we have a chance to correct all the ills of the past towards a better and more secured future,’’ he said.

The governor expressed government’s readiness to parley with groups and also clarify its position on every issue, and urged representatives of the

communities to be very frank in their submissions at the sessions.

He said that government had expended a lot of resources in the past 10 years,trying to restore peace and therefore thanked the organisers for creating the avenue for more dialogue.

The reports say that all groups involved in the Plateau crises – Berom, Fulani, Hausa, Afizere, and Anaguta, are participating in the talks.

Other groups – the Yoruba, South-South, Igbos, Women, Youths, religious bodies and traditional rulers – are participating as observers in the five-day talks.

School Renovation Yobe Seeks FG Intervention

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu with his wife, Deaconess Endurance receiving a copy of an address from the President, Benin Forum at a cocktail party organised by the Forum for elected political office holders in Edo South Senatorial District recently. PHOTO: MOSES OBOH.

Kogi Settles N71.7m PHCN Debt

LOKOJA - Kogi State government has paid N71.7 million debt its ministries, departments and agencies owed the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in the past seven years.

Retired Judge Takes To Teaching

He said his quest for knowledge propelled him to study law and become a Judge, serving for 19 years at the bench. “A knowledgeable,well trained, dedicated and responsible teacher, will be honoured even after his death,” he stressed, adding that his decision to resume teaching while in retirement, had made him a fulfilled person

The PHCN, Lokoja Business District Manager, Mr. Abdulganiyu Isah, said this in Lokoja at a stakeholders’ forum.

He added that the amount was paid in three installments between March and April 2013.

He said that the government action had reduced the amount being owed the organisation by consumers in the district to less than N900 million.

Isa said that the Nigeria Army, police and the SSS owed the PHCN N100 million, N25 million and N4.8 million, respectively, and urged them to pay up.

The Manager also urged other consumers in the district to pay their debts.

He said that the huge debt, inadequate power generation and capacity limitation, both in transmission and distribution, were militating against efforts to boost power supply to residents.

He said that 500 units of 50 KVA transformers were delivered to the office, saying that the organisation would soon start installing the transformers to boost electricity supply in the state.

Isa said that the PHCN had created more service centres in the city as part of effort to ensure prompt response to customers’ complaints.

He said that many of the transformers in Lokoja were overloaded and appealed to the state

government to come to the aid of the organisation by donating more 500 KVA transformers.

The Manager stated that the organisation was not a party to the collection of money from residents for the purchase or installation of transformers.

He also urged consumers to cooperate by reporting any erring official.

On the problems of ‘crazy’ bills and low current of power supply being experienced in some parts of Lokoja, the Manager said that this would soon be a thing of the past.

According to him, work is almost completed on the new injection power station at Zango Daji area in Lokoja.

JOS - Dr Shola Adepoju, the Provost of Federal College of Forestry, Jos, urged governors of core northern states to protect shelter belt trees planted by the Federal Government in their areas.

Adepoju also advised the governors to encourage their people to plant economic trees to reduce poverty among the people.

He told newsmen in Jos that the government recently planted trees covering 11,500km across the affected states.

“The governors should do everything possible to assist the young trees to grow in order to reduce the speed of

desert encroachment in the country.

“The Federal Government has pumped a lot of money to plant the trees and it is the responsibility of the governors to protect them.

“When the trees grow to certain level they assist in regulating local climate and air quality through providing shade, influence rainfall and availability of carbon sequestration.

“The trees regulate global climate by storing sequestrating green gases as they effectively lock carbon in their tissues.

“The tress also help to improve the human capacity to

adapt to the effects of climate change which is the major global problem now,” he said.

The provost called on the governors to hire some youths, who would take care of the plantations in their states as they stood a better chance of benefiting from the trees.

Commenting on the economic trees, Adepoju appealed to the governors to assist in establishing orchards in their states.

“The governors should encourage the people to plant improved variety of trees that will start producing within a short time.

Provost Appeals For Protection Of Shelter Belt Trees

Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu (right), his predecessor, Chief Lucky imasuen and a political stalwart in Orhionmwon Local Government Area, Barr.

Chris Agbonmwanegbe getting ready to cut his (Agbonmwanegbe) 60th birthday anniversary cake. PHOTO: MOSES OBOH.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

South-South Oil Firms Hold Advisory Meeting BENIN CITY- United Geophysical Nigeria Limited (UGNL), Integrated Data Services Limited (IDSL) and PAN OCEAN Oil Corporation have held a Project Advisory Committee (PAC) meeting on Joint Venture 178 Operation Mining License (OML) 98 4D prospect seismic operations.

The meeting is the sixth in the series to be held by the companies for their 17 host communities, most of which are in Ikpoba Okha Local Government Area, Edo State.

Welcoming stakeholders, including representatives of the host communities, the Community Affairs Manager of UGNL for JV178 OML 98 4D seismic operations, Mr. Alex Osuofia reiterated that the operation, which is divided into six stages, had achieved 80 percent completion of the second stage.

He stressed that it is currently on the fourth stage where very small charges of energy source would be exploded in the deep meter holes drilled with adequate precautionary measures taken.

He assured that Community Assisted projects would be carried out in the host communities including grading of roads impacted during the seismic survey while temporary obstructions caused by the seismic party would be removed after work is finished in line

with restoration policy.

The chairman of the meeting and Enogie of Ukhiri Dukedom, HRH, (Amb) Godwin Aigbe, a Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) and the Assistant Party Chief, James Umoru, a staff of IDSL urged the host communities to be cooperative, peaceful as well as eschew equipment vandalism and obstruction of operations, adding that on the long run, the communities would enjoy the benefits.

At an interactive session moderated by the facilitator of the PAC meeting, Mr. Imide Israel, the Companies Community Affairs Managers.

Mr. Peter Edomwonyi, (IDSL) and Mr. Alex Osuofia (UGNL) responded to issues raised by representatives of the host communities.

The Secretary to the State Government, Edo State, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (right), exchanging pleasantries with HRH Odoligie Ogiemwonyi, the Enogie of Oben Community and Chief Godspower Irorere of Ologbo Community during a courtesy visit by Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas, Edo State chapter to Government House. Photo: QUEENETH OROBEDO.

Ember Months: FRSC To Launch Road PORT HARCOURT vehicles on Isiokpo – The Federal Road Safety Eleme route with an Operation Commission (FRSC), has operation we tag “kill the said that it would launch a special road operation code-named ‘Kill the Speed‘, from September to December, popularly known as “ember months”.

The South-South zonal

Respect Ethics Of Your Profession, Akpabio Urges NBA

UYO - Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom urged members of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) to respect and uphold the ethics of the profession.

Akpabio spoke at the inauguration of newly elected executives of the Uyo branch of the association.

According to him, respecting and upholding the ethics of their profession is the only way they will command the respect of the public.

“If you respect the ethics of the law profession, other professionals and members of the public will also respect you and the law profession,’’ he said.

Represented by Mr. Ekpenyong Ntekim, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Akpabio said there was no short cut to the legal practice.

Akpabio who is also a lawyer, said: “any short cut in the practice of the profession always ended disastrously’’, and urged the executives to hold the lawyers code of conduct very highly.

“As a financial member of the Uyo branch, I will continue to partner with this branch and other branches of the bar in the state in all spheres of their endeavour,” said.

The new NBA Chairman, Mr. Mfon Uyoh, in his inaugural

Osoba Commends Pius Anyim

address, promised to intensify the fight against corruption in the association.

Uyoh said indiscipline, “which is the bane of our society has eaten deep into the NBA, contrary to the aims and objectives of the association as provided in Section 4 (f) of the NBA Constitution’’.

He decried the unethical conduct of some lawyers, adding that his administration would set machinery in motion “to nib in the bud these vices” in the interest of the profession.

The chairman urged senior lawyers to employ and mentor the junior lawyers on the ethics of the profession.

He said the call became necessary to reduce the number of unemployed lawyers, especially those who would remain in practice.

Commanding officer of the commission, Mr. Yakubu Attah, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that the operation was in order to reduce road crashes especially in areas prone to accident.

He said bad roads such as the Idukpani-Uyo, EastWest, and Elele-Isiokpo roads would be given priority attention for the safety of both passengers and drivers.

Attah expressed the C o m m i s s i o n ’s determination to ensure that sanity was observed by road users throughout the ember months.

The commander added that drivers would be warned to adhere strictly to the acceptable speed limit, saying that drivers who erred would be penalised to serve as example to other motorists.

He said, “We have come up with a strategy that we

must tackle the rate of road traffic crashes headlong, first, we identify the roads that are prone to road traffic crashes.

“These are IdukpaniUyo road, that is Odukpani –Uyo axis, East-West road We also discovered of recent the Isiokpo-Eleme road.

“So with such we are going to reduce the speedy

speed”, all the corporate commands will be involved, there after we are going to partner with our stakeholders.“ According to Attah, the commission will achieve its set goals with all the strategies being mapped out to tackle road traffic crashes before and during the Christmas period.

ASABA - Former Ogun Governor, Chief Segun Osoba, commended the virtues of the Secretary to Federal Government, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim, for being a rallying point of parties, Osoba, who was the Chairman, 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference in Asaba, said that Anyim had been discussing vital national issues by all the parties, irrespective of their affiliations.

He recalled a discussion held by major stakeholders on the eve of the conference where it was agreed that Nigeria “must survive as a single entity’’.

Osoba also commented the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, for his consistent support for democracy and said that Maku had been a member of NADECO since his youthful days.

Osoba said that with Maku, NADECO had a representative in government.

He also commended the host Governor Emmaneul Uduaghan of Delta for his usual annual support to the Nigerian Guild of Editors Nigeria’s (NGE) annual conferences.

The Secretary to the State Government, Edo State, Prof. Julius Ihonvbere (right), in a handshake with Mr. James Igbarumah, leader of delegation Petroleum Marketers in Owan East and West Local Government Areas (middle) during a courtesy visit in Government House, while Chief Asiin (left) looks on. Photo: QUEENETH OROBEDO.

Police Rescue 2 Kids, 4 Others From Kidnappers

ASABA - Police in Delta said it rescued six kidnapped persons, including a mother and her two kids, from their captors on Obiaruku Road, Obinoba.

The Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), in the State, Mr. Lucky Uyabeme, told newsmen in Asaba that the victims were rescued.

He said they were kidnapped

around Ekpoma and Igbanke towns in Edo and were being taken them to an unknown destination in Delta when the police intercepted them.

Uyabeme named the woman as Mrs. Glory Barry and her children: Zoryii, 3, and Oremene, 2.

“Police received information that some suspected kidnappers

operating in a sky blue Siena bus, red Nissan Primera and red Kia Cerato cars kidnapped some persons around Ekpoma and Igbanke towns in Edo and headed toward Delta.

“Sequel to the information, the Special Anti-kidnapping Unit went in search of the hoodlums and intercepted them

at Obinoba.

Police had a gun duel with the suspects during which the kidnappers were forced to abandon their victims.

“The hoodlums escaped with the Cerato car. The six persons rescued unhurt are: Mr. Aiwehoe Walter (Hon), Mr. Igbinedion Vincent, Mr. Cyrracus Osigwe, Mrs. Glory

Barry, three years old Zoryii Barry and Oremene Barry.”

He said that a police officer, who sustained bullet injury on his leg during the incident, was in a stable condition and responding to treatment at an undisclosed hospital.

Uyabeme said that items recovered from the hoodlums included the two vehicles and two handsets.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Lagos Theft: Man, Step-Daughter Docked

NGO Tasks Youths On Tobacco Smoking LAGOS - An NGO - West Africa Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids (CTFK), in Lagos advised Nigerian youths to refrain from smoking because of its negative effects on human health.

The Coordinator of CTFK, Mrs Hilda Ochefu, made the call at the launch of “Tobacco Control Social Media Campaign“, organised by an NGO, Paradigm Initiative Nigeria.

She said the campaign was basically to protect youths against tobacco consumption and also to reduce the impact of tobacco smoking.

“In Nigeria, we are working with both the government and non-governmental partners to make sure that Nigeria puts in place a national tobacco law that will protect the health of Nigerians,’’ Ochefu said.

She noted that many people had died as a result of tobacco smoking.

According to Ochefu, a survey by the Federal Ministry of Health in 2012 shows that 5.6 per cent of Nigerian youths is addicted to smoking.

She called for a stronger legislation against smoking to protect youths.

Ochefu also urged the National Assembly to fasttrack the passage of the National Tobacco (Control) Bill, 2011.

“We need the media to create awareness about the dangers of tobacco because people, who are smoking started at tender age.

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

L-R: Commandant, NNS Quorra, Commodore Ferguson Bobai; Flag Officer Commanding, Western Naval Command, Rear Adm. Ibok-Ette Ibas and Director of Transformation, Naval Headquarters, Rear Adm. Goddy Anyankpele, during a news conference on offshore Patrol Vessels in Africa held in Lagos recently.

LAGOS - A 51 year old man and his step-daughter 22 have been docked for allegedly stealing pen, a gold wrist watch worth N20 million and sold it for N1.2 million at Tejuosho market, Yaba, Lagos.

The step-father identified as Engr. Ayodele, Djamasi and the girl, a hair stylist, Clark Lydia Vivian were earlier arrested along with an alleged receiver of the stolen wrist watch, Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulahi, 42 by the police at Ilasan Division, Lekki, Eti-Osa, Lagos.

It was reliably gathered that after investigation by Corporal Filatel Matthias and his team, the suspects were arraigned

L-R: GOC, 1 Div., Maj.-Gen. Garba Wahab, being welcomed by the Commissioner of Police, Kaduna State, Mr. Olufemi Adenaike, Head of Civilian Personnel Unit of the Division, Hassan Adamu and Director, State Security Service, Mr. Yomi Zamba to the closing ceremony of the Second Commanding Officer’s workship 2013 in Kaduna weekend.

Egbin Power Station To Boost Power Generation

LAGOS - The Chief Executive Officer of Egbin Thermal Plant, Mr. Mike Uzoigwe, says the repairs of its sixth turbine unit (ST-06), will add 220 Megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

Uzoigwe said this when he inspected the ongoing repairs of the turbine in Lagos on Wednesday.

According to him, the plant may have waved over, its installed capacity generation challenges barely seven years down the line.

He said the power plant, which had an installed capacity of 1,320 MW, had suffered setback for some years due to ageing parts and paucity of funds to upgrade the facility.

The reports however state that the plant was generating about 700 MW before it experienced a system collapse.

Uzoigwe, who confirmed the system collapse, added that

power would be restored in a short while due to its new blackstarting mechanism.

“Before now, system collapse takes power plants in Nigeria about five days to restore electricity, but the black-starting technology would make it possible within hours.’’

Uzoigwe, who conducted journalists round the plant, expressed joy that the plant would be operating at full capacity after about seven years of partial operation.

He said the plant was constructed about -30-years ago to operate on six turbine units at 220 MW each, until 2006 when the sixth unit exploded due to some water tube challenges.

The chief executive officer said the contract for repair was awarded to the Original Equipment Manufacturer, Hitachi of Japan.

According to him, the company has spent so much money to secure some parts of the plant.

He said between 2011 and 2012, it ordered and replaced all the cannibalised spares and also awarded contract for the final

repairs at approximately N1 billion.

“Unit six job will last for 90 days after which the unit should be handed over completely repaired and ready for operation.

“Work effectively started on

July 1, 2013, and still going on.

This will lay to rest the rumours that money meant for ST-06 repairs was diverted some times in the past,” he said.

He explained that the delay in commencing the job was because it did not get the nod of the Bureau for Public Procurement (BPP) early enough to award the contract.

LAGOS - The National Orientation Agency (NOA), has called on Nigerians to use the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) to seek information from public institutions.

Mrs. Tomilola Awosusi, NOA’s Chief Orientation and Mobilisation Officer, Yaba Local Council Development Area, made the call in Lagos.

She spoke at the opening of a one-week awareness programme organised for residents of Yaba Local Council Development Area.

“This programme is to sensitise the people to know what the FOI Act is all about; some of the grassroots people feel the Act is only for the literate.

“Our aim today is to let them

know that it is both for the literate and illiterate. “ It is for them to know their rights and demand for information in all government and private organisations.’’

She said government was open to public scrutiny.

According to her, corruption could be stemmed if the people demanded answers to questions.

Awosusi called on the council

before a Tinubu Magistrate’s Court, Lagos, on a three-count charge of stealing.

The police prosecutor, Sergeant Ighodaro Daniel, told the court that the accused persons were arrested following a complaint by Tope Agbede, a resident of Lekki Phase I, EtiOsa, that the first accused, Lydia Vivian, stole his gold wrist watch valued at N20 million and escaped.

He said he gave the wrist watch to the second accused to keep for him before she disappeared with it.

During interrogation, the first accused allegedly confessed that the complainant actually gave her a wrist watch not to keep for him, but to sell and use the proceeds to rent an accommodation for herself and that she did not steal the watch.

In her statement to the police, Vivian allegedly said: “The complainant is my boyfriend.

He gave me a gold wristwatch to sell when he could not raise the N30, 000 he promised to give me. Before I sold the wristwatch, I informed my mother who directed my stepfather to assist me to sell the watch.

“He took me to Tejuosho Market, Yaba, Lagos, where Alhaji Ibrahim Abdulahi took us to Alhaji Dandare who bought the wrist watch for N1.2 million. I used part of the money to rent an accommodation for myself and a shop for my mother, and I also gave my step-father the sum of N100, 000 for assisting me to sell the watch.”

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed by the accused contravened sections 409, 285 and 326 of the criminal laws of Lagos state, 2011.

The accused persons pleaded not guilty to the charges, and Chief Magistrate Mrs. O. M. Ajayi admitted them on bail in the sum of N250, 000 with two sureties each in like sum, while adjourning the matter till 21 August, 2013 for mention.

The defendants were, however, remanded at Kirikiri and Ikoyi prisons pending when they will fulfill the bail conditions.

to disseminate the information they had learned.

Mr. Adeleye Adeshilu, a community leader in the area, said he had been enlightened and benefitted immensely from the programme.

“Truly this exercise has enlightened me; and I have learnt from today that information is very important, that I should not hold back anything.

NOA Tasks Nigerians On FoI Act

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Lagos 25 Children Rescued From Suspected Trafficker Stories By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

LAGOS - No fewer than 25 children were rescued from a suspected child trafficker at Egbeda area of Lagos State by the officials of the State Government.

The suspect, Mrs. Rosemary Nwachukwu, has been arrested and detained at the Alausa Police Station, while the children are currently under the custody of the State Government.

Nwachukwu is said to be operating an illegal orphanage by the name Saint Stephen Charity Foundation, a home for orphans and less privileged located at 30/ 32 Abiodun Adebanbo Street, Egbeda, Lagos.

It was gathered that the officials of the Office of Youth and Social Department led by the Director, Child Development, Mrs. Alaba Fadairo and officers from the Office of Public Defender, OPD, supported by policemen stormed the illegal orphanage and rescued the children.

The age of the children ranged between three months and 12 years and comprises three infants aged 3-6 months and 22 other children.

National Council On Health Meeting Begins Today

LAGOS - The Lagos State governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola will be the special guest of honour at the 56th National Council on Health meeting holding in Lagos from today Monday 26th to Friday 30th August, 2013.

The 56th National Council on Health meeting will avail about 1000 delegates from the thirtyseven states of the federation the opportunity to deliberate and review draft health policies, exchange ideas and experiences on best health practices among states in the country.

The theme for the meeting is ‘Health Sector: Now and Beyond 2015’ with sub themes as; ‘Public Health Emergencies’ and ‘Mutual Accountability Results’.

The National Council on Health gathering is the highest advisory and policy making body on health in Nigeria and a key driver of healthcare delivery processes, systems and outputs in the country where concrete recommendations are made for implementation by governments at all levels.

The council’s proceedings will hold 8.00am daily at the Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos wherein the Minister for Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu will lead other stakeholders in the health sector at the proceeding while the Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Jide Idris will be the host.

According to the Director, OPD, Mrs. Omotola Rotimi, it was discovered upon investigation that Nwachukwu trafficked 27 children who were kept in a room.

She added that the accused woman allegedly used the children to raise money and defraud innocent members of the public who needed to adopt children, adding that 25 children were rescued while the whereabouts of the remaining two were unknown.

According to Fadairo, the Director, Child Development, the illegal business was being conducted in a room in the residential building, saying that upon investigation, it was discovered that Nwachukwu had been engaging in various anti-child development activities, such as illegal adoption, trafficking and others which she said, were carried out with selfish reasons.

“Investigation also shows that there are no records on each of the children and no evidence of how the children got to her home and no form of police or security report,” she explained.

Fadairo warned members of the public to be vigilant and re-

port such cases of child trafficking to the media or the government for necessary action, adding that people and organizations that operate unapproved or

illegal orphanages would be arrested and prosecuted for human trafficking.

The suspect, Nwachukwu said she had been running the illegal orphanage for the past 18

years and that it was purely on charity basis, denying that she trafficked in children.

Residents in the area said they never knew such orphanage existed, while the police are still investigating the issue.

The OPD has vowed to charge

the alleged culprit to court after investigation had been concluded as the Deputy Governor of Lagos State, Mrs. Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire is very much interested in the case.

L-R: Board Chairman, Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC), Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, inaugurating newly procured locomotive engines and telescopic cranes by NRC in Lagos recently. Left is the NRC’s Managing Director, Mr. Seyi Sijuwade.

Police Arraign Couple For Sexual Harassment

New locomotive engines inaugurated by Nigeria Railway Corporation in Lagos recently.

LAGOS - A 36-year old man, Chigbo Ebo and his wife, Charity Ebo, 26, have been arrested and arraigned in court by the police for allegedly engaging their neighbour, Nneka Onwuatuegwu, in both oral and real sex in their home in Lagos.

It was gathered that the 25-year old Nneka had alleged that she was sexually assaulted by the couple whom she alleged fondled her breasts and inserted their fingers into her private part without her consent.

The victim admitted in the open court that the couple lured her to their house where they gave her alcohol to drink and started fondling and sucking her breasts and private part and thereafter the man penetrated her.

Lagos Partners Spare Parts Dealers

Safer Environment: LAGOS - The Lagos State Government has appealed to the Motor and Spare Parts Dealers to collaborate with the state for a safer Auto and spare parts Dealership Environment in the State.

This appeal was made by the State Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade kayode Opeifa, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Ministry of Transportation, Mr. Seyi Coker, at the Stakeholders forum for Auto and Auto Spare Part Dealers’ held in the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa. Lagos.

The commissioner said this underlines the importance attached by the Government to the place of automobile and spare part dealers in the public safety secu-

rity matters as well as the realization that only with the Co-operation of all that the industries could be safe and responsive.

He stated that individual roadside sellers who are yet to register should sell their vehicles through registered members as non-compliance with the provision of the state law on registration and regulation of the activities of motor vehicle and spare parts dealers may result to use of forceful compliance Opeifa emphasised that a registered spare parts and auto dealers does not permit the display of vehicle on roads setbacks and other unauthorized places stress-

ing that such places include sidewalks, eateries, fuel stations, busstops and mechanic workshops.

“Display on such premises constitutes an infringement of the State Environmental/Town Planning Laws as vehicles so displayed will be regarded as abandoned vehicles and would be towed away by enforcement teams”, he said.

The Commissioner pointed out that recently, the State Government was compelled to embark on forceful evacuation of abandoned vehicles along the roads in the state, inspite of repeated entreaties to owners of such vehicles including the 4-litre Keg Dealers to

remove them.

He said over 4,300 abandoned vehicles were evacuated in the first phase of the exercise as it was evident that abandoned and disused vehicles pose very grave security, health and safety risks to the people of the state.

Meanwhile the commissioner has appealed to the Auto Spare Parts And Machinery Dealers Association (ASPAMDA) within the Trade Fair Complex on the Badagry Expressway in Lagos State to comply with the extant law regulating their trade and reciprocate by rescinding its untenable position that its members operate within a location owned by the Federal Government and comply with the law.

According to her, “I woke up while they were carrying out the act and discovered that I was naked and my private part was wet with semen from the man”.

Nneka said she went to Agboju Police Division and reported that she was raped and the police arrested the man and his wife.

She allegedly told the police that Charity inserted her finger into her private part and sucked her breasts as well, while Chigbo, her husband, not only sucked her breasts and fingered her private part, but also raped her.

The incident happened in their Abule-Ado home where both the complainant and defendants reside.

The suspects were charged before Apapa Magistrate’s Court presided over by Magistrate H. O. A. Amos, for allegedly engaging the victim in a sexual act without her consent.

Part of the charge reads: “That you Chigbo Ebo and Charity Ebo on the same date, time and place sexually touched Nneka Onwuatuegwu on her breasts and private part without her consent, while the second count also said the defendants lured the complainant into sexual activity withoout her consent.

They pleaded not guilty and the court granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety each in like sum and the matter was adjourned till when the court would resume from

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Across The Nation Driver Arraigned For Alleged Criminal Trespass

Chairman, Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) Rivers, Mr. Lawrence Oko-Jaja, speaking during NBA’s courtesy visit to the new Acting Chief Judge of the state in Port Harcourt recently.

UNTH Records Partial Strike ITUKU/OZALLA (Enugu State) - The University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital (UNTH), Ituku/Ozalla in Enugu State recorded a partial strike by some of its workers.

This followed the directive of a joint union of the various professional health groups in federal employment which asked their members to embark on an indefinite strike if the government failed to meet a longstanding agreement.

The reports gathered, state that pharmacists, medical laboratory scientists and physiotherapists in the hospital downed their tools in line with the directive.

Other workers, however, showed up for work but were still threatening to join the strike by the end of the week.

The Public Relations Officer of the hospital, Mr. Cyril Keleze, told newsmen that the hospital was functioning save for a few departments.

Keleze said the patients were being attended to since the clinics were not affected by the strike.

The strike followed the expiration of the 21-day ultimatum issued to the federal government to implement the agreement or embrace the action.

Some of the issues in contention were implementation of the ruling of the National Industrial Court, non-skipping of the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS 10), National Health Bill, consultancy and specialist allowances and call/ shift duty and professional allowances.

Deserted patients waiting room of Jos University Teaching Hospital, due to strike by the Medical and Health Workers Union in Jos recently.

MARARABA (Nasarawa State) - The police has arraigned a driver, Raheal Agbakpa, 27, of no fix address, at a Grade 1 Area Court, Mararaba for alleged criminal trespass and attempt to commit offence.

Police prosecutor, Cpl. Inuwa Maigida, told the court that the matter was reported on Aug. 10 at the ‘A’ Division Police Station by one Innocent Onah of Tudun Wada, Mararaba, Nasarawa State.

Maigida said Onah saw the accused trying to open the door to one of his rooms on Aug. 10 at about 4.20 a.m.

“Upon interrogation, the accused could not give satisfactory answer on what he was doing in the house at that hour of the day”, he said.

Maigida said that the offence contravened provisions of sections 348 and 95 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, the accused could be sentenced to one year in prison or be given an option to pay a fine.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charges.

The presiding judge, Mr. Albert Maga, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N50,000 and a surety in like sum.

He ordered that the surety must possess landed property and reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

APC Backs Power Rotation In Abia

UMUAHIA - A Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Chief Max Adindu, has expressed support for power shift to Abia South in 2015.

Adindu was reacting to a statement by Governor Theodore Orji, that he would handover to a governor of Abia South extraction.

He told newsmen in an interview in Umuahia that it was imperative that political gladiators in the state should respect the contents of the charter.

Adindu, a former Commissioner for Finance and governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Alliance (APGA), advised residents

not to dwell on what an individual said concerning ceding power to Abia South.

He said that power belonged to the people and not an individual, noting that Abia electorate would exercise their franchise to choose their leaders in 2015.

“I will wait for our party to make their position known on

BIRNIN KEBBI – Governor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi has said in Birnin Kebbi that his administration would ensure adequate funding of the judiciary for speedy dispensation of justice in the State.

Dakingari gave the assurance at the swearing-in ceremony of two Khadis for the state Sharia Court of Appeal.

Reports say that the Khadis are Bawa Dakingari, aged 53 and Bello Raha, 51.

The governor assured that the Government would continue to ensure the independence of the judiciary.

Dakingari urged the new Khadis to work with the fear of God and diligence, adding, “you must not tamper justice for personal benefits.”

He said executive and judicial arms of government had been working in harmony and pledged to maintain the cordial relationship.

Kebbi Gov Swears In 2 Khadi

the issue of moving power to Abia South, but it is better we respect the Abia Charter of Equity rather than to dwell on what an individual has said,’’ he said.

The reports say that Abia Charter of Equity, a document formulated by the founding fathers of the state, had provided for rotation of power among the three zones.

Former governor Orji Kalu, from Abia North held the position from 1999 to 2007 and handed over to the incumbent governor from Abia Central in 2007.

College Screens 2,000 Patients MINNA - No fewer than 2, 000 students of the Niger College of Education Minna and some community members were screened for malaria as part of efforts to curb the disease.

The college Chief Nursing Officer, Alhaji Sani Sanda, told newsmen in Minna that out of the number, 150 tested positive to malaria parasite, including

three lectures.

He said that the patients who were referred to the school clinic had been treated as the state Ministry of Health had supplied drugs to the clinic to support the programme.

He said that 50 pregnant women received free treated mosquito nets, while members of the neighbouring community

also benefited from the rapid malaria test and treatment.

Sanda commended the state ministry of health for the free testing kit, drugs and the nets made available.

He said the college and the ministry would intensify the sensitisation of the general public to the dangers of malaria and also curb maternal mortality rate.

He ordered the surety to write an undertaking that the accused would not commit similar offence and adjourned the case to September 5 for hearing.

Anambra To Build N50bn Trade Centre

AWKA - The Anambra government said that it would build a N50 billion West Africa Trade Centre in Oyi near Onitsha, the commercial hub of the state.

The Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mr. Robert Okonkwo, said at a news conference in Awka that the centre would provide 25,000 jobs and an enabling business environment in the whole of West Africa.

Okonkwo said the state government had acquired 50 hectares of land for the project at the 2-in-1 Louis Odumegwu-Ojukwu complex in Oyi. According to him, the centre will be constructed in phases with shopping malls, modern facilities, eateries, offices, nursery and hotels.

“You know that Onitsha is the largest market in West Africa. We have decided to expand the market by approving the construction of the trade centre,’’ he said.

The commissioner said the establishment of the centre in the South East was to encourage and consolidate on the business acumen of the Igbo.

He said it would also help to sustain strong economic development which will trigger chains of economic activities.

Okonkwo said that some of the social vices in the South East would be reduced as the centre would create employment and improve the well-being of the people.

Also, the President of the West Africa Trade Centre, Mr. Emmanuel Anyararu, said the centre would provide a platform for the strong economic development of the zone.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Abuja PDP Executives Seek Party Upliftment ABUJA - The North-East zonal executives of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) have called on party members to seek ways to uplift the party in the zone.

The executives led by Sen. Lawal Girgir, made the call when they visited former Vice President Abubakar Atiku at his Abuja residence.

They also reaffirmed their support for Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, the National Chairman of the party, Girgir told Atiku that their visit was to seek his support on ways to elevate the party in the North- East and to proffer solutions to the mirage of problems confronting the party in the zone.

According to him, the dwindling financial position of the party in the zone has made it difficult for it to function effectively.

Girgir also pleaded with Atiku not to dump the PDP for the recently registered Peoples Democratic Movement (PDM), adding that the party zonal executives had come to identify with him.

Responding, Atiku urged them not to allow themselves to be intimidated in order to enhance the chances of the zone in the scheme of things.

He called on the executives to disregard reports of his membership of the PDM and donated N10 million to the PDP North-East zone.

The zonal Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Al-Amin Muhammed, who with newsmen on the sidelines of the visit, said the zone was solidly behind the leadership of Tukur.

Ex-ICPC Boss Seeks Proper Funding

L-R: Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission, Prof Julius Okojie; Minister of Education, Prof Ruqayyatu RuraI and representative of the Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Education, Rep. Jerry Alagboso, at the Launching and dissemination of the Labour Market Observation report in Abuja recently

Registration Of Additional Pol Parties

Politicians Laud INEC

ABUJA - Politicians in Abuja lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registering two additional political parties to widen democracy ahead of the 2015 general elections. They made commendation in separate interviews with newsmen.

The Interim National Women Leader of All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Sharon Ikeazon, said INEC’s action indicated that it was now operating without external influence and control.

She said the commission had created a level-playing ground for politicians with different tendencies to have a say and canvass different ways to bring about positive changes in the nation’s affairs.

“The registration will further create room for multi-party system where Nigerians can

INEC Opens Contact Centre ABUJA – Mr. Kayode Idowu, Chief Press Secretary to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said that the commission had opened a Citizens’ Contact Centre for easy electoral process.

A statement signed by Idowu in Abuja said that the decision was aimed at allowing the general public constant access to the commission for enquiries and exchange of information.

Idowu said the centre, operating daily would allow the public an opportunity to get real time responses to enquiries, incident-reports, complaints and queries about any aspect of the electoral process.

“In the immediate instance, the centre is available for use by the public during the Continuous Voter Registration that began in Anambra State on Aug. 19, 2013,” he said.

Idowu said that the centre

would in the interim, open between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. on weekdays and later offer 24hours service.

have latitude to exercise their franchise without any inhibition or intimidation from any quarters.”

Ikeazon said the registration of additional parties should not be an indication that INEC would stop de-registering non performing parties as the political arena needed to be sanitised.

“For example, more than 60 per cent of the de-registered parties are not active and they constitute nuisance to the polity, therefore the best stand is for the commission to de-register them

and this does not indicate that new parties cannot come on board.”

A PDP stalwart, Mr John Agoda, said INEC had demonstrated the beauty of democracy by opening up the field for eligible players to participate.

He said this had created a healthy environment because politics was not a one party show, rather it required the participation of all stakeholders.

Agoda said a country with more than 150 million population required various

platforms to express its views on business of government and join any group that would enhance its welfare.

He also noted that INEC, according to the 2011 Electoral Act as amended, had the power to de-register political parties on the grounds of failure to win presidential, governorship election or a seat in the National or State Assembly elections.

He therefore called on Nigerians to see registration and de-registration as an ongoing process, describing it as “healthy for our democracy”.

Expert Advocates Regular Medical times you hear that the Check-Up man“Often ABUJA - Prof Edmund suddenly drops dead; it is

Nwana, Professor of Pathology, University of Abuja Medical School, urged Nigerians to go for medical checkup to prevent sudden death.

Nwana gave this advice while delivering a key note address at the FCT Chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA), Annual General Meeting in Abuja.

Reports say that the theme for this year’s AGM is: ‘Sudden Death Syndrome: a Rising Epidemic’.

Nwana said that cardiovascular diseases were the main causes of sudden death around the world, especially when not properly managed.

He said that many people were hypertensive but did not know.

L-R: Former Minister of Foreign Affairs/member of the Committee, Prof Bolaji Akinyemi; Minister of Special Duties/Chairman, presidential committee on dialogue and peaceful resolution of security challenges in the North, Kabiru Turaki; members of the committee, Seik Ahmad Lemu and Shehu Abubakar Tureta, at a world News Conference of Activities of the committee at the presidential villa in Abuja recently

when we probably get to do autopsy you find this man had been hypertensive for so long without knowing, “Typically for some of them, they will say headache, then they take ‘Panadol’ and go away, or they decide not to even do medical checkup, they look at the cost implication and the stress.

“You do not need to travel abroad; there is no need for medical tourism you can always have your medical practitioner check your blood pressure.”

He advised Nigerians to go do medical checkup at least twice in a year.

Nwana added that other causes of sudden death include road accident, congenital deformities and infections.

He said that many Nigerians indulged in self-medication, including medical practitioners, saying this also leads to sudden death in the long run.

Nwana advised Nigerians to modify their lifestyle by exercising regularly and forming proper eating habits.

“People should take it easy and try to relax, create some time to walk and jug so you sweat; do not always move around in a chauffeur-driven car.

ABUJA - Justice Mustapha Akanbi, the pioneer Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), called for proper funding of anti-graft agencies.

Akanbi, who made the call at the presentation of the maiden edition of the ICPC) Law Report, said the funding would make the agencies to carry out their mandates effectively.

He urged the management and staff of ICPC to remain steadfast in the fight against corruption and continue with the good work they were doing.

Mr Kanu Agabi, a one-time Minister of Justice and Attorney General of the Federation, appealed to Nigerians to shun corruption.

“Laws are not being enforced the way they should, the structure for accountability has been destroyed; therefore, we need to put on the mind of integrity,’’ he said.

Mr Abiodun Layonu, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), who was the guest speaker at the occasion, suggested the deduction of N500 from all current account holders .

The levy, he said, should be a single one-off annual deduction on all exiting current accounts having a balance of more than N5,000.

“This is one way through which every person shall make active contribution to the collective fight against corruption. “ The resultant fund will be in billions to supplement the budgets of anti-corruption agencies.

“The levy should be deducted with clear narrative by the banks and credited centrally to a specially dedicated and designated account,’’ he said.

Layonu said that the anticorruption levy account should be administered by a special body in order to allow anticorruption agencies benefit.

He stressed the need for proper and sound investigation of corruption cases in order to ensure effective prosecution.

Layonu attributed the delay in administration of justice to the issue of interlocutory appeals and frequent unnecessary adjournments.

He suggested that judges should be designated in accordance with the provisions of the ICPC Act, adding that it would help in tackling the issue of undue delay.

He said another ways of ensuring successful tackling of corruption was to engage in periodic training of ICPC personnel to keep abreast of the dynamics of a modern society.

ICPC chairman Ekpo Nta said the law reports would assist Nigerians, particularly lawyers to distinguish and recognise elements of corruption.

THE NIGERIAN

10

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Business+Economy Cash Reserve Ratio: CBN May Resort To Open Market Operation

L-R: Executive Secretary, Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Ernest Nwapa; representative of the Minister of Power, Mr. Oladele Amoda and representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Energy & Mineral Resources , Mrs. Iyabo Obasa at the 2013 National Association of Energy correspondents’ Conference in Lagos recently.

Invest Pension Fund On Housing, Expert Advices Stakeholders LAGOS - Mr. Bode Adediji, former President, Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), has reiterated the need to invest pension fund in housing development.

Adediji told newsmen in Lagos that housing required a long-term fund which the pension fund could easily provide.

According to him, the commercial banks and other financial intermediaries have been able to provide only shortterm fund at high interest rate.

“There cannot be a sustainable housing development with that kind of fund.

“With pension fund, this gap can be closed as not all those who contribute to the fund retire at the same time.

“It is a pity that the fund is still being invested in areas other than housing where a worker can even benefit before he is due to retire,” he said.

The former NIESV president said that the idea of calling for

pension fund to be invested in housing was not for housing developers to borrow directly from it.

“It is for an avenue to be created where those who may need funds for housing development can access it at single digit interest rate with long repayment period.

“The housing sector is viable and it is an area that guarantees quick turnover and returns on investment once things are handled properly.

“The pension fund can focus on the provision of medium income housing projects for workers and not for high income earners,” he said.

the apex bank.

The review said:“In the medium term, expansionary spending by the government and the AMCON bonds maturing in December will mean that the CBN will have to resort to OMO if the apex bank abstains from increasing CRR,” According to the report, in spite of the last OMO auction barely a month ago, trading activities in government securities is impressive.

It said what could make the CBN to consider OMO was government’s spending and the

bonds of Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) which are due to mature in December.

“For now, we believe the institutional investors, especially pension funds administrators are ‘spoilt for choice’.

“The treasury bills now yield close to 14 per cent, while money market rates are at similar levels.

“But overall, we believe the buying interest in the market will lead to a compression of yields,” the review added.

Naira Remains Firm

Forex Market: LAGOS - The Naira remained firm against the U.S. dollar at the Wholesale

L-R: Representative of the ICPC Chairman, Prof. Olu Aina; Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Dr. Sarah Jubril and Managing Director, Triple A Microfinance Bank, Abuja, Dr. Dan Ogun at the 3rd National Transparency Summit of Heads of Institutions of Higher Learning in Abuja recently.

Dutch Auction System (WDAS) of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The Naira was traded at N155.76 to a dollar, the same rate it traded on August 19 at the 62th session of WDAS. Reports state that this was the outcome of the 63rd session of the bi-weekly auction held at the apex bank on Wednesday.

The CBN offered $290.06 million to 17 commercial banks that participated at the auction compared to the 18 which participated on August 19.

It is also reports that the amount of forex demanded at WDAS was lower than the figure offered by the CBN.

Fight Vices Against Economic Growth, Group Urges FG

LAGOS - The Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) has advised the Federal Government to sustain its fight against all vices militating against the economy.

The LCCI’s DirectorGeneral, Mr. Muda Yusuf, told

newsmen in Lagos that the shortfalls in domestic oil output called for the sustenance.

Yusuf said that the unfolding global market scenario posed a major threat to the 2013

Nigerian Tourism Industry Can Produce 2 Million Jobs - Expert LAGOS - A U.S.-based Nigerian tourism practitioner, Ms Joy Tongo, said the Nigerian tourism industry could produce two million jobs by 2021, if properly harnessed.

Tongo, the Managing Director, Jton Productions based in New York, said this in a telephone interview with newsmen.

She said it was unfortunate that the nation’s tourism industry had not been given adequate priority by all tiers of government.

“If properly harnessed, the

LAGOS - A finance house, Consolidated Discount Ltd., said the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) might resort to Open Market Operation (OMO) to maintain the Cash Reserve Ratio (CRR).

The company said in its weekly review of the fixed income market issued in Lagos that the development could be in the medium term.

Reports say that the CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had in July introduced a 50 per cent CRR on public sector deposits.

The CRR is aimed at reducing what Sanusi called “easy money’’which is always at the disposal of the Nigerian banks.

Reports state that the CRR is the minimum balance that the banks are expected to keep with

industry will be capable of creating about two million jobs and would account for about 10 per cent of the nation’s Gross Domestic Product by 2021,’’ Tongo said.

The tourism expert urged the Federal Government to take advantage of the tourism industry to earn revenue and create employment.

Tongo said it was crucial that the nation should establish a good tourism policy framework as well as effective and efficient institutions.

She also suggested that the

private sector should be proactive to exploit the comparative benefits of tourism.

“In addition, a national tourism development strategy must be formulated and must inevitably address issues beyond the sector.

“Due to its huge potential, tourism should be accorded more attention by the Federal Government, the policy makers and stakeholders.

“Today, the volume of tourism business in developed nations equals or even surpasses that of oil, food and automobiles.

budget.

“From 18.89 per cent in the first quarter of 2009, oil contribution to Gross Domestic Product has fallen to 14.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2013.

“It is disheartening that Nigeria currently records an estimated shortfall of $69 million about N10.5 billion daily due to oil theft, bunkering and rising insecurity.

Yusuf urged the National Assembly to pass the Petroleum Industry Bill, adding that although it might not entirely eliminate the problem in the sector, it would expand its investment opportunities.

He urged the government not to relent in its efforts to revive the power sector.

“There are profound concerns over the dwindling performance of the energy sector, which has been

attributed to the structural gaps in regulatory and fiscal practices.

“It is important to curb corruption, pipeline vandalism, and other forms of fiscal leakages to stabilise the economy,” he said.

Customs Generate N33.8bn

LAGOS – The Port and Terminal Multi-Service Limited (PTML) command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) said it generated N33.8 billion in the lat six months.

The Area Controller, Mr. Tajudeen Olanrewaju, announced this to newsmen in Lagos.

Olanrewaju said that the amount was N100 million higher than the N33.7 billion generated in the corresponding period in 2012.

He said that the amount would have been higher if a shipping firm, MAERSK Line, had not withdrawn its patronage of the command.

“The command was told that MAERSK Line now own bigger ships that could only berth at deep seaports,” he said.

He added that within the last six months, the command also seized some consignment for various reasons such as false declaration.

According to him, the seized items include six vehicles, two 20ft containers of printed WAX, two 40ft containers of plastic wears, gift items, furniture and fireworks.

He said that the clearing of cargo at the command had improved because it took about 12 hours to clear a vehicle.

THE NIGERIAN

11

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT FRIDAY(23/08/13) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MANSARD

2.3

2.32

0.02

25

953,255

2,204,103.25

7UP

72

72

0

31

89,598

6,233,086.87

MAYBAKER

2.4

2.4

0

11

68,890

175,792.50

ABBEYBDS

1.53

1.53

0

1

200

276

MBENEFIT

0.5

0.5

0

2

10,500

5,250.00

ABCTRANS

0.74

0.74

0

31

11,016,515

7,729,337.85

MOBIL

119

119

0

16

33,238

3,707,291.84

ACADEMY

1.74

1.91

0.17

4

116,600

217,360.00

MRS

36.14

36.14

0

3

3,721

121,044.13

ACCESS

10.99

10.95

-0.04

193

6,952,371

75,633,369.51

MULTITREX

0.62

0.61

-0.01

3

152,400

93,818.00

AFRIPRUD

1.88

1.9

0.02

60

694,636

1,322,607.08

NAHCO

6.15

6.74

0.59

62

1,452,914

9,601,107.70

AGLEVENT

1.41

1.41

0

5

37,438

57,203.50

NASCON

11.7

11.4

-0.3

39

1,429,659

16,328,169.02

AIICO

0.99

1

0.01

100

23,919,889

23,943,953.54

NB

167

167.5

0.5

140

629,799

106,572,077.64

AIRSERVICE

4.28

3.88

-0.4

20

918,618

3,556,031.48

NEIMETH

1.4

1.26

-0.14

19

421,750

534,055.00

ASHAKACEM

20.66

21.05

0.39

41

379,029

7,980,585.83

NEM

0.75

0.73

-0.02

25

1,919,181

1,404,955.94

BERGER

8.7

8.7

0

6

41,000

335,010.00

NESTLE

935

935

0

64

347,998

325,341,796.95

BETAGLAS

13.18

13.18

0

1

10,000

120,000.00

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

1

200,000

100,000.00

BOCGAS

6.5

6.5

0

2

8,606

53,631.16

NPFMCRFBK

0.8

0.81

0.01

8

1,701,023

1,235,328.63

CADBURY

52.95

52.95

0

58

166,274

8,463,919.48

OANDO

11.3

11.11

-0.19

310

5,027,658

56,513,875.49

CAP

43.65

43.65

0

9

35,185

1,504,247.46

OKOMUOIL

45

45

0

53

387,656

17,410,445.88

CCNN

9.3

9.21

-0.09

12

19,109,277

175,982,701.92

PORTPAINT

5.56

5.56

0

7

13,000

72,265.00

CHAMPION

17.42

17.42

0

2

1,200

18,816.00

PRESCO

33.6

34.99

1.39

16

117,516

4,076,068.96

CILEASING

0.5

0.5

0

2

1,004,000

502,000.00

PRESTIGE

0.55

0.55

0

18

991,434

544,936.87

CONOIL

29.8

29.8

0

23

25,202

745,928.60

PZ

34.5

35

0.5

53

407,088

14,162,617.37

CONTINSURE

1.19

1.2

0.01

6

110,800

132,359.58

REDSTAREX

4.5

4.7

0.2

22

431,124

2,003,695.00

CORNERST

0.5

0.5

0

9

1,727,466

863,733.00

RESORTSAL

0.5

0.5

0

1

600,000

300,000.00

COSTAIN

1.23

1.23

0

29

691,921

835,231.39

ROYALEX

0.55

0.55

0

7

360,637

198,757.72

COURTVILLE

0.72

0.71

-0.01

7

272,000

195,351.00

RTBRISCOE

1.38

1.37

-0.01

18

177,442

242,642.37

CUSTODYINS

1.5

1.57

0.07

21

631,851

953,373.22

SKYEBANK

4.16

4.3

0.14

191

4,986,683

20,953,541.92

CUTIX

1.8

1.86

0.06

14

367,417

638,401.74

SOVRENINS

0.5

0.5

0

3

57,520

28,760.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

1

2,000

1,000.00

STANBIC

16.01

16.37

0.36

56

6,284,405

101,312,708.12

DANGCEM

190

188

-2

19

77,615

14,587,617.29

STERLNBANK

2.58

2.6

0.02

48

3,902,811

10,079,103.00

DANGFLOUR

9.5

9.5

0

52

366,717

3,470,896.61

THOMASWY

0.88

0.81

-0.07

7

223,345

181,259.45

DANGSUGAR

10.9

10.9

0

58

511,379

5,533,181.06

TOTAL

155

155

0

15

11,700

1,814,781.38

DIAMONDBNK

6.65

6.6

-0.05

40

7,443,990

49,102,804.30

TOURIST

4.08

4.08

0

1

1,400

5,152.00

DNMEYER

1.43

1.3

-0.13

4

85,333

110,712.90

TRANSCORP

1.33

1.3

-0.03

164

27,039,926

34,856,236.05

ETERNA

2.52

2.75

0.23

41

1,467,951

4,007,662.16

TRANSEXPR

1.08

1

-0.08

13

372,940

370,380.00

ETI

14.89

14.9

0.01

68

966,817

14,269,411.59

TRIPPLEG

2.29

2.29

0

1

100

207

EVANSMED

4.74

4.74

0

1

6,500

27,755.00

UAC-PROP

17.8

16.7

-1.1

40

553,647

9,023,484.69

FBNH

16.35

16.5

0.15

498

17,101,339

279,301,351.89

UACN

59

59

0

29

88,305

5,033,980.67

FCMB

4.15

4.14

-0.01

98

2,636,587

10,656,076.34

UBA

7.59

7.54

-0.05

292

17,151,524

129,969,104.98

FIDELITYBK

2.77

2.83

0.06

116

8,419,743

23,357,828.61

UBCAP

1.24

1.23

-0.01

67

3,584,131

4,410,599.05

FIDSON

1.99

2.01

0.02

15

837,490

1,676,110.00

UBN

10.59

10.55

-0.04

68

274,926

2,890,470.62

FIRSTALUM

0.5

0.5

0

1

10,000

5,000.00

UNIC

0.5

0.5

0

1

744

372

FLOURMILL

76.29

83.9

7.61

183

1,674,995

133,751,016.43

UNILEVER

62.49

62

-0.49

62

1,032,802

64,334,185.54

FO

39

39

0

33

142,427

5,099,095.90

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.54

0.04

52

13,139,962

6,928,768.35

GLAXOSMITH

65

68

3

33

5,204,469

351,581,310.15

UPL

4.1

4.1

0

10

123,844

501,138.00

GUARANTY

25.35

25.25

-0.1

292

14,046,504

354,209,562.69

UTC

0.8

0.8

0

1

31

22.32

GUINNESS

254.04

254.04

0

52

82,674

21,065,755.82

VITAFOAM

3.93

3.9

-0.03

30

327,848

1,270,988.46

HONYFLOUR

3.09

3.13

0.04

36

729,415

2,282,704.05

VONO

0.74

0.81

0.07

1

50,000

40,500.00

IHS

2.56

2.55

-0.01

2

52,000

132,260.00

WAPCO

93

95

2

68

3,982,620

370,510,586.80

IKEJAHOTEL

0.8

0.86

0.06

5

86,591

71,978.75

WAPIC

0.79

0.79

0

6

85,000

66,710.00

INTBREW

21.45

21.45

0

40

516,870

10,837,975.96

WEMABANK

1.08

1.04

-0.04

26

1,018,390

1,061,644.42

IPWA

0.85

0.77

-0.08

5

141,200

108,724.00

ZENITHBANK

20.1

20.14

0.04

175

5,206,064

105,111,684.38

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.51

0.01

51

3,322,150

1,666,175.04

JBERGER

71

71

0

11

81,400

5,641,340.00

JOHNHOLT

1.26

1.26

0

8

81,118

100,775.64

JOSBREW

1.67

1.83

0.16

41

1,760,227

3,221,215.41

LAWUNION

0.5

0.5

0

1

85

42.5

LEARNAFRCA

1.6

1.6

0

10

129,284

205,968.95

LIVESTOCK

4

3.91

-0.09

23

202,957

797,881.62

MANDRID

5.94

5.94

0

1

900

4,815.00

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock FLOURMILL GLAXOSMITH WAPCO PRESCO NAHCO NB PZ ASHAKACEM STANBIC ETERNA

Close 83.9 68 95 34.99 6.74 167.5 35 21.05 16.37 2.75

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

Close

Loss

7.61 3 2 1.39 0.59 0.5 0.5 0.39 0.36 0.23

DANGCEM UAC-PROP UNILEVER AIRSERVICE NASCON OANDO NEIMETH DNMEYER GUARANTY CCNN

188 16.7 62 3.88 11.4 11.11 1.26 1.3 25.25 9.21

-2 -1.1 -0.49 -0.4 -0.3 -0.19 -0.14 -0.13 -0.1 -0.09

THE NIGERIAN

12

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

WITH a basic salary of $189,500 or (N30.6m) earned annually, the Nigerian federal lawmaker has been ranked the highest paid legislator in the world, according to a recent study. The Economist magazine published in London blew the lid of the jumbo pay earned by the legislators even as denials by the Nigerian lawmakers have been reportedly dismissed by notable citizens as pedestrian.

RELYING on data from the International Monetary Fund and other sources, the study reportedly looked at the lawmakers’ basic salary as a ratio of the Gross Domestic Product per person across countries of the world. The report revealed that the basic salary (which excludes allowances) of a Nigerian law maker is 116 times the country’s GDP per person of $1,600.

WE are alarmed at the revelation by the study even though some notable Nigerians, particularly, the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria, Lamido Sanusi who threw the issue into the ring two years ago but was shouted down by the lawmakers and Nigerians didn’t quite take it seriously.

IT is common knowledge that recurrent expenditure takes elephant share of the Federal Government’s annual budgets. For instance, in 2012, recurrent expenditure accounted for over 74 per cent of the 2012 budget and over 72 per cent in the 2013 budget. Little wonder also, the do or die attitude to seek political offices in Abuja. From the reports, it means the $189,500 earned annually by each Nigerian legislator is estimated to be 52 per cent higher than what Kenya legislators, who are ranked second highest paid lawmakers, earned. This is absurd.

WE condemn the insensitivity of the National Assembly members over the years for keeping silent in the face of the big rip off of the rest of Nigerians. It implies that the nation is using huge chunk of the nation’s resources to service less than 1000 people in a country of over

THENIGERIAN

Nigerian Legislators’ Jumbo Pay 160million people.

WE detest a situation where our lawmakers have reduced democracy in Nigeria to a parody whereby the ruling class earned heavily, but preferred to subject vast majority of the country’s population to penury. We recall that at the commencement of the sixth National Assembly, a lawmaker went to the National Assembly with a proposal for N30,000 National Minimum wage for workers. Her colleagues cut her dreams short as they argued that such an amount for minimum wage would fuel inflation in the country.

At the end of the debates, N18,000 minimum wage was approved by the nation’s parliament, even at that, some state governors are still unable to pay the minimum wage while some others have resorted to the Ojogun (local blacksmith) minimum wage for their workers to assuage their feelings in the face of biting poverty. But shamelessly, same lawmakers cart home N30.6million basic annual salary outside their numerous allowances and spoils of office.

SADLY, Nigeria is a nation where over 65per cent of its population live on less than one US Dollar per day. The Human Development Index (HDI) since 1999, is one of the worst in the world, only comparable to a nation at war. Nigeriaís 2011 HDI of 0.459 is above the average of 0.456 for countries in the low human development group and below the average of 0.463 for countries in Sub-Saharan Africa. From Sub-Saharan

Africa, countries which are close to Nigeria in 2011 HDI rank and population size are Ethiopia and Democratic Republic of the Congo which have HDIs ranked 174 and 187 respectively. Life Expectancy is put at 51.9 per cent while the Sub-Saharan African averages 54 per cent. Infant and maternal mortality rates is one of the worst in the world.

IT is regrettable that rather than cease the golden opportunity of the on-going constitutional amendment to scale down their embarrassing jumbo pay, the law makers are offering unacceptable denials of what they earn annually urging Nigerians to confirm the exact figure of their basic pay from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). It is worse that same people who should effect the reversal are the ones in charge, as the greedy legislators would not vote against themselves on this issue which has assumed international embarrassment, yet at any given opportunity they speak about patriotism.

WE call on the Nigerian Federal lawmakers to utilise the opportunity of the on-going constitutional amendment to devolve functions such as basic services as water, agriculture, works and housing, education and others to the states and local governments. We expect members of the current federal legislature to swallow the bitter pill and offer Nigerians a peoplecentred constitution which should redistribute resources among all Nigerians.

WE are also glad that the RMAFC is at the verge of reviewing revenue allocation formular to the federating units. We earnestly urge the agency to cut drastically the federal share and re-allocate same to states and local government which are the arms of government closest to the majority of the people. Anything short of this arrangement will amount to sustaining the status quo which will continue to embarrass the country among the comity of civilized nations.

THE NIGERIAN

13

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

The Waste Lands Of Human Rights Law

I am the legal ace in an unnoticed land of austerity, ignorance and simplistic personalities. A land of manically settled ignorance with an unending toll of violence and ingenious prospect. This is a land with more of shanties, slums as well as crofts. The untold hardship that has been in the business of ravaging the entire populace in this local has evidently dealt a telling blow on the face of universally entrenched human rights principles.

These people have all it takes to live heaven on earth but, the greatest brickbat has been the factor of seemingly would help wishful thinking. I have stayed with these people at the brink of violence, hard work, pain, but never knew what it felt like to relate a tale of despair and ordeal though survival had become their watch word and adaptation a second certainty like the sureness of old age to a growing child. The bulk stops at our table and this is my tale at moonlight.

It gleamed like chrysalides, when the sun fell on the faces of inglorious men who wittily appreciated the pensive alter of Justice. They stood as watchmen at the city gates of different African nations. who forbade both entry and exit jazzily with no duke to gratify the dukedom of his ever enduring national strength.

We are no preachers but the custodian of light justice, equity, good conscience and protectors of human rights ingrained in every earthly entity. Savaging the edge and mounting an insurmountable garrison on the course bullets began to

rebel against the trigger just as advocacy began to prevail.

Africa has become a cemetery of hopeless dreams. This was not what we bargained for and all of a sudden the bright days are fast wading away unceremoniously. Is it that we are pushing our luck?

Or our leaders have taken our caps of patriotism off our heads by deliberate attempts to birth disinclined derelicts.

Surely, this is a pulsating scud of operational issue.

Our assurances are no longer sure and our beliefs have become apiece of pizza to be eaten and metabolized into effluents.

It’s a weakening tale to relate but, we must turn the hands of time back even if, it means us endangering our comfort zones. A whole lot of dove tales have taken common place all around the African comity and we sit as though a torrent wave of discord is not prowling in the air. I founder in a bug to the awareness that the African Union, commonwealth, United Nations and the international realm at large think that they can bring the insurgent groups to a grinding halt. A mind teaser is that these persons are not paranoid of death itself let alone the bringer of its endemic spread.

Now I speak to the world at large, such that if understood will provocatively invoke the breaking of a generational ice.

The world can take the fight out of the war, but will never address the core of the issue. We must become international learners to

know the fight is an accessorized component of the war, so are inextricably linked. This in its self is a motherboard for senseless and virulent negotiations.

To this end, to short circuit the fight is to stop the physical exhibition of the war. However, it is condign of note that, the war is externally inmate. It is in

the heart of each reason to be aggrieved. So the prominent duty of whatever leadership and at whatever level of dispensational horizon, is to take the fight out of the war by settling the war from a mental negotiation stead of understanding.

Stop the war and the fight will never abound, let alone

seeking various methods of peaceful resolutions. This is pensively encrypted, lets decrypt it together. Peace is our only channel to just rewards.

It is my point that, the end of political independence is diplomatic resolutions, while the end of economic independence is diplomatic negotiations. The egress of

global untidiness is not in the fact that the international community lacks the dynamic decoy to polarize global tranquility but, in the cliché that diplomacy is for national and continental sloppy peace. However, I have chosen my line in the sand that, global tranquility can only be fronted through the

“It is my point that, the end of political independence is diplomatic resolutions, while the end of economic independence is diplomatic negotiations. The egress of global untidiness is not in the fact that the international community lacks the dynamic decoy to polarize global tranquility but, in the cliché that diplomacy is for national and continental sloppy peace.”

Law With IKHUEBOR VIKRAM OSARUMEN threshold of international insensitivity dying on the sea shore. It therefore, behooves on the international community to cycle the parameters of their excesses by deploying well guarded garrisons on all decisions of policy ascertained onwards. As if,

the socio-political ado taking a huge toll on the nations of our world are not enough astride the nativity of national impasse and the violations of universally entrenched human rights principles. A recognition that the juniper of international politics is a well breasted approach to ensuring stronger political ties as a panacea to the ranging conflagration and inferno looming our world.

We must not get ourselves entangled in the web of self disillusion at the expense of the underdogs who are preyed on at the slightest opportunity by the big wigs. I do not mean to be modest that the viral global

insurgency has spread its tentacles like the hydra and is taking over the whole scene like pirates. The epicenter of the whole issue is that all and sundry seem to be at home with the toll of insurgency wrecking the docks of international stability. I must confess am at sea. By this we lay credence to the preposition that a great chunk of persons want to strike the big drums, so many are at large from dancing to the music and a handful wants to play second fiddle. I am full of the joys of spring, when I look at this cosmos through a rose colored spectacle and thereafter discover that the world is not all together spherical but dynamically orchestrated to engender both peace and doom depending on which cord we strike and where we stand on the circuit. I refuse to be twisted around the little finger of ingenious ignorance. The global ethnic blast is such that a whole lot of persons bestride the greatest solution to universal problems as against running full pelt for well bleated and sounded trumpet of solutions.

Against this back drop, the comity of nations has blown muted trumpets without acknowledging same. Yet has the world blathered on the rostrum of public speaking, frustrated the power of the altar, submerged the density of advocacy and blown away the baseline and saddle of continental crossbar. We must put on the raiment and helmet of selflessness as a mass exodus of international recidivist will be held incommunicado.

The world is a geographical abstraction that consists of the emptiness of mans thoughts amidst circumstances that defile the insignia of pointless imaginations. I submit that not on untill we become decisively incisive and seductively instructive there shall be no way.

THE NIGERIAN

14

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Education

Nigerian Universities And ASUU Strike OUR universities are supposed to be an ivory tower of learning for bringing up the youths.

What is happening instead is their destruction by them.

This is a very unfortunate situation.

I am not an academician but I am always happy to discuss public affairs as it relates to education in Nigeria.

To start with, let me say that it is said for someone like Dr (Mrs) Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, minister for finance and co-coordinating minister in Jonathan’s government, to say that Nigeria doesn’t have the money to fund quality university education.

Infact, her pronouncement is very shameful for a nation with oil.

Secondly, I want to observe that poor leadership of Nigeria has created problems and big issues of development to tackle just like followership.

Let me first discuss the problem of leadership in our country. Information available before us reveal that the memorandum of understanding between ASUU and the Federal government took place as far back as 2006 after a free discussion between the parties. In the MOU, you find that

By PATRICK EHOLOR

ASUU is not only demanding for allowances to be paid to them. Rather, ASUU is requesting for the infrastructural development of public universities now in a state of rot. Our’s is one in which university students have no good research centres, laboratories and workshops for practicals. For instance, this is why we see a mechanical engineer from a Nigerian university unable to identify a simple equipment like a plug.

It is not that we don’t have lecturers who are ready to teach students. Of course, we have many of them. The issue is that the government doesn’t appear to be prepared to provide them with the right tools to work with, government is always complaining it doesn’t have funds for education. But just pick up the papers and read them.

If you do, one thing you will discover is that since the past eight years over a trillion naira has been paid as emoluments to the National Assembly. This tells you the area of priority of the government. Isn’t it sad that the same

government paying huge sums of money to lawmakers is neglecting our universities and public education? Yet education is the light of a nation. Without education, a nation

the questions.

There is a phrase which says “garbage in, garbage out”, if you don’t provide welfare package for lecturers and infrastructural amenities for universities, then all you should expect are

spheres of life including the current rot in our universities.

But unfortunately most followers don’t do this whistle blowing because of fear of losing their jobs as public officials.

Imagine the rot in our universities was documented and recorded with cameras.

But no whistle blower felt the need to post the rot on internet.

Certainly, this is a failure

Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai, Education Minister

perishes. It is in darkness.

Also, if you examine the administration of president Goodluck Jonathan, you will discover that since its inception N9.8 billion have been used to purchase aircraft fleets.

Which is more important? Is the fleets or education? These are

graduates who are illiterates as we have today.

Earlier on, I said that the problem of Nigeria is contributed both by leaders and followers. I have already talked about our leaders.

It is time to focus on followers in Nigeria. We expect followers to be whistle blowers of bad governance on all

“It is not that we don’t have lecturers who are ready to teach students.

Of course, we have many of them. The issue is that the government doesn’t appear to be prepared to provide them with the right tools to work with, government is always complaining it doesn’t have funds for education. But just pick up the papers and read them.”

of followership. Maybe if the university rot was on internet, the government would have acted to turn things around long ago.

Remember, the rot at police College, Ikeja was only quickly addressed after a television station and the internet publicized it.

At this point, let me say this, our leaders’ children don’t attend our universities. You will find them at Harvard, Cambridge or Stanford.

That is why our leaders don’t care whether our universities are providing quality education.

Another thing is

that we are paying our lawmakers at the state assemblies and national assembly huge sums of money. But they are not doing anything about our poor university education. All this means we are wasting public money on them, we ought to take them to court for negligence of duty, infact, we ought to challenge the federal government in court for not adequately funding public education using the freedom of information Act as the platform. It is high time followership in Nigeria stop being docile.

On a final note, I want to appeal to ASUU not to call off the strike until the federal government meets all their demands. The MOU between ASUU and government was signed by both parties.

This is not the time therefore to renegotiate it. I even heard that the MOU ought to have been reviewed in 2012.

But 2012 has come and gone but it wasn’t even fully implemented. So the issue should be to implement the MOU in whole in 2013, not to renegotiate it as the federal government is attempting to do now by offering less than what the MOU says.

This is why I am saying that the strike by ASUU should continue until their demands are met. We want this strike to be the last one to put things right in our universities, after this strike settles everything hopefully, then no more strikes in our universities. Strikes as we know them are not good for anyone whether you are a lecturer, student, parent, transporter, food seller, the government, society and economy

THE NIGERIAN

15

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Education THE Nigerian university system that has suffered hicups for over seven weeks now may remain postrate for a long time to come if the stance of Prof. Tony Afejuku, former Vice Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), University of Benin chapter, is any thing to go by. The students could as well brace up for a long stay outside their various campuses.

In an encounter with the Nigerian Observer, the professor of English said this is one struggle that ASUU was prapared to sustain for as long the federal government refuses to implement the agreement reached with the union, saying ASUU will be stupid to accept any thing less than the implementation of the agreegment federal reached with it since 2009.

For him this could as well be the best strike the union has ever been involved in because it is the mother of all battles. “ASUU will be stupid to start negotiating again.

Perhaps I must say that this is the best ever strike ASUU has embarked on in recent times. I said the best ever because ASUU negotiated with the federal government and after both parties freely entered into agreement, duely signed, the federal government has since 2009 been dragging its foot regarding the implementation”, he says with every emphasis.

He maintains that no amount of Public pressure on ASUU to call off will ever work. “Why not pressurise the government than ASUU. I don’t think that will work now” According to him, ASUU has gone on strike before now , to see to the implementation take place, all kind of things were said and done but the federal government pleaded to be given time to see how the money could be sourced. Out of nine points only two have be imple-

mented. “You see ASUU has no problem, it is the governmet that has problem.

All what we are saying is do your duty. That is what we are telling them. There is no point of covergence without implementation. What are we going to negotiating again? There is no ground to shift, we have shifted enough ground”, he opines.

But now the government is saying it has no money to implement the agreement,so what happens? Afejuku said it was all games. “They are trying to play their normal game of lies and lies. The other day the banks were to go under, the federal government came to their rescue with trillions of naira. Now it concerns education, they are saying no money, the money is there.”

Judging from the way the political class swim in opulence, he notes, it is obvious that the nation is rich enough to cater for the educational needs of its citizery but for the insensitivity to the plight of education by those in power. It is a known fact what they (politicians) are doing with nation’s money in the way of huge salaries and monuments for themselves. “We are saying give us a little bit from what they pay to themselves, we know how much each of them receives, we have done our home work and we will continue to do our home work.

What they want us to do now is to back and renegotiate, we won’t do that”, he vows.

ASUU is currently meeting various bodies across, is this not renegotiation? He believes this not renogotiation.

“It is not renegotiation at all.

ASUU is meeting them in other to ask the federal government to do its duties and implement the agreement.

What are we negotiating again? By now if the agreement was implememted long ago we should be talking about review. Remember the federal government team

ASUU ‘ll Be Stupid To Start Negotiating Again

By FELIX OMOH-ASUN

was led by Gameliel Onosode, boardroom guru. I leanrt when he was asked to lead the team he told the government that if it knew it was not going to implement the outcome, he should not be allowed to waste his time. I understand they gave the assurance. So tell me why now the foot dragging after five

before it started to look for other excuses” According to the university don, every body saw through the antics of the government the upper week when the finance minister, Mrs Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said N92 billion was needed to settle what ASUUwas requesting for but was quickly rebuffed

-Prof Afejuku

benefit of us all. The money will not go to the wrong hands. We will use the money well”, he notes.

When placed side by side with the amount budgeted for education by other African countires, Prof. Afejuku says it a shame to most populous black nation in the

Prof Tony Afejuku

years. We believe in dailogue. We listen just as we are doing now going every where to talk. Remember the government first denied the aggreement untill the document was shown it. Later it said it is not this government that signed the agreement, we reminded it that govervance is continuous

when ASUU said it amounted to N87 billion. To Afejuku this is part of propangada sold to the public. Even as that, he declares, no amount is to big to redirect the sector. “What ever ASUU requests for is something to bail out the educational sector. Regardless the amount we demand is to the

“Judging from the way the political class swim in opulence, he notes, it is obvious that the nation is rich enough to cater for the educational needs of its citizery but for the insensitivity to the plight of education by those in power.”

world. He queries, “How much percent doesNigeria devote to education, only 8 percent out of United Nations recommended 26 percent. Other African countries pay far move than Nigeria.

Ghana devotes 30 percent of its budget, Uganda 27, Cote D’voire 30, South Africa 25.3, Swaziland 24. 6, Kenya 23. Boastwana 19 , Morocco 17. 7, Tunisia 17 but Nigeria only 8 percent. They know what they are doing. They want to kill public universities to promote private ones which they own. What of government airline, is it dead today, what of government newspapers are they not dead while private owned ones are doing well, they know what

they are doing” It is his belief that this poor funding is responsible for the rot in the sector, though he agrees there are factors, like attitude of some lecturers, mark for sex or for sale, all the same, he argures that it all boils down to the sociatal decay as lecturers do not live in isolation. “I will tell you the truth. Lecturers have limitations. When the population of student is so large,you fail and fail and fail, and they keep repeating you will kill yourself marking scripts. Apart from that there are no classrooms, no enough sitting arrangement, no offices to enable teachers care for these students. Yes lecturers demad sex or money, I am not denying that but it is because of the terrible system that exists in the country. If I denied this I will be lying and not doing good to the system. Also, many female students entice lecturers with sexual harrasment and the weak easily fall prey to them.

Temptation is in every establishment. I know what I have suffered in the hands of students becuase I want to be strict, either they come up with lies or otherterrible things just to destroy me.

Howvere, all these are the exception and not the rule”, he stresses.

He is pained that education which ought to be a means of national development has been eroded. This is because the system is producing half baked graduates.

The biggest tragedy of the strike, to him, is that the current education minister, Prof. Rukayyat was once a lecturer . “You know once a man is up there he easily forgets. If I am in position of the minister for education I will quit because It is embarrasing as a former lecturer. I am a yes man as regard the truth and integrity, anything outside that I quit’.

THE NIGERIAN

16

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Focus HAVING written several articles on the current macabre dance and political crisis rocking Rivers State and xraying its effects on the future political developments of Nigeria if not checked, I do not see further need to come up with another piece on this subject despite new challenges that need to be addressed. Even the poser by Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka, ‘that the man dies in all who keep silent in the face of tyranny’ could not sway me otherwise.

However, while I was in this state, I opened a daily guide from the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG) titled ‘Open Heavens’ and was confronted with the bold title for the day, titled, ‘Danger of Silence’.

The Spirit of God jolted me in a manner that seems to mean that no tangible result has come out of my past write ups on this issue, as peace still eludes the State, and the need to soldier on. Especially, given the nature of the new piece you are about reading and the fear of being misunderstood.

Undaunted by fears, knowing full that peace in Rivers State and Nigeria is very close. Again, I took solace in one of Prof Soyinka’s quotes, “I think that feeling that if one believed absolutely in any cause, then one must have the confidence, the selfcertainty, to go through with that particular course of action”.

If the above quote could not do the magic to sway me off my fears, then the question of Edward Abbey that, “How could anything noncontroversial be of intellectual interest to grown-ups?” and the encouragement from Marvin Harris came handy when he stated thus; “I don’t see how you can write anything of value if you don’t offend someone” P R E S I D E N T JONATHAN AND THE MACABRE DANCE OF RIVERS STATE POLITICS This road is one I don’t like driving on, considering the stand of the President and his aides that he does not want to be mentioned with the current impunity and untoward political developments going on in Rivers State. George Orwell, one of the finest authors of all time, in one of his works woke me up when he said, “Within any important issue, there are always aspects no one wishes to discuss.” As if I am not being cautious enough. Criss Jami reminded me in his two quotes that, “If you have to say or do something controversial, aim so that people will hate that they love it and not love that

they hate it.” And “To be truly positive in the eyes of some, you have to risk appearing negative in the eyes of others.”

Though, “I am not a victim” of Ezea Pound, stand that, “If a man isn’t willing to take some risk for his opinions, either his opinions are no good or he’s no good”. But for some strategic reasons, let me stay action on this topic to later stage of this article and instead use this opportunity to, in a way, assess present President Jonathan.

Jonathan: the journey so far.

The faulty start of this administration based on the disrespect of the zoning policy of Peoples Democratic Party, PDP and insecurity challenges occasioned by the wicked activities of the Islamic sect, Boko Harams sect coupled with the ‘unpreparedness of Dr Goodluck Jonathan for the office he currently occupies, due to the nature of his selection to run for the office of Vice President with late President Musa Yar’Adua and how he became the nation’s number one citizen as a result of President Yar’Adua’s death. The Doctrine of Necessity that ushered him formally as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria were some of the initial challenges that slowed down the smooth take off of the administration. His initial plan before General Olusgen Obasanjo selected him to run was to re-contest gubernatorial election in Bayelsa State, while late Yar’Adua’s desire was to retire to classroom as a lecturer.

This seemingly setbacks did not in any way constitute as an obstacle to President Jonathan unflinching desire to contribute his quota towards building a Nigeria of his dream. President Jonathan holds the transformational pledge of promising less, but delivering more. His vision is anchored on his transformation agenda anchored on driving the country on the premise of Continuity, Consistency and Commitment (3Cs).

Accordingly, it was the disregard for the 3Cs that had resulted in rising unemployment, inequality and poverty. But the regime has come forth with a holistic agenda aimed at the transformation of the Nigerian state with a strategy that gives cognizance to these 3Cs in the life of the administration.

The transformation plan draws its inspiration from President Jonathan’s electoral promises, the Vision 20:2020 and the first National

2015:

Jonathan’s Real Friends, F

Implementation Plan (NIP).

The agenda is based on a set of priority policies and programmes which, when implemented, would transform the Nigerian economy to greater heights.

Job Creation, Macroeconomic Framework and Economic Direction, Infrastructure Development, Public Expenditure Management, Governance, Justice and Judiciary, Foreign Policy and Economic Diplomacy, Power Labour and Productivity, Health Sector, and Education are some of the sectors the government has made some remarkable impact under this adminstration.

Though space would not allow one, to highlight all the achievements of the incumbent, but suffice it to say that in more ways than one, both impact and vision have been remarkable. Our transportation system, particularly his commitment for reviving the rail system in Nigeria leaves no one in doubt that things are changing for the better. The establishment of new Federal Universities within two years located at Dutse, Dutsin-Ma, Kashere, Lafia (Nassarawa) NdufuAlike-Ikwo , Otuoke (Bayelsa), Oye-Ekiti (Ekiti State), Wukari, Gashua, Yobe State; Birnin Kebbi (Kebbi State) and Gusau in Zamfara State is unprecedented in the annals of governance in the country. In the past two years, according to the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minster of the economy, Prof Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the government have built 68,100 housing scheme across the six geopolitical zones of the country and now produces 28 million metric tons of cement, but needs only 20 million. So Nigeria is now a net exporter of cement. On power, 34 independent power producers have gotten licenses, three have actually commenced works and power supply has improved in many Nigerian cities. According to her (Prof.

Mrs) Sure-P, Federal government earned N180 billion in improving child delivery, trained 9,000 midwives. The Port Harcourt to Maiduguri rail line will be completed in 2013, with more to follow by the end of the year. Her Inland cargo depots now handle over four million metric tons rising from 2.9 metric tons. Our banks and stock market are now stronger.

Perhaps what needs to be done now is to see how the banks

By EZE CHUKWUEMEKAZ EZE

can lend to individual real estate developers at lower interest rates. Power, aviation and agriculture can now import at zero import duty.

Exchange rate is stable (N155160), reserves are rising, inflation has reduced, our economy is growing- Nigeria’s economy growing at 6.5%, one of the fastest in Africa.

According to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Ballot box snatching and thuggery have become almost extinct and that it is the President’s deliberate policy to listen and respects the views of Nigerians. The negative deployments of freedom of expression, which has left Nigerians bolder and more asserting, and the President the most criticized in the world, is the cost of the President’s deliberate policy of openness. “In the last two years, the civic space have been expanded” achievements of the government promoting the rule of law, integrity of state institutions and rights of citizens are legendary and that within eight out of 14 strategic targets set by President Goodluck Jonathan in 2011 have been achieved.

A Conducive atmosphere for improving and encouraging private partnership with government have made more to industries springing up and producing made in Nigeria goods, including Proforce– armored vehicles, Obajana – Cement, and Innoson – motors, creating jobs and transforming Nigeria.

Reveling in some of these feats recorded by the present federal administration, Nigeria’s Vice President, Architect Namadi Sambo at a recent public function said, “Our public institution are being rebuilt, our National Assembly is vibrant, our judiciary is truly independent and our press is feared all over the world and that government has in the last two years placed a special premium on the rule of law and expanding the democratic space, but most importantly, that President Goodluck Jonathan has exhibited good leadership qualities.”

The Bond between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi: Reminiscing on the political crisis in Rivers State, I took time out to study the gladiators not minding their denials. The word bond means something

that binds, fastens, confines, or holds together a cord, rope, band, or ligament, something, as an agreement or friendship that unites individuals or peoples into a group.

According to Cathrine Beecher, “The principle of subordination is the great bond of union and harmony through the universe and according to

similar family background – raised in humble families and experienced the pains of being educated by poor parents.

President Jonathan won the hearts of Nigerians with his expose that he was that student who trekked to school without a shoe, while Governor Amaechi had a sandal and one pair of trouser which he washes by every weekend to be used the following week for

holde presid count that enviro Lectu with and ro Gove was fe the go few y

• President Goodluck Jonathan

Rainer Maria Rike, “I hold this to be the highest task for a bond between two people: that each protects the solitude of the other.

A statement by America’s first lady, Mrs. Michella Obama readily comes to mind in capturing the bond between President Jonathan and Governor Amaechi. “Barack and I were raised with so many of the same values, like you work hard for what you want in life. That your word is your bond; that you do what you say you’re going to do. That you treat people with dignity and respect, even if you don’t know them and even if you don’t agree with them.”

According to the facts available to me, these two great exponents of democracy from Niger Delta shares

the major part of his undergraduate days, even as the two political leader are products of the unique University of Port Harcourt, UNIPORT and are among the big Port Harcourt boys.

Although President Jonathan is the older of the two, Amaechi have been in politics right from his days in the university, culminating to becoming the only Nigerian that was a Speaker of House of State House of Assemblies for eight years and have the singular credit of becoming the Chairman Conference of Speakers in Nigeria, while he was Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly and later Chairman of the Nigerian Governor’s Forum, NGF as governor of Rivers State.

President Jonathan on the other hand is the first PHD

Niger Presi these singl Chibu Powe know other, the n mean Wh the V was humi caba Yar’A Ama Gove visibl Vice Presid Jonat aroun those ensur

THE NIGERIAN

17

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Focus

Foes And The Way Forward

er, (not honorary) to de over the affairs of the try and the only Nigerian left the academic onment where he was a urer after having a stint the defunct OMPEDEC ose to become a Deputy rnor (Bayelsa State) that ew years after he became overnor of that state and years after he became

Jonathan assumed office as the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria when the National Assembly out of their wisdom came up with the Doctrine of Necessity.

When the election of 2011 came up, Governor Amaechi not minding some other options available to him opted to rally round the supports of other governors to ensure that President Jonathan won the

ria’s Vice President and dent afterwards. All of e without contesting a le election. While uike means God is my er and Amaechi Nobody ws tomorrow. While on the , EbeleChukwu which is name of the President ns “God’s Mercy”. hile President Jonathan as Vice President of Nigeria suffering every liation in the hands of the ls during the Umaru Adua led administration, aechi was the only ernor in Nigeria very le in the office of the then President and when dent Yar’Adua passed on, than was being pushed nd, Amaechi was among e at the forefront of ring that Vice President

PDP ticket and during the election proper, Amaechi delivered two million votes from the state to ensure that President Jonathan got elected as the 14th President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Not done with all these affection to his own brother whom he shares some invisible bond not known to many Nigerians, he went ahead even while President Jonathan was the Vice President to ask him to nominate candidates to his Cabinet in Rivers State, this resulted to the nomination of Professor Israel Owate, who was the President’s classmate as the Commissioner for Education. Unfortunately, he could not drive the vision of the governor on education as fast as the governor wanted,

so he was dropped. The governor requested from Mr. Vice President then a replacement. Again he nominated Mr. Moses Ahubele who manned the Ministry of Empowerment and Employment Generation till he died as a result of some health condition in the later part of 2010. After the 2011 general election, Amaechi requested from Mr. President and he graciously nominated Mr. Charles Okaye, who still serves as the Commissioner for Chieftaincy and Community-related Affairs.

Who could believe that a person of this status based on his impeccable relationship and respect and love he exhibited towards his own brother the President could be haunted, humiliated, scourged, frustrated and his State turned to war zone even while his brother is still the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, that is the irony of life.

Just for the records, these are some of the humiliations Amaechi was meant to go through – The plane of the Rivers State Government was grounded for no just cause, the PDP Structure in Rivers State was removed from him, his election as the Chairman of NGF duly certified and acknowledged worldwide is in the process of annulment, he was suspended from a party he so much love and spent so much to build, if not for the providence of God he would have been illegally impeached by five Legislators in a House of 32 members; a Police Commissioner by name Mr. Joseph Mbu was posted to haunt, hoard, insult and abuse him publicly, calling him a despot, Governors that came to visit him were stoned. In the eyes of Nigerians, he stands as a great man, while in the eyes of those haunting him he is a personal non grate.

What could have brought this in a relationship assumed to have been perfect? Barr Achinike Godwin WilliamWobodo the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Rivers State on Inter Governmental Affairs who holds an LLM in Criminal Law and Practice and currently pursuing a PhD in Money Laundering and AntiCorruption Law came in to assist, according to him, “the induced situation is caused by third party elements, who are either driven by the hunger for power or jealousy. The seeming situation is induced principally by two classes of

persons, those driven by hunger for power which represents the group in Rivers State, and those driven by envy, which houses external factors. For instance, the Minister of State for Education, Chief Nyesom Wike, my friend and brother, is at the centre of the group opposes to Amaechi’s style of governance and bent on wrestling power from the governor. My worry is not that they seek to wrestle power from him, because that basically is politics. My quarrel is the approach: the crude, undemocratic and uncivilized manner that they are going about it. In the process, they have undermined the rule of law, breached the peace of Rivers State and are threatening a breakdown of law and order.

The second category are persons who are driven by envy and the rising profile of the governor and the only way, to them, to break the rising profile of Governor Amaechi is to pit him against the president and hiding under the cover of the Presidency. For these persons, I think and honestly too, that they have proven that they are not men enough to personally handle their affairs”.

P R E S I D E N T JONATHAN AND THE MACABRE DANCE OF RIVERS STATE Having listened to some of the funny and flimsy excuses posited by the Media Chiefs of President of his not involvement in the macabre dance of Rivers State and the counter claims by the Senate Committee that investigated the crisis and many great Nigerians indicting him over this, I wonder what type of people actually make up a media Team of the President that ought to be proactive in its defense of Mr. President but have succeeded to generate poor publicity and name calling on Mr. President. With due respect to the much both Dr Reuben Abati the President’s spokesperson and The Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs, Dr Doyin Okupr are doing the duo have not managed President’s media affairs well enough.

Yes, Mr. President may not be involved in this sad developments in Rivers State and should not be mentioned for such ugly incidents seeing what his administration achieved in the rule of law by given the Independent National Electoral

Commission, INEC free hands in its affairs and how the elections in Edo, Adamawa, Sokoto, Ogun, Ekiti was done and how he duly acknowledged the winners of those elections coupled with other factors. All these great feats nosedived when he started playing games with the outcome of the last NGF Election duly won by Gov Amaechi and instead of improving on his democracy credentials he allowed himself to be used by some confused political gladiators and elements in his cabinet to play host to the Jang Faction of the Governors Forum that shamelessly lost the election.

After the futile attempt by the funny five Law Makers from Rivers State to impeach the Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Dan-Amachree.

The purported new Speaker, Hon. Evans Bipi was seen attending a function in the State House in Abuja. Before this funny attempt. Mr. President played host to most of the key actors pushing or rather instigating the RIVERS State crisis at the State House in Abuja. Weeks to the full war against the peace of Rivers State, the First Lady was in Port Harcourt interacting and dinning with most of these key actors in this dance and all and all Nigerians are told of the non involvement of the Presidency in all these. Let us assume that is the case, why is it that after the House of Representatives that investigated the grounding of the Rivers State plane and after four months the plane is still grounded? Why is it that after all the calls by both the National Assembly and other concerned Nigerians that the Police Commissioner of Rivers State, Mr. Jospeh Mbu is still in Port Harcourt executing his sad project in the State? Why is it that up till now only the Majority Leader of Rivers State House of Assembly, Chief Chidi Llyods is being investigated and kept under detention for the past days while those who instigated the crisis in the House are going about their businesses. Is this not the issue of the owl crying in the night and the child dying in the morning? Let us bring decorum and equity to prevail on this issue and stop playing politics with the lives and peace of Rivers State.

THE REAL ENEMIES OF PRESIDENT JONATHAN Without fear of being misunderstood the true enemies of Mr. President in his political calculations in Nigeria are not Governor Amaechi and his followers, but

those who by their actions have brought the name and image of Mr. President to shame and embarrassment going by their flagrant display of impunity in the political crisis in Rivers State.

Those who have by their utterances been overheating the polity ahead of the 2015 general elections attacking any Nigerian or section that have contrary views; those who are attempting to reduce Mr. President’s status from a National Leader to ethnic one (Ijaw nation), in a manner of speaking.

Those Ministers and agencies of government promoting corruption, highhandedness and antagonising Nigerians with perceived alternative views on governance are the enemies of Mr. President.

Those promoting the infamy in Rivers State and looking at Nigeria and Nigerians as a conquered people and without knowing have indirectly by their misguided acts succeeded in ridiculing Mr. President and not those who are offering him constructive suggestions on how to be the best President ever from Nigeria. These are the true enemies of President Jonathan who wants to destroy him and make him a total failure before the eyes of Nigerians and the entire world.

Those charlatans in the corridor of power that have reduced a great party like PDP to its present sorrow state of not being so sure of its future.

According to Governor Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State these charlatans in government should be flush out from the system if Mr. President intends to salvage anything out of his administration. These ingrates and confused minds should be invited in a room to be educated on how to govern a country like Nigeria than the mess they have made out of it a system that ought to have being a golden regime and sadly have through their inimical acts brought this administration to public odium.

Other agents hell-bent of destroying all the legacies of President Jonathan are those who mobilised youths that stoned the visiting Governors that came to pay solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi over his unwise, wicked and malicious humiliations without minding the results of their action both to the image of the President and peaceful co-existence of Nigeria as a corporate unity. In his reaction to the sad development, Hon. Dakuku Peterside a member of the Continues on page 18

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Focus Continued from page 17

Federal House of Representatives said, “I can describe it as barbaric, primitive and most unfortunate. It portends danger for our democracy and the continued unity of Nigeria.

Some people hired thugs and ex-militants with the protection of the commissioner of police, to go and embarrass governors at the airport. That is most unfortunate and barbaric. You expect these people to visit Kano, Jigawa and other states where these governors who were embarrassed come from?

Danger is staring us in the face.

The other day, ex-militants took over the streets of Port Harcourt and the police did not do anything about it. They went and recruited them and took them to the Rivers State House of Assembly to use five lawmakers to sack 27. Yet, there was nothing wrong with it” Thank God as it seems that both the PDP National Chairman, Alh. Bamanga Tukur and our revered leader and One-time Minister for Information and respected Ijaw leader, Chief Edwin Clark have come to the realization that their utterances recently have not been of any help to the future of President Jonathan political calculation by apologizing of their attacks on Gov Sule Lamido and the progressive Governors in PDP for visiting the embattled Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi. According to Chief Clark, “I apologize to all Nigerians if my utterance or my action threatened the peace and unity of this country that all politicians, leaders should emphasize only those things that keep this country together.

We cannot split; Nigeria is a large country. Love is one of the greatest things that bind us together and Nigerians should learn to love one another and work assiduously for the unity of the country.”

2015: CHALLENGES BEFORE PRESIDENT JONATHAN A major challenge facing the current federal administration and which clearly will define the rest of its tenure if not checked with the urgency it deserves is the issue of corruption.

Though one of the major sins of Amaechi is his stance on protection and accountability of the state’s resources (the sovereign wealth of our nation) and confirmation of the fears of the governor, NEITI in a report had indicted the federal government agencies for the disparities in payments in the oil sector. It says, inter alia, that N175b is still not

found in the Federation acct.

Recently, TI released the 2013 Global Corruption Barometer, GCB and rated Nigeria as the eightieth most corrupt nation in the entire world under this administration and that our political parties and the Nigeria Police as the most corrupt institutions in Nigeria.

TI’s 2013 GCB is a product of interviews with a total number of 114,000 respondents across 107 countries between September 2012 and March 2013. The Berlin-based organisation said the primary aim of the 2013 GCB report was to explore respondents’ personal experiences of paying bribes for government services on one hand and on the other, to gauge perception of the integrity of major public institutions. There is also TI’s desire towards a better understanding of the willingness and disposition of citizens in countries under review to fight corruption. The level of corruption under this administration is not to be condoned if we are to survive as a nation.

2. THE EAST-WEST FEDERAL ROAD AND THE SECOND NIGER BRIDGE If these two major projects at the heart of the South-South and South East are not completed before 2015, its potential of posing a serious setback need not be overemphasized.

3.

THE APC AND NORTHERN ELEMENTS CHALLENGE With the registration of APC

by INEC, its threat come 2015 is not only real but has the capacity to stop PDP come 2015 coupled with the seriousness some Northern elements are attaching to the 2015 polls. Those that need to know about this have already confirmed it including both the BOT Chairman and National Chairman of PDP. What strategy to adopt to curtail this moving force should be of concern to any serious strategist in the camp of Jonathan instead of wasting energy to pull down a force that should be of help in whatever calculation they are advancing? Instead of the egg heads in Jonathan’s Camp strategizing and strengthening their base, they think by fighting some elements is the best strategy to sell Jonathan to other regions after all these obvious threat! Funny people!

S U G G E S T E D STRATEGIES ON THE WAY FORWARD A lot of time has been wasted pursuing shadows instead of addressing governance and rendering dividends of

... Friends, Foes And The Way, Forward democracy to the people of Nigeria which will determine the fate of the party come 2015. Not minding obvious shortcomings, President Jonathan must be commended for the efforts to reach the true characters that will help his issue come 2015 recently instead of the charlatans that have constituted themselves as nuisance in this regard. Learnt that he is also billed to summon a peace meeting to be attended by critical stakeholders in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to forge a consensus on how to resolve the crises and with the meeting with President Olusegun Obasanjo, Governor

the initiative to invite Amaechi to a meeting with the president, certain that the Rivers State crisis amongst other security challenges, could do a lot of harm to the nation’s fragile democracy.

Presidency sources said the NSA had been toying with the idea since eight opposition governors met with Amaechi in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, about two weeks ago to plead with him to meet with Jonathan and formally brief him on the situation in his state.

I will suggest in furtherance to this, that President Jonathan need to listen to his brother, Prince Tonye Princewill the Amanyanabo of Kalabari

consultations, he should endeavour to get in touch with the Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, Shehu Shagari, General Gowon, Pastor Enoch Adeboye and the CAN President Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor and plead with them to be sincere with him on his vision and plans for this country. The time of playing dummy is no longer an issue.

Lastly on this section, Mr. president need to organise a strategic seminar with his Media Chiefs and re-orientate their shallow ideas of what it takes to manage such a magnanimous office they are occupying but sadly seem lost

•President Goodluck Jonathan

Amaechi, Dist senator Abubakar Saraki and the five progressive Governors of Dr. Rabiu Kwankwaso (Kano), Alhaji Sule Lamido (Jigawa), Alhaji Murtala Nyako (Adamawa), Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko (Sokoto) — who have been shuttling around Nigeria, consulting eminent personalities on how to resolve the multi-faceted crises in the country is a step in the right direction.

Commendation must go to the National Security Adviser (NSA), Col. Sambo Dasuki (rtd) who brokered the meeting between the president and Amaechi. It was learnt that Dasuki initiated the process of fence mending between the duo to douse the political crisis in Rivers State that has been threatening the security and stability of the country.

Dasuki, in his capacity as the NSA, was said to have taken

scion on the former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar. I am aware of the efforts he has made to bring both President Jonathan and Atiku Abubakar to work together, but the continued playing down on the issue of Atiku Abubakar by the charlatans in governance may be calamitous if not handled wisely. No matter what ever those surrounding the President that cannot even win their wards election are saying, Atiku Abubakar stands out as a man of vision who has a blue print to take this our country out of its present sorrow state.

The President should for the greatness of this nation get to this man who is ready to give him clues on how to handle most of the challenges facing his administration, but if he like he can continue with those who are after their belly and lacks ideas on how to handle critical issues facing the country.

As Mr. president start his

on how to manage it. As they attempt to emulate Alh Lai Mohammed is a far cry. Mr. President should ask General Olusegun Obasanjo and he will tell him that the Media Team of Atiku Abubakar managed by Mal. Shehu Garba and Ifeanyi Izeze stands out as the most portent and viable Media outfit in Nigeria. I will suggest that the Presidential Team to take some lectures from Mal. Garba on how to manage the offices they are occupying as the idea of unwarranted attack on some of the key actors that will assist the President in his future political calculations is the worst idea of selling a President looking for a second tenure.

CONCLUSION In conclusion and in line with the recent postulation of former Head of State, General Yakubu Gown Rtd, it is not late to redefine, reform Nigeria.

According to this living sage,

“What is happening in our country today calls for sober reflections, as we entreat God on behalf of our nation. I want to believe that in spite of the gloomy situation made manifest by the escalating security and political challenges in our nation, the church in Nigeria, given its spiritual and human resources, occupies a strategic position to trigger process aimed at remaking, enforcing and reinforcing the blessings of Nigerian jubilee. It is not late to redefine and reorder Nigeria.”

Mr. President must build on the virtues that will assist our democracy by properly recognizing the office of the NGF Chairman in the person of Governor Amaechi and intervene and ensure that those behind the crisis in Rivers State are called to order and Gov Amaechi restored to his position as the Leader of PDP in Rivers State and Mr. Joseph Mbu redeployed as the Rivers State Commissioner of Police as a matter of urgency unless he has not done much harm to the image of Mr. President.

With all that has happened, it is very clear to any responsible mind that Amaechi is not a push over when serious political issue is involved in Nigeria.

Finally, the RCCG Open Heaven daily Guide of 29th July came handy at this juncture. Titled, Leading with God’s Fear, exampled in 2 Samuel 23:3 The God of Israel said, the Rock of Israel spake to me, He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God” while to all Nigeria, the Action point throws more light on this by stating that, “A leader who fears God is both accountable to God and the people under him or her”. Let us ask that only such leaders will govern our lives and nation from now on.

God has blessed Jonathan and have offered him a unique opportunity to take Nigeria to greater heights and should seize this opportunity to right acts inimical to the greatness of this nation and write his name in gold by taking over governance from the charlatans controlling his government and deliver good governance based on the support given to him by Nigerians during the 2011 general elections. It is not too late to act.

• Eze chukwuemeka Eze is a Media Consultant based in Port Harcourt and could be reached through ezemediaconcept08@rocketmail.com

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

View Point

A Dream Still Far From Reality

Cashless Policy: THE skies had just finished shedding tears that day as Evelyn marched through the earth sod that was bedded with water. As she sashayed through the tarred road, the bright light from the far left of the road gave her hope that she will not be stranded for the night. The ATM point was the only one in her “mini-campus” of UNIBEN. Just as she stepped closer to the ATM, the forest of legs she saw, gave her further assurance that all was well. However, that was not to be as the ATM was beaming: “Temporarily out of Service”, she was disappointed as the security situation in town was not the best then for her to go to any of the banks along Ekehuan Road to make withdrawal.

The other persons she saw at the ATM point were stranded as they have been trying the “off on” machine for ages.

Disappointed, she walked back to her hostel bed with the hope that the dark as charcoal night will give way to the bright rays of the sun so she could go outside her campus to withdraw some cash.

When in 2012, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), introduced the catch phrase: “cashless policy”, many Nigerians were happy that at last the apex bank is taking banking and financing transaction to the next level.

According to the CBN, the policy is aimed

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

at reducing the amount of physical cash circulating in the economy and encouraging more electronic-based transactions (payments for goods, services, transfers, etc) also, the policy is targeted at lowering the cost of banking services, improve the effectiveness of monetary policy in managing inflation and driving economic growth.

The CBN noted that the new policy which kick started in Lagos, will breakdown conventional barriers inhibiting financial services to urban, semi-urban and rural areas.

Speaking, the CBN Governor, Lamido Sanusi, stated, “it is estimated that over 70% of cash in circulation in the Nigerian economy exist outside the formal banking system.

This has cost implications for the economy. Physical cash has life span; it gets destroyed easily. This means government spends a lot of money replacing cash with new ones.

Besides, if cash is not in the formal setting it can’t be available for lending. But if you know an aggregate, that is how much is available to kickstart the economy, it makes lending and production easier.”

With the policy that make users pay utility bills, school fees, hotel bookings and other transactions in the comfort of their rooms, cars, offices etc, kick-started in Lagos, the apex bank recently

extended it to other states.

The states which are Abia, Anambra, Kano, Ogun, and Rivers state and the Federal Capital Territory, joined the fray in this latest move by the Sanusi Lamido led CBN to reposition financial transactions. However, this policy been pursued by the CBN, has generated a lot

epileptic power situation experienced in the most populous black nation in the globe. For the cashless policy to thrive, there must be a solid power supply base. Unfortunately the country is still generating about 2,000 megawatts of electricity. There have been instances where the poor power supply has truncated the use of this system.

Most

country with most illiterates (UNESCO, September 11, 2012), the policy cannot penetrate to the target group (rural dwellers, semi-urban settlers), if proper enlightenment is not carried out. According to News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report, bank customers in Umuahia, Abia state, complained that they were still ignorant of the policy and how it operates. A petty traders, Mrs. Anthonia Enyinnaya, noted that, “many people are yet to be acquainted with the nitty-gritty of the policy and most of us

exposed to them, which will in turn water down the plan (this is because 80% of Nigerians are reported to be living in rural areas) and 80% of rural dwellers are unbanked).

Furthermore, as the policy places limit on the amount of cash to be withdrawn daily by individuals/organization starts, there are skepticism in some quarters that online scam and robbery; not forgetting exploitation by some banks, will mar it.

A UBA customer in Maitaina, Abuja, Musa Wada, was of opinion that some banks may capitalize

• Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Minister of Finance

• Sanusi Lamido, CBN Governor

of questions from Nigerians. How will it thrive under the prevailing circumstances in the country? Will it go down the drain as most laudable policies of old or just a mere jamboree?

Quoting one writer, “the Nigerian government has just left leprosy to thrive while they treat ringworn”. Apparently, he was referring to the

heard about it here in the bank for the first time.”

She explained that “the implementation of the policy without adequate sensitization will cause confusion and distortion in the economy.”

Again, the lowtechnological penetration experience in Nigeria is another loophole in the actualization of the cashless policy. Most areas in the country, are not connected to internet services thereby rendering the policy of no effect. As the cashless policy needs credit cards and the installation of Automated Teller Machines (ATM) at strategic points, many people, housed in rural dwellings, may not be

organizations spends huge sums of money just to run the policy thereby likening it to a situation where one is looking for hair when there is no head.

Additionally, the low-level of awareness about the CBN’S move, it embarrassing and antithetical to say the least about cashless policy with 4.5million illiterates in the country; making it the 9th

“the Nigerian government has just left leprosy to thrive while they treat ringworn. Apparently, he was referring to the epileptic power situation experienced in the most populous black nation in the globe. For the cashless policy to thrive, there must be a solid power supply base.”

on the poor knowledge of the programme to hit customers below the belt (Blueprint Newspaper).

How secure is the average Nigerian from mischievous banks/ bankers and individuals?

The cashless policy provides an avalanche of benefits but it may end up not getting a warm embrace from a vast majority of Nigerians.

According to a writer in UNIBEN REPORTER, February, 2013, “the cashless policy is only likely to tickle the fancy of elites (rich and educated minority)” and presently just as realistic as a thunder in summer”, if the policy is not properly pursued by removing some road blocks”.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Issues

Any Genetic Inclination?

Drug Abuse Among Youths: MUSA Idris, 22, has been to the rehabilitation centre three times because of his addiction to cannabis (Indian hemp), cough syrups containing codeine and other substances with intoxicating or hallucinatory effects.

Unfortunately, Musa is still hooked to these substances and when his mother confronted him one day, he simply replied: “After all, daddy also drinks and smokes.’’

The young man’s blunt response somewhat throws up a question: Does Musa’s genetic make-up has any linkage with his current lifestyle and addiction?

Investigations reveal most of the heavy smokers and alcoholics have parents who neither smoke nor drink, while several nonsmokers have chainsmokers as parents.

Placid Mbah, whose father is a heavy smoker, says that once he remembers his father ’s addiction to cigarette smoking; he becomes more determined never to smoke or be friends to smokers.

“My father smokes so much even when he had bronchitis and the doctor advised him to abstain from smoking, he could not; he nearly died until the doctors had to sedate him for the medicine to work,” he recalls.

Dr Muhammad Mahmud, a consultant neurosurgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, says there is no genetic inclination in the addiction process.

He says that addiction does not just start immediately, adding: “It is

the doses become quite large; by the time one keeps taking these substances, the pathways expand to affect other surrounding areas that affect thinking, emotions, behaviour, movement, memory and so on.

“At this point, the person is going into addiction, that

“At that point, it is very difficult for the person to withdraw because the moment one withdraws, the whole of the brain that is involved now really gets agitated, the person can convulse, go into coma or even have a heart problem,’’ he adds.

However, the Federal Ministry of Health is

is when the person’s attitude and demeanour change if he or she does not have those medications,” he says.

The neurosurgeon notes that at that point, the person has no control over the drugs’ intake anymore, as the body now demands for the substances, adding that any attempt to stop abruptly could result in severe agitation by the brain.

certainly aware of the harmful effects of some drugs and has banned the sales of certain drugs across the counter.

The Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, says that cough syrups with codeine would henceforth be treated as a narcotic drug and would no longer be sold across the counter.

He also said that the ministry was taking drastic

By IFEANYI NWOKO

a gradual process; to understand this process, you must understand the workings of the brain itself.’’

The consultant says that the brain is administered by signals transmitted through neurons, which act like a conduit, linking one to another.

“Before a signal passes through one neuron to another, there must be something like a messenger, and this is called a neurotransmitter,’’ he says.

Mahmud explains that there is a system of excitation and inhibition in the body, adding that both are usually on equilibrium.

“Once that balance is distorted, there is going to be a problem,’’ he adds.

He stresses that hard drugs are usually excitative and they send positive impulses to the brain, adding, however, that instead of the usual amount of message, the drugs push a high percentage of the message to the brain and the person consequently becomes highly excited.

“That gets him of her high but that condition would not last forever; so by the time one continues to take the drugs, the body finds a way of curbing the effect because it senses that it is abnormal.

“So, the body reduces the effect by way of shutting down about 50 per cent of the receptors; now, the person has to increase his intake to have the same excitement.

“This keeps going until

“The neurosurgeon notes that at that point, the person has no control over the drugs’ intake anymore, as the body now demands for the substances, adding that any attempt to stop abruptly could result in severe agitation by the brain.”

steps to regulate the availability of such medicines.

“We are in the process of inaugurating a National Drug Advisory Team, while launching the National Drug Distribution Guidelines,’’ he says.

All the same, Malam Ibrahim Abdul, the Commandant of the NDLEA in Jigawa, appeals to state governments to ban sale of local gin (ogogoro) and other substances in their respective domains.

“There are no laws against the sale or

of these problems.

“This is because, sometimes, even if people are arrested for drug abuse, there is no extant law to prosecute them; hence the need for the proposed law,” he said.

The governor, however, calls on parents and the general public to redouble their efforts to ensure the proper upbringing of the children.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, blames the moral decadence among the youth on the breakdown of family

consumption of these substances, even if we arrest anybody for abusing these drugs, there is little we can do,’’ he says.

Kaduna State is one of the few states which have taken steps to enact laws to check drug abuse.

Gov. Mukhtar Yero says that a bill to check drug abuse will soon be sent to the House of Assembly for passage.

“We understand that nowadays, the youth use different means to get intoxicated. This has been a source of serious concern to the security committee in the state.

“As such, we have proposed a bill that will be sent to the House of Assembly to address some

values and bad leadership.

He notes that the complete breakdown of family and leadership values have left the youth without role models, either at home or at the societal level.

“Things are extremely bad and in shambles; parents have failed, while the leaders, whether political, religious or those in the academia, are not showing good examples,’’ he says.

Observers insist that since there is no genetic explanation for tobacco, drug or alcohol addiction, parents should make extra efforts to ensure the proper upbringing of their children.

They also underscore the need to put in place adequate legislation to curb the sale of harmful substances across the counter. (NANFeatures)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Archival Matters

One-Chance Robbers Are In Town!

Opinion

THIS week I wanted to write on why some people are jobless. But the events was overtaken by another more current one that is very critical to our safety, security and survival as functioning human organisms. What is this topical event? It is the scourge of rampaging onechance robbers in Benin metropolis, today.

On August 2, 2013 Sidney Shocker spoke about this experience while presenting the day’s RUSH HOUR programme of Independent Radio, Benin. On the occasion, he revealed that over 20 unmarked cars were being used by one chance robber along the Ring Road/ Aduwawa/Agbor Park axis.

Furthermore, he told listeners that several persons have fallen victims to these robbers.

Invariably, the bottom line of his presentation is that commuters in Benin metropolis should be wary of the vehicles they enter.

Later, Edo police commissioner Folusio Adebanjo on August13, 2013 in an interview with EBS Radio’s Festus Alenkhe confirmed that, indeed, one-chance robbers have invaded Benin metropolis.

Who is a one-chance robber? Mr. Foluso Adebanjo explains: “he uses unmarked commercial vehicles to operate, pretending to be a real driver carrying passengers from one place to another.

Sometimes, you find him carrying two girls behind and a man in front who pretend to be his passengers.

But they are not. They belong to his criminal gang.”

He continued: “Shortly after the vehicle driving along Akpakpava Road has

passed Ikpoba River, the commuter is bailed up with a gun. While this is taking place, the vehicle diverts to Temboga area of the metropolis. There, the victim is robberd, raped if she is a woman and then left off. Sometimes, she is killed in cold blood or used for rituals.”

Still, the commissioner of police went on: “There are cases where the victim is thrown or pushed out of the moving vehicle after he or she has been robbed. Also, the one-chance robber may use another technique. For instance. Later, he starts with an empty vehicle.

Later, he picks a victim. As the vehicle drives on, he picks up members of criminal gang, unknown to the victim, who ensure the victim sitting at the center of the back seat. Thereafter, the victim is robbed as the journey progress.”

Invariably, the one-chance robber often uses women as good deception and decoy to trap his victim. This is because women are associated with virtue. So, no one links them with robbery and other heinous crimes. But how mistaken they are.

Womanhood has lost its innocence in modern times as well as in all cosmopolitan cities like Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Aba, Ibadan and Benin City. As usual, however Lagos is leading the pack in growing and spreading the culture of criminally-minded women throughout the country. This is not surprising.

Eko-that is Lagos-is for show. See, the Nation

By MICHAEL ODIGBE

Newspaper on October 8, 2011 regaled readers with the exploits of two women robbers, Fausat Anifowoshe and Kemi Adebanjo in Lagos. They operated on contract basis. Their job was to lure car owners into a trap

newspaper of March 11, 2013 carried Alhaja Faith who acted as mother-general of five gangs of dangerous armed robbers!!

What is the lesson here for commuters in Edo State?

Shine your eyes. Not all

willing tools of the criminals.

Edo police commissioner, Foluso Adebanjo; says his command is tackling the problem of one-chance robber using convert operations and surveillance.

Hear him: “if nothing is done now, the crime will grow into alarming proportions, today, it is only a new trend, just beginning.

But many vehicles used for the crime are all over the place. I counted about 100 unmarked vehicles being used for commercial

• Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P

of car snatchers as well as frisk victims for their phones, money and other valuables.

The women robbers were paid N15,000 for each operation whether it was successful or not. Also, another edition of the Nation

females in commercial vehicles, whether marked with Edo State colour code or not, are innocent and harmless co-passengers.

Also, be warned. Age has nothing to do with onechance crime.

Grandmothers could be

“Invariably, the one-chance robber often uses women as good deception and decoy to trap his victim. This is because women are associated with virtue. So, no one links them with robbery and other heinous crimes. But how mistaken they are.”

purposes. One day on my way from Auchi it is such vehicles that one-chance robbers use for their evil operations. But, we are on their trails”. He advised commuters to use their instinct and intuition to explore the mannerisms of a vehicle’s occupants before boarding it. Thereafter, he added: “soon, I’ll meet with Edo commissioner of transport and road transport workers’ unions in Edo state to sort out the issue of unmarked commercial vehicles being used for onechance robbery in the state.”

Apart from the Edo police command, the state government has a role to play in curbing the incidence

of once-chance robbery. To start with, the government should as a matter of urgency begin the strict enforcement of its vehicles code. A month’s ultimatum should therefore be given to transporters who want to use their vehicles for commercial purposes to register them. The current situation whereby every Odia, Hassan and Abiodun are using their unmarked, private vehicles for carrying passengers exposes them to criminal exploitation in Benin metropolis.

Furthermore, government should fulfill its righteous pledge of providing palliatives to commuters in Benin metropolis now at the mercy of few commercial drivers since the ban of Okada on June 17, 2013.

When these palliatives come with more taxis and buses injected into the intra-city transport market by government, then the supply angle of the market would be given a boost.

Consequently, the new supply/demand nexus would minimize commuters’ strife today.

Unless this is done, their strife will worsen while the one-chance robbers will continue to have a field’s day feeding fat on commuters. No appeal to the conscience of these robbers to turn a new life will yield any dividend. Afterall, robbers don’t have conscience neither does conscience exist in our city where primitive capitalism reigns supreme.

Meanwhile, to survive the current menace of oncechance robbers, before palliatives arrive everybody should be vigilant. The price of safety and security is external vigilance. Then, of course avoid journeys at night and dawn. If you are not safe in broad-day light from one-chance robbers, it is self-evident that ungodly hours of he day exposes you to a greater risk of falling into their hands.

On a final note, let us always partner with the police in fighting all old crimes and the new one of one-chance robbery in Edo state. When you assist the police in combating crime, you are helping to make yourself safe and securied, too.

THE NIGERIAN

22

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Science

Terrestrial Habitat

FOR a terrstrial habitat to be formed, it takes some time because a bare soil has to be colonize, latter, taller trees appear giving rise to a variety of terrestrial habitat.

Marsh

A marsh is a terrestrial habitat that experiences constant flooding. They are transitional habitat between an aquatic and terrestrial habitat..

Characteristics of Marsh Land 1.

It is water logged all the time 2.

The soil experiences constant flooding 3.

A lot of decayed organic matter is found there 4.

It is a low land habitat.

5.

The atmosphere is always damp or humid.

6.

It has a foul smell like that of hydrogen sulphide and methane because it contains a lot of decayed organic matter preventing the existence of oxygen, hence oxygen is deficient in such environment.

Types of Marshes We have two types of mashes; they are the salt marsh and fresh water marsh.

Salt Marsh They are found along the coast. They are usually influenced by high tides that is often mixed with fresh water from the hinterland. Examples are creeks along the Atlantic coast, estuaries, Lagos lagoon. They produce salty mixtures or brackish water.

Fresh Water Marsh They are found on the hinterland where tides do not exert any influence. They experience flooding from rivers or lakes.

Organisms Found in Marshes Planktons, floating grasses like water hyacinth. We also have floating animals like, crustaceans, crabs mud skipper, oysters, clams and barnacles while the fresh water marshes have floating plants like lemna, water lecttuce, utricularia, salvinia ferns and sword grass. Toads, frogs and fishes

Terrestrial habitat can be classified into four major categories which include marsh, forest, grassland and arid lands.

are the most common animals found on this zone These plants and animals all have adaptive features which adapt them to either the salty environment or low amount of oxygen and too much water.

THE TROPICAL RAIN FOREST This is a very luxuriant type of vegetation, which is the climax. They vary from place to place. Rainforest occurs in the part of the world that the annual rainfall figure between 2000-4000mm. The temperature is high throughout the year ranging from 20oc - 26oc with an annual relative humidity of about 80%.

CHARACTERISTICS OF TROPICAL RAIN FOREST 1.

The forest is rich in epiphytes and clumbers and a very small proportion of undergrowth of herbaceous plants. Common epiphytes include mistletoe (lovanthciceae and ficus (stranglers).

2.

The forest, has many species of trees ranging up to 300 species, they have slender bole with branches only at the top. Some have buttress root like cieba pentandra.

3. the tall trees found here, have canopy strata depending on the stage of development of the vegetation.

4. the bark of the trees are thin smooth, with large leaves that are leathery. Flowers of the trees are small, inconspicuous and not brightly coloured, meaning, they are wind pollinated flowers.

With OYAKHILOME CEMENTINA

PLANTS FOUND HERE Herbs, ferns, orchid, oil palm , coconut trees, mango trees and mahogany.

ANIMALS Birds, monkeys, squarrels, snakes, toads and snail.

ADAPTIVE FEATURES OF PLANTS FOUND IN RAINFOREST ZONE 1.

Plants here have hydathodes for guttations 2.

The trees have buttress roots at its base for strong anchorage in case of heaving winds 3.

The epiphytes like mistletoe have aerial roots for the absorption of moisture 4.

Some of the plants have clasping or straggling roots which support them to the main plants.

5.

Some of the plants have twinning stems which they use in climbing up to the source of light to be able to make their food through a process, known as photosynthesis.

6.

Some trees bear flowers on their trunks to hasten their pollination by the climbing of some shade loving insects.

7.

Trees here have thin bark, which quickens transpiration or gaseous exchange.

8.

Leaves have pointed draw out tips for easy dripping of water to prevent fungi growth and formation of algae underneath.

9.

Trees have tall unbranched trunks or clean boles which aid them to reach the source of light at the top without any hindrance.

10. The trees have broad leaves to increase the rate of transpiration.

ADAPTIVE FEATURES OF ANIMALS IN RAINFOREST ZONE Animals here, have gasping pads like tree frogs, scales like snakes birds wings to fly and monkeys ability to jump FOOD CHAIN EXISTING ON RAINFOREST ZONE Palm fruit –snake – bird STRATA IN THE FOREST 1.

The Emergent They are the upper layer of the forest, trees here have grown above the general forest canopy. Trees ranges between 30m-45m, their canopy are umbrella shaped and are not touching. Species of trees found in this stratum are few 2.

The Middle Strata This is referred to as the second canopy, which is the forest canopy. Trees here are between 18m-27m high emergent trees. They make lateral contact with each other.

3.

The Lower Strata They grow up in the height of 18m. They have spreading crowns, short boles and bound together by woody clumbers. They form the dense canopy and an observer sees directly above him in the forest.

4.

The Shrub Strata This is the shrub strata, it has small single stemmed shrubs (treelets). They have a height of 10m.

5.

The Herb Strata They consist of smaller trees that are either seedlings of both the upper and middle canopy species or herbaceous species. fern and forbs are species of this layers. Grasses do not exist here.

“Terrestrial habitat can be classified into four major categories which include marsh, forest, grassland and arid lands.”

THE NIGERIAN

23

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Opinion

Nigeria As Lagbaja’s Perfect Mumudom

THE masked phenomenon known simply as Lagbaja is one of the few Nigerian musicians whose art is inspired by the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti. In keeping with the Felaian spirit, Lagbaja’s act and art combine prodigious, heart-thumping entertainment with a political message that, at its eloquent best, has the powerful effect of summing up the Nigerian “condition.”

Fela, for example, flung the word “zombie” in our faces. In the heydays of military rule, when our uniformed men exhibited the complex of mini, mindless gods – flinging the lash at hapless civilians or shooting at the slightest provocation – Fela’s term captured that syndrome of senseless, rampaging power.

The way Fela deployed the word was deeply penetrating.

“Zombie” entered Nigerians’ social lexicon, a handy word for all battered or potentially battered subjects of military despotism.

The word entrenched itself as the most natural way to describe the military honchos who ruled (and ruined) us. It also described the antics of the uniformed minions who – forgetting that they were victims of misrule – seemed ever willing to keep the rest of us in line, to still voices of dissent, to serve any regime with rabid, ferocious efficiency.

Fela also gave us “ITT,” deconstructing the name of an i n t e r n a t i o n a l telecommunications corporation headed by the late Moshood Kashimawo Abiola to yield a new term: “International Thief Thief.” His song, “Beast of No Nation,” proclaimed the collective bastardry of the Nigerian society just as his “Overtake Don Overtake

CHANGE OF NAME AHMED- I formerly Mrs. Chinelo Catherine Ahmed now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Chinelo Catherine Igbogidi Oharisi. All former documents remain valid. Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OSI- I formerly called Miss Osi Vanessa Uche is now known and called Mrs. Nwokedi Vanessa Uche. All former documents remain valid.

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

Overtake” (ODOO) is a shorthand for anomie.

Today, it is Lagbaja, I suggest, who has offered us the handiest name for our collective malady.

In a recent song that should become as much an anthem as Fela’s “Zombie,” Lagbaja famously calls Nigerians 200 million “mumu”. The word “mumu” is a quintessentially Nigerian word, its rich inflections and negative connotations derived from its pedigree. It translates (rather prosaically) as a fool, a buffoon, a person susceptible to scams and other forms of trickery.

In the lyrics, Lagbaja names some of the big men who have shaped – that is to say, misshaped – Nigeria. But there’s an unusual, jolting twist in the song. As the listener settles to it, expecting to hear the familiar “yabis” – words of insults usually lobbed at the country’s past and present misrulers – Lagbaja turns his barbed tongue on the so-called “ordinary” Nigerian, the “followers.” In his worldview, all Nigerians are part and parcel of the fabric of corruption and oppression that the unfortunate among us bemoan.

In Chinua Achebe’s fourth novel, A Man of the People, one of the characters earns a chilly, censorious look when he teases the ill-educated, prototypically corrupt politician, Chief M.A. Nanga, with an old joke: “MA, minus opportunity.” Lagbaja uses a similar linguistic move on all of us. Nigerians, all of us, are corrupt – he seems to say – minus opportunity. At any rate, Lagbaja sees the lot us as “mumu”, collaborators in our own oppression and debasement, architects of our collective misfortune.

At first glance, Lagbaja’s

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All former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, NYSC, Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

By OKEY NDIBE

would appear to be a harsh, excessive and even misplaced indictment. But it’s hard to deny that there’s a vital sense in which the musician is right on target. In fact, it’s impossible to undertake any retrospective of events in Nigeria without coming to the conclusion that

four or five members of the state assembly attempted to stage a spurious impeachment of the speaker and to replace him with one of their number. Backed by powerful politicians in Abuja (including, some suggest, President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife), these legislative

too many Nigerians act as fertilizers for the malaise that plagues and wrecks their lives.

Let’s take some of the recent events.

We’ve watched – some riveted with peculiar glee – as politicians from Rivers State darted onto the stage to offer us a veritable theater of the absurd.

In an act of particular impunity,

renegades were prepared to act on the proposition that they outnumbered 27 or so other lawmakers loyal to the speaker they sought to remove.

A physical fight ensued to settle this sordid, “political” arithmetic. In the melee, one legislator seized a make-shift mace imported by the Abujabacked renegades and used it to

CHANGE OF NAME OMODAMWEN – I formerly known as Miss Osayomwanbo Omodamwen now wish to be known as Mrs. Osayomwanbo Uhunamure. Former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

OMORIYEKEMWEN –I formerly called Miss Omoriyekemwen Vivien Osarumwense is now known and called Mrs. Ezoguan Vivien Osarumwense. All former documents remain valid.

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

EDORE- I formerly Miss Edith Edore, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Edith Edeki. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

OKOSUN – I formerly Miss Okosun Endurance now wish to be known called and addressed as Mrs. Enantomhen Endurance Divine. All former documents remain valid.

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

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

I, Aigbodion Oghuansuan Edith wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the person as Aigbodion Oghuansuan and Aigbodion Edith as appeared in my various documents. It should be known therefore that I am properly known and addressed as Aigbodion Oghuansuan Edith. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, SUBEB and First Bank Plc should please take note.

batter a colleague, Michael Chinda – a member of the Abuja Collective. Numerous videos of the fracas have gone viral on youtube. In them, we see socalled lawmakers who should have been on Nigeria’s boxing team at the London Olympics.

We see the police at their inefficient worst, unable to control a rowdy gathering of thuggish legislators and their hired thugs. We see one of the lawmakers ready to kill or die because the state governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, had

insulted his “mother,” aka Patience Jonathan, aka (the fuming pugilist’s) “Jesus Christ on earth.”

I wrote a few weeks ago that there was no substantive principle at play in the political crisis in Rivers State – or in any location in Nigeria, for that matter. It’s all a game about who gets to steal the most from the commonwealth and who gets to rape the people. Neither faction in the dispute is actuated by the public good. Power, the acquisition of raw power for self-aggrandizement, is the governing motivation.

If Mrs. Jonathan now functions as divinity, a “Jesus Christ on earth,” then her husband, who fancies himself a “transformational leader,” must occupy a special seat in any gathering of leaders, dwarfing such figures as Barack Obama, David Cameron, Angela Merkel, and Paul Kagame. Yet, the terribly injured Chinda could find no hospital within the precincts redeemed by Mrs. Jonathan and transformed by her husband for treatment.

Instead, it was to Mr. Cameron’s Britain that the battered Chinda was flown for urgent surgery.

Here’s a safe bet: Mr. Chinda is not spending a penny of his money to pay his bills at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in Britain. There’s a chance that the hospital demanded and received full payment before commencing treatment. At any rate, those bills will be paid with

public funds, most likely provided by his sponsors in Abuja.

The arrangement makes a mumu of all of us who accept this daylight abuse of public resources. Nigerian lawmakers, state as well as national, are paid obscene sums of money. Yet, they hardly ever use the instrument of the law to address the crises that menace the lives of Nigerians – including a nonexistent healthcare system.

Instead, they gallivant, carouse, undertake meaningless jamborees in Nigeria and abroad, and – when it suits them – take to boxing. They hardly work, but when they fall sick, they travel to such addresses as Britain, Germany, South Africa and India where people work hard and use their brain power.

As if Chinda’s transfer to a British hospital was not wasteful enough, recently a group of his backers, including a junior minister, flew to London to commiserate with him. The odds are excellent that the government in Abuja allegedly paid for the flight tickets and hotel accommodation of the five or so well-wishers – to say nothing of spending cash. This team must not know how ludicrous they appear to their British hosts; they have no idea how the British would use them as the butt of jokes: Here are these Africans who have too much money but not a bit of sense to do anything for themselves!

It’s an altogether awful picture. I doubt that Mr. Chinda allegedly lent himself as a stooge to carry out the designs of those in power in Abuja, determined to lay waste to his state. He is injured serving this despicable agenda. And then Nigerians, including the hapless people of his home state, must pay the tab for his treatment in London. A statement released by Mr. Wike’s team underscored the ridiculousness of it all. It began: “Prominent leaders of Rivers State from across political and professional divides on Saturday visited the member representing Obio/ Akpor State Constituency 2 at the Bupa Cromwell Hospital in London, United Kingdom, where the legislator is recuperating from head and jaw surgeries carried out on him by medical experts in the health facility.” Then it stated that “the leaders were grateful to God for the survival of Hon. Michael Chinda despite the vicious knocks he received from the mace-wielding Majority Leader of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Chidi Lloyd.”

It all boils down to clownishness. I’m with Lagbaja: the fact that the vast majority from all parts of Nigeria permit certifiable clowns to pollute and deform our lives makes us 200 million mumu inhabiting a perfect mumudom!

THE NIGERIAN

24

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

International Features

Why Coastal Cities Will Face Increase Risk

Population Plus Climate: A new study names the global cities most at risk at coastal flooding—both today, and in a warmer future.

Living in New York, it’s easy to forget that the ocean is right on our doorsteps.

This isn’t Miami with its beaches or Venice with its canals or New Orleans with its history of storms and floods. New York has always been a supremely self-involved city—this famous magazine cover pretty much sums it up— and though Manhattan is an island, it’s one that has its eyes turned inward, not out toward the water that rings it.

Hurricane Sandy ended that illusion last year. The storm surge flooded tunnels, subway lines and apartment buildings; swamped power lines and transformers caused a blackout over much of Manhattan that lasted for days. Altogether Sandy cost the city of New York some $19 billion in public and private losses, nearly all of it due to the water.

Sandy wasn’t even that powerful a storm, its winds barely ranking as a category 1 when it made landfall along the East Coast last October. What it had was something any New Yorker who’s hunted for apartments could appreciate—location, location, location—hitting the biggest city in America and flooding it with all that forgotten coastal water.

For coastal cities like New York, Hurricane Sandy was a coming attraction for what is likely to be a very wet and destructive future.

According to leaked drafts of the forthcoming new report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), scientists believe that sea level could rise by more than three feet by the end of the century is carbon emissions keep growing at a runaway pace. And a new study published in the

journal Nature Climate Change laid out the enormous flood losses that major coastal cities could face in the future. Average global flood losses could rise from approximately $6 billion per year in 2005 to $60 to $63 billion per year by 2050, thanks to population and economic

Change study looked at both present and projected future flood losses in the 136 largest coastal cities in the world, looking at their financial risks both in absolute terms—taking into account protections like sea walls and dikes— and as a percentage of the city’s GDP. The cities

found on the list because the Netherlands government has invested heavily in coastal protection.)

Three American cities—Miami, New York and New Orleans—are responsible for 31% of the total losses across the 136 cities surveyed in 2005. When it

facing additional sea level rise because of local subsidence—literally, the earth sinking. Developing cities like Guangzhou, Mumbai and Shenzhen face the biggest risks, though Miami and New York rank highest among cities in developed nations.

If no improvements are

Flooding seen at the entrance to FDR Drive in New York City after Hurricane Sandy, on Oct. 30, 2012

growth along the coasts and the multiplying effect of climate change-driven sea level rise. As Robert Nicholls, a professor of coastal engineering at the University of Southampton in Britain and a co-author of the study, put it in a statement: “There is a pressing need to start planning how to manage flood risk now.

The Nature Climate

ranked as most at risk today range from Guangzhou in southern China to Mumbai in India to, yes, New York City. What those cities tend to have in common is high wealth and population levels and relatively little flooding protection. (By contrast, Dutch cities like Amsterdam or Rotterdam—which are extremely flood-prone geographically—aren’t

comes to losses as a percentage of total city GDP—which gives the very richest cities like New York an advantage— Guangzhou, New Orleans and Guayaquil in Ecuador are most at risk.

The situation changes a bit in 2050. The study assumed that climate change will lead sea levels to rise 0.65 to 1.3 ft. by 2050, with some cities

made in flood defenses, the study estimates that the world could be facing as much as $1 trillion or more per year in losses. Now, that number is the worst of the worst case, assuming that cities do absolutely nothing to protect themselves from sea level rise, suffer major floods and then pay to immediately rebuild everything they lost. But

“As Sandy showed, coastal cities are at risk from major flooding right now if a storm should hit at the wrong place at the wrong time.”

even assuming improvements in coastal defenses, potential losses will increase significantly, thanks to the risk of bigger floods and more immediately, a huge increase in the number of people and the value of property along the coasts.

That second bit is important. It’s vital for governments to gain a better understanding of flooding risks from global warming—and sea level rises of the sort apparently projected by the IPCC will endanger major world cities. But the most immediate threat is the sheer increase in people— and their property—put in harm’s way in coastal cities. In the U.S. 87 million people now live along the coast, up from 47 million people in 1960, and globally six of the world’s 10 largest cities are on the coast. Of the $60 to $63 billion in flood risk the Nature Climate Change study estimates the world’s cities will face by 2050, $52 billion is due to economic and population growth—the rest is due to sea level rise and land use change.

That doesn’t mean that climate change-amplified floods and storms don’t present a danger to coastal cities—or that we don’t need to worry about reducing carbon emissions.

But the numbers don’t lie—the single biggest increase in the risk from flooding comes from putting people and property in places where floods have always been likely to happen. As Sandy showed, coastal cities are at risk from major flooding right now if a storm should hit at the wrong place at the wrong time. It’s location, which is why it’s so important to spend money now to improve coastal defenses. We don’t have to wait for climate change to come.

Courtesy: TIME

THE NIGERIAN

25

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Internation Features

An Ancient Mammal Paves Way For Modern Rodents Opinion

ON the geological timescale, humans’ stay on the planet earth amounts to little more than the blink of an eye.

Before we emerged, earlier creatures enjoyed golden ages for more than twice as long as primates have existed, and hundreds of times longer than the paltry few hundred thousand years Homo sapiens have walked the earth. One example is the order of small, furry mammals known as multituberculates, which were as common as rodents are now for roughly 130 million years — including much of the age of dinosaurs. They disappeared 35 million years ago, leaving no living descendants — the longest run of any mammalian lineage ever.

Their species ranged from mouse- to beaversize, and could be found digging burrows, scampering along the ground or scaling trees like squirrels.

Though bits and pieces of their fossilized remains have been discovered around the world, intact skeletons of early multituberculates are rare. So four years ago, when scientists at the Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences received a multituberculate fossil from a local who had unearthed it at the Tiaojishan fossil bed, it was cause for excitement — especially when, after

examining the sediment layers the fossil came from, they realized it was a very old one. The scientists dated it to 160 million years ago, making it one of the earliest multituberculates ever, and in a report published this week in Science, they reveal key details of the life of a long-extinct creature and its descendants.

The most notable discoveries relate to the teeth and ankles of the mouse-size animal, a previously unknown species of multituberculate the team has named Rugosodon.

They managed to remove a loose tooth from the rock; after taking detailed images using a scanning electron microscope, the researchers found that the tooth has a ridged surface similar to that of omnivorous modern mammals like the African dormouse. That evidence suggests that this creature ate both plants and insects. “This helps us to bridge a gap — the later h e r b i v o r o u s multituberculates really went through a stage of omnivory,” says Zhe-Xi Luo, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at University of Chicago and an author of the Science paper. “The vast majority of early mammals are mostly insectivores … and the latest multituberculates are perfectly good herbivores.”

E x a m i n i n g

Rugosodon’s limbs, though, they made an even more surprising discovery. Although its bone structure made it clear that the animal ran along the ground — a

suggests that the feature may have been common to all multituberculates.

The discovery of such a well-preserved, early multituberculate skeleton

you not, I have established new species on not only single teeth, but teeth that are incomplete. So this is really something.”

These particular fossil

spot in western Canada.

“This is when you’re first getting explosive diversification of mammals, and that is demonstrated in spades by the stuff that’s coming

Like most early nocturnal mammals, the Rugosodon was active at night. This reconstruction shows the Rugosodon searching for food among ferns and cycads on the lakeshores in the darkness

behavior that usually requires stiff ankles like our own — Rugosodon was incredibly flexible, capable of rotating 180 degrees. They were ankles you’d sooner expect to see in a treeclimbing species, where suppleness is a boon — see modern squirrels, which have similar flexible ankles. Luo says seeing flexible ankles in this very early specimen

is thrilling, says Richard Cifelli, a professor of vertebrate paleontology at University of Oklahoma. “Most of the fossils of multis, and for that matter most mammals from the age of dinosaurs, are known from jaw fragments and teeth,” he says. “In fact, my own specialty, by default, has ended up being working mostly with isolated teeth. I kid

“To many paleontologists, the so-called middle Jurassic, about the time period of this formation, is the sweet spot on the fossil record.”

beds are likely home to many more specimens dating to the early history of mammals. Last week, two papers in Nature — one of them co-authored

by Luo — described two mammal fossils found in the Tiaojishan beds, which are in the same geographic area as those that yielded China’s famous feathered dinosaurs. “To many paleontologists, the socalled middle Jurassic, about the time period of this formation, is the sweet spot on the fossil record,” says Cifelli, who compares Tiaojishan to the Burgess Shale, a famous fossil-hunting

out of this formation.”

But for all their bounty, these beds in China provide but the merest peephole into what was living on the planet more than 100 million years ago. There are many unanswered questions: Did this furry, mouselike creature run along the shores of the Sundance Sea in what is now North America? Which of the conifers and ferns that covered the planet before flowering plants evolved did it eat? And why, after surviving for so long, did they finally die out? Until paleontologists find more fossils, our imaginations will have to suffice.

THE NIGERIAN

26

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Internation Features

WITH astonishing speed, Egypt has moved from a nation in crisis to a nation in real danger of slipping into a prolonged bout of violence or even civil war.

Egypt has become increasingly polarized since the Islamists rose to power following the 2011 revolution that ousted autocrat Hosni Mubarak. Fault lines touching key and potentially explosive issues like identity, the rights of Christians and other minorities, and democratic values have never been greater.

The Muslim Brotherhood and their hard-line allies stand at one end of a bitter standoff with secularists, liberals, moderate Muslims and Christians.

That schism grew after President Mohammed Morsi, Egypt’s first democratically elected leader, was ousted in a July 3 military coup. But it was Wednesday’s deadly police raids — with armored bulldozers and security forces plowing through two protest camps — that will be remembered as a turning point when what had been primarily a political standoff erupted into bloodshed.

“The spark of civil war is out,” wrote Islamist columnist and author Fahmy Howeidy in Thursday’s edition of the independent alShorouk daily. “The nation is on the edge of an abyss.”

Adding to the mix is the branding by the state media of Morsi’s Muslim Brotherhood and allies as “terrorists” and growing calls for authorities to take a tougher approach on the Islamists.

In a glimpse of what may be in store for the most populous Arab state, dozens of revenge attacks and

Anti Mursi protesters

Egypt Enters Uncharted Territory Opinion

Pro Mursi protesters

clashes spilled over into a second day Thursday in Cairo and other cities — showing the capability of Islamists to strike and laying bare the depth of their anger over Morsi’s ouster and the crackdown that left hundreds dead.

Angry young men attacked government and security buildings, setting some ablaze, cut off roads, damaged or torched dozens of churches and stormed

more than 20 police stations.

In one particularly gruesome attack, four officers in a police station just outside Cairo were killed after the building was shelled with rocket-propelled grenades.

The assailants then slit the police chief ’s throat, a brutality reminiscent of an Islamist, anti-government insurgency that raged in Egypt in the 1990s before Mubarak used force to suppress it, killing and jailing

thousands of Islamists.

In response, the government authorized police Thursday to use deadly force against anyone attacking security forces or government installations.

While the international community largely condemned the overwhelming use of force to clear out the camps on Wednesday, the militarybacked administration’s fight against the Brotherhood so far has been supported by many Egyptians, who are mainly Muslim but object to hard-liners.

“The army and the police will strike hard and ordinary people will be supportive,” prominent rights lawyer and activist Gamal Eid said.

To such observers, it is beyond doubt that a majority of Egyptians supports going after the Brotherhood and its hard-line allies.

Millions took to the streets for days prior to the July 3 coup to call on Morsi to step down, angry over what they saw as efforts to monopolize power for himself and the Brotherhood, failure to implement crucial social and economic reforms and his public quarrels with the

judiciary, the media, the military and police.

The mass protests morphed into celebrations on the day of his ouster. And a similar number responded to a call by military chief Gen. AbdelFattah el-Sissi to take to the streets on July 26 to show support for his moves to tackle “violence and potential terrorism.”

The military and police also have gone after the Muslim Brotherhood and like-minded groups on the legal front, arresting dozens including senior leaders.

State-run TV and newspapers, meanwhile, are filled with commentators and other content full of antiBrotherhood sentiment, often portraying Islamists as enemies of the people and tapping into nationalistic fervor by alleging that the Brotherhood is a violent group that is secretly enlisting foreign help against the rest of Egyptians and that views Egypt as just a part in a greater Muslim nation that transcends borders.

A backlash against Mohammed ElBaradei’s decision to resign as interim vice president to protest the

violence illustrated how widespread is the antipathy to the Brotherhood and its allies.

The Nobel Peace Prize laureate and former director of the U.N. nuclear agency said he quit because he did not want to be held responsible for bloodshed.

“It has become difficult for me to continue to take responsibility for decisions I disapprove of, and I fear their consequences,” he said in his letter of resignation. “I regret that those who benefited today are the proponents of violence, terror and the more extreme groups, and you will remember my words to you.”

His resignation earned him public rebuke from Tamarod, the youth group that engineered the mass protests preceding Morsi’s ouster. It said he was dodging his responsibility at a time when his services were needed.

Even the umbrella of opposition groups he led during Morsi’s year in power regretted his decision and bemoaned that he did not bother to consult it beforehand.

A front-page editorial in the state-owned al-Akhbar daily on Thursday said ElBaradei’s resignation “amounts to a breach of his position and, consequently, is a case of treason that should not be allowed to pass without accountability.”

In anticipation of mass protests by Brotherhood supporters on Friday, Tamarod, or Rebel, has called on Egyptians to form popular committees to counter any violence by the Islamists during the demonstrations, proposing a scenario that places rivals face to face on the streets with a chance of violence breaking out.

Already, Islamist hardliners in the strategic Sinai Peninsula are waging a worsening insurgency against security forces, with near daily attacks. Sinai has for several years now been roiled in unrest, but the dramatic increase in the number of attacks on security forces there began as soon as Morsi was ousted, leading many to deduce that the Brotherhood and militants in Sinai were somehow bonded.

“Sure civil war is a possibility,” said Michael W. Hanna, an expert on Egypt from the New York-based Century Foundation. “It will be bad, with suicide bombings and assassinations but not necessarily another Syria or Iraq.” (Courtesy AP)

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Health

Alzheimer: ALZHEIMER’s disease (AD) is not common but a very deadly disease. It is the most common form of dementia. It causes problems with memory thinking and behaviour.

Alzheimer’s disease is a brain disorder that seriously affects a person’s ability to carry out daily activities.

Alzheimer begins slowly first it involves the parts of the brain that controls thoughts, memory and language. The connections between the brain cells and the brain cells themselves degenerate and die causing a steady decline in memory and mental function people with Alzheimer may have trouble remembering things that happened recently or names of people they know.

Over time, the disease get worse, there comes a time, when the carrier will have trouble speaking they may forget how to brush their teeth or comb their hair. Later on they may become anxious or aggressive, or wander away from home.

Alzheimer’s comes in two types, the early onset Alzheimer’s and the late onset Alzheimer’s disease. In the early onset AD, the symptoms appear before the age of 60.

This is much less common and tends to get worse quickly.

The late onset Alzheimer’s on the other hand is the most common type of Alzheimer’s disease. It occurs in people of age 60 and older. It may run in some families but the role of the genes is less clear.

The cause and progression of Alzheimer’s is not well understood. But it is believed that genes and environmental factors seen to play a role. It is likely that the cause include genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors. Because as people differ in genetic makeups and lifestyle, the risk of developing Alzheimer’s may differ from person to person.

Also, research indicates that the features of this disease are plagues and tangles in brain.

Plagues consists of clumps of protein called beta aryloid that damage and destroy brain cells in several ways, including interfering with cell-to-cell communication while tangles occurs when the threads of tau protein (the protein that facilitate the transportation of nutrients and other essential

The Irreversible Disease

material from the brain cells to various parts of the brain) twist into abnormal tangles inside the brain cells, leading to failure of the transport system.

This failure facilitates the death and decline of brain cells.

According to the Alzheimer’s Association, the following are the most common symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. However each individual may experience symptoms differently. The symptoms include memory loss that affects job skills, difficulty performing familiar tasks, problems with language, disorientation to time and place, poor or decreased judgement, problems with abstract thinking, misplacing things, changes in mood or behavior changes in personality and loss of initiative.

Although Alzheimer’s has no cure, the treatments for symptoms are available. The current treatments cannot stop Alzheimer’s from progressing, but can temporarily slow the worsening of the disease. As of 2012, more than 1,000 clinical trials have been conducted to test various compounds in Alzheimer disease.

Alzheimer’s disease usually begins after 60 (late – onset Alzheimer’s disease). The risk is also higher if a family member has the disease or had the disease. Statistics shows that the number of people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease worldwide currently totals 30 million, which is expected to triple by the year 2050.

Estimates show that in 2013, Alzheimer’s disease will cost Americans $203 billion a number that is expected to rise to $1.2 trillion by 2050.

Experts suggest that as many as 5.2 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.

The number of Americans with Alzheimer’s disease will grow as the U.S population age 65 and older continues to increase. By 2025, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer ’s disease is estimated to rise to 7.1 million.

By 2050, the number of people age 65 and older with Alzheimer’s disease in the United States may triple, from 5.2 million to a projected 13.8 million.

By UTI A. UDOH

Alzheimer’s disease which is prevalent in two – thirds of dementia of the elderly in Caucasian population is under – documented and believed to be rare in Africans. A recent autopsy survey of the brains of elderly Nigerians showed absence of senile plagues and neurofibrillary tangles. In a door-to-door survey of a population of 9,000 including 932 elderly Nigerians, no subject with dementia as defined was found. This shows that the number of people with Alzheimer’s in Nigeria is less.

innate immune system plays a critical role in removing beta – amyloid, the main substance that triggers Alzheimer’s in the brain.

Today, there have been worldwide effort to find better ways to treat this deadly disease and prevent it from developing. A new research on AD suggests that it is actually a type of diabetes. Also a recent study out of Rhodes Island Hospital (RIH) confirms that Alzheimer’s disease is marked by brain insulin resistance and corresponding inflammation, a

As the number of people with Alzheimer’s continues to rise at an downing pace, researchers continue to look at means to halt the progression of this horrific disease. Past studies have identified grape seed extract, curcumin, resveratrol and vitamin D among a host of other substance that can positively improve brain health and shield it against Alzheimer’s disease.

A new study from researchers at the Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry at Exeter’s University in the U.K (United Kingdom) collaborated with a team from the National Institute on Agin in the US to prove that our

condition that some researchers are now referring to as type – 3 diabetes. Another recent research has suggested that Alzheimer’s disease may result from insulin resistance specifically in the brain, and as resveratrol is known to cross the blood brain barrier, the compound may prevent faculty insulin signaling that promotes then degenerative condition.

Furthermore scientist studies have previously demonstrated that the way we live and our diet can have a major effect on genetic expression which can promote the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A new study by neurological

“Alzheimer’s disease which is prevalent in two – thirds of dementia of the elderly in Caucasian population is under – documented and believed to be rare in Africans. A recent autopsy survey of the brains of elderly Nigerians showed absence of senile plagues and neurofibrillary tangles.”

researchers from Push University Medical Center demonstrates that daily physical activity may reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s disease and cognitive decline, even in people over the age of 80.

Healthy diet including food known to suppress sharp insulin and glucose spikes along with sensible supplementation (curcumin, resveratrol, grape seed extract and omega – 3 fatty acids) and regular physical activities may help halt the development of Alzheimer as we age. Load author of the study Dr. Aron S. Buchman noted “the result of

biological marker is found in the Celebral Spinal Fluid (CSF) at least 10n years before signs of dementia become apparent Spanish researchers at the CSIC Institute of Biomedical Research of Barcelona believed that they may have found a marker that could suggest – the disease process in underway before symptoms start to show. They found a drop in the content of Mitochondrial DNA – genetic material present in the energy centre of cell in spinal fluid may be a signal for the disease.

According to the scientist, this discovery could allow a

our study indicate that all physical activities including exercise as well as cooking, washing dishes, and cleaning are associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease”.

As more research are made available, scientist made it increasingly clear that breastfeeding children provides infinitely more longterm health benefits to both baby and mom. A new study shows that mothers who breastfeed run a lower risk of developing. Alzheimer ’s disease later in life. The research indicates the link may have something to do with key biological effects of breastfeeding. Scientists also found that breastfeeding for longer periods of time decreased overall risk.

Moreso, a new test that could detect Alzheimer ’s disease for at least a decade before symptoms has been widely talked about. The test could defect Alzheimer’s if the

new diagnostic test that will enable patients to be given treatment long before their debilitating symptoms appears.

Currently, the only way to actually diagnose AD is in post motern (After Death) by linking chemical measures with an examination of brain tissue and pathology in the autopsy. But doctors have developed a means to find out fairly accurately if a person who is having memory problems has possible Alzheimer’s dementia.

Professor Ramon Trullas, who led the research at the Institute of Bio Medical Research of Barcelona, Saidi “If our initial findings can be replicated by other lab laboratories, the results will change the way we currently think about the causes of Alzheimer’s” he added that “this discovery may enable us to search for more effective treatments that can be administered during the preclinical stage”.

THE NIGERIAN

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Pardew Wants Cabaye Replacement NEWCASTLE boss Alan Pardew wants a replacement of equal quality for Yohan Cabaye, should he leave the club.

The France midfielder has been the subject of a rejected bid from Arsenal and has not featured in either of his side’s games this season.

Pardew wants a resolution to Cabaye’s future sooner rather than later, with the transfer window closing on September 2.

“It is quite simple - we need to resolve the situation,” he said.

“If it is a situation where he leaves the football club, we have got to be stronger. That’s my aim when the window shuts.

“We need to get ourselves in a position where if he stays, great, and if he doesn’t stay we

• Andy Murray

US Open: Murray Laughs Off Talk Of Defending Champions Pressure ANDY Murray strolled into the US National Tennis Center without a care in the world, brimming with confidence and self-belief as he prepares to defend his US Open title.

Signing autographs and joking with the media, the Scotsman’s relaxed demeanour could not have been any different than when he arrived at Flushing Meadows a year ago.

This time round, however, Murray plans to do something he forgot to last year. He wants to enjoy himself - and he insists that any pressure on him to defend his title is trifling compared to the pressure on him to first win a grand slam and then win Wimbledon.

In 2012, Murray arrived in New York still searching for his first grand slam title. He had won the Olympic gold medal but the grand slams had eluded him and he continued to be pestered about why he had not broken through.

That all changed under the bright lights of New York when

he defeated world number one Novak Djokovic in a nervetingling five-setter, to end his own drought and become the first British man in 76 years to win the U.S. Open.

Returning this year as the defending champion has rekindled those memories though he confessed his emotions last year were somewhat stifled.

“I was so relieved that night that maybe I didn’t have the chance to maybe enjoy it maybe as much as Wimbledon or the Olympics, for example,” he said.

“There was so much relief last year that I wasn’t necessarily enjoying it as much as I should have.

“So when I came back and practiced on the Arthur Ashe court, you know, the memories came back, and that was nice.”

Aaron Ramsey Deserves Huge Credit ARSENE Wenger believes - Wenger the clamour for him to make big-name signings this summer has camouflaged the quality he already has in his squad, with Aaron Ramsey earning special praise from the Arsenal boss.

Ramsey has been criticised by some of the Arsenal faithful in recent years, but Wenger believes he is proving his doubters wrong this season after catching the eye since returning to pre-season training and in the wins against Fenerbahce and Fulham in recent days.

“Ramsey is a young player and year ago, he was highly under scrutiny,” Wenger told reporters after his side’s 3-1 win at Craven Cottage on Saturday.

“People had major doubts, but

I think he deserves huge credit for having moved forward the way he did. We deserve some as well because we continued to develop him and believe in him and all the players we have here.

We have good quality at this club, do not forget that.

“During the transfer period, people are so much focused on who is coming in that they forget how good our players are.

“Somebody told me there was an interesting article somewhere in a newspaper. Apparently it said: ‘We don’t bring players in, but at the other hand, the English players don’t get the chance to play in the Premier League.’

Despite his breakthrough, Murray knew winning the U.S. Open was never going to release the full expectation on him from the British public.

That only came when he won Wimbledon in July, a moment etched in British sporting history but one that was a blur to him.

With the weight of expectation lifted from shoulders, Murray holds no fears about trying to defend his title at Flushing Meadows, the most raucous and intimidating venues of the four grand slams.

“I think there is less pressure.

I think before the first match and probably anything before the first match there will be nerves there - I expect to be pretty nervous because it’s a new experience and it’s different,” he said.

“But I think once the tournament gets going, I don’t think it changes. I don’t think it changes too much.

“There was a lot of pressure on me for a lot of years to win a grand slam, and then same sort of thing at Wimbledon. I wouldn’t imagine it would be the same here.”

need to get someone equally as good.”

Newcastle have made only one senior signing this closeseason, with Loic Remy joining on loan from QPR. However, Pardew insists additional moves will be made, provided they are right for the club.

“It’s difficult at the moment, we have big clubs filling our players with disharmony,” he continued.

“There should be business from us, business that is right for Newcastle where our fans get in a position where they really want to believe in the team.”

Campbell, who had run himself into the ground, chested in a corner after Hart flapped wildly. Campbell added his second and Cardiff’s third with another finish from a corner,

• Yohan Cabaye

Di Canio Plays Down Late Night Lift Row

SUNDERLAND manager Paolo Di Canio has played down an early-morning altercation with drunken Southampton fans prior to the sides’ 1-1 draw in the Premier League on Saturday.

Police were called to the Sunderland team hotel near Fareham on the English south coast after reports of an assault, and Di Canio confirmed that he and his staff were confronted by some rowdy Saints fans.

“They were only three young, drunk guys there after a wedding party that was inside the hotel,” the Italian said.

“Once we walked inside the lift, they arrived in front of the lift and started recording with their mobile phone. I

Premier League: Campbell Stars As Cardiff FRAIZER Campbell put in Stun Manchester City

the performance of his life as Cardiff City came from behind to beat Manchester City 3-2, their first win in the Premier League yesterday.

The former Manchester United trainee put his body on the line against the bigspending Blues and was rewarded with two late goals after Aaron Gunnarsson cancelled out Edin Dzeko’s spectacular opener.

Manchester City dominated possession but Cardiff created the better chances in the first half as Joe Hart made saves from Steven Caulker and twice from Campbell.

The visitors took the lead early in the second period, as Dzeko fired a rasping drive past David Marshall after a backheel from Sergio Aguero.

Gunnarsson equalised after a Hart stop denied Cambpell, the hosts’ first ever Premier League goal and first in the top flight in over half a century.

They took the lead when

Pardew’s side are yet to win this season, having lost 4-0 at Manchester City before drawing 0-0 with West Ham.

this time a towering header at the far post.

Alvaro Negredo, a late sub for City, headed an injury-time consolation but Cardiff held on for a famous win.

was screaming from behind the staff and we tried to push the third-floor button and they tried to stop and kept going.

“At that moment, they weren’t really aggressive but we said ‘Stop, we must go now, let us go.’ We tried to say stop and push them away and they started to open the door, so we said ‘Now we call the police.’

“I asked for the police because it wasn’t fair that people inside the hotel attack, verbally and physically, members of my staff. It wasn’t fair.”

He added: “It was a stupid moment from silly guys under effect of lots of alcohol.

“No footballers, no fight.

This is the real situation and the way it happened.”

Emanuele Giaccherini’s third-minute header set Sunderland on course for their first victory of the season at St Mary’s, only for Jose Fonte to equalise for Southampton in the 88th minute.

Cardiff City’s Fraizer Campbell (left) celebrate his brace agaisnt Manchester City, leaving Joe Hart, Silva and Zabaleta hopeless during their English Premier League match at Cardiff City Stadium yesterday

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

Rummenigge Urges Europe To Recognise Ribery Talent BAYERN Munich chief executive Karl-Heinz

Bayern Maintain Perfect Record

BAYERN Munich kept pace with Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga with Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben both on target in a 2-0 win over Nurnberg.

Nurnberg went closest to breaking the deadlock as Bayern struggled to get their game going in the first half, though David Alaba missed a penalty for the hosts.

When Pep Guardiola’s side found top gear in the second half, though, there was only one side who was going to win with wingers Ribery and Robben clinching their third straight win.

Sidney Sam was on target twice for Bayer Leverkusen as they moved into a four-way tie for top spot with a 4-2 win over Borussia Monchengladbach.

Stefan Kiessling scored first before setting up Sam to give Leverkusen a two-goal lead at the interval.

Martin Stranzl and Juan Arango brought Gladbach back on terms, but Sam’s second and a Gonzalo Castro goal ensured Sami Hyypia’s men extended their perfect start to the season.

Mainz also maintained their perfect start to the campaign with a 2-0 win at home to Wolfsburg, who ended the match short-handed after Luis Gustavo was sent off in the second half.

Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting had opened the scoring four minutes earlier, and Nicolai Muller put away Mainz’s third straight victory with a goal in the 78th minute.

Schalke’s poor season start continued with a 2-1 loss at Hannover, where the visitors finished with nine players and the hosts 10.

Karl-Heinz Rummenigge

Rummenigge has praised Franck Ribery, stressing that his quality ought to be obvious to everyone in Europe.

Ribery opened the scoring for die Roten against Nurnberg on Saturday before Arjen Robben added another to complete a 20 win.

Speaking after the game, Rummenigge was quick to single out the 30-year-old Frenchman for praise, stressing that his exceptional talent should be acknowledged across Europe and not just in Germany.

“Franck has once again shown that he is extra class,” the 57-year-old German was quoted by TZ. “It would be nice if this was seen not only in Germany but also throughout Europe.”

Ribery has been shortlisted alongside Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo for the Uefa Best Player in Europe award, and Rummenigge was keen to throw his weight behind his player’s nomination before the winner is revealed on Thursday.

Ribery himself, who has scored 80 times in 240 games for the Bavarians, said little about his chances of taking the accolade.

“I’ve done everything individually and with the team,” the former Olympique de Marseille man said.

“The goal I scored was extraordinary.”

Bayern have made a perfect start to their Bundesliga defence having won all three of their opening fixtures.

Chelsea’s boss, Jose Mourinho

Mourinho Questions Guardiola’s Ability At Bayern Ahead Super Cup Clash

CHELSEA boss, Jose Mourinho has taunted his Bayern Munich counterpart before Friday’s game in Prague, questioning whether the Bavarians will be as good without Jupp of the Catalans’ then assistant Heynckes.

Jose Mourinho has resumed his rivalry with Pep Guardiola as his Chelsea side prepares to take on Bayern Munich in the Uefa Super Cup. The Portuguese coach was at the forefront of a number of tempestuous encounters when the two men were in charge at Real Madrid and Barcelona, with one infamous incident seeing Mourinho jab the eye

boss Tito Vilanova in the 2011 Spanish Super Cup. Speaking ahead of his team’s game against last season’s Champions League winners, Mourinho was keen to reignite the rivalry between the two coaches, doubting whether Guardiola will have the same impact as Jupp Heynckes at Bayern.

“It was Jupp Heynckes’s

sence from the top flight.

Despite Andrea Poli’s opener for Milan, the tall man Luca Toni stole the show.

Milan coach Massimo Allegri will now be desperate for progression in their Uefa Champions League qualifier with PSV in midweek.

Despite taking the lead as early as the 15th minute when Milan’s Andrea Poli got the first goal of the new Serie A season, Milan were overwhelmed by the determined rookies.

Poli scored after Verona paid the price for sitting too deep and allowing Balotelli to hold the play before spotting the midifelder’s run.

He took one touch and squeezed between two defenders before rolling the ball

into the bottom corner.

But then Verona found the equaliser on the half hour mark when Luca Toni was left completely unmarked to head the ball past Abbiati from close range.

He then completed his brace after some brilliant counter attacking in the 53rd minute.

Romulo led the charge and Verona got men over on the break.

Jankovic then used the outside of his boot to bend a cross for Toni at the back post, and the striker peeled away from Zapata to head home his second goal and what turned out to be the winner.

A great win for Hellas Verona.

AC Milan In Shock Loss To Verona A Lucas Toni double gave newly promoted Serie A side, Hellas Verona, a shock opening day victory over AC Milan after an 11-year ab-

Bayern Munich’s boss Pep Guardiola

Bayern that was the best team in Europe,” the 50 year-old Portuguese was quoted by Bild am Sonntag.

“Now they have a new coach and new players - and I’m not sure if they are still as good.”

Bayern continued their winning start to the season in the Bundesliga with a 2-0 win over Nurnberg on Saturday but the lost the DFL Supercup to rivals Borussia Dortmund 4-2 in July.

Meanwhile, Mourinho’s Chelsea began with a 2-0 win over Hull City Tigers in the

Premier League and face Manchester United on Monday.

Mourinho’s verbal barbs come as Chelsea attempt to overcome Bayern in Prague on Friday in what is the first Super Cup to be held away from the Stade Louis II in Monaco since it became a one-legged affair in 1998.

The Blues lifted the trophy that year, Gus Poyet scoring in a 1-0 win over Real Madrid, whilst die Roten are still to win it after three attempts.

Barcelona, Club After My Heart, Says Yaya Toure MANCHESTER City midfielder, Yaya Toure tells of the affection he had towards his former club and the difficulty of leaving, though stresses he remains happy at the Etihad Stadium Yaya Toure says Barcelona were the club of his heart, admitting he never thought he would leave the Catalan giants for Manchester City.

The Cote d’Ivoire midfielder has become an integral part of City’s side since arriving from Camp Nou for 30 million Euro in July 2010, scoring 29 goals in 135 games for the club.

However in an interview with Sport, the 30-year-old revealed he had intended to see out his career with the Catalans and only a lack of first-team opportunities convinced him to leave.

“Barca were the club of my heart,” the two-time African

Player of the Year said.

“I had planned to retire there, to stay for many years. I’ve a lot of love for many people: [Andres] Iniesta, [Victor] Valdes, Xavi, [Sergio] Busquets... we were like a little family. [Gerard] Pique and [Carles] Puyol, too.

“I was 27 when I left, with enormous competition for places. I wanted to play more and not be on the bench. Leaving was the most difficult decision of my life, I loved that club and the fans. But now I am happy, at City I’m part of something very nice.”

Toure has won the Premier League, FA Cup and Community Shield since moving to England and was amongst the scorers as City opened the season with a 4-0 win over Newcastle United last week.

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MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

I’m Building Kwara Utd For Future - Unuanel

COACH Samuel Unuanel of Kwara United FC of Ilorin says he is working to build a formidable team for the future that would be the pride of all people from Kwara.

Unuanel announced this to newsmen after his team defeated Enyimba of Aba 10 in a week 27 encounter of Glo Premier League in Ilorin.

The coach, who expressed satisfaction with his boys’ performance, added that he was already looking forward to the next match against Nembe City of Bayelsa in week 28 in Yenagoa.

Unuanel sad that his top striker, Yahaya Adamu, did not play the match because he just returned from South Africa where he negotiated a contract with a club.

“He is one of our best

• Coach Samuel Unuanel

products, but there are some foreign teams that came for him and in such circumstances, a coach cannot hold him against his wish,’’ Unuanel said.

He said that with the victory, Kwara United moved to the third position on the league table with 44 points from 27 matches Reports say that a point is separating the club from the two top teams in the league, but with differences of goals aggregate.

The only goal of the match, played at the Kwara State Stadium Complex, Ilorin, was scored by Enyimba’s former defender Okey Odita, in the 22nd minute through a powerful header from a corner kick.

Globacom Premier League

Champions Pillars Back On Top

• Nigeria’s Flying Eagles against Tunisia in Africa qualifier

Eaglets To Know World Cup Foes Today

FIFA U17:

NIGERIA will know their first round opponents at the FIFA U17 World Cup today, when the draw takes place in Fairmont Bab Al Bahr, Abu Dhabi.

FIFA in conjunction with the for the draw.

Higher Local Organising The Golden Eaglets including Committee (LOC) for the FIFA three other African hope bearers U17 World Cup 2013 have – Cote d’Ivoire, Tunisia, invited chief coach Manu Morocco - and 20 other Garba, team captain Musa qualified countries will be Mohammed and team’s drawn into six groups of four, administrator, Tayo Egbaiyelo, with the top two teams in each

Minister Slams Zambia CHAN Flop ZAMBIA sports minister Chishimba Kambwili slams Zambia’s players for failing to qualify for 2014 CHAN. Zimbabwe beat hosts Zambia 1-0 on August 24 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to book their CHAN place by the same aggregate score line.

The loss came a week after Zambia escaped from Harare with a scoreless draw in the first leg played on August 18 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare.

“They performed well in front of a big foreign crowd, why

• Herve Renard

should they fail to perform better in front of their fans?”

Kambwili said.

“People have travelled from Lusaka, Livingstone, Kasama to come and watch them and you can’t give them this kind of results.

“You cannot even blame the coach, the coach was there guiding them it is just the stupidity of the players and complacency.”

This is the second successive time that Zambia’s has failed to qualify for the CHAN finals

group automatically qualifying for the round of 16.

The four best third-placed teams from the group stages will also progress to the knockout stages.

Nigeria have one of the best records at the U17 level after

they were crowned world champions on three previous occasions, 1985, 1993 and 2007.

They were also runners-up on three other previous occasions – 1987, 2001 and 2009.

Nigeria last featured at this tournament in 2009.

El Kanemi Beat Wolves 3-0

after South Africa eliminated them at the same stage for the 2011 edition of the tournament.

Zambia’s last CHAN appearance was in the inaugural tournament hosted by Cote d’Ivoire where Chipolopolo finished third under coach Herve Renard.

EL KANEMI Warriors FC of Maiduguri walloped visiting Warri Wolves 3-0 in a Premier League encounter played in Maiduguri.

Reports say that the home team showed superiority over the visitors by dominating both

WE deserved not to qualify for the 2014 CHAN finals says Zambia coach Herve Renard.

Zimbabwe beat Zambia 1-0 away at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola to qualify 1-0 on aggregate to the finals in South Africa in January.

The defeat was also Zambia’s first on Zambian football hallowed ground in Ndola where they trace their last loss to 1968 when Tanzania beat them 4-3 in a friendly across town at the now demolished former fortress Dag Hammarskjöld Stadium.

A casual Zambia was punished for their lacklustre display especially from striker’s Bornwell Mwape and Festus Mbewe against a determined Zimbabwe.

“I think we deserve what we showed today,” Renard said.

“If we are not able to make the difference, if we are not able to win the game, if we are dropping and not pressing your opponent, the result at the end will be against you.

So today, we deserve what we produced on the pitch.”

Charles Sibanda’s sweet strike in the 62nd minute ensured Zimbabwe’s third successive passage to the CHAN finals joining Ghana on that feat since the inaugural tournament in 2009.

Meanwhile, the defeat has left Zambia still struggling to qualify for the last two CHAN finals since finish third at the inaugural tournament held in Cote d’Ivoire in 2009.

. . . We Deserved To Lose, Says Renard

halves of the encounter.

Rafel Jospeh opened scoring in the fifth minute of the thrilling encounter watched by a near capacity crowd at the El Kanemi Sports Centre, Maiduguri, while Ebube Opoku increased the tally in the 18th minutes.

Yawale Musa made it three in the 20th minute.

El Kanemi Warriors Chief Coach Zakari Baraje described the match as satisfactory.

CHAMPIONS Kano Pillars have reclaimed top spot in the Nigeria league after a 1-0 home win over Sharks.

Pillars now have 45 points from 26 matches.

Gambo Mohammed playing his second game after a spell on the sidelines due to injury scored the only goal of the game in the 72nd minute to cheer up the home fans.

Mohammed told MTNFootball.com he was delighted to get the allimportant goal.

“It was not an easy game, but we thank Allah we won. I am happy to have scored the only goal that gave us victory,” Gambo said.

The Eagles striker has now scored five goals in the league.

Saturday Results Bayelsa United 2 ABS 0 Gombe 2 Nasarawa 0 Kwara 1 Enyimba 0 Pillars 1 Sharks 0 El Kanemi 3 Wolves 0

• Ado Alli, Pillars defender

Uganda Name Squad For Senegal In W/Cup Qualifier CRANES coach Micho Sredojevic has named a 30-man team to face Senegal in a crucial 2014 World Cup qualifier on September 7.

“The available players will tomorrow start with taking part in the Cancer 10km run before having a motivational session at the Sheraton Hotel,” said the coach who was flanked by his assistants Sam Timbe and Kefa Kisala together with team manager Chrispus Muyinda.

“We shall not leave no stone un-turned as we shall start serious training on Monday

before heading to Botswana for an international friendly on August 31,” added the coach.

Meanwhile, Mujib Kasule, FUFA Vice President in-charge of the League, who also sits on the technical committee, called upon the government to quickly release the money they have budgeted to help the team prepare.

Kasule said the team travelled to Egypt for an International friendly on August 14th, but the players and technical team were not paid their allowances because government did not send the money as promised.

THE NIGERIAN

31

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

2013 National Championship:

Golden Gloves’ Nwakpa Praises Organisers For Reviving Boxing In NiOBISIA Nwamkpa, the organisers of the 2013 Nageria immediate past head coach, Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF), has thanked the

3SC Stop High-Riding Bayelsa

Ediwo

Coach Seeks Financial Assistance For AFN

A top athletics coach on Saturday called on government and corporate organisations to extend financial assistance to the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to enable it reorganise its programmes.

Yusuf Alli, a 1990 Common- programmes.

“If the federation has the rewealth Games gold medallist, was reacting to the inability of sources it could have been able the AFN to produce top male to train all potential medalists, athletes for the ongoing 14th including male athletes.The IAAF World Championships time to act is now.”

He appealed to governments in Moscow. and sponsors to rally to the He spoke in an interview support of the federation. with newsmen in Lagos.

“We need to do more work.

According to him, the AFN does not have the resources to The other countries are workradically refocus its ing, we need to do more work than engage in only prayers.

Ahmed Musa Shoots AHMED Musa scored CSKA the winner for CSKA Moscow to beat visiting Kuban Former JUTH FC and Top Krasnodar on Sunday and Kano Pillars star Ahmed take them to the top of the Russian league.

CSKA Moscow lead the table with 11 points from five matches pending the outcome of other games later on Sunday.

Ahmed Musa

Musa told MTNFootball.com he is delighted with his match winner.

“I am excited with the goal, it was an important one for us as we won the game. I will keep doing my best for my club to see that we win our games. I am just doing my job to the best of my ability.

It was not an easy match,” he said.

Ahmed Musa returned to Russia to join his team on Friday night after helping Nigeria to beat South Africa in a friendly on Wednesday.

He grabbed the match winner in the 11th minute for his third goal in five games this season.

Last season, Ahmed Musa’s CSKA won the league and cup double.

“Other countries are investing resources into the training of their athletes. The typical examples are the Jamaicans and the Americans.

“Our government and sponsors need to try hard as the coaches are ready to work.’’

He pointed out, however, that it was sad that the government did not really have the structure to carry out the work.

Nigeria has so far won a silver and bronze medal, all from Blessing Okagbare in the long jump and the 200m events in the ongoing IAAF championships.

Alli said he was happy over Okagbare’s showing in the championships, saying: “she has become the first Nigerian to win two medals at the world championships’’.

He also said that the 14th edition of the championships, remained Nigeria’s best outing.

“This year’s competition is Nigeria’s best outing at the world championships. “She (Okagbare) has really done the country proud.’’

Okagbare won the bronze

medal, finishing in a time of 22.32 secs to place third, behind, Jamaica’s Shelly-Ann Fraser Pryce who posted, 22.17 secs for the top spot.

The Ivoirian Murielle Ahoure was placed second in a time of 22.32 secs.

The competition which began on Aug.10 ends on August 18.

TROUBLED 3SC defeated high-riding Bayelsa United 20 on Saturday in a Nigeria league Week 26 match to move clear of the drop zone.

They now have 33 points from 26 games.

3SC showed purpose from the blast of the whistle in their last home game to be played behind closed doors as they had the ball inside net as early as ninth minute through Samuel Akinbinu, but the effort was disallowed by the referee.

However, on-form striker Kingsley Ediwo scored the opening goal for the Oluyole Warlords in the 18th minute.

Substitute Ighodalor Osagona scored the second goal to seal victory for 3SC just six minutes after his introduction for Akinbinu, when he headed home Mutiu Adegoke’s corner kick.

Coach Hakeem Busari told MTNFootball.com it was a good result for his team and that it is not over for 3SC in the league as there are matches to be played.

“If not for the little crisis that we had, we would have had a different story. No team in the Nigeria league that is a push over, sometimes teams do have crisis which can come at any point in the league, ours came at the beginning of the second round, but we are striving hard to get over it, “ Busari said.

“We psyched the players up and it worked for us. We are looking forward to good game in the next match and pray for luck as well.”

Car, Cash Gifts For Promoted Giwa FC GIWA FC are set to receive car and cash gifts promised them by club owner Chris Giwa for winning promotion to the premier league.

The Jos-based club are the only team from the Nigeria National League (NNL) who have so far booked their place in the premier league

come next season.

A cross section of the players told MTNFootball.com that the owner of the team promised each player and official of the team one million Naira if they made it to the top flight, while regular players will be rewarded with a car gift each in addi-

“I have been training with the squad for four weeks now, I am okay. I am just happy to be back and ready to get back into the good form I was in before I got injured, even better.”

The Portland Timbers striker suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during a pre-season game against Seattle Sound-

ers on February 5.

Dike has scored five goals in 12 appearance for Portland Timbers.

He hit the limelight after he scored a fantastic goal for Nigeria in a friendly against Catalonia leading up to the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations in South Africa, but he did not make the final squad for the tournament.

Bright Dike Sets Comeback Date NIGERIA striker Bright Dike has told MTNFootball.com he hopes to be back in action by month’s end after a long-term knee injury.

“Everything is fine with me.

I will start playing matches at the end of the month,” Dike revealed to MTNFootball.com

tional Open Championship for the rebirth of the sport.

Nwamkpa made this known in an interview with newsmen in Lagos on Saturday.

“I want to thank you people for making boxing come alive once more in the country with this National Open Champions that started in Lagos today (Saturday).

“With the series of international competitions lined up for the national teams, this competition has come at the right time.

“This will help in the picking of boxers to represent the country,’’ he said.

The former Commonwealth champion told NAN the eight-day event deserved commendation as it would facilitate identification of more hidden talents.

“I was not impressed with the standard displayed by the boxers at the last National Sports Festival; the standard of boxing at festival was low.

“Many of the boxers may have been technically sound, but they lacked the stamina that good boxers needed to excel,” he said.

He noted that since the December 2012 festival, there had not been any competition at the national level to raise boxers.

Nwamkpa praised the organisers for coming to the rescue of the boxing and urged them not to relent.

According to him boxing as a combat sport needs constant competition to keep the boxers fit at all times.

“They have been occupied since their arrival in Lagos for the competition going through the accreditation and weighing process in readiness for kick off of the competition.’’

The competition will run from August 17 to August 24 at the National Stadium, Lagos.

tion.

“We are happy to have booked a place in the premier league; we are waiting for our proprietor to fulfil the promise of one million naira each if we got the ticket. He is a man of his words, we know he will definitely fulfil his promises,” a player said.

“Nobody gave us chance to win promotion, but we did it.

We have made our owner and supporters happy with this achievement. Our father, Ambassador Giwa promised us a million Naira each and a car each for those players who are regulars.”

“We know he is capable of it. We know he will definitely give us, we are eager for the season to end so we could get the gifts,” another player added.

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

32

W

HEN some of us who are bent on questioning issues around us talk or write that the early messengers of what is regarded today as the Good News committed a lot of blunders against many nature-given purposes that were working for peoples to institutionalise this News, some folks who are abandoned to swallow everything as they relate to this belief line hook and sinker see us as chauvinists and haters of their religion.

No. There is evidence too lengthy of many misinterpretations to certain issues and words in this world of which one is Heathen.

Letís not be blindfolded with unnecessary fear. I have observed that even among the many socalled schooled persons, conversation stops when it comes to the discourse of their religion. This is common among those who have to read certain books before they invoke their God, because they see everything in their religion, as a must be considered as literal truth. This is our vulnerability.

Many people are sure of some things, but ignorantly. This is how they erroneously see Heathen as an Idol worshiper. Propaganda.

They will be quick at telling you that a Heathen is a person who does not acknowledge the God of Christianity, Judaism, or Islam. Are you hearing that? We shall understand the true meaning of ìGodî as we go on.

The word ìGood Newsî is an orchestrated brand to sell the religion. The same way a beautiful lady is used for razor blade advert and you wonder what a lady who is not bearded is doing with razor blade. Just glint, glamour and glitz.

Anyway, there is nothing like ìIdol Worshiperî.

It is the art in religious politics of those who wanted to sell their religion for lucre and usurpation of the beliefs of others.

Remember what a John Henrik Clarke once loudly said: They laughed at your clothes, and made you change your clothes; they laughed at your names, and made you change your names; but most

importantly, they laughed at your God, and made you change your God. Because some of the people were instilled with fear in not to question the Good News, itís hard to such persons to go beyond

other worlds to be known, when I hear people say or write that Heathens do not know their Creators. But the same people would not tell us that Osiris appeared as a local god in the city of Ded in the Nile Delta, 3.

the box to find out things themselves and set many incorrect stories correct.

How many of us know that the Papacy struggled with the German Emperors to maintain world supremacy during the Middle Ages? This was in a bid to conquer the philosophies of peoples of other world

and Isis was sometimes called the goddess of the west. Electra was a Greek Goddess. And the ëArk of the Covenantí was absolutely a product of Egypt and the god Horus.

As history changes, people forget the foundation of what is regarded today as norms. But they can purge

MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 2013

ByByODIMEGWU ONWUMERE OKHAREDIA IHIMEKPEN

A Heathen And The Misinterpretation

Ayo Oritsejafor

and institute their ësupremacyí which Christianity is one of the (supreme) tools used to achieve this feat. (Henry Binkley Stein; Thirty Thousand Gods Before Jehovah). 1. The Germans complained of the Ultramontainism, the money that passed beyond the Alps to build the cathedrals of Rome and never to return.

The Papacy inherited supremacy from the time of Constantine, but it was a known fact that the supremacy was of the Amphictyonic League of Greece. 2. Down memory lane, we know that what is known as the The League of Amphictyon goes back to the time of Troy. And that before the time of Troy the Pelasgi of Greece were settled by the Priests of Ammon. Priests directed more than in the time of Marquette and La Salle.

I see it as crassness, although propaganda is a tool of those who do not want the philosophies of

ods, and for one god to expose the methods of the oracles of the opposing god would be suicide for himself. 6. Thus the Jews consulted the oracle of Beelzebub against the direction of Jehovah, yet Jehovah would not expose the methods of Beelzebub, lest Beelzebub expose Jehovah.

the priests of Typhon and those of Osiris is a third.

Milton has dramatized this sublimated story in his Paradise Lost. Satan was the symbolized form for the Priests of Sat in the temple of Sat in Egypt under Typhon.

It is very shameful when Christian dogmatists see

Pope Francis

themselves of believing some things, unless they disabuse their minds to seek for the truth, than accepting what people before ages, gave them as the truth.

There is also evidence too lengthy to quote in detail that the gods of the Jehovah strain proclaimed an equity in the Israelites that required the gods of Egypt to acquiesce to a removal. 4. And thus only certain lands were offered, and the Israelites passed over some lands almost as trespassers.

The ìThirty Thousand Gods Before Jehovah revealsî that: All the Devils of Milton’s story [Paradise Lost] were the local gods mentioned elsewhere in this book. Existing side by side they sometimes maintained control by coalition, even as the wet and dry politicians of today sometimes swing their forces together. 5.

Exposure was impossible for they all were practicing the same meth-

It goes further to explicit that ...circumstances indicate that Julius Caesar’s main business in Egypt was to secure the consent of the Priests of Ammon to his world rulership. Caesar himself was a high priest according to Josephus.

When the weakness of the organization became apparent Caesar’s ambition mounted, ambition not to be king, but to be god. 7.

Indeed in the time of Augustus Caesar daily sacrifices were made by the masses to Octavius as a god. Unlike Alexander, Julius Caesar preempted the powers of Egypt and was directly assassinated as a result of a whispering campaign of the priesthood. 8. Egypt and Rome warred under Antony and Octavius and Rome won, but three hundred years later Constantine was won over to the other side.

Such fluctuations of power had happened often. The seclusion of the Popes at Avignon is another example. The struggle between

people of different beliefs as the ones who are ëcondemnedí. But they forgot that what they regard as Heathenism and Paganism prepared the ground for Christianity.

However, it did not just happen. Heathenism and Paganism were ploughed under by those who saw Christianity as a tool to perfect their supremacy of the world.

In ìThe Axe Was Godî, Henry Binkley Stein exhumes how Heathen which originally means farmer or a person from the heath, was tagged with disparaging significance. He writes that this came about when Christianity made its advent into Northern Europe. ìComing into the large cities first, then in the smaller, it received its support from the fountainhead in Rome and Constantinople. The last to become Christians were the farmers who were reluctant to forsake their ancient rites. There is even today a vestige of this accursed

method of disparaging the farmer. He is looked down upon by the city dweller, not knowing that the start of the downward push was given by Christianity in placing a disgrace upon the Heathen.

So much pressure was made, it is a matter of record that in early Paris the Heathen or Farmer was boycotted and failed to sell his produce unless he became a Christian and was baptized.î ó (Henry Binkley Stein; The Axe Was God).

As I know, propaganda is a dangerous tool. For example, again, to downsize somebody today in the Islamized and Christianized Nigeria, when it comes to religion, is by painting a non-adherent of the two Constitution-recognised religions, as a person who does not know his or her Creator.

But if we must accept that there is a Creator, we must also accept that the Creator is neither a member of any of these worldly sects that parade themselves as being supreme to the other and with dangerous mindsets to outsmart opposing views. ìGood Newsî, indeed.

While many feel that we cannot be better persons except we embrace some religious books, they have not come to realise that our Igbo forebears saw Morality as a handiness and a training that must pass from one generation to another, and is not a somewhat holy writ adaptation. So, the aboriginal Igbo belief is neither Heathenism nor Paganism, using the nascent definition of the words. Odi níala Ndigbo is symbolic in their ways of life, and not a cosmetic game of fighting for supremacy and inventing some Gods and want to sell the Gods to your neigbour. No. Ndigbo venerate their ancestors as an act of showing love, and not the misleading story that we worship the dead.

To be contd.

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