Nigerian observer 27 08 2013 by Nigerian Observer

THE NIGERIAN

The Nigerian

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 • NO. 297 • TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 20 13 • N100.00

SCIENCE Page 14

An ancient mammal paves way for modern Rodents

Police vow to ensure Ozekhome’s release BENIN - The Edo Police Command has vowed to ensure that the abducted Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Chief Mike Ozekhome, and his driver were released unhurt. The Edo Police Commissioner, Mr

Folunso Adebanjo, who spoke with newsmen in Benin, however, did not disclose the measures being taken to secure their release. “This is a security matter. But we will ensure that they are freed unhurt”, he said. It would be recalled that

Ozekhome, a human rights activist, and his driver were abducted on Friday by suspected kidnappers in Ehor Local Government Area, along the Benin-Auchi Express way.

Adebanjo had told newsmen that an assistant superintendent of police, a police inspector and two other officers were killed in a gun duel with the attackers while the slain police officers were trying to rescue him.

Convicts who kill their Victims

PERSPECTIVE

Pages 16, 17,20,24 Edo State At 22

The journey so far!

I will sign death warrants

BENIN CITY – Governor Adams Oshiomhole has said he would sign the death warrants of convicts who killed their victims. Oshiomhole gave who kill by the sword this assurance in should also die by the Benin when members sword.’’ of the Conference of Oshiomhole said that Non-Governmental signing convicts’ death O r g a n i s a t i o n s warrants was a signal (CONGOs) paid him a to other criminals that courtesy visit. the State was a wrong “There are seven place for criminal convicts whose cases activities. are being reviewed. I He said that the nonwill sign the death execution of convicted warrant of any of them, criminals in the last 15 especially kidnappers, to 20 years had not led found to have killed to reduction in any of their victims. criminality in the state. “I believe that those He, however, said

that the government was proposing to the state legislature that if kidnappers released their victims unharmed and without raping them, such kidnappers should be given life imprisonment.

- Oshiomhole

Oshiomhole also said that if the need arose, the Edo Government would make law to protect

the girl-child from underage marriage. He, however, pointed out that the girl-child marriage was not an

issue in the state, adding that the problem with Nigeria was not in making laws but implementing them. The governor said that there was the Continues on page 2

Support during wife’s kidnap

Momodu thanks Nigerians BENIN CITY-The at home, Diaspora Deputy General appreciation to all of you Manager (Admin), Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, BNCL, Mallam Aminu Momodu has expressed his profound gratitude to all Nigerians at home and in Diaspora as well as Foreigners who provided him financial and moral support during the kidnap of his wife, Aisha along with two other teachers at Orhogbua Primary School, Benin City. In a statement issued in Benin City yesterday on behalf of his family, Mallam Aminu Momodu noted that a world without help and assistance could be wicked, bad and hellish”. His statement reads in part, “On behalf of myself, my wife, and my entire family” I wish to express my deep and profound gratitude and

for your wonderful and marvelous support, through prayers, as well as your moral and financial assistance towards the release of my wife, Mrs. Aisha Momodu, who was kidnapped by unknown gunmen on Tuesday, July 30, 2013, while teaching in the classroom at Orhogbua Primary School, Upper Ekenwan, Benin City, along with two female teachers. “Alhamdu Lilahi (All praise is due to Almighty Allah), with your fervent prayers, moral and financial support, the three women regained

their freedom on Tuesday night, August 13, 2013”. Mallam Momodu prayed “Almighty Allah to shower His abundant blessings on each and every one for their wonderful support and assistance “May He assist you abundantly at the point of your need, just as He had mercifully and graciously done to me (Amen).

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan being decorated with Anioma Regalia by the chairman, Anioma Congress, Chief Benjamin Elue, Secretary, Mr. Dan Okeyi and the Asagba of Asaba, Prof. Chike Edozie, during their visit to the Presidential Villa in Abuja yesterday.

Benin Airport Stowaway: Mother

of teenage boy begs govt

By OSAZUWA AKONEDO

MRS. Evelyn Ohikhena, mother of the

13years old boy, Daniel Ohikhena who allegedly hid inside Arik Air plane wheel well from Benin

to Lagos at the weekend has called on government at all levels to show mercy on her

takes immediate effect. The statement said Abdul-kadir should hand over to the permanent secretary of the ministry,

President expressed appreciation to Abdulkadir for the time he put in the service of the Continues on page 2

Jonathan sacks Youth Dev Ministe r that the President’s directive adding

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan on Monday relieved Alhaji Inuwa Abdul-kadir of his appointment as Minister of Youth Development.

According to a statement from the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pius Anyim, the

child . Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER yesterday, Mrs Ohikhena said her son has a strong penchant in solving electrical related problems. “He likes working on electricity, anything electric. Like in my house now, anything that has fault, he’s the one that repairs it.

Sometimes my fan would not work, he would repair it”, she said. Mrs Ohikhena said her son who she said is in JSS1 has long been nursing the ambition of travelling abroad without her knowledge. “Immediately we were looking for him, his nine Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

News I will sign death warrants Continued from page 1 need to strengthen the partnership between the Edo government and NGOs. Earlier, the President of

CONGOs, Mr. Jude Obasami, said although CONGOs condemn kidnapping and other crimes, Edo government ‘should apply human face’ with regards to signing

death warrants. It would be recalled that media reports on July 23 that Oshiomhole signed the death warrants of four criminals and they were

BENIN CITY –The Edo State Commissioner for Housing and Urban Development, Arc Francis Evbuomwan has reiterated the desire of the state government to provide affordable housing for all desiring citizens and residents in the state including Civil Servants. Arc. Evbuomwan said this

while addressing the chairman, Real Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), Edo state chapter, Engr. Dan Osagie. He said the housing plan of the state government is not meant for the Civil Servants only but for all citizens and residents of Edo State desirous of it. The Chairman had solicited

for the ERAN and its members to be considered and carried along in the development and execution of affordable housing project for Edo citizens and residents. REDAN also indicated its interest and readiness to cooperate with the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development in the areas of development, building,

yesterday in Abuja urged the Federal Government to address various anomalies in the teaching profession. The Secretary General of NUT, Mr Obong Ikpe, made the call when a delegation from the Tanzania Ministry of Education and Vocational Training visited the NUT secretariat. He said that a proposal was put to government by NUT demanding the establishment of a teacher regulatory agency, which was approved by the government after a prolonged strike by the union in 1993. He said it took government 10 years before the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN) finally took off in 2003. According to him, there is a need for government to make sure National Certificate in Education (NCE) remains the minimum qualification in the teaching profession. “I am always worried when I hear about quacks in the teaching profession as the national policy on education is very clear. “People had always felt that if you are looking for a job and its not forthcoming, you will go and mark time with teaching; this was the case prior to the establishment of TRCN. “The minimum teaching profession is NCE, so if people still go ahead to recruit school certificate in the name of teaching whom are we to blame?’’ He added it was the duty of the government and employers of teachers to adhere strictly to the policy on education. He said that policy on education stated that every teacher must have an NCE in the teaching profession.

Ikpe called on the government to work towards ensuring that all persons employed to teach are professional, certified and registered. “The days when teaching was all comers affair are over and TRCN must work to fulfill its mandate of regulating the teaching profession,’’ he added. Dr Steve Nwokeocha, Director Operations of the TRCN, commended the pioneering role of NUT and the unions for their tireless effort to ensure the establishment of a regulatory body for teachers. “This singular effort by NUT has been embraced by the African continent as most African countries are working towards setting up similar structures,’’ he said. He said a high-powered delegation from Tanzania was therefore in the country to understudy and adopt what TRCN had been doing in Nigeria. The leader of the delegates, Mrs Helen Liawa, Assistant Director, Teachers Education Department in Tanzania Ministry of Education and Vocational Training, commended the Nigerian government for having a regulatory body for teachers. Liawa said that their experience in Nigeria had given them much to take home and work with. The Tanzanian sixmember delegation arrived in the country on Aug. 19

for a two-week visit to study the TRCN’s operations. It has already visited some institutions in Abuja which include private and public schools, as well as the federal Ministry of Education.

infrastructure and sale of completed housing units. According to him, the housing project would generally be based on the platform of Public Private Partnership (PPP), “as the era of government solely providing money for housing is long gone” government participation in the housing project would at best be minimal. He, however assured REDAN that all private partners expression of interest to collaborate would be streamlined and the selection process would be credible The Ministry of Housing and Urban Development has been charged to create, develop and deliver affordable homes for Edo Citizens and to also formulate plans, designs, develop and execute a new G.R.A, a “Benin New town”

Continued from page 1 years old younger brother told me that anytime they are watching firm he always say he will go abroad, he will go to airport to enter plane . He told me to go and check airport. I did not believe him’’ The mother of four children who resides at No 6 Ehigiegba street off Goodwill around Benin airport, said she heard the news from her elder sister in-law in Germany who drew her attention to the ugly incident. “On that fateful day, I left home to my elder sister place that gave birth to pass the night. When I came back the following morning, my daughter told me that both of them had argument, that she found him watching film when she woke up to go and ease herself and that he broke the television and that my mum later settled the quarrel. But later when she woke up in the morning she did not find him again’’ Mrs Evelyn said she was compelled to move the boy from private school, Young Scholar Academy to Ogbe Secondary school when she could no longer afford the children’s school fees. “I did not maltreat him. The only thing is that I don’t joke with my children education; I give them the best education. Everybody knows me, go ask of me in Oba market, the only thing I bothered myself with now is how my daughter will go to school, federal government college’’

“He does not have friends, he hardly leaves home. I don’t know where he was going in Lagos; we don’t have any relative in Lagos. Even me, I have never been to the airport. The only thing I cannot deny now is that maybe he must have been to the airport while in private school but I’m not aware”. She however called on relevant authorities to help secure the release of her son. “When I heard the news I did not know what to do, nor say. I was so weak; many people were telling me to come down. My only joy now is that he is alive, that is my happiness. I want the government to help me; I did not send him, I’m innocent’’ NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered that when Mrs Ohikhena presented herself as the mother of the stowaway teenager to the management of Federal Airport Authority, FAAN at the Benin Airport around 11am yesterday, she was held by the Airport authority and handed over to State Security Service. At about 02:25pm when the NIGERIAN OBSERVER reporter arrived the Edo State Command of the State Security Service, the woman was seen leaving the command. Responding, the Edo State Director of SSS, Mr. Bello Tukur Bako said the woman was not arrested or merely invited for questioning.

executed in Benin. The next day, his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Peter Okhiria, however, denied that Oshiomhole ever signed such warrants.

Edo to provide affordable housing

NUT urges FG to address anomalies ABUJA - The Nigerian in teaching profession Union of Teachers (NUT)

Jonathan sacks Youth Dev Minister

Continued from page 1

nation. He wished him success in his future endeavours. The statement was by the Special Assistant, Media, to the SGF, Mr. Sam Nwaobasi.

Mother of teenage boy begs govt

Council boss flags off construction OKPELLA - The chairman Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Suleiman Afebua, has flagged off construction of Ogiriga Primary Health Centre. Represented by the supervisor for Health, Hon. Barnabas Oshiobor, the council chairman said that the project was a fulfillment of his electoral promises to the people adding that the distance between ogiriga and the nearest Afokpella Health centre is some distance apart He expressed the commitment of his administration to bring health, education and other social facilities near to the people, whom he described as the main focus of democracy. Chief Lawrence Adejumoh,

the village Head of Ogiriga, who spoke on behalf of the community, expressed joy over the project. Thanking the chairman for responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people, he promised that his people would remain loyal to the local government. Also speaking, a women leader in the community, Mrs. Veronica Egumamhe and a youth leader, Imodu Lucky maintained that the speedy fulfillment of the electoral promises was legendary, stressing that the women and youths would continue to support his administration. The council engineer in charge of the project, Mr. Samuel Aigbovboise promised that the project would be completed within one month.

By OGBOLU GEORGE/ EGOBIAMBU EMMANUEL

federal government and ASUU to resolve their differences quickly so that business could normalize. Also, Miss Chidera who sells pure water at the faculty of the Ugbowo Campus of the University said she had put more efforts in trying to sell her goods but with little or no profit. Chidera also prayed the federal government and ASUU to resolve their differences soon. Another business center operator who pleaded anonymity, said the strike is really taking its toll on her business. She decried the situation saying that most times she does not open her store as she hardly gets patronage.

Business Owners groan in UNIBEN over ASUU strike

BENIN CITY-Owners of business centers at both Ugbowo and Ekehuan Campuses of the University of Benin have bemoaned the low business activity consequent of the strike embarked upon by the Academic staff union of Universities ( ASUU) which entered the 9th week. A business center operator at the Ekehuan Campus of the university Mama Success said business has not been as usual. She explained that for most part of the day, she is left with little or no work to do and there fore plead with the

EDSG, Pools operators chart roadmap for pools betting By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY – A stakeholders meeting between the Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS) and the pools operators in Edo State was held in Benin City with focus on reviewing the challenges militating against the smooth operation of pools belting and chatting a road map for the sector. The Executive Secretary of the EIRS, Elder Sunny Okundia who presided over the meeting with the Executive Director, Mr. Felix Isuko, declared that pools stackers must embrace the new laws/rules guarding pools belting business as prescribed by the state government, through the EIRS. The Executive Secretary noted that the new rules would help sharpen and advance the pools belting sector in the state. He highlighted some of the rules to include that, panel draws should be used by the state promoters to pay levy to the Edo State Government; promoters to impose fine on any of their agents who flouts the rule; pools agents must register through their promoters, as well as anybody operating pools belting without license would be sanctioned accordingly.

The other rules indicated that 5:00 p.m. every Friday shall be set for closing hour why any agent who intends to register with EIRS must possess a tax clearance certificate (TCC). The new rule, according to the EIRS Executive Secretary indicated that no agent has the requisite power to force promoters to pay more than the approved commission, just as he disclosed the agency’s plan to set up a pools belting panel that would constantly look into the complains that might emanate from the public. However, the pool stackers unanimously objected to the 5:00 p.m. closing hour on Friday since there are no matches on Fridays, and stressed that existing rule which stipulated Saturday noon as closing hour be maintained. There were, however, counter suggestions on what should be the actual draws/ commission. While the promoters emphasized on 1 to 12 and 40 to 1, the agents/stackers stressed for 1 to 12 and 60 to 1 as it is practiced in other states of the country. Presiding, the Executive Secretary, EIRS, assured them that he would communicate the outcome of the meeting to the executive chairman, EIRS, Chief Oseni Elamah who would look into their complains/suggestions.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

News ICRC To Offer Guidance For 19 Projects ABUJA- Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC) is to offer guidance and regulations for 19 projects under the Public Private Partnership arrangement by various Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs). Mr Aminu Diko, DirectorGeneral of the commission, announced this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. “What is required of the MDAs is to get us a list of projects that they want to execute through PPP and we are obliged to publish it. “This will provide a clear view to investors of areas open for investment, and one of the projects in the list is the second Niger Bridge which has already gone through

advanced stage. “We have a list of 19 projects that we have published,’’ he said, adding that eight were from the federal ministries of works, health, agriculture, industry trade and investment, transport and women affairs. Diko named the projects under the Federal Ministry of Works to include the River south senatorial zone for some projects. The area include Kakwe, Bebi, Busi 11 in Obanliku; Ekureku and Bazohure in Abi; Danare 1 and 11 in Boki local government areas. He, however, said that inter and intra boundary crises were major challenges facing the commission, adding that several projects were

vandalised before they were completed. He said that Governor Liyel Imoke was very passionate about the development of the communities but added that this would only be possible under a peaceful atmosphere. He said that the communities had shown appreciation to the government for the projects, adding that most of them were now using amenities for the first time in their history. Cross River has 16 boundary communities with Abia, Ebonyi, Akwa Ibom, Benue and the Republic of Cameroun.

Stakeholders Criticize Frequent Change Of LAGOS- Stakeholders in schools of their children and Childrens’ School the Education sector have wards. criticised some parents for frequently changing the

Over 5,000 Pilgrims To Perform 2013 Hajj SOKOTO- Sokoto State Government says 5,180 prospective pilgrims from the state are expected to perform the 2013 hajj. Alhaji Muntari Maigona, Chairman of the state Pilgrim’s Welfare Agency told newsmen in Sokoto that the figure was arrived at after the reduction of 20 per cent of the number of pilgrims in the 36 states and FCT. “Initially, Sokoto State was allocated 6,450 seats and they were duly allocated to the 23 local governments of the state. “But when the need to reduce the 20 per cent arose, we conducted balloting across the state and successfully effected the reduction,’’ he added.

Maigona explained that the agency had concluded all arrangements required to ensure the success of the exercise. He said that the local governments had refunded the Hajj fares of all prospective pilgrims who were affected by the reduction. “All those who were affected and needed their money back had since been refunded across the 23 local governments. “But all those who want the agency and the local governments to keep the money until the 2014 hajj would be given automatic seats next year,” he said. Maigona further announced that the state government had

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), bidding farewell to the outgoing Ambassador of Czech Republic to Nigeria, Mr. Jaroslav Siro, during his visit to the Presidential villa in Abuja recently.

since given the agency the funds required to successfully conduct this year’s Hajj. Also speaking to journalists Alhaji Faruk Umar, the Media Assistant to the agency, said that public enlightenment had been intensified by the unit. This, according to Umar, is to sensitise the pilgrims to methods of performing the basic Hajj rites, be law abiding and how to safeguard their basic travelling allowances. “We are duly and properly employing all means in this direction. This is aimed at preventing all the recurring problems affecting Hajj,’’ he added

They contended that a frequent change of schools usually created some inconsistencies in the children, which in turn, affected their academics negatively. The stakeholders spoke in interviews with newsmen in Lagos. Prof. Ayodeji Badejo, Chairman, Counselling Association of Nigeria (CASSON), Lagos Chapter, said that some parents allowed their economic status to influence the choice of schools for their children. She said that as some parents improved their social standing, the choice of schools for their children and wards changed since they

Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hon Abdul Oroh performing the symbolic handing over of high yielding cassava stems to farmers in Ovia South-West Local Government Area during the inauguration of the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES) in the area.

now had more resources to devote to their education. “Whenever some parents feel they now have more money to spend on the education of their children, they usually moved them from their current schools to more expensive ones,’’ she said. Badejo said that some parents changed the schools of their children to boost their image and enable them to be able to rub shoulders with the rich in society. “Sometimes, some parents struggle to change the schools of their children, to enable them to interact with children of the rich in the society, even if it was not ordinarily convenient for them. “A friend of mine put her child in a N4.5 million school, in order for her child be able to mix with kids from rich families.’’ she recalled. Badejo said that insecurity in some schools could also influence some parents to change the schools of their children, to prevent such children from getting involved in any unexpected crisis. “When there is no assurance of safety for the children or standards begin to deteriorate, a parent may be compelled to change the schools of his children/wards, “ she said. In his reaction, a Psychologist, Dr Aig Esekhade, said that since parents were constantly in search of qualitative education for their wards, they would only want them to attend schools with qualified teachers.

“As soon as a parent notices a declinine in the quality of education given to his children, the issue of change definitely sets in, “ he said. Esekhade said that the nonimplementation of an appropriate curriculum by some schools was another deterrent to keeping children in any particular school. The proprietor of Patrician School, Ijegamo, Mr Martins Nwabuwa, recalled that a woman took her five children to four different schools in two sessions, because of lack of money. “Some mothers even move their children from one school to another because of financial considerations. “When they are unable to pay school fees at the end of term, they may prefer to change them to another school which charges lower fees,” he said. In order to avoid this, Mr Patrick Ezebinagu, the Proprietor of Holy Family School, Ikotun, suggested that the proprietors of private schools should complement each other by investigating the cases of debtors, whenever parents sought to change their children’s schools. “Some of these parents do not care about the damage done to their children’s education by moving them from one school to another. “The schools can assist themselves by having a network of information because the frequent changing of schools affects the concentration of the children,” he added.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Across The Nation Judge Decries Indiscriminate Transfers MINNA-The Chief Judge Of IPOs of Niger, Justice Fati

APGA Ward Congress, A Success - Chairman AWKA - The Chairman of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) Ward Congress Panel, Mr Jolly Ngbo, has described the conduct of the ward delegate elections in Anambra as a huge success. Ngbo, who addressed newsmen in Awka has said that the results of the elections which were still being collated would be ready by Thursday. He said the party provided a level playing ground for its members, adding that successful delegates would be the true representatives of their wards. “We provided a level playing ground for every member and formed subcommittees to monitor and report the outcome of the exercise. “From the reports we got, we had very successful elections in the 326 wards in the state. “I want to assure you that the results of the elections will be ready from the national secretariat and be made available here in Awka in three days,’’ he said. Ngbo said that successful candidates from the ward elections would form the party’s delegates to the state primaries slated for August. 26 to elect its flag bearer for the Noveber 16 governorship election.

Palace Chiefs mandated by His Royal Majesty, Oba of Benin to inspect the Mobile Clinic truck bought by Hon. Mrs. Ativie Elizabeth, member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly to the Oba’s Palace yesterday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Deputy Gov Seeks Support For Women

OWERRI - The Deputy Governor of Imo, Mr Eze Madumere, has called for support for women to realise their full potential as nation builders. Speaking at the 2013 Amulu Mbieri Women August Meeting at Amulu Mbieri in Mbaitolu Local Government Area, Madumere said the women should not be relegated to the background in the scheme of things. He said it was unfortunate that some people still relegated women to the background and treat them as second fiddles. He said that today’s women were hard working, educated and supportive, adding that many of them had contributed to the development of the country. Madumere urged the women to bring up their children and wards as responsible citizens of the country by teaching them the ethics of hard work and selfless service.

Enugu Assembly Passes Tourism Industry Bill

ENUGU- The Enugu State House of Assembly has passed the bill establishing the state tourism board. The bill, which was read for the third time, is meant to boost the tourism industry in the state. Its passage came after the legislators had scrutinised the report of the Joint Committee on Tourism and Judiciary. The committee had made 10 recommendations, which dealt with deleting unwanted words or sentences in some sections and replaced them with appropriate ones. The Speaker of the assembly, Mr. Eugene Odo, recalled that since the inception of democracy, the tourism boards in the state were operating without a legislative framework. “One fundamental thing about this bill is that it seeks to fill up the lacuna that existed so far in the tourism industry. “Over the years or since the

Abubakar, has said that incessant transfer of Investigating and Prosecuting Officers (IPOs) was impending the administration of criminal justice in the state. Abubakar made the announcement at a two-day capacity building workshop in Minna. The workshop was organised by the Niger State Police Command for 250 prosecutors and investigators of the command. “Constant transfer of IPOs from one jurisdiction to another is greatly affecting smooth administration of criminal justice in this state. “ It often causes logistic problem as IPOs who are

inception of democracy in 1999, there have been tourism boards in Enugu State which operated without a law. “So, what the house has demonstrated today will actually put the state back to where it was supposed to be,’’ he said. Odo urged the relevant implementing agencies to ensure that they implemented the law accordingly after its signing. He said the issue of doing things the old way should stop henceforth, saying that after the bill is assented to by the governor, the tourism industry would heave a sigh of relief. The speaker also informed the lawmakers that the member representing Aninri Constituency, Mr. Abel Chukwu, had been appointed into the Federal Legislative Service Commission. He congratulated him for the appointment and urged him to remain a good ambassador of the state.

He frowned at the craze for quick wealth, disrespect for elders and constituted authorities by youths, and blamed the behaviour for the high rate of crime and other social vices in the society. The deputy governor also advised women to encourage

their children to be educated, law-abiding and supportive of the state government in its efforts to deliver good governance. Earlier, the President of the women group, Mrs. Ngozi Egbuchulam, commended the state government for its free education policy and the

infrastructure development it embarked on. She also commended to the wife of the governor, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha, for her SheNeeds-A-Roof-Project (SNARP) designed to provide shelter for indigent widows in the state. Egbuchulam said the project had changed the lives of many indigent widows in the 27 local government areas and called on women to support the initiative.

Skills Acquisition

Gov’s Wife Decries Nonchalant Attitude Of Trainees MAKURDI - The wife of the training chores. Benue State governor, Mrs. Dooshima Suswam criticised the nonchalant attitude of trainees towards acquiring skills at the SevAv Foundation Skills Acquisition Centres, in the state. Suswam said this when she spoke to newsmen in Makurdi. She said the management of the centre has introduced “a token levy” of N25, 000 per person as training fees to enable the participants attach value to the scheme. Suswam, who is the founder of the foundation, pointed out that the amount charged would serve as a commitment strategy to their

She decried the current practice where trainees absent themselves from classes at will or discontinue training programme midway because it is free. The governor’s wife disclosed that the skills acquisition training programme was free from inception but insisted that a fee must be introduced to induce trainees to show seriousness. Suswam pointed out that the introduction of fees would even avail an opportunity to public spirited individuals who

are passionate about the plight of the indigent members of the society to sponsor them. She, however, said that the foundation was still committed to liberating youths and women from the shackles of poverty despite the fees introduced. “The sum to be paid by trainees is far less than half of the worth of the training”, she stressed. Suswam explained that the foundation was providing a minimal cumulative cost of N80, 000 per head for each trainee undergoing the six months skills acquisition training at any of the centres as subsidy.

transferred mid-way into cases are not often available when such cases are mentioned. “We often have problem in getting the IPOs to appear for such cases.’’ Abubakar acknowledged, however, that the police authorities had the power and right to transfer their officers and men. She noted, however, that frequent transfer of IPOs was not in the best interest of administration of criminal justice. The chief judge also pointed out that delay by rape victims to go for medical test and obtain medical reports immediately they were violated had stalled prosecution of many rape cases in the state. He urged families of rape victims to ensure that immediate test was carried out on victims and medical reports obtained as delay might affect justice administration. Abubakar commended the state’s police command for organising the workshop, saying that it would greatly enhance administration of justice and restoration of human rights in the state. The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mrs Desire Nisirim, said that the workshop was part of the command’s desire to provide a platform for continuous legal education for its personnel. She said it was also designed to improve knowledge of laws and current legal practices in the administration of criminal justice. The commissioner said that the command was committed to the task of providing effective services, protection

Hon. Mrs. Elizabeth Ativie, member, r e p r e s e n t i n g U h u n m w o d e Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly (left) and Mr. Dirk Kiewitt, Director, Fahrzeughtechnik Germany shortly after conducting the lawmaker round the Mobile Clinic, she bought for the people of her constituency. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

South South

Navy Transfers 1 Cameroonian, 11 Nigerian suspects to EFCC

Oil Theft: YENAGOA- The Central Naval Command of the Nigerian Navy has transferred 12 suspected oil thieves to the EFCC in Yenogoa. The News gathered that the suspects were apprehended for their alleged involvement in the theft of 10,000 litres of locally refined diesel, off the waterway of the Egweama community in Brass Local Government Area of Bayelsa State. The suspects comprised 11 Nigerians and one Cameroonian.

The Cameroonian was identified by the Navy as the Captain of the seized vessel used by the suspects to convey the stolen product. The vessel, registered as MV Sea Giant, had ship log, the Nigeria Port Authority bunkering permit and Certificate of Registration with the Joint Military Task Force. Commodore Emmanuel Enemor, Operations Officer, Central Naval Command, presented the crew of the seized

has said that journalists owed the people of the country the duty of keeping the Nigeria as one entity. Uduaghan said this in his farewell address to the editors at the 9th All Nigeria Editors Conference with the theme, “Nigerian Beyond Oil: Role of the Editors’’. Reports say that the fourday conference, commenced on August 21. He advised journalists to always put the interest of the country at heart while reporting, adding that whatever was written could “keep or break’’ the country. The governor noted that though the country’s democracy was still young, but it could get better if stakeholders play their roles effectively. “Journalists owe our people the responsibility to keep Nigeria as one indivisible country. What you write or do not write can keep or break Nigeria,’’ he said. He thanked the president and the members of the Guild of Editors (NGE) for the success and the peaceful conclusion of the meeting. Responding, the NGE President, Mr Femi Adesina, thanked the state government

for taking the guild to a greater height. Adesina said that the theme of the conference was borrowed from the state, “Delta Beyond Oil’’. He, however, presented a

vessel to the representative of the EFCC, Deputy Detective Superintendent (DDS) Ogbu Michael. Enemor said that the suspects claimed that the petroleum products on the vessel was for running machinery on board, adding that the laboratory test on the sample showed that the product was illegally refined Automotive Gasoline Oil (AGO). According to Enemor, the Nigerian Navy Patrol Team from

the Naval base arrested the vessel off the Brass River entrance on May 16 at Egweama Community in Brass Local Government area

of Bayelsa state, “The MV Sea Giant operates under the business name and licence of MOEN Marine Limited located in Victoria Island in Lagos.” “During interrogation, the

captain confessed that the vessel came from Lagos to load AGO from a Barge at Agbara offshore.” Enemor assured the public that the Navy was committed to stamping out criminality in the country’s maritime environment.

Uduaghan Tasks Journalists On ASABA - Governor National Unity Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta plaque to Uduaghan and another plaque to the state for successfully hosting the guild. He noted that Delta had set a high standard that might be difficult for the next host to beat.

FADAMA Disburses N507m To Beneficiaries

Govs. Peter Obi of Anambra (L) and Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti at the Executive session of All Nigerian Editors conference in Asaba recently.

ASABA - Mr. Anthony Abanom, Delta Coordinator of FADAMA III, says the programme has disbursed more than N507 million to beneficiaries in 20 local government areas in the state. Abanom told newsmen in Asaba that the funds were disbursed directly to 1,419 economic interest groups in 123 communities. The coordinator said that the state achieved 88 per cent success in its performance as at June, going by the World Bank standards, as against 55.7 per cent achieved during the same period last year. According to him, the N507m represented 50.3 per cent increase in the N252.3m disbursed to 67 communities in 15 councils in June 2012. “The direct beneficiaries from the projects are 19,071

NOA Sensitises Voters On LG Election CALABAR - The National Orientation Agency (NOA) has began a sensitisation programme on the September 21 local government election in Cross River.

The State Director of NOA, Ms. Florence Osang, said it was important to start the programme from the state capital before proceeding to local government areas.

the public to check rising cases of kidnapping in the zone. “We are planning for the ember months which are September, October, November and December. “We have the five abbreviated ‘Ps’ which are Proper Planning Prevents Poor Performance,” he said. Argungu said that the police have achieved some measure of success in its efforts to curtail kidnapping which he described as

the main crime in the zone. “We are making success in the arrest of perpetrators of kidnapping and also in rescuing victims of the crime. “Our statistics shows that a lot is being done and we will not relent until we reduce kidnapping to a minimal level in the state.” The AIG said the police in the zone would collaborate with relevant federal agencies, including the Federal Road Safety Commission, to curb road accidents during the ember months.

Police Strategise For Ember Months BENIN - The Nigeria Police Zone 5, have worked out strategies to reduce criminal activities in the zone during the last quarter of the year, Mr. Hashimu Argungu, Assistant Inspector-General (AIG) Zone 5, said. Argungu said this in Benin while briefing newsmen. He said that strategies being mapped out by the police to reduce criminal activities in the zone, comprising Edo, Delta and Bayelsa, during the last quarter of the year would be sustained. He solicited the support of

L - R, National women leader, All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs Sharon Ikeazor; Sen. Chris Ngige; Interim National Deputy Chairman of APC (South), Sen. Annie Okonkwo; Gov. Rochas Okorocha of Imo and the Party’s Interim Organising Secretary, Sen. Osita Izunaso, at a rally of the party in Awka recently.

She said it was organised to enlighten voters, adding that after three years of such an election in the state, most voters would have forgotten the rules. “After three years, a large number of people must have attained the voting age of 18; so it is important to give them the necessary orientation on voting. “Plans are underway to organise the enlightenment programmes in the central and northern Cross River. “NOA is a Federal Government agency that changes attitude and enlightens the citizenry on government initiatives, programmes and welfare,’’ she said. She urged heads of security agencies in the state to mobilise their men ahead of the election. The Chairman of the occasion, Mrs. Theresa Omarachong, said it was important for NOA to enlighten

voters on how to conduct themselves during the election. “If every registered voter comes out to vote, there will be no room for rigging.’’ Omarachong advised the youth to shun violence during and after the election. Mr. Patrick Otu, the Chairman of Cross River Independent Electoral Commission, said that the commission had the responsibility of screening, conducting and announcing election results. Otu urged voters to come en masse to vote, adding that they should shun the rumour that the commission was adopting special candidates for the election. He urged registered voters to come out as early as 8.00 a.m. on election day with their voters’ cards for accreditation and voting. Otu, however, advised political parties to present credible candidates for elections.

persons of whom 47.6 per cent are females. “Empirical studies conducted by experts at mid-term of the project implementation showed general increase of 36.7 per cent in income of direct beneficiaries of grant resources,” he said. Abanom said records showed that direct beneficiaries of the programme registered this year increased yield of 18.27 per cent for cassava; 14.41 per cent for maize and 13.27 per cent for yam in the crop sub sector. “In the livestock sub-sector and related enterprises, egg production recorded 11 per cent; goat rearing, 30 per cent; and fisheries, 26.67 per cent in the current year. The coordinator noted that the programme had also intervened in building community-owned rural infrastructure that supported agricultural production in the period under review. He said that some of the interventions of the programme included the construction of a concrete bridge at Owa Abbi community, Ika North Local Government Area. Abanom said that a mini water scheme was constructed at Ubulubu in Aniocha North and a borehole for agro processing at Abah Unor in the same area. “There is an on-going construction of five lock-up market stalls with water supply, sanitary and waste disposal facilities at Utagba Uno community,” Abanom said. He said that beneficiaries had saved N16.2 million under the Fadama Users Equity Funds (FUEF), as against N2.2 million saved last year. The coordinator said that strategies were already in place to organise all the benefiting 20 councils under one umbrella known as Federated Fadama Community Association.

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TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Lagos Pipeline Vandalism

10 Suspects Arrested By RAHEEM IBRAHIM LAGOS - Ten suspected NNPC vandals have been arrested along with 800 (50 liters) jerricans at Elepete, Arepo in Ogun State by the InspectorGeneral of police (IGP) Special Taskforce on Pipeline Vandalism, Lagos Zone. Mr. Friday Ibadin, Assistant

Commissioner of police (ACP) in charge of the taskforce said this while parading the suspects and items recovered from them at Arepo, adding that they were arrested recently. Ibadin said that his men, led by the Lagos Zonal commander of the taskforce, DSP Osayande Onaghise had been on the trail of the suspects for some time,

Expert Urges Establishment Of ICT “Developing an Agency internationally acceptable ICT LAGOS - An engineer, Mr. Theophilus Tingir, has urged the Federal Government to establish an Information and Communication Technology (ICT) statistics agency to facilitate national advancement. Tingir, a Senior Engineer with the Sidmach Technologies Nig. Ltd., Lagos, told newsmen in Lagos that a database on ICT usage would enhance governance and promote economic development. “ICT is gaining ground even in some remote corners in the country, but the impact is difficult to quantify. “Few countries have official statistics on ICT usage.

Visa Fraud

Business Man Arraigned LAGOS - A 45-year-old businessman, Adetola Cole, has appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos over alleged N300, 000 visa fraud. Cole, who resides at Egbeda, Lagos, is facing a fourcount charge that borders on obtaining by false pretences and stealing. The prosecutor, Cpl. Femi Adeleye, told the court that the accused fraudulently obtained N180,000 from Mr. Effiong Bassey on the pretext of assisting him to procure a Finland visa. Adeleye said that the accused committed the offences in March, 2012 at 2:30p.m., at No. 2, Ogoja St., Egbeda. The prosecutor said that the accused stole the said amount from Bassey. Adeleye added that the accused obtained N120, 000 from Mr. Tony Mark, also under the false pretences of assisting him to procure a Finland visa. He submitted that the accused made a representation which he knew to be false. Adeleye said that the offences contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. However, the accused pleaded not guilty. Reports state that the accused is liable to 15 years imprisonment, if found guilty. The Magistrate, Mr. P.E. Nwaka, granted the accused to bail in the sum of N20,000 with one surety in like sum. He adjourned the case to October 28 for mention

statistics will boost the Nigerian economy unprecedentedly,” the official said. Tingir said that the statistics would make it easy for governments to identify areas they could use ICT to improve and implement development strategies. “Quality data can help them to define strategies for more advanced banking and financial services, e-government and ebusiness. “They also help governments monitor their policies and draw comparisons with other countries,” he said. According to the official, data on ICT use can help companies, especially small and medium scale enterprises, to take business and investment decisions. “Appropriate ICT strategies, for instance, can help them to increase productivity and competitiveness, and participate more in national and international supply chains,” Tingir said.

stressing that the arrest was made possible through intelligence reports. Those arrested were Isaac Abejae, Luke Itowu, Towei Terry, Preciuos Osuwo, Zbatomini Isekpe, Owei Ebiwei, Power Saikemefa, Samon John, Sunday Agbude and Owoduni Ezekiel. According to him, “We got reports that the gang has been operating on NNPC pipelines in the area for more than three days. The zonal commander and his men set up ambush operation for them”. “They were arrested at about 9pm. Other members of the gang escaped. We are on their trail. Items recovered include 800 (50 liters) empty jerricans they attempted to use to siphon the products. Other items were three bags of detergent, three big boats and items used in breaking pipelines. The suspects had confessed to the crime. They claimed they were invited by others, now a large to work for them”, he said. Ibadin remarked, “Some suspects claimed they were invited to carry the jerricans with products to designated place for some waiting buyers to pick up, while some claimed their duty was to load the products into the boats. They claimed they were promised various amount of money, depending on their task. They will be charge to court as soon as investigation was concluded”. Some of the suspects, while speaking with newsmen, confessed that they actually participated in the act but were ignorant of the implications, saying, “We just went to do casual job to meet our living expenses. We don’t know that what we are invited for is illegal. We prayed for forgiveness, because we will not do it again”.

Sympathisers rescuing an accident victim at Palm Groove Bus Stop, Ikorodu Road in Lagos recently

Courier Operators Condemn N500,00 Renewal Fee

LAGOS - Mr. Toyin Olufade, the President of the Association of Nigeria Courier Operators (ANCO), has said that the new licence renewal fee could force operators out of business. Olufade told newsmen in Lagos that the Courier Regulatory Department (CRD) of NIPOST had reviewed the yearly licence renewal fee for courier operators from N250,000 to N500,000. The ANCO chief said that the fee was earlier raised to N750, 000 before the association negotiated with the department to arrive at N500, 000. “It is a 100 per cent increase of the renewal fee. We should not even go up on renewal fee at this point of the economy. “There is not much money and the volumes of transactions are decreasing, but CRD had

refused to go below N500, 000. “It is likely to bring down the number of our members and the contribution of the industry to the GDP. “When you pay N500, 000 to government for really doing nothing, where is the money to pay other bills,” he said. Olufade said that quoted companies that were part of their major customers were reducing copies of their annual reports being sent to shareholders. He said that the companies were now doing their annual reports on compact discs instead of paper. Olufade said that the courier operators were still going to appeal to the Postmaster General to review the fee. He said that one of the options that courier companies

had was to merge in the bid to be in business. The reports say that Dr Simeon Emeje, Head of CRD, said that the new fee was in accordance with the trends of the time. Emeje state that the department was working assiduously to ensure that the courier industry was properly regulated and be in consonance with international best practices. He said that fee for establishing a courier firm would henceforth be N2 million for domestic operator and N10 million for international courier operators. Emeje also said that the renewal fee was pegged at N500, 000 for domestic operators, while their international counterparts were to pay N2 million.

Soil Scientist Warns Against Bush Burning The soil scientist also LAGOS - A soil scientist, and also encourage farmers by an important way to preserve the task force comprising members Dr Olusola Longe, has flayed the providing easily accessible loans, soil for agriculture.’’ of security and environmental encouraged the planting of trees Longe underscored the need agencies, to patrol rural and noted that both the culture of bush burning and subsidies and make modern advised the Federal Government farming easy for rural farmers to to provide farmers with modern communities to apprehend those government and the populace had farming equipment, including who deliberately burnt bushes for a stake in the preservation of the to sensitise the public about its adopt. “Forest leaves that drop also tractors. effect on the environment. personal and selfish reasons. environment. He suggested creation of a Speaking with newsmen in help improve the soil, which is Lagos, Longe, a lecturer in the Faculty of Agriculture, Ekiti State University, said that government should publicise the effects, for proper preservation of the soil for agricultural purposes. “Bush burning destroys the organic content of the soil, thereby reducing the soil fertility. It also kills or reduces the number of useful micro- and macroorganisms in the soil. “Bush burning causes evaporation of water from the soil and reduces the soil water content,’’ he said. The soil specialist also noted that bush burning could promote health hazards and cause environmental pollution. He said that one of the ways to preserve the soil for agriculture was to avoid bush burning. Longe said that government could achieve greater awareness through mass literary campaigns, self-explanatory posters, television advertisements, radio jingles and training. “Government can train farmers in modern farming An ambulance ready to carry corpse at the Federal Medical Centre, Umuahi, Mortuary and people locked out of the methods that avoid bush burning hospital’s main gate by striking members of the Joint Health sector unions at the weekend

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

North Nasarawa SUBEB Chairman Welcomes Probe By State Assembly LAFIA- The Chairman of Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board, Malam Abdul’Aziz Abdullahi, has welcomed the probe of the board by the state assembly on the the naming of a public school. Abdullahi gave the kudos when he received the new state officials of the Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT) in Lafia. He noted that the probe would address “the gossips and mixed reactions” over the recent directive by the assembly that the name ‘TAAL Model School’ in Lafia be reversed. “A healthy way of promoting dialogue and to protect the integrity of government is to make such issues open, it would help in exposing the position of the public and also enrich their knowledge,” Abdul’Aziz said. He said even though some people, for political reasons, were not comfortable with the process, but the motive was worthwhile and commendable, adding that a “query does not mean condemnation”. Abdul’Aziz noted that the development was to the advantage of the government as citizens would be better enlightened. He advised Governor Tanko Al-Makura to beware of some of his aides who were misleading him under the pretext that they were doing their job. Besides, the chairman advised him to run an objective and open door government, respecting the rule of law to avoid unnecessary tension. It would be recalled that the state legislature last week invited the chairman to explain the rationale behind naming a public school with the name of the governor’s registered company and ordered that it should be immediately reversed. Similarly, the chairman warned that the board was not out to issue contracts. He said that, “all the monies made available to the board were meant for specific projects and I have not been given any mandate

to allocate contract to any individual or group which is not in conformity with established due process”. The chairman cautioned the newly inaugurated members of the board to disabuse their minds of such tendencies, saying they must not view their appointment as a means of enriching themselves but an opportunity to serve the state. “As a result of the hangover of past misdeeds, the board is looked upon as a financial repose for onward distribution to the political elite,” he noted, adding that such attitude was immoral and unfortunate. He announced that the board would commence the recruitment of over 400 teachers and cautioned applicants not to give money or bribe to anyone for the job, emphasising that the exercise was free.

Fraud:

The Akran of Badagry, Aholu Menu-Toyi 1, at the Badagry festival in Lagos State weekend.

Kano Dismisses 3 Directors, 3 Others

KANO- The Kano State Government has dismissed six of its officials, including three directors over an alleged fraud. The state’s Commissioner for Land and Physical Planning, Alhaji Muhammed Yahaya, confirmed the dismissal in an interview with newsmen in Kano. He said the affected officials were found guilty of inflating money meant for the payment of compensation to owners of lands acquired by the government for development projects. He said that the officials were staff of the state’s Urban Planning and Development Agency and the Survey Department in the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. “The offence was committed some years ago and had been found to be behind several illegal buildings in the state. “It is true that three directors and three officials of the Survey

Department were found to have inflated the actual money meant for the payment of compensation to land owners.’’ Yahaya said that the officials had submitted a report which was found to be suspicious and the

government ordered an investigation. “For example where they are expected to pay five million as compensation, they inflated it to N50 million and where it is six million they paid N60 million.’’

He said that the case was forwarded to the state’s Civil Service Commission which found the officials guilty after investigations. The commissioner said the commission recommended that

the officials be sacked to serve as a deterrent to others who might contemplate doing the same thing. He warned that government would not tolerate fraudulent activities from any civil servant.

Keep To Specification

Traditional Ruler Urges Contractors

AWE (NASARAWA STATE)-Alhaji Abubakar Umar, the Emir of Awe in Nasarawa State, has urged contractors handling state government projects in the area to keep to terms and specifications. The Emir told newsmen in Awe that he was surprised with the attitude exhibited by some contractors handling state projects. The traditional ruler urged those handling the renovation of Awe General Hospital and

Primary Health Care Unit to keep to the schedule. According to him, the situation in the area is pathetic because the contractor abandoned work at the hospital after removing the zinc and other hospital equipment. The Emir appealed to the state government to intervene to

alleviate the plight of the people. Umar said that patients admitted with critical ailments had to be relocated to other hospitals outside the area. He commended Gov. Umaru Almakura and Gov. Gabriel Suswan of Benue State for finding solution to the conflict

between the farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa and Benue States border towns. The traditional ruler said that the Emirate Council had already worked out a peace agreement between the Tiv farmers and the Fulani herdsmen in the area.

taken over major public places

in Kaduna, as residents besiege their stands to purchase the seasonal product, which serves as meal. The reports state that the hawkers mostly women and children are found virtually on all major streets, motor parks and places of worship selling a piece for as low as N30. One of the women, Mary Audu who sells the corn at Narayi Junction in Sabon Tasha area of the city, said she usually cook and sell a bag of corn daily. According to her, she makes between N700 and N800 profit daily from the sale of each bag. It was learnt that the hawkers purchase the corn from farms between N2800 and N3000 per bag. Audu said there was high demand for the farm produce as residents munch the delicacy either as full meal for the day or desert. Another hawker, Esther

said the business was booming but would only last up to October. Esther also said most of the corn being sold is from the dry season harvest, adding that she makes an average of N700 profit daily. Also, Maman Yana-Uku, another dealer said she hawks the product within the metropolis by visiting mechanic workshops and artisans, who were her main customers. She disclosed that she used the profit from the sales to pay her house rent, children’s school fees and also feed. A patron, Bello Sule said, “this is the season so I eat corn because after the rain, i wont see it to eat again”. Mr Abel Meliga, a shop owner, said he buys the seasonal product from hawkers at between N30 and N50, adding, “I enjoy eating it and it is cheap”.

Roasted Corn Sellers Take Over KADUNA- Hawkers of who operates by the Kaduna Liman, roasted and boiled corn have entrance of the state secretariat,

A cultural troupe parading at the Badagry festival in Lagos State weekend.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Abuja Suspend Strike: Students By JOSES SEDE

ABUJA - A cross section of Students‘ union leaders in Nigeria have added their voice to appeals to striking lecturers to accept the offer from the Federal Government and call off their ongoing strikes across the universities. Students’ leaders who made the appeal include the President of Ladoke Akintola Students Union Government, Ayorinde Rufus, president of University of Ibadan Students Union Government, Babatunde Badmus and the chairman of the Obafemi Awolowo Student Union Transition

Committee,Ayo Toluwalase Shedrach. Others include Abubakar Umar a student Union

leader from Ahmadu Bello University and Isaiah Johnson, a student leader from Ambrose Ali University.

Appeal To ASUU

The students leaders who spoke in different chats on the ongoing strike advised that the present offer while not fully

Enact Laws For Physicallychallenged,

Fashola Urges Govs

L-R: Acting Managing Director, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Otunba Jide Adebayo, President, Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSC), Mr. Mustapha Shehu and Director, NAN Multi-Media Services, Mr. Joe Bankole, during the visit of the NSE President to NAN Headquarters in Abuja recently.

ABUJA - Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos has appealed to state governors to enact laws that would help make life easier for the people living with disability in their states. Fashola said this when he chaired the wedding reception of Abdul Al-Makura, son of the Nasarawa State governor, who had hearing challenges. He said people with disabilities were special and should be encouraged to reach their full potential. “I appeal to all to be sensitive to the plight of those with disabilities. They are special people and all we need do is facilitate their special needs in and out of government. “I appeal to those who haven’t enacted a law on people with disabilities to do so in their respective domains,’’ Fashola said. He called the reception, an international and inter-party event, and prayed that the lives of the couple would get better, and better like his since he got married to Mrs Abimbola Fashola, the first lady of Lagos State. While supervising the cutting of the cake, the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, urged the groom “respect, love and believe in your wife if you want your love to last forever. “To you my daughter, submit, obey, support and respect your husband. Do not involve third party into your home and do not report your husband to your mother or to his mother,’’ she said. Reports say that the groom, who lost his hearing at the age of four to Lassa fever, met his wife, Anisa, who is also hard of hearing, at the Galodet University where they both study. Reports also say that the governors of Kogi, Katsina, Gombe, Niger, Imo, Bauchi, and the bride’s family from Pakistan, were also at the event.

ABUJA - Stakeholders have proposed a unified regulatory body to coordinate the regulation of chemicals, with a view to ensuring sound chemicals management in the country. Reports say that the proposal was made during the NigeriaUNEP joint workshop on Guidance in Legal and Institutional Infrastructure which ended in Abuja recently. Speaking at the event, Mrs Olufunke Babade, the Director Pollution Control Department and Environmental Health Department, Ministry of Environment, said that the project developed by the ministry to address chemicals management in the country, had made significant progress. Babade said that the project received financial and technical support from the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Government of Sweden. She said that a business plan developed as part of the project, was aimed at strengthening the legal and institutional infrastructures for sound management of chemicals in the country. According to her, the project commenced in October 2011, and would be concluded withing the next two months. Babade explained that the pilot project would provide the “foundational capacity” for informed decision-making and efficient and cost effective implementation of the policy on sound chemicals management in the country. ‘’Today, I am proud to announce to you that the project has made significant progress with major deliverables. ‘’A list of prioritised legal and institutional needs and

answering the lecturers’ demand should be accepted in the interest of students now languishing at home for the past two months. The Federal Government had ordered immediate disbursement of one hundred billion for various projects across the federal universities while another thirty billion was released to pay part of the accumulated allowances of the lecturers. Mr. Johnson noted that “with the offer at hand, pleaded with ASUU to go back to work. A bird at hand is better than millions in the bush. In any case, since that agreement was signed, this is the first time the government will release such huge amount. They should take it and return to work“, the three hundred level students said. Another student leader Mr. Rufus of LAUTECH urged the lecturers to reciprocate the good gesture of the government by going back to work, adding, ‘our lecturers have made their point

and it is normal to accept this offer as a good beginning. “ASUU should not over flog the matter. While we know they are working and pushing for us, it is time they think of the plights of us the students. It is time the strike is called off“, he said. Another student leader, Ayo Toluwase Shedrach observed that “the allowances were accumulated over a long time and it may not be easy to pay off at a go. Students are rotten away. The school needs to resume while government sources for more fund to attend to the needs of the universities’’, he said. Abubakar Umar from Ahmadu Bello University stated that “the lecturer should not be selfish. With one hundred and thirty billion naira, the government has tried. Let them go back to work and stop this strike. The strike initially has popular support but most students are no more in support of it “, he said.

Ogungbuyi said the project would also establish a mechanism for inter-agency collaboration, cooperation and sharing of information for effective management of chemicals in the country. He, however, decried reckless importation and handling of chemicals by manufacturers without adequate compliance with environmental laws. He also advocated a chemical risk and management plan for the country. He noted that environmental issues have yet to take the centre stage in Nigeria. ‘’We are yet to understand the impact of environment in this country.’’ Later in an interview with newsmen, Mr. Uche Agbanusi, a Deputy Director, Environmental Health and Enforcement at the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), said that effective management of chemicals would

check its use in the FCT. Agbanusi said the board would cooperate with the Ministry of Environment to achieve the goal of sound management of chemicals in the FCT in particular and the nation as a whole. He said that AEPB would soon prosecute illegal fumigators in the FCT, adding that the board had concluded modalities to set up mobile courts in business malls and various offices, to check illegal fumigation activities. According to him, the new policy on fumigation in the FCT has provided for the licensing and supervision of fumigation activities. He said the policy was aimed at controlling wrong application of chemicals by quacks, which he noted had caused both health and environmental hazards to residents.

Chemicals: Stakeholders Call For A Regulatory Body interventions for strengthening legal and institutional infrastructure, governing the placement of chemicals on the market in Nigeria has been drafted for addressing key priority needs. ‘’We are now at an advanced stage of the project, where the Federal Ministry of Environment with the involvement of relevant stakeholders have come out with a business plan for addressing key priority needs.’’ The director commended UNEP and the Swedish Government for their financial and technical support for the project. During his presentation, Dr Kayode Ogungbuyi, a Consultant on the project, said that the project would achieve a unified system on how the nation’s chemicals could be handled, in line with global best practices. Ogungbuyi said the workshop,

the final in the series, would endorse a legal and an institutional infrastructure and measures for recovering cost of national administration on chemical management. He said the recovery of cost would be achieved through a unified regulatory and coordinating body which would coordinate various agencies regulating the industry. He listed the agencies as the National Environmental Standards Regulations and Enforcement Agency (NESREA), National Oil Spill Detection Response Agency (NOSDRA), Nigeria Customs Service, NAFDAC and Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), among others. He stated that the coordinating body would be self-funded as levies and taxes on chemical imports would be used to run the chemicals management industry.

L-R: Director, Finance and Accounts, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Mr. Jones Afolabi, President, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr. Mustapha Shehu, acting Managing Director of NAN, Otunba Jide Adebayo and Director, ICT, Mr. Jehosaphat Ugwu, during the visit of the NSE President to NAN Headquarters in Abuja recently.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Business + Economy Cross River Disburses Loans To Cooperative Societies

CALABAR - The Cross River Government says it has disbursed N100 million micro-credit loans to 105 accredited Women Farmers’ Co-operative Societies in the state. The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edak Iwuchukwu,

announced this in an interview with newsmen in Calabar. Iwuchukwu said that the disbursement was done in collaboration with the state Medium Scale Enterprises Development Agency (MEDA)

and the Awake Project. The commissioner added that this was to empower the women to expand their farms. “The ministry has embarked on

a state-wide sensitisation of women to facilitate the formation of women cooperative societies so as to weave their development initiatives and open credit

windows for them. “After the exercise, 415 agro business women cooperatives were verified and accredited by the ministry and later handed over to MEDA and the Awake Project for the expansion of their farms,” she said. Iwuchukwu, however, explained that after inspection of their farms and documentation, 105 of the cooperatives were certified to access credit. She said that the others would access the loans as soon as their farms were verified and their

documentation was completed by the assessment team currently in the field. The commissioner added that N200 million had been set aside for the second set of beneficiaries, adding that women cooperative societies interested in trading were also being verified for the same purpose. “When the exercise is concluded, micro-credit will equally be disbursed to enable them to expand their businesses and add value to their lives, ‘’ she said.

ALETO-Eleme (Rivers) – Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers, has inaugurated a 4.5 million Dollars (N720 m) Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) sponsored water scheme project at AletoEleme Amaechi said at the inauguration in Aleto-Eleme, in Eleme local government that the project would supply portable drinking water to about 40, 000 people in five communities in the area. Reports say that the project is in-line with the recommendation of the United Nations Environmental Programme (UNEP) report on the area. The Report stated that oil spills had contaminated both surface and ground water at levels more than 900 times above the World Health Organisation (WHO) prescribed safety limit. It recommended that the Nigerian authorities compel multinational oil companies operating in the area should clean up the pollution caused by decades of oil exploration in the area. Amaechi said that SPDC provided about 4.5 million dollars for the project while the state government executed it.

He explained that SPDC was not responsible for the oil pollution in Aleto-Eleme but agreed to fund the project as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility initiative. “To an Eleme man; there is no difference between SPDC and NNPC and so for me as a Governor of Rivers state I get very worried that we are losing people every day because of the (crude) oil that they are collecting. “Companies are collecting our oil; companies are collecting our money and our people are dying. We need to get water first to Eleme, and then we go to Khana, Tai, Okirika and Oyibo. “The water scheme will feed about 40, 000 Eleme people. I have directed the Commissioner for Water Resources to expand the Eleme water scheme so that it can reach the remaining communities that don’t have; no politics about that. “The council chairman and His Royal Majesty (of Eleme) will arrange to set up a communitybased team and their responsibility is to ensure that they manage the funding (for maintenance) and the water.” amaechi thanked SPDC for its initial approach of “trucking of portable water to some local communities” before the completion of the water scheme. The Managing Director of SPDC, Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu said the project which started in August 2012, was aimed to address potable water challenges faced by some communities.

Amaechi Inaugurates Water Project

L-R: Guest Speaker, Mr. Femi Mokikan, former Group Managing Director, Odua Investments, Mr. Remi Omotoso, President, Chartered Institute of Personnel Managment of Nigeria (CIPMN), Mr. Victor Famuyibo and CIPMN’s Registrar, Mr. Sunday Adeyemi, at the Annual CIPMN Conference in Ibadan recently.

Govs Advocate Diversification Of Economy

ASABA - Some state governors have called for the diversification of the economy to make the country less dependent on oil revenue. The governors bared their minds on the oil situation at an executive session at the 9th All Nigerian Editors Conference holding in Asaba. Reports say that the four days meeting which commenced has a theme ‘’Nigerian Beyond Oil: Role of the Editors’. The governor agreed that the topic for discussion was apt and the proffering solutions to the problems were daunting. They agreed that diversification of the economy through massive investment in agriculture, education and industrialization would tackle the challenges posed by the country’s dependence on oil revenue. Speaking at the occasion, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta said diversification of the country’s economy required a comprehensive and integrated approach. According to him, some communities in the oil bearing region of the country have been greatly polluted and require regeneration. Uduaghan said that a lot of money was needed for the regeneration of the devastated environment. ‘’In this communities there have been damages to the air, sea and land. For us in the region we are afraid because when the oil is no longer there, the people will suffer more. ‘’So what we are saying is that we must repair the damaged places, so the discussion on Nigerian beyond oil should supersede that of politics’’. He charged the editors to focus

more on the economy of the country than its politics and other issues. On his part, Governor Peter Obi of Anambra, blamed the over concentration on oil revenue for the rising corruptions in the country. He said that he was sure that if the oil dried, the country would be better for it and all the component states would become more enterprising while corruption would be minimized drastically.

‘’If the oil money is not there most states will become better managers, if we remove oil, we will have the real sector developed but greed for easy oil money has bedevilled the country,’’ he said. Obi thanked the minister of Agriculture for the transformation agenda and added that it was a defining moment for the country because oil may not

be there forever. He said that there was need to promote fiscal responsibility and diversification of the country’s economy as solution to the long aged problem of the country. Former Governor Kayode Fayose of Ekiti state advocated a total overhaul of the country’s educational system by making the curriculum more technical in nature to address the problems.

Build Workers Capacity, CBN Advises Banks

LAGOS - The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it would introduce reforms which would ensure that banks adhere strictly to competence in their operations. The CBN Deputy Governor in charge of Financial System Stability, Dr Kingsley Moghalu, said this at the 2013 Investiture of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (CIBN) in Lagos. Moghalu, who spoke after he was conferred with an Honorary Fellow of the institute, attributed the low level of competence to insufficient manpower in the banking industry. He urged the regulators and operators to engage bank workers in capacity building to enhance their skills for effective operations. The CBN deputy governor said untrained staff could become unproductive, and noted that continuous training would keep them abreast of the latest development in the banking industry. According to him, constant capacity building will make bankers to be abreast of happenings, particularly in the

era of technology. Moghalu promised to support CIBN to realise the purpose of the institute. Earlier, the CIBN President, Mr. Segun Aina, enjoined all awardees to put in their best in

the profession as well as make sure that their bank customers were proud of them. Aina said that investiture was aimed at lifting the standard of

the profession and the banking industry to a greater height. Also, Mr. Tay Laun, the guest speaker, and the Chief Executive of the Institute of Banker, Malaysia, said the right skills should be put in place to ensure confidence in the industry.

Wife of the Transition Committee Chairman, Musawa Local Government Council, Hajiya Rabi Tanimu-Kira (right), presenting the sum of N10,000 free grant for small scale business to one of the 100 women from the council at Musawa in Katsina State recently.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (26/08/13) Stocks

Open

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MCNICHOLS

1.5

4,100

5,535.00

7UP

5,652

383,905.21

MOBIL

119

38,667

4,164,151.14

ABCTRANS

0.74

0.81

0.07

197,621

159,276.80

MRS

36.14

650

21,144.50

ACADEMY

1.91

29,620

54,054.20

MULTITREX

0.61

20,000

13,400.00

ACCESS

10.95

10.7

-0.25

196

5,249,789

56,604,144.17

MULTIVERSE

0.5

2,100,000

1,050,000.00

AFRIPRUD

1.9

1.98

0.08

550,109

1,082,538.61

NAHCO

6.74

6.8

0.06

490,870

3,335,965.16

AGLEVENT

1.41

527

674.56

NASCON

11.4

11.2

-0.2

5,642,200

63,177,235.82

AIICO

0.97

-0.03

3,798,971

3,784,751.17

167.5

167

-0.5

157

662,587

110,733,486.76

AIRSERVICE

3.88

145,783

563,618.69

NEIMETH

1.26

492,845

623,813.03

ASHAKACEM

21.05

-0.05

753,596

15,843,254.47

NEM

0.73

3,142,694

2,296,376.50

BERGER

8.7

4,545

35,676.25

NESTLE

935

934.97

-0.03

52,765

48,564,464.18

BOCGAS

6.5

932

6,058.00

NPFMCRFBK

0.81

0.75

-0.06

605,138

456,848.50

CADBURY

52.95

52.9

-0.05

1,029,173

53,132,647.11

OANDO

11.11

11.13

0.02

251

4,017,098

44,763,656.30

0.5

950,000

475,000.00

CAP

43.65

157,306

6,386,049.74

OASISINS

CCNN

9.21

41,650

356,082.50

OKOMUOIL

46.49

1.49

2,487,106

118,226,568.75

CHAMPION

17.42

15.68

-1.74

60,200

943,936.00

PAINTCOM

1.81

25,000

45,050.00

CONOIL

29.8

113,733

3,202,050.00

PHARMDEKO

1.85

3,800

6,840.00

CONTINSURE

1.2

1.21

0.01

100,200

119,192.00

PORTPAINT

5.56

5.01

-0.55

83,800

423,358.00

CORNERST

0.5

0.51

0.01

196,740

99,750.00

PRESCO

34.99

115,824

3,939,160.40

COSTAIN

1.23

1.3

0.07

391,743

474,152.45

PRESTIGE

0.55

0.56

0.01

491,229

272,929.79

COURTVILLE

0.71

126,735

89,981.85

230,297

8,310,789.73

CUSTODYINS

1.57

1.53

-0.04

1,510,899

2,289,667.49

REDSTAREX

4.7

356,975

1,672,003.25

CUTIX

1.86

71,017

127,322.30

ROYALEX

0.55

1,000

500

DANGCEM

188

190

4,062,822

771,926,819.30

RTBRISCOE

1.37

1.5

0.13

1,027,696

1,470,083.04

DANGFLOUR

9.5

339,027

3,219,972.60

SKYEBANK

4.3

4.2

-0.1

2,304,723

9,653,812.11

DANGSUGAR

10.9

2,047,622

21,758,432.78

SOVRENINS

0.5

288,700

144,350.00

DIAMONDBNK

6.6

6.47

-0.13

6,745,343

44,122,068.33

STACO

0.5

2,400

1,200.00

16.37

307,931

4,998,851.28

DNMEYER

1.3

193,699

251,813.70

STANBIC

DUNLOP

0.5

100

STDINSURE

0.5

65,239

32,619.50

EQUITYASUR

0.5

173,000

86,500.00

STERLNBANK

2.6

2.57

-0.03

2,121,937

5,512,782.06

ETERNA

2.75

3.02

0.27

487,354

1,468,892.84

TANTALIZER

0.5

3,000

1,500.00

ETI

14.9

802,799

11,972,225.61

THOMASWY

0.81

42,001

35,688.85

FBNH

16.5

16.3

-0.2

514

10,960,886

178,767,713.93

TOTAL

155

43,255

6,765,030.60

FCMB

4.14

4.08

-0.06

6,315,486

25,742,036.20

TRANSCORP

1.3

137

18,661,527

24,360,825.04

FIDELITYBK

2.83

2.8

-0.03

13,085,917

36,048,640.42

TRANSEXPR

49,150

48,823.00

FIDSON

2.01

2.02

0.01

771,740

1,567,855.40

TRIPPLEG

2.29

165.6

FLOURMILL

83.9

336,696

28,218,037.78

UAC-PROP

16.7

16.2

-0.5

208,375

3,374,600.00

75,228

2,736,329.02

UACN

58.5

-0.5

1,267,792

74,429,753.75

GLAXOSMITH

1,188,830

80,703,431.47

UBA

7.54

7.33

-0.21

353

13,152,800

98,109,483.84

GUARANTY

25.25

25.2

-0.05

323

6,138,678

155,049,284.68

UBCAP

1.23

1.22

-0.01

4,177,644

5,073,571.88

10.55

-0.55

666,166

6,917,925.43

GUINNESS

254.04

254

-0.04

84,942

21,355,767.90

UBN

HONYFLOUR

3.13

3.02

-0.11

506,370

1,551,361.52

UNILEVER

199,733

12,325,113.61

IHS

2.55

2.41

-0.14

1,945,307

5,116,395.70

UNITYBNK

0.54

0.55

0.01

6,753,577

3,621,504.77

IKEJAHOTEL

0.86

0.81

-0.05

94,241

76,335.21

UNIVINSURE

0.5

26,936

13,468.00

INTBREW

21.45

189,524

3,876,542.60

UPL

4.1

4.3

0.2

337,664

1,445,282.14

INTENEGINS

1.49

1.35

-0.14

62,965

85,002.75

UTC

0.8

0.72

-0.08

55,048

39,634.56

IPWA

0.77

32.2

VITAFOAM

3.9

3.75

-0.15

394,720

1,494,839.43

JAPAULOIL

0.51

0.5

-0.01

1,730,209

865,169.50

VONO

0.81

30,006

26,705.34

JBERGER

68,551

4,862,626.96

WAPCO

90,926

8,612,503.46

JOHNHOLT

1.26

933

1,125.93

WAPIC

0.79

40,130

32,080.00

JOSBREW

1.83

2.01

0.18

1,060,727

2,108,443.98

WEMABANK

1.04

1.03

-0.01

433,490

449,069.79

LASACO

0.5

100,000

50,000.00

ZENITHBANK

20.14

-0.14

392

6,981,430

139,741,319.18

LAWUNION

0.5

301,000

150,500.00

LEARNAFRCA

1.6

1.55

-0.05

219,648

341,464.40

LIVESTOCK

3.91

3.65

-0.26

1,479,793

5,710,401.77

MANDRID

5.94

400

2,612.00

MANSARD

2.32

2.15

-0.17

108,000

232,205.00

MAYBAKER

2.4

27,770

70,804.30

MBENEFIT

0.5

50,000

25,000.00

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock DANGCEM OKOMUOIL ETERNA UPL JOSBREW RTBRISCOE AFRIPRUD COSTAIN ABCTRANS NAHCO

Close 190 46.49 3.02 4.3 2.01 1.5 1.98 1.3 0.81 6.8

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

2 1.49 0.27 0.2 0.18 0.13 0.08 0.07 0.07 0.06

Stock CHAMPION PORTPAINT UBN NB UAC-PROP UACN LIVESTOCK ACCESS UBA FBNH

Close 15.68 5.01 10 167 16.2 58.5 3.65 10.7 7.33 16.3

Loss -1.74 -0.55 -0.55 -0.5 -0.5 -0.5 -0.26 -0.25 -0.21 -0.2

THE NIGERIAN

12 HOW time flies. Exactly twenty-two (22) years ago, the old Bendel State was bifurcated by the military junta of General Ibrahim Babangida into Edo and Delta States. Shortly after its creation, the young Edo State was under the command of Col John Ewerikrumo Yeri who supervised assets sharing with its sister state, Delta, under the command of Col David Dung. THE Yeri’s administration laid the foundation for all the assets and liabilities inherited from the defunct Bendel State to be clearly identified and a foundation for a new social order was laid. He recognized education as the biggest industry of Edo people and went ahead to establish two Unity Schools at Ubiaja and Ibillo to accommodate Edo State students who scored high marks at National Common Entrance Examinations but could not be accommodated in the Federal Unity Schools due to subsisting obnoxious quota system. WE recall that while Yeri was redeployed, Col. M.A.S Onuka was named his successor. Onuka’s tenure was short lived but could be remembered for his interest in agricultural development as Edo State has all potentials for self-reliance in food production and as such provided fillip to the Edo Agricultural Development Programme (ADP) as a vehicle to boost food production through effective and efficient extension services. ALSO, we recall the administration of Navy Commodore Anthony Ibe Onearugbulem, who midwifed the political development of the young state during the third republic when Ibrahim Babangida’s endless transition programme eventually gave birth to two political parties: Social Democratic Party and National Republican Convention (NRC). The management of the budding political parties in Edo by Onyearugbulem pitted him against some powerful interests in the state, a situation that saw the emergence of a social democrat, Chief John Odigie Oyegun as the first Civilian Governor of the state. His tenure again ushered in a robust political administration with a focus on free education at basic levels as well as free healthcare services for vulnerable groups.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

THE NIGERIAN

Edo At 22: Light At The

End Of The Tunnel

IT is, however, interesting to note that since its creation Edo State has witnessed all kinds of socio-political and economic transformation. From two Universities, one polytechnic and one College of Education, Edo State now boasts of six universities, three polytechnics, three colleges of education, one college of Agriculture and several other monotechnics. EDO State witnessed a lull with the return of full blown politics in 1999 when the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) shot its way to power for almost a decade. There were practically few stories to tell, it was as if the state was on sabbatical as infrastructures were practically unattended to while existing ones were allowed to degenerate into embarrassing signposts. Educational institutions were allowed to rot as instructional materials vanished from the system. Erosion ravaged the state with so much ferocity with Queen Ede, Auchi-Igarra roads as well as Emu axis of Esan land allowed to degenerate into horrifying relics. Roads were left in dilapidation as potholes gave road users awful nightmares. It was as if there was no government for ten harrowing years. BUT we are glad that with the coming on board of erstwhile President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole through a popular mandate won vide a herculean judicial process, fortune finally smiled on Edo people who are currently experiencing an unprecedented pace of development in key areas of Roads, education, water, electricity, erosion control, security of lives and property as well as enforcement of basic law and order.

IT is heartwarming that after the years of the locust, there is light at the end of the tunnel with Adams Oshiomhole who evidently has vowed to operate a people- centred government which is obviously righting the wrongs of yester years. WE are happy that as we celebrate Edo at twenty-two today, Benin City wears a new look as it is witnessing a re-enactment of the original master plan. Roads with walk ways, lawns and street lights around the city centre now makes it an envy of all in the country as the story goes round like wild fire. IT is most interesting that the massive development in all sectors is going on concurrently in the three senatorial districts as over 98 road projects have been completed with several others under construction in the 18 local government areas of the state. Water projects are going on in almost all the 18 local government, new hospitals are being built to tackle the secondary and primary heath needs of the people; communities are being connected with electricity and 100 ultra modern buses are already boosting both inter-city and intra-city transport services, all in an unprecedented manner within less than five years of the Oshiomhole-led administration. IT is on this note that we remain grateful to God who has ensured that the 17 years the locust and caterpillars have eaten from Edo state is being restored according to his promises to his children. We also remain grateful to the ancestral head of Edo people, the Oba of Benin Kingdom, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Oba Erediauwa for his fatherly role over the years. We also appreciate all other traditional rulers who have contributed their quota towards the development of Edo land. As we rejoice with all Edo people on this auspicious occasion of the 22nd anniversary of its creation, we urge all citizens of the state to continue to support the progressive government of Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole in the years to come so that, together, we could all continue to savour the dividends of our cherished statehood.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Science

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

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Nutritional Health And Dietetics

Arthritis And What To Do (2) THE causes of chronic form of arthritis are many and often more than one cause may be at work in any one case. The most important causes are. Worry, anxiety and emotional outbursts if continued for a long period, will cause great overactivity of the thyroid, adrenal and pituitary glands whose increased secretions in the blood are antagonistic and suppressive to the insulin secretion of the pancreas. The suppression of the insulin secretion stops the final breakup of qlycegen into lactic acid and the lactic acid into carbon dioxide and water in the tissue and muscles, so that some intermediary and harmful product (possibly, pyruvic acid) whose nature is not definitely known, is retained in joint tissues and especially in the muscles, causing a chronic irritation of these structures leading often to the formation of calcified and fibrotic deposits. These cause spasm and wasting of muscles and immobility of the joints accompanied by unbearable pulling, pinching and shooting pains. There are no signs of redness, inflammation and swelling of the joints, nor is the pain hot and burning in character as in gout or as in acute articular rheumatism. Our bones are articulated to each other at the joints and the inflamed and stiffened condition of these joints is called arthritis. It results from overwork, freezing cold, accidents, infectious disease, poor diets and great mental strain. Arthritis may involve the ligaments, cartilage and membranes in and around the joint on the ends of the bones entering into the formation of the joint as in the different forms of arthritis in the middle-aged and aged. Depending on the causes and consequences of arthritis, the disease is further classified into the two general forms, “atrophic” and

“hypertrophic” with many subdivisions atrophic, when the structure disintegrates and hypertrophic, when the bones forming the affected joints and the other joints structures thicken and harden so that the joint becomes deformed (ankylosed) and immovable. The latter form is therefore, called arthritis deformans. The acute form of arthritis (acute articular rheumatism) occurs mostly in children or adolescents and almost always follows an infectious disease such as measles, diptheria, scarlet fever, influenza or tonsillitis or it may be caused by focal infections as infected teeth or tonsils or discharging ear. The chronic form of arthritis occurs mostly in the middle-age and elderly but frequently also, in people under 30 years of age. If the sufferer consults a doctor early and the cause is found and removed or treated, the result will be satisfactory as far as the condition of the joints and the general health of patient is concerned. However, if the condition is neglected, the pain in the joints and surrounding structures will continue for months and years and will gradually result in thickening, calcification, bony deposit, fibrosis of the joint tissues, wasting of the muscles, limitation of ankylosis, deformity and permanent invalidism. Dietary Therapy In these cases of arthritis, due to disturbed or perverted carbohydrate metabolism, diabetes is not present, there is no sugar in the urine and the blood sugar is not increased. Therefore, the diet need not be restricted in the same manner as in diabetes. Protein and fat may be indulged in the same amounts as before the on set of the arthritis. But the starches and sugars and all foods containing them should be greatly restricted for a few weeks. For the first week use vegetables low in carbohydrate to replace bread at meals. After the first week you may take one slice of whole wheat or white

With

O.C. Madu

bread with every meal. But keep the consumption of starchy and sugary foods at a minimum for a long time. Nothing will relieve this type of arthritis except rest, relaxation, freedom from worry and anxiety and the placing of the sufferer on the diet outlined. This method of treatment will work like a charm and in a week or two the patient will be entirely off excruciating pain which deprived sleep and sapped the vitality. The joints involved will loosen

late for a cure. Patients suffering from arthritis in any form and from any cause should bear in mind that diet deficiencies in protein, fat or vitamins, chilling of the body, physical strain, mental stress, intestinal autointoxication, faulty personal hygiene and over eating are contributing factors that will aggravate and prolong the disease. These conditions should therefore, be absolutely avoided and eliminated. It

from a liniment or medicine. All possible causes of arthritis must be attacked simultaneously. The treatment therefore, consist of curing infection found in any part of the body, relieving the patient from physical strain and mental anxiety, improving his digestion and elimination and making a

beans, cauliflower and artichoke. Deficient diet should be corrected within the range of the sugarless diet. If the patient is overweight, a further diet reduction regimen is indicated. A rest at the beginning of a severe attack of thritis is absolutely necessary, if strenuous work is done with

and become freely movable and hard deposits around them will melt away. Focal infections in the teeth, tonsils, sinuses, abdominal and sexual organs will cause chronic and crippling forms of arthritis. These sources of infection if located should, of course, be promptly removed or cured before deformity and invalidism supervene, when it is too

should also, be remembered that in all forms of arthritis the carbohydrate metabolism is some what disturbed and therefore, the starches and sugars and all foods containing them should be restricted in the diet daily. The extent of elaboration on the perverted body processes is to impress the reader that no relief from arthritis can be expected

radical change in his dietary. The diet should include lean meat, egg, milk, fresh green vegetables and an abundance of citrus fruit. serve small portion of whole grain cereals. Absolutely do without all sweets and all other sugars and starches. This means avoiding not only confections, but also, such fruits as grapes, raisins, figs and dates and such vegetables as beets,

the right arm and there is arthritis in the right shoulder, stop the work until cured. Outdoor exercise is most important. Walking exercise will help the body to produce its own contisone and will oxygenate all the tissues and aerate the lung. There are many herbs that cure arthritis that would be on request.

GSM: 08056379608

“Nothing will relieve this type of arthritis except rest, relaxation, freedom from worry and anxiety and the placing of the sufferer on the diet outlined. This method of treatment will work like a charm and in a week or two the patient will be entirely off excruciating pain which deprived sleep and sapped the vitality.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Issues

AGAIN, like a ‘serious joke’, the recent protests in Egypt’ Landmark Tahrir Square of Cairo, has led to the ouster of President Mohammed Morsi through a military coup. This was how in February 2011, millions of Egyptians gathered in Central Cairo at the same Tahrir Square, and demanded for the end to the 30year-rule of former President Hosni Mubarak. The recent development in Egypt and other parts of the Arab nations is another reminder to all of the fact that when a people had enough of the injustice melted to them by their supposed leaders in government, nothing can stop them when the stand in one voice to demand for change. The gale of “people of power” manifesting as protects by citizens who are fired by a strong conviction over style or substance of governance or national issues, that has now seen the fall of Egyptians President Mohamed Morsi, is something that watchers of global events are about now chronicling. The countries that are experiencing similar trends of events as that of Egypt, all have something in common. They represent countries where governments have obviously set themselves against the people, despite cries of the governments inept leadership pioneering. We will not be mincing works to say that Nigeria also, is obviously amongst the countries in Africa where the political leaders have over the years, practiced ‘voodoo democracy’ by using every trick they can muster to remain in government circles and refuse the peoples’ voices to be heard; their votes to count; and their interest to be protected and projected in the development of their country. Honestly, the lessons for countries like Nigeria, where the people’s resentment does not always lead to enduring, tangible results looking especially at the protests in Egypt, are multifaceted. Long before the recent sacking of Morsi’s government by the military, analysts had concluded that Egypt was on the brink of volcano. First it was Turkey. That was after Greece and then was the turn of Brazil. But freshly bottled up angaist were simmering all the while in Egypt before it

boiled over. The current world events prove that the dust of the “Arab Spring” is yet to settle. This earlier air of protests from across the globe may appear stultifying but like we said, there are lessons to be learnt by both leaders and citizens. Lessons of people power and the dawning reality that citizens’ rights and demands may no longer be taken for granted. The people want to ventilate! The situation in Northern Africa-Egypt and some parts of the Middle East should be clear examples for the rest of Africa, particularly Nigeria, where old-hand that ought to have let the circles of government, still wants to hold on to political power till death, obviously because of the publics wealth they get to misappropriate while in the system. Through godfatherism, nepotism, favouritism and corruption of the highest order. Nigeria has had virtually the same circle of political leaders being ‘recycles’ in the system. From 1999 till date, elections in the country are often fraught with fraud, irregularities and rigging of the highest order, thereby denying the people of their choice of preferred leaders by making their votes not count. Despite the country’s enormous human and natural resources and wealth, what the average Nigerian sees everyday is the worsening of his environment, the continuing decay of existing structures and the rising poverty level. The turmoil in Egypt yet again, is obviously a reflection of the people’s tied state of mind. A state of mind that is tied of the injustice, problems of unemployment, corruption with impurity, political repression and what have you, which have culminated to the upsurge of protests, revolt and outcry for change. The people have simply had enough, and they want the change desired to become reality, even if it means giving up their lives for it. This is what happens when ‘a people’, that have been economically and sociopolitically oppressed for too long, have had enough the usual rubbish from their leaders. It is inevitable for people to react when pushed to the wall, especially when they have endured and tolerated all

Nigeria’s Current Path: A

case Of Egypt In Disguise?

sorts of injustice and unfairness from those who are supposed to be custodians of the society’s resources and wealth. Although, we have a supposed Democratic system of government in Nigeria that has been in place for about 13 years now, the prevailing issues that caused the people’s revolt and ouster of government in Egypt, are very much evident in the country even in worse varying degrees

By ZIK GBEMIRE

are still wondering if Nigerian is still practicing a multi-party system of government. That has tens of registered political parties. This is so, looking at the domineering and overbearing tendencies of the ruling People Democratic Party (PDP), that is priding itself as the supposed largest political party in Africa. But we all know that strength and making positive impacts in the

National Democratic Party (NDP) of Egypt whose Headquarters was torched twice in Cairo within four days of the protest there last year. The problem with our Nigerian Leaders is that they do not learn from their past mistake neither do they learn from the mistakes of other countries. They carry on as if all is well. Virtually on a daily basis, the line between the rich and

Ex-President Mohammed Morsi of Egypt

and proportions. Having suffered in the hands of the military close to two decades, the Nigerian common masses are still daily deprived, by the civilian administrations, of having a taste of the ‘good life’ through the availability of the ‘basic amenities’ of a modern society. The Nigerian masses are still being denied from having their votes count in the election of desired leaders whom they believe would bring about the needed change. Many have wondered, and

lives of others, does not come in numbers but in ‘content’. What is the content and character of the PDP in Nigerian politics? From all indications, the PDP, right from inception is gradually but steadily ‘conditioning’ this country towards being a ‘one party system’ of government with its ‘undemocratic tendencies’. Sometimes last year, a diehard supporter of the ruling party said that the PDP will rule Nigeria for 70 years. He probably was inspired by the

“Nigeria has had virtually the same circle of political leaders being ‘recycles’ in the system. From 1999 till date, elections in the country are often fraught with fraud, irregularities and rigging of the highest order, thereby denying the people of their choice of preferred leaders by making their votes not count. Despite the country’s enormous human and natural resources and wealth, what the average Nigerian sees everyday is the worsening of his environment, the continuing decay of existing structures and the rising poverty level.”

the poor, the ‘haves’ and the ‘have not’ the government and the governed in Nigeria, is widening unprecedentedly. It is only in this part of the world that the gap between these two ends are at extremes; making the issue of poverty, hunger and disease to daily extinct millions of children and adults in several African countries. Yet, we still have leaders today as lawmakers in Nigeria whose emoluments is about N 180million per annum ($1.3million), whereas, over 75 percent of the Nigerian population are living on less than a dollar per day. That is the pathetic situation in the country. Apparently, the twin evils of corruption and bad leadership have left Nigeria in its present deplorable and unfortunate status. The root of the insecurity problems in different parts of Nigeria is hinged on the rising cost of basic food items, teething unemployment, rocketing

inflation and the widening gap between the rich (especially those in political circles) and the poor general masses. Through Nigeria, like many other African countries, are practicing democracies, they are still bedeviled with suppressive and repressive dynamics of politicking that have positioned them with a unique type of ‘bad governance. Elections in Nigeria since 1999 have often been more like a ‘formality ritual’ to fulfill all righteousness. But these elections never portray the under living principle of Democracy- which is; “Government of the People, by the people and for the people.” Nigeria has become a country that has refused to learn from its past mistakes; judging by the way the ruling PDP and other few opposition parties are going about the quest for political power. It was this domineering prevalence of political parties to capture power by all means necessary; and the misappropriation and mismanagement of public funds that led to the collapse of the first and second republics. This same ‘party sickness’ of who is dominating is steadily repeating itself in the polity. However, the desperation to be in power does not stem from a genuine desire to serve, no! it stems from their thirst for political power that assures them the opportunity to amass public funds for themselves and supports/sponsors. As we all know, political office in Nigeria has become more like a ‘honey-pot’ of sort; the route to instant, almost obscene wealth. Nigeria political leaders should read between the lives and see the ‘Revolutionary wind’ that is blowing across countries where the government had set themselves against the people by refusing to allow ‘change’ to thrive. Nigerians are no longer ignorant or indifferent about the country’s politics the way they were two or three decades ago. Our younger generations are getting more enlightened and observant of would politics. The internet has become a tool for “self-enlightenment” and ‘ideological mobilization”. And they have been observing the “years of disappointments” left by their fathers’ generation. Our political leaders at all strata must wake up to their responsibilities; else, the situation in Egypt will be a child’s play “when the people of Nigeria have had enough”. We urge that the right thing be done at all times.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Perspective

MIDWEST comprising Edo/Delta provinces was the outcome of political agitation. Oba Akenzua II in 1947 had formed the

Dennis Osadebay

David Ejoor

Samuel Ogbemudia

Husaini Abdullahi

Midwest Peoples Party (MWPP) as a vehicle to achieve the objectives of the movement for the creation of a future

Edo State At 22: Th Midwest State at the inception of provincial administration which was introduced by the colonial government as far back as 1939. The 1951 constitution which created regional governments incorporated the MidwestBenin Delta provinces into the Western Regional design. The British in their self interest felt that grouping ethnic nationalities into three regions no matter how, would make for them a less expensive administrative set up in Nigeria. The whole country was divided into three regions with Lagos as British colony as part of Western region. The desire for the creation of the Midwest State had been on the drawing board even during the Action Group crisis of 1962. The Midwest leading politicians including Chief Dennis Osadebay, Omo Osagie, Chief Festus Okotie Eboh and a host of other leaders of Midwest origin, intensified their efforts and Midwest State was eventually created in 1963. Throughout this period of the Midwest region, political leaders emerged through selection and imposition. There never was a true test of the people’s will to elect their own leaders. The Midwest was

Agbazika Innih

formed in June 1963 from Benin and Delta provinces of the Western Region and its capital was Benin City the cradle of black civilization. It was renamed a province in 1966, and in 1967 when the other provinces were divided up into several states, it remained territorially intact. On August 19 th 1963 Chief Dennis Chukudebe Osadebay, a lawyer, who was born in Asaba on June 29, 1911was appointed and became the first Administrator of the newly created Midwest Region under the leadership of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe. In February 1964 he became the first Premier of the region, a position he held until January 15, 1966 when the first military coup led by Major Emmanuel Ifeajuna and Kaduna Nzeogwu over throw the government of Nigeria and Major Gen. Aguiyi Ironsi became the first military head of state. Lt.Col. David Ejoor who later becam a Major Gen. took over the leadership of the Midwest region on January 15, 1966. Born on 10 th of January 1932 in Ovu in Bendel State, he strives to pilot the affairs of the region and improve the economic well being of the state and her people. His programmes and

policies were disrupted by the civil war that broke out in Nigeria in 1967. This Army officer who later became a politician served as Chief of Army Staff under Gen. Yakubu Gowon led administration. It’s on record that Ejoor was the first military governor of Midwestern state. His rule was cut short by the invasion and occupation of Midwestern state by Biafra secessionist troops in August 9, 1967. Major (Dr.) Albert Nwazu Okonkwo was briefly the Military Administrator of the \o “Mid-Western Region, Nigeria” Mid-Western State of \o “Nigeria” Nigeria in mid-1967 during an attempt to establish the region as the independent \o “Republic of Benin (unrecognized state)” Republic of Benin early in the \o “Nigerian Civil War” Nigerian Civil War. Okonkwo was a Major in the Biafran Army Medical Corps. He was trained as a physician in the \o “United States” United States, and was married to an American. He is also the great-uncle of \o “OFWGKTA” OFWGKTA leader \o “Tyler, the Creator” Tyler, the Creator. On 9th August, 1967 a force of 3,000 \o “Biafra” Biafran troops crossed the \o “Niger River” \t

Abubakar Waziri

“_blank” Niger bridg with one group making dash for \o “Benin Cit Benin City. On 14 Augu the Biafran command \o “Enugu” Enu announced that Maj Okonkwo had be appointed Milita Administrator of t Mid-Western Regio The new administrati faced resistance fro several segments of t population. Morale w poor. The Liberati Army commander, Yoruba colonel nam Victor Banjo, and thr majors were lat discovered to have be negotiating with t Nigerian army, were tri for high treason an executed by firing squ in Enugu. The Nigerian Arm regrouped and advanc towards Benin City und the leadership of Colon \o “Murtala Mohamme Murtala Mohamme recapturing the city on September 1967. The d before, Okonkwo h been declared Govern of the “autonomou independent an sovereign republic Benin”. In his broadca declaring t independent Republic Benin, Okonkw belatedly tried to ral non-Igbo groups. Aft the city fell, Okonkw

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Perspective

he Journey So Far! By RICHARD OKORO EWEKA

ge, ga ty” ust in gu jor en ary he on. ion om the was on a med ree ter een he ied nd uad

my ced der nel ed” ed, 20 day had nor us, nd of ast he of wo lly ter wo

was thought to have fled to \o “Igbo people” Ibo areas near \o “Ubiaja” Ubiaja. Brig.Gen. Samuel Osaigbovo Ogbemudia was appointed Military Administrator following the liberation of the state from Biafra secessionist occupation in September 1967. He became the first military governor of the newly created state “Midwest state” on October 26, 1967 to July 1975. The Midwest state was later renamed Bendel state, part of which in turn became Edo state. Samuel Ogbemudia was born on September 17th, 1932 in Benin City now Edo State. He dedicated himself to reconstruction after the war. He laid the master plan for the development of the state. He contributed immensely in the areas of sport, urban development, education, public transportation, housing and commerce. His administration saw the state in the part of development. Despite the allegation of corruption level against him and other eleven Military Governors by Murtala M o h a m m e d administration which he was later acquitted, his mark remains indelible in the history of the state. The renaming of the State

Prof Ambrose Alli

in 1976 was a reflection of its pre-independence colonial political arrangement of Benin and Delta provinces. Born on September 25th 1939 at Agenebode in Etsako West Local Government of Edo state, Col. George Agbazika Innih who later became a Major General took over from Ogbemudia and served as the Military Governor of Midwest state on August 2nd 1975 and in 1976. The state was renamed Bendel State and he became the Military Governor of the new Bendel State, a position he occupied for eight months till march 1976. Immediately he was appointed Military Governor of the state he swoops in to action to build on the legacies of the previous administration and expose any shoddy deal engaged on. He immediately set up two committees, one of which was to ascertain the fiscal position of the government, while the other was to inspect and report on all projects undertaken by government. The action led to a lot of revelation which prompted the Innih led administration to dissolve and re-organized others. The administration also set up the Odje commission to probe the composition, structure,

functions and operations of 74 statutory corporations, boards and government-owned or sponsored companies. As a result of these steps, some permanent Secretaries and other serving officers were retired from the service. It was a government that instinct fear into the work force in the state parading itself as a no nonsense administration. Commodore Husaini Abdullahi who was born on March 3 rd 1939 in Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa state took charge of the affairs of the state from March 1976 to July 1978 during the Military regime of General Olusegun Obasanjo. Abdullahi who was promoted until he got to the rank of ViceAdmiral before retirement from the force served the nation at various capacities before bringing his wealth of experience to bear in governing the state. For the next one year and two months Brigadier Gen. Abubakar Waziri took charge of the affairs of the state. He served as the Military Administrator of Bendel state from July 24th 1978 to September 30, 1979. The agile and intelligent Military office acted in dual capacity as a Military Administrator as well as

Jeremiah Useni

Brigade Commander, 4 Mechanized Brigade, Nigeria Army Benin City. His performance in this dual capacity saw him promoted to the rank of Major General before his retirement from the service. Waziri as an Administrator was no nonsense man that believes in service and he contributed in no little way to the development of the state. General Olusegun Obasanjo led the Military to a peaceful transition from a Military to a Civilian government in 1979. An election was conducted and Alhaji Shehu Shagari assume the leadership position of Nigeria and all Military Administrators were all send back to the barrack and focus on their primary responsibility of protecting our territory. The change in the leadership of the nation also saw a change in the leadership of Bendel state. Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) produced the executive governor of Bendel state in a well contested election which saw the first Prof. ever in the history of Nigeria becoming the governor of Bendel state. Prof. Ambrose Folorusho Alli born in Idoami in Ondo state became the civilian governor of Bendel state

from October 1979 to September 1983. He was the first executive governor of Bendel state

John Oyegun

John Yeri

Tunde Ogbeha

John Inienger

under the political party platform of UPN. He was not a push over in terms of leading Bendel towards development. His

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Viewpoint

Boosting Agriculture In Edo State IN every society, the agricultural sector, takes a prominent position in the scheme of things. From providing food for the teeming populace to creating employment for a vast majority of people, agriculture has played and is still playing critical roles to the sustenance of economic and social growth in any society. Since the creation of Edo State by the then regime of General Ibrahim Babangida out of the former Bendel State in August 27, 1991 and with an estimate 3, 218,332 people, agriculture has been a major source of sustainance. In Edo State, the climate is mixed with wet and dry seasons, thereby making it conducive for agricultural production. Crops produced in the state include cassava, rice, palm products, cocoa, fruits, groundnuts, plantain, pineapple, yam, vegetables, tomatoes, cashew, rubber, among others. According to Edo nation. Net, all the local government in Etsako, Esan and Owan, are centres of rice production while cocoa and rubber are cultivated in all areas of Esan Owan, Orhionmwon, Akoko-Edo, Ovia and Uhunmwode. According to Edo State government website, “with 1.6.m hectares of arable land and a very favourable ecological condition, Edo State is the potential haven or private investors in agribusinesses. The Northern part of Edo State shares the same savannah conditions with Northern Nigeria. The South, Central and part of the North also share the rain forest conditions with the rest of southern Nigeria and the Atlantic Ocean water substantial areas of Edo

State all the year round. A good number of small and big rivers criss-cross Edo State and many of them flow all the year round. The implication of all of the above is that large commercial farms can profitably thrive in Edo State. The state government has said that its vision is to make Edo State the food basket of the nation for enhanced social and economic well-being of its people.” Since it’s creation, governments have made concerted efforts at getting “an enhanced access to agricultural production resources for all in order to achieve food security, reduce poverty and ensure a thriving Agro-business in the state.” As stated by the Ministry of Agriculture, they dialogued with an organization called Transformation Agritech Nigeria Limited (T4M). according to the Ministry, the T4M Intervention is a public private Partnership (PPP) that involves Edo State government and the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) “while T4M is bringing most of the funds, equipment and technical experts, NDD is also putting in some funds and equipment. On the part of state, they provided 10,000 hectares of land where rice

By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

(high bread) with a gestation period of ninety days to be brought in by T4M. the location of the farm is Ekpori to Anegbette in Etsako Central Edo State, covering fourteen communities. No doubt about it, the partnership will bring about a “guaranteed Price

February 25, 2010, with the Vietnamese was a first of its kind in Edo State. When Comrade Adams Oshiomhole came on board after the legal battles, he restated his commitment to the revamping of the agricultural sector when the state signed in Mouc

Hon. Abdul Oroh, Commissioner for Agriculture

regime” making it better to purchase the rice after harvest from the farmers. It will also boost mass employment while the immediate communities would benefit from the corporate social responsibility the investors are mandated to administer. The which was signed on

with the Federal Government to boost cassava production in the state. According to the Mouc, the state is to provide the land for the siting of two large-scale cassava plants capable of producing 1.3 metric tones per day. Speaking on the

occasion, Governor Adams Oshiomhole, not “Government must be prevented from granting waivers. We must begin to ask, who granted food import licenses? The starting point in reformation agenda is to encourage people through agriculture. Edo us ready to provide land free of charge for agricultural investment. During a one-day summit organized by the Edo State government, where stakeholders brainstormed on ways of turning the state into an agro- industrial hub aimed at boosting food production and employment generation. At the seminar, the Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Natural Resources, then Abduk Oroh, “the Edo government had invited experts and other service providers to defect areas to where the farmers are to make necessary improvement. Edo government is putting all machineries to ensure agriculture has come to stay as real business. On his part, Oshiomhole said that “we have opened up a number of rural communities so that our farmers can get their produce to the city centers”. According to the Managing Director, Notore Chemical Industries, Mr. Onojite Okoloko, if the

Nigerian government does not take advantage of the opportunity in Edo state, it will not be so good. “There are six million hectares of arable land, three vegetation belts and 1,500 to 3,000 milimetres of rainfall. Edo Seats on a strategic location of the country where it is a gateway to the East, West and the North. Abundant natural gas for making fertilizers exists here,” he said. Continuing, he said, “There is access to waterways for exportation of finish product. If we can’t create an agricultural hub in Edo State to begin to contribute to feeding the nation and exporting food products then we are actually at the beginning of major catastrophe. As the commissioner for agriculture and natural resources Mr. Abdul Oroh has said, our cardinal objective is to enhance the capacity of our farmers to produce enough food to guarantee food security in the state. We are poised to increase the development of the agricultural value chain, create jobs and increase the state tax”. It is therefore important for all Edolite to key into this vision and make Edo State the agricultural hub of the nation. Long live Edo State, Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Happy celebration, Edo State!

“As the commissioner for agriculture and natural resources Mr. Abdul Oroh has said, our cardinal objective is to enhance the capacity of our farmers to produce enough food to guarantee food security in the state. We are poised to increase the development of the agricultural value chain, create jobs and increase the state tax.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Drumbeats

Ingredient For Living A Successful Life Continued from last week

DAVID Livingstone had no real childhood. He, his parents and four brothers and sisters, lived in a ten-byfourteen -foot one-room apartment in Glasgow tenement. At age ten, he went to work in the cotton mills, twelve-and-a-half hours a day, six days a week. He was determined, however, not to spend his entire life in the mills. At the end of each work day, he attended an evening school sponsored by the mill owners. He studies Latin, botany, theology and math. On his day off, he wandered the country side, collecting rocks and plants for his own science studies. Raised in a religious family, David saw a pamphlet describing the need for a new kind of missionary one trained in medicine he felt called to take on the challenge. By age twenty one, he had been accepted for training by the London missionary society, and he was enrolled at Andersons College in Glasgow. His desire was to be missionary in China, but since China and England were at war when he qualified as a doctor, the society sent him to Africa. There, in 1841, he began his work in what is now Botswana. He wrote; “I hope... to work as long as I live beyond other men’s line of things and plant the seed of the gospel where others have not planted”. He did just that. Livingstone became the first white person to see Lake Ngani and Victoria falls. On his journeys, he confronted rampant slave trading tribes selling captives from other tribes selling captives from other tribes to Arab traders who supplied the slave market owned by the sultan of Zanzibar, Livingstone wrote that “the great disease (of Africa) is broken heartedness”, and he

developed a plan to entice merchants from England to Central Africa with a hope that legitimate trade would chase out slave trade. He drew worldwide attention to his goal by making a transcontinental walk from the Atlantic Ocean to the mouth of the Zambezi River in Mozambique. The rest of his life Livingstone explored Central Africa. In 1871, several years after the western world began to question whether he was still alive, a foreign correspondent for two New York newspapers, Henry Morton Stanley - was sent in search of Livingstone. He found him in Ujiji, a trading centre on the eastern shore of Lake Tanganyika. Stanley and Livingstone spent several months together and Stanley’s resulting articles about the horrors of slave trade were published in the New York Herald; they sparked an uproar that resulted several years later in the sultan of Zanzibar closing his slave market. Although a number of Livingstone’s expeditions were considered failures, he was hailed as a hero for having gone to places no white person had ever been, for surviving decades in the harsh environment of Africa, and for doing more than any sine-person to abolish the African slave trade. He had a worldwide reputation as a geographer, astronomer, ethnologist. anthropologist, chemist and botanist. He was universally accepted as an expert on Centre Africa culture and topography. He was also one of the first missionary in the nineteenth century; their concern that Christianity threatened to destroy their native social customs, especially polygamy”. HORATIO G. SPAFFORD

Horatio Gate Spafford was born in North Troy, New York, U.S.A. on October 20, 1828. After his education in New York, he established a law practice in Chicago in 1856. Within a short time he became very famous for the

the Presbyterian theological seminary in Chicago. He traveled far and wide, visiting England, Scotland and many other countries of the world. By 1870, Spafford had not only established himself as the most popular lawyer in

With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593

times of need to give him some financial assistance, but they all turned their back on him. He therefore became disappointed and decided to move with his family to

David Livingstone

excellent manner in which he handled cases in court. Lind University then appointed him professor of medical laws under him, that department of medical law became the Medical college of Chicago. He was a Presbyterian and a Sunday school teacher in the Presbyterian Church. He was also a director and trustee for

Chicago, but had also become very rich. He had a large estate in Chicago, on the shore of Lake Michigan. Unfortunately a fire disaster occurred in 1971 which almost wiped out the city of Chicago. The great estate of Spafford expected his Christian friend in Chicago, whom he had help in their

“Livingstone became the first white person to see Lake Ngani and Victoria falls. On his journeys, he confronted rampant slave trading tribes selling captives from other tribes to Arab traders who supplied the slave market owned by the sultan of Zanzibar.”

Europe. Due to an unexpected business call, he had to stay behind in Chicago while he sent his wife and four daughters across the sea to Europe on a ship the S.S, villa du havre in November 1873. He promised to join them later On the 22nd of November 1873 the ship conveying his family to Europe was struck by an English ship called the locheran and within thirty minutes their ship sank, Mrs. Safford survived the ship wreck but their four children drowned. On the 1st of December, Mrs. Spafford with the other survivor landed at Cardiff, Wales. She then sent a telegram to her husband with this message

“saved alone” she followed it with a small note about the death of their four daughters. The tragedy of the Spafford family was compounded further by the loss of their son in 1880. Shortly after receiving the news of the death of his four daughter. Horatio Spafford left by ship to join his wife in Europe. On his way, he got to the spot on the high seas where his four daughters had died. He then started meditating about their death. It was while doing so that the words of this hymn came to him that despite all that he had lost in the Chicago fire disaster and at the spot where he stood, Christ being with him, could still say. “It is well with my soul”. This hymn and its refrain of triumph believed by some scholar to have been written by Horatio Spafford in commemoration of the death of his children has become favourite worldwide. As one cannot but discern the great grief of the writer especially in the second line which say “when sorrow like sea billows roll”. The Spaffords returned to Chicago after the death of their daughters. However, due to the unsympathetic attitude of their Christian friend in Chicago during the periods of their bereavement, they later decided to leave Chicago and settle in the Holy land. In 1881, they arrived in Jerusalem, with a group of friend with common interests and there established an American Colony. Horatio Spafford lived the rest of his life in that colony, in Jerusalem where he died on October 16, 1888”. WHEN PEACE LIKE A RIVER 1. “When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul Refrain:- It is well with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul 2. Though Satan should buffet, The’ trials should come. To be continued

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Perspective

Continued from page 17

performance in office prompted the State University to be named after him. Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma is a testimony and a signature

that the people of the state appreciated his many contributions to ensure the state is in the fore front of development and human capacity development. The second coming of

Mohammed Abdul-Salam Onuka

Bassey Asuquo

Baba Iyam

... The Journey So Far! Samuel Ogbemudia was short but it’s on record that he is the only man alive that have ruled the state as a Military and a civilian governor. This was made possible based on his performance as a Military governor in the state. During his brief return as governor under the brief rule of civilian government, Ogbemudia was elected governor of Bendel state in October 1983 under the platform of National Party of Nigeria (NPN), replacing Abrose Alli of the UPN. Samuel Ogbemudia under National Party of Nigeria (NPN) became the second civilian governor of the state. However, his second coming lasted for just three months and could not contribute meaningfully as desired to the development of the state. He lost his position December as governor that year when Muhammadu Buhari led a coup on December 31 st 1983 to unseat Alhaji Shehu Shagari. The administration of Alhaji Shehu Shagari was toppled and the Military left the barrack and abandon their primary responsibility “territorial defense” to rule the nation once more. The coming on board of a new leadership in the country saw Brigadier Jeremiah Timbut Usani a native of Langtang in Pleatue State Northern Nigeria become the governor of Bendel state. Born on Febuary 16th 1943, Brig. Usani served as Military Governor of Bendel state from January 1984 to August 27th 1985. The leadership of the state changes yet again as a result of change in the leadership of the country through a palace coup led by Gen. Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida. Gen IBB as he is fondly called took over power and became the Head of state

and commander in chief of the Arm forces of Nigeria. The changes also brought new Military Administrators on board. Col. John Mark Inienger was appointed the Military Gorvernor of Bendel state. Born on April 16th, 1945 in Mbaduku, Vandeikya Local Government Area of Benue state Northern Nigeria, he served as a Military Governor of Bendel State from September 1985 to July 1988. A Kogi state born Col took over the affairs of the state on July 1988. Col. Jonathan Tunde Ogbeha who latter rose to the rank of a general before his retirement served as the Military Governor of the state from July 1988 till August 1990. This Lokoja born indigene (born 1945) under Babangida’s administration piloted the affairs of the state for two years where he tries to consolidate on the achievement of other Military Governors that came before him. This intelligent Military Officer work for the nation in various capacity before assuming the responsibility of sailing the Ship of the state to economic, social, education and human development destination. He had just two years to contribute his quota before vacating the seat for another Col. Col. John Ewerekumoh Yeri took over the leadership of the state and was saddled with the responsibility of guarding the state to it greatest height at least surpassing the records of development already created in the state. Yeri served as the Military governor of the state from August 1990 to August 1991 and then continued as governor of the new created Edo state (August 27th, 1991) from 1991 to

January 1992. Babangida, namely Edo and Delta the then Military President state. He was the first Continues on page 24 split the state in to two;

Anthony Onyearugbulem

Lucky Igbinedion

Oserheimen Osunbor

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Issues Society

In Memorial

Twenty-Naira Policeman: I hereby mourn the demise of my dearest friend, the ubiquitous Twenty-Naira policeman, who was heartlessly made to kick the bucket by Inspector-General of Police MD Abubakar. Oi! Oi! Oi! This monumental loss is indeed very tragic for me because the TwentyNaira policeman, whilst he lived, happened to be the most dutiful Nigerian worker who was always at his duty post, from KauraNamoda to Agenebode, and from Koton-Karfi to Otanchara-Otanzu! Nobody could have accused the Twenty-Naira policeman of absenteeism all the days of his life! Compared to electricity workers, for instance, the Twenty-Naira policeman was always there. He was never found wanting in his job of collecting Twenty Naira at checkpoints! What a price to pay for dutifulness! Here was one Nigerian worker happy to do his job. Now he’s gone kaput just because MD Abubakar never liked his face, or stomach as the case may be. You see, the Twenty-Naira policeman carried his pregnancy with poetic aplomb such that, I learnt from very good sources, that the gurus of the Guinness Book of World Records were on their way to Nigeria to record for history and posterity that it was only in Nigeria that policemen at checkpoints carried huge pregnancies. Even as I am yet to make the scientific connection between the collection of Twenty Naira notes and the impregnation of the Twenty-Naira

By UZOR M. UZOALU

policeman, it is meet to admit that IGP Abubakar carries no pregnancy of his own and, as one cannot give what one does not have, there’s no escaping the fact that Abubakar was jealous of his pregnant subordinate, the Twenty-Naira policeman. The real McCoy in the matter is that , in very advanced pregnancy the Twenty-Naira policeman could collect Twenty Naira notes from bus drivers and allied conductors with the agility and acrobatics of the likes of the legendary goalkeeper known as Emmanuel Okala! Now I have done the necessary scientific research to come up with the finding that too much accumulation of Twenty Naira notes at checkpoints always led to gargantuan consumption of beer and pepper soup by the police rank-and-file, thus leading to the fat beer belly that became police pregnancy. Who out there doesn’t know that the beer and pepper soup theory was initially proposed by good old Alozie Ogugbuaja in regard to the military brasshats and their many coups? Now that military coups have been overthrown by police pregnancies of the selfsame beer and pepper soup combo, MD Abubakar could not but strike. What a Nigerian transformation! See how things change and remain the same… By ruthlessly dismantling checkpoints, MD Abubakar has succeeded in killing the singular honey-pot

motivation for joining the police force. Just before the coming of Abubakar, one young man attended a police recruitment interview, and even before he could get the result of the interview he had set up a checkpoint at the Akokwa border in Imo State, collecting so much Twenty Naira such that even the

the drop of, you guessed it, Twenty Naira! With the Abubakarinduced annihilation of the Twenty-Naira policeman, Mama Iyabo, the ogogoro seller just by the Ikeja

with their passengers through kick-boxing and kung-fu. And like Muhammadu Buhari’s essential commodities, alias essenco, of those bad military days, the total

Mohammed Abubakar, I.G. of Police

Central Bank noticed a shortage of Twenty Naira notes in its vault! I am yet to clear with CBN Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi whether the activities of this police wannabe led to the introduction of cashless Nigeria! You see, the Twenty-Naira policeman can start up a revolution just at

Country Club in Lagos, can no longer boast of the ready change almost always supplied from police checkpoints. This has led to a very bad chain reaction since bus drivers who got their change from Mama Iyabo have become shortchanged such that they now settle their change matters

“Now I have done the necessary scientific research to come up with the finding that too much accumulation of Twenty Naira notes at checkpoints always led to gargantuan consumption of beer and pepper soup by the police rank-and-file, thus leading to the fat beer belly that became police pregnancy.”

absence of the Twenty-Naira policemen all over Nigeria amounts to discombobulating cataclysm! Ask Hon Patrick Obahiagbon for explanation! The Twenty-Naira policeman knew that his primary duty was the capture of Twenty Naira Notes, and in the discharge of this onerous duty he made sure that “sake of a single twenty naira not to be arrested, let all the kidnappers and armed robbers of Nigeria pass freely through the checkpoints!” Be that as it may, MD Abubakar thinks that because he is the supreme boss of the police he cannot be investigated, without

knowing that as an investigative journalist always armed with Twenty Naira for the settlement of the checkpoint boys, I have put him under investigation from way back. Ever since I met him in the company of my late townsman and brother, Chief Jude Ezechukwu, the proprietor of Jasper United Football Club, with whom he served on the Nigeria Football Association (NFA) board, I knew without any shadow of doubt that MD Abubakar had no liking at all for the Twenty-Naira policeman. My investigation of Abubakar would in due cause reveal that he was once arrested at a Lagos checkpoint for refusing to part with Twenty Naira! Let him deny it, and as my late buddy Fela would say, “I go open book for am!” It happened that as Lagos State Commissioner of Police Abubakar was without his uniform riding in a sparkling Mercedes Benz one bright Sunday afternoon when he was arrested at a checkpoint for refusing to “drop” Twenty Naira. He was taken to the police station and was about to be jammed into the cell when the policeman at the counter looked at the picture on the wall and at the face of the arrested Abubakar and screamed: “Alarm don blow-o! Na Commissioner una arrest-o! I no dey-o!” Of course, Abubakar suddenly turned the table against the arresting Twenty-Naira policeman. See what damage ordinary Twenty Naira has caused, and now IGP Abubakar has done his worst by totally obliterating the Twenty-Naira policeman and his many checkpoints, thus leaving me with the crycry duty of writing this obituary with tears of the crocodile in my eyes! Oi! Oi! Oi!

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Health

Addressing Sickle Disorder IN the time of our forefathers anything that was not understood was served as a God. Little wonder, the names of so many gods in the traditional African society, is attached to so many strange phenomena’s that the people did not understand. “Abiku”, “Ogbanje” etc, were part of the names called those children that sometimes died out of sickle cell Anaemia, but with contemporary development, one would expect every Nigerian to be aware of this disorder, hence the importance of this exploratory piece. The head of the Sickle cell Unit of the Jos University Teaching Hospital, JUTH, Dr. Silvanus Okpe , yesterday, said about 3.4 million Nigerians are currently suffering from sickle cell Anaemia, while about 40 million Nigerians carry the gene of reproducing sickle cell patients( Vanguard Newspaper, June,2013). Sickle cell disease affects the red blood cells, which carry oxygen around the body. Healthy red blood cells are around and flexible, and move about freely in the blood stream. But with sickle cell disease they can become stiff and pointed when they don’t contain oxygen. They can get stuck in narrow blood vessels and they do not last as long as normal red blood cells. These complications can cause a lot of problem and be very painful (NHS sickle Cell& Thalessaemia Screening Programme). Sickle cell disease (SCD) is a collection of inherited blood disorders that affect a substantial number of people. It is a global health problem with psychological implications. Sickle cell disease is a molecular disease of Haemoglobin. The disorders of Haemoglobin, haemoglobinopathies, can be divided into two main groups: the structural variants - HBs ,HBC and HBE and the disorder of synthesis due to a structural variant and the manifestations can be traced back to the action of the mutant gene ( Lehman and Hauntsman, 1974). According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), sickle cell anaemia (also known as sickle cell disorder or sickle cell disorder) is a common genetic condition due to a haemoglobin disorder – inheritance of mutant haemoglobin genes from both parents. Such haemoglobinopathies, mainly thalessaemia and sickle cell anaemia, are globally widespread. About 5% of the world’s population carries gene responsible for haemoglobinopathies. Each year about 300,000 infants are born with major haemoglobin disorders – including more than 200,000 cases of sickle cell anaemia in Africa. Globally, there are more carriers( i.e. healthy people who have inherited only one mutant gene from one parent) of thalassaemia than of sickle cell anaemia, but the high frequency of the sickle cell gene in certain areas lead to a high rate of affected newborns. Sadly, 24 % of the population are carriers of the mutant gene and the prevalence of the sickle cell anaemia is about

By OLUGBEMIRO O. MICHAEL

20 per 1000 births. This means that in Nigeria alone, about 150,000 children are born annually with sickle cell anaemia (WHO). Sufferers have no visible symptoms, but periodically experience severe pain and are also highly prone to anaemia because the blood cells break down after only 10- 20 days , rather than the usual four months. As at 2008, the president of the Nigeria Sickle cell Foundation, Sadiq Wali said that the genetic disorder alone accounted for 8 percent of infant mortality in Nigeria which calls for

urgent attetntion. The figures above should call for concern, because the consequences of these figures cannot be overemphasised, as it cuts the borders of the financial, emotional, physiological, social and even religious well being of those involved. Hence the need for the society to be properly aware of the situation, in other to avoid it and for those that are already carriers to understand that there are proper ways of managing the disorder or situation. Although, one of the major medical explanations for the prevalence in Nigeria is the fact that the mutant gene (carriers) confers a survival advantage against malaria,

“Parents are advised to get their children aware of their genotype from birth, as they learn their names; so that we do not begin to hear stories that touch when emotions come into play. As Early knowledge of their genotype and orientation of the consequences of the marriage between two carriers will help in reducing the number of sufferers.”

which explains the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria where malaria is endemic, explained Ibrahim Musa, a medical expert in Kano. Carriers (AS, AC) of the sickle cell are less prone to being infected by Malaria which attacks red blood cells. However, those with sickle- cell disease are more vulnerable to malaria because of their weakened health, experts say. Parents are advised to get their children aware of their genotype from birth, as they learn their names; so that we do not begin to hear stories that touch when emotions come into play. As Early knowledge of their genotype and orientation of the consequences of the marriage between two carriers will help in reducing the number of sufferers. It is encouraging that at the back of current affair books you see things like “AS +AS = CANNOT MARRY”, but more information on why they shouldn’t be provided at such platforms. Just as people got to know their HIV status, people who are not aware of their genotype, should make it to the nearest qualified blood

test centre and get themselves checked. The government and relevant authorities should make sure only qualified test centres are in business, as the wrong Job can cause severe consequences. When the results gotten from unqualified lab scientists is hinged on, and the result is a sufferer, we most times cannot blame the parents, but they still have to suffer the consequences. Hence only qualified scientists should be allowed to be in business, and even the qualified ones should be extra careful, because their mistakes could spell colossal damages. That is why you hear two parents who think they are AA, give birth to an AS or SS and, they begin to wonder how come? There are sickle cell centres in the several geopolitical zones, and these centres provide you with test facilities. Churches should also do a good job of making sure couples go for genotype test during counselling. We do not underestimate the power of faith but sometimes wisdom is profitable to direct. Scripture says that faith cometh by hearing, and hearing the word of God, and hence if you are not sure of what you heard, please do not Continues on page 23

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Health Continued from page 22

walk the road of self on the excuse of God. Hence, proper orientation should be given during counselling sessions of the consequences of the marriage of two carriers, so as not to bring a child just to suffer based on our own mistakes. There was a time, religion gave excuses for the lapses as regards sickle cell ( abiku and the rest), but now religion has freed itself of such excuses, but these does not totally negate the fact that miracle happens, but do you believe for you i.e. yourself? Some people have believed and did not like the end result. I purposely decided to outline what you have to do above, so that the following paragraphs of this article do not become something you have to experience. “The public health implications of the sickle cell anaemia are significant. Its impact on human health may be assesses against the yardsticks of infant and under five mortality. As not all deaths occur in the first year of life, the most valid measure is under- five deaths. An increasing proportion of affected children now survive past five years of age but remain at risk of premature death”(from the website of Sickle cell Aid Foundation, SCAF). The bottom line is that, one of the grave consequences of sickle cell is death, and I do not think, any African parent will like to be the one to bury his/her child, irrespective of how young or old. Hence to prevent the trauma of child loss, all hands should be on deck to help in solving this matter. Symptoms of the sickle cell disease come and go. Usually there are episodes of symptoms but, in between episodes, you feel well. The reason while symptoms come and go is that the red blood cells can behave normally for much of the time- but if something makes too many of them sickle, the sickle cells cause symptoms. If there are severe and sudden symptoms due to sickling, this is called sickle cell crisis. It is important to point out that symptoms can vary with persons, while some have very few, others might experience the opposite. The symptoms usually begin after 3- 6 months of age (before that age, the baby has a different haemoglobin called fetal haemoglobin which is not affected by the sickle cell gene). They include: -EPISODES OF PAIN: these are called a pain crisis. They occur when the sickle cells block small blood vessels in the bones, which causes pain. The pain usually occurs in the joints and bones. The pains range from mild to severe and can come on suddenly. A common symptom in babies and young children is when small bones in the fingers and toes become swollen and painful- dactylitis. ACUTE CHEST SYNDROME: This occurs when there are blocked blood vessels in the lungs and can sometimes occur with lung infection.You could also have chest pains, fever and shortness of breath. In babies and young children, the symptoms are vaguer and they look generally unwell, they may be lethargic and have fast breathing. Acute Chest syndrome is very serious and if it is suspected, the person should be treated urgently in the hospital

... Sickle Cell Disorder

People with SCD have high risk of getting severe or life threatening infections, and hence it is important to see a doctor if you suspect any ANAEMIA EPISODES: Feeling tired, short of breathe, dizziness, nausea (feeling sick) or having physical activity. Pale skin (easiest to see in the lips, tongue, fingernails and eyelids). (www. Patient.co.uk/health/ sickle –cell-Anaemia). However, it is important to point out that, it is not the end of the world for patients of SCD, as it is possible to live healthy life, if some precautions are followed. Tips for staying healthy include: Ø A daily antibiotic is usually recommended

Ø If you are to go to a place where malaria is prevalent, then be extra careful to take malaria prevention medication and to prevent mosquito bites as people with SCD can get very ill from malaria). Ø Avoid smoking( which is bad for blood vessels) and alcohol Ø Drink plenty of water and avoid getting cold Ø Take regular exercises but avoid over exertion People with sickle cell diseases should try to avoid any potential trigger for a sickle cell crisis as much as possible. For example, they should try to keep warm in cold

Prof Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health

(Penicillin, or erythromycin if you are allergic to penicillin). This is particularly important to protect against serious infections in children under five years Ø Immunisations: all the usual child hood vaccinations are advised, plus you should have vaccinations against meningitis hepatitis B, plus a flu (Influenza) vaccination once a year. These vaccinations are recommended for both adult and children with SCD. Ø Vitamin supplements: extra folic acid is usually recommended as it helps the body is red blood cells production

“Although, prevention continually remains to be better than cure, we should not neglect those that are suffering it already. Let us support all those genuine NGOs (Non Governmental Organisations) that have taken it upon themselves to make sure, these ones have a wonderful life.”

weather, avoid dehydration at all cost and be extremely careful in exercise choice. And regular checkups are advice to get the latest in health services. Although, prevention continually remains to be better than cure, we should not neglect those that are suffering it already. Let us support all those genuine NGOs( Non Governmental Organisations) that have taken it upon themselves to make sure, these ones have a wonderful life. However, recent technology development is bringing an option for cure; it is still not affordable for all i.e. the bone marrow transplant. The first of such transplant was done in the University of Benin, Teaching Hospital (UBTH), by a team of doctors led by Dr. Nosakhare Bazuaye in collaboration with the University of Basel, Switzerland. A 7 year old, sickle anaemia patient who had suffered stroke, was the beneficiary of the transplant after he got a match form his 14 year old brother. According to the Chief Medical Director of (UBTH), professor Michael Ibadin, the treatment will cost about N2.5 million and N5 million for a patient, but that the hospital would have to be very selective in its choice of patients to reduce expected pressure and work towards acquiring equipment for the transplant. As we continue to expect other scientific breakthrough, let us do our best to avoid the occurrences of SCD.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Perspective

Continued from page 20

Military Governor of the state and assisted in the transition from Military administration to civilian government. The move was truncated by the annulment of June 12, 1993 presidential election which was adjudged the best ever in the history of our electoral process. John Odigie Oyegun born on 12th August 1939 in Warri, Delta state became the first Executive Governor of Edo state. He was elected under the platform of Social Democratic Party (SDP) during the transition to democracy launched by General Ibrahim Babangida. Before venturing into politics he served the state and country in various capacities contributing immensely to the development of the nation as a top Federal Civil Servant. He served the people of the Edo state as the governor from January 1992 to November 1993. He was removed from office after General Sani Abacha led yet another coup to unseat Chief Shonekon after IBB stepped aside, with a promise to come back to lime light and make himself relevant. Col. Mohammed AbdulSalam Onuka took over from the Civilian Governor of the state at the start of the Military Administration of Sani Abacha. He served as Military Administrator of the state from December 9th 1993 to September 14th 1994. Col. Onuka took interest in the Tourism sector of the state

recognizing that the state have tourist attraction site that will yield revenue for the young Edo state if properly tapped. He made attempt to develop the tourism potential of the scenic area of Ososo but could not fulfill the dream of making Ososo tourist heaven before another colleague in uniform took over the leadership of the state. On September 14, 1994 Col. Bassey Asuquo assumed the leadership of Edo state as the Military Governor. He took over from Col. Onuka and served as Governor of the state from 1994 till August 22 1996. He retires as a Brigadier General in the Nigerian Army. This role created other opportunities for him in life. Group Captain. Baba Adamu Iyam became the Military Governor on August 22 1996, a position he occupy till August 7, 1998. Coming into leadership in a Commando like format showing the caliber of leaders the Military has produced. He sacked 8,000 Edo state workers from service. He did not only stop there, in February 1997, he halted all grants to the Edo State University Ekpoma. This he did because he felt the government ought not to fund Universities. After halting the fund, he appointed a sole administrator for the University who will report to him directly. The academia in the state as well as workers will not forget in a hurry what befell them during the

... The Journey So Far!

reign of Adamu Iyam. Navy Captain Anthony Ibe Onyearugbulem took over the affairs of the state from August 7 1998 till May 29 1999 when the country once again returned to democracy. Born on July 9 1955 in Owalla Avuvu in Ikeduru in Imo state, Onyearugbulem tried to make chairmanship of the council of Obas in Edo

their children to be admitted to state school. Lucky Nosakhare Igbinedion became the governor of Edo state under the platform of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) on May 29th 1999 after the return of democracy. Born on May 13 th 1957, he ruled the state from 1999 to May 29, 2007. During his reign, he was known as the action

service in the state. His administration will also be remembered for the fight against trafficking in human and prostitution, the fight was led by his wife Eki Igbinedion. After he left office, he was declared wanted in January 2008 by Economic and Financial Crimes Commission on 142 counts of financial fraud. The allegations are

governor for he cleared the bulk of salaries owed Edo state workers especially Observer staff for 19 months. His administration is certainly remembered for human capacity development with the absorption of all casual workers into the main stream of the Civil

that he embezzled 24 million dollars i.e 12 million pound using fake companies. On May 29, 2007, PDP produced Prof. Oserheimen Osunbor as the governor of Edo state. He served as the Civilian Governor of the state from May 29, 2007 to November 11, 2008 after the court nullified his election. He was elected as governor on April on the PDP platform. On March 2008, the Edo State Governorship Election Tribunal declared that Osubor’s election was invalid, and asked the Independent National Electoral Commission

Comrade Adams Oshiomhole

state a rotational position, an affront to the king of the ancient Benin Kingdom. In an attempt to increase voters’ registration before the schedule transition to d e m o c r a c y , Onyearugbulem warned that parents and guardians would have to produce their registration cards for

“Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) became the governor of the state after the court ruling that decleared him the winner of the April 2007 governorship election in the state. He assumes office on November 12, 2008 after the court declaration. Born on April 4, 1952 at Iyanmoh, near Auchi in Edo state, he won a second term as governor based on his developmental prowess in the area of infrastructural development in the state.”

(INEC) to withdraw his certificate and decleared Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole of the Action Congress (AC) Party the winner. On November 11, 2008, a Federal Appeal Court sitting in Benin City upheld the ruling of the state’s election petitions tribunal, declaring Oshiomhole to be the governor of Edo state. The decision was based on several voting irregularities. He was born on Friday, October 5, 1951 in Iruekpen in the present day Esan West Local Government Area of Edo state. Adams Aliu Oshiomhole, former President of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) became the governor of the state after the court ruling that decleared him the winner of the April 2007 governorship election in the state. He assumes office on November 12, 2008 after the court declaration. Born on April 4, 1952 at Iyanmoh, near Auchi in Edo state, he won a second term as governor based on his developmental prowess in the area of infrastructural development in the state. He is presently the incumbent governor of the state serving his second term in office. This is the journey of our dear beloved state so far, we have gradually moved from one stage to the other in the history of our development. Our story may not be the best as at today but very preferable comparing her progress with other states across the country. We are marching forward as a state and we believe that the future of our dear state is bright and there is hope around the atmosphere of the state and sure in no distant time we shall reach the promise land. Happy 22 anniversary Edo state, the HEART BEAT of the Nation.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

International Assad’s Forces Push Back Rebels In DAMASCUS - Syrian army Syria’s Alawite Mountain and militia troops loyal to

DISCLAIMER

President Bashar al-Assad have pushed back a rebel offensive in the mountain heartlands of his Alawite sect, officials and activists said on Monday, after days of heavy fighting and aerial bombardment. The assault by Islamist rebels

CHANGE OF NAME OAMEN – I formerly known as Miss Oamen Osebhajimede Diana now wish to be known as Mrs. David Osebhajimede Divine. Former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, concerned authorities and general public please take note.

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RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Emmanuel Athanase Alban wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Emmanuel Athanase, it should be known therefore that I am properly known and addressed as Emmanuel Athanase Alban. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, NIFOR and UBA should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

Pastor Amos Osakpamwan

This is to notify the general public, especially all members of Christ’s Chosen Church of God International, that Pastor Amos Osakpamwan whose photograph appears above is no longer in the employment and service of the Church. The said Pastor Amos Osakpamwan who has been parading himself around the Church and Minister’s fold had been dismissed by the authority of the church since 21st of January, 2013. Anyone who transacts any form of business with him on behalf of the Church does so at his or her own risk.

DIRISU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Dirisu Fatima and Miss Didrisu Fatima, that my surname ‘Dirisu’ was spelt in error as ‘Didrisu’ in my primary school certificate. I now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Adegbite Faith. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Edo State and the general public should please take note.

on the northern edges of the Alawite mountains overlooking the Mediterranean drove hundreds of Alawite villagers out to the coast and marked a major challenge to Assad’s reassertion of power over central Syria. But the Syrian president, battling a two-year uprising which has descended into a devastating civil war, sent reinforcements to the rugged area of northern Latakia to repel the attack. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said Assad’s forces have retaken all the military observation posts which rebels had seized when they launched their offensive two weeks ago, and regained control of nine Alawite villages. The army was still trying to recapture two villages, the observatory’s head Rami Abdelrahman said, adding that heavy fighting continued on

CHANGE OF NAME ATANEGBE – I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Bridget Atanegbe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Bridget Zainab Aliu. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB), Edo State and the general public should please take note.

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Monday. State news agency SANA said the army had “dealt with the last terrorist groups” in the area and seized their weapons. Rebels killed 200 people, mostly civilians, and drove hundreds from their villages in the first three days of the assault, activists said. They also shot down a military jet, according to amateur video footage released on Sunday. At one stage a rebel commander said the rebels had reached within 20 km (12 miles) of Qardaha - Assad’s hometown and the burial place of his father Hafez al-Assad, who ruled Syria with an iron fist for three decades. In a gesture of support for the rebel fighters, and a sign of the symbolic significance of their advances, the head of the Free Syrian Army was filmed visiting Latakia province last week. But the army and pro-Assad National Defence Force militia fighters pushed the rebels back, killing many fighters including foreign Arab jihadists who formed part of the al Qaedalinked brigades on the rebel front line. Jets have also bombed the Sunni Muslim town of Salma which was the launchpad for the rebel attack against the Alawite villagers, a minority sect that is an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam. Syria’s conflict, which has killed more than 100,000 people, began as peaceful protests demanding Assad’s ouster but is now marred by rising sectarian bloodshed between Sunnis and Alawites. A team of United Nations chemical weapons experts arrived in Damascus on Sunday after months of delay and were due to start investigating reports dating back to last December about the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria’s civil war. The government and rebels accuse each other of using chemical weapons, a step which the United States has said would cross a “red line” in the conflict. Like the broader Syrian war, the issue of chemical weapons has divided world powers. The United States said in June it believed Assad’s forces have used them on a small scale, while in July Russia said rebels fired sarin gas near Aleppo in March. The U.N. team, including weapons experts from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, will try to establish only whether chemical weapons including sarin and other toxic nerve agents were used, not who used them.

Train Kill 35 Pilgrims PATNA, India — A train ran over a group of Hindu pilgrims crossing railroad tracks in eastern India early Monday, killing at least 35 people. An angry mob beat the driver severely and set fire to coaches in retaliation, officials said. The pilgrims were crossing the tracks at the station in Dhamara Ghat, a small town in Bihar state, when they were struck by the Rajya Rani Express train, said Dinesh Chandra Yadav, a local member of parliament. Several other people were injured.

P.N. Rai, a railway official in Bihar, said 35 people had died when the train, running at a high speed, hit people on the track. Railway official Arunendra Kumar said the train was not supposed to halt at Dhamara Ghat and had been given clearance to pass through the station. However, some pilgrims waited on the tracks thinking they could stop the train, he said. The train stopped a few hundred meters (yards) beyond the spot where it hit the pilgrims. Angry mobs then pulled out the

train driver and beat him. Yadav said the driver died, but Kumar said the driver was in hospital in critical condition. The mob then got all the passengers out of the train and set some coaches on fire. Groups of young men also smashed the window panes of two other trains that were in the station. Kumar Ashutosh, a passenger on the train, said that within a few seconds of hitting people on the track, the driver slammed the emergency brakes and the train ground to a halt.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013 Compiled by

International

OKHUELEIGBE FAITH

Muslim Brotherhood Leader, Mubarak Face Trial In Egypt CAIRO - Three leaders of Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood and the movement’s former arch-foe Hosni Mubarak faced separate trials on similar charges of involvement in the killing of protesters. With Egypt now under an army-installed government after last month’s overthrow of Islamist President Mohamed Mursi, local media seized on the symbolism of scheduling both sessions on the same day. “Trial of two regimes,” headlined alShorouk daily. In the end, Mohamed Badie, the Brotherhood’s “General Guide”, and his deputies did not appear at the opening of their trial for security reasons, a judicial source said. Citing their absence, the judge adjourned the trial until October 29. The case against Badie, Khairat al-Shater and Rashad Bayoumy relates to unrest before the army removed Mursi on July 3. Mursi has been detained in an undisclosed location since then. Mubarak, who left prison on Thursday after judges ordered his release, appeared in a courtroom cage in a wheelchair, wearing sunglasses and dressed in white, along with his jailed sons Gamal and Alaa and former Interior Minister Habib al-Adly. The former president was sentenced to life in prison last year for complicity in the killing of protesters during the revolt against him, but an appeals court ordered a retrial. The state news agency

MENA said a helicopter had flown Mubarak to the court hearing in the Police Academy on the eastern outskirts of Cairo from a military hospital where he was placed under house arrest after his release from jail. The government used a state of emergency it declared earlier this month to place Mubarak under house arrest, apparently to forestall any popular anger if he had simply walked free. The trial of the Brotherhood’s leaders signals that Egypt’s new army-backed rulers intend to crush what they have portrayed as a violent, terrorist group bent on subverting the state. The Brotherhood, which won five successive postMubarak votes, says it is a peaceful movement unjustly targeted by the generals who ousted Mursi, Egypt’s first freely elected leader. The military contends it was responding to the people’s will, citing vast demonstrations at the time against the rule of a man criticized for accumulating excessive power, pushing a partisan Islamist agenda and mismanaging the economy. BROTHERHOOD IN DISARRAY Charges against Badie and his aides include incitement to violence and relate to an antiBrotherhood protest outside the group’s Cairo headquarters on July 30 in which nine people were killed and 91 wounded. The 70year-old Brotherhood leader was detained last week. Shater and

Bayoumy were picked up earlier. More than 1,000 people, including about 100 soldiers and police, have died in violence across Egypt since Mursi’s fall, making it the bloodiest civil unrest in the republic’s 60-year history. Brotherhood supporters say the toll is much higher. Pro-Mursi crowds staged scattered marches on what they had billed as a “Friday of Martyrs”, but the Brotherhood’s ability to mobilize huge crowds appears to have been enfeebled by the round-up of its leaders and the bloody dispersal of protest camps set up in Cairo to demand the president’s reinstatement. In a sign of confidence, the government on Saturday relaxed a night-time curfew it had imposed on August 14 when the protest camps were stormed. The curfew now starts at 9 p.m. (1900 GMT) instead of 7 p.m., except on Fridays, when protests are common. Mursi’s return is not on the cards for now. The army has announced a roadmap for a return to democracy that involves overhauling the constitution adopted under Mursi last year, with parliamentary and presidential elections to follow. Changes proposed by a government-appointed legal panel would scrap last year’s Islamic additions to the

constitution and revive a Mubarak-era voting system. Islamists and liberals have expressed alarm about the suggestions. Khaled Dawoud, a member of the liberal Dostour party, said he was worried about plans to retain articles under which journalists risk jail for “insulting the president” and newspapers

can be closed for violating media laws - penalties enforced under Mursi, as well as during Mubarak’s 30-year rule. “I want new freedoms, more freedoms and not to end up with something similar to the 1971 constitution or one worse than Mursi’s 2012 constitution,” he said. Islamists are also up in

Brotherhood supporters protesting against the removal of President Mohammed Morsi. Recently, Egyptian authorities ordered the arrest of top Brotherhood officials.

Last Of 5 Suspects In Mumbai Gang Rape Arrested

NEW DELHI - Police arrested the last of five men wanted in the gang rape of a photojournalist in Mumbai, and said charges would be filed soon

Mammar ha Singh, Indian Prime Minister. India is facing a wave of gang rape.

in a case that has incensed the public and fueled debate over whether women can be safe in India. The victim, a 22-year-old Indian woman, said she was anxious to return to work after Thursday night’s assault, in which five men repeatedly raped her while her male colleague was beaten and tied up in an abandoned textile mill in the country’s financial capital. “Rape is not the end of life,” the woman told the Times of India. A statement from Jaslok Hospital, where she has been since the attack, said her condition was being monitored but that she was “much better” and was being visited by family. Indian law forbids identifying rape victims by name. Police arrested the fifth suspect Sunday in New Delhi, the capital, after rounding up the other four in Mumbai. “We will file a comprehensive charge sheet soon,” said Mumbai’s police

commissioner, Satyapal Singh, assuring that police had the evidence to prosecute the suspects, including the victim’s testimony and medical samples taken at the hospital after the assault. It is rare for rape victims to visit police or a hospital immediately after an attack in India, where an entrenched culture of tolerance for sexual violence has led to many cases going unreported. Women are often pressed by social pressure or police to stay quiet about sexual assault, experts say, and those who do report cases are often subjected to public ridicule or social stigma. People across India were shocked and shamed in December, however, by the brutal gang rape in New Delhi of a 23year-old student who died two weeks later from her injuries. Pledging to crack down, the federal government created fasttrack courts for rape cases, doubled prison terms for rape,

Yemen has been gripped by turmoil since pro-democracy protests against former President Ali Abdullah Saleh broke out in early 2011. Suspected al Qaeda militants killed four Yemeni soldiers during an attack on forces guarding the country’s only liquefied natural gas (LNG) export terminal in the southern Shabwa province on August 11. A suicide bomber in an army uniform killed more than 90 soldiers rehearsing for a parade in the heart of Sanaa in May last

year.

Bomb Rips Through Yemen Air Force Bus, Kills One SANAA - A bomb ripped through the side of a bus carrying Yemeni air force personnel to their base in the capital Sanaa, killing at least one officer and wounding several others, state media reported. Witnesses told Reuters as many as six people died when the device, planted on the vehicle, exploded, blowing passengers’ bodies into the street. The impoverished country

next to the world’s top oil exporter Saudi Arabia is battling a number of armed groups, including al Qaeda fighters, who Washington said this month could be planning attacks. Yemen’s security personnel have been targeted by Islamist militants though most of the attacks have taken place in the largely lawless south and east. “This cowardly terrorist act resulted in the martyrdom of one

arms, for different reasons, saying the changes amount to an assault on Egypt’s “Islamic identity”. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry discussed the roadmap and the constitutional process in a call with interim Foreign Minister Nabil Fahmy on Friday, MENA reported.

person and injured a number of others, several of whom are in a serious condition. They have all been transferred to hospital,” the air force’s spokesman told Saba news agency. It named the dead man as Sergeant Mohammed alShaghdari. Air force officer Ameen Saree, who was among the first to reach the scene, earlier said the blast killed at least six people and wounded 26. There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Earlier this month, Yemeni authorities said that had thwarted a plot by al Qaeda to seize two major oil and gas export terminals and a city in the east of the country. The United States and other Western powers shut their diplomatic missions across the Middle East, Africa and Asia after Washington said it had information about unspecified terrorist threats. Many later reopened.

and criminalized voyeurism, stalking, acid attacks and the trafficking of women. Under intense pressure, police have acted quickly to hunt down the five suspects in the Mumbai case. Home Minister R. R. Patil visited investigators at a Mumbai police station Saturday night, and the government has urged the harshest punishment for those found guilty. The five suspects — including two picked up overnight and two arrested earlier — are likely to face prosecution under a strict new law that sets the maximum prison term for rape at 20 years. Police said the suspects targeted the photojournalist as she and the male colleague were taking pictures on a magazine assignment in a Mumbai neighborhood where luxury malls and condominiums stand alongside sprawling slums and abandoned mills. The suspects, first pretending to help get her permission to shoot, tied up the male journalist with belts and dragged the woman to a dense clutch of shrubbery, where they assaulted her while threatening her with a broken beer bottle, police said. Police said one of the two suspects who appeared in court Sunday had confessed to his involvement in the assault. The court ordered the two to be held until Aug. 30, along with two others who appeared in court Saturday. The suspect arrested in New Delhi was being taken to Mumbai for processing. Police say one suspect will undergo medical tests to confirm his age after his family said he was a juvenile of 16. Police maintain he is 19, which makes him eligible for trial as an adult. The eldest of the suspects is 25.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Opinion

Okagbare The Highs And Lows By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

UNEASY as the saying goes, lies the head that wears the crown. According to sports writer, Paul Bassey, “Yes it has become convenient to quickly identify with the exploits of Blessing Okagbare. It has become fashionable to share in the limelight of a young lady who today threads the glory path of the Mary Onyalis before her”. In the freezing weather at Luzniki stadium in far away Moscow, Russia all hopes were on her to end Nigeria’s 14 years wait for a podium finish in what could be described as the athletics “World Cup” As a writer puts it “Blessing Okagbare battled long and hard to put her fatherland on the gold medal honours list, but at the end she had to settle for the silver owing to the unyielding stance of U.S.A’s Britney Reese. Born on September 10, 1988, the Sapeleindigene, Blessing Okagbare, has cut her teeth in the athletics world. With a height of 1.8m (5ft 11 inches), she aught the eye of many sports lovers when she placed established a Nigerian record of 14.13 metres in the triple jump during the All-Africa Games trials in Lagos (May 2007). Blessing was to later win silver in the long jump event at the 2007 All-Africa Games. As a teenager, Okagbare won a bronze medal in the

women’s long jump event at the 2008 summer Olympic in Beijing. Before then, she had won gold at the 2010 African Championship as part of the Nigerian 4x100m women’s relay quarter. With a record run of 43.43secs. The Olympic gold medallist, completed her 2011, season by winning three medals at the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. Starting off the 2012 season, the Delta-born athletics, jumped 6.97m in the long jump during the Nigerian championship in Calabar. That was not all, as she extended her master class performance to he 2012 African Championships in Porto Novo. A gold and silver medal finish in the long jump and 100m respectively, was what she had to show for the event. Later that year, she went to the Olympics in London, seeking to better her bronze medal finish at the previous competition in Beijing, China. Her classic performance at championships preceding the tournament and even some breathtaking outings in the heats, made her a hot favourite for a medal finish. However, that was not the case as her new personal best of 10.92secs in the 100m semi-final. She ran

11.01secs to the take eighth in the final event she could not win a medal. Speaking on the success of Delta State at the 18th.

Immediately she failed, people began to send her uncomplimentary text messages saying that Warri no dey carry last until Okagbare”, Uduaghan said. The governor even

that gave her the needed encouragement to overcome the depression.” Going into the IAAF World Championships in Luzniki Stadium, Moscow, Okagbare was the only beacon of hope for Nigeria to end her 14year medal drought at the mundial. Before going into the competition, she blazed the tracks with a new African record of

Okagbare failed in the 1000m final here and burst into tears, many felt for the Nigerian athlete. Nigeria is here with 20 athletes but only Blessing is a medal potential. She already has one, a long jump silver. But when she dropped to the sixth position she cried all night” Like Zig Ziglar once said” Remember that failure is an event, not a person, Blessing was not

10.97secs in the 100m at the London Anniversary Games. Her “bolting” and lightning speed saw her beat Olympic gold medallist, shelly-ann Fraser-Pryce. When the championship hostilities were set rolling in the position behind USA’s Britney Reese. Then again, she wiped off her disappointing sixth placed finish in the 100m. with a bronze medal podium in the 200m. As Onochie Anibeze said, “When Blessing

weighed down by the IAAF disappointment.. She calls herself blessed saying “Two medals in the World Championships is worth celebrating. I celebrate with thanks to God. Oh God. Oh God, this is great. I feel blessed . But with a medal in the 200m, how can one complain. I just wanted to be on the podium and I got there special thanks to God. It’s really great to win two medals here”.

Blessing Okagbare

National Sports Festival, Delta State governor, Emmanuel Uduagban, regretted the manner Okagbare was treated after the London Olympic games.

revealed that “Blessing almost went into depression, because she was so disappointed and frustrated but I had to call to counsel her. We invited her over to the state and

“Going into the IAAF World Championships in Luzniki Stadium, Moscow, Okagbare was the only beacon of hope for Nigeria to end her 14-year medal drought at the mundial.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Mourinho Revives Rivalry With Pep JOSE Mourinho has resumed his rivalry with Pep Guardiola as his Chelsea side prepare 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

Osaze Good For Swansea Says Laudrup

SWANSEA boss Michael Laudrup has said Osaze Odemwingie would fit the bill as they shop for a striker before the transfer deadline. Laudrup watched his team fire a blank at Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday as Roberto Soldado’s penalty condemned Swansea to their second defeat of the season. According to South Wales Evening Post, Landrup said he believes they will land Osaze, who is a summer transfer target for Swansea City and two other EPL sides, Stoke City and Cardiff City. Swansea manager has hinted that West Brom outcast Odemwingie is a strong option as he bids to add one last player to his new-look squad. “We want to add one more who can give us that in a certain part of the game or in certain games,” Laudrup said. “And he (Odemwingie) is a player with pace who knows the league.” The Danish coach is keen on the 32-year-old Nigeria international, who is surplus to requirements at the Baggies. There are now suggestions that Swansea have tabled an offer of close to £2 million for Odemwingie.

Osaze Odemwingie

incident seeing Mourinho jab the eye of the Catalans’ then assistant 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 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.”

Victor Moses Pay Stalls Liverpool Loan Deal

Victor Moses

Wenger Says Arsenal Fans Have Been ‘Brainwashed’

ARSENE Wenger believes Arsenal fans have been “brainwashed” by the constant negativity surrounding his team. Wenger came under fire from many negative stories about large sections of the Emirates the club. Stadium crowd following “It’s always excessive Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat against reactions,” Wenger said. “We Aston Villa on the opening lost one game since the day of the season. beginning of March. That’s That barrage of abuse why it (the Villa loss) was a followed several incidents of shock. barracking from angry fans “The defeat was a shock, last season as Arsenal’s trophy because it’s the first game of drought stretched to eight the season. years. “We won in the Champions But Gunners boss Wenger, League away at Bayern whose side have calmed the (Munich, in March), we won critics with successive 3-0 at Fenerbahce. victories over Fenerbahce and “It’s just like that at the Fulham since that Villa loss, moment. You (the media) is convinced the occasionally have brainwashed a little bit poisonous atmosphere in the Emirates. north London is due to fans “Maybe rightly so, because letting their emotions get the we haven’t won trophies for better of them after reading so years; everything is always

negative. “We have to live this out and just play football well.” The Frenchman has been in charge at Arsenal since October 1996 and is now the top flight’s longest serving manager following Alex Ferguson’s retirement from Manchester United last season. But Wenger, who has turned down a host of offers to leave Arsenal during his reign, believes society in general, and football in particular, has become more reactionary and less likely to show loyalty during difficult times. “On one side when people are not loyal, people criticise; when they are loyal, they say they are there for too long,” he said. “It’s always an excessive

Giroud Happy To face Competition OLIVIER Giroud would welcome the competition from another striker if Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger recruits a front man before the transfer window closes. Wenger has been seeking to boost his attacking options, though he believes Arsenal’s pursuit of Liverpool’s Luis Suarez is over while Karim Benzema’s agent claims the France international will stay with Real Madrid, “the club of his dreams”. Giroud, who has scored three goals in three games this season, said: “I am in a good run, I feel really confident. “I feel good in the game and I do the job on the pitch. No doubts, no more questions. “If there is a new striker coming, it’s a good thing for the

squad, and I try to give it up for the team, help the team to win. Nothing more.” Arsenal responded from a 3-1 opening day loss to Aston Villa with a 3-0 defeat of Fenerbahce, who they face again on Tuesday night, and a 3-1 win at Fulham. “I did well (at Fulham), like the team,” Giroud added. “I really wanted to help the team to win after the bad result against Aston Villa. “We were really disappointed with that and we wanted to correct it and dictate the game. That’s what we did, like in Fenerbahce, and we are really pleased with that. “We really wanted to show that the squad is together. We want to give an answer together on the pitch, and we did that. We played really well and we scored three

goals, and now we are really confident.” Wenger has no intention of fielding a weakened side against Fenerbahce on Tuesday, despite the north London derby with Tottenham taking place next weekend. The Arsenal boss knows there is too much at stake, with Champions League football crucial to recruiting players, but already is feeling a sense of relief after his position was questioned by supporters in the wake of the Villa loss. “I feel relieved,” Wenger said. “I care about what’s happening at this club and when we had the result last week (against Villa) I was deeply disappointed. “This is not a personal trip. This is about doing things well for the club I love so I am happy we are back on track.”

reaction and that’s why people in charge have to take a (step back), more than ever. “Being responsible in life is to do things you think are right, it’s not to react to what people say. “If you listen always to what people say, you go five minutes one way and 10 minutes later you go the other way. “When you have responsibilities you have just to focus on making the right decisions and if they’re not right, you say ‘sorry, I’m wrong’. When we lose a game, I’m wrong.”

THE £55,000-a-week pay of Chelsea winger Victor Moses is stalling a loan move to Liverpool, according to media reports. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers reportedly wants to offer Chelsea winger Victor Moses first-team football on Merseyside in a season-long loan move. Moses has struggled to make an impression on Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho during the summer, with a whole host of wide midfielders including Andre Schurrle, Kevin de Bruyne and Eden Hazard restricting his chances of earning a starting spot. Everton target Moses loan deal The arrival of Brazilian playmaker Willian at Stamford Bridge has pushed Moses further down the pecking order, with the 22year-old reportedly told he can leave the club on loan before the transfer window closes. Rodgers hopes to take advantage of that unrest to secure the Nigeria international’s services in a loan deal, but his £55,000-aweek wage is currently proving a stumbling block, according to the Daily Mail. His former boss at Wigan Roberto Martinez is also interested in taking Moses to Everton on a season-long loan.

Sergio Aguero Rejected Offers To Stay SERGIO Aguero said he rejected other offers to sign an extended contract at Manchester City this summer. The Argentina international striker was linked with Real Madrid, who were also interested in buying him when he joined City from Atletico Madrid, but insists he is happy to stay at the Etihad Stadium. The 25-year-old, who joined for £38 million in 2011, said he had no hesitation in putting pen to paper on a four-year deal in May. “One or two offers might have been around but I was not interested in them,” Aguero told the Sun on Sunday. “The thing was to stay where I was enjoying my football. I am very happy with Manchester City. I love Manchester. I have signed for another year. I’m happy to be here as I’ve been treated so well.” Aguero scored the goal that won City the Premier League title

in 2012 and has set his sights on securing a quadruple this season. “We want all four [trophies],” he said. “Champions League, Premier League, Capital One Cup, FA Cup. Let’s hope so. “In 2011-12 it was great to win the title in my first year. Last season was not so good. We disappointed. We got to an FA Cup final but that was no use because we could not carry off the trophy.”

Sergio Aguero

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Tata Martino Calms Carlo Ancelotti Row

Benitez ‘Not Surprised’ By Napoli Rout NAPOLI coach Rafa Benitez insists his side’s strong preseason preparation meant the opening day rout of Bologna came as no surprise. A Marek Hamsik brace and Jose Callejon’s strike handed Napoli a 3-0 win to open their Serie A campaign, moving them to the top of the ladder. Benitez’s side looked impressive throughout the match, with their summer recruits appearing to settle in well, but the Spaniard admits he expected the Partenopei to put a number of goals past Bologna. “I’m not surprised at the result today. I saw the team throughout the week and they played very well,” he said. “We don’t think about Juventus at this stage, we only think about ourselves. We changed a few players from last season’s team but they did just fine and now we can look ahead.” Hamsik’ was the top goalscorer of the round and he is confident Napoli’s depth in attack will give their title rivals cause for concern. “Today was a game we wanted to win to start the season on the right foot. We didn’t read anything into it, it means nothing,” he said. “It will be difficult for Gonzalo Higuain to score the same number of goals as Edinson Cavani but we have to help him and try and score 10 goals apiece. “Me, Callejon, (Dries) Mertens, (Goran) Pandev can all score goals. We are more competitive than last season and that is good for Napoli.”

Gerardo Martino

Martino Unimpressed Despite Win

BARCELONA coach Gerardo Martino has conceded his side were far from convincing as they stumbled to a 1-0 victory over Malaga on Sunday, but has suggested Lionel Messi could return from injury in Tuesday’s Super Cup second leg clash against Atletico Madrid. A first-half Adriano goal was enough to maintain Barca’s perfect record in

Buffon Considered Juventus Exit Cup, added. “I thought the time

GIANLUIGI Buffon says a phone call from then new boss Antonio Conte in the summer of 2011 stopped him from leaving Juventus. After a problematic 2010-11 campaign, the goalkeeper was considering bringing his career in Turin to an end. “I was expecting a call from Conte,” the now 35-year-old stated to the Gazzetta dello Sport on Monday. “He told me some beautiful and important things. “In the previous season, which was the first under the Presidency of Andrea Agnelli, I hardly played in the first half of the campaign because of injury and I wasn’t myself in the second. “My head was elsewhere,” the club captain, who needed back surgery after the 2010 World

Buffon

BARCELONA coach, Gerardo Martino has said he is standing by his comments that paying 100 million Euro for Gareth Bale would show a “lack of respect” for society but stressed that he does not want to start a feud with Real Madrid counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti. On Sunday afternoon, Ancelotti hit back by suggesting that, as Martino was new to the European game, he was presumably unaware that his own club had spent plenty of money in the past. Speaking after Barca’s 1-0 win at Malaga on Sunday night, Martino was reported as saying in AS that he was

had come for me to change, to leave Juventus. “However then the new directors and I got to know each other better and their opinion of me changed. To have the maturity to fix relationships after some disagreements bonds you even more. “That telephone call from Conte was important and, from that moment, I was even more of a Juventino than I was before.” The Italian international, presently tied to the outfit until June 2015, was netted by the Old Lady in 2001 from Parma for £33m. Buffon had previously admitted that he would probably have left Juventus in 2006 had they not been demoted to Serie B as part of the Calciopoli probe.

their opening two matches, although Malaga were unlucky not to salvage a point with a late flurry of attacks on the away side’s goal. Martino insists Barca should have put the result beyond doubt given their dominance of possession. “Today Barcelona started well but we were worse as the game went on,” he said. “We lacked some effectiveness and chances for all of the possession we had. Until the 25th minute of the second half, we had complete control - only at the end did we not have the ball and they had two very good chances.” Messi, who suffered an injury during last week’s draw with Atletico, was left out of Martino’s squad for the trip to Malaga, but the 50-year-old admits the forward is recovering well and could feature in the return leg. “Messi worked at the club today. We’ll see how he feels,” Martino added.

“There’s two days remaining before the game, but we are very pleased with his progress.” Martino also fended off concerns over Neymar’s involvement during the early stages of his career, with the Brazil international once again used as a substitute. “There is a difference between Neymar ’s first game and his latest one,” the Barca coach said. “The important thing is that he always brings something when he’s playing.”

KEVIN-PRINCE Boateng has offered Milan a boost towards the new season after he returned to training after recovering from a thigh injury. The Ghanaian midfielder missed the Rossoneri’s season opener on Saturday evening, which ended in a 2-1loss to newly-promoted side Hellas Verona. However, he seems to be

on the verge of making a comeback after reporting for training on Sunday morning as they prepare to face PSV Eindhoven in the second-leg of the UEFA Champions League play-offs. The news means Boateng should be fit to make an appearance against the Dutch outfit at the San Siro on

not looking for a confrontation with Ancelotti, but was standing by his remarks. “I do not want a disagreement with anyone,” Martino said. “I am sticking to what I said. I am not taking it back, but I do not need to continue with this theme, because it has had a beginning and an end.” Blaugrana playmaker Xavi Hernandez supported his coach’s views when speaking to Canal Plus at La Rosaleda after Sunday’s game. “Tata Martino was correct in his comments about Bale, but the market decides the price,” Xavi said. “That is all there is to it.” Meanwhile, reports in both Spain and the UK continued to suggest that, although Madrid and Tottenham were still ironing out the final details of a

deal, the Spanish giants were so confident that they had prepared a stage in the Bernabeu for the presentation of the world’s new most expensive player on Tuesday afternoon. It has been suggested that Bale — who spent the weekend relaxing at his agent’s villa inside a Marbella private resort — could play his first game in a Madrid shirt in Thursday evening’s Trofeo Teresa Herrera at Deportivo la Coruna, before making his official debut against Athletic Bilbao at the Bernabeu next Sunday. However, Sky Sports News reported on Monday morning that no deal was in place and that Bale was returning to the UK.

Lewandowshi Reveals Which Clubs He Turned Down BORUSSIA Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski has revealed he turned down the chance to join Real Madrid, Chelsea and Manchester United in the past year. The Poland striker, who hit four goals against Madrid in the Champions League semifinal first leg last season, has recently conceded that he will

Lewandowshi

Boateng Boost For Milan Wednesday as they look to secure their passage to the Group phases of the competition. It is also a massive boost for his nation, Ghana, as he will be fit to face Zambia in Ghana’s all-important 2014 World Cup qualifier in early September. Boateng made himself available for Ghana last week Thursday after a twoyear self-imposed exile.

remain at Signal Iduna Park until next year when his contract runs out despite longing to join Bayern Munich this summer. But it was after the Champions League semifinal where Madrid president Florentino Perez held discussions with the 24-yearold. “It was in the office near the dressing room at the Bernabeu straight after the match. We spoke to each other briefly and...OK, let’s just say we spoke,” he told The Sun. “I didn’t say ‘no’. I was mostly listening to Mr Perez.” The performance also caught then-Madrid boss Jose Mourinho, who sent a text message asking Lewandowski to join him at his next club, which proved to be Chelsea. “Yes, there was a situation like this with Jose Mourinho but I wouldn’t like to talk about it much,” he added. “It was a private conversation so I don’t want to make big things out of it. I can confirm I spoke to him. “We spoke a few times before. I have his number in my phone. It is a huge compliment for me that a manager with such a big name is texting me this way. “It is always nice to talk to him but it is not the first time I had such a situation.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Legendary Brazil Keeper Gylmar Passes Away Goalkeeper Gylmar, an ever present in the legendary Brazil teams that won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, has died in Sao Paulo, aged 83. The former Santos and going down in history as the man Corinthians keeper suffered a between the sticks when Pele heart attack last weekend and scored his first professional goal. never recovered. He had been in He left Corinthians in 1961 to poor health for several years return home to a team that was following a stroke. emerging as Brazil’s pre-eminent Broadcaster and journalist Juca club side. Alongside Pele and other stars Kfouri called him “simply the such as Coutinho and Pepe, greatest of all time”. “No Brazilian goalkeeper was Gylmar helped guide Santos ever like Gylmar dos Santos through the greatest period in Neves,” Kfouri said. “And none their history. During his seven years in goal ever will be.” Gylmar began his career at at the Vila Belmiro, Santos won Jabaquara, a small club in his the Copa Libetadores twice, the home town of Santos, but he was World Club Championship twice, there for less than a year before and five Paulista state being snapped up by Corinthians. championships. He also played for Brazil on He played for the Sao Paulo side from 1951-61, winning three 104 occasions and was on the Paulista state championships and losing side just 16 times. His son, Marcelo Neves, was having the dubious honour of

Asamoah Gyan Almost Joined Turkish Giants Galatasaray Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan has confirmed almost sealing a return to Europe to join Galatasaray. The Turkish giants made an offer to sign the Black Stars captain from Al Ain this offseason. Galatasaray had promised to pay Gyan a weekly wage of around 150,000 Euros to make him one of the highest earners in the club alongside Didier Drogba. But this is quite far from the amount being given the 27-yearold at his oil-rich UAE club Al Ain. As a result, talks broke down and the prospective deal to have Ghana’s leading striker to return to Europe vanished. The former Sunderland striker has now confirmed holding talks

with the Turkish club after hitting a brace to help Ghana hold Turkey to a 2-2 draw on Wednesday night in Istanbul. “I had the opportunity to come here but it didn’t go through,” Gyan told Metro FM. “As a footballer things happen, if you do well definitely there will be teams attracted to you. “What I have to say is my opportunity coming here didn’t happen and so I had to just continue with my career and I am happy with what I am doing now.” Gyan has enjoyed immense success since joining Al Ain two seasons ago. He has won back-to-back league titles in the UAE while emerging top scorer on two successive occasions.

Zambia Stars Get Prime Time For Ghana

Zambia’s Europe-based regulars enjoyed prime game time ahead of Septembers’ Ghana showdown despite a weekend of mixed fortunes. Chipolopolo face the Black Stars in a must-win 2014 FIFA World Cup Group D qualifier in Kumasi on September 6 that will see the winner advance to the final round play-off qualifying stage. The Black Stars and Zambia are first and second on 12 and 11 points respectively heading into that Group D decider. Russian-based midfielder Chisamba Lungu has now clocked 180 minutes in two games after playing his second successive 90 minutes on Sunday in 13th placed FC Ural’ 3-2 away loss to number nine club Kuban Krasnodar on Sunday. In Romania on Sunday, striker Fwayo Tembo had a dry day but played the full 90 minutes in second positioned Astra

Giurgiu’s 2-1 home loss to third placed Petrolul Ploiesti. And in Holland on the same date, striker Jacob Mulenga too had a 90 minute run-out but no goal in fifth from bottom Utrecht’s 2-0 home win over ninth positioned AZ. However in England, striker Emmanuel Mayuka did not make the team for Southampton’s 1-1 home draw against Sunderland on Saturday. Meanwhile in faraway China, striker James Chamanga also played the full but had a quiet 90 minutes for sixth positioned Liaoning Whowhin in their 1-0 away win over fifth from bottom Qingdao Jonoon on Saturday. Down in the Chinese second division, Zambia Captain and striker Christopher Katongo played the full 90 minutes but no goal in promotion leaders Henan Jianye’s 2-1 away loss at 11th placed Yanbian Tigers on Saturday.

instrumental in forming an association of former World Cupwinning players. He fought for older players, many of whom were living in undistinguished circumstances, to receive a bonus and monthly pension for their contributions to Brazilian football. His father’s death comes just a month after Djalma Santos, the full-back in the triumphant 1958 and 1962 sides, passed away aged 84. Another full-back in the 1958

team, Nilton De Sordi, died on Saturday, aged 82. “As well as being a great goalkeeper, he was a worldwide hero and an example as both a player and a citizen,” said Jose Maria Marin, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation. “The Brazil team he represented so well will pay homage in the upcoming friendly against Australia on September 7.”

Inter Milan president Massimo Moratti has told people to ‘wait and see’ on the potential return of Samuel Eto’o from Anzhi Makhachkala. Eto’o, 32, was in Lombardy at the weekend and, with a week to go until the transfer window closes, Moratti has not ruled out a return for the player who helped

deliver a league, cup and Champions League treble in 2010. “Let’s just see what happens in these coming days,” he told Sky Sports Italia when asked whether he knew anything about the Cameroon international’s presence in the city. Eto’o is also understood to be

Sepp Blatter

Moratti Not Ruling Out Eto’o Return attracting interest from Chelsea, with the striker having spoken positively about a potential reunion with Jose Mourinho. A move to the Premier League is still thought more likely for a player who is surplus to requirements at Anzhi, although he still has a family home in Milan and a strong emotional bond with the Nerazzurri. “I’m hearing from you that he’s in Milan, but it doesn’t surprise me,” Inter’s director of sport, Piero Ausilio, said. “It’s true that he’s in Milan, but I think it’s only logical since he has his family here. “His wife and children live in Milan, and it’s not the first time he has returned here. All I can say is that there is a very strong emotional bond between Eto’o

and our fans, who respect him as a person and as a footballer. “He’s still a great footballer, but to say there is a chance of him returning to play for Inter? Honestly, there are many factors that come into the equation and I imagine you know what they are. I think it would be difficult, but I won’t exclude anything.” The player’s agent, Claudio Vigorelli, had told Il Giornale at the weekend that Eto’o would “happily” return to Inter and seemed to suggest a move to Stamford Bridge was unlikely. “I spoke to Jose, who was willing to give Samuel a one-year contract, but Chelsea are waiting for Wayne Rooney,” Vigorelli said. “Mourinho only has him in mind and is waiting for the situation with Manchester United to find a breakthrough.”

Ghana Coach Hints At Quartet Call-Up for Zambia Clash

Samuel Eto’O

2014 CHAN:

Zimbabwe Beats Zambia

Zimbabwe on Saturday picked the ticket for the 2014 African Nations Championship (CHAN) finals in South Africa, after beating Zambia 1-0 in their return leg match at the Levy Nwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia. Charles Sibanda struck after the hour mark to ruin Zambia’s hopes of reaching the CHAN 2014 finals. Both teams played goalless in the first leg in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare. Zimbabwe became the 14th team to qualify for the 16-team finals, following host South Africa, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Congo, Ethiopia, Gabon, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Morocco, Mauritania, Nigeria and Uganda. Two more teams are expected

to qualify to round off the list. The teams will be chosen from the contest between Cameroon and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as the tie between Angola and Mozambique. CHAN, which started in 2009, is reserved exclusively for African players in the continent’s domestic leagues.

Ghana coach Kwesi Appiah is ready to call up quartet Kevin-Prince Boateng, Sulley Muntari and the Ayew brothers for next month crucial World Cup qualifier against Zambia. Boateng and the Ayew brothers-Andre and Jordanofficially communicated their return to international football last week after self-imposed exiles. Muntari apologized to Appiah after openly confronting the trainer and questioning the rationale behind his substitution in the dressing room after June’s World Cup qualifier at Lesotho. There have been questions about the sincerity of the letters written by the four players but Appiah is focused on the task

ahead. “It’s not important to scrutinize their - players decisions to return to the team,” Appiah told the Ghana FA’s official website. “I think the focus should be on the game against Zambia and nothing else. Every Ghanaian who is available for the national team will always be considered. “No disrespect to the other players. They have done a fantastic job up until now and we can and should only get better with the return of the players.” Appiah is expected to name his squad by midweek for the two assignments against the Chipolopolo and a friendly against Japan three days later.

Ofori Marks Swedish League Debut half. With Defeat second Ofori was playing his

Ghana U20 defender Ebenezer Ofori played his first Swedish League match on Sunday for AIK Stockholm who lost 1-0 at Halmstad. The left-footed player lasted the entire duration of

the match and hit the woodwork early on in the match. AIk head coach Andreas Alm started him as a left-back but assigned him as a makeshift right-back for the

second competitive match for the Gnaget after playing fullthrottle in their Swedish Cup defeat last Thursday. The player was transferred from Ghana Premier League New Edubiase United.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

Federation To Introduce Skating In Schools THE Nigerian Roller Sports Federation (NRSF), on Sunday said it planned to introduce skating in schools before the end of September. The President of NRSF, David Onyekachukwu, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the introduction would start with schools in Lagos before extending it to other States. “We have decided to introduce the game into several schools beginning from Lagos in order to further create awareness on the sport among the youths. “This will be done in a bid to discover young talents so that they can be nurtured to graceful skaters”, Onyekachukwu said. According to him, the success of the introduction in Lagos schools would determine the federation’s move of extending it to other schools in the country. The president said that ‘catching them young’ was the secret to creating loyal and dedicated members. Onyekachukwu said the association was aware of the fear of the public about the risks associated with skating; adding that some skated indiscriminately on the highways. “Every sport has its own risks. The federation has measures of checking the excesses of those who skate on the highways. We enlighten them on the implications. “In skating, we have protective gears worn around the delicate parts of the body that may be exposed to the danger of a skater falling. “These protective gears are

worn around the head, elbow and ankles. They limit injuries”, the president said. Onyekachukwu was optimistic that if the sport was appropriately funded, it would attract both national and international sponsors.

By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE

FORMER Golden Gloves Champion, Mr. Wellington J. Okoh has commended organizers of the just concluded Nigerian Open Boxing Championship which came to an end in Lagos, weekend.

Former boxing champion, Mr. Wellington Okoh (arrowed) in a pose with some Edo State boxers

Mr. Okoh, a boxer who represented the defunct Bendel State between 1979 and 83 before settling in the USA, made the commendation yesterday in Benin City. The former Golden gloves Champion who is currently coaching youngsters at the Police Athletic Club of Chicago, USA, while chatting with OBSERVERSports in Benin City, expressed satisfaction with the level of performance of boxers as well as organizing. He thanked the Nigerian Boxing Federation and its president, Major-general Kennedy Tobias Minima for a successful 2013 championship. The Edo-born former boxer who could not hide his worry over the way boxing has been relegated among

Rangers Official Threatened To Kill Me

DOLPHINS striker Fred Okwara has alleged that a Rangers official threatened to kill him during a fracas after a league game on Sunday. “Innocent Obiekwo (Rangers team manager) threatened he will kill me if I come to Enugu,” Okwara told MTNFootball.com “I will make a formal complaint to the police to ensure

he signs an undertaking should anything happen to me.” Sunday’s game at the Liberation Stadium in Port Harcourt, which Dolphins won 2-0, was marred by an ugly incident during which Rangers general manager Paul Chibuzor was allegedly attacked over the monies owed Okwara by Rangers.

Rangers used and dumped me says Okwara Rangers have made a formal complaint in this regard to the police in Port Harcourt. Okwara maintained he did not set thugs on the Rangers boss. “I never attacked Ozor. I only

Fan Calls For More Sponsors Of Grassroots FOOTBALL enthusiast, Perez He said the competition had Soccer Johnson, has called for more helped children of different

ITTF Classic ’ll Record Upsets - Agunbiade A special athlete, Tajudeen Agunbiade, on Sunday expressed optimism that upcoming and home-based players would set lots of upsets at the maiden Lagos International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Classics. The Classics scheduled to begin on Monday would hold at the Molade Okoya-Thomas Hall, Teslim Balogun, Lagos. Agunbiade, the Athletes’ Representative on the board of the Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), told said that most of the home-based and upcoming players were talented and would spring surprise. “I know that this is a great challenge for most of these young players but I know that a lot of records and upsets would

Former Golden Gloves Champion Commends Organisers Boxing Tourney:

be set. “We also started from the young age and we gradually graduated. People should expect a lot of upsets from Nigerian players. “I’m sure most of the Nigerian players will leave up to expectation at the classics, ‘’Agunbiade, a one-hand player added. He also commended the board of the NTTF for organising the competition within a short period of time. “We are very excited in the players’ union that such an event can still be organised during our days. ‘We appreciate the collaborative efforts of the Lagos State Table Tennis Association and the NTTF to ensure that the sport regains its lost glory in the state and the country at large,” he said.

sponsors to ensure the development of grassroots soccer in the country. Johnson, the Coordinator of Royal Gold Soccer Academy, made the call in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Akure. He spoke at the academy’s 6th U-13 and U-17 League tagged: Winning Soccer Power Competition. “Football is money gulping. I want more government and companies’ involvement so as to discover and nurture talents at the grassroots. “We need government and private companies to partner with us: our academy has a lot of talents that will be useful in the future for the country’’, he said. Johnson said that over 23 teams participated in the U-13 and U17 league categories of the academy.

backgrounds to discover themselves and were being engaged by various clubs. “A lot of talents have been discovered by scouts at the league. About 23 clubs started this competition in both U-13 and U-17 and finalists have emerged. “I’m very happy with our sponsors and partners for encouraging the growth of these young talents and the game in Ondo State’’, he said. NAN reports that Odindi Omo Soccer Academy defeated Sonso FC 1-0 to qualify for the U-13 final at the semi-final matches decided on Saturday at Aquinas College football pitch, Akure. Royal Gold FC in the U-17 category defeated defending champion, Genesis Soccer Academy, 4-3 to also qualify for the final. The final will hold on September 14.

went to meet him after the match and when we were talking some of the fans and they asked me what the problem was and I told them that Rangers owe me money since 2010. They asked him to pay me but they did not attack him,” the striker insisted. Okwara has said he did not receive anything from Rangers when he transferred to a Turkish club three years ago and he was also owed sign-on fees.

Bolaji Abdullahi

sporting activities in the country, urged government and corporate organizations to help revive the sport in the country by organizing regular boxing events, in order to discover talents and develop same for the future of Nigeria. “It is with regular competitions like this that will help us to discover and develop young boxers that will represent this country in future world championships. Boxing has been neglected for too long. So boxing enthusiasts and government should come together and support sports and boxing in particular in this country so that whenever Nigeria is going for any international meet, we will be sure of medals like in the days of Isaac Ikhuoria in 1972 to Seoul, South Korea in 1988 as well as Nigeria’s performance Atlanta, USA 1996. Mr. Okoh, however charged boxing judges and referees in the country to do more work on their officiating so as to ensure they are impartial as possible in order not to kill the game. The former boxer also gave kudos to Blessing Okagbare for representing Nigeria well at the just concluded IAAF Championship in MOSCOW, Russia.

THE NIGERIAN

ANY people were stunned to watch a senior school teacher, who had served for many years, stutter as she struggled to read out her own name on a paper she had supposedly written. It should not have come as a shock. There is a problem with Nigeriaís education sector. Sadly, we ignore the problem and its impending dangers. There seems to be a clear recognition of the fact that the federal governmentís thirty year control of the educational sector was responsible for its almost complete collapse, but this is hard to grasp considering its financial might and administrative potentials. If this abysmal performance is juxtaposed with the period when education was run by missions we find a clear distinction. In closer inspection, the reasons for this total collapse become even more obvious. Political considerations in matters that were supposed to be handled with professionalism and an altruistic bent ensured a swift decline that successive governments have not been able to correct to this day. Lack of administrative dedication and an absence of candor on the parts of a stifled professional base have also contributed in no small ways to entrench a system of blind followership by an academic class that seems to carry out its duty with levity. With this attitude the downward spiral of this sector persists. Calls for educational reforms persist to this day, and have been predominant in issues of national importance. Many concerned academics have called the failure in the educational sector Nigeriaís greatest social disaster, and they are not wrong. In thirty years the public pre-tertiary school system is almost moribund, stricken by a mix of ineptitude and maladministration. The absence of educational facilities and corresponding infrastructure have made the public schools little more than store houses for children of low income earners where very little is taught. There are still many who will remember, with some feeling of nostalgia, the greatness of the public school system up until the late seventies and the demand for educational excellence imposed on pupils. This demand was a driving force that ensured a desire to excel beyond the average. The situation is not different at the tertiary level, where university lecture halls are nothing more than spacious dumps filled with broken furniture and leaking roofs. The infiltration of the educational sector by unregulated private institutions is indicative of government inability to cope

CMYK

with the piling burden of providing qualitative educational services. This is most evident at the pre-tertiary level but the wrath is evidebt on every level. With the constant growth in private sector pretertiary education there have been a number of devastating repercussions for the public school system. First, the growth in private institutions has become a major pull for academic human resource base and this persistently

TUESDAY, AUGUST 27, 2013

sometimes appalling ignorance of the subjects they teach. Teachers who recognise their worth and intend to make an impact naturally tilt towards the private institutions where educational materials are better provided. Where these limitations do not apply, there is the political intonation; Nigeria in the twenty first century is still a nation run on ethnic steam and the political implications of this is exposed in demarcation of ethnic lines in

The Stuttering Teacher And Nigeria’s Low Education Standards

school infrastructure and for dictate the workings of the civil the provision of reading service, buttressed by ethnic materials to schools that have sentiments, there will always be blatant favoritism in the disbursement of funds and a consequent lull in expected gains. State governments have attempted individual subsidization of the educational sector with varying degrees of success evaluated through yearly external examination results such as West African Examination Council (WAEC) School Certificate examinations, and National Examination Council (NECO) exams. The state governments have mostly focused their efforts on acquiring the cost burden imposed by these examinations on their citizens as a show of strong support for the improvement of the educational sector. The recent dismal performances of education has become more of have lived in a particular state reject the possibility of been evaluated based on their students in these exams are an a financial venture rather than for the better part of their lives attempting daring programs achievements, a fifty percent indication of the failure of these a humanitarian duty. The based on their ethnic that are both humane and non slash in tuition costs can be efforts. Federal and state consequence of this is the difference and are then forced implicative. For example the demanded. Scholarships could constantly rising cost of to relocate to other states in government has consistently be granted based on the governments seem to have education which has gradually search of employment? The subsidised public education academic performance of assumed, quite wrongfully, that created palpable signs of class failure to look into this even as the facts show that children and a clear indication of the problem of the educational administrative failure ensures maladministration will continue the inability by pupilsí parents to sector lie solely with the cost categorization. While teachers in public the persistence of an to mar the structures that cope with tuition costs. There are implications, lack of basic oversee this sector. schools enjoy better unworkable civil service. very few parents who will not pay materials like text books in Government may begin to for qualitative education, not to schools, and the need for remuneration in comparison to Nigerians are grappling with the teachers in private excessively exploitative see more result if it chose to mention when it comes at a scholarships. One major factor they seem to have ignored is institutions, there are school fees and ancillary costs divert some of these subsidies subsidised rate. to private pre-tertiary monitoring and for services that are essential administrative and However, government should the infrastructural constraints that but not worth the values institutions in the form of grants not focus solely on financial professional supervision of stifle professional challenges for placed on them and imposed that will help these institutions returns in providing qualitative teachers who seem to have the teachers in the public school on parents by private cushion the effects of the educational service. The right of been locked in a time machine system due to lack of funding educational institutions. Most massive cost implications of the child to pre-tertiary education perpetually trapped in the productive is unquestionable. In every middle ages. It seems and the provision of basic private schools have gone running teaching aids that would help beyond the reach of the establishments. The intention instance where schools, both unimaginable but there are still the teachers to improve average Nigerian and, as a is to bring down the costs of private and public, send children teachers in the public preprofessionally. There is also the consequence, have done very tuition in these institutions and home because of failure to pay tertiary institutions who think lack of professional supervision little to uplift the general make them more accessible to tuition fees, there is a clear that strong disciplinary from an the public in the interim while signal that education has qualities are imbibed through and monitoring in the public population government strives to rectify become a financial service the imposition of servile duties educational slump. Over the school system that has given free run to unprofessional years, the focus of a number the failures in an almost rather than the entrenchment of on their wards. To this day, practices. Many teachers have of these schools seem to have moribund public sector; this will a demandable right and this children are still instructed to always complained that these been directed at the upper be a temporary emergency further exposes the failure of come to teachersí homes to administrative failures tend to echelons of Nigerian society plan of sorts to provide good government. For government, wash clothes, cook and portray them as unproductive and their evaluation of the education for the wards of the education is viewed more as a sweep. Education to these and place the burden of success of their services are average civil servant who privilege which it stretches its teachers does not pretend to responsibility for the failures of more predicated on their struggles to cope with the ever benevolent and hold any value or respect for constraints of a minimum wage financial gains rather than the pupils on them quite wrongfully. philanthropic hands to provide childrenís rights. When there is a consistent In many instances, this mental improvement of their that affords little. The intention children with and not as a right here is for pre-tertiary to which these children can denial of the rights of children burden is not wrongfully placed; wards. on several trips to public schools The Nigerian governmentís educational institutions that run demand. A consequence of this in the public school and a it is common to see classes strides at rectifying this sector on federal and state is the consistent show of this failure to consider the of rising where teachers are continue to experience government subsidies but with benevolence through sparse implications surreptitiously absent and glitches imposed by its own private sector administration. It provision of books that educational costs in the private students are given free run on shortcomings. Accounting for would be a public/private sometimes remain in stores for school system, why do the disruptive and anarchic the massive investments partnership that will ensure years without ever been federal and state governments not boldly attempt alternatives behaviors. In many instances alleged to have been put in the returns on the financial dispersed to its target public. the teachers show a total lack educational sector remains a commitment of government It is also apparent that as long by providing financial subsidies of grammatical grasp and major constraint. Even as through tax impositions. If as political considerations and academic regulations grants are given for basic based on an approved curriculum? Printed and published by Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, 24, Airport Road, P.M.B. 1334 Benin City. Telephone; Lagos: 01 4930929, Benin: 052 257492, 257531 Editor: Barr. SOLOMON IMOHIOSEN (KSJI)- (07030699646), Deputy General Manager, Marketing (08023457566), Assistant General Manager, Advertisement (08023808856) Lagos Office: 3/4 Amode Close, Kudirat Abiola Way, By Olushosun Bus Stop, Oregun, Ikeja, Lagos. Abuja Office: Floor 1, Edo House, 75 Ralph Shodeinde Street, Central Business District, Abuja. Tel/Fax: 09-5237631. All correspondence to: 24 Airport Road, Benin City. E-mail: nigerianobserver@yahoo.com (ISSN 0331-2674) creates a problem of lack of valuable professional hands for public schools; secondly,

state civil service jobs. How do we explain the denial of jobs to qualified teachers who

federal, state, and local governments persist in literally filling a hollow bottle, they