THE NIGERIAN
The Nigerian
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 38 NO.320 • FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2 013 • N 100.00 ART ALIVE Page 18
Lassa Fever: Teaching Hospital By OSE EHEBHA
cmyk
The need for cultural resource management
IRRUA - The Institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Centre, Irrua said it recorded 93
records 93 deaths deaths between 2011 and 2013, out of 377 patients admitted in at the centre. Director of the
institute, Dr. Daniel of Edo State, disclosed Asogun while speaking at that 17 persons have so World Lassa Fever Day far died in 2013. He added that the at Irrua, Esan Central Local Government Area Continues on page 2
Gunmen kidnap High Court Judge By MIKE OSAROGIAGBON
INTERNATIONAL FEATURES
Page 26 Kenya: Saved mall goers thank police
BENIN CITY – Unknown gunmen have abducted an Edo State High Court judge, Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa in Ekpoma, the administrative headquarters of Esan West Local Government Area of the state. It was learnt that the struck yesterday. High Court judge was It could not be on his way to Abuja i m m e d i a t e l y when the armed men ascertained whether
N/Delta youths honour Odubu
By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR BENIN CITY – In recognition of his dogged commitment towards the actualization of Niger Delta Youth Moment Dream, Edo State Deputy Governor, Puis Egberanmwen Odubu
the gunmen have contacted his family with a view to demanding ransom. The Edo State Commissioner of Police, Mr. Foluso
Adebanjo confirmed the incident to our crime reporter yesterday. Mr. Adebanjo stated that some lawyers in
Benin were in his office yesterday afternoon to register their protest against the abduction of their colleague. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER gathered that courts in the state capital could not sit yesterday following the protest embarked upon by lawyers in Benin
City.
Justice Daniel Iyobosa Okungbowa’s abduction came barely two weeks after a human rights activist Barrister Mike Ozekhomen regained his freedom from kidnappers who abducted him on that same road in the state.
has been conferred with an Award of Okaduo of Niger Delta Region by a body known as Niger Delta Youth Movement (NDYM). Speaking shortly before receiving the award in Benin City, Continues on page 2
2015 Elections
Help lower pol tension, Ekweremadu urges media By JOSES SEDE
ABUJA - The Deputy Senate President has urged the Nigerian media to help lower political tensions over 2015 general elections by redirecting the attention of the leaders and the political class to service delivery, while also guiding the people to hold their leaders accountable. He made the call at an international experience sharing conference on media and elections organised by the Nigeria Union of Journalists and the international development partners under the auspices of the United Nations D e v e l o p m e n t Programme, UNDP, in Abuja, yesterday. Senator Ekweremadu said: “It is now a little less than two years away from the next general election and politicking and
contestations are presently at a feverish pitch; the nation is already caught in the political fireworks of 2015; and governance has taken the backstage because we have turned Nigeria into an election nation in perpetuity. “After elections, mandate delivery should follow and those already elected deserve some breathing space to do their work, while the media and the public should hold them accountable to their promises. On the other
hand, those elected into offices should also concern themselves less about the next election, knowing that only one good term deserves another.” The Deputy President Continues on page 2
APO KILLINGS: Minister of FCT, Senator Bala Mohammed, Chief of Staff to Federal Capital Authority, Muhammed Yau Gital and Chairman, House Committee on Security and Intelligence, Mohammed Muttawale, speaking to newsmen after an investigative meeting on the Apo recent killing in Abuja yesterday.
INEC receives 43m voters cards - Jega
ABUJA The Chairman of INEC, Prof. Attahiru Jega, said that the commission has received 43 million
permanent voters’ registration cards out of the required 73.5 million.
He told newsmen in Abuja that the commission was waiting
Apo Killings: FCT to demolish
illegal, uncompleted buildings ABUJA - The Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Alhaji Bala Mohammed, has said that illegal and
uncompleted buildings in Abuja metropolis will be demolished. Mohammed made this known in Abuja at
a meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Public Safety and National Security.
On September 20, seven persons, alleged to be members of the Boko Haram sect, were Continues on page 2
to ensure that substantial cards were delivered before they begin to distribution. In 2012, the Federal Executive Council approved N2.6 billion, being the first phase for printing of 40 million out of the 75 million cards needed in the country for general elections. Jega said the
commission would begin the issuance of the 10year permanent cards to registered voters before December. “You know Nigerians, when INEC distributes cards to some states and others are not given, there will be political interpretations to it; we are putting mechanisms in place to ensure effective distribution. According to him, INEC has learnt from its Continues on page 2
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
News
Teaching Hospital records 93 deaths Continued from page 1 institute recorded 33 deaths in 2011, while 43 were lost to the disease in 2012. Asogun attributed the decline in the number of deaths at the centre to the awareness being created by the institute.
“Through the activities of the institute of Lassa Fever Research and Control, ISTH, the case of fatality from lassa in ISTH has dropped from 60 percent – 80 percent in the beginning of this millennium to 30 – 45 percent. “Awareness of the infection
is at a high level as is the index of suspicion among clinicians, a prerequisite for early diagnosis and favorable outcome” he said. He reiterated calls for the establishment of more diagnostic centres across the country to reduce the burden
on the ISTH institute. He called on the federal government to pay more attention to the fight against the scourge through allocation of fund to build infrastructures, as well as build the capacity of personnel..
Continued from page 1
of things, taking into consideration the region’s economic contributions to the country’s development. The deputy governor urged NDYM to appeal to youths in the region to shun kidnapping and other social vices that could work against the development of the area. He called on youths to
participate in politics, but not at ‘thuggery level.’ While noting that peace is necessary for the development of the region, Dr. Odubu enjoined the body to sustain the initiative to enable the group achieve its aims and objectives. Speaking on the former location of Ivbiotor Primary School, along Sapele Road
that 2015 elections will be remarkably much better, ’’ the chairman said. He said one of the security measures put in place was the production of the new cards that contained security features - embedded chips with printed voters’ details, photograph barcode, microtext, hologram and fingerprints. “The cards will be electronic in nature and will be used for identification, authentication, and for voting to prevent multiple voting and fraud.” Jega said.
by Dumez Road junction, Benin City the deputy governor noted that what the state government did was for the overall interest and advancement of Edo State, Particularly in the area of employment. He stated that the state government entered into agreement with shop rite, with a view to building a big mall there stressing that the flood ravaging the proposed site of the mall would be rechannelled. Chairman of NDYM, Edo State, Comrade Nosa Asemota stated that the body was founded in 2000, to foster unity and peaceful coexistence in the region, discover creative and talented youths for exposure and empowerment as well as check youth restiveness and other social vices. Comrade Asemota expressed the willingness of NDYM to partner with the state government in order to ameliorate youth unemployment and restiveness, stressing that a programme tagged “Restoring Dexterity in the Niger Delta Youth” is being packaged to that effect and it is scheduled for the later part of the year. On the award, Comrade Asemota said it was conferred on the deputy governor in recognition of his contributions towards the advancement of NDYM and his economic contributions to Edo State and Niger Delta region.
territory was expected to commence the development of such plot within six months after allocation. Yusuf said that the incessant court injunctions being obtained by developers were hampering the job of the agency. Earlier, the Chairman of the committee, Rep. Bello Mutawalle (PDP-Zamfara)
called for the demolition of the uncompleted building where the killing took place. However, after plea by some members of the committee to allow the Senate to carry out an investigation on the matter, the chairman reversed his earlier position. The committee also met with the Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika behind close-door.
N/Delta youths honour Odubu
yesterday, Dr. Odubu appreciated the youth body for its efforts at promoting peace and tranquility in the Niger Delta Region. He expressed his readiness to join forces with the body in the quest to ensure that Niger Delta takes its rightful place in the scheme
Help lower pol tension, Ekweremadu It is too loud, and it is Continued from page 1 urges media unacceptable”. of the Senate who also wondered if the single term for elected executives recommended by the Senate Committee on Constitution Review was jettisoned in a hurry, however, observed that while the politicians were to be held responsible for overheating the system, the members of the media should also ask themselves if they had done enough to temper the political trepidation over
2015 general election. He said: “As agenda setters to chart the trajectory of national discourse to those key governance issues that affect the lives of the ordinary Nigerians; the media should not play into the hands of those bent on making political hostages out of the nation and her people. “I urge members of the media to turn down the volume on the 2015 election.
Senator Ekweremadu also called on the media to be less partisan in reporting electoral and election matters as the media could not afford to be polarized along party, ethnic, religious, and other lines in the interest of the nation. “ O w n e r s h i p notwithstanding, I believe the media is one critical sector where he who pays the piper should not dictate the tune- at least on editorial matters”, he emphasised.
INEC receives 43m voters cards “I am assuring Nigerians
Continued from page 1 past mistakes. “We don’t want a situation where the cards produced are dumped somewhere else without getting to every eligible voter. “This time around, INEC will distribute the cards at the same time nationwide to guard against any complaint. “We will go back to the polling units to ensure that all registered voters in each of the polling units collect their cards there. “INEC is very meticulous
about the distribution, but we will commence the distribution. As at today, there are 73.5 million temporary voters’ cards awaiting replacement,’’ Jega said. According to him, the 2015 general elections will be much better than the previous exercises due to the lessons the INEC has learnt from the previous ones as an unbiased umpire. “I want to use this opportunity to assure you that INEC will continuously improve on the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
FCT to demolish illegal, uncompleted Continued from page 1 buildings
killed by security operatives at an uncompleted building near Apo Legislative Quarters in Abuja. He said that the FCT administration would no longer condone any delay by developers in completing their buildings after being allocated plots of land. According to him, very soon, we will take a decisive action on uncompleted buildings in the FCT. “We will ensure that all buildings that have exceeded the two year period approved for building will be demolished. “If we cannot demolish, we will make it a Police Post, this time around we will take a definite action,” he said. The minister blamed the inability of the FCT Department of Development Control to carry out its mandate on frivolous court injunctions obtained by developers. He said that between 3,000 and 5,000 double allocations existed in the territory due to revocation and re-allocation of plots as a result of court
injunctions. According to him, 100,000 illegal buildings have been identified since he took over as minister of the FCT. Mohammed said that the issue of squatter residences in the FCT had been extensively discussed with security agencies. He solicited the support of the National Assembly to address the challenge of illegal structures in the territory. Alhaji Yahaya Yusuf, Director of FCT Development Control, said that the uncompleted building where the killing took place belonged to a woman. He said that 435 uncompleted buildings were at various locations in the FCT. Yusuf said that some owners of such buildings had complied with the control’s directive to carry out integrity test on such buildings while some had not. He explained that anyone given allocation of land in the
Edo BIRS commends ANEEJ
Revenue Mgt: By OSAZUWA AKONEDO BENIN CITY - Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Service has commended Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice, ANEEJ for making Nigerians most especially tax payers have value for their money. The Executive Chairman of the Edo State Board of Internal Revenue Service, Chief Oseni Elamah made the commendation yesterday when officials of Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice and journalists led by its Executive Director, Reverend David Ugolor visited the state revenue service in Benin City as part of ANEEJ measures of holding government functionaries accountable to the people. The Revenue Board Executive Chairman, who described ANEEJ as an organization synonymous with value for money, said ANEEJ is a transparency organization that goes to grassroots to get their facts
LAGOS - A four year-old girl, an 82 year-old man and a middle aged Igbo trader were killed when a dilapidated 3 storey building collapsed on another six bedroom structure beside it in Lagos Island on Wednesday night. Also, four children, an old woman, three girls and two middle aged men were rescued from debris of the collapsed building by youths. According to eye witness, the three storey building situated at 15 Alli Street, Lagos Island cracked and
collapsed at about 09.55pm and fell on top of the six bedroom bungalow situated at 13 Alli Street, killing the old man and the Igbo trader who was sleeping in his shop under the dilapidated building. It was gathered that the 3 storey building had been marked for demolition by officials of the Lagos state government who had sent out the occupants before the structure finally collapsed. The eye witness who claimed to be buying roasted
“Each time I go anywhere like I was talking with the world bank people recently, if I was actually looking for money to fund some of the activities here I think the best vehicle I would have used is ANEEJ”, said the board executive chairman. Chief Oseni Elamah said the Revenue Board has not only moved from more than N200 million to N2.2 billion monthly generation; the board has also put an institution on ground that would sustain and advance the pace of revenue drive and continue to meet ANEEJ demands for proper transparency and accountability in governance.
EDSG inaugurates C’ttee to monitor medical Lab BENIN CITY – Edo State scientists Commissioner for Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Aihanuwa Eregie yesterday inaugurated a five man monitoring committee on the activities of Medical Laboratory Scientists in Edo State. The committee has the state Director, Medical Laboratory Services, Dr. Moses Aigbirior as Chairman, with the South – South Zonal Co-ordinator, Medical Laboratory Scientists Council of Nigeria, Mr. Gbenga Akinola; Chairman, Guild of Medical Laboratory Directors, Edo State, Dr. Kola Oderinde, Mr. Sule Fagbuyi and Mr. Odion Obumese as members. Inaugurating the body, Dr. Eregie charged members to help flush out quackery in the laboratory services, pointing out that the role of laboratory scientists in healthcare delivery is very important. The commissioner urged them to carry out their assignment without fear or favour, advising them to operate within stipulated guidelines. Responding on behalf of the members, the committee chairman assured the commissioner that the committee would carry its duties within the ambit of the guildlines, saying that
3 killed in Lagos building collapse By RAHEEM IBRAHIM
rights before publishing due to their commitment to promote good governance in the country. “ANEEJ to me is synonymous with good governance, transparency and value for money. That is what ANEEJ is. The Transparency International would not help out because (ANEEJ) this is an organization, down to the grassroots, goes to get the facts.
meat, popularly called ‘Suya’ from an Hausa man at the front of the collapsed building said, “I just heard ‘bang’ sound as if there was a bomb and saw heavy bricks from the house was flying about”. “I and the Hausa man selling Suya managed to escaped, but the Hausa man’s junior brother who was trying to pack their loads sustained fatal injury on his head. “We ran away from the spot and returned after five minutes to see what happened”, he narrated.
quackery must be stopped in Medical Laboratory Services in the state. The committee is charged with the responsibility to monitor and regulate the activities of medical laboratory practitioners in the state. In a related development, the Health Commissioner received briefs from partner agencies who are collaborating with the state government on health related matter. The Pathfinder International, represented by its Project Co-ordinator, Dr. Reme Mary Matthew told the commissioner that the organization has been in Edo State since August, 2008 for the implementation of programmes for prevention, care and treatment of HIVAIDS. She stated that their five years programme in the state renders support to 17 Primary Health care centres and 3 General Hospitals in rural and semi-rural areas of the state. On their part, the WHO and UNICEF through Dr. Ayodeji Hassan Isiaka (WHO Consultant) made a presentation on polio Eradication Initiatives Update in the State to the Commissioner. He appealed to both the state and local governments to make adequate funds available for immunization programmes in order to maintain a polio free state. Receiving the brief respectively, the commissioner commended partner agencies who are collaborating with the state government in improving the health care delivery services to its citizenry and promised to continue to partner with reputable and responsive agencies with a view to taking the health sector of the state to a greater levels.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Inside Edo Okpella Youths Visit Etsako East LG Boss AGENEBODE – The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has received a delegation of the Home Branch of Okpella Youth Forum (Risers Club of Nigeria). While congratulating the chairman on his electoral victory, the leader of the delegation and chairman, Hon. Femi Williams noted that the council boss has started his tenure on a sound note, adding that the club will give him every necessary support to ensure a success. Hon. Williams appealed to the council boss to assist Okpella Community with the provision of electricity transformation for the Industrial Estate Located along the Auchi – Okene need to relocate mining and crushing activities from residential areas to the industrial in the area, adding that it has huge economic benefits to the entire Edo State. The council boss thanked members of the group for their support towards his election, inspite of political differences. Describing Hon. Femi Williams as a former councilor who served his people meritoriously, he congratulated the club for supporting a good course, stressing the need for them to remain vanguard of social change for which they were known over the years. He however promised that government would take necessary action to relocated all mining and quarry activities in residential areas to the industrial estate and promised to partner with the group to take Etsako East to higher level. Meanwhile, a delegation of Imiegba Grammar School Old Students Association has visited the council chairman, Hon. Suleiman Afegbua in Agenebode. The President, Comrade Etafia Usman, in his address congratulated the council chairman on his electoral victory, noting that he council chairman has since lived up to his electoral promises to the people. The group which advised the chairman to focus on the upliftment of public schools, health care, youth and women empowerment however bemoaned the neglect of Imiegba Grammar School adding that the school lacks teachers, basic facilities and with dilapidated structures. He called on the chairman to use his good office to ensure that National Youth Service Corps members are posted to the school to compliment the
Council Boss Inspects School Project
teaching limited teachers presently working there. Responding, Hon. Afegbua thanked the Association for the interest they have for the school and the council. He said efforts are being made to ensure that public schools in the area are better. While describing a school without teachers as a kingdom without a king, he maintained that the state government is putting machineries in motion to address the shortage of teachers in secondary schools across the state. He further stated that he will make work attractive to corps members posted to Imiegba Community.
AGENEBODE – The Chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afegbua has inspected the renovation of five class rooms block in Athekhai Primary School Iviukwe, Agenebode. Expressing satisfaction with the level of work done, the council boss commended the Engineering Department for giving him professional advice on the project. The chairman assured the schools authority that chairs UN Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-Moon (right), welcoming President Goodluck Jonathan and desks will be made to the UN Headquarters In New York recently. available to the pupils, saying that the project would be completed within a week. Vice Chairman of the council, Hon. John Alimikhena who expressed joy over the project, commended Hon. Afegbua. He however called on the people to be patient with government in its quest to bring more development to Etsako East Local Government Area. House Leader, Comrade Fidelis Osikwemhe said he is proud with the government for responding to the yearnings and aspirations of the people. Describing the council chairman as an epitome of development, he said the law makers are comfortable and satisfied with the council L - R: Principal Secretary to the President, Amb. Hassan Tukur; Nigeria’s Permanent representative to the UN, Prof. boss state style of Joy Ogwu; President Goodluck Jonathan and Ethiopian Prime Minister, Mr Hallmariam Desalegn, during a meeting in government. New York Mr. Abdulsalam Othuemhe and the Supervisor for Education, Hon. Idodo Nasiru commended the chairman for the numerous Items recovered from the BENIN-CITY - The Edo development projects in the 26 suspects, who were paraded Police has said 54 suspects, before newsmen in Benin City, area. who were arrested for various The therefore called on the crimes in the state from August enforcement agencies by current security strategies so as include desktop computers, people to support the 21 to date, had been charged giving them useful to ensure crime-free “ember’’ laptop computers, cell phones, government at all times. guns and ammunitions. to court. months. information. Mr. Foluso Adebanjo, the “Like we have said, we state Commissioner of Police, are poised to arrest every form announced this in Benin at a of criminality in the state but Rev. Aderibigbe made against itself shall not stand,” he news briefing. the people must assist us to By RICHARD EWEKA this know while speaking with said. He said that the suspects work better. The Nigerian Observer in his “We should not allow BENIN-CITY - The were arrested in different parts “The people must watch office on the crisis facing the this to continue. In politics, we former Chairman of Nigerian of the state for alleged crimes any suspected movement of Peoples Democratic Party disagree to agree. What is Labour Congress (NLC), Edo like robbery, rape and unlawful persons in their (PDP) at the federal level. happening now has also state chapter and the general possession of firearms. neighbourhoods and report He said the crisis facing happened to other parties and He, however, said that the such movements to the police. overseer of The Habitation the party is actually a fall out of still happening today but the Church of God International state had not recorded any case “The people must be very Rev. Olu Aderibigbe has called the problem of the nation. “The difference is how those involved of kidnapping in the last two conscious of their own crisis is over heating the polity handled it. Option A4 should be on Nigerian Leaders to have the weeks, reiterating the security, especially now that of the nation and it is making adopted by various political fear of God and do away with command’s resolve to rid the we are in the ‘ember’ months,” greed, selfishness and self governance difficulty. Our parties to elect their leaders as state of criminals. leaders should not allow the he said. this step will reduce unnecessary centeredness as this is the only Adebanjo urged the Adebanjo said that the way for peace and development crisis to divide the nation for the tension in the polity of the bible says a house divided people to assist the law- command would review its in the nation. nation” he added.
Edo Police Command Arraign 54 Suspects
Cleric Tasks Nigerians On Selflessness
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
News Community Leader Applauds New Yam Festival By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM
OMOLUA-IGBANKEThe Odionwere (Community Head) of Omilua (Igbanke) in Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo Stat, Pa Owie Uwabor has praised the orgainsation of the 2013 Ney Yam Festival in the
LG Boost Mass Transit With 6 Buses
IGARRA -The Chairman, Akoko-Edo Local Government Council, Hon. Joseph Folorunsho Akerejola has commissioned six new buses to boost the fleet of the Akoko-Edo Mass Transit bus as part of efforts to ease the burden of the transportation in the locality. The Chairman said the move was in fulfillment of part of his electioneering promises to the people of the Local Government Area aimed at putting smils on their faces . In an interview, Mr. Obajaja Rotimi, the Akoko-Edo Line mass Transit Director said; we are going to make AkokoEdo proud”. He promised to ensure that the buses are in the hands of competent and experienced drivers. Mrs. P.S Balogun, Secretary to Revenue Committee however asked for the cooperation of the people and assured that the revenue generated from the mass Transit scheme would be used judiciously.
locality, saying it was historic. Pa Uwabor who spoke with newsmen in Omoua noted that the annual festival has become a unifying platform for bringing together sons and daughters of the community. While commending indigenes of the community for gracing the event, Pa Uwabor urged them to Sustam such patronage. He also lauded the support of the Commmunity Development Association and the Enogie of the community, His Royal Hylness, Isaac Ogbewi Uwaifo for their leadership role in the community. Pa Uwabor used the occasion to draw government attention to the dilapidated state of the only secondary school in the community as well as shortage of teaching staff in the school.
L-R: Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Ali, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and Vice President Namadi Sambo at the Federal Executive Council Meeting in Abuja on Wednesday
LAGOS - Dr Abiodun Akinwuntan, a professor of physiotherapy, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, has advised expectant mothers against adopting a physical exercise plan without consulting a physiotherapist. Akinwuntan told newsmen in Lagos that seeking the advice of obstetrics, gynaecologists and physiotherapists before adopting any aerobics regime would provide them with best
results. He said that by looking at the condition of the heart, previous medical history and present condition, the specialists could recommend an exercise plan best suited to the woman in question. “There are different levels of risks that are involved when you are pregnant, so the complexity and the amount of exercises each person has to do really go along with the history
Physiotherapist Cautions Expectant Mothers On Exercise Plan
Ophthalmologist Advises Women To Use Chemical Free cosmetics Make-Up if they had an eye The ophthalmologist said that
ABUJA -Dr Muhammad Chiroma, a consultant ophthalmologist with the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital Gwagwalada, has advised Nigerian women to use chemical free make-up to avoid damage to the eyes. Chiroma told newsmen in Abuja that most cosmetics used in developing countries contained toxic and harmful substances. ‘’ The advice for most makeup users is to avoid make-up which contain mercury, lead and parabens as they are very harmful to the eyes and prolonged use can lead to blindness. “It is best to try natural or chemical free make-up as they are less likely to harm the eyes,’’ he said. Chiroma said that the greatest damage caused by make-up was to the eyes, adding that the skin of the eyelids was the thinnest and most delicate part of the eyes. He explained that the skin of the eyelids easily became dry following the application of make-up that caused wrinkles and premature ageing of the skin.
make-up could cause weakness to the hair of the eyebrows and lashes which caused them to fall off easily and become thinner. “ Pseudomonas spp, an organism that causes infection, is known to widely contaminate mascara and following scratching of the lids, the organism causes infection which can lead to blindness. “ Titanium dioxide used in about 800 different types of eye shadows and mascara causes irritation, redness, and long term exposure may lead to cancer. “Kohl causes lead poisoning as majority of them procured in developing world contain lead instead of antimony which it is widely thought to contain,’’ Chiroma said. The ophthalmologist said that if make-up must be used, there were rules to follow, to avoid contacting infections. Chiroma said that make-up and its tools should not be shared and users should avoid applying cosmetics inside the eyes. The ophthalmologist said users should avoid the use of
infection. He said that make-up must be washed off before going to bed and cosmetics must be properly closed to avoid infections. “Once you notice any cosmetic agent irritates you, stop using it immediately and see a medical practitioner,’’ Chiroma said.
of that person. “Patients need to be educated on the role of exercises in having children and require or request their physicians to put them in touch with a physiotherapist who can help with that. “Three things that they always look at: one, state of the heart; two, previous medical history; and three, the present condition or situation that you’re going through. “Each person is a unique entity that they (expectant mothers) need to be examined for what is best for them.“ Akinwuntan said expectant mothers should be examined before an exercise plan was recommended for them because the risks and precautions for a woman who had several miscarriages differed from that of first-time mothers or older mothers.
He added that women on bed rest were not exempted from exercises because such workouts were designed to get around bed limitations under a physiotherapist’s supervision. The physiotherapist also said that unmanaged strain experienced during labour could cause sciatica, a type of back pain. He explained that sciatica, a relatively common form of low back and leg pain, could be caused by compression of the sciatic nerve during labour. Symptoms of sciatica include lower back pain, buttock pain, and numbness or weakness in various parts of the leg and feet. Akinwuntan advised women going into their third trimester to avoid the problem by not bending forward in the search for body balance during pregnancy. “The way they compensate
for it is rather than keep the lordotic curve in the back they bend over it to be able to support the weight. “So what you have is an antilordotic curve, which curves the other way and that is typically what causes a lot of back pain after delivery. “Sciatica is a common problem from how long you were in the delivery position and how much weight you put on the sciatic nerve. “But if you’re used to exercises and you are used to working out, your muscles are in a state of readiness to withstand the stress that you want to put them through. “Then pushing is faster, contraction is much better, everything happens so fast, you have less chances of developing sciatica,“ he added.
LG Inaugurates Revenue Committee
By JOEL CHUKWUAGHONIM
Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Odubu, Deputy Governor of Edo State (2nd left) a plaque from the President of Niger Delta Youth Movement (AYM) Comrade Nosa Asemota (2nd right), Comrade Orobosa Osaigbovo (right) and Madam Helen Ozigbo (left) Woman Leader of the group during courtesy call to Government House, Benin City.
IGARRA-The Chairman, Akoko Edo Local Government Area of Edo State, Hon Joseph Akerejola has inaugurated a Revenue Committee for the Local Government. The committee which has the mandate to boost Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the council has Barrister Godson Hayioye as chairman, with Mrs. P.S. Balogun as secretary. Members of the eight man committee includes Messrs Evans Balogun, Nelon Akeredolu, Ojo Orilede, Samuel Omolaiye, Ganiyu Sule and Victor Obanefi. The council boss said the Inauguration of the committee was in line with his electioneering campaign.s
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
South South Akpabio Inaugurates Projects
Dep Gov’s Wife Makes Case For Health Matters By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR
BENIN CITY – Wife of Edo State Deputy Governor, Deaconess, Endurance Odubu has emphasized the need for health matters to always occupy the front burner in the state. She made the remark when the Medical Director, Central Hospital Benin, Dr. Edith Kayode – Iyasere paid her a courtesy visit in Benin City, yesterday. Deaconess Odubu noted that the present administration has done a lot to upgrade health facilities in the state. The wife of the deputy governor described the Central Hospital Benin City, as a mother hospital to other hospitals in view of its strategic position in the state and urged the management team to cooperate with and support the new Medical Director to enable her pilot the affairs of the hospital effectively. She expressed confidence that the new medical director would live up to expectation in view of the caliber of professionals that make up her management team. The Medical Director of the hospital commended the state government for the building of an edifice at the hospital which befits its status.
INEC National Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega (left), discussing with INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Ishmael Igbani (right), during Resident Electoral Commissioners Quarterly Meeting with the Chairman in Abuja recently. With them is INEC National Commissioner, Dr. Chris Iyimoga (2nd left) and Mrs. Thelma Iremiren.
Some of the 13,000 newly recruited teachers awaiting deployment letter in Port Harcourt recently.
Bayelsa Faults World Bank Report YENAGOA - Ms Freda Murray-Bruce, DirectorGeneral, Bayelsa Investment Promotion Agency (BIPA), says the state’s investment climate has improved since the 2010 World Bank Report. The report had rated the state as the most difficult place to start investment in the country. The World Bank report based its assessment on “the inefficient and undue delay in registration of company and employees with relevant authorities as well as clouded tax regime”. Reacting to the report, the director-general told newsmen that the report did not reflect the current state following the establishment of BIPA over one year ago. Murray-Bruce said that the current administration in Bayelsa had since repositioned the state and made it investor-friendly. This, she said, had resulted in influx of foreign and local investors. “We may have no problem with this assessment. “But can categorically say without any fear of contradiction that the 2010 report is an old report and is not a factual and accurate reflection of the exact situation of things in Bayelsa of 2013. “Since 2010, and especially
since February 2012, a lot of institutional changes for the better have occurred in the business climate in Bayelsa State. “This present state of affairs is as a result of proactive measures and business friendly policies of the Hon. Seriake Dickson administration in the state. “Conscious of the need to develop the real sector of the economy and provide investment haven in Bayelsa State, Governor Seriake Dickson, on assumption of office, established the Bayelsa State Investment Promotion Agency.”
She said that this had created a clearing house and one-stop shop for investors. Murray-Bruce listed the investor-friendly policies to include collaboration with
several Federal Government Agencies, including Customs, Immigration, Corporate Affairs Commission and Federal Inland Revenue Service. According to her, the agency
has streamlined business documentation and start up processes for investors and is showcasing the investment potential of the state on its website.
Rivers Crisis: PDP Tasks Royal Fathers By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM
PORT HARCOURT - With the ongoing political crises in Rivers State, traditional rulers have been advised to play impartial roles and keep off acts that could undermine their roles
On Fairness
as fathers for all. They have also been counselled against hob-nobbing with persons of dubious intent who ride on the crest of the current political turbulence in the state to desecrate the sanctity
of the paramount stools some of which are as old as human civilisation. Reacting to recent comments attributed to His Royal Majesty, Eze Chukumela Nnam Obi, 11,
Unachukwu who gave this charge when he led a delegation of PHCCIMA exco and members on a solidarity visit to the newly appointed Acting Managing Director of NDDC, Dr. (Mrs.) Christy Atako at the commission’s headquarters in Port Harcourt, emphasized the need for the two bodies to work closely to enable the chamber bring their value to bear at the
the OPS will support her tenure and partner with the commission. In her remark, the new Acting NDDC MD, Dr. (Mrs) Atako said the commission has done well in human capacity development but however admitted the need to do more in the area of empowering and setting up those already trained.
Promote Human Capacity Development, commission. He congratulated By ELIZABETH and extolled the new Acting MD Stakeholders Urge NDDC assuring her that PHCCIMA and AGBOEGBULEM PORT HARCOURT President of Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Engr. Emeka Unachukwu has urged the Niger Delta Development Commission, NDDC to de-emphasize their interventionist programmes on infrastructural development, stressing that the commission
IKOT EKPENE (AKWA IBOM) - Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom has inaugurated 8.8 kilometre dual carriage road in Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Asurua, as part of activities marking the state’s 26th Anniversary. The reports say that the internal roads in the school comprise a single and dual carriage ways to enhance facilities in the institution. The Governor said that apart from the roads, the State Government also constructed 12 kilometres of drainage and 7.75kilometres of service ducts for water as well as provision of electricity. According to Akpabio, others include 7.6 kilometres of walkway to ease students’ movement within the campus. The Governor urged the staff and students to protect the facilities from vandals and maintain them for posterity. “This is a different polytechnic from the one we saw in 2009. “Some of the projects’ photographs seen on the billboards here remind us of what existed before the inauguration of these projects today. “With these projects, Akwa Ibom Polytechnic, Ikot Asurua, now ranks near or at the top of the tertiary institutions in the country with most modern physical infrastructure.” Mr Samuel Inyang, the Managing Director of Seyang Ltd., said that all the projects were of high quality and in line with international best practice. Inyang’s company handled the projects. He said that Seyang, though an indigenous contracting firm, had been consistent in providing high quality products that were cost effective and aesthetically pleasing. The contractor thanked the State Government for giving the company an opportunity to be part of the uncommon transformation in the state.
should rather dedicate more of their budget on human capacity development. This according to him is key to sustainably advancing the people and positioning them favourably for the challenges of the future. He cited the National Technology Centre (NATEC) as one of those projects that will facilitate the realization of this objective.
the Oba of Ogbaland, who hosted the leadership of the Grassroots Development Initiative, GDI, in his palace at Omoku, the PDP under the leadership of Chief Godspower Ake said the visit had political undertone much as the statement credited to the Ogba monarch was “most unfortunate.” Speaking through its State Publicity Secretary, George Ukwuoma-Nwogba, the Akeled PDP advised the Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers led by His Royal Majesty King GNK Gininwa, not to dabble into politics and beware of politicians who come in sheep clothing but are ravening wolves, adding that anything short of that would rubbish their hard-earned reputation and the sacredness of the stools they hold in trust for their ancestors and the people.
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South West Association Urges Govt To Popularise Usage Of Cooking Gas LAGOS - The Nigeria Liquefied Petroleum Gas Association (NLPGA) has called for the support of the Federal Government to popularise the usage of cooking gas in Nigeria. Mr. Dayo Adeshina, President of the association, told newsmen in Lagos that government should make the environment conducive for more players to come into the market. Adeshina said that government’s policies had not changed over the years to promote wide usage of domestic cooking gas in the country. He said that distribution facilities such as inland storage terminals and trucks could help to reduce the cost of LPG per kilogramme to end users. “Fabrication of LPG equipment in Nigeria is very expensive due to lack of stable power and high cost of raw materials and labour. “On the other hand, the duties and tariffs on imported equipment are very high, between 20 per cent and 35 per cent.
“There is VAT on the domestic LPG supplied to the market, while imported LPG enjoys zero VAT. This usually creates additional cost on the domestic LPG,’’ he said. The gas expert said that because of these challenges, the local cooking market had remained largely untapped. The association president said that Nigeria’s current population could consume about 3.5 million metric tonnes if cooking gas was the major fuel for cooking in Nigeria. He, however, said that Nigerians consumed only about 150,000 metric tonnes, a huge gap from the expected consumption annually. “No preference is given to LPG equipment imported; rather duties are being increased on LPG equipment. “ This has created slow growth in the industry,’’ he said. Adeshina said that there was no major policy that encouraged wide usage of abundant LPG. He also said that there were no clear regulations for segmentation in the LPG value chain. “Funding provided by banks is usually short-term funds for long term projects,
“he said. He said that no specific fund was set aside to encourage the growth of LPG market as done for other sectors. “Interest rates for available funds are very high such that they can lead to likely default in re-payment of loans, thereby slowing down production. “ There is no major commitment from the CBN to assist SMEs in growing the LPG market, which should be a strategic fuel in the Nigerian energy mix,’’ Adeshina said.
Osun Commends National Council On Information
OSOGBO - The Osun Government has said the National Council on Information(NCI) had succeeded in streamlining the nation’s information flow for socio-political and economic development. The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Sunday Akere, said this at the opening of the technical session of the 44th NCI annual conference in Osogbo. Akere said it was a thing of joy that the state was
Students of Mass Communication, Banking and Finance Department of Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, protesting over non inclusion of their names in NYSC scheme in Bauchi on Wednesday
Dep Gov Urges Concerted Efforts ADO-EKITI - The Against Drug Abuse Deputy Governor of Ekiti, Prof. Modupe Adelabu, has called for concerted efforts by stakeholders in the health sector against drug abuse. Adelabu made the call in Ado-Ekiti on Wednesday when the leadership of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN), Ekiti chapter, paid her a courtesy visit. The visit was part of the society’s sensitisation programme with the theme:
“Access to Safe Medicines is Your Right.” The deputy governor identified drug abuse, especially among young people, as a major challenge for the nation and called for proactive measures to curb the menace. She urged the society to help in addressing the problem of quack pharmacists, saying if the
L - R: A Director, Ministry of Information, Mr Joe Obudeze, Permanent Secretary, Dr. Folashade Yemi-Esan and Osun Commissioner For Information, Mr Sunday Akere, at the Technical Session of the 44th National Council on Information in Osogbo on Wednesday
problem was left unsolved, it would endanger the health of innocent citizens. Earlier, the Chairman of the organisation in Ekiti, Mr. Kolapo Olatunde, had called for governments’ assistance in the area of training and retraining of pharmacists. Highpoint of the visit was the donation of relief materials to the Ekiti State Relief and Rehabilitation Centre, Ado-Ekiti.
considered to host the NCI meeting. He urged NCI to use the conference to evolve farreaching decisions on communication and information development to impact positively on the nation’s march toward democratic government. ‘’At the end of this conference, there should be a resolution calling for a more focused approach toward technological development to enhance information and communication development. ‘’It is on record that some landmark decisions concerning information dissemination in Nigeria had been taken by NCI and which has added value to the purveying of information business. ‘’It would not be out of place to note that the birth of NCI and its existence has been a blessing of sort to Nigeria as it has succeeded in fulfilling the dreams of the founding fathers,’’ Akere said. Dr Folasade Yemi-Esan, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Information, said the conference would deliberate on the vital aspects of information management that would impact positively on the citizenry and facilitate national development. Yemi-Esan, who noted that the nation was still lagging behind in the usage of multi-media platforms, urged information managers to embrace the new trend for proper information
dissemination to the public. ‘’As information managers, we have the traditional responsibility to keep Nigerians adequately informed. ‘ ’ E f f e c t i v e communication of government’s decisions, policies and programmes in a timely and comprehensive manner helps to bridge the gap between the government and the people. ‘’ But unfortunately we are yet to avail ourselves of the great possibilities offered by the new multimedia platforms that can help us to do our job better and help us to get our message across to millions of people simultaneously,’’ she said. Yemi-Esan also urged information manager to embrace the present day social media such as blogs, micro blogs and social networks for prompt
information dissemination. ‘’ A dynamic information management has thus become critical to the success of any government be it among the developed or the developing nations. ‘’It is my belief that this meeting would give adequate consideration to issues bordering on social media as a publicity strategy as well as other vital issues that would portray government programmes and activities favourably to the people,’’ Yemi-Esan said. The reports say that the theme of the meeting is ‘’Social Media and Public Information Management.’’ The conference, which has state commissioners for information, head of state and federal government media outfits and permanent secretaries of state and Federal Ministry of Information in attendance, would end on Friday.
ADO-EKITI - Mr. Dipo Kolawole, the Commissioner for Finance in Ekiti, has urged people of the state to know their HIV status via the free medical screening provided by the state government. He made the plea in AdoEkiti at a two-day sensitisation programme on HIV and AIDS, organised by the ministry in collaboration with the State Action Committee on AIDs (SACA). Kolawole noted that SACA, which was headed by Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, wife of Gov. Kayode Fayemi, had been sponsoring and
executing various programmes aimed at curbing the spread of the disease. The commissioner, who was represented by Mr. James Akinola, the state’s Deputy Accountant-General, decried the nonchalant attitude of the people toward the transmission of HIV. He urged the residents to avail themselves of the numerous health intervention programmes of the state government to make life more bearable for them. Kolawole also advised them not to stigmatise those living with HIV.
Commissioner Tasks Ekiti Residents On HIV Status
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Lagos
Lagos Assembly Condemns Filthy State Of Abattoir
Stories By SURAJU RAJI
LAGOS - Lagos State House of Assembly has condemned the filthy environment of the OkoOba abattoir in Lagos
The house also lamented that it is not only unhealthy but appalling and consumption of unwholesome meat from the place could lead to a breakout of diseases and epidemic for
teeming Lagosians. This was one of the findings of the report of the 4-Man adhoc Committee on the modalities for
L-R: Lagos High Court Judge, Justice Toyin Ipaye, Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice Ayo Philips and Controller of Prisons, Lagos State Command, Mrs. Cathrine Ononyi during the visit of Lagos Chief Judge to Kirikiri Minimum Prisons in Lagos recently.
the creation of an agency to oversee matters concerning veterinary services in the state for effective performances and better service delivery. Presenting the report of the 4man ad hoc Committee, Hon. Abdurrzaq Balogun said, “the Committee discovered that the Animal Hospital in Oko-Oba was under funded and lacks the necessary equipment needed for an hospital of its nature”. According to the report, from the data made available to the Committee, Hon. Balogun explained, “no fewer than 4,000 cattle , 10,000 sheep and goats, 500 pigs and 10 camels are being slaughtered daily at the abattoir and other slaughter slabs in the state”. the committee observed that relevant committee of the House should prepare a draft bill for an enabling law to put the necessary machinery and structure in place for the Animal Health Agency.
It also recommended that a veterinary services and Animal Health Agency should be set up by the State Government. The report further noted that “The said draft bill should also put up a better and more functional administrative structure in place to actualize the objectives of the bill on veterinary services of the State The veterinary Agency to be established shall ensure that only qualified veterinary officers (doctors) and other qualified
Animal Health workers are employed for veterinary services of the State. The Committee also advocated that more enlightenment campaigns be put in place to showcase the importance of vertenary services to enhance their service delivery. The House which resumed sitting after 6 week break was presided over by the Leader of the House, Hon Ajibayo Adeyeye and later adopted the recommendation of the report as resolution of the house.
LAGOS - Lagos State House of Assembly has organized a 3day retreat on Language Proficiency Training for its staff. The programme was organized by the Assembly in collaboration with Messrs Pervium consulting. Declaiming the retreat on behalf of speaker Rt Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, at Bedrock Hotel and Suites that open in Badagry, the Director Finance and Administration, Azeez Sanni, explained “Lagos House of Assembly considers its workforce as important element in attainment of its goals and objectives” He further explained that efforts are continuously made to
train and retrain members of staff in order to improve their skills and make them compete favorably with their colleagues. The DFA advised the Staff of Assembly to use the retreat to diagnose the basic linguistic challenges, practicalise proficiency on the job, understand the grammatical aspect of writing; understand the fundamentals of writing. He also implored the staff to be accurate and precise in notetaking and documentation. DFA Sanni also remarked that the language proficiency programme targets the users of English language in documenting the records and proceedings that lead to process of law making.
...Organises 3-Day Retreat For Staff
Lagos Speaker Explains Survival Strategies
L-R: Representative of Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Mrs. Olufunmilayo Olatunji; India High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Manesh Sachdev; President, Association of General and Private Medical Practitioners of Nigeria (AGPMPN), Dr. Anthony Omotola and President, Nigeria Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Dr. Uduimo Itsuili at an Indian Medical Tourism and Wellness Programme in Lagos recently.
Lagos Assembly Begins Assessment Of MDAs
LAGOS - The Chairman Lagos State House of Assemgbly, committee on Public Accounts (state), Hon. Bolaji Yusuf Ayinla representing Mushin II has vowed to sanction any of the parastatals found culpable, saying the House is bent to do thorough work. He disclosed this to newsmen over the weekend at the Lateef Jakande Auditorium, Alausa. However, the Lagos State House of Assembly has embarked on assessment of the accounts of the Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDA),
“We are trying to let them know that a proper retirement has to be done because the financial rules and regulations of section 603 says all invoices and receipts must be attached to the vouchers. “We believe this time around, there should be nobody found wanting if they follow the Auditor General’s report of 2011. They are trying to comply to what we stipulated unlike the past’s report,” Ayinla said. The chairman explained as the committee is carrying out its oversight function; it would later give a detail report at the floor of the House. He said,
“we must lay the report, we have to debate it extensively before arriving at a conclusion before passing resolution.” Ayinla explained that apart from inviting the officers, the committee would have to go for inspection to verify the claims. “We look at various projects and see whether they tally with the reports.” “We are still expecting more of the MDAs and everything is done openly and transparently, if anyone is found wrong we will let the world know. Don’t forget that the head of the legislature was a teacher such
experience would come to bear in everything we do in the Assembly,” Ayinla said. Hon. Ayinla who is serving his third term in the House explained that though there is a private consultant to assist in the exercise, yet he has the required knowledge to do a thorough work. “The recommendations of the consultant would be part and parcel of what we are going to use as a tool in tackling the MDAs. This is an independent work that executive has no input in it,” Ayinla noted.
LAGOS - Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has disclosed his survival strategies. He explained that he had been the speaker of the Assembly for long because of his reliance on God and the belief that he was a mere servant of the people and members who elected him to stay at his duty post. Ikoforiji further explained, “this is beside the knowledge that one-third plus one votes were what a speaker needed to be in office, but difficult to get and easy to lose”. The speaker disclosed this while interacting with students Association, Faculty of Arts, Lagos State University (LASU), Ojo Campus. However, Ikuforiji would be about the longest serving speaker of state Assembly in the country by 2015 as he would have put in 12 solid years. “A speaker needs a one-third of the House plus one vote to carry on. It is difficult to get the one-third and easy to lose it,”
he said. Hon. Ikuforiji said, he considered himself as servant of the people and would not be carried away easily by the fact that he was elected as speaker of Lagos Assembly. Ikuforiji also revealed that he had always been delighted by putting smiles on the faces of people and sustain good relationship. He noted that he had always known that a speaker must see himself as servant of members who elected him into office rather than see himself as a boss. “For me, life is sweet when you live for others. My life is about putting smiles on the faces of others if opportunity arises to do so. “No matter how cantankerous a member is, I want to carry him along. For me to give up on that person the person should go for psychiatric test,” Ikuforiji said. Nevertheless, the speaker lamented the decay in the society currently, especially in total upbringing of children.
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Across Thr Nation Computer-Based Test Will Curb Exam Malpractice -JAMB
Embrace Insurance
NUJ Boss Tells Journalists Scheme,
IBADAN-The National President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Malam Garba Mohammed, has called on members of the union to embrace its insurance scheme. Mohammed made the appeal in Oyo State NUJ 2013 Press Week held at the Iyaganku Press Centre, Ibadan. The NUJ boss, who was represented by the Zonal Secretary, NUJ Zone 8, Mr Gbenga Lawal, said that the scheme became imperative in view of the hazardous nature of the work of journalists in the country. Mohammed, who recalled that the union lost some of its members in an auto crash on August 2, described the insurance scheme as a crucial welfare initiative. He commended the NUJ in the state for its “invaluable achievements” in the last three years under the leadership of Mr Gbenga Opadotun. Earlier, Opadotun said that the celebration was low-keyed to reflect the mood of the union following the loss of one of its members in the August 2 crash. He, nonetheless, promised that the executive of the chapter would not relent in its effort to take the union to greater heights. In his good will message, Mr Gbenga Aderemi, the Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ibadan Chapter, described journalism as the “strength of the weak.’’ The SSANU boss, who also described journalists “as the hope of the masses and the challenger of the oppressor,” urged them to report the truth all the time in spite of the challenges facing them. Contributing, Mr Adebisi Adegboyega, the Chairman, Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics, Ibadan chapter, said there would be no life without journalism. The Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in Oyo State, Alhaji Basiru Olanrewaju, called for better remuneration for journalists in the country.
Deputy Governor of Plateau, Mr Ignatius Longjan (left), greeting victims of Asakio crisis in Nasarawa State at their camp.
JAMB. What we are going to do now is to make use of computers and within a week, the results will be on the Internet. “Unlike before when we were using the analogue style; the new scheme will stop malpractice,” he said. Ojerinde, however, noted that everybody now wanted to go to the university to obtain degrees, adding: “Obtaining a degree is not the only way to make it to the top. “We are encouraging as many people as possible to develop interest in technical education and entrepreneurial education,” he said. Also speaking, Prof. Adeyemi Idowu, the Provost, Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo, lauded JAMB for devising strategies to curb examination malpractice through the introduction of CBT.
Poor Staffing: Benue Shirt 3
Colleges Of Education
Victims of Asakio crisis in Nasarawa State at their camp in Quaan’Pan Local Government Area of Plateau on Wednesday
MAKURDI- The Benue Commissioner for Education, Dr Elizabeth Ugo, announced that the State Government had closed down three colleges of education for poor staffing and infrastructure. Ugo made the announcement in Makurdi at a news conference on the activities of the ministry. She named the colleges as Emmanuel Ebije Ikwe College of Education, Otukpa, Ityiav-Gar
LG Polls: Parties Agree On JOS- Political parties in Plateau have pledged to adhere to the guidelines of the state electoral commission (PLASIEC) for the December 7, 2013 local government polls. They gave the assurance in separate interviews with newsmen. some of the parties said they have been served with copies of the guidelines only on Monday, while others said they were just receiving their copies.
Guidelines
They said they would stick to the commission’s time-table particularly, by holding their primaries as stipulated. The All Progressives Congress (APC), Labour Party (LP) and Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) told newsmen they would hold primaries and would not resort to consensus in picking their candidates. The party officials said the consensus option was an
Measles: Kano Records 200 Deaths KANOKano State Government has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dangote and Bill and Melinda Gates Foundations for the revitalisation of routine immunisation and other primary healthcare services, an official said. Dr Shehu Abdullahi, the Executive Secretary, Kano State Primary Health Care Management Board, made the plan known in Kano at the inauguration of the Kano State Implementation Training for 2013 Integrated Measles Campaign.
ONDO (ONDO STATE) The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has said the introduction of Computer-Based Test (CBT) in its examinations would curb examination malpractice. Prof. Dibu Ojerinde, JAMB’s Registrar, said this in Ondo at the first technical meeting of the board on 2013/2014 admission to Nigeria National Diploma and National Innovative Diploma awarding institutions. It was reported that the meeting took place at Adeyemi College of Education, Ondo. It was also reports that JAMB has commenced the inspection of schools which would be used as CBT centres in the state. Ojerinde said that CBT was also a way of making the candidates to be ICT-compliant. He said that CBT would make the results of any examination conducted by JAMB to be ready within a week. “We have gone digital in
The secretary said that the state had recorded 200 deaths from 8,000 cases of measles since 2012. He said that 80 per cent of those affected, aged between 0 to 59 months, were not immunised against the disease. , “Measles is one of the childhood killer diseases, which can be prevented through immunisation,’’ Abdullahi said, He said it was unfortunate that parents and caregivers of the affected children did not make them available for immunisation and as such exposed them to the disease.
He said that the training for Local Immunisation Officers, State Technical Facilitators and Local Government Facilitators was aimed at addressing the challenges facing immunisation in Kano State. Abdullahi said halting the spread of the wild polio virus, particularly, posed enormous challenges but gave an assurance that the government was poised to meet the challenges. Abdullahi commended Kano State development partners for their support toward the success of healthcare services in the state.
undemocratic form of election and did not give aspirants the necessary level playing field to test their popularity. DPP’s Secretary, Mr Namfa Thomas, acknowledged that the party had received a copy of the guidelines from PLASIEC. He, however, said he was still worried because the tenure of the local government officials to emerge from the polls had not been stated in the guidelines. “The chairmanship and councillorship aspirants of our party who have been trooping in for the nomination and expression of interest forms have been asking to know how many years their tenure would be. “This is not stated in the guidelines, and the Secretary of PLASIEC collected my phone number and said he was going to give me the information later. But, up till now, we are still in the dark,” Thomas said. The State Secretary of Labour Party, Mr James Diwa, also said his party had received the guidelines. “We earlier, on September 2,
received the time-table from PLASIEC, and today we also received the guidelines from PLASIEC. “We have informed our party members, and so many of them have come for the nomination forms. “We have aspirants for both positions in all the 17 Local Government (LGs) and no fewer than 73 aspirants have so far collected forms for councillorship and chairmanship positions.
College of Education, Mkar and Malamin College of Education, Gboko. The commissioner regretted that the schools were being managed solely for commercial gain. Ugo said that the standard of the colleges had fallen below the expectations of the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE). She said the closure of the schools was to ensure that tertiary institutions in the state complied with the minimum requirements of the NCCE. Ugo, however, disclosed that the commission granted approval to seven other Colleges of Education at Oju, Katsina-Ala, Aidogodo, Otukpo, Adoka, Naka and Luga. She said that provisional approval was given to two colleges of education at Lessel and Aliade in the Ushongo and Gwer Local Government Areas of the state. The commissioner said that the ministry was determined to deal with examination malpractices to restore the fallen standard of education in the state.
FERMA Plans Massive Roads Rehabilitation In Borno MAIDUGURI - The Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA) yesterday said it would soon commence massive road rehabilitation in Borno. FERMA Director in the state, Mr Salaam Murtala, said this in an interview with newsmen in Maiduguri. “We are working on plans to carry out mass road rehabilitation on federal roads in the state,” Murtala said. He said the agency had submitted a proposal to FERMA headquarters in Abuja for consideration. According to him, the exercise will begin with federal roads
located in Southern Borno due to the prevailing security challenges in the state. He said that most federal roads in the state had gone bad, blaming the situation on the lingering insecurity in the area. Murtala said although contract had been awarded for the reconstruction of some of the roads, the contractors could not mobilise to site for fear of their lives. He however said that since relative peace had been attained in parts of the state, FERMA would soon mobilise its personnel to rehabilitate the roads.
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Abuja Fees For Recruitment
Ministry Denies Allegation ABUJA- The Ministry of Interior in Abuja has denied charging fees from applicants seeking recruitment into the Nigeria Immigration Service. Mrs Fatima Bamidele, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Interior, said in a statement that the ministry did not collect N1,000 as processing fee from applicants. Bamidele denied the allegation when she received representatives of the Nigerian Unemployed Youths Vanguard led by its National Coordinator, Mr Solomon Adodo in the ministry, according to the statement. “For the avoidance of doubt, the Ministry of Interior and the Nigeria Immigration Service, do not charge and will not accept money for jobs, “Anybody who demands for and accepts money or bribes for jobs into the services under the ministry will be appropriately sanctioned in line with extant regulations guiding discipline in the service,’’ she said. The permanent secretary said that the current recruitment was in continuation of an earlier
effort by the ministry to recruit officers into the Nigeria Immigration Service. She further explained that the exercise that was done manually was marred with controversy and had to be discontinued. “Consequently, a new ICTbased recruitment exercise had to be adopted for the purpose of
fairness, transparency and accountability in line with the transformation agenda of the government. “A consultant was engaged to provide an Internet platform to enable applicants access the application forms that will enable the ministry process the applications,’’ she said.
ABUJA- The FCT security agencies arrested 174 armed robbers in the territory between April and September 2013. This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Muhammad Sule, Chief Press Secretary to the FCT Minister, in Abuja. It said the FCT Commissionerof Police, Mr Femi Ogunbayode, disclosed during a high-point discussion at the FCT Security Committee meeting chaired by FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed. It said that 604 rounds of live ammunition were recovered during the period.
“The number of arms recovered include 27 locallymade pistols, three AK-47 riffles, one Lar-Riffle, 11 Wooden/Toy Guns and one JoeJeff Pump Action Gun,” it said.
ABUJA- A cross-section of residents of the FCT have described as unacceptable the late evacuation of waste by the territory’s cleaning contractors. Some of the residents who spoke to newsmen said it sometimes took the contractors days or weeks to evacuate the waste, even after payments had been made. Mrs Sarah Ajunwa, a resident of Gwarinpa, said the contractor in charge of her estate often failed to evacuate waste as at when due. She said the bad odour emanating from the heap of waste in front of some houses had made the affected areas uninhabitable for residents. Ajunwa said that she always made sure she paid her waste bills on time. “I make sure that I pay all my bills, but I still notice that it takes days for the contractors to evacuate the waste in front of the house. “ The odour that comes from the accumulated waste in every household makes the area uninhabitable,’’ she said. Mr. Segun Bolarinwa, a resident of Apo, said that as a result of the delay in evacuation, alternative means of evacuating the waste were being deviced. He said that dumping waste in front of houses for days without evacuating them was unacceptable. Bolarinwa also faulted the attitude of some contractors
who litter the area with wastes when moving them. “The way they handle bins is not proper; they will turn the waste and throw the bins anyhow thereby breaking them and littering the whole place with waste,’’ he said. A resident of Area 1, Mrs. Jumai Salam, said that in order not to keep the waste in front of the house for days they dispose of them indiscriminately. “I cannot keep waiting for them for days to come and pick the waste; therefore, on my own, I dispose of them anyhow,’’ she said.
FCT: Security Agents Arrest 174 Robbers
Abuja Residents Condemn Late Evacuation Of Waste
L-R: Representative of Nigeria Immigration Service, ACI George Didel, representative of the Nigerian Navy, Navy Capt. Danjuma Moses; representative of the Chief of Defence Staff, AVM. Ahmed Iya and Consultant, Senate Committee on Police Affairs, Retired AVM Chris Marizu at a workshop on Information, Intelligence Gathering, Community Policing and National Security in Abuja recently.
Failure To Appear
Court Orders Arrest Of Ex-Lawmaker ABUJAAn Abuja Magistrates’ Court has issued a bench warrant for the arrest of a former member of the House of Representatives, Nura Marafa (PDP-Zamfara), for failing to appear in court. The Senior Magistrate, Mr Abdullahi Illelah, gave the order, after Marafa who was alleged to have issued a dud cheque to a businessman, Abubakar Ibrahim, owner of Interlink Communications Ltd, failed to appear in court. “In view of the absence of the accused in court, in spite of the fact that he was duly served with the writ of summons, the Divisional Police Officer (DPO) of Life Camp is hereby, ordered to arrest him. “The DPO is also ordered to produce the accused on the next adjourned date one week from today. “This bench warrant is issued in line with section 149 of the Criminal Procedure Code,’’ Illellah ordered. Earlier, the complainant had
told the court that the accused came to his shop on June 25 and bought six blackberry cellphones of various models, one I-pad, one I-phone, among others, totaling N898,000. He said that the accused issued him a July 1, post-dated cheque of N440,000 being partpayment for the items he had collected but it turned out to be a dud cheque. Ibrahim said that he also gave the accused a receipt in respect of the transaction. The complainant said that after repeated demands the accused again gave him another cheque on July 24, which also bounced and so was returned unpaid. He said that all efforts made by him to compel the accused to pay him the money proved abortive, resulting in his making a direct criminal complaint at the Life Camp Police Station on June 25. In his submission, the Court Bailiff, Mr Abdulkadir Yakubu, said that he had personally
L-R: Chairman, Igbo World Assembly (IWA), Dr. Nwachukwu Anakwenze; UPP National Chairman, Chief Chekwas Okorie; Assistant Director, Funding; IWA, Mrs. Amaka Ezukwo and former President of Ohaneze Ndigbo , Igwe Eze Ozobu, during IWA’s 7th Convention in Enugu recently
served the accused with the writ of summons and that Marafa had endorsed the duplicate copy. Meanwhile, An FCT High Court in Gwagwalada has granted a ‘garnishee order nisi’ on four bank accounts belonging to an estate company, Split Second International Limited . Garnishee order nisi, is a legal procedure by which a creditor can collect what a debtor owes by reaching the debtor’s property when it is in the hands of someone other than the debtor. Justice Balami Mwada, gave the order, following a motion exparte brought by Mr Promise Mbani, Counsel to Mr Akinwumi Ajibola. The defendant’s bank account number affected by the ordered are: Guarantee Trust Bank Plc., 321214016110 and 32124016120; Fidelity Bank Plc., 4010612658; and Keystone Bank Plc., 1005363895 within the court’s jurisdiction.
Mwada explained that the court granted the prayers to enable, Ajibola, recover a judgment debt of N54 million paid as part payment for building six units duplexes. The judge said that the defendant would also pay 10 per cent interest rate on judgment sum, totaling N54.5 million. “Upon hearing the motion exparte and accompanying affidavit of Promise Mbani, a garnishee order nisi is hereby granted. “A garnishee order nisi attracting the sum of N54 million and a 10 per cent interest rate on judgment sum from the date of judgment until final liquidation is hereby given. “The order is made to enable the creditor recover his money,’’ Mwada said. The court ordered the banks to appear before it to explain why they could not pay to the plaintiff the entire judgment sum toward the satisfaction of the debt.
Absence Of IPO Stalls Trial Of Robbery Suspects ABUJA- The absence of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), Insp. Emmanuel Bonaventure, stalled the trial of four men for alleged armed robbery Samuel Nwosu, Faeren Labe, Christian Ugockwu and Ebuka Ozodibe are standing trial on two counts of felony and armed robbery. At the resumed hearing of the case, before Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf of the FCT High Court, the police prosecutor, Insp. John Ashu, told the court that the IPO was not in court to testify. Ashu prayed for an adjournment to enable the police to produce the IPO who was the leader of an investigating team in the case filed against the four accused persons.
Justice Baba-Yusuf granted the prayer of the prosecution and adjourned the suit to Nov. 26. Baba-Yusuf said that the adjournment was in the interest of justice. He ordered the prosecution to present its witnesses unfailingly in court by the adjourned date. NAN reports that the four were alleged to have robbed one Mr Luke Alakwe of his Mercedes Benz 230 model saloon Car with registration Number AY385A PP on Jan. 11, 2006. They were also alleged to have collected of 10, 000 from their victim. The police said the offence contravened Section 97 of the Penal Code. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.
THE NIGERIAN
10
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Business + Economy
Lagos Residents Urge FG To Check Rising Price Of Kerosene LAGOS - Some residents in Lagos have appealed to the Federal Government to urgently check the rising cost of kerosene. They told newsmen in separate interviews that price of kerosene had soared to N155 per litre at filling stations from the official pump price of N50. Mrs Odunayo Yusuf, a food seller at Ojuelegba, said that the high cost had further increased the cost of cooking for the masses. According to Yusuf, most of the stations within Ojuelegba are selling kerosene for between N140 and N155 per litre from the official price of N50. “ Currently, we are faced with the challenge of getting the product because most of the filling stations preferred selling to retailers than individuals,” she said.
Mr Francis Debola, a banker with Zenith Bank, appealed to the Federal Government to put in place effective mechanisms to check marketers. Debola said that kerosene was gradually getting out of the reach of the poor. “Since the beginning of this year, kerosene has sold for between N135 and N150 per litre and no regulatory agency has done something about it,’’ he said. Mr Sunny Ezeugwu, a commercial bus driver at Obalende, urged labour leaders to intervene to save Nigerians from further exploitation. “What baffles me is that each time government increases pump price of petrol, labour unions and other organisations will call for strike. “But as in the case of kerosene, we have not seen anybody that
will fight for the masses who only depend on it to survive. “The commodity is not scarce; filling stations are selling it at their own price because nobody
is monitoring them,” he said. Mrs Kofoworola Ilori, a civil servant in Lagos, urged the government to find out what was responsible for the high rise in
price. “NNPC said that it pumped out the product at the rate of N40 per litre on daily basis, we must know the people behind the unlawful increase,” she said. Reports say that some depots in Apapa were selling kerosene
at the rate N108 per litre to marketers. Mr Isiaka Aremu, Auditor General, Sahara Unit of Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Gas Workers (NUPENG), blamed the middlemen for the price hike.
Cassava Production Will Create 3 Million Jobs - Institute
LAGOS - The Federal Institute of Industrial Research in Oshodi (FIIRO) says the use of cassava flour for production of bread is capable of creating three million jobs within three years. A statement issued by FIIRO in Lagos quoted its DirectorGeneral, Dr Gloria Elemo, as making the assertion. Elemo also appealed to the Federal Government to urgently address the issue of creation of enabling environment for the implementation of cassava inclusion in bread-making. According to her, if this step is taken, an average of 25 bakeries will be established by entrepreneurs per local government area in Nigeria over a period of three years. “ Cassava bread has high potential for job creation through processors and producers of high quality cassava flour, farmers, suppliers, bakers and researchers. “Many will take advantage of the new regime of incentives for bakers and processors on bakery equipment and reduced tariff on
all equipment for processing of high quality cassava flour and flour blending. “This implies that the cassava bread policy could lead to establishment of about 19,350 additional bakeries in all the 774 local government areas within the next three years. “With an average employment of seven workers per bakery, this implies that about 135,450 jobs can be created in these bakeries within the next three years. “Considering a multiplier effect on the downstream industries, the cassava bread policy, if properly implemented, has the capacity to generate about three million jobs in three years,’’ She said. The director general said that cassava was being cultivated in Nigeria mostly by peasant farmers with average land holding of less than two hectares. She said that if an average land holding of two hectares was cultivated per farmer with an average national yield per hectare of 10.6 tonnes, then farmers could have an average output of 21.2 tonnes per annum.
Equipment at the International Print Expo in Abuja recently.
NNPC Calls For Speedy Passage Of PIB
ABUJA - Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has urged the National Assembly to ensure speedy passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) to transform the nation’s oil and gas sector. The Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Mr Andrew Yakubu, made the call in Abuja at the 3rd Upstream and Downstream Oil and Gas Conference. Speaking on a paper entitled “PIB and Investment Opportunities-Characteristics of the Document’’, Yakubu said passage of the PIB would attract Foreign Direct Investment into the oil and gas sector. According to him, the PIB, when passed into law, will go a long way in complementing government’s reforms in the
sector. “The PIB, currently before the National Assembly, offers an opportunity to increase investments in the entire value chain of the petroleum industry with attendant positive impacts on the economy,’’ he said. Yakubu noted that the PIB was painstakingly drawn up with inputs from all stakeholders in the oil and gas sector with a view to replacing about 16 obsolete laws. He enumerated the benefits inherent in the bill to include the creation of a commercially viable National Oil Company, establishment of an effective fiscal framework, promotion of Nigerian content and enhancement of exploration activities. Other benefits of the bill, he said, included deregulation of petroleum product prices, promotion of health safety and environment and creation of a
robust economic environment to attract investments. He said the PIB would go a long way in unleashing and developing the gas reserves in the country, which he said is currently grossly underutilised and wasted through flaring. “One of the very important resources for Nigeria’s future is natural gas. “Nigeria holds huge gas resources with a proven reserve of 187 trillion cubic feet of Gas with unproven Gas potential of about 600TCF. “The scorecard for gas has been low in terms of both development and local consumption, more so, large volumes of gas are still being flared. “The bill, therefore, incorporates the earlier measures taken by government with respect to the domestic supply obligation in order to underpin
the gas master plan,’’ he said. Yakubu, who was represented by Mr Victor Briggs, Managing Director, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company, expressed optimism about a bright future for the oil and gas sector, “anchored on a robust PIB’’. Earlier, Mrs NKechi Nwaogu, Chairman, Senate Committee on Gas, gave the assured that the National Assembly was committed to the speedy passage of the PIB. She, however, decried the alarming rate of gas flaring in the country, which is put as the second highest in the world and urged stakeholders to join government in addressing the negative trend. International Oil Companies, National Assembly members, officials from NNPC, PTDF and Nigeria Export Processing Zone are attending the three-day event, which has ends today.
on its maps to make driving or walking through unfamiliar terrains easier for mobile phones users. The features are accessible by any smart phone user. A statement signed by Mr Taiwo Kola-Ogunlade, the Company’s Communications and Public Affairs Manager, said that “Google Maps for Mobile” would make directions more easier to get. He said that the Google Maps Navigation system included everything expected from a GPS navigation system
and much more. “We have worked to improve the comprehensiveness and usefulness of Google Maps through advanced features like voice-guided, turn-by-turn navigation. “Many Nigerians are today using this tool to navigate their way around the country,” the Google official said. He said that Google Maps Navigation (Beta) could be accessed by any smart phone user running Android 2.2+and iOS 5.1+ and required no downloads or updates.
any journey, the user would also have access to information about thousands of cities, towns, roads and points of interest. “In other words, whether you are heading to Abuja Stadium for a football match or Calabar for a family holiday, Google Maps Navigation has you covered,’’ he said. The public affairs manager said that with Google Maps Navigation, the user’s phone would announce upcoming directions as one moved along the route in English or French.
Google Launches Improved Nigerian GOOGLE Nigeria has Kola-Ogunlade said that in Map introduced advanced features addition to guiding the user on
L-R:l Member, House of Representatives Committee on Industries, Rep. Nasiru Ilah, Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu and Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Mohammed Onawo, during an oversight function visit of the Committee to SON in Abuja recently.
THE NIGERIAN
11
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY{26/09/13) Stocks
Open
Close
Change
Deals
Units
Value
MULTITREX
0.5
0.5
0
2
242,500
121,250.00
7UP
72
72
0
20
32,496
2,105,859.73
MULTIVERSE
0.5
0.5
0
3
7,500
3,750.00
ABBEYBDS
1.65
1.49
-0.16
2
150,300
223,947.00
NAHCO
6.1
6.1
0
24
245,712
1,498,839.56
ABCTRANS
0.77
0.79
0.02
15
541,411
425,528.80
NASCON
11.55
11.92
0.37
87
1,126,156
13,366,162.70
ACADEMY
1.87
1.87
0
6
177,020
331,051.40
NB
161
160.99
-0.01
170
682,083
109,514,049.62
ACCESS
9.91
9.93
0.02
277
34,323,539
340,969,452.12
NCR
16.83
16.83
0
1
8,500
128,775.00
AFRIPRUD
1.9
1.87
-0.03
33
111,760
210,011.00
NEIMETH
1.15
1.15
0
13
158,936
179,251.40
AFROMEDIA
0.5
0.5
0
1
3,000
1,500.00
NEM
0.69
0.7
0.01
25
2,015,753
1,408,170.88
AGLEVENT
1.55
1.55
0
7
57,676
89,215.38
NESTLE
1001
990.03
-10.97
81
288,259
285,579,275.30
AIICO
0.76
0.78
0.02
38
1,345,205
1,026,672.19
NIGERINS
0.5
0.5
0
2
34,374
17,187.00
AIRSERVICE
4.23
4.23
0
2
210
800.1
NNFM
25.65
25.65
0
3
1,100
25,399.00
ARBICO
5.05
5.05
0
1
50
227.5
NPFMCRFBK
0.79
0.79
0
6
58,887
43,378.64
ASHAKACEM
19
19.1
0.1
42
214,338
4,118,190.54
OANDO
10.5
10.82
0.32
219
4,053,944
44,194,387.03
ASOSAVINGS
0.5
0.5
0
3
20,500
10,250.00
OASISINS
0.5
0.5
0
1
180,000
90,000.00
BERGER
8.7
8.7
0
9
29,507
254,381.66
OKOMUOIL
48.05
48.05
0
32
139,166
6,370,390.20
BETAGLAS
11.87
11.87
0
1
100
1,187.00
PAINTCOM
2.04
2.04
0
2
60,000
122,400.00
BOCGAS
6.5
6.5
0
5
11,479
74,288.50
PORTPAINT
5.6
5.6
0
1
2,600
14,560.00
CADBURY
46
46
0
40
206,051
9,472,645.73
PREMBREW
0.74
0.74
0
1
4,599
3,725.19
CAP
39.07
37
-2.07
26
233,839
8,679,387.99
PRESCO
37
33.3
-3.7
10
114,785
3,830,181.25
CCNN
9.09
9.09
0
18
132,277
1,144,797.30
PRESTIGE
0.6
0.6
0
2
5,100
3,054.00
CHAMPION
16.99
16.99
0
2
600
9,180.00
PZ
37
37.5
0.5
64
374,276
13,886,601.30
CILEASING
0.5
0.5
0
2
2,000
1,000.00
REDSTAREX
4.1
4.1
0
7
81,000
334,650.00
CONOIL
28.8
28.8
0
17
12,481
324,407.57
REGALINS
0.5
0.5
0
2
1,000
500
CONTINSURE
1.12
1.15
0.03
6
20,016,700
23,004,995.90
RESORTSAL
0.5
0.5
0
1
200
100
CORNERST
0.53
0.5
-0.03
6
102,286
51,143.00
ROYALEX
0.5
0.52
0.02
18
346,230
180,211.43
COSTAIN
1.11
1.11
0
16
150,608
157,027.96
RTBRISCOE
1.35
1.44
0.09
44
748,236
1,047,919.57
COURTVILLE
0.75
0.75
0
3
13,670
9,295.60
SCOA
5.32
5.32
0
1
49,166
235,505.14
CUSTODYINS
1.35
1.4
0.05
21
1,346,529
1,884,767.70
SKYEBANK
4.19
4.1
-0.09
97
1,695,409
7,006,587.10
CUTIX
2
2
0
19
295,142
532,492.84
SKYESHELT
100
100
0
1
500
50,000.00
DANGCEM
190
190
0
88
222,711
42,311,952.68
STACO
0.5
0.5
0
1
200
100
DANGFLOUR
9.01
9.05
0.04
82
796,214
7,200,913.57
STANBIC
19.3
19.3
0
29
182,200
3,458,240.06
DANGSUGAR
10.83
10.9
0.07
70
1,276,175
13,825,418.13
STDINSURE
0.5
0.5
0
1
4,820
2,410.00
DIAMONDBNK
6.16
5.9
-0.26
71
4,752,700
28,817,345.35
STERLNBANK
2.26
2.33
0.07
65
6,676,558
15,346,422.81
DNMEYER
1.9
1.9
0
2
3,600
6,170.00
THOMASWY
1.04
0.94
-0.1
1
100,000
94,000.00
DUNLOP
0.5
0.5
0
1
75,000
37,500.00
TOTAL
152.01
157.01
5
32
285,693
44,581,843.41
ETERNA
2.75
2.75
0
25
274,487
757,814.39
TRANSCORP
1.45
1.5
0.05
198
43,518,749
64,923,218.00
ETI
13.5
13.4
-0.1
91
7,831,370
104,955,266.43
TRANSEXPR
1.45
1.36
-0.09
13
471,575
640,074.00
EVANSMED
3.29
3.29
0
1
500
1,645.00
TRIPPLEG
2.29
2.29
0
1
238
492.66
FBNH
15.96
16.01
0.05
370
8,026,822
128,551,971.96
UAC-PROP
15.22
15.7
0.48
30
340,305
5,334,783.76
FCMB
3.68
3.67
-0.01
88
3,293,489
12,145,685.10
UACN
59
57.99
-1.01
55
561,862
32,591,284.51
FIDELITYBK
2.49
2.51
0.02
97
6,747,296
16,958,521.27
UBA
7.4
7.35
-0.05
236
11,992,514
88,755,895.19
FIDSON
1.96
1.97
0.01
13
784,700
1,540,616.00
UBCAP
1.31
1.38
0.07
55
1,757,641
2,366,904.42
FLOURMILL
83
83
0
38
107,735
8,662,407.91
UBN
10.25
10.16
-0.09
94
1,263,312
12,878,136.60
FO
35.7
35.7
0
47
167,930
6,188,578.20
UNIC
0.5
0.5
0
1
25,834
12,917.00
GLAXOSMITH
69
69
0
16
35,327
2,245,427.06
UNILEVER
58
60.61
2.61
52
464,874
28,088,094.12
GNI
0.5
0.5
0
2
2,000
1,000.00
UNIONDAC
0.5
0.5
0
2
5,000
2,500.00
GUARANTY
25
25
0
319
26,947,660
673,613,933.23
UNITYBNK
0.53
0.55
0.02
116
29,503,876
16,683,481.57
GUINNESS
249
248.6
-0.4
74
438,165
109,069,240.08
UNIVINSURE
0.5
0.5
0
1
367,000
183,500.00
HONYFLOUR
2.7
2.82
0.12
35
804,241
2,257,803.36
UPDCREIT
10.5
10.5
0
1
2,000
18,900.00
IHS
2.9
2.8
-0.1
4
100,000
280,015.90
UPL
3.74
3.81
0.07
17
326,694
1,238,052.14
IKEJAHOTEL
0.8
0.8
0
3
50,990
37,007.28
UTC
0.58
0.59
0.01
17
322,925
192,180.93
INTBREW
19.75
19.75
0
47
567,815
10,511,371.57
VANLEER
12.68
12.68
0
1
1,000
11,500.00
INTENEGINS
0.72
0.65
-0.07
17
1,960,065
1,277,941.61
VITAFOAM
3.99
3.66
-0.33
33
1,327,003
5,116,155.97
IPWA
0.9
0.99
0.09
14
673,073
665,817.27
VONO
1.78
1.88
0.1
6
111,241
197,298.01
JAPAULOIL
0.5
0.5
0
13
1,442,790
721,395.00
WAPCO
90
90
0
37
215,190
19,538,058.76
JBERGER
76.99
76.99
0
39
907,722
64,381,782.34
WAPIC
0.82
0.8
-0.02
25
14,277,553
11,433,689.45
JOHNHOLT
1.07
1.07
0
2
7,836
8,714.36
WEMABANK
0.94
0.93
-0.01
23
38,192,849
35,531,240.00
ZENITHBANK
19.7
19.9
0.2
205
18,413,170
367,994,480.32
JOSBREW
5.4
4.86
-0.54
34
884,830
4,307,273.80
JULI
1.93
1.93
0
1
3,832
6,667.68
LASACO
0.5
0.5
0
2
372,615
186,307.50
LEARNAFRCA
1.95
1.95
0
8
136,130
245,034.00
LIVESTOCK
3.9
3.72
-0.18
24
428,192
1,627,638.10
MANSARD
2.01
2.01
0
7
267,400
547,745.00
MAYBAKER
2.2
2.2
0
19
288,996
584,574.00
MBENEFIT
0.5
0.5
0
1
22,556
11,278.00
MOBIL
107
107
0
26
42,280
4,609,853.13
MRS
36.14
36.14
0
4
10,902
354,642.06
TOP 10 GAINERS Stock TOTAL UNILEVER PZ UAC-PROP NASCON OANDO ZENITHBANK HONYFLOUR ASHAKACEM VONO
Close 157.01 60.61 37.5 15.7 11.92 10.82 19.9 2.82 19.1 1.88
TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain
Stock
5 2.61 0.5 0.48 0.37 0.32 0.2 0.12 0.1 0.1
NESTLE PRESCO CAP UACN JOSBREW GUINNESS VITAFOAM DIAMONDBNK LIVESTOCK ABBEYBDS
Close
Loss 990.03 33.3 37 57.99 4.86 248.6 3.66 5.9 3.72 1.49
-10.97 -3.7 -2.07 -1.01 -0.54 -0.4 -0.33 -0.26 -0.18 -0.16
THE NIGERIAN
12
THE Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria has voted in favour of the removal of the National Minimum wage from the “Exclusive List to the Concurrent List” in the ongoing constitution review. THE Trade Union Congress in a swift reaction on Tuesday called on the Senators to reconsider their position on the deregulation of the minimum wage. The Union’s President, Mr. Bobboi Kaigama said the decentralisation of the National Minimum wage Law showed clearly that the upper legislative arm was acting contrary to the will of the Nigerian people. WE are tempted to share same sentiments with the Trade Union Congress given the unpopular amendments the Senate has embarked upon since it commenced voting on the recommendations of the Ike Ekweremadu-led Committee reports on constitution review. From the obnoxious 6 year single tenure, to the Child Marriage and now moving National Minimum wage out of the Exclusive List to the Concurrent List. WE believe that there are more important constitutional changes Nigerians have been clamouring for to be reflected in the grand norm which the Senate who ordinarily should be the representatives of the people are shying away from in utter preference for their personal issues and those of their political
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013 THE NIGERIAN
Senate’s Constitutional Ammendment Of Minimum Wage godfathers. Some of the important issues Nigerians want to see in their constitution include but are not limited to the followings: true fiscal federalism or resource control, in the alternative, return to regional government as provided for in the 1963 Constitution, devolution of powers to federating states, Local Government Autonomy, removal of immunity clause particularly with criminal dimension to immunity among others. RATHER than give Nigerians a peoplecentred constitution, we are worried that the Senate is currently chasing shadows and wallowing in self-glorification and perpetuation. This is condemnable because, it is only sheepish for a Senator to vote for Child Marriage only to burst into tears when confronted by his constituents. It goes to show that many of the Senators are not voting according to the wishes of their constituencies. This explains the untoward voyage into the deregulation of minimum wage by the Senators. IT is our contention, therefore, that if the
Federal Government should legislate for federal workers and the state government legislates for the state workers, which assembly have the Senators put in place in the same constitution to legislate for the private sector and other none state actors? CREATING two regimes of minimum wage and excluding the private sector in the fixing of wages in the country, offers private operators a blank cheque to exploit Nigerians in their employ. We expect Senators to have this understanding more than any other Nigerian, hence our utter disappointment and we call on the distinguished senators to rescind their stand. IT is for this reason, we want to urge the House of Representatives which has been very progressive in its legislations and resolution since inception of the seventh National Assembly to vote against this obnoxious decision of the senators. WE urge the Committee on harmonization of both houses positions to throw out this vexations provisions from our statute book when they eventually commence sitting on constitution review. In the same token, we call on all State Houses Assembly to reject the proposal if it comes their way. FINALLY, we urge organised Labour as represented by the Trade Union Congress and the Nigeria Labour Congress to rise to the occasion and resist this anti-labour move of the senators.
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IN recent times, traditional medicine has been receiving significant attention in health management efforts across the world partly because several people have somewhat lost confidence in the efficacy of orthodox medicine. Analysts attribute the people’s loss of confidence in orthodox medicine to factors such as drug counterfeiting and drug reactions, as well as the affordability and accessibility of the healthcare delivery. They also observe that traditional medicine has been used to cure various lifethreatening ailments in all parts of the world at lower costs, even before the discovery of some medications. The general acceptance of traditional medicine is even attested to by the World Health Organisation (WHO), which notes that more than 80 per cent of the population of Africa depends on traditional medication. According to the global health agency, certain complementary and alternative medical therapies are also getting popular among Australians and Europeans. Besides, a survey conducted by the Roll Back Malaria programme indicates that 60 per cent of children with high fever in countries such as Nigeria, Ghana, Mali and Zambia, use herbs as first-line treatment. With this trend in its patronage, experts, therefore, recommend that traditional medicine should be regulated and incorporated into Nigeria’s healthcare system to ensure the quality, safety and potency of products. Sharing similar sentiments, Mrs Julie Offoboche, a former Solicitor-General of Cross River, urged the Federal Government to acknowledge the work of traditional medicine practitioners by licensing them and creating room for them in hospitals. She stressed that although orthodox medicine had a great value in healthcare delivery, there were some ailments that could only be effectively treated with local medicinal herbs. Offoboche noted that valuable goods and services, including herbal medicine, were being produced in
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Health Incorporating Traditional Medicine Into Nigeria’s Healthcare System Nigeria, urging the government to give tangible support to these small-scale enterprises. “The government should give them some grant and ensure that the amount of money given to them is actually given to the right person. “When this is done, herbal medicine practitioners would be independent and be able to give quality service delivery; they can even perform better than their counterparts in India and China. “As regards herbal products coming in from India and China, people will tell you I took this and I took that but it did not work; when they take the Nigerian herbal formula, it would work for them. “Our herbal products are every efficacious. The government should give support to the herbal medications’ producers by giving them grants to enable them to conduct research and produce more drugs,’’ she added. Nevertheless, Offoboche noted that the Cross River Government had been licensing herbal medicine practitioners via annual renewable agreements, urging the Federal Government to replicate the policy at the federal level. Mrs Quincy Ayodele, a traditional medicine practitioner, shares a similar viewpoint. She underscored the need to develop and implement a national policy for regulating traditional medicine in the country so as to ensure its efficacy. She also stressed the need to incorporate traditional medicine into the country’s Primary Health Care system, saying that it would expand the citizens’ access to good, affordable healthcare delivery. Ayodele called on stakeholders in the health sector to develop long-term and short-term training programmes for traditional medicine practitioners to improve their knowledge. At the 62nd WHO African Regional Meeting in Luanda,
By ANNA ANGBAZO Angola, in November 2012, traditional medicine practitioners also argued that research was very essential in the drive to improve the quality of traditional medicine. Traditional medicine
stimulate the production of quality, safe and efficacious herbal medicines. Sofowora said: “Traditional medicine has been with us since the beginning of time, and it is the only source of
noted that many Africans preferred traditional medicine to orthodox medicine because of its affordability and accessibility. He, nonetheless, advised traditional medicine practitioners to share their knowledge with others, stressing that most
Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, Minister of Health practitioners from Congo, Mozambique and Mali, in their separate contributions at the meeting, particularly stressed that the integration of traditional medicine into national healthcare systems would enhance the people’s access to affordable healthcare. However, Prof. Abayomi Sofowora, the former Chairman of WHO Regional Expert Committee on Traditional Medicine, stressed that the practice of traditional medicine ought to be strictly regulated. He said that the regulation of herbal medicine would
healthcare for most people due to its accessibility and affordability. “The holistic approach attracts many people who want to go back to nature for treatment because many people are not happy with the healthcare provided by orthodox healthcare.’’ Sofowora stressed that the global trade in herbs grossed over 100 billion dollars per annum, stressing that Africa should seize the opportunity and start reaping the economic benefits of traditional medicine Angola’s Minister of Health Joseviera Dias Van Dinem
“The holistic approach attracts many people who want to go back to nature for treatment because many people are not happy with the healthcare provided by orthodox healthcare.’’
practitioners only bequeathed their skills to their family members alone. However, Mr Shekwoduza Baba, the Manager (Health Systems Strengthening Programme), Clinton Health Access Initiative, in Liberia, suggested that rigorous analytical work ought to be carried out to ascertain the potency of any herbal remedy which traditional medicine practitioners claimed to have discovered. “I have a soft spot for traditional medicine because the knowledge of healing has been passed on from generation to generation on my mother’s side. “I am working to catalogue all the medicinal plants which my mother recommended for managing or curing different ailments in 2013. “This is in an effort to set the foundation for further analytical work, which will involve isolating the active ingredients in the plants.’’ Baba, nonetheless, stressed that in spite of claims of cure
by traditional medicine practitioners and the demand for collaboration, the practitioners ought to disclose the contents of their medicinal preparations for scientific proof. Corroborating this view, Dr Dorcas Angbazo, a nephrologist at the National Assembly Clinic, said that inasmuch as there were claims of cure in traditional medicine, there should be clinical trials to ensure safety of the medications. She warned that the health hazards of ingesting traditional medicines without knowing their ingredients and dosage could be quite devastating. Angbazo cited an incident in Belgium in 1992 when chronic interstitial nephritis was diagnosed in most middle-aged women in the country who were using Chinese herbal pills to shed weight. She, therefore, called on traditional medicine practitioners to subject their claims to the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD) for verification through thorough research. However, NIPRD’s Director-General, Prof. Karniyus Gamaniel, said that institute was only engrossed with research, adding that it was not a final product developer. He, therefore, stressed that the institute’s work on traditional medicine products could not satisfy the extant market standards in terms of the products’ dosage and standardisation. Besides, Gamaniel said that the institute was trying to reduce the spurious “cancure-all’’ claims of traditional medicine practitioners by verifying their claims on the treatment of sundry diseases. He, however, gave the assurance that the institute would collaborate with traditional medicine practitioners in efforts to garner wider acceptance for their products. According to him, research into herbal medicines was considered imperative because of the high patronage for the medicines, especially at the grassroots. Gamaniel and other experts, therefore, insist that without scientific proof of the potency of any traditional medication, the users face the risk of toxic, adverse side-effects. (NAN Features)
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
CLASSIFIED:CHANGE OF NAME NNEDU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Joy Udechukwu Nnedu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Joy Nnedu EnoObong. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note IDUSERI – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Blessing Iduseri now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Blessing Ogbemudia. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. UDUEBOR – I formerly called Miss Uduebor Glory is now known and called Mrs. Aigbedion Steadfast Glory. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. ODIA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Eseosa Claire Odia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Eseosa Claire Uzebor. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. AMIOGHOGHO-OSAWE – I formerly known and addressed as Mrs. Victoria Itohan Enoghayin Amioghogho-Osawe now wish to be known and addressed as Miss Victoria Itohan Enoghayin Irorere. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OFUOKWU – I formerly known and addressed as Benjamin Amaechi Ofuokwu now wish to be known and addressed as Benjamin Amachi Ofuokwu. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. ONUNKWO – I formerly Miss Miriam Chioma Onunkwo now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Miriam Chioma Uzuakpunwa. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. EMOKPAE – I formerly Osayande Osas Emokpae now wish to be known, called and addressed as Osayande Aghasentin Emokpae. All former documents remain valid. Nigerian Institute for Oil Palm Research (NIFOR) and the general public should please take note. AKPABIO – I formerly Miss Iniobong Udo Akpabio now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Iniobong Amadin Oziegbe. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please
take note.
OKHOMINA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Vero Osamudiamen Okhomina now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Vero Osamudiamen Nwabueze. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note. IMASUEN – I formerly called Miss Imasuen Enata Mary now wish to be called Mrs. Izevbekhai Enata Mary. All former documents remain valid. Local Government Service Commission Benin City, other concerned authorities and the general public take note. AKPOIGBE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oyovwe Akpoigbe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Oyovwe Olafimihan. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. MBAMARA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Mbamara Chilee Anastasia now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Agwubike Chilee Anastasia. All former documents remain valid. State, School of Midwifery, Edo State, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria (NMCN), Midwives Services Scheme and general public should please take note. YOUDEOWEI – I formerly called Patrick Omorodion Osayande Youdeowei is now known and called Patrick Omorodion Osayande Obayagbona. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. POPOOLA – I formerly Miss Bola Popoola now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Bola Oduntan. All former documents remain valid. Nigeria Police Force and the general public should please take note. OSAYANDE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Osayande Aiwekhor Angela now wish to be known and address as Mrs. Omoregie Aiwekhor Angela. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OYE – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Oye Christiana now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Christiana Akintade. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Nigeria Police Force (NPF) and the general public should please take note. FAYEMI – I formerly known and addressed as Fayemi Owolabi Festus now wish to be
known and addressed as Odeh Festus Osariemen. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OTABOR – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Otabor Joy Ede now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Omoregie Joy Ede. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) and the general public should please take note. AKIOYAMEN – I formerly known and addressed as Akioyamen Omoye Sarah now wish to be known and addressed as Akioyamen Omo Ashley. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. AKINNAGBE – I formerly known and addressed as Aniya Ogun Akinnagbe now wish to be known and addressed as Trust Aniya Okoye. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. OSAYAMWEN – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Winifred Nekpen Osayamwen now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Winifred Nekpen Anetor. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OSAGIE – I formerly known and addressed as Philip Edos Osagie now wish to be known and addressed as Desmond Edos Osagie. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. WILLIAM – I formerly Ogbe Eghosa William now wish to be known, called and addressed as Ogbemudia Eghosa Agbonghae. All former documents remain valid. First Bank Plc and general public should please take note. ANAGBALU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Anagbalu Ifeoma Maureen now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs Obi Ifeoma Maureen. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. UDOTOR – I formerly Miss Udotor Jeminatu Doris now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Oshiobugie Jeminatu Doris. All former documents remain valid. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, First Bank of Nigeria Plc Ekpoma, Nursing/Midwifery Council of Nigeria and general public take note.
OGALA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Maris Ehimen Ogala now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Maris Ehimen Odugboye. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OSASUMI – I formerly called Miss Osasumi Joy Ebalegbe is now known and called Mrs. Joy Lucky Omofomah. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. NWAGALAKU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Chineze Chijioke Anulika Nwagalaku now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Chineze Precious Chijioke Anulika Nnadi. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.
OYOVWIRAYE – I formerly called Miss Gift Oghogho Oyovwiraye now wish to be called Mrs. Gift Oghogho Ehigie-Osaseri. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note. OLOTU – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Olotu Catherine Bolanle now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Aludo Catherine Bolanle. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) University of Nigeria (UNN) Nsukka and the general public should please take note. EGWABOR – I formerly known and addressed as Juliet Egwabor is now known and addressed as Mrs. Julie Idahosa. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public
ADDITION OF I, Bright NAME Katherine Asogu wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Bright Chigozie Asogu. Heceforth, I am now addressed as Bright Katherine Asogu. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and First Bank Plc should please take note.
RECONCILIATION OF NAME
The general public, Millennium Hospital, Auchi, other concerned authorities are hereby notified that Mr. Adagbon Ofunim Johnson and Mr. Adams Ofunim Johnson are one and the same person. Henceforth, I am now known and addressed as Mr Adams Ofunim Johnson. All former documents bearing the aforementioned names should remain valid.
should please take note.
City and the general public should please take note.
ODIASE – I formerly Miss Glory Ikhayere Odiase now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Glory Inegbenose. All former documents remain valid. Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma and the general public should please take note.
MABIAKU – I formerly called Miss Mabiaku Mercy, Ozor Mercy, Nwanbueze Mercy Itohan is now known and called Mrs. Mercy Itohan Idele. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
IKUSEMUYA – I formerly known and addressed as Miss Ikusemuya Orowole Florence now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Igie Orowole Florence. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
ORJIOGO – I formerly Miss Orjiogo Kodilchukwu Merit, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs Adams Kodilichuwku Merit. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
AIGBE – I formerly Miss Ehizogie Aigbe now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ehizogie Osagie. All former documents remain valid. Edo State Universal Basic Education Board, Institute of Continuing Education, Benin
KADIRI – I formerly Miss Kadiri Sikirat now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Obomeghie Sikirat. All former documents remain valid. Auchi Polytechnic, Auchi, NYSC, other concerned authorities and general public should please take note.
RECONCILIATION/ CONFIRMATION OF NAME
RECONCILIATION/ CONFIRMATION OF NAME
The general public and other concerned authorities are hereby notified that Okomilo Oshoma Joseph and Okomilo Joseph Omoh are one and the same person. Henceforth, I now wish to be known and addressed as Okomilo Joseph Omoh. All documents bearing the aforementioned names to please remain valid.
I, Mr. Samuel Enakhe Akhenebiri wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person called Akharue Enakhe. However, I am now properly called Mr. Samuel Enakhe Akenebiri. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.
CONFIRMATION OF NAME
ADDITION OF NAME I, Akhimien Onuwabhagbe
I, Orukpe Odion Mercy wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Mercy Onibheluolemi Orukpe as appeared in my various documents. Henceforth, I am now addressed as Orukpe Odion Mercy. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and First Bank Plc should please take note.
This Space Is For Sale
Idowu wish to inform the general public that I am the same person called Akhimien Idowu. Henceforth, I am now addressed as Akhimien Onuwabhagbe Idowu. All former documents remain valid. Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital Irrua, Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), First Bank of Nig. Plc Ekpoma and concerned authorities please take note.
PUBLIC NOTICE
STOLEN VEHICLE I, Mrs. Tessy Ogbemudia of No. 4, Omoruyi Street, Ugbor Quarters, Benin City wish to bring for the information of the general public that my vehicle, Toyota Camry Car, with Reg. No. DG 400 BEN, Dark Blue in Colour, Engine No. 5S-0376559 and Chassis No. JT25K12E7R0237091 was removed from the position it was parked opposite OLA Primary School along Airport Road, Benin City on Monday, September 16, 2013. All efforts to recover the car have proved abortive. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note as I solicit that any useful information that may lead to the recovery will be rewarded. Signed: Tessy Ogbemudia 08038716396
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Discourse Prominent Mexicans Urge Govt To Decriminalize Marijuana A BROAD spectrum of prominent Mexicans, including former ministers, businessmen, artists and a Nobel Prize-winning scientist, on Wednesday urged the government to decriminalize marijuana in a bid to curb gang violence and corruption. Since 2007, about 80,000 people have been killed in turf wars between drug cartels and their clashes with security forces, leading to calls for a change in policy in Mexico and elsewhere in the U.S.led war on drugs. We d n e s d a y ’s n e w s p a p e r advertisement urging the decriminalization of cannabis brought together one of the most diverse coalitions pushing for change in Mexico. Those lobbying included a number of influential figures in public life. Among the signatories were several former ministers from the ruling Institutional Revolutionary Party, famous actors, media tycoon Ricardo Salinas Pliego, one of Mexico’s richest men, and 1995 Nobel laureate for chemistry, Mario Molina. The ad argued that criminalization made narcotics more lucrative for cartels, noted that a number of U.S. states had liberalized marijuana laws and that Uruguay’s Congress was taking steps to legalize the cultivation and sale of the drug. “Mexico has paid a high cost for applying the punitive policy of prohibition,” the advertisement read.
View gallery.” File photo of Mexican soldier arranging blocks of marijuana … A Mexican soldier arranges blocks of marijuana, weighing a total of 46 tons, before they are inciner … “We know well that n e i t h e r decriminalization nor any other individual measure represents a panacea to end the violence, corruption and lawlessness in Mexico. But effective decriminalization of marijuana consumption by raising the dose permitted for personal use is a step in the right direction.” In 2009, Mexico made it legal to carry up to 5 grams (0.18 ounces) of marijuana, 500 milligrams (0.018 ounces) of cocaine and tiny amounts of heroin and methamphetamines. Despite that step, thenPresident Felipe Calderon staked his reputation on ridding Mexico of brutal drug cartels. He sent in the armed forces to fight them, but the violence rose, and around 70,000 people died in gangrelated crime on his watch. His successor, Enrique Pena Nieto, assumed the presidency in December vowing to reduce the killings. But while the death toll has fallen, the shootouts and executions still claim close to 1,000 lives a month in Latin America’s second biggest economy. Pena Nieto has so far opposed relaxing drug laws in the country, but says he is willing to debate the matter.
Former President Vicente Fox, a staunch advocate of drug reform, said in July he believed Mexico could legalize marijuana before Pena Nieto leaves office in 2018. A man smokes a joint during a rally for the legalization of marijuana Mexico City in this September … A notable signatory of We d n e s d a y ’s announcement was former Finance Minister Pedro Aspe, a mentor of current Finance Minister Luis Videgaray, one of Pena Nieto’s closest aides. Others included actors Gael Garcia Bernal and Diego Luna, two former health ministers, peace activist Javier Sicilia and Calderon’s brotherin-law, Juan Ignacio Zavala. Lawmakers have said Mexico City could serve as a launchpad for a change in drug policy. Mexico City’s local center-left government has taken advantage of more liberal views in the capital to pass landmark laws such as legalizing gay marriage. The public advertisement made the same argument. “Public opinion in the capital is increasingly tolerant of individual choices and could also be regarding marijuana use, with a view to a more complete regulation in future,” it read. Senior officials in the Party of the Democratic Revolution, which runs Mexico City, say the party could put forward a proposal to relax marijuana laws in the capital later this year.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Insight
“It is a maxim founded on the Universal experience of mankind That no nation is to be trusted Further than it is bound by its interest”. George Washington (1732 – 1799). WHEN Orwellian duplicity, schizothymic proclivities laced and intermingled with schizophrenic mien is theatricalized in any collectivity, it precipitates a dementia praecox and neurological obsession with recondite divisive spirit. Is this what is wrong with ambitious politicians, kings and kingdom mongers in Urhoboland? Hence, Governor Uduaghan observed that “Except you are recognized by the state Government you cannot be called a traditional ruler. If you are calling yourself a traditional ruler you will be arrested and prosecuted”. The Urhobo people hail from Delta state and have numerical superiority over every ethnic group in the state. They are the fifth largest ethnic group in Nigeria, fifteenth largest in Africa and consistent with statistical data, they are the fifty-first (51st) largest ethnic group in the world. One of the largest oil producing in Nigeria, the 21 st in Africa and the 45th in the world. But the Urhobo people are hewers of wood and fetchers of water in a State and Nation where they hold numerical superiority and such a great fiscal height. They are in government, but not in authority and power. Are they even really in government? This is as result of a Neanderthal brand of placebo Republicanism that has made the Urhobo people their own worst enemies as brothers are turned
against brothers befuddled by psychotic treachery, the dog eat dog syndrome and consequent upon the federal might bring skewed against us. In the midst of power and fiscal drought in Urhobo land the people have turned against themselves. A kind of implosive Paleolithic eviscerality and power acquisition by hook or crook. This is compounded by the manipulative political shrewdness of our state Government in the politics of creation of new Kingdoms, Kings and selective handing over of Staff of Office and the Official Seal of the Staff of Office to their political stooges and surrogates masquerading as traditional rulers in Mephistophelean Kingdoms. Is it the State Government that should pick our traditional rulers through its political acrobatics or the people of that kingdom? This politicization has led to the balkanization of the kingdoms and the wanton proliferation of kings in Urhoboland and Delta state. Once the laid down kingship procedure, historical precedence and tradition is jettisoned it stimulates splinter groups who create their own kingdoms and kings. It is clear that the Ibori/ U d u a g h a n administration have given more Staff of Office to traditional rulers and created more kingdoms in Delta state than any other administration. Indeed, there are more political
Urhobo Kingdoms And Po
kingdoms in urhoboland than Traditional kingdoms. At the last count we have 24 kingdoms in Urhobo land approved by the Delta state Government, namely: Agbon, Agbarho, Aravwarien, Agbarhootor, Olomu, Udu, Ogor, Uwherun, Evwreni, Ughievwen, Ewu, Okparabe, Effurun-otor, Oghara, Ijerhe, Mosogar, OruarivieAbraka, UmiagwaAbraka, Okpe, Orogun, Okere-Urhobo and Uvwie. But some of the kingdoms and their kings are no longer at ease as they are sunken in litigatory escapades, balkanization travails, press wars, diabolical manipulations, political idioglossia and social cataplexy. The political implications are too gruesome to contemplate. In the 1953 elections the vast majority of Urhobo people pitched their political tent with the NCNC, whilst some major tribal groups in the Western Region pitched thus political tents with the Action Group (AG). The devastating political consequences before and after the elections are still with the Urhobo people till today as the Itsekiri Monarch became the Traditional Ruler of Warri Kingdom. We pitched our political tents at various levels with the MDF, NPN, SDP, and PDP. But now the Urhobo political machine is now between Scyllas and Charybadis, between the Devil and the deep blue sea and in schismatic political entropy torn between the PDP/DPP/APC etc.
With the Urhobo political structure and interest dichotomized along political, monarchical, kingdoms, kingship, etc matrix and lines, how can we move forward? The death of the Legendary Senator Pius Ewherido has brought out the political beast in the Urhobo politicians
Traditional Kings . Some of them have become surrogates, stooges and fifth Columnist to the Government. We expect our Urhobo people to be proud of themselves and shun low self-esteem that is the cause of shameful receipt of base bribes and fighting to
By CHIEF BOBSON G
proliferation of Kings is of our making gingered by government political agents. The writer in the ‘Duchess of Malfi’posited that No matter how violently bad we are pushed into a well, it is our weight that will quicken our
Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta State
in their knack for a ‘no compromise’ approach to politics. Is it not better to pick a ‘compromised candidate’ agreed upon by all Urhobo spearedheaded by the UPU instead of the torpsyturvydom and l u d i b r a s t i c discombobulation that the quest for power has precipitated. Some of our kingdoms and kings that are supposed to call the politicians to order have been compromised by the Government that put in power and that gave them staff of political Office and not
balkanize kingdoms and carryout profane quest for power. As we approach 2015, let our politicians and the totality of the Urhobo nation say ‘No’ to disunity, shameless quest for kingship and proliferation of kingdoms. The people of the Great Ughiewen Kingdom are one and nothing on earth should divide them. Let our Urhobo people learn from the Edo Kingdom, Itsekiri Kingdom and from our own Okpe Kingdom, etc. We must note that the balkanization of Kingdoms and the
plunge into the well and William Shakespeare observed that The faulty there Brutus is not in our stars, but in us that we are underlyings. The courage to take the bull by the horns must wiped up in the Urhobo Progress Union (UPU)the zeitgeist to intervene on such issues of responsible political conduct of politicians, the way forward for Urhobo Nation in 2015, the proliferation of kings and balkanization of kingdoms in Urhobo. Finally, we take solace in the words of Claude Mckay [1848-1998] “If we must die; let it not be
like pen
I
IN it is p exac and a criti lead organ instit the le fail foun this w Okpe Th Okpe polit foun 1930 inaug 1930 inter obje VER of unde brot Okp them toge evisc prog cordi neigh To again econ marg brin dyna to at Okp mass Okp integ and t and integ Okpe stak partn phen embr the g kingd In pragm Unio Okp over equa unity deve peop Okpe Aft of E King of O inter
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Insight
olitical Staff Of Office
GBINIJE
e dogs hunted and nned in an inglorious
spot, while round us bark the mad hungry dogs making their mock of our accursed lot. If we
must die, O’ let us nobly die, so that our precious blood may not be shed in vain. Then even the
monsters we defiled shall be constrained to honour us though dead! O’ kinsmen! We must
meet the common foe on all fronts,pressed to the wall, dying, but fighting back”. Indeed, ‘vestigia nulla restrorum’ [NO
RETREAT, NO SURRENDER] to politically salvage Urhobo kingdoms from ourselves and from the Machiavellian acrobatics and ventriloquisms of Delta State politicians.
nterrogating Okpe Developmental Challenges
N consequentialist Ethics posted with mathematical titude that deontological axiological rudiments are ically crucial for dership success, nizational efficiency and tutional progress. Hence, eadership and institutions when they lack this ndational equipoise. Is what is happening to the e Union? he Okpe Union is a Pane Socio-Cultural-Quasi tical organization nded on the 16th May, 0. But formally gurated, on the 16th July, 0. It’s constitution states r alia, that its aims and ectives are to (NOT RBATIM) foster the spirit love, mutual erstanding and herhood amongst the e people and sensitize m on the need to live ether as one family, cerate the zeitgeist of ressive change and have ial relationship with their hbours. defend Okpe people nst hostile neighbours, nomic and political ginalization, using ksmanship and the amics of “lobby-power” ttract development to e Kingdom, promote sive education for the e people, to ensure grity of the Okpe people to promote multicultural cross-cultural gration. To ensure that the e nation is a formidable eholder, player and ner in the globalization nomenon and to bring allracing development to grass-roots of the Okpe dom. these set objectives and matic dreams, the Okpe on, the Umbrella of the e Nation, has worked the years with Spartan animity to promote the y, progress and elopment of the Okpe ple within and outside e land. ter the passing unto glory sezi 1, Orodje of Okpe gdom, there was a period Orodjeship abeyance and rregnum which almost
precipitated anarchical entropy in Okpe kingdom. But great Herculean and Trojan intervention by the Okpe Union led to the rekindling, rebirth and resuscitation of the Orodjeship with the installation of Esezi II. It has continue to promote Okpe customs and tradition, through dress codes, festivals, book publications, songs and dances (Mr Evwighademu of Okwokpokpo, Late Egbikume Azanor of Ughoton and Mr Laya Akpaboro etc). The Okpe Union still continues to be the Okpe political think tank and lodestone. It has continued to advice Okpe political leaders and aspirants on the way and manner of carrying out socio-political strategic repositioning of the Okpe nation for effective developmental strides. Indeed, Okpe Union has done well in its set objectives under some of its past and present leadership, like Presidents Ake of Mereje, Ero of Ughoton, Sam Emujeta of Okwidiemor, Taire of Okwitaire, Agbiwan of Jeddo, Agala of Ughoton, Chief Phillip Ewetuya of Adagrassa, Oha and Ugolo, Egbejumi, Chief Dick Gberevwie, Arch Ralph Karienren and Mr John Ekpoke (Ag. President General). Etc. But, it must be noted that in the past few years the bubble got bust as the peace and tranquility in the Okpe Union got rubbished by the inter and intra schismatic turpsy-torvydom precipitating tenebrous melange, acrimonious media wrangling and apocalyptic revisionism. This has introduced the behemoth of malice, legal prestidigitation and diabolical manipulations amongst brothers. As peace, efficiency catalyst and crisis management strategy the ODOGUN OKPE (OKPE SUPREME COUNCIL) in a consultative meeting held on the 14th July 2012 with the Okpe Union and HRM
thought it fit and proper to relocate the Headquarters of Okpe Union to Orerokpe (The ancestral home of the Okpe people, Headquarters of Okpe Local Govt. Council and the abode of the Orodje of Okpe Kingdom). The relocation of Okpe Union to Orerokpe has its positive and negative sides. But it will help to bring the activities of the Union closer to the grassroots, it will create a nexial dovetailing with local and international branches on issues affecting the Okpe kingdom, it will be more prone to explicitly articulate on the developmental challenges of the Okpe nation and the relocation will bring leadership closer to the Okpe people. But some have the suspicion that it will barricade and create barracoons against the Okpe nation, because it will be too far from Lagos, the commercial capital and Abuja the political capital. The concern of this writer is that a crisis-befuddled Okpe Union being relocated will carry over it accoutrements and appurtenances of destabilization and it cannot stand. We must reconcile the warring factions, conduct a free, transparent and fair election in the Okpe Union, ratify its constitution, get a certified audit report, bank reconciliation, secretariat hallmarks, organogram surgeonization and personal grieviances sorted out. We should allow the former Headquarter Office in Lagos to remain a branch of Okpe Union and we must open a liaison office in Abuja and Lagos to help Okpe kingdom have outreach to the international community. Otherwise, the relocation from Lagos will magnetise communication blackout, political dwarfishness and developmental erebus to Okpe kingdom. The quality of the leadership that will come on board when it is relocated to Orerokpe will be fundamentally important. Will the Okpe Union not be hectored and hounded by selfseeking power mongers in their theatrics of political rascality? We call for the urgent ratification of the draft
By CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE constitution on or before June 24th, 2013 and a fresh election conducted on or before September 5th, 2013 and the new Executive sworn-in immediately. Without slips of prolixity, it is indeed, a platitudinous truism that the Okpe nation has been forgotten by the march of civilization as we are in a state of troglodyte backwardness, socioe c o n o m i c , underdevelopment and crass marginalization, even as an oil, gas, timber producing nation/kingdom with our numerical superiority in population. We have not been able to harness and husband our resources as a nation and as a people. We are being radically bemused by our neighbours and our lands are being legally and forcefully taken over whilst we luxuriate in intra/inter Okpe Union squabbles and relocation blues. There is no federal presence in terms of schools and industries in Okpe kingdom. We are not appointed into Federal or State’s administrative cabinets. We have no water, no roads, no houses or shelters, no light, no industries and no viable tertiary institutions. We attend our neighbour’s schools and we have sold all our fertile lands to our neighbours who are now reselling back to us. We lack the labenstraum and positive audacity to hold our heads high in the comity of nations. The challenges of our growth, development and progress are colossal and leviathan. We must develop a revolutionary stand and a bellicose reorientation to move the Okpe nation from the gangrenous labyrinth of an apocalyptical epicenter. We need total radicalization of our struggle to bring development to our land. Our first clog to the wheel of our progress is the “Modern Day Okpe Man” who betrays cowardice in all things unlike our courageous forefathers. The Okpe union must be built into a fighting
machine and no more the habitue of jobless politicians and hungry artisans. The challenges ahead are enormous. Okpe kingdom is the land of the rising sun, we love and cherish it. Beloved homeland of our forebears. We must defend our own or shall perish. We shall and must protect our hearts and lands from all our foes. But if the price is death for all we hold dear, then let us die without a shred of fear. We fear too much in Okpe land that is why all our neighbours walk on our heads. It must stop. We can no more afford the luxury of Okpe Union’s imbroglio and nay Okpe kingdom’s political ventriloquisms. We must call the spade of underdevelopment and marginalization in Okpe land a spade and not a mere gardening tool. The Ijaws did it and today they have freedom, liberty and development to show. The trees of liberty must be watered with the blood tyrants and there cannot be great strides in history without sacrifices. WHITHER GOETH OKPE? We must start today to start finetuning logistics, orchestrating actions and perfecting our renaissance machine (The Okpe Union) with a view to shaking away all excess luggages and possessing our possessions. Let us not falter, for Shakespeare asserts that “the fault dear Brutus is not in our stars, but in us that we are underlyings”. We shall emerge triumphant from these chains of penury and through the hot cauldron we will pass unscathed. After the battle, we shall remember those who died in mass. Then shall our trumpets sound the glorious song of victory we scored over might and wrong. We cannot continue to remain one of the largest dialectical amalgams in Delta State, Oil and Gas producing kingdom and one of the largest contributors to the commonwealth and continue
to luxuriate in abject underdevelopment. We must crystallize these cherished ideas into palpable fruition. But we cannot start the revolution if and when “Okpe Union” is in disarray. We must put our house in order to enable us face the gargantuan challenges ahead. Indeed, principles are principles. They can only be transformed into reality through the institutions of society. Otherwise they remain inert and useless. It is our firm conviction that in the tapestry and projectiles of the Okpe Union it has the potentials to kineticise the struggle into a tangible reality and it is the duty of all Okpe people and their sympathizers. Looking at the institutions in our society, the very vehicles for carrying out revolutionary principles, what do you find? We find old, faded and rusty machines creaking along most in efficiently and delaying the People’s Progress and Progress of the Revolution. We hope and pray that the Okpe Union should be disemboweled from this cocooned state. Finally, as we heed this call to rise to take our destiny in our own hands, we beseech God Almighty to protect us from the clandestine and furtive dungeon, guide all our movements lest we go astray, give us the zeal and strength to heed this glorious call. To give and not to count the cost. Bless those who will win the Okpe Union elections and the totality of our leaders in Okpe kingdom to serve with altruism and resoluteness and to make Okpe kingdom a land of milk and honey laced with patriotism and righteousness. God save Okpe Union and bless Okpe kingdom. UMOGUN!!! WUNE SU TOR Chief Bobson: Gbinije Mandate Against Poverty (M.A.P) WARRI - 08023250378
THE NIGERIAN
18
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Art Alive
With FRANCIS ODUPUTE
The Need For Cultural Resource Management
IN describing and evaluating critically the need and problems associated with cultural resource management in contemporary Nigeria, cognizance must be taken of what is cultural resource or what are cultural resources vis-Ă -vis cultural resource management. Cultural resources are those materials and non material aspects both natural and man made such as tools or implements, furniture, automobile, buildings, irrigation, cultivated farms, artifacts and any substance which has been changed and used by man including those classified as antiquities. The non-material aspects consist of words people use, ideas, customs and beliefs they hold. These are also regarded as philosophies of the people. Other resources could be the wealth, supplies of goods, all the free gift of nature, such as land, forest, potential water power, productivity of the soil including both metal and physical and all sorts of man-made aids to further production such as tools machinery and buildings. WHAT IS CULTURAL R E S O U R C E MANAGEMENT? Be that as it may, cultural resource management can be referred to as an operational process because it is aimed at making the best use of the above cultural resources entrusted to any body or cultural organization such as the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, to achieve its predetermined goals in general terms. These goals involve the managerial function of objective setting, planning and decision making,
building and developing, formulating policies, administration, creating and controlling systems. The inclusion of staffing and the giving of the commitments of operating employees is important. From the foregoing, cultural resource management deals with the restoration, preservation and conservation of these cultural resources. In America, this aspect of cultural resource management was styled New Archaeology, purely archaeological research to contract studies in the preservation of resource management goal. This is a new conservation model as Adeniran (1995) in lipe puts it, was carried out to salvage archaeological sites, monuments and artifacts from destruction and damage by land modification, agencies, fire, among others. In Nigeria, cultural resource management includes restoration preservation and conservation of cultural resource started way back before and after the colonial rule. Prior to colonial rule, the management of cultural resources was crude. The method of management was the preservation of metal objects\bronzes, wood and clay, sculptures on roof tops and ceiling protecting them against the attack of insects or flood. etc The destruction of this natural heritage regarded as idolatries by colonial masters/British missionaries were either burnt or carted away at variance, purportedly to have been their claim of protecting these material objects from factors like light, relative humility among other
By BENJAMIN A. AKPEVBO
problems in the laboratories. To articulate the place of our cultural heritage in bringing about development in our cultural resources in our environment holds limitless promise for tourism, trade and social development (Eboreime 1994).
extent that our exhibitions are now stale. For example, the Benin City walls are crumbling and our objects are getting rotten in the stores. No fund to purchase equipments, chemicals and for good training of staff/personnel for improved productivity. There is also the lack of
their cultural property will receive support for integrating cultural development within over all e n v i r o n m e n t a l Development package (EDA) Eboreime concluded. However, Nigeria is not doing this because of the crisis in cultural management strategy which has robbed the museum of adequate financial sympathy for mobilizing
Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism
Eboreime continues, the sector over which the museum has legal and social responsibility is so grossly beset with managerial problems such as in the area of funding. Furthermore, funding, is to deal with the provision or the availability of adequate funds or money for the upkeep of the activities on services of the museum which is limited to the
awareness! appreciation in the country. Little or no appreciation that material symbols and artifacts more than any other are concrete veins around which social, political and economic relationships run over space and time, but these are not properly harnessed hence the UNESCO in their operational directives (Section 4.5) has prescribed that countries which are able to document and present
“In Nigeria, cultural resource management includes restoration, preservation and conservation of cultural resource started way back before and after the colonial rule�
culture for economic development such as Kenya, Zimbabwe and Mozambique have fully done. Political and economic reasons also militate against management of cultural resource in terms of development vide the construction of roads, industrialization and growth of cities and towns by the Federal government. Individuals and private enterprises also contribute to the desecration and destruction of the archeological sites for quarry business in Nigeria. One could see it through some of the Museums and Monuments (NCMM.) In her status vide the then Ordinance No 17 of 1953 when it was known as the
Antiquities service commission, it had achieved certain objectives amongst which is; the discovery, presentation and study of material artifacts through out the country that brought about such ancient cultures such as Nok, Ife, lgboUkwu, Owo and Benin. The above findings resulted in the establishment of earliest museums in Nigeria first started by the British Education officers and District officers such as K.C. Murray, E.A. Duckworth and Bernard Fagg. Some of the museums are Esie (1945), Jos (1952), Ife (1954), Lagos 1957, Kano (1960), Owo (1968) and Benin (1973).Today the National Commission for Museums and Monuments which changed its name from the former Antiquities service by Decree No. 77 of 1979 has given much credence to the administration of National Museums, antiquities and Monuments, to make recommendation to state governments or other persons or authority concerning the establishment of museums and the presentation of antiquities and monuments, for example Rivers State Museum, Port Harcourt, Didi museum, Lagos among others. CONCLUSION To ensure the best use of resources, there is a pressing need for cultural planning and management through the establishment of control systems in which feedbacks can be given to promote or aid the management of our scare cultural resources. The problem underlying any planning and management of material resources is the fact that supply is ultimately finite which demand is continuously growing in size and nature. However, this simple equation is complicated by the fact that although any single resources particularly in relation to these elements which are useful rather than necessary to man, varies greatly from time to time and from place to place depending on the cultural and technical level of the people.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Art And Culture
With Ambrose O. Ekhosuehi
Guardian Angels Of Culture
THE liturgical feast of the Holy Guardian Angels, in Catholic cultural observances occurs on second day of October. There are four ruling princes of the order with tutelary or ministering angels. They are Uriel, Raphael, Gabriel, Michael. There are also seventy Guardian Angels of nation; one in charge of each state. The Angels are pure spirits, the mighty princes of heaven who stand before Almighty cod; gazing on his unveiled presence, burning of love, filled to overflowing plenitude of happiness. They are the perfect images of God, mirrors of His Divine perfections reflecting His Love, His beauty, His holiness, His power, His Divine attributes and perfections, but each Angel in own special way. God perfections are infinite and countless Angels reflect these perfections in divinely marvelous way. Every Angel is specifically different from the other as one differs from another. The Angels are unspeakably lovely, they have no shadow of imperfection, no defect and nothing on this earth can possibly give an idea of their resplendent glory. They are living replicas of God beauty. All the millions of men and women who people the world, all those who have ever lived or ever will, are of one and the same specie but each Angel is a specie all in self.
The Angels reflect God goodness and sweetness, reflect all his divine virtues and perfections. They enjoy the vision of God infinite Love, with all the mighty strength and intensity of their natures. The happiness that an Angel enjoys in one moment is so deep and allsatisfying, that it exceeds all the happiness that a mortal person could enjoy in a thousand years. When therefore, the Angels appear to human persons, they take a human form, so as not to over awe or confound those who look on them. The moment a child is born, God calls one of His glorious spirit and gives the new born child into the Angel’s special care. When the soul is created and united to the body; which takes place before birth, then, the child is still, one with the mother and protected by the parents Angles, but it is when the child is born into this world, that the child’s Angel begins the care for the child. Every person has a guardian Angel, God in His infinite goodness has given to each person, whether pagan, heretic, Catholic etc has a guardian Angel; whose great duty is to watch over the person, day and night, asleep or awake, alone or in the midst of companion, in homes, in street, working or in leisure, everywhere, every moment of lives, in joys or in troubles. The Angel never abandons a person for single instant but sees every movement
and ever at all sides; hence in the hymn; “Dear Angel ever at my sides, how Loving must thou be, to Leave your home in heaven to guide, a simple child like me”. They watch every moment so that not a single hair falls from a person’s head without divine permission, when an Angel takes charge of a
These great angels too are constantly whispering into our ears, counsels full of Love and wisdom. The Angel may not interfere with our free will, but can and does act on our memories, recalling vividly something we ought to do or warning us of something we ought not to do. The Angel acts
every soft of trouble against us. Angels with the Love of God and full of intense Love for us, interceding constantly for us before the throne of the Most High God, cannot refuse what the Angel ask for their clients since God who gave them charge over us and ordered them to take every care of us.
soul, the spirit devotes all glorious intelligence and knowledge, all power and vigilance to protect, defend and help in every possible way the person who God has given into the Angel’s charge. The Angels long to share joy, happiness, Love, holiness with generosity and earnestness desire, Labour every moment, day and night to make better, holier and happier.
benevolently on our imaginations and on our reason, persuading us, urging us to correct our weakness, to fight against evil inclinations, inspiring us with new ideals and stimulating us to fresh and greater effort. They are angry if we do wrong. They are ever on the alert to defend us from fierce attacks of the demons, our restless foes that use their malice to ruin us, to tempt us and stir up
Uriel-fire of God is one of the leading Angels in non-canonical Lore and rank variously as a Seraph, Cherub, Regent of the sun, flame of God, Angel of the presence, preside over Tartarus, I-fades, and Angel of salvation. He acts as heavenly interpreter of Ezra’s vision, He is the Angel who watches over thunder and terror, and in the teaching of Catholic Church, Uriel is the spirit who stood at the gate of the lost Eden with the fiery sword. Raphael — God has healed, is one of three great Angels in postBiblical Lore. I-fe first appeared in the book of Tobit — Canonical in Catholic, apocryphal in protestant scripture. Raphael acts as
“The Angel acts benevolently on our imaginations and on our reason, persuading us, urging us to correct our weakness, to fight against evil inclinations, inspiring us with new ideals and stimulating us to fresh and greater effort.”
companion and guide to Tobit’s Son-Tobias who journeyed to Media from Nineveh. It is only at the end of the journey that Raphael reveals himself by name as one of the seven holy Angels that attend the throne of God. Raphael is charged to heal the earth and through him — the earth furnishes an abode for people whom also he heals of maladies. Raphael is one of the three Angels that visited Abraham in Genesis 18, the other two Angels identified as Gabriel and Michael. He is the Archangel of Wednesday of week days. Gabriel — God is my strength, is one of the two highest ranking Angels in Christian and Islam religious lore. He is the Angel of annunciation, resurrection, mercy and vengeance, death and revelation. Gabriel presides over paradise. He is said to sit on the left hand side of God. Gabriel is the spirit of Truth and in Daniel Chapter 8, Daniel falls on his face before Gabriel, to Learn the meaning of the encounter between the Ram and the He-goat. Gabriel brings the glad tidings to Virgin Mary in annunciation. He is the Archangel of Monday week day. Michael — Who is as God, ranks as the greatest of all Angels, whether in Jewish, Islamic or Christian Lore. He is Chief of the order of Virtues, Chief of archangels, prince of the presence, and angel of repentance, righteousness, mercy, sanctification and conqueror of Satan. Michael announced to Mary her approaching death. He holds in his hands the scale of Justice: He is the Archangel of Sunday week day.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Agric
Harnessing The Economic Potentials Of Tiger Nut, Walnut By IFEANYI NWOKO
TIGER nut and walnut are two very popular edible tropical crops that are cultivated mostly in the northern and southern parts of Nigeria respectively. Consumers of both crops eat them as snacks, with little or no knowledge of their medicinal value and economic potential. Tiger nut (Cyperus Esculentus) is classified as tuber a crop even as it grows as grass, while walnut (Juglans Regia) is usually staked because it is a climber. Research efforts have since revealed that both crops have potential to change the economic fortune of rural farmers as they could also be important raw materials for the country’s pharmaceutical and cosmetics industries. The Raw Materials Research and Development Council describes them as “untapped goldmines’’ that should be popularised for the benefit of the nation’s economy. “If the cultivation of the two crops is encouraged, they would greatly boost the export earnings of the country and also generate employment. “Tiger nut and walnut plants possess the potential to alleviate poverty and ensure food security for the nation’s economic diversification,’’ Prof. Peter Onwualu, Director General, Raw Materials Research and Development Council, said recently in Abuja. Onwualu estimated that the two crops could fetch Nigeria N100 billion annually and create direct and indirect employment opportunities for more than 5,000 people. Onwualu made the disclosure at a sensitisation workshop on the crops entitled: “Harnessing the Socioeconomic uses of Tiger nut and Walnut.’’ Quoting statistics from the Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), he noted that “the worldwide production of walnut seeds has been increasing rapidly in recent years with the largest increase coming from Asia. “The world produced a total of 2.55 million metric tonnes of walnut seed in 2012 with China producing 1.06 metric tonnes, while Nigeria produced only 8,130 metric tonnes.’’ Dr Theresa Igbinosa, a pharmacist, noted that tiger nut is the world’s richest source of fibre. “The nut is used in manufacturing hair and body creams, and is rich in nutrients which include carbohydrate, oil, protein, minerals, and vitamins hence the global demand,’’ she said in a paper she presented at the workshop. Medical reports show that every 100mg of walnut contains 15.2mg of protein (containing essential amino
acid), 65.2gm of fat, and 6.7gm of dietary fibre. According to Mrs Augusta Uzomba of the Federal Institute of Industrial Research, Oshodi, Lagos, walnut is useful in boosting fertility. She said in her presentation entitled: “Exploring the Food, Nutrition and Medical Values of Tigernuts and Walnuts,’’ that the leaf of walnut plant is also used for the treatment of cancer. “The root is used in the treatment of pile; the nut is also useful in the treatment of skin diseases, and it increases fitness and resiliency of tissues.
“Walnut helps in preventing mental decline in the elderly; it serves as an aphrodisiac (stimulant) and protects the arteries against fatty acid-induced damage. “The walnut is used in candies, baked goods and ice cream; the shell is used as a cleaning medium and also mixed with paints and vanishes,” she added. Mrs Veronica Ajayi, of Global Foods Limited, Osogbo, urged farmers to invest more in the cultivation of the crop because of its nutritional value. She restated the medical potential of walnut, stressing that it is very good for the treatment of dysentery, infertility and stress management. “‘Researchers in the agriculture sector have declared that one hectare of walnut farm can fetch more than
“The world produced a total of 2.55 million metric tonnes of walnut seed in 2012 with China producing 1.06 metric tonnes, while Nigeria produced only 8,130 metric tonnes.’’
N500,000 annually, if well managed. “Imagine what a farmer with five or more hectares will earn annually; so let farmers especially in the southern parts of the country embrace walnut cultivation to improve their income,’’ Ajayi advised. Ms Yemisi Olowookere, a dietician at the Garki Hospital, Abuja, echoed the medical potential of walnut, adding that it helps in the prevention of anaemia. “The Vitamin B1/Thiamin present in walnut is necessary for the function of the heart, as well as the stability of the nervous system. “Walnut is a good source of Vitamins B1, B2, B3 and
particularly vitamin B6,’’ she said. Dr Bartholomew Brai, a biochemist at the Nigeria Institute of Medical Research (NIMR), Yaba, Lagos, who spoke on the potency of tiger nut, noted that it “reduces bone pain in sickle cell patients, and prevent heart diseases’’. “A lot of people eat tiger nut without knowing its health benefits; it has essential minerals like calcium, magnesium and iron necessary for bones, tissues repairs, muscles and the blood stream. “Its regular consumption can prevent you from falling sick,’’ Brai said. Dr Bamidele Iwalokun, a molecular biologist at NIMR, further stated the health benefits of consuming tiger nut, especially by sickle cell patients. “The primary reason sickle cell patients experience crisis or pain in the bone is because their red blood cells sickle excessively to block the blood vessels. “This blockage prevents blood from flowing into organs in the body. “But if they consume these nuts every day, it will activate blood circulation in the body to all the body organs thereby preventing bone pain or crisis,’’ Iwalokun said. Given the economic and medicinal values of both crops, it is, therefore, desirable for the government, entrepreneurs and private individuals to encourage commercial cultivation of the crops to boost economic growth and generate employment.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Education Quality Education For National Transformation, A Collective Responsibility
Continued from last week
THE highest quality teachers, those most capable of helping their students learn, have deep mastery of both their subject matter and pedagogy (DarlingHammond, 1997). The preparation that teachers receive before beginning their work in the classroom, however, varies significantly around the world and even within the least developed countries. Teacher Competence and School Efficiency. Whether a teacher uses traditional or more current methods of instruction, efficient use of school time has a significant impact on student learning. Teachers’ presence in the classroom represents the starting point. Many teachers face transportation and housing obstacles that hinder them from getting to school on time and staying until school hours are over. Many teachers hold second jobs, which may detract them from the time and energy they expend in the classroom. Teachers may miss school altogether. A study in China, Guinea, India and Mexico found that nearly half the teachers interviewed reported being absent at some point during the previous month (Carron & Chau, 1996), requiring other teachers to compensate for them or leaving students without instruction for the day. A recent teachers’ audit carried out by the Edo State Government is an eye opener to all who care about quality education not only in Edo state but also in Nigeria as a whole. A school teacher who cannot read an affidavit statement definitely has no business in the education system. It is believed that many of such teachers abound in the primary school system. Teachers without integrity who falsify their ages cannot impart moral instructions on their pupils and this could have very long lasting effect on the education system upstream. The quality of a school and the quality of teaching of the individual teacher holds the key to quality education. Ongoing Professional Development. Professional development can help overcome shortcomings that may have been part of teachers’ preservice education and keep teachers abreast of new knowledge and practices in the field. This ongoing training for teachers can have a direct impact on student achievement. Case studies from Bangladesh,
Botswana, Guatemala, Namibia and Pakistan have provided evidence that ongoing professional development, especially in the early years after initial preparation and then continuing throughout a career, contribute significantly to student learning and retention (Craig, Kraft & du Plessis, 1998).
By PROF IGNATIUS ONIMAWO PHD FNSN knowledge that tend to promote rote memorization rather than higher order thinking skills (Colby, 2000). Teacher Beliefs that all Students can Learn.
(Carron & Chau, 1996). Research around the world has shown that low expectations for student achievement permeate educational systems. Rather than setting high standards and
Teachers’ working conditions affect their ability to provide quality education. Many aspects of school life and educational policy go into teachers’ perceptions of their employment. As mentioned above, the condition of infrastructure, availability of textbooks and learning
example, supervisors in the schools that showed the greatest learning gains regularly evaluated teachers, contributing to professional development and improved teaching practice (Miske, Dowd et al., 1998). Unfortunately, however, few head teachers and administrators in developing countries have had any formal training in the leadership functions of schools, and
Continuing Support for Student-centred Learning. Teacher education, both preservice and in-service, should help teachers develop teaching methods and skills that take new understandings of how children learn into account. Just as curriculum should be childcentred and relevant, so also should instructional methods. The limited view of teaching as presentation of knowledge no longer fits with current understandings of how and what students learn. Instead, instruction should help students build on prior knowledge to develop attitudes, beliefs and cognitive skills; as well as expand their knowledge base. Teaching styles in many places, however, remain traditional, teacher-centred and fairly rigid or even authoritarian (Carron & Chau, 1996). Teacher Feedback Mechanisms. Good teachers are skilled not only in instructional methods, but also in evaluation and assessment practices that allow them to gauge individual student learning and adapt activities according to student needs. This process should include both performance assessment and assessment of factual knowledge. Observations in Guinea and India found that teachers are very poorly trained in evaluation techniques, and the reality is far from the continuous evaluation procedures recommended by official programmes (Carron & Chau, 1996). Indeed, many teachers and educational systems continue to rely almost exclusively on traditional paper-and-pencil tests of factual
The way time is used is related to school priorities and expectations. Quality education puts students at the centre of the process; student achievement must be the school’s first priority. Since schools exist because of students, this would seem self-evident. Perhaps because of the complexity of educational systems, however, teachers may not always believe in the school’s ability to help all students. For example, teachers interviewed in Guinea and Mexico had little awareness of the school’s role in pupil failure and dropout. Instead, they tended to blame the pupils and their family environment
believing that students can meet them, teachers and administrators in many developing countries expect that up to half the students will drop out or fail, especially in primary grades. Schools committed to student learning communicate expectations clearly, give frequent and challenging assignments, monitor performance regularly, and give students the chance to participate in and take responsibility for diverse school activities (Craig,Kraft, & du Plessis, 1998). Teachers’ Conditions.
Working
materials and class sizes all influence the teacher ’s experience as an educator. Teachers’ remuneration also matters. Supervision and Support Administrative Support and Leadership. The quality of administrative support and leadership is another critical element in school processes, both for students and for teachers. At a more macro level, ensuring financial resources for education, especially for recurrent budgets is a necessity. Teachers need governments who are supportive of education systems. In Malawi, for
“A recent teachers’ audit carried out by the Edo State Government is an eye opener to all who care about quality education not only in Edo state but also in Nigeria as a whole. A school teacher who cannot read an affidavit statement definitely has no business in the education system.”
promotions may not be based on leadership or management skills. Student access to languages used at school. The languages schools use for instruction can have an impact on learning and academic achievement in general. Research suggests that many benefits can be gained by beginning primary education in the student’s home language. Yet in Africa, especially in French speaking West Africa but not excluding Anglophone areas, resistance to primary instruction in the local language persists. Many parents and teachers believe that learning in the mother tongue can impair learning French or English later. A belief exists that African languages are not equipped to deal with scientific and technical concepts; and many parents refuse to have their children learn a national language when they consider it to have been imposed for political rather than sociolinguistic or demographic considerations (Obanya, 1995).
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
View Point
Celebrating International Day Of Peace
THE late Indian great, Mahatma Gandi, was once quoted as saying: “An eye for an eye will only make the whole world blind”. Also, Martin Luther King Jr., in his book; A Festament of Hope: The Essential Writings and speeches, noted “Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate: only love can do that”. Man in his earthly sojourn, has found himself constantly in one form of conflict or the other. Today, there are many wars and conflicts across the world and that has led the United Nations (UN), to set aside 21 September to mark the International Day of Peace. The international Day of Peace, was established in 1981 by resolution 36/37 of the United Nations General Assembly, and was first observed in 1982 and seeks to strengthening the ideals of peace, both within and among all nations and peoples”. In 2001, the UN General Assembly by unanimous vote, adopted resolution 55/282 to establish 21 September as an annual day of nonviolence and ceasefire. Similarly, the International Day of Peace is to promote one of the most fundamental of human rights: The right to peace, explained Director and representative of UNESCO, Beijing,
Abhimayu Singh. On 2013 International Peace Day, the United Nation’s Secretarygeneral, Ban-moon, declared that it would be focusing on peace education, the key preventive means to reduce wars sustainably. According to Ban Kimoon, peace education within schools and community groups through the Peace Crane project would help achieve world peace. According to Wikipedia, “following the incredible success of the Global Truce 2012 campaign, Peace Day has launched a new theme for Global Truce 2013: who will you make peace with? Peace starts with individual action, so peace day (21 September 2013) is an opportunity for all of us to become engaged in the peace process with our families, friends and communities. Peace Day is not just about a reduction of violence in areas of conflict, it’s also about reducing violence in our homes, communities and schools”. Again, Ban Ki-moon said that “It is not enough to teach children how to read, write and count. Education has to cultivate mutual respect for others and the world in which we live, and help people forge more just inclusive and peaceful societies”. Today, many children are denied access to education globally.
By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU
Figures by the UN revealed that about 50 million children are lacking or denied access to education across the globe.
has since started the campaign for improved access to education. Malala said: “One teacher, one book, one pen, can change the
urged to join the campaign to provide every individual with education. It is with this education that people will be taught values that will help them to see themselves as part of a global community. Making them build peaceful relationships. As wars continue to
United Nations Headquarters.
A Pakistani girl, Malala Yousafzai, one of such children who are fighting against this (denied access to education). She was shot by Talibans in her home country and
world”. Education is the most powerful tool/weapon to curb global violence and as such, countries and individuals have been
“It is high time every individual began to learn and even teach the concept of peace education. Right from the home, parents must inculcate that need for peace in their wards/children.”
ravage many parts of the globe, this is an opportunity to teach people the need for mutual respect, tolerance and harmony. Virginia Woolf said that “You cannot find peace by avoiding life” and Albert Einstein said: “Peace cannot be kept by force; it can only be achieved by understanding”. Truly, the world cannot get peace with war. Fighting cannot ensure the global peace that has
been so elusive in today’s world. It is high time every individual began to learn and even teach the concept of peace education. Right from the home, parents must inculcate that need for peace in their wards/ children. For the leaders cum governments, they can always partner with development agencies/ groups to ensure that their citizens especially children, get access to quality education, and also embark on sensitization campaigns to input the need for mutual respect, harmony and peace among citizens. The UN explained that “Governments and Development partners are working to get every child in school and learning well to equip them for life in the 21st century. There is new momentum in countries with the greatest needs, such as those affected by conflict, which are home to half of all children lacking education. But we must do more-much more”. As the world marks this day, these few lines by the writer, will suffice to bring the important of education to peace: With peace, the world will not be in pieces. When all embrace education, the peace that all nation needs will not just be a dream. As all will be in a realm, where tolerance, and not violence is the norm. leaving out doom and gloom. Certainly, investing in schools and teachers that will build fair and inclusive world, will ensure world peace. Let the world embrace the dove which symbolizes peace!
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Reflection
Very Rev. Fr. Charles Newell, the first Irish Carmelite Missionary in Nigeria
As Carmelites Celebrate 25 Years In Nigeria
WHOEVER is familiar with the history of the Church in Nigeria would agree with me that the Irish missionaries did a tremendous work in Nigeria. They were the ones that evangelized most parts of Nigeria. They left an indelible legacy in the Nigerian soil. A good number of them died and were buried here in Nigeria. Each time I reflect on the life of these early missionaries I kept wondering what must have motivated them. Compared to where they came from Nigeria was like a poor rural village with unstable power and water supply. The kind of food we eat here is not even the kind of food they eat over there. The early missionaries sacrificed their last penny and even their last breathe to ensure that Nigeria was evangelized like other nations. Thank God, they succeeded! We, Christians, are the fruits of their labour. When the early missionaries came to Nigeria they built missionary schools and hospitals and even Churches. Unlike the present day missionary schools that are managed by fellow Nigerians which has become so expensive, these schools and hospitals were greatly subsidized. The interests of the poor were greatly taken into consideration. Most of the services performed by
these earlier missionaries were selfless services, with little or none ulterior motives! The most recent achievement of the Irish Missionaries was the introduction of the Carmelite Order into the Nigerian soil; an Order that has really influenced the global Church. The Carmelite order is one of the Orders that have produced a great number of Saints. Among these saints are St. John of the Cross, the founder of the Discalced Carmelite Order, St. Teresa of Avila, the Co-founder of the Discalced Carmelite Order; St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the Patroness of Mission and the co-patroness of the Church in Nigeria, Blessed Elizabeth of the Trinity and so many other great Saints. With these and many other litanies of saints you will agree with those who often label Carmel as the “college of saints” One thing that makes the Carmelite Order unique and attractive is their charism, which is prayer. Everyone prays but for the Carmelites prayer is a way of life. You cannot separate a true Carmelite from prayer. Even when he or she is working, studying or even sleeping, he is praying. That is why the Carmelite Rule states, “Each of you is to stay in his own cell or nearby, pondering the Lord’s law day and night (Psalm 1:2) and keeping
watch at his prayers” (Discalced Carmelites Constitutions and Norms, page 23). A Carmelite is, or should be, a prayerful child of God. The Carmelites brought into the Church a unique form of prayer, known as contemplative prayer. Just as the rule states the Carmelites ponders on the law of the Lord. This act of pondering or meditation as some people may describe it is what the Church in Nigeria and other parts of the world need. With the influence of Pentecostalism a lot of people have reduced prayer as an act of shouting and emotional expression. Prayer should go deeper than that. Jesus told his followers, “In your praying do not heap up empty phrases as the Gentiles do; for they think that they will be heard for their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him” (Matthew 6:7-8). That does not mean people should not express themselves in prayer. But after these public and external expressions one should withdraw inwardly as Jesus often did during his public ministry. After attending to the needs of the people he will go to a lonely place to pray. The more the Carmelites listen to God in prayer the more they are inspired. I
believe, it was this unique way of life that motivated the then Catholic Bishop of Enugu Diocese to invite the Carmelites to Nigeria. He wanted the Carmelites to come and deepen the prayer life of the Nigerians. And it all started twenty five years ago with an invitation from the Rt. Rev. Dr. Michael Eneja (of blessed memory), who invited the Anglo-Irish Discalced Carmelites to Nigeria in 1988. The first place where they landed when they came to Nigeria was Enugu. They bought their first house which they still use as a Prayer House and Vicariate Headquarters at no. 17 Nike Avenue, Trans Ekulu, GRA Enugu. Since then, for the past twenty five years, the Carmelites have established six other communities and missions scattered throughout the country: a Novitiate House and a Retreat Facility at Nsukka; a students’ House at Ibadan; 4 parish-communities: Mary the Queen Parish, Ekpoma, St. Therese, Ugbo-Odogwu, in Enugu Diocese, St. Therese, Umueze-Anam in Onitsha Archdiocese and Christ the King Catholic Church, Abuja. With two flourishing schools: Mt. Carmel School, Ekpoma in Edo State and Little Flower Academy, Ugbo-Odogwu, Enugu. I understand that there are other communities
With REV. FR. JOHN DAMIAN ADIZIE PHONE: 08076635886
and missions in the making, such as the Carmelite Adoration of the Holy Spirit, at Ekpoma, Edo State. In terms of personnel, the Nigerian Carmelites are close to 80 friars belonging to the Vicariate of Our Lady of Mt. Carmel. About 45 of these friars are solemnly professed (4 of whom are deceased), 27 are simply professed while 6 are novices. It will interest you to know that two of the two early missionaries from Ireland are still in Nigeria. They are Very Rev. Frs. Charles Newell, OCD and Frank Considine. The best thing God did for the Carmelites in Nigeria, as I always prayed, was to preserve the life of Fr. Charles Newell till this day when the Nigerian Carmelites are celebrating their twenty fifth year’s anniversary. Am sure the Nigerian Carmelites will remain ever grateful to the Anglo-Irish Province for supporting them both financially and with capable personnel. Historians often say, “He who does not know where he is coming from may not know where he is going to.” Moreover, a tree cannot make a forest. The Nigerian Carmelite order belongs to a global Carmelite family, known as the Discalced Carmelite Order. They have their Generalate in Rome, with Very Rev. Fr. Saverio Cannistra as Superior General. They belong to the Anglo-Irish Province, where very Rev. Fr. Jim Noonan, one of the Irish missionaries that worked in Nigeria, is now the Provincial Superior; and of course, our Lady of Mt. Carmel Vicariate where Rev. Fr. Francis Uchenna Odigwe is the Vicar. Carmelites trace their roots and their name to Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. They were inspired by the lifestyle and activities of Prophet Elijah on Mount Carmel. Elijah for instance, expressed his zeal for God when he said, “I have been very zealous for the Lord, God of armies” (I Kgs 19:10). The zeal for God is one of the things that inspired the early Carmelites. In the 12th century, a band of European men gathered together to live a simple life of prayer. Their first chapel was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary. They called themselves the “Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel”, hence, the ‘Carmelites’. The Discalced Carmelites, or Barefoot Carmelites, is a Catholic mendicant order with roots in the eremitic tradition of the Desert Fathers and Mothers. The order was
established in 1593, pursuant to the reform of the Carmelite Order of the Ancient Observance by two Spanish saints, Saint Teresa of Ávila and Saint John of the Cross. The Discalced Carmelite order is known by the initials “O.C.D.” The secular branch of the order (formerly known as the Third Order), has the initials “O.C.D.S.” The Discalced Carmelites are men and women who dedicate themselves to a life of prayer. The Carmelite nuns live in cloistered (enclosed) monasteries and follow a completely contemplative life. The Carmelite friars while following a contemplative life also engage in the promotion of spirituality through their retreat centres, parishes and churches. Lay people, known as the Secular Order, follow their contemplative call in their everyday activities. Devotion to Our Lady is a characteristic of Carmelites and is symbolised by wearing the Brown Scapular. These three orders have been established in Nigeria. The Carmelite Nuns are established at Owerri in Imo State and Zin in Taraba state, whereas the secular order are various communities where the friars are established. The Nigerian Carmelite Order is at last twenty five years! This calls for celebration. I understand a good number of Bishops, priests and lay faithful are invited to celebrate with the Carmelites on Mount Tabor Nsukka on October 5th 2013. The Carmelites also invited all the Irish missionaries who have worked in this great nation to celebrate the fruit of their labour. What an opportunity to give honour to whom honour is due! If I may add, this celebration calls for sober reflection. Socrates, an ancient Greek Philosopher once said, “An unexamined life is not worth living.” Now that the Nigerian Carmelites are 25, it will be advisable for the Nigerians to start thinking, not just for legal or juridical autonomy they should also consider financial autonomy. They should consider expanding to other African nations and also consider the interest of the poor as indicated in their constitution, “We must be hard-working. There must be no sign of luxury in our houses. We must mix with the poor and promote their advancement” (Discalced Carmelites, Constitutions and Norms, no 29, page 49), taking into consideration the scriptural demand of James 1:27. In all, I wish all the Nigerian Carmelites and their founders a joyful and peaceful jubilee celebration.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
International ‘NSA Spied On Martin Luther King’ WASHINGTON - The National Security Agency eavesdropped on civil rights icon Martin Luther King and heavyweight boxer Muhammad Ali as well as other leading critics of the Vietnam War in a secret program later deemed “disreputable,” declassified documents revealed. The six-year spying program, dubbed “Minaret,” had been exposed in the 1970s but the targets of the surveillance had been kept secret until now. The documents released Wednesday showed the NSA tracked King and his colleague Whitney Young, boxing star Ali, journalists from the New York Times and the Washington Post, and two members of Congress, Senator Frank Church of Idaho and Senator Howard Baker of Tennessee.
President Barack Obama of US
US, Iran Gear Up For Nuclear Talk NEW YORK CITY (USA) With the eyes of the world upon them, the United States and Iran will Thursday have one of their highest-level meetings since the 1979 revolution as their foreign ministers join talks on Tehran’s suspect nuclear program. And while officials are saying that no bilateral talks are planned between US Secretary of State John Kerry and his Iranian counterpart Mohammad Javad Zarif, there remains the chance for a quick tete-a-tete in the corridor. Zarif will be the first Iranian foreign minister to sit down with his counterparts from the five permanent members of the UN Security — Britain, China, France, Russia and the United States — plus Germany to discuss Iran’s nuclear program. The Iranian delegation will only join part of the talks being hosted by EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton however, and no-one is keen to raise hopes of a breakthrough in the dragging negotiations. Indeed the encounter with European, Russian and Chinese foreign ministers is set to be brief. It comes after speculation that Iran’s new President Hassan Rouhani would meet or at least shake hands with President Barack Obama at the United Nations fizzled out. But diplomats say Thursday’s meeting will give them the first chance to take the measure of the new Iranian leadership which took office in August. And they insist it will give the Iranians the opportunity to prove there is some substance behind Rouhani’s charm offensive, and his claims that Iran is only seeking to pursue a peaceful civilian nuclear energy program. Ashton, who has led Western efforts to engage with Tehran, said this week she was “struck by the energy and determination” of Zarif. But “as you would appreciate, there is a huge amount of work
to do,” she added. The international powers made a new proposal to Tehran this year, before Rouhani’s election, believed to offer some relief from international sanctions that have crippled Iran’s economy in return for a scaling back of its uranium enrichment. “There’s a sense that we never actually got a firm response or a detailed response to that,” a senior US official said. One Western diplomat said however that “while we are sensitive to signals there isn’t the slightest overture, it’s the same old speech.” “We told him that there is an offer on the table, and that if you have an offer we’ll look at it carefully,” the diplomat said. “If the Iranians say they want a new round of talks as they have something serious to propose, we’ll accept. If there is the slightest opportunity we’ll take it.” For his part Zarif said on his Twitter account from New York: “We have a historic opportunity to resolve the nuclear issue,” if world powers adjust to the “new Iranian approach.” In remarks published Thursday by Iran’s official news agency IRNA, Zarif said a meeting between the two presidents “would have been a good beginning.” “A meeting is not an end in itself, nor is it ruled out... President Rouhani has no problem in principle” with meeting Obama, he said. He called Obama’s remarks at the United Nations “more moderate” than in the past, adding: “If that is the basis of a new political will to solve misunderstandings and ease Iranian concerns, this would be more important than a meeting.” Obama and Rouhani, in almost back-to-back speeches at the United Nations on Tuesday, both stressed their willingness to try to resolve the nuclear issue. But they came at it from different perspectives.
The declassified NSA historical account of the episode called the spying “disreputable if not outright illegal.” The documents were published after the government panel overseeing classification ruled in favor of researchers at George Washington University who had long sought the release of the secret papers. The intensity of anti-war dissent at home led President Lyndon Johnson to ask US intelligence agencies in 1967 to find out if some protests were fueled by foreign powers. The NSA worked with other spy agencies to draw up “watch lists” of anti-war critics to tap their overseas phone calls. The program continued after Richard Nixon entered the White House in 1969, and historians say it reflected a climate of paranoia pervading his presidency. US Attorney General Elliot Richardson shut down the NSA program in 1973, just as the Nixon administration was engulfed in scandal. The 1975 disclosure of the NSA program, along with other domestic spying on Americans, caused public outrage and one of the senators who had been tapped, Church, led reforms that created stricter limits on surveillance and spy agencies. But the NSA has been accused of overstepping its authority and flouting civil rights protections since the attacks of September 11, 2001. The agency carried out warrantless wiretapping between 2001-2004 and recent revelations from US intelligence leaker Edward Snowden have exposed far-reaching electronic surveillance of phone records and Internet traffic. The researchers who published the documents Wednesday said the spying abuses during the Vietnam War era far surpass the excesses of the current program.
Kenyan preparing for burial.-
Kenya Buries Its Dead Amidst Search For Bodies And Clues
NAIROBI - Kenya buried victims of a four-day mall massacre by Islamist gunmen as international forensic and security experts scanned the rubble for bodies and clues. Weeping mourners from multiple religions gathered for the latest funerals of the 67 victims whose bodies have so far been recovered from the wreckage of Nairobi’s Westgate shopping mall. Across Kenya, flags flew at half mast for the second of three days of national mourning. President Uhuru Kenyatta announced an end to the 80-hour bloodbath late Tuesday, with the “immense” loss of 61 civilians and six members of the security forces. Five suspected attackers were also killed, and 11 detained, officials said. Police said the death toll was provisional, with the Kenyan
Red Cross reporting 71 people missing. In one of many funerals, over two thousand mourners turned out yesterday morning to pay their final respects to Ruhila Adatia, 31, a popular television and radio personality who was pregnant with her first child, in a joint ceremony also held for Shairoz Dossa, 44, a mother of three. Both came from Kenya’s Ismaili Muslim community. Shelina Manji, a friend of Adatia, said the last time they saw each other they promised to talk later. “We never had that conversation,” she told the somber crowd, some dabbing their eyes as tears welled up. The front page of The Standard, one of Kenya’s main daily newspapers, simply showed a red rose and the
headline, “in honour of our fallen loved ones”. Teams of volunteer counsellors and psychologists have set up several centres, including at the main morgue in Nairobi, where “anyone who was affected by the Westgate attack can obtain counselling,” they said in a statement. Victim had just bought a present for her unborn baby Fellow radio presenter Kamal Kaur was with Adatia at a children’s cooking contest on the mall’s rooftop parking when the attackers struck, recounting the horror as the insurgents raked the screaming crowds with bullets and hurled grenades. “I had around 30 to 35 kids with me... and when the blast went off I tried to protect them by ordering them to get down and lie on the floor... After the blast, and screaming from the
kids, the shots started coming in,” Kaur told The Standard. Kaur, who huddled against a wall as she tried to stem the pumping blood from the neck of a little boy, said she did not see how Adatia died. But she recalled her final words, just minutes before the carnage began. “She was telling me how she had bought something for ‘my little papa’ (her unborn baby), and I was telling her to stop buying too many things because we will have nothing else to give as a gift when it finally comes,” Kaur added. “Those were the last words I said to her.” As Kenyans mourned, rescuers and investigators continued to search the damaged Westgate mall complex, a large section of which collapsed after heavy explosions and a fierce fire.
THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
International Syrian Conflict Takes Toll On Palestinian NEW YORK, USA Refugees Displaced Palestinians are
Silvio Berlusconi
Political Uncertainty In Italy Deepens
ROME - Italian President Giorgio Napolitano canceled his attendance at a conference on Thursday because of what he called disturbing political developments after center-right supporters of Silvio Berlusconi threatened to walk out of parliament. Italy has lurched closer to a crisis since Berlusconi, a partner in Prime Minister Enrico Letta’s coalition government, was sentenced last month to four years in prison, commuted to a year under house arrest or in community service, for tax fraud. Late on Wednesday, Berlusconi’s allies made their latest threat to bring down the government, saying they would resign if a special Senate committee meeting on October 4 voted to strip the 76-year-old media tycoon of his seat in the upper house. Letta has said that Italy needs political stability while it struggles to emerge from more than two years of recession, rein in a 2-trillion-euro ($2.7-trillion) public debt, and bring its budget deficit under control. As the latest bout of political brinkmanship preoccupied Rome, rumors swirled that Italy faced a renewed downgrade of its government debt, sending the Milan bourse lower and pushing up borrowing costs on benchmark 10-year bonds. Napolitano, who had been due to attend a conference on postwar premier Alcide De Gaspari, sent a message to organizers excusing himself and saying that “a sudden political development that is institutionally disturbing” required his attention. How serious a threat the latest move presents is difficult to assess given a series of contradictory signals from Berlusconi’s allies in parliament, who are divided between a faction of hardliners and more conciliatory doves. On Thursday, Transport Minister Maurizio Lupi, a member of Berlusconi’s Forza Italia (FI) party, said the centerright had no joint commitment
to stand down. “The resignation of the parliamentarians is a decision which will depend on the conscience of each individual,” he told RAI state radio. But Letta’s center-left Democratic Party (PD) said the threats could undermine the government as it grapples with problems ranging from strained public finances to the fate of big Italian firms including Telecom Italia and national carrier Alitalia, both embroiled in complex takeovers. “Unfortunately, this back and forth with threats weakens an equilibrium which is already very delicate,” Luigi Zanda, Senate floor leader of the PD, told the daily Corriere della Sera. PD leader Guglielmo Epifani accused the center-right of “blackmail” but said his party would not change its approach and would vote to strip Berlusconi of his seat. Berlusconi’s political fate has hung in the balance since the tax fraud conviction opened the way to his expulsion from parliament under legislation passed last year that bans politicians with criminal convictions from holding seats. He says the sentence, which is likely to remove his parliamentary immunity from arrest over other cases, is unjust and accuses what he calls leftwing magistrates of plotting to drive him out of politics. Pressure on the coalition from Forza Italia rose hours after Letta sought to reassure international investors in New York that Italy was a stable and reliable partner. Without citing its sources, the Corriere della Sera daily said that Letta had informed Angelino Alfano, the deputy prime minister and party secretary of Forza Italia: “Angelino, if this mess keeps up, I could resign from here.” Napolitano, who would have to decide whether to call new elections or seek to build a new
coalition if the center-right bows out of the government, has said he does not want a vote. But the constant tension within the coalition has hobbled reform efforts and wasted weeks in wrangling over issues including
tax cuts and Berlusconi’s political future. Financial markets have shown none of the panic seen during previous government crises in 2012 or at the height of the euro zone debt crisis in 2011. But borrowing costs have ticked up during the latest bout of uncertainty. On Thursday, yields
losing out to Syrians in desperate need of aid, and the United Nations is asking Arab countries to pitch in and bolster funding for its agency mandated with helping Palestinian refugees. U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki-moon and his counterpart at the Arab League, Nabil El Araby, are co-chairing a ministerial meeting Thursday in New York on the funding challenges that the U.N. Relief and Works Agency is facing. UNRWA, which helps nearly 5 million registered Palestinian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Syria in addition to the West Bank and Gaza, is facing a $54 million shortfall of its roughly $600 million annual operational budget. “Every single year of the last few years has been difficult,” UNRWA’s Commissioner General Filippo Grandi told The Associated Press in an interview on the sidelines of the U.N. General Assembly meeting in New York. “Since 2008 and the economic downturn, aid budgets in many countries have shrunk. What we are trying to do this time is we are going
John Kerry
especially to one group of donors: the Arab donors,” Grandi said. Arab countries have made pledges to fund 7.8 per cent of the U.N. agency’s operational budget, which is made up entirely of voluntary contributions, and not U.N. funding. So far, they have only contributed about a fourth of what they promised, and Grandi said the meeting’s main goal is to push those donors to come up with the rest of the money. The war in Syria, where over half a million Palestinian refugees live, has been complicating matters. “Syria has drained a lot of humanitarian resources,” Grandi said. “When you have two million refugees, a catastrophic situation inside, neighboring countries burdened by this huge crisis, of course this will drain a lot of resources and the Palestinian crisis will seem less urgent because it’s been there for so long.” On the ground, the Syrian conflict has increased the plight of Palestinian refugees who live in 12 camps in Syria. “Seven are not accessible to us because of fighting,” Grandi said. “More than half of 530,000 refugees in Syria, are displaced inside Syria and I would say 70,000 have left the country. These people are already refugees from before the (Syrian crisis) and they become refugees again.” But the agency is not limiting its outreach to Arab nations and Western states, reflecting a change in the field of global humanitarian aid. “After New York, I am going to Brazil. Brazil is becoming an important donor. At this meeting on Thursday we have invited other donors such as Turkey,” he explained adding that roughly 80 per cent of the aid agency’s funding comes from the United States, the European Union, Japan and Australia.
Teen Accused Of Killing 2 Arrested LAS VEGAS, USA - A Las Vegas-area teenager who had been sought in the U.S. and along the Mexican border following the butcher knife slayings of his mother and younger brother was arrested as he sat alone in a food court on the Las Vegas Strip. An unidentified tipster who recognized Adrian NavarroCanales from media reports told Henderson police the 16-yearold was at the food court at the Showcase mall, police spokesman Keith Paul said. Navarro-Canales offered no resistance when police approached him at about 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday. “He was sitting at a table,” Paul said. “The two detectives walked up to him and took him
into custody.” Navarro-Canales was booked into juvenile detention at the Clark County Detention Center in downtown Las Vegas to await an initial court appearance. Paul said investigators think Navarro-Canales walked the 9 miles to the Strip from the suburban apartment where the bloody bodies of his mother and brother had been found Friday. They don’t believe he returned to the apartment, and they were still trying to determine where he had been staying. Navarro-Canales was named as an adult in a warrant issued Monday accusing him of killing Elvira Canales-Gomez, 40, and Cesar Navarro, 9. Police say the mom was found with multiple stab wounds and a
butcher knife in her chest. The boy was stabbed once in the chest and was found in the bathtub. Police think the killings happened Sept. 17 — sometime after the mom picked up the 9year-old from school and a day after she, the two boys and Canales-Gomez’s boyfriend, Carlos Rubio-Villanueva, celebrated Navarro-Canales’ 16th birthday. Navarro-Canales was initially named as a possible victim, not a suspect. The Associated Press typically doesn’t identify minors accused of crimes but is naming Navarro-Canales because of the seriousness of the crime and because he was identified by authorities while they searched for him.
Officers went to the apartment three times last week at the request of Canales-Gomez’s niece and Rubio-Villanueva — once Sept. 18 and twice Thursday — before entering and finding the bodies Friday. The niece, Ana Martinez, 23, told investigators her cousin didn’t have any friends that she knew of in the Las Vegas area, didn’t like living in the United States and wanted to go back to Mexico. She described NavarroCanales as anti-social and said he spent most of his time in the apartment playing video games. The mall, next to the MGM Grand casino-resort, is marked by giant M&M and Coca-Cola displays, several shoe and apparel retailers, and an eightplex movie theater. It also features a video arcade.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
International Features Kenya: AS al-Qaida-linked terrorists threw grenades and fired automatic weapons, the three plainclothes Kenyan police officers, lightly armed and wearing no bulletproof vests, helmets or other protective gear, worked their way to the roof of Nairobi’s Westgate Mall and led a group of frightened shoppers to safety. “I will be forever grateful for those three brave and selfless Kenyans,” said
Saved Mall GoersThank Police and others they brought to safety say have gotten too little attention. Handler was in the shopping complex with her husband, Nick, and their 2year-old, Julia. Father and daughter were at the popular eatery, Artcaffe, when about a dozen al-Shabab militants descended on the upscale mall popular with foreigners and wealthy Kenyans and began firing indiscriminately.
Philadelphia suburb of Merion, Pa. “Perhaps it was not rational, but I instantly trusted these guys with our lives. I felt a surge of hope that we were going to be fine.” The 31-year-old Handler, who works on agricultural issues in western Kenya, said the officers rushed into the attack zone “knowing that they were up against heavily armed gunmen and were
The al-Shabab gunmen appeared to specifically target the unarmed guards as they began their attack, said Ben Mulwa, a community organizer who was shot in the leg near one of the mall entrances. One of the guards was shot through the head just feet from where Mulwa was hiding. He said the first responders — particularly the lightly armed officers who were among the first on the scene
Lyndsay, upstairs at a bookstore, headed to the roof, while Nick took shelter with Julia in a ground-floor storeroom of the mall’s flagship department store, Nakumatt. Father and daughter huddled fearfully for three hours until plainclothes police came to their rescue. “It’s hard to describe the relief I felt when I saw the doors to the storeroom open, and several incredibly brave plainclothes police, weapons drawn, motioned for us to leave as quickly as possible,” said Nick Handler, of the
putting their own lives on the line.” Video from inside the mall shows how security personnel worked to save lives. In one, a man thought to be a plainclothes police officer was seen scooting on his belly across the shopping center’s ground floor to coax a mother and her two children lying next to a cafe counter to stand up and rush out. The regular mall security guards were unarmed and powerless to stop attackers armed with semi-automatic weapons.
— displayed immense courage in a chaotic and uncertain situation. “They’re only holding pistols. ... The other guys are walking with machine guns,” he said. “They could have easily shot them. I found that extremely brave.” Individual acts of courage aside, however, Mulwa and other Kenyans questioned how prepared the country is to confront a large-scale attack. Kenya has been hit by terrorists in the past, and Western officials have warned that malls and other public spaces could be
Kenyan Soldiers Lyndsay Handler, an American who was among those rescued from the roof in the first hours of the siege that began Saturday. “Words cannot fully capture the depth of this gratitude, but anyone who has come close to losing a child or spouse can understand.” Undercover police officers armed only with pistols and walkie-talkies like those who rescued Handler and her husband and 2-year-old daughter helped save countless lives in the initial minutes of the attack — heroics the New York native
targeted. “The fact that kind of gunfire can go on in a prime location like that ... I think the response probably wasn’t as good as it could be,” Mulwa said. “There’s some lapses that need to be addressed.” Kenyan army troops took the lead in securing the mall following the initial chaos of Saturday’s attack, and it wasn’t until late Tuesday that President Uhuru Kenyatta declared the terrorists had been defeated. Mopping-up operations continued into Wednesday, and occasional gunfire could still be heard from the mall. The official civilian death toll stood at 61 late Tuesday, but officials said more bodies could still be inside the mall, and 71 people remain missing, according to the Red Cross. Six Kenyan security forces, as well as five alShabab militants, also were killed. Among the six Kenyan troops killed, three were firstresponder police officers accidentally gunned down by Kenyan army officers in the chaos after the attack, police officials said. Kenyan officials have been eager to declare the situation under control for days. But the challenge they face could be read on the faces of the soldiers tasked with clearing the mall in the aftermath of the attack. Trudging from the gutted complex to the Oshwal Center, a nearby Indian community center that had been turned into a makeshift command center and triage location, the troops looked like they were returning from battle. Some put on a brave face, like the soldier hauling an anti-tank rocket launcher who wore aviator sunglasses as he ate his lunch inside. But many others looked clearly shaken and worn out. Ashok Halai, the Nairobi commissioner for St. John Ambulance, which has been providing volunteer emergency medical services since the attack began, said his crews have been coordinating with Kenyan security forces in treating casualties. The operation to clear the sprawling complex has taken a toll on the mood of the Kenyan forces charged with securing it, he said. “Obviously they are
stressed,” he said Tuesday. “They would like to have peace. We would like to see this ending.” He said he wasn’t surprised that it took so long to bring the operation to a close. “They’ve tried their best,” he said of the security forces. “Hostages were there. ... Because of the hostages, they might have taken this long.” Two soldiers involved in the operation described the challenges of securing the mall this week even as senior officials were declaring it all but over. The first floor was soaked with water from overhead sprinklers that went off after fire broke out Monday, and there was no power on the third and fourth floors, they said. That meant troops had to carry out door-to-door searches and hunt for what authorities feared were booby-trapped rooms in near darkness. “It’s really not easy. You don’t know where you are and where the terrorists might be,” said one of the soldiers. They spoke on condition of anonymity because they were under orders not to speak to the media. Solomon Ichahuria, a 24year-old sales clerk who works at a clothing shop on the ground floor, barricaded himself and more than 20 others inside the store when the shooting began. He said no one found them for about three hours, when an armed man in jeans and a checked shirt — apparently an undercover police officer — knocked on the door. Those hiding inside didn’t answer because they were unsure if he was friend or foe. He returned two hours later with a soldier who guided them out, he said. Ichahuria said the first responders were heroes who “should be celebrated because they did save a lot of lives.” He felt lucky to get out alive after only five hours, though he acknowledged the response could have been better. “If I was in a G-20 country and it took five hours, in my opinion that would have been a job terribly done. But then now, this is Kenya, and disaster management is not one of our strengths.”
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
EVERY FRIDAY WEEK 11, 2013 LAST SEASON RESULT Anderson Richwell 1.2. X. Forecast
WEEK 11, 2012 NO. OF DRAWS 11
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THE NIGERIAN
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Suarez Vows To Make Amends After Troubled Spell
Liverpool’s Luis Suarez (left) and Manchester United’s Jonny Evans (right) battle for the ball.
Man U Made £100m Bid For Gareth Bale
MANCHESTER United made a sensational worldrecord £100million bid to hijack Gareth Bale’s move from Spurs to Real Madrid. transfer fee, Bale represented Mirror Sport can reveal a bargain. Welsh flier Bale even flew He added: “Bale was back from Spain to hold talks cheap. The signing of Gareth with United officials, who Bale is the model of Real were desperate to help new boss David Moyes make a blue-chip signing. On Tuesday, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez publicly confirmed that another club came in for Bale during their negotiations in August. And, as Mirror Sport revealed in July, United had already made a £60m offer for the player. Perez, who eventually paid a world-record £86m for Bale, said: “Tottenham did not want to sell and we respected that. “Then, when we found out that Manchester United would be making an offer, we made our own. “Since his childhood he had the dream of playing for Real Madrid and he asked us to make it possible for him to come. “Perez also claimed that, Gareth Bale despite his world record
Madrid, signing the best player in the world at this moment, and that is what I say. “All the great players of Real Madrid have been cheap. I will not say the
amount, but we must not focus too much on the purchase price. “ Moyes’ only signing after succeeding Alex Ferguson at Old Trafford was his former Everton midfielder Marouane Fellaini - in the final minutes of the summer transfer window.
Now, Mustafa, Mesut’s father and agent, has filed a charge against the unknown agent, who allegedly forged his signature on a document, which enabled transfer talks with Manchester United to begin. The document dated August 7, 2013, was leaked to Ozil senior, who will press charges. “I would have never deemed it possible what some dodgy people venture to do,” Ozil told the paper.
Liverpool’s principal owner John Henry waded into the matter by insisting the player would not be sold at any price and the Merseysiders kept hold of their prize asset when the transfer window closed. Speaking after his return to action, Suarez told Liverpool’s website he was determined to help the club make up for lost time. “The result is not good because we lost but the feeling is good because we played very well, we created chances and we missed,” he said. “I know it was a difficult moment but for myself and for the team it’s very important I’m back because I can help the team and being off the pitch I can’t. “We’ll keep going for the week and for the next game. “All the time I try my best on the pitch. I’m here to help the team and help Liverpool and I’ll try my best.”
Javier Hernandez’s goal, will host Norwich City, while Manuel Pellegrini’s City travel to St James’ Park to face Newcastle United. Two other all-Premier League fixtures see Tottenham play Hull and Sunderland host Southampton. Fulham were drawn a trip to Championship
side Leicester City and Stoke are pitted against Birmingham City, who knocked holders Swansea out in the third round. Elsewhere, West Ham will be expected to progress when they take on Burnley. All matches will be played on the week of October 28.
Arsenal Draw Cup Clash With Cheslea
ARSENAL and Chelsea will meet in a mouthwatering Capital One Cup fourth round clash, while Manchester United and Manchester City have both drawn Premier League opposition. Jose Mourinho’s side will travel to the Emirates Stadium after Arsenal defeated West Brom on penalties on Wednesday night. United, who knocked Liverpool out of the competition thanks to
Ozil’s Father Pursues False Agent
MESUT Ozil’s father has filed a charge against an agent who allegedly falsely claimed to represent the player during transfer talks with Manchester United, Express reports. Ozil, 24, became the most expensive German player ever when making the 50 million Euros switch from Real Madrid to Arsenal on the last day of the transfer window.
LUIS Suarez vowed to make amends for a troubled spell after the Liverpool striker finally returned from suspension in Wednesday’s 1-0 defeat at Manchester United. Suarez was back in a Liverpool shirt for the first time since the controversial Uruguay international was handed a 10-match ban last season for biting Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic. He lacked match sharpness but played the full 90 minutes of the League Cup third round tie at Old Trafford and looked committed to the cause. That was in contrast to his attitude early last month when he attempted to engineer a move to Arsenal after the north London club made a bid for him, in the process angering Reds manager Brendan Rodgers and the club by claiming they had reneged on a deal to allow him to leave for a side in the Champions League.
“Someone wanted to make contact with Manchester in my name and even signed with my name. That is no trivial offence. We will get to the bottom of it,” he said. Following the transfer to Arsenal, the agent Francois Gallardo had claimed that Ozil senior had shopped his son around most of the European top teams. However, Ozil senior firmly denied this claim, saying: “As you can see,
that’s wrong. You don’t need to offer a player of Mesut’s class to any club in the world.” United also missed out in their pursuit of Thiago Alcantara who joined Bayern Munich and Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas while Athletic Bilbao midfielder Ander Herrera was also the subject of a bid from Manchester United but claimed he never spoke to the club.
The Fixtures Sunderland
v
Southampton
Leicester City
v
Fulham
Birmingham City
v
Stoke City
Manchester United v
Norwich City
Newcastle United
v
Manchester City
Burnley
v
West Ham United
Arsenal
v
Chelsea
Tottenham Hotspur v
Hull City
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Confident Atletico Ready For Madrid Derby
ATLETICO Madrid will look to extend their winning streak when they visit arch-rivals Real Madrid for a La Liga clash at the Santiago Bernabeu on Saturday night. ahead of the derby. The Rojiblancos are “We’re looking forward currently only one of two to it,” he said. “The last teams in La Liga who still time we were there we won have a perfect record so let’s go for it. It’s a very having played six important game for our matches, alongside co- fans and for us. leaders Barcelona. “The good thing is the Diego Costa scored a dynamics of the team, brace on Tuesday night to which is all about winning. help his side down “We go in to every game Osasuna 2-1 and defender with the thought that we Juanfran Torres their will always win and that is winning streak has given leading us in the right them extra confidence direction.”
“We know that traveling to the Bernabeu is never easy, they are also on form but we believe are going to play well and things are going to be fine.” Real are currently sitting in third place on the table with 16 points, two less that Atletico Madrid and go into this match having needed a last minute winner from Cristiano Ronaldo to beat newlypromoted Elche 2-1 on Wednesday night. “We are lucky that he is here and that he earns us
AC Milan Paying For Each THE 46-year-old has voiced his frustration with Mistake, Says Allegri the Rossoneri’s disappointing start to the new season and feels they have lacked good fortune AC Milan coach Massimiliano Allegri has rued his side’s profligacy in front of goal in the opening weeks of the 2013-14 campaign and feels they have been punished for all of their early mistakes.
The San Siro side sit 12th in the Serie A table with five points from as many games and have already conceded 10 goals so far, much to the frustration of Allegri. “A single point from our last two games means that we have to work more. At the moment it seems as if we’re paying for every small mistake,” Allegri
said at a press conference. “We have got to improve in defence, but also in attack, seeing as we only convert about 30 per cent of our scoring opportunities. “I can’t criticise the team in terms of gameplay. Both against Napoli and versus Bologna we had a lot of chances. The important thing is to keep on getting into the opponent’s penalty area as we’re doing. “We have to be more careful in defence and work hard.” Milan will be looking to return to winning ways on Saturday when they host Sampdoria.
points in each match,” said goalkeeper Diego Lopez. “The derby will be difficult but it’s not going to be decisive. We are hungry and we want to play well, especially because of what happened last year in the Copa del Rey.” Atletico defeated Real in the Copa del Rey final in May with Joao Miranda scoring the winner in extra time.
Carlo Ancelotti
Bayern Thirsty For 3 Points BAYERN Munich will be looking to enjoy more of the Oktoberfest when they go hunting for three crucial league points against VfL Wolfsburg at the Allianz Arena on Saturday afternoon. The Oktoberfest – Munich’s annual beer festival – may have already begun, but the only thing Bayern will be thirsting for on Saturday afternoon will be three more points towards the defence of their Bundesliga title, at the expense of a sixth-placed Wolfsburg side. Bayern weren’t in town when Oktoberfest 2013 kicked off, which was perhaps just as well. Pep Guardiola’s men were in Gelsenkirchen, expertly passing their way through Schalke 04 en route to a 4-0 victory. Guardiola’s Bayern joined Dortmund at the top of the table on points and goal difference courtesy of that thumping 4-0 win at Schalke on Matchday 6, their great domestic rivals now edging first place only by virtue of having scored three more.
Although Pep’s troops have looked impressive this season, when the world’s most famous beer festival is in full swing, home advantage isn’t always as helpful as it would seem for the 22-time Bundesliga champions. Bayern have won 52 of their 80 matches, with 21 draws thrown in during this period of the year. The Wolves will arrive in Munich on the back of a
Almeria Out To End Barca’s Run ALMERIA will be out to cause an upset when they host Barcelona in a La Liga match at the Juegos Mediterraneo on Saturday night. The Catalans have won all six of their matches so far this season and are currently sitting at the top of the log with 15 points. Gerardo Martino ‘s men will go into this match having recorded a convincing 4-1 win over Real Sociedad on Tuesday night. Defender Gerard Pique believes too much is being
Dortmund Looking To Add More Misery On Freiburg BORUSSIA Dortmund will be looking to maintain their lead at the summit of the Bundesliga when they host strugglers SC Freiburg at the Signal Iduna Park on
Massimiliano Allegri
Sociedad Out To Spoil Sevilla’s Party
REAL Sociedad will look to bounce back from a heavy defeat when they host Sevilla in a La Liga match on Saturday night. The Erreala were hammered 4-1 by Barcelona away from home on Tuesday night and have now failed to win in their last five league fixtures. Jagoba Arrasate’s men are currently in 11th place with six points and midfielder Javier Ros believes they have to put the tough encounter against the defending champions behind them. “It was a tough game, we
knew it was not going to be easy,” he said. “Although we started well with Markel shooting over the bar, they scored two early goals and it became very difficult. “We’ve played at the Nou Camp, which is among the most difficult in this league, now we have to leave it behind and think about Sevilla. “We’ll be playing at home, in front of our fans and we are very strong here. We should be going for the three points. “ Sevilla have had a difficult start to the season, failing to win in their first five fixtures, but go into this clash full of
confidence after registering a convincing 4-1 win over Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday night. The win moved the Andalusians from the bottom of the table up to 15th place with five points and Ros says he is expecting a difficult teston Saturday. “They have played against strong teams and have not had that bit of luck,” he added. “But, Sevilla is a great team and will be a tough opponent to beat in Anoeta.” Last season Sociedad had the better of Sevilla, beating them 2-1 at home and away.
Saturday afternoon. Kick-off is scheduled for 15h30 (CAT). Dortmund are currently leading the Bundesliga table but are at the top of the league by virtue of goal difference. The Black & Yellows currently have 16 points, the same number of points as traditional rivals Bayern Munich. Dortmund’s draw last weekend at Nurnberg and Bayern’s 4-0 thumping of Schalke meant that Die Rotten joined Jurgen Klopp’s side at the top. Freiburg have been struggling throughout the season so far. They are currently winless so far in their first six games. A first league win of the season looks highly likely to elude them this weekend, but a shock result in Dortmund cannot be discounted.
narrow win against Hoffenheim which maintained a 100 percent record on home turf, in stark contrast to their three defeats on the road so far. One man in their ranks will inevitably find himself in the spotlight if selected: Brazilian holding midfield ace Luiz Gustavo, who of course swapped Munich for Wolfsburg only a matter of weeks ago.
This is the same Freiburg side that boasts an undefeated record against the almighty Bayern in the league this season after they point took a point of Pep Guardiola’s men, the only time that Bayern have failed to bag maximum points in the league this season. Dortmund’s new sensation Henrikh Mkhitaryan shared his thoughts on Dortmund’s upcoming Bundesliga and Champions League fixtures. Dortmund are under greater pressure to beat Freiburg this Saturday after Bayern gained two points on them last weekend. “We have to win. It’s important because, after Freiburg, we have a Champions League game against Olympique Marseille. If we beat Freiburg, we will be confident going into the next game.”
made of the drop in their ball possession statistics and insists that they aim to continue winning while playing good football. “There is too much importance given to the issue of possession and style,” he said. “We are the only club in the world to win 40 and the discussion afterwards is dedicated to whether or not we had possession. “Our style is already defined and we have a style of play that has made us famous, but evolution is not bad. “We want to achieve the best start. It is simply a reflection that things are going well. “There is much talk but the team must still win. No-one wants to stop winning. We can continue to talk about it while we win.” Newly-promoted Almeria on the other hand are still in search of their first win of the season, having drawn three and lost three of their opening six fixtures. Francisco Rodriguez’ men conceded late goals on Tuesday night as they went down 2-0 to Malaga away from home, but the coach says they have to focus on the next challenge. “We had our chances, like the one from (Hernan) Pellerano, or from Rodri (Rios), we had good chances but they just wouldn’t go in,” he said. “It wasn’t to be but we’ll try for something in the next game. We’ll think now of Barcelona, of competing against one of the best teams in the world.” Almeria are currently in 18th place on the La Liga standings with three points and the last time they hosted Barcelona in 2010 they found themselves on the receiving end of a 8-0 drubbing.
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Qatar 2022 Organisers Appalled By ‘Slaves’ QATAR’S 2022 Report Supreme Committee, responsible for organising the World Cup, says it is “appalled” by fresh revelations about the conditions suffered by migrant workers, who will be heavily relied upon to build the infrastructure required to host the competition. A report in the Guardian on Thursday morning once again put the spotlight on Qatar’s labour conditions, detailing how Nepalese workers flown into the desert nation “face exploitation and abuses that amount to modern-day slavery.” As a Yahoo-Eurosport Special Report recently showed, Nepalese workers have been dying in alarming numbers in Qatar and labourers are often denied basic rights while working long hours for minimal pay. Although work is yet to begin on the stadia to host the FIFA tournament, the Qatar organising committee says it was shocked by the details contained in the Guardian’s report, and that the Qatari government will now be investigating the newspaper’s allegations. “Like everyone viewing the video and images, and reading the accompanying texts, we are appalled by the findings presented in The Guardian’s report,”
read a statement. “There is no excuse for any worker in Qatar, or anywhere else, to be treated in this manner. “The health, safety, wellbeing and dignity of every worker that contributes to staging the 2022 FIFA World Cup is of the utmost importance to our committee and we are committed to ensuring that the event serves as a catalyst toward creating sustainable improvements to the lives of all workers in Qatar. “We firmly believe that all workers engaged on our projects, and those of the other infrastructure developers in Qatar, have a right to be treated in a manner that ensures at all times their wellbeing, safety, security, and dignity. “This is our top priority as we begin to deliver on the promises made in our bid to host the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.” Human Rights Watch and ITUC, the world’s largest trade union confederation, have both attempted to raise awareness of conditions suffered by foreign workers in Qatar. As reported by the Guardian, this summer the Nepalese workers flown in to work in Qatar “died at a rate of almost one a day” – many of them from heart attacks.
Violence during an Egyptian domestic match.
Cairo To Host Egypt World Cup Qualifier
EGYPT’S World Cup qualifier against Ghana will be played in Cairo, the Egyptian Football Association have confirmed. Restrictions had been in In a statement on their website they said that, place since a post-match following extensive pitch invasion at a game discussions, the country’s between Al Masry and Al sports minister Taher Abou Ahli at Port Said last year Zeid agreed to make resulted in 74 casualties. That disaster led to the concessions for the game which is set to take place cancellation of the domestic league season on November 19.
Venus Williams
In Tokyo
back of an impressive win over top seed and world number two Victoria Azarenka. But Bouchard, ranked 17 places higher than Williams
them in the first 40 seconds, which was saved by Dele Ajiboye. And then one of their goals was scored while there was an infringement of our goalkeeper, and the third goal was a clear offside.”
overthrown in July. Al Ahli and Zamalek — in the group phase of the African Champions League — are the only Egyptian sides to have taken part in any competitive action of note, although all of their home matches have been played at the Red Sea resort of El Gouna. Egypt finished top of their qualifying group, despite their off-pitch difficulties and some games being played behind closed doors, and now face a two-legged play-off to clinch a place at the 2014 World Cup in Brazil.
sports minister Tarek Dhiab allegedly asked Zurich to dissolve the Tunisia Football Federation. The relationship between Dhiap and FTF boss Wadii Jarii has been frosty following a long-standing feud between the two that dates back to February. FIFA have promptly reacted to Dhiap’s correspondence warning that any interference from the Tunisian government into the affairs of the FTF will lead to Tunisia’s suspension from all FIFA competitions and activities. Should FIFA go ahead with its threat, it would put into
doubt Tunisia’s forthcoming 2014 World Cup play-off, first leg qualifier at home against Cameroon scheduled for October 11. That threat has forced Tunisia’s premier Ali Laarayadh to quickly intervene in the standoff and assure FIFA that there will be no interference whatsoever from his government into the FTF’s affairs. Tensions between Dhiab and Jarii began last February when the FTF boss appointed Nabil Maaloul as Tunisia national team coach while Dhiab was pushing for the appointment of Khaled Ben Yahia.
Namo Says He Will Equal All-Time VICTOR Namo of Nasarawa NPL Goals Record United scored his 16th goal on Wednesday and he said he will equal the 20-goal all-time record of the Nigeria league this season.
Tennis: Williams Reaches Semi-Finals VENUS Williams continued her run of form in Tokyo with a battling 6-3 6-7 6-3 win over Canadian hope Eugenie Bouchard. Williams came into the quarter-final match off the
and restrictions on crowds watching Egypt’s national team or top club sides in continental competition. In February, one year after the Port Said stadium disaster, Egypt’s league resumed only to be called off for a second successive season after president Mohamed Morsi was
at 46 in the world, was also on a good run having beaten Jelena Jankovic in straight sets to reach the last eight. Wiliams, who continues to fight an auto-immune disease, looked solid in the first set before Bouchard levelled the match in a second set tie-break. The American finished the stronger of the two, however, storming out to a 5-2 lead before closing out the match two games later after just over three hours. Williams will take on either Svetlana Kuznetsova or Petra Kvitova in the last four. Kuznetsova and Kvitova both won their rain-delayed third round matches in straight sets, against Sorana Cirstea and Madison Keys respectively, and are due back on court later in the day for their quarter-final match.
Jude Aneke holds the all-time record after he scored 20 goals for Kaduna United two seasons ago. Namo fired a brace against Shooting Stars in Lafia on Wednesday and he told MTNFootball.com the 20-goal mark is very much within his sights now. “I know I can score 20 goals this season and that was why I set that target when the season was about to start, I am on 16 now and I am sure I will get at least four in remaining games,” Namo stated. “But my main priority is to help my team escape the drop.” The former Kano Pillars star scored in the 39th and 42nd minutes to help Nasarawa beat visiting 3SC 3-0, with Solomon Babatunde netting the other goal in the 20th minute. Meanwhile, 3SC have insisted the officiating against Nasarawa was terrible as there was a script to make sure they lose the game. “I don’t want to complain about the referee, but I can’t help it because it was obvious they wanted us to lose,” 3SC spokesman Jubril Arowolo told MTNFootball.com “A penalty was awarded to
Tunisia Flirts With FIFA TUNISIA face the Ban prospect of a FIFA ban after
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FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
Babalola Urges League Clubs To Act With Decorum TUNJI Babalola, Secretary, League Management Company (LMC), yesterday said that clubs in the Globacom Premier League should conduct themselves with decorum, so as to attract spectators to match venues. He told newsmen on telephone that collective
Oghenekaro Emerges Nigeria League Star Of The Week WARRI Wolves forward Oghenekaro Etebo is the MTNFootball.com league star of Week 34 after his treble in a 4-1 thrashing of Wikki Tourists. This will be Etebo’s third award in his rookie season in the top flight and his remarkable progress has been further underscored by the fact that he is already knocking on the door of the Super Eagles Interestingly, this highly promising youngster also scored the first hat-trick of the current season. He has scored 15 goals now and he is the second leading scorer behind Victor Namo of Nasarawa United, who has 16 goals. He was picked ahead of Enyimba’s Bright Esieme, who shone like a million stars in the 1-0 win over Akwa United and Sharks star Christian Pyagbara, who netted a brace in the 3-0 spanking of El Kanemi Warriors. Other nominees were Victor Namo, whose brace helped Nasarawa United sink 3SC 3-0; Obioma Arinze, who scored the lone goal to hold back Bayelsa United, and Enyimba’s Chinedu Udoji who was rock solid in the heart of defence. ‘Afaras’ told MTNFootball.com he hopes to keep firing in the goals. “I thank God for my goals. I will keep doing my best to get in the goals, I am sure more will still come,” he said.
responsibility was needed to boost attendance at match venues, for spectators to be entertained. Babalola added that league clubs should endeavour to put in collective efforts to play good games, with adequate security measures to guarantee the safety of spectators. “They need to complement the efforts of the LMC and also need to play good, clean games to encourage supporters and get more fans to participate actively. “Good security can also help to encourage supporters; if they know the venues are safe, they will definitely come out to watch matches,’’ Babalola said. The secretary also expressed satisfaction with the ongoing 2012/2013 Globacom Premier League, which would soon get concluded with four matches left for each club to play. “This season has been fluid, no hitches and we are happy about that, though there is need for more improvements in the next season. “The LMC has tried this season and we can all see that the season has been smooth and will definitely end on that note. “Everyone needs to work together to ensure that the season ends on a good note,’’ the LMC secretary said. He stressed the need for collaborative efforts from clubs and for their administrators to work with the LMC towards enhancing the league’s profile
No Pressure To Play Ethiopia - Ejide AS Nigeria prepares to face Ethiopia in the first leg of the 2014 World Cup play-offs, the expectation is very high that the Super Eagles will beat the Walya Antelopes and book a ticket to the world’s biggest football showpiece. Sharing in this optimism is Super Eagles goalkeeper Austin Ejide. The Hapoel Be’er Sheva of Israel net minder said that the players are experienced enough to weather the storm when it matters most. “We have experienced players who are playing at the high level and so can handle such situations. Instead it will be the Ethiopians that will be under pressure,” Ejide told Complete Sports. He went further claiming that the climatic conditions won’t be an excuse when both sides clash in Addis Ababa. “There are many countries in the world with high altitude where the Super Eagles have gone to play and did well. Also, this is not the first time we’ll be playing in Addis Ababa. I remember the last time we played there and came out with
N97m Re-Grassing Cost For Abuja Stadium Pitch Doubtful - Gaiya THE House of Representatives Committee on Sports has expressed dissatisfaction with the renovated Abuja stadium pitch. Rep. Godfrey Gaiya, who led his committee members on oversight function to the Abuja Stadium on Tuesday, described the N96.6 million used for the re-grassing of the pitch as “doubtful’’. He told newsmen that as a
Bolaji Abdulahi
legislator, he was disappointed with the level of work carried out by Julius Berger PLC as there was not enough drainage to drain the water after the rain. “The re-grassing is just an aspect of the renovation and they said today that it cost them N96.6 million to do. “My verdict is that I am not comfortable with the level of water logged on the pitch. “I was in Calabar and it rained for three days non-stop before the match and you cannot compare Calabar that is in tropical environment to Abuja that is in the Savannah where rain is lighter. “So, if it rained in Calabar for three days when Nigeria played Malawi and I never saw anything like waterlogged spot, why should ordinary drizzling cause water ponds on the renovated Abuja pitch,’’ Gaiya asked. The legislator vowed that the National Sports Commission (NSC) must give detailed account of all their spending for
the renovation of the stadium. Gaiya regretted that he had no powers to summon the contractors, Julius Berger PLC, to explain but maintained that the NSC would be held responsible for any poor job done. “We never entered into a contractual agreement with Julius Berger. Our oversight function rests on the NSC. “It is the NSC that will bring its client to order when our observations are made known to them. “We hope if they can relay the message to Julius Berger to get it done the way every Nigerian will be comfortable with,’’ he said. Rep. Gaiya further described as “uncalled for’’ the ceremony which followed the renovation, noting that it was not a norm in the country to celebrate renovation of projects. He pointed out that it was only ideal for new projects to be commissioned.
a 2-2 draw, it’s not going to be new to us but I’m sure the NFF are working towards that,” he said. The Super Eagles travel
first to tackle the Antelopes in Addis Ababa in the first leg while the second leg will be staged at the UJ Esuene stadium in Calabar.
Austin Ejide, Super Eagles No 2 goalkeeper.
... Ethiopia Confirm Oct 13 For Federation had earlier THE Ethiopian Football raised alarm that Ethiopia Federation have confirmed First Leg they will play the first leg of the 2014 Fifa World Cup play-offs against Stephen Keshi’s men on Sunday Ethiopia’s 2014 World Cup first leg play-offs clash against Nigeria has been slated for Sunday, October 13 at the National Stadium in Addis Ababa. Speaking to news men in Addis, General Secretary of the Ethiopia Football Federation (EFF) Yigsaw
Bezuayehu disclosed that the match will be staged on a Sunday. “We have traditionally hosted all our home matches on Sunday and our game against Nigeria will not be an exception as we will play the first leg at the National Stadium on Sunday October 13,” Bezuayehu said. The Nigeria Football
that a vibrant foundation was needed to mould the country’s amateur boxers into world beaters. Egbegi told newsmen in Lagos on telephone that if the foundation was strong, it would impact positively through creditable performances at international tournaments. “They need to be exposed, in order to have a good foundation, and that in turn gives them an edge over their counterparts in other countries. “An amateur boxer should have gone through several local and foreign tournaments, to be adequately prepared for international tournaments.
“They must have competed in over 30 tournaments, to familiarise themselves with their opponents,’’ he said. Egbegi, who was a former Secretary of the Nigeria Boxing Board of Control (NBB of C), noted that the leadership was not aware of the strength and weaknesses of boxers under them. “They must know whether a team is weak or strong, and as with a weak team, you will know how to work towards improving them. “Here in Nigeria, the authorities are not aware of the abilities of the boxers; they just pack them in camp and do not work on anything,’’ Egbegi said.
are yet to confirm the match day. With this development, it means that Nigeria will fly out on a chartered flight on Saturday, October 12, so as to beat the effects of the high altitude in Addis Ababa. Nigeria have opted out for Saturday, November 16 as the date for the return leg match to be played at the UJ Esuene Stadium in Calabar.
Amateur Boxers Need Strong Foundation TRIGO Egbegi, a renowned To Thrive - Egbegi boxing analyst, yesterday said He stressed the need for intense preparations by the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) towards the improvement of the boxers. “A solid team with good exposure is all that is needed for the boxers to win in international competitions. “They need to box with tough boxers from around the world, before they can win medals,’’ Egbegi said. The analyst, however, expressed doubts on the country’s chances at the World Boxing Championships in Kazakhstan from October 10 to October 27, as well as the 2014 Commonwealth Games and the 2016 Olympic Games.
THE NIGERIAN
CMYK
32
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2013
PDP Crisis: A Short
Distance From The Truth
INITIALLY portrayed as being overblown by mass media, but at the end, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is beginning to accept the fiendish crisis in its rank and an inability to continue with the ‘all is well’ pretence. Though scheming amongst the different camps to outsmart one another in power tussle and gaining of Nigerians’ sympathy are being exhibited through numerous dramatic episodes, yet, a lot of Nigerians know that such episodes have only been centred around how one camp has affected the personal interest of another camp, and not what their corporate actions from the inception of their political era have caused Nigerians because of the steadfast pursuit of this manner of personal agenda. So far to most Nigerians, the kernel has not been reached. There is still a deliberate cover-up of the juicy part of the quarrel. For now, it is like the woman who is overpowered by the gods and plunged into the people’s assembly to merely admit her witchcraft. This does not make for an interesting exercise as much as the confession of her role in the evil acts which the people want to hear and of course the reason the gods are angry and determined to break the conspiracy of her former silence. As a matter of fact, when there is this type of quarrel between two wives married to the same man, their husband receives a beneficial dose of useful information bordering on the women’s secret acts or intentions. But presently, the PDP crisis is still so much like the quarrel between a man and his wife which has to do with the man’s inability to fulfill his sexual obligations. Though the matter may uncontrollably get to public domain and a lot of rambling is angrily made concerning the subject, however, while it
is always understood as a matter not for everybody’s consumption; even in the wisdom to avoid an open or a brash discussion of the subject, it remains a fact that all attempts to solve the core issue from the peripheral or adjoining issues would never quench the anger and pain arising from the woman’s sexual starvation. Importantly, for a glorious resolution of the matter,
overall, actually makes for a good knowledge of the kind of alliances to keep, because the principle of natural justice always has a way of using some persons and circumstances to open up on each person’s role in certain corporate wrongful acts. It is as interesting as how the gods have a way of making the ostrich get weary of burying its head in the sand.
in the marriage. If however the party cannot give to the entire Nigerians a full worth of their electoral mandate comprehensively across the nation, they should also not prevent Nigerians from enjoying the full version of their quarrel. And of course the benefit of this type of quarrel is the opportunity for Nigerians to know the role each political figure or their associates
• Bamanga Tukur, PDP National Chairman
• Gov. Rotimi Amaechi
the man must somehow be tactfully told or encouraged to ‘fully perform’ his marital obligations. Interestingly sometimes, there is something positive about watching and listening to opposing camps quarrel, which I believe may not have to do with an entirely pervasive mind or a devious interest in fanning the ember of such discord. The benefits of observing this type of quarrel could help to reemphasise the true nature of certain persons and the zeal with which they pursue their personal interests over and above all other interests: This becomes very instructive when transacting any manner of contractual relationships: It, on the
are playing in the grand plot of keeping them (Nigerians) imprisoned in the mist of unfulfilled promises. It is from this manner of quarrels that Nigerians are supposed to know how and who are perpetually orchestrating the rigging of the electoral
Right now, the dramatis personae in the PDP crisis are supposed to be principally married to Nigerians’ electoral mandate. But an accurate assessment of certain persons from the stock of the party would reveal how unfaithful they have been
FEED BACK By KINGSLEY OGBEIDE-IHAMA processes; why the refineries would never work and fuel subsidy regime never going to stop; be exposed to those fanning the amber of regional and religious bigotry with the wisdom in a polarised amnesty
campaign or projects; those responsible for the vain attempt at stemming exploding acts of criminality in the face of widening unemployment and broken communal ties and values; the propagators of the prolonged ironies of totally
feeding the nation through the disincentive and improper management of the agricultural sector; those behind the financial regulations which stipulate that the missing link between a soaring accruable from oil revenue and a bewildering inability of the Finance Ministry to fully remit to the States and Local Governments their statutory monthly allocations is a true test of astute financial brinkmanship. However, whether the PDP crisis would present the kind of result popularly desired is a different kettle of fish. But usually, it may not result to the citizens of Nigeria being the gainers, because there is still profits to share from even their estranged relationship by finding the strangest ways to minimally reconcile, than letting-up and allowing the common Nigerians to gain from their ‘true confessions’ which is needed for a purgation rite before the commencement of an ideal era of Nigeria. Though one may not be too sure of how long it would take to arrive at the destination of the truthful revelation, but it is wished that it comes sooner than later.
“But presently, the PDP crisis is still so much like the quarrel between a man and his wife which has to do with the man’s inability to fulfill his sexual obligations.”
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