Nigerian observer 27 11 2014

The Nigerian

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l . 39 • NO. 130 • THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 20 14 • N 100.00 SECURITY ISSUES Page 13 Boko Haram

The war of words

FG approves N60.9bn infrastructure (FCT). responsibility of The Supervising

By JOSES SEDE for FCT statutory the FCTA to provide Minister of Information, ABUJA - Federal Executive Council yesterday, approved N60.9 billion for a contract to provide e n g i n e e r i n g infrastructure to Kyami District, Zone C, in the Federal Capital Territory

Nurudeen Mohammed, disclosed this to State House correspondents at the end of the meeting presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo.

He was accompanied

to the briefing by the Ministers of FCT, Bala Mohammed and Environment, Lawrencia Mallam.

“Minister of FCT informed the council that this is in line with the

e n g i n e e r i n g infrastructure to the FCT. This is one of the residential districts located in Phase V of the city with a land area of 942.56 hectares.

Continues on page 2

NASS Invasion

Senate constitutes probe panel

By JOSES SEDE

MOTORING Page 20

Understanding engine lubrications

ABUJA - Senate of the Federal Republic yesterday, constituted a seven-man investigative committee headed by former Kaduna state governor and Chairman Senate Committee on Finance, Sen. Ahmed Makarfi to probe last Thursday police invasion of the National Assembly with a view to bringing to book those behind it.

He added that the Other members of the physical assault meted Senate probe panel are: to him while in the Green Senators Ehigie Edobor Chamber of the House of Uzamere, Bagudu Representatives, was a Abubakar , Victor Lar, sacrifice for leadership Adegbenga Kaka , and democracy.

Paulinus Igwe and “What happened that Jibrilla Bindowo. day was simply beyond In his remarks before my comprehension.” The announcing the names physical assault meted of the 7- man panel, to me during the presiding Senate invasion is considered by President David Mark me as sacrifice for noted that what democracy. happened on that day I’ve always been in was beyond his touch with the Speaker comprehension. since that day and we

have both resolved to continue strengthening democratic practice in the country and in the process, make whatever sacrifice it entails.

What we want is the strengthening of democracy in this

country and whatever price we pay or whatever price we make to strengthen democracy we will do so.

We are appointing members from this House and we are not bringing anybody from outside and nobody is

going to interfere in the work of the committee.

We want them to be very thorough, “we want them to be very sincere and we want them also to bring the report as quickly as possible”, the SP noted.

Earlier, moving the

motion, “Breach of Security at the National Assembly Complex”, Senate Leader Victor Ndoma Egba noted that the action of the Nigeria Police Force through its invasion of the NASS on Thursday, 20th Continues on page 2

Multibillion Naira Gas Project

Ijaws not spoiling for war

By BETTY IDIALU WARRI (Delta State) The Spokesman for the Gbaramatu EPZ Major S t a k e h o l d e r s Community, Godspower Gbedekama has debunked media reports by the Itsekiri ethnic nationality alleging that the Ijaws are calling for war due to the botched ground breaking ceremony of the multi billion dollar gas city project by President Goodluck Jonathan.

- Spokesman

Speaking with journalists in Warri, Gbedekama said Ijaws are not calling for war as alleged by their Itsekiri neighbours because war does no one any good .He described the Ijaws as peace loving people who are only against being relegated in the naming of the EPZ project.

On why the ground breaking ceremony was shelved, Gbedekama said it was because

TIT BIT

“Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.”

- Mahatma Gandhi

issues raised by both the Ijaws and the Itsekiris were still being discussed.

“Nobody can stop the president, if after ground breaking, the project Continues on page 2

AWARD: Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly (right) receiving an award of Excellence for Good Governance from Mr. Ozigbo Obazee at the House during the Movement’s Courtesy call to the Edo State House of Assembly on Tuesday. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Devaluation: Naira

ABUJA The exchange rate for the dollar in Abuja “black market’’ yesterday stood at between N182 and N186, according to investigation by newsmen.

This is against the new official exchange rate N168 announced on Tuesday by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele.

Our correspondent, who checked near the Sheraton Hotel, Zone 4, Abuja, the rendezvous

for most black market operators, found that the closest naira exchange to the official exchange rate was N182.

Some of the operators told journalists that the difference between their

to $1

now N186

rate and the official rate was to accommodate the “extra charges’’ they pay to “dealers’’ they get the

hard currency from.

A black market operator, Alhaji Usman Gongola, told journalists that he sold one dollar at N186 and bought one dollar for N183.

Another operator, Alhaji Bello Abdullahi,

said he sold at N184 and bought one dollar for N182.

Also speaking, Alhaji Mohammed Bichi, told journalists that he sold one dollar at N182 and bought one dollar for Continues on page 2

APC not an Islamic party

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM PORT HARCOURT - Governor Chibuike Amaechi of Rivers State has debunked rumours by mischief

makers and political opponents that the All Progressives Congress (APC) is an Islamic Party.

Speaking during an interactive session with

- Amaechi Party

students at the Ignatius Ajuru University of Education (UOE) in Port Harcourt, Amaechi said the APC is not an Islamic

and has no intentions to Islamize Nigeria if it wins next year’s Presidential Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

News

FG approves N60.9bn infrastructure for FCT Continued from page 1 Council deliberated extensively on the scope of work, contribution of the project to the overall development of the FCT including job creation and noted that all due process requirements were met and approved the award of the contract to Messrs.

Mangrovetech Construction and Engineering Nigeria

Limited (KaKatar CE Limited) in the sum of N60, 887,492,656.65 with the completion period of 60 months.

This government has demonstrated that it is above board in partisan politics. It will be demonstrated equitably to women in this country”, the minister told the journalists.

He also disclosed that a

second memo was presented for council’s ratification of Mr. President’s anticipatory approval for the award of contract for the procurement of 750,000 units of clean cook stove and 18,000 wonder bags under the National Clean Cooking Scheme.

The scheme, he said, is an aggressive drive to engender clean cooking culture

The Deputy Majority Leader, Abdul Ningi (Bauchi Central) who seconded the motion, described the Invasion as a coup against National Assembly and by extension, a coup against democracy in Nigeria.

Ningi who opined that if the motion had not been brought, it would have been a tragedy of monumental proportion for the Nigerian parliament now and in the future, called on the senators to stand up and be counted in the condemnation of the act.

“What happened last Thursday with the Police invasion of the National Assembly was a clear coup attempt against this legislature . Police is not law

unto itself . It’s action of that day was reprehensible and condemnable and those behind it no matter who they are, must be brought to Justice by this Senate.

Is the Aso Villa more important than the National Assembly? Certainly not!

Meaning that, those who wage coup against this parliament must be brought to book”, Ningi submitted.

Also speaking, Minority Leader George Akume (Benue North West) noted that the Police action has clearly shown that Nigeria is gradually sliding into dictatorship.

He argued that the Police action was completely unconstitutional regardless of

gave peace to the project.”

Expressing optimism that the crisis will soon be over so that the project can take off, he said taking the project out of the state will be unfair to the Ijaws.

While blaming the NNPC for the current crisis, Gbedekama, an Ijaw Chief

,said despite their representation to the NNPC for inclusion in the naming of the project, they never got any favourable response as they were asked to direct their complaints through the Itsekiri interface committee as directed by the Delta State government.

to one dollar.

The CBN governor told newsmen at the end of the Monetary Policy Committee meeting in Abuja on Tuesday that the measure was to strengthen the economy,

following continued slid of oil price in the international market.

Part of the measures, as announced by Emefiele, was an increase in lending rate from 12 percent to 13 percent.

what our detractors are saying about Buhari and APC,” Amaechi said.

The governor also expressed huge disappointment over the stagnated political economy of Rivers State, which he alleged is the handwork of the Presidency and detractors against his government.

“The political economy of Rivers State has been stagnated by the Presidency and their detractors. They are all thieves who don’t mean well for our state. They caused mayhem in the last administration. We assumed office and chased them away.

Now, as my tenure draws close to an end, I can see, they have brought them back. You and I have a responsibility to stop them from repeating what they did before. We will not allow them again to steal our funds.

Imagine, the missing $20 billion that was stolen. We expect that our President would have sacked all those involved in the saga. But, he only threatened to sack the former CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, who was only doing his legitimate duty at that time.

“Nigerians must have a rethink,” Amaechi said.

On the Rivers governorship race and the upcoming 2015

general elections, Governor Amaechi said the plan by the PDP to usher in another Ikwerre governor in 2015 was unreasonable, not feasible and will fail.

He explained that, “I am an Ikwerre man who has ruled for 8 years and I am surprised to hear that the PDP is jostling to bring another Ikwerre Governor in 2015. The PDP man who PDP want to bring as their gubernatorial candidate is an Ogboni man and not a Christian.

That man only believes that votes can be bought with money. He was given N3 billion to fix the internal roads at the new Adokiye Amiesimaka Stadium in the Greater Port Harcourt City, he embezzled all the funds without doing any road. He was also given 14 schools to build and furnish in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area. Thieves can’t be governor in Rivers State.”

As part of his visit, Governor Amaechi sensitized the students and members of the university community on the need to register as eligible voters in the upcoming 2015 general elections.

amongst the poor rural women, to reduce and possibly eliminate cooking with solid fossil which is detrimental to health.

According to him, the scheme is expected to provide 20 million clean stoves over a five year period at the rate of four million stoves per annum which will be distributed free of charge.

Senate constitutes probe panel

Continued from page 1

November 2014, should be considered by the Senate as breach of security, privileges and sanctity of the premises and precincts of the National Assembly which according to him, later led to a regrettable situation.

He explained that on the said day, not only were all entries into National Assembly barricaded by heavy security operatives, many of whom were officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force, but scores of federal lawmakers including the Senate President, David Mark and Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, teargassed.

Ijaws not spoiling for war Continued from page 1

does not see the light of the day, it won’t augur well, even that can scare investors.

During the Escravos Gas To Liquid (EGTL) project, then Governor of the state, James Ibori set up committee for the ethnic nationalities involved to pursue their interest. That

Naira now N186

Continued from page 1

N181.

The CBN on Tuesday announced a new exchange rate of N168 to one U.S. dollar as against the old rate of N155

APC not an Islamic party

Continued from page 1

election.

Amaechi also exonerated APC Presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) from the centre of the rumours, stating that the APC is a party for progressives who mean well for Nigerians and the overall development of Nigeria.

He said, “APC is not an Islamic Party. This is so because, when General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) was Nigeria’s Head of State as a young man, he did not Islamize Nigeria, and to do that he needs the endorsement of the National Assembly to debate over the issue. Buhari cannot Islamize Nigeria. Don’t be perturbed by what our detractors are saying.

“I am an ardent Catholic Christian and I converse with God a lot. It is not true that APC will Islamize Nigeria. The National Chairman of APC, Mr. John Oyegun is a Christian.

Bola Tinubu’s wife is also a Christian, Buhari’s cook is a Christian from Igboland, his driver is also a Christian. As a father to all of those Christians, Buhari gives Sunday as a free day to these his domestic staff to go to Church and worship God. So, no one can believe

whatever reasons they were adducing for it now because, according to him, it is not the duty of the Police to remove any Speaker who defects from one political party to the other but the duty of members of such parliament.

“Man is a wicked person, man must be controlled.” That act was unconstitutional, criminal, deliberate and intended to tell us that we are not what we are or what we called ourselves.

Where are the privileges of the National Assembly? Can this action be contemplated in South Africa, Ghana, Cameroun or even Mali that is close by? “It is impunity of the highest order and we must act and very seriously to do Justice to this issue in order to restore the dignity and sanctity of the National Assembly”, he noted.

Senator Ita Enang (Akwa Ibom North East) on his part suggested that NASS should come up with a Bill on law reforms that will empower Sergeant-At-Arms at both the National Assembly and State Assemblies to be armed along with their men as it is in United States, United Kingdom and Canada.

He disclosed that the provisions of the legislative act upon which Nigerian parliament operates were somewhat ancient, having been enacted in 1953 and reviewed in 1957, without provision for adequately armed standing police force at the National Assembly or state Assemblies under the command of Sergeant At Arms who should be in full control of security and not anybody from outside.

“This event is happening today to make us wake up to our responsibilities . It is today’s event that makes the history of tomorrow. What happened last Thursday was a call on us as law makers , to come up with laws that would prevent future occurrence”, he stressed.

Also in their contributions, Senators Chris Ngige (Anambra Central) , Ali Ndume (Borno South), Babajide Omiworare (Osun East) and Ahmad Makarfi (Kaduna North) among others descended heavily on the Police over the action.

However, Deputy Senate President Ike Ejweremadu, James Manager (Delta South) and Heineken Lokpobiri (Bayelsa West) among others, call for caution against the gale of condemnation.

They therefore submitted that a panel of enquiry should be set up to carry out thorough investigation on what made the Police to carry out such an invasion.

FG approves N9.2bn contract for 750,000 kerosene stoves ABUJA - The Federal Government yesterday approved the contract for the procurement of 750,000 units of clean cooking stove worth N9.2 billion and 18,000 wonderbags for distribution to rural women nationwide free.

The purchase and distribution of the items for free is in furtherance of the National Clean Cooking Scheme.

The Supervising Minister of Information, Dr Nurudeen Muhammed, stated this in Abuja, when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the weekly Federal Executive Council meeting, which was presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan.

He said the scheme was expected to provide 20 million stoves over a fiveyear period at the rate of four million stoves annually for onward distribution.

“The second memo was presented for council’s ratification of Mr. President’s anticipatory approval for the award of contract for the procurement of 750,000 units of clean cook stove and 18,000 wonder bags for the National Clean Cooking Scheme (NCCS).

“The scheme is an aggressive drive to engender clean cooking culture amongst the poor rural women to reduce and possibly eliminate cooking with solid fossil, which is detrimental to health.

“The scheme is expected to provide 20 million clean stoves over a five-year period at the rate of four million stoves per annum which will be distributed free in all the 774 Local Governments in the country.“ Wonderbag is an ecofriendly non-electric Portable Slow Cooker, which has neither plugs nor fuss.

The minister said the scheme would reduce incessant felling of trees, which exposed the country to ecological problems, when fully operational.

According to him, the carbon credit arising from the registration by the United Nations Framework for Convention on Climatic Change (UNFCCC) will be of immense benefit to Nigeria.

He said the country stood to gain 50 per cent subsidy of the price through the carbon credits that would be generated.

“Council noted that these stoves will be locally assembled and provide jobs to Nigerians among other benefits and unanimously ratified Mr President’s anticipatory approval for the contract.“ The Minister of Environment, Mrs Lawrencia Malam, said the stoves and the wonderbags would be distributed to women nationwide with priority given to those that had purchased fertiliser through the e-wallet system of the agric sector.

“We will first of all consider the women that have bought fertilizer using the e-walllet system.

“The Minister of Agriculture (Dr Akinwumi Adesina) has said that there are at least two million people who have done that and then we have an NGO that has registered two million women also, they have cut across 774 local governments.

“So, we are going to look at that and distribute irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, religion and so on and so forth, but we want to reach the poor woman in the rural area.“ She expressed the hope that the scheme would boost the health status of the prospective users, saying the stoves and wonderbags would be delivered within 12 weeks.

Commissioner eulogises late Director BENIN CITY – Edo State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Orobosa Omo-Ojo has described the late Director of Fire Service, Mr. Destiny Osunde as a dedicated, honest and trustworthy staff whose vacuum would be difficult to fill.

Omo-Ojo stated this when he paid a condolence visit to the family of the late Osunde, noting that the news of his death came to him as a rude shock.

He condoled the family and assured them that the Ministry would do the needful to ensure that the late director is accorded a befitting burial.

Responding on behalf of the family, eldest daughter of the

deceased, Miss. Peace Osunde, expressed gratitude to the commissioner for the condolence visit, saying the death of her father has created a big vacuum in the family which would be difficult to fill.

Mr. Destiny Osunde, until his death in the early hours of Sunday was the Director of the State Fire Service, one of the Agencies under the Ministry of Transport.

He is survived by a wife and children.

The commissioner was accompanied by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Barr.

A u g u s t i n e Akhuamhenkhun and other principal officials of the Ministry.

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Inside Edo GPI Marks Int’l Day Off Violence Against cancer worm because it has

By RICHARD EWEKA Women a negative impression on BENIN CITY- To mark the international Day of Violence against women, Girls power Initiative (GPI), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) embarked on a rally to some major markets in Benin City metropolis to sensitize women against all forms of violence.

The rally saw members of GPI distributing fliers to traders in the market visited and sensitizing them on the need to stop violence in any form against the female gender.

Speaking with The NIGERIANS OBSERVER the Head, Youths Development Department

and project Manager for Entertainment and Education Campaign of GPI, Mrs. Pearl Osamudiamen said the exercise was meant to sensitize the general public to speak up and rise up to fight the scourge of violence in the family which is the smallest unit of the society.

“Violence is every one’s business; don’t ignore any form of violence against a woman, whether you know her or not, violence against women is not normal; things should be done to change the situation and create a peaceful environment for the women to live in”, she said.

Mrs. Osamudiamen said it is necessary to stop the

VC Decries Exclusion Of Private Varsities From TETFund Projects BENIN CITY - Vice Chancellor of the lgbinedion University, Okada, Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, has described as a miscarriage of justice the insistent of the Federal government of Nigeria that private universities should not benefit from TETFUNO. Prof Osaghae who stated this at a press briefing yesterday said private universities in the country were over regulated.

He insisted that all institutions of learning must have access of the education fund. ccording to him, “The time has come to address TETFUND. We train professionals like other public universities. Why are they depriving us. The money in TEFFUND comes from private sector. We are ready to compete for the fund. Let them challenge us to produce good doctors and get money” “They over regulate private universities. Those public

universities also enjoy endowment. Education fund is a commonwealth and every institution has a right to that fund, it is an intervention funding meant to help in emergency. We are building universities and we must build them irrespective of whether it is private.”

He said three individuals, the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Bala Mohammed, Ambassador Martins Uhomoibhi, and Chairman, Ashaka Cement, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga would be conferred with honourary degrees.

Prof. Osaghae said 24 graduands of the institution bagged first class honours degree of the institution.

Prof. Osaghae said the institution would be awarding first and higher degrees to 773 graduands at the 12th convocation ceremony of the institution

children who witness violence in any form as they would grow up to become violence themselves.

“Children live by what they learn, as such, must do everything possible to put an end to violence in our nation.

“This campaign is coordinated by GPI in Nigeria and aside Edo State, it also took place in Abuja and Lagos State respectively.

This campaign is going to last for three months and we expect to see changes and that people will not just tolerate violence any more”, she concluded.

Hon. Shaibu Majority Leader, Edo State House of Assembly (right) receiving an award of Excellence for Good Governance from Mr. Ozigbo Obazee, President, Owan Alonge Youth Movement at Edo State House of Assembly during the Movement’s courtesy call at the House recently. Photo: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Erhabor Emokpae Receives More Endorsement For Senate

BENIN CITY - Over 30 political organisations in Edo State have backed the aspiration of former Executive Director, Marketing of Thisday Newspaper, Mr. Erhabor Emokpae for the National Assembly.

Emokpae is contesting for the Edo South Senatorial seat on the platform of the All Progressive Congress.

Others contending for the seat are Hon Jim Adun, Hon Patrick Obahiagbon and Hon Samson Osagie.

The groups said they supported Emokpae’s aspiration because they want real change based on integrity and personality.

Spokesman of the groups, Alfred Erhauyi lyekekpolor of the Youth Network for Positive Impact said they are tired of having same crop of people representing the district.

He said the various political groups keyed into Emokpae’s vision because he (Emokpae) was able to transform his business organisation to gain international reputation.

According to him, “We want credible representation based in truth, not deceit. We are tired of stories and lies. We want someone whose personality and integrity can be seen and

perceived.

“We want a youth friendly leader that has and is still impacting on the lives of the youths. We are calling on the people to support Emokpae”.

Destruction Of Properties CDA Chairman Debunks Allegation

By ROLAND OSAKUE / IKPONMWOBA JOEL

BENIN CITYThe Chairman, Aruogba Community Development Association, Mr. Wilfred Aiyamenkhue has debunked claims by the Odionwere that he used the services of thugs to destroy and vandalise properties worth millions of naira in a recent crisis in the community.

Mr. Aiyamenkhue which briefing newsmen in Benin

City yesterday said three houses and a car belonging to his wife were among the over twelve houses and three cars burnt in the community and wondered why he could destroy his property as claimed by the Odionwere.

Narrating what led to the crisis. The CDA Chairman said he was at home in the community with his children and relatives when they suddenly heard a gun shot and saw a group of armed thugs coming after him, saying he immediately alerted the Antirobbery squad at the state CID. He however said he was surprised that the thugs man handled him and his boys burnt down his houses, and destroyed his properties and that of his executives before the arrival of the police.

Mr. Aiyamenkhue further said the crisis began when the judgement made by the state high court was read to the hearing of the community

leaders and other members of the community reinstating and pronouncing him and by executives as the rightful leaders of the CDA in Aruogba community for the next four years.

He recalled the earlier judgement given by the Benin Monarch that his ledexecutives were the rightful leaders of the Association after thorough investigation and due consideration by the palace.

It will be recalled that a court judgment earlier delivered by Justice Efe Ikponmwoba in suit No B/529/11 on Thursday October 30 th affirmed the leadership of Mr. Aiyamenkhue and his executives as the rightful Executive committee of Aruogba Community Development Association empowered to deal with all issues pertaining to the development of Aruogba community and issues relating to land for the next four years.

Edo NUJ Monthly Congress Holds Today

Prof. Eghosa Osaghae, Vice Chancellor, Igbinedion University (left), his Deputy, Prof. Alexandral Babatunde Odaibo and Prof. (Mrs.) Tonye Okorie, former Deputy Vice Chancellor during a press briefing to mark the 12 Convocation ceremony of the University at Okada recently. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.

BENIN CITY- The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Edo State Council will today Thursday November 27, 2014 hold its monthly congress.

According to a statement by the state Secretary of the Union,

Comrade Titus Akhigbe the congress will hold at the NUJ Press Centre by 4 pm.

It further urged all journalists in the state to attend the meeting as curial issues are slated for discussion at the meeting.

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News Meter: Manufacturer Seeks Local practice of estimated billings.

LAGOS - An indigenous Content According to him, the meter manufacturer, Mr. Kola Balogun, weekend advised electricity distribution companies to promote local content in the power sector.

Balogun, the Chairman, MOMAS Meter Manufacturing Company in Lagos, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that new investors in the sector should patronise the indigenous meters manufacturers for them to grow instead of importing meters when the local manufacturers had all it entailed.

“Nigeria has reached a stage where it is not supposed to be importing electricity meters. In our company alone, we have a production capacity of one million meters in a month,” he said.

According to him, the electricity distribution companies should promote local content as there are huge business opportunities in the sector.

“Government should not allow power sector investors to import meters when there is capable standardised local companies that can do that. “ Importation should be the last option when there is proof that local manufacturers cannot meet the demands’’.

Balogun said that the local meter manufacturing companies had the capacity to produce and deliver over 10,000 pre-paid meters daily.

“We can meet up with the proposals submitted by the core investors in the Discos to install about 6.52 million new meters over the course of five years.

“This means that about one million will be produced and install yearly.

“The metering gap in the market is very huge as about 50 percent of consumers are without meters.

“Consumer metering is a major challenge to the viability of Discos.

“Presently, there is still a very high prevalence of estimated billing for revenue collection which is estimated to be as high as 50 percent in some Discos,” he said.

Balogun said that customers’ restiveness had been heightened by high estimated bills in spite of the poor state of electricity supply from the national grid.

He urged NERC to compel the new managements of all

the electricity distribution companies to patronise local meter manufacturers in the spirit of local content initiative.

Balogun also urged the distribution companies to ensure that their customers were metered to curb the

revolution in telecommunications can be sustained in Nigeria through indigenous innovations.

“The story of poor patronage is still the same in meter manufacturing where foreign firms are better patronised and recognised by government agencies.

...As Stakeholders Decry Proposed Increase In Tarrif LAGOS - Some stakeholders in the power sector weekend decried the proposal by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to increase electricity tariff by December 1.

They spoke in separate interviews with newsmen in Lagos.

NERC, had on November.

20, said that consumers would pay more for electricity from December,1 when the new price of gas for generating power would take effect.

Mr. Mohammed Bello, NERC Vice Chairman, said that the price of gas, inflation, foreign exchange rate and power generation capacity were some of the factors considered before proposing the tariff review.

Alhaji Ganiyu Makanjuola, the President, National Association of Electricity Consumers of Nigeria (NAECN), said that government should first address the fundamental issues of infrastructure, generation capacity and transmission.

He said that the association and electricity consumers were totally against the proposed tariff increase.

According to him, it is wrong for NERC to have concluded plans to increase electricity tariff without first addressing the epileptic power situation in the country.

Makanjuola said that several complaints by consumers and the non-availability of prepaid metres should be tackled first

by NERC before proposing tariff increase.

“NERC should have first addressed the power situation by improving capacity before deciding to increase tariff.

“We are really concerned about the proposed tariff increase; consumers cannot just continue to pay for what they do not consume.

“Power should be made available first before NERC can think of tariff increase. We are

concerned because any increase in tariff should match increased power supply,’’ he said.

Makanjuola said the proposed tariff increase “is a mockery of the Federal Government’s avowed commitment to the welfare of the people”.

Mr. Adekunle Makinde, the immediate past president, Nigerian Institution of Electrical Electronics Engineers (NIEEE), said that the upward review of electricity tariff might witness another round of protest by consumers across the country.

“Now that the government is compelling consumers to pay more, it may result in another round of protests.

“Consumers are already protesting against poor power supply in every area of Lagos and other parts of the country.

“So, why do you have to increase tariff when the supply is not regular.

“We are still in darkness and they want to make us pay more.

It is really a shame.

“If their argument is that it is part of reforming the power sector, then they should have first made the power available before asking the people to pay more.’’

Mr. Chinedu Okoronkwo, the National President, Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), said that this was not the best time for government to hike the tariff.

Okoronkwo said that instead of increasing electricity tariff, investors in the power sector should do more to ensure that consumers enjoyed the benefit of the privatisation exercise.

The IPMAN chief said that the decision to hike tariff “is a case of putting the cart before the horse”.

He said that the investors should invest more in infrastructure upgrade to improve power generation and distribution capacity.

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Across The Nation VC Urges Health Workers To Stop Incessant Strikes

ILORIN Prof.

AbdulGaniyu Ambali, the Vice-Chancellor, University of Ilorin, has pleaded with health workers to stop their incessant industrial actions that often paralyse the nation’s hospitals.

He made the plea in Ilorin when he received members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), Association of Radiographers of Nigeria (ARN).

Members of the association were in Ilorin for the 46th Annual Conference and Scientific Workshop organised by the association.

Ambali said: “It is important for all professionals in the health sector to work together to put an end to strikes.

“We are inspired by your comments that appreciate the fact that our (UNILORIN) academic calendar has been stable over several years.

“However, if you appreciate the need for noninterruption in academic calendar, you will also appreciate the need for noninterruption of health care delivery system in Nigeria.

“It is health we are talking about here and no one knows who will be the next to fall sick.

“It is therefore important for all professionals in the health sector to work together to put an end to strike.”

Earlier, the ARN President, Dr Mark Okeji, had expressed amazement at the transformation that the University of Ilorin had witnessed since 1993 when he last visited the institution.

He congratulated the VC on his conferment with the award of Officer of the Order of the Niger (OON) by President Goodluck Jonathan.

Chief of Defence Staff, Air Chief Marshal Alex Badeh (middle), Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Defence, Mr. Ismalia Aliyu (3rd right), Executive Secretary, Lake Chad Basin Commission, Mr. Sanusi Abdullahi (3rd left) and participants at the 4th meeting of the Ministers of Defence, Chiefs of Defence Staff and Heads of Intelligence and Security Services of Member States of Lake Chad Basin and Benin Republic in Abuja recently.

2015 Elections:

OMU-ARAN (KWARA) - A judge, Mr Abolade Banigbe, has called for strengthening of the nation’s judicial system ahead of the 2015 general elections.

He made the call in an interview with the newsmen in Omu-Aran, Kwara.

Banigbe, who is a judge with Omu-Aran Area Court in Irepodun Local Government Area of Kwara, said “putting the

Judge Calls For Stronger Judicial System

nation’s judiciary in the right and proper perspective will greatly assist in sustaining the nation’s democratic system.’’

He said the call for strengthened judicial system ahead of the general elections was borne out of recent political developments in the country.

He added that “there are going to be lots of political issues whose solutions may depend

largely on proper intervention of the courts via constitutional interpretations to move forward.

“This is what is happening with the present cross carpeting and other unfolding developments as the country moves to another political dispensation.

Farmers Urged To Cultivate Traditional Vegetables

IDO (EKITI) - An Agriculturist, Mr Simeon Gbolagunte, has advised vegetable farmers in Ekiti State to embrace cultivation of traditional vegetables as they prepare for the dry season farming.

Gbolagute gave the advice in an interview with the newsmen at Ifisin community in Ido/Osi Local Government Area of Ekiti state.

According to him, traditional vegetables such as senecio biafrae (efo worowo), amaranthus hybridus (efo tete) and talinum triangulare (efo gbure) have enormous advantages in terms of nutritional composition for human health.

“The health benefits of these leafy vegetables were responsible for the high demand for them during the dry season.

“It also provides opportunity for farmers to make money when cultivated during the period.

“Embracing the cultivation of these traditional vegetables in large quantities would make the vegetables available all year round for our consumption.

“I think the judiciary as the last hope of the common man needs to be properly looked into now, so as to be well equipped to function effectively.

“This is very essential and critical in moving the nation forward politically.’’

The judge urged members of the bench to be prepared to evolve viable solutions to the challenges ahead.

He said that developments

before, during and after the elections were issues which deserved serious attention and urged government to avail the judiciary the necessary requirements in terms of adequate budgetary provisions and an enabling environment for effective adjudication.

“The judiciary should be absolutely independent in its own right, with adequate resources at its disposal,’’ he stressed.

Believe God For Signs And Wonders, Cleric Urges Christians

By PIUS ABAH/CHIDINMA CORNELIUS

Members of Girls Power Initiative (GPI), Ayo Amen sensitising market women during a rally to mark the International Day of Violence Against Women in Benin City.

BENIN CITY- The General Superintendent of Deeper Christian Life Ministry, Pastor W.F. Kumuyi has enjoined Christians, irrespective of their denomination to believe God for signs and wonders especially in this current ember months.

Pastor Kumuyi gave this admonition at the 9th edition

Ex-Law Enforcement Officer Wants Nigerians resourceful men and women PORT HARCOURT - MrTo Unite Against Crime whose achievements should Herbert Newman, a retired police officer said that only the concerted efforts by Nigerians to fight crime would ensure a safe yuletide celebration.

Newman, a retired police inspector, stated this in an interview with the newsmen in Port Harcourt.

He called on Nigerians to consider security, especially during the yuletide season, as a collective responsibility that should not be left to the law enforcement agencies.

“It is time for everyone to be at alert, police your environment, police your neighbour, keep track of their itinerary without knowing them.

“Monitor unusual entrances and exits into your offices or residential areas, this is indeed the time to know that everything matters,’’ Newman said.

The retired police officer described security as national assignment, which could not be taken for granted in view

of the insurgency in the country.

He expressed confidence in Nigerians’ ability to tackle crime using a united front, saying it was putting a stop to even the most dreaded criminal gang working against Nigeria.

According to Newman, the crime wave in the country had risen to a worrisome level that requires synergy among the people to defeat it.

He noted that Nigeria was a country blessed with

not be allowed to be destroyed by criminals.

He called on governments at all levels to work out modalities towards synergizing with the public in the fight against crime and insurgency.

The former cop commended the ingenuity of the Nigerian Police in providing emergency phone numbers for effective communication and also for its various security innovations aimed at combating crimes.

of the Monthly Revival programme held at the Church Districts via satellite and monitored in Benin City.

Speaking on the topic, ‘Signs and wonders in His presence”, the General Superintendent stressed that there are supernatural wonders and miracles for as many that depend solely on God. “The miracle of seeming the beginning as well as the end of a year lies in the hands of the most High God, the only requirement from God is for Christians to have a pure and clean heart”, he said.

Speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER, some respondents expressed joy over the impartation they got from the programme.

One of the Church member, Emmanuel Ossai stressed that the series of Monthly Revival programme has been a blessing to his soul.

“I must confess, the programmes of Pastor Kumuyi Since the beginning of this year has been very helpful to my life in every ramification.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Lagos Terminal Operators’ Failure Hinders Revenue Drive

APC Data Centre raided by Security Operatives in Lagos recently.

LAGOS - The Murtala Muhammed Airport Command of the Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) has identified failure of the terminal operators to facilitate trade as a major hindrance to its revenue drive.

The Controller of the Command, Comptroller Tajudeen Olanrewaju, told the newsmen in Lagos that the terminal operators had also been hindering national security.

“Is also important to note that the revenue from sales of petroleum products is dwindling. “ This makes it compulsory for Nigerian government to source for revenue in other areas particularly revenue accruable from airports

Ward Congress: Rowdy Situation At PDP Secretariat

LAGOS - There was a rowdy situation at the Lagos State Secretariat of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) as ward officials came to pick up materials for the rescheduled ward congresses.

Problems, which occurred during the distribution of materials at the secretariat, led to delays in commencing the exercise in many parts of the state.

Some party members and ward officials who had been at the secretariat as early as 9.00a.m gradually became restless when they had yet to receive materials as at 2.00p.m.

Some members became restive and disorderly and the police had to resort to the use of tear gas to restore order..

A group of young men, also overwhelmed the security at the entrance and stormed, into the secretariat, causing commotion.

The security men, however, reinforced and brought the situation under control.

The materials for the congresses were finally distributed to party leaders at the wards (ward chairmen and secretaries) to go and conduct the congress.

The distribution of materials ended at about 4.00p.m. when the last ward received materials and left.

Alhaji Adamu Waziri, the Chairman of the PDP reconstituted three- man panel for Lagos State Ward Congresses, spoke with newsmen at the end of the distribution of materials.

He said that the panel would ensure that the errors that led to the cancellation of the initial ward congress were not repeated.

“We may have kicked off late, but no election the world over starts and ends at specified time.

“We needed to put in place a practical process whereby the iniquities identified in the former congress are not repeated.

“The ward leaderships conducting the congresses were given two days grace to send in their reports , even if they had to do it all night to get it right,” he said.

Also speaking, the State Chairman of the Party, Mr Tunji Shelle, attributed the rowdy scene at the secretariat to the fact that the party was a “beautiful bride’’.

“The PDP is the beautiful bride of the 2015 elections in Lagos. We have bright chances and everyone wants to be part of it.

“But, we will ensure fair play and hope that one day, fights will end in Nigerian politics,” Shelle said.

However, the State Publicity Secretary, Mr Taofik Gani, said that the party had identified some of those involved in the fights as non card carrying members.

“They were sent by our detractors to unleash terror on members and cause confusion.

“We foresaw it which was why we tried to fortify the secretariat with heavily armed policemen, but unfortunately they overwhelmed the security.

“We have learnt our lessons and will put in place measures to forestall future occurrence,” Gani said.

Meanwhile, the delay in receiving materials led to a long wait by many party members in different wards in the state.

In Somolu Local

Government Area, Johnson Araoyinbo, a party member, told newsmen at one of the wards visited that they were still waiting for the electoral officers as at 3.10p.m.

Araoyinbo said that the delay was because the electoral officers had gone to the state

secretariat to pick up materials to be used for the elections.

He said that once they arrived, the congress would commence and the ward delegates would be elected according to the rules.

It was observed that some members were also waiting around for the exercise to kick

off.

The situation was the same in some areas visited in Alimosho Local Government Area.

Members from six of the wards in the local government gathered at the Abesan Estate to conduct their election.

Accreditation, however, began at about 3.00p.m and the election began thereafter as members lined up behind contestants of their choice to elect the delegates.

NYSC Combatant Groups, displaying during Bauchi and Yobe States NYSC 2014 Batch ‘C’ close of orientation camp in Bauchi recently.

Activist Decries High Rate Of Maternal LAGOS - Dr Joe Okeiranks second.

“We must also ensure as a Odumakin, the President of “And, we see that our country that we equip our Deaths Women Arise Initiative, a women die during pregnancy hospitals properly, people are non-governmental organisation, identifies ignorance, poverty and diseases as the greatest factors responsible for the high rate of maternal deaths in the country.

Okei-Odumakin told the newsmen in Lagos that Nigeria had the highest rate of maternal deaths after India.

“As a concerned stakeholder, apart from India that ranks highest in maternal mortality, Nigeria

as a result of ignorance, poverty, diseases that could have been tackled through modern medical care.

“Some of them patronise churches, homes and there is no proper synergy between these homes and the hospitals.“ According to OkeiOdumakin, enlightenment at the grassroots on healthy living among pregnant women will help in the reduction of maternal

deaths in the country.

“If we have no woman, we cannot have any nation.

Women remain the great lifewire of any entity.

“So, they need to be educated, they also should realise that they are the ones that know where the shoe pinches.

“So, the moment they miss their period, they must go and register for antenatal care and they must follow the process through.

better informed, better educated.

“And those who are striving as a result of poverty should also know that their life is important.

“And this campaign is ‘never again shall we lose any pregnant woman as a result of maternal morbidity’.

“This question of maternal mortality is a collective responsibility. All of us must carry the crusade to the nooks and crannies of this nation.“

which is substantial.

“The Nigeria Customs Service is accountable for this revenue.

“In the face of national threat regarding terrorism, the Murtala Muhammed Airport command, cannot fold our hands to allow this threat to national security. “ We are going to stand up to our responsibilities and we are ready to shed the last (drop of our) blood to protect these two functions - national security and revenue to government.

While we facilitate trade, continued lapses by the terminal operators in these areas can no longer be tolerated.

“That is why the terminals were closed and the warehouses within cargo sections at the Murtala Muhammed command were shut down.

“So that the terminal management can address those issues that threaten national security and hinder revenue accruable to the Federal Government of Nigeria. ‘’Until they address this, the terminals will remain shut.`` He said that the service had been authorised to operate in a conducive environment while collecting revenue for government, but added that the terminal operators at the airport had failed.

Olanrewaju said the service would exercise its powers as provided under Section 145 (1) (b )of the Customs and Excise Management Act (CEMA) CAP C45 LFN 2004.

“The Comptroller-General of Customs has directed that the command should identify these items and allow passage of perishable items, medicaments, legitimate trade, diplomatic cargo.

“While these warehouses that have violated the domestic rule to protect the Nigerian economy and national security are shut down, the Nigeria Customs Service is going to facilitate these items.

“That is the reason we call this conference to educate the Nigerian people through the press that what we are doing is conducting our statutory functions in line with guidelines by the Fiscal Policy of the Federal Government of Nigeria.

“Anybody that stands in our way , we ensure that the Nigeria Customs Service has the capacity to quash this resistance that jeopardises national security and revenue accruable to the Federal Government of Nigeria.“ He, however, warned touts as well as any group of persons trying to frustrate the service in discharging its duties toward revenue generation to desist from such act.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

News Customs Explain Continued Closure Of IKEJA - The cargo shed MMIA Cargo Terminal of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, would remain shut until cargo operators comply with new operational procedures that would not threaten national security and collection of revenues.

The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS) which said this in Lagos, however, said it would commence to facilitate the release of perishable goods to their importers.

It would be recalled that the cargo shed was shut last week Wednesday following violation of procedures by clearing agents at restricted sections of the terminal.

Mr Taju Olarenwaju, Customs Area Comptroller (CAC), MMIA Command, however, said that government had directed Customs officials to identify perishable goods and clear them.

He listed them as those that fell under medical and diplomatic goods, which had remained trapped in the cargo terminal due to the crisis.

Olarenwaju said that the command would use its internal checking measures to identify the goods that fall into these specialised categories for facilitation.

He assured the importers of such goods that they would not suffer from the infraction caused by clearing agents.

He noted that the NCS had the power to deal with any violator or saboteurs who threatened national security and the collection of

revenues for government.

Olarenwaju said that government would continue to keep the cargo warehouse closed because the clearing agents had demonstrated that they were not ready to comply with regulations.

The CAC said that agreements signed with the agents in the past had failed as the agents had consistently violated the rules that restricted their access to some parts of the cargo terminal.

“It has become increasingly insecure to carry out businesses at the cargo section of the airport because the agents have through their collective actions continued to threaten national security.

“They have shown that they are economic saboteurs who threaten the security of the airport and the NCS will

not fold its hands and allow this.

“The agents have displayed lack of capacity to enforce the new regulations in sensitive areas where cargo is kept at the airport.

“The warehouse remains shut until the agents and terminal managers show capacity to operate without threat to security,’’ he said.

Olarenwaju said that the NCS would not allow any system collapse, bomb blast or decline in revenue collection at the airport.

L-R: Mr. Lanre Arogundade, Director International Press Centre, Lagos, Ms Medline Tador, GM, Rivers State Broadcasting Corporation and Comrade Sam Egbala, Editor ‘Daily’ Nigerian Chronicle, Cross River State.

Nigerian Elected ASEA President

By RAHEEM IBRAHIM

LAGOS - The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, has been elected President of African Securities Exchanges Association

(ASEA).

This decision was reached at the Executive Committee meeting of ASEA after its 18th Annual General Meeting in Diana, Kenya.

The ASEA flagship Conference was opened by His Excellency, Honourable

Comrade Pius Ede making his presentation at a Media workshop in Calabar, Cross River State recently. On his right is Mr. Opaka Dokubo, Chairman NUJ Rivers State and other participants.

William S. Ruto, Deputy President of the Republic of Kenya where he emphasized the critical role that the capital markets have to play in Africa’s economic development.

Commenting on the election of the new president, the out-going president of ASEA and the Chief Executive, Stock Exchange of Mauritius, Mr. Sunil Benimadhu, said “I welcome the newly elected president and committee members, and we look forward to ASEA’s continuing progress as it seeks to enhance the global competitiveness of Member Exchanges”.

In his remarks, Onyema stated, “I am honoured to be elected president of ASEA which is the largest platform for Africa’s stock, futures and options exchanges. I would like to thank the outgoing Executive Committee led by Mr. Benimadhu for their stewardship of the

Violence Against Women: Association

Advocates Preventive Approach ABUJA Midwives Association of Nigeria, has appealed to the Federal Government to adopt ‘preventive, systematic and participatory’ approach to eradicate violence against women especially in the workplace.

Mrs Margret Akinsola, the Chairperson, National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM) made the appeal in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.

She described gender based violence as ‘a reflection and reinforcement of human rights violation,’ adding that it reflects inequalities between women

and men.

She said that gender based violence not only causes pain and sufferings to the victims but also devastate the families among others.

The chairperson described work place violence as a ‘structural and strategic issue’ rooted in wider social economic, organisational and cultural factors.

She said that the approach to be adopted to eradicate workplace violence against health workers should be directed at tackling its causes and effects.

“Such approach should encompass analysis of the

causes that lead to violence and variety of intervention strategies.’’

Akinsola said that if health workers in developing countries leave or migrate to other countries due to violence, equitable access to primary healthcare would be threatened.

“The enormous cost of violence at work for individual, workplace and the country at large is becoming more and more apparent,”she said..

The chairperson said that NANNM was committed to advocating for the elimination of violence against women.

She described the theme of this year’s commemoration of

International Day for Elimination of Violence against Women in workplace which focuses on midwives as ‘an indication of the significant role played by midwives.’

“We advocate for a better and more secured workplace environment for women especially midwives in the country.

“There has been cases of violence and even death of health workers in the course of carrying out their duties in the country. “ Recently there was a pathetic report of killing of nurses on duty at one of the health facilities in Borno State

by insurgence.

“Nine health workers were shot dead by unknown gun men in Kano state.

“There was also a report some years back of the beating of midwives on duty by ritual killers in search of day old babies in primary health centre in Ekiti State.’’

The chairperson disclosed that women represent about 80 to 90 percent of the workforce in the health sector.

She decried the exposure of midwives to verbal abuses, sexual offences and harassment among others, adding that such violence have negative impact on the quality of care provided by midwives.

Association over the last two years, and I look forward to working with ASEA members, our global counterparts and regulators to contribute to the association’s rich legacy, as well as to promoting our markets in a broad range of areas”.

To support the Association’s mission and vision, Mr. Onyema highlighted four key strategic objectives that the new Executive Committee will focus on to support the effective mobilization of capital for economic development: Among the strategic objectives highlighted were the Strengthen of the Association’s governance, financial and reporting framework; Promote the sustainable development of African capital markets; Facilitate an increase in market access at the regional level, and promote crosslisting among African exchanges; and align the goals of African capital markets with those of the African Development Bank (AfDB).

The Members of the new Executive Committee are the Bourse Régionale des Valeurs Mobilières (BRVM), Casablanca Stock Exchange (CASA), The Egyptian Exchange (EGX), Johannesburg Stock Exchange (JSE), Lusaka Stock Exchange (LuSE), Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE), The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) and Zimbabwe Stock Exchange.

Mr. Karim Hajji, the Chief Executive Officer of the Casablanca Stock Exchange, is the Deputy President of the Association.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

News Buhari Submits Nomination Form, Criticises Invasion Of ABUJA - Gen. Muhammadu NASS Buhari, a presidential aspirant of the All Progressives Congress (APC), has submitted his nomination form and expression of interest to the party’s national secretariat.

The National Chairman of APC, Chief John Oyegun, while receiving the form from Buhari, said he (Buhari) was the third presidential aspirant of the party to submit his form.

He described Buhari as one of the valiant Nigerians that had offered themselves to serve the people on the platform of APC to change the country for good.

He said what Buhari had done was a confirmation that he was serious about the presidential race “If you pick a form and do not return it, we are not sure yet that you mean business.’’

He said that the party was busy working and preparing to take over government by 2015.

“I want to assure you that half the crowd you saw are PDP members seeking registration

and indicating their interest in APC. “They wonder whether we can give them the waiver to pick our ticket for various offices they are willing to contest for come 2015,’’ Oyegun said.

He said if it was the will of God, one of the party’s presidential aspirants would win the 2015 general elections.

Buhari said he had followed the due process by collecting and filling the form as well as submitting it to the party.

“I am pleased that the forms have been dully filled and you can see my signature on it,’’ he said.

Commission Restates Commitment Towards Tackling Ebola

President Goodluck Jonathan (right), being welcomed by President Idris Deby of Chad, during President Jonathan’s official visit to Djamena, Chad recently.

22-Yr-Old Discharged Of Trespass, Theft

ABUJA - A Senior Magistrates’ Court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, has discharged a case of trespass and theft filed against a 22-year-old applicant, Abdul Mohammed, on leniency ground.

Mohammed, with no fixed address, was alleged to have stolen Tecno and Nokia cell phones from a shop belonging to two men.

He was arraigned on a twocount charge of criminal trespass and theft.

The Chief magistrate, Ms Mimi Katsina-Alu, however, discharged Mohammed on leniency ground, though the accused pleaded guilty to both charges.

Katsina-Alu said “you have shown remorse, you are also a first offender and the items stolen were recovered from you intact.

“The court is going to be very lenient on you. Consequently, I hereby discharge the accused, and the first information report terminated.’’

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl Monday Akor, had told the court that Saminu Garba and Sani Abdulla of Lala Plaza, Wuse 2, Abuja, reported the matter at Maitama Police Station on November 15.

He said that the accused trespassed into the complainants’ shop and stole their Tecno and Nokia cell phones.

Akor said the accused was caught and the two phones were recovered from him, adding that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 342 and 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused had pleaded guilty and begged for leniency.

L-R: Chairman, Sam Onyishi Campaign Organisation (SOCO), Sir Chike Ngwu; Managing Director, Peace Mass Tansit Company, Mr. Sam Onyishi and SOCO Secretary, Chief Agu Chinemere, during the formal Declaration by Sam Onyishi to run for the position of Enugu State Governor in Enugu State recently.

ABIDJAN - ECOWAS Commission President, Kadré Ouadraogo has restated the subregional body’s commitment towards winning the fight against Ebola virus disease.

This is contained in a statement from the commission in Accra at the opening of a fiveday training programme for 150 health volunteer workers.

The statement said the volunteers, who are citizens of Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Senegal are to be deployed to Ebola stricken countries in the sub-region. “ The prevention of Ebola virus from spreading to other countries in the sub-region is a principal priority of ECOWAS. “The ECOWAS commission remains committed towards providing all the necessary supports to ensure the success of the ongoing battle against Ebola,’’ the statement said.

The statement quotes Ouadraogo as commending Heads of West African governments and the people of the sub-region for their commitment since the outbreak of the virus.

“This gathering to kick-start training for the regional health workers is indeed a demonstration that we are committed to collectively address this challenge.

Nigeria, Neighbours Need Cooperation To Defeat Terrorism - Jonathan

ABUJA - President Goodluck Jonathan in N’Djamena, the Chadian Capital, has reiterated the need for Nigeria and its neighbours to intensify joint actions and cooperation to defeat terrorism and insurgency.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati from N’Djamena.

The statement said that Jonathan

made the call while speaking with reporters at the Presidential Palace in N’Djamena after a closed-door meeting with his Chadian counterpart, President Idris Deby.

Jonathan was quoted as saying that their talks focused mainly on security and economic cooperation.

According to the statement, the president told reporters that Boko Haram had a lot of external influence from outside Africa.

He said that this had made it even more imperative for all countries in the region to work together to overcome terrorism and other criminal activities across their borders.

“If you look at the economies of Nigeria and Chad, both are linked. The Boko Haram people don’t take permission to move from Chad, Niger, Cameroon and Nigeria.

“If the countries do not cooperate, we will not find it easy to win the war, because when the heat is strong in one

Check Trafficking In Persons, UNODC Tasks Agencies

ABUJA - The UN Office on Drugs and Crimes (UNODC) has called on relevant private and government agencies to develop comprehensive policies to check trafficking in persons.

Mr Bala Sanga, a Project Coordinator with the UNODC made the call in Abuja at the presentation of the 2014 global report on trafficking in persons.

He said that the presentation of the report was to support and guide relevant stakeholders on policy formulation in combating the menace of trafficking in persons.

“The global report on trafficking in persons is

published every two years and the last edition was in 2012.

“The report for 2014 just came out and typically, what we do is to liaise with stakeholders.

“In this case, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) is a principal stakeholder for us,” he said.

He said that the publication of the report was for the relevant stakeholders to study with a view to guide them in decision making.

According to him, the content

of the report basically covers the key areas of activities in terms of trend, pattern and vulnerability.

The report also covers details of the number of people prosecuted and convicted within the period.

In her remark, Mrs Beatrice Jedy-Agba, the Executive Secretary of NAPTIP, commended the UNODC for the report and its support in the fight against human trafficking.

She said the 2014 global report

highlighted the role of organized crime in trafficking in persons.

According to her, the worldwide response to trafficking in persons is also a focus of the 2014 edition of the global report.

“Judging from the quality of the 2012 report, I have no doubt that the current report will provide a surfeit of data and relevant information.

“This will enable member states to strengthen policy, legal and institutional response to eliminate the scourge of trafficking in persons globally,” she said.

country, the criminals and terrorists will go to another one and hide.

“So, we must work together and we are discussing along that line,” the statement quoted him as telling reporters.

It would be recalled that Monday’s visit by Jonathan to Chad was his second in the last two months, the first being on September 8.

According to the president, this underscored the importance of building a “robust relationship” between both countries to improve trade, economic and security ties.

He said that discussions between both countries on cooperation in the ICT sector were ongoing.

He expressed optimism that more proficient use of modern technology would greatly help to address economic and security challenges in the region.

Accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mr Aminu Wali, and the Director-General the National Intelligence Agency, Mr Ayodele Oke, Jonathan has returned to Abuja, the statement added.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Across The Nation Zamfara Spends N400m Monthly On Feeding GUSAU – The Zamfara government, says it spends N400 million monthly to feed the 192 secondary school students in the state.

The Executive Chairman of the state’s School Feeding Board, Alhaji Atiku Maradun, made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Gusau.

Maradun said the state government gave priority to secondary schools’ feeding as part of its efforts to improve secondary education in the state.

He added that the secondary school feeding programme had reduced the difficulties faced by parents in sponsoring their children in boarding schools and consequently increased the enrolment of students into secondary schools across the 147 wards in the state.

The chairman said the Board had set up six committees, each headed by the six permanent members of the board, in its efforts to ensure effective monitoring of feeding in boarding and day secondary schools.

He said “the main duties of these committees are to ensure constant supervision of feeding in schools across the state, supply of items and good hygiene during preparation of food.

“The board is giving students in boarding schools three meals a day and one meal as breakfast for day students.’’

Maradun explained that the feeding programme include chicken and fruits three times in a week, toilet soap and washing soap, as well as tissue paper once in a week in order to improve students’ hygiene.

NSE De-Lists 4 Companies L-R: Member, Board of Trustee, Nigerian Veterinary Medical Association, Mrs. Lami Lombin, member, Mr. Clement Alile and President, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Dr. Abdul Bello Alimi, at a seminar on v e t e r i n a r y production in Kaduna recently.

Nigeria Ranked 38

Connectedness Index: LAGOS - The DHL Global Connectedness Index has ranked Nigeria 38 out of 140 countries and 12th worldwide on the breadth of connectivity.

DHL said in a statement that the index was obtained after a detailed analysis of the state of globalisation around the world by the company’s Global Logistics Department.

The statement quoted Charles Brewer, the Managing Director of DHL Express Sub Saharan Africa as saying that the index was based on international flows of trade, capital, information and people.

It said Africa averaged the third largest increase in connectedness among all global regions in the last four years.

It noted that five countries — Burundi, Mozambique, Madagascar, Mali and Cote d’ Ivoire –showed the largest increase in connectedness.

The statement said that Burundi’s largest increase in its global connectedness score was

due to the substantial broadening of its international interactions.

Globalisation is the process by which businesses or other organisations develop international influence or start operating on an international scale.

It is one of the key forces shaping the continent’s economic growth and holds vast

untapped potential to sustainably improve the living standards for Africans.

The statement said that one of the report’s key findings was that global connectedness, measured by cross-border flows of trade, capital, information and people had recovered most of its losses incurred during the 2008 financial crisis.

“The report also showed that emerging economies are reshaping global connectedness and now involved in the majority of international interactions.

“In the index, Sub-Saharan Africa’s rising levels of connectedness is driven by the information and people categories,” he said.

The statement said that intraAfrican as well as international trade were on the mend, adding Africa looked great in the future provided the leaders remained connected.

Agency Creates 94,000 Jobs LAGOS – The Lagos State Parks and Garden Agency (LASPARK) said that it had created more than 94,000 jobs for both skilled and unskilled workers in the state.

An official source told newsmen in Lagos that the jobs created span across tree planting, landscaping and beautification programmes.

“Precisely, 94,335 people are now on the employment of LASPARK. “The unskilled workers are being trained on basic horticulture and nurseries,’’ he said.

The source said that LASPARK had 232 landscaped and beautified sites, while about 59,035 trees have been planted in the gardens and parks across the state.

He noted that the parks and gardens were classified into Scenic Parks/Gardens, Public Events Parks and Community Parks.

According to the source, community parks were those that were established and handed over to communities for usage and maintenance.

He warned that it would be an offence to spit, urinate or defecate in any part of the parks, gardens and open spaces.

The official said the agency had devoted 2014 to enlightening people on the uses of parks and gardens and the offences that attract penalties.

He said that from 2015, the agency would begin to arrest and prosecute violators.

President Goodluck Jonathan (left), accompanied by Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi, acknowledging cheers from the Crowd on arrival in Birnin Kebbi recently to inaugurate Sir Ahmadu Bello International Airport.

LAGOS – The Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) said it had delisted four companies from its daily official list for non-compliance to postlisting requirements.

This is contained in a statement by the company made available to newsmen in Lagos.

The affected companies are Pinnacle Point Group Plc, Afroil Plc, Starcomms and Big Treat.

The stock exchange said the affected companies failed to take any appropriate step to regularise their listing status.

“On Monday, June 23, 2014, the NSE published a notice of its intention to delist 24 listed companies arising from their non-compliance with provisions of the Listing Rules,” said the statement.

It said the notice provided a three-month window for each of the affected listed companies to regularise its listing status with the exchange.

According to the statement, one of the affected companies has fully regularised its listing status, while 19 companies have taken some steps to regularise their listing status.

The statement added that the exchange would continue to engage these 19 companies to ensure compliance with their post listing obligations.

Investors would lose about N40.47 billion with the delisting of the affected companies.

It was also reported that market capitalisation of Pinnacle Point Group stood at N33.34 billion, Afroil N2.59 billion, Starcomms N3.54 billion, while Big Treat market capitalisation amounted to N1 billion.

Protect Workers’ Rights, NUBIFIE

LAGOS – The National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE) has urged the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to ensure protection of workers’ rights in the ongoing sale of banks.

The National Secretary of the union, Malam Muhammed Sheikh, made the plea in Lagos during an interview with newsmen.

AMCON has concluded plans to sell off the assets of Mainstream, Enterprise, Heritage, and Keystone banks.

Sheikh said that the preservation of workers

employment and their rights should be a priority to the corporation to avoid labour unrest.

“While the union is not disputing the corporation’s right and responsibility to execute its mandate in relation to the bridge banks, we expected that certain issues be handled carefully.

“As a responsible union, we expect AMCON to take cognisance of not only the rights of workers in all circumstances but to also ensure those rights are protected accordingly.

“It is pertinent to ensure a seamless transition and integration of the operations and

Urges AMCON workers in these banks. So, both the union and AMCON need to work together to address all conflict areas.

“Consequential matter relating to workers’ rights, especially the envisaged job losses, transfer of years of service, continued recognition of their rights to unionise, condition of service should be addressed,’’ he said.

Sheikh said that labour laws should be respected in the transactions to save all avoidable labour unrests.

“A sustainable banking industry approach recongnises and respects human and labour rights in a bank’s business operations and business activities.

“Key policies and requirements should include recognition of employee’s entitlement to safe and fair labour conditions and to exercise collective and individual rights to associate and speak freely as allowed by national laws.

“It is our expectation that

AMCON and prospective buyers of these banks should have taken cognisance of the provision of the law under the collective agreement and includes union in the sales process.

“We urge the corporation to do the needful by engaging the union within the shortest possible time to ensure a post sale seamless transition and integration.

“It is our belief that any form of industrial unrest, especially at this trying period in our country should be avoided,’’ he said.

Sheikh said the union was always available for discussion with all concerned parties in the transactions.

THE NIGERIAN

11

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Education

The Future Is Now

By SAM IGBE

A young distant relation visited me a few weeks ago. My instant impression on seeing him was that God was very generous to him with regard to his physical looks and endowments. Tall, and in all aspects handsome, he was at once an epitome of strength and tenderness. A nineteen-year-old diplomacy undergraduate in one of our universities, he informed me on enquiring that on leaving the university, he would like to be a politician. Of course, these days, that is where many of our youths would think free money exists.

In many cases, however, when I make this enquiry, my young friends do not have ready answers, and my surmise has always been that they have gone through university without a real goal besides their aim of obtaining a degree, and I have wondered whether their lecturers ever talked to them about the goals of University Education.

Some two weeks back, a Reverend Father said during a homily that people do a lot of talking these days without the inclusion of real contents of teaching or instruction. Purposes and goals of talks are therefore not, in most cases, achieved. This, in my view, is one good reason for teacher training. Every subject, to a teacher, has an objective, and the overall University course must have a clear goal. It is the responsibility of the Lecturer to achieve these objectives and goals, and to also enable his students to know and achieve them. Where these responsibilities are not accomplished, graduates may end up without pursuable life ambitions. They would not have given thought to where and what they want to be in future, or how they would get there. One thing they never forget, however, is that they are leaders of tomorrow. True, youths are leaders of tomorrow, but it is necessary for them to realize that they have to be leaders today. They must be leaders NOW, if they must achieve leadership tomorrow. Leadership is a product of training and experience. They must learn to follow now in order to be able to lead tomorrow.

I would like all listening youths to find answers to the following simple questions:

family, he became like his father, a true man of God. He developed over his comparatively few years on earth, a very strong faith in God, and recognizing his God-given talents, his power of oration, and his greatness of speech as invaluable assets, he used them to good effect. His speech, ‘I Have A Dream’, reveals his profound faith in God, and his short life shows a close relationship with Him, with his faith motivating him always to do what he believed was God’s will.

This faith emboldened him to accept without fear the practical and physical leadership of his people as he realized that faith without work is failure, work being an integral part of faith.

So anyone who boasts that his faith works without work is a fake. This man’s bravery, and his faith, made him to see life as a temporary assignment and he faced the oppressors of the black

Who are your friends?

Who are your associates?

Have you ever thought of what you would do and Where you would be when you leave this citadel?

Have you ever had a hero, a role model?

Have they crossed the river?

Have they gone to where you want to go?

It is pertinent to know that only those who have crossed the river are privileged to know its depth.

Have you been wasting your time with people who have nowhere to go?

You need to talk to yourself, to answer these questions aright, or your thought of tomorrow’s leadership may well be wishful thinking. You have to work for progress, as success cannot come by accident. Do not accept what people say you are, but make sure you are what God says you are. Do not let the so-called experts talk to you out of what God has destined for you. People do not decide our destiny, God does; just believe in Him, for He has a plan for you that no one else can fulfill. You are a success.

God did not create you a failure. You are what you call yourself, and you become what you make of yourself. The time to work is now. The future is today.

Our President’s spokesmen chose a particular young man along with some late statesmen as role models for him. The young man was, and still is, a hero, a legend, and an appropriate role model for the young men and women of this institution. He was a man driven by an uncommon purpose and clear-sighted courage. He was a man who will never die as long as black people live on planet Earth, for he died for us that all black people may be free, specifically he died so that a modern United States of America may emerge. These are what the President’s image makers saw when they said the young man did it, and advised the President to keep doing it. But what did he really do, that they want the President to keep doing? For all we know, the young man died that his followers may live. It is not how he died that made him a hero. It is how he lived. If our President in his life time will only strive to eradicate corruption and impunity which are the sources of our retrogressive challenges, his name will live forever, and he would be our hero. And we think he can.

Is there anyone in Nigeria prepared to die to enable a new Nigeria to emerge? In the Vanguard of Wednesday, October 29, 2014, the Senate President remarked that he could die for the stability of Nigeria’s democracy. We thank God that he cannot carry out his non-positive vow. ‘I can die’ is not the same thing as ‘I will die’. In any case, what he calls Nigeria’s democracy has no definition. There is no democracy in Nigeria. In Nigeria, democracy is nebulous. What we practise is selfish ‘chop chop’ politics. There is no semblance of an ideology, and democracy is an ideology. One finds it difficult to understand why these people refuse to believe that the problems and the challenges are there.

The young man we have been talking about, which is the young man the President’s men want to copy, is Martin Luther King Jnr., a truly remarkable leader of his people. Born into a Christian

Chief Sam Igbe, Iyase of Benin Kingdom

race with vigour, so that he could finish his assignment on earth before leaving it. This hero therefore lived a purpose-driven life.

He had a dream, and his purpose was encapsulated in his dream.

I have a dream, he proclaimed. His dream was present and continuous. The dream was with him when his eyes were closed, and it was with him when he stared, eyes open, into the distant future. It was an ever present vision of a United States of America in which both white and black knew freedom, real whole freedom and had justice. And he decided to go for it. He decided to advocate and fight for the making of this new United States of America of his dream. He fought and died for it. And his dream was actualized.

Distinguished ladies and gentlemen, I ask, was this just an act of courage? Was this actualization brought about through the sweat of his brow, through the warm blood from his body? What manner of faith was this? Shall we ever find a man like this in our nation Nigeria who will make the rulers write us a cheque that will give us on demand, the riches of freedom, the safety of life and property, the security of justice, and food on our table?

Yet, we have been taken hostage by corruption and graft, and these are becoming parts of our culture. That masters, the advocates, and the purveyors of these enemies of a free and just society have constituted themselves into actual and constructive murderers and assassins. There is no justice anywhere. One does not know where to go when one is seriously wronged. Should one go to the Police? The Police! Well among the most fundamental errors in police operations today is the fact that they work under the impression that whoever first reports a matter to them is right. So cases are concocted and reported to the police, and arrests are made before investigation of the report. Moreover, unlike the situation that existed during the colonial era, he who pays the piper now actually, even crudely, calls the tune. There is really no justice anywhere. One does not know what to expect in courts where justice was the usual expectation, and the administration does not have time to look at petitions, occupied with the counting of diverted funds as they most times are. In the absence of justice and fairplay, we must realize that people will take laws into their own hands, and the way is then made clear for anarchy to take pre-eminence, while we all look on perplexed and helpless. Those who are in a position to do something about it are either indifferent or look the other way because they benefit from the spoils. They fail to realize that one of the greatest sins in the world is the sin of indifference.

Do we have anyone man enough to take up the challenge like Martin Luther King Jnr. did? Can the President really do it?

Intellectuals can desegregate themselves from political jobbers who have turned corruption to an impregnable institution, and they can find remedies for the fight against corruption and impunity, which they can propose in writing for people to act on.

And student undergraduates can create committees from leagues to formulate anti-corruption and anti-impunity remedies, and suggest implementation programmes. These would benefit the society and themselves more than some of their present nonprofitable and dangerous associations and preoccupations. One has the impression that these were among the original assignments for the National Orientation Agency (NOA) which appears to have become another agency for the boys. Or do we really not have any man, any woman, to take up these challenges? Not even a Daniel can come to judgment? Where are the Governors?

I like, in conclusion, to present two extracts from the addresses of Martin Luther King Jnr. One was a letter sent out from his prison cell which exemplifies his bravery and courage in his fight for freedom and justice for his people. He said quite simply: We know through painful experience that freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor, it must be demanded by the oppressed. Frankly, I have never yet engaged in a direct action movement that was well timed according to the time table of those who have not suffered unduly from the disease of segregation.

For years now I have heard the word wait. It rings in the ears of every Negro with a piercing familiarity. This wait has almost always meant “never”. We must come to see with the distinguished jurist of yesterday that “justice too long delayed is justice denied”.

The second extract points to his closeness to God. This was a darkly prescient and prophetic public speech of his imminent assassination. He seemed here to take life as a temporary assignment. He almost sounded like Jesus Christ on his last night with his disciples. It came on the eve of a protest march by striking garbage workers in Memphis. And he said almost triumphantly: Well, I don’t know what will happen now. We have got some difficult days ahead. But it does not matter with me now because I have been to the mountain top. And I don’t mind. Like anybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I am not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will. And he has allowed me to go up to the mountain. And I have looked over, and seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you.

But I want you to know that we as a people will get to the Promised Land. And I am happy tonight. I am not worried about anything.

I do not fear any man. My eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.

Martin Luther King Jnr. is a living hero even though in death.

His unspeakable faith in God could move mountains. His courage and bravery stood him face to face with death, and he won the battle without as much as a flinch. His non-violent posture subdued the laws in the strongest and wealthiest democracy in the world, and gave him sweet mental freedom before the freedom his people fought for over the years. And this is in a country which the legend himself referred to as the greatest purveyor of violence in the world. Can anyone conjure up the faith in God of this legend and take up the fight against the ravaging vendors of our degeneracy?

He was assassinated on the 4th day of April, 1968, the morning after his Memphis speech quoted earlier. At 35years of age he had won accolades of the U.S. man of the year, and of the youngest man to have won the Nobel Peace Prize among others.

No wonder, George Bush, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in him by the constitution and laws of the United States, proclaimed Monday, January 20, 1992, as the Martin Luther King Jnr. Federal Holiday; and by the law made thereafter, the third Monday in January of each year has since been designated as a Legal Public Holiday in commemoration of this pastor’s son, this ’man pass man’. What a huge posthumous honour twenty-four years after his assassination for a truly remarkable hero, a legend and a role model, whose light is never likely to grow dim!

In our dear country, we are veritably oppressed by the shackles and manacles of injustice, corruption, greed, graft, pervading impunity, consequent disorderliness, and their purveyors. We however pray that God in His infinite mercies would open our inner and outer eyes to tell the difference between good and evil, so that our armada of priests across the nation may realize who to pray for. And we strongly pray that our merciful father will raise us heroines, and legends in the hue of Martin Luther King Jnr. to rescue us from the evil scourges that plagues our land.

I like, finally, to express sincere thanks on behalf of myself and my distinguished colleagues, for the significant and extraordinary honour bestowed on us today by the Council of this University, and especially for the opportunity and privilege to throw very serious challenges at the staff and their student undergraduates, and the current and newest graduates in Nigeria, who we are glad to welcome with sincere good wishes into the wide world. Many more true Nigerians than those here today will be happy if any of us accepts to work on the challenges, and can say thereafter, like the British soldiers said on leaving Afghanistan last October ending, that ‘We gave our today to serve your tomorrow’. Do not postpone till tomorrow what you can do today, please do not forget, the time and the future is NOW. We do deeply appreciate the recognition of our little contributions to national efforts by this highly esteemed citadel of growth and learning, this great UNIBEN. We are most obliged to you all for listening to us. *Being the acceptance speech of Chief S.O.U. Igbe, MON, the Iyase of Benin Kingdom, on behalf of recipients of Honorary Doctorate Degrees at the convocation of UNIBEN on Saturday (Nov 22, 2014)

THE NIGERIAN

12 THE core premise of the 2014 Human Development Report, launched in Tokyo, Japan recently by Prime Minister of Japan Shinzô Abe, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Administrator, Helen Clark and Director of the Human Development Report Office Khalid Malik focuses on persistent vulnerability as a major threat to human development, and warns that unless it is systematically tackled by policies and social norms, progress will neither be equitable nor sustainable.

ACCORDING to income-based measures of poverty, 1.2 billion people live with $1.25 or less a day. However, the latest estimates of the UNDP Multidimensional Poverty Index reveal that almost 1.5 billion people in 91 developing countries, including Nigeria are living in poverty with overlapping deprivations in health, education and living standards. And although poverty is declining overall, almost 800 million people are at risk of falling back into poverty if setbacks occur.

WE believe that by addressing vulnerabilities, all people may share in development progress, and human development will become increasingly equitable and sustainable globally and Nigeria must key into various development processes to be part of solution and also be in position to benefit from same.

IT is equally heart-warming to know that the 2014 Human Development Report comes at a critical time, as attention turns to the creation of a new development agenda following the 2015 deadline for achieving the Millennium Development Goals. It is therefore an imperative for the post-2015 SDGs to have a standalone Goal to address vulnerability in the next 15 years.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 THE NIGERIAN

2014 HDR

Addressing Persistent Vulnerability in Nigeria THE Report holds that as crises spread ever faster and further, it is critical to understand vulnerability in order to secure gains and sustain progress. It points to a slowdown in human development growth across all regions, as measured by the Human Development Index (HDI). It notes that threats such as financial crises, fluctuations in food prices, natural disasters and violent conflict significantly impede progress.

OBVIOUSLY , the Boko Haram insurgency poses a great threat to human development in Nigeria and the global community must come to the rescue of the country beyond skeletal military assistance from some developed countries of the world. Boko Haram insurgency alone is not only leading to heavy losses of human lives and property, millions are already rendered homeless and are refugees in their homeland. Livelihoods of over six million persons have been affected and economic life in North Eastern Nigeria have been crippled. Investments in Nigeria are already threatened even though government grandstands that it has what it takes to curtail the threat.

BESIDES, floods and desertification occasioned by Climate Change have continued to wreak havoc and render millions homeless destroying livelihoods and exacerbating food crisis in the country.

AT the moment, the President, Goodluck

Jonathan is seeking $1bn to combat terrorism in the country. This request must not be politicised by anyone and we urge the National Assembly to expeditiously approve the request. The President must demonstrate prudence, transparency and accountability in the use of such funds to assuage the fears of those opposed to the securing of such a facility given our past history as a nation.

Additionally, government needs to make conscious efforts to mitigate impact of Climate Change and tackle ocean surge, desertification and flooding in Nigerian coastal communities. There should be clear cut plans and actions for rehabilitation, resettlements and empowerments for affected and vulnerable persons and communities.

IT is also instructive to point that reducing both poverty and people’s vulnerability to falling into poverty must be a central objective of the post-2015 agenda. For us, eliminating extreme poverty as roundly canvassed by the report, is not just about ‘getting to zero’; it is also about staying there.

FINALLY, the Report calls for governments to recommit to the objective of full employment, a mainstay of macroeconomic policies of the 1950s and 1960s that was overtaken by competing policy goals following the oil shocks of the 1970s. It argues that full employment yields social dividends that surpass private benefits, such as fostering social stability and cohesion. We believe that Nigeria, having had its fair share of the oil shocks during the era should abide by recommendations and prescriptions of the 2014 Human Development Report, if it hopes to overcome its vulnerability challenges by 2030.

The War Of Words THE NIGERIAN

13

Boko Haram:

AT the Eagle Square, Abuja, where he formally declared his ambition to contest the 2015 Presidential elections, the incumbent President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, vowed to use all within his powers to “crush Boko Haram” - the fundamentalist Islamist group - and restore peace to the country’s troubled North-East, if reelected as President during the forthcoming general polls. The President’s pronouncements came a day after a suicide bomb attack by suspected Boko Haram insurgents in a secondary school in Potiskum, Yobe State, claimed the lives of over 50 students and injured scores more.

The statement credited to Mr. President is the most recent in a long list of firm promises by the country’s number one citizen - together with those made by his security chiefs - to put an end to a conflict that has seemingly simmered out of control since its commencement in 2009; a promise that appears as hollow as those preceding it.

If one may ask, what happened to the past promises made to Nigerians by the President to crush Boko Haram? How come Boko Haram has continued increasing the intensity of its campaigns against the Nigerian State, despite public statements credited to the government and its security chiefs that the situation is under control? Why haven’t the abducted Chibok girls been rescued and reunited with their families as promised by Jonathan months ago? What happened to the much trumpeted peace deal between the Federal Government and the insurgents? These are just a sprinkling of the several puzzling questions Jonathan and his security chiefs need to answer in the face of

mounting tensions in the North-East and its environs.

Since the onset of the insurgency in the North-East, the Nigerian Government has developed the penchant for making empty promises to Nigerians. In conjunction with its security agencies, it has consistently woven complex webs of lies to create a false sense of security amongst the populace, all geared towards controlling the damage to its faltering image at home and abroad; a strategy that is driven by outright propaganda – a system of misinformation that is meant to misdirect the public and throw them of its shameful tracks of failure to secure its borders and protect those within them.

It cannot be overemphasized that Propaganda constitutes a major strategy in warfare, especially during high intensity conflicts where conflicting parties go to extreme lengths to gain strategic advantages over each other in order to win public support and gain some strategic concessions. Be that as it may, the Nigerian government seems to have taken this time-tested, tried and highly effective war strategy to extreme levels in its counter-insurgency campaigns. In its desperate attempts to win public support, by creating the false impression that it is fully committed to ousting the Bokites from their strongholds in the NorthEast, the Nigerian Government and its military branch have adopted and mastered plethora of propaganda techniques ranging from: Marxists Propaganda techniques, the organization and methods of the Roman Catholic Church of the pre/post-reformation years, British propaganda of World War I, American Advertising and Freudian Psychology. These very effective propaganda styles

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Security Issues With Obuseh Jude

constitute core weapons of the current war on terror. The goal of these lying techniques is not to ponder on what constitutes right or wrong, but to redefine and argue what is wrong into what is right in order to convince Nigerians and the watching world that all is well on the North-Eastern front, when hell is actually breaking loose; one that relies on mass suggestion, which concentrates on as few points

a constitutional duty it owes to every Nigerian citizen; one it has consistently failed to perform to the letter.

Nigerians have grown tired of the whole charade; tired of the bag of lies that have constituted the ongoing war on terror; tired of being insulted on a daily basis by a government that expects them to acquiesce to all its insidious concoctions.

For a government that preaches transparency and

a troubled part of the country – something it could not achieve after five years – is as shameful as it is laughable.

It is the height of desperation to play politics with security.

Why make promises to score cheap political points? Why so much ado about doing nothing about something?

The Nigerian Government, in conjunction with its military, is progressively losing the battle against Boko Haram; a fact that is not

genuine processes of hashing out practical and effective strategies aimed at checking the spiraling inferno of violence in the North-East, and desist from further insulting the collective psyche of Nigerians. Wars are not won with mere words; they are won with constructive stratagems.

Action, they say speaks louder than voice. The time has come for government to

as possible and harps on these until the whole population is convinced of the sincerity of the intended messages.

The truth must be told that the contradictions between the government’s past promises to end this crisis and the unfolding realities on ground have sown and germinated seeds of doubt in the minds of Nigerians as to the sincerity and commitment of this administration towards putting a full stop to the orgy of violence in the North-East;

accountability to be the same one misdirecting its people on the true steps it is taking to protect the lives and properties of their NorthEastern brethren in dire straits, is as absurd as it is nauseating. To think that this same government expects to be taken seriously by the watching public is as comical as it is bewildering. For the President to request for another four years to complete the unfinished business of restoring peace to

hidden from the public; a truth that is obviously too bitter for the presidency and the country’s defence chiefs to swallow. It is the height of dereliction for those constitutionally charged with the sacred duty of securing all within the country’s borders to be the same ones abdicating from performing their chief job descriptions; the height of treachery for supposed leaders to be playing Russian Roulette with the lives of fellow Nigerians, the popular sovereigns who supposedly gave them the mandates they enjoy; mandates that are being exercised to the detriment of the larger body politic.

President Jonathan and his security henchmen must go back to the drawing board, if they have any, to commence

stop talking the talk and start walking the walk. Nigerians are tired of assurances from their leaders to restore peace to the North-East. Words don’t move mountains; only constructive action moves mountains. Boko Haram is a mountainous challenge that can only be tackled with a firm resolve by Nigerian leaders to start practicing what they preach. Enough of this war of words! God bless Nigeria!

“It cannot be overemphasized that Propaganda constitutes a major strategy in warfare, especially during high intensity conflicts where conflicting parties go to extreme lengths to gain strategic advantages over each other in order to win public support and gain some strategic concessions.”

MR OBUSEH JUDE, A PEACE RESEARCER AND PRACTITIONER, IS THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF CONFLICT PREVENTION AND PEACE BUILDING I N I T I A T I V E .

TEL:08033510173. EM A I L : Syncado2006@yahoo.com

THE NIGERIAN

14

Issues

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

“People are addicted to checking their e-mail, facebook, twitter, instagram, whatsapp etc. They have picked up this addictive behaviour which has become a way of life, in which users nowadays might not be able to function on a daily basis without some sort of technology.”

Media Convergence And Its Impact On Society

IT is important to consider the fact that much difficulty and disagreement had arisen in defining the term: ‘media convergence’. Most theorists agree that in general terms, convergence means “coming together of two or more things”, however a variety of different arguments have been put forward in an attempt to define what exactly is coming together (Grant and Wilkinson, 2009).

On the other hand, convergence can be viewed as coming together of different equipment and tools for producing and distributing news- I bid.

Jenkins (2006) in own definition defined convergence as flow of content across multiple media platforms; suggesting that media audiences nowadays play a crucial role in creating and distributing content, and convergence therefore has to be examined in terms of social, as well as technological changes within the society.

According to him, media convergence is an ongoing process that should not be

By KINGSLEY MBADUGHA

viewed as a displacement of the old media, but rather as interaction between different media forms and platforms.

So, that is to say that media convergence can be viewed as cooperation and collaboration between previously unconnected media forms and platforms. (Denze cited in Erdal, 2011).

The gap between the different media platforms and uniting them into one digital form, that is what media convergence is out for.

One question that needs to be asked, however, is whether or not, these recent developments are beneficial to the society and the industry itself.? In other words, whether or not media convergence presents more opportunities than challenges to both media producers and consumers. One of the areas of particular concern when critically examining positive and negative consequences of media convergence is media ownership.

Nowadays the power to

control of media organisation is centred and concentrated in the hands of private owners and relatively small number of big media corporations.

There are some big media companies that have control over various aspects of entertainment industry in general.

For example, computer games, books, magazines, web sites, and toys which is all part of the process of media convergence.

According to Jenkins (2006), consequences of this trend can be viewed as both positive and negative. On the other hand, it may cause the decline in the diversity of material offered and result in a tendency that voices of those lacking economic power will not be taken into account.

Now, it is argued that market-driven media owned and controlled by big media corporation actually improve the value of the service and the flexibility of topics and the competence of the

contributors’ as well as to enable technological developments, change the elitism of media professionals and create new general awareness (Grant 2009).

Another aspect of media convergence that can be seen as its major drawback is what Jenkins calls the “participation gap”. This concept refers to the fact that while media convergence in general has encouraged audiences to participate in the process of content creation, it requires extended access to modern technologies, familiarity with the new forms of media, as well as developing certain skills. As a result, certain segments of the audience arguably remain neglected and unable to fully participate in the new media culture.

Drawing on the definitions of media convergence is in terms of interaction between old and new forms of media.

This concept can be explained more clearly using the example of television industry and its development over the years. The idea of

“The amazing truth is that media convergence has drastically changed our lives in many ways. The merging of technological content in different mass media which is a product of media convergence is the evolution of technology that cannot be undermined.”

transition from analogue media to digital media stands at the core of media convergence debate.

The Term “Analogue” is used to describe something “that resemble something else according Dewdney and Ride, 2006; therefore signals transmitted through television can be seen as being analogous to the light and sound of the actual scence. In case of analogue media, each form was separate and independent from the others due to the need to use different materials, properties and apparatuses. With the introduction or the invention of digital code however the situation changed rapidly and opened new possibilities for media creation and convergence, for example, new forms of interaction between producers and consumers.

The amazing truth is that media convergence has drastically changed our lives in many ways. The merging of technological content in different mass media which is a product of media convergence is the evolution of technology that cannot be undermined. This constant convergence of technology has made out lives easier as users by allowing us to search the web more quickly, efficiently and conveniently.

We have the worldwide web at the touch of a fingertip.

People are to do business quickly, constantly and much more effectively. Social network applications on phones allow users to stay constantly connected to their friends and colleagues at the touch of a button. Even people living thousands of miles apart can stay connected through social media on their phone and computers at all times.

Video games can chat online with one another as they play the same game together in different countries. It is absolutely amazing what technology convergence has created for people and how we can all stay in tune and constantly connected at any moment.

The fact still remains that technological convergence has brought about interactionalization.

The merit of media convergence is in no doubt but even that, there is also a negative side to this technological convergence which has made a huge impacts on our society intact almost all the countries of the world that have adopted digitalization. This constant ability to be at arms reach of information, media, and the web has created an addictive behaviour in today’s Nigerians and world wide.

People are addicted to checking their e-mail, facebook, twitter, instagram, whatsapp etc. They have picked up this addictive behaviour which has become a way of life, in which users nowadays might not be able to function on a daily basis without some sort of technology. This has become an epidemic and is quite sad as we see less face-to-face time with people and more time with technology. People choose to use the internet, phone, text, video-chat, and email to communicate with others rather than face-to-face communication in other words called inter-personal communication, which definitely takes a lot of the intimacy out of true communication.

However, the impact of media convergence has been and still pretty huge toward mass media. One way is through the improvement of digital technology, the cost and quality and quantity of media outlets.

Nevertheless, media convergence is really good and if something that has contributed immensely to the media coverage and to the growth and development of our society at large.

The advert of ICTs led to the innovation of technological convergence. It is a concept that almost every member of the society must adapt but we should as much as we cannot be too addicted to it because already we are glued to our keypads on gadgets like smart phones, ipads and the rest.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Child Health And You 2014 World Pneumonia Day: FOR the celebration of the 2013 World Prematurity Day, we published in ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’ a Presentation entitled ‘2013 WORLD PREMATURITY DAY: A TIME TO INSURE THEIR SURVIVAL’. As that Presentation contained hardcore information concerning Prematurity and World Prematurity Day Celebration, and to undergird the importance of the information and for emphasis, such information will largely be represented in this Presentation for the 2014 World Prematurity Day Celebration.

Premature babies are born before pregnancy has reached the medically desired level of maturity and development.

They are born too soon! They are born with a myriad of challenges and faced with survival difficulties!! They too, as any other creatures made in the image and likeness of God (Gen 1:26 and 27), also have a right to survive and a right to live!!! They are not born to die!!!! Medically, they are born much earlier than the Expected Day of Delivery (EDD) or Expected Day of Confinement (EDC) computed for their mothers. They are born before 37 completed weeks of gestation or pregnancy where the normal duration of pregnancy is computed from a formula that assumes a 40-week period of gestation with the expectation that the products of such normal duration are already well-formed and equipped with the relevant structural and functional ‘readiness’ to survive outside the womb. Therefore, those born as premature babies are delivered without the adequate ‘preparedness’ or ‘readiness’ to cope with the stresses and challenges of life outside the womb; i.e. survival outside the womb.

Since 2011, in order to insure the survival, growth and development of premature babies, the world has set aside 17th November of every year to be celebrated as the World Prematurity Day (WPD). The WPD is intended to draw attention deservedly, locally, nationally and internationally, to the plethora of challenging issues concerning the peculiar matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies.Globally, the World Prematurity Network (WPN) is a collaboration of various international groups and bodies interested in, and involved with, the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future out comes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies together with support for the research and future scientific inquiry into the composite and holistic survival, growth and development of premature babies.

The WPN includes, among several others, those providing critical care equipment for premature babies, intervention drugs for their critical care,

Born Too Soon Is Not Born To Die

facilities as adjuvant to critical care of these babies and stateof-the-art rehabilitative care devices. Others are Consumer Groups that ensure equity and quality, and best practices and also Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), in the production, marketing sale, purchase and use of the critical care products geared towards the survival, growth and development of premature babies. The WPN also includes several international Parent Groups that draw global attention to the huge problems confronting the world’s enlarging population of babies born too soon. The WPN is mobilizing the world to participate in actions/ activities that are geared towards the prevention of prematurity, critical care of these babies, rehabilitation of the survivors of premature births and, indeed, the comprehensive attention to the plethora of issues related to the emerging difficulties and challenges confronting these unique population of human beings who deserve no less entitlement to survival and decent productive life.

Global Social Media Outreach, an umbrella for Media Outfits,also helps with effective information communication of the matters relating to the prevention, recognition, difficulties, needs, interventions, future outcomes and abilities/ disabilities of premature babies. The unique role of the media, particularly the growing sphere of social interactive and network media, cannot be over-emphasized in the matters relating to Prematurity.

Effective Communication of Prematurity and its plethora of difficulties should garner the desired global action and force to confront and address the challenges and difficulties of premature babies in the world. The media represents the force and voice of the voiceless but remarkably vulnerable population of premature babies deserving of world attention. Remembering that information is power and that information is strength, the media have an enormous global responsibility to communicate the appropriate health messages to harness the global critical mass for galvanizing the survival of premature babies in addition to preventing the birth of such babies.

It is very important to restate the circumstances that led to the emergence of, and adoption of 17th November as the WPD. An important member of the WPN is the European Foundation for the Care of Newborn Infants (EFCNI). The EFCNI in 2008 convoked the first Meeting of Parents’ Organizations in Europe, specifically in Rome, Italy, to highlight the problems of premature babies. The Meeting decided to adopt an ‘Awareness Day’ to focus on the unique challenges of premature babies and the difficulties experienced by their families.

The 17 th of November was remarkably chosen as the day has an emotional significance for a veritable founding member

By PROF C.O. EREGIE

of the EFCNI who, after the death of his preterm triplets in December 2006, successfully became the father of a healthy female newborn infant delivered on the 17th November 2008. Thus, the 17th November 2008 appears to be the date of the initial original birth of the need to have a date set aside for the institutionalization of attention drawn to the needs of the population of premature babies and their burdened families. In the United States of America (USA), another body was also committing itself and its resources to the needs of premature babies. This was the March of Dimes and it also chose 17th November 2008 for its initial idea of a day to celebrate the awareness campaign for Prematurity. The March of Dimes celebrates November as the Prematurity

Australian and African Organizations were both members of the ‘Global Alliance’ for the commitment to Prematurity.The World Prematurity Day was first jointly founded in May 2010 in New York by EFCNI of Europe, March of Dimes of USA and the Little Big Souls International Charitable Foundation for Africa. The 17th November 2011 marked the first formal launching and celebration of the WPD with the Global Alliance harnessing the media impact through ‘Facebook’.

More countries actively got on the campaign to celebrate the 2012 WPD with heightening of the awareness to the varied dimensions of Prematurity. The critical situation of the families of these premature infants occasioned by the birth of such

Awareness Month.

To further globalize this Celebration, the first International Prematurity Awareness Day by the EFCNI on the 17 th November 2009 became a reality. This particular celebration involved several activities and events that uniquely and innovatively drew attention to the peculiar circumstances of premature babies and their families relating to prevention, care, rehabilitation and attention to survivors with their unique burden on society and the challenge to address these infants and their peculiar difficulties. By the 17 th November 2010, the Celebration gathered a greater momentum and became a phenomenon culminating in the second International celebration on that day. There was a nominal internationalization of the 2010 celebration with the participation of other relevant interest groups committed to premature babies and their burdened families. These International Groups included, among others, March of Dimes in the USA, the National Premmie Foundation in Australia and the LittleBigSouls in Africa. Thus, the second International Prematurity Awareness Day celebration was, indeed, an international collaboration nominally and programmatically as the

babies was also highlighted.

Also brought to the fore is the comprehensive support needed by these families, and their premature babies, to achieve productive and useful life.

Activities for 2012 WPD included public sensitization lectures/ seminars, video shows, road walks, visits to Intensive Care Units for Premature Babies, Prematurity Awareness Campaigns and Shows by Performing Artistes and Celebrities, Media Shows and Poster Displays together with interactions on ‘Facebook’.

The Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, Benin City has mapped out strategies for the celebration of the 2014 WPD having participated in the celebration for the first time in 2012. For the 2014 WPD Celebration, the Institute hopes to anchor a Symposium on Prematurity that will feature a Rainbow of Participants: Consultant Neonatologist and a Nurse involved in providing critical care for premature babies, the Mother of a premature baby, a Survivor of Prematurity and a member of the Public to expose the various and varied dimensions and perspectives on Prematurity.

This Presentation in ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’ is also for the celebration of the 2014 WPD together with ‘Media Activity’ in collaboration with the Electronic Media to amplify

the role of the Media in the campaign to address Prematurity. It is also planned that special Information, Communication and Education (ICE) materials will be produced and distributed by the Institute for the dissemination of appropriate ‘Key Messages’ on Prematurity to enhance the impact of the 2014 WPD Celebration. The Institute Initiative is within the ambit of its Public Enlightenment and Mobilization Programme (PEMP) through its Action Network, the Perinatal Action Network for the Newborn (PANN).

Some of the ‘Key Messages’ on Prematurity will be exposed briefly in this Presentation.

Babies born too soon are classified into different categories: Early Prematurity refers to those born before 32 completed weeks of pregnancy and Moderate to Late

Prematurity implies those born from 32 completed weeks but before 37 completed weeks. The burden of Prematurity in the world is depicted by these data: 15 million premature babies are born annually worldwide and 85% (12.6 million) are moderate to late premature babies. Nigeria is 3 rd with 665,080 premature births annually in the world and over I million premature babies die annually with 75% of them preventable. Prematurity is the largest killer of newborn babies worldwide and hence the importance of the World Prematurity Day Celebration to address the persisting scourge and the actions to be taken.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has focussed attention on Prematurity and has recommended what constitute Essential Newborn Care which includes: provision of warmth, ensuring cleanliness, guaranteeing adequate feeding and immediate attention and support for those with respiratory difficulties. For practical purposes, the Essential Newborn Care Package involves the following: provision of Steroid injections to mothers in premature labour to prevent breathing problems, practising and supporting Kangaroo Mother Care (KMC) for warmth and assured breastfeeding and guaranteeing

the use of Basic Antibiotics for treatment and control of infections. These low-cost but high-impact interventions should significantly improve the outlook for premature babies worldwide.

This presentation today under the Thursday Weekly Feature, ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’, is part of the Institute of Child Health PEMP and PANN for the celebration of the 2014 WPD. We have published several Presentations on Prematurity to consistently focus attention to Prematurity since the 2013 WPD Celebration to avoid the temptation of allowing the WPD Celebration to be a one-off intervention. We, therefore, hope to continue to publish Presentations to draw attention to the problems of Prematurity including their health burden and challenges: providing diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitative and preventive interventions and care for such difficulties including, but not limited to, cerebral palsy, chronic ocular and pulmonary disorders, chronic motor deficits, chronic sensory defects, long-term learning disabilities, disturbing emotional and behavioural afflictions. These difficulties and disorders challenge and stretch our public health resources and preparedness for comprehensive Global Health.

Some of the premature babies also develop the delayed and long-term complications of Prematurity: noncommunicable adult diseases encapsulated in the enlarging public health morbidity and mortality picture including, among others, Diabetes, Obesity, Hypertension, Ischaemic Heart Disease, Dyslipidaemia and Insulin Resistance Syndrome.

This Presentation has highlighted, for re-emphasis, the origin, relevance and the desired impact of celebrating the World Prematurity day on the 17th of November of every year dating back to the first formal celebration in 2011. As already indicated, future Presentations in the Thursday Weekly Feature, ‘CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’, will discuss further some of the myriad of the difficulties and disorders of premature babies and thus make keeping a date with us the task for a ‘Must Read’.

PROFESSOR C.O.EREGIE, Professor of Child Health and Neonatology, Institute of Child Health, University of Benin Consultant Paediatrician and Neonatologist, University of Benin Teaching Hospital ’CHILD HEALTH AND YOU’, a Weekly Thursday Feature in the Nigerian Observer, is a collaborative initiative between the Institute of Child Health, University of Benin, and the Bendel Newspapers Company Limited (BNCL), Benin City.

Comments on this page should be forwarded to The Editor, Bendel Newspapers Company Limited, Benin City or Director, Institute of Child Health University of Benin, Benin City, Edo State.

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Midweek Magazine

THERE are many definitions of women empowerment. To some persons it is the process of strengthening the existing capacities and capabilities of disadvantaged groups in society so as to enable them perform towards improving themselves, their families and the society as a whole.

It involves the provision of enabling environment for their productive and intellectual abilities to be realized.

In some societies where some groups have suffered discrimination for a long time, ways have been found to address this problem.

Laws have been made to protect these groups against future discrimination with the goal of providing equal opportunities for all.

When Empowerment is viewed as a process of enabling women to develop the capacity to actualize their potentials…That women should be looked at as individuals but possess some hidden potentials for greatness and so should be encouraged to develop such to the fullest.

Women are the fundamental human reservoir of every society. In the traditional societies of Africa and Asia; woman represent the most essential ingredient in the formation of that all important biosocial group known as the family.

Women in most societies, whether developed or developing, are regarded as currency with which political and economic alliances are cemented. This in social anthropology. The transfer of women between lineages and clans is regarded as a medium of communication more potent and clearest than language itself.

As agents of procreation

Empowering Nigerian Wo and child rearing, women are the recognized agency for the extention and coutinuation of the human specie through the generations.

The industrial revolution in England and other parts of the western world in the 18th century drastically altered the primary role of women in the society. Women henceforth could be seen playing roles hitherto regarded as the exclusive reserves of men in the economic, political and social lives of the society. In the African setting, women have played the role of bread winners and decision – makers in many families in the event of the demise of the father of the house or inadequate male presence.

This absence which could be brought about by death, sickness, old age or other forms of physical and mental incapacitation have thrust women in the centre stage for the performance of functions far removed from the traditional responsibility of house keeping.

In Nigeria today, the women folk have come a long way, in business, politics, education, sports and the professions. Women have made an indelible mark in their effort to conq uer the limitations of the past which have sought to place them permanently in the kitchen and bedroom.

Be the above as it may, it is not all through a bed of roses for women and their empowerment. The above illustration is just about the infinitesimal few number of women who have been able to excel in their endeavours through their own dinct of hard work. The majority of women in Africa, Asia, and

By GLORIA ONI/LAWRENCE OMORODION/JENNIFER OWOBU even Europe and America have not been fully mobilized and empowered to contribute to national development. If it had been so, we would not have been talking about health for women, educational, economic, social cultural and political empowerment for women.

And in all its ramifications, women would not have been segregated and discriminated against so much so that they are sexually tortured and harassed in their seeking for employment, contrasts, political positions and in other endeavours.

In as much as this article will present a review on the dehumanizing and traumatizing conditions of women, it will go further to take a detailed and critical look at the major indices of woman participation in national development, vis-àvis political, economic and educational considerations.

How far has the Nigerian woman achieved self actualization in the above areas? What are the major handicaps and challenges of women, and what more could be done to secure a better leverage of Nigerian women if they are to participate effectively, fully and more meaningful in the development of the Nigerian nation.

In this 21st century?

Women: Nature and conditions Women, described as the feminine gender are created

by God for procreation and

continuity. Unfortunately, they have been dehumanized and traumatized in so many ways. Of the 1.3 billion

know how to read and write.

Poverty is not having a job, is fear for the future, living for just one day at a time.

Poverty is loosing a child to illness brought about by unclean water. Poverty is powerlessness, lack of representation and freedom.

status positions.

Women own less th percents of the wo property. Where law customs prevent w from owning land or production assets, getting loans or cred from having the rig

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala, Finance Minister

people who lived in abject poverty around the globe, 70 percent are women. For these women, poverty doesn’t just mean scarcity and want. It means rights denied, opportunities curtailed and voices silenced. According to Abraham (2006) poverty is hunger. Poverty is lack of shelter. Poverty is being sick and not being able to see a doctor. Poverty is lack not being to go to school and

“Women are the fundamental human reservoir of every society. In the traditional societies of Africa and Asia; woman represent the most essential ingredient in the formation of that all important bio-social group known as the family.”

All these are majority encountered and faced by women. Women work two – third of the world’s working hours, according to the United Nation Millennium Campaign (Abraham 2006) to have world poverty by he year 2015.

The overwhelming majority of the labour that sustain life growing food, cooking, raising children, carrying for the early, maintaining house, hauling water is by women, and universally this work is accorded low status and no pay. The ceaseless cycle of labour rarely shows up in economic analysis of a society’s production and value.

Women earn only 10 percent of the world’s income. Where women work for money. They may be limited to a set of jobs deemed suitable for women – invariably low pay, low

inheritance or to own home, they have no leverage for econ stability and cannot inv their own or their child future.

Women make up thirds of the estimate million adults world who cannot read or and girls make up 60 pe of the 77 million childr attending primary sc Education is among the important drivers of h development. Women are educated have f children than those wh denied schooling. delay their first pregna have healthier chil Each additional ye schooling a woman h associated with a percent decline in deaths, according t United Nations popu fund (2010), and ar more likely to send

THE NIGERIAN

17

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Midweek Magazine

omen Towards Development

han 1 orld’s ws and omen other from dit or ght to

n their assets nomic vest in dren’s

twod 876 wide write, ercent ren not chool. e most human n who fewer ho are They ancies, ldren. ear of has is 5-10 child to the ulation re far their

own children to school.

Yet where women do not have the discretionary income to invest in their own or their children’s education, where girl’s education is considered frivolous, and where girl’s are relied on to contribute labour to the

women’s lifetime chance of dying in child birth is one in seven, while in the United States it is one in 3,418 and in Norway and Switzerland, one in 7,300.

In any given year, 15 percent of all pregnant women will face a life

appreciate impact in their contribution to their contributions to the development of the development of the Nigerian nation. It is indeed necessary to have presented how these women have been dehumanized and

Alison Madueke, Petroleum Minister

household, they miss this unparallel opportunity to develop their minds and spirits. Their country suffer too. Compared to similar countries where the girls child has greater access to quality basic education.

In many societies around the world, women never belong wholly to themselves, they are the property of others through out their life. Their physical well-being-health, security and bodily integrity, is often beyond heir own control.

Where women have no control over money, they cannot choose to get health care for themselves or their children. Where child bearing may be the only market of value available to women frequent pregnancy and labour can be deadly.

World Health Organization (2008) data indicate that in Afganistan and Siera Leone

threatening complication, and more than 500,000.99 percent of them in the developing world will die some 130 million girls and women, mostly in subSahara Africa have been subjected to genital cutting or mutilation at the behest of their parents, and 2 million more face the blade every year, according to the United Nation Population Fund (2010).

Around the globe, home and community are not safe havens for a billion girls and women. At least one in three females on earth has been physically assaulted or sexually abused, often repeatedly and often by a relative or acquaintance.

P O L I T I C A L AWARENESS AND PARTICIPATION Though it has been observed that Nigerian women have made some

traumatized. This is imperative because this writer does not want to create any impression that it has been a bed of roses for Nigerian women and indeed other women in south Asia and sub-Saharan Africa.

The active participation of a large number of women in the political for a is strangely a new phenomenon.

Although in the past, Nigeria has seen amazons like Margaret Ekpo, Fumilayo Ramsome Kuti, Madam Tinubu of Lagos and a handful of other activist,

women have often been relegated to the background in national politics. This situation however seem to be changing as women are now making serious and appreciable impact in the political life of the country, especially since the 2005 Berjin conference and women affirmative position (Aweh, 2006).

The lateness of Nigerian women into Nigerian political arena has been blamed on the deliberate colonial policy of undermining the political zeal of Nigerian women.

(Coleman 2007), argued that the effort of women were violently disrupted by the colonial experience. Women seemed to be the most hard hit, for with their Western pre-conception of female inferiority the colonial administrators tended to relegate women to the background of irrelevance in the scheme of governance.

It is instructive to note at this point that in the last forty to fifty years, Nigerian women have created a noticeable impact in the political life of the nation. In the traditional African Society, several factors combined to relegated women to the second fiddle role and participation in national affairs. Such factors include cultural placements, religious belief systems and traditional prejudies.

Despite these serious handicaps or impediments which are actively exploited by the men folk, Nigerian women have been seen to break even, such that today have become a force to reckon with in the development process of the nation.

During the second Republic (1979-83) Nigeria had her first female senator in the person of Mrs. Franca

Afegbua. In the fourth Republic (1999-2004) three women were elected into the senate while fifteen got elected into the House of Representatives. The fourth Republic has been a period of re-awakening for Nigerian women both in terms of elected offices and political appointments.

During the civilian government of Obasanjo, women were accommodated and placed in areas of intense visibility as they held important and prominent positions. The ministries of Aviation and Transport were headed by women. The Minister of State for Science and Technology and the sensitive Ministry of Defence were also women.

These women were able to prove that they possess the quality, talents and character traits required not only for the growth of the nation but for the enhancement of the progress and well-being of the human society in general. Today, many women occupy elective and appointive positions.

Women are indeed making their mark in the political affairs of the Nigerian nation.

BUSINESS AND ECONOMY Perhaps, the most eloquent statement for the pivotal role women have played and are still playing in the 50 years of Nigeria’s independence is the appointment of Ndii Okereke Onyuike as managing Director of the Nigeria Stock Exchange.

Not only she is the first Nigerian women to tower above thousands of well qualified men to clinch this most powerful positions in Nigeria’s economic and financial establishment; she is an embodiment of the traditional doggedness and fierce determination of the

Nigerian woman not to be swept aside most especially in the affairs of the nation.

The above statement, though flamboyant and glamorous is an eloquent testimony to the pivotal role the feminine gender is now playing in the development of the Nigerian economy. It is indeed a remarkable feat for a woman to preside “ at the second largest and most dynamic stock exchange in Africa.”

Njoke (2006) strongly felt that Nigeria today can boast of “a rich history of women achievers.”

This write-opposites that right from the pre-colonial times, Nigerian women have battled their way to recognition in Nigeria. They have been able to work a very tight rope in a society that is still very traditional and create a balance between the traditional role of woman in an African society and gaining empowerment wield influence rather than sub ordinate to the role of their male counterparts. Women have made significant contributions in terms of manpower resources and general economic returns at various levels to the economic development of the nation. In fact, Nigerian women have shown remarkable zeal and strewdness in the economic development of the nation.

EDUCATION AND PREFESSIONS Women have since independence attained Olympian heights in the administrative hierarchy and academic institutions of the country. Grace Alele Williams (Prof) blazed the trail as the first Nigerian women to occupy the office of Vice Chancellor in a Nigerian University (University of Benin). Jade Sola Akande and Laraba Abdulahi also attained in the same status in university administration.

“During the civilian government of Obasanjo, women were accommodated and placed in areas of intense visibility as they held important and prominent positions. The ministries of Aviation and Transport were headed by women.”

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Opinion THE planet called earth, has historical records on how it came into existence, which, as a result, is responsible for the emergence of every nation, race, tribe, and tongue, through evolution, of which Delta State in Nigeria, is not an exception so long as West Africa is concerned.

As ‘sister’ state to Edo State, Delta State enjoys a long standing historical background which did not originate from the splitting of the defunct Bendel State into Edo and Delta State in 1991 during the regime of General Ibrahim Babangida who became Head of State after a coup on 27 August 1987, replacing General Muhammadu Buhari.

It predates that historic event by scores of years, as it has its roots traced to colonial era.

What we know as Delta State today, began in the old Western region of Nigeria when the territory that later became known as Bendel State was part of that region.

Following an enduring agitation by the people within that region on grounds of marginalization by the Yoruba dominated government of Western Region, Benin and Delta provinces of the region became Midwest region in August 1963 after an experimental movement which was conducted by the then federal government, Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa.

In Feburary 1976, the name “Midwest Region” was changed to Bendel State by the then federal military government. In an attempted nationwide movement for more states and local government areas to be created in the federation, Bendel State became polarised consisting of Edo and Delta States on August 27, 1991.

The process involved with mass relocation of thousands of civil servants of Delta State origin, from Benin City (now the capital of Edo State) to their new capital, Asaba, is no longer news.

Delta State has a population of 4,098,391 (from 2006 census result) spread across 25 local government areas. It is essentially an agrarian state, but it is better known for its large deposits of petroleum in many parts of the state.

Delta State, which also is referred to as “The Big Heart”

enjoys an oil status which gives the state a significant place in Nigerian economy.

After the state had been created, the returnee public servants from Benin City and the new leaders relocated to the newly created state to begin a fresh work.

The first military administrator of the state Group Captain (later Air Commodore) Luke Ochulor (August 1991 – January 1992), had the pioneering task of laying the foundation for the administrative structure of the state.

The new government operated from the rented building in Asaba in the face of a major accommodation problem. The new capital, Asaba, was overwhelmed as it was clearly not prepared for its new status.

However, Ochulor and members of his cabinet did some outstanding job by way of instituting new administration within the tenure that lasted for just five months. Efforts were made to give Asaba some status as the state capital, with the construction of some government infrastructure such as the mini-secretariat (now old secretariat) to house some of the ministries and departments.

Ochulor handed over on January 2, 1992, to the first executive civilian governor of the state, Olorogun Felix Ibru, under General Ibrahim Babangida’s controversial transition to civil rule. Elected under the platform of the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP), Governor Ibru and his team of commissioners and other state officials continued with the pioneering work initiated by Ochulor. Within his less than two years tenure, some moves were made towards the development of various sectors of state, particularly education and health.

A master plan for the industrial development of Asaba, Warri and some other major towns in the state was produced. Despite the laudable moves, all these were still at the initial stage of execution when the military struck again on November 17, 1993 and dismantled all the democratic structures already put in place by Babangida.

General Sani became the new military Head of State.

Governor Ibru handed over

Delta State: Between

History And Actions

power to the Commissioner of Police, Abdulkadir Shehu, who was acting administrator from November 17 to December 10, 1993. A succession of military administrators ruled the state from then on until May 29, 1999. These were Col. (later Brig. Gen) Bassey Asuquo (December 10, 1993 to September 26, 1994); Group Capt. (Later Air Commodore) Ibrahim Kefas (September 26, 1994 to August 12, 1998) and

By OMEIZA ROBINSON OFUJE

high during the regime of Col. John Dungs which climated in a strike by the state workers grounding most government activities.

So it was a deep sigh of relief that Deltans welcomed the return of civilian democratic rule when Chief James Onaefe Ibori was inaugurated as the second civilian governor on May 29, 1999 under the platform of Peoples

Bendel State during the administration of Brig. Gen. Samuel Ogbemudia in the seventies. The education and health sectors were in decay while electricity provision was a far cry. It was a wasted period in the developmental history of the state.

Governor Ibori’s two-terms tenure, lasting from 1999 to 2007, could be regarded as a scratch in the surface of

Otefe, Ozoro, Bomadi, Abor and Abigborodo. There is a college of Physical Education in Mosogar. The list includes Delta State University, Abraka with external campuses in Asaba and Oleh. In addition, there are colleges of education in Warri and Agbor. There is a privately owned Novena Universities in Ogume and the Western Niger located at Oghara.

Recently, the Governor of Delta State Emmanuel

development in the state.

Some progress were made ‘here and there’ in the area of roads construction and rehabilitation, schools rehabilitation, and construction, hospital provision and electricity.

However, today, there are far many more public primary and secondary school in the state than there were before its creation. From about 500 primary schools, there are 1,146 today. Secondary schools have increased from about 100 to 346 currently.

While there have been long strides in schools infrastructural development, conscious steps have been taken to improve quality thought teachers, education and provision of equipment and materials.

There are seven public polytechnics in the state where none existed before 1991. The institutions are located in Ogwashi-Uku,

Uduaghan turned 60.

Speaking at the lecture, Uduaghan called on leaders in all spheres of life to live exemplary lives worthy of emulation by their followers and other Nigerians, reminding them that “when leaders show good example to their followers, their followers will follow suit. This is the challenge we have as leaders.

What are you telling your followers, what examples are you showing to them?”.

While calling on leaders to do more to enhance the living conditions of their followers, the governor admonished the followers to be patient and supportive of their leaders for the good of the nation. The governor, who called for continuous dialogue on the issues that propagated discord in the society, he stressed that “the more we discuss these issues, the more we are able to manage them and the anger they generate”.

Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan

Navy Capt. Walter Feghabo (August 12, 1998 to May 29, 1999).

Characteristic of military rule in most states of the country, the military rulers of the state did not make much appreciable achievement in general development. Apart from paying the salaries of state workforce, at times behind schedule, negligible efforts were made at infrastructure development, health care, education and enhancement of ethnic harmony and co-existence.

The general disaffection with military rule became all-time

Democratic Party (PDP).

Conscious of the burning desires of Deltans for the rapid development of the state, then barely eight years old, the Ibori administration quickly embarked on a massive development programme in fulfillment of election campaign promises.

Ibori’s task was compounded by the fact that the preceding military administrations paid only lip service to the development of the state, a potential frontliner in the nation’s affairs.

Virtually no new roads were inherited from the defunct

“A master plan for the industrial development of Asaba, Warri and some other major towns in the state was produced. Despite the laudable moves, all these were still at the initial stage of execution when the military struck again on November 17, 1993 and dismantled all the democratic structures already put in place by Babangida. General Sani became the new military Head of State.”

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

then 7x = 27 Recall that division is the inverse form of multiplication, it :- In mod. 5, we rewrite as (5 x 1 + 2)x = (5 x 5 + 2) can be used to solve division Considering the remainder, we get: problems.

2x = 2 Note: Division in Modular Now with the coefficient of x,

Mathematics With Stanley Osobase 08023454887 Osobase2001@yahoo.co.uk

Division Of numbers In Modular Arithmetic may result in one (a). 5 ÷ 4 Arithmetic solution or more than one solution. (b). 0 ÷ 2 At times, there may be no solution at all.

APPLICATION EXAMPLES Example 1 The table below is in modulo 5, use it to answer the following questions (mod 5): (i). 2 ÷ 4 (ii). 5 ÷ 4 (iii) 27 ÷ 7 (iv). 0 ÷ 3 x 0 1 2 3 4

0 0 0 0 0 0

1 0 1 2 3 4

2 0 2 4 1 3

3 0 3 1 4 2

4 0 4 3 2 1

check from the table the number that 2 must multiply to get the 2 on the right hand side as intersection. This is under column 1.

Hence, x = 1 Answer Aliter: Considering the set of modulus {0, 1, 2, 3, 4}, we have the following to choose from: 27 x 0 = 0 mod 5 = 0 27 x 1 = 27 mod 5 = 2 27 x 2 = 54 mod 5 = 4 27 x 3 = 81 mod 5 = 1 27 x 4 = 108 mod 5 = 3 :- x = 1 Answer (iv). Let 0 ÷ 3 = x then 3x = 0 From the table, we observe that the product of row 3 and column 0 (from the left and from the top respectively), intersects at 0.

Hence, the value of x = 0 Ans

(Rows)

Solution (i). Let 2 ÷ 4 = x or 4x = 2 From the table, check for that number that must be multiplied by 4 mod 5 to equal 2. :- We have an intersection of row 4, column 3 at 2.

Example 2 Hence, the value of x = 3 Answer (Columns) (ii). Let 5 ÷ 4 = x 0 1 2 3 4 5 or 4x = 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 With the coefficient of x, we 1 0 1 2 3 4 5 think of that number column wise 2 0 2 4 0 2 4 that the 4 will multiply to the 3 0 3 0 3 0 3 intersection 5. From the table, there 4 0 4 2 0 4 2 is no 5. Hence, we conclude that 5 0 5 4 3 2 1 the solution does not exist!

Use the above table (mod. 6) to (iii) Let 27 ÷ 7 = x Evalutate:

(c). 1 ÷ 5 Solution (a). Let 5 ÷ 4 = x :- 4x = 5 Our need is to find out from the table that number that this coefficient of x (i.e. 4) must multiply to get 5.

We observe that there is no number 5 in the table (with row and column intersecting. :- we conclude that this problem has no solution (i.e. E) (b). Let 0 ÷ 2 = x :- 2x = 0 Checking from the table, we observe that the 2 on the row side intersects with columns 0 and 3 to get the value 0.

Hence, these columns 0 and 3 are the values of x. (i.e. x = 0 and 3) Answer (c). Let 1 ÷ 5 = x : - 5x = 1 As usual, we go to the table to trace 5 on the row side. We observe that it intersects with column 5 to get 1. This means that 5 multiplies 5 to get 1. :- x = 5 Answer Drill Use the table above to evaluate: (a). 0 ÷ 3 Ans: x = 0, 2 and 4. (b). 4 ÷ 5 Ans: x = 2 Until next edition, remain blessed solving Maths. Remember to watch EBSTV live on Thurs at 4pm!

THE NIGERIAN

20

Motoring

Understanding Engine Lubrications WHEN two surfaces are in contact, there is an opposition to relative movement between them called FRICTION. It is a common knowledge that if a film of oil is present between two pieces of metal the friction is reduced. The reason is that liquids have a much lower coefficient of friction, as it is termed, than solids, so

that as long as a film of oil is present the friction occurs between the oil layers, and not between the two solids.

Friction also generates heat so that it is necessary to replace the film between rapidly relating parts of the engine, or the oil will be burnt away. If the latter occurs, solid contact will soon raise the temperature of the surface to a point where the metal commences to melt, and have a condition known as seizure. To avoid this seizure which is also referred to as engine knock in an internal combustion engine, the design of a lubrication system calls for careful consideration, and that the user employ the

right quality and quantity of oil that can exert a powerful influence on its efficient operation.

The function of the lubrication system of an engine is to distribute the lubricant to all the surfaces needing lubrication engine use what is known as the forced system, in which oil is supplied under pressure to nearly all the moving parts, the principal

kilometers, but when it is present in excess a reason should be sought. Sludge is the name usually given to the viscous gumming compound found on the wall of the crankcase, crank webs, etc. it is likely to be more pronounced in engines which are not fitted with a second filter as the latter removes most of the soft carbon, one of the

for minimizing sludge formation are an efficient pressure filter maintained in clean condition, a goodquality oil free from gumforming compounds and adequate ventilation of the crankcase to remove excessive water vapour.

Efficient functioning of the engine depends on an adequate supply of the correct grade of oil. Vehicle manufacturer usually

exceptions being the piston and cylinder in the system, a pump forced oil under pressure into the crankshaft bearings.

The oil is carried in the sump in which the level must be high enough to cover the pump inlet but not so high that the crankshaft dips into the oil. The mechanically driven oil pump draws oil from the sump and delivers it via the main filter to main oil gallery. From the main oil gallery, oil is supplied to the main crankshaft bearings through passages drilled through the crank-case walls. A dip — stick is a simple means of checking the level of oil in the sump.

Sludge: It occurs in all engines after considerable

principal constituents of sludge. A low quality oil being less refined will probably contain a higher proportion of waxy substances. One of the main causes of sludge is condensation of water vapour, which mixes with the oil giving the characteristic viscous compound. The remedies

recommends certain grades of oil, and these should be adhered to unless the user is in a position to carry out physical and chemical tests on samples submitted to him.

Draining the old oil from the sump, and replacing it with fresh at kilometers.

The 600km period applies to new engines, as despite

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 With Osagie Aifuwa

every care in assembly, small particles of dirt and metal will be carried along by the oil and if allowed to remain will cause scoring of the bearing and cylinder walls.

As regards subsequent draining, the factors, which determine the kilometer, are the sump capacity, type of filters and oil consumption.

With a large amount of oil in circulation, the time for it to become contaminated is longer than for small engines so that the draining period can be extended on large engines.

The Oil Filters Assuming that the oil is clean when put into the engine as it should be, it will soon collect small particles of metal, road dust, etc. as it circulates through the engine. These, if not removed, will have an injurious effect upon the working surfaces and accelerate the rate of wear.

One filter at least is fitted in the oiling system and two are used on the majority of engines. The problem of efficient oil filtration is not easy, as in order to trap all the small particles of foreign matter. “Efficient functioning of the engine depends on an adequate supply of the correct grade of oil. Vehicle manufacturer usually recommends certain grades of oil, and these should be adhered to unless the user is in a position to carry out physical and chemical tests on samples submitted to him.”

ADVANTAGES OF USING COMPRESSED NATURAL GAS (CNG) * They reduce carbon monoxide emissions by 95% compared to gasoline, hydrocarbons emissions by 80% and nitrogen oxides’ by 30%.

• CNG engines decrease

noise pollution by having a smoother and more silent performance than gasoline engines and especially diesel ones.

• The fuel circuit for natural gas is hermetic and has no air inside. Therefore there is no spontaneous ignition no the contrary, in liquid fuels tanks, there is always flammable mixture, since they are open to the atmosphere.

• Natural gas for vehicles has higher octane numbers than gasoline (125 vs. 90), what provides combustion without self-ignition, even in engines of higher compression and efficiency.

• Furthermore, combustion is total, because the mixture between CNG and air is perfect at any ambient temperature.

• The oil that lubricates the engine is less contaminated if natural gas is employed, and intervals between oil changes are twice as long.

• There are no sediments and the spark plugs are kept clean. The walls of the engine cylinders are not washed, what results in better and more effective lubrication.

• Combustion gases are not corrosive. By not damaging metals, the life of the exhaust pipe and silencers is longer.

• The gaseous nature of the fuel eliminates the scanning actions in the cylinders during fast acceleration periods, with the advantage of reducing the corrosion of metal surfaces.

• Converted vehicles may switch from using CNG to gasoline by simply pushing a button or turning a knob while driving.

“Assuming that the oil is clean when put into the engine as it should be, it will soon collect small particles of metal, road dust, etc. as it circulates through the engine. These, if not removed, will have an injurious effect upon the working surfaces and accelerate the rate of wear.”

THE NIGERIAN

21

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Spirituality Lessons From The Lives Of Saints: TO live in an age of giants and be one of them is indeed a claim to greatness. But to even outstrip the giants in greatness, World influence and lasting tame is the mark of a rare genius, one that seldom bedecks the history of mankind.

Ignatius was the youngest of thirteen children, born in 1491, in the Basque country of Spain, a race unto themselves, known for their tenacity and rugged individuality. His mother was not strong and so as a young lad he lived with foster parents but as a teenager was sent to an important nobleman’s court to be a page. His parents were of the nobility but his new patron was the royal treasurer. We know little of this segment of his life; we do know he joined the army when he got older and that he was quite the young man. His rich auburn hair hung in curls to his shoulders, his nails were well manicured and he was quite a dandy with the girls, he, himself, admitting that this was his weakness. Though only five feet in stature, he swaggered about seeking to impress and was always ready for a fight. Dagger and sword at side, he demanded respect and was not above lording it over others —even if it meant trouble. He even was jailed at the age of twenty-four for “laws breaking” during the carnival time but he somehow got out without serving a sentence.

In 1519 when Ignatius was twenty-eight, a war broke out with France and off to war he went, an officer because he was a nobleman. He made a mark for himself and was advanced in command and even sent on minor diplomatic tasks. Defending the citadel at pamplona, Captain de Loyola was hit by a cannon ball that shattered one leg and injured the other.

His army day’s were over.

Brought home —the French allowed him to leave though he had been captured —he sought to regain his strength and let his leg heal.

It healed crooked and it was rebroken (this was before anesthetics) and the healing process was extremely slow.

Today patients have radios and TV.; books and magazines but in those days the only amusement were books. In the Loyola castle there were precious few books — his family were warriors not scholars —and so all that was available was a life of Christ and a book of

the Lives of the Saints. To pass time he read and what he read he liked and the more he read, the more he liked. He read and reread these books until he was tired with the desire to be like one of the saints, a captain and a hero for Christ. He was thirty.

Finally he could travel and he made up his mind he would go on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land in reparation for his sins. He started out with servants but sent them home; went to Montserrat just outside Barcelona and there gave away his rich clothes, put his sword and dagger on the altar of Our Lady, made a general confession and spent days in prayer. His hair and his nails were allowed to grow uncared for. he even made sure no one knew who he was, telling all he was a “pilgrim”. He wanted to be a ‘Knight of God” and first sought to purify his soul. He settled in Manresa, about nine miles from Montserrat and there meditated and wrote, seeking a way to purify his soul’ so he could be a worthy Knight of Christ. The fruit of these meditations are the famous “Exercises of St. lgnatius”, actually a guide for those making retreats., He lived in a hospital for the poor, cared for the sick and talked to any and all who would listen about God. One incident took place at this time. He became ill and went into a coma —his heart beat was not detectable and they prepared to bury him, but a friend detected the beat and after seven days of coma, he awoke and gradually regained his strength. He spent almost a year at Manresa and then went to Barcelona to take a ship to Italy, enroute to the Holy Land. A storm beached the ship at Gaeta, he walked to Rome and stayed there but a few days, just long enough to get the Pope’s blessing, and on to Venice where he would get a boat for the Holy Land.

During all this he was penniless and begged for food, for a place to sleep (usually a hayloft) and for passage on the boats. The Holy Land pleased him and he would have remained but the Franciscan Superior told him to return to Europe. He had visited all the holy places — even being robbed by the Turks who were in control of the Holy Land in those days, but told he should return, he took it as a command from Christ.

Back to Manresa, the place

Ignatius Loyola Paris he met a few students and soon he had them won over to his way of life — among them Francis Xavier.

The seed for the Jesuits came into being. He had these Companions (for such was the name of the embryonic Jesuits) make the ‘exercises’ and in 1534 on the Feast of the Assumption, Ignatius ‘and six fellow students made vows to God in a little chapel

of them to be ordained priests. So north they headed for Venice to get a ship to take them to the Holy Land but no ships were sailing because of the pirates so they set to work in Venice; preaching, calling for the sick, teaching catechism and Ignatius giving the Spiritual Exercises. Here Ignatius was ordained but he waited eighteen months for his first Mass, months in which he would prepare for the privilege that would be his.

“Why are you so anxious to go to Jerusalem? If you wish to engage in fruitful work for God’s Church, you will find a true Jerusalem here in Italy.”

All of them met many times, discussed the character of their new Order and decided on rules. The moving spirit was Ignatius who innovated the conventional rules for the Order. First, they would be bound to the Holy Father, the Pope ‘with a special vow of obedience —

on ‘Monmatre of Paris, close to the present Basilica of the “Sacre Coeur.”

There were a group of dedicated men, not bound to each other by vows who sought to please God in every way possible. Their first resolve Was to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and then spend their lives working for God. Before the pilgrimage, they went to Rome to get the blessing of the Holy Father and while there, their destiny was settled by Christ’s Vicar.

Ignatius, the soldier was imbued with the concept of military command. Christ was his Master and King and since the Holy Father was a flesh and blood Vicar of Christ, he wanted to obey him in the most minute detail. The wish of the Pope was the Will of God. The Pope, Paul Ill, received them well, blessed their pilgrimage and even gave them financial help for it and gave permission for all

When it seemed sure that a pilgrimage to the Holy Land would be impossible, they went back to Rome to put themselves at the disposal of the Holy Father. When Ignatius neared Rome he was favored with a vision from Christ, Rome was to be his home till death, he would never leave it except for a few short trips. He said his first Mass in the crypt chapel of St. Mary Major in Rome where the crib of Bethlehem is preserved. He was fortyseven years of age.

Ignatius and the ‘companions’ had agreed that they would be called the Company of Jesus, not an Order but a group of men dedicated to helping men find a deeper love of Christ. But back in Rome the Pope talked to Ignatius and gave him two ideas. First, that they should go into school work and that they should be bound to each other by vows and start an Order. Pope Paul Ill, said:

his word was to be for them the Will of God. They would go where he sent them and do what he asked of them. Rules were set up for their lives, for admission of candidates and a strange one, the Superior General was to be elected for life. They were approved as an Order in 1540 and three times Ignatius was elected and after refusing twice, he was told by his confessor to accept. He spent the rest of his life governing the Society, as it was called when approved, and preaching among the poor, giving advice in person and also by letter —over seven thousand letters of Ignatius have been preserved.

The motto Ignatius adopted was “For the Greater Glory of God” and that was the theme of his life. With a strong will and a keen mind, he translated all he did into just that .

By MARIO DITTAMI

where he had really found God and he worked in the hospital and taught children and even adults about God— but he was not educated and he could not explain much — so he would go to school.

First he tried schooling locally but that did not work.

So to Alcala and Salamanca and a varied and full schedule of courses —but he had not a foundation and he tried to do

St Ignatius Loyola other things too — so he just wasted time trying to do too much. For two years this went on till he was advised to go to Paris and start at the beginning and really learn — he did not, at this time, plan to be a priest. He had wasted time at Alcala and Salamanca, he even was brought before the Inquisition for his strange ways — vindicated each time. He even was beaten up for his zeal. There was a convent of nuns where laxity was the way of life —his persuasion brought on reform and the disappointed men friends had him beaten and it took him two months to recover—a good beating.

At thirty-seven his education started, attending classes with teenagers and begging for his keep. But he would be educated and he had a ‘strong will. He needed this learning to seek to ‘glory God’ which became the driving force in his life. At

THE NIGERIAN

22

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Healthy Living

EXERCISE is vital for our bodies. We were created to work and Labor for our food and other personal needs. We’re weaker than our forefathers in our bodies, not just because of our diets but also because of our sedentary lifestyles. Today most of us have a standard desk job. We get up in the morning, go to work, sit at a desk for hours, and then go home. We push a cart around a grocery store, collecting packaged food and paying with the money we earn by sitting at our desk.

Ironically, many people don’t hear from their doctors about the importance of exercise until they land in the hospital and are told to get up and move around as soon as possible. In times past, when people were put into the hospital, they were confined to bed. Now, doctors know that without movement, muscles will become weak, circulation will be sluggish, and recovery will be much slower. Even women who have babies by caesarian section are encouraged to get up the day of surgery to walk around. Of course, getting them out of the hospital earlier has been necessitated by the insurance companies, but they are correct in their thinking that the sooner people get moving after surgery, the quicker they’ll recover, and they’ll experience fewer lasting effects of the surgery.

Our bodies don’t function very well without exercise.

Let’s look at some of the things that can happen to us without regular exercise: *Tissue cells lose their elasticity.

• Lymph nodes cannot release all their toxins—the lymphatic system doesn’t have a pump like the heart; it uses the body’s

movements to help circulate its fluids.

• Muscles atrophy.

• The heart can also lose its strength, causing heart disease and other cardiovascular problems.

• Hip muscles and joints, through lack of activity, can become fragile and more prone to breakage.

• Bones can lose density from lack of rebuilding which is stimulated by exercise; osteoporosis is the result.

Aside from preventing these conditions, exercise can aid your body in many other ways. It can improve your intake of oxygen, which provides a burst of energy and increases your stamina; it helps the body produce new cells; it encourages better circulation; and it prevents many diseases.

Your heart will greatly benefit from exercise. It is a muscle you can exercise just like the rest of the body.

When it rests, it requires less work to pump all the blood around your circulatory system. Also, exercise will increase your HDL (the good cholesterol) and lower your overall cholesterol.

Obviously, exercise can aid in weight loss and prevent weight gain.

Obesity is a simple math problem—we take in more calories than we burn, and thus we gain weight. Once we burn more calories than we’re taking in, we lose weight and regulate our metabolism. While you may lose fat, you may still weigh the same as you tone your muscles, and they increase in mass and density. The way your clothes fit is a better indicator than a scale when measuring your weight loss.

You should incorporate three types of exercise into your regimen, all of which will improve blood and

Exercise

By GEORGE MAKMUS

lymph circulation.

Cardiovascular exercise.

It strengthens your heart, clears and expands your lungs, builds your stamina, and pours oxygen into every cell of your body.

Cardiovascular exercise can be as easy as jumping on a trampoline for a few minutes or taking the stairs instead of the elevator. It could be taking a brisk,

become very painful.

Stretching and flexibility exercises can help eliminate this stiffness and provide better range of movement.

Stretching will also free up congestion in tissues and release toxins much more than cardiovascular or strength exercise can, so be sure to drink clean water or fresh juice before and

vigorous walk outside. You should also try swimming and running on a treadmill.

Working your heart and lungs is very simple to do Flexibility routines.

These will increase your range of motion, while cleansing and improving the function of your joints.

When your tendons become stiff and sore from lack of full-range motion, ordinary movement can

after stretching to support elimination of these toxins.

You don’t want them simply relocating to some other tissues!

Strength training. This will increase your muscle mass and bone density and help prevent osteoporosis.

Strength training doesn’t have to be about benchpressing twice your weight.

It’s mainly about building healthy, firm muscle tone

“Your heart will greatly benefit from exercise. It is a muscle you can exercise just like the rest of the body. When it rests, it requires less work to pump all the blood around your circulatory system. Also, exercise will increase your HDL (the good cholesterol) and lower your overall cholesterol.”

and keeping it.

However, the more muscle you build (up to a point), the more calories you burn even at rest and the stronger you’ll feel.

You can start out by buying some light dumbbells and using them daily. You can even use your own body weight by doing push-ups or sit-ups.

Consistency is more valuable than pushing to do more. Your strength will

• Work out with a buddy if you both need some motivation. This is a great time to catch up with a friend and get that much needed workout time into your daily schedule.

• Do “alternative” exercising! That’s where you start to do your normal routine, but then you decide to do the alternative.....park in the back of the parking lot instead of close to the building so you have to walk a little more; take the stairs instead of the elevator; carry your own groceries to the car instead of having a grocery clerk

grow according to the regularity of your strength training, and your body will tell you when it’s ready to reach for more strength.

Most people who don’t exercise say they don’t have enough time to do it.

However, there are many ways to fit it into your schedule • Fill in five-minute dead times throughout your day by grabbing a few moments of stretching or cardiovascular exercise. A few minutes here and there will really add up.

• Getting up early in the morning is another option.

I travel and speak extensively so I get up early to fit enough exercise into my day.

do it; get up and walk across the house to get something you need instead of hollering at your kids to do it. Every little bit of exercise adds up, so always choose the alternative to the sedentary lifestyle.

Whatever you do to start an exercise routine, just don’t think of it as a time expense; think of it as an investment that will pay dividends of increased efficiency, vitality and alertness. You’ll be amazed at how investing a little time in building your health will make your remaining time more profitable. But the big pay off, friends, is that you’ll feel better and live longer!

THE NIGERIAN

23

Religion

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014 With REV. DR. A. A. OPARA

Healing By Faith: The 1.

PROGRESSIVE FAITH: - The sick person to be healed should have faith that the Lord Jesus could heal him through the person going to pray for him. Faith in the Lord Jesus through the man of God, is very important. Most of the healings of Christ went with the sick having faith in the Lord. He asked them for their faith. Two blind men wanted the Lord to heal them and Jesus said to them “Do you believe that I am able to do this? Man. 9:28. and he touched their eyes saying: According to your faith be it done to you” Matt. 9:29.4 Christ could not heal many in his home town because of their unbelief. Rather “he marvelled because of their unbelief”. Mt 6:6. (Read the whole of Mt 6:1-6. Refs. Matt. 8:10-13, 2326, 9:22.) Where the sick person does not have faith in the ability of the man of God to pray for him, it is advisable to build up such faith through counselling and the use of bible exhortations and testimonies. Remember, lack of faith by his people did not allow the Lord to do many miracles in Nazareth the city where he grew up. The Bible says “He could do no mighty works there except that he laid his hands upon a few sick people and healed them “Mt 6:5. Remember the Bible says.

Christ marvelled at their unbelief. The first spiritual law of healing is faith in Christ through the Man of God. (See the example of Paul healing the lame man at Lystra.) The man had faith. Acts 14: 8-10. Paul “perceiving that he had faith to be healed said.., stand up right on thy feet and he leaped and walked” Acts 14: 10.

2.

Reciprocal Faith The man of God, must himself have absolute faith in the Lord Jesus that he (Christ) is able to do that miracle if he prays Jesus said: “Truly, truly I say to you, he who believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works..” Jn. 14:12. Let me say that it is not right for a man to mix up his faith. “No one can serve two masters” Matt. 6:24. You cannot be a man of God claiming to worship God and at the same time using demonic means (eg magical books, charms, talisman, familiar etc).

The Bible is clear about this. God himself said “There shall not be found among you any one ... who practices divination, soothsayer, or an auger, or a socerer, or a charmer, or a medium or a wizard or a

Techniques necromancer. For whoever does these things is an abomination to the Lord” Deut. 18: 10-12.

In the Bible, those who used demonic means when they accepted Jesus had them burnt completely. And a number of those who practised magic arts brought their books together and burnt them in the sight of all” Acts 19:19.

And of course there is no way that you can use the power of the devil to heal, that is effect a complete cure where the sickness is by demonic possession. Christ said when the pharises accused him saying: “He cast out demons by the prince of demons “Matt. 9:34, Mk. 3:22. He replied clearly: “How can Satan cast out demon? if a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand”. Mk. 3:24. I tell you that those who claim to have been healed by those using ‘means’ have only been deceived. The agents of the devil can only supplicate to suppress the demon and sooner or later, the sickness will return because the demon is still there in the body. This is why the Bible refers to their signs as “pretended signs (Mk. 13:22) of course at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, Phil. 2:10. For Jesus power is super-power. Matt.

28:18. Simon the magician bowed to the anointed power of Philip the Evangelist Acts.

8:9-13, Elymas the magician bowed to the Lord’s power before Paul and he was struck blind. Acts. 13:8.12 and other magicians did the same thing.

Acts. 19:19. Exorcists who also belonged to the kingdom of the devil attempted to use the name of Christ to cast out demons, they failed because their action was like serving two masters. Acts. 19:13-16.

(Read please). Holy Ghost power is the true power of Christ Acts. 1:8; and Holy ghost power is fire. “there appeared on them tongues’ of fire” Acts. 2:3. John said of Christ: “He will bapatize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire” Matt. 3:11. (See Heb. 12:29). If you by chance are reading this pamphlet and you are mixing up your faith or resorting to mediums, turn away Immediately and seek the true power of Christ!

Now I was talking of

‘reciprocal faith for the man going to pray. Reciprocal faith entails the following: i.The man of God should have his absolute faith in the Lord Jesus Christ that if he will ask from the Lord, he will do it for him. Matt. 7:7, Jn. 14:13-14; (ii) How will he know if he

wave of the sea,., for that person must not suppose that a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways, will receive anything from the Lord.” Jas. 1:6-8 3 Receiving the Authority to heal/you must be Commissioned: There is only one authority

they no longer had the full authority. They were requested to wait for the authority to come by the Holy Spirit. “But stay in the city, until you are clothed with power from on high” Lk. 24:49. The authority was the power that would come upon them by the Holy Spirit. “You shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you” Acts. 1:8. This happened on the day of pentecost. On that day the Holy Spirit commissioned

will do it for him?

His relationship with Christ must be perfect. It He must be near to his God in communion. (iii) He must not have a single doubt that the healing will take place. If there is a doubt somewhere in him, the whole process has become faulty. High anointing helps to eliminate doubt in this circumstance. I shall talk about ‘anointing’ later on.

Faith: What is faith? “Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, that conviction of things not seen” Heb. 11:1.

“By it men of old received divine approval”, Heb. 11:2 i) Jesus said, “if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain. ‘move from here to there’ and it will move, and. nothing will be impossible to you” Matt.

17:20. (ii) Relationship with God should be near: “And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe he exists and he rewards those who seek him Heb. 11:6 (iii) Don’t doubt “Let him ask in faith with no doubting, for he who doubts Is like a

by which demons can be sent out - This authority is the lord Jesus Christ. For at the name of Jesus every knee shall bow, Phil. 2:10. You have to receive authority from Jesus Christ before you lay hands for healing. Christ’s disciples - the twelve Apostles could not perform any healing feats until they were commissioned. “And he called to him his twelve disciples and gave them authority over unclean spirits, to cast them out, and to heal every disease and infirmity” Matt. 10:1, Mk. 6:7, Lk 9: 12 This was the first commissioning Christ had given the disciples, He also had to commission the seventy Evangelists before they could exercise the authority to heal Lk. 10:1-22.

The Evangelists returned from their mission with testimonies of deliverance and healing. “The seventy returned with joy saying, “Lord even the demons are subject to us in your name” Lk. 10:17. This was also a direct commissioning by the Lord.

When Christ resurrected and ascended into heaven, leaving his disciples again,

them, and they received authority. Acts. 2:1-4. The Jewish exorcists who were not commissioned attempted to heal in the name of Christ.

What happened? They were overpowered by the demons based and wounded and fled naked. Acts. 19:13-17. You see why you must be commissioned. Now how are you commissioned? When you believe in the Lord Jesus Christ. and you are baptized by the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit will then live in you. He is the spirit of Christ (Acts.

16:7) also called the spirit of God in you. Without the Holy Spirit living inside you, you have no authority to heal. He must live inside you. 1 Cor. 3:16, 6:19, 2 Cot. 6:16, 2 Tim. 1:14. And “any one who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. Roms 8:9.

4. Receiving the directive, to Heal/You must be sent: It is not enough to receive the Holy Spirit and you then rush to lay hands; otherwise every christian would just begin to lay hands every where. Some do this and do it in error without any miracles. You must be sent to go by the Holy Spirit. When

Christ first commissioned his twelve disciples, he commanded them to go. “Go no where among the gentiles and enter no town of the Samaritans, but go rather to the lost sheep of the house of Israel” Matt. 10:5-7. He gave a directive which must be obeyed. When he also commissioned the seventy Evangelists, he “sent them on ahead of him two by two” Lk. 10:1. If Christ does not send you, then you are representing yourself not Christ. You must therefore allow the Holy Spirit to guide and lead you. The Bible says: “For all who are led by the spirit of God are sons of God.” Roms. 8:14.

The Holy Spirit.. . he will guide you...” Jn 16:13.

It was the Holy Spirit that led Peter to the house of Cornelius. Acts. 10:20 it was the Holy Spirit that sent Paul out on the Missionary journey.

Acts. 13:2. The Holy Spirit disallowed Paul to preach in Asia. Acts. 16:6. His team could also not visit Bithynia because “the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them” Acts.

16:9-10. It was God who instructed Philip the Evangelist to go to. the Ethiopian Eunuch. Acts. 8:2629. You see the Holy Spirit must lead us to work for God. Remember again, All who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. 5. You must be Prepared/ Receive the anointing of the Holy Spirit: The Holy Spirit is fire. Acts: 2: 3-4, Matt. 3:11 the will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire). No fire burns except it is kindled. So it is with the Holy Spirit. He cannot be very effective except he is kindled. The kindling of the Holy Spirit to produce healing results is what I have called “Anointing of the Holy Spirit”. If the Holy Spirit is not kindled, then the - fire will not burn demons to perform miracles. Anointing is the ignition of the Holy Spirit.

“Be Filled With The Spirit Eph. 5:18, Acts. 13:9. You can of course always be anointed by the Holy Spirit that means you are always prepared and filled with the Holy Spirit.

Indeed the greater the anointing, the quicker the healing and the greater the ability to handle more serious cases of healing. The following factors or steps help to maintain or improve your anointing. (i.e help to ignite the Holy Spirit in you).

THE NIGERIAN

24

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

International Feature UKRAINE will take the first steps this week towards forming a new government, President Petro Poroshenko said on Monday, seeking to assuage concern among his Western allies that the delay is holding up reform and imperiling Western assistance.

The U.S. and other Western governments are criticizing Kiev’s tardiness in putting

Poroshenko Pledges New Government Soon

Ukraine: in its fight against proRussian separatists in the east of the country.

“We have agreed on supplies of concrete elements of concrete armaments for the Ukrainian armed forces.

This is real help,” Poroshenko said standing alongside Grybauskaite.

It was not clear,

Ukraine’s east.

Despite the ceasefire, three more Ukrainian soldiers were killed overnight Monday, the Kiev military said.

Kiev says more than 150 government troops have died since the truce came into force on

Russia, Ukrainians showed little interest in joining NATO, and the country’s constitution specifies a “non-bloc”, unaligned status.

But since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March and Moscow’s open backing for the

September 5. The United Nations says more than 4,300 people have been killed in the conflict.

Asked whether Ukraine would seek to join NATO, Poroshenko held out the prospect of a referendum in several years’ time, but said attempts to join now would cause “more harm than good”.

Before the confrontation with

pro-Russian rebellions, popular support for joining the Alliance has shot up.

Last week, U.S. VicePresident Joe Biden became the latest Western politician to express concern at Kiev’s slowness in forming a new government team, without which new International Monetary Fund credits and other Western assistance

Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine President

together a government following October elections with suspicions that the delay is due to rivalry between Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk over control of key portfolios.

“We hope that the process (of forming a government) will begin this week,” Poroshenko said at a news conference with visiting Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite, apparently referring to the first session of the new parliament today.

S e p a r a t e l y, Poroshenko also announced that Lithuania would provide Ukraine with some military aid to help Kiev

however, if Lithuania was following fellow NATO member the United States in providing non-lethal military equipment or whether it was supplying weaponry something NATO countries have so far been reluctant to do in case arming a nonmember prompts a conflict with Russia.

Ukraine has pressed NATO countries to provide weapons to help it defend itself against attacks by well armed Russian-backed separatists who, before a ceasefire came into effect, inflicted heavy losses on government forces in their fight to hive off parts of

cannot be released.

“Form a new government as quickly as possible. It should be done in days not weeks,” Biden said in Kiev. He said a new government was vitally needed to form stronger democratic institutions, enhance integration with Europe and fight “the cancer of corruption”.

Poroshenko, elected in May after “Euromaidan” street protests overthrew Moscow-backed Viktor Yanukovich, did not volunteer any explanation for the delay in forming a government which may now emerge early next week.

But commentators say Poroshenko wants his candidate in the sensitive post of interior minister - though filling this post falls within the prerogative of the Prime Minister rather than that of the President.

With the country at war, this would give Poroshenko, rather than Yatseniuk, control over a post which directs the National Guard and volunteer battalions fighting alongside government forces against the separatists.

Yatseniuk, however, is said to be insisting that he keep the right to appoint the post, and

keep his man Arsen Avakov in situ.

Yatseniuk has steadily taken on the role of a hawk in Poroshenko’s administration with strongly-worded attacks on Russia and Russia’s Vladimir Putin.

This contrasts with the smoother, more pragmatic style of Poroshenko who is insisting that there can be no military solution to the conflict and stresses the validity of the September 5 peace deal even though both sides accuse the other of violating it.

Poroshenko, a confectionery tycoon who was elected by a landslide last May, was on the receiving end of public anger for the first time last Friday when he was heckled by a crowd of aggrieved relatives as he paid his respects to the 100 or so people killed in the “Euromaidan” upheaval.

They complained he had not fulfilled a pledge to make their dead kinsmen national heroes - something which brings financial benefits to the families.

Poroshenko stepped away and later returned to announce that he would fulfill his promise after all.

Courtesy: REUTERS

“Poroshenko, a confectionery tycoon who was elected by a landslide last May, was on the receiving end of public anger for the first time last Friday when he was heckled by a crowd of aggrieved relatives as he paid his respects to the 100 or so people killed in the “Euromaidan” upheaval.”

THE NIGERIAN

25

UNOFFICIAL exit polls suggest a runoff vote next month between the incumbent Moncef Marzouki and Béji Caid Essebsi.

The outcome could effect the size of the Islamist participation in the cabinet.

Every election day for two decades, Naima Gharbi voted in school near her home to keep President Zine Ben Ali in power for one simple reason: fear. But Tuesday was different, as she joined hundreds of thousands of Tunisians in voting for their first ever democratically-elected head of state.

As Mrs. Gharbi put it, “I’m claiming my freedom.”

Sunday’s vote represented a break from decades of rigged elections, autocratic leaders, and voters bullied by authorities into showing support. The election is also a major step in Tunisia’s transition to democracy following revolution in 2011.

Unofficial exit polls suggest a runoff vote next month between the incumbent, interim President Moncef Marzouki, and veteran politician Béji Caid Essebsi. The results, expected in about a month, could influence the makeup of the cabinet.

The secularist Nidaa Tounes party won parliamentary elections last month and is expected to form a coalition government. The strength of the party’s bargaining position will depend partly on whether the party’s leader, Mr. Essebsi, wins the presidency. Nidaa Tounes may seek to govern with its main rival, the moderate Islamist party Ennahda, which came second in last month’s vote, or could try to form a coalition with smaller secularist parties instead.

Whoever ends up in charge must work to create jobs and revamp an economy that has

International Features

Tunisia opposition candidate, Beji Caid Essebsi casting his vote during Tunisia Presidential election.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

is up to the task,” says Sawsen Matelli, a telecoms and marketing student who attended a packed Nov. 15 rally for Essebsi at a Tunis stadium. She adds that despite its secular bent, Nidaa Tounes is open to more religious Tunisians as well.

“Look, I’m wearing a headscarf, and I’m with Nidaa Tounes.”

Ms. Matelli illustrates how Tunisia has become a marketplace of ideas. Tuesday’s election featured 22 candidates from an initial 27 (five dropped out), ranging from leftists to Islamists. One, magistrate Kalthoum Kannou, made history as the Arab world’s first female presidential candidate.

From 1956 to 2011, Tunisians were ruled by just two men: Bourguiba and Ben Ali. Both

Tunisia’s First Free Presidential Poll Set For Runoff

tended to benefit a privileged few, according to a recent World Bank report. The country also needs to abolish repressive laws from Mr. Ben Ali’s era, reform institutions, and hold accountable those responsible for the abuses of past regimes.

The rivalry between Nidaa Tounes and Ennahda looks set to color the expected potential presidential run-off. Ennahda has neither fielded nor formally endorsed a presidential candidate, but supporters say they back President Marzouki, a secularist whose party formed a coalition transitional government with Ennahda after elections in 2011.

One Marzouki supporter is a middle-aged honey merchant named Abdessatar, who voted at a school in the rundown Tunis suburb of Sidi Hassine. He wears

a long beard and calf-length trousers favored by deeply conservative Muslims. He says he disagrees with Ennahda’s embrace of democracy, but voted for the party last month and Marzouki yesterday as the best options currently available.

“Marzouki’s not a man of religion, but he hasn’t tried to stifle religion, either,” says Abdassatar, who did not want to give his last name.

Meanwhile in downtown Tunis, Mrs. Gharbi’s son, Mohamed Gharbi, a medical laboratory worker who supports Marzouki’s Congress for the Republic party, is among Tunisians who are worried by the fact that Essebsi and some other

Nidaa Tounes members formerly served past regimes.

“In my opinion, Béji Caid Essebsi represents the RCD,” Mr. Gharbi says, referring to former president Ben Ali’s nowdissolved party, the Constitutional Democratic Rally.

“If we elect Essebsi, the RCD will return.”

Nidaa Tounes says it is committed to democracy, and supporters say Essebsi has valuable leadership experience.

He held ministerial and administrative roles under Tunisia’s first president, Habib Bourguiba, and led a transitional government in 2011.

“Ennahda ran the country and accomplished nothing, but Béji

repeatedly amended Tunisia’s previous constitution to centralize power and stay in office. But a new constitution adopted this year is more robust, says Ghazi Gherairi, a specialist in constitutional law at the University of Carthage, in Tunis.

Article 75 limits presidential terms to two, five-year mandates, and contains a clause stating that this limit may not be amended. Other articles shift powers to set policy, make key appointments, and issue decrees from the president to the prime minister, whom the constitution states must come from the topscoring party or coalition in parliamentary elections.

Whichever candidate ends up

Second Air Strike Hits Tripoli Airport AN air strike hit the last functioning commercial airport in Libya’s capital Tripoli for a second day running on Tuesday, residents said, as a power struggle in the oil-rich nation intensified.

Three years after the downfall of Muammar Gaddafi, Libya is being lacerated by rival factions,

leading Tunisia will have to win over not only party supporters, but also a large number of nonvoters. Only about 3.2 million of around 8 million eligible voters went to polls on Tuesday, according to official figures.

Unemployment and a struggling economy top Tunisians’ concerns, according to a poll released in August by the National Democratic Institute, which also found that 86 percent of Tunisians say that parties have done little or nothing to address their needs.

Among non-voters are a young housepainter and his fiancée, Hiba. Rather than vote, they loitered at a cultural center in Sidi Hassine, burned in the revolution and extensively graffitied. They hope to marry, but a bleak job market makes

one of which has set up an alternative administration in Tripoli after seizing the city in fighting during the summer.

An armed group loyal to Libya’s internationallyrecognized government, which has transferred to the east of the country, claimed responsibility for the air strikes.

“We bombed the airport a second time,” said Saqer al-Joroushi, head of the air force for the group, which is controlled by former general Khalifa Haftar.

Haftar has been using his war planes to attack targets mainly in the eastern city of Benghazi, but recently also in western Libya. His forces say that Tripoli’s

Mitiga airport has been used for military purposes by their opponents.

An airport spokesman said that commercial flights to the airport had been halted because of the violence.

The new government in Tripoli said several houses were hit in Monday’s strike, but said no damage

“Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni lost control of the Libyan capital in August when an armed group linked to the western city of Misrata seized the city and set up an alternative government and parliament.”

was reported from the second attack on Tuesday morning.

Prime Minister Abdullah al-Thinni lost control of the Libyan capital in August when an armed group linked to the western city of Misrata seized the city and set up an alternative government and parliament.

Tripoli’s main airport was damaged by the summer fighting and has been closed since July, meaning commercial flights have had to use the secondary airport, Mitiga, which lies to the east of the city center.

supporting a family tough. Still, the young couple envisions a future in which the democratic process, at least, is sound.

“If the president does a good job and we have confidence again,” says Nader, “maybe next time we’ll vote.”

RECONCILIATION OF NAME

I, Omorovan Cyril Omoarukhe is the same person as Umorovan Cyril Omoarukhe. I now wish to be properly known and addressed as Omorovan Cyril Omoarukhe. All former documents remain valid.

All concerned authorities and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

OBASUYI – I formerly called Miss Esther Osayi Obasuyi now wish to be called Mrs. Esther Osayi Okhomina. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities and the general public take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

IGBINOSUN – I formerly called Miss Imariaghomwan Igbinosun now wish to be called Mrs. Maria Imariaghomwan Irogue. All former documents remain valid.

All concerned authorities, First Bank Plc and the general public please take note.

THE NIGERIAN

26

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

27

Greatness

EVERY action, even the slightest movement of a human being, is indeed always first spiritually willed.

The physical bodies merely act as spiritually animated instruments, which themselves only took shape through the power of the spirit.. The same applies to trees, stones and the whole earth. Everything is animated permeated and driven by the creative spirit.

Therefore, learn to know the laws contained in the great book of the entire creation. To submit to them means to love God. For then, you will bring no discord into the harmony, but will help to bring the resounding chord to its full magnificence.

Abd-ru-stin says that through creation, God also, speaks and clearly shows his will. To recognise this will is the duty of man. And the son of God in His Holy Word showed the right way to do so, because, men had made no effort towards it and had thus, entangled themselves more and more in the self – acting laws of creation.

This inflexible weaving of creation was bound to destroy men in time through their ignorance and misapplication, where as it will raise mankind on high if they live aright according to the will of God. Reward and punishment of man lie in the weaving of creation, which is perpetually and unswervingly guided by the will of God - itself. In it also, lies rejection or redemption. It is relentless and just, always impartial, never arbitrary.

Abd-ru-shin says that in it lies the indescribable greatness of God, his love and justice. That is in his work which he made over to man and to many other beings, as a dwelling place and a home.

He said that the time has now come for men to acquire the knowledge of it so that with completed conviction, they will come to the recognition of God’s activity, which is expressed in his work.

Then every earthman will stand quite unshakable here on earth, filled with the most joyful eagerness to work, most gratefully looking up to God, because recognition links him for all time through the knowledge.

In order to convey to mankind such knowledge, which gives them a clear and intelligible conviction of the working of God in his justice and love. Abd-ru-shin recommends the work. “In the light of truth”, which leaves no gap, contains the answer to every question and clearly shows to mankind how wonderful are the ways in creation that are upheld by many servants of his work.

Everything in creation is movement, brought into being strictly according to law by the pressure of the light, movement produces heat through which forms are able to unite. Thus, without light there could be no movement and therefore, man can also, imagine that in proximity of the light the movement must even be far more rapid and strong than at a vast distance from it.

In fact, the great the distance from the light, the slower and more sluggish becomes the movement. In time, it may even lead to the rigidity of all the forms which had already taken shape when at first the movement was still more animated. The light here means primordial light, which is life itself, therefore, God. The further away anything is from the primordial light, the starting point of the pressure which subsequently brings about movement, the slower it becomes, so, the movement in creation also has become progressively slower, so, is it also with the earth at the present time. Through the guilt of earthmen, its orbits have become increasingly distant a result, the movements are becaming slower, ever more sluggish and thereby, much has already approached the stage where rigidity sets in.

Abd-ru-shin opines that

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

International Of God Man And Nature

everything living within the sphere of the steadily slackening movements is also, drawn uniformly into the increasing denseness that leads to rigidity. This applies not only to the body of a human being, but to everything, including his thinking.. It affects even the most minute things.

Imperceptibly every concept also changes and becomes distorted, even those concerning the actual meaning of the language.

Since, he himself is drawn

endeavour to choose the right words to express his thinking, thus in so doing to perceive intuitively in a more accurate and clear manner whereas, through incomplete reports, he would only cast suspicion on or incriminate, other people. Perhaps even plunge them unnecessarily into misfortune, without knowing the actual ins and outs.

Therefore, carefully weigh with your intuitive perception every word you intend to use, learn to observe attentively and to use properly the currents in this creation,

along in the same sluggish vibration, man cannot notice this in his neighbour, unless, from out of his inner being he seeks once more to fight his way upwards spiritually, with the strongest volition and with tenacity, so as again to come a little nearer to the light.

His spirit will then gradually become more mobile, thus, lighter and more luminous and will influence his earthly recognition. Man’s thinking sets in motion other currents of force which correspond to the essence of his thinking.

Men should therefore,

which bear the will of God and thus, God’s justice in pure form. Then you will again find the true humanity which has been wrested from you.

How much suffering would thereby, be avoided and how many ill-disposed persons among mankind would also be deprived of the opportunity to commit deeds.

Abd-ru-shin says that this evil is also, responsible for the description of the earth life of the son of God Jesus not corresponding actual points with the facts, as a result of which a totally false picture has gradually arisen in the

“Everything in creation is movement, brought into being strictly according to law by the pressure of the light, movement produces heat through which forms are able to unite. Thus, without light there could be no movement and therefore, man can also, imagine that in proximity of the light the movement must even be far more rapid and strong than at a vast distance from it.”

With O.C. Madu

mind of men up till now. The word given by him were also distorted, as has happened with everything that was made into a religion and which was intended to bring upliftment and perfection of spirit to mankind.

He opines that therein also, lies the great confusion among men, who increasingly fail really to understand one another, thus,

serving only the darkness, far away from all light.

The more dense and heavy a plane of the world of matter is, the further removed is the deed from the will. The fact that density causes obstruction is demonstrated even by sound, which as it travels has to struggle through material substance, which obstructs it according to the nature of the density.

allowing discord, distrust, slander, envy and hatred to grow and flourish. All these he said are the unmistakable signs of advancing rigidity on earth.

He therefore, admonishes us to arouse our spirits and begin to think and speak in a far seeing and comprehensive way. This naturally also, demands that you not only work with the intellect, which belongs to coarsest matter, but also, make it possible once more for your spirit to guide your intellect, which should serve the spirit as ordained by your creator, who from the very beginning has permitted you to come undistorted into existence here on earth.

So much is already in the first stage of rigidity. Soon your entire thinking may already be gripped by it and must flow through rigid, iron channels, bringing you nothing but uneasiness suffering upon suffering and finally forcibly degrading you from a human being to the state of an empty machine

This can be clearly observed even over shorter distances (Abd-ru-shin – in the light of truth.

When a man chops wood or drives nails into the timber of a building, the impact of his tool can be clearly seen, yet, the sound of it only arrives a few seconds later. This is so noticeable that everybody must have experienced it at one time or another.

He who in his actions always remembers not to harm his fellow man who reposes trust in him, not to do anything that may later oppress him, will always act in such a way as to remain spiritually unburdened and may therefore, be called truly chaste.

These simple words, rightly understood, can fully protect and guide man through the entire creation and lead him upwards into the luminous gardens, his true home. These words are the key to all rightful activity on earth, for genuine chastity lies in them.

If you need help, the writer will be of help to you. Peace and joy.

THE NIGERIAN

28

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Suarez’s First Goal Boosted Barcelona - Pedro

THE Spain international was over the moon with his fellow attackers’ successful evening and hopes the Catalans can keep up their fine form Barcelona attacker Pedro has voiced his delight with Luis Suarez’s first goal for the club in their 4-0 Champions League win over APOEL on Tuesday.

The Uruguay international had yet to find the net for his new club in an official game since his summer transfer from Liverpool, but he opened his Barcelona account at last after 27 minutes of play.

Lionel Messi netted the side’s remaining three goals to take his tally in European club football’s elite competition to 74 and Pedro was equally pleased to see the Argentine become the Champions League’s all-time top scorer.

“Messi’s record and Suarez’s first goal mean a

Porto Improving All The Time - Lopetegui

THE 48-year-old trainer was in buoyant form after his troops ensured that they will be one of the eight seeded sides in the last 16 of the Champions League Porto coach Julen Lopetegui felt Tuesday’s 3-0 Champions League triumph at BATE underlined that his side is improving with each passing game.

After a slow-paced first half in Belarus, Hector Herrera lit up the contest with a swerving longranger before Jackson Martinez and Cristian Tello added gloss to the visitors’ performance.

Porto came into the game already qualified from Group H, but victory - coupled with Athletic’s win at Shakhtar Donetsk - confirms their place as pool winners, potentially easing their task in the last 16.

lot to the team,” Pedro told reporters.

“It’s a great joy, a confidence boost - there’s lots of harmony. It’s really what we want for the team: to be united. Everybody is after the same objectives.

“We are playing at a high level now and we hope to keep that rhythm for the upcoming weeks and into the new year as well.

“We started the season tentatively somehow but now we are doing well physically and emotionally and have confidence. We want to stay on this path.

“The team is in great shape right now, in all aspects, and it would be great to continue like this until the end of the season.”

Barcelona resume domestic action away to Valencia on Sunday.

Gianluigi Buffon

Buffon Must Not Ruin His Legacy

“BUFFON looked like a pensioner. He should have saved that shot. Maybe he was not expecting him to strike it from there. He shot from 120 metres!”

These were the words of trouble, Buffon was left with Germany icon Franz a red face after failing to save Beckenbauer last year when a simple effort from Ivan Gianluigi Buffon made Perisic. perhaps the biggest error of his In January, Buffon will turn legendary career, somehow 37 and - as is only natural for allowing a long-range strike someone of his advanced years from David Alaba to trickle - it is becoming increasingly past him as Bayern Munich clear that his time at the top is defeated Juventus in a coming to an end.

Champions League quarterThe ex-Parma man is final clash. making more and more Although he later apologised mistakes. Over the past year or for his rather disrespectful so, there have been further remarks, there was an element gaffes against Didier Drogba of truth in der Kaiser’s and Galatasaray, Giuseppe comments. Italian television’s Rossi and Fiorentina and on a satirical show ‘Striscia la number of occasions at the notizia’ even poked their own Confederations Cup. Buffon’s fun at the Azzurri No.1, reflexes and particularly the presenting him with a blanket, speed at which he goes to a dressing gown and a pair of ground and moves his feet slippers when he returned to have slowed significantly.

Turin.

When it comes to Buffon took it all with good positioning, decision-making, grace, but 18 months on from aerial ability and organising a this incident he is again in the defence, Buffon remains one firing line after his recent of the best in his role. The top blooper for Italy in the Euro goalkeepers are usually those 2016 qualifier against Croatia who don’t need to make saves in Milan. In a match that was because they prevent them overshadowed by crowd

- Beckenbauer

from being created, not those who are forced into dramatic highlight-reel stops because they can’t read the game or command their area.

In this respect, it is important not to be too over-dramatic.

Buffon remains one of Serie A’s best goalkeepers and perhaps only Paris SaintGermain’s Salvatore Sirigu can legitimately stake a claim for his Azzurri shirt today.

This season, Buffon has kept 10 clean sheets and has let in

just four goals in 11 Serie A games – Juventus have never conceded fewer at this stage of the season. He still commands the respect of his peers and this week was one of five goalkeepers nominated for the 2014 FIFA FIFPro World XI. But the warning signs are there that a spectacular fall – similar to that of Iker Casillas – could be around the corner unless Buffon steps out of the limelight before it is too late.

It would be very sad if one

AS Roma coach Rudi Garcia said he thought his side had done enough for victory against CSKA Moscow, who scored in the third minute of stoppage time to grab a crucial Champions League point on Tuesday.

Vasili Berezutski’s equaliser

at the death earned CSKA Moscow a deserved 1-1 draw that kept alive their hopes of reaching the knockout stages going into the final round of group games.

The equalising goal came as a hammer blow to the Italian

Qualification Still In Our Hands - Garcia

Fabregas Reveals Spat With CESC Fabregas captain revealed he took Ramos admits he was annoyed Germany with a offence to the comments with Spain team-mate Sergio Ramos for insinuating his absence from last week’s international matches was due to a lack of commitment.

The Chelsea midfielder missed the European champions’ matches against Belarus and

hamstring strain and Ramos was quoted as saying certain players should show greater commitment to the Spanish cause.

The Real Madrid defender later claimed his accusation was not aimed at Fabregas, but the former Arsenal

nonetheless and instructed Ramos to call him next time he had an issue rather than run to the media.

“Yes, I felt offended, and told Sergio how I felt,” he told Cadena Cope. “We eventually spoke on the phone and all is fine.

of the greatest goalkeepers of all time – an iconic figure who burst onto the scene as a 17year-old with a string of miraculous stops for Parma against Fabio Capello’s allconquering Milan – was to damage his legacy by playing on for too long.

For all of Casillas’ incredible achievements during his own stellar career, the Spaniard will never be able to remove the stain from the last two years having become something of a laughing stock.

Rudi Garcia

side, whose coach could only console himself with the fact his team still have qualification in their own hands.

“I thought we had won the game, but we managed to concede in the last 15 seconds of the match,” said Garcia.

“These 15 seconds changed the complexion of the game. We had chances to score a second goal, but the most important thing is that everything is in our hands and we don’t depend on anyone else’s results. If we win our last game, we go through to the next round.”

Roma’s veteran forward Francesco Totti had given them the lead with a rasping free kick, but he was in no mood for celebration following the final whistle.

“It was a difficult match and we were supposed to come here to get the win, but the goal they scored in the last seconds was very unexpected for us,” Totti said.

CSKA had shown in their 2-2 home draw with Manchester City last month that they were capable of staging a late fight back and they repeated the trick, with their never-say-die attitude pleasing coach Leonid Slutski.

THE NIGERIAN

29

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Wenger Stayed Too Long At Arsenal

Man City Seize UCL:

MANUEL Pellegrini has revealed he told his Manchester City players to take their “last chance to stay in the Champions League” prior to Tuesday’s stirring second-half comeback against 10-man Bayern Munich.

Goals from Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski left City staring down the barrel of another early exit from Europe’s elite club competition at halftime, but Sergio Aguero scored twice after the break to complete a clinical hat-trick and keep his team’s qualification hopes alive.

City must now beat Roma at Stadio Olimpico next month and hope CSKA Moscow fail to beat Bayern in Germany to secure their place in the Champions League knockout stage, and Pellegrini believes the spirit his players showed bodes well.

“My first thought at half-time was that we conceded two unbelievable goals and when you do that, it is very difficult to win,” the Chilean told reporters.

“But I told the players we had 45 minutes to score two goals, otherwise we were out.

“I said it was our last chance to stay in the Champions League and I told them not to allow their spirit to fall down. Another team may do that, but this team never does that. It is never beaten and it always does its all to win.

t

Chance

Manuel Pellegrini

Aguero Is Our Special One - Kompany

MANCHESTER City’s captain Vincent Kompany and manager Manuel Pellegrini both lavished Sergio Aguero with praise after his hat-trick secured a 3-2 victory over Bayern Munich.

The former Atletico Madrid man gave the hosts an early lead from the penalty spot after being felled by Mehdi Benatia, who was promptly shown a red card, but the German champions showed their class to take the lead just before half-time courtesy of goals from Xabi Alonso and Robert Lewandowski.

But Aguero found a late equaliser before bagging the winner in stoppage time to keep City’s Champions League hopes alive – and Kompany believes the squad are indebted to their “special” striker.

When asked where City would be without the Argentine, the centre-back told ITV: “I don’t know, but if you want to succeed at anything you need a special player in special form, otherwise you just don’t win anything.

Jack Wilshere

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GIVEN football’s unquenchable thirst for instant gratification, it is an achievement in itself that Jurgen Klopp remains in charge of Borussia Dortmund in his seventh season at Signal Iduna Park.

His beard, tree bark brown with flecks of white, gives the impression of a man readied for all seasons, but the increasing depth of the frown lines on his forehead are a telling sign of his troubled existence throughout a harsh autumn.

For Klopp, the last six years have followed a near perfect upward linear trend. Three years after his appointment, the 47year-old lifted the Bundesliga in 2011, before repeating that feat a year later and winning the DFB Pokal in the same season.

In Europe, he guided Dortmund to the 2013 Champions League final, where they were beaten by Bayern Munich in the final, but bounced back to reach the quarter-finals

Wilshere Has Ligament Damage, Admits Wenger

ARSENAL’S manager Arsene Wenger says that Jack Wilshere’s new ankle injury “does not look good” and has confirmed ligament damage.

The England international put a negative outlook on the was forced off during his situation, despite ruling out side’s 2-1 defeat by a bone breakage.

Manchester United due to a “It does not look good,” challenge by Paddy McNair said the Frenchman. and is now waiting to “There is no bone damage discover whether or not he but there is ligament damage. will require surgery.

It is just how [long] it is, Wilshere has been plagued which we should know next by injuries throughout his week. career to date and Wenger “It is so sad because he just

came back and had found his mobility. I hope it will not be surgery, just in a boot, but it will be a few weeks.”

Wenger, however, refused to castigate the inexperienced McNair for the tackle that caught Wilshere, believing it to be a rookie mistake.

“The tackle caught him from the side, just when he had moved the ball a bit forwards too much,” the

But it was the manner of Chelsea’s performance that most struck Mourinho, with the Portuguese suggesting they have never produced a more “complete” display away from home in the Roman Abramovich era.

“The players are very serious,” Mourinho told reporters. “Everything they do with big focus and ambition, but at the same time with this component, which is something new in Chelsea football – this happiness, this flair, this beauty.

“The way they are doing things, we are very happy.

We are having good results and playing really, really well at this moment.

“I don’t remember Chelsea playing in this way away from home.

Obviously, there have been great victories away from

home with me, with Roberto, even with other managers. But this was very impressive. Very complete.

“I know, because you are going to say Schalke were not good, they made mistakes, but the reality is any team that played against us would feel it was very difficult. The players played a fantastic match.

“This was the whole 90 minutes. Sometimes when a team is winning 3-0, 40, 5-0, you make a mistake and allow the others to score. But no, we didn’t.

The team were so solid. If anything, in the first half, we could have scored more goals.

“They must be very sad with this result, but my experience tells me that when we lose against a

Gunners boss remarked.

“Then, when he dived to make the pass, McNair came in to make the tackle and took him from the back and the side. When you see the picture, it is very bad.

“I don’t think it was a tackle with the desire to hurt. I think he went for the ball but it was a late tackle; a tackle which a young player can do. It was a bad foul.”

last season, only to be thwarted by eventual winners Real Madrid.

Since August, however, BVB have embarked upon the steepest of descents and appear unable to apply the brakes. In their first 12 Bundesliga games, only twice have they claimed three points, leaving them third from bottom of the division and posing the question that only months ago would have seemed utterly absurd – has Klopp stayed on for too long? *Duration of tenure with the club at which they won the Champions League It is a school of thought regarding the dangers of staying in power beyond the medium term that has gathered increasing pace in England.

Klopp’s Champions League opponent on Wednesday is Arsene Wenger. The Frenchman is into his 17th season at Arsenal and is struggling badly to replicate his achievements of the late 1990s and early-2000s when the Gunners were consistently a leading force.

Continuity, it seems, used to the key to prolonged success, with Sir Alex Ferguson winning silverware on a regular basis for over a quarter of a century at Manchester United. But society has changed beyond recognition over the past 10 years, with the demand for immediacy seeping into football and perhaps undermining Klopp and Wenger’s old school values of long-termism.

Demand from hierarchical powers at clubs has never been greater, but maintaining the attention and motivation of a large squad of young men, all brought up in the mobile generation of 24/7 stimulation is an overlooked factor of equal significance.

My Chelsea Are A Thing Of Beauty - Mourinho

THE Portuguese hailed his team’s “complete” performance at the Veltins Arena and believes they have never played better away from home in the Roman Abramovich era Jose Mourinho hailed the “beauty” in Chelsea’s football after Tuesday’s 50 destruction of Schalke in Gelsenkirchen saw them book their place in the Champions League knockout stage with a game to spare.

Strikes from John Terry, Willian, Didier Drogba, Ramires and an own goal from Jan Kirchhoff at the Veltins Arena gave the Blues their joint-biggest ever away win in Europe’s elite club competition and cement their status as Group G winners.

team who is much better than us, you have to accept

Jose Mourinho

it. They have to accept we were too strong for them.”

THE NIGERIAN

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Photospeak The 2014 Annual Harvest Thanksgiving of Jesus Breeds Ministries, International Incorporated was held last Sunday, November 23, 2014 at the Church’s auditorium, Nos 4 - 16 Osayi Street, Off Ewah Road, Benin City.

President of Jesus Breeds, Rt. Revd. Eddy Omoruyi-Okundaye (JP) (middle) and others at the occasion.

Church members giving thanks during the occasion

Jubilee choir entertaining during the thanksgiving

L-R: Pastor Sylvester Mughele, Reverend Monday Aigbe, Elder A. Osayande, Reverend Julius Imade and Reverend (Mrs.) R. N. Okundaye.

Members dancing to the alter to give thanks

Members dancing during the occasion:

Photo: SUNDAY OSADEBAMWEN.

THE NIGERIAN

31

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Hughes To Undergo Scan After Surgery

I’m Still Not Fully Fit THE Swede scored a crucial goal in only his second start since a seven-week lay-off and he insists he remains a long way from 100 per cent Zlatan Ibrahimovic says he is still not fully fit - despite having netted a crucial goal in Paris Saint-Germain’s 3-1 Champions League win over Ajax on Tuesday.

The Swede put the French champions back in front shortly after Davy Klaassen’s secondhalf equaliser had threatened the French side’s position as group leaders, with Edinson Cavani’s second goal rounding out the win late on.

But Ibrahimovic says he is still not 100 per cent, having only recently returned from seven weeks out of action with a heel injury.

“I’m not fully recovered yet

- Ibrahimovic because I am still missing some rhythm,” the 33-year-old told NOS. “I haven’t trained for two months. Scoring is good for my confidence and I will come back strong.”

Ibrahimovic was pleased with his side’s display against one of his former clubs, which leaves them needing only a draw from their trip to Barcelona to clinch top spot in Group F. “It’s always tough to play against Ajax,” he added. “They are very dominant and play with a lot of possession. I knew how they would play today, but eventually we won it. That’s the most important thing today.

“Against Barcelona we have to play for first place, and it’s a prestigious match as well.”

The group decider takes place at Barca’s Camp Nou on December 10, with PSG facing Ligue 1 clashes against Nice, Lille and Nantes before their trip to Catalunya.

Tammy Danagogo, Sports Minister

AUSTRALIA cricketer Phillip Hughes remains in critical condition and will have more scans on Wednesday after undergoing emergency surgery to relieve pressure on his brain at a Sydney hospital.

The batsman suffered a severe head injury when he was struck by a ball during a domestic match at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Tuesday.

Cricket Australia have called off the current round of Sheffield Shield matches out of respect for Hughes, while news of the accident stunned the global cricket community and prompted a huge wave of sympathy for the 26-Test player.

“We’ve spoken to players and the ACA, and given how players across the country are feeling right now, it’s just not the day to be playing cricket and we

KFN Attributes Dearth Of Activities To Poor Response From Philanthropists

Zlatan Ibrahimovic

Schalke Can Only Apologise - Aogo

THE wing-back has conceded that the Bundesliga side were not good enough in their 5-0 battering, but has stressed they can still reach the knockout stages Dennis Aogo feels Schalke can only apologise to their fans after their humiliating 5-0 Champions League defeat at the hands of Chelsea at the Veltins Arena.

The Bundesliga side held Jose Mourinho’s men to a 1-1 draw in the reverse fixture, but their European ambitions took a major blow on Tuesday as they were heavily beaten on home soil.

“It was a bitter night for us, losing 5-0 in front of our fans - I think it was for everyone who came to the stadium tonight,” Schalke wing-back Aogo told the

THE Karate Federation of Nigeria (KFN) has attributed the dearth of activities in the federation to lack of assistance from corporate bodies and philanthropists.

Anthony Idaye, KFN championships was planned to Secretary, told reporters in serve as a build up to the 19th Lagos, that the situation was National Sports Festival in responsible for the inability of Calabar, but had been postponed the federation to implement its to 2015. programmes.

“We planned holding a According to him, the body competition in Abuja for which proposed to participate at the we approached some corporate open championships later in the organisations with proposals; month in Abuja, but cannot do they actually promised to support so. us, but up to date no positive Idaye said that the response.

“The board deemed it necessary to organise a major competition that will feature all categories of fighters to prepare them for the festival.

“The festival was shifted to next year. “ However, the postponement is not the problem, but the lack of response from our proposed sponsors and insufficient funds have affected our activities,’’ he said.

Idaye said that the federation would continue to intensify efforts towards improving the fortunes of the sport.

According to him, efforts will be made to reach out to others sport-loving individuals to bankroll some of the federation’s programmes.

Idaye, however, called on the government to do more for the development of the sport.

Children’s Sports: Coaches Decry Non-Involvement COACHES at the ongoing 46th Asoju Oba Cup Table Tennis Championships has decried the non-involvement of parents in their children’s sporting activities.

The competition, which began from November 24 and will end to Nov. 28, is taking place at the Teslim Balogun Stadium in Lagos.

The Coach of Dynamos Club told reporters that the noninvolvement of parents had prevented some children from taking sports as a career.

Lawal said that he had started training players right from primary school, where he was appointed to handle the sport in the school.

“I concentrated on cadets because we want to catch them young. Many children show interest in table tennis but a lack of support from parents discourage them.

“I discovered some of my players since 2011 while still in the primary schools and now some of them are in secondary schools.

“I took them to the National School Sports Festival held in Kwara State last year and they won silver and bronze,” he said.

The coach said that starting table tennis required being patient with the children.

Coach Samson Ajayi of the Union Bank team said that he

Phillip Hughes

Of Parents

had trained not less than 10 cadet players.

“I do not have many children to train because their parents have refused to allow them to take part in sports,’’ he said.

However, Coach Ganiyu

Kadiri of the Indian Language College had a different view as he said that some of his players reported with the consent of their parents.

“I have trained many of them for several competitions and they have gone on to win laurels for their schools.

understand that,” CA official Pat Howard said.

“We are continuing to offer all players and match officials counselling and support at this difficult time,” added Howard, who is CA’s executive general manager of team performance.

“Phillip Hughes continues to receive the best possible medical care. The thoughts of his team mates and the wider cricket community are with Phillip and his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Batting for South Australia in a Sheffield Shield match on Tuesday, Hughes was hit by a short-pitched delivery from fast bowler Sean Abbott.

Hughes turned his head to avoid the ball as it bounced up at him, and though footage is unclear the ball appeared to strike him on the lower part of the back of his head.

Players and medical staff rushed to his aid as he fell face first to the ground.

Hughes was fitted with a ventilator to aid his breathing and rushed by ambulance to St Vincent’s hospital where he remains in the intensive care unit in an induced coma.

Equipment manufacturer Masuri said the 25-year-old was wearing their older model helmet and that he might have been better protected had he worn their latest version.

“The main difference is we have more coverage with the grill behind the ear and the back of the helmet is dropped down slightly,” Sam Miller, Masuri’s managing director, told Sky Sports.

“The third difference is the grill is slightly further away from the head so had the ball made any impact on that grill it might have deflected and helped but we can’t tell from the footage whether that would have happened.”

England captain Alastair Cook said the thoughts and prayers of his team were with Hughes, who has played for English county sides Middlesex, Hampshire and Worcestershire.

“It’s taken us all with a lot of shock and we’re quite disturbed by it,” he told the BBC. “It’s a really damp atmosphere in our change room at the moment ... Hopefully he’ll pull through.”Fast bowler Abbott, who bowled the ball that reared up and struck Hughes on the helmet, had received counselling over the incident, local media reported.

Former Australia fast bowler Brett Lee told local broadcaster Channel Nine that Abbott would be “going through a really tough time right now”.

THE NIGERIAN

CMYK

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THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2014

Mama Alice Mosheri Omorotionmwan:

A Mother In A million

LET us return to the countryside.

Some Nigerian historians could work a bit harder. This is not intended to be a challenge but a statement of truth.

They roam the streets of our cities endlessly in search of history; whereas with each passing day, our rural population is replete with history only waiting to be recorded. We look forward to such a time when students of history in our tertiary institutions would be required to do project works on their villages instead of the British Commonwealth or some abstract faraway places.

There are some obviously incontrovertible truths about today’s subject – Late Madam Alice Mosheri Omorotionmwan, my step mother. She was born into the family of Owenfan Umweni of Idumwuomo Quarters, Oghada in the present Isi North Ward of Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State. Her mother, late Owie Owenfan, hailed from the Ehigiator family of Igbontor-Igbanke in the present Orhionmwon Local Government Area of Edo State. This much we can vouch for, even under oath.

Was she born on 14 May 1925 as shown by the evidence before us?

Perhaps not. At best this could be a passport age.

After all, there was no birth registry at Oghada at the time she was born. And there was no question about her age until some 20 years ago, when her children in the USA wanted her to come over for “Omuguo” (to help take care of her grand children).

The error factor here is excusable, given the fact that she was born when she was born. When I hear a particular religious sect dissipating energy, energy that should have been spent on evangelism, arguing that Jesus Christ was not born on December 25, I pity such.

Mama Omorotionmwan’s early life was not a bed of roses, so to say. But she prosecuted life with sheer determination, hard-work and with the abiding faith in

God. She had no formal education. She relished talking about her efforts to resist going to school at an early age. According to her, when asked to go to school, she would run into hiding, thinking that she was avoiding being sold into slavery. This was one deep regret that she carried throughout her life.

Interestingly enough, she compensated adequately for her deficiency in the way she brought up her offspring. That explains how she eventually became an ardent lover of education; she invested tremendously in the training of her children and grandchildren. It is most gladdening that she lived long enough to reap the benefits of her labour. She had money to help those children of the underprivileged in the community. She hated to see any child sent out of school for non-payment of fees.

Mama got married at an early age to Pa Lato Omorotionmwan of Oghada. This was a marriage ordained in Heaven by God Almighty. It was not only a blessing but it also formed the foundation of the very successful life story of our family.

Mama was engaged in farming and trading on various kinds of goods. She traded in the local markets on different items of the season. Indeed, her hard work earned her the appellation, “the lady that does not sleep” because she virtually worked throughout the day and night.

Habits are difficult to break. We can testify to the faming part of her life,

which followed her across the Atlantic when she started growing okro at the back of the house in Texas USA, which produce she proudly distributed to members of her local Baptist Church. She was, indeed, the Mother Theresa of our time.

Mama remained a blessing to her generation,

charge and her kindness soon spread to neighboring villages where she was invited whenever the midwife was not around.

Mama was a very sociable person. She danced hard like the biblical David; sometimes, it did not matter to her whether her dancing was off beat as long as she had fun. Mama could dance to any music

happened to her was in the United States in the month of February 1998, when she gave her life to Christ.

Wherever she went, she was everything good to

• Late Madam Alice Mosheri Omorotionmwan

particularly the women of Idumwuomo quarters, Oghada. When the Nurse in the Oghada Community Clinic was not available to deliver babies, mama took

of any beat or language.

She did not like to see any opportunity to dance wasted. She was, indeed, a jolly good fellow!

The greatest thing that

everybody: a counselor, an arbitrator and a conciliator to her relatives, friends and the community-at-large.

She loved and worked for peace. She hated quarrels,

always maintaining that they were sure sources of early death. Mama’s door was always open for food for anyone that was hungry and ready to eat. She was the greatest cook in the family. Food was her welcome word to visitors before sitting down in her home. Food must be around 24 hours of the day.

It was therefore not by accident that the stroke which finally took her life struck when she was in the kitchen, doing what she loved to do best.

In all things, she left a legacy of humility, kindness and service to humanity and of dedicated service to God. She left a legacy of good name, which is better than riches and her life was acclaimed a model by all who knew her. This is the greatest heritage we the children are so proud of.

She will be forever remembered for maintaining that he who cannot forgive certainly breaks the bridge over which he himself must pass.

She very peacefully departed from this sinful world of ours in Grand Prairie, Texas, USA, at about 3 a.m. on Monday, June 2, 2014.

She is survived by her loving and dedicated husband, Pa Omorotionmwan, 9 children, 39 GrandChildren, 52 Great grandChildren, Sons- and Daughters- in-law.

• May her gentle soul rest in the bosom of the Lord (Amen)

“Habits are difficult to break. We can testify to the faming part of her life, which followed her across the Atlantic when she started growing okro at the back of the house in Texas USA, which produce she proudly distributed to members of her local Baptist Church. She was, indeed, the Mother Theresa of our time.”

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