Nigerian observer 28 05 2014 by Nigerian Observer

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO. 491 • WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 . N100.00 NATURAL MEDICINE Page 19

Good health, long life

INTERNATIONAL FEATURES Pages 22-23 World War 1’s lasting bootprint

INEC opposes APC registration suit ABUJA The Independent National Electoral Commission at a Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday, opposed the hearing of a fresh suit seeking the nullification of the registration of the All

Progressives Congress as a political party. INEC urged Justice Gabriel Kolawole not to entertain the suit because the plaintiff had opted to withdraw its earlier application, which was the one the

court scheduled for hearing on Tuesday. The earlier application was filed by Chief O. M. Ikegwuonu and 29 others. The plaintiffs are acting on behalf of the

African Peoples Congress, a group which is contesting the APC acronym with the All Progressives Congress. The earlier application dated July 8, 2013, was filed before the All Continues on page 2

Oshiomhole announces free transportation for students By ADAMS OYIBOKE

BENIN CITY- Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has condemned the abduction of over 200 children at a school in Chibok, Borno State. He expressed hope that condition of the child the efforts being made by cannot be much more the Federal Government different from the will ultimately lead to the condition of the parents. release of the abducted There is no doubt that things are hard around children. The Governor who spoke the country. It is quite on the Children’s Day possible that many of you celebration yesterday also have parents who are used the occasion to unemployed, you have announce free bus rides for brothers who have students in uniform in both challenges. “Let me assure you that public and private schools, to and from school, across Edo State Government will continue to do the state. He said: “I know that the everything possible to

. Condemns abduction of “today, Chibok as a mark of our appreciation on the School Girls working hard to clean up capable are in the hardship that many of our

support the Edo Child. That is why we are committed to continue on building new schools. Schools that will appeal to young ones. We are

the teaching group to ensure that only those who are competent and

classrooms to teach and to impact knowledge. According to him,

parents are encountering and the difficulties of the Continues on page 2

Oshiomhole commissions water projects in Army Barracks power provided by

By ADAMS OYIBOKE BENIN CITY- Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has commissioned two industrial borehole projects built by the Edo State Government for use by the Officers and Men of the 322 Artillery Brigade, Benin City. The two projects will provide 100,000 litres of water in their overhead tanks and both are connected to power Generators when electricity in the national grid fails. Speaking at the Commissioning yesterday, Oshiomhole

said the gesture will end the hardship of potable water scarcity suffered by the soldiers in the past five years. Oshiomhole who praised the efforts of the soldiers in stemming crime in the state said, “Edo State Government is indebted to officers and men of the army as represented by men of the 4 Brigade. You have in addition to your constitutional role identified with government and people of Edo state by participating in the internal security of the state. “A lot of the kidnappers and violent criminals who have been arrested have been a result of the fire

TIT BIT “The woman, who does not start her

love’s journey by seeking the man’s love, would find all other intentions not sufficient to take her to a happy love’s destination.” - Kinglsey Ogbeide-Ihama

officers and men of the Brigade to compliment the efforts of the State Security Services as well as the Police. I know on some occasions your men paid the supreme price. “Today, we can say that Edo State is the safest in the SouthSouth geo-political zone. Continues on page 2

PRESENTATION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State presenting a Golden Cup to a representative of Virgina Primary School, the overall best Primary School in the match past at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium yesterday, to mark National Children’s Day celebration. Photo: SOLOMON ENAIGBE

Senate urges Boko Haram to free Chibok School Girls By JOSES SEDE ABUJA - Senate yesterday enjoined the satanic Islamist Boko Haram sect to release the over 200 school girls it kidnapped from Chibok, Borno state, about 44 days ago. Also yesterday, Senator Uche Chukwumerije, wondered why the Chief of Defence Staff, Alex Badeh, would say that

... As Chukwumerije flays Defence Chief over the Senate’s the military has a military secret. comment drew attention to the discovered the camps Senate Leader, Victor where the abducted Chibok girls were being held only to describe it as

Ndoma-Egba, who spoke at plenary in Abuja, urged the abductors to release

the girls in the spirit of the Children’s Day celebration. Ndoma-Egba also

challenges confronting the Nigerian child of Continues on page 2

BENIN CITY - Edo State House of Assembly has adopted a resolution calling on the Nigeria Electricity

Regulatory Commission NERC to as a matter of urgency revisit the fixed charge rates with a view to abolishing it, saying

customers are not backed by law to pay for what they have not consumed under privatization.

the consideration of a report of the House Standing Committee on Energy and water Continues on page 2

Edo Assembly urges electricity commission The adoption of the By KEN ABU to review charges resolution is sequel to

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

News

INEC opposes APC registration suit

Continued from page 1 Progressives Congress was registered by INEC. The plaintiffs filed the fresh application dated May 15, 2014 after INEC had registered their rival All Progressives Congress. Explaining the reason behind the withdrawal of the earlier application, the plaintiff’s lawyer, Mr. Ikoro Ikoro, said the application, which sought to restrain INEC from registering APC as a party, had been overtaken by events. According to Ikoro, proceeding to hear the

earlier application will amount to an academic exercise since the action it was seeking to restrain had taken place. “We wish to withdraw the application dated 8 July, 2013 for obvious reasons. This matter was pending in court but INEC went ahead to register the All Progressives Congress. So, it is no longer relevant,” Ikoro had told the judge. Expressing disappointment in INEC for going ahead with registering the All Progressives Congress despite being aware of a pending suit challenging the action, the plaintiffs’ counsel said the commission had violated

Section 66(a) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. “Section 66(a) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), stated clearly that when a suit is pending before the court, all parties in the matter should maintain status quo, awaiting the full determination of the suit by the court,” Ikoro said. Justice Kolawole subsequently struck out the application dated July 8, 2013 when the request to withdraw it was not opposed by INEC. Following the judge’s ruling

striking out the application, Ikoro had urged the court to order the hearing of the fresh application, but the request was opposed by INEC’s counsel, Mr. Ibrahim Bawa. “We are in court today to argue the motion on notice that sought to restrain INEC from registering APC, which has been struck out,” Bawa said. Justice Kolawole then adjourned till July 3 for hearing of the plaintiff’s fresh application. The plaintiffs, are through their fresh application, praying the court to declare as illegal the registration of All Progressives Congress as a political party by INEC.

and all the inhuman treatment they must be experiencing in captivity. But I do understand that because of this, we have had to reflect whether or not we needed to celebrate this year’s Children’s Day. I am clear that today is not about celebration, today is about marking the Children’s Day. I am using this occasion to renew our collective commitment in working hard and encouraging, supporting and praying that the efforts being made by the Federal Government will ultimately lead to the release of these children and they will reunite with their

parents unharmed. It is an occasion for us as individual Nigerians, as fathers, as mothers, as brothers as sisters and even as children in unison to condemn in the strongest terms possible, this criminal act by a gang which is clearly blood-thirsty. They do not represent any religion, they can only be described as sadists who do not spare anyone, including innocent children. “As children, I know that you are worried about this, as a father I am worried, everyone is worried ; we are all concerned. Our hearts are with the parents, the guardians and families of these abducted children, we can only imagine how they feel.”

to, they can expand and increase it to 50,000”, he said. In a remark, the Commanding Officer, 4 Brigade, Brigadier O. Azunta commended the Governor for

providing the Bore Holes for the use of men and officers. He assured of the Army’s preparedness to continue to play its role in the fight against crime in the state.

Oshiomhole announces free transportation for students

Continued from page 1 financial challenges that

many families are experiencing, I have decided that with effect from tomorrow morning, 6:00am, any Edo Child who is in school uniform going from school or returning from school, if he wears his school uniform, whether he attends a private or public school will no longer pay any ticket for using the Comrade Bus. “The management will be directed to ply all the routes in Benin City and once you are wearing your uniform, you will board those buses free of charge whether you are going to school or you are returning

from school. This is something we are doing just to show that we care. This is one way we can deliver more subsidy in a way that cannot be abused by any middle man.” While condemning the Chibok incident, Oshiomhole said: “I understand the mood of the nation at this point in time. I know that as children you are rightly worried, traumatized of the fate of your sisters, of our sisters, our daughters who were abducted in Chibok by a blood-thirsty group called Boko Haram. As we are here, we can only imagine the agony, the pain, the degradation, the humiliation, the harassment

Continued from page 1 That is as a result of the commendable role of the officers and men of the Brigade. Therefore the Brigade deserves all the support that will bring comfort to it”, he said. The governor explained, therefore in defining the Edo community, the barracks is at the heart of it. That definition informs our decision to include schools and barracks. We will do more and more schools will be renovated until all the schools in our barracks have red roofs. “I listened to the Managing Director of Rapid Response and he said that the overhead tank has 21,000 litres of water and we can upgrade it to 50,000

litres and given the challenges of poor supply of electricity and the generator and the need to ensure we don’t pump it everyday, I hereby direct that it be upgraded to the maximum capacity of 50,000 litres”. He commended the Brigade Commander for a selfless leadership and his ability to attract facilities to the barracks. Earlier, the Managing Director of Rapid Response Agency, Mujadeen Dako said when the Governor gave the marching order for two boreholes to be built in the Barracks, He was so passionate that he monitored the progress and pace of the work. “We procured generators and connected it to the National Grid. The station you are seeing here will make provision for 21,000 litres of water and we designed it in such a way that if they want

Continued from page 1 today.

“May I use this opportunity to appeal to Boko Haram to make this day whole for us as a nation. To make this day whole for humanity by releasing our children in their captivity.” Chukwumerije who spoke to journalists, condemned the assertion by the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Mashal Alex Badeh, that the military has located the camps where the abducted girls were being held. He said that it was puzzling for the CDS to disclose what the military considers as a secret. Chukwumerije said: “I am very much elated by the news that the location of our girls is now known to the army. “But like the rest of the nation, especially observers, I am puzzled by one phrase, according to the military spokesman, their location is a military secret. “Now what puzzles me, is simply this: why do you make public what you consider a military secret? “As you are announcing the

Oshiomhole commissions water projects

Chief Ekhator commends BENIN CITY- The Obasogie of group Benin Kingdom, Chief Eduwu Ekhator has commended a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) Partners for Peace (P4P) for organizing a two day Conflict Assessment Workshop. Chief Ekhator gave the commendation while speaking with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER in Benin City. “This programme is well packaged as vital issues affecting the economy; the people as well as our environment are in focus. Participants at the end of the workshop will be educated, enlightened and well motivated to contribute their quota to ensure we have a peaceful society”, he said. A Consultant on Conflict-

Assessment Mr. Austin Onuoha in a lecture titled: “Conflict Bulletin: Edo State” said Edo State was one of Niger Delta’s violent state on a per-capital basis in 2012-2013. The Co-ordinator of the group in Edo State, Okwuobi Rosemary said P4P is a peace building body whose focus is to ensure that there is everlasting peace in various communities in Edo State. With this workshop, we are trying to identify areas where we have conflict issues within Edo State so that we can proffer possible solution and to also have a positive intervention to bring peace to various communities”, he added.

Edo Assembly marks Children’s Nat’l Day By KEN ABU

BENIN CITY - Edo State House of Assembly yesterday marked this year’s children’s National Day with a call on the abductors of the over 200 chibok school girls who were kidnapped on April 14, 2014. The House made the call through the member representing Uhunmwode Constituency, Hon. Elizabeth Ativie while moving a motion for adjournment of plenary session. She noted that children are gifts from God and should be properly taken care of by parents and the society. Hon. Ativie appealed to the abductors of the girls to release the abducted girls to their parents in order for them to actualize their dreams.

On his part, the majority Leader; Hon Philip Shaibu while seconding the adjournment motion, also added his voice to the call for the release of the girls saying the abduction of the girls has earned global condemnation. He urged government and security agencies to improve their machineries to ensure that the girls are released to their families unhurt. Speaker of the House, Hon. Uyi Igbe while congratulating children all over the World on the celebration of their day, appealed to the abductors of children globally to stop the nefarious act. He noted that children are special Species that should be given the best affection and qualitative education.

Edo Assembly urges electricity commission to It would be recalled that few review charges months ago, the coalition of civil

Continued from page 1 Resources on a petition titled, “Re-Electricity fixed charges and other fraudulent charges of the good people of Edo State being perpetuated by Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC)” at the committee of Whole. Parliament, while adopting the nine point findings and four point recommendation of the committee urged the authorities of BEDC to as a matter of urgency supply meters to customers starting

with the people who paid for meter. This, the House said with a view to stop estimated billing in the state, as well as improve on their service delivery, through constant power supply to electricity consumers in the state. The House, as part of its resolution further urged the authorities of BEDC to as a matter of urgency comply with the relevant sections of the

Senate urges Boko Haram to free Chibok School Girls

He said children can only become true resources and wealth if they are well educated. He said: “Let me on behalf of the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, congratulate the children of Nigeria and the children of the world on this day which is their day. “Children all over the world represents the wealth and the resource of every nation. They can be resource only if they are educated. Without education, the children rather than being a resource will become a burden on society. “It is for this reason that I also use this opportunity to draw the attention of the Senate and the nation to the challenges being faced by our children in the northeast zone of the country.

Conflict Assessment Workshop

location or your discovery of the location of these girls, the news is being known to those holding them captive. “And you think they are going to stay there and wait for you until you come to locate the girls and take them away? “This puzzles me because we know in all American military operations, you don’t hear a word about that until after their mission is accomplished. “The next you will hear is that their mission accomplished. When the leader of Al Qaeda was dealt with, we know how it was done. “Nobody even had a wind of what was going on until it was completed. So let us hope and pray that if the news of the location of the girls is true that the enemy is not sufficiently warned to move before our men would strike. “But to us, it is wonder of wonders that what the military considers as secret is what it announced as secret and want

us not to divulge the secret.” Meanwhile, the Senate yesterday considered a Bill seeking to establish the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Centre (NFIC) 2014. The NFIC, if established would operate independently of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC). Financial intelligence is presently a unit under the EFCC. Most Senators in their contribution lauded the Bill saying it is a requirement of the international community for any country that is serious in the fight against corruption. However, some lawmakers kicked against the Bill saying it would amount to duplication of the duties already assigned to the EFCC. They insisted that the Bill can only succeed if the EFCC Act is repealed to transfer some of the financial intelligence functions to the new centre. The Bill was later stood down for further legislative work.

NERC Act by organizing Seminars to enlighten people in the state on their responsibilities and defined expectations as advocated by the House committee.

societies in Edo state protested to the house on the activities of the authorities of BEDC bothering on the illegal collection of fees from electricity consumers in the state in the guise of fixed charge with epileptic power supply.

NGO inducts female youths BENIN CITY- The Induction Programme for Female Youths of a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO) Women for Change and Development Initiative, Edo State chapter has been held in Benin City Edo State. Addressing the Female Youths, the State Co-ordiinator of the group, Hon. Sera Adetogboboh called on them to take the programme seriously as this is the right step to change their lives for the better. Hon. Adetogboboh said the youth wing of the NGO is set to develop the youths and position them for leadership position. “The initiative of this programme is to help both the educated and uneducated youths alike to achieve their dreams and desire through the well structured programme of the youths wing of the NGO to impact positively on their lives and equally creating a platform for them to excel. The First Lady of the nation, Dame patience Goodluck Jonathan who is the brain behind this NGO has created this platform to help women

both old and young, irrespective of political affiliation, tribe, religion, and educational status to achieve their goals in life, this is a rare opportunity that needs to be embraced”, she said. Hon. Adetogboboh commended dame patience Jonathan for the gesture to position the Nigerian woman as the NGO has been created as a platform to develop, equip and refine the women to adequately manage their home and prepare them for leadership positions. “I want our female youths to stand out in a better life in the future” she concluded. The Coordicator of the youth wing of the body Princess Ewere Erediauwa commended the female youths for their large turnout and advised them to make use of this opportunity to better their lives. “The youths are all over the place jobless; the body is here to make the youths vibrant and valuable to the society. “We don’t discriminate here, but work together in unity to check the avenue for the girl child to succeed in this nation, she added.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Abuja Improved Water, Key To Cholera Eradication ABUJA - Prof Lekan Oyebande, a Water Specialist, has urged states’ water boards to focus on improving water quality and access in order to contain cholera outbreak in the country. Oyebande, in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, emphasised the importance of water service providers in containing recurring cholera surge. Some states reported to have repeated cases of cholera outbreak since October 2013 are Ebonyi, Benue, Nassarawa, Kano, Jigawa, Osun, Oyo, Lagos, Zamfara, and recently rumoured cases in Mpape and Dei Dei, in the FCT. Oyebande, therefore, stressed the need for systematic monitoring of water services in all state water boards, agencies and private service providers. “Water supply is basic; it must be adequate in quality and quantity; we must make this available to our people and make sure that they use it well. “Cholera and all these other diseases, we shouldn’t be experiencing them now if we have adequate water supply and in good quality. “If you go to the villages and see the quality of water they are using; even the ones that come through pipes, the gutters and wells are polluted, seriously polluted.

“We need to have a survey; go round and make sure that the quality of water we are supplying to our people is good enough.” Oyebande further underscored the need for increased awareness about sanitation and hygiene in communities which, he observed, had been grossly neglected.

“We must intensify efforts on both community and urban sanitation if diseases like cholera should be contained, because some of these are caused by poor hygiene practices. “Hygiene practices should be taught in schools; children should be taught to wash their hands

after toilet use and before meals and our waste water should be disposed carefully,” he advised. It would be recalled that the Federal Ministry of Water Resources, in collaboration with the Water and Sanitation Programme of the World Bank,

Defence Ministry Distributes Anti-Malaria Drugs

Nigerian women calling for immediate release of abducted Chibok school girls in Abuja on Monday.

Institute Calls For Policies To Improve Nursing Profession ABUJA - The Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria, has urged governments to evolve better policies to improve the nursing and midwifery profession. Dr Patrick Dakum, Chief Executive Officer of the institute, told newsmen in Abuja that nurses were often the only readily health professionals accessible to many people. According to him, there is the need to improve on the professional skills of nurses and midwives through continuous medical training. “They are closest and often the most available health workers to the population. “Nurses have a great responsibility to improve the health of the population especially to people living with HIV and AIDS, as they are often stigmatised and discriminated. “Nurses are most innovative in reaching the undeserved and disadvantaged populations and, as such, have an important role to play in informing, advising, encouraging and supporting the public,’’ he said. Dakum said for the country to achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), the

role of the professional body must be recognised and duly utilised. He said the contribution of nurses in strengthening the health system in Nigeria was very crucial, adding that they are vital resource for health care delivery. The chief executive told journalists that the institute has

trained more than 300 educators from schools of nursing and midwifery and community health workers from the 36 states of the federation. He called on nurses to take practical steps to overcome impediments to a health friendly

service to people living with HIV and AIDS and the entire nation. Dakum commended nurses and midwives on their efforts in caring for patients, while urging them to increase their commitment to services they render to the public.

Members of United Coalition Against Terrorism calling for immediate release of abducted Chibok school girls in Abuja on Monday.

Violence Against Children:

ABUJA - The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has put in place mechanisms to conduct a National Survey on Violence Against Children. The survey is to be carried out with the support of the UNICEF, Centre for Disease Control and the National Population

had organised performance assessment and benchmarking workshops for state water agencies in 2013. This was to ascertain the roles of water agencies in service delivery and to weigh their performances annually through systematic monitoring and quality data accreditation. State governments were urged to support their water boards and

- Don

agencies in the effort to increase water quality and access in the country which would in turn decrease incidents of waterborne diseases. The ministry cautioned that annual performance assessment of the water agencies would be undertaken to ensure that water growth is commensurate with the demand of the country’s population.

Commission, the Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said. Maina made the statement at a Roundtable on Emerging Issues of Girl Child Protection in West Africa, organised by Ford Foundation in Abuja. She said that the outcome of the survey would provide Nigeria accurate and research-based data

ABUJA - The Ministry of Defence has said that it distributed 60,000 doses of antimalaria drugs to its personnel and families in the last three months The Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji Aliyu Ismaila, said this at the commencement of Defence Community Awareness/ Sensitisation Programme to mark the 2014 World Malaria Day at Mambilla Barracks, Abuja. Ismaila said the drugs were distributed to the ministry’s staff clinics in FCT and Lagos as well as to the army, Air Force and Navy clinics. “And we hope to scale up to other states where we plan to distribute more than 3,000 mosquito nets through collaboration with various malaria partners. “We have also introduced indoor residual spraying of accommodation in our barracks as part of the ministry’s malaria control activities and we hope to scale up control activities in various military locations. “As we remain conscious of the fact that eliminating malaria will not only prevent human suffering, it will bring huge resources that will be channelled to other developmental projects,’’ he said. According to him, health is wealth and healthy workforce is productivity and productivity leads to organisational effectiveness, which in turn translates to a wealthy nation. He said it was in the light of this that the ministry remained highly committed to the prevention and promotion of health care of its personnel and families. Ismaila said based on the fact that ‘prevention is better and cheaper than cure’, the ministry placed emphasis on preventive cure while operating quality health care services. “The programme is designed to educate, sensitise and mobilise our staff and families toward a healthy lifestyle. “Some of the achievements of this programme were effective collaboration with National Malaria Elimination programme and other malaria partners,’’ Ismaila said. He commended the Society for Family Health and National Malaria Elimination programme for their support.

FG To Conduct Survey

that would ensure informed and evidence-based programming for effective child protection. Maina recalled that the Federal Government had also inaugurated a National Joint Task Force for the prevention of child sexual abuse and other forms of violence against children.

She said the establishment of the task force was informed by the emerging social problems affecting the social and security protection of the girl-child in Nigeria. Maina said that the survey was expected to provide data on the prevalence of violence in terms

of gender, geography and nature of cases. She said other interventions to protect the girl-child included advocacy on the negative consequences of early marriage and ensuring access to adequate and qualitative health services as enshrined in the Child Rights Act.

Lt. Col. Paul Egbo, the Commanding Officer, Guards Brigade Medical Centre, Mambilla Barracks, said the programme was aimed at sensitising residents of the barrack on ways to prevent malaria. Egbo said the advocacy would chart a way for women to know what to do to prevent and eliminate malaria. He said malaria prevention would assist government to reduce health care delivery cost. Earlier, the Director, Medical Services, Dr Nkechi Ikoko, said the ministry had through the programme embarked on control measures to address the myths and misconception on malaria. The highlight of the occasion was the lecture on HIV and AIDS delivered by Dr Omolade Oladejo of the ministry, free HIV and AIDS testing and counselling, free malaria testing and drugs, among others.

Nat’l Confab Harmonise Overlapping Recommendations - Delegate

ABUJA - A delegate to the National Conference, Mr. Olasupo Shasore (SAN), has urged the Conference Secretariat, to harmonise committees’ recommendations that overlap, to save time. Shasore, representing Lagos State, gave the advice in a telephone interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said that there was no need for recommendations made in some committees to resurface when deliberating on other committee’s reports. “Also, plenary deliberations should be on recommendations alone not reports. What is the purpose of telling us about observations and findings,” he said. Shasore, a former AttorneyGeneral of Lagos State, further stressed the need for power to devolve from the centre to states. The delegate blamed the level of poverty in the country, on over centralisation of power at the federal level. He said that Lagos State Government had submitted a memorandum to the conference on devolution of powers, unity, revenue allocation, local government, justice sector and judicial restructuring. “We recommend that Nigeria shall remain as one indivisible political entity and constitutional federalism should remain as the nation’s system of government. “In the same vein, equity should return to the revenue allocation formula as prescribed for Nigeria.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

News

Environmental Pollution: Clark Canvasses ABUJA - An elders statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, and some delegates at the ongoing National Conference have called for a pragmatic approach to tackle environmental challenges in the country. The delegates made their positions known on Monday in Abuja while commenting on the report of the Conference Committee on Environment. They underscored the urgent need for the development of the environment and the payment of compensation to communities that had suffered environmental pollution over the years. Clark called for the cleaning

Pragmatic Approach

of those areas, particularly communities in the Niger Delta region which had been polluted due to exploration activities. “We, in the riverine areas, sit on drums of water but we have no water to drink or to cook. “When I was young, all I needed to do was to put a plate or a pot inside water and fishes will come inside. “Today, I observe that my people now eat iced fish, which was never known in our area before the exploration of

oil. “Even the mango trees that were very strong are all withering away; the ecosystem is bad; there is nothing we have in our area again, including farming. “Recently, Chevron

equipment in the area got burnt and the fire went on for three months. ‘’Up till today, the host community affected has been begging Chevron to pay them some compensation,” he said. Another delegate, Dr Abiola

Akiyode, a delegate representing Civil Society Organisations, underscored the need to build the capacity of courts in the country, to properly handle environmental issues. She equally proposed

Stop Rushing To Bomb Blast Scenes - Compol JOS - The Commissioner of Police in Plateau State, Mr Chris Olakpe, yesterday called on people to stop rushing to bomb blast scenes as there was always the possibility of second blast. Olakpe made the call in Jos at a sensitisation forum for security agents and journalists on the dangers of Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs). “The terrorists have nicknamed the first bomb blast as “come along“ so that they will ignite the second one that will kill more people. “We call on the public to always inform security agents about any suspicious item and avoid trying to remove it. “The police have bomb defusing experts and the public should invite them to any place that strange objects are deposited or fixed. “We appeal to the citizens to stop promoting terrorist activities through spreading false rumours’’, he said. The commissioner urged the media and the general public to support security agents in the fight against terrorism. “The support should come in form of sharing vital information with the security agents as they cannot do the fighting in a vacuum. “Members of the public and journalists, as stakeholders in the Nigeria project, should give security agents the support to wipe out terrorists and their activities. “The citizens should not leave the fight against terrorists to the

security agents alone. Members of the public should be very vigilant to report any suspicious movement or objects in their surroundings. Olakpe called on journalists to stop sensationalising stories as they were capable of instilling fear in the minds of the public and encourage terrorists to continue their activities. “The terrorists want fear in the minds of the public so as to cripple economic and social activities’’, Olakpe said.

Hon. Sunday Osazemwinde, member representing Ovia North East Constituency (1) moving a motion of matters of urgent public importance on the Rainstorm disaster in Okokho community on the floor of the House recently. Photo: Godwin Iseguan.

greater participation of women in the planning and management of issues concerning the environment. “There is the need to build the capacity of our courts to handle environmental issues. “I also propose greater participation of women and other key groups in the planning, management and preservation of the environment and sustainable use of natural resources at all levels,” she said. On his part, Mr Godswill Iyoke, a delegate representing Christian leaders, called for the prohibition of indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because of its adverse effects on the soil. “There should be prohibition of indiscriminate sinking of boreholes because of its adverse effect on boreholes.” In the same vein, Dr Hannatu Ibrahim, a delegate representing Gombe State, said adequate attention should be paid to states, particularly Gombe State that faced problems of erosion and flooding. “Gombe is one of the states faced with the problem of erosion, flood disaster and the resettling of refugees. “This has added to maternal mortality rate because they are faced with diseases due to poor hygiene,’’ she said.

Gratuities: PHCN Retirees Seek Prompt Payment

PORT HARCOURT -The retired employees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Rivers on Monday demanded full payment of their gratuities and pensions. The President of the pensioners, Mr Ufeme Toka, told newsmen in Port Harcourt that their situation was not only inexcusable but very dehumanising. Toka said that the continued Federal Government indebtedness to the pensioners had increased their hardship and in most cases had led to the death of the retirees. “Over 5,000 former employees that were

retrenched and retired from PHCN nationwide are in serious poverty today. “Many of them are in miserable conditions due to lack of funds, yet government keeps saying they have earmarked money for us,’’ Toka said. He also called for the immediate payment of all their entitlements, adding that it was imperative to rescue the retirees from the doldrums of financial handicap. Toka urged the Federal

Government to consider the plight of the retirees whom, he said, had degenerated so badly. According to him, the payment is discriminatory and inconsistent with familiar rules and regulations of the organisation. The pensioners’ leader urged the National Assembly to reclassify the defunct PHCN Pension Fund from capital supplement to service wide vote aimed at making “monthly payments seamless”.

“December 2013 pension was paid in January 2014, after Christmas and New Year festivities, January and February paid by mid-March, while March and April have yet to be paid,’’ he said. He decried the non-chalant attitude of government to their plight, stressing that the situation was detrimental to its aged and sick members. Also speaking, the Secretary of the organisation, Mr Bob Manuel, appealed to the Federal Government to save its members from an

imminent trauma situation. Manuel said that the state of pensioners in Nigeria was discouraging and embarrassing to the younger generation of workers. He said that workers were the engine room of every economy and must be handled with integrity and honour. Manuel also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for engendering transformational measures in Nigeria. He urged Jonathan to extend the transformation agenda toward the improvement of national pension scheme and pensioners welfare.

Confab: Delegate Urges Measures

Against Public Urination

APC delegates casting their votes at Edo State congress in Benin City on Monday.

ABUJA A delegate representing retired civil servants at the National Conference, Mrs Ebele Okeke, has called for measures to stop men from urinating in the open. Okeke, a former Head of Civil Service of the Federation, made the call yesterday as her contribution to the debate on the report of the Conference Committee on Environment. She said the act of men urinating in public was an eyesore and dangerous to the environment. Okeke also called for measures

to stop open defecation as such act contributed to the spread of diseases. She condemned the situation where landlords built houses without making provision for toilets and so encouraged open defecation. “Nigeria is like a big toilet, where people defecate in open places. “This is due largely to the fact that landlords build houses without toilets and even where there are toilets, these toilets are converted to stores.

“I, therefore, propose that open defecation be banned and men, particularly, should not come out of their houses to urinate,” she said. Okeke called for the provision of potable water for all Nigerians irrespective of location, considering that the right to water was very important. She said Nigeria was one of the countries with the highest rate of infant mortality due to the lack of potable water which caused preventable diseases, such as cholera and diarrhoea.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

News Enhanced Productivity

INEC To Ensure Hitch-Free Voter Cards Distribution

Farmers Seek Support

OVIRI-OGOR (Delta) Vegetable farmers in Delta, under the aegis of Emameya Multi-Purpose Cooperative Society, have appealed to the state government for more financial support to enhance its members’ productivity. The President of the society, Mrs Victoria Igben, made the appeal in an interview with newsmen at Oviri-Ogor, Ughelli North Local Government Area of Delta. Igben noted that the union which started operation in 2008, had a membership strength of 98 women whose major challenge was inadequate fund. She, however, said that the society acquired three hectares of land in 2013 for cultivation of vegetables and secured a loan of N900,000 to start the vegetable farm project. Igben said that members of the society were engaged in vegetable and cassava farming as well as palm oil production and needed more funds to increase production. “Vegetables take between four and six weeks to mature. We harvest twice a week and we make as much as N10,000 on weekly basis. We have families to cater for with the proceeds from the farm, and that is why we are appealing for funds to enable us to expand our farms and make more money,’’ she said. Igben said the provision of more funds would help the society to acquire more land for farming and transportation facilities to move their products to markets. She said such assistance would go a long way in alleviating poverty in the rural area.

Hon. Rasak Bello-Osagie, member representing Oredo Federal Constituency at the House of Representatives casting his vote at the APC State Congress held on Monday. Photo: MOSES OBOH.

Commissioner of Police, Plateau, Mr. Chris Olakpe (4th left), briefing newsmen on the bomb devices recovered in Jos on Monday. With him are, Unit Commander, Police Anti-bomb squad, Mr. Abel Mbibi (left), Police Area Commander, Metro, Mr. Charles Ezeala (2nd left) and Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr. Mohammad Hussen (right).

Ophthalmologist Advises Patients On Prescription

BENIN CITYA Consultant Ophthalmologist, Prof Afekaide Omoti, in Benin advised patients suffering from glaucoma to adhere to drugs prescribed for them to prevent total

blindness. Omoti, who is the Head, Department of Ophthalmology, University of

Register For Permanent Voter Cards, Residents Urged YENAGOA - Chief Mitema Obordor, the Commissioner for Local Government Administration in Bayelsa, has advised voters in the state to participate enmasse in the ongoing distribution of permanent voter cards. The exercise is being conducted by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). The commissioner gave the advice in a statement made

YENAGOA The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) said it had mobilised the army, navy, and other security personnel in Bayelsa to ensure a hitch-free permanent voter registration and voter cards distribution. The state Residential Electoral Commissioner, Mr Edwin Nwatarali, told journalists yesterday in Yenagoa that the security personnel would beef up security around the registration units and wards, especially the waterways to forestall disorder. “The army is patrolling the major road, the navy has been mobilised; they are patrolling the waterways. So, for security we don’t have any fear. “What I’m telling the electorate is that the most important thing is for them to check whether their names are on the displayed register; once your name is on the displayed register, there is no problem. “If you don’t find your card, we will produce your card. But if your name is not on the displayed register, please, do take advantage of the window for continuous voter registration, which is between May 28 and June 1.“ Nwatarali said that reaching out to remote communities especially in the creeks, was a major challenge for INEC. Newsmne report that the distribution of the cards at some distribution centres visited are going on as scheduled without problems.

available to newsmen in Yenagoa on Sunday. He said that participation in the exercise was a civic responsibility that would empower voters to cast their votes for candidates of their choice in the 2015 general elections. Obordor also urged people with temporary voter card to approach INEC officers at the polling units where they registered to collect their permanent voter cards.

He disclosed that the exercise, which commenced last, would . “For those of you who have not registered before, I advise you to take advantage of the review of voter register at polling unit nearest to your home on May 26 to register,” Obordor said. The commissioner also directed chairmen of the 32 rural development areas to ensure adequate sensitisation and mobilisation of citizens for the success of the exercise

Benin Teaching Hospital, gave the advice while speaking with newsmen. He said that it had been observed that most patients who suffer from glaucoma usually abandoned their drug prescriptions and opt for selfmedication. Omoti said the only treatment that was available was to modify the most important risk factor of the disease which “is an Elevated Intraocular Pressure, to a lower pressure so that further damage will not occur to the eyes. “When patients on drug prescription seem not to observe any improvement, they get frustrated and abandon the drugs and resort

to self-medication. “But by the time they realise it, further damaged may have occurred and they become totally blind. “Patients must realise that when they have glaucoma, no matter the treatment they receive, whether surgery, laser or medical therapy, they won’t see well. “What these treatments do is to prevent further damage to the eyes as the treatment is a control and not a cure. There is no cure for the disease for now. Omoti added that “unfortunately, preventive and curative drugs have yet to be discovered for the disease”. The ophthalmologist said that glaucoma “is a condition

wherein the optic nerves in the eyes are damaged by various factors’’. According to him the disease is most commonly caused by an elevated intraocular pressure, but frequently combines with other factors which have yet to be known. “Glaucoma is a sniff theft of sight and a sufferer does not know he is going blind because his vision is destroyed from the periphery. “And by the time he observes for the first time that his vision has gone down, he is almost gone blind. “Glaucoma can be detected early through routine eye check,” Omoti said. He, however, said that a lot of research was ongoing to determine the cause and possible cure for glaucoma.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Across The Nation Katsina Distributes Instructional Materials

Representative of Chief of Naval Staff, Rear Adm. Azeez Afolayan (2nd right), presenting Mosquito treated net to a beneficiary, during the Medical Rhapsody to commemorate 58th Anniversary of Nigerian Navy in Mpape in Abuja on Monday. With him is the Sarkin of Mpape Village, Alhaji Abubakar Gambi.

KATSINA - The Katsina State Government has said that it distributed N400 million worth of instructional materials to boost free education at primary school level in the state. Governor Ibrahim Shema disclosed this while distributing the materials and inaugurating Fatima Shema Girls Science Model Primary School in Katsina. He said that the state government had constructed 200 new primary schools in the state to enable more children, particularly in rural areas, access the free education programme. Shema said that his administration had rehabilitated 281 primary schools across the 34 local government areas of the state. According to him, 2,000

He described the overall exercise in the state as very successful, saying that a total of 1.2 million permanent voter cards were issued out for distribution to registered voters. Agbaje assured that the issuance of the cards would be continued and advised those

who had not collected their cards to do so at INEC office in their local government headquarters. He said those eligible to vote after the last voter registration exercise in 2011 would be registered from May 28 to June 1, and warned against double registration or registration by proxy.

Thugs Snatch Voter Cards

LOKOJA - The Independent N ational Electoral Commission (INEC) said that 1, 235 permanent voter cards were snatched by suspected political thugs in Kogi on Saturday. The Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Olusegun Agbaje, told newsmen in Lokoja that the thugs snatched the cards during the distribution of the item to registered voters in the state. He said the cards were snatched from INEC officials in some polling units in Lokoja, Ankpa and Okene. Agbaje said that 1,020 cards were snatched by the armed thugs in Lokoja, 140 in Ankpa and 75 in Okene. He however said that 406 of the cards that were snatched in Lokoja had been recovered, and that some arrests had been made. The resident commissioner also disclosed that the secretary to one of the local government councils in Kogi

West senatorial district was apprehended for dual registration. According to him, the suspect was detected by officials and vigilant members of the public after the secretary signed and collected the cards in two separate

VIO Impounds 70 Tricycles

Traffic Offences:

KADUNA - No fewer than 70 tricycles, popularly known as Keke NAPEP, have been impounded by the Vehicle Inspection Office (VIO) in Kaduna State for various traffic offences. Reports state that the arrest was made within four days after the ban on commercial motorcyclists, also known as Okada, came into effect in parts of the state on May 21. The Public Relations Officer of the unit, Malam Buhari Aliyu told newsmen on Monday in Kaduna that the arrest was made between May 22 and May 25 in a special operation by the office. Aliyu said the exercise was conducted to sanitise the

Extension Of Voter Cards Collection

Suswam Appeals To INEC MAKURDI - Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue has appealed to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to extend the three days allocated for the issuance of permanent voters cards (PVC). Suswam made the appeal while collecting his PVC along side his wife, Dooshima at the Government House polling unit in Makurdi. He said the three days allocated for the collection of the cards were not enough for voters. “I have been talking with the Resident Electoral Commissioner to know the progress of the exercise; he assured me that the commission would do its best to ensure that everybody gets his or her card. “I am surprised, this afternoon, to see so many uncollected cards

polling units. Agbaje said the one of the cards was retrieved from local council secretary, adding that his case would be referred to the police for prosecution. The INEC commissioner said dual registration attracts a penalty of 12 years imprisonment and a fine of N2 million on conviction.

at this polling unit. “INEC should please extend the collection days, so that people would not be defranchised,” Suswam said. Suswam explained that the reason why many people were unable to collect their cards was because many of the registered voters did not live in Benue. He urged voters to make effort and collect their cards, should INEC extend the days. Also speaking, the state Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), Alhaji Baba Yusuf, commended the governor for declaring two days public holiday to enable voters collect their cards. Yusuf said the issuance process had been hitch-free adding that the exercise recorded a large turnout of voters.

operation of the tricyclists, adding that it would continue until all tricycles plying roads across the state have valid documents. According to him, those arrested include 50 without

official colour of the state and 20 with fake number plates. The spokesman said “every tricycles must have the official paint of the state before it is worthy to use our roads”. Aliyu explained that the ban

placed on “Okada” operations by the state was attracting tricycle operators from other states as such it was imperative to regulate their operation. He said the tricycles must have the state’s colour of Yellow and Green, and its operators must respect road traffic rules and regulations.

teachers are currently on inservice training to further their education and enable some of them to meet the required minimum teaching qualification. He said that the government had constructed a girl child primary school in each local government to improve the girl child enrolment in the state. Shema pledged that his administration would continue to give education sector top priority because “education is a key to development and progress of humanity’’. The governor said that his administration had been paying the WAEC/NECO fees of students since he assumed office. He said that the government had provided foreign scholarships to over 700 students to study medicine and engineering related courses. Shema sympathised with parents of the abducted schoolgirls in Chibok, Borno state. The SUBEB Chairman, Alhaji Aminu Danbaba, had earlier said that the instructional materials would be distributed in each local government based on the schools’ and pupils’ population. Danbaba said that instructional materials, including some text books and school bags, would be distributed to primary school pupils and above. He said that the government had recently approved promotion and yearly salary increments of primary school teachers to boost their morale for effective service delivery. Danbaba urged the teachers to reciprocate the gesture through hard work and dedication to their duties for the development of education in the state.

Voter Cards Collection: INEC Decries Low Turn Out

need to collect their cards,’’ she said. Reacting to the development, a former Caretaker Chairman of the council, Mr. Cosmos Agbo, attributed the low turnout to the announcement that the area was affected in the cancellation of some polling units by INEC. “We heard that Nsukka was among the 621 polling units affected in the machine error or cancellation by INEC. So this discouraged a lot of people from bothering to collect their cards,’’ he said. Chief Ikeje Asogwa, the Managing Director of Enugu State Housing Development Authority, urged the registered voters to endeavour to collect their cards to enable them to participate in elections in the state. Asogwa appealed to the people to also come out en masse and register in the exercise being conducted from May 28 to June 1. He also warned them against going for another registration as it would amount to double registration and possible Naval Medical Personnel, dispensing drugs to people, during the medical rhapsody to prosecution.

NSUKKA (ENUGU STATE) - The Independent National Electoral Commission in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu State has decried the low turnout of registered voters at the just-concluded distribution of permanent voters’ cards. The INEC representative in Nsukka, Mrs. Nwaneka Nwala, told newsmen in Nsukka that majority of the registered voters had yet to collect their cards.

“From the number of cards returned to the office at the end of the three-day exercise, it shows that many people did not come to collect their cards. “I do not know what caused the apathy in spite of the efforts made by INEC to sensitise the people. Our ad hoc workers were in various polling units from 9 a.m. till 4 p.m. on those days. “My fear is that such people may go and register again leading to double registration,’’

she said. Nwala, however, urged the people who did not collect their cards during the period to go to the INEC office in the council headquarters to collect their cards. “The people should know that without collecting the permanent card, they cannot vote for the candidate of their choice in the 2015 elections. “Stakeholders in the area should put more efforts to sensitise their people on the

commemorate 58th Anniversary of Nigerian Navy in Mpape in Abuja on Monday.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

N130m Defilement Suit:

LAGOS - A Federal High Court in Lagos has fixed July 2 to hear a suit filed by one Mrs. Ngozi Ugwu claiming N130 million as damages on behalf of her niece over alleged rape. The suit, which was earlier slated for hearing on Monday, suffered another adjournment due to the absence of the judge,

Justice Rita Ofili-Ajumogobia, who is said to be away on official assignment. A new date, July 2, was therefore fixed to hear the suit. Ugwu filed the suit on April 23, 2013 seeking a declaration that the defilement of her sevenyear-old niece amounted to a breach of her right to dignity of

Lagos

Court Fixes July 2 For Hearing

human person. Joined as first to third respondents in the suit are Kazeem Mohammed, 40, Tobi Daramola, 19, and James Anieskin, 19. The fourth to sixth respondents are CSP Lucy Abimbola (Area Crime Officer, Idimu Police Command), Miss Anthonia

(Prosecutor of court 6, Ikeja Magistrates’ court) and the Commissioner of Police, Lagos State. The applicant is claiming the sum of N100 million each against the first to third respondents as aggravated and exemplary damages for violating the infant’s right to dignity of human person

and freedom as well as torture. She is also claimimg the sum of N20 million against the first respondent, five million naira against the second respondent and five million naira against the third respondent as general damages. In the originating motion, the applicant averred that the respondents were her neighbours at Greenland Estate, Lasu-Isheri Road, Alimosho, Lagos, where she also resided with her husband, her two kids and her niece (the infant). She averred that sometimes in January, 2013, she noticed blood stains on one of the infant’s under pant and on interrogation, the infant confessed that the first to third respondents had been

defying her. According to Ugwu, the infant said that while she (Ugwu) was away in Abuja during the period, the first to third respondents paid frequent visits to their home whenever they discovered that her husband had gone to work. She averred that the respondents would threaten the infant with a knife in order to have their way and would warn her never to reveal the incident to anyone. After interrogating her niece, she said that the respondents come to put their “wee-wee” in her “bum-bum” each time my husband was away and would buy her five alive juice and Gala beef roll.

LAGOS - A church worker, Samuel Aroma, who allegedly duped a female member of N160,000 under the pretext of marrying her, was charged before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos. Aroma, 35, who resides at No. 10, Trinity house, off Ligali Ayorinde St., Victoria Island, Lagos, is being tried for fraud and stealing. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences between July 2013 and November 2013 at No. 4, Adeola Odulami St., Ilupeju, Lagos. He said that the accused

allegedly obtained N160, 000 from one Miss Onyinye Nwachukwu under the pretext of marrying her. “The accused proposed marriage to the complainant, she accepted, and the accused started demanding money from her, telling her he had one problem or another. “He also collected N160, 000 from the complainant, which he said, he wanted to use to collect his international passport and other documents for their travelling, promising to pay back”. Olatunde said that after four months of constant demand for money, the complainant discovered that the accused was married. “The complainant later discovered that the accused was married and that he was only deceiving her. “All efforts made by the complainant to collect her money had proved abortive as the accused refused to pay her”. The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 285 and 312 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. Section 312 prescribes 15year jail term as penalty for offenders.

Fraud: Man, 35, Jailed

L-R: Chairman, Session on Business Law, Nigeria Bar Association, Mr. Gbenga Oyebode; Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos and former Secretary General, United Nations, Lord Mark Malloch at the 8th Annual Business Law Conference in Lagos on Monday.

Theft: 2 Men Docked

A vehicle that skipped the road at Idi-Iroko on Ikorodu Road in Lagos on Monday.

Driver Arraigned for Theft LAGOS - A driver, Taiwo Kuforiji, was brought before a Surulere Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos, for allegedly stealing a Toyota Hilux pick-up valued at N4 million, property of his employer. The accused, 34, is facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, stealing and failure to park in a safe place. He, however, pleaded innocence of the offences. The prosecutor, Cpl. Jimah Iseghede, told the court that the accused had on May 17 stolen a Toyota Hilux pick-up belonging to Welfielf Pyrodynamics Nigeria Ltd.

He alleged that the driver failed to park the vehicle at the designated and secured place to prevent it from being stolen. Iseghede said the offences contravened Sections 285, 408 and 409 of the Criminal Law of

Lagos State, 2011. The Magistrate, Mrs. Adenike Adeeyo, granted the driver bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. She adjourned the case to June 3 for mention.

LAGOS - Two unemployed men, who allegedly broke into a shop and stole lace materials valued at N400,000, were brought before an Oshodi Magistrate’s Court in Lagos. The accused, Seun Hassan, 19, and Fatal Olalekan, 24, whose addresses are unknown, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, burglary and stealing. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on May 19 at 9.00p.m., at No. 178, Anjorin St., Bolade, Oshodi. He said that the accused broke into the shop of one Mrs. Jumoke Olagunju and stole bundles of lace materials valued at N400,000. “The accused unlawfully broke into the complainant’s shop and stole her lace materials. “The complainant’s saleswoman called her the following morning when she discovered that the shop had been burgled.” Olatunde said that the accused were apprehended in Mile 2 where they went to sell the clothes. “The accused were arrested after selling the clothes,’’ the prosecutor said. The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 285, 308 and 410 of the Criminal Law of

Lagos State, 2011. Section 285 prescribes a threeyear jail term as penalty for anyone found liable of stealing. The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences. The Magistrate, Mr. Akeem Fashola, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with one surety each in like sum. Fashola, adjourned the case to June 19 for mention.

3 Remanded For Murder LAGOS - An Ebute Meta Chief Magistrates’ Court sitting in Lagos has ordered the remand of two men and a woman at the Ikoyi Prisons over alleged murder. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. O.A. Ogunkanmi, who gave the order, said the accused persons should be in prison, pending an advice from the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions. Earlier, the Prosecutor, Insp. Asu Feddy, said the accused persons, Funke Awolere, 45; Omotayo Oyekunle, 31, and Christopher Nwosu, 33, are

Man Docked For Assaulting Wife LAGOS - An office attendant, Ejiro William, 32, has appeared before a Chief Magistrates’ Court in Surulere, Lagos, for allegedly assaulting his wife with a plank. William is charged with assault. The prosecutor, Cpl. Gbenga

Salami, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 25 at 3:30 a.m. at No. 50, Western Avenue, Surulere, Lagos. He said that Williams beat his wife, Blessing, with a plank, causing her bodily injuries.

The prosecutor said that at present, Blessing was at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), receiving treatment. Salami said that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 171 of the Criminal Law

of Lagos State, 2011. The Magistrate, Mrs. Fumilola Lawal, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum. She adjourned the case until July 21, for mention.

facing a two-count charge of conspiracy and murder. Feddy told the court that the accused persons committed the offence on April 10 at about 5.00 p.m. at No.3 Fasenge St., Mile 12, Lagos. He said that a tenant in the house raised an alarm when the deceased, who had lived in Guinea Bissau for over 24 years returned to his father’s house and threatened the tenants with eviction order. The accused persons “pounced on him lynching him and threw his body on the road and he was crushed by a moving car. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 221 and 231 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. He said the section prescribes death penalty for any person convicted of the offence. The plea of the accused persons was not taken. The magistrate adjourned the case until June 25 for mention.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (27/05/14) Stocks

Open

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MOBIL

129

30,222

7UP

85.8

30,624

2,691,005.90

MRS

51.49

11,063

3,837,695.44 541,201.96

ABCTRANS

0.82

0.83

0.01

545,073

451,560.86

MULTITREX

0.5

500,000

250,000.00

ACADEMY

1.71

32.6

MULTIVERSE

0.5

100

ACCESS

9.33

9.7

0.37

12,676,509

118,727,491.10

NAHCO

4.97

-0.03

3,084,251

15,869,916.38

AFRIPRUD

3.09

3.24

0.15

3,780,965

12,035,666.54

NASCON

12.41

12.5

0.09

652,115

8,165,347.46

AGLEVENT

1.45

1.38

-0.07

121,649

167,875.62

176

173.03

-2.97

1,862,390

324,944,670.60

AIICO

0.81

0.82

0.01

3,304,186

2,677,310.66

NEIMETH

1.02

0.98

-0.04

802,524

805,281.66

AIRSERVICE

2.15

2.05

-0.1

331,500

696,935.00

NEM

0.77

0.79

0.02

5,185,454

4,116,051.48

552.2

100

52,459.00

ARBICO

5.3

570

2,872.80

NESF

ASHAKACEM

19.81

20.4

0.59

701,103

14,237,342.15

NESTLE

1069.99

1070

0.01

75,043

79,858,020.70

AVONCROWN

1.61

250

422.5

NEWGOLD

2033

2020

-13

16,160.00

BECOPETRO

0.5

101,252

50,626.00

NIG-GERMAN

7.36

2,136

14,952.00

BERGER

80,327

803,658.00

NIGERINS

0.5

100

BETAGLAS

16.22

322,174

5,139,241.82

NIWICABLE

0.5

2,800

1,400.00

BOCGAS

6.37

6,050

36,663.00

NSE30

1815.83

1827.86

12.03

148,638,948

3,599,628,754.00

CADBURY

75.31

228,271

17,380,681.47

NSE50

1963.21

1974.82

11.61

199,106,094

3,805,381,725.00

CAP

37.51

265,408

9,801,307.03

NSEASI

39755.46

40061.35

305.89

292,137,514

3,982,257,662.00

CAVERTON

6.03

5.73

-0.3

493,890

2,837,028.50

NSEBNK

411.47

415.93

4.46

93,605,698

1,410,827,268.00

16,302,018.73

NSECNSMRGDS

1023.93

1015.2

-8.73

7,147,480

516,542,126.20

CCNN

9.99

9.7

-0.29

1,665,150

CHAMS

0.5

8,458

4,229.00

NSEINDUSTR

2497.65

2548.17

50.52

4,131,647

91,975,027.74

CILEASING

0.5

30,000

15,000.00

NSEINS

143.16

142.37

-0.79

17,155,930

14,900,232.41

CONOIL

46.74

86,055

4,003,816.65

NSELOTUSISLM

2703.45

2725.5

22.05

8,765,262

296,220,088.00

CONTINSURE

1.08

1.09

0.01

150,000

163,200.40

NSEOILGAS

367.68

368

0.32

14,899,219

284,187,013.30

CORNERST

0.5

1,195,898

599,407.98

OANDO

18.05

-0.95

8,777,415

159,359,192.90

COSTAIN

1.24

1.21

-0.03

696,378

864,247.42

OASISINS

0.53

0.54

0.01

445,124

239,938.24

COURTVILLE

0.59

0.57

-0.02

1,824,138

1,057,435.92

OKOMUOIL

32.3

123,572

4,023,299.24

CUSTODYINS

2.94

3.08

0.14

30,561,792

93,612,877.26

OMATEK

0.5

13,100

6,550.00

CUTIX

1.9

115,270

218,277.70

PAINTCOM

1.5

1.45

-0.05

450,000

652,500.00

1.57

1,000

1,500.00 1,005,000.00

CWG

5.48

260.5

PHARMDEKO

DANGCEM

222.99

227.9

4.91

58,779

13,300,344.70

PORTPAINT

201,000

DANGFLOUR

303,205

2,405,722.50

PRESCO

36.5

-0.5

442,458

15,940,232.00

DANGSUGAR

9.72

9.5

-0.22

1,380,305

13,335,088.17

PRESTIGE

0.55

28,634

15,657.68

DIAMONDBNK

6.59

6.48

-0.11

2,334,461

15,019,378.43

34.83

195,990

6,796,320.90

DNMEYER

1.06

31,900

34,213.90

REDSTAREX

4.65

22,510

105,574.00

DUNLOP

0.5

104,045

52,022.50

RESORTSAL

0.5

200,100

100,050.00

ETERNA

3.1

3.25

0.15

5,453,961

16,984,087.58

ROYALEX

0.55

0.53

-0.02

100,000

53,000.00

ETI

15.25

15.7

0.45

8,359,794

130,250,878.30

RTBRISCOE

1.14

1.09

-0.05

105,057

114,764.98

EVANSMED

2.7

2.57

-0.13

61,300

157,541.00

SEPLAT

636

634

-2

38,885

24,664,345.54

3.4

3.44

0.04

7,412,788

25,047,489.28

FBNH

14.15

0.15

9,989,359

140,831,180.10

SKYEBANK

FCMB

3.9

3.97

0.07

3,512,878

13,800,422.39

STANBIC

22.41

22.8

0.39

334,564

7,518,144.85

FIDELITYBK

2.1

2.05

-0.05

8,300,684

17,039,198.59

STDINSURE

0.5

1,000

500

FIDSON

2.67

2.8

0.13

3,338,400

9,268,653.00

STERLNBANK

2.25

2.28

0.03

3,790,141

8,610,322.40

FLOURMILL

306,161

22,922,798.74

TOTAL

157.01

159.99

2.98

168,809

26,614,266.65

192.79

194

1.21

371,694

72,846,752.12

TRANSCORP

3.93

3.74

-0.19

10,760,819

40,359,693.41

FORTISMFB

6.27

5.96

-0.31

3,415,000

20,353,400.00

UAC-PROP

17.8

17.75

-0.05

343,645

6,020,559.75

FTNCOCOA

0.5

19,607

9,803.50

UACN

60.8

2.2

17,977,409

1,137,556,565.00

GLAXOSMITH

68.1

1.1

559,469

38,066,323.98

UBA

7.4

7.22

-0.18

8,448,715

60,871,140.00

GNI

0.5

10,000

5,000.00

UBCAP

2.42

2.45

0.03

11,197,636

26,950,083.53

GUARANTY

27.8

6,450,868

179,119,476.30

UBN

10.25

10.4

0.15

604,776

6,297,927.90

GUINEAINS

0.5

100

UNIC

0.5

38,459,833

19,229,916.50

GUINNESS

179

83,592

14,958,038.24

UNILEVER

49.53

48.19

-1.34

264,249

12,720,927.32

HMARKINS

0.5

2,400

1,200.00

UNITYBNK

0.5

69,000

34,500.00

HONYFLOUR

3.86

3.8

-0.06

1,492,649

5,633,668.52

UNITYKAP

0.5

2,100

1,050.00

IKEJAHOTEL

0.9

0.89

-0.01

1,294,160

1,166,636.40

UPL

4.04

8,820

36,496.80

INTBREW

25.75

0.25

164,936

4,289,847.67

UTC

0.55

0.53

-0.02

432,240

235,927.20

INTENEGINS

0.5

185,607

92,803.50

VETGRIF30

18.32

18.44

0.12

184.4

INTERLINK

4.9

186.4

VITAFOAM

4.12

0.12

107,950

439,988.00

IPWA

0.52

17,181

8,720.50

WAPCO

110.06

112.5

2.44

272,436

30,515,337.61

0.8

0.79

-0.01

6,209,950

4,856,095.01

JAPAULOIL

0.5

2,939,977

1,469,988.50

WAPIC

JBERGER

75.49

176,968

13,242,668.33

WEMABANK

0.98

2,488,286

2,415,799.36

JOHNHOLT

1.21

1.15

-0.06

59,972

68,967.80

ZENITHBANK

23.11

23.36

0.25

36,528,817

856,038,489.10

JOSBREW

3.08

4,100

12,013.00

LAWUNION

0.5

1,428

714

LEARNAFRCA LENNARDS

1.67 3.31

0 0

23,553 20

41,182.22 69.4

LINKASSURE

0.5

89,300

44,650.00

LIVESTOCK

3.14

3.15

0.01

1,212,784

3,802,685.92

MANSARD

2.4

2.33

-0.07

1,050,708

2,456,959.20

MAYBAKER

1.75

1.72

-0.03

388,433

665,791.56

MBENEFIT

0.5

27,600

13,800.00

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NSEASI NSEINDUSTR NSELOTUSISLM NSE30 NSE50 DANGCEM NSEBNK TOTAL WAPCO UACN

Close 40061.35 2548.17 2725.5 1827.86 1974.82 227.9 415.93 159.99 112.5 63

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain 305.89 50.52 22.05 12.03 11.61 4.91 4.46 2.98 2.44 2.2

Stock NEWGOLD NSECNSMRGDS NB SEPLAT UNILEVER OANDO NSEINS PRESCO FORTISMFB CAVERTON

Close 2020 1015.2 173.03 634 48.19 18.05 142.37 36 5.96 5.73

Loss -13 -8.73 -2.97 -2 -1.34 -0.95 -0.79 -0.5 -0.31 -0.3

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

THE Federal Government says 86 persons out of 1, 623 reportedly infected by the cholera outbreak in some parts of the country have died. As its response, the Federal Government directed the Nigeria Centre for disease Control to immediately coordinate all its response activities and report to the ministry of health daily on both the patterns of occurrence. The Federal Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, in a statement by his Special Assistant (Media and Communications), Mr. Dan Nwomeh, directed all federal health facilities in the country to provide free services to cholera patients. AS at the last checks, the cholera outbreak has affected a number of states including Ogun, Oyo, Plateau, Zamfara, Nasarawa and Lagos with fears of possible spread to other parts of the country. There is also gastroenteritis outbreak in Sokoto and Katsina states which have not been confirmed to be cholera. WE are alarmed at the sudden outbreak of cholera in the country and the fast rate of its spread. The death toll is also disturbing because it show the parlous state of our attention to basic hygienic practices in the country. IT is shameful that while other countries in sub-Saharan Africa are making progress in meeting the Millennium Development Goal on Sanitation, Nigeria is off track. Also shameful is the fact that Nigeria is off track in meeting the Millennium Development Goal for Water. Cholera, as we all know from basic science or hygiene is a water-borne disease. It is sad that in spite of billions of dollars earned from crude oil since its discovery in commercial quantity in 1958, access to potable water is still a mirage to many citizens as 42 per cent of Nigerians still take water from unwholesome sources. WE also decry a situation where the Federal

THE NIGERIAN

Curbing The Spread Of Cholera Government still saddle itself with provision of water to Nigerians, a responsibility it ought to have devolved over the years to the States and Local Governments, which are the tiers of government closest to ordinary citizens. ALSO, owing to the failure of government to provide potable water to its citizens, many resort to self help with poor regulation of the sector by government whose responsibility it is to regulate the sector. Many boreholes are located near sewage and pits while a good number are located near graves in residential premises. Some citizens as a result are practically drinking their faeces. These situations predispose citizens to waterborne diseases such as the cholera epidemics that is ravaging parts of the country. IN some parts of South-West of Nigeria, human faeces and wastes are exposed close to sources of drinking water in such a way that the outbreak of cholera is as good as a time bomb waiting to explode. WE therefore call on governments at all levels to rise up to their responsibility of providing safe drinking water to Nigerians and take steps to regulate the sector in such as way that private persons involved in water provision for self-use comply with international best practices. WE urge governments of affected states to take a cue from the federal government by ordering free medical services to all cholera patients in secondary and primary health

institutions across the country. AS the nation is currently undergoing the process of amending the 1999 constitution, or producing a brand new constitution as being demanded by Nigerians from the national dialogue advisory committee, we urge the law makers and conference participants to make access to water and sanitation a right for all Nigerians. It should be expressly stated in the constitution. This is, more so, when a number of International instruments and convention exists governing the right to water and sanitation. However, governments of all countries need to domesticate these instruments for the rights of citizens to be assured. ON 30 September 2010, the UN Human Rights Council affirmed for the first time that the human right to water and sanitation is legally binding. Nigerian authorities need to guarantee this right for all citizens. The right to water and sanitation is derived from the right to adequate standard of living, which is recognised in several international treaties. These include the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights (ICESCR) to which 160 States are party, and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, which has reached nearly universal ratification. IT is instructive to note that the Councilâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s resolution helps those denied the right to water and sanitation to hold governments to account. It is for these reasons we call on Civil society and those at risk to actively claim this right from duty bearers. The Society for Water and Sanitation, NEWSAN, Nigeriaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s umbrella body for Civil Society Organisations working in the Water, Sanitation, and Hygiene (WASH) sector to rise up to the occasion by holding government to account and ensuring that Nigeria moves speedily in guaranteeing the rights of all citizens to WASH.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Environment “SPDC one of the dominant operators in Bayelsa, blamed vandals for incessant spills, adding that more than 80 per cent of spill incidents within its operations were traceable to sabotage by third parties.” the few reported cases of spills caused by equipment failure were remotely linked to sabotage as such spots were often compromised previously by vandals. According to him, the oil firm is committed to prompt clean up and remediation of spill impacted sites within its operations irrespective of the cause of the spill. “The perpetrators’ personal gains are the driving force of the illegal activities; a total of 21 spills have been recorded

Containing Oil Spills In Bayelsa

THE negative impact of oil with Nigerian oil producing oil in commercial quantities spills on the environment is well known, and has been with communities since the commencement of exploitation of oil in commercial quantities Oloibiri, Bayelsa. Bayelsa, which hosts the first oil well drilled by shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) from 1956, also hosts the operations of Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC), Chevron Nigeria Limited, in both onshore and offshore locations. Stakeholders agree that oil spills are integral part of oil exploration and production, and that it is imperative to keep the spills within acceptable limits. Mr. Peter Idabor, Director General, National Oil spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), said during a recent visit to oil spill sites in Bayelsa, that the state had the highest frequency of oil spills in the Niger Delta. According to Idabor, Bayelsa records an average of 40 oil spill incidents every month.

By NATHAN NWAKAMMA Governor Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa, who decried the high incidents of oil spills in the state, called for stiffer laws to protect the environment. Dickson, who spoke during a visit by officials of NOSDRA, said that the adverse health implications arising from environmental pollution required scientific studies to quantify the magnitude of the problems facing the people. “When you look at all of these and particularly spill statistics, which I believe is only a tip of the iceberg; one is really left with no other conclusion than to say that we are actually facing a case of environmental terrorism. “What has been going on in the Niger Delta since the discovery of oil is a situation where more than one spill takes place in Bayelsa every day going by what NOSDRA’s statistics is telling us, and all these sites are treated with reckless abandon. “The environment is left to fend for itself; the livelihood and in fact the lives of the

people and the ecosystem are not attended to. What then is more of terrorist action than this?” However, Mr. James Ekio, an oil services expert, faulted the scenario created by the governor, noting that heaping the blames on the doorsteps of the oil companies was unfair. “The three tiers of government are the greatest beneficiaries of oil revenues; remember the government holds majority stake of 60 per cent, while the oil companies own 40 per cent or less. The oil producing states get a derivation fund of 13 per cent of the volume of oil produced from its territory.

“What stops them from using part of the proceeds from oil to remediate and protect the areas, rather than use oil funds to develop the oil communities, they channel such funds into fancy projects restricted to the state capitals to the detriment of the oil bearing areas,” he said. SPDC one of the dominant operators in Bayelsa, blamed vandals for incessant spills, adding that more than 80 per cent of spill incidents within its operations were traceable to sabotage by third parties. Mr. Joseph Obari, SPOC’s spokesman says that the Okordia-Ikarama area in Bayelsa is a hotbed of pipeline sabotage activities. Obari regretted that even

in the area between 2009 and now. “Of the number, 17 were due to deliberate cutting of SPDC pipelines and manifold. The four spills caused by equipment failure occurred at previously clamped sabotage points, already weakened by repeated cuts. “SPDC Oil Spill Response and Remediation team is currently cleaning up the site of a spill that occurred in January 2014, and remediation of the 2013 spill sites that could not be remediate because of last year’s flood in the area,” Obari stated. Ikarama, an oil rich community in Yenagoa Local Government Area also hosts oil fields operated by NAOC. Chief Daniel Francos, Paramount Ruler of

Ikarama, regretted that efforts to combat the frequent spills in the community were yielding limited results as the oil firms worked at cross purposes The incessant spills from Agip’s oil fields in Bayelsa compelled the House of Representatives to order a probe into the operations of the company. The House of Representatives committee on Environment, headed by Mrs. Uche Ekwuni fe is expected to commence investigations soon. Mr. Alagoa Morris, an environmentalist, said the committee should hold an all inclusive investigation involving the government, oil firms, environmentalists, oil communities and media in order to find an enduring solution to frequent spills in Bayelsa. While oil communities see spills as damage to the environment and an opportunity to agitate for compensation, applicable legislation absolves operators from paying compensation when the cause is sabotage or third party interference. Stakeholders want the government to upscale enlightenment campaigns on the dangers of pipeline vandalism and other acts capable of causing oil spills. (NAN)

“What has been going on in the Niger Delta since the discovery of oil is a situation where more than one spill takes place in Bayelsa every day going by what NOSDRA’s statistics is telling us, and all these sites are treated with reckless abandon.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Opinion

Role Of NOA In Nation Building and platforms for youth development. Duke, nonetheless, called on the youth to have due regard for national symbols, saying that as future leaders, they should also learn how to live exemplary life. He said that NOA was working with the National

enumerated in the 1999 Constitution, are expressed in our national symbols. “This should further find practical expression in the manifestation of those values by Nigerians through the inspiration they draw from our national symbols,’’ he said. Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Alex

“National symbols are cautiously chosen to serve some good purposes in an individual, in particular, and in the society, in general. “For instance, in the national anthem and the pledge; the words — ‘One nation bound in freedom, peace and unity’ and ‘To defend her unity and uphold her honour and glory’ — are carefully selected to strike the conscience of Nigerians,’’ he said.

Assembly to make a law that would make the abuse of national symbols an offence. “NOA is seeking the amendment of the Ordinance Act to ensure that anyone caught defacing the national symbols or handling them without respect is punished. “The positive values depicted by the national symbols could evoke certain attitudes and emotions toward the nation. “We believe that our national core values, as

Ekwueme, a former VicePresident, observed that the growing disrespect for national symbols was part of the decline in national values. Ekwueme, who made the observation at the Patriots Assembly organised to commemorate the National Symbols Day in Abuja recently, noted that national symbols were carefully chosen to promote unity and peaceful coexistence among Nigerians.

To educate the public on these values, observers insist that NOA, in line with its mandate, should enlighten Nigerians on government policies, while mobilising public support for the policies. They call on all Nigerians to imbibe the culture of celebrating the country’s uniqueness, identity and accomplishments to demonstrate the national desire for a truly developed and united nation.

By FEMI OGUNSHOLA

IN recent times, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) has engaged in a series of sensitisation programmes for the purpose of promoting acceptable ethos and more in the Nigerian society. With the slogan “Do the Right Thing’’, NOA has organised some public sensitisation workshops with themes such as “Keep to time’’; “Avoid Dirt, be Clean’’; “Exam ethics’’; “Clean and Healthy Lifestyle’’ and “Wash Nigeria’’, among others. Observers note that the public sensitisation campaign is part of measures aimed at changing the attitude of most Nigerians. They concede that pragmatic approaches are required from all stakeholders to check moral decadence and sustain positive values in the society. Mr James Ekweremadu, an Abuja-based businessman, said that moral decadence, violence, mistrust and other social vices were becoming rampant in the Nigerian society. He underscored the need to initiate structured campaigns to promote sound mores and ethos in the country. Dr Florence Akin-Aina, the Executive Director, T.Y Danjuma Foundation, said that that most of the security challenges and crises facing the country stemmed from wrong fundamental orientation of the citizens. Akin-Aina, who spoke in one of the sensitisation workshops organised by NOA in Abuja, stressed that the agency deserved the support of everyone to enable it to succeed in its mandate to re-orientate Nigerians. In the same vein, Prof. Bem Angwe, the Executive Secretary, National Human Rights Commission, urged the public to support NOA in efforts to educate Nigerians on their rights and how to enforce them.

Angwe pledged that the commission would collaborate with NOA in the campaign towards repositioning the psyche of Nigerians as regards human rights. He said that the commission was statutorily empowered to review legislation and administrative policies of government and its agencies, while recommending appropriate amendments where necessary. The Director-General of NOA, Mr Mike Omeri, urged the citizens to promote peace, justice and sustainability of moral values by responding to the public sensitisation programmes. He described people who were calling for Nigeria’s disintegration through violence and pandemonium as enemies of the nation. Omeri, however, vouched for the determination of the country’s security agencies to ensure that such antisocial people were apprehended and bring to justice. “Nigerians must contribute their own quota to entrenching world peace; this can be done by denouncing all those who seek to divide us along ethnic, religious, political and other lines. “Such people do not mean well for this nation; we must shun them and their evil predictions of bloodshed. “Good citizens of Nigeria should report suspicious persons and activities immediately they are spotted because they do not have another country,’’ he said. Omeri said that if the citizens adopted the attitude of doing the right thing at the right time, President Goodluck Jonathan’s Transformation Agenda for the country’s development would be quite successful. Also speaking at the workshop, Chief Edem Duke, the Minister of Culture, Tourism and

National Orientation, emphasised the need reorientate the youth for effective attitudinal transformation. He noted that the attitudinal deficiencies in the youth had somewhat denied them access to most of the youth empowerment

Mike Omeri, NOA D-G

initiatives introduced by the government. He urged the youth to show more interest in issues relating to national development, insisting that the youth could never benefit from government investments in human capital development without appropriate value orientation. According to the minister, the Federal Government is creating more youth empowerment programmes

“Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Alex Ekwueme, a former Vice-President, observed that the growing disrespect for national symbols was part of the decline in national values.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

View Point

Problems Confronting Nigerian Entrepreneur

ENTREPRENEURSHIP is likened to a call to individual uprightness and one’s creative ability to survive as a Nigerian. The capacity of the Nigerian government to provide Jobs to her large population is consistently becoming a major challenge and if nothing is done about it, there will be no place and future for our children and generations yet unborn. Many have ventured into this world, only to come out more hopeless than they initially began. This is not to say that the idea of entrepreneurship is not an effective one but the environment the Nigerian entrepreneur operates in is a harsh and unfriendly one. A lot of graduates have come out expecting a future they could gain access to through their certificates and achievement but it is so sad to say that in a world that is moving so fast and in a country that surviving depends on how good a hustler you are, you need more than just academic achievements and certificates. Entrepreneurship is supposed to be the way forward, it’s supposed to be the light in very dark paths, but its such a shame to say that people now often recline on fast way to success like arm robbery, shoplifting, kidnapping, duping and other illegal and mischievous means of surviving than succumb to the problem confronting the Nigerian entrepreneurs. The problem facing young entrepreneur today bring them to the point of asking why they even started in the first place, while those who cannot bear it close up and join the fast road. Nigerian youths are full of amazing and world changing ideas but can not afford the capital needed to bring their dreams to reality.

By UDONSI AMARACHI K. The little few who have been able to start are helped by their wealthy parents. Others who have summoned courage to start with the little they have, fold up within 5-7 years because they do not have anything to fall back on when something goes wrong in the business. This is one of the major reasons why there are no companies in Nigeria. It is amazing and so shameful to say that in a producing country like Nigeria, things like the basic essentials of life, light, water, good roads, effective transportation, availability of lands etc are still so hard to come by. Take for instance the issue of electricity; one of the major problems young entrepreneurs are facing in this country today is the non availability of a constant supply of light which has caused increase in production cost. Every business; be it a school, church, block, industry, phone repairer, hardware shop, bakery, fast foods, restaurants even little businesses common as a movie rental shop need electricity to survive. Lack of electricity has been one of the major reasons some establishments cannot survive and eventually fold up. How is that? You would ask. Take for instance, one has a fishery and is into the production of catfish. One of the major conditions that increase the survival rate of this fish is clean water. Now if there is no light, water cannot be pumped into the fish ponds and the fish refuse to eat and therefore are exposed to the risk of falling ill. On the other hand, a fish

farmer now has to buy fuel every day to enable him pump water into the ponds. Gradually even the little profit he makes from the sale of fish is put into buying fuel to pump water into the pond. If he makes a profit of N150, 000 every four months and spends N1,500 buying fuel every day, in a week, he will

problem confronting Nigerian entrepreneurs. There was a time when the government tried to give out loans to companies but there were a lot of cases of embezzlement and finally the programme was closed up. Capital is the one thing that brings to life any and every business ideal and without capital, business ideas die and there will be

business. Considering the past events where the government was tried to help, I believe it will be a way to steam-line their distribution to avoid cases of embezzlement. Pro- rata basis, the method by which the highest business earns a minimal assistance can also be taken into consideration. This way the problem of capital will be on an effective solution patch. Land is the bedrock of every business in this

Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment

buy N 10,500 worth of fuel and in one year he would have bought N504, 000 worth of fuel which is even greater than his profit in a year and this can cause him to run at a greater loss that will eventually lead to a fold up in the business, It then makes one begin to reason as why an oil producing country like Nigeria should be selling fuel N97 per liter. Capital is another interesting case in the

an increase in the decline rate of companies. The Nigerian government should consider the feasibility of assisting young entrepreneurs who have succeeded in establishing business and small companies and who have registered under the CAC (cooperate affairs commission) knowing that it is vague to say the government should give every youth capital for

“Also the government should provide a reserved area for young entrepreneur where they would buy land at a much cheaper rate just as they did for civil servants in those days. One of the major problems that often lead to increament in the price of fuel is the fact that we import what we already have.”

country and any country of the world. If youths of today cannot afford land due to the little capital they have, then how can they even begin? The purchase rate of land in the country is so high that some people just prefer to die in poverty because they do not know where the money will come from. Transportation is another key face in the events that leads to frustration in the life of a young entrepreneur. One who has a poultry for instance but doesn’t own a car will have to go and purchase feed, antibiotics and other necessary things for the farm, this transportation of goods and services is not made easy due to bad roads and unavailability of cheaper means of transportation. The normal taxi drivers who base

their rates on increase in fuel price, will forever increase the rates because fuel price fluctuates. This young poultry farmer who has spent half of the day on the road will still have to pay dearly for these goods and service purchased and cannot enjoy the profit made from the sales of the birds. Another scene is a great restaurant that people come from various places to eat in due to the problems of unavailability of good roads, and great traffic and also increase in transportation rates lose customers because these factors make the location far and people prefer to eat other things than suffer just to eat from a great restaurant. This is not to say the government has not been helpful. Actually they have been more than helpful. The NYSC accommodates every Nigerian graduate into its scheme and the federal government pays them salary for that period of time and in some cases too, the state government this implies that youth who are focused, dedicated and who wants to be able to save majority of the money they acquire during the NYSC year to establish a business they can manage. Also the government should provide a reserved area for young entrepreneur where they would buy land at a much cheaper rate just as they did for civil servants in those days. One of the major problems that often lead to increament in the price of fuel is the fact that we import what we already have. If we use our raw materials wisely as we should and invest in the wealth of our soils we would not be suffering. Also since the use of fuel increases the cost of production in every type of business stable electricity should be made available to all and sundry to prevent loss of business gained profit. In summary, the government has done so much and can do more in helping to facilitate the problems confronting young entrepreneurs. I would say that there is no fast road to success, we must all strive to be successful in life.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Perspective THE Code of ethics for Nigerian journalists approved by Nigerian Press Organisation states “journalism entails a high degree of public trust. According to the code, to earn and maintain this trust, it is morally imperative for every journalist and every news medium to observe the highest professional and ethical standards. In the exercise of these duties, a journalist should always have regard for the public interest”. Truth, according to the Code is the cornerstone of journalism and every journalist should strive diligently to ascertain the truth of every event. Article 2 of the Code (Accuracy and fairness) states “the public has a right to know. Factual, accurate, balance and fair reporting is the ultimate objective of good journalism and the basis of earning public trust and confidence”. In journalism, facts are sacred while opinions are free, inclusion of opinion in news stories could be one of the reasons for denial of media reports. A single word can change the true picture of a story. t is believed that when in doubt leave out. This is a good principle of news reporting. This means that it is expected of every journalist to ascertain the truthfulness and authenticity of a story before publishing. Reporting both sides of a story brings in objectivity in news reporting. The real core of journalism is objectivity. Objectivity has been defined by the school of media ethics as standing so far from the community that you see all events all views points as equally distant and important or unimportant. It is achieved by giving equal weight to all opinion or views. It is the state of not being influenced by personal bias, prejudice, feelings and opinions.

The result of this is a presentation of facts in a true non- partisan manner, and then you stand back to let your readers decide which view is true. In doing this, objectivity could be defined as not by the way we go about gathering and interpreting the news, but the way it is actually presented in the paper. Objective news reporting is that which is devoid of interferences, judgement and slanting. Thus, it is the cardinal rule in journalism and one of the highly desired goals of journalism. It is the role of a journalist to learn to uncover

facts and know what is relevant and useful before it is printed. Objectivity in collating and presenting of news is the goal of the reporter, and a major principle of journalism. However, evidence abounds that the major challenge to Nigerian journalists in their duty of news gathering and

Reports And Denials In The Media: dissemination is objectivity. Severally, government officials and members of public have called on media professionals to give necessary attention to objectivity. They often remind the media organisations about the relevance of the objective reporting. Aside this, most stories published by some newspapers have been refuted by either the source or other persons. In most

newspapers contents to analyse the frequency at which the media is being challenged about objectivity. Leadership weekend, Saturday, February 9, 2013, page 8, published a story titled “Etsu Nupe, Gana Task Journalists on objectivity”. According to the report, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, the Etsu Nupe, at the 10’ Anniversary of the power Frequency Modulation Radio Station in Bida, Niger

cases, members of the public who feel the newspapers’ reports about them have been unfair have threatened such media houses with litigation while some had complained to the Nigerian Press Council. It is in view of these instances of calls and refutals that informed the idea of reviewing the various

State, charged Nigerian journalists to be objective and offer constructive criticisms in the course of their duties. He also said that the media had a very important role in the Socio — economic development of the country considering its noble role as the watchdog of the society. He maintained that the media should partner

“However, evidence abounds that the major challenge to Nigerian journalists in their duty of news gathering and dissemination is objectivity. Severally, government officials and members of public have called on media professionals to give necessary attention to objectivity.”

By STELLA ANUMODU

with government at all levels in order to make leaders serve the society better. In the report, Alhaji Abubakar added that it was not good to always misrepresent facts to achieve personal gains and undermine objectivity. The Etsu Nupe in this report also stressed that journalists should realise that the common man relies on the media for facts about happenings around them. Peoples Daily, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, page 339, had a story tilled “Fashola Tasks media on objectivity”. The paper reported that Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State, on Monday, March 4, 2013, while receiving in his office, the new management team of African Newspapers Limited, the publishers of Nigerian Tribune, urged media practitioners to always make objectivity and patriotism the thrust of their practice and operations. According to Governor Fashola, what the media constantly portray could make or mar the society. He urged practitioners to exercise restraints and cross— check their facts before publishing their reports. Peoples Daily, Wednesday, February 20, 2013 Page 6 reported a story titled “Shettima tasks journalists on professionalism”. According to the report, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno State on Tuesday, February 19, 2013, while commissioning the Maiduguri Broadcast Centre of African Independent Television (AlT) charged journalists to respect the ethics of their profession through verification of their facts before publication so as to avoid scuttling the gradual peace that was being restored to the state and the country at large. Nigerian Tribune, Friday, September 14, 2012, published a story titled “Be patriotic, Mark charges media professionals”. It reported that the Senate President, David Mark, while declaring open the

eighth All Editors Conference, in Uyo, Akwa Ibom state, charged the media to consider patriotism, objectivity and fairness in reporting issues of national security in the country. Nigerian Pilot, Friday, February 1, 2013, page 6 had a story titled “Senator Dariye tasks journalists on objectivity”. In the report, Senator Joshua Dariye, former Governor of Plateau State, after the Kano state stakeholders meeting with the Minister of Works, Arc Mike Onolememen at the Ministry of works headquarters, Abuja, called on journalists across the country to be objective in their reportage. Leadership, Wednesday, April 17, 2013, page 49, published a story titled “IBB charges journalists on objectivity”. The paper reported that General Ibrahim Babangida, the former head of state at a public presentation of National Issue, a Mina based news magazine, on Tuesday, April 16, 2013 said that the credibility of any newspaper organisation depended on its objectivity to differentiate truth from fiction in its reportage. According to the report, IBB said that he had observed that the problem with the media was that they sometime over stretch the truth to a breaking point, thereby promoting gossip, tale bearing and rumour mongering. He, therefore, called on media practitioners to tread cautiously with conviction and rare courage to inform and educate the people objectively. Nigerian Pilot, Thursday, March 21, 2013, pg 10, reported a story titled “Cleric tasks journalists on objectivity”. According to the report, Right Reverend Gabriel Adebiyi, the Bishop of Akoko Anglican Diocese, while speaking to newsmen at a public function in Ikare Akoko, Ondo State, charged journalists in the country to be objective in their reporting as a way of

main He strive witho benef Acco upper as tho but a devel Peo 2013 “Min repor Mini organ Asso Staff advis ensur were avoid amon Peo 2013 “Law ethics that S PDP June voice zone to uph in th decr unpr impe Nig 2013 “Tar journ state Umar meeti of Jo Niger susta set fo hard The 2013 “Med befo Akin Prac (APC prac comm cautio and a statem not to seeke aliase Acc back cred orga Resp calle Akin

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Perspective

A Call For Objectivity

ntaining professionalism. called on journalists to always e to report true versions of stories out companies not thinking of the fits accrued to their media houses. ording to him, truth should be rmost in the minds of newsmen ose would not only unite the nation also bring about the much needed lopment. oples Daily, Tuesday, April 23, 3, pg 5, reported a story titled nister tasks media on balanced rtage”. Senator ldris Umaru, the ister of Transport, at a retreat nised by the Maritime Reporters’ ciation of Nigeria held at Customs f College, Gwagwalada, FCT, sed media professionals to always re that balance and objectivity e their watchwords and should d reports that could cause disunity ng Nigerians. oples Daily, Tuesday, June 11, , pg 37, reported a story titled wmaker urges journalists to uphold s of profession”. The report stated Senator Magnus Abe representing Rivers South- East on Monday, 10, 2013, while presenting some e recorders to journalists from the in Port Harcourt, urged journalists hold the ethics of their profession he discharge of their duties. He ied the recent incidents of rofessional conducts by rsonators. gerian Pilot, Thursday, May 30, , pg 49, published a story titled aba Governor challenges nalists on standards”. The Taraba acting governor, Alhaji Garba r, during the opening of delegates ing and retreat for Nigeria Union ournalists, zone E, called on rian journalists to strive towards ining the high standards they have or themselves through years of work. e Guardian, Monday, April 29, , pg 82, reported a story titled dia urged to verify information re publication”. Mr. Lolu nwunmi, Chairman Advertising titioners Council of Nigeria CON) and some senior titioners in the marketing munication Industry have oned media practitioners to verify authenticate the sources of press ments before publishing in order o give credibility to ghost attention ers who hide behind inexistent es to attract public attention. cording to the report, it was on the kdrop of a recent publication ited to a non governmental nisation, “Network for onsible Communication” which ed for the resignation of nwunmi from the board of

APCON, following a dispute his firm Prima Garnet, had with an Indian telecom company, Airtel and a kenyan advertising agency, Scanad, owned by another Indian. The practitioners wondered how an organisation that does not exist could ever claim to be working towards responsible communication. Aside the challenge of objectivity, many stories or reports published by newspapers have been denied by the sources. These denials have raised the

against the organisation. He said that they raided the market to stop those smuggling foreign rice into Nigeria. He said that they were seizing the smuggled rice in line with the federal government directives. Peoples Daily, Tuesday, March 12, 2013, pg 6 published a story titled “Senate did not query NSCDC over scam, says Ministry”. It reported that the Ministry of Interior on Monday, March 11, 2013, denied that the Senate ever

Civil Defence boss over recruitment scam” said that no agency under the ministry was queried, adding that, the senate only wanted a clarification which was given to it by the minister, Comrade Abba Moro. The Nation, Tuesday, March 5, 2013, pg 10 had a story titled Enugu Governor debunks Chime’s travel report”. In the story, it stated that the Enugu state government has refuted the report which claimed that Governor Sullivan Chime

Information Minister, Labaran Maku

question of who lied? Is it the journalist or his source? Instances of stories denied after publication are reviewed as follows: Peoples Daily, Saturday 13— Sunday 14, April, 2013 reported a story titled “Customs deny media report on Kano market raid”. Mr. Amade Abdul, comptroller of customs in charge of federal operations zone B, Kaduna, on Friday, April 12, 2013 debunked a media report on his men’s raid on a Kano market in search of local rice. In his reaction to the report, he described the report as a conspiracy

queried the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) over scam. According to the report, the Chief Press Secretary to the Minister, Taye Akinyemi, in reaction to a report by Peoples Daily with a banner headline ‘Senate queries

has travelled again. According to the report, it stated that a national newspaper on Sunday, March 3, 2013 published a story, alleging that Governor Chime has left the country for an undisclosed location. The chief press secretary to the governor, Mr. Chukwudi

Achife, in a statement, said that the governor was in the state attending to his official duties, contrary to the report published. Mr. Achife expressed dismay at the ease with which such report was published without any verification. The Nation, Thursday, March 14,2013, pg53 in a story titled “Ondo tribunal chair urges media to be accurate”, stated that the chairman of the Ondo state governorship election petition tribunal, Justice Andovar Kaka’a, on Wednesday, March 13, 2013 urged journalists to report the tribunal’s proceedings accurately. According to the report, Justice Kaka’a debunked reports that he was engaged in a heated argument with the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Mr. Rotimi Akeredolu. Saturday Sun, March 9, 2013, pg 6 in a story titled “... I’ve not resigned — Agbaso” reported that the embattled deputy governor of Imo state, Sir Jude Agbaso, on Friday March 8, 2013 debunked rumours and media publications that he has resigned. Sir Agbaso also denied being impeached by the state House of Assembly. According to the report, Mr. Onyema Opara , the chief Press Secretary to the deputy governor, in a press statement urged the media and the people to discard media publications and rumours on any purported resignation and impeachment of Agbaso as the deputy governor of the state as the reports were all false and only calculated to tarnish the image of the deputy governor. This denial was also published in The Nation, Monday, March 11,2013, page 12. The report stated that the deputy governor of Imo state, Sir Jude Agbaso on Sunday, March 10, 2013, denied media reports that he has

resigned. It added that the House of Assembly was probing him on allegations that he received N458 million kick back from a road contractor. According to him, the allegation was not only false but also politically motivated to malign his person. CONCLUSION/ OBSERVATION: It has been observed that since the dawn of media history, there have been two opposing thoughts concerning media objectivity. These thoughts are whether objectivity is good or bad, and whether it is even possible to be objective in news reporting. Some claim that objectivity in news reporting is a myth, and theoretically speaking, a mere abstraction. They believe that objectivity in absolute terms is unattainable since it does not really exist. The proposition is stretched further to indicate that what is impossible, what is non existent, need not to be attempted because such attempt inevitably would prove unnecessary, unrealistic, as well as futile. Another school of thought believes that objectivity in news reporting is a definitely attainable goal, but that one must strive for it even in the face of opposing realities. It believes that the reporters need not to shy away from their prejudices, preconceptions, feelings and ambitions. From this stand point there are arguments that since subjectivity is to be avoided and since absolute objectivity might not be possible except as a target, the media professional can go a long way to being objective by sticking as much as possible to what Severin and Tankard (1979:63) have explained as “verifiable statements”. This involves the excluding of inferences, judgements and slant reporting.

“Some claim that objectivity in news reporting is a myth, and theoretically speaking, a mere abstraction. They believe that objectivity in absolute terms is unattainable since it does not really exist. The proposition is stretched further to indicate that what is impossible, what is non -existent, need not to be attempted because such attempt inevitably would prove unnecessary, unrealistic, as well as futile.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Development “Surface and ground water are exhaustible and it is very important to know how we utilise same. We need to know how much water we are abstracting, either underground or on the surface.”

Ensuring Potable Water Supply Through Legislation

GOVERNOR Sullivan Chime of Enugu State recently assented to the amended Enugu Water and Sanitation Law, a principal law of Enugu State Water Corporation. The amended law was enacted by the assembly on Oct. 2, 2012. The law, designed to regulate activities in the water sector, as well as boost water supply, prescribes charges for operating private water works for domestic or commercial purpose. The law also “empowers any person or group of persons to take water from any water course or any other underground water by way of application to the Commissioner for Water Resources for the grant of a license.’’ The law also prescribes charges for producers of sachet and bottled water, industrial water users, commercial boreholes operators, among others.

By EMMANUEL ACHA

Under the law, producers of sachet water are to register with N10, 000 and annual renewal fee of N5, 000; N20, 000 registration for bottled water producers and N10, 000 annual renewal fee. License for commercial boreholes attracts a fee of N35, 000, and annual renewal fee of N25, 000; while license for industrial water boreholes is N30, 000, with an annual renewal fee of N20, 000. Mr Michael Nwachukwu, Enugu State Commissioner for Water Resources, said the law was designed to regulate activities in the water sector. Nwachukwu made the clarification in Enugu at a sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in the water sector

“By the dictates of this law, no individual or group either for commercial or domestic purposes has the right to utilise state resources, in this case, water, without a legitimate license. “We are now poised like never before to ensure that potable water gets to every citizen of this state, under sanitary conditions,” he said. The commissioner said that the government had along with some donor agencies initiated measures to tackle the water challenge headlong. “Our facilities were run down previous years and the current administration had tried to fix such facilities and that is why there had been an improvement on supply in recent times. “We try to ration supply of water and that is why some areas get water twice weekly,

while others may get less,” he said. Mr Charlse Eze, Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that out of the 3.3 million people in the state, only about 37.8 per cent of all households have access to safe potable water. “Only 38.9 per cent of the households have access to a good means of sanitary disposal,” he added. Mrs Janet Ngene, Executive Director, Community Health Initiative Nigeria, stressed that sanitation should be taken as the entry point of providing potable water to the people. “If we have boreholes and they are standing on areas that are badly polluted with people practicing open defecation, we cannot have good source of potable water in the state.

“Water is life, sanitation is humanity and open defecation is an enemy to life because we are poisoning the environment. Government should, therefore, conduct random checks on sources of drinking water to determine their hygienic conditions,” Ngene said. Mr Blessed Okonkwo, Chairman, Table Water Producers Association of Nigeria, Enugu State chapter, said government’s policies were hindering provision of potable water. He appealed to the government to address the issue of multiple taxation on its members. Okonkwo said that members of the association had long grappled with the issue of taxation, adding that such had eroded their profitability. he chairman said that multiple taxes were levied on them by both the state and local governments and urged the government to streamline such charges to make the business climate conducive. Okonkwo listed the levies charged by the state government annually to include ESWAMA N48,000, vehicle permits N9,000, NESREA N115,000, effluent N30,000 and development levy N30,000. Others are fumigation N30,000 (quarterly) and business premises, N150,000. He listed the levies charged by the local government authorities as factory permit N6,000, and development levy N6,000 while the Standards Organisation of Nigeria charged N10,000 quarterly. “We want to cooperate with the state government because the governor is doing well and as

responsible citizens, we need to discharge our civic obligations. “But we appeal to the government to streamline these charges and give us one single receipt for these charges,” he said. He said the state government had done well in supporting small and medium industries, noting that it would be counterproductive if such levies persisted. Mr Saaondo Anom, a representative of UNICEF, Enugu Office, said that the legislation was a major step towards a sustainable water resources management. I am happy this law ensures that every water source is registered, and I want government to implement this aspect of the law which has a very big implication in the management of water resources. “Surface and ground water are exhaustible and it is very important to know how we utilise same. “We need to know how much water we are abstracting, either underground or on the surface. “In 2008, the government of India bought-over boreholes from farmers who were irrigating their rice fields. “The ground level water was going down progressively and government decided to manage the crisis by buying over the boreholes in order not to destroy the groundwater aquifer,” he said. Stakeholders want the government to ensure the enforcement of the legislation, but to streamline taxation in the water sector. (NAN).

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Nature Medicine

Good Health, Long Life SOME researchers tell us that man has a lifespan of about 125 years. According to them, he expected to live to this age before his cells break down and he dies either due to illness old age. Unfortunately, this is not what obtains today. Life is now miserably short. Diseases are everywhere whether communicable or non-communicable. The reason for all these phenomena is the fast life we lead these days in our bid to earn a living. In addition to the toxic environment in which we live. To start with, let’s take a trip to Oba Ovoranmwen Square in Benin City also known as Ring Road. There are lots of cars passing through this central part of Benin City each day. Each car emits toxic fumes which are mostly inhaled by people within the radius of the area. In addition, poisonous gases are released from piles of unevacuated wastes which often litter the Ring Road nexus of the city. These fumes and gases do not only compromise our health, they shorten our lifespan. Similarly, we suffer these environmental effects of toxic chemicals when we keep dirty toilet sinks or urinals, use water tanks not regularly washed and work or live in areas with working generators/plants occasioned by power outages by the electricity distribution company. Do you use insecticides and aluminium- based deodorants? Also, do you

consume fruits, vegetables, cereals, nuts and grains without properly washing them? Then, unknown to you, what you end up doing is exposing yourself to consuming environmental toxic chemicals that can impair your health and kill you instalmentally. What also shortens our life these days is stress. Studies show that over 90% of people in our modern world are under stress for one reason or the other. For instance, we are always under stress of either joblessness, low income, childlessness, bereavement, mysterious illnesses, inability to advance our careers, overwork or physical abuse. Just name it. Well, be informed, stress is a silent killer. When stress attacks you and becomes chronic, it destroys your nerves and immune system, exposing you easily to illnesses that ordinarily wouldn’t trouble you. In medicine, this is why it is said that stress causes p s u c h o - n e u r o immunological deficits in a person. Moreover, stress triggers the release of glucocorticoid hormone in us which is known to quicken the ageing process. Prof. Peter Odeigah, a geneticist at UNILAG’s department of biological studies note: “Ageing is due to life time stress.” A Chinese herbalist who lived for 256 years also says: “I attribute my long life to inward calm.” So, if you desire a healthy, long life, avoid stress. Adopt

a calm lifestyle that is resistant to the topsy-turvy worldly dynamics of modernism. This inevitably brings to the fore two other

life. Without rest, stress is empowered. Your body is unable to rejuvenate itself as well as de-stress it. Leisure is another factor to

healthy and long life. When a person dies, you notice that his body becomes stiff, cold and frozen. Similarly, inactivity is a form of

factors that can influence our lifespan and life expectancy. They are rest and leisure. Another name for rest is relaxation. It involves keeping all your worldly worries in abeyance. You don’t allow them to trouble you. You still your mind, soul and body ensuring that they are all switched off from the stimuli in the environment. To live a long healthy life, you need to take time off your daily chores to relax or rest for a given period each day while at work or at home. All work and no rest shortens

consider. It is different from rest, even though it is an extension of it. In leisure, you choose to do a non-tasking activities that gives you amusement, joy fun and pleasure. It could be playing a game, listening to music, watching comedy, reading, singing or dancing. Leisure is supposed to give you serenity of body, mind and soul through undertaking, effortless activity. Therefore, it is a comfortable way to rest. It is now time to discuss the role of exercise in good

“dying” because your body is kept still in one place even though God endowed us with our musculo-skeletal structure for regular movement. The way out of “dying” slowly and ageing fast because of physical inactivity is to exercise regularly. Exercise helps to increase our endurance, balance, flexibility and muscular efficiency. Also, it minimizes our dependency period preceding death and reduces disability ailments that impair our movement.

CHANGE OF NAME

UDOKWU – I, formerly known and addressed as Miss Gladys Kwene Udokwu now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Gladys Kwene Edoigiewerie. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Government Service Commission and the general public should please take note.

“To live a long healthy life, you need to take time off your daily chores to relax or rest for a given period each day while at work or at home. All work and no rest shortens life.”

With Dr Mao 0803071734

At least, each healthy person should undertake a minimum of 30 minutes of exercise daily done once or spread throughout the day. If you have the time, spend much more time on exercise because of its beneficial health effects. Dr. Christian

Barnard, first heart transplant surgeon observes. “Exercise is expectancy. An hour of fast walking increases your lifespan by 60minutes!! He is not done yet. In his book FIFTY WAYS TO A HEALTHY HEART, he states that healthy sex two or three times a week can lengthen life and enliven the soul. This is because of the social intimacy sex allows as well as biochemical stimulating effects of healthy sex. Lest I forget, sleep which is a form of perfect rest is also crucial for a long, healthy life. It enables the inner body core, to recharge the physical body. Remember, the great playwright, William Shakespeare wrote: “Sleep is nature’s balm for a worn out, tired and broken body.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014 With Victor Aniuku

New Horizon

Paradise Lost And Regained THE word paradise indicates a special place prepared for special people. Paradise also exist both in Heaven and on earth but they are related as illusionary paradise. In the material paradise there are no restrictions, for you can be there only to do your own thing in your own style but in the Paradise prepared by God, there are codes of conduct. The ancient days Paradise was very close to man but due to the erring of man against God paradise has been taken far away from man. That also made man to be far from God. God in his infinite mercy created the world and provided every thing necessary to exist. The Sun, Moon, Night and Day, Vegetation, Springs, Rivers, Seas, Air, Fruits, Valleys, Mountains, Rocks, Animals, Aquatics, etc and the chief. host the human beings. There is no reasonable parent who does not from time to time put across some test for his children so as to capture their reasoning power. And so God did by creating the Garden of Eden. He created this Garden and it’s good to the Lord for habitation. And out of compassion, the Lord placed Adam to dwell in this Garden. God is a highly disciplined personality and so wanted his children to be self disciplined. By this, God called Adam and instructed him to live in this Garden with all kinds of animals and to eat all kinds of fruits inside the Garden but that fruit in the middle of that Garden must not be eaten for any reason. Adam accepted and lived by this moral code of the Lord. Adam lived happily amongst dangerous animals such the Cobra, Python’s, Lions, Tigers, Elephants, Wolves, Vultures, etc. These animals were the great companions of Adam in the Garden. When Adam wants to sleep, he sleeps

right in the centre of coiled cobra snake and has the lion and tiger as his pets. Then Adam understood ‘the language of the animals, Adam was never tired living with the animals nor ever afraid as in today’s world. Adam was not getting the full benefit of association from these animals because animals are of lower intelligence. Adam never complained nor thought otherwise. In any situation, the Supreme Lord who creates and maintains understands our temperament at any pint in time and will respond accordingly. God who know our heart desires saw it necessary for Adam to have a corresponding companion in the Garden. And when Adam was asleep, the Lord from Adams ribs, made a woman to manifest, in whom, the Lord gave the name Eve. Adam, the man to bear a higher burden and Eve means the helper to bear the lower burden. Adam instructed Eve about the codes of the Garden. Eat all fruits but don’t eat that in the middle of the garden. Adam and Eve lived successfully, sharing the presence of the animals and giving names to the animals. Adam was happy having Eve as his direct helper Adam and Eve never saw any difference between himself and the animals nor did Adam and Eve kill any of these animal’s for food. They lived by Genesis 1:29 according to the written words of God which states that:. “And God said, Behold, I have given you herb bearing Seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree yielding seed, to

you it shall be for food”. Adam and Eve were vegetarians who never kill animals nor eat them. They were non violent which is part of the purity of man. Today, violence is the key of existence. Go to, the

order. God gave Adam the law which he passed on to Eve but Adam failed to play the role of a man who should protect the law and not break or be part to break it. Eve became sin conscious and called on

nor believe in anything regulatory. Without regulatory process in our living, lots of things go wrong materially and spiritually. One who does not regulate his living is not better than an animal.

East part of the world, always boiling with great tension. We must have to believe in ourselves before we believe in others. This violence all over the world also, erupted in the garden of Eden which Adam could not contend but fell prey to it. When a men fail to control his subjects, there is always a counter reaction which may lead to total breakdown. This breakdown was’ present in the garden of Eden — the breakdown of law and

Adam to share this sin with her, and Adam who underplayed his rights part took in the act. The presence of a woman can make generals to wither from their positive nature to degradation. Generally, if you look at a woman, it is dangerous, if you talk to her, it is more dangerous, and if you touch her your life is finished. Generally everything about this body had been regulated by nature but the human beings don’t want to hear

That person is just acting by instinct without the application of ’ his intelligence. We go out of control when we cannot regulate our thoughts, words and actions and this is the soul cause of sinful life. When sinful life is rampant, things will generally go downwards in most of the sectors. We are talking about corruption which is a grave sin and a canker worm. How much has this been checked — just below 25 percent?

“Generally, if you look at a woman, it is dangerous, if you talk to her, it is more dangerous, and if you touch her your life is finished.”

Who are the culprits? Majority of them are not disclosed. Look at the case of Ibori, if he was to be tried in Nigeria, we will still have the case pending for want of enough evidence, been adjourned nor quashed for one flimsy reason or the other. Nigerians know most of the corrupt of in the

country but will they be arrested, tried and presented accordingly as a deterrent to others. EFCC is trying to do its best but so much compromise through influential big guns who will throw their weight on the issue on ground thereby putting the case to rest nor ending up with keep in view that may lead to the disappearance of the entire file in due course of time. The intricacies of karma is yet unknown to a high percent of people all around the world. The ignorance of this fact is that people always feel that one can do anything good nor bad and -get away with it. People generally conclude Continues on Pg 24

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Place Of Prayer

Coming Out Of The Wilderness (1) A wilderness is an uncomfortable situation: a place, situation, or multitude of people or things that makes somebody feel confused, overwhelmed or desolate. When Christians go through a phase in life characterised by experiences that are not pleasant, it can be likened to being in the wilderness: a place of dryness, desolation and emptiness. A place where the desires of the heart are not readily available. A place of slow movement, setbacks, loss and pain. A wilderness experience is when there is no opportunity to make a replacement. In the wilderness, no one responds to your cry. During this experience, prayers, fasting and seed sowing seem not to cause any change. It is an experience characterised by the activities of evil forces; making it seem like everything is working against you. During the wilderness experience, it seems like you have been abandoned; just like everyone is in the city and you are the only one left in the bush. It is a period when helpers are helpless. A wilderness is a place of contradiction to prophesy; experiencing things that look different from what you were told by the Lord. God told the Israelites through Moses that He was taking them to a land flowing with milk and honey. They were very excited about leaving slavery in Egypt to a better life of freedom and abundance. But before they could get to the Land of Promise, they had to experience wilderness. For forty years, they had unpleasant experiences. There was no food sometimes, and them was no water sometimes. They had to live under harsh weather conditions, and suffer situations that did not look in any way like milk and honey. At a point, it seemed like Moses had lied to them. However, in due season, the promise over their life came to fulfilment. Just like the Children of Israel, Christians sometimes go through situations that make it seem like prophesy spoken over their life is false. However, experiences such as that of the Children of Israel are permitted, and sometimes carefully orchestrated by God to usher His children into their next level. The wilderness experience is a transition between where the promise was made and the land of promise. In Deuteronomy 8:2, the bible

says:- And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to humble thee, and to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep his commandments, or no. The scripture above reveals that the Lord purposely led the Children of Israel through the wilderness for two reasons: (1) To humble them and (2) To prove them to know what was in their heart. The wilderness experience is orchestrated by God to frustrate your wisdom, intelligence, credentials, and everything you put your trust in. In the wilderness, God wants you to see that you need Him inspite of all you have. Pride will keep you longer in your wilderness. Until you learn humility, you remain in the wilderness. The wilderness experience teaches you to depend on God and not on yourself. It is in the wilderness we know what is in your heart. It is in times of conflict that the things buried in the hearts of people are spoken out. In that unguarded moment of anger, disappointment and frustration, truths are spoken. The wilderness will bring out what was hidden. As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he. When it is all pleasure, it is your mouth that speaks; but when wilderness comes, the hidden treasures of the heart are revealed. That you are shouting “Praise God!” or sowing seeds may be because you are enjoying milk and honey. Will you still praise God in the wilderness? It is in the wilderness experience that the real you is revealed. The true colour of Lipton tea is not known until it passes through hot water The wilderness experience reveals your true colour. It reveals your true level of growth in your walk with God. It is a place of testing for trusting. Sometimes, I purposely test some Church Leaders to know the content of their heart. I lift them up and then purposely

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae SMS Only 08030809339

bring them down after a while. I then watch to see how well they handle the “humiliation”. While some pass the test, some others begin to talk down the Pastor. Such tests help me know those that can be trusted with leadership positions. A wilderness experience is not

shaft not be burned; neither shall flame kindle upon thee. The bible did not say “IF” but “WHEN”. This shows that the wilderness experience is certain. No wilderness, no Canaan Although there were several ways to go to Canaan, there was only one God approved way. God initiates a wilderness experience as a place of trial, test and examination. A place where promotion is organised and where you are certified for the next level. Here you are

experienced by those in the North is the Boko Haram menace, that being experienced in the South is Militancy and Kidnapping. These issues are plagues, but one plague is more severe than the other. Even Jesus had to pass through the wilderness. In Matthew 4:1,

wilderness experience was a divine arrangement. If you do not pass through the wilderness, forget about the next level. Joseph had a dream that he was going to rule over his parents and siblings. As way of confirmation of the authenticity of God’s plan for him, he had this dream twice.

optional; it is mandatory for every believer that seeks to experience glory. See the following scriptures to buttress this point: I Peter 5:10- But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. Suffering for a while is a part of Christianity. Waiting/delay is a part of Christianity. Your unpleasant experiences are not always caused by demons. Delay is a wilderness experience to test how much you believe in the dark what was told you in the light. God speaks in the light, but he tests your belief in the dark. Isaiah 43:2- When thou passest the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shalt not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou

examined to see your fitness for the next level. During this phase in your life, all that you have been taught by God is tested. You are checked to see if you have thorough understanding of what you have learnt; whether you are a fair weather Christian or a rugged child of God. It is in the wilderness that hypocrites are discovered. Those who claim to have known the Lord for several years and are matured in the Lord are put to test during a wilderness experience. It is here that the identity that you claim is investigated. Everyone passes through a wilderness experience; just that one person’s experience may be different from another person’s own. The severity differs from one person to the other. It’s just like the current unrests being experienced in Nigeria. While the wilderness being

we see that as soon as Jesus was baptised in the river Jordan! He was led up of the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. Your salvation, baptism, ordination and identification with Christ qualify you for the wilderness experience. The Holy Ghost will lead you into the wilderness to find out what is in your heart. May you not betray God’s confidence during your wilderness experience in Jesus name, amen. Moses knew, by intuition, that he had a mantle to deliver the Israelites from captivity. However, the first thing God did before his commissioning was to send him to the wilderness. God made him commit a crime that paved way for him to go to the wilderness. He finally went to the wilderness training school for 40 years before he became the saviour of Israel. His

In the mouth of two or three witnesses is a word established (Matthew 18:16). It was sure that rulership was in his custody. He had revelations of his exploits. He knew that he was going to be a star. But after the dream, his brothers sold him into the wilderness. He had to go through the wilderness before his dreams could come to manifestation. A wilderness experience is where God tests you to see if you truly believe the prophecy that you were given. It is your attitude during your wilderness experience that determines how long you will stay in it. The length of your wilderness is not determined by the devil or by God; it is determined by your reaction to the wilderness situation. The Children of Israel had to spend 40 years in the wilderness instead of 40 days because of their negative attitude; See Numbers 14:34-35. Are you passing through a wilderness experience? A situation of no food, no husband, no baby, no job, no money, etc. I want to let you know that it is for a season. You can come out from it early enough if you have the right attitude. In this series, I will reveal five keys that will speed up your coming out of the wilderness.

“Everyone passes through a wilderness experience; just that one person’s experience may be different from another person’s own. The severity differs from one person to the other. It’s just like the current unrests being experienced in Nigeria. While the wilderness being experienced by those in the North is the Boko Haram menace, that being experienced in the South is Militancy and Kidnapping.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

International Features

World War I’s Lasting Bootprint

ONE hundred years later, the ‘war to end all wars’ is still shaping the geography and geopolitics of the modern world. In 1917, the second largest British city, after London, wasn’t in Britain at all. It was the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France. The same could be said of the French Army, and the German. Each force on Europe’s Western Front was a metropolis requiring not just soldiers, guns, and ammunition, but every necessity of life, from toothbrushes to rubber stamps. To service these vast cities of war, nations built new rail networks, roads, hospitals, food processing facilities, warehouses, and even brothels. In 1916, the British were supplying their troops with 2,925 cubic feet of tobacco a day – the volume of a semitrailer. Building just one mile of trenches required 900 miles of barbed wire, 6,000,000 sandbags, 1,000,000 cubic feet of timber, and 360,000 square feet of corrugated iron. This is to say nothing of the munitions that were needed: At the height of the conflict, the BEF was going through 70,000 grenades a day. Nothing is bigger than a world at war. One hundred years ago, a monster took hold of Europe, rending it in ways that no other war over thousands of years of history had ever done. For most Europeans, the Great War, which began innocuously with a Serbian nationalist’s assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria in June 1914, represented the end of splendor and the beginning of mediocrity. “This is going to be our evil inheritance,” wrote Italian soldier Paolo Monelli. For most Americans, however, the war seems a minor affair that pales in significance to the Civil War, World War II, and Vietnam. This is ironic given how the war shaped what came to be known as the American Century. So many of the triumphs and tragedies America has faced since its emergence as a superpower have their origin in World War I. It is not preposterous to imagine that, without the Great War, there would have been no

Joe McCarthy, no Korea, no Vietnam, no NATO, and no moon landing, for all were connected to the new world order that emerged after 1918. The war brought the collapse of three empires, hastened the demise of a fourth, and, it could be argued, gave rise to a fifth – the United States. It shaped the boundaries of many of today’s nations, and gave birth to tensions that still divide them. Even today’s bitter conflict over the Palestinian territories was shaped by decisions made during World War I. Europeans still call it the “Great War.” “Great” meant big, since no previous war approached it in scope. There were more soldiers, more belligerent nations, more weapons, bigger battlefields, more deaths than ever before. Bigness was also meant geographically. Naval battles occurred in the North Atlantic and South Pacific. Soldiers were killed on three continents. German shells, Turkish mines, Austrian machine guns, Greek pathogens, and even African lions killed English soldiers. “Great” also referred to purpose. This was the “war to end all wars,” the “war to make the world safe for democracy.” For the British, it was an existential conflict. “I do not believe any nation ever entered into a great controversy ... with a clearer conscience and a stronger conviction,” Prime Minister Herbert Asquith told the House of Commons on August 6, 1914, “that it is fighting, not for aggression, not for the maintenance even of its own selfish interest, but ... in defence of principles ... vital to the civilization of the world.” In September 1914, the chancellor of the Exchequer, David Lloyd George, reminded his audience at the Queen’s Hall of the “great everlasting things that matter for a nation; the great peaks we had forgotten ... the great pinnacle of Sacrifice pointing like a rugged finger to Heaven.” Similar words were spoken in every combatant nation. War produced an excess of noble purpose. Nor was this simply the stuff of propagandists. Nearly everyone, on all sides, yearned

By GERNARD DEGROOT

for sublime meaning. Danish soldier Kresten Andresen fought for Germany simply because his homeland had been absorbed by Prussia in the war of 1864. He harbored no love for his political masters, but still welcomed the chance to fight for them. “Go to war not for the sake of goods or gold, not for your homeland or for honor, nor to seek the death of your enemies, but to strengthen your character,

easy to kill them. Quaint notions of heroism disguised a thoroughly modern war. Yet when old values collided with modern machinery, the former stood no chance. Tradition implied romantic cavalry charges, noble death, a single merciful bullet through the heart. Before the war, English schoolboys read H.A. Vachell’s “The Hill,” which glorified the opportunity “to die young, clean,

to strengthen it in power and will, in habits, custom and earnestness,” he wrote. “That is why I want to go to war.” In contrast, the poet Rupert Brooke sought the purest patriotic sacrifice: If I should die, think only this of me: That there’s some corner of a foreign field That is forever England. “It is our great privilege,” a British soldier told his parents, “to save the traditions of all centuries behind us. It’s a grand opportunity, and ... if we fail we shall curse ourselves in bitterness ... and our children will despise our memory.” The war came at a unique moment when it was very easy to get men to fight but also very

ardent; to die swiftly, in perfect health; to die saving others from death ... to die and to carry with you into the fuller ampler life beyond, untainted hopes and aspirations, unembittered memories, all the freshness and gladness of May.” When those boys turned into men, the anticipation of glorious death provided thin armor against cruel modernity. This was a factory war of thunderous artillery, of bodies lacerated by machine gun fire, of men drowning in mud. Edward Mousley, a cavalryman from New Zealand, felt acutely the consequences of soldiering on the hinge of two ages. He went off to war with his best friend, a stallion he’d owned since boyhood. Caught in the

“The war was a monster that fed on the fodder of humanity. Its nature was determined by the state of technology: Machine guns and heavy artillery, not incompetent command, forced men into trenches. Commanders desperately sought a way around the cruel arithmetic of attrition, but could not find one.”

demoralizing siege at Kut al Amara, where British troops were routed by Turkish and German forces in what is now Iraq, he was forced to eat his horse. The war was a monster that fed on the fodder of humanity. Its nature was determined by the state of technology: Machine guns and heavy artillery, not incompetent command, forced men into trenches. Commanders desperately sought a way around the cruel arithmetic of attrition,

but could not find one. Heavily laden men trudged forth from the relative safety of their trenches into the merciless storm of gunfire because that, in truth, was the only way to fight this war. Nowhere were the horrors of trench warfare more on display than in the Somme Offensive, the clash between British and French troops and their German rivals along the Somme River in northern France in 1916. It was intended to be the last decisive battle of the war. For days, British and French troops had bombarded German positions with artillery – more than 1.7 million shells – to destroy their trenches and hedges of barbed wire. Then, on July 1, the men from 11 British divisions emerged from their earthen fortifications to advance slowly toward the German lines. They were unaware that the Germans had created deep dugouts for their men that had protected them from the artillery assault. Like a vast engine of death, the German machine guns came alive and carnage commenced. By the end of the first day, the British had suffered more than 57,000 casualties, of whom

19,000 were dead. It was the worst military disaster in British history and one of the bloodiest days in any war. Yet the British attacked again the next day, and the next. The Somme would not end until almost four months later, on November 13, 1916. By that time, the British had suffered 420,000 casualties, the French 195,000, and the Germans nearly 600,000. Suffering was punctuated by the day-to-day indignities of trench life – the

mud that rotted feet, the legions of rats, the putrefying corpses everywhere. The monster of war would ravage for as long as nations could feed it. This was total war, a test of national commitment, organization, and morale. Victory would go to the side able to mobilize a huge army and keep it supplied. This meant that endurance and improvisation counted more than bravery. In Germany, there were 837 registered meat substitutes in 1918 (including ones made of nuts and animal organs), but hardly any meat; 511 registered coffee substitutes (roasted acorns, barley with coal tar), but no coffee. The British commander Douglas Haig became convinced that the German soldiers’ morale would crack when their sausage ceased to contain meat. Whether coincidence or not, that proved true. As the war consumed men, it also devoured romance. Monelli, a writer and member of Italy’s elite Alpini mountain infantry, went to war in search of glory, but ended up cursing “those Continues on pg 22

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

International Features

Continued from pg 23 mysterious gods who spin the threads of our fate.” The war demonstrated that man was not the agent of his own destiny, that the machines he had created were beyond his control. Fearing the implications of a modern leviathan, Lord Lansdowne in late 1917 urged the British government to press for a negotiated peace. To push on to victory would, he maintained, “spell ruin to the civilized world.” All that had made Britain great would be destroyed; “we are slowly killing off the best of the male population of these islands.” But Lansdowne was scorned, because too much had already been invested. Only victory, it seemed, would make the massive sacrifice worthwhile. Victory, however, carried an inconceivable price. It came, unexpectedly, in 1918. The Germans, already triumphant on the Eastern Front, massed their armies in the West for one last, desperate push. Their spring offensive was frighteningly effective, but, when the surge slowed in June, German morale collapsed. The British and French, now fortified by American troops, counterattacked, forcing the Germans into headlong retreat. Fearing invasion, they sued for peace. It is, nevertheless, important to remember that it was the nation itself, not the army, that had been defeated. At war’s end, German soldiers were still entrenched in Belgium and France. That footnote to defeat would prove important when Germans remembered the war. When the guns fell silent, the battle of meaning began. Those on the winning side at first found value in victory. “We may have been naïve...,” wrote English nurse Beryl Hutchinson, “but we all had the feeling that we really were keeping the world fit to live in, that our many sacrifices had been worthwhile.” That confidence, however, depended upon the emergence of a stable world after 1918. As it turned out, what transpired was far from satisfactory. Soldiers came home to mass unemployment, an insult to their sacrifice. Outrage was directed at fat profiteers who had feasted on suffering. The rancorous and cynical peace conference at Versailles undermined confidence in the emergence of a better world. Some hope was invested in collective security through a League of Nations, but that disappeared when America retreated into isolation. The dam holding back doubt burst around the time of the Wall Street crash. By 1929, most people agreed that the war fought to preserve something great had produced instead something sordid. With romance stripped away, the war began to seem like what it was: a cynical clash of empires. Brooke’s vision of noble death in a foreign field gave way to what

.. War I’s Lasting Bootprint

another great British war poet, Wilfred Owen, called “the old lie.” Henceforth, politics would poison interpretations of the war’s meaning. Nowhere was this more the case than in Germany, where fascists blamed Jews for the humiliating capitulation that occurred while German forces still occupied enemy soil. Hitler would make great use of this “stab in the back.” In Russia, bitter memories of the “capitalist war” were used to sustain the Marxist revolution and camouflage military defeat. Elsewhere, class antagonism spread like a contagion. In Britain, workers concluded that the incompetent “donkeys” of the military high command had squandered the lives of ordinary soldiers in a selfish attempt to preserve privilege. In the 1924 election, the Labour Party capitalized on this sense of betrayal. Posters juxtaposed two highly emotive images: “Yesterday the Trenches, Today Unemployed.” The contrast questioned the war’s worth and suggested that workers still had a debt to collect. This ugly battle between right and left over the war’s legacy continues to this day. A few months ago, Michael Gove, the British government’s Conservative education secretary, clashed with Sir Tony Robinson, star of “Blackadder Goes Forth,” the 1989 satirical series about World War I, over how the war should be remembered. Mr. Gove feels that generations of British schoolchildren have had their patriotism poisoned by the war poets, the “Blackadder” series, and the BBC. The war was not futile, but neither was it particularly heroic. The right side did win, but motives were far from pure. The war was indeed a capitalist conflict: Britain and France felt threatened by modern, ambitious, industrialized Germany. The prospect of German domination of continental markets was particularly frightening for Britain, since the decline of its empire had rendered her increasingly dependent upon European trade. On the eve of war, when intervention was still being debated, Foreign Office official Sir Eyre Crowe provided a devastating analysis of Britain’s predicament. The country had to fight, he explained, because if it stood aloof, it would be despised and dominated by whichever side

won. The British did not particularly like the French or Russians, but needed allies to halt German hegemony. War was the continuation of economics by other means. Britain at first thought it could fight with minimum commitment. The French and Russians would do the dying, financed by British banks. This was called, appropriately, “business as usual.” That strategy quickly proved untenable, however. Within weeks, Britain was forced to make a massive commitment to the war, in soldiers, munitions,

less than half fell on the battlefield. The biggest killer was Spanish influenza. The Americans had avoided the war for as long as possible, judging it a peculiarly European disease. Afterward, they did their best to forget it. Yet it is fair to say that the Great War made the US what it is today. America’s destiny was determined by the collapse of three empires and by the decline of another. First, the disintegration of the Habsburg Empire resulted in dangerous instability across Central Europe, from Vienna to Bucharest. Hitler, then Stalin, would exploit that instability. It would surface again in

and money. The conflict that had originally seemed like economic opportunity threatened instead financial disaster. Britain began the war a creditor nation. It ended it with a mountain of debt owed to the US. Backbone industries – steel, coal, shipbuilding, and textiles – were all exhausted by war. There was no money for the essential modernization necessary to compete with America, Japan, and, eventually, Germany. Nor did the empire provide the economic security it once had. It expanded after the Versailles settlement, but was now more liability than asset. Victory, in other words, looked a lot like defeat. In November 1918, every European nation teetered on the brink of ruin. The beneficiary of this collapse was the US. America emerged from the war enormously wealthy and relatively unscathed. Some 116,000 “doughboys” died, but

the 1990s with ethnic violence in the former Yugoslavia eventually requiring NATO intervention. The region is quiet now, but peace in the Balkans will always be fragile. The collapse of the Russian Empire led to the emergence of a communist Soviet Union and, eventually, to the cold war, the defining conflict of the baby boomer generation. Nor did the Russian problem disappear with the collapse of the Soviet Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin’s covetous forays into Ukraine look a lot like an attempt to turn the clock back to before 1914. A Putin aide recently confessed that the Russian president also wants Belarus, Georgia, and Finland – the czar’s old possessions.

The demise of the Ottoman Empire also shaped American destiny. It had shrunk significantly by 1914, but still included portions of present-day Turkey, Syria, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and the Palestinian territories. The region has never recovered the stability that the Ottoman emperors, in their heyday, once imposed. Regional tensions have been exacerbated by the West’s thirst for oil. Further instability was caused by the contradictory deals Britain struck with Jews and Palestinians. In the heat of World War I, those deals seemed to make sense, but short-term gain led to a century of

bloody conflict that America has not been able to ignore. Finally, the slow demise of the British Empire offered opportunities for Americans, but also brought burdens. When the center of world finance shifted from London to New York, the nature of Anglo-American relations permanently changed. In 1931, conditions imposed by New York bankers contributed to the collapse of the British government. That would have been unthinkable before 1914. With power, however, came responsibility. As the British (and French) retreated from empire, they bequeathed problems that would later plague Americans – in

the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia. The Great War eventually forced America to adjust to the burdens of power, just as Britain had to do in the 19th century. This has meant that the US has occasionally felt the lament voiced by Crowe about Britain in 1914 – a strong nation surrounded by threats and desperately in need of friends. Some historians like to see the two world wars as one conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1945. That is an intriguing notion, but not a particularly illuminating one. What can be said with certainty is that World War I was the main cause of World War II. The 1914-18 war sowed the seeds of German revanchism and also rendered the British and French too weakened to respond effectively to Hitler ’s ambitions. But it is also the case that the two wars together produced the longest period of peace in Europe since Roman times. Europe has grown tired of war. The byproduct of that exhaustion is the European Union, arguably the biggest economy in the world. The original architects created the EU with the aim of building a network of commerce so strong that war would become unthinkable. The Great War was a modern conflict fought with romantic intent. Soldiers who marched off in search of glory soon discovered man’s prodigious capacity for industrialized slaughter. Horrors now familiar – killer submarines, chemical weapons, aerial bombardment – all have their origins in World War I. The wounds of that conflict – in Africa, the Middle East, and the Balkans – still fester. Pick almost any problem in international relations today and the links to 1914 can easily be traced. The war is best seen as a massive earthquake that permanently altered the social and political landscape of the world. Its aftershocks still rumble. Gerard DeGroot is a professor of history at the University of St. Andrews and the author of five books on World War I.

“Some historians like to see the two world wars as one conflict that lasted from 1914 to 1945. That is an intriguing notion, but not a particularly illuminating one. What can be said with certainty is that World War I was the main cause of World War II.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

New Horizon

Continued from Pg 20

that whenever one is in a shape, it is because he is clever, educated, wise, intelligent or powerful. But when not in shape, it becomes the work of the devils. And everything will be done to stop that devil. People generally don’t accept nor want to see themselves responsible for the ugly situations in their life. This aspect on our “lives is related to peoples disbelief in re-incarnation. If there is no birth, their will be no death. Because we have dislodged from our original identity we are committed to die. Our original identity is that we are “Aluirn Bainasmi” I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of God. Right now, we deny ourselves of that fact and see ourselves as “Aham Bramasmi” I am just this body which is nothing but lump of ignorance — the entire source of sin to man. Until one changes this mentality, birth and cannot be stopped. When you live with the view to enjoy this body always, you are bound to die and be born, again, life time after life time. But if you realize that you are spirit soul, you can begin to think higher above this body thereby realizing that you are held responsible for all your negative actions and not the devil. If you ever think of any devil, you are just the devil. Devil is connected to all sins and evils. But who commit these sins? Is it not I and you? Who is the devil? If you understand this science, you can avoid that mentality and have nothing in connection with the devil whether it exist or not. Without understanding

this knowledge you will always remain with the idea that the devil exists and it is your duty to always stop the devil from coming to block your way. For example when, you are walking on a lonely dark lane at night, you will come to a point when you’ll develop some fear which will run into hallucination. In some cases such people scream out and even run at top speed just to escape. Escape from what just nothing at sight. And from here, people will speculate as much as they tell — That is a ghost, that is .a devil — they are just waiting for you and so you are very lucky otherwise they would have killed you or cursed you. Go and see the man of God to deliver you. Did this man see any ghost no devil —. No but mere hallucination that leads one to nowhere. Fear is out of cowardice and cowardice is out of unsteady situation of the mind. What about the heavy panting of your mind. Out of fear, your heartbeat will almost jump out of your body. There is a lot to learn about the control of your thoughts, words and actions. That makes you a better human being otherwise you are not better than an animal. When an animal is frightened it runs for it’s dear life because it act by instinct. But a human being does not act by instinct because he has a higher intelligence. A human being can consider to do good or bad, to help or not to help, to speak truth or lie, to lead or mislead, to reject or accept, to serve the supreme God, small gods, or demi- gods. But the animals don’t have enough intelligence •for such consideration. Animals

With Victor Aniuku

...Lost And Regained think of three major things in their live time. One -to look for food. Two to defend themselves, three — To have sex. These activities are not major activities of the human beings. Human should be able to go beyond such mundane activities. The

Supreme God. And at that stage, you are just beginning your journey back home, back to Godhead which if you attain, there is no more coming back to this prison yard called the material world — an abode of illusion. Let us see the

come short by the glory of God means that we are no, more qualified and Holy to live in that abode of God which is sinless. And so we are all thrown down to earth to learn our lesson of revival which if qualified to become pure in Heart, we can see God and live with

it does not pass away for anyone’s reason nor desire. The Bible also stated that, “God made the Heavens and the Earth ‘ That shows that Heaven is not God abode, God was in His abode — the spiritual world when he made the Heavens and the

Holy Bible warns — man know thyself. Know thy self is not to know yourself as an engineer Doctor, Professor, Chief, or lawyer. These are bodily identification which leads one into great materialism. This level is just below your nose. Try to breast out and think beyond your nose level and you will begin to realize your real identity that you are a spirit soul, part and parcel of the

garden of’ Eden as the Kingdom of God where there is no room for sin nor disobedience. And Adam lived and enjoyed sinless in this garden of Eden. And when Adam and Eve sinned in that Garden, God did not waste any time in deporting them to the sinful world where we are now living. So it is said in the Bible that “We have all sinned and come short of the glory of God; We have

him and will live eternally with God. We were all once with God and in God but due to envy of God, we were thrown out like Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden. Only sin separate us from God. Right now we can go to Heaven without being pure in Heart but you cannot go to the Supreme Kingdom of God without being pure in Heart. That is the difference. Heaven is not, I repeat, is not the Kingdom of the Supreme God. The Kingdom of the Supreme is far beyond the Heavens. Remember that the Bible told us that, Heaven and Earth shall pass away but a jot of my word shall not until it is fulfilled”. Yes, the kingdom of God is eternal,

earth and they shall pass away after the duration of their span of life. Heaven is a temporary place where the god of sun, and of moon, god of’ Air, god of Heaven resides, and they are served by the Angels. Finally, the garden of Eden made lastly for all of us to live a better life but was lost by Adam and Eve during the testing stage through SIN of the flesh. We are warned to be careful about whatever goes with the flesh, for it is like a two edged sword — Sweet at beginning, better the end, and more so it does not go well with the giver nor the receiver. And with what we see today, when will that lost Garden be ever regained??? Now or Never.

“Without understanding this knowledge you will always remain with the idea that the devil exists and it is your duty to always stop the devil from coming to block your way.”

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Political Platform TRUE Democracy is the type of government whereby the supreme authority lies with the people. “It is the type of government which is conducted with the freely given consent of the people in which the authority rests with the people. ‘’Democracy is the government of the people by the people and for the people.” In true democracy, the citizens are the ones that give the government the power to preside over the affairs of any Nation. There is however some ingredients or indicators that shows whether government is operating a democracy or not. These indicators are supposed to be practiced as they are designed. But it is disgusting and worrisome that these indicators are not strictly followed by the operators. One of the indicators of democracy is freedom and equality. Thomas Jefferson posited that “all men including women are equal”. This principle suggests that both men and women should be valued and treated equally. They are to have equal opportunities and should not be discriminated against. This principle is far from what is obtained in our present day society. There is a great demarcation between the rich and the poor. The rich ones are far more valued and respected in the society than the poor ones, even though some of the poor ones are far more educated than the rich ones. This is a breach under any democratic government. Individuals and groups are supposed to maintain their rights and privileges irrespective of status. In government, active participation of citizens is supposed to be a major issue. This principle is not operational in some parts of the world where democracy is practiced. This principle is not only the right of citizens but it is their duty.” This principle empowers the citizen to stand and vote in elections. Democracy is strengthened through the active participation of citizens in any election. Over the years till the present day, this principle

have been grossly abused and violated. Cases where citizens in an election are been denied the right to vote and be voted for abounds across the globe. This is not how true democracy should be practiced in true sense. The principle of accountability gives room for elected and appointed officials to be held responsible for their actions. Any elected or appointed official is expected to discharge his duties according to the demands of the people and not for themselves. Under this principle, it is expected that any political office holder should be subjected to render his or her account of stewardship periodically. In a true democracy, the law makers are supposed to periodically summon political and public office holders to render their account of stewardship as one of their oversight functions. This is what our present Legislators at the National and state Assemblies should have allowed to happen after their 100 days in office. Rather than verifying the activities and actions of political nominees for appointments, the law makers sometimes allow some of them to take a bow and applaud them without any scrutiny. This have given a cross section of .the society the impression that these law makers take bribes from some of these officials not minding whether they have performed in the past or not. The political office holders should be made to understand that “they are servants of the people and not their masters.” Another principle is the principle of transparency. This talks about openness it is the principle that keep people informed about the general happenings in government. When a transparent government holds public meetings, the citizens should be allowed to attend. It is under this democratic platform that information is disseminated to the general public about the decisions that are made by whom and why. This principle is hardly adhered to in Nigeria today.

Ingredients Of True Democracy

The people had for quite some time now clamoured for the quick passage of the ‘freedom of information bill”. But thank God it has been passed into law and assented to by the president. The general public should now be given access to any information. And this will go a long way to further strengthen our democracy. Multi-party system is also a major requirement of democracy. This is the existence of many political parties in a country. Nigeria is classified as one of the countries of the world that is practicing a multi-party system. As at today, we have so many registered political parties The reason for this is to enable citizens have candidates of their choice parties, policies and manifestoes when electing

By FAMOUS IGUISI

people into public offices. In a free and fair election, the losers should be ready to admit and accept the result of such an election. The government will be rendered ineffective if the result of a free and fair election is not accepted by losers. However, if there are cases of electoral malpractices i.e stealing and stuffing of ballet boxes and other electoral irregularities, the loser can go to court to challenge the result emanating from such an election. That was what happened in the Edo State Governorship election between Comrade Adams Oshiomhole of the Action Congress (AC/ACN) now All All Progressive Congress (APC) and Senator Professor

“Rather than verifying the activities and actions of political nominees for appointments, the law makers sometimes allow some of them to take a bow and applaud them without any scrutiny. This have given a cross section of .the society the impression that these law makers take bribes from some of these officials not minding whether they have performed in the past or not.”

Osariemen Osunbor of the People Democratic Party (PDP) in 2007. Senator Osunbor was declared winner of the election that was full of electoral irregularities. The result was challenged by Adams Oshiomhole in court. At the end of the day, Adams Oshiomhole was declared the winner of the 2007 gubernatorial election by the Appeal court seating in Benin City, Edo State. There is a big lesson to learn from by everyone from this. In any true democracy, accepting the results of elections that is duly well conducted is an important ingredient of democracy. Every loser should be ready to accept defeat and congratulate the winner, as this disposition is the beauty of true democracy. “The growing consciousness about these essential ingredients of democracy coupled with unpleasant experiences of autocratic government that results in the marginalization of the masses and the denial of basic rights has

strengthened the continued advocacy for democratic governance in every nations of the world.” A multi-party system allows opposition to win elections. In a true democracy, the government of the day should allow strong opposition to exist. Any country that is operating a multi-party political system which does not allow a strong opposition to exist is more or less a dictatorial government. Interestingly in Nigeria, the rule of law was one of the principles of the 7 point agenda of the late president Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua’s administration. To a large extent, the practice of the rule of law had received great support and applause. What qualifies a nation to be operating democracy is the existence of the principle of the rule of law. The rule of law is referred to as the “supremacy of law’ or “due process’. This implies that there is no sacred cow in democracy. This principle expects everyone to obey the law of the land, whether one is rich or poor and be held accountable if he or she disobeys the law.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 46, 2014 LUCKY 1.2. X SELECTIONS 5 INTERNATIONAL NOS. HOT PAIRS 7 3 9

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By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

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THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 46, 2014 WATSON WEST 1.2.X FORECAST

By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

Your Star

EDITOR’S NAP NAP 9 XX 9 XX 9 PAIR 13 OR 14 LET IT BE

SUNNY NAP NAP 11 XX 11 XX 11

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THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Arsenal Lose Interest In Aurier

Spurs Close In On Pochettino TOTTENHAM Hotspur are in advanced negotiations with Southampton boss Mauricio Pochettino, according to widespread reports. Spurs declined to comment on the rumours when contacted by ESPN FC, but media outlets including Sky Sports, the BBC and the Press Association believe Pochettino has been identified as the primary candidate to replace Tim Sherwood, whose reign was cut short at the end of the season, and an appointment appears to be imminent. The Argentine has been linked with the post for some time, but Ajax boss Frank de Boer claimed in April that Spurs had made an informal approach for his services, although his claims were denied by the club and the Dutchman recently told the BBC there had been no recent contact. Real Madrid boss Carlo Ancelotti has also been linked with the vacancy at White Hart Lane more recently, but his Champions League success at the weekend appears to have ended any remote hope Spurs may have had of prising the Italian away from the Bernabeu. Former Espanyol boss Pochettino, 42, has impressed since arriving at St Mary’s in January last year, steering the club to safety following the controversial dismissal of Nigel Adkins and then finishing eighth in his first full campaign in charge. He has attracted praise for the manner in which he has brought through youngsters including Luke Shaw, James Ward-Prowse and Callum Chambers as well as bringing the best out of the likes of Jay Rodriguez, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert. England under-21 defender Nathaniel Clyne said in the Daily Mirror that Pochettino had revolutionised the way Saints

played. “He has been so different to any other manager,” he said. “He planted it into our heads that even if we were up against bigger teams and bigger players, we could compete at the same level as them. He taught us never to fear them or be intimidated just because of their big names or their big reputations. “He’d have us pressing high, keeping a high line, receiving the ball in difficult situations, keeping possession and basically having the confidence to play football rather than being afraid. “The understanding in our defence was down to our training. We worked really

hard on our fitness and our intensity and it showed in the games. For me personally it took my game to another level. It would be a real shame if we were to lose him.” Rodriguez, who is currently recovering from a knee injury that prevented him joining England’s World Cup squad, told the Southern Daily Echo last week that Pochettino’s future was “up in the air.” He added: “He is unbelievable. Anyone will say what a great manager he is and what a good guy he is, to see how well he’s done with the type of football we’re playing. He’s worked us hard and we’ve seen the benefits from it so I think he’s a great manager and I love playing under him.”

Van Persie Hails Van Gaal Approach

ROBIN van Persie has praised new Manchester United boss Louis van Gaal, saying the intensity of his training sessions improves every player under his command. Van Persie has worked third-choice striker,” Van with Van Gaal since 2012, Persie laughed in an interview when the former Ajax, with Sp!ts when asked about Barcelona and Bayern those remarks this week. “It Munich boss took charge of was a great conversation. We the Netherlands for the only talked briefly about that second time, and the pair situation — we spoke more quickly established a strong about football generally. During that conversation, we bond. However, their relationship got to know each other, threatened to get off to a because I’d never spoken to rocky start when, upon him before. From the first taking charge after Euro minute, things went very 2012, Van Gaal warned that well.” Van Persie quickly Klaas-Jan Huntelaar would be preferred in attack as Van reasserted himself in the Persie had failed to deliver Dutch starting XI and, asked whether he thinks the coach for his country. “He didn’t even rule out the was trying to get a reaction, possibility that I would be Van Persie said: “Maybe. I

Zarate Signs For West Ham FORMER Lazio and Inter striker Mauro Zarate has agreed a three-year deal with Premier League side West Ham. The Argentine forward spent four years in Italy, playing for the Biancocelesti and the Nerazzurri between 2008 and 2012.

Mauro Zarate

Serge Aurier

The 27-year-old has since spent a season at Velez Sarsfield where he netted 19 in 29 appearances.

But speaking to Sky Sports News on Monday, the goalscorer admitted that a move to east London was “a new chance for me”.

LIVERPOOL manager Brendan Rodgers says he was told by the club’s owners he will be able to make “top-quality” signings this summer before he committed his future to Anfield. Rodgers, who steered Liverpool to a secondplace Premier League finish with a brand of attacking football, signed a new long-term deal on Monday.

But the 41-year-old said it was important to have a frank discussion with the club’s American owners about their ambitions first as he aims to boost his squad in preparation for a return to the Champions League. “The owners have been great,” Rodgers said. “They’re winners themselves. We want to work it in a way that makes the club sustainable and I think we’ve clearly shown

don’t know. “The fact is that we’ve had many great conversations over the past two years about football but also about other things. You don’t have that bond with every coach.” Van Gaal suggested in February that Van Persie was not enjoying life under David Moyes at Old Trafford but the striker appears to be delighted with the new United boss’ approach. “Every training session is really intense,” he said. “The coach is onto you every second. If you start flagging for even a moment, you’ll get to hear about it. He’s very direct with everyone, myself included. “We don’t do training sessions for two-and-a-half hours — they’re usually an hour and 15 minutes or so — but they are incredibly intense. Everyone gets better. Every day, I see the level of all players improving.” He added: “He has a different approach to the other coaches I’ve worked under, but I like it a lot. He is very clear and honest

— he says when something is good and when something is not good, but there is always room for discussion. “He creates a very relaxed atmosphere, but he is typically Dutch: direct. Boom! He has only one aim, and that is to improve. I don’t find that exhausting — I find it energising. Wonderful.”

SERGE Aurier has fallen down the pecking order in being named as Bakary Sagna’s replacement as Arsenal are now looking to Japan defender Atsuto Uchida. The Ivoirian international was tipped to make a move to the Premier League during the offseason after he admitted he fancied a move to join the Gunners. According to talkSPORT, Arsene Wenger has lost interest in the slow process of negotiations and is said to have lined up another possible replacement for Sagna. Uchida made his professional debut at the age of 17 when he started for Kashima Antlers and has been at Shalke for the past four years, featuring 85 times for the Bundesliga outfit. Aurier was long considered Arsenal’s primary summer transfer target following two impressive years with Ligue 1 side Toulouse. The 21-year-old right-back is expected to feature for the Ivory Coast in next month’s World Cup in Brazil.

Van Persie

Rodgers Given Transfer Assurances that it’s about the top quality. “It’s also about being strategic in those signings as well, bringing in the right players. It’s key for me that I can speak to the owners like that. “The big lure will be Champions League, that’s what I’ve found in my conversations with agents and people. The best players want to play in the big competition. That’s the fight and I certainly found that last summer but we’ve put Liverpool back on

the map. “Everyone sees that we’re going to be a threat; that we’re going to go into Europe next year and we’ll have no fear. We need to pay attention in terms of the teams we’ll be playing against, but we’ll have no fear. That’s what top players want, to play in teams where they can show their talents. “Yes, it is also about

wages, but there was one player who we offered more money to than he took from the club that he went to just to play Champions League football.” Liverpool have already identified several key targets in the summer window, including Southampton midfielder Adam Lallana, Cardiff central defender Steven Caulker and Sevilla leftback Alberto Moreno.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Seedorf Out, Inzaghi In At Milan

FILIPPO Inzaghi is on the verge of being named as the new coach of AC Milan after spending almost four hours in talks with club president Silvio Berlusconi and general manager Adriano Galliani on Monday night, according to widespread reports. La Gazzetta dello eliminated from the Sport reports that Coppa Italia by Udinese Inzaghi arrived at and the Champions Berlusconi’s residence League by eventual at Arcore, near Milan, runners-up Atletico together with Galliani, Madrid. who for the second night Berlusconi refused to running was summoned back Seedorf earlier in to analyse the 2013-14 May, stating: “Let’s just season. wait and see how the The Rossoneri missed season ends. Then, as we out on European football always have done at for the first time in 16 Milan, we will decide years after finishing in together, with the eighth place, and current coach Clarence Seedorf is set to be ousted as a result. Seedorf, who signed a contract until 2016 when he replaced Massimiliano Allegri in January, managed to pick up 35 points from his 22 games in charge — winning half of them — but that was ultimately not sufficient to take Milan into Europe next season. They finished one point short of sixthplaced Torino and were Filippo Inzaghi

managerial staff, who have the responsibility for the team, and with the board of advisors. It’s all still up in the air.” Inzaghi was in charge of Milan’s youth team this season, leading them to success in the prestigious Viareggio youth tournament. He was wanted by Sassuolo over the winter, but Milan refused to release Inzaghi from a two-year contract as their

Yaya Toure

Tuesday he rated Toure staying at City as “50-50” and the player’s comments about PSG will only increase speculation he is looking to move on. “Given the goals of Paris, how could you not be interested in a club like that?” Toure told France Football. “PSG have become one of the strongest teams in Europe. It would be an honour to one day play for a club like that. If I can be of service...” In the interview, the midfielder did little to play down suggestions a summer move could be on the cards. “Given the magnificent season Manchester City have had, everyone talks about me and everything is open,” he added. “My agent, Dimitry, is hanging on the telephone and he knows what he has to do, I have complete confidence in him. “Nobody knows what can happen tomorrow, my attention

Alen Halilovic

Halilovic Completes Barca Switch “This is a great day and I am very happy,” he told reporters. “I have always been a Barca fan and I know a lot about the club. I have been watching Barca B this season – they are a young team who play great football. “I can speak a little Catalan. I’m very happy to have been given the chance to play at the biggest club in the world. Hello to all the Barca fans and Visca el Barca!”

Pique Excited About Barcelona out my career here is a big GERARD Pique says he is Future boost for me,” he said. “I excited about working under

It Would Be An Honour To Play For World Cup and we PSG - Toure iswillonseetheafterwards.

MANCHESTER City midfielder Yaya Toure has cast more doubt on his future at the club by admitting it would be an honour to play for Paris St Germain. Over the last week it has emerged all is not well with the Ivory Coast midfielder after his agent complained the player was not respected enough by the club’s hierarchy, even suggesting the 31-year-old was unhappy his recent birthday was not marked properly. Dimitry Seluk said last

youth team coach. His appointment as first-team coach, two years after ending an 11year playing career with the Rossoneri, now seems inevitable with Berlusconi and Galliani due to discuss a release package with Seedorf, who is set to earn a reported ten million euros for the remaining two years on his contract, making him an expensive four-month gamble.

ALEN Halilovic has completed his move from Dinamo Zagreb to Barcelona, calling the Blaugrana ‘the biggest club in the world’. The 17-year-old playmaker has joined the Catalan giants for +2.2m, but will initially play for the ‘B’ team before hopefully making the step up.

“Yes, I have said I would like to finish my career at Barcelona. You never know because football moves quickly, you never know.” Seluk reiterated his view from last week that Toure should be offered a job on City’s backroom staff when he finishes playing. “A role at City after his (playing) career? Of course. Like Real Madrid have done with (Zinedine) Zidane, for example,” he said. “Zidane played there and afterwards began working for the club. “Yaya will need a club in the future. We do not want more money or a longer contract, anything like that, just the right attention. “More attention on Yaya, and that he feels happy at the club, that is the most important thing. “I will tell you one more time, we do not need more money.”

new Barcelona coach Luis Enrique after signing a new contract until June 2019. Enrique is set to oversee a shake-up of the Camp Nou dressing-room this summer, with question marks over the futures of previous mainstays including Xavi Hernandez, Dani Alves, Cesc Fabregas, Alexis Sanchez, Pedro Rodriguez and Javier Mascherano. However, Pique — along with others who have recently signed new contracts including Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Sergio Busquets — looks set for a key role in the new regime and the 27-year-old is relishing the chance to play under Enrique. “I am very excited,” Pique said on the club’s official website. “In his press conference he showed that he’s very clear about his ideas. He knows this place well and I think he’ll do a lot of good for us. I am really looking forward

to working under him.” Pique, who left Barca’s La Masia academy for Manchester United and then returned in 2008 after four years away, said he could now see himself spending the rest of his career at the Catalan club. “Knowing that I could live

BAYERN Munich forward Claudio Pizarro has extended his contract with the domestic double winners by one season to 2015, the

Bavarians said on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Peru international, who joined Bayern in 2012 for a second spell after three years at Werder Bremen, scored 10 league goals in 17 matches last season, utilised mostly as a late substitute. Pizarro, the Bundesliga’s all-time foreign top scorer with 176 goals in 370 matches, emerged as an invaluable option for coach Pep Guardiola after leading striker Mario Mandzukic fell out of favour towards the end of the season.

hope we can enjoy as many successes as we have had already. FC Barcelona has to be at the top, winning titles and feeling important among the elite of European and world football. We have a team and a coach. We have all the ingredients to get back where we belong.”

Pique

Veteran Peru Striker Pizarro Extends Bayern Deal

Claudio

“Claudio proved again this season how dangerous he is in front of goal and how important he is for the team,” Bayern CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge said in a statement. “We are happy to be able to continue counting on his abilities.” Pizarro played at Bayern from 2001-2007 before returning to Bremen in 2009, for whom he played in 19992001, after an unsuccessful two-season spell at Chelsea.

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Bale Withdraws From Wales Squad BALE, who scored in Real Madrid’s UEFA Champions League final win over Atletico Madrid on Saturday, was named in Chris Coleman’s 23man squad for the friendly in Amsterdam on June 4 but has now been forced to pull out. The 24-year-old has been carrying a leg injury for a “few weeks” according the Welsh

Football Association, and will be rested to ensure he does to make the injury worse. “Gareth Bale has withdrawn from the Welsh squad to travel to Amsterdam to face the Netherlands in a friendly international next week,” the FA confirmed on Tuesday. “Bale has been troubled with a leg muscle injury for a few weeks. “His place in the squad will be taken by Fulham’s George Williams.”

Protesters Surround Brazil Team Coach

PROTESTS have continued in Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro just a month before the FIFA World Cup is due to start. Protesters surrounded the as it set off from Rio de coach carrying Brazil’s 23- Janeiro on Monday, man World Cup squad to a chanting against the money training camp in the being spent on hosting the mountain city of Teresopolis tournament.

The demonstration — the latest of several against the government cash used on the event, which many Brazilians feel would have been better spent on education and health — saw a crowd consisting mainly of

Torres Hopeful Of World Cup Chance FERNANDO Torres has spoken of his delight to be back in the Spain fold and is determined to make the most of his opportunity with World Cup spots up for grabs. A combination of injury and disappointing form for Chelsea had seen Torres lose his place in the Spain set-up over the last year but the striker earned a recall to the provisional 30man World Cup squad that coach Vicente del Bosque named earlier this month. And Torres was also one of the players retained by Del Bosque on Sunday for their upcoming pre-World Cup friendly with Bolivia, giving the 30-year-old a chance to further press his claims for a spot on the plane to Brazil. The former Atletico Madrid and Liverpool striker, who scored in the finals of both Euro 2008 and Euro 2012, told the Spanish press on Monday: “It’s very nice to be back with the national team. I’ve gone a year without being with La Roja, since the Confederations Cup. “I knew that anything could happen. Yesterday, I was only hoping to hear my name. I knew that I could’ve been here or not, but now I have a better chance of being in Brazil.

Belgium’s Romelu (right) celebrates next to Kevin De Bruyne after scoring against Luxembourg

Lukaku Hits Hat Trick, Socceroos Held

ROMELU Lukaku scored a hat trick to lead Belgium 5-1 past Luxembourg in a World Cup warm-up game on Monday. The triple boosted Lukaku’s chances to be Belgium’s striker at the World Cup after Christian Benteke withdrew injured almost two months ago. Belgium had gone four matches without a win. Lukaku opened the score in the third minute, scrambled a second home in the 23rd and made it three with a solo effort in the 54th minute. The Everton forward was replaced on the hour. Substitute Nacer Chadli

added a fourth in the 71st minute and Kevin De Bruyne finished off with a penalty in the 90th. Luxembourg had earlier scored their only effort through Aurelien Joachim in the 13th minute. Australia were held to a 11 draw by an understrength South Africa in their last international friendly on home soil before the World Cup. More than 50,000 spectators were at Sydney’s Olympic stadium expecting to send the Socceroos off with what should have been a straightforward win. Instead, it was Ayanda Patosi who opened the scoring for

The announcement was made during a news conference, which was delayed by over an hour with Prandelli putting pen to paper on his new work agreement. He will remain in charge of the Squadra Azzurra until the end of Euro 2016. “I’m sorry for the delay, but it was due to the fact that we were signing a new contract,” Prandelli said at the start of a news conference at Coverciano. “Let’s not expand on the details now, though, because we’ve got an objective which is far too important coming

up.” Prandelli replaced Marcello Lippi at the helm of the Italy national team following a disappointing showing at the 2010 World Cup. He led them to runners-up spot at Euro 2012 and third at last summer’s Confederations Cup, while they are rated as an outside bet for the World Cup this summer. His future had been in doubt earlier this year when he hinted he was tempted by a return to club management. The 56-yearold insisted that his future

South Africa against the run of play in the 13th minute. New York Red Bulls midfielder Tim Cahill scored the equaliser a minute later, extending his record as Australia’s all-time leading international scorer, when he nodded in a header from Tommy Oar’s well-placed cross. But it was one of the rare highlights in an Australian performance that was more notable for the problems in its inexperienced defence. Striker Pierre Webo picked up a left shoulder injury

Cesare Prandelli Extends Italy Contract

CESARE Prandelli has extended his contract as Italy’s national team coach until 2016, the Italian Football Association (FIGC) has confirmed.

Cesare Prandelli

would be decided prior to the World Cup, and he has stuck to his word by signing on the dotted line less than three weeks ahead of Italy’s opening World Cup fixture against England. “We’ll be able to talk about projects and programmes from September,” Prandelli added on Monday. “I have been willing to sign a new contract for the past two months and we’ve been using this time to draw up the agreement, which wasn’t particularly difficult.”

while scoring Cameroon’s first goal in a 2-0 victory over Macedonia in a warmup game. Webo beat Macedonia goalkeeper Tome Pacovski with an acrobatic bicycle kick in the 52nd minute but landed on his arm and thus left the field immediately. In the 84th, Maxim Choupo-Moting scored with a low shot after loose defending by Macedonia to double Cameroon’s lead, without star striker Samuel Eto’o. Russia started their World Cup preparations with a 1-0 win over Slovakia in St. Petersburg. The match was a largely drab affair before Zenit St. Petersburg striker Alexander Kerzhakov nodded in debutant Maxim Kannunikov’s cross on 82 minutes as the Slovakian defence failed to react. Iran were held to 0-0 by Montenegro in a friendly for their second straight goalless draw in the buildup to the World Cup. Iran, who played Belarus eight days ago, lost Hashem Beikzadeh early in the match. The defender limped off the field with an apparent right leg injury after 15 minutes. Midfielder Ashkan Dejagah came closest for Iran with a curling free kick that forced Montenegro keeper Mladen Bozovic to a diving safe in the 28th minute, while captain Javad Nekounam saw his header go just wide in the 40th.

education officials demanding better schools waving banners and attaching stickers with anti-World Cup slogans to the team bus. At last year’s Confederations Cup, which also took place in Brazil, regular anti-government and anti-World Cup protests took place, sparking fears among the Brazilian authorities of widespread repeats during the World Cup. Local officials and FIFA organisers were quick to pledge that they would do everything possible to prevent demonstrations from affecting the tournament, with a heavy security presence expected both at team training camps and around stadiums. Brazil open the tournament in Sao Paolo when they take on Croatia on June 12, with their other Group A matches against Mexico and Cameroon. The protests come days after former player Eric Cantona was quoted by Le Parisien as criticising FIFA executive committee vice-president Michel Platini for asking the Brazilian public to stop protesting during the World Cup. Speaking at a showing of his new documentary, Looking for Rio, which charts the development of some of Brazil’s biggest clubs, Cantona, 47, said the UEFA president’s call for a tournament truce was likely to go unheeded. “Platini expects the World Cup to go well, but people just need to be heard — and they will be heard thanks to the World Cup,” the former Manchester United star told the audience at the Eden Theatre in La Ciotat. “What they’re asking for has been carried right around the world for several months now because of this event. That’s a positive thing. Of course they are going to take advantage of the World Cup, they’re not going to wait for it to be over as Platini asks. That would be pointless.”

Felipe Scolari

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

2014 World Cup

Super Eagles Will Be The Surprise Team - Envoy

Miami Heat forward LeBron James (6) drives to the basket against Indiana Pacers center Roy Hibbert .

Football Association (NFA) and that of President Goodluck Jonathan to the team. The statement quoted the envoy as assuring the team that 170 million Nigerians would be praying daily for luck to be on its side during the competition. “I know President Jonathan will reward you excellently and I will also be in Abuja when a huge reception is organised for the team after the World Cup. “I am very sure the president will not fail to say thank you; just play your part and leave the rest to him,’’ the statement quoted Tafida as saying. Super Eagles Head Coach Stephen Keshi was also quoted as saying that he was working in tandem with NFA had clearly backfired. to ensure that the team was “Lance is young and that is devoid of injuries in the runa learning lesson for him. up to the World Cup. Sometimes you have got to He noted that friendly watch what you say, you are matches must be played to on the big stage. Everything keep the team in shape we say is going to be bulletin physically, mentally and board material,” he said. Game Five of the best-of- socially, adding that the seven series is on Wednesday players had not been together for some time. in Indiana. NIGERIA’S High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Dr Dalhatu Tafida, has predicted that the Super Eagles will be the surprise team of the 2014 World Cup in Brazil. A statement issued by Ben Alaiya, the Super Eagles Media Officer on Monday, said that Tafida made the prediction when he hosted the team at the Nigerian House in London. Tafida said his prediction was based on the team’s pedigree, sound technical bench, support of the Nigeria

LeBron Betters Jordan Record As Heat Near Finals

LEBRON James produced a blistering 14-point third quarter as the Miami Heat took a commanding 3-1 lead over the Indiana Pacers in the Eastern Conference finals with a 102-90 win. The Heat led 49-44 at the Indiana’s total. “I thought we outplayed half, with Chris Bosh having them. It’s just demoralizing his best performance of the postseason with 17 first-half when a game is lopsided, I’m points, but the home side ran sorry to say but that was the away with the game in the case again. How rare is it that we shoot 50 per cent, turn the third. Miami burst out with a 7-0 ball over 14 times, out-rebound streak to grab a 12-point lead a team and lose? “They made 30 free throws and LeBron took charge with and that put them over the two spectacular threeedge. I feel like we are just as pointers and a ferocious dunk among his 14 points in the aggressive as they are attacking the basket and making plays at third. James, who finished with the rim. Maybe this was just 32 points, 10 rebounds and home cooking,” he said. James was having none of it. five assists, now has 74 “We did only have five career play-off games with at least 25 points, five rebounds turnovers and 20 points off and five assists, passing their turnovers. That has Michael Jordan for the most nothing to do with the free throw line,” he said. in NBA history. It was a particularly fired-up The win puts Miami one victory away from a fourth performance from James but he straight appearance in the rejected the idea that ‘trash NBA Finals and a shot at a talk’ in Game Three and further pre-game comments from third straight title. Miami have struggled with Indiana’s Lance Stephenson slow starts throughout the postseason but they were determined from the outset, grabbing a swift 8-0 RUSSIA’S Maria advantage with all the points Sharapova hits a return to coming from Bosh. Russia’s Ksenia Pervak “Coach drew up a play for me and I pretty much made during their French tennis my mind up that I was going Open first round match at to shoot it,” said Bosh. the Roland Garros stadium “After that, it’s a funny in Paris on May 26, 2014. thing but when my team- AFP PHOTO / MIGUEL mates see me being aggressive like that and the MEDINA The seventh seed and 2012 shots do go in, they look for me a little bit more and I try champion blew kisses to the to make their job a little crowd after she claimed easier.” victory. While Miami credited The warmup on Philippe Bosh and James for a strong Chatrier featured seventh performance, Indiana’s Paul George felt the Heat had seed Sharapova in fetching benefitted from favourable pink and Pervak in what refereeing. Miami were looked like army given 34 free throws, double

had contributed to his aggressive mindset. “I don’t need any motivation. I am motivated enough to try and get back to the finals,” he said. But George believed his team-mate’s comments, where he claimed LeBron had shown ‘weakness’ in their on-court exchanges,

Russia’s Maria Sharapova hits a return to Russia’s Ksenia Pervak during their French tennis Open first round match at the Roland Garros stadium in Paris on Monday.

Sharapova Blows Away Ksenia To points on first serve. Reach Round Two cent“It’sofgood to play the first

camouflage trousers and

jacket. Once the match began, her fighting spirit proved insufficient to trouble Sharapova. Winner of the Stuttgart and Madrid claycourt titles, Sharapova went on the attack early, moving her left-handed compatriot around the court to break at the first opportunity. But a wild volley at the net, with the whole court open, allowed Pervak to break back before the

four-times grand slam champion finally emerged with a 4-1 lead and took the set in 27 minutes. Sharapova broke early in the second set and while Pervak kept defeat at bay in her final service game, she handed Sharapova victory when she hit a return of serve too long. Sharapova showed she had fully recovered from her thrashing by Ana Ivanovic in the third round in Rome, winning 92 per

match and hopefully you’ll be able to finish the match today with the weather conditions being as they are. It’s always nice to get through,” said Sharapova. Ninth seed Dominika Cibulkova of Slovakia beat France’s Virginie Razzano 7-5 6-0. There were also wins for seeds Sabine Lisicki, last year’s losing Wimbledon finalist, Flavia Pennetta, the winner at Indian Wells this year, and Eugenie Bouchard of Canada.

The Super Eagles arrived in London on Sunday for an international friendly against Scotland in London today as part of its preparation for the World Cup which kicks off on June 12. The team is also expected play other friendly matches against Greece in Philadelphia on June 3 and USA in Florida on June 7, before leaving for Brazil. Nigeria will play Iran in their first Group F World Cup match in Brazil on June 16. The team’s second match will be against Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 21 and their final group match will be against Argentina on June 25

Nigeria Will Shock The World - Onigbinde

A former Super Eagles Head Coach, Adegboye Onigbinde, said on Monday that the national team was capable of putting up a World Cup performance that could surprise the world. Onigbinde, however, told newsmen in Lagos that the team’s performance at the World Cup would depend on its pre-tournament preparation. He said that the players needed to show a high level of commitment to be able to excel at the tournament. He said: “Well I don’t think there is anything impossible, it depends on what level of preparation you put into your team. “And I have often said this, I ‘have always quoted this example in 2002, France came to Japan as the current champions their first match was against Senegal. “Senegal beat them and even in our own humble way, nobody not many people expected that Argentina wouldn’t have whitewashed us with goals we lost 0-1. “For one reason or the other and at the end of the day in our third match we played a draw against England. “So, anything is possible in football and I don’t think we should rule any impossibility out, but it should depend, as I said, on how the team is prepared.“

THE NIGERIAN

WEDNESDAY, MAY 28, 2014

Over-Celebrating Corruption In Nigeria? U N A R G U A B LY , corruption is a global cankerworm which does not spare any nation; but of recent, comments about the level in Nigeria are worrisome. In spite of the comments, Nigeria was not even listed as among the 23 most corrupt countries in the recent rating released by Transparency International. Just recently the Federal Ministry of External Affairs summoned the Zimbabwean Head of Chancery, Stanley Kunjeku, to lodge a complaint over remarks credited to President Robert Mugabe. Mugabe made the remarks during his 90th birthday luncheon hosted by service chiefs. Mugabe said Zimbabweans are now almost behaving like Nigerians who had to be corruptly paid for every service. “Are we now like Nigeria where you have to reach your pocket to get anything done? “You see we use to go to Nigeria and every time we went there we had to carry extra cash in our pockets to corruptly pay for everything. “ You get into a plane in Nigeria and you sit there and the crew keeps dilly dallying without taking off as they wait for you to pay them to fly the plane.” Ironically, the corruption rankings in the world when Mugabe made the comment, ranked the corruption level in Zimbabwe worst than that of Nigeria. Dr Martin Uhomoibhi, Permanent

Secretary, Ministry of External Affairs, described Mugabe’s comment as “vitriolic and denigrating on Nigeria and Nigerians. “We were very concerned when we read that on the occasion of the 90th birthday of President Mugabe, he took off considerable time to vituperate about Nigeria.’’ He said Mugabe’s comments reflected “what we consider to be a strong aversion of our country, remarks which we consider denigrating and un-statesmanly on Nigeria and Nigerians in general. “He was reported to have said Nigerians are corrupt people when he hosted service chiefs on his 90th birthday. “We want to present the strongest protest in that statement; not only does it not reflect the reality in our country, but to come from a sitting president of a brotherly country is most unkind and very dishonourable, ’’ he said. President Goodluck Jonathan, at a meeting with the Nigerian community in Namibia, had said that corruption in Nigeria had been blown out of proportion. According to him, corruption is everywhere but it is over-celebrated in the country to the extent that the nation and its people are stigmatised. The president stressed that while his administration would not condone the menace, using big stick would not be a solution to end corruption. The president said that with the promulgation of decrees and relevant laws stipulating capital punishment for armed robbery, the menace had not stopped. He called on every

Nigerian to resolve to do the right thing and support the government in its efforts at building a new Nigeria. In order to highlight the activities of anti-graft agencies, Jonathan has directed ICPC and EFCC to publicise their achievements.

creditably in the fight against corruption. He said that majority of those criticising his government of not fighting corruption were even those that are “very corrupt’’. “The society is so funny that these days, anybody who wants to claim any

Matters In Focus With CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO impression, the antigraft agencies “must prove to Nigerians and show to Nigerians that you are working.’’ “Recently, the EFCC published a list of about 250 people they had convicted, and that is a huge number of people, and they said the

Ibrahim Lamorde, EFCC Boss

The president gave the directive recently in Abuja at the swearing-in of ICPC Commissioner, Alhaji Bako Abdullahi. “ICPC and EFCC must make Nigerians believe that they are working. I know what you are doing, but not everybody knows what you are doing. “Ordinarily, these are agencies whose activities are not supposed to be made too loud because you don’t celebrate a situation where you send 100 or 200 Nigerians to prison,’’ he said. The president contended that contrary to the erroneous impression being created by some critics, his administration had done

element of credibility at all will go to the television and attack government of corruption. “They say the president’s body language shows that he is not fighting corruption or he is not ready to fight corruption. “And sometimes it is even the very corrupt people that are making these statements, because if you attack government you are insulated, you become an angel. “If you want to be an angel, just attack the government, so whatever you have done is covered,’’ he said. Jonathan stressed that to correct such negative

government is not fighting corruption. “How many countries have convicted half that number of people within a space of time? “But before the publication, so many people did not believe that the EFCC are even going to work. “So in a situation where

you secured convictions you should be able to tell Nigerians from time to time so that people appreciate that these two agencies are working. “I know you are working, but not everybody knows you are working,’’ he said. Chairman of the EFCC, Mr Ibrahim Lamorde, has also reiterated that the commission was committed to combating economic and financial crimes, adding that more than 773 convictions were secured since the inception of EFCC in 2003. Lamorde stated this recently in Sokoto while inaugurating the Usman Danfodiyo University chapter of Zero Tolerance Club, an anti corruption club. L a m o r d e , represented by Deputy Director, Public Affairs Department of the commission, Mr Osita Nwajah, said the war against corruption and financial crimes would only be won through collective efforts. Corruption is a global cankerworm which does not spare any nation, and could only be checked through collective efforts as suggested by experts a n d stakeholders.(NANFeatures) ** If used, please credit the writer as well as News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE Incidentally, politics remains one of the rare fields where nobody is rejected for, on the final day, every vote, even that of the mad man bears the same weight. So, during the harvest season, the APC will also dance its own “Azonto” and “kokoma” to usher in its share of defectors. -Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan

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