Nigerian observer 28 07 2014

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO. 043• MONDAY, JULY 28, 2014 • N 100.00

FAMILY PLANNING

cmyk

Pg. 18

Intervention To Address Stillbirth Associated With Infection

ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg. 21 Let’s Support Community Policing In Edo State

Islamic clerics chide Edo lawmakers

BENIN CITY - Leading Islamic Clerics in Edo State have taken a swipe at the nine PDP lawmakers in the Edo State House of Assembly over what

they termed the “attempt to hijack the apparatus of government”.

The Islamic Clerics under the aegis of League of Imams led by their Chairman and

Chief Imam of Benin, Mallam Abdulfatai Enabulele, during a visit to Governor Adams Oshiomhole at the weekend, to round off the Ramadan Fasting

said “they say we (religious leaders) should continue to pray for peace to reign in the country. How can God answer such prayers Continues on page 2

Eid-el-Fitri

Oshiomhole seeks prayers for Nigeria BENIN CITY - Governor of Edo State, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, has congratulated the Muslim Ummah on the successful completion of the Ramadan fast. for good; another In his Eid-el-Fitr opportunity for the message signed by his faithful to remould and Chief Press Secretary, reshape his life both Mr Peter Okhiria, the physically and spiritually Governor enjoined the to meet with the Muslim faithful to sustain aspirations of Almighty the spirit of godliness, Allah as laid down in the charity, perseverance, Holy Qur’an. and spiritual “Having observed intercession for the strictly the injunctions of nation.

Almighty Allah by selfAccording to him, “the denial through fasting Ramadan offered the and prayers and by Muslim faithful another offering Zakat to the opportunity to shun evil less-privileged, the

lessons learnt during the Holy month should not be lost.”

Noting that the spiritual intercession of the Muslim Ummah would

remain indispensable to the nation, the Governor urged “the faithful to

continually pray for the peace, progress and stability of the nation especially at this critical time; pray for wisdom for those in leadership and pray for continued peace, growth and Continues on page 2

Sallah: Gov calls for religious tolerance

BENIN CITY – Edo State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has stressed the need for religious tolerance and peaceful co-existence among the people.

The Governor spoke in Government House, Benin City where he received the Muslim Community in the state led by the Chief Imam of Benin, Alhaji abdul-Fatai Enabulele who paid him a sallah homage.

Comrade Oshiomhole whose address was read by the Deputy Governor, (Dr.) Pius Egberanmwen

Odubu noted that Edo State is one large community with a common ancestry.

He appealed to the Muslim community to always see members of other religious groups as brothers and sisters and called for a concerted effort to stem the unwholesome activities of the Boko Haram insurgents in the north eastern part of the country.

Acknowledging that the Boko Haram sect has no basis in Islam, Dr. Odubu pointed out with sadness that the Chibok girls abducted in Borno

TIT BIT

“Intentions are not achievements. If we allow ourselves to be trapped in a rat of continuous celebration of our intentions, we may become too satisfied and end up forgetting that we are yet to reach our goals.”.

- Kingsley-Ogbeide-Ihama

State have been in captivity for over a hundred days.

He appreciated the support the Muslims have accorded the state government in the last six years and promised to continue to provide Continues on page 2

EID-EL-FITRI: Edo State Deputy Governor, Dr. Pius Odubu (middle) flanked by the State Head of Service, Mr. John Obazele (left) and the Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Alhaji Abdul-Fatai Enabulele when he led Muslim faithful in the State on a Sallah visit to Edo State Government yesterday in Government House, Benin City. Photo: SOLOMON ENAIGBE.

2 Explosions kill 6, injure 13 in Kano KANO - No fewer than six persons lost their lives following two explosions which occurred in Kano yesterday.

The first blast went off at Kofar Nasarawa, near the North-West University, while the

second explosion happened at St. Charles Church on Zungeru Road in Sabon Gari.

The State Police Commissioner, Mr Aderenle Shinaba who confirmed the incident while briefing newsmen in Kano, said 13 other persons sustained

injuries.

He said the attack at Kofar Nasarawa was carried out around 12.05 p.m. by a 16-year-old girl suicide bomber who wanted to cross over to the university.

“The girl loaded herself with explosives and her target was the

university and in the course of preventing her from going to the university, she detonated the bomb and injured five policemen.

“Five out of the security personnel stationed at the place sustained injuries, while

Group re-affirms support for Oshiomhole

By LUCKY EFESE

BENIN CITY – Members of the Edo Must Unite Political Group, an umbrella body

of the Committee of communities’ Chairmen in the seven local

government areas of the Edo South Senatorial district in the state, have

reaffirmed their total support for the administration of Governor Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole and the All Continues on page 2

the girl blew herself off instantly,’’ the police commissioner said.

He added that in the case of the second blast at Zungeru road, the bomb was detonated within the vicinity of the church.

Shinaba said this had led to the killing of five persons while eight others were injured.

“The attack, which was carried out around 1.00 p.m., claimed five persons and injured eight persons,’’ he said.

The police official said Continues on page 2

News Islamic clerics chide Edo lawmakers

Continued from page 1 when agents of oppression, suppression, aggression refuse to allow the moral virtues of justice, equity and fair-play, honesty and sincerity be their guarding principles?

“The battle in the Edo State

House of Assembly is about some few individual’s interest who want to hijack the apparatus of government by any means. They want to produce the majority in the House of Assembly and thereafter elect their Speaker and when they have

Support for Oshiomhole

Continued from page 1

Progressives Congress (APC) in the state.

The political group under the leadership of Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighbourhood Watch as president and Mr. Buddy Buddy Eboigbe, Managing Director of Buddy Buddy Hotel Limited in Idogboas vice president, disclosed this to the NIGERIAN OBSERVER recently while holding a sensitization meeting with their members at Idogbo on the urgent need to give moral support to Governor Oshiomhole for his developmental strides in the state.

Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun, who is the Chief Convener and sponsor, while speaking on behalf of members, noted that Edo State had presently experienced a gigantic transformation by the administration of the Comrade Governor, who had humbly replicated the legacies of elder statesmen, Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia and late Prof. Ambrose Alli in the state.

He stressed further that Edo State was in a state of mess by the past administration prior to his coming on board in 2008 and urged the entire people, especially the youths, who are members of the Edo Must Unite Political Group to eschew sentiments and shun those moneybag politicians to support the comrade governor and the APC, to take the state to the next level.

He pointed that as the 2015 and 2016 general elections in the state draw nearer, some political sycophants would soon roll out plans to influence youths, financially to support their inordinate

Explosions Continued from page 1 three suspects, including a cripple, had also been arrested at Sabon Gari while all the injured were now receiving medical attention in the hospital.

He said investigation had already commenced to unravel the circumstances and those behind the attacks.

Meanwhile, security has been beefed up in the affected areas.

ambitions, but that they should collect their money and vote their conscience in order to consolidate on the landmark achievements of the APC-led government in the state.

The Chairman of Akugbe Ventures Limited, a Tax Consultancy firm to the Edo State Government thanked members for their prompt attention to the meeting and described their decent coordination as a practical demonstration of their love for the state, especially as leaders of tomorrow and assured them of his continuous support to ensure that dividends of democracy are extended to their domain.

successfully achieved their goal in the House of Assembly, the next stage is to move against the Executive by impeaching the Governor and the Deputy.

“When the struggle in the Assembly started, I decided to admonish the congregation in one of the Friday Juma’a Service about the issues at stake because it is part of our responsibility to inform, enlighten, educate and admonish our people on current issues taking place and we must not shy away from speaking the truth as religious leaders, as we are going to stand before our creator to give account of our stewardship.”

The League of Imams assured the Governor that the Muslim community were praying for him, saying “insha Allah, you will complete the mandate given to you by Edo people and no amount of any diabolical manipulation will make them succeed.”

Speaking on the stoppage of the Governor from flying from the Benin Airport, recently, the Imams said

Prayers for Nigeria

Continued from page 1 tranquility in our dear Edo State.

“The Muslim Ummah should remember that there is abundant reward in fidelity to Allah’s injunctions. I urge the faithful to sustain the acts of worship and shun all forms of evil which negate the lessons learnt during the Holy month.

“I beseech the faithful to continue to live in peace and harmony with men of other faith in our State so that the blessings of Almighty Allah will continue to shower on us all in the state.”

He prayed that the blessings bestowed by Almighty Allah on believers through the Holy Month will abide with the faithful all through the year.

Religious tolerance Continued from page 1 the necessary infrastructural facilities while paying attention to job creation and other critical areas.

The Chief Imam of Benin who touched on various issues militating against the Nigerian Polity, advocated

non-partisan approach to galvanize Nigerians against insurgency instead of dividing the country along religious, ethnic and political lines.

Alhaji Enabulele asserted that now is the right-time for the Nigerian Government to tackle the menace of insurgency headlong before it goes out of hand.

“unable to protect its nationals from rag-tag religious militants, the Nigerian state has resorted to harassing and assaulting its most prominent citizens.

The shameless assault on freedom of movement and freedom of association that took place at the Benin Airport against the elected and serving Governor of Edo State and other state Governors of the opposition party on Thursday, 19, June, 2014 is a brutal rape of one of the fundamental tenets of liberal democracy.

“Our concern is that if democratically elected Governors who have immunity guaranteed by the Constitution could be so shabbily treated despite the high office they occupy, then ordinary citizens like us would become easy targets for the overzealous men of the security agencies.

“This action must be condemned by all because it is an infringement on the freedom of movement and association. This is the first time in the history of this country I am hearing of Governors going for a rally being stopped by ‘Orders from above.

This unbecoming scenario never took place even during the despotic military era.”

In his response, Governor Oshiomhole thanked the Islamic Clerics for their Ramadan visit and for their continued prayers for peace and security in the state, saying the harmony which exists between people of different faith in the state has made Edo the safest in the country and a destination for investors.

He said he was happy that the Clerics understood that a few people in the State House of Assembly wanted to impose their will on the majority and that they had defied several court orders with the connivance of some Policemen who helped them to break the law.

Security: Chief Imam urges Nigerians to redouble efforts

By VICTOR OMOALU BENIN CITY – The Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Mallam Abdul Fatai Enabulele, yesterday advised Nigerians, especially security agents to redouble their efforts in the fight against the unabating security challenges currently facing the nation.

The Chief Imam gave the advise at the Muslim prayer ground, Ikpoba Slope Benin City to mark the end of the one month long Ramadan fast and prayers.

He noted that the fight against insecurity is a collective responsibility of all, stressing that government must spearhead it since it is

the government’s responsibility to ensure the safety of lives and property of the people.

According to him, “Nobody should associate them (Boko Haram) with Islam. They are not bigger than Nigeria, they are criminals and should be dealt with like criminals.

Thanking Allah for granting the Muslim faithfuls the strength to embark on the fasting and praying, he enjoined Muslims to imbibe the good spirit demonstrated during the period of fasting, saying, “Now that the Ramadan is over, we should not go back to those things we did before the fasting period so that Allah will

accept our prayers.”

While thanking the people for their goodwill towards the Muslims throughout the fasting period, the Chief Imam however admonished the people to imbibe the spirit of peace and harmony.

Meanwhile, the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa has congratulated the Muslim Community for the successful completion of the Ramadan fasting and prayer.

The Monarch who spoke through the Esere of Benin kingdom, Chief Stanley Omoregie Obamwonyi, expressed satisfaction over the fasting period which he said was geared towards ensuring peace and unity in the land.

APC chieftain lauds judiciary for sustaining democracy

By LUCKY EFESE BENIN CITY – A Chieftain of All Progressives Congress in Edo State and the Senior Special Assistant to the Edo State Governor on Neighbourhood Watch, Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun, has praised the Judiciary for sustaining the tempo of justice in this democratic process in Nigeria.

Comrade Adun, disclosed this to the Nigerian OBSERVER recently in his office in Benin City while reaffirming his commitment to the administration of the Comrade Governor, Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole.

He noted that judiciary, as an organ of government, had done everything well to promote a notable course of democratic settings in Nigeria between 1999 and 2014.

The Chairman of Akugbe Ventures Limited posited that the judiciary had been able to streamline the attitudinal tendencies of the Nigerian Politicians by dispensing electoral cases in the court of competent jurisdictions.

Comrade Tony Kabaka

said the judiciary had showcased its fundamental functions to the existence of democracy and described it as a beacon of hope for the poor Nigerian people.

He cited the recent court of appeal judgement against the nine defected PDP lawmakers of the Edo State House of Assembly reaffirming the restraining order initially granted by the Edo State High Court of Justice.

The order restrained the PDP lawmakers, their privies, agents and administrators from carrying out their legislative matters in the premises of the Edo State House of Assembly, pending the determination of the substantive case in the court.

According to him, instead of adhering strictly to the order, the PDP lawmakers who left dissatisfied have proceeded to the supreme court to appeal against the court of Appeal Judgement, a situation he described as not only callous, odious and imperious but a calculated attempt by the said PDP lawmakers to forcibly declare themselves against the wishes of the people that voted them into power.

Edo HOS charges Perm Secs on due diligence BENIN CITY – The Edo State Head of Service, Mr. Igbakemen Jerry Obazele has charged Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service to demonstrate due diligence in the discharge of their assignment.

Mr. Obazele gave this admonition at a meeting he held with the Permanent Secretaries in Government House, Benin City.

The Head of Service told the newly appointed 18 Permanent Secretaries to be grateful to Almighty God for his benevolence towards them and to the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for their appointment, saying that whereas at a time in the annals of Edo State there was embargo on promotion and appointment, the State Government deemed it fit to appoint them.

Mr. Obazele highlighted that at their level, they should be timeous of carrying out Government business, advising that they must shun absenteeism, lateness, and truancy, which he said categorically does not befit their status.

He challenged them to be humble to learn from their subordinates and not be carried away, pretending that they know it all.

Mr. Obazele added that their older colleagues will be very willing and eager to assist them and encouraged the newly appointed

Permanent Secretaries to cultivate the habit of going to the older ones for assistance, when the need arises.

The Head of Service used the forum to thank the older Permanent Secretaries for their concern which helped in appointment of their new colleagues.

Mr. Obazele informed the new Permanent Secretaries that the college of Permanent Secretaries is a place where decisions geared towards the upliftment of the service is muted and decided upon on a regular basis.

He disclosed that the appointment and subsequent swearing in of the new Permanent Secretaries was a great joy to him, saying that by their appointment the number of Permanent Secretaries in the State Civil Service has increased.

The Head of Service informed that the process of posting the Permanent Secretaries was already in motion, adding that as soon as the Governor gives his not, the postings would be released.

Responding on behalf of the new Permanent Secretaries, Dr. Ofure Eboreimen thanked the Governor for finding them worthy to be so appointed.

Dr. Eboreimen pledged their unalloyed loyalty to the Government of Edo State and promised the Head of Service that they will abide with his wise counsel.

Inside Edo School Holds Graduation Ceremony BENIN CITY – The 7th graduation ceremony for pupils of Jasper Group of Schools, Benin City was held at the weekend.

Proprietor of the school, Rev. Akhimien Benedict in his welcoming address appreciated God for making the event a reality and thanked the parent and pupils for ensuring the survival of the school.

Rev. Akhimien said plans are on to establishing a library in the school and equip it with various books, including story books for enhancing the education of pupils of the school.

This, he said will focus on reestablishing reading culture in the pupils.

“Our pupils will use the library time to read various books to broaden their knowledge and position them for any challenge ahead”, the proprietor said.

He used the occasion to thank the teachers for doing a good job and bringing the best out of the pupils.

According to him, despite the low rate of school fees, the school still delivers quality education to the pupils whose performance at the graduation ceremony has proved beyond reasonable doubt that the school is one of the best in the country.

Pupils who scored A in all subject were awarded with scholarship for the first term of the 2014/2015 session.

Beneficiaries were Chidera Obiora (Pre-Nursery), Omokheyeke Aiyevbosa (KG 1), Petra Ekata (KG 3).

Mrs. Ekata Roseline a

teacher and staff expressed delight over the journey so far and thanked God for the success of the session.

She thanked God for helping the school to over come the challenges which the school faced in the session just ending which ended last week and prayed for a more successful sessions.

Responding on behalf of the graduating pupils, Eze Divine thanked God for a successful session and also thanked the teachers and proprietor for the knowledge they have impacted in them and while promising to keep the flag of the school flying in all they do.

By MATTHEW OKAGHA

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State and Mallam Abdul-Fattah Enabulele, Chief Imam of Benin and Chairman, League of Imams during a courtesy visit of the League of Imams to the Governor, recently.

IIJ Graduates First Set Of Students

By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA

BENIN CITY – The first graduation ceremony of the 2011/2012 students of International Institute of Journalism (IIJ) Benin Center has been held in Benin City.

Speaking at the occasion Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Edo State Council Comrade Desmond Agbama assured that his administration would ensure the sustenance of the institution.

“NUJ executives believe in the school that is why we all have supported the school and wants to use this medium to inform you all that IIJ belongs to all of us and its here to stay”, he said.

Comrade Agbama

Sallah: PFN Felicitates With Muslims BENIN CITY - The National President of the Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria(PFN), Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude has congratulated all Muslems in Nigeria for the successful conclusion of their one month Ramadam fast.

In his Sallah goodwill message to the Muslem community in Nigeria, the PFN boss called on Muslems to have a sober reflection on the Spiritual exercise which they had just concluded.

“As you celebrate, we the Pentecostal Christians in Nigeria rejoice and stand with you. We should join our faith together on issues concerning love, peace and unity in our great country.

“There is need for us to stand together and join the government to build a virile, peaceful, united and prosperous nation that we

My Election As Oredo Leader, Irrevoable – Hon Obaseki

will all be proud of”, he said.

While calling for a peaceful co-existence between Christians and the Muslems, Dr. Omobude urged the Moslem leaders not to allow some disgruntled few continued to tarnish the name of their religion by engaging in violent killings and acts of terrorism in Nigeria.

The PFN national President who also condemned the attempted assassination of Gen. Mohammadu Buhari and the killing of innocent Nigerians across the country by members of the Boko Haram insurgents called on all wellmeaning Nigerians to support the government so as to urgently bring to an end the wanton destruction, killings and terrorist acts in our country.

commended the graduands for achieving the feat of becoming the first to graduate from the Benin City study centre. He said the NUJ executive members are doing all they could to build a structure for the school in the premises of NUJ Secretariat.

The co-ordinator of IIJ, Benin Center, Mr. Tony Abolo expressed delight as the school graduated its first set

of students since its establishment in Benin City.

“It is a great delight honouring our very first graduants of IIJ, we are very happy to witness this day which we all have hoped for and we thank the present NUJ executive for their support and making this day a reality” according to Abolo.

He said the students were thoroughly trained to bring out the best in them

adding that the post graduate courses are of high standard.

Responding on behalf of the graduates Mrs. Emilia Ayeni expressed delight and thank God for the success of the programme.

She appreciated the calibre of lecturer who impacted knowledge on the students feet that have just achieved a new feat.

By RICHARD OKORO-EWEKA

arrest with the collaboration of security agents after which the judiciary take over from there.

She score the exercise high in terms of participation and stressed the commitment of the Waste Management Board to continue to do its best and ensure that the state

is kept clean at all times.

We know that our people are working to keep their environment clean, we are glad with the co-operation we have experienced in this months sanitation.

“But, we urge our citizens to take sanitation exercise seriously and ensure that it’s a daily issue”. She concluded.

55 Persons Arrested For Violating Sanitation Laws

BENIN CITY – Over 55 persons were arrested in Benin City weekend during the Edo State monthly environmental sanitation exercises for violating the sanitation laws.

Speaking to newsmen on the success of the exercise the General Manager, of Edo State Waste Management Board, Gillian Ochugbe said those arrested were going to be prosecuted according to the law for violating sanitation laws.

“We made announcement using various mass media informing them that there will be restriction of movement but those arrested violated the law by loiting around during the exercise, hence they were arrested, certainly they will be made to face the law”, she said.

Ochugbe said, even if the judiciary is on strike these arrested offenders must be made to face the law. All we need to do is make

BENIN CITY – The new Leader of Oredo Legislative Arm, Hon. Noghayin Obaseki has reaffirmed that his election of Leader is irrevocable.

Hon. Obaseki said the change in the leadership of Oredo Legislative Arm was necessitated by the need to entrench a vibrant local legislative that would work in harmony with the executive arm in moving the council forward.

He said eight councilor out of the 12 in the locality voted for the change which had come to stay.

Hon. Obaseki assured all stakeholders in Oredo that the new leadership of the Legislative Arm would work in tandem with the visions of the council Chairman and that of the Comrade Governor, Adams Oshiomhole by promulgating the necessary by-laws to enhance the economic and social development of the area.

It will be recalled that eight councilors last week Thursday, passed a vote of no confidence on the leadership of Oredo Legislative Arm led

by Hon. Monday Oboigba and other principal officers including the deputy leader, Hon. Henschel Usiobaifo.

The House Leader and his deputy were subsequently impeached from office.

Hon. Noghayin Obaseki (01), Hon. Ize Iyamu Imafidon (10) and Hon. Benjamin Omuemu (09) were thus elected as leader, deputy leader and majority leader respectively.

Others are Hon. Ernest Edebiri (12) deputy Majority Leader; Hon. Susan Obayagbona (05) Chief Whip; Hon. Brain Jegede (08) deputy Chief Whip and Hon. Henry Osaheni Ukato (06) Manority Leader.

L-R: Senator Chris Ngige, All Progressives Congress (APC), National Chairman, Chief John Oyegun and Cardinal John Onaiyekan pose for photograph during the Courtesy visit of the APC National Chairman to Cardinal Onaiyekan in his office in Abuja recently.

News Parents Urged To Impart Good Morals In Children

BAUCHI (BAUCHI STATE) - Malam Danlami Takko, Deputy Chief Press Secretary to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, has called on parents to instill integrity, honesty and discipline in children right from childhood.

“That is the only way parents can help in curbing youth restiveness in the country’’, he said.

Takko made the call when Arewa Youths Mobilisation for Better Tomorrow led by its

Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Naira visited him at Government House in Bauchi.

He said good moral values in children right from childhood were crucial to ending youth restiveness in the country.

Takko blamed the level of moral decadence and restiveness among youths on lack of proper home training.

According to him, the best that parents can do to help their children as well as the

Impeachment Don Cautions Enugu Assembly NSUKKA (ENUGU STATE) - A University Don, Prof. Aloysius Okolie, has appealed to the Enugu State House of Assembly to drop the move to impeach the State Deputy Governor, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi.

Okolie, a lecturer at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, told newsmen in Nsukka that the move to impeach the Deputy Governor would overheat the polity.

“I don’t have any personal relationship with any of them but I think nobody should be deceived in Enugu State.

“Let them address the issue of governance. If there is any insubordination, have you ever summoned the deputy governor to come and explain one or two things to the house?

“While not standing for anybody, I think they should not waste public fund, public confidence, and public trust on such shallow matter that will add no value to governance in Enugu state.

“We‘ve enjoyed relative peace in Enugu state for a long time. I would rather say let the sleeping dog lie. “ But if they want to go ahead to impeach him let them know that posterity is watching and everybody will have to account for whatever good or bad they try to do,” he said.

He said that for some time there had been mistrust between Gov Sullivan Chime and the deputy governor over keeping of poultry farm

by Onyebuchi in his residence.

The don urged relevant stakeholders in the state to intervene as the issue would escalate and affect tranquility of the state.

“We should remember that when two elephants fight it is the grass that suffers.

“There is nothing wrong in any politician in the state having political ambition for 2015 but it should not be at the expense of peace, progress and unity of the state.

nation was to invest adequate time in their children to ensure that only right values are imparted in the children.

“The wave of moral decadence and restiveness among our youths who make up about 70 per cent of the population of every community was largely due to poor child upbringing.

“The government is doing a lot in youth empowerment through various skills acquisition programmes, but only a few beneficiaries actually end up being productive due to poor upbringing.

“As such, the value of discipline must first be instilled in the youths before

undertaking any skill acquisition for economic empowerment, otherwise the efforts would be in vain.’’

He noted that lack of sound morals among the youths which made them ready tools in the hands of misguided miscreants was partly responsible for the lingering security challenges negatively affecting the country.

“About 90 per cent of those unleashing terror on the once peaceful country are youths.

“This is possible because we have failed as parents to impart the right values in them’’, he said.

Takko advised parents to take their parental duty seriously and entrench the values of honesty, discipline

and hard work in the youths.

According to him, it is by so doing that Nigeria’s hope for survival as a country can be kept alive.

He also called on the women wing of the group to educate mothers on the ills of girl-child hawking with a view to discouraging the practice.

Takko commended the group for the visit and their thoughtfulness in addressing youth restiveness through skill acquisition and economic empowerment.

The media aid pointed out that youth development was a daunting task, but expressed optimism that the goals were achievable if the proper structures were put in place.

Earlier, Naira explained that their visit was to identify with

the media aid in recognition of his good leadership qualities and contribution to the political development of the state.

He said the group was established in 2011 to specifically educate, reform and empower youths who had no education or skills through skills acquisition and other economic empowerment activities.

Naira said the group presently with 4,873 registered members, hoped to extend its tentacles to the entire northern part of the country.

“The main idea is to bring the youths, women and orphans under one umbrella to imbibe good moral values, good foresight and goal orientation for a better tomorrow’’, the Chairman said.

Chief Imam of Benin Central Mosque, Abdul-Fatai Ikponmwosa Enabulele leading a prayer session at the Ikpoba Slope prayer ground as part of activities to conclude the one month Ramadam fast in Benin City, Edo State yesterday.

Photo: SOLOMON ENAIGBE.

Awka Masterplan

Ex-Commissioner Demands Action

Cross section of Muslim faithful during a prayer session at the Ikpoba Slope prayer ground as part of activities to conclude the one month Ramadam fast in Benin City, Edo State yesterday. Photo: SOLOMON ENAIGBE.

AWKA - Chief Godson Ezenagu, a former Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra, has urged Governor Willie Obiano to expedite action on the plans to urbanise the state capital.

Ezenagu told newsmen in Awka that he had not observed visible changes to show that the project was still on course.

The politician, however, commended Obiano for constituting a nine-man Awka Capital Territory Development Board in May, as a show of his commitment to develop the state capital town and for the inauguration of the three flyovers within the state capital.

He observed that in spite of these deliberate moves by

the governor, not much had been seen on ground.

He, therefore, called for deliberate action to modernise the capital territory.

Ezenagu also said that the development of the town would attract more investment into the state and ease the accommodation challenges suffered by the residents.

“Awka should have an urban city status befitting of a state like Anambra; though the governor has taken some steps, more action is needed on the part of the committee.’’

He further called on youths in the state to shun crime and take advantage of the opportunities being provided in the agriculture sector.

Across The Nation Sallah

Closer Relationship With Children

Educationist Tasks Parents

Security Beefed Up In Public Places ABUJA Security measures have been reinforced in some public places and markets in the FCT in view of the Eid-el Fitri celebrations.

A visit to some of these places in the FCT at the weekend revealed that corporate and private establishments were leaving nothing to chance as far as security was concerned.

Speaking with journalists, Mr Ebere Okoroafor, one of the managers of the Jabi Motor Park, noted that the park had put elaborate security measures in place to spot suspicious movements in the premises.

Okoroafor said “although the authorities in the park are doing their best to make sure that people coming in are properly screened but we cannot be perfect.’’

“Many people are actually coming into the park because of the Sallah celebration.

“Some are coming in to send items to their families, while some are travelling to various locations to celebrate with their loved ones,’’ he said.

Okoroafor appealed to the Federal Capital Territory Administration to assist them to stop illegal and indiscriminate parking.

He said this would enable the appropriate authorities concentrate on proper monitoring of the approved parking slots.

“We have also written to Utako Police Station, Vehicle Inspection Officer (VIO) and the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) for assistance on this very issue,’’ he said.

He advised members of the public to avoid patronising such parks as they were not secured to ensure a hitch free Sallah celebration.

Mrs Aisha Abdullahi, a customer at the Garki Modern market, said she came to the market because she was sure the place was safe.

Truck belonging to Edo State Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities being loaded with refuse by a pay-loader for evacuation to government approved dump site during weekend’s monthly environmental exercise in Benin City.

BWARI (FCT) - Mrs Deborah Favour, Head Teacher, of a private Model School in Bwari, FCT, weekend urged parents to establish closer relationship with their children to foster meaningful learning and growth.

Favour gave the advice in Bwari while addressing participants at the maiden edition of the annual speech and prize giving day organised by the school.

She observed that lack of intimacy between parents and children hindered growth in the upbringing of the children in terms of

Cleric Urges Christians To Protect Family Institutions

ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) The Archbishop of Catholic Arch-Diocese of Onitsha, Most Rev. Valerian Okeke, has charged Christians to endeavour to protect marriage and family institutions within their communities.

Okeke said this in a homily he delivered in Onitsha, Anambra on Saturday.

He said this while presiding over an investiture for the elevation to 3rd and 4th degrees of Knights and Ladies of the Order of Saint Mulumba (KSM), Onitsha Metropolitan Council.

The cleric said that the two institutions meant to build a better society were under threat due to various challenges facing the country.

“You should focus your satellite on marriages and families and ensure that love of thy neighbour prevails always, no matter the race and religion of your neighbours,’’ he said.

Okeke attributed the prevailing insurgency and insecurity across Nigeria and indeed the entire globe to lack of love for one another.

He, however, commended the Knights for embarking on a N400 million Chapel project at the Veritas

University of Nigeria, Abuja (VUNA).

He said that as a scandalfree Order, the society look up to them for leadership.

Acknowledging the role of the Knights as Promoters of Life, Okeke said that Knighthood as a disciplined Order, had made tremendous contribution toward mankind and the s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development of the country.

In an address, the Onitsha

Metropolitan Grand Knight of the KSM, Mr Damian Okolo, said the Onitsha council had committed N150 million in a new Model Boys Secondary School project at Ogbede in Enugu State.

Okolo said that the school would be due for commencement of academic activities in September. ccording to Okolo, the council has made financial contributions running into

several millions of naira to charitable institutions across Enugu, Awka, Nsukka, Awgu and Nnewi.

The Supreme Knight of the Order, Chief Anthony Onuh, lauded the newly elevated Knights for their show of discipline, commitment and sacrifice.

The 520 Knights and Ladies took oath of allegiance to the Church before donning their new regalia which was blessed by the Archbishop.

Staff of the Ministry of Environment and Public Utilities evacuating refuse in Benin City during the monthly sanitation exercise in Benin City.

Coy Advises Nigerians To Eat Wisely

ABUJA - The Managing Director of Intercede Health Products (IHP), an indigenous Pharmaceutical company, Mrs Ijeoma Nwafor, has called on Nigerians to eat wisely and allow food to be their medicines for healthy living.

Nwafor, who spoke with newsmen in Abuja, said that non-communicable

diseases were threatening the lives of many people in recent years in the country.

According to her, most of the diseases were caused by people’s lifestyles.

“Most of the time the type of food we eat are direct reflection of our health status and they can either boost our immune system, or destroy it,’’ she said.

She explained that most

foods that destroy the immune system would eventually affect digestive system and the cardiovascular health, through increased weight and high sugar in the blood.

Nwafor, therefore, advised that people should take advantage of the country’s indigenous food, which are rich in antioxidants, anti-

cancer and antiinflammatory properties.

She mentioned foods like unripe plantain, soya beans, bitter leaf, pumpkin leaf and seed, honey, aloe vera and bitter cola, among others, that “can prevent and cure diseases such as diabetes, cancers, heart disease, and other chronic diseases’’.

Nwafor said the company

was established in1992 as a wellness company that specialised in high quality herbal and dietary supplements produced in laboratories.

She said that the products had been produced to help people take these natural foods in capsules and syrups to make it easy for people to consume.

inculcating moral values in them.

She said that family was the foundation ground upon which character was formed in the child and therefore urged parents to relate more with their children to achieve the target goal.

Favour said: “Working with children is the best job in the world and there is nothing as important as helping a child to grow as an individual.

“Parents must relate with their children to encourage skills development, to promote self reliance when faced with challenges in an ever changing world.

“By so doing you instil confidence in the child towards discovering and engaging the most unique talents in him or her,’’ she said.

She said although the upbringing of children was demanding, the rewards were beyond comparison.

According to her, I am confident that there is still capacity for further improvement of children learning abilities both at the home front and the school environment.

Sanitation

Kano Warns Traders KANO - Kano state government has warned traders at the ‘Yan lemo’ market in the state capital, to improve on the sanitary condition of the market, or risk having it relocated to another place.

The State Commissioner for Environment, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on Sanitation, Alhaji Abdullahi Abbas, gave the warning in Kano at weekend.

Speaking through the Director, Administration and General Services of the Ministry of Environment, Alhaji Abdullahi Kankarofi, the commissioner said despite several warnings, the traders failed to improve the sanitary condition of the market.

He lamented that the traders were in the habit of littering the environment with rotten fruits that contaminated the atmosphere with foul smell, thereby discomforting nearby residents and road users.

Abbas said an earlier ultimatum given to the traders would be extend and if there was no improvement, legal action would be taken and the market relocated to the outskirt of the city.

Across The Nation Sultan Commends Muslim, Catholic Cordial Relationship SOKOTO - The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, has commended the cordial relationship existing between the Catholic community and people of the

Eid-El-Fitr

IGP Places Police On Red Alert ABUJA - The InspectorGeneral of Police, Mr Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered extensive deployment of officers and men of the force, including the special units nationwide to provide security throughout the Eid-el-Fitr (Sallah) celebration.

The I-G’s order is contained in a statement issued by the force spokesman, ACP Frank Mba. Abubakar directed heads of police commands and formations across the country to ensure that no stone was left unturned in providing adequate security in their various areas of jurisdiction.

He said that they should give maximum attention to critical public places and other points prone to “enemy attack’’.

The I-G ordered the command Commissioners of Police to retool their security infrastructures in line with their local security realities.

He further directed them to personally supervise the special security deployment and ensure a 24-hour surveillance of their respective areas of operations.

The inspector-general congratulated the Muslim Ummah as well as all citizens, urging them to maintain utmost vigilance and continue to support the security agencies in their prayers.

He also urged them to provide useful information that could prevent crime.

state.

Abubakar made the commendation while receiving the Vatical Ambassador to Nigeria, Arch. Bishop Augustin Kasuja, in his palace in Sokoto.

He said that this was made possible because of the exemplary leadership of the Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese, Bishop Hassan Kukah.

He explained that the Sultanate council would continue to cooperate with the Diocese in promoting religious tolerance and understanding

among the people of the state.

Abubakar called for more religious harmony among Nigerians for peace, progress and unity of the country.

He said that the leaders of the two major religious must come out with an educative forum that would sensitise the faithful on the need to respect and adhere the teaching of their religions.

The Islamic leader said that such would bring to an end lack of understanding and hatred among Nigerians in line with religious teachings.

Speaking earlier, Kasuja acknowledged the effort of the Sultanate council towards promoting religious harmony in the country.

He said that as the

representative of the pope he was in the palace to wish the Sultan as head of the Muslim community in Nigeria a happy Ramadan and to all Muslims in Nigeria.

He explained that he was in

the state on a pastoral visit at the invitation of Kukah to inspect ongoing projects in the Sokoto diocese, comprising Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara and Katsina states.

South-East Women Poised To Eliminate ENUGU - Women from all Baby Factories Special Rapporteur the Igbo-speaking states converged to brainstorm on the way to stop baby factories from operating in the region.

The meeting with the theme “The Baby Factory Conundrum’’

was organised by two nongovernmental organisations, moms Africa and Media, and drew the cream of women from the zone.

In a presentation, the UN

L-R: Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo; General Manager, Procurement, Transmission Company of Nigeria, Genevive Adeniran and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, Mr. Godknows Igali during the Minister’s Tour of Port Facilities in Lagos recently.

on Trafficking, Dr Joy Ezeilo, regretted that the laws in the concerned states were obsolete and needed reforms.

She said that most people arrested in the course of the campaign to stop baby factories often found loopholes in the obsolete laws to escape punishment.

She advised the Igbo to stop discriminating against the girlchild in terms of inheritance, saying it gave rise to rampant cases of illegal adoption.

In her contribution, a former Minister of Education, Prof.

Chinwe Obaji, said the issue of baby factories debased womanhood and was evil.

Obaji said it also showed that women had lost their duties as parents, saying that any woman who closely monitored her children would not allow them to reside in a baby factory.

Also speaking, Prof. Theresa Kanno of the Abia State University said there was a need to educate parents on the evils of baby factories.

The Commissioner for Gender Affairs and Social Development in Enugu State, Mrs Ndidi Chukwu, said there was a need for the government to sponsor the girl-child to skills acquisition programmes for self-sustenance.

Appropriate Data Gathering: Minister

ABUJA - The Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr Edem Duke, has called for partnership with relevant agencies to generate data that would highlight contribution of creative industry to the country’s economy.

Duke made the call at the seventh edition of African Arts and Crafts (AFAC) Expo, organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture (NCAC), in Abuja.

He said that highlighting the contribution of the sector would

Seeks Partnership

sensitise investors on the need to invest in the industry.

“We strongly called for appropriate agencies to collaborate with stakeholders in the industry towards embarking on data gathering that will highlight the contribution of the sector to the nation’s economy.

“Adequate data gathering will attract international investment in line with government development agenda of growing the sector,’’ said the minister.

Gbong Gwom Jos, Jacob Da Buba (left), listening to the Executive Chairman, Plateau Internal Revenue Service, Mr. Samuel Pam (right) during his courtesy visit on the Gbong Gwom in Jos recently.

Duke said the expo had continued to live up to its objective of providing a channel through which Nigeria would make known its policies and investment opportunities in the sector.

He said that the expo has also drawn attention to the many potentialities in the sector, and help in the development and promotion of African arts and crafts.

The Executive Director of NCAC, Mr Mawjim Maidugu, said the expo had since its inception, promoted import and export business of arts and crafts to the international market.

He said that it had helped to sensitise investors on the need to invest in the enterprise development in the industry and establish a viable

international market for the region.

The 2014 AFAC ended with presentation of awards and certificates to deserving participants in various areas.

They included best designed pavilion, best product design, most mobilised participating state, most enterprising exhibitor and best participating country.

Reports state that 18 countries and 12 states took part in the 2014 edition of AFAC.

Cleric Advises Youths To Shun ABUJA - The Parish Pastor He advised youths who were of the Redeemed Christian mostly used to foment violence Violence Church of God (RCCG), and uprisings to denounce Abundant Life, Lugbe, FCT, Mr Sunday Ayorinde, has advised youths against allowing themselves to be used to cause mayhem in the country.

He made the appeal while speaking with newsmen in Abuja at the RCCG youth conference tagged “Youth of Relevance’’.

According to him, the youths in the country should engage in meaningful ventures and not be influenced wrongly by desperate politicians.

“The youths should rather join hands with the authorities to put

an end to terrorism in the country; the youths should dedicate themselves to God’s service.

“They should contribute their own quota to the development of the church and also to the society at large,’’ Ayorinde urged.

He said that the youths should seek God in the days of their youths, saying a lot of them are easily influenced by peer pressure.

Ayorinde said the purpose of the programme was to bring the youths together to empower them spiritually, physically and financially.

violence.

One of the guest speakers, Miss Julie Bialonwu, who spoke on computerisation appreciation, also enjoined youths to update their knowledge on computer usage and move with the trends.

She advised youths to stop using their personal laptops, Black Berry phones or other communication devices for wrong purposes.

One of youths at conference, Miss Cassandi Laura, said she had benefited from the lecture on online business.

Lagos NPA Seeks Partnership Apapa Gridlock:

L-R: Mr. Vincent Udoye, Head of Maritime Safety and Seafarers Standard Department, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), Capt. Bala Agaba, representative of NIMASA Director-General and Mr. Warriedi Enisuoh, Director, Shipping Development, at a world news conference “Transforming Nigeria Maritime Industry” in Lagos recently.

Lawmaker Condemns Attack On Buhari

By SURAJU RAJI

LAGOS – The Chairman House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity representing Epe Constituency II at the Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon Segun Olulade has condemned recent attack on one of the APC national leaders, General Muhammadu Buhari.

Hon Segun Olulade explained in his office while speaking to the press “From what I understand based on personal account of Gen.

Buhari about the incidence, the APC stalwart’s life was clearly targeted in the attack given the trail on his vehicle before final detonation of the bomb” However Olulade added that Gen Muhammadu Buhari who has been very focal against the terrorist group cannot be said to be the patron of the same group that seeks to end his life as evident in the attempt on his life.

Oulade observed that the twin bomb incidents that

Employment: Group Advocates Entrepreneurial Skills For Students

LAGOS - Mrs Lola Okanlawon, the President, NECA’s Network of Entrepreneurial Women (NNEW), has urged NonG o v e r n m e n t a l Organisations, and parents to impart basic entrepreneurial skills in young people to reduce unemployment.

She made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

Okanlawon said that most viable businesses collapsed because their owners did not have the children that could be relied upon to run their businesses successfully after they might have passed on.

She said that entrepreneurship skills should be encouraged at the secondary school level in order to equip young people to be job creators.

“If the women should die without getting someone that will succeed them, it will be a problem; and we are saying it is better for us to catch them while they are young.

“We want to have them

looking for things where others are not looking at; where opportunities can come up.

“And we feel that we can do it with these young ones so that once we start to tell them, or to teach them to look outside the box, they should not say okay when I finish the university, I am going to start to look for a job, because you know right now, getting jobs is very difficult.

“We have so many graduates out there who don’t have a job.“ She said that one of the visions of NNEW was to inculcate entrepreneurial skills in young people across secondary schools in order to teach them to be selfemployed.

While the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) put urban unemployment in 2013 at 29.5 per cent, a financial advisory company, Financial Derivatives Company (FDC), in a recent report, also predicted an increase of 2 per cent in the rate of unemployment in 2014.

occurred in Kaduna yesterday were a new dimension to terror attacks in the country as both were targeted against individuals even though it was clear that in the process, many lives would be lost.

He also said that “at this

critical state of our nation, only President Goodluck Jonathan can reduce tension in the country by naming terrorists sponsors that his government and party (PDP) have over time claimed to have identified to make Nigerians identify their enemies and take them up headlong.

Nigerian Institution of Estate Surveyors and Valuers (NIESV), has described housing projects as “veritable means of generating employment“.

Adediji said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

“Housing is now beyond providing shelter for just citizens alone. It is a veritable means of

all and sundry.

“And now that the reform Act has been opening the window for those who are developer, those who are seeking for house purchase and so on and so forth, can at least tap into this resource, it can only mean well for this country.

“Yes, there must be some areas where professionals

LAGOS- The Nigeria Ports Authority (NPA) has urged Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos State to partner with the Federal Government in finding a lasting solution to Apapa port roads gridlock.

The appeal is contained in a statement by Mr Musa Iliya, the authority’s Assistant General Manager, Public Affairs in Lagos.

The statement said that NPA appreciated the concern of Fashola over the gridlock and urged him to fast track collaboration with other agencies to solve the problem.

According to the statement, the partnership with the Federal Government became imperative because Lagos State Government remains one of the beneficiaries of the nation’s port concessions.

It noted that Lagos State Government generated revenue from wharf landing fees and other businesses associated with the ports.

The authority said as a federal government agency

that they had made effort to improve and sustain efficient road transport network within Apapa and its environs.

In the statement, NPA said that the federal government had awarded an ongoing contract for the rehabilitation of the Apapa-Oshodi Express Road.

It said that the increase in the volume of traffic and cargo had outweighed the capacity of the road at inception by over 200 per cent.

The statement said that NPA had encouraged and supported the development of two major truck holding bays situated at the Trade Fair Complex on the LagosBadagry Expressway and the Tin Can Island Ports.

The effort, it said, was to ensure proper control and management of the movement of trucks around the ports and the incidence of indiscriminate parking.

The statement said the NPA management invited Fashola to a facility tour of the Lagos port complex and the Tin can Island Ports.

Housing Projects Can Generate Employment must sit down with them so He said that the Pension LAGOS - Mr Bode Adediji, Reform Act 2014 had paved that what appears to be a -generating Surveyor the former President, employment for benefit does not turn out to be a problem.

“And that is the area which all of us in the built environment must work with the Pension reform practitioners.“ The former NIESV’s president praised the N4.5 trillion Pension Fund, saying it could impact positively on real estate development.

Abandoned containers of Power equipment being released in Lagos recently.

way for the funds to be invested in providing affordable housing for all.

According to him, the expected contribution and performance is a far cry from what it has turned out to be in 10 years of operation.

Adediji said the Fund stood out as a milestone of the Federal Government in addressing the shortage of shelter for Nigerians.

Across The Nation Fertilizers Diversion

Jigawa Warns LGAs

Gov Sule Lamido of Jigawa (right), receiving the Chairman, Governing Council of Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria, Alhaji Mustapha Jumare in Dutse recently.

Over 2,500 Seafarers Undergo Training

LAGOS - The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) says no fewer than 2,500 Nigerians have completed their sea-time training under the Nigerian Seafarers Development Programme.

Mr Patrick Akpobolokemi, the Director-General, NIMASA made the disclosure in Lagos at a news conference to highlight the agency’s achievements in Lagos.

Akpobolokemi said that the purpose of the training was to meet international maritime standards and

occupy positions in the upcoming national carrier.

He said that Nigeria would soon produce a considerable number of seafarers to reduce the dearth of professionals in the industry.

Akpobolokemi was represented by Capt. Ezekiel Agba, Director, Maritime Safety and Shipping Development of NIMASA. He said that NIMASA was making effort to place cadets from Oron, Akwa-Ibom to perform their sea-time training in vessels across the world. “‘We are not relenting in our quest to ensure that all

beneficiaries of this programme acquire seatime training, which was a challenge in the past,” the director-general said.

He said that the agency had also introduced a programme of rating and that 200 and 100 beneficiaries would go to the Philippines and Malaysia for training soon.

Akpobolokemi added that the agency had trained 1,497 dockworkers in the first half of 2014 to boost the agency’s human capital development.

He also said that 810

seafarers had enjoyed Standard of Training, Certification and Watch Keeping (STCW’95) training in the last six months.

enemy.

“And we are together with the traditional rulers here; they would give us all those

ground information, intelligence; then we would work on it.

“So, I think we never had it better; because the governor had been able to let the traditional rulers see their

exercise.

He said that the state government had allocated fertilisers, seeds and inputs to each of the council areas based on its needs and farmers’ population.

He said that the councils were directed to set up committees to facilitate smooth distribution of the commodities to farmers.

“The government has provided Urea, NPK and organic fertilisers for distribution to farmers at subsidised rate.

“The fertilisers are to be distributed to farmers, who are not participating in the Federal Government’s Growth Enhancement Support (GES) programme,” he said.

Idris noted that the gesture was to complement the Federal Government’s effort to enhance farmers’ access to inputs and boost productivity.

prevent hemophilia, a bleeding disorder.

Amiengheme, who is also a nutritionist, gave the advise in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

He said people with hemophilia condition experienced prolonged bleeding or oozing following an injury, surgery, or having a tooth pulled.

“People suffering from nose bleeding benefit from eating groundnut. It is also helpful in reducing

excessive menstruation in women.

“Groundnut contains vitamin B3 that boosts memory and helps lower cholesterol; it also contains vitamin A, B, C and E.” According to him, groundnut contains essential minerals such as calcium, iron, zinc and boron.

“Groundnut helps in brain function and development and also provides resistance and immunity against dangerous infections like hepatitis and tuberculosis,’’ he said.

Amiengheme said groundnut was also rich in anti-oxidants, a chemical called resveratrol that helped in reducing the risk of contracting cardiovascular diseases.

The nutritionist said consumption of groundnut could reduce cancer risk, help in anti-aging by keeping the body young and fit.

“It contains adequate levels of monounsaturated fatty acids, especially oleic acid, which helps to lower bad cholesterol and increases good cholesterol level in the blood.

Consumption Of Groundnut Prevents Hemophilia - Nutritionist ABUJA - Mr Philip Amiengheme, the President, Advocacy for the Prevention and Treatment of NonCommunicable Disease Initiative, an NGO, has advised people to consume groundnut to

Navy, Monarchs Collaborate To Enhance Security ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) The Nigerian Navy has said that the partnership between it and the traditional rulers in Onitsha, Anambra, was aimed at enhancing security in the area.

The Commanding Officer of Navy Out-Post, Onitsha, Navy Capt. Mike Oamen, said this in an interview with newsmen in Onitsha.

He said that the partnership, designed to fight crime and drug abuse, had started yielding result.

Oamen said that the navy would not have achieved much without the “active collaboration of the traditional rulers“.

He said that the navy was making significant progress in ensuring internal security intended to flush-out criminal elements troubling Onitsha residents and traders.

“The Igwe (traditional ruler) is working with us now; the NDLEA (National Drug Law Enforcement Agency) is also having a wonderful time now because we have just seen that this is a common

AUYO (JIGAWA) - The Jigawa Government has warned local government councils against diverting fertilisers allocated to farmers in their areas.

The Chairman, State Fertiliser Distribution and Monitoring committee, Alhaji Yunusa Idris, gave the warning in Auyo, Kafinhausa Council Area during the distribution of fertiliser in the area.

He urged the councils to be fair and just in distributing the commodity to farmers in their respective areas.

Idris explained that the state government had provided about 5, 000 tonnes of fertilisers for distribution to farmers in the 27 local government areas of the state.

The chairman said that members of the committee were monitoring the distribution of the fertilisers in some council areas with a view to ensuring smooth

role in the whole security network.

“They are trying, at least we get co-operation, we get co-operation now; which is good.

L-R: Commissioner of Police, Plateau State, Mr. Nasiru Oki; Comptroller of Immigration Service, Plateau, Mr. Raymond Akrah-Jaja and Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, Mr. Vincent Bature at the Security meeting with Stakeholders and Religious Leaders in Jos recently.

Abuja Environmentalist Warns On Use Of Chemical Containers

ABUJA An environmentalist, Dr Idris Goji, has warned Nigerians against the use of empty chemical containers for commercial and domestic purposes, saying it could be injurious to health.

Goji, who spoke in an interview newsmen in Abuja said that the use of the containers could also cause environmental degradation.

He expressed regret that traders in the country, especially women, lacked basic knowledge of the type of containers to be used in selling their goods.

“You see some women using pesticide containers to sell palm oil or other goods; this is dangerous to consumers.

“They just use detergent to wash those containers, and in fact, there is no amount of washing that can make such containers safe for use.

“So, it is very dangerous to use such containers; any chemical container should be considered as hazard until you are very sure you have gone through some procedure to make it safe,’’ he said.

Goji, who is the Deputy Director, Chemical Management, Federal Ministry of Environment, said that the ministry would establish an organised method of disposing empty pesticide containers soon.

He disclosed that the ministry had started creating awareness on the danger of using chemical containers for domestic and commercial purposes.

“The ministry is in collaboration with the West African Agricultural Programme (WAAP) on a project in the management of empty pesticides containers.

“We are embarking on the establishment of a pilot scheme on it in Yendev, Benue state. We have information that many pesticide containers are in that place.

“We are going to use it to create awareness. The empty containers will be crushed to pellets and recycled to other products,’’ he said.

The director also stated that Nigeria had made appreciable progress in the implementation of Stockholm Convention.

Reports say that Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods and harmful to humans and wildlife.

Goji said, “We have been able to upgrade our information profile to that level where we know that at the international level, these chemicals have been banned; so our own officials are also well informed.

“A committee that deals with different agencies of government is in place; so from time to time, they are able to give you a list of chemicals that should not be imported and those that could be imported under certain conditions and so on.

“So to that extent, we are making tremendous progress in implementing most of the multilateral agreements on chemical management; but we need to intensify our awareness on them.’’

He added that Nigeria was also implementing the Rotterdam Convention, which prescribed the promotion of shared responsibilities in relation to the importation of hazardous chemicals.

ABUJA - The Jama’atu Izatil Bid’ah Wa’Iqamatus Sunnah (JIBWIS), a religious group, urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to tackle the lingering insecurity in parts of the country.

This is contained in a Communique issued by the Secretary, Tafsir Committee of the group, Alhaji Yahya Abubakar, at the end of its Ramadan Preaching programme in Abuja.

JIBWIS said no responsible

government would fold its arms and watch the massacre of its defenceless citizens on a daily basis.

“The government should demonstrate the spirit of justice, equity and fairness to its citizens as a panacea to the current security threats and challenges in the country.’’

The group also called on government to provide sufficient fund to the education sector, saying, “no nation can achieve meaningful development

US Ambassador, Mr. James entwistle (left) speakign after signing an MoU with IGP Mohammed Abubakar on Police Training Modernisation Projects in Abuja recently.

Insecurity: Be More Proactive, Group Urges FG without ensuring sound education for its citizens.

It also advised the government to create more job opportunities for the teeming unemployed youths, who posed serious

security threat to the nation.

JIBWIS enjoined wealthy Muslims to give Zakat and other alms to the needy and vulnerable in the society to reduce hardship

Southern Borno and Northern Adamawa Peoples Association on Chibok School Girls, has called for more security presence in the areas.

Mangzha made the appeal at the end of a three-day prayer organised by the group for the release of the abducted Chibok school girls in Abuja.

She urged the Federal Government to provide adequate security in the areas affected by insurgency. “ 100 days after the Chibok schools girls were abducted by the Boko Haram militants and we are lamenting that since these 100 days we have not seen our children.

“And we want to use this prayer to seek God’s intervention for the release of the girls.

“We are further using this forum to tell President Goodluck Jonathan and indeed Nigerians, that we are in trouble and need their assistance’’, she said.

She said that when members of the Boko Haram attack villages in the areas, they kill people, cart away food, animals and even medicines from hospitals.

Mangzha, who praised National Emergency Management Agency for assisting people affected by insurgency, however, said more assistance was needed in the areas.

She expressed concern that the insurgents had remained faceless and not ready to negotiate.

Mangzha said schools and other economic activities had been affected as most people had deserted the area.

Amina Aliyu, spokesperson for the Concerned Mothers in Chibok, condemned the attack by insurgents adding that it was hindering girls from attending schools.

Aliyu called on President Jonathan to intensify efforts for the rescue and return of the girls to their parents and the northeast in general.

She said the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents were evil

Protesters Call For More Security In ABUJA - Dr Esther Mangzha, and not Islamic as the religion the spokesperson for the North East preaches peace adding that the

Passage Of PIB Bill: Board Lobbies

ABUJA - The Abuja Petroleum Roundtable (APR) Advisory Board has said that it would lobby the Senate for the passage of the lingering Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

The board Chairman, Dr Emmanuel Egbogah, who stated this at the board’s annual meeting in Abuja, decried the “undue delay” in the passage of the bill.

APR is a forum established by stakeholders in the oil sector to maximise the benefits of oil and

Senate

gas resources for sustainable development of Nigeria.

Egbogah in his presentation titled: “PIB: Key to unlocking major opportunity in the Nigerian energy sector’’, said that the PIB was intended to restructure and reform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

The chairman said the 6th National Assembly could not pass the bill into law before its expiration.

IGP Mohammed Abubakar (right), receiving strategic guidelines of counter terrorism and eight other areas on policing from the leader of teh department for International Development (DFID), Mr. Bob Arnot in Abuja recently.

and poverty level in the society.

It also called on politicians to have the fear of Allah and put the interest of the nation above personal interest for the nation to move forward.

According to him, the bill is aim at encouraging investment and improving revenues to the government.

“To prevent further delay, APR has made a unanimous decision to lobby for the bill to be passed by the 7th National Assembly which just has 10 months to go,” he said.

Prof. Yinka Omorogbe of the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies, said the first time she wrote about the PIB was in 1985 and till date nothing had been done.

“There are many uncertainties in the present draft which can be tightened-up by the legislators, but we need to insist that something is done to push the bill.

“PIB may not be a necessity but reform is what is a necessity, call the bill by what you like, provided it advances Nigeria forward we need to push the bill,” she said.

Dr Andrew Uzoigwe, Managing Director, Millennium Oil and Gas, stressed the need to be more diplomatic in pushing for the passage of the bill.

“We have to start playing a little politics, have an organised group that can carry our message to the politicians.

“We have to meet with the legislators, try to seek their audience and educate them on our positions so that APR can be able to make decisions in the sector,” Uzoigwe said.

The Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development Monitoring Board, Mr Ernest Nwapa, assured that “there is hope for the PIB that the delay could turnout to be an advantage.”

insurgents were the haram.

Mr Sunday Dika a concerned Nigerian on Chibok, told newsmen that agriculture had also been affected by the insurgency.

He said fishermen and farmers could not carry out their activities due insecurity in the area.

“Homes are no longer safe as the people do not know the hour or the time the insurgents will strike’’, he said.

Some residents of the Federal Capital Territory urged dialogue between the government and the insurgents for the release of the girls.

Kelechi Eze, a business man, said terrorism was not restricted to Nigeria alone, as other countries of the world were also experiencing insurgency.

He urged the federal government to mobilise more security agents to the affected areas.

Eze said government should increase international training of security personnel on insurgency.

“Let us not only rely on our own mechanisms, the security operatives should seek international ideas that can help us to get these girls out alive’’, he said.

A cleric, Success Adagbo, urged the government and all Nigerians to continue to seek God’s intervention for the release of the girls.

Mrs Chinelo Ejiofor, a banker, frowned at government’s late meeting with the parents of the Chibok girls.

Ejiofor advised government to compensate the parents of the girls who died in the forest.

Ejike Ibe, a business man, urged government to mobilise security and attack the insurgents in the Sambisa forest.

Across The Nation NSE Market Capitalisation Dips By N39bn

Compulsory Participation In NHIS Will Improve Health Coverage — Consultant LAGOS - A consultant endocrinologist, Dr Sunny Kuku, has said that making participation in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) mandatory for Nigerians would improve health coverage in the country.

Kuku, who is also the Medical Director, Eko Hospitals, Lagos, said this in an interview with newsmen in Lagos.

He said that mandatory participation in the scheme would lessen the financial burden of healthcare services for both the healthcare providers and the patients.

“The other side of it is how patients pay; up to 80 per cent of people now in Nigeria pay out of pocket.

“The other 20 per cent is being paid for by organisations, companies, friends, relations, and all; and that is not sustainable.

“The National Health Insurance Scheme is the answer - either at the private level or the public level - where everybody pays into a pool.

“The major problem with that now is that it is not compulsory, but the new bill says it should be compulsory.

“If it is, it means that you know that you and I can go to any hospital and get the highest level of treatment for very little contribution.

“So, it is very important that this is developed.

“Somehow, it’s very slow to grow in Nigeria; Nigeria is only covering about seven per cent, Ghana about 90 per cent.

So, we must push on that.

“Once we do that, the healthcare scenario will be

different and then it will also now fund the providers because when your patients can pay, you can now develop.

“But right now, even if you borrow money, there are no patients to pay.“ Kuku, however, urged the Federal Government and other stakeholders to intensify awareness campaign on the benefits of the scheme towards improving healthcare services.

L-R: Chairman of the occasion, Dr. Oyeduni Arulogun; Branch Chairman, South-West Zone, West African College of Nursing, Mrs. Funmi Osobu-Popoola and Special guest, Dr. Olukayode Oyetunde at a Symposium to mark the College Week in Ibadan recently.

Kaura Modern Market Traders prostesting over their locked shops by Abuja Environmental Protection Board in Abuja recently.

Bureau De Change Recapitalisation: ABCON Calls For Extension

LAGOS - The Association of Bureau De Change Operators of Nigeria (ABCON) has urged the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to extend the deadline of ongoing recapitalisation of bureaus by 40 weeks.

The appeal was made in a statement in Lagos by the President of the association, Alhaji Aminu Gwadabe.

Gwadabe said that the appeal was to enable members of the association to raise the N35 million new minimum capital requirements for their bureaus.

According to him, the CBN’s extension of the deadline by three weeks that will end on July 31 is

sanitation sectors.

“The Nigeria Information System is all about data. We did Baseline Facility Inventory and Needs Assessment across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

“This is done to be able to access the things that were on ground in the area of health, water, sanitation and education. All this has been collected and fed into the Nigeria Information System.

“As a matter of urgency, the data will fast-track the level of implementation and to fill

the gaps in health, water and sanitation sectors.’’

She added that the implementation of the system would enable states to acknowledge the number of primary health centres and schools they have and their proximity to the villages.

“All these can be found in the information system. The map will also help to assess what we are lacking and the things we can still put in place between now and 2015.

“This will enable us to achieve the MDGs better by going to the grassroots and

inadequate for our members to comply with the statutory and legal requirements of the new policy.

He said that the association had sent a document of the 40-week proposed deadline extension to the CBN. The CBN had on June 23

MDGs Office To Unveil Information System

ABUJA - The Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Office has said it would soon unveil Nigeria MDGs Information System (NMIS) to monitor the level of projects implementation in the country.

Dr Precious Gbeneol, the Special Assistant to the President on MDGs, disclosed this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

According to her, NMIS will help the office to know what it has been able to achieve and the level of projects in the health, water, education and

LAGOS - Transactions on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has closed on a downward note as major stocks recorded huge losses.

Report state that market capitalisation at the end of the day’s trading dipped by N39 billion or 0.28 per cent from N14.09 trillion recorded last Tuesday to N14.05 trillion.

The All-Share Index which opened at 42,664.95 points, dropped by 120.62 points to close at 42,544.33 points.

Total Oil lost N9.77 to lead the losers’ chart and closed its shares’ value at N185.73 per share.

Mobil’s stock depreciated

by N8.94 to close at N169.9, while Skyeshelt and Nestle dipped by N5 each to close at N95 and N1,120 per share, respectively.

Lafarge Wapco fell by N2.73 to close at N117.27 per share.

On the gainers’ chart, CAP’s shares were boosted by 9k to close at N41 per share.

CCNN gained 63k to close at N13.27, while Guinness grew by 5k to close at N198 per share and UACN appreciated by 4k to close at N62.4 per share.

Transcorp was the most traded stock at the day’s trading, accounting for 72.47 million shares worth N390.71 million.

Oando Oil exchanged 28.84 million shares valued at N741.79 million, while Access Bank sold 27.76 million shares worth N276.44 million.

local government areas to actualise our goals’’, she said.

She added that NMIS would be launched soon.

Gbeneol noted that the system would be useful to both governmental and nongovernmental organisations for policy formulation and implementation.

The special assistant said the system was designed to provide accurate data of investment and accelerate development at national and sub-national levels.

announced an increase in the minimum capital requirement for the bureaus from N10 million to N35 million and fixed July 15 as deadline.

But the deadline was extended to July 31 following protest by the bureaus operators.

Gwadabe explained that the proposal sent to the CBN contained actions needed to be taken to enhance the successful implementation of the policy.

According to him, the proposal contains a timetable which will start with sensitisation seminars to educate members on various options to consider in meeting the minimum capital requirement.

He said, “We plan to hold these seminars in each geopolitical zone of the federation.

“Moreover, we will assist members to scout for consultants to guide them on issues of valuation of existing companies in order to

accommodate new members or to achieve harmonious merger.

“This is in line with what the CBN did for banks during the recapitalisation exercise of 2004.”

He said that the association had also appealed to the apex bank to take a look at the minimum capital requirement of N35 million and additional requirement of N35 million as caution deposit.

Gwadabe said that a reconsideration of the requirements was necessary because both implied that the minimum capital base was N70 million “since the N35 million caution deposit will not be refunded immediately”.

He urged the CBN to reduce the caution deposit to N5 million, adding that the amount should be deducted from the N35 million.

“This means that there will be a balance of N30 million to be used as working capital

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT FRIDAY (25/07/2014) Stocks

Open

Close

Change

Deals

Units

Value

NEWGOLD

2050

2030

-20

0

12

24,360.00

ABCTRANS

0.85

0.87

0.02

0

1,255,000

1,050,250.00

NIGERINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

1,174,650

587,325.00

ACCESS

9.89

9.72

-0.17

0

20,356,042

202,106,384.10

NPFMCRFBK

1.02

1

-0.02

0

201,500

202,795.00

AFRIPRUD

3.26

3.26

0

0

2,009,573

6,584,591.53

NSE30

1936.27

1933.21

-3.06

0

337,789,872

8,113,281,619.00

AGLEVENT

1.38

1.34

-0.04

0

193,222

258,969.88

NSE50

2095.2

2091.32

-3.88

0

400,222,358

8,367,283,609.00

AIICO

0.82

0.81

-0.01

0

5,043,697

4,105,017.95

NSEASI

42529.77

42285.85

-243.92

0

453,092,932

8,666,525,283.00

437.77

441.72

3.95

0

255,012,455

5,468,845,078.00

AIRSERVICE

2.22

2.19

-0.03

0

430,565

944,229.10

NSEBNK

ASHAKACEM

30

30.27

0.27

0

832,838

25,013,057.08

NSECNSMRGDS

1058.57

1054.31

-4.26

0

15,296,081

660,629,737.70

AVONCROWN

1.69

1.69

0

0

2,811

4,778.70

NSEINDUSTR

2724.89

2714.02

-10.87

0

8,999,970

923,209,392.80

BECOPETRO

0.5

0.5

0

0

10,000

5,000.00

NSEINS

150.27

148.73

-1.54

0

30,970,806

27,655,906.89

BERGER

8.57

8.6

0.03

0

119,231

1,025,223.55

NSELOTUSISLM

2824.97

2813.19

-11.78

0

11,726,407

1,103,383,277.00

BETAGLAS

16.3

16.3

0

0

1,361

23,286.71

NSEOILGAS

467.79

453.72

-14.07

0

17,684,648

503,974,986.70

CADBURY

74.25

74.25

0

0

61,473

4,359,614.80

OANDO

25.99

25.47

-0.52

0

17,150,043

441,450,268.00

CAP

41

41

0

0

136,106

5,418,728.25

OKOMUOIL

33.01

33.01

0

0

130,978

4,289,396.90

CAVERTON

6.85

6.85

0

0

178,576

1,162,529.76

OMATEK

0.5

0.5

0

0

200

100

CCNN

13.5

14.17

0.67

0

2,961,810

41,471,676.90

PAINTCOM

1.4

1.47

0.07

0

50,000

73,500.00

CHAMPION

9.67

9.19

-0.48

0

100,599

924,504.81

PHARMDEKO

1.64

1.72

0.08

0

51,000

87,640.00

4.98

5.22

0.24

0

428,140

2,221,357.50

CILEASING

0.5

0.52

0.02

0

6,479,926

3,314,828.80

PORTPAINT

CONOIL

62.32

62.32

0

0

173,105

10,241,451.88

PREMBREW

0.77

0.77

0

0

500

400

CONTINSURE

1.12

1.13

0.01

0

4,907,667

5,456,083.34

PRESCO

38

38.01

0.01

0

275,470

10,470,538.65

COSTAIN

1.22

1.16

-0.06

0

862,780

1,024,003.22

PRESTIGE

0.54

0.52

-0.02

0

221,110

114,977.20

COURTVILLE

0.56

0.54

-0.02

0

708,905

383,958.21

PZ

39

39

0

0

382,682

14,406,200.16

CUSTODYINS

3.9

3.9

0

0

3,044,783

11,992,458.02

REDSTAREX

5

5

0

0

969,710

4,898,206.75

CUTIX

1.95

1.9

-0.05

0

446,655

866,819.68

REGALINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

55,000

27,500.00

DAARCOMM

0.5

0.5

0

0

50,000

25,000.00

RESORTSAL

0.5

0.5

0

0

220,000

110,000.00

DANGCEM

237.5

232

-5.5

0

3,317,792

763,681,920.20

ROYALEX

0.54

0.52

-0.02

0

600,000

312,000.00

DANGFLOUR

8.01

7.61

-0.4

0

4,838,723

38,882,034.71

RTBRISCOE

1

1

0

0

228,400

228,865.90

DANGSUGAR

9.19

9.2

0.01

0

2,498,279

23,038,906.08

SEPLAT

675.05

675.04

-0.01

0

325,601

222,970,846.20

DIAMONDBNK

6.73

6.7

-0.03

0

20,382,667

136,562,105.80

SKYEBANK

3.2

3.2

0

0

5,437,327

17,409,504.02

DNMEYER

1.2

1.2

0

0

24,369

29,394.18

SKYESHELT

95

95

0

0

93

8,393.25

DUNLOP

0.5

0.5

0

0

840,712

420,356.00

STACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

62,337

31,168.50

ETERNA

3.9

3.9

0

0

74,420

285,951.00

STANBIC

27.71

29.09

1.38

0

11,329,056

321,741,612.70

ETI

16.9

16.9

0

0

1,692,057

27,798,278.73

STDINSURE

0.5

0.5

0

0

100,000

50,000.00

ETRANZACT

2.21

2.21

0

0

1,080

2,286.80

STERLNBANK

2.32

2.26

-0.06

0

15,697,526

35,658,971.16

EVANSMED

2.16

2.06

-0.1

0

509,212

1,081,960.66

STUDPRESS

2.4

2.4

0

0

20

45.6

FBNH

15.51

15.22

-0.29

0

7,369,245

112,912,860.90

THOMASWY

0.79

0.79

0

0

4,050

3,078.00

FCMB

4.3

4.2

-0.1

0

7,386,805

31,193,523.05

TOTAL

185.73

176.45

-9.28

0

93,011

16,620,728.89

5.39

5.51

0.12

0

48,955,544

264,254,908.20

FIDELITYBK

2.01

1.98

-0.03

0

14,784,464

29,639,753.09

TRANSCORP

FIDSON

3.03

3.18

0.15

0

690,907

2,181,107.54

UAC-PROP

17.56

17.46

-0.1

0

219,914

3,861,554.75

FLOURMILL

77.87

73.98

-3.89

0

217,815

16,116,074.20

UACN

62.4

62.4

0

0

277,897

17,149,780.04

FO

224.23

216

-8.23

0

96,646

20,928,234.64

UBA

7.85

7.9

0.05

0

9,599,673

75,926,432.04

FORTISMFB

5.96

5.96

0

0

200

1,200.00

UBCAP

2.15

2.17

0.02

0

5,330,917

11,544,629.69

GCAPPA

14.46

14.46

0

0

217

2,981.58

UBN

9

8.91

-0.09

0

758,934

6,792,587.14

GLAXOSMITH

68.99

68.99

0

0

99,127

6,524,717.30

UNHOMES

0.5

0.5

0

0

16,218

8,109.00 12,500.00

GUARANTY

30.1

31

0.9

0

155,222,147

4,659,430,892.00

UNIC

0.5

0.5

0

0

25,000

GUINNESS

198

197.15

-0.85

0

407,194

80,654,226.37

UNILEVER

49

49

0

0

304,764

14,552,670.64

0.5

0.5

0

0

40,000

20,000.00

HONYFLOUR

4.28

4.25

-0.03

0

1,670,786

6,906,185.47

UNIONDAC

IKEJAHOTEL

0.78

0.8

0.02

0

1,701,300

1,292,251.00

UNIONDICON

14.11

14.11

0

0

25

335.25

INFINITY

1.6

1.6

0

0

20,000

33,600.00

UNITYBNK

0.5

0.5

0

0

814,009

407,004.50

INTBREW

28.05

28.05

0

0

313,258

8,351,415.70

UPDCREIT

9.95

9.95

0

0

100

946

INTENEGINS

0.5

0.5

0

0

807,433

403,716.50

UPL

4.11

4.14

0.03

0

590,142

2,442,235.78

JAPAULOIL

0.51

0.51

0

0

9,409,406

4,804,151.26

UTC

0.5

0.5

0

0

50

25

JBERGER

63

63

0

0

125,866

8,050,675.25

VANLEER

12.08

12.08

0

0

100

1,148.00

LASACO

0.5

0.5

0

0

288,000

144,000.00

VETGRIF30

19.37

19.35

-0.02

0

2,525

48,706.25

LAWUNION

0.5

0.5

0

0

500

250

VITAFOAM

4.15

4.15

0

0

412,718

1,698,064.02

117.27

118.95

1.68

0

706,037

83,413,822.87

LEARNAFRCA

1.65

1.63

-0.02

0

326,799

521,258.43

WAPCO

LIVESTOCK

3.1

3.1

0

0

920,371

2,853,434.10

WAPIC

0.89

0.9

0.01

0

13,532,795

12,166,399.80

1.06

1.06

0

0

5,942,922

6,117,496.36

25

25.23

0.23

0

11,081,618

277,520,170.30

MANSARD

2.66

2.55

-0.11

0

450,250

1,154,111.24

WEMABANK

MAYBAKER

1.75

1.7

-0.05

0

405,241

688,614.50

ZENITHBANK

MBENEFIT

0.54

0.54

0

0

1,558,306

838,668.62

MOBIL

169.9

161.41

-8.49

0

84,543

13,689,720.26

MRS

61.99

61.99

0

0

12,880

758,632.00

NAHCO

5

4.9

-0.1

0

2,169,078

10,846,347.53

NASCON

10.5

10.59

0.09

0

2,038,397

21,054,934.78

NB

178.2

178

-0.2

0

1,911,728

339,564,255.90

NEIMETH

1.21

1.21

0

0

269,437

327,828.77

NEM

0.85

0.82

-0.03

0

3,853,104

3,123,132.44

NESTLE

1120

1120

0

0

75,170

83,525,543.37

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock NSEBNK WAPCO STANBIC GUARANTY CCNN ASHAKACEM PORTPAINT ZENITHBANK FIDSON TRANSCORP

Close 441.72 118.95 29.09 31 14.17 30.27 5.22 25.23 3.18 5.51

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain

Stock

Close

3.95 1.68 1.38 0.9 0.67 0.27 0.24 0.23 0.15 0.12

NSEASI 243.92 NEWGOLD NSEOILGAS 14.07 NSELOTUSISLM 11.78 NSEINDUSTR 10.87 TOTAL MOBIL FO DANGCEM NSECNSMRGDS

42285.85

Loss -

2030 453.72

-20 -

2813.19

-

2714.02

-

176.45 161.41 216 232 1054.31

-9.28 -8.49 -8.23 -5.5 -4.2

FOR some couple of weeks now, the Edo Sate House of Assembly has been embroiled in crisis which has attracted the concern of citizens within and outside the state. Before the crisis, Edo State House of Assembly was one of the most peaceful states Houses of Assembly in the country.

WHILST many observers and commentators believe the crisis was an internal affair of the twenty four elected members of the House, which also has informed their commentaries, what appears incontrovertible as at the moment is that external forces, acting behind the scene are responsible for the impasse, regrettably, ordinary citizens of Edo State whom the House was established by the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to make laws for and oversight the activities of the Executive arm of government are the ones who suffer the brunt.

WE condemn all those who are responsible for fueling the crisis behind the scene and urge them to desist forthwith because posterity will not forgive them if the crisis degenerates beyond what Edo people have witnessed.

THERE are allegations of some of the external forces rolling in as much as N to sway Assembly members from one political party to the other so as to swell their numbers to wreak further havoc on the state. This is condemnable and we urge all those who have made this allegation to document them properly and press court charges against all those involved in this criminality without any further delay.

ALSO, all those who submit themselves to be used to destabilise the House should know that they have a date with history as their roles today would be recalled in no distant future.

Such members of the House must remember that they are carrying the mandate of every citizen of their constituency irrespective of their political affiliation. Those involved should equally know that they have families and offspring who they equally represent and

THE NIGERIAN

Still Searching For Peace At Edo Assembly that in fullness of time, someone, somewhere someday will remind them of their roles.

BEYOND the agent provocateurs, we believe that the Edo State House of Assembly is an independent arm of government which is guided by its own rules and the laws of the land.

Principal Officers of the House were selected from among themselves using the instruments of the House. We expected that as Honourable members, they should all submit themselves to the rules of the House and their oath of office.

WE believe absolutely in the rule of law and we are aware that some court judgments have been given in respect of the feud and we are astonished and alarmed that some supposedly Honourable members flagrantly disobeyed court orders. This in our view does not only constitute a threat to democracy if allowed to stand by the law enforcement agents, but one capable of instigating anarchy in the land.

DEMOCRACY flourishes on the rule of law and no nation has ever attained democratic greatness without an efficient and effective justice system which allows for the thriving of the rule of law. We therefore wish to call on all the members of the Edo State House of Assembly who have been duly served court notices or judgments to obey such judgments without any further delay.

WHILE we appreciate the role of the Edo State Police Command and other security agencies for maintaining peace and preventing the conflict from degenerating into blood bath, we

wish to call on the Nigeria Police Force, as the lead enforcer of court pronouncements to ensure that all court judgments given in respect to the Edo House of Assembly members are fully complied with. It is the constitutional responsibility of the police to ensure that this happens, and they owe Edo people the duty of enforcing the court judgments, no matter their numbers and those involved.

ABOVE all, the neutrality of the police is an imperative. The Nigeria police is not only to be heard to be neutral in the impasse, they have to be seen by all to be neutral. By the enabling Police Act, partisanship of any sort is forbidden and the police must ensure complete neutrality in this matter.

IN situations like this, the role of eminent citizens such as traditional rulers is very important in cautioning their subjects to maintain peace. It is against this backdrop that we appreciate the fatherly disposition of the Benin Monarch, Omo N’Oba N’Edo Uku Akpolokpolor, Oba Erediauwa for hosting the feuding lawmakers to a peace talk in his palace.

We recall that the Oba pointedly told the lawmakers that he does not want crisis in the state and urged the parties to resolve the matter amongst themselves.

THE intervention of the Oba must not go unheeded. The Oba of Benin represents the father of all Edo people both at home and in Diaspora. We wish to call on the lawmakers to hearken to the kind advice of our revered monarch and bring an end to the dispute without any further delay.

WE also urge other well meaning Edo sons and daughters to wade into the matter and call all external forces to the dispute to order in the overall interest of Edo State and its peoples as when the crisis escalates beyond what it is at the moment, no one knows who the casualty would be. It is our firm conviction that we have what it takes within the state to bring normalcy to the House once and for all, so that in the end, there would be no victor, no vanquished.

Encounter MR. Tobi Idaomi is the former co-ordinator of Abiola Campaign Organisation University of Benin (UNIBEN) Chapter, treasurer of the defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) UK Chapter and the Director of Trident Universal Ventures Limited. He is a political commentator, analyst and advocate of good governance.

He is intelligent, bold, and brave and one citizen who believed in the course of the comrade governor to continually deliver the dividends of democracy to the people of Edo State.

In this chat with The NIGERIAN OBSERVER Mr. Idaomi express delight in the developmental stride achieved by the Comrade Governor especially in the education sector since he assumed office in 2008 (six years ago). He commended the governor for the transformation of the education sector as the schools now wear new looks with red roofs, good chairs and desks, ceiling fans in each class and well equipped science laboratory that has made learning possible and enjoyable all across the state. These and many more education issues is here for your reading delight as anchored by RICHARD OKORO EWEKA. Excerpts: in a dilapidated structure

How will you describe the education sector in Edo State under Comrade Adams Oshiohmole’s Administration?

It is not difficult to describe the achievement in the educational sector even the blind, deaf and the dumb all can attest to the performance of our amiable Comrade Governor. He knows the power of education as such ensures that all Edo Child benefits during his administration. The Comrade governor Adams Aliu Oshiohmole has done tremendously well in the educational sector of the state. Since his coming on board, the education sector has never remained the same as there are great improvement.

Let me start from the vicinity of the school; if you could remember our schools were nothing to write home about under the government of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for 10years. How do you expect a child to study

which became death traps?

No good buildings, desk, chair, science laboratory and other facilities to make learning enjoyable.

Oshiohmole has turned things around and has now made schools across the state conducive for learning.

Schools now wear new looks with red roofs, good chairs, desk, ceiling fans, well equipped science Laboratory and other basic facilities that would aid learning.

Pupils are now returning to public schools. I commend our comrade governor for his positive vision to see that every child of Edo origin gets a quality and sound education to become good leader of not only the state, nation but the world at large.

What are some changes you can point to in this sector?

Just like I mentioned earlier, take a look at the learning environment since the governor started his transformation in the sector, you will see a

Oshiomhole Has Revived Education Sector - Idaomi

whole lot of things that will persuade you to enrol your child into public schools. Gone were the days when our children would be sitting on the floor or under the mango trees to receive classes. All our schools are now conducive for learning, good doors and windows, we now have white board that uses

like comparing light with darkness. The 10 years of PDP in the state was a complete failure and the state was in total darkness and we e x p e r i e n c e d retrogression rather than development. We were over 30 years backward caused by PDP mis management but we thank God for the

Mr. Tobi Idaomi

marker. You can imagine what the children went through during the PDP years when schools have no roofs? Our governor has really proved to Edo people that he is the people’s governor and a grass roots politician that have the love of the people at heart.

How will you compare the system now and in time past?

There’s no basis for comparism at all. It’s

present administration led by the Comrade Governor for salvaging the battered image of the state. We thank God for given us a man of vision, highly intelligent and focused governor who have continually implement peoplesoriented projects and policies that have made life better for an average Edo man.

What is your opinion on the cancellation of the

“There’s no basis for comparism at all. It’s like comparing light with darkness. The 10 years of PDP in the state was a complete failure and the state was in total darkness and we experienced retrogression rather than development.”

competency test by Edo state government and the recall of over 900 sacked teachers?

I have my mis feelings concerning that. You see the programme would have benefited both the teachers and the pupils.

What is wrong in giving them more training? You see the problem was caused by this visionless PDP in the state. They never wanted anything good for the state and the reason was because they couldn’t believe that someone can perform a miracle and change the state from what it used to be under them to a developed state we presently have today.

When a teacher could not read simple age declaration, instead of “I Solemnly”, she said one Solomon and PDP could not see any need not to retrain these teachers, then there’s problem. In other words, most of them have their children schooling abroad, therefore they careless if the education collapses.

They destroyed the system before and are not happy that the present administration has fixed it to an amiable state now. If i should advice the comrade governor, he should please carry out total screening among those 900 teachers that were recall and remove the good from the bad. But however, the action of the governor has shown that he loves his people and wants the best for them. It shows he is a listening governor, not a dictator that would not listen to the voice of his people.

This is leadership with a difference.

PDP is claiming the glory for the cancellation of the competency test and the recall of the sacked teachers, what is your take on this?

What do you expect them to say?

They will surely give the

credit to themselves.

They are never known for anything good, they are only good for corruption, nepotism, mismanagement, darkness. You know what, because they are voiceless in Edo state, which is the reason why they are causing the current problem among their legislators. PDP had failed woefully from the centre and they knew that the people of Edo state had rejected them and we will continue to reject them come 2015 and beyond.

Looking at the achievement in the education sector what is your advice to the pupils and students?

The pupils and students should continue to support the comrade Oshiomhole’s led administration in the state due to the transformation of the educational sector. The pupils and students should encourage their parents at home to continue to support the comrade governor and the party APC to be able to sustain the developmental drive of the party. I will also implore the comrade governor not to relent in his transformation agenda for the state so that PDP would be buried forever in the state. And may I take the opportunity to remind the governor about the road to my village (Erhurun Uneme) which he promised during his campaign tour and the renovation of the primary school there.

This road was awarded and re-awarded under PDP for 10years and the money was looted and shared but the road left undone, but we believe in the leadership quality of the governor of the state to make the Erhurun Uneme people to benefit from the massive development going on in the state.

Opinion

Intrepidity Of A Leader For Equity In Abia State

By CHIEF (SIR) DON UBANI, KSC, JP

RIGHT from the earliest history of man, leadership has been a characteristic feature of human enterprise. Where any society is, by way of its socio-econo-political development, depicts a clear measurement of the potency of its leadership.

It, therefore, follows that the gap between two human societies is a reflexion of the differences between the two different leaderships.

Gov. Theodore-Orji, Abia State In human development, there has always been a distinction between a leader and a ruler. While the former is altruistic, visionary, broad-minded and is concerned with the fate of generations yet unborn, the latter is egocentric, parochial, materialistic, acquisitive and short-sighted. In two societies where one has a leader and the other a ruler, there is always a wide world of difference.

Majority of third – world countries, despite the abundance of natural resources God endowed them with, have remained undeveloped or, at best, under developed principally due to the quality of their leadership.

How would one ever expect a society which leadership is inclined to pleasures and euphoria of the moment to grow?

As would be recalled, history is replete with the rise and fall of many Empires and Kingdoms. In Sub-Saharan Africa, such Empires as Songhai, Mali and Kanem-Bornohad fallen because of lack of vision and altruism on the part of their leaders.

Historiography equally reminds man that renowned Roman Empire and most recently the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, U.S.S.R, got disintegrated as a result of inarticulate leadership. All in all, any headship of any society or organization that is not anchored on equity, simply but terribly reflects

rulership as against leadership.

The strategic importance of effective application and administration of equity in any human milieu does not need to be over-emphasized. Suffice it, however, to say that where there is equity, there is a sense of belonging that generates patriotism, dedication, development, progress, harmony, security and stability.

On the contrary, mere absence of equity, in whatever form and at whatever level of human congregation, becomes a catalyst for frustration, unpatriotism, self destruction, retrogression and eventual societal dislocation and collapse.

This is because, under such a very disharmonious circumstance, no sane man would expect any positive contribution from a segment or strata of a society that feels discriminated against, marginalized and psychologically traumatized.

It is in the spirit of equity that the authors of Nigeria’s Federal Constitution of 1999, as amended, even though tele-guided by the Nigerian Military, clearly divided each of the thirtysix states of the Federation into three senatorial zones.

It is also in the same spirit that the same constitution provides a maximum period of two tenures of four years each for a governor of a state. In this respect, common sense dictates that the position of a state Governor should rotate amongst the people of the constitutionally stipulated three senatorial zones of each state.

In Abia State, for example, the three senatorial zones are; (1) Abia – North, made up of Arochukwu, Bende, Isuikwuato, Ohafia andUmunneochi Local Government Council Areas (2) Abia – Central, consisting of Ikwuano,

Isiala Ngwa North, Isiala Ngwa – South, Osisioma Ngwa, Umuahia – North and Umuahia – South.

(3) Abia – South,

governorship seat of any Nigerian State, the consideration, principally, should not be based on geo-cultural affinity as the

Governor Orji Theodore of Abia State

comprising Aba – North, Aba – South, Obingwa,Ugwunagbo, Ukwa – East and Ukwa – West Council Areas.

Going down memory lane, Abia – North had occupied the governorship seat for two tenures of four years each; 1999 – 2007.

Currently, Abia Central has been on the seat since May 29th 2007 till date and the occupant; Chief Theodore Ahamefule Orji, would be safely and successfully rounding off his second tenure on 29th May, 2015.

From the above narrative, it is very lucid that the only senatorial zone that is yet to have a stint at the State’s governorship seat is Abia – South.

At this juncture, it would be necessary to state that in rotating the

Nigerian Constitution does not provide for it. Rather, the emphasis should be on senatorial delineation.

It would also be necessary to elucidate the very simple fact that in Abia State, constitutionally – speaking, power rotation can not be hinged on primordial sentiments of Old Bende and Ukwa/ Ngwa groupings. If this were to be so, it would automatically have followed that an indigene of Ukwa/Ngwa should have become the governor of the state immediately after the tenure of an indigene of Old Bende who governed the state from 1999 to 2007.

There is no gain saying the fact that in a democracy, every citizen has the right to legitimately

aspire to any height of leadership. At the same time, the same democracy makes it imperative that the constitutionality of the polity must be strictly adhered to.

As it has earlier been made manifest, the difference between a leader and a ruler has always been very clear. A leader is a man or a woman of immeasurable vision, who is capable of visualizing the future.

Such a man imagines socio-econo-political problems and selflessly solves them well ahead of time.

It is, therefore, no wonder why the Governor of Abia State; Chief T.A. Orji, has been consistent in his advocacy that his successor shall be a product of equity in rotation. On many different occasions and fora, he has reminded his audience that he is a product of equity in rotation and that whoever will be his successor shall equally be a legitimate product of rotation in observance of the State’s Senatorial realities.

Governor T.A. Orji is not a lonely voice crying in the wilderness. Many of his colleagues are in the same boat of equity, justice and fairness with him.

Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State has never hidden his strong belief that the next governor of the state should come from Enugu–North Senatorial Zone of the state.

Governor Martin Nwancho Elechi of Ebonyi State has equally advocated a power shift to Ebonyi–South. Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa-Ibom State has repeatedly said that his successor should come from Eket Senatorial District in 2015 while Governor Liyel Imoke of Cross River State has made it clear, through a

legislation by the State House of Assembly, that the next governor of the state shall hail from the Northern Senatorial Zone of the state. Lest we have forgotten, the immediate past Governor of Anambra State, Mr. Peter Obi, had successfully insisted on power shift on senatorial basis that gave rise to the emergence of his successor; Mr. Willie Obiano.

Governor T.A. Orji’s advocacy for power shift based on Senatorial understanding simply presents him as a leader who appreciates the fact that the strongest link in a chain is, surely, its weakest link.

Being the consummate administrator that he is, the Governor realizes that no society can enjoy full development and growth if within it a section or an area perceives itself as a victim of calculated marginalization and deprivation. This thinking makes the humble but result – oriented Ochendo astatesman of note.

Politicians think of self advantages but T.A. Orji is concerned with what will enthrone peace, harmony, security and progress in his state even when he would have left office.

People from all walks of life and shades of opinion in the state have, out of their own volition, acknowledged Ochendo as a man that is worth his salt.

It would, therefore, be expected that all and sundry should appreciate the wisdom of Sir T.A. Orji’s advocacy for equity in rotation of the governorship of the state.

There could be very many wealthy gubernatorial aspirants from either the North or Central Senatorial Zones of the State who, if equity and political morality were to be thrown to the wind, Continues on pg. 15

“On the contrary, mere absence of equity, in whatever form and at whatever level of human congregation, becomes a catalyst for frustration, unpatriotism, self destruction, retrogression and eventual societal dislocation and collapse.”

Opinion Continued from pg. 14

would easily grab the seat based on cash and carry syndrome. Interestingly, such wealthy personalities had, for the umpteenth time, publicly expressed their appreciation of and belief in Ochendo’s concern for equity and peaceful co-existence. It would, therefore, not be out of place if such persons toe the line of patriotism and selflessness by giving support to the governor in his bid to enthrone equity. It must be mentioned here that the Northern senatorial zone of Abia State did not

succeed itself in 2007. It will also follow that the central senatorial zone will not succeed itself in 2015.

To the good indigenes of Abia South, made up of the three clans of Asa, Ndoki andNgwa, in their alphabetical order, every care must be taken to make sure they put their acts together. In the pursuit of their aspiration, ego, bitterness and inconsiderate rigidity for which many political actors from the zone are known, should this time, give way to selfless, liberal, patriotic and friendly consideration.

That negative and self-

...For Equity In Abia State destructive tendency of “if not me, let all of us fail” for which they are known and ridiculed should be a very distant thing of the past. Again, some prominent men in the zone who, like Esau in the Bible, are fond of selling their birth right because of greed, should, for goodness sake realise that this is the most crucial moment in the political history of the zone.

Furthermore, it should be noted that he who goes

to equity should go with clean hands. Since AbiaSouth is asking for the governorship of the state in 2015 based on equity and competence, the zone should also make sure that equity reflects holistically in the zone.

In this regard, should an Ngwa indigene of Abia– South, for instance, clinche the governorship of the state, the Senator for the zone should come from Asa. This is because Ngwa should not produce the

governor and the Senator at the same time. Taking cognizance of the fact that an Ndoki man; Rt. Hon. Adolphus Wabara, represented Abia-South at the Senate for eight consecutive years, 1999 – 2007, equity would demand that if the senate position of Abia – South should rotate to Ukwa in 2015, the position should go to Asa which is Ukwa–west. The House of Representatives seat should, in that case, be retained by Ukwa – East.

On the other hand, if an indigene of Ukwa becomes the Governor in 2015, the Ngwagroup should retain the senatorial position. Under such a circumstance, the House of Representatives’ seat for Ukwa would be occupied by an indigene of the Local Government Area that did not produce the Governor.

In summary, Governor T.A. Orji must be commended for his intrepidity and resoluteness in his pursuit of equity.

Abia: Kenneth Nwosu And The Height Of Insecurity IT was a pity to read in the newspapers about the ugly incident that befell one Kenneth Nwosu who was said is the Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture. It’s a pity because insecurity in one place, they say, is the same in all places.

Like we say in Rivers State, if you forcefully take away a fish from one Okrika person you have taken from all. News reports have it that Nwosu is now fighting for his life after he was shot by unknown gunmen on July 9 this year.

The irony of the story is that Nwosu was purportedly shot along Umuajata/Amakama Road at the fringes of Umuahia, the state capital. The source said that the worthless incident happened when the commissioner was on his way to his country home at Olokoro, Umuahia South Local Government Area of Abia State.

But this happened in Abia State where Governor Theodore Ahamefule Orji had been all-the-way bragging that criminals and kidnappers have been sent away from the state. What has brought embarrassment to the government in Abia State is that the inadequate seemingly assassination attempt on the commissioner happened in not any other place but the Abia State capital.

Forget that it was said that the commissioner was shot at the periphery of Umuahia. Just by 8.pm when the commissioner was shot, according to the confirmation by the state Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), Mr. Geoffrey Ogbonna, has shown that Abia State is not safe.

Then you imagine what would happen when it is 11pm to 12am. The hoodlums would even kill somebody and dig the ground and bury the person, without any interference. This is the level of danger that our state has reached.

Abia State is a place where people are shooting from all angles, as there are those in office allegedly shooting at the treasures of the state into their own pocket thereby sending the state to a perpetual dungeon where it may not be rehabilitated. We have been telling the world that the level of insecurity in the state has gotten to its crescendo and the governor would always want the state’s security vote to be increased without showing the world a commensuration to that

By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE effect.

Recently, Abia State was among the 36 states that their governors tabled a fresh demand for a raise in the notorious ‘security votes’. When you confront the Abia State Government to find out why kidnappers and armed robbers and other petty

Mohammed Abubakar, Inspector General of Police robbers are on the prowl in the state yet it has a quest for an increment of the security vote, you will hear it say that governors do not have control over the army and the police.

On November 23 2010 one Cosmos Erhabor wrote an article in iReports. Erhabor signed that he was residing at Mississippi

Street, Maitama, Abuja. Erhabor had said: “Governor Theodore Orji of the ‘poor’ Abia State once asked his State House of Assembly to increase his Security Vote from N400million (monthly) to N700million and he got it; instead of securing the State, the commercial kidnapping increased under the very nose of the (present) IGP Hafiz Ringim who was based in Umuahia as the AIG in charge of the South-East zone.”

Today, the money might be in trillions. Yet, Governor T.A Orji continues to blame his predecessors for the woes that our state of Abia has become under his administration. What this means is that he has shown to the world that he is incapable of being a governor and that the seat he is occupying does not befit him.

His crass statements always present him as a feeble governor he is. He always make the world to understand that he is not worthy of the governor’s seat, the same way the senate will not be encouraging for him should he rig himself into the place.

This is sad this way because it is obvious that no Abia person will vote for Gov. T.A Orji because he has betrayed the people and has sold the remnants of trust that the people had for him, where he was chasing frivolities in the blues.

The unfortunate incident that occurred to Kenneth Nwosu is a confirmation that Abia State is a beehive of criminals and kidnappers, no matter the hype the state government is giving to security in the media. Imagine the fate of the ‘common’ man in Abia State if a personality like Nwosu who had all the garget of security support could be attacked in the state in that brazen way.

The incident has shown how ‘prepared’ Governor T.A Orji is with his swagger that the state was in its entirety primed for armed robbers and kidnappers. One thing has remained sacrosanct in the state: the government’s clamour that it has fought criminals, especially kidnappers, out of the state, is the height of joke of the 21st Century. The government in Abia State is so boastful that it will tell those that care to listen to its feint that developments are being witnessed in the state. The truth is that Abia State has been experiencing insecurity both in security and infrastructure.

Today, the money might be in trillions. Yet, Governor T.A Orji continues to blame his predecessors for the woes that our state of Abia has become under his administration. What this means is that he has shown to the world that he is incapable of being a governor and that the seat he is occupying does not befit him.

Focus

THOMAS Paine (February 9, 1737 - June 8, 1809) was an EnglishAmerican political activist, philosopher, author, political theorist and revolutionary. As the author of two highly influential pamphlets at the start of the American Revolution, he inspired the Patriots in 1776 to declare independence from Britain. His ideas reflected Enlightenmentera rhetoric of transnational human rights. He has been called “a corsetmaker by trade, a journalist by profession, and a propagandist by inclination”.

Born in Thetford, England, in the county of Norfolk, Paine emigrated to the British American colonies in 1774 with the help of Benjamin Franklin, arriving just in time to participate in the American Revolution. His principal contributions were the powerful, widely read pamphlet Common Sense (1776) that advocated colonial America’s independence from the Kingdom of Great Britain, and The American Crisis (1776–83), a preRevolutionary pamphlet series. Common Sense was so influential that John Adams said, “Without the pen of the author of Common Sense, the sword of Washington would have been raised in vain.”

Paine lived in France for most of the 1790s, becoming deeply involved in the French Revolution.

He wrote the Rights of Man (1791), in part a defence of the French Revolution against its critics. His attacks on British writer Edmund Burke led to a trial and conviction in absentia in 1792 for the crime of seditious libel. In 1792, despite not being able to speak French, he was elected to the French National Convention. The Girondists regarded him as an ally. Consequently, the Montagnards, especially Robespierre, regarded him as an enemy.

In December 1793, he was arrested and imprisoned in Paris, then released in 1794. He became notorious because of his pamphlet The Age of

Reason (1793–94), in which he advocated deism, promoted reason and freethinking, and argued against institutionalized religion in general and Christian doctrine in particular. He also wrote the pamphlet Agrarian Justice (1795), discussing the origins of property, and introduced the concept of a guaranteed minimum income. In 1802, he returned to America where he died on June 8, 1809. Only six people attended his funeral as he had been ostracized for his ridicule of Christianity.

Paine was born on January 29, 1737, the son of Joseph Pain, or Paine, a Quaker, and Frances (née Cocke), an Anglican, in Thetford, an important market town and coach stage-post, in rural Norfolk, England. Born Thomas Pain, despite claims that he changed his family name upon his emigration to America in 1774, he was using Paine in 1769, whilst still in Lewes, Sussex.

He attended Thetford Grammar School (1744– 49), at a time when there was no compulsory education. At age thirteen, he was apprenticed to his corsetmaker father; in late adolescence, he enlisted and briefly served as a privateer, before returning to Britain in 1759. There, he became a master stay-maker, establishing a shop in Sandwich, Kent. On September 27, 1759, Thomas Paine married to Mary Lambert. His business collapsed soon after. Mary became pregnant; and, after they moved to Margate, she went into early labour, in which she and their child died.

In July 1761, Paine returned to Thetford to work as a supernumerary officer.

In December 1762, he became an Excise Officer in Grantham, Lincolnshire; in August 1764, he was transferred to Alford, also in Lincolnshire, at a salary of £50 per annum. On August 27, 1765, he was dismissed as an Excise Officer for “claiming to have inspected goods he did not inspect”.

On July 31, 1766, he requested his reinstatement from the Board of Excise, which they granted the next

Thomas Paine: Firebr

day, upon vacancy. While awaiting that, he worked as a stay-maker.

Paine was appointed to a position in Grampound, Cornwall, in 1767; subsequently, he asked to leave this post to await a vacancy, thus, he became a schoolteacher in London.

On February 19, 1768, he was appointed to Lewes in Sussex, a town with a tradition of opposition to the monarchy and prorepublican sentiments going back to the revolutionary decades of the 17th century. Here he lived above the fifteenthcentury Bull House, the tobacco shop of Samuel Olive and Esther Olive.

There, Paine first became involved in civic matters, and he appears in the Town Book as a member of the Court Leet, the governing body for the town. He was also a member of the parish vestry, an influential local church group whose responsibilities for parish business would include collecting taxes and tithes to distribute among the poor.

On March 26, 1771, at age 34, he married Elizabeth Olive, his landlord’s daughter.

From 1772 to 1773, Paine joined excise officers asking Parliament for better pay and working conditions, publishing, in summer of 1772, The Case of the Officers of Excise, a twenty-one-page article, and his first political work, spending the London winter distributing the 4,000 copies printed to the Parliament and others. In spring of 1774, he was again dismissed from the excise service for being absent from his post without permission; his tobacco shop failed, too. On April 14, to avoid debtors prison, he sold his household possessions to pay debts. It was reported that his oppressors in the English corrupted monarchy, judiciary, banks, and corporate colonists were directly responsible for these dismissals, terminations, retaliations, business sabotages, and

threats to throw him into debtors prison (The Complete Writings of Thomas Paine, P.S. Foner (ed.), 1945, I, 4/23). Paine’s attack on monarchy in his book Common Sense (1776) is essentially an attack on George III. Whereas colonial resentments were originally directed primarily against the king’s ministers and Parliament, Paine laid the responsibility firmly at the king’s door. Common Sense was the most widely read pamphlet of the American Revolution. It was a clarion call for unity against the corrupt British court, so as to realize America’s providential role in providing an asylum for liberty. Written in a direct and lively style, it denounced the decaying despotisms of Europe and pilloried hereditary monarchy as an absurdity.

At a time when many still hoped for reconciliation with Britain, Common Sense demonstrated to many the inevitability of separation.

On June 4, 1774, Paine formally separated from wife Elizabeth and moved to London, where, in September, mathematician, Fellow of the Royal Society, and Commissioner of the Excise George Lewis Scott introduced him to Benjamin Franklin, who suggested emigration to British colonial America, and gave him a letter of recommendation.

In October, Thomas Paine emigrated from Great Britain to the American colonies, arriving in Philadelphia on November 30, 1774.

Paine barely survived the transatlantic voyage. The ship’s water supplies were bad, and typhoid fever killed five passengers. On arriving at Philadelphia, he was too sick to debark.

Benjamin Franklin’s physician, there to welcome Paine to America, had him carried off ship; Paine took six weeks to recover his health. He became a citizen of Pennsylvania “by taking the oath of allegiance at a

“Paine barely survived the transatlantic voyage. The ship’s water supplies were bad, and typhoid fever killed five passengers. On arriving at Philadelphia, he was too sick to debark. Benjamin Franklin’s physician, there to welcome Paine to America, had him carried off ship; Paine took six weeks to recover his health.”

By OBUSEH JUDE

very early period”. In January, 1775, he became editor of the Pennsylvania Magazine, a position he conducted with considerable ability.

Paine designed the Sunderland Bridge of 1796 over the Wear River at Wearmouth, England. It was patterned after the model he had made for the Schuylkill River Bridge at Philadelphia in 1787, and the Sunderland arch became the prototype for many subsequent voussoir arches made in iron and steel. He also received a British patent for a singlespan iron bridge, developed a smokeless candle, and worked with inventor John Fitch in developing steam engines.

Thomas Paine has a claim to the title The Father of the American Revolution because of Common Sense, the pro-independence monograph pamphlet he anonymously published on January 10, 1776; signed “Written by an Englishman”, the pamphlet became an immediate success. It quickly spread among the literate, and, in three months, 100,000 copies (estimated 500,000 total including unauthorized editions sold during the course of the Revolution) sold throughout the American British colonies (with only two million free inhabitants), making it the best-selling American title of the period. Paine’s original title for the pamphlet was Plain Truth; Paine’s friend, proindependence advocate Benjamin Rush, suggested Common Sense instead.

The pamphlet came into circulation in January 1776, after the Revolution had started. It was passed around, and often read aloud in taverns, contributing significantly to spreading the idea of republicanism, bolstering enthusiasm for separation from Britain, and encouraging recruitment for the Continental Army.

Paine provided a new and convincing argument for independence by advocating a complete break with history.

Common Sense is oriented to the future in a way that compels the reader to make an immediate choice. It offers a solution for Americans disgusted with and alarmed at the threat of tyranny.

Paine was not, on the

whole, expressing original ideas in Common Sense, but rather employing rhetoric as a means to arouse resentment of the Crown.

To achieve these ends, he pioneered a style of political writing suited to

Thomas Paine the democratic society he envisioned, with Common Sense serving as a primary example. Part of Paine’s work was to render complex ideas intelligible to average readers of the day, with clear, concise writing unlike the formal, learned style favored by many of Paine’s contemporaries. Scholars have put forward various explanations to account for its success, including the historic moment, Paine’s easy-to-understand style, his democratic ethos, and his use of psychology and ideology.

Common Sense was immensely popular in disseminating to a very wide audience ideas that were already in common use among the elite who comprised Congress and the leadership cadre of the emerging nation, who rarely cited Paine’s arguments in their public calls for independence. The pamphlet probably had little direct influence on the Continental Congress’s decision to issue a Declaration of

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Focus

rand Revolutionaire

ependence, since that dy was more concerned th how declaring ependence would affect war effort. Paine’s great ntribution was in iating a public debate out independence which d previously been rather ted. ne distinctive idea in mmon Sense is Paine’s iefs regarding the

“common sense”. He synthesized various philosophical and political uses of the term in a way that permanently impacted American political thought.

He used two ideas from Scottish Common Sense Realism: that ordinary people can indeed make sound judgments on major political issues, and that there exists a body of popular wisdom that

ceful nature of ublics; his views were an y and strong conception what scholars would me to call the democratic ce theory. Loyalists orously attacked mmon Sense; one attack, d Plain Truth (1776), by rylander James almers, said Paine was a tical quack and warned without monarchy, the vernment would generate into mocracy”. Even some erican revolutionaries ected to Common Sense; in life John Adams led it a “crapulous ss”. Adams disagreed h the type of radical mocracy promoted by ne (that men who did not n property should still be wed to vote and hold lic office), and lished Thoughts on vernment in 1776 to ocate a more servative approach to ublicanism. ophia Rosenfeld argues t Paine was highly ovative in his use of the mmonplace notion of

is readily apparent to anyone. Paine also used a notion of “common sense” favored by philosophers in the Continental Enlightenment. They held that common sense could refute the claims of traditional institutions.

Thus, Paine used “common sense” as a weapon to delegitimize the monarchy and overturn prevailing conventional wisdom.

Rosenfeld concludes that the phenomenal appeal of his pamphlet resulted from his synthesis of popular and elite elements in the independence movement.

According to historian Robert Middlekauff, Common Sense became immensely popular mainly because Paine appealed to widespread convictions.

Monarchy, he said, was preposterous, and it had a heathenish origin. It was an institution of the devil.

Paine pointed to the Old Testament, where almost all kings had seduced the Israelites to worship idols instead of God. Paine also

denounced aristocracy, which together with monarchy were “two ancient tyrannies”. They violated the laws of nature, human reason, and the “universal order of things”, which began with God. That was, Middlekauff says, exactly what most Americans wanted to hear.

He calls the Revolutionary generation “the children of the twice-born”,[31] because in their childhood they had experienced the Great Awakening, which, for the first time, had tied Americans together, t r a n s c e n d i n g denominational and ethnic boundaries and giving them a sense of patriotism.

In late 1776, Paine published The American Crisis pamphlet series to inspire the Americans in their battles against the British army. He juxtaposed the conflict between the good American devoted to civic virtue and the selfish provincial man. To inspire his soldiers, General George Washington had The American Crisis, first Crisis pamphlet, read aloud to them. It begins: “These are the times that try men’s souls: The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like Hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives everything its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated”.

Paine became secretary of the Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1777. The following year, he alluded to continuing secret negotiation with France in his pamphlets; the resultant

scandal and Paine’s conflict with Robert Morris eventually led to Paine’s expulsion from the Committee in 1779.

However, in 1781, he accompanied John Laurens on his mission to France.

Eventually, after much pleading from Paine, New York State recognized his political services by presenting him with an estate, at New Rochelle, New York, and Paine received money from Pennsylvania and from the US Congress at George Washington’s suggestion.

During the Revolutionary War, Paine served as an aide to the important general, Nathanael Greene. Paine’s later years established him as “a missionary of world revolution”.

Again, accompanied Col. John Laurens to France and is credited with initiating the mission. It landed in France in March 1781 and returned to America in August with 2.5 million livres in silver, as part of a “present” of 6 million and a loan of 10 million. The meetings with the French king were most likely conducted in the company and under the influence of Benjamin Franklin. Upon returning to the United States with this highly welcomed cargo, Thomas Paine and probably Col. Laurens, “positively objected” that General Washington should propose that Congress remunerate him for his services, for fear of setting “a bad precedent and an improper mode”.

Paine made influential acquaintances in Paris, and helped organize the Bank of North America to raise money to supply the army.

In 1785, he was given $3,000 by the U.S. Congress in recognition of his service to the nation.

Henry Laurens (the father of Col. John Laurens) had been the ambassador to the Netherlands, but he was captured by the British on his return trip there. When he was later exchanged for the prisoner Lord Cornwallis (in late 1781), Paine proceeded to the

Netherlands to continue the loan negotiations. There remains some question as to the relationship of Henry Laurens and Thomas Paine to Robert Morris as the Superintendent of Finance and his business associate Thomas Willing who became the first president of the Bank of North America (in Jan. 1782). They had accused Morris of profiteering in 1779 and Willing had voted against the Declaration of Independence. Although Morris did much to restore his reputation in 1780 and 1781, the credit for obtaining these critical loans to “organize” the Bank of North America for approval

by Congress in December 1781 should go to Henry or John Laurens and Thomas Paine more than to Robert Morris.

In Fashion before Ease; — or,— A good Constitution sacrificed for a Fantastick Form (1793), James Gillray caricatured Paine tightening the corset of Britannia; protruding from his coat pocket is a measuring tape inscribed “Rights of Man”.

Paine bought his only house in 1783 on the corner of Farnsworth Avenue and Church Streets in Bordentown City, New Jersey, and he lived in it periodically until his death in 1809. This is the only place in the world where Paine purchased real estate.

His design for a single-arch iron bridge led him back to Europe after the Revolution, where he tried, unsuccessfully, to find backers for his plans.

Back in London by 1787, Paine became engrossed in the ongoing French Revolution that began in 1789. He visited France in 1790.

Meanwhile conservative intellectual Edmund Burke launched a counterrevolutionary blast against the French Revolution, entitled Reflections on the Revolution in France (1790); it strongly appealed to the landed class and sold 30,000 copies. Paine set out to refute it in his Rights of Man (1791). He wrote it not as a quick pamphlet but as a long, abstract political tract of 90,000 words that tore

apart monarchies and traditional social institutions. On January 31, he gave the manuscript to publisher Joseph Johnson.

A visit by government agents dissuaded Johnson, so Paine gave the book to publisher J.S. Jordan, then went to Paris, per William Blake’s advice. He charged three good friends, William Godwin, Thomas Brand Hollis, and Thomas Holcroft, with handling publication details. The book appeared on March 13 and sold nearly a million copies. It was, “eagerly read by reformers, Protestant dissenters, democrats, London craftsman, and the skilled factory-hands of the new industrial north.”

Undeterred by the government campaign to discredit him, Paine issued his Rights of Man, Part the Second, Combining Principle and Practice in February 1792. It detailed a representative government with enumerated social programs to remedy the numbing poverty of commoners through progressive tax measures.

Radically reduced in price to ensure unprecedented circulation, it was sensational in its impact and gave birth to reform societies. An indictment for seditious libel followed, for both publisher and author, while government agents followed Paine and instigated mobs, hate meetings, and burnings in effigy. A fierce pamphlet war also resulted, in which Paine was defended and assailed in dozens of works.

The authorities aimed, with ultimate success, to chase Paine out of Great Britain.

He was then tried in absentia and found guilty, though never executed.

In summer of 1792, he answered the sedition and libel charges thus: “If, to expose the fraud and imposition of monarchy ... to promote universal peace, civilization, and commerce, and to break the chains of political superstition, and raise degraded man to his proper rank; if these things be libelous ... let the name of libeller be engraved on my tomb.”

To be continued

“Paine became secretary of the Congressional Committee on Foreign Affairs in 1777. The following year, he alluded to continuing secret negotiation with France in his pamphlets; the resultant scandal and Paine’s conflict with Robert Morris eventually led to Paine’s expulsion from the Committee in 1779.”

Family Planning

WITH ERANGA ISAAC-08059233001 Email-Isaac dcitorial@yahoo.com phone-08059233001

“Experts suggested a 20% median reduction in each of antepartum stillbirths (1 QR 10-30) and intrapartum stillbirths (10040) from introduction of these interventions.”

Interventions To Address Stillbirth Associated With Infection IN the LANCET series on stillbirth, April 2011, it is being reported that syphilis during pregnancy is common in many lowincome and middle – income countries, with prevalence varying from less than 1% to 10% or higher, and is associated with a high risk of fetal neonatal mortality.

Screening and treatment for syphilis is an essential component of all antenatal programmes in endemic countries. Although a Cochrane review of antibiotic treatment as syphilis in pregnancy did not identify any eligible studies, says Walker GJ his “Antibiotics for syphilis diagnosed during pregnancy” Cochrane Data base syst Rev. 2001; 3: CD001143. though randomised trials of screening and treatment for syphilis would be unethical, so appropriate observational studies should be used to establish the effectiveness of treatment. Findings of a random-effect metaanalysis of eight observational studies, Six from low-income and

middle income countries, showed a significant 80% reduction in stillbirths in infected women receiving treatment compared with those receiving no treatment. Identification and treatment of maternal syphilis to reduce congenital syphilis and stillbirth, are strongly recommended by maternal health experts.

Malaria is another major infection associated with stillbirth. According to Golden berg RL, McClure EM, saleem S. Reddy UM, in’infection-related stillbirths’- Lancet 2010; 375: 1482-90, “About 10% of the World’s population is exposed to clinical or sub clinical malaria, and about I million deaths occur for every 500 million new infections yearly.” To Rogerson Exp Med Biol 2010: 659: 139-52, “Every year, about 50 million pregnant women are exposed to malaria in endemic areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Latin America, and Asia.”

Prevention strategies include prophylatin anti-

malaria drugs through intermittent preventive treatment, and use of insecticide – treated bed nets. In two Cochrane reviews of studies in lowincome and middleincome countries, intermittent preventive treatment had no significant effect on stillbirths in women in their first or second pregnancy (RR O.96, 15%, CLO.62-1.50) (Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2006; 4: CD000169). Bed-nets, studies also say, had a significant effect for women in their first or second pregnancy (0.67,0.47-097), but had no effect for fifth or

greater pregnancies (1.02,017-6.23). in practical terms, however, both interventions are used in combination in endemic populations, which reduces the risk of stillbirths in women in their first or second pregnancy by an estimated 22%.

Prevention And Management of Hypertensive Disease of Pregnancy According to the World Health Orgnisation analysis of causes of maternal death: a systematic review – as reviewed by Khanks, Wojdyla D, SayL,

Gulmezoglu AM, Van Look PFA, in view of the association of hypertensive disease of pregnancy with maternal morbidity and mortality, strategies are needed to improve prevention, detection, and antihypertensive treatment.

Use of hypertensive agents in pregnancies complicated by hypertensive disease leads to a small but insignificant reduction in the risk of perinatal mortality.

Progression of preeclampsia to eclampsia is an obstetrical emergency.

In the past decade, magnesium sulphate has replaced the use of other anticonvulsants as the drug of choice in the prophylaxis and treatment of eclampsia and is superior to the often used lytic cocktail. Data for use of magnesium sulphate in pregnancy are limited by the fact that not all trials report data on fetal outcomes, and no data seperated bys type of stillbirth (ante partum and intrapartum) was

identified. From the information available, use of magnesium sulphate had no effect on stillbirths and perinatal mortality but reduced neonatal deaths (RR 0.37, 95% CI 0, 141.00).

According Jabeen M, Yakoob MY, Imdad A, Bhutta ZA, in their ‘Impact of interventions to prevent and marriage preeclampsia and eclampsia on stillbirths – BMC Public Health 2011; 11(Suppl3): 56, “We undertook a specific Delphi consultation to assess the potential effect of a package of interventions on stillbirths associated with maternal hypertension.

The package of interventions included screening for hypertension, use of magnesium sulphate as needed, and induction of labour or use of caesarean section.”

Experts suggested a 20% median reduction in each of antepartum stillbirths (1 QR 10-30) and intrapartum stillbirths (10040) from introduction of these interventions.

“Every year, about 50 million pregnant women are exposed to malaria in endemic areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, parts of Latin America, and Asia.”

WHEN the Federal Government introduced the electronic system of fertiliser subsidy administration in 2012, many skeptics, including farmers themselves, doubted the government’s sincerity and as such never gave it any chance of success.

Their cynicism stemmed from the fact that most farmers, particularly smallholder farmers, had never benefitted from the government’s subsidised fertiliser distribution programme on which billions of naira had been spent over the past 40 years.

Dr Akinwuni Adesina, the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that the new fertiliser distribution arrangement was introduced due to the outcome of some studies.

He said that the studies revealed that only 11 per cent of the country’s estimated 70 million farmers had been able to access the subsidised fertiliser over the past four decades.

He added that the studies also revealed the fertiliser distribution scheme had been hijacked by “political farmers’’ who made the product available to their cronies and relatives as well as middlemen who, in turn, sold it in the open market at cut-throat prices.

Genuine farmers were shortchanged and they were forced to procure fertiliser at exorbitant prices orchestrated by the shylock fertiliser merchants.

However, after two years of the implementation of the innovative fertiliser subsidy system known as the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme (GES), there have been several testimonies about the scheme.

Farmers, agro-dealers, agri-businessmen and women, agriculture sector watchers and other

stakeholders acknowledge that the scheme is working very well in spite of some challenges.

They describe the scheme as the best fertiliser subsidy programme ever conceived and implemented in the country.

Mr. Michael Aondoakaa, a former Minister of Justice and AttorneyGeneral of the Federation, said: “For somebody to say nothing is being done in agriculture, to me, it is strange; since the beginning of this country, this is best agric policy; anybody who says anything contrary will have to give reasons.

“As a participant in agriculture, and I have been part of government before; I have never seen a well-focused and a more articulated agric policy than that of this government.

“The number of integrated mills in the country has increased from one to 15 through the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

“The policies are welldefined and straightforward; we that are in the processing industry are seeing the reality of the programme,’’ Aondoakaa added.

The fertiliser subsidy regime is the flagship programme of the Federal Government under its A g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda (ATA).

Through the programme, fertiliser and seeds are allocated to registered farmers via an electronic system known as the “e-wallet’’.

Observers note that this is the first time that a database of Nigerian farmers is being developed.

Under the system, implemented via a publicprivate-partnership,

View Point Assessing The Agricultural Transformation Programme

By NKECHI OKORONKWO

registered farmers receive their allocation of fertiliser and improved variety of maize or rice seeds via their mobile phones and they are directed to go to identified Redemption Centres to redeem their allocations.

and restoring the glory of agriculture in the nation’s scheme of things.

Following the discovery of oil in the 60s and the oil boom in the early 70s, with attendant phenomenal increase in oil revenues,

Dr. Akinwumi Adesina, Agriculture Minister

Under the arrangement, the farmer pays 50 per cent of the cost of the fertiliser, while the federal and state governments defray the balance. The improved seeds are, however, given to the farmers free of charge.

Within two years of implementation, the support scheme has been expanded to include other aspects of agriculture apart from crops, such as livestock, fisheries, cassava cuttings and oil palm, among others.

In more pragmatic terms, the agricultural transformation programme is aimed at diversifying the nation’s economy away from oil

the agriculture sector was somewhat neglected.

Gradually, Nigeria metamorphosed into an import dependent nation with growing, massive food imports.

Adesina said that studies by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development revealed that Nigeria’s food import bill peaked at approximately 11 billion dollars in 2011.

In specific terms, wheat imports cost N635 billion (3.8 billion dollars), rice imports N356 billion (2.3 billion dollars); sugar, N217 billion (1.3 billion dollars) and fish, N97 billion (582 million dollars).

“The policies are well-defined and straightforward; we that are in the processing industry are seeing the reality of the programme’’

Speaking on the objectives of the ATA, the minister’s aide, Mr. Adetunji Oredipe, said: We want to cut our food imports and build up the production levels of our local farmers.

“The Agricultural Transformation Agenda Programme (ATAP) is also a means of developing the rural areas, reducing the poverty rate as well as checking the exodus of people to big cities such as Abuja and Lagos.’’

The minister once unveiled ATA targets and these include adding 20 million tonnes to domestic food production by 2015, creating 3.5 million jobs in the agriculture sector by 2015 and providing more than N300 billion of additional income for Nigerian farmers.

Other targets are making Nigeria self-sufficient in rice production by 2015 and reducing the level of wheat importation by substituting 20 per cent of bread wheat flour with high-quality cassava flour.

On the successes so far recorded, Adesina said that so far, the scheme had improved the food security situation of not less than 30 million persons in rural farm households.

He said that 6.4 million registered farmers had received agricultural inputs under the GES programme, while the number of registered farmers was expected to hit 10 million this year.

“The system is working.

In the past two years, the system has reached 6.4 million smallholder farmers and it has enhanced the food security of 30 million persons in rural farm households.

“Women farmers, who never got fertilisers and seeds under the old system, now have better yielding fields with subsidised farm inputs which they receive through their own mobile phones. Dignity has been restored to farmers,’’ he said.

Similarly, the minister stressed that the number of seed companies had

grown from 11 to 77, with the three largest seed companies in the world — Syngenta, Monsanto and Dupont – planning to establish seed companies in Nigeria.

He also said that 3,000 small and medium agribusinesses in the input supply chain had sprung up across the country as part of the feats of the GES. Adesina noted that the country’s food import bill had dropped from N2.3 billion to N1.8 trillion within the past two years, while 15 million tonnes of food had been added to the country’s food stock within the period.

He expressed the optimism that Nigeria would become selfsufficient in rice production by 2015.

The minister, however, attributed the successes so far recorded to several factors which included the adoption of a new approach to managing agriculture as a business venture rather than a development programme.

Besides, Adesina said that the government’s partnership with the private sector, which also focused on the value chains of all commodities, spurred the progress.

“We have stated it clear from the beginning that agriculture would no longer be treated as a development programme but as a business concern.

“Our approach was deliberate: We want to grow the agriculture sector, using the private sector to drive the growth, while focusing on value chains for all commodities and connecting farms to mills, aggregators, storage, improved logistics, processors and value addition.’’

Observers note that these innovative ideas and the successes of the agricultural transformation programme have earned a lot of recognition for Nigeria and its agriculture minister at home and abroad.

In recent times, delegations of farmers from different states across the country have paid courtesy visits to the Continues on pg. 20

View Point Continued from pg. 19

minister to convey their appreciation for the feats which the agricultural transformation programme recorded within two years.

More importantly, in 2013, the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) listed Nigeria among the countries which had achieved Goal One of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) — reducing by halve the number of people living in abject poverty and hunger.

Besides, Adesina won the Forbes Magazine award as the “2013 Africa’s Personality of the Year’’. Recently, he was

...Agricultural Transformation Programme also named an “Ambassador of Goodwill’’ by the International Crops Research Institute for the Sahel and Tropics (ICRISAT).

In spite of these achievements, the minister stressed that it was not yet “uhuru’’ because there were still some serious challenges, as revealed by an independent survey commissioned by the ministry.

The survey listed the major challenges as infrastructure, finance, supply security and government regulations,

tax and policies. Others are human capital, security, land and government coordination.

However, Adesina said that efforts were underway to tackle these challenges frontally, adding that one of the strategies entailed development of Staple Crops Processing Zones (SCPZs).

The SCPZs are expected to create 250,000 jobs across the country, while adding N1.4 trillion to the nation’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister said that the Ministries of

Fighting Corruption: DELEGATES at the ongoing National Conference observe that reported cases of corruption in Nigeria have somewhat marred the country’s image and reputation.

They argue that although corruption is a global phenomenon, Nigeria, as the most populous country in Africa, ought to step up the fight against corruption.

They note that stakeholders should evolve pragmatic measures to establish a virile mechanism, aimed at tackling corruption headlong.

Concerned citizens also observe that corruption has continued to thrive in Nigeria because of the absence of severe penalty for corruption-related offences.

They cite the arraignment of Mr John Yusuf, a former Assistant Director in the Police Pension Office, and six other officials of the agency by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for the embezzlement of N23.3 billion as an instance.

They recall with dismay that Justice Mohammed Talba of the FCT High Court convicted and sentenced Yusuf to two years’ imprisonment, with the option of N750, 000 fine, in spite of the gravity of the offence.

The judgment, which generated a lot of

controversy, elicited the attention of the House of Representatives, which asked the EFCC and the Attorney-General of the Federation to appeal against the judgment, with a view to securing a stricter punishment.

However, the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) exonerated the judge of any wrongdoing and blamed the weak sentence on the existing laws of the country.

In a reaction to the controversy, the House urged the National Assembly to review the provisions of the penal and criminal codes to provide stricter punishment for acts of corruption.

Observers, however, underscore the need for the adoption of a more holistic approach to fighting corruption by putting in place stringent penalties for corruption offences.

They are, nonetheless, optimistic that with decision of the National Conference to make the provision of more stringent anti-corruption laws a priority, the war against corruption will soon be quite effective.

Reviewing the level of corruption in the country, the national confab’s delegates stressed that corruption was a major problem which should be tackled frontally in efforts to fast-track ensure Nigeria’s development.

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta, a delegate representing the North West geopolitical zone, underscored the

Agriculture and Finance, in partnership with the German Development Bank, had set up the Fund for Agricultural Financing (FAFIN).

FAFIN is a private equity, quasi-equity and debt fund which will provide 100 million dollars in long-term finance to agribusinesses.

As part of efforts to consolidate the gains of the agriculture transformation programme, the Organised Private Sector (OPS), which comprises about 20 companies, established the Nigerian

Agribusiness Group.

The major objective of the group is to help drive the ongoing regulatory and policy reforms so as to ensure that they are well protected and sustained.

The group is expected to work closely with the government in efforts to further improve the business environment in agriculture.

With the 2015 target date for the MDGs and ATA around the corner, agricultural stakeholders expect a quantum leap in the successes so far recorded.

They, nonetheless, note

that the allocation of N66.64 billion to the agricultural sector in the 2014 budget may not be sufficient enough to achieve the desired results.

The stakeholders emphasise that the figure is lower than the 10 per cent of the annual budget, which was recommended by the African Heads of State in their 2003 Maputo Declaration.

They note that only eight countries, excluding Nigeria, have been able to achieve the target set for the finance of the agricultural sector.

The National Confab Viewpoint

By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA

need for Nigeria to be proactive in the campaign against corruption, describing it as the root of the country’s problems.

The conference, therefore, adopted the report of the Committee on Civil Society, Labour,

without an option of fine.

Ogunrinade said that the recommendations were based on the laws of some Asian countries where the enactment of such laws had restored sanity, reduced corruption and abuse of office.

office.

The committee said that the removal of the immunity clause from the constitution would also encourage accountability among those managing the country’s economy.

Welcoming the recommendations, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, the Executive Director of

Cross section of National Confab

Youth and Sports, chaired

by Mrs Bola Ogunrinade, which recommended life imprisonment without an option of fine for anyone who embezzles public funds.

It also approved the recommendation that any judicial officer, who was convicted of corruption or perversion of justice, should be liable to 50 years’ imprisonment and the loss of all official entitlements, including gratuity and pensions,

In addition to this, the conference also adopted the report of its Committee on Economy, Trade and Investment, led by Hajiya Bola Shagaya, which recommended the removal of the immunity clause for public office holders as a way of fighting corruption.

The immunity clause, as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution, protects the President, Vice President, state governors and their deputies from prosecution, as long as they remain in

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, a rights advocacy group, said that the group would support any law aimed at intensifying the fight against corruption.

He, nonetheless, stressed that the recommendations must be properly enforced when they were ratified.

“The problem of Nigeria is not lack of laws but lack of the political will to enforce the laws,’’ he said.

In the same vein, Mr Fred Agbaje, a human

rights lawyer, noted that the adoption of the national conference’s recommendations was desirable, as they would certainly reduce corruption in the country.

Agbaje noted that corruption was even a capital offence in some countries.

“However, due to the fact that the death penalty is going out of practice, the recommendation of life imprisonment for corrupt officers is more acceptable,’’ he said.

Mr Adebamigbe Omole, a former Chairman of Ikeja chapter of NBA said: “Except Nigeria begins to adopt stringent measures, corruption will continue to be an endemic problem in the country.

“In fact, I would have recommended death penalty because those sentenced to life imprisonment can be pardoned in future to enjoy their ill-gotten wealth, to the detriment of the nation,’’ he added.

All in all, the consensus of opinion at the national conference is that corruption breeds poverty, underdevelopment, insecurity and unemployment, among others.

The delegates, therefore, agree that the adoption of their recommendations will aid the fulfilment of the war against corruption, which is viewed by T r a n s p a r e n c y International as a crime against society.

Archival Matters

Let’s Support Community Policing In Edo State

By MICHAEL ODIGBE ON July 15, 2014 after parading 46 suspects at Edo Police Command Headquarters in Benin, CP Foluso Adebanjo said: “We must all come together to get a safe, secured, peaceful and crime-free society.”

He continued: “If you have information, give it to the police. If you do so, you are not only helping the police but also assisting yourself, your family, your neighbour, your community, your society and the whole Edo State.”

His ernest appeal contains two elements. Firstly, he is emphasizing the need for community policing in Edo State because of its modern trendiness in enhancing effective policing.

Secondly, through his appeal, he is calling attention to the obvious fact that when you help the police you are also assisting yourself. This is true talk. Remember, the old song: “If you do good, you do for yourself……….”

See criminals are like parasitic mosquitoes. I am yet to see an Edo State resident who hasn’t been bitten by mosquitoes; or whose friends, kiths, kins and children are free from mosquito bites. The same thing goes for criminals.

All of us are exposed to their deadly malfeasance.

Hence, the need to join the police to fight them on the platform of community policing.

On a more serious level, such a need arises when you consider what a friend describes as the “horrorifics of criminals.

Of initial interest here is the gruesome kidnap and killing of Dr. Terry Ehis, a medical doctor and product of Ambrose Alli University’s College of Medicine, Ekpoma. He was riding in his infinity Jeep with his spouse one night in Ekpoma when they were kidnapped.

They were taken to the kidnappers’ den. There, he was tied up and severely beaten. Then, after two

days in captivity, he was thrown into a well. Where he died. And, so, at 24 his blossoming life and career were snuffed out by goodfor-nothing criminals who always tried to reap where they never sowed.

Let’s pause for a moment.

Suppose, Dr Terry Ehis was your colleague, friend or family member? Wouldn’t you be pained by his horrible death in the hands of criminals.

Well, this isn’t the end of the story. The late Dr. Terry Ehis? Spouse was raped by the hoodlums. In addition, she was threatened with death through rat poison or drowning in the same evil well like Dr. Terry Ehis. If she didn’t disclose the pin of their AT Ms. Of course, she did and the hoodlums helped themselves to their bank accounts.

Again, let’s take this other horror scene. In 2013 during a parade of suspects

by Edo Police Command, a 55- year old man confessed to defiling two girls aged 4 and 5 from the same parents. Who knows this shameless ground father would have given these girls HIV or genital tract infections. Most probably, he might have disvirgined them, thus stealing their prized biological endowments.

Once more, stop for a moment to think.

Supposed, these girls were your daughters, sisters, nieces or cousins, how would you feel?

Another scenario. You park your car in the lot and lock it up before heading for your office. When you close from work, behold, it is not there. It is gone!!

Car snatchers were at work. Such a scene recently occurred at Central Hospital, Benin. A female staff parked her fiat car within its premises on arriving for work. But moments later her car was on its way to Asaba. Where arrangements had been concluded to sell the car for N400,000 by car snatchers driving it.

All said, she was lucky.

Eagle-eyed policemen from Edo Police Command on stop-and-search operation recovered the car.

Not everyone is as lucky as this woman. Stolen cars have sometimes ended up

home. But at daybreak, you get an emergency call that there is trouble at your shop and only means of livelihood. You rush there only to find, your maiguard in charge of security

April 9, 2014 along the commercial Mission Road in Benin City. A businessman’s shop was broken into at night and all his computers were stolen after the hired mai-guard in the area had been bludgeoned to death.

Although, most hoodlums involved in crimes are usually arrested their deeds, which wreck serious

Foluso Adebanjo, Edo State Commissioner of Police

in cameroun, Niger and neighbouring Benin Republic.

Or in underground mechanic workshops where they are cannibalised to feed the hidden spare part industry.

And, so, such cars are lost for ever in our amorphous, anomic society which has been collectively created by all of us – not the police, necessarily.

Still, another scenario.

Let’s assume you own a shop. You lock it after the day’s business to return

for your shop and others in a pool of his blood. Dead.

Killed by criminals who stormed the area that night while good, God-fearing people were fast asleep. As if this horrifying wasn’t enough you step further to take a look at your shop. It was broken into by the hoodlums who carted away all the goods inside your shop.

Be informed, this is not a footage from Nolly-wood home video. Such a scenario played out on

havoc on the society, have taken place already. Thus, preventing crime is often the best option.

Herein lies also the need for effective community policing in Edo State as enunciated by CP Foluso Adebanjo. In case you don’t know, community policing has both the demand and supply side.

The demand component of it involves citizens’ choice of a lifestyle of Godliness morality and righteousness that is allergic to crime.

Impliedly, you should avoid: membership of cults, evil – minded peer groups, bad companions, hard drugs running violent errands for politicians or anyone else, selling one land to multiple buyers, engaging in extortion and other sundry criminal attitude. Also, if you are an artisan, or a professional, always adhere strictly to best practices and the prescribed code of conduct.

No 419ism as it now common among some native doctors, pastors, workmen and the like.

Now, to the supply side of community policing. Set up vigilante or neighbourhood watch outfits in your area in partnership with the police.

Co-operate with the Police Community Relations Committee in your area or anywhere you see them.

Then, of course, give relevant information to the police. Never fail to obey the security tips they give regularly to members of the public.

This is no time to stay aloof. Stand to be counted or else you will be counted out by criminals one day.

Hear. Martin Niemollar: “In Germany, they first came for the communists.

And I didn’t speak out because I was not a communist. Then, they came for the Jews. And I did not speak out because I was protestant. Finally, they came for me. And by that time, there was no one left to speak out.”

So, let’s all synergize to fight crime in Edo State through community policing or else crime will fight us one day. Don’t forget the story of Boko Haram.

Had we collectively fought them, wouldn’t be the monster they have become today.

“Now, to the supply side of community policing. Set up vigilante or neighbourhood watch outfits in your area in partnership with the police. Co-operate with the Police Community Relations Committee in your area or anywhere you see them. Then, of course, give relevant information to the police.”

Science

With Oyakhilome Clementina

“During photosynthesis, simple sugers are formed this is the first product.

Then along the day, excess sugar is produced and stored as starch in the leaves of the plant while at night the starch is converted back to sugar and transported out of the leaves to their storage organs.”

Photosynthesis PHOTOSYNTHESIS is a process by which chlorophyll containing plants are able to prepare organic food substances from carbon dioxide and water using radiant energy from the sun.

6co2+6H20 light energy/chlorophyll c6h12 06+602 glucose The raw materials here are carbon – dioxide and water.

During photosynthesis, light energy is stored, oxygen is liberated and carbohydrates is formed.

During photosynthesis, simple sugers are formed this is the first product. Then along the day, excess sugar is produced and stored as starch in the leaves of the plant while at night the starch is converted back to sugar and transported out of the leaves to their storage organs.

What are the significances of photosynthesis The food produced during photosynthesis either from organic foods or indirect from the living members of ecosystem, since they are mainly the producers in any ecosystem and food chain.

Co2 gas which is a waste produced during cellular respiration and burning processes are been converted into useful organic compounds in the plant cell during the process of photosynthesis.

During photosynthesis the oxygen produced by the plants helps to stabilize the need of the living members of the ecosystem.

During photosynthesis, the sun converts organic food into valuable form in living tissues of the plants.

Test for starch Materials needed 1. Cireen leaf 2. Water 3. Water bath 4. Alcohol 5. Iodine Method Detarch a leaf from a plant that has been exposed to sunlight for about two hours.

The leaf is boiled in the water for about 4-5 minutes. It is boiled in order for the protoplasm to be killed, and also to have access to the starch grains so that the iodine will get to the starch.

To extract the chlorophyII from the leaf as placed into 70% of alcohol that is placed in not water bath.

After placing leaf into 70% of alcohol it is then dipped into warm water to soften it and also to allow the iodine

penetrate the leaf.

The leaf is dipped into iodine solution for about 2-3 minutes.

After 2-3 minutes, the leaf turns to a blue black colouration, signifying the presence of starch for photosynthesis to take place there must be light, carbon dioxide and the presence of chlorophyll.

Test for necessity of chlorophyll in photosynthesis The leaf of ice plant or variegated plant like croton is plucked and exposed for about two hours to the presence of sunlight.

The leaf is put on a table and a sheet of paper is put on the leaf and the out line is traced out, that is the green parts.

The leaf is tested for the presence of starch as earlier described as test for starch.

The drawing outline is placed again over the leaf and when it is observed, it is seen that only the green parts of the plant turned blue black in colour signifying the presence of starch and that chlorophyll is necessary for photosynthesis.

Test for necessity of light in photosynthesis A well watered potted plants of the same age of similar species are placed in dark any cupboards for about three days, preventing them from sunlight to make the leaves starch free.

The leaves are detarched from the main plants leaf are each tested for starch and there is no blue black colouration meaning there is absence of starch.

From the two potted plants in the cupboard one is brought outside and exposed to sunlight for about 5 hours, while the other plant is still kept in the dark, which now serves as a control.

A leaf is than plucked from the one exposed to sunlight and that the one placed in the dark.

From observations it is noticed that the leaf that was exposed to sunlight turned blue black colouration signifying the presence of starch meaning that light is necessary for photosynthesis.

While the other potted plant that was kept in dark, showed no result after iodine was dropped on it, signifying that only sunlight was necessary for photosynthesis to take place.

Test for necessity of carbon dioxide in photosynthesis It is has been observed that only the leaves that has been supplied with carbon dioxide the leaf usually turns blue black when iodine is applied to it, but when the leaves are deprived of carbon – dioxide, they do not turn blue black with iodine meaning that there is absence of starch therefore carbon – dioxide is necessary for photosynthesis.

Functions and deficiency symptoms of some mineral elements in plants Elements Zinc

Functions in plant It activates certain enzymes no plants

Deficiency symptoms There is a failure of internodes to elongate and leaves to expand.

Copper

“

The plants develop bushy appearances. The flowering and fruiting of the plant is reduced while the bark becomes rough.

Iron

Needed for chlorophyll Synthesis

Stunted growth and yellowing of leaves.

Boron

Necessary for healthy growth cell division of the meristematic cells of the damaged. plant

Leaves are distorted, tissues are hard and brittle, while the apex of the leaves are

Nitrogen

Constituent of all proteins, Chlorophyll and enzyme growth. reactions in the plant

The leaves turn yellow in colour and stunted

Patassium

Cell formation in plant

Yellowing of leaves and poor growth of the Plant.

“

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“

Humble Reflection THE sudden death of His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon Oduoye, erstwhile Military Administrator of Niger and Ebonyi States, brought severe pains and great sorrows to us. His demise has irreversibly decimated the rapidly declining strength of Nigerian patriots. It is painful but glorious in the sight of the Lord when a faithful dies. His death is an irreplaceable loss in an inauspicious season. At a time when Nigeria could hardly afford to dispense with the services of her best brains, best informed minds, most resourceful and patriotic citizens in her polity, the icy hands of death surreptitiously stole and froze the innocuous soul of His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon Oduoye on the 21 of March, 2014.

His demise is the greatest catastrophe that ever befell his Ikirun Community in Ifelodun Local Government Area of Osun State. He was a Statesman, a gentleman, a fine officer and a citizen of high integrity. The eternal pain in death lies in the fact that when a person dies such a person is never to be seen again. Every page in his life bears the Signature of God. He is a visible expression of God’s glory.

We will continue to admire, appreciate and love him even in death.

Besides, “life is like a tale, told by an idiot, full of sound and fury, signifying nothing. When beggars die no comets are seen but the Heavens themselves blaze forth the death of Princes” (William Shakespare).

His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon Oduoye

was born on 13 of April, 1945. He was educated in Nigeria and England. He enlisted as a young Cadet Officer in the Nigeria Police Force on 1st of July, 1965, prepared to lose his life in defence of Nigeria and in the protection of Nigerians. The decision was informed by a specific sense of patriotic mission.

He was initially trained at the Basic and Advanced Wings in the Police College, Ikeja, Lagos. It rapidly metamorphosed into an extremely challenging, exciting, impressive and intellectually rewarding Career. He was well trained and exposed in Nigeria, the UK and many parts of the World in professionalism, management ethics, operational skills and rationality. His good character, excellent exposure, diligence and impressive performance continued to graciously shape his perception, attitude and aspirations in life. He rose rapidly through the ranks and became a Commissioner of Police. He held high command positions in Lagos, Enugu, Owerri and Benin City as State Commissioner of Police.

The ranks and standing of officers then were largely regulated by personal merit, efficiency, experience, competence, loyalty and discipline. His Career was eventful, inspirational, healthy and rewarding as it spanned beyond three decades. He worked in various Departments including Administration, Investigation and Operations. He was diligent in performance hence his

Oduoye: Detective And Senator Extraordinary

By DR. (PRINCE) AMEN E. OYAKHIRE OON, Ph.D

superiors constituently requested from him the best in performance, decency, humility and integrity. They constantly branded him a brilliant manager of crises, men, money, resources and materials. His superiors

Progressively, they decided what roles, duties and responsibilities he would play in our quest for sustainable Nation building.

On the l5th of August, 1996 while serving as

them, Prince Oyakhire, OON, Ph.D and himself were so appointed. The appointment placed him centrally in the course of events and a position of very high visibility in Nigeria. It is not an ambition for a Senior

Late Senator Simeon Oduoye tested him seriously morally, tried him endemically professionally and sporadically examined him intellectually. They found him worthy in character, brilliant in learning, resilient in the management of crises, resolute and impressive in p e r f o r m a n c e .

Police Provost Marshal at the Force Headquarters, Kam Salem House, Lagos, he was suddenly appointed a Military Administrator of Niger State. At the time of his appointment as a Military Administrator, there Were sixty six Commissioners of Police in Nigeria but only, two of

“Their enhanced remunerations and other factors of welfarism resulted in reasonable living standards which comfortably sustained them far beyond poverty lines.

Their take-home pay took them home comfortably. They gladly thanked God and eulogised the Military Governor.

He left Niger and Ebonyi States with a deep sense of satisfaction, euphoria and nostalgia.”

Police officer to become a Governor whilst in Service in Nigeria no matter how intellectually articulate and perspicuously professional.

It is not in the Career prospects. He did not join the Police Force to become a Governor. He became a Governor only as a fulfillment of Destiny. He governed two States, Niger and Ebonyi, from 15 th August, 1996 to 2 May, 1999 without blemish. His activities in governance were politically eventful, symbolically monumental, intellectually productive and praise-worthy. He was often described even by the Clergy as the Biblical Daniel who towered beyond his equals in the

Service of God and mankind. He was eloquent, sincere and knowledgeable in leadership. There were vivid discernible improvements in the internal competence, effectiveness, efficiency and productivity in Public Service Delivery. Workers happily enjoyed the dignity of Labour. Their enhanced remunerations and other factors of welfarism resulted in reasonable living standards which comfortably sustained them far beyond poverty lines. Their take-home pay took them home comfortably. They gladly thanked God and eulogised the Military Governor. He left Niger and Ebonyi States with a deep sense of satisfaction, euphoria and nostalgia. Candidly, he left behind in the two States a more creative, productive, vibrant and socially responsive Public Service.

He governed in the North and also governed in the South. Besides, he gave the Police, his original Constituency, a credible image in the course of his Service to the Nation. He and AIG Prince Oyakhire, OON, Ph.D were the only two Police officers among the thirty six Military Administrators.

His Service as a Military Governor was unique. He served under two Military Heads of State in two Governments and in two different States. It is possible to serve twice in one State or in two States under one Head of State.

He governed the two States very well by the assessment of most Nigerians. He lived peacefully in the comfort of the Lord. He was the highest and finest example of professional decency.

Indeed, he was already Excellent long before he became His Excellency AIG Simeon Oduoye.

His Excellency Oduoye, Continues on pg. 27

EDO STATE GOVERNMENT ANNOUNCEMENT Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has approved the constitution of the following Boards and Committees as follows:

COMMITTEE ON ENVIRONMENT 1.

2.

MR MUTARI OSAGIE MR. SHAKA MOMOH

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CHAIRMAN MEMBER

3.

4.

MR. ADAMU ABBAS MR JULIUS OGIDA

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5.

6.

MR MAXWELL AIGBE MR. FOSTER IYANGBE

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7.

8.

MR. FRIDAY WISE OSA MR. KINGSLEY EDEGBE

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9. MR. SAMSON ODIA 10. OSAHON OMODAMWEN

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11. MR. VINCENT AIGBE 12. MR. ODEH MORGAN

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13. MR. OSAKPANWAN COLE 14. MR. CHARLES NEHIZENA

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15. MR. JOHNSON IDIARU 16. MR. SUNDAY AGHO

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17. OGBEBOR UYI 18. MR PETER OSAGIE

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19. MR. WEST ODARO 20. OKOROMI IMIEGBE

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21. MR. MATTHEW IDEMUDIA 22. MR. EZE ERIYO

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23. MR. OBANOBI SYLVESTER 24. MRS. M.A. AIYEDUN

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25. HON. RASAQ MOMODU 26. COMRADE JOSEPH OLEGHE

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27. MR. ZEKERI EMOKPARE 28. MR. ALFRED OLAGUNJU

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29. MRS IYANGBE ANTHONIA 30. AUGUSTINE OKOSUN

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31. IBHAKEWAN HENRY 32. MR. LUCKY EBOMENSE

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33. AMENAWON OMEBE 34. MR. S. A. OKIHIE

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35. MONDAY AIWANFO 36. MRS. ALICE LAWANI

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37. MRS. JULIE AIGBOGUN 38. MRS JENET IYASERE

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39. MRS MERCY IGHARO 40. WELLINGTON EGBON

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41. MR. OSAGIOBARE GLORY 42. IGHO OSAYANDE OBASEKI

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43. EMMANUEL ASUEN 44. GABRIEL OSEI

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45. ISIBOR AIGBOBO 46. MR. ALFRED ABUSOMWAN

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WASTE MANAGEMENT BOARD 1.

HON. (MRS) ELIZABETH IGODARO -

2.

3.

MR. JIMOH IYOYO MR. MONDAY IZEDOMI

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CHAIRMAN MEMBER “

4. MR. JOE OSAGIOBARE 5. MRS. MEG AIGBOKHAE

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6. MR. JUSTUS ESEOSA OMORUYI 7. MR. EVANS OKUNROBO

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8.

9.

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MR. EHI EGHAREVBA AYO NOSAKHARE ODARO

10. P.E. OMORODION

11. MRS. LORETTA OROBOR 12. IDEMUDIA EWEMADE

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13. MONDAY IDUMAYO 14. MR. ALEX AGHAHOWA

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15. MR. SAMUEL EDIAE 16. CHIEF G.A EGBON

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17. MRS. MERCY IMASUEN 18. MRS. SUZAN ALI

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19. MRS. JUSTINA JOSEPH 20. MRS. EDOWEN MERCY

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21. MR. AGBOEGBE PETER 22. CHIEF FRANCIS OMOH

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23. HON. BENAINU EKHAINE 24. MR. MARTINS SHAIBU ABU

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25. MR. MONDAY OLOJE 26. ELIMIGBE THOMAS

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27. OKOEGUALE BENEDICT 28. VICTOR OTOBOH

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29. PRINCESS BIDDY O. ADELE 30. DORIS E. OGBEIFUN

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31. MR. AKIOYA MARTINS 32. DEACON JOSEPH ABEGBE

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33. MRS JOY OMOREGIE 34. MRS. JUSTINA IDOUZEE

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35. MRS. PAT UWADIAE 36. PAUL OBAYUWANA

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37. MR. BLESSING EDIGIN 38. CHRISTY AKPEHUAN OMORUYI

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39. MRS. QUEEN UKA OKOH 40. BISI OBAZEE

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41. NOSA IGBINEDION 42. ENOGIE ANTHONY OSAGIE

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43. MR. FRANK GUOBADIA 44. WILFRED UWABOR

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45. OSAYOMORE AIGBOGUN

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TOURISM BOARD 1.

MRS. JANE OSAGIE

- CHAIRMAN

2.

3.

OSAGHALE ERNEST BARR. ABEL EIKHOR

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4.

5.

HON. EGHAREVBA EHIOZE MR. JOHN ERIAMATOE

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6.

7.

MRS CONFORT OBAHUDU MR. EMMANUEL EHIBOR

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8.

9.

EDOGHOGHO AGBONTAEN OGHOGHO IMUETINYAN

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10.

11.

MR. JOHN OTAGBO MR. ESEZOBO UNUIGBOJE

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12.

13.

S.P. IMOLODE MRS MARTINA EDEAWE

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14.

15.

FELICIA IYERE ASUELIMEN TED INEGBEDION

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16.

17.

18.

MR. WILLIE AIWUYOR JOY EHIMWENMA OSAGIEDE ERE JACKSON EVBUOMWAN -

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19.

20.

ODOLGIE EDEBIRI EFOSA OLOTU

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21.

22.

ONYEKA JONATHAN OKOYE BARR. FUNMI AGHO

23.

24.

PATRICK IDEHEN PETER IGBINOVIA

MEMBER “

25.

BEKISU MOMOH-ALIU

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26.

27.

MALLAM AHMED LUQMAN ERICK IMARIAGBE

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28.

29.

STANLEY EKHORUTOMWAN JOHNSON IMONIKHE

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30.

31.

MR. GREGORY EHONDOR COMRADE BENSON ODIA

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32.

MR GODFREY ALEONGIE

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TECHNICAL AND VOCATIONAL EDUCATION BOARD 1.

LADY TINA AGBARA

- CHAIRMAN

2.

3.

PRINCESS ELIZABETH IDUOZEE-AMADIN (FT) MEMBER

FRANK BRAI (FT)

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4.

5.

OSARETIN OSAIGBOVO MR. VICTOR AJAYI

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6.

ODEBAYO OMORIAWO

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Swearing in of the Committee on Environment, Waste Management Board, Tourism Board, and the Technical and Vocational Board will hold on Wednesday July 30, 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Government House at 1:00pm. Guests are to be seated by 12:30pm.

PRODUCE COMMITTEE 1.

2.

MR. ROMEO SHAIBU OMOIKE NAPOLEONE ENOGIOMWANO

- CHAIRMAN - MEMBER

3.

4.

EGBE ELEGON MRS. NOSAKHARE EDENAZOGIE -

5.

6.

MRS. FLORENCE OKUSUN MRS. STELLA EKHATOR

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7.

8.

MRS. AYO OSAYANDE MR. LUCKY ENOWOKERE

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9. MR. OSARO EFOSA 10. MRS CHRISTY OGBOHODOR

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11. MR. SAMUEL OKUNDIA 12. MR. TRUST IDEMUDIA

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13. MRS. FELICIA OKUNROBO 14. MRS JULIE OSAZUWA

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15. MRS MERCY OMORUYI 16. MR. UGIAGBE IDAHOR

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17. PRINCE AYENI J.B. 18. HON. C.S. LAWANI

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19. MR. MUSA LADAN 20. MR. OBA STEVE OBA 21. MR. PIU AIZENOBOR 22. PAUL ASEORA

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23. SIR P. F. EDORE 24. MR. MANDY EVIEN EJEMAI

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25. MR. JUSTIN KANKANBU 26. MR. EUGENE UTUBOR

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27. MR. SUNDAY EBOIGBE 28. EGHONGHON BEST ELOKIEL

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29. COLLINS OMOSIGHO 30. FELIX EHIGHAMEN

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31. MISS UHUNOMA IMALELE 32. MR. OSARIEME AIWERIOGHENE

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33. MR. MICHAEL OKOJIE 34. MRS SANDRA EVBOSARU

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2.

DAN A. OJEABULU

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35. MRS. YEMISI OMOREGIE

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MEMBER

3.

CLIFFORD EHICHIOYA

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11. JOHNBULL OSAEGONMWAN

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36. MRS. OMOSEDE OBAKPOLOR

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4.

MR. BRIGHT OMOIYEKEMWEN -

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12. MRS VICTORIA OYEGUE

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37. MRS. FELICIA ALOHAN

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5.

COM. BARNABAS UWAIFO

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13. MRS. OMO OHAKHENA

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38. MRS. VIVIAN OBAZUAYE

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6.

MR. KENNETH EDOBOR

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14. MR. EMMANUEL EGUAVOEN

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39. MRS. ESOSA EKHATOR

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7.

MR. EMMAN OKORO OBARAYE-

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15. JULIA ORU

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40. MS IFUEKO OBANOR

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8.

MR. BARNARD OGBEIDE

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16. MRS JOY OSAHENRUNWEN IYEN -

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10. MRS. MARIA ENOMA

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41. MRS. IROWA OGIAMIEN

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9.

REBECCA IZEKOR

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17. MR. DAVID ILEVBA

42. THEO EGHAREVBA

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10.

EMMANUEL EGIEBOR

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18. MR. MOSES ARASOMWAN

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43. AJIBADE ADESINA

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11.

MRS. JULIANA AGBAMA A. IDAH-

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19. MR. NICHOLAS AROKHAMONI

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44. COMRADE (MRS) ABIGAIL OSADEBE-

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12.

MRS. IFUEKO IHONGBE

45. ADAMS IRORORE

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13.

COMRADE ADEBAYO CLEMENT-

46. ANTHONY OWIE

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14.

MR. CLETUS AGIAMAKU

47. JOHN IGUMA OBOH

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15.

YUSUFU BUSARI

48. MR. ADE BALOGUN

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16.

ANTHONY IMOHIGHE

COMMITTEE ON PROTECTION OF GOVERNMENT PROPERTY

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20. CHIEF (MRS) KADIRI

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21. COL. B. O. MUSA

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22. MARTINS IGINIGIE

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23. MR. SULE SHIABU

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24. MISS LILIAN EMUOBOME

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17.

MRS. AJAYI OSIKEKE EUNICE -

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25. CHIEF S. O. IMAFOGE

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18.

SIR A. O. ESENE

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26. CHIEF SHAGARI ONI

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19.

MR. PETER ABHELEMEN

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27. BAR. UKPEBOR

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20.

MRS JULIANA DANIEL

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28. ONOHO-OMHEN O. EBHOHIMEN

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21.

HON. EGHE OSAROBO

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29. CHIEF OKOROR

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1.

MR. AUSTINE GARVEY EDEGBE

- CHAIRMAN

22.

BENSON IGUE

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30. MRS MERCY OBOH

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2.

AFIGI OGHENE

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23.

GODDIE OMOZOKPIA

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31. MR. JOHN INEGBENEBOR

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3.

MR ADOGAN SUNDAY AKOGU

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24.

MRS. MAGDALENE OMOSEDE OBAMWONYI “

32. BARR. HARRION OJEME

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4.

MR. OMORODION ABASEKI

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25.

MR. WOLFGANG OSARHIEME ODIGIE-OYEGUN - “

33. PASTOR SAMUEL E. ODIGIE

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5.

MR. BRIGHT AISIEN

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26.

ELDER BEN OGHUMU

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34. MRS ROSE EWEKA

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6.

MR. BENJAMIN OBASEKI

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27.

MONDAY OBOH

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35. MRS CLARA IMARHIAGBE

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7.

MR. CHARLES OWIE

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28.

MR. JOHN EDOMWONYI

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36. MRS HELEN IDEHEN

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8.

MR. GODWIN OZIGBO

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29.

DR. DOSU MALOMO

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37. MR. DUKE OSHODI

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9.

MR WEST OGBEMUDIA

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38. UGBEKILE ANDREW, ESQ.

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10. MR. OSARETIN OSAWE

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11. MR. ANTHONY AHIOKHAI

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1.

MR. DAN ENEBI

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12. MR DAVID EVBUOMWAN

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2.

MR. WILLIAM OMORUYI

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13. MR. ODUWA C. OMORAGBON

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3.

MR. JOLLY IDEMUDIA

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14. OSARO AIGBEKAEN

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4.

MR. STANLEY OTABOR

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15. MR. DAVID IMARARUGHE

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5.

16. MR. SAMSON OMO-OJO

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6.

17. TIMI ROBERT

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MEMBER

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RURAL ELECTRIFICATION BOARD

39. OLA OSAYEMWEN

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40. AGHEDO OSCAR ONAIWU

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41. JOSEPH OZA OGBEIDE

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42. FELIX AMADIN

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43. MR. JOHN JESUROBO

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SNR. APOSTLE ASP OSUNDE -

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44. GENERAL P. ONAGHISE (RTD)

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MR. EKHARO S.O.

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45. MR EDDY OGUNBOR

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46. PAT IGBINOVIA

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CHAIRMAN MEMBER

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7.

CLEMENT AIGBONA

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18. MR SAMUEL AGUEBOR

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8.

MR. DICKSON IPOGAH

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19. MARTINS OSHODI

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9.

MR. EDEKIN ERIMIAKHENA

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TRADITIONAL MEDICINE BOARD

20. HON. DAUDU AFOLABI

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10.

J

OHNSON IKEKHIDE

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1. PROF. THOMAS OMON OLEABHIELE - CHAIRMAN

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2. CHIEF PHILIP OKO-OBO

- MEMBER PALACE

3. CHIEF I. EDIAGBONYA

-

21. MR. JOHN OTARU

-

“

11.

D

R. OSADOLOR ODIA

22. AMBROSE ANAVHE

-

“

12.

V

ICTOR OKPIAHIOR

13.

MR. M. OBABORI

23. MR. R.A. IRALE

-

“

-

“

-

“

PALACE

“

4. OSABUOHIEN OGIEMWENKEN-

“ IKPOBA OKHA “ ORHIONMWON

24. BENSON OTSEMOBOR (BEBETO) -

“

14.

MR. WILLIE EKE

-

“

5. DR. RICHARD AIFUWA

25. CHIEF PETER UANZEKI

-

“

15.

HON. V.E.A USIOMOFO

-

“

6. MR. SOLOMON AGBONDIMWIN

“

EGOR

26. MR. ISAAC IJEGBAI

-

“

16.

MR. DICKSON EHIWE

-

“

7. OSAMUDIAMEN OSARENKHOE-

“

OVIA S W

27. MR. FRIDAY OHIOMA

-

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17.

MR. OSARUMWENSE OSAGIEDE-

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8. ROMAN EJEMI

-

“

OVIA S W

28. MR. FRANCIS UWAIFO

-

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18.

MRS. MAGARET EZESIBOR

-

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9. MR. OGBODU S. I.

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“

OREDO

29. GABRIEL EGWEMI

-

“

19.

CHRISTOPHER EKEIKHOMHEN -

“

10. MR. GODWIN OSA EMOVON -

“ OVIA N/EAST

30. ODIBOH JULIUS

-

“

20.

MRS GRACE OLAYE

-

“

11. CHIEF GODFREY IDEHEN

“ OVIA N/EAST

31. AIGBONKHAN EMMANUEL

-

“

21. MR FRED IREFU

-

“

12. HON. STEVE AJIBOLA

-

“ AKOKO-EDO

32. SAMUEL O. EIGBE

-

“

13. PRINCE O. KOSENIMOLA

-

“ AKOKO-EDO

33. EMMANUEL BORO EHIZOGIE

-

“

Swearing in of the Produce Committee, Committee on

14. MR. TONY G. ERAMEH -

“

ETSAKO CENTRAL

34. MR. IDEMUDIA MOMOH

-

“

Protection of Government Property, Edo Development &

15. EMOZOZO MOMOH

-

“ ETSAKO EAST

35. UMORU IDRIS

-

“

Property Authority Board and Rural Electrification Board

16. CHIEF S. K. OGHAIMEN

-

“ OWAN WEST

36. BINANU EKPEA

-

“

will hold on Friday, August 1, 2014 at the Banquet Hall,

17. CHIEF B. A. EGUAOJE

-

“ OWAN EAST

37. OKHUELEIGBE IKAEHOR

-

“

Government House at 1:00pm. Guests are to be seated by

18. MR. EGBESUN FESTUS

-

“ IGUEBEN

38. FRANK AYORE OGUNDEZI

-

“

12:30pm.

19. DR. BEST IGHALO

-

“ IGUEBEN

39. MR EGHE NABUS

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“

20. HON. OBOH ELHOHIMEN

-

“ ESAN CENTRAL

40. EDOS OTOIDE

-

“

21. FRIDAY OGBIDI OKHIULU

-

“ ESAN WEST

41. OROBOSA OSARENOGOUWU

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“

1.

MR. SIMEON OMOFUMA

- CHAIRMAN

22. JACOB OSAIKHUWUOMWAN -

“

PALACE

42. ROWLAND ITUA

-

“

2.

MRS. ADESUWA AJAYI

- MEMBER

23. CHIEF SAM OKUNHON

“

PALACE

43. JUDE IDIARU

-

“

3.

MRS. ELIZBETH OSEMWENGHAE -

“

24. CHIEF GODWIN ABUSOMWAN-

“

PALACE

44. SHOLA CLEMENT

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4.

MR. ANDREW AMADASUN

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25. DR. UGBO IYIRIAHO

-

“PALACE

45. OWENS OBASEKI

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5.

BARR. R. OSAZUWA

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26. FELIX OTOYO

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“

PALACE

46. PHILIP IYANOBOR

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6.

MR. PULLEN UWAGBOE

-

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27. CHIEF AKPEDE

-

“ ESAN S/EAST

7.

MRS LORETTA UHUNMWANGHO

-

“

28. CHIEF JULIUS OKOJIE

-

“ ESAN N/EAST

EDO DEVELOPMENT & PROPERTY AUTHORITY

8.

MR. WELLINGTON ENABULELE

-

“

EDOGHOGHO OMOIGUI

-

“

1.

9.

ELDER ROLAND EVBADE OSADORLOR

MR. BAYO ADAMS

-

CHAIRMAN

LAND USE COMMITTEE

-

“

-

-

-

OREDO

EDO ARTS COUNCIL NAME 1.

MR. LAWRENCE OBOH -

CHAIRMAN

2.

3.

MRS GRACE IRABOR CHIEF SAMUEL UGIAGBE-

MEMBER “

4.

5.

IMAFIDON OKUNGBOWA CHIEF AGBONMA UGO

-

6.

7.

MS. FAITH AGBONLAHOR MR. FELIX ISIBOR

-

16. HON. MACULAY AFE

-

“

17. MR PETER UMOSOR 18. UMORU MOSES ALOLO

-

“ “

19. MR. KENNEDY ISUKU 20. MR. ALABA OGEDENGBE

-

17. MRS. EDNA AIGBE 18. LOUISA EIKHOMU

-

“ IGUEBEN “ ESAN S/EAST

19. MRS NOSA ISELE 20. VINCENT UYIGUE

“ -

“

21. COMRADE LARRY OBADAN 22. CHUKWUMA ROSE

-

“ “

“ “

23. MRS. COMFORT EDAGHESE 24. ELENBALULU GODFREY

-

“

“ “

25. MATTHEW EMIOHE 26. OKUNDO PATRICK

-

“ “

21. SOLOMON MAJOR

FIRE SERVICE BOARD

“ -

3. MR. WILSON ASOWATA 4. MRS ARABAMEN IYOBOSA

-

“ EGOR “ IKPOBA-OKHA

MRS STELLA IGBINEDION HON. PETER IZEDOMWEN

-

“ “

27. MR. OBALUYI AYEMERE 28. MR. MIKE OBOITE

10.

11.

ESTHER IDEHEN MRS ELIZABETH SALAMI

-

“ “

29. PASTOR JOSEPHINE IMANGUEZOGIE30. OSATO EKPOMA -

12.

13.

CHIEF DENIS OSIKHENA ALI MAIMUNA

-

“ “

31. MR. MOSES AIWEKHOE 32. MR. FRIDAY EMUZE

14.

15.

ALHAJI ZEINAT SHAKA LAWRENCE OZIEGBE

-

“ “

33. MR. JOE AMEN 34. MRS. MAGDALENE ISEKHURE

-

“ “

16.

17.

CHARLES OSAGIATOR PROMISE AGBEDE

-

“ “

35. SUNDAY IYAWA 36. ISRAEL EYIMOSEN

-

“ “

18.

19.

MRS PATRICIA ABHULIMEN AMBROSE OSAZUWA

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37. JUDE BAZUAYE 38. EDDY OGBOMO

-

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20.

21.

MR. FELIX IYOHA WILLIAM OKPERAN

-

“ “

39. MR PETER OKHAIDE

22.

23.

WILSON OSARENMWINDA COMRADE LUCKY BASSEY

-

“ “

24.

25.

MRS. ANN OGBEBOR JOHN IGBINOGUN

-

“ “

1.

2.

HON. ALE MORRISON OMOGIATE - CHAIRMAN BARR. FRIDAY IKHANE MEMBER

26.

27.

MRS. PATIENCE OMOROTIOMWAN MR OSAYANDE IKPONWOSA -

“ “

3.

4.

MR. PETER ABUSOMWAN MRS. GRACE EDOGHOGHO

-

“ “

28

MR. FESTUS ASEMOTA

“

5.

6.

AIYEKI EHIOZE HON. OSAMUYIMEN GUOBADIA

-

“ “

HOSPITALS MANAGEMENT BOARD

7.

8.

MR. OBENDE OFEI MR. OSIREMEH OMOBA

-

“ “

1. DR. EBEGUE AMADASUN

9.

10.

MR. AWEH STEPHEN ALHAJI OSIOMAYE AHONSI

-

“ “

1.

REV. PETER OBADAN

11.

12.

JENET AYEMERE PROMISE B. A. ADENNI-AKPETO

-

“ “

2.

3.

MRS JOYCE OSAGIE MEMBER OSARUMWENSE OGBEMUDIA -“

13.

14.

JOHN OGBETA DAVID OMOAGBON

-

“ “

4.

5.

MR. KEN UWADIAE CHIEF UMORU ABUDA MOMOH

“ “

15.

16.

MR. OSARETIN EDOMA MR. FRIDAY EBIMARO

-

“

6.

7.

MR. KINGSLEY OJEIKERE IGHAREBHOR FRANCIS

-

“ “

17.

18.

PATRICK IGHABOR CHIEF VINCENT ENEARU

-

“ “

8.

PROF. G.R.A OKOGUN

-

“

19.

20.

ESTHER IYERE MR DENNIS UKULOR

-

“ “

21.

22.

OKUNLOLA AKIM KAZIM CHARLES ERIN-EBIMI

-

“ “

1.

2.

23.

24.

MR AGBONZEE TAIWO JOSEPH ESE

-

“ “

3. PATIENCE ASUEN OSUNDE 4. MR. RICHARD IYAMU -

“ “

5.

6.

-

- CHAIRMAN

2. MR. ANDREW AGBONWANEGBE (FT) 3. PHARM. NURENI ETAMESOR (FT) -

MEMBER “

4. DR. GODWIN EKHORUTOMWEN (FT) 5. DR. OTAMERE G. AIGBOGUN (FT) -

“ “

6. DR. EDO ANDREW EFOSA (PT) 7. MR. OLAWOLE G.T.

-

“

8. GEORGE ENEREBA 9. LAWRENCE EMIATOR (PT)

-

“ “

10. MRS. JULIANA OMIUNUTA

-

“

“

Swearing in of the Land Use Allocation Committee, Traditional Medicine Board, Board of Edo Arts Council and Hospital Management Board will hold on Monday, August 4, 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Government House at 1:00pm.

Guests are to be seated by 12:30pm.

1. HON. HARRISON OMOAGBON 2. GEN. IREKPITA (RTD)

-CHAIRMAN MEMBER

3. MR. OSAHON OBARAYE 4. CHIEF J.O. OBAZEE

-

“

5. MR. MOSES ASEMOTA 6. MRS. M.O. AIGBOGUN

-

“ “

7. MR. JOSEPH OMOREGBE 8. MR. JOSHUA ISERE

-

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9. MR. SUNDAY ISERHIENHIEN 10. MR. SOLOMON OSA

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13. MR. BERNARD EGHAREVBA 14. PASTOR A.I. OGBEIFUN -

“ “

15. MR OBALOWOSHE CLEMENT-

“

“ “

-

“

-

-

5. MRS. ESTHER OSAGIE 6. EKI EDOSOMWAN -

“ UHUNMWODE “ OVIA N/EAST

7. MR. COLLINS SANI 8. MR. MOMODU OKPO

“ AKOKO-EDO “ ETSAKO EAST

-

9. MAJOR RUFUS OIAKHENE (RTD) MRS. SELINA OSEGHALE “

“

“ OWAN EAST ESAN CENTRAL

Swearing in of Edo Sports Council, Cocoa Board, Library Board and Fire Service Board will hold on Wednesday August 6, 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Government House at 1:00pm.

Guests are to be seated by 12:30pm. “

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE, IGUORHIAKHI GOVERNING COUNCIL

COCOA BOARD

1.

BARR. GENTLEMAN AMEGOR

-CHAIRMAN

2.

3.

HON. MARY IYENGUMWENA MR. SUNDAY IYAMU

- MEMBER “

4.

5.

CAPT. AMINESHI S. O. (RTD) HON CHRIS IGHADE

-

“ “

GOVERNING COUNCIL, INSTITUTE OF MANAGEMENT & TECHNOLOGY, USEN

“

LIBRARY BOARD

EDO SPORTS COUNCIL

11. MR. CHRISTOPHER ENAGBARE12. MR. PAUL OWIE -

“ “

CHAIRMAN MEMBER IGUEBEN

8.

9.

-

-

1. ELDER JOHN ADODO 2. OJO A. IGHODARO

-

CHAIRMAN

GOVERNING COUNCIL, COLLEGE OF EDUCATION, IGUEBEN MR. MARTINS OSAKWE MR. AUGUSTINE EVIEN

-

MR. GARRICK OSEMWENGIE ABDULMALIK OSHOMA

CHAIRMAN MEMBER

“ “

1. SIR RAPHAEL ARUNAH

- CHAIRMAN

7. CHIEF OGBOMODE 8. GABRIEL ENABOIFO

2. MRS. TESSY AGBONZE 3. DEACON RICHARD ISIBOR

-

Swearing in of the Governing Council, College of

4. MR. FRANCIS EBIZUGBE 5. MR. MONDAY I. BOWE

-

“ I/OKHA “ ORHIONMWON

Agriculture, Iguorhiakhi, Governing Council, Institute of Management & Technology, Usen and Governing Council,

6. PRINCE PAUL ELAWURE 7. MR. CHARLES IDUBOR

-

“ OVIA S W “ UHUNMWODE

College of Education, Igueben will hold on Friday, August 8, 2014 at the Banquet Hall, Government House at 1:00pm.

8. MR. SMART IDEHEN 9. PHILOMINA UHUNMWANGHO -

“ OVIA N E “

Guests are to be seated by 12:30pm.

10. HON. PETER OLOGUN 11. BARR. ADEBAYO OMO-IGE

“ AKOKO-EDO “AKOKO-EDO

-

MEMBER EGOR “ OREDO

12. MR. OTOAYE ANTHONY 13. MR. UMORU ABDULRASAQ

-

“ ETSAKO EAST “ETSAKO WEST

14. ENGR. ERIC UANREZOJE 15. MR. GOODLUCK EGWAOJE

-

“ “

16. HON. UNUABOR

-

“ ESAN N/EAST

OWAN EAST OWAN WEST

-

“ “

Signed: Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to the Governor

Humble Reflection Continued from pg. 23

as a Senator of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, conducted himself creditably, reminiscent of well known civilised conduct in the Service of humanity. He was a Senator extraordinary. He was a highly knowledgeable law maker in the National Assembly.

He and a few others strongly opposed the jumbo pay Senate approved for National Assembly Law Makers in November 2010. His ideas, opinions and pieces of advice were always weighty, incisive, lofty, searching and penetrating.

He was extremely frank, perspicuously articulate, forthright, unhesitating and the very model of a Military history as well as British Law Maker. His brilliant contributions at the Senate of the National Assembly to Bills and Motions, some of which he sponsored, Committees, Oversight functions and Constituency duties were prominent and very highly commendable.

His outstanding traits, expressive language, pleasant disposition and high level of civilisation fascinated him consistently to mankind. Sons and daughters of Kings were often found among dignitaries in his company.

His simplicity, unfettered humility, innate wisdom, astonishingly retentive memory and modesty impeccably sustained him as a fine example of decency among virtuous men whose praises are regularly sung in Scriptures. A devout Christian faithful, with

...Detective And Senator Extraordinary

robust faith who savours the tenets of Christianity, with malice towards none but with charity for all and a consuming compelling passion for doing good. He possessed what is lacking in most men of today and represented what is generally desired in society. May God accept his gentle soul into Paradise.

His Excellency AIG Oduoye disciplined his life and ordered his priorities right. His success story draws its strength for the credibility his judgments brought into governance, the practice of law, his flexible leadership style, his intellectual e m p o w e r m e n t , forthrightness, sincerity of purpose and sympathy for the poor, widows, orphans and the needy. He never, ever acted beyond reasonable limits of decency. He was a visible expression of God’s glory.

We heartily salute His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon Oduoye as a deserving man of honour.

We graciously salute him as a great patriot. We strongly salute him as a man of integrity, intellect, professional talents and high ethical standards. He was immensely peaceful and well endowed with impeccable social credentials. He was generally loved as a great Moralist. His organic effigy is unquestionably fit to adorn the Nation’s Hall of Fame as a living Legend of our time. He was diligent, resilient, resourceful, temperate, culturally healthy and

professionally skilled. He was physically robust, mentally alert, emotionally stable and spiritually balanced. His tutorials, judgments, verdicts and decisions as a Police officer of immense professional talents and as a Senator

authoritative, instructive, comprehensible and convincing. He was modest, unassuming and absolutely innocuous. He was very good in character, brilliant in learning, incredibly intelligent and highly impressive in

sinless life into Paradise.

His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon Oduoye lived, worked and died for Nigeria. He served God, Nigeria and mankind faithfully, patriotically, diligently and selflessly. He consistently exhibited strict

Late Senator Simeon Oduoye extraordinary were prudent, constructive and witty. He read avidly, consulted widely, related properly and researched extensively on diverse issues particularly those relating to laws, politics, health, religion and governance. His language and style were fluid,

performance. He was a visible example of decency, modesty and morality. He paid meticulous attention to details and consequently only very little could occasionally escape his attention. Indeed, he was a fine combination of fidelity, intellect and integrity. May God mercifully accept his near

“A devout Christian faithful, with robust faith who savours the tenets of Christianity, with malice towards none but with charity for all and a consuming compelling passion for doing good. He possessed what is lacking in most men of today and represented what is generally desired in society.

May God accept his gentle soul into Paradise.”

cardinal virtues of honesty, sincerity, resourcefulness, transparency and accountability expected of honest people who occupy public positions of trust, great responsibility and high visibility. He was mild and convincing in speech, flexible and logical in

arguments but firm in principles and reasonable in conclusions. He never, ever acted beyond reasonable limits of decency. He is a major part of anything good in this World. He was a virtuous pedigree of nobility, a success compilation, a residual of wisdom, a pragmatic philosopher, a lover of humanity, a fine example of immutable fidelity and a notable clearthinking-headed personality. His quality as a person cannot be exactly expressed in words but suffice to say that he was highly disciplined, smart, valiant, sublime, informed and well connected.

Nigerians are highly impressed by his kindness, patience, hardwork, sacrifice, decency as a person, courage, steadfastness and determination. We will continue to mourn him as long as the sad memory lingers on in our minds. We are consoled that as mortals death is an inevitability, is a truism, a cruel necessity and is the last enemy yet to be destroyed We pray for the repose of His Excellency AIG Senator Simeon ODUOYE’S kind, simple, gentle olden, peaceful, pious and lovely soul. May God forgive him for any act of transgression and keep his soul in Paradise until that morning of the resurrection day when the living and the dead will be reunited to part no more. Your Excellency, rest in peace. Goodbye.

Odigba. Odigbo se.

LOSS OF DOCUMENTS I, Deacon Richard Bayo Ogbomo of No. 4, Azinge Crescent, off Aideyan Street, off Ihama Road, GRA, Benin City lost the land document with which I bought a land from Mr. David Ogbomo (JP) measuring 75ft x 100ft, Iying and situate at Ward 36/A along Ugbor Village Road, Benin City as stated in affidavit dated 22/7/14 Signed Deacon Richard Bayo Ogbomo

Commonwealth Games

Gowon Tasks Team Nigeria On New well “as you can see we are GEN. Yakubu Gowon, Record all delighted with her Nigeria’s former Head of

Wayne Rooney of Manchester United follows through on a penalty goal during the first half of an International Champions Cup match against AS Roma at Sports Authority Field at Mile High in Denver, Colorado

State, has tasked Team Nigeria athletes at the ongoing 20th Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to strive for more medals in order to break new record.

Gowon, who spoke against the backdrop of the three medals won so far in the games, told newsmen that the 127 athletes representing the country had the potential to surpass the achievement recorded at the New Delhi games in 2010.

“My advice to them is to encourage them to do their

Wayne Rooney Brace Lifts Man United

WAYNE Rooney scored twice and set up Juan Mata’s goal in Manchester United’s 3-2 victory over AS Roma on Saturday in the International Champions Cup in Denver.

Manchester United were coming off the back of a 7-0 victory over the Los Angeles Galaxy on Wednesday night at the Rose Bowl and nearly had another clean sheet in front of 54,117 fans at Sports Authority Field.

That was spoiled after spectacular Miralem Pjanic’s goal from his own half in the 75th minute. Pjanic, 10 yards behind the halfway line, blasted a shot towards the Manchester United net.

Goalkeeper Ben Amos was positioned high in the box and couldn’t recover in time to stop the ball from going in.

Francesco Totti also scored a penalty for Roma, who carried the play early before Manchester United took control late in the first half through Mata and Rooney.

In the 36th minute, Mata fed Rooney at the top of the box, and he dribbled to his right before curling a shot over the outstretched fingers of goalkeeper Lukasz Skorupski and into the topleft corner.

Right after Mata missed a close-range chance, he capitalised on another in the 39th minute. Rooney lofted a pass from midfield that Mata corralled in the box and chipped over Skorupski.

Rooney made it 3-0 from a penalty in first-half stoppage time.

Red Bulls forward and MLS leading-goalscorer Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the lone goal to lead New York to a 1-0 friendly win over Arsenal.

Arsenal became the first Premier League team to lose to an MLS side this summer when the New York Red Bulls

beat the Gunners 1-0.

Bradley Wright-Phillips scored the lone goal against his father’s old club, but most of the focus was on former Arsenal star Thierry Henry, who nearly scored in the first half but was denied by a strong save from Wojciech Szczesny.

Henry came off at half-time to a rousing ovation from both sets of fans.

Arsene Wenger gave a start to 17-year-old Gedion Zelalem in front of the American fans, who hope to one day see him in a U.S. national team shirt.

Real Madrid and Inter finished 1-1, but as the match was part of the International Champions Cup, the friendly went to penalties, which Inter won 3-2.

Gareth Bale opened the scoring with a screaming shot from distance in the first half.

Mauro Icardi equalised

• Romelo Lukaku

from the spot, then later won it in the shootout with his second penalty of the day.

Inter’s reserve goalkeeper, Juan Pablo Carrizo, made two saves in the shootout.

After a quick strike from Tottenham’s Harry Kane in the fourth minute the game was a close one until Aaron Lennon put the game beyond

Chicago in the final minutes.

Tottenham finished their North American tour with a 20 win over the Chicago Fire.

Harry Kane and Aaron Lennon scored in either half as Spurs completed a threematch series against MLS teams with two wins and a draw.

Five minutes in, Lewis

EVERTON manager Roberto Martinez has told fans he is confident of bringing Romelu Lukaku back to the club — although Wolfsburg are also keen on the Chelsea striker.

The Belgium international scored 15 goals in 31 Premier League appearances as he spent last season on loan at Goodison Park from Chelsea.

Martinez, who is also keen to bring Monaco forward Lacina Traore back to

Everton following a loan spell last season, has made no secret of the fact that he wants to re-sign Lukaku.

In a YouTube video captured for a fans’ website during the club’s preseason trip to Thailand — where they face Leicester in a friendly on Sunday — the manager gave fans hope that a deal could be completed.

Asked by a supporter if the Everton would be signing the 21-year-old, Martinez said: “Of course we’ll get him.”

That comment has come after Everton head of recruitment Ian Atkins suggested that Lukaku wanted to return to Goodison.

Atkins told talkSPORT: “Romelu had a terrific season for Everton last year and I know everyone at the football club wants to see him back.

“Hopefully things can be sorted out, I think he’s quite settled in his mind that he wants to come to Everton, and hopefully he’ll be pulling on our blue shirt again next term.

“Our loan signings all did brilliant for us last season.

Gareth Barry has signed permanently now which is fantastic, and hopefully Lukaku will as well.”

Everton Hopeful Over Romelu Lukaku

best and go for the ultimate price which is the gold medal; the joy in winning is not only a personal achievement but an honour to the nation,’’ he said.

While reacting to the silver medal won by Winifred Ndidi at the 58 kg women’s weightlifting, Gowon said that she did exceptionally

performance, if not for the cancellation of the second round point she would have won the gold medal’’.

Reports state that Ndidi lifted 206 kg weight to emerge second to England’s Zoe Smith who took the gold medal after setting games record with 210 kg weight.

Rooney Praised

By Van Gaal LOUIS van Gaal hailed the footballing intelligence of Wayne Rooney after the Manchester United forward scored two goals and made another for Juan Mata in a 3-2 win against Roma.

After speaking on Friday about his philosophy of training his players “not in the legs, but in the brain,” the Dutchman pinpointed Rooney’s 40-yard ball to set up Mata’s lobbed finish, which put United 2-0 ahead.

“The pass of Rooney to Mata — it was unbelievable, that pass,” Van Gaal said. “He did it with his brain and Mata was running with his brain at the right moment.”

Rooney was at the heart of a first-half performance that saw United overcome some shaky defensive moments to race into a 30 lead by the interval. The England striker opened the scoring with a magnificent curling strike from 30 yards and, following Mata’s goal, converted a penalty after Danny Welbeck was fouled

by Urby Emanuelson.

Rooney took his pre-

• Van Gaal

season tally to four goals in two games with a double strike vs. Roma.

However, although United were victorious in the opening game of their International Champions Cup campaign, Van Gaal was disappointed that Roma were able to fight back, which caused United to hang on to a one-goal advantage in the closing minutes.

“In the second half, we have got to keep the ball in possession because when you are 3-0 ahead, the only thing you have to do is to keep the ball in possession,” said Van Gaal. “The opponent has to run and run and run and the gaps shall come.”

That last season’s Serie A runners-up were able to close the gap was also due to the conditions in which both sides were made to play — the game was stopped in both halves for a water break.

Having complained before the game about the local kickoff time of 2 p.m., Van Gaal returned to the theme following its conclusion.

Tottenham Brush Aside Chicago Fire

Inter Beat Deal On Penalties Despite Bale Wonder Goal THE Italian giants won the shootout after the game finished 1-1 with Bale’s effort cancelled out by Mauro Icardi’s penalty.

Bale showed the Madrid youngsters how to make an impact after hitting the bar with a header after three minutes, and the Welsh winger then broke the deadlock with a stunning strike from distance which swerved past Samir Handanovic.

Inter’s best chance of the half fell to Jonathan who headed over while Ruben Botta and Dodo fired long-range efforts over.

Yann M’Vila came on for his Inter debut and made an impact with a long-range effort that was tipped over.

Inter won a penalty a minute later when Nemanja Vidic was brought down in the box and Icardi chipped his spot-kick down the centre to equalise.

Substitute goalkeeper Jesus Fernandez produced a double save to deny Vidic and Marco Andreolli to force a shootout.

But Inter triumphed in the Group A fixture after Isco and Asier Illarramendi had their spotkicks saved while Omar Mascarell put his penalty wide.

Zelalem’s International Options ARSENAL’s rising starlet Gedion Zelalem insists that he hasn’t made a choice on his international future yet but revealed that he has already spoken with U.S. manager Jurgen Klinsmann.

“We’ve talked on the phone a few times but nothing advanced,” Zelalem said after his team lost 1-0 to the New York Red Bulls in a friendly.

German-born Zelalem has a U.S. Green Card and stated that he is still working on getting an American passport.

Similar to the U.S.’s pursuit of Julian Green just last year, the Yanks’ fan base is already clamoring for the 17-year-old to join the Stars and Stripes — despite the midfielder only making one appearance with the Gunners’ senior squad.

Zelalem was pretty tight-lipped about his future but admitted that it would be exciting to play for either side. “They are both great countries, the U.S. is on the rise and Germany is already a good team,” he said. “Either country will be a good choice.”

Zelalem started and played 45 minutes, showing glimpses of his potential in front of a sold out Red Bull Arena crowd. He made it clear that the only thing that he’s focused on is making an impression on his current club manager Arsene Wenger.

“At the moment, I’m just trying to break into the first team at Arsenal. I’m trying to play football at Arsenal,” he said.

Gedion Zelalem insists that his current focus is trying to break into the first team at Arsenal.

However, according to his Gunners teammates, the teen has already shown signs of his quality.

• Stevan Jovetic

Ogbemudia Jnr Lauds Baptist Conference On Sports Devt

By NICHOLAS EBOIGBE THE former Assistant Director of Sports, Edo State Sports Council, Samuel Ogbemudia Jnr. Has lauded Edo State Baptist Conference for taking a giant stride geared towards developing sports in the state. country is sports. The Edo State Ogbemudia (Jnr) who spoke Baptist Conference knew this in a chat with Observersports on and decided to create a platform Saturday in University of Benin Sports Complex at the opening of the maiden Edo State Baptist Conference sports Festival posited that the Games was a welcome development that can go a long way to improving ARSENAL midfielder Jack sports in the state.

Wilshere has expressed regret I am very glad that this sports after being photographed festival is organized by the smoking while on holiday in Las Baptist Church. It will help to Vegas, admitting it was remove the redundant talented “unacceptable”. young sportsmen and women Wilshere was criticised last who would be stars in future year when a photo of him from the streets. smoking a cigarette outside a He explained the games was nightclub emerged and he a veritable avenue to discover pledged it would never happen budding talents that would again. represent the state and country However, the most recent in the near future. image shows him once more He called on industrialists and corporate organisations to support the Edo State Baptists Conference with their finance as part of effort to building the lives of people in the society.

For me, this is where the sports philanthropists, business Gurus and corporate bodies should put in their money. I plead with them to endeavour to contribute financially in order to make the Baptist Conference Sports Festival a huge success!

Ogbemudia Jnr. Remarked.

The President of Edo Baptist Conference, Rev. (Dr) Frank Ezele had earlier said that apart from the physical, health benefits that can be derived, sports is a unifying force that bring nationalities of the country together.

When it comes to sports, we rejoice together, embracing one another in victory or cry together in defeat, thereby inspiring love for one another. I believe what will bring the needed unity in this • Jack Wilshere

for Grassroots sports development and empowerment of our youths in Edo State.

He said the goal of the sports festival is to bring back the lost glory of sports in the state, discover new talents and promote sportsmanship as well as help to identify youths with

talents who may want to develop them as means of livelihood.

In the Day one of the Sports Festival, Bocas defeated Uyiosa 4-1, Echoes FC had a walkover Obadya that failed report for their match while Jamosa beat Central Baptist FC 3-0.

Wilshere To ‘Accept Smoking Consequences’ smoking alongside friends in a swimming pool, and Wilshere admits he regrets his latest indiscretion.

“The smoking? Of course I regret it,” he was quoted as saying by several national newspapers.

“I’ve been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes.

“I’m young and I’ll learn from it. I realise the consequences it

has and the effect on kids growing up.

“I have kids myself and I don’t want them growing up to think their dad smokes and it’s okay for a footballer to smoke because it’s not. It’s unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on.”

Arsenal star is snapped smoking in Las Vegas Wilshere, speaking shortly before Arsenal’s 1-0 friendly defeat to the New York Red Bulls, revealed he is driven to succeed by his critics.

The forthcoming season may be a defining one for Wilshere, who has had his fair share of injuries in the last three campaigns, but the 22-year-old is keen to prove he is up to the challenge.

He added: “It does motivate me to try harder in training and not just in training; it motivates me to improve because a lot of people have started to talk (about me) people who don’t know me but want to have an opinion. Now it is down to me.

“This is a big season for me. I came back early to pre-season to show people my commitment. I am fully committed to the club and to my job and I want to show everyone that.

“Over the past few seasons I’ve had a few injuries. This season I’m looking to have a really great preseason and get a really good base of fitness and take that into the season.”

PRE-season friendly, Toyota Park - Chicago Fire 0 Tottenham Hotspur 2 (Kane 4, Lennon 83) Harry Kane and Aaron Lennon were on the scoresheet, as Tottenham beat Chicago Fire at Toyota Park in the final match of the Premier League side’s US tour.

Tottenham’s opener came in the fifth minute thanks to some sharp play from Lewis Holtby.

The 23-year-old midfielder reacted quickly after Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson played an ill-advised pass to Jeff Larentowicz, nicking the ball off the former Colorado Rapids’ player before squaring the ball for Kane to tap into an empty net.

Johnson slightly atoned for his mistake with two fines first-half saves to deny Erik Lamela, the first low to his left, the second a full-length stop after the Fire defence had allowed the Argentine midfielder to cut in from the right channel.

The second half was scarred by a raft of changes, and Chicago Fire, who are in the middle of their domestic season, replaced their whole starting eleven.

Lennon wrapped up the victory with seven minutes remaining, showing great bravery to beat Bakary Soumare to Roberto Soldado’s chip over the top, then cutting across the area before rolling the ball past Fire’s second-half goalkeeper Kyle Reynish.

KEY MOMENTS ‘5 GOAL!! Harry Kane nets from close range after Lewis Holtby robs Jeff Larentowicz following a poor pass from Fire goalkeeper Sean Johnson.

‘24 GOOD SAVE. Walker commits a foul down the right and Fire win a free-kick. The ball rolls to Matt Watson, who forces Friedel into a full-length block. ’29 GOOD SAVE. Lamela skips past a couple of defenders and shoots across goal but Johnson makes a good stop low to his left.

‘33 GOOD SAVE. Lamela drives towards goal after cutting in from the right, and no Fire defender comes to him, but Johnson makes another good save, this time to his right.

‘67 SAVE Duka gives and goes and shoots from the edge of the box but Friedel is down to save.

‘83 GOAL!! Lennon is brave to beat Bakary Soumare to Soldado’s chip over the top, and the England winger cuts across the area before rolling the ball past Reynish.

‘85 SAVE. Fire are again undone by the chipped ball over the top but Reynish is out quickly to deny Eriksen.

TALKING POINT: How do you solve a problem like Lamela?

The Argentine scored twice against Toronto and sparkled at times against Chicago Fire, but the £30m signing from Roma is wasteful with the ball and often gives away possession needlessly. The 22-year-old really needs to show more discipline and game sense if he is to be a regular in the Premier League next season.

Commonwealth Games

Isner In Atlanta Final For Fourth Time In Five Years TOP seed John Isner has continued his love affair with the Atlanta Open by powering his way into the final for the fourth time in five years on Saturday.

The American will meet Israeli Dudi Sela on the hardcourt in Atlanta on Sunday, after dominating on serve to beat compatriot Jack Sock 7-5 6-4 in an afternoon semi-final.

The defending champion dropped only two points on first serve to wear down Sock, who became increasingly frustrated as the match progressed in searing heat, at one stage arguing with the umpire after a line call was reversed on replay.

“It was not easy conditions at all in the heat today,” Isner said. “I thought I played pretty well.

Jack is a really good player. I wanted to win that match.”

The world number 12 clearly feels at home in the state where he went to college at the University of Georgia.

But the first set almost slipped away when Sock had a break point at 5-5, only to hit the tape with a backhand down the line.

Buoyed by the reprieve, Isner finally broke serve to take the set in the next game, a 14-minute marathon as Wimbledon doubles champion Sock staved off two set points.

The first nine games of the second set went with serve before Sock frittered away a 30-0 lead in the 10th game.

He saved two match

points, before doublefaulting on the third to hand Isner victory.

The towering North Carolina native has won eight ATP titles, his most recent in Auckland in January.

He has a 2-0 career head-to-head record against world number 94 Sela, who beat German Benjamin Becker 6-3 3-6 6-3 in the night semi-final.

The Israeli has qualified for only his second ATP final, six years after his first in Beijing, and will bid for his maiden title at the age of 29.

AUSTRALIA grabbed eight swimming medals, including three golds, in a recordbreaking session in the Commonwealth Games pool on Saturday.

Teenager Taylor McKeown, Emily Seebohm and the women’s 4x200 metres freestyle team all took golds and their colleagues also secured three silvers and two bronzes at the Tollcross Swimming Centre.

“Oh my goodness Commonwealth champion,” the 19-year-old McKeown told reporters after winning the women’s 200 breaststroke final.

“In the last 50 metres I couldn’t see where I was so I

• John Isner

Bayern ’ll never fire Guardiola BAYERN Munich chief Karl-Heinz Rummenigge has reassured fans that Pep Guardiola will “never be fired” by the Bavarian giants.

The five-time European champions have often stuttered in the seasons following a World Cup: Felix Magath was fired in January 2007, while Louis van Gaal was dismissed in April 2011, as both men struggled with a squad fatigued after an insubstantial summer break.

Rummenigge has assured fans that a similar malaise will not befall the club this season and that Guardiola, whom was hired last summer, need not fear for his future.

“Bayern Munich will never fire Pep Guardiola,” the club chief affirmed to Morgen Post.

Cycling Malaysian Cyclist Warned Over Gaza Message A MALAYSIAN cyclist has been reprimanded by his team after wearing gloves with “Save Gaza” written on them while riding at the Commonwealth Games but he will not be expelled from the competition, an official said on Friday.

Azizulhasni Awang, 26, took part in the men’s sprint on Thursday with the message written across the knuckles and the wrist of each glove, displaying them to cameras after he raced into the quarter-final.

“He has had a strong reprimand from his team management and he has

Gold And Green Night In Pool For Dominant Australia

apologised,” Commonwealth Games Federation chief executive Mike Hooper told reporters.

“In apologising profusely he now knows any repetition will see a removal of his accreditation.

It is inappropriate for any form of protest in a Games venue; we respect everyone’s right to protest outwith.”

Awang took to social media on Friday to apologise for the incident and insisted he had displayed the message as a “humanitarian” and not political statement.

He wore plain gloves during the sprint races on the second day of the Games.

“I give you that in writing.

“He will be our coach until at least June 30, 2016, when his contract ends.

“Admittedly, for the players it is not easy to begin again after a short holiday due to the World Cup, but thankfully we have a coach who is very relaxed in dealing with this situation.

“This week, he told me, ‘I know what I must do and how we manage it’ Pep knows this very situation from 2010, when Spain became world champions and World Cup stars then barely recovered before returning to Barcelona.”

Rummenigge, who starred for West

• Pep Guardiola

- Rummenigge

Germany and Bayern in his playing days, also spoke of his own pride at seeing his compatriots lift the World Cup in Brazil.

“I have rarely enjoyed such a tournament like the Brazil one,” he continued. “After the final, I was happy because our players were unharmed, unlike Franck Ribery at the Euro 2008 or Arjen

Robben at the 2010 World Cup. “But also because the older players such as Philipp Lahm and Bastian Schweinsteiger finally had the title which they had been working for so meticulously for all these years.

“Germany longs for such heroes, Germany loves such heroes.”

just went for it and tried to hold on.”

Australia began the evening well when Grant Irvine claimed the silver behind Olympic champion Chad le Clos of South Africa who retained his 200 butterfly title with a Games record time of one minute 55.07 seconds.

McKeown then stormed to gold, with team mate Sally Hunter snatching silver to ensure an Australian onetwo.

Cate and Bronte Campbell became the first sisters to pick up medals in the same individual swimming event at the Games when they took silver and bronze respectively in the 50 freestyle behind English winner Fran Halsall.

Another gold and bronze followed for Australia when Seebohm edged out Georgia Davies of Wales and fellow countrywoman Belinda Hocking in the 100 backstroke.

Arch-rivals England also enjoyed a good night in the pool with Halsall beating the Campbell sisters in a Gamesbest time of 23.96 seconds.

Eighteen-year-old Molly Renshaw swam a personal best in her first major final to take the bronze in the 200 breaststroke and Adam Peaty, 19, added to England’s tally with a surprise gold and another Games record time in the 100 breaststroke.

Man Utd Still Lead Vermaelen Chase Despite MANCHESTER United Barcelona Interest remain confident of completing a deal to sign Thomas Vermaelen this summer, despite interest from Barcelona.

United are yet to agree a deal to sign the centre-back with Arsenal, but Goal understands the Old

Trafford club have maintained their interest despite having enquiries regarding a +7.5 milllion bid knocked back.

Vermaelen is understood to be keen to leave Arsenal this summer, but Arsene Wenger wants to sign a replacement for the defender before they sanction his sale.

And Barca could yet complicate the deal after rekindling their longstanding interest in the former Ajax man, who has 12 months remaining on his current Arsenal contract.

The Catalan club recently completed the +20m signing of Jeremy Mathieu from Valencia, but are looking to bring in another defender this summer.

New United manager Louis van Gaal identified Vermaelen as a summer transfer target long before arriving at Old Trafford in July, and is eager for the

club to push through a deal to sign the Belgium international.

Gunners boss Wenger has admitted Vermaelen, who has found himself behind first choice centreback pairing Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny at Arsenal, could leave this summer.

“I cannot guarantee [that he will stay],” Wenger told reporters during preseason. “But, should he go, I would bring another centre-back in for sure.”

• Thomas Vermaelen

Henry Brushes Off Retirement one of the best players in the NEW York Red Bulls star world during his career in Rumours Thierry Henry sidestepped Europe. In 116 appearances, he questions over his future after the club’s global director, Gerard Houllier, mentioned that he expects the 36-year-old to retire, after New York’s 1-0 friendly win over Arsenal on Saturday.

“Oh he said that?” Henry asked in response to Houllier’s comments, then added, “We’ll talk at the end of the season.”

Henry was also asked if there were any factors that would lead to him returning for another year, and the player refused to comment.

Henry played 54 minutes and assisted Bradley Wright Phillips’ game-winning goal against Arsenal in front of a sold-out crowd of over 25,000 fans. The match in some ways felt like a testimonial to the former Arsenal legend as fans unveiled a giant tifo showing the Frenchman in both an Arsenal and Red Bulls jersey.

Henry’s contract with the Red Bulls expires after this season and his future has been speculated upon over the past few months.

Seeking clarification on the talks between

• Manuel Pellegrini

both sides, reporters asked Houllier about Henry’s status, and the former Liverpool boss revealed that the Red Bulls’ Designated Player is leaning toward ending his career.

Thierry Henry alongside his former mentor Arsene Wenger prior to Saturday’s match.

“I’ll have a talk with Thierry soon and of course I’ll know. I have an idea, I think he wants to retire,” said Houllier according to Big Apple Soccer.

“I think he wants to retire but we need to check with him. His performance today was good.”

In his four seasons with New York, Henry has shown glimpses of the dominance that made him

has 46 goals and 40 assists.

However, he hasn’t delivered a title to the franchise and the team hasn’t even reached the Eastern Conference finals despite having one of the most talented lists in MLS. In the beginning of the year, the forward stated that he was considering playing beyond this season and team director Andy Roxburgh told ESPN FC before the club’s season started that he would like to like to re-sign Henry but wanted to wait until the end of the year before starting talks.

Now with the latest set of developments, it appears that a brilliant 20-year career might be coming to an end.

Stevan Jovetic Is Staying - Pellegrini MANUEL Pellegrini has insisted that Stevan Jovetic is staying at Manchester City and is a pivotal player for the Premier League champions. year-old.

The Montenegro striker has Jovetic, who joined City from been targeted by Inter Milan this Fiorentina for 22 million pounds summer but manager Pellegrini in 2013, only started two league is determined to keep the 24-

games in an injury-hit first season at the Etihad Stadium, but Pellegrini is adamant the forward has a part to play this season.

“Stevan is working well with us,” he told a news conference

Pochettino refused to shed any light on the speculation.

“We’re trying to improve the squad but I never speak about players from other clubs,” he told reporters. “I have respect.

I’m just focused on my team.”

Pochettino was speaking after Tottenham defeated Chicago Fire 2-0 on Saturday, as the club ended their pre-season tour of the United States unbeaten.

And the Argentine was happy with the progress his side made during their visit to America.

“I’m very pleased for the players because we’ve finished with a good win, a clean sheet and that’s a boost for the confidence,” he added.

“It was difficult in the humidity but well done to the players, it was a good game out there. I’m happy for all of them.

I thought we played well.

“We’ve worked hard on this tour and congratulations to the

players, staff and the supporters, they’ve been fantastic.”

“He’s a brilliant player,” Simeone began, speaking to reporters ahead of Atletico’s friendly match against San Jose Earthquakes. “He is very quick and can give us a lot of options in attack.

“However, it’s also true that a lot of other players have been talked about as possibly coming [to Atletico], and we could make two teams out of all of them.”

The coach, who took Atletico

to the Spanish title last season, also expressed how content he is with his team’s progress during their pre-season so far.

“It has stood us in good stead,” he continued. “Above all I am happy with the new boys. I hope I can have the whole group available as soon as possible, but right now that’s not possible.

“I’m satisfied with our work over these three weeks.”

Pochettino Quiet On Schneiderlin Speculation

MAURICIO Pochettino is remaining tight-lipped on reports suggesting that Tottenham are planning to swoop for Southampton’s Morgan Schneiderlin.

Since Pochettino’s departure from St Mary’s a number of key players have left the Saints including Luke Shaw, Adam Lallana and Rickie Lambert with Dejan Lovren set to follow with a 25 million euro move to Liverpool.

Tottenham, meanwhile, have already recruited Swansea City pair Michel Vorm and Ben Davies, with Gylfi Sigurdsson heading to the Liberty Stadium as part of the deal.

Earlier this week Goal revealed Schneiderlin is now the No.1 transfer target for both Arsenal and Tottenham but, while he admits he would like further reinforcements,

in Pittsburgh. “He is a very important player for our team.

Maybe there are a lot of rumours about his future but Stevan will stay with us here.”

Jovetic was City’s fourthchoice forward at times last season but could feature more often as Alvaro Negredo will miss the opening months of the campaign with a broken bone in his foot.

City face AC Milan on Sunday in the International Champions Cup before taking on Liverpool and Olympiakos.

Liverpool Won’t Rush Lallana Recovery- Rodgers

ADAM Lallana will not be rushed back from a knee injury ahead of schedule, according to Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers.

Liverpool were dealt a major blow when it was confirmed Lallana - a 31 million euro signing from Southampton sustained lateral collateral ligament damage during a training session in the United States.

The 26-year-old is expected to miss up to six weeks, putting him in doubt for Liverpool’s first three games of the Premier League season against his former club, champions Manchester City and Tottenham.

And speaking ahead of Sunday’s International Champions Cup fixture against

Brilliant Griezmann Would Shine ATLETICO Madrid boss Diego Simeone is confident that For Atletico - Simeone summer transfer target Antoine Griezmann would be a brilliant signing.

Goal revealed this week that the France international is close to joining La Liga’s champions after the Rojiblancos have seen off competition from Tottenham and Monaco.

Although he praised the 23year-old, Simeone stressed that negotiations being held with the attacker do not make him an Atletico man yet.

Thiery Henry

• Adam Lallana

Olympiacos in Chicago, Rodgers told reporters the England international would be

given time to recover.

“Of course it was very disappointing - it’s probably going to be four to six weeks,” Rodgers said at a media conference from Soldier Field in Chicago.

“He has looked fantastic in training; it was just a very simple exercise with no pressure. The medical team are looking closely at that at the moment.

“We’re hopeful that he’ll come back fairly quickly but there’s no rush. He’s a fantastic player, we just need to get him back fit and well because it’s a long season.

Lazar Markovic, Emre Can and Rickie Lambert have also arrived at Anfield this summer while Loic Remy and Dejan Lovren are expected to follow shortly, but Rodgers refused to shed any light on impending arrivals.

“There has been an awful lot of work that has gone on into finding players that are suitable and are going to come in and help the club progress,” he added.

“But like I’ve always said, I’ll never comment on players until they’re signed and sealed - I can talk all day about them then.”

CMYK

Due Process Abuse

Staple For PDP

N I G E R I A N politicians and their apologists prefer to describe the country’s democratic evolution as nascent. In their view, it is inappropriate for anyone to upbraid its many ugly sides or describe it as a sham compared to its American model. They would tell anyone who cares to listen that there is no basis for comparison as the Yankee version is centuries older. Sadly however, they always fail to remind themselves that our inability to apply intelligence is the only missing link. Thus, while they want the rest of us wait for centuries to experience true democracy, none of them will wait for more than one month to acquire status e n h a n c i n g , technology-laden cars or gadgets.

These nascent theorists are now extending the frontier as nothing appears wrong in their view even when individuals and groups subject to brigandage any attempt to subject our democratic processes to the rule of law. If the trend has been a major staple in the menu of the PDP in Edo state, its national arm seems to be perfecting it as a sure-fire weapon designed to conquer the entire Nigerian space, come 2015. It was demonstrated in the debacle in Rivers, very prominent in the brazen assault on democratic processes in Adamawa and very prominent in the ongoing bizarre circus in Nasarawa states.

Trouble began in Edo state when some All Progressive Congress, APC, law makers defected to the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP. It was the first stage in the party’s truncated grand plan to set in motion, impeachment proceedings against the state governor,

Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. In a bid to checkmate possible reprisal actions from their majority APC colleagues, the defectors sought legal refuge by asking a federal high court to forestall any attempt by the house leadership to either declare their seats or put them on suspension.

In its wisdom, the court agreed that the house cannot declare their seats vacant. It however, ruled

ignoring court contempt in toll. The chaos resulting from the affected law makers’ action has since turned into a growing monster.

In attempting to white wash an open breach of court order, the estranged law makers went to an Appeal Court, to ask for, among other reliefs, a stay of execution of the suspension order made by the High Court. But the relief suffered a blow as

Adamu Mu’Azu, National PDP Chairman that it could not grant the second relief as doing so would amount to infringing on the internal affairs of the assembly which has every legal right to deal with, including suspending erring members. Four days later and unarguably in the expression of the said right, the house suspended the defectors on grounds of gross misconduct. However, they refused to heed the suspension order, prompting the assembly leadership to rush back to the court for help. Help came for the assembly leadership when the court barred the defectors, the police command and AIG zone 5 from entering the assembly complex.

Flagrantly, they did not only ignored the order, they have turned the assembly complex into a circus centre, incurring and

the court dismissed it, insisting that they must first obey both the orders mandating them to respect the suspension issued them by the house and contempt charge arising from their refusal to do so.

In a lead ruling delivered

by Hon Justice Morounkeji Ogunwunmiju on behalf of two other judges, the court declared that “the said suspended members could not seek any relief from the Court of Appeal while they were in contempt or disobedience of the Order of the High Court.” The judge went further to emphasise that a party in contempt of a positive order of court cannot be allowed to seek or obtain any relief from the Court while the contempt persists. In plain language, the court ordered the renegades law makers to go and

obey the suspension order and contempt charges.

The ruling, made on Thursday, July 10, 2014, is now a stark reminder of the affected law makers’ attitude to court orders as amply captured in the words of their infernal image, Festus Ebea, former deputy speaker, who while reacting to an attempt by a court bailiff to serve him and others contempt summons riled both the court and everything it represents in

Matters In Focus With

Ernest Omoarelojie leader and the Edo state house of assembly, on behalf of themselves and other Hon. members, asked the court to restrain the state commissioner of police and the AIG zone 5 from restricting the activities of artisans employed by the house to fix the leaking assembly roof. They also asked the court to prevail on the suspended law makers “from further purporting to

President Goodluck Jonathan vile invectives. Typically, they have continued to glean over their defiance with laughable excuses while being applauded by their party, the PDP. Still smarting from the impact of the Appeal Court ruling delivered less than 24 hours earlier, the law makers-breakers if you like-took the matter to the Supreme in the seeming puerile expectation that the apex court will rub mud on its inestimable lower arms, having been subjected to a very odious humiliation.

But even as the flaks from the Appeal Court ruling were still reverberating, news of yet another ruling, this time, from a federal High Court, presided over by Justice Mohammad A. Liman, hit the waves. Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, speaker of the state house of assembly, Hon. Philip Shaibu, majority

carry out the legislative function of the 3rd plaintiff (house of assembly) including but not limited to purporting to sit or hold plenary sessions wheresoever’s pending the hearing of the Motion on Notice.”

In the judgement, the court restrained the state police commissioner and AIG zone 5 from “preventing or continuing to prevent the plaintiffs, including the workers of the 3rd plaintiff (house of assembly) from having unrestricted access into the premises of and their offices at the Edo State House of Assembly...” and “from further preventing the workers engaged by the 3rd plaintiff from continuing with the renovation/repairs of the leaking roof of the Edo State House of Assembly Complex...”

However, it refused to grant “an interim injunction

restraining the 3rd-11th Defendants (suspended law makers) from further purporting to carry out the legislative functions of the 3rd plaintiff including but not limited to purporting to sit or hold plenary sessions wheresoever’s pending the hearing and determination of the Motion on Notice...” In refusing to grant the relief, Justice Liman explained that it is “...outside the ambit of section 25 1 (q), (r) and (s) of the constitution. It is a matter within the jurisdiction of the state High Court.” Put differently, the court refused to grant the order because the issue is a matter on which only a state high court can adjudicate. In which case, the plaintiffs are at liberty to seek the relief from the relevant court.

O b v i o u s l y misinterpreting the ruling, the opposition PDP, suspended law makers and their handlers went to town, celebrating the ruling as an invalidation of earlier rulings. Yet, a few days after the ruling ordering the police commissioner and AIG, zone 5 to stop forthwith any restriction imposed on either the assembly staff or workers engaged by the law making organ to renovate/repair the complex’s leaking roof, the suspended law makers took over the task of the plaintiffs and hired new workers to work on the affected roof. The challenge here is that in acting ‘in loco’ for the plaintiff in a ruling that expressly mandates some of their codefendants not to infer with “workers engaged” (not new set) by one of the 3rd plaintiffs, it would appear that they have turned the order of the court on its head. The question is this; can any defendant act in place for a plaintiff in the execution of a valid court order given in favour of the latter and in the same matter he/ she/it is listed as a codefendant without undermining the order itself?

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