Nigerian observer 28 08 2013 by Nigerian Observer

The Nigerian

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol. 38 NO.298 • WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 28, 2013 . N 100.00 NATURAL MEDICINE Page 19 Anti-Biotics from God’s pharmacy

NABTEB releases May/June exams results By DANIEL EDOBOR

BENIN CITY – The National Business and Technical Examinations Board (NABTEB) has released the result for the May/June NABTEB Examinations.

Registrar of the Board, Dr. Olatunde Aworanti who announced the release to newsmen in Benin City yesterday disclosed that

out of the 103,753 candidates that sat for the examinations, only 28,230 representing 27.2 per cent obtained

passes at credit level in five subjects and above, including English Language and Mathematics. According to him, a total of 55,115 candidates,

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Diversification Of Economy

NEW HORIZON Page 20 Remembering 2009 ASUU, SSANU, NASU strike action

FG to ban fish, rice importation

ADO -EKITI - The Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, said yesterday that the Federal Government may soon place a total ban on the importation of fish and other aquatic consumables. Adesina said this in Ado-Ekiti at the launch of the Special Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for Fisheries and Aquaculture value chain. He, however, said that the ban would be imposed, only if arrangements being put in place by the

government to that effect worked as planned. The minister, represented at the occasion by the Federal Director of Fisheries, Mrs. Foluke Areola, stressed that Nigeria had no business importing fish given its huge natural and renewable resources. He said it was in view of this that the ministry was promoting increased fish production through the Aquaculture Value Chain. This is in pursuance of the goal of the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA), he said “The Value Chains are to create an enabling environment for increased

were vital to building a peaceful world and must be supported by everyone. According to her, the recent UN SecretaryGeneral’s Annual Report on Women, Peace and Security, highlighted a growing number of inspiring examples of women in action. Maina called on all stakeholders to help in the implementation of the UN resolution, given the unquantifiable role of women in the society. “When you train a woman, you are building a great and viable nation. Therefore, I charge all stakeholders to collaborate as the security of the country is a collective responsibility.”

Representative of UN Women in Nigeria, said only small progress had been made in the involvement of women in informal peace processes since 2000. Ongile said peace talks involving women ensured greater voices in conflict resolution. “It cannot be disputed that national growth and

IKOT ABASI - The Commander, NNS Jubilee, Akwa Ibom, Commodore Isaac Ogbole, yesterday said the joint patrol teams of

- Minister

and sustainable production of over one million tonnes of fish within the next four years, generate employment and pursue gradual

reduction of fish imports.” Adesina said the Aquaculture Value Chain, under the four- year implementation plan, would increase the annual production of fingerlings in

the country by 1.25 billion tonnes. He said it would also produce 400,000 tonnes of fish feed, generate additional 250,000 tonnes of table fish and 100,000 tonnes of Value Added fish products. “Fish farming is a

business venture with lots of potential investment opportunities and a veritable tool for increased fish production, poverty alleviation and sustainable livelihoods.” The minister noted that the Aquaculture Value Chain had already been

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... inaugurates action plan on UN resolutionDr1312 Grace Ongile, Country ABUJA - Nigeria contributions of women yesterday in Abuja inaugurated a National Action Plan booklet for the domestication of the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security. The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said at the occasion that the resolution called for increase in the participation of women in peacemaking and peace building processes. She added that the resolution was also aimed at protecting women and girls in armed conflict. “It is imperative for Nigeria to launch the action plan because it gives women the opportunity to partake in decision making processes on peace and security in the country. “The launching will also help to reduce the challenges of women in our society during conflict.” She said the

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WORKSHOP: L-R: Brazilian Ambassador to Nigeria, Amb. Joao Lima; Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina and Country representative, Melinda Gate Foundation, Dr. Mairo Mandara, at a 3-Day Workshop on the Point of Intersection between Nigeria and Brazil Agricultural Transformation Agenda in Abuja yesterday.

ASUU strike: Students, CSOs

stage solidarity protests

BY EMMAUEL EGOBIAMBU / GEORGE OGBOLU/ WINIFRED OSASOBO

BENIN CITY - Nigerian students in collaboration

with Edo State Civil Society groups, yesterday staged a peaceful protest on

major roads across Benin City in solidarity with the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over

Nigerian Navy – NNS Jubilee and NNS Victory, Calabar, killed six pirates and injured one . Ogbole said this in Ikot Abasi, Akwa Ibom while

briefing newsmen on the activities of the command. He said that local fishermen in Ibaka, Mbo Local Government

Area, Akwa Ibom, briefed the naval officers about the operations of the pirates in the area. The commander said

Navy kills 6 pirates, injures 1

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the ongoing strike embarked upon by the university lecturers. The students who carried placards bearing inscription as, “FG meet ASUU’s demand”, “Don’t kill governmentowned universities in Nigeria”, started the peaceful protest at the Oba Akenzua 11

Cultural Centre, Airport Road, Benin City. They later marched round the King’s Square, before heading to Ugbowo Campus, of the University of Benin (UNIBEN). According to one of the protesters, Iyamu Osaro, the protest was to

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News

FG to ban fish, rice importation

Continued from page 1 included in the Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme for 2013. Under the scheme, inputs such as fish and other sea foods would be distributed to many Nigerian fish farmers, he said. The minister commended President Goodluck Jonathan’s initiative in

transforming agriculture into a serious business venture as well as in ensuring adequate food security for Nigerians. He announced that in an effort by government to protect local fish farmers operating in the country, measures had been put in place to curb illegal importation of fish. Adesina said that the ministry was collaborating with

officers and men of the Nigeria Customs Service in this regard, adding that the Federal Department of Fisheries had also been directed to ensure the stoppage of importation of the banned fish inputs. In his speech, Governor Kayode Fayemi, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government,

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subjects and eight general education subjects. The highest enrollment, he said was in Book Keeping with a total of 78,897 candidates while the lowest enrolment was recorded in Machine Woodworks and photographic practices with one candidate each. He lamented that in spite of concerted efforts by government and other stakeholders to accord technical and vocational education, the status it

deserves, peoples attitude towards it falls short of expectation. According to him, for sustainable growth and national development, greater attention has to be given to technical and vocational education. He therefore called on the National and State Houses of Assembly to legislate on the establishment of modern and well equipped technical colleges in all the local government areas in Nigeria.’

NABTEB releases May/June exams results

representing 53.1 per cent passed five subjects at credit level with or without mathematics or English Language. He said the overall performance indices showed that of the total number of candidates that sat for the examinations, only 13,347 representing 12.9 per cent were certified as craftsmen. Dr. Aworanti also disclosed that the candidates enrolled in 36 trades, five trade related

Students, CSOs stage solidarity Continued from page 1 protests concerned”.

support ASUU in their bid to revive the university system in the country. He explained that, “the protest was geared towards ensuring that the federal

government, in earnest reopen our universities”. We are not comfortable with the situation as far as the Nigerian students are

He noted that the protest which started around 8am might continue today if government fails to accede to ASUU’s demands.

Navy kills 6 pirates, injures 1 Continued from page 1 the pirates, who were operating in two boats, pretended as if the boats were passenger boats. He said that the naval boats had encircled the pirate boats to check if actually the boats were passenger boats. Ogbole said that when the officers got to the location as

briefed by the fishermen, the pirates were taken by surprise as their efforts to engage the men of the Nigerian Navy in gun battle ended in their waterloo. He said that, as the naval officers tried to examine the boats, the pirates quickly brought out arms to shoot at the patrol teams. “Today, our men – NNS

NABTEB boss elected AEAA rep in W’Africa

BENIN CITY - The Registrar/Chief Executive of the National Business and Technical Examination Board (NABTEB), Dr. Olatunde Aworanti, has been elected the West Africa representative of the Association for Educational Assessment in Africa (AEAA). Dr. Aworanti was elected unopposed at the 31st Annual Conference of the Association held between August 12 and 16, 2013 in Arusha, Tanzania. The association said Dr. Aworanti’s election was in recognition of his contribution to the growth and development of education and educational assessment. The African region of the AEAA is divided into four Zones, namely North Africa, South Africa, East Africa and West Africa. A statement endorsed by Adeyemu Brown, a Deputy Director in the Registrar ’s Office and

made available to The Nigerian Observer indicated that with the election, the NABTEB Registrar is now the sole representative of all examination bodies, regulatory institutions and other allied organizations in West Africa. Some of the bodies and institutions include West African Examinations Council (WAEC), National Examinations Council (NECO), Joint. Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), National Board for Technical Education (NBTE) and National’ Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC). The AEAA is a forum for the development of strategies among others with a view to ensuring proper, appropriate and globally acknowledged standard. The next meeting of the AEAA is scheduled to hold in Zambia in 2015.

Jubilee, Akwa Ibom and NNS Victory, Calabar, Cross River, killed six pirates and seriously injured one. “The naval officers behaved as if they did not have any information about them. They decided to go past them by encircling them. “But the pirates, who pretended as if their boats were passenger boats, suddenly brought out arms to engage the naval operatives. “It was at that instance that the operatives were convinced that the people were pirates and not what they pretended to be,” he said. Ogbole revealed that the NNS Jubilee had, in the last three months, raided illegal bunker hideouts to seize drums of locally-refined fuel running into millions of Naira.

Alhaji Ganiyu Owolabi, thanked the Federal Government for its benevolence. He said the state government would support its policies and programmes on agriculture. Meanwhile, the Federal Government is facilitating the massive cultivation of rice across the country with a view to stopping rice importation by 2014. Mr Adebisi Buhari, a director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, made this known in an interview with newsmen in IIorin. Buhari said that the government was making effort to stop the importation of rice and other products that could be produced in the country. He expressed optimism that the objective would be realised through joint efforts with communities and private firms to boost production in the country. He said that the government would encourage private sector involvement in the development of the agriculture sector, particularly rice production, stressing that food importation was affecting the nation negatively. Buhari said that the government was already collaborating with Patigi and Share Communities in Kwara to establish high capacity rice mill, to boost production. He commended the synergy between the Federal and Kwara Governments as well as other commodity associations. The director noted that the government had provided various platforms for farmers to access loans and other incentives to improve crop production in the country. He urged Nigerians to key into the ongoing transformation of the agriculture sector, to further enhance the progress being made by the government. “Nigerians should see agriculture as a veritable business to boost the economy and not a tedious endeavour. “The government, through its policies, will provide a level playing ground for prospective farmers to invest in the sector, to ensure sustainability,” Buhari said.

... inaugurates action plan on UN resolution 1312

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development hinge on a

minimum level of peace and security, as both are closely related concepts. “This means that whatever is happening in the peace and security sector will impact on national development agenda of which women are overwhelming majority.” Ongile called on decision makers to ensure that the provisions of the plan were respected and implemented for the inclusion of women into peace building and conflict management. Gender consultant, Mrs Lydia Umar, said the security challenge facing

Nigeria made resolution 1325 significant, adding that the country needed to be proactive at preventing conflicts. According to her, the resolution will ensure that Nigerian women are protected during conflicts at all levels of the society. “In conflict situations, issues like loss of one’s spouse, means of livelihood and gender based violence are rampant. “Nigeria needs to implement the provisions of the 1325 resolution on women, peace and security which is central for development”, Umar said.

Tony Kabaka Adun denies threatening Isekhure’s life BENIN CITY - The President of Airhiaobaevbo, Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun has denied a report of a threat to life on the Isekhure of Benin Kingdom, Chief Nosakhare Isekhure. The denial followed an invitation from the state police command requesting him to respond to a petition over a threat of life on Chief Isekhure and conduct likely to result to a breach of public peace. Comrade Tony Kabaka Adun said, he has never met Chief Isekhure in the past two years and wondered why he has to threaten his life. He however renewed his resolve to remain law abiding at all times and described the allegation as frivolous, malicious and an attempt to bring down his reputation. Comrade Kabaka Adun stated that he is currently involved in youth

empowerment through Akugbe Ventures which have provided job opportunities for so many youths in the state: He said he is too busy at the moment as the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Neighborhood Watch and added that he is more committed to the peace and unity of Edo State. Comrade Adun assured the people of the state of his continuous loyalty at all times and urged the public to disregard any such allegation in the near future. He lauded the state Governor and the Oba of Benin for the peaceful coexistence in Edo State in recent times. He promised to continually contribute his quota to the development of Edo state and solicited for the support of the people of Edo State for the Governor to move the state forward.

Edo gives financial support to 2 physically challenged persons By FUNMI BABATOPE BENIN CITY – In its usual magnanimous tradition of providing succour to the less privileged and financially handicapped persons in Edo State, the State Government yesterday has offered financial assistance to 2 physically challenged persons in the state. The 2 beneficiaries of the state government kind gesture are, Miss Ehis Osazee (29 years) and Miss glory Ehigiator (15 years), both physically challenged and the assistance was meant to enable them undergo corrective surgery of their deformity. Presenting the cash to the beneficiaries yesterday in her office, the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida expressed appreciation to the State

Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his love and care for the less privileged persons in the state and indeed the entire citizens of the state. Describing the Comrade Governor as a kind hearted person who has the milk of human kindness flowing inside him, the commissioner justified the support to the beneficiaries. Mrs. Maigida also noted that, the gesture was a concrete demonstration of Comrade Oshiomhole’s commitment towards improving the overall wellbeing of the less privileged persons in the state. In their separate response, the beneficiaries, Miss Ehis Osazee and Miss glory Ehigiator thanked the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for his kind gesture adding that, it would go a long way in making life meaningful for them.

APC women leader urges unity among members ABUJA - The Interim National Women Leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, has urged members of the party to unite in order to contribute towards deepening democracy in the country. Ikeazor gave the advice in Abuja in an interview with journalist. She said that only a united APC would be victorious in the 2015 elections and help in consolidating the nation’s democracy. Ikeazor said that unity was imperative for the party’s success at all levels, adding that the party could not afford to disappoint Nigerians. The women leader also urged members of the party to work hard to realise the party’s agenda. She appealed to members to ensure that they nominated credible and intelligent people as the party’s candidates for various elective positions. “We have reached a critical moment in our nation’s history where leaders must never be chosen on the basis of tribe

or religion. “Let the leaders be chosen on the basis of what they can do and what food they can put on the table of the common man.” “Change” was chosen as the slogan of the party in line with the yearnings of the majority of Nigerians for a change in the way things were being done in the polity,’’ she stated. She said that she had confidence in the leadership of the APC “because they are tested and trusted materials to make the difference. “We want to change from a nation that relies on import to a nation that can also produce; we want to see the youths as a source of asset and also value to the quality of our human capital,” she said. According to her, APC women will be well represented at all levels of the society and in government, On the Anambra governorship election, Ikeazor said she was optimistic that APC would win the election.

CSR: Okomu Oil

Inside Edo

Palm Coy To Employ 100 Udo Indigenes By ANDY EGBON UDO (OVIA SOUTH WEST)-As part of its Corporate Social Responsibilities (CSR), to its host community; the Okomu Oil Palm Company Limited is to employ not less than 100 indigenes of Udo community, Ovia South West Local Government Area, Edo State in the first phase of recruitment exercise. As a prelude to the recruitment, the company on Monday held a job fair at Udo to showcase the available jobs

LG Boss Boosts Mass Transit With 2 Buses AGENEBODE-The chairman, Etsako East Local Government Council, Hon. Suleiman Afebua, launched two brand new Toyota Hilux buses to boost the council’s mass transit fleet. Represented by the leader of the Legislative Arm, Hon. Fidelis Osikwemhe, the council boss said that the project is geared towards meeting the yearnings and aspiration, of the people. He expressed the administration’s commitment to be at the forefront in the deliverance of democratic dividends to the people, noting that the administration is anchored on the principles of prudence and accountability with priority to the people’s needs. While appealing for the good use of the buses, he assured the people of more dividends of democracy. It would be recalled that the council chairman last week commissioned four brand new Toyota Hilux buses with a promise to increase the fleet within a week. Meanwhile, Hon. Abdulmalik Suleiman Afebua on Friday flagged off the construction of 4 classrooms block and Headmaster’s office at Egbepui primary school, Iviegbepui, Agenebode. Represented by the councilor in ward 11, Hon. Obozuwa Oshioke, the council chairman said that he is committed towards bringing development to the grassroots across the entire local government area. He also assured the people of completing the project within two months.

in the company. At the fair which was formally inaugurated by the lyase of Udo community, His Royal Highness, Patrick Ekhorutomwen Igbinidu, applicants were given forms to fill and indicate their areas of specialization / interest. Managing Director of the company, Graham Hefer said the exercise was aimed at aggregating the quality and quantity of talents that exist in the community. He said it was also aimed at establishing a databank of the unemployed persons in the community, for the purposes of long and short term plan. According to him, the recruitment exercise is an ongoing process and a test case to see how it could be extended to other communities.

R-L: Mr. Dirk Kiewitt, Director Fahrze Ughtechnik Germany, Hon. Mrs Elizabeth Ativie, member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly and palace chiefs during the lawmaker’s presentation of a mobile clinic truck she brought for her constituency to His Royal Majesty in his palace yesterday. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

LG Boss Expresses Commitment To Development Of Education

IDOGBO - Chairman Ikpoba –Okha Local Government Council, Hon. (Mrs.) Itohan OsahonOgbeide has assured the people of Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of her commitment to ensure that there is positive development in the education system. The council boss made this known while playing host to a delegations of Agency for

Adult and Non-formal education at the local Government Secretariat, Idogbo. Mrs. Osahon-Ogbeide who was represented by the vice chairman, chief (comrade) Benson Osifo thanked the visitors for coming to sensitise the people of the

locality on the importance of education. She said the council has made necessary arrangement to ensure that there is improvement in the quality of education in the area, promising to assist the agency in ensuring the success of

Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie, member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly (left) presenting a gift from the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa, the Oba of Benin to Mr. Dirk Kiewitt, Director Fahrzeug-technick Germany during the lawmaker’s courtesy call on the Oba. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN.

Adult literacy programmes in the locality. Leader of the delegation, Mrs. S.O. Eweka told the council boss that their visit

was to inform the council boss of the existence of the agency in the area as well as sensitise the people on the importance of Adult Education.

BENIN CITY- The all Saints Cathedral Church, Ughelli, Ughelli North Local Government Area, Delta State, is to host the next conference of the Anglican Bishops in Bendel Ecclesiastical province in September 3-4 2013. Archbishop of the Province and Bishop of Esan Diocese the Most Rev. Dr. F.J Imaekhai will declare the Conference open, with focus on the theme: “Modeling Christ to the World”. Philippians 3:1-13 A statement from the Provincial Public Relations

Officer, (PRO), Sir. Rufus Isaac said delegates are expected at Ughelli on Tuesday August 3, 2013 at 4:30pm to hold preliminary session of the meeting. According to the statement, an action plan for the development of the provincial activities will be deliberated upon on September 4, 2013. The Provincial meeting of the Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion is a forum where the Bishops review the work of the gospel and also consider the state of the nation with a view to proffer solution to the perceived problem.

Ughelli To Host Anglican Bishops

The Most Rev. Dr. F.J. Imaekhai, the Archbishop of Bendel Ecclesiastical province

Across The Nation Katsina Donates To Bereaved Families Of Corps Members KATSINA - Katsina State Government has donated one million naira to the families of two National Youth Service

Corps (NYSC) members, Mr Asiwaju Sunday and Miss Ajoke Odegbode, who died while serving in the state. The Commissioner for Youth

and Sports, Alhaji Mannir Talba, presented the money to the bereaved families on behalf of the state government in Katsina. He said each family would receive N500,000 as assistance. According to him, the two

corps members died recently in the state while serving the state and the nation. He said Sunday died as a result of illness after undergoing surgery at Malumfashi General Hospital in the state, while Odegbode died in a road accident along Zaria road. The commissioner expressed the state government’s regrets over the deaths and prayed for the repose of their souls. Talba also said that the state government would continue to support the NYSC scheme in the state. Responding, the state NYSC Coordinator, Mr. Olorunleke Abiodun, expressed gratitude to the state government for the assistance and promised to hand over the money to the families of the departed corps members.

IIORIN - The Secretary of People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in Kwara, Mr Yemi Afolayan, has announced the postponement of the party’s chairmanship and councillorship primaries scheduled for yesterday and today, August 26 and 27. Afolayan announced this during an interview with newsmen in Ilorin. Although a new date had not been fixed, he explained that the postponement was to give the party enough room for consultation with the rank and file of the party. He said the move was also to ensure that things were

PDP Postpones Primaries done properly. The secretary noted that Kwara State Independent Electoral Commission had fixed a new date for submission of nomination forms by candidates. “This gives PDP room to take necessary steps toward sustaining internal democracy among the aspirants.’’ Afolayan added that the party was putting necessary arrangements in place to ensure its victory at the polls.

Sales Rep Arraigned Over N2.3m ABUJA - The police have The accused pleaded not guilty Theft arraigned Abbah John, Sales to the charges against him.

R-L: Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida, presenting financial assistance on behalf of the state government to a physically challenged person, Miss. Ehis Osazee for corrective surgery.

Representative, Dangote Cement Company, at a Wuse Zone 2 Senior Magistrates’ Court in Abuja for allegedly stealing N2.3 million from the company. The prosecutor, Sgt. Abdullahi Alhassan, told the court that John

was charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating. Alhassan said Emeka Oji, a Supervisor with the company, reported the matter at the Mabushi Divisional Police Station on August 20. The prosecutor said the accused was entrusted with some trailer loads of cement worth N2.3 million. “After selling the cement, John refused to remit the money but rather converted it to his personal use. “The accused refused to answer calls from Oji in respect of the money.’’

His counsel, Mr Innocent Okolo, prayed the court to grant his client bail on liberal terms. Okolo said his client will not jump bail or hinder investigations. The Magistrate, Mr Christopher Oba, granted the accused bail in the sum of N1million with a surety in like sum. Oba ordered that the surety must be a civil servant on Grade Level 08, and own a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction. He adjourned the case to September 2 for hearing.

LAFIA - Nasarawa State House of Assembly has advised the State Local Government Service Commission, to adhere strictly to laid down rules in the disbursement of funds. Mr Anthony Obande, Chairman, House Committee on Local, who gave the advise in Lafia when his committee visited the commission, said strict adherence would ensure accountability and prudence. Obande, (PDP), representing Keana constituency, noted that the law establishing the commission clearly made provision for effective management of local government system in the state. He said that staff and management of the commission, should be guided by the law in

their conduct. He commended the commission for heeding to the committee’s advise in posting unified staff and also abiding by other policy guidelines, urging it to maintain the tempo. Responding, Alhaji Isa Mustapha, Chairman of the state local government service commission, commended the lawmakers for the cordial working relationship between the house and the commission. He outlined some of the achievements recorded by the commission, to include training and re-training of local government staff, successful implementation of unified local government system and disengagement of over 200 staff due for retirement.

“The Sultan ensured that crisis whether sectarian or otherwise, is a rare occurrence in the Caliphate and even beyond, owing to his fatherly role,’’ the statement said. It stated that Sultan Sa’ad’s enviable stature as a bridge builder had helped to bring

together his people irrespective of their differences, thereby advancing the course of peace, unity and positive development in all parts of the country. The forum prayed God to grant the Sultan excellent health, courage and many more years of selfless service to Nigeria and humanity.

Assembly Tasks LG Commission On Accountability

The mobile clinic truck at Edo State House of Assembly complex presented by Hon. (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie, member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly to her constituency. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN

OAU Arrests Suspected Criminal

ILE-IFE (OSUN) - Nine persons suspected to be criminals have been arrested at the new ‘bukateria’ axis of the Obafemi Awolowo University (OAU), IleIfe, Osun. The report of the arrest was contained in the university’s news bulletin. The publication stated that the suspects were caught during the security surveillance and patrol exercise at the university estate. It stated that the suspects’ fierce look, charms, tattoos and scars of various degrees on their bodies gave them out as suspicious and dangerous.

The publication said those arrested might be criminals or cultists who presumably came to assess the campus before launching an attack. It said preliminary investigation revealed that the suspects came into the campus in two cars- a Toyota Camry with registration number NB 661 AAA and a Nissan Micra marked 92D48496. “Consequently, to update the security data-base, the suspects were appropriately profiled before they were handed over to the police for further investigation and possible prosecution,’’ it

stated. The publication stressed the need for security consciousness on the part of members of the

university community . It urged them to collectively rise up to tackle the emerging security challenges facing the institution.

Northern Govs Felicitate With Sultan

MINNA - The Northern States Governors Forum has congratulated the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar III, who attained 57 years of age at the weekend. In a statement issued in Minna by his Chief Press Secretary, Danladi Ndayebo. the

Chairman of the forum and Governor of Niger, Dr Babangida Aliyu, described the sultan as a bridge builder and a man of peace. He said that the sultan’s reign had ensured progress and modernisation to the caliphate as well as the length and breadth of the nation.

Across The Nation Rural Dwellers Get Free Medical Treatment LOKOJA - The Kogi Commissioner for Health, Dr Idris Omede, said that no fewer than 8,000 people had so far benefited from ongoing free rural medical treatment in the State. Omede, who said this when he briefed newsmen in Lokoja, added that the Ministry was targeting 40,000 people this quarter. He said the initiative of the free rural medical treatment was one of Governor Idris Wada’s programmes aimed at making healthcare accessible to those living in rural areas. The exercise, according to him, is for the attainment of a healthy population and workforce that will drive and actualise the Transformation Agenda of the State Government in all sectors of the state’s economy. Omede said that 24 designated treatment sites centrally located in the 21 local governments were carefully chosen to allow free access to the services. The commissioner added that ophthalmologists had been deployed to centres in each of the three senatorial districts - Ankpa, Okene and Kabba. “They are to carry out eye surgeries for people identified with cataracts and other eye defects.’’ He said that some health facilities in the state were being renovated and that drugs had been procured and made available at the general hospitals at affordable prices. “We are trying to see a functional health policy and NHIS that would cater for everybody in both the formal and informal sectors of the economy. “We are up to date on immunisation of children and control of child and maternal mortality which earned us an award last year”, the commissioner said.

Omede also disclosed that a diagnostic and image centre would be established and expressed optimism that it would boost healthcare delivery when completed. The commissioner condemned the sale of treated mosquito nets by some Local Government officials. “They are meant to be distributed free of charge to the people. Any official found to be engaged in this illegal sale will be arrested and prosecuted”, he said.

R-L: Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Maigida, presenting Financial Assistance from the State Government through her Ministry to a Physically challenged person, Miss Glory Ehigiator to enable her correct her deformity.

Cattle Routes Demarcated In Yobe

Motorcycles donated to vigilante groups by the Sokoto State Government in Sokoto yesterday.

Relief Materials Delivery

Anambra, Transporters Sign MoU

ONITSHA (ANAMBRA) The Anambra government has signed a Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) with some private transport companies to facilitate timely delivery of relief materials to flood victims in the state. Dr Justin Ijezie, Executive Secretary of the state Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) disclosed this to newsmen in Onitsha. It will be recalled that the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) had advised states in the lowlands and riverine areas of the country to take proactive

measures to mitigate the effect of possible flood disaster this year. Ijezie said that the agency was actively collaborating with ministries of environment, information and local government affairs to ensure early flood response preparation. He said that already, the agency had distributed early warning billboards and handbills in the flood- prone areas of the state. “Well, as of now, we are prepared, but the preparation is

Police Arrest 30 Suspected Cultists IIORIN - The Police Command in Kwara said it arrested 30 suspected cultists at Eiyenkorin in Ilorin during a clash with some community members. The Public Relations Officer of the command, DSP Femi Labode, told newsmen in IIorin that three suspected cultists died in the

DAMATURU - The Livestock Pilot Development Programme, Yobe, said it demarcated 900 kilometres of cattle routes in the state to resolve farmers/grazers conflicts from 2007 to date. Dr Mustapha Gaidam, the Programme Manager, said this in an interview with newsmen in Damaturu. “The Programme demarcated and put beacons in more than 900 kilometres of primary and secondary livestock routes to facilitate movement of animals without encroaching on farmlands. “The programme demarcated 130 kilometres from Ngelzarma to Badegana; 50 kilometres from Jakusko to

clash. He said their corpses had been deposited at the University of IIorin Teaching Hospital morgue. Labode added that four other suspected cultists sustained injuries during the clash. The injured, Labode said, were receiving treatment in a private hospital due to the ongoing strike

embarked upon by health workers. He said the incident occurred after an all-night initiation of new members. Labode also said that some members of the community also sustained injuries in the clash. He said that the police were investigating the matter.

an on-going thing. “So, we are prepared, we have got our trucks ready; we have got non-perishable relief materials. “Then, we have signed MoU for the supply of things we cannot buy now because they are perishable; then with transporters in case we need to evacuate people or take relief materials in quick successions to complement our vehicles and boats. “Then we are training people, we have given early warning to the communities. “We educated their representatives – the presidentgenerals, the igwes, the women leaders - that is the P-G women the clergy and the school teachers. “That is what we did at various points; such as Otuocha for Anambra-East, Atani for Ogbaru; Umeze Anam for Anambra-West.’’

Ijezie said that the agency was still monitoring the water level at River Niger and its tributaries, especially in Onitsha and its adjoining areas. He said that the agency had recently trained some people on evacuation and camp management of flood victims. “The pillars on Onitsha-Asaba Bridge – Niger Bridge - then we monitor it down to the stream at 33. ‘There is that old bridge there, apart from the new bridge, we monitor it from there. “Once we see water coming back to that bridge instead of going down to River Niger, then we tell the governor. “And the governor will announce emergency immediately so that the people affected can be evacuated.’’ Meanwhile, the state government in collaboration with the local government councils have commenced massive de-silting and clearance of drainage systems to ensure free flow of water near the River Niger.

Gogaram; 42 kiliometres from Nguru to Gumsi and 96 kilometres from Kalalawa to Ngelzarma. “We have also demarcated 105 kilometres of cattle route from Dogon kuka to Ngalda; 90 kilometres from Dapchi to Girgir; 120 kilometres from Babbangida to Jajere; 70 kilometres from Yusufari to Garin Alkali and 40 kilometres from Dapchi to Geidam.” He said the exercise was carried out in conjunction with traditional and cultural leaders of the grazing and farming communities after arriving at acceptable conclusions. “I am proud to say that this has conveniently resolved farmer/grazer conflicts in Yobe.” The manager said the organisation constituted a special monitoring team to supervise the routes periodically, to ensure that farmers did not encroach on them. “Yobe Government has also developed grazing reserves in Dilawa, Gumsi, Gujba, Jakusko, Nasari and provided water facilities to the grazing communities.” He said the reserves had contributed in curtailing possible encroachment by herdsmen on farms while in search of pasture and water,” he said. Gaidam said the programme had spent N7 million to procure vaccines for more than 900,000 livestock in the state. “Since 2008, this administration has consistently engaged in mass vaccination of livestock. This translated to increase in livestock, beef and dairy production, thereby, boosting the economy of farmers in the state,” he said.

Ambrose Omizegba’s Burial In Pix

Some of the children of Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba at the funeral mass held on Friday at Holy Trinity Catholic Church, Ewu.

Cross section of Knights of St. John International at the funeral mass held at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport road, Benin City on Friday.

Vigil mass of Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba held at his residence celebrated by Rev. Fr. Paul Enow, Parish Priest, St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport road, Benin City..

Members of the Knights of St. John International at the Vigil mass of Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba held at his residence.

Members of Knight of St. John International mounting guard of honour in respect of their departed colleague, Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba.

The eldest son of Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba, Mr. Augustine Omizegba performing the dust-to-dust ceremony for his late father.

Members of Knight of St. John International carrying the casket containing the remains of late Sir Ambrose Omizegba to the ambulance after the funeral mass at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport road, Benin City..

The thanksgiving service of Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba at St. Paul’s Catholic Church, Airport road, Benin City on Sunday.

Lagos

PHCN: Hasten Privatisation,

Artisans Urge FG

Lagos State Governor and Special Guest of Honour, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (2nd right), Mr. Abiodun Fuwa (right), Grand Patron, Dr. Akinola Ogunlewe (2nd left) and Proprietress Seagate College, Chief (Mrs.) Tessa Egbe-Ikimi (left) during the United African Methodist Church’s Juvenile Harvest Thanksgiving Service with theme, “Children The Heritage of God”, at the Church Cathedral, Oke-Arin, Lagos Island, on Sunday.

Suspected Killer Cop Arrested LAGOS - The Lagos State Police Command said that it has arrested the policeman, who allegedly pulled the trigger and killed a motorcyclist in Ikorodu . The command’s spokesman, DSP Ngozi Braide, confirmed this in an interview with newsmen. Newsmen reports that mass protest had trailed the killing of the motorcyclist which had necessitated the deployment of heavily armed policemen in the town. The protest has also paralysed socio-economic activities in the

ancient town. The protesters, who are mainly youths, are demanding the release of the motorcyclist’s corpse to them by the Ikorodu General Hospital to avert what they called possible foul play. Braide said:“Four of them are already in police custody, including the officer who shot the motorcyclist. “The policeman who was attacked by the motorcyclists is being treated at a hospital.’’ She said the situation was under control, adding that investigation into the incident

FAAN Tightens Airport conducted routinely every day, by Security a FAAN Security patrol team and

IKEJA - The Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) said that it further tightened its risk amelioration procedure, following an incident at the Benin Airport involving a teenage stowaway. This is contained in a statement signed by the General Manager, Corporate Communications of FAAN, Mr Yakubu Dati, and made available to newsmen at the Murtala Muhammed Airport, Lagos. The reports state that a teenage boy was arrested by Arik Airline security personnel at Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos, for allegedly sneaking into the airline’s main wheels. The statement said that the procedure was to ensure that a similar incident at Benin airport on August 24 did not recur, adding that the risk amelioration processes were put in place to safeguard flight operations. According to the statement, the account of the incident as narrated by the management of Arik Airline were completely different from FAAN’s findings. “On Saturday August 24 at about 09.05hrs, ARIK flight 544 departed Benin Airport for Lagos. The normal Runway inspections were conducted by FAAN Security at 07.30hrs and 08.50hrs. “These runway inspections are

are aimed at preventing animal and human incursions unto the aircraft manoeuvring areas of the airfield. “Our investigations reveal that a passenger on board the flight called the attention of the cabin crew while the aircraft was waiting to take off at the threshold of the runway. “They told the crew member that they had seen a young boy walk under the aircraft and had not seen him re-appear either side. The cabin crew in turn informed the pilots in the cockpit about this. “The pilots called the control tower and asked them to request FAAN to do a sweep of the area after their departure, opting to carry on with their flight in despite the report. “Immediately upon the departure of the aircraft, FAAN’s security did another sweep of the area and found nothing unusual”. The statement noted that upon the arrival of the aircraft in Lagos, FAAN was informed that there had been a stowaway found alive alighting from the wheel well of the aircraft. “While FAAN takes this security breach extremely seriously, we deem Arik’s attempt at indicting and smearing FAAN as irresponsible.

was ongoing. “We want to know who fired the shot and why he fired; justice must be done, “ Braide added.

Mr Kabiru Taiwo, a welding technician at Baruwa Street, observed that electricity supply had not improved with the high tariff charged. Taiwo said that the new tariff should have been introduced when the supply improved.

LAGOS - Some artisans in Ijesatedo area of Surulere, Lagos State, have urged the Federal Government to hasten the privatisation process of PHCN so that it would serve Nigerians better. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, the artisans that the prevailing erratic power supply was seriously killing their businesses. A fashion designer at Moshalasi area, Mrs Tinuola Folorunsho, wondered when the Federal Government would be able to deliver constant power supply in the country. Folorunsho said: “In spite of the government’s effort to ensure that constant power supply, we seem to go from bad to worse.” Also commenting, Mr Yakubu Ishola, a barbing saloon operator on Ogunlana Street in Surulere, observed that most of the artisans in the area had abandoned their businesses to become commercial motorcycle operators. “There is no electricity supply and they have to survive; that is why they are riding Okada. “Even in my saloon, I use generator throughout the day but some people cannot afford the fee.” Mr Godwin Isaiah, a dry cleaner

at Omotayo Street, said due to the current situation, he had lost numerous customers and appealed to the PHCN to improve on its service delivery to save businesses from collapse.

IKEJA - The Lagos State Residents Registration Agency (LASRRA) said that it has commenced weekend registration of residents across the state. The General Manager of LASRRA, Ms Yinka Fashola, said the arrangement was aimed at ensuring that workers participate fully in the ongoing residents’ registration exercise. She spoke at an interactive session with stakeholders at Ikeja. Fashola noted that the weekend registration would also avail staff members of companies to register without disrupting their official duties. “LASRRA is currently talking with organisations that have more

than 100 staff to register them at their various office locations on Saturdays. “The exercise has been designed to allow residents in all parts of the state to register at their convenience,’’ the report quotes Fashola as saying. The general manager said the agency’s team would visit such organisations to register their staff members. Fashola advised multinationals and companies which had not been reached the agency to contact it for the registration of their employees. She added that the exercise would take place at all youth and vocational training centers across the state from 8.00 a.m. to 3.00 p.m.

She told to a gathering of civil society organisations in Abuja that the National Assembly had gulped over N1 trillion in about eight years to the detriment of the nation’s economic development. Mr Godfrey Lemchi, the Chairman, Lagos Chapter of the African Democratic Congress

(ADC), said that the call for part time legislation was a welcome development. He argued that part time legislation would not impede check on the executive arm. According to him, remuneration and allowances of legislators have eaten deep into the economy without commensurate contribution and productivity from many of the members. “It is often observed many do not show up for the 180 days sitting constitutionally demanded, hence empty seats usually seen and yet they are paid for doing nothing. “When legislation becomes a part-time work, they will be entitled to seating allowances based on presence. “More so, legislators working on part-time basis will attract quality minds with passion to making quality laws for moving the country forward, “ he said. However, Chief Olatunji Shelle, the Lagos State Chairman of the PDP, disagreed that legislation should be on part-time basis. “I do not think that part-time legislation will serve a good purpose in a nascent democracy like ours. “We need to develop the institution to a very high level to be able to justify the clamp down on the clamour for sovereign national conference. “The legislators of my dream need to be knowledgeable, vast and well exposed to be able to transform Nigeria.” He therefore, advised Nigeria to adopt what he described as “one serious and carefully selected legislative house made up of committed and disciplined

men and women of substance and integrity”. Chief Winston Odum-Ojobi, the Deputy National Chairman of the de-registered United Nigeria Peoples Party (UNPP), argued that full time legislation was a waste of the nation’s resources. “I am one of those clamouring for part-time parliamentarians; even in America, legislation is not on full time, they sit when they have to sit. “We have so many ministers and permanent secretaries and almost about 300 directors in Nigeria; so what are the parliamentarians doing? It is just a waste of the country’s resources.” Odum-Ojobi, therefore, suggested that Nigeria should operate one house that would cover all the ethnic nationalities. The National Chairman, Peoples Progressive Party (PPP), Mr Damian Ogbonna, said having a full-time legislation in a democracy was important, hence dissolving the two houses into one would be risky. “Having a lower and an upper house in a democracy is very important because it will check the excesses of dictatorship of the legislature. “Therefore, the upper house needs to be on part-time legislation but the lower house which does the regular business of legislation should be fulltime,“ he said. Ogbonna called for a proper restructuring of the National Assembly and an amendment of the constitution to allow for the upper house serve as a superintendent to the lower house.

Agency Commences Weekend Residency Registration

Politicians Differ On Calls For Part-Time Legislature

LAGOS - Some politicians have in Lagos expressed divergent views over the call for lawmakers in Nigeria to be parttime functionaries in order to reduce the cost of governance. It would be recalled that the former Minister of Education, Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, had on August 19, suggested that legislators should serve on a parttime basis to reduce the cost of governance.

Lagos State Governor and Special Guest of Honour, Mr. Babatunde Fashola SAN (right) interacting with some children during the United African Methodist Church’s Juvenile Harvest Thanksgiving Service with the theme, “Children The Heritage of God”, at the church Cathedral, Oke-Arin, Lagos Island, on Sunday.

Across The Nation First International Flight Takes-Off From Akanu Ibiam Airport ENUGU - It was jubilation galore in Enugu as the first international flight from Akanu Ibiam International Airport took off to Addis Ababa with 153 passengers on board. The flight was by Ethiopian Airline Boeing 737-800, which took off to Addis Ababa by 2.20p.m. The event was witnessed by four South-East governors from Abia (Theodore Orji), Anambra (Peter Obi), Ebonyi (Martin Elechi) and Enugu State (Sullivan Chime). Others who witnessed the event were the ministers of L-R: Garrison Commander, Nigerian Army, Port Harcourt, Lt.-Col. Kingsley Adimoha, Board member, Ibeto Cement, Dr. Aviation (Stella Oduah), Anomchukwu Ezeike, Managing Director, Orient Petroleum, Mr. Nnaemeka Nwakwa and Commander 2 Brigade Army, Finance (Ngozi OkonjoPort Harcourt, Brig.-Gen. Osasogie Uzamere during the inspection of two gun Boats donated by Ibeto Cement and Iweala), Health (Onyebuchi Orient Petroleum to JTF to boost their operations in Rivers yesterday. Chukwu) and Power (Chinedu Nebo) as well as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Chief Anyim Pius Anyim. Members of the National Assembly, led by the Deputy Senate President, Chief Ike Ekweremadu, state executive members and legislators, traditional rulers and captains of industry were also present AKKO (GOMBE) at the brief ceremony. Motorists were held in a Briefing newsmen in Enugu, gridlock for over three-hour Okonjo-Iweala described the following a five-hour down day as historic in the lives of pour which flooded the the people of the South-East Gombe-Bauchi Road. zone and thanked President The reports say hundreds of Goodluck Jonathan for making cars were held up in the the project a reality. gridlock Wuro-Dole in Akko Anyim described it as a Local Government of Gombe dream come true for the people State. of the South-East, while It was further reported that Ekweremadu said that the the flood took over the road introduction of international forcing motorists to park at flights in the airport would safe distance. make it easy for the people to A Commercial driver, travel to any part of the world. Malam Ibrahim Benjamin, Two gun boats donated by Ibeto Cement and Orient Petroleum to JTF to boost their Ekweremadu said the operations in Rivers yesterday. told newsmen that he had been plying the road for the past seven years, adding that the road was flood-prone. O N I T S H A Government Area in commercial city. life to further boost its Benjamin and Hajiya (ANAMBRA) - The PDP Anambra, Mr Herold Ekwerekwe told newsmen economic status. Hadizatu Hamisu, a motorist, chairmanship aspirant for Ekwerekwe, has promised to in Onitsha that the town He said a PDP-led council called on the government to Onitsha North Local restore night life in the needed the return of night in the area would work with reconstruct the culvert to the police, security agents address the problem. and prominent people in the Hamisu wondered why awaiting trial to accept their fate SOKOTO - Nigeria Union of organisation or institutions to Onitsha neighbourhoods to government did not address alleviate the suffering of the achieve the feat. Journalists (NUJ), Sokoto State as act of God. the problem at that spot Council in collaboration with ‘’These are travails of life poor. “PDP, being the party of earlier, considering the the Sokoto North Local which could befall anybody Ahmed recalled that the union the people, would restore prediction of heavy rains in Government paid N100,000 including myself and anybody in Sokoto state had in 2012 paid night life once more in August by the Nigeria fines to effect the release of eight you see around here now,’’ he the fines of 11inmates from the Onitsha. This is an area that prison to secure their release. said. Metrological Agency inmates from prison. the present leadership of He further called for the The state Commissioner of The reports say that the (NIMET). Anambra has failed to Mr Ezekiel Atuman, another inmates who were serving Justice, Alhaji Nuhu Adamu, logical conclusion of the resuscitate all these years. ongoing reforms of the judiciary motorist, called for the various jail terms could not pay described the gesture as a by the federal government. ‘‘It is still surprising how welcomed development, saying construction of a high-tension their fines, which ranged from ‘’It would further help in The controller of the prison, the people of the commercial N1,500 to N20,000. bridge on the spot, which he Mr Ibrahim Maradun, city are caged in fear due to The chairman, Sokoto North reducing prison congestion’’. said, was flood-prone, commended the union and the few miscreants and street Adamu warned all the freed Local Government, Alhaji A cleric, Mr Moses Abu, Abdullahi Hassan, said that the inmates to shun acts capable of local government for the urchins. urged the government to find gesture was part of efforts to bringing them back to the gesture, urging others to emulate “If I am elected on the PDP them. solution to the problem to alleviate the sufferings of the prison. platform, street lights and One of the freed inmates, Isa The Assistant National reduce the hardship faced by inmates. Goronyo, thanked the union and flood lights will dot all Secretary, NUJ Zone ‘’A’’, travelers and the surrounding Hassan urged the freed the council for the kind gesture, nooks and crannies of the inmates and those still serving Shehu Ahmed, promised that the promising to be of good city while there will be communities. their jail terms, as well as those NUJ would partner with any conduct.

Flood Causes Gridlock On GombeBauchi Road

National Assembly would ensure adequate budgetary provision was made to complete the new terminal building. The Chairman of the SouthEast Governors’ Forum, Obi, commended the president for fulfilling his promise to Ndigbo. Oduah said that more airlines would soon commence operation at the airport and announced that the Nigerian national carrier would start operation before the end of the year. The host governor, Chime, said the flight was part of a grand plan to change the economy of the South-East zone positively. In his remarks, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer, Ethiopian Airline, Mr. Esayas Hailu, said the airline would operate four times a week from Enugu to Addis Ababa. Hailu said the Igbo were very enterprising and needed an outlet right from their doorstep. He said that very soon the flight would go daily. A passenger, Mr. Nicodemus Igboabasi, a businessman from Anambra, applauded the Federal Government for making the day a reality. He said it would reduce the cost of doing business and the stress of travelling long distances to board international flights from the zone. Newsmen reports that various traditional groups performed at the ceremony. The Enugu route will be the airline’s 46th African and the 76th international destination, newsmen learnt.

Chairmanship Aspirant Promises To Restore Night Life

NUJ, LG Pay Fines Of 8 Inmates

alternative electricity supply to power them. “Monitored surveillance cameras will be mounted in strategic places in the city while the police and other security personnel will be supported in all ramifications to deal with any errant citizen or group,’’ he said. Ekwerekwu urged the PDP faithful in the area to ensure that they obtained the voters’ cards. “Our people should support this change by ensuring they obtain the voters’ cards and vote in the Ocober 5 council polls. “As far as Anambra is concerned, PDP still rules and the council polls will show that the party is still the people’s favourite and incharge in Onitsha,” he said.

Abuja Society Of Engineers Blame Building Collapse On Poor monitoring are not as good as Monitoring they are supposed to be.

L-R: Minister of Science and Technology, Prof. Ita Ewa; Special Business and Projects Executive, Heritage Bank Anita Obot; The Bank’s Manager, Mr. Jide Dada and Director-General, National Mathematical Centre, Prof. Adewale Solarin, at Stakeholders Workshop on Shetsco Silicon Valley Project in Abuja on Monday.

Wash Fruits, Vegetables Before Eating -Expert

ABUJA - A Principal Medical Officer, National Hospital, Abuja, Dr Abiodun Awolusi, has advised Nigerians to wash fruits and vegetables thrice before consumption to avoid gastrointestinal tract infections. Awolusi, however, told newsmen in Abuja that using detergents to wash fruits and vegetables was not safe. Human gastrointestinal tract, according to free encyclopaedia, is the stomach and intestine, sometimes including the structures from the mouth to the anus. “When traders use detergent to wash fruits and vegetables in the market, they will not have enough water to wash it completely. “So, when you get home, you should wash them thoroughly to avoid consuming detergent, which can be corrosive. It can even burn the gastrointestinal tract and cause corrosion. “If you swallow detergent, it is corrosive and it can corrode the cervix, which can also cause sore.” Awolusi said that corrosion, which occurred due to the effect of detergent, could lead the patient to bleed. “So, it is not advisable to buy fruits from the market and start eating without washing it thoroughly. It should be washed two to three times before consumption.’’ The doctor said there was need to educate sellers on the health implication of washing fruits and vegetables with detergent. “I know they only want to make it look nice, clean and attractive, but do they really have enough water to wash it properly?. “The people buying should have it at the back of their minds that the sellers may have used

detergent to wash the fruits. They should wash it very well before eating or cooking.” Fruits and vegetable sellers in some markets use detergent to wash the produce. Mr Ibrahim Musa, who sells tomatoes at Nyanyan market, said people preferred fruits that looked clean, adding “if we did not wash them, nobody would buy from us”. Another trader, Mr Gyang Paul, however, said that people sometimes requested unwashed fruits. Paul said that although he used detergent to wash the fruits to attract buyers, he kept some unwashed.

ABUJA - The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) has identified lack of strict adherence to building rules and poor monitoring of projects as causes of frequent building collapse in Nigeria. Speaking at the forum of newsmen in Abuja, NSE president Mustapha Shehu, noted that cases of building collapse were hardly found in countries that enforced stringent building rules. “First of all, the main cause of building collapse is actually lack of strict adherence to the rules of the game; that is the rules of building itself; in countries where these experiences are not seen frequently, there is strict adherence to the rules. “Here, we find ourselves, unfortunately, in a country where even though we have development control offices all over the country, regulation and

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Science and Technology, Mrs. Rabi Jimeta (left) and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Dr. Linus Awite, at Stakeholders Workshop on Shetsco Silicon Valley Project in Abuja on Monday.

Nigeria To Host 2014 World Engineering Confab ABUJA - The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) is to host the 2014 World Engineering Conference in Abuja, the society’s President, Mr Mustapha Shehu, said in Abuja. Shehu told newsmen that hosting the conference would be part of efforts to promote engineering in Nigeria and Africa. He said NSE had, at the World Engineering Conference in Slovenia, sought to host the next edition of the event. “I got the hosting rights of the World Engineering Conference in Nigeria. For the first time, Nigeria is going to host the world engineering community next year. “We were delighted to have the acceptance of the world engineering community and later they wrote us a formal approval that come November 2014 we are going to host the conference.

“The theme of the conference is ‘Development of sustainable infrastructure in Africa’ and it would be held here in Abuja,’’ Shehu said. The NSE president disclosed that further efforts had been made to advance engineering practice in Africa with the unification of all African engineering organisations under one umbrella. Shehu said a South African had been elected as the president of the continental federation, while he would assume the presidency next year. “We have been able to unite the African engineering institutions under one umbrella, as the ‘Federation of African Engineering Organisations’ which covers all engineering institutions in Africa. “It used to be two, one being promoted by Nigeria and another being promoted by South Africa.

But when we went to Kenya we had a meeting and we resolved to settle our differences and came up with one single organisation. “We had an election and a

South African was elected to be the president while I became the president-elect and by that position it meant that by end of 2014, I will take over automatically without going through any election,’’ Shehu said.

“And also, people are not penalised for doing the wrong thing in this country; people are also not compelled to make sure that the right professionals discharge obligations they are supposed to discharge. “When you talk of building, there are many professionals involved in constructing a building, like the structural engineers, the electrical engineers, mechanical engineers, there are other professionals like the architect. As for the quantity surveyors, their involvement is the costing of the building itself.’’ According to Shehu, NSE is taking the issue of building collapse seriously because engineers take the blame whenever there is a building collapse. He said that the association had put machinery in place with a view to reducing the incidents of building collapse. “We have set up a committee known as the Prevention Investigation Failure Analysis Committee. “This committee is spread all over the country; the members go round and observe buildings. For already existing buildings, they look out for signs of distress. “If a building has a sign of distress, it may likely collapse; some of these incidences are not restricted to new constructions but very old buildings. “For a building under construction that collapses, this committee goes round to find out who designed the building; who is supervising the construction.’’ Shehu said that another mechanism was the Engineering Regulation and Monitoring Committee which was set up in collaboration with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN). COREN is charged with control and monitoring of all engineering activities in Nigeria. According to him, the committee looks at who designs and who supervises a building. “It’s one thing to design and another thing to build to internationally acceptable quality,’’ he said. He appealed to the public to report any irregularities they observed at building sites or in already existing buildings to the NSE for appropriate actions.

Women Advised To Seek Elective Positions ABUJA - The acting PDP Women Leader, Mrs. Oyibo Ahaneku-Nwaneri, has challenged women to break all barriers and seek elective positions in 2015 general elections. She told newsmen in Abuja that the era of using women for voting and dumping them must stop. “Women constitute 50 per cent of the population of the country yet cannot be identified but remembered in the political circle for only clapping and shouting; we deserve more. “We are not saying that the men should leave the stage for us, but we are only asking them to accommodate us; give us a little more space and let us be part of decision makers,’’ she said. The woman leader said if

given the chance, women had the capacity and potential to lead political parties for better results. Ahaneku-Nwaneri, however, urged women to increase interest in elective positions, adding that parties too should support them to enable them to realise their determination. She said that with the stand of President Goodluck Jonathan on women seeking elective positions, “it is now a priority for women to play important role in the political scene’’. “To show the importance of women in nation building and political stability, President Jonathan has instructed that there must be more women in the National Working Committee of PDP.’’ She challenged those in

position of authority to take a cue from the president by reserving 35 per cent of all positions for women, especially the political appointees. Ahaneku-Nwaneri said that PDP was working toward having more women in the legislative arm of government by 2015 to improve the current percentage in the National Assembly. She noted that seven out of 109 senators elected in 2011 were women, representing 6.42 per cent compared to 10 per cent in 2007. She added that 12 out of 360 members of the House of Representatives were also women in 2011, representing about 3.33 per cent as against 26 in 2007.

Business + Economy NDIC Report On Bank Fraud Worrisome

LAGOS - The Association of Senior Staff of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions (ASSBIFI) has described as worrisome the level of bank fraud as recently reported by the Nigerian Deposit Insurance Corporation’s (NDIC). The National President of ASSBIFI, Mr Olusoji Salako, told newsmen in Lagos that the report indicated that the level of fraud in banks was high. The NDIC’s annual report and statement of accounts released said that bankers committed fraud amounting to N17.97 billion in 2012. “This development calls for concern from every stakeholder. “We have the report, and we are considering the steps to take to prevent a reoccurrence in the future.

“In most cases, these bankers are mobilised by outsiders to commit fraud in the system. “We are not going to sleep with this report; we will work on our members, “ Salako said. He said that the union would intensify education of its members on the dangers of allowing outsiders to use them for fraudulent purposes. Salako said that fraud in the banking industry escalated due to reckless deposit mobilisation, casualisation and outsourcing of workers. “Casualisation and outsourcing are two key factors. “If you employ a person on a casual basis, and the person has to handle a lot of cash, yet, he or she is being paid peanuts, there will be the temptation to steal.

“Also, in the last decade, aggressive marketing came in and people with questionable characters were employed in the industry to source for deposits. “Our flanks have been opened by this practice, all safety measures thrown overboard, and all that the bank executives are concerned about is the amount of

deposits brought in,“ he told newsmen. Salako said that the banking sector might continue to record leakages and fraud until the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and management of banks take steps to curtail it. He urged the CBN and management of banks to deemphasise deposit mobilisation

and engagement of contract staff and casual workers. Mr Kamson Olaniyan, the General Secretary of the National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees (NUBIFIE), said that none of the association’s members was fraudulent. “None of us has been accused of fraud.

that is a productive age. Many of them are there because of minor offences like fighting and petty theft, among others,” he said. He urged the traditional institution to step up and assist the government as alternative to dispute resolution to decongest the prisons. In his remarks, the Emir thanked the minister for the visit and pledged to support the government in conflict resolution. He said the Justice Sector and Law Reform in the state had commenced training of traditional rulers on dispute resolution.

Orhionmwon LG Boss Inaugurates Revenue Committee ABUDU - Chairman, Orhionmwon Local Government Council, Chief Roland Ibierutomwen has

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Ibrahim, President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Ibrahim Haruna, representative of the Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mr. Sani Gidado and former NIA President, Mr. Mohammed Faworaja, at the inauguration of Archbuilt 2013 in Abuja yesterday.

inaugurated a seven man committee on internal revenue generation and Project Monitoring. Members of the committee included, Messrs Sunday Ediku Chairman; Osto Iguodala, Secretary; Barrister Charles Aideyan, Isaac Onah; Oduwa Julius; Mr. Joe Ero and Pharmacist Jeff Idusogie Osayande. The committee is charge with the responsibility of identifying untapped resources in the local government area and suggest ways of improving the council revenue base. The committee is also to advise the council boss on how to generate revenue internally, monitor projects executed in the area either by the council or other tier of government with a view to ensuring completion as well as oversee and supervise all direct labour

FRSC Begins Production Of Drivers’ LAFIA - The Federal licences and process Licence Road Safety statement issued on application for fresh ones. Service, has begun the Commission (FRSC) production of Nasarawa State Sector commercial drivers’ Command, in licence. collaboration with the This is contained in a state Internal Revenue

“Junior staff do not have access to facilities for money transfer and money laundering. “It is the management staff that are involved, and some of them are being prosecuted as we speak, “ Olaniyan said. He said that the CBN needed to urgently address outsourcing of workers to reduce bank fraud.

President, Nigerian Institute of Architects (NIA), Mr. Ibrahim Haruna (left) with the Managing Director, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc and Guest Speaker, Mr. Wofgang Goetsch, at the inauguration of Archibuilt 2013 in Abuja yesterday.

Be Proactive In Resolving Conflicts, Minister Urges Traditional Rulers DUTSE - The Minister of Interior, Mr Abba Moro, has urged traditional rulers in the country to be proactive in resolving conflict to help in decongesting prisons. Moro gave the advice during a visit to Emir of Dutse, Alhaji Nuhu Sunusi, in Dutse. He said that when monarchs were involved in resolving disputes, prisons would be decongested. The minister said some cases taken to court could amicably be resolved by community leaders. “It is worrisome that most inmates are within the age of 22,

-ASSBIFI

Friday in Lafia by Mr Francis Udoma, FRSC Sector Commander. The statement urged drivers to renew their

It urged members of the public to contact the internal revenue service in Lafia for further information.

project and programmes of the council. The terms of reference of the committee also include, the identification of abandoned projects and liase with relevant organ of government with a view to ensuring completion and or executed to specification as well as render service that may be required of government.

The council boss urged the committee members to bring their wealth of experience to bear in the course of performing their assignment. Chairman of the committee, mr. Sunday Odiku thanked the council boss for finding them worthy to serve in the capacity and promised to justify the confidence reposed in them

NDE To Train 98 Youths

DUTSE - The National Directorate of Employment (NDE) in Jigawa would spend N1.98 million to train 98 youths in various skills in the state, its coordinator, Malam Muhammad Sambo, has said. Sambo told newsmen in Dutse that the training would be conducted under the NDE’s National Open Apprenticeship Scheme (NOAS) for the youths to be drawn from all the 27 local government areas of the state. He said that the training would enable the youths to become self reliant and employers of labour. The coordinator explained that 78 youths

would be trained in domestic skills and 28 in technical trade skills. According to him, the training for the technical and domestic skills would last one year and six months respectively. Sambo explained that under the domestic trade, the trainees would be exposed to modern tailoring, weaving and beads making, while the technical trade involves training in auto-mechanic, electrical wiring as well as computer operation and maintenance. The coordinator said that the programme was part of the Federal Government’s efforts to provide jobs for youths across the country.

NSE DAILY ACTIVITY SUMMARY (EQUITIES) AS AT YESTERDAY (27/08/13) Stocks

Open

Change

Deals

Units

Value

MANSARD

2.15

2.26

0.11

199,000

449,780.00

7UP

15,697

1,039,203.01

MAYBAKER

2.4

2.48

0.08

119,676

296,255.74

ABBEYBDS

1.53

103.5

MOBIL

119

1,283

138,613.82

ABCTRANS

0.81

0.86

0.05

8,017,031

6,579,583.40

MRS

36.14

30,100

979,153.00

ACADEMY

1.91

1.9

-0.01

421,201

755,951.92

MULTITREX

0.61

0.67

0.06

50,000

33,500.00

ACCESS

10.7

10.8

0.1

269

11,912,742

127,621,963.28

MULTIVERSE

0.5

500

250

AFRINSURE

0.5

270

135

NAHCO

6.8

2,000,121

13,574,597.96

AFRIPRUD

1.98

2.04

0.06

1,799,174

3,584,085.77

NASCON

11.2

2,272,260

25,469,205.85

AFROMEDIA

0.5

1,000

500

167

166

-1

117

1,476,944

246,537,261.30

AGLEVENT

1.41

653

1,012.15

NCR

18.7

16.83

-1.87

170,563

2,870,575.29

AIICO

0.97

4,359,936

4,156,237.12

NEIMETH

1.26

56,633

68,584.60

AIRSERVICE

3.88

40,000

146,400.00

NEM

0.73

0.71

-0.02

6,037,948

4,298,981.08

ASHAKACEM

1,044,687

22,033,988.23

NESTLE

934.97

35,499

33,184,617.57

BERGER

8.7

300

2,361.00

NIGERINS

0.5

500

250

BETAGLAS

13.18

263.6

NPFMCRFBK

0.75

147,317

117,151.10

BOCGAS

6.5

5,000

29,250.00

OANDO

11.13

11.1

-0.03

222

2,464,964

27,657,659.64

CADBURY

52.9

-1.9

621,425

31,990,803.74

OKOMUOIL

46.49

-1.49

499,750

22,493,989.76

CAP

43.65

224,071

8,898,284.63

PAINTCOM

1.81

1.86

0.05

581,500

1,052,775.00

CAPHOTEL

4.55

400

1,640.00

PORTPAINT

5.01

7,000

36,310.00

CCNN

9.21

66,233

591,921.93

PRESCO

34.99

927,459

32,463,152.91

CHAMPION

15.68

14.12

-1.56

152,000

2,146,240.00

PRESTIGE

0.56

0.55

-0.01

871,875

479,031.25

CHAMS

0.5

5,000

2,500.00

36.5

1.5

507,291

18,522,952.77

CONOIL

29.8

8,140

228,542.69

REDSTAREX

4.7

856,284

4,022,154.80

CONTINSURE

1.21

1.2

-0.01

20,077,100

23,692,520.00

RESORTSAL

0.5

5,200

2,600.00

9.06

298.8

0.55

0.52

-0.03

411,072

213,717.64

CORNERST

0.51

0.5

-0.01

368,400

184,934.00

ROADS

COSTAIN

1.3

173,497

217,902.01

ROYALEX

COURTVILLE

0.71

164,648

114,189.08

RTBRISCOE

1.5

1.6

0.1

624,914

950,374.23

5.32

560

2,682.40

-0.2

1,938,400

7,896,717.70

CUSTODYINS

1.53

1.5

-0.03

3,439,224

5,206,280.75

SCOA

CUTIX

1.86

41,320

76,855.20

SKYEBANK

4.2

DAARCOMM

0.5

6,500

3,250.00

SKYESHELT

100

1,000.00

0.5

47,000

23,500.00

16.37

16.25

-0.12

2,343,237

38,065,995.39

DANGCEM

190

563,711

107,091,401.58

SOVRENINS

DANGFLOUR

9.5

849,126

8,066,811.84

STANBIC

DANGSUGAR

10.9

10.71

-0.19

1,663,848

17,907,242.20

STDINSURE

0.5

5,000

2,500.00

2.57

2.52

-0.05

1,261,124

3,180,328.54

0.81

1,000

890

DIAMONDBNK

6.47

6.4

-0.07

14,583,034

93,297,839.50

STERLNBANK

DNMEYER

1.3

31,956

45,351.12

THOMASWY

DUNLOP

0.5

860

430

TOTAL

155

19,391

3,004,062.25

4.08

400

1,792.00

ENAMELWA

32.27

174.3

TOURIST

ETERNA

3.02

3.12

0.1

487,540

1,504,681.60

TRANSCORP

1.3

1.41

0.11

275

90,474,220

126,477,879.86

ETI

14.9

14.7

-0.2

114

4,052,723

60,038,387.73

TRANSEXPR

323,650

323,567.00

16.2

149,381

2,390,298.02

ETRANZACT

3.13

16,600

51,958.00

UAC-PROP

EVANSMED

4.74

100

427

UACN

58.5

58.15

-0.35

1,622,608

94,303,994.41

FBNH

16.3

16.16

-0.14

576

14,038,094

227,449,878.97

UBA

7.33

7.61

0.28

427

30,602,521

232,511,696.53

FCMB

4.08

3.99

-0.09

107

7,256,101

29,088,401.96

UBCAP

1.22

1.31

0.09

153

19,978,939

25,503,917.98

FIDELITYBK

2.8

2.77

-0.03

2,636,394

7,348,616.98

UBN

10.38

0.38

553,674

5,718,834.00

FIDSON

2.02

851,008

1,722,447.26

UNILEVER

155,960

9,481,150.20

FLOURMILL

83.9

110,541

8,974,367.74

UNITYBNK

0.55

0.54

-0.01

8,276,278

4,331,452.62

428,700

16,586,549.21

UNIVINSURE

0.5

10,000

5,000.00

GLAXOSMITH

5,358

350,679.36

UPL

4.3

109,190

438,059.00

GNI

0.5

970,000

485,000.00

UTC

0.72

0.65

-0.07

695,748

453,441.27

GUARANTY

25.2

342

9,165,800

230,877,122.64

VITAFOAM

3.75

3.9

0.15

530,439

2,052,824.70

GUINNESS

254

255

255,601

65,115,862.44

VONO

0.81

0.89

0.08

199,997

177,997.33

HONYFLOUR

3.02

3.03

0.01

646,747

1,982,513.50

WAPCO

-2

2,570,812

239,074,925.86

IHS

2.41

916,300

2,208,283.00

WAPIC

0.79

0.8

0.01

331,308

264,886.40

IKEJAHOTEL

0.81

0.79

-0.02

501,000

399,305.18

WEMABANK

1.03

1.05

0.02

957,135

995,549.88

INTBREW

21.45

21.29

-0.16

314,975

6,483,764.00

ZENITHBANK

19.82

-0.18

236

13,270,620

265,314,752.10

INTENEGINS

1.35

1.22

-0.13

77,112

94,076.64

IPWA

0.77

250,068

196,221.00

JAPAULOIL

0.5

0.52

0.02

3,871,448

1,966,040.15

JBERGER

71.93

0.93

366,508

26,357,656.52

JOHNHOLT

1.26

1,836

2,203.20

JOSBREW

2.01

2.21

0.2

1,839,299

4,064,850.79

LASACO

0.5

34,000

17,000.00

LEARNAFRCA

1.55

372,440

577,282.00

LIVESTOCK

3.65

3.7

0.05

1,050,206

4,001,484.08

TOP 10 GAINERS Stock PZ GUINNESS JBERGER UBN UBA JOSBREW VITAFOAM MANSARD TRANSCORP ACCESS

Close 36.5 255 71.93 10.38 7.61 2.21 3.9 2.26 1.41 10.8

TOP TOP 10 10 LOSERS GAINERS Gain 1.5 1 0.93 0.38 0.28 0.2 0.15 0.11 0.11 0.1

Stock

Loss

WAPCO CADBURY NCR CHAMPION OKOMUOIL NB UACN ETI SKYEBANK DANGSUGAR

93 51 16.83 14.12 45 166 58.15 14.7 4 10.71

-2 -1.9 -1.87 -1.56 -1.49 -1 -0.35 -0.2 -0.2 -0.19

THE world has for too long watched the mindless killings, barbarism and crude display of man’s inhumanity to man in Syria. The news reports and footages as well as statistics since the civil war broke out over two years ago remain frightening. WE are grieved that the world waited for a long time before ‘friends of Syria’ was established to provide technical support to opposition forces. Such support notwithstanding, the world literarily stood aloof while the cruelty continued in the more than two years upheaval in the middle East country with its President, \o “More from guardian.co.uk on Bashar al-Assad”Bashar al-Assad playing god. IT is quite heart rending that at the last count by the United Nations, over 100,000 persons have been killed, 1.9 million Syrians are refugees, three quarter of this number are women and children. UNICEF puts the figure of children at over 1 million. Over 4.25million citizens have been internally displaced leaving the worst ever human catastrophe to bear on hapless Syrians just because one man wants to remain their president. The way the war is progressing, we fear that Assad may wake up one morning to discover that he is the only Syrian left alive. WE condemn the use of chemical weapons last Wednesday and we call on President al- Assad to tell his horendous stories to the marines. He should stop trading blames on the use of chemical substances with the opposition forces

THE NIGERIAN

Time To End Blood Letting In Syria because, Syria remains the fourth nation in the world that have stockpiled chemical weapons under his regime. What with the delays in allowing the UN team access into the areas where chemicals were used to kill over 1,500 defenceless civilians, most of whom were women and children, including pregnant women? Why were the UN officials who remained in Damascus for almost a week denied access to the site only for them to be fired with snipers when the exercise eventually commenced? WHILE we salute all world leaders who have expressed disgust at what is happening in Syria and are pushing for more actions and sanctions, we wish to remind them that they have a duty to stop the blood- letting of millions of citizens of that war- ravaged country. We strongly believe that today, not tomorrow is time to act decisively to bring the war to an end. WE therefore condemn Russia and China for arming the Syrian dictator against his people, and for withholding their support for a United Nations common action against al-Assad. It is a shame that in the face of the condemnable holocaust, Damascus had taken delivery of advanced S-300 sir defence systems from Russia

that could vastly improve its defence capabilities and strengthen the dictatorship. Russia and China must stop profiting from the blood of innocent Syrians. WE applaud the UK and the US’ threat of a “serious response” if it emerges from the UN investigations that Syria used chemical weapons last week. We urge Prime Minister David Cameron and President Barack Obama to take the lead for a universal action against the Assad regime. In the same vein, we applaud \o “More from guardian.co.uk on Turkey”Turkey which says it would join any international coalition against Syria even if a wider consensus on action could not be reached at the UN security council. We are equally glad to note that 36 to 37 countries are discussing various alternatives to end the crisis. We encourage the coalescing countries to act fast to stop the pogrom. INSTEAD of embarking on wishful boasts a la Hitler, Muamar Ghadafi, Sadam Husein and others, we call on President Assad to step down and allow the war torn country breath a fresh breath because we believe that there is no sacrifice too big for any Syrian to halt the mindless killings going on in that country. WE therefore call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to join forces with the planned coalition of progressive nations to intervene militarily in the Syrian crisis since political options appears to have failed as Assad remains defiant.

Media

Communication: Coping With Inherent

Challenges

COMMUNICATION is a universal phenomenon that is as old as man. Every living thing has one form of interaction or the other. Human’s cannot exist without it. Communication takes place even when one has passed on and at sleep. According to Agbo and Fabukozor communication evolved as a result of the persistent natural human love to promote unity and at other times conflict. Nwosu (1992), defines communication as a social process that uses signs, symbols and other such means to bring about interchange of thought and meaning between and among individuals and groups for better understanding and relations. It is the exchange of ideas, thoughts and information between individuals. The source sends a message through a channel to the receiver. However, for

communication to be effective there must be feedback. Basically, communication has different functions that makes it unique. Without communication, misunderstanding and conflict will always crop up; communication enables people to pass across their cultural heritage to the next generation among other functions. Characteristically, communication makes use of words, signs, symbols and could be direct or indirect. Winking of the eyes, change of skin colour, etc, are all forms of communication. Without feedback, communication is incomplete. Of all medium of communication, Mass Communication has stood as one of the most virile. This is due to its large reach. There is also traditional communication, intrapersonal, international,

By WINIFRED OSASOBO

extra-mundane, etc. Although communication is a very important tool in every facet of life, it also faces myriad of problems. These problems are roadblock to effective communication. When communication is not effective, the essence becomes only a waste of time and effort. Also, misunderstanding, result from poor communication, which can easily cause conflict or make

matters worse, communication problems often develop because people in conflict do not relate with each other frequently which can result to problems in communication. According to WW.Colorado.edu.com these are some problems of communication relating to conflict: Misinterpretation: In ordinary circumstances, people often say things that

Minister of Communications, Omobola Johnson

The Media As A Potent Force By OYEMWEN OMOROGBE

MASS Media is a double edge sword, according to Mahatna Ghandi while commenting about the press as quoted by Kama, in 1980, the press is a great power but as an unchanneled current submerge the whole country and devastate crops, so does an irresponsible press serves but to destroy” he said. The media is a double-edged sword as it has the ability to reconcile communities, after civil conflict and contribute to peace building. However, it has been less widely recognized. Few organization working in conflict zones have adopted media intervention as part of their peace building efforts. The media entails much more than news and current affairs. The potentials of radio, TV, print, phone and the Internet are almost endless ranging from phone in talk shows. All these formats could be used towards peace building, which has the overall goal to develop local capacity to resolve conflict without violence, in order to improve human security. Again, media and peace building, involves an altitude of activities all aimed at decreasing the probability of violent. More over, media contribution to conflict is more often noted than praised given to its role in peace building process. Media and journalists are victims of conflict but they also play an active role in exacerbating tensions in divided societies. However, the media are at the forefront of peace building initiatives because when they function effectively, they are crucial for safeguarding peace and democracy. Mass Media are often to communicate and interact with a large number of audience, be it the pictorial message of

the early ages, or the high – technology media that are available today, one thing that we all agree upon, is that mass media are inspirable part of our lives. Entertainment and media always go hand in hand, additionally, media remain an effective medium for communicating disseminating of information, advertising, marketing and generally for expressing and sharing views opinions and ideal. Media and conflict resolution – conflict is one of the defining features of the modern world. Since the age of the world wars, there have been countless conflicts that have led to deaths of millions of people, suffering and displacement of millions. It is also an intrinsic and inevitable aspect of social change. The media with these great power are supposed to build society but are being killed. A report by the international federation of journalist stated that 212 journalist were killed in the course of their duties in 2012. out of the figures, 13 were killed in Nigeria alone. Incidentally, both figures were said to be the highest level of casualties in recent times. Confirming the high casualty rate of Nigeria journalist last year, President of the Nigeria Union of Journalist (NUJ), Mr. Muhammad Garba, said the killings were the highest since the country gained political independence from Britain in 1960. he described the situation where journalists are killed in course of doing their legitimate duties as barbaric. The killing of journalist particularly in Nigeria at this time is most unfortunate, as people whose democratic governance was restored in part by journalists, this is not the gratitude deserved by journalist. That is why well meaning journalist are condemning it in a very strong terms,

are not interpreted in the way the statement was intended. When people are angry at each other the likelihood of misinterpreting communication is greatly increased. Failure to understand an opponent’s perspective, conflict is often viewed from different perspectives depending on their cultural background, economic position and religious belief. For effective communication both parties need to understand themselves through the necessary agreement. Cultural Barriers; culture refer to a group of people who share common value, belief and norm. culture is the root of communication challenges because, culture influences how people approach problem and how they will participate in a group. Inaccurate and overly hostile stereotypes. Often, communication difficulties arise because some people think they know it all about their opponent and as such,

further communication is necessary. Yet images of opponents tend to be overly hostile and exaggerated. Opponents are seen to be more extreme and outrageous than they really are. Lack of communication channels; there are often not reliable methods for communicating with opposing parties. This may be because they do not want to communicate, or it may be because they are afraid to contact their opponents or have no way to do so. Sometimes, the parties will break-off communication as a form of protest after a particular disagreeable incident. However, lack of communication can significantly increase the risk of future incidents. Knowing fully that any communication gap will create societal problems, there is need to squarely address them. The world will communicate better if they are tackled, as communication makes the world go round.

this barbaric and unwarranted attack on members of the fourth estate of the realm. Apart from the fact that the media has become indispensable in nation building, its platform accommodate dissenting voices and opinions on issues that rule the open market place of ideas. Without a free press, free speech and the dissemination of contrary opinion, no nation can make progress. Further more, the important role which the media plays in the advancement of society is such that its parishioners should be accorded a pride of place in the scheme of things and not hounded, like scoundrels as some anti-people elements are known to do by killing journalists who may have inadvertently uncovered issues, they wished to get hidden from the public. The press should be commended for not bowing to the intimidating tactics of endemics of social values but continue to beam its searchlight on the dark corners of evil, while setting agenda for national discourse. It is indeed high time media regulating bodies like the Broadcast Organization of Nigeria (BON), the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), the News Papers Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN), rise to the challenge by stepping up their supervisory roles on media business. This will ensure that journalist get their due from employers. Similarly, the media should be supported in their role as watchdogs of society. Government should do all it takes to make the freedom of information laws in Nigeria operational. More over, the killing of journalist is a direct attack on free press democracy and social rebirth which amounts to taking our generation back to the dark ages. This is what all well meaning people and government must condemn and frustrate. If nothing is done, and good people should stay aloof, this attack on this essential arm of society would send ripples that would affect everybody.

Education

Back To Square One

University In Nigeria: PRIOR to 1948, the possibility of having University in Nigeria was a matter of mental image – a beautiful car on the page of newspaper which could not move an inch. Most of our late social, political and economic, sages such as chief Nnamidi Azikiwe, Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Alhaji Tafawa Balawa and host of other passed through the rigours of begging their bachelor degrees either via correspondence or travel beyond the shore of our dear nation. Oral tradition relayed that some of our fathers suffered racial discrimination in the process of having their degree programmes in foreign land. Consequent upon this, there was an extensive noise of felicitations in Nigeria when the first university popularly known as university of Ibadan sprang up in 1948. Without hesitation, the 104 foundation student of the premier university began their courses in January 18 while the formal opening of the school took place on March 25, 1948. Demonstrating further, the enthusiasm associated with premier university in Nigeria, His royal majesty Omo N’Oba N’edo Uku Akolokpolo- the

Oba of Benin Knigdom in his speech of 17th November 1988 at the 40th year celebration and convocation ceremony of the premier university said “ I am sure that I am speaking the mind of all of us here when I say that on an occasion such as this, special tribute should be paid to the FOUNDING FATHERS. Our gratitude goes to the British government and the university of London for nurturing it under the tutelage of the university of London until the attainment of autonomous status in 1962” what a moment of deep joy? In human society, good is often underrated when better is achievable and better is often disregarded where best could be attained. In the same vein, the Yorubas are of the view that there is no clear differences between a barren and a couple who gives birth to just a single child. In an attempt to achieves the best for our beloved country and to enhance accessibility to university education, university of Nigeria, Nsukka was established in 1955. besides, Ahmodu Bellow university of Zaria, Obafemi Awolowo university Ile-Ife and university of Lagos were

PEOPLE from many diverse cultures, languages, religions, and races scattered around the globe have revered the coconut as a valuable source of both food and medicine. Whenever the coconut palm grows, the people have learned of its importance as effective medicine. For thousands of years coconut products have held a respected and valuable place in local folk medicine. The scientific name for coconut is cocos nucifera. Early Spanish explorers called it coco, which means ‘‘Monkey Face’’ because the three indentations (eyes) on the hairy nut resembles the head and face of a monkey. While the word ‘Nucifera’ means ‘‘nut-bearing’’. Coconut provides a nutritious source of meat, juice, milk, and oil that has fed and nourished populations around the world for generations. On many Islands coconut is a staple in the diet and provides the majority of the food eaten. Nearly one third of the world’s population depends on coconut to some degree for their food and their economy. Among these cultures the coconut has a long and respected history. Coconut is highly nutritious and rich in fibre, vitamins, and minerals. It is classified as a ‘‘functional food’’ because it provides many health benefits beyond its nutritional content. Coconut oil is of special interest because it possesses healing properties far beyond that of any other dietary oil and is extensively used in traditional medicine among Asian and Pacific populations. Pacific Islanders consider coconut palm so highly valued by them as both a source of food and medicine that it is called ‘‘The Tree of Life’’. Only recently has modern medical science unlocked the secrets to coconut’s amazing healing powers. In traditional medicine around the world coconut is used to treat a wide variety of health problems including the following: abscesses, asthma, baldness, bronchitis, bruises, burns, colds, constipation, cough, dropsy, dysentery, earache, fever, flu, gingivitis, gonorrhoea, irregular or painful menstruations,

By OGUNYEMI ADEBAYO

established in 1862. However, in 70s, federal government established eight more universities and by 80s some state governments could

federal universities, 38 state universities and 51 private universities. The early indefatigable and systematic battle of having the

President Goodluck Jonathan

not stand aloof hence, there was an emergence of state universities in the country. Today university can be found in length and breath of the country with existing 40

degree awarding institution was not limited to the establishment of universities alone. In 1962 National University commission (Nuc) was established as an advisory

agency in the cabinet office. However in 1974, it became a statutory body. As a parastatal under the federal ministry of education, the commission is charged with the responsibility of advising the federal and state government of all aspect of university education and general development of university in Nigeria. At the early stage, the joint efforts of the stakeholders in educational sector yielded positive results. Those who attended our universities during its first four decades are ceaselessly telling their captivating stories. In response to the nationwide Trade Union restructuring exercise carried out by the federal government, ASUU was established in 1976 as a labour Union of lecturers. Shortly after the establishment of ASUU, rat and cat relationship sprang up between ASUU and government. To be precise, research clearly revealed that ASUU declared a trade dispute with the federal government in 1980 making autonomy the central issue in the dispute. Also in 1988, ASUU declared strike over autonomy, salaries and modalities. This marked the solid foundation of ASUU strike. Obviously for the past two decades, ASUU strike has almost become an annual event that must necessarily be

observed in order to avoid taboo. ASUU is a body of intellectual people and without reservation, ASUU is a Reservoir of knowledge. The body is made up of dons who understand the nitty-gritly of the ideal things in the society. On the other hand, the people at the corridor of power are literate individuals who understand the modusoperandi of governance to a greater extent. Then, who is to be blamed for the present obnoxious situation university education in Nigeria. Those who witnessed the colorful era of university education in Nigeria are saying “Those were the beautiful old days when the educational calendar are reliable and predictable, when parents and student could be sure of the number of years one would spend in university” vacation and graduation dates are now unpredictable. Regrettably, those beautiful days in the history of Nigeria universities appear to have receded into the distant past. Now, we have gone back to what was obtainable before January 18, 1948. Parents who are financially sound are now concentrating in seeking admission for their wards in foreign land. We are feeling hungry in the midst of surplus. Can we go back to the drawing board?

Nutrition Health Benefits Of Coconut By PRAISE EGHWRUDJE

jaundice, kidney stones, lice, malnutrition, nausea, rash, scabies, scurvy, syphilis, toothache, tuberculosis, tumours, typhoid, ulcers, upset stomach, weakness and wounds. Modern medical science is now confirming the use of coconut in treating many of the above conditions. Published studies in medical journals show that coconut, in one form or another may provide a wide range of health benefits. Some of these are: Coconut kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, gum disease and cavities, pneumonia, gonorrhoea, and other diseases. Kills fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete’s foot, thrush, diaper rash and other infections. Expels or kills tapeworms, lice, giardia, and other parasites. Provides a nutritional source of quick energy; boosts energy and endurance, enhancing physical and athletic performance. Improves digestion and absorption of other nutrients including vitamins, minerals and amino acids, it also improves insulin secretion and utilization of blood glucose. Reduces stress in pancreas and enzyme systems of the body. Reduces symptoms associated with pancreatitis. Helps relieve symptoms and reduces health risks associated with diabetes. Reduces problems associated with mal-absorption syndrome and cystic fibrosis. Improves calcium and magnesium absorption and supports the development of strong bones and teeth. Helps relieve symptoms associated with gallbladder disease.

Helps to protect the body from harmful free radicals that promotes premature aging, degenerative disease and controls dandruff. It does not form harmful by-products when heated to normal cooking temperature like other vegetable oils do. It has no harmful or discomforting side effects. Kills viruses that cause influenza, herpes, measles, hepatitis C, SARS, AIDS, and reduces symptoms associated with psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis. Supports the natural chemical balance of the skin, softens skin and helps relieve dryness and flaking. It also prevents wrinkles, sagging, skin and aged spots and healthy looking hair. Coconut oil has been demonized in the past because it contains saturated fat. In fact, coconut oil is one of the richest sources of saturated fat known to man, with almost 90% of the fatty acids in its being saturated. Coconut oil was once mistakenly believed to be unhealthy because of its high saturated fat content, it is now known that the fat in coconut oil is unique and different from most of all other fats and possesses many health giving properties. It is now gaining long overdue recognition as a nutritious health food. Coconut oil has been described as ‘‘the healthiest oil on earth’’. Coconut oil goes straight to the liver from the digestive tract, where they are used as a quick source of energy and turned into so-called ketone bodies, which can have therapeutic effects on brain disorders like epilepsy and Alzheimer. Coconut oil possesses many health benefits due to its fibre and nutritional content; it is the oil that makes it a truly remarkable food and medicine.

Memorial

Late Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba Went Home In Grand Style

THE quiet town of Ehaulen Ewu in Esan Central local Government Area of Edo State came alive on Friday afternoon as the red Volvo Hearse Wagin car conveying the casket of one of their illustrious sons, late sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba arrived his ancestral home for his final journey to the world beyond. The journey to the final resting place of the “Quintessential Heart of clemency” began at about 10:45am via a motorcade after a funeral mass organized in his honour at St. Paul Catholic Church, Airport road Benin City, Edo state Nigeria. On arrival at Ehaulen Ewu junction at about 1:20pm, a procession rally that caught the attention of the entire community was held for him through the only major road to his ancestral home by a guard of members of knight of St. John International who were on the full ceremonial regalia as a mark of honour for their departed colleague. At his ancestral home where he was laid in state for about twenty minutes before the final funeral mass at Trinity catholic church, Ewu, members of the Knight of St. John who took over proceedings at the lying-in-state were beauty to behold as the entire community was lighted up with men on well decorated navy-blue suit with cap to march alongside women who apparently are equally Knights in their own rights. On arrival at the ancestral home at about 2:40pm, a 21 canon gun salute was shot probably to announce the copse arrival or to inform the community that the remains of a hero, even though unknown at home

has arrived. After the lying-in-state for some few minutes with the knight performing their last respect for their fallen colleague, the corpse was again taken to the Trinity Catholic Church for the final funeral mass. At the church, the officiating priest, Rev.Fr. Augustine Okosun charged Christians especially those from Esan land to always remember their root, stressing that it is not palatable to hear that it is only when is time for burial somebody begin to trace the root to his ancestral home. Fr. Okosun who described death as something owned by every mortal living on Earth however reminded those in the Christian faith to always learn one or two lessons from the burial of their beloved ones because one day those alive today will be in similar condition or state with those that are dead. He therefore urged Christians to think of their lives while still alive as well as the virtue they are to be remembered for after death. At the end of the funeral mass, the corpse was then returned to the ancestral home of the Omizegba’s where the dust-to-dust ceremony as it is due for every living mortal was later performed. After the grave site oration and blessing of the grave, the officiating priest, the remains of “Quintessential Heart of Clemency”, and veteran Journalist was committed to mother Earth at exactly 4:30pm with another 21canon gun shot probably to clear the way for the departed soul to have a free

By FRIDAY OBANOR

passage to his fore bearers as well as unto heaven for eternal rest where we shall all meet one day to part no more.

East Local Government Area both in Edo state, Sir Ambrose Isememe Omizegba attended St. Benedicts Primary School,

games, he was the captain of the school’s first eleven football team and also a sprinter. Upon completion of his secondary education, he

Late Sir Ambrose Isimeme Omizegba

Born on the 19 th of October 1934 to the family of Mr. and Mrs. Gabriel Ojemekele Omizegba of Ehaulen Ewu in Esan central Local Government Area and madam Christiana Ohasirie Omizegba (Nee Asowa) of Uhe Ubiaja in Esan South

Ubiaja under the tutelage of his maternal uncle, the late Mr Stephen Asowa of blessed memory. Thereafter, he attended Immaculate Conception College, Benin city from 1954 to 1958, the first set of ICC. Because he was very athletic and loved

worked with WAITER, the Nigeria Institute for Trypassonomiasis research VOM-JOS, now Plateau state. In 1961, he got married to his wife, lady Comfort Ibharebhihelen Omizegba (Nee Ojo Abhilimeh) in Kaduna, but their stay in

the North was cut short as they had to return home due to the Nigerian civil war and was later employed in Daily Times as its correspondent covering Ishan division. He got employed with the then Mid-West Corporation now Bendel Newspaper Company Limited, publishers of The NIGERIAN OBSERVER Titles in february1971. In 1922, he obtained a certificate in sub-editing from The Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), while in 1977, he was awarded a certificate of completion of International Reporting Analysis and Editing by “The FLOYD ARPAN SEMINAR”. He rose from a Reporter to the post of Production Editor which he held till his retirement in 1990. Due to his love for the Journalism profession, he picked up appointment with the defunct SPEAKER Newspaper and became its Editor-in-chief. In the year 2000, he was appointed as consultant production co-ordinator to Bendel Newspaper Company Limited, publishers of “The N I G E R I A N OBSERVER” and was later appointed chief press secretary to the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly in 2005. He was knighted into the noble order of the Knight of St. John International in 2006

“He rose from a Reporter to the post of Production Editor which he held till his retirement in 1990. Due to his love for the Journalism profession, he picked up appointment with the defunct SPEAKER Newspaper and became its Editor-in-chief.”

Midweek Magazine UNDER a true federal constitution, each group, however small, is entitled to the same treatment as any other group, however large. Opportunity must be afforded to each to evolve its own peculiar political institution. The present structure reinforces indigenous colonialism- a crude, harsh, unscientific and illogical system. — Obafenii Awolowo If we continue to operate a very defective system. this country would face very serious danger of survival because this constitution cannot sustain this country — Lateef Adegbite Most of the recent discussions on political restructuring in Nigeria have been isolated from a serious and holistic attention to the character of the Nigerian state. This compartmentalized approach has culminated in rather limited, even historical interpretations, analysis, conclusions, and projections. In this paper, we seek to argue that the nature, character and politics of the Nigerian state as presently constituted mediates possibilities for democracy and the required political engineering for true federalism. The continuing crisis of power and governance, the inability to construct hegemony or a national project, and deepening socio-economic crisis are all precipitates of state failure even state exhaustion in certain spheres. While there have been critical tendencies, coalitions and countercoalitions within the state and the constituencies of the political elite, the fundamental and structural character of the state as a violent, privatized, insensitive, unstable, vulnerable, and nonhegemonic force remains intact. In the following discussion, we examine the historical origins of the state to set the context; isolate the tendencies within the country’s distinctive political economy; examine the process of defederalization and the role of the military; critique the 1999 constitution; and finally, we propose an alternative constitutional approach to political restructuring and refederalization. History, Class and State in Nigerian Politics Nigerian politics continues to reflect and carry the stamp of its colonial and neo-colonial experiences as well as the elite that lacks hegemony and a sense of nation. This elite, lacking a

strong and viable base in production, turns to the state as its primary instrument of primitive accumulation. In this process, the state is mangled and rendered impotent in the quest for nationhood, growth, and development, much less democracy. Interestingly, the state that the political elite hope to utilize as the weapon for nation building and for facilitating accumulation has remained unstable, inefficient, ineffective, and incapable of building hegemony. Consequently, the state, privatized by the corrupt elite to substitute for its tenuous relation to productive activities, relies on violence, repression, and other forms of manipulation to reproduce itself and maintain a form of political domination. It is therefore important to understand the dynamics of Nigeria’s distinctive politic& economy and social balances as well as the lasting impact of the social formation’s historical experiences in order to fully appreciate the crisis of politics and power. In several ways, Nigeria is a victim of its history. The social forces, institutions, external relations, and domestic patterns of accumulation and exchange bequeathed by western imperialism have continued to mediate opportunities for growth, development, and democracy. Over four decades of independence have witnessed several creative and not-so-creative efforts at engaging the contradictions and crises unleashed by this historical inheritance. Such engagements have themselves been mediated by the character of an elite that had been structured to reproduce rather than restructure the status quo. It is well established in the literature that Nigeria’s contact with the forces of western imperialism had farreaching impacts on state and class formation, on political and social values, the patterns of accumulation, and the country’s location and role in the global divisions of labor and power. The programmed transition to neo-colonial relations continued to mediate the ability of the slate and its custodians to find democratic avenues for managing the crisis of politics. In fact, the Nigerian elite appears to have sacrificed opportunities for initiating a national project on the altar of short-term interests even if it meant the subversion of the very institutions it required for maintaining its own longerterm interests. Consequently, in spite of the creation of several states and local

The Nigerian State As Obstacle To Federalis

Compact For

By PROF JULIUS IHONVBERE

governments, a new national anthem, new constitutions and forms of government, and changing leaderships especially between the military and so-called civilians, the Nigerian state remains plagued with all sorts of negative coalitions, contradictions, conflicts and instability. At the core of the contradictions is the national question. Essentially, Nigerians have never had the opportunity to discuss and reach some consensus on how the nation should be structured, power defined, contestations for power organized, resources generated and allocated, rights protected, and the larger democratic project articulated and compacted in a truly democratic constitution. It is embarrassing that in almost four decades after political independence, Nigerians still find data, political arrangements, and institutions designed by the brutal and totally undemocratic and illegitimate colonial state as the point of reference or comparison with their contemporary realities and predicaments. The character of the Nigerian state continues to be directly responsible for reproducing the country’s deepening socio-economic and political contradictions. In fact, the state seems to worsen the country’s predicament with every policy action or inaction it initiates or fails to initiate in the process of trying to consolidate the interests of its custodians. The stale has never been able to build an appreciable degree of confidence among Nigerians, ensure some discipline within the ranks of the elite, manage the economy in the interest of the people, or construct the much needed platforms of inclusion, tolerance, and participation. As well, the state has been captured and privatized by a tiny fraction of the elite that use public institutions and resources to terrorize non-bourgeois communities, abuse human rights, loot public funds, and mortgage the future of the citizenry. Perceived as a wicked, aloof, insensitive, corrupt, and distant force, Nigerians relate to the state as enemy. It is seen as an enemy that must, as opportunity permits be subverted, avoided, cheated, dismantled,and destroyed if the interests of the majority of the citizenry are to be protected. For all intents and

purposes, the repressive and “captured” postcolonial Nigeria state seems to do everything to provoke nonbourgeois forces. The nature and composition of the state is important and central to the nature of political arrangements adopted in any social formation. If it is an unstable, non-hegemonic, and illegitimate state, there is often the tendency to adopt desperate programmes to shore up its institutions. Thus the state could be federal in name but in reality under the donation of a single dictator, a military junta, or cabal of autocrats with a visible distaste for democracy. Once a state is militarized, it loses the capacity to mediate contradictions within and between political communities, becomes intolerant of opposition, and becomes extra- sensitive to criticism. It diverts scarce resources to defense and security and punishes minority and vulnerable communities. The overall political values quite often, reflect a centralizing tendency that culminates in the suffocation of civil society and the closure of democratic platforms to popular interests. The net consequence of such developments is not just the erosion of democratic values but also the subversion of the national project and the intensification of conflicts. The custodians of state power in Nigeria have done such a terrible job at building those elements that pull a people together to cultivate a national identity and culture, The evidence can be seen in the fact that on the eve of the twenty- first century, Nigeria has no national (s) hero, hardly enjoys stability, no national identity, and the rate at which the youth abandon the country for foreign lands remains alarming. At all levels, economic, political, social, and ideological, even spiritual, the state and its custodians have failed woefully. This has been Nigeria’s experience since political independence in October 1960. The plight of marginalized and minority communities and nationalities all over the country arise from the situation and patterns that we have summarized above. Tendencies in Contemporary Nigerian Politics The consequences of the contradictions of Nigeria’s history and postcolonial politics have generated certain broad and specific tendencies

that continue to shape the country’s political economy. It is important to take a look at these tendencies because Nigerians are wont to forget or ignore them in the face of pressures from dictatorships and illiberal democratic arrangements. The military has been unable to engage mediate, or contain these tendencies and contradiction largely due to its commandist structure and character. The contradictions arising from the tendencies have survived various forms of military arrangements since 1966. Civilian governments have hardly done better. Many, like

Nigerian federation reflect the vacillations between civilian and military dictatorships. Years of military rule have turned the weak federation inherited at political independence into a unitary system. Most of the current politicians, bureaucrats, and other Political actors have become used, even addicted to the commandist and authoritarian ways of the military. This development has had far reaching implications for stability and democracy. Perceived or real inequities arising from a wobbled federal arrangement or nonarrangement for that matter,

abu de an an sig of str an dis co ge co ca se po can po eli par

have congealed loyalties to alternative sites of power. The net result is the further erosion of an already tenuous legitimacy. Opportunistic military officers have frequently capitalized on this situation to grab power and initiate another gyration in the complex waters of Nigerian politics. The deepening economic crisis has had very deep implications for politics, specially the building of democratic institutions. There is a tendency to ignore the economics of transition politics. In the Nigerian situation, deindustrialization, mass poverty, economic dislocation, environmental

fro ali ne re op re de iss be pe cu va T ch mi co W rem po Ye re po Th

Prof Julius Ihonvbere

the Obasanjo government behave like military juntas. Others simply were too steeped in disorganization and corruption, and too impatient with democracy that the contradictions of underdevelopment were simply multiplied. While post-colonial political alignments and realignments have been critical to the nature of Nigerian politics and society, the fundamental basis of the society has not changed even new issues, institutions, contradictions, and coalitions have been introduced and in some ways power relations have been marginally reconfigure. The structure of the

Midweek Magazine

sm: Towards A New Constitutional

r Democratic Politics

use, rising foreign debt and bt-servicing obligations, d the neglect of rural areas nd producers continue to gnificantly affect the nature Nigerian politics. The failed ructural adjustment program d in particular, the unequal stribution of the pains and sts of adjustment have enerated new political alitions and interests that nnot be ignored in any rious discussion of the olitics of the country. How n poor people tolerate the olitical shortcomings of the ites? How much rticipation can be expected

om a poverty- stricken and ienated populace? Will the eo-colonial state have the sources to fully perationalize the quirements of a full emocratic system? These sues have created a wide gulf etween the Leaders and the eople, thus making the ultivation of democratic alues almost impossible. The shifting or changing haracter of the Nigerian ilitary is a central feature of ontemporary Nigerian life. What to do with the military mains pan of the critical olitical discourse in Nigeria. et, containing the military mains a very prominent olitical and vexing question. he proposals have been as

diverse as there are interest groups: demobilization, reeducation, constitutional control, reorganization, retraining, regionalized commands, total disbanding, and the democratization of recruitment into the military. Many of these prescriptions that are being insisted upon by some nationality groups and aggrieved communities are effective of total dissatisfaction with the nature of the Nigerian federation, the character of leadership, and the injustices that pervade the country. Without doubt, the Nigerian military has disgraced itself beyond redemption and aside from deliberately distorting national political structures, institutions, and relations within and between communities, it also remains a serious challenge to the survival of post-military democratic arrangements. In more recent times. the retired fraction of the military elite has begun to make a direct bid for power while retaining the capacity to significantly influence party formation, funding, selection of candidates, ministerial appointments and political alliances. The capacity to execute these critical political initiatives has been directly related to the extent of corruption perpetrated while in office. These have clear implications for the nature of power politics in Nigeria. The threat of authoritarianism continues to stare Nigerians in the face. This is a tendency that has steadily built up sine political independence but was given a specific form or character by the rapacious military juntas, especially the Badangida and Abacha juntas. The clear evidence is in the ease with which the late General Abacha almost succeeded in civilianizing himself and his brutal dictatorship. Though he died unsung and to the relief of several national and international constituencies, Abacha continues to enjoy the loyalty of elements across society that were part of his diabolical political agenda. Such a dictatorship would have made only superficial pretensions to democracy with the existence of five so-called political parties and a national assembly while continuing the suffocation of civil society. Nigerians would for a long time have problems with how to wear down the authoritarian values and attitudes bequeathed by the military. This would not be easy because many of those that have been elected as legislators and into executive positions had been ardent supporters of the past dictatorships. While the only hope for effectively addressing this problem lies in

strengthening civil society, it will require a lot of understanding and concessions from the custodians of state power to get on this path. This is currently not on the political screen in Nigeria. If anything, authoritarian tendencies continue to shape the character of politics, especially under Obasanjoâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s limited regard for the constitution and the illiberal dispositions of the political elite. The management of primordial identities and politics remain critical to determining the context of Nigerian politics, indeed, the future of the Nigerian nationstate. This has developed over the years into one of the top five national contradictions that has led to the loss of thousands of lives and would continue until adequately addressed. There are several dimensions to this. Not only in terms of suspicions and contradictions between ethnic, religious, and regional interests but also within each primordial constituency. The tendency has been to focus so much on the contestations between the majority Igbo, Yoruba and Hausa ethnic groups that the minorities have been more or less ignored. As well, within each of the majority groups are significant coalitions and divisions that mediate the ability of groups to act as absolute mobilizational weapons. In other words, while ethnicity and religion remain very critical issues in the formulation of political interests and postures, they are also being mediated by issues of class and the relative consciousness of the Nigerian people as they confront the challenges of survival. To be sure, the ethnic and minority issue is directly tied to the questions of political restructuring, refederalization, revenue allocation, and democratic consolidation. If the political elite remains insensitive to popular demands on these issues, ethnic postures would get considered and become ever more violent. Already. invented identities are complicating the ability of ethnic groups to articulate clear political agenda. This has led to an internalization of Violence as sub-ethnic groups engage each other in a struggle for supremacy and identity, as veil as spurious claims to territory. On the other hand, the unsteady state responds with more violence to this internalization, thus further complicating opportunities for political negotiation. Resource generation and distribution often called â&#x20AC;&#x153;revenue allocationâ&#x20AC;? in Nigeria remains one of the most critical aspects of power politics in Nigeria that is hidden behind the veil of ethnic identity. In some way,

this is related to the structure of Nigerian federalism and the dominant role of the center. It is also tied to the question of minority rights, centreperiphery relations, and the traditional contestation for hegemony between the dominant groups. Of course, given the neglect of non-oil wealth, the focus today is on oil, which generates well over hair of national revenues and about 95 per cent of foreign exchange earnings. The Nigerian rentier state has not just become the source of accumulation but it has also become the focus of elite competition and thus a stabilizing force: no one wants to hurt or kill the golden goose that lays the eggs! But minorities, oil producing communities, oil producing states, and bourgeois elements from oil producing areas are not pleased at the deprivations their communities suffer and the perceived ways in which oil wealth is used to promote development in non-oil producing areas. Until demands for a just and equitable formula for revenue allocation is found, these increasingly restless communities would continue to challenge the legitimacy of the state and eject existing policies. If the central government does not want to grant the demands from the oil producing states and communities for the use of the derivation principle as the basis of revenue allocation, then it has to find an alternative formula that would satisfy the communities. The character, organization discipline, world-view and politics of the Nigerian political cute negates possibilities for democracy and federalism. Though it has always collaborated with military juntas, it has not fared well under the military. It has been abused, manipulated, intimidated, and rendered almost success by a rather arrogant military structure. Though it is only just beginning to reorganize itself, it would continue to pay for its experience under the military in the next three to four decades. It does not help an elite to be perceived by the populace as corrupt, irresponsible, unprincipled unreliable, and useless. As indicated earlier, the tenuous caution of the Nigerian elite to productive activities is directly responsible for its subservience to foreign capital and its reliance on the state for accumulation Its fixation on primitive accumulation has prevented it from developing powerful constituencies forging a vision for the country and developing an ideological context for growth and development. This bourgeois class is highly factionalized and fractionalized and has been unable to significantly operate beyond the narrow confines of its ethnic and regional as well as ethnic enclaves. Unless this bourgeois class begins to seriously construct its politics

across primordial lines, it would remain incapable of constructing the type of national constituencies needed to build a new politics for democracy and development. The elite has already begun pay for its allegiance with the past dictators as civil society groups are steadily capitalizing on the newfound democratic environment to question the credentials and credibility of the political elite, in particular those holding political and elective positions. Developments over Sharia law, contestations in the Niger Delta and Lagos, and permanent rumors of military coups are indicators of an unsteady and uncertain elite in charge of an unstable and non-hegemonic state. This is hardly a recipe for democracy or federalism because political uncertainly encourages absolutism and the privatization and concentration of power. The shallowness of its efforts at a national character and platform is evident in the ease with which such efforts dissolve into ethnic and other forms of engagement in the face of crisis. A tendency that does not appear to have improved is the largely conservative political agenda and world-view of the Nigerian elite. Nigerian politicians do not discuss gender and the environment. Largely a reflection of their conservative and opportunistic disposition, gender and environmental issues are beginning to emerge as critical issues influencing constituency building and democratic politics. Without doubt, the emergence of several NGOs and the experiences of the minority communities especially the Ogonis and the Ijaws have contributed significantly to introducing the critical themes of minorities, resource control, the environment, and gender into political discourses in Nigeria. Environmental questions are now directly tied to contradictions and conflicts over questions of revenue generation and allocation and refederalization. As well, the corrupt and insensitive political styles of the custodians of state power is beginning to galvanize women all over the country to develop clear political programs. If, in the context of current global debates, Nigerian politicians still fail to take these issues seriously, we can understand why they remain insensitive to the demands of non-bourgeois constituencies for a new democratic compact. The rise of critical and militant opposition politics in Nigeria evaporated to a large extent with political independence. It was only resuscitated in a national sense

following the 1993 annulment of the presidential election result won by Chief M.K.O. Abiola of the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Since then, the country has moved along very significantly on the political front. Yet, all has not been well inspite of the emergence of scores of civil liberties organizations, new leaders, and opposition movements on the political terrain. The opposition has been vulnerable to penetration, domestication, corruption, and incorporation by the state and its agents. Many opposition movements have been characterized in several ways by undemocratic conduct, ideological bankruptcy, marginalization of women, ethnic and regional chauvinism, opportunism, limited vision, weak political programs, and a failure to efficiently network for effectiveness. Many are simply urban based, depend excessively on foreign sources of funding, do not strive to build new dialogues or cultivate new constituencies, and continue to have a very narrow definition of politics and power. How the opposition works out its own politics and interacts with civil society organizations will be critical to how Nigerian politics will be constructed and reproduced in the future. The withdrawal of the military from politics in May 1999 has low opened up new challenges and paths to engaging the state and its agents. The trend towards the clarification of objectives, identifying and training new leaders, building new networks, and working out more effective strategies to ensure maximum impact would continue to he critical to the depth and direction of democratic politics in Nigeria. This would equally determine, to some extent, how the military would react to the politics of power struggles in the future. Finally, the tendencies that have prevented the strengthening of civil society, the construction of state hegemony, or the cultivation of democratic values have combined with other contradictions to reify power, prevent political engineering, and have led to authoritarian tendencies even under the socalled democratic regime of Olusegun Obasanjo. This is where we must locate the problems of political restructuring and the challenges of refederalization after decades of and vicious military dictatorships. To Be Continued

Opinion

African Proverbs: A Well Of Wisdom By EMMANUEL EGOBIAMBU

WHEN in 1996 the wife of former American President, Hillary Rodham Clinton, wrote a book, titled “It takes a village”, many would have wondered what gave her the inspiration to give the book that tittle. Of course, the African proverb which says that, though a child belongs to a particular family, but it takes a village to have given her the inspiration. In every African community, proverbs cannot be divorced from daily living. Every tribe, in the African continent, has repertoire of proverbs employed in various facets of life. “Proverbs are a mirror in which a community can look at itself and reveal itself to other. Proverbs highlight the values, the aspirations, the behaviour of people, and the angle from which they see and appreciate their reality, and their response. In proverbs, we call a mentality or living habits at their utmost” The word proverb is from the Latin “pro-verbium” (“pro” meaning “in front of “ and “verbium” meaning “word”) and suggests that a proverb stakes the place of ordinary words. Proverbs are short well-known sentences or phrases that state a general truth about life or give advice. For an average African, he/ she does not need to go to school to understand what a proverb means. Infact, there is a proverb that goes thus: “Why must proverbs be explained to you after they are said?” which gives credence to the fact that an African man and proverbs go hand in hand. For anyone that fails to understand what a proverb conveys, the saying goes thus. “When the fool is told a proverb, it meaning has to be explained to him”. In every facet of the African society, proverbs are deployed. In marriage ceremonies, naming ceremonies, festivals, meetings, in the art of public speaking (oratory), narration of folk tale, drama, funerals, religious activities among others, the use of these

punchy and captivating words, is a prominent feature. Usually, proverbs are based on human observations of the things of nature. The basic figures deployed in proverb are human beings, animals, nature itself and the spirit world (Michael Bokor, 2004). A careful observation of proverb will show that they relate to issues as death, laziness, envy, love, power, wealth, poverty, strength etc that form the basics of the peoples mindset. A famous Igbo proverbs has it that proverbs are the palm oil with which words are eaten. It is also said that a proverb is the horse of conversation; when the conversation lags, a proverb will revive it; a wise man who knows proverbs reconciles difficulties. Proverbs are known to give flavour to speech, or they can induce interest in important and practical problems. Great orators in the African traditional setting have deployed proverbs to send their messages down to the audience. In Hausa language, proverbs are called Karin Magana which means “ wrapped up words”. In oral cultures where people rely on the spoken word, they have proved an invaluable asset. This it does by bridging communication gaps as it uses natural things in an environment. Also, proverbs are a means of identifying the traits / behaviours in a society. They provide a window through which the African way of life can be seen. The religious, socio-cultural, political and economic features of a community, can be seen through its proverbs. That is why it is said that a proverb is a mirror through which a community sees itself and others. They are a representation of the world views of Africans. For example, most proverbs are replete with agricultural terms as planting, reaping, rain, etc. This reflects the agricultural

nature of Africans. This Kenyan proverb “ Because a man has injured your goat, do not go out and kill his bull”, mirrors the agro-nature (nomadic) of Africans nay, Kenyans. African folklore and literature in general, will not be complete without proverbs. In oral literature, proverbs are prominent features that make the stories juicer. According to Bokor (2004), African oral literature derives its strength largely form the preponderance of proverbs .He noted that proverbs are employed in the narration of folk tales. “ Here, we experience the power of the

proverbs to spice up their works thereby giving strength to their work and reflecting their cultural and ethnic background. This is also an extension of oral literature that is replete with moral lessons. Proverbs are a mine of wisdom from which certain values are learnt or reaffirmed and improper behaviours would be made known and denounced in ways that make them easy to identify and correct the wrongs. There is a Zulu proverb that goes thus, “A tree is known by its fruits”

face your responsibilities squarely; no elephant ever found its trunk too heavy,” encapsulate all that. Most African proverbs also warn people on the need to adopt precautionary measures in whatever they do in life. They harp on the attendant consequences of ones actions / behaviours. For example, the Gambian proverb “words are like bullets if they escape you can’t catch them again”, cautions people on the way they talk. There is also this Zulu proverb: When you bite

proverbs in narration as they become the vehicles through which morals are conveyed for the informal education of the society, especially. The art of story telling is learned by the children as they listen to these narratives and it becomes an occasion for communal activity as a form of entertainment and enactment of historical events, drama, poetry etc. “ Bokor explained. In same vein, modern African writers, have made extensive use of proverbs in their literary works. Authors as Chinua Achebe, Ngugi Wa Thiong’o, Camara Laye, Manama Ba, Ayi Kwei Armah etc, use these

and the Yoruba proverb that goes thus”, you may tell little lies, small as a thorn, but they will grow to the size of a spear and kill you”. These proverbs, teach virtues of good charater and honesty, respectively. Furthermore, as words are known to create and give life, proverbs have tremendous influence in inspiring, directing and encouraging people with its brisk and punchy nature. According to Israel Mbagu (2010), “It’s often said that a picture can tell a thousand words and proverbs have the ability to explain a thousand words in one simple sentence or statement”. What most lengthy essays, articles and the likes would say, an African proverb will do it in a clear and concise sentence/ statement. When talking about the power of determination, many a writer would write hundreds of pages but this Tanzanian proverb: “one who btties willingly with cold water doesn’t feel the cold” and the Zulu proverb “You should

indiscriminately, you end up eating your own tail” that shares similar line of thought on the consequences of actions and inactions. According to about. com, the beauty of proverbs is the universality of their meaning; everyone can relate to them in some way, on some level. In Africa, most countries/ tribes, share similarity in their proverbs despite the artificial boundaries created by the Berlin conference of 1884/ 1885 organized by Von Bismarck. African proverbs, have the same themes as love, warfare, honesty, hardwork, productivity and others, running through it and can be understood by people of different cultural and religious composition. A Burundian proverb which says “In a court of fowls, the cockroach never wins” and the Ewe proverb in Ghana that states: “The fowl is never right in the court of hawks”, though from different countries, translates same. Again, another example is shown in the Nigeria / Ghanaian proverbs “ When

“In Hausa language, proverbs are called Karin Magana which means “ wrapped up words”. In oral cultures where people rely on the spoken word, they have proved an invaluable asset. This it does by bridging communication gaps as it uses natural things in an environment.”

two dogs fight over a bone, the third one that passes by just picks it and walks away” is at par with a proverb from the Democratic Republic of Congo that goes thus: “Two birds disputed about and carried it off” As a proverb says, a tree is known by its fruits. Despite the generalization by mostly Europeans and Americans that the African continent is backward, proverbs have created an avenue that dispels that believe. According to Kimberley Heit (2008), the sayings of Africa are some of the most profound words one can hear. The Tanzanian proverb, many hands make light work,” has been used globally as a form of encouragement for people to work. Even in American movies and books, proverbs are visible. When Rodham Clinton wrote her book “ It takes a village”, the intelligence and life experience of African people, is revealed and thus help in dispelling the mindset that Africans are barbaric and uneducated. In addition, Bokor (2004), has said that “during the performance of traditional religious ceremonies –rituals and pouring of libation, one will not be surprised to hear strings of proverbs in the incantations of speakers who offer prayers as part of the ceremonies in the ancestral worship rituals”. So, religious activities are also carried using these words of wisdom. A traditionalist is always heard communing with the spirit world in proverbs. This in no small measure, aids their conversation / worship. African proverbs also have direct link to some saying in the Bible. When Jesus Christ said that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks”, the African proverb “ “When the heart overflows, it comes out through the mouth”, is also sharing the same thought pattern. As experts (linguists), have noted, African proverbs might not get its dull effect when translated to a foreign language. But it is also important to know that they (proverbs) have been of immeasurable benefits to the world. Although modernization has had impact on the use of proverb, it must be borne in mind that even though the rain beats a leopard’s skin, it does not wash out the spots. Africans should input the use of these proverbs in conversations, and other things because kolanuts (proverbs), last longer (will not die) in the mouths (if Africans) who value (use) them! Indeed, proverbs are wrapped up words!

Natural Medicine

With Dr. MAO 08030717341

Anti-Biotics From God’s Pharmacy

NATURE, which is God’s pharmacy, boasts of several anti-biotic or anti-microbial which are unique. Hence, they are in a class of their own. For instance, when you use them in recommended ways they have no side effects. Afterall, they are in the real sense food or nutritional supplements. Another attribute of natural anti-biotics is that they have broad-spectrum properties. This means that they can be used against bacteria, virus, fungi and other micro- organisms. Indeed, natural anti-biotics have multi-barrel action against germs, which make them not only economical to use but leads to the elimination of multu-drug therapy. In addition, natural antibiotics are not medically blind. When you administer them, they only eliminate unfriendly, pathogenic bacterial from the body. This is why natural antibiotics do not disturb the normal bacterial flora balance in the gastrointestinal gut required fir good human health Only “excess” unfriendly bacteria are killed by these anti-biotics so that the flora in balance in the gut causing illness is removed. In contradistinction, orthodox anti-biotics are totally blind because they are basically chemical warriors. They attacks both friendly and unfriendly bacteria with their big arsenal of “chemical weapons. “Because of this fact, instant relief is felt within a few days of using these anti-biotics. But this is not the end of the story. Sometimes those bacteria are only eliminated for some time. Later, they

re-surface. Why? This is because studies have shown that certain bacteria eat up orthodox anti-biotics. Thus reducing them to consumable foods. Hence, we have the incidence of bacterial resistance to some anti-biotics. It does so by hiding in the lining of the bladder and binding to a cell surface molecule called CD-48. under this condition, the antibiotic cannot kill the germ in the bladder. All I am saying here is that orthodox anti-biotics have their own limitations not caused by medical doctors. So, don’t blame them when you continue to have re-currying infections despite all the administration of these orthodox anti-biotics and their attendant side effects. It may not be his fault. Having said this, let me introduce you to a shopping short list of anti-biotics from God’s own inimitable pharmacy. First on this list is Colloidal Silver. This natural antibiotic fights harmful bacteria, viruses, fungi, parasites and protozoa. Infact, the antibiotic has active principles that can kill over 650 different disease-causing germs on contact with them. It is colourless, tasteless and doesn’t sting sensitive tissues while no strain of harmful micro-organisms have been known to develop resistance to it. Additionally, colloidal silver can safely be used with other prescribed medications. It boosts one’s immune system, heals peptic ulcer and has anticancer properties. Furthermore, because it is non-stinging. It can be applied directly to burns,

acne, eczema, irritated skin and ailing of infected eyes as well as ears. For me, therefore, Colloidal Silver is a natural anti-biotic of choice. It is

Cranberry Juice is in a top class of its own as a natural anti-biotic. It uses biological action in fighting germs. For example, when you take cranberry juice, it

the end of the day, some degree of adverse side effects occurs when orthodox anti-biotics are used in combating germs. Now, this may surprise

biotics. At this junction I must not fail to point out that an infection gives rise to symptoms like headache, fever, skin rashes, hot hands

expensive and difficult to get. But it is worth having at home or in your traveling bag in case of emergency infections. Chickweed is another addition in God’s pharmacy. Like the sage, stinging nettle and yarrow herbs, Chickweed had antiseptic as well as antimicrobial action on germs. Also, it heals any illness it comes in contact with in your body.

prevents bacteria from getting attached to the lining on the wall of the kidneys and multiplying. Consequently, the germs are eliminated from the body before they cause damage. Invariably, cranberry juice uses a harmless way to fight germs. Orthodox antibiotics however kill both germs and friendly bacteria because of their blind, chemical actions. Hence at

you. Carrot, blueberries and raspberries have natural antibiotic actions. That is the truth. All of these substances have complex sugar called oligosaccharides which deter pathogenic, harmful germs from attaching themselves to the human gastrointestinal tract. This explains why you find natural medicine p r a c t i t i o n e r s recommending these substances for patients with diarrhea infection or for preventing the ailment. Infact for centuries, carrots, blueberries and raspberries have been used in Europe for these therapeutic purposes. This goes to reinforce the statement that food supplements are used in natural medicine as anti-

and fast pulse/ breathing in mild or moderate cases. In severe conditions, fainting and death may result. This is because an infection causes blood poisoning or septicemia as well as septic shock syndrome. As the germs reproduce in their millions, toxic wastes are released by them. In no distant time, there is toxic overload in the body. Blood poisoning results accompanied later by septic shock syndrome after body tissues are being destroyed by the toxins. Therefore, don’t treat an infection with levity. Get the right medical prescreioption for it after quality laboratory tests have identified the germ causing the infection. Much more on Antibiotics from God’s Pharmacy later.

“ All I am saying here is that orthodox anti-biotics have their own limitations not caused by medical doctors. So, don’t blame them when you continue to have re-currying infections despite all the administration of these orthodox anti-biotics and their attendant side effects. It may not be his fault.”

New Horizon

ONE may ask, what is this gentleman talking about -2009 strike? Yes it is. Shylock once told Antonio in the book Merchant of Venice- “To smell pork and to eat of the habitation which David the prophet conjured the devil unto. I will buy with you, talk with you, play with you, but I will not drink nor eat with you. Who is he that commeth”. When a friend refuses to eat with you, you know what that means. There is some grudge somewhere and requires attention. When this attention does not come, there will be counter action which will be unproductive. Before 2009, the three unions above intimated the Federal Government through the Minister of Education on some issues at stake to be addressed sooner than later. And during the cause of negotiating, the Minister stated that there will be no negotiation unless work resumes. Already the three unions were on strike and insisted that while the strike remains, negotiation should go on. In the last meeting where these points were made known to the Education Minister, who walked out on the unions claiming that there will be no more negotiations without calling off the strike. On this note, the three unions withdrew into their shell, while the strike lingered on to a point where the students and their parents could not bear the silence of both parties. There were lots of questions and why the Federal Government should allow the situation

to continue. Tactically the Federal Government quickly invited the strong man of the people, Comrade Adams Aliu Oshiomhole to lead in this last round of negotiation. After all said and done, issues at stake were agreed upon, such as, increased funding of the universities, 70 years retirement Age for professors, 65 years for other university staffs, University authonomy, and improved allowances etc. Based on mutual trust by the unions as promised by the Federal Government to fulfill all agreements, the strike of the two months (September to November 2009) was suspended. Owing to the poor public and human relations of the then Minister of Education, he was immediate1y stepped down from office and reposted. Instantly a female Minister was appointed to cure this pending issue. Fellow Nigerians, when there is always a strike action, unions were pressurized to mellow down and call off the strike, but I am yet to see any strike in this country that does not give more than enough warning before embarking on it. During these warnings, the Federal Government, even State Government and the people feel unconcerned and dormant to the ‘core. The general attitude of the Federal, State and the masses remains that until strike commences there will be no attention. Why not give attention before resumption of any strike. Is it that the Federal Government, State

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

Remembering 2009 ASUU, SSANU, NASU Strike Action

Government don’t keep records, nor the ministers and commissioners don’t know the consequences of an agreement not fulfilled as at when due. Is it the best for our various Governments to always cry when the head is off. Is there anything wrong here

of office. All these if taken seriously by those concerned, will go a long way to avert future strikes. WHAT HAPPENED BETWEEN 5TH DECEMBER 2011 to 2nd Feb 2012? ASUU went on strike again. As a Nigerian, truth is bitter because it is

Government before situation crumbled. The recent ASUU strike would have been averted if the Federal Government had acted accordingly before December 5 2011 when another strike commenced. Had ASUU not been so lenient enough.

Prof Ruqayyatu Rufai, Minister of Education

for the Government to note that “a stitch in time saves nine” Is it that both the Federal and State Government don’t know that “Justice delayed, is justice denied”? Injustice to one is injustice to all. Is it that the Minister has forgetten his wonderful oat

not easily accepted. We were witnessess to the warnings, cautions, letters, reminders, both on papers and television to the Federal Government before the commencement of the strike. What happened? The same old story -no proper action nor reciprocation from Federal

“Fellow Nigerians, when there is always a strike action, unions were pressurized to mellow down and call off the strike, but I am yet to see any strike in this country that does not give more than enough warning before embarking on it. During these warnings, the Federal Government, even State Government and the people feel unconcerned and dormant to the ‘core.”

Is leniency a sign of weakness? Leniency they say, is not weakness. It is more painful when a father deprives a child of his good promises. Definitely there will be separation in between. Why should there be separation if the father is honest by playing the path of a father -to show exceptional good examples. Naturally if the Federal Government is quite honest, her followers will be afraid to be dishonest. But if the Federal Government is dishonest by not fulfilling her binding obligations, her followers will take to the streets or otherwise. A good leadership must guide against ugly situations and wash her dirty linings at the

backyard and not in public as it had been in the past and present time. My reflection on this should not be narrowed nor personalize to ASUU alone. At all times and in all circumstances prevention is better than cure. Actions should be aimed at the right time so that peace can always reign in our mist. A kind father will not allow his children lament nor cry before he provides them with food. Otherwise, the child will loose that trust in the father. The father must always protect this candid relationship that led into the future wellbeing of Father and child in union united we stand, divided we fall. As a kind Father thinks of one child, that reminds him of other children. The other children may come for their own request, and so prepares himself before hand and not wait for hue and cry of the children before action. The Father (Federal Government) is compared to the EARTH. The earth is always ready to willfully accommodate all that rest on her. WHAT HAPPENS AFTER THE STRIKE OF DEC. 2011 - FEB. 2012. 1. Will the Father (Federal Government) see ASUU request and other allied matters and keep in view affair? 2. Will the Father (Federal Government) take ASUU matter up immediately and not forget that delay is dangerous? 3. Will the Father (Federal Government) see the demands in question as urgent and treat with immediate necessary action and not business as usual that kills the essence of any business 4. As the huge loss of wealth, lives and properties are not borne individually but by the entire country, Continues on page 24

Place Of Prayer Dominion By Sincere Praise PRAISE is expression of admiration for somebody’s good works or good qualities. Every king is provoked by praise and a satisfied heart to do extraordinary things. Most traditional rulers have praise singers who herald their coming with beautiful songs that tell of their greatness and wonderful achievements. When a king is happy, he will do things he would not do under ordinary circumstances. When Esther made King Ahasuerus happy, the king was so pleased that he promised to grant her every request up to half his kingdom. No one deserves praise more than the Most High for He alone is God and His faithfulness to His children endures from generation to generation. No King can be trusted to watch out for the welfare of His subjects like God does. He owns the world and all that is in it and does not withhold its beauty from man. God wants man to praise Him all the time; this is the only thing we can really give to Him in return for all His magnanimous provisions and faithfulness even when we do not deserve. Just like Kings are provoked to releasing extraordinary blessings and provisions to any of their subjects who satisfies their heart, so also is God moved to grant you the best of the heavens when you make Him happy. One sure way of making God happy is singing His praise and worshipping Him from a sincere heart. God will gladly handle that problem that has weighed you down so much if only you will take your eyes off it and focus your attention on making Him happy with your praise and worship. Praising God is not optional; it is an instruction given to us in God’s word which we, as responsible sons and daughters of God, are expected to obey. The Bible expressly commands us to praise God as seen in the following scriptures: Psalm 33:2, Psalm 100:1-4, Psalm 106:1, Psalm 117:1, Psalm 135:1-3, Psalm 148:1-14, Psalm 149:1, Psalm 150:1-6, lsaiah6l:11 ,Jer. 20:13, Rom. 15:11, Heb. 13:15. In Psalm 65:1, David writes, “Praise waiteth for thee, o

God, in Zion”. The amplified version of the Bible renders it this way, “to you belongeth silence, the submissive wonder of reverence”. In this scripture, we notice that before David began to praise God, he first pondered on the personality of God, His glory, power and might, and he came to the conclusion that God deserves his worship. It is only in silence that your heart can search out God’s personality and His mighty deeds. Worship can only be done if the consciousness of God’s presence is maintained in your heart; this consciousness is an instrument that activates worship. Praise that is done carnally, to impress man, is not acceptable to God. Major worship in the bible was provoked by a consciousness of God’s presence. God deliberately created His consciousness to provoke the people to worship Him. Below are three instances in which God deliberately created His consciousness in the heart of His people to activate worship: Exodus 34:5 8 God revealed His power and might to Moses and this made him to bow his head to the ground and worship Him 1 Kings 18:36 39 when the people saw a physical manifestation of God’s power, they fell on their knees and worshipped God 2Chronicles 7:1 4 after Solomon’s prayer, there was such a strong manifestation of God’s glory that the people were provoked to worship From these examples we discover that the people could only render quality worship after the consciousness of God had been instilled in their hearts. Thankfully, the New Testament believers do not have to behold physical manifestations to know God’s might. We have come to God’s presence that cannot be explained with a physical mindset, but is experienced from an orientation that is created by the power of your mind. You don’t need physical things anymore to motivate your worship; it must now be motivated from a consciousness of God in your inner man. The time has come when the true

With Pastor Samuel O. Osaghae

worshippers will worship God in spirit and in truth. If you don’t practice meditative worship, your worship will be in the flesh. The more you spend time worshipping God from a heart that is filled with knowledge of His awesome personality, the more appreciated your worship will be to Him. You should make Praise and Worship a lifestyle; from

all that God has. When you pray, you have something, but when you worship, you have all Whereas prayer is a curative strategy, worship is a preventive strategy. As you praise and worship God for covenant provisions, He ensures that these provisions are manifested in your life. Praise and worship should not be a factor of whether things are good or bad. You

in your life and make you experience His glory in that area of need. By the stripes of Jesus, we were healed I Peter 2:24. God also has promised to supply all our needs according to His riches

in the future. The praises of God must always be in your lips, do not ever be too busy or too downcast to praise Him. As you begin to praise God regularly from a sincere heart from this day forth, I

time to time burst out in worship and praise of the name of God. His awesome works exist all around us and therefore there is always something to praise Him for. Worship from a sincere heart is the best offering we can give to God; it is one sacrifice that is guaranteed to move Him to act on your behalf. When King Solomon worshipped God and made an offering of 1000 cattle, God said to him, “ask anything, and I will grant it to you”. Worship gives you access to

don’t have to feel like praising God before you do so. If you violate the instruction to praise God, then you will not escape the consequence. Praising God for covenant provision is a preventive strategy, not a curative strategy. If you do not want to see evil in your life, then begin to praise God daily for all you intend to see in your life even if the present evidence is contradictory. As you worship God constantly for what you are yet to see, He will bring it to fulfillment

in glory Philippians 4:19. Search through scriptures and discover more of the glorious benefits available to you as a son of the kingdom, then begin to worship God for them daily. Manifestation is a product of meditation. What you worship God for constantly will soon be manifested in your life. God has done so much for us that is worth thanking Him for. It is our gratefulness for what He has done for us in the past that will qualify us for more blessings now and

assure you that you will see Him move mightily in your life and bless you beyond your wildest dreams and imaginations. In this season, I want to admonish you to Praise and Worship more and pray less; for the truth is that Christ Jesus has made provision already for all your needs, worshipping God from a genuine heart will bring about the speedy manifestation in your life of all the beautiful things He has made available.

SMS Only 08030809339

“Praise and worship should not be a factor of whether things are good or bad. You don’t have to feel like praising God before you do so. If you violate the instruction to praise God, then you will not escape the consequence.”

PUBLIC NOTICE

International

CAVEAT EMPTOR

The general public is hereby notified that the property lying and situate at the No. 15 Airport Road, Benin City, measuring 40ft by 85ft with a bungalow consisting of about 8 rooms and 2 stores belongs to the Omoregie Family. The property is not for sale. The general public, land specualtros, agents and property buyers are hereby notified and warned to beware of the property as it is not for sale. Buyers Beware Signed: Omoregie family

PUBLIC NOTICE The attention of our client, HRH. Enotiemwomwan Idelegbagbon, the Enogie of Ahor and the entire Ahor Community, has been drawn to a public notice in page 23 of The Nigerian Observer Newspaper issue of 21/08/ 2013 on behalf of a non-existent Evbuoka Community in Umagbae South, Uhunmwode Local Government Area of Edo State claiming to be owners of a vast area of land around the cattle market in Ahor. The issue of the pendency of Suits No. HAB/40/ 2012 and HAB/1/2003 is really a legal battle between Ahor and the recently created Uselu N’Ahor. While Uselu N’Ahor claims that the land in Evbokao belongs to them, the Oba of Benin, Omo N’Oba Erediauwa, in September 21st 2011 ruled that Evbuokao (and not Evbuoka) does not enjoy a separate and independent status but that it is a quarter in Ahor Village. All those who are interested in acquiring land in the area of Evuokao quarter/farmland should feel free to deal with the Enogie of Ahor who is the overlord of the area under Benin Customary law. The said public notice by Evbuoka Community should be ignored, please Signed: S. IREDIA OSIFO ESQ. IREDIA OSIFO & CO. 8, OGUOLA STREET, NEW BENIN, BENIN CITY.

CHANGE OF NAME BRAIMOH – I formerly called Miss Joy Omoyemen Braimoh now wish to be called and addressed as Mrs. Joy Omoyemen Obokhare. All former documents remain valid. All concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

Afghan Leader In Pakistanconfident, For butTalks I am hopeful.”

ISLAMABAD — Afghanistan’s president urged neighboring Pakistan to facilitate peace talks with the Taliban during a visit to Islamabad yesterday but expectations were low in both countries that much progress would be made in jumpstarting negotiations. Pakistan is seen as key to the process because of its strong historical ties with the Taliban. But Pakistan and Afghanistan

PUBLIC NOTICE RE: VACANT STOOL OF THE ONOGIE (VILLAGE HEAD) OF UGHIOLE-AVIELE OF AVIELE CLAN

REBUTTAL The attention of the Onogie (Village Head) of Ughiole-Aviele and his Elders/Chiefs has been drawn to the Public Notice in THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER newspaper of Friday, 26/07/2013 at page 15 thereof with above caption. For the avoidance of doubt and assurance to the general public, we hereby state categorically that: (a) Chief Musa Adamu is the incumbent Onogie or Village Head of Ughiole-Aviele, having been duly turbaned on 21st August, 2011 under the extant Traditional Rulers and Chiefs Law, by the Prescribed Authority, (i.e. the Oba of Agbede, H.R.H. Alhaji M. S. Momodu J.P.) who is also the Aviele Clan Head. (b)As there are at times bound to be certain disgruntled elements in the human web, one Alhaji Alasa Umoru Enatto (the self-styled Daudu of Aviele-Ughiole) challenged the said turbaning vide SUIT. HAU/ 54/2011, an action which in law and practice did not stop the Village Head from performing his functions in that capacity- hence there is NO VACANCY in the Royal Throne of Ughiole-Aviele. (c) The said pending court action neither dethroned the incumbent Village Head, Chief Adamu Musa nor rendered the office of Onogie of Ughiole Aviele vacant. (d) The Onogie of Aviele-Ughiole and his Elders/Chiefs reiterate once again that they do not intend to engage in media polemics with louts as the suit pending before High Court I, Auchi presupposes, and also indicates the fact that there is an incumbent Onogie of Ughiole-Aviele whose authority is being challenged therein. (e) While the Onogie of Ughiole-Aviele and his Elders/Chiefs sympathize with those who have deliberately opted to relish, wallow in ignorance and illusion, for their selfish pecuniary interests, the general public and Ughiole-Aviele indigenes are hereby: (i) Further assured of safe land transactions in UghioleAviele and (ii) advised to discountenance the said publication for being otiose, as the Oba of Agbede who is the Prescribed Authority remains the approving authority for all land transactions in the entire Ughiole-Aviele Clan. Signed: R. A. Muhammad Esq. For R. A. Muhammad & Co. Solicitors to the Onogie and Elders/Chiefs of Ughiole-Aviele Community, No. 26 New Lagos Road, Benin City 08038583318 wanris2003@yahoo.com

have long had troubled relations and view each other with suspicion, especially with Kabul repeatedly accusing Islamabad of providing sanctuary for the insurgents. Afghan President Hamid Karzai was visiting Pakistan for the first time since Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif took office in June. Karzai told Sharif during a joint news conference in Islamabad that he expects the Pakistani government to “facilitate and help” talks between the Afghan High Peace Council and the Taliban. On Saturday, however, the Afghan president described his expectations for progress during the visit, saying, “I am not

He indicated that previous visits to Pakistan hadn’t helped improve security in Afghanistan, but “we must continue our efforts.” Sharif said yesterday that he reaffirmed to Karzai “Pakistan’s strong and sincere support for peace and reconciliation in Afghanistan.” But an editorial published in Pakistan’s main English language newspaper, Dawn, was dubious about the two countries getting the “tattered” reconciliation process back on track. “Hope for the best, but prepare for continuation of the status quo -that may be the best approach as President Karzai arrives in Islamabad,” the editorial said.

LEGAL NOTICE IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUSTICE EDO STATE OF NIGERIA PROBATE REGISTRY BENIN CITY WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died testate on the date and at the place stated in the column; AND WHEREAS the persons whose names, addresses and claimed relationship to the deceased are set in the second column hereunder have applied to the Probate Registrar, High Court of Justice Edo State of Nigeria for a grant of Letters of Administration of the personal property of the deceased. NOTICE IS BY THIS GIVEN that letters of Administration will be granted to such persons unless a NOTICE to prohibit the grant is filed in this Registry within Twenty-One (21) days from the date of the publication of this notice. NAMES

APPLICANTS FOR GRANT

Engr. Sumaila Kess Momoh, late of Auchi, Etsako West L.G.A. who died on the 13th day of Benin 2013 in Abuja.

PED/744/2013 Mr. Selman Kess Momoh and Mr. Amedu Aliu Momodu of No. 24,Boundary Road, G.R.A., Benin City. Son and brother respectively of the deceased

DATED THIS 27th DAY OF AUGUST, 2013 SIGNED: H. I. ENEMAKU ESQ. PROBATE REGISTRAR

Crews Battle Wildfire Raging In Yosemite

CALIFORNIA, USA Hundreds of firefighters were digging trenches, clearing brush and starting back blazes to keep a wildfire raging north of Yosemite National Park out of several mountain hamlets. Inaccessible terrain, strong winds and bone-dry conditions have hampered their efforts to contain the Rim Fire, which began August 17 and has grown to become one of the biggest in California history. Firefighters were hoping to advance on the flames yesterday but strong winds were threatening to push the blaze closer to Tuolumne City and nearby communities. “This fire has continued to pose every challenge that there can be on a fire...,” said Daniel Berlant, a spokesman with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection. “It’s a very difficult firefight.”

The fire has consumed nearly 225 square miles of picturesque forests. Officials estimate containment at just 7 percent. it continues burning in the remote wilderness area of Yosemite and is edging closer to the Hetch Hetchy Reservoir, the source of San Francisco’s famously pure drinking water, park spokesman Tom Medema said. Despite ash falling like snowflakes on the reservoir and a thick haze of smoke limiting visibility to 100 feet, the quality of the water piped to the city 150 miles away is still good, say officials with the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. The city’s hydroelectric power generated by the system has been interrupted by the fire, forcing the utility to spend $600,000 buying power on the

open market. Park employees are continuing their efforts to protect two groves of giant sequoias that are unique to the region by cutting brush and setting sprinklers, Medema said. On Sunday, crews worked furiously to hold a line near Ponderosa Hills and Twain Hart, miles ahead of the blaze. But officials warned that the fire was so hot it could send sparks more than a mile and a half out that could start new hot spots. “We’re facing difficult conditions and extremely challenging weather,” said Bjorn Frederickson, a spokesman for the U.S. Forest Service. The blaze sweeping across steep, rugged river canyons has

rapidly expanded, thanks in part to extremely dry conditions caused by a lack of snow and rainfall this year. Investigators are trying to determine the cause of the fire, which began days before lightning storms swept through the region and sparked other, smaller blazes. The fire is the most critical of a dozen burning across California, officials say. More than 12 helicopters and a halfdozen fixed wing tankers are dropping water and retardant from the air, and 2,800 firefighters are on the ground. Statewide, more than 8,300 firefighters are battling nearly 400 square miles of fires. Many air districts have issued health

advisories as smoke settles over Northern California. While Yosemite Valley is clear, the Lake Tahoe basin is thick with smoke, and many outdoor activities have been canceled in Reno, Nev.

The U.S. Forest Service says about 4,500 structures are threatened by the Rim Fire. Berlant said 23 structures were destroyed, though officials have not determined whether they were homes or rural outbuildings.

Israeli Peace Talks Postponed WEST BANK - A Palestinian official says planned peace talks with the Israelis scheduled for yesterday have been called off following a deadly clash in the West Bank. Israeli soldiers killed three Palestinians yesterday during clashes outside Jerusalem.

The Palestinian official says the Palestinians decided to postpone yesterday meeting to protest the killings. He says the Palestinians are also upset about an Israeli announcement on Sunday pushing forward with new settlement construction in east Jerusalem.

New Horizon Continued from page 20

will such productive waste be allowed to continue? 5. Will the Father Federal Government) note that ASUU had warned that by June 2012, a review of the whole agreement Will be revisited, of course everyone knows that if Federal Government acts properly, timely and accordingly and actions made public, I declare it boldly that ASUU will meet in June 2012 to hail the Federal Government with three kudos and Kposas. I urge and pray the Federal Government to be prepared to fulfill her obligations so as to take three kudos and Kposas, and nothing less than that from ASUU and others. On the other hand, the Minister of Education should spearhead all issues affecting this agreement in ensuring that all necessary actions as it affects all other quarters must be treated now, not later. Fellow Nigerians should join me including Nigerian students who would want to cry when the head is off. We should all cry out now for necessary positive action by the Federal Government and not wait for another strike before we feel concerned to speak nor appeal to ASUU not to strike. From September 2009 to Feb., 2012, is more than enough time to act. We are now in 2013 and still waiting to see the fulfillment of 2009 agreement. Since Nigeria is on the positive move to recover our Educational System, disruption of Education Academic Calendar is seen as one eyed demon and should be rejected by all and sundry. Federal Government and Nigerians, must first solve

the Arithmetical problems, mathematical problems (preamble) before aiming at solving the calculus problems of our Educational Institutions. Strikes in the country whether ASUU or not are Arithmetical if the Father (Federal Government) should always listen well and act well, because a good talker (Federal Government) must be a good listener and actor. This one aspect is not yet found in the Father. There are numerous outstanding allowances and promises not remembered nor fulfilled. Why should a Father allow his children to knash their teeth to get their right, especially when promised. An example is the monetization arrears which received attention due to the September November, 2009 ASUU, SANU, NASU strike. That arrears would have been killed and buried by the Federal Government. Why all these harshness and hardship to get something from one’s father. A Father must be worth its salt always, not only at work for the child and when it comes to monetary benefit, the Father makes himself a one -eyed demon to scare the child or children away. A true child cannot be seared by any guise from the father and that’s where strike action comes as the last alternative measure to inform the Big Daddy that all is well that ends well and until that is achieved, the reverse becomes the modus operandi. The Father (Federal Government) should strongly resolve and resettle to adopt a modus vivendi approach to all issues which assures everyone about the understanding,

With VICTOR ANIUKWU

... ASUU, SSANU, NASU Strike Action

togetherness, one love, ONE GOD, ONE ALLAH, ONE KRISHNA. ONE JEHOVA. etc, and more importantly, ONE MIGHTY HOUSE NIGERIA - that we must not allow to fall, come rain , sunshine, heavy wind nor any treat as the case may be. The bible tells us that God, almighty

of animals, the cat is highly honoured by rats and that’s why the question arises, who will bell the cat. No rat is bold enough to put a bell on the cat to avert the danger of the cat to the rat kingdom, but in human kingdom, with God, everything is possible. This

Agricultural sector has been largely enhanced financially. Infact there should be no more crying wolf by the Federal Government but to act accordingly now that the iron is hot to be shaped for the good of all. WHAT LESSONS

minister through the head down to the President. Where are the reports and the various actions in question, which would have quelled future strikes and misrepresentation? WHAT DO WE SEE NOW? Another heart breaking strike by ASUU. When will that day come when things will be done with the philosophy of

father loves a cheerful giver. Now and then, the Federal Government should imbibe the culture of given to her children in a cheerful mood. Enough is enough with promises that never gives satisfaction to the people. Dissatisfaction is the result of strikes and rancour displayed from time to time by the people. Finally, in the kingdom

had been tested and proved to be the best. He who more is given, more is also expected. The Federal Government has been giving more in terms of revenue income generationfor instance - cost of fuel is always rising into the purse of Federal Government over what was budgeted. Fuel subsidy is also an additional financial relief to the federal purse.

HAVE WE LEARNT From March 2012 to July 2013 when ASUU embanked on another strike, this write -up spelt out various precautions and alert signals to avert future strikes as it may effect our educational system. The then minister of education down to the present education minister can be said to be sleeping partners on issues, agreements and allied matters affecting education - This shows that education is not everything about wisdom. In our educational system, there is legal department to handle fresh and pending cases as it affects our educational system. It gives account of all checks and balances for the smooth running of the system, and reporting to

“OTHERS FIRST, SELF LAST”? With strict fear of God, everything is possible. Finally, the federal government having learnt how to fly without perching should also be prepared to sufficiently fund the existing universities alongside the six new universities, with a strong monitoring system for strict accountability. That there is no money by the minister of finance is a hazardous fallacy. Think about that in reality, because it is always good to catch a black goat in the day time, not at night. That is, say that it is late to cry when the head is off. A stitch intime saves

“Finally, the federal government having learnt how to fly without perching should also be prepared to sufficiently fund the existing universities alongside the six new universities, with a strong monitoring system for strict accountability.”

Healthy Living

Your Guide To Healthy Breasts LIKE all our body parts, our breasts can undergo changes as we age. According to Best Health Magazine, some of the changes may simply be unwelcome, while others can be worrisome. Here are five of the most common changes, what they mean, -and when to get them checked. pain What’s going on? More than two thirds of women experience breast pain or tenderness at some point in their lives. “Pain from fluid retention is especially common before your period. Having a cyst also causes pain, as can mastistis, an infection most conmon in breastfeeding women. What can you do? For premenstrual breast pain, try regular exercise, which can reduce flind retention. Choose a nonjarring activity, such as yoga. Try a low-fat diet, a good support bra and avoiding alcohol or caffeine, and consider taking an evening primrose oil supplement; studies show it can ease pain. When to see the doctor? “Pain is rarely associated with cancer in the early stages”. But if the pain is new, especially if it’s on one side only and persists for a couple of weeks, it should be checked. If your breast is swollen and tender, the skin is red and you have a fever, you might have mastitis and may need an antibiotic. Uplifting news Breast biomechanies expert Joanna scurr, of the university of Portsmouth in the U.K, is working with bra manufacturers to help design

Anytime you feel a lump that doesn’t go away, make an appointment with your doctor. “A lump” should be assumed to be cancer unless proven

pain and lumps. It’s most common in women who have had at least one pregnancy and who have not yet reached menopause. Discharge can be caused by hormonal changes, medications, an abscess, an infection or cysts. It can also

otherwise. NIPPLE DISCHARGE What’s going on? Nipple discharge is the third most frequent breast complaint in women, after

happen for a year or two pregnancy if you are not breastfeeding. Sometimes it is a symptom of a blocked or infected milk ductagain, even if you’re not breast feeding.

By ISEMHENBITA FAITH

sports bras. Joanna Scurr says more than half of women who exercise have pain from the movement of their breasts, often even while wearing a sports bra and regardless of breast size. “Good support can reduce pain,” she says. Lumps And Bumps What’s going on? Finding a breast lump can be terrifying, but most of the time it’s not cancer. Breast lumps can be caused by infection or injury. It’s possible, too, that they are fibro adenomas (non-can cerous lumps of tissue). Lumps can also be harmless cysts. “These are quite common around menopause”. About half of all women experience fibrocystic breast changes during the reproductive years. These changes can cause breast to feel swollen, ropy, lumpy and painful, and are at their worst about 7 to 10 days before period. What can you do? If it’s a cyst, your doctor can drain it using a needle and syring. Cysts may also disappear on their own. To avoid fibrocystic breast, try limiting your caffeine, alcohol and salt intake while you’re premenstrual. “And try a high –fibre diet with plenty of plant-based foods. It can help reduce the cyclical fluctuation of symptoms, advises Natalie Brown, a registered dietitian based in south surrey, B.C. some research suspects that vitamin E may also help ease symptoms. When to see the Doctor

“Breastfeeding with inverted nipples can sometimes be a challenge, but having surgery to correct it can make breastfeeding impossible. Nipple shield and moulds can help to draw out the nipple temporarily without surgery, allowing you to breastfeed. Ask your doctor about your options if you are pregnant.”

Most of the time, it doesn’t indicate cancer. What can you do? Avoid squeezing your nipples or letting your partner stimulate them during sex, because this can lead to an increase in discharge. Depending on the underlying cause of the discharge, your doctor may prescribe medication. If the third is part of the breast’s normal function, such as with hormonal changes or after pregnancy, it will often go away on it’s own.

When to see the Doctor? If you are experiencing any persistent nipple discharge, you should check it out with your physician, especially if it’s from one breast only and happens without squeezing. “If you have any associcated crusting or bleeding of the nipple, that is concerning” It could be symptomatic of paget’s disease, which is a rare type of cancer.” INVERTED NIPPLES What’s going on? Up to one in 30 women are born with inverted nipples, which means the nipple is

pulled inward instead of pointing out. Niggles can become inverted later in life as a result of breast surgery, including biopsy, lumpectomy, cyst removal or plastic surgery, or after an infection. A newly inverted nipple can also be a sign of cancer or mastitis, which is an infection of the breast tissue. What can you do? Breastfeeding with inverted nipples can sometimes be a challenge, but having surgery to correct it can make breastfeeding impossible. Nipple shield and moulds can help to draw out the nipple temporarily without surgery, allowing you to breastfeed. Ask your doctor about your options if you are pregnant. When to see the Doctor? “Any new inversion of the nipple should be checked out”. CHANGE IN SHAPE AND SIZE What’s going on? Extreme exercise, weight gain or loss, pregnancy and menstrual cycles can cause breasts to change in shape and size. About one in five women develop large breasts after menopause, as fatty tissue builds up. What can you do? For sagging, watch your postur. “posture does make a difference to the way your breast look,” says Dr. Kevin Smith, a dermatologist in Nigeria falls, ont. He says there is some evidence that Botox injections may help lift sagging breasts, especially in combination with muscle strengthening. Also, quit smoking and avoid the sun, both make sagging worse by speeding the breakdown of elastin, a protein that helps the skin resist atretching. In general, invest in a proper-fitting bra and a good sports bra for exercising. These will improve posture and appearance. When to see the Doctor? Women should never ignore a change in size or shape. Also, have your breasts assessed if one changes and the other doesn’t especially if one gets considerably larger. (However, if you have had one breast that is slightly larger than the other from an early age, that is considered normal) Other important but often overlooked symptoms are skin thickening, redness, dimpling and nipple crusting. All could be signs of cancer.

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 07, 2013 LUCKY 1.2. X SELECTION 6 INTERNATIONAL NOS. HOT PAIRSS 10 13 17

17 30 32 38

BANKERS

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1.OLDHAM

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2. DERBY

16 0X0

3. DONCASTER

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3 ---

6. NEWCASTLE

7. OXFORD

8. BRIGHTON

14 CBK

9. BRENTFORD

22 CBK

OUTLOOK

N 11

XOX

SWINDON

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ARSENAL

CCB

OXFORD

DONCASTER

HIBERNIAN

CCB T0P T0P

10. ARSENAL

1 XXX

11. BARNSLEY

10 XXX

12. SCUNTHORPE

43 O-O

13. OXFORD

41 TIP

14. GILLINGHAM

15. WIMBLEDHAM

16. WYCOMBE

45 ABC

SWINDON

XBK

17. CHARLTON

15 ABC

OXFORD

CBK

18. DONCASTER

17 CBN

BLACKPOOL

19.WEST BROM

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GILLING HAM

20. WEST HAM

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SHREWSBURY

BIG BELLS DONCASTER

ACB

DEP

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By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

SATURDAY RITUALS

1 10 41 43 45

GOSSIP NAP

41 43 45

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NAP

24 34

PAIR

IF NOT NOW WHEN?

A 13 P 17

EVERY WEDNESDAY, WEEK 07 2013 WATSON WEST 1.2.X FORECAST

By SAM EHEBHA GSM:08056626091

Your Star

EDITOR’S NAP

BEST COMPILER

NAP 41 XX 41 XX 41 NAP 1 XX 1 XX 1 PAIR 3 VS 16 PAIR 16 OR 17 GOODLUCK LET IT BE

J. B. NAP

SUNNY NAP NAP 45 XX 45 XX 45

PAIR 10 OR 11 WATCH OUT

PAIR 14 OR 15 THERE IS HOPE

NAP 43 XX43 XX 43 PAIR 3 OR 20 EXECUTIVE

PAKER NAP

NAP 17 XX 17 XX 17 NAP 11 XX 11 XX 11 PAIR 21 OR 22 PAIR 5 OR 43 BE A WINNER FOR SURE

ODIONS NAP

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NAP 36 XX 36 XX 36 NAP 26 XX 26 XX 26 PAIR 24 PAIR 29 OR 30 BE MY GUEST

GUESSING GAMES

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3* 9 13* 19 23 29*

07 33 39 43* 49 5 4 FOR THREE DRAWS?

Pardew Condemns Arsenal’s Cabaye Bid Alan Pardew has branded Arsenal disrespectful, accusing them of unsettling Yohan Cabaye with the timing of their offer for the midfielder. The Gunners submitted a £10 million bid for the France international, which Newcastle rejected, but Pardew omitted Cabaye from his side for their opening league fixture, a 4-0 defeat at Manchester City. And the Newcastle manager, who believes Cabaye was not in the right frame of mind to play, was annoyed by Arsenal’s approach. He said: “It is tough for his head to be turned on the eve of a game and I didn’t see any reason why that needed to happen. Why they couldn’t do us the respect and the honour of waiting until Tuesday evening is beyond me. “I am not sure of the exact terms of it but it is below our valuation of the player for sure. I think it is just a very difficult situation when a player gets news like that and it wasn’t us who gave him the news, that it is very hard to get your head round to play a game of this magnitude.” Pardew believes the transfer window should have been closed before the start of the campaign and thinks the summer’s transfer sagas are proof it ought to be shut earlier next year. “This is a terrific player. He is a player where you put him in the [Luis] Suarez and [Gareth] Bale situation which he has found himself in. There is a question about the window being closed before we kick off the Premier League season. I know the Premier League asked the European leagues to do it and they said the European leagues wouldn’t fall in line. After the summer we have had, the situations we have had, with [Wayne] Rooney as well, it is definitely something they need to put under the microscope again.” Pardew revealed defender Steven Taylor has apologised for his first-half dismissal in their defeat at the Etihad Stadium. The centre-back was shown a straight red card for violent conduct after a clash with Sergio Aguero and now faces a three-match suspension. Pardew added: “The sending off was completely out of character for Steven and he has apologised. I can’t really say anymore except that he is an honest player and made a mistake and we had to suffer the penalty for that.”

Arsene Wenger

Moyes Starts War With Former Club Everton Manchester United manager David Moyes has sparked war with his former club over Leighton Baines and Marouane Fellaini. United to go to war with Everton over pursuit of Fellaini, Baines: The Daily Mirror reports that Manchester United are set to return to Everton with separate bids for Marouane Fellaini and Leighton Baines after having their initial £28m joint bid dismissed as “derisory and insulting”. Everton were left

incensed by the bid, but the Mirror reports that the reigning Premier League champions are set to continue their pursuit of the pair. “Despite Everton’s anger, United are in no mood to back down and are ready to up their offer to £33m,” the paper reports. “It is understood United are prepared to pay £21m for Fellaini and £12m for Baines, and will make one last attempt to prise the pair away from Goodison Park.”

Dzeko Hails ‘Fantastic’ Striker Edin Dzeko says Win Manchester City wanted to send among the frontrunners for the

Gareth Bale

Spurs Edge Closer To Keeping Bale

Real Madrid fear they will have to wait another 12 months to sign Tottenham star Gareth Bale. Bernabeu president Florentino opposition to the deal with highPerez has courted the Wales ranking members of the club’s international all summer and was hierarchy believing Bale is not closing in on a £100million world worth more than he £80m paid for Cristiano Ronaldo, who has record fee. But Spurs are not happy with yet to sign a new agreement. the payment plan put forward by Bale will be paid an amazing the Spanish heavyweights, £180,000 a week after tax and especially as they are still owed allowed a say in image rights and cash from last August’s £33m sources say former Manchester United superstar Ronaldo has had deal for Luka Modric. It is believed Real have offered his nose put out of joint by all the an initial £20m with the rest attention and praise being spread over the next five years, lavished on the 24-year-old from while Tottenham want the vast Cardiff. bulk banked up front before they Real are still pushing to sign agree to their prize asset moving Bale before the September 2 transfer deadline but are to the Spanish capital. Real are also facing internal becoming increasingly

Rangers Fans United Against Green Charles Green could be fired bid launched by Ahmad against from his post as a paid consultant for the Rangers board as the Ibrox directors meet to discuss his future. The former chief executive made a controversial return to Ibrox two weeks ago on a £1,000a-month retainer but faces being swiftly removed from his new post following a public outcry by fans. The Yorkshireman resigned as chief executive in April amid allegations of links to former Rangers owner Craig Whyte and anger over racist comments made about former club director Imran Ahmad - a slur which earned him a fine from the Scottish Football Association. An independent investigation said that Whyte, the man who set Rangers on the path to liquidation when he put them into administration 18 months ago, had not invested in the current Rangers set-up. But Green has faced fresh anger after telling boss Ally McCoist he would have a “problem” if he failed to lead the team to a domestic cup win while also backing a £3.4million legal

the Glasgow side after he too was forced out of the club. Meanwhile, Rangers are considering an official request from a group of shareholders to hold a extraordinary general meeting to vote on their proposal to remove new chief executive Craig Mather, Brian Stockbridge and Bryan Smart as directors and replace them with Paul Murray and Frank Blin. Now in a joint statement issued by The Rangers Supporters Assembly, The Rangers Supporters Association, and The Rangers Supporters Trust, the board has been told the club’s fans want Green out. The statement read: “There are significant concerns among our worldwide fan base over the conduct of former CEO, Charles Green. “Mr Green has been very outspoken in the media, and has clearly undermined the manager and the team. He is also purported to be giving support to a financial claim to be made against the club which we feel represents a conflict of interest for him and the club.

concerned they will run out of time and cash as they need Ronaldo to sign a new deal with his contract winding down.

a message in their opening Barclays Premier League match after hammering 10-man Newcastle 4-0 at the Etihad Stadium. City were no match for their hapless opponents, with the game all but over as a contest before half-time. David Silva opened the scoring in the sixth minute and Sergio Aguero doubled City’s lead midway through the half, with Magpies defender Steven Taylor seeing red before half-time. A superb Yaya Toure free-kick put City 3-0 up five minutes after the break, while Samir Nasri put the gloss on the result in the 75th minute. It was an exemplary performance from City, who are

Ferdinand Looking Forward To Chelsea Clash

Rio Ferdinand is relishing the prospect of Manchester United’s upcoming clash against Chelsea. The Red Devils, now under the stewardship of David Moyes following the retirement of Sir Alex Ferguson, roared to a 4-1 win at Swansea thanks to two goals each for Robin van Persie and Danny Welbeck. Their victory came just hours after returning Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho suggested that United and previous title holders Manchester City were not ‘terrific’ winners of the top flight. Centre-back Ferdinand was happy to respond to the early dig from the Portuguese boss and is looking forward to welcoming the Blues to Old Trafford next Monday, live on Sky Sports 1HD. The former England international said: “That was his first soundbite of the season, wasn’t it? I think we expected it. “A lot of teams vying for the championship are going to be struggling for points at Swansea, so it was a good result. “I’m looking forward to Chelsea. We are really looking forward to it. Now we can start playing for something. “We are professional people and want to win. You don’t appreciate it when people don’t put you in the position you should be. “Being champions you warrant maybe a little bit more but every next person is tipping someone else to win the league and putting us in third or fourth place.

“It seemed people thought we should have come away with zero points and there would have been a lot of noise if we’d lost. “The vibe all week was people wanted it. So it was nice to go there - especially in the gaffer’s first real competitive game - and to win convincingly as we did.”

Premier League crown this season, which will have no doubt thrilled their new manager Manuel Pellegrini. Dzeko said: “I think we played a fantastic match and not only 45 minutes but 90 is what the manager expects from us. “We played the first game at home and we wanted to show everyone what we are capable of. “We scored four goals and we could have scored more but we are happy with these four. “I wanted so badly to score but at the end, we won the game, we have three points and we have scored four.” While he did not manage to get on the scoresheet, Dzeko played an eyecatching role and the Bosnian striker was quick to hail Pellegrini’s influence. “The new manager brings something different to us, especially to me; giving me the confidence and that’s what I needed,” he added on Sky Sports 1. Toure was also quick to salute a great team performance. “I think it was a fantastic result, fantastic beginning. I want to continue like that because the Premier League is very, very tough,” he said.

Bent Criticises Lambert Over Villa Treatment

Striker Darren Bent has hit out at Aston Villa manager Paul Lambert, in an interview published Tuesday, over his treatment during his time at Villa Park. Bent joined Fulham on a season-long loan from Villa last week, after falling out of favour with Lambert at the Midlands club. Villa paid a club-record fee potentially rising to £24 million ($37.6 million, 28.1 million euros) to sign Bent from Sunderland in January 2011, but he was frozen out after Lambert became coach last year. With Christian Benteke and Andreas Weimann established as Lambert’s first-choice strike partnership, the 29-year-old started just seven league games last season, scoring three goals. “It was really difficult at Villa. A few of us were kind of alienated to train with the kids,” Bent told the Daily Express newspaper. “There were times when I was thinking, ‘Do I really deserve this?’ It’s all well and good not being part of the squad — but to be treated like we have been is bad. “It was horrible. It wasn’t so much the injuries — although they certainly didn’t help — it was just

the uncertainty. There were times I was in the squad and times I wasn’t, and there was just no explanation why.” Bent has won 13 caps for England, scoring four goals, and he hopes a successful season at Fulham will enable him to break back into the national squad in time for next year’s World Cup. I’m not just hungry to play football again, I’m absolutely starving,” he said. “I’ve missed out on a couple of major competitions with England, but I just hope this is my year.”

Darren Bent

Ancelotti Unfazed By Lack Of Goals REAL Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says he was pleased with his side’s performance following Monday’s 1-0 win over Granada. Karim Benzema scored the only goal of the match to earn his side maximum points at Los Carmenes, their second league victory in as many matches following their 2-1 win over Real Betis. “We couldn’t score the second goal in the first half and when the result is just 1-0 it’s not easy to control the match,” Ancelotti told reporters. “The important thing is the result and I think as well our way of playing was good at high level pace. “The team were compact, our defence played well and they tried their best. I am really happy. “The most important thing is about winning matches and points and to keep working on improving.” Ancelotti left club captain Iker Casillas on the bench for the second league match in a row with Diego Lopez being handed another start, but he believes there is no reason to justify his selection. “Diego played the first match and Diego played the second,” he said. “He is playing well at the moment and there’s nothing else to say.

Barca Need Away Goal Against Atletico

Manuel Neuer, Bayern Munich goal-keeper

UEFA Super Cup Clash

Neuer Desperately Wants Revenge On Chelsea

MANUEL Neuer says Bayern Munich are hungry for revenge ahead of their UEFA Super Cup clash with Chelsea. The Bavarians were beaten all he can to gain revenge. He told Uefa.com: “It’s a on penalties by the Blues in the 2012 Champions League unique chance for us players final, before lifting the trophy to win this trophy. It’s a final, after beating Dortmund back and a match against the in May. But the goalkeeper Europa League winners, and admits there is still a score to that’s Chelsea. We still have settle with the Premier League something to clear with them, side and says he will be doing and take revenge, so hopefully we can win in Prague.” The 27-year-old then gave an insight into the pressure with German magazine Kicker. Bayern were under ahead of “He wanted me to go to last season’s Champions Chelsea.” Ribery is now fully focused on League final and admits the leading Bayern to victory over prospect of defeat at Wembley Mourinho’s side in Friday’s was unthinkable. He added: “[Winning the European Super Cup Champions League] was very showdown. “We have a good relationship important. We would have and respect between us,” the 30- had a very difficult time if we year-old explained. “But I want hadn’t done it. Last season we to beat him!” were very motivated, we

Ribery Reveals Mourinho BAYERN Munich star Franck Interest

Ribery has revealed that Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho wanted to take him to Stamford Bridge. The France international was heavily linked with the English outfit in 2010 during Carlo Ancelotti’s time at the helm, but the winger has revealed the new Blues boss was also keen to tempt him to move to London. “We often talk,” Ribery said of Mourinho in an interview

Italy’s Third Division Players Braced the final year of a decade with For Strike PLAYERS in Italy’s third Roma for a minimum wage of

division are to go on strike this weekend in protest over new conditions for the distribution of revenue. The first matchday of the new Lega Pro season is unlikely to go ahead after the Italian Footballers’ Association (AIC) was unable to reach an agreement with the League Association over a new rule which means revenue will be distributed based on criteria such as the average age of players in each squad. Such criteria is regarded as discriminatory towards older players, who may be overlooked by Lega Pro clubs since playing

XAVI Hernandez believes that Barcelona may be relying on their away goal to help win the Supercopa de Espana against Atletico Madrid. The veteran sat down with his club’s in-house television channel to look ahead to this Wednesday evening’s second leg at the Camp Nou. First up on the agenda, the 33year-old was asked if he was expecting a tough game at home. “Yes, physically and especially in defence, Atletico Madrid are very strong,” Xavi reflected. “They have a Coach who works hard on defence and with two lines of four, they hardly allow any space - their forwards also chip in and help. “They are a good side and showed us why they have achieved so much. It won’t be easy, but we had a good result in the first leg and an away goal is always important.

them would mean earning less money from the pool. A statement released by the AIC read: “The regulation which would like to impose a certain average age on the players who take to the field, upon which access to a part of the (financial) resources is determined, is clearly illegitimate, is discriminatory towards the footballers and falsifies the expectations of youngsters, reducing the technical quality of the league while being detrimental to the spectacle and meritocracy.” According to AIC president Damiano Tommasi, who played

+1,500 a month, players should not be remunerated based on their age, but on their ability. The AIC is, however, on collision course with the Lega Pro, which says that Sunday’s games will go ahead regardless. “It’s an unwarranted strike,” Lega Pro president Mario Macalli said. “I, as president of the Lega Pro, have got to make sure the rules are adhered to. For me, the league starts on 1 September. Who plays, plays. Who doesn’t will pay the consequences. “Their decision is worthy of the worst Soviet Russian. They are tarnishing Italian football.”

wanted to finally achieve a lot of success and managed to win

the treble, but we could have never lost the final against Dortmund.”

Busquets To Commit BARCELONA’s To Barca midfielder Sergio Busquets is set to extend his contract with the club. The Catalans confirmed that the 25-year-old will sign a three-year-extension which will tie him to the club until June 2018. Busquets agrees to new Barca deal The club also confirmed through their website that the player’s buyout clause will remain at 150 million euros. The Spaniard joined Barcelona’s youth system in 2005 and made his La Liga debut in September 2008. He has achieved a lot of success with the club,

Sergio Busquets

including four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies and two Champions Leagues. He was also part of the Spain squad which won the 2010 FIFA World Cup and the 2012 European Championship.

“Do I expect Atleti to maintain their approach from the first leg? I think so, yes. It’s a style they’ve worked hard at and they are strong at the back and on the counter. “It’s a direct style that they use to find Diego Costa and they try and take advantage of set pieces. We have to try and move the ball quickly, we’ll be on a pitch we like and that’s a point in our favour.” Barca go into the game with the advantage of Neymar’s goal scored at the Vicente Calderon in a 1-1 first leg. “Neymar’s goal could prove decisive. An away goal in this type of match really helps. I think it came at a good time for us, we’d been patient and although you don’t get many chances against Atletico, we bided our time. “In fact we only had two or three clear chances and we have to take advantage of Neymar’s goal – it could give us the title.” Xavi recently marked 15 years to the day since making his debut for the Catalans. “Well it’s a long time and I am very happy and proud of all the years I’ve been here at Barça – the club of my life and the best in the world. “I’ve had a lot of success here – particularly over recent years. I’ve been very happy here and I still am, with three more years on my contract ahead of me. “I hope I can stay at the high level such a demanding club requires. Every player wants to be important for his club and recognised as such”. “My best memory so far? The best memories are always of when you win something and when you are given recognition. “I’ve been lucky enough to win individual awards, but the best thing is when as a collective you win thing like Cups or the League or the Champions League.

... Miranda Wants Messi Ruled Out A TLETICO Madrid defender Joao Miranda has admitted that he would be relieved if Lionel Messi was ruled out for Wednesday’s Spanish Supercup tie. The Rojiblancos will travel to the Camp Nou for the second leg after the first leg ended in a 1-1 draw at the Vicente Calderon last Wednesday. Messi limped off the match with a thigh muscle injury and as a result he was not involved during Sunday’s 1-0 win over Malaga. “Even if Messi does not play, they can play Xavi (Hernandez), (Andres) Iniesta and Neymar, but it is better if he does not play,” Miranda told reporters. “Who would I prefer to face out of Messi and Neymar? They are both players of incredible quality, Neymar is an idol in

Brazil and Messi the same in Argentina. “But it does not matter, Barcelona are full of great players.” Miranda scored the winning goal in the final of the Copa del Rey as Atletico Madrid defeated city rivals Real Madrid 2-1 to clinch the title.

Lionel Messi

US Open

Serena Demolishes Schiavone

SERENA Williams needed just one hour to remind everyone why she remains the overwhelming favourite to win the US Open. mean, I just was able to win In one of the most one-sided some key points,” Williams matches seen on the Arthur said. Ashes centre court, Williams “But I tell you, it wasn’t very demolished Italy’s Francesca easy out there. We were both Schiavone 6-0 6-1 with an grunting and running and ominous display of precision fighting.” and power. The American showed no mercy against her opponent, who won the French Open in 2010 and was a finalist in Paris the following year, conceding just 23 points in the 60-minute romp. “I’m really excited,” she said in a courtside interview. “I knew playing a former Grand Slam champion in the first round was a really tough draw so I decided to be super serious.” As the most fearsome player of her generation, the 31-yearold Williams has made a career out of destroying her rivals but has rarely been as impressive as she was on Monday. With the New York crowd whooping and hollering in awe, Williams raced through the opening set in just 23 minutes, Alisa Kleybanova sealing it with a thunderous ace down the middle. The world number one jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the BAFANA coach Gordon second leaving Schiavone Igesund has recalled a number cursing in desperation. of big names for the crucial Exasperated, she turned and FIFA World Cup qualifier hugged a ball boy, eliciting against Botswana on sympathetic groans from the September 7. crowd but not a hint of pity from Former skipper Bongani Williams. Khumalo and playmaker The Italian did at least manage Thulani Serero have both been to avoid the dreaded ‘double recalled having been dumped bagel’ - the ultimate humiliation from the side after the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations. for a tennis professional - when Also back is Kagisho she held serve in the fifth game. But it was a just a temporary Dikgacoi, who has recovered from injury to play for Crystal reprieve as Williams moved in Palace in the English for the kill, reeling off the next Premiership this season, while two games to seal a second Kamohelo Mokotjo gets a first round meeting with Galina call-up in a year after an Voskoboeva of Kazakhstan. excellent start to the campaign “I think the scoreline had at PEC Zwolle in the nothing to do with the match. I Netherlands.

As a statement of intent, Williams could not have been any clearer about her ambitions at Flushing Meadows over the next two weeks. With 16 Grand Slams titles already under her belt, she is already assured of her place in the pantheon of tennis greats but shows no signs of slowing

down. Williams won her first US Open in 1999 when she was just 17. Last year, she won her fourth, aged 30. If she wins again this time, she will become the oldest female champion in New York since tennis turned professional in 1968

CAMEROON striker Mohamadou Idrissou is under investigation for threatening and insulting behaviour, Frankfurt police have confirmed to SID, an AFP subsidiary, after a report in German daily Bild on Tuesday. Idrissou, 33, who has made more than 40 appearances for Cameroon, has been under investigation since July 25 after repeatedly threatening and insulting his ex-girlfriend by mobile phone. Now playing for second division Kaiserslautern after spells at Hanover 96, Freiburg, Borussia Moenchengladbach

and Eintracht Frankfurt, Idrissou has been the subject of a restraining order since August 10, prohibiting him from going within 75 metres of the woman. The striker claims a “fivefigure sum” of money disappeared from his home while he helped the woman look for an apartment and his lawyer has filed a complaint of embezzlement against her. Idrissou played in all three of Cameroon’s defeats at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and last played in the Bundesliga in the 2010/11 season for Borussia Moenchengladbach.

Boateng, Muntari Back For Ghana just recently recovered from a thigh strain which saw him miss the opening match of Milan’s Serie A season against Hellas Verona.

Sulley Muntari

Ambrose Promises Celtic Super Fightback

Igesund Recalls Top Stars

Police Investigate Cameroon Striker

BOTH Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari have been called up for Ghana’s World Cup Qualifier against Zambia. The Black Stars will face the 2012 African Cup of Nations Champions next month and head coach, Kwesi Appiah, announced the return of the Rossoneri duo. Muntari has been included in the squad after writing a public apology for a changing room incident which occurred while on International duty. Meanwhile, his fellow midfielder and club teammate has made his return back to the squad after temporary retirement. Boateng announced at the end of 2011 that he would be retiring from the National team, only for him to revoke it just a year and a half later. The 26-year-old has also

“I have selected one of the strongest teams I have selected in a long time, this game is no time to try out things. I am positive that we get a result,’ Igesund said. His side needs to beat Botswana and hope that Ethiopia get no more than a draw when they face Central African Republic in Brazzaville. That would take Bafana to the top of the pool and into the next round of qualifying. Meanwhile, Igesund also named a different squad for the friendly international with Zimbabwe in September 10. Most notable there is the inclusion of Kortrijk goalkeeper Darren Keet, who will also train with the team in the build-up to the Botswana game, but is not part of that 23man selection. Bafana Bafana will go into camp in Durban on Monday, though the locally-based players and support staff will convene in Johannesburg on Sunday. SQUAD VS BOTSWANA Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns), Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates) Defenders: Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic), Anele Ngcongca (KRC Genk, Belgium), Bongani Khumalo (Doncaster Rovers, England), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs), Siyanda Xulu (FC Rostov, Russia), Buhle Mkhwanazi (University of Pretoria), Thabo Matlaba (Orlando Pirates)

Midfielders: Kagisho Dikgacoi (Crystal Palace, England), Dean Furman (Doncaster Rovers, England), Reneilwe Letsholonyane (Kaizer Chiefs), Oupa Manyisa (Orlando Pirates), Andile Jali (Orlando Pirates), Kamohelo Mokotjo (PEC Zwolle, Netherlands), Bongani Zungu (Mamelodi Sundowns), Thulani Serero (Ajax Amsterdam, Netherlands), Siphiwe Tshabalala (Kaizer Chiefs), Daine Klate (Orlando Pirates) Strikers: Bernard Parker (Kaizer Chiefs), Tokelo Rantie (Malmo, Sweden), Kermit Erasmus (Orlando Pirates)

EFE Ambrose has backed Celtic to turn the tables against Shakhter Karagandy of Kazakhstan to reach the group stage of the Champions League. The Kazakh giant killers shocked Scottish double champions Celtic 2-0 win in the first leg of the Champions League playoff and Celtic are now under pressure to score three unreplied goals on Wednesday to scale through to the mini-league stage of the Champions League. “I am very sure we will go through to the group stage of UEFA Champions League at the expense of Shakhter,” predicted Nigeria international defender Ambrose, who was on the bench for the duration of the first encounter. “I am not having any special feelings about the game or taking the game more seriously than others, it is just like every other game that we have played and will still play.”

Last season, Celtic reached the Round of 16 of the Champions League before they were sent packing by Italian champions Juventus. History favours Celtic as they have upturned such a first leg result three times in the past out of four such situations. Shakhter, on the other hand, are aiming to make history as the first club from Kazakhstan to reach the group stage of the prestigious Champions League.

Efe Ambrose

Zambia Dispel CHAN Case Against Zimbabwe ZAMBIA dispel rumours they’ve filed a complaint against Zimbabwe for allegedly fieldi ng an ineligible player in the CHAN qualifiers. Zimbabwe beat Zambia 1-0 away in Ndola on August 24 to qualify for the 2014 CHAN finals by the same aggregate score line. Media reports from Harare have stated that social media is awash with allegations that an unnamed player, featured in both legs against Zambia, played despite accumulating two yellow cards.

However, Football Association of Zambia spokesperson Erick Mwanza denied Football House had filed any complaint with CAF over the unnamed players’ status. “We have put that match in the past. Our main focus is now on Kumasi (Against Ghana),” Mwanza told MTNFootball.com. “If they are any matters arising we shall deal with them at an appropriate time.” The allegations surfaced on a Zimbabwean Facebook posting by a group calling itself Dembare Dotcoms who went

further to allege that another unnamed player was also ineligible after testing positive for a banned substance in a 2014 World Cup qualifier against Egypt. However records show that the only Zimbabwean player’s cautioned in the CHAN qualifiers were Eric Chipeta and Masimba Mambare who picked a yellow card each in the first round against Mauritius. Others are Danny Phiri and Nelson Masivisa who received a caution each against Zambia.

George-Taylor Stresses Need To Improve Nigerian Boxing

Dolphins Deny Rangers DOLPHINS have dismissed Attack claims by Rangers that some of their officials were attacked after the Enugu club lost 2-0 in Port Harcourt on Sunday. Dolphins media officer China Acheru said Rangers claim was laughable. “When I heard that tale that officials of Rangers were beaten by hoodlums, I couldn’t laugh but get angry because it was just an attempt at bringing the game to disrepute by disgruntled club officials, who did their best in Port Harcourt to cause trouble before the game,” Acheru said. “At the start of the game they, in their belief in fetish things parked their bus about five hundred meters from the stadium and decided to have all their players walk the distance in. “Maybe in Enugu, those fetish things have helped them win the league or maybe that is what has stopped them from winning trophies in 29 years.” Okwara says Rangers official threatened to kill him Acheru also gave his club’s version of the incident that involved striker Fred Okwara after the match. “After the game, our player, Fred Okwara walked to the general manager of the club, a certain Chibuzor, and asked why he hasn’t been paid N4.5million owed him and the Rivers State FA Secretary, Benjamin Akubo,

who overheard the discussion cautioned Okwara that he stadium premises was not the best place to ask for money,” the Dolphins spokesman. “Akubo advised Okwara to visit him at the FA office for advice on how to write to the league or the (Nigeria Football) federation to force Rangers to pay him. At this point, Okwara left in the team bus as well as the rest of the people there. “So for Rangers to return to Enugu and say Fred led a group of thugs to attack them must have only come from the figment of that same imagination that tells them parking your bus on the street and trekking to the stadium can help you win away from home.” Dolphins 2 Rangers 0

Eaglest coach, Manu Garba

Eaglets Coach Comfortable With U-17 World Cup Draw

...Nigeria To Meet Mexico, Iraq, Sweden In Group F THE Technical Adviser of the Golden Eaglets, Manu Garba, on Monday said that he was comfortable with the 2013 FIFA Under-17 World Cup draw. The ceremony for the draw Garba who spoke to newsmen was conducted by former CAF General Mr in Uyo immediately after the Secretary Mustapha Fahmy at the Hotel draw, said that the draw pitched Nigeria with Mexico, Iraq and Fairmont Bab Al Bahr in the UAE. Sweden in Group F.

Okon Invites 40 Super Falcons To Camp MR Edwin Okon, Caretaker For Japan Friendlies

Coach of the Super Falcons, on Monday invited 40 players to camp ahead of the team’s international friendly matches in Japan. A statement by the Media Officer of the Nigeria Football Association (NFA), Ademola Olajire, in Abuja said the invited players were expected to report in Abuja on September 27 It would be recalled that Okon was on Aug. 20 appointed as Super Falcons’ caretaker coach to pilot the team to the friendly matches. The Super Falcons are billed

Perpetual Nkwocha

to play their Japanese counterparts in two international friendly matches on September 22 and September 26. According to the statement, the invited players consist of a mixture of the young and promising and the hard-as-nails veterans. The statement said the list consist of five goal keepers, 13 defenders, seven mid-fielders and 15 strikers. The players include Dikachi Uzor (Delta Queens), Ibebuleye Whyte (Rivers Angels), Charity John (Rivers Angels), Sangonuga (Nasarawa Amazons), Damilola Akano (Sunshine Queens) and Ngozi Ebere (Rivers Angels). Others are Blessing Edoho (Pelican Stars), Funsho Osurinayo (Sunshine Queens), Josephine Chukwunonye (Rivers Angels), Gladys Abasi (Ibom Queens) and Rebecca Kalu (Rivers Angels). The other players include Margaret Dike (Nasarawa Amazons), Gloria Ofoegbu (Rivers Angels), Fasilat Adeyemo (Confluence Queens), Osinachi Ohale (Delta Queens) and Maria Nwoko (Delta Queens). Gladys Akpa (Bayelsa Queens), Sarah (Delta Queens), Maria Oke (FC Robo), Cecilia Nku (Bayelsa Queens),Asisat

Oshoala (Rivers Angels), Ngozi Okobi (Delta Queens) and Evelyn Nwabuoku (Rivers Angels) were also invited. The other players include Onyinyechi Ohadugha (Rivers Angels), Prudent Ugoh (Nasarawa Amazons), Ebere Orji (Bayelsa Queens), Esther Sunday (Pelican Stars), Remi Leku (Confluence Queens) and Maryam Ezenagu (C. I. Angels). Also on the list are Yetunde Aluko (Sunshine Queens), Maureen Godwin (Delta Queens), Mercy Amanze (Rivers Angels), Temitope Adebowale (FCT Queens), Stella Mbachu (Rivers Angels), Odunayo Isioma (Sunshine Queens) and Amenze Aighewi (Rivers Angels). The rest are Glory Iroka (Rivers Angels) Halimat Ayinde (Delta Queens), Uchechi Sunday (Rivers Angels) and Faustina Ugwuadu (Delta Queens). The Super Falcons had been without a coach since 2012 after Kadiri Ikhana resigned his appointment. Ikhana tendered his resignation after the team’s woeful performance at the African Women Championship (AWC) in 2012 when they finished fourth.

The coach said that the Golden Eaglets had been picked as the second team and would have the honour of playing the group’s opening game against the defending champions, Mexico, who were also the reigning CONCACAF champions. He said that the team’s work had been cut short, expressing confidence that that his wards would scale the hurdle and progress from the group. “I want to believe this is a fair draw for us and as you know, we have no choice than to prepare very well because this is an interesting and exciting group. “Of course, you will pick Mexico as one of the best teams at this level, having been champions in two recent editions of the tournaments but we (Nigeria) are also a power to be reckoned with at this level because we have won it on three previous occasions. “With all sense of humility, we would do our best to qualify from this group because it is our aim to do well at the World Cup. “We are not going to underrate any team starting from our first game against Mexico. “Alhough Sweden and Iraq are coming to the tournament for the first time, we cannot dismiss them too because every team at any tournament comes with the prospect to emerge champions. “So, we just have to take one step after the other in order to realise our ambition at the World Cup.” Garba said that the Nigerian Under-17 team would play in Group F, with their centre in Al Ain at the Championship coming up from October 17 to November 7. The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the Golden Eaglet’s are currently in Uyo from their Calabar Camp to intensify

preparations toward the 2013 FIFA Under 17 world Cup, slated for the UAE. The Golden Eaglets’ while in Uyo, would play a friendly match with Akwa Starlet or Akwa United before leaving for Calabar at the weekend.

ROTIMI George-Taylor, a former Chairman of the Nigeria Boxing Federation (NBF) says there is need to improve the quality of boxing in the country in order to win laurels at the elite level. “There is need more than ever before to re-attain international standards and to do so, we must effect certain changes,’’ GeorgeTaylor told newsmen in Lagos on Monday. He said that unless these changes were effected, boxing would continue to be redundant. According to him, if sport loving individuals can invest in the sport by providing private gyms and sponsorship, it will go a long way in producing proficient boxers. George-Taylor recalled how the private individuals’s support to grow the sport had helped to produce the likes of Muideen Akanji and others during his tenure as chairman. “Part of what we did then was that we used the gym of the former Governor of Edo State, Lucky Igbinedion, we appealed to him to allow us use his gym to train the boxers.

... Good To Have Defending Champions Mexico In Our Group - Ugbade

NDUKA Ugbade, one of the Assistant Coaches of the Golden Eaglets, yesterday expressed joy at having Mexico— FIFA U-17 World Cup defending champions—in the same Group F as Nigeria. The reports say that the group also includes Sweden and Iraq at the competition billed for the United Arab Emirates (UAE) from October 17 to November 8. Ugbade, the Eaglets skipper at the maiden edition of the U-17 World Cup in China in 1985, told newsmen on telephone that the group would be keenly contested. “Matches in the group will be keenly contested like it is the World Cup itself. “It is good having the defending champions fighting for placement alongside the Eaglets in the group stages: because keenly contested matches will be displayed all through the group matches. “The group matches are not going to be easy because it is like a preview to the tournament and what you see at the group stages is the exact of the championship,’’ Ugbade said. He said the Eaglets would not allow its failure to feature in the last edition of the competition to affect its preparation and

performance. “Although, there will be pressure on the Eaglets at the competition because it did not participate at the last edition, the players will not allow such to affect their performance at the championship. “The players are being groomed to take every match as it comes and give it all their best, not bothering about our absence at the last edition of the championship,’’ he said. Meanwhile, the Eaglets arrived in Uyo on August 25 with 35 players for a week-long camping ahead of the competition, and would later return to Calabar to continue their camping. It would be reported that the 15th edition of the competition will hold in six UAE cities, namely: Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Dubai, Fujairah, Sharjah and Ras Al Khaimah. The other venues are: Sharjah Stadium in Sharjah, Rashid Stadium in Dubai and Khalifa Bin Zayed Stadium, Al Ain. A total of 52 matches will be played in the UAE’s top stadia, including the Mohammed Bin Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi, the Emirates Stadium in Ras Al Khaimah and the Fujairah Stadium in Fujairah.

CMYK

Giving Honour To Whom It Is Due

ULLY aware that the godfathers recycled life and opportunity to the utter disadvantage of the ordinary masses of Edo state, Comrade Governor looked inwards and put the needed machineries in motion to boost the Internal Generated Revenue (IGR), as the Federal Allocation had dwindled to a trickle” – Quoted in CONQUEROR OF THE GODFATHERS (page49). via the On Monday, August state 19, 2013, as I was unprecedented Internal doing my routine daily Revenue drive of the civilian check on newspapers current via my laptop, a news administration. Readers should item on the front page of the Nigerian please allow me to Observer caught my digress a little before I eyes. Here is what will fully look into the attracted my attention famous and unique “ IGR: OSHIOMHOLE letter from Comrade COMMENDS EIRS Governor Oshiomhole BOSS”. As a close to Chief Elamah. Now, about watcher of the talking governance and activities of Comrade Adams Oshiomhole attitude of our people to since he took over the political office, the civilian administration recent return of Taraba Governor, of Edo state on state November 12, 2008, I Danbaba Suntai from medical was curious to know overseas why the Governor was treatment after ten commending chief months absence from his office in Jalingo, is Oseni Elamah. As I perused the something that calls for news items closer I mentioning on this discovered that column today. As a comrade Adams human being that is Osiomhole was very compassionate; commending the that allows wisdom and to Executive Chairman of commonsense dictate my position on the Edo state Internal Revenue serice most cases on this (EDIRS) chief (Sir) column, I feel really Oseni Elamah for his sorry for the pitiable e x c e p t i o n a l sight of Governor performance and Danbaba Suntai. To me, Governor commitment towards Danbaba Suntai really optimizing the revenue went to hell and came profile of Edo state. As someone that has back given the fact that survived an written profusely on he helicopter accident with the people’s Governor of Edo state, I fully his life still intact. I really understand why wish him speedy and comrade Adams full recovery! Now, this Oshiomhole has is the point I want to formally appreciated look at critically. the fantastic and Though, I thank God for m o n u m e n t a l his life so far, but what contribution of chief most of us saw of him Oseni Elamah to the as he battled to steady development of the his arrival shows clearly that Governor Suntai

has not fully recovered. If Governor Suntai has not fully recovered from the injuries he sustained during the crash he had, I think the man should just throw in the towel and allow his deputy to take over properly as the Governor of Taraba state. We don’t have to bring sentiments into what affects the

resignation. This is my quarrel with the kind of politicians that are parading themselves as leaders in this country. If you have crisis with your health or integrity (ie accusation of abuse of office via corruption, crime ete) why not resign honorably and vacate the scene? We have not forgotten the

Sir (Chief) Oseni Elamah, EIRS boss

destinies of millions of people in Taraba state. This man (Governor Suntai) has been away for close to one year now and the fact of the matter is that there is little or nothing an Acting Governor can achieve in place of the substantive Governor of a state. The hide and seek game being played out by member of his party and aides that the man is fit as a fiddle should be taken as a pinch of salt. Well, we can give him benefit of doubt for another two weeks for him to fully recover and if he does not seem to be taking over effectively, we should clamour for his

sordid things that came out during the illness of late president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, where the servant leader was bundled up and down before he finally packed up within the presidential villa, Abuja. Can’t we borrow a leaf from what is happening in Europe and America? Must we cling on to power by hook or crook even at the risk of our lives? What type of country is this, where anything goes including absolute lies and fraud in order to hang on to power? Is there no life outside power? Now, who has been picking the bills of Governor Suntai since his regrettable plane

crash? Of course is the Taraba Sate Government? That is the practise everywhere in our nation, to the utter detriment of the ordinary people on the streets, who have no access to decent living as a result of lack of potable water, electricity supply etc. I equally want to join comrade Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State to commend the Executive Director of Edo state Internal Revenue service (EDIRS), Chief Oseni Elamah for his w o n d e r f u l accomplishment since he was appointed to head the agency. If we have the likes of passionate character of the calibre of chief Elamah in every department of government in Edo state, doing what they should do proactively, even at a great cost to their personal comforts, I think everybody would have been happier for it? What gladdens my heart most profoundly is the fact that we are all living witnesses to the developmental efforts of comrade Adams Oshiomhole. That is to say that money being generated by Edo state Internal

Revenue service led by chief Elamah is positively being applied towards the a c c e l e r a t e d development of Edo state in commending chief Elamah for doing a great and marvelous job, comrade Oshiomhole posited. “… In increasing the revenue profile of the state since your assumption of leadership of the board, despite all odds” The Governor described chief E l a m a h ’ s ” achievements as not only phenomenal but a diligent commitment to duty. We have not forgotten the recent battle at Benin Airport , where some chaps wanted to blackmail chief Elamah and his team. Nigerians should be alive to their constitutional duties and obligations. We know of countries in Europe who live absolutely on Internally Generated Revenue to flourish. We should encourage the industry and remarkable character of chief Elamah, so that comrade Oshiomhole can take Edo state to promised next level.

TOMORROW ON THIS PAGE

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She had her share of the infamy: had she fallen into a pit toilet, a sachet of N20 detergent would have cleaned her up; had she been diagnosed of some serious ailment, by now she would have been completing her medication; but in split seconds, her inability to read had incurably destroyed her for life.

”

-Hon. Josef Omorotionmwan

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