The Nigerian
PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vol . 39 NO. 023 • MONDAY, JUNE 30, 20 14 • N100.00 VIEW POINT Pg 13 Nigeria And The World Bank Poverty Index
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Where Does That Leave Us?
ARCHIVAL MATTERS Pg. 21
Akunyili
Teacher Without Students
ASUP resolves to continue strike
LAGOS The National Executive Council of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnics (ASUP) has resolved to continue its nine months old strike
pending the outcome its meeting with the Senate Committee on Education on July 1. Mr Chibuzor Asumogha, the President of the union, made the statement in
an interview with newsmen at the end of ASUPs 77th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Lagos. He said that a meeting of the committee and some education
stakeholders scheduled for June 24 did not hold because no government official came. “That meeting was supposed to be held, resolution reached and
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Infrastructural Development
Oshiomhole re-assures Edos BY ADAMS OYIBOKE
BENIN CITY – Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has re-stated the commitment of his administration in the Infrastructural Development of every nooks and crannies of the state. was to build a school, Oshiomhole stated this because the only school weekend when he in Iyekogba now is a announced the private school. I have no immediate construction problem with private of road Linking Iyekogba schools but government Community and the schools must exist in construction of a every community. government owned “I know we have school in the area designed it. There is one following a solidarity visit oil company that said to by the people of us, we wanted to build a Iyekogba Community to school and I said to them the Governor at go and build it there. It Government House, would appear they Benin City. haven’t done it, since He said “I remember they have not done it, another promise I made
hear and now I promise you today that by next week, I will call the commissioner for Education to advertise in line with our procurement act and we will invite people to bid and we will start c o n s t r u c t i o n
immediately.” Oshiomhole wondered at the attitudes of some APC law makers who sold the mandate of the people and abandoned their constituencies because of money. According to him “Oredo for example has
benefited more from road projects, erosion control project, schools, so, why will the person representing that constituency leave. He left because those issues were not important to him.
Whether government builds roads, supply electricity transformers, build schools, build erosion control project, walk-way, and many other good things does not matter to him, what
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Don advises NUC, JAMB on admission quota
ABUJA - Prof. Chris Ohuruogu of Afe Babalola University has advised regulatory bodies in the education sector to ensure that private universities abide by admission quota allotted to them. Ohuruogu gave the advice in a keynote address he delivered on Saturday in Abuja at the Graduation, Speech and
2014 World Cup Netherlands 2 Mexico 1
Prize giving day of Pace Setters’ Schools. He said both the National Universities Commission (NUC) and the Joint Matriculation Board (JAMB) should ensure that private universities do not exceed the quota allotted to them. “ When the regulatory bodies do not enforce the rules in terms of ratio of admissions to allotted quota, they break the rules. “Many of the private universities need more students to survive and they also depend on tuition fees which should not be the case.
TIT BIT “The oppression of the poor is not uncommon in the land, where evil is reprimanded by a slow Justice system. - Kingsley Ogbeide-Ihama
“Many private universities are unmindful of the facilities, quality of teachers among others, and they go ahead and admit more than the carrying capacity,’’ he said. Ohuruogu said that statistics of admission
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Chief John Odigie Oyegun, newly elected APC National Chairman, (middle) Chief Francis Inegbineki, leader, All Progressive Congress (APC) (right) and Mrs. Amen Uhunagho, during a reception for Chief Oyegun at the party Secretariat in Benin City. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
No plans to tax borehole owners
BENIN CITY - The Edo State Commissioner for Energy and Water Resources, Mr Chris Ebare, said yesterday that the State Government has no plans to tax borehole
owners. The commissioner told newsmen in Benin that the state government was committed to the welfare of the people as well as ensuring the availability of safe
potable water for the citizens. Ebare said that in spite of the increasing number of boreholes in homes across the state, government would ensure that water was
have benefited from the Edo First Lady’s Empowerment Scheme in the last six months, an official of the
programme, has said. Hajia Memuna Momodu, Executive Director, Office of the First Lady in Edo,
disclosed this to newsmen yesterday in Benin. Momodu said that the beneficiaries were drawn
- Commissioner supplied from its reservoir. He noted that sinking of boreholes by residents was a “plan B” option to
1,000 benefit from Govt empowerment from the 18 local BENIN CITY - No programme government areas of the fewer than 1,000 people state. According to her, the beneficiaries were trained in the act of making Pop, Continues on page 2
ensure constant water supply in their homes. He said that the state government was collaborating with the United Nations International Children Education Fund (UNICEF), the European Union (EU) and the Federal Ministry of Water Resources to achieve its vision of providing safe drinking water. He explained that Continues on page 2
News
Oshiomhole re-assures Edos
Continued from page 1 matter is the money they have collected. Governor Oshiomhole used the occasion to enlighten the people on the prevailing political log-jam in the State House of Assembly stressing that PDP was defeated in Edo South, Edo North and part of Edo Central. He said “now the people who we persuaded you to vote for, you voted based on what you said that where I go, you will go because you know I will not mislead you. The PDP has now decided to use their deep pocket since they can’t win election, procure law makers the way you procure vegetables in the market. “The good news is that out of 20 APC law makers, only 5 were ready to be sold and to be bought and they have paid huge sum of money ranging from N50m to N70m, but I am happy to say that we still have men and women who have refused to be sold,” he stressed. He therefore urged the people to be weary of money bag politicians as 2015 elections draw near, stressing that they should vote for credible men and women who would not sell development for naira and kobo.
Earlier in an address, the President of Iyekogba Community Development Council, H.R.H, Osayemwen Osagie, the Enogie of Umegbe Dukedom thanked the Governor for the numerous developments at Iyekogba Community.
Continued from page 1 Text-coat paints, Emulsion paints, stain removals, inter locking tiles, soap and cream making. She also said that the beneficiaries were given starter packs as well as financial assistance to help them start up without difficulties. Momodu further said that the beneficiaries were exposed to market strategies to enable them market their products. She said that the State Government had provided the enabling environment and financial assistance to the beneficiaries for the success of the scheme. The director said that the empowerment and skill acquisition programme was
place but further investigation would be able to reveal the reasons for the attack and the people behind it. The Chairman of Bali Local Government Area, Mr Andrew Yerima, said the herdsmen were trailed by the armed men from GarbaChede market where they were believed to have gone to sell their cows. Yerima called for calm and advised residents of the area not to take the law into their hands. He assured them that the culprits would be brought to book.
conducted at least three times in a year. She said that the training and empowerment was part of the state government committed to ensure that every household in the state had a means of livelihood. According to her, it is mandatory that 20 people are
selected to participate from each of the 18 local government areas in each phase of the training. Momodu also disclosed that the office in December, 2013, empowered some widows with income generating items, like sewing machines, hair dryers and grinding machines.
ASUP resolves to continue strike
Continued from page 1
agreement signed. “It was against the backdrop that we fixed the NEC meeting so that, if we have the resolutions, we will come here and suspend the strike. “Incidentally, none of the government official came for the meeting and because of that the meeting did not hold,’’ he told newsmen. The official said that the committee deferred the meeting to July 1. Asumogha said that union resolved to continue the strike until the parties would be able to arrive at a mutual understanding. “This is the position of the NEC; we are meeting again next Tuesday,” he said. “We have been compromising since 2013. We have continued to agree to suspend the strike but at each point government always bridged the agreement,” he said. He appealed to the parents and students to continue to be patient and support the union to achieve it goals.
“The thing we are saying is that government should be committed. When is it going to offset the arrears of the salary scale CONTISS 15 it is owing since 2009?’’ he asked. ASUP embarked on an indefinite strike in October, 2013 to press home its demand for improvement in the condition of service and infrastructure in governmentowned polytechnics, monotechnics and colleges of technology. It also demands that the Federal Government should remove dichotomy between HND and degree holders. Other demands include the release of the White Paper on the NEEDS assessment of polytechnics and review of the Polytechnic Act by the National Assembly, among others. The government has met some of the demands, including inauguration of governing councils and setting up of the NEEDS assessment committees.
Don advises NUC, JAMB on admission quota Continued from page 1
into private universities for 2013 did not reflect good performance of the institutions in terms of ratio to allotted quota. The professor, who is also
No plans to tax borehole owners Continued from page 1 government has so far rehabilitated all the water stations across the state, adding that plans were almost concluded to reticulate water from the Ojirame Dam, in Akoko Edo North. Ebare also said that the Ewohimi water scheme in Edo Central has commenced water reticulation and that the water project in Ugboha, Esan North East local government area, was 80 per cent completed. He explained that the replacement of exhumed asbestos pipes had commenced following a World Health Organisation warning that asbestos cause cancer.
period in the state, is a fulfillment of our pledge to you when we visited you here two years ago. “We did promise you then that wherever you go, we shall go and that your party will be our party and your God will be our God.”
1,000 benefit from Govt empowerment programme
Gunmen kill 13 Fulani herdsmen - Police
JALINGO - The police in Jalingo confirmed that unknown gunmen at the weekend trailed and killed 13 Fulani herdsmen who were returning from village markets in Garba-Chede and Maihula. ASP Joseph Kwaji, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the police command in the state made the disclosure on Sunday in Jalingo. He said the herdsmen were waylaid and killed by unidentified group of armed youths along a bush path in the outskirts of Maihula in Bali Local Government Area of the state. According to him, no arrest has been made but the command has beefed up security in the area to track down the perpetrators. He added that it was not clear why the incident took
He used the occasion of the visit to reaffirmed his community commitment and loyalty to the administration of the Comrade Governor. According to His Royal Highness, “Your Excellency, our decision to stand behind you during this trying political
However, Ebare disclosed that the ministry in conjunction with the state House Committee on Water was working to ensure that only registered sachet water producers operate in the state. According to the commissioner, 18 facilities of illegal sachet water companies were shut down early this year due to illegal activities. The commissioner also explained that some of the sachet producers were operating in unhealthy environment and urged members of the public to report such illegal operators.
a consultant on Rule of Law, Good Governance and Development, urged the regulatory bodies to be firm in their decisions on allotted quota. He urged the Federal Government to increase its investment in the education sector to improve the deteriorating conditions of public universities. “So many people cannot afford to enrol into private schools; we need to do more to ensure that we give Nigerian children the opportunity to go to school, ‘’he said. He appealed to the graduating students to shun vices and anti-social behaviours. Earlier, the chairman of Pace Setters’ Mr Kenneth Imansuangbon, commended the graduating students on their achievements. “As you go into higher education, I urge you to have good character, always be at your best; do not relent in your
studies because the sky is your limit.” he said. Imansuangbon also urged the government to rise up to its responsibilities in the education sector. In his remark, Chief Olu Falae, former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), advised the graduating students to study courses that would make them self employed after graduation from the university. “Rather than being job seekers, you must set the pace for economic advancement of the country, that is the only way to solve unemployment in the country,’’ Falae said. Reports state that the students received awards for the Imansuangbon Essay Competition for both the senior and junior categories. The three winners from both categories received N50, 000, N25,000, N10, 000 and a laptop each.
NDLEA arrests 104, seizes 1,000kg of canabis JALINGO - The National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday said it arrested 104 suspects involved in various drug related offenses in Taraba between January and June. Mr Yusuf Kwajafa, the agency commandant in the state, told newsmen in Jalingo that the suspects were arrested with assorted illicit drugs at various locations across the state. Kwajafa disclosed that a total of 1031.1kg of cannabis saliva and 55.8kg of psychotropic substances were seized during the period. “The figures would have been higher if not for the logistic problem. “Lack of facilities for counseling and lack of office accommodation were some of the factors militating against effective performance of the agency in
the state.’’ Kwajafa appealed to relevant authorities to assist the command with a rehabilitation center. He said that such centre would save parents of convicted drug addict the cost and risk of travelling to Yola in Adamawa State to visit their children and wards. He said that the command had in the last one year organised anti-drug abuse enlightenment campaigns for members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) in the state. Kwajafa said that the agency was working hard to ensure that its officers were secured in the course of discharging their duties. He appealed to community leaders to always assist the agency with useful information that would check drug trade in the state.
How Nigeria can attain economic freedom - Didi Adodo BENIN CITY - The Commissioner for Establishment and Special Duties, Comrade Didi Adodo has called on Nigerians to contribute their quota to the over-all development of the country. Commissioner Adodo posited that the prevailing situation in the country was unacceptable, whereby the country virtually imports everything saying that there is no country that can attain economic freedom and selfreliance except the situation is reversed. The Establishment and Special Duties Commissioner stated that the current trend does not augur well for the country, and decried the present situation in which, the country import education, health, electricity, cars, refrigerators, and refined petroleum products which according to him is a gift of God to Nigeria. He asserted that if Nigerians, irrespective of their standing in the society could play their role objectively, the country will witness rapid economic development in no distant future. He called on parents as well as children to remake the world, pointing out that it is only by so doing will the society stem the rising wave of armed robbery, kidnapping and other social vices presently bedeviling the country. He further added that to reengineer the society, the Comrade Adams Oshiomhole-led government declared free education in primary and secondary school, and called on parents to key into this kind gesture of the government by enrolling their wards and children in government
schools. To meet the health need of the populace, the Commissioner informed his visitors that free medical care was declared by Governor Oshiomhole for all pregnant women in the State as well as children below the age of five. He implore all and sundry to imbibe the Child Rights Acts, and advised all relevant government and non-governmental organizations to print and circulate the Child Rights Acts for the education of all Nigerians Commissioner Adodo urged parents to jettison the old age idea that only the female child should be made to carry out domestic chores at home, appealing to parents to also train the boy child, to handle domestic issues in the family. Earlier, the Coordinator of Abuja Chapter of the National Council of Child Rights Advocacy, of Nigeria (NACCRAN) Mrs. Margaret Udoh accompanied by Edo State Chapter Coordinator Ronke Ojeikere who paid a courtesy call on the said that their mission in Edo State is to sensitize government officials on the right of the Nigerian child. Mrs. Udoh stated that the right of the children should be respected by parents and government alike. She said the present idea whereby parents dictate the choice of career, life partner for the children, is no longer acceptable. At the courtesy call were the Director for STC, Mrs. Julie Olatunji, Sam Okpeaye, PRO, Mr. A.P. Ebesunu, Director of Labour, Mr. Mohammed Okhelowa, Training among others.
Inside Edo Say No To Violence, Don Urges Nigerians By FRIDAY OBANOR BENIN CITY – A research fellow and counselling psychology expert in the Child’s Health Institute, University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH), Mrs. Omolara Famuyiwa has appealed to Nigerians to “say no to violence for the sake of our children”. Delivering a lecture entitled: “violence and insecurity in the country: The prospect for the Nigerian Child” at the monthly seminar series of the Institute of Child’s Health UBTH, Mrs. Famuyiwa charged Nigerians to rise up and condemn every act of violence and terrorism in the country, so as to remain one united, strong and indivisible nation”. Mrs. Famuyiwa further stated that “if the citizens of Nigeria could resolve their differences, culturally, religiously, politically and aspire in the patriotic spirit of oneness, Nigeria in its resourcefulness will soar higher than the eagle in the aspect of development”. According to her, “apart from government and political leaders, the citizenry must contribute their quota to national development, while every individual should strive within his/her capability to work towards the betterment of the nation”. While stating that our children
are future, hope and leaders of tomorrow, Mrs. Famuyiwa charged parents guidance and government not to allow the children suffer in the midst of plenty, stressing that anything the society impacts on the young today will definitely manifest itself in the future. Earlier in a brief remark, Director of the Institute, Professor Osawaru Oviawe said the monthly lecture is put together to teach both the young and old the common rudiment of good living habit. Prof. Oviawe further hinted that beside information dissimination on issues of child’s health, the institute is directly involved in immunization, good nutrition value, clean environment and disease prevention and control in child’s health. On his part, Professor Charles Eregie who is also a child health specialist blamed the rising wave of insecurity in the country on failed promises. Prof. Eregie further noted that bad, insensitive leadership without character for budgetary implementation are part of the reason for the lack of confidence in government. According to him, “until we are able to get our electoral process in sound footing, the issue of good governance will continue to elude us while violence will continuing to persist”.
Edo Chief Judge Begins Visits To Prisons July 2
Vice-President Namadi Sambo at the Maitama Hospital in Abuja to sympathise with victims of the bomb blast in Abuja recently.
Edo ’ll Collaborate With Oil Coys Infrastructure:
BENIN CITY - Mr. Isimeme Iriogbe, the Commissioner for Special Duties Oil and Gas in Edo, said the state would collaborate with oil companies to build infrastructure in oil producing communities. The commissioner made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen in Benin City. Iriogbe said that the collaboration was to ensure that
Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina (right) at the scene of shopping mall bomb blast on Aminu Kano Crescent, Wuse 2 in Abuja recently.
- Commissioner
oil companies operating in the state carried out meaningful and sustainable projects in their host communities as part of their corporate social responsibility. He added that though the arrangement had not been concluded, the collaboration would ensure that projects like the construction of model secondary schools, health centres and skill acquisition centres would be constructed in oil bearing communities. He, however, observed that some of the oil companies were already involved in granting scholarships to the tune of N50,000 to deserving undergraduates from their host communities, adding that they needed to do more. He noted that “though the scholarship scheme is a good step to boosting school enrolment, the construction of model primary and secondary schools are also necessary. “This is because such structures are dilapidated in some areas and needed repairs or are just not there in some areas. “The state government’s collaboration with the oil companies will now ensure that sustainable and meaningful
projects like the model secondary schools, health centres, among others, are provided for the people.’’
Board GM Advocates Regular Sanitation BENIN CITY – The General Manager of Edo State Waste Management Board, Gillian Ochugbe said environmental sanitation should not be a monthly exercise but should be a daily exercise to keep our environment clean. She made this known while leading a team of waste managers and staff of the state Ministry of Environment to monitor the state wide monthly environmental exercise weekend. According to her, refuse is generated daily and as such cleaning of our environment should also be done daily by citizens, without waiting until every last Saturday of the month. She said the board staff are on ground to evacuate all refuse to the dump site in order to ensure clean environment.
PFN Condemns Attempted Bomb Attack On Church BENIN CITY - The Pentecostal Fellowship of Nigeria (PFN), has condemned in strong terms, the attempted bomb attack on the Owerri branch of Living Faith Church (LFC) a.k.a. Winners’ Chapel by suspected Boko Haram members. PFN National President, Rev. Dr. Felix Omobude who made the condemnation in a press statement in Benin City, Edo State, however, thanked God that the deadly bomb did not explode and kill innocent Christian worshipers in the church. Dr. Omobude who is theGeneral Overseer of Gospel Light International Ministries
(GLIM) - New Covenant Gospel Church called on the Nigeria Police to carefully investigate all those arrested in connection with the incident with a view of ascertaining their true identities. He charged the Police authorities not to succumb to blackmail or pressures from any quarters in carrying out investigations relating to criminal activities, especially acts of terrorism. The PFN National President also urged the federal government to intensify action in unmasking the sponsors of Boko Haram and bring them to book so as to serve as deterrent to
others. While calling on all Christians, irrespective of their denomination to remain prayerful and be security conscious at all times, even as he urged them to report to security agents any strange object and people of questionable character. Dr. Omobude who expressed disgust over the incessant and heartless bombing and killing of innocent Nigerians across the country by the Islamic sect, Boko Haram, he wondered why Nigeria, hitherto a peaceful nation has been turned into a killing field. He condemned in its totality, the constant and consistent
abduction of girls in the North Eastern zone of the country by members of the Boko Haram and charged the federal government to use all available human and material resources to rescue the girls and all other Nigerians held in captivity within and outside the country. “Now is time for non-partisan and non-religious approach to stamp out the activities of Boko Haram from the country,” the PFN President, stated. On the recent arrest of 486 Boko Haram suspects along Aba-Port-Harcourt Road, Dr. Omobude advised security agencies to be very discreet in
BENIN CITY – The Edo State Chief Judge, Justice Cromwell Idahosa and members of the Administration of Justice Committee will from Wednesday July 2, 2014 begin visits to the four prison formations in the state. A statement by the Chief Registrar of the State High Court of Justice, Hilary Enemaku (Esq) indicated that the visits will commence at Oko Prison, Benin City at 9am on Wednesday July 2, 2014 while Central Prison Benin City will be on Thursday July 3, 2014 also at 9am. On Friday July 4, 2014, the committee will visit Ubiaja Prison, Ubiaja beginning at 10am and climax with the visit to Auchi Prison, Auchi at 1pm same day. The statement requests the Nigerian Barr. Association, the Nigerian Prison, the Police and the general public to please note.
their investigations in order to uncover the true identities of the suspects. He called on Nigerians to continue to give their unconditional support to the security agencies and stop making inflammatory and premature comments over security matters. “It is very important that we allow our security agencies to do their job professionally. Nigerians, especially the political and religious leaders should stop doing or saying things that would undermine the activities of our security forces,” the PFN National President added.
“We should not dump our refuse in the drains or unauthorised places as it will make it difficult for our team to pick for disposal. “We work round the clock, even on Sunday, you will see our trucks moving round to pick refuse for disposal. All this, we do to ensure we have a cleaner environment, no matter the challenges of waste disposal, we are equal to the task,” she said. Ochugbe however warned all persons that resort to playing football on major roads during sanitation period to stop the act or get arrested and prosecuted by law enforcement officer. Commenting on the exercise, a resident in Emovon Street in New Benin area of Benin City urged citizens to complement the efforts of the state government by actively involved in cleaning their environment. “I like to clean my environment and don’t wait for anyone to force me to do so, rather, I mobilise others to clean our surrounding”, she said. Commending the effort of waste managers on refuse disposal, a resident of Upper Uwa Street in New Benin axes of Benin City, Pastor (Mrs.) Abraham thanked the government for using the waste manager to remove the huge refuse by the moat which has post a lot of health challenges to the people living in that area. “We thank the waste managers lead by Gillian Ochugbe for coming today with her team to remove this leap of refuse that has been here for over four years now.
South-South
$16b Gas Project: Host Communities Resolve BY BETTY IDIALU ASABA - The Communities that make up the $16 Billion Ogidigben Gas City [Export Processing Zone] have resolved to stop further acrimony and inciting actions to ensure that the project is peacefully executed. At a town hall meeting in Government House, Asaba presided over by the Delta State Governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan, the communities resolved to stop all negative publications against the Ogidigben Gas City project and continue to live peacefully among themselves. Speaking at the parley, Governor Uduaghan said it was important for the people of the area to see the Gas City project as a project which will not only be beneficial to the host communities, the state, and the nation, but also of great importance to the international community. He observed that all efforts
have been made to ensure that the host communities are comfortable with the project, but decried the situation where some persons still express their grievances on the pages of newspapers as against round table talk. The Governor who commended the host communities for agreeing to stop all forms of hostilities, set up a fact-finding committee headed by his Deputy, Prof. Amos Utuama (SAN) to consolidate on the resolutions reached at the Town Hall meeting. Members of the committee which included five persons from each of the host communities are: the State Commissioners for Oil and Gas, Mr. Mofe Pira; Lands and Survey, Sir Patrick Ferife; State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice in the state, Barr. Charles Ajuyah(SAN); representatives of the Police, Navy and the State Security Services. Governor Uduaghan at the
Commissioner Debunks Alleged Selective Demolition BY BETTY IDIALU WARRI - The Delta State Commissioner for Environment and Chairman, Special Task Force on Sanitation, Chief Frank Omare, has described as baseless and unfounded, the allegations in some quarters that the demolition of illegal structures exercise across the state was selective. The Commissioner said this while speaking with journalists of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Warri Correspondents’ Chapel. During the maiden edition of: SEARCH LIGHT ON THE STATE OF THE STATE” a bi-monthly programme put together by Warri journalists to x ray activities of the State Government. Chief Frank Omare said the demolition exercise was not aimed at witch-hunting anybody, rather, a deliberate effort towards following government policies and ensuring a cleaner and healthier Delta State. According to the commissioner, the task force was given the mandate by the State executive Council to rid the state of all illegal structures and ensure that residents of Delta State follow government’s lay down laws for erecting structures. Decrying the way and manner people abuse the environment through indiscriminate dumping of refuse he said the State Ministry of Environment was at the verge of purchasing waste bins that every compound in the state would be mandated to buy at subsidised rate. The Task Force Chairman
said, “Government is not a father Christmas; people should pay to take care of the waste they generate” The commissioner who said he was determine and not ready to compromise policies of government, frowned at situations where people whip up sentiments to go against the law, saying that poverty is no excuse to impunity. He wondered why government would spend millions of tax payers’ money to construct modern and befitting markets for trader only for such markets to be used as refuse dump sites while the traders enjoy the risks of trading on the road. He denied the allegation that wives of government officials who have no business at the markets owned majority of the stalls.
To Sheathe Sword
meeting lauded the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure successful take off of the project, stating that as an individual, he is fully in support of the programmes of President Jonathan’s administration. “I want to restate that I am 100 percent in support of Mr. President; nobody can discourage me from supporting him because he means well for the Niger Delta region and Nigeria,” the Governor said. “The Gas City project will bring many other projects to the host communities especially, gas processing facilities, petrochemical industries, deep sea port, among others and as such, we should participate actively in the take off of the project,” he added. Those who spoke on behalf of the host communities at the meeting which was attended by
the Ugborodo Community, Gbaramatu Community, Sekegboro/Yokro Community,
Kpokpo/Fregene Family and the Ilaje/Ilesame family commended Governor Uduaghan for
attracting the project to Delta State, stating that they are aware of the devastating effects of war and as such, they will toe the line of peace at all times for them to have full benefits of the Gas City Project.
Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Speaker Edo State House of Assembly (left) and Dr. Matie Obazee, President World Organisation of Family Doctors, Africa Region during the Organisation’s courtesy call on the Speaker in his office recently. PHOTO: GODWIN ISEGUAN
IYC Debunks Alleged Fraud
WARRI - The Itsekiri National Youths Council (INYC) has refuted in strong term, the allegation of fraud levelled against the INYC by an Itsekiri woman leader, Chief (Mrs.) Rita Lori Ogbebor of receiving and pocketing the sum of N100million from the office of the Special Adviser to the President on Niger-Delta Affairs under the Post Amnesty programme popularly called “Amnesty”. Chairman INYC, Honourable David Tonwe who disclosed this at the weekend in Warri, Delta State during a press briefing said the allegation was not only baseless and grossly unfounded, but a calculated attempt by those he described as “mischief makers and anti progressive forces” to drag
his hard earned reputations to the mud. Speaking through the INYC Legal Adviser, Barrister Robinson Ariyo, Honourable Tonwe denied ever receiving money from the Amnesty Office as being rumoured, challenging the accusers to a press debate to prove their case. While decrying the conduct of Chief Rita Lori Ogbebor, a palace chief, Hon. Tonwe said it was sacrosanct to have adequate information before arriving at any conclusion, irrespective of the personality. “An uninformed decision is one which is made based on the gathering of sufficient information while the contrary is one made, based on no information at all. “He said.
Former President Olusegun Obasanjo (right), signing condolence register during his visit to the family of late Alhaji Azeez Arisekola Alao in Ibadan on Saturday. With him are, former Secretary to Oyo State Government, Chief Olayiwola Olakojo (left) and brother to late Arisekola, Alhaji Abu Arisekola Alao.
He noted however that the Amnesty office is a public office governed by the rules and regulations of public procurement which transactions are available in the amnesty office upon simple inquiries. Explaining further at the meeting which had scores Itsekiri youths groups in attendance, Tonwe said Itsekiri is not the only ethnic nationality benefitting from the amnesty programme, saying that attention by the office is not done to place Itsekiris at any advantage above the other ethnic nationalities. “No ethnic nationality is paid any money at all by the amnesty office as monies are not paid by the office on the bases of ethnic nationalities,” he said. He debunked alleged illegal deductions from the stipends of the beneficiaries of the post amnesty programs, adding that “the project to secure the participation of the Itsekiri in the Amnesty Program was conceived, executed and sponsored by the INYC. “Since the amnesty office does not pay administrative charges, the INYC draw lessons from the challenges of other ethnic groups under the scheme, hence it met with the potential beneficiaries as they then were and agreed that an administrative charge of 19% be made on the
stipends that they are entitled to so as to offset the administrative cost and provide educational support for those other sons and daughters of Itsekiri who might not be as lucky as they are.” He further stated that beneficiaries of the amnesty program, apart from receiving stipends on a monthly basis from which an administrative charge of 19% is deducted, the beneficiaries also acquire trainings by respective training institutions and such training fees are paid directly to the training institutes by the amnesty office. “INYC does not receive any training fees, nor does it buy materials; these are done by endors (companies) that are registered with the Amnesty office,” he said. He also noted that the amnesty program was fought for and obtained for the Itsekiri ethnic nationality by the INYC under the leadership of David Tonwe whose tenure expires in 2017, adding that INYC is not a political tool for politicians to toss around. It has never been and will never be. He averred. It would be recalled that Chief Mrs. Rita Lori Ogbebor led a group of women under the agiesd of Warri Women Assembly(A group the INYC) to protest alleged financial improprieties among others by the David Tonwe led INYC.
News Ramadan Fair: Traders,
Customers Assured Of KANO (KANO STATE) Security
- Participants at the ongoing Ramadan Fair in Kano have been assured of adequate security at the complex. The Secretary of the Organising Committee, Hajiya Khadija Usman, gave the assurance in an interview with newsmen in Kano. She said the committee had taken adequate security measures to ensure the safety of both participants and customers at the complex. “This is the fourth edition of Ramadan fair. It started in 2011 and our aim is to ensure that all goods are sold at subsidised rates. “Traders are encouraged to reduce their prices in order to assist the less privileged persons during this sacred month. This is our primary
aim. Participation is free and security is guaranteed’’, she said. Usman said that participation was free with the understanding that products would be sold at cheaper prices than in the open market. She said the committee had also invited grain sellers from Dawanau International Grains Market to sell at the fair. Usman urged the participants to cooperate with the committee by giving reasonable discount to customers so as to achieve the desired objective. Reports state that the fair aims to provide succour to customers during the Ramadan fasting.
NGO Advises Mothers Sexual Abuse:
PORT HARCOURT Miss Gloria Kanu, the Director of BigGlo Concepts, a Port Harcourtbased NGO, advised mothers to educate their girl-child on the consequences of sexual abuse. Kanu gave the advice in Port Harcourt at a lecture to mark the Catholic Women Organisation (CWO) Week at Saint Mary’s parish, Port Harcourt. The director said early involvement in sexual activities by girls could cause cervical cancer later in life. She added that sexual abuse of the girl-child had become rampant in the society, noting that about 90 per cent of the abuses were perpetrated by relations and neighbours. She also warned women against leaving their daughters in the care of maids, saying women must instruct their daughters to report any bad play from boys. She advised mothers to seek immediate medical attention for victims and report abuse case or cases to the police. The director said some parents had slept with their biological daughters, while
L-R: Comrade Didi Adodo, Commissioner for Special Duties, Knights of St. Christopher (KSC), Hon. Joelson Egbe (KSC) Senior Special Assistant to Governor Adams Oshiomhole and Sir Amos Aigbokhaevbo, MD/CEO Mangate Cleaners during the 4th Synod of the Anglican Diocese of Esan which took place at Ebele recently. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
Police Deny Escape Of 8 Abducted Chibok Girls
some boys slept with their sisters. She added that a girl that was sexually abused would be moody and withdrawn, while others would go wild.
MAIDUGURI - The Borno State Police Command has said that no new abducted student of Government Girls Secondary School (GGSS), Chibok, had escaped from captivity. Reports stated that there were speculations that eight of the abducted school girls escaped from their captors.
LAFIA - The Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA) is ready to collaborate with relevant stakeholders in efforts to intensify the campaign against HIV/AIDS in the state, an official said. Dr Umaru Zakri, the Executive Secretary of NASACA, who gave the assurance at a three-day stakeholders meeting in Lafia, said the decision was
necessitated by the state’s recent ranking. Zakri, who was represented by the agency’s Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Aishatu Hadikaseem, said the state was recently ranked fourth among states with HIV prevalence. He said the ranking by the National HIV and AIDS Reproductive Health Survey had placed the state fourth on the HIV prevalence ranking
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Alhaji Lawan Tanko, told newsmen in Maiduguri that the story was not true. “I want to state without fear of contradiction that I never confirmed the escape of eight of the abducted GGSS, Chibok girls.
“I do not even know the author of the story,” he said. Tanko advised journalists to always cross check their facts before going to press. “The story has caused me some embarrassment because I never spoke to anybody on the issue. “If truly, any of the girls had
escaped, we will not hesitate in giving the media the information. “It is sad that a journalist can just create a non-existing story and attribute same to me,’’ he said. It will be recalled that over 200 female students of the school were abducted on April 14 by suspected insurgents.
HIV/AIDS Campaign: Agency To Partner Stakeholders from its previous seventh position in the country. “The agency has put all necessary machinery on ground to empower the Local Action Committees on AIDS (LACA) so as to carry out an effective sensitisation in all the nooks and crannies of the state. “We will also partner with all local governments, the National Orientation Agency (NOA), the media, traditional
rulers, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and foreign partners, among others, in the campaign. “This new approach, to partner with all stakeholders in the effort to take the campaign against HIV and AIDS to the nooks and crannies of the state, will help significantly in reducing the spread of the disease. “The agency has mapped out strategies to enlighten
Sir, Chief (Dr) Ezekiel Ainabe, (KSC) and the Ojomo of Ekpoma, congratulating Elder Tes Sorae, Managing Director Tomline Construction Company, shortly after he was honoured with an Award by Diocese of Esan, Anglican Communion which took place at St. Matthew’s Church Ebele. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
pregnant women who tested HIV-positive to take proper medication and counselling, so as to ensure that the children they give birth to are free from the disease,’’ Zakri said. He said all citizens should be involved in the campaign against HIV and AIDS. The NASACA executive secretary also said there was the need for all stakeholders to continue to educate the public on the dangers of the disease. Zakri, therefore, appealed to governments at all levels, public-spirited individuals and other bodies to join hands with the agency in supporting the campaign to ensure success. Aliwu Isa-Abba, the Chairman LACA, promised to monitor his members closely in order to educate the rural populace about the dangers of the disease. Reports state that traditional rulers, religious leaders, corps members, heads of primary and secondary schools, and NASACA monitoring officers, among others, attended the forum.
News
Association Reaffirms Support For Barrack Community
ABUJA - Mrs. Mary Badeh, the National President, Defence and Police Officers Wives Association (DEPOWA), has reaffirmed the commitment of the association to support barracks community. Badeh made the pledge in Abuja at a send-off party organised for Mrs. Aminat Ibrahim, the former president of the association and four coordinators who served during her tenure. “Let me use this medium to reaffirm the commitment of DEPOWA to continue to provide the necessary support and encouragement to the families of our members and the barrack community. “I will not fail to acknowledge the support of the former Chief of Defence Staff and his successor to the aspirations of DEPOWA,’’ she said. Badeh said the association decided to honour Ibrahim because of her contributions to the growth and development of womanhood. She added that the association also honoured Ibrahim for her kindness within and outside the
barracks community. “Under her watch, DEPOWA evolved into a very robust, responsible and highly regarded organisation due to her exemplary leadership and the selfless service of her members. “I am happy to note that the foundation laid by the founding mothers of DEPOWA are being sustained and improved upon by succeeding generations of leadership. “I therefore acknowledge and commend the invaluable contributions of the past presidents of DEPOWA,’’ she said. Badeh listed some of the achievements of the former president to include the successful hosting of DEPOWA Week and the rehabilitation and restructuring of its secretariat building. She also commended Ibrahim for the purchase of a brand new 18 sitter bus for DEPOWA. “Others are the completion of the Phase II and equipping of classrooms in DEPOWA Daycare Nursery and Primary School and empowering members of
Defence Non-Commissioned Officers’ Wives Association (DENCOWA). The president pledged to uphold the tenets of peaceful, innovative and harmonious working relationship displayed by Ibrahim. Responding, Ibrahim thanked members of the association for their support and urged them to continue to work together as a team. “Let us stop fighting one another by being friends and working together to better our nation,’’ she said. The four coordinators honoured by the association were: Mrs. Juliet Akinsanmi, Ramata Osim, Rosemary Lokoson and Aisha Audu.
Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to Edo State Governor on Legal Matters, Sir (Barr) Adams Aliu and his wife, Lady Philo Adams Aliu during a thanksgiving mass to mark their 40th Marriage Anniversary at St. Gabriel, the Archangel Catholic Church, Benin City recently. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.
Adams Aliu Marks 40th Wedding Anniversary
BENIN CITY - The Fortieth Wedding Anniversary of Sir (Barr) and Lady Adams Aliu has been celebrated with Holy Mass at their Parish, St. Gabriel The Archangel Catholic Church, No. 96, Sapele Road Benin City on Wednesday June 25,
2014. The officiating Priest Rev. Fr Festus Ogbonmwan retrospected on the lives and times of Sir (Barr) and Lady Adams Aliu who, as young
undergraduate friends and lovers then in their Twenties, decided to tie the nuptial knot on June 25, 1974 at the then Benin City Council Marriage Registry while reception was
NGO Seeks FG’s Support For Widows
ABUJA - Mrs. Nkechi Ohiri, the founder of an NGO, ‘Widows and Women Creative Art Initiative,’ has appealed to the Federal Government to support widows in Nigeria to contribute their quota to national development. Ohiri made the call in Abuja in an interview with newsmen She said although the NGO had embarked on training to improve on the talents of widows, more needed to be done to make them selfsufficient. “We cannot go far without the support of government or well meaning Nigerians. “For instance we need a place where we can market our creative talents. “We cannot do much for ourselves; we want our products to go beyond the shores of this country as we depend on the income generated from these products,’’ she said. Ohiri said that widows could not depend on their relatives for assistance to meet their immediate needs. She said that widows being assisted by the NGO were engaged in different skills acquisition training like cleaning of tiles, printing Tshirts, decoration and cooking. Ohiri who said she had been a widow for 13 years, said the NGO was established to empower widows like her to become self reliant.
“We are about 50 widows here; it has not being easy for us, as some widows do not have support from anybody. “The reason for the initiative is to impact knowledge to other widows like me, so that they can sustain their home,’’ she said. Mrs. Nene Malik, a widow said she had succeeded in training her children in school with the training she received from the NGO. “ I have also impacted some of the knowledge I learnt from the initiative to my children to make them independent,’’ she said.
Senior Special Assistant to Edo State Governor on Legal Matters, Sir (Barr) Adams Aliu (3rd left), his wife, Lady Philo Adams Aliu in group photograph with some friends after a thanksgiving mass to mark their 40th Marriage Anniversary at St. Gabriel, the Archangel Catholic Church, Benin City recently. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.
Group Condemns Abuja Bomb Blast, Alleges Sabotage ABUJA - The Northern Alternative Forum, a political pressure group, has condemned the bomb blast at Emab Plaza in Abuja, which claimed more than 20 lives and injured many others. A statement signed by Alhaji Gidado Ibrahim the chairman of the forum, expressed sadness with the wanton destruction of lives and property. He expressed sympathy with the families of those who lost their lives and property in the attack. He called for the arrest and prosecution of some Nigerians accused of making
inciting statements, alleging that they might be behind the attacks. The chairman alleged that insurgency had been hijacked by politicians and advised them to desist from making statements that were inflammatory. “I wish to draw the attention of Nigerians to the activities of some disgruntled politicians who we believe are the brains behind the spate of bombings and killings in some parts of the country. “They are doing this in order to cast President Goodluck Jonathan and his government in bad light
ahead of the 2015 elections. “We want Nigerians to know that what is happening in this country today is not anything about religion,’’ he said. Ibrahim recalled that some politicians had made it clear that they would make the country ungovernable if President Jonathan succeeded in 2011. He called on security agencies to beam their searchlight on politicians who consistently make inciting and unguarded utterances to further their selfish political ambitions. “The forum is pained by the upsurge of attacks on
innocent citizens and expresses confidence in the capacity of the security forces to overcome the insurgency,’’ he said. Ibrahim also expressed confidence on the ability of the security agencies to return the country to the path of peace. He affirmed the support of the forum for President Goodluck Jonathan and his transformation agenda, adding that Nigeria would be better under his leadership. He called on Nigerians not to be deceived, but remain focused on the achievements of the present administration. He urged the citizens particularly northerners to cooperate with the relevant authorities to expose and shame the detractors of the administration.
held at Motel Benin Plaza Benin City. The 1974 wedding was subsequently later blessed at St Maria Goretti Catholic Church Benin City by Rev Fr Richard Ofere. They were initiated into the Catholic Knighthood Order of the Knights of St John International in 2001. While praying for the couple, the officiating Anniversary Priest also lauded the members of the congregation for rejoicing with the family of Adams Aliu especially some of those who witnessed the wedding in 1974 and were also present at its 40th anniversary in 2014. During the Anniversary Mass, the celebrants accompanied by their family members, friends and wellwishes later danced to the Altar to offer Thanksgiving to God for a successful 40th wedding Anniversary. Since it was a working day, guests were treated to takeaway food and drinks at the end of the Anniversary Mass right at the Church venue to enable guests go in pursuit of their routine work day programmes. Sir (Barr) Adams Aliu is a retired Journalist/Editor of the DAILY TIMES fame, a retired Federal Public servant, Public Relations Practitioner is now a practicing Barristerat-Law. He was recently appointed a Senior Special Assistant on Legal Matters to the Edo State Governor Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomhole. Lady Philo Adams-Aliu is a recently retired Secondary School Principal. A product of St Maria Goretti Girls’ Grammar School, Benin City, studied at the Universities of Benin and Lagos, she graduated in Physics and Mathematics. Sir (Barr) and Lady Adams Aliu are blessed with four children: Two boys and Two girls who have since graduated, married and are doing well in their chosen professions.
Lagos National Confab Will Not Disappoint Nigerians - Osoba
A cross section of Knights of the Diocese of Esan Anglican Communion at the 4th Synod of the Church which which took place at Ebele recently. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
Blocked Drains: Commissioner
Warns Lagos Residents
LAGOS - The Lagos State Commissioner for Environment has warned residents against throwing dirt into drains. Bello told newsmen in Lagos that some residents were still fond of throwing dirt into drains, hindering government’s efforts toward preventing flooding in the state. He said that the act was like
hurting one’s self, because the consequences would still come back to the residents in the form of flooding. “We have always said that people should stop dumping their waste in the gutters, because it is like flogging yourself; the results will still come back to you. “We are in the rainy season now, and some drains are already getting filled with
filth and dirt from different areas and communities. “I advise people to patronise the waste disposal services of the Lagos State Waste Management Authority (LAWMA), to reduce the possibility of flooding in the state,” he said Bello also said that the government and LAWMA were working toward procuring new waste disposal
trucks. He said that the state government would also assist potential private sector operators with loans to acquire new trucks. “The trucks are used every day and are getting old; we are working toward replacing them with new ones very soon, so as to make waste management more effective,” Bello said.
Politicians Attribute Success Of Ekiti Polls To Non-Interference
LAGOS - Politicians have attributed the success recorded in the just-concluded governorship polls in Ekiti to the non-interference gesture displayed by President Goodluck Jonathan. Hailing Jonathan for the gesture, the politicians told newsmen in Lagos that if there had been “external influence,’’ the election would not have recorded the success and credibility it got. It would be recalled that Mr. Ayo Fayose (PDP), polled 203, 090 votes, to emerge winner of the election, while the incumbent, Gov. Kayode Fayemi (APC), polled 120,430 votes. The election, hailed by observers as a huge success, was contested by 18 candidates from various political parties. A chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Movement, Mr. Denis Aghanya, commended Jonathan for what he described as his neutrality, noting that there was no interference from the president. “Sincerely, the Ekiti election shows that President Goodluck Jonathan is determined to succeed. “The election is perfect from all dimensions. I attribute the success to the president. “No matter how willing INEC is to get it right, they
cannot succeed if there is interference of the government,” he said. Aghanya advised the electoral body to maintain the style it used for the election in future elections, urging INEC to be watchful. A former Deputy National Chairman of the Alliance for Democracy, Alhaji Musa Umar, also commended the government and INEC for conducting free, fair and credible polls. “The election was one of the best; all electoral departments were okay in terms of mobilisation, voters’ list, delivery of materials, commencement and conclusion of voting. “Let me also commend INEC for the prompt announcement of the results and providing more than adequate security. “The government tried and it shows they are the listening type,” Umar said. He, however, urged INEC to refrain from using intimidating security, saying it was the area people did not like. The Lagos State Chairman of the African Democratic Congress, Mr. Nkem Lemchi,
also said that the election recorded significant improvement. “The positive attitude of the parties, candidates and government gave credence to that fact.” Lemchi advised stakeholders not to relent in making sure election was successful in the country.
“If we all work well on our respective parts, our election will continue to improve until we achieve absolute credibility.” The ADC chairman noted that, it was not INEC and government alone that would usher in improvement, advising politicians to see election as a competition and not a war.
LAGOS - A former governor of Ogun and stalwart of the APC, Chief Segun Osoba, has assured that the ongoing National Conference would not disappoint the expectations of Nigerians. The reports state that Osoba made the statement against the backdrop of speculations in some quarters that the conference might not take the nation anywhere. Speaking with newsmen in Lagos, Osoba said that achieving success at the conference could be tough but that at the end, “God will guide the delegates to do what is right. “There will be fights, we may even walk out and walk back but at the end people will reason. No doubt there are diverse views. “Many people at the conference have irreconcilable positions as it is now but in the end, the
nation’s continued peace and unity will prevail,” he stated. On the just-concluded Ekiti polls, the former governor said that the crushing defeat suffered by the APC was a wake-up call for the party. “We want to put the election behind us. Governor Kayode Fayemi is a well brought up, decent and exposed gentleman. He displayed a high level of magnanimity after the polls. “Fayemi’s acceptance shows how democratic the APC is,” Osoba said, dispelling allegations that he had defected from the APC. “The spin doctors are at work. I enjoy it,” he asserted. Osoba, however, disclosed that different political parties were wooing him but that he had not accepted to join any. “I am not purchasable and will never join a conservative party. When I take a decision you people will know.”
Assualt On Policeman
Man, 28, Arraigned LAGOS - A 28-year-old man, Sunday Malomo, has appeared before an Ejigbo Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, charged with assaulting a policeman on lawful duty. Malomo, who lives at No. 4, Aralamo St., Ipaja, Lagos, is facing a two-count charge of assault and causing grievous bodily harm. The Prosecutor, Cpl. Oluwafemi Adeleye, told the court that the offences were committed on January 28 at Iyana-Ipaja, Lagos. He said that the accused assaulted one Cpl. Bolanle Samson attached to a new generation bank at IyanaIpaja. Adeleye said that the accused took offence and attacked Samson when he
challenged him for loitering at the entrance of the bank. The prosecutor explained that Malomo’s attack resulted in the policeman sustaining injuries. He said that the offences contravened Sections 172 and 244 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. However, Malomo pleaded not guilty to the charges preferred against him. Section 244 prescribes three years imprisonment for anyone found liable of unlawfully inflicting wound on another. The Magistrate, Mrs. M.B. Folami, denied the accused bail and ordered that he should be remanded in custody. She adjourned the case until today for further hearing.
Members of Mothers Union of Diocese of Esan, Anglican Communion at the 4th Synod of the Church which took place at St. Matthew’s Church Ebele. Photo: LUCKY AGIE.
Across The Nation Don’t Encroach On Otokiti-Ganaja By-Pass LOKOJA - Governor Idris Wada of Kogi has warned land developers in the State not to encroach on the acquired stretch of land meant for the 16km Otokiti-Ganaja by-pass road. Wada gave the warning in Lokoja when he inspected the extent of work done on the road. Wada, represented by Deputy Governor Yomi Awoniyi? advised buyers to beware of land speculators who might want to sell plots of land along the road corridor. He said the State Government had acquired all plots of land on both sides of the road for the development of a new town/
Kebbi Spends N16.5m On Cemetery Maintenance
BIRNIN KEBBI - Kebbi State Government spent N16.5 million in seven years to maintain the Birnin Kebbi Central Cemetery, the Chairman of the Cemetery Maintenance Committee, Alhaji Sani Zauro, has said. Zauro told newsmen in Birnin Kebbi that the amount was spent between 2007 and May 2014, adding that the committee receives N200, 000 monthly allocation. “The amount was spent on rehabilitation of the cemetery and purchase of burial materials, including shroud, wood and other materials.’’ Zauro said the committee facilitated the burial of 9,603 persons in the state capital and the neighbouring communities. He said the committee also assisted individuals who were unable to undertake the burial rites of their deceased relatives. He commended the state government for providing electricity, a borehole and security guards at the cemetery. “It gives dignity to the dead,’’ he said, adding that the committee also distributed copies of the Qur’an to members of the public to promote religious tolerance and unity.
- Gov Wada
settlement. Wada advised developers along the stretch to stop further development, saying government would design a layout of the area for interested persons for the take-off of a wellplanned settlement. Wada explained that the decision to acquire the land was anchored on the powers vested on the government by virtue of the Land Use Act of 1991. The Act places all lands 16km radius from the post office area of Lokoja under the management of the state government. He, however, appealed to property and land owners located in the acquired area, not to panic, but to present their documents for valuation as the government would pay compensation to genuine property owners. Wada expressed satisfaction with the extent and quality of work done so far by the contractor. He said government was making efforts to resolve other constraints hindering the construction of the road. Mr. Eluja Noel, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Works who conducted the governor on the inspection, said that 10km of the road had so far been opened, with the removal of the top soil currently in progress. Noel said valuation had been carried out on the property, land
Victim of bomb explosion at De Peoples Motel Bayan Gari Bauchi on Friday, taking treatment at the Abubakar tafawa Balewa University Teaching Hospital in Bauchi weekend.
Ramadan: GOMBE - With the commencement of the Muslims’ Ramadan fasting, the prices of foodstuff and fruits have increased slightly in Gombe metropolitan market. A survey by newsmen in Gombe revealed a slight increased in the prices of rice, flour, cocking oil, pine apple and oranges. Alhaji Kashim Abubakar, a
Prices Of Foodstuff, Fruits Soar
fruit dealer in Gombe new market, linked the increase to the cost of transportation. “We just have to increase the price no matter how little if not we will not make any gain,’’ he said. According to him, the cost of
transporting fruits from Southern part of the country to the North has slightly increased within a week. “About two weeks ago, I spent only N80, 000 to transport my goods from the south but towards the end of last week, I paid N100,
Wukari Crisis: 2,000 People Take Refuge In KANAM (Plateau) - No fewer than 2,000 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Wukari-Ibi crisis in Taraba have taken refuge in Kanam Local Government Area of Plateau. Mr. Ado Yusuf, the council Chairman, told newsmens in Kanam that the IDPs were being kept in two camps in the area. Yusuf said the victims were staying at the council Guest House and Jarmai village. He said the council started receiving the IDPs last Friday (June 21) and that their number was increasing by the day with women and children constituting
the larger number of the victims. The chairman called on the National Emergency Management Agency and the State Emergency Management Agency to urgently assist the IDPs. “We have only succeeded in providing them with blankets and food for the moment but our concern is how long can we keep on providing for them considering their large number,” Yusuf said. “The Federal and State governments must equally rise up to the challenge and come to our aid so that together we can
Kanam
take good care of these persons who are in dire need of our help,’’ he urged. Yusuf disclosed that he had written to the authorities of the two agencies and that they had pledged to visit the two camps to assess the situation for prompt action. According to him, the council is also expecting the Taraba Government to assist its people taking refuge in the area. “My prayer is that God will protect them against any outbreak of epidemic
considering the fact that they (IDPs) are sleeping on bare floors as a result of cold, this being a rainy season,” he said. Commenting on the development, Mr Alhasan Barde, the Executive Secretary, Plateau State Emergency Management Agency (PLASEMA), assured that the agency would assess the two camps to know the needs and alleviate the suffering of the IDPs. “We are waiting for clearance from the deputy governor, Mr. Ignatius Longjan, who is Chairman of our Governing Board, for us to take off to Kanam,’’ Barde said.
000 on transport for the same quantity of goods,” Abubakar said. He, however, attributed the increase to the forthcoming Ramadan period which attracted high demand for such produce hence the need for transporters to take advantage and increase fares. Abubakar said a big size of pine apple was sold between N650 and N700, while a big size of an orange was sold for N50. Another trader, Malam Musa Mudi, said a measure of foreign rice now sold at N300 as against N290, while a measure of flour was sold at N190 as against N180. Mudi also blamed the increase to the approaching Ramadan fasting. “During Ramadan fasting, the cost of transportation usually increases because not many traders who are importing fruits from the South travel due to the stressful nature of the journey,” he explained. Mrs. Ramatu Yusuf, who deals on proisions, said a gallon of 3.5 litres of Turkey oil sold at N1, 750 as against N1, 700. According to her, a bottle of local groundnut oil sells at N300 as against N290.
Monarch Calls for Tenure Extension For LG Chairmen
De Peoples Motel, Bayan Gari Bauchi destroyed by bomb explosion in Bauchi weekend
TOTO (NASARAWA) - The Emir of Toto in Nasarawa State, Alhaji Usman Abdullahi, urged the state legislature to extend the tenure of local government chairmen in the state. Abdullahi, who is also the Ohemegi of Padan, made the call when he hosted the Chairman of Toto local government, Alhaji Mohammed Musa, in his palace. He said the tenure extension would allow them to execute more capital projects in their respective areas. “As we are all aware, our role is to ensure peace, unity, progress and to advise the people and political leaders to initiate people-oriented projects in their communities. “I want to advise you and all the new local government chairmen in the state to be prudent you’re your resources and carry your people along.
“You are aware that the tenure for local government chairmen in the state is now one year as approved by the legislature. You are advised to key in to projects that would improve the lives of the people,’’ he said. The emir urged the state government to rehabilitate the Toto-Umuasha road to boost the socio-economic development of the state. He called on the people of the state and Nigerians to live in peace and tolerate one another irrespective of ethnic, religious and political affiliations. Earlier, Musa said the visit was to seek the blessing of the royal father in the course of his duty. He commended the royal father for his role in ensuring peace in the area and promised to initiate people oriented projects that would transform the people of the council.
Expert Emphasizes Importance Of personal Health Records IBADAN - Mrs. Modupe Aina, a Public Health Nurse at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan, said that keeping personal health records (PHR) help in routine medical tests. Aina made this known to newsmen in Ibadan. He explained that PHR was a tool the patient can use to collect, track and share past and current information about the health or the health of someone in your care. “Even when routine procedures do need medical treatment to be repeated, your PHR can give medical care providers more insight into your personal health history. “Remember, you are ultimately responsible for making decisions about your health. A PHR can help you accomplish that,” she said. Aina also advised patients to have access their complete health information at the hospital regularly by photocopying and filing the PHR for private use. “Information in the PHR should be accurate, reliable and complete. The patient should have control over how her health information is accessed, used and disclosed. “A PHR may be separate from and does not normally replace the legal medical record of any provider. “Medical records and your PHR are not the same thing. Medical records contain information about your health compiled and maintained by each of your healthcare providers. “A PHR is information about your health compiled and maintained by you. The difference is in how you use your PHR to improve the quality of your healthcare,’’ said the expert. She disclosed that most PHRs include an identification sheet, which is a form originated at the time of registration or on admission. She added that the form lists the patient’s name, address, telephone number, insurance and policy number. Aina said the content of an average PHR included a list of significant illnesses, operations and medicines prescribed or given. “Other items in the content of PHR are medical history, which
South West
is a list of major illness and surgeries, personal and family health history of diseases, health habits, and current medications. “The rest are consultation slip, physician orders or referral to other members of the healthcare team regarding medications. “There are also results of tests, diets x-ray reports and findings on mammograms, ultrasounds scans and treatments,” she said. The public health nurse said that most Nigerian patients are ignorant of the great importance attached to PHRs. She added that a lot of Nigerians had lost their lives at emergency units of hospitals due to the fact that they could not supply necessary information at the point of admissions. Aina advised Nigerians to make it a point of habit by keeping and using PHRs.
Pieta Chapel at thge base of the giant agonizing crucifix will be dedicated to mark one year anniversary of the crucifix at olo, Ezeagu LGA of Enugu State.
L-R: Governor Theodore Orji of Abia State; Chairman of the occasion, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika (rtd) and PresidentGeneral OhanezeNdigbo, Chief Garry Enwo-Igariwey, at the inauguration of Ohaneze Youth Council in Enugu weekend.
Insecurity: IKEJA - Mr. Bisi Yusuf, a Lagos lawmaker, has urged the Federal Government to consult former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and other former heads of state to tackle the security challenges facing the country. Yusuf (APC-Alimosho I)
parents, before he was arrested by the police. Led in evidence by the state prosecutor, Mr. Akin George, the witness, whose testimony was translated from Yoruba to English Language, said she had four children and Ayuba was the last. Erikitola said the defendant lived on the same street with her and she knew him very well. “He has been living very close to us with his elder brother. Their compound has four flats and shares the same fence with my house,” she said. The witness said on the day of the incident, she left Ayuba at home and went to the market. According to her, when she came back, she could not find the child and she became agitated because it was getting late. Erikitola said some of her
OSOGBO - A 30-year-old man, Rasheed Mukaila, has appeared before an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court for allegedly killing a police officer. Prosecutor Isiaka Ajadi, told the court that the accused committed the offence on May 27 at about 7:30 p.m., at Omole Street, Iwo. Ajadi said the accused drove his motorcycle in a reckless manner to cause the death of Adekunle Omoniyi, a police sergeant with batch number 213888 at Osun Command, Iwo Division. He said the offence contravened Sections 5, 7(1) and 451 of the Road Traffic Act and Criminal Procedures of Osun. The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge. The Counsel to the accused, Mrs Nnena Ugwu, urged the court to grant bail to her client on liberal terms. The Magistrate, Mrs. Halimatu Olowolagba, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum. Olowolagba said the sureties must reside within the court’s jurisdiction, have evidence of tax payment and deposed to an affidavit of means. She adjourned case till July 17 for mention.
Consult Obasanjo, Others, Lawmaker Urges Jonathan made the call in an interview with newsmen in Lagos. The lawmaker, who said that the security of the country was beyond party affiliation, added that suggestions from the former leaders could be of help to curbing the insurgency in the
country. He said “this issue is beyond party lines and we have been saying it that the security of the country is beyond party affiliations, it can happen to
Woman Tells Court How Son Was Murdered
IKEJA -A grieving mother, Mrs Idayat Erikitola, has told an Ikeja High Court how her neighbour, Patrick Onyeka, abducted and strangled her son to death in Ikotun area of Lagos. Erikitola gave the narrative while testifying before Justice Oluwatoyin Ipaye at the commencement of Onyeka’s trial. Reports state that Onyeka was arraigned on May 15 by the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) on a charge of murder. The DPP alleged that he lured the eight-year-old boy into his residence at Plot 14, 3rd Ave., Mulmaco Estate, Ikotun, Lagos, on January 12, 2013 and murdered him. He is also alleged to have thereafter demanded a ransom of N5 million from the boy’s
Man Docked For Killing Police Sgt
neighbours, including the defendant and his brother’s wife, joined in the search for her son, which yielded no positive result. She said one of her sons later discovered a note stuck on their gate, which was addressed to Alhaji (her husband) demanding for a N5 million ransom. The witness said the note was later shown to some of the neighbours, including the defendant’s brother and his wife, who both feigned ignorance of the handwriting. “The next morning, a young girl living in their compound called Favour saw me and she ran inside; so, I became suspicious. “Later, we went to the police station and I told the policemen that the occupants of that house may be behind Ayuba’s abduction,” she said.
According to her, very early the next day, a neighbour called her husband to come to the defendant’s compound urgently. “When we got there, we saw the elder brother who confirmed to us that the ransom note emanated from Onyeka. “The police was invited and he was handed over to them for further interrogation. “By the time he took them to where he kept the corpse inside a sack, the police did not allow me to go there and so, I never saw my little boy again,” Erikitola said. The witness further told the court that she did not write any statement at the police station because she was not in the right frame of mind. Reports say that the matter was adjourned till June 27 for continuation of trial.
anybody. “Imagine, anybody can be at the Emab Plaza venue of the bomb blast on Wednesday in Abuja, regardless of the party the person belongs to. “The Federal Government should consult former President Olusegun Obasanjo, former heads of state and other stakeholders who could bring solution to the lingering security challenges facing the country. “There is no mono knowledge with what is happening now, government should consult all stakeholders in Nigeria and let us find a lasting solution to the problem. “If the solution is that government must dialogue with members of the Boko Haram, then let the government dialogue with them for better Nigeria.’’ The lawmaker, who is the Chairman, House Committee on Transportation, Commerce and Industry, appealed to government to resolve the issue of insurgency before the 2015 general elections. He advised government to
install security gadgets like the CCTV at motor parks and shopping malls to unveil the evil perpetrators of bombings in the country. Mr Muyiwa Jimoh, another member, Lagos House of Assembly representing (APCApapa I) said security was not the responsibility of government alone. Jimoh urged the government to review its security strategies at the borders because of the influx of illegal aliens into the country. “You can see what is happening; the state of emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa is not achieving the desired result because our borders are porous.’’ Meanwhile, the explosion that rocked Abuja at Emab Plaza claimed the lives of 21 people at the shopping mall. Frank Mba, the Force Public Relations Officer, said 17 people were wounded and 21 bodies were recovered from the scene of the explosion. Mba also said one suspect had been arrested in connection with the explosion and investigations had already commenced.
Business + Economy Illegal Timber Trade: East African Countries To ABUJA - Some African countries have expressed their commitment to partner UN agencies and the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) to combat illegal timber trade in their countries. This is contained in a statement issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) in Nairobi, Kenya, and made available to newsmen in Abuja.
The statement said that the countries — Tanzania, Kenya and Uganda — made the commitment at the ongoing fiveday UN Environment Assembly (UNEA) in Nairobi. “The high-level government representatives from three countries announced their intention to work together with INTERPOL and UN agencies at the UNEA. “They announced their
Partner UN
commitment to curb the illegal timber trade that is stripping East Africa of one of its most valuable natural resources.’’ According to the statement, the East Africa Initiative on Illegal Timber Trade and REDD+, represent an innovative crossborder, multi-sectoral effort that will create a powerful deterrent to Africa’s illegal timber trade.
Traders at Lagos Streets Benin City participating in the environmental sanitation exercise in Edo State
The statement said that illegal logging degrades forests, causes economic loss, destroys biodiversity and livelihoods, promotes corruption, and funds armed conflict. “The economic costs of illegal logging, including processing, are staggering; an estimated 30 billion dollars to 100 billion dollars is lost to the global economy through illegal logging every year. “This is making the trade in illegally harvested timber highly damaging to national and regional economies. Wellmanaged forests are a vital economic resource that supports the livelihoods of 1.6 billion people. “Africa’s forest cover is estimated at 675 million hectares, or 23 per cent of the continent’s total land area,’’ it said. In addition to facing the challenges of illegal logging within their borders, the statement said the three counties were also used as transit countries for illegally logged timber in in other countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). ‘The Tanzanian strategy to Reduce Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD+), the ongoing Kenya REDD+ governance project and the
Uganda REDD+ readiness plan are addressing illegal timber trade. “The plans highlight the importance of strengthening law enforcement and forest governance, to address the illegal timber trade as one of the key drivers of deforestation. “These countries recognise that illegal logging must be mitigated, and forests managed sustainably, in order to reduce emissions from forest loss. “ As such, a key goal of the initiative is to curb illegal logging and trade in East Africa as a way to address deforestation and subsequently reduce emissions from forests,’’ it said. However, the statement said that the government of Norway, a strong global supporter of tropical forests and those that depend on them, had announced its intended support for this important collaboration. According to the statement, Ms Tine Sundtoft, the Norweigian Minister of Climate and Environment, said: ‘’I am very enthusiastic to learn that there is great interest from Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda to tackle illegal logging and trade. “We know that these illegal activities constitute an important driver of deforestation and forest degradation in the region. “Due to illegal logging, countries are deprived of substantial revenues from the forest sector, and the income from this trade often ends up in illegal networks, fuelling crime as well as conflict. “Norway is committed to supporting this initiative and congratulates the countries, the UN and INTERPOL, for coming together and announcing their dedication to work together on this important initiative.’’ It said that the East Africa
initiative to combat illegal timber trade provides an opportunity to build on each country’s experiences and work in collaboration with other agencies. It said international agencies would assist the governments of Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania to address a different facet of the illegal trade in timber from economic drivers, and corruption, to law enforcement, customs control, and monitoring. The statement further quoted UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, as saying that safeguarding the world’s forests was not just the most costeffective way to mitigate climate change. “Well-managed forests also generate multi-trillion-dollar services such as reliable water flow, clean air, sustainable timber products, soil stabilisation and nutrient recycling. “We cannot afford, economically or environmentally, to allow the continued wholesale destruction of one of our planet’s most valuable resources That is why UNEP applauds the East Africa Initiative on Illegal Timber Trade and REDD+ and the commitment of the government of three countries. “This initiative will help ensure the responsible management of one of the most important sources of inclusive and sustainable economic growth available to us.’’ In addition, the statement said that the initiative would also receive support from the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) and UNEP.
Renewable Energy Trade Growing Faster In Developing Countries
Part of a makeshift bridge at Apete in Ibadan where ten people were suspected to have drowned when the bridge collapsed after a downpour at the weekend.
SMEDAN/UNDP Empower 84 Women
MINNA - The Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) says its collaborating with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to train 84 women on wealth creation across the country. Mr Bature Masari, Director General of the agency, disclosed this in Minna while inaugurating a one-day entrepreneurship sensitisation programme for women owned co-operative societies. SMEDAN said that the
women capacity development was part of the Federal Government’s efforts in empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in employment and wealth creation. Masari, represented by the Director of Enterprises Department, Mrs Justina David, said that the women were drawn from 11 women co-operative societies from the six geopolitical zones of North-East, North-West, North-Central, South-East, South-South and South-West. He said the programme in
partnership with the UNDP and the Federal Ministry of Youth Development was designed to cover general entrepreneurship endeavours with special emphasis on women owned co-operative societies. He said the training would focus on managerial training, vocational re-training for women co-operative societies in the country. The director general said that the training would focus on challenges facing women entrepreneurs such as gender discrimination, sourcing for
information, machinery and raw material and establishment of business linkages with large enterprises. He said the training was aimed at bringing women entrepreneurs in the country together and harnessing their potentials toward organising them into trade co-operative groups. The Country Director of UNDP, Dr Pa Lami Beyai, said small and medium sized entrepreneurs were catalysts to economic development of a country.
ABUJA - Renewable energy (RE) trade among developing countries is growing faster than global and north-south trade as developing countries, led by China, take advantage of decreasing manufacturing cost, a statement said. The statement was issued by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) at the ongoing UN Environment Assembly in Nairobi, Kenya. According to the statement, developing countries are taking advantage of decreasing manufacturing costs, increased investment, and the falling costs of renewable enegy. It said that the findings of a new report released at UNEA noted that solar Photovoltaic (PV) capacity installed globally during 2013 was almost a quarter larger than in 2012. “Whereas there was a further decline in growth in Europe, there was strong growth in China and several developing country markets. “Developing countries collectively accounted for well above one-third of new capacity additions in 2013.’’ It said that the Green Economy report, South-South Trade in Renewable Energy: A Trade Flow Analysis of Selected Environmental Goods, produced
- UNEP
by UNEP, identified key growth markets for the trade in Environmental Goods and Services (EGS). It said that the report focused on the Renewable Energy (RE) sector and maps the flow of trade of RE goods among developing countries. The statement also said that the report outlined how countries could accelerate more inclusive growth in South-South RE trade. The statement quoted UN Under-Secretary General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, as saying that: “The EGS market was expected to grow to around 1.9 trillion dollars by 2020. “The growth in the market offers developing countries an unprecedented opportunity to drive the green economy transition. “A significant contributor to South-South EGS trade, renewable energy technologies now represents one of the fastestgrowing markets in the world. “They are critical to reducing greenhouse gas emissions, enhancing rural and off-grid energy access and improving energy security, as well as creating jobs and livelihood opportunities.
The Nigerian Education Bank Bill which has passed second reading at the Federal House of Representatives, as explained by the initiator, Hon. Femi Gbajabiamila proposes to establish the Nigerian Education Bank, with the primary duty of granting interestfree loans to poor students seeking higher education in Nigeria. The Bill seeks to make available to each benefiting student, a sum of five hundred thousand Naira (N500,000) repayable in two years after graduation. The repayment, according to the proponents would take the form of direct deduction of ten percent monthly deductions at source from salaries of beneficiaries or from the profits in the case of self employed graduates until the loan is liquidated. According to the provisions of the Bill, “applicants must have secured admission into any Nigerian Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of education or any vocational school established by the Federal Government or the Government of the States of the Federation.” THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER commends the initiators and promoters of the Bill, which we consider progressive in a country where more than 70 percent of its population live below the 1 USD per day poverty line. For most Nigerians who have had to go through hell to obtain higher education, this is a watershed Bill not only welcomed by the poor, but groups marginalised by society such as orphans, physically challenged persons among others who do not have anywhere to turn to for higher education. It is not much of news that students of
THE NIGERIAN
Still On The Nigerian Education Bank Bill tertiary school-Universities, Polytechnics, Colleges of Agriculture and Colleges of education and others have gone through untold difficulties over the years to pass through such institutions. We are glad that the Bill is currently being considered by the lawmakers. IT is equally heartwarming to note that, with the proposed law, Nigeria is on the right track to join the rest of the world in subsidizing education for the poor. It is important to note that Scandinavian countries such as Finland, Sweden, Norway, and Denmark have developed sound qualitative education and almost tuition-free higher education from cradle to grave. In fact, in Denmark, the tuition is free and, in fact, international students also enjoy free tuition provided they could show evidence of $6,000 feeding and upkeep fee per annum. Although tuition in Australia is not free, there are a lot of grants, scholarships and bursaries instituted for both the brilliant and poor students. These are best practices that this bill seeks to emulate. We recognise that schooling anywhere in the world is not easy and hardly cheap, it is against this backdrop that we welcome the move by the Federal House of Representatives to
introduce a law that would take such a load off parents’ shoulders. We equally wish to call on the upper legislative chamber, the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to concur the Bill as soon as it is passed by the lower house so that it can become a law in Nigeria. Our support for the bill notwithstanding, we are of the opinion that Section 22 of the bill must be re-couched to read that “beneficiaries should be made to pay back the loan as soon as they are employed” , not the two years contained in the bill, given the high rate of unemployment in the country. In our view, Sub-section 4 of the bill which stipulates punishments for offenders of the law in a case of default also requires a review to avoid the culture of impunity among young Nigerians who would take undue advantage of the benefits derivable from the law. Two years imprisonment or an option of fine of N500,000 being the same amount benefited by the beneficiary is not sufficient deterrence. We recommend five years imprisonment for offenders or a fine of N700,000 instead. WE believe the Bill also throws up the need for government at all levels to take urgent steps to improve the employment market in Nigeria to absorb the army of unemployed persons roaming the streets in search of jobs. Government should redouble efforts towards guaranteeing constant electricity supply, potable water supply, roads, railway system and other infrastructure needed to boost the nation’s industrialization, as a major way of making the law work efficiently when it eventually passed and assented to by the President.
View Point Nigeria And The World Bank Poverty Index:
Where Does That Leave Us? By ZIK GBEMRE
WHEN the World Bank Group recently rated Nigeria among the world’s extremely poor countries, we did not seem surprised as the statement that Nigeria is a poor country has become an axiom and that majority of Nigerians wallow in abject poverty is no longer news. The fact is that the Nigerian authorities at all levels have resigned themselves to the salient fact and are thus immersed in seeking remedy, howbeit, ineffective to confront the menace. It must be agreed that the Nigerian colourful bird is from the patient specie – waiting without struggle until it is roasted. So are the characteristics of the Nigerian people – they wait until they are pushed to the wall. Having been pushed to the wall, many Nigerians would try and scale the wall as a remedy. However, it appeared the recent World Bank rating on Nigeria jolted something in the hearts of our political leaders that made them ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘uneasy’. Perhaps, it might be the ‘timing’ of the World Bank rating, considering the fact that we are approaching an election year. Or it is just our leaders doing what they know how to do best – that is being defensive. Though, Nigeria’s Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, had quickly explained that the World Bank rating was based on the large number of poor people living in the country, a phenomenon she said was peculiar to middle income countries, including Nigeria, however in what we can best describe as the government’s move to defend itself and make itself look good in the eyes of the international community; the managers of the Nigerian economy quickly carried out a “rebasing exercise” of the nation’s GDP. According to the preliminary results of the rebasing exercise of the
federal government, Nigeria’s nominal Gross Domestic Product (GDP) stands at $509.9 billion, making the nation’s economy the largest in Africa and the 26th in the world. The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, announced this with the Statistician-General, S-G, Dr. Yemi Kale, in Abuja recently. The GDP is the market value of all final goods and services produced within a country in a given period. It is an internationally recognized indicator for measuring the size of an economy in a given period of time. The rebased estimates indicate that the nominal GDP for Nigeria was much higher than previously estimated. In 2010 the estimate was $360. 644 billion; in 2011 it was $408.805 billion; and 2012 $453.966 billion. The growth rate is driven by the services sector with it contributing about 51 per cent of the GDP. The rebasing exercise on the Nigerian economy which also saw the Per capita rising to $2, 688, covered 2010 to 2013. Nigeria has moved on the per capita scale from 135 to 121st position. Let us bear in mind that this is after more than two decades of the last exercise in 1990, far beyond the United Nations Statistical Commission (UNSC), recommendations that countries should rebase their national accounts (GDP) estimates every five years. Which brings us back to the point we made here; was the rebasing exercise carried out by the managers of the Nigerian economy to sort of counter, douse, and distract Nigerians away from the World Bank poverty rating of Nigeria? How come is it now that the managers of the Nigerian economy see it necessary to rebase the economy after the last exercise was carried out over two decades ago? Why was the rebase exercise carried out now? Was the World Bank poverty report index a ‘too much blow’ for the current
administration to handle? A careful observer of the happenings in the country needs no soothsayer to answer these questions. Funny enough, just few days after those in government circles were still basking under the euphoria of the supposed ‘good news’ concerning the nation’s rebased GDP, the World Bank President, Jim Yong Kim, at
world’s poor population. Jim Yong Kim said these five countries are home to 760 million of the world’s poor, adding that another five countries, Indonesia, Pakistan, Tanzania, Ethiopia and Kenya would encompass almost 80 per cent of the extreme poor. Noting that a sharp focus on these will be central to ending poverty, the world Bank President said “while economic growth remains vital for reducing poverty, growth has its limits,
President Goodluck Jonathan
the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings, restated that Nigeria is one of the top five countries that has the largest number of poor. Nigeria, he said ranked third in the world while India ranked number one with 33 per cent of the world poor. China is ranked second with 13 per cent of the world’s poor, followed by Nigeria where seven per cent of the world poor live in. He said that Bangladesh has six per cent share of the world’s poor while the Democratic Republic of Congo has five per cent of the
the long run, they do not get stuck just above the extreme poverty line due to a lack of opportunities that might impede progress toward better livelihoods. Economic growth has been vital for reducing extreme poverty and improving the lives of many poor people. Yet, even if all countries grow at the same rates as over the past 20 years, and if the income distribution remains unchanged, world poverty will only fall by 10 percent by 2030, from 17.7
still in extreme poverty live in situations where improving their lives is extremely difficult. Even if there is no change in inequality, the “poverty-reducing power” of economic growth is less in countries that are initially more unequal.” The bottom line is that the high GDP of Nigeria that came as a result of the rebased exercise, does not in any way translate to better living conditions for the entire
Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Finance Minister
according to a new World Bank paper released recently. It was noted that “Countries need to complement efforts to enhance growth with policies that allocate more resources to the extreme poor. These resources can be distributed through the growth process itself, by promoting more inclusive growth, or through government programs, such as conditional and direct cash transfers. It is imperative not just to lift people out of extreme poverty; it is also important to make sure that, in
“The bottom line is that the high GDP of Nigeria that came as a result of the rebased exercise, does not in any way translate to better living conditions for the entire citizenry, neither does it mean the standard of living of majority of Nigerians has improved or is even improving. Reports on the so called strength of the Nigerian economy by government functionaries may be good on paper, but they remain artificial to many Nigerians.”
percent in 2010. This is simply not enough, and we need a laser like focus on making growth more inclusive and targeting more programmes to assist the poor directly if we’re going to end extreme poverty.” Kim added: “To end extreme poverty, the vast numbers of the poorest – those earning less than $1.25 a day – will have to decrease by 50 million people each year until 2030. This means that one million people each week will have to lift themselves out of poverty for the next 16 years. This will be extraordinarily difficult, but I believe we can do it. This can be the generation that ends extreme poverty. “Growth alone is unlikely to end extreme poverty by 2030 because as extreme poverty declines, growth on its own tends to lift fewer people out of poverty. This is because, by this stage, many of the people
citizenry, neither does it mean the standard of living of majority of Nigerians has improved or is even improving. Reports on the so called strength of the Nigerian economy by government functionaries may be good on paper, but they remain artificial to many Nigerians. So, a robust GDP figure does not put food on our table, neither does it address the so many problems and poverty daily choking the life of millions of Nigerians. It is obvious that the country‘s poverty is a direct consequence of the nation‘s inability to seek remedy against the dreaded scourge of poverty. It is either that the remedy against poverty and want is inadequate or the right remedy applied in insufficient doses. Often, wrong medicine (policy) is used for a disease Conttinues on pg 14
View Point Continued from pg 13
which has been wrongly diagnosed. Mass unemployment in Nigeria is widely responsible for urban poverty while underdevelopment of the country‘s vast rural areas has bred mass drift to the urban centres and the abandonment of subsistent farming. It is noticed that urban congestion without adequate houses, water and other basic amenities/factors for good living has bred poverty, disease and sadly, insecurity. The dangerous situation is not new to Nigerian people and the authorities. The real problem of the country, according to some analysts, is the inability of Nigerian political leaders at all times to see the direct link between poverty and insurgency or as some would insist, the direct link between unemployment and urban poverty. There is also the
vacuum created by rural depopulation on food production. The consequence is that the oil rich country with enviable arable land could not feed itself and had to resort to importation of food items which could be produced cheaply locally. The elegant slogans of the past, Green Revolution, Back To The Land, etc, have signified nothing in the face of hunger and the desire to eke a decent living. Agricultural revolution through modern mechanized farming means nothing to the peasant farmers whose wants are limited: prompt weeding of his land, availability of improved seedlings to plant, insecticides to control pests and easy harvesting. The rural farmer is happy to take his product to the village market, sell and collect his money with ease. The authorities have the obligation of improving the rural areas through improved
... Where Does That Leave Us? roads to established village markets where farmers could exchange their products for money. Such marketers would have storage facilities and purchase arrangements to avoid wastages. There should also be easy access to subsidized insecticides for the rural farmers, training in the use of simple farm implements other than hoes and cutlasses. The necessary farm extension services would provide employment to many Agricultural Science graduates, apart from the prospects of increasing rural crop production. There is no doubt that if rural life is improved by the provision of modern living conditions like good roads, health centres, schools, post-offices, potable water and consumer shops where farmers could buy their daily needs, the usual drift to
urban centres would be greatly minimized. The effective remedy is: Take modern living to the villages. Perhaps, the situation described above has become familiar scenery in the Nigerian social panorama that little attention is paid to finding effective remedy. As noted, urban congestion without adequate social services has bred squalor, disease and rise in crimes. Mass unemployment has complicated the problems of congested urban centres, leading to various criminal activities by the idle hands whose motive is to get something out of a callous society (whose cruel disposition offends their sense of justice). As it is often argued, poverty in the country is qualified. There is a tiny percentage of Nigerians with extremely high standard of
“The serious problem so far, has been the attitude of the political leadership towards proper understanding of the relationship between the improper distribution of the national income and the determination of certain affected groups to have their “pound of flesh”.
Need For Competitive Common Entrance Examination
MANY scholars have defined education in so many ways. But generally education is seen as a relative position change in behaviour over time. A positive change in behaviour can be brought about by giving of intellectual or moral instruction. It also involves teaching. For a change to be positive, there must be a certain level of quality or achievement. In other words it must fall within a standard that must be generally acceptable in society. It must stand out as a measure or model for making comparisons, as to what it was before and what it is currently. It has been said that the standard of education in Nigeria has fallen in the recent time. In the past, some standard six certificate holders worked and retired as Customary Court Presidents. Others worked and rose to enviable height. It is no gain saying that they did very welt. When they speak and write, it is glaring to note that they have passed through the ‘mill’ and refined. The University graduates and HND graduates, even NCE holders of those days were men and ladies of worth. Most secondary schools had as
By M. OBIAZI
teachers only few university graduates and more of NCE and HSC holders, and they did very well. Today we remember them and we commend them. But recently, things have really fallen apart. What is actually responsible for the present fall in the, standard of’ education? What was the magic that prevailed then that has now vanished? How can we call back the, magic? Who is to blame for the lapses in the education sector? Is it the teacher or instructor? Is it the learner himself? Can we look backwards and come again to the drawing board? Before I entered secondary school, I wrote the National Common Entrance Examination. It was very competitive. One would choose three secondary schools in order of preference. If one passed the examination one would be invited by the secondary school for a written and oral interview. It was when you had satisfied the entry requirements of your intending school that you would be offered admission and given the school
prospectus. By the time you eventually start as a student you must consistently maintain your commitment to learning by passing the terminal and promotion examinations, otherwise you are flushed out of the school system. It was not compulsory for everyone to go to secondary school. Those who had no faith in their competence in academics would choose a trade Tight from primary six. They would not want to be enrolled For the competitive common entrance examination. In their choice of trades they also did well. They were proud of their professions. Those were the days when Nigerian graduates and higher institutions of learning were highly respected both at home and abroad. Why can we not conduct a common National entrance examination into our secondary schools again? Why do we allow people who have no readiness for learning proceed from primary six to the secondary schools? Why do we not encourage them to go into special trades instead
“What is actually responsible for the present fall in the, standard of’ education? What was the magic that prevailed then that has now vanished? How can we call back the, magic? Who is to blame for the lapses in the education sector? Is it the teacher or instructor? Is it the learner himself? Can we look backwards and come again to the drawing board?”
of pushing them en-mass to secondary schools in the name of mass literacy? A horse can be forced to the river, it cannot be forced to drink water. The present academic session will end by July and another one will take off by. September yet there is no advertisement calling
for application forms from prospective candidates into the “ordinary” public secondary schools. But it should not be forgotten that it is the same Basic Education Certificate Examination they will all be subjected to write at the end of Junior Secondary School ill. It
living. There are also, many luxurious estates inhabited by lucky Nigerians who have jobs as company executives, highly paid civil servants and of course, the political class. Against these exotic creatures are ranged the criminal gangs of armed robbers, kidnappers, ritual killers and political assassins. The serious problem so far, has been the attitude of the political leadership towards proper understanding of the relationship between the improper distribution of the national income and the determination of certain affected groups to have their “pound of flesh”. The kidnappers have tested, perhaps with impunity, the sinews of the untouchables in the country. The political official reaction to insurgency is to commit the full force of security agents – army; airforce and police while the police force is believed adequate to handle the lesser menace of armed robbery and kidnapping. Meanwhile, the political jamborees with their monetary wastages and threats to human
lives and properties proceed in their grandeur. Some foreigners and many patriotic Nigerians are doubtful if the country is not sick and its people not afflicted with psychic disorder to the extent that they are thinking of elections only when their country is “at war” with itself. The country is believed to have elders in many past elected Presidents and military `presidents` who must have been watching daily the gradual dissent into anarchy through the activities of insurgents and the criminal gangs, and the high levity of political responses to the challenge. Perhaps it may not be too much if the political gladiators are politely advised to come together to face and resolve the twin danger of Poverty and Insecurity and leave the prognosis of 2015 for another day. What is required at this moment is a genuine National Government during this period of political and economic uncertainties. Nigerians at the moment expect nothing short of Peace and Prosperity.
should also not be forgotten that it is the same WAEC and NECO examinations that all of them will sit to write, irrespective of whether they attended public Model schools or “ordinary” public secondary schools. There are many advantages of conducting competitive common entrance examination: I. It creates opportunity for proper placement or classification of students ii. It creates room for
v. It enhances academic standard vi. It is effective for school administration vii. It helps to eliminate hooliganism If we so desire to raise the standard of education again, it is imperative to bring back the common entrance examination. This will in turn provide quality candidates for our different higher institutions. Ultimately,
competition among students as only serious students are admitted iii. It enhances discipline and discourages truancy iv. It makes teachers to sit up as they become aware that they are not teaching just dunces but students who are proactive.
certificates obtained from these institutions will begin to attract respect once again all over the world. The present situation where “Nigerian certificates” are treated with scorn globally is not enviable at all. A stitch in time saves nine.
Discourse Assessing Democratic Practice In Nigeria From 1999 Till Date
NIGERIA is a large Country in West Africa with a growing population of over one hundred and sixty million people. She occupies an area of 923,766 square kilometres in the tropics. She is extremely rich in multicultural diversities, traditions and has many languages (389). Nigeria is beautiful, peaceful with a very warm and friendly climate and has the largest concentration of black people in the World. She is immensely endowed with vast human and natural resources including oil and gas. It is difficult to find another Country as complex as Nigeria elsewhere in the World. As a Federation of people with diverse socio-cultural backgrounds and origins, the basis of continued unity and peaceful co-existence presupposes that political power and authority should rotate among the various ethnic groups without prejudice to competence, merit and National interests. Nigerians are generally hospitable, happy, hardworking, ingenious, patriotic, resourceful, vibrant and God-fearing. Nigerians are unambiguously united in the pursuit of building a democratic, stable, prosperous and a great Nation. A dynamic and stable economy that will progressively accelerate the attainment of an egalitarian society is not only desirable but also an imperative. Consequently a great Country that will become a prosperous Nation is a duty for all Nigerians to build through collective and individual efforts. Nigeria shall strongly be a united, an industrious, caring and Godfearing democratic society, committed to making the basic needs of life and education readily available and at affordable prices for citizens. Indeed, Nigeria is the engine of Africa and should diligently create Africa’s leading economy. The advent of Democracy in 1999 threw up an inept and irascible ‘political leadership that has consistently put Nigeria on a steady decline in all parameters of governance. Nigeria has lost political direction. She is unconsciously but rapidly descending into anarchy, despondency, financial and moral infamy. Government is entrusted in Nigeria mainly to undeserving people, as a result, integrity is lost and citizens suffer untold hardships. Our clime is one of blurred vision, blackmail, culture of frivolity, impunity and failure of a System. Our perverted Presidential System is preposterously wasteful. It is more costly here than in America from where it was borrowed. The attitude, knowledge and skills required to perform effectively in a democracy are not born, not bought but acquired or learnt through formal and informal education over a period of time. Democracy is a contract. It presupposes that a Government in a Country must do something for the people so that they can also do theirs for the Country. It
involves consultations, alliance and consensus building which are crucial for initiating ideas and implementing successful Public Polices designed to enhance the level of welfarism and political acceptability Sadly, democracy has been widely abused. There is no respect for the primacy of merit principle, accountability, transparency, commitment, diligence and honesty in the management of public affairs by politicians. There is indiscipline, greed and insincerity in the ranks of the political class. Politicians behave as if democracy is exclusively theirs but democracy is indeed for all citizens regardless of partisanship. Democracy is dynamic, allows free participation, advocates freedom of choice and the right to seek power by all qualified people. The Judiciary, the Executive and the Legislature are the three democratic Arms of Government in Nigeria. The Judiciary has to a reasonable extent hitherto effectively checked some excesses of the Executive, the overbearing and abrasive tendencies of the Legislature as well as the tyranny of some overzealous members of the Judiciary itself. The Judiciary is one of the major pillars of the people’s freedom as it ensures the liberty of all citizens. By its diligent consistency, in the fair and firm interpretation of laws, each Arm of the “unholy trinity” has relatively confined itself to its prescribed Authority in the Constitution. As an indispensable Arm of Government, it plays a fundamental role of maintaining social stability between Government and the governed. Truly, in terms of funding or monetary appropriation, the Judiciary is irritatingly the weakest among the three Arms, yet, it remains the only Arm that visibly protects the rights of Nigerians against anarchy, infamy and despotism. One major problem in Nigeria’s democracy is the existence of an unhealthy Electoral Body called Independent Electoral Commission (INEC). The Commission is largely NOT independent. Every successive election conducted by INEC after 1999 suffered loss of credibility. Two major National elections conducted in 2003 and 2007 produced the most controversial, highly discredited, notoriously unreliable and widely cancelled results in Nigeria’s political history. The 2011 National election did not witness a major radical departure from the floppy parody of the past. Sadly, each election was most often seriously marred by poor organisation, widespread procedural irregularities, lack of essential transparency, significant evidence of fraud during the collation of results, disenfranchisement of voters at different stages, lack of equal
By DR AMEN OYAKHIRE
conditions for contestants and numerous incidents of violence. Violence affects the integrity of an election because it undermines Authority and its legitimacy. Previous elections did not live up to the hopes and expectations of, most Nigerians because the process was largely not credible. A credible Electoral Body is inevitable as a fundamental requirement for sustainable democracy, competent leadership, genuine development, growth and international respectability. Properly conducted election will be free, fair, peaceful and transparent. Such election is made possible by a well
citizens what they cannot do ordinarily on their own for themselves is the very essence and justification of Governments at all levels. Our perverted Presidential System feeds directly into a culture of corruption, frivolity, ineptitude and impunity. It majorly and rapaciously drains resources. When representatives become Government with interests opposed to the represented, the Government is separated from its citizenry and thus effectively disenfranchised. Nigeria’s democracy exists mainly for those in Government and the business class excluding most Nigerians who see themselves in
abandons experience. Nigeria wants suitable Nigerians who are healthy in integrity, creative, competent, disciplined, patriotic, productive, resourceful and strong in intellect in positions of Authority in whom the future of the Country will be entrusted. Nigerians currently live in an age that is largely pummelled with contradictions. It is a free but seemingly democratic society which greatly does not reflect the popular will of the masses. Indeed, the tyranny of minority prevails clearly over the will of the majority. Truly, the inordinate conspiracy of a few robs the majority of the benefits of good governance. Our political environment is unfriendly, unhealthy and hostile
articulated modality of vigorous publicity, creative and dependable leadership, incisive enlightenment, mass mobilisation, adequate logistics and strong financial support for INEC as well as an impressive and ubiquitous security arrangement. It will produce credible results that are largely and truly acceptable to Nigerians. In consequence, post electoral litigations if any will be minimal. Democracy is participatory governance, often traditionally established through partisanship and the instrumentality of people. There are numerous iniquities in partisanship which produces democracy. Democracy is widely embraced as a form of popular governance in most parts of the World. Democracy is not the best form of governance, though, it implies large scale participation of citizens. Nigeria’s democracy would have fared better had many credible, competent and knowledgeable electees occupied strategic positions in governance. Oddly, politics has been hijacked by wealthy but mainly people of unrefined minds and untamed passions. Doing for the
pernicious inter-generationalpoverty. Nigerians have no true democracy yet but civil rule in which indiscipline largely prevails. Nigeria does not need a bi-camera Legislature. Parliamentary System of governance is better, simpler, less costly and more accountable. Ours, is the World’s most preposterously wasteful and most recklessly expensive democracy. In nine years, Federal Government, States and Local Councils consumed eighty trillion naira. A sum of fifty six trillion naira out of the eighty was for salaries and allowances of Public office holders mainly politicians. A Nigerian Senator earns ten times what an American Senator earns and 26 times what a British Parliamentarian earns monthly. A Senator in America earns N2 million ($14,500) monthly which translates into $174,000 per annum. Similarly, Nigerian Ministers are paid higher than Ministers in the UK, US and South Africa. Currently, Government seemingly ignores primacy of merit principle, abhors constructive ideas, jettisons knowledge and
for participation by many men and women of goodwill. Power is exercised mostly by men without conscience who have huge sums of money with which they buy, corrupt and penetrate people or even organise the premature exit from the World of any person who stands on their way to the treasury. Politics has been artfully bastardised by charlatans, certified goons, consummate looters, incorrigible liars and rogues, peculators, unrepentant rabble-rousers, illinformed persons, reprobates and scallywags. In society, changes in concepts, goals, resources and capabilities bring’ a certain level of radical but progressive awareness which cannot naturally be easily suppressed. Changes are not always voluntary, sometimes external forces are the catalysts but the nature of anything will be modified by the event of the change and its resultant effect. The pre-occupation of many current politicians is the flagitious pursuit and the primitive accumulation of unearned wealth, fame and materialism. Many dissipate resources recklessly on issues
that do not add probative values to the lives and well-being of citizens. The National Assembly (NASS) symbolises the Sovereignty of Nigerian people. Allegations of inflation of budgets of Departments, bribery, irresponsible and corrupt disbursement of Constituency allowances have made Nigerians to see NASS legislators as rapacious financial conspirators against public good. Indeed, NASS amended section 81 of the 1999 Constitution which led to jumbo pay for the Legislators from November, 2010. Despite the inexplicably parlous state of the Nigerian economy, legislators, since 1999, have progressively transformed into opulent and incredibly affluent people. They have grown richer while the people they claim to represent have become more impoverished. Nigeria, Kenya and Zimbabwe are bad examples in political leadership. Politicians in these three Countries earn the highest remunerations in the World. Nigeria has actually earned huge sums of money as stupendous wealth in millions, billions and trillions of naira from the continuous sale of crude oil since 1999, yet, Nigeria’s development remains very slow, poor and unimpressive. Most Nigerians have remained in despondency and lamentation. A cursory appraisal of some Federal Government policies from June 1999 shows clearly that security is seriously politicised and greatly undermined, education is in disarray, basic health care delivery services are very costly, food is expensive and quite often unaffordable, power supply is notoriously epileptic, clean water supply is grossly inadequate, transportation is in grave disorder, road-network is deplorable, naira is weak and Nigeria is in limbo (comatose). Sadly, the performances of power (energy), health and road sectors have been most unsatisfactory to Nigerians despite the enormous financial investment made and potentials for development and growth. Large scale fatalities are frequently recorded from avoidable accidents on our poorly maintained highways with deplorable conditions clad with pot holes that have become lakes. For too long, we seemed to have operated in a terrain that was completely orphaned in ethics. Corruption in high places, inequalities and chronic human rights violations are today buried in the quagmire of war and insecurity. Most people in Government have not demonstrated transparency and integrity of motives in the running of affairs in Government. The people’s confidence which was invested in the leadership of those in power has been betrayed, squandered and profligated. A responsive Administration is flexibly dynamic, proactive and responds quickly to changes and reasonable demands.
Footprints
Continued from last week
THE record of Charlemagne s reign indicates his awareness of new developments affecting economic and social conditions. Although scholars are divided on the import of his actions; the evidence suggests that he was concerned with improving the organization and techniques of agricultural production, establishing a monetary system better attuned to actual exchange operations, standardizing weights and measures, expanding trading .ventures into areas around the North Sea and’ Baltic Sea, and protecting merchants from excessive tolls and robbery. Royal legislation sought to protect the weak against exploitation and injustice? The king helped to clarify the incipient lord-vassal system and utilized that form of social contract to promote order and Stability. Although his economic arid social initiatives were motivated chiefly by his moral convictions, these measures gave modest impetus to movements that eventually ended the economic depression and social instability that had gripped western Europe since the dissolution of the Roman Empire in the 4th and 5th centuries. Charlemagne’s effort to be an effective ruler was given fresh impetus and direction by a change in the concepts of the purpose of government and of the role of monarchs. That change led to the grafting of a religious component onto the traditional, somewhat narrow conception of the basis of royal authority. Drawing on the Old Testament and the teachings of St. Augustine of Hippo on the nature of the “city of God,” Charlemagne and his advisers progressively saw the king’s position as bestowed by God for the purpose of realizing the divine plan for the universe. Kingship took on a ministerial dimension, which obligated the ruler to assume responsibility for both the spiritual and the material well-being of his subjects. This new role entailed a vast
expansion of traditional royal authority and a redefinition of the priorities that government should serve. On the other hand, Charlemagne’s military conquests, diplomacy, and efforts to impose a unified administration on his kingdom were impressive proof of his ability to play the part of a traditional Frankish king. His religious policy reflected his capacity to respond positively to forces of change working in his world. With considerable enthusiasm he expanded and intensified the reform program rather haltingly instituted in the 740s by his father, ‘Pippin, and his uncle, Carloman. In essence, Charlemagne’s response to the growing urge in his world to deepen spiritual life was to make that objective a prime concern of public policy and royal governance His program for meeting his royal religious responsibilities was formulated in a series of synods made up of both clerics and laymen summoned by royal order to consider an agenda set by the royal court. The enactments of the councils were given the force of law in royal capitularies, which all royal officials, but especially bishops, were expected to enforce. That legislation, traditional in spirit and content, was inspired by a conviction that the norms required to correct the deficiencies besetting Christian life in the 8th century had already been defined by Scripture and by earlier church councils and ecclesiastical authorities. The reform focused on a few major concerns: strengthening the church’s hierarchical structure, clarifying the powers and responsibilities of the hierarchy, improving the intellectual and moral quality of the clergy, protecting and expanding ecclesiastical resources, standardizing liturgical practices, intensifying pastoral care aimed at general understanding of the basic tenets of the faith and improvement of morals, and rooting out paganism. As the
Charlemagne: The
reform movement progressed, its scope broadened to vest the ruler with authority to discipline clerics, to assert control over ecclesiastical property, to propagate the faith, and to define orthodox doctrine. Despite extending his authority over matters traditionally administered by the church, Charlemagne’s aggressive moves to direct religious life won acceptance from the ecclesiastical establishment, including the papacy. In assessing clerical support for the king’s religious policy, it is necessary to keep in mind that the king controlled the appointment of bishops and abbots, was a major benefactor of the clerical establishment, and was the guarantor of the Papal States. Nonetheless, the clergy’s support was genuine, reflecting its approval of the king’s desire to strengthen ecclesiastical structures and to deepen the piety and correct the moral Christian subjects. That approval was expressed in the glorification of the king in his own day as the rector of the “new Israel.” Another notable feature of Charlemagne’s reign was his recognition of the implications for his political and religious programs of the cultural renewal unfolding across much of the Christian West during the 8th century. He and his government patronized a variety of activities that together produced a cultural renovation (Latin: “renewal” Or “restoration”), later called the Carolingian Renaissance. The renewal was given impetus and shag by a circle of educated men—mostly clerics from Italy, Spain, Ireland, and England—to whom Charlemagne gave prominent place in his court in the 780s and 790s; the most influential member of this group was the AngloSaxon cleric Alcuin. The interactions among members of the circle, in which the
king and a growing number of young Frankish aristocrats often participated, prompted Charlemagne to issue a series of orders defining the objectives of royal cultural policy. Its prime goal was to be the extension and improvement of Latin literacy, an end viewed as essential to enabling administrators and pastors to understand and discharge their responsibilities effectively. Achieving this goal required the expansion of the educational system and the production of books containing the essentials of Christian Latin culture. The court circle played a key role in producing manuals required to teach Latin, to expound the basic tenets of the faith, and to perform the liturgy correctly. It also helped create a royal library containing works that permitted a deeper exploration of Latin learning and the Christian faith. A royal scriptorium was established, which played an important role in propagating the Carolingian minuscule, a new writing system that made copying and reading easier, and in experimenting with art forms useful in decorating books and in transmitting visually the message contained in them. Members of the court circle composed poetry, historiography, biblical exegesis, theological tracts, and epistles—work that exemplified advanced levels of intellectual activity and linguistic expertise. Their efforts prompted Alcuin to boast that a “new Athens” was in the making in Francia. The new Athens came to be identified .with Aachen, from about 794 Charlemagne’s favourite royal residence. Aachen was the centre of a major building program that included the Palatine Chapel, a masterpiece of Carolingian architecture that served as Charlemagne’s imperial church. Royal directives and the cultural models provided by the court circle were quickly
“Another notable feature of Charlemagne’s reign was his recognition of the implications for his political and religious programs of the cultural renewal unfolding across much of the Christian West during the 8th century. He and his government patronized a variety of activities that together produced a cultural renovation (Latin: “renewal” Or “restoration”), later called the Carolingian Renaissance.”
imitated in cultural centres across the kingdom where signs of renewal were already emerging. Bishops and abbots, sometime? with the support of lay mâgnates, sought to revitalize existing episcopal and monastic schools and to found new ones, and measures were taken to increase the number of s students. Some schoolmasters went beyond elementary Latin education to develop curricula and compile textbooks in the traditional
Hol
By O
improved competence in Latin, expanded use of written documents in civil and ecclesiastical administration, advanced levels of discourse and stylistic versatility in formal literary productions, enriched liturgical usages, and variegated techniques and motifs employed in architecture and the visual arts. Charlemagne’s prodigious
Emperor Charlemagne
seven liberal arts. The number of scriptoria and their productive capacity increased dramatically. And the number and size of libraries expanded, especially in monasteries, where book collections often included Classical texts whose only surviving copies were made for those libraries. Although the full fruits of the Carolingian Renaissance emerged only after Charlemagne’s death, the consequences of his cultural program appeared already during his lifetime in
range of activities during the first 30 years of his reign was prelude to what some contemporaries and many later observers viewed as the culminating event of his reign: his coronation as Roman emperor. In considerable part, that event was the consequence of an idea shaped by the interpretation given to Charlemagne’s actions as ruler. Over the years, some of the king’s chief political religious, and cultural advisers became convinced that a new community was
“ g e C i h u e c C e I e s c p w t
Footprints
ly Roman Emperor
OBUSEH JUDE
taking shape under the aegis of the king and the Frankish people, whom, as one pope avowed, “the Lord God of Israel has blessed.” They spoke of that community as the imperium Christianum, comprising all who adhered to the orthodox faith proclaimed by the Roman church. This community a accepted the dominion of a monarch increasingly hailed as the “new David” and the
in ways that negated universalist claims of the Eastern emperors. Then, in 799, an even greater threat to the wellbeing of imperium christianum emerged. The pope’s capacity to lead God’s people came into question when Pope Leo III was ph attacked by a faction of Romans, includin4k high functionaries in the papal curia, who believed that he was guilty of tyranny and serious personal misconduct. Leo fled to the
“new Constantine,” the guardian of Christendom and executor of God’s will. Concern for the welfare of the imperium Christianum was heightened by the perceived unfitness of the heretical emperors in Constantinople to claim authority over the Christian community especially after a woman, Irene, became Eastern emperor in 797. In a larger sense, developments in the 8th century produced the perception in the Carolingian world that the Latin West and the Greek East were diverging
court of his protector, whose role as rector of Christendom was now dramatically revealed Charlemagne provided an escort that restored Leo III to the papal office; then, after extensive consultation in Francia, he went to Rome in late 800 to face the delicate issue of judging the vicar of St. Peter and of restoring order in the Papal States. After a series of deliberations with Frankish and Roman clerical and lay notables, it was arranged that, in lieu of being judged, the pope would
publicly swear an oath purging himself of the charges against him; some hints in the record suggest the these deliberations also led to a decision to redefine Charlemagne’s position. Two days after Leo’s act of purgation, as Charlemagne attended mass on Christmas Day in the basilica of St. Peter, the pope placed a crown on his head, while the Romans assembled for worship proclaimed him “emperor of the Romans.” Historians have long debated where responsibility for this dramatic event should be placed. Despite the claim of Einhard, Charlemagne’s court biographer, that the king would not have gone to St. Peter’s on that fateful day had he known what was going to happen, the evidence leaves little doubt that king and pope collaborated in planning the coronation: the restoration of the Roman Empire in the West was advantageous to both. Given the pope’s tenuous position at that moment and ,the king’s penchant for bold action, it seems highly likely that Charlemagne and his advisers made the key decision involving a new title for the king, leaving it to the pope to arrange the ceremony that would formalize the decision. The new title granted Charlemagne the necessary legal authority to judge and punish those who had conspired a the pope. It also provided suitable recognition of his role as ruler over an empire of diverse peoples and as guardian of orthodox Christendom, and it gave him equal status with his tainted rivals in Constantinople. By once again sanctioning a title for the Carolingians, the pope strengthened his ties with his protector and added lustre to the papal office by virtue of his role in bestowing the imperial crown on the “new Constantine.” On the assessment of Charlemagnes years as emperor, historians are not in full accord. Some have seen
the period as one of emerging crisis, in which the activities of the aging emperor were increasingly constricted. Because Charlemagne no longer led successful military ventures, the resources with which to reward royal followers declined. At the same time, new external enemies appeared to threaten the realm, especially seagoing Northmen (Vikings) and Saracens. There were also signs of structural inadequacy in the system of government, which constantly took upon itself new responsibilities without a commensurate increase in human or material resources, and growing resistance to royal control by lay and ecclesiastical magnates who began to grasp the political, social, and economic power to be derived from royal grants of land and immunities. Other historians, however, have stressed such things as increased royal concern for the helpless, continued efforts to strengthen royal administration, active diplomacy, the maintenance of religious reform, and support of cultural renewal, all of which they see as evidence of vitality during Charlemagne’s last years. Within this larger context there were developments that suggest that the imperial title meant little to its recipient. Indeed, in 802, when he first formally used the enigmatic title “Emperor Governing the Roman Empire,” he retained his old title of “King of the Franks and of the Lombards.” He continued to live in the traditional Frankish way, eschewing modes of conduct and protocol associated with imperial dignity. He relied less on the advice of the circle that had shaped the ideology that led to the revival of the Roman Empire. Indeed, the emperor seemed oblivious to the idea of a unified political entity implicit in the imperial title when, in 806, he decreed that on h death his realm would
be divided among his three sons. Other evidence, however, indicates that the imperial title was important to .him. Charlemagne engaged in a long military and diplomatic campaign that finally, in 812, gained recognition of his title for the Eastern emperor. After 800 his religious re program stressed changes in betaviour that implied that membership in the imperium christianum required new modes of public conduct. He attempted to bring greater uniformity to the diverse legal systems prevailing in his empire. The terminology and the symbols employed by the court to set forth its policies and the artistic motifs employed in the building complex at Aachen reflected an of the imperial office as a source of ideological elements capable of buttressing the ruler’s authority. In 813 Charlemagne assured the perpetuation of the imperial title by bestowing with his own hands the imperial crown on his only surviving son, Louis the Pious. The coronation of 813 suggests that Charlemagne believed that the office had some value and that he wished to exclude the papacy from any part in its bestowal. In its entirety the evidence leads to the conclusion that Charlemagne saw the amperial title as a personal award in recognition of his services to Christendom, to be used as he saw fit to enhance his ability and that of his heirs to direct the imperium Christianum to its divinely ordained end. In January 814 Charlemagne fell ill with a fever after bathing in his beloved warm springs at Aachen; he died one week later. Writing in the 840s, the emperor’s grandson, the historian Nithardavowed that at the end of his life the great king had “left all Europe filled with every goodness.” Modern historians have made apparent the exaggeration in that statement by calling attention to the inadequacies of Charlemagne’s politic apparatus, the limitations of his military forces in the face of new threats from seafaring foes, the failure of his religious reforms to affect the great mass of Christians, the
narrow traditionalism and clerical bias of his cultural programme and the oppressive features of his economic and social programme However, such critical attention of Charlemagne’s role’ cannot efface the fact that his effort to adjust traditional Frankish ideas of leadership and the public good to new current in society made a crucial difference in European history. His renewal of t Roman Empire in the West provided the ideological foundation for a politically unified Europe, an idea that has inspired Europeans ever since - sometimes with unhappy consequence. His feats as a ruler - both fact and fiction - served as a standard to which many generations of European rulers looked for guidance in defining and discharging their royal functions. His religious reforms solidified the organizational structures and the liturgical practices that eventually enfolded most of Europe into a single “Church.” 1-as definition of the role of the secular authority in directing religious life laid the basis for the tension-filled interaction between temporal and spiritual authority that played a crucial role in shaping both political and religious institutions in later western European history. His cultural renaissance provided the basic toolsschools, curricula, textbooks, libraries, and teaching techniques-upon which later cultural revivals would be based. The impetus he gave to the lord-vassal relationship and to the system of agriculture known as Manorialism which peasants held land from a lord in exchange for dues and service) played a vital role in establishing the seignorial system (in which lords exercised political and economic power over a given territory and its population); the seignorial system in turn had the potential for imposing political and social order and for stimulating economic growth. Such astounding accomplishments certainly justify the superlatives by which he was known in his own time: Carolus Magnus (“Charles the Great”) and Europae pater (“father of Europe”).
“His feats as a ruler - both fact and fiction - served as a standard to which many generations of European rulers looked for guidance in defining and discharging their royal functions. His religious reforms solidified the organizational structures and the liturgical practices that eventually enfolded most of Europe into a single “Church.”
Issues “The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working. We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public.” “The technology was inaugurated in Abuja about three months ago and right now, the mobile laboratory for testing water is working. “We have used it in scanning and testing water; we will move all over the country to test the quality of water being sold to the public,’’ he added. Jimoh said that the essence of testing sachet water was to safeguard the health of Nigerians by ensuring the safety of the water being sold to the public. However, in some places,
sanctions will be imposed on the factory,’’ he said. Fagboyo reiterated the commitment of NAFDAC to ensuring the eradication of counterfeit drugs, foods and cosmetics in the state. “What we did in 2013 was to appeal to the conscience of sachet water producers in the state through a workshop we organised for them on the need to strictly adhere to production standards. “Henceforth, any person caught producing or selling sachet water without NAFDAC approved
where the technology has yet to be introduced, NAFDAC is using other methods to ensure the safety of the sachet water on sale. For instance, Mr Kayode Fagboyo, the NAFDAC Coordinator in Osun, said that some sachet water factories were recently shut in the state because they failed to meet with the required standards. He said that the agency had to close down the sachet water factories, following complaints by some consumers over the quality of the water produced by the affected factories. “Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance. “We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced. “If we get to any factory and we find out that the conditions which existed when the production approval was given no longer exist; we will withdraw the approval and appropriate
registration number will be made to face the wrath of the law,’’ he warned. He emphasised that routine inspection of sachet water factories by NAFDAC officials would continue in all parts of the state. Fagboyo advised the owners of food and drug factories to comply with NAFDAC’s production guidelines, urging the public to also be conscious of the products they bought. He, however, vowed that NAFDAC would make concerted and pragmatic efforts to stamp out the sales of unregistered sachet water across the country. Although some concerned citizens have proposed a total ban on the production and sale of sachet water, observers insist that the inadequacies in public water supply and economic benefits of sachet water production should also be considered. They, however, recommend that in the meantime, NAFDAC should be encouraged to intensify its efforts to ensure strict compliance with the standards set for the production of sachet water and other food items.
NAFDAC And The War Against Unregistered Sachet Water BY most accounts, that the production of sachet water, popularly called “pure water’’, has been a major source of income for many people across the country. Economists note that the production, marketing and consumption of sachet water have recently increased tremendously, as the moneyspinning business how has several brands on sale. Attesting to this, Dr Paul Orhii, Director-General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), said that a lot of money was realised daily from the sales of sachet water across the country. Due to the lucrative nature of the business, Orhii, during a visit to Brig.-Gen. Johnson Olawumi, the DirectorGeneral of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Abuja, said that a lot of
people had ventured into sachet water production. He, nonetheless, expressed regret that in spite of the prospects of the business, some sachet water producers had wilfully decided not to follow the regulations prescribed for sachet water production by NAFDAC. He lamented that the environment in which some of the sachet water producers operated was not hygienic, while some of them had not registered with the agency. In view of this, Mr Olatunbosun Adeoye, an environmentalist, argued that NAFDAC should be more proactive in determining the prerequisites for sachet water production so as to ensure the safety of the public. He alleged that some sachet water producers packaged untreated water from various sources and labelled it as “pure water’’ with fake
By VICTOR ADEOTI
NAFDAC registration number on the sachets. Another environmentalist, Mr Lekan Agboola, noted that in some cases, consumers had expressed concern with the appearance and taste of some sachet water with NAFDAC numbers. He said that in recent years, some research had been carried out in various parts of the country to determine the purity of sachet water. He stressed that the results of the research revealed that the “pure water’’ might not be completely “pure’’ and safe for human consumption because of the unhygienic conditions in which the water was processed. In the light of this, NAFDAC says that it has begun a nationwide assessment of sachet water
factories, as part of efforts to ensure the wholesomeness of the water, Mr Abubakar Jimoh, the Director of Special Duties in NAFDAC, said that the agency had introduced modern mobile laboratory equipment for the survey. He said that the equipment was used for onsite physicalchemical microbiological test analysis to ensure that the sachet water being sold to the public met safety standards. Jimoh said that the agency had carried out the exercise in Nasarawa State, adding that the sachet water analysis was going on in some parts of the country. “We are still trying to build on the latest technology; we have introduced another technology called modern mobile laboratory equipment used for testing the quality of water.
“Through our field survey, we have discovered that many of the factories are no longer producing sachet water under the conditions which made us to grant them the approval to produce in the first instance. We have now made it clear to all sachet water producers that we will be visiting their factories once in a month unannounced.”
With Eranga Isaac 08059233001
Family Planning Engaging Women In Maternal, Newborn And Child Health Advocacy
THE role of women in Maternal Newborn and Child Health Advocacy and Services cannot be over-emphasized. Below are six steps suggested by Alice Welbourn, Founding Director of Salamander Trust. The first suggested step is that we keep things simple. We all have really complex lives and simplicity is always welcome! Here are some examples of how to keep things simple. Firstly, language. As I have explained elsewhere, we know now from recent scientific research that use of positive language actually makes us feel good because of increased oxytocin and serotonin levels in our bodies. It also enables us to use our right brains more. Left brains are great for doing things to do with engineering or medicine. But when it comes to the socio-political dimensions of health, which as Kate Gilmore just explained is what we are talking about here, it is really useful for us to enlist the support of our right brains, where creative thinking and the development of “out of the box” positive future possibilities resides. It’s also a good idea, wherever possible, to use clear language. One medical doctor I know asked me what “MNCH” is—and if these letters were even a problem for her, then it goes to show how much we need to think about use of everyday language wherever possible, so as not to make people feel alienated. Next, I suggest that we offer dual protection (for example, protection against unplanned pregnancies and against sexually transmitted infection [STI] transmission) to all women and children, irrespective of their HIV status. I suggest this especially because we have heard from colleagues in this region, for instance, that women with HIV are only offered condoms at health centers and no other contraceptive, on the basis that they shouldn’t be having sex anyway, let alone daring to think of having children. Yet as we all know, it is now possible for women with HIV to have 99 percent HIV-free babies through normal vaginal delivery, so this practice is unjust and unscientific. We all know how much health workers are held in esteem in their communities. So just imagine if all health staff treated all women and girls equally, regardless of our status. That would send out such a powerful message to the communities where they work. My third suggestion is that we make all services available, affordable, acceptable, and accessible to women and girls. Let’s make services fit for people instead of going on expecting people to fit into services. Like Cinderella and the glass slipper, we all need to think about putting our feet in the shoes, or the sandals—or even the bare footprints—of
women and girls whom we Anyone wanting to support women and girls needs to ensure that they entirely understand things from their perspective if they hope to have any success. Of course the best way to do this is to involve women and girls in the design, planning, implementation are wanting to use the services, and monitoring and evaluation of services and related advocacy work. Everyone who is really involved in something wants to see it being successful. My fourth suggestion for keeping things simple is for us to talk about “women” and “girls” instead of “patients” and “mothers.” Why is it that we keep defining our gender with labels that associate us with other people or contexts? As appendages to other priorities? Let’s just stick to women and girls whenever we can, so we are defined in our own rights rather than in relation to others. The second suggested step is about safety. The World Health Organisation (WHO) tells us that pregnancy alone can lead to gender-based violence (GBV) for some, especially if the pregnancy is unplanned. We also know very clearly now that GBV can increase women’s vulnerability to HIV and that-conversely-an HIV diagnosis can provoke or exacerbate GBV. It is also clear to any who have experienced GBV that fear of violence is as big as actual violence—and the emotional and psychological effects of violence or fear of violence can last years after the actual physical signs may have faded away. This is being borne out in recent research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. There is a wonderful website and book called Why Love Matters by Sue Gerhardt, who explains very compassionately how critically important it is to a baby’s well-being that she or his mother is psychologically and emotionally healthy, while the child is in the womb and in the first hours, days, and weeks of the child’s birth. I use the term “mother” here advisedly, in the context of this strong mother/child dyad and in recognizing the critical importance of this primal bond between a woman and her baby in these early stages of the child’s life. If this bond is damaged in any way, it can have far-reaching effects on the child’s development, which can carry on into adulthood. So even if anyone felt that they had no interest in a woman’s health in her own right, surely they ought to be concerned, for the baby’s health, to ensure that we all support the development of that bond as best we can.
So it is clear, surely, that a healthy baby needs a healthy mother. So let’s make sure that we make this happen. We need to ensure psychological, physical, and sexual safety for all women and girls at all times. And we need institutional care and safety for all women at all times. We need to ensure that every woman knows that whenever she goes near a health center she will be guaranteed confidentiality, support, dignity, and respect. Negotiating when, where,
Fourth step is about support. Women “do” peer support really well. I was talking to a senior bank executive a few years ago and he said that if you tell a man something he tells no one and keeps it to himself. Whereas if you tell a woman something and she thinks it’s a good idea, she shares it with an average of seven girlfriends. You may all laugh—but the advertising world knows this all too well and they target their advertising accordingly. Our peer support skills are a vast unrecognized, invisible,
many societies around the world. Such attitudes damage men as well as women. They are harmful to us all. As a little aside here, I recently read a wonderful book produced by young lesbian, gay and bisexual leaders from Toronto. Many of them described the self-loathing and self-hatred they experienced and had to work through whilst growing up, as they came to terms with realizing that their own sexual orientation was not the mainstream accepted heteronormative version of how
how, with whom we have sex, with safety and—heaven forbid, with pleasure—is way out of the reach of so many women and girls around the world. This must change. Of course all of us women and girls need information, education, skills, and consent. And surely we all need to have our rights to bodily autonomy upheld, as Kate Gilmore was explaining. What I find quite strange about this Women Deliver conference is that in all the sessions I have gone to, I have heard very little mention of Millennium Development Goal 3. Yet surely MDG 3 is critical to achieving all the MDGs? Why is MDG 3 missing from the debate? I am not aware that we have achieved it. I really believe that we all need to be ensuring that we include MDG 3 in all our debates both now and beyond 2015. And my last point in relation to sex is that sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) of women and girls, in all our diversities, and the MNCH agenda are inseparable. Indeed I would say that the MNCH agenda is a sub-set of the SRHR agenda. We can only achieve effective and successful MNCH if we set it within the wider enabling environment of comprehensive SRHR for us all.
unpaid, and still largely untapped resource around the world. Yet as soon as we sense that there are women or sex “out of place,” this mutual support system unravels, like knitting wool from a snag in a jumper. Renowned anthropologist Mary Douglas, in her book Purity and Danger, talked about “matter out of place” causing discomfort and distress in many societies. In this way, “women out of place” or “sex out of place” causes us all to put up barriers and distance ourselves from those who somehow rock the status quo. So whether it’s about teen pregnancy, unmarried sex, rape, HIV, having a(nother) sexually transmitted infection, being lesbian, bisexual, trans or intersex, abortion, divorce, sex work, widowhood, contraception, being incarcerated, or using illicit drugs, we are all conditioned, as women, to categorize, label, and blame and exclude each other. We don’t use the same strictures on judging men in our societies. Yet once we have labeled all the women we know on the basis of the above list, who of us has many female friends or even acquaintances left? This is because of the patriarchal attitudes with which we have all been raised in our
they “should” be. These experiences resonated so strongly for me with my own experience of learning about my own HIV status, despite my having been involved already in HIV prevention education. I know many women with HIV also experienced similar depths of despair and self-hatred when they were first diagnosed. This is so very sad—and telling— that any of us who steps outside the “norms” of what our patriarchal societies expect of us experience this. It also goes to show how very deeply embedded are these attitudes within us, even without our often realizing this. It is time therefore to challenge and transform our language, attitudes, and practices, so that we may join together again to overcome these patriarchal attitudes and regain the solidarity of our peer support structures, irrespective of our diverse identities. 6 - Many governments assume that they are “doing gender” when they fund MNCH services. However, all too often, MNCH services are about perpetuating women’s wrongs rather than promoting women’s rights. The experiences of many women with HIV in many parts of the world at the hands of health workers is frankly appalling. They experience
scolding, abuse, and even coerced sterilization. Here in Asia, the latter has taken place in Indonesia and Papua New Guinea. It’s also been happening in Southern and East Africa, in Chile—and in Europe, it happens to Roma women, so I think coerced sterilization takes place in all regions of the world. We are not baby factories or disease vectors. We are women and girls, in all our diversities, with our own rights and, as Kate Gilmore so clearly explained, states are duty bearers to provide us services to fit our needs. And as Kate also explained, we have the rights to remedy, reparation, and redress where these services are not available or where they are abusive. There are also patriarchal issues at play here. There is a just-published book called The Perfect Storm, edited by Tina Wallace and Fenella Porter, about the current “resultsbased” aid agenda of donors and policy makers and the damaging effects that this is having on women’s rights and lives around the world. As one of the authors in this great collection states, “[T]hey may be hitting the target—but are they missing the point?” Yet it is impossible to promote remedy, reparation, or redress without funding for our women’s rights work. You can only do so much on a voluntary basis. We need funding for women’s rights work—and for promotion and roll-out of gender-transformative practices. These practices are there— indeed several of them have been created by us women living with HIV. But without funding we cannot spread them further or share them with others. We need solid, stable, sustained funding to ensure our informed choice, consent, and agency. And our right to agency—our right to engage in participation and in political acts—is also enshrined in our human rights. So my final step is success. Success is a win-win ticket— it can make the life and work of health workers happier and more satisfactory, it can make our own lives as women and girls better, and it can increase the wealth of the nation if we are all happy, healthy, and safe. We can all engage as individual women and girls in all our diversities. We can engage in and through our peer support groups. We can engage in and through our communities. And our health staff, the United Nations, and our governments can—and must— engage with us also. These entities exist through us, the taxpayers. They need to be accountable to us. So let’s all start to measure governments’ results and success in terms of their track record on women’s and girls’ sexual and reproductive health and rights. That would be a real measure of success.
Politics AS the nation’s political parties strategise ahead of the forthcoming general elections, analysts say that one major headache is how to address the challenge of conducting credible and acceptable elections in 2015. The origin of election in Nigeria can be traced to the pre-independence period, when the Electoral Commission of Nigeria (ECN) was established for the purpose of conducting the 1959 general elections. In 1960, the Federal Electoral Commission (FEC) also conducted the postindependence federal and regional elections of 1964 and 1965, respectively. The Federal Electoral Commission (FEDECO) was constituted by the military regime of Gen. Olusegun Obasanjo, which organised the 1979 general elections that ushered in the Second Republic. FEDECO also conducted the 1983 general elections before the military interruption. Besides, the National Electoral Commission (NEC), which was established by the former Military President Ibrahim Babangida , also conducted the June 12, 1993 election, annulled by the same administration. Also, in December 1995, the military government of late Gen. Sani Abacha scrapped NEC and established the National Electoral Commission of Nigeria (NECON), which also conducted local government councils and National Assembly elections. However, the sudden death of Abacha on June 1998 aborted the process of inauguration of the elected officials. In 1998, Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar-led military administration dissolved NECON and established the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), which ushered in the Fourth Republic on May 29, 1999. To consolidate its existence as a truly independent electoral body, INEC has so far conducted three major general elections – 1999, 2007 and 2011.
Pundits, however, argue that most of the previous elections conducted by INEC were either marred by allegations of rigging, ballot snatching, ballot stuffing, bribery and corruption or outright irregularities, thereby casting doubt on their credibility. Available records show that while the 2007 election was generally described as flawed, the 2011 election was marred by electoral violence. It is, perhaps, against this background that the President of the Senate, David Mark, urged INEC to do everything within its powers to conduct credible elections in 2015. Mark gave the advice in his contributions on a motion for the extension of ongoing voter registration and distribution of permanent voter cards in the country. He said that the 2015 elections were very critical and charged the commission to take the preparatory stages as voter registration and permanent voter cards distribution, seriously. According to him, if people are disenfranchised from the early stages of election preparation, then there will be problem with the general elections. He said that INEC did not give adequate publicity to the permanent voter cards distribution, adding that the quality of the card also needed to be improved upon. “I think that the publicity given by INEC is not enough. We must get it right and if there are complaints, even if from only two persons, INEC should look into it. “Some wards are very far from local government headquarters; so, between now and Dec. 5, they must rectify all these issues. The quality of the card is even very poor,” he said. Mark advised INEC to embark on massive publicity at the local government and ward levels, of its ongoing activities, adding that the publicity should be continuous. To allay the fears of people like Mark, INEC Chairman Prof. Attahiru Jega, assures Nigerians that the 2015 elections will be the best ever conducted in the country.
Addressing The Challenge Of Credible Election In Nigeria He said his optimism was based on the strategies put in place by the commission well ahead of the elections. Jega spoke in Paris, France, at a luncheon in his honour by the staff of the Nigerian Embassy, saying that the commission would spare no effort to make the 2015 elections, not only the best in Nigeria’s political history, but also the most acceptable to the citizenry and the international community. “Between now and 2015, INEC will put many structures in place to ensure
that the 2015 elections are not only the best in the history of our country but also the most accepted by our citizens,” Jega said. According to him, among the measures put in place are the ongoing consolidation and updating of the voter register and the issuance of permanent voter cards to all eligible voters. “I assure Nigerians that INEC will achieve a seamless integration of the data of voters and institutionalise continuous voter registration
By SANI ADAMU
before the 2015 elections,” he said. Jega said INEC had set up databases at the national level and in all the states and the Federal Capital Territory, aimed at institutionalising a system of continuous voter registration. “We are now working very hard to clean up that data and consolidate it and to ensure that both the states’ data and the national data are well integrated.
election. On the conduct of the 2015 general elections in the three northern states under emergency, Jega says the successful conduct of byelections in Yobe is an indication that the commission will be able to conduct elections in the affected states. The by-election was for the Nangere Constituency of the State House of Assembly, when the seat became vacant after the member
“Our hope is that before the end of this year, we will have the technology sorted out so that people can register continuously. “And it will not just be fresh registration; but people who have changed their addresses can apply, following a stipulated procedure wherever they are, to have their registration status updated,” he stated. He said if INEC could achieve that, there would be no need to continue to do a major registration before an
representing the constituency, Adamu Degubi, was killed by gunmen in June 2012. “From all the reports that we received, the by-election was one of the best elections that we have conducted so far in terms of turn out and in terms of commencement on time. All polling units were ready for the election before 7.30 a.m.” Jega said. “If anybody had any doubts as to our preparedness to conduct any election in the three states, this is clear evidence that we are prepared to do it and do it well under any circumstances,” Jega said. Re-enforcing the optimism of Jega, the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu, says the 2015 elections will hold in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states, in spite of the emergency rule in the affected areas.
“We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency. If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East despite the state of emergency.”
Ekweremadu, who spoke recently in Abuja when a delegation from the European Union visited him, said the right to vote is fundamental human rights, even under emergency rule. “We just extended the state of emergency and it will expire in November. We hope that by then, we would have contained the insurgency. “If elections come and there is still insecurity, we will still hold election because we have had local government elections in the North-East
despite the state of emergency,” he said. Perceptive observers, nonetheless, advise INEC and the security agencies to also look at the issue of pockets of insecurity in other parts of the country particularly in the Niger Delta region. Political analysts, however, insist that Nigerians cannot abandon the issue of election credibility to INEC and the government alone, adding that the citizens must see themselves as stakeholders in making it work. They say that Nigeria needs credible election in 2015 for the country to survive beyond 2015, noting that the fight against corruption and bad governance will also be a mirage as long as the legitimacy of elected leaders is questionable.
Archival Matters
Akunyili: WHEN Prof Dora Akunyili, former NAFDAC boss, died in far away India on the 7th June, 2014 a lachrymose cry spilled from my lips. It was: “There again goes a good teacher without students.” All I tried to put across with my cry was that she was a great Nigeria woman whose biography taught Nigerians how we can truly transform our country. However, being the Burnbon students of history that we are majority of us don’t bother to internalise her wise profound teachings. To start with, let’s take her didactic existentialist formula for success in life. Here it is: perfection + Hardwork + Humility + Apoliticism + God = Success. Yes, she was a woman who befriended perfectionism as a creed. Therefore, she humbly strove to put in her best in all she did while at the university as a lecturer; at the Petroleum Trust Fund as a zonal director; at NAFDAC as its director-general; at the Federal Ministry of Information as a minister; and at the National Confab as an Anambra State delegate. In addition, she was apolitical in all she did because the larger humanity was her constituency not the petty constructive confines of our dirty politics. A clear indication of her apolitics was the way she prosecuted her war against drug counterfeiters while she was at NAFDAC. She was from Anambra State. Yet her biggest NAFDAC war was unleashed on her own people at Onitsha considered the national headquarters of fake drugs syndicate in Nigeria. Of course, we shouldn’t forget, too, that she always brought fulsome integrity on board to all her jobs. At the Petroleum Trust Fund where she worked as a zonal director, she was given 17,000 pounds for a health
Teacher Without Students By MICHAEL ODIGBE
trip to London – not the fatuous medical tourism for which our Nigeria elites are famous. It turned out that she didn’t undergo surgery, a major component of her health journey, which would have gulped 12,000 pounds. Other Nigerians would have pocketed the money with fake medical documents. But she never did. She refunded the money intact to her employers. For her, obedience is better than sacrifice just as stealing is an infraction of God’s ten commandments given to Moses on Mount Sina. Trust, she saw stealing and corruption as co-terminous. Nevertheless our President who, during his last chat with the media, dichotomised the two twin variables even though it is not possible to isolate blood from body tissues as William Shakespeare showed in his work the merchant of Venice. Later, at NAFDAC deploying her inexhaustible warehouse of perfectionism, hardwork, humility, apoliticism and infite obedience to God call, she was able to serve all humanity – the rich and the poor alike just name it. Certainly, not only her siblings, kinsmen ethnic group, friends, god fathers, selfish party men or demagogies as we find today in Nigeria. Her drug war was for everybody’s benefit. Success came her way in no time. Within five years in office as NAFDAC boss, she had put 101 major counterfeiters of drugs out of business, 45 of whom were convicted for their nefarious activities. Similarly, her efforts in fighting drug counterfeiting were rewarded with countless local and
international awards put at over 700. Among these awards was one for integrity given to her by Transparency International in 2003 and another for HEROISM in 2006 by Time Magazine Inc. All her awards were merited. They were not purchased
synergic virtues of humility, hardwork, perfectionism, apolitism and God fear in achieving sustainable humanitarian – driven success in life. This wasn’t all. Also, she taught us the dignity in the purity of awards and that it is vain to achieve popular acclaim in a chosen area of human endeavour through the hiring of murders, town criers, militants journalists, cultists
How you are !! Still, Prof Dora Akunyili taught us to choose good mentors in life. For her, late Prof J.O.C. Ezeilo and his wife filled this gap. Hear what she says about them. “Prof Ezeilo is somebody I regard as my father and my mentor. He is somebody who, together with his wife, took me as their own child right from my university days…..” In case you don’t know the late Professor was a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Nsukka. So, you can see she chose good
Late Prof Dora Akunyili with tax prayers money as our presidents, governors, law makers, local government chairmen politicians business potentates as well as social elites do these days when awards are sold like crayfish at Jattu market. Too true, Prof Dora Akunyili was a millennial teacher who taught us the
and Halleluya drunken crowds to sing our oriki. What a pity that only a few Nigerians listened to her teachings. She was therefore a teacher without students who literally taught in an empty class room of Nigerians with only the chairs, desks and maybe a hungry spider listening to her.
“Later, at NAFDAC deploying her inexhaustible warehouse of perfectionism, hardwork, humility, apoliticism and infite obedience to God call, she was able to serve all humanity – the rich and the poor alike just name it.”
mentors. She wanted a sound academic foundation and career before veering into public service and needed their mentoring platform to achieve her dream which she did. This is because she bagged a first class degree in pharmacology; taught in the university; and subsequently became a professor in her discipline while in the academic world of the gown. Furthermore, she came into public life with the moral integrity the Ezeilos taught her. However, the question is. How many of us have taken her mentoring page from her book of life and used it to guide our lives, today? Very, very few. What we find is that
most of us choose the devil as our mentor despite our fabled religiosity. This explains why in these dire times criminality has become a trade, hobby, vocation, profession or career as the case may be. Moreover, Prof. Dora Akunyili taught us the virtues of being a game changer – not a bench warmer. She instructed us on the need to create positive rippling effect in any platform on which we are called to serve. Indeed, she wasn’t the arche-typical conformist red rape bureaucrat who prefers to maintain the status quo of public organizations or put them on the reverse gear of retrogression. Hence, when she became NAFDAC’s helmsman in 2001, she tangentially changed the game at the agency, No more business as usual there. She for instance repositioned the agency to deliver its mandate to the nation and humanity at large. First of all, she undertook an in house cleansing of the place. All the shenanigans in NAFDAC were shown the way out leaving a balance of 3000 dedicated staff ready to work with honesty. Secondly, she built their human capacity. Thirdly she put the agency in the public domain through a sincere policy of massive public awareness campaign of the drug war, publishing counterfeit drugs in circulation on the television and newspapers, mounting surveillance on the drug market as well as forcefully seizing fake drugs for public destruction. Following her courageous commitment to the counterfeit drug war, the volume of fake drugs in the market fell significantly. Alas she changed the game at NAFDAC and so successfully rebranded the agency as well as transformed her surname Akunyili into an international brand name in the war against drug counterfeiters. Now again it is question time. How many of us have rebranded our organisations where we serve or turned our names into world brands? Very few. Therefore, can’t you now see why Akunyili was a teacher of sorts in our clime without students?.
Science
With Oyakhilome Clementina
“The heart is divided into four chambers. There are the two auricles on top and two ventricle below. The heart is divided into two longitudinally sides by a thick septum, there is a right and left.� 5.
6. 7. 8.
to the blood Any exchange do take place in the form of diffusion and diffusion is the movement of gases or liquids from a region of higher concentration to a lower concentration. The capillary walls are thin and elastic The movement of blood in the capillaries are slow. They occur mainly around the cells of organs of the body.
THE LYMPH The lymph resembles the blood plasma It is a colourless fluid They fill the spaces between the body cells They are sometimes called tissue fluid Much of it is water. It contains many dissolved substances. The substances includes food materials and some blood proteins 8. The lymph is formed at the capillaries 9. They have no red blood corpuscles 10. There maybe a number of white corpuscles 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
The Mammalian Blood THE mammalian blood components consist of a liquid and different solid cell which consists of the red blood corpuscles or the erythrocytes. The white blood corpuscles or the leucocytes. The red blood platelets or the throm bocytes. There is also a liquid blood that is called the blood plasma. It provides the medium in which all the other components float. The functions of blood are as follows 1. They distribute heat, all over the body
2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8.
They defend/transport antibodies all over the human body. They transport mineral salts. They transport vitamins They transport Hormones They transport excretory products like, sweet, but faeces are excluded they transport oxygen They transport digested food
Structure Of The Heart
STRUCTURE OF THE HEART 1. The heart is located in the thoracic cavity 2. It lies between the two lungs 3. The heart is red and pear shaped organ, it is the sized clenshed fist 4. There is a type of muscles surrounding the heart known as the cardiac muscles. 5. The heart is covered externally by a thin membrane known as the pericardium which encloses the pericardial fluid 6. The heart is divided into four chambers. There are the two auricles on top and two ventricle below. The heart is divided into two longitudinally sides by a thick septum, there is a right and left. The Atria are smaller they receive blood into the heart through five main blood vessels, two anterior vena cava, a posterior vena cava, two pulmonary veens but the ventricles are larger and have thicker walls than that of the atria. ARTERIES 1. The blood vessels are located deep inside the body. 2. They carry blood from the heart. 3. The blood is highly rich in food and oxygen.
4. 5. 6.
In arteries the blood pressure is always high hence They have a thick and elastic walls When it is cut, the blood comes out in spurts like the pulmonary artery renal artery and hepatic artery VEINS 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7.
The blood vessels here are located close to the body surface Their function is to carry blood from the body cells to the heart The blood veins carry is low in food and oxygen. They are usually dull in colour (appearance). Their walls are inelastic and thin Inside their inner surfaces, they have valves along sides If veins are cut, the blood oozes out.
CAPILLARIES 1. They occur mainly around the cells of organs of the body. 2. They are sites for the exchange of materials. 3. The Oxygen and the food go to the cells while 4. The carbon(iv) oxide which is a waste and water go
FUNCTIONS OF THE LYMPH 1. They serve as a medium of exchange 2. This exchange of materials is between the blood and the body cells. 3. lymph also accepts waste materials from the cells. 4. and hands them over to the blood
Mutation The Theory Of Organic Evolution Mutation is the sudden changes in genetic material either in gene in chromosomes resulting in a new stable characteristics or trait which can be inherited by offspring. Mutation occurs during meiosis when the sperm and eggs are being formed. It leads to the production of offspring with a great difference from other members of the population of the species. A nutrition which provides an organism with a beneficial trait for adaptation in its environment will survive the struggle for existence. The trait that was inherited by the organisms offspring and gradually the trait spreeds through out the population that leads to the formation of new species. An organism arising from mutation is called a mutant. CAUSES OF MUTATION 1. 2. 3. 4.
Chemical mutagens usually present in cigarettes Cosmic radiation Ultra-violet sunlight X-rays
EVOLUTION OF NEW SPECIES BY ISOLATION When members of the same species of a population are isolated or separated by a national barrier like deserts, oceans, seas, mountain ranges, lakes and rivers and they are prevented from inter breading for a very longtime, new species will evolve as their genes many undergo mutation. The isolated species would not share the mutant genes with the species of other populations. Then at the end there are distinct variations which would occur in the species of each separated population.
Issues Anti-Corruption Legislations:
Can Nigeria Escape International Sanctions?
CONSCIOUSLY or unconsciously, the present National Assembly has devised a means of giving special seasons’ gifts to Nigerians. Just before the 2013 Christmas celebration, the Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, under the leadership of Senator Victor Lar organised a Public Hearing on the proposed Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center Bill, after it was read on the plenary for the second time. On return in the New Year, the House of Representatives released its own blessings by organizing same on the Bill, after the second reading as well. Just before the Easter celebration, the National Assembly joint Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes organized a Retreat in Abuja to brainstorm on the implications of the anticorruption bills being considered by the present National Assembly, with special attention on the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center Bill. The event was organized by the Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption-MIIVOC, a Nigerian-based Nongovernmental Organisation, with interest in the war against violence, corruption, injustice and human Rights abuse; in partnership with the relevant National Assembly Committee. The event which was powered by the ‘Justice for All’ of the British Council was held at the Rockview Hotel, Abuja from the 6th-8th of April, 2014. It has been severally described as a huge success. The primary goal of the Retreat was to create a forum for interaction among the lawmakers and key stakeholders on the implications of the anticorruption bills being considered by the present National Assembly, especially, the Nigeria Financial Intelligence Center Bill. It was meant to create an opportunity for the lawmakers to rub minds and further build their capacity on the relevant anti-corruption bills. It was also an avenue for self evaluation and assessment.
By WALTER DURU
The Retreat was also geared towards supporting Nigeria to strengthen its anti-money laundering, anti-corruption and anti-terrorism programmes and legislations by promoting and encouraging increased knowledge and stakeholders’ participation. The forum allowed for exchange of ideas among lawmakers from the upper and lower Chambers on the NFIA and other related anti-corruption bills, as well as the evolving issues in the fight against corruption in Nigeria. It was meant to improve the knowledge gaps and lead to early passage of the NFIA, Mutual Legal Assistance, Proceeds of Crime and other anti-corruption related Bills being considered by the present National Assembly. Speaking during the event, chairman, Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force-FATF, Mr. Steve Oronsaye further opened the eyes of Nigerians on the risks the country is exposed to by not having relevant legal and operational framework against corruption, in compliance with international standards. “This Retreat, which brings together members of the two houses of the National Assembly to discuss and harmonize their positions on the Nigerian Financial Intelligence Center Bill, is a step in the right direction.” “We are aware that this 7th Assembly has taken bold and deliberate steps to address some of the strategic deficiencies identified in our Anti Money Laundering/CFT legislation. However, there are still some outstanding issues that need to be addressed. The Bill, which we shall discuss at this retreat, is one of such key outstanding issues. Other very important and relevant bills that have been submitted by the President to the National Assembly include: the Proceeds of Crime (POCA) Bill that seeks to establish a central Agency to manage the proceeds recovered from convicted criminals and the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Bill. We are aware that the Executive is preparing to submit the harmonized Terrorism
Prevention Bill, 2014 and the amended Money Laundering Prohibition Bill, soon for your consideration. These Bills have international implications on Nigeria’s rating globally. We therefore plead that you fast track consideration of these Bills.” “As you are aware, the proposed NFIC Bill is designed to provide a sustainable and credible legal framework for the FIC, Nigeria. As is the accepted practice in other jurisdictions,
dissemination of suspicious Transaction Reports (STR) and other information regarding potential money laundering or terrorist financing.” It is pertinent to note that since November 2013, Nigeria has been disconnected from the secured web of the Egmont group of Financial Intelligence Units…..What this means is that Nigeria can neither receive nor share financial intelligence with other 139 member countries of the Egmont Group on
Mr Steve Oronsaye, Chairman, Presidential, Committee On the Financial Action Task Force (FATF).
this Bill seeks to provide the FIC with operational independence and autonomy, and greater ability to provide financial intelligence to all relevant competent authorities in order to strengthen anti-money laundering and combating the financing of terrorism (AML/ CFT) measures.” “Recommendation 29 of the 40 recommendations of the FATF on combating money laundering and the financing of terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction reads: Countries should establish an independent financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) that serves as a national Center for the receipt (and, as permitted, requesting), and analysis and
money laundering, terrorism financing, and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction as well as other related matters. More worrisome is the fact that it is happening at a time when Nigeria needs the information most, considering the challenge of terrorism confronting the country presently.” “We are concerned that if the legal framework is not in place by June 1, 2014, the NFIU stands the risk of being suspended from the league of Egmont Group. This also has wider implication and may hinder the decision on Nigeria’s proposed membership of the Financial Action Task Force.” Also speaking, Chairman,
Senate Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Senator Victor Lar promised that the National Assembly Joint Committee will continue to work with the Presidential Committee and indeed, the Ministry of Justice in ensuring that all observed deficiencies with the legislations on antimoney laundering and terrorism financing legislations were expeditiously passed. Senator Lar said that there were many issues to be discussed on the Bill that was at the completion stage, pointing out that the NFIC bill had passed through the second reading and referred to his Committee for further legislative inputs. He however noted that though the Committee was to submit its report after four weeks, there were several issues to be considered, including the desirability or otherwise of the Board, size of the Board and how differently the Board should be from that of the EFCC, among others. According to him, the outcome of the retreat would facilitate the establishment of the Centre and therefore appealed for regular interface between legislators and stakeholders. Adding his voice, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Drugs, Narcotics and Financial Crimes, Hon. Jagaba Adams Jagaba noted that the efforts of the Federal government in canvassing for foreign investors in the country would not yield positive results unless the Financial Intelligence Centre is established. He argued that foreign investors would always be interested in the protection of their investments and that presently, the country lacks such laws that could give the investors the confidence that their investments were protected. Also speaking, Programme Manager, (anti corruptionC3) of the Justice for All, Mr. Emmanuel Uche commended the present National Assembly for what he described as their patriotic stance in strengthening the legislative framework for the war against corruption in Nigeria. He pledged the continued support of his organisation to efforts geared towards entrenching transparency in governance, even as he charged the stakeholders not to relent in the war against corruption in Nigeria. Executive Director, Media Initiative against Injustice, Violence and Corruption and facilitator of the Retreat,
Walter Duru described corruption as one of Nigeria’s most-formidable challenges. He commended the lawmakers and other stakeholders for what he described as a patriotic move and assured that MIIVOC shall continue to partner with transparent institutions in righting the wrongs in the country. Some of the agencies that attended the Retreat were the Central Bank of NigeriaCBN, National Insurance Commission-NAICOM, Office of the National Security Adviser, Department for State Security-DSS, Securities and Exchange Commission-SEC, Ministry of Justice, among others. Now that we understand the issues and have June 2014 as deadline to escape the International Community’s hammer, all hands must be on deck to not only fast-track the process, but ensure that a no loopholes are allowed. The two chambers of the National Assembly must not wait any longer, but continue in their doggedness towards ensuring that the remaining legislative actions are completed. The Presidential Committee on the Financial Action Task Force, the Ministry of Justice and other relevant stakeholders must be on stand-by to ensure that Presidential assent is not delayed after passage. Most importantly, credible, tested, trusted, experienced and reliable persons must be appointed to head the agencies, especially, the Financial Intelligence Centre and Assets Recovery Agency, to ensure that we get results. Civil Society organisations and the Media in the country must rise up to the challenge of ensuring that moles and stooges are not planted to head the proposed institutions, as leadership shall determine the success or otherwise of each of them. Leadership of these sensitive institutions must not be politicised, if the country must succeed in the war against corruption, money laundering and terrorism financing. Since the Civil Society and the Media have actively participated in every stage of the process, it is most sensible that they ensure that competent and credible persons are appointed into leadership positions. It is only when such transparent persons are in positions that they can proudly say that they have arrived; set for the next phase, which is ensuring effective service delivery of the Institutions.
International Features Sectarian Genie Out Of Bottle From Syria To Iraq AS jihadists storm through the Sunni heartlands of Iraq towards Baghdad, where a Shi’ite government they regard as heretic clings on, they have lifted the veil on deep sectarianism which has also stoked the fires of Syria’s civil war and is spilling over into vulnerable mosaic societies such as Lebanon. The sectarian genie is now well out of the bottle, eclipsing traditional interstate rivalries that plague the Middle East - even if these still play a part in the drama. The 1979 Islamic Revolution brought a Shi’ite theocracy to power in nonArab Iran, giving a sectarian edge to the long-standing, state-to-state contest for influence in the Gulf between Iran and Saudi Arabia, an absolute monarchy underpinned by the fundamentalist tenets of Sunni Wahhabi doctrine. And the 2003 US invasion shattered Iraq into ethnosectarian fragments, giving the majority Shi’ites the whip-hand over the Sunni minority and overturning a century-old balance of power. Now the Syrian conflict pitting a government whose core is President Bashar alAssad’s Alawites, a minority sect descended from Shi’ism, in an all-out war against rebels made up mainly from the Sunni majority, has lured jihadi volunteers to create an almost seamless sectarian battlefield from Baghdad to Beirut. “There is no sense of common identity and therefore wherever there is a division of power like in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain they end up fighting over who wins. It has become a winner take all situation,” said Middle East academic and former State Department official Vali Nasr, also a Senior Fellow at Brookings Institution. “This is being driven from both top down and bottom up.” Glimpses of the savagery
of this sectarianism have multiplied as the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an al Qaeda splinter group which aims to carve out a Caliphate in the heart of the Middle East, captured a string of north and central Iraqi cities in June. One video posted by ISIL shows its fighters storming the house of an old man and accusing him and his two young sons of fighting in the Iraqi army under Nuri alMaliki, the Shi’ite Islamist prime minister. As they captives dig their own graves, a fighter taunts them, “You’re tired, Yes? Dig, dig more, where is Maliki to come and save you? Why did you join Maliki’s army?” The old man implores comrades to repent and break ranks with the army, saying: “Look at me, I am digging my own grave, they came to my home and took me”. The video ends abruptly with what looks like the swish of a blade falling upon the victim and a one-word caption: “slaughtered”. An ISIL leader reached by Reuters via Skype makes clear this brutality is a considered policy as his movement builds its crossborder Islamic State. “We will deal with Maliki’s followers and his filthy state according to righteous Islamic law”, he says. “Whoever comes to us repentant before we have the upper hand upon him, will be one of us; but the one who insists in fighting us and on his infidelity and apostasy, he’ll have to face the consequences”. Disowned even by alQaeda, ISIL has taken hate speech to a new level in Iraq, denouncing Shi’ites as “dogs of Maliki”, or as “reviled and impure rejectionists (rafadah)”. They proclaim that “death is the only language the Shi’ite Marjaiyah (clerical leaders) and their rotten
gangs understand”. The Shi’ite side has responded in kind, posting videos of Sunnis being executed. In one, groups of men shot randomly, some in the head, lie next to each other in what appears to be a room with blood splashed on the wall and bullet holes everywhere. Religion, many analysts say, is being deployed as a weapon to galvanize rival interests, but is taking on a virulent sectarian life of its own, sometimes escaping the control of those wielding the
Salafism and Shi’ism encouraged “sectarian entrepreneurs who found it very profitable to mobilize people around religion or sect”. In a process which continued under Maliki, the poison of sectarian prejudice hardened into bigotry, exploited by leaders who fell into “an awful bidding war” to claim religious legitimacy, Tripp says. Regional players also cloaked their pursuit of geopolitical advantage in religion, he adds. “If you emphasize your
the “Perilous Scenario in the Eastern Mediterranean.” Sectarian wars, Osman says, are also occurring at a time when Arab societies are undergoing a transformation from the old political order following the ousting of autocratic leaders, who have ruled for decades to a new, as yet undefined, order. And for the first time in the last 150 years, the region is witnessing the emergence of highly assertive, well-armed, jihadist groups that are dominating the plains from eastern Syria to western Iraq,
Iraqi security forces hold up a flag of the Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant they captured during an operation to regain control of Dallah Abbas north of Baqouba, the capital of Iraq’s Diyala province, 35 miles northeasdt of Baghdad, Iraq.
weapon. “National identities in these countries are eroding and sectarian identities are becoming more prominent,” Nasr said. In Iraq, says Professor Charles Tripp at London University’s School of Oriental and African Studies, the process began in the 1990s when Saddam Hussein, the dictator toppled in 2003, started a “piety campaign” to solidify support for his otherwise secular regime in the face of crippling international sanctions. This indiscriminate encouragement of Sunni
“There is no sense of common identity and therefore wherever there is a division of power like in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Bahrain they end up fighting over who wins. It has become a winner take all situation.”
Shi’ism as an Iranian it allows them to intervene in Lebanon (which has a big Shi’ite community). Equally, if you are a Saudi you can claim it is not about regional rivalry but some bigger cause”, he says. “On a regional level people get sucked into a power game which is not actually about religion but resources and prestige.” Yezid Sayigh, a senior associate at the Carnegie Middle East Center in Beirut, argues that “there is actually no theological debate in this religious war.” “It’s fundamentally, as always, a fight for political power”. While enmity between Islam’s two competing sects has often been fierce and bloody, it now spreads over huge swathes of territory from the eastern Mediterranean to Iraq, the Gulf and Yemen. “It is neither solely religious nor purely political; the two mix and feed upon each other, with personal interests and geopolitical confrontations pouring petrol on the flames,” said Tarek Osman, author of
and gradually carving for themselves quasi-statelets that they aim to have as permanent entities. “If that happens, it will not only be a peril to all sovereign states in this part of the world, not only to religious minorities, but to all of the societies,” Osman said. The future, experts argue, will be determined as much by local factors as regional forces. “Local politics will shape this in one form or another. Sometimes local politics will mean it is horrible and really violent, you will see the kind of things you saw in Syria where one village is massacred by another. And of course localism can take the fuse out, take the bitterness out because it could actually lead to a local settlement,” Tripp said. While it is true that Iraqi Sunnis of the north, united in their hatred of Maliki’s government which they say disempowered and marginalized them, helped ISIL in its dramatic takeover, the same differences may cause a break with ISIL’s
intolerant and brutal methods, as happened in Syria and Iraq seven years ago. The Jihadist coalition under ISIL, experts say, will eventually fragment because of internal disputes over sharing money, territory and power. They believe ISIL insurgents will overreach themselves by alienating tribes, more pragmatic Sunni groups, former officers from Saddam’s era and ordinary Iraqis as they did in 20052008 under al Qaeda leader Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, when Iraqis revolted against its ultra-hardline Islamist agenda. Some argue that these splits will open quickly because the Jihadists have to provide government in the huge swathes of territory they have seized. “One of the great strengths of al Qaeda was that it has no social constituency”, says Charles Tripp. “It could rally people round an idea but didn’t have to provide electricity, water, social justice and so on. ISIL now does.” So far in Sunni cities captured by ISIL, the social power structures are those of existing tribal leaders and former Baathist officials, while the people with the guns and the ruthlessness and violence are the ISIL, Tripp says. “They know they cannot rule that area without the cooperation of the tribes and when you look at the pattern of what happened before that’s how the control of al Qaeda and Zarqawi fell apart because they alienated them,” Tripp said. On the ground, it is hard to imagine Maliki regaining Sunni provinces he lost to ISIL with Iraq’s army, a force which exists more on paper than on the ground. But regaining it with Iraniantrained Shi’ite militias such as Asa’ib Ahl al-Haq is also a recipe for sectarian slaughter, experts say. Many predict the fighting will go on until all sects from Syria to Iraq - Shi’ites, Sunnis, Kurds and Alawites carve up their own fiefdoms even if they stay within the same international borders. The clearest emerging enclave is the northern Kurdish autonomous region, which has been more than 20 years in the making and which experts say could be permanent. Courtesy: Reuters
International 2 Arrested, 22 Dead In India Building Collapse
NEW DELHI - Police in southern India detained two construction company directors yesterday as rescuers using gas cutters and shovels searched for dozens of workers believed buried in the rubble of a building that collapsed during monsoon rains. It was one of two weekend building collapses that killed at
least 22 people. The 11-story apartment structure the workers were building collapsed late Saturday while heavy rains and lightning were pounding the outskirts of Chennai, the capital of Tamil Nadu state. Police said 31 construction workers had been pulled out so far and the search
was continuing for more than a dozen others. Four of the workers died on the spot and another seven succumbed to injuries in a hospital, said police officer George Fernandes. Feeble voices were being heard from those trapped in the debris, said T.S. Sridhar, the
disaster management agency commissioner. Rescuers used gas cutters, iron rods and shovels after cranes lifted concrete blocks to get to the survivors. Nearly 90 contract workers were believed to have been in the basement of the structure to collect their weekly wages when it collapsed, Sridhar said, adding that the exact number of those trapped was unknown. The collapsed structure was one of the two towers being built in the area, he said. “Removing debris is a major challenge. It may take two to three days to clear the rubble,” said S.P. Selvam, who is heading the rescue operation. Police officer Kanan said two directors of the construction
company, Prime Sristi, have been detained for questioning as authorities began investigating the collapse. The officer uses one name. Balaguru, one of the builders, said the structure collapsed possibly due to the impact of lightning. “Usually, once the construction gets over we install the equipment to prevent the building from a thunder strike. It was nearing completion,” the Press Trust of India news agency quoted Balaguru, who uses one name, as saying. Earlier Saturday, 11 people died and one survivor was being treated in a hospital after a fourstory, 50-year-old structure toppled in an area of New Delhi
inhabited by the poor, said fire service officer Praveer Haldiar. Most homes in that part of the capital were built without permission and using substandard materials, police officer Madhur Verma said. Building collapses are common in India, where high demand for housing and lax regulations have encouraged some builders to cut corners, use substandard materials or add unauthorized extra floors. In April last year, 74 people were killed when an eight-story building being constructed illegally in the Mumbai suburb of Thane in western Maharashtra state caved in. It was the worst building collapse in the country in decades.
Libya Needs 2 Weeks To Publish Elections Results Indian rescuers gesture for an excavator to stop as they try to retrieve the body of a victim at the site of a building collapse in New Delhi, India, at the weekend. A dilapidated building collapsed in the Indian capital weekend, killing at least seven people as rescuers search for others believed to be trapped.
TRIPOLI - Libya will need around two weeks to count the votes of last week’s parliamentary election and publish final results, the elections commission has said. The North African state elected a new assembly in a vote marred by a low turnout and
violence, opening a new chapter in Libya’s bumpy transition toward democracy since the 2011 fall of Muammar Gaddafi to an armed uprising. “We are expecting to announce the final results in midRamadan,” said Emad Sayeh, head of the High National
The exchange building was still under construction, and it appeared likely that the devices that exploded had been intended for use elsewhere, security sources and a judicial source said.
The unfinished concrete building partially collapsed in the blast. The two women killed were the wife and daughter of a construction site guard who lived in an annex to the building in 6th of October City, a western satellite district of Cairo.
Cairo: Explosion At Telephone Exchange Kills 2 CAIRO - Two bombs exploded at a small telephone exchange on Cairo’s outskirts, killing an 18-year-old woman and her mother, security sources said, days after a string of small bomb explosions hit the Egyptian capital’s metro
network. Near Rafah in North Sinai, gunmen killed four Egyptian soldiers, state media and security sources said. The gunmen forced the soldiers, who were returning
DAMASCUS - A jihadist group in Syria has publicly
executed and crucified nine men, eight of them rebels fighting both President Bashar al-Assad’s regime and the jihadists, a monitor said yesterday. The report comes amid fierce clashes on the outskirts of Damascus between the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant, which is spearheading a major offensive in Iraq, and rebels, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. “ISIL executed eight men in Deir Hafer in the east of Aleppo province” on Saturday because they belonged to rebel groups that had fought against the
from a holiday and dressed in civilian clothing, out of their vehicle and shot them before escaping, the state news agency MENA reported. No group immediately claimed responsibility for either attack.
Aleppo: ISIL Crucifies 9 Men CHANGE OF NAME AGHO – I formerly Miss Franca Otabor Agho, now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Franca Otabor Okungbowa. All former documents remain valid. National Population Commission (NPC) and the general public should please take note.
PUBLIC NOTICE
NEW BENIN COW MEAT SELLERS ASSOCIATION The general public is hereby notified that the above named Association has applied to the Corporate Affairs Commission for registration under the Companies and Allied Matters Act No.1 LFN 2004 BOARD OF TRUSTEES 1. Ero Osaro Taiwo - Chairman 2. Tirimisiyu Alamu - 1st Vice-Chairman 3. Matthew Onovo - 2nd Vice Chairman 4. Osayi Aruomoaghe - Secretary 5. Godwin Ugwu - Financial Secretary 6. Yusuf Salami - Treasurer 7. Deaconess Helen Okundaye - Women Leader AIMS & OBJECTIVES 1. To promote and protect the interest and welfare of members. 2. To foster unity and co-operation among members. 3. To set standards and formulate policies that will further enhance the development of the Association and protect the consumers. Any objection to this registration should be forwarded to the RegistrarGeneral, Corporate Affairs Commission plot 420 Tigris Crescent, off Aguiyi Ironsi Street, Maitama, Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
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jihadists as well as Assad’s forces, it said. ISIL then “crucified them in the main square of the village, where their bodies will remain for three days”, the Britain-based monitor said. Also in Aleppo province, a ninth man was executed and crucified in Al-Bab town near the border with Turkey. ISIL first emerged in Syria’s war in late spring last year and was initially welcomed by some Syrian rebels who believed its combat experience would help topple Assad. But subsequent jihadist abuses quickly turned the Syrian opposition, including Islamists, against ISIL. Rebels launched a major antiISIL offensive in January 2014, and have pushed them out of large swathes of Aleppo province and all of Idlib in the northwest.
Election Commission. He was referring to the holy Muslim fasting month that starts yesterday. The commission published partial results from some cities but Sayeh said more time was needed to count votes and produce accurate results. Fewer than half of eligible Libyans voted, a paltry turnout reflecting disillusion with the chaos prevailing since Gaddafi’s overthrow. The oil producer is in chaos as the government and outgoing parliament have failed to produce security and curb militias who helped oust Gaddafi but now defy state authority.
Election officials work in the operations rooms of the High National Elections Commission after elections recently in Tripoli.
Saudi King Slams Religious Extremists As Muslims Mark Ramadan
RIYADH - Saudi King Abdullah yesterday sharply criticised religious extremists, vowing not to let “a handful of terrorists... terrify Muslims”, in a speech marking the start of the Muslim holy fasting month of Ramadan. Islam is “religion of unity, fraternity and mutual support” but some people “lured in by false calls... are confusing reform with terrorism”, the monarch said, in comments carried by state news agency SPA.
“Their goal is to sow discord among Muslims,” he said in an apparent reference to insurgents from the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The powerful jihadist group has spearheaded an offensive by Sunni militants in Iraq since June 9, wresting control of northern cities and capturing vast swathes of territory. ISIL operates in both Syria and Iraq and aims to establish an Islamic state straddling the border of those two countries,
but their lightning advance in Iraq also poses a threat to Jordan and Saudi Arabia. The ultra-conservative Sunni Gulf kingdom — home to Mecca and Medina, Islam’s holiest sites — shares an 814-kilometre (505mile) border with Iraq. “We will not allow a handful of terrorists, using Islam for personal aims, to terrify Muslims or undermine our country and its inhabitants,” Abdullah said. “We are continuing, with God’s help, to face and tackle
this scourge,” he said. The Saudi monarch also wished Muslims “security, prosperity and stability” over Ramadan, which began in most countries yesterday. During Ramadan, which is sacred to Muslims because it is during that month that tradition says the Koran was revealed to the Prophet Mohammed, believers abstain from eating, drinking, smoking and having sex from dawn until sunset.
International Features Ukraine’s Poroshenko: Is He A Match For Putin? THREE weeks into his job, Ukraine’s Petro Poroshenko looks like a man in a hurry. He’s a bustling hive of activity. Judging by his website, he’s rarely off the phone to one world leader or another. He has defied Russia’s President Vladimir Putin and nailed down an elusive landmark free trade deal that will shift his country into mainstream Europe. He has won plaudits from the West’s political elite for his tough but pragmatic decisions in handling the separatist crisis that threatens his country with break-up. But now the 48-year-old confectionery tycoon needs to perform a perilous balancing act if he’s to stabilize Ukraine in the face of potential new trade reprisals from Moscow after signing the European Union deal. While he is articulate, resilient and energetic, his nemesis Putin is a political fox and a master tactician, who has annexed Crimea and seems to have it in his powers to decide, with a word, the outcome in Ukraine’s rebellious east. “Putin is a difficult and crafty opponent ... It’s like a boxing match between different weights - if Russia is the super heavyweight, then Ukraine is in the middle-weight category,” commented Volodymyr Fesenko, a political analyst. However, political insiders say Poroshenko, the man they call the “Chocolate King”, has a hard center. His performance before European Union leaders in Brussels was a slick tour de force, delivered in fluent
English and exuding humor and self-confidence - a stark contrast with Viktor Yanukovich, his Moscowbacked predecessor known for a leaden style and cultural gaffes. Showing a flash of humor that enlivened EU leaders immediately, he flourished a commemorative pen embossed with the November 2013 date of the EU’s Vilnius summit - the occasion when Yanukovich balked at signing the same trade deal and sparked a people’s revolt that ultimately chased him from power. “What a great day!” Poroshenko declared. That he can display such a light touch given his array of problems wins him respect and friends in high places. Political insiders say his handling of the separatist crisis shows there steel behind the charm, after he warned of a “detailed Plan B” - a government offensive - if his ceasefire strategy is rejected by the rebels. Speaking in the German parliament, Chancellor Angela Merkel this past week praised the “very courageous step” he took by announcing a ceasefire on June 20. But after the bout of high diplomacy with the Europeans, he is back to the hard part in Ukraine where guns and mortar fire still sound across the badlands of the east and the bodies pile up despite ceasefires and the release of international monitors. During the heady “Euromaidan” revolution, he showed political canniness in quietly launching
himself for the presidency while cleverly avoiding the unpopularity that doomed the bid of other members of the old political establishment. He served as foreign minister and minister of trade in two different administrations while managing a business empire - including a TV news channel called Fifth Channel - which Forbes values at around $1.3 billion.
head of Kiev’s Centre for Political and Conflict Studies. “Putin is his strategic partner. If Putin continues to take the line of making Ukrainian problems worse, then Poroshenko will never manage to handle him.” Beyond the glow of the EU summit, Poroshenko’s leverage appears limited for getting Moscow to end its support for the separatists let alone winning back Crimea.
by a landslide in May, he said he wanted a speedy end to the separatist rebellion and appeared to set store by a military crackdown - despite the army’s patchy performance until then. And though he won a mandate across the whole of the divided country, which was unusual for a Ukrainian president, he knows use of force risks rebounding and alienating the Russian-speaking
Petro Poroshenko, Ukraine’s President
But he remains a relative novice alongside the veteran Putin who plays energy and big business cards ruthlessly to navigate his course on the global stage. Poroshenko holds few trumps in the range of issues which divides Kiev from Kremlin policy including gas, the rights of Russian-speakers in Ukraine - and now trade. “Poroshenko can sort out the situation in the country only with Putin’s help and without fighting Putin,” said Mykhilo Pohrebynsky,
Rather than removing barricades and leaving occupied buildings, the rebels in some parts of the east are seizing new premises and setting up new checkpoints. Poroshenko knows his “anti-terrorist operation” will have only limited success against the rebels as long as the 1,900-km (1,200-mile) border with Russia remains unsealed to volunteer fighters and incoming supplies of Russian weapons. Soon after being elected
people of the east he needs to reach out to. His peace plan aims to cut the ground from under the separatists by pushing reforms that will bring greater autonomy and expand Russian language rights. But this is a long-term project that can scarcely take root while battle rages in his divided country. Putin, by turns, steadily ups the pressure, offering limited support for Poroshenko’s peace plan when it suits - but then
“Poroshenko knows his “anti-terrorist operation” will have only limited success against the rebels as long as the 1,900-km (1,200-mile) border with Russia remains unsealed to volunteer fighters and incoming supplies of Russian weapons.”
suggesting the Ukrainians may have breached the ceasefire and pressing Kiev to engage rebel leaders in talks. Despite his unease, Poroshenko has now given tacit backing to primary contacts with rebel leaders through former President Leonid Kuchma. Only Western sanctions appear to be able to influence Kremlin policy. The EU warned last week it could impose more sanctions on Moscow unless rebels began to wind down their activities - but even then the effect on Kremlin policy is open to question. Beyond the security crisis in the east, Poroshenko faces enormous challenges on other fronts. He took over a nearbankrupt country whose coffers are being drained further now by the war effort in the east. Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk pointedly told the International Monetary Fund it should take this into account when it considered disbursing further bailout aid. Meanwhile, his ministers are locked again in a battle with Moscow over the price Kiev must pay for strategic supplies of Russian natural gas - an issue always linked to the prevailing state of bilateral relations. Further back on the agenda is how to tackle rampant corruption and restore the sort of governance that will transform his country of 46 million into a modern European state and allow it one day to realistically aspire to EU membership. “He has made a positive start on many fronts. There is a lot of goodwill out there for him,” one Western diplomat and long-time observer of Ukraine said. “But the reality is that Poroshenko is reliant on somebody else to solve every single issue confronting him - security, internal or economic. That is his problem.” Courtesy: Reuters
Opinion “I count him braver who overcomes his desires Than him who conquers his enemies, For the hardest victory is the victory over self”. ARISTOTLE (384-322Bc) WHEN Schizoid hysteria and lunatic martyrdom becomes the driving force in any sect, religious collectivity, society or individual, it precipitates weird characteristics manifested in sectarian violence, hate, intolerance and fundamentalism. Hence, religion has become the greatest predator on man and Percy Shelley posited that “Earth groans beneath religious iron-age and Priests and Imams dare babble of a God of peace even whilst their hands are red with guiltless blood’. Religion is a belief in the worship of the ultimate power greater than man. It is like a burning candle in a multi-coloured lantern, you see it from your own perspective. But the desire to make others see it from our own religious stand point or die is the cause of religious schism in Nigeria. It is a grotesque display of blind extremism and gross intolerance for one to be monotheistically fanatical. Religion is supposed to bring out the best in us as Muslims, Christians, Hindus etc. The cardinal matrix of love remains the organic fibre of all religions, but it has turned out to be otherwise. There is only one God which we call by many other names and He is the quintessence and perfect exemplification of love. We are therefore not serving God when we end up fighting and killing ourselves in the name of Islamism or Christianity. It is broad daylight solipsism for which we must all be ashamed. Sometime ago, a Danish Newspaper made a sarcastic picturesque reflection of Prophet Mohammed and this immediately ignited Islamic violence all over the world. To compound matters the print media in France, Britain, America, Belgium etc re-ran the so-called offensive cartoon leading to and fueling more violence in parts of the world including Nigeria. It must be stated with unequivocal clarity that democracy in Denmark is not reflective of democracy in Iraq, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia and Nigeria. In these other areas, democracy is still gestational and embryonic, and so matters that touches on what people love with passionate depth should be treated with some modicum of respect, but that does not justify the unleashing of horrendous mayhem on people of other faiths. How a cartoon in far away Demark affects a Nigerian Christian remains a puzzle. Is the Boko Haram’s ongoing furore and rancid genocide in Maiduguri, Kastina, Bauchi, Gombe etc that has led to the loss of properties and lives right? Is the practice of Sharia conductive to Nigeria’s peace? Is the Islamic theology and practice
The Lilies Of St Anthony Of Padua By AMBROSE O. EKHOSUEHI
THE Lily is the symbol of holy purity. This beautiful virtue was one of the outstanding characteristics of Saint Anthony of Padua. The lilies commemorate the purity and piety of Saint Anthony and recall the fragrance of his great charity for the poor. The lilies are kept in the home or carried on one’s person as a sacramental against sickness and temptation and to bring purity, good health and peace. The church has instituted a special rite for this ceremony. The blessing of Saint Anthony’s lily is carried out with fitting solemnity on the feast day 13 June. The many advantages which accompany the devote use of the Lily are purity protection from disease, illness and the powers of evil, obtaining of graces and peace. The oil of the blessed lilies is similarly used. The blessed lily is not a charm, nor an infallible remedy. It is sacramental like holy water. It can be added for ashes on ashWednesday. In the Gospel of St. Matthew 6 v. 28 says “see how the lilies of the field grow, they neither toil, nor spin, yet I say to you that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed like one of the lilies therefore do not be anxious saying what shall we eat or what shall we drink or what are we to put on, for your father who art in heaven knows that you need all these things, but seek first the kingdom of God and his justice, and all these things shall be given to you, besides” Matthew 6v. 3 1-33. “By your holy blessing, bless these lilies which we your suppliants present to you this day as a token of gratitude in honour of your confessor Saint Anthony, and which we beg to be blessed, and by the saving sign of your most holy cross shed on them heavenly dew. 0 most clement Lord who have given them to man for the sweetness of their fragrance and the healing of infirmities, fill and strengthen them with such power that in whatever sickness, they may be used or whatever house or place they 0 may be put or wherever borne with devotion, through the intercession of St. Anthony, n they may be put to flight the evil spirit, lead to holy continence, keep away all ailments and bring peace and grace to all who serve...” Amen.
Deconstructing Religious Fundamentalism
Boko Haram/Chibok: By BOBSON GBINIJE
inherently violent and intolerant? When will this recurrent decimal of Islamic fundamentalism and blind violence stop in Nigeria? Are reprisals by Christians the best way to respond? Wither goeth the principles, practice and tenets of Islamism and Christianity in Nigeria? Why have successive governments in Nigeria not been able to solve the problem of religious violence and intolerance in Nigeria? Is religion now equivalent to gangsterism? Is it now a Mafioso-like cult? is religion a new version of terrorism? Is it an indirect protest against political, socio-economic dislocation? Since Nigeria’s independence in 1960 the orgy of religious violence leading to a bounteous harvest of coRpses, loss of lives and property has continued with unabated regularity. In 1962, 1963, 1964 Kano, Sokoto, Jos and Kaduna were very volatile cities of religious violence. The volatility was given a political colour in the 1966 pogrom that led to the mass decimation of the Ibos in Northern Nigeria, which led to the call for all Ibos to return home to Eastern Nigeria, culminating in the Nigeria/Biafra civil war (1967 -1970). In the 80s we witnessed in the Maitasine and Zak Zaki religious schism. Specifically, at the college of Education in the outskirts of metropolitan Kafanchan in Kaduna State at about 8:30pm on Friday March 4, 1987 activities were entering their second day of’ the “Mission 87 crusade” organized by the Fellowship of Christian Students (FCS). It was holding at the Colleges’ convocation Square and the preacher, Reverend Abubakakar Bako, a one-time Moslem from the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria mounted the dais and started to speak. In the course of his remarks he made references to certain verses of the Koran in Arabic and sought to interpret what these meant in English. There were some Moslem students in the library which was not too far from the convocation grounds. They were listening to what the preacher was saying and they took exception to his interpretation of the Koran, arguing that he had no authority to do so. This later led to a religious conflagration that left in its wake genocidal destruction of lives and properties that has now crescendoed in the Boko Haram holocaust and the Chibok saga. The examples are innumerably many. But for how long are we going to continue to put up with this religious madness in Nigeria? It is now time to act. Enough is enough. There must be a Federal Government Sponsored Bill seeking for life imprisonment and the death penalty for religious bandits and fanatics who terrorize, maim and kill others in the name of their god or whatever. The Federal government of Nigeria must educate and sensitize religious groups on the fact that Nigeria is a secular state and that they are statutorily obligated to the payment of Taxes to the Federal Government of Nigeria. This must commence immediately. The government must stop sponsoring pilgrims to their holy lands and all Pilgrims Welfare Boards must be reorganized to reflect the present religious realities on ground The Bible and the Koran asserts that God Almighty or Allah can fight His own battles.
He does not need a galaxy of hypocrites, criminals, terrorists, miscreants, hoodlums and ignorant looters to fight for Him. It must be courageously said that the violent antics of moslems over the years shows that imams and Muslims scholars are preaching a Post-Modernism Intifada, Jihad and Fatwa For their selfish political ends and must be condemned in no uncertain terms. They must be prevailed upon to re-orientate themselves and their teachings. They must be told that love, friendship tolerance and brotherhood are the key words and that the idea of infidels does not exist as we are all children of Allah or God Almighty. The idea of a passport to Heaven for killing none Muslims is based on parochial judgmental fallacy. The Federal Government must set up a new and vibrant council on religious affairs incorporating a broad spectrum of the memberships of all faiths. We are sick and tired of religious violence in Nigeria and any consequent reprisal from Christians will deal a fatal blow to the fragile edifice of Nigeria’s Nation hood. Boko Haram’s callous spilling of human blood, the breaking of limbs, the senseless bombings, the overflowing preternatural rage and arson has done tremendous disservice to the country’s floundering search for a confluence of national interests. The Federal Government must ensure that adequate compensations are paid to those who lost their lives and properties. They, must legislate against religious violence. The legal statute posts that Nigeria is a secular state. Finally, the Nigeria Police and the Army must be told that their mission statement is to protect lives and property not be partisan when there is a religious fracas. Their failure to apprehend and arrest the spread of killings, bombings and burning to other towns and states in Northern Nigeria raises fundamental and disturbing questions about their readiness to contain larger theatres of violence in the future. Christians’ must be told that reprisal actions are grossly ungodly and illegal. They must however be commended for suffering under the yoke of fanatical attacks for many years now. It must be said that Christians and Moslems serve one God or Allah. But beyond this shared position, a careful study of the two religions reveals a striking congruence on many matters of doctrinal weight. ‘Then why the quarrel? All Nigerians, worthy Christians and Muslims must declare that “Enough is Enough of religious madness in Nigeria.” Boko Haramism must be deracinated hook, line and sinker, President Goodluck Jonathan must show purposeful and cerebral leadership and the North Eastern Governors must shed the toga of brazen connivance and culpability. THE CHIBOK 234 ANGELS MUST BE RELEASED UNSCATHED IMMEDIATELY, it is a task that must be done with soldierly brevity. CHIEF BOBSON GBINIJE MANDATE AGAINST POVERTY (MAP) WARRI. - 08023250378.
Proud Yobo Believes In Nigeria THE Africans endured a slow start to the competition, drawing 0-0 against Iran, but victory over Bosnia-
Joseph Yobo congratulates goal scorer Ahmed Musa
Nigeria Attack Set To Test France In W/Cup Last 16
THE pace and power of Nigeria’s attack will give France’s defense its biggest test of the World Cup so far when they meet in today’s round of 16 match. Although France kept two clean sheets in the group stage — against Honduras and Ecuador — the variety in the African champion’s forward line offers a much stiffer proposition, and it has already caused problems for bigger teams than France. Winger Ahmed Musa will be closely marked after scoring both goals in a 3-2 loss to Argentina. His speed was a constant threat and he will look to expose the space behind France’s fullbacks — who are given license to push up in coach Didier Deschamps’ attackminded team. Emmanuel Emenike is a bustling, powerful striker, and veteran forward Peter Odemwingie has the technical ability to unlock defenses and has shown in the Premier League with West Bromwich Albion and Stoke that he is also a sharp finisher.
“They’re a good team, they caused Argentina problems. They are powerful, quick up front and hardworking in midfield,” said France midfielder Yohan Cabaye, who is set to return to the side following suspension. “They play with a lot of energy.” It will be Nigeria’s first knockout game at a World Cup since 1998 — the year France won the tournament as host — and preparations have hardly been ideal, with Thursday’s training session canceled amid reports of a pay dispute. Four years ago, it was France that was in turmoil before its final group game after going on strike at training. The official line for why Nigeria didn’t turn up for the practice was that a team meeting ran too long, but reports said players were demanding bonuses owed to them. Fellow West African teams Cameroon and
Coach Stephen Keshi of Super Eagles of Nigeria
Ghana both had their campaigns disrupted by pay disputes. “I heard that they went on strike,” said France defender Bacary Sagna with a hint of irony, considering he was part of the France squad that didn’t train in 2010. “It changes nothing because they’re the best African team around.” Sagna is battling with Mathieu Debuchy for the right back slot and center half Mamadou Sakho is struggling for fitness with a left hamstring injury. If he fails to recover, Laurent Koscielny will replace him at center half alongside Raphael Varane. But they have started only a handful of games together and Nigeria has enough attacking threat to expose that inexperienced partnership.
“They’re African champions and some of their players play for top European clubs, some in the English league,” Sagna said. “We know they’re a dangerous team and that we’ll have to be patient.” France likes to dictate play, but given Nigeria’s propensity to throw players forward, Deschamps may pick his team with quick counterattacks in mind. He has yet to truly decide what his favored lineup is, making surprise selections in all three group games so far. Olivier Giroud and Antoine Griezmann are challenging for a starting spot alongside Karim Benzema and Mathieu Valbuena in France’s three-pronged attack, while Paul Pogba and Moussa
Sissoko are contesting a place in midfield. Griezmann and Sissoko are quicker players and better suited to playing on the break than Giroud and Pogba. But Deschamps’ final decision could be influenced by the volatility of Giroud and Pogba. Both have escaped straight red cards: Giroud for elbowing Ecuador’s Gabriel Achilier and Pogba for aiming a wild kick at Wilson Palacios against Honduras. Sakho also avoided a potential sending off for elbowing an Ecuador player in the face, and French nerves will have to hold firm in Brasilia. “You must do all you can to concentrate, and to stay calm in the difficult moments,” Sagna said.
IT was back in 1982 that Germany and Austria played out what went down in the history books as the ‘’Disgrace of Gijon’’ to eliminate Algeria from the World Cup. Today in Porto Alegre, Algeria faces Germany for the first time since that infamous match - with a spot in the quarterfinals on the line. On paper, this match should be no contest. Germany is a three-time champion with top-quality players in every position while Algeria has advanced past the opening round for the first time. Add in the revenge and momentum elements, however, and this could become one of the most emotionally charged matches of the round of 16. ‘’At a World Cup, there are no desirable opponents and no easy opponents, especially not in the
knockout matches,’’ Germany coach Joachim Loew said. ‘’The Algerians have proven that they are an uncomfortable rival. We’ll be well prepared.’’ Algeria is one of only three countries with a 100 percent win record against Germany. Of the other two, East Germany (one match, one win) doesn’t exist anymore, while Germany’s only game and only loss against Egypt came in 1958. Algeria beat Germany 2-0 at home in a friendly in 1964 and won 2-1 in the opener for both teams at the 1982 World Cup in Spain. However, in their third group game in ’82 in Gijon, Germany scored in the 10th minute and for the next 80 minutes the Germans and the Austrians pushed the ball around without any real effort to score since that result allowed both to advance at the expense
of Algeria. Algeria had little to cheer for until beating South Korea and drawing with Russia in the group stage this year, producing a late equalizer against Russia to go through. ‘’This Algeria team has a lot of margin to (improve) and I suspect that we can (do) a lot better maybe in the next round against Germany,’’Algeria coach Vahid Halilhodzic said. With Ramadan set to begin over the weekend, Halilhodzic suggested that his players would receive a special dispensation from a traveling imam to avoid fasting ahead of the Germany game. Germany, meanwhile, is in perfect health after its 1-0 win over the United States. ‘’We are very ambitions and we have big goals,’’ said Thomas Mueller, the team’s top scorer
Herzegovina set them up for qualification, despite losing to Argentina. Defender Yobo saw enough in the group phase to convince him that Nigeria can overcome France in Brasilia on Monday. “I’m proud of our team,” he told FIFA.com. “I’ve played in this side for many years, so I’ve been able to see it evolve. “We won the Africa Cup of Nations, booked our place in the World Cup without any trouble and now we’ve qualified for the second round. “It’s not often that I’ve experienced so many pieces of good news in a row. “That shows you we’re improving. This team is young, but it’s growing fast and learning quickly. We’re taking confidence from our campaign so that it can help us in our next match. “I don’t see what we should be afraid of. I believe in this team, and I think we can do it.”
German Machines Battle Vibrant Africans For Quarter-Final Berth
with four goals. While Mueller’s lineup spot is not in question, Mario Goetze should replace Lukas Podolski at the other forward position. Podolski was ruled out Saturday with an undescribed leg injury. Loew is likely to keep defensive midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger in the lineup in place of Sami Khedira. Schweinsteiger was praised for his performance against the Americans but he doesn’t seem to have energy for more than 70 minutes after nursing a knee injury before the World Cup. The winner at the Estadio Beira-Rio will go on to play France or Nigeria. ‘’We are basically taking the rivals as they come, we are focusing on ourselves. We wanted to be first in the group at any cost and we achieved it,’’ Loew said. ‘’It’s all or nothing now.’’
Low Wary Of Algeria THE three-time world champions go head-to-head with Algeria at the Estadio Jose Pinheiro Borba and are favourites to reach the quarter-finals for the eighth successive tournament. And while there is a gulf in individual quality, Low is wary of underestimating a well-balanced Algerian team, who had five different goal scorers as they finished second in Group H behind Belgium. “We saw that Algeria not only has one important player,” Low told reporters. “Some of them play in Spain, some in France, some played in youth national teams of France - they are all
skilled. You don’t get the feeling that there is one player who stands out, who is the star. “The team is a unit. Everybody shows extra effort, the striker comes back to defence or a defender goes very fast for the counterattack. The team is very well balanced.” Algeria have enjoyed relative successive against European opposition in recent years, losing just two games from eight since earning a shock draw with England at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.
• Brazil Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari talks up his players
Brazil Can’t Be Polite Anymore
BRAZIL coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he and his team “can’t be polite anymore” after squeaking past Chile on penalties in their round of 16 match on Saturday.
• Joachim Low
The hosts are the overwhelming favourites to win the World Cup but faced a scare after finishing 120 minutes even at 1-1 with their South American rivals. Scolari said a change of mentality is needed as the Selecao head to the quarterfinals. “It’s about time for us to defend ourselves and go back to our own style,” Scolari said. “I’m a little oppressive at times.
We’ve been quite polite and I can’t be polite anymore. “We took it upon ourselves, this mission, that we must be champions. We passed it on to the players and the people embraced the idea. Now the people are demanding it from us, but that’s because we said we will qualify and win. Now we have to give it back to them. “If you make a promise, you must deliver. You will go until the end and do whatever
- Scolari
possible. That’s what the players are doing. This is the fourth step. There are three more, so that we can reach heaven.” Brazil have been providing nightmares for Chile for decades. All four times the Chileans have reached the knockout stages of the World Cup, Brazil have eliminated them. But Scolari was complimentary of his opponents after the match. “As we had expressed seven
or eight months ago when we heard about the draw, there was a potential to face Chile,” Scolari said. “They are a very well-organised team and have a good technical plan. It was an intense and balanced-out match that it had to go to a penalty shootout.” Brazil will take the rest of Saturday and all of Sunday off, according to Scolari, as they prepare to face Colombia on Wednesday. “In every match, difficulties are escalating and we need to improve, Scolari said. “With this level of emotion as it
Departing Chile Earn Hero Status Despite Brazil Jinx
CHILE’S so nearly conquering heroes are sure of an incredible welcome on their return from a World Cup where they eliminated champions Spain but were cruelly knocked out by Brazil for the fourth time in their history. “The dream is over, but not the applause,” said La Tercera newspaper in a chorus of praise round the nation. “Dry your tears and come back to Chile to be received with full honours.” One of the strongest Chile teams seen at a World Cup, ‘La Roja’ (The Red) lit up the tournament from swashbuckling wins over Australia and Spain to a heart-breaking loss on penalties to Brazil after a pulsating 1-1 draw in the last16 clash. It was a desperately harsh outcome for Chile, who had matched the hosts for 120 minutes of normal and extra time, and could so easily have snatched it at the death when Mauricio Pinilla smashed a glorious shot against the crossbar. A few centimetres lower, and Chile would have
overturned a painful history of defeats by Brazil, who knocked them out of the 2010, 1998 and 1962 World Cups. As it was, the ball bounced to safety, Brazil held their nerve for a 3-2 penalty shootout win at Belo Horizonte’s Mineirao stadium, and the old nemesis did it for a fourth time. “The shot that could have changed our lives,” lamented one headline in Chile’s Las Ultimas Noticias newspaper. Everywhere, Chileans hailed their team’s performance in a match quickly dubbed the ‘Battle of the Mineirao’ where Brazil’s hordes of yellow-clad fans were made to sweat and agonise until Chile’s final fateful penalty hit a post. There was special praise for defender Gary Medel, nicknamed ‘The Pitbull’, who played despite an injury and was eventually carried off crying on a stretcher in the second half after successfully keeping Brazil forward
Neymar at bay. While Chile and Brazil’s benches were screaming at each other throughout the game, the respect between the players - and their shared pain during the shootout lottery was clear for all to see. At the end, Neymar went one-byone to congratulate his disconsolate and weeping opponents. “Chile have been one of the great teams of this World Cup without a shadow of a doubt. Today luck was on our side and not theirs, but they deserve all the praise imaginable,” Brazil defender Dani Alves said. “The way they are able to put pressure on the opposition defence is simply amazing.” Though sometimes vulnerable at the back, not least because of their lack of height, Chile have played a high-octane, crowd-pleasing attacking game led by the tricky Alexis Sanchez. As well as the 2-0 win over Spain, it also brought them a 3-1 victory against Australia
at the group stage, though the Netherlands proved too strong and beat them 2-0. Big crowds watched them at home and it was not only in the Mineirao stadium that tears were shed on Saturday. “This cup is staying in Chile, it belongs to my Chileans. I’ll make another for whoever wins the World Cup. The Chilean spirit was beautiful,” said fan Alvaro Quintana who fitted a large replica of the trophy onto a pickup and drove to Santiago’s Plaza Italia with
other fans on Saturday. Chile will at least head into next year’s Copa America tournament, which they are hosting, knowing they can match the best. Chile have yet to win in 36 attempts dating back to 1916. That failure rankles and even their Andean rivals Peru and Bolivia have won the tournament. What they would give for a win in the final against Brazil to erase some of the pain. “We’ll start thinking about the Copa America in the near future. For now, I’m just sad. My team left their lives out there,” said proud but hurting coach Jorge Sampaoli.
happened today, we can turn it into a positive thing. We try to take the best moments out of a match and value them. “As some people said, the team is new and even the most experienced players have felt the pressure. The emotions are different. Since we have so many new players, little by little they gain experience. We gain experience as we go on, so let’s see if we can make fewer mistakes. “We have a good national team. We’re not worse or better than those who have qualified. We are fighting at home and a lot today was due to the fans. At some times, we were not doing well and still, they were supporting us. That was wonderful and very, very important for us.” With the eyes of the nation on the team and in talisman Neymar in particular, Scolari said his star player is handling the pressure with poise. “Neymar is 21 or 22 years old, but he is experienced, as if he were 35 years old. He is a mature player,” the manager said. “He can deal with the difficulty of not having the experience that comes with age. “He’s very good psychologically. There are details in his life, in his history, that show that he’s been ready since he was 17, 18 years of age. He’s a simple person and likes playing football. He loves his job and loves what he does.”
Cote d’Ivoire FA Apologises To Fans COTE d’Ivoire’s football governing body, the Ivorian Football Federation (IFF), has apologised to supporters of the country’s national team, the Elephants, over the team’s poor performance at the FIFA World Cup in Brazil. In a statement issued by its President, Augustine Sidy in Abidjan on Saturday, IFF accepted responsibility for the ousting of the team in the world
football event. “The federation takes responsibility for our team’s performance; our team performed below the expectation of its supporters. “We have learnt the lessons we need to learn, we will take steps to correct our mistakes in future competitions,’’ it said. The body said it would undertake a review of the Elephants’ performance in the
world cup, with a view to taking appropriate actions. The Ivorian national team failed to qualify for the second round of the World Cup after being defeated 1-2 by Greece in their last group game. The Elephants, in Group C alongside: Japan, Columbia and Greece, had won 2-1 in their opening match against Japan and lost 2-1 in the second group game against Columbia.
Lukas Podolski To Miss Algeria Clash LUKAS Podolski has been ruled out of Germany’s World Cup round-of-16 clash against Algeria today with a thigh injury. Podolski, 29, started his first match of the tournament in Brazil in Germany’s final match in Group G, but was replaced by Miroslav Klose at halftime of the 1-0 win over the U.S. in Recife. Germany coach Joachim Low told a news conference on Saturday that the Arsenal forward, who has scored 46 goals in 116 appearances for Germany since making his international debut 10 years ago, will not feature in Monday’s clash in Porto Alegre. “Podolski will be missing in the last 16,” Low said, adding that the problem was not too serious. “He’s pulled a muscle. He needs two or three days of rest. If we reach the next round, there will be no problem.” Low added that defender Jerome Boateng, who has started all three of Germany’s matches so far but was substituted at halftime in the 2-2 draw with Ghana, should be fit to fit to start against Algeria. “He has a slight niggle in his knee,” he said. “But that’s no problem. He will train with the team tomorrow.”
Brazil And Chile Deliver A Thriller
IF the World Cup carries on like this, none of us are going to be in a fit state for anything come mid-July. Neymar wasn’t the only one who sank to his knees and sobbed in overwhelmed exhaustion on Saturday. Anyone who’d been there for the full three hours, who’d seen Chile take to the field like charging bulls, who saw Brazil bravely and shrewdly take the game to them regardless, who chewed
James Rodriguez
James Rodriguez’ Is Like Lionel Messi’
URUGUAY boss Oscar Tabarez compared Colombia match-winner James Rodriguez to Lionel Messi, Diego Maradona and Luis Suarez after his two goals sent the Uruguayans out and put Colombia into the last eight for the first time in their history. Monaco star Rodriguez hit Argentina’s Messi, Brazil’s a stunning dipping volley to Neymar and Germany’s open the scoring in the first Thomas Muller, and Tabarez half before sealing his side’s said he believed he was the 2-0 victory — and setting up tournament’s best player. a meeting with hosts Brazil — “For me, talents are those when he sidefooted home soon who do things that have after the break. nothing to do with their life The 22-year-old’s double experience,” he told reporters strike made him the World after the match. Cup’s top scorer with five “Diego Maradona, Lionel goals, one ahead of Messi, Luis Suarez and James
Rodriguez — they do things because they have a certain gift which makes them special. “It is not up to me, but I believe from what I have seen that he is the best player in the World Cup.” Colombia coach Jose Pekerman said he had “never had any doubts that this was going to be his World Cup” and added: “I greatly praise what he is doing. “What is most surprising is that, at his young age, he does not have any objection, any problem in being responsible
who was a 21-year-old when he bought the ticket, offered it to world football’s governing body as an artefact to go on display in its football museum. A change in circumstances meant he had been unable to attend the “Maracanazo” match — which Brazil lost 21 when a draw under the old pool system would have guaranteed them the title — but he nevertheless hung on to the ticket, which he kept in mint condition. And that has led FIFA general secretary Jerome Valcke to offer Belmont, now 85, and two of his children tickets for the 2014 final in what is now a very differentlooking Maracana. “A few months ago, we received a letter from a Brazilian man who said he might be one of the only people to still have a match ticket from 1950,” Valcke
told FIFA’s website. “He knew that we were going to open a football museum. “We said that we’d love to have it. And now in return, we’ve given him tickets.” Belmont told the website that he would definitely be there this time — and was hoping for a much happier result. “I’m hoping to get to see the match this time and for Brazil to be crowned champions,” he said.
1950 Ticket Gets Fan 2014 Final Seat
A man who had a ticket for the 1950 World Cup final at the Maracana but missed it will attend the same stadium
Sepp Blatter
for the 2014 showpiece — because he never threw the ticket away. Brazilian Joedir Belmont,
for doing things that football players take many years to understand. “Football forces you to deal with a lot of situations, you have to handle these situations — and we have a technical player who has every attribute of a top-notch player at a world level.” Rodriguez, who has joined Monaco from Porto for 38.5 million pounds — the second most expensive Colombian footballer after teammate Radamel Falcao — has starred for his country in the injured Falcao’s absence. He said: “I only want to help so that the team can win. I want to do my share so Colombia can go far. I’m at a good level and we are scoring goals. I’m very happy about that.” His career began in his home country with Envigado before he moved to Banfield in Argentina in 2009 and then to Porto the following year. He scored a hat trick in the 2011 Portuguese Cup final and won the country’s 2009 Golden Ball award the following year, becoming the youngest player ever to do so.
their way down to their own knuckles at the end, would have felt the same. Poor Chile. They couldn’t have given anything more. They ran themselves into the ground until their bodies started to give out under the strain of it all. Poor Mauricio Pinilla. He will stare at the ceiling as night becomes dawn, now and forever, wondering what might have been had his 119th-minute shot been aimed just an inch or two lower. Nothing in this life has ever been as inevitable as his subsequent penalty miss. There aren’t enough cuddles in the world for that man. But the day belonged to Brazil — and to Neymar and Julio Cesar in particular. Cesar couldn’t get a game for Queens Park Rangers while they toiled in the second flight last season, but memories of all that faded swiftly as he hurled himself across the goal to keep out the Chilean spot-kicks. As for Neymar, it’s hard to think of any young sportsman who has ever dealt this well with extreme pressure. For a 22-yearold to step up and slot home the fifth penalty as calmly as he did, when four of the preceding eight penalties had been missed, beggars belief. The man has liquid nitrogen in his veins. He’ll need it too, because Brazil still aren’t playing at the level they were this past summer in the Confederations Cup. There is, in fact, no logical argument that supports the view that they can actually win this thing. In terms of performances, they’d barely make a list of the top five teams in the competition. And yet days like this make you wonder. After surviving Pinilla’s effort and then escaping a penalty shootout, perhaps the best argument for Brazil’s success is a sense of manifest destiny. Brazil will be relieved to avoid Uruguay and the anxietyinducing prospect of staring down their 1950 demons, but Colombia will be every bit as problematic as Chile.
England Fan Had Part Of Ear Bitten Off THE incident apparently took place during England’s 2-1 Group D defeat to Uruguay, according to a statement attributed to the Association of Chief Police Officers. “In the immediate aftermath, we managed to make contact with the victim and offered advice and support,” read a statement widely reported in the British media.
“The day after the attack, the victim chose to make a formal complaint to the local police, and they opened an investigation. “During the course of our pursuit of the assailant, we located and interviewed several witnesses. “They were very helpful in giving their version of events, but, unfortunately they were unable to give us a name for the
alleged attacker.” England lost the match to effectively end their hopes of progressing to the last 16 of the tournament in Brazil. Two goals from Luis Suarez denied them, with the Liverpool striker subsequently involved in an alleged biting incident of his own when he appeared to sink his teeth into the arm of Italy’s Giorgio Chiellini in his country’s final group match.
‘I Lost My Balance’, Suarez Tells FIFA LUIS Suarez claimed to FIFA’s disciplinary panel that he did not deliberately bite Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini at the World Cup. The Uruguay striker writes in Spanish that “in no way it happened how you have described, as a bite or intent to bite.” The player’s defence is in paragraph 6 of FIFA’s ruling, which has been seen by The Associated Press. Suarez says “after the impact ... I lost my balance, making my body unstable and falling on top of my opponent. At that moment I hit my face against the player leaving a small bruise on my cheek and a strong pain in my teeth.” The seven-man panel writes that the bite was “deliberate, intentional and without provocation.” Suarez was banned for nine Uruguay matches and four months from all football, which the Uruguayan FA has
• Luis Suarez
Luis Suarez’s Ex-Coach Warned Rodgers
THE coach who brought Luis Suarez to the Netherlands from Uruguay has said he warned Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers about his volatile temperament. FIFA banned Suarez for together. nine Uruguay matches — and He said the player had from all football activity for hurled an umbrella at him four months — after he bit after being substituted, and Italy defender Girogio told The Mirror: “I spoke to Chiellini in a World Cup Brendan Rodgers about Luis, group game. and I did tell him the player It is the third time the could be erratic but also that Liverpool striker has been he was a great talent. banned for biting an “In the early days, we had opponent. He had told FIFA’s collisions at the training disciplinary panel that he did ground. He turned up in not deliberately bite Chiellini, Holland thinking he could writing in Spanish that “in no walk straight into the first way it happened how you team, but I put him in the have described, as a bite or reserves. intent to bite.” “Why? Because he was Ron Jans, who signed doing nothing in training. He Suarez for FC Groningen was not fit, and I told him from Nacional in 2006, that. He hated it, but did get recalled numerous clashes the message. with Suarez during the time “One day I substituted him. in which they worked It was raining, and he grabbed
an umbrella and threw it at me in temper.” He said that “of course players have tantrums” but condemned Suarez for what he did at the World Cup, saying: “Biting? That’s disgusting. “This really, really hurts me. I have massive respect for Suarez the player. I always have had, from the day we brought him from South America to Holland. Yet biting cannot be tolerated in football or in life. “I still like and care for Luis
THE South American side continued their outstanding tournament at the Maracana on Saturday, earning a fourth
reduce the deficit but we came up against a ‘keeper who performed extraordinarily well and didn’t let us back into the match,” the 67-year-old said. “But I’m proud of these players. Once again they showed character and gave it their all.” Tabarez also praised Rodriguez for his stunning first-half strike, which put Colombia 1-0 ahead, and conceded Uruguay barely touched the ball in the opening 45 minutes. In the 28th minute, Rodriguez controlled the ball on the edge of Uruguay’s defensive penalty area, swivelled and struck a
underside of the bar. Just five minutes after halftime, Colombia opened up Uruguay’s defence with a wonderful cross from Pablo Armero, which Juan Cuadrado nodded down for Rodriguez to notch his fifth goal of the World Cup. “We knew Colombia had a very good side, one that is able to keep possession and featuring very good players who contribute to the team,” he said. “In the first half, they dictated the tempo and we conceded one of the goals of the tournament. In the second half, we made mistakes and conceded again.”
win in as many games when easing to a 2-0 triumph over Uruguay thanks to James Rodriguez’s double. The Monaco man’s stunning display in the showpiece went on and he now tops the golden-boot standings with five goals. His fourth was truly spectacular, an incredible volley that was not only the strike of the tournament, but also one of the great World Cup goals. There was, therefore, much for Pekerman to enjoy ahead of a last-eight meeting with hosts Brazil. He said: “I feel much happiness happiness. The people of Colombia had searched long and I’m happy to give this joy. Colombia live!” The 64-year-old said he also took great delight in
World Cup accreditation revoked and being banned from Uruguay’s team hotel by FIFA.
‘Liverpool Should Keep Luis Suarez’ RIO Ferdinand has told Brendan Rodgers that Liverpool need to keep Luis Suarez, even though the striker will miss the start of the season as he serves a fourmonth ban from all football. Suarez was banned by FIFA after world football’s governing body found the Uruguay forward guilty of biting Italy defender Giorgio Chiellini in a World Cup Group G match. Uruguay have launched an appeal against the decision, which includes their next nine international matches as well as precluding Suarez from “all football-related activity” until two months into the next club season. It is his third biting-related suspension in the past four years. But former Manchester United defender Ferdinand believes that English football’s reigning double Player of the Year — a reported target for Barcelona — is indispensable at Anfield. “If I were the Liverpool manager, there wouldn’t be a moment’s doubt about what to do next with Luis Suarez,” Ferdinand wrote in The Mail on Sunday. “I’d keep him. “Leave aside, just for a moment, questions of morality or whether his ban is long enough and what is going on is his head to make him do these extraordinarily bad things. “Purely and simply from a football perspective, what he does for you on the pitch —
Pekerman Revels In Colombia History
Tabarez Credits Ospina With TRAILING 2-0 to a brace Colombia Win from James Rodriguez in Rio de Janeiro, Uruguay threw brilliant volley in off the everything they had at Colombia in the final 40 minutes but with Ospina inspired in goals, Jose Pekerman’s Colombians advanced to their maiden quarter-final at a FIFA World Cup. With Uruguay having not put a shot on target before half-time in the round of 16 clash, Ospina was made to work much harder in the second half, completing four saves, with a block on Maxi Pereira in the 79th minute particularly telling. Tabarez claimed the Nice gloveman was the reason his team could not recover. “We had to take risks to
Suarez. He is a nice boy, honestly, but even I admit that he needed to be punished for this. “If FIFA had not acted on this, it would have given total freedom to every player to do whatever they want on a football pitch.” Jans became the latest football figure to say he believed Suarez needed professional help, echoing comments made by Kenny Dalglish, who signed the striker for Liverpool in 2011. “I think even Luis does not understand his own actions,” he said. “But it is up to Luis now. Only he has the key for his own behaviour problems.”
said it will appeal against. He has already returned to Montevideo after having his
overseeing a comfortable win against strong opponents, even if Uruguay were without suspended star Luis Suarez following his muchdiscussed FIFA suspension. He added: “We knew who faced. It is very important to know the opponents. “Uruguay have a good team and a great coach.”
and I don’t mean biting people — makes him indispensable. “And with the season Liverpool have ahead of them, that’s truer than ever. They had a brilliant 2013-14, pushing for the title when many people thought they might struggle to get into the top four. Although they didn’t win it they were superb, with Suarez the single most significant reason for that. “The Premier League will be at least as tough next season, and probably much tougher with Louis van Gaal at a new-look Manchester United. Liverpool will have Champions League football, too, so any manager at Anfield would want Suarez in the team. “So that’s the football decision. It’s an easy one to make.” Suarez has been linked with a move to Catalonia — where his wife’s family lives — and Ferdinand admits it does make financial sense for Liverpool to cash in on him in case he reoffends and gets an even longer suspension. “If I were the chief executive or the money man at Liverpool, I’d have him up for sale already,” he added. “The issue is one of risk and what might happen in the future given a pattern of behaviour. Keeping Suarez may potentially cost Liverpool tens of millions of pounds, perhaps 70 million pounds or more. “How so? If he went somewhere else this summer — Spain, I guess, with Barcelona and Real Madrid showing recent interest and having the money — Liverpool cash in on their biggest asset. Yes, it will be a tough ask to replace such quality, but if all the proceeds and more were re-invested in a proven striker, it might make sense. “If Liverpool don’t sell him and he bites someone else after his ban ends, he could be thrown out for years.”
• Jose Nestor Pekerman