Nigerian observer 30 12 2014 by Nigerian Observer

The Nigerian

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

PUBLISHED SINCE MAY 29, 1968 • Vo l . 39 • NO. 152 • TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 20 14 • N100.00

Traffic Regulations

LAW

FRSC applauds media for awareness

Page 18

Wills

ONITSHA (Anambra) The Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) yesterday commended the media for helping to educate the public on the dangers of road traffic

violations. Its Zonal Commander in charge of Zone 5, Mr. Charles Akpabio, made the commendation in an

Page 32

That N21bn donation to President Jonathan

Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), Benin depot, Mr. Douglas Iyike said there was no cause for alarm, as most marketers have resolved to buy the products from Lagos or Port-Harcourt. Iyike, who expressed

hope that the products would be available soon,

Fuel scarcity bites harder By ROLAND OSAKUE/ADEZE EGHOSA

MATTER IN FOCUS

interview with newsmen in Onitsha, Anambra. Akpabio also applauded the support of sister agencies for a

hitch-free Christmas. “I want to most sincerely thank the media for helping us to educate the public on the dangers of road traffic violation and the need for them to Continues on page 2

BENIN CITY – The perennial scarcity of petroleum products, notably Premium Motor Spirit (Petrol) which characterized the yuletide has continued to hit Benin City and environs harder. Consequently, long queues of vehicles and increased human traffic pumps. The few dealers selling of anxious buyers with jerry –cans have become the products also cashed prominent features in the in on the scarcity to adjust few filling stations that are their fuel pumps to between N100 and N110 selling the products. When The NIGERIAN per – litre. At Ugbowo axis of Benin OBSERVER went round the town yesterday, City, only few filling virtually all the filling stations were opened to stations along the ever motorists, as travelers over the busy Akpakpava Road groaned were closed to business abnormal increase in the following scarcity of the pump price of the products. products. The situation at the However, conoil filling station was seen Upper Sakponba Road dispensing fuel with only axis in Benin City was not two dispensing pumps as different as some dealers long queues of vehicles in were more interested in a disorderly manner the sales of the products pervaded the station, into jerry cans at high while anxious buyers with cost. Meanwhile, the jerry cans clustered round the dispensing Chairman, Independent

said major marketers have continued to buy the

products from private Continues on page 2

Shipowners advocate new mode of crude oil sale LAGOS - The Nigerian among the Organisation

Indigenous Shipowners Association (NISA) yesterday urged the Federal Government to change its transaction of crude oil from Free on Board (FOB) to Cost Insurance and Freight (CIF). The association’s President, Capt. Niyi Labinjo, told journalists in Lagos that the CIF mode would add more value to the business. Labinjo said Nigeria was the only country

of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), still selling crude oil based on FOB. “The time has come that Nigeria has to change our transaction mode from Free On Board to Cost Insurance and Freight. “We need to do that; that way we would have been adding value because we will get value for the insurance; we would also get value for the freight.

TIT BIT “Someone is sitting in the shade today because someone else planted a tree long ago”. - Warren Buffet

“Before 1976, the entire insurance companies in Nigeria had only 316 employees but because of the government of the day’s position that all insurance policies must exhaust

DEFECTION: Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State hands a broom, the symbol of the All Progressives Congress (APC), to Mr. Saturday Uwuilekhue- former Chairman, Orhionmwon Local Government Area after his decamping to the APC on Saturday.

Continues on page 2

Sale Of PVCs:

SOKOTO - The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in Sokoto State has cautioned voters in the state against selling their permanent voter cards (PVCs) to unscrupulous persons. The Head of Voter Education and Publicity of the commission, Alhaji Muhammad Musa, gave the advice in Sokoto yesterday in an interview with newsmen. Musa was reacting to

recent allegations by a member of the state House of Assembly, Alhaji Malami Galadanchi (APC-Sokoto North 1) that some unpatriotic

INEC cautions voters

individuals were buying the PVCs.

Galadanchi had told newsmen in Sokoto on

Sunday that some unscrupulous politicians were allegedly buying the cards from some registered voters in the Continues on page 2

Rights activists call for prisons reform

LAGOS - Mr. Auwal Ibrahim Musa, Executive Director, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), said yesterday that the law

governing the Nigerian Prisons needed to be reformed. Auwal told newsmen that the current situation of the prisons had further hardened inmates

instead of reforming them. “We have discovered that Nigeria prisons have become a centre where

inmates are being trained to become hardened criminals. “Government has to look into the law governing the prisons Continues on page 2

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

News

FRSC applauds media for awareness

Continued from page 1

drive within permissible speed limit. “One thing is clear, road safety is a shared responsibility; FRSC cannot do it alone. “I want to appreciate the efforts, the commitment, the dedication and the support of our sister agencies. “The army, the police and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, the staff of the Directorate of State Security and some of the people that we don’t even know that they can assist us. “And the (Anambra) state ambulance services and National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) used their ambulance to assist us in case of any crash. Even if there was no crash; but there ambulances are there to assist us. “So, we really appreciate all these stakeholders in our making sure that we have seamless programmes during and after the Christmas period.’’ The zonal commander said that his zone did not record

December 18. “And every detail had been factored into our operation to ensure that we improve on our service delivery to Nigerians using the road, especially major road corridors in Anambra, Delta and Edo States.”

any fatal accident but minor crashes with no serious injuries, adding that ‘’our special and regular marshals have been exceptionally at their best this season.

“I and my officers and men had been up and doing; I spend over 12 hours each day since I relocated near the Onitsha Bridge-Head on

locally before you will ship

anything abroad, between that time and 2012, the business of insurance increased from N16 million to N16 billion. ‘’And from a number of employees that you can count on your finger tips to over 3 million employees.” “So we have no option; we have to encourage the growth of our own economy.“ He expressed concern about the high cost of doing business in the country, saying that ‘’the cost of doing business in Nigeria is one of the highest in West Africa’’. Labinjo also urged the

include maritime industry among those sectors that were getting tax incentives. “If after 100 years of existence as a country, we are yet to get our maritime policy right, then something is wrong with us. It is not because we don’t have good laws. “We have very fantastic laws. Cabotage law is one of the best. “NCD law is fantastic; Nigerian Merchant Shipping Act; NIMASA Act very good. So what is our problem? “I called my colleagues in India, in Greece, in Turkey and I was sharing with them.

that nobody can flout their Cabotage Law; that it is unthinkable that a foreign ship will come and take over their Cabotage trade. “So they don’t even have to think about it. There is no provision for such a vessel because they will not… Why would they not? “Several reasons are responsible. “ He stressed the need to improve on monitoring in order to properly identify any ship coming into the country.

or tricycle (KEKE NAPEP). However, reacting to the development, Musa warned: “Let everybody know that it is illegal to sell off voter cards, while the offence is punishable under the Electoral Act, 2010 (as amended)”. The INEC official explained

that such bought PVCs would not be useful on the actual election days. “This is because card readers will be used during the polls while the permanent voter cards are containing only the biometric data of the

original owner, the registered voter. “If the allegations or insinuations are true, those unpatriotic persons are nursing some sinister motives against the 2015 general elections and they will not succeed,” he said.

inmates are awaiting trial, government needs to look for a more effective way of settling simple disputes instead of remand at all times. “This is affecting the administrative system of the prisons. “Community service should be adopted in punishing simple offenders than keeping them all in the prisons,’’ Auwal said. Also speaking, a lawyer, Mr.

Richard Somade, said that the prisons needed to be decongested in order to reform the inmates. Somade said that the welfare of the inmates needed to be properly taken care of for a good reformation to take place. “The Nigerian prisons need to be decongested, harden and dangerous criminals shouldn’t be lumped with

Shipowners advocate new mode Continued from page 1 of crude oil sale Nigerian insurance available Federal Government to

I said, ‘what do you do to foreign shipping companies who flout your Cabotage law?’ “They said, ‘no, no, no, no’,

INEC cautions voters

Continued from page 1

state at the rate of N2,000. The lawmaker also alleged that those “heinous” people were reportedly photographing the unsuspecting prospective voters with promises of donating either a motorcycle

Rights activists call for prisons reform

Continued from page 1 and also amend the act. “The prison must not be a place to learn bad things, it is a place to learn good things during the years of serving jail terms,’’ he said. He noted that 85 percent of inmates were being remanded over simple disputes and as such congesting the prisons. “Eighty-five percent of

simple offenders. “The prisons need to be rehabilitated often since the number of inmates to be accommodated in them has been over stretched. “There has to be better accommodation for the inmates,’’ he said. Somade advised that more productive interaction should be between the inmates and their parole officers.

Businessman, 57, In Court For Assault

LAGOS - A 57-year-old businessman, Olumuyiwa

Oni, yesterday appeared before a Tinubu Magistrates’ Court in Lagos, for allegedly assaulting his relative on Christmas day with an iron rod. Oni, who resides at No. 36, Ajeshomo St., Lagos Island, is facing a twocount charge of assault and wilful damage to property. The prosecutor, Cpl. Francisca Okere, told the court that the accused committed the offences at 6.00a.m., at his residence on December 25. According to Okere, the accused lives in the same compound with the complainant, Olayemi Oni, who also is his relative. She said that Olumuyiwa had an argument with

Olayemi over a missing valuable in his (Olumuyiwa’s) apartment. Okere said that angered by Olayemi’s denial of taking the valuable, Olumuyiwa picked up an iron rod and hit the complainant. The prosecutor said that the accused also damaged Olayemi’s refrigerator, which was valued at N15,000. According to her, the offences contravene Sections 170 and 348 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2011. Olumuyiwa, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. Reports state that Section 348 prescribes two years imprisonment for anyone convicted of wilful damage to property while 170 provides one year jail

term for assault. The Magistrate, Mrs. A.T Omoyele, granted the

accused bail in the sum of N20,000 with two sureties in like sum and adjourned the case to January 29, 2015 for mention.

HOS calls for prayers for peace in 2015 JOS - Mr. Ezekiel Dalyop, the Plateau Head of Service (HOS), yesterday, called for prayers for the nation in 2015, following the depreciation value of oil in the international market which had negative impact on workers’ salaries. Dalyop made the call at a news conference in Jos, saying that other concerns of the nation that called for prayers in 2015 was the general elections scheduled to take place early in the year. He said “honestly, every year comes with a lot of expectations and the year 2015 will be a year of mixed feelings for many people, especially civil servants. “This is majorly because of the general elections which are around the corner; it is a year that we are going to have another transition and we need to pray about it. “People are praying that it will go well with the nation, and this is the prayer of Plateau workers and the people. “The workers are part of the society, what affects the

society affects us, if there is anything that we are asking God for, it is that He should give us peaceful transition into 2015.’’ The head of service further said that “our second request is that God should heal the nation’s economy which is in very bad shape. “We have discovered that since the fall of the naira against the dollar arising from oil sales in the international market, it has not been business as usual for the nation. “We are praying to God to restore the strength of the naira against the dollar in order to restore back the glory of the nation.’’ He, however, described the turnout of workers in the state after the Christmas break as commendable, dismissing insinuations that some could not return because they were owed salaries in arrears. “Workers are back to their offices for work, not all of them have resumed, but a good number are back. “The celebration coincided with the weekend and workers had four good days of rest.’’

LAGOS - The Naira yesterday appreciated against the Dollar at both the official and parallel markets. A survey conducted by newsmen in Lagos showed that the Naira against the Dollar was traded at between N191 and N190 respectively at both markets. Naira gained N2 to the Dollar from the N193 and N192 it sold on December 24. The Naira was sold at N191 to the Dollar at the Bureau De Change (BDCs) from N193 on December 24. It was traded at N190 to the Dollar at the black market since last week. The Naira, however, remained stable at N168 in the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) since December 24.

It equally remained firm against the Pound Sterling at the official market of N260.36k. The Naira also appreciated against the Pound Sterling at the BDCs, trading at N292, or a gain of N2 from the N294 it sold on December 24. The Naira was also sold at N293 to the Pound Sterling at the parallel market since December 24. At the official market, it was sold against the Euro at N204.48k, while exchanging against the Euro at the BDCs for N235 compared with N238 or gain of N3 from December 24. Naira also sold at N233 to one Euro at the parallel market as against the N235 traded on December 24.

Naira appreciates against Dollar at all markets

Funding of APC: Rivers Dispels Rumour

By ELIZABETH AGBOEGBULEM PORT HARCOURT - The All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State has come down hard on those spreading the rumour that the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, is the one funding the

Fuel scarcity bites harder Continued from page 1 depots that are selling the products. He explained that the current trend of scarcity may not be unconnected with the holidays within the period, after members of NUPENG called off their three days warning

party at the national level, and those criticising him for the purported funding. “This is a rumour without foundation and a figment of the imagination of those who invented it. It is based on mere suspicion because of the key role while Governor Amaechi has been playing in repositioning APC to salvage Nigeria from the savage grip of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). As rightly stated by Gov. Amaechi on Monday during the APC Port Harcourt flag-off rally, APC is a very big party to be funded from the purse of the Rivers State Government,” Rivers APC Chairman, Dr. Davies Ibiamu Ikanya, said. Ikanya, who spoke via a statement issued in Port Harcourt, observed that Rivers

State does not have the kind of money people behind the satanic rumour attribute to it. “Rivers is not the richest State in either the country or the APC. It is not, for example, anywhere as rich as Lagos, which is an APC State and very much committed to the progress of the party. The truth is that no single State or individual is funding APC; the party is funded by all its committed members,” the State Party Chairman said. He noted that even much of the money which people believe that the Rivers State Government has, had since been taken away by the hostile PDP-controlled Federal Government through a combination of declining Federal allocation and the ceding of some of our oil wells

President Goodluck Jonathan’s home State, Bayelsa. “That Rivers State has witnessed unprecedented development in the past seven years is not because of having too much money but rather because of the ingenuity of the Amaechi-led administration. We therefore plead with the idle minds spreading this unholy rumour of his funding APC with Rivers State money to find something better to do with their time,” Dr. Ikanya stated. Rivers APC congratulated Gov. Amaechi for putting smiles on the faces of civil servants in the State by paying their December salary before Christmas, “thereby shaming detractors who thought that he would not be able to pay due to the economic emasculation of the State by the PDP-led federal Government.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

News Sagay Scores Judiciary High In 2014

Dons Urges Boost To Domestic Economy Lagos-An international relations expert, Prof. Solomon Akinboye, has said that Nigeria’s domestic economy needed to experience a major boost for more improvements in her international rating in 2015 and beyond. ‘’We cannot raise international respect for this country unless there is an astronomical boost in our domestic economy and internal social and political affairs. ‘’It is only when we are beautiful at home that we can enjoy the respect we deserve abroad,’’ he told newsmen in Lagos. He said that Nigeria needed also to deepen her democratisation to be able to

influence world affairs. He said the coming 2015 elections were like ‘’litmus test’’ for advancements in the nation’s power to dominate foreign policies especially of other African nations. ‘’Almost every country is experiencing one form of internal strife or political disturbance they need to address first to entertain accolades from sister countries. ‘’The era of doing so much abroad while fire burns in ones compound has come and gone. ‘’The world will not have any reservation to place us first amongst equals when democracy, rule of law and constitutionalism reigns in our land,’’ he said.

By Bernadette Idalu

the Church uses the yuletide to identify with the group and fete them annually to give them a sense of belonging.

Yuletide: Church Organises Party For Physically Challenged

Benin City- The third edition of the St. Paul Catholic church party for the physically challenged took place in Benin City on Sunday with a call in guests not to feel inferior but see themselves as God’s children. The initiator of the event and parish pries of St. Paul Catholic Church, Rev. Fr. Paul Enow stated that the party came about as a result of integrating them. The priest told the participants drawn from various orphanages, Amadi Orphanage that they were very important in the community. Chairman of the Parish Welfare Committee and organizer of the event, Mrs. Veronica Enemaku stated that

Travellers set to embark on their journes for the yuletide at Benin City motor park celebration. Photo: IMHANZETO BRIGHT.

Lagos APC Guber Candidate Lagos-Mr. Akinwunmi Seeks Support Ambode, the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship candidate for Lagos State, has urged Lagos State legislators to support his ambition. Ambode made the appeal during a courtesy visit to the Speaker, Mr Adeyemi Ikuforiji, at the Lagos State House of Assembly Complex, Alausa, Ikeja.

The candidate, who contested for the APC ticket along with Ikuforiji, said that Ikuforiji, had been a rallying point for all the contestants. “Ikuforiji has ensured that we all came together as one voice after the primary. “We are all winners and will work together for the progress of the state; we will move the state forward together.

People shopping at Port Harcourt Spar yesterday

NAS Donates To Orphanage By VICTOR OMOALU

BENIN CITY - The National Association of Seadogs (NAS) (aka pyrate Confraternity) has donated various items worth about N350,000 to the Oronsaye Orphanage in Benin City. The items included bags of rice, printers, photocopy machine, scanners, instructional CDs as well as books for nursery, primary and Junior Secondary respectively. Spokesman of the body, Peter Igbinedion in his remarks, said the gesture was part of the humanitarian

initiative of NAS targeted at uplifting the wellbeing of the vulnerable children in the society. Fred Aitonje, president, in Benin 1of the Association said the donation came on the heels of the association’s street project are which was aimed at reaching out to the less privileged members of the society. Aitonje explained that the gesture was aimed at reducing the challenges facing the vulnerable ones in the society, especially the orphans by providing the basic necessities to stock their school library. He said the body under his

leadership would continue to accord them the necessary attention that would help improve their living standard. He further said that the other phase of the project, tagged, ‘Back to school’ would commence between January 10 and 11, 2015 when the association would distribute books and other learning materials to the children to enable them resume their second term of the academic session without any hindrances. He used the occasion tagged: ‘Give A Future The

Play And Reading Initiative’ to enjoin government, cooperate bodies and well meaning citizens to always support the course of catering for the less privileged ones, Prince Patrick Oronsaye on behalf of the beneficiaries commended the donor association for the gesture, adding that the items would go a long way in assisting the children in the orphanage. Present at the occasion were the vice president, Canada Chapter, Teddyson Iyonmana and the president Benin 11 of National Association of seadogs, Edokpayi, Wellington.

“I came here to seek the support of all the 40 lawmakers in the assembly. “The state cannot move forward unless the legislative and executive arms work together. “I believe in team spirit; once we win, we will work together as a team to develop the state. “Our functions are different, but our objectives are the same,’’ he said. Ambode, a former Accountant-General of the state, said that the cooperation of the lawmakers would give him grassroots support. “It is not about if someone is coming back to the assembly or not; it is about the relationship we have built. “We have to work together for the elections,’’ he said. Ambode hailed the speaker for ensuring that the House was stable in his two terms. The candidate said that the state needed a governor who would build on the achievements of the current administration. “We can all see that oil revenue is dwindling. “We need someone who can come up with additional sources of revenue without making life difficult for the state residents. “We will continue with our tradition of improving Lagos State without depending on oil revenue,’’ he said. Responding, Ikuforiji expressed the hope that Ambode would facilitate the development of Lagos State, if elected the governor. He promised that the lawmakers would work for Ambode’s success at the 2015 governorship election.

Lagos-A professor of constitutional law, Itsey Sagay, has given the judiciary a pass mark as an arm of government, in 2014. In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, Sagay, however, said the judiciary experienced ‘’mix bag of successes and failures’’ in the judgments it delivered in some cases in 2014. He said: “The judgments in the Adamawa and Taraba states removing usurpers in the office of the governor are highly commendable. ‘’The setting up of an Independent Panel to investigate allegations of breach of oath and ethics of office against the Nasarawa Governor by the Chief Judge of the state is noble and good. ‘’But the judgment of a court which penalise elected officials that defected to another party is not in alignment with our political culture since 1999.’’ Sagay said that judges needed to sustain the kind of judgments they delivered against usurpers of public offices, describing such judgments as ‘’ highly principle activism’’. He added that there was a need to caution defence lawyers in corruption cases against using preliminary objections to stall trials. ‘’Principle activism on the part of our judges suggests that they put justice above everything. ‘’Senior lawyers that deploy preliminary objections too often to allow a case to linger to the extent that public fund is wasted and people lose interest in the matter should be disciplined. ‘’Judges handling corruption cases should hear preliminary objections together with the substantive issues to be able to give judgment on time from 2015,” the lawyer said.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

News Anambra Gov’s Wife Visits Prisons, Donates Items

AWKA – The wife of Anambra State governor, Mrs. Ebelechukwu Obiano has visited some prisons in the state urged the inmates there to change their ways. Obiano visited Onitsha, Aguata, Amawbia prisons, as well as the Daughters of Charity Orphanage at Fegge in Onitsha. “I came to celebrate with you because as the wife of the governor I am privileged to be the mother of all in the state; I see you as an important set of the one big family. “The fact that you are in here does not mean that you cannot come out reformed and better than others and be able to contribute to the service and progress of our state,” she said. She told the inmates to see themselves as those undergoing reformation and could be rehabilitated into the society. “In fact, I bet one of you may even turnout to still be governor of Anambra State one day, but for that to happen you have to turn a new leaf and give your life to Christ. “I can assure you that I always remember you in my prayers and I want you to also pray to God to enable you change and avoid acts that may bring you

back into prisons,’’ Obiano said. She expressed concern over the large number of inmates awaiting trial, and gave the assurance that her observations would be brought to the attention of the governor. Mr Chris Akabueze, the Assistant Comptroller of Prison in charge Amawbia, told Obiano that most of the inmates could not contain their joy when they heard that she would be visiting them. “You can’t believe that some have not eaten because they are waiting for your food; we are happy that you came. “We will use this opportunity to request your assistant to repair our water pumping machine, as well as pay the fees of inmates who are due for junior WAEC exams,’’ he said. Earlier at Onitsha, the Assistant Controller of Prisons, Mr Felix Ezengwo, expressed gratitude to Obiano for the love shown to the inmates, and urged her not to relent as God would continue to bless her for her good works. During the visits, Obiano donated items that include cows, bags of rice, noodles, tubers of yam beverages, soap and detergents.

Environmental Sanitation: Officials of Edo State W a s t e Management B o a r d evacuating refuse along Siluko road, Benin City during the state-wide m o n t h l y sanitation exercise. P h o t o : R I C H A R D EWEKA

Expert Wants Implementation Of Nigeria’s Broadband Plan

LAGOS – Ms Sonia Jorge, the Executive Director of Alliance For Affordable Internet (A4AI), has called for effective

Long queue of motorists at a filling station in Benin City yesterday.

implementation of Nigeria’s Broadband Plan 2013-2018. Jorge told newsmen in Lagos that proper execution of the plan would ensure affordability of Internet service. She said that effective implementation of the Broadband Plan 2013-2018 would also enable the country to get the desired broadband penetration. According to her, the plan provides a solid foundation but that the challenge always lies with implementation. “Nigeria’s Broadband Plan 2013-2014 is a step in the right direction. It articulates exactly how Nigeria intends to increase broadband penetration five-fold to 30 per cent within the next five years. “It presents a time-bound plan for implementation. The successful execution of key parts of the plan like the development of sustainable and efficient open access fibre optic networks is critical,’’ she said. The A4AI executive director said that Nigeria had witnessed some impressive ICT developments in recent years. She said that the mobile telephone growth and dramatic increases in international

Anglican Diocese Ordains Ministers BENIN CITY – The Benin Diocese of Church of Nigeria, Anglican Communion has ordained three Deacons, Five Priest, Seven Canons and Seven Archdeacons as part of efforts to win more souls to the Lord. The Bishop of the diocese, Rt. Rev (Dr.) Peter Imasuen who presided over the ordination service which took place at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, along Sakponba Road, Benin City, recently, charged those ordained to take their new assignment

seriously. While describing their new roles as a call to duty in the vineyard of the Lord, Bishop Imasuen advised them to desist from acts that could tarnish their image and that of the church. He further advised them to spread the gospel of the Lord in the diocese, particularly in their duty posts so as to “convert more souls” to the Lord. While administering the oath of allegiance (to God) on the wives of those ordained, Rt.

Rev. Imasuen urged them to contribute their quota towards the advancement of the church by giving their husband’s the necessary support. Those ordained as deacons included, Rev. Sunday Ubogun, Rev. Japheth Meanuri and Rev. Obed Enaibre, while Rev. Festus Ogbemudia, Rev. (Prof.) Lambert Edigin, Rev. Daniel Isichei, Rev. Orie Okoronkwo and Rev. Moses Ibeh were made priests. Similarly, Rev. Canon Glory

Ichipi, Rev. Canon Michael Osayi, Rev. Canon John Ogadie, Rev. Canon Kennedy Ikechukwu, Rev. Canon Godwin Ekeh and Rev. Canon Rony Mukoro were made Canons. In the same vein, Ven Benjamin Osarenmwinda, Ven. John Umeh, Ven. Osarugue Idehen, Ven. Patrick Okuonghae, Ven. Fada Idumwonyi, Ven. Godwin Ugochukwu and Ven. Moses Anaela were ordained Archdeacons.

bandwidth due to the landing of new submarine cables had created opportunities. Jorge, however, said that broadband penetration rates remained disappointingly low, and prices remained too high for the vast majority of Nigerians to enjoy the socio-economic benefits that broadband access delivered. According to her, broadband remains unaffordable for Nigerians as fixed-line broadband subscription cost an average of 39 per cent of average income. She also that the subscription for mobile broadband package

hovered around 13 per cent. “Reflecting the high cost of broadband in the country, in 2013 Nigeria was ranked 142 out of 169 countries by the I n t e r n a t i o n a l Telecommunication Union (ITU) for the affordability of fixed-broadband connection. “The country was also ranked 99 out of 126 countries for a prepaid 500MB mobile broadband connection,’’ Jorge said. Nigeria’s vision in the broadband plan is to become a society of connected communities with high-speed Internet and broadband access that facilitate faster socioeconomic advancement of the nation and its people.

Monthly Sanitation Holds In Edo

By RICHARD EWEKA BENIN CITY – The last monthly environmental sanitation exercise in Edo State for the year 2014 took place at the weekend in Benin and other parts of the state. Speaking with newsmen on the success of the exercise, the General Manager of Edo State Waste Management Board, Gillian Ochugbe said despite the huge refuse generated at this period of the year due to festivities, her men were equal to the task of ensuring a cleaner environment. She said it is very important for citizens of the state to keep their environment clean especially as the year is gradually coming to an end, adding that “they should end in good note by ensuring their environment is clean”. “At this time of the year there is a lot of shopping and generation of refuse, but I want to assure the Edo people that our men are on ground to evacuate their refuse. “All we beg of them is to

ensure they put their refuse at the point where our men will see it and evacuate it”. People should equally make use of the waste bin provided on the walk ways in the heart of the city”. Speaking further she said that despite the no restriction on human and vehicular movement, that caused traffic built ups in some areas in Benin City, the exercise was successful in areas visited. “Today’s exercise is a huge success; as at 10a.m. most of the streets around the Kings Square are clean; it shows our men have evacuated the refuse generated at that axis”. A resident at 2nd Cementary Road, Mrs. Joy Osagie said the exercise is good and it went well. She said that despite the no restriction of movement, she cleaned her house before leaving for other business of the day. She commended the Waste Managers for ensuring a cleaner environment and commended citizen of the state for their cooperation.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

News Expert Advises Anaemic Patients ABUJA - Mr. Denis Shatima, medical consultant at the National Hospital, Abuja, has advised sickle cell anaemia patients to consume more ascorbic acid. Shatima gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Abuja. He said that ascorbic acid was very vital to the health enhancement of sickle cell anaemia patients. The consultant described the disease as the most common form of low red blood cells. “Sickle cell disease is a serious disorder in which the body makes sickleshaped red blood cells, which means that the red blood cells are shaped like a crescent. “The red blood cells are designed to carry oxygen through the body tissues

and when there is insufficient ascorbic acid in the system, the red blood cells are likely not to function well,’’ he explained. Shatima pointed out that patients with sickle cell anaemia were highly prone to having bleeding gums and severe bone crisis. He said that taking more of ascorbic acid or vitamin C would help reduce the severe health crisis the patients might be experiencing. The expert also noted that ascorbic acid was readily available with the numerous fruit juice sold in public places and in so many other fruits. Besides, he advised that ascorbic acid was not only needed by patients living with sickle cell anaemia, but for everybody.

“Apart from sickle cell anaemia patients, every individual would need ascorbic acid because it had been proven to improve so many health conditions. “Ascorbic acid is also used for handling glaucoma, preventing gallbladder disease, dental cavities, constipation, boosting the immune system. “Asthma, bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, infertility, diabetes, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), autism, collagen disorders, back pain, cancer, and so many others. “Additional uses include improving physical endurance and slowing aging, as well as counteracting the side effects of cortisone and related drugs, and aiding drug withdrawal in addiction,” Shatima said.

OMU-ARAN (Kwara)Dr Musa Bello, the Coordinator of Aro Bamgbose Free Health Care Empowerment Programme in Kwara, said no fewer than 4, 000 people have benefitted from the programme since its inception a year ago. Bello said this during the Bi-annual Free Healthcare Programme organised by the foundation in OmuAran, Irepodun Local Government Area. The two-day programme attracted people from the three wards in Omu-Aran and the adjoining communities in Oro, Oko, Aran-Orin and Oke-

Onigbin. Some of the beneficiaries of the programme received free test, treatment and drugs for different ailments such as hypertension, diabetes, malaria and pelvic ulcer diseases. They also received health tips on breast cancer awareness and prevention of Ebola Virus Disease outbreak. Bello said the programme was being organised to coincide with the Eid-elKabir and Christmas periods in order to achieve wider coverage. He said the foundation’s intensive awareness campaigns through churches, mosques, schools

and markets had helped a lot in view of the large turnout of people who attended the programme. Chief Adekunle Oyinloye, the Chairman and sole financier of the foundation, urged Nigerians to always take advantage of the numerous free healthcare services being organised to know their health status. Oyinloye said staging of the programme was informed by the need to raise the health standard of the beneficiaries.

Foundation Offers Free Health Care Services To 4,000 Patients

Oba Erediauwa Ends Ugie With Thanksgiving By RAYMOND OSOGBE

BENIN CITY- The much celebrated annual festival (Ugie) of the Benin Monarch, His Royal Majesty, Oba Erediauwa climaxed with a thanksgiving service at the Holy Aruosa Cathedral, Benin –City, last Sunday. Addressing the congregation, Ohen-Osa Okao Harrison, admonished the congregation to shun

vices, especially greediness. He prayed for the wellbeing of the Oba and his family, just as he prayed for the wellbeing of the nation. The occasion attracted many dignitaries including the Edo State Deputy Governor Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, Heir Apparent, to the Benin throne, Ambassador Eheneden Erediauwa.

CHANGE OF NAME AKHIBI – I, formerly Miss Esther Ilamosi Akhibi now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Esther Ilamosi Ikuenobe. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME OLAYE – I, formerly called Maureen Adesuwa Olaye now wish to be known and addressed as Maureen Adesuwa Okundaye. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

News Esu Bwari Urges Christians, Muslims To Live In Peace

BWARI (FCT) - The Esu of Bwari, Abuja, Mr Ibrahim Yaro, has called on Christians and Muslims in the council to continue to promote peaceful co-existence for the development of the area. Yaro made the call when the Bwari Christians/Muslims Inter-Faith Forum paid him a courtesy visit. “ This is the first occasion that the leaders of the two religions will come together for the welfare of the people of the council. “The diversity should be explored to promote national harmony, progress and development,’’ Yaro said. Yaro called on the leaders of the two religions to enlighten their followers on the need to embrace peace, more so that the 2015 general elections drew nearer. He also warned youth in the area against being used by politicians as thugs to foment trouble, saying that such politicians would never use their children. Earlier, Malam Ibrahim Yusuf, the Chairman of the forum, said the forum had resolved to foster peace and ensure security in the area. Yusuf also said that the forum would strive to prevail on leaders of both religions to genuinely preach the word of God to promote religious harmony.

Also, Bishop Amos Knatnabwa, Chairman of Bwari chapter of Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), said both religions would continue to promote peaceful co-existence. Knatnabwa said: “No war against peace in Bwari Area Council will prevail’’. He urged politicians to be prepared to accept the results that would be declared from the 2015 elections in good faith and not to incite their

Festivals Foster Unity - Trad Ruler

and the participating firms (employers) as well as emphasised their roles and responsibilities of the participants towards the successful realisation of the designed mission and vision of GIS. Taking his turn in the series of lectures, Fred Onojeta advised the interns to consistently improve their competitive skills, particularly in their respective places of internship; add value to their talents, potentials and entrepreneurial capabilities as well as continue to distinguish themselves in order to earn the desired objectives of all stakeholders in the Graduate Internship Scheme. The highly interactive training and lecture series continues.

TOTO (Nasarawa State)The Chairman of Kogi/ Lokoja Area Traditional Council in Kogi, Alhaji Abdurazaq Isokoto, said celebration of festivals among diverse ethnic groups would foster unity and prevent crimes in the country. Isokoto, who is also the Ohimegye of Igu, said this in Toto, Nasarawa State, in an interview with newsmen. The monarch spoke during the Irewha Festival of Shaba Abakpa Community of Toto Local Government Area of the state. He said festivals played important role in the development of the society and called on the state government and other stakeholders to support the community to upgrade the festival to an international standard. “As you can see, this festival will not only unite the Ibira tribe but will also unite the various tribes in this community and other Nigerians. “It will also serve as an attraction to both local and foreign visitors for the overall development of the country. “Consistent hosting of festivals among the diverse ethnic groups in the country will not only foster peace and unity but will also prevent social ills among the people, especially the youths,” he said.

necessary when the state government re-introduced its monthly environmental sanitation to curb communicable diseases being recorded. Jalam said that the agency had 27 refuge disposal trucks while it set up 80 refuse collection bins within Bauchi Metropolis and other locations. He said that the agency had also set up Sanitation Environmental Mobile Courts to prosecute defaulters who refused to clean their environment. Jalam said that the agency had also introduced routine environmental programme through inspection by officials of the agency where defaulters were being prosecuted by the mobile court. He said that the agency

had constructed seven units of VIP Toilets in various locations within Bauchi Metropolis to curb the menace of public defecation. Jalam said that some non-governmental organisations and community based organisations as well as private organisations and individuals had constructed some toilets to boost efforts of the agency. “It has improved the quality of lives of the people as hospitals’ records have revealed that the number of patients attending various health facilities had dropped. “More people have become enlightened and now fully participating in routine sanitation in spite of the monthly exercise,” he added.

L-R: Mr. Fred Onojeta, a resource person, Olorogun Lucky Oghene-Omoru, Chairman and Managing Consultant, Morel International Consultants, Lagos, Mrs. Georgina Njoku, representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja and Mr. Festus Eligbo also a resource person during the ongoing three-day Graduate Internship Scheme training in Benin City yesterday.

Unemployed Youths Advised to Take AdvantageFinance, of Graduate Internship Scheme Abuja, Mrs. By OBOH SYLVESTER

BENIN CITY - The second sequence of the Federal Ministry of Finance Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) Orientation and Employability three-day training as organised by Morel International Consultants, Lagos, was yesterday declared open at the Prestige Hotel and Suites, 1 Ihama Road, Opposite the Airport in Benin City; with strong advice to the interns to take advantage of the programme. Declaring the programme open, the representative of the Federal Ministry of

Georgina Njoku said the training workshop with its theme: “Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS) Orientation and Employability Training for Graduate Interns in Edo State”, is in line with the Federal Government’s objectives and efforts to enhance the capacity and competence of unemployed Graduates in Nigeria, for the purpose of employability and enduring quality service delivery. Before delivering his lectures, one of the resource persons and Chairman/Managing Consultant, Morel

International Consultants, Olorogun Lucky OgheneOmoru congratulated President Goodluck Jonathan on behalf of Morel International Consultants; “for introducing the Graduate Internship Scheme” which he said has “enabled many unemployed graduates to benefit from the economic empowerment programme of the Federal Government in Nigeria.” He however, enjoined the interns and their employers to be committed to the GIS programme in order to continue to take advantage of the experience and make it a rewarding one. Another resource person, Festus Eligbo, among other topics; lectured on the benefits of the programme both to the interns (unemployed graduates)

Environmental Agency Employs 160 Street BAUCHI -The Bauchi State Environmental Cleaners In Bauchi - Perm Sec

A cross section of participants at the ongoing three-day Graduate Internship Scheme training in Benin City yesterday.

Man, 45, Kills Son In Ebonyi

ABAKALIKI - The Ebonyi State Police Command has confirmed the arrest of a 45- year-oldman, Nwofu Igbo, who allegedly killed his son in Nwofe Community in Izzi Local Government Area of the state. The Police Public Relations officer (PPRO) of the command, ASP Chris Anyanwu, told newsmen

in Abakaliki that the matter was being investigated by the police. “The police is prepared to get to the root of the problem that led to the killing of the boy,’’ Anyanwu said. He said that the suspect had confessed to the killing of his 16-year-old son who returned from Lagos to celebrate the Christmas

with his family members. An eyewitness told newsmen on condition of anonymity in Abakaliki that Igbo killed the son due to a squabble between him (Igbo) and the deceased’s mother. “The suspect has, after a quarrel with his wife (mother of the deceased), banished her for reasons best known to him.

Protection Agency (BASEPA) said it has 160 street cleaners on its payroll. Alhaji Waziri Jalam, the Permanent Secretary of the Agency, said this on Monday in Bauchi while speaking with newsmen. Jalam explained that the cleaners were manning various streets within Bauchi Metropolis and other strategic locations in the state. He further explained that the cleaners were recruited under the agency’s ‘operation keep the town clean scheme’. Jalam said that some local governments in the state had also engaged some cleaners to complement the efforts being made by the agency. He said that their engagement became

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Across The Nation NUPTE Seeks Collaboration On NITEL’s Revival LAGOS - National Union of Posts and Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Employees (NUPTE) President Sunday Alhassan has called for collaboration between the union and buyer of the Nigeria Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n (NITEL) to revive it. In an interview with newsmen in Lagos, he recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) approved the sale of NITEL and its subsidiary, Mtel to NATCOM Consortium for 252 million dollars. Alhassan expressed belief that the management of NATCOM Consortium should use the platform of the union to realise its goal of reviving NITEL. “We expect that the new buyer will do the best it can to see that they give services to Nigerian people. “The manpower that NITEL had before is actually going to be the people that the buyer will need to work on. “The new buyer needs to see how to re-engage them to be able to assist in moving the place forward,’’ he said. The NUPTE boss, nonetheless, insisted that the union had not, at any time, supported the sale of the organisation. He observed that government should have a national carrier, which NITEL could represent to compete with other telecom organisations in the country.

Call VC To Order, SSAN-LASU Charge Tashola

ASP Ejiroro Awara congratulating the newly elected Area Command Police Community Relations Committee Chairman, Envangelist (Dr.) Mrs. F. H. Odinwengie (JP) left and other officials. Photo: OSADEBAMWEN SUNDAY.

LAGOS- The Lagos State University Chapter of Senior Staff Association of Nigeria Universities (SSANU) has advised Governor Babatunde Fashola to warn the institution’s Vice-Chancellor, Prof. John Obafunwa, to desist from interfering in student union matters. The Union Chairman, Mr Saheed Oseni, told newsmen in Lagos that the warning was necessary to prevent the VC from heating up the university system with politics. Oseni said that it was wrong for the VC to unduly interfere in students union elections which led to barring some of aspirants and postponement of the election. He said that members of any union had every right to

MODAKEKE (Osun)Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun has urged for the continued sustenance of peace in Modakeke in the Ife East Local Government Area (LGA) of the state. Aregbesola made the call in a message he sent to the 29th Modakeke Akoraye Day Celebration and launching of N500 million Community Development Fund at Modakeke. The governor, who was represented by Mr Wahab

generation. “One of such facilities is the Magistrate Court premises,’’ he said. The traditional ruler of Modakeke, Dr Francis Adedoyin, commended the indigenes of the area who have contributed towards the development of infrastructure in the community. He called on members of the community to live peacefully with one another and be God-fearing in all their endeavours.

Aregbesola Calls For Sustenance Of Peace National President of Modakeke Progressive Union, called on the Osun government to provide basic infrastructure in the area. “The Modakeke community, in spite of not being lucky to enjoy government patronage, has provided public facilities which government itself is benefiting from in boosting its revenue

The newly elected members of Edo State Area Command Police Community Relations Committee with the Chairman, Envangelist Dr. (Mrs.) F. H. Odinwengie 4th right in a group photograph with ASP Ejiroro Awara and other officials after the election in Benin City. Photo: OSADEBAWMEN SUNDAY.

Inflaminatory Statement: ABUJA- The PDP in Abuja has thrown its weight behind President Goodluck Jonathan on his advice to politicians against inflammatory statements ahead of the 2015 general elections. In a statement issued by Mr Olisa Metuh, the PDP National Publicity Secretary, the party

Adeniji, member, Local Education Authority Board, Modakeke, said peace was imperative for any sustainable development to take place. “My administration is determined to ensure that infrastructure is provided in every part of the state, including Modakeke,’’ he said. Earlier, Mr Tajudeen Oke, the

described Jonathan’s advice as a “perfect act in nationalism’’. “It is the mark of a true leader who is committed to the interest and welfare of the nation and her citizens.’’ It would be recalled that Jonathan had advised politicians to desist from sowing seeds of discord among the people with

PDP Backs President Jonathan their utterances. ? However, the PDP, in the statement, urged politicians “to heed this caution, show decency, patriotism and shun the do-or-die quest for power’’. It said Jonathan “has shown as always, that he is a committed national patriotic leader and a decent politician.’’

The party said the President had also showed that he was a lover of a united, stable and prosperous Nigeria and a champion of the integrity of the nation’s electoral process. The PDP called on Nigerians and lovers of democracy to be vigilant and close ranks to ensure that the enemies of the

nation do not have their way. It said the indivisibility of the nation was nonnegotiable, adding that the PDP was committed to the unity and corporate existence of the nation. The party further urged Nigerians to ensure that they expressed their resolve to live together as one people.

choose their leadership and the university authority had no right to interfere in union electioneering matters. “The involvement of the VC in the rancour within the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) in LASU can also incite crisis which will be harmful to the institutions’ image, ‘’ he said. Meanwhile, Mr Nurudeen Yusuf, the outgoing Students Union President in LASU, said that the interference of the management in students union elections was caused by the Chairman of the Independence Electoral Committee (IEC). Yusuf described the IEC Chairman, Mr Momoh Mustapha, as “too gullible” for discussing the electoral issues with the management. “The IEC Chairman sees himself incapable to handle the electoral matters and this prompted him to discuss them with the management,’’ he said. Yusuf said that the authorities were not supposed to interfere in the election process, but expected to be observers.

Insurgency

Gombe NURTW Tasks Members, Passengers On Security GOMBE- The National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) has advised its members and passengers to be security conscious in all motor parks. Alhaji Gidado Mabani, the Gombe state Chairman of the union, gave the advice in an interview with newsmen in Gombe. He said that the union had sensitised its members on key issues to prevent future attacks and other security problems at the parks. He also advised them against allowing too many vehicles in the parks and indiscriminate dumping of refuse. Mabani said that the union had introduced the use of metal detectors at the parks to help in detecting potential bombers. He further called on passengers to cooperate with the security at parks when checking properties and to always patronise motor parks for them to benefit from insurance in case of loss or accident. The chairman also advised them to monitor those who park their vehicles in the motor parks without proper introduction. He said that they are cooperating with security agencies in the state toward providing security for their members and passengers at the parks. Mabani urged them to also report any suspicious movement or objects to security agents for immediate action. He also disclosed that the union had adopted other security strategies that were not for public consumption.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Across The Nation FG To Establish More Polytechnics, Colleges Of Education -Shekarau KANO- The Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau has said that the Federal Government will establish polytechnics and colleges of education in states where there are no such institutions. He disclosed this at an

interactive session with journalists in Kano, saying: “It is the intention of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that each state in the country has a federal polytechnic and a college of education. “Mr President has two

main focuses on education sector, to increase access and improve the quality of education at all levels.’’ He said in the light of the objectives, the present administration established 12 new universities, four polytechnics and three

colleges of education across the country. Shekarau said that as part of effort to give the youth the opportunity to access education, the government had also established 127 Tsangaya primary schools in the northern part of the country. According to him, the 49

female boarding secondary schools are also established to boost the girl-child education in the country. He noted that the establishment of these institutions had greatly increased the number of students currently undergoing various programmes in different tertiary institutions across the country. The minister said that the

government would continue to pay attention to the sector in order to improve the socioeconomic status of the people. “Education is the bedrock of any socio-economic and political development, hence we need to equip our educational institutions with up-to-date infrastructure and relevant text books to improve the quality’’, he said.

Dankwamba Promises More Divideneds Of activities and Democracy government collect their Permanent

Passagers waiting to board the train at Iddo terminus after the christmas holidays in Lagos yesterday.

Igbos Will Vote Jonathan -Ohaneze Chieftain N K W E L L A E Z U N A K A (ANAMBRA)-The Chairman, Ohanaeze Ndi Igbo, Anambra Chapter, Dr Chris Eluemunoh, said that the group would vote for President GoodLuck Jonathan in February presidential election. Eluemunoh said this in an interview with newsmen at Nkwella-Ezunaka, Oyi Local Government Area, Anambra. He said Igbo people would vote for the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) during the exercise because the All Progressive Congress (APC) had no agenda for the South East. He called on the people of the state to obtain voter cards to exercise their civic rights, adding, “the card is the weapon at the voter’s disposal in choosing a leader.

Civil Servants resuming from Christmas holidays at the Federal Secretariat in Abuja yesterday.

BILLIRI (GOMBE STATE)-Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe State in Billiri promised that his administration would deliver more dividends of democracy to the people of the state next year. Dankwambo, who made the promise at the 9th Tangale Cultural Festival “Pissi Tangle”, said ``I want to assure you that we will continue to do our best and ensure that we provide social amenities for the development of our people’’. He said his administration would provide comfortable environment for the people and contribute its very best to the development of the state and Nigeria in general. The governor said by January 2015 more roads would be constructed in the area, adding that the design of the roads had been completed. He said the state government would also build the Tal General Hospital which he said would cost N1 billion. Dankwambo urged the people to support

2,500 Benefit From ICT Scheme SHAGARI (SOKOTO STATE )-More than 2,050 indigent persons are benefitting from the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) initiative in five local governments in Sokoto State. The state ‘s Commissioner

for Budget and Economic Planning , Alhaji Isa Bajini, said this in Shagari town at the flag-off of the disbursement of the grants. Bajini said that the benefitting local governments under the current phase of the CCT scheme were Shagari, Wurno, Kware , Rabah and

Sokoto North. The commissioner, who said five electoral wards were selected from each of the local governments, added that each beneficiary would get N5,000 for the next six months. The state MDGs Focal Officer , Alhaji Buhari Musheshe, said that the

gesture was aimed at empowering the beneficiaries. ‘’ It is also aimed at shoring up the children’s schools enrolment figures in the state and further improve the educational development of the state as well as Nigeria in general,’’ Musheshe said.

Voter Cards (PVCs) on time to enable them vote in the 2015 general elections. Mr Iliya Samya, Chairman, Billiri Local Government Area, commended the governor for constructing township roads, building the state College of Education, reconstruction of Information Centre and micro-finance bank, among others. “I call on everybody to avail the government and security outfits our support and co-operation to enable them overcome the security challenge we are all facing,’’ he said. Mr Ke Tale, President Tangale Community Development Association (TCDA), stated that his people would continue to support the government’s programmes. Meanwhile, the governor has promised to establish a computer centre in Kaltungo to enable students to write their various examinations successfully. The governor said this in Kaltungo during the people’s annual festival. He said the 2015 budget had captured a lot of projects, such as water and electricity projects, as well as a road project from Gondum up to the Taraba State boundary. Dankwambo also stated that the Federal Government would soon settle the victims of the post-2011 elections violence in the state.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Finance Economic Inclusion Through Microfinance Framework THE Nigeria economy is characterized by a large informal sector. Only about 35% of economically active population has access to financial services while about 65% rely on the informal sector. In fact, less than 2% of rural households have access to formal financial/banking services. The aggregate micro-credit facilities account for about 0.2% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and less than 1% of total credit to the economy. In response to the foregoing, successive administrations in Nigeria had intervened through supply-led subsidized credit strategy. Notable among such programmes were the Rural Banking Programme, sectoral allocation of credits, concessionary interest rate, and the Agricultural Credit Guarantee (ACGS). Other institutional arrangements were the establishment of the Nigerian Agricultural and Cooperative Bank Limited (NACB), the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), the Nigerian Agricultural Insurance Corporation (NAIC), the People Bank of Nigeria (PBN), the Community Banks (CBs), and the Family Economic Advancement Programme (FEAP). In year 2000, Government merged the NACB with the PBN and FEAP to form the Nigerian Agricultural Co-operative and Rural Development Bank Limited (NACRDB), to enhance the provision of finance to the agricultural sector. It also created the National Poverty Eradication Programme (NAPEP) with the mandate of providing financial services to alleviate poverty. Most of the intervention agencies had no sustainable sources of funding, hence, virtually all the initiatives could not be sustained. The ineffectiveness of the government economic inclusion strategies obviously left a huge gap which the nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) sought to fill. For instance, since the 1980s,

NGOs have emerged in Nigeria to champion the cause of the micro and rural entrepreneurs, with a shift from the supply-led approach to demand-driven strategy. Most of the NGOs are charity, capital lending and creditonly membership based institution. They are generally registered under the Trusteeship act as the sole package or part of their charity and social programmes of poverty alleviation.The NGOs obtain their funds from grants, fees, interest on loans and contributions from their members. However, they have limited outreach due, largely, to unsustainable sources of funds. To a large extent, the NGOs’ initiatives through demand-driven strategy had generated little impact on economic inclusion just like the government supply-led credit strategies. The observed ineffectiveness of both supply-led and demanddriven credit strategies in broadening economic inclusion on the one hand, and the existence of huge unserved and savings opportunities in the country, on the other hand, largely informed the introduction of the micro-finance policy in 2005. The policy was introduced to complement the banking sector reforms introduced in 2004 with a view to enhancing economic/ financial inclusion in the country. According to the microfinance policy framework, MFBs were promoted to provide financial services to the economically active poor in the society. The policy was targeted at creating an environment of financial inclusion to boost capacity of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) to contribute to economic growth and development through job creation that would lead to improved standard of living and poverty reduction. The specific objectives of microfinance policy are as follows: Make financial services

By GANIYU ADEWALE OGUNLEYE

accessible to a large segment of the potentially productive Nigerian population which otherwise would have little or no access to financial services; Promote synergy and mainstreaming of the informal sub-sector into the national financial system; Enhance service delivery by

and MFB operating in a State with a minimum capital requirement of Nl.0 billion. The policy framework also specifies the objectives of the creation of microfinanee banks as: Providing diversified, affordable and dependable

living; Enhancing organized, systematic and focused participation of the poor in the socio-economic development and resource allocation process; Providing veritable avenues for the administration of the micro credit programmes of government and high net

607 as at the end of 2008. An analysis of the CBs that convened to MFBs showed that 308 CBs had completed the process and obtained final licence, while 299 were still carrying provisional approval as at December 31, 2008. Delays in registering increases in capital, change of name and registration of new directors at the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), due to non-payment of penal charges

worth individuals on a nonrecourse basis. In particular, this policy ensures that state governments shall dedicate an amount of not less than 1% of their annual budgets for the on-lending activities of microfmance banks in favour of their residents; and Rendering payment services, such as salaries, gratuities, and pensions for various tiers of government. Community Banks (CBs) hitherto in existence were allowed to convert to MFBs provided they met the licensing requirements. Of the 1,259 CBs in operation as at December 31, 2007, the total number that met the minimum capital requirement of N20 million Shareholders’ Funds, unimpaired by losses, and converted to MFBs were

for non-submission of statutory returns by the institutions (despite the concessions granted by the CAC), were largely responsible for the slow conversion of their provisional approvals to final licence during the year. In addition to the 607 CBs converted to MFBs, a total of 138 new micro-finance banking licences were granted, while 95 approvalsin- principle (AlPs) had been granted as at December 31, 2008. With that development, the total number of approved MFBs as at the end of year 2008 were 840. Presented in Table 11.1 is the distribution of the 840 MFBs on a stateby-state basis, including the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

CBN Governor, Godwin Emefiele microfinance institutions to micro, small and medium entrepreneurs; Contribute to rural transformation; and Promote linkage programmes between Universal/Development banks, specialized institutions and microfinance banks. The Microfinance Policy permits the establishment of two categories of MFBs, namely: MFB operating as a unit bank with a minimum capital requirement of N20 million;

financial services to the active poor, in a timely and competitive manner, that would enable them to undertake and develop longterm, sustainable entrepreneurial activities; Mobilizing savings for intermediation; Creating employment opportunities and increase the productivity of the active poor in the country, thereby increasing their individual household income and uplifting their standard of

“The policy was introduced to complement the banking sector reforms introduced in 2004 with a view to enhancing economic/financial inclusion in the country.”

THE NIGERIAN

Development

SOME People find fault in the name Nigeria because they perceived that we were given the name by the whites, but that is not true. Some people would say its derived from Niger Area, but what is the meaning of Niger? Example of the meaning of Niger can be said to be a Yoruba Lady bearing the name Wura which means “Gold”, upon coming in contact with the white the white ask what her name is and she says Wura, but a little inquiry by the white, about what Wura means revealed that it means gold. Instead of calling her Wura which is little difficult for him, he decided to call her gold. With time, she became popular with the name gold that her real name Wura was not known.

igerewen, which is used along the middle reaches of the river around Timbuktu. As Timbuktu was the southern end of the principal Trans –Sahara trade route to the Western mediterranean, it was the source of most European knowledge of the region. Medieval European maps applied the name Niger to the middle reaches of the river, in modern mall, but Quorro (Kworra), to the lower reaches in modern Nigerian, as these were not recognized as being the same river. When European colonial powers began to send ships along the west coast of Africa in the 16th and 17 th centuries, the Senegal river was often postulated to be seaward end of the Niger. The Niger Delta, pouring into the

Nigeria In Focus By MARY OKPEBE

making contesting national claims by colonial powers of the “upper” “lower” and “middle” Niger River basin

situation, ladies and gentlemen, I would like us to reason historically, the fruits man eats grows

Atlantic through mangrove swamps and thousands of distributaries along more than a hundred miles, was thought to be no more than coastal wetlands. It was only with the 18th century visits of Mungo part, who traveled down the Niger River and visited the great sahelian empires of his day, but Europeans correctly identified the course of the Niger and extending the name to its entire course. The modern nations of Nigeria and Niger take their names it from the river,

The buried seed is Nigeria which was buried to hide its glory. It was buried for the comfort of its oppressors but not the master can prevent it from

improvement and development. Though these development had not been smooth as it is supposed to be. One thing or the other, has always stands as

“Nigeria has survived political riots and wars, she has witnessed military insurgency and battering. She had been fortuned by her children who she single handle ding born and nurtured. She has turned to a home without peace and love. Her children preached about her often but none loves her progress and smiles.” during the seramble for Africa at the end of the 19th century. In the entirety, the name Niger can simply be said to mean, the great

naturally. Man eats the fruit and dumps the seeds. After sometimes, environment is seen as unbefitting, it litters the surrounding. Man then

black river. The British colonialisation and our eventual emergence as a nation is a design by the creator. According to the Quronic teaching some actions may be carried out by your oppressor for their benefit, event if it hurts you, they would not care provided it is to their benefit, but God made it possible because it’s a design to comfort you at the end, when it manifests, you would then realize it is indeed a blessing. To relate this to our

decided to hide the seed in a places were it would be hidden. It is in the quest of comforting man that the idea of burying the seed under the ground emerges. Man didn’t bury the seed because he wanted it to grow and produce more fruits, he did to suit himself at the expense of destroying and killing the seed. But after some while, the same seed buried to rot, rose from the ground and brought out fresh flowers and with time, produces more beautiful fruits.

President Goodluck Jonathan The Niger is called Jeliba or Joliba which means “great river” in manding, Orimiri or “Orimili” “great water” water” in Igbo, Egerew-Igerwen “river of rivers” in Tuaregi, Isa Ber “big river” in Sanghay, Kwara in Hausa, and Oya in Yoruba. The origin of the name Niger, which originally applied only to the middle reaches of the river, is uncertain. The likeliest possibility is an alteration, by influence of Latin Niger “black” of the Taureg name egerew n-

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

regerminating and producing beautiful offspring’s. Nigeria is like a seed crop, not one seed can germinate from the ground, two or more seeds is to be sowed to germinate and grow abundant harvest, our oppressors were used by God to sow the upcoming great nation, comprising the Yoruba, Hauas’s, Igbo, Ijaw, Idoma’s Nupe’s, and so on. Before these seeds were made into a nation, they have stood individually comfortable, but after being sowed together to grow, none can stand alone ever again. If any part is removed after it has been buried, the whole of the seed would be destroyed. Until we realized this, we shall continue to struggle. If the seed burial is not allowed to germinate for the betterment of all, it would be destroyed for the benefit of none. The present day Nigeria had witnessed so many clisruptions and distractions from the indigenes of Nigeria who wouldn’t want any better seeds to germinate. Nigeria is like a seed planted by the River side, and it is suppose to grow and produce fruits all round the year. But because of the thorns around the seed, it has made speed growth very slow while sometimes impossible. Throughout the centuries, Nigeria has staggered through different stages of

barriess and impediment to cultural, political, religious development. Among all, one has thrived and at to same time caused problems and several challenges to the oneness and development of the country. It was this year, 2014 Nigeria marked 100years of amalgamation, that is bringing the southern protectorate and the Northern protectorate together to form Nigeria. This process was not quite easy and smooth but saw good light at the end of the day. The light is what is still on till this moment, though many darkness had shown face and the light is still burning bright and shine. The political turmoils that had ravaged Nigeria has reduced the integrity and pride of the great Nation. Nigeria has survived political riots and wars, she has witnessed military insurgency and battering. She had been fortuned by her children who she single handle ding born and nurtured. She has turned to a home without peace and love. Her children preached about her often but none loves her progress and smiles. But the moment she purge away her dirts and remnants, she will be clean from political rebellion, religions intolerance, bribery and corruption, terrorism, cultural imperialism. Her seed look fine and sweet but to climb her free is hard and sour.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

EDO STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY (OFFICE OF THE CLERK)

INVITATION TO TENDER

Tenders are hereby invited from reputable publishers, printers and contractors who have registered with the Edo State House of Assembly for the printing/production of the House 2015 annual calendar. Interested tenderers are requested to forward their tender accompanied with the following: 1) Evidence of current business registration with the Edo State House of Assembly. 2) Three years tax clearance certificate. 3) Evidence of similar job previously executed. 4) Evidence of registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)/Edo State Government. 5) Evidence of payment of non refundable deposit of the sum of N200,000.00 (Two Hundred Thousand Naira) Tenders should be addressed to the Acting Clerk, Edo State House of Assembly, Oghosa Crescent, off Ihama Road, Edo State House of Assembly Service Commission, Benin City. Please, note that tender closes two weeks from the date of this publication. Signed: Acting Clerk, Edo State House of Assembly, Benin City.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014 FOLLOWING the recent global crash of the price of oil per barrel in the International market, the Federal Government of Nigeria introduced austerity measures inorder to mitigate the crushing effect on the economy which is largely run on proceeds from oil exports, as its mainstay. THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER strongly believes that no other time presents itself than now for the government to diversify its economy through appropriate financing of agriculture, which for now, holds the greatest future for the country, outside oil. CONCERNED citizens of Nigeria have continued to warn on the dangers of continued dependence by the nation on crude oil which is today the main stay and sustaining source of the Nigerian economy. THE traditional focus of the Nigerian economy before the discovering of crude oil in commercial quantity was agriculture and it played a fundamental role in shaping the economy of the nation and regions as Nigeria was then constituted in its immediate post independence era. IN the 1960s, each region of the country was noted for producing some cash crops such at cocoa, groundnut and palm oil as well as rubber in commercial quantities. Basically, the Western region, now the political South West except Lagos which was the Federal Capital, was noted for producing cocoa in large commercial quantities for export The revenue from cocoa helped in shaping the infrastructure and economic environment of then Western Nigeria and its legacies and landmarks were very very visible, as they affected virtually all aspects of life of the people. IN the Northern region, groundnut was the mainstay of the economy, to the extent that the volume produced in the region was typified by the “groundnut pyramid”. It symbolized the success of the crop as a veritable earner of revenue which impacted economically on the life of the people. IN the Eastern region, palm oil was its predominant feature and similarly it was a success in boosting the economic atmosphere of the country and the region. Interestingly, it is now an irony that Nigeria has been relegated to the background in palm oil production and has been overtaken by Malaysia, a country which took the Nigerian specimen of the plant, palm kernel, and adapted it to its own climatic condition and is today a leading producer of palm oil, which is a major derivative of palm kernel, SIGNIFICANTLY, the Midwest region was noted for its rubber plantation and was quite a huge success as the crop played its role as a major economic

THE NIGERIAN

Austere Times And Agriculture Financing transformation agent to shore up principally the economy of the region. WE are concerned that there is slow progress in returning to the traditional focus of reviving these cash crops as major sources of revenue for the Federal Government. HOWEVER, we are aware that not too long ago, the Federal Government launched the Cocoa Rebirth Initiative, as launch pad to regenerate interest in the crop and encourage farmers who have abandoned the plant to come back on the scene to make cocoa play its rote in the national economy. THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER implores the Federal Government to similarly create avenues for other cash crops as well and sensitise farmers to take proactive action towards their cultivation. WHILE the Federal Government has shown the interest to refocus attention on agriculture, there appears to be some disinterest in the way it has pursued the goal. For instance only about N20 billion or 2.0 per cent of the 2006 budget was allocated to agriculture. There was however another N8.7 billion allocated to the sector from the gains of the debt relief granted Nigeria in order to meet the Millennium Development Goats (MDGs). THERE is no conscious effort to empower small scale farmers to undertake mechanized farming for greater yields, as this is still the exclusive preserve of the elite tanners. Thus farmers who are interested in expansion have no way of coping with the financial demands to undertake mechanized farming. Access to bank loans is uncertain with high interest rate, serving as enough scare to discourage the desire for any expansion. NOTWITHSTANDING the shortcomings. The NIGERIAN OBSERVER commends the administration of President Olusegun Obasanjo for taking paramount

interest in agriculture to see that it really plays a crucial role in the economy. It is noteworthy that the Presidential Committee on Agriculture Financing has been able to mobilize N50 billion in the financing of the sector. ACCORDING to the Committee, N30 billion and N20 billion of the fund would be made available to large scale farmers respectively. Also state governments have agreed to contribute N200 million each white the local governments are soon to come up with their contributions. BESIDES, a minimum of 10 per cent of the fund had been set aside for women farmers in rural areas. This is also commendable and inspiring to women farmers. Remarkably, President Obasanjo pointed out that deploying N50 billion into agriculture this year could surpass the entire budgetary allocation to agriculture in the last five years. He noted the role of the commercial banks which raised N30 billion of the fund and for the non stringent conditions that wilt be attached to loans from the funds. WHILE these step are positive measures which should he commended, the initiative of bringing in the banks in partnership with the Federal Government is a major achievement. WHILE the banks may have played significant roles in the past in assisting farmers, they did to purely on the initiative of the individual farmers and therefore we expect in the new arrangement as already envisaged, a friendly lending terms that will encourage investment in the agricultural sector. THE NIGERIAN OBSERVER also calls on the Federal government to consider upward review of allocation to the agricultural sector in the 2007 budget, as the N20 billion allocated to it this year’s budget was indeed paltry. Amounts always allocated in the budget have been a pointer of the genuineness of government’s commitment to the agricultural sector. WE are further elated by President Obasanjo’s position when he solicited for massive publicity by the implementation committee to enable farmers, especially small scale ones know shout the availability and accessibility of the fund. WE assert that improving the national agricultural output should be devoid of any prohibition that will limit access to the fund by small scale farmers whose contributions to agricultural development term pare of the concerted effort of the production chain that will lift the nation out of the continued dependence on oil.

THE NIGERIAN

Reflections

The Force Of Hope

WHAT is hope? Romans 8:24, for we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope, for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? Therefore, hope, is a short or long term expectation of anything, either physically or spiritually. Hope is the belief or expectation that something wished for can and will happen. Hope is been assured of a positive end in the midst of uncertainties and unsuitable situations (Rom 4:18). Hope is looking behind the challenges and seeing a beautiful prospects, and celebrating (Titus 2:13). Hope is hanging on to the blissful promise, in the face of unfavourable outcomes (Rom 4:20). Hope is waiting for a favourable end, while running the race. Hope is the virtuous desire for future good. The beauty of hope is that it doesn’t not disappoint or make any ashamed. Christianity is only ran by hope, because it cannot be seen but it is certain. Hope: A virtue to be desired Heb. 6:18 – That by two immutable things, in which it was impossible for God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before us. Hope is a godly virtue, to be coveted, exercised dependent on how well you trust God. Hope is a divine deposit and it’s exercised in God. Hope is such a virtue that should be held by all Christians. It keeps you going in the face of all disappointments and uncertainties. It gives a sense of a peaceful sailing and

By IKPONMWOBA OSAZEE JOEL

arrival of destination, even when the tides seems turbulent. We have been told about life, that it is not a bed of roses; also Christianity is not a call to eating, merriment and drinking. You will come across some adversity along your journey, your hope virtue for a blessed end is what will keep you from committing suicide and the common self inflicted vices we experience in the society today. The way to acquire this virtue is by studying God’s word, thereby gaining experiences in the with God and learning to trust God more. Hope: As a person (Jesus Christ). – I Tim 1:1 – Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the commandment of God our saviour, and Lord Jesus Christ, which is our hope; Hope is a person or thing that is a source of hope. Christ the only hope and source of our hope. He is the hope of the living and the dead (I Thes 4:13). Having Christ is having hope, no wonder, Paul says Christ in me the hope of glory (Col. 1:27); this to say, no matter how ugly your present state is, or bad possible outcomes could appear, with Christ you can stand sure and secure and boldly declare my tomorrow is glories and my end is blessed. Imagine, he offers hope to even the dead. He is also the source of hope (Acts 4:12) having him as a saviour, Lord, brother and friend is having hope. Come to him in open heart surrendering your life to him, and obtain a blessed hope that won’t put you to shame.

Hope of Glory (Col 1:27) – To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentles; which Christ in you, the hope of glory. There is nothing as valuable as being certain of a prospective future, this is the major rejoicing in the heart of every believer. This is the backbone and secret behind our being ever joyful (Rom

hope is what will take you to glory. Remain ever hopeful. Hope Until The End (1 Pt 1:13) – Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, so sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Hope is a very powerful virtue in Christianity that always of necessity brings and delivers that which it is exercised over eventually. Therefore we are advised to hold our profession of hope

12:12), because of the full assurance of hope for a glorious end; therefore we despair not at the present to produce the future. We are confident of a blissful future on earth and a glorious one after life (I Tim 4:8; Job 8:7). Our hope never puts us to shame; but brings quickly our expectations. Are you despair, or loosing it? Brace up your self your

to the end. Hope is hope when what is hoped for is not in view (Rom 8:24). Thus hope doesn’t end until the “hoped for” is achieved. Are you thinking of giving up, encourage yourself with the truth, hope doesn’t put its client to shame, God reserves the best for the last, those that wait, on him are renewed, though thy

“We have been told about life, that it is not a bed of roses; also Christianity is not a call to eating, merriment and drinking. You will come across some adversity along your journey, your hope virtue for a blessed end is what will keep you from committing suicide and the common self inflicted vices we experience in the society today.”

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

beginning was small thy later end shall increase greatly. He is too faithful to fail you. Keep hope alive, for in the appointed time, it will speak and not lie, though it tarry, hope on still, it will not tarry but it will come to pass. Sustenance of Hope (Ps 78:7) – That they might set their hope in God, and not forget the work of God, but keep his commandments. Hope being a virtue that doesn’t proffers instant response, is thus necessary to be sustained. Hope is sustained by some keys factors examined below. Hope is primarily sustained

and produce it’s desires. Please intimate and discretely maintain a healthy by constant and continuously communicate in prayers and word study. Steadfast hope (2 Cor. 1:7) – And our hope of you is steadfast, knowing, that as you are partakers of the sufferings, so shall you be also of the consolation steadfast hope is a fixed or unchanging hope, in which we patiently and unwaveringly await the crown of every work done, trials overcome and decision taken in life. Apostle Paul, after finishing

by an intimate relationship with God, who is the source of all true hope (I Tim 1:1). Hope stands stronger with respect to the strength of intimacy, and hope produces it’s dividends quicker by virtue of the relationship strength. Experiences are the main programs that helps sustains or destroy hope. When retaining a good relationship with God, it produces some encounters, which gives you a reason to hope on still. Romans 5:3-5, says “we glory in tribulation also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience, and experience hope; and hope maketh not ashamed. Any experience encountered with God in fellowship, builds your hope to stand strong

his race here on earth because of the steadfast hope he officially and openly declared the awaiting of his crown. Hope is not to be shaky, but firm (Heb. 6:19). A shaky hope will not receive anything from God (Jam 1:6-7). To be steadfast, you must sustain hope by an unending fellowship, this, you must carry on steadfast to the end, to attain glory at last, which is only through a personal and genuine encounter with Christ, the source of all hope, this we should do daily and earnestly pursue, so your expectations will manifest. Every living creature, living by hope, walk by hope and invest in hope. Never give up, never loose hope but be steadfast for the result is at hand. God bless you.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Nutritional Health And Dietetics

Tuberculosis And Home Remedy

TUBERCULOSIS is a wicked disease. This disease tends to cut down people in the very prime of life. It most frequently strikes between the ages of fifteen and forty – four, just when young families need a father or mother to guide them and provide for the future. Today the battle has changed. The picture has changed. Almost every one now has the chance of winning the battle against tuberculosis. Lifesaving medicines are now available that people in other generations did not have. But despite all these new medical advances, tuberculosis is still a very serious disease. Constant vigilance is the only certain means of protection. Tuberculosis is communicable diseases. It is passed from one person to another through close contact. The causative bacteria The villain responsible is a tiny rod –shaped germ, so small that thousands of them could be laid side by side on the head of a pin. These germs may attack any part of the human body, but most frequently they are found in the lung. These tough little germs are protected by an outer layer of wax. This waxy coat prevents the normal defenders of the body from making much head-way against the invaders. It is cause by bacterium called mycobacterium tuberculosis, germs can live for months in any cool dark places, especially, if there is a little moisture present. They can withstand drying for a time. But they are quickly killed by sunlight and heat. Silent Battle- Tuberculosis germs are very tricky. They may remain within the body for long periods of time without giving the slightest evidence of their presence. The battle often goes on slowly and silently, with the body’s defenders gradually being beaten back. Yet there may be no noticeable weakness for a long time. Some people have been found to have advanced tuberculosis without even suspecting its presence.

How it travels-The germs usually travel by coughing, sneezing and close contact, One cough from a tuberculosis patient may spread thousands of T.B germs into the air. They can even ride on particles of dust. Once they are inhaled into the lung, they become a serious

defense. Larger white cells move in, building up a wall of cells and fibers against the invaders. A tiny lump or tuberculosis thus, formed. This is how the disease got its name. If the body’ s resistance is good enough, the first invaders are usually defeated,

germs sometimes find their way into the body is through the contamination of food and eating utensils. Drinking unpasteurized milk may lead to tuberculosis. Cows and other animals can also, be infected with this disease. Others are fatigue,

menace. Although, most germs are screened out through the normal process of breathing, there are times when a few may find their way into the lungs. Mouth breathing and kissing may provide a short cut by which the germs are carried into the body. Once the germs arrive in the air sacs of the lungs, a fierce battle begins between the germs and the body’s defending white cells quickly surround the germs engulfing them as soon as possible. But they cannot always destroy them. The body, some how seeming its danger, then throws in its second line of

provided there are not too many of them. But further trouble may cause from a later attack, particularly, if the individual’s resistance is down because of improper food, overwork and bad habits of living. Since the body has already been sensitized, a violet reaction may occur between the new germs and the tissues. How to contact the disease

nutritional deficiencies and various kinds of stress may gently weaken the body, so that it can no longer defend itself. Malnutrition and overcrowded living conditions always encourage the spread of tuberculosis. Signs and symptomsTiredness and fatigue-This does not mean the normal, healthy tiredness that follows a hard days work. It is rather tiredness on little or no exertion. Loss of weight- Anymark of weight loss should make a person suspicious enough to go and have a thorough medical examination,

People living amid unhygienic conditions are always more likely to contract the disease. Contaminated air is the most frequent menace especially, during childhood. Another way in which these

With

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 including an x ray of his chest. Chronic Cough- Any cough that lasts more than a week or ten days should be thoroinvestigated Spitting up blood: It is a real damager signal. It should be examined to rule out other diseases. Loss of appetite Chest pains Night sweats and afternoon fever Swellings in the neck. A general feeling of malaise and fatigue. There may also, be a sensation of pain in the chest, kidneys and or in the back Method of detecting T.B.The tuberculin test is the simplest method of detecting whether you body has ever had to fight the germs of tuberculosis. The quickest and most reliable method of detecting whether there is of any tuberculosis in the lungs is to have a chest x-ray. This will show how much of the lung tissue is involved. Treatment of Tuberculosis Rest-Rest is most important treatment of tuberculosis. This means and body. Any type of stress will delay the process of healing. The healing process is always more rapid when the patient is at rest. Any exertion or worry will delay healing. Fresh air is a must. A wellventilated room or a sleeping porch will mean a lot to any one who must spend sometime in bed. Good nutrition-A well – balanced diet is most essential in building the body’s defenses against this disease. Meals should be regular. Foods rich n vitamin more especially vitamin C should be taken. This helps to heal the damaged tissues fruits and

“Today the battle has changed. The picture has changed. Almost every one now has the chance of winning the battle against tuberculosis. Lifesaving medicines are now available that people in other generations did not have. But despite all these new medical advances, tuberculosis is still a very serious disease. Constant vigilance is the only certain means of protection”.

vegetables should be a must. Drink high-calorie protein shakes between meals or try nutritious drinks. Walking is a good way to get exercise. Medicine from the sun, vitamin D is very good for the patient. Decades before the discovery of modern antituberculosis drugs, There were just two recommended treatments for patients suffering from tuberculosis, sunlight and clean, dry air. Sanitoria facilities where patients rested amid the sunny weather and dry air, were food throughout switzer land Scandinavia as well as in the southwestern united states. During that era, the body immune system was the only arsenal to fight the disease without anti-tuberculosis drugs, the only hope. An immunologic effect of vitamin D which is produced in the skin when exposed to sun on monocytes and macrophages which are the primary cells that fight T.B infection in the body. Low levels of vitamin D increases the risk for infections. Herbal- You can use some home remedies as an adjunct to treatment. Here are some home remedies for tuberculosis –Garlic. It is rich in sulphuric acid that destroys the germs causing TB. It also, contains allicin and ajoene, which have been found to inhibit bacterial growth plus its antibacterial properties and immune boosting effect. It is highly effective for a TB patient. Bananas are good for the patient. It is an excellent source of nutrients and calcum. Drumstick has antiinflammatory and antibacterial properties that can help eleiminate the TB – causing bacteria from the lungs and reduce inflammation resulting from the infection and constant coughing. Others are Indian gooseberry, oranges, custard apple and so on. If you need help, the writer will be of help to you. Peace and joy.

THE NIGERIAN

THE NEED of union is felt now by every right-minded Christian. The power of evil is felt by all. Its pressure comes too near home, its rapid and gigantic strides are too evident, and affect too nearly the particular feelings which characterise distinctively every class of Christians, to allow them to be blind to it, however little they may appreciate its true bearing and character. Better and holier feelings too, arouse them to the sense of common danger, and (as far as it is entrusted to man’s responsibility) the danger in which the cause of God is from those who never did, and never would spare it. This need is felt wherever the Spirit of God acts, so as to make the saints value grace and truth and one body. The feelings which the sense of the progress of evil produces may be different. Some, though they are but few, may yet trust to the bulwarks they have long looked at, but which had their force only in a respect for them which exists no longer. Others may trust to a fancied force of truth, which it has never exerted but in a little flock, because God and the work of His Spirit were there; others, to a union which never yet was the instrument of Power on the side of good— that is, a union by concord and agreement. While others may feel bound to abstain from such an agreed union, by reason of previously subsisting obligations, or prepossessions, so that the union tends to form only a party. But the sense of danger is universal. That which was long mocked at as a theory is now too practically felt to be denied; though the apprehensions of the word, which made those who were subjected to that mockery foresee the evil, may be rejected and slighted still. But this state of things produces difficulties and dangers of a peculiar kind to the saints, and leads to the inquiry, where the path of the saint is, and where true union is to be found. There Is danger, from the very blessedness and desirableness of union, of those who have long truly felt its value, and the obligation that lies on the saints to maintain it, being led to follow the impulse of such as refused to see it when it was spoken of from the Word, and to abandon the very principles and path which their own clearer apprehension of the Word of God led them to embrace from it, as foreseeing the coming storm. They learnt from that precious Word that it was coming; and, while calmly studying it in the Word, saw the path marked out there for the believer as such, and indeed, in every time. It is now

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pressed upon them to desert it for that suggested to men’s minds by the pressure of the , anxieties they anticipated, but which, though there may be an impulse of good in it, the Word of God itself did not furnish when inquired into in peace. But is this the path of the saints, to turn from that which the generally rejected intelligence of the Word afforded them, to pursue the light of those who would not see? This, however, is not the only danger; nor is it my object to dwell on the dangers, but the remedy. There is a constant tendency in the mind to fall into sectarianism, and to make a basis off union of the opposite of what I have here just alluded to; that is, of a system of some kind or other to which the mind is attached, and round which saints or others are gathered; and which, assuming itself to be based on a true Principle of unity, regards as schism whatever separates from itself—attaching the name of unity to what is not God’s centre and plan of unity. Wherever this is the case, it will be found that the doctrine of unity becomes a sanction for some kind of moral evil, for something contrary to the Word of God; and the authority of God Himself, which is attached to the idea of unity, becomes, through the instrumentality of this latter thoughts, a means of engaging the saints to continue in evil. Moreover, continuance in this evil is enforced by all the difficulty which unbelief finds to separate from that in which it is settled, and where the natural heart finds its ties and, generally, temporal interests the sphere of their support. Now, unity is a divine doctrine and principle; but, as evil is Possible wherever unity is taken by itself so as to be a conclusive authority, wherever evil does enter, the conclusive obligation of unity binds to the evil, because the unity, where the evil is, is not to be broken. Of this we have a flagrant example in Romanism There the unity of the Church is the grand basis of argument; and it has been the ground of keeping the world, we may say, in every sanctioned enormity, and made the name of Christianity its warrant: an authority to bind souls to evil, till the name itself became shameful to the natural conscience of man. The plea of unity may then be, in a measure, the latitudinarianism which flows from the absence of Principle; it may be the narrowness of a sect formed on an idea; or, it may be, as taken by itself, the claim to be the Church of God, and hence in Principle to secure as much

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Separation From Evil As God’s Principle Of Unity By J.N. DARBY

indifference to evil, as it is the convenience of the body or its rulers to allow, or is in the power of Satan to drag them into. If the name of unity then be so Powerful in itself and in virtue of blessings withal which God Himself has attached to it, it behoves us well to understand what the unity He Owns really is. This it is I Would Propose to inquire into; acknowledging the desire

dispersion of several self-will, or its concentration in the dominion of the man of the earth. But then we must, in consequence of this, go a step farther. God must be a centre in blessing as ‘well as power, when He surrounds Himself with united and morally intelligent hosts. We may know that He will punish rebellion with everlasting destruction from His presence

possible centre. It shall be brought into it yet again, and centred in Christ as its Head, even in the Son, by whom, and for whom, all things were created. (Col.1, 16). It is man’s glory (though his ruin, as fallen) to be made thus a centre in his place the image of Him that is to come;* but alas! his imitator in a state of rebellion in this same place, when fallen. I know not (1 would venture to say no more) that angels were ever made the

for it to be a good thing, and many of the attempts at it to Contain in them elements of godly feeling, even when the means may not carry conviction to the judgment as being those of God. Now, it will be at once admitted, that God Himself ‘must be the spring and centre of unity, and that He alone can be in Power or title. Any centre of unity outsideGod must be so far a denial of His Godhead and glory, an independent centre of influence and power; and God is one-the just, true, and only centre of all true unity. Whatever is not dependent on this is rebellion. But this so simple, and, to the Christian, necessary truth clears our way at once. Man’s fall is the reverse of this. He was a subordinate creature, an image too of Him that was to come; he would become an independent one, and he is, in sin and rebellion, the slave of a mightier rebel than himself, whether in the

into the hopelessness of uncentred and selfish individual misery and hatred; but He Himself must be a centre of blessing and holiness, for He is a holy God, and He is love. Indeed, holiness in us (while it is by its nature separation from evil) is just having God, the Holy One, who is love too, the object, centre, and spring of our affections. He makes us partakers of His holiness (for He is essentially separate from all evil, which He knows as God, though as His contrary); but in us, holiness must consist in our affections, thoughts, and conduct being centred in and derived from Him: a place maintained in entire dependence upon Him. Of the establishment and power of this unity in the Son and Spirit I will speak presently. It is the great and glorious truth itself on which I now insist. This great principle is true even in creation. It was formed in unity, and God its only

centre of any System, but man was. It was his glory to be the lord and centre of this lower world (an associate but dependent Eve his companion and help in his Presence). He was the image and glory of God. His dependence made him look up; and this is true glory and blessedness to all but God. Dependence looks up; and is exalted above itself. Independence must look down (for it cannot in a creature be filled with itself) and is degraded. Dependence is true exaltation in a creature when the object of it is right. The prim state of man was not holiness, in the proper sense of it, because evil was not known. It was not a divine (but it was a blessed creation) state; it was But this was lost in the assertion of independence. If man became as God, knowing good and evil, it was with a guilty conscience, the slave of the evil he knew, and in an independence he could not sustain himself in, while he

had morally lost God to depend on. With this state (for we must now descend to the present actual question of unity), with man in this state, God has to deal, if true real unity, such as He can own, is to be attained Now, He must be still the centre. It is not therefore in mere creative power. Evil exists. The World is lying in wickedness, and the God of unity is the Holy God. Separation, therefore, separation from evil, becomes the necessary and sole basis and Principle, I do not say the power, of unity. For God must be the centre and Power of that unity, and evil exists: and from that corruption they must be separate who are to be in God’s unity; for He can have no union with evil. Hence, I repeat, we have this great fundamental Principle, that *See Ephesians I. He hath made known to us the mystery of His will; that is, gathering together in one all things in Christ, in whom we have received an inheritance. Separation from evil is the basis of all true unity. Without this, it is more or less attaching God’s authority to evil, and rebellion against His authority; as is all unity in dependent of Him. It is a sect in its lightest and feeblest forms; in its fullest, it is the great apostasy of which one of the characteristics as ecclesiastical or secular power, is unity; but unity by subjection of man to what is independent, really or openly, of God, because it is of His word; not established by subjection to the Holy One, according to His word,* and by the power of the Spirit working in those that are united, and by His presence, which is the personal power of union in the body. But this separation is not yet by judicial power, which separates (not the good from the evil, the precious from the vile, but) the vile from the precious, banishing it from His presence in judgment; binding up the tares in bundles, and casting them into the furnace of fire;— gathering out of His kingdom all things that offend (Satan himself and his angels being cast down, and all things thereupon being gathered together in one in Christ, in heaven and in earth). Then the world, not the conscience, will be cleared from evil by the judgment which will not allow it, but early cut off all the wicked (not by the power and testimony of the Spirit of God).

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Perspective

Managing Director, Poco Enterprises A paper presented at the Twelfth Annual National Management Conference at the Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. INTRODUCTION Nigerians have been known to engage in business for centuries. Long before what is known today geographically as Nigeria, businessmen in Kano City had done business across the Sahara Desert with North Africa and Europe. The people of old Benin Empire and the Kings of the OilRiver States of Opobo and Bonny had traded with Europe across the Atlantic Ocean. Within Nigeria itself a lot of internal business had been done and is still being done among its peoples. Therefore, in examining the subject, “Developing Nigerian Businesses”, in the context of the theme of this Conference — Management of National Resources our efforts must be directed towards examining the development of Nigerian businesses in the past, the present, and we must dare to suggest the pattern that this development should take in the future. Essentially, what we are concerned with is the philosophy and practice of developing Nigerian businesses in three periods. Obviously, there be a great deal of debate on the dating of the three periods. For convenience, may I suggest the pre-colonial, colonial and post independence periods? It is also essential in this discourse to exclude the developing of Nigerian businesses, by Nigerians outside this country because such businesses are set in different environments which offer different incentives to and generate different inspirations in the Nigerian businessman, outside his home market place. Philosophy and Practice of Business In pre-colonial times internal business was centred around agricultural trade by barter. Because of limited communication systems and the absence of a good monetary system. businesses were smallscale and transacted at the local market places, on special days. For want of a better expression, business was then on a subsistence basis. The ability to develop one’s businesses depended on the size of the businessman’s natural or hired household. To this and other reasons we owe our traditional polygamous homes and the beginning of the slave trade. Business within Nigeria in the pre-colonial period was therefore unsophisticated and open to all corners. When contact was made ‘with the outside business world across the Atlantic and the Sahara Desert, things changed dramatically with the injection of new business ideas, practices and goods into the Nigerian market

Developing Nigeria A Review By P. O. C. Ozieh

place. Subsistence local business was transformed overnight into a buoyant international trade with the outside world. Within a short time trade between the oil-river Kings of the Coast and our hinterland developed out of all proportion into big business. But it was concentrated in only a few hands. To spread it to more hands required the trappings of a more advanced business practice. The Colonials arrived. The British Government took over full administrative responsibility for the foreign oil-river traders’ businesses. Business and commercial activities could no longer be separated from the social and political Lives of our people. As a matter of policy, a full-scale drive was embarked upon to open up the hinterland with modern communication and transport so that foreign business, hitherto confined to the coastal area, could get to the hinter land. This was a good thing but with it Nigeria lost its independence. Also trade by barter soon gave way to modern business practices and systems banking, communications, transport, modern office routines and other business systems — all these were new and strange to the average Nigerian businessman or woman. They were not educationally equipped for the change. So for nearly one hundred years good successful businesses were largely in the hands of foreigners. Efforts by the average Nigerian to develop any business during the colonial era were always thwarted by checks and balances inherent in a colonial regime. The education of the people was in foreign hands and therefore its content and objectives were restrictive. Financing houses were completely foreign owned and their unpublished financing policies for the Nigerian businessman or woman were usually negative. As a result the Nigerian businessman could only play second fiddle within the limits of his business abilities. This gave rise to small mushroom businesses, which usually engaged in the same activity. A herd instinct you might say, but they bad no alternative. The chains had to be broken. There are to well-known pioneers of successful Nigerian businesses. The success stories of some of them are well-known. But let it be said that in nearly every case, they got their inspiration from outside the Nigerian environment; they are the missionary-type pioneers who believed in themselves and

dreams and had the courage of their conviction to take a business risk. We also had institutional pioneers like the African Continental Bank of Nigeria Limited and the National Bank of Nigeria Limited. These two banking institutions, their chequered history notwithstanding, will go down in the history of Nigerian businesses as providing the initial funds with which many Nigerian businesses were launched, Also the postindependence government of the First Republic, pioneered the revision of our educational system which produced the appropriate educational foundation for a people in a developing economy. Perhaps the most courageous pioneering body in this respect is our present Federal Military Government, which will be long remembered for its Decree No. 4 — The Nigerian Enterprises Promotion Decree 1972. The provisions of this decree are well known to provide the first equitable distribution of business opportunities to all comers in business. Now that opportunities are wide open for the enterprising Nigerian businessman he is still confronted with some problems in developing his business. Let us examine these problems which still hinder the successful development of a Nigerian business. Selection of Business There is too much tendency for Nigerians to engage in a business because Mr. X, a neighbour or friend, is engaged in it and appears to be successful in it. There is not enough original thinking in the selection of a business project. Indeed the success or failure of any business lies in the initial selection of a business project. It must be remembered that there are three important elements in any business: the sponsor (or businessman) the business and the market. For every particular business project each of the three elements has its own particular specifications. These

specifications must of necessity harmonize for one to pull-off a successful business. The process of selection is like a jig saw puzzle game. The sponsor of any business must ab initio be able to put together the various specifications of his business and have a clear picture of what his business is all about before he starts the business. A correct

addition, the reports and the financing of the projects are usually fully discussed and agreed upon with the Head Offices of local banking houses. All that is requited in Nigeria is ‘automatic’ implementation of the business project. With the Nigerian businessman the situation is different. Hitherto it was not always easy to find a

in which every commercial bank should have a client service section dealing in reasonable detail with feasibility reports submitted by customers. The current practice of a branch manager transferring figures from a client’s feasibility report into the bank’s standard form and then mailing it to Head Office for a decision is unsatisfactory.

bus cont Th whi ban whi cus beca of a real par

solution of the jig-saw puzzle means money for him in the tong run. Financial Appraisal of Business The Nigerian political set-up allows for the healthy development of public and private enterprises, side by side. In the private sector, foreign businesses have tended to develop more satisfactorily than indigenous ones. This is because, more often than not, a thorough feasibility study has been done by sponsors of foreign businesses. Generally, the feasibility reports are produced overseas where all the facilities and statistical information are available. In

good organisation qualified to carry out feasibility studies. When one was eventually produced, it took months to have it studied by financing houses. The most pathetic situation is that in practically all banking houses in the country, officers who can understand and are prepared to discuss feasibility studies properly with their clients are only a handful and they are in the Lagos Head Offices. Even within Lagos itself, branch offices are not often competent enough to handle these matters. This problem is bound to be further complicated by our rapid indigenisation of posts in banking houses. The ideal situation is one

Decisions taken on whether or not to deal in such a set-up are too impersonal, protracted and unrealistic. For example, a Maiduguri client would have to wait for a decision on his transcribed feasibility study to come from Lagos. This problem, of course, has to do with our national manpower development which has been adequately dealt with in Professor G. A. Jawando’s paper. But it is enough to say that until tomorrow’s commercial bank managers, particularly at branch levels in our hinterland, are fully equipped for their job we will have to live with this problem for many more years; effective

cust hav plai “S busi for r bad orde back nec anot Th bank serv view dep mon for bus imp econ is b pas app orga not cust At t dev ban hou mon cus disc

“Now that opportunities are wide open for the enterprising Nigerian businessman he is still confronted with some problems in developing his business. Let us examine these problems which still hinder the successful development of a Nigerian business.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Perspective

an Businesses

siness development will tinue to suffer as a result. he other important problem ich businessmen have with nks is the lack of frankness ich should exist between tomer and bank. Often ause of some internal policy a commercial bank they are lly not in a position to do a ticular business with a

problems and get sound financial advice and pay a fee for the service. Running a Nigerian Business “Young men contemplating a commercial career in West Africa today are rightly advised to rid their minds of any romantic illusions about bartering beads for ivory tusks with tribal chieftains under the palm trees.

tomer. Some banks do not e the integrity of coming out inly and telling the customer. Sorry we cannot do this iness” and give a frank reason rejecting it. If the project is a one, they should say so in er that the customer can go k and repeat the study or if essary go immediately to ther bank. he reluctance of commercial ks in giving this type of client vice is because in the banks’ w, client service appraisal partments are not usually ney earners. They earn money the banks only when the siness is approved and plementation. In a developing nomy like ours, this service badly needed and rather than s the job of business praisals to an outside anisation, why should banks take on the jobs for their tomers and charge them a fee? this stage in our economic velopment our commercial nks should graduate from a use where customers keep their ney into a house where tomers can also go and cuss fully their business

In the big towns at any rate, the trappings of trade - banking, communications, transport and modern office routines - are not much different from those in any European city. But it is not so long after all, since bartering under palm trees was neither an illusion nor, for that matter, particularly romantic but breadand-butter reality of West African Trade.” That quotation is taken from a book written over twenty years ago entitled “Merchant Adventure” on a multinational trading company in Nigeria. The extract gives a precise picture, in time and scale, of the dramatic transition of business in Nigeria from the past to the present day. In developing business in Nigeria today we must accept that business is no longer an adventure - it is now an art. Therefore every businessman should equip himself with all it takes to develop a successful modern business. But what does it take to develop a successful business? 1. Integrity: Today the streets of the big cities of the world: London, Paris, New York and Tokyo abound in pseudo

Nigerian businessmen who are nothing but confidence tricksters. They have earned the average reliable Nigerian businessmen bad names overseas. Here at home, these confidence tricksters also abound. They are usually in partnership with foreign confidence tricksters and if Nigerian businesses are to develop to enviable heights, we must rid our business life of these criminals. The fact that such people exist in our business life has often slowed down the pace of business development. Invariably, every honest Nigerian businessman today is first accepted as unreliable until he proves himself the opposite in his dealings with financing houses or overseas partners. The cost of financing business is sometimes inflated as a precaution against unreliability. Unfortunately, we will have to live with this situation for a time. Lack of integrity in Nigerian business has also been responsible for the slow amalgamation of small individual, private or family businesses into bigger corporations. It is only in very specialised fields that small businesses can thrive in today’s business world. The cost of research and development, com petition and marketing are too high today to justify the continued existence of very small businesses. Nigerian business men must learn to team up together. 2. Communication: No business can be transacted today without effective communication. The first thing that the word communication conjures up in our minds is our very bad telephone and postal systems. Seriously, any Nigerian business which hopes to develop without fetters, must find its own answer to the communication problems of business. As it is, there is nothing we can do about our present internal and external communication systems. We just have to live with them until our Government solves these problems. So much for the media of communication. What about the information communicated? Few Nigerian Businessmen will admit that they really do not know enough about the business they are engaged in. Except for professional bodies, there are few forums other than the Chambers of Commerce which Nigerians can resort to, to learn more about their business. In the absence of these, one valuable way to improve oneself, is to become an external or over seas member of a foreign association which caters for the interests of one’s business. From conferences and seminars organised by such associations one can keep abreast of modern development trends. Self

improvement in modern business techniques is a must for all Nigerian businessmen. 3. Supervision and Management: The biggest bane of Nigerian business is the lack of proper and effective supervision and management. This element in business has rightly become the most important factor which determines whether one can have one’s business financed by a bank or not. An improvement in any business under taking is invariably synonymous with an improvement in the supervision and management of the business. Nigerian Business men should therefore take ad vantage of any opportunity to improve the quality of their supervisory and management staff. After Decree No. 4 What next? True, Decree No. 4 has paved the way for the economic emancipation of Nigeria. But on closer examination one will notice that the provisions of the decree have not really broken new grounds for the Nigerian business man. The decree has only made it possible for more Nigerians to share more in existing businesses. Schedules I and 2 cover only 55 c asses of businesses. Surely, there are hundreds more classes of business which are still to be started in this country. My concern is that something more courageous should be done by our Military Government before they return to the barracks. It is obvious that we have a man power problem in the middle management cadre of our economy. But perhaps a more serious management problem in our economy is that in a couple of years time, following the full implementation of Decree No. 4 and the Nigerianisation programme, serious staff problems will arise in both the public and private sectors. A careful analysis of the staffing positions of the top management of public and private establishments will show that comparatively young men have found themselves at the top of their chosen careers earlier than would be the case anywhere else in the developed world. The irony of it all is that both the boss and his deputy are in most cases of

the same age, of the same academic background in time and depth, of equal brilliance on the job in practice and in theory. The result? 1 fear we might be faced with a country-wide frustration among the top echelon of our public and private corporations. The evils of this sort of situation are too well known. In the interest of developing Nigerian businesses and the maximisation of the management of our national resources, 1 would propose for serious consideration, a redistribution of the top echelon of our national man power as follows: 1. There is a provision in both public and private corporations for an early retirement with full benefits for those who wish to do so. I estimate that provided that there is something tangible in the form of business which they can with certainty embark upon no less than 1000 top management quality men and women would opt for an early retirement. They will come from the Government Ministries, Universities, Public Corporations and the private sectors as well. 2. An extension of Decree No. 4 or a follow-up of the decree should entail the preparation of a schedule 3 covering other important and strategic classes of businesses not already cove red under Decree No. 4. This class of businesses must avoid the beaten track and break new grounds. 3. Favourable conditions should be created by this decree to make them attractive for those retiring to take up the businesses. The conditions should include a special instruction to the Nigerian Bank for Commerce and Industry to give priority consideration to applications from this group of new Nigerian businessmen. A reasonable limit of loans to be given to them must also be spelt out. 4. As qualification for this special favour, those retiring have had long years of experience in their respective former jobs; they have handsome gratuities and end of service benefits sufficient to cover their equity share in their new businesses; it is likely that most of those opting to take up the offer would have acquired personal properties which would serve as collaterals against any loan they may require to start off their new business. They should also have exhibited during their former career the integrity which

their new venture will demand. They would form the much sought after new breed of Nigerian Entrepreneurs that will raise the standard of Nigerian business at home and in the eyes of the world. Conclusions The transition of the development of Nigerian businesses from ancient to modern has taken place over a very short period of time. It has been dramatic. Business today is an art. Therefore the Nigerian market place calls for qualified business artists if we must raise the standard of Nigerian Business in this country. To this end Nigerian businessmen and women must have integrity; they must keep abreast of research and development in their respective businesses; they must keep themselves continually informed of changing trends in their business, at home and abroad; above all, the quality of the supervisory and management staff is as important as the money invested in their business. Commercial Banks should improve their banking practice vis-a-vis the needs of their customers with respect to feasibility studies, financial advice and above all they must always be frank in all dealings with their clients. Lost time in the development of any business means lost money. The age of small-scale business is coming to an end as a result of the rising costs of research and development in business. Competition is becoming stiffer and more professional. Therefore, Nigerian business men should begin to get together to form bigger corporations to cut down costs and so be more efficient and competitive. Finally, we need a new breed of Nigerian Entrepreneurs to take over a new class of businesses not covered by Decree No. 4. To ensure the proper take over of our business life by Nigerians, in perpetuity, we must depart from the beaten track, break new grounds and create the necessary conditions sufficiently attractive to satisfy the near frustrated top echelon of our man-power in most public and some private corporations, to induce them into establishing their own businesses, if all these can be achieved the successful development of Nigerian businesses will be assured for the future.

“The transition of the development of Nigerian businesses from ancient to modern has taken place over a very short period of time. It has been dramatic. Business today is an art. Therefore the Nigerian market place calls for qualified business artists if we must raise the standard of Nigerian Business in this country. To this end Nigerian businessmen and women must have integrity; they must keep abreast of research and development in their respective businesses”.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Law

A will is “a disposition or declaration by which the person making it (the testator) provides for the distribution or administration of his property after his death” It follows that a will is a declaration of a person’s desire as to how his property will be distributed to his beneficiaries after his death. Until the death of the testator a will has no effect at all, but operates as a mere declaration of his intention which may be changed from time to time. A will therefore is ambulatory, i,e it speaks from death Section 155 provides that, “every will shall be construed with reference to the real and personal estates comprised in it, to speak and take effect as if it had been executed immediately before the death of the testator, unless a contrary intention shall appear by the will”. A will is therefore distinct from settlement or other dealings intervivos. In Olowu v. Olowu the Supreme Court said that the concept or idea of testamentary disposition is alien to Customary Law in Nigeria. With due respect to the apex court, I submit that this may not be very correct If what the Supreme Court was saying is that testamentary disposition in the form we know it today is alien to our customary law that is not arguable, but the idea of will is not completely novel to our customary legal sys tem. I Igbo land there is this system of testamentary disposition called ike ekpeie making a will. Our people were used to making wills including gifts donatiomortis causa, except that it was prone to so many evil manipulations by kinsmen who take delight in oppressing the less privileged in the society. Therefore, will in the context in which we study it today, is a happy development as it now serves to check the exercises of vulture-like kinsmen whose stock in trade include wrestling off the property of their deceased kinsman from the bereaved family under the guise of customs and tradition, thereby making way for such bereaved family to either dieprematuredly or live in abject poverty for the rest of their lives. The struggle of kinsmen over a deceased person’s property becomes more pronounced where the wife of the deceased is not from the same town as them and/or has no male child and worse still no child at all. Nevertheless, the freedom which wills offer to the testator to decide how his property will be disposed at his death, undoubtably has its own snags. This is because a man is empowered to give out all his property to whomsoever he wishes including either to charity. mistress or children of a concubine without any pro visions whatsoever to his dependents. It does appear that when once it could be established that there is due execution and testamentary capacity the beneficiaries under a will take at the exclusion of those not provided for. This may be an opportunity for some unfaithful husbands and fathers to disinherit their wives and children of their wealth but rather provide for outsiders. This position however is not without a check. For where a person dies having “a wife or husband; or a child who being male has not attained the age of eighteen years, or being female has not attained that age and has not married at a younger age, or is attending an educational or vocational training institution, or is by reason of some physical or mental disability incapable of maintaining himself or herself then, if the could’ , on application by or on behalf of such a wife, husband, daughter or son is of the opinion that the disposition of the deceased’s estate effected by his will or the law relating to intestacy or a combination of these is not such as to snake reasonable provisions for such dependant, the court shall, subject to such conditions or restrictions, if any. He court may impose, make out of the deceased’s net estate such provisions as the court thinks fit for the maintenance of that dependant” The law further provides that “no application shall be made to the court under this section by or on behalf of a person in a case where the disposition of the deceased’s Estate effected as aforesaid is such that the surviving spouse is en titled to not less than one-third of the income of the net entitled and the only other dependant or dependants, if any, is or are a child or children of the surviving spouse” It is important to stress a little further, that a pro vision should be made for a spouse follows as a matter of course. That is to say that the law looks upon him or her as a co-owner of the estate. But in the case of children, a child in entitled to this claims if he or she is an infant child. An adult child is expected to fend for him self unless it could be shown that he is schooling or is physically or mentally incapacitated from providing for himself or herself. It is also evident from the provisions of this sections of the law the failure of a person to pro vide for his or her parents in a will cannot do any violence to the will, even though in our social context it attract serious public reprisal KINDS OF WILLS Wills are of various kinds which are discussed here below. 1. Nuncupative Will This is art oral will which is an exception to the general nature of a will as provided in Section 137(1). Wills of this nature are provided for under sections 137(2) and 143, and do not follow strictly the requirements for execution and attestation. 2. Holograph Wills This is a will wholly made in the handwriting of the testator. It may not require strict compliance with the legal requirement. 3. Multiple Wills This is where there are several individual documents each properly executed by the testator as constituting his will. This is usually done when the testator fears that some thing might happen to the will or that it could get lost. And by the definition of a Will, where a testator executes a codicil or codicils to amend or alter a will, that may be regarded as a multiple will. 4. Mutual or Reciprocal Will These are separate instruments, executed by different testators containing reciprocal provisions for the disposition of their property in accordance with the agreement made between or among them. 5. Conditional/Contingent Will This is a Will in which the legatee shall not take the legacy except he fulfils the condition on which it is anchored It is usually the gift on the will that is made conditional or contingent. The condition may be either precedent or subsequent Note, however, that a condition requiring the performance of an illegal act; or one not legally enforceable; or contrary to law, morality or publicpolicy; or repugnant

Wills to the gift to which it is annexed; or is in total restraint of the marriage of any person other than a widow; offends against any law as to accumulations, remoteness or perpetuities; etc, is void. Where a gift is made upon a condition which is void, the gift shall be absolute 6. Joint Will This is a situation where two or more persons agree to execute one will. If one person dies, the Will is admitted to probate to dispose of his property as directed in the Will, but not that of the surviving testator. When the surviving testator dies, the Will is probated as to his property to take into consideration the disposition of all the property as previously made. WHO CAN MAKE A WILL

or the means of taking possession of the subject-matter thereof to the donee, or the donee is put in possession where the subjectmatter is immovable property Where the death in contemplation whereof the gift is made shall fail to occur, the gift shall become void, and the property shall revert to the donor. This is known as donatio moths causa. The gift here (which for all intents and purposes is a will) will be valid even though it is not in writing. The second exception to the need for writing is provided in Section 143(1). The section provides that “nothing in this part contained as regards the

Generally, any person can make a will of his estate In Obiora Okoye v. Nwafor Okoye’ the court held, interalia, that in the absence of fraud, every person has the capacity to make a will. However, there are some exceptions to this general rule of law. Infant Section 139(1) of the law provides that “No will made by any person under the age of 18 years, anti no gift in contemplation of death by any person under the age of 18 years shall be valid Insane Persons: No will made by any person who is insane shall be valid, provided that a will made by any person be fore he became insane shall not be revoked by the sub sequent insanity of such a person; provided further that a person who is insane may make a valid will during a lucid interval THE FORMALITIES OF VALID WILLS Going back to history, originally only wills of realty are required to be made in writing, but wills of personally could be made by word of mouth”. Today, for a will to be valid it must satisfy the following requirements namely: (i) It must be in the form required by law; (ii) The maker must have the capacity to make a will; (iii) It must have been made without force or undue influence on the; maker, but must represent the free intention of the testator; (iv) The will must have continued in existence unrevoked until the death of the maker, or if revoked, revived before the death of the maker In the form required by law: A will, according to Section 137(1) shall be in writing and executed in the manner prescribed in the Law and property attested to. Under the English Act, it is pro vided that: “No will shall be valid, unless it shall be in writing signed at the foot or end thereof by the testator, or by some other person in his presence and by his direction and such signature shall, be made or acknowledged by the testator in the presence of two or more witnesses present at the same time, and such witnesses shall attest and subscribe the will in the presence of the testator, but no form of attestation shall be necessary. To be effective a will save a nuncupative will, will meet the following three essential requirements, namely it must be in writing, signed by the maker and duly attested to by witnesses. Writing Generally, every will shall be in writing. But much as a will is to be in writing, there is no specific form or vocabulary that must be used. All that is required are words enough to show intention to make a will. Anybody could therefore make his own will. How ever, much as a will ordinarily needs to be in writing so that it can be properly signed and attested to, the laws made some exceptions to the requirement for writing and due execution. These are provided for under Sections 137(2) and 143(1). A gift of any property made by a person in contemplation of his death shall be valid, and shall take effect on the occurence of such death, if such gift(a) is made in the presence of not less than two credible witnesses of full age and understanding, one or more of whom shall be members of the family to which the donor belongs; and (b) is accompanied, at the time it is made, by physical delivery of,

requirement fir writing, execution, attestation, attainment of the age of eighteen years or number of witnesses shall apply to a will made by any member of the armed forces on military service or any seaman or manner at sea”. Such member of the armed forces on active military service, any seaman or mariner at sea can dispose of his real or personal property by word of mouth spoken in the presence, or to the hearing of at least one credible witness, whether or not such witness has attained the age of eighteen years. It shall not be necessary for the validity of the will made that the maker thereof shall know he is making a will, provided that he intends deliberately to express his wishes as to the disposal of his property at death in the Estate of Spark a soldier mobilised in En gland for the second world war said to a fellow soldier “1 wish my wife to have all I have in case I get killed”. He was killed two days later by the enemy’s bomb dropped on his tent. It was held that he was on active military service. A soldier is deemed to be on active military ser vice from the moment he received mobilisation orders until the full conclusion of the operations which may last for many years beyond the end of hostilities. Also persons on “active military service” include persons who have been summoned to go into active military service, and persons being given training with intent that they shall immediately thereafter be employed on active limitary service It is submitted, with respect, that it is doubtful whether the courts will regard a soldier in the barracks during peace time as being in active military service as to come under this section of the

By ANENE U.G. OJINBA

Law. Signature The will must be signed by the testator, or by someone in his presence and by his directions at the foot or end of the Will. The testator must make the signature (or acknowledge it) in the presence of two witnesses present at the same time. It has been held that where the testator could not make an express acknowledgment, gestures by him may suffice, and also acknowledgement by a third party is effective if it can be shown nothing which was inserted after the will was signed will be effective. Signature by thumb-mark or partial signature of the surname is effective. In Re Chalcraft Deceased, the testator was in great pain and unable to write, the court held that partial signature sufficed. But signature of a rubber stamp is invalid. Generally, the courts have been very liberal in interpreting the provision of the law affecting signature on a will, hence in Bowden & Anor a Embloden where the testatrix had signed her name on the envelope containing her will, which will was signed by two witnesses, the will was admitted to probate. Attestation A will must be properly attested to by at least two witnesses before whom the testator must have signed or acknowledged his signature. The witnesses must sign in the presence of the testator. The witnesses must not sign before the testator. In Nelson v. Akofirannzi the court held that a will was not properly executed where the attesting witness signed before the testator did. The need for the attestation is to lay credence to the fact that the will was duly executed. But the position under the English Law is that it is immaterial if the witnesses do not know that the document is a will, so long as they see him write something (even if they do not know that it is his signature I must submit, with the greatest of respect, that if the essence of attestation is to prove due execution, it is doubtful that our courts will take the evidence of a witness who never knew the nature of document he attested to at the time he did, only to be told that what he attested to was a will. But this must be contrasted from Okoye v. Okoy & where it was held that if a witness has no recollection of the execution but from seeing his signature on the will he has no doubt that it is his signature and that he attested the will, that is sufficient proof of execution. It is not mandatory that the witnesses shall sign in each other’s presence, even though desirable and usually done. And a witness is not allowed to acknowledge his signature. In Wyatt v. Berry the testator signs in the presence of A who attest, and then A is called in and both the testator and A acknowledge their signature to B, who then sign; probate was refused. A will shall not be invalid by reason only that any person who attests the execution thereof is at the time of such attestation, or shall thereafter become, in competent to be admitted as a witness to prove such execution If any beneficiary, or the husband he did no attest but he later attests a codicil

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Drumbeats

Who Is A Wealthy Man? DAVID O. Oyedepo is the richest pastor in Nigeria affectionately called “Papa” by members of his church congregation (born September 27, 1954) is a Nigeria Christian author, preacher and the founder and presiding bishop of Living Faith Church World Wide, also known as Winners Chapel, and its affiliated international churches known as Winners Chapel International, with headquarters in (Ogun State, Nigeria. He is also the senior pastor of Faith tabernacle, a 50,000 seat church auditorium reputed to be the largest church auditorium in the world by the Guinness Book of Records. The Winners Chapel network of churches is present in over 300 cities, in all states of Nigeria, as well as in over 63 cities in 32 African nations, Dubai, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, Oyedepo has been seen as one of pioneers of the Christian charismatic movement in Africa and has been referred to as one of the most powerful preachers in Nigeria. He was named in 2011 by Forbes magazine as being the richest pastor in Nigeria, worth around $150 million. Early life and history On September 27, 1954 David Olaniyi Oyedepo was born in Osogbo but is a native Omu Aran, Kwara into a religiously mixed family: his father, Ibrahim, was a Muslim healer and his mother, Dorcas, was a member of the Eternal Order of the Cherubim and Seraphim Movement (C&S), a branch of the Aladwa movement in Nigeria. He was raised by his grandmother in Osogbo, who inculcated into him the virtues of Christian’ Life via the early morning prayers which she attended with him. She also taught him the importance of tithing. David was “born again” in 1969 through the influence of his teacher, one Ms. Betty Lasher, who took special interest in him during his high school days. He studied architecture at Kwara State Polytechnic and worked briefly with the Federal Ministry of Housing in Ilorin before resigning to concentrate On missionary work. Oyedepo also gained a Ph.D in Human Development from Honolulu University, Hawaii, United States of America. Honolulu University is not accredited by an accrediting agency recognized by the United States Secretary of Education, according to the Universities webpage. Bishop David received a mandate from God through an 18 hour long vision in May 1981 to liberate the world from all oppression of the devil through the preaching of the word of faith. This is the in a figural

vision that led to iii c founding of the Living Faith Church World Wide (LFCWW), first called Liberation Faith Hour Ministries. in 1981. Two years after, on 17 September 1983, Pastor Enoch Adeboye Genera Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God ordained David and his

over 70 titles apart from periodicals. He is also Chairman/ Publisher of Dominion Publishing House (DPH), a publishing arm of his ministry. DPH has over 4 million prints in circulation to date. Through him, Covenant University Landmark University Faith Academy

Bishop David O. Oyedepo wife, Florence Abiola Akano (now known as Faith Abiola Oyedepo) to become pastors also officially commissioned the newly started church of Oyedepo. Five years after, Oyedepo was ordained a Bishop. Living Faith Church (AKA Winners Chapel) started in Kaduna but moved to Lagos, the former capital of Nigeria in September 1989 to strait a new blankly of His Church, after receiving an instruction from God to reach out to the population in Lagos. This Church in Lagos grew to become the International headquarters of Living Faith Church, with a constantly increasing flow of crowds spilling over to adjacent roads, and on decks of uncompleted buildings nearby, compelling people to stand for hours to listen to His teachings. This led to the building of the renowned Faith Tabernacle, as instructed by God. Oyedepo is the wealthiest in Nigeria with a net worth of over USD $150 million. The church he pastors, owns four private jets and they own buildings all around the world, including London and the United States. Oyedepo is an acclaimed author and publisher who has written

(Nigeria) Faith Academy and Kingdom Heritage Schools have been established to equip the youth for impact. The construction of a thud university named Crown University is already underway, located in Calabar, Rivers state, Nigeria. Place of worship In 1998,Oyedepo set forth to build a new building to accommodate the increasable number of worshippers. This resulted in his Church’s acquisition of the initial 530-acre (2.1 kin facility, known as Canaanland, which serves as the headquarters of His Church. It is the home of the 50,000-seat capacity auditorium, the ‘Faith Tabernacle’, which is reputed to be the largest Church auditorium in the world. This was a feat also recorded by the Guinness Book of Records. The speed of the construction of Faith Tabernacle was breath taking, considering the size of the building Construction of this gigantic project was completed within 12 months, which experts claim could only have been a miracle, because such a project should normally take a minimum of three years to complete. Reports also claimed that this building was built debt flee. This

50,000-seat edifice was dedicated on September 18, 1999 under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo. Canaanland is in Ota, Ogun state and is the 5,000-acre (20 km) estate and campus, that houses The 50,000 church building, the church secretariat, the church’s youth chapel, a prima school called Kingdom heritage model school, a full boarding mission secondary school called Faith Academy, with over 1,500 students and the its university facilities which accommodates over 7,000 students, fully resident in ultramodern hostel facilities, with fully equipped faculty buildings and numerous 5 housing facilities. Canaan land campus also has for profit establishments operated by the church such as a bakery, a bottled water processing plant, a petrol station, various restaurants and shopping stores, t: several residential houses that provide for the over 2,000 church employees and guest houses. Four banks are also present on this Estate, three of which are branches of external commercial banks and one which is a community and micro-finance Bank and operated by the Church. Christian ministry The teachings of Oyedepo has put him in the category of what is commonly called the Word of Faith Movement. He has referred to principal exponents of the Faith Movement such as Kenneth Copeland, Gloria Copeland the late Kenneth Hagin T.L Osborn, Smith Wiggles Worth as well as renowned Nigerian preachers Enoch Adeboye and the late Benson Idahosa as mentors. The teachings of Oyedepo are grouped under a range of topics called ‘12 pillars of Destiny, which Include: Faith, The Word, Prosperity, the Holy Spirit, Praise, Consecration, the Supernatural, Wisdom, Prayer, Success, Vision and Healing. The Overall focus of His teachings centre around Faith in God’s, Prosperity and Miracles. He teaches that faith in the word of God is the key to a life of God’s blessings and security of the works of the devil. His teachings on prosperity are aimed at empowering people to live free from poverty, particularly the African continent. Lie describes his own teaching on prosperity as “covenant software for programming yourself into victories and triumphs.” His Church (Winners Chapel ) also operates a Bible training programme known as Word of Faith Bible Institute for members and non-members alike to develop knowledge of Christian

With Apostle Dr. Raphael O. Ayemere 08035459593

principles and to develop leaders and future pastors. This institute is run in major branches of the Church. Oyedepo who operates like the “Chief Executive Officer” of a conglomerate, is the President of David Oyedepo Ministries International (DOMI). DOMI is the umbrella organisation comprising Living Faith Church World Wide (a global network of churches), World Mission Agency (WMA); the global missionary aim of the church’s operations, Dominion Publishing House; the publishing arm of the church, Covenant University, and the Social Development Missions projects (made up of hospitals, maternity homes, schools, etc. Oyedepo is also a strong critic of corruption in Africa as a whole and poor leadership in government. Criticisms and controversy Oyedepo has received much criticism from many in the Christian community as focusing on prosperity. This is largely based on the biblical passage “Again 1 tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.” (Matthew 19:23-24, Mark 10:2425, Luke 18:24-25). In December 2011, a video surfaced online of a sermon (believed to have occurred in 2009) during which Oyedepo physically assaulted a young lady. The video shows a member of tile congregation, bowed before him alongside other socalled “witches” and “sinners”, state she was “a witch for Jesus”. Oyedepo struck the young woman in the face, in full view of the church and accompanied by shouts of approval. He then proclaimed that she was “free to go to hell fire”. Oyedepo justified the assault by citing the Bible, wherein “witches” are condemned to death. Educational endeavours Oyedepo’s socio-economic endeavours include founding over 100 educational institutions based on Christian principles for primary, secondary and tertiary stages of formal Education to empower the young generation, develop the human capacity and improve the educational system in Nigeria and Africa. This has led to the establishment of kingdom heritage model schools in different cities in Nigeria for primary education, Faith Academy; a missionary full boarding secondary school was opened to students on October

25, 1999 and Covenant University. Covenant university was opened to st udents on October 21, 2002 and was adjudged to be the best private university in Nigeria as of 2005. On March 21, 2011, Landmark University, Omuaran Kwara State (another educational institution founded by the Ministry) officially opened the doors to her pioneer students. Landmark University by her founder (Dr. Oyedepo) was said to be built with over USD $100 million at one of his speaking engagement in 2011 Book publishing Oyedepo’s church also operates its own publishing house, called Dominion Publishing House(DPH), commissioned on December 5, 1992 which has published over 60 Christian, inspirational and motivational books, mini books, magazines and other resources. Some of is Best Selling books include: · Pillars of Destiny · Exploits in Ministry · Walking in Dominion · Possession your possession · Exploits of Faith · Anointing for Exploits · Walking in the Newness of life · Maximize destiny · Commanding the supernatural · Winning invisible battles · Success Strategies · Success systems · Towards Excellency in life and Ministry · Excellency of Wisdom · Breaking Financial Hardship · The release of Power · Excellency of Wisdom · Born to Win · The Miracle Meal · The Healing Balm · The Blood Triumph · Keys to Divine Health · Fulfilling your Days · Breaking the Curses of Life · All You Need to Have All Your Needs Met · Emergence Of The Glorious Church · Manifestation of the Spirit of God · The Unlimited Power of Faith · Ruling your world · The idea of a university

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Issues Analysis

State Sovereignty And Federalism:

ONE thing is clear in a federal system of government, the tiers of government ought to share political power as expressly spelt out in the constitution. Unfortunately, the current foundation and principles on which Nigerian constitution is operated over the years particularly since the advent of democracy has not in any way reflected a true federalism in its practical sense. Presently, Nigeria has a strong center and weak states. The states have become administrative units of the federal government. The relationship between the centre and the states still reflects the military command structure, an unwelcome legacy of the military administration. The states are so weak that none of them enjoys fiscal independence from the centre. The federal government pays the piper and is happily dictating the tune to the states. The states are so weak and so generally impoverished that they have no capacity even to negotiate meaningfully with the centre. None of the states as it is now can generate enough internal revenue to prosecute any appreciable social and economic development. Instead of pillars, the states have become a burden on the federation. It is a fundamental reality that, Nigeria cannot have a strong and united federation unless and until the constituent parts are sufficiently empowered by enabling practices that conform to the principles of federalism Thus, this paper aims at discussing the issue of distribution of powers between the Nigerian federal government and its constituent units, and making pragmatic solutions for its sustenance. NIGERIAN FEDERAL G O V E R N M E N T

A Critical Analysis By IMO IMA

a democratic context, the federal government tries to reenact the old military scenario of the states as an administrative organs of the federal government. This leads to a number of severe strains in the relations between the federal and States governments. The Federal government does not maintain its boundaries of authority. It encroaches upon the jurisdictions and sovereignty of the states. This has brought about severe resentments and conflicts between the states and the federal governments. It is therefore the mechanisms to resolving these encroachments that I now turn to discuss. 1.1 SOLUTIONS TO F E D E R A L ENCROACHMENTS S T R U C T U R A L SAFEGUARDS The structural safeguards of federalism restrain the national government to prevent encroachment. Solution to Nigerian federal government encroachments on the sovereignty of the states could best be prevented by implementing some structural safeguards such as enumerated powers, fragmentation, and state incorporation. The Founders of American constitution recognized that federalism presupposes limits to the federal government’s power and authority … Without constitutional boundaries, the national government would readily give in to demands to wipe out state competition. In that event, the states would become mere instruments or administrative subunits of a

United States, the powers of the federal government are enumerated and limited. Such enumerated and limited powers allows for checks and judiciary review of both the state and federal encroachments. It is important to note that when each state agreed to become part of the federal republic of Nigeria, they did with the intention to surrender some of its powers without any recourse to their sovereign identity and direct governance of its citizens. The major cause of ethnic crisis in Nigeria is mostly because the sovereignty of these states has been trampled upon by the central government. One of the challenging failures of Nigerian federalism is lack of interinstitutional oversight. In Nigerian federal structure, vertical separation of powers is necessary for preservation of liberty and the prevention of tyranny. Hence, both the federal and states governments should possess the means of preventing or correcting unconstitutional encroachments of the other. As it stands, the Nigerian federal government is selfregulating without institutional support. A true federalism will be attained if the two levels of governments are partially dependent on one another through checks and balances. When this balance is achieved, the national government is less likely to behave opportunically, whether by encroaching on the state governments or by tyrannizing its citizens. P O P U L A R

“Presently, Nigeria has a strong center and weak states. The states have become administrative units of the federal government. The relationship between the centre and the states still reflects the military command structure, an unwelcome legacy of the military administration. The states are so weak that none of them enjoys fiscal independence from the centre. The federal government pays the piper and is happily dictating the tune to the states.” ENCROACHMENTS ON THE STATES Nigeria returned to democratic rule in 1999, after about three decades of military rule. The state of the federation, in the new democratic rule since 1999, showed severe signs of stresses and strains. As the states try to express their newly acquired autonomy in

central, unitary government. The constitutional reflection of this recognition is the doctrine of enumerated powers. In Nigeria, except for the rather vague statement in Section 2 of the 1999 Constitution, there are no definite enumerated powers of the federal government the Nigerian Constitution. In the

SAFEGUARTDS According to James Madison, the primary control of the government is its dependence on the people The declaration of American Independence contain the facts, “… That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the

People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, having its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness …” Popular safeguard is

judgments on the choice of government or candidates. The European Union Election Observer Mission was not constrained by diplomatic niceties in condemning the 2007 elections in Nigeria. The caption of the EU preliminary

examines and defines the nature of a federal power itself to see if it contains within it some inherent limitations. Thus, in a true federal system, it is not out of place for the judiciary, to decide cases of constitutional controversies between the federal, states and the citizens. It must be poised to intervene in cases where there exist such problems between the central and its federating units. Unfortunately, Nigerian

President Goodluck Jonathan effective in a democratic society where there is respect for electoral principles. Joseph Schumpeter famously argued that democracy was best understood not as a practice of collective self-government by the “people”, but rather, the selection by the people of representatives to govern on their behalf. Elections, on this account, are a process whereby “individuals acquire the power to decide by means of a competitive struggle for the people’s vote … To be democratic, the elections must consist of “free competition for a free vote” among parties. But the corollary of electoral competition is not just the right “to produce a government” but “also the function of evicting it” through the electoral process (272). Thus, competition between political parties entails the possibility of alternation through regular, free and fair elections. A hallmark of democracy, in Theodore Pempel’s memorable turn of phrase, is the ability to “throw the rascals out.” In the light of the above democratic principles, popular safeguards would be unthinkable mechanism in the present Nigerian federal setting of militant democracy. It is very difficult for the people to exercise their fair

report was, “Elections Fail to Meet the Hopes and Expectations of the Nigerian People and Fall Far Short of Basic International Standards”. The nature of electoral system causes most Nigerians to lose faith and confidence in the country’s democratic process. JUDICIAL SAFEGUARD Since independence from Britain in 1960, Nigeria has adopted five Constitutions. The present Constitution which borrowed most of its contents from the United States Constitution is a product of a military led initiative. Unfortunately, Nigerians fail to understand that it is not what is copied on paper that produces federalistic character; rather, it is the means or mechanism to enforce the contents of such instrument that matters. Laws are a dead letter without courts to expound and define their true meaning and operation. Constitutionalism is meaningless without resources of power, in some form, both to achieve and sustain it. For example, in the United States, the constitution imposes limits on government powers and these limits are meaningless unless subject to judicial enforcement. When trying to ascertain the limits of legislative power, courts …

courts still perceive issues between Federal and States as having political undertones whereas the true test in a federal system is continuously defined and strengthened when the judiciary espouses and decides on issues bordering on the terms and conditions. The role of judiciary as a safeguard against federal encroachments is best achieved under an independent judiciary. In Nigeria, there is a compulsory retirement age for justices of the supreme court at 70 years. A Supreme Court with compulsory retirement age of 70 is breeding ground for insecurity and judicial incapacity. A judge who is burdened with financial considerations of retirement years is not an independent judge. A judge who is burdened with the politics of advancement or succession is not a free judge. A recent petition against the Chief Justice of Nigeria Supreme Court alleged that the he had been honest before now, but due to his impending retirement, he has started amassing wealth through the abuse of his office. In order for the Judiciary to act as a safeguard against any

Continued on Page 21

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Issues Analysis

...A Critical Analysis Continued from Page 20 form of government encroachment, Nigerian Supreme Court Justices should be appointed for life subject to impeachment and removal for physical or mental impairment. Justices should serve an independent role free from political pressure. A judge who has run his course and is divested of all ambitions, financial and professional insecurity is the judge, who will

citizenry. In Nigeria, it is a common practice for the President to use his emergency powers to deploy the military at his whims. Military deployment could only be applicable in times of war or appropriate state of emergency with the approval of the House. E C O N O M I C BENEFITS & EFFICIENCY (Cooperative function of

President Goodluck Jonathan give a bold and honest decision any day. DISTRIBUTION OF AUTHORITIES AND BOUNDARIES DRAWING At the center of every true federal structure lies a common feature: the sharing of sovereignty between national and state governments. These boundaries between national and state governmental authority must be maintained. The problem with Nigerian federalism is the failure or incapability of the federal government to maintain its boundaries and curb the temptation of states’ sovereignty exploitation. Sometimes it is confusing to distinguish what power belongs to which level of government. This paper will now turn to examine how the spheres of power sharing could be allocated to each level of government - federal and state. Those within the federal power are earmarked as “centralization” while those responsibilities within the state jurisdiction are labeled as “decentralization.” MILITARY SECURITY (Centralized responsibility of the central government) It is the responsibility of the central government to provide security and protection for the rest of the units and the

the central and its subunits) In Nigeria, the central government believes and operates on the basis that the federal government owned the country, its resources and all that dwell in the land. The central took the fund that rightly belongs to the state and local governments into the coffers of the Federal Government. The subunits are thereby denied the wherewithal to carry out their functions for the progress and welfare of their citizens. Nigerian states have almost completely lost their autonomy. The centralization and concentration of the country’s revenues in the hands of the central government has resulted in the country’s poor political, social and economic development. Decentralization can take advantage of informational asymmetries; that is, lower levels of government may have local knowledge that allows them to tax and spend most efficiently. The classic example of this informational asymmetry is the property tax, local governments have a keener sense of market value and can more appropriately devise a formula to calculate tax rates than a central

government. Decentralization can also allow for revenue specialization based on different characteristics of the regions. A region especially endowed in natural resources with extensive mining operations might best rely on severance taxes, while in another; tourism offers opportunities for licenses and user fees. Developmental projects are most efficiently handled by the local governments who know local needs and conditions, while higher levels of government are necessary to coordinate redistribution effectively INNOVATION (Decentralized sphere of the subunits) Federalism enables a people to try experiments which could not safely be tried in a large centralized country. Justice Brandeis considered it “one of the happy incidents of the federal system that a single courageous State may, if its citizens choose, serve as a laboratory; and try novel social and economic experiments without risk to the rest of the country. When states share goals but try different policies, the potential for policy decentralization to stimulate beneficial innovation is maximized. Under the current federal government in Nigeria, all power is centralized, and the states do not have any control over their resources, hence there is no incentive for innovation and states competition. Nigeria’s economic development, political stability, security and peace depend on extending the freedom, benefits and choice of autonomy to each ethnic nationality within the country. INTERGOVERNMENTAL COMPETITION (Decentralized subunits authority) Governments compete with one another to the benefit of their citizens, eliminating waste and encouraging growth. Intergovernmental competition directly strengthens the allocative functions of government. Decentralization permits governments to match services with variations in demand. Greater overall citizen satisfaction can be achieved with multiple governments offering different packages of public services at different prices. Competition forces governments to become more efficient in their allocative activities, providing better services at lower costs. Competition forces government to be more responsive to citizens’ preferences than monopoly government. Allocation is the functional that local governments can perform more effectively than

central governments, because decentralization allows for a closer match between the supply of public services and their variable demand. Citizens migrate to those communities where the allocation best matches their demand curve. Intergovernmental competition inspires state and local governments to be concerned with the impact of their taxing and spending policies on economic growth and to become directly involved in economic development activities. Competing governments are in a better position to observe the economic consequences of their policy decisions. Since state and local governments are well equipped to pursue developmental objectives, most public efforts of this type should be left to them. EXTERNALITIES MANAGEMENT (Centralized federal government exclusivity) The spillover effects of policies are known as externalities because they are consequences of a government’s policy that the government does not consider. In Nigeria, each year, industrial facilities discharge into the environment large amounts of chemicals leading to respiratory, neurological, developmental and reproductive disorders, and cancers. The spillover effects of these factories are without any form of government management or control. The distribution authority can be adjusted to manage these externalities. The central government can be given full control of a policy domain, it can regulate it, or it can encourage beneficial behavior. The central government can maintain a common market between states by prohibiting state-led industry protection that generates negative externalities. In environmental policy, the government can incentivize control; first, through sanctions should the polluter fail to reduce output, and the second, by pricing pollution, to motivate polluters to reduce their output without the threat of penalties. M A R K E T PRESERVATION (Cooperative sphere between the central government and its subunits)

A market requires firmly established and credibly defended property rights. Uniform governmental regulation can establish rules governing property ownership and transfer, as well as provide a forum to adjudicate disputes. However, in order to prevent government encroachments on property rights, decentralization and fragmented authority enable a state to credibly commit not to expropriate all rents, when couple with other conditions, such as a decentralization of fiscal control and hard budget constraints. In Nigeria the commitment to establishing property rights and effective markets has not been accompanied with significant devolution of power to subnational governments. There is no triumphal market economy due to lack of freedom of local governments to set their economic policies and induce competition among jurisdictions. Market reforms have proceeded alongside central resistance to subnational claims for devolution of fiscal jurisdiction and policing services. A commitment to market reforms would require fiscal devolution that eliminates financial dependence of the subnational governments and induces horizontal competition for efficient service delivery. Thus, probable conditions for a sustainable market preservation in Nigeria should be structured to include: a) A hard budget constraint on subnational governments; b) The authority of subnational governments to regulate their domestic economies but without the power to restrict the movement of goods and services cross jurisdictions. And, the assignment of monetary policy and common market regulation to the central government; and c) An explicit agreement on federal arrangement to make for juridical federal restrictions and a clean separation of national power including independent courts. P O L I T I C A L PARTICIPATION (Decentralized jurisdiction of the subunits) Effective democracy depends on citizen participation. As more people become enfranchised or enter the political arena, a wider variety of perspectives contribute to public deliberation. As diversity

increases, all else equal, collective decision making improves. The population of Nigeria is about 150 million, out of which about 60 million people are registered as eligible voters. The long history of electoral rigging and fraud has challenged possibilities for bringing citizens into the political process. Pervasive electoral rigging and fraud have increasingly become common practices in Nigeria’s democratic process. This history has produced conditions where political tensions have mounted and violence has persisted. The outcomes of many elections in Nigeria have been so contested that the conditions for the survival of the democratic order have been compromised. The compromised system has permitted the formation of political party politics that feed on these lapses, rather than ethically engaging citizens in ways that conforms to constitutional provisions. The politicians employed antiparty practices such as using money, thugs and sometimes the police, to eliminate competition. The general assumption that underpins the democratic practices embraces the assertion that power must only legitimately reside with the people. In Nigeria, contrary to this idea, is the notion of Godfatherism. While the concept of Godfatherism remains fairly recent, the phenomenon and its pervasiveness is as old as electoral politics in the country. The development of this phenomenon recognized that Godfatherism thrives in any polity in which state power is perceived as a commodity to be possessed and used to acquire other possessions Since these individuals in Nigeria become too powerful to dictate for the rest, the integrity of the process of choosing leaders is compromised. Indeed, the idea of godfatherism is an entrenched ideology that often accentuates exclusionism and diminished entitlement to civic and political rights of citizens. The godfatherism phenomenon, emerges as an illegal enterprise, but because this practice is deeply rooted in the political process itself, it possesses tremendous challenges to efforts at reclaiming democracy for the

Continues on Pg 22

“The general assumption that underpins the democratic practices embraces the assertion that power must only legitimately reside with the people. In Nigeria, contrary to this idea, is the notion of Godfatherism. While the concept of Godfatherism remains fairly recent, the phenomenon and its pervasiveness is as old as electoral politics in the country”.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Issues Analysis

State Sovereignty... Continued from Page 21 people. State power, here, is heavily commodified, and the struggle for the exercise of this power restrict access to power from the majority poor. The highly privileged minority class constitutes the dominant class in the Nigeria political setup, who control the affairs of government. Increasingly the dynamic relation between wealth and power has definitely acquired new and perverted meaning in the Nigeria political process. The monetization and commodification of the democratic process is endemic to the character of, and popular response to, the political process. The restriction of political and civic rights from the citizen is now legitimately justified through the heavily monetized electoral practices. Increasingly, the amount required to secure party nomination, in itself, poses a threat to inclusion as majority of citizens are not able to pay these amounts. What is troubling here is that, because of these heavy monetary demands, some competent aspirants, who have the knowledge and leadership capability and are entirely driven by democratic impulses, are forced to withdraw their candidacy. In many case aspirants for representative’s positions who do not have the means to participate in the processes opt for sponsorship from the wealthy (Godfathers). This then becomes the ground for neo-patrimonialism, as these indebted aspirants are forced under obligations to serve the needs and interests of their patrons. Thus, Godfathers have in the most brazen manner hijacked the political machinery at all levels. It means then that what is called election in Nigeria is nothing but the expression of the narrowly defined will of a few dishonest individuals who feel that they have the power to manipulate the entire electoral process in favor of their anointed godsons The aspirants because they are indebted to a particular godfather, once in office serve the interest of these godfathers rather than the public who voted them in office. Democratic efforts in this context, fractures the idea of accountability, as normal

political processes (in terms of formal popular demands and civic avenues of coercion of representative to do public biddings) can no longer be recuperate except through unorthodox means, which sometimes result to violence. The power of money has dwarfed the power of choice… Men and women of ideas without access to big money do not have a fair chance to run and win. In fact, the godfather phenomenon is a major threat to democratic consolidation in Nigeria. The diminished public in politics asserts a new path to defining citizenship away from political rights. The Nigerian political system has increasingly become a game in which godfathers install their puppets in political office to do their biddings. It is an understatement to suggest, then, that godfatherism clogs the system of political representation. While the highjack of power in Nigeria seems alarming, it is the sense of diminished ownership of the political process that threatens to negate commitment to democratic values among citizens. MANAGING AND S A T I S F Y I N G DIVERSITY (Decentralized sphere of the subunits) Diverse opinions; they are inherent to humanity, whether from the logical … or different histories, or different ways of viewing the world. We cannot eliminate diversity – whether born of social differences or just different opinions ... Diversity is beneficial when states serve as policy laboratories. Diverse prospective and desires may lead to new ideas, solutions that can be transported to other domains and territories. Federalism may help us to manage diversity’s detrimental effects so we can harness its benefits. Nigeria is a country of extraordinary diversity. Ethnicity is generally regarded as the most basic and politically salient identity in Nigeria. Due to marginalization of these diverse groups and their noninclusive in the affairs of the country has led to Nigerians,

more likely to define themselves in terms of their ethnic affinities than national identity. In other words, Nigerians tend to cluster more readily around the cultural solidarities of kin than the class solidarities of common nationality. Thus ethnoreligious tensions have become common features in the

accountability go hand-inhand: elected leaders are more likely to represent their constituents faithfully when they know they are held accountable for their actions. Accountability is impossible without transparent responsibility. Therefore, it is claimed that authority decentralization improves accountability because citizens are more likely to see the effects of government action at the local level and

Decentralization of expenditure responsibilities from central to local levels of government is generally thought to mitigate the problem by bringing the policymaking process closer to citizens and, hence, to increase overall government accountability. The World Bank, for example, has strongly advocated decentralization on the basis that it will help to solve corruption problems,

Fmr President Olusegun Obasanjo Nigerian federation and have constituted what is commonly referred as the national question in Nigeria. Nigeria is a mere geographical expression’, bound together by nothing except the coercive apparatus of the state. The major challenge the nation faces is how to galvanize the various ethnoreligious groups into nationhood with the instrumentalities of federalism. This paper offers practical solutions to this challenge (Infra). ACCOUNTABILITY (Decentralized subunits exclusivity) Representation and

respond accordingly in the ballot box. Nigerian citizens face a key challenge in holding their political representatives accountable, since decentralization reforms tend to be partial in nature, leading to the involvement of multiple tiers of government in the provision of public goods. Under complete decentralization, voters can limit governments rent seeking by setting appropriate reelection incentives. The ability of voters to hold politicians accountable is lower under partial decentralization than under complete decentralization.

“It is an understatement to suggest, then, that godfatherism clogs the system of political representation. While the highjack of power in Nigeria seems alarming, it is the sense of diminished ownership of the political process that threatens to negate commitment to democratic values among citizens”.

especially in developing countries. The standard intuition that decentralization should be accountabilityimproving is consistent with theoretical models considering complete decentralization, i.e. the full transfer of a given expenditure responsibility from a higher level of government to a lower one. ANTI-TYRANNY AND RIGHTS (Cooperative between central government and its subunits) Federalism’s inherent fragmentation is well-suited to block tyranny; when decision-making power is subdivided, they tyrant cannot easily gain full control. It is a common practice in Nigeria that the ruling class could abuse its powers to oppress the governed just as easily as a king. The minority groups such as women, children and the less privileged are faced with the dangers of tyranny of their rulers. Centralization of power and majority’s tyranny over political and social minorities is “a constant threat” to Nigerian

democracy. HIGHER QUALITY REPRESENTATION (Cooperative between central government and its subunits) Both centralization and decentralization are important for federalism to improve the quality of representatives. With two levels of government, people can gain experience with their local leaders. Accountability is easier at this level, so voters are more likely to make the right decisions about voting poorly performing politicians out of office while retaining better ones. In order to find this solution fruitful in Nigeria, there must be restoration of confidence in the country’s electoral system. FORCED COMPLIANCE Sometimes the federal government justifies its encroachments on states noncompliance, even when the subject of compliance is unconstitutional or too expensive for the state to implement. Very often, the federal government uses intergovernmental retaliation to enforce compliance. Intergovernmental Retaliation is a severe type of safeguard. It is a safeguard with potentially disastrous effects. It can lead to Civil war. It is best not to involve intergovernmental retaliation for the mundane matters of minor transgressions, but preferably to reserve it for significant transgressions. When intergovernmental retaliation is the only safeguard available, it is inevitably a severe sanctioning mechanism. When it is reinforced by other safeguards (structural, political, judiciary and popular – supra) it may have potential to span a wider range of punishment force. For example, in the United States the federal government withholds funds to induce state compliance, for example, with highway funds, education, and pollution control. This limited intergovernmental retaliation is both tolerated and kept in check by other safeguards, particularly popular safeguard. CONCLUSION The success of Nigerian federation hinges on widespread confidence in its safeguards. The ability and commitment of the safeguards to uphold the boundaries of authority must be beyond question. No single force – whether constitutionally derived or tyrannical – should be able to dictate the boundaries of federal and state authority or force other governments to work for it. Each government should remain relevant. With a wellfunctioning system, major violations are punished, upholding compliance; minor transgressions, when allowed promote exploration of the policy space and adaptation of the rules; and the multiple safeguards, each judging governmental actions independently, means that the system is not vulnerable to the failings of one component

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Society

ILLEGITIMACY is an uncomfortable word that provokes uncomfortable feelings in most of us. Has society’s attitudes basically changed in the last 100years? Don’t we still, think it is a crime to become an unmarried mother? The attitude of condemning the unmarried mother stems from our forefathers in African and from Victorian prudeny and puritan morals. It’s still accepted even today that a man should be sexually free, but a woman is wrong to succumb to man, and this is a way of thinking that should go. People don’t want to know about this problem in many cases because it arouses a feeling of guilt in them. Most of us tend to think that an unmarried mother has either been “unlucky” or is immoral. Not all illegitimate babies are “accidents” by any

Illegitimacy: Now Is There A Change In Attitude? By GIFT

ONAGHAMA

press that she planned to because pregnant, and then selected the man with whom to conceive her personal trainer. Her fans were delighted some of them gathered at a holiday inn in south field, much to give Madonna a mock baby shower and a speak of their passion for the pop star. Perhaps the real tragedy comes later in a situation where a girl becomes pregnant out of wedlock, and therefore in socially unacceptable circumstance, having achieved her subconscious aim may reject her child. Then it is the child who has to face society’s censure since the stigma of ill-legitimacy, though not so strong today

“People don’t want to know about this problem in many cases because it arouses a feeling of guilt in them. Most of us tend to think that an unmarried mother has either been “unlucky” or is immoral.” means in many cases they are conceived because the girl wanted a child, even though it might have been a subconscious desire. Today , have a baby out of wedlock-even deliberately and publicly, is cause for celebration. When Cypher, former wife of actor Lov Diamond Philips was four months pregnant, there was no word on who the sperm donor was. Also actress and rock star “Madonna had her first child as a single mother. She first announced to the Tabloid

is still there. By sneering at such children, we don’t produce a happy frame of mind in them. And because of it’s society will not get the best out of them. A better attitude towards these

children is not only wanted because they could be a social investment. The fact is that they are not responsible for their status and should not be treated as something outside society. The word “illegitimate” is going gradually and now the world “love child” has taken it’s place. It’s all very well to say the child is the most important, but there is the mother to be considered too. As things stand, it is often economically difficult for her to keep her child. Why can’t she have state aid for this as they have in some countries? It is not only a feeling if distress on discovering that the person he might have regarded, until then, as his natural parents are not such. It’s rather more a problem of not knowing who his parent are and the fear that he can never find out which is unsetting. By giving state aid to an un-married mother, might this not mean the end of marriage as an institution? Ronald fietches a sociologist didn’t think it would “To find a society in which there is no institution of marriage and family life is like looking for a needle in hay stacks. In most people

there is a natural propensity towards a stable family life in which they can bring up their own children. I don’t think the majority of our people condemn illegitimacy today. So-called public

opinion of few prominent articulate people who have a public voice. But what they might think isn’t always true of what the majority might be thinking. There is indeed a change in attitude about

illegitimacy. Society has become more tolerant through understanding the problem instead of through the modern tendency for the head-in the sand, it is none of my business attitude.

What Love Is All About By NKECHI GIFT IZUEGBU

PEOPLE sometimes say that you must believe in feelings deep inside. Otherwise you’d never be

confident of things like “My boyfriend love me”. But this is bad argument. There can be plenty of evidence that

somebody loves you. All through the day when you are with somebody who loves you, you see and hear a lot of little tidbits of evidence and they all add up. There are outside things to back up the inside feelings: looked in the eyes, tender notes in the voice, little favours and kindnesses, this is all real evidence. THEN WHAT IS LOVE ALL ABOUT? Love is an untamed force. When we try to control it, it destroys us. When we try to imprison it, it enslaves us. When we try to understand it, it leaves us feeling lost and confused. Love does not begin and end the way we seem to think it does. Love is a battle, love is a war. Any one who falls in love is searching for the missing pieces of themselves. So anyone who’s in love gets sad when they think of their

lovers. It’s like stepping back inside a room you have fond memories of, one you haven’t seen in a long time. Love does not consist of gazing at each other but looking outward together in the same direction. Love is a temporary madness, it erupt like volcanoes and then subsides. And when it subsides you have to make decision . you have to make out whether your roots have so entwined together that is inconceivable that you should ever part. Because this is what love is. Love is not excitement, it is not the desires to mate every second minute of the day. Love is not breathless. Love itself is what is left over when being in love has burned away and this is both an art and a fortunate accident. You cannot transmute love, it cannot be

ignored and you cannot pull it out from your body because its what you can not do without, I mean it (love) leaves inside us. When someone you love does not cherish you it brings you down emotionally and you can also be mentally depressed. That is why you must know deeply what love is all about before falling love wounds and cures. Do not depend on men and women with all your heart because they can fail you someday. Love is attachment that results from deeply appreciating another’s goodness. Love is not all about sex, I love him or her but love is given, love is sharing, love is good, love is kind and love is of God. Kindly think twice, before falling in love because it (love) wounds but takes time to be cured.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

International Indonesia Says, Missing Art Asia Plane Could Be At Bottom Of Sea JAKARTA - A missing AirAsia jet carrying 162 people could be at the bottom of the sea after it was presumed to have crashed off the Indonesian coast, an official said on Monday, as countries around Asia sent ships and planes to help in the search effort. The Indonesia AirAsia plane, an Airbus A320-200, disappeared after its pilot failed to get permission to fly higher to avoid bad weather during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore on Sunday. Flight QZ8501 did not issue a distress signal and disappeared over the Java Sea five minutes after requesting the change of course, which was refused because of heavy air traffic, officials said. “Based on our coordinates, we expect it is in the sea, so for now (we think) it is on the sea floor,” Soelistyo, head of Indonesia’s search and rescue agency, told reporters when asked about the missing plane’s likely location. A senior Indonesian civil aviation source told Reuters that authorities had the flight’s radar data and were waiting for search and rescue teams to find debris before they started their investigation into the cause. Air force spokesman Hadi Tjahjanto said searchers were checking a report of an oil slick off the east coast of Belitung island, near where the plane lost contact. He also said searchers

had picked up an emergency locator signal off the south of Borneo island but had been unable to pinpoint it. On board Flight QZ8501 were 155 Indonesians, three South Koreans, and one person each from Singapore, Malaysia and Britain. The co-pilot was French. The disappearance caps a disastrous year for Malaysiaaffiliated airlines, with Indonesia AirAsia 49 percent owned by Malaysia-based budget carrier AirAsia. Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 went missing on March 8 on a trip from Kuala Lumpur to Beijing with 239 passengers and crew and has not been found. On July 17, the same airline’s Flight MH17 was shot down over Ukraine, killing all 298 people on board. The AirAsia group, including affiliates in Thailand, the Philippines and India, had not suffered a crash since its Malaysian budget operations began in 2002. The group’s shares in Kuala Lumpur were down 8 percent at 0813 GMT. Tjahjanto said two C-130 Hercules planes were focusing the search for Flight QZ8501 in areas northeast of Indonesia’s Bangka island, about halfway between Surabaya and Singapore, in the Java Sea. Australia, Malaysia, Singapore and South Korea sent ships and aircraft to join the search, a foreign ministry official said. China also

offered to send planes and ships and any other assistance Indonesia needed. Soelistyo said Indonesia might not have the best technology to search underwater and had accepted offers of help from the United States, Britain and France. In 2007, it took Indonesia months to recover flight data recorders from a Boeing 737400 operated by Indonesia’s Adam Air which crashed off Sulawesi island, killing all 102 people on board. According to Indonesian navy Flight Commander Laksamana Pertama Sigit Setiyanta, the sea depths in the area is only 25 to 50 meters (75-150 feet). Flight QZ8501 was traveling at 32,000 feet (9,753 meters) and had asked to fly at 38,000 feet to avoid clouds, said Joko Muryo Atmodjo, air transportation director at Indonesia’s Transport Ministry. Permission was not given at the time due to traffic in the area. Five minutes later, at 6.17 a.m. on Sunday (2317 GMT Saturday), the plane lost contact with air traffic control, Atmodjo said. Data from Flightradar24.com, which tracks airline flights in real

time, showed several nearby aircraft were at altitudes ranging from 34,000 to 36,000 feet at the time, levels that are not unusual for cruising aircraft. Pilots and aviation experts said thunderstorms, and requests to gain altitude to avoid them, were not unusual in that area. “The airplane’s performance is directly related to the temperature outside and increasing altitude can lead to freezing of the static radar, giving pilots an erroneous radar reading,” said a Qantas Airways pilot with 25 years’ experience flying in the region. The resulting danger is that pilots take incorrect action to control the aircraft, said the pilot, who requested anonymity. In such an emergency the pilots would likely have been wrestling to regain control of the aircraft and not had time to issue a distress signal, the Qantas pilot said. Online discussions among pilots

centered on unconfirmed secondary radar data from Malaysia that suggested the missing plane was climbing at a speed of 353 knots, about 100 knots too slow in such weather conditions. “At that altitude, that speed is exceedingly dangerous,” Sydney-based aviation expert Geoff Thomas told Reuters. “At that altitude, the thin air, the wings won’t support the aircraft at that speed and you get an aerodynamic stall.” Safety authorities say accidents involving a loss of control, such as might occur in bad weather, are rare but almost always catastrophic. The Indonesian pilot was experienced and the plane last underwent maintenance in midNovember, the airline said. The aircraft had accumulated about 23,000 flight hours in some 13,600 flights, according to Airbus. Malaysia AirAsia chief Tony

Fernandes flew to Surabaya and, along with Indonesian officials, updated distraught relatives of passengers at a crisis center at the airport in Indonesia’s secondlargest city. “Keeping positive and staying strong,” he said on Twitter. “My heart bleeds for all the relatives of my crew and our passengers. Nothing is more important to us,” he said. Indonesia’s Transport Ministry said the government would review AirAsia’s Indonesian business unit to improve safety. Indonesian President Joko Widodo urged people to pray for the safety of the passengers and crew. Such sentiments were echoed by other world leaders, including Pope Francis. Louise Sidharta was at Singapore’s Changi Airport waiting for her fiancée to return from a family holiday. “It was supposed to be their last vacation before we got married,” she said.

Allianz Leads Reinsurer To Missing HONG KONG - German Air Asia Plane insurer Allianz said it was the lead re-insurer to the AirAsia jet missing off the Indonesian coast with 162 people on board, making it the third major airline accident it has been involved in this year. The German company, which has Malaysia Airlines as a client, was the main reinsurer to flight MH370 that disappeared over the Indian Ocean in March, as well as to flight MH17 which was shot down in July while flying over Ukraine. “We can confirm that Allianz Global Corporate & Specialty UK (AGCS) is the lead reinsurer for AirAsia, for aviation hull and liability insurance,” an Allianz spokeswoman said in a statement emailed to Reuters. Aviation incidents accounted for four of the top 10 major insurance losses not linked to natural catastrophes in the first eight months of 2014, putting pressure on aviation claims that are already rising due to the use of expensive materials and demanding safety regulation, an Allianz report said. Allianz declined to comment on the extent of its exposure or to identify other insurers with exposure to the missing Indonesia AirAsia plane, an Airbus A320200. But Reuters calculations show the minimum payout to cover for this accident could be around $100 million. “It is much too early to comment on reports of this incident at this stage, except to say that our thoughts and prayers are with all those affected by this missing flight,” Allianz said. The plane disappeared on Sunday after its pilot failed to get permission to fly higher to avoid bad weather during a flight from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Singapore. Indonesian officials believe it crashed into the Java

Sea. As with the two Malaysia Airlines crashes, Allianz and its coinsurers will have to foot the bill for the cost of the missing Indonesia AirAsia aircraft, as well as for payments due to the relatives of the passengers that were aboard the flight. The Airbus 320 sells for an average price of $94 million, according to Airbus’s website. However, according to the age of the aircraft, the hull is likely to be insured for a lower sum. For passenger liability, an international aviation agreement called the Montreal Convention caps initial payouts at around$165,000 per passenger at current exchange rates, or about $27 million total for the 162 passengers aboard the AirAsia flight. But if the airline is found to have been at fault, such as through pilot error, the claims could be much higher. “This is going be identical to MH370 and MH17 in the sense

there are standard minimum insurance obligations which all carriers have to have, but if negligence can be demonstrated the sky’s the limit in terms of claims,” said John Ribbands, an independent Melbournebased lawyer expert in aviation insurance. JLT Group was the insurance broker for the AirAsia plane, the company told Reuters in a separate statement.

Family members of passengers onboard missing AirAsia Flight QZ85501 cry at a waiting area in Juanda International Airport, Surabaya yesterday.

Italy Says 265 Rescued From Ferry operator are on the vessel to

ROME - Rescue teams working through the night have pulled 265 people off a stricken car ferry which caught fire off the coast of Greece but more than 200 are stranded on board, the Italian navy said on Monday.

Helicopter crews have been slowly airlifting passengers from the upper deck of the Norman Atlantic, which caught fire in the early hours of Sunday and began drifting in rough seas between Greece and Italy. A medical team and a flight

assist the 213 passengers and crew who remain aboard as the rescue continues, the navy said. After initial rescue efforts were impeded by bad weather that prevented other ships nearing the multideck ferry, Italian and Greek helicopter crews began the difficult airborne operation on Sunday afternoon. The operation is being coordinated from the Italian navy’s amphibious transport ship the San Giorgio, while the Norman

Atlantic is towed to the southern Italian port of Brindisi. One man was confirmed to have died on Sunday and there were four reported injuries. Several passengers have been flown to Galatina in southern Italy. The Italian-flagged Norman Atlantic, chartered by Greek ferry operator Anek Lines, was sailing between Patros in western Greece to Ancona in Italy carrying 478 passengers and crew and more than 200 vehicles when it caught fire.

As China Offers To Help In Search For Missing Air Asia Flight

BEIJING - China has offered to send aircraft and ships to help in the search for a missing AirAsia flight which vanished on Sunday flying from the Indonesian city of Surabaya to Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk speaks to deputies as he presents a work plan Singapore, the Foreign Ministry in Beijing said on of his government during a parliament session in Kiev.

Monday. “The Chinese side has already said to Indonesia that it is willing to urgently send aircraft and ships to participate in search and rescue, and will provide other aid according to Indonesian needs,” the ministry said in a statement.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

International Greece Faces Crucial Votes That ATHENS- Greek Prime Minister Antonis Samaras faces Could Trigger Election a vote in parliament that will decide whether the country goes to snap elections that could bring the leftwing Syriza party to power and derail an international bailout. In the most hotly contested vote for president since Greece joined the euro more than a decade ago, the result in the final round of voting is likely to be decided by a small handful of deputies. If lawmakers fail to elect a successor to 85-year-old Karolos Papoulias, a snap election will be held within weeks. Syriza, leading in the opinion polls, vowed again to renegotiate the joint European Union-IMF bailout bailout Greece needs to pay its bills and roll over its debt. Syriza leader Alexis Tsipras said he had growing support in other countries struggling in the crisis. “In Europe, sentiment is changing. Everyone is getting used to the idea that Syriza will be the government and that new negotiations will begin,” he wrote in his party newspaper on Sunday. With financial markets watching closely, former European Commissioner Stavros Dimas, the only candidate in the race, will need 180 votes to be

elected. In the previous round of voting, he secured 168 votes, 12 short of the supermajority required. Greek bond yields spiked sharply earlier this month after Samaras first announced that he was bringing forward the vote for president by two months in a bid to shore up support for his conservative/center-left coalition. Voting is due to start at midday (0600 ET), with the result likely around an hour later. Spyros Lykoudis, an independent who voted with the government in the second round before Christmas, said he was not optimistic that the parties would overcome their differences. “Unless there is a surprise, unless a party changes its stance, I don’t expect parliament to elect a president tomorrow given the current circumstances,” he told Reuters. “Nothing can be ruled out, but parties are in any case preparing for elections.” Samaras, who spent much of Sunday following the dramatic rescue of hundreds of passengers from a burning ferry, has appealed to parliament to support his nominee. But having offered a deal to bring forward elections scheduled

Scaffold Collapses At Top Beijing School Kills 10

BEIJING — A scaffolding collapse at one of Beijing’s most prestigious high schools on Monday killed 10 construction workers and injured four others, officials said. The accident occurred at the start of the school day at Tsinghua High School in the city’s northwest, but did not affect any classrooms or other buildings used for instruction, according to a statement from the Beijing municipal propaganda bureau. It said the injured were in stable condition. A high school official with the surname Jiang said all of the victims were constructing a gymnasium at the school, which is affiliated with one of China’s top universities, also called Tsinghua. He said no teachers or students were hurt. Relatives of the victims waited

outside the school gates to be allowed in. A teary-eyed man said his cousin had been working there and that another worker at the construction site had called to tell him there had been an accident. Another man, Wang Zhiquan, said his nephew Chen Haijun, 42, a migrant worker from Heilongjiang province in China’s northeast, had been killed. He told reporters he wanted to see the site and seek proper compensation because Chen was the sole breadwinner for his family, including two ill parents and two children. The official Xinhua News Agency said an initial investigation found that steel bars used to reinforce concrete had collapsed and caused the accident. It said police had detained several people, but gave no details about their identity.

for mid 2016 to the end of next year, he ruled out new concessions to the opposition parties and independents expected to hold the key to the result. Recent polls have shown Syriza has kept its lead over the ruling centre-right New Democracy party but the advantage has narrowed steadily over the past few weeks and Samaras said on Saturday he was confident of winning any election. A poll on Saturday by the Alco institute showed Syriza leading New Democracy by 3.3 points, a slightly narrower lead than in the previous poll. It put support for Syriza at 28.3 percent and for New Democracy at 25 percent. However, the outlook is complicated by the weakness of other parties. Samaras’ coalition

The construction site where a scaffolding collapsed in the Tsinghua High School in Beijing, China yesterday.

China Looking At Deal With US To Reach Dirty Assets

BEIJING - China is looking at signing an agreement with the United States to target assets illegally taken out of China by corrupt officials, a newspaper said as the government tightens the screws in its anti-graft battle. China has vowed to pursue a search, dubbed Operation “Fox Hunt,” beyond its borders for corrupt officials and business executives, and their assets. But Western countries have balked at extradition deals with China, partly out of concern about the integrity of its judicial system and treatment of prisoners. Rights groups say authorities use torture and the death penalty is common in corruption cases. The state-run China Daily said the central People’s Bank of China was talking to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network about an agreement targeting ill-gotten assets in the United States. China is set to finalize a similar deal with Canada, Chinese state media reported this month. The central bank was also looking at a deal with Australia, the China Daily said, citing Zhang Xiaoming, deputy head of the Finance Ministry’s legal assistance and foreign affairs

department. “After the agreements are made, China will share intelligence with the U.S. and Australia, which will also offer information to their enforcement agencies to conduct further investigations,” Zhang told the Englishlanguage paper. “Once law enforcement officers in the U.S. and Australia identify illegal funds, they will immediately initiate judicial procedures to freeze and confiscate those criminal proceeds in their countries.” The United States, Canada and Australia are popular destinations for ill-gotten assets, the paper said. But legal problems have prevented China from getting these assets back, Zhang said. “Although the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation or Australian police have traced the assets and collected enough evidence to identify them as illgotten gains, they are unable to take immediate measures to freeze and confiscate them due to the lack of asset restraining orders from the Chinese courts.” The latest senior figure to be caught up in the anti-corruption

drive is Gu Yuanxu, brother-inlaw of a one-time senior aide to former President Hu Jintao. The influential Caixin magazine reported Gu had “been taken away recently for investigation” but it did not say what for. The Communist Party

announced a week ago that the brother-in-law, Ling Jihua, was under investigation for corruption. Gu is deputy director of the public security bureau in Heilongjiang province. An official at the bureau said she “was not clear” about the news and it was not possible to contact Gul.

Fire Damage Swedish Mosque In Second Suspected Attack STOCKHOLM - Fire ripped through a Swedish mosque early on Monday in the second suspected arson attack on a Muslim center in four days in a country caught up in a fierce debate on immigration. Firefighters extinguished the blaze in the southern town of Eslov and no one was injured, local media reported. “We ... are working under the assumption it is arson,” police officer Marie Keismar told the TT news agency. Five people were injured

w hen fire broke out in

another mosque in the Swedish town of Eskilstuna on Christmas day. Polls have shown the anti-immigration Sweden Democrats winning over voters from the center right and center left. The party, Sweden’s third biggest, wants to cut the number of asylum seekers getting in by 90 percent. Other more mainstream parties have promised to preserve the Nordic state’s traditionally liberal stance.

Unification: S/Korea

Offers Talks With N/Korea

South Korean Unification Minsiter Ryoo Kihl-jae speaks during a press conference at the government complex in Seoul, South Korea, yesterday.

SEOUL, South Korea- South Korea proposed talks with North Korea to discuss what it calls a range of issues needed to prepare for the unification of the divided countries. It’s unclear if Pyongyang would accept Seoul’s offer as the country has viewed any of South Korea’s unification plans an attempt to take it over. North Korea wants a unified Korea with Pyongyang in charge. Unification Minister Ryoo Kihl-jae told a televised news conference that South Korea wants talks in January to discuss exchange programs, joint projects and laws needed for a unified Korea. Ryoo said South Korea

hopes the proposed talks would also discuss resuming reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War. Seoul launched a government committee on the unification in July, six months after President Park Geun-hye told a New Year’s press conference that unifying with North Korea would bring an economic “bonanza,” not massive financial costs. North Korea made an angry response, saying Park’s plans were nothing but a plot to topple Pyongyang and build a unified Korea under a South Korean system. The Korean Peninsula was divided into a U.S.-backed,

capitalistic South Korea and a Soviet-supported, socialist North Korea after its liberation from the Japanese colonial occupation from 1910 to 1945. The Koreas share the world’s most heavily fortified border as the Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty. Animosities deepened when their troops traded gunfire along the border twice in October. South Korean defense officials said Monday that Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have signed their first trilateral intelligence-gathering pact to better deal with North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

International Features

Unclear Whether Oil, Objects Found In Sea Linked To Lost Jet

S U R A B AYA , Indonesia — An Indonesian helicopter saw two oily spots in the search area for the missing AirAsia jetliner Monday, and an Australian search plane spotted objects hundreds of miles away, but it was too early to know whether either was connected to the aircraft and its 162 passengers and crew. In any case, officials saw little reason to believe AirAsia Flight 8501 met anything but a grim fate after it disappeared from radar Sunday morning over the Java Sea. “Based on the coordinates that we know, the evaluation would be that any estimated crash position is in the sea, and that the hypothesis is the plane is at the bottom of the sea,” Indonesia search and rescue chief Henry Bambang Soelistyo said. The Airbus A320-200 vanished Sunday morning in airspace thick with storm clouds on its way from Surabaya, Indonesia, to Singapore. After the search expanded Monday, Jakarta’s Air Force base commander Rear Marshal Dwi Putranto said an Australian Orion aircraft had detected “suspicious” objects near Nangka island, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) southwest of Pangkalan Bun, near central Kalimantan, or 700 miles (1,120 kilometers) from the location where the plane lost contact. “However, we cannot be sure whether it is part of the missing AirAsia plane,” Putranto said. “We are now moving in that direction, which is in cloudy conditions.” Air Force spokesman Rear Marshal Hadi Tjahnanto told MetroTV that an Indonesian helicopter spotted two oily spots in the Java Sea east of Belitung island. Unlike the Australian discovery, the oily spots were within the search

area, which stretches 60 kilometers (37 miles) around the point where airtraffic controllers lost contact with the plane. The last communication from the cockpit to air traffic control was a request by one of the pilots to increase altitude from 32,000 feet (9,754 meters) to 38,000 feet (11,582 meters) because of the rough weather. Air traffic control was not able to immediately grant the request because another plane was in airspace at 34,000 feet, said Bambang Tjahjono, director of the state-owned company in charge of air-traffic control. By the time clearance could be given, Flight 8501 had disappeared, Tjahjono said. The twinengine, single-aisle plane, which never sent a distress signal, was last seen on radar four minutes after the last communication from the cockpit. First Adm. Sigit Setiayana, the Naval Aviation Center commander at the Surabaya air force base, said 12 navy ships, five planes, three helicopters and a number of warships were taking part in the search, along with ships and planes from Singapore and Malaysia. The Australian Air Force also sent a search plane. Searchers had to cope with heavy rain Sunday, but Setiayana said Monday that visibility was good. “God willing, we can find it soon,” he told The Associated Press. The plane’s disappearance and suspected crash caps an astonishingly tragic year for air travel in Southeast Asia, and Malaysia in particular. Malaysia-based AirAsia’s loss comes on top of the still-unexplained disappearance of Malaysia Airlines Flight 370 in March with 239 people aboard, and the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 in July over Ukraine, which killed all 298 passengers and crew. “Until today, we have never lost a life,” AirAsia group CEO Tony Fernandes, who founded

the low-cost carrier in 2001, told reporters in Jakarta airport. “But I think that any airline CEO who says he can guarantee that his airline is 100 percent safe, is not accurate.” Nearly all the passengers and crew are Indonesians, who are frequent visitors to Singapore, particularly on holidays. Flight 8501 took off Sunday morning from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, and was about halfway to Singapore when it vanished from radar. The jet had been airborne for about 42 minutes. Sunardi, a forecaster at Indonesia’s Meteorology and Geophysics Agency, said dense storm clouds were detected up to 13,400 meters (44,000 feet) in the area at the time. “There could have been turbulence, lightning and vertical as well as horizontal strong winds within such clouds,” said Sunardi, who like many Indonesians uses only one name. The plane had an Indonesian captain, Iryanto, who uses one name, and a French copilot, five cabin crew members and 155 passengers, including 16 children and one infant, the airline said in a statement. Among the passengers were three South Koreans, a Malaysian, a British national and his 2-yearold Singaporean daughter. The rest were Indonesians. AirAsia said the captain had more than 20,000 flying hours, of which 6,100 were with AirAsia on the Airbus 320. The first officer had 2,275 flying hours. “Papa, come home, I still need you,” Angela Anggi Ranastianis, the captain’s 22-year-old daughter pleaded on her Path page late Sunday, which was

widely quoted by Indonesian media. “Bring back my papa. Papa, please come home.” At Iryanto’s house in the East Java town of Sidoarjo, neighbors, relatives and friends gathered Monday to pray and recite the Quran to support the distraught family. Their desperate cries were so loud, they could sometimes be heard outside where three LCD televisions had been set up to monitor search developments. “He is a good man. That’s why people here appointed him as our

neighborhood chief for the last two years,” said Bagianto Djoyonegoro, a friend and neighbor. Many recalled him as an experienced Air Force pilot who flew F16 fighter jets before becoming a commercial airline pilot. The missing aircraft was delivered to AirAsia in October 2008, and the plane had accumulated about 23,000 flight hours during some 13,600 flights, Airbus said in a statement. The aircraft had last undergone scheduled maintenance on Nov.

16, according to AirAsia. The airline has dominated budget travel in Southeast Asia for years, highlighting its low fares with the slogan, “Now everyone can fly.” It flies short routes of just a few hours, connecting the region’s large cities. Recently, it has tried to expand into longdistance flying through sister airline AirAsia X. The A320 family of jets, which includes the A319 and A321, has a good safety record, with just 0.14 fatal accidents per million takeoffs, according to a safety study published by Boeing in August.

International Ukraine’s Parliament Approves 2015 Budget KIEV - Ukraine’s parliament backed a budget for 2015 that it had been under pressure to approve to secure the next tranche of financial aid under a $17 billion International Monetary Fund loan package, the Interfax news agency reported. Before the budget vote in the early hours of the morning, deputies approved a series of austerity laws, including an amendment to impose additional duties on imports, that Prime Minister Arseny Yatseniuk warned could prove unpopular with Ukraine’s foreign trade partners. Foreign currency reserves have more than halved since the beginning of the year to a 10-year low, due to gas debt repayments to Russia and efforts to support its struggling currency, the hryvnia. Yatseniuk said the budget could still be amended following talks

with Ukraine’s Western backers. “A series of articles will change depending on what we agree with international lenders,” Interfax quoted him as telling parliament. He said these discussions would start on Jan. 7. Voting was delayed as deputies debated the merits of the law amendments required for the budget, with some arguing they unfairly increase prices for Ukrainians, many of whom are already struggling to make ends meet as the economy teeters on the edge of bankruptcy. Ukraine’s remaining foreign currency reserves stand at just under $10 billion, barely sufficient to cover two months of imports. One new law will add 10 percent duty to taxes on food imports and an extra 5 percent on other imports excluding strategic imports such as gas.

“Problems could arise with our trade partners,” Yatseniuk told parliament, advising that the law should only come into effect once the government had consulted on it with international partners. He said one of the main focuses of the new budget was defense and security spending, which will amount to 90 billion hryvnia. A year of revolution and war with proRussian separatists has pushed the hryvnia to record lows and crippled the economy, which is forecast to shrink 4.3 percent next year. This month, Kiev said it needed the IMF to expand its bailout program due to the worsened economic outlook, but the Fund and Ukraine’s other Western backers have made it clear any further financial assistance will hinge on Kiev’s ability to implement the longpromised reforms.

THE NIGERIAN

HERE is no way of demonstrating the advantages of international trade other than focusing attention on the financial, economic and industrial interdependence and interrelationship of the two universally acknowledged categories of countries — that is, the developed countries and the developing countries. Examples of the former are Western Germany, France, Great Britain and U.S.A. While the examples of the latter are Asian, African and Latin American countries such as India and Pakistan, Nigeria and Ghana, Brasil and Mexico respectively. Therefore for a detailed examination, let us first of all consider the advantages to the developing countries, Nigeria for instance: The Advantages of International Trade to the Developing Countries 1) As a Ready Market for Natural Resources: Most of the natural resources of the developing countries depend on foreign trade as a major source for raising revenue for their producer countries. 2) Supplementing Home Food Consumption: To feed their peoples most developing countries depend to some extent on importation of foods from overseas market. For instance Nigeria depended on importation of millions of Naira worth of rice to feed her people each year since the 1970s up till 1983 and there are tendencies that this practice might continue for some time. 3) Sources of Manufactured Goods: Massive and regular importation of necessaries of life such as clothing materials to luxury goods such as motor cars is an evidence of the dependence of most developing countries on foreign trade for their existence as well as their living. 4) Supply of Raw Materials and Spare Parts: Most industries of the developing countries depend to a k extent on overseas countries for the supply of their raw materials and part-finished goods. For instance, Leyland Motors (Nigeria) Ltd. (manufacturer of motor vehicles) Sanyo (Nigeria) Ltd. (manufacturer of electronics) and Volkswagen (Nigeria) Ltd. are examples of leading industries in Nigeria that depend almost wholly on imported raw materials and spate parts for

Economy

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Advantages Of International Trade their operations. 5) Centres of Commerce: Most populous developing countries have become in modern times centres of commercial and industrial activities due to international trade. For instance, Nigeria as much as Brazil has become the focus of industrial locations and commercial

engagements for multinational companies for reasons of share population and market potentials. 6) International Political influence: For instance Nigeria, in recent times and since her oil boom, has been prominent in international politics. The oil boom itself owes so much to international trade. Nigeria has been able to forge a foreign policy that makes her the spokesman of Africa on burning issues such as South Africa’s apartheid, the liberation movements in South’s Africa etc. In international comity of nations like the U.N.O. (United Nations Organizations) and O.A.U. (Organization of African Unity) the name “Nigeria” has become well known. 7) Development of Regional Economic and Political Cooperation: The irony of the negative effects of international trade is that it has led to positive thinking and efforts on some parcels of the developing world to move towards economic and political cooperations. The ECOWAS are together in order, among other things, to liberalise use among members states the practice and procedures of foreign trade The Latin

By AYODELE ASAOLU American states have their economic grouping both for economic and political advantage. The O.A.U. in her Lagos economic deliberations of 1981 agreed to go into regional economic blocks for economic and financial

cocoa, cotton, gold, diamond and crude petroleum. 3) Revenue Earning as Service Centres: Most of the developed countries own their revenues as service centres to international trade. For instance London is renowned

developments of Africa as a continent. The Advantages of International Trade to the Developed Countries 1) Constant Sources of Food Importation: Without foreign trade most developed countries would be unable to feed her peoples. Britain relied to a large extent on imported food to feed her over 55 million population. Most of

since ages as the world capital for finances and shipping. For years, it has served in addition as an entrepot for most goods meant for European countries like France, Western Germany etc. 4) As Savings Centres: Most capitals of Western Europe, for instance, have become deposits or savings banks for most nationals and governments of developing

New York, and Zurich among others, have been found to have more than their own shares of the world foreign exchange reserves; and they have earned big “dividends” from serving as financial capitals of the international trade.General Advantages of International Trade 1) Benefits of Specialization: it encourages one country to specialize and thereby utilise and benefit fully from her gifted natural resources. 2) International Competition: It fosters competitive spirits on international scale among nations and thereby discourages localized monopolies. Even when producers of the same products might form organizations like the OPEC, (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) for the maintenance of one ruling price in the world market, among other things, they still have to compete in many other ways like quality, transport and prompt delivery services. The Disadvantages of International Trade Inspite of the overwhelming advantages of foreign trade there are some inherent disadvantages. In conclusion it must be remembered that some countries might benefit from the considerable ad-vantages of the international trade while some other countries might suffer as a result. The blessings of one country are the cures or misfortunes of another country. 1) Dangers of Over-

petroleum oil glut led to austerity measure by almost all the governments of Nigeria (Federal and States). Ghana has been experiencing a near national economic bankruptcy due to a depression for a long time now, in the prices of her gold and cocoa, her two leading products. Therefore, “excessive dependence on an export product could spell national economic embarrassment, if not doom. 2) Isolated Depression for an Export Industry: An industry that depends mainly on foreign consumption might be experiencing an isolated depression while the whole of foreign trade benefits. For instance a fall in demand and therefore a fall in price would spell depression in the home oil industry while oil consuming foreign, countries and industries might benefit significantly. 3) Dumping Grounds: The practice of international trade allows the use of certain home markets as “dumping grounds” for the surplus products of some overseas industries; identifical home industries suffer excessively as a result. 4) Widening the Gap of Wealth between Nations: Through international trade the gifted natural resources of individual countries are turned into great wealth. Such national wealth makes one country richer than the other and thereby aggravates the economic differentials between nations.

“It fosters competitive spirits on international scale among nations and thereby discourages localized monopolies. Even when producers of the same products might form organizations like the OPEC, (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) for the maintenance of one ruling price in the world market, among other things, they still have to compete in many other ways like quality, transport and prompt delivery services”. the favourite dishes of the British breakfast tables (like dairy products, and cereals) are not products of British farmers but imported food items from developing countries. 2) Supply of industrial Raw Materials: A lot of industries of the developed countries are fed with raw materials from the developing countries. Examples of such raw materials are West African

Countries. The need to own ready foreign currencies in pursuance of foreign trade has urged some commonwealth countries, Nigeria, Kenya, Zambia etc. to keep some substantial part of their foreign reserves in (£)sterling in London or ($) U.S.A. dollars in New York. Switzerland has served as a safe haven for those who want to have overseas savings accounts. The result is that London,

specialization: The princip1es of international trade encourage international specialization among nations, but this is equally fraught with dangers. Nigeria for example depends for over 95% of her national revenues from the production and sales of her petroleum oil. Therefore a fall-off in demand for this oil, might create some national financial upset, if not crisis, as in 1981/82 when the

5) Restrictive Trade Measures: It is an irony that the effects of international trade lead to measures that limit the gains of international trade. For instance a country that incure an adverse balance of trade and or payment would eventually put up measures that might result in restricting the full power of international trade. Such measures are discussed at the end of this chapter. To be continued

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Lemina Rejects Gabon Call-Up

LEMINA declared on Twitter that “there has been no agreement between Gabon and me” despite Jorge Costa having earlier named the 21-year-old in his 23-man squad for the continental championships in Equatorial Guinea that start next month. The midfielder was part of France’s side that won the 2013 Under 20 World Cup and has previously declared his interest in catching the eye of senior coach Didier Deschamps rather than playing for the country of his birth. Lemina has made 12 appearances in Ligue 1 for leaders Marseille this season, starting six matches under coach Marcelo Bielsa, and it looks like he will be ready for club duty when the French league resumes next month rather than travelling south for the Cup of Nations

Overseas Players Have No Advantage - Shakes

(AFCON). “All that is being said are just rumors, I’m sorry but there has been no agreement between Gabon and me...” Lemina wrote on Twitter. “I will not go to CAN [AFCON].” Gabon have been grouped with hosts Equatorial Guinea, Burkina Faso and Congo in Group A with coach Costa selecting seven other France-based players on top of Lemina. Another Marseille midfielder Alexander N’Doumbou, who has also started six Ligue 1 games this term - has been picked, as well as Bordeaux’s Andre Biyogo Poko and Nice defender Lloyd Palun.

whether the claim of Youssoufou’s refusal to attend training sessions frequently constitutes a breach of his contract with the Tunisian club.

BAFANA Bafana’s overseas based players will have no advantage over South African based players when coach Shakes Mashaba announces his Afcon 2015 squad on Tuesday. Mashaba who qualified the team to the Orange African Cup of Nations said he was disappointed that some players would arrive late as he wanted them to fight for their positions. However the coach made it clear that he doesn’t want them coming to the camp that began on Friday at University of Johannesburg thinking they own any position. “We would have loved for everybody to come and compete for a position. We don’t want people to come here guaranteed of a place in the team but unfortunately it is not in our hands, they have programmes that they need to complete at their clubs before coming to the national team,” said Mashaba. With these players committed to their clubs, Mashaba said he will try and work under the conditions present as he cannot do anything with the FIFA dates. “Due to the FIFA dates there is nothing we can do, we must just wait for them to arrive and take it from there. We shouldn’t really worry about something beyond our control as we are all guided by rules,” he said. The last player to arrive will be Dean Furman who is expected to land next week Sunday on the fourth of January. South Africa will take on Zambia in an international friendly match this weekend as one of the warmup matches for AFCON 2015.

tweaking certainly paid dividends in the form of two second-half goals. Hughes added: “In fairness, we know that his best position is through the middle, running on to things and I have played in wider positions - he does a good job for us and works really hard for the team. “But his best position is in

the middle and when I made the change I felt it was important that we got him in those areas and in behind their defence, which we hadn’t done enough. That helped our play. “He’s delighted with that [scoring twice] – it’s important for striker’s to score ugly goals too.”

Officials Got It Horribly SONG lashed home from 25 Wrong yards after five minutes of the advantage three minutes later. Premier League clash at Upton Park, seemingly putting the home side in front against his former club. However, the linesman deemed Diafra Sakho to be an active player on the edge of the six-yard box and flagged for offside. Allardyce reacted with bemusement, questioning whether the officials have applied the correct interpretation of the rules, but elected against taking issue with referee Neil Swarbrick at full-time. “I don’t see any real point in confronting a referee after a game when you know you’re 100 per cent right and he’s only got the visuals of when it happened,” he said. “You get nowhere by telling him how wrong he’s been in terms of what decision he’s given. “It’s more on what we’re told at the start of the season and what we’re shown - what is an offside and what isn’t an offside. “You base your opinion on your experience and your life as a manager, and you base your opinion on what they tell you. “What they told us means that they’ve got it horribly wrong. “He wasn’t in the eye line of the goalkeeper, he didn’t touch the ball. Yes, he was in an offside position, but we’ve seen so many of those allowed as goals and I’ve never seen one that’s actually been not given. “I’m totally and utterly confused and bewildered.” Arsenal went ahead against the run of play in the 41st minute when Santi Cazorla scored from the spot having been felled by Winston Reid, before Danny Welbeck slid in to double the

Sam Allardyce

Cheikhou Kouyate reduced the deficit nine minutes into the second half, but Allardyce was disappointed to see his side trailing at the break. “After the first, conceding the second was a bit of a blow, but for me it was a great recovery in the second half,” he added.

Maman Youssoufou

Sfaxien Coach Wants Youssoufou Sacked

CS Sfaxien coach Ghazi Ghrayri has ordered for the sacking of Ghanaian player Maman Youssoufou for his poor performance and increasing bad disciplinary record. “ Yo u s s o u f o u ’s The 24-year-old according to the coach has performance is not good failed to keep up with the and he keeps boycotting team’s trainings schedule the team’s training that is enough from him,” he said. over a period of time. Youssoufou was once the most coveted player within the ranks of the Tunisian club – helping them clinch the 2013 CAF STOKE manager Mark Confederations Cup. Hughes concedes his team Sfaxien even refused to will feel Mame Biram Diouf’s sell the right-back to absence when he departs for display how important he the 2015 African Cup of is to the side but is Nations. The tournament kicks off on currently not wanted by the January 17 in Equatorial club. Guinea and, with Demba Ba Coach Ghazi wants the surprisingly left out of the club to immediately do Senegal squad, Diouf is away with the former Great expected to be a key feature of the team’s attack. Olympics star.

“I don’t need him in my team to be honest.” CS Sfaxien however have a standing contract with the Ghanaian defender. It is therefore unclear

Stoke Will Miss Diouf During Africa Cup Of Nations Diouf scored both goals in Sunday’s 2-0 win over West Brom at the Britannia Stadium, helping Hughes secure back-to-back Premier League victories for the first time this season. Former Hannover man Diouf could potentially be away for almost a month depending on how Senegal fare in the tournament, but Hughes is holding out hope that the Lions of Teranga flop, resulting in an early return for his in-form forward. “[I am] a little bit [frustrated],” the Welshman said. “Because obviously he scored two today and strikers can be a bit streaky. “Once they get a goal they invariably get them in the next two or three games. Hopefully that will be the case while he is still with us. “We are going to miss him, but hopefully they’ll get knocked very quickly so he won’t miss many games. Diouf started the game in a wider position as Peter Crouch led the line for Stoke, but Hughes eventually moved him into a central role at the break and the manager’s

Biram Diouf

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Getting Dropped By Liverpool Has Helped Me - Mignolet UNDER-pressure Liverpool goalkeeper Simon Mignolet said his removal from the first team has helped him develop. Despite claims - including from Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard - that the 26-year-old would struggle to resurrect his Liverpool career, the Belgium international said the demotion could have benefitted him. “Yes, maybe it has helped me,” Mignolet told reporters. “The future will decide that. The only thing I can do is work hard. I spoke with [Brendan Rodgers], cleared up a few things and I think that was positive.” “I won’t discuss what we said but it was an honest meeting from both sides. The negative thing was going out of the team but you try to make it a positive and that’s what I’m trying to do. “I don’t have to prove anything.

The only thing I have to do is work hard in every game and do my best and then we will see what comes through. The only thing I can do is show on the pitch what I’m capable of.” Mignolet also replied to Howard’s comments, giving his Merseyside rival short shrift. “That’s his opinion, I don’t have to agree with it,” Mignolet retorted. “I have to deal with how the games come. I played 75 minutes against Burnley and kept a clean sheet and we got the three points.” Meanwhile, ahead of Swansea’s visit to Anfield, Rodgers expects Raheem Sterling to become increasingly prolific as his career goes on after florishing in a central striking role in recent weeks. Sterling scored the only goal in

Friday’s 1-0 win at Burnley and also grabbed a brace in a League Cup victory over Bournemouth earlier this month, but had previously endured a long barren run in front of goal. “I think there are players who are naturally born goalscorers. They live to score goals, they want to score goals,” said Rodgers. “I think it’s something you can develop with confidence over the course of your career. And I think you’ll see his numbers, as his career goes on, improve and improve. “But for me I’m very, very happy with his performance. He’s gone into that role, he’s offered us a real threat, his pace in every game is phenomenal but he’s got that little composure now at the end.”

Newcastle Must Kick On After Vital Victory Over Everton - Carver

NEWCASTLE United assistant manager John Carver hopes his side can go from strength to strength after Sunday’s 3-2 win over Everton. Carver was undertaking media duties amid an unexplained absence from Alan Pardew, who has been hotly linked with the vacant

manager’s job at Premier League rivals Crystal Palace. Pardew’s right-hand man was not allowed to discuss the manager’s future after goals from Papiss Cisse, Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback earned Newcastle the spoils against Roberto Martinez’s inconsistent side at St James’ Park.

John Carver

But the Newcastle number two believes the spirit garnered after recovering from Arouna Kone’s fifthminute opener for Everton will stand the Tyneside club in good stead. Carver told BBC Sport: “It’s nice to get a result after a tricky few games. We got off to a bad start but looked a different team after the first five minutes. “We took the game to Everton and got a deserved win. When you have had a run of games were you haven’t won, it’s very important to get the win. “We’ve got back-to-back home games with Burnley coming up. They had a great result today so we know it’s going to be a difficult game.” The game was not without controversy, with Cisse fortunate not to be sent off for elbowing Seamus Coleman when Everton were 1-0 up. Carver claimed not to see the incident, adding: “All I saw of the incident was Seamus Coleman lying on the floor. I have not had a chance to look at it.”

Simon Mignolet

Big Point For Villa - Lambert

DELPH became the third Villa player to be sent off in their last four Premier League games when he was shown a straight red card for a late tackle on Jordi Gomez early in the second half at Villa Park on Sunday. Sunderland were unable to make the most of their numerical advantage, although Gomez almost won it late on when his strike came back off the post.

Mourinho Has ‘Planted A Seed’s With Chelsea Diving Rant JOSE Mourinho’s allegations of a “campaign” against Chelsea over diving were designed to make officials think twice before making big calls against his team in the future, according to Gary Neville. Mourinho took exception to referee Anthony Taylor’s decision to book Cesc Fabregas for simulation during Chelsea’s 1-1 draw with Southampton at St Mary’s on Sunday and suggested a wider pattern with several other incidents that have cost the Premier League leaders bookings or points this season. And Neville, who played his entire career under Sir Alex Ferguson - another manager who made a habit of talking about

Roma Favourites To Sign Tottenham Target Ponce - Newell’s TOTTENHAM have made an approach for Newell’s Old Boys’ teenage striker Ezequiel Ponce but Roma are favourites to sign him, the Argentine club’s president has revealed. The 17-year-old made his first-team debut in October 2013 and has since scored four goals in 18 appearances for Newell’s, attracting attention from several high-

profile European clubs. Club president Guillermo Lorente claims both Tottenham and Serie A giants Roma have made their interest in Ponce known and says he will consult with the player’s family before any decision is made. “The family has received many informal offers,” he told Ole. “At present we are negotiating in agreement

with his father. The proposal from Roma could bring some advantage compared to that of Tottenham. “In Rome, there’s a possibility Ezequiel play another year at Newell’s, while going to Tottenham would be another six months. In my opinion, both offers are valid, although I think that of the Roma is slightly better.”

Villa also came close to a late winner, but Lambert was content with a point in the circumstances. “It’s hard enough playing with 10 men at any time - when you go Saturday to Saturday,” the Scot said. “But when you’re playing two games in three days - the lads are running on empty. “To get the result after going down to 10 men for that length of time was excellent.

Paul Lambert

- Gary

referees - believes the Chelsea boss knows exactly what he hopes to achieve with his comments. “He has planted a seed for the rest of the season,” Neville said on Sky Sports. “He’ll probably take a fine for that. “What Mourinho has done today has said he’s drawing a line in the sand and said ‘I’m not accepting this any more’, letting the referees know this is unacceptable for the rest of the season. “The campaign bit is him saying he’s not having this anymore. “It’s what teams that are going for the title do. Historically, you put pressure on, you plant seeds, he won’t think for one minute there’s a campaign against Chelsea.”

“It wasn’t a performance where we had backs to the wall either. We had chances to win it. “I thought in the first half, we were so much in control of the game, so much in control of the ball. It was a matter of being patient and wearing Sunderland down. “Getting Fabian sent off was a big blow but all credit to the lads, we kept knocking on the door and we could have won it. We had chances to do it at the end. But it is a big point.” The Villa boss defended Delph for his challenge on Gomez which resulted in referee Martin Atkinson given the midfielder his marching orders. He added: “I never really saw it the first time in normal time. I have seen it once on the replay. It’s a hard one. “I don’t think there was any malice in it, like the Kieran Richardson one at West Brom. “In the modern day game, you probably don’t need much contact with people now and it can happen. I think there’s one in the middle of the pitch in the first half on Andi Weimann which is just the same. “I’d need to have a look at it. I have only really seen it once. I will look at it from different angles and see.”

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Pochettino Planning Tottenham Transfer Talks THE London club ended 2014 with a goalless draw against Manchester United in the Premier League at White Hart Lane on Sunday. Pochettino’s side are in the hunt for a top-four finish, as well as being in the last 32 of the UEFA Europa League and the League Cup semi-finals in the Argentinian’s first season in charge. The former Southampton boss hinted after the draw with United that he is preparing to bring in new faces next month. He said: “We are happy with our squad, I think when the first of January arrives we will start to talk with the club.” Pochettino also picked out goalkeeper Hugo Lloris for praise following his impressive display against United.

The France international kept United at bay with some fine saves as Louis van Gaal’s side dominated the first half and his performance was no surprise to Pochettino. He said: “Lloris is one of the best keepers in the world. It’s not new for me, we know the quality of Hugo.” Tottenham next face leaders Chelsea at White Hart Lane on New Year’s Day.

Crisis Talk Premature - Garbutt ENGLISH defender Garbutt, 21, made his full debut as Everton lost 3-2 at Newcastle United on Sunday. Newcastle came from a goal down to condemn Everton to a third consecutive Premier League defeat. Roberto Martinez’s Everton are languishing in 12th spot with eight losses, in stark contrast to this time last season when they had only tasted defeat twice. But emerging defender Garbutt is refusing to panic just yet.

“We’ve just got to keep going and hopefully a win will turn things around. It’s hard,” Garbutt said. “If we’re playing well we’re then conceding sloppy goals, and if we’re playing poorly we’re still conceding goals. “We’re a tight-knit group and we need to stick together and battle our way out of it. “We have to keep our heads up. There are going to be highs and lows and coming on the back of a season when we did

I’m Just Another Player

Bellarabi Extends Leverkusen Deal

THE 24-year-old has been in fine form this season with eight goals in 17 appearances in the Bundesliga, helping Leverkusen to third place under Roger Schmidt. Bellarabi’s return makes him the top goalscorer at the club at the halfway stage in the season, and Leverkusen have acted quickly to tie him down. In a message on their official Twitter account, the club said: “Bayer04 has exercised its

WENGER’s men climbed to fifth with a 2-1 win at West Ham on Sunday and are involved in a fierce battle for the UEFA Champions League qualifying spots. The Frenchman is confident Arsenal have the experience to see off the competition, with West Ham and Southampton also in the upper echelons currently, but was quick to highlight the long road ahead for his side.

• Louis Van Gaal

Manchester United Will Improved In 2015 - Van Gaal LOUIS van Gaal felt festive fatigue caught up with Manchester United in their goalless draw at Tottenham but insisted his squad will continue improving in 2015. The dutchman slammed the more to come from his side in Premier League fixture list the second half of the season. ahead of a trip to White Hart “Of course, of course, of Lane, which came two days course we shall be better [than after Boxing Day’s 3-1 home the first half of the season]. So win over Newcastle United. watch,” he told reporters. United will head into their On the dropped points at New Year’s Day encounter at White Hart Lane, he added: “I Stoke City third in the table and have said already, one month Van Gaal is confident there is ago, what I think about this. It’s scientifically proven that the body cannot recover within 48 hours.

“The second half was much different to the first half. And not only for Manchester United, also for Tottenham because they can play much better than today. “And also my team could have played in the second half much better. But you cannot do that and also my colleague [Mauricio] Pochettino has changed three players. It’s not for nothing.”

The 0-0 draw leaves United 10 points adrift of Premier League leaders Chelsea and Phil Jones vented his frustration after the visitors saw a number of chances go begging. “We created numerous chances in the first half and perhaps should have been three or four nil up at half-time but it wasn’t to be,” Jones said.

Defiant Irvine Confident In West Brom Turnaround

• Alexis Sanchez

have a run of form like we have, you’ll get criticised - simple as that. “But to say it’s a crisis is a bit premature. I believe in the squad we have - we’ve got the quality but we need a win to spark our confidence.”

option and the current contract with Karim Bellarabi [is] extended until 30 June 2017.” Bellarabi arrived at the BayArena in 2011 but, after recovering from injury, spent last season on loan at former club Eintracht Braunschweig. He has excelled in his first uninterrupted campaign with Leverkusen, though, and was rewarded with his first senior Germany cap in October against Poland.

Wenger Confident Of Top-Four Finish

- Alexis

ALEXIS Sanchez has rejected talk that he was been Arsenal’s star so far this season, insisting he is “just another player”. The Chile international moved to the Emirates Stadium in a €40 million move during the summer, and leads the club’s scoring charts with 15 goals this term - more than twice secondplaced Welbeck’s seven. But Alexis feels Arsene Wenger has a number of “world class” talents at his disposal and has highlighted the strength in depth he feels the Gunners possess. “Being ‘the star’ is all relative, I don’t agree,” he told La Tercera. “We have a squad with lots of great players, world-class ones, World Cup winners with Germany and others who play for England or France. “In this group I’m just another player. I’ve been lucky to start well but you don’t give the book a title until you’ve finished writing it.” Alexis also revealed how happy he is in north London and he is confident he made the right move after leaving Barcelona.

magnificently it was about dealing with the expectations. It’s been tough but I really believe we’ll dig in and rescue this situation. “It’s too early to talk in terms of a crisis, although you will get talk like that in football. If you

ALBION suffered their 10th Premier League defeat of the season on Sunday and their third in a row following a 2-0 loss at Stoke City. Irvine’s men - who are one point above the bottom three actually looked the more dangerous of the two sides for long periods of the game, but the visitors were unable to capitalise on their chances. Stoke ultimately ran out winners thanks to Mame Biram Diouf ’s second-half brace, heaping further pressure on Irvine. But Irvine is convinced that he and his players can produce an upturn in fortunes as he again

faces intense speculation regarding his future. “I believe that I am [able to turn West Brom’s fortunes around],” he said following the Britannia Stadium setback. “I think the players believe we all are as well. “I want to carry on. I want to still do this job and I want to turn it around. That’s not going to change. But as I said, it is other people who make decisions as far as that is concerned. “We’re all in this together. The players, the staff – the staff are great. “When you hear players saying that they are letting the staff down, that proves they are behind right them.

• Arsene Wenger

“We have done it for 17 years, so we are entitled to the belief that we can do it,” he said. “It’s all to do because, when you look at the league, everyone is fighting very hard for it. “Southampton, Tottenham, Manchester United, so many teams who can fight for these positions. “I have always had that belief [that a top-four finish is possible] but it’s far from done. “We just want to win the next game and be consistent in our performances. “We were just caught by Liverpool [2-2] in the last minute and [on Sunday] we won away from home. “If you look at our recent results, we look to be more stable. We have a big game in front of us now against Southampton with nobody coming back. “The players who played [on Sunday] have given their all and now we need to recover and prepare for the Southampton game.” Arsenal face Southampton in the Premier League on New Year’s Day.

THE NIGERIAN

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

Kovacic Will Play For A Bigger Club Than Inter - Modric LUKA Modric believes Mateo Kovacic will play for a bigger club than Inter, revealing that his colleagues at Real Madrid frequently ask about his fellow Croat. The pair were both part of the Croatia side that went to the World Cup in June and suffered elimination at the group stage, and the 29-year-old feels his international team-mate has a bright future ahead of him. Having been voted as Croatian football of the year in a poll run by newspaper Vecernji list for the fourth time, the Blancos star revealed he is frequently asked about the Nerazzurri midfielder, who he is sure will soon move on to a

Juventus To Launch 19m Euro Shaqiri Bid

JUVENTUS are ready to launch a +19 million bid for for out of favour Bayern Munich winger Xherdan Shaqiri, Goal understands. The Switzerland star, 23, has failed to usurp Franck Ribery and Arjen Robben as one of the first choice wide men at the Allianz Arena and is keen to play regular football elsewhere. The Bianconeri have made no secret of their desire to bolster their attacking options, with director general Beppe Marotta revealing their interest in adding a forward to their ranks on Saturday. And Shaqiri appears to be top of their hit-list, with an initial loan move on the cards, which would see Bayern paid +4 million in January, before a further +15m payment upon the completion of a permanent deal in June. Inter have also pondered a move for the player, as did Roma, but the Giallorossi opted against making a bid as a result of their +22m summer investment in Juan Iturbe. Juve boss Massimiliano Allegri sees the player as a potentially key cog in his side given his ability to function in both a 4-2-3-1 and 4-1-3-2 formation, which he has favoured since replacing Antonio Conte in July. Shaqiri’s representatives were keen to negotiate the player’s exit in the summer but a move failed to materialise with several clubs baulking at his valuation and Bayern boss Pep Guardiola happy to keep him. However, his time in Germany now appears to be drawing to a close, with the former FC Basel star keen to make the move and a big admirer of Serie A. His current deal with the Bundesliga champions expires in June 2016.

bigger stage. “People in Real ask me about Mateo Kovacic all the time,” Modric said in an interview with Vecernji list. “He is a phenomenal talent and will play in some of the biggest clubs. Inter is a big club, no doubt, but Kovacic will play in even bigger.” The Madrid star stated that 2014 has been the favourite year in his career, but his opinion was that Ivan Rakitic had been more influential in the same timespan. “This was the best year in my career, although among the four Player of the Year awards (2007, 2008, 2011 and 2014) my favourite was first one, won as Dinamo player,” Modric added. “I would say the best Croatian player in 2014 was Ivan Rakitic, leading Sevilla to Europa League glory and earning a big transfer to Barcelona.” The 29-year-old does not feel the Blaugrana give his team their most difficult game, though, instead suggesting that travelling to face city rivals Atletico Madrid provides them with the greatest challenge. “The toughest away match in La Liga for me used to be the one against Osasuna,” Modric said. “And now it is versus Atletico, with the heated atmosphere at Vicente Calderon stadium and an opponent that doesn’t suit us with their style of play. And playing at Camp Nou is a magnificent experience.”

QPR Need Another Striker

QPR boss Harry Redknapp claimed a lack of striking options was the main reason for Sunday’s disappointing goalless draw with Crystal Palace. Under the stewardship of caretaker manager Keith Millen for the third time after

- Redknapp

Neil Warnock’s sacking, Palace denied a lacklustre Rangers their fourth consecutive Premier League victory at Loftus Road.

ROBERTO Martinez slammed the “unacceptable” decision not to punish Papiss Cisse for a “clear” elbow on Seamus Coleman in Everton’s 32 loss at Newcastle United. With the visitors 1-0 ahead at St James’ Park on Sunday, Cisse floored Seamus Coleman in the Everton box - only to receive no reprimand. Insult was then added to injury as Cisse levelled proceedings, after which goals from Ayoze Perez and Jack Colback put Newcastle 3-1 ahead. Kevin Mirallas struck late on to set up a tense finale, yet the home side held on - much to Martinez’s dismay. Speaking about the Cisse incident, the Everton boss told Sky Sports: “It is unacceptable to see an action like that go unpunished. It was a clear elbow to try to hurt someone.

“I don’t think those are actions we want to see. The referee should have seen it.” The loss was a third in a row for Everton, who will end 2014 sitting 12th in the table. Martinez added: “It’s concerning because we’re not in a good moment with suspensions and injuries. “It seems everything that could have gone against us has. You don’t want that to creep in and create negative momentum. “It’s one of those moments where the momentum is not with us. We need to make sure you work a little bit more in a clever manner and make sure we keep clean sheets. “We need to just get a win that gets us going the right way again. It’s a real important moment to redirect our season.”

Martinez Accuses Cisse Of ‘Clear’ Elbow On Coleman

Fernando Torres

Torres Has Lost His Way, But Simeone Will Fix Him - Capello

FABIO Capello believes Atletico Madrid coach Diego Simeone is the man who can finally turn Fernando Torres’ form around. The striker, who has agreed to join AC Milan on a permanent deal from Chelsea in January, has been struggling to hit the net regularly since the 2010-11 season, following three-anda-half incredible years with Liverpool. The Spain international is

And Redknapp blamed the result on his limited attacking options, with Charlie Austin and Bobby Zamora QPR’s only strikers. “It was a hard day and I couldn’t sit here and say we deserved to win because we never did,” he said. “We didn’t have enough up top today, they kept Charlie and Bobby quiet and defended really well. “Of course we need another striker in. You need four strikers at the club to be able to change and freshen up. “I’ve only got two, and it’s not enough. So it’s going to be hard, because there’s not going to be many good strikers available in January.” Both sides struggled to impose themselves in a scrappy encounter, though Palace did have the better of the action in the opening half.

The hosts regrouped after the interval, however, and went close to taking the lead through two audacious efforts from the impressive Leroy Fer, while Steven Caulker saw a header cleared off the line. A point lifts QPR into 15th place, and Redknapp conceded that a share of the spoils was fair. “It was a tough game today,” he added. “It was difficult. You always felt with their pace that they only had to turn the ball forward and they’d be dangerous. “Palace have been a good team this year – they’ve got pace and are strong in midfield and when I saw them earlier in the season I didn’t think they’d be a struggling team. “All the teams down the bottom are decent teams, Burnley, Leicester, Palace – they’re all good teams – so I was very surprised about Neil going, he’d done a good job I thought.”

expected to join Atletico Madrid as part of a swap deal that will see Alessio Cerci join Milan in the winter transfer window and Capello feels a return to his boyhood club is in Torres’ best interests. “Torres has got it all, but has lost his way a bit and is struggling to score goals,” Capello told Marca at the Globe Soccer Conference in Dubai. “He has lost the confidence he had at Liverpool and during his first stint at

Atletico. “Simeone is going to make Torres come good. It is not only to do with systems: it is a confidence thing. “Torres has become a bit subdued but is going to rediscover what he has lost thanks to Cholo, who is going to reinvigorate him.” The 30-year-old has scored one goal in 10 Serie A appearances for Milan since his move from Chelsea in the summer.

last season, as well as their current club-record run of 23 consecutive wins. However, the Rayo Vallecano midfielder, who has represented both Barca and Madrid, still feels that Messi is the superior talent. “For me, the best is Messi, because he is a more complete player and has much more influence on the play of his team than Cristiano, who seems more of a goalscorer,” the 33-year-old Trashorras said in an interview with

Uefa. “But it is obvious that this year Cristiano has been better than Messi, and if it’s given to the best player of the year, perhaps Cristiano deserves it a little more. “But if it is judged by the best [in terms of ability], then it must always be Messi.” Trashorras spent eight years at Camp Nou before a move to the Santiago Bernabeu, but he failed to graduate from the Castilla side and departed without making a first-team appearance.

Messi Is More Complete Than Ronaldo - Trashorras Champions League triumph

ROBERTO Trashorras feels that Barcelona ace Lionel Messi is more complete than his Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo. The Clasico duo have been nominated for this year’s Ballon d’Or alongside Bayern Munich and Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer. Trashorras feels that Ronaldo deserves to land the prestigious prize, with the Portuguese having played a key role in Madrid’s

Roberto Martinez

CMYK THE NIGERIAN

That N21bn Donation To President Jonathan

Wonders shall never end. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) told Nigerians that they were going to hold a dinner to raise funds for President Goodluck Jonathan’s re-election, but it turned out to be a national embarrassment that a government that announced austerity measures, telling Nigerians to tighten their belt could pull together a whooping N21bn for the reelection of Mr. President, many have described as incompetent, in total violation of the Electoral Act (2010). Most annoying fact is that the donations came from quarters that have failed citizens of this nation in all ramifications. According to reports, naira rain at the Fund Raising dinner held at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja saw the chairman of the occasion, Mr. Tunde Ayeni donating the sum of N2bn. He said the sum consisted of N1bn donated by him and his partner, and another N1bn contributed by their unnamed friends. Where did Tunde Ayeni and his partner got the N1bn they donated? Who are his unnamed friends that contributed the other N1bn? What is their source of livelihood? Do these characters pay their taxes as at when due if their source of revenue is genuine? These questions are particularly important because we are dealing with a government that does not only encourage corruption and money laundering, but has record of rewarding these vices. We are also stunned that the Electoral Act provides for political parties and candidates to spend a maximum of N1bn on campaigns, here we are with the Chairman of Jonathan’s fund raising party, alone donating N2bn in flagrant disregard to the provisions of the Electoral Act. Also, players in the Oil and Gas industry that have been ripping off this nation under the supervision of President Goodluck Jonathan and Dieziani Alison-Madueke doled out N5bn in support of their principal’s re-election. Now, the oil and gas industry in Nigeria stinks as the hot bed of corruption, a fact that has been proven by even the President himself through the Aig-Imoukhuede Presidential Committee, the Nuhu Ribadu Committee set up by Dieziani

Alison- Madueke herself, the House of Representatives probe committee that investigated oil subsidy mindless thieving under the watchful eyes of Jonathan and Madueke, as well as the various Nigerian Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) Audit reports.

government if those who benefited from the federal government’s building contracts across the country could afford to put together such a staggering amount for the re-election of Mr. President? Is it not for the business of stealing from the public till to continue after his

scandal can better be appreciated now. The Peter Odili connection in the Aviation industry can also be better appreciated now. Why will he not continue to enjoy a perpetual injunction restraining the Economic and Financial Commission (EFCC) from investigating him forever as long as Jonathan remains the president of Nigeria? Nigerians understands all these

• President Goodluck Jonathan What with the continued crash of prices of crude oil in the international market? Why should players, in the face of a down-turn in oil revenue believe that the best philanthropy to do when the government has announced a set of austerity measures is to wish away a whooping N5bn to Jonathan’s re-election alone? What about the pollution of Ogoni Land for which the United Nations vide a UNEP report has long came up with a set of recommendations on how to address the environmental challenges buffeting Ogoni people and their land? What about several other oil producing communities in the Niger Delta how much have these busy body Oil and Gas industry players done to ameliorate their plight?It goes to show that those who converged on Aso Rock and their host have no other decent ways of deceiving Nigerians but to come up with unacceptable excuse of fund raising party for President Jonathan. Surprisingly too, those in real estate and building donated a mouth-watering N4bn. So, where is the so-called due process unit of the federal

re-election? How many Nigerians benefited from the housing programme of the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration? Where are the estates located? How many public institutions have received face-lift since their coming on board? What is happening in our universities? Are they comparable to what obtains even in Nigerian private universities, let alone other universities in the world as per international best practice? No doubt, those who live on rent, who collect all the government contracts and divert the funds to their private estates are the ones making such suspicious donations. Nigerians were also told that Transport and Aviation donated N1bn to the Jonathan re-election campaign. The reasons why there was focus of the government on rebuilding the nation’s airports has now been exposed. It speaks volumes and re-enacts the Oduagate saga. Little wonder Stella Odua who presided over the operations is today walking the streets a free woman. The secret of why she was not properly investigated and prosecuted over the N250million bullet proof cars

obubuyeye, so Jonathan and the PDP must not attempt to fool any permanent voter card holder in the country because his antics are clear to all. The epileptic power sector donated the sum of N500million. This is a sector that have guzzled over $24bn since the PDP made it a cardinal plan for improvement of power generation and distribution. Jonathan during his campaign in 2011 promised to end power outage in the country. He has shifted the goal post several times, as many times he promised, in the same number of times he failed to deliver till date. When they came on board, electricity generation stood at 4,000 Mega Watts. Today, after

TUESDAY, DECEMBER 30, 2014

MATTER IN FOCUS WITH DAN OWEGIE four years of Jonathan, with the sale of NEPA to private friends, electricity generation for a population close to 200million people is less than 4,000 MW. Nigerians are worse of today as most citizens celebrated Christmas in darkness. Majority resorted to self help with generators. Even the petrol to power their generators remains in short supply as long queues resurfaced in most petrol stations. When compared to South Africa with a population of less than 80million people, which generates and distributes 40,000 MW of electricity, ours is just an apology. Were the PDP Federal Government leaders to operate this way in Indonesia or China, they would have been tied to the stakes before now and shot for massive corruption. Yet, the power operators, donated hundreds of millions for darkness to remain in Nigeria and economy to permanently remain generator-driven. The Road Construction sector alone rolled in N250m. Why will the Abuja based multinational construction giant not roll in so much money when all construction contracts keep going to them and more than half of the nation’s local debt owed to them? What about the friends of Onolememen? Why will they not roll in millions of naira when it is all about kick back and front for wining all the contracts Council of State have been awarding yet, no single federal road have been successfully completed by the Jonathan administration, not even his Niger-Delta East West road. All roads the PDP government has commissioned are either halfcompleted or a quarter completed. A typical example is the Lagos Benin express way where only the Benin-Ore axis was commissioned by Jonathan for the purpose of election. Surprisingly too, PDP Governors Forum announced a donation of N1.05billion. Here

are governors, most of them have not paid salaries of their workers for between 2-4 months. The Cross River, Plateau, Benue and Kwara State Governments are owing their workers and pensioners several months of salaries. It is on record that no APC State Government is owing its workers. Yet, these heartless governors could bring millions of naira from their states to contribute to Jonathan’s reelection. This is sad. There were more donations from questionable sources, but the questions Nigerians have been asking concerning this dubious donations and impunity of the ruling PDP to flaunt their ill-gotten wealth in the face of austerity measures announced by the government are being parried by cronies. How can this same government tell Nigerians to tighten their belt when their own is so loose? Why should these kind of people be allowed to continue to preside over our common wealth which is under the control of a few? Nigerians must appreciate these issues and ensure that the PDP is voted out of power come 2015. Nobody should be speaking about ethnicity or religion at this point in time because this is what the elitist PDP has been using to deceive and divide Nigerians over the years. When they want power, they play the religious and ethnic cards up, when they grab power they turn their backs and start their business of ruination as usual. Government that is supposed to be for all is now for a few powerful and rich individuals. But Nigerians have an opportunity to throw them out in 2015 with their votes. This is a task that must be done. Mr. Dan Owegie is a Chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Edo State.

“Nigerians must appreciate these issues and ensure that the PDP is voted out of power come 2015. Nobody should be speaking about ethnicity or religion at this point in time because this is what the elitist PDP has been using to deceive and divide Nigerians over the years. When they want power, they play the religious and ethnic cards up, when they grab power they turn their backs and start their business of ruination as usual. Government that is supposed to be for all is now for a few powerful and rich individuals.”

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