Weekend observer 05 04 2014

Weekend PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol.XI NO. 3,230 • SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 2014 • N 100.00

ISSUES

MAGAZINE

Memo To The National Confab

Things Ngozi Won’t Understand About Nigeria -

Pages 15-18

Page 10

Governance

Oshiomhole Attributes Success To Support Of Edos

By ADAMS OYIBOKE

GOVERNOR Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State has attributed the success recorded by his administration in the last five years to the prayers and support of Edo People.

Speaking at a Fr. Obiyan said thanksgiving mass to “Keep an open mind mark his 62nd and remain birthday anniversary compassionate and at the Government do not forget that not House Chapel, all people will love and Oshiomhole said he appreciate you for all would continue to that you have been work to enhance the doing”. welfare of the good He called on the people of Edo State. governor to be He said, “As a focused in the human being, I am not implementation of his above mistakes, policies, stressing that because I don’t have there might be all the wisdom needed criticisms from to govern the state”. different persons but Oshiomhole called he should continue to for the continued look onto God for prayers by the people for God’s wisdom for his government to render invaluable services to the people.

In a homily, the C h a p l a i n , Government House Chapel, Rev Fr. Andrew Obiyan THE All Progressive admonished the Congress (APC) Ward governor to continue Congress earlier his good works and scheduled to hold learn from his journey today across the state through life. has been postponed

wisdom and knowledge.

According to him, “If there are policies you put in place that are not appreciated by the people, take a look at such policies a second time, and take it to God in prayers.” He said, “If a man’s ways pleases God, he makes his enemies to bow before him,” Fr. Obiyan said.

In an interview, the Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Uyi Igbe said

“ G o v e r n o r Oshiomhole has done very well,” stressing

that the Legislature will continue to give him the needed support to

succeed in his government.

While praying for good health and long life for the governor on behalf of Edo State House of Assembly, Hon. Igbe wished Comrade Adams Oshiomhole a happy

birthday.

Also, the Special Adviser to the Comrade Governor on Media and Strategy, Kas Afegbua described the State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole Continued on page 4

APC Ward Congress Postponed

ECONOMY

Curbing Inflation - Page 23

till Tuesday.

A statement from the APC Secretariat urged leaders to harmonize their aspirants before the date.

62 BIRTHDAY: L-R: Governor Adams Oshiomhole, Speaker, Edo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Uyi Igbe, Deputy Speaker, Hon. Festus Ebea and Majority leader, Hon. Philip Shaibu felicitate with Governor Oshiomhole on his 62 birthday, yesterday. Photo: CHARITY OZIGBO-ESERE.

MOMENT OF SCRUTINY

As 2015 Cometh...

- Page 5

OPINION Stop Kerosene Subsidy Now! - Page 26

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CRIME Police Arraign Security Guard For Stealing 40 Scaffold Pipes

L-R: Zonal Commanding Officer, Zone RS4, Federal Road Safety Corps, Mr. Yakubu Attah, Representative of Plateau Commissioner for Transport, Mr. Peter Dajan and representative of Deputy Corps Marshal (Operations), Mr. Albert Moore, at the second quarter retreat for Senior Officers of Federal Road Safety Corps in Jos recently.

THE police has arraigned a security guard, Peter Afam, in a Senior Magistrates’ court in Wuse Zone 2, Abuja, for stealing 40 scaffold pipes, valued at N150,000.

Afam who resides in Katampe, Abuja, is charged with theft.

The prosecutor, Sgt Mohammed Ahmed, told the court that the matter was lodged at the Maitama Police Station, Abuja, by one Mr Bashir Adewumi on March 26.

Ahmed said the accused person, a security guard attached to AA Group Properties Ltd, stole 40 scaffold pipes.

The prosecutor added

6 Men In Court Over Alleged Theft Of 230 Cartons Of Air Freshner

SIX men, who allegedly carted away 230 cartons of air fresheners worth N11.5 million, has appeared before an Ikeja Magistrates’ Court in Lagos.

The accused are, Chinedu Aribe, 30; Chizoba Okoye, 19; Uba Onichamba, 37; Stanley Onichamba, 42; Chukwudi Ejike, 31, and Chibike Enemchukwu, 32.

They are charged with six counts of conspiracy, stealing, burglary and receiving stolen goods.

The prosecutor, ASP Eranus Nnamonu, told the court that the accused

committed the offences on November 28, 2013 at Shop EB/109, Articles Dealers Association Market, Trade Fair Complex, Ojo, Lagos.

Nnamonu said the accused stole 230 cartons of Exotic air fresheners valued at N11.5 million, belonging to one Mr Romanus Ibe. He said that Aribe, Okoye and Uba burgled the shops and stole the air fresheners.

According to the prosecutor, Stanley, Ejike and Enemchukwu received

32 cartons of the stolen air freshners He said that the accused on November 29, 2013 received the air fresheners, knowing fully well that they were stolen.

The prosecutor said the offences contravened the provisions of Sections 285, 307, 326 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

If convicted, they are each liable to fourteen years in prison.

After the charges were read to them, they all pleaded not guilty.

The Magistrate, Mrs

Two Docked Over Alleged Breaking Of Cell Wall, To Escape Justice TWO men, John Maina and Simon Ekeleme, who allegedly broke the cell wall of the Mosafejo Police Station, Oshodi, in an attempt to escape from custody, has been arraigned in Lagos.

Maina, 28, a security

Meat Seller Jailed 3 Years For Raping Minor AN Abule Egba Magistrates’ Court in Lagos has sentenced a 20-yearold meat seller, Oye Adeleke to three years imprisonment for raping his customer ’s under-aged daughter.

The Magistrate, Mr Tajudeen Elias, sentenced Adeleke without an option of fine.

“This will serve as deterrent to others who indulge in having sex with a teenager.

“This sentencing is mitigated by virtue of the leg injury of the defendant and remorse on his part.’’ Elias said, while convicting Adeleke.

He said the convict would serve his sentence at the

Minimum Security Prison, Kirikiri.

Elias also said the victim should undergo counselling at the Social Welfare Office at Alimosho.

Adeleke, who lives at 7, Kareem St., Baruwa, Ipaja, a suburb of Lagos, was arraigned on a two-count charge of child defilement and attempt to escape from police custody.

The Prosecutor, Insp.

Rachel Williams, had earlier told the court that Adeleke committed the offences on January 19 at Tinubu Market, Gowon Estate, Iyana Ipaja.

He said that the convict defiled the 14-year-old, when she was sent to the market by her mother.

“The convict told the girl that her mother kept meat in his freezer, and asked

her to go and take it.

“When the girl wanted to open the freezer, the convict used a handkerchief to cover her mouth to prevent her from shouting while he raped her,” Williams said.

Abimbola Komolafe, admitted them to bail in the sum of N100, 000 each, with two sureties each in like sum.

Komolafe adjourned the case until June 5, for mention.

The prosecutor added that the convict had also attempted to escape from the police custody when he was arrested.

She said that the offence contravened Sections 21 and 137 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

guard, is a resident of 25, Akobi St., Ojuelegba, Surulere, Lagos and Ekeleme, 30, a driver, lives at No. 22, Moshalasi Yidi St., Jos, Plateau.

The duo are being tried for conspiracy and attempted jail break at an Oshodi Magistrates’ Court.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Kehinde Olatunde, told the court that the accused committed the offences on March 23 at the Mosafejo Police Station, Oshodi, Lagos.

He said the accused, who were lawfully detained in the cell, conspired to break through the cell wall to escape from custody.

Police Arrest Yam Theives In Taraba

THE police command in Taraba said it had arrested nine people who specialised in stealing yam tubers in Ibi Local Government Area of the state.

The Public Relations Officer of the command , ASP Joseph Kwaji, made the disclosure at a news conference in Jalingo.

Kwaji said a police patrol team in Ibi arrested the suspects, comprising seven men and two women, while stealing the produce.

that the pipes were recovered from the accused during investigation, noting that the offence contravened the provisions of Section 289 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, he is liable to seven years in prison with an option to pay a fine.

However, the accused person pleaded not guilty to the offence.

The prosecutor then prayed the court to grant him a date to open his case against the accused since he pleaded not guilty to the allegation against him.

The Senior Magistrate, Mr Aminu Eri, granted bail to the accused person in the sum of N200,000 and two sureties in like sum.

Eri ordered that one of the sureties must not be below Grade Level 12 and must be resident within the court’s jurisdiction and adjourned the matter until April 30 for hearing.

He said the suspects are Abdullahi Umaru, Yunusa A Yunusa, Mustapha Hamusu, Idris Mohammed, Adamu Muhammed, Yusuf Aliyu, Mairo Maijaki, Adamu Musa and Hauwa Shagari.

The public relations officer added that one Murtala Muhammadu, a herdsman, was also arrested in Wukari with an AK47, hiden in his cloth.

He said the cases were under investigation, stressing that the suspects would soon be charged to court.

The police spokesman assured the people of the area that the command was determined to secure the lives and property of residents.

“The command wants to assure the people of the area and the state at large that it is determined to secure the lives and property of residents,’’ he stressed.

“The accused made an attempt to escape from lawful custody by breaking the wall of their cell.

“But luck ran against them when the policeman who was on a routine visit to the cell heard noises coming from there.

“He discovered that the accused had broken the cell partially and wanted to escape,” Olatunde said.

According to him, “Maina has been earlier detained for parading himself as an army officer by wearing the complete camouflage uniform with jungle shoes and cap and was also in possession of dangerous weapons.

“Ekeleme was kept in the cell for scaling the fence of the Vehicle Inspection Office with intent to steal,” the prosecutor said.

The offences, Olatunde said, contravened Sections 404 and 409 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.

Section 404 prescribes a seven- year jail term as penalty for convicted offenders.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the offences and were granted bail in the sum of N50,000 each, with one surety in like sum.

The Magistrate, Mr Akeem Fashola, adjourned the case till April 17, for mention.

ASUU Flays Sharing Formula Of N200bn University Fund THE Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), Niger Delta University chapter has kicked against the formula adopted in the sharing of the Federal Government N200 billion to public universities.

It will be recalled that the fund was disbursed by the Federal Government in the wake of the recent ASUU strike.

Dr Beke Sese, ASUU chapter Chairman told newsmen in Yenagoa that the sharing formula was done in favour of the federal universities.

He said that the fund was shared 80 per cent to federal universities and 20 per cent to state universities, respectively, which he said was not equitable “and therefore, unacceptable’’.

He argued that federal universities had advantage over their state counterparts in terms of infrastructure

development and therefore it was proper for state universities to benefit more from the fund.

According to him, disbursing more funds to state universities will bring them to the same level with the federal universities.

He noted that since the money was a special intervention fund, it should be shared in a fair and equitable manner to all the public universities.

He said that all the public universities contributed to the strike that brought about the money, stressing that there was no justification for the federal universities to benefit more.

He said that the sharing formula was a deliberate attempt by certain individuals in the country to divide ASUU along federal and state universities line.

The situation, the ASUU chapter chairman said would not augur well for the union.

TARGET States High Impact Project (TSHIP), a USAID programme, has congratulated Nigeria for being the first African country to produce Chlorhexidine Gel, a drug that could help reduce infant mortality.

The project’s Chief of Party, Dr Nosa Orobotan, gave the commendation at a meeting of the Informal Network of Chlorhexidine gel manufacturers in Abuja.

He said that the large scale application of the gel on the umbilical cord could reduce the proportion of children dying in the first year of life due to infections.

Group Applauds Nigeria For Being First In Africa To Produce Chlorhexidine Gel Orobotan stated that one in every three newborns died in the first month of life because of umbilical cord-related infections.

“The milestone of Nigeria being able to produce its own Chlorhexidine gel in this country is so huge that we need to acknowledge and celebrate it. Nigeria is the first country in Africa to achieve this milestone.

“Given that we have more than seven million deliveries in this country annually and

given that one in three deaths in newborns in the first month of life is due to infection, this intervention used at scale could dramatically bring down infant mortality and the proportion of children dying in the first year of life because a large part of deaths in the first year of life takes place in the first month of life.

“So, if we drop that down and this is what Chlorhexidine will do - it will dramatically give us the platform to bring down infant mortality.

Buhari Condoles With Victims Of Attack In Katsina FORMER Head of State and leader of All Progressives Congress, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, has condoled with victims of the March 11 killings in Katsina State.

Reports say that Buhari also donated 200 bags of maize and one million naira to the survivors.

Buhari, accompanied by his associates from Kaduna State, visited Mararabar Kindo, Sabonlayin Galadima and Maigora communities in Faskari and Sabuwa local government areas.

He described the attacks as pure terrorism which had gone beyond religion and ethnicity in view of the fact that many people were affected.

He advised people to remain united and to assist security agencies in

unmasking those behind the attacks.

He attributed the ugly trend to intention of some few people to destabilise Nigeria as the incidents occurred from one area to another.

Buhari urged people to report suspicious movements to security agencies so that they could be investigated and prosecuted if found wanting.

Sen. Abu Ibrahim (APCKatsina), called for proactive measures to ensure that the trend was addressed and commended Buhari for the visit.

He said it showed his concern for the plight of the people.

It will be recalled that gunmen killed 117 persons in an attack on some communities in the two local government areas on March 11.

Confab: Ita-Giwa Decries

Violence Against Women SENATOR Florence ItaGiwa has decried the rising cases of violence against women in Nigeria, saying it greatly violated their rights as human being and as citizens of the country.

Ita-Giwa, representing Cross Rivers, expressed her displeasure at plenary at the National Conference in Abuja on Thursday.

She that with the increasing violation of women’s rights, it was high time the issue was addressed to protect them from the traumatic experiences they went through each day.

“Violence against women either physical or verbal must stop,’’ she said.

The delegate further said that women should be given the opportunity to participate actively in governance.

She advocated that women should not only be given opportunity to be part of decision-making, but also coopted at young age so that they could make meaningful contributions.

“Women must be given the opportunity to participate in the development of this country.

“Women’s gestation period should not be so long because in this country before you can have a voice to speak you will be approaching 60 years.

“After a very short time your relevance lapses.

L-R:Financial Secretary, NUJ OBSERVER Chapel, Prince Richard Eweka, Asst.

Secretary, Sylvester Oboh, the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Philipa Idogho, Secretary, Raymond Osogbe and Mr. Lamai Cassium during the presentation of award of Execellence on the Rector in her office recently.

“I do want to emphasis that while we are talking about one medicine, the impact is beyond what it appears to be. It is literally strong and quite powerful.“ Reports say that TSHIP is a five-year project funded by USAID with a focus on providing high impact and integrated maternal, newborn, and child health, family planning, and reproductive health interventions.

The chief of party commended pharmaceutical companies that had shown interest in manufacturing the gel.

He spoke of the need to reorientate women and encourage them to use the gel and not methylated spirits or other substances, such as tooth pastes.

Orobotan applauded the Bauchi and Sokoto state governments for the free distribution of Chlorhexidine gel in all its primary health care centres by community-based health volunteers.

He called on other state governments to emulate them.

Dr Kayode Afolabi of the Child Health Department, Federal Ministry of Health said that the Federal Government had approved the use of the gel and had gone ahead to capture its use in the Child Health Policy and also in its infant and maternal Newborn Child Health Programme.

Afolabi said it was also on the government’s list of essential medicines for umbilical cord care.

NAFDAC Collaborates With International Partners To Upgrade Drug Laboratory THE National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has said that it is collaborating with international partners to upgrade the Central Drug Laboratory in Lagos.

Dr Paul Ohii, DirectorGeneral of the Agency said this in Abuja when he received representatives of the World Health Organisation (WHO), members of the Department for International Development (DFID), and Partnership for Transforming Health System 2 (PATH 2).

He said that if the laboratory was upgraded it would be certified by WHO and would be one of the standard laboratory in the country.

“The Agency will do everything possible to strengthen partnership with international partners to ensure the accreditation of its Central Drug

Laboratory Yaba, Lagos.

“Efforts are on towards obtaining WHO certification for National Quality Control Laboratories,’’he said.

Orhi said in spite of the difficulties of acquiring some equipment and materials, the Agency would do everything within its powers to ensure the review of the process of procurement and supply.

He assured the partners that the NAFDAC management would work to ensure timely and efficient supply of resources, materials and all input to the laboratory.

He said under the arrangement the technical partners would provide technical support to put the laboratory to maximum use.

Dr Mike Egboh, National Programme

Polytechnic have been advised to always make use of the pedestrian bridge being constructed at the BeninAbuja express way by the school gate upon completion as a way of preventing their lives which have been endangered in the past while crossing.

The Rector, Auchi Polytechnic, Dr. Mrs. Philipa O. Idogho gave the advice recently during the 2013/2014 matriculation of new students into the institution.

Whiling appealing to the students to take the advantage of the pedestrian bridge by using it for the sake of their safety however said management frown at the membership of cult groups within the school environment and warned against bad company and clubs/societies they may belong.

The Rector said the school was determined to make the learning environment more conducive for the students so that they can optimize their

Manager, Partnership for Transforming Health System 2 (PATH 2), said all partners were working in collaboration with NAFDAC to ensure WHO certification of the laboratory.

“The effort is being supported by DFID, through other partners to provide support to NAFDAC to ensure that the laboratory is certified

by December 2015,’’he said.

Students Advised To Use Pedestrian

By LAMAI CASSIUS time for learning, hence, the Bridge school has improved the STUDENTS of Auchi

library facilities with the recent completion of the two-phase expansion with internet facility.

As a way of keeping the students health stable at all times, she said the management has also established an annex of the cottage hospital in the Philipa Idogho campus to provide necessary first aid and other health care needs for the students on campus.

Meanwhile, the pedestrian bridge has reached an advance stage of completion.

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N ws FG To Train 500 Niger-Delta Youths In Vocational Skills THE Federal Government has said it would train 500 youths in the Niger Delta in various skills to enable them get jobs or become selfemployed.

The Supervising Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Mr Darius Ishaku, announced this in Abuja while receiving an award from a group known as Niger Delta Peace Initiative.

Ishaku, who received the award on behalf of President Goodluck Jonathan for his developmental efforts in the region, said the training was meant to engage the minds of the youths in meaningful ventures.

“Being able to engage the minds of our youth is very critical.

Our skills acquisition centres are used for this purpose.

“The trainees will be held in factories and those who wish to set up their own businesses after the training will be empowered to do so.’’

The supervising minister said that a skills acquisition centre would be inaugurated for the training programme in Otuoke in Bayelsa in two months time.

“A total of 500 youths will be mobilised for training in various skills at the commissioning of the skills acquisition centre in Otuoke,” he said.

Ishaku recalled that the ministry in 2008 initiated the establishment of skill acquisition centres in the nine oil producing states of Delta, Akwa Ibom, Cross River, Bayelsa Rivers, Edo, Ondo, Imo and Abia.

He added that at the moment, 100 youths were being trained in the Calabar centre pending the

completion of the other centres.

The supervising minister said that the ministry was working assiduously to complete the East-West road by the first quarter of 2015.

“Mr President has been so passionate about the road.

However, the ministry’s zeal for the completion has been hampered due to paucity of funds.

“But we were able to source for funds with the help of the president, through SURE-P, African Development Bank in addition to our budget.

“The ministry is still trying to get additional funds from Infrastructure Bank so that by the first quarter of next year, we will deliver the 388 kilometre dual carriage way,” he added.

Earlier, Mr Julius Enehikhuere, the Coordinator of Niger Delta Peace Initiative, commended the efforts of the present administration in tackling poverty and under development in the region.

Enehikhuere stressed the need for more youth’ empowerment programmes in the region to fast-track development and curb restiveness.

He urged the Federal Government to extend its amnesty programme to other categories of youths in the region that were not necessarily involved in militancy.

The coordinator noted that his earlier publication, “Emerging Issues in Niger Delta and True Federalism” highlighted some of the development issues and challenges facing the region.

He said that there was need for the states in the

region to harmonise efforts and work together to actualise the ministry’s developmental plan for the region.

He commended the supervising minister for the way he was piloting the affairs of the ministry.

“As an architect, you have clearly seen the potholes in the region and I am sure that you can come up with great solutions to the problems of the Niger Delta,” he said.

even at 62years.

He said, “For a man of his age, at 62, to have the kind of tremendous unquantifiable energy also explains something very unique about him, something unique about his personage, something extra-ordinary about the Oshiomhole round track. That also explains why he is so very much enthusiastic and energetic about the state, carrying out his statutory duties as number 1 citizen of the state”.

He said “That also explains why he is in hurry to see the state develop from a very decaded status inherited to something that will become an attraction to both the people of Edo State and other visitors to the state.

Mr. Afegbua noted that though the Governor may not be perfect which according to him “is normal for every human being” but maintained that such imperfections might be quintessentious that you

can hardly notice his imperfections.

He described the governor at 62 as one man with high capacity to work 21 hours out of the 24hours in a day stressing that he is a man with the ideal leadership orientation that is capable of

By RAYMOND OSOGBE HON. Elizabeth Ativie, member representing Uhunmwode Constituency in Edo State House of Assembly (EDHA) has extended immense gratitude to the Benin Royal Monarch, Oba Erediauwa for his fatherly role and blessings that continuously sustain and propel her through life process.

The only female member of EDHA disclosed this when she paid a courtesy visit to the Benin revered Monarch in his palace.

Going down memory lane, the honourable member recounted from the beginning of her formative years, how she has always had one

Confab Delegates Reject Monetisation However, Chief Ayo DELEGATES at the Of Lunch Adebanjo, also representing National Conference has in Abuja rejected that their lunch be monetised and the money paid to each of them.

Reports state that some of the delegates had complained over the quality and the inability of some of them getting lunch during break.

Shortly before adjourning for lunch, a delegate representing the Association of Retired Police Officers of Nigeria, Mr J.I. Ebinum, moved a motion for the lunch to be monetised.

Ebinum’s motion was not seconded.

At the resumed plenary after lunch, Mr Dan Nwanyanwu, representing Labour Party (LP), drew the attention of the Deputy Chairman of the conference, Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, on the lunch issue.

Nwanyanwu cautioned delegates to be careful of how they clamour for the monetisation of their privileges to avoid members of the public reading negative meanings into it.

Similarly, Mr Musa Elayo, representing House of Representatives Forum, cautioned delegates to be careful of discussing sensitive issues on the floor of the conference.

Elayo said that the media would capture such issue and make it available to members

Oshiomhole Attributes Success To Support Of Edos as a man full of energy Continued from page 1

Hon Ativie Extends Gratitude To Oba Erediauwa

taking not just Edo State but Nigeria out of its present social, political and economic morals.

While saluting the Comrade Governor on his interventionary policies brought to Edo State, Mr. Afegbua prayed God to grant him good health and long life even as he works to take Edo State to the next level.

of the public.

He, therefore, suggested an executive session at the conference to afford delegates the opportunity to discuss sensitive issues.

However, Akinyemi said that the attention of the leadership had been drawn to the issue but that the secretariat was addressing it.

Chief Josephine Anenih, representing the elder statesmen, said shortly before the adjournment of plenary that provision was made for 500 delegates.

According to her, some non-delegates have been eating at the canteen and this has reduced the food ration for the delegates.

Anenih said: “the issue has been sorted out and the food has improved. So, we don’t want to discuss it.

“We want to eat and the reason we want to eat is that it affords us the opportunity to interact.

“If the leadership asks us to go home to eat and come back, we will not enjoy this conference again. So, please we want to eat here.”

the elder statesmen, observed that the situation had not improved much.

“The situation has not improved much. I am not in support of anybody monetising anything, whatever it is, I will only urge the secretariat to improve on the service.

“It has not yet improved at all. Many people, including myself, didn’t eat yesterday.

The secretariat should improve the service, not monetising it. I didn’t come here for money,’’ Adebanjo said.

Taking a position on the matter, the Chairman, Justice Idris Kutigi, who joined the plenary, concurred with Anenih and Adebanjo.

Kutigi said that the leadership would continue to improve on the welfare of the delegates.

“Madam, I think you are right. All these complaints were rectified all through the week to see that we improve and we’ve been improving.

He adjourned plenary till Monday, for continuation of discussions on President Goodluck Jonathan’s speech.

Ministry Sympathises With Jerry Gana Over Death Of His Mother THE Federal Ministry of Information, has condoled with former Minister of Information, Prof. Jerry Gana, over the death of his mother, Madam Felicia Fatima Gana.

Madam Felicia died at the age of 95.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran Maku said that the death of Gana’s mother was not just a personal loss but a collective one.

The delegation from the ministry, who visited Prof.

Gana at his Abuja residence, includes the Permanent Secretary, Dr Yemi

Folashade Esan and the directors.

“You left a good record in the Federal Ministry of Information, both in terms of leadership and the human relations you provided.

“We were all very aggrieved and we felt that the passage of Mama was not just your loss but our collective loss,” he said.

Maku described the deceased as an exemplary mother who raised one of Nigeria’s best public servants in the person of Prof. Gana and his siblings.

NEMA Calls For Collaborative Effort On Disaster Risk Management

THE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has called for a collaborative effort of stakeholders to promote disaster risk reduction and mitigation of the negative impact of seasonal rainfall predictions.

The South East Zonal Coordinator of the agency, Dr Bamidele Onimode, made the call at a one day workshop on the 2014 flood prevention, mitigation and preparedness in Awka.

He said that efforts of

stakeholders had become imperative as financial resources available for disaster management were increasingly becoming limited in the face of competing demands from other sectors of the economy.

“We, therefore, have no choice but to call on all relevant stakeholders to join hands with the agency in promoting disaster risk reduction and mitigation in the country.’’

He said that the seasonal rainfall prediction issued by the Nigerian Meteorological

reason or the other to obtain the Oba’s blessings, Lo! And behold! She emphasized that, the blessings really touched her life.

Ativie then unfolded, “as a result of this and some obvious positive impacts that the palace has made in my life, I cannot help, but to always continuously say thank you and as well continuously ask for more blessings.

The Royal Monarch’s bead recipient was further given blessings on the directive of the Oba. Addressing Journalists later, Ativie disclosed that, her free health care project have touched the lives of more than 16,000 persons in her Uhunmwode Constituency, just as she said that the medical team has visited more than 40 towns and villages in the locality.

Similarly, she disclosed that, she embarked on constituency projects at Oke, Orhua, Irhue, Idummwui ugha and Izikhiri, all in Uhunmwode.

In the same vein, she hinted that on her prompting, the University of Benin Teaching Hospital (UBTH) authorities have taken over the Federal Government Comprehensive Clinic at Obadan in Ohuan ward in Uhunmwode, just as she called on the state government to a model hospital at Ehor, capital of Uhunmwode Local Government Area.

Ativie was accompanied to the palace by her family members, her free health project, medical team and well wishers.

Agency (NiMet) had stimulated disaster preparedness, to reduce the numbers of lives, property and livelihoods lost to flood disaster.

Onimode, represented by the agency’s zonal accountant, Mr Olatunde Mohammed, said that the sensitisation programme was being held in the five states of the South East, to share common understanding on problems and solutions.

“Compared to the devastating 2012 flood disaster,

there is a significant reduction in the number of those affected, as the agency is making adequate preparation for this year’s rainy season, to avoid the effects of the 2012 flood disaster.

“The success recorded from the sensitisation campaign embarked upon by the agency was based on the seasonal rainfall predictions and the Nigeria Hydrological Service Agency (NIHSA) 2013 annual flood outlook.

The minister said that though the death of mama was a huge loss, the family should be consoled by the fact that she lived a life of devotion to God and service to humanity.

Maku therefore urged Prof.

Gana to be consoled and strengthened by the long life she lived and the comfort and support she provided.

He prayed God to comfort the family and the entire Nupe chiefdom and give them the fortitude to bear the loss.

Prof. Jerry Gana thanked the management of the ministry for the condolence visit, saying the gesture had confirmed that “my public service home is the ministry of information”.

He described the Ministry of Information as crucial to the sustenance of democracy in the country.

“The Ministry of Information is very vital; unless you tell the people what the government has done, the citizens may find it difficult to appreciate efforts made by government.

“I must say we thank God that you have both the determination and the language to really project what is happening now,” he said.

“Things never get any better for the citizenry, rather things are setting rougher and tougher each day for the pitiful masses, as our heartless leaders continues to make life unbearable for them.”

THEY come to steal, to kill and to destroy. The government is at war with its citizenry. There is general insecurity everywhere and the hapless citizenry looks up to heaven, as they are left to scavenge at rubbish dumps looking for what does not exist. They are being assailed by pain, hunger, starvation, diseases, want, poverty and tattered penury.

Things never get any better for the citizenry, rather things are setting rougher and tougher each day for the pitiful masses, as our heartless leaders continues to make life unbearable for them.

What with the constant hike in the price of petroleum products in the name of subsidy removal.

But many people have asked, is there such thing as fuel subsidy? Who and what is being subsidized?

Meanwhile the monies earmarked as subsidy funds ends up in the foreign account of the big ogas, while those who are supposed to be enjoying the so-called subsidies continue to wallow in poverty and deprivation silently.

They also hike electricity tariffs, even when everywhere is plunged in the deepest darkness.

They continue to hike everything that is ‘hikeable’. They hike import duties they hike school fees, they hike water rates, they hike property taxes and tenement rates, they hike the prices of goods and services. They impose

As 2015 Cometh...

Festus Kayamo

multiple taxation and multiple levies for the poor.

They collect all the monies left in the hands of workers

after all the various deductions with the left hand, leaving them ever so penniless. What a

vicious cycle. Who shall bring succour to the traumatized citizenry, that is the billion dollar

question?

The state Houses of Assembly and National Assembly are supposed to act as check and balance in the system are themselves so far removed from the realities on ground.

Rather than checkmate the executive and enact laws that would propel rapid integration of the people into the main stream, they are busy discussing impertinent matter on how to feather their nest the more.

Looking at the level of fraud that is going on in the country today, it is done with impunity, and nothing happens to those involved in the fraudulent activities.

And still the innocent citizenry continues to suffer the terrible blows of injustice in the land.

And one may ask where is the human sense of justice, fairness and balance in what is going on in this country? Are the multifarious ills and injustices in the society not the result of government’s negligence and apathy towards the total well being of the citizenry?

From all possible deductions, it would seem as if the government is at war with it citizenry, those who have put them at the exalted position they are occupying. This is really tragic.

It seems that the government really hates the people, (those who voted them into power) with disgust and disdain, at least this is the apparent picture

portrayed everywhere.

Apparently, from what is obtainable everywhere, the government careless about the people, there is a wide gulf, a wide disparity between the government and the people. For example, in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, the percentage of hunger is about 42%, even as many Nigerians are sentenced to a short life, due to under development.

Many Nigerian children are malnourished, most of the women are poor and illiterates, and youth u n e m p l o y m e n t deplorable.

Now who would have to provide succour for the hapless citizenry, who are themselves victims of exploitation and drudgery?

With the general insecurity in the land, the prospect of national development is held in obeisance. With the 2015 general elections just ahead, so much is hinged on its outcome.

Can 2015 be the final turning point for Nigerian’s advancement or disintegration?

Will 2015 finally usher in a new era of political redefinition of the essentials of democracy or will it further re-invent conservatism and capitalism of the worst kind in Nigeria? Will 2015 finally throw up the conscientious politicians who are ready to serve or would it further entrench dictatorship and tyrannical government? These are just a tip of the iceberg.

“Rather than checkmate the executive and enact laws that would propel rapid integration of the people into the main stream, they are busy discussing impertinent matter on how to feather their nest the more. Looking at the level of fraud that is going on in the country today, it is done with impunity, and nothing happens to those involved in the fraudulent activities. And still the innocent citizenry continues to suffer the terrible blows of injustice in the land.”

s

I sues THIS is not the first time Nigeria nation would be presiding over the butchering of her citizens on account of elusive job scam. This perhaps, is the single most organised wanton and grim harvest of deaths in such instance, in a swamp of stampedes that snuff out lives from 19 applicants across the country!

The same scenario

Youths Employment: Blood On

wits or wisdom become the ultimate credential or criteria that determined their employment and existence. “They were trampled underfoot in the frenzied rush to gain a vantage position at the start; others died from sheer exhaustion.

Hundreds sought hospital

The Presidency

By ERASMUS IKHIDE guaranteed by international and regional human rights treaties to

Abba Morro

President Goodluck Jonathan

placed out in July 13, 2008, where dozens of applicants died at various centres across Nigeria in recruitment exercises conducted by the same Immigration Service and the Prisons Department.

Then, many applicants filled themselves up for employment and were required to complete a 2.5 km race in 18 minutes (men) and 20 minutes (women).

Regrettably, it never occurred to the recruiters that they had to set up emergency medical services that are routinely provided even in situations involving those whose physical fitness can be taken for granted in any civilised clime, just the way it happened on March 17th. It became a tragic race of no return for 43 of the 195, 000 applicants who jostled for 3,000 vacancies. The physical strength, not

treatment for the injuries they suffered during the race”, says Dr Olatunji Dare.

These inhuman and avoidable deaths and degrading treatment of the job-seekers constitute fundamental violations of their rights to life, dignity and work. It shows the growing level of economic injustice caused by pervasive corruption and lack of opportunities for Nigerian children to enjoy the right to payable job and to earn a living by work, as

existence worthy of human dignity.

This is another bizarre

Abba Moro, the Minister of Interior, who has the Immigration Service under his portfolio, laid the blame squarely at the

victims death has got to rank among the most brazen and impervious ever uttered by any serious minded political office holder. Similar unpatriotic and jaundiced statement was made by Bauchi State Governor, Isa Yuguda in the wake of the murder of 20 Youth

which Nigeria subscribes.

The opportunity offers itself for the Nigerian government to urgently adopt legislative, budgetary, administrative and other measures to promote and support access to employment opportunities for her citizens. Curiously, Article 23 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights also guarantees the right to work, to free choice of employment, to protection against unemployment, and to an

incident of an elected government officials sanctioning mass murders of its gullible and unsuspecting youths on the alter of phantom employment scam and racket, claiming that it serves those who died in the stampedes right. It is unimaginable that the mass of ambitious youths and pregnant mothers of our ancestry should groan and die of hungry and poverty in a state of agony in the midst of plenty.

With impunity, Patrick

“These inhuman and avoidable deaths and degrading treatment of the job-seekers constitute fundamental violations of their rights to life, dignity and work.”

door steps of the victims, instead of empathising with them. “Several unauthorised persons came in here, especially pregnant women,” he said. Then, as if for emphasis, he added: “I am surprised that pregnant women would want to come and partake in this exercise that involves physical exercises.”

Minister Alba Moro claimed the ministry shortlisted 80,000 applicants, and that several of those at the Abuja stadium were not shortlisted. But the Immigration service said they expected 100,000 in the same stadium. The question is where would the minister made seats available for 80,000 persons who converge at the National Stadium with a sitting capacity of 60,000?

Abba Moro’s statement which suggests that the

Corpers doing election duties in the state in 2011 that thier deaths are in keeping with their destiny!

Nigerians are being killed in large scale on a daily bases without any end in sight and federal government has grown accustomed to a very repulsive and defeatist sloganeering of “we will get to the root of the killings”. The presidency, as usual, will soon set up a panel of enquiry to investigate the remote causes of the death-foremployment heist.

The questions is, shall we expect President Goodluck Jonathan to “get to the root of the present stage managed killing” by the Nigeria Immigration Service, NIS and its allied? If he does, shall we ever know the purpose the killing serves in his government?

Continued on page 7

s

I sues Continued from page 6 Could the government findings assuage the feelings of many Nigeria who linked the deaths of job-seeking youth to serving ritual purposes?

Would the enquiry truely reveal the Administration’s intension that was attended with showmanship? How many more Nigerians will pay the ultimate price if the aims of the brutal ritualistic stampedes is to elongate certain person hold onto power beyond 2015?

The lies fed the entire world by the Briton Woods economist and World Bank pimpernel, Dr Ngozi Okonjor-Iweala and her pay master, President Goodluck Jonathan has resonates with the blood of innocent job-seekers across the federation. Unfortunately, the young citizens who died in the job fiasco are not seeking to secure jobs alone, but to be allowed the opportunity to contribute towards the development of their fatherland. The 19 persons who died, four of them pregnant women, were killed in the resulting stampedes.

Hundreds suffered injuries. “The luckier ones were horse-whipped (Calabar), tear-gassed (Port Harcourt), or sent into wild panic when Immigration officials and police shot into the air, they claimed, to control the surging crowds (Asaba and Abeokuta).”

The truth has been laid bare — 4,500 vacancies declared by NIS attracted over 6 million applicants, from which over half a million was shortlisted before the exercise was ever conducted. Yet these youths were crushed with their ambitious bid as the aspiring leaders of tomorrow as they were ignorantly made to understand that there is light at the end of the tunnel! Even though it is obvious to the blind that the tunnel has long disappeared along with the light, They were very much deceived in their borrowed hope.

President Jonathan has deadened his consciousness to several admonition that massive and mindless looting of the public funds that could have been used to

...Blood On The Presidency create millions of jobs ending up in the deep pockets of corrupt government officials without any consequence is at the heart of the nation’s woes. If the roads across the country are not suffery from variation and abandonments, if the

motive is already know to all – is one tragic incident that should trouble lovers of humanity and justice.

Job creation is one area Dr Ngozi Okonjor-Iweala repeatedly and routinely pounds her chest with nebulous figure of economic growth as a result of employment

removed from what we are about to become – “Failed State”. A state that is helpless over the mindless hacking of her citizenry, even masterminding such horrendous butchering as it is in this case, has no business with nationbecoming.

the regions of the country.”

Again, avoidable deaths, tears and sorrow characterised a simple recruitment exercise of 4,500. This unacceptable development runs against the best employment practices as contained in Nigeria’s

hospital are truly reconstructed as claimed and monies voted for education find their way into the sector, no doubt many unemployed youths would have been out of unemployment market. This is not the case with President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration.

Beyond job-creating subterfuge which turns out to be potent bloodletting episode over the years – whose actual

generation. This has since turned out to be a ruse and deceitful indices.

If democracy as we know it in Nigeria of today is all but job creation, youth empowerment, infrastructural development, majority rule, rule of law, equity, social justice, accountability, free choice and all other variable of potential developmental indices, then we are not far

Vice-President of the Nigerian Labor Congress (NLC) and General Secretary of the Textile Workers Union of Nigeria, Issa Aremu, captured the situation perfectly: “The issues of unemployment and job creation should dominate discussion at the National Conference which commenced on Monday, March 17, 2014.

The crisis of unemployment is one issue that cuts across all

Labour Act and relevant conventions and resolutions of International Labour Organization (ILO) guiding decent work as subscribed to by Nigeria,” he said.

“Just as it was in 2008 (six years ago) the gender dimension of the deaths involved females and pregnant women in Benin.

When we consider the pregnant applicants, we have invariably also killed unborn applicants. For a country that just marked International Women’s Day with fanfare, the deaths of female applicants do gross violence to the federal and state governments’ claim to respect human and women rights. These nation-wide unprovoked deaths have negatively dented the notorious image of Nigeria as a country in which lives are being casually wasted in the communities, on the

“The truth has been laid bare — 4,500 vacancies declared by NIS attracted over 6 million applicants, from which over half a million was shortlisted before the exercise was ever conducted.”

roads and now at recruitment centres.

“When tragedies get addictive and widespread, as it is regrettably becoming the regular trademark of the Nigeria Immigration Service, these are no more “accidents” or a flash but clearly avoidable incidents.

Indeed the deaths are nothing less than industrial murders whose perpetrators are known.

Nigerians do not need another probe panel on this tragedy.

“In 2008, under Ya r ’ A d u a - l e d administration after similar carnage called recruitment, the Federal Government instituted a probe into the circumstances which led to the death of scores of applicants nationwide.

The outcome of the probe was never known.

Nigerians are probesfatigue. Indeed the probe has not stopped this industrial murders. This certainly should not be another opportunity for probe-panel beating”, he said.

It is shameful that over 6 million youths will pay N1, 000 to chase less than 5,000 jobs in a single department across the country. This same blood-soaked racket has raked in over N2 billion for the Nigeria Immigration Service, which they claimed the money was meant for the consulting firm. The tragic incident is a clear testament of President Goodluck Jonathan’s clueless economic policy, which regrettably posits that the government has no business in business and the monumental graft that governs his administration.

Any wonder that the PDP administration could not deploy the unprecedented oil and gas revenue that have accrued to the nation in the last 15 years into critical infrastructure like refineries, modern railways, power supply for the teeming Nigerian youths? Until Nigerians learn to hold their leaders accountable, the tragedy of March 17 will repeat itself over and again.

s

I sues Throwing Jobs At The Bereaved: More ONE of the President’s few remaining ardent supporters, I think it was Bafarawa, said ‘Jonathan is still learning.’ This was an admission of incapacity for sure but was not a reassuring and actually accurate statement, evidence proves. What is the evidence that the President is learning… what precisely is he learning? What has he learned in 7+ years in Aso rock? He veritably did not learn from late Yar ’Adua who he served as deputy under, how to swiftly and firmly, without romance and pa tronage, defeat Boko Haram as Yar’Adua did.

He did not learn from Yar ’Adua how to resolve terror crises like MEND terror of the creeks, which Yar’Adua ‘taught him.’ Today, the Niger Delta youth are no better—are unemployed and the creeks are fully terrorized once again with high-sea piracy, oil bunkering, illegal refining, kidnapping and armed robbery.

Jonathan did not learn from Yar’Adua how to protect national interests by fighting corruption and corrupt cabal head-on. We remember how Yar’Adua overturned the ‘illegal’ sale of Nigeria’s refineries by Obasanjo to Dangote and Otedola. Jonathan today does the opposite; so what has he learned?

The reason for this

Insult On National Injury

By DR. PEREGRINO BRIMAH reference is as refers to the national immigration tragedy rocking this nation. The President promised to throw three jobs at each of the families that lost a member during the criminal i m m i g r a t i o n recruitment exercise scam conducted by his regime. This is insult upon injury. One asks—does this President have any advisers?

Do they not know that you do not give kneejerk responses in such grave cases of national tragedy, adding insult upon injury? Does this government have the right to simply throw away state jobs at families like so? This gives you an idea and confirms allegations that during this and similar exercises in the past, these government officials actually did share employment positions among their families in this simple fashion—3 for you, 250 for me… etc. No, Mr. President, a government does not have the right under any conditions whatsoever to simply throw three immigration jobs at families, yours or others like that. There are criteria for employment and these

criteria must at all times remain the basis for these State specialty and national security jobs. So if the members of these families do not have candidates who pass the criteria then what will you do? If they do not have members who need the jobs, or if they simply now detest anything to do with Immigration and customs under your government and the interior ministry, how will your bribe help them, Sir? This offer is insolent, insensitive and arrogant. Your duty is to figure out how to attempt to resolve this national tragedy; not to throw appeasements of your choice to the bereaved. You are not meant to be a dictator… yes we know you love Abacha and all, but remember this is that crucial year before elections 2015. You can do better than this.

Nigeria is drenched in blood and tears, be more sensitive and sensible for God sake!

If you wished to throw jobs at the bereaved, you can only do so with your private sector cabal who you sell all Nigeria and Nigerians to. You cannot simply throw away national security jobs as gifts or appeasement to who

“The reason for this reference is as refers to the national immigration tragedy rocking this nation.”

wants and who does not want; you can however tell your buddies in the private

acknowledgement of your deadly mistake.

And do Nigerians have to die and rise up in

(Some of us know who really needs to be fired/ Impeached, but the Senate is just as

protest for you to realize we exist? What’s your plan for the millions who were defrauded by your regime and the hundreds who were injured and the thousands of us home and abroad who are being psychologically defeated and traumatized by the unbelievable acts of insane greed of your and Babangida’s men in your government?

We will prove to you that Nigerian poor masses are not goats.

Fire, fire, fire, fire is the main menu as we approach the next election. Not only shall you fire the Interior minister, but you must also fire your advisers

hopeless so that won’t happen anytime soon).

Obviously to all, they are very incompetent people.

Who thought up such a stupid plan in this instance of national insult and hurt when the tragedy as Rudolph Okonkwo stated, is to all Nigerians, the ‘walking dead.’ Three jobs to each family? Seriously? This falls into the category of actions of your first year in office—‘Nigeria’s national soccer team are banned.’ Yes, that type of knee-jerk, senseless action. So what are we learning precisely if we still repeat the reactionary, puerile, despotic errors of our first days in office?

Jonathan

sector, those you dashed PHCN to etc, you know, those whose oligopolies you enshrine and protect in crippling of the nation, to offer equally compensating jobs to the family members.

That is allowed, is within your authority and means and that will be a service we would have praised and not criticized.

Sir, you could give money or other things, but you simply do not have these jobs to give.

And whatever you give means you made a deadly mistake and the giving MUST be accompanied by a sacking or first suspension in

s

I sues NIS Recruitment Tragedy: The Blame THE Nigeria’s Interior Minister, Abba Moro is supposed to be the first person to throw in the towel after the unmitigated disaster that has been the NIS Recruitment Fraud recently where 20 Nigerians died and

order to gain access to the stadium. That was the beginning of the stampede. The crowd got more desperate when they learnt that they could get Foreign Service postings and then become pensionable.

So

Game Continue

doctors, nurses, teachers, engineers and all manner of people who had paid jobs turned up and increased our dilemma” Excuses, excuses and excuses everywhere and yet there are no substance.

What Nigerians have been saying is that there are many ways of doing this kind of job without getting into trouble. Nigerians are insisting that the target of NIS and its contractors is money knowing that job seekers will jump for immigration jobs in Nigeria for a thousand

from the exercise and nobody thought about how to secure the stadia. It was a planned deal to make as much money as possible from the desperate, hapless youths looking for what to do to earn a living.

Abba Moro can manufacture all the excuses in the world just to retain his job but he will not convince any

By JOE IGBOKWE reasons. The truth of the matter is that attention was focused on the monetary gains

Abba Morro

several others wounded. According to Abba Moro: “it is odd that many of those who turned up included employed bankers, engineers, medical doctors, nurses, teachers and others who wanted to crossover to the Immigration Services at all costs” Boro said.

They made adequate preparations but: “they overpowered the Security personnel.

Many of them got impatient and very desperate to get attention, and in the process, they began to climb and jump across impossible places in

critical mind in this country that they planned this job very well. Abba Moro can manufacture a million lies just to cover the obvious and painful truth that they failed the simple litmus test of leadership in organizing a simple recruitment aptitude test. Even when Abba Boro succeeds in getting a million lies to cover his miserable outing, the truth will still manage to come out that he and his groups are horrible leaders and ethically wrecked monsters. It may be possible for Abba Moro to raise the level of River Benue by directing all the planetary rains to fall on it but even when he succeeds in doing that, water will always find its level.

In Nigeria nobody owns up responsibility for failures. Boro forgot that the bucks stop at his table. He forgot that if anything goes wrong in the Interior Ministry he is the one that will be held responsible. But this is Nigeria where nobody takes blames for anything. This has been the bane of our country.

As I write this, 494 Nigerians have gathered in Abuja for President Jonathan’s Confab on how to move

Nigeria forward. On a conservative estimate 80% of these people may have contributed in one way or the other to all the troubles in our land since 1960.

Senator Ita Giwa and another Confab delegate drove this fact home when the delegates gathered for the first time few days back. Whatever Nigeria is going through is a product of many years of criminal assault on project Nigeria by Nigerians, whether military or civilians.

I am surprised that Abba Boro and his gang at Interior Ministry have not attributed what transpired on Saturday March 15 2014 as act of God. When a military Aircraft, C130 went down in Ejigbo Lagos during General Babangida’s era, in very unusual circumstances, killing nearly 200 passengers the Chief of Air Staff Akin Dada then called it an act of God. When the late General Abacha took over power by force in November 1993 some people described the criminality as an act of God. When Chief MKO was murdered in Abuja by the powers that be, some even described it as an act of God. President Jonathan has done well by canceling the tragic recruitment exercise.

He has also ordered that the money extorted from our hapless and violated youths be returned. This is a welcome development but heads must roll at the country’s Interior Ministry to serve as a deterrent to others. A bungled exercise that took the lives of 20 innocent Nigerians must be linked to those who take decisions at the Interior Ministry and they must be fished out and punished. This country will never be great unless we learn to stamp our feet and call a spade a spade. If offenders for a crime are not punished, the people’s hearts are schemed to continue to do wrong. Let us punish offenders and this country will be better for it.

Charles Krauthammer warned that “punishment is meant to do more than just bring order to the State; it brings moral order to the universe.

Some crimes are so terrible that the moral balance of the universe remains disturbed so long as the perpetrator walks the earth” The man who was responsible for dropping Atomic Bombs in the Islands of Hiroshima and Nagasaki said it is a burden he has to carry till the rest of his life.

Actions carry consequences. Abba Moro and others must go for Nigeria to get better.

“Excuses, excuses and excuses everywhere and yet there are no substance. What Nigerians have been saying is that there are many ways of doing this kind of job without getting into trouble.”

s Things Ngozi Won’t Understand About Nigeria I sues

LAST week, I was privy to a little note written by Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister for Finance, Ngozi OkonjoIweala, in which she summarized that recent setbacks will not undo Nigeria’s progress.

While I am not in the habit of just attacking government officials, I will not just disagree with the Minister but draw her to some realities, not just her but our ‘leaders and dealers’.

In her note, she spoke of “Allegations of unremitted oil revenues, and leadership changes at the central bank, having attracted a great deal of the wrong kind of attention to Nigeria.”

The fact is loads of issues are attracting the wrong kind of attention, and really there’s little being done by leadership because they are insulated and for a fact the populace are stuck in their docile train.

I will spare us the agony of detailing most of the issues. Kindly follow me…

On Sanusi, she said though there was consternation in the markets following the suspension of Lamido Sanusi, governor of the country’s central bank, a sense of normality is gradually returning. At the Nigerian Stock

Exchange, the All Share Index dropped by about 3 per cent in the days following Mr. Sanusi’s suspension but has since recovered.”

“The exchange rate is stabilising. Although foreign exchange reserves have dropped slightly to $39bn, this still provides a healthy level of import cover by International Monetary Fund measures.”

She added, “The fundamentals remain strong. Inflation is at 8 per cent, down from 12 per cent at the start of 2012. The fiscal deficit is 1.9 per cent of gross domestic product and government debt is under control at 21 per cent of GDP. The IMF expects the economy to grow by 7.3 per cent in 2014, up from 6.2 per cent a year earlier.”

The Prime Minister further explained, “The government has pledged to put aside a portion of oil revenues to help insulate the economy from external shocks. We will be vigilant against the risk of the economy overheating. I will ensure that fiscal policy remains tight…”

She said, “In the meantime, we must not forget how far we have come in Nigeria. The economic reforms we fought hard to achieve are having positive

By PRINCE CHARLES DICKSON effects. I have argued previously that, while we must pursue and punish those engaged in corrupt acts, building strong institutions is the

country.

The minister truthfully, acknowledged that only 4,556 would be recruited at the end of the exercise, based on

were injured.

According to Mr. Minister “The applicants lost their lives due to impatience; they did not follow the laid down procedures spelt out to them before the

Okonjo-Iweala

most enduring way to tackle corruption in a systemic way.”

As I tried to make sense of that really short explanation of hope to over a hundred million Nigerians, the Minister for Interior, Mr. Abba Moro, speaking on the Nigerian Immigration Service recruitment tragedy said 520,000 applicants participated in the NIS recruitment exercise across the

the available space.

I will take the Minister’s figures, not one more, not one less. How sad, how shameful, my maths is bad, but for a N1,000 per candidate sum it up.

Seven people lost their lives at the National Stadium, Abuja. There was a stampede in Rivers, one died in Niger; two pregnant women were reported dead in Benin, others

“For those that have lost someone, if you really understand that all is not well with Nigeria, let’s join hands in giving our leaders a wake-up call.

If not, they will continue to deceive us, for how long–only time will tell.”

exercise. Many of them jumped through the fences of affected centres and did not conduct themselves in an orderly manner to make the exercise a smooth one. This caused stampede and made the environment unsecured.”

I watched graduates sit on the floor; beat, harassed and treated like ‘goats’. I listened as a large number of these graduates on camera ‘murdered’ English…”I knows government doesn’t caring”, “we are a graduate” and more such suicidal phrases.

I bled because half of the numbers in each center where above 35 and even when less were least qualified to

be immigration personnel, but who cares Ngozi says we are making progress, Moro says lives were lost due to impatience and that’s all, we are indeed making progress.

What Ngozi fails to understand and we don’t understand as a people, is that we are only victims of ourselves as a nation.

These crop of followers, don’t know there’s peoples’ power.

If only all those young folks in the Abuja stadium, and in Minna simply marched towards the Villa, or National Assembly or to their various governors, the story would have been better.

How many times I have said we are just naïve, in today’s Nigeria, no Minister’s kid is looking for a job, no governor’s brother was looking for an immigration job. No local government chairman has issue with getting his sister a job.

The political class, don’t know that there’s no electricity, because Rimi Road, Adeoye Crescent, and Mbakwe close all have houses powered by generators.

Ngozi doesn’t understand the pain of a family whose substantially monthly income goes to purchasing cooking oil (kerosene).

For those that have lost someone, if you really understand that all is not well with Nigeria, let’s join hands in giving our leaders a wake-up call. If not, they will continue to deceive us, for how long–only time will tell.

Yours In High Regards

s

I sues

Nigeria: Is This Leadership Cursed?

WE are a traditional people. We are not Oyinbo.

We understand the portents. We know of evil and spirits. We know of God and the devil; of angels and demons; good and bad Jinns (Genies).

Forget all this democracy and politics jargon that we keep repeating to imbibe the curse (God forbid).

Shall we use those words to ignore what stares us in the face as a clear curse?

Abominations upon abominations in clear manifestation? There is no democracy in the Bible or the Quran. There have been good leaders who were soldiers and bad leaders who were soldiers.

There have been good civilian and bad civilian leaders. Our leaders are simply a manifestation of ourselves, the better of us, the poor of us and the evil of us, those of us who visit shrines and perform occult rituals.

You know it. I know it.

This government is cursed.

They have offended the Protector. They have done abominable things, things that cannot be spoken of; things that cannot be imagined. Their ascension to power is not ordinary.

Precious blood were shed.

Sacrifices made that cannot be imagined. It is not luck; it is the visiting of shrines in the dark of the night. It is the sacrifices made that we cannot mention, precious lives slaughtered, buried alive to pave an unusual ascension to power.

Study their families; you will see the abomination there. Incest in Aso Rock.

You will see bareness; you will see children from sisters, mistresses claimed as theirs. You will see the signs of abomination. We are a spiritual people and we know these things.

Nigeria is under siege.

We are a nation under a curse. We can no longer deny this. The killings everywhere, the meaningless killings; these things indicate that God is not with us. The devil is manifesting in this nation.

A nation where dead, detested tyrant dictator killers and thieves are given awards! What can cause such a thing? Where murderers of our beloved are freed from jail? See they give terrorist killers

life-sentences instead of death when clearly our Good books, the Bible, the Quran tell us killers must be killed. A leadership like this that rejects the ordinances of the Holy Books and patronizes killers and protects sponsors of terror is certainly a leadership of non other than Lucifer, the cursed one. What is the reward to us for accepting such abominable acts?

How are we all being punished when we know the politicians that have killed thousands of us and we celebrate them, torn by tribalism, we support and cherish politicians we know killed our brothers, our sisters, our fathers and mothers. Politicians we know who sponsored terrorists to bomb our Churches and Mosques.

Do you think the spirits of the dead, the souls of the departed, massacred by politicians and this government we know are pleased with us who laugh on their graves and do not revolt for justice to be done?

We are partaking in the curse of the leadership (God forbid). This is more than ordinary. They collect money from 6.5 million of our youth to gather 500,000 of them together like fowls and sacrifice some of them.

We again will not avenge the dead right? We will rejoice and tolerate this government right? We are afraid to die fighting, but we are dying faster being afraid and not fighting, and inheriting the curse of this leadership; inheriting the anger of the Lord on this leadership. Will we again not avenge the deaths of the 23 youth sacrificed so our leadership can satisfy their insatiable greed? We will again defend the thieves who we say are ‘from our clan,’ right?

Knowing full well that the stealing is why our people are dying.

Do you notice that this leadership cannot be satisfied? They steal 20, 30, 100 billion dollars; triple the nation’s budget, but it is not enough for them.

They have run the nation dry, now they wish to remove fuel subsidy which gives us ease, but they will not remove kerosene subsidy which punishes us and from which they steal millions of dollars every

By DR. PEREGRINO BRIMAH

day. They are not worried.

They steal desperately like ravaging wolves. They steal from the oil wealth before it reaches Nigeria.

They steal from it when it reaches Nigeria. They steal in contracts when it is being spent in Nigeria, and then they steal again from our pockets with scams and schemes like the Immigration recruitment scheme, like the Tokunbo car ban scheme, like road use taxes scheme, like privatization schemes.

They steal and exploit us with over priced oligopolies like cement for which we pay triple the global cost, like GSM/internet. They are not ashamed; they are not embarrassed because they are overtaken by the demons. No normal person can operate like them. No normal human being will be so desperate to steal as they do. This is not ordinary. These people are possessed. But my fear is for us, because as we live under this curse, as we tolerate this curse, we will continue to suffer and die under this curse, disgraced and denuded.

This nation needs fasting and prayers. This nation needs cleansing. Very, very bad things have been done. The living and dead have been offended beyond measure and redemption. Killers are the leaders of the nation, celebrated and defended.

There is blood in Aso Rock.

A heavy black curse hangs over this nation. Death, death, death everywhere.

Terror, kidnapping, piracy,

poisoning, corruption, greed, wickedness, violence. Nigeria is begging for a good man who will put an end to these witches in power and purify the land. Nigeria cannot

and voted for governments that killed our fathers. This is not the dictatorship regime where they imposed themselves on us and we could be forgiven for not being able to do anything being subdued by guns and boots. We voted for Obasanjo, despite knowing who he was and where he was coming from.

Fela turned in his grave

a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not.” How do we as a people, publicly profess support of these government thieves in rejection of our faith and acceptance of their curse?

We the people have offended the memories of the dead, the killed. We have offended God. May the souls of the

• Vice President Namadi Sambo

wait till 2015. Too many have died, are dying and too many more of our precious lives will be lost before then. We are not peaceful people; no we are vampires. We have partied over the graves of sacrificed brothers and sisters, fathers and mothers. We have laughed

when we did so. And of course, the curse has increased on us. It was no accident that Yar’Adua died or was killed in office. Why and how did we vote for a leadership who were already confirmed robbers, and militant terror sponsors? Proverbs 29: 24: “Whoso is partner with

departed rest. May their families have the fortitude to bear the loss. May their deaths not be unavenged.

May the curse be removed from this land. Aso Rock must be sanctified or perhaps abandoned all together. It is a house of abomination. I rebuke the curse. I fight the cursed.

“This nation needs fasting and prayers. This nation needs cleansing. Very, very bad things have been done. The living and dead have been offended beyond measure and redemption.

Killers are the leaders of the nation, celebrated and defended. There is blood in Aso Rock. A heavy black curse hangs over this nation.”

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V ewpoint EVERY time another Life sentence is bestowed upon Boko Haram terrorists convicted for the mass murder of Nigerian and foreign citizens, Doctor Amadi Jnr.. of Muslims Against Terror sends me another email complaining bitterly. He also sends me emails when morally sensitive governors of our States

Why Does Jonathan Give Life To Boko Haram Terrorists?

By DR. PEREGRINO BRIMAH

clearly and unequivocally that ‘whoever kills must be killed.’ the Quran, the Holy Book, I believe of our NSA,

horrific ordeal of how they were raped and how dozens of kidnapped victims were forced at

Sambo Dasuki, states in no unclear terms that killers of innocent people must be killed in return. Nigeria’s constitution also clearly prescribes the death sentence for murderers.

These are not just murderers, these are mass murderers. These terrorists murder not just individuals, but communities, States and the nation. Why does the President portray ‘love’ for them? It is plain evil to spare such killers. Simply evil.

In the news, ladies who were abducted into Boko Haram camps narrated the

as 700 cars are ‘not discovered,’ on time by our army up here. is this why they can drive in 20 vehicle convoys, operate for 8 hours and leave

Sambo Dasuri, National Security Adviser (NSA)

President Goodluck Jonathan sentence ‘mere’ armed robbers to death. He asks me in a rather frustrated tone, ‘why does Jonathan always spare these terrorists?’ I have been unable to answer him.

Indeed it is very frustrating and a betrayal to the point of being abominable and raises questions on the intention and possible affection of this government towards terror that has destroyed the north and Nigeria as a whole.

Why the immoral compassion toward terrorists who are proud and confess to their desire to kill, kill, kill? Why do armed robbers who may not even yet have killed anyone get death sentences, while murderous terrorists who do nothing other than rape and kill get Life? The Bible, the President’s Holy Book I believe, states

Many are asking why the President does not even make public statements expressing sorrow and worry after events of mass carnage by terrorists in the

areas (the South presumably) were worried that uncontained the terror could begin to get to them.

Is this truly his feelings about the north and his connection to the ter§ror that has destroyed life, property and hope in that region? What is the

knife-edge point to either fight for Boko Haram or die. They described gorily how up to 50 men were slaughtered at a time by these lunatics. Are these the type of people our government has ‘sympathy’ for and gives lenient sentences to in violation of our constitution, the Bible and the Quran? If asked, even Boko Haram terrorists will opt for death for their acts.

Many are asking why President Jonathan does not visit areas where our people are being slaughtered in the north.

north. Does he have an anti-north agenda, some are asking? Is Boko Haram fulfilling his deepseated dreams and desires? Is this why his government has not arrested a single strategic sponsor of Boko Haram?

Is this why unlike late president Umaru Yar’Adua who quickly exterminated the terrorists, this President gives them Life, so they may be released someday in the future or be busted out of jail shortly as happens repeatedly?

Why their camps sometimes with as many

“Why the immoral compassion toward terrorists who are proud and confess to their desire to kill, kill, kill? Why do armed robbers who may not even yet have killed anyone get death sentences”

without being eradicated?

Why should Nigeria waste public funds accommodating and feeding these killers for life? What kind of deterrent to terror is a life sentence?

The recent statements the President made in Namibia have provoked deep reflection and anguish among Nigerians, especially those living in the north. the President referred to the north as some ‘foreign’ region, outside his domain and what he considered Nigeria. he admitted using kid gloves for these Boko Haram menaces; further stating that it is because “‘Nigerians’ live everywhere, even in those parts (the north),” that he is now being more serious about the problem. He further rather disturbingly went on to say that his upping his ‘war’ against the terrorists a little bit was because people in other

explanation of this every love for Boko Haram terrorists…further seen by the President and his NSA’s desire to negotiate and reward these barbaric killers with an Amnesty, contrary to the wishes of all God fearing Nigerians; a ‘love’ and reward that he does not even offer the brave Civilian JTF youth who die in pursuit of the terrorist from their bullets and the bombs of our air force, to give life to their communities?

No time has the call and need for regional governments been more pressing. I feel really sorry for people who live in Nigeria’s north.

Dear President Jonathan, dear NSA Sambo Dasuki and dear Minister of defense, and ex-NSA Aliyu Mohammed Gusau; why do you give Life to Boko Haram terrorists?

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V ewpoint Dr. Kingsley Moghalu: The Voice Of

Reason And Consicience At CBN AN average Nigerian identifies the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) by its executive governor, in this case the suspended chieftain of CBN, Sanusi Lamido Sansi who has everybody speaking about him, not because he has reversed the slumped, nosedived and gyrating naira into a stabilized and appreciated currency, neither has he made the smallest naira denominations (1K, K5, K25, K50) a real medium of exchange, that have occupied respectable place at monetary base and day-today business transaction.

Rather he is in everybody mouth because of his struggle with the presidency and government of Nigeria.

This is not taking anything away from some good Sanusi has done especially on reducing inflation rate. But his suspension and controversy are gradually eclipsing his achievements at CBN. His accusation of corruption on NNPC was not grounded on verifiable evidence and the way he goes about doing it makes him more of a opposition politician than a respectable head of CBN. Sanusi has become controversial because he did encroach beyond the duties of CBN governor as chief monetary policy advocate.

Even without being aware, he disfigured CBN and transformed himself into a politician, whistle blower, pseudo- EFCC head and a foe to the executive branch of government. He chose to become a public warrior at the expense of his monetary policy tool, CBN independent and public good. A strong relationship between the presidency and CBN is essential for effective colloboration. That will enable monetary and fiscal policy to be complementary in achieving a sound macroeconomic stability without a threat to CBN independent. Sanuis in the quest to further his agenda has subsequently weaken CBN’s independent by attracting unnecessary attention from the executive branch of the government.

Then here comes Dr. Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu, Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). This is an individual that does what he suppose to do at CBN without engaging in politics but he is

By EMEKA CHIAKWELU not a widely recognised household name. I bet he will be the first to say that he is not seeking for attention or popularity but all he wants to do is to get his job done.

What is Dr. Moghalu ‘s job and responsibility at CBN? Moghalu is the head of the Bank’s Financial System Stability directorate at CBN. He is responsible for the regulation of banks and financial institutions, which entails the management of systemic risk, and the development of finance programs. He is at the vanguard of the implementation of cashless economy and may be the most qualified bureaucrat at CBN with a PHD degree from the acclaimed London School of Economics.

Moghalu as the head of the Bank’s Financial System Stability directorate at CBN is responsible for the regulation of banks and financial institutions, which entails the management of systemic risk, and the development of finance programs .

As for the pursuit of cashless economy, Nigeria’s apex bank “is targeting an increase to 375,000 readers by the end of 2015, Deputy Governor Kingsley Moghalu, who heads financial-system stability, said in a phone interview March 11. Cards issued by Nigerian banks carry either the MasterCard Inc., Visa Inc. or Interswitch Ltd.’s Verve logo, giving them access to the world’s biggest payment networks. Of the 25 million electronic payment cards in circulation, 18 million are Verve branded, the company said in an e-mail,” as reported by Bloomberg.

Apart from being one of the best minds in monetary policy and currency expert, he is also an intellectual and author with books to his credit. His most recent book Emerging Africa: How the Global Economy’s ‘Last Frontier’ was well received by readers and critic alike. In the book he poured a verifiable and profound analysis on Africa as emerging market and probe on the new tune in the international media on Africa as destination of investments and development.

Dr. Moghalu said, “Why I wrote Emerging Africa – to decode and address the real factors that have held Africa

back, and the secrets of prosperity they need to understand and apply in order to prosper, rather than merely repeating conventional wisdoms that have not brought about a fundamental change in the African condition.” And his intention is to see a purposeful African development driven by African originality and a model that will ensure a sustainable development.

Mogahalu is a thoughtful and grounded intellectual, he is not a crowd or gallery pleaser and he is not afraid to question the conventional acceptable belief that Africa is rising. He insisted that the facts must be reconciled with reality to truly acknowledge that Africa is really rising. He insisted that the statistics and facts must be grounded on statistical reality not on abstraction as he question the validity of rising Africa.

He questioned, “based on the foregoing, the myth that Africa is rising needs some pause and evaluation. Let us ask some fundamental questions. Yes, growth rates have been better over the past decade, but are we seeing signs of real transformation?

Are manufacturing economies now the norm, or will they likely soon be? Is growth outpacing population growth, or could population growth and non-inclusive economic growth without jobs create a youth bulge in future? What is the role of science and technology and innovation in African economies?”

As a serious banker he is not moved by emotions and sentiments but stood on facts and figures. If anybody needs any reassurance about the economy of Nigeria, this is how he spoke about the economy of the country to Africa Asset Management and his analysis is also

backed by the econometric forecasting that came from IMF: “I think it is quite strong; the fundamentals of the economy are sound and I think we are projected to grow by 7% in 2014.

Increasingly, the growth of the economy is coming from the non-oil sectors – that is a good thing. I think that in the medium term the Nigerian economy is set to witness some fundamental structural repositioning, that will happen as a result of the power sector reforms, that are currently going on. The privatization of the power sector assets has been very successful, and so power wattage is set to rise rapidly over the next two to three years, and I think that will release a lot of latent entrepreneurial capacity in the Nigerian economy; we have a large informal economy.”

He further stressed on oil and economic diversity: “Also a number of individuals are beginning to set up petroleum refineries and petrochemical complexes and that will also begin to diversify the country away from crude oil towards economic complexity, and that will be good for the country, because it will reduce Nigeria’s import bill over the medium and long term. Therefore I see the Nigerian economy as having a strong future. The demographics are good to support economic growth, but the challenge of job creation remains and Nigeria needs to create more jobs, because the unemployment rate is high. It is also important to address the question of inequality and economic growth and development; the poverty rate is about 60% and that is something that needs to come down over the next decade.”

When Moghalu was asked about the suspended Sanusi,

he spoke up from financial perspective and CBN integrity during the Africa CEO Forum in Geneva with the Independent News.

Moghalu emphasized “Somebody in the central bank was taking on an activist political role. That is

president had sent him a presidential query about the finances of the central bank.

The government has given a reason for the suspension and that was… to enable an investigation into the allegations against him.”

The problem here is that

Dr. Kingsley Moghahi, Deputy Gov. CBN not our function. Central banks all over the world have clear functions and in your country [Britain] and any other civilised country I know that central bank governors operate within certain expectations and constraints and respect those expectations and constraints.”

He spoke about Sanusi candidly without mentioning his name. “The governor began to make very damaging public allegations against the government… allegations that have not been proven, after the

“Mogahalu is a thoughtful and grounded intellectual, he is not a crowd or gallery pleaser and he is not afraid to question the conventional acceptable belief that Africa is rising.”

fighting corruption is not a bad thing, but accusation without evidence and documented proofs may not only weaken CBN but has the propensity to give Nigeria a negative image that may dissuade investors to stir away from Nigeria. This is an important period in the life of Nigeria and the country needs a good image to continue with its economic development. Therefore Nigeria and Nigerians must fight perceived and alleged corruption in a way that will not threaten the economic growth and economic sustainability of the nation.

Dr. Moghalu maybe rightly called the voice of conscience at CBN not because he execute his work, which he does brilliantly. But by standing on principle and refuse to compromise the integrity and independent of CBN. He will not succumb to extra curriculum activities that will in long run weakens the CBN stability and retract its independent.

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L gislature House Delivers Right To Health And Anti-Graft Fireworks

EMEKA Ihedioha, is the Deputy Speaker of the Federal House of Representatives and incidentally the Chairman of the House ad-hoc constitutional amendment committee that actively worked with their opposite in the Senate which make up the National A s s e m b l y ’ s constitutional amendment committee coordinated by the Deputy Senate President Senator Ike Ekweremadu, a consummate lawyer of many years of post-call experience.

This separate committees of the two chambers of the National Assembly have worked strenuously to collate recommendations of a broad spectrum of Nigerians on areas that demand immediate and comprehensive amendments in the 1999 constitution [as amended] so as to meet up with global best practices and deliver effective good governance to the teeming populace of Nigerians.

Many experts have blamed the ambiguities in the current constitution for some of the lapses in the enforcement of strong anti-graft laws and b u r e a u c r a t i c b o t t l e n e c k s undermining delivery of social services to Nigerians by elected and appointed public office holders.

Recently, the ad-hoc committee headed by the Deputy Speaker presented scorecard of the work done so far and from what the Nigerian people were told, if at the end of the eventual harmonization of the findings and

recommendations of the two chambers most of the salient aspects of the House ad-hoc committee are embedded into the f o r t h c o m i n g Constitution [after all the necessary steps], then majority of the aspirations of the Nigerian people would be met particularly in the area of providing compulsory and quality healthcare to millions of indigent Nigerians.

This is so because the House ad-hoc committee ensured that the much criticized section 308 is tinkered so as to remove immunity from criminal prosecution from the executive members of Government who currently enjoy blanket immunity from all prosecution while in office.

This bold move is a remarkable revolution that when it becomes operational will change the template of the war against graft and will eradicate the regime of impunity that pervades the Nigeria’s political space especially at the executive arm of government.

“It is a well known fact that the process adopted by the House to alter the Constitution, has been very painstaking and methodical. It has been done in a most transparent and professional manner. It is perhaps the most inclusive and consultative process ever undertaken by the House of Representatives”, says Emeka Ihedioha. from the benefit of hindsight most Nigerians agree with

By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO

this conclusion drawn by the Deputy speaker.

Apart from the right to health and the aggressive emphasis on anti-graft fight which the amendments by the House covered broadly, other equally important issues such as consolidating democracy at the local

state governors.

Nevertheless, the a m e n d m e n t s articulates clearly the structure, organs, personnel, procedures for exercise of powers by the organs and functionaries of the Local Government Councils. It replicates to a large extent the

under Chapter 2 of the Constitution on the fundamental objectives and Directive Principles of State policy were moved to Chapter 4 on the Fundamental Human Rights in order to make them justiciable.

The House voted by 321 for, 2 against and 16 abstentions to provide for a new section 45A which

abstentions for a new section 45C which grants the right to free primary and maternal Health Care Services; while it voted by 317 for, 4 against and 18 abstentions to provide for a new section 45D which grants a right to basic housing. This is salutary.

It is noteworthy that the Deputy Speaker appealed to diverse

grants every citizen of Nigeria the right to free basic education; by 322 for, 1 against and 16 abstentions to provide for a new section 45B which grants the right to a favourable environment; by 318 for, 2 against and 16

interest groups and the civil society to remain vigilant in the remaining stages that would be followed before the amendments become law including the presentation for votes by the 36 states houses of assembly.

• Ike Ekweremadu, Deputy Senate President

government areas were effected even though not too many Nigerians are happy that the House failed to grant total autonomy to the local government area councils to salvage them from the suffocating control of

Presidential System of Government at the Local Government level.

Besides, one of the most revolutionary amendments is the introduction of new section 45A – 45D. By this, four items currently

“This bold move is a remarkable revolution that when it becomes operational will change the template of the war against graft and will eradicate the regime of impunity that pervades the Nigeria’s political space especially at the executive arm of government.”

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Memo To The National Confab

By MUHAMMED AJAH

COMING from the most neglected, dejected, suppressed, denied, relegated, mocked, downtrodden and unwanted minorities of the Nigerian nation, I should have been convinced by a reluctant conscience that this effort of writing a memo to a Nigerian National Dialogue Conference (NNDC) would be a trash. Maybe, as irrelevant as I and my people have been unpatriotically, surreptitiously or overtly regarded by other components of Nigeria, this will end up being a garbage, however heavy, in the assembly of people who do not recognize minorities and do not care or fear about the patience of the oppressed.

Well, it is said that a single written idea is better that

many unwritten books. Again, it is better to explode with a conviction than to die with a simplest idea that can effect a change however long. Most sincere Nigerians, like most great revivalists and revolutionists, struggle for a change that will live after them i.e. come into effect long after they have gone.

This is because for a full hundred years of the creation of Nigeria, 53 of which Nigeria has remained a socalled independent nation, many solutions have been proffered by many Nigerian individuals and groups on how to place the nation among the comity of united, stabilized and developed nations. It is hard to believe that the more prescription is given, the sicker the nation becomes. Heads of state,

presidents, philosophers, technicians, socio-cultural, socio-political and religious establishments have analyzed, talked, discussed, dialogued and deliberated on the Nigeria’s question in many fora. What do Nigerians expect from this?

Never a pessimist! Why should I be, especially coming from the unheard, unnoticed and nay unwanted minority in Nigeria. It is unarguable that any Nigerian president since 1914 and from 1960 has ever thought that there is any minority from the Igbo extraction worthy of mention at Lugard’s House or Aso Rock, not to talk of recognition. General Yakubu Gowon, as then the Head of State, liked a minority leader of Igbo extraction, Sheikh Ibrahim Nwagui. That’s just all I can remember. Igbo man a Muslim! He must be a

• President Goodluck Jonathan kparawu! Hausa man a Christian! He has chosen a true path! Yoruba man a Muslim or Christian! Good omen!

I have never seen a people so neglected. I have never seen a people so plotted against. I have never seen a people whose crosses are totally left to them to carry by themselves in a nation where God created them like other inhabitants. And I have not seen a people whose cries are hardly heard by even their brethren in faith and fraternity.

This memo to those who have been chosen, by merit or demerit, to gather and dialogue on behalf of ALL NIGERIANS is intricate. They are going to be our National Assembly for the number of days that would be. They are going to collect taxpayers’ money. So, this is a difficult task because it is believed that a lot of Nigerians are too self-centered. If not, a nation with 109 distinguished senators and 360 honourable members of House of Representatives at the National Assembly would have changed this country to good. Unfortunately, there are those who collect fat amounts but do not

contribute anything to the nation up-making, year in year out.

The membership of the conference is more in number than the membership of the National Assembly.

With their assistances, drivers and aides, the number may surpass the number of National Assembly staff. It may well be that Abuja is going to face traffic and accommodation challenges during the period of the conference. It is therefore hoped that the effect of the Abacha one-million man march will be less. It is also hoped that the 2005 national conference will not be referred to better, despite the walkouts by several interest groups.

Nonetheless, the leadership of the 492member conference is made known to Nigerians. The conference Chairman, Justice Idriss Legbo Kutigi, Deputy Chairman Prof. Bolaji Akinyemi, Secretary Dr. (Mrs.) Valerie Azinge, Assistant Secretary, Conference Proceedings Dr. Akilu Indabawa, Assistant Secretary, Finance & Administration Prof.

Mahmood Yakubu and Assistant Secretary, Media and Communications Mr.

“It is hard to believe that the more prescription is given, the sicker the nation becomes. Heads of state, presidents, philosophers, technicians, socio-cultural, socio-political and religious establishments have analyzed, talked, discussed, dialogued and deliberated on the Nigeria’s question in many fora. What do Nigerians expect from this?”

James Akpandem are Nigerians who the citizens know their contributions to the nation building in their different capacities. The ship they are going to captain shortly is NIGERIA and they have no option than to be extraordinarily careful not to wreck it under whatever pressure, lobbying or force.

Rather, it would be honourable to resign midway if integrity is to be compromised and a pullout becomes inevitable.

Yes, never a pessimist! Let me explore what have been going inside the minds of Nigerians earlier before this national conference. The question is: What is the cure for Nigeria? Is it faith and piety? Is it selflessness? Is it patriotism or chauvinism? Is it real self reliance? Is it human beings with feelings for other existences? Is it individuals who can look beyond their own feet? Is it justice and fairness? Is it love for death and hatred for life?

Is it disamalgamation? What is it that can cure Nigeria???

Nigerian leaders have proffered solutions to the nation’s multi-faceted problems. Let’s look at the positions of Nigerians, with emphasis on the common points. President Goodluck Jonathan, in a national broadcast on the Centenary celebration said the creation of Nigeria and sustenance of its unity are sacrosanct. “I have often expressed the conviction that our amalgamation was not a mistake. While our union may have been inspired by considerations external to our people; I have no doubt that we are destined by God Almighty to live together as one big nation, united in Continued on pg. 16

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Memo To The National Confab

Continued from pg. 15 diversity. Unification was followed by independence and democracy which have unleashed the enormous potentials of our people and laid the foundation for our nation’s greatness.”

“In challenging times, it is easy to become pessimistic and cynical. But hope, when grounded in realism, enables and inspires progress. I believe that it is vital that we focus our thoughts on the vast potentials of a unified and progressive Nigeria; and build on the relative stability of the Fourth Republic to achieve accelerated national s o c i o - e c o n o m i c development. I also believe that the future greatness of our country is assured by the favourable tail winds of a resilient population, ecological diversity, rich natural resources and a national consciousness that rises above our differences.

We are a unique country. We have been brought together in a union like no other by providence. Our nation has evolved from three regions to thirty six states and a Federal Capital Territory.”

“My call for the National Conference in this first year of our second century is to provide the platform to confront our challenges. I am confident that we shall rise from this conference with renewed courage and confidence to march through the next century and beyond, to overcome all obstacles on the path to the fulfillment of our globally acknowledged potential for greatness. The coming National Conference should not be about a few, privileged persons dictating the terms of debate but an opportunity for all Nigerians to take part in a comprehensive dialogue to further strengthen our union.

I am hopeful that the conference will not result in parochial bargaining between competing regions, ethnic, religious and other interest groups but in an objective dialogue about the way forward for our nation and how to ensure a more harmonious balance among our three tiers of government.”

In his message to the nation on December 25, 2012 President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, as in many other fora observed that the lessons of Jesus Christ’s mission on earth have great significance for Nigerians as a people and there can be no doubt that all Nigerians, irrespective of their religious beliefs, can draw immense strength and inspiration from the Christ’s enduring personification of selflessness, dedication to

duty, and commitment to the well-being of others.

In another massage to the nation at the 2013 May Day celebration Wednesday 1st May, President Goodluck Jonathan said, diversifying the economy away from the oil sector into agriculture, housing, manufacturing, creative industries, and other sectors that generate jobs

leanness of the governed.

But God never sleeps; He is watching, waiting and bidding His time to dispense justice.

In a democracy, leaders are elected to lighten the burden of the people, give them freedom, choice and equity and ensure good governance. Nothing should be done to undermine the tenets, and values of

• Justice Kutigi and grow the economy has long being a national goal.

In his address at the Special Convention of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at Eagle Square, Abuja, Saturday, 31st August, 2013, he identified among others job and wealth creation through the local content law, massive investment in the oil and marine business, provision of power for development, gender equality, security of lives and properties of the citizenry, fight against corruption, poverty and destitution and upholding the tenets of democracy for national unity, equity and justice as ingredients for growth and stability.

“We must insist on justice and equity. We must insist on defending Nigeria from those who threaten her in words and deeds. We are a nation in God’s hands and we must keep it so”, the President noted in the 69th point of his speech.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo in a letter to President Goodluck Jonathan had this to say, “We must all remember that corruption, inequity and injustice breed poverty, unemployment, conflict, violence and wittingly or unwittingly create terrorist because the opulence of the governor can only lead to the

democratic principles and practice.”

“The virtues and ideals of peace, tolerance, faithfulness, honesty, justice, fairness, true wisdom, knowledge and understanding which Jesus taught and exemplified also remain very relevant to us in Nigeria as we continue to grapple with the challenges of development and nationbuilding.”

One former Head of State, General Muhammad Buhari, GCFR at his party’s CPC National Convention in Abuja on May 11, 2013 lamented over an unprecedented fall in the nation’s standard of living and an astronomical rise in the standard of dying, believing that Nigeria has become a nation in which nothing works as it should or works at all.

“They promised to give the nation credible elections…They promised to fight corruption…They promised to stop the insurgency…henceforth our votes must all be counted…never again tolerate or allow to pass the mayhem the government deliberately creates in order to cover up its guilt, obscure the issues and then blame the opposition in order to deceive gullible folks.”

In a communiqué titled

‘Strengthening the Unity of Nigeria’, issued after a meeting of the leaders and elders of the South-South and South-West regions held at the Efunyela Hall in Ikenne Remo, Ogun State home of Chief Obafemi Awolowo, the group observed that war against corruption without fear or favour must be paramount. The meeting attended by highly placed Nigerians such as Chief Edwin Clark, Senator Felix Ibru, the Obong of Calabar, His Royal Majesty, Dandeson Douglas, a former Petroleum Minister and Amanyanabo of Nembe, Dr Edmund Daukorie, Professor Saleba Mukoro, the Orodje of Okpe, His Royal Majesty MajorGeneral Felix Mujakperuo (rtd) a former Inspector General of Police, Sir Mike Okiro, Rear Admiral F.B.I Porbeni, Brigadier-General S. E Oviawe, Senator Bassey Ewa Henshaw, the Ooni of Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade as well as many royal fathers from the South West zone, Chief Olu Falae; Lieutenant General Oladipo Diya; Professor Oladapo Afolabi; Professor (Mrs) Adenike Grange, Senator Femi Okurounmu, Professor Tunde Adeniran; Chief Shuaib Oyedokun, Chief Gani Adams, Rear Admiral Akin Aduwo, called on Nigerians to support the probe of the activities of the fuel subsidy and sanitization of the entire oil and gas industry that has always created overnight briefcase billionaires at the expense of the masses and enjoined the president to commence steps at reducing the cost and size of governance branches of government.

In a communiqué after an International conference on Biafra Greenbelt , Maryland on October 18, 2003, delegates resolved on the possibilities of forming a government in exile in six months if the federal government failed to organize a conference of ethnic nationalities, in order for these nationalities to decide how they want to associate with one another.

They believed that the first post War International Conference on Biafra was concluded with the agreement that the conditions that led to the Biafra-Nigeria War are still present and worse; that the persecution of Ndigbo in Nigeria continues to dictate the overall and specific policies of the Federal government. The effect of this has been the gradual destruction of the country itself, its economy, and its overall pride.

Igbo socio-cultural

organization, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, and Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in a communiqué signed by the President General of Ohaneze Ndigbo, Ambassador Ralph Uwechue and the Chairman of ACF

source of agitation and violence among the people and as government, we should be able to provide basic amenities for our people in order to reduce violence and crises in the country.”

Arewa Consultative Forum

• E.K. Clark Executive Council, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, agreed that dialogue with one another and search for solutions to the major issues of concern to Nigeria was paramount. The joint meeting held at the Universal Hotel, Enugu where former Vice President Alex Ekwueme, former President-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Mbazuruike Amaechi, Pa Onyeso Nwachukwu, former Governor of Ebonyi State, Dr. Sam Egwu, Senator Joseph Waku, Senator Ladan Shini, Major General Lawrence Onoja and Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, among others attended.

The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) in a communiqué jointly signed by its leader, Alhaji Aliko Mohammed, and Rev. Emmanuel Gbonigi of Yoruba Unity Forum, said the socioeconomic and political challenges such as corruption, bad governance and insecurity were all traceable to bad leadership.

“That we are all committed to the unity, progress and stability of Nigeria, governed with a sense of justice, equity and fairness. That Nigerians should de-emphasize issues that divide us such as ethnicity and religion, while emphasizing issues that bind us together as a nation. We should strive to live together in peace and harmony irrespective of tribe and religion, there is no religion in the world that preaches violence. Poverty is a major

(ACF) in a communiqué after an emergency Joint meeting of its National Executive Council and the Board of Trustees in Abuja and signed by the ACF’s National Publicity Secretary, Anthony Sani supported any political strategies that would put the North in a position which will enable it negotiate with other sections of the country from a position of strength and secure some favourable terms.

The Middle Belt Forum in a communiqué issued signed by the Chairman, Mr. Gabriel Adenyuma, and Secretary, Mrs. Fatima Njoku at the end of a sensitization workshop held by Stefanos Foundation under the auspices of the Middle Belt Forum on minority interest rights in Jos called on all minority groups in the North to rise up to the challenge of carving out a distinct identity for themselves in the region.

According to the communique, the larger majority in the North are using religion to marginalize the people of the zone.

“Conference notes with concern the use of religion as a divisive tool to suppress Middle Belt ethnic minorities.

Conference strongly suggests that Nigeria remains a multi-ethnic and multi-religious state.”

In an address to the Rivers State House of Assembly on Monday, March 3, 2014 Governor, Rivers State, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Amaechi, Continues on pg. 17

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Rivers State said a country is not simply judged by how long its democratic structures have been up but by the very substance of those structures and what they represent in the eyes of its people. As Nigerians prepare to talk about our nation and where it should be heading to in a national conference whose agenda we pray is not premeditated and whose outcome we hope is not already pre determined.

Bauchi State Governor Isa Yuguda said, “What I have always said is that any person who goes there to talk about partitioning Nigeria should be stoned out of the conference because I believe in the unity of this country.

Our parents could not have shed blood to unite this country only for our own generation to decimate the country or partition the land and say we cannot live together. Nobody in Nigeria

nationalities in Nigeria who are struggling for selfdetermination and justice including the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC), the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (Mosop), Egi Women’s Movement etc.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the 7th Council meeting of Ijaw youths held at Kalabiama community in the Opobo clan of Ijawland on 20th March, 1999 and Felix Tuodolo, Oronto Douglas and Kingsley Kuku, delegates and council members agreed that the oppressed and deprived people of the Niger Delta will reject all the oppressive policies that have been fashioned against her these past 42 years and demand for justice.

“The future belongs to us all, whether as ancestors, elders or youths. There is a great life after the pain of every struggle. Let us learn from history of other struggles where internal

• Mike Ozekhome is greater than the Almighty God, who carved out a country called Nigeria. It is also the Almighty God who put the resources we are enjoying today and nobody should use religion or tribe to break our country. The conference should rather focus on issues that will unite us and not divide us.

In a communiqué issued at the end of the all Ijaw Youths Conference which held in the town of Kaiama on 11th December 1998, the Ijaw youths resolved among others cessation to recognize all undemocratic decrees that rob Ijaw peoples/ communities of the right to ownership and control of lives and resources, solidarity with all peoples, organizations and ethnic

conflict could stunt giant strides towards freedom and justice.”

In an address presented by the Council of Ijaw Associations abroad to The Pan Ijaw Conference held at the Alfred Diete-Spiff Civic Center Port Harcourt from Friday, February 28 to Sunday, March 2, 2003 and signed by Godfrey Ambakiderimoh Okoro, MBA and President, CIAA Executive Council, the group believed that a candid and meaningful dialogue was imperative to achieve the goal of unity and progress that have been elusive for long. “A frank and forthright exchange of ideas is necessary if we are to be effective advocates of our rights and responsibilities as

a people, and be relevant in the scheme of things in so far as Nigerian politics is concerned. Our political and economic destiny is eternally in our hands. Indeed, quite a number of our tangible and intangible personal actions and choices effectively negate the basic principles known to foster unity, peace and substantive progress within a community.

A consultative meeting of Ijaw elders and leaders of thought held in Government house , Yenagoa on Sunday 30th November, 2013 and chaired by Pa E. K. Clark and attended by over 200 Ijaw heavy weights, called on all Nigerians to work with the Federal Government to build a Nigerian Nation in peace and progress, while condemning the various voices of distraction.

Prof.

Joe Ebiware, Moderator, All Ijaw Conference, Julius Enarusai, President, INAA Dr. Ruben Mietamuno Jaja, Chairman, Ijaw Foundation Board of Directors, Justus Wariya, President, INC North America and Col. Godfrey Okoro (rtd), Ijaw Nation Forum in a communiqué of the All-Ijaw Conference held at the Sheraton Airport Hotel, Newark, New Jersey, USA from 28th to 30th May, 2010, under the aegis of the Ijaw National Alliance of the Americas (INAA) during its annual “Boro Day” Summit and 13th “Service and Devotion” Award ceremony, advocated for good governance, electoral reform, power and energy selfsufficiency, and zero tolerance for corruption, upheld the sanctity of the Nigerian Constitution and the inalienable constitutional right of every Nigerian to contest election for any office including the presidency.

President of the Christian Association of Nigeria Ayo Oritshejafor, in a speech said the Christian Community was fast losing confidence in government’s ability to protect their rights to religious liberties and life.

Elder statesman and Ijaw Leader, Chief Edwin Kiagbodo Clark as a guest lecturer at the 7th Distinguished Lecture Series of School of Media and Communication, Pan Atlantic University, Victoria Island, Lagos, said “We have been together for the past 100 years. It was in 1914 that Lord Lugard amalgamated the Northern and the Southern protectorates.

Don’t ask me why the amalgamation because I do not want to dwell on that. But firstly, it is apt to note that there was a true federation particularly in 1961.”

The Sultan of Sokoto, Sa’ad Abubakar, at a meeting with Islamic organizations during the visit of the Secretary General of JNI, Khalid Aliyu, to Sokoto State said “A more united and prosperous Nigeria is all what well-meaning and patriotic Nigerians should aspire and tirelessly work for.”

In a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting by the South-South Caucus of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Asaba, Delta State, on 12th May 2013, the group reviewed the state of the nation and the topical issues confronting Nigeria’s maturing democracy and resolved specifically to support the initiative, industry and commitment of the administration to the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB); review of Nigeria’s over 20-

“The legitimate exercise of ‘Separation of Powers’ must not become tantamount to, or metamorphose into, ‘Separation of Interests’ with the attendant negative repercussions. Caucus notes the anxious calls in some quarters for a constitutional amendment for the Offices of the President and State Governors to have a tenure of one single term of 6 (six) years as a means of lessening the tension often generated by second-term bids, but finds nothing wrong with the current tenure of a maximum of two terms of 4 (four) years each, subject to performance and the will of the electorate.”

In an address to the President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House Abuja on 3rd September, 2012, the Ogoni leaders led

• Pastor Tunde Bakare year old Revenue Allocation Formula to achieve vertical and horizontal equity amongst the tiers of government and better enable the Federating Units to drive development across the country as was the case up to the 1963 Republican Constitution; drastic and further devolution of functions and fiscal powers from the Centre to the Federating Units, towards the direction of the 1963 Republican Constitution, to make States the effective engines of growth and development, and decentralize, localize and ease governance across the country. They urged the Executive at Federal and State levels to work with both the National and State Assemblies to strengthen the System of Local Government prescribed in the 1999 Constitution (as Amended),

by Chairman, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers/Chairman, Rivers State Council of Traditional Rulers, His Majesty King GNK Gininwa, OFR, Chairman, Senate Committee on Petroleum (Downstream), Senator Magnus Ngei Abe and Chairman, Provisional Council Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) Professor Ben Naanen observed that the devolution of power to local entities to reflect true federalism upon which the Nigerian nationhood is anchored and the protection of lives and property in every part of the nation and in keeping the country united were paramount.

The Igbo National Council (INC) on Sunday 28th October 2012 at Owerri Imo state met and took strong decisions. In an 8-point

communiqué signed by INC National President Chilos Godsent and National Secretary Dr. Ekele Ikpegbu, the group canvassed for good governance, development of infrastructures in Igboland and initiation of pro-people policies to encourage investments in Igboland. INC decried total collapse of roads in Igboland, poor performances of governments of Igbo states, formation of anti-trade and anti-peoples policies.

In a communiqué issued at the end of a national conference on “the role of Muslim scholars in fostering unity, peace and security in Nigeria” and the annual preRamadan meeting, organized by the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI), held on Sunday 30th June, 2013) and Monday 1st July, 2013 respectively and signed by Chairman, LOC Professor S. W. Junaidu and Secretary General of JNI, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the meeting under the chairmanship of His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, CFR, mni., attended by a cross-section of distinguished Royal Highnesses, Emirs and Chiefs, renowned Muslim Scholars from all parts of the country and the Muslim Ummah of South-West Nigeria (MUSWEN) and a good representation of Muslims from the SouthEast, resolved among others, that Muslim scholars must harped on good governance; fight against endemic corruption in the country by strictly upholding the rule of law against the perpetrators and promoters of the national scourge, the three tiers of governments should be alive to their responsibilities by facilitating conducive economic atmosphere for youth employment and by providing social amenities and infrastructural facilities as a guarantee people’s welfare and comfort; government should protect the rights of its people with a great sense of equity and justice to all for the purpose of entrenching peaceful coexistence and interreligious harmony in the country according to Nigerian Law. Evangelist Bamidele Olumilua who governed the old Ondo state, then comprising the Ondo and Ekiti states between 1991 and 1993 under the defunct Social Democratic Party (SDP) in an interview finds a big problem in governance in Nigeria. He declared that Nigeria’s leaders get into office unprepared. “If you Continues on pg. 16

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Continued from pg. 17 don’t create jobs you will not be sleeping with your two eyes closed because you don’t know what may happen the next morning. We must solve unemployment by creating avenues whereby we can learn and earn income. Ekiti government wanted to recruit 1600 teachers and more than 20,000 people applied. So unemployment will be solved if we use what God has given us justly, equitably. Leaders are not expected to enrich themselves at the expense of the people they lead. But some people take everything for granted. In our days some people were arrested because they abused security votes.

Revealing another problem, Brigadier General John Atom Kpera a military governor of the old EastCentral State and later Anambra State between 1975 and 1978, Benue state from 1984 to 1985 said overdependence on oil has done Nigeria more harm than good. Nobody wants to work; all of us have become lazy hangers-on. We have totally neglected other sectors of the economy for oil so that when the oil dries up we all catch cold and this is not good for our economy. We in the states are just sitting down idle doing nothing to get internally generated revenue; federation account is what matters.

Dr. Tunji Braithwaite, lawyer, activist and founder Nigerian Advance Party (NAP), recently posited that there is no election in Nigeria because the electoral system cannot contain people with integrity. Unless we have a constitution acceptable to Nigerians instead of the military handed down decree known as 1999 constitution before 2015, there will be no election in this country.

In a communiqué issued by Igbo Muslim Youths under the aegis of South East Muslim Youth Organization of Nigeria (SEMYON) and signed by its national Chairman, Alhaji M. O. Ajah Jnr. and the national secretary Ustaz Muhammad Chidiebere Mbonu, the SEMYON postulated that the Igbo Muslims have been relegated to second class citizens of Nigeria without recognition, but isolation and disconnection from the Nigerian nation. SEMYON said “The Igbo Muslim community has suffered a lot of catastrophes, dislocations and predicaments. The Federal, State and Local Governments of Nigeria through the National Assembly and State Assemblies should put in

place rules and regulations that effectively recognize every minority group in Nigeria. Nigerians need to recognize the Igbo Muslim community for development and peaceful growth of the nation, which cannot be achieved through violence, discrimination and isolation, but through common understanding and peaceful co- existence.

“The Nigerian government should empower the Igbo Muslim youngsters because youths are the key resources to the nation. Igbo elders use to say “A child that is well trained is a good asset to the parents.” SEMYON also noted that as minority group, Igbo Muslims should be given an ambassadorial

conducted by regional/zonal electoral commissions in the regions, with the electoral commissions composed of equal representatives of contesting political parties, and also equal representation of each of the zones or regions in the composition of all judicial, legislative and executive institutions of the central government.

Sensitive resolutions at the conference included: preference of the parliamentary system of government; each region in the envisaged Federal Union of Regions to have its own Regional Constitution; right to self determination on and up to the right to secede; each region to have and exercise control over its

• Gani Adams appointment, a ministerial appointment and an executive position that would strengthen them and inculcate in them a sense of belonging to the Nigerian nation.

After the Grand Yoruba Summit held at the House of Chiefs, Parliament Building, Ibadan, capital of Oyo State, the Yoruba demanded for regional autonomy within a united Nigerian federation, a new Nigeria consisting of a central union and six regional governments, based on the current six geo-political zones, operating federal and regional constitutions respectively. The Summit Coordinator, Gen. Alani Akinrinade (rtd.), in a 12-point resolution also sought for a just and equitable taxation system that would make the federating units equal and coordinating at the federal level in order to eliminate the current rentier syndrome.

They also wanted all elections organized and

natural resources, subject only to payment of 25% of net earnings there from to the government of the union; abolition of Nigeria Police Force and in its place a new policing system, reflecting the true character of a Federal Union i.e. Union Police, State/Regional police, Community police; organization of the Armed forces in the new Nigeria Federation on the basis of strong Regional Commands.

In a communiqué issued at a southern leaders’ summit held at Tinapa business and resort, Calabar, Cross Rivers state on 24th February, 2014 and signed by Chief Olu Falae, Chief Tony Anenih, Governor Liyel Imoke, Governor Peter Obi, Governor Olusegun Mimiko, Governor Martin Elechi, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Governor Godswill Akpabio and Mr. Rasaq Oladosu, the leaders pushed for a united and indivisible Nigeria based on

the principle of justice, equity and rule of law, with ample respect and understanding for cultural, religious and linguistic differences. We support the re-establishment of a truly federal Nigeria with the following key elements; devolution of power to federating units, and coordinate and equal powers between the central government and the federating units.”

“In line with the principle of democratic governance, decisions at the forthcoming National Conference should be by simple majority. We endorse an increase in revenue allocation to the federating units in a way that takes cognizance of the new responsibilities and residual powers of the federating units. We recommend the design of roles for traditional rulers by respective federating units. And the federal Government must revisit the issue of the loss of territory particularly as it relates to the loss of the Bakassi Peninsula.”

The Kano State Coalition of Ulama (Islamic Scholars) and Civil Society Organisations, in its memo to the Advisory Committee on National Dialogue signed by the Coalition’s Chairman Dr. Musa Muhammad Borodo, decried subtle attempt to phase out religious instruction from the curriculum of secondary schools, the withdrawal of petroleum subsidy, the attempts at domesticating western amoral ways of life in our society through the enactment of certain laws, and the lackadaisical handling of security challenges most especially in the North East and parts of the North West of Nigeria, the unfortunate reality of the inability of the Nigerian state to do justice to the Muslims of Nigeria in many areas of our national life generally.

A final stand on desirability or otherwise of Nigeria’s continued corporate existence; mode of separation, should any part desire so; desired changes should the choice be on corporate existence; e.g. type of political system; nature of separation of powers; nature of distribution of powers; etc.; citizenship, indigeneship and nationality questions; resource allocation; the role of religion in national life; and national language(s).

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) in a statement signed by its director, Idayat Hassan after a stakeholders’ meeting noted that the nation needed a workable marshal plan for poverty alleviation and deradicalization strategy that

reflects existing legal framework of licensing on preaching.

Prince Tonye Princewill in his statement titled Nigeria At 100: Let’s Take This Country Where It Needs To Go noted, “Let’s all in our little constituencies, preach the word of peace, forgiveness and sincerity and leave the rest for our creator. Politics should be helping us achieve this, not used as a tool to achieve selfish personal ambitions at the expense of the people. Be not deceived.

No one party can solve these problems just as can no one region. Let’s break all divides

When people divert attention from the real issues and focus on issues that are not relevant, that is a way of trivializing corruption. You trivialize corruption when you use it as a weapon to castigate other people; whereas the evidence is there.

In a statement signed for International Society for Civil Liberties & the Rule of Law

by Chairman of the Board, Emeka Umeagbalasi, and Head, Publicity Desk, Comrade Justus Uche Ijeoma, averred that the best solution to social disharmony in a consociation democracy

• Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto of party, tribe, religion and misplaced loyalty.”

Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala would say in an address she delivered at TEDxEuston in Londo, “We need to create jobs and include those at the bottom of the ladder. We are struggling with so many problems; governance and issues on corruption are also inclusive. Yes, we have problems.

Corruption undermines development in Nigeria and the continent at large. It deprives us of resources with which we can fight poverty and create wealth for people. It is also corruption for a business man to support a politician in return for inordinate access to contracts or resources. All of these undermine development and the very fabric of our society.

Trivializing corruption is going on mightily in some of our countries right now. You trivialise corruption when there is evidence that an act or a policy is legitimate and yet for your own purpose, either political or otherwise, you label it as corruption.

and ethno-religiously divided country like Nigeria is power rotation. “It is an established and incontestable opinion that Nigeria is sitting on a keg of gun powder. All forms of parochial and ethno-religious interests must be nailed in a coffin and collectivist national interests made to hold sway.

And the chief among the collectivist national interests is the constitutionality of rotational presidency among the six geopolitical zones.

From all these submissions, some facts are laid bare to make Nigeria grow. Significant amongst them are: Nigeria’s unity is not negotiable; restructuring of the federal system of government in a way that every ethno-religious group, including the minorities, is represented and they participate in governance; the restructuring of the security and defence apparatuses, and more importantly an autochthonous constitution that would be home-grown and all-inclusive to be voted through referendum. Nothing can be more tasking at the conference than the preservation of Nigeria’s unity in diversity!

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Teens Dating Violence

By CHELSON

ITOHAN was only 17, when she was allowed to have boyfriend and invite him home. But soon after, her boyfriend of just a few months struck her for the first time. She was afraid to tell anyone about the incident, even her mother, according to Itohan, she didn’t see it as abuse and didn’t equate it with the abuse that her father led inflicted on her mother. She said “I feel that my mother suspected it but because of the silence and the shame connected with abuse in our family, we never really talked about it.

My mother didn’t know how to address it or how to really get me to open up and talk about it. I was afraid to tell her because I thought that she would stop my boyfriend from coming”. She was willing to overlook the senseless beating by her boy friend, just like most women, Itohan had difficulty understanding domestic violence or dating abuse which is

now very common among teenagers.

Relationship abuse, also known as partner violence can begin as young as age 11, when friendship actually starts and in most developed country the age that children begin to date.

And the abuse doesn’t discriminate, it transcends age, race, religion, culture and socio economic class, it happens everywhere, at home, workplace, in school.

(Secondary and the universities). Study has show that 90 percent of all relationship abuse victims are women, right now the number for teenage girls is even more disturbing, alarming, increasing day by day. One in three teenagers reports knowing a friend or peer who has been hit, kicked, slapped, choked or physically hurt by their boyfriends, some eventually get pregnant and continued to be abused.

Dating abuse victims

often experience the backlash of blame, where teenagers feel that abuse is justified due to the media culture which promote disrespect, including a lot of music they are listening to, music videos, reality television, video games and even testing. Experts say that signs of domestic or dating abuse are not always black and blue. Controlling be haviours by abusers

aren’t always visible to the human eye and they include verbal and psychological abuse, social isolation, economic abuse (financial control) and forced sexual contact.

Many boys who grow up to be abusers often experience violent behaviour in their homes. Most times, this behaviour seems a normal way of coping with anger. As he watched these abuses, he may have even been horrified by it, however, it sort of becomes a default

when he is stressed or disappointed or feels that things are out of his control.

This is why you see a young boy from an abusive home displaying abusive behaviour towards his mother and other women as he grows older.

Parents often time didn’t recognised the signs. Parent should pay special attention if a teenage daughter begins to wear unusual heavy makeup which is used to conceal bruises,

dress differently, as if concealing something and which is often the case. Isolate herself from friends, withdraw from family, school activities, social activities and functions, then know it there is a problem, which can lead to mental health problems, eating disorder, depression and physical conditions. These teenage girls do usually decide to stay with an abuser, due to lack of confidence, fear, support and money.

“Relationship abuse, also known as partner violence can begin as young as age 11, when friendship actually starts and in most developed country the age that children begin to date. And the abuse doesn’t discriminate, it transcends age, race, religion, culture and socio economic class, it happens everywhere, at home, workplace, in school. (Secondary and the universities)”

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T ibute I was standing in front of the house this morning with hands akimbo, ruminating on my itenary for the day when my mobile phone rang. The call came from Austin Allen’s phone. I picked the call and blurted in my usual manner with him; “my only brother”. A female voice said, this in not your brother but his wife!

“Good morning Madam” “good morning” she replied and went on to relay to me in an emotion laden voice the death of Austin Aliens. I sank helplessly on the concrete porch of the front of the house.

I first met Austin in April of 1983 at the corporate office of the O b s e r v e r newspaper. I was there to submit my very first write — up for publication. There he was pounding frantically at the typewriter in a bid to beat news deadline.

Some of his colleagues in the sports department were Peter Agbebaku and Akido Shittu, Reti Uzzi was the Sports Editor at the time.

I was back two days later to replace the article because some Bendel Insurance fans in my office who were privy to the contents threatened

Good Night Austin Allens

By TUNJI JOHNSON to deal with me for criticizing them for intimidating the NNB team during the Boyo Gold Cup semi final match. The fans were angry because of Humphrey Edobor and Bright Omokaro, two Star players who had just joined NNB F.C. Austin employed all the theatrics and tactics of his profession to dissuade me from my resolve. Realising the futility of his efforts, he took me to the Sports Editor who told me tersely that the write-up was topical and could therefore not accede to my request.

Nevertheless, the article titled, “Wanted Social Security Fund for Soccer players” was published on April 20, 1983. And so began the eventful and fruitful relationship with Mr. Aliens spanning 31 years. He steadily worked his way up the ladder of progression of his profession. As a reporter he was very dutiful; accuracy and balance were his hallmark. On the subediting desk of the

sports department, he was quite outstanding, some times engaging in headline writing. One witty headline that caught my fancy was the caption previewing the league match between Iwuayanwu Nationale and Abiola Babes in October 1986; it reads, “Peter may teach Sinclair new Song”. At the weekend editor ’s table where he signed off, he will forever be remembered as a great motivator of men, who did his job quietly and efficiently.

To the wife and his children. I urge them to take heart and console themselves with the fact that Austin lived a highly fulfilling life of achievement many can only dream about. Austin, having passed on to the great beyond, prayers for you have become irrelevant.

Nevertheless, I found it irresistible to spurne the temptation to say one, may the Almighty God find your soul worthy of His holy bossom.

“Austin employed all the theatrics and tactics of his profession to dissuade me from my resolve.”

Austin Allens

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O inion Sanusi And The Tragedy Of Intellectual Snobbery THAT suspended Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, is an intellectual snob is as clear as the Coat of Arms on all naira notes for everyone to see.

What should equally be clear is that this intellectual snobbery is the hubris of a man who had the potential of being one of Nigeria’s finest minds in public service.

From first asserting that the charges of the Financial Reporting Council of Nigeria (FRCN) against him were baseless fabrications, Sanusi has finally descended from his high horse to offer less than s a t i s f a c t o r y explanations of his misdeeds at the CBN. And, in so doing, he has completely shattered the imaginary halo of forthright crusader for accountability which he thought he had.

Rarely has a man so conclusively debased himself before the people. And no one has captured this selfdebasement better than Pius Adesanmi whose “Seeking Intervention Funds to Seal Sanusi Lamido Sanusi’s Lips” appeared on the Sahara Reporters website recently.

To be clear, the unacceptable or, as Adesanmi puts it, “pedestrian and shoddy reasoning,” which Sanusi offers as his defence for his financial recklessness at the CBN is indicative of how intellectual snobbery has robbed the suspended CBN governor of the ability to discern what is acceptable conduct in public office and what is not. To argue, as

By JOHN AINOFENOKHAI Sanusi does, that he spent public funds recklessly because President Goodluck Jonathan told him verbally to do so, or that he did it in his understanding of Corporate Social Responsibility (CRS) is further indication of how much he holds Nigerians in contempt.

The major thrust of Sanusi’s argument, when reduced to its clearest rendition, amounts to something in the vein of: I spent the money the way I spent it because I’m wiser than the rest of you; so, instead of asking me stupid questions, you should be thanking me. And if anyone is in doubt that Sanusi truly believes he is wiser than the rest of us, let the person look up the records and see how Sanusi indecorously dismissed President Umaru Musa Yar ’Adua’s SevenPoint Agenda at his Senate screening exercise back in June 2009. In many other countries, especially those in the West that Nigerians like to look up to, the president would have immediately withdrawn Sanusi’s nomination.

Whether Sanusi was right in stating at that time that the country needed a two or threepoint agenda, and not

the Seven-Point Agenda being pursued by the president is not the issue. The issue is

character and the most visible evidence of his intellectual snobbery.

Unfortunately, being intellectually superior—which is debatable in any

Sanusi will ever have the humility to admit that he bungled the opportunity to serve with distinction at the CBN. For, in the words of Adesanmi, “Any

case—did not save Sanusi from exhibiting poor judgement in running the affairs of the CBN. And now it is clearly impeding him from appreciating that the path back to grace is to own up to his mistakes, apologise to the Nigerian people whom he has consistently misled, and face the legal consequences of his misdeeds.

It is unlikely that

student of Sanusi would have no trouble reaching the conclusion that the man mixes arrogance with the brightest kid in the classroom syndrome.” It is this “brightest kid in the classroom syndrome” that Adesanmi describes as “the greatest enemy of humility.” And without humility, Sanusi will never appreciate the tragedy that his intellectual snobbery has made of his story in public service.

Sanusi’s path to humility is further hampered by other former and serving

Sanusi

that he went to the Senate and made statements that portrayed the late president as incompetent or not knowledgeable enough when he could have discussed his reservations with the president in private.

This tendency to put others down and appropriate all knowledge to himself is a hallmark of Sanusi’s arrogant

“It is unlikely that Sanusi will ever have the humility to admit that he bungled the opportunity to serve with distinction at the CBN.”

public servants like his friend, former Federal Capital Territory Minister, Nasir elRufai, and Lagos Governor, Babatunde Fashola. These men continue supporting him even when it is clear that Sanusi, in admitting he spent hundreds of billions of naira without appropriation, has no moral right to speak to Nigerians on any issue.

El-Rufai himself, as all discerning Nigerians can tell, is another hostage of the “brightest kid in the classroom syndrome.”

And, increasingly, Fashola, as he finally crawls out from under Bola Tinubu’s shadow, is manifesting signs of suffering from the syndrome as well.

With such friends, Sanusi has little hope of finding the humility to ask Nigerians to forgive his sins.

And therein lies the greater tragedy. For nobody doubts that Sanusi—and it must be said, el-Rufai and Fashola as well—can still be useful to the Nigerian project. But the path to redemption for Sanusi begins not with his admittedly expansive learning, but with plain common sense: admitting that he cannot possibly know it all at every point in time.

Moreover, with the overwhelming evidence before the whole country that Sanusi showed poor judgement in handling the affairs of the CBN, it bears repeating that the least the man can do is to own up to his blunders, apologise to all Nigerians, and face the consequences of his transgressions.

Only then can Sanusi begin the journey on the path of redemption.

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C unselling

Children’s Behaviour And Parental Role

A CHILD usually learns far more by the attitudes of those around him than he does from books and formal lectures (late Egbale, 2000).

For example, what a child sees and feels in the family ordinarily makes greater impression on him than what he reads when he is older.

Here in his own home, he will again have better understanding of the breadth and depth of family living. Here, he can see what it means to be a mother, a father, a husband or a wife and he also, knows what it means to be a child.

It is not what parents say but rather how they say it that counts most. If a woman gives her daughter the idea that men have all the satisfactions in life, the girl will naturally feel the same when she grows older. As a child, she may begin to despise her own sex and soon try to undo all the boys of her own age.

She glorifies in her assured masculinity. In the end, she may become a hard, domineering woman, unhappy with herself and with everyone around her. If she does marry, she can scarcely hope to be contented in her role as a wife and mother. Her future is often far from satisfactory in spite, of all the adjustments she may try to make (Okoh, (2002) Need we stress why it is particularly important that boys and girls be given the right kind of instruction while they are still young. How should a parent answer these questions that naturally arise in the mind of the child? There is no set rule except to tell the truth when questions are asked.

Children are more impressed by the tone of voice than by the actual words they hear (Okorodudu, 2004).

A comfortable, matter of fact, attitude, free from any sense of shame, is the best way to impact this information. The child will then be led to feel that his parents have told him the truth and he will honour them for being straight forward with him.

A healthy interest in sex according to Okobiah (2003) is perfectly normal for any child. On the other hand, a lack of interest may indicate some degree of repression.

Why is the child trying to hide his normal curiosity?

Has someone already provided him with this information and perhaps told him things of an unsavory nature? Has the attitude of the parents led this child to avoid this unwelcome subject? If this is true, these parents may have erected a barrier between themselves and him that may be very difficult for them to overcome in later life.

When should you explain the facts of life to your child?

Should you put it off till he is old enough? Certainly not when your child asks for an information, he is old enough for a definite answer and you should tell him the truth. If you lie to him, you may lose his confidence forever.

How much should you tell your child?

How much you should tell your child depends on the age and intelligence of the child. At four or five he will not need to know the details nor will he be interested, a few simple sentences without undue emphasis should satisfy his curiosity. He will get around to the subject again when

he is ready.

A typical question might run like this: where did I come from? Or where did you get me? A sensible answer might be you grew inside your mother.

How could I grow in there? Your answer could

pictures, explaining how the eyes grow and how the tinny heart begins to beat. Point out the shape of the nose, ears, fingers and so on.

This is sufficient for most young children. As they grow older, they will naturally gain a broader

about.

He should be told that the doctor and nurses are to help his mother when the time comes for the baby to be born. He should not be allowed to think that the doctor is going to cut a big hole in his mother to let the

be simple description of the tiny egg or ovum and its rapid growth inside the protecting “nest” or uterus.

What made me start growing? This is a natural question during the pre school years. Just explain that a little “seed” (or sperm) from the father starts the baby growing inside the mother, adding that the egg is smaller than the head of a pin when it starts, but in nine months the baby is quite large and weighs seven or eight pounds.

If the child is still interested, show him

understanding. Do not be secretive about the difference between the sexes. It is better for young child to recognize these differences early in life rather remain in ignorance.

The child who has the best understanding about babies is the one who lives in a home where a baby is either on the way or has just been born. If the child has been allowed to help his mother get ready for the hospital and perhaps help prepare the birth of the new baby, he will feel he understand what it is all

baby out. Rather, he should be told that his mother already has a place through which the baby comes, which is called birth canal and is present in baby girls also.

This will take away the mystery and help him to feel that he understands what is going on (Nkechi, 1988). A child who grows up in family where there are both boys and girls will have plenty of opportunity to learn about the differences between the sexes. Parents should see to it that their children have plenty of play mates from both sexes.

The younger they begin to understand these things, the less trouble they are likely to get into later.

Parents should be sensible over perfect matter of fact to avoid embarrassment.

Should a child be told everything?

Probably not, although, may depend upon the age and intelligence of the child.

Great care must be taken that the child will not gather the impression that his parents have loose ideas on the subject of sex and that

“Encourage your child in positive ways of thinking and acting. Give him reasons for good behaviour. Fill his mind with noble and uplifting thoughts. Tell him the truth in a way that will always hold his confidence.”

this is the proper attitude.

Apparently, parents who are too free in their attitude toward sex may disturb the child, so that, he loses all sense of right and decency.

Psychologists speak of this as “seducing” the child and leading him in the way the parent may have unconsciously wanted him to go.

Encourage your child in positive ways of thinking

and acting. Give him reasons for good behaviour.

Fill his mind with noble and uplifting thoughts. Tell him the truth in a way that will always hold his confidence.

Provide him with a home where, he will find true happiness and affection. By your own example, teach him that living is truly enjoyable and that you are satisfied with your lot in life.

Point out the virtues of humanity.

Help him to appreciate the finer things of life. Do this for him now and when he is older he will revere your memory as long as he lives.

Children behaviour can be modified through participating in his various profitable activities, if well monitored by the teachers, parents and counselors.

Many of their doubts can also, be cleared through interaction with understanding adults. The useful information can also be provided in fun and informal way such as story – telling and other activities.

Thanks for reading.

c

E onomy

Curbing Inflation

CONTRARILY to Federal Government propaganda that it had brought inflation under control, about 85% of the downtrodden masses cannot afford one square meal a day, the United Nations had stated that most of these aggregate population still eke a living below ($1.00) one dollar per day.

It is amazing how someone who only hears of inflation and had not personally partake in it to find solutions to such dicey situation. At the end of the day they put forward theories they had acquired academically.

There is no gain saying the fact that if the amount of money in circulation do not commensurate with increase in goods and services, there would be too much money chasing scarce commodities.

The economic theory states that, if the prices of commodities sky rocket as is relevant in this present situation, the lower would be the quantity demanded: but a vacuum had been created for exceptionalities when the quantity demanded is still on the high side.

Some people advocate an increase in the production of food crops. This is a laudable suggestion for documentation purposes. But they have not taken a look at what we have obtained in this country since more attention had been focused on peasant a g r i c u l t u r e .

Consequently, the prices of commodities sky – rocket instead of coming down.

Due to the negligence by the people in the corridor of power, the question on the lips of

the common man who cannot afford one square meal a day due to biting effect of inflation is that how long will this hardship continue? May be till infinity.

Mediocres are known to have offered

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA

developing country, so, it must be stressed that it would take some time before we can fully introduce mechanize farming. It is a step in the right direction to

not feel a sense of belonging in a society they have contributed in no small measures.

Retrospectively, the self-sustenance idea of operation feed the

stimulate local production but our local producers are manipulating the aggregate demand by holding the nation to ransome with artificial scarcity.

Many Nigerian leaders are unpatriotic citizens and they need a reorientation to develop the right attitude towards their fellow N i g e r i a n s .

Consequently the poor ones in their midst do

nation, ADB e.t.c other agricultural agencies put in place for the advancement of individual agricultural imput is not a success story. The prevailing market prices would have automatically dropped if the above ideas of agricultural selfsubstainance was actualized.

Acquisition of land and other strings attached to loan facilities for small scale farmers is not an

• Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala

suggestions to every successive government who place ban on many essential commodities without providing alternative. Perhaps the so called rich men in the society did not feel the pinch, but the less privileged in the society knew that they went through hell. This led to scarcity of all commodities including rice, sugar and grains.

Why should the government place ban on the importation of grains when our peasant farmers can hardly, adequately cater for members of their families not to talk of feeding the ever souring population of about 150 million people.

It is shameful to note that Nigeria has no accurate statistic of its population. It had been conservatively put at 150 million people.

Nigeria as a

easy task for the common man. It is true that in the midst of this confusion the prices of commodities are still on the rise on daily basis.

Some school of thought would insist that it is a common phenomenon in every developing society, but should it be sustained without possible solution? One can imagine the outcomes in a situation where striking workers hold resolution that they will never go back to work until their demand are met.

A delay in arriving in compromise between the striking workers and the government. A lot of revenue would be lost.

Since it is now clear that wage increase would provoke an increase in the prices of commodities, which way forward?

Any increase in wages also shoot up rents by shylock landlord. Some people may like to refer to the setting up of tribunals as a solution to this problem.

This is no longer so because some of the members of tribunals have tasted corruption.

The inadequacies of houses in cities have made tenants to pay any amount since they have no choice.

Mr. Osaze, a civil servant opined that instead of broadcasting

to the whole nation about wage increase why not do it quietly by adding whatever they have to add.

Secondly, the ban on essential commodities should not be encouraged.

In recent times there have been privatisation of P.H.C.N and it had not yielded any positive development in the energy sector of the Nigerian economy. They are now proposing the sales of oil wells and refineries to the private sector.

The people in the corridor of power are only trying to acquire all the resources nature had endowed this country to themselves and their families to the disadvantage of the downtrodden masses.

In the U.K. they still have British Gas, British Electricity, British Airways. All they do is to subsidize the less privilege income and in most cases poor people do not pay for these amenities. So who are we imitating in this dog eat dog society.

In the light of the above, these people should have a rethink as they are only sitting on a time bomb. Like the food revolution in America many decades ago, Nigeria is poised to experience worst attack in the face of youth restiveness.

“Many Nigerian leaders are unpatriotic citizens and they need a re-orientation to develop the right attitude towards their fellow Nigerians.”

o

F cus NOW that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has asked the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for evidence that it is involved in the persistent terrorist activities in the NorthEastern flank of the country, and knowing that the PDP will take a while to come up with any evidence, it may be necessary to help the largest party in Africa with three solid evidence: Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa States, all run by the APC! As to the insurgency that is flowing through Benue, Plateau, and Taraba States, the APC may need to be reminded of one of its governors, a recent convert, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa State, who promised to distribute Kola-nuts to his Fulani brothers to join the APC. Was it actually Kolanuts that were distributed or AK-47 riffles? And what else may he have distributed to destabilize the land, knowing that he is a billionaire with a big ego that frequently needs to be massaged with military achievements.

Meantime, Nyako made some interesting remarks in faraway United States of America that bear repeating here for those who have not read them: “The initial assumption was that Boko Haram was religiously motivated.

Nobody now associates the group with any religion; their targets have largely been within the Muslim communities. What, therefore, are the motivating factors of the so-called Boko Haram?

We must answer this question correctly to enable us determine what type of war we are fighting.

“The Boko Haram itself has not helped matters since it has

Now That APC Has Asked For Evidence

By ABBA ADAKOLE never come out by its actions to define what type of war it is fighting; it has bombed facilities of the United Nations

submitted by my humble self (hereby attached) it does not seem to know what it is facing and the type of

the Federal Government, nor the Nigerian Military has ever linked those few persons paraded as Boko Haram suspects with any of their

on selective basis!

“We now notice a new trend; the random destruction of life and property in the style of Boko Haram in the North-East and the

war it should be fighting; is it a war against terrorists, insurgents or as people are coming to believe, a nurtured war against the people in Northern Nigeria? In short, is the massive killing of people and destruction of property and the environment state-sponsored?

“Let’s face it! Neither

strategic commanders or sponsors! The locations of Boko Haram camps such as those at Sambisa Game Reserve which are said to be well established and stocked are known by all traditional Defence and Security units in the North-East, but we hear about them from the authority only

illegal carting away of herdsmen’s cattle now take place in all the States of Northern Nigeria and is being adjudged by the public as deliberately aimed at bringing conflict amongst the ethnic groups and between Muslims and Christians of the region.

“Let me request this gathering to note that the arms, ammunition and explosives being used by so-called Boko Haram are not manufactured in Nigeria. Somebody must have brought them from abroad to the scenes of attacks. With military check-points mounted everywhere in far greater numbers than we had during our

Boko Haram

and those of all and sundry; it has destroyed churches and mosques and targeted and killed a large number of Muslims and Christians irrespective of the ethnicity of their victims.

It is therefore most unfortunate that in spite of professional advice to the Presidency including two Memos

“The Boko Haram itself has not helped matters since it has never come out by its actions to define what type of war it is fighting; it has bombed facilities of the United Nations and those of all and sundry; it has destroyed churches and mosques and targeted and killed a large number of Muslims and Christians irrespective of the ethnicity of their victims.”

civil war and with only the President, the Vice President and their key staff and Governors of the States on one hand and the Nigerian Military on the other who pass these points unchecked, we could safely assume that it is one of the two groups who conveys these weapons up country from the Port(s) after Custom and Security clearance.

“The security situation we are therefore facing in Northern Nigeria today could be sponsored, financed and supported by evilminded and overambitious leaders of Government and the society for political gains. There is simply no person(s) in the North-Eastern zone rich enough to foot the financial and logistic bills on Boko Haram activities. Somebody outside the zone must have bought these arms, ammunitions and explosives somewhere which is easily traceable, paid the freight charges to Nigeria, cleared them at the Ports, conveyed them up-country through numerous check-points and put them in safe-houses in the States ready to be used by the appointed killers. Also, somebody must have deliberately substantially increased illegal drug traffic in the North. Today a youth in the village might not see drug against his headache, but there would be all sorts of illegal and dangerous drugs available for him to purchase! Who are the barons behind all this?

“But most importantly, who are the Strategic Commanders of these illicit and murderous operations against innocent citizenry including women and children? It is now clear Continued on page 25

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F cus Continued from page 24

...Asked For Evidence

to all and sundry that there is an unhindered coordination between the activities of Boko Haram cells and some strategic commanders sitting in some high offices in our national Defence system. How else could there be such timely actions regarding the immediate withdrawal of the Military near vital positions such as schools and colleges with the immediate arrival of Boko Haram squad of murderers?

Not only are these withdrawals of the Military and the attacks of Boko Haram timely, it is noticed that such attacks would last for hours without counter response by the Military even if they are located at a hearing distance.

“We have had cases where a fleet of Air Force aircraft was being burnt by Boko Haram

however add that virtually all the regular Military units in the area are poorly equipped; they have arms without ammunition and are poorly fed and quartered in spite of the trillions of Naira said to be spent on them by Abuja. In contrast, members of the Abujanurtured Task Force being deployed in the areas are better equipped and cared for perhaps to guarantee that they rain enough havoc on the communities whose domains they are deployed.

“Clearly, these Strategic commanders are waging a war of Terror (‘making’ a statement to influence an outcome) as well as adopting Insurgency tactics of using terror to achieve a political end

democratic right of vote by cancelling the forthcoming general elections in the region and also reduce the voting power of the people there now and in the future through mass killings of its populace especially its youths.”

It may be necessary to respond to two important issues the Governor raised here.

Which group has the capacity to move arms around the country with the number of checkpoints dotting the nooks and crannies of the country?

Simple answer: those who have the capacity to move around the forests, even at night with their cattle can act as couriers for the firearms. These sets of people are Fulani by default. They are also the recipients of Kolanuts.

near a unit of the Military, yet the latter did not respond. We have had a case when a retired General and a civil-war hero was being shot to death by alleged Boko Haram attackers in front of soldiers detailed to protect the area, yet there was no response from them.

There are numerous other revelations which time would not allow me to narrate. I should

against Northern Nigeria. Boko Haram is therefore being viewed as a tool by some evilminded conspirators to kill key traditional and political leaders of Northern Nigeria and to cause the disintegration of Nigeria. The people in the North have also begun to suspect that the objective of all this is to create enough mayhem for an excuse to deny them their

His Excellency declared that there was simply no person(s) in the North-Eastern zone rich enough to foot the financial and logistic bills on Boko Haram activities. That cannot be true because he knows at least two from his home State, without even counting himself!

Also, the governor knows that combined efforts by two determined money

bags can achieve the required “financial and logistic bills of Boko Haram activities.”

The All Progressives Congress (APC) propaganda machine, garrulous as ever, has taken on its PDP

multiple means for preventing, responding and defeating terrorist groups, including the alignment of political, military, social and economic instruments and objectives; improve intelligence gathering;

opposite number, while at the same time pleading innocence in the matter of being involved with terrorists.

“We have absolutely no hand in this insurgency, and we dare anyone with contrary information to publish such today. It is true that he who alleges must prove,” the APC said, but it neglected to mention that its States are flash points of Boko Haram terrorist activities.

APC restated its e a r l i e r recommendations on how best to tackle the insurgency: develop a discernible counterterrorism strategy that will clearly identify the

de-radicalize the affected areas; and invest in research that will give more insight into the different aspects of Boko Haram, including its ideology, leadership structure, profile of members, internal organization, sources of funding and weapons and links to diaspora.

It added: “Others are the need to widen the scope of our response to include the subregional bloc ECOWAS and the continental body African Union, especially since Boko Haram has assumed a regional dimension; the need for a Marshall Plan of sorts for the Northeast, not the paltry two

billion Naira which the FG provided as recovery fund to the six North-east states, at least four of which are worse-hit by the insurgency; an end to inter-agency rivalries that have weakened the fight against the terrorists, and the need to lift the morale of our gallant men and women

in uniform who are battling the insurgency, instead of the huge funds allocated for the purpose of upgrading their equipment being guzzled by thieves.”

With these beautiful suggestions, one wonders why the APC has not been able to get the governments it controls in the NorthEast to pool and pull the resources to solve this sore point of a nation.

Worst case scenario, it can reach some kind of arrangement with the federal government and both parties can beat their chests for solving this menace. The credit for this may come in handy for the contending forces in 2015.

“Boko Haram is therefore being viewed as a tool by some evil-minded conspirators to kill key traditional and political leaders of Northern Nigeria and to cause the disintegration of Nigeria.”

p

O inion

Stop Kerosene Subsidy Now!

By DR. PEREGRINO BRIMAH

ON behalf of the good people of Nigeria, we command our government to immediately without protocol –since no protocol was used in stealing this funds outside of the budget—STOP ‘subsidizing’ kerosene.

With immediate effect, the NNPC must commence selling kerosene at N156/liter or the current price it is imported at, absolutely no subsidy applied for the entire 10 million liters sold every day.

The prior looted N700,000,000 that was used in the subsidy scam daily is to be invested in a special new ‘Rescue Nigeria before it is too late.’ Project, with investments on a state by state basis with most pressing issues and problem states as priority. It is without question that before any talk of ‘transformation,’ the nation needs to be urgently rescued. Not all Nigerians have the privilege of flying around safely in private jets and driving safely in bullet proof cars, being so secure they can look forward to ‘transformational’ development. Only those alive and safe can benefit from $40,000 a pop, assembled in Nigeria cars. Most Nigerians

can barely eat, live on less than a dollar a day and praise God every day they wake up, not murdered in their sleep.

Apart from precious lives, Nigeria is losing billions in our Boko Haram plagued north east. Rescue Nigeria project is drawing up a plan to immediately focus on digging the north east out of the grave it has been in for the last 4 years.

Rescue Nigeria is moving to the north east March 1st, to begin investing the funds right away. At $4 million per day previously—till yesterday, that is— looted by Diezani’s gangs, for the remaining days of February, the Rescue Nigeria account will have $12 million in its account to start off.

We present a press summary of the immediate plan: Rescue Nigeria project in the north east plans to begin recruiting civilian volunteers for a broad base border defense force and civilian JTF intelligence operation.

The north east has 2000 km porous borders. This will be completely sealed under operation rescue Nigeria.

Though their duty, it is unfair that soldiers from all over Nigeria

come to unfamiliar terrain of the north east, and dare to operate in the area, dying to defend the zone. Nigeria’s army

equipped with night vision goggles, radios, and ammunition.

Salaries per month for the 20,000 will be about N1,400,000,000.

loot. With enough bullets.

Other ammo, grenades, etc will be purchased with a day’s loot.

With another day’s

Diezani Alison-Maduekwe

will get depleted and worn out at this pace.

Our plan is to recruit 20,000 unemployed Borno youth for the first draft. These youth will be trained in intelligence, basic combat and rifle shooting. Boko Haram trains their militants in such a short time, we will do better.

These trained youth will be employed and spaced along the stretches of our porous border,

That’s about how much was stolen in two days.

(Subject to review) 2 day’s theft a l l o c a t i o n , N1,400,000,000 will purchase 20,000 units of $500 a piece night vision goggles.

Uniforms, walkietalkies, water-bottles will be purchased for N600,000,000, less than a day’s loot.

Rifles are cheap. The SKS or M28… we will buy 40,000 rifles for N700,000,000. A day’s

“The prior looted N700,000,000 that was used in the subsidy scam daily is to be invested in a special new ‘Rescue Nigeria before it is too late.”

N700,000,000, we will purchase 300 transport vehicles for border patrol.

And then, with another two day’s stash, $8.7 million, we will purchase an array of mixed reconnaissance drones and smallbomb drones. This amount will purchase over 3000 drones and build 110 drone command centers.

The information from this volunteer watch and defense force will be coordinated to/with the remaining army units for strategic locate and crush operations.

Totally, 10 days loot will provide a super strong army and employ many youth.

Add 1 more day for

other expenses, logistics and training.

That is 11 days loot to produce a force that will change the dynamics of the Boko Haram crises and employ youth and feed families.

By the twelfth day, we will move Rescue Nigeria to another group of states, and only retain 3-4 days/ month loot for the maintenance of this youth vigilante force in the three states, Yobe, Borno and Adamawa.

That’s a day out of 30 days, per month per state. The north east will have an opportunity to recover life and economy.

At this rate, after one year of initial set-up, all states in Nigeria will be able to run endowment and recovery projects, some utilizing their entire monthly one-day loot budget and some better-off, less crises states sharing . 30 x N700,000,000 for 36 states.

This project will be supported and transparently perused daily by the global youth community. In this internet age, we youth are equipped to decide, plan and properly conference and manage our lives and matters of governance and national priority with the help of electronic communities. #RescueNigeriaProject The next stop for Rescue Nigeria will be, Benue, Plateau, Nasarawa.

We submit this proposal to the Nigerian government and people for your a p p r o v a l . #KeroseneForLife

Today Diet With Pastor E.A. Adeboye

Ingredients For Answered Prayers Memorise: If I regard Lord will not hear me: Psalms 66:18.

Read: Matthew 6:9-13 OUR Lord Jesus Christ gave us an outline of the pattern our prayers should follow in what is called the Lord’s Prayer. We must draw some eternal lessons on how to get answers to our prayers by studying the few words of this outline. The first lesson is that, we must acknowledge the Fatherhood of God if we want to receive answers to our prayers. This is why those who argue that God has no children are shortc h a n g i n g themselves. Jesus Christ in Matthew 15:26b said: “It is not meet to take the children’s bread, and to cast it to dogs!’

Who are the dogs?

The Bible defines them in Revelation 22:15: “For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

Another lesson from the Lord’s Prayer is that only those who hallow or honour, or have regard for the Name of the Lord can have their prayers answered. The Bible in Exodus 20:7 says: “Thou shalt not take

iniquity in my heart, the

the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain.”

How do you take the name of the Lord in vain? By not living out the life of a Christian you claim to be.

Apostle Paul wrote this concerning such people in Romans 2:21 &24: “Thou therefore which teachest another, teachest thou not thyself? thou that preachest a man should not steal, dost thou steal? For the name of God is blasphemed among the Gentiles through you, as it is written.”

Also, is it not an exercise in futility if you pray earnestly for the kingdom of God to come and when it comes, you are nowhere to be found in it? Because it is

written: “For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man, who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.” Ephesians 5:5 Finally, every child of God must seek the will of God to be done here on earth in this perverted generation as if we were in Heaven. Contrary to the dictates of this world, its fashions and manner of living, children of God who want to be effective in their prayer life must ensure that they are not influenced by the present day so-called civilization, modern ideas and unfounded fundamental human rights that are not given by your Father Who Art in Heaven.

Prayer Point: Holy Spirit Divine, teach me how to pray effectively.

“For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers, and idolaters, and whosoever loveth and maketh a lie.”

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N ws NAFDAC Enlists Consumers In Fight Against Substandard Products THE National Agency for Foods and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said that it had enlisted consumers as major stakeholders in the fight against fake products in the country.

A deputy director in the agency, Mrs Doris Akalusi, said this in an interview with newsmen at the ongoing Enugu International Trade Fair.

Akalusi said that the introduction of the Mobile Authentication Service (MAS) on products had made it expedient for consumers to assist the agency to clamp down on substandard products.

“We know that there are lots of underground manufacturing of substandard products in this part of the country and Nigerians faking original products.

“This is one of the battles that we are fighting here as well as curbing the influx of fake products into our markets,” she said.

She said that the MAS uses modern technology to detect

substandard products.

“All you have to do when you want to buy a product is scratch on the portion that has the product’s identification code and send the code to 38353.

“Immediately you send it you will get a message telling you ‘original, buy’ or ‘fake, don’t buy’ and if the product is fake you report same to NAFDAC,” she said.

She said that the agency had introduced the measure on some drugs.

“We now have the codes on certain products where we feel we have major problems.

“Some anti-malaria drugs and antibiotics now go with the code so we advise consumers to always comply to ensure that the products they are buying are not fake,” she said.

Akalusi further said that the initiative enables customers to instantly identify the originality of any product.

“The code will certainly be on every regulated consumer product in Nigeria as time goes

on.

“The full implementation will take time because we have to get the products one after the other.

It covers all consumers and the text message is free,” she said.

She appealed to consumers to be vigilant while patronising products in the country, adding that their feedback was also required to ensure the success of the campaign.

Akalusi said: “Consumers should only patronise fortified food items that have vitamin A logo on them. The logo is the sign of the human eye.”

She said that one of the challenges facing the agency in ridding Nigeria of substandard products is lack of information by consumers.

“You find your neighbour producing sachet water or other products at his backyard and you will not report such things to NAFDAC. “If we can get people who can tell us what is happening, then the task will be easier,” Akalusi said.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

EHIGIE – I, formerly MISS GRACE OGHOMWEN EHIGIE, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. GRACE O G H O M W E N E M M A N U E L IMADE. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

JAMES – I, formerly MISS JAMES UCHENNA VICTORIA, now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS. VICTORIA UCHENNA AZEEZ BELLO. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

CHANGE OF NAME

AKPOGUMA-ONOME – I, formerly known and addressed as MISS OMOGHO JOY AKPOGUMA-ONOME, now wish to be known and addressed as MRS. OMOGHO JOY A. A F O L A B I OGUNGBEMI. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

ADEDOKUN – I, formerly known and addressed as MISS FELICIA OJUADE ADEDOKUN now wish to be known and addressed as MRS FELICIA OJUADE ERUANGA. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

AMUNEGA – I, formerly MISS AMUNEGA ELIZABETH OLAYEMI now wish to be known, called and addressed as MRS MOMOH E L I Z A B E T H OLAYEMI. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

UWAOGBOE – I formerly known and addressed as MISS U W A O G B O E ABIEYUWA RUTH now wish to be known and addressed as MRS PEACE ROBERT. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.

Coordinating Minister of Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala (left), with President, Global Distance Learning Institute, Abuja, Prof.

Manny Aniebonah during the inauguration of the institute in Abuja recently.

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P rspective

Qualities Of A Good Leader A GOOD leader is someone who has good character and behavior of doing things in the right perspective. He must be someone that has the fear of GOD and the interest of others at heart. He must also have good qualities such as being tolerance and patience in other to know how to ascertain matters. Knowing some of well know good leaders who possesses good qualities , amongst who are, Moses of ancient Israel, and Moses of modern days, like late Nelson Mandela of south Africa, late Obafemi Awolowo, Chief Anthony Enahoroh, late Dele Giwa, Late Ken Sorowiwa, Julius Nijerere and many more. All these above displayed fantastic examples worth emulating.

For instance, In Moses days in the Bible, we saw how Moses was born and grew up in the house of king pharaoh of Egypt. But he knew he was an Israelite and his parents were Israelites.

But because Moses hates injustice and move with pity for the Israelite slave, he killed the Egyptian man. As a result of that, people got to know what he did and even king- Pharaoh was after his life and he ran away to a distance place called the land of the Midianites. After 40 years of been in the land of Midianites God never

By BIJOR CELESTINA OMOJEVWE forget him, at 80 years God called him through a burning bush, and God knew the kind of mind and braveness he has for his people, so that was why he might even be born to become a leader to rescue his people from captivity.

Initially Moses was afraid to stand in front of king pharaoh of Egypt even before the Israelites, because of what he did years back.

But God saw reasons with him by showing him different kind of miracles and gave him a speaker, because he was not an eloquent speaker.

Those miracles where what Moses and Aaron use to show pharaoh and the Israelite that the true God sent him.

Because of the qualities Moses displayed before he went to exile, God choose and make him leader over the Israelites. The most interesting part is that at 80 years of age, Moses did not refuse Jehovah sending him to go to the land he ran away from, he summon up courage and went as God directed him to. He risked his life to save God’s people.

Continually as a leader, Moses, seek the surface of the true God before doing anything. He seeks for Gods approval that is why after the Egyptians destruction at the red sea, coming down from the

mountain, he was bitterly angry with the Israelites worshipping the golden calf. And as such, he broke the two

that Moses and Aaron did not honor God when God told them to speak to the rock, because of the murmurings of the Israelites, Moses struck the rock and ascribe praise to himself and

our inherited sin from our first parents (Adam and Eve). But Moses continues to be loyal to God and do all that he requested of him. He never get jealous, nor harbor resentment at

Aaron that they were the one who brought the water for them. With that God was angry with them, and told them that they will not enter the land of Canaan. The point is that God has a way of dealing with people especially leaders. Despite Moses was called the milkiest of all men on the surface of the earth, he still err against God, because of

heart, even when God told him to introduced a new leader while he was still the leader, he never ask questions. For that, God showed him the Promised Land and thereafter Moses died at 120 years of age in act of holiness to God. Also other instances of modern day’s example are the good example and fine quality of Nelson Mandela of South Africa. He hates injustice so much that he even spend years in jail, despite how he was maltreated in jail, he still forgave them all and focus on his ambition for his people like Moses.

Nelson was considerate, loveable and put the interest of the people at heart. He fought for the black race

Mandela

tablets stones of Gods written law the Isrealites forget to acknowledge God as the one who delivered them from Egypt. For that God punished them and they wondered for 40 years in wilderness until the last person from 20 years upward dies. God too dose not conceal the sins of leaders he does things in a magnificent ways. The reason was

“Moreover, there are certain qualities which a good leader must emulate below, good leader must be lovable and generous like Moses and late Nelson Mandela of South Africa and also that of late Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria.”

having equal right with the whites in South Africa and the whole world. And because he love the people and hate injustice, he ruled for a short period of time.

Moreover, there are certain qualities which a good leader must emulate below, good leader must be lovable and generous like Moses and late Nelson Mandela of South Africa and also that of late Obafemi Awolowo of Nigeria.

Not to harbor resentment or get jeirousy and be considerate of others like Moses and Nelson.

Must honor and respect God; like Moses, even when he err, he make needed adjustment. And Nelson why in prison, he never failed to recognized God. Must be patient, lovable tolerant and caring; like Moses and Nelson, a good leader must have the interest of others at heart. Just as Moses and Nelson did.

Must have the ability of protecting his sheep from going astray. Just like Moses did.

Must worship the only true God (Jehovah).

According to psalm 83:18.

From the aforementioned above, leaders should imitate these fine qualities, in other for them to be able to put things in their proper perspective.

Additionally, like Moses, Obafemi Awoowo of Nigeria, and Nelson Mandela who condemned what he called “ the tragic failure of leadership” and he believe that freedom and justice is worth fighting and dying for. His hard journey from prison to presidency helps him to pursue his vision. So present day leader should borrowed example from qualities displayed above him.

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Africa As The Cheetah …ALL Aboard Sub – Saharan Africa As A Frontier In Emerging Markets Africa’s economies are consistently growing faster than those of almost any other region – and at twice the rate of the 1990s. This has led to improvements in several areas such as trade, mobilization of government revenue, infrastructure development, and the provision of social services.

Indeed, over the last decade, Africa has been among the fastest growing regions in the world economy, and it is interesting to note that this improvement in growth performance has been widespread across countries.

Just some few years ago, news on Africa, whether the reality or perception, has suffered from extreme mood swings, with the pendulum moving from episodes of pessimism to bouts of euphoria. But what really is the case in Africa?

The impressive economic and political performance of Africa since the turn of the century has led to the description of the continent as ‘Africa rising: the hopeful continent’, ‘Lions on the move: blazing a pathway to prosperity’, ‘Africa’s rising middle class’; ‘dynamic African consumer market’; ‘Growth opportunities for investors’ etc.

Exports are booming and export markets have become more diversified.

Foreign direct investment has increased by a factor of six over the past decade.

Private entrepreneurs have emerged as a dynamic force for change, driving innovation and transforming outdated business models.

There is an emergent middle class, although its size is often exaggerated. For the first time in over a generation, the number of people living in poverty has fallen.

Fewer children are dying before their fifth birthday and more are getting into school.

Steadier exchange rates, robust commodity prices, increased private capital flows and modest inflation are experienced in Africa.

Africa has got a very good fiscal story with debt to GDP ratios at the sovereign level which are nowhere near the burden of what is seen in Europe, North America and other parts of the world.

Leading the frontier markets: Emerging markets are the countries that are restructuring their economies along marketoriented lines and offer a wealth of opportunities in

By PAUL FRIMPONG

economy.

Rising middle class: The world is getting richer and about 90% of the world’s population lives in the emerging markets and the expectations are that we would have approximately 3 billion new people in the world’s middle class by 2030 and a lot of those people will not just be coming from Asia but Africa.

Africa’s middle class stands about 400 million people today and is estimated to balloon to 1.1 billion by 2060, thus

• Ghanaian President Mahama

trade, technology transfers, and foreign direct investments. These are nations with social or business activity in the process of rapid growth and industrialization. Each of these countries is important as an individual market and the combined effect of the group as a whole is capable beyond all doubts to change the face of global economics and politics.

Africa has the potential to lead and direct global investments and take it rightful position in the global

representing 42% of the continent’s population by that year. The increasing pace of urbanization and ‘consumerization’ in Africa is yet another force to consider.

As Africans flock to cities and disposable incomes rises, their demand for modern goods and services, such as, telecommunications and banking services will accelerate.

Global businesses whether based in Asia, Europe or the Americas as well as homegrown African firms can’t miss out on this story.

Labour and Youthful Population: Sub-Saharan Africa alone boast of a population of 872.3 million people. The labour story is very positive with 6070% of Africans under the age of 25 and by 2050; Africa’s population of 2 billion would have overtaken that of India (1.6bn) and of China (1.4bn).

This is a very young and dynamic population that global businesses and investors can leverage on.

The continent is rich with untapped natural resources, arable land and ever buoyant consumer market. With a population of little over a billion, the continent possesses a strong consumer market for businesses. In terms of productivity, this continent is a great absorber of technology and is able to combine labour and capital to help spare economic growth.

Thus, with growth prospects buoyant, and the number of African consumers rising, businesses can no longer afford to ignore this vast continent, 54 countries and immense natural resources, including people.

An Infrastructure Deficiency: Most operators in Africa will agree that the economic efficiency is not harmonized due to difficulty in accessing Africa’s markets. Therefore, for Africa to realize its full potential, then a fully structured and sustainable infrastructure development is needed. Although the continent has successfully maintained an average growth rate of between 4 % and 6% for the past few years, Africa accounts for 12% of the world’s population but only contributes 1% of global GDP and only 2% of world trade.

Faster growth in recent years has highlighted deficiencies, exposing bottlenecks in ports, roads, rail and power supply.

“Africa is the Cheetah. The continent is ripe for investments and the opportunities across countries are enormous and these would continue to rise into the foreseeable future.”

Energy, water, sanitation, telecoms and transport have long being identified as a major setback to doing business on the continent.

Energy supply continues to be Africa’s largest infrastructure challenge with 30 countries experiencing frequent power outages with just over a third of Africa’s population having access to electricity.

Poor infrastructure cost each member countries growth to reduce by 2percentage point each year and cut productivity by as much as 40%.

year increase in FDI inflows in 2012. FDI inflows to the structurally weak, vulnerable and small economies rose further in 2012 from a small base of $56 billion in 2011 to $60 billion, owing to the strong growth of FDI to least developed countries (LDCs) and Small Island developing States (SIDS). Their share in the world total also rose, to 4.4 per cent from 3.4 per cent in 2011.

Five countries in SubSaharan Africa received FDI in excess of $3 billion in 2012. These countries are Nigeria, Mozambique, South

• Eleen Johnson Sirleaf, Liberian President

Investments are needed in the areas of energy, water, sanitation, telecoms and transport etc. This is an investment space that global investors can tap into.

Rising Foreign Direct Investments: According to the World Investment Report 2013, in 2012, foreign direct investment (FDI) inflows decreased in all three major economic groups developed, developing and transition economies, although at different paces.

In developed countries, FDI flows fell by 32 per cent to $561 billion — a level last seen almost ten years ago.

The majority of European Union (EU) countries and the United States experienced significant drops in their FDI inflows. FDI flows to developing economies remained relatively resilient, declining by only 4 per cent, accounting for 52 per cent of global inflows in 2012.

According to the report, Africa was the only major region to enjoy a year – on-

Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Ghana.

Among other things, structural reforms for financial, legal and political space when championed could open up the continent for more business and investment opportunities.

Most of the continents sectors require conscious reforms to allow businesses to operate fully. The economic growth of the continent can continue to be on the rise if there are proper and convenient regulations for businesses and investments.

Political disputes should be consciously handled not to serve as deterrent to foreign investments. Signs of political instability could stagnate or reduce the pace at which the continent would grow.

Africa is the Cheetah. The continent is ripe for investments and the opportunities across countries are enormous and these would continue to rise into the foreseeable future.

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V ew Point Communication Revolution Reveals... 20% Bonus Tricks THE Need to make quick cash is creating an impression that Etisalat management had key into the bandwagon of internet fraud. So, in order to entice customers to invest their hard earned money in their gambling promo.

They come out with all sorts of advert. One of such advert states.

“Recharge as much as you can and get 20% bonus of all your recharges for one month.

As one of the victims of this falsehood, I had been credited with some money which was never released by Etisalat Network provider because each time I tried to use such credit, I am told “your account balance is not sufficient for the destination you are trying to call.”

The latest was about a couple of months back when I was credited with (N7, 500.00) seven thousand five hundred naira, I had to personally visit Etisalat office at Sapele road, Benin City to find out the authenticity of their claim. But to my amazement, I was told that it was computer error. In reaction I told them that this kind of sales promotion should be discouraged in all its ramifications because this is capable of bringing this company to disruptions.

During the Land Line Era, telephone fraud was not as pronounced as it is these days as bills were made available to consumers

according to their consumption at the end of the month.

The major challenge then was that telephones were exclusively for the affluent and not for the down trodden masses.

So, it was not unusual for some people to appeal to land line telephone owners to allow them use the facilities for receiving messages from loved

sellers, “Obioma” mobile tailors are also beneficiaries of this new technology.

In another scenario, a peasant farmer at Adeyanba in Ovia North East Local government area in Edo State might pause in his hard work to make or take a call on

telephone with the advanced model you can gain access to the internet, write and receive e-mail listen to music, watch television and make “face me and face you” telephone conversation.

Some foreign newspapers had

ones friends and relatives in distance places in Nigeria and abroad.

This communication revolution also has its attendant positive aspect. So it is not strange these days to see beggars in front of Catholic Church mission road making use of a cell phone, mobile shoe makers, “Guguru”

his mobile phone. In fact from cell phones to computers to TV set.

This modern technology has found its way into every nook and crannies of this country Nigeria.

The spread of technology is perhaps most apparent in the proliferation of wireless telephones most of them are no longer just another kind of

reported that “most hand held telephone these days have more processing power than did the North America air Defense command”.

It had been asserted that about 65% of cell phone owners reside in developing countries making the cell phone the first high-tech communication device to have out- numbered

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA

“Nigeria for instance is adding not less than 1 million subscribers every year despite the 419 sales promotions by some of the network providers.”

the users in developing countries of the world.

Nigeria for instance is adding not less than 1 million subscribers every year despite the 419 sales promotions by some of the network providers such as Etisalat.

Another down side cell phones is that many youths are caught in an electronic web. At the other extreme are technology addicts who

have compulsion to be connected to know what is going on. Distraction, “addition” interruption are perhaps the most recognized problems associated with popular communication and media technology but the same device also have much power for good. How then can you and the network provider use them in a balance, wise and considerable way.

A respondent Mr. Odigie said, “The Idea of some net work provider giving wrong information is very bad. As regards using cell phone when driving had caused several accidents on our high ways by

irresponsible drivers.

The one still very fresh in my memory was when a trailer driver suddenly lost control at Ikpoba Sloop by 3 rd junction Benin City and hit the concrete round about seriously injuring two Okada riders, he used his cell phone to call for help. But why did the driver lose control?

He momentarily took his eyes off the road to answer phone call instead of parking properly.

In-view of this illustration, this cell phone technology can be either a blessing or a curse. The choice depends on us few people, though who would prefer to go back to the comparatively crude products of yester years. Computers and some special hand set, spare us tedious task, enable us to buy and bank conveniently on line.

A social worker Dr. Ode said, “Many people live in isolation for several hours of the day on end with their hand sets and laptops and hardly involve in any physical exercise and consequently become vulnerable to diverse disease such as diabetes, cardiovascular disease or other complicated ailments.

Other risks associate with cell phones are that some drivers who talk or receive calls while driving could become vulnerable to diverse problems.

In the light of the above Etisalt net work should be sanctioned by the body put in place to ensure consumer rights and public enlightenment campaign should be intensified by ministry of information to sentisize members of the public of the need to use the cell phone wisely.

Schumacher Showing Moments Of Consciousness And Awakening FORMULA One great Michael Schumacher is showing “moments of consciousness” after months in a coma and is “making progress”, says his agent.

Schumacher suffered a ski accident 14 weeks ago and is in the waking up process after being placed in a medically-induced coma, with Sabine Kehm offering an encouraging update regarding his condition.

“Michael is making progress on his way,” said Kehm in a statement. “He shows moments of consciousness and awakening. We are on his side during his long and difficult fight, together with the team of the hospital in Grenoble, and we keep remaining confident.

“We would like to thank you all for the continuous sympathies. At the same time we again ask for understanding that we do not intend to disclose details.

“This is necessary to protect the privacy of

Michael and his family, and to enable the medical team

to work in full calmness.”

Schumacher remains unable to breathe on his own and is on a ventilator.

Doctors began the process of gradually awakening

Christian Benteke

home, as has been previously claimed.

The friend rubbished reports that his wife Corinna is spending £10 million to build a medicallyequipped suite at their home in Switzerland because doctors have warned her that his chances of a full recovery are negligible.

“Michael will be moved to a rehabilitation clinic at some stage, however not at this stage,” the friend said. “We are confident Michael will wake up.

Therefore why would we need to build facilities for a vegetative man at his home?

“This would imply that his case is hopeless.”

The seven-times world champion remains in intensive care in Grenoble Hospital in France, but his family remains “confident” he will wake from his coma, according to Sabine Kehm, Schumacher’s manager and agent.

She added that there was no truth in reports that Schumacher’s family were building the medical facility at their home, or indeed his father’s new apartment.

“Rumours saying that Corinna is rebuilding her house in order to take the allegedly hopeless case Michael back home are absolutely untenable,” Kehm said.

“This counts too for Rolf’s house which is being built at the Schumacher’s site.”

Brazil Loss Not Affecting Williams - Johnson

Michael Schumacher

Christian Benteke Out Of World Cup

ASTON Villa have confirmed that striker Christian Benteke has been ruled out for the rest of the season and the World Cup after tearing his Achilles tendon.

The Belgium international sustained the injury in training on Thursday and Villa released an official statement later that day revealing that the 23-yearold “will be out for a minimum of six months.”

Villa manager Paul Lambert said in the statement: “It’s a terrible blow both for Christian and for the club.

“He will miss the rest of the season, obviously, and also the World Cup. But he’ll work hard because

him more than nine weeks ago.

Schumacher ‘showing moments of consciousness and awakening’ Formula One great Michael Schumacher is showing “moments of consciousness” …

He is receiving roundthe-clock care in intensive care in Grenoble University Hospital.

Wife Corinna, 45 - with whom he has two children Gina Marie, 16, and Mick, 14 - has remained at his bedside.

Meanwhile, a family friend has insisted that the legendary driver will be moved to a rehabilitation facility, but not one at his

that’s what he does and he’ll come back for us stronger than ever next season.”

The news comes as a huge blow to Lambert’s side, who currently sit 12th in the table, but are not yet sure of their Premier League status.

It is also bad news for Belgium, who have been tipped by many as dark horses for this summer’s World Cup in Brazil.

After a recent slump in form, Benteke has been back to his best of late and has hit three goals in his last four games for Villa to take his tally for the season

to 11.

Belgium captain Vincent Kompany took to Twitter on Thursday evening to wish his international teammate a speedy recovery.

SUPERSPORT United coach Cavin Johnson has explained that Bafana Bafana’s 5-0 loss to Brazil in an international friendly last month didn’t knock his goalkeeper Ronwen Williams’ confidence.

Williams made his Bafana debut as A Selecao ran riot at FNB Stadium, inflicting South Africa’s worst defeat since readmission.

Johnson, though, feels that the Matsatsantsa shot-stopper is not suffering from the defeat and insists the 22-year-

old has been playing well despite a poor performance in midweek against Maritzburg United.

“I think it is too long ago [the game against Brazil].

Against Etoile du Sahel and Platinum Stars he played well but I don’t think the loss to Brazil had any effect on him, he had a bad game against Maritzburg but we all have our off days,” said

Johnson.

Matsatsantsa’s defence has leaked goals on occasion this campaign and Johnson has admitted it is a concern.

“A lot of teams are figuring out how we play, a lot of the goals we concede are similar. But we will go back to the drawing board and once we fix that, our defence will be fine,” concluded Johnson.

‘If Doing A Quenelle Is Anti-Semitic, All Muslim Are Terrorists’ - Anelka NICOLAS Anelka has launched an extraordinary defence of himself in an interview with French newspaper Metro News.

The French striker quit West Brom last month amid reports that he had been fired for gross misconduct following his lengthy ban for the infamous ‘quenelle’ goal celebration.

But in the interview (which you can read here in French) he painted himself as the victim of misunderstanding, telling the paper that if performing a quenelle makes you antiSemitic then, “all priests are paedophiles and all Muslims are terrorists.”

“My quenelle was very misunderstood,” he said, insisting that there was no evidence that he is antiSemitic.

“I have no record of racism or anti-Semitism,

there is no evidence to support it, not even a shred of evidence…

“I have never had a problem with the Jewish community, and besides why would I have? There are so many questions and no answers.

“At some point we must stop being paranoid and believing that we are all at war.

“The people who wrote the headlines do not know my life.”

Anelka added that he believes the fact that controversial comedian Diedonne M’Bala says the gesture is not anti-Semitic should make it impossible for others to claim to the contrary: “Because some people have performed [the quenelle] in front of a synagogue, then the gesture is suddenly meant

to be racist and antiSemitic in any place and in any situation?

“Sorry, I’m not swallowing that. I’ve tried to swallow it but it won’t go down.

“So if I understand correctly, all priests are paedophiles and all Muslims are terrorists? For me, it’s the same principle.

Nicolas Anelka

“If this continues, the people who decide that the quenelle is racist will soon ban us from eating pineapples!...

“It is a vulgar gesture, I grant you. There was never any religious intent on my part… I am neither racist nor anti-Semitic and this quenelle was a simple dedication.”

CMYK

Cech Dismisses Courtois Threat To Chelsea Place

CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech does not fear having to fight for his place should Belgian international Thibaut Courtois return to Stamford Bridge next season.

The 21-year-old Courtois has been on loan at surprise Liga leaders Atletico Madrid for the past three seasons and is set to occupy the starting role for his country during their World Cup campaign in Brazil later this year.

While no decision has been announced on where Courtois will play next season, the Belgian has made it clear he will not return to London to sit on the bench behind Cech, who barring injury has been Chelsea’s first choice keeper for a decade.

Courtois has been in stunning form in Atletico’s climb to the top of the table and has also been instrumental in the side’s impressive Champions League run, in which they drew the first leg of their quarterfinal tie against Barcelona 1-1 on Tuesday.

Cech, meanwhile, was beaten at the near post

by Javier Pastore in Chelsea’s 3-1 defeat in their Champions League quarter-final against Paris St Germain on Wednesday, but the Czech remains unmoved by the potential return of Courtois.

“If, on the first day of pre-season, Thibaut Courtois is here, he is

here... if he is not, he is not,” the 31-year-old told the Daily Mail on Friday ahead of his side’s Premier League clash against Stoke City at the weekend.

“It does not change anything. I will still have to do better than whoever else is here, to keep my place. It doesn’t change anything for me,” added Cech, who registered his 150th

league clean sheet for the Blues earlier this season.

“You could ask John Terry or Gary Cahill about the very promising French central defender bought by the club.

“If he comes back and he’s better than me, credit to him, well done to him, but who knows?

I’m not afraid. I’m not a fool to think I’ve been here 10 years and I’ll be here another five, just because.

Courtois and Cech

Ramsey Back In Arsenal Squad

ARSENAL manager Arsene Wenger is confident midfielder Aaron Ramsey can make a big impact on his long-awaited return from injury.

The Wales international has not featured since suffering a thigh strain at West Ham on Boxing Day, robbing Wenger of one of his key performers with the 23-year-old having scored an impressive 13 goals in the opening part of the season.

Ramsey was expected to initially only

be out for around six weeks, but suffered a couple of setbacks to his recovery.

He is now set to be in the squad for Sunday’s crunch Barclays Premier League trip to top-four rivals Everton.

The availability of the combative midfielder will come as a welcome boost for Wenger ahead of Arsenal’s FA Cup

semi-final at Wembley on April 7, which comes to soon for either playmaker Mesut Ozil or Jack Wilshere.

“Aaron has been out for a long time and has

just joined in [training] yesterday, but he will be available,” Wenger confirmed at Friday’s press conference.

“He is an all-round midfielder who can score goals and drives

Liverpool Outcasts ‘Kept West Ham Up’

LIVERPOOL might have turned into title challengers since selling Andy Carroll and Stewart Downing but the pair have kept West Ham in the Premier League this season, according to Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan.

‘We All Want To Win’ CHELSEA goalkeeper Petr Cech says his side will do their best to regain their place at the top of the Premier League table and win the league title.

The Blues went down 1-0 to Crystal Palace last Saturday and eventually dropped to second place a day later when Liverpool thrashed Tottenham Hotspur 4-0 at Anfield.

Although they are involved in a tight race against the Reds, Manchester City and Arsenal, Cech believes they can be up there by focusing on their games.

“We’ve been working toward doing our best and trying to be there, so we continue game by game to try to keep winning,” he told the club’s website.

Striker Carroll and winger Downing were both shipped out of Anfield by manager Brendan Rodgers for less than half of the big fees the Reds paid for them as part of a major squad overhaul last summer.

Liverpool travel to Upton Park on Sunday sitting top of the Premier League table with just six games left to play, while their hosts have all but mathematically achieved their own aim of avoiding relegation.

And Sullivan told the Daily Mirror that, had he not been plagued by injury this season, Carroll could have helped the Hammers push even further up the table.

“If Carroll had been fit all season, we’d have been pushing for Europe,” he said. “We’ve averaged two points a game over the last nine games — and he’s still not match-fit.

“I accept he didn’t fit in with the style Liverpool play, but he’s still a fantastic player and we’re delighted with him.

“During the first half of the season, Andy was tremendously unlucky with injuries. But we at the club have always believed in him.

“He is an extremely motivated young man who still has his best years ahead of him and we’re excited by that. I’m sure he’ll be just as excited about coming up against his old club.

“As for Stewart, he has had a fantastic season and has also been instrumental in helping us to climb to safety.

Success is relative but these two players have helped us to stay in the Premier League and now we can continue to build.”

Although some West Ham fans have recently vented their frustrations at manager Sam Allardyce’s direct style of play, the Londoners have moved clear of the relegation mire with a run of results at Upton Park which Sullivan believes could see them threaten an upset against their free-scoring visitors.

“On current form, Liverpool might just be the best team in the world and, realistically, the bookies have got it right in making them favourites for Sunday,” he said.

“It will be an incredibly tough game, but we’ve won four out of the last five home games and we’ll not be rolling over.”

Ramsey

EPL Table Liverpool Chelsea Man City Arsenal Everton Tottenham Man Utd Southampton Newcastle Stoke West Ham Aston Villa Swansea Hull Norwich C Palace West Brom Cardiff Sunderland Fulham

P 32 32 30 32 31 32 32 32 32 32 32 31 32 32 32 31 31 32 30 32

W 22 21 21 19 17 17 16 13 14 10 10 9 8 9 8 9 5 6 6 7

D 5 6 4 7 9 5 6 9 4 10 7 7 9 6 8 4 14 8 7 3

L 5 5 5 6 5 10 10 10 14 12 15 15 15 17 16 18 12 18 17 22

GD 49 38 52 19 18 -4 14 9 -9 -8 -6 -12 -3 -7 -25 -19 -12 -32 -20 -42

PTS 71 69 67 64 60 56 54 48 46 40 37 34 33 33 32 31 29 26 25 24

the team forward always, a real box-tobox player, so it is good to have him back.

“That is an area where we are short because we have many midfielders out - we have Wilshere out, Ozil out in this area, so of course it is good to have him back.”

Wenger added: “He has worked very hard for a while in training now.

What he lacks is competition.

“It is a bit like that (signing a new player), yes. Of course he is somebody coming back, he can help the team be very successful. It can be like that, yes.”

Arsenal will again be without centre-back Laurent Koscielny (calf) and also midfielder Serge Gnabry (knee), while defender Kieran Gibbs (ankle) is a doubt.

The Gunners head to Goodison Park seven points off leaders Liverpool following last weekend’s moraleboosting 1-1 draw against Manchester City, but also only four points ahead of fifthplaced Everton, who hold a match in hand.

Wenger said: “For us it is an opportunity to go up forward and as well

an opportunity to make a distance with Everton of course. It is both.

“The target is to finish as high as possible.

Where that will be at the moment I must say, behind us will depend only on our results.

“In front of us will depend on our results and the results on the other teams, so that’s impossible to predict.”

Wenger added: “There are still a lot of twists and turns in the Premier League until the end of the season and there is no clear favourite.

“Liverpool has an advantage as they don’t play any competition other than the Premier League for a long, long time so they have only one target and they can of course be stable in their preparation. That is a little advantage, but it is very tight.”

Asked whether Arsenal were now a “little horse” in the title race, Wenger said: “Everybody has the right to see our size as big or as small as he wants.

“For us, on our side, no matter how big the chance is we have absolutely to give everything to fight for it.”

Match Fixtures TODAY, APRIL 5, 2014 Manchester City Norwich City Newcastle United Hull City Aston Villa Cardiff City Chelsea

v v v v v v v

Southampton West Bromwich Albion Manchester United Swansea City Fulham Crystal Palace Stoke City

SUNDAY APRIL 6 Everton v Arsenal West Ham United v Liverpool Monday April 7 Tottenham Hotspur v Sunderland

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