THE WEEKEND
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Weekend
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013
PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol. XI NO. 3,193• SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013 • N 100.00
INSIGHT
Justice And Military Brutality In Nigeria
- Page 14
Rivers Crisis
PDP, Play Politics By The Rules - Hon Ativie BY INNOCENT OMOAKA
THE Edo state House of Assembly member representing Uhunmwode Constituency, Hon (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie has called on the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to play politics by the rules. OBSERVER over the Hon (Mrs.) Ativie recent fracas in the made this call during the Rivers State House of week in Benin City while Assembly. speaking with the According to Hon Ativie, W E E K E N D
“PDP should put their members in check through internal democracy and discipline without disturbing the peace and harmony in the state and the country at large. Similarly, Hon (Mrs.) Ativie described the fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly as a
show of shame that has the tendency to jeopardize the peace and harmony of Rivers State and the country at large. She also called on the people of River State not to tolerate the unruly conducts of their representatives at the
State House of Assembly, who should be busy with making laws for the good of the people. She called for the punishment and sanctioning of the
legislators involved in the recent fracas, which would serve as deterrence to other legislators, stressing that there are better ways to instill discipline within the party without having to
cause chaos and rancor in the society. According to her, Mr. President should be able to come out and make a decisive statement, as he should be able to call everyone to order. See full text of interview on page 6.
Removal Of Minimum Wage From Exclusive List
NLC, TUC Blast Senate THE Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja kicked against Senate’s vote for removal of the National Minimum Wage Law from the exclusive list. Addressing a news conference, the NLC National President, Mr. Abdulwahed Omar, said the Senate had become self-serving and antipeople. He said it was ironical that the senators p r o p o s e d decentralisation of minimum wage against the wish of the people of Nigeria and at the same time voted overwhelmingly for life
pension for its leadership. He said that never in the history of the country had “we witnessed such a charade and travesty on the popular wish of the people as was displayed at the Senate’’. “It is rather scandalous for members of the Senate to beat their chest and declare that their act which goes against the people’s interest is making history. “They have not only confused themselves with their duties and functions as representatives of the people, but naively politicised the minimum wage with fiscal
federalism,’’ Omar said. The NLC president said if fiscal or financial autonomy were the issue, private firms would not be brought under minimum wage laws anywhere in the world. He said the Senate should know that of 194 countries responding on the issues as at 2011, 173 had minimum wage regimes in line with global standards. Omar said it was apparent that the Senate had aligned with state governors “whose remnants are taking refuge in the Senate after looting state coffers and Continues on page 4
COMMISSIONING: L-R: Minister of Police Affairs, Retired Navy Captain Caleb Olubolade, Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akiolu, President Goodluck Jonathan and I-G Mohammed Abubakar, commissioning 200 units of housing apartments for officers and men of the Nigeria Police Force at Idimu, in Lagos recently.
CELEBRATION
A Global Garden For Mandela In Nigeria - Page 17
MOMENT OF SCRUTINY
Mr President’s Pipe Dream - Page 5
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CRIME Court Dissolves 3-Year Old Marriage Over Husband’s Troublesome Nature
Members of staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC), registering some people for National Identity Card at the National Assembly in Abuja recently.
Man, 46, Urges Court To Dissolve 3-Year Old Marriage Over Infedelity MR Olatunbosun Babatunde, 46, urged an Agege Customary Court to dissolve his three-year-old marriage with Adeola Babatunde for alleged infidelity and threat to life. Babatunde, who lives at No. 3, Dosunmi Street, OrileAgege, Lagos told the court that his wife used to flirt around and even brought home her lovers. “My wife doesn’t have respect for me; she brings home her lovers when I am not at home and even receives her lovers’ calls when we are in bed. ‘‘Her attitude pushed me outside to seek for love, and when she knew about it, she
started fighting me to the extreme whenever we had a misunderstanding,” he said. The father of a two-year old child told the court that his wife wanted to stab him to death on two occasions. “If not for the quick response of a neighbour that heard my cry, my wife would have stabbed me to death. “I want the dissolution of the marriage, so that I won’t die untimely,” he said. Babatunde said that he moved out of the matrimonial home two months ago when his wife threatened to kill him. Responding, Adeola, 31, denied some of the allegations.
“What normally causes our quarrel is because of his concubines; my husband brought one of his concubines to our child’s naming ceremony. “He used to bring this same woman to sleep with him on our matrimonial bed whenever I was not around. “My husband told me that the woman is his helper and that he can’t stop seeing her.” She told the court that although she was troublesome, she was not a flirt, adding, “I don’t just make trouble, he pushes me to it. “Since he doesn’t want me again, I support the dissolution, but I want custody of my child”.
The Court President, Mr. Joseph Adewusi, told the couple to maintain the peace and adjourned the case to July 31 for judgment.
presiding Senior Magistrate, Mr. Diamond Olewengwa, said the respondent had never appeared in court since the case started on June 3. “The marriage, having broken down irretrievably and the respondent having refused to come to the court to state her case is assumed to have accepted the dissolution,” Olewengwa said. The magistrate said the matter was called up four times between June 3 and June 24 for hearing but Ifeyinwa failed to show up appearance after she was duly served.
The court also granted the petitioner custody of their only child, Adachi, six, and ordered Ifeyinwa to refund the bride price of
was contracted in 2010 and had produced one female child. “My Lord, I want an end to this marriage because I am tired of my husband’s conduct,’’ she said. The respondent did not object to the prayer of his wife, saying that he was tired of her complaints. “My wife always behaves like a saint which I dislike in a human being. She always pretends as if she is perfect,” he said. He prayed the court to grant the prayer of his wife without any claim. The presiding judge, Mr. Ibrahim Abdulquadri, dissolved the marriage and issued a certificate of divorce to the plaintiff.
Court Remands Man, 39 For Allegedly Raping A Minor AN Abeokuta Chief Magistrates’ Court remanded a 39-year-old man, Emanuel Ojelade, in prison custody for allegedly raping a 9-yearold girl. The accused, whose plea was not taken by the court, was represented by
Court Dissolves Anglican Priest Marriage In Aba Over Abandonment By Wife A customary court in Aba, Abia, has dissolved an eight-year-old marriage between an Anglican cleric, Canon Chiemela Alozie, and Ifeyinwa, his wife, for denial of matrimonial rights. The dissolution followed a suit filed by the priest claiming that his wife abandoned him since 2007 without any reason. Alozie told the court that his wife packed her belongings and left the house without any reason, adding that efforts to reconcile with her failed as she refused to heed to calls and advice. Granting the divorce, the
AN Ilorin Area Court has dissolved the threeyear-old marriage between one Rukayat Azeez and her husband, Bello, over the latter’s troublesome nature. Rukayat, 32, a resident of Pakata Area of Ilorin, had prayed the court to dissolve her marriage to Bello. The petitioner told the court that her husband was fond of engaging in street fights in their area of residence due to the bad company he was keeping. “My husband’s troublesome nature had landed him in police custody on several occasions and this has given me so much to worry about,” she said. She said their marriage
N60 to her estranged husband. The court said that both parties were free to remarry.
a counsel, Mr. Adeola Ogunlade. The Police Prosecutor, ASP Paul Etusi, told the court that the offence was committed on July 16 at No. 18 Iyana Mortuary Road, Abeokuta. He said that the accused and the girl’s parents were neighbours. Etusi also said that the accused called the girl to help him buy beans and when she went in to collect the money, he pushed her on the bed and gagged her with his socks. “The girl’s parent heard her faint cry and traced the
noise to the accused apartment and when they knocked, he refused to open. “The girl’s father and other neighbours forced the door open and saw the girl on his bed bleeding seriously,” he said. The prosecutor argued that the offence contravened Section 218 of the Criminal Code of Ogun State, 2006. The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Anthony Araba, ordered the accused to be remanded in Oba prison and adjourned the case to July 25, for further hearing.
Man, 32 Arraigned For Indebtedness NWEKE Joseph, 32, a chain-saw machine operator, of Oju in Benue appeared before Enugu Magistrate Chijioke Agbo for indebtedness. The prosecutor, Mr. Solomon Igwesi, told the court that Chief Emmanuel Nnaji, the Patron of Enugu Timber
Union, reported to the police in Enugu that Joseph owed him the sum of N567,500 and had refused to pay him as promised since 2012. Igwesi said the former prosecutor, Mr. Cajethan Ugwu, was attending a course in Lagos and pleaded with the court to
adjourn the case and give him more time to study the case file. He said if after two weeks Ugwu did not come back, he would take over the case. On his part, Nnaji pleaded with the court to quicken the case because he was ill. Magistrate Agbo
exonerated the court from blame, said the court could not hear the matter in the absence of the prosecutor. She advised both parties to settle the case for their own benefit since they were responsible adults and adjourned the case to August 7.
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N ws Importation Of Medical Equipment Duty Free - Jonathan PRESIDENT Goodluck Jonathan has Abuja declared that all medical equipment for domestic use in hospitals in Nigeria would be imported duty-free. Jonathan, represented by the Minister of Health, Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu, said this at the commissioning of a private medical diagnostic centre in Abuja. He said the aim, was to encourage Nigerian medical doctors in the Diaspora to invest in the health sector, to build a world class facility in the country. “The incentives had been approved by the Federal Government. When you are importing for commercial purpose, it is not duty free. “It is only when you are importing the equipment to instal in an institution you established that the duty-free on the equipment is applicable. “Government is determined to encourage people in the Diaspora to come back and invest. “We want to reduce external tourism, there is nothing wrong with our medical experts, in fact some countries have come to us, requesting for Nigerian doctors, because they are good. ’’
Jonathan said government was also interested in drugs being manufactured in the country, not because they would be cheap but believes that the quality will be better. He advised the investors to abide by the laws and regulations set by all regulative agencies in charge of imported radiologists’equipment for the purpose of safety in the country. Speaking earlier, the Chairman of the diagnostic centre, Sen. Ikechukwu Abana, said high import duties and multiple taxation were some of the factors that pose serious challenges to investors in the healthcare sector. Abana also mentioned that exorbitant fees charged by various government agencies should be looked into, adding that import duty concessions to medical service providers was necessary. He said the centre was established based on the Federal Government’s initiative of ‘unlocking the private sector potentials’ for the establishment of world class specialist hospital and diagnostic centres in the country.
Homosexuality: Police, Community Declare Man Wanted A 42 year-old man, Abel Igbinosa who was charged to court for openly engaging in homosexuality, has been declared wanted by the Police for allegedly jumping bail. Abel is also wanted by the elders of his native community in Edo State to appease the deities whom they claimed, he had defiled by his unacceptable sexual behaviour. Meanwhile, Abel Igbinosa’s story is as pathetic as it is bizarre. His Lawyers claim he is a victim of foreign indoctrination which runs counter to the norms and culture of the land. Abel Igbinosa had lived in Italy before he returned to Nigeria. As an adult, he
found that homosexuality was a normal way of life while resident in Italy, and he thus became a self professed gay. Back home in Nigeria, life was different, homosexuality is considered a taboo by the natives while the offence carries a jail term of over ten years imprisonment. Sometime in November 2012, he was publicly attacked while on weekend picnic with one of his alleged partners. His partner was badly tortured while Abel Igbinosa was immediately handed over to the police. Like a domestic animal doomed for slaughter, Abel has been attacked and beaten up on several occasions by members of his community and subsequently arrested and tortured by the police because of his sexual preference. He was eventually charged to court for engaging in homosexual acts which is punishable by Law. With a possible jail term hanging on his neck if finally convicted, Abel Igbinosa’s problem is compounded as the Odionwere (community Head) had also declared him persona non grata and an outcast for failure to appease the gods of the land.
Governors Babangida Aliyu of Niger, Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, Murtala Nyako of Adamawa, Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Governor Gabriel Suswan of Benue at the National Economic Council meeting in Abuja recently
Auchi Poly Receives UN Academic Impact Membership By LAMAI CASSUIS/ WINIFRED OSASOBO
AUCHI Polytechnic under the leadership of Dr. (Mrs.) Philipa O. Idogho has again received international recognition as a member of the United Nations Academic impact (UNAI). According to the news bulletin of the Polytechnic, the confirmation of the affiliation of the institution with the UNAI was forwarded to the Rector by Hassan Ferdons of the department of
information with a certificate of membership. It added that UNAI has ten principles for which the polytechnic was assessed and found worthy of affiliation, these it said include commitment to the United Nations Charter, Human Rights, Educational Opportunity for all, Higher Education Opportunity for every interested individual.
Other areas of interest are Capacity Building in Higher Education System, Global Citizenship, Peace and Conflict Resolution and Sustainability among others. With this it added, the polytechnic is entitled to use the UNAI membership logo in promotional materials to carry out at least one activity in support of the UNAI and its ten principles.
Reacting to the new fit achieved by the polytechnic, the Rector of the institution, Dr. (Mrs.) Philipa O. Idogho expressed delight at the development noting that it is in line with the vision of the management of the polytechnic to making sure it is one of the most respected institutions of higher learning in the country.
Association Promises To Involve More Women In Politics THE All Progressives Change (APC), a political association, has explained that one of its objectives was to involve more women in politics to ensure gender equality. Ms Sadiya Farouq, the National Treasurer of the association, gave the explanation during an interview with newsmen in Abuja on Thursday. She stressed that the time had come for more public awareness on the need to empower women and the girl child and to protect them from violence. Farouq said this had become necessary in order to create a safer world for all vulnerable groups. “By the time the APC comes on board, there will be more women involvement in politics because that is one of our programmes,” she said. According to her, the Constitution of the association gives women broader chance to be given any position they are interested in irrespective of their male counterpart’s
interests. “It is a kind of encouragement for the women to participate actively in politics”, she said. She appealed to women to come out and be what they ever wanted to be in politics on the platform of APC. She urged them to be courageous, dedicated and focused in order to protect their interests, adding that there was no position women
could not aspire to and actualise. She expressed optimism that democracy would wax stronger if gender inequality was addressed and decisively tackled as early as possible. On the possibility of registering the association, Farouq said it had satisfied all the requirements of INEC. “They are doing their administrative work on it, so we are waiting for their
response”, she said. She said that the primary aim of the merging opposition parties was to effect positive change in the country and rescue Nigeria from corruption and insecurity. Farouq appealed to political parties to give room for internal democracy in order to sustain the growth of democracy in the country. She urged the National Assembly to support FCT to be accorded mayoral status, adding that “the territory is more of a state on its own.’’
12 Ships To Discharge Fuel, Other Commodities ships would arrive TWELVE ships are At Lagos ports other with containers, bulk salt,
waiting to discharge petroleum products and other commodities at the Lagos ports, the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) has said. NPA indicated this in the “Shipping Position’’, made available to newsmen on Thursday in Lagos. According to the document, nine of the ships will discharge petrol, one will discharge aviation fuel, while two others will
discharge vehicles and bulk fertilizer. NPA also said that 71 ships carrying different cargoes would sail into the ports from July 18 to August. 24. It said that 10 of the expected ships would arrive with petroleum products, while eight others would arrive with new and used vehicles. The document said that
general cargo, bulk wheat, bulk fertiliser, bulk corn, fresh fish, bulk sugar. NPA reported that the remaining ships would sail in with steel products, base oil and soda ash. Reports say that 21 ships are currently discharging containers, bulk wheat, bulk fertilizer, bulk salt, general cargoes, bulk urea, bulk gypsum and petroleum products.
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Continued from page 1 exploiting poor workers’’. He noted that the senators’ action would encourage continued exploitation of workers and the Nigerian people. “The process by the Senate, unlike that of the House of Representatives, was shrouded in secrecy, exclusivity and conspiracy. “Even as the Senate ostensibly held a one-day public hearing on the issue, neither the labour movement nor critical stakeholders were officially invited,’’ Omar said. He said the issue of minimum wage as it appears in the 1999 Constitution should not be tampered with.
Omar urged the House of Representatives to protect the interest of Nigerians and make sure the minimum wage remained in the Exclusive List to protect poor working families against bad economic policies. “We appealed to state councils and other industrial
PROF. Pat Utomi, the Chairman, Lagos Business School, lauded Nelson Mandela for his commitment to nation building. Utomi made the commendation in an interview with newsmen in Asaba on Mandela’s 95th birthday. He said that the world was celebrating Mandela because “he is an extraordinary person’’. Utomi, who is also a politician, noted that Mandela had “endured so many ills in the field of oppression” coupled with his 27 years in jail. “After serving jail terms and came out with nothing, instead he helped to structure the way forward for his people. “Like Mandela, Mugabe gave us a similar track but when he got to power, he kept struggling down because he does not want to leave power, unlike Mandela who refuses to come back for second tenure,’’ Utomi said. Utomi also commended
Mandela for developing the younger people around him and immediately left the scene for them. He said that because of the good governance in South Africa, the people had learnt to respect one another and realising that they had to share their future together. “I wished Nelson Mandela a happy anniversary and a quick recovery,’’ he said. Miss Jennifer Ifeayinwa, an undergraduate of Delta State University, Asaba campus congratulated Mandela on his 95th birthday and wished him quick recovery. She said that the legend would remain a focal point in the annals of the world because of his contributions to humanity, especially Africans. Ifeayinwa, however, urged the current crops of leaders in Africa to emulate the virtues of Mandela and give up the idea of wanting to remain in the corridors of power for ever. The undergraduate called on such leaders to give the youth opportunity to serve the people.
unions to remain calm and focused. “The leadership of the NLC is getting prepared to address this incipient, but growing impunity in our nation by the political class,’’ Omar said. The Senate had on July 16 voted against autonomy for local government areas.
Social Crusader Canvasses One Year Tenure For While reacting to the By ADAMS OYIBOKE Elected Officials event of last two weeks at A social crusader, an industrialist, political analyst and entertainment guru, Mr. Bob Aiwerioba has canvassed for a minimum of one year for elected officers in federal
Mandela Is A Nation Builder - Utomi
state or local government in Nigeria. Mr. Aiwerioba disclosed this at the height of tenure of office debute currently on the floor of the National Assembly. He said any serious politician can impact on the people welfare in just one year, stressing that the bill should be thrown into the receptacle as it is capable of drawing back the hand of the clock. He said Nigeria political leader in all spheres of lives have failed to provide the needed social and economic blueprint that would have turn around the fortunes of the country. He frowned at government’s inability to provide jobs for the teaming number of graduates roaming the streets of Nigeria. He advised the federal, state and local governments to invest more on agriculture. According to him, “Agriculture has the capacity of employing more than 65 per cent of Nigeria total unemployed graduates, adding that government should subsidize Agricultural inputs and reduce interest rates charged by most commercial banks to facilitate engagement in agriculture.
Service Of Songs Hold For Late Director Of Tax prayed God to grant the
By VICTOR OMOALU
BENIN CITY- A Service of Songs in honour of the late Director of Tax Audit / Investigation, Elder Amo Okpo Akhademhe was held Wednesday in Benin City with top government officials, politicians, business associates, family relations as well as family members and wellwishers in attendance. The dignitaries in attendants included the Executive Chairman, Edo State Internal Revenue Service (EIRS), Chief (Sir) Oseni Elamah, Executive Directors and members of staff of the agency. In his homily, Ven Isaiah Owhercho the Vicar of our Saviour’s Anglich Church, Benin City extolled the late
THE Secretary-General of Inter-party Advisory Council (IPAC), Chief Ogbuehi Dike, has expressed confidence that the 2015 general elections will be better than the previous elections in the country. Dike who made the assertion in an interview with newsmen in Abuja, also pledged that IPAC would work harmoniously with INEC for
Akhademhe’s Virture describing him as a man of integrity and simplicity who lived a life worthy of emulation. Taking his reading from the book of John Chapter 14 verse 1, the clergy described Jesus as the only way and urged the people to seek His face if they must see the kingdom of God. While condemning the sexual immorality prevalent in the society, the Vicar charge those at the corridors of power to have attitudinal change, if they must leave legacy in the sands of time. He further urged the people to emulate the legacy left behind by the late Akhademhe, just as he
family of the deceased fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.
the floor of Rivers State House of Assembly, Mr. Aiwerioba said it was barbaric and uncivilized for those elected as representatives of the people to behave like wild beasts. He, however, called on the people to watch and examine very closely, those who they choose as their representative, maintaining that legislative chamber is not a place for people with blemished character.
2015 General Election Will Be Better Than Previous Ones the success of elections in - Dike the country, especially in 2015. He said that IPAC comprised all the leaders of the registered political parties, adding that every member of IPAC must be a member of the National Working Committee of a political party. Dike said, “This is a brand new IPAC under the leadership of Mr. Tanko Yunusa, and the members are determined to move the country forward. “IPAC is ready to do anything within its capability to make sure that political parties adhere strictly to their party constitutions.” He said that IPAC had good visions in ensuring that political parties played the game of politics according to the rules. Dike also urged political parties and their followers to desist from any act that was capable of truncating the
democratic process and President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda. “The era of hooliganism is gone, we are now in the era of performance; your performance will speak for you at the poll. “Nigerians are now wiser, they now insist in voting for someone, who will deliver on his or her campaign promises to the people,” he said. According to him, the IPAC code of conduct is like a covenant between the INEC and UNDP who are interested in good governance. He expressed optimism that if members of IPAC followed the code of conduct very well, it would go a long way in bringing sanity to political parties. Dike, however, urged INEC to always play its role as the umpire by conducting free, fair and credible elections in the country.
Nigeria Will Not Provide A Safe Haven For Boko Haram Insurgency - Obada MRS Olusola Obada, the Minister of State for Defence, has said that the country would not be a safe haven for members of the Boko Haram insurgency group that has been terrorising some states in the north. Obada stated this in London at a lecture entitled “Nigeria’s Defence Priorities: Domestic Stability for Regional Security”, organised by the Royal Institute of International Affairs (Chattam House). The Minster, who spoke against the backdrop of the recent emergency rule in Borno, Yobe, and Adamawa states expressed government’s determination to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency. “Insurgents cannot have a safe haven in Nigeria, government is working hard to bring back the three northern states into the mainstream of development activities and the democratic process .
“The Armed forces and other security agencies are currently engaged in multiagency counter terrorism operations in the states with a view to bringing the security situation under control,” Obada stressed. “Even though some Boko Haram members have fled to neighbouring countries, we have a multi-national task force of security forces drawn from Nigeria, Niger and Chad, and these countries are handling the situation very well,’’ She added. She also said that a counter terrorism strategy had been developed by the Armed Forces “to address long term prevention and containment mechanism in tackling the insurgency”. According to her; the mechanism includes robust capabilities for early warning, border surveillance and information sharing. Obada also spoke on the issues of regional security,
and the nation’s peace keeping roles, Oil theft, pipeline vandalism and maritime security. She drew attention to the various areas of intervention by government and programmes embarked upon to address its domestic security challenges. While commending the U.S. and UK for declaring Boko Haram as a terrorist organisation, Obada said their support had also drawn international condemnation to the group. Reports say that UK based political analysts, Chattam House officials, and officials from the Nigerian High Commission as well as students from Oxford University and others attended the lecture. Chattam House constantly plays host to many Nigerian officials, and African leaders, where issues confronting developments in the continent are discussed with a view to finding solutions to challenges in the national development drive.
According to the Executive Director, there is the need to exploit the benefits attached to the project maximally, adding that activities of rubber-based farming systems have concentrated on reducing costs of production, increasing yields and reducing poverty. In his goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Adesina who was represented by the Director of Federal Ministry of Agriculture, Dr. T.J. Odeyemi commended the initiative of RRIN and other stakeholders in their effort to organise the training workshop. Dr. Adesina disclosed that Nigeria is known for the export of three major cash crops, palm oil, cocoa, and rubber, nothing that oil has become the major export Nigeria is recognised for
in the world economy. “Nigeria has a comparative trade advantage on rubber production and exploitation besides oil but neglect of past governments has left the sector in shambles”, he added. The minister however disclosed that the federal government is determined to encourage farmers as efforts are being made to include the action plan for rubber in the 2014 budget. Speaking in an interview earlier, the Executive Director of RRIN, Dr. O.I. Eguavoen stated that the idea about the workshop is to enlighten farmers on the use of improved planning materials and possible ways of preserving their rubber farms. Some farmers who also participated in the two-day workshop commended the organisers of the workshop.
A 2-Day Workshop Ends In Iyanomo
By KESTER OGIESEWU A two-day training workshop on budding, exploitation and management of rubber, high value fruit trees and medicinal plants has ended in Iyanomo, Edo State. The training workshop which was organised by the Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria in collaboration with other stakeholders including Common Fund for Commodities (CFC), International Rubber Study Group (IRSG) and World Agroforestry Centre (ICRAF) had as its theme “budding exploitation and management of Rubber High Value Fruit Trees and Medicinal Plants”. In an opening address, the Executive Director, Rubber Research Institute of Nigeria,
Professor O.I. Eguavoen stated that the overall goal of the workshop to enhance economically viable rubber cultivation in small holding through adoption of improved technologies and diversified farming system. Prof. Eguavoen disclosed that the workshop was organised as part of the implementation activities of a 4-Year CFCfunded project in Nigeria which commenced in July, 2009. The Executive Director also said that the workshop which involves, Edo, Delta and Ogun State will also be extended to other states throughout the country, adding that the workshop is germane because the product is one of the commercial agricultural tree crops in the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan.
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“President Jonathan should know by now that his vision of providing 10,000 megawatts of electricity for Nigerians by December 2013 is nothing but still born because the electricity authorities simply do not have the required capability.”
Mr President’s Pipe Dream
EARLIER in year, precisely January 26, 2013 in this column 1 had sounded a note of warning to the president and commander-inchief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria Dr. Gooduck Jonathan to be cautiously optimistic as far as his vision to improve power supply in Nigeria is concerned. I warned him that his vision to ensuring that there shall be adequate, steady and uninterrupted power supply by December 2013 may be a pipe dream. This is based on his Transformation Agenda to make Nigeria one of the 20 great economies of the world by the year 2020. His vision is that with adequate energy supply Nigerian economy would be given an added boost, as it would stimulate the transformation of the peoples’ lives. Additionally, adequate supply would create, and stimulate sustainable social and economic development across all stratas of Nigerian society. No doubt, steady and available supply of energy would create new avenues and possible lines of socioeconomic activities that would eventually lead to
the transformation of the nation. Also, it would improve the overall living standard of Nigerians. However, the reality on the ground today with just a few months before the target date of December, by which time PHCN or the Nigeria Electricity R e g u l a t o r y Commission NERC or the Nigerian Electricity Commission NEC is expected to generate anything between 5,000 – 10,000 MW of electricity is simply not possible. In the past months the minister of power, Prof Nebo and his co-travellers have been branding various fictitious figures of megawatts which the PHCN would generate according to their own whims and caprice. But one may ask, who is deceiving who? How capable is the PHCN or any other bodies charged with the specific mandate of providing the nation with electricity supply able to carry out or perform its functions? How prepared is NERC or any other agencies charged with the responsibilities of providing Nigerians with electricity able to meet their energy needs and demands? The answer to these
salient questions is not farfetched as the obvious response is that, these agencies are mere appendages of a structural organisation
There is no light anywhere through the North to the South, from the East to the West. Darkness, total
President Goodluck Jonathan
meant to siphon the nations wealth into some private pockets. Consider the multi billion dollar contracts that has been awarded under the Independent Power Projects IPP in the past couple of years. Considerate the monies voted for the power sector during the O b a s a n j o administration! This is truly a national disgrace because as we know, there is no power any where across the length and breadth of this sad nation today.
darkness envelops the entire land nationally, power supply has in recent times nosedived, unleashing massive suffering everywhere. In Edo State for instance, power supply has hit an all time low. In many areas across the state, days may go by, nay weeks with no power supply at all. The citizenry are usually baffled and amazed when unscrupulous government officials continue to bandy figures about the amount of electricity
being generated. They bandy spurious figures at their fancy; believing that Nigerians are not only gullible and ignorant peoples, but nincompoops. Today, Nigerians are living at the mercy of the PHCN, or better still the electricity authorities, and there is nothing no one can do about it. Even President Jonathan himself seems to be clueless about the severe dislocations existing within the electricity authorities. This is absurd, as Nigerians are bearing painfully this arrant epileptic power supply that has withheld socioeconomic development over the decades. Many multinational companies have since relocated to favourable climes due to lack of power supply in Nigeria, that has led to mass unemployment, and untold hardship and suffering in the land. Ironically, Nigeria shall continue to remain in the league of third world nations in so far, it fails to provide constant and adequate power supply for its citizenry. Ironically too, Nigeria has failed on all fronts to provide a comfortable life style for multitude of its people. Ironically, Nigeria is a
nation at war with its own people, starving them to the marrow so that they are simply unable to fend for themselves. In summing up, President Jonathan should know by now that his vision of providing 10,000 megawatts of electricity for Nigerians by December 2013 is nothing but still born because the electricity authorities simply do not have the required capability. He needs to realize just like I had cautioned him in January that those whom he is relying on to do the job for him are nothing but court Jesters. The home truth, which Mr. President needs to realize at this time, midway to December 2013, is that the speedy transformation of the power sector shall not be possible, as he had expected. We take one step forward and ten steps backwards. Things just remain the same, Nigerians shall continue to wallow in the dark, as Mr. President’s dream for the power sector may remains a mere pipe dream. This is of a very prompt consideration and Mr. President knows it, or does he not?
In Edo State for instance, power supply has hit an all time low. In many areas across the state, days may go by, nay weeks with no power supply at all. The citizenry are usually baffled and amazed when unscrupulous government officials continue to bandy figures about the amount of electricity being generated. They bandy spurious figures at their fancy; believing that Nigerians are not only gullible and ignorant peoples, but nincompoops.
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E counter Chief Hon. (Mrs) Elizabeth Ativie is a member of the Edo State House of Assembly, representing Uhunmwode Constituency. She is also the Chairman House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development. In this interview with the Editor WEEKEND OBSERVER, BALOGUN HENRY and an Intern, INNOCENT OMOAKA, Hon Mrs. Ativie bares her mind on the recent fracas in the Rivers State House of Assembly and the way forward. What would be your reactions to the recent fracas in Rivers State House of Assembly? The show of shame in River state is very disappointing and embarassing, and does not give a good picture of what the behaviours of legislators
duties as law makers. I also wish the people of Rivers State would do so, which will serve as a deterrence to other legislators to eschew such acts and know that they cannot take laws into their own hands. How does this portray democracy in Nigeria?
Chief Hon (Mrs.) Elizabeth Ativie
thugs from invading the complex. So the question is how long are they going to keep security men for them to carry out their lawful activities? Therefore, the action of the House of Reps using section 11 would have been the best thing to have been done in the matter. Finally, what do you think is the way forward? Well, the way forward. One, PDP, which is the Peoples Democratic Party, been one of the dominant party in the country should please, because of God and because of the people they represent; they should please play the game according to the rules. That is, they should show interest in their party and have what is called internal democracy in their party. May be that would put their party members on check and leave
situation to do that which is least expected. The action of the PDP is liken to the action of the mad man, who put fire in the bush and now that the whole bush is set ablaze, someone asked who set the bush ablaze and it was said to be the mad man. But the mad man is claiming ignorance, saying that he only set fire here and not on the entire bush. Now the situation becomes a sad situation. Mr. President should be able to come out and make a decisive statement and call everyone to order. Take the instance of the Comrade Governor, who came out strongly to make pronouncement on the ban on bike. Not even the post master was able to come out to say, I use bike to post letters and not for commercial purpose (Laugh). That is what I expected from the
PDP Should Play By The Rules should be. They are supposed to be making laws for the state. Therefore, as law makers, they are supposed to be the first in obeying the laws. This is because the law forbids honourable members to engage in physical combat on the floor of the house. Rather than engage in physical combat the law gives room for lobbying. You can lobby for anything. In fact, the law gives room for lobbying even during parliamentary session. An assembly member can get up from his or her sit and approach other members during session. So, from all that we have heard that had led to the show of shame in Rivers State can be talked over, can be discussed, and you can discuss and discuss and discuss. Convince yourself in what you believe in. You can even take sides without going into combat. I mean, you can differ on issues without reducing it to fighting that will amount to the destruction of lives and properties and so on. I mean, destruction of life is a punishable offence irrespective of whom you are or where you stand. It is an offence punishable by law. For me, if you ask me, what should be done to such legislators involved in the fracas? They should be charged for attempt to destroy life and property, and whatever the law said is the punishment, they should be made to face it. I expect that the people of Rivers State should sue these legislators to court for breach of peace and act of irresponsibility. Since, they are not alive to their responsibilities and
Well, such acts are unavoidable in a democracy. I mean, such actions are expected, looking at it from the point of view that we all grow up in different backgrounds and environment. You can see from the video clip circulating. There is this man on blue dress, that man’s behaviours show that he is not an honourable member. His countenance shows him to be a thug, a thug putting on the clothing of an honourable law maker. So, you also find other few of the legislators on the video clip like that. It is expected because even Christ while on earth had to deal with a Judas. So, those legislators are Judas, who through their actions would want to damage the reputations of the legislators who are supposed to be seen as truly honourable in conducts. These Judas must be fished out and sent out of the system. It is expected that you must fight one or more of these Judas from among the legislators. Such men with rash behaviours should not be allow to sit and make laws in the hallow chambers for the people. The way of the court should be used to remove such individuals from the chambers. Would it be appropriate to say that the immunity clause on legislators gives room for such unruly behaviour from legislators while on the floor of the house? The immunity clause does not cover you when you go out of the house rules. It does not cover you on such behaviour. The immunity clause only covers you when
you are arguing over an issue and you call a spade, a spade. If for instance Mr President or the Governor of a state had done something that does not depict his person or responsibilities of his office, it can be said on the floor of the house in such a way that even when you leave the hallow chambers nobody is going to arrest you for what you have said, that is, that which you think is true or may not even be the truth. But because of the facts that are available to you that led you into making such statements. That is where the immunity clause is, and not in fighting and breaking each other’s head because the rules forbid you to do so. The rules of the house forbid you to do that, the constitution forbids you to do that and even the norms of the society forbid you to do that. So the immunity clause cannot give you cover when you go out of the house rules. It is what you say at the hallow chambers that the immunity clause covers you for. If there is a write up in a paper, it is information that is made available to you. It could be that such information is wrong and you decided to
work on it, only for it to be discovered later that such information is wrong, that is where the immunity clause covers you, and it does not cover you to create chaos and mayhem. So immunity cannot cover you on what the laws of the land and the rules of the house forbid, because at the first instance, you swore an oath to protect the laws of the land. Do you view citing of the section 11 of the 1999 constitution by the House of Representatives as the way to go about the crisis in Rivers state House of Assembly? In fact if such section is invoked and the House of Reps wade into the matter that would have been the best thing to have been done. One, there is chaos already even in the town. Some people might still argue that after those five have done what they did, the other members sat and took the appropriation bill. While they were sitting, outside the assembly complex, the video clip shows that there were fighting and quarrelling outside, fighting in such a way that the armed security men were preventing some
-Hon. Ativie governance for those elected to govern. If they want to have party discipline, there are still better ways to go about disciplining within their party without having to cause chaos and rancour in the society. The whole state is now in Chaos as a result of disciplining the governor of the state. But they can discipline the governor within the party without having to disturb the peace of the state in general. Such a scenario being created has the potentials of jeopardizing the peace of the state and the country. Already the situation is creating a fight for all. It is now a fight not only for the party members but for nonparty members and for the ordinary man on the street and even the security agencies are now involved in the fight. So, it has already created an unhealthy situation in River state and an unhealthy situation in River State is an unhealthy situation for Nigeria. Anything can happen in such a situation. People can easily take advantage of this kind of
president now. He can not stay away from the saga in River State. Either he has a hand in it or not, now that the fire is engulfing the entire state and the country, he can not continue to keep mute. He should be able to call his party men to withdraw their sword. In an attempt to make himself show that he is in charge of the entire country, all those giving political appointments by the President in River State are contributing to the tension in the state. That is a much more reason the president can not distance himself or pretend not to be aware of the crisis in the state. Now that the situation is engulfing the entire country, the president must take a decisive stand as we the women of this country can not tolerate any situation that would warrant our becoming widows, childless, or make us mourn or cry burying the dead. Because before you know it, there would be killings, here and there. Thank you.
The action of the PDP is likened to the action of the mad man, who put fire in the bush and now that the whole bush is set ablaze, someone asked who set the bush ablaze and it was said to be the mad man. But the mad man is claiming ignorance, saying that he only set fire here and not on the entire bush. Now the situation becomes a sad situation. Mr. President should be able to come out and make a decisive statement and call everyone to order.
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T ibute My Debt To Late Senator Albert Legogie WHEN Omoruyi Osagiede sent a message to former Federal Government College Kwali, Abuja students in the United Kingdom that Senator Albert Legogie was dead, I immediately believed it. Omoruyi was not one given to idle rumours. I immediately searched the internet for what information I could get about the death. As I was doing this, my elder brother, Osaretin sent me a Blackberry message confirming the death of Albert Legogie. Osaretin knew Victor Legogie, the first son of the Senator as they were in the same Faculty in the University of Benin. Victor Legogie was the last of my “school fathers” in secondary school and I attended University of Benin with him as well. I was also friends with Jennifer Legogie, Victor ’s younger sister. I visited their family house in Benin regularly but never met Senator Albert Legogie in the house. In fact, I only met him once in 1992 when he was invited as Chairman of the prize giving day ceremony at Federal Government College Kwali, Abuja. He was Deputy Senate President then. Senator Albert Legogie gave his opening remark during the prize giving ceremony and it was less than 10 minutes. However, one hour later he was invited to the stage again because he
had to fulfill the next agenda which was titled “Chairman’s Time”. He cracked a joke on account of this. The intention of the school was clear: Deputy Senate President, please dig deep into your pockets or the National Assembly’s pockets and leave a legacy for the school. I don’t recall what he promised the school but very much remember his other promise. Senator Albert Legogie promised a one-off prize of N1, 500 for the best student in the subject, Government for all three secondary school levels. What else does a student need to get fired up? This was enough motivation for a student to push the boundaries of academic excellence. I needed this money. N1, 500 was big money then and still remains valuable even now. Soon the carpet was swept off feet. General Ibrahim Babangida struck. Perhaps you may understand why the abolition of June 12 elections in 1993 by Ibrahim Babangida meant different things to different people. Babangida’s decision meant the National Assembly’s life was cut short, Senator Albert Legogie was no longer Deputy Senate President, and the Senate was no more. My secondary school didn’t maintain the link to the Senator and even Victor, his son had finished his education at
By EFOSA UHUNWANGHO the school. My big money dream was cut off. However, what was more poignant for me was what I did to lay my hands on the ill-fated N1, 500. My competition for this prize were in classes D, E and F. I went to the library regularly to read
Uche Onyeama got this. Whenever results from tests and examinations on Government were released, I went round each of these classes to get the results of the top students. I recorded these results in a notebook and this
opponent. Thinking back now, as far as 1992 I was successfully deploying benchmarking as a competitive strategy and till date all big corporations use b e n c h m a r k s competitively. The strategy was simple, know what the competition was doing and get ahead of them.
• Late Senator Albert Legogie, one time Deputy Senate President
newspapers of current events in politics to support my examination answers. I never wanted to restrict myself to the standard answers expected by my teacher, I wanted to be different. Yes, I wanted N1, 500. My love for the library made me feel like the undisputable person to become library prefect, though disappointingly for me
became a benchmark to measure performance. Chukwuka Olisekwu, who shared the same seat with me always laughed when I was updating results of my colleagues in my notebook. I suspect he felt my motivation was because I didn’t want to be beaten by a girl, as Bimbo Olobayo was a very formidable
Senator Legogie propelled me. My motivation for Government went beyond the monetary offer from the Senator as I now needed to make history. Back then in our school, a brochure was produced every year detailing results of all students in the Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSSCE). From the
brochures, no student had achieved an A1 (distinction) in Government in the SSCE in the history of the school. In reverence to Senator Legogie and his motivation, I achieved this feat. With an emphatic success in Government, I still believed I could lay hands on the Senator’s award despite B a b a n g i d a ’ s annulment. I didn’t need the school to make the link as I knew his house in Benin. I visited the Senator’s house more than 5 times and I always told Victor that I wanted to see his father since he owed me money. It was always a comic moments as we always laughed about this. When Jennifer gained admission to University of Benin and while being introduced to her for the first time, the first comment I made was the father owed me money and I needed her help to get my money back. The fact remains that in all this, I am indebted to the late Senator. He owed me nothing as his offer motivated me to achieve what has remained invaluable – a competitive streak that r e m a i n s insurmountable; a selfbelief and self motivation that continues to define my being. This is more than the gift I expected from your gesture in 1992 and from the depth of my heart, I say “Thank you”.
“Senator Albert Legogie gave his opening remark during the prize giving ceremony and it was less than 10 minutes. However, one hour later he was invited to the stage again because he had to fulfill the next agenda which was titled “Chairman’s Time”. He cracked a joke on account of this. The intention of the school was clear: Deputy Senate President, please dig deep into your pockets or the National Assembly’s pockets and leave a legacy for the school. I don’t recall what he promised the school but very much remember his other promise.”
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W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT Ini Edo is the news again, yes, in the news but this time, she is in the news because she recently turned one of her bouncers to her Personal Assistant. The star actress was recently in Enugu for a movie shoot and trusts some Enugu people they rushed to the Akwa-Ibom stateborn wife of an Edo state-born U.S-based businessman, to flank her like ants does to sugar. In an effort to control an overzealous fan that have come to glance at their Queen at the Akanu Ibian airport in Enugu, Ini Edo ordered one of her bouncers to work as
her P.A. As we heard now the able bodied P.A is doing his Job very well in every ramification. Those
who should know even squealed to us that the actress has allegedly sacked her former female P.A
Why Wizkid Was Expelled From School Stories By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN
AS the nation’s pop sensation, Wizkid, real
50 Cent Won’t Put Out Album ‘Without A Plan
By EFEMWENKIEKIE OSAS KELVIN
It’s been almost four years since 50 cent last dropped a solo LP, and the G-Unit juggernaut is in no rush to do it.”I don’t really need the money of the record. I want the record to be right. I’m not doing it without a plan; I’m not putting it out like that,” 50 told MTV News about his long-awaited fifth studio album. The multiplatinum rap king points to his label Inters cope and says he won’t make a move until the record company is
ready. “It’s a lot of staff changes, a lot of different people moving in and moving out, so you got to kind of wait until everything’s right; until it’s settled in,” he reasoned. 50 likens himself to a basketball player with dominant skills but less team support — someone akin to Los Angeles Lakers star Kobe Bryant maybe? “I’ve been on a team where I take the ball out and throw myself the alley-oop, and I take the ball out and shoot the three-pointer myself, and I take the ball out and I
dunk the ball,” he said, driving home the analogy.
• 50Cent
names Ayo Balogun, is embroiled in a breach of contract scandal with some of his former high school mates, the aggrieved parties have exclusively revealed what he has been hiding – the circumstances surrounding his expulsion from his secondary schoolIjebu Ode Grammar School, Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State. Apparently in a fit of pique following his attitude and denial before police authorities, the exschoolmates and organizers of the concert, Olumide Adewale and Adetunji ‘ Najia Child’ AdedokunFernandez, have launched a ‘cold war ’ against him revealing his ugly past.The begrudged men revealed that it is not the first time Wizkid has been involved in such scam. They said that Wizkid was expelled from
school for stealing school property. When reached, Wizkid denied all allegations. They explained that they did not take any money from anyone, and the issue of scam must have been done by critics. Wizkid is yet to respond to the allegations of him expelled and stealing in school.
• Wizkid
Going Places! Ice Prince Set To Take On Kenya and Sauti Sol among others. The Boobaata festival is an annual festival which celebrates
It’s definitely a great time to be a Nigerian artist. The acceptance and recognition is growing at an incredible rate and let’s not forget the ultimate status confirmation for the average artist anywhere in the world – the money, cars and blink (we shan’t be so crass as to state the last but we know you know). Ice Prince is one of such artist who’s currently enjoying status, having just nabbed a BET award and he’s set to rock Kenya at the Boobbaata festival comes July 27th. He’ll reportedly be performing alongside with Davido, Victoria Kimani
• Ice Prince
AKPOS was in love with a certain girl, but never had the guts to tell her. One night, at around 11pm, he summoned some courage and sent her a text message saying, ‘I love you, I, wanna date you. Please reply and tell me how you feel.’ A few seconds later he received a message
alert on his phone. He was so scared and tensed to open it that night, so he decided not to check the reply until in the morning when he is less tensed. When he woke up the next day, he said his prayers, did his morning chores, brushed his teeth, ate his breakfast, took his bath, combed
African music and fashion and it will take place at the Nigeria Racecourse in Nairobi.
Akpos Do Not Recharge His Phone
• Ini Edo
his hair, then climbed back in bed and gently picked up his phone to read the message. As he stated reading this is what he saw…… (Dear customer you have insufficient balance to complete your request. Kindly recharge your account and try again).
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W eKEND ENTERTAINMENT I Don’t Owe You Nothing, 2face Replies Blackface Stories By EDIONHON UYI THOMPSON
GOING by recent indications, members of the defunct music group, Plantashun Boiz, 2Face Idibia and Blackface might have a few issues to sort
out with each other. The ‘bone-of-contention’ is nothing new, Blackface is still upset over not being given his due on 2Face’s breakaway hit song, “African Queen”.
Blackface insists that he also has a share in the glory and therefore is entitled to whatever revenue 2Face earns from the song. But 2Face Idibia camp has reacted to the claim by saying that “2Face doesn’t
• Plantashun Boiz
BBA
own Blackface anything”. According to a representative of 2Face own music recording label ‘Hypatech Records’ the single, African Queen was produced under the Kennis Music imprint, and as such 2Face cannot personally be held responsible for paying his former group member any entitlement. The strain in the relationship between these two became more obvious after 2Face & Annie’s fairytale wedding in Dubai, which Blackface wasn’t invited to by his former group member (2Face Idibia). However, the third member of the defunct Plantashun Boiz, Faze is playing neutral in the misunderstanding between Blackface and 2Face saying he has no idea about what is going on between Blackface and 2Face, that 2Face has his own personal reasons for not inviting Blackface to his wedding in Dubai and that he hasn’t heard any word from Blackface and.2Face.
Wizkid Is My Inspiration - Iyanya Discloses IYANYA recently revealed that his inspiration while going through problems earlier in his carrier was younger EME artist Wizkid. Iyanya disclose that he got inspired by the latter to keep his head high in the music industry and achieved the success he has today. Wizkid who has a natural way to the top by getting his hit tract “Holla at your boy” top the polls and since then the now Star boy artist hasn’t looked back. For Iyanya just when many thought he would become a household name in Nigeria, after he won the maiden edition of the MTN sponsored music talent show. The Calabar-
born singer struggled for few years until luck smiled at him and he burst into fame with his hit track Kukere. The R&B singer speaking recently on a TV show disclosed how Wizkid inspired him in the music industry. He explained that when he thought of giving up because of the cold reception for his R&B single entitled ‘True Love’ which he released after winning the competition, the success Wizkid’s ‘Hollar at your boy’ made in the subsequent singles released by the 23 yearold made him to say to himself that if Wizkid could do it, he also could do it which gave rise to his ‘Kukere’ hit tract.
‘BEVERLY’ Gets Pleasure By Angelo’s Finger
As someone once said to me Konji na bastard! And just a few moments later Beverly’s Konji caught up with her and it could very well cost her the 300,000 Dollars prize money. It’s safe to say these set of Big Brother Africa housemates are the most honest housemates ever! All the hooking up and sex going on in both houses is no longer news as Nando accused Selly of giving him an STD. Consequently, Nigeria representative Beverly gave
• Beverly
in to 2 months of no sexual intimacy in the Big Brother Africa House as she allowed the 38 year old raster South African housemate Angelo pleasure her with his fingers…. Beverly’s moans of ecstasy as Angelo did his thing with his fingers and the act were heard all over Africa, as Nigerians expressed a wide range of emotions from support to disgust. Mostly disgust though. Right now it is same to say most Nigerians on twitter are totally appalled for giving in to her carnal
desires and letting Angelo have his way with her. A large number of Nigerians have even called for her prompt eviction from the house. But even though Beverly’s mouth leaks like a basket and she talks way too much,
she is after all a human; 2 months locked up in a house is not an easy one because ones judgment is bound to slip and some of those who have come out to show support for Beverly is the 2010 Big Brother Africa winner Uti Nwachukwu.
• Iyanya (left), Wizkid
Chris Brown’s Probation Revoked, But A JUDGE in LA revoked Chris Brown’s Not Taken Into Custody probation after the LA Country District Attorney filed legal documents asking the judge to revoke it and immediately remand Chris Brown into custody. The D.A. asked for the revocation based on charges being filed against Chris Brown in connection with a hitand-run in May but fortunately for Chris Brown even though his probation was revoked, he wasn’t taken into custody, which is sometimes the case. The judge just revoke Chris Brown’s probation in the Rihanna beating case, but the R&B singer
will remain a free man for now. Chris Brown who showed up at the court to fight the L.A County D.A’s motion to revoke his probation in the wake of hit-and-run charges stemming from a car accident but the judge granted the motion anyway, paving the way for a probation violation hearing in August 2013. If the judge determines Chris Brown’s violated his probation, the singer could be sentenced to 4 years in prison. In the mean time, Brown has been released on his own recognizance as a public figure in America.
• Rihanna & Chris Brown
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P litics X- Raying 4yrs Of Niger Delta Amnesty Proclamation
NOT many Nigerians believed the proclamation of amnesty for Niger Delta militants made on June 25, 2009 by the federal government under the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua was going to make any significant impact in the activities of the agitators in the r e g i o n . In actual fact, like I noted in one of my previous write-ups, many had doubted the sincerity of government to fulfilling its side of the deal, which has to do with the pledge to institute programmes to assist the disarmament, demobilisation, rehabilitation and provision of integration support, after the militants must have declared their willingness and readiness to surrender their arms, unreservedly forsake militancy and sign an undertaking to that effect. In his address, after accepting the recommendations of the presidential panel constituted to set out the terms, procedures and processes of granting of an amnesty to the Niger Delta militants, the late Yar’Adua had emphasized that, “the offer of amnesty is predicated on the willingness and readiness of the militants to give up all illegal arms in their possession, completely renounce militancy in all its ramifications unconditionally, and depose to an undertaking to this effect. It is my fervent hope that all militants in the Niger Delta will take advantage of this amnesty and come out to join in the quest for the transformation of our dear nation.” Four years down the line, I do not think it will be wrong to say that the introduction of the amnesty programme by the late President, fully supported by then Vice President, Goodluck Jonathan and now President, has really paid off. The amnesty proclamation is seen to have made momentous impact in the return of peace to the Niger Delta, an area that was previously known to be the imprint of violence and massive destruction with the conducts of the agitators. At a media briefing to mark four years of amnesty declaration and three years of its operation and implementation, special Adviser to the President on Niger Delta matters and Chairman of the Presidential Amnesty Programme (PAP), Hon. Kingsley Kuku, noted that the programme has achieved the aim for which it was created. His words: Four years on, the amnesty proclamation and the DDR ( D i s a r m a m e n t ,
D e m o b i l i z a t i o n , Rehabilitation) programme for former agitators in the Niger Delta, which commenced three years ago, have met the desired goal, which is the stabilization of security conditions in the Niger Delta. All agitators who were in the
By MICHAEL JEGEDE
undergoing various forms of skills acquisition in Nigeria and other parts of the world. For vocational training, beneficiaries of the amnesty programme are in France, united States of America,
implementation of the p r o g r a m m e . Commending President Goodluck Jonathan for ensuring the sustenance of the programme despite the demise of the initiator,
dynamic leadership of Kuku must be encouraged to build on the successes recorded so far in the running of the p r o g r a m m e . Kuku at various fora had declared that the amnesty programme will be wrapped up in 2015. I would want to use this medium to urge him to endeavour to ensure that the 30, 000 ex-militants, who surrendered their arms and signed on to the programme have all been sent out for their different trainings before it is finally closed. If 2015 remains
“In a statement issued on the fourth year of amnesty pronouncement, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, said the National Assembly will continue to support the programme, in order to sustain the peace that has come to stay in the oil-rich region.”
Jonathan creeks fighting against the Federal Government and impacting against investments and oil production have been disarmed, demobilized and are either currently in training or have since been trained, with a view to adding to national Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and improving themselves and their families. A total of 30,000 persons were enlisted in the amnesty programme. of this number, over 14,000 have been deployed to universities as well as vocational training centres, both within the country and abroad for various skills acquisition programmes and formal education.” continuing, Kuku said: “The ex-militants who accepted the amnesty and made positive use of the platform have become experts in various fields. At the fourth anniversary, the amnesty office presented 24 pilots that had completed their training in South Africa among whom are two instructors. Nine others who were also presented had completed their masters degrees in the united Kingdom, while five others successfully completed their professional training and employed in oil firms.” According to the Niger Delta amnesty chief, “2299 delegates are currently
against the government, fighting the just cause of asking for justice and equity for the region producing the resources that serve as the mainstay of the country’s economy. The programme as packaged by the Federal government has helped in no small measure in the restoration of peace to the hitherto crisis-ridden region, where vandalization, kidnapping and all sort of criminal activities were the order of the day.” He added that the amnesty
Italy, Greece, Poland, South Korea, Israel, Belarus, Romania, united Kingdom, Croatia, Cyprus, united Arab Emirates, Trinidad and Tobago, South Africa, Ghana, Jordan, India, Vietnam and the P h i l i p p i n e s . ” In a statement issued on the fourth year of amnesty pronouncement, Vice Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, said the National Assembly will continue to support the programme, in order to sustain the peace that has come to stay in the oil-rich region. According to AbatemiUsman, the Niger Delta amnesty, proclaimed by the late Yar’Adua, remains the most genuine, noble and thoughtful step taken by any federal government, in tackling the agitation for fairness, equity and development in the Niger Delta since Nigeria attained Independence. The Vice chairman, who had led a delegation from the National Assembly on an oversight/inspection visit in September last year to the Afrika Union Aviation Academy in Mafikeng and the Flight Training Services in Midrand, South Africa, where 53 Niger Delta youths were being trained as pilots, expressed satisfaction over the proper
Abatemi-Usman said: “It is exactly four years today (June 25, 2013) that President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of blessed memory fully
programme paved way for the increase in crude oil production level from 700,000 barrel per day to about 2.6 million barrels a day, until
the closing date, for the programme, in the words of Kuku, he needs to know that he has to redouble his effort to be able to cover the rest
recently that oil theft was said to have reduced to about 2.lm barrel per day. According to him, the amnesty office under the
16,000, since he claimed that 14,000 have already been deployed for educational and vocational trainings in various parts of the world.
Hon Kinsley Kuku assisted by the then Vice President Goodluck Jonathan made the amnesty proclamation for Niger Delta militants, who were up in arms
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I sues Agriculture: A Pathway To A sustainable AGRICULTURE is the engine room of growth in virtually all developed nations in the World today, the key development that led to the rise of human civilization, a traditional pursuit and key development to sustainable growth of the modern economy. If covers forestry, hunting, fishing, crop cultivation and livestock raring. Many countries have made it the mainstay of their economies, because agriculture does not only feed a nation but act as a source of foreign income. In fact, in West Africa apart from Nigeria, whose major source of income is petroleum, most West African countries are chiefly sustained by agriculture. Agriculture involves the production, processing, marketing, and use of foods, fibres and byproducts from plant crops and animals. It is the art or science of cultivating the ground including the harvesting of crops, rearing and management of livestock, tillage, husbandry and farming. The term also covers fishery, and the management and harvesting of fish ponds. Oxford Dictionary defined the term “as the science or practice of farming”. Anyanwu (1997) noted that agriculture, “involves cultivation of lands, raising and rearing of animals for the purpose of production of foods for man, feed for animals, and raw materials for industries. It involves cropping, livestock, forestry, fishing and the processing and marketing of these agricultural products”.
Before the oil boom, agriculture was the major source of income. Blessed with arable lands and water resources, enough foods were produced that could sustained the country and for exports. Nigeria’s wide range of climate variations permits it to produce a variety of cash crops and food crops. Cash crops includes; cocoa, groundnut, cotton, palm oil, rubber and many others. Food crops are; rice, beans, plantain, banana among others. Each region in Nigeria was known for producing a particular product. The Northern region was known for groundnut, the Western region for cocoa, and the Eastern region for palm nut and cassava. Then, agriculture contributed over 90 per cent of the country’s GDP (Gross Domestic Product), until the advent of the oil boom in the early 1970s, thereby pushing agriculture to the side lines. With petroleum as the mainstay, the government gradually abandoned agriculture. Many youths today, no longer have the desire to work in a farm as everyone goes after white collar and blue collar jobs. They see farming as an odd job meant only for illiterate rural people. In the eyes of many wealthy Nigerians, farming is seen as “a poor man’s job”. Pupils and students of primary and secondary schools respectively, when asked what their preferred career would be. Their answers are, ‘I want to be a doctor’, ‘I want to be a lawyer’, I want to be this, i want to be that. Not one of them would say that, ‘I want to
Economy By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH be a farmer’. This shows that agriculture in Nigeria today, despite its importance to human life is been treated as “a business without class”. Thank God, that perception has been proved wrong as we can pin-point men like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and
Agriculture today is no longer a way of living or subsistence where it is intended to meet the requirements of homes, but a business. It remains the mainstay of the Nigerian economy despite its decline due to the oil boom in the early 70s. The rural areas are still basically agricultural, and
2006). According to the 2010 statistics, agriculture accounted for between 38 percent and 40 percent GDP of that year. Nigeria ranks 25 worldwide and ranks number one in Africa for farms output and at least 80% of production comes from subsistence farms. Despite these facts, agriculture is still greatly and relatively undermined. The agricultural sector has not kept up with growth as Nigeria once a net exporter, now imports
Adewumi, Minister of Agriculture
many others, who have succeeded in agriculture and has practiced what is known as “Agric business”. For someone like Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, agricultural business has not only fetched great money but put on a pedestal, as one of Africa’s wealthiest men.
“With petroleum as the mainstay, the government gradually abandoned agriculture. Many youths today, no longer have the desire to work in a farm as everyone goes after white collar and blue collar jobs.”
lot of people still, depend on agriculture for their livelihood. Though agriculture has lost its pride of place, the sector still provides employment for 70 percent of the Nigerian population and about one third of the GDP of the country. In the 1960s, agriculture accounted for 65-70% of total exports; it fell to about 40% in the 1970s, and further went down to less than 2% in the late 1990s. The sectional analysis in 2006 of the real GDP indicated that the agricultural sector contributed to about 42 percent of the GDP compared with 41.2 percent in 2005 (CBN,
food. According to U.S. Department of State FY2001 Country Commercial Guide, Nigeria’s total food and agricultural imports are valued at approximately $1.6 billion per year. To achieve a stable economy, agriculture must be given its rightful place as the traditional mainstay. Recently, the government made efforts to rectify this, as plans have been made to transform the sector by initiating several schemes and programme to enhance agricultural productivity in Nigeria such as; The National Accelerated Food Production Project, The
A g r i c u l t u r a l Developmental Project, the Green Revolution, Root and Tuber Expansion Project, among others. In collaboration with the Federal Government, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) recently introduced the Commercial Agriculture Credit Scheme. The scheme involves the establishment of a N200 Billion Naira Bond through the Debt Management Office (DMO), for agricultural development. The World Bank has also committed to support the Nigerian agricultural sector with $I billion in the next five years. The country director, Ms Marie Francoise Marie Nelly, said this at a workshop on Gender and agricultural Technical Dialogue held in Abuja. Also, the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) wants to support the Federal Government A g r i c u l t u r a l Transformation Agenda (ATA) with new programs that would cost $88.5 million. “Nigeria is targeting $10 billion of investment in farming to boost domestic food production by 2015, as Africa’s most populous nation seeks to reduce a reliance on imports”, The Minister of Agriculture Akinwunmi Adesina said. The nation is working toward boosting food supply by 20 million metri tons by 2015. The government also needs to make plans to diversify the nation’s economy, to promote the development of the agricultural sector. Because the country cannot move forward by just relying on oil and gas alone. Agriculture needs to be given it rightful place as the traditional mainstay of the economy. Nigeria needs to embrace agriculture, because agriculture is the major and most certain path to economic growth and sustainability. We embrace agriculture, we save Nigeria.
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P rspective currency or naira each; by the end of one year, some would be poor again while others would be richer. Of course unforeseen disaster, swindlers and excessive obligation must contribute. It does not excuse safe investment, good judgment and cutting our coat
you got to play to win. Poor people spend so much money gambling, it becomes a regressive tax. The rich can gamble all they want, it’s proportionally smaller part of their income. Moreover if the rich lose all their income gambling, they stand a better chance of making it back than the poor. Their contacts, class and favors may still be useful. The same is not true of
according to our sizes. The poor would rather copy bad taste of the rich. Some fell on bad times, others into bad relationships or unfortunate marriages. As for those that claim they never made enough money to make ends meet, how did their friends and colleagues making about the same amount of money able to build a house and send their children to modest school? They would rather party and spend lavishly for the moment with those richer than them. Greed has a little place in all of us as long as it does not blind. Gambling in one form or the other is a good example of greed. When we are told that we stand a better chance of being struck by thunder than winning a million, our friends said
the poor that is struggling to make it rich. There is nothing special about the rich, more than glamor: glories of our births are shadows not substantiality. The best way rich people make money is to pool money from as many people as they can. The smaller the amount pulled, the larger the crowd. Indeed most companies make more money selling to more households at a lower price than at a high price. As getting more people to buy coca cola than buying cognac. The more purchasing power the poor have, the better for the businesses. This is not working because we refuse to Buy Africa. So if you are so smart, how come you are not rich? Answer: if you are so rich, how come you are not smart?
The Poor Are Not Blameless MAMMIE, why are Africans so poor? The mother looked at the program on television the child was watching and answered: Just look at Nigeria. She put on one of Fela’s vinyl records on an old gramophone made “centuries” ago and the voice sang: Buy Africa! Africa’s problem is much more but Nigeria captures it. Unfortunately, Nigerians do not see themselves as poor. If you showed poverty on Nigeria’s TV, it was defamation. The rich live in an island of false sense of security, paved streets inside their estates, regular supply of water and electricity and their own work, play and shopping centers like anywhere else in the world. So who in his right sense would label that as poverty? After all, a friend mused, there are classes of people everywhere in the world, so are Nigerians. It is true, there are no types of houses or cars you cannot find in Nigeria. One of our most noble deeds is to fight and care for the poor. The rich can fight and do fight for themselves. They make, write and enforce the laws to favor themselves. The liberals amongst them fight for the basic human rights from which the poor benefit. But make no mistake about it, many poor people remain poor out of bad habits that impede our progress. The rich invest their money, the poor waste the little they have. Once you have a full
time job and spending more money than you are taking in, it does not require a financial planner to say that is the way to the poor house. This is where our tastes and way of life come in. There was this friend that claimed he would never live or date people outside of certain posh areas. The other friend decided to build in a modest area rather than pay another two or three years rent in an area. That is a choice. When the new generation banks started paying high salaries to graduates, we told our kids that left steady poor paying jobs to save and invest it in real estate and for their pension. They thought they would never get old. It was the same advice to their cousins in Diaspora that did not realize that their duration in high paying jobs would not be as long as their colleagues. Those who failed to heed the advice lived to regret it. There is this song about money – ti m’ba lowo lomode mi ma ni la’gba. The best time to make the money you will live on for the rest of your life is when you are young. Waiting to get older to make it is an act of malpractice. Some people never had their first house until they were fifty. Those were late bloomers. We are not all that lucky. Some never had, not because they were lazy, but because of circumstances beyond their reach. So why are we surprised that Boko
By FAROUK MARTINS ARESA
Haram, MEND, MASSOB and OPC strive very well and are even represented at the highest levels in the Federal and states governments. You cannot flaunt riches to the poor and expect them to be satisfied with
reach. But pour out all their venoms against politicians because they are graduates that cannot find jobs. Apart from militias, who else has the attention of the politicians? If the poor people fail trying to make it and
window shopping. If anything it’s surprising that the situation is not worse. The poor are so condescending; they tolerate abuse to the highest order in Nigeria. The poor are not blameless. The poor direct their anger to their closest neighborhoods making them dangerous, to their own families and relatives making who to trust doubtful, and kidnapped the most vulnerable or defenseless demanding ransoms because those are the ones they could
hostile environment make it improbable, no one can blame them. That is the reason we want equal playing field so that everyone would stand a chance based on their own effort. Nobody should be condemned to a life of poverty because of the neighborhoods, homes, schools or area/ zip code they come from. Those fighting for the rich are selfish because they only care for their pockets. Those familiar with this writer must have read that: if one million people are given a million in any
“The poor direct their anger to their closest neighborhoods making them dangerous, to their own families and relatives making who to trust doubtful, and kidnapped the most vulnerable or defenseless demanding ransoms because those are the ones they could reach. But pour out all their venoms against politicians because they are graduates that cannot find jobs. Apart from militias, who else has the attention of the politicians?”
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o Between Amaechi, Bodyguard And Jonathan P litics
SOMETIME last year, I wrote in one of my articles that one of the reasons why I will always love and pledge allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria is because, no day ends without at least one hilarious situation going on record. Whether in the creeks of the Niger-Delta; a hut in the violence-ridden North-Eastern region; the jungles of South-West or suburbs within Igbo land, a rib-cracking situation occurs hourly. It comes as no surprise; the everfortitudinous citizenry have adapted to the harsh reality of existence and as such, they just live life. Oh yeah, we are actually the happiest people on the globe despite our challenges; Good people, Great Nation! Initially, I didn’t see the entertainment in the latest headline-grabber which played out within the walls of highly fortified and expansive Presidential Villa, so I went to bed that night with the memory of a witty spectacle I witnessed forenoon. Two commuters – a man in mid-forties and a lady in early-twenties – had engaged in a quarrel following allegations by the alluring lassie that the fellow fondled her breasts while struggling to board the already packed high capacity bus, commonly called El-rufai (He introduced the fleet during his tenure as FCT Minster). It was a funny scene really; I and other passengers burst into peals of laughter as the strangers ceaselessly hurled insults at each other. For those familiar with the city, do a quick calculation of the time it takes a slow moving ‘El-rufai’ to get to Setraco bus stop (the defendant’s destination) from Kubwa Second-Gate. Taking into account the stops in
between, you’d say twelve, may be fifteen minutes right? Trust me, the argument was that long. The above is just one of the many squabbles residents currently face under the latest transport policy. These days in the territory where the Seat of Power is situated, women usually don’t mind “accidental touch” on the chest while men care less about their shirts getting torn; so long they don’t get robbed by bandits who now take advantage of the new order. The bad guys simply pose as commercial vehicle owners, dispossess you of belongings and speed off. Lobatan! This is the level an astute thinker and visioner, Bala Mohammed, has put us. A man who chose to punish Abujarians for being poor, restricted the operations of mini-buses (Araba in local parlance) and substituted with a miserable 400 highcapacity, when least required is 1000. On my radar, Bala is reportedly on the verge of ordering cabs out of motorways this July. Sigh. ‘God dey’, like the common man says. Apologies I digressed and back to the matter. So I woke up the morning after the fondling incident to the vivid imagination of the Aso Rock imbroglio. It goes thus: On the nightfall of June 26 2013, a stubborn governor in the person of Rivers helmsman, Rotimi Amaechi and his supporting colleagues attends a dinner called by our dear President Goodluck Jonathan. He takes his seat, subsequently arises, and makes his way to where the Oga at the Top is seated in company of Madam President of Malawi, Joyce Banda and
By WALE ODUNSI as well as Liberian counterpart, Hellen Johnson Sirleaf. As the People’s
Jonathan
Amaechi
Democratic Party rebel, who is on suspension reached seconds away from Mr. Jonathan, a stern-
looking Presidential Bodyguard blocks him with his huge chest. “I’m sorry sir, can’t let you pass” he said, a pronouncement that leads to a round of dillydally the BG eventually
won. However, I deduced a comic from that encounter; what if the President was scared that Amaechi might have some portion of Juju (Voodoo) with him? Probably rubbed on his palm, or swallowed or laced on his eye lashes, same way our women apply mascara. I may be wrong though but hey, we cannot rule out that possibility. As a Yoruba, a number of our people still believe in voodoo, including some of those that claim they no longer indulge in traditional things due to modern day religious beliefs. The 2015 general election is less than two years and no one should blame Mr. Jonathan for being careful. According to his Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak, Ameachi was prevented from advancing further to forestall breach of security. “The President was already on his seat. It would have been a breach of protocol and security for any security person to allow the governor access to the President. Such a security person would have been sanctioned if he had done that.” Although I take his explanation with a pinch of salt knowing full well recent circumstances, his defense was the best available. Well, protocol or coltopro, our leaders should for goodness’ sake bury the hatchet and work for the overall good of the country. Failure to do this will only worsen the present state of development which is still far from the promised “Promise Land”; still far from the “Breathe of Fresh Air” and certainly still far from the “Transformation” millions of the electorate desired.
“The 2015 general election is less than two years and no one should blame Mr. Jonathan for being careful. According to his Political Adviser, Ahmed Gulak, Ameachi was prevented from advancing further to forestall breach of security. “The President was already on his seat. It would have been a breach of protocol and security for any security person to allow the governor access to the President. Such a security person would have been sanctioned if he had done that.”
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Justice And Military Brutality In Nigeria
THE military of any nation is a beacon of hope and pride at any point in time. Their duty is to protect the territorial integrity of the nation, maintain peaceful co-existence and protect the citizens in all ramifications. The issue of human rights abuses and brutality by some overzealous military men should be condemned by all and sundry. There have been several incidents of military men openly assaulting citizens with impunity and this act is totally uncalled for and should be condemned by well meaning Nigerians. A tragic case in point will illustrate this issue. In 2005, a certain trigger-happy and overzealous naval officer, Mr. Felix Olanrewaju Odunlami was driving along the Allen roundabout in Ikeja, Lagos when a commercial motorcyclist popularly known as Okada, Peter Edeh accidentally hit the naval officer’s car from behind with his motorcycle and upon the realization of his offence, he knelt down and begged the naval officer for forgiveness but the officer refused to be appeased. Instead, in anger, he reached out for his gun in his car, asked Peter to open his mouth and he shot him directly in his mouth resulting in his instant death. He killed him just because he mistakenly hit the naval officer’s car with his motorcycle. What justification can there ever be for this type of brutality, excessive anger and man’s inhumanity to man? Has a car now become more precious than human life? If the car is damaged, can’t another one be bought? Can human life be bought in the market? Why waste a precious soul you cannot create just because you want to protect a car? This case was greeted with wide condemnation then and I can remember vividly that I was personally appalled by the news of the incident and totally disappointed at the conduct of the naval officer. After investigations, he was arraigned on January 27, 2006 before a General Court Martial on a threecount charge of manslaughter, loss of service item and conduct prejudicial to service
discipline. He was subsequently found guilty and convicted of all the offences and was dismissed from the Nigerian Navy and sentenced to life imprisonment. But he appealed the judgment and the case had dragged on for long in court. The matter later went to the Supreme Court and at this juncture we must commend the
By TAYO DEMOLA legal battle. This case illustrates that there is still hope for the common man in the society no matter how the rich, powerful and influential
President Goodluck Jonathan Nigerian judiciary for a job well done on this matter. The Supreme Court in a lead judgment by Justice Rhodes-Vivour on Friday June 7, 2013 finally affirmed his dismissal from
people may try to suppress or delay the course of justice. Justice has not only been done but is seen to have been done on this matter and I believe that wherever Peter Edeh is
CJN Muktar the Nigerian Navy and sentenced to life imprisonment as earlier decided by both the General Court Martial and the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal. This eventually ended the 8-year
now, he will be happy in death! His family has been appeased now that at last justice has been done although we painfully know that this cannot bring the deceased back to life. This is justice for the society
despite the 8-year delay. The Nigerian judiciary should be commended for a wonderful job. In the dark days of the military, this case might never see the light of the day but we thank God for the advent of democracy which has enabled more recognition for people’s rights, freedom of speech and the entrenchment of constitutional government. Although we still have a long way to go in Nigeria with respect to civility and according respect to people’s rights by our security agencies. The military, police and other security agencies should realize that we are no longer in the military era where all sorts of atrocities were committed with flagrant impunity by security men and they went scot free. This time around, it is no more business as usual and security agencies and the military should realize this and treat people with civility because it is their duty to protect the citizens and not to maim them. A situation where security agents brutalize Nigerians at the slightest provocation can no longer be tolerated by the people. Any security agent who violates people’s rights should realize he will definitely be brought to justice no matter how long it takes. Nobody has a right to unduly provoke security men but it is the duty of these military and paramilitary agencies to relate with civilians with a measure of decorum and civility as obtainable in civilized societies. The issue of uncontrolled and excessive anger by security men over minor and insignificant issues of disagreement with civilians is totally uncalled for and should be highly discouraged. In Nigeria, we have lost count of the number of hapless civilians who have been maimed, brutalized or killed by the police especially and other security agents over very minor issues that can be
ignored if they properly controlled their anger at that particular point in time. It is really disheartening that Nigeria who claims to be the giant of Africa is plagued by so much human rights abuses and brutality of its citizens by our own security forces who are paid with taxpayer’s money to protect the citizens. It is an irony for example that the Nigerian police which is supposed to be the people’s friend is regarded by many Nigerians with contempt and disdain due to the flagrant abuses the people are subjected to in the hands of the police. I
long way to ensure that people who are schooled to an extent are recruited into the police force and not just a school certificate as minimum entry qualification. The justice system in Nigeria may be slow but that does not mean the security operatives should latch on that to perpetrate heinous crimes against harmless civilians as has been the case in several instances. Several innocent lives like that of Peter Edeh have been wasted for too long in this country and the people should henceforth refuse to be unjustly
Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. O.A. Ihejirika personally think that there has to be a lot of training and retraining of our security men to align their mentality to modern, civil and democratic norms and standards. There is the need for continuous orientation for these men for the good of all. As for the police, we need serious reforms of the force to bring it in line with modern realities of policing. Why would the image of the Nigerian police be so battered that people now see police men as synonymous with corruption and impunity? We need to urgently check the quality of men being recruited into the police and this should be a major step towards sanitizing the force. We can start by making the minimum entry qualification into the police force to be the Ordinary National Diploma (OND) or its equivalent. This will go a
brutalized in any way by security men. It is certain that if security men know that they will be punished any time they brutalize citizens, they would think twice before venturing into such ignoble act. The culture of impunity must stop in Nigeria and any security agent found culpable in this regard should be punished without any reservations whatsoever to serve as deterrent to others. The likes of Felix Olanrewaju Odunlami rightly belong to the goal where he is; they do not qualify to mingle with sane people because they have by their attitude exhibited the highest unpardonable crime against humanity. May the soul of Peter Edeh, a poor Okada man who was only trying to eke a living with his Okada business, rest in peace. Amen.
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E vironment
Beautifying Our Landscape AESTHETICS might be our reason for planting a flowering tree in our landscape, but there are several other benefits besides just being pretty that flowering trees provide. A rainy season flowering tree will lift your mood and renew hope after a long, dismal dry season. Those first spring blooms on fruit trees, Tulip trees, Dogwood trees and other spring flowering trees
tree in full bloom will help your property sell faster and sell for a higher amount. An initial investment of a few naira or dollars for a flowering tree, can add hundreds of naira or dollars to the selling price of your home should you ever decide to sell. That’s something to bear in mind when choosing and planting flowering trees in your landscape. If the size of your landscape permits,
remind us that rainy season is just around the corner and new life is beginning. By planting any flowering tree, you break up the utilitarian look of the suburban landscape. The paved roads, sidewalks and driveways are cold, hard functional necessities, a flowering tree in the middle of all that gives warmth, colour and the feeling of home to the urban landscape. Flowering trees not only benefit you, beautify your landscape, save you money on energy costs, make a house look more like a home and benefit the environment, just one single flowering tree in your landscape will add value to your property. If you are trying to sell your home, a flowering
plant flowering trees so one will be in bloom from rainy season through fall, just in case you decide to sell. Adding flowering trees to your landscape does not have to take up a large portion of your yard, some are small and most can be kept pruned to the desired height and width. Benefits Of Planting Flowering Trees In Our Environment Mood Enhancement: Gardening and yard work contributes to health, active living both physically and emotionally. Horticulture therapists have discovered that gardening provides a form of emotional expression, release and it helps people connect with others.
By PRAISE EGHWRUDJE Doctors have shown that people recover faster in a hospital when given a landscape view, rather than seeing only walls of adjoining buildings. There is growing evidence that horticulture is important on a human level. Plants lowers blood pressure, reduces muscle tension related to stress, fear and anger or aggression. Urban Advantage:
community appeal. Parks and street trees have been found to be second only to education in resident’s perceived value of municipal services offered. Psychologist Rachel Keplan found trees, well-landscaped grounds and places for taking walks to be among the most important factor considered when individuals chose a place
more green space within a city’s boundaries can improve the urban environment. Green space helps in regulating air quality and climate, reducing energy consumption by countering the warming effects of paved surfaces, recharges ground water supplies and protects lakes and streams from polluted runoff. Good landscaping increases
to live. Water Quality Protection: proper landscaping reduces nitrate leaching from the soil into the water supply and reduces surface water runoff, keeping phosphorus and other pollutants out of our waterway and preventing septic system overload. Reduces Heat BuildUp: trees in parking lots can reduce on-site heat
build-up, decrease runoff and enhances night time cool downs. Test in a mall parking lot in Huntsville, ala, showed a 31 degree F difference between shaded and unshaded areas. Reduce Soil Erosion: a dense cover of plants and mulch holds soil in place, keeping sediment out of lakes, streams, storm drains and roads; and reducing flooding, mudslides and dust storms. Improve Air Quality: trees, shrubs, and turf removes smoke, dust and other pollutants from the air. One tree can remove 26 pounds of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere annually, equalling 11,000 miles of car emissions. One study showed that one acre of trees has the ability to remove 13tons of particles and gases annually. 2500 square feet turf absorbs carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and releases enough oxygen for a family of four to breathe. Lower Attic Temperatures: the trees shading homes can reduce attic temperature (attic is a space or room inside or partly inside the roof of a building), as much as 40 degrees. According to research, it has been discovered that urban forests reduces urban air temperatures significantly by shading heat sink such as buildings and concrete and returning humidity to their air through evaporative cooling. Privacy And Tranquillity: well-placed plantings offers privacy and tranquillity by screening out busy street noises and reducing glare
from headlights. A flowering tree will also provide shade in your landscape and a wind block that will help reduce your home’s energy costs. Health Benefits In Children: researchers found that Attention Deficit Disorder (A.D.D.) symptoms in children are relieved after contact with nature. Greenery in a child’s everyday environment, even views of green through windows reduces Attention Deficit Disorder symptom. Stress reduction. Study published in Environment and Behaviour, indicates that ‘‘by boosting children’s attention resource, green spaces may enable them to think more clearly and cope more effectively with life’s stress.’’ Girls And Greenery: a university in Illinois study found that girls exposed to green settings are better able to handle peer pressure, sexual pressure and other challenging situations as well as perform better in school. Better Atmosphere For Learning. To test attentiveness, a university class rotated between two classrooms. One contained plants and foliage and the other one didn’t. Results at the academic year showed inattentiveness was reduced by 70 percent in the room containing plants plus indications of better exam performance. Reduced Pollution: trees naturally remove pollutants from the air, so every tree that is subtracted from any city’s ecosystem means some particulate pollution remains that should have been filtered out.
“Flowering trees not only benefit you, beautify your landscape, save you money on energy costs, make a house look more like a home and benefit the environment, just one single flowering tree in your landscape will add value to your property. If you are trying to sell your home, a flowering tree in full bloom will help your property sell faster and sell for a higher amount.”
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F cus Human Rights Impact On Constitutional Amendment
A CONSTITUTION in legal parlance is simply a body of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is acknowledged to be governed. The above elementary definition of a constitution made by Wikipedia also goes to show that the constitution of Nigeria is the supreme law of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The key role of the constitution is to spell out in clear terms, the basic obligations of citizens to the Nigerian nation and importantly the obligation of the state to the citizenry. The earliest segment of the constitution of Nigeria demonstrates the fact that the primary duty of government is the protection of lives and property of the citizenry and safeguarding the welfare the state owes the people who are the owners of the sovereignty of Nigeria. The current constitution in use in Nigeria was written during the period of military disengagement from government and was midwifed by some unelected men and women and inherent in the extant 1999 constitution are several avoidable bottlenecks and obstacles to the full realization of the respect to the fundamental human rights of the citizenry. Some persons with track records of working tenaciously for the enthronement of sustainable and vibrant democracy who actually fought the military intellectually before the military despots disengaged in early 1999, are opposed to the current constitution and have advocated severally for the convocation of a sovereign national constitutional conference during which the real Nigerian people will give ‘WE’ the Nigerian people the true constitution. But as Rome was not built in a day and since nothing can operate in a state of vacuum, most Nigerians have decided to live with the current constitutional reality but have also canvassed for major amendments to reflect the will of the people. Previously, the National Assembly before the current seventh session made attempts to fundamentally alter certain sections of the
constitution to make the provisions comply with the global best practices in the promotion and protection of democratic principles, rule of law and respect for the
By EMMANUEL ONWUBIKO
• David Mark
fundamental rights of the citizenry. The past attempts were largely unsuccessful due to some teething challenges that confronted the constitution amendment committees set up in both the Senate and the Federal House of Representatives. The outcome of past attempts at constitution amendment fell short of the expectations of the broad spectrum of the Nigerian people thereby necessitating another attempt by the current 7th session of the National Assembly. Both committees in the Federal House of Representatives headed by the Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha and that of the Senate headed by the Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu have substantially completed the preliminary national assignment of collating the views of Nigerians in all the constituencies and have presented their respective reports for legislative debates and passage into law in the National Assembly and will subsequently midwife the other strategic stages necessary for completing the ongoing amendment process. In the Federal House of Representatives, the Emeka Ihedioha-led constitution amendment committee told Nigerians that an aspect of the outcome of the nation-wide
establishment. Specifically, in the area of protecting and promoting gender equity, the senate constitution amendment committee has
• Aminu Tambuwa
public hearing sessions on the constitution amendment was the unanimous decision of Nigerians to elevate chapter two of the constitution to the respectable height of enforceability meaning that the provisions will enjoy same status with those of Chapter 4 which are the fundamental rights principles. The Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led constitution amendment committee made several human rights milestones in that certain phrases and sections that are inherently damaging to gender equity; child rights protection and the independence of the local government and relevant state institutions in the 36 states of Nigeria were systematically deleted. To a large extent, the recommendations made by the Senate constitution amendment committee to delete anti-democratic and anti-human rights provisions in order to promote greater respect for gender equity; child rights and building of strong institutions to serve the people at the state levels, is a commendable step which is in line with what most scholars say good parliaments should be doing. Mr. Manfred Nowak, a notable human rights scholar observed thus; “parliaments-sovereign bodies constituted through regular, free and fair
elections to ensure government of the people, for the people and by the people- are therefore a key institution in a democracy. As the body competent to legislate and to keep the policies and actions of the executive branch under constant scrutiny, parliament also plays a key role in the promotion and protection of human rights”. Mr. Nowak further affirmed that parliaments establish the legal frame work that guarantees the independence of the judiciary and, therefore the rule of law, a cornerstone of democracy and human rights protection. Substantially, by professionally dissecting the views of Nigerians and deleting some noticeable draconian provisions in the extant constitution, the National Assembly constitution amendment committees headed jointly by Senator Ike Ekweremadu and Representative Emeka Ihedioha have really fulfilled the key reason for their
recommended that section 26(2) (a) of the constitution on citizenship be altered to substitute the word “woman” with person so as not be misconstrued as an antigender equity provision. Similarly, section 29 (4) (b) has been deleted because of concern for lack of sensitivity to issues of gender parity. The Senator Ekweremadu-led Constitution amendment committee has importantly conferred greater autonomy to certain key State-run institutions to make them independent from the whims and caprices of the State governors. This revolutionary legislative move if passed in the coming nation-wide referendum by the State Houses of Assembly will ensure that institutions like the State Assemblies; State independent electoral commission; AuditorGeneral of the State; judiciary of the state and office of Attorney General of the State are independent
financially thereby making them entitled to drawing their operational fund from first-line charge from the consolidated Revenue fund. The Senate committee has therefore altered section 121 of the constitution to empower these strategic democratic institutions. One other panacea has being established to the incessant cases of several landmark legislative bills passed by the National Assembly but get stuck at the table of the president who will neither withhold assent or sign them into law. By the alteration of section 58 by inserting a new subsection 5(A) henceforth “where the President neither signifies that he assents or that he withholds assent, the bill shall at the expiration of thirty days become law”. This fundamental alteration will surely strengthen the legislative arm of government and ensure timely passage of laws so that the wheel of democratic progress is not unduly derailed or delayed by unnecessary political bickering. Granted that there are provisions introduced by the Senate Constitution amendment committee like the controversial single six year tenure provision which are debatable, one fact is that the current social engineering of amending Nigeria’s extant constitution if properly anchored, will positively change the tempo of delivery of democracy dividends and will embolden key institutions to make independent decisions and policies to serve the public good without let or hindrance by the emperor-like powers that the governors enjoy under the constitution being amended. Nigerians expect both chambers to rapidly wrap up the other stages of the mechanism for constitution amendment so that the living standards of Nigerians will be elevated and good governance entrenched in the polity.
“The Senator Ike Ekweremadu-led constitution amendment committee made several human rights milestones in that certain phrases and sections that are inherently damaging to gender equity; child rights protection and the independence of the local government and relevant state institutions in the 36 states of Nigeria were systematically deleted.”
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C lebration
A Global Garden For Mandela In Nigeria
THE whole wide world is stark awake, day and night, waiting for the Mandela hour. But there’s no escaping the fact that even in life or death Mandela trumps all. It is indeed with bated breath that the global village looks ahead to the great one’s 95th birthday on July 18. Of course that date has been universally fixed as Nelson Mandela International Day, or Mandela Day for short. The epochal day was officially declared by the United Nations in November 2009, and the first UN Mandela Day held on July 18, 2010. The Mandela Day celebrating the icon’s 95th birthday on July 18 will be marked specially in Asaba, Delta State with the World Press Conference proclaiming the establishment of a garden of 95 trees to be known as “The Mandela Garden of 95 Trees.” The celebrated environmentalist and conqueror of the Sahara Desert, Dr. Newton Jibunoh, as the Chief Executive of Fight Against Desert Encroachment (FADE) will partner with Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan and the Delta State Government to make broadcast the well over 134,000 square metres of prime land within the Asaba International Airport complex, designed to build “The Nelson Mandela Garden of 95 Trees.” The conceptual design of the Mandela Garden is in the shape of the map of Africa, featuring a life-sized bronze statue of Nelson Mandela, 95 trees symbolically planted as the Robben memorial, freedom mini-gardens, welllandscaped terraced fences made of hedge plants, concrete walkways, state-ofthe-art restrooms, adequate parking, Nelson Mandela playground and park for children. The Mandela Garden is due for commissioning in August with members of the Nelson Mandela family, led by Ndaba Mandela, flagging-off the planting of the 95 trees. Dr. Jibunoh in his drive toward greening the environment through FADE always had the abiding dream of planting the trees. It has been a life-long passion, culminating in the FADE Wall of Trees planted in Makoda Kano in the spirited bid to arrest desert encroachment. He then followed up on January 1, this year when he was accompanied by Governor Fashola of Lagos State and other dignitaries to plant 75
trees in Lagos to celebrate his own 75th birthday. The 95 trees Jibunoh is partnering with the Delta State Government to plant in Asaba to mark Nelson Mandela’s 95th birthday is the climax of his lifework. He plans to retire to the Mandela Gardens to manage it by himself. “I will run the park for the rest of my life as the keeper,” Jibunoh says in his Lagos Island Didi Museum office, adding, “My family will have to come and visit me there. They know my passion. It helps that the project is situated at the airport. They can always fly in and fly out. I believe Asaba provides a conducive atmosphere batter than Lagos, London or New York!” He then adds this info: “I’ll build myself a small hut where I will live to keep it.” Governor Uduaghan will lay the foundation stone of the keeper’s lodge while the enquiry office will also be in the initial works. The lack of maintenance that almost always bedevils most Nigerian projects would not be the lot of the Mandela Gardens, Jibunoh avers, stressing, “Not only will I manage it fulltime, I will put a succession plan in place devoid of governmental bureaucracy. They will run the place better after my time. Governor Uduaghan gave me 100 percent control over the place.” Jibunoh revels in the drive of Ndaba Mandela “to mobilize over a billion people all over the world to key in to the Nelson Mandela inspiration.” The Nelson Mandela mystique is seen as an eternal legacy that is forever compelling even if Madiba dies. “We have to use Mandela to inspire people,” Jibunoh says, pointing at the legend’s picture on the wall of his office. “We used to have Kwame Nkrumah. There is no other Mandela anywhere. He gave the world all he had. He went to prison for 27 years and came out with nothing. He ruled South Africa for only one term of presidency and came out with nothing. That’s the legacy!” It is therefore incumbent on Dr Jibunoh to mobilize people of the world to think like Mandela. “What did this man not go through in the fight for freedom?” Jibunoh rhetorically asks, shifting on his chair. Jibunoh feels quite fulfilled that he has a green-loving governor in Dr Uduaghan who supports
By UZOR MAXIM UZOATU
• Nelson Mandela
wholeheartedly the placing of the Mandela Gardens in Asaba. “We are looking for a global institution, and the site of the gardens at the international airport in Asaba gives it the strategic global appeal,” Dr Jibunoh informs. For Jibunoh, the term “Charity begins at home” was done in reverse order. He was heavily involved in improving other places, notably the Sahara Desert and places like Kano and Lagos before returning to his home locale of Delta State. He mentions the Igbo term and name “Nkeiruka”, stating that what is ahead is greater than the things done earlier. An irrepressible optimist, Jibunoh believes that security challenges such as kidnapping can be solved to make Nigeria a tourist haven, starting with the Mandela Gardens in Asaba. “There are so many things to challenge the world in Nigeria,” he affirms, nodding. He argues that he had seen it all, from the days of colonialism through the Apartheid years and the Nigerian Civil War. He believes that Nigeria deserves celebration for leading the charge for the freedom of Nelson Mandela and South Africa. “We lost Barclays Bank and British Petroleum in the Mandela fight,” he says. “Nigeria was a Frontline State. We cannot now be a minor player. This project will
re-establish Nigeria as a Frontline State. Our fight was not in vain. Through the Mandela Gardens Mandela will live forever! It will put Nigeria in a different platform.” Jibunoh points at the irony that people thought that Mandela was only fighting for black Africans, only for it to be discovered at the end that the whites benefited more! According to Jibunoh, “The whites who saw him as a terrorist are now the ones benefiting from Mandela the most!” To mark the first global celebration of Mandela Day on July 18, 2009, to wit, Mandela’s 91st birthday, a series of educational, art exhibits, fund-raising and volunteer events leading up to a concert at Radio City Music Hall on July 18, were organized by the 46664 Concerts and the Nelson Mandela Foundation. Then in November 2009, the United Nations General Assembly formally declared July 18 to be “Nelson Mandela International Day”. Born Nelson Rolihlahla Dalibunga Mandela in Mvezo, a village near Mthatha in the Transkei, on July 18, 1918, to Nonqaphi Nosekeni and Henry Mgadla Mandela, the man popularly celebrated all over the world as Madiba spent all of 27 years in jail for fighting Apartheid South Africa to a standstill. His head was
never unbowed until he was released from prison and won election as the first President of a free South Africa. On the historic day of May 10, 1994 that Mandela was inaugurated as the democratic President of South Africa, the great man said, “We dedicate this day to all the heroes and heroines in this country and the rest of the world who sacrificed in many ways and surrendered their lives so that we could be free. Their dreams have become reality. Freedom is their reward. We are both humbled and elevated by the honour and privilege that you, the people of South Africa, have bestowed on us, as the first President of a united, democratic, non-racial and non-sexist government. We understand it still that there is no easy road to freedom. We know it well that none of us acting alone can achieve success. We must therefore act together as a united people, for national reconciliation, for nation building, for the birth of a new world. Let there be justice for all. Let there be peace for all. Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all. Let each know that for each the body, the mind and the soul have been freed to fulfil themselves. Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign.” He gave the perfect example to sit-tight leaders in Africa and other parts of the world by serving only as a one-tenure President when he had enough goodwill to rule South Africa for life. He handed over voluntarily to his vice-president Thabo Mbeki in 1999, thus laying a solid succession plan for building the South African project. Mandela gave solid support to another stalwart of his party, the African National Congress (ANC), Mr. Jacob Zuma who succeeded Mbeki after winning the South African presidential election. Mandela lost his father early in life, in 1927, and this made him to take stand to fight like his forebears for the liberation of his homeland. Mandela wrote in his acclaimed autobiography, Long Walk to Freedom, that his teacher gave him the name Nelson in his first day in school. Mandela was sentenced to life imprisonment on June 12, 1964. He would spend
some 27 years in prison. In March 1982, after 18 years, he was without any explanation whatsoever transferred to Pollsmoor Prison in Cape Town. In December 1988 he was moved to the Victor Verster Prison near Paarl. It was from this prison that he was eventually released on February 11, 1990. Mandela refused to compromise with the offers of the apartheid regime while in prison, believing that only free men can enter into contracts. After his historic release, in 1991, the first national conference of the ANC held inside South Africa. Mandela was elected its President while his lifelong friend and comrade, Oliver Tambo, became the ANC’s National Chairperson. Mandela was awarded the 1993 Nobel Peace Prize together with FW de Klerk. The end of apartheid happened on April 27, 1994, when Mandela “voted for the first time in his life – along with my people.” Of course Mandela was inaugurated as the first President of a free South Africa on May 10, 1994. He set an example for other leaders by stepping down after one term in 1999. In retirement, he is still the toast of all across the globe. He has set up three foundations: The Nelson Mandela Foundation, The Nelson Mandela Children’s Fund and The Mandela-Rhodes Foundation. Until very recently his schedule has been relentless. Mandela married Graça Machel, the widow of exMozambican President Samora Machel, on his 80th birthday in 1998. Mandela can hold his head high for turning South Africa from an erstwhile pariah state to a destination of choice for all humankind. During his tenure the unheralded South African football team, just emerging from a worldwide ban, won the esteemed Africa Cup of Nations on home soil in 1996. The country also won the World Rugby Cup. It is a testament to Mandela’s reach that South Africa successfully staged the 2010 FIFA World Cup. The legend of Mandela can hardly ever be exhausted. The global icon Nelson Mandela richly deserves the “Mandela Garden of Trees in Asaba” initiated by Dr Newton Jibunoh and supported by the Governor Uduaghan-led Delta State Government.
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P rspective
Caring For Children With Learning Disabilities
TO say that learning is not easy for everyone is, perhaps, saying the obvious. In some situations, children may have difficulties with learning under the normal school methods and in such cases, such children lag behind their colleagues and are usually branded as slow or stupid. Experts say that there are four recognised types of learning disorders that could affect children. These are reading disorders; arithmetic disorders; disorders of written expression, which relate to writing problems; and learning disorders, which affect the child’s ability to solve problems or to repeat what has been learnt. More specifically, dyslexia is a reading disability and dyscalculia is an arithmetic disability but there are several other forms of learning disabilities. These disorders affect the brains ability to receive and process information, making it particularly challenging for kids to learn as quickly as their peers. Although some Forms of learning disabilities are incurable, they can be overcome with appropriate and timely academic interventions. Unfortunately, many Nigerian educational institutions are not aware of these disorders and they, therefore, make no efforts to reach out and help affected children. Similarly, recognised neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, cerebral palsy and the Down syndrome are somewhat ignored by the Nigerian education system. Parents, whose children undergo neurodevelopment disorders, usually avoid the public school system and often end up hiding their children or seeking costly help from specialist schools. Dr Dennis Shatima, a pediatrician at the National Hospital, Abuja, said that it was regrettable that in some parts of Nigeria, these disorders were often blamed on witchcraft and the influence of ‘evil spirits’’. He explained that autism
was a developmental problem in children, characterised by poor socia1isition and communication abilities. According to Shatima, even though autism, Down syndrome and cerebral palsy affect the brain, they still have their distinct characteristics. Cerebral palsy is a disorder of the brain that is characterised by an abnormality of posture and movement. It is usually nonprogressive; it is usually due to events that occurred in the womb or at the time of delivery. Down syndrome is a genetic disorder that occurs when the chromosomes are separating in the womb; instead of getting half from the father and half from the mother, the baby gets three instead of the two chromosomes,’’ he said. Shatima said that that autism and Down syndrome were not mutually exclusive, adding, therefore, that children who were autistic could also have Down syndrome but that was not always the case. He said that there were genetic causes of autism, adding that environmental factors, such as radiation, could also be blamed. Advanced maternal age is also a significant risk factor for neurodevelopmental disorders, although young mothers sometimes have children with such conditions. Nevertheless, Shatima said that one area of importance in efforts to raise children with these disorders was finding support and appropriate advice for parents. He, nonetheless, stressed that parents ought to understand the fact that it was not their fault to give birth to children with neurodevelopmental disorders. The pediatrician stressed that tangible efforts should be made to restore such parents’ confidence so that they would not be tempted to hide their children. “Rather, they should be more proactive in helping their kids to develop and interact with the world, thereby increasing their chances of living normal
By OLAYEMI OKENIYI
lives. Counselling is very important; let the parents know the basis of the problem; let them know that it’s nobody’s fault, that it’s something that can happen to anybody. It’s very important to link them up with other parents that have similar conditions.
with developmental disabilities. Akande said that PSLC was set up to provide comprehensive structural support for people living with autism, while creating awareness and sensitising individuals and organisations to the specific needs of autistic persons.
This is because they can share experience and knowledge about the illness and if there is any latest treatment that is known to any member of the group, they will readily share it,’’ he said. Shatima, however, reiterated that there was ample hope for children with neurodevelopmental disorders because they could be trained to be self-sufficient. Some of autistic children are quite intelligent; all they need is training on how to live an independent life,” he added. Mrs. Dotun Akaride is the Executive Director of Abujabased Patrick Speech and Language Centre (PSLC); a centre established to improve the quality of life for individuals
She explained that cases of autism were on the rise, saying: A few years ago, it was one in every 150 children; now, it’s one in 88 children and this year, we are hearing that it’s likely to go to one in every 50 children.” Akande, however, emphasised that there were no medical procedures that could be used to detect autism in unborn babies and infants, as autistic children often looked quite normal. She said that parents were often the first to notice behavioural signs of the condition in their children, adding that such signs included failure to make eye contacts, not responding to names or playing with toys in
“Similarly, recognised neurodevelopmental disorders like autism, cerebral palsy and the Down syndrome are somewhat ignored by the Nigerian education system. Parents, whose children undergo neurodevelopment disorders, usually avoid the public school system and often end up hiding their children or seeking costly help from specialist schools.Dr Dennis Shatima, a pediatrician at the National Hospital, Abuja, said that it was regrettable that in some parts of Nigeria, these disorders were often blamed on witchcraft and the influence of ‘evil spirits’’.
unusual, repetitive ways. Akande encouraged parents who make such observations to avoid compelling their children to live a reclusive life, advising them to also seek out appropriate therapies early enough in order to help the children. Early intervention is very important. Find the right therapy and stick to it; the earlier you start, the better the child will turn out to be,’’ she added. Akande underscored the need for prompt interventions, saying that these would enable autistic
children to surmount the challenges and integrate socially into the society. She called on the government to create learning centres for children with neurodevelopmental disorders to complement the existing private ones. However, some stakeholders is of the opinion that instead of building separate institutions for children with autism and other special needs, efforts should be geared toward giving them inclusive education in the country’s public schools. Mr Okey-Martiris Nwokolo, the Coordinator of Centre for Autism and Developmental Disabilities (CADD) Nigeria, nonetheless, underscore the need to develop the skills of public school teachers in handling autistic children. We invited 50 public school heads to the 2013 international symposium on effective inclusion of students with autism in regular schools, so as to create awareness on handling children with autism and other special needs. This has become very important because lowincome parents cannot afford
to take their children with special needs to special schools,” he added. Nwokolo reiterated that the integration of children with learning problems into public schools was beneficial because it would give all the children the opportunity to interact with each other. He added that this would help boost the confidence of children with anti-social tendencies, while helping others without these problems to observe that these disabilities were not demonic or contagious. All the same, Mr Aig Esekhade, a developmental psychologist, said that education was essential for individual and societal advancement, stressing that the government was under obligation to make it available to all citizens. He, nonetheless, suggested that some public school teachers should be trained in skills on how to manage children with special needs, in collaboration with private specialists. However, there are some concerns that forcing” children with special needs to go to regular schools may harm the children instead of helping them. You’re going to end up in crisis; children with special needs may be unable to cope and they will completely disrupt the educational process for other children,” said Mrs. Raphyat Garba, a mother of two. Garba suggested that children with learning disabilities should be taught in separate classes, while those with neurodevelopmental disorders should go to separate schools. That way, each child can learn at his or her own pace,” she added. However, 2010 records by the Department of Education (DOE) in the U.S. indicate that when children with learning disorders only interact with others living with similar conditions, they are not challenged to rise above their disabilities. Since it is a fact that most public school teachers do not have the skills to manage integrated classes that are composed of normal children and those with learning disabilities, analysts advocate structured training for the teachers in such skills. They underscore the need for such training, saying that it would be useful in efforts to expand access to quality education for all categories of Nigerian children, including those with learning difficulties.
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The Scorge Of Human Trafficking HUMAN trafficking, like an Abiku, has again made it to the front burner and it’s about to slip away in its usual manner. It had always had a flash at the spotlight but prior to our acknowledging it, it goes into oblivion to return later. But this time round, Abiku, you have to tarry so we can, at least, better introduce you to your hosts. It beats me how issues surrounding trafficking in persons will make the news still we will fail to adequately feast on them in the banquet of public affairs analysis. Perchance, this explains why the scourge has remained a menace. For when commentaries, articles features, documentaries and the likes are written on it, the members of public get enlightened and guard against them or their relatives becoming victims. It is true that the hot bed for the recruitment of trafficked Nigerians are the rural areas and that those residing there may not have access to this form of enlightenment, but, people in the hinterlands are our siblings and mothers. Thus, we in the urban areas that are exposed to this are obligated to pass the information across. So much for the preamble. Now let’s get to the kernel of today’s engagement; The U.S. Secretary of State- John Kerry on Wednesday announced the 2013 annual Trafficking In Persons(TIP) report prepared by the State Department. The report identified Nigeria as a source, transit and destination for women and children subjected to forced labour and sex trafficking. Nigeria retained her Tier 2 status in the report owing to government not fully complying with the minimum standard for the elimination of human trafficking. It however commended the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking In Persons and Other Related Matters(NAPTIP) for its improved anti-trafficking law enforcement efforts as well as provision of specialised anti-trafficking training for its officials. But, at the same time we
were digesting the TIP report vis-a-vis human trafficking in our country, the news broke that no fewer than 200 Nigerians girls are trafficked every month into Moscow. This was made known by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia- Asam Asam. Speaking in an interview in Berlin, the diplomat said the crime had declined in Western Europe following strict laws on illegal migration and joint efforts by the Nigerian government. According to him, attention had shifted to Eastern Europe as the new
destination for the trade. I wonder where we have wronged these whites. After all they did to our forebears during the aeon of slave trade, their dubious fancy for trading in humans is yet to sate. Their ancestors were behind the slave trade of yore now the present generation of whites have turned it to human trafficking. They have made ‘an old wine in a new wine skin’ of slave trade with us as the article of trade in both settings. The scoundrels involved in this illicit trade obviously don’t give a hoot about Abraham Lincoln’s postulation that “Whenever I hear anyone arguing for slavery, I feel a strong impulse to see it tried on him personally.” Oh, how lovely it will be for the table to turn so that they or theirs will be the ones traded upon in the market like commodities so that they can have a taste
By UGOCHUKWU UGWUANYI
of their own medicine. However, let’s take solace in Booker T. Washington’s submission that “You can’t hold a man down without staying down with him.” Those who are holding down people in the name of human trafficking should know that a part, if not all parts, of the lives will be staying down! It may not be at the moment, but, there will surely come a time they will stay down. Unless what goes around doesn’t come round any more.
persons business. Now, we can better appreciate why it was recorded that money is the root of all evil. As a global industry, human trafficking is worth in excess of $32bn (£20bn) a year. Back home in Nigeria, the avaricious perverts who engage in this evil sell children for prices ranging from N30,000 to N60,000 per child. The DirectorGeneral of Kano State Hisbah Board, Alhaji Abba Sufi, said a suspect was recently arrested in Gwale
And to our own people who are involved in this outlawed business, let them know that they are justifying the inhuman treatment their forefathers went through in the name of slave trade. Their being merchants in persons shows they are in support of the atrocities committed by the whites during the slave trade era. Maybe they should pay a visit to any major museums that have relics of slave trade for them to see what they are reliving. The love for money has remained the spur for those getting into the trafficking in
Local Government Area after selling a three-yearold girl at N60,000 to his customer at Rijiyar Lemo quarters in Kano metropolis. Indeed, those who are engaged in this forbidden act are debased. Else, why won’t a child’s freedom and rights worth more than N60,000 in their crooked minds. Here are what that amount can cause a trafficked victim: the women and girls are trafficked for rituals, domestic servitude and sex trafficking with the boys trafficked for forced labour in street vending, domestic
service, mining, stone quarrying, agriculture and begging. Are these really what we would want to subject a fellow human to just to make N60,000? The TIP report noted that Nigerian women and children are also recruited and transported to destinations in North Africa, the Middle East, and Central Asia, where they are held captive in the sex trade or in forced labour. Some others are trafficked to Malaysia, where they are forced into prostitution and to work as drug mules for their traffickers. Just envisage this inhumanity of man to his fellow man all because of financial returns. There is no way money can atone for the repercussion that comes with acts this cruel. The merchants are so coldblooded that they use threats of voodoo curses to control their victims and force them into situations of prostitution or labour. If only voodoo curses were like the English Law where he who comes to equity must come with clean hands, then the merchants of persons dare not come close. But, the same principle should apply to voodoo curses. What these people are doing is abominable, as such, traditional religion- to which voodoo is mostly associated, should not accommodate them. Another significant means of controlling the trafficked women and girls is through a form of witchcraft which is common in some communities across West Africa. Pastors and religious leaders should come handy here. They should through intercession to God wage war against this witchcraft that is used in promoting human trafficking. Members of the clergy should, through the leading
of the Holy Spirit have ministries that are solely devoted to fighting human trafficking through spiritual warfare. Their God abhors injustice and oppression as such He will not relent in answering prayers that are aimed at addressing both. Religious leaders can also speak against human trafficking in their sermons for these human traffickers have churches and mosques they attend. Speaking against human trafficking in places of worship can also dissuade parents who encourage the continued exploitation of their children because of pecuniary gain. Yes, there are parents like that! Further, government should work to address the porous nature of our borders. According to the Zonal Commander of the NAPTIP, Hajiya Khadija Bello, there are about 300 illegal routes used by human traffickers to ferry their victims out of the country in Katsina alone. If we have 300 illegal routes in Katsina alone, how many will there be in the entire country? The major reasons why Nigeria did not fare well in the TIP report was because government was yet to pass a draft legislation that would restrict the ability of judges to offer fines in lieu of prison time during sentencing and the verity that security agents can’t identify victims of human trafficking. It is high time authorities did what is expected in these regards. This Abiku of human trafficking has just received a bashing by this article. Let it be accompanied by others. Media houses should churn out editorials and commentaries to enlighten the public on facets of this multidimensional scourge. Let us devote massive airtime and space to condemning trafficking in persons, then will we see this Abiku embark on a journey of no return.
“. . . at the same time we were digesting the TIP report vis-a-vis human trafficking in our country, the news broke that no fewer than 200 Nigerians girls are trafficked every month into Moscow. This was made known by Nigeria’s Ambassador to Russia- Asam Asam.”
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N ws Analysis Dame Jonathan And Amaechi’s Suspension THE First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, was alleged to have influenced the recent suspension of the Rivers. State Governor, Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi , by his party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) through the party’s National working Committee (NWC). According to a recent newspaper publication, Mrs. Jonathan handed marching orders to NWC members to place the governor on suspension. In a swift reaction carried extensively in the media, the Presidency through an official statement refuted this allegation dismissing it as “a most unintelligent and shameless lie.” The First Lady threatened legal action if her name or her office continued to be linked with the woes of the embattled governor. Anyone who has been watching the way Governor Amaechi has been carrying on in his party, PDP and in his State will know that it is only a matter of time before he meets his waterloo. He has- not shown respect or loyalty to his party. My argument is based on the following. As a card carrying member of the Peoples Democratic Party, he has
constantly opposed every policy of the head of his party, President Goodluck Jonathan. My understanding of loyalty is that if you disagree with your boss, you call him aside and offer honest suggestions for the way forward. It is both wrong and unbecoming to oppose the head of your party on the pages of the n e w s p a p e r . Governor Amaechi has no respect or regard for anybody. He bellyached and openly opposed the fuel subsidy removal and the sovereign wealth fund policy. He also disputed the ownership of the Soku oil fields. In fact if Amaechi were an opposition party member, he could not have been more antagonistic towards Federal Government and his own party. Amaechi turned the Nigeria Government Forum into a trade union. He dribbled it , away from its original noble objective. For the first time in the history of the Nigeria government Forum, there is embarrassing discord among the members of the Forum. This is due to Amaechi’s style of leadership. He wanted to seek reelection as the Nigeria
By SULE LAWAL
Government Forum chairman at all costs, not minding the conflict or friction it would cause among the members or within his party. He has already divided the state
Okrika Local Government waterfront settlement against wise advice. He sacked the chairman of Okrika LGA and more recently, he sacked the duly elect chairman of
government.- This is an act for which the PDP NWC suspended him. It was not Mrs. Jonathan who suspended him as she is not a member of the PDP National working Committee. It was not the president who sacked him
Obio/Akpor Local Government Council, Prince Timothy Nsirim, the vice-Chairman and all the 17 Councilors of the local
either; his sack was because of his “strong head.” The PDP officials were said to have urged and pleaded with him to
Dame Jonathan
governors, to the extent that the NGF has become f r a c t u r e d . In the state, he presides” over, he demolished the
reinstate the sacked councilors but all appeals fell on deaf ears. Amaechi is reported: to have absolute disregard for every important indigene of Rivers state, including his former governor and even the First Lady. Mrs. Jonathan. Haba! This is unbecoming of a governor from any political party, not to talk of the PDP. The State Commissioner for Information Semenitari Ibim is following in the footsteps of Amaechi by making un warranted and disparaging remarks. It is time for the Commissioner to quickly check and reverse herself. Loyalty and humility are important virtues for any successful politician. Amaechi is said to lack both. Mrs. Jonathan has no hand in the Governor’s recent misfortunes so he should endure his woes quietly without trying to drag anyone’s name into his problems by making unsubstantiated allegations. The situation he finds himself is due to disloyalty to his party and his party has sacked him. Amaechi’s goose is cooked so let him leak his, wounds quietly.
Gays And Lesbians, We Will Not Keep Quiet SAME sex marriage has been a subject of public debate for a long time. A cursory review of ancient literature traces this contention to the antediluvian age. Since then, proponents of this world view have coined several terminologies to describe themselves and their ideology which has grown strong enough to become a matter of legislation all over the world. I have avoided this raging debate for a long time because, as far as I am concerned, it is a settled case. However, the renewed flurry of progay initiatives and the resultant increase in consciousness that has attended the matter in
recent times have apparently jolted me out of reverie. Nature is replete with pointers to the fact that gay, lesbian and all forms of same sex unions are a clear anomaly. Sexual intimacy between a man and a woman is the normal pattern of matrimonial relationship because it is congruent to our physiology and anatomy; and because it is the normal means of procreation. You don’t need a PhD in Genetics or Embryology to know these things. Anyone with simple commonsense can tell that marriage is supposed to be between man and woman, not man and man or woman and woman.
By PHILIP AMIOLA It’s unfortunate that such a fundamental matter of biological function, which nature has already decided through clearly defined anatomical features, has suddenly become a matter for legislative adjudication. Since the family is the basic unit of every society, and good families are a product of healthy marriages, every attempt to transmogrify the marriage institution must be resisted with righteous fury. Until we see the situation in the light of this truth, we will not be provoked to radical action. You see, gay rights movements (and similar derivatives) are on
a mission to distort our fundamental values and topple the foundational structures of our society. They have an agenda and they are committed to it. We need straight people who will be bold enough to pursue an opposing agenda with strategic commitment. When evil infiltrates a society, it does not happen in one full swoop or by sudden invasion. So also is moral decadence – it is the cumulative effect of a process that has been actively pursued or passively permitted over time. It is encouraging to note that the Nigerian legislature has taken a clear stand on this. I
recently downloaded the Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Bill from The Punch website. I hope other media entities will also take significant steps in resisting this evil tide. We cannot afford to be politically correct at the expense of our personal convictions and collective destiny. Kayode Adeniji puts it so well; “The simple demand of an evil system and evil people, is that good men should submit by simply keeping quiet and minding their own business. You will not likely be muted to actually participate in evil, but you will be told to keep your distance and not interfere with the operations of evil.” We cannot pander to the whims of a few
individuals at the expense of our communal values – the very fabrics that hold our society together. Regardless of the pressure, straight people must not be bullied into silence. We must continue to lift up the banner of truth in the midst of fallen standards. If we continue to passively tolerate this present decadence, I foresee a time when bestiality, sodomy, voyeurism and other forms of sexual perversion will become acceptable as alternative lifestyles. This may sound farfetched and totally unrealistic, but so did the concept of same sex union, only a few decades ago.
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g
A riculture
Deregulation Of Importation Of Rice In 2015
IN retrospect when rice was being prepared in the homes of the down trodden masses, it was jubilation galore for the children who sing as well as dance before their peer group whose parents could not afford it. But these days, with the importation of foreign rice instead of Ekpoma and Abakaliki we were hitherto – used to, rice had systematically lost it’s value in the eyes of our present day youths. It is quite glaring to say that in those days Nigeria was a country dominated by peasant farmers. Yet until recently, the importance of agriculture in this country’s economic of scale and social lives was to some extent unapparent. Nigeria has the largest market in West Africa sub-region and it plays a pivotal role in the regional economy. Consequently, policy implementation in the country often have farreaching consequences on the economic stand of other countries in the sub-region. Nigeria also posses significant strategic role for America in the nonoil sector of West Africa economy. For this fundamental fact, every successive administration pretends to introduce Nigeria A g r i c u l t u r a l transformation agenda. (ATA) a recent initiative put in place to significantly boost the production of five key crops such as rice, cassava, cocoa and cotton, and put paid to the importation of food items. The flooding of arable land under cultivation in about 23 states in the country in last year
By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHAE
raining season had negatively impacted on agriculture and grain supply and shoot up prices in all Nigeria markets. Statistics indicated that consumers experienced a general 25 percent increase in all food prices in January 2013 when compared to the
them sticking figures which high-light agriculture as the mainstay for national emancipation now and for several years to come, will have an influence on any change of direction. The rice agricultural sector still
billion of our foreign exchange reserve. Cluster farms of rice producers were able to make an impute of about 650,000 metric tones in the main season last year while neighbourhood watch put the total production
importation. Another private company in the vanguard of rice production is Olem Nigeria Limited presently cultivating 10,000 hectares of rice farming at Ondore Nasarawa State as reported in N.T.A footage in May 2013.
same month of 2012. Flooding had adversely affected livestock and farmlands of rice and other food crops. In order to meet all these challenges and consolidate on what we have at hand. It is crucial to achieve a very significant increase in output and hence productivity. The only way to consolidate is by modernizing agriculture. The innovation may arrive in various form, just as there is wide variations in the country’s current situation, the g e o g r a p h i c a l circumstances and the political system that run
have the potentials of employing a large majority of about 30% of teeming unemployed youths in this country. With a possible population explosion in about 5 decades from now, jobs will obviously be created for more than 300 millions of Nigerians. Nigeria government insists that rice imports will be banned by 2015. But some industrial food analysts maintained that Nigerian rice self-sufficiency debate has been lingering on for over a decade, yet Nigeria top the list of ice importers across the globe – expending over $2
at two million metric tons by the time yield from the dry season are factored into the figures. It is interesting to note that, the Federal Government is trying to entice Chinese Exim Bank, which is hopefully willing to invest about $12 billion on rice cultivation as a suitable alternative to rice
The challenges occasioned by smuggled rice into the country through the borders had assumed a worrisome dimension in the past three decades. If adequate measures are not put in place to stem the tide, the modest effort of local producers may not yield the desired goals.
The ability of local capacity to meet the gap expected to be created with the outright ban on importation of rice is worrisome to humdingers in this country. There is a general consensus of the fact that Nigeria is blessed with fertile soil and very rich in agro-climatic conditions, provides enormous potential to feed its growing population, create employment and good salaries for its over 170 million people. Regrettably, the local rice production is still below 50% of its total demand and the gap has been filled by foreign rice imported from Thailand, Brazil and other world leading producers of rice. Last year Obasanjo featured in the N.T.A programme, sentisizing the people about modern farming of rice production. In my own submission, I think it is high time our so-called leaders desist from politicizing agriculture. If our leaders refused to do the right thing, our future generation will not forgive their financial recklessness in the management of our crude oil endowment.
“Nigeria government insists that rice imports will be banned by 2015. But some industrial food analysts maintained that Nigerian rice selfsufficiency debate has been lingering on for over a decade, yet Nigeria top the list of ice importers across the globe – expending over $2 billion of our foreign exchange reserve.”
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o Sayings And Riddles Of
C unselling IF a man pays back evil for good, evil will never leave his house. A man of perverse heart does not prosper, he whose tongue is deceitful falls into trouble. The eyes of the Lord are everywhere, keeping watch on the wicked and the good. He who listens to a lifegiving rebuke will be at home among the wise. He who ignores discipline, despises himself but whoever heeds correction gains understanding. The fear of the lord teaches a man wisdom and humility comes before honour. A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bone. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bone. All the days of the oppressed are wretched but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bone. A man of knowledge uses words with restrain and a man of understanding is even – tempered. The heart of discerning acquires knowledge, the ears of the wise seek it out. A wise king winnows out the wicked, he drives the threshing wheel over them. A man’s wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense. A gift opens the way for the giver and ushers him into the presence of the great. A generous man will prosper, he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed if a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered. When justice is done, it brings joy to the righteous but terror to evildoers. A false witness will not go unpunished and he
man’s life, no one who touches her will go unpunished. But a man who commits adultery lacks judgment. Whoever does so destroys himself. Blows and disgrace are his lot and his shame will never be wiped away. For jealousy arouses a husbands fury and he will show no mercy when he takes revenge. He will
news. The fear of God is the beginning of wisdom, When the righteous prosper, the city rejoices, when the wicked perish, there are shouts of joy. Through the blessing of the upright a city is exalted, but by the mouth of the wicked it is destroyed. A man who lacks judgment derides his neighbour but a man of understanding holds his tongue. A gossip betrays a confidence, but a trustworthy man keeps a
refuse the bribe, however great it is. Reckless words pierce like a sword but the tongue of the wise brings healing, truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment. The tongue that brings healing is a tree of life, but a deceitful tongue crushes the spirit. The tongue of the wise commends knowledge but the mouth of the fool gushes folly. A cheerful look bring joy to the heart and good
secret. For lack of guidance a nation falls, but many advisers make victory sure. He who brings trouble on his family will inherit only wind and the fool will be servant to the wise. Diligent hands will rule, but laziness ends in slave labour. Blessed is the man who finds wisdom, the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold.
The Wise
who pours out lies will perish. It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury how much worse for a slave to rule over princes. A fool’s lips bring him strife and his mouth invites a beating. A fool’s mouth is his undoing and his lips are a snare to his soul. Do not speak to a fool for he will scorn the wisdom of your words. Do not eat the food of a stingy man, do not crave his delicacies, for he is the kind of man who is always thinking about the cost. Eat and drink he says to you but his heart is not with you. You will vomit up the little you have eaten and will have wasted your compliments. Do not move an ancient boundary stone or encroach on the fields of the fatherless, for their defender is strong, he will take up their case against you. Do not withhold discipline from a child, if you punish him with the rod you will save his soul from death, do not envy wicked men, do not desire their company, for their hearts plot violence and their lips talk about making trouble. Do not let your heart envy sinners, but always be zealous for the fear of the lord, there is surely a future hope for you and your hope will not be cut off. Better to live in a desert than with a quarrelsome and ill-tempered wife. better to be nobody and yet have a servant than pretend to be somebody and have no food. Can a man scoop fire into his lap without his clothes being burned? Can a man walk on hot coats without his feet being scorched? So is he who sleeps with a brother
“A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bone. A cheerful look brings joy to the heart and good news gives health to the bone. All the days of the oppressed are wretched but the cheerful heart has a continual feast. A cheerful heart is good medicine but a crushed spirit dries up the bone.”
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013
With
O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 She is more precious that rubies nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand, in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her. Those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
Do not plot harm against your neighbour who lives trustfully near you. Do not accuse a man for no reason when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a violent man or choose any of his ways for the lord detests a perverse man but takes the upright into his confidence.
Do not be wise in your own eyes, fear the lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones. Honour the lord with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops, then your barns will be filled to overflowing and your vats will brim over with new wine. Blessed is the man who gains understanding, for she is more profitable than silver and yields better returns than gold. She is more precious than rubies, nothing you desire can compare with her. Long life is in her right hand in her left hand are riches and honour. Her ways are pleasant ways and all her paths are peace. She is a tree of life to those who embrace her, those who lay hold of her will be blessed.
The Lord’s curse is on the house of the wicked, but he blesses the home of the righteous. He mocks proud mockers but gives grace to the humble. The wise inherits honour but fools he holds up to shame. Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men. Avoid it, do not travel on it, turn from it and go on your way for they cannot sleep till they do evil they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Get wisdom, get understanding, do not forsake wisdom and she will protect you. Wisdom is supreme, therefore, get wisdom. Though it costs all you have, get understanding, esteem her and she will honour you.
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Caring For Your Hair While Wearing A Wig IF your hair has been mistreated or is otherwise damaged, it can benefit enormously from wearing a wig if it is regularly washed and cared for. Since hair does not breathe, as long as your wig is well fitted and is not worn day and night, the hair does not suffer being enclosed. In fact this is an excellent opportunity for the hair to rest from the elements of chemical relaxer and shampoos and recuperate in a p r o t e c t e d environment. Whatever way your hair is worn or processed, it must be shampooed weekly while you wear a wig and braids must be undone nightly before going to bed. Because today’s synthetic wigs are simple and easy to care
for, should not suggest that they can be worn with impunity twentyfour hours everyday or everyday of every year. In addition to a weekly washing, your own hair must be conditioned and g r o o m e d frequently. Always wear a nylon cap to prevent the inside of the wig cap from abrading your hair and avoid the use of dirty or broken hairpins or fastening measures that are too tight. A w e l l - m a d e , appropriately styled, properly fitted synthetic wig can enhance the appearance, cut down on hairdressing bills and protect the hair and scalp. How to flatten your hair It is essential before you place a wig on your head, that your own hair
interfere with it as little as possible Short and curly hair can be settled by simply putting it up in a series of flat, bobby-pin curls. Medium to long hair should be parted down the back. The two sides should be parted down the back and wrapped one over the other and the sides then secured with pins. Very longhair must be secured with a tight French twist. A bun or pony tail will only produce a lump in the wig line. Ideally, it is best to have one’s hair straightened, but in any event, it is essential to wear a nylon wig cap (scalp stocking). This must not be too tight, just firm enough to keep your hair in place. This cap not only helps keep the hair flat but prevents friction and splitting
“Whatever way your hair is worn or processed, it must be shampooed weekly while you wear a wig and braids must be undone nightly before going to bed. Because today’s synthetic wigs are simple and easy to care for, should not suggest that they can be worn with impunity twenty-four hours everyday or everyday of every year. In addition to a weekly washing, your own hair must be conditioned and groomed frequently.”
and breakage of individual hairs.
Beauty Shop With Gloria Omoruyi
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D velopment UNARGUABLY, tourism and aviation are veritable drivers of economic growth; hence the huge attention which the sectors are receiving under President Goodluck Jonathan’s
approach area control components as follows: Primary Surveillance Radar(PRS) STAR 2000; Monopulse Secondary Surveillance Radar; Integrated Flight and Radar Data Processing Eurocat C
the DANA air crash, the minister said that the Federal Government has given DANA a December deadline to pay up the benefits or face sanctions. She said that plans were also underway to convey
“Nigeria is also in the process of establishing two centres in South Africa and Trinidad and Tobago,’’ he added. On the recovery of the country’s stolen artefacts, the minister stressed that
promoting international understanding. Reacting to speculations about plans to sell the National Theatre, the minister said that the Federal Government was only planning a Public-
out because the accused persons escaped during attacks on prisons in Bauchi and Maiduguri,’’ he added. Besides, the minister said that a total of 244 general offences, including culpable homicide, rape and armed
Repositioning Nigeria’s Tourism, Aviation And Justice Sectors
administration. The ministers of tourism and aviation, who featured at the 2013 Ministerial Platform, underscored the importance of these sectors to Nigeria’s development when they chronicled their achievements in the last two years Besides, the interconnectivity between justice, security, fair play, rule of law, equity and national development was also brought to the fore as the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice stepped up to the podium at the platform. In her presentation, the Minister of Aviation, Mrs Stella Oduah, said that the ministry was partnering the private sector to establish a national carrier by September. She said that the national carrier would undertake domestic, regional and intercontinental flights. “It will further complement the existing airlines operating in Nigeria and we expect the national carrier to partner with Africa’s focused aircraft leasing businesses. “It is expected that this will result in Nigeria’s passenger numbers exceeding 25 million by 2018 and 30 million by 2012,’’ she added. Oduah, however, noted that the DANA air crash on June 3, 2012 spurred the ministry into fast-tracking the safety component of operations in the sector. According to her, safety in aviation is not a destination but an ongoing process. She said that the ministry had deployed world-class technology to enable it to provide air coverage within and beyond Nigerian territorial boundaries into the contiguous air spaces. Consequently, she said that the ministry had initiated the Total Radar Coverage of Nigeria (TRACON), with a view to modernising the air traffic management infrastructure. “It has automated
By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO (NAN)
and other associated equipment at the four major airports of Lagos, Kano, Abuja and Port-Harcourt.’’ Besides, Oduah stressed that Nigeria had achieved total VHF Radio Coverage of her airspace, saying that the feat brought the country at par with the standards and recommended practices of International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO). On accident prevention, the minister noted that efforts had been made to enhance the capacity of the ministry in this regard via the establishment of an accident and investigation laboratory to analyse cockpit voice recorder and black box. She added that the laboratory was “the first of its kind in West Africa’’. Furthermore, Oduah said that an Air Tracking System (AGPS) has been established to enhance real-time weather and aircraft tracking in the country’s airspace and boost rescue operations. In a bid to make the country’s airports more viable, the minister said that plans were underway to build aerotropolis around some major airports. “Aerotropolis is a mega city with commercial clusters built around the airport, connecting passengers, workers, suppliers, goods and services to and from the global marketplace and to all lifestyle amenities on location. “Aerotropolis are attractive locations for timesensitive manufacturing concerns, distribution facilities, hotels, entertainment, retail, convention, trade and exhibition complexes, office buildings and so on.’’ Oduah noted that the aerotropolis would be built in Lagos, Abuja, PortHarcourt and Kano. On the payment of claims to dependants of the victims
perishable goods such as fruits and vegetables via cargo planes to mitigate waste, curb rural-urban drift, provide food security and create jobs. In his presentation, Mr Edem Duke, the Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, said that the ministry had successfully conducted the
efforts to recover the lost artefacts from countries across the world had yielded some positive results, citing a recent recovery from France as an illustration. ‘Our request for the return of our vast treasure of cultural property strewn all over the world has yielded great result with the return of five Nok Terracotta objects dated between 1400 BC and 700 BC(about 3,000 years) by the government of France,’’ he added.
Minister of Tourism Edem Duke embellishment of 10 Nigerian missions in the last two years. He said that the missions were in South Korea, Russia, Algeria, Poland, France, Cuba, Turkey, Mali, Venezuela and Spain. He also said that the ministry, as part of the 50th anniversary celebration of the African Union (AU), organised a Rock Arts Exhibition and a Colloquium on Pan-African and African Renaissance in Addis Ababa. He said the resultant effect of the activity was the signing of two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) between Nanjing Province of China and the ministry. “In furtherance of our cultural diplomacy, Nigeria has established cultural centres in Brazil and China.
Speaking on the recent Annual African Arts and Craft Expo organised by the National Council for Arts and Culture, Duke said that it recorded 18, 704 participants from Nigeria and 15 countries as well as 200 non-governmental organisations. He said that the programme impacted positively on the arts and crafts sector, while
Private Partnership (PPP) concessioning arrangement for the management of the edifice. Duke said that the government was also planning to develop those areas adjacent to the National Theatre that were hitherto not well-utilised. “The areas include that section of the National Theatre where people are rearing swine; that section of the National Theatre which is now a lump harbouring reptiles and that section of the National Theatre which is being used as an open-air beer parlour. “Those sections will now have to be developed into hotels, shopping malls, recreation parks so that they can draw people to the National Theatre; and this will definitely strengthen the theatre. “And the sentiment of Nigerians is that it must not be given to one individual; that is why we are sentimentally more disposed to a PPP concession, rather than 100-per-cent privatisation,’’ Duke said. Also speaking, the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Mr Mohammed Adoke (SAN), said that 75 terrorism cases were treated in the last two years. He said that 16 of the cases had been concluded with eight convictions, while 35 cases were struck out. “During the period under review, a total number of 75 cases of terrorism and Boko Haram insurgency were received and prosecuted. “Sixteen of the cases have been concluded with eight convictions, while 35 were struck out. “A good number of the terrorism cases were struck
robbery as well as traffic offences were also handled by the ministry during the period under review. Adoke said that £22.5m worth of stolen assets abroad had been recovered during the period. He said that the money was recovered from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian, who was an associate of the late Head of State, Gen. Sani Abacha. “In 2011, our close liaison and negotiations with the Island of Jersey led to the recovery and repatriation of the sum of £22.5 million, confiscated by the Royal Court of Jersey from Raj Arjandes Bhojwani, an Indian national and associate of Gen. Sani Abacha on account of his money laundering transactions from Nigeria,’’ Adoke said. Observers extol the three ministries for their achievements within the last two years, but they, nonetheless, urge the aviation ministry to make tangible efforts to protect Nigeria’s airspace. They insist that most of the aircraft in the fleet of the country’s airlines appear to be old or refurbished. In the area of culture, the observers frown at the infiltration of foreign cultures into the country’s cultural norms and ethos via the organisation of carnivals where foreign costumes dominate. They also underscore the need to promote the basic tenets of democracy by safeguarding principles such as the rule of law, fundamental human rights and separation of powers as well as the independence of the judiciary. (NANFeatures)
“Observers extol the three ministries for their achievements within the last two years, but they, nonetheless, urge the aviation ministry to make tangible efforts to protect Nigeria’s airspace. They insist that most of the aircraft in the fleet of the country’s airlines appear to be old or refurbished.”
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T chnology BY most accounts, all the facets of human endeavour in the contemporary world are driven by Information and Communications Technology (ICT). Observers note that Nigeria is striving to catch up with the trend in order
ministry’s projects aimed at stepping up ICT use in the country. According to her, the portal — www.services.gov.ng – will also enable the people to have access to information on the services provided by
However, Johnson noted that a number of government services, which were rendered by various MDAs, could now be accessed online via the new website. “What we have done is that we developed a single point of entry for
but it will also give businesses as well as other stakeholders the means to reach the government. “By doing so, citizens and businesses will benefit in terms of saving costs, time and efforts, while the government will
as the technology enabler, providing a robust and secure platform through which services could be provided or accessed. He pledged that the company would continue to work hard to improve the citizens’ confidence in the government service
Expanding The People’s Access To Government Services not to be left out in the ICT-based civilisation of the 21st Century. In demonstration of the country’s determination to adopt global best practices in ICT applications, the Ministry of Communication Technology recently inaugurated a single window website: the Government Service Portal. It is a website where anyone can have access to all kinds of information about Nigeria, ranging from government to citizens, business and foreign national services. The inauguration in April was in line with Nigeria’s efforts to join the global initiative of “getting government online’’ to improve public service delivery to the citizens. Few months after its inauguration, observers have described the website as a veritable channel for the citizens to access timely information about government services. They noted that the government could, via the website, also get feedback on the citizens’ reactions to various topical issues. The contents of the portal, which is being managed by the Ministry of Communication Technology, are currently available in three languages — English, French and Spanish At the website’s inauguration in Abuja, the Minister of Communication Technology, Mrs. Omobola Johnson, said that it was just one of the
various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs). She listed some of the newly-automated processes and services that were already available on the portal as patent and trademark registration, evaluation and accreditation of academic certificates and farmers’ registration. Others include registration and accreditation of seed companies, seeds’ import and export permits, application for spectrum licence, licensing procedures for class type licence and licensing procedures for individual type licence. Johnson noted that the project was the outcome of a survey which the United Nations (UN) carried out across 48 countries on “Innovative e-Government Practices’’ among nations. “Their finding is that citizen service delivery is topmost on the government innovative technology adoption all over the world. “Thus, governments’ use of the Internet to deliver government services has revolutionised the speed and effectiveness of government service delivery and public administration across the world. “ T h e r e f o r e , g o v e r n m e n t s increasingly recognise that e-government offers not just a new technology but also a mechanism to transform the way government operates; and we can no longer be left behind,’’ she said.
By EMMANUEL OLONIRUHA (NAN)
Nigerians and other stakeholders to access government services online.
also gain through servicecitizen engagement, feedback and trust,’’ he said.
“With this website, you can tell from a single point, what is exactly available as to the government services online,’’ she added. The minister stressed that in addition to creating a single window of entry into government services; the ministry would liaise and work with other ministries to introduce subsidiary online services. Dr Henry Akpan, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, said that the portal would promote investments that would enhance the wellbeing of Nigerians. “The services portal will not only give access to government information, services or processes,
Mr. Gerald Ilukwe, the Managing Director of Galaxy Backbone Plc., said that even though Galaxy was the main ICT service provider for Federal Government establishments; the company was only a key partner in the website project. He said that his company only functioned
portal by ensuring its smooth operations. “We will also continue to make significant efforts in terms of building all sorts of software and hardware protection for the website. “Galaxy Backbone, with the support of the ministry, the Federal Government and the National
Assembly, has been able to make some investments in ICT i n f r a s t r u c t u r e development,’’ he said. Nevertheless, Ilukwe underscored the need for separation of roles between the policy/ programme coordinator, the technology provider/ enabler and the online service owner/provider for
the success of the new venture. “Similar programmes have failed in the past due confusion and overlapping roles,’’ he added. All the same, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko, the Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, said that the portal would stimulate the transformation of Nigeria into a country with a conducive business environment. Dikko, who was represented by Mr Bashar Yusuf, the Deputy ComptrollerGeneral of Customs, noted that the cost of doing business in Nigeria was hitherto cumbersome, adding that the development accounted for the recent poor economic rating of the country. However, Rep. Shehu Gusau, the Chairman of the House of Representatives’ committee on ICT, urged the ministry to collaborate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to sensitise all the Nigerian embassies abroad to the use of the portal to attract investments into the country. The lawmaker also advised the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to provide Nigerians with hitch-free Internet access to enable them to use the portal, especially in the rural areas. Observers maintain that all things being equal, the Government Service Portal will spur national development, as vital information about government services will be readily available to all and sundry.
In demonstration of the country’s determination to adopt global best practices in ICT applications, the Ministry of Communication Technology recently inaugurated a single window website: the Government Service Portal. It is a website where anyone can have access to all kinds of information about Nigeria, ranging from government to citizens, business and foreign national services.
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n
E vironment Protecting The Oceans For Enhanced Living ENVIRONMENTALISTS have, on many occasions; sensitised the public to the importance of the existence of oceans, seas and rivers in biosphere — the environment in which all animals and humans live. They note that they play a vital role in the human, economic and social development, so much so that the United Nations sets aside every June 8 to celebrate their existence. “Together we have the power to protect the ocean!’’ and the theme of the current World Ocean Day remains valid till 2014 to provoke the consciousness of the world population on the need for the maintenance of the oceans. The day presents an opportunity to celebrate the products the oceans provide such as seafood and marine activities, including sealanes, for international trade. For as long as the celebration lasts, environmentalists recommend an aggressive and consistent campaign on ocean protection among stakeholders. According to them, this is imperative in view of global pollution of the oceans and overconsumption of sea foods, resulting in the extinction of some sea animal species. They observe that Nigerian waterways, in particular, have been polluted by oil spillage, effluent pollution, piracy and human or factory wastes. Stakeholders in maritime note that Nigeria’s coastline, m e a s u r i n g approximately 853 km., is a rich source of marine life, providing a livelihood for many
Nigerian and foreign fishermen. Mr Ganiyu Ajikanle, Assistant Director, Pollution Control Department of the Federal Ministry of Environment, gave a graphic description of the extent of effluent
pollution on the Nigerian waterways. “Effluent and industrial waste pollution is on the increase in Nigeria due to the expansion of industrial activities in the country. “However, the failure to achieve effective management of industrial waste and prevent pollution is not due to lack of government policy in that regard. “There are laws binding industries on how to dispose of their waste; edicts, bye-laws and regulations by previous governments made provisions for that purpose. “They require industries which produce effluents to effectively manage the wastes to ensure that
By KATE OBANDE (NAN)
the environment is protected,’’ he said. Also, Mr Ahmed Alfa, the Deputy Director, Pollution Department of Federal Ministry of Environment, said indiscriminate disposal
recycling. “No matter how much the treatment processes are done, some of these chemicals are still present in the treated water,’’ he said. Considering the
and plants. “The domestic wastes and sewage which boats, ships and municipalities usually dispose of in waterways are the main source of water pollution. “People in villages wash their utensils, animals and hands in
of chemical substances posed great danger to Nigerian water bodies. “One of the greatest concerns for these substances is in the area of water pollution because some of them are known to cause cancer, irritation and other skin-related ailments. “The worry is aggravated when the substances do not respond to water treatment processes in the event of water
danger of this trend, Dr O b a d i a h Chukwuebuka, an expert in water pollution, called on government and stakeholders in maritime to intervene by informing Nigerian coastal community dwellers about the consequences of water pollution. According to him, water pollution causes the de-oxygenation of water which is poisonous to human
the same pond; they also use this water for bathing and drinking which could cause cholera and typhoid, among other waterborne diseases,’’ he said. Chukwuebuka called on the Federal Government and other stakeholders to evolve environment-friendly programmes capable of eradicating human wastes and oil spillage, especially in the SouthSouth region of the
country. The Ocean Project, a marine research and education organisation, in its petition to the UN to designate June 8 as World Ocean Day, insisted that “the world’s oceans cover more than 70 per cent of our planet’s surface. “The rich web of life they support is the result of hundreds of millions of years of evolution; nomadic peoples were collecting shellfish and harvesting fish long before the dawn of settled agriculture. “Great human civilisations, from the Egyptians to the Polynesians, relied on the sea for commerce and transport, and now, at the end of the 20th century, our fate is as tied to the oceans as ever. “We still rely on fish for a significant portion of our daily protein needs, and more than $500 billion of the world’s economy is tied to ocean-based industries such as coastal tourism and shipping. According to it, this vast mass of water acts to help regulate the global climate and to ensure that a constant flow of vital nutrients is cycled throughout the biosphere. In the light of this, observers say it the responsibility of stakeholders to make efforts at protecting the oceans, seas and rivers to promote socioeconomic development and ensure better living.
“Stakeholders in maritime note that Nigeria’s coastline, measuring approximately 853 km., is a rich source of marine life, providing a livelihood for many Nigerian and foreign fishermen.”
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Today’s Diet With Pastor E. A. Adeboye
When The Spirit Depart EVERY believer in Christ needs the Holy Spirit. As long as He is with you, all is well, but the moment He leaves you, trouble sets in and weakness follows. When He was with Samson, everyone saw him as a real-life Superman or Spiderman; but when He left him, Samson became an ordinary man and his enemies dealt with him (Judges 16:18-20). While the forces of darkness find it easy to deal with those without the Holy Spirit, it is uphill task for them to deal with someone who is full of the Holy Spirit. If you truly desire to be untouchable, make sure the Holy Spirit is very much with you. Demons are afraid of CHANGE OF NAME
IGIEBOR- I formerly called Igiebor Martha Igbinosa is now known and called Miss Iguma Blessing Igbinosa. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
NOSAYABA- I formerly called Miss Charity Nosayaba is now known and called Mrs. Charity Okao. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
believers in Christ, not for their sake but because the Spirit of God is upon them. Many years’ ago, While we were starting a church in lfe, a particular young and proficient female singer mounted the stage and began to sing: ‘city is heavenly Jerusalem. Witches, wizards and other evil doers cannot go there’. In that place, there were over 200 deities and demons. Suddenly, we observed that her mouth opened to sing but no sound came out. Obviously, the witches and wizards felt she was confronting them while she lacked the power of the Holy Spirit and so they seized her voice. She had to undergo some prayer afterwards in order to regain it. It is foolishness to dare the enemy when your Ally is not with You.
Moreover, when the Holy Spirit departs, the joy of salvation goes with Him. If you doubt this, ask David. When David sinned, the Holy Spirit left and so went his joy. This was why he began to ask for the restoration of the joy of his salvation in today’s reading. When was the last time you woke up singing? When the Spirit leaves, the relationship between you and the Lord Jesus Christ becomes like noise without s u b s t a n c e . Romans 8:9 say if you do not have the Holy Spirit, you have nothing to do with Jesus Christ. Why? You are connected to Jesus by the Holy Spirit. Beloved, do all it takes for the Holy Spirit not to leave you! But if He has already left, then do everything possible to bring Him back.
“When David sinned, the Holy Spirit left and so went his joy. This was why he began to ask for the restoration of the joy of his salvation in today’s reading.”
PUBLIC NOTICE
CHANGE OF NAME
THE LAMB COVENANT ASSEMBLY The general public is hereby notified that the above named has applied to CAC for registration Under CAMA of 1990. Board Of Trustees Rev. Edet Asuquo-General Overseer Rev (Mrs.) Tessy Asuquo- Member Elder Okparah Emmanuel –Sec. Deaconess Beauty Okparah-Member Deaconess Janeth Airulebuefe-Member Deaconess Mariam Nnamdi- Member Mr. Elijah Edet- Member Aims and Objectives To preach the gospel of Jesus Christ Any objection should be forwarded to the Registrar-General, CAC, P.O Box 198 Maitama District Abuja within 28 days of this publication.
OSADOLOR-I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rita Osadolor now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rita Adah. All further documents remain valid. concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
Signed Trustees LEGAL NOTICE
IN THE ETSAKO WEST AREA CUSTOMARY COURT EDO STATE OF NIGERIA, AUCHI WHEREAS the person whose name is set out in the first column hereunder died intestate on the date and the place stated in the column. AND WHEREAS the persons whose names, addresses and claimed relationship to this deceased are set in the second column hereunder have applied to the court for a grant of letter of administration of FIVE YEAR GUARANTEED PENSION of the deceased with Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc. NOTICE IS BY THIS GIVEN that letter of administration of FIVE YEAR GUARANTEED PENSION with Power Holding Company of Nigeria Plc has been granted to such persons. NAMES MR. AIGBONA SHAKA died intestate on the 6th of October, 2009
NAMES 1. Mr. OMOKHEKHE AIGBONA JUDE 2. Mrs. OMOKHEKHE ROSEMARY 3. Mrs. OMOKHEKHE FAITH
DATED THIS 1ST DAY OF JULY, 2013. SIGNED MR. IGBINOSUN STANLEY SENIOR REGISTRAR
CHANGE OF NAME
EHIMHEGBEI formerly known and addressed as Miss Mercy Ehimhegbe now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Mercy Idode. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Nursing and Midwifery Council of Nigeria and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
IKHANA- I formerly known and addressed as Igietemoh Miminu Ikhana now wish to be known and addressed as Igietemoh Mark Ikhana. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Etsako Central Local Government Council and the general public should please take note. CHANGE OF NAME
ERHAHON- I formerly Miss Jane Aizeyosabo Iyahen Erhahon now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Jane Aizeyosabo Nobore. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and general public should take note. CHANGE OF NAME
SULE- I formerly known and addressed as Miss Rosemary Sule now wish to be known and addressed as Mrs. Rosemary Favour Ikhana. All former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities, Ambrose Alli University (AAU) and the general public should please take note. CONFIRMATION/ CORRECTION OF NAME
Blessing Weds Nosa The solemnization of Marriage between former Miss Blessing Amen Osemwegie (based in N.Y, USA) and Mr. Nosa Edosomwan Jnr. (A Business man) took place on Friday 19th July, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Mr. Nosa Edosomwan (Groom’s father) Mr. Tony Osemwegie (Bride’s father) Mr. Nelson Edosomwan, Madam Patricia Edosomwan, family members, relations, friends and well wishers Picture shows the couple at the registry - Congratulations. Photo Sonnie E.
I, Rex Osione Ejelemai Edward wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person called Rex Edward, Rex Edward Osione and Edward Aikonjie as appeared in my Primary School Leaving Certificate No 99/20243 with candidate No 090180054 of August 7, 1999 and to say Aikorojie was wrongly spelt “Aikonjie” in the certificate. However, I am properly known and called Rex Osione Ejelemai Edward. All. former documents remain valid. Concerned authorities and the general public should please take note.
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H alth
MANY years ago, when I was a much younger pediatrician with much younger children, I called their doctor to say that one of them was experiencing bad intermittent abdominal pain. As one pediatrician calling another, I was well prepared with a list of diagnoses, ranging from
experience is the kids don’t like to go to the bathroom at school, so there’s a sort of voluntary retention that exacerbates itself.” Constipation is often attributed to deficiencies in our modern diet — not enough fiber, not enough fruits and vegetables — or to the
with the treatments suggested by their regular doctors. “Maybe the problem has been under recognized and under treated,” said Dr. Maria Oliva-Hemker, the chief of pediatric gastroenterology and nutrition at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and
withholding.” That, in turn, affects the functioning of the colon. In extreme cases, children can develop what is called encopresis, when liquid stool leaks out around the hard, impacted stuff clogging up the colon. Parents may be worried about diarrhea, or angry about “accidents,” when
Johns Hopkins involves laxatives — for a long time, when necessary — combined with analyzing the diet and increasing fiber, as well as drinking water, if the
life,” said Dr. Arnold Wald, a gastroenterologist and professor at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health who has written about constipation in both adults and children. “Many studies have suggested it has an impact consistent with what we see in a lot of chronic illnesses, inflammatory bowel disease and so forth.” Those who deal with the more advanced and intractable cases would like parents to understand that this is a problem to take seriously. Don’t blame your child or yourself.
child’s intake is inadequate. Behavioral intervention helps children get over their anxieties and learn new habits; Dr. Hankinson works with parents on positive reinforcement, rewarding children for taking their medication and for sitting on the toilet for a specified time after meals. Constipation is not just a problem of childhood. “There’s a fairly large literature in adults in terms of the adverse affects of chronic constipation on quality of
But be willing to discuss the subject and get help if there’s a problem. When my son was training to be an assistant camp counselor, he was encouraged to make jokes particularly dear to the hearts of school-age boys. “They told us constipation is very common with kids who are in a new place and they’re feeling stressed,” he said. “You want an environment where kids can talk to you about it. Because otherwise they won’t.”
family,” he said. “If you look at the data, 50 percent of the children with constipation still have complaints of constipation after five years of intensive therapy.” In a 2010 study by his group, onefourth of the children still had symptoms in adulthood. The treatment at
The Pain Of Constipation
incipient inflammatory bowel disease to a walled-off abdominal abscess. The pediatrician said, “Sounds like constipation.” Oh, no, I asked about that, I said, insulted that he could think I had missed something so basic. “Sometimes kids don’t want to tell their mom,” he said. And he was right. I thought back on this as I read a study this month in the journal Pediatrics, which looked at almost 10,000 visits to the emergency room at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh by children 1 to 18 years old with abdominal pain. Constipation was the most common specific diagnosis, the cause of the pain in more than a quarter of the children who had any diagnosis made. “Parents are shocked that that’s their child’s diagnosis,” said Dr. Kerry S. Caperell, an assistant professor of pediatrics at the University of Louisville School of Medicine and lead author of the study. The highest rate of constipation, he said, was found in boys around 10. “My
same combination of over processed foods and sedentary lifestyle that puts children (and adults) at risk for obesity. So there is often something judgmental in the air when the subject is raised. And mind you, it isn’t always raised. It is not, shall we say, a sexy topic. Children often run into problems with constipation around the age of potty training, when toddlers find themselves in a test of wills with their parents. Jessica Hankinson, a pediatric psychologist at Johns Hopkins Children’s Center, said: “We definitely see around potty training what can be considered withholding behavior. They start doing the potty dance, crossing their legs, bending down.” Anything, in other words, to keep from cooperating with the parental agenda. Sometimes those patterns persist. Some children may be physiologically predisposed. Pediatric gastroenterologists and specialty clinics see children with refractory constipation who haven’t gotten better
By PERRI KLASS M.D founder of a constipation clinic there. And the longer children struggle with the problem, the more
the real problem is constipation. Dr. Marc Benninga, a pediatrics professor at the Emma Children’s
severe it can get, for reasons both behavioral and physiological. “We call it defecation anxiety,” Dr. Hankinson said. “You have hard, difficult stools to pass, you have a painful bowel movement, you start
Hospital, Academic Medical Center, in Amsterdam, and colleagues have studied how chronic constipation affects children over time. “It has a huge impact on both the child and the
“Constipation is often attributed to deficiencies in our modern diet — not enough fiber, not enough fruits and vegetables — or to the same combination of over processed foods and sedentary lifestyle that puts children (and adults) at risk for obesity.”
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Cissokho Happy At Valencia
Ahly Begin Life Without Al Ahly will begin life Duo without two of their stalwarts in recent times when they face Zamalek in their CAF Champions League fixture on Wednesday next week. The loss of Mohamed Barakat to retirement and Hossam Ghaly to Belgian side Lierse is a big blow for the Red Devils, admits another stalwart, Mohamed Aboutreika. “Yes the absence of Barakat and Ghaly will have an impact on the team,” Aboutreika told the club’s website. “I think their exits will
leave a big void inside the pitch because both of them were key players for Ahly. “But also I hope the players on board will play a vital role in lifting the team in the upcoming period starting with the game against Zamalek.” Ahly are the defending champions in the competition after surprisingly lifting the 2012 title despite the chaos within Egyptian football. It was a record seventh Champions League title for them.
Karl Heinz Rummenigge
Rummenigge, DFL Back Blatter’s Plans For Qatar 2022
BAYERN Munich CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and the German Football League (DFL) have backed FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s plans to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter. Despite criticism from the With temperatures in the Gulf state able to reach up to 50°C during the summer, Blatter confirmed on Wednesday that he will ask FIFA’s executive committee to reschedule the tournament. World football’s governing body says the issue will go to its executive committee meeting on October 3 and 4 in Zurich, when a final decision on the matter will be taken.
Premier League, Blatter has been backed by Rummenigge, who is also the president of the European Club Association. “No doubt about it, it is good to hear if FIFA agrees on playing the 2022 World Cup during the winter,” Rummenigge is quoted as saying by Express. “A tournament during the summer is not feasible.” Rummenigge is not
concerned about the impact a winter World Cup would have on Europe’s domestic season, and believes an agreement could be reached. “Of course, you’d then have to come to an understanding about an arrangement for the scheduling of the domestic leagues with the associations, leagues and clubs for that year,” he said. DFL executive Christian Seifert had opposed the plans back in May, saying: “I’m not sure of the credibility of FIFA. It shows me FIFA, as a body which says what is good for the
Premier League Opposes Winter WC THE Premier League has hit out at FIFA proposals to move the 2022 World Cup in Qatar to the winter. With temperatures in the Gulf state able to reach up to 50°C during the summer, FIFA president Sepp Blatter confirmed on Wednesday that he will ask the governing body’s executive committee to reschedule the tournament. UEFA president Michel
Platini and Qatar 2022 World Cup committee secretary general Hassan Al Thawadi are among those who also believe holding the tournament in the winter is the best solution. The Premier League, however, has long opposed a winter World Cup as it feels it will cause major disruption to the three domestic seasons surrounding the 2022
We’ll Buy Messi, PSG Warns PARIS Saint-Germain president Sheikh Nasser AlKhelaifi will try to sign Barcelona’s Lionel Messi if the La Liga giants continue their interest in Thiago Silva, according to reports in France. Barcelona have been linked with the Brazil international in recent weeks with the Catalan giants rumoured to be prepared to meet the 28year-old’s buy-out clause. But PSG’s president warned that should a bid
materialise from the Spanish champions, then the French club will attempt to lure reigning Ballon d’Or winner Messi to Paris, a feat which would cost the club +250 million. “If Barca pay the buy-out clause of Thiago Silva then I will meet Messi’s buy-out clause,” he told ActuSports.fr. And Al-Khelaifi continued his attempts to dissuade his European rivals by admitting PSG would stay tracking a number of Barcelona players.
tournament, as well as impacting on broadcasting contracts. A Premier League spokesman told Press Association Sport: “The Premier League position remains unchanged. The prospect of a winter World Cup is neither workable nor desirable for European domestic football.’’ FIFA says the issue will go to its executive committee meeting on October 3 and 4 in Zurich, when a final decision on the matter will be taken. A FIFA spokesman said: “As mentioned by the FIFA president yesterday, he will bring forward the matter of playing the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar in winter to the FIFA executive committee on the occasion of their next meeting scheduled for October 3 and 4, 2013. This matter will now be with the executive committee and we can therefore not comment further before the meeting has taken place.’’
game, ignores completely those leagues who are effectively the core and the heart of football - not the tournament that comes up every four years.” However, it appears the DFL has since changed its stance on the matter. “The league would only welcome a winter World Cup in Qatar,” DFL executive Andreas Rettig said in Express on Thursday. The German media, though, have questioned the proposals, with Bild running the headline: “Mister Blatter, re-tender the World Cup!” SZ ran a longer story on Blatter’s sudden change of heart and suggested that he was hoping to secure another presidency by backing the idea of a winter World Cup. “Blatter’s will reigns,” the headline read, before the article asked: “What will Blatter win from this deal? What made him change his mind? Certainly not the heat shock during his recent trip to the East, he knows Qatar’s climate very well. For a decade, Qatar has backed him massively and discreetly. “And so all eyes on the big winner in this battle: [UEFA president Michel] Platini, Blatter’s arch-enemy, who would like to follow Blatter onto the FIFA throne in 2015. Should Platini give up on his candidacy during the autumn, the path for Blatter would be cleared until 2019. And Platini would have secured his World Cup in Qatar. The ones who would, however, have to make sacrifices would be football and its millions of fans.”
REPORTED Liverpool target Aly Cissokho is happy at Valencia despite having “possibilities” to leave the cash-stricken La Liga club. Cissokho, 25, signed a fouryear contract at La Mestalla only last summer after completing a move from Lyon, but with Valencia aiming to reduce their debts, they could be tempted to sell. Liverpool have been frequently linked with the France international as have a number of Russian Premier League clubs, but the former Porto full-back has no plans to move as he seeks to impress new Valencia coach Miroslav Djukic, who last month took over from Ernesto Valverde, himself a replacement for Mauricio Pellegrino in December. Cissokho said: “Every
player at the club is subject to speculation given the financial situation. I’ve had possibilities, that’s true, but I’m happy here. I played a lot under Pellegrino, a little less under Valverde, but I played in big games in both the Champions League and La Liga.”
Aly Cissokho
Stanley Okoro Joins Bulgarian FORMER Nigeria U17 star Club Stanley Okoro has joined Bulgarian top-flight club Chemo More after a difficult time in Spain. Okoro, who was a star performer for Nigeria at the 2009 FIFA U17 World Cup hosted by the country, has left newly promoted Spanish club Almeria for the Bulgarian club. The former Heartland FC star known as “Little Messi” has been assigned jersey number 30. He signed for Almeria, who recently returned to the Spanish La Liga, in the summer of 2010, but while
compatriot Ramon Azeez has broken into the first team, Okoro failed to do so and so the need for him to seek his fortune elsewhere.
Stanley Okoro
French FA Seeks To Extend Leonardo Ban THE French Football Federation (FFF) have asked FIFA to extend the 14-month suspension of former Paris SaintGermain sporting director Leonardo worldwide. The Brazilian, 43, was originally banned from exercising all official matchday duties for nine months for barging into referee Alexandre Castro following PSG’s 1-1 draw with Valenciennes in early May. The suspension was extended by five months to June 30, 2014 by the FFF’s Supreme Appeals Commission on appeal. After completing the signing of Edinson Cavani on Tuesday, Leonardo left his post with the Ligue 1 champions with club president, Nasser Al Khelaifi, citing the suspension from official matchday duties as a major factor in the 1994
World Cup winner ’s departure. The ban precludes Leonardo from sitting in the dugout during games, all but ruling him out of a return to coaching for next season, though would not prevent him carrying out the daily duties he would have had in remaining in his role at the Parc des Princes. Should FIFA rule in favour of extending the scope of the ban, Leonardo would first be able to appeal to world football’s governing body itself and then, if necessary, the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
Leonardo
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NSC To Appoint Temporary Secretaries For All Sports Federations THE National Sports Commission (NSC) said on Thursday in Abuja that it would appoint secretaries for all sports federations for the period of six months. The Minister of Sports and Chairman NSC, Malan Bolaji Abdullahi, disclosed this at a meeting he held with all sports federations. He said the decision was taken because none of the federations had appointed a secretary after it was agreed that the presidents should recruit their own secretaries after their elections. Abdullahi said the only way the commission could assist was to appoint temporary secretaries for six months to manage the affairs of the federations. “The only thing we can do is to give a momentary appointment for six months to see how the secretariat will fair, “We will post secretaries that will work for six months
after which the presidents will get a secretary or continue with the one posted, if they have good working relationship,” he said. The minister said some of the federation presidents had suggested that they should be allowed to appoint their own secretaries claiming that
some of the secretaries posted to them were not loyal. The minister said the commission had to post secretaries to federations as their presidents were the ones that failed to appoint their own secretaries, and should stop calling for the withdrawal of the one already sent to some federations.
WEST Brom have rejected a bid of £850,000 from Dubai club Al Nasr for Nigeria striker Osaze Odemwingie. Odemwingie is currently training with the reserves while the first-team squad are on a pre-season tour in Austria. The club have told the
Gyan Confirms Talks With Boateng
GHANA’S Captain Asamoah Gyan has spoken to Kevin-Prince Boateng on his return to the Black Stars to boost their chances of reaching the Brazil 2014 World Cup finals. The AC Milan star ’s rescinded his decision to quit international football last month and that was confirmed by Ghana FA boss Kwesi Nyantakyi. His return has been met with varied opinions as many believe he will bolster the Black Stars for the final 2014 World Cup qualifier. Others are of the view that his re-admission will serve as a bad precedent for the team. Gyan has now revealed he spoke to the Milan midfielder in coercing the former Germany youth international to return to the team. The Al Ain striker stresses he is only doing his bid to convince disgruntled players to be available for the nation but the final decision to recall them lies squarely on coach Kwesi Appiah.
expectations and that they will not sell unless their valuation is met. Osaze famously failed to engineer a transferdeadline-day move to Queens Park Rangers in January despite driving to Loftus Road. He made only infrequent appearances off the bench over the second half of the season after that, and has
been linked with Crystal Palace, Hull City, Swansea and most recently Fulham. However, the only confirmed bid has come from the Dubai and the 32year-old remains in limbo after being told he does not figure in Steve Clarke’s plans for the season. The striker’s contract at ‘The Hawthorns’ is due to expire next June.
SPORTS enthusiasts in Abuja have urged youths to emulate the spirit of sportsmanship as exhibited by the former South African President, Nelson Mandela, for forgiving those who jailed him for 27 years. Mandela, who marked his 95th birthday on Thursday, was also an accomplished boxer in his youthful years, apart from being a politician and a freedom fighter, who fought to end the oppressive apartheid regime in South Africa. Mohammed Alim Musa, the Director of Sports, FCT Sports Council, on Thursday urged all youths aspiring to leave legacies to emulate the discipline imbibed by Mandela from
sports and his in spirit of sportsmanship in handling his years of incarceration. Mohammed told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that the sports world would like to remember Mandela for his contributions to boxing as he competed in the heavyweight class. “He indeed, played a vital role in ensuring the success of the World Cup by South Africa, which remained a reference point.’’ He urged everyone, especially the youths to learn from the life and times of Mandela. The President, Nigeria Boxing Coaches Association, David Amade, urged the youth to emulate Mandela, the sportsman by engaging in sporting activities rather than waste away their lives by peddling drugs. “Sports apart from helping one to live a healthy lifestyle are indeed short-cuts to wealth. “It is unfortunate that he (Mandela) is celebrating his birthday in the hospital, we in the boxing world wish him a quick recovery,’’ Amade said. The Head Coach, FCT Boxing Association, Mr Benjamin Daniel, noted that Mandela was a true sportsman in every sense of the word, which accounted for the long healthy life he has enjoyed.
Fans Urge Youth To Emulate Mandela’s Sportsmanship
Fed Cup Nembe City Blames Defeat On Poor Officiating
ANTHONY Obasike, the Media Officer, Nembe City FC of Bayelsa, has blamed his club’s 1-2 loss to Sunshine FC of Akure in the round of 32 of the Federation Cup on poor officiating. Obasike told newsmen on Thursday after the match played at Rojenny MultiPurpose Stadium, Oba near Onitsha, Anambra, that the officiating was appalling. “In our two years experience in Nigerian football, this is the worst officiating we have seen. “People who came to watch the match are feeling bad since the best team did not win the match.
Dubai Offer For Osaze Nigeria forward the figure Rejected does not meet the club’s
Michael Eneramo
Eneramo Relieved After Besiktas Switch
NIGERIA striker Michael Eneramo has said he is relieved to finally sign for Besiktas after he failed a first medical. The former squad in training Esperance of Tunisia camp in Austria. captain put pen on “I have passed all paper on Thursday in the medicals and I Turkey and will soon join the rest of the
signed the contract paper with Besiktas. I am happy that the storm is over,” Eneramo said. I am looking forward to settling down to business with my new team. I will soon join
my team mates in Austria for pre-season training.” The ex-Sivasspor of Turkey striker signed a two-year deal with the Istanbul giants.
TOP Nigerian clubs Enyimba and 3SC will battle for a quarterfinal place in this year’s Federation Cup on Wednesday. Cup holders Heartland will also face premier league opposition when they tackle Sharks in another Round of 16 clash, while league
Rangers Niger Tornadoes vs Warri Wolves Kano Pillars vs Gombe Nasarawa United vs Sunshine Stars Akwa Starlets vs Abia Warriors ABS vs Lobi Stars Enyimba vs 3SC Heartland vs Sharks All the matches will be played on
Wednesday, July 24.
2013 Fed Cup:
Enyimba, 3SC Clash
champions and leaders Kano Pillars take on Gombe United. The overall winners of the country’s cup competition will represent Nigeria in next year ’s CAF Confederation Cup. Full Round of 16 Fixtures: Akwa United vs
Nelson Mandela
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Mourinho Makes W/Cup JOSE Mourinho has warned that players who Bid Warning club they are in trouble. They
Tevez Coy On Champs League Hopes CARLOS Tevez has played down Juventus’ hopes of winning next season’s Champions League, insisting his side’s defence of their Serie A title is more important. Juve were eliminated at the quarter-final stage of last season’s competition by eventual winners Bayern Munich, but their impressive run through the group stage has raised expectations heading into the 2013/14 campaign. Tevez, 29, believes Juve will be more focused on claiming a second consecutive Scudetto and should not be earmarked as favourites for Europe’s top flight competition. “I think we have to be calm and make sure we don’t put pressure on ourselves to win the Champions League,” Tevez told CNN. “If we don’t then that pressure will become impossible to escape from. “We have to be calm and know that winning the Scudetto again will make us part of Italian history and then we can think about everything else. We all dream of winning the Champions League but our main objective is winning Serie A. Then we can be calm in the Champions League and everything will become a lot easier.”
aren’t automatic picks for their clubs could miss out on the World Cup in Brazil next year. The Chelsea boss issued the warning just after Manchester United rejected a bid from the Blues for 27year-old Wayne Rooney, who has been told by new manager David Moyes that Robin van Persie is the club’s first-choice striker. “Normally for a player to be selected to play for his country, the player must be a first choice player in the club,” Mourinho told reporters in Malaysia during Chelsea’s brand-boosting tour in Asia. “So any player that wants to go to the World Cup... if they are second choice in their
Sepp Blatter
Olympic Give UK £10bn Boost THE London 2012 Olympics have already earned Britain £10bn in trade and investment, but debate surrounds the overall sporting legacy. Prime Minister David Cameron said: “This £9.9bn A government report boost to the UK economy is a examining the Games has reminder to the world that, if suggested that their you want the best, if you want economic benefits are professionalism, if you want already being felt. jobs done on time and on The Olympics helped budget then you should think companies secure contracts British. and agreements around the “With companies across the world, with examples cited country we are harnessing like deals on oil drilling in the Olympic momentum and Brazil, or nuclear power in delivering the lasting business Jordan. legacy of the Games that will The £9.9bn already raised help make Britain a winner in in the year since the Games the global race. could increase to as much as “But that’s not where the £41bn by 2020, meaning a good news ends. The Games substantial return on the are also delivering a strong original outlay of around social legacy. £11bn to stage the event.
Fear Grows Over Krul Future NEWCASTLE United have set their sights on two keepers as fear starts to mount surrounding the future of Tim Krul. Krul is reportedly on the radar of North London club Arsenal and with no indication on whether the Dutch keeper will stay on,
Alan Pardew has started looking for his replacement. Pardew has reportedly looked at PSV Eindhoven and Holland under-21 international Jeroen Zoet, as well as Viking’s Norway number
one Rune Jarstein. With Steve Harper leaving, Rob Elliot not ready for the number one spot and Krul on the radar of the Gunners Pardew is keen on resolving the goalkeeping issue as fast as possible.
“Last summer, Games Makers changed the way Britain views volunteering. Since then, thousands of people have been inspired to get involved with their local sports clubs.” A poll to establish the sporting legacy of the Olympics suggested that participation in sport had not risen as forecast, despite 52% agreeing with the basic premise that the Games had ‘inspired a generation’. In fact 80 per cent of those asked said they had not been prompted to play more sport as a result of London 2012, while just 6 per cent of
volunteers had give more time to volunteering in sport since last summer. However the responses from younger people were more encouraging, with 20 per cent of 16-to-18-year-olds in the poll, conducted by Sky News, saying they had tried a new sport, and 21 per cent spending more time volunteering. “I think in large part we have inspired,” Lord Coe said. “Look at waiting lists in sports clubs, they are both optimistic and challenging, but I think there are more people playing sport, and a good chunk of them are young people.”
Essien Announces Return To Top Form MICHAEL Essien says he is fully fit now and ready for a successful spell after returning on loan from Real Madrid. The midfielder has had four knee injuries since joining the Blues from Lyon in August 2005. This affected Essien form at Chelsea and was down the pecking order under former Roberto Di Matteo at
Stamford Bridge. But a loan move to the Spanish giants, under Jose Mourinho’s tenure, revived his career and prepared him for another top-flight spell. Essien, 30, claims he returned to top form and set to compete. “When you bump into me you can tell I am still as strong and keeping fit,” Essien said. “My knees are fine now. My
Chelsea Opener Fires Up I’m Sticking With Arsenal - Sagna Aluko
SONE Aluko has said the huge reward of facing Chelsea in a season opener has pushed him through a tough pre-season at Hull City. The Nigeria winger made a successful return from injury in Monday’s 6-0 friendly win at Winterton, coming through 70 minutes unscathed in his first outing for six months. Hull City striker Sone Aluko said the Chelsea game has inspired his fitness battle. The 24-year-old has faced a long battle to come back from the Achilles injury which ruled him out of City’s promotion push in the Championship. And delighted with his first outing, he is now looking to step up his progress on ‘The Tigers’ training camp in
Portugal. “It was good to be out there (against Winterton) and playing again, that was the main thing,” Aluko told The Mail. “I enjoyed it. It was good to be back as a team, but this is just the start. “The first game back is always tough, especially after the break from playing that I’ve had. “It was just another building block towards that first game and playing in the best league in the world. “The real reward will come when we get to play in the Premier League. That’s the main reward.”
BACARY Sagna has no intention of leaving Arsenal this summer, despite reports linking him with a move away from north London. The 30-year-old right-back has been an important member of the Gunners squad since arriving from Auxerre in 2007. However, there have been sustained reports this summer that Sagna, now in the final year of his contract, could soon be leaving the Emirates Stadium. Paris St Germain, Monaco, Galatasaray and Anzhi Makhachkala have all been linked with the France international, who insists he is not going anywhere.
are in trouble,” he warned. Earlier some 100 fans gathered outside the team’s hotel to welcome the players on their arrival from Bangkok. The Blues-adoring supporters held up a “Welcome” banner and yelled: “We love you Chelsea.” Chelsea will play Malaysia’s national selection on Sunday before heading to Jakarta. A Chelsea official told reporters before the press conference that 50-year-old Mourinho would not answer any questions related to a failed bid for Rooney. The England forward has two years left on his contract with Manchester United but has been pushing for a move. Dutch striker van Persie is seen as United’s first choice striker. During the conference Mourinho said that with the World Cup a year away, a player picked regularly for his team would obviously stand a better chance of representing his country in the Brazil World Cup. “He must play very regular for the club and that is the big motivation if they are thinking about the World Cup,” he said. Mourinho has previously stated that striker Rooney was Chelsea’s only remaining summer transfer target for the club.
“I enjoy playing for Arsenal,” Sagna told reporters. “I love my team and I always give my best. “I’m still here. Many people were talking about me going back to France but I’m still here and I’m looking forward to a big season with Arsenal. “Last season was difficult. I only had one year left and people were looking at that and maybe thinking I would leave. “But I tried to stay as calm as I could. Now I will work hard in pre-season and have a good season for Arsenal.” Sagna has endured a tough time over the past two years, spending large chunks of time on the sidelines after twice
breaking his leg. The France international is now looking forward to a “new start” this season - a campaign in which he believes Arsenal can end their eight-year quest for a trophy.
Bacary Sagna
knees are not giving me any problems. I just have to keep myself fit and get ready to do a good job for the team. “When you have these injuries its hard to get back but I go with the flow. I don’t put pressure on myself or anything. “I just listen to the doctors and once I’m fit and training I give everything.” Essien added that it never cross his mind to quit playing after eight or nine knee operations. “I don’t know if people gave up on me,” the 30-year-old said. “I never thought I should stop playing, never at all. It never crossed my mind. I just wanted to get back on the pitch.”
CMYK
THE WEEKEND
Weekend Sport
32
SATURDAY, JULY 20, 2013
Imoudu Cup: Hon Ijegbai Commends
FEYSOC, Considers Chairman’s Cup By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE
HAVING successfully hosted the 2013 Pa. Michael Imoudu memorial football championship in Afuze, the Executive Chairman of Owan East Local Government Area, Hon. (Barr) Jimoh Ijegbai, has promised to host Edo Local G o v e r n m e n t Chairman’s Cup. Hon. Ijegbai who made the pledge at the closing ceremony of the just concluded Imoudu memorial cup in Afuze on Monday, thanked the organizers of the football championship, the Federation of Youth Soccer Clubs (FEYSOC) for a
Pa Michael Imoudu
Ine Stars Lift Imoudu Cup, Egbe Uzebu Rockets Pick Bronze By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE
INE Stars of Benin defeated Jofel FC 5-3 on penalty shootout to win the 2013 Pa. Michael Imoudu Memorial Gold Cup in Afuze. The tension soaked favoured the Benin final match had both side, winning the male teams laboured to a 1- category trophy. Meanwhile, another 1 draw in the regulation time before Benin side, Egbe the shootout which Uzebu Rockets had
earlier in the day settled for Bronze in the male category, having defeated the host team Owan East 2-0. In a chat with the OBSERVERSports, the head coach of the Bronze Winning Egbe
Cancer Claims Olympic Hero Benneth BRITISH Olympic silver medallist Todd Bennett has died aged 51 from cancer. Bennett won silver alongside Kriss Akabusi, Garry Cook and Philip Brown in the 4x400m relay at the 1984 Games in Los Angeles. The Southamptonborn sprinter, who also won a silver medal in the world indoor championships in 1985 and was a twice European indoor champion, moved into coaching with UK Athletics following retirement.
Todd Benett
Roger Black, who won Olympic silver in the 400m at Atlanta 1996, tweeted: “krissakabusi and I were privileged to spend time with Todd Bennett during his battle with cancer. “He fought hard, never complained legend.” Akabusi also paid tribute on Twitter. “#toddbennett 45.56 sec gun to tape # w o r l d r e c o r d #europeanchampion 1985 you’ve completed the journey& dipped us on the line #rip & cya soon x” Bennett ran 45.56 to briefly hold the world indoor 400m record. Many of the nation’s other sprint stars paid tribute to their friend and mentor. Athens 4x100m goal medallist Jason Gardener, speaking on behalf of the board of UK Athletics, said: “It is a very sad day for athletics
and my thoughts are with Todd’s family. “I, like many, was inspired as a child watching Todd achieve such great success on the track representing Great Britain and Northern Ireland. “He inspired thousands of young people throughout the UK to take part and enjoy sport as well as raising funds for school sport. “He will be greatly missed but I am sure his legacy will continue.” Gardener’s teammate in Greece Darren Campbell worked in business with Bennett. “Thank you Todd Bennett for allowing me to know a special man, father, husband, athlete and friend. You will always be in my heart! #RIP,” he tweeted. Paula Radcliffe tweeted: “Sad, sad news that Todd Bennett has lost his battle with cancer. RIP.”
Uzebu Rockets, Coach Otasowie Ogbonmwan however revealed that they wanted to win the Imoudu Gold Cup for their Club Owner Engineer Egbe Uzebu. “We wanted to win the cup for our club financier but that just didn’t work out that way, but we will try harder next time.” He said.
The Engineer Uzebu Rockets had however succumbed gallantly to Jofel FC 5-4 on penalty in the semifinal. In the female category, Magic Queens beat Jimmy Tex Queens to the third place, while the host team, Owan East Local Government Area beat Makanaky Angels of Ekpoma in the final to
Fenerbahce To Play In Europe FENERBAHCE claim that the Court of Arbitration for Sport has suspended the European ban imposed by UEFA over their involvement in a match-fixing scandal. Fenerbahce chairman Aziz Yildirim told the club’s official television channel that the club will participate in the Champions League next season after all.
retain their title.
The football championship, according to the organizers, FEYSOC is an annual event put together in honour and memory of Pa. Michael Imoudu, a foremost labour leader in the country, who died on July 22, 2005.
wonderful outing. The Owan East Chairman whose interest in grassroots football development is evident in the sponsorship of his local council’s football teams at various grassroots football competitions across the state, said that regular and consistent organization of local championships would no doubt help to
discover hidden football talents in the country. He, however, emphasised the need for Sports stakeholders in the state and the country in general to focus on g r a s s r o o t s development through sponsorship and organization of regular events, saying that it is one of the best means of engaging the youth, and developing them meaningfully.
Rodwell Says Pellegrini Wants Barca Style MANCHESTER City midfielder Jack Rodwell says new manager Manuel Pellegrini is slowly introducing to his squad a style of football reminiscent of Barcelona. Pellegrini took over from the sacked Roberto Mancini at the end of last season, and currently has his City players on a pre-season tour of South Africa. A f t e r experiencing success in Spain with Villareal and Malaga, Pellegrini is now evidently making his mark on a City side aiming to reclaim the Premier
League crown from rivals United. Rodwell told The Sun: “Pellegrini likes us to press high up and press in numbers, to get the ball back as soon as possible and then play simple football. “He wants us to keep the ball until we’re in the final third and then see. It’s early and he hasn’t gone into too much detail he’s gradually dripfeeding us. “You look at Barcelona and what they do and it works for them so hopefully we’ll adapt.”
Cisse Quits Newcastle Tour On Religious Grounds PAPISS Cisse has withdrawn from Newcastle’s preseason tour of Portugal after refusing to wear club sponsor Wonga’s logo on religious grounds, the BBC reported Wednesday. The Senegal striker, a Muslim, told club officials he was not prepared to promote Wonga, a firm which offers short-term, highinterest loans. Islamic law forbids borrowing or paying money with interest. However, the 28year-old did offer to wear an unbranded shirt or one bearing a charity logo instead. Other sports teams have made concessions to the faith of their Muslim players,
with South Africa cricketer Hashim Amla allowed to wear shirts without the logo of team sponsor Castle Lager because of the Islamic prohibition on drinking alcohol. The BBC quoted sources saying Cisse’s refusal to wear the sponsored shirt had left him in a “strained” relationship with the Premier League side. Cisse’s Newcastle team-mates Cheick Tiote and Moussa Sissoko are also Muslim, but have told the club they have no issue with wearing the sponsor’s logo. Speaking in June, PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes told BBC Sport: “We’re all aware that
clubs need to generate revenue and sometimes have to use a wide range of companies. “However, if someone feels very, very strongly that it’s not compatible with their beliefs, then some sort of solution should be found.” Cisse joined the Magpies in January 2012 and has scored 26 times in all competitions.
Papiss Cisse
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