weekendobserver 18-05-2013

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Weekend

PUBLISHED SINCE OCTOBER 6, 1990 • Vol.XI NO. 3,184• SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013 • N 100.00

POLITICS

Delta 2015: Between Festus

Keyamo And Other Contestants - Page 6

EDSOGPADEC Begins Asphalting Of Roads IN furtherance of Governor Adams Oshiomhole’s avowed promise to bring development to the nook and crannies of the Oil and Gas Producing Local Government Areas of the state, Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Area Development/Commission (EDSOGPADEC) has commenced the construction of 10 kilometres Asphalt Road each in Ovia North East, Ikpoba-Okha and Orhionmwon Local Government areas respectively. opened up to facilitate Speaking while easy movement of inspecting the Asphalting people and farm produce of Oduna-Ewudu- Iborofrom the rural to the Ekehuan Roads, the urban centres in Edo Chairman of the State and beyond.

Commission, Barr.

While assuring that the Vincent Osas Uwadiae project will be completed said the project was not according to only in fulfillment of the specification and in Comrade Governor ’s record time, the Electioneering promises Edospadec boss but also a response to enjoined the people to the demands of the continue to be warm and benefiting communities courteous towards the that their communities be

contractors handling the commission’s projects within the locality and to ensure their round-the clock-protection from vandalization.

Barr. Vincent Uwadiae also took time off the Road inspection to visit the people of Ewudu and Iboro Communities where he gave the assurance that the block of six classrooms almost completed by the commission in Ruth Warden Primary School and Ewudu Primary Schools respectively will not only be equipped with chairs and other modern amenities but will be made to be of

international standard.

Meanwhile, the EDSOGPADEC boss and his team has flagged off the construction of the 10 kilometres Asphalt Continues on page 4

Ministry Of Arts Postpones Public Auction

THE Honourable Commissioner for Arts, Culture and Tourism, Hon. A.E. Jemitola, has directed the postponement of the disposal of

unserviceable junks in Oba Akenzua Cultural Centre till a later date.

Although no reason was given for the postponement, a

PERSPECTIVE PAGE 11

Islamic Banking And Interest Free Loan

source said the commissioner may have postponed the sale because of her official trip to the Etsako peoples meeting in the United States of America next week.

A statement signed by the Public Relation Officer (PRO), of the ministry said a notice to the effect of the public sale of the junks was published in the Observer issue of May 13, 2013.

The Oduna-Ewudu-Iboro-Ekehuan Road currently being asphalted by Edo State Oil and Gas Producing Areas Development Commission.Photo: OSAGIE ASABOR

MOMENTS OF SCRUTINY

Morality And Political Leadership (2) - Page 5

POLITICS Gov Amaechi And The Political Bombardiers - Page 7

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

NEWS

CRIME Court Discharges Brother After Being Forgiven By Sister

Rt. Hon. Dr. Pius Egberanmwen Odubu, Deputy Governor, Edo State welcome the leader of the team, Prince Barbs Preye Pawuru, President Host Communities of Nigeria (HOCON) during a courtesy visit to Government House. Photo: OBOH MOSES.

Anambra Guber Election: Appeal

THE Court of Appeal in Enugu has accepted to hear a motion for preservative injunction filed by Mr. Ifeanychukwu Okonkwo from Anambra against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Okonkwo, the candidate of Nigeria Advance Party

Court To Hear Motion (NAP) in the 2003 gubernatorial election in Anambra, is seeking to stop INEC from organising any governorship election in the state till it restored the party on its list.

Arguing for his position, Okonkwo said by delisting the party, the commission had challenged the jurisdiction of the court in a case pending before it in which NAP was a party at

ICPC Ready To Prosecute Operators Of Illegal Institutions - Official THE Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has said it had concluded plans to prosecute operators of illegal higher institutions in Nigeria.

Prof. Olu Aina, the Chairman of the ICPC and National U n i v e r s i t i e s Commission (NUC) Joint Operation Task Team, announced the step in Abuja at a press conference.

Aina said the team had obtained a warrant from a court of competent jurisdiction to effect arrests and prosecute offenders.

“There are about 100 operatives positioned in the various zones of the country to carry out this exercise. ICPC relied on Section 37 of its enabling Act of 2000 to carry out the exercise.

“ICPC has today commenced a nationwide operation to seal the premises of identified illegal ‘universities’ seize their properties.

“This action is the first

in the series of activities to implement the outcome of an on-going ICPC/NUC University System Review,’’ Aina said.

The task team chairman added that an inter-agency task team which would include the police, State Security Service and National Security and Civil Defence Corps would be working with the team.

He said the security officials would be carried along to ensure impunity was removed from the education sector.

Aina also said the implication of operating illegally would bring about unqualified personnel to drive the country’s economy.

He advised members of the public to visit the NUC website to know the illegal institutions.

The task team chairman also called on proprietors of private schools to desist from letting their premises out to operators of these illegal higher institutions.

Also, Prof. Shola Akinrinade, the NUC representative, said the commission had never granted temporary approval to any illegal university as some claimed.

“There are about 14 stages to complete the process of approving a university and NUC does not issue any licence until the whole stages are completed,’’ he said.

the time of the delisting.

He said INEC should be stopped from further action to “bury the party’’ that should be alive in the presence of the court.

Okonkwo also applied for leave to submit his written address and serve all the parties within five days.

The counsel for INEC, Mr. Dennis Mba, said he had no objection to the motion and also asked for five days to respond to the written address from the day his client received the service.

The judge, Justice Abdulkadir Jega, ordered the two parties to file their written addresses as applied and adjourned hearing to June 4 when the substantive appeal would also come up.

Also joined in the motion is Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra.

A GUDU Upper Area Court in Abuja has discharged Kerry Edem of Wuse 2 after he was forgiven by his sister, Rosemary Okolie, the complainant, whom he threatened to kill.

Edem was arraigned in court by the police for intimidating Okolie who resides at Life Camp in Abuja.

He was, however, forgiven

by Okolie by going to plead with her for forgiveness.

The Presiding Judge, Adamu Wakili, in his ruling, said the accused was discharged based on the testimony and consent of the complainant in court.

“The prosecution has applied to close the case with the permission of the nominal complainant. I have no choice since this is possible.

“But you (Edem) must execute a bond to keep peace, a breach of which the court will enforce its penalty,’’ Wakili said.

He further told the accused that he was very lucky to have been forgiven by his sister.

“You are lucky you were forgiven by the complainant.

Man Bags 6 Months Imprisonment For Stealing Plasma Television AN Abuja Grade 2 Area Court has sentenced a 29year-old dismissed soldier, Salifullahi Mohammed, of Asokoro, to six months in prison for stealing a plasma television valued at N150,000.

Mohammed was, however, given an option to pay N5,000 as fine in lieu of the prison term.

The Presiding Judge, Mr. Ahmed Ado, also ordered the convict to pay the complainant compensation in the sum of N150,000

Man Sentenced For Joint Act, Theft THE police in Abuja have arraigned one Ma’ayaki Mundi, 33, in an Abuja Grade 2 Area Court in Kado, FCT over joint act and theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Christopher Roko, told the court that, on May 13, one Lazarus Dawan, of Suit 46B, Mammy Shopping Complex, Lungu Barracks, Abuja lodged the complain at Utako police station.

Roko said that the complainant reported that, on May 12, Mundi, a security guard at Tunis St., Wuse Zone 6, Abuja and one Sunday of the same address but now at-large

jointly committed the offence.

They were alleged to have stolen a Panasonic air conditioner valued at N120, 000 that was mounted on an Etisalat mast along Tunis St., Wuse Zone 6.

He said that the offences contravened the provisions of sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

According to the Section 79, each individual in a criminal act by several persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were carried out by him alone.

But if you are brought to this court again for the same offence, you will go to jail. I will not pardon you because you are harmful to the society.

“If you cannot make peace with your own sister, then who will you make peace with?

“Whatever a good behaviour cannot give is something misbehaviour cannot give also,’’ the judge said.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Yusuf Auta, had earlier told the court that the complainant and the accused had settled out of court.

Auta said the accused was reported by the complainant in a written petition to the police Zone 7 Headquarters, Abuja through the FCT Upper Area Court on April 22.

He said the complainant had stated in her letter that the accused threatened to kill her via text messages after she sacked him from her school because of his misconduct.

“The offence is contrary to the provisions of Section 396 of the Penal Code,’’ the prosecutor said.

Also, Section 287 stipulates that, “whoever commits theft shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or with fine or with both.”

Mundi pleaded guilty.

The Presiding Judge, Mr. Ahmed Ado, therefore, sentenced the accused on the two count charges.

The first count charge of joint act carries three weeks imprisonment or a fine of N1,000 while the second of theft carries eight weeks imprisonment or a fine of N3,000.

after he pleaded guilty to the charge of house breaking and theft levelled against him.

Ado said the sentence would serve as a deterrent to others who might want to engage in such acts.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr. Abdullahi Alhassan, had earlier told the court that the case was reported to the Mabushi police Divisional Headquarters, Abuja, by one Abdul Salisu on May 7.

Alhassan said that the convict broke into the house, where the complainant worked as a security guard in Mabushi village through the window and carted away the plasma television from the sitting room.

He said the convict confessed to the crime during police investigation, adding that the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code.

Section 288 states that “whoever commits theft in or from any building, tent or vessel, used as a human dwelling, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with fine or with both.’’

The convict pleaded for leniency saying it was the devil’s handwork.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

NEWS Lawmaker Seeks Return Of Police Check Points REP Godfrey Gaiya (PDPKaduna) has suggested the return of mobile police check points to deter criminals, especially in flash points around the country.

“The road blocks are more desirable now than ever; they should be stationed after every kilometre in the flash points,” he said.

The lawmaker told newsmen in Jos that “their mere presence is enough to scare many criminals”.

Reports also say that the check points, hitherto a common feature on Nigerian roads, were removed following massive complaints of alleged unwholesome activities of some police officers manning them.

Gaiya said that such complaints were nothing compared to the usefulness of the road blocks to the Nigerian society.

“The police force should have an internal mechanism for punishing such unwholesome attitude; certainly, such unethical attitude by a few is not enough to deny Nigerians the desirability of the policemen

on the highways,’’ he said.

He blamed the massive insecurity on the absence of the police on the roads and decried a situation where criminals could travel very long distances without being accosted with their loots or illegal arms.

Gaiya said Nigeria was battling with all manners of violence when other nations were making progress in various fields.

He added that the road blocks constituted some proactive measures instead of the current fire brigade scenarios after incidents.

He also lamented that while other nations were progressing, Nigeria was reclining back to the dark days “when good neighbours were becoming sworn enemies while good relationships were being replaced with deep hatred”.

The lawmaker also suggested a closer monitoring of sermons delivered by some clergies, adding that many had continued to preach hatred among Nigerians.

Achebe’s Burial Will Be Historical - Committee Chairman THE committee set up to organise the burial of Prof.

Chinua Achebe says it is planning a global event commensurate with his status.

The Chairman of the committee, Prof. Uzodimma Nwala, said the event would take place in different parts of the world.

Speaking after a reading session in honour of the literary icon in Awka, Nwala said the ceremonies would commence in Nigeria on May 19 when his remains would arrive in the country.

He said the burial would be a historical event and would take place in South Africa, Australia, Europe, America and Nigeria.

He said the body would arrive in Nigeria on May 19 with brief ceremonies in Abuja before moving to Enugu for an academic session at the UNN.

Nwala said the burial train would move to Awka and later to Ogidi, his home town, adding that heads of states and world renowned writers were expected to grace the event.

Meanwhile, a former Vice Chancellor of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Prof. Pita Ejiofor, has called for the release of “Things Fall Apart” in Igbo and other Nigerian languages.

Ejiofor described Achebe as a man of many parts who in his work left a legacy for the Igbo nation, Nigeria, Africa and the world at large.

He said he was surprised that the world’s 25th most translated book had not been circulated in the authors’ native language and urged the publishers to avail the young ones the opportunity of reading it in their own language.

Top official of Raykon Construction firm in handshake with the Chairman (CEO) of EDSOGPADEC, Barrister Vincent Uwadiae during the flag-off of the 10 kilometre of Egun-Iwusan-Utesi-Obagie Nokenkporo-Azagba Uyinwendin Road currently under construction of EDSOGPADEC in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Council. Photo: OSAGIE ASABOR

Omagbon Urges Council Staff To Re-dedicate Themselves To Duty THE Executive Chairman, Ovia North East Local Government area, Barr.

(Mrs.) Lucy Omagbon has charged council staff in Ovia North-East local government area on the need to re-double their efforts and re-dedicate themselves to the service of the local government if the task ahead must be accomplished.

Mrs. Omagbon, who met with the Council staffs at the headquarters of the Council, said it will not be business as usual as she warned that she may have to step on some toes in bringing the needed development to the Council.

She harped on the need for everyone in the Council to be selfless, dedicated, loyal, hardworking and transparent as she will not tolerate indolence and lackadaisical attitudes in council working environment.

While lamenting that she met a local government in a devastating and sorrowful financial state with infrastructural decay and workers motivation at it lowest ebb, she however said the paucity of fund will not deter her from achieving her mission of leaving a lasting legacy in the council.

She call for understanding and cooperation from all workers in the council, stating that for the council to

Emergency: ACF To Monitor Military Operations In Borno, Yobe, Adamawa THE Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), has said it would constitute a team that would monitor the conduct of the military in enforcing the state of emergency declared in Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states.

The decision was contained in a statement issued by the ACF Deputy National Publicity Secretary, Fati Ibrahim after its National Executive Council meeting

chaired by Alhaji Aliko Mohammed in Kaduna.

“The team will collect information and evidence from the field and determine if at all times, the military campaign is conforming with the published terms of engagement and other human rights conventions to which Nigeria is signatory to,” it said.

“In particular, the ACF calls on the military to avoid the temptation of deploying heavy

handed tactics or adopt measures that will cause increased casualties and bloodshed under the cover of emergency rule,” it added.

The ACF advised the Federal Government not to consider “the increased military deployments as a superior option or alternative to the slower and more tedious path of dialogue, negotiation and reconciliation”.

succeed, all hands must be on deck especially on the area of blocking revenue leakages and increasing revenue generation and management.

According to her, “at the swearing-in of the local government chairmen, the governor has said there was an arrangement whereby funds were reserved for the newly elected councils from the money saved during the time the HOS where in charge to take off but there was no money here just as in other three councils. Ovia North-East is even the worst among the three councils that were mentioned as having no fund. So you can understand

the preambles of my earlier statement of dedication to work, selflessness, loyalty, honesty and transparency comes from. I believe probably every body here has a place where he comes from and where he is going.

When I came here what I saw was enough to scare any spineless human being away, but I see it as a call to service and unless you join hand with me it is going to be very difficult for us to achieve our objectives.”

Responding on behalf of the workers, the chairman of the council’s National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Ken. Enabulele and the Head of local Government

Administration (HOLGA), Mr. Monday Oikeh, promise that workers will work harmoniously with her, praising her for her motherly advice to them.

In a related development, the chairman yesterday read the riot act to the council’s revenue collectors and their heads, giving them two weeks to submit all records of revenue collected, remitted and intending to collect from the month of February to date.

She said a committee will be put in place to look into the issue of revenue collection in the local government with a view of blocking all leakages and improving on revenue generation.

Water Scarcity Biggest Threat To PROF Kenneth Iwugo, a water and environment The World - Expert expert, has identified water scarcity as the biggest threat facing the world today.

Iwugo said this in an interview with newsmen in Abuja.

“Scarcity of water is the biggest threat the world faces because with our growing population and development we are degrading water quality and when you spoil something it’s difficult to use what you spoilt.

“Then with this flooding, flooding causes pollution so there is a need for every country not only Nigeria to protect its water resources.

“The ministry should try and prepare very concrete proposal with time frame and schedule and then give it to the government.

“And then there should be a pressure group - people who are committed professionals in this field; they should probably

constitute themselves into a pressure group who will be also pressing government to do something.

“So, we have to do something about this because the world is a dynamic world and our population today is going to increase dramatically in the next ten years and so on.”

Iwugo said that major conferences should be held from time to time to generate ideas from professionals to ensure the availability of water at all times.

“There is an urgent need for us to do something if we all are not heading to one type of catastrophe or the other.

“The water is there, but it is how to manage it properly, it is like money, and Nigeria today is not short of money, it’s how to manage it properly.

“It is the same case with

water problem in some countries like our own country Nigeria and most part of the world too, water is available but it’s how we manage it that’s the challenge.

“If we manage it properly good water will become available to a lot of people.

To solve a problem, you need two things, you need ideas and the best people to produce ideas whether you like it or not are people in the university.

“Then two, you need money and the people who have money are the people in business; so, you must find a way in which you can combine these two.”

Iwugo called on nongovernmental organisations and professionals in the water and environment sectors to sensitise government to the need for urgent action to guard against water scarcity.

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

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EDSOGPADEC Begins Asphalting Of Roads Continued from page 1 Road in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, when completed, the Road is expected to link EgunIwusan-Utesi-Obagie Nokenkporo-Asagba and Uyinmwendin in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo State.

Speaking during the flagging off ceremony, the members representing the local government area on the boards of the commission Mr. Victor Ekhator and the Enogie of Utesi, Pa. Obazuwa Napoleon, who spoke for the benefiting communities were full of praises to God for making the project a dream come true and expressed the hope that the contractor handling the project, Messrs Ralpkon Construction Company Limited will expedite action towards the actualization of the project within the shortest time possible.

Barr. Vincent Uwadiae further hinted that the flagging off of the construction of the 10 kilometre Aspphalt Road linking Urehue – Umoghunokhua – Ologbo nugie in Orhionmwon local government area which has since been awarded will take place next week.

The EDSOGPADEC boss was accompanied on the occasion by members of the commission including the member representing Orhionmwon Local Government Area with Board of the commission, Hon. Fidelis Okunzuwa, member representing Ovia North East Local Government Area, Prince Ehioze Erediauwa, member representing Ikpoba-

Okha Local Government Area on the Board of the commission, Mr. Victor Ekhator, member representing Edo North Senatorial District on the Board of the Commission, Hon. Lugman Muhammad, the Permanent Secretary to the Board Mr. Usiobaifo Orhue and other directors in the commission.

Commissioner Assures Students Of Improved Educational Standard

By SONIA EDOWAYE OSUNDE THE Commissioner for Education in charge of Secondary, Tertiary and Technical Education Edo State, Barr. Washington Osifo has assured students that the State Government was ready to tackle the problems faced in all secondary and tertiary institutions in the state.

Making this assurance during a monitoring exercise at Holy Trinity Grammar School, Sabongida Ora, Barr.

Osifo commended the teachers for their dedication to duty while encouraging them not only to impart knowledge on the students but also to help build their character as education was the only guarantee for

attaining greater heights.

The commissioner also commended the students on their well-cultured behaviour and neatness, stating that these attributes are essentials in the lives of every individual.

He encouraged them to remain focused and studious in order to achieve their ambitions in life.

The commissioner who exhibited his passion for education taught the students in SSS1 “the subject, “Government,” while he was in the school.

Other schools visited during the exercise included Micheal Imoudu College of Physical Education, Afuze, Ambrose Alli University, Ekpoma and The College of Education, Ekiadolor.

THE leader of a security outfit the Vigilante Group of Nigeria Prince Sylvester Eweka has commended the federal government for its recent declaration of a state of emergency in three northern states of Adamawa, Yobe, and Borno.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with WEEKEND OBSERVER recently, Prince Eweka stated that government’s decision to impose a state of emergency in the three affected states is capable of addressing the security challenges facing the country in recent time.

He said that “the mindless and indiscriminate killings of innocent people must be drastically addressed.”

He however called on the federal government to recognize the existence of the Vigilante Group of Nigeria by allowing the group to collaborate with the Nigerian

THE Edo State Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development Hon. Lawrence Aghedo, has blamed the insurgency and increase in Boko Haram killings and other criminal activities taking place across the country especially in the northern part, in recent times to the inability of parents to properly plan their family.

Hon. Aghedo made this known in Benin City when playing host to advocacy group drawn from the Nigerian Urban Reproductive Health Initiative (NURHI) and the state Ministry of Health, led by the programme Manager NURHI Benin, Mrs. Adetoke Akinbami during an advocacy visit to his office to solicit support for the effective implementation of family planning programmes in all the 18 local government areas across the state, as part of activities to commemorate family week celebration in the state.

Receiving the advocacy group, the commissioner described their initiative to create awareness about family planning as a welcome development, adding that, if parents are educated and knowledgeable enough to produce the number of children they can cater for, the increase in crime rate across the country will be drastically reduced to the barest minimum.

According to Mr. Aghedo, available statistics have shown that before the year 2015, if the population of this country is not checked, Nigeria will be rated among the 5th populated countries in the world, and identified birth

control as the key to achieving successful family planning in the country.

He however commended the state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole for being passionate about the health of the people, by equipping all the hospital and health facilities in the three senatorial districts with the state of the art medical equipments to improve the health status of the citizens of the state.

While pledging the state government commitment towards ensuring the successful implementation of the programme, Hon. Aghedo assured that his ministry will collaborate with the Ministry of Health with a view to ensuring that government incorporate provision for family planning into his budget plan.

He also called on the male folk and private sector to be actively involved and encourage family planning services for the overall benefit of all.

Briefing the commissioner earlier, NURHI project Manager Benin, Mrs. Adetoke Akinbami who led the group said they were in his office to solicit financial support for the success of family services, adding that they have presently captured three local governments, as site providing the services namely Oredo, Egor and Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area.

According to Mrs. Akinbami, part of the goals of NURHI was to increase modern contraceptive prevalence rate by at least 20 percent points in the country especially among the urban poor.

She added that the goal of NURHI is also to reduce maternal mortality rate, promote safe motherhood as well as achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the country.

She therefore appealed to the commissioner to use his

T HE Management of

Reynolds Construction Company (RCC) has been called upon to reconsider the suspension of Benin Minor Service Providers within seven (7) days as a way of enhancing mutual relations.

good office to ensure timely release of funds by government to procure adequate commodities such as needles, syringes, cotton wool cleansing lotion and make them available in all the health facilities in the 18 local government areas of the state for the over all benefit of women that goes there to access family planning services.

The team also visited the Commissioner for Finance, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Antoinette Esele.

According to the programme of even today Saturday 18th May 2013 by 12 noon, there would be social engagement (afternoon Dance) at No.1 Edo Baptist Conference TV Road, Benin City, to be followed with thanksgiving service on Sunday 19th May 2013 by 10 am.

Also speaking, Commander Harry Hordon Akpan, Cross Rivers State Commander of Vigilante Group Nigeria stressed the need for the federal government to intensify effort to rid the country of all forms of criminals activities especially by the Boko Haram Sect, Militants and cult groups who have continuously wrecked havoc on innocent citizens.

It will be recalled that President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on three states of Adamawa, Yobe and Borno on Tuesday following the spate of violence which had led to the killing and maiming of Nigerians in these states.

In a press statement signed by the Publicity Secretary of Benin Development Union, Okao’ Columbus Edoimioya stated that issues of paramount importance that affects the indigenes of the communities must be the primary concern of all stakeholders including security operatives who truly believes in engendering social order, adding that the union cannot guarantee the safety of RCC personnel in the event of violent hostility in that part of Benin Territory.

The statement expressed dissatisfaction over the canceling of minor works like diesel supply, field workers recruitment and drivers employment from Benin indigenes who are the host community’s inhabitants and relocating same to some Yorubas that are based in Ivory Coast.

The union also commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his commitment to protect and project the sanctity of corporate social responsibility, as well as Local Content Development.

Every institution, whether private or public is expected to compliment indigenous development by allocating minor works to its host community indigenes; it is therefore burdensome to the Benin of Ofosu Community that the privileged position for some of their children and wards could be brazenly withdrawn from them without recourse to their peace.

Disposition and the complimentary role they have been playing to the hospitality of RCC staff and projects,” the statement added.

Govt To Partner With Stakeholders

By CLIFFORD AGBAJOR

EDO State Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has reiterated the readiness of the state

Mrs Rose Oshodin Imuentiyan

By MERCY ONYENWELI Burial Commences THE families of service of songs.

Oshodin and Omogiate Idehen has commenced the burial ceremony of their late mother, Mrs. Rose Oshohin Imuentiyan who died at the age of 65.

The body of late Mrs. Rose Oshodin was laid to rest on Friday 17th May, 2013 at her residence at Okhokohugbo Road by second power line after

By KESTER OGIESEWU Army with a view to solving the problem of insurgency in Nigeria especially in the core north.

According to the VGN boss, “The group has the potentials and capability of complimenting the efforts of the military to combat this high level of insurgency in the country by providing useful information about those who are terrorizing the country today.

“We are ready to dig into the grassroot and fish out these criminals before handing them over to the police. The police needs the assistance of security outfits like the Vigilante Group of Nigeria.

Reconsider Suspension Of Benin Minor Service Providers, Reynolds Const Urged

Insurgency: Result Of Lack Of Family Planning - Aghedo

By FUNMI BABATOPE

Vigilante Boss Commends FG On Emergency

Late Mrs. Rose Oshohin Imuentiyan

government to always listen to anybody or group of persons who aggregate themselves legitimately to solicit better service delivery for the people.

He made the remark when he played host to a group known as the Host Communities Network of Nigeria (HOCON) in Benin City, yesterday.

The state governor who was represented by the state Deputy Governor, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Pius Egberamwen Odubu told the delegation that government’s vision is to serve the people to the best of its ability.

Comrade Oshiomhole assured that the present administration will continue to improve the infrastructural level and

human capacity development of the people, adding that the services will be extended to their various communities.

On solid minerals, the governor noted that the state is faced with the constraint that solid minerals fall in the purview of the federal government.

The President of the Host Communities Network of Nigeria, Prince Barbs Preye Pawuru remark that official visit was to appreciate the state government for the infrastructural up-grade going on in some of these communities in the state.

The Host Communities Network of Nigeria is a group of communities in Nigeria where extractive activities are taking place.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Contd from last week

TODAY, most of our corrupt leaders are held in the highest esteem by the ignorant and puerile

yet choose to carry on doing it.

A man imbued with spirituality is always motivated by the virtues of that which in good,

something about it”.

And the question is what are we going to do about it? Some people reading this article may

sanctity of human life has been thrown overboard.

Therefore the need by all Nigerians to cultivate

Morality And Political Leadership [2]

society.

Strangely enough as I pointed out last week, injustice is very natural to man in Africa and Nigeria is not an exemption.

The idea of justice appears unnatural to the Blackman. In essence the African can only begin to understand the idea of morality, justice, equity, freedom and egalitarianism in as much as he begins to seek the spiritual in him.

Surely, this is a very daunting task since the black man is extremely materialistic in his consciousness.

The black man by nature, nay the African is very materialistic, there is nothing spiritual in his nature, even when he claims to be religious.

Spiritually, man is known to have a rational soul and therefore shares in the natural facilities of the godhead.

Therefore since God is infinitely good, He cannot be the source of evil. Thus the reason why most men deviate from doing good especially in Africa and in other developing parts of the world is their inability to control the opposing forces within their being, between the principle of good and the principle of evil.

It is know that from time immemorial there has been an eternal and perpetual conflict between the forces of good and the forces of bad, hence light and darkness or good and evil are always in conflict.

Hence, as I pointed out last week our leaders just continues to commit all kinds of atrocities even when they know that what they are doing is wrong and evil, and

honest, and positive arising from knowledge.

Speaking recently with the press Mrs. Obyeageli Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education, former VicePresident of the World Bank, said among others “ it is just anathema because my family was founded on the principle of reward on the basis of efforts, hardwork, diligence and character” Speaking on the current level of immorality exhibited by our leaders, the brilliant lady noted thus “my general overview is that we are going through the throes of challenges that requires a very strong sense of sacrificial leadership.

The corruption in the society right now is so endemic it’s almost become democratized.

And that is going to sink us. We need not implode under the weight of corruption we need to tackle corruption and tackle it as you would tackle cancer. It can kill. There is no need pretending that this country is not burdened by the weight of a cancerous phenomenon that is called corruption. Every Nigerians know that we have a problem. This is a broken society and it has permeated every aspect of our national life. So we must do

feel uneasy because they may feel that nothing can be done. In order to understand what can be done, it behooves on the generality of Nigerians to begin earnestly to adopt spirituality as a way of life.

Man by nature is a spiritual being, but have

spiritual living in order to offset materialism is paramount at this specific time of the nations history if it is to survive, as I have often reiterated over the years.

But who would teach the people the ideals of spirituality when the socalled churches, and

with religion of course.

If the people have leaders who turns out to be tyrants, the people have the right to revolt against them and depose them.

In Aristotle’s ethics, happiness is the goal and the attainment of any moral standard of morality “virtue is the

Goodluck Jonathan

Oby Ezekwesili

since lost his spirituality for transient materialism.

Sometime you may need to ask yourself what does a man want with a billion naira. What kind of mentality drives a man to go that far?

Today our society is plagued by an insatiable thirst for material thing.

Our desire for wealth has created a “dog eats dog” society, where the

a life that does not only aim for their personal salvation or their temporal needs, but a life founded on the basis of being constantly conscious of the supreme being.

Thus for Nigerian not to disintegrate by 2015 following the gloomy prognostication of the

mosques and religions are themselves the purveyors of materialism. Nigerians need to live their lives to the glory of God, by living a life at once so disciplined, so inspired, so dedicated and devoted to the service of their fellow men in order to create a sanctified society.

Nigerians need to live

American government many years ago, it desperately needs a society or a nation that is endowed with quality leadership.

A leadership that is bestowed with sovereignty of the people.

A leadership whereby they become the representative of God. This has nothing to do

only path that leads to happiness”.

Today, Nigeria needs a leadership that must be morally upright, that would pursue the virtues of service, compassion, humanitarianism, and egalitarianism, as opposed to tyranny which is prevalent everywhere these days.

Without these Nigeria is surely on the path to prediction…

“Sometime you may need to ask yourself what does a man want with a billion naira. What kind of mentality drives a man to go that far? Today our society is plagued by an insatiable thirst for material thing. Our desire for wealth has created a “dog eats dog” society, where the sanctity of human life has been thrown overboard”.

THE WEEKEND

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P litics

Delta 2015: Between Festus Keyamo And Other Contestants

IT has been rumored that it is the turn of Delta North to produce the next governor of Delta State in 2015. Delta State is divided into three senatorial districts, of which Delta North has not produce the governor since the creation of Delta State and the enthronement of democracy in 1999. But a school of thought assumed that the next governor of Delta State should be the choice of the Deltans not one particular godfather handpicking his choice candidate or aspirant from the ruling political party in the state. Some political cabals have taken the state to the cleaners over the years without corresponding infrastructural developments to effect political change among the Deltans.

Though Democratic Peoples Party (DPP) is waxing stronger to capture Delta State in 2015, but some cabals within the opposition party in the state were sacked as a result of scrupulous acts. While Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is not leaving any stone unturned to make sure the seat of the governorship position is politically retained by the party. Some political leaders within the ruling party have been paying some unscheduled political visits in the name of appreciating political elders and leaders of the party while some are indirectly displaying their political agenda towards 2015 with the fear of not being intimidated and panicky by one ruling cabal in the party.

To some extent, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan has equally brought some dividends of democracy to the people but my personal moan with him is failure to conduct the Delta State Local Government Elections and allows corruption to strive in the system. The three senatorial districts, Delta South and Delta Central have occupied the governorship position while Delta North is yet to produce the governor under the PDP political arrangement. Some regions in the state like the Isokos, Delta Igbos, Kwales have been totally marginalized over the years.

The unity of Deltans is being threatened by some political cabals that are in the ruling party while some regions

within the state are strongly agitating for their own state, more local governments, senatorial districts and clans. The fact remains that corruption cannot be ruled out in any political party in Nigeria. The so-called new APC is the transmute of PDP and other political parties in Nigeria.

2015 would not be too easy for PDP because all the three senatorial districts want to produce their own governor without following the zoning arrangement in the state. Only few political leaders in the state have been able to represent their people well while others see the position as opportunity to amass wealth and ignore calls and text messages of electorates that voted for them. Although, Delta State governorship position is opened to everybody but some possible candidates are mere jokers, noisemakers, media hype pretenders and posters ‘campaigners. We still have other political parties in the state that would likely want to bring their own candidates for the position of the governorship in 2015.

Barrister Festus Keyamo is one of the possible candidates to contest for the governorship race for 2015 but yet to disclose his political party to the public. He is one of the vibrant candidates to wrestle power from some powerful cabals in the state. Some schools of thought still assumed that Festus Keyamo is not a politician rather a human right activist of the 21st century while activists do not make a good leadership in political position. He has legally contributed to the developmental progress of deprived Nigerians in terms of political mortification and others. He is the pioneer of the new Delta Forces United (DFU) that opts to change the political leadership of Delta State.

Festus Egwarewa Adeniyi Keyamo Esq, lawyer, social crusader, critic and columnist is an intriguing personality. He was born in Ughelli. Delta State of Nigeria on Wednesday, January 21, 1970 by a father who hails from Effurun, Warri in Delta State and a mother from Ilaro in Ogun state. Festus Keyamo attended Oharis (Model) Primary School,

By GODDAY ODIDI

• Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan, Delta State

• Festus Keyamo

Ughelli, 1975 to 1981, Government College, Ughelli. 1981 to 1986 and received his Higher School Certificate (HSC) course in the same school armed with these certificates, he gained admission into Bendel State University (now Ambrose Alli University (AAU) Ekpoma, in Edo State and obtained his L.L. B degree (Second Class Upper) in 1992. He was called to Nigerian Bar on December 15, 1993 setting the stage for colorful career in law.

Keyamo as he is widely known started his legal practice in Gani Fawehinmi Chambers in Lagos at the height of the agitation for the revalidation of the June 2, 1993 election. Even as a young lawyer, he was on front row of legal activism representing icons like Beko Ransome- Kuti, chief frank Kokori and Ken Saro Wiwa as well as the duo of Chief M. K. O Abiola and Anthony Enahoro who were arrested in 1994 and other NADECO leaders. These challenging responsibilities helped to build Keyamo’s confidence in trenchant advocacy emerging with award of Best lawyer in Gani Fawehinmi Chambers in 1994.

He left Gani Fawehinmi Chambers in 1995 to establish his own law firm, Festus Keyamo Chambers which has since grown

rapidly with Head Office at No 1 Festus Keyamo lane, Anthony village, Lagos State with branches in Abuja and Warri (Delta State) liaison office in many states Keyamo has handled several controversial and landmark cases. He was counsel to the leader of the Niger Delta Peoples Volunteer Force, Mujaheed Dokubo- Asari in his trial for treasonable felony, lead counsel in the treason trial of the leader of the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign state of Biafra (MASSOB) Chief Ralph Uwazuruike and other MASSOB leaders as well as counsel in brutal murder of elder statesman chief Bola Ige. As one of the prosecutors for the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), he has secured the conviction of six public officers by full and complete trial (not plea- bargain).

During the Abacha regime, Keyamo formed against misguided youths (YAMY) set up to challenge the youth Earnestly Ask for Abacha (YEAA) of Daniel Kanu in 1997. He was mobilizing Nigerians on the streets to sign petitions to international bodies when Abacha died.

Recently, he initiated a probe of the leadership of

the House of Representatives over alleged profligacy and mismanagement of public funds in the purchase of 380 units of 407 Peugeot cars.

Keyamo’s brush with the authorities has been audacious. He has been detained several times in prisons and cells across Nigeria on account of his crusades for justice, human rights and against corruption.

He has helped many youths of Delta State unjustly arrested and detained by the authorities free of charge and has been working closely with his Uvwie community for some years now to challenge the warped census figures allocated to Uvwie through the census. Tribunal and is also in court to reclaim their vast expanse of land compulsory acquired by the Army in 1975 purportedly for public purpose but now converted to private use. He was decorated with the Uvwie son of the year 2010.

A man of amazing gusto and dogged spirit, his honors include Best Single Advocate of Nigeria law students, Taslim Elias Most Trial Competition 1992; honorary Alumni of various students’ Association, Activist of the year (2001) by the students Union, University of Jos; listed in

the new who is who in Nigeria, 2003; and nominated for the world medal of Honour 2003, the American Biographical institute, in 2005. He was conferred with the chieftaincy titles of Ogba- Uri of Ogor kingdom (strong man of the law) 2005 and Omorokaro of Uvwie Kingdom (The child who leads the way) 2001 in Delta State but prefers to be called Mr’.Though other political contestants have their strong political clouts of winning the governorship position in 2015 like Rt. Hon Victor Ochie, the present Delta State House of Assembly speaker, Great Ovedje Ogboru, , present Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, Senator Manager, Chief Kpokpori, Comrade Macaulay Ovuozourie, Delta SSG and others. Deltans should set to vote for reliable candidates not arrogant ones with any business of serving the people in the state house come 2015.Only Deltans would determine their possible candidate if money bags politics does not play its way out.

BY GODDAY ODIDI. PUBLIC AFFAIRS ANALYST. 08058124798.

20 Oro street, Ajegunle Apapa Lagos.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

o Gov Amaechi And The Political Bombardiers

P litics Bombardier in the United States air force is a person in the force’s plane, who is responsible of aiming and dropping bombs. But in Rivers State, the Aircraft Bombardier BD 700, Global Express aircraft with registration No. 5N5N65 RS, bought by the Rivers State Government, used by Governor Chibuike Amaechi for official trips, have many political bombardiers, and this is generating political wars.

After the plane was grounded at Akure airport on April 26 and Governor Amaechi was affronted by those who felt that they were better political bombardiers, because of their professed threat on the part of Amaechi, the dust their political bombs are generating are noisy, but are as infertile as a dry season.

They have called on Amaechi to explain the ownership of the jet. They said that their records with the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), the aircraft was not bought by the state government. Is this not giving a good dog a bad name in order to hang her? They jumped from that to say that the aircraft registration illustrated that it was possessed by Bank of Utah Trustee of Salt Lake City, Utah Limited States of America.

What the ham-fisted Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), who was credited as saying that the aircraft’s clearance approval expired on April 2 did not know, was that his statement exposed his position for public ridicule.

Since he or she knew that the clearance approval had expired since April 2, what effort did this inelegant chap make to notify the Rivers State Government?

The Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was also credited as saying that the aircraft was operated illegally.

But this statement was coming after the aircraft was grounded and you wonder between the aircraft and the office of the accuser which one operated illegally.

Imagine that it was reportedly that the aircraft’s clearance approval expired since April 2 and it was nearly a month that the clumsy Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was telling the world about this and perhaps, with a view that Amaechi had shot himself on the foot, oblivious that the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) was calling for his or her sack, for not been able to update the Rivers State Government with the news of the supposedly expiration of the aircraft’s clearance approval.

If Amaechi-led Rivers State Government aircraft

clearance approval had expired, it behoved the aviation authorities to notify his government since the said April 2, and not wait to insult their offices thinking that they were bent to molest Amaechi.

This impostor behaviour is unacceptable and embarrassing to the sensibilities of Nigerians that public funds are completely managed-badly, as salaries to the Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA); this person

By ODIMEGWU ONWUMERE of Speaker and voted for their wish? Amaechi has been rated the best chairman of the NGF, but regrettably his fellow governors allowed themselves to be divided by the presidency for the portage of political gains.

What a pragmatic political friends and foes!

The saga of the bombardier aircraft has kept President Goodluck

President Goodluck Jonathan was supposed to be a professional, but allowed sluggishness to becloud his or her official duty.

The sack of this Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) should be effected immediately if it is believed that the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) government led

by President Goodluck Jonathan had zero tolerance for corruption. Nigerians are tired of incompetent and unperforming office holders.

From examination, if truly the aircraft’s clearance approval had expired since April 2, that Acting Director General of Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), is just diverting attention and joining many political bombardiers to mount massive opposition and humiliation of Amaechi.

What these fellows after Amaechi do not realise is that Amaechi is not the only person to be the chairman of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF), from where the presidency began to fight him, because he was always not mincing words on the stand of the forum. Why did the same presidency not fight the House of Reps, which rejected the forced-candidate by the presidency for the post

Jonathan on the line on how he would be rated in his further political ambitions, because totalitarianism is an enemy of democracy. Has Jonathan not been fighting in all the regions of the country?

North, West and SouthSouth. Does he remember an Ijaw proverb which says that, “The beginning of iworoko dance at village square will not end with the beating of bathroom slippers”? The political bombardments will not end with Amaechi.

Whether it was N7bn or N9bn that the private jet was bought or not, what did those saying that Amaechi inflated the cost of the jet by $10m do when they earlier had this record? Was it when the plane had brushes with the aviation authorities that this spurious agenda of the rival came up?

It is really unfounded!

This rather hatchet man’s job against Amaechi is falsity and an imagined-thing of the imagination of those spreading the bogus claim.

Wherever the traducers got their record, but news reports said that the state government never announced that the aircraft was purchased for $57m. It was recently that the state

government said that the aircraft was bought for US$45m. Which script are those political bombardiers against Amaechi playing?

The script, Nigerians have seen, will not make a good film.

One group “Lawyers League” only saw where the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority acted within the law, but refused to see where the Acting Director General of

castigated more than anyone had perceived, because of its shortcomings in the proper exercise of regulation. The regulator did not do the right thing since it knew and said that the aircraft’s clearance approval expired since April 2.

It was not expected of Governor Amaechi or the Rivers State to provide any satisfactory answer when the bean had already been peeled by the NCAA. If the plane was not driven that day

Governor Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers State Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) misfired against the law.

Citing the Civil Aviation Authority Act of 2004, the group made a comment before it reasoned thus: (1) The private jet illegally operated for three weeks on an expired type certificate; (2) The owners of the jet wilfully and or neglected to comply with the Nigerian Civil Aviation Act of 2004; and (3) The NCAA has no record of Governor Amaechi’s interest in the private jet registered.

The above statement can only be expected from ‘lawyers without boarder’.

Hope you know what a professional without specialty can do?

Need we say more? And if the phony group said that Governor Amaechi or the foreign operator of the private jet did not please the NCAA’s terms and conditions, how come that the plane was allowed a landing space?

Many officials in the NCAA needed to be sacked, if not for the politics the presidency is playing against Amaechi.

No one should say that Governor Amaechi should own up to any error that was not his. The regulator in NCAA needed to be

it meant that NCAA would not have known the alleged state of the aircraft. Many persons needed to be sacked from this NCAA! One wonders how many privately owned aircraft in Nigeria that occupy the landing space without official approval.

Many Nigerians have known that the political bombardiers against Governor Amaechi are bent on distracting him and are urging other Nigerians not to allow this comedian’s tactics distract them. It is an unnecessary distraction.

They want to score cheap point with Amaechi.

One woman in the NCAA even said freshly that she was not aware of the aircraft, and you wonder if the aircraft was smuggled into the country if not through the dictates of the NCAA. It has become obvious from what are on the papers that the political bombardiers against Amaechi want to intimidate or blackmail him.

Do these persons remember again the Fuel subsidy scandal that involved a member of the National House? Hooey! EFCC should investigate NCAA and make its findings public, because Amaechi is not insane not to

have known the obligations required of him before the plane was brought in.

Governor Amaechi is courageous and bold, but what did the Federal Government do to the country that unleashed its dam’s bank to flood Nigeria? That country turned Nigeria into garbage of a sort in the areas that the flood affected as long as it lasted. Contending with Governor Amaechi’s right to the Immunity Clause that he was supposed to be enjoying as a sitting governor, is contradictory and incompatible with the Constitution of the Federal Republic.

As far as the Immunity Clause exists, whoever that is probing Governor Amaechi is infringing on his fundamental right to the Constitution with impunity. Rather, it should be those at the NCAA that deserve the probe for not living up to expectation in the cause of their duty, but only waited to open the Pandora’s Box when there is a perceived witch-hunt. After all, did the state House of Assembly not approve of the purchase of the aircraft?

If people see the purchase of the aircraft as a misappropriation of state funds they are not true with the issue, if a top banker in the country could say he donated One Hundred Million naira to a state in the north upon the insecurity in that part of the region and you wonder what the donation was meant for. He said that it was to assist the destitute, but what of if the people had used the money to purchase more munitions for their rebellious expertise?

Who is talking about the Rivers State Government aircraft and is breaking head over it when 73% Niger Delta oil wells are controlled by the Hausa/Fulani ‘untouchables’ of this country and hardly is anyone talking about it? The political fight against Amaechi is not ideal.

The fight is costing Niger Delta its supposedly peace. It is a vulgar display against Amaechi, if those in the NCAA who said that the aircraft’s clearance approval had expired since April 2, but did not notify the Rivers State Government earlier, are enjoying their sleep.

It is palpable that people should stop betraying the Constitution with the view that they are fighting Amaechi. All the repression and highhandedness levelled against Amaechi in this matter should stop.

Paying a section of the media to pull Amaechi down does not worth the onus. Is Amaechi the only governor whose state’s aircraft was registered by the Bank of Uttah? Tomorrow is the best judge of any action taken today.

THE WEEKEND

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ws Analysis

That All Should Live In Peaceful Co-Existence WITH sorrow, tears in my eyes and heavy pains in my heart or how else will I begin this write-up? It would have been better to imagine than realize, that my community which was once regarded as one of the most peaceful and safest community in Edo state has now turned into violence by some boys/cultists allegedly parading themselves as political thugs to some politicians thereby causing sleepless night for residents of the community.

In the history of Fugar been sworn-in by the state politics before the creation governor, comrade Adams of the local government, Oshiomhole. It is therefore we have had politicians our duty and collective from Fugar who have responsibility to be our

By LAMAI CASSIUS

Ozemede Momoh has at different occasion/ events prayed to almighty God to grant the families of the deceased the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss of their bread winners and

Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo State

occupied political offices in the past. We have never heard where people were being killed by boys/cultists as a result of politic. But today Fugar politics have turned into violence and killings to the extent that the common man on the street is afraid and one can no longer sleep with two eyes closed because of fear of the unknown that have become the order of the day in the once peaceful community called Fugar.

The local government election have since come and gone and a winner has emerged and have

brother’s keeper. This is another golden opportunity for a Fugar person to become the council chairman. Let us all join hands together for the success of this present administration led by Hon Emmanuel Ozemede Momoh irrespective of our political affiliation as the success of the chairman is our ultimate goal. Fugar used to be a heavenly abode to many people in the past; I also believed we can still make Fugar to be what it used to be no matter the temptations and trials we may have gone through.

That is why the executive chairman Hon Emmanuel

also appealed to the people of the local government especially indigenes of Fugar to put the ugly incident behind them and learn to live together as one family and embrace peace as that is the only way meaningful development can take place.

The chairman has constantly appealed to the people to be patient as according to him “I am going to be chairman of everybody and every community irrespective of tribal and party affiliation. All what the chairman needs is the people’s support, prayers and cooperation as the chairman has

demonstrated that he actually came to serve the people and not to rule his people.

There is no doubt that when you see a true leader you will recognized him from the exceptional qualities he displays. In Hon Emmanuel Ozemede Momoh, the people of Etsako Central local government obviously have a leader in the making. A down to earth man with visionary skills, a man with dreams to transform the entire local government to enviable height and basking with energy and beaming with ideas, he is a man who has acquired experience from his master, (comrade Adams Oshiomhole) this pragmatic politician is seen as a man who can also replicate the quality leadership the people of Edo state have enjoyed under the Oshiomhole administration in Etsako Central. Undoubtedly, Hon Momoh is a leader the people can be counted upon for effective leadership.

One thing that is unique about the person of Hon Momoh is his visionary ability for rendering viable services towards ensuring peace, stability and equity in his local government and Edo state in general.

Hon Momoh believes the first responsibility of a leader is being a servant and this he has demonstrated in the past years. He knows exactly what his people had passed through over the years. He has certainly came for a rescue mission, obviously to wipe out the tears of the people, restore the people’s hope in government at the grassroots level, put back

“I am going to be chairman of everybody and every community irrespective of tribal and party affiliation.”

smiles on the faces of his people.

Hon Momoh being the council boss is having a square peg has been put in a square hole. It is as good as putting the affairs of the council in safe hands.

It is no understatement to say that in him, the people would have a leader whom they can count on. A leader they will never regret having, but would rather bless God for providing them with such an intelligent leader with a heart for the people.

His experience as a politician, his resourcefulness as an economist, and his exposure will no doubt put him in good stand to transform the lot of the people, both socioeconomically and otherwise, as he will resourcefully manage the limited funds of the local government while effectively dolling out the dividend of democracy to the people of the locality.

Like an adage that says every successful journey is being determine at the beginning of the journey,

people, I remembered one of the Bob Marley song “when you lived for yourself you lived in vain but when you lived for others you die to live again” late Murtala Ramat Mohammed is a good example. Children yet unborn will like to know who was Murtala and back home people like Dr. S.O. Ogbemudia, Admiral Mike Akhigbe and the Comrade Governor who have lived their lives for others will be remembered.

Apparently determined to ensure that his laudable project are executed, Hon. Momoh has appointed men and women of high integrity in their chosen profession to work as a team such as the secretary to the local government a renowned former Secretary to the Local Education Authority, Mr. Omhohia Anthony, Awenekhamhe , Supervisors, Personal Assistant, Mr. Aliyu Omokpo, Protocol Officer, Mr. Ahmed, Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Elias Ineade, with these calibre of people around the chairman and with their cooperation, success is guaranteed and we shall have cause to celebrate at the end.

Finally, it is my passionate appeal to all

Hon. Emmanuel Momoh, Chairman, Estako Central Local Government

Hon Momoh is determined to start well so at the end, his name will be written in the good book of history and among those who have contributed positively to the development of Fugar and Etsako Central local government in general. This soft spoken chairman has severally promised to live his life for

the relevant authorities to spread their dragnet to fetch and bring the perpetrators of violence in Fugar to book no matter how highly placed in the society they may be so as to serve as a deterrent to others and also giving all our maximum cooperation the chairman may need to succeed.

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F cus FROM all indications, the fundamental goal of any business is to make profits but observers insist that the wellbeing of the workforce should not be compromised in efforts to make profits.

For instance, the air conditioning system of a Lagos office exploded some months ago.

Although no one was hurt as the room was then empty but the explosion provoked panic, as several workers fled the building, while others flocked to the scene to look into the cause of the blast.

“No one thought to pull the fire alarm and even though we knew that the conference room was on fire, there was palpable panic everywhere,’’ says Miss Fola Lawal, a secretary at the company.

She recalls that the group in front of the room attempted to douse the fire with an extinguisher but that none of the people around could figure out how to make the gadget work.

Lawal says that the situation was compounded by the fact that the worker, who usually accompanied the inspector to carry out the maintenance of the fire extinguisher, was incidentally on leave.

This scenario aptly reflects the casual manner in which many offices prepare for possible emergencies.

While they provide extinguishers and fire escapes, little time is spent on training the employees on how to react in the event of an emergency.

The International Labour Organisation (ILO), a United Nations (UN) agency dealing with labour issues, particularly international labour standards and decent work for all, says that 2.34 million occupational fatalities occur across the world every year.

The agency stresses that out of this figure, only 321,000 are due to accidents, while the remaining 2.02 million deaths are caused by various types of work-related diseases, adding up to a daily average of more than 5,500 deaths.

ILO says that there are up to 160 million non-fatal workrelated diseases per year, while there are about 317 million non-fatal occupational

accidents per year.

“This means that every 15 seconds, a worker dies from a work-related accident or disease, while 151 workers are involved in a work-related accident every 15 seconds,’’ says the ILO report.

The report, however, stresses that the bulk of these injuries and deaths occur in developing countries.

“This is because large parts of the population in such countries are engaged in hazardous activities, such as agriculture, construction, fishing and mining.’’

The ILO calls this “an unacceptable decent work deficit’’.

In a nutshell, the inability to prevent occupational accidents can negatively affect workers, their families and society.

The losses can be viewed in terms of lost productivity and a shift in family dynamics when a spouse or child is forced to become the breadwinner.

Experts, therefore, underscore the need to initiate measures that would prevent occupational accidents and hazards in the workplace.

Dr Kareem Abiola, an expert in occupational health insists that there is a compelling need to pay adequate attention to the safety, health and welfare of workers.

He cites faulty machinery, unstable temperatures, smoke, fume, powder or dust inhalation, pesticides, loud noise and chemicals’ handling in the work environment as potential sources of occupational health hazards.

Abiola says that these factors, among others, are quite dangerous, adding that they could cause disease and even death, if not controlled.

“There is need for a health and safety representative at the workplace to safeguard the health of employees, while establishing and

Promoting Safety In the Workplace

By OLAYEMI OKENIYI maintaining a safe and healthy working environment,’’ he says.

Dr Benson Onwuneme, an environmental expert, stresses that without such intervention, workers, who experience work-related health problems, may not realise that their problems are work related.

“Management of

companies not to wait for emergencies before developing emergency response plans.

He expatiates that an emergency response plan is a written document which specifies the actions that people must take to ensure safety in different emergencies.

Olaomi, nonetheless,

• President Goodluck Jonathan organisations can eliminate hazards or keep them under control through safety and health training for the workers,’’ he says.

He suggests that employers should organise yearly health checks for their employees, while designing a training programme to plan, direct and coordinate all activities connected with the promotion and protection of the environment and wellbeing of workers.

However, Dr Oluwole Olaomi, a Consultant Surgeon at the National Hospital, Abuja, advises

“While they provide extinguishers and fire escapes, little time is spent on training the employees on how to react in the event of an emergency.”

stresses that a good contingency plan should address the possibilities of fire, gas leak, bomb threat, chemical spill, explosions and also acts of terrorism.

“The work plan must be simple and detailed enough for all occupants of any building to understand and it should also be very visible to everyone,’’ he adds.

He says that the authorities must also assign an officer to help those who are underage or those who are incapacitated by physical disabilities or language barriers during emergencies.

Olaomi explains that the plan should also make use of the personal skills of individuals in the building by relying on them for first-aid skills.

“This includes directing those with knowledge of the building to help the firemen to locate the water supply mains or to shut down certain equipment to reduce damage,’’ he adds.

Olaomi, however, concedes that emergency

response plans differ from place to place because of the types and functions of building, adding that employers should, therefore, desist from adopting plans developed by other companies.

“Each office and home must create a personal plan based on its likely needs.

“Designated exit routes as well as an assembly point for

citizens.

However, the government is not unmindful of its responsibility in this regard.

For instance, the Senate passed a bill on “Occupational Safety and Health’’ and another one on the creation of the “Institute of Safety Professionals of Nigeria’’.

The two bills, sponsored late last year by Sen. Chris Anyanwu (APGA-Imo) and

• Senator Chris Anyanwu

people to congregate after evacuation should also be considered,’’ he says.

Apart from the written plans, Olaomi strongly advocates emergency drills to teach people about how to react in the event of an emergency.

He also stresses the need to keep emergency contact numbers and establish relationship with local emergency response teams in the neighbourhood.

“This prevents the wasting of lives and time during negotiations for emergency transportation and services during emergencies,” he adds Olaomi reiterates that the development emergency plans for offices and homes are a proactive measure that could save lives in the event of emergencies.

While the development of emergency plan is in the purview of individual employers, analysts insist that the government also has an overriding role to play ensuring the wellbeing of the

Sen. Wilson Ake (PDPRivers) respectively, seek to provide a safe work environment for employees.

The focus of the bills is partly aimed at ensuring prompt payment of compensation to workers who are injured while on duty.

In her lead debate, Anyanwu said that the bill would revolutionise workers’ safety in the country.

“The goal is to make the workplace safe and healthy so that workers can work hard and be alive.

“Ultimately, this bill, when it becomes law, will increase the average lifespan of the Nigerian worker, increase his or her productivity and make the products of the Nigerian labour market more competitive in the world market,” she said.

Anyanwu said that the proposed law would strictly regulate the workplace by compelling employers to take reasonable safety measures to ensure that workers are not injured or killed in the course of their work.

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P rspective

Examining Post-Bomb Explosion In Madalla

FROM all indications, Madalla, a town in Niger State, has yet to recover fully from the December 25, 2011 bombing at St. Theresa Catholic Church, in which about 43 persons were killed.

The ever-busy Madalla Market is now a ghost of its former self, with several stalls empty, while the few traders there often complain of low sales.

Apparently, the traders are now always on edge, wary of a possible attack by members of the Boko Haram sect who perpetrated the Christmas Day bombing.

Although security has been beefed up in the area, most residents still live and move about in fear, while many people have relocated from the neighbourhood.

Miss Medinat Yakubu, an electronic dealer, says that Madalla was very conducive for business before the December 25 terrorist act.

“Doing business in Madalla had been profitable until the bomb explosion which scared many people away from the town; resulting in the relocation of many residents and even businesses to safer settlements.”

“Before the explosion, our daily sales were in the region of N1.3 million but shortly after the explosion, there was a lull in the market. Nowadays, we hardly record more than N150, 000 daily,’’ she adds.

Mrs Chinedum Igwe, a fish seller who has been living in Madalla for over 10 years, complains that “even when we are at the market, we are always afraid because we have been attacked there before.

“In fact, there was a time when some people came to the market and started shooting sporadically. So, once it is 5 p.m., traders start packing their wares, unlike before when we often stay in the market for longer periods.

“Even when it rains in the evening, people leave immediately after the rains because we don’t know what may happen after the rain,’’ she says.

Besides, Rev. Fr. Linsmary Daniel, an assistant priest at St

Theresa Catholic Church, says that the population of worshippers at church has decreased by about 60 per cent after the December 25, 2011 episode.

By FOLASADE FOLARIN

• Vice President Namadi Sambo

“Many of our parishioners left; in fact, there was someone who was running a printing press here but he left because of Boko Haram.

“His workers are now jobless; one of them, who incidentally is my friend, has gone back to his village to begin from the scratch.

“I know of someone else who relocated to Abuja for fear of losing his business to the Boko Haram insurgents. So, you can imagine if the economy of Madalla is slowly dwindling, what will happen in a place like Maiduguri that happens to be the hub of the Boko Haram insurgency,’’ he asks.

Buttressing Daniel’s viewpoint, Mr. Nelson Nwosu, an economic and political analyst, says the current security challenges facing Nigeria have had grave socio-economic, political and geographical impact on the nation.

He says that geographically, the problem has led to a sustained migration of the people which, in turn, brings about overcrowding of some areas.

“People tend to leave the places of conflict to go to places where there is relative peace; this leads to overcrowding because

that politically, the government would not be able to focus its attention on some development areas, as appreciable resources would be deployed to solving the country’s security problems.

Economically, he says that productivity will be low in areas facing serious security challenges.

“Unemployment in places like Yobe is rife because banks had to wind up and many workers in such places are now jobless.

Apart from that, lives and properties that have been destroyed in these places are not quantifiable,’’ he adds.

Nwosu explains that the crisis has even taken its toll on the existing infrastructure, adding that putting up new structures later may not be feasible.

“Banks, police stations, schools, markets and telecommunication masts have been burnt down,’’ he notes.

He laments that most of

• Dr. Babangida Aliu, Niger State Governor

people will desert a particular area and move to places where they feel there is relative peace.

“And one of the effects of overcrowding is that there

will be a rise in vices such as prostitution, drug abuse, armed robbery, among others, in the overcrowded places,’’ he says.

Besides, Nwosu stresses

the infrastructure in use today were provided over 10 years ago, stressing that it would be extremely difficult to replace the ones that have been destroyed.

Nwosu moans that the current security challenges in the northern part of the country and the wanton destruction of property there will further impoverish the region.

He argues that while the South would be striving to forge ahead, the North would be busy rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure.

Dr Dominic Ogbeche, a psychiatrist at the National Hospital, Abuja, says that incidents like the December 25, 2011 Madalla bombing could induce psychological trauma, otherwise known as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), among the people.

He expatiates that PTSD is a traumatic condition that can crop up after a person has undergone a harrowing experience caused by physical, sexual or psychological injury or death.

“People respond to such stressful situations differently; some respond to the situations with symptoms of depression and anxiety, including fear, worry, irritability, poor concentration and poor sleep.

“After that, such people try to avoid thoughts, feelings, conversations, activities, places or people that remind them of the trauma,’’ Ogbeche says.

Concerned citizens have repeatedly expressed concern that the economic activities of many towns in the northern part of the country have been crippled due to the Boko Haram insurgency.

However, the Federal Government has been making designed efforts to tackle the crisis by setting up a committee to dialogue with members of the Boko Haram sect.

Observers, nonetheless, insist that the committee needs the support of every Nigerian for it to succeed in its assignment.

“. . . the current security challenges in the northern part of the country and the wanton destruction of property there will further impoverish the region. He argues that while the South would be striving to forge ahead, the North would be busy rebuilding the destroyed infrastructure.”

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P rspective Islamic Banking And Interest Free Loan BANKING was first introduced in Great Britain in the 17th century with Goldsmiths as fiduciary custodian of this venture.

These Goldsmith initiatives was very successful and does not matter whether the goldsmith was a Christian or Muslim. The challenges facing this industry was when the Stuart dynasty began borrowing from the Bank without making any return, and this eventually led to bankruptcy and the British government became desperate on how to generate funds to pay its soldier fighting in war fronts.

In this 21 st century, banks in the developed countries like the U.K. and America had gone electronic, meaning that you do not need to carry huge sums of money around in your pockets before you can purchase any type of goods and services. This modern banking infrastructure became a reality due to constant electricity power supply.

During the reign of Nigeria military junta, some Heads of State had registered this country as an Islamic state and there were public condemnation of such unpatriotic act from the southern part who is paradoxically christians and traditional religion worshippers. Albeit there were protestant christians, non of them was bold enough to challenge the military leader like Prophet Elijah

did in the Holy Bible of course this is an era of prosperity preachers who cannot be so undaunted to challenge the military might of a junta. So the protest ended in a cowardly disposition.

About a couple of

By EKAIWE IGINUA OSEMWEKHA If there is no clandestine or sinister manipulation of the aggregate demand of Christian for an egalitarian society, what prevents the C.B.N Governor from using

easily forget about past events around them. So it does not matter as long as they are beneficiaries of such evil plans.

The Islamic extremist who attacked the world

banking is not Islamic or electronic banking rather Nigerians should look inwards with a view to developing local technology for constant electricity supply, mechanized farming, motor industry supply,

Mallam Sanusi Lamido, CBN Gov years back, the move by the CBN Governor Mallam Lamidi Sanusi Lamido of entrenching the ideology of Islamic banking is to further consolidate now what his predecessor military junta had envisage, that is the intention of bringing other religion worshippers to be subservient to Boko Haram, Al-careda and other Islamic Jihardism the name of free interest loans.

existing community or people’s banks across the country for a deregulation of high interest rates already imposed by commercial banks.

The Islamic extremist is at work again either by bombing innocent people in churches or using any other means at their disposal to entrench Islamic ideology.

It is unfortunate that the people of this country

trade centre were American pilots who were trained citizens – but shared the same Islamic revolution back home with Osama BinLaden. So was a Nigerian based in Europe who wanted to bomb an American airliner. So any Nigerian who shares the same ideology with these people are doing the country a deservice.

The challenges confronting Nigeria

“In the light of the above, the C.B.N Governor should use Peoples banks for free interest banking not Islamic banking. The idea of electronic banking should be shelved because Nigerians are not competent to introduce electronic banking.”

mechanized farming, motor industry, grassroot micro and human capital development.

The Alaja and Ajeokuta steel plants were introduced in the same year with Brazil Steel plant. But today, Brazil is producing vehicles and manufacturing motor spare parts.

Malaysia first picked up palm tree samples from Nigeria Institute For Oil Palm (N.I.F.O.R) in the old Bendel State the early 60’s. But today, Malaysia is the leading producers of Palm Oil in the world.

During the Nigerian civil war. Chief Obafemi Awolowo who was release from prison by Gowon Military Junta was made the Financial

Minister in order to deal with Biafra finances.

Awolowo first step was to change the country currency in order to frustrate the Ibos. The indexes of this action led to serious inflationary pressure in Biafra and in a bid to seeking for food, they had to infiltrate Bendel and other south, south geopolitical areas of Nigeria.

In this modern electronic banking in U.K. Nigerians have succeeded in stealing visa electronic cards and before the owners become aware, they had removed huge sums of money from the accounts of their victims.

Other group of Nigerians use this visa electronic cards for collecting different items from shops including vehicles which are taken to seaport to be exported to Nigeria. Due to this type of electronic fraud, the U.K. banks are no longer giving access electronic cards to some Nigerians based in the U.K. In order scenario, a Nigerian from the defunct Western region who was permitted by the U.K. social security to collect child benefits for his five siblings became over ambitions and started using electronic devices to collect money from five different boroughs. How-ever luck rain against him as the metropolitan police intercepted his car. He was mistaken for another black Jamaican whom the police had declared wanted.

On close examination, they discovered that this man had been using electronic devices for collecting money from five different boroughs instead of one.

He was consequently charged to court and was jailed for life.

In the light of the above, the C.B.N Governor should use Peoples banks for free interest banking not Islamic banking. The idea of electronic banking should be shelved because Nigerians are not competent to introduce electronic banking.

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P rspective Plateau: Peace In Sight As Fulani, Berom Agree To Bury Hatchet

By EPHRAIMS SHEYIN

• Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P

• David Jang AFTER years of devastating communal bloodbath with heavy casualties on both sides, Fulanis and Beroms in Plateau North Senatorial District are heading toward a truce, as both sides recently resolved to forgive each other and coexist peacefully.

The resolution followed days of peace talks initiated

by Sen. Gyang Pwajok and held in Jos, the state capital.

The protracted guerillafashioned violence has been characterised by deadly midnight attacks, killing of farmers and herdsmen in the fields, destruction of farmlands, as well as killing and rustling of cattle.

Thousands have been killed, as the violence persisted in spite of measures such as heavy military presence, declaration of a state of emergency in affected areas, as well as peace and security meetings organised by the military.

The Special Task Force (STF), which oversees efforts to restore peace in Plateau, has also initiated various measures, including medical outreaches, sports competitions and other social functions, to promote togetherness and foster peace; all to no avail.

However, as the STF, the police and the warring sides are losing hope on the return of peace, Berom and Fulani leaders surprisingly resolved on their own volition to meet and discuss ways of achieving peace.

Observers consider the development as very unique because previous peacebuilding efforts were mainly spearheaded by security chiefs who literally coerced

the warring groups to attend.

During the peace talks, the leaders frankly voiced their grievances, resolved their differences and agreed to bury the hatchet, following stakeholders’ comments on the devastating effects of the prolonged violence.

Specifically, the Fulani accused the Berom of killing and rustling their cows, while attacking herdsmen on the fields. They also wanted unfettered access to grazing fields.

On the other hand, the Berom accused the Fulani of perpetrating midnight killings, destruction of farmlands and attacks on farmers.

Ironically, both sides accused the STF of taking sides in the conflict.

As a preamble, Pwajok commended the two sides for voluntarily deciding to hold the peace talks, which he described as unique.

“We have to listen to each other to understand our differences because the STF and the police have failed in enforcing peace on us.

Clearly, we are the ones who can agree to live in peace,’’ he said.

“The STF is already frustrated over the persistence of the violence; so, we must fish out from among themselves, those responsible for the crises.

“There are complaints about the killing and theft of cows, the destruction of farmlands and killing of farmers. It is not communities that commit these atrocities; it is individuals. We must identify them and expose them.

“Again, we cannot kill people because a cow has

• President Goodluck Jonathan been stolen; we cannot take up arms because a farm has been destroyed. We must all resolve here to place a high premium on human life and good neighbourliness,’’ he said.

Alhaji Haruna Boro, the Chairman of the Plateau chapter of Miyetti-Allah Cattle Breeders Association, who led the Fulani team, urged both communities to forgive each other “from the bottom of our hearts’’.

He declared that his community had forgiven “all those who offended us and we are prepared for peace.

“We have resolved to forgive and forge ahead. The only thing that remains now is to take the message to the rural dwellers so that they can equally key into the new resolve.

“We want the Beroms to equally demonstrate a forgiving spirit by allowing our cows to move around peacefully because we have resolved never to attack anyone any longer,’’ Boro added.

Rev. Dauda Choji, the Chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in Riyom, who also declared that the Beroms had forgiven the Fulanis, underscored the need to maintain mutual respect among the communities and advised the groups to take that message home.

He advised the Fulanis to keep faith with their new resolve, while cautioning them to refrain from making provocative statements, such as the one referring to the

Beroms as infidels.

Mr Moday Dalyop, a Berom elder, however, described the elders from both communities as the masterminds of the crisis, alleging that they were poisoning the minds of the youths against each other.

“Our parents taught us to love everyone. My own father built a house for his Fulani neighbour. However, what we teach our children nowadays is hatred, that is why they take up arms against each other,’’ he said.

He advised both communities to be wary of the activities of some unscrupulous elements who were bent on instigating violence because of what they would gain from it.

He particularly advised Fulani elders against giving arms to their nomadic youths to use against farmers.

All the same, a traditional ruler, Davou Manjang, attributed the crises to the haphazard grazing routes which often caused frequent clashes between farmers and herdsmen, suggesting a return to the old routes that were clear so as to minimise frictions.

He also urged government to clear more farmlands for the Fulanis who were interested in farming.

Manjang, however, reminded the two communities of the presence of cow thieves on both sides, stressing that the two groups of thieves usually connived to rustle cows.

Sharing similar sentiments, a Fulani leader, Alhaji Matoh

Ardo, noted the presence of “mischief makers’’ in both communities and advised the community leaders to be wary of them.

He, nonetheless, argued that the destruction of farmlands by cows could never be intentional, advising affected persons to always strive to resolve the matter amicably instead of involving the entire community.

Nevertheless, Mr Gyang Tinjang, the chief of Rahoss, noted that the current situation in which the Fulanis and Beroms lived in separate neighbourhoods promoted mutual distrust.

He suggested the adoption of mixed settlements to boost mutual confidence among the two ethnic groups.

In his contribution, a former Minister of Agriculture, Mr Jonah Madugu, commended the warring communities for resolving to settle the feud on their own accord, describing the action as “exceptional and wonderful’’.

To give effect to their resolution, the community leaders resolved to replicate the meetings at the district, village and ward levels soon.

They also resolved to collectively monitor the situation to measure progress.

These decisions notwithstanding, Mrs Esther Samuel, a Berom woman leader, underscored the need for parents to re-orientate their children to respect human life.

She stressed that the concerted efforts should be made to develop a strategy to deal with the recalcitrant members of the society so that they would not be able to destroy the collective

decision to promote peace.

“We must also jealously guard the resolve because external parties could kill it by destroying farms or killing cows because they know that the affected party will attack the other to vent their anger,’’ Samuel said.

As the stakeholders strive to consolidate on the new peace initiative, Pwajok advised the STF to identify and deal with the bad elements within its ranks that had been tarnishing its image, since both sides saw the force as part of the problem.

“Some community leaders accused the STF for its complicity in kinds of atrocities; we cannot sweep such allegations under the carpet,’’ he said.

Pwajok, however, stressed that he was particularly happy about the frankness exhibited by the two groups during the talks, pledging that efforts would be made to sustain the discussions until the full restoration of peace in the area.

“I cannot fathom a situation without cattle or land; they must exist side by side in a symbiotic relationship. One needs the grass, the other needs the manure. So, I believe we must make some concessions and compromises.

“The farmer needs peace to farm. The herdsman needs peace to move to the greenest pasture,’’ he added.

Observers commend the Fulanis and Beroms for their groundbreaking effort to achieve peace and pray that the new initiative will engender lasting peace in Plateau North Senatorial District.

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F cus

The Imperatives of Christians Pilgrimage

A PILGRIMAGE is a journey in search of moral or spiritual significance.

However, critics’ perceptions of pilgrimage as regards seeking spiritual significance in Holy Land are divergent.

Some say most of the pilgrims are intent on making the pilgrimage business-like and adventurous. Although pilgrimage involves typical journey to a shrine or other location of importance to a person’s beliefs and faith, it is expected that most of the pilgrims may use the occasion for tourism.

With a particular reference to 2012 Christian pilgrimage, thousands of pilgrims troop into Israel yearly to visit the numerous Holy Sites of the country. A media report on pilgrimage to Israel indicates that pilgrimage is tied to tourism; one of Israel’s major sources of income. The report indicates further that more than 3.5 million tourists, including pilgrims, arrived in Israel in 2012.

The most visited cities are Jerusalem, Tel Aviv, Haifa, Netanya, Tiberias, Nazareth, Caesarea and on the Palestinian side, Bethlehem and Jericho.

On the other hand, the general perception of the pilgrims is that visiting Israel is to seek spiritual, revival, but for the Israeli authorities, it is tourism extraordinary.

Whether pilgrimage is private or governmentsponsored, it generates huge income for Israeli authorities in this circumstance. Alluding to the argument, a tourism official in Israel, Mrs Edna

“They

Hardy, said tourism “is the number one foreign exchange earner for the country.’’

Apart from generating income for the country, pilgrimage has provided business opportunities for the citizens. For instance, during a visit to the Dead Sea Factory Shop at Tiberius, Israel, pilgrims made brisk purchases of natural extractions from the sea. Other products sold at the shop range from natural herbs for many ailments, beauty products, jewellery to fabrics.

According to Hardy, at the Olive Grove operated

by Catholic Sisters of Zion, pilgrims always make huge purchases of olive oil and anointing oil.

“Interestingly, the Via Dolorosa, the path that Jesus took to Golgotha with the Cross, has become a business hub with market stalls displaying variety of goods,’’ she noted. But some pilgrims have expressed the feelings that an exercise such as this involving spiritual revival, should be separated from secular activities.

They raised concern about the conduct of some pilgrims who even bought wine at a wine shop in Cana, Galilee where Jesus turned water into wine in the Holy Bible.

They bemoaned the commercialisation of the exercise at the expense of spirituality which was the real essence of pilgrimage. In his view, Pastor Mathew Obaze, said that the main

By CHIJIOKE OKORONKWO

purpose of embarking on the pilgrimage was for spiritual regeneration. He said a lot of commercial activities brought into the exercise had defeated its purpose, adding that the commercialisation of pilgrimage by the Israeli authorities was a distraction. “While we are here for spiritual assignment, the Israelis are seeing it from a tourist perspective; so they are commercialising the whole activities. “It’s like a kind of distraction; we are not being properly guided towards the spiritual responsibility we are coming here for,’’ he said. He, however,

bemoaned

advised the Nigerian pilgrims to bring their spiritual experiences in the Holy Land to bear positively on how to make Nigeria a better place to live. The President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor, said the primary objective of going on pilgrimage was for personal prayer and for the nation. Pilgrimage blesses you as a person; it helps you to pray for the nation and brings an element of transformation because what you see in Israel will convince you of the contents of the Scripture. Sharing similar sentiments, the Executive

the

commercialisation of the exercise at the expense of spirituality which was the real essence of pilgrimage.”

Secretary of Christian Pilgrims Commission, Mr John-Kennedy Okpara, advised the pilgrims to pray more than ever because of the prevailing security challenge in the

AD. According to a tourist official, it is called the Wailing Wall because people cried by the wall during the invasion in form of prayer. Therefore, the

country. “I challenge every pilgrim while in the Holy Land, to use this as a moment of faith praying and trusting that God will see us through.’’ In the same vein, Pastor Tony Ofem, a pilgrim said “Our greatest storm in Nigeria is insecurity; we pray God to expose all causes of trouble and terrorism in Nigeria and arrest the situation.’’ During the pilgrimage, the pilgrims were shown the boat believed to be Peter’s fishing boat dug out by archaeologists.

The pilgrims also visited and prayed at the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus and his disciples prayed and meditated before his crucifixion. The pilgrims as well visited Mount Zion, which the Bible called the City of David, where King David was buried and the Upper Room known as the Last Supper Room in Mount Zion. Indeed, the pilgrims exhibited a high level of piety at the Wailing Wall which the Romans ceded to the Jews after the destruction of the temple during an invasion in 70

pilgrims prayed for themselves and the nation by the wall and also dropped their written prayer requests by the wall in line with the Jewish tradition.

Among other notable sites visited were the tomb where Jesus was buried and resurrected; the Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the burial site of Jesus Christ.

Between quest for spiritual revival and secular tourist affairs, therefore, the pilgrims believe that the real essence of pilgrimage is to improve faith, change attitude and draw closer to God. They hold the opinion that if adherents can bring piety and attitudinal change offered by pilgrimages to bear in Nigeria, it will be a great nation to behold in the world. However, the pilgrimage can also be considered as an elephant, described from different angles by six blind men.

As long as it satisfies spiritualism and secularism, Israel will be a place to visit yearly.

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I sues Epileptic Power Supply And The Nigerian Economy GROWTH and development over the years has been hindered by poor electric power supply in Nigeria. It has not only become a problem, but a disease that tends to weaken the Nigerian economy. After over 52 years, one would think that the problem of inadequate power supply would have been solved, but it still lingers, because the government continue to pay lip service to the problem of poor electricity supply.

We have heard time without number that Nigeria has the potential to become an energy sufficient country, that the government can provide constant electricity for the citizens of Nigeria.

Late President Alhaji Umaru Yar’Adua, may his soul rest in peace, came up with vision 2020, promising Nigeria constant electricity, but

not even him could see the future. His successor, President Goodluck Jonathan, though is trying his best, but still, he has not been able to provide constant electricity. If this current situation continues till 2020, Nigeria stands to lose about $130 billion.

Over the years, this problem has been tackled by past leaders, but we all know the cause of the problem, which is misuse of funds.

Money that is supposed to be used for the development of the power sector goes into the pocket of a selected few. National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) was changed into Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) by the Electric Power Sector Act of 2005, but the officials were not changed, which was like putting an old wine in a new bottle.

Though PHCN is

By UTI ANIEKAN UDOH generating 3,200 megawatts of electricity, Nigeria still need at least 8,000 megawatts. The question is, if a State like California alone can use 265,000 gigawatt-hours per year, what stops a country like Nigeria from using more than 8,000 megawatts? The answer is maladministration.

This bane has affected businesses, and shop owners are lamenting over the poor power supply. Most businesses have been closed down because they could no longer spend money on diesel and fuel to run their businesses. Some youths operating small business outfits in Lagos, stated that power supply remains the major challenge to their efforts

you don’t generator.

find a Every

to sustain their businesses. Nigerians are currently generating over 6,000 megawatts of electricity through the use of generators. There are few houses in Nigerian you go to, that

being used to access the internet and for social n e t w o r k i n g .

Electricity is a prerequisite for economic growth and development and for overcoming poverty. It

Hon. Nebo, Minister of Power

average Nigerian has a generator or more. The one who can afford bigger generators, buy Mikanos to power their houses because of the inadequate power s u p p l y .

Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n Company like MTN, claimed to have spent $5.5 million on diesel fuel monthly in Nigeria.

The sum is spent on fuelling the company’s 6,000 generators at its base stations across Nigeria. Students also suffer the consequences of lack of electricity. Without electricity, they use candles which are harmful to the eyes.

They need electricity to power their Blackberries and Nokias, which is

“We have heard time without number that Nigeria has the potential to become an energy sufficient country, that the government can provide constant electricity for the citizens.”

helps bring investors to a country. When an investor comes into a country, and there is constant electricity to run the business, for instance a food producing company like Nestle food. That investor will be happy to invest in the country.

Constant electricity promotes good health, in our homes; it powers our refrigerators which is a means of storage. It also makes life easy for citizens of a country, the money spend on diesels and fuel can be used for other t h i n g s .

Power remains a key Sector in President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration, and he has taken measures to fix the problem of electricity shortage. He assured Nigerians that by June 2013, there will be constant electricity. But the question is can we take our beloved President by his words? Time will tell. Until then, my beloved Nigerians, let us stay united, and work together to make Nigeria a better place.

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W ekend Discourse

Building A New Nigeria Police

By ABRAHAM INOSEZILO OBODE

• Mohammed Abubakar, IG-P

‘POLICE is your friend,’ ‘Report any criminal activity to the Police,’ ‘The Nigeria Police is a force, no sorry, a command.’ ‘Community Police,’ ‘Help the Police to fight/tackle crime’ ‘Bail is free.’ The list of claims and assertions is endless but what should be the ideal thing in the Nigeria Police? What is the true picture of the Nigerian Police? Who are those that make up the organization? What is their agenda, thought processes, activities and lastly what is their orientation and capabilities? Is there a way out? Of recent the Nigeria police has been so attacked and battered that it is battling with psychological,

sociological issues which has gradually led it to integrity and creditability crisis.

First of all, it would be necessary to state or defined the concept ‘Police.’ The Police is an official institution saddled with the responsibility of making sure that people obey the law, going after those who do not and ultimately, protect lives and property (Longman Dictionary 3rd edition 2001). The organization is also organized to help keep public order, prevent, solve crime and lastly, control! manage crisis and chaotic situations.

The Ideal Nigeria Police (1) The Nigeria - Police ought to be an organized

institutional structure that consists of intelligent and qualified officers.

Officers that ought to be adequately trained in a Police Academy that has the status of a degree awarding institution. The Academy ought to run courses that would make the police students knowledgeable enough to be able to do the f o l l o w i n g ; (i) Detect and investigate c r i m e . (ii) Handle the psychology and psyche of an individual or g r o u p s . (iii) Coordinate and manage demonstration, riot, crisis or chaos effectively to prevent it from degenerating into an anomie situation. (iv) Respect the rights of

c i t i z e n s . (v) Undergo practical training lessons on physical combat and mental alertness. (vi) Organized response in no distance time to emergency situation. (vii) Interpersonal relationship with the Nigerian public and what have you.

Such an academy ought to be as detailed as highlighted above so as to help in developing mentally and intelligently sound and well trained police force/command.

(2) The organization ought to be one that is independent from politics, economic and social interest. It should be that force or command that do not go cap in hand begging for

“The Nigeria - Police ought to be an organized institutional structure that consists of intelligent and qualified officers.

Officers that ought to be adequately trained in a Police Academy that has the status of a degree awarding institution.”

money from the political (power) elite to run its operations; nor should it be an institution that is used to protect private individuals who has accumulated wealth in a primitive way. Their needs must be provided on demand and any ‘external’ influence (meant to turn it to a private army or a vindictive organization) resisted, Recruitment, promotion and appointment must be carried out through a proper procedure, free of politicking, ethnicity and biases and as when due.

This independency ought to be in place so as to make the command or force, result driven and its primary functions of keeping order, preventing and solving crime pursed v i g o r o u s l y .

(3) The Nigeria, police ought to be filled with good moral values, backed with knowledge of differing cultural background of ethnic groups so as to make them effectively reliable, dependable and credible. The recruitment of qualified citizens with integrity that are focused on the building of a Nigerian society with a

minimum level of crime, are one of the ways the police reliability and credibility can be guaranteed. The cadets must be genuinely seen to want to protect and serve the Nigerian society before their recruitment and not be drafted into the organization because of lack of employment opportunities.

(4) Again the organization ought to be an institution that is well funded, supported and encouraged by the Government as well as being ‘intimidated’ by the media in other to bring out their best. The members of the police force/command are to be well paid and as at when d u e .

(5) The police force or command needs professionally trained sociologist, psychologist, socio-psychologist, criminologist and other relevant professionals that would be challenged with the act and process of solving a crime through empirical studies and investigations, water tight evidences that helps to detect and solve a problem.

Continues on Pgs 16 & 17

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W ekend Discourse

Building A New N Continued from Pg 15

(6) The police needs equipment, materials and incentives such as; (i) Logistics — communication gadgets, touch lights and batteries e.t.c, (ii) Good weapons and a r m s (iii) Vans, SUVs, good and attractive uniforms/ boots (iv) Good housing, credit facilities like loans/ insurance schemes (v) Pension schemes to mention only these.

All these, ought to be constantly or adequately provided as the case may be. Also, the Government must help to ease the job of the police or reduce crime by promoting an egalitarian distribution of wealth, minimize the constantly increasing gap between the rich and the poor in order to enhance social cohesiveness and harmony. The Japanese system of administration and policing would help the government in this area. Furthermore, the Government, the family, the educational sector as well as the media, must promote our rich cultural values such as respect for authorities, integrity, value on self-discipline and condemnation of corrupt practices in very strong terms. This would go a long way in putting a stop to wrong doing, social deviant behaviour as well as punishing or ostracizing of offenders/ deviants without

politicizing any criminal act. These issues where what the Japanese society tackled head on and as a result, the street are safe for pedestrians and strollers in the park, bicycles sit are unchained on the street, many front doors unlocked (even at midnights) and sometimes children under eight years of age are seen riding alone on the subway at late evenings. All these, they have been able to achieve with an estimated police statistic of police officer to 557 residents which is in contrast with that of the United State that have 1 police officer to 337 resident but still have six times as many serious crimes than Japan (Schaefer R. T, 2001:191).

(7) Lastly, the Nigeria police ought to be friendly with the citizens without extorting money from them.

The organization ought to engage in neutrality in the investigation of crime, handling of suspects and should not accuse a citizen wrongly for a crime not committed nor decided by a court of law. This friendliness can be developed and practiced in Nigeria, by copying the Japanese style of policing that go as far as visiting resident once or twice a year concerning conditions in the building

and neighborhood with a high level of cooperation from the citizens. This style of policing in Japan has earned Tokyo, the lowest rates of murder, rape, robbery and theft than any major city in the world (Schaefer R. T., 2001:191).

The Real Nigeria Police The points outlined above, is what the Nigeria Police Force/ Command ought to be but unfortunately, the real features of the Nigeria Police is quite different, Although this institution is one of the oldest in the country, it is still lacking in its methods of approach and tackling of crime, poor public image, to mention only these t h r e e , At this point, as a sociologist I would like to borrow the concepts of the late American sociologist “Robert King Merton” on his theory of deviance to explain the attitude or nature of the officers that make up the Nigeria Police. In my own view, the different behavioral patterns and attitudes of the Nigeria Police officers can be explained with these c o n c e p t s : (a) Conformists: These are those police officers that prefer and advocate for the adherence to the ethics of the organization, the societal goals/approval means of

proper policing (such as thought in the academy) and the legitimate means of attaining them.

The consensus of this group also goes a long way to affect their attitude towards their carriers and the approved means of enhancing their socioeconomic life. The reason they stick to this process is because they realize that when this medium is not followed

or pursued, the society as well as the police institution itself, would just be in existence as a collection of people not united which will bring about continual chaos within the force/ command and the society in general. (b) Innovators: These are another group within the force/command that appreciate the ethics and societal goals of

“The Nigeria - Police ought to be an organized institutional structure that consists of intelligent and qualified officers. Officers that ought to be adequately trained in a Police Academy that has the status of a degree awarding institution.”

proper policing but pursue them with means or methods that are not proper or accepted to the approved standard. This act they perpetuate through the indiscriminate arrest of citizens to intimidate them conniving with community youths, criminals and extorting money from innocent citizens through the process of ‘Bail’ or ‘economic’ illegal roadblocks. These acts are vigorously pursued as to make good ‘returns’ or else risk ‘punishment’ such as controlling traffic, sitting behind the desk for a very long time etc. These same group go outside the conventional means of investigating a crime or suspects by denying the suspects their rights,

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W ekend Discourse

igeria Police

extorting money for bail even when the posters stares at them right inside the station. Other acts these groups commit are: distortion of facts and figures to hinder and hamper proper investigation, especially when their interest is to be protected e.g. the Apo killings at Abuja, raveling of the identity of a citizen (who reported a criminal activity) to the suspected criminal, destruction of evidence of the perpetrators of assassination of notable citizens, leaving those perpetrators to go scotch free. The escape of the suspect of the Christmas day bombing of the Catholic Church in Mandalla, amongst others is something the Government needs to

look into as the list is endless. This group found within the police has one main objective, destroy the credibility of the police in exchange for their primitive/ illegitimate paths of upwards socioeconomic mobility. (c) Ritualists: These groups of offenders have decided to abandon materialism, promotion agitation, reforms etc and doggedly stick to the enforcing of the police ethics without considerations of the larger goals of the force/ command and the society at large. This group converts their work to become a way of life instead of a means to the goal of success as in the case of formal organization where the officials blindly apply

bureaucratic rules and regulations without consideration of the larger goals of the organization.

The ritualistic in the police force/command include those that want to enforce the ‘Strict’ ethics of keeping peace in the society but end up killing innocent citizens during demonstration, protests and riots. A very good example of this is the recent killings by some police officers in the last fuel subsidy protest in Lagos, Kano and other states. They also torture their suspect by ‘hanging’ them upside down, or burning them with cigarettes, candles etc all these they do because they believe that criminals must not go scotch free or they believe they want to nip crime in the bud. (d) Retreatists: This is another group of individuals that can be found in the Nigeria Police. In their own case, they have withdrawn themselves or retreat as it where, from practicing or applying the ethics of the force/command because of the frustration they are facing in carrying out their official duties and so they became indifferent but just hang on to the job to keep their socioeconomic life going.

Since they are helpless in correcting the anomalies within the organization, they apply the ‘sit don look’ posture.

As a result, when a case of crime is reported, they just give excuses so as not to be found in the crime scene or in certain cases where they hear of criminal activity going on, they quickly change into plain clothes and immediately assume the role of an ordinary citizen. Many of these retreatist officers take to

drinking (though many of the officers drink generally) in excess or engage in some other activities (such as raising illegitimate children and wives) which would probably keep them busy from not thinking

a dramatic change that is contrary to the acceptable standard and code of conduct e.g. the police mutiny as experienced by the police and the Nigerian society in the first tenure of Obasanjo

operations as a result of the proper remuneration of the officers by the United Nations, This is or might be possibly true.

But it is also public knowledge that when a police officer is killed or assassinated, the criminals or assassins involved are easily or quickly apprehended as compared to if the victim was an ordinary civilian or a political opponent who has become a thorn in the flesh of certain

“it must be known that there must be a map for change so as to have a qualified, credible and acceptable police force/command that would be the envy of other African nations and indeed the world in general.” that their chosen carrier or profession is a waste / failure. (e) Rebels: Finally, there are the rebels, which can also be found within the police institution, These officers are so frustrated and feel separated from the ethics, goals and means of attaining a successful carrier that they reject them and attempt to or secretly create or initiate a new social order for the police force/command through

administration.

The Way Out Although these differing groups abound, it must be known that there must be a map for change so as to have a qualified, credible and acceptable police force/ command that would be the envy of other African nations and indeed the world in general. It has been asserted that the Nigerian Police do well outside the country during peacekeeping

‘powerful’ individuals. So how do we balance this?

Anyway, the ways out for the police force/ command are outline below in addition to the ideal Nigeria police already outlined and explained above: (A) Tactics: The strategies, techniques, methods or instrument of the Nigerian’ Police must be either properly enforced or redefined, in Pg order Continues on 18 to

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Building A New Nigeria Police

Continued from Pg 17

be at its best in achieving its aims/objectives for the organization and the society in general. For instance, the act of showing corpses of criminals on the television screen should be seen as media violence and discouraged. This is because it can have the likelihood of increasing the violence and frustration of the criminals or intended ones (rather than deter them), to become more callous/brutal with their victims. Also, the police must stop the habit of killing innocent citizens and quickly labeling them ‘criminals’ in order to escape prosecution.

This strategy has brought more woes as can be seen in the killing of the Boko Haram Sect leader which has become a torn in the flesh of the security agencies and Nigerians in general today. The police authority must set up a body e.g. (Internal Affairs) that would be an independent body inside the organization to monitor and investigate the activities of the officers. The body should also be empowered to take complains from the general public and not to treat genuine complains with laxity and a wave of the hand.

Another tactical change that must be made is that the mobile police should be properly trained like the Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT) in the United States, that are

and tactics including combat specialist. They should also be removed from the streets (to forestall ‘economic’ road block) and only called in during emergency situations. Again the Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) should be the best ever known with officers that are well trained in detecting, investigating and managing of response to criminal activities.

Such officers in this division must be qualified criminologist, psychologist, sociologist and social psychologist.

When all these professionals are not available, at least one of them must be present and head this division to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the police force/command. (b) New Programme: A new programme or goal should be set by the police force/command that would make all involved to stay focus, The Internal Affairs (IA) suggested above should help to scrutinize the recruitment exercise and those already inside the organization. Anyone found wanting should be dismissed immediately and his shortcomings published in the national dailies. This new programme or goal will also give birth to a high level of disciplined police force/command that is result driven and a pride to the nation, A positive attitude of the police officers towards the

professionalism of their chosen carrier must be vigorously pursued, attained and sustained, The Japanese and American style of policing must be scrutinized and refined so as to fit into our culture. Also some of our police officers should be sent abroad to places

Police (TYP). This would enable them undergo modern training in tactics/methods of detecting crime, and come back home to organize the training for the bulk of officers back home, Examples should be taken from America, where according to Fox

carrier without ever firing a gun, after the famous North Hollywood shot out in February 28th 1997.

The police commission can play a major role here in helping to initiate theses reforms and changes. (c) Government Support: The Government must strive to ensure social

• Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Police Affairs

like Scotland Yard (SY), the London Metropolitan Police Department (LMPD), Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), the Zurich Police Department (ZPD) and the Tokyo

News (An American National television Station), and Michael Madsen (in the Movie titled 44 minutes), made the assertion that ‘90%’ of cops in America go through their entire

policies that would transform Nigeria into a better society where many youths and adults would be gainfully employed, the economy doing very well, and socio-economic bridges

put in place to enable the poor gradually cross over the ever increasing gap between them and the rich. These socioeconomic policies should promote adequate remuneration of the citizens, basic social amenities that would create/initiate job opportunities etc in other to turn Nigeria into a diamond shape country (like America). Whereby the very rich (affluent) are very few living at the peak, the massive population (middle class) living at the center while the poor are very few and are seen at the bottom (base). This shape would be better than the present triangle shape we are presently in now; where the rich (affluent) are living at the peak and the poor at the bottom (base).

Conclusively, it is my ultimate desire to see the Nigeria Police Force ‘alive,’ supported or encouraged by the Government, media and the citizens so as to make it better than any Police Force/Command in Africa and to be ranking among the best in the world. The police as an organization, must select and flush out all those who are bent on tarnishing its image and contributions to a well organized Nigeria State, free of incessant chaos/ crisis, low level of (or tendency to) crime and a force/command that is adequately trained to tackle a modern society with modern tactics/ methods.

“Another tactical change that must be made is that the mobile police should be properly trained like the Special Weapon and Tactics Team (SWAT) in the United States, that are and tactics including combat specialist. They should also be removed from the streets (to forestall ‘economic’ road block) and only called in during emergency situations. Again the Robbery Homicide Division (RHD) should be the best ever known with officers that are well trained in detecting, investigating and managing of response to criminal activities.”

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H alth History was made in 1980 when the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared smallpox eradicated, after decades of efforts to eliminate the disease, which once killed up to 35 per cent of its victims and left others scarred or blind.

The world is thirsty for the repetition of such a feat: this time around, the elimination of the guinea worm disease.

Guinea worm disease, also known as dracunculiasis, is a parasitic infection caused by guinea worm — dracunculus medinensis — a worm found in the tropical regions of Asia and Africa.

It is contracted through the drinking of stagnant water contaminated with guinea worm larvae. Water from ponds, wells and other unsafe sources are feared to be contaminated.

International organisations and governments across the world have intensified the fight against guinea worm disease since 1986 with the

hope that the disease will be eradicated soon worldwide.

For instance, Nigeria conceived the Nigeria Guinea Worm Eradication Programme (NIGEP) in 1988 to spearhead the eradication campaign in the country.

At that point in time, there were 653,620 cases of guinea worm disease in 5,879 villages across the country, according to the Assistant National Coordinator of NIGEP, Mr Babatunde Tokoya.

He, however, said that vigorous campaigns undertaken by NIGEP, in collaboration with international agencies, had helped Nigeria to tackle the disease decisively.

At a recent roundtable in Lagos, Tokoya said that the last incidence of the disease

Nigeria’s March To Guinea Worm-Free Certification

was in November 2008 when 38 cases were reported in Ebonyi and Enugu states. “ Nigeria has not recorded any case of the disease since then. From November, 2008 up to date, no case has been reported in any part of Nigeria,íí he said.

Tokoya conceded that although there had been 545 rumoured cases of guinea worm infection from 2009 till date; none of the cases was confirmed.

He noted that 21 of the rumoured cases were recorded between January and March 2013.

Tokoya stressed that it had been more than 52 weeks after the last guinea worm disease case was reported in Nigeria, adding that this had,

therefore, made Nigeria eligible for WHO certification as a guinea worm-free country.

Tokoya explained that if a country did not record any case of guinea worm disease for three consecutive years, it would be qualified to get the certification.

He, nonetheless, cautioned that the certification required that Nigeria should record 85 per cent timely monthly reporting on guinea worm disease from all health facilities.

Tokoya said that the conditions included100 per cent investigation of all rumours on the diseaseís transmission within 24 hours and attaining 80 per cent public awareness of the disease.

He also said that the provision of adequate potable

By IJEOMA POPOOLA (NAN) water was also one of the conditions because the disease was contracted via the drinking of unsafe water.

He noted that only two villages in Benue had yet to have access to drinkable water, expressing the optimism that the United Nations Childrenís Fund (UNICEF) would intervene in the matter soon.

Tokoya, however, argued that a wound or blister on the leg did not mean the presence of the disease, stressing that there must be guinea worm in the wound or blister to confirm the infection.

Mr Buki Ponle, a member of the National Steering

were formerly considered to be endemic areas for the disease.

Ponle urged the countryís journalists to intensify their reports on the guinea worm disease so as to enlighten the citizens about the key issues at stake.

“Our advocacy campaign means that the grassroots people are to be increasingly mobilised to ensure that their actions and inaction do not jeopardise Nigeriaís hope of certification.

“Community leaders, schools, churches as well as community-based associations can also be sensitised and mobilised through our reportage.

Committee on the certification, said that the international certification team would arrive in Nigeria on June 24 to verify the countryís claims on disease eradication efforts.

He said that the team would make the verification between June 24 and July 14 before giving the certification, barring any hitch.

Ponle noted that Nigeria had gone a long way in efforts to eradicate the guinea worm disease, adding, however, that the country needed the cooperation of all to get the WHO certification.

He stressed that the eradication of guinea worm disease in Nigeria would be a remarkable feat, as states such as Ogun, Ebonyi, Zamfara, Kaduna and Oyo

“Our strategy also means that a critical core of journalists and other media professionals will be sufficiently educated and committed to the eradication programme, so that they can inform and educate the citizens responsibly.

“Jingles are being aired and the frequency will increase in the next two months,íí he said.

Ponle said that the highpoint of the media campaign would be the organisation of a Media Merit Awards event, to recognise and honour journalists that were committed to the precertification efforts.

“Newspaper, radio, television and wire journalists, who have identified themselves with the programme, could, in the next two

months, submit as many of their works, in form of documentaries, programmes and text materials, as possible,íí he said.

He said that any award winner would receive N250,000 in materials, while media establishments that had demonstrated appreciable interest in the disease eradication programme would also be honoured.

“Total eradication of guinea worm disease on the surface of the earth will be historic and a success story to be associated with, as it will be the second disease to be eradicated after smallpox,íí he says.

Mrs Joke Osadare, the Assistant Coordinator (SouthWest Zone) of NIGEP, said that NIGEP, as part of efforts to boost surveillance, would give N25,000 reward to any person who reported a confirmed case of guinea worm infection.

“If there is any reported case of guinea worm infection; it will be investigated and if the report is actually confirmed, the reward for the person who reported it is N25,000,íí she said.

Osadare encouraged the citizens to report cases of guinea worm infection to NIGEP via its toll-free number 08001001000.

She also said that any suspicion about the diseaseís transmission could also be reported to the nearest health facility.

She, however, commended the partners of NIGEP, including the WHO, the UNICEF, the UNDP and the Jimmy Carter Centre, for their commitment in the crusade against guinea worm disease.

• Onyebuchi Chukwu

All the same, a journalist, Miss Angela Iroh, underscored the need for sustained surveillance activities in the former endemic areas so as to ensure that the disease no longer existed there.

She urged the government to urgently provide potable water for people living in areas which experienced heavy flooding last year.

Iroh noted that the water supply channels of some of the areas had been cut off.

According to NIGEP statistics, as at December 2012, Nigeria has been able to achieve 57 per cent of the 85 per cent timely monthly reporting of the disease from all health facilities nationwide, as stated in the preconditions for certification.

The country has also achieved 51 per cent of the needed 80 per cent timely monthly reporting from all council areas.

The statistics show that the country has been able to achieve 83 per cent completeness in the reporting, while attaining 51 per cent timely reporting.

The data also indicate that Nigeria has achieved 32 per cent of the required 80 per cent public awareness of the disease and 82 per cent investigation of all rumours on the diseaseís transmission.

Besides, Nigeria has achieved 97 per cent adequacy in the supply and management of potable water in the villages at risk.

Analysts, therefore, urge all stakeholders to sustain the emerging zero-disease status of Nigeria as to guinea worm infection, as the citizens eagerly await the WHO certification and eventual elimination of the disease from the planet.

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H alth

Addressing The Burden Of Asthma In Nigeria PRISCILLA, a 40-yearold public servant, has been living with asthma for the last 32 years.

When Priscilla was first diagnosed of asthma, her grandmother called her an Ogbanje because of the way she was struggling to breathe.

Narrating her story, Priscilla said that growing up was not easy, as she was hospitalised on several occasions.

She stressed that she had to consciously avoid cats, dust, fur and feathers, recalling that her contacts with such objects usually triggered asthma attacks. Priscilla also recollected her harrowing experience while growing up, saying that she was usually isolated because other children avoided her like a leech, thinking that asthma was a contagious disease or some kind of e p i l e p s y .

Besides, Temilade, a secondary school student, said that she could not participate in a lot of school activities because she was asthmatic.

She noted that her attacks could be very severe, adding that her condition often scared away some of her peers, particularly whenever she started coughing uncontrollably, gasping for breath.

The two cases aptly exemplify the plight of several other asthmatic children because of the general lack of awareness about the medical condition called asthma.

The Global Asthma Report 2011 says that asthma is a serious public health concern because of the fact that it is a chronic respiratory disease which affects not less than 235 million people worldwide.

Christophe Perrin, the Coordinator of Asthma Drug Facility (ADF), International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, said that the percentage of adults suffering from asthma had increased appreciably over the years.

Perrin added that the number of children and adolescents suffering from

asthma had also increased significantly because more people were now coming forward for health checks for asthma.

Dr Yinka Ojugbele, a General Physician, said that asthma or bronchial asthma was an allergic condition which affected people’s respiratory system.

He said that the allergy usually affected the airways of lungs, making the conduit to swell and become narrow, leading to wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness and c o u g h i n g .

Ojugbele stressed that asthma was usually triggered by certain factors such as rugs, pollens, dust, fur, food and extreme weather conditions, adding that these factors, however, varied from person to person.

When asthmatic patients are exposed to such things, they have attacks and most of the time, these things are readily available in the house but they could be avoided,’’ he said.

Ojugbele explained that there were two categories of asthma, adding that these were extrinsic and atopic asthma.

Atopic asthma is common in children, while the intrinsic or non-atopic asthma usually affects adults.

According to the Global Asthma Report 2011, the less frequent causative factors are stress and certain foods, beverages or medicines, while the environmental risk factors include allergens such as dust mites, animal fur, pollen, mould and inhaled irritants like cigarette smoke, cooking fumes, vehicle exhaust fumes, cosmetics and aerosol sprays.

The report shows that the burden of asthma has been growing over the past 30 years, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, while people suffering from asthma were facing increased c h a l l e n g e s .

Dr Regina Oladokun, a Consultant Paediatrician at the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan,

By OKEOGHENE OGHENEKARO said that a study indicated that about seven per cent of Nigerian children were suffering from asthma.

She noted that due to the societal stigma attached to asthma, many parents

p r o c e d u r e s .

Oladokun also noted that some medical practitioners only attended to acute asthma cases, while refusing to follow up on

often rejected asthma diagnosis for their children, even when presented with results of medical tests confirming it.

Besides, Oladokun noted that many asthma cases involving children in the country were often misdiagnosed in both private and public hospitals Many asthma cases are misdiagnosed even by medical practitioners as bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis,’’ she added.

The consultant said that other challenges facing asthma control in Nigeria were the fact that many medical practitioners were not up-to-date in current asthma management

their patients’ repeated attacks. Dr. Olusoji Ige, the President of the UCH chapter of Nigeria Society for Asthmatics, said that majority of patients did not use inhaled corticosteroids, while others had limited access to such drugs because of the medicines were not affordable.

“The 2011 survey of selected essential asthma medicines revealed that prices of inhaled corticosteroids remained high in many countries, while only a minority of countries had the inhaled corticosteroids on their essential drug list,’’ he added.

On the management of asthma, experts note that even

Many asthma cases are misdiagnosed even by medical practitioners as bronchitis, pneumonia and tuberculosis.’’

though the condition is not curable; it can be effectively managed with existing medicines.

Perrin said that the International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease believed that it was very important for countries to have standard guidelines for asthma management.

The medicine procurement system

inflammation of the lungs; inhaled corticosteroids are the key medicines that would cure this i n f l a m m a t i o n .

However, inhaled corticosteroids are not available in desired quantities in many countries such as India, Nigeria, Kenya, Malawi and Zimbabwe, according to a study we conducted.

We need to ensure the availability and

needs to be functional.

Proper prescription of medicines is also important to enable people to know what to use.

We also need to train more doctors, nurses and health care workers about how to identify, diagnose asthma patients and care for them.

Perrin added that education must be provided to people as to how to use inhalers and identify asthma symptoms.

He said that in managing asthma, there were two groups of medicines that were basically required.

Most of the people require bronchodilators, which are of course very important medicine but apart from that, what the Union is really trying to push forward in as many countries as possible and also through ADF are inhaled corticosteroids.

Inhaled corticosteroids are the medicines which would help in healing the lungs of asthma patients because asthma is all about

accessibility of affordable and quality medicines for all people with asthma,’’ Perrin added.

Nevertheless, Ojugbele stressed that teachers and parents had vital roles to play in managing asthmatic children. ‘‘Most children with asthma or any other allergic disease tend to keep to themselves a lot because they see themselves as different from other children.

‘It is important for their teachers and parents to encourage them; they should give such children the needed psychological and moral support,’’ he said.

All the same, experts insist that the best way to prevent asthma attacks is for patients to eat balanced diets, avoid exposure to trigger factors and avoid smoking. They also stress that untreated and poorly managed asthma leads to suffering and diminished lives, also causing disabilities or even deaths.

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u The Ikperima Festival O r Culture

By PETERFREE UGBODAGA

IKPERIMA is an annual festival celebrated by the people of Enwan in Akoko-Edo Local Government Area of Edo State.

The activities that climaxed this year’s Ikperima festival took place on the 10th and 11th of April 2013 at the three main quarters that make up Enwan community namely Imiazakor, Imaivani and Imiazua respectively.

According to Chief Williams Agbadamasi Shaba, Daudu of Imiazako and Chief Stephen Iyamah said that the Ikperimah festival is as old as Enwan community it self and that it was a period meant for mattered ladies who are ripe for marriage to be spotted by their suitor or would be husband.

Speaking further, he

said that suitors are expected to appreciate the young girls beauty and appearance which is usually in beads and body decorated with traditional make-up with a token, and if the token is returned after the ceremony, it then means that the girl has turned down the request for marriage but if it is not returned, it means that the suitor should proceed with other requirements towards the marriage.

Giving more insight in to the significance of their culture Chief Gbadamasi said that during the period which usually lasts for nine days fighting and quarreling is forbidden among the people. It is a period of peace for the Enwan people.

He said that the festival unites the entire community irrespective of their political and social differences, the culture is paramount.

Some traditional Chiefs from Enwan Community during Ikperima festival.

Ikperima festival is usually celebrated with cooking and eating of pounded yam and

traditional dance from both young and old and from quarter to quarter.

This years Ikperima

festival was graced by personalities like Chief P.K. Musa, Chief Clement Dudu

Odafe designate, Mr. Odoruan S.M. Afe and Chief Mrs. A.M. Smith JP.

e Eggs, Too Many Provoke Bacteria, Raise Heart Risk H alth

FOR the second time in a matter of weeks, a group of researchers reported a link between the food people eat and bacteria in the intestines that can increase the risk of heart attacks.

Two weeks ago, the researcher reported that carnitine, a compound found in red meat, can increase heart disease risk because of the actions of intestinal bacteria.

This time they reported that the same thing happens with lecithin, which is abundant in egg yolks.

The lecithin study, published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, is part of a growing appreciation of the role the body’s bacteria play in health and disease. With heart disease, researcher have long focused on the role of diet and heart disease, but expanding the scrutiny to bacteria adds a new dimension.

“Heart disease perhaps involves microbes in our gut,” said the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Stanley Hazen, chairman of the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research Institute.

In the case of eggs, the chain of events starts when the body digests lecithin, breaking it into its constituent parts, including the chemical choline. Intestinal bacteria metabolize choline and release a substance that the liver converts to a chemical known as TMAO, for trimethylamine N-oxide. High levels of TMAO in the blood are linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

To show the effect of eggs on TMAO, Dr. Hazen asked volunteers to eat two hard-boiled eggs. They ended up with more TMAO in their blood. But if they first took an antibiotic to wipe out intestinal bacteria, would not have that effect.

To see the effects of TMAO on cardiovascular risk, researches studied 4,000 people who had been seen at the Cleveland Clinic. The more TMAO in their blood, the more likely they were to have a heart attack or stroke in the ensuing three years.

Carnitine — the red meat chemical — and lecithin are chemically related, Dr. Hazen said. As with lecithin, when carnitine is digested, choline is released and can be acted on by intestinal bacteria.

The results of the new studies, though, do not directly

By GINA ROLATA prove that reducing TMAO protects against heart disease. That would require large studies following people who lowered their TMAO levels, which should be possible with a vegetarian or high-fiber diet.

Dr. Hazen said that people who are worried about heart attacks may want to consider reducing lecithin and choline in their diet, which would require eating less of foods high in fat and cholesterol. Dr. Hazen said it also may be wise to avoid supplements or vitamins with added choline.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Joseph Loscalzo of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggested that in the future there may be other ways to reduce blood levels of TMAO. People might take probiotics to help grow bacteria that do not lead to an increase in TMAO. Or perhaps drugs could squelch the synthesis of TMAO. Those probiotics and drugs, though, do not yet exist, and even the specific bacteria responsible for the increase in TMAO are not yet identified.

Eggs, Too, May Provoke Bacteria to Raise Heart Risk For the second time in a matter of weeks, a group of researchers reported a link between the food people eat and bacteria in the intestines that can increase the risk of heart attacks.

Two weeks ago, the investigators reported that carnitine, a compound found in red meat, can increase heart disease risk because of the actions of intestinal bacteria. This time they reported that the same thing happens with lecithin, which is abundant in egg yolks.

The lecithin study, published Wednesday in The New England Journal of Medicine, is part of a growing appreciation of the role the body’s bacteria play in health and disease. With heart disease, investigators have long focused on the role of diet and heart disease, but expanding the scrutiny to bacteria adds a new dimension.

“Heart disease perhaps involves microbes in our gut,” said the study’s lead researcher, Dr. Stanley Hazen, chairman of the department of cellular and molecular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner Research

Institute.

In the case of eggs, the chain of events starts when the body digests lecithin, breaking it into its constituent parts, including the chemical choline. Intestinal bacteria metabolize choline and release a substance that the liver converts to a chemical known as TMAO, for trimethylamine N-oxide. High levels of TMAO in the blood are linked to increased risk of heart attack and stroke.

To show the effect of eggs on TMAO, Dr. Hazen asked volunteers to eat two hard-boiled eggs. They ended up with more TMAO in their blood. But if they first took an antibiotic to wipe out intestinal bacteria, eggs did not have that effect.

To see the effects of TMAO on cardiovascular risk, the investigators studied 4,000 people who had been seen at the Cleveland Clinic. The more TMAO in their blood, the more likely they were to have a heart attack or stroke in the ensuing three years.

Carnitine — the red meat chemical — and lecithin are chemically related, Dr. Hazen said. As with lecithin, when carnitine is digested, choline is released and can be acted on by intestinal bacteria.

The results of the new studies, though, do not directly prove that reducing TMAO protects against heart disease. That would require large studies following people who lowered their TMAO levels, which should be possible with a vegetarian or high-fiber diet.

Dr. Hazen said that people who are worried about heart attacks may want to consider reducing lecithin and choline in their diet, which would require eating less of foods high in fat and cholesterol. Dr. Hazen said it also may be wise to avoid supplements or vitamins with added choline.

In an accompanying editorial, Dr. Joseph Loscalzo of Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston suggested that in the future there may be other ways to reduce blood levels of TMAO. People might take probiotics to help grow bacteria that do not lead to an increase in TMAO. Or perhaps drugs could squelch the synthesis of TMAO. Those probiotics and drugs, though, do not yet exist, and even the specific bacteria responsible for the increase in TMAO are not yet identified.

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C unselling

With

Behavioural Adjustment EACH human organism according to Brown (1998) exists in a complex world in which he must continually adjust his behaviour. The continuing activity of each person that is, his behaviour is the result of characteristics within him as well as, the multitude of stimulations he has received and is receiving from his environment.

Behaviour is instigated and controlled by stimulation. Berrien (1998) made the assertion that each of us lives in an environment, which constantly bombard us with stimulation from the eternal; environment, physical energy, such as light, heat and sound falls upon the entire organism.

Internally, movements of joints, contractions of muscles and so on, produce stimulation.

Berrine continues to assert that certain receptors in the organism are adapted to receive and be activated by different kinds and strengths of energy.

When such receptors are activated, neural stimulation is propagated through the nervous system of the organism.

When the organism is aware of such stimulation and respond to it, we say that the stimulation has been perceiving the neural stimulation routed from various receptors at all times. He is aware of or responds to only some of these stimulations.

The perceived stimulus situation is that portion of the neural stimulation from receptor of which the organism is aware of or responds to. For example, consider a person watching a movie at a particular moment sound, light, heat and other physical energies are affecting him. He is

probably aware of the light and sound stimulation from the area of the movie screen.

Thus, the perceived stimulus situation consists of a photographic image and some sound. Changes in behaviour in response to these demands upon the organisms are termed

prevent or curtail effective nation. Some are psychological and intangible, causing the person to restrict his own actions, to question or to fear, be it negative self – attitudes or to become indecisive.

Conflict – That involve, arousal of competing responses or motives

Excessive or continued frustration of motives causes unorganized energy, to build up to the level of tension that disturbs the coordination of various sub-systems, including the self. When this point is reached, the tension can be called stress.

Stress is threatening to a person both physically

adjustment (Miller 1968).

The self concept is that part of self which is aware of itself, the perceptions one has of his own characteristics feeling, attitude and abilities (Abu; 2000).

Frustration – In the course of everyday experience, we encounter frequent blocks, interferences and delays in the satisfaction of our motives or in the activities we employ in these processes, some blocks or barriers are more disturbing or more permanent than others.

Some are tangibles – physical limitations that

especially frustrating, because of the fear a person has of making responses that might have an undesirable or painful out come if internal or external frustration occurs, the tension builds up is prevented from being discharged in responses that can satisfy the motive (Abu, 2000).

The immediate effect of frustration is to increase the number and strength of the responses.

Persistent behaviour could be shown if you continued to use the some responses over and over (Lewin, 1990).

and psychologically. As a result, any responses that can reduce stress and provide outlets for release of tension by means of activity and emotional expression begin to assume dominance over responses associated with the original motive.

In this, compounding of motive energies, unpleasant emotions and fears rise as threats to the self, such as anticipated loss of security or esteem, punishment or any of the aversive psychological motive which are termed anxiety, also, act as

O.C. Madu GSM: 08056379608 aversive stimuli.

According to Egbule (2004) most aversive motives, if strong enough, could be said to be anxiety producing, hence, response reactions to anxiety are avoidant and

defensive in character.

The worry of a student before an important examination transcends mere concern for a passing grade. He is anxious about acceptance and approval of parents and friends and women about a poor grade might do to his selfimage as well.

His whole self system might be threatened; defenses for this are added task oriented reaction, thus, multiplying the arousal energy.

If we are very hungry, our reactions might be stronger to thwarting than if we had eaten recently.

“The immediate effect of frustration is to increase the number and strength of the responses. Persistent behaviour could be shown if you continued to use the some responses over and over.”

If the goal of motivating of a person is self involved, and block will be more frustrating. If the frustration can be overcome, rather easily, the tension might not build up as much.

Frustration closed to goal is more disturbing than frustration occurring at a point some distance in space or time from the goal (Abu, 2004).

A person who has experienced many frustrations might be more upset by additional frustrations than, one who had few previous experiences with thwarting. Some people however, develop.

Attitude towards repeated thwarting which enable them to endure it and to cope effectively with a minimum of stress.

This can delay blocking and conflict without restoring to ineffective maladaptive responses that is frustration tolerance (Lewis, 1990).

A child who has been sheltered or protected from experiencing problem or who has been over indulged in childhood might react strongly to slight thwarting because he has never had an opportunity to learn to cope with it or to accept the anxiety.

Therefore, one of the main functions of discipline in childhood is to train the child to accept thwarting and to endure restraints in order to enjoy greater future gains.

Aggression according to psychologists is the most obvious defensive reaction to frustration – shown as hostility towards or attacks upon the perceived source of frustration or some substitute, with the object of removing, hurting or destroying it.

We express this when say: “The best defence is an offence”.

To be continued.

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“Whatever form of exercise you have decided to follow, you can choose from a wide range of fashionable clothes to wear for it. However, do bear safety and comfort in mind as well as your appearance. If you have selected jogging, make sure that you have strong flexible trainers with firm thick heels, since you may well have to jog over pavements and poor quality shoes may jar your heels and therefore your whole back.

Select a stretchy yet supportive bra or loose track suit or T-Shirt and shorts, made from natural fibres such as cotton, because you will sweat.

Shop

Beauty With Gloria Omoruyi

Exercise: Making Positive Contribution

OVER the years exercise has become acceptable and even fashionable.

Some women have even taken it as a professional job, going for competitions and winning laurels for their countries. Some have also taken it up as a business, selling sports clothes and setting up gymnasiums.

If you engage in regular exercise, you will be making a positive contribution towards your own well being.

There are no special exercises for black women, we need fitness to feel our bodies are in tune and capable of relaxation.

African women get enough exercise using a pestle and a mortal to grind food, washing, cleaning and carrying out other household tasks.

Even climbing up and down stairs and walking to the market probably give you more exercise than you realize.

Most housewives are so comfortable leaving all the chores to the house-help.

This is not good enough, you too need the exercise.

If you want to include

Towards Your Well-Being some exercise in your daily routine, one of the best ways is to walk rather than take the car or bus.

Walking is an excellent form of exercise in virtually every way. If you are reasonably fit, you should be able to manage one mile in twenty minutes twice a day. This can be broken down into shorter periods as you go about your daily activities, going to work or the market.

Done regularly and briskly, conditioning can be achieved so that the body responds to physical demands without an excessive increase in the heart rate or blood pressure and without undue fatigue. Do not be beguiled into taking on more than you are able.

Women in particular are prone to damage as they have lighter bone structure and more delicate ligaments and tendons than men. Women who exercise excessively and weigh very little may loose their menstrual cycles.

When exercising, stop if you feel exhausted especially if this is accompanied by nausea or dizziness. Rest and resist any urging from others to carry on. We do

areas but dangerous when there is heavy traffic. It may also be hard on the knees especially for older people.

Jogging has become very popular. If you are

form of exercise. Disco, African, classical ballet, jazz, tap and even belly dancing involve rhythmic repetitive movements.

Whether you join a class or just dance at social

not have to choose a form of exercise that brings us to this point.

If you are out of shape and have taken no physical exercise for years you must start gently, building up gradually. If you are over 35 or suffering from any kind of medical condition such as high blood pressure, heart diseases, diabetes, or even if you are really overweight you should consult your doctor before starting.

It is really good to choose the kind of exercise that you are most comfortable doing and the one that works for you. It could be swimming. Swimming is a splendid form of exercise Aerobic dancing is another if you have the facilities.

Cycling is fine in country

going to jog, start with just ten minutes a day. Try and avoid the polluted city air.

To jog peacefully along, maintaining a steady rhythm, smelling the flowers and enjoying air can be really exhilarating experience.

Other forms of exercise from the East have evolved from method of self-defence. They include judo, karate, jujitsu. These develop balance, coordination, flexibility and mental concentration. If you can find classes in these sports, they are worth learning. The knowledge that one can defend oneself if necessary gives a profound sense of self confidence in an insecure world.

Dancing is a wonderful

events, you will be doing your self a good turn.

Whatever form of exercise you have decided to follow, you can choose from a wide range of fashionable clothes to wear for it. However, do bear safety and comfort in mind as well as your appearance. If you have selected jogging, make sure that you have strong flexible trainers with firm thick heels, since you may well have to jog over pavements and poor quality shoes may jar your heels and therefore your whole back. Select a stretchy yet supportive bra or loose track suit or TShirt and shorts, made from natural fibres such as cotton, because you will sweat.

If you change your

pattern of activities and give your muscles unaccustomed tasks, they may show their displeasure at the extra extension by giving you a display of aches and pains. But they should settle down to their new way of life provided you are not overdoing things,

if they do not, see a doctor.

If once in a while you dance the night away, you may pay for your enjoyment with aches and pains in the morning. That is perfectly normal. It may have been worth your while.

Regular exercise (whether you are incorporating into your ordinary activities or whether you have decided to learn and follow a particular programme increases and improves the capacity of your lungs.

It strengthens the heart, tone up your muscles and ensures good blood circulation. Your skin will also benefit. Exercise will sharpen your intellect, give you confidence and help protect you from stress and fatigue.

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S ciety THERE is no word more often used and misunderstood in our modern world than the word freedom. Almost everyone thinks of it as freedom FROM SOMETHING, but rarely as freedom FOR SOMETHING. An average person might have the conception that freedom entails being free from bondage, oppression, and other forms of externally imposed restraints which human-beings face, which are correct and other than, as freedom for something, being free for a particular purpose or responsibility.

That is why the aphorism freedom with responsibility’ holds true. Some think they are free only because they have no ball and chain on their feet, without ever providing reasons to why they want to be free and what the purpose of life is.

The root of all our troubles in Nigeria and the world at large is that freedom FOR God and IN God has been interpreted as freedom FROM God, hence the occurrence of violence. Everybody loves freedom, everyone wants it, and at least, it is a common assumption. But a lot of questions need to be answered. For example, what exactly is freedom and can it be accurately defined? Is freedom the right to do anything I want regardless of the impact on anyone else? Should I have the freedom to enter your house and steal your money, smoke marijuana or inject heroin or drive at I 50km per hour or kill someone?

These are troubling moral questions. More so, they deal with highly contentious issues. Is there any received moral code that can answer such questions unambiguously?

In our socially backward societies, the answers are usually provided by religious or traditional belief systems. And as such, such issues often end up in a mess of contradictions.

The question thus is: ‘at what point does my freedom impinges on another person’s freedom and therefore nullify such freedom?

From the foregoing, the thrust of this article is to examine the abuse of freedom, with its implications vis-à-vis the

violence in Nigeria. This will be done by first examining the term freedom and its implications, then relating it to the series of violence in our country and to ascertain if it can be concluded that these acts of violence are as a result of freedom or an abuse of it.

WHAT IS FREEDOM According to Merriam Webster Dictionary, freedom is defined as the absence of necessity, coercion or constraint in choice or action; liberation from slavery or restraint or from the power of another or the quality or state of being exempt or released usually from something onerous. Put differently, freedom is the power or right to act, speak or think as one wants without hindrance or restraint or absence of subjection to foreign domination or despotic government.

According to Cosmas

Abuse

By OKONKWO IFEANYICHUKWU

Ekwutosi in his book, “Basic Issues in Ethics”, he asserts, “Freedom is among other things, the ability to choose without which it would be naive to hold one accountable for his actions. It is the power to act or not to act, to do this or that and also to perform deliberate action on one’s own responsibility and in view of one’s fulfillment as a human being”.’ Some authors and thinkers use interchangeably the two synonyms, freedom and liberty, to mean the same thing. For example, J. Dewey expressed freedom or liberty to mean “the quality or state of being free the quality or state of not being coerced or constrained by fate, necessity or circumstances in one’s actions or choices.

Fulton John Sheen, in one of his numerous famous talks which was

later published, commented on the issue of freedom.

According to him, there are three things which we can do with our freedom. It is either we keep it for our selfish desires without considering how it affects the other, or, we break it up into tiny little areas of trivial allegiance or passing fancy, resulting in a situation where our interest in others are not real but founded on the basis of your self interest and finally to either surrender it to God, which he calls the ‘Perfect Freedom’, which necessarily means the displacement of self as the centre of motivation and the fixation of our choices, decisions and actions on God. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY Freedom cannot be separated from responsibility If you do not

want to take responsibility, you cannot have freedom either. They both go together. Yet, it is a common phenomenon for people to seek freedom while trying to avoid responsibility. This is why Ekwutosi Cosmas, made the conclusion that, freedom is a gift as well as a heavy burden laid on man, a heavy responsibility to him, for he is required to use his freedom responsibly.

Freedom means you have to be responsible for every act, for every breath, whatever you do or don’t do, you will be responsible.

That notwithstanding, there are several ways through which people tend to avoid responsibility, thereby giving up their freedom.

The most common one is through blind allegiance to various organizations, where they give up their responsibility

to critically think through the beliefs, perspectives and values of the organization. Little wonder, the dreaded BOKO HARAM sect is continuously having adherents to do their bidding because they can no longer think critically for themselves but only obey the directives handed down to them. But, care must be taken not to fall into the fallacy of hasty generalization or conclusion, because not all who are dedicated to a particular group is tantamount to being bad.

The freedom of each one of us is in actual fact, designed to be conditioned by the freedom of others; my freedom ends where the freedom of others begin. Freedom is never a license or power to do as one wants or pleases, which would simply amount to irresponsibility. This same view was echoed by Blessed Pope John Paul II, during his message for the celebration of the World Day of Peace as quoted by Ekwutosi Cosmas, that “true freedom is not advances in the permissive society, which confuses freedom with license to do anything whatever and which in the name of freedom proclaims a kind of general morality. It is a caricature of freedom to claim that people are free to organize their lives with no reference to moral values. Such an attitude is destructive to freedom.”

THE ABUSE OF FREEDOM VIS-A-VIS THE INCREASE OF VIOLENCE IN NIGERIA. According to Fulton Sheen, “the virtues that we refuse to acquire, we seek to destroy. The holy is the target, for holiness is a Continues on pg. 25

“Some think they are free only because they have no ball and chain on their feet, without ever providing reasons to why they want to be free and what the purpose of life is. The root of all our troubles in Nigeria and the world at large is that freedom FOR God and IN God has been interpreted as freedom FROM God, hence the occurrence of violence. Everybody loves freedom, everyone wants it, and at least, it is a common assumption. But a lot of questions need to be answered.”

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S ciety

Of Freedom Continues from pg. 24

judgment. When innocence cannot be endured, it is crucified”. With this quote, this section will now delve into the main thrust of this article, which from the opinion of the author is basically caused by the abuse of Our God given gift of freedom. It must be noted therefore, that this line of thought is principally the opinion of the writer.

Peace is the prime value in Nigeria today; the most valuable public good, yet, the most elusive. The various conflicts and violence are at different levels of intensity, which have wreaked devastating consequences in Nigeria in terms of considerable loss of human life and suffering, State collapse and social fragmentation, disruption of economic and agricultural activities, the destruction of infrastructural facilities and the regionalisation of these conflicts and violence have also greatly affected regional peace and security. Hence, the Niger Delta militants whose major aim is to cripple the oil industry due to neglect of their region, the MASSOB of the East whose aim is to establish the Republic State of Biafra, the Boko Haram of the North who wants to destroy anything Western and Islamize the country or is it the OPC of the West.

Conflicts and violence everywhere in Nigeria, why? Why have the FEW decided to misuse their freedom to cause harm to others?

As a result a few of these abuses will be discussed.

Boko Haram Phenomenon This is a clear case of abuse of freedom resulting in violence and destruction of both lives and properties and also the emotional trauma associated with it.

The Boko Haram sect according to its name is against ‘Western Education.’ If one decides to reject western education, is it a sin? The answer to that question is an emphatic NO! But then, forcing others to accept your belief and follow your ideology is a direct

encroachment on those persons’ freedom to decide and make their choices of which ideologies to follow or reject. Sometimes one is tempted to ask them (Boko Haram members), what are they using to disseminate

Christian, that person must be prepared to run for his/ her dear life or await the actions of the family because that person will not live to tell what happens. This is so because the family will

their real existence and person is lost.

Suicide Suicide from the Latin term, suicidium which means “Killing of oneself,” or suicida which equally means “somebody who

live, and want an end to it, then decide to take others with them. Why make use of your freedom and then deny others theirs? We usually hear of suicide in the television when it occurs in far away Middle

their information? Is it not through phones and other social networking sites?

What type of clothes do they put on? What means of transportation do they use? What is the source of the weapons as well as the improvised bombs they use? The answer to these questions is that they are made through the aid of western education. Hence, it shows that these people and their financiers have a hidden agenda, probably religious, political, etc.

Religion Another major area in which there is a clear abuse of freedom is in religion. Religion is a very strong phenomenon in Nigeria. It is no longer news that one is digging his or her grave when he/she decides to abandon for instance, a certain religion for another.

But in civilized countries, religion is taken as the choice of the individual and such is seen as exercising ones freedom. In Nigeria, if a particular individual from the north whose religion is Islam decides to become a

declare him/her an infidel.

So, most times in order to save their lives, you discover that these individuals run away from home and move to a distant environment to practice their freely chosen religion.

Closely following this issue of religion is the practice of changing names from a particular religion to another in order to gain admission or employment in the country.

This shows that, one does not have the freedom to gain admission or employment if he/she is not from a particular religion or tribe. This defeats the freedom of association and existence because in order to gain that which they are desperately looking for,

kills himself or herself”.

According to the Encarta Dictionary, suicide was defined as “the act of deliberately killing yourself, or somebody who intentionally kills himself or herself.” Life is worth living, but when one decides that life is unfair to him/her or is tired of living and decides freely to take his/her own life, which can be termed as the expression of freedom, although questionable, then he/she should not drag others who probably are full of life into their death, by involving them in his/her decision for whatever reason.

The question that begs for an answer is the reason why people who are tired of living, fed up with their

East, like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, etc but now it is happening almost on daily basis in our country.

Why take your life and someone else’s own which you cannot create? Why encroach on the freedom and right of another? These questions should be posed to those who embark on suicide missions to ponder upon and tell themselves the truth. On a second thought, why are those sending these suicide bombers not ready to embark on the suicide mission themselves? Or probably send their children or wards?

Politics Generally, politics ought to be an instrument for the acquisition and use of

“The question that begs for an answer is the reason why people who are tired of living, fed up with their live, and want an end to it, then decide to take others with them. Why make use of your freedom and then deny others theirs? We usually hear of suicide in the television when it occurs in far away Middle East, like Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, etc but now it is happening almost on daily basis in our country.”

power in a group, organization or nation.

Under normal circumstances or situation, political parties are formed in order to achieve this aim and also to enhance social integration. But in Nigeria, the type of politics that is being practiced is the type that results to violence or conflicts. This can be seen in the establishment of political parties along regional and religious lines, which breeds violence and conflicts especially during elections.

Secondly, most elections conducted in Nigeria, have to a large extent abused the freedom of the masses to freely elect those they want to represent them.

This can be seen from the numerous rigging of elections to favor a particular candidate or party to the detriment of the wishes and freedom of the masses. This is also reflected in the party politics where there are usually no level playing grounds for all candidates contesting party positions.

It is usually the ‘Who is Who’ of the party who select candidates to different party posts and the so-called congress used for the election of party officials are usually a rubber stamp of the choices made by leaders, and not from the wishes of the people.

CONCLUSION There are numerous issues that exposed the ways in which the abuse of freedom have continued to lead to violence and conflict in our society, particularly in Nigeria, To conclude this write-up, a quote by Theodore Roosevelt which runs thus, “This country will not be a good place for any of us to live in, unless we make it a good place for all of us to live in “ This quote summarizes the wisdom in which this article was written. There is still hope for those who are dissatisfied with their present choices and want the perfect. It must be noted that “no man/woman who has ever shed sincere tears before God for the way he/she abused his/her freedom was ever lost”.

Consequently, this article admonishes us to surrender our freedom to God. • Courtesy: The Nigerian Catholic Encounter

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e

K ep Fit Do We Have To Cool Down After Exercise

DO you often, if guiltily, skip cooling down after exercise? A small but soothing body of new research suggests that you aren’t missing out on much.

Most of us were taught in elementary school gym classes that the body requires a formal period of cooling down after a workout or competition. Instructors told us that by slowing to a jog or otherwise lessening the intensity of the workout, followed by stretching or otherwise transitioning out of physical activity, we would prevent muscle soreness, improve limberness and speed physiological recovery.

All of this would allow us to perform better physically the next day than if we hadn’t cooled down.

But under scientific scrutiny, none of those beliefs stand up well.

In a representative study published last year in The Journal of Human Kinetics, a group of 36 active adults undertook a strenuous, one-time program of forward lunges while holding barbells, an exercise almost guaranteed to make untrained people extremely sore the next day. Some of the volunteers warmed up beforehand by pedaling a stationary bicycle at a very gentle pace for 20 minutes. Others didn’t warm up but cooled down after the exercise with the same 20 minutes of easy cycling.

The rest just lunged, neither warming up nor cooling down.

The next day, all of the volunteers submitted to a pain threshold test, in which their muscles were prodded until they reported discomfort.

The volunteers who’d warmed up before exercising had the highest pain threshold,

meaning their muscles were relatively pain-free.

Those who’d cooled down, on the other hand, had a much lower pain threshold; their muscles hurt. The cooldown group’s pain threshold was, in fact, the same as among the control group. Cooling down had brought the exercisers nothing in terms of pain relief.

Similarly, in two other studies published last year, one in The Journal of Human Kinetics and the other in The Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, professional soccer players in Spain underwent a series of physical tests to benchmark their vertical leap, sprinting speed, agility and leg muscle flexibility, and then completed a normal soccer practice.

Afterward, some of the players simply stopped exercising and sat quietly on a bench for 20 minutes, while others formally cooled down with 12 minutes of jogging and 8 minutes of stretching.

The next day, the players repeated the physical tests and also told the scientists how sore their legs felt, an assessment with which professional athletes tend to be familiar.

It turned out that there were almost no differences between the two groups of players.

The cool-down group could, on average, leap a little higher the next day than those who’d sat around for 20 minutes, but the difference was slight.

And on all of the other measures of performance, flexibility and muscle soreness, the groups were the same.

The available data “quite strongly suggest a cool-down does not reduce post exercise

By GRETCHER REYNOLD

soreness,” says Rob Herbert, a senior researcher at Neuroscience Research Australia and senior author of what is probably the foundational study of cooling down, from 2007.

In that experiment, healthy

group that had cooled down was every bit as sore as the control group.

Given all of these findings, then, is there any valid reason to cool down?

Yes, says Andrea Fradkin, an associate professor of exercise

that blood pools in your lower body, which can lead to dizziness or even fainting.

The condition is easy to combat, though. Just walk for a few minutes at the end of a workout and you’ll maintain normal circulation to the brain, says Ross Tucker, a South African physiologist and a

adults walked backward downhill on a treadmill for 30 minutes, courting sore muscles and curious stares from fellow gymgoers. Some of the volunteers first walked forward for 10 minutes as a warm-up; some others did the same afterward, to cool down. While others didn’t warm up or cool down.

Two days later, the

science at Bloomsburg University in Pennsylvania. “A cooldown has been shown to prevent venous pooling after exercise,” or the buildup of blood in the veins, she said.

During prolonged, vigorous exercise, the blood vessels in your legs expand, meaning that more blood moves through them. Stop exercising abruptly, and

founder of the estimable Web site The Science of Sport. “And that’s not really a cool-down,” as most of us would define the procedure, he saids.

Still, if a formal cooldown provides few confirmed physiological benefits, it may have a scientifically squishy, but nevertheless worthwhile psychological effect. “If you’ve done a very hard track session, it’s nice to

end with some light jogging,” Dr. Tucker said, just to restore a subjective “sense of normality to your legs.”

A cool-down, in other words, feels nice.

And it’s important to note that “none of the scientific research shows any negative effects due to performing a cooldown,” Dr. Fradkin said.

So, in essence, the

available science suggests that whatever you’re doing now at the end of a workout is probably fine.

“My feeling is that, unless future science shows otherwise, “people shouldn’t worry about it,” Dr. Herbert said. “If they like to cool down, then it’s not going to hurt them. But if they don’t feel like it, then they shouldn’t feel a need to do it,” he added.

“Those who’d cooled down, on the other hand, had a much lower pain threshold; their muscles hurt. The cool-down group’s pain threshold was, in fact, the same as among the control group. Cooling down had brought the exercisers nothing in terms of pain relief.”

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o day’s Diet

T

He Does The Impossible With PASTO E. A. ADEBOYE Memory: So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Isaiah 55:11 Read: Isaiah 55:10-11 Bible in one year: Psalm 16-18 GOD’S Word is full and six months after, of power. When He the baby girl came. speaks, it is done. Just recently, the girl Once God speaks, was given out in the impossible will m a r r i a g e .

The above immediately become testimony triggered possible because every Word of God another.

A particular female contains enough medical doctor, power to actualise what the Word is whose husband was also a medical meant to do.

Hence Isaiah 55:10 doctor, was eight - 11 says God’s word months pregnant cannot return empty with a fifth child after to Him. In the name having had four She of Jesus, every good daughters. heard the sister ’s prophetic word that testimony and came has been sent into your life shall not to me. She said her return empty to God, husband’s relatives were but fulfill its mission. who Sometime ago, one desperately in need of my daughters of a boy, had came to tell me she threatened that if the was three months fifth baby was a girl, pregnant.

I they would chase her of her congratulated her but out matrimonial home. she said she came because she wanted Her request was for the baby to be a girl. her eight months old I told her that from baby to become boy. the little science I I told her being a know, whether a child medical doctor, she will be a boy or girl should know better, will be determined but she said she had within 72 hours of not come for science conception. She but as a result of the sister ’s protested saying other that, that was not testimony she heard. what I earlier taught So we agreed. A them, that I had month later, the baby taught them with God boy was delivered. all things are What is that situation appears possible. She simply that impossible to you, it requested for me to agree with her that is not impossible to the baby will be a girl. God. Mention that We prayed that urgent need in your prayer of agreement life that does not

Prayer Point: Father, frustrate, disappoint and paralyse every satanic plot to make your good Word redundant concerning me and my situation.

violate God’s word but glorify God. I join my faith with yours today and decree that the Lord shall establish it speedily and you will testify.

But if that desire in any way violates God Word will, it shall not be honoured.

CHANGE OF NAME OYIBODE-I formerly Miss Oyibode Philomena Eseoghene now Mrs. Ikharehon Philomena Eseoghene. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME AGBONLAHORI formerly Miss Agbonlahor Comfort now wish to be known, called and addressed as Mrs. Ebhomeiya Comfort, Former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

CHANGE OF NAME IFIONAYI –I formerly Miss Hope Ifionayi, now Mrs. Hope Ifionayi Okotako. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

AUCHI YOUTHS PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION ATTEMPTS BY SOME MISGUIDED YOUTHS TO DRAG THE NAME OF OUR COMMUNITY IN THE MUD We have watched with utmost surprise and disappointment, the attempt by some disgruntled elements hiding under the auspices of Auchi aggrieved Youths, to foment trouble with the aim of dragging the name of our beloved town in the mud.

Auchi as a community has right from time been known as a community of great and illustrious people, who are hard working and have contributed in no small measure to the development of the country. This has stood them out even within the little microcosm of the Etsako clan where they belong, hence it’s mentioned as the abode of the Afemai man especially when they are in other places.

This God given blessing is what is been gradually dented by some misguided Youths who are been used as pawns by their paymaster to cause chaos and create the impression of anarchy in our peaceful community.

The supposed bone of contention is that: 1.

The Rector, Dr. Mrs. Philipa Idogho does not consider indigenes in the school’s employment.

2. She did not make Auchi indigenes principal officers in the school.

These allegations are quite spurious and unsubstantiated as the institution is a federal one, and appointments into principal offices are procedural. Strict procedures has been followed so far in this regards as it has to do with this sensitive appointments. Besides the number of sensitive positions held by Auchi indigenes has astronomically increased during her administration and this feat should be widely applauded rather than discouraged. It is quite laughable that the so called unemployed graduates should be agitating for principal officers that are not given when they have not even started work. This goes clearly to show that they are just been misguided by their pay master who had totally lost out in his bid to get position through the back door..

As regards the employment, a computer based test was set and successful applicants were invited for interview. It is very surprising that some of us who didn’t even write the test are now been seen on the streets protesting and crying wolf when there is none. This goes to show that these youths are misguided hence this publication.

We use this medium to appreciate the Rector, Dr. Mrs. Philipa Idogho for her developmental strides. During this her tenure, Auchi Polytechnic has witnessed unprecedented developments. Looking at the School of Part Time Studies and other infrastructural developmental feats She has achieved as the first female Rector of the Polytechnic, we can’t but appreciate you deeply as all this developments cannot be taken to her native community but will still remain with us even after her tenure has expired.

These developments have been commended by both the Ministers of Information and Works respectively on their unscheduled visits to the Polytechnic.

The Senate Committee on Education headed by Senator Uche Chukwumerijie also did when they visited.

So instead of fighting a woman who is developing the Federal Polytechnic in our domain, let us appreciate and encourage this rare enigma and Amazon.

Signed: Abass Usman

President

Umoru Ahmed Alasa Rasak

Publicity Secretary Public Relations Officer

CHANGE OF NAME IDEMUDIA- I formerly Miss Idemudia Osayomwanbor Eunice, now Mrs. Omoruyi Osayomwanbor Eunice. All former documents remain valid.

Concerned authorities and general public should please take note.

RECONCILIATION OF NAME I, Aisiokuedo Gracious wish to bring for the information of the general public that I am the same person as Aisikuedo Grace Aghaku. Henceforth, I am now known and addressed as Aisiokuedo Gracious. All former documents remain valid.

First Bank PLC and the general public should please take note.

RUTH WEDS AYO The Solemnization of marriage between former Miss Edobor Ruth Eseosa (A Businesswoman) and Mr. Falodun Ayodele (A Businessman) took place on Thursday, 16th May, 2013 at the Oredo Local Government Council Marriage Registry in Benin City. Amongst those present were Pastor Samuel Falodun, Elder Isaac Edobor, Mr. Kenneth Okotie, Miss Victoria Odeleye, family members, relations, friends and well wishers. Picture shows the couple at the Registry. Congratulations. PHOTO: SONNIE .E.

THE WEEKEND

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

r

T avelogue

My Journey To Lagos BORN and bred in Benin,, I have always loved to know places, and the only way to do that was by reading books.

Going to Lagos, was like Christmas to me. I was so optimistic about the journey that I looked forward to hitting the road.

I woke up very early on the 24th of January, 2013 at exactly 5.00am. I hurriedly took my bathe and had a hasty breakfast (I was actually going to visit my sister who lives at Omole phase 2 estate in Lagos).

I arrived at ‘God is Good Motors’ by 7.00 am. Lo and behold, the park was devoid of passengers. I waited for about two hours before passengers came. While I was waiting, I started a conversation with a young man, who introduced himself as Ola, a student of Igbinedion University. We were coincidentally heading to the same direction in Lagos.

I got down from the bus, to get bubble gum, which is my closets companion when embarking on a long distant journey. I also had to visit the restroom to urinate, in order not cause any delay on the way.

We left the park at about 10.00. I admired the driver so much because he was just an old man who took life easy by driving at a slow rate, only passengers complained bitterly because they wanted to get to Lagos on time.

One of the passengers shouted at the driver,

BY ODINUKAEZE NNENNA

“oga please fire on, burn the brakes”. But the driver replied, please, I have a very large family, and I am the pillar, I no wan die now.” This caused laughter in the bus.

We finally got to Ore. I must give kudos to the federal government and other agencies, responsible for the rehabilitation of the road, there are less potholes now and it is easy for vehicles to go through, without much difficulties.

I knew that something was wrong when we got to Ore. There were tyres mounted on each sides of the road ahead of us. The driver revved the engine a bit and wanted to divert into the bush. “Driver, where are you going to?

Asked a passenger.

“Continue, maybe the tyres were mounted there by policemen.”

Reluctantly, the driver continued. Immediately, five hefty guys ran out of the bush, with shining objects. Cutlasses! Guns!

Armed robbers! Not again! I already had a past experience with armed robbers, and that was not an experience I wanted to encounter again but it was about to happen again.

The bandits asked the driver to keep the engine running. Then they collected all the jeweleries, money and mobile phones of all passengers.

They warned us to behave right, or we will be sorry

and they ordered us out of they bus. While I was alighting from the bus with my hand on my head, I saw Ola with whom I had developed a kind of familiar relationship with at the park, lying on the ground, with some of the villains standing over him and leveling guns over him.

That was when I started praying for a miracle. This is my second time with armed bandits. Next, they started ransacking all bags in the vehicle, counter orders and threats. They came to me, and demanded that I gave them my money and phone, else, they will take my life or rape me. I gave them my phone, and also two thousand

naira remaining after paying for my bus ticket.

I told them calmly that I was a student and did not have money. One of them, got infuriated and ordered me to stand up.

He pointed a gun at me, and said, “as you fine reach, you no get money? Na you go fall today.” I started pleading with them and the elderly man, who sat close to me in the bus, joined in. After a while, the gun man relented and ordered me to lie down again.

What infuriated and annoyed me about the whole issue, is that for close to 45mins of the robbery, there was no police patrol, because I am aware that there is a police checkpoint not

more than 5minutes drive from us, there is absolutely no way they would not be aware of the operation.

The dare devil robbers, simply took their time and it seems they were enjoying their adventure.

The elderly man started praying, “Jesus! Jesus! If I had money, I would give them, please help me!

One of the bandits replied, “Jesus no go help you here today o, na your money go save you today.”

That was when the table turned; I think Jesus was slighted, or even insulted the elderly man is a police officer and his official beret was neatly tucked in his pocket.

One of the bandits on seeing the beret, started shouting. “Olopa, olopa” (police) and they all took to their heels.

We got up, singing praises and thanks to the Lord for sparing our lives.

I arrived at Lagos at exactly 4pm and had to go through the stress of waiting for my sister, for her to take me to her house, because I was not familiar with the neighborhood.

My journey to Lagos was not what I expected it to be. As a result of the robbery incidence, my stay in Lagos was boring and scary, because I always had thoughts of armed robbers visiting my sister’s residence.

As a result of this experience, I vowed never to travel to Lagos or any state within Nigeria again by road but by plane when I have the money.

“There were tyres mounted on each sides of the road ahead of us.

The driver revved the engine a bit and wanted to divert into the bush. “Driver, where are you going to? Asked a passenger.

“Continue, maybe the tyres were mounted there by policemen.”

THE WEEKEND

29

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Ferdinand Says United Stars Need To Prove Themselves

Di Canio Threatens To Shorten Players Holidays SUNDERLAND manager Paolo Di Canio is threatening to cut short his players’ holidays after the club survived relegation with only a game to spare.

Sunderland retained its Premiership credentials after Arsenal sent Wigan down to the Championship via a 4-1 drubbing at the Emirates on Tuesday.

But rather than let his squad celebrate another season in the top flight, Di Canio is prepared to slice their offseason break to ensure another flirtation with the drop is not repeated.

And the Italian has already enforced his hardline stance by demanding his players return to the training paddock following the final game of the season against Tottenham.

“They will come back for a couple of days next week,” said Di Canio. “I don’t see professionalism if we fly down together on Saturday and then on Sunday they fly here and there. You can imagine their approach if that happens.

“They have 44 days holidays. The minimum I am obliged to give them is 28, four weeks. Forty-four days is incredible. They have already had 100 days probably.

“I don’t want to say 28 because for the modern football generation they will say this is too tough, 35 or 38.

If anybody has booked a holiday for Monday, they are going to lose some money.

Why would they book a

Paolo Di Canio

holiday on Monday? They are not being serious, they have to ask me.

“If somebody gave them a chance to organise a holiday in January or February it is wrong, they will lose 50 per cent of their money. I will see what happens on Sunday, then we will come back together, and I will tell them when their holidays start.”

Di Canio also admitted the club has introduced fines for players breaking club rules in an attempt to change the club’s culture.

“It happened many times before, but now they are fined because you have to start from somewhere or we’re never going to change,” Di Canio said.

“It is small things, but many small things become a big problem. We have to respect the rules or we are never going to change.”

MANCHESTER United’s established stars will not be guaranteed a free ride into the first team under new manager David Moyes next season, according to centreback Rio Ferdinand.

The 34-year-old says anything they have previously achieved will count for nothing once the current Everton manager takes over from Alex Ferguson.

Speaking to MUTV, Ferdinand said: “We’ve got to prove ourselves to the new manager. He’s going to come in with new ideas, new rules, a new regime.

Pulis Defended Over Youth STOKE assistant manager Policy Dave Kemp has pointed to the emergence of several of the club’s players this season as evidence that his boss Tony Pulis is happy to back younger talent.

Pulis has endured a sometimes frosty campaign,

Jamie Carragher

Carragher Likened To Bruce As Fergie Pays Tribute SIR Alex Ferguson has paid a glowing tribute to Jamie Carragher on Liverpool’s official website, with the Manchester United manager declaring that he “loved” the Reds defender.

Carragher will make his really, really good 737th and last appearance for professional.”

Liverpool against Queens Carragher, who made his Park Rangers on Sunday debut in 1997, stands second before he, like Ferguson, in Liverpool’s all-time retires.

But despite the fierce rivalry between their two clubs, Ferguson has declared himself a fan of Carragher RETIRING Liverpool and praised the 35-year-old legend Jamie Carragher says for his commitment and failing to win a league title with loyalty. the club is one of the few “He’s absolutely a player I regrets from his long career. admire,” Ferguson said. “He’s The 35-year-old made his the epitome of a loyal, first team debut for the Reds dedicated player who in 1996 and has made over Liverpool have been lucky to 700 appearances for the club. have for more than a decade.

The closest he has come to “He’s been a bedrock of lifting the Premier League their defensive qualities for trophy was during the 2001/ years and years. I loved him.

02 and 2008/09 seasons He’s a fantastic example for where Liverpool finished as any young lad that wants to runner’s up. play the game. He’s been a “I wish I’d have won the

appearance list and Ferguson compared him with the former United captain Steve Bruce.

“He’s absolutely the type of player a manager wants,” he added. “I used to rave about Brucie [Steve Bruce] and the nine years he had with us, and I think Jamie Carragher

is that exact same mould can play with injuries, gets knocked about and gets back up, hardly misses a game.

“You’re lucky to have players like that. I was lucky to have Steve Bruce and he is the same type of player. A fantastic player.”

...Jamie Regrets Not Winning League Title league. But you’ve given it everything and done as much as you can in terms of what you put into it,” he said.

“It’s a team game; there are different managers and coaches who have helped you along the way, you do your best. I’ve done alright.”

The former England international singled out Liverpool’s famous comeback win over AC Milan in the final

Nasri Sad Over Mancini Departure

SAMIR Nasri has said Manchester City are “a little disappointed” at ending the season empty-handed and declared himself “sad” after Roberto Mancini’s sacking.

In and out of the City side before Christmas, Nasri, 25, has since played a more prominent role in the club’s season, but could not help them retain their Premier League title, nor prevent a shock FA Cup final defeat to Wigan Athletic.

The France international acknowledged City’s expensively-assembled squad had even failed to live up to their own expectations.

“I had a delicate start to the season. I’ve picked up in the last two to three months, and now I feel better. I’ve strung together some good performances. Unfortunately, there was the disappointment

of the FA Cup final. We’ll try to bounce back,” Nasri told RMC at a charity event in Bordeaux.

“We have to forget this season. We had great ambitions at the start of the campaign, and we’re a little disappointed at the end.”

Samir Nasri

“No matter how long you’ve been here, whether it’s the likes of Giggsy (Ryan Giggs) or myself, we’re going to be in the same boat as people like Danny Welbeck, Phil Jones, Tom Cleverley.

“We have got to make sure he feels we’re the right people to start each game.”

Ferguson’s 26-year reign will come to an end away to West Brom on Sunday with Moyes due to take over in June.

If Ferguson’s retirement came as a shock to the wider footballing world, it was even more stunning to the players themselves.

The team’s sorry groupstage exit in the Champions League and their failure to pick up any silverware, culminating in last weekend’s surprise loss at Wembley, cost manager Mancini his job.

“He brought me to Manchester City. I don’t want to speak about his departure because I don’t know the ins and outs of the story. I don’t know who’s coming in so there’s no point talking about it,” Nasri said.

“I feel sad, but I’m professional and I know how football works. I was at Marseille and had four coaches in four seasons.

Changing coaches is nothing new.”

Nasri’s improved lateseason performances have raised questions about his continued exclusion from the

France set-up. The former Arsenal man has not played for his country since being disciplined for insulting a journalist following Les Bleus’ quarter-final exit to Spain at Euro 2012.

Didier Deschamps, 44, will announce his squad for France’s summer friendlies in Uruguay and Brazil on Thursday afternoon. Whether he is included in the list or not, Nasri remains determined to eventually return to international football.

He said: “The France team has always been important for me. When you’re a footballer and you’ve played for that team, the one who says he doesn’t want to play for it again is a liar. We’ll see. I hope I’ll be in it, but it won’t be the end of the world. I’ll try to work next season to get back into the squad.”

of the UEFA Champions League as the highlight of his career.

“Istanbul, nothing will beat that - the Champions League final,” he said.

“There’s no point going over the game, I think we all know what happened that night. It’s difficult to ever top that.”

with criticism that he prefers to stock his squad with tried and trusted campaigners.

But Kemp says those at the opposite end of the experience scale are given their opportunity as well at the Britannia Stadium and points to the likes of Asmir Begovic, Ryan Shawcross and Steven Nzonzi as proof.

Keeper Begovic, who was signed as a 22-year-old from Portsmouth three years ago, scooped four awards at Stoke’s end-of-season ceremony on Tuesday.

There was good news for Shawcross, too, the 25-old defender signing a long-term new deal this season almost six years on from his move from Manchester United.

Nzonzi was 23 when he switched south from relegated Blackburn last August and Kemp said: “They are all players who have joined us in their late teens or early 20s.

“Ryan is now an England international and Asmir is being linked with clubs in the top four. They have progressed under our system to become top Premier League players.

“Marc Wilson is another example. These players have become established in the Premier League. It is the manager’s policy but it sometimes gets overlooked.”

Fellaini May Follow Moyes To Old Trafford

MAROUANE Fellaini says he is happy at Everton but admits he wants to be playing in the UEFA Champions League.

The Belgian ace is set to find his future the subject of speculation when the season ends with a number of top clubs reported to be chasing his signature.

Manchester United are the latest side to be linked with a move for Fellaini following David Moyes’ move to Old Trafford for the start of next season.

Fellaini insists he sees his long-term future in England and hopes he can play in the Champions League with Everton.

“Every player wants to play in the Champions League.

That is the big competition,” Fellaini told the Daily Mirror.

“I hope I can do it with Everton. I’m happy here. I’ve

been at the club for five years.

I’m happy because I know everybody.

“For my future, I want to play in England. The Premier League is the best league.

Here there are five, six, seven, eight teams, all of whom think they are good enough to play in the Champions League and want that.

Marouane Fellaini

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30

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Igesund Springs Surprises In Bafana Squad SOUTH Africa coach Gordon Igesund has sprung a number of surprises in his squad for the two World Cup qualifiers against CAR and Ethiopia next month.

The coach announced his selection on Friday for the two qualifiers, as well as the friendly match against Lesotho in Maseru on June 1, though he admits that fixture is not fixed yet.

South Africa then play CAR in Cameroon on June 8 and Ethiopia in Addis Abiba on June 15.

Igesund has gone for pace out wide with a return to the team for Richard Henyekane from Mamelodi Sundowns perhaps the major surprise.

Orlando Pirates’ Tlou Segolela is also in the mix, as is club mate Thandani Ntshumayelo, who was selected ahead of the injured Andile Jali.

“We have picked players with an eye on both games, so some have only been selected with the second game in mind,” Igesund said.

“We need to get a win or a draw out of the CAR game, but against Ethiopia it is must win. We have to beat them and it is going to be a war.

“The pitch in Yaoundé where we will play CAR is perfect, it is big and has an excellent surface. That will mean we can treat it like a home game for us at the neutral venue.

“The pitch in Ethiopia is bumpy and not good at all, so we will have to adapt out game for that.”

The big question of who will be in the defence is the big question for Igesund, with the likes of Thabo Matlaba, Morgan Gould and Siyanda Xulu all injured.

It is possible that he will go with the entire Kaizer Chiefs backline that has just won the PSL championship – rightback Siboniso Gaxa, centrebacks Tefu Mashamaite and Erick Mathoho, and left-back Tsepo Masilela. They are players who are at least familiar with one another.

“We have been dealt a good opportunity through the war in CAR, having to not play in CAR is a huge boost. We will miss the intimidation that they threatened us with,” Igesund

says.

“The game against Ethiopia … we don’t have to be pretty and impress people, we need to get a result and we will do whatever we need to do get the result.

“We will fly in the day before, stay one night and play the game.” afana Bafana will enter camp in Johannesburg on May 29, take on Lesotho in Maseru and then fly to Cameroon on June 4.

Bafana Bafana squad: Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune (Kaizer Chiefs), Wayne Sandilands (Mamelodi Sundowns), Senzo Meyiwa (Orlando Pirates) Defenders: Erick Mathoho (Kaizer Chiefs), Tefu Mashamatite (Kaizer Chiefs), Thabo Nthethe (Bloemfontein Celtic), Anele Ngcongca (Genk, Belgium), Bevan Fransman (SuperSport United), Tsepo Masilela (Kaizer Chiefs), Siboniso Gaxa (Kaizer Chiefs), Tebogo Langerman (Mamelodi Sundowns).

Ezekiel On Target Again

Edo State Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Lady Omorede Osifo

Ezekiel was excited with the goal and looks forward to power the team to Europe in the last game.

“Ezekiel is very happy with the goal. It was probably his best goal yet going by the way he got it. He is a big talent that will rule Africa soon. He is excited and hopes to lead the team Europe with his goal in the last game,” Egilmez told MTNFootball.com This season, Imoh Ezekiel has netted 15 times in the Belgian top flight.

Ezekiel Imoh

Edo Sports Commissioner Calls On Organisations To Support Govt In Sports Dev

By KEHINDE OSAGIEDE

THE Commissioner for Youths, Sports and Social Mobilization, Hon. Omorede Osifo has called on corporate organizations and well meaning Nigerians both home and abroad to support the administration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole by contributing meaningfully to the development of the state in the area of sports. Hon. Osifo made this call while receiving Basketball equipments donated by Mr. Alexander Omokha in her office.

The commissioner who development of sports in Edo showed appreciation for the State. She thanked the donor kind gesture, urged other well for his philanthropic gesture. meaning Nigerians and Hon. Osifo then tasked the organizations to emulate the Director of Sports, Edo Sports donor, insisting that Council, Mr. Okute to ensure government cannot do it that the kits are properly alone. distributed to young players in The Youth and Sports the state.

Commissioner said that she Earlier, the ex-basketball was proud to see a patriotic player Mr. Alexander Omokha son of the soil from the United said he decided to donate the States showing interest in the equipment so as to make his

Nigeria League Star Of The Week Is Chinedu to play in Europe after this HEARTLAND skipper Efuh season. My dream team is Chinedu Efugh was the star player of the Nigeria league Week 12 round of matches.

‘Chicago’, as Efugh is called, was rock solid to ensure the 3SC strike force led by Gbolahan Salami could not wreck havoc as Heartland shocked the home team 2-0.

He was picked ahead of Rabiu Ali (Kano Pillars), Festus Sunday Umanah(Wikki) and Uche Ihuarulam(Bayelsa United), who all shone in midweek games.

IMOH Ezekiel was on target again for Standard Liege as they were held to a 1-1 draw

by Genk in a Belgian championship playoff.

Standard Liege are on 39 points with a game to go which they must win to have chance of playing in the Europa League next term.

Standard Liege are in a must-win situation when they host Lokeren in the last game of the playoffs, but that will still depend on the result of the game between Genk and Club Brugge.

Nigerian youngster Ezekiel scored what looked like his best goal yet in the 19th minute to put his team in front when he was set up by a mate from goalkeeper long ball, he outwitted two players, dashed into the 18-yard box, before he hammered the ball into the top corner of the post.

One of his advisers and former 36 Lion team manager Hasan Egilmez told MTNFootball.com that

Efugh thwarted most of 3SC attack and deserved this recognition.

“I am very happy that we ended the unbeaten run of 3SC. It was a great game, they were tough but we stood our ground,” Efugh told MTNFootball.com The crafty central defender is one of the experienced players in the league, but he said he has not given up the dream to play overseas.

“I have paid my dues in the Nigeria league, my target is

Real Madrid but any good contract from any team in Europe will do for me,” said Efugh, who picks Sergio Ramos as his role model.

He said leading Heartland to win the Federation cup back-to-back has been the highlight of his career.

“My greatest moment was winning back- to-back Federation Cup for Heartland and I am hoping to win another trophy this season,” he revealed.

Last season, he scored five goals in the league.

contribution to development of Basketball in the state and to also encourage the Youths

to be focused and engaged.

He promised to collaborate with other Edo indigenes in diaspora to assist the

government to renovate the Basketball pitch at Wire Road, Benin City.

The equipment donated include 70 pairs of Canvass shoes, 15 Basketballs, 4 pairs of Basketball Nets and whistles.

...Reiterates Govt Willingness To Partner Organisations

THE Commissioner for Youth, Sports and Social Mobilization, Hon. Omorede Osifo has reiterated Edo State Government’s readiness to support any organisation that is determined and willing to assist in the development of Edo youths.

Hon. Osifo stated this when she received the Executives of TY Danjuma Foundation, Edo State Chapter in her office. The commissioner stressed that Governor Adams Oshiomhole is highly committed to the development of youths in the state and as such embarked on youth empowerment programmes that have made a number of youth in the state self dependent.

The Youth and Sports Commissioner commended the Foundation for their contribution towards developmental projects across the nation in general and Edo State in particular.

Lady Osifo added that the ministry is willing and ready to collaborate with the Foundation and enjoined

them to always liaise with the ministry from time to time in order for them to know the areas to channel their funds in terms of youth development in the state.

Also speaking the Director of Youth in the ministry, Mr. V.O. Obaghagie said that the state government has trained some youths in different skills acquisition programmes which include fashion design, GSM repairs amongst others.

He emphasized that some have graduated while others are yet to complete their training programme.

Earlier, the co-ordinator of TY Danjuma Foundation in Edo State, Miss Oluwatomi Ajayi said that the Foundation is a Private Philanthropic Organisation aimed at enhancing quality community health, quality education, equal opportunity for everybody as well as income generation for women.

She stressed that the organisation wants to partner the government in tackling

the issues of unemployment and poverty in Edo State, hence, their visit to the ministry to seek technical assistance.

In the same vein, the Edo Sports Commissioner while playing host to Honourable members representing Edo South Senatorial District in the Nigerian Youth Parliament, Abuja, Lady Osifo has assured the youth body of her ministry’s support.

The commissioner, while reemphasising the state government commitment to youth and sports development in the state, promised to look into issues the youth representatives brought before her with a view to addressing them one after the other.

Earlier, Hon. Dan Enowoghomwema while speaking on behalf of the youth parliament, said their visit to the commissioner was to solicit her assistance in the area of capacity building for the youth.

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SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Ronaldinho Upbeat About 2014 W/Cup

Bayern Sell Out Stadium For BAYERN Munich fans Cup Final

queued for more than 12 hours and snapped up all 45,000 tickets to watch a live screening at their Allianz Arena of the Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund in London on May 25.

Tickets for the all-German final at Wembley stadium sold out in six hours.

“The queue, which started at 2200 last night extended for more than 400 metres,” the club said in a statement, announcing there were no more seats available. “Six hours later the tickets were sold out.”

RONALDINHO has said he still hopes to play for Brazil at the 2014 World Cup despite failing to make the country’s squad for this summer ’s Confederations Cup. The 33-year-old midfielder said he was surprised to have been omitted from Felipe Scolari’s 23-man party for the June tournament.

But he insisted the setback would motivate him to “try to play better and be recalled in the future”. Scolari said he had made what he felt were the best decisions for the team.

Ronaldinho, who has won rave reviews for his club performances at Brazilian outfit Atletico Mineiro, said: “I wanted to be on the list, and I was hopeful - but it didn’t happen the way I wanted.

“But this motivates me even more to try to play better and be recalled in the future.

There’s still a long way to go until the World Cup, and my goal remains the same.

“I think it surprised a lot of people because of how well my team is playing and because I’m going through a good moment right now.’’

Ronaldinho, twice FIFA Player of the Year, had spoken of wanting to bring down the curtain on his career by playing in a World Cup in his home country.

He was part of Scolari’s 2002 World Cup-winning side and, when the coach returned to the national job, he had predicted that the playmaker to become the leader of his team.

Lionel Messi

Barca Chasing League Record, Host Valladolid Morrow BARCELONA will look to maintain their chances of finishing with 100 La Liga points when they host Real Valladolid on Sunday night.

Real Valladolid on the other The Catalans secured the hand will be looking for a La Liga title last Saturday and strong finish to the season to celebrated the championship mark their successful return with a 2-1 win over Atletico to top-flight football.

Madrid a day after to move to Miroslav Djukic’s men 91 points. edged Deportivo La Coruna This means that collecting 1-0 in their last league outing maximum points from their and are currently placed in remaining three matches will 12th place on the table with see them matching the record 43 points. which was set by Real Madrid last season.

v v v

Valencia Osasuna Real Sociedad

Sunday fixtures v v v v

Rayo Vallecano Espanyol Athletic Bilbao Real Valladolid

Spanish Primera Division Table P Barcelona 35 Real Madrid 36 Atletico 36 R Sociedad 35 Valencia 35 Malaga 36 Betis 35 Sevilla 35 Getafe 35 Rayo 35 Espanyol 35 Valladolid 35 Levante 35 Athletic 35 Osasuna 35 Granada 35 R Zaragoza 35 Deportivo 35 Celta Vigo 36 Mallorca 35

W 29 25 22 16 17 15 15 13 13 14 11 11 11 11 9 9 9 7 8 7

D 4 6 6 11 8 9 7 8 8 4 11 10 9 8 9 9 7 11 7 8

L 2 5 8 8 10 12 13 14 14 17 13 14 15 16 17 17 19 17 21 20

GD 69 59 32 19 12 4 -2 5 -10 -18 -4 -4 -17 -21 -13 -21 -18 -22 -18 -32

“There is certainly less tension in the locker room after securing our safety in La Liga but the intensity at training is still the same,” said Djukic. “We understand the importance of ending the season on a high note.

“Barcelona and Valladolid have achieved their objectives for this season but I’ve never played pointless games.

PARIS Saint-Germain president Nasser AlKhelaifi has told David Beckham “the door is open” as he ponders his future following his decision to retire from playing.

Beckham, 38, announced his retirement on Thursday and will hang up his boots after featuring in PSG’s final two Ligue 1 games of the season.

Al-Khelaifi has previously spoken of his desire to keep the former England midfielder at PSG in some

Neymar’s Father Holds Up Barca’s Deal For Son

Saturday fixtures

Levante Deportivo La Coruña Real Zaragoza Barcelona

Arjen Robben

Our Door Is Open, PSG Tells Beckham

La Liga Fixtures Getafe Granada Sevilla FC

Bayern, who won their 23rd German league title weeks ago, are seeking a treble this season. They face VfB Stuttgart in the German Cup final on June 1.

PTS 91 81 72 59 59 54 52 47 47 46 44 43 42 41 36 36 34 32 31 29

B A R C E L O N A ’ s negotiations to close a deal with Santos for Neymar are reportedly being held up by the player’s father.

The Catalans are understood to have sent out director Raul Senllehi to Brazil this week to try and wrap up a deal to sign the 21-year-old inside the next few days.

Sport understand that Senllehi yesterday met with Andre Cury, a confidant of Sandro Rosell’s based in the country, Neymar ’s father, Neymar Snr, and Marquinhos Malaquias, an assistant to Cury and close to both Barca and Neymar’s father.

However, where it is understood that Santos and the two investment firms that hold percentage shares in Neymar’s playing rights are all eager to sell, even before the Confederations Cup, the Brazilian club and Barcelona are both reported as disappointed by Neymar Snr. The player’s father, who is also his representative, is understood to be putting obstacles in the way of the move being completed, out of a reported wish to see an improved offer come in should Neymar perform well at midJune’s Confederations Cup. Should Santos and Barca find a way to convince

Neymar ’s father to come around to the sale, any deal will not be announced until Monday at the earliest, due to Santos’ participation in the

second leg of the Campeonato Paulista Final.

Read the original article on Football Espana - The ultimate website for Englishspeaking fans of Spanish football

capacity, and told the press yesterday that the player had fallen in love with the club he joined in January.

“He’s very interested in being involved. He believes in the project, he loves the club,” he said.

“He’s been here nearly six months, and only announced yesterday that he’ll be retiring. We have time to discuss things.

“We’ll be talking for the next two weeks, and I honestly hope that we can reach an agreement. I told him the door is open. We’ll see if we can sign a deal. I hope we can do that.”

Reports in the French media have said Beckham could take an ambassadorial role for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar as well as serving as a global figurehead for PSG.

Allardyce To Pounce For Essien WEST Ham United manager Sam Allardyce is reported to be monitoring Ghana midfielder Michael Essien.

The experienced Ghanaian returns to Chelsea after the expiration of his loan spell at Real Madrid but he has been told he has no future at Stamford Bridge next season.

The 30-year-old was once a key player in Chelsea’s starting lineup, earning a reputation for his strong play from midfield.

He also has the ability to score the occasional long-range wonder-goal.

Allardyce is said to be monitoring Essien’s situation as he is on the lookout for a defensive midfielder.

The Hammers may lose their current first choice defensive midfielder Mohamed

Michael Essien

Diame, whose displays have attracted attention from Arsenal and Tottenham Essien could be an ideal like-for-like replacement for Diame if he leaves, and could come cheap with Chelsea looking to offload him.

His physical and aggressive style of play would appeal to Allardyce, who is known for forming teams of experienced and competitive players from his time at Bolton and Blackburn.

Essien’s current contract expires in 2015, and he could move for around £5million.

CMYK

Weekend Sport THE WEEKEND

32

SATURDAY, MAY 18, 2013

Last Game For Moyes, Benitez RAFAEL Benitez and David Moyes bid farewell to their respective clubs on Sunday and will look to end their tenures on a high as Chelsea host Everton.

Chelsea are looking for a victory at Stamford Bridge to avoid the prospect of a play-off with Arsenal for third place in the Premier League.

Benitez’s side know three points will guarantee them third place but if they draw 00 and Arsenal beat Newcastle United by more than one goal, Arsene Wenger’s men would overhaul them.

If Chelsea were to draw 0-0 and Arsenal win 2-1 the two teams will be level on points, goal difference and goals scored which would mean a third-place playoff match for the first time in Premier League history.

The winner would finish third and automatically qualify for the UEFA Champions League group stages.

For Everton and their Manchester Unitedbound boss, they know victory would give them their best points record in the Premier League, one more than the 65 they achieved in the 2007/08 season.

Moyes has never Chelsea v Liverpool v Manchester City v Newcastle Utd v Southampton v Swansea City v Tottenham Hotspur v West Brom Albion v West Ham United v

Gunners Will Secure Champions League Spot - Wenger

Sir Alex Ferguson

ALEX Ferguson says the fire to win is still burning ahead of his last ever game as manager of Manchester United against West Bromwich Albion this weekend.

He says he wants to The 71-year-old Scot win it even more than will take charge of his last Sunday’s farewell last game tomorrow as game at Old Trafford, his side visit The when United beat Hawthorns in what will Swansea City 2-1 also be his 1,500th thanks to a late Rio Ferdinand goal. game in charge of the “Now the match on club.

Sunday, 1500 games, it has been quite incredible,” said Ferguson, in his final weekly press conference.

Everton “It could not be more Queens Park Rangers difficult. West Brom have Norwich City done terrific this season Arsenal and they (United’s Stoke City players) will want to win Fulham this one more than last Sunderland week’s, even, so Manchester United hopefully we can do that.”

Reading Ferguson says he will be keeping himself busy outside of football when he finally ends his 26D L GD PTS and-half-year reign at 4 5 43 88 United.

Asked to divulge his 9 5 33 78 9 7 35 72 10 7 34 70 9 8 19 69 15 6 16 63 TOTTENHAM Hotspur 13 9 27 58 are confident they can 6 17 -4 48 keep Gareth Bale with a 13 13 -1 46 £150,000-a-week deal IF 10 16 -10 43 they qualify for the 14 14 -11 41 Champions League.

14 14 -18 41 The Welsh star has 8 18 -22 41 been linked with a move 13 15 -11 40 away from Tottenham 10 17 -13 40 with Real Madrid the 10 17 -22 40 front-runners for his 12 16 -12 39 signature, but Spurs will 8 20 -26 35 double his money to 10 21 -28 28 keep him.

13 20 -29 25 Bale, 23, will be offered

Barclays Premier League Table P 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37 37

W 28 23 21 20 20 16 15 14 11 11 9 9 11 9 10 10 9 9 6 4

had negative results, but we responded,” he said.

“That shows we had mental strength.

“I’m convinced that my players will be rewarded because they have shown that mental strength through the difficult periods of the season.

“I must give my players huge credit because, when we were under severe pressure, they worked very hard together. That’s why I want them to be rewarded for that.

“We know how to behave to win the games.

It’s to get that certainty from our long [unbeaten] run and bring that into our next game. It’s as simple as that. It’s a football match, and recently we

have shown we can win games.”

The Frenchman said he had always felt it was possible that the battle for fourth would go to the last day, adding: “We have our destiny in our hands, and that’s what you fight for in the game.

“You could see that, mathematically, it would be very tight, but I was convinced we would fight and come back.

When you look at the points total we have made since February 1, I think we are in the best in the league - and that’s down to the mental strength of the players.”

That may yet lead to a decider with Chelsea for third, depending on whether results leave their statistics equal.

Ferguson Eager To Sign Off With Victory

Premier League Last Fixtures For The Season

Man Utd Man City Chelsea Arsenal Tottenham Everton Liverpool West Brom Swansea West Ham Stoke Norwich Newcastle Southpton Fulham Aston Villa Sunderland Wigan Reading QPR

ARSENAL’s manager Arsene Wenger has said he is convinced his players will secure Champions League qualification, praising them for their resilience.

Wenger also said he “would fancy” a possible play-off with Chelsea for third place, but stressed that he would not be paying attention to Tottenham Hotspur ’s game in the race for fourth place.

Arsenal, who travel to Newcastle on the season’s final day, are currently a point ahead of Spurs, who host Sunderland. With their fate in their own hands, Wenger believes Arsenal will get the win they need.

“It’s always down to mental strength in our job - and to quality - and we maybe for some periods

immediate plans, he revealed that he has a League Managers’ Association meeting on Monday, followed by two days at Newmarket races.

The Scot will then go on holiday, before returning for a hip operation in early August.

He said: “I am driven to take on challenges in other ways. I’ve got the LMA meeting on Monday, going to Newmarket, as I have a share in the horse Telescope, then I go on holiday on June 4 for a month, then I have an operation, then the recovery, and then the season starts.

“It is going to be a different life. It’s almost 40 years as a manager.”

Ferguson could not pick a favourite memory from his time at United and said the whole experience had been an

incredible journey.

“The memories are all there — 26 years at Manchester United is fantastic, just the whole thing,” he said. “When I came here I was privileged and the day I left I was honoured.

Being here is a thing to be proud of.”

He did concede that the game has changed significantly since his first job as a manger back in 1974 with Scottish side East Sterlingshire.

Ferguson went on to manager St Mirren and Aberdeen and had a brief spell as Scotland manager at the 1986 World Cup before taking charge of United in November of that year.

“It is inevitable that change comes around, you have to manage that,” he said. “There has

been big changes in terms of number of staff, sports science and technology that has come in.

...Alex Overwhelmed

By Final Week SIR Alex Ferguson says he has enjoyed an “amazing” last week in the Manchester United hotseat and believes the celebrations have surpassed those seen for the 1999 Treblewinning team.

In the final pre-match press conference of his reign at Old Trafford, Ferguson reflected on a week that saw his emotional final game at Old Trafford and an open-top bus parade through Manchester with the club’s 13th Premier League trophy.

“It’s been an amazing

Spurs Believe Big Cash Will Keep Bale a five-year deal worth £40million if they can secure their place in Europe’s premier club competition.

He signed a four-year deal worth £75,000 basic last season but having broken the 20goal barrier this season his increased worth to the club is apparent.

Daniel Levy recognises the need to reward the attacker

of around £60m for Tottenham’s prize-asset.

whose reputation is steadily growing and is seen as almost as good as Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi.

If Ronaldo makes his return to Manchester United, Madrid will pull out all the stops to bring Bale to Spain.

Were Bale to be sold, Levy would demand a fee

Arsene Wenger

Gareth Bale

last week,” Ferguson said. “I have been overwhelmed. Sunday was unbelievable and, as for the parade on Monday, I thought ’99 could not be beaten. But, this time, seeing all the people on the scaffolding was incredible. I think it was better than ’99.

“The memories are all there in 26 years at United. The whole thing.

The day I came here was a privilege. The day I leave, I feel honoured.”

Ferguson revealed that despite leaving the world of football management behind, a busy schedule still awaits him in retirement.

“I haven’t thought about what life will be like,” Ferguson said. “I’m driven to take on other challenges right away.

I’ve got the LMA meeting on Monday and then I’m going to Newmarket for two days on Tuesday and Wednesday.

“I’ll go on holiday on June 4 and the Derby’s before that on June 1. I’ll have my holidays for a month and then the operation and then the season will start. I’ll be alright.”

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