Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday, March 1, 2012

Sena te joins House s FRSC fr om Senate House,, bar bars from issuing ne wn umber pla tes new number plates tes,, licences

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Vol. 7 No. 85

Thursday, March 1, 2012

Rabiul Thani 8, 1433 AH

N150

INSIDE

National Judicial Council Privatisation: FG splits over Justice Isa mandates states to Ayo Salami PAGE 3 distribute power

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Unknown persons tease Katsina police with ‘bombs’ PAGE 3

5 months after, CJN ‘homeless’

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

F

ive months after his confirmation as Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Dahiru Musdapher is yet to occupy his official residence, Peoples Daily investigation reveals.

Justice Musdapher was formally confirmed substantive CJN by the Senate in September 2011, almost one month after presiding over the Contd on Page 2

Former CJN Katsina-Alu

CJN Dahiru Musdapher

The official residence of Chief Justice of Nigeria

SNC advocates to senators: You’re ignorant, selfish From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Senate yesterday came under attack from the Lagos-based ProNational Conference Organisation (PRONACO),

after branding Nobel Laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, renowned constitutional lawyer, Professor Ben Nwabueze, Chief Edwin Clark, and others pushing for the convening of a Sovereign National Conference (SNC) as anarchists.

PRONACO also condemned the National Assembly, warning it not to incur the wrath of Nigerians, for opposing the desire of the people to give unto themselves a brand new people’s Constitution.

The SNC advocaters

described the Senate as a group of “people who are defending their bogus allowances”.

The Executive Secretary of the National Summit Group, organisers of the National Dialogue which held in Lagos, Dr. Tony Uranta told Peoples

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

Daily in Lagos that the senators’ outburst reflect their level of intelligence on the subject matter.

According to Uranta, “Those branding SNC advocators as anarchists are ignorant, and do Contd on Page 2

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Earth

26

Issues

30

Only true federalism can salvage Nigeria, Hon. Shehu Liman, Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

You can send your news and pictures to: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com pictures@peoplesdaily-online.com contact@peoplesdaily-online.com

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

PDP ratifies zoning arrangement

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday officially ratified the zoning arrangement proposed by its outgoing National Working Committee (NWC) chaired by Alhaji Abubakar Kawu Baraje.

Briefing newsmen after the party’s 59th National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, the national publicity secretary of the party, Prof. Rufai Ahmed Alkali said “As a prelude to the smooth conduct of the forthcoming national convention and in line with the provisions of the PDP constitution, NEC approved the zoning of offices for

the National Working Committee”.

Alkali said the position of the national chairman of the party has been zoned to the NorthEast while those of the national secretary and national auditor were being ceded to the SouthWest.

The South/south zone is to produce the party’s deputy national chairman and the national financial secretary.

The national publicity secretary, deputy national secretary and national woman leader slots go to the South East zone while the North-West zone is to produce candidates for the position of the national organising secretary and na-

tional treasurer.

The slots of the national legal adviser and the national youth leader have been conceded to the North-Central zone in the forthcoming national congress of the party.

The NEC also received the report of the Constitution Amendment Committee chaired by the party’s legal adviser, Chief Olusola Oke. The recommendations of the committee were however referred to another special committee comprising of the President, Vice-President, six state governors, six members of the National Assembly, three former chairmen of the party’s Board of Trustees and six members of

the National Working Committee.

According to Alkali, “The committee shall examine the constitutional amendment proposal and present a roadmap for the way forward.”

Asked for the details of the amendment done to the constitution as submitted by the panel, Alkali said it would be premature to disclose the details since the presidential committee is still expected to look into the document.

The party’s spokesman also declined to declare the present financial status of the party insisting that the NWC has yet to round off its administrative activities.

5 months after, CJN ‘homeless’ Contd from Page 1 nation’s judiciary in acting capacity.

However, our investigation revealed that Justice Musdapher could not move into the official residence of the CJN because the house lacks furniture.

A dependable source said the immediate past CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu moved out of the residence, located in the Three Arms Zone, almost directly opposite the Supreme Court, Abuja, with the furniture.

“I have it on good authority that the former CJN, Justice Katsina-Alu moved out all the furniture in the CJN’s official residence after his retirement”, the source alleged.

But officials at the Supreme Court are hush-hush on the delayed relocation of the current CJN to his official residence, with a few who even declined to be quoted claiming that Justice Musdapher could not move into

the house “due to renovation work presently going on”.

But further investigations by our reporter showed that this claim but some of the apex court staff may be far from the truth as Justice Dahiru Musdapher is said to be reluctant to spend public funds that could run into millions to re-furnish the house for his use, “given that he has barely five months from now to retire”, said one inside source.

Justice Musdapher will be due for retirement on July 15, this year when he would have been 70 years of age.

The Chief Registrar (CR) of the apex court, Mr. Sunday Olahundahunsi, also tactically declined comment on the matter after more than one-week’s efforts by our reporter to get him react to the allegation.

For several days last week, our reporter visited the CR’s office but was told that Mr. Olahundahunsi had travelled.

Similarly, he neither answered

our reporter’s repeated calls nor replied an SMS sent to his cell phone inquiring about the alleged removal of the residence’s furniture by Justice Katsina-Alu. When finally on Tuesday, our reporter was lucky to discover that the CR was in his office, he was told that the apex court’s chief registrar was “extremely busy”.

Mr. Olahundahunsi however forwarded our reporter’s SMS to one of the CJN’s personal staff, asking the officer to respond to the inquiry, as our reporter was to discover later.

But the officer also declined to make official comments on the issue, but simply offered certain “explanations” as to the possible reason (s) for the delayed movement of the CJN into his official residence.

Concerted efforts to get Justice Katsina-Alu’s reaction to the allegation that he carted away the furniture in the CJN’s

official residence also failed, as some personal aides contacted yesterday declined comments, and said they do not have the retired luminary’s permission to speak to our reporter, while also claiming that “he won’t talk to you on such an issue even if you get to see him”.

The aides, who insisted that their identities must be disclosed, however claimed that there was an unwritten rule in the Judiciary that allows every chief justice of the federation to pack out all the furniture in the residence once they are due to retire.

The Senate, it would be recalled, confirmed the appointment of Justice Musdpaher as substantive CJN in September last year following his appointment by President Goodluck Jonathan, after the retirement of Justice Katsina-Alu from the Bench in August of the same year.

SNC advocates to senators: You’re ignorant, selfish Contd from Page 1 not want the unity of the country; they are only defending their bogus salaries and allowances”.

Former presidential aspirant, Chief Olu Falae told our correspondent in a phone chat that the senators need to be enlightened on the need for a National Conference, saying “we are advocating for a people’s conference that will produce a new Constitution, which, if approved by the people of Nigeria through a referendum, the Constitution becomes legal.”

Efforts to get Professor Soyinka to react to the Senate prove abortive.

However a close source to the Noble Laureate said the Senate cannot give the people a new Constitution, adding: “We are disappointed with the Senate; the power for a new

Constitution relies solely on the people, which make it Sovereign”.

Uranta, speaking on the need for SNC, said, “We need to sit together to ask ourselves the question: ‘On what basis was Nigeria formed by the British or what basis did we decide to move ahead in 1960 and 1963?

What were the constitutional requirements or duties? If we had regions, did these regions have their different constitutions? Were they free to exploit their resources and pay a tax of 50% to the centre? Is there anything wrong with that? Is that not a principle of derivation. If it was right then, then why is it wrong now?’

“The people that are now supplying all the money have now been cheated out of over 37%, because if we are going by the 1960 Constitution, then the Niger Delta should receive

50% of the total revenue accruing from the resources that are derived within it.

Now, these questions must be addressed and when we address them, we shall learn that every state of Nigeria is rich and we shall learn that the major problem Nigeria has is that we lack leaders with vision and creative imagination to exploit the resources that are available to us, especially the human resources,” he said.

It will be recalled that the Senate, through its spokesperson, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe on Tuesday in Abuja, reiterated that it is only the National Assembly that can give the Nigerian people a popular Constitution and that those calling for national conference are propagating anarchy.

PRONACO advised the Senate to take a cue from a

former Senate President, Ken Nnamani, who recently in Lagos asked the National Assembly not to continue to treat the Nigerian Constitution as a village’s minutes book which can be tinkered with every now and then but to urgently make a law as empowered by Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution to convene a constituent assembly conventionally responsible for giving a country a popular Constitution.

It said Nigeria is already in an emergency situation given the horrendous bloodletting and bombings in the land, which require that the National Assembly, if not for any other reason, should urgently make an emergency law under Section 9 of the Constitution for an urgent convention of a peoples’ national conference.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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Senate joins House, bars FRSC from issuing new number plates, license T

By Richard Ihediwa

he Senate yesterday followed the House of Representatives by passing a resolution ordering the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) to discontinue the issuance of new vehicle number plates and driver’s license as such is beyond FRSC’s mandate.

This followed the adoption of a

motion to that effect by Senator Dahiru Kuta and 19 others, who drew the attention of the Senate to the controversies the indiscriminate fees charged by the FRSC on the new number plates and driver’s license and prayed the upper house to prevail on the corps to hands off the process.

Senators unanimously supported the motion with many of them pointing out that the

number plates issued by the commission were illegal since the law establishing it does not empower it to issue number plates.

Presenting his motion, Kuta lamented that FRSC has abandoned it primary mandates of ensuring safety on Nigeria roads and turned itself into revenue generating agency.

“The commission was not established principally as a

revenue generating agency for states or Federal Government, but the commission in recent times has embarked on frequent and arbitrary introduction and reintroduction of vehicle number plates and driver’s licenses.

“The new driver’s license which the commission launched in 2011 is now issued for N6,000 as against the N3,000 while the new number plates have suddenly

jumped from N5,000 to an astronomical N15,000”, he said.

Lawmakers including Senators Smart Adeyemi and Barnabas Gemade PDP, Kogi described the new number plates as too exorbitant for motorists and illegal.

Ruling, Senate President, David Mark said the issuance of new number plates by FRSC was an imposition of additional burden on Nigerians.

NJC splits over Salami zsets up committee to resolve differences

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

I

L-R: Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Governor of the Reserve Bank of Malawi/Chairman, Association of African Central Banks (AACBs), Dr. Perks Ligoya, and Vice-Chairman of AACBs, Dr. Farid Tialba, during the first meeting of the Bureau of Association of African Central Banks (AACBs), yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Privatisation: FG mandates states to distribute power

By Abdulwahab Isa

S

tate governments desirous of owning equity stake in any of the 11 electricity distribution firms have been given a nod by the National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the organ in charge of the privatisation programme.

The NCP’s nod forms part of its decisions at its first meeting which was held on February 27, 2012 at the Presidential Villa, a statement issued yesterday by spokesperson of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh announced.

The NCP chaired by VicePresident Namadi Sambo also endorsed that the percentage of equity that state governments hold in a distribution company will be determined through independent valuation of actual investments by the respective states in the distribution network.

NCP approved that 60% of the shares of a distribution company be sold to core investors to allow state governments to participate in the bidding consortia but limit the overall federal and state

government shares to 49%.

Nonetheless, the NCP approved that the federal and state governments would not play any role in the management of the privatised successor companies.

It also endorsed that the workers’ allotment would not exceed a maximum of 2% of the overall shares or 10% of the Federal Government shares in each distribution company; whichever is lower.

NCP also approved that shareholders’ agreements will be signed between the governments and core investors in each distribution company that will explicitly provide for automatic dilution of any Government shareholding where there is a failure to meet payment deadlines.

The valuation will be determined by an independent agency jointly ppointed by the state governments and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

“This capital contribution will be secured and repaid on terms agreed with the distribution company. The assets thus acquired will become the property of the distribution company but will be wholly utilised within and for the benefit of the citizens of the relevant state”, BPE clarified further in the statement.

However, states are to receive compensation within the ambit of the extant tariff methodology.

“Excess capital costs, if any, will be borne by the state government. Any investment by the state will not attract any interest payments by the distribution companies”, it said.

ndications emerged yesterday from the meeting of the National Judicial Council (NJC), that recalling the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Ayo Salami may stretch a little longer following divisions among members of the council.

As a result of this development, NJC is yet to reach a decision on whether to recall Justice Salami or not, but set up a committee to iron out divergent areas with a view to resolving the differences among members.

The committee will report back to the council at a later date.

The leadership of the council is said to be interested in recalling him but has to allow other members to air their grievances.

A source who also spoke with our reporter said that no decision has been taken on Salami yet because the meeting continues today (Thursday).

The source said that there were divisions among the members.

While some are sympathetic to Salami and believed that he should be recalled so as to restore the credibility of the judiciary, others

Suleja IBB market gripped with fear over suspected explosive From Iliya Garba, Minna

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ear gripped traders of IBB Ultra Modern Market in Suleja, Niger state following an unconfirmed report that an improvised explosive device which was said to be concealed in a polythene bag was found at the back of a trader’s shop within the market.

Investigations revealed that traders at the market were not at ease when they saw the polythene bag lying idle at the corner of the shop.

Witnesses said some traders at

Unknown persons tease Katsina police with ‘bombs’ From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

U

nknown persons in Katsina state have formed the habit of wrapping suspicious materials in polythene bags and dropping them close to police stations in an attempt to create bomb scare and confusion

in the affected areas.

Recently in Musawa town, the police authority in the state had to dispatch a bomb squad to the divisional police station in the town following the discovery of suspicious items hidden in a polythene bag that was dropped behind the station’s building.

who were loyalists of the former CJN, Justice Aloysius Katsina-Alu were against such a recall.

This information could not be confirmed because council members declined comments.

Salami was suspended by the NJC on August 18, last year after an emergency session.

Justice Musdapher, on October 14, last year, raised a 29-member stakeholders’ Judicial Reform Committee, headed by a former CJN, Justice Mohammed Uwais.

A sub-committee of the panel, including Justice Mamman Nasir, Justice U. Kalgo and Justice Bola Ajibola, asked the CJN and the NJC to reinstate Justice Salami to his position.

The committee upheld the decisions of the sub-committee and recommended Justice Salami’s reinstatement.

Salami is in court challenging his suspension as the president of the Court of Appeal.

Unconfirmed reports had it that Salami had been advised to withdraw his case to pave way for an amicable resolution of the dispute.

However, as at press time no application to discontinue the suit had been filed.

The police command spokesman, ASP Shehu Koko Muhammad who confirmed the incident to newsmen, noted that on reaching the area it was discovered that the polythene bag only contained ashes, urine and a wire attached with it to arouse the suspicion of being a bomb.

the market learnt about the strange bag which put everybody on alert. They however, quickly alert the military taskforce who are enforcing the state of emergency imposed on the area by the Federal Government.

Great numbers of traders took to their heels as others forget to close their shops for fear that the bag contained a bomb until the security operatives came to their rescue.

It would be recalled that suspected bombers were arrested along Angwan Dawaki with explosives concealed in loaves of bread along the busy Minna on Monday.

Mr. Hyacinth Apah, a trader at the IBB market confirmed the bomb scare. He said as a result of security challenges within Suleja and its environs, people are no longer taking any chances, adding that the intervention of men of the joint task force has brought the situation under control.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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Pirates attack Dutch ship off Nigeria’s coast, kidnap 2

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irates opened fire on a Dutch cargo ship a few miles from the city of Port Harcourt, kidnapping the ship's master and an engineer and stealing cash, a security source and anti-piracy group said yesterday.

The ship, a "Dutch-owned, refrigerated cargo vessel", was attacked on Tuesday around 4.10 p.m. (1510 GMT), the latest in a string of pirate attacks in the Gulf of Guinea.

"Eight armed men boarded and opened fire towards the bridge, stole cash and crew's possessions, and kidnapped the master and chief engineer before escaping. A third crew member was left unaccounted for," a statement by the anti-piracy group, AKE, said.

A security source working for an oil company in Port Harcourt gave the same details, adding that there were 14 crew on board.

One crew member was injured, he added.

"Vessels in the area are advised to maintain strict watch and exercise vigilance at all times," AKE said, adding that 13 attacks had been recorded off West Africa in 2012 so far, seven of which occurred off Nigeria.

Court foils Akingbola’s attempt to tender document From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos High Court in Ikeja, presided over by Justice Habeeb Abiru, yesterday, again dismissed attempts by the former managing director of Intercontinental Bank plc (now Access Bank Plc) to use documents containing part of the proceedings of a federal high court suit against him to cross examine one of the witnesses brought by the Economic and Financial Crime Commission (EFCC).

Akingbola, through his counsel, Mr. Deji Sasegbon (SAN) had also wanted the documents to be admitted as exhibits.

But the court in its ruling yesterday, rejected the documents and refused to admit them as exhibit.

Justice Abiru also rejected and disallowed another attempt by the defence counsel, Sasegbon (SAN), to use a part of the document to cross examine the EFCC witness, Mr. Abdulraheem Jimoh and for same to be admitted as exhibit.

The judge ruled that the defence has not shown the relevance of the documents to the suit at hand in the court.

He also held that the defence cannot use proceedings in a suit against his client in another court as evidence and for cross examination of witnesses in his court.

The judge while rejecting a part of the document the defence

wanted to use to cross examine the EFCC witness the second time held that “before such document could be tendered, there must have been contradictions in the statement and cross examination of the witness.

“The document is hereby rejected and cannot be tendered as evidence”, he said.

Earlier, Sasegbon while cross examining Mr. Jimoh, had cited certain sections of the Evidence Act to buttress his argument that documents filed at the Federal High Court as proof of evidence are public documents.

He said that the documents which are part of the documents filed and proceedings of a suit in which the parties are the” Federal

Government of Nigeria versus Erastus Akingbola” at the Federal High Court are relevant to the particular case in the high court.

But counsel to the EFCC, Mr. E.C. Ukala (SAN) opposed the use of the documents for cross examination and for it to be tendered as exhibit.

Ukala argued that for any document to be used for cross examination, it must have first been tendered in court as evidence and admitted as exhibits.

Citing provisions of the Evidence Act, Ukala posited that the only condition for using such documents for cross examination was to tender it in court long before the witness is put in the witness box and not in the middle of proceedings.

“Besides they are address of

proceedings in another suit in another court and the law is very clear on the extent to which you can use such proceedings in another court.

“Before you can use proceedings in another case, you have to lay the foundation for it.

“Unless the conditions for wanting to use it are established, they would not be relevant to the case at hand”, he submitted.

Akingbola and an associate, Bayo Dada are standing trial on alleged theft of N47.1 billion belonging to the bank brought against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Hearing on the matter continues today.

Adamawa: Cop, assailant killed in crossfire From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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group of gunmen on Tuesday night, stormed Demsa council area of Adamawa, a town 46 Kilometers South of the state capital and attacked officers on duty at the divisional police station.

Eyewitnesses told our correspondent that the assailants who were armed to the teeth arrived in two cars-a Toyota starlet and Sienna and began firing indiscriminately on police officers and soldiers in the barrack behind the Demsa police station.

Spokesperson of the Adamawa state police command, Altine Daniel confirmed the incident and said a police corporal was killed just as one of the attackers was equally killed.

“Tuesday night at about 8pm some unknown gunmen attacked our men at Demsa division and opened fire on them, our men too returned fire and during the crossfire, one of the attackers was killed; equally a police officer, Cpl Lukman Abdullahi was also killed”, Daniel stated.

The PPRO also confirmed the carting away of an AK 47 rifle, belonging to the slain policeman, and debunked claims in some quarters that explosive devices were used.

However some residents who

were eyewitnesses doubt police claims that the person killed is one of the attackers arguing that he could have been an innocent passerby.

It would be recalled that last Sunday night, unknown gunmen launched an attack on the Shuwa divisional police station in Madagali local government area of Adamawa state using improvised explosive devices; three policemen got killed in the process while an unspecified number of casualties were recorded.

L-R: Anambra state Governor, Mr Peter Obi, Emeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu (jnr), and Senator Uche Chukwumerije, inspecting the final phase of work at the late Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu Mausoleum, yesterday in Nnewi, Anambra state.

IG warns police against illegal detention, maltreatment From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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he Acting Inspector General of Police, IGP, Mohammed Abubakar

Robbers kill Taraba university student in Jalingo From Godswill Uche, Damaturu.

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student with the Taraba State University Jalingo, Wunuken Magaji was shot dead by armed bandits in the early hours of yesterday In Nukkai, Jalingo Local government area.

An eye witness, Musa Ibrahim told Peoples Daily that the robbers trailed a renowned politician in the State, Joseph Magaji , elder brother of the deceased to his house at Nukkai in the night before unleashing terror on their victim.

He said the robbers numbering three knocked the gate of the house repeatedly which attracted

Wunuken. He unknowingly opened the gate and was shot on the neck mistaking him to be the elder brother.

After killing Wunuken, the robbers held every occupant of the house hostage and demanded for the keys to the Pajero jeep of Joseph Magaji which was handed over to them and they drove off.

When contacted the state police public relations Officer Ibiang Mbaseki confirmed the report stressing that signals have been sent to divisional police headquarters in the state to recover the vehicle.

Late Wunuken Magaji is survived by his pregnant wife and a child.

has warned against illegal detention, dehumanizing treatment of suspects, intimidation and harassment of innocent Nigerians by police officers in the country.

The IGP vowed that any violation of the law would be met with stiff penalties and possible dismissal from the force.

The Benue State Police Public Relations’ Officer ASP Ejike Alaribe handed Mohammed’s warning to over 1000 officers and men of the Gboko Area Command as part of directive by the IGP by all commands to embark on tour of their divisions.

The Police boss further directed intermittent inspection of all police cells in the country by journalists to check cases of illegal detentions and dehumanizing treatment of suspects in the custody in any part of the country, warning that any command that flouts the order would be sanctioned

appropriately.

He also vowed to check and prosecute any police officer who perpetrates “organized corruption and crime” and all forms of illegalities in the police force to serve as deterrents to others Abubakar also assured that he would put measures in place to “return the Police to the people instead of making the people regret having the Police as an integral institution that deviates from it’s constitutional role of protection of lives and property”.

“We cannot be said to be fighting criminals when on our part we are not clean. That is the reason why the much craved reforms we are talking about must start within the force. We are determined to ensure international best practices in the act of Policing in this country in order to make the force more responsive to the yearnings of all Nigerian”, the IGP promised.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 5

Jos blast: Slain member’s family express forgiveness From Bayo Alabira & Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he family of late Miss Nenbam Grace Wambutda, 34, who died in the Sunday bomb explosion at Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN), headquarters, said the perpetrators of the act have been forgiven.

60-year-old mother of late Nenbam who is a retired civil servant with the Plateau state Ministry of Agriculture, Mrs. Naomi Joshua Wambutda described her late daughter as a religious person who was determined to get any thing she wanted, well disciplined, gentle and hardworking.

Mrs. Wambutda said, “despite the death of Nenbam who was my first child, my faith in Christ would not be affected but rather it would strengthened.”

She continued: “Vengeance is not of the family but of the Lord; the perpetrators have done their worst but God Almighty, the giver and taker of life knows best.”

SSANU threatens strike over retirement age From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU) yesterday threatened to embark on another strike over government’s refusal to endorse its members’ new retirement age.

The National Vice-President of the South-West zone of the union, Alfred Jimoh who spoke with newsmen hinted that some of their members who were already 60 years have been relieved of their appointments by their respective institutions.

“Continued delay in the legislative process and nonremoval of that clause will further deepen the already strained relationship between government and the union,” he added.

The SSANU chief blamed the trend on President Goodluck Jonathan who has refused to accent the bill on the 65 year retirement age for the members of the association by both the two chambers of the National Assembly and which was part of 2009 agreement entered into by the Federal Government with the association.

L-R: Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, Prof. Viola Onwuleri, Minister of State for FCT, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of Land and Urban Development, Ms. Amma Pepple and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Another blast injures 2 JTF personnel in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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wo personnel of the Joint Military Task Force, (JTF) were yesterday morning wounded when an improvised explosive device (IED), buried by suspected members of the Boko Haram sect went off and hit their patrol vehicle at Gamborou ward of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Witnesses said many people, including a soldier, policeman and passers-by sustained injuries from the blast, which caused panic in

the area.

It was gathered that the incident took place at about 7.30am when the soldiers were on a routine surveillance at the area and that their vehicle stepped on the explosive.

“I was just about preparing for work when I heard a big bang seven times, which sounded like a transformer blowing off. Few minutes later, I heard sporadic gun shots leading to a commotion in the area,” a resident said.

Immediately after the blast, a fierce gun battle between the JTF operatives and some gunmen was

said to have erupted as the area was deserted.

According to witnesses, “shortly after the explosion, some gunmen drove in the area in a Volkswagen cars, parked beside the road and fired several shots on the military vehicle, before fleeing the scene.”.

A source at the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) who spoke in confidence to our correspondent confirmed that about 10 people including two security agents were being treated at the hospital’s accident and emergency unit.

Musa Baba, a resident of the area

said shortly after the attack, members of the JTF cordoned off some roads and restricted movements, while others embarked on house-to- house search.

However, spokesman of the JTF, Lt-Col. Hassan Mohammed in a statement yesterday, denied that there was gun duel between the task force and Boko Haram members.

According to Lt-Col. Mohammed, the gunmen only detonated explosives in a kiosk which damaged some vehicles as there was no casualty from either side.

Appoint and inaugurate NCPP, Senate tells Jonathan

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he Senate yesterday in Abuja asked President Goodluck Jonathan to appoint and inaugurate the National Council on Public Procurement (NCPP) as provided for in section 1(4) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

The Senate also asked the President to constitute the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) as

provided for in sections 7(1) and 8(1) in order to establish a legal, formidable and effective institution.

The Senate gave these directives following the debate on a motion sponsored by Sen. Ahmad Lawan (ANPP –Yobe) on the need for the appointment and inauguration of the NCPP. Leading the debate, Lawan

noted that the Public Procurement Act 2007 took effect from June, 2007 and it established the NCPP and BPP as the regulatory agencies responsible for the monitoring and oversight of public procurement.

He said under the Act, the NCPP was responsible for considering and approving policies on public procurement,

approving the appointment of the directors of the BPP and approving changes in the procurement process.

According to him, although the BPP was established in 2007, five years down the line, the Federal Government had yet to constitute the NCPP as provided for in sections 1(1) and 1(4) of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

Rev. King: Followers celebrate birthday in Katsina From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ollowers of Rev King who was convicted over the alleged murder of one of his followers, held an elaborate ceremony yesterday in Katsina to celebrate the birth of their leader who is in jail in Katsina prisons.

Speaking with newsmen at the

ceremony held at Fadama View Hotel, Katsina, a senior reverend with Christian Praying Assembly, Reverend Ernest King said their leader deserved to be celebrated owing to the fact that he was brought to the world to fight evil and heal sickness.

He added that their leader who according to him was unjustly incarcerated in Katsina Central

Prison was doing well in prison custody and had sent a message of hope to them to be just, righteous and resolute in the fight against injustice and evil.

The reverend who traced the long history of the alleged evil plot against their leader disclosed that two years before his incarceration their leader had told them that the evil doers from within Nigeria

and the outside world would come after him but gave them assurance that he will survive the storm.

King therefore recalled that the manner their leader was allegedly framed-up over the murder issue left much to be desired, adding “during his trial at a Lagos high court he was not given the opportunity to defend

himself and lies and doubtful evidences were admitted against him”.

According to him, his followers are still battling on finding ways to be seeing their leader who is in detention in Katsina prison but they are meeting difficulties because of what he alleged as the ‘uncompromising attitude’ of the prison officials.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Nigeria’s foreign reserves drop to $34.7 billion

By Aminu Imam, with agency report

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igeria's foreign exchange reserves fell to $34.74 billion by Feb. 27, from $35.03 billion on Feb. 13, their highest in six months, Reuters

reported the latest data from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) as showing yesterday.

The report showed that the country's forex reserves stood at $33.24 billion around the same date a year ago and were $34.41 billion a month earlier than

that.

Analysts attributed the decline to a withdrawal by the Federal Government to top up revenue shortfall for January's budgetary distribution to the three tiers of government.

The authorities have said the nation's revenue from oil exports dropped in January again due to production outages, leading to a withdrawal from the excess crude account to keep distributions steady when crude oil revenues dip.

ABU’s sack of 289 employees callous, says critic From Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna

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he sack of 289 newly employed staff of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria by the institution's ViceChancellor, Professor Abdullahi Mustapha, last Friday has generated tension within and outside the academia, with some critics saying it is callous.

In statement signed by a public commentator, Abduljalal Danbaba and made available to newsmen yesterday, termed the VC’s unilateral sacking of 289 newly engaged staff as a callous mission with unpredictable consequences and negation of the university’s founding father’s principles.

While accusing the Vice Chancellor of breaching the trust of the institution's founding father, the then premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna Sokoto, Danbaba also noted that the Vice Chancellor's act has clearly indicated his high handedness, insensitivity and lack of compassion.

The statement also reads in part, "With this regrettable act, let the VC add 289 enemies to the number of enemies he assumed to have in the University and the rest of the world. And let it be on record of the VC that there is nothing he would do again that would be appreciated or even be supported by these young generation and their families"

Boko Haram: Gombe declares S/Court ruling: Kwankwaso’s supporters still basking in euphoria fasting, prayer L-R: Commander, 22 Armoured Brigade, Sobi Cantonment, Ilorin, Brigadier-General S.B. Bello, Kwara state Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Abubakar Amuda Kannike, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Alhaji Alabi Amuda, and other government functionaries and military officers walking on the Ohan bridge after it was commissioned, yesterday in Asa local government area of the state.

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

S

upporters of the Peoples Democratic Party in Kano state and members of the Kwankwasiya Movement are still basking in the euphoria of Tuesday’s Supreme Court pronouncement which affirmed the victory of the governoar Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso in the 2011 governorship election in the state.

In a unanimous judgement delivered separately, the apex court had held that the duo of Kwankwoso of Kano and Aliyu of Niger states are validly elected as governors of their various states in the governorship polls conducted last year by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

While delivering the lead judgement in the Niger appeal,

Justice Mary Odili held that the appellant, Congress for Progressives Change (CPC), failed to take the legal way to show the court that INEC did not produce the materials requested for to be used as evidence.

The All Nigeria Peoples Party in Kano had challenged the victory of Kwankwaso at the tribunal but the tribunal ruled in favour of the governor.

Not satisfied, the party headed for the Court of Appeal to challenge the decision of the tribunal, but the court also upheld the victory.

Reacting to the judgement, Governor Kwankwaso commended the apex court for the thorough and impartial work it has done, stating that the judgement has further increased the hope of a common man in the judicial system of the nation.

Lack of equipment halts N4bn Kaduna hospital From Lawal Sadiq Sanusi, Kaduna

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300-bed ultra-modern hospital under construction, which will cost Kaduna state government N4 billion may be completed two years behind schedule due to lack of equipment for the project which would deliver some rare healthcare services to the 6.1 million residents of the state.

This was made known to members of Correspondents Chapel of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kaduna Council, when the contractors paid a verification visit to the Project site at Hayin Danbushiya, Chikun Local Government Area (LGA), a stone

throw east of Kaduna metropolis.

Showing journalists round the site yesterday, ElieAntonios, Branch Manager, Nahman Construction, the contractors, told members of the chapel that the physical structure of the hospital was 63% completed.

“We cannot complete the project by 100% because there are equipments that need to be installed, then we build round them. So far, based on the certification we have received from the Ministry of Health, we are at 63% level of completion.

“And we have been paid N2 billion ever since. But we are not the contractors to install the equipments. The contractors for the equipment will be chosen by

the State Ministry of Health. I am told that it is in this year’s budget.

“There is no doubt that the State Governor (Sir Patrick Yakowa ) is very keen about finishing this project. There was a time he came here at an odd time.

It was raining heavily last October.

He came in the rain. He went from block to block, inspecting everything. Even the State Commissioner of Health comes here regularly.

“I know they will buy the equipments. But you know the way government works. But at the rate we are going, we hope that at the best, this hospital can only be commissioned in the next one and half years. That will be two years behind its scheduled completion

date.

“The hospital will be a rare one in Nigeria. It has all kinds of services, including dialysis, dental care, pediatrics units, with an Oncology Unit that would come with a linear accelerator. Only one other Hospital in Lagos has a Linear Accelerator unit. In fact, in Africa there are few of them.

“Even in Europe and the United States, they are not common. But here, we will have one. As you can see over there, we cannot complete that structure, unless the Accelerator is installed.

“We have installed two standby generators and we have water treatment plants here connected to boreholes, should the utility company fail.

From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

F

ollowing last Friday night’s bomb attack on the police division in Gombe state by Boko Haram which claimed over 12 lives, the state government has declared fasting and prayers for peace throughout the state.

Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo who stated this when he visited the scene of the bomb blast, also said that the prayers for peace would begin on Thursday March 1, 2012 with general fasting for Christians and Muslims in the state.

He said that the state civil servants would close by 12 noon on Friday, March 2, 2012 to enable the Muslims pray for peace before and after Juma’at prayers, adding that the Christians on the other hand would do the same during Sunday services on March 4, 2012.

Dakwambo had earlier asked for prayers over the recent disturbance of peace across the country saying “prayer is the only weapon we have to fight this brand new development”.

He however urged Nigerians to check themselves to ensure that while praying, they do not plan evil against others, pledging to redouble proactive security measures in Gombe state in order to continue to safeguard the lives and property of its citizens.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 7

FG to set up 400 Almajiri schools nationwide, says minister From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

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he Federal Government is to establish 400 Almajiri schools nationwide.

The Minister of State for Education, Mr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, disclosed this during a courtesy call on the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad

Abubakar in Sokoto, yesterday.

According to him, the establishment of such schools was aimed at stopping the Almajiri from roaming the streets.

He said that the schools which were being established through the Universal Basic Education (UBE) scheme in states across the country, would train

about 10 million students.

Almajiris are prevalent in the North.

The Minister said Almajiris could contribute their quota to the nation's development if they have sound education.

"This initiative was to ensure that the target of education for all was attained", Wike said.

He pointed out that,

the Almajiris could play a critical role by contributing to the society when they acquire education.

Responding, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa'ad Abubakar 111, urged the federal government to make Islamic and Christian religious knowledge compulsory subjects in schools.

Ibori: Politicians back EFCC on further trial

S

ome politicians yesterday hailed the plan by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to try former Delta Governor James Ibori for corruption in spite of his trial by a London court.

The EFCC on Tuesday said it would still try Ibori when he returned to Nigeria.

Ibori pleaded guilty to a 10-count charge of fraud, stealing and money laundering before a Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday.

He will be sentenced in

April.

In separate interviews with NAN, the Public Relations Officer of the KOWA Party, Prof.

Oluremi Sonaiya, said that there was the need to still try the former governor in Nigeria.

“Justice must always pursue its course; it is important that nobody be made to feel that he is above the law; any one who has committed a crime should pay for it,'' she said.

Sonaiya called for the removal of immunity clause for public office

holders to enable them to realise that they were not above the law. “he challenge is for us to build a system which will treat everybody equally before the law,'' Sonaiya added.

Also commenting, the National Chairman of the Advanced Congress of Democrats (ACD), Malam Yusuf Buba, commended the plan.

He said Ibori's plea before the London court could be a sign of repentance but should not prevent his trial in Nigeria.

The Lagos State Chairman of the Justice Party (JP), Mr Ayo Akintayo, also supported EFCC's plan.

“The EFCC will have to further try him once he returns to Nigeria. Since he has confessed in London, he also has to confess here,'' he said.

Akintayo said that the former governor did not plead guilty in Nigeria in the hope that he could escape conviction. (NAN)

Kano forfeits 225 seats from Hajj allocation From Bala Nasir, Kano

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ano state will forfeit 225 seats from the number of allotments to it in this year's Hajj exercise as a result of various offenses committed by nine male pilgrims and a woman who delivered a child during the last Hajj in Saudi Arabia.

Executive Secretary of the Agency, Alhaji Laminu Rabiu who made this known to Peoples Daily through his spokesman, Malam Badamasi Nuhu in Kano yesterday stated that the Saudi authorities had to cut the number of pilgrims from the state as penalty for the offence committed by the pilgrims last year.

The woman who delivered in Mecca, according to him, hails from Warawa Local Government of the state while the other nine pilgrims who absconded in the Holyland came from other local governments.

He said,though this year's allocation of pilgrims to states of the federation is yet to be carried out, 225 people would be subtracted

from the eventual allocation to Kano state, particularly from the local councils where the ten erring pilgrims came from. Kano state was allocated 7,464 seats last year.

He said the state's pilgrims agency has been making efforts to screen out pregnant women as demanded by the Saudi authorities but people always want to break the rules.

He however, stated that his agency has been adopting ways to stop pregnant women from travelling to the Holy Land for pilgrimage as well as absconders whose real motives would be doublechecked before embarking on the pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Meanwhile, the state's pilgrims agency has started collecting deposits from intending pilgrims where N450,000 is collected.

The balance would be paid when the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) announced new fares for this year's Hajj seats, he added.

Kwankwaso Secrecy shrouds new assents to vehicles for Nasarawa Kano lawmakers vigilante supporters of the CPC ever From Ali Abare Abubakar, ready to storm and interfere law Lafia with proceedings on the From Bala Nasir, Kano

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overnor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has signed into law a bill for the establishment of Neighbourhood Watch, otherwise known as vigilante groups in the state.

The law, which consist of 15 sections, is to provide for the setting up, registration and monitoring of vigilante groups in the state.

Elucidating on the bill shortly after the brief signing ceremony at the Government House, Kano, the state Commissioner for Justice, Barrister Maliki Kuliya Umar said the law was essential because as voluntary organizations which assist the police and other governmental agencies in combating crime, only people of impeccable character are allowed membership of the groups.

Barrister Umar added that regulating the activities of vigilante groups in view of the significance of their service to the society was necessary, given their crucial roles , particularly at this critical period in the state.

I

n what many may perceive as pacification of the otherwise confrontational members of the Peoples Democratic Party dominated Nasarawa state House of Assembly, by the Congress for Progressive Change administration of Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, 30 brand new cars are to be purchased for the 24 members and other principal officers of the assembly.

Though the exercise is shrouded in secrecy, investigations by our correspondent revealed that the first batch of the vehicles comprising four Prado SUVs, meant for the Speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed, his deputy, Elisha Agwadu, the Majority Leader, Godiya Akwashiki and the Minority Leader, Tanko Maikatako, arrived Lafia Monday night and were sneaked by the contractor to an unknown destination.

This secrecy, sources say, may not be unconnected with the tension usually generated by the activities of the Assembly, with aggrieved youths who are staunch

floor of the Assembly in a bid to shield the executive arm "The youths will lynch them if they learnt members collected such huge sums for personal gains rather than for initiating people-oriented project." An anonymous source said.

However, vehicles meant for the other members of the Assembly including the Clerk of the House, Ego Mai Keffi Abashi, are said to be of a lower make and are expected to be delivered between now and the end of next week.

Further investigations

by Peoples Daily also indicate that the four principal officers of the Assembly pocketed huge car allowances as well as for foreign trips, alongside other lawmakers including the Clerk of the Assembly.

Earlier, the House Committee Chairman on Information, Mohammed Baba Ibaku confirmed that contract has been awarded for the procurement and delivery of the vehicles to members and the contractor duly paid for the job.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 8

FG, Taraba unite against poverty From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

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he National Poverty Alleviation Programme (NAPEP) in Taraba state has spent N650 million to alleviate poverty in Taraba state between 2008 to date.

Assistant Director of the programme in the state, Joseph Olusegun Shehindemi disclosed this while reacting to allegation

8,452 UNICAL students to bag certificates Saturday

that NAPEP received N1.5 billion for its programme in the State within the said period but had nothing to show for it .

Shehindemi explained that the total of N650 million expended by NAPEP were received for the programme in the state since 2008.

He said that the Taraba state Government provided N500 million while the Federal Government released N150

million.

The Assistant Director stated that initially Oceanic Bank pledged to provide N500 million to the programme in the State but withdrew as a result of recapitalization policy in the banking industry.

According to him, N400 million out of the N650 million released to NAPEP was disbursed to small scale entrepreneurs in the State as micro credit.

He said part of the balance of N250 million was used in building eight schools and construction of six boreholes in each of the schools as well as seven health centres.

Shehindemi said part of the balance of the fund was used via the Cop programme to relieve 572 poorest of the poor in the State.

The Assistant Director said the aim of the Cop programme was to assist the less privileged members of the society to send their children

to school and improve their health status.

Shehidemi said NAPEP in the state had since exhausted the fund which was released to it last in 2008 and was awaiting release fund to it beginning from 2011.

He urged the people of the state to understand the plight of NAPEP and appreciate the little the programme was able to provide in its efforts at improving the living standard of Tarabans.

From Tom Moses, Calabar

T

he 26th convocation ceremony of the University of Calabar (UNICAL) is scheduled to hold on Saturday March 3, 2012 where fewer than expected to be conferred with degrees and diplomas of the university.

Vice-Chancellor of UNICAL, Professor James Epoke who gave the news in Calabar, yesterday while speaking with journalists, said President Goodluck Jonathan is expected as a special visitor together with the Minister of Education, Professor Rukayyatu Rufai.

He said that more than 800 Post-Graduate Diplomas, Masters’ degrees and PhDs would also be awarded during the convocation ceremony which would be preceded by a special lecture with the theme “21st Century Education in Nigeria And The Issue of Skills Acquisition’’.

According to him, the University, compared to other tertiary institution in the country, would be awarding such a high number of degrees and diplomas for the first time because there were backlog of unsigned certificates over a long period of time leading to certificate racketeering.

He said the racketing has now drastically reduced since his administration cleared 90 per cent of the backlog.

“As I speak with you, I have signed at least, 32,000 backlog of certificates, making nearly 90% of backlog of results and certificates, so that the degrees and diplomas that would be awarded during the 26th convocation ceremony would include much of those that belonged to the past students as well as those who have just graduated”, he said.

On security, Epoke said, “We

Edo state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole (middle), cuting the tape to flag off the 2012 Polytechnic Exposition hosted by Auchi Polytechnic, yesterday in Auchi. With him are the Rector, Dr Phillipa Idogho, (left) and representative of the Executive Secretary, National Business and Technical Education Board (NBTEB), Chief Mba (right).

‘Agbekoya’ initiates Oshiomhole, 3,500 Edo farmers From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

foremost agricultural association in Nigeria codenamed, 'Agbekoya' Association has initiated Edo State governor, Adams

Oshiomhole as its life patron and inducted 3, 500 people across the 18 Local government areas of the State into Commercial and Mechanised farming.

With this development coming 74 years after it was

Personnel welfare remains our priority-CDS

By Emmanuel Iriogbe

T

he Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Air Chief Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, has promised the defence headquarters’ continued support for actions and deeds that will improve the lives of military personnel and uplift the barracks.

He made this pledge yesterday when his wife, Mrs

Appolonia Petinrin who also doubles as the president of Defence and Police officers Wives Association (DEPOWA) led members of her association to a contract signing and groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of DEPOWA Secretariat access road to the Shehu Yar’Adua barracks.

Mrs Appolonia in her speech, said the construction and rehabilitation of the

Cert. forgery: Yobe judicial commission dismisses 8 staff From Godswill Uche, Damaturu.

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ight staff of the Yobe state Judicial commission have been dismissed for diploma certificate forgery.

This is contained in a statement issued and signed by the secretary to the commission, Musa Kyari Kachalla.

established in Ibadan, the Oyo State Capital as a human rights organisation, 50, 000 farmers drawn from South West, SouthEast and South-East and SouthSouth are expected to access N8 billion within the next five years.

Those sacked were grade level 07 to level 12 staff of the High Court of Justice and the Sharia Court Division.

Those dismissed from the High court include Mohammed K. Ibrahim, Registrar level 07.

Bamai Lawan, Senior Registrar level 09, Audi A. Audi, Higher Registrar level 08; and Aliyu Sale Sarki grade level 08

Others from the Sharia Court division were; Mohammed M. Sale, Higher Sharia judge (Alkali) on grade level 12; Abubakar Mohammed Arjali, Sharia judge (Alkali) grade level 10;Fatsuma Abubakar Tamana Higher registrar grade level 08 and Yagana KaumiShetitima, Senior Registrar grade level 09.

367metres road became necessary because of its state of disrepair which had made it impossible for officers and men to take their children to the military school located nearby.

On the source of the association’s N35.5 million (N35,530,400) earmarked for the project, the DEPOWA president had kind words for the CDS and service chiefs; “I want to use this occasion to thank the CDS, principal officers, the service chief, Inspector General of Police and the Director of Defence military intelligence for their support in making our dream of giving out to society possible”.

The contractor handling the project, Frank A Construction Ltd, through its chairman, Engineer Frank Asiegbu promised to meet the 30 days completion deadline agreed by both parties.

Apart from the individual farmland holdings, 'Agbekoya has earmarked additional 2, 000 hectares for maize cultivation, 2,000 hectares for cassava and 1.2 million birds(Chickens), 29 million tones of fish including 40, 000 piggeries.

President of 'Agbekoya' Association, Kamorudeen Aremu Akikiola in a speech delivered at the inauguration to the farmers yesterday in Benin City said,"We are now prepared to take farming as a serious business. Our plan is to establish three model farms in the Senatorial districts of Edo State; for the training of new and young farmers in the State and also to provide jobs for our youths".

Akikiola listed four major objectives the association is working to achieve including restoration and repositioning of Nigeria as an agricultural State that would contribute to the national economy, champion mechanised and arable farming so as to improve the standard of living.

Special Adviser to Edo State governor Adams Oshiomhole on Agriculture, Dr. Kashietu Ilevbare canvassed the need for the farmers to support the reelection of the governor to sustain the on-going transformation of rural areas to open up farm settlements across the State.

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Reps: We’ll not sweep subsidy probe report under carpet

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he Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Downstream, Mr Dakuku Peterside, yesterday assured Nigerians that the report of the subsidy probe, “will not be swept under the carpet”.

Peterside, representing Andoni-Opobo/Nkoro Federal Constituency, Rivers, said in Lagos that the caliber of legislators involved in the probe would not allow their names to be dragged in the mud.

“I can say categorically that when the investigation is concluded, we are going to

ensure that the report is not swept under the carpet.

“Many people have their reputation at stake, we cannot sacrifice our reputation for anybody.’’

The chairman said that the alleged corruption trailing the management of fuel subsidy was not good for the country’s image.

“There is need for a thorough investigation so as to identify the culprits and bring them to book to serve as a deterrent to others.’’

Peterside also commented on the license renewal of Exxon Mobil oil blocs, saying that“If

the House of Representatives finds that the agreement did not follow due process, it can still revoke it”.

“For many years, nobody is making investment in the upstream sector of the oil and gas industry.

“You know we cannot wait forever. We need to balance our national interest with the economic reality and strike a balance.

“We must get the money to run the government, to run the services and to grow our industries.’’ (NAN)

L-R: Director-General of the National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Malam Abubakar Mohammed (left), receiving a copy of Peoples Daily from the Chief Operating Officer of Peoples Media Ltd, Malam Ali M. Ali, during a visit by the management of Peoples Media Limited to the NDE headquarrters, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Kogi NULGE demands N18,000 minimum wage From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he President of Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, [NULGE] in Kogi state, Comrade Tom Abutu has appealed to the state governor, Captain Idris Wada to instruct the directors of local government administration, DLGs, to implement the N18, 000 new minimum wage package being enjoyed by other workers in the state.

In an exclusive interview with Peoples Daily in Lokoja yesterday, Comrade Abutu said while he would ever remain grateful to the former governor of the state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris for implementing the 100% relativity salary structure for the union members, it now behoves on the present administration to compel the authorities of the councils to implement the minimum wage.

Comrade Abutu noted tat

without the implementation of the new wage, local government workers could not address the excruciating economic and social challenges.

According to him, the urgent payment of the minimum wage at the local government councils would stave possible industrial unrest, lamenting that in some local government councils, workers are being owed arrears of salaries and allowances

Five govs pledge support for Oodua conglomerate From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he five governors from owner states of Oodua Investment Company Limited have pledged their unflinching support and commitment to the development of the Oodua conglomerate.

Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti state stated this while briefing newsmen at the end of a closed door meeting between the governors of owner states and Board of Directors of the company at the Executive Chamber of Governor’s office, Ibadan.

Governor Fayemi who spoke on behalf of Governors Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state, Ibikunle Amosun of Ogun state, Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state and Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state said they would meet quarterly to review the activities of the company.

Governor Fayemi explained that the owner states would review operational activities of the company through a professional consultant within three months to reposition the investments of the company.

The conglomerate declared N76 billion profit on real estate from the company

and Wema Board Estate.

He pledged the five governors’ commitment to ensuring greater profitability of the company aimed at expanding its capital base and unprecedented increase in fortune within twelve months.

In his word: “the owner states have decided to take more active steps to look into what is going on by sitting once in every quarter to review its operation for better performance.

The five governors totally committed to ensure profitability, professionalism, ownership and commitment to serve the interest of our people is not compromised” .

He further disclosed that, the owner states would spend more time working with the board of the company in achieving greater profitability and leverage more in protection of the heritage.

In his remarks, the Group Managing Director, Mr Adebayo Jimoh pledged to do more by increasing the capital base of the company and revive its opportunities and thanked the governors for reviewing the activities of the company on quarterly basis.

Gombe police nab two with ammunition From Auwal Ahmed, Gombe

G

ombe State Police Command yesterday arrested two persons allegedly in possession of arms and ammunition, along Dukku motorpark in the state capital.

Parading the suspects; Samaila Yakubu, 34 and Hassan Ojudu, 37, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the State, ASP Muhammad Ahmad, said the two suspects were arrested while attempting to flee the state in a 307 Peugeot

car.

He said that the first suspect, an indigene of Shongom local government, claimed to be a staff of the Power holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), while the second suspect is an indigene of Kogi state.

Meanwhile, sources close to the command told our correspondent that one of the suspects on Friday came to the command and tried to force his way into the building but security operatives disallowed him.

Boko Haram sets education back in Borno, says commissioner

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he on-going destruction of public schools in Maiduguri is a great setback to Borno State, the Commissioner for Education, Malam Inuwa Kubo, said yesterday.

Five primary schools have been set ablaze within two weeks in Maiduguri by unidentified assailants.

But the Jamaatu Ahlis Sunna lid Daawati wal Jihad(Boko Haram) has claimed responsibility for the

attacks citing alleged arrests of Muslim scholars and disruption of Islamic schools in the town.

Kubo appealed to the opinion and community leaders in the state to step up action that would halt the dastardly act.

He told NAN that the action of the sect was unnecesary, unprovoked and targeted at the innocent in the society .

“It is really a sad development because the schools belonged to the people.

Those schools are not personal properties. It is the poor who are suffering as a result of the destruction.’’

Kubo said the terror attacks have put the government in a serious dilemma.

“If we provide alternative classes, how can we guarantee the security of the teachers or the pupils.

“The situation is really complicated. The government will meet with the heads of the schools and parents to see if we

can find a way out.’’

Kubo said the affected pupils would have to stay away from the affected schools so as to enable the government to find viable solutions.

“This kind of destruction will not help us, especially looking at our position as one of the most backward in terms of education.

“Parents should dissuade those burning the schools because they are destroying the future of their children.’’

The Boko Haram members set fire on the Kulo Gomna Primary school, last week, before razing the Budum Primary School.

The same group were suspected to have burnt the Abba Ganaram Primary School on Sunday, while a section of Maiduguri Experimental School destroyed on Monday.

The Gomari Costain Primary School was next in the line of destruction on Tuesday.

(NAN)

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Da’awah council condemns CAN’s ‘double standard’ From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Da’awah Coordinating Council of Nigeria (DCCN) has decried the situation whereby Christians could bomb churches only to apportion blames on Muslims.

A statement signed by its secretary-general, Malam Ahmad Jumba and made available to newsmen in Bauichi, cited an example with last Sunday’s attempted bomb attack at COCIN

Church, Miya Barkatai where Christians were arrested for their alleged involvement in the incident.

The ugly scenario, the Muslims coordinating body observed, could not augur well for the peaceful coexistence of Nigerians as it may lead to members of opposing religions to take up arms against each other.

It recalled that on that Sunday and less than 30 kilometers away from Miya Barkatai, COCIN church headquarters in Jos was

bombed killing worshippers and injuring several others, as Christians took to the streets on reprisal killing of some Muslims and burning their properties worth millions of naira.

The Da’awah Council while condemning both incidents noted that Christians were in a number on instances found camouflaging as Muslims attempting to detonate explosives or bombs in same churches.

The statement also cited the case

of a Christian lady, Mrs. Lydia who was caught planting explosives in the church of her worship which case, he said, was played out and circled away with flimsy charges in order to set her free.

The Muslims Council therefore appealed to the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) to put its house in order in such a manner that Christians will not be bombing churches to apportion blames on Muslims.

It also expressed optimism that

government was fully aware about the root cause of the sectarian violence and other predicament of the country but attributed the inability of the leadership to tackle the issues to injustice, corruption, and partial application of rule of law.

While believing that peace is not the mere absence of war but the application of justice, the Da’awah said government must fight injustice, impunity, corruption, and tribalism to win the confidence of citizens.

Angelique Kidjo urges UN members to outlaw female genital mutilation

U

L-R: Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ibadan chapter, Mr. Jonathan Omolona, and National Vice-President (South-West), Comrade Alfred Jimoh, during a news conference on SSANU/FGN 2009 agreement, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Aluko for burial on Saturday T

he remains of foremost economist, Prof. Samuel Aluko, will be interred on March 3 at Ode-Ekiti, Ekiti state, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

According to the programme of events released by the family, his body will lie-in-state at his Ijapo

Estate residence in Akure between 3:00p.m and 5:p.m on Thursday (today).

It said there would be an evening of songs for the deceased between 5:00p.m and 7:00p.m at the same venue.

The programme further said a commendation service would hold

tommorow between 10:00 am and 12 noon at the Archbishop Vining Anglican Church Chapel of Annunciation, Akure.

The body, according to the programme, would lie-in-state at his compound in Ode-Ekiti between 10:00am and 11:30am while a funeral service would hold

at St. Mary’s Anglican Church, Ode-Ekiti, between 12 noon and 2:00p.m.

The interment, it said, would follow at the premises of the church while a reception for guests would hold at St. Mary’s Primary School grounds, OdeEkiti. (NAN)

Dangote commences expansion Stampede in Dutse as police of Ibese cement plant shoot at suspects

By Aminu Imam

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resident of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, on Tuesday, assured Nigerians of the availability of cement in the country saying that in no time, the supply of cement will surpass demand which will result in reduction of price of the commodity.

While addressing dealers and management of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) in an interactive session in Lagos, Dangote unveiled plans to expand the capacity of Ibese plant which was commissioned early this month, to 12 million metric tonnes per annum. He said the agreements for the expansion of Ibese and Obajana plants had been signed.

He disclosed that with the planned commissioning of

production line-three of the Obajana cement plant in Kogi state next month and the extra one million metric tonnes expected from Gboko plant in Benue state, Dangote Cement is set to become the world’s largest cement producer. These projects, he noted, will be ready in the next 26 months.

In his welcome address, the Director-General Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Oscar Onyema, expressed happiness that Dangote Cement was the first Nigerian company to join the Forbes Global 1000 companies.

He urged other Nigerian entrepreneurs to emulate Dangote in investing in the Nigerian economy, pointing that the size of the nation and the largeness of her population are great incentives for genuine investors.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

A

stampede erupted in Dutse, capital of Jigawa state on Tuesday as police opened fire on a commercial vehicle injuring two of the passengers, while several others around the area sustained minor injuries.

The incident that resulted in serious stampede occured as a result of sudden firing of gunshots at a Golf vehicle with registration number AG75 DUT which was conveying two other passengers besides the driver.

It all started at around 11:45 am when a convoy of a Central Bank of Nigeria in company of a bullion van was rushing into the CBN premises and the unsuspecting Golf driver who was following them from behind lost his bearing and hit the drums that

served as barricades on the road.

The driver was mistaken for an attacker on either the CBN vehicle or the Divisional Police Office adjacent to the bank and the central market.

The passengers who were injured from bullet include one Michael Sunday and Nafiu Garba aged 23 both from Kiyawa local government area. The spokesman of the state police command ASP Abdul Jinjiri who confirmed the incident said the driver of the commercial car ran into the area that has been under barricade for over three weeks.

According to the PPRO the driver was attacked by the police because he defied the warning shouts and also started hitting the barricades used to stop movement of vehicles through the route.

nited Nations advocate and renowned singersongwriter, Angelique Kidjo, has urged all UN member states to outlaw female genital mutilation (FGM).

Kidjo, who spoke with journalists at the UN headquarters in New York on Tuesday, described female genital mutilation as a tradition that diminishes women and seeks to destroy their identity.

“What I want to try doing is to pledge and convince all nations of the United Nations to sign a resolution to ban the practice of female genital mutilation.

“We can’t live in a modern society with FGM still around,” Kidjo, a Grammy-winning artiste, born in the Republic of Benin said.

Kidjo, a Goodwill Ambassador for the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF), and a passionate advocate for girls’ education, said social traditions which condone FGM need to be “tackled at the core”.

She said this could be achieved through making entire communities aware of the harmful consequences of the practice.

“For us to be able to prevent FGM, it is not only talking to girls that went through FGM that matters, it is talking to their parents, their families, their communities, the leaders of communities, religious leaders that practice FMG. “If we can really succeed to completely eradicate FGM and try to give a sense of life to the women who have been through it already, it would be worth trying,” she said.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that 140 million girls and women worldwide are currently living with the consequences of FGM. In Africa, an estimated 92 million girls aged 10 years or older have undergone FGM, which is also practiced in some countries in the Middle East and Asia. The practice is mostly carried out by traditional circumcisers includes who intentionally alter or cause injury to the female genital organs for non-medical reasons.

However, more than 18 percent of all acts of FGM are performed by health-care providers, and that trend has been on the rise, according to WHO. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 11

LG Director tasks residents on clean environment From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he director of Lokoja local government in Kogi state, Comrade M. Iyaji has urged Lokoja residents to develop attitude positive towards clean environment to avoid anything that would impair healthy living.

Comrade Iyaji disclosed this when he visited areas where heavy rainfall in the early hours of yesterday exhumed unhealthy items from drainages unto the roads in Lokoja.

The areas mostly affected were Angwar Tiv, Kaaworo, NATACO, Sarki Numa, Ganaja village and Post Office, where the drainage system collapsed.

The director advised people to endeavour to keep their environment clean to avoid uncontrollable diseases in the city, noting that a clean environment is the first condition for healthy living.

"Everybody should be conscious of his or her environment by keeping the drainage paths and all surroundings clean; the government can only provide medical assistance when we are sick but we can prevent sickness through cleanliness", Iyaji said.

Judicial workers’ strike: Edo police set up special courts to try suspects From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

fter 23 days old strike action embarked upon by Judicial Staff Union of Nigeria, Edo state chapter over wage disagreement between its members and the state government, the state police command has set up a special court located at the police headquarters to try suspects currently in their custody.

The command’s Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), ASP Etim Bassey, told correspondents that the move is to help decongest police cells in line with the order given by the acting Inspector General of Police to all commands across the federation to desist from detaining suspects beyond 24 hours except on capital offences such as rape, murder amongst others.

L-R: President, Hope Initiative for the Vulnerable and Marginalised, Hajiya Zuwaira Gambo, wife of Ekiti state governor, Mrs. Bisi Fayemi, and Director, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Esther Adeyemi, during the 56th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters, on Tuesday in New York.

Photo: NAN

CAN solicits compensation for COCIN bombing From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T

he Christian Association Nigeria (CAN), Plateau state chapter, has called on the Federal Government to as a matter of urgency, compensate the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) and victims of the blast following the bomb that detonated at headquarters of COCIN church last Sunday.

Rev. Philip Dafes, and Rev. Chuwang Davou the state chairman and secretary of the association respectively, in a statement, sympathised with the “entire” COCIN family and called on the security agencies to expedite action in fishing out the culprits “of these dastardly acts”.

CAN further demanded to know the identity and whereabouts of the military officer that was

alleged to have aided the suicide bomber entry in to the headquarters of the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) in Jos where the bomber detonated an explosive in the church premises.

The statement further alleged that the military officer despite refusal by the security (Boys’ Brigade) of the church aided the suicide bomber to gain access into church premises.

States peer review is for good governance, Auto crash claims 5 says Gov. Amaechi From Iliya Garba, Minna

C

hairman of Nigeria Governor’s Forum and of Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi has described the States Peer Review Mechanism initiated by the forum as a way of promoting good governance and not to score the performances of the governors.

At the kick off of the sensitisation workshop of the states peer review mechanism, Amaechi said the essence of the exercise was for the states to share experiences on developmental projects towards attaining good governance.

“This is not a platform to score the governors on who is number one or number two or the last in

performances”, he said.

He said that Niger state was the third state under the searchlight of peer review and the first in the North, adding that the exercise started in Anambra state.

The governor said that the peer review committee headed by former Justice of the Federation, Justice Mohammed Uwais, will be in Niger state for the next six months collating reports that will be submitted to the Governors Forum for reflection.

The peer review committee in Niger state will have access to documents, data and statistics of programmes of the administration and collate the views of civil societies and traditional rulers on the governance of the state, he

reiterated.

Commenting, Justice Mohammed Uwais applauded the governors for assigning him as the chairman of the peer review committee, stating that the exercise was aimed at helping the states to develop along with others.

He maintained that it was an avenue for the 36 states to rub minds for even development and good governance.

In his address, the governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu pleaded with his aides to provide the committee with necessary documents that would assist the committee carry out its duty without hindrances.

He said that the exercise was initiated and endorsed by all the governors because of its importance in fast tracking development.

NHRC implores staff not to shun crisis areas

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Chairman, National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Prof.

Chidi Odinkalu, yesterday, charged staff of the commission to be ready to go to hazard areas in the country to address human rights issues.

The chairman gave this charge at a capacity building training on the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) 2011 for

“CAN demands to know the whereabouts of the military man that aided the suicide bomber to gain entry into the church premises. We wonder why a military man from sector 4 of the STF, will come to the headquarters gate of the COCIN, if not a plan conspiracy as our investigation revealed”.

While commending governor Jonah Jang “for his prompt visit to the site of the blast and the hospitals” the CAN further asked the federal government to provide security personnel for churches and clergymen.

staff of the commission.

He highlighted the need to mediate, reconcile and settle peoples' differences before such escalate to uncontrollable levels, saying that the staff of the commission should brace up to such emergency challenges.

At the workshop which also involved journalists, Odinkalu stated that the commission would be willing to earmark more money and give better incentives to staff

ready to work in hazard areas adding that such areas are of great importance to the commission than taking records of dead people.

He however observed that such national assignments require people of integrity with investigative qualities to be able to mediate and settle disputes among parties especially in crisis areas.

Also speaking at the event, the executive secretary, NHRC, Prof.

Bem Angwe said that the

commission is poised to engender transparency and probity in public service with the instrumentality of the new Freedom of Information Act. According to him, “FOI Act is a revolutionary piece of legislation as it activates a paradigm shift in access to public records and information. This will in turn engender greater transparency, probity and accountability in government business.”

in Kogi

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

F

ive persons on Tuesday died while 17 others sustained various degrees of injuries in an accident that happened at Zaragi by Mark farm along the Okene-Lokoja-Abuja Highway.

An eyewitness said the accidents which happened at about 3 am involved a Daff truck with registration No. SA 793 BBR and an 18-seater Toyota Hiace bus with registration No. XC 937 MC respectively.

He said the truck heading towards Abuja overtook another vehicle dangerously and in the process collided with the Hiace bus coming from the opposite direction, killing five persons on the spot and injuring 17 others.

The Kogi state Sector Commander of the Federal Safety Corps (FRSC), Michael Olapade who attributed the accident to human error, blamed the drivers for the crash.

He said the driver of the truck overtook dangerously and rammed into the bus which was also on top speed.

The sector commander added that "the 17 injured passengers were taken to the Federal Medical Centre for treatment while the corpses were also deposited at the hospital morgue".

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Lassa fever deaths: Once again a nation’s shame

O

nce again, we as a nation have been caught on the wrong foot as far as our preparations for public health emergencies are concerned. There were reports last week that Lassa fever had killed over 40 people in over a third of the country’s 36 states. Mr. Henry Akpan, the Chief Epidemiologist in the federal Ministry of Health said the deaths occurred in 87 cases confirmed out of 397 that were reported over a sixweek period. Two doctors and some nurses who handled some of the cases were among the dead.

Lassa fever is an acute viral haemorrhagic illness spread through contact with rat excreta.

Its symptoms include fever, headache, difficulty in swallowing and it infects vital human organs, often leading to death. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that the fever is endemic in West Africa and that it kills over 5,000 annually. Incidentally, the fever is named after the town of Lassa in Borno state where it was first identified in 1969. The state is caught up in the present epidemic.

The other states affected are neigbouring Yobe, Taraba, Adamawa, Plateau, and Nasarawa.

Anambra, Ebonyi, Edo, Lagos, Ondo, Rivers and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, make up the list given by the health ministry.

As if the number of deaths was

not alarming already, more shock was to come from Dr. Abdulsalami Nasidi, Project Director, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (CDC) who warned that another 40 million Nigerians were at the risk of coming down with the deadly fever, that is close to a quarter of the country’s 160 million population. He said the fever spread so quickly and drugs were so

“

For God’s sake, this problem has been with us since 1969 and the WHO had warned that the epidemic was an annual affair. What more did our health authorities need to be better prepared this year? Why can’t we, for once, be proactive? expensive that a treatment programme might not keep pace.

According to him, N500 million would be required to reduce the infection rate in the next three months.

Given what the CDC project director said, we can infer that prevention rather than cure is the best way to get on top of this public

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

health problem. And this is possible through an “aggressive public enlightenment campaign”; those were his very words. What we cannot fathom, however, is why this campaign was not undertaken well before the present epidemic broke out. For God’s sake, this problem has been with us since 1969 and the WHO had warned that the epidemic was an annual affair. What more did our health authorities need to be better prepared this year? Why can’t we, for once, be proactive?

Instead, when the Minster of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Pate and his staff met with journalists on February 23 in Abuja, it was to say that “only 12 states” were affected, not the 14 earlier reported. It was also to continue with our fire brigade approach to emergencies.

At the interactive, the minister announced a 23-member Lassa fever Rapid Response Committee. Its mandate is to “develop standard operating procedures on infection control in hospitals, mobilizing resources for its prevention and control and coordinating intervention activities”. Concluding, he said: “It’s our resolve to do everything possible to control the Lassa fever epidemic”.

Well, 40 are gone already. Let us hope the “resolve to do everything possible” will save the lives of the other 40 million Nigerians at risk right now.

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CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

By Charles onunaiju

F

or the avoidance of doubt, the National Assembly comprising of the House of Representatives and the Senate is one of the deep structural flaws and institutional anomalies that blight Nigeria possibilities.

The fundamental restructuring of the Nigeria project along with profound reforms of public institutions, would inject a sense of responsibility, accountability and openness necessary for the institutions to function in accordance with their declared aims. The National Assembly has argued that it currently embodies a legitimate representative platform and is therefore the most appropriate organ to articulate our national interest. The fact on the ground does not bear out the claim. The existing Nigeria constitution from which the National Assembly derives its authority may be a fine legal document drafted by the best legal minds. A document is not a constitution by the mere legal finesses that goes into it but by the process of consultation and participation at which it is arrived.

A fine legal document could at best be a creative art work admired for its beauty. The making of a constitution is what gives it its essence and not the document itself.

The document that National Assembly claims that defines its authority, itself is not derived from the Nigeria people. The Nigeria project has lingered from gangling missteps to existential atrophy.

While the structural malady has wrestled the country to the mud for everyone to see, a handful of person,

PAGE 13

National Assembly and sovereign national conference short-sighted enough not to appreciate that their current privilege is but a ‘fleeting illusion’, shouts on roof tops about a ship that is on sail. Nigeria’s structural defect and institutional effervescence has continued to expand the frontiers of frivolities, posturing and inanities that have characterized its public life. Given the pivotal role of the National Assembly as it currently exist in entrenching institutional lethargy and structural distortion of the country’s political life, it is unthinkable that its members would undertake any form of ‘institutional suicide’ by legislating away itself.

But the problem is that the National Assembly is not working.

For its continued existence in the past 12 years, it has no single piece of legislation with any profound implication of social, economic or political effect on the lives of Nigerian people. Its internal structure is self-serving, unproductive and tailored to selfaggrandizement. Its committees are the largest in number in the world and unwieldy t. It was not intend to serve any public purpose but to accommodate self-seeking instinct and ego-trip of its members. For a good measure, a number of the committee public seating has had a good measure of comic relief than any substantive impact on the conduct of public life. A parliament

endowed of any shred of substance in institutional relevance cannot with any claim of legitimacy stand in the way of a clearly popular sentiment to re-invent a broken project. No nation has a future with the amount of posturing that goes on, in the National Assembly. In spite of the theatricals that go on in the two chambers, the cost of keeping it running is unsustainable.

Nigerians would have to work out through a new constitutional process what kind of legislative structure we truly want. The bicameral legislature is too cumbersome and exact more, the egos of the competing chambers. The scenario of the Sovereign National Conference as a platform to dissolve Nigeria is plainly misplaced. The fact that Nigeria’s structural ambience has been far too stretched for political exigency cannot be intelligently contested. Even to trivialize further, a critical structural problem, the Senate according to it has received requests for the creation of another 43 states including the Idoma enclave of Apa state championed by the senate president, Mr. David Mark himself. Already the existing 36 states cannot with any serious consideration be referred to as federating units in a working federal structure. They are essentially administrative out- posts of a unitary state. But neither administrative units nor a unitary structure is

desirable or scientifically, suitable for a pluralistic society. The essence of federalism is to provide enough local initiative and symbolic political ventilation on potentially combustible fault lines and keeping a line of mutual engagement on prospective contours of group conflict. A federal structure without a clear line of interactions of various spheres of competent units is in dangerous breach of critical essence of the structural framework that defines federalism. Nigeria has long over-reached the critical lines of a modest federal structure. States creation which has essentially fed the elite greed to share the national cake has done nothing to assuage the deepening mass poverty. While relentlessly proliferating bureaucracies and widening the scope of elite corruption, state creation has offered nothing tangible to the ordinary mass of Nigerians in whose name the hollow exercise has usually been undertaken. A conference of all Nigerians would consider the structural challenge of a functional federalism and determine the appropriate number and scope of political units that would be germane to it. The intense paranoid of the opponents of Sovereign National Conference contrasts sharply with the calmness and equanimity of the British authority in London in organizing the referendum in Scotland for the

Scots to decide whether to stay as part of the Great Britain or to go their way as a separate state.

While the fire-brand first minister of the Scottish existing selfgovernment, Mr Alex Salmond campaigns for separation and want enough time to prosecute his campaign, London wants the referendum even sooner even as it ponders the implications for Scottish independence. In the case of Nigeria, no such card of separation is on the agenda and yet the peddlers of a mechanical pax- Nigeriana refuse a platform that would give it, soul, blood and flesh. They evidently prefer the current arrangement where Nigeria functions essentially as a casino machine, with those who have access to its levers, generating tonnes of unearned wealth. But casinos knock when they are dried up of grease and oil. The national conference would generate not just the consensus and momentum needed to re-build the institutional and structural framework, but would add the popular enthusiasm to re-enact tenfold the Asian tiger miracle in our clime. The National Assembly and other mal-functional institutional clogs need not stand in the way of a determined people, ready to take their destiny in their own hands.

Charles Onunaiju, an Abujabased journalist, can be reached at Onunaiju2005@yahoo.com

Clinton, Boko Haram and our economic injustice

By John Egbeazien Oshodi

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s a result of a sizeable number of men and women and a system steeped in corruption as indicated by past and every day happenings, Nigeria now presents a national and international face of violence. A former President of United States of America, Bill Clinton recently observed how continued religious and economic grievances are fueling fear, terror, insecurity and instability in Nigeria. Ambassador of the United States to Nigeria, Terence P. McCulley, has also called on the Nigerian government to address the longstanding poverty in the North where internal terrorism reigns.

There is inequality and poverty everywhere, but in the Northern stats mostly. Unlike many up and coming societies, one must wonder how effective and concerned are the offices or ministries of Labour and Productivity in regards to employment issues across the nation. One needs to see more from the works of the ministries of Agriculture and Rural Development as well other related agencies in regards to job-related matters. In all the 36 states and Abuja, the northern states in particular, we see how lives of misery persist everywhere due to abject poverty. In a recent report, ‘Nigeria Poverty Profile 2010’ by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), at least 112.6 million of Nigerians are living below the poverty level.

That is 69 per cent of the country’s population.

In the report by Mr. Yemi Kale, the Statistician-General of Nigeria, the highest poverty areas are within the North-West and NorthEast geo-political zones. In general, the number of Nigerians living in poverty continues to increase with 61 per cent of Nigerian currently living with less than one $1 per day, resulting in 60.9 per cent of them having minimum standards of foods, shelter, clothing, and healthcare. Over 90 percent of Nigerians currently consider themselves poor, partly due to wealth and income inequality. In the face of these painful statistics, it is time the government show us the national poverty reduction plans in the North, in regards to addressing vocational injustice both in the North and across the nation. And stop this nonsense about western education. It makes no sense to say that the economic emptiness in many Northern states is partly due some Muslims or members of the Boko Haram sect viewing “Western education” as sacrilege or “sin”.

It is a false picture or perception in many peoples’ heads that a rejection of Euro-America or Western education/lifestyle signifies not embracing Western education; as such those individuals or localities with such a mindset will not be able to enjoy good life or achieve economic progress. It is essential to state that there could be grounds for some Nigerians including members

of the Boko Haram to reject western education if judged from some wellknown day to day standpoints.

Even Bill Clinton and many other Americans will testify to the reality that America, in a much deeper and prevalent way swims inside the infrastructure of sex clubs, and many of the Sex clubs stand out as studios of drugs, booze and violence. There are drugs and alcohol addictions everywhere.

There are constant threats and practice of violence in schools, homes and workplace. Strip clubs, pornography, prostitution, swapping of spouse, guns and huge dollar enterprises are the order of the day, at least socially.

There is the general attraction to glamour, fast lifestyle, and other “sins”—at least from the point of Islamic psychology. So could this be what some Muslims across the globe, and in Northern Nigeria view as bad-mannered, ungodly, irreligious and sacrilegious? At the same time, no matter how deep is the rejection of Euro-America or Western education by the Boko Haram group or any other persons, the use of violence to make demands or to bring any meaningful change is never a welcomed strategy in a democracy.

Many in the government have asked what do many in the North want. They want what all humans want as in being able to make an adequate living. They hate economic injustice and corruption in governance. The challenge of the

Jonathan presidency on security matters in the North is to find useful ways to shrink poverty, illiteracy, and poor work conditions, and by the way, the English language is not the only avenue for doing this.

All over the globe there are new trends in training and work development for youths, adults and women, and vested interest could use native dialects to train potential employees to understand the most effective ways to do different jobs, even the so called Euro-American type vocations. Remember, it is the individuals who usually help the economy, in terms of consumer spending; as such money to help local economies usually comes from both the employers and consumers.

In the United States of America, China, and in Latin America and Spanish societies, business is generally done with the natives using their dialects. So in terms of business and economics, and from work-skill point of view, the Hausa/ Fulani/Gwari/Kanuri languages and cultures could be looked upon as a set of avenues to enhance employment. We can even make these Northern languages essential for the purpose of learning by other Nigerians as it could enhance everyday commercial relationship and our overall social relations.

In the North, we can focus on transportation, farming, mining and related projects that could enhance the local economy. We need to engage in various local activities to drive the economy in the North,

which could result into a sustainable local economy and possibly drive up economic prosperity in the North.

And in the process curtail regional frustration and irritability and help regenerate non-sectarian ways of living. If we are to understand former U.S. President Bill Clinton’s warning that widespread poverty is plaguing Nigeria as well as fuelling the religious violence in the country, in the Northern part especially; let us begin to reduce security challenges in the North by levelling the inequality that now exist.

It is time we made exemptions in our judicial guidelines and began to use the tribal law as in public shaming, flogging, and whipping only if for the purpose of a threat, to alert any Nigerian involved in official corruption or found guilty of corruption in public office, especially. And here is why?

A recent report from the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences (ICPC) showed that a government official was caught hiding N2 billion cash in his house. What does one tell that able-bodied young man maybe of Northern or Southern stock , who is unsheltered and sleeps , a inside a broke down vehicle and could still dance to good music in the day time, and at night could become part of an insurrectional group? What do you say to such a person?

John Egbeazien Oshodi can be reached at Jos5930458@aol.com

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Improving Africa’s governance before it’s too late

By David Mehdi Hamam and Ben Idrissa Ouédraogo

T

he ongoing agitation in Africa triggered by the “Arab Spring” demonstrates yet again the importance of good political and economic governance for the continent’s development.

Through their street demonstrations, Africans are expressing their will to reassert control over their own destinies.

They are struggling for dignity, freedom, genuine social justice and access to economic opportunities.

The Arab Spring has dramatically shown that economic performance alone is not enough in the long run. After all, Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Algeria and Morocco were among the fast-growing “African lions” (analogous to the Asian tigers).

As leading development practitioners emphasize, economic prosperity and political freedom must go hand in hand.

African leaders understood

self-assessment; a country this when they launched the development.

The reviews are review; a review report; the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD). To more comprehensive and inclusive. actual peer review — in which specifically promote good Consultations are not only in the review findings are discussed by governance, human rights and capital city with government heads of state at summits of the sound economic management officials but also in the African Peer Review Forum — and with and the publication of the report. they then initiated the African countryside Fourteen of the Peer Review 30 countries Mechanism belonging to the (APRM) in APRM have M a r c h completed their 2003.

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text first peer reviews.

T h e messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Reviews have APRM, one of contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 pinpointed the most words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and overarching innovative a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed issues, such as facets of to: d i v e r s i t y NEPAD, is a management, voluntary The Editor, e l e c t o r a l s e l f Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, violence, land monitoring reform, youth mechanism 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. unemployment, by which Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com gender equality A f r i c a n SMS: 07037756364 and corruption. l e a d e r s These suggested subject their policies and practices to peer representatives from the private the theme of the UN’s eighth review by other Africans in four sector, civil society, trade African Governance Forum, to related areas: democracy and unions, parliaments, local be held in Johannesburg, South Africa, in 2012: “Democracy, political governance, economic councils and so on.

A full peer-review cycle goes Elections and the Management governance, corporate governance and socio-economic through five stages: a country of Diversity in Africa.”

WRITE TO US

Yet the APRM is facing critical challenges, including limited financial and human resources and problems in enforcing and implementing the recommendations in the reviews’ national programmes of action. Some experts argue that the master questionnaire, used in conducting the review, is not covering enough of issues such as agricultural policy, the informal sector, environmental protection and media freedom.

The recent social unrest could have been prevented if the APRM had been effectively operating and its recommendations had been implemented.

These protests have the merit of bringing urgent issues of democracy and freedom to the centre of the political agenda for both Africans and their development partners. The APRM can capitalize on the bottom-up approach promoted by these revolts.

David Mehdi Hamam and Ben Idrissa Ouédraogo can be reached at www.nigeriavillagesquare.

Nigeria is too interwoven to break up

By Dikko Bala

T

hose agitating for the breakup of Nigeria may not be aware of the serious implications of this country splitting up or dissolving in chaos.

Take as an example, Keffi in the North-central geo-political zone where I come from. My ancestors are from Yantumaki, close to Bakori town in Katsina state; they were Fulani who were brought to Keffi to fight the Jukuns who were invading from the old Adamawa Province. They were pagans then

and after the war, instead of going back, my great great grand parents, remained in Keffi, Nasarawa state.

So, we still have a big Fulani/ Hausa community in Nasarawa.

Besides this, you have the Kanuris who are the founders of Lafia itself though you have the Alagos who are surrounding the Kanuris.

When you go to Benue state, Makurdi is the state capital, the original founder is somebody from Kebbi and was referred to as Maikudi, which was later bastardised to Makurdi. If you look

at Kogi state, Lokoja, the state capital is headed by a Maigari who is the most senior traditional ruler and he is from Hadejia.

Now, when you come to Kaduna state there is no traditional ruler, it is under the Emir of Zaria; go to Minna, Niger State, in Plateau you find several major cities like that. If you look at where the mosque and market places are sited it is predominantly Hausa/Fulani who have come there as traders and have established themselves, in some case like Keffi, Nasarawa,

Lafia, Makurdi, even giving the town its name.

When you are talking about Hausa Fulani, they constitute a handsome and significant number of population but they are not restricted to Katsina, Kano, Sokoto, Zamfara etc.

Why do we fight ourselves? If it is because of religion. A Christian senator was my best man during my marriage though I am a Muslim, and I have been the best man for Christians. Why then should Nigeria break up? Is it on tribal

or religious grounds, if so where do people like us then fit in.

Where do you put children of people like Bamanga Tukur, Hamza Zayyad, Atiku Abubakar and millions of Nigerians who have inter married?

We should not think of things that tend to divide us but those things that will unite us. There are people who are ready to spill their blood to see that this country does not break up.

Dikko Bala is Special Assistant to the Minister of Transport, Abuja.

Ibori: Divine retribution and price for hubris

By Akintokunbo A. Adejumo

W

hen the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti released the song, VIP – Vagabond In Power in the late 70’s, Nigerians paid little heed to the lyrics, but danced their feet out to this politically-laced music. By the time they realised that Fela was something of a prophet, it was rather too late for them to arrest situations whereby their rulers were in fact vagabonds, thieves, looters and convicted felons. That is not to mention political prostitutes and opportunists whose main intent into going into politics or positions of authority was to steal the country blind, giving very little concern to the plight of the people of this oil-rich country.

Over the decades - and these are many decades - opportunities to progress, develop and turn Nigeria into one of the world’s most developed countries were, and are still being, frittered away and lost by clueless, insensitive, greedy, selfish, insidious, invidious, conscienceless and murderous rulers, one after the other, federal, state and local governments. The

massive corruption in the country is notorious all over the world, and Nigerians who have excelled in all areas of human endeavour and in all countries of the worlds, have to bear the stigma of corruption with them everywhere they go or work or live or try to do legitimate business.

Yet, the looting of the treasury by those put in charge of the welfare of their own people continues unabated. And what is more, they are actively aided and abetted by civil servants, business moguls, bankers, religious and ethnic leaders, not to mention the multinational companies operating in the country, all because of the oil. Worse, the loot is often carted off into foreign countries like the USA, the UK, South Africa and even some other African countries that do not care to ask too many questions.

Switzerland is no longer fashionable.

Nigerians elect, or rather select their leaders/rulers without asking questions of prospective leaders either. Since the so-called democratic dispensation started in 1999, an evil array of charlatans,

political prostitutes, dubious characters have come and entered into the political fray and the results have been chaos, corruption, murder, assassinations, intrigues and further mud-dragging of the name, Nigeria. Nobody seems to care.

Politicians are quick to use any means necessary to get to power and even amongst themselves, political expediency, mediocrity and opportunism often overcome merit, honesty and sincerity of purpose. The polity became a freefor-all with all sorts of men, and women for that matter, of questionable and dubious characters, rogues, knaves and ragamuffins crawling out of the woodwork and becoming powerful and rich leaders and rulers almost overnight. Yet the Nigerian people stand and look and every four years re-elect the same idiots, and even elect new idiots to govern them.

So came one James Onanefe Ibori into the political scene of Nigeria and within eight years had a massive presence in the leadership of this country. A grand

opportunist as defined in my last article, and a convicted felon, as it turned out, he ruled his oil-rich state of Delta for eight years even after he was exposed as having been convicted twice in the UK while he was working as an ordinary cashier in a DIY store in London. He even wanted to rule Nigeria and was a force behind the government of late President Yar ‘adua, as the main financier of the flawed election that brought Yar ‘adua to power. An Alarm was raised early his his first term that he was a convicted felon, but the powers that be in the Obasanjo administration contrived to squash the accusations and the man was there for eight years, looting and ruining.

Nemesis eventually caught up with him two years ago, and the rest of what has now happened is history and need not be repeated here for the sake of space and brevity.

My main thrust here is what have Nigerians done to deserve these kinds of leaders? Mr Ibori is just one of probably not more than 500 corrupt and evil rulers and exrulers who are like malignant

tumours to Nigerians (I am not adding civil servants and minor politicians, of course). They are there to stifle any sign of progress and betterment for the people. They are selfish, greedy, corrupt and arrogant to boot. They are parasites.

And they are murderous too. If you ask them, they will tell you they are patriotic Nigerians, even more than anybody else; but how can a patriot defraud his/her country?

For what it may be, that Nigerian “patriot” Ibori will be the first Nigerian leader to admit to stealing, even if it was done in a British court. Of course, no Nigerian leader (and indeed, African leader) has ever admitted to corruptly enriching themselves, and the reason is not far-fetched: they are rarely brought to court and prosecuted successfully.

Yet, we see them stealing every day. Yes, we see them, people might wonder how we see them putting their fingers in the pie and these are my answers: they buy expensive properties overseas; we see the quality of the contracts (supplies and services) they award Continued on page 145

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

By Abdullahi Garba

O

ne of the things wrong with governance in Nigeria is our tendency to allow what started out as a firm, decisive and desirable government action to become blatant back-tracking or abrupt disinterest and inaction, often witnessing a pathetic return to business as usual. This malady has been exclusively afflicting leaders of government at every level for so long that whenever government makes a show of blowing hot on any issue, nobody sweats because, as one cynical clique maintains, “government law is just for two weeks”. It is also the reason why the reports of many public inquiries which were launched with bravado are consigned to gather dust in the offices of their launchers, while the rot they could have uprooted, stinks to high heavens.

Sadly, even the much anticipated Senate investigation into the decay of the wellintentioned privatization programme of the Federal Government seems headed for such an inglorious end, if indeed President Goodluck Jonathan lends his distinguished presence to the window-dressing “commissioning” of a purported project of the savagely scavenged Volkswagen of Nigeria (VON), even before the Senate investigation into its sleazy privatization has reached a logical conclusion on its many scandalous findings. The fervent prayer of every patriot is that God Almighty will divert the precious attention of our president from such a perfidious misadventure.

AMEN! It should not be difficult to recall that the applauded privatization programme introduced by the Federal Government almost two decades ago has descended to depths of outright economic sabotage through the brazen subversion of its strategic objective by foreign investors and their Nigerian Continued from page 14

at inflated prices; we see their children living the high life; we see their political beneficiaries living lives that are not commensurate to the salaries they are paid and the work they do; and sometimes, on occasions they even openly boast of stealing.

In October 2007, I wrote an article warning that Ibori would be an embarrassment to the government of Nigeria under late Yar ‘adua if it did not do anything about him. And I also predicted that if there was one corrupt ex-governor that Nemesis (and Nigerians) would catch up with, it was going to be Ibori. There we now have it.

One thing for sure, he would not have pleaded guilty in a Nigerian court and the case would have dragged on and on, that is even if he ever was brought to face a court in Nigeria. I now wonder at the feeble, risible and pathetic attempts by the EFCC and the Nigerian authorities to arrest and prosecute Ibori. Here is our foremost anti-graft agency that could not get one single conviction out of a 138 count charge of money laundering and

PAGE 15

VON: Presidential roughshod? collaborators in government.

None of the positively patriotic outcomes promised at the launching of the abused programme have been realized long after monumental national assets and institutions were literally auctioned away. The government people spewed torrents of rosy reasons to push their self-indicting spins about government being a bad manager of national institutions, especially those established to generate revenue and employment, and there was “no alternative” to selling these institutions and companies to the private sector investors who, we were told, have Midas touch in running businesses profitably.

The privatization policy was packaged to convince us that all the government commercial and manufacturing agencies set up with public money and foreign expertise and investments which had been drained of resources and viability by Nigerian government officials, would be effortlessly revitalized into profitable operations and even expanded once government pulled out and left foreign core investors and Nigerian entrepreneurs to run them as business concerns.

Thus, we watched as virtually all major government companies in manufacturing, industry and related strategic national economic sectors were sold off, even at huge discounts!

Well, we all know better now!

It was all one big swindle resulting in the auctioning of several national economic assets, the stripping of their facilities and conversion to various devaluing purposes that served the so-called foreign investors who turned out to specialize in sabotaging strategic national economic assets on the altar of profiteering.

Proceedings of the Senate Committee showed that VON was

one of the automobile assembly plants set up by the Federal Government in 1973 as a limited liability company in partnership with the German car manufacturer, Volkswagen AG. The shareholding of the company at inception had the Federal Government retaining 35% with three other Nigerian investors including the Lagos State Government holding an additional 14% or total of 49% Nigerian shareholding. The Volkswagen Group and one other German investor held 40% and 11% respectively for a combined 51% investment.

In 2003 when the Federal Government implemented its privatization programme, its share of 35% went up for sale and was bought by the Stallion Group owned by the Vaswani family of Indian businessmen for 400 million naira as core-investor.

The fact that this sale itself was not in keeping with the letter and spirit of the privatization programme on the issue of indigenous ownership was betrayed when shortly after the sale, the Vaswanis were summarily deported “in the overriding national interest” by the same Federal authorities while investigating some other activities of the Indian businessmen.

Revelations during the Senate Committee hearings indicate that although in the new process, Barbedos Nigeria emerged the successful investor for the 35% shares in the sum of 612, 000,000 Naira, this development was however held hostage to a series of flagrant violations of the provisions of the Memorandum and Articles of Association of VON in the sale of shares to the Stallion group (Barbedos Ventures Ltd BVI).

There were also accusations of connivance between the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) and

the Stallion Group in the attempts to usurp the 35% shares of Barbedos Nigeria under the guise of a purported sale and purchase agreement of unknown origin.

But the most brazen was the conversion of the VON premises into a bonded warehouse for the importation rice, vegetable oil, fully built up cars and buses instead of the automobile assembly plant it had been which infuriated the Committee members during their visit to the site.

Another aspect of this was the deliberate registration in the taxhaven of Virgin Islands of a corporate-duplicate of the Nigerian company Barbedos Ventures Nigeria Limited as Barbedos Ventures Limited (BVI) as a vehicle to purchase all foreign and local outstanding shares of VON and dilute the standing of the true Nigerian company. The registration of Barbedos Ventures Ltd (BVI) was also used to capture a purported debt to Volkswagen of Germany to further tilt the balance in favour of the Vaswanis.

As if that was not enough, the Indians claimed assembly of Ashok Leyland which coincidently KIA Motors is also an importer. It has been noted that the buses supplied for the transportation programme of the government have suffered devastating damages whereas an innocent man Inno-motors is being blamed for poor services. They have practically made those close to Mr. President compromise their position that one may say that the attendance of Mr. President to the proposed charade as faith accompli.

As a matter of fact, the Vaswanis and their hydra-headed business interests in Nigeria have been the subject of numerous petitions and investigations for various sharp practices harmful to the Nigerian economy as well

as being beneficiaries of glaringly undeserved waivers and cancellation of queries for over ten years. Under-invoicing of cost and freight prices followed by underpayment of customs duty and other levies, willful wrong classification of imports to evade duty, diversion of Nigerian cargo to neighbouring countries’ ports and use of obscure ports such as VON are among their malpractices.

The Waziri Mohammed committee on foreign exchange malpractices set up by President Olusegun Obasanjo began checking such excesses before the tragic death of its chairman in an air crash. It uncovered 1.2 billion naira under-invoicing of rice imported by Vaswani’s Stallion Group between October and December 2002 alone and ordered a refund which they reluctantly did. The Nigerian Embassy in Thailand also had cause to compile a detailed report on the huge rip off by largely Indian importers of Thailand rice into Nigeria using various false and misleading data inputs. Even the National Assembly of previous dispensations had on numerous occasions engaged the Vaswanis in running battles just to get them to appear and answer charges before various committees following serious petitions from aggrieved persons and business concerns.

For these and many other strong reasons, it is inappropriate for any top government official to be involved in a discreet and tacit exoneration of the Vaswanis on the VON matter by getting government involved in their activities prior to the conclusion of investigations of the Senate Committee. Least of all, our dear President!

Abdullahi Garba can be reached at abdullahi_garba@yahoo.com

Ibori: Divine retribution and price for hubris corruption they slammed on James Ibori. The TRUTH WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. At the time, I was convinced Ibori will not escape justice, whether in Nigeria or elsewhere. It was bound to happen, and mark my words, compatriots, a lot of exgovernors, especially, that are still running loose, strutting and waving their ill-gotten wealth in the faces of their own people are still going to get their comeuppance. It is not clairvoyance; it is a matter of the philosophy of sinners not going unpunished. Odili, Orji Kalu, Igbinedion, Nnamani, Fayose, Alao-Akala, Yerima, Olagunsoye, Agagu, Haruna, Saraki, Nyame, and other kleptomaniacs too numerous to mention from the states in all parts of the country, not to talk of incumbent governors.

People are saying what a shame?

The fall of Ibori! But the fact is, Ibori has never risen before. He was a man of straw, who built a false identity, reputation for himself, like so many of his ilk ruling Nigeria and turning this country into a

country of shame, poverty and hopelessness. Ibori was never, and will never be a great man. His name (and so many of his ilk) will never be spoken with kindness, reverence and respect. His name in the history of Nigeria will forever be associated with vile corruption. He can come back out of prison anytime, be met by drums and dancing, and still be treated like a hero, but he remains a convict like one Olabode George and Alamieyeseigha.

And more importantly, their people, and God, will never forgive them for the hardship, hopelessness, poverty, deaths and diseases they continue to visit on their own people.

However before we start celebrating, let us remember that this thief is but one in a cabal of thieves still ruling Nigeria.

We must not underplay the import of the trial and future sentencing of Ibori. Here is a man who had a previous conviction and who, by the constitution of the country, should never have been allowed to become the governor of Delta State, but was foisted on

Deltans (and actually all Nigerians) by the PDP hierarchy, Obasanjo and co-travellers, and who then proceeded to steal to his heart’s content under the comatose and glazed looks of the Deltan people and the law enforcement agents.

Exerting his political influence, Ibori had his 138-count case dismissed in a Nigerian court of law but now pleaded guilty in a British court of law. There are many lessons to be learnt: One, our judicial and law enforcement systems are totally incapable of addressing and combating corruption in Nigeria, for the simple reason that both are corrupt too.

Two, it is proof that we can and we must utilise Western courts at every opportunity to bring the likes of Ibori to trial. Tipping off the Metropolitan Police and UK Border Agency when these thieves are coming into the UK, for example, or the US or any part of Europe will net a few more on money laundry charges since they almost always travel into these countries with suitcases full of cash. Ibori may

spend four years, he may spend two years but at least, rather than go absolutely scot free as the Nigerian system would have allowed him, the British justice will ensure that he will at least pay some penalty for his high crimes against his people. I am a happy Nigerian if only for that reason!

Another lesson learnt is that the Truth will always prevail. Sinners will always come a cropper, no matter the length of time. This is a warning to others of Ibori’s corrupt cabal. Yes, I am talking of other past and present rulers (I deign to call them leaders, because they do not lead). Ibori can perhaps count himself lucky he did not lose his life in the process; the way things are going in this country, some of his co-travellers in the kingdom of kleptomania risk literally losing their heads.

This is a warning to our rulers.

More of them are going to face the music, and the music will not be sweet.

Adetokunbo A. Adejumo lives and works in London,UK.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Accident claims 3 lives in Yangoji

By Adeola Tukuru

T

hree persons lost their lives while nine others sustained serious injuries in the wee hours of yesterday in a multiple accident that occurred near Yangoji village, along Kwali-Lokoja road.

A witness said the accident occured at about 4:30 am and

involved four vehicles which included a J5 Peugeot bus with registration number XC 304 DAL, a Luxury bus, with registration number XD 478 JJT, a Toyota Hiace bus with registration number KD 151 ASB and a Mercedes Benz truck with registration number XQ 933 EKY. Accordingto him, the

accident happened when the driver of the J5 bus coming on top speed overtook dangerously and crashed in to an oncoming luxury bus killing three persons on the spot.

Commenting, Yangoji unit commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Mr. Calistus Nwako, confirmed the accident, saying 69 people were

Wheelbarrow pushers plying their trade in Mararaba.

involved in the multiple accident that included 44 male and 25 female.

He attributed the accident to wrongful overtaking, saying three corpses have been deposited at the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital at Gwagwalada while 9 injured victims were at the Kwali General Hospital.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Area council chairmen bag awards

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Council chairmen of Kuje , Abuja Municipal and Abaji Area councils yesterday bagged outstanding awards of execllence on projects performance from the FCT National Orientation Agency (NOA).

The FCT Director of NOA, Mr Moses Aba noted during the ceremony in Kuje that the award will encourage the recipients to do more for the people and also provide a ripple effect of motivating all other area councils to bring the much needed developement to their people through Government allocations

and internally generated funds.

In his words: “ The area councils have attracted our attention for this award because we work in their midst and they serve the same people we serve. We have adjudged them to be delivering the dividends of democracy to their constituencies”.

The Chairman of Kuje Area

Council, Hon Danladi Etsu Zhin, dedicated the award to the people of Kuje Area Council for the opportunity given him to serve.

He explained that the award will go a long way in encouraging him to do better.

Danladi assured that things will change for the better in Kuje Area Council .

Contractor docked over .3 million naira fraud

By Stanley Onyekwere

O

ne Prince Benson Chukwudi Ogbuehi, of plot 106, Zone 7, Wuse, Dutse – Alahaji, Abuja has been charged before an Abuja Chief Magistrate court, for allegedly defrauding one Barrister Vincent Okonkwo, of Wuse 2, to the tune of N355,000 meant for digging of

a borehole.

Ogbuehi, who appeared before Chief Magistrate Azubike Okeagu, on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to section 312 and 322 of the Penal Code, denied the allegations levelled against him.

According to the Police First Information Report (FIR), Okonkwo, had on Feb. 15 petitioned the Assistant Inspector

General od Ploice, Zone 7, Police Headquarters, that sometime in December, 2011, the accused tricked him into given him the said sum for the purpose of digging a borehole for him.

“He came to me under false pretence, fraudulently and dishonestly collected money from and refused to dig the bore hole as agreed” the complainant explained.

In the FIR, the complainant said Ogbuehi after collecting the money failed to deliver on his promise to dig the bore, and converted the money to his personal use.

However, the accused was granted bail in the sum of N200,000 with two sureties in like sum, and the case was adjourned to April 2 for the hearing proper.

Man docked for cheating police officer

By Stanley Onyekwere

O

ne Dominic Ashienem, 25, is undergoing trial before an Abuja Chief magistrates' Court for allegedly deceiving one policeman, Superintendent Patrick Enyeting, of liaison office of the Ministry of Police Affairs, Federal secretariat, Phase 1, Abuja, into giving him the sum of N248, 000.

Ashienem, of Area 1, Masaka, Nasarawa state, was arraigned by the Police in August 29, 2011, on a two-count charge of criminal breach of trust and cheating, contrary to section 312 and 322 of the Penal Code respectively, which he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail.

The case which came up for hearing on Wednesday, before Chief Magistrate Azubike Okeagu, had the prosecution witness as a nominal complainant, testifying against the accused.

According to the prosecution witness, on April 1 2011, Ashienem and the complainant had agreed the sum of N250, 000 for the job, and the sum of N150, 000 was paid as part payment of the cost of constructing 14 windows, to be delivered within one week.

The officer informed the court, that he also gave the accused another N50, 000, to facilitate the work, but to his shock, on the due date for the completion and fixing of the aluminum works, he discovered that only one out of the 14 windows was fixed, and when he sought to know why, the accused told him of some challenges he had with the work, which was responsible for his failure to deliver on time, then he accepted his excuse and gave him more time to finish the job.

"I decided to give the sum of N25, 000 to him through the person who introduced him to me, which the accused acknowledged its receipt.

To his dismay, the accused abandoned the job and disappeared with the money to an unknown location as attempt to reach on phone proved abortive, because he decided to switch off his phone, then he decided to put pressure on the unnamed bricklayer, to produce the accused.

After hearing both parties, the case was adjourned to April 3, for further hearing.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2011

PAGE 17

A legend for all season

By Atiku Abubakar mong the several stories that have been written about Dim Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, the piece I found particularly compelling was an archive interview republished after his very unfortunate death on November 26, 2011. Asked how he would like to be remembered, Ojukwu's reply was poignant: "I would like to be remembered as a statesman; not just as a rebel leader."

Indeed, in a world increasingly obsessed with labels, we could so easily become defined by a single action that is by no means a true reflection of our outlook. So, it was common to find Ojukwu's name almost always preceded by words such as "warlord," "rebel leader," or "secessionist."

These words do little justice to a man who was the first Quartermaster-General of the Nigerian Army, a man who distinguished himself as a member of the Nigerian contingent to the United Nations peace-keeping effort in Congo, a man born into immense wealth and privilege but who never allowed that to dull his humanity and his appetite for service.

Those unflattering labels are products of a gross misunderstanding of the core values that define Ojukwu's personality. The values were

A

Late Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu forged in humility, the sort that led the young Oxford Alumnus to take up the job of an administrative officer in the colonial government - a rather humbling career start for the son of a millionaire!

Another value that resonates in Ojukwu's remarkable life is the virtue of selflessness, a philosophy that recognizes the imperative of service. That is the essential statesmanship; the capacity to place the common good above self,

the capacity to stay dignified even in the face of adversity, the capacity for compromise and bipartisanship.

Above all, statesmanship requires an understanding that idealism and pragmatism are not mutually-exclusive. It is indeed difficult to say these of anyone else without tongue-in-cheek. But these values were embodied by the late Dim Odumegwu Ojukwu, Dikedioramma (beloved hero of the masses).

Given the very fickle nature of humans and often unrealistic expectations, remaining a hero in the eyes of one's people, for a lifetime, especially in our clime, is a near impossibility. It's, however, gratifying to note that Ojukwu did not only draw accolades in death; he was just as well loved and idolized even more while he was alive.

But he didn't achieve that feat by being eternally politicallycorrect. In fact, I doubt there was any conscious effort on his part to be seen as an icon; he emerged a hero by living by his convictions and demonstrating sufficient empathy for the people.

His foray into politics upon his return to the country in 1982 may have fallen short of the expectations of those who wanted him to stay out of politics, but his contributions to the rebirth of democracy and its sustenance cannot be contradicted.

His belief and commitment in the capacity of Nigerians to grow their own democracy without let and hindrance was underscored by his irritation at the military intervention that toppled the Shehu Shagari government in 1983 and led to his brief incarceration.

"As a committed democrat, every single day under an unelected government hurts me.

The citizens of this country are mature enough to make their own choices, just as they have the right to make their own mistakes," he said.

Today, the imperative of the handshake across the Niger he spoke so eloquently about still strike a resonant chord across the country. It's a call that evidently repudiates all those hurtful stereotypes, which some tend to readily invoke when discussing the largerthan-life personality of Ojukwu.

The handshake across the Niger was a call to peace, a call to dialogue and a denunciation of hubris in all its form. We owe it as a duty to his memory to strive to enthrone those values that unite us. But, ultimately, this should not be at the expense of justice. It is a right to which we are all entitled.

Atiku Abubakar is former vicepresident, Federal Republic of Nigeria.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Wuse motor park: Matters arising FEATURE

By Josephine Ella

T

his may sound ridiculous and out of the ordinary, but the truth remains that in the last five years that Wuse Zone 5 Motor Park has existed, it has not only served as a transit point for both drivers and commuters but a hide-out for drug peddlers, hoodlums and miscreants who hid under the guise of the transportation business to perpetuate all kinds of nefarious activities The location of the motor park was initially designed as a green zone area, but following complaints by commercial drivers of lack of bus stops and the traffic congestion along the Kashim Ibrahim and Herbert Macaulay streets respectively, the FCT administration turned the area into a motor park as a temporary measure to address the problem.

Unfortunately, what was intended to bring succour to commercial drivers, commuters, other residents and the administration has become a nightmare to both law abiding citizens and the government.

Beyond this year’s Valentine Day attack by some angry traders and hoodlums on officials of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB), other criminal activities were unearthed, prompting the closure of the park.

Reports have it that on that fateful day, members of the Environmental Vanguard were said to have resumed for duty at Wuse when the ever combat ready traders operating in and outside the park in collaboration with hoodlums launched the attack on them on suspicion that the squad were set to disrupt their businesses.

The Head of Department of Environmental Monitoring and Enforcement of AEPB, Mr Uche Agbanusi, narrating the incident to journalists, said: “AEPB enforcement officers had a roll call at the head office after which we decided to assemble them in Wuse from where they will be redeployed to their numerous stations but on sighting them, hawkers in

The ever busy Wuse Zone 5 motor park now like a graveyard. front of the park started throwing stones at them”.

He elucidates on the level of havoc wrecked by the angry traders and hoodlums: “They vandalized 4 vehicles that the enforcement squad was using and injured about 7 of them.

They had to retreat to get re enforcement to enable us retrieve the vehicles that were vandalised and seized”.

However, in a swift reaction, a top official of the traders union in the market , who did not want his name in print denied the involvement of traders in the attack.

“I was here when the whole incident happened. The people responsible for the attack were the ‘Agberos(touts) in the park, not the traders. The traders, who were trying to make their daily living, were more concerned with saving their goods than confronting taskforce officials”, he claimed.

Enraged by the onslaught, our correspondent gathered that in the company of some armed police men, the squad forced its way into the park to enforce a closure, acting on the

Photo: Josephine Ella

directive of the AEPB Director, Mr Isa Shuaibu, only to discover that it had served as a base to recalcitrant street traders and hawkers operating in the Wuse axis.

In the course of the raid of the park, varieties of goods were discovered behind a stream in the park while an illegal pure water manufacturing factory was also discovered.

The raid saw to the removal of all kiosks, tents, shanties and other illegal structures which were pulled down and burnt by the men of the AEPB, while commercial buses were evacuated from the park.

Also affected were technicians, especially automobile mechanics and iron benders among others, who suffered the wrath of the AEPB, which towed away not less than ten vehicles under repairs as other technicians made frantic efforts to salvage their properties.

Since the incident, other shocking revelations have unfolded, thus laying credence that aside trading activities, more sordid deeds were being perpetuated at the market.

Sources confirmed that repeated cases of rape of innocent women, phone/bag

“

In the company of some armed police men, the squad forced its way into the park to enforce a closure, acting on the directive of the AEPB Director, Mr Isa Shuaibu, only to discover that it had served as a base to recalcitrant street traders and hawkers operating in the Wuse axis

snatching in the park has been on the increase and also along the Mombasa street in Wuse Zone 5, where the park is located.

One of such incidents of rape was said to have involved 10 hoodlums, who took their turns on a lady.

Hoodlums were also said to have waylaid residents on the street at night and robbed them of cash and other belongings.

In some instances, they were said to have forced their ways into the houses of residents in the street and carted away some of their belongings.

These incidences were confirmed by Agbanusi, who explained that all these contributed to the closure of the park.

The head of enforcement said that AEPB has raided the area severally, which resulted in confrontation and attacks saying the area has become notorious for nefarious activities.

He confirmed that the park was a harbour for criminals and criminal acts.

FCT kicks off Lassa fever campaign

By Josephine Ella

I

n view of the outbreak of Lassa fever in 13 states across the country, which has claimed many lives in the last few weeks, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Health and Human Services Secretariat yesterday commenced enlightenment and sensitisation campaign in

the territory to prevent the disease.

The Secretary, Dr. Demola Onakomaiya told journalists at a press briefing that as part of the effort of the administration to prevent, control and ensure effective case management, the Public Health Department of the secretariat has sent alert letters to all the six area

councils to step up security surveillance and community sensitisation.

Similar letters, he said have been sent to all FCT secondary health facilities and private health facilities to alert clinicians to report suspected cases.

He also hinted that the secretariat has commenced community sensitisation and

mobilisation through health education on the disease in public places such as markets, motor parks, mosques, churches, secretariat etc.

As part of the measures, he added; “The secretariat is repositioning personal protective equipment and other medical supplies in our health facilities” in addition to public enlightenment in

electronic media.

According to him, only three suspected cases have been reported and there has been no confirmed death in the FCT. He explained that two of those cases were reported from Abuja University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, while the other was reported from the National Hospital, Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 19

INSIDE

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

FAAC allocation for the month of January 2012 shared in February, 2012 S/N

BENEFICIARIES

SUB-TOTAL (N bn)

1 2 3 4

173,447 87.974 67.825

5 6 7

FG (52.68%) States (26.72%) L/govt Councils (20.72%) Derivation (13% of Mineral revenue-oil/gas) Value Added Tax (VAT) Augmentation for the month Refund by NNPC

8

Grand Total

614.604

T

he Naira weakened against the U.S dollar yesterday on a resurgence of dollar demand at the interbank market, but it remained unchanged at the official foreign exchange window.

The naira closed at 157.78 to the dollar on the interbank market, weaker than the 157.65 it closed at on Tuesday.

Traders said increased dollar demand linked to the relative strength of the naira in the past three weeks was draining liquidity in the market, putting pressure on the local currency.

Traders said a unit of ExxonMobil sold about $58 milion to some banks, but failed to

Flight schedule

SEC set to commence NSE demutualisation

T

Naira falls as dollar rises in support for the naira. forex demand provide On the official window, the

central bank sold $150 million at 155.90 to the dollar, compared with $138.70 million sold at 155.90 to the dollar on Monday.

(Reuters)

NACCIMA berate CBN on agric loan

Mob: 08033644990

By Abdulwahab Isa

38.940 51.111 187.090 7,617

- Pg 21

he demutualisation process of the nation’s stock exchange is set to commence with the submission yesterday of the demutualisation report by Asue Ighodalo-led committee to the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC).

Chairman of SEC, Mr. Udoma, who was speaking at the formal presentation of the Report of the Technical Committee on the demutualisation of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Abuja, said a transparent and credible process was imperative to build confidence and properly position the Exchange for global competitiveness.

The committee was set up last September by the SEC board with a mandated to review among others, the current structure and ownership of the NSE, examine regulatory, ownership, management, operational, governance and financial issues in demutualization of exchanges.

It was also to review various demutualisation models and experiences and to recommend the best demutualisation model for Nigerian market with a practical timeline for the completion of the NSE demutualisation, as well as recommend steps which are necessary and appropriate for the process.

In his presentation of report to the board of SEC yesterday, Mr Asue Ighodalo said, “What we have at present is a structure of organisation where those who use the organisation are also members or owners of the organisation,” in apparent reference to the NSE. According to him, “You have stockbrokers or dealing members primarily being members of the organization. What we are trying to do for many reasons on development is to separate ownership from use. And then create a structure that allows for competition and strategic alliances and particularly allows for gathering, funding and financing.

Sanusi laments inability of ECOWAS to kick off common currency

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has lamented the inability of West African countries to commence the implementation of the Economic Community of West Africa (ECOWAS) Monetary Cooperation Programme (EMCP), of which the adoption of common

currency for the region is a high point.

Sanusi spoke yesterday in Abuja while addressing the first ordinary meeting of the Bureau of the Association of African Central Banks(AACB), organised by the General Secretariat of the AACB in collaboration with the CBN. Sanusi said member countries that met the prescribed targets

failed to achieve all the primary criteria, except the criterion on financing of the budget deficit by the Central Bank.

Other challenges that stalled the continent’s dream of evolving a common currency, according to the CBN boss, include increase in food and energy prices at the international market, public finance, which he said continued to deteriorate generally and the

public deficit criterion was met by six countries against seven in the first half of 2010.

“Ten countries satisfied the criterion on foreign reserves against eleven (11) in the previous year. Performance on secondary criteria was also full of challenges, exemplified by a worsening public finance position notably, tax revenue, salary mass and public investments” he observed.

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30.

ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

AEROCONTRACTORS (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 06.50, 13.30, 19.45 LOS-ABJ (SUN): 12.30 LOS-ABJ (SAT): 16.45 ABU-L OS: 07.30, 13.00, 14.00, 19.00 ABU-LOS (SUN): 10.30, 14.30, 19.30 ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

L-R: Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Engineer M. Kachalla Abubakar, Director-General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE), Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, and a member of NCP, Mr. Atedo Peterside, during the 1st National Council on Privatisation (NCP) meeting in 2012, at the State House, on Monday in Abuja.

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

23th Feb, 2012 BUYING 0.2938 205.9396 243.4873 41.3023 154.9

SELLING 0.3138 207.2691 245.0592 41.5689 155.9

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-LOS: 11.30, 3.45, 4.45 LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

• £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 250 40 156

SELLING 212 252 42 158

Get comfortable with collaboration

W

e praise collaboration for improving problem solving, increasing creativity, and spurring innovation. Done correctly, it does yield all these benefits. But it can also be scary. Here are three facts you have to accept, and embrace, about collaboration before it can

work: You won’t know the answer.

There’s no point in collaborating on a complex problem if you know how to solve it. Be comfortable with ambiguity and accept that you aren’t necessarily the expert.

Roles will be unclear.

Responsibilities are often fluid.

Be ready for the role you play to change with each phase of the work.

You will fight. If you avoid conflict, nothing will happen.

Knowing how to debate tradeoffs between options means knowing how to productively argue.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Airtel expansion drive hit by Econet $3.1bn claim

T

he recent court ruling which re-instated the five per cent equity ownership in Airtel Nigeria to Econet Wireless of South Africa, may be having a negative effect on the operations of Airtel in many of its key markets in Africa.

JustFood set to revolutionise ice business in Nigeria

J

ust Food Limited, a leading ice making machines supplier since 1995, is set to revolutionise the ice business in Nigeria, with its scale ice machine. Ice blocks are produced by a deliberate conditioning of water in freezers and ice block machine, in order to create cooling effects on industrial or consumer items.

EKEDC goes cashless in new partnership with eTranzact

T

he Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has launched the PHCN Utility card in partnership with eTranzact International Plc. The card is designed to offer seamless e-payment services for customers to pay their electricity bills from the comfort of their homes and offices, without going to the bank or any PHCN office.

Global pipe makers transfer majority shares to Nigerians

V

allourec-Mannesmann Oil & Gas (VMOG) Nigeria, has disclosed plans to transfer 51 percent of its shares to Nigerians.

Ecobank’s brand equity deepens From Bamidele Alao, Lagos

F

ollowing the successful take over of troubled Oceanic Bank, a new Ecobank Nigeria now emerged, following the completion of the acquisition of Oceanic Bank International by Ecobank and the full integration of their business operations.

Ecobank, hitherto perceived as 'foreign bank' has re-positioned the bank as a premium brand in the local financial market. The take over, makes the new Ecobank one of the top four banks in Nigeria today with over 600 branches and 890 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

With this, former customers of Oceanic Bank Plc can conduct business in any branch of the merged branch network. This also applicable to all existing customers of Ecobank Nigeria, according to sources at the bank's head office.

Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku, said the new

Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jibril Aku

bank would not be resting on its oars as it would push to actualise its ambition of being a dominant player in Nigeria.

His words: "Ecobank intends to be a major player in Nigeria, just as our determined growth in other countries has made us one of Africa's largest financial institutions." ""We have a track record of success in merging banks to drive value for shareholders and deliver excellent service for our customers.

We will move expeditiously to establish a single, integrated organisation," he added.

On his part, the Managing Director, Oceanic Bank, Mr. John Aboh, said, "This merger with Ecobank marks a successful outcome to the rescue of Oceanic Bank. The combined entity provides shareholders and employees access to a stronger banking group. I leave with the satisfaction of having delivered value for our shareholders and

P&G receives US Consul accolade for corporate excellence From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

F

or receiving the 2011 United States Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), US ConsulGeneral in Nigeria, Joseph Stafford penultimate Thursday hosted a reception in honour of Procter and Gamble Nigeria (ACE) for the award the company recently won and presented to P&G Nigeria by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in Washington DC. The US Secretary of State’s ACE award was instituted to recognise the important role US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens and distinguishes the contribution American business corporations’ makes to improve the lives of citizens of their host nations.

The State Department said,

“P&G Nigeria was recognized for the company’s corporate and brand CSR program under the ‘Live, Learn and Thrive’ platform, to improve local communities’ water supply through education and purification technology; provision for a safe and healthy working environment; supporting the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers and children through mobile clinics; and innovative educational programs for teenage girls.”

“We are very proud of the company’s commitment to Nigeria and its consumers” said Mr. Joseph Stafford, the US Consul-General in his remarks at the event. Stafford added that the award sends a strong signal of the US State Department’s commitment to further

corporate social responsibility, innovation, exemplary practices, and democratic values worldwide.

Managing Director of Procter and Gamble West Africa, Manoj Kumar said at the reception that, “We are very humbled by this award, especially the fact that it is focused on improving lives.

This is the core of our purpose as a company and this is what leads everything we do in Nigeria.

“For 20 years P&G brands (Pampers, Ariel, Always, Vicks, Bonux, Gillette, Duracell, Oral-B and Safeguard) continue to improve everyday life in small but meaningful ways and many have become leading household names in Nigeria. We are expanding across Africa with Nigeria as our business hub for the entire West and Central Africa region”.

Sapphire Micro Finance Bank empowers 6,000 with low interest facilities

S

apphire micro finance bank says it has so far supported over 6,000 active poor persons in the society with credit facilities as part of its poverty alleviation scheme.

China pledges strong support for Nigeria as Okonjo-Iweala lures investors

T

he Chinese government has promised a strong strategic partnership with Nigeria which would in the next few years see it support funding for key infrastructure projects at concessionary rates, provide needed technology in the process and even bring their companies to set up factories in the country.

L-R: Chief Sales Officer, Inusa Bello, MD/CEO Rajan Swaroop and Director of Corporate Communication & CSR, Emeka Oparah, all of Airtel Nigeria at the launch of Airtel 3.75g services on Tuesday in Lagos.

opportunities for our employees. I thank the regulatory authorities for their support in the successful conclusion of this process."

Ecobank boss said the bank is hoping to play on the economy of scale, noting, "our branch and ATM network is a good example of how we can use scale to grow our business. We are now more accessible, taking service to our customers' doorstep. Moving into the 'top four' is a significant milestone."

The merger afford customers of the Oceanic Bank to use any Ecobank ATM without the payment of the transactional fees of N100 usually charged for use of competitors' ATM. On July 30, 2011, Oceanic Bank and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated entered into a Transaction Implementation Agreement, setting out the framework for the Oceanic acquisition.

Customers relish Access Bank valentine reward scheme From Suleiman Idris, Lagos ccess Bank Plc, consistent with its customer intimacy proposition, has rewarded lucky customers in line with its advertised Valentine promise to its customers. Each lucky customer was credited with the sum of N250, 000.00.

The gesture was designed to reward customer loyalty across the bank’s 305 branches nationwide. Under the scheme, 610 lucky customers of the bank were selected to enjoy an allexpense paid trip for two nights in a luxury hotel anywhere in Nigeria.

He added: “This initiative is novel in our environment and is the very first time a Nigerian bank will demonstrate love and show appreciation to customers in this way. I believe that with the gift of N250, 000.00, two nights of pleasure to two customers each from our 305 branches nationwide, we have demonstrated how deeply in love we are with our customers this season. And if I am correct, this is the first time ever that a Nigerian Bank will do this”.

Access Bank has remained at the forefront of industry defining initiatives, particularly in the area of customer service. The Bank has pioneered numerous customer service initiatives that have elevated the practice of banking in Nigeria thus affirming its description as a customer focused financial services institution.

Recently, the Bank enhanced the features of its online banking solution, Access Online, to deliver added value to customers as the country enters into the age of a cashless economy with the commencement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash-lite project in Lagos on January 1, 2012.

A

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Airtel expansion drive hit by Econet $3.1bn claim

T

he recent court ruling which re-instated the five per cent equity ownership in Airtel Nigeria to Econet Wireless of South Africa, may be having a negative effect on the operations of Airtel in many of its key markets in Africa.

JustFood set to revolutionise ice business in Nigeria

J

ust Food Limited, a leading ice making machines supplier since 1995, is set to revolutionise the ice business in Nigeria, with its scale ice machine. Ice blocks are produced by a deliberate conditioning of water in freezers and ice block machine, in order to create cooling effects on industrial or consumer items.

EKEDC goes cashless in new partnership with eTranzact

T

he Eko Electricity Distribution Company (EKEDC) has launched the PHCN Utility card in partnership with eTranzact International Plc. The card is designed to offer seamless e-payment services for customers to pay their electricity bills from the comfort of their homes and offices, without going to the bank or any PHCN office.

Global pipe makers transfer majority shares to Nigerians

V

allourec-Mannesmann Oil & Gas (VMOG) Nigeria, has disclosed plans to transfer 51 percent of its shares to Nigerians.

Ecobank’s brand equity deepens From Bamidele Alao, Lagos

F

ollowing the successful take over of troubled Oceanic Bank, a new Ecobank Nigeria now emerged, following the completion of the acquisition of Oceanic Bank International by Ecobank and the full integration of their business operations.

Ecobank, hitherto perceived as 'foreign bank' has re-positioned the bank as a premium brand in the local financial market. The take over, makes the new Ecobank one of the top four banks in Nigeria today with over 600 branches and 890 Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

With this, former customers of Oceanic Bank Plc can conduct business in any branch of the merged branch network. This also applicable to all existing customers of Ecobank Nigeria, according to sources at the bank's head office.

Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria, Jibril Aku, said the new

Managing Director of Ecobank Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jibril Aku

bank would not be resting on its oars as it would push to actualise its ambition of being a dominant player in Nigeria.

His words: "Ecobank intends to be a major player in Nigeria, just as our determined growth in other countries has made us one of Africa's largest financial institutions." ""We have a track record of success in merging banks to drive value for shareholders and deliver excellent service for our customers.

We will move expeditiously to establish a single, integrated organisation," he added.

On his part, the Managing Director, Oceanic Bank, Mr. John Aboh, said, "This merger with Ecobank marks a successful outcome to the rescue of Oceanic Bank. The combined entity provides shareholders and employees access to a stronger banking group. I leave with the satisfaction of having delivered value for our shareholders and

P&G receives US Consul accolade for corporate excellence From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

F

or receiving the 2011 United States Secretary of State’s Award for Corporate Excellence (ACE), US ConsulGeneral in Nigeria, Joseph Stafford penultimate Thursday hosted a reception in honour of Procter and Gamble Nigeria (ACE) for the award the company recently won and presented to P&G Nigeria by the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton in Washington DC. The US Secretary of State’s ACE award was instituted to recognise the important role US businesses play abroad as good corporate citizens and distinguishes the contribution American business corporations’ makes to improve the lives of citizens of their host nations.

The State Department said,

“P&G Nigeria was recognized for the company’s corporate and brand CSR program under the ‘Live, Learn and Thrive’ platform, to improve local communities’ water supply through education and purification technology; provision for a safe and healthy working environment; supporting the health and well-being of new and expectant mothers and children through mobile clinics; and innovative educational programs for teenage girls.”

“We are very proud of the company’s commitment to Nigeria and its consumers” said Mr. Joseph Stafford, the US Consul-General in his remarks at the event. Stafford added that the award sends a strong signal of the US State Department’s commitment to further

corporate social responsibility, innovation, exemplary practices, and democratic values worldwide.

Managing Director of Procter and Gamble West Africa, Manoj Kumar said at the reception that, “We are very humbled by this award, especially the fact that it is focused on improving lives.

This is the core of our purpose as a company and this is what leads everything we do in Nigeria.

“For 20 years P&G brands (Pampers, Ariel, Always, Vicks, Bonux, Gillette, Duracell, Oral-B and Safeguard) continue to improve everyday life in small but meaningful ways and many have become leading household names in Nigeria. We are expanding across Africa with Nigeria as our business hub for the entire West and Central Africa region”.

Sapphire Micro Finance Bank empowers 6,000 with low interest facilities

S

apphire micro finance bank says it has so far supported over 6,000 active poor persons in the society with credit facilities as part of its poverty alleviation scheme.

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

China pledges strong support for Nigeria as Okonjo-Iweala lures investors

T

he Chinese government has promised a strong strategic partnership with Nigeria which would in the next few years see it support funding for key infrastructure projects at concessionary rates, provide needed technology in the process and even bring their companies to set up factories in the country.

L-R: Chief Sales Officer, Inusa Bello, MD/CEO Rajan Swaroop and Director of Corporate Communication & CSR, Emeka Oparah, all of Airtel Nigeria at the launch of Airtel 3.75g services on Tuesday in Lagos.

opportunities for our employees. I thank the regulatory authorities for their support in the successful conclusion of this process."

Ecobank boss said the bank is hoping to play on the economy of scale, noting, "our branch and ATM network is a good example of how we can use scale to grow our business. We are now more accessible, taking service to our customers' doorstep. Moving into the 'top four' is a significant milestone."

The merger afford customers of the Oceanic Bank to use any Ecobank ATM without the payment of the transactional fees of N100 usually charged for use of competitors' ATM. On July 30, 2011, Oceanic Bank and Ecobank Transnational Incorporated entered into a Transaction Implementation Agreement, setting out the framework for the Oceanic acquisition.

Customers relish Access Bank valentine reward scheme From Suleiman Idris, Lagos ccess Bank Plc, consistent with its customer intimacy proposition, has rewarded lucky customers in line with its advertised Valentine promise to its customers. Each lucky customer was credited with the sum of N250, 000.00.

The gesture was designed to reward customer loyalty across the bank’s 305 branches nationwide. Under the scheme, 610 lucky customers of the bank were selected to enjoy an allexpense paid trip for two nights in a luxury hotel anywhere in Nigeria.

He added: “This initiative is novel in our environment and is the very first time a Nigerian bank will demonstrate love and show appreciation to customers in this way. I believe that with the gift of N250, 000.00, two nights of pleasure to two customers each from our 305 branches nationwide, we have demonstrated how deeply in love we are with our customers this season. And if I am correct, this is the first time ever that a Nigerian Bank will do this”.

Access Bank has remained at the forefront of industry defining initiatives, particularly in the area of customer service. The Bank has pioneered numerous customer service initiatives that have elevated the practice of banking in Nigeria thus affirming its description as a customer focused financial services institution.

Recently, the Bank enhanced the features of its online banking solution, Access Online, to deliver added value to customers as the country enters into the age of a cashless economy with the commencement of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s cash-lite project in Lagos on January 1, 2012.

A

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 21

ECOWAS women want gender role in trade policies Stories from Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

W

est African leaders has been urged to integrate the gender dimensions into national trade policies.

The position was taken when the Economic Community of West African States / Federation of Business Women and Entrepreneurs (ECOWAS/ FEBWE) officially launched its Nigerian chapter NIGERIA/ FEBWE in Lagos.

They stressed that specific and sectoral actions are needed to be carried out, particularly on the free movement of people, goods and services in the ECOWAS region, in order to eradicate the many annoyances and abnormal practices which women suffer across the borders.

The President of ECOWAS/ FEBWE, Mrs. Candide Leguede from Togo, said that after Benin, Cote d’Ivoire , Guinea , Niger and Togo , that NIGERIA/FEBWE is the sixth Federation to be officially launched.

She said that the time has come for women in the sub-region as a whole to regain their value and place, with an emphasis on personal capacity and managerial capacity building, to make them more visible in the business world.

“The time has come to act, taking into account all our difficulties, while seeking innovative solutions to challenges that for some reasons have become more critical than ever,” she said.

She explained that the reason behind the formation of the Federation is establish a national and regional powerful network for women entrepreneurs in the sub-

region, capable of making a great difference.

Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochepke, represented by the Ministry’s Director of Monitoring and Evaluation, Mrs. Anthonia Ekpa, said that the launching of NIGERIA/FEBWE, could not have come at a better time.

She commended the launch of NIGERIA/FEBWE because the association will henceforth join in the crusade to address the hurdles which women in Nigeria experience in business.

The Minister assured the women of the Federal Government’s resolve to bring about sustainable development through Vision 20:2020, the Transformation Agenda and the recently inaugurated Subsidy Reinvestment Empowerment Programme (SURE).

She said it was laudable that ECOWAS/FEBWE saw the need to unlock and stimulate the economic potential of Nigerian women’s entrepreneurship which has experienced tremendous growth in partnership with government.

Noting that women in developing countries face higher barriers when it comes to entering the formal labour market, she said “they often resort to entrepreneurship as a way out of unemployment and often-time poverty.”

She pointed out that the President Goodluck Jonathan-led Administration is geared towards greater empowerment of the womenfolk especially economically and politically. She added that, apart from lacking the economic resources, women also

encounter other forms of inhibitions.

“The emphasis on girl-child education, encouragement of women’s engagement with politics among others, is one of the ways in which the administration is giving visibility and voice to women,” she said.

“This is further evident in the laudable efforts to bring on board the talents, skills, competences and managerial expertise of women to national development, through appointments in the Federal Cabinet and as Ambassadors as well as in managerial capacities on several Boards of organisations,” she said.

The minister also said that her concern for the upliftment of women is unequalled, as

according to her ,” on our part in the Water Resources sector, we are aware and convinced that the Millennium Development Goals, especially those ones critical to women, will be realised if all women have access to water.”

She added that, to this end, and in line with the Transformation Agenda, her ministry has put in place a robust Water Sector Map, to ensure that water reaches all communities in Nigeria and also established a gender unit to specifically engage women on issues of water utilisation.

In her welcome address, the Chairperson of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture Business Women Group (NAWORG) and President of NIGERIA/FEBWE, Iyalode

Alaba Lawson said that the objective for setting up the organisation was to promote and facilitate trade on a common platform for various groups or individual women entrepreneurs in the sub-region through intra and inter trading.

She also said that their aim, as a body, is also to check the menace of youths’ engagement in drugs trafficking, armed robbery, prostitution and other vices which are plaguing a majority of the youth population due to rising unemployment.

Lawson said that NIGERIA/ FEBWE intends to counter these anti-social activities by organising sustainable development projects in small scale enterprises, skills acquisition training, agro-allied initiatives and gender equality.

NACCIMA berates CBN over agriculture loan

T

he Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has faulted the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) directive to commercial banks to increase lending to the agricultural sector by five per cent.

NACCIMA Director-General John Isemede, lamented the insufficient lending to the agricultural sector, adding that it

would not enhance agricultural productivity in the country if the increment remains at the level it is.

He noted that though, the CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, had earlier directed commercial banks to increase lending to the agriculture sector by at least five per cent of total loans, to boost farming output, lending to the sector currently makes up one per cent of credit by banks.

Isemede said that the five per cent lending was negligible when compared with the mass importation of products into the country.

He called on the apex bank to consider additional increment in lending to the agricultural sector, as well critically examine the interest rate and gestation period on loans to farmers, with a view to preventing them from the harsh conditions of commercial banks.

FirstRand plans Africa growth as loans lift H1

S

outh Africa’s No.2 bank, FirstRand on Tuesday said it aimed to build an investment banking operation in Nigeria from scratch and buy a smaller retail and commercial bank there.

FirstRand, which already has operations in seven African countries, reported a 26 percent rise in first-half profit on strong loan growth, and said it would keep pursuing expansion in other African countries such as Nigeria and Ghana.

“If we do acquisitions, they will typically be small to medium

size,” Chief Executive Sizwe Nxasana said in an interview following the bank’s results.

“We wouldn’t want to spend more than, I would say, 10 percent of our capital on new acquisitions or new opportunities.”

The bank ended talks to buy a stake in Nigeria’s Sterling Bank last year after failing to agree on price.

FirstRand is the best performing bank on South Africa’s blue-chip Top 40 index this year, as it focuses on expanding its loan book. (Reuters)

Farm produce on display at the agric exhibition organised by African Development Bank Community Development-Based Agriculture and Rural Development Project (AFDB-CBARDP), yesterday at Jada Local Government Area of Adamawa state.

Photo: NAN

FG to reinvest 20% import levy to revive textile industry

T

he Federal Government is set to reinvest the 20 per cent levy charged on imported textile materials to revive local textile industries in the country.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga told with executives of Nigerian Textile Manufacturers Association at a meeting in Abuja, that the fund would be ploughed back to revamp local textile sector through a revolving

loan.

Aganga said the idea behind the introduction of the levy on imported textile materials was to use it to develop the productive capacity of textile industries across the country given the great potentials of the sector to create jobs and generate wealth. ”The idea behind the levy is that it will go back to the development of the textile sector.

So, there are no two ways about it, because that is what it is meant

for. It is the responsibility of the government to create an enabling environment for our industries to flourish and the textile industry is one key area we are working with stakeholders to develop. The textile sector generates employment for Nigerians as well as revenue for government, through taxes.

“The development of industries remains the major mandate of the Ministry of Trade and Investment. We must

diversify our economy by industrialising our country and one of the areas we are focusing on within the next four years is the development of the textile sector as part of our industrialisation plan.”

He said that the ministry was working with stakeholders in the textile industry to address the problems militating against increased productivity in the sector.

The executive, led by its

Director-General, Mr. Jaiyeola Olanrewaju, and National President, Mr. Ibrahim Igomu , said the intervention of the Federal Government through the textile intervention fund had significantly helped in reviving some of the dead textile companies.

Aganga said the 20 per cent levy would be lodged at the Bank of Industry for onward lending to textile manufacturers at three per cent interest rate.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Mass sack of bank employees, violation of fundamental human rights - Activist Barrister Eze Onyekpere, is the lead Director of an Abuja-based Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), Centre for Social Justice (CSJ) and a human right activist. In this interview our correspondent, Stanley Onyekwere, he bears his mind on social economic issues, in relationship to fundamental human rights of persons in Nigeria.

Excerpts:

R

ecently, there were reports of mass sack of workers in the banking sector following the mergence and acquisition of some banks Nigeria. How do you view this development?

It is a very sad scenario and situation, which has to a very great extent violated their right to work; which is one of those rights recognised in international standards from domestic African human rights charter to the universal declarations in support of covenant on economic and social rights but also several other standards.

However, what that has demonstrated is the difference between the rule of law and the rule of whims and caprices, that is the rule of man. In the United States of America (USA) and other climes like the United Kingdom (UK), for instance, where there is the equivalent of the Central Bank, financial authorities intervening to rescue banks from bankruptcy; they intervened through the rule of law.

What happened in the USA,

Barrister Eze Onyekpere

the executive council drafted a bill which went to the legislature, and they debated on it thoroughly with all the stakeholders being involved in the process. It was a very lengthy bill. Even their big car manufacturing company, General Motors (GM) and others struggling to survive were given bailout packages to help them pull through.

So, all stakeholders and the public were allowed to make presentations that made it pleasing, because it was properly debated and a detailed legislation, which even recommended that perks of directors and senior managers in these banks and companies at the brink of economic collapse be cut down.

Because you can’t expect the public to give you money and you are enjoying perks that are beyond imagination, so, based on that, American banks and some auto-mobile companies have turned the corner.

Recently, General Motors (GM) was reported to have declared an unprecedented profit of over $7 billion dollars from investment.

Therefore, these banks and companies were able to return back the equities they took from their central bank, which is the Reserve Bank.

So, the companies have turned around for good. Now, in own case, because the CBN’s unelected board sat down on their own and decided who to give money, who to sack, how and everything without a popular input from stakeholders.

But bear in mind that the money they gave out does not belong to them in the first place; it is public money, but they decided to use it to gamble.

This is because what they did was gambling as far as I’m concerned. There were no rules and regulations that guided their action; there were no standards to that effect.

That is why our banks have refused to turn around. And instead of creating new jobs, they are turning down people from the jobs they already have in the sector. So, what has happened is to an extent an infringement on government’s obligation to create jobs and the right enabling environment for citizens to access jobs.

Thus, because of the way and manner Sanusi and his board handled the issue, it is like it was a case of who they like their face and who they didn’t like. And the capriciousness in their approach to the resolution of the banking crisis in the country, is why bankers are losing jobs today in the sector.

If they had handled it under the rule of law approach, we would have had more jobs created today. These banks would have turned a new leaf and they would have started hiring instead of firing workers.

Recently, the CBN governor made donations to victims of the recent Kano bomb blast, which attracted a lot of criticisms from some quarters. And in a swift response, he made a similar donation to Madalla bomb victims. What’s your take on this?

The donations the CBN governor made to victims of bombing at Madalla was belated. It’s like everybody was criticising him and he saw that he must have done some wrong and quickly rushed to the place, to have some level of balancing. But I expect the CBN governor and his board to be more dispassionate in the way they handle such very tricky and highly inflammable

issues like the one in question.

It was an unfortunate act, and I think if he is reasonable he should have learnt his lessons, not to allow himself to fall into such a trap again.

What is the place of legislature in addressing this development?

The place of the legislature would be relevant and effective if the committees in the National Assembly perform their oversight functions very well. If they do that they will contribute to the process of minimising human rights violations and enhancing human welfare, job -reation and making life much easier for Nigerians.

What do you make of the arguments for and against the policy of removal of fuel subsidy in Nigeria?

It is not a question of what I make of it, but a question of trying to find out what is the

oil, how come you now want the followers to suffer more so that you can make more money available to yourselves.

There is no guarantee that this money to be saved would be judiciously used to better the lot of the people. Because, the government has refused to cut down on its spending and tighten its own belt, and then it is asking the masses to tighten their belts. It is not whether it is a good policy or a bad; if Nigerians see evidence that the government is cutting down on the cost of governance, that our money is not being mismanaged and stolen, then it would be easier to convince us, to say tighten your belt and let us suffer for a while in the interest of a better future for all of us.

For almost two years now, actual crude oil price has gone over a hundred dollars, which is far beyond our yearly N70 or

“

In the United States of America (USA) and other climes like the United Kingdom (UK), for instance, where there is the equivalent of the Central Bank, financial authorities intervening to rescue banks from bankruptcy; they intervened through the rule of law. role of the government or its obligations towards its citizens.

And if one can affirm what it is, which is to ensure the security and economic welfare of the people, then we will now place the issue of subsidy side by side within this context, to determine whether it enhances the security and welfare of Nigerians or denigrates it. If it denigrates it, you can be sure I’m not for it but if it enhances, then I’m for it.

However, the bottom line is that this government is fiscally irresponsible.

They mismanage the resources at their disposal. That’s why Nigerian are saying, well, you have not rendered good stewardship over the resources available from the sale of crude

N75 as our budget projections; this shows that we are meeting the benchmark we set for ourselves. And we are even producing more crude oil today than what we used to in the past. So, what reason should we have for anybody to be telling us stories about shortage of funds in national treasury to improve the welfare of the masses? What have they done with the one that they have got?

And until they provide a favourable answer to this question, nobody would listen to their ‘stories’, because whatever they are saying for now remain stories until they give an account of the stewardship of the money we have entrusted into their hands.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARC H 1, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Jabi park: The controversy rages I

n December last year, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), embarked on a cleaning exercise to remove illegal attachments, structures and other unnecessary additions to the original plan which had contributed to the degradation of the Jabi park.

Also, motor mechanics, petty traders selling different wares and food vendors that had illegally occupied a better part of the park for their business activities were sent packing to give way for the realisation of the objective of the exercise, which the council said was to upgrade the motor park to an international standard.

But presently, the controversial park has returned to the eyesore it was and AMAC is enmeshed in a storm that is threatening its very soul.

While addressing journalists during a tour of the park after the exercise, the AMAC Chairman, Hon. Micah Jiba had expressed his discontent over the appalling state of the park, which he said was the sole responsibility of the council to clean up.

The physical state of the park, which is characterised by bad roads and illegal attachments, the chairman noted, has had an adverse effect on revenue generation for the council.

“It is our statutory responsibility to develop the parks, markets etc and you all are aware that this garage has been here for some years now without any development.

“In the whole of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), this is the only garage we have; that is why I feel we should upgrade it during this particular administration.

“I discovered that we are losing so much revenue in this park; if we can upgrade this garage, the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) will generate a lot of revenue,” he had said.

Against this backdrop, Jiba revealed to journalists that the sum of over N2 billion is estimated to be expended on the rehabilitation of the park.

Journalists on the tour were made to believe that the project, a public private partnership (PPP) initiative would kick off immediately as all the necessary procedures had been finalised with an indigenous investor to execute the project.

The investor, Engineer Kehinde Adejumo of El-Salem Nig. Ltd had told journalists that 18 months were given to his company to finish the job, adding that they were developing the park in different phases.

“We are trying to make sure we meet up with the deadline; the entire package will

Less than three months after the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) embarked on a cleaning exercise at the Jabi motor park, preparatory to its much talked about upgrading , controversy has emerged-a pointer that the project may not be realised in the nearest future. Josephine Ella highlights the intrigue playing out between the FCT administration and AMAC.

The controversial Utako or Jabi Park comprise of parks for luxurious buses and small cars and taxis; we are going to have fire services, a new modern police post and a tower for surveillance with cameras to monitor the whole park,” he had declared.

One aspect the developer had promised to address was the nagging issue of hoodlums in the park.

Observers have pointed out that of all the motor parks in the FCT, Jabi Motor Park has earned for itself the unenviable name of being the most notorious for activities of touts and hoodlums.

The developer had assured that when the park was fully developed, there would be no place for touts and hoodlums to hide.

As it is, these touts and hoodlums are still having a field day at the park owing to the delay in the take-off of the project.

Within the motor park, the illegal business of buying and selling Indian hemp and new Naira notes is still thriving.

Although these activities are often shrouded in secrecy, security operatives, especially the police are not unaware of them because they have clamped down on culprits severally, only for them to return to the park after a while.

A spare parts dealer in the park, Chinedu Obiora, was one of those who lauded the move by the council to upgrade the motor park. He acknowledged that this will create a more conducive atmosphere for residents and motorists living and operating in and around the park.

Chinedu said he was worried about the return of the park to the cesspit it was and the delay its rehabilitation.

On enquiry, the Supervisory Councillor on Special Duties, Hon Alex Ebi Edim admitted to our correspondent that the council is yet to commence the project, saying, “We have not done anything on Jabi Motor Park, it’s a Public Private Partnership (PPP) project and government does not spend money on such projects.

Asked what was stalling take-off of the project, he told Peoples Daily that there were grey areas that needed to be cleared first.

In orders not to invite criticism from the public, the councillor wittingly and tactfully, avoided making detailed comment on the matter, leaving many unanswered questions like, why would the AMAC chairman ignored an existing agreement

signed by his predecessor over the Jabi Park and sign a new one with another company?

What the council’s supervisory councillor described as a “little misunderstanding with Ekeson” has turned out to be a subject of great controversy, pitting (AMAC) against the FCT administration on who

should engage contractors to rehabilitate the park The squabble between AMAC and E. Ekeson Bro Nig Ltd was concealed from the public until last week Tuesday, when the FCT Minister of State, Oloye Olajumke Akinjide, summoned a stakeholders’ meeting where she announced that the administration had perfected plans to privatise the same park to a Turkish consortium to the tune of $100 million.

This did not only come as a surprise to the AMAC chairman and his entourage at the meeting, but also journalists who are in the know of the recently signed MoU by AMAC with the investor, ElSalem Nig. Ltd. At the meeting, the minister of state for FCT told stakeholders that the move to privatize the motor park was part of President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration determination to bring foreign investors to the country, as she stressed that the government’s interest was to have a befitting motor park of global standard in the territory.

“First of all, I want to make some clarification; Nigeria has being looking for foreign investment. Turkey is one of the countries that have been targeted and the Turkish

Hon. Micah Jiba, AMAC Chairman

business delegation in this particular consortium is interested in Jabi Motor Park,” Oloye Olajumke Akinjide added.

Reacting to the move by the minister of state, the chairman of the council, Hon. Micah Jiba told the stakeholders that he was surprised when he received a letter from the office of the minister of state directing the council to handover the motor park to the FCT Area Council Service Secretariat.

It was at this point that Jiba revealed to the stakeholders that before the ministerial directive, he had already signed an MoU with El-Salem Nig. Ltd firm for the upgrading of the

company concerning the Jabi Park issue. “I am your supervising minister; I do not know about this your investor.

You have not shown me that they can do what is required to transform this facility; you have not even shown me that they have the money to do $100 million dollar deal. I am not saying this people has it.

This is the beginning of the process. What I expect is for you to find out what they can do and how they can do it. We must follow due diligence”.

“If you are doing business with a private contractor as government and you do not know what you are doing, you

“

We hereby advise the general public and the said Turkish consortium to desist from entering into any agreement with the FCT on the development of Jabi Motor Park since the issues of the development and management of the Jabi Motor Park are subjudice motor park to a global standard but did not hint the stakeholder on the subsisting court case with Ekeson.

He insisted that the design of the investor he has engaged to do the job was similar to the one the Turkish consortium has presented to the minister.

But in a swift reaction, Olajumoke lampooned the council chairman for not involving other stakeholders in the project, even as she described the MoU signed by the chairman as worthless.

“The AMAC chairman has showed me some agreement papers, which as a lawyer I can tell you is nothing like what we are talking about here. It is up to you to decide whether you can make the best capital we can have. I am not saying that Interstate is the best partner we can have. What I am saying is; I thought it was worth investigating”, she said.

Akinjide was particularly displeased that the AMAC chairman did not involve her in the initial business of entering into a partnership with any

will be short-changed! The business men are there to make money; even if you know what you are doing and you are not patriotic you will sell you country out. So for you to tell me you’ve given out Utako Motor park to somebody who will do exactly what these people are saying and ICRC is not involved which is a legal requirement for PPP, there is no bank guarantee and there is no evidence of money.

“We don’t even know who this people are, this is the FCT administration sitting in front of you, and you are telling us you have a partner that can bring the same thing that a minister, senator and House of reps members are proposing $100m project and you insist that you already have it and nobody know except you in that your little small office. I am sorry, I do not believe you. It is insulting, and it is unfair,” she fumed.

Meanwhile, in a presentation of the project to stakeholders, the leader of the

delegation and head of the Interstate Nigeria Limited, Mr. Ibrahim Suleiman revealed that the project will cost over 100 million US dollars, stressing that the design work has been completed.

He further revealed that the proposed interstate travel centre when completed will compromise a three star hotel, administrative office, fire service unit, maintenance unit among others, the same facilities the developer engaged by the AMAC has proposed.

Moreover, they called on the FCT Administration to ensure the speedy completion of all contractual agreements to enable the investors mobilise to site.

The question observers are asking is; why so many interests in the park? The former AMAC administration ceded the park to Ekeson in an agreement.

The present administration under Jiba, went ahead to sign a separate agreement with an investor of his choice. Now, the FCT minister of state has ignored all these and gone ahead with plans to privatise the same park to a Turkish investors not minding the previous agreements AMAC entered into with the other two investors.Shortly before the stakeholders meeting, the AMAC had vowed never to relinguish the park as it warned the FCT minister of state to stay clear from the Jabi Motor Park, saying that the motor park belongs to the council for revenue generation purposes in developing communities in the council.

The Council Secretary of AMAC, Hon. Idris Tanko Mohammed, in an interview with newsmen said: “The situation between AMAC and FCT Minister of State in respect of Jabi Motor Park is uncalled for. Jabi Motor Park has been a property of AMAC since the inception of FCT administration and there has never been any government that has said that the motor park should be handed to the FCT administration. “We are using this medium to call on the FCT Minister of State and anybody concerned to hands off from the issue of Jabi motor park, because it is a property of Abuja Municipal Area

Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, FCT Minister of State Council (AMAC), a revenue generating source for the council,” he had said.

But surprisingly, the AMAC which had vowed not to release the park to the FCT administration appears to have back-pedalled due to political pressure.

A day after the news of the minister of state’s $100 million deal with the Turkish consortium made the headlines on the pages of newspapers, the AMAC chairman in a volte face addressed a press briefing where he debunked the report that the council was at a disagreement with the FCTA over the park.

“AMAC and the Minister of State for FCT are from the same family which is the Peoples Democratic Party family, so we have a better way to resolve issues. The issue of Jabi Motor Park is not even contentious; it is just a matter of mis-understanding.

“The FCT administration has a plan for that motor park and the AMAC administration has a design for the park too. So I think, there is no contention at all.

What the FCT administration as a senior brother is saying is that they thought they can privatize the park, while AMAC is saying that they

have already engaged somebody.

“So I think it is completely out of place to say that AMAC and FCT are quarrelling over Jabi motor park, we are a peace loving administration and have seen FCT as our senior brother and there is no way we can look down on them, so I want to tell the whole world that there is no discrepancies, there is no acrimony, we are all working together as one for the same administration,” he said.

However, just about the time the chairman was busy convincing people that there was no contention with the FCTA over the park, facts emerged at the weekend that the dust raised by the move by the FCTA is far from settling soon, with another shocking revelation.

Renown lawyer, Barrister Festus Keyamo, who is an attorney to one of the parties to the long drawn tussle over the park, on behalf of his client E. Ekeson Bros. (Nig) Ltd issued a statement in which he disclosed that since December 1, last year, Ekeson and AMAC have been in court over issues arising from the development and management of the same park.

He therefore warned the Turkish consortium to back out of the deal with the FCTA

because there is a court injunction restraining any developer from developing or managing the park pending the determination of the case in court.

The latest puzzle now is, why would the FCTA concession the Jabi Park to a Turkish consortium despite a court order on transactions over the park.

In the statement titled “press release by Festus Keyamo on the controversy concerning the development of Utako potor park, Abuja”(otherwise called Jabi motor park), Keyamo said; “We however, wish to inform the public and the socalled Turkish consortium of the following: That the Abuja Municipal Area Council, a statutory and constitutionally recognised body legally allocated Jabi motor park to our client, E. Ekeson Bros. (Nig) Ltd to develop and manage the said park;(and) That pursuant to the afore-said allocation, Abuja Municipal Area Council executed an irrevocable Power of Attorney in favour of our client E. Ekeson Bros (Nig.) Ltd as the sole developer of Jabi Park,” he revealed.

The human rights activist also claimed that his client had so far expended N5 billion on the development of the park.

His words: “An order of perpetual injunction restraining the Defendant from appointing any other person other than the Plaintiff as a developer of the Utako motor park.

“Alternatively an order compelling the defendant to pay the plaintiff the sum of N5,000,000,000.00 (Five Billion Naira) being general damages for the loss of business, psychological trauma, humiliation and unnecessary expenses occasioned the plaintiff by the defendant’s action.”.

“We hereby advise the general public and the said Turkish consortium to desist from entering into any agreement with the FCT on the development of Jabi motor park since the issues of the development and management of the Jabi motor park are subjudice. This is because the minister cannot take those steps he intends to take until the rights of the parties in court are determined.

A media aide to the minister of state declined comment when asked if the minister was aware of the court case insisting that that Akinjide has set up a committee over the park.

Chances are that she may be oblivious of the court case since she was not in the know when the AMAC chairman entered into the latest MoU. All eyes are watching and ears wide open to hear the outcome of these multiple deals.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

Channelling CBN donation through NEMA

By Ibrahim Abdulkadir

I

n the past one year, a terrorist group (Boko Haram) acting under the guise of “entrenching sharia Law” in Northern Nigeria unleashed a reign of terror in different parts of the country including the Federal Capital territory Abuja where the group’s suicide Bombers attacked and bombed the police HQ and the UN building. Even before the advent of Boko Haram, plateau state has been engulfed

by Ethno religious crises(to date this strife is still on) where thousands have been killed and others displaced.

A lot of has been said on the N100 million donations given to victims of the Kano terror attacks by the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi. The Kano attacks left a death toll of about 180 people, the highest since the Boko Haram attacks started after the 2011 general Elections.

While some supporters of the present Administration are of the opinion that the insurgency is sponsored by opposition politicians, some sectional leaders and religious bodies are reading sentiments into the issue.

The Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) held a press conference recently accusing the CBN Governor of bias and favoritism. From the views expressed by different shades of opinion, it is pertinent to point out that nobody is against an individual providing succor to the distressed and victims of disasters but when the Donor is a public figure representing a governmental institution like the CBN then it becomes an entirely different scenario.

Many argued that since the CBN governor is an indigene of Kano state and by virtue of his position his constituency he should not have made the

donation since he had not made similar gestures to other disaster spots in the country. They therefore asked the question: “Why has the CBN not given relief to victims of same attacks that took place in other states like Yobe,Borno,Bauchi, plateau and Niger?”

With such criticisms, the CBN hurriedly gave N25 million to the victims of the Christmas day bombing in Madalla, Niger state where 35 worshipers were killed by a suicide bomber. This is nothing short of damage control measures.

In view of this therefore, it is necessary to call on public institutions to channel their donations to disaster victims through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) which is statutorily saddled by law to handle Relief and Rehabilitation to the victims of natural and anmade disasters in the country.

Going through the efforts and commitment of NEMA under the current leadership of the Director General Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, the agency has a Plan of Action in place to handle such issues when the need arises in any part of the country. The agency has demonstrated its capacity and capability by the successful manner it provides relief intervention for victims of various disasters in the country by paying for the treatment of survivors and providing palliatives to victims.

It is advisable at this juncture to call on high-net-worth individuals as well as corporate organizations and public institutions desirous of making donation to victims of disasters to avail themselves of the platform provided by NEMA through its offices and volunteers.

Ibrahim Abdulkadir works for NEMA

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) during the training of over eight hundred secondary school children recently in selected secondary schools of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba states of the North East zone.

A NEMA official addressing school children during the training .

NEMA Officials presents relief materials to Christian leaders for distribution to victims of Madalla bomb attacks

L-R: Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, Catholic Bishop of Minna, Most Rev. Martin Igwe Uzoukwu, and Parish Priest of St. Theresa’s Catholic Church, Madalla, Rev. Isaac A. Achi, during a visit by the CBN management to the church to commiserate with victims of the Christmas day bomb blast, yesterday in Madalla.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NEMA officials present relief materials for distribution to victims of Madalla bomb attacks

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

NEMA trains 800 children on disaster risk reduction

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has trained over eight hundred secondary school children in selected secondary schools of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Yobe and Taraba states of the North East zone.

The students, who were in January 2012 chosen from about forty-two secondary schools across the zone, received training on disaster mitigation and management.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alh. Muhammad SaniSidi, in a statement stated that the training would help save lives and prevent injuries in the event of dangerous occurrences.

Sani-Sidi also said not only would the skills prevent interruption to their education but, will prepare the population on the need to reduce the economic, social and cultural impacts at times of hazardous events.

He said: “Education in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) takes into account the relationships between society, environment, economy, and culture and their impacts. It also promotes critical thinking and problem-solving as well as social and emotional life skills that are essential to the empowerment

of groups threatened or affected by disasters.”

“School-oriented DRR initiatives are more relevant qualitatively than quantitatively. The training will also send signals to the larger society that if children can do it, then everyone can do it (every one meaning youths, adults, and people with disabilities and elderly people), the highly visible success of a few schooloriented initiatives can sometimes have more impact than the less visible success of a larger number of initiatives,” NEMA boss emphasized.

According to him, raising awareness within school communities involved building a culture of prevention among the school children, teachers and non-academic staff and, in some cases, the surrounding communities.

Sani-Sidi recalled that the IFRC World Disasters Report states, “In the years to come, children’s vulnerability due to disasters is expected to increase.

The impact of global warming is expected to result in up to 175 million children every year being affected by disasters brought about by climate change.”

“Increasing children’s and

families’ resilience and reducing their vulnerability to disasters are imperative to building a better world for children now and in the long-term future,” he said.

“The agency believe that all children and youth have the right to take part in decisions affecting their own lives and revealed that the DRR in Schools will help millions of children learn about their rights and take an active role in their communities’ development; encourage children and youth to speak out about issues that affect them, including domestic violence, health, education and more; deliver programs that reach the most marginalized and vulnerable groups; support the creation of child participation groups that help young people engage in citizenship and express their views and influence decisionmakers,” Sani-Sidi posited.

Meanwhile, the resource persons that trained the children include members of the State Emergency Management Agencies, the Nigerian Red Cross Society, the Fire Service, the Federal Road Safety Corps, the NYSC/NEMA Emergency Management Vanguards and the Ministries of Health and Environment.

DG, NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi in a handshake with one of the outgoing corps member Adebayo Adekoba after his NYSC program recently in Abuja.

Agency trains Kenyan high commission on disaster mgt

F

ollowing a request by the Kenya High commission in Nigeria asking it’s for support on disaster management, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has conducted training on emergency and security to equip the embassy staff for safer working environment.

Speaking at the training exercise, the Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi,

said the effort was in line with the agency’s mandate to coordinating, preventing and mitigating emergency situations in the country.

Represented by the agency’s Deputy Director, Search and Rescue Operations, Mr. Vincent Owan, the DG said, “You can see the Red Cross, the NSCDC and the Fire Service as the training will go a long way in sensitizing on security tips.”

Earlier in his remark, the Kenyan High commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Francis A. Sigei expressed his gratitude for Federal Government and the NEMA for honoring the commission’s request.

He said the objectives were for the embassy’s staff to have basic knowledge in emergency and security tips, particularly, on the need for them to be more cautious in their dealings.

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Mitigating desertification and drought hazards

D

esertification and drought are two related disasters which have over the years intensified the high rate of famine in the country especially in the Northern part of Nigeria.

Desertification has been noted in the analysis of the United Nation Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) as a process involving land degradation in a dryland area resulting to environmental crises, such as the loss of biodiversity and global warming. Drought on the other hand is a condition of unusually dry weather within a geographic area where rainfall is normally present resulting to water shortage that seriously interferes with human activities water-supply reservoirs emptiness, wells dry up, crop damage and other consequences which trigger ‘desertification’.

Hitherto, desertification and drought have posed a serious threat to the nation’s socio-economic, food security and employment. For instance, about 35 million people in northern Nigeria are reported to be suffering from the dangers of desertification; no fewer than 50,000 farmers in about 100 villages in Yobe state have been affected by sand dunes. Whereas, an estimated 55 million people have been seriously affected in Borno, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Jigawa, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi states; and approximately 350,999 hectares of land is lost to desertification annually.

In a study carried out by National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in collaboration with United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) and United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO), it has been observed that both natural and human activities have contributed to the menace of desertification and drought, among these are inadequate rain fall, harsh climate condition, over-cultivation which exhausts soil, overgrazing involving removal of vegetation that prevents and poorly drained irrigation.

Whereas, in attempt to proffer workable solutions to the effects of desertification and drought in the country, NEMA under the leadership of its Director-General, Alhaji Muhammed Sani-Sidi in technical partnership with National Space Research and Development Agency (NSRDA) and United Nations Space Based Information for Disaster Management and Emergency Response (UNI-SPIDER) has adopted the use of space-based technology to assist and obtain instant information that could enhance disasters prevention, mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.

With the use of Space Technology, synoptic viewing, mapping of damages, forecasting evolution,

adequate warning of the population at risk of the further peril which could arise from drought and desertification would be effectively achieved.

Apart from these, NEMA has carried out several campaigns and sensitization on Disaster Risks Reduction (DRR) including mitigation against the upsurge of desertification and drought across the country through constant organization of seminars, workshops, public education and enlightenment including visitation to grassroots on DRR. This has given the Agency additional window to come up with other infallible measures.

Upholding ecological management practices such as planting of trees, shelterbelts to protect soil from wind and water erosion are found to be effective in various parts of the world.

Communities are advised to put in place effective ecosystem management to conserve major ecological services, and ethical use of natural resources to meet the socioeconomic, political and cultural needs of current and future generations. Implementing a forestation activity will increase fuel wood improve timber supplies and provide additional fodder.

Encouraging local participation and community education on environmental matters and land use innovation is another proven solution to accommodate the hazards of drought and desertification. At community level, there is a need for adequate sensitization concerning various aspects of drought and water scarcity to predict, and articulate strategies which could help minimize the effects of drought and desertification.

Unethical natural practices such as overgrazing, overexploitation of plants, trampling of soils, and unsustainable irrigation practices are also some of the causes of these hazards. This simple technique involves allowing grass, time to regrow between grazing intervals, and avoiding overgrazing.

Instituting poverty eradication programs in the degraded areas will be a welcome development to secure the socio-economic and environmental conditions for prosperity, stability and equity. This can be achieved through the joint effort of local communities, rural organizations, national governments, non-governmental organizations, international and regional organizations who all have vital roles to play.

Furthermore, governments at all levels are encouraged to establish and develop local, national and inter-sect oral mechanisms to handle environmental and developmental upshots of land tenure expressed in terms of land use and land ownership.

While specific attention should be given to protecting the property rights of pastoral and nomadic groups living in rural areas.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Scientists devise new ways of solving environmental issues in Africa I n a bid to increase food security and decrease environmental degradation, scientists with Conservation International (CI) and partners have created an innovative and potentially gamechanging tracking and diagnostic system for policy and decisionmakers that will help to holistically monitor agricultural productivity, ecosystem health, and human well-being measures in African landscapes with near real-time data, and better understand the opportunities and trade-offs of increased agricultural production.

The Africa Monitoring System (AMS), an initiative that will be co-led by Conservation International, the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) in South Africa and the Earth Institute (EI), Columbia University, launched recently, following the announcement in Rome, of a ground-breaking grant from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

The investment, a three-year $10 million dollar grant that will be managed by Conservation International, lays the foundation for a new, integrated monitoring system in five regions of SubSaharan Africa where agricultural intensification is targeted to meet the needs of Africa’s growing population, including Tanzania, Ghana, Ethiopia, and two countries to be determined.

The grant to CI is one of seven grants Gates announced in Rome, totaling nearly $200 million; that brings the foundation’s total commitment to agriculture to more than $2 billion since the program began in 2006.

Vice President of Conservation International, Dr. Sandy Andelman, who will serve as Africa Monitoring System Executive Director said, “We face this enormous challenge that boils down to this key question: how are we going to feed nine billion people on the planet without destroying nature, especially in the face of climate change which in itself brings vast uncertainty. The answer is that we can no longer afford to make decisions without really seeing the full picture of what is happening to the planet.”

“To provide that picture, and to ensure agricultural development is sustainable, we need to measure the right things in the right places and translate that information into something policy makers can use, including better data, better analytical methods and better risk management approaches so that they can effectively evaluate the trade-offs and synergies among policies for agricultural development, poverty alleviation and conservation of nature. In essence, we need to put our finger on Earth’s pulse.”

The Africa Monitoring System will provide tools to ensure that agricultural development does not degrade natural systems and the services they provide,

what yield of crops they deliver, what happens after the harvest; (3) a landscape scale (100 km2) measuring water availability for household and agricultural use, ecosystem biodiversity, soil health, carbon stocks, etc.; and (4) a regional scale (~200,000 km2)

T

Kaduna Govt warns waste contractors, street cleaners over strange objects

Climate change impact gradually drains off a floating river Tanzania especially for smallholder farmers. It will also fill a critical unmet need for integrating measurements of agriculture, ecosystem services and human well-being by pooling near realtime and multi-scale data into an open-access online dashboard that policy makers will be able to freely use and customize to inform smart decision making. The raw data will be fully accessible and synthesized into six simple holistic indicators that communicate diagnostic information about complex agro-ecosystems, such as: availability of clean water, the resilience of crop production to climate variability or the resilience of ecosystem services and livelihoods to changes in the agricultural system.

“Rather than having a set of data over here for one issue, and other sets of data over there for other issues, what this system will essentially do is assemble the different puzzle pieces into one clear image that will allow decision makers to transparently see the parts and their sum in one centralized location”, Andelman explained.

The data collection will happen at multiple scales to create the most accurate possible picture: (1) a household scale, using surveys on health, nutritional status, household income and assets; (2) a plot scale to assess agricultural production and determine what seeds go into the land, where they come from, what kind of fertilizer is used,

support them,” Seligmann continued. “We are honored to be entrusted by the foundation to shepherd their largest investment to date in examining the relationship between agriculture and the environment, and I could not be more encouraged or appreciative for their leadership.”

CI, CSIR and Earth Institute will collaborate with governments, other nongovernmental organizations, the academic community, the private sector and key international partners, such as the World Bank Living Standards Measurement Survey, the Institute for Food Policy Research, the World Agroforestry Centre, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations over the next three years to design and implement the Africa Monitoring System.

This period will represent Phase 1 (three years) of a threephase process (10-15 years) to create an Integrated Global Monitoring System for Agriculture, Ecosystem Services and Human Well-Being, and developers expect to mobilize additional resources to leverage the Foundation’s investment.

Dr. Andelman added, “The bottom line is this: people need secure livelihoods and to be food secure. We all critically depend – both directly and indirectly, through agriculture – on the wealth of services nature provides. If we continue to make decisions with inadequate, imperfect information, we will fail at meeting this challenge of making sure everyone on the planet has enough food to eat while earth’s life support system is sustained. So it is now or never.”

that will tie everything together into a big picture, to see the scales at which agricultural development decisions are made.

All of the diagnostic information will be collected and assembled in a standardized way to allow for accurate comparisons.

The intent is to create a “gold standard” environmental monitoring system for the global good.

Another intention of the system is to emphasize capacity building for African policymakers and institutions in geographies where the foundation invests.

Measurements will be collected through a combination of groundbased data collection and remote sensing, working through subgrants to local scientists who will collect information and partnerships with existing data collection efforts such as the Tanzania National Bureau of Statistics.

“Our aim is to develop this capacity in Africa,” added Andelman. “As much of the work as possible will be done in Africa

by Africans who will be partners in the Africa Monitoring System.”

CI Chairman and CEO Peter Seligmann praised the grant as a landmark moment in conservation which would inspire others. “For many years, we have seen the forces of conservation and development progress along parallel but separate tracks, with goals that some people perceive to be at odds. But the opposite is true: these two forces are completely dependent on each other for their long term success.”

“The Africa Monitoring System will finally merge these two tracks and recognize the absolutely critical link between people and the ecosystems that

he Kaduna state Government recently warned the solid waste contractors and street cleaners to be vigilant for strange objects while on duty.

The state Commissioner for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr Zachariah Shamaki, gave the advice in an interview with the journalists in Kaduna.

He said that the spate of blasts from locally made explosive devices had made vigilance imperative it would not want to loose any of its workers to explosions.

Shamaki advised evacuators to pay more attention to any strange objects wrapped in

polythene or leather bags.

He also urged them to report any suspected object to security outfits for prompt action.

“Tthe waste must be evacuated and those involved in the exercise should do their work with caution.” (NAN)

EHORECON to organise refresher programme for staff

T

he Environmental Health Officers Registration Council of Nigeria (EHORECON) will in April, this year organise refresher training programme for its staff on litigation and environmental health.

The Registrar of the council, Mr Augustine Ebisike, who disclosed this recently in Abuja, said the training is aimed at improving the effectiveness of the staff.

“We have decided to organise refresher training programme for our workers nationwide in April in Nasarawa state. We believe that the training will improve the

effectiveness and efficiency of our workers,” he said.

The registrar said that four judges would serve as resource persons to discuss legal issues in environmental health, saying “The judges will train our staff on how to organise themselves when cases have to go to court.”

Ebisike said that the council would use the opportunity to update participants on the latest developments in environment health law.

“The rules are changing; there are so many laws coming up; we need to know these laws, and how to apply them,” he said.

The registrar said that the

council is also mandated to license and inspect catering establishments in local government areas.

According to him, the council plans to organise a seperate training programme for its staff on the hazards in preparing food by catering establishments.

He urged Nigerians to take measures to prevent the outbreak of the diseases in the country saying “health is wealth”.

“We are spending too much money treating symptoms of diseases; more than 70 per cent of the diseases ravaging the people are preventable,” he said.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 27

Shell’s Bonga oil spill and host communities A fter Last December oil spillage from Bonga field belonging to Shell Nigeria, leaders of the 64 affected communities in Bayelsa State have threatened to sue the oil company both in Nigeria and Europe for environmental pollution.

The communities have cried out that their people are dying, due to unquantifiable damage from the oil spill that have destroyed their means of livelihood. The spill which has not been cleaned up till date has reportedly wrecked havoc on their aquatic lives and farmlands.

The Bonga Field, which produces both petroleum and natural gas, is located off coastal areas of the Niger delta, whose recent oil spill, claimed to be the worst in a decade, has visited untold hardship on the hapless populace of the area.

It has also been reported that all entreaties to Shell to clean up these communities has fallen on deaf ears, as it has not shown serious commitment to solving the problem.

Since the spill, many deaths have been reported, besides a number of other natives that have suffered from various strange ailments.

One cannot but sympathize with these hapless communities considering that fishing is their main occupation, as their waters have been polluted by the oil spill.

The question is Shell that has all it takes to clean up the affected communities, has delayed the clean for no plausible reason.

More worrisome is the claim by leaders of the communities that Shell is busy dividing the people by inciting one community against the other instead of addressing the problem.

Without any equivocation, the people of the Niger Delta are certainly living in hell, considering the monumental environmental problems coupled with the flaring of gas that has been their lots due to oil exploration and exploitation in the area.

The ceaseless acid rain, which makes newly laid zinc on houses to rust within days and noise pollution to various diseases are all induced by gas flaring.

The air and water stinks, and even the fish and crabs caught in the creeks smell oil, as the oil has found its way deep into the village wells, it lies thick in the mud flats and there are brown and yellow slicks all along the lengthy network of creeks, swamps, mangrove forests and rivers in the entire coastal areas of Niger delta.

This is due to the devastating oil spills over the past five decades, causing serious environmental and health hazards in waterways. The extent of damage to the region was a pointer in a report by the

United Nations that it will cost $1bn to rectify and take up to 30 years to clean up the region.

That there have been numerous complaints is an understatement. In fact, there have been numerous complaints resulting in conflicts between oil and gas operators and their host communities. With a view to proffering solutions and ensuring a smooth industry’s community relationship in the oil and gas sector, the federal government had severally initiated various stakeholders’ forums where several agreements were reached

complaining about its inability to meet the deadline.

Does the federal government lack the courage to use the big stick, as it had failed to adhere to international standards?

-For smaller companies in the sector, government assured that a time-table would be worked out based on their capacities.

Several round-table discussions took place in order to address such as gas policy; funding, technology transfer and environmental problems.

It is a common knowledge that Nigeria flares gas more than any

ENVIR ONMENT ENVIRONMENT WATCH

By Ambrose Inusa Sule, mnes globenviron@yahoo.com 0703-441-4410 (sms only) reserve of 114.42 billion cubic feet, statistical and ecological facts, show that about 70.2 recent of the total gas production in Nigeria is being flared on a regular daily basis to economic disadvantage to the country, with an estimated monthly gas production of l16 million cubic meters.

Shell oil spill the biggest in Nigeria in 13 years to stop gas flaring in the country.

The argument of the oil and gas operators has been that an entire new Clean Technology had to be imported before the flaring of gas could be stopped in the Nigeria.

Worried by the lukewarm attitude of most companies in the energy sector towards a set date to stop gas flaring, both the executive and the legislative arms of the federal government have at different times made some tremendous efforts which culminated in the agreement of the first set date of 2004.

As usual, high-wire politics was introduced and the goal post has always been shifted due to what many watchers considered as under-the-table maneuvering by major oil and gas operators.

When it was dawn on the federal government that leaving the oil and gas operators to keep shifting the date may not augur well for the people and the environment in the oil and gas producing area, it warned that come 2008, stiff penalties await defaulters as it would no longer accept the excuses given by the operators meeting the deadline.

The federal government was particularly disturbed that Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC), a major operator in the sector could be

other country in the world which accounted to about 24 percent of the world total.

According to available statistics, up to 80 percent of petroleum associated gases estimated at 2 million standard cubic feet are flared each day; a situation which has not changed much till date. The adverse impact on the people and environment are enormous. One of the major efforts to achieve the objectives of gas flare stoppage program in the country was the setting up of a National Forum on the Monitoring of National Gas Utilization and implementation of Related Projects.

The objective of the forum was to put pressure on oil and gas operators to stop gas flaring in a wasteful, unwholesome, environment unfriendly manner.

The efforts of the forum culminated in better cooperation from the oil and gas operators and the subsequent agreement to drastically reduce gas flare level from 68 percent in 1999 to 42 percent in 2003. And it was expected that there would be a further reduction to 25 percent by the end of the year 2004, which was initially set as the deadline for achieving zero gas flare.

With more than Nigeria’s gas

The greatest effort by the federal government to achieving zero gas flare is the setting up of the Presidential Implementation Committee on Clean Development Mechanism (PICCDM), to source for foreign funding for gas utilization projects m the country.

A new dimension was introduced to the politics of zero gas flare deadline of 2008 in the country by the federal High Court ruling for gas flaring to be stopped immediately.

The Court considered gas flaring in the Niger Delta areas in Nigeria as violation of the fundamental rights dignity of the oil communities.

As expected Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) a major operator in the oil and gas sector, quickly reacted that it would be impossible for it to stop gas flaring as ruled by the court, as it needed at least US$1.85 billion to achieve zero gas flare.

In a swift reaction to the ruling of the court to the immediate stoppage of gas flare, federal government warned that it was bad omens that will put a wedge on the wheels of government’s effort to achieving a zero gas flare soon. It claimed that it will rob the country its eligibility for credits from Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Project from

foreign sources.

The then PICCDM chairman, Dr. Collins Gardner was reported to have seriously kicked against the judgment because “it was flawed in all dimensions”.

According to the report, the PICCDM was already sourcing for foreign funding for gas utilization projects for the country that would have quicken the achievement of zero gas flare, but the court ruling had come to put a wedge against the actualization of such projects.

Gardener was also reported to have said that there have been protests from International NonGovernmental Organizations (NGOs) that Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) projects from Nigeria on gas flaring were not eligible for credits since a court decision has set the baseline at zero.

According to him, Nigeria will suffer if such judgment is to be executed, and as such the federal government has appealed against the Judgment.

Shell, a major operator in the sector has been complaining from day one, its inability to meet the deadline. And as expected, Shell was the first major operator to react to the ruling of the court, reiterating that it would not achieve zero gas flare till 2009.

The set date has come and gone, yet gas flare continued till date.

It could be recalled the landmark judgment of another court which upheld the directive of the country’s upper legislative body that Shell should pay Ijaw aborigines of Bayelsa State the sum ofUS$1.5 billion as damages for environmental violence caused by oil exploration and drilling activities of the past 50 years in the area.

Though, Shell appealed against the ruling, the onus of moral burden on its activities in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria continues to hurt its psyche.

Looking back at 50 years of oil and gas exploration in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria all what the communities in the region have been doing, is counting their losses.

Oil and gas watchers, warned that should the federal government at this time allowed oil and gas operators have their way to an unending zero gas flare set date there might be an unexpected backlash from the youths of the Niger Delta region of Nigeria in addition with the continued oil spill problems.

The year 2011 has come and gone, zero gas flare still remains a debate. The National Assembly debate is seen by the environment watchers as playing to gallery. Efforts made so far has been one step forward, two steps backward.

PAGE 30

ISSUES

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Governor Gaidam’s Town Hall with Yobe elders

By Abdullahi Bego

S

ince his election to a new four-year term back in April 2011, Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State has remained consumed by a passion to meet the numerous developmental challenges facing the State, prove the widespread goodwill he continues to enjoy from the people and show that where its lessons are learnt correctly, history can be more than the path left by the past.

For, while the administration had strove to do so much from 2007 when it first came to power to renew people’s confidence in the capacity of leaders to serve those who elected them to public office, there are many teething, largely spill-over issues that often affect the pace at which the Governor wants to turn around the fortunes of the State.

One of such issues, for example, is the burgeoning personnel costs at the local government level which remains a hamstring to Gaidam’s desire to extend the positive reach of government at the grassroots. It is a problem, investigations show, which was incubated since the creation of the State back in 1991. Irregular appointments and insertion of ghost names in the payroll meant that by 2010, Yobe with 17 Local Government Councils had more workers in the local government system than Kano with 44 Local Councils or Borno with 27.

It means that despite its best efforts, more money was going to the pockets of individuals than the government would have channeled to providing services to local communities.

Determined that this was unacceptable, Gaidam moved to clean the Augean Stable. He set up verification committees not just for salary payments but also for the payment of pensions and gratuity. In one instance, the bill for the payment of pension and gratuity to over 500 retired and deceased local government employees over a certain period came down from N560 million to N406 million because of the verification exercise.

The government continues to make modest savings sanitising the local government payroll and cutting and consolidating nonessential spending.

As the exercise achieved its objectives, however, people understandably began to complain. Beneficiaries of the misdeed would naturally not take it easy. But there are a few genuine complaints, as well, which the Governor promised would be looked into.

This was among the many issues that surfaced during Governor Gaidam’s Town Hall with select elders and

Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state (middle), his deputy, Engr. Abubakar D. Ali, (left), and the state Chairman of the ANPP, Alhaji Sani Inuwa Nguru, (right), during a Town Hall with elders and community leaders on Tuesday in Damaturu. community leaders from the 17 Local Government Areas which took place at the WAWA Hall of the Government House Damaturu last Tuesday.

The Town Hall was called to provide an opportunity for Governor Gaidam to interact directly with people at the grassroots. The last such major interaction was during the campaigns, when the Governor visited 32 towns and villages all across the State. At that time, the Governor heard the people speak about their problems and needs; about roads they want built, schools they want renovated or hospitals they want upgraded.

They spoke about their frustrations with promises made

but not fulfilled by previous regimes in the State and also about their confidence that their votes would matter this time around.

Gaidam would often listen attentively to the people as they make their minds known, taking down notes like the roads engineer keen not to miss any contours observed during a survey work.

In eight months since he was sworn-in to office, Governor Gaidam has moved to meet many of the promises he made to the electorate. A Township road project was completed or nearly completed in the five major towns of Potiskum, Damaturu, Gaidam, Gashu’a and Nguru; a 55-kilometer road project is ongoing from Bayamari to

“

For, while the administration had strove to do so much from 2007 when it first came to power to renew people’s confidence in the capacity of leaders to serve those who elected them to public office, there are many teething, largely spill-over issues that often affect the pace at which the Governor wants to turn around the fortunes of the State

Yunusari; the ‘Trans-Saharan’ road project extending from Kanamma to Machina which will cover 230 kilometers has been awarded; and Jakusko and Buduwa towns have their demands for extension of the national power grid fulfilled.

Yobe’s education sector has continued to receive attention with students regularly receiving their scholarship and bursary allowances. Girls’ schools are being upgraded and those without perimeter fence for decades since they were established are currently being fenced. The State University continues to remain the ‘fastest growing’ in the North. The promise of free medical treatment for pregnant women, children from five years and below and accident victims is holding steady. And new infrastructure and equipment are being provided at existing hospitals.

Although Governor Gaidam is going ahead with these and many more, his belief that leadership is a bottoms-up approach rather than the other way round meant that whenever circumstances allowed, he would reach out directly to and hear from the people to whom he made many promises.

Tuesday’s Town Hall was a free exchange of ideas between the Governor and those in attendance. For elected officials, the Town Hall drives home the message that whether they

represent their people well or not, the Governor can and will continue to hear directly from the people. For those who attended, the Governor has reaffirmed that his doors always remain open. And for the people of Yobe state, the Town Hall was a renewal of the commitment of the Governor to serving them as faithfully as circumstances would allow.

The Governor also used the Town Hall to add to the list of services he vouched to provide – the dredging of parts of the Kumadugu-Yobe River that traverses Jakusko, Bade and Nguru Local Government areas to increase water flow and support farming and fishing activities, provision of free primary and secondary education and student uniforms from the middle of the year, provision of more solar-powered boreholes to improve water supply and the resuscitation of the government-owned Dofarga Spring Water Company in Gulani Local Government area for which the Governor has approved N40 million.

Governor Gaidam’s active desire to transform Yobe State and the successes his administration continues to record proves that despite years of missed opportunities, Yobe can and will rise yet again.

Bego, reachable on abdullahi.bego@gmail.com, writes from Government House Damaturu

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

The dilemma for Syria’s neighbours (II) ANALYSIS

T

he Gulf states and the Levant Riyadh's public comments on Iran have been striking for their departure from the usual subtleties of Saudi diplomacy, as was King Abdullah's pronouncement in August that the Syrian "killing machine" had to stop. In part, this is because of a natural sympathy for the plight of the Sunni majority in Syria, but it also seems to reflect the Saudi monarch's personal fury at Syrian behaviour. This is surprising, given his close personal ties with Syria where he spent several years after his estrangement from King Faisal in the 1960s.

However, the Kingdom will almost certainly have to consider material support for the beleaguered Sunni population as repression continues - even support for armed opposition.

The great danger for Saudi Arabia and the Gulf states - and this goes for other, unreconstructed states in the Arab world in the wake of the Arab Awakening - is that events in Syria catalyse their own disaffected populations as well. Few of them, after all, are wholly immune to the charge of repressive illegitimacy that they now level against the Assad regime. Assad has picked up on that irony, telling his neighbours: "You have drowned your ships. The next storm will not exclude you".

That is a danger that certainly faces Iraq and will restrain the Maliki government from too overt support for Iranian and Syrian objectives. In the reverse sense, it will also restrain Jordan, mainly because of Amman's fears of spillover effects, particularly of mass emigration as the country moves towards a bloody and protracted civil war. Jordan has extremely uncomfortable memories of the Iraqi exodus in the 1990s as sanctions in Iraq began to bite, with the result that unrest and criminality in the Jordanian capital increased as Iraqis challenged Jordanians and Palestinians for available resources. Yet, despite such caution, Jordan will not able to stand completely aside while Syria's Sunni majority comes under increasing threat - and while one of its main political opponents, the Jordanian Muslim Brotherhood, leads the

Despite the fact that it has lost its credibility, the Assad regime still appears to retain the support of minority communities in Syria [GALLO/GETTY] clamour against the Assad regime's violence.

The one state that is directly implicated by the events in Syria, but which still has taken no public position is Israel. This is almost certainly because the Israeli Prime Minister would, on balance, prefer the Assad regime to continue; it is a known quantity and any new regime could severely destabilise the effective balance-of-power between two uneasy neighbours. As a result, it has so far confined itself to protecting its borders, as when in June 2011 it opened fire on Syrian demonstrators trying to cross the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights, and to condemning the escalating violence without calling explicitly for Assad to step down.

However, as demonstrated by the docking of two Iranian warships on the Syrian coast last Saturday, at a time when Tel Aviv has not ruled out launching a unilateral strike against Iran, the Israelis may well begin to reconsider the desirability of the devil they don't know. The hawks in Israel will see the need to determine which poses more of a threat: the "Islamic fundamentalist" Shia state, or the "Islamic fundamentalist" Sunni

groups who are sure to gain a foothold in Syria if Assad's regime suddenly caves in. In order to forestall the emergence of the latter, it is possible that Israel will increasingly advocate dialogue between the Syrian regime and its opponents, in the hope of averting a fully-fledged sectarian war that will not leave the borders of the "Zionist entity" unmolested.

North Africa and Turkey Egypt and, behind it, North Africa are not likely to play much of a role, although Libyan revolutionaries have threatened to flood into Syria to support the armed opposition there. In response to popular pressure, Egypt has recalled its ambassador to Damascus, marking a nadir in relations between two states which were once united (195861) under an Arab-nationalist "Republic". However, Egypt is still obsessed with its own revolution, where the ramifications of the army's future role will take until the end of this year to be fully resolved.

The Maghrib itself is too remote to be involved beyond moral and diplomatic condemnation. That has been, after all, its default position for decades over events in the Middle East. Algeria is ambivalent - the

Teheran seems determined to prevent the collapse of the Baathist regime in Syria [GALLO/GETTY]

situation in Syria is too close to its own domestic circumstances for it to wish to become explicitly critical. Tunisia and Libya will maintain their formal condemnations of Syria, but are too engaged in the sequelae of their own revolutions last year, even though thousands of Libyans have been volunteering to bring their revolutionary experience to the protesters in Syria.

Morocco condemned the Assad regime early on and takes an active part in diplomatic moves against it - as its presentation of the unhappy Security Council resolution demonstrated.

However it would not wish to become involved in material support unless as part of an Arab League intervention force after the Assad regime collapses.

The remaining state that is directly affected by events in Syria is, of course, Turkey. A former cautious ally of the Assad regime, the Erdogan government has become increasingly outspoken in condemning the state-directed violence there.

However, it is notable that, despite early hints that it might

create a "safe haven" along the two countries' common border in which the Free Syrian Army might regroup and train, it has deliberately avoided doing anything so provocative. It has provided a refuge for the fragmented political opposition and has probably turned a blind eye to more militant activities as well. In the wake of the failed UN Security Council Resolution, Turkey is also spear-heading a new diplomatic initiative which will probably aim to tighten sanctions, block arms shipments to the regime, and increase support to the Syrian opposition.

However, it is not prepared to overtly espouse armed resistance.

The question is why Turkey not only a leading Sunni state, but increasingly seen as the paradigm for political change inside the Arab world - should be so reluctant to become actively involved. It certainly does not lack the military power to protect itself from spillovers of the crisis inside Syria.

Source: Aljazeera

“

As a result, it has so far confined itself to protecting its borders, as when in June 2011 it opened fire on Syrian demonstrators trying to cross the ceasefire line in the Golan Heights, and to condemning the escalating violence without calling explicitly for Assad to step down.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 32

Judges in Egypt’s NGO trial pull out

A

Senegal’s Wade heads for tough vote run-off

S

enegalese President Abdoulaye Wade faces a tough presidential election run-off against his nearest rival after a campaign aide said on Tuesday that partial results ruled out a clear first-round victory.

Wade's bid for a third term at the age of 85 has prompted deadly street protests in the usually peaceful West African state, though voting on Sunday was calm and well-organised.

Critics have said the constitution bans Wade, who has been in power for the last 12 years, from seeking a third term, a charge he has brushed off.

With results from around half the country's polling stations in, he was on 32 percent, ahead of former ally Macky Sall on around 25 percent but still well short of the 50 percent required for outright victory.

With full results still unavailable, representatives from the European Union and the United States said they thought a first-round victory was increasingly improbable.

"The results that we have clearly indicate that there will be a second round. We don't need to be told it," Wade campaign spokesman Amadou Sall told Reuters by telephone. "We voted peacefully, with dignity and in complete transparency. We don't need to be taught any lessons - we know how to count."

Senegal is the only nation in mainland West Africa that has not suffered a coup since independence - from France in 1960 - and the continuation of its stable democratic record is seen as crucial in setting an example for the coup-prone region.

Sall, a former prime minister under Wade, has called on other candidates to back him in the run-off which is due to take place in the coming weeks. Authorities have until Friday to declare the official results of Sunday's first round, after which legal appeals are possible.

Moustapha Niasse, another ex-premier under Wade now heading for third place with around 13 percent, has called for the opposition to urge supporters to vote against Wade in a runoff.

"Stopping Wade is an imperative, it is a necessity, this is a must," Niasse told French RFI radio.

ll three judges in Egypt's trial of 43 NGO workers have pulled out of the case, according to a court official.

The defendants, including 16 US citizens, are charged with using illegal foreign funds to foment unrest that has roiled Egypt over the past year.

The non-governmental organisations flatly deny the charges, and US officials have hinted foreign aid to Egypt could be in jeopardy because of the case.

Mohammed Shoukry, the lead judge in the case, said on Tuesday that "the court felt uneasiness" in handling the case, according to a court official. He did not elaborate.

The trial has so far only made it as far as its opening session, and would need to be restarted with a new panel of judges.

Combined with indications that the two countries are trying to find an acceptable resolution to the crisis, there is speculation that the case could be dropped.

Hillary Clinton, the US secretary of state, told two senate panels on Tuesday that the US and Egypt, which has long been considered a close ally of Washington, were "in very intensive discussions about finding a solution".

"We've had a lot of very tough conversations," she said. "We're moving toward a resolution. It's important that they know that we are continuing to push them,"

Lead judge Mohammed Shoukry said onTuesday that "the court felt uneasiness" in handling the case [AFP] Clinton said.

The US has threatened to cut off up to $1.3bn in military aid and another $250m in economic assistance to Egypt over the case.

Al Jazeera's Mike Hanna, reporting from Cairo, said: "The head of the appeal court will have to appoint another three judges and the whole trial will have to begin again.

"The reason for the judges' action is not particularly clear and the timing, coming after the statement by Hillary Clinton,

may or may not have influenced their actions," he said.

PJ Crowley, the former US state department spokesperson, told Al Jazeera that all sides involved in the politically charged case were trying to figure out how to resolve the situation with the least damage possible.

"The US has been very fervent in terms of decrying the prosecution of NGOs, and what you have here, unfortunately, is a clash of two democratic principles that Egypt needs to embrace," he

said.

"On one hand, to develop a system of free and fair elections so that more people can participate in the political process and have their voices heard, and that's what the NGOs were trying to do to," Crowley said.

"On the other hand, you need the fundamental pillar of democracy that is an independent judiciary, and these judges for whatever reasons are indicating that they are uncomfortable with the position they were put in."

Annan heading to New York for talks on Syria

K

ofi Annan, the United Nations-Arab League envoy for Syria, said he would hold talks in New York from Wednesday with U.N. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and member states on Syria.

Annan, in a statement issued

in Geneva where he is based, said he would hold a series of consultations in New York through Friday and then depart for Cairo to meet Arab League Secretary-General Nabil Elaraby.

He planned to visit other

ANC to release final sentencing for suspended Malema

M

alema, a firebrand who unnerved investors with his calls to nationalise mines in Africa's largest economy, lost

an appeal against charges of bringing the party into disrepute but was allowed to argue for a more lenient sentence than his initial

South Africa's ruling African National Congress said yesterday it would deliver its final verdict on the sentencing of suspended youth league leader Julius Malema later in the day.

countries in the region after that, according to the brief statement which did not name the countries or give any other details.

Annan, who served as U.N. Secretary-General from 1997 to 2006, held separate talks in Geneva on Monday with

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi and France's Alain Juppe.

In his first statement on Friday, he called for the full cooperation of all parties to help bring an end to Syria's violence and human rights abuses.

Shattered Gaddafi town now forgotten in new Libya

A

mong the crumbling remains of the city Muammar Gaddafi once favoured as the "capital of Africa", frustration is simmering.

Four months after Libya's leader met his end in his hometown Sirte, the fishing village he turned into a model city lies in ruins.

Having once enjoyed the patronage and cash of the Gaddafi clan, Sirte is now struggling to adapt to the realities of the new Libya. Its residents say they feel sidelined by the North African country's postwar rulers.

Sirte's experience raises questions of whether the new Libya can embrace the many communities across the country which did not back the revolt out of fear, because they supported Gaddafi, or for whatever reason - as well as those who did.

"We feel that there is no one taking care of us, that we are not important to the government nor the National Transitional Council," 52year-old Mohammed Salem said as he walked around his home, its upper floor now reduced to rubble.

"We are living in a terrible state - the houses we live in are severely damaged. It's dangerous. They didn't come to visit us nor meet families to help end the suffering here.

We feel that we need this from them."

Tiptoeing over debris, broken furniture and scattered sandals, Salem, an employee at the local price control office, points to the bombed ceiling of what was his children's nursery.

Large pieces of brick cover the mattress of a dusty cot, a chandelier lies broken on the floor.

Painted cartoon characters and pictures of a smiling baby still co ver the walls and a door.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 33

Iranian candidates in final pitch for votes

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Virtual absence of reformists, with their leaders under house arrest, pits conservatives against each other [Reuters]

andidates for Iran's parliamentary election are wrapping up their week-long campaigning before the March 2 vote.

The election on Friday for the 290-seat Islamic Consultative Assembly is the first since the disputed presidential poll in 2009, which ignited eight months of protest against both President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's victory and the government.

The state carried out deadly crackdowns on the opposition demonstrations, many of whose leaders remain under de-facto house arrest.

With the virtual absence of the reformist coalition from the race, analysts believe the election has turned into a contest between factions within the increasingly divided conservatives.

"The elections are significant because they are a test for the government, that is to say, the Supreme Leader [Ayatollah Ali Khamenei] and Ahmadinejad, to see whether they have the backing of the majority of the Iranian people after the troubles and crackdown that happened two-and-a-half years ago," Sadegh Zibakalam, a professor of political science in Tehran University, told Al Jazeera.

"It is actually a bitter contest between Ahmadinejad on the one hand, and the more conservative hardliners - the principlists."

In numbers Voter turnout will be closely watched, as it is considered an important indicator of how much of the country backs the conservatives, who dominated the outgoing assembly.

"In a sense it is also important for the opposition because a huge turnout would mean the people are not really supporting the opposition, namely the reformists," Zibakalam said.

A high turnout could also provide a boost for a government under tremendous pressure, both domestically and internationally.

Unemployment remains high, and international sanctions over the country's nuclear programme has further increased economic pressure.

Arrests target suspected ‘anonymous’ hackers

T

In addition to online activism, Anonymous has increasingly come to be aligned with the Occupy movement [Reuters]

wenty-five suspected members of the anonymous hacking movement have been arrested in a sweep across South America and Europe, Interpol says.

The arrests were made in Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Spain by local police working in collaboration with Interpol's Latin American information technology crime group, a statement released on Tuesday from the international police agency said.

The suspects, aged between 17 and 40, are suspected of planning co-ordinated cyber attacks against various state and non-state institutions, including Colombia's defence ministry and presidential websites, Chile's Endesa electricity company and national library, and several other targets.

Six of the suspects were arrested in Chile, four in Spain, five in Colombia and 10 in Argentina, Spanish police said.

The arrests come after an ongoing investigation, begun in mid-February, which also led to the seizure of 250 items of IT equipment and mobile phones at 40 locations in 15 cities, Interpol said.

"Operation Unmask was launched in mid-February following a series of coordinated cyber-attacks originating from Argentina, Chile, Colombia and Spain," said the statement.

"This operation shows that crime in the virtual world does have real consequences for those involved, and that the Internet cannot be seen as a safe haven for criminal activity," said Bernd Rossbach, Interpol's acting director of police services.

In Santiago, the Chilean capital, police official Jamie Jara told a news conference that authorities had arrested five Chileans, including two 17-year-olds, and a Colombian.

Deadly knife attack reported in China

A

Xinjiang has been under heavy security since July 2009 as a result of ethnic tensions [Getty]

group of knife-wielding men have attacked a market in the volatile Xinjiang region of northwest China, home to the mainly Muslim Uighur minority, leaving at least 20 people dead, authorities say.

Thirteen people were killed by attackers before police shot seven of them dead, the Xinjiang government said on Wednesday.

The motive behind the attack, late on Tuesday at the market in the town of Yecheng (also known as Kargilik, in the Kashgar prefecture), was not immediately clear. But Xinjiang has suffered repeated outbreaks of unrest in recent years that the government has routinely blamed on separatists and terrorists.

"Nine violent terrorists suddenly surged into the crowd and stabbed to death innocent people with their knives, causing 13 innocent people to die and injuring many," said a statement on the official information website, Tianshan.

"Police rushed to the scene, handled the situation with resolution and shot dead seven violent terrorists, capturing two," it added.

The regional government did not identify any of the attackers or give their ethnicity. Nor did it identify the ethnicity of their victims.

However, on Wednesday a local police officer, who gave only his surname Tuo, told the AFP news agency: "At around .... 6:00pm [local time; 10:00 GMT] around a dozen rioters carrying axes appeared in the market, in an area that is mostly populated by Han people.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Troops battle opposition fighters in Homs Syrian troops have reportedly clashed with opposition fighters in the city of Homs, as the army tried to enter the opposition stronghold of Bab Amr. Activists said the fighting happened at the al-Bassel football field at the outskirts of Bab Amr, which is controlled by the armed opposition.

Sporadic shelling was also reported in the city yesterday morning.

Al Jazeera's Rula Amin, reporting from neighbouring Lebanon, said sources close to the government said the army had almost cleared Bab Amr from fighters, but this claim was disputed by activists.

The latest reports of violence came as the international community continued to debate

the Syria crisis.

The Chinese foreign minister said his country would back international efforts to send humanitarian aid to Syria, after Western powers proposed a United Nations resolution authorising humanitarian aid.

"The pressing task now is for all sides to cease violence in the Syrian conflict, and to launch as soon as possible inclusive political dialogue and together deliberate on a reform plan," Yang Jiechi told Nabil Elaraby, the head of the Arab League, in a phone call late on Tuesday.

"The international community should create conditions for this, and extend humanitarian aid to Syria," Yang was quoted as saying by the official Xinhua news agency.

It was not clear whether Yang's remarks meant China would consider the proposed new UN Security Council resolution.

China has been widely condemned for its handling of the Syria crisis. Elaraby has previously said Beijing lost diplomatic credit in the Arab world after it joined Russia in vetoing two previous Security Council resolutions.

The US has drafted an outline for a new resolution demanding access for humanitarian aid workers to besieged towns and an end to the violence there.

The UN estimates that more than 7,500 people have been killed by Syrian President Bashar al-Assad;s forces since the start of the uprising in March last year.

Romney scores double US primary win

M

itt Romney has scored a double victory in the latest US presidential Republican primaries, but only after a tight race with main rival Rick Santorum in Michigan.

Romney's narrow win in his native Michigan, however, will do little to dispel doubts about his ability to rally the party's conservative base and take the US presidency from incumbent Barack Obama in November's election.

"Wow! What a night," an obviously relieved Romney told cheering supporters at his state campaign headquarters in Novi, Michigan late on Tuesday night. "We didn't win by a lot, but we won by enough and that's all that counts."

Santorum, who is still riding high

Google to launch controversial privacy rules

I

The United Nations estimates that more than 7,500 people have been killed in Syria since March last year [AFP]

on momentum gained from primary wins in Missouri, Minnesota and Colorado on February 7, also highlighted the closeness of the race.

"A month ago they didn't know who we are but they do now," Santorum told supporters after the results were announced. "We came into the backyard of one of my opponents in a race that everyone said, well, just ignore it, you have really no chance here," Santorum said.

With 87 per cent of Michigan's precincts reporting, Romney had 41 per cent to Santorum's 38 per cent. Ron Paul, the Texas congressman, was in third place with 12 per cent, while Newt Gingrich, the former house speaker, had seven per cent.

nternet firm Google is set to launch its controversial new privacy policy today, allowing the company to regroup data from several of its services that were previously separate.

However, the company's decision has come under strong criticism from users and a number of countries, including South Korea and France.

On Tuesday, France demanded that the internet giant postpone rolling out the policy due to come into effect today, as it appeared to break European Union data protection rules.

In January, the European Commission launched a bid to make companies, including internet giants such as Google or Facebook, give people more control over their personal data or face big fines.

The proposal, championed by

Viviane Reding, the EU justice commissioner, would force all companies to get explicit consent from customers to collect their data, explain how it will be used, and allow users to completely erase their information.

Google, however, has defended its decision in a blog post. The company says the changes are designed to improve the user experience across various Google products, which range from web search to Gmail, YouTube and Google+, the social networking platform launched by the company last year.

"We're rolling out a new main privacy policy that covers the majority of our products and explains what information we collect, and how we use it, in a much more readable way," Alma Whitten, Google's director of privacy, product and engineering, wrote in the blog post.

Crippled cruise ship limps towards Seychelles H elicopters are dropping food, torches and satellite phones onto the crippled cruise ship, the Costa Allegra, as the vessel is being slowly towed towards the main Seychelles Island.

The boat "is coming slowly, but is coming", a Seychelles coast guard official, who declined to be named, told the AFP news agency yesterday from the organisation's command centre in Victoria port.

The liner was expected to arrive into port in Mahe, the main island of the Seychelles archipelago, between 02:00 and 04:00 GMT yesterday, he added.

Footage shot from the rescuing helicopter showed people crowded around one of the cruise ship's swimming pools.

More than 1,000 passengers and crew spent the night in the dark and without airconditioning after a fire in the engine room blacked out the ship.

Italian coastguard and government inspectors are also on their way there. They will investigate what went wrong, a month after the sinking of its sister ship, the Costa Concordia,

near the Italian island of Giglio.

A French tuna fishing boat, the Trevignon, responded to the Costa Allegra's mayday call and was towing the boat solo, crawling along at a speed of around six knots (11km per hour) through calm seas.

Al Jazeera's Sue Turton,

reporting from Mahe, said: "One of the biggest concerns is safety of the vessel. This is very much [a] pirate area."

Pirates, based off the coast of Somalia, have been active in the Indian Ocean and Arabian Sea over the last several years.

French marines are on board

the fishing trawler, and armed guards are also present on board the cruise ship, Turton reported.

The Seychelles coast guard will also be protecting the two vessels.

The Al Jazeera correspondent said: "Helicopters are supplying, what they are calling 'comfort items', like telephones and flash

The ship was expected to arrive on the main island of the Seychelles archipelago by 04:00 GMT on Thursday [AFP]

lights."

"The biggest worry here on the island is: do they have enough hotel beds to house the more than 1,000 people on board."

Monday's fire aboard the 188metre Costa Allegra occurred only six weeks after the Costa Concordia accident that left dozens dead and another seven still remain missing. Both ships are operated by Costa Crociere SpA, which is owned by the Florida-based Carnival Corp.

Officials said the blaze was extinguished without causing any injuries, and that the vessel was stable and upright.

The luxury ship was sailing about 320km southwest of the Seychelles when the fire broke out and it sent a distress signal, the company said.

A spokesman for Costa said the passengers included 130 each from Italy and France, 100 from Austria and 90 from Switzerland.

The 28,597-tonne Costa Allegra left northern Madagascar, off Africa's southeast coast, on Saturday and was cruising towards Victoria. Costa said the Allegra had been due in Victoria on Tuesday.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 35

Astonishing 2,000-mile journey of message in a bottle that was found on beach

T

wo disparate families have been brought together by a message in a bottle which made an astonishing 2,000-mile journey across the Atlantic.

Aidan Curtis stumbled across the note, which travelled across the ocean inside a plastic drinks bottle, on a beach in Taunton Sands, north Devon, as he walked his dog.

The 36-year-old took it home to his wife, Melanie, and their 11month-old daughter, Isobel, and they discovered the bottle had made its way all the way from Newfoundland, Canada.

Adventurous Mataia

Discovery: Mr Curtis, his partner, Melanie Almond, and their daughter, Isobel, stroll along the beach where he found the bottle. They hope Isobel and Mataia can become pen pals

More than 180,000 abortions are carried out every year. Some 22.1 per cent of aAmazing journey: Mataia Warren pictured in Newfoundland with her bottle before casting it in the ocean. The map shows the incredible voyage it must have taken to reach Devonll abortions carried out in the UK in 2008 were on girls aged under 20 Warren, 11, tossed the bottle containing the note into the sea on August 27th last year while staying with her grandparents in the area.

Mr Curtis and Ms Almond, from Braunton, replied and they ended up surprising Mataia and her mother on Canadian radio station CBC last week.

Ms Almond said: 'Mataia went completely quiet with shock when she heard our voices while her mum started crying.'

Mataia's note had simply explained that it was her grandmother's idea to send the message and, if found, to write back to her address or contact her by phone.

She added she had been inspired

by an uncle who had sent a message in a bottle but his had only travelled a short distance down the Canadian coast.

Ms Almond wrote her reply as though it was from their daughter and she included a photograph of Isobel and a hair clip.

She said: 'I thought it would be nice coming from Isobel and I hope they can be in contact as she gets older.

'The next thing was we heard was from the Canadian radio station CBC last week saying Mataia was going to be on the morning show and they wanted us to be on it too as a surprise.'

She added: 'Aiden and her mum had a chat and sending regular letters was discussed so hopefully

'Hope to hear from you': Aiden Curtis holds Mataia's letter, with the bottle he discovered it in on the shore at Taunton Sands Isobel and Mataia will become pen mother, Wanda, said: 'Occasionally pals.

Mataia would say to me, "I wonder 'They said the letter had reached where my bottle is?" But we didn't them on Valentine's Day and they expect this. thought it was something to do with 'I think it was overwhelming, a charity before they opened it.' just to hear the different accent as Speaking from Canada, Mataia's much as anything.'

‘We fly faster than astronauts’: Meet the Bolivians who defy death to soar across 650ft high valleys on zip lines thanTheastronauts'. farmers have been

E

ven the bravest of daredevils would be reluctant to try this zip

line.

The precarious steel wire used to carry hauls of coca leaves stretches across a 650ft high perilous valley in Bolivia and is held together with pieces of string.

But for dozens of farmers carrying the cocaine ingredients it's no problem.

And it's likely that they've taken a fair amount of the drug themselves after their boasts that they 'fly faster than astronauts'.

The harvesters used to spend up to an hour making the back-breaking trek carrying their haul of coca leaves down the valley, across a river then up the steep sides.

But after one farmer came up with the idea of using a zip line they can make the trip in just 30 seconds.

And if they didn't have a head for heights before, they almost definitely would after eating some of their coca crop the narcotic is one of the main ingredients in the stimulant cocaine.

One youngster who uses the zip wire every day beams with delight as he says: 'On our ropes we're like birds and we go faster

dubbed 'the flying men of the Yungas Valley'. They eat the coca leaves and sell three sacks of the crop for $180. Most of the plants end up in the laboratories of drug traffickers in South America.

Farmer Don Ignacio, 72, had the idea for the zip lines when he settled in the Yungas Valleys several years ago. He wanted a quick way to reach his plantation on the other side of the valley.

'I first came here in 1955. I was the one who founded the community and everything you see here,' he told Al Jazeera.

'There was nothing before, nothing to get across. We used to carry everything on our backs, just like pack animals.

That's when I thought about having the system of pulleys and cables. I bought steel wires and I managed to after losing his balance and falling.

She said: 'Look how far my husband fell. His body was shattered, his guts splattered everywhere. It was horrible.'

Her new partner, Alex, added: 'It's always a rush, and that's when you might have an accident from hurrying so much you might get careless and fall. That's why the cables aren't as reliable as they say ...

You’re next, young man: Farmers fasten their crop of coca leaves to the steel wires using a pulley.

The child is the next one to be sent across the valley it's like Russian roulette.'

Coca has become the main crop in the Yungas Valley since the price of coffee collapsed. It is worth 30 per cent more and is harvested three times a year.

The leaves are sold at nearby markets.

The leaves have been

cultivated since the age of the Incas and it is often chewed by the locals to overcome tiredness.

Previous governments had imposed regulations on coca farming due to links with the drugs trade but these laws were lifted in 2005.

Despite efforts to control the sale of coca leaves, an estimated one-third of all that is sold here end up in the laboratories of cocaine traffickers. Several chemicals are added before it is in its more recogniseable powdered form.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

What’s the best time to take your pills?

W hile millions of us take medicine daily, few pay much attention to the time of day we take it.

Yet a growing number of health experts say this is much more important than patients think — indeed when it comes to conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis and heartburn, the time you have your medication can have a significant impact on its effectiveness and how well it protects you.

New U.S. research, published last week, seems to support this. A study of mice, published in the journal Nature, identified why heart rhythm problems are more common in the morning.

Experts believe this understanding means patients who are on anticoagulants to prevent heart attacks and strokes could maximise the effect by taking the pills when they wake up.

It’s thought the key is the circadian rhythm, our 24-hour internal body clock driven by the brain’s hypothalamus gland. This controls not only the immune system but also blood pressure, body temperature, hormone production, bowel movements and tiredness.

So what’s the best time to take your medication? We asked the experts...

OSTEOPOROSIS The most commonly prescribed drugs for osteoporosis are bisphosphonates, which prevent the loss of bone mass.

‘The key thing with bisphosphonates is that they are poorly absorbed,’ says Sarah Leyland, senior nurse at the National Osteoporosis Society.

This is because they do not dissolve well, especially in oils and fats. ‘So you need to take your pill first thing in the morning with water on an empty stomach after a night of not eating. Then patients must wait up to hour to eat or drink.’

Many osteoporosis patients have to take calcium and vitamin D but these too can disrupt absorption, so patients should also wait at least an hour after taking their bisphosphonates, she adds.

‘If you eat or drink something other than water, or take another medication, it could mean you won’t get any benefit from it, so it could be a total waste of time taking it.’

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE Taking blood-pressure tablets at night may better control hypertension and greatly reduce the risk of heart attack and stroke, research published last year suggests.

The results of the five-year Spanish study highlighted the importance of reducing blood pressure at night. In healthy people blood pressure dips at night between 10 to 20 per cent — those whose blood pressure doesn’t fall as it should are more likely to suffer from heart attack and stroke, the researchers said.

In the study of 2,156 men

and women with high blood pressure, those who routinely took at least one of their bloodpressure medicines at night had a 33 per cent lower risk of angina, stroke and heart attack than those who took all their blood-pressure pills in the morning.

‘This study confirms sleeptime blood pressure as the most relevant predictor of cardiovascular risk,’ says lead researcher Ramon Hermida of the University of Vigo. ‘Sleeptime blood pressure is best reduced when medication is taken at bedtime.’

However, those who now take their pills in the morning should not begin taking them at night without speaking with their doctor, says Hermida.

‘There’s a risk for nocturnal hypotension (abnormally low blood pressure) which could increase the risk of stroke,’ he adds.

ARTHRITIS Osteoarthritis patients are likely to find their joint pain is worst in the afternoon, according to a recent Texas Tech University study. The researchers concluded that the optimal time for taking a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug such as ibuprofen would be around noon to midafternoon, so that it takes effect as symptoms begin to build up.

They also found that rheumatoid arthritis patients generally experience the

A growing number of health experts believe the time you have your medication can have a significant impact.

greatest pain in the mornings, so taking painkillers just after their evening meal may be the most effective way to prevent p a i n developing overnight.

H I G H CHOLESTEROL It is now recommended t h a t cholesterol medicines be taken at b e d t i m e instead of first thing in the morning.

Studies at the University of Sunderland found that w h e n patients t a k i n g simvastatin, one of the m o s t commonly prescribed s t a t i n s , switched from evening to morning, there was a significant increase in ‘bad’ LDL cholesterol.

Another s t u d y published in t h e International Journal of C l i n i c a l Practice in 2 0 0 8 While millions of us take medicine daily, few pay revealed that much attention to the time of day we take it

taking another commonly prescribed statin, atorvastatin (brand name Lipitor), in the evening was better than taking it in the morning — it was associated with fewer heart attacks, blockage of the arteries as well as greater improvements in total ‘good’ cholesterol and better blood vessel function.

Experts think this may be because most cholesterol is produced at night, while we are not eating.

U N D E R A C T I V E THYROID As many as three million people in Britain are said to suffer from an underactive thyroid — the majority of them women. Most thyroid medicines contain levothyroxine, a synthetic version of the thyroid hormone T4.

The T4 hormone needs to be first converted to the active form of thyroid hormone T3 for it to be effective. This takes a long time to occur inside the body.

Traditionally, many doctors suggest that taking thyroid medication first thing in the morning is best. But two recent Dutch studies have found that taking medication at bedtime rather than the morning results in ‘higher thyroid hormone concentrations’.

The researchers suggested that as the bowel is slower at night, it takes longer for the levothyroxine tablet to move through the intestinal system.

This results in longer exposure to the intestinal wall, and so better absorption of the medication. Other studies have shown that the key is taking thyroid medication consistently at the same time each day. To

ensure quick absorption, doctors also advise avoiding calcium and iron supplements, high fibre foods, antacids and antidepressants for at least two hours after taking a thyroid pill.

HEART MEDICATION For some time it’s been known that heart attacks and strokes are three times more likely to happen in the morning than any other time, but until now it’s not been clear why. But research published last week by Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Ohio has identified a protein called KLF15 that is crucial in regulating the heart’s rhythm.

The researchers found levels of the protein rise and fall in a 24-hour cycle. The heart’s electrical impulses are slowest from 6am to noon. ‘As the duration between impulses slow down, this makes the heart more likely to go out of rhythm, to short circuit or for electrical storms to occur,’ says Professor Mukesh Jain, who led the research.

This increases the risk of a heart attack — which means that the best time to take heart medication is first thing in the morning.

‘This realisation will be one of the most important innovations in medicine in the next 20 years,’ says Professor Russell Foster, a circadian rhythms specialist at the University of Oxford.

‘Certainly, if I was taking antistroke medication I know at what time of the day I’d take it.

It should be delivered before you properly wake up. You should lie there calmly and take it, then get up.’

HEARTBURN The general advice is to take proton-pump inhibitors (PPIs, drugs which suppress acid production) 30 minutes before the first meal of the day.

However, a recent study by the University of Kansas found the drugs were more effective against acid reflux when taken in the evening. More than 70 per cent of patients with gastrooesophageal reflux disease who took a commonly prescribed PPI, rabeprazole, in the afternoon or evening found their symptoms were eased, compared with 42 per cent who took it in the morning.

They suggested this could be because the drug will act throughout the night, when heartburn can be exacerbated by lying down. They concluded that before the evening meal would be the preferred time for patients to take their medication, particularly those who suffer at night. However, Marcus Harbord, gastroenterologist at the Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, suggests splitting the daily dose, providing half in the morning then half in the evening, to keep symptoms at bay at all times.

Source: Dailymail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 37

Only true federalism can salvage Nigeria, Hon. Shehu Liman INTERVIEW Honourable Shehu Liman, is a member of Jigawa state House representing Kaugama Constituency. In this interview with Ahmed Abubakar in Dutse, the lawmaker bares his mind on issues surrounding the agitation for a Sovereign National Conference and Ribadu’s appointment as Petroleum Task Force Chairman. Excerpts:

T

he new wave of agitation for sovereign National conference has taken a breathtaking dimension with the involvement of eminent Nigerians. What do make of it?

Before we say anything on the agitation we have to go down on history on how we came together as one nation during the colonial era and even after independence.

You will recall that the different components of Nigeria were brought together by the colonialists. They understood that we were of different cultures, backgrounds and religious affiliations. So they divided us into regions. Taking a cue from our first constitution you will find that it was a federal constitution and in federalism the different components have some powers and some measure of autonomy as regards the laws of that region in question. They also had some economic independence. The federation was not as powerful as the different components of the regions. So you can see the level of autonomy and they formulated their policies within their own regions.

It was a sort of competition among each region in harnessing of resources; they struggled to specialize in the production of particular products which they use to develop their area and we were really on a sound footing until the military struck and we were back to square one. Since then it has been like operating a unitary system of government.

We refer to ourselves as a federal republic but honestly on ground we are not practicing the federal system. That is where the major problem lies. So for me the main issue is not the Sovereign National Conference but for us to go back to the drawing table to amend the constitution to become a real federal constitution. The constitution we are working with was even borrowed from the United States of America but if you go to the US you will find out that every State has its own Supreme Court, they have their

community police even the county has its own police so the system is really working.

Each state has its resource whereby the federation takes royalty from the federating states for the national security. When you talk of local security it is the state that takes responsibility. So if we want to remain together and have sense of belonging there is need for a true federal system of government whereby every component of Nigeria will contribute its quota to the development of this union. Some parts of the country are feeling shortchanged because their resources are being used to develop other parts of the country and this part of the country become docile because something is coming from the downstream. If it is really a federal system of government each and every state would have been rich enough to develop itself and even have enough to export. I will give you an example with my state

Honourable Shehu Liman better off.

Don’t you see the overbearing influence of the Federal Government as the reason for the weakness of the states?

That is exactly what I am saying, if we were operating a federal system there will be no way the federal government will

“

He will not be committed to fighting insecurity in that area but if he were born and bred there, he would hardly sell his arms to an external force to come and harm his relatives, parents or kit and kin Jigawa, we have abundant natural resources which are enough forus to feed the Northern states in terms of agricultural produce and mineral resources but because every month we rely on federal allocation we don’t do much to harness our potentials. So the agitation for the Sovereign National Conference is based on the wealth that is coming from some particular parts of the country. That is why we have agitation from the Niger Delta on resource control, derivation and revenue accrued in their side but if it were a real federal system whereby every state will wake up to ensure it generates more that its people need we would have been

be so strong. Under the true federal system the States will develop faster because of the competition, all they need do is to pay royalty to the Federal Government. And the tussle to get federal power would diminish because it will not be lucrative for the fact that whoever is there will not be considered a problem to any part of the country. Peoples’ attention would be focused on what their state can produce so nobody will be attracted to the center hence there would be no complain from any part over marginalisation. The enormous powers and resources at the disposal of the Federal Government has made it

attractive for each and every region so that they see the home State of the President as being on the advantage because the power of state is under their control. The only problem is the fact that we are not practicing the federal system as it is supposed to be. There is an aberration in our type of Federal system. If you check the definition of the federal system of Government it is not working in Nigeria.

Take a look at the security situation, if the police in my state is made up of people from the state it will be difficult for them to connive to allow crime to go on unchecked because they know everybody within the locality so that when there is any stranger, he can easily be identified. If we should re enact the native police authority as in those days it is difficult for criminals to hibernate within the community because they know each and every member of the community. How can the security operatives work effectively when they will take somebody from like say Akwa Ibom to become a DPO in parts of Jigawa when he barely understands their language and culture. Who will he know? It may be his first time to travel to the north. He will not be committed to fighting insecurity in that area but if he were born and bred there, he would hardly sell his arms to an external force to come and harm his relatives, parents or kit and kin. So that sense of belonging is not there and nobody is

committed towards the Nigerian project because of the non workability of the federal system.

The agitators who are elder statesmen gathered recently yet we have the national assembly and State Houses of Assembly. Is their move not an indication of anarchy?

No what they went to do was just to call for dialogue because if you look at their composition they were elder statesmen who have Nigeria at heart. I think they were looking at the happenings in the past one decade and in recent past. Their effort is to see way out of our situation because something is wrong.

They want a platform for real dialogue on the way forward. I think that is their approach. I don’t see them as people who are trying to foment trouble or cause chaos for the country but it is a real good start for Nigeria to move forward.

Comments on ongoing subsidy probe?

It is not ripe for anybody to start drawing conclusions at this stage because the Senate Ad-hoc committee have started its own however everybody knows that something is wrong, that the system is not working and like I said it still border on the federalism issue because nobody is committed so once you are there it is an opportunity to grab your own. No matter the debate if there is no true commitment the solution cannot be found.

The entire issue is bedeviled with a lot of contradictions with different companies, organisations and government agencies presenting their sides of the story but they don’t tally with what is on ground. In Nigeria we are always good at forming committees, panels but at the end the recommendations are swept under the carpet. We hope there should be a change this time around when their investigations are concluded. But the border line is for a Nigeria where every person will be committed so that somebody can be held responsible for his actions if not we are going nowhere.

Jonathan has appointed Nuhu Ribadu to head the Petroleum Revenue Task Fund what is your take?

It shows that the President is committed to bringing sanity to the system. It shows that President Jonathan sees everyone as a Nigerian after the election as having the same commitment in trying to make things work. He did not see Ribadu as his opponent but as somebody whom he feels can do the job and Ribadu too did not see

Contiuned on page 38

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Suswam’s victory: ACN urges supporters to remain calm F

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

ollowing the decision of the Benue state Election petition, Tribunal sitting in Makurdi, to strike out the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) challenging the victory of Governor Gabriel Suswam over the April governorship poll, the ACN in Benue state urged its supporters to remain calm.

The tribunal headed by Justice Halima Mohammed, had

on Tuesday, struck-out the petition of the ACN. The ACN in a statement issued by its State Chairman, Comrade Abba Yaro, said it was not new to this kind of charade, as previous panel of Justice led by Munir Ladan, had earlier shut the doors of Justice against the petition of Prof Steve Torkuma Ugbah, adding that it current verdict only confirms the rod in the system.

“Just as the technicality of

mode of application for commencement of pre-trial had terminated the life of our petition, the technicality of 180 days, which the Supreme Court was aware of when it ordered the retrial of our petition on the merit on 14th November 2011, has again led to the termination of our petition. The position of the law is that, a party before a court must be allowed to ventilate his grievance,” he stated.

The party added “the

intendment of the legislature in an attempt to fast track judicial process by inserting 180 days in the Constitution within which the Tribunal must deliver its judgment in writing, cannot be used as an escape window for election riggers and people who do not possess the requisite qualification to contest elections.

We have traversed this path before and we are going to make the journey back to the Supreme Court who made the initial order”.

R-L: Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly, Hon. Rasaq Atunwa, presenting the 2012 Appropriation Bill to the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, at Government House, on Monday in Ilorin.

Congresses: Plateau PDP assures of level playing ground

T

he PDP in Plateau state has said that it would not favour any candidate in its congresses commencing on Saturday, March 3.

The state Chairman of the party, Dr Haruna Dabin, who madethe assurance in Jos yesterday added that all arrangements had been

completed for the activity that would involve 207 Federal Wards.

He said the state congress would hold on March 17 while the national convention had been fixed for March 24.

Dabin, however, said that the congresses would not consider gender balancing as candidates would “run on their popularity”.

“We have received all the nomination forms and result sheets while panels for the congresses have already been constituted.”

Dabin said that none of the members of panel would serve at his own ward.

“In PDP, congresses are a family affair with equal

opportunities for all. We do not expect any imposition and anybody who has been a double dealer cannot be entrusted with party leadership.

“We have cautioned members against any action that would lead to the factionalization of the party; all stakeholders must ensure that elections are done peacefully.”

Osun LG boss emerges best performing chairman in South-West From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he Chairman of Ayedaade Local Government of Osun state, Evangelist Nathaniel Akinsoji Arabambi has emerged the Best Performed Council Chairman in the South West geopolitical zone of Nigeria.

This was revealed after the outcome of a national survey conducted by an Abuja-based NonGovernmental Organization, the Grassroots Leadership Centre.

In a statement signed by the Chairman of the organization, Professor Wole Adebayo, copies of which were made available to journalists in Ibadan, Evangelist Arabambi beat five other Local Government chairmen shortlisted from the zone to clinch the coveted Merit Award.

According to the statement, Arabambi specifically distinguished himself in the execution of various value added capital projects in the areas of education and socio-economic development as well as supply of rural electricity to some interior communities in the agrarian Local Government The Award, the organizers explained, “aims at appreciating excellence in governance, applauding genuine efforts in advancing the cause of democracy and encouraging grassroots development.”

The organizers remarked that the conferment ceremony will take place in Abuja, the Federal capital on Thursday, March 8, 2012 at the prestigious Transcorp Hilton Hotel, during which Chief Arabambi will be formally presented a star prize of a 10-seater Bus in addition to a life-size flat base Roll-up banner, an Acrylic plaque, a gold medal and the official certificate.

The statement further explained that the primary consideration for Evangelist Arabambi’s emergence as winner of the Best Performed Local Government Chairman in the South West Zone was his “positive and outstanding contributions to the national democratic voyage and commitment to its success.”

Only true federalism can salvage Nigeria, Hon. Shehu Liman Contiuned from page 38 the President as an opponent but as a partner in working for the Nigerian dream. So there was nothing bad for him to accept the appointment to serve after all he had once served as EFCC chairman and now he has been called upon. You know things are getting out of hands so all hands have to be on deck. How can you be on the same ship and you see it sinking yet you feel because you are not the captain you will not offer a helping hand to avert the crash. Ribadu is only trying to ensure that the ship is back on sail

to ensure it anchors safely.

You once advocated for a trust fund in the mould of PTF like that under Buhari but the problem is that Ribadu is to report to the minister of Petroleum unlike Buhari. Do you think it will work?

I don’t know how that committee will work under the minister but I know Ribadu from his antecedents he will not work under any situation that he will be under pressure; where he will not have his autonomy to deliver the mandate given to him. We hope to see but I know him as somebody who is committed and

has clean record. Like him the President will not subject him to be answerable to a minister that will hinder his activities. I don’t think that will happen.

Now that the Supreme Court has put a seal on Governor Lamido’s victory, can you comment on the tortuous journey and the attempt to smear the image of the Governor?

We expected an end to it. The opposition’s aim was to continue to play to the gallery with their supporters to prove to them that the PDP did not win the election so that they will maintain that grip

on their supporters. They have done everything but from the facts and figures right from the Tribunal to the Appeal court and the Supreme Court, it was clear that they had no case and God has brought everything to an end.

They should look at themselves now as Jigawa state indigenes.

They should emulate Ribadu in what he has done at the federal level by coming back to contribute to the development of the state. I know the Governor is a forgiving person and he is humane and humble. Once they are ready to contribute to the development of the state, I know he will work with

them. That is my call to them.

They should come back home after the litigations to see themselves as partners in progress. They were in Government here and they know what they did and they can see the changes in the last five years. You don’t need to tell anybody who knows what Jigawa was yesterday and what it is today.

So if they are really indigenes of this great state there is nothing wrong for them to come back and move the state forward. The Governor said after elections he sees everybody as Jigawa indigenes, not as members of any political party.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

PAGE 39

PDP will reclaim Edo – says chieftain Umar Mohammed with agency reports

T

he Vice-Chairman of the Edo chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Mr Johnson Abolagba, yesterday said that the party is set to reclaim the state, having conducted a very successful governorship primary election.

The PDP Chieftain, who is also a former member of the House of Representatives, said the PDP would emerge victorious in the state’s governorship election scheduled for July 14.

He described the party’s governorship candidate, retired Maj.-Gen. Charles Airhiavbere, as a man whose antecedents would help in securing a

landslide victory for the party.

“With Gen. Airiavbere, PDP will win the governorship election if we work hard and put our house in other.

“Edo remains a PDP state and there is nothing stopping us from winning it because all what Oshiomhole has succeeded in doing is cosmetic beautification of roads in the state,” he said.

Speaking on the primaries

conducted in Benin, Abolagba called on the defeated aspirants to work with the party’s flagbearer to ensure victory for the party in the election.

He advised them to take solace in the fact that Airiavbere’s victory was not for himself alone, but for the party as a whole.

“We should all be happy and join hands with the victor

because the primaries remain one of the best things to have happened to the party in recent times,” he said.

Airiavbere defeated four other aspirants including the state’s former governor, Prof.

Oserheimen Osunbor, Prof.

Julius Ihonvbere, Mr Mathew Uduoiyekhemwen and Mr Kenneth Imasuagbon to emerge victorious.

CPC sacks Bauchi chairman From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he embattled chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), in Bauchi state, Alhaji Shehu Barau Ningi has been sacked from the party for insubordination and look worm attitude.

A statement issued by the state chairman of the party, Alhaji Ali Sa'idu Abubakar and made available to newsmen in Bauchi, It explained that the suspension of the party chieftain was a decision of the National Executive Committee of the party which was signed by its Deputy National Chairman Mustapha Saliu.

The statement NEC of the CPC observed with dismay the intransigence towards all decisions taken by not only the party's NEC but the Board of Trustees, saying that the most recent negative action of the party chieftain was his attempt to subvert the operation of the party's caretaker committee in the state especially by issuing out intent/nomination forms to party's aspirant for Sakwa constituency bye election free of charge.

Following the action of the former chairman which the party considers it as insubordination resulted to his suspension by the National Executive Committee and directed him to hand over all the party's properties to the caretaker committee chairman.

In his swift reaction the Organizing secretary of the embattled Chairman, Alhaji Saleh Danbiram Misau" said when we heard about the purported suspension letter we contacted Nasir El- Rufa'I Reconciliation Committee Chairman who send a text message to our Chairman and asked him to be patients that's how struggle is, and he is not aware about the suspension, he said if the chairman receive the suspension letter he should forwarded it to him" According to him, CPC is a party with constitutions and it is guided by law "even if Shehu Barau was suspended he has a deputy he should handed over to his deputy not to anybody and by CPC law only the State Convention can dissolved the Shehu Barau Ningi led executives, secondly we had court order that restrained anybody from suspending the Shehu Barau led elected Executives, we heard about the letter and Shehu Barau was not serve, if they like they can do whatever they like."

Senate President David Mark, led by Sergeant-at Arms leaving the Senate chamber after the adjournment Senate, recently in Abuja. Behind him is Deputy Senate President Ike Ekweremadu.

Shehu of Borno tasks legislators on welfare

By Lawrence Olaoye with agency reports

T

he Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Garbai, has called on the Borno State House of Assembly to work towards improving the welfare of citizens.

Garbai made the call in Maiduguri while receiving the new leadership of the House of Assembly in his palace

“Your paramount duty as representatives of the people is to make life better for the people in the state.

“I want to appeal to you to strive hard and to collaborate with the executive arm of government to ensure that the living standard of our people improve significantly.”

Garbai also appealed to the legislators to work toward improving the welfare of traditional rulers in the state.

He held that most traditional rulers in the state lacked proper welfare packages, in spite of being custodians of the people’s culture and tradition.

“I want you to look at the possibility of enhancing the welfare of traditional rulers because they are the custodians of the people’s culture.

“Most of them are poorly remunerated; how can you expect a father to live in poverty when his

Ondo LG boss commends Mimiko

T

he Caretaker Chairman of Akure South Local Government Council of Ondo State, Mr Jide Adejuyigbe, has commended Gov. Olusegun Mimiko over the beautification projects in Akure.

Adejuyigbe made the commendation while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Akure.

He said the Mimiko’s administration deserved commendation because its projects were visible and had impact on the citizenry. “ As you can see by yourself as a journalist, the state capital has been transformed even beyond the expectation of the people in just three years of this administration,’’ Adejuyigbe said.

The council chairman said traditional rulers in Akure South Local Government at a recent forum declared their support for another term for Mimiko.

“The royal fathers and prominent leaders at the meeting included the Osolo of Isolo, Oba Kayode Oluwatuyi and Olojoda of Oda, Oba Bamidele Akosile.

“Others were the Iralepo of

sons are living in affluence?” He queried He also urged the legislators to look at the possibility to making laws to compel the State Government to build befitting accommodation for the traditional rulers, as most of them live in rented accommodation.

Alhaji Abdulkarim Adam, the Speaker of the House had told Shehu that “we are in the palace to pay you homage and seek royal blessing”.

Isinkan, Oba Joseph Oluojo and Akapinsa of Ipinsa, Oba Omoniyi Oluwafunmilayo,’’ he said.

He also said the administration had touched the lives of the people of the state in the areas of health, economy, education, infrastructure and agriculture.

Adejuyigbe listed the mother and child hospital, model schools, neighbourhood markets, sports complex and road projects as some of the commendable initiatives of the administration.

Nasarawa Assembly bans indicted official from holding public office

By Lawrence Olaoye with agency reports

T

he Nasarawa state House of Assembly has placed a ban on Mallam Ismaila Umar, former Administrator of Loko Development Area in the state, from holding any public office.

The Speaker of the Assembly, Alhaji Musa Mohammed, said the ban followed the adoption of the report of the House Committee on Public Complaints and Petitions which indicted Umar for e m b e z z l i n g N 1 . 1 8 million workers salaries.

The House has also directed

him to immediately refund the money to the coffers of Loko Development Area.

It recommended that the state Ministry of Justice should ensure that Umar was prosecuted for financial impropriety.

According to the report, the former administrator had used

the money to pay the allowances of members of the Tax Audit Committee for the development area The lawmakers said that it was criminal for the administrator to convert workers salaries for the payment of allowances of the committee.

PAGE 40

Mark congratulates Suswam over victory at tribunal

By Ali Alkali

S

enate President, David Mark, yesterday congratulated Benue state Governor, Gabriel Suswam over his victory at the governorship election tribunal sitting in Makurdi, Benue state, saying "the verdict has confirmed the mandate of the majority of the people of Benue state."

Mark, in a statement signed by Special Adviser on Media and Publicity Kola Ologbondiyan, urged all the opponents of the governor to accept the judgment in good faith and join hands with the government in developing the state.

The Senate President, who was delighted at the news of the verdict from the election tribunal equally implored Governor Suswam to embrace everyone that participated in the polls and lead as father of all the citizens of the state.

"As the father of the state, you cannot shy away from carrying everybody along. The electorate has decided; and the ball is now in your court to ensure that everyone is allowed to contribute to the growth of the state.

"You have to consolidate on this victory and embark on massive infrastructural development of the state as contained in the manifestoes of our party and your programmes," he said.

Mark therefore urged all stakeholders in the state to come together in support of Suswam administration, adding that Benue state deserves the best at all time.

Sacked Katsina CPC lawmakers sue INEC Muhammad Sada

T

he 10 lawmakers of the CPC representing Katsina whom were recently sacked from the National Assembly have filed a suit against the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) at the Federal High Court Abuja.

The lawmakers are seeking redress before Justice Justice Gladys Oloto. These consisted of two former Senators and eight House of Representatives members They include former Katsina Central Senator, Ahmad Sani Stores and Abdu Yandoma (Daura zone).

Former members of the House are Muhammad Tukur (Central), Tasiu Doguru(Mashi/Dutsi), Abba Umar(Maiadua/Daura/Sandamu) Aminu Ashiru(Mani/Bindawa), Musa Salisu(Kankia/Kusada/ Ingawa) Muktar Dandutse(Funtua/ Dandume) and Abdu Dankama(Jibia/Kaita).

They were replaced by Senator Sadiq Yar'adua(central), and Senator Hadi Sirika (Daura). Others include Reps Shiek Umar(central), Isa lawal Doro(Mani/Bindawa), Sani Bello(Mashi/Dutsi) Abbas Machika(Kankara/Faskari) Dr.Mansur Abdulkadir (Funtua/ Dandume) Ahmed Usman(Kankia/ Ingawa), Salisun Salisco (Kaita/ Jibia) Salisu Ado (Daura/Maiadua).

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Corrupt Yobe officials to face EFCC, Gaidam warns

By Lawrence Olaoye with agency reports

T

he Yobe state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Gaidam, has warned that any official of the state found tobe corrupt would be handed over to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Gaidam issued the warning in Damaturu on Tuesday at an interactive forum with elders

and other stakeholders from the 17 local government areas of the state.

“Government will not hesitate to hand over council chairmen found wanting in the use of public funds to security agencies.”

The governor noted that the state and local government joint account had adequate funds to undertake capital projects in all the 17 local government councils.

“Local government chairmen should liaise with stakeholders in their respective areas to come up with viable projects of up to N300 million for execution.”

Gaidam, however, said the disbursement of the funds would be based only on performance.

The governor also assured that only those who were found to be prudent in managing public funds would be allowed to contest in the forthcoming local council

elections, on the platform of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

He appealed to the stakeholders to guide government to address areas of critical needs in their respective communities This, he said, was necessary ”for us to actualise our collective ambition of moving the state forward and improving the lives of our people”.

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Works, Senator Ayogu Eze, Senator Ifeanyi Okonwa, and Senator Kabiru Gaya, after the resumption of the Senate, recently in Abuja.

My life is under threat, Rep cries out

By Lawrence Olaoye

C

hairman, House of Representatives Committee on Business, Albert Tanimu Sam-Tsokwa yesterday stunned the leadership of the House when he told the Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal that he was no longer safe following threats to his life as the head of the Committee.

Sam-Tsokwa who spoke during the House plenary sessionsaid he was under attack for allegedly refusing to list motions by an unnamed lawmaker on the Order Paper for consideration at the

plenary.

The Chairman who also refrained from openly giving details of the threat told colleagues that the dangerous development was a strange trend which he said had crept into the House, adding that if not checked, it was capable of throwing a spanner in the wheel of the seventh House of Representatives.

Specifically, a lawmaker, Idris Ahmed (PDP, Plateau) had raised a Point of Order to stop a debate on a motion titled "accountability and transparency in the management and use of ecological fund" sponsored

by Kingsley Ogundu Chinda (PDP,

Rivers), which was under deliberation.

Ahmed had argued that a similar motion had been debated by the Chamber this session and disclosed that the motion was already before the House Committee on Environment hence the need for the motion be suspended.

When Speaker Tambuwal drew Sam-Tsokwa's attention to the allegation, he agreed with the objection but told the Speaker that his life was under threat from members who often insist on having their motions listed for debate even when it was clear that such motions had been treated and dispensed

with.

Commenting on the development, Tambuwal warned members to refrain from interfering with the workings of the Business and Rules Committee, explaining that the Committee was the live wire of all legislative activities of the Parliament.The House however adopted a motion brought by Nasiru Baballe Ila and two others calling ion the Federal Government to urgently dualise the Kofar / Kabuga Bayero University Kano New Campus road even as it mandated the Committee on Works to ensure full compliance of the resolutions.

Kogi guber: Court consolidates suits against Wada

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

G

overnor Idris Wada of Kogi state yesterday lost the bid to stop a Federal High Court in Abuja from consolidating two suits brought by two chieftains of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, Mr. Oyebode Makinde and Alhaji Jibrin Isah Echocho, challenging his election and inauguration as the governor of Kogi state.

The court sitting before Justice Donatus Okorowo, in his ruling, consolidated the two suits and adjourned till March 20, 2012 for hearing in the consolidated suits.

Counsel to Echocho and Makinde, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) and Dr. Alex Iziyon (SAN) had argued in support of the consolidation while counsel to Wada, Chief Chris Uche (SAN) objected to it.

Makinde had earlier filed a suit to challenge Wada's swearing-in while Echocho filed a suit urging the court to set aside the December 3 governorship election in Kogi state which brought him in on ground that it was unconstitutional.

Consolidating the two suits, the trial judge held that Order 11, Rules 1 of the Federal High Court provided for consolidation of suits when two or more matters are before a court and

it appears that such matters have similar facts or where two or more matters before the court have the same plaintiffs or respondents as in the instant case.

According to him, "from the above provision, by Order 11 rules 1(a-c), the court may order matters be consolidated suo moto.

“The primary consideration is the interest of justice, the principal parties here are the same and the plaintiffs in the two suits are members of the same party from the same state.

The defendants in the two suits are almost the same, the reliefs sought arose from the Kogi governorship election and the basis for instituting

the suits is the judicial pronouncement of the Supreme Court.

"It is therefore safe to say that there is a ground to consolidate the two suits, the suits are hereby consolidated", the Judge held and abridged the time for filing of briefs.

The court gave the plaintiffs three days to file and the respondents seven days to reply and that the plaintiff are also expected to reply on point of law, if any, within three days.

Justice Okorowo told the parties to address the court in writing whether the court has jurisdiction to interpret the judgment of the Supreme Court.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Rwandan fans celebrate draw

R

wandan fans were full of praise for their team which was forced to a goalless draw by the visiting Super Eagles and expressed their delight by wide celebration on the streets of Kigali, yesterday.

The celebration was led by the national team handler, Serbian Milutin ‘Micho’ Sredrojevic whose excitement knew no bound following his charges gutty performance which kept the Eagles technical crew and the players on their toes throughout the match.

Though the fans esteemed the Nigerian team, they were surprised that the Wasps that is composed of local league players could so outplayed the Eagles that at times they wondered whether it was the real Eagles.

The Rwandan fans and journalists were also full of praises for their team, with one of them describing the Nigerian side as a sleeping giant when he poked a question at Eagles boss, Stephen Keshi.

The Nigerian handler promised to wake his giants from sleeping in subsequent games.

The fans in Kigali also took over major streets of the city after the encounter, with most of the describing the performance of their national team as not only outstanding but well deserved going by the chances that both sides missed in the encounter.

PAGE 41

Nations Cup

Keshi, Yobo lament draw, as Rwanda coach blasts blunt Eagles Stories by Patrick Andrew

S

uper Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi and Skipper Joseph Yobo, yesterday lamented the scoreless draw the team secured against the Wasps of Rwanda in the opening game of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifier in Kigali.

Keshi, who was having his baptism of fire in a competitive match since he resumed at the helms of affair, expressed deep dissatisfaction with the result stressing that the outcome of the game was far from his expectation and objective.

Summing up the performance of the Eagles, the former Togo and Mali manager said the Eagles, whose rudderless midfield was severely exploited by the Wasps, were just fortunate not to concede a goal against their daring opponents.

I will not say I’m satisfied with the result because that was not what we came here for. But going by what the

Amodu, Enyeama hope for improved performance, better result

T

he duo of Shuaibu Amodu and Vincent Enyeama, former head coach and present keeper of the Super Eagles despite the disappointing draw in Kigali yesterday are optimistic that the team will improve in subsequent matches.

They were reacting to the draw the

Shuaibu Amodu

Aminu Maigari, NFF President

team forced the Wasps of Rwanda to in the game many had thought the Eagles would over run their hosts.

“The days when you beat teams like Rwanda and co by a wide margin even before their fans are gone in African football. Zambian demonstrated that at the last Nations Cup and teams like Rwanda are following up.

“We must not condemn our team for not winning but encourage them because if we qualify we have more time to prepare and the team will jell better.

For now let’s just qualify first for the Nations Cup,” Amodu said quite optimistic of improved performance in subsequent outing.

Enyeama, who was reviewing the game with his skipper, Joseph Yobo, gave kudos to the Rwandan side and said Nigeria will show the stuff they are made of in the return leg of the encounter in June.

“Towards the end of the match it was tense and the opposition threatened but we stood our grounds, Nigerians should just remember that it’s an away game, we’ll do better next time,” he said.

Both urged Nigerian fans to exercise some patience with the team which is a work in progress adding that with time the team would achieve its desired cohesion and return to winning ways in the usual delectable form.

Peoples Daily Sports observes that Keshi played a mixed grill of domestic league players all of whom gave good account of themselves while the foreignbased Eagles largely disappointed especially Dickson Etuhu and Joel Obi in the midfield and Yakubu Aiyegbeni, who it must be said received little or no supplies from the engine room.

Rwandans put up, I will say a draw is okay and we were very lucky not to concede a goal in the closing stages of the game,” he said obviously implying that the game has exposed the soft underbelly of the fledgling Eagles squad.

“I will not give excuses but I must say we did not have enough time with the foreign based players like we did in four weeks with the home lads. I will simply say congratulations to Rwanda, but we’ll be better next time around,” he concluded.

Similarly, an obviously disappointed Yobo said he was not shocked at the performance of the Rwandans since there are no longer small teams in world football. “We came away with a goalless draw, everybody expected us to win but that is football.

“We did not quite have our way today in the match but credit must go to the Rwandan team for being very disciplined. We hope to play better when we meet in the return leg in Nigeria,” Yobo said even as he noted that they have lot to do hit peak in form and shape.

The skipper acknowledged the gritty performance of their hosts and admitted that the Wasps were far from being underdogs. “Tell our fans that they will get a better result next time”.

However, in a swift reaction and assessment of the array of Eagles stars, Rwanda coach, Milutin Sredrojevic ridiculed the Eagles by describing them as sleeping giants who were blunt in front of goal.

The coach, who was full of respect for the Eagles, said after the game that he was

slightly surprised that the array of stars paraded by Nigeria could not get the three points at stake from his team.

“Nigeria is a big football nation in Africa and we knew it would be difficult beating them. But I am shocked that your array of stars could not tame my team to collect the three points on offer.

“Iam happy my boys were very disciplined today and I must commend them for showing grit against a great soccer playing nation. We look forward to improved performance in subsequent matches,” Sredrojevic said.

Stephen Keshi Vincent Enyeama

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Jigawa govt. to expend N7m on sports festival

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he Jigawa government has earmarked N7 million to hold the second edition of the mini sports festival.

Malam Muhammad Yahaya, the Director of Sports, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Dutse that the festival was scheduled to hold between March 22 and April 10.

Yahaya, who spoke to NAN after a meeting of the management of the sports council, said that the N7 million would be used to purchase sports kits and other logistics towards the festival. He said that the sports to be competed for at the festival included badminton, volleyball, football, athletics and kokuwa (traditional boxing).

The sports director said that teams from the 27 Local Government Areas and some sports clubs in the state would participate in the festival.

Yahaya further explained that one of the objectives of organising the sports festival was to discover local talents to represent the state at national and international competitions. The director said that arrangements had been made to ensure a hitch free festival.

ABS apologise to Saraki, fans, assures of improved performance

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he Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin has assured its teeming fans across the country of better performance in their future matches of the Nigerian Premier League (NPL).

ABS also apologised to the proprietor and financier of the club, Sen. Bukola Saraki, and the fans for the 0-1 defeat by Rangers international FC of Enugu in Ilorin on Sunday. Alloy Chukwuemeka, the team’s manager, made the apology on Wednesday in Ilorin after a meeting by the club’s management to review the performance of the team so far in the league.

He explained that the poor performance of the team in the league had compelled the management to ask Coach Erasmus Onuh to step aside, while his assistant, Kabir Dogo had taken charge in acting capacity.

“We reiterate the readiness of the club to make waves in the league as the present situation is a temporary setback,” Chukwuemeka said.

He lauded Sen. Saraki for his support and assurance to make ABS FC a brand for other clubs to emulate.

The News Agency of Nigeria reports that ABS is placed 20 on the NPL table and has five points from nine matches played.

Nigeria in the semi finals of U-17 world cup

Abdullahi surprises Golden Eaglets, commends NFF’s choice of coaches

By Patrick Andrew

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upervising Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi yesterday evening paid a surprise visit to the FIFA Goal Project site where prospective members of the Golden Eaglets are being screened.

The Minister lauded the leadership of the NFF for the choice of technical crew as well as the vision for kick starting the process of assembling new set of players in time.

Abdullahi, who harped on the essence of recruiting true Under -17 players, urged the coaches to ensure that only talented players with the right mental attitude were picked for this assignment.

Further, he urged the technical crew to endeavour to discard the

win-at-all-cost syndrome which he said used to be prevalent, rather to inculcate in them fairness and the true spirit of sportsmanship.

He equally commended the vision of the NFF in picking coaches who themselves passed through the youth levels of the national team before finally playing for the senior national team. “ I was worried about what used to be the case in the past when we said we were assembling players for Under-17 only to find players who are over-aged in the team,” Abdullahi stated.

The reason for coming is to see things for myself because there is nothing big in Nigeria winning the Under-17 World Cup tournament again. Our emphasis now should be on development and

rebuilding our football.

“This Under-17 affords us such opportunity and I’m very happy to see very young players undergoing the screening and I have assured the coaches that they should use only the right players with the right ages as we won’t allow one single over-aged player to play for Nigeria anymore.

“This is the decadent past that has led us to where we are today. We can’t get worse than where we are today and I’m really happy that the selection process is starting on time which is a clear departure of the past,” he stated while commending the makeup of the

coaching crew.

“I’m really excited with the choice of the coaches and quite impressed to see Nduka Ugbade, Emmanuel Amuneke as well as Manu Garba here because they have all passed through the stage in the past,” he said.

“In fact, I have told them that I’m going to support them and they must do the right thing. I commend the NFF for picking this calibre of coaches to nurture fresh players for Nigerian football.”

The minister further promised that he would from time to time visit the team saying: ‘I’m stuck with this team.’

Champions League:Dolphins’ opponents Nguema arrive today

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ony de Ela Nguema FC of Equatorial Guinea will arrive in Port Harcourt today for the second leg, first round of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) Champions League match against Dolphins.

According to Dolphins’ Media Officer, China Acheru, the visitors are expected in Port Harcourt with a 25-man team that would fly straight from Malabo for the match scheduled for Sunday.

Dolphins had two weeks ago beat Nguema 3-0 in Malabo in the first leg and look forward completing the rout when they clash again at the Liberation Stadium, Port Harcourt.

The kick off time is fixed for 3 p.m.

In the first leg encounter, Emma Nwachi, Chidi Osuchukwu and Ifeanyi Egwim scored for Dolphins.

Nguema have qualified for the CAF Champions League eight times since the competition was known as Africa Cup of Champions but have never gone beyond the first round.

Meanwhile, the Rivers state government is planning to open the gates of the stadium for Dolphins fans to enable the team get maximum home support.

The Commissioner for Sports, Mr Fred Igwe, said the government was considering throwing the gates open so that fans could watch the match free and support the team to win.

Bolaji Abdullahi

Lanipekun urges NSC to step up preparation for Olympics

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ports broadcaster, Fabio Lanipekun, has said that the country’s preparation for the London 2012 Olympic Games should be stepped up.

He identified the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the Nigeria Taekwondo Federation (NTF) as the only federations that looked set for the Olympics.

Lanipekun told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos on telephone that the National Sports Commission (NSC) should concentrate its efforts on the two federations because of their medal-winning prospect.

“We have to concentrate on these two federations to win medals; it is quite unfortunate that our U-23 team did not make it to the Olympics for the football event.

“Our boxing and table tennis are still not good enough and we just have to concentrate on athletics, especially in the sprint and relay events,” he said.

Lanipekun, who turns 70 on March 2, faulted the NSC for its slow paced preparation for the Olympics.

“In a better organised system, preparation for a competition of the magnitude of the Olympic Games ought to have commenced three years before now.

“Through such long-term preparations, athletes are exposed to different kind of competitions to sharpen their competitive edge. When asked about the number of medals the country could win at the Olympics, he told NAN that it would be difficult to predict.

“It would be difficult to tell at this stage and this scenario is reminiscent of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics

when Chioma Ajunwa out of the blue won a gold medal.

The veteran broadcaster, however, conceded that the country might win medals at the global fiesta.

“We have talents like Blessing Okagbare and Damola Osayomi who look poised to do the country proud. “If they have individual trainers the way Segun Odegbami provided one for Ajunwa, we may likely get some medals,” he said.

He hailed the appointment of Innocent Egbunike as national athletics coach as a step in the right direction, and described the 400m silver medallist at the World Athlectics Championship in 1987 and bronze medallist in the 4x400 event at the 1984 Olympic Games, as a thoroughbred professional.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

Adamawa Football league season commences March 7

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ineteen clubs are to trade tackles in the Adamawa Div.One Football league this season, according to the Secretary of the State FA, Umaru Hamidu.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola yesterday that all necessary arrangements had been concluded for the commencement of the league from March 7.

He also said that six teams from the state were taking part in the National League.

He explained that Adamawa United FC was featuring in Professional league Division One while Makwada Utd and Jimeta Utd, were playing in National league Division One. Umaru said Fufore Utd FC and Gyawana Utd FC, were playing in National League Division Three while Adamawa Queens were featuring in Female Professional League.

London 2012: Wrestler, Sinivie, assures Nigerians of medal

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inivie Boltic, the only wrestler who has qualified for this year’s London Olympic Games, yesterday in Lagos promised Nigerians that he would strive to win a medal at the Games.

Boltic, who said that he has intensified his preparations for the Games since he qualified in the 90Kg category in Istanbul, Turkey in September last year, comprehensive training programmes for all qualifiers was necessary for them to keep shape for the summer Games.

He said that his training with other wrestlers in their camp in Bayelsa was going on well and expressed the hope that more of them would qualify for the Olympics during other qualification competitions.

The wrestlers are billed to participate in one of the qualifiers the 31 st African Senior Wrestling Championship in Chad, this month.

The tournament is compulsory for any country intending to

32 teams jostle for honours at 2012 MTN Lagos Polo Int’l Tournament

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he 2012 MTN Lagos Polo Club International Tournament began yesterrday with 32 teams, including two female ones, marking the first time women will feature in the event.

The two-week tournament, holding at the Lagos Polo Club, Ikoyi, is being played in four categories DANSA Cup, Lagos Low Cup, Lagos Open Cup and Majekodunmi Cup. The Tournament Manager, Ayo Olashoju, disclosed that the DANSA Cup would feature 10 teams, Lagos Low Cup 12, Lagos Open Cup seven and Majekodunmi Cup, three.

Olashoju, who plays for Tavia Trojan, featuring in the Lagos Open Cup, said the winner of the Majekodunmi Cup would be ranked the highest team.

He said the Majekodunmi Cup is rated highest among the four categories because it was used to honour the traditional ruler of Lagos.

He explained the matches in the categories would be played on a league format, adding that the female teams would compete with their male counterparts in the Lagos Low Cup.

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Sinivie Boltic

participate in the Olympic Games beginning on July 27.

“Our training in camp has been intensified because we are not just preparing for the Olympics but for the club championship that is coming up later in March.

“And the championship is among the qualifying process for the Games which we the wrestlers are not taking lightly because we need more wrestlers at the Olympics,” he said.

He revealed that he was personally aiming at winning a medal at the Games and that he was preparing specially to achieve his goal.

He said that though their allowances had not been paid, the wrestlers were still training and hoping it would be paid soon enough for the athletes to be motivated.

“We have still to get our allowances though we are promised it will be paid soon. I am appealing that it is paid soon because athletes need motivation,” Boltic said.

Isaac Ekpo

…As Ekpo advises boxers to be focused

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lympian Isaac Ekpo yesterday in Lagos advised boxers preparing for the July 2012 London Olympics to be focused and learn from past mistakes as they gear up for the qualifiers for both male and female billed for Morocco in May. Ekpo, a first round loser at Athens 2004 Olympics, told NAN that the boxers could only succeed through learning from past mistakes.

“In our days, we believed in let us go, knock our opponents down and forgetting that there are more rounds to reserve strength and concentration. “Our boxers should not wait for power-punch; rather they should concentrate more on hitting at the head as it counts most. They should also work more on speed,” he said.

Ekpo recalled that Nigeria had its first Olympic medal, a bronze, in the light-middleweight (71kg), through the late Nojeem Maiyegun in Tokyo, Japan, in 1964.

He added that with much dedication from boxers and necessary support from the authorities and stakeholders, Nigeria could sregain such lost glory.

“We need to win medals this time around and with the inclusion of the female events, I believe that the country have chances of winning medals.

“The boxers should trust themselves; honour their routine trainings, have confidence in themselves and comply with rules and regulations governing camping,” he said.

Ekpo also recalled that Nigeria in the past used to be on the boxing world map when it produced world champions like Dick Tiger and Hogan Kid Bassey.

He said that it was long the country produced world class boxers and expressed the hope that London Olympics would be an opportunity for Nigeria to actualise such dream.

IBB Golf Club to host Africa championships in April

By Albert Akota

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he IBB Golf and Country Club will from April 4 th to19th hold kids’ golf tournament for the All African Junior Golf Championships for children between ages 5 and 18.

Prince Kehinde Thompson the founder and President of the Kids Golf International, who disclosed this yesterday,

promised that the event will serve as an avenue where young golfers would be discovered and groomed to represent their individual countries.

The sponsor, who decried the dearth of grassroots interest in the golf, urged the various golf associations in the country to come together and work out a long term strategy for the development of the game.

According to him, such international tournament would expose the fledgling players that would be discovered to easily learn the ropes and be absorbed by the Nigeria amateurs and professional players.

“The game is about to get a new face with the exposure players to modern golf facilities like the Lakowe Lakes in Lagos State, Elizade Golf Course in Ondo and the Saint Marks Golf

Course in Benue State” Thompson said:.

According to him, there is an urgent need to build and equip training facilities such as driving ranges closer to communities rather than within the four walls of a golf club or course.

He noted that there is need to move the game forward in Nigeria by pay more attention to the game that gives million of dollars in a competition.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

WBC suspends Chisora indefinitely T he World Boxing Council has suspended Dereck Chisora indefinitely following his brawl with former WBA champion David Haye after a title fight against Vitali Klitschko in Germany.

The WBC said in a statement on Tuesday it was also giving Chisora a “serious fine.” The amount will be determined after a hearing.

The suspension also means that Chisora, ranked 14th in the WBC’s heavyweight division,will be taken off the WBC rankings and is banned from fighting for its title.

The statement added that the WBC was demanding that Chisora be treated for anger management, “after which his suspension will be reconsidered.”

British heavyweight Chisora was involved in a brawl with countryman Haye at the news conference after his defeat by the Ukrainian in Munich.

Chisora also slapped Klitschko at the weigh-in and spat water in the face of his brother Wladimir before the bout. The WBC called the three incidents, which it was dealing with together “one of the worst behaviours ever by a professional”.

The body demanded Chisora, 28, should seek anger management treatment before it considers whether to lift the suspension. Jose Sulaiman, president of the WBC, said the authority would also look to impose a “serious” fine on the Zimbabwe-born fighter. “The WBC is absolutely condemning behaviours that are not to be accepted in boxing under any circumstances and will act as

Dereck Chisora

soon as it can proceed to impose the fines and sanctions as we consider necessary,” a statement read.

“Boxers are gentlemen and show to the world an example of honour and fair play when, after a tremendous battle, they go to the centre of the ring to pay respect to each other.

“Dereck Chisora is not going to tarnish the sport for those

David Haye

born in the humblest beds, who become sports heroes of the world to live a life of dignity and pride.”

The WBC statement made no mention of Haye, who is currently unlicensed.

Chisora has also been fined $100 000 dollars by the German professional boxing federation BDB and they have also indicated that neither

Chisora nor Haye will be welcome to fight again on German soil.

Chisora earned plenty of plaudits despite his points defeat by heavy favourite Klitschko in Munich on February 18.

But all the post-fight headlines were overshadowed by the brawl between Chisora and former WBA champion

Haye, who lost to Wladimir Klitschko in July.

Chisora is due before a British Boxing Board of Control hearing on March 14, and his manager Frank Warren told BBC Radio 5 live: “I don’t understand how someone can be banned without having a hearing. I’ve never ever heard of anything like that. There’s been no hearing.

Manny not the sharpest, can’t share purse with me, says Floyd

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loyd Mayweather has again dismissed Manny Pacquiao’s request for equal split of the purse insisting that the Filipino does not deserve that.

Floyd Mayweather

Mayweather, who was promoting his May 5 fight against Miguel Cotto said, “ he’s not one of the sharpest knives in the drawer,” stressing that “he’s not

Miguel Cotto

getting 50-50. Not at all. No one is getting 50-50.”

Mayweather made it clear that the uncertainty about the proposed fight against the Filipino superstar was about

Manny Pacquiao

the money; deciding on the split in what could be the richest fight in history.

The dispute has spilled into court.

Pacquiao sued Mayweather for defamation in December 2009, alleging the American had falsely accused him of using performance-enhancing drugs.

Pacquiao spent 12 hours in Las Vegas last week giving depositions in the case.

“If I offered him $30 million, he should be happy,” Mayweather said. “If I offered him $30 million and I didn’t give money on the back end, why should I? He’s with Arum right now, and they’re having problems.

It’s obvious he must not be getting money on the back end.”

Mayweather says he’s not ducking Pacquiao, who stopped Cotto in the 12th round of their November 2009 fight.

“If I’m scared and I’m a coward, why do you guys want to see me fight?” he said.

“Do I want the Pacquiao fight? Absolutely. But it’s

going to be hard to make the fight because Arum is worried about getting money.”

In the second of the series of news conferences that began in Puerto Rico last Monday and end in Los Angeles on Thursday, Mayweather and Cotto praised each other and said they respected each other.

Mayweather was the snazzier, in white jeans, a black turtleneck sweater and sunglasses. There was bling on his left wrist, and the rapper 50 Cent was part of his onstage entourage.

Cotto, who got the bigger cheers, was in a black suit, black shirt and striped tie.

Cotto, who has stopped all three of his opponents since losing a welterweight title fight to Pacquiao, thinks the 70kg limit will favour him.

Mayweather has fought in lighter divisions. “Power is going to be on my side,” Cotto said.

Mayweather is due to begin a 90-day jail sentence on June 1 stemming from a domestic violence case.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

London Olympics: Coe backs Bolt to run 9.4 seconds

Yohan Blake

Allyson Felix

Tyson Gay

Usain Bolt

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sain Bolt, the world’s fastest man, could possibly run 9.4 seconds over 100 metres at this year’s London Olympics, Games organising committee chairman Sebastian Coe said yesterday.

Coe was responding to reports that Bolt was planning an assault on his world record of 9.58 in London and noted that the Jamaican has the ability to tear up the laws of physics.

“I do seem to remember scientists telling people if they tried to break the four-minute mile, they would probably die in the process,” the twice Olympic 1 500 metres gold medallist said in an interview.

“I remember scientists telling me it was probably unlikely that anybody would run significantly under 1:43 for 800 metres,” added Coe, whose world record of 1:41.73 stood for 16 years.

“David Rudisha (the Kenyan 800 metres world record holder) is quite capable of running a chunk under 1:41.

“I do think it’s possible (for Bolt to run 9.4) but also having watched the extraordinary performances of Yohan Blake, his countryman...

“And Tyson Gay in the States is not going to be a pushover either. I’m absolutely convinced that Usain can run faster, but this will be a Games that’s very competitive at 100 and 200.”

Despite his zero-tolerance stance towards doping, Coe said it was dangerous to treat every superhuman performance as suspicious because of a disgraced minority of cheats.

“Nobody comes from nowhere,” he said.

“Usain Bolt has been around a long time working very hard.

“It’s far too easy to simply say ‘they’ve made rapid and dramatic progress and therefore they’re on some kind of illegal supplement’. That’s rarely the case.

“I broke 12 world records and won two Olympic titles and would no more have jumped off Beachy Head than taken any supplement.”

Coe said he would accept the ruling over banned British sprinter Dwain Chambers, expected in April, by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

CAS rule on an appeal by the British Olympic Association (BOA) against a decision by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) that its lifetime Olympic bans are illegal.

“We would have to live with it (if overturned),” said Coe, an advocate of life bans. “I have written in support of the BOA as has the Minister of Sport.

“It was a mistake to move (bans) from four to two years.

“Had we stayed at four years this would have been an academic discussion because a four-year ban would have meant the loss of an Olympic Games in that four-year cycle.

The BOA currently bans from future Olympics any British athlete, such as Chambers and cyclist David Millar, found guilty of a doping offence.

Wada rules specify a maximum twoyear ban for a first offence.

“I don’t think two years is enough,” said Coe. “It’s cheating. People talk about rehabilitation, that kind of stuff, but I’m not convinced.

“The damage is done to the integrity of sport, the confidence for people going to sport, for competitors, it’s really vital that we control this.

“I do not think anybody at the highest level of sport that passes beyond that border of morality is doing so because they don’t understand the implications.

“If you take something that enhances your performance you are basically forfeiting your place in the sport.”

With Britain looking set to undershoot its Olympic budget, Coe defended the London Organising Committee over ticket prices as it tries to balance its two billion pound ($3.17 billion) operating budget.

“We start off with a liability of two billion pounds. We have to raise that money ourselves,” he said, asked about top seats for the men’s 100 metres final which will cost 750 pounds.

“Two thirds of the tickets are affordable at 50 pounds or less. Only eight percent of tickets are in the hands of the sponsors, which is low considering their contribution of one billion pounds.”

Yohan Blake celebrates winning the men’s 100m gold medal in Daegu

Blake joins Gay, Allyson, others for New York Samsung Diamond League

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orld 100m champion Yohan Blake of Jamaica has joined other big stars expected at the 2012 adidas Grand Prix on June 9 in a preview of the action expected later this summer in London.

The eighth-annual adidas Grand Prix, one of the premier track-and-field events in the world, is the sixth stop on the international Samsung Diamond League series.

Just 22, Blake joins a long list of sprint champions who have thrilled fans at the adidas Grand Prix in the past, including Maurice Greene, Tyson Gay, Veronica Campbell-Brown, Allyson Felix and, of course, Usain Bolt, who in 2008 set his first 100m World Record here to kick off his history-making Olympic campaign.

“The Gibson Relays last weekend were a great start for my 2012 season,” said Blake, of the event at National Stadium in Kingston on 25 Februar in which he came from behind to anchor his 4x400m and 4x100m Relay teams to victory. “I am already looking forward to that fast track in New York City on June 9th.”

Last summer in Daegu, Korea, Blake became the youngest 100m gold medallist at the World Championships since it began in 1983. “I would like to

be a legend,” he said before capping off his historic week by running the third leg and handing off to his training partner, Bolt, on the 4x100m Relay team that broke its own World record.

This is not the first time Blake will compete at the adidas Grand Prix. The youngster made his debut here way back in 2007 when he anchored his St. Jago team to victory in the boys’ 4x400m high school relay, and competed over 100m in 2009 and 2010.

Organisers for the IAAF Samsung Diamond League - 2012 Calendar Doha, QAT Shanghai, CHN Rome, ITA Eugene, USA Oslo, NOR New York, USA Paris, FRA London, GBR Monaco, MON Stockholm, SWE Lausanne, SUI Birmingham, GBR Zurich, SUI Brussels, BEL

-11 May -19 May -31 May -2 June -7 June -9 June -6 July -13/14 July -20 July -17 August -23 August -26 August -30 August -7 September

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

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Association seeks NSC assistance for blind chess players

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he Anglo-Nigeria Welfare Association for the Blind in Chess has solicited the support of the National Sports Commission (NSC) for blind chess players.

Clement Okoro, the Coordinator of the Association, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Lagos that funds were required to send instructors to schools to coach

blind students.

“We really want the NSC to intervene as we need more funds to assist our instructors to help coach blind chess players who are quite good, to improve and

UN urges FIFA to allow hijab headscarf

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ranian women footballers got uncommon backing for the use of hijab the United Nations yesterday when the August body appealed to FIFA to allow Islamic women players to wear a hijab headscarf.

The U.N. says Wilfried Lemke, sports adviser to Secretary-General Ban Kimoon, has written to FIFA President Sepp Blatter backing a proposal being considered at a meeting on Saturday.

Lemke writes that “FIFA has the responsibility to ensure that everyone has an equal chance to participate in football.”

FIFA outlawed hijabs for safety reasons in 2007, and allowed a cap which some players object to because it exposes their neck. FIFA’s rules panel meets in England, and will receive a presentation from FIFA vice president Prince Ali of Jordan to allow Iranian women's national football team plays in Hijab, but a headscarf held in place by a Velcro the youth Olympic team is not allowed fastener.

18th NSF: Lagos ping pong team ready, says Coach

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lasumbo Dele, the Head Coach, Lagos State Table Tennis Association, says the state’s players are preparing to clinch the seven medals that will be on offer at the 18 th National Sport Festival.

Dele disclosed yesterday in Lagos that since the state would host the festival, they were training hard to ensure victory.

“I am indeed certain that our players will perform excellently well at the national sport

festival. I believe in them because I have seen their level of preparation during training sessions and the dedication they have shown is encouraging.

“The players come early for training and take their game seriously because they know what they want to achieve and the only way is hard work and persistence,” Dele said.

Meanwhile, the association’s technical director, John Peters, has disclosed that the state

would soon begin its club league as part of efforts to boost the game. Peters, a Blue Badge International Table Tennis Federation (ITTF) Umpire, said: “We are trying to bring back the lost glory of the sport and we thought it wise to start a club league tournament.

“The aim of the league is to revive the sport in the state and country by fishing out new talents and developing them to become future champions.”

Djokovic, Murray zoom into quarterfinals at Dubai Championships

Novak Djokovic ovak Djokovic was again below his best but managed to beat Sergiy Stakhovsky of Ukraine 7-6 (5), 6-3 at the Dubai Championships on Wednesday for his ninth straight win in 2012.

Also, Andy Murray has eased into the quarterfinals with a 63, 6-4 win over Marco Chiudinelli of Switzerland yesterday.

The top-ranked Djokovic looked rusty at times in his opening win against Cedrik-

N

Andy Murray Marcel Stebe, and the victory over Stakhovsky was anything but routine.

Stakhovsky was up 4-3 in the first-set tiebreaker but two costly unforced errors let Djokovic off the hook and the Serb took the set when the 74th-ranked Ukrainian hit a forehand long.

Murray had struggled against German qualifier Michael Berrer in his opening win, but looked more like the player that reached the Australian Open

semifinals. He broke the 185thranked Chiudinelli to go up 3-1 in the first set and moved him around the court with ease. He ended the first set with an ace.

Djokovic had to come from a break down to win the second set and thus joined the earlier qualifier Murray in the quarterfinals.

Murray next plays the winner of the match between fifthseeded Tomas Berdych and Lukas Lacko.

also get quality education.

“Members of the public are also not left out in our fund raising as their contributions will give us a big boost to do more for the blind chess players.”

According to him, the association was established with the aim of assisting blind chess players to realise their full potential.

“We are faced with the problem of going for tournament, hence

the association was founded. This is one of the primary aims of the body.”

Okoro said that holding tournaments for the blind was vital as it would help to discover more talents in the country.

“I honestly will love to see more tournaments involving the blind and hopeful that by the next National Sports Festival it will be one of the competitions to be contested for.”

London Olympics: All British athletes to face pre-Games dope tests

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very one of Britain’s 900 Olympic and Paralympic athletes will be tested for banned drugs at least once ahead of the London 2012 Games it was announced yesterday.

Although the UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) would not specify how many tests they will carry out, they said their target is for every British athlete selected for the Games to provide at least one sample for analysis.

At least 10 percent of these will be blood tests for substances such as the banned blood-boosting agent EPO and human growth hormone UKAD chief executive Andy Parkinson said: “Tests will be planned using our intelligence-based testing approach which utilises intelligence gathered from a wide range of sources and focuses the allocation of tests around where they will have maximum impact in terms of deterrence and detection.

“Whilst the overall aim is to test every member of the British teams at least once, obviously those in more highrisk sports or disciplines, or athletes of interest to us will be tested more often.

“Essentially there is no limit to the number of times we might test any individual athlete.

“As the host nation at this year’s Olympic and Paralympic Games, we want to lead the way in promoting clean sport, giving the British public the confidence that the performances they see from our athletes are achieved through four years of hard work, determination and dedication.”

UKAD said the majority of tests would be attempted through no-advance notice, out-of-competition test, with additional tests targeted at key 2012 selection events.

Olympics minister Hugh Robertson said: “UK Anti-Doping has led the way in educating athletes and has one of the most robust anti-doping programmes in the world. But we can’t be complacent. We need to ensure that athletes and support staff are fully aware of their responsibilities with regards to anti-doping.

“Drug cheats have absolutely no place in sport. We want our athletes to be positive role models for the millions who will be watching the Games this summer.”

Philip Idowu

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Nobody can give you freedom.

Nobody can give you equality or justice or anything. If you'r e a man, y ou tak e it ou're you take — Malcolm X

THURSDAY, MARCH 1, 2012

SPORTS The atheist, the peacemaker LA TEST LATEST

World Cup dream over for Saudi, China

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rank Rijkaard's Saudi Arabia side crashed out of 2014 World Cup qualification yesterday, going down to a late burst of goals in Australia as Oman leapfrogged them with a home win against Thailand.

The Saudis led Australia at half-time, but the Socceroos hit back with three strikes in five minutes to run out 4-2 winners, while Oman beat Thailand 2-0 to claim the second Group D Asian qualifying spot.

Saudi Arabia qualified for four consecutive World Cups from 1994 to 2006 but it is their lesser-known neighbours who will join Australia in the final Asian group qualification stage for the tournament in Brazil.

China salvaged a measure of pride from their failed qualification campaign with a 3-1 home win over Jordan, who had already made it through to the next round.

Three defeats and two wins had left China with no chance of making it to Brazil 2014, but a brace from midfielder Hao Junmin and a late strike from substitute Yu Dabao gave the fans in Guangzhou something to cheer about.

Defeat for Jordan opens the door for Iraq to sneak ahead of them at the top of Group A, if they avoid defeat against Singapore in Doha.

World Cup 2002 semifinalists South Korea take on Kuwait later in a crucial Group B home clash, knowing that defeat could see them crash out.

The Koreans are level on 10 points at the top of the group with Lebanon, who defeated them 2-1 in November in a shock reversal that prompted the sacking of coach Cho Kwang-Rae. In Group C, Tajikistan and North Korea drew 1-1, but with Uzbekistan and Japan already through, the result was largely academic.

Frank Rijkaard

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and the fathers of chaos C CAR TEL OPIA CARTEL TELOPIA artelopians don't seem to care for history - or rather we have thrown our history into the streets, where any idiot can kick it about and deny that you have rights, are worth anything or even have the right to live. Some like to pretend (when it is convenient) that we are a secular federation.

Does secularism on its own implicitly grant everyone equal rights? No. First of all its dominant variant, is coloured by an implicitly Western, 'Christian' tradition. That is why supposedly secular France only got round to banning the wearing of crucifixes (crosses) in schools, after it had first decided to ban hijabs.

Secularism by definition is really not neutral - it has its own set of beliefs and principles, which if imposed can appear oppressive.

Common sense (which yes, is very uncommon) would indicate then that what matters really, is simply how you treat each other. Motive, method and means all matter in the question of religion or irreligion. As that famous saying of Sheikh Uthman Danfodio says a nation can survive with unbelief, but not without justice.

Take the virulent display of anger, including threats of violence against a school girl, Jessica Ahlquist by her Rhode Island (United States, US) community. Ahlquist is described as a 16 year-old Atheist who took the authorities of her school to court over the presence of a prayer banner or inscription on the school premises. She won her case. On January 11th, 2012 a judge ordered the prayer removed, citing the 1962 US Supreme Court ban on state prescribed prayer in schools. Not only was the prayer a violation of the Constitution, the judge also criticised school authorities for holding meetings which sometimes 'resembled religious revivals.'

Overkill, you might say considering the dominant Christian heritage in the US. Their currency even says 'in God we trust'. (Though that too had to be 'reaffirmed' by Congress as recently as last November!) When I read about the judge's worries that school meetings resembled revival meetings, I immediately understood. Living in 21st century Cartelopia, I know how Jessica Ahlquist must have felt at those meetings. Clearly, despite her youth, she is very opinionated, self-assured and committed to her convictions ('religion?').

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By Aisha Yolah ayolah06@yahoo.com 08086296783 (text only please)

Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa The shoe is now on the other foot, it's her fellow students and teachers at Cranston High School who now feel 'oppressed', deprived of a probably beautiful prayer inscription. Obviously it might still have been there for the next century if only they had been more considerate with their school 'meetings'. As a Muslim, I might have had to contend with exactly the same 'oppression' in those meetings. As a Muslim, I might even have won a similar suit.

(Well, maybe twenty years ago, before the War on Terror).

In 'Constitution -less' Cartelopia I would be unable to go to court, and would instead have the secularism card imposed on me to prevent the expression of anything significant that comes from my older, Muslim (Eastern) part of our global heritage. It would be a double oppression - revivals and repression.

Consideration for others is an alien concept here. Lest I am misunderstood, it cuts across all our national religions. Revivals, preaching and sermonising is carried on everywhere, all the time without respect or basic courtesy for the feelings of others.

And the lack of courtesy is visited on members of one's own religion as well as others. It is strange.

What I have been taught of

Islam in particular, is that it frowns on infringing on personal rights and privacy of others - the tradition of the Prophet (SAWS) has no place for the loud blaring of endless hours of sermons at night, even during Ramadan. In fact great consideration was given to the fact that extra or superogeratory ibadat (worship) is a private matter, and also that the body must sleep.

We are taught- moderation and the middle path in everything. This could be a motto for the devout Muslim. Do not sleep too much or too little, do not eat too much or fast excessively.

The rights of others, non-Muslims included, are considered important, an indication of the strength of our faith. Lawlessness is worse than unbelief.

Thankfully, no Muslim cleric can possibly decide to extend the call to prayer beyond its one or two minutes, or legislate that the five daily prescribed prayers become ten. Thankfully.

But what is it that makes us so combative and prejudiced at the same time, able to take extreme, inconsiderate positions and even get violent about it? I consider that unlike most of our contemporaries in Africa or Asia, the dominant ideology projected by both our government and media is not a fairly neutral or benign accommodating one; it is actually a minority or extremist view. We refuse to acknowledge our collective national heritages, know little about non-Westernised, customs and prefer stereotypical discourse of even our economy.

Resentment and hate thrive.

Admittedly a poor educational system has played a significant part in producing such loudmouthed, insular grown-ups. Our lawlessness has led to poverty and deep misery. Some people have nothing to look forward to in the morning. (Apologies to Bill Clinton). And the other side of this horrible coin are the Boko Horror (BH). Deadly, insular grown-ups.

Such horror is not new. Deep, streams of hate have muddied our national life, now and again, maybe even before our independence from Britain in 1960.

Statesmanship and farsightedness of leaders such as our 'founding fathers' generally helped to neutralise such strands, until some 'young, military officers' took it upon themselves to spill the blood of these same statesmen.

I confess, I will never understand how such monumental murders can ever be described as having been driven by idealism. What manner of idealism can ever justify the slaughter of a man of such unassuming, integrity and honour as Abubakar Tafawa Balewa?

I was not even born when it took place, but he thought of how this gentle soul met his end on that January 15th night in 1966, always brings tears to my eyes.

Idealism? What kind of idealism is this that has no moral compass, that cannot distinguish good from evil? That is so stupendously selfrighteous.

BH has been with us for a long time. Wanton, indiscriminate, violent, extrajudicial and unjustifiable murders - by young men who have arrogated to themselves the right to take human life. The beginning of our undoing.

There is an old British Broadcasting Corporation newsreel of an interview conducted with Major Kaduna Nzeogwu after that 1966 coup.

The black and white footage is sharp and clear and he appears so young it hurts to watch. His handsome, fresh faced youthfulness sits at odds with the import of his words as he almost perfunctorily describes how he killed Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, a man revered by millions but not him. It is chilling stuff. His teeth as he smiles, a beautiful smile, are as white as his perfectly buttoned white collar and his uniform, immaculate.

Today every outrage is claimed by an aptly named Abul Qaqa. The name has no meaning.

He is judge, jury and executioner, indiscriminate, without compassion, without justice, without meaning. We are in a situation worse than unbelief.

Abul Qaqa is truly the father of chaos, fitna.

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