Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 02, August, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 55

. . . putting the people first

Friday, August 2, 2013

Ramadan Timings for Abuja MAGRIB

ALFIJR

6.54 p.m.

5.07 a.m.

Ramadan 24, 1434 AH

Bombings: Igbos plan civilian JTF in Kano >> 3

N150

Boko Haram leader nabbed in Niger Rep >> 2

Customers groan over epileptic Ecobank services >> 19

Presidency to govs:

Quit PDP, become IBB hails APC irrelevant registration >>2

By Lawrence Olaoye, Abuja and Umaru Dankano, Yola

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (middle), his Deputy, Mrs. Adejoke OrelopeAdefulire (3rd left), former Deputy Governor, Prince Abiodun Ogunleye (left), former State Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Otunba Oladele Ajomale (2nd left), former Vice-Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Engineer Abiodun Adeseye (2nd right), and Chief (Mrs.) Kemi Nelson (right), during the formal inauguration of All Progressives Congress (APC) flag, yesterday in Lagos. Photo: Olawale Rotimi

F

ollowing Wednesday’s registration of the mega opposition All Progressives Congress (APC), the Presidency yesterday warned governors on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) threatening to leave the party that quitting would amount to a political suicide and a journey to political irrelevance.

This is coming as the APC’s National Vice-Chairman, Northeast, Alhaji Umar Duhu disclosed that 23 governors have declared their intentions to join the new party with over 300,000 already registered as members in Adamawa state alone.

But fielding questions from newsmen on the threat by some of the aggrieved PDP governors to decamp en masse to the APC, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs, Dr. Doyin Okupe said: “It’s becoming obvious to dissidents within the Contd. on Page 2

Ramadan Message “We have indeed sent down the Qur’an in the Night of Destiny. And what have you understood, what the Night of Destiny is! The Night of Destiny is Better than a thousand months. In it descend the angels and Jibreel, by the Command of their Lord – for all works. It is peace until the rising of dawn. (Qur’an 97:1-4) Sponsored by Kano state government

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Governor, Kano State

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

News CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Int’l

27-30

Strange World

31

Privatisation: BPE goes tough on shrewd core investors, Page 4

Revue

32-33

Feature

34-35

Digest

36

Politics

37-38

Newsxtra

39

Leisure

40

Sports Columnist

41-44 48

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Boko Haram leader nabbed in Niger Rep

By Joy Baba

I

ntelligence operatives of the Multi-National Joint Task Force (MNJTF) have arrested a leader of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnah lid Da’awati wal Jihad, popularly known as Boko Haram who specializes in recruiting young boys for their

nefarious activities at the weekend in Karanga, Niger Republic.

A statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Chris Olukolade, said the arrest was effected with the help and cooperation of Nigerien forces.

General Olukolade who declined

to name the Boko Haram kingpin nabbed, said however, that the top terrorist’s other accomplices were later picked up in other villages in Nigeria and are currently being interrogated.

The statement further said plans by a band of terrorists who relocated to Niger Republic to remobilize and

IBB hails APC registration, says it’ll make politics vibrant in Nigeria

F

ormer military president, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida has described the formal registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a significant step towards “vibrancy” in the politics of Nigeria particularly as the nation approaches the 2015 elections.

Fielding questions from newsmen yesterday at his Hill Top Mansion in Minna, Niger state General Babangida said the latest development has enhanced the chance for the electorate to make their choice and ensure that their votes count during the 2015 polls.

“With the emergence of the new party, (APC), we will now see a vibrant political activity and what is left for the electorate and the press to ensure that the votes count and also allow the people to make their choice,” he said.

The general made the statements

after he held a closed door meeting with some chieftains of the newly registered mega party who had visited him in Minna. Among those who met with IBB yesterday were former Speaker of the House of Representatives and now interim Deputy National Chairman of the APC, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, former Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), now interim Assistant National Secretary of the new party, Malam Nasir Ahmad el-Rufai.

The former Nigerian leader said as a strong advocate and believer in two party system, the time has come for Nigerians to look very well and make the right choices for a better future for the country during the forthcoming elections. “I have been and will continue to be a strong believer of two party system and like the PDP itself said on the emergence of the

APC, it is a welcome development but that is not to say that other registered political parties are dead but it is however clear that we now have two strong parties in the country,” he said.

Asked what he foresees for the country in 2015, the retired military general said, “I cannot predict the future and so I wait for God.” Commenting on the lingering strike action by the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU), the former president said he has seen a determination by the government to resolve the dispute even as he noted that ASUU’s agitation was genuine.

“They do have national interest at heart to be honest and fair to them, and I think they should not give up in negotiation with the government but as much as possible, they should also make the public understand the issue at stake,” he said.

rearm insurgents with the aim of carrying out fresh terrorists attacks on some Nigerian communities was also foiled.

According to the Defence headquarters’ statement: “The intention of the group is to focus its attacks on some towns around the Nigeria-Niger Republic border”.

INEC gets new secretary

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

C

hairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof.

Atahiru Jega, yesterday appointed Augusta Chinwe Ogakwu, as the new National Secretary of the commission following the expiration of the tenure of Abdullahi Kaugama, the former secretary.

Swearing in the new secretary yesterday, Jega said the commission has made a right choice in appointing Ogakwu as new secretary.

He expressed satisfaction over the manner with which the new appointee performed her previous assignments in the commission as the Director of Arbitration and Dispute Resolution (ADR) and Director Legal Services departments.

Responding, Ogakwu called for support from the commission on her new assignment, so as to achieve the desired result, adding that she is poised to uphold the dignity of the new office.

‘Quit PDP, become irrelevant’ Contd. from Front Page PDP that there is nowhere else to go. That is why you hear everybody saying we are not leaving the PDP. “What you are seeing is clear cut announcements by those who are ….I don’t want to call them dissidents, but those who are not very happy with the way situations in the party are. They are telling the world, they are telling people who cared to listen that, yes, our party may have its problems, may have its faults, may have its inadequacies, but there is no alternative than to be inside.

“None of these governors as you can see for yourself is prepared to move. What they are trying to do is to move around and ensure that they are heard and at least maybe some of their demands are met. But nobody is going anywhere, because PDP is still the real party to beat,” Okupe further boasted.

According to him, the five revolting PDP governors currently embarking on ‘consultations’ across the country on the State of the Nation have a hidden agenda.

He stressed that the reason for their consultation was purely on the politics of 2015 and not the Rivers crisis they were making people to believe.

Those on the ‘consultations’ tour across the country include Governors Murtala Nyako, Mua’zu Babangida Aliyu, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, Aliyu Magatakarda

Wamakko and Sule Lamido of Adamawa, Niger, Kano, Sokoto and Jigawa states respectively.

The presidential aide pointed out that Rivers state is calm and its governor, Rotimi Amaechi, would not have been ‘junketing’ around the world if his state was in crisis as claimed by the five northern PDP governors. He alleged that their excuse was “a political camouflage”.

Okupe said: “There is no unrest in Rivers state, nobody is burning any house in Rivers state, commuters, traders and business men are going about their businesses in Rivers state, the governor is junketing abroad or rather having a good time”.

Asked whether the Presidency was worried by the registration of the APC ahead of the 2015 general elections, the physician-turnedpolitician said the ruling party and the presidency were happy about the development.

According to Okupe, the registration of the mega opposition party only showed that President Jonathan is tolerant and liberal minded.

On whether the country would not slide into a two-party state, he said the APC would not last long before it fizzles out. “I don’t think Nigeria is drifting towards a twoparty system; I don’t think so.

“Do not really take this as a very serious opposition. There will still be other parties; there will still

be other tendencies. I don’t think we are at that stage of two parties or even moving close to two-party system”, he added.

In the meantime, Duhu yesterday expressed optimism that the APC will sweep the polls across the country during the 2015 general elections.

The APC national vice-chairman said “millions of Nigerians from all over the country are delighted over the successful registration of the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).”

He added that the registration of the party by the electoral body was not the end, “but fresh beginning of the end of misrule and cluelessness of the PDP.” Duhu disclosed that some aggrieved governors within the ruling PDP have began to hold talks with the leadership of the new opposition party.

“Definitely, they are in talks with us because they are not satisfied with what President Goodluck Jonathan is doing and he (the president) last weekend had an opportunity to call them into a meeting and they told him pointblank that he is drifting. So, based on that they now say the best way, is to have a platform that has integrity.”

“So, as it is today, several governors are talking with us, and apart from those that visited

Jonathan and other former presidents, and from the number I am having now, at least we are having about 23 governors that confirmed their desires to join us in APC. So, when we have 23 governors, PDP will be left with only 13; so it’s clearly a pointer that PDP has already lost 2015 election”, he said.

The APC chieftain said besides the former members of the defunct ACN, ANPP, CPC, DPP and factions of APGA, over 300,000 new members have so far been registered in the newly registered APC in Adamawa state.

The former ANPP chairman in Adamawa also called on Nigerians to resist manipulations of the electoral process either through whipping up religious or sectional sentiments or by the use of money.

According to him , “the 2015 elections would be a litmus test for the opposition and all progressive Nigerians.”

But, in swift reaction to Duhu’s statemnts, the PDP factional Secretary in Adamawa, Barr.

A.T. Shehu said the party will not be rattled by the registration just as he maintained that the registration of the APC was good for the nation’s democracy.

He said:”I can assure you that our party, PDP, maintains its preeminent position and enjoys the widest popularity and acceptance in Nigeria.’’

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 3

News

Boko Haram plans massive attacks in Borno, says JTF From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

T

he Joint Military Task Force (JTF) in Borno state said in a statement yesterday that it had uncovered plot by suspected Boko Haram insurgents to carry out massive attacks ahead of the forthcoming Sallah festival.

According to the statement by the JTF spokesman, Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, “in the continued efforts to destroy all acts of terrorism in Borno state, the JTF wishes to alert citizens and residents of the

state on the impending plans by Boko Haram terrorists to carry out massive attacks and bombings in Maiduguri metropolis and other parts of the state any moment from now and during the Eid-Fitr Sallah celebration.

“Accordingly, the Task Force requests members of the public to be more concerned and vigilant about the happenings in and around their immediate environments,” it said.

The statement also reminded residents to be cautious and to report any suspicious movements,

actions and abandoned objects in public places particularly those in polythene bags and other sacks to the nearest security check points for immediate action.

“The JTF further reminds the people of Borno state that although curfew has been reviewed to 11 pm - 6 am daily, checks on motorists are continuously been conducted throughout the night in order to ensure safety, security of lives and properties as well as consolidating on the successes recorded so far in our collective fight against terrorism,” the statement said.

Kano attacks: Ohanaeze set to establish civilian JTF From Edwin Olofu, Kano

T

he leadership of Ohanaeze Ndigbo in Kano state announced yesterday that it may float a “civilian JTF” to complement the concerted efforts of relevant security agents to police Sabon Gari, a predominantly Christian quarters that has witnessed terrorist attacks in recent times.

Speaking to newsmen in Kano, the Chairman, Kano chapter of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Chief Tobias Idika, said the option has become “very viable in the light of increased activities of the terrorists in this densely populated quarter.”

Idika said that the “option of taking up our collective security

through the civilian JTF, is long overdue if for anything to set an example on how best members of the Igbo community can best come together to confront a national question threatening the fabric of the nation”.

“The motor pack bombing last March with its attendant devastation is still fresh in our mind and the question left unanswered is, for how long would members of the Guest community continue to lose its productive population? ”The Ohanaeze chieftain said.

According to him, “this new thinking has been the position of South East leaders and I believe time is ripe for us to seize the gauntlet and check the dangerous trend.

Chief Idika stressed that the step would no doubt ginger security consciousness among the populace, adding that “we would indeed collaborate with relevant authority to ensure “We have come to realise that it is non-challant attitude of the society on collective security that tends to propel and sustain their heinous act and activities on innocent and unsuspecting people doing a legitimate business.

“I want to assure that we are going to seek the support and cooperation of other stakeholders to enable us jointly come up with an acceptable standard and rule of engagement to enhance their smooth operation without rancor or bickering”, Idika said.

Suntai: Invoke Section 176 of Constitution, group tells Taraba House

By Umar Muhammad Puma

A

group, National Congress for Democrats, based in Abuja has appealed to the acting Governor of Taraba state, Garba Umar and Speaker of the House of Assembly, Tafi Warwar, to visit sections 1-5 of the 1999 Constitution as amended to rest the case of the absentee Governor, Danbaba Danfulani Suntai.

Speaking to newsmen yesterday in Abuja, leader of the group and veteran journalist, Sanusi Muhammad, noted that for over

eight months, Taraba state has been operating without a substantive governor which has caused its citizens untold hardship in the provision of the required dividends of democracy.

According to him, section 176 (1) and (2) of the Constitution also states clearly that, “a state must at all times exist with a functional governor and a deputy” which has been violated by the present situation in Taraba with the acting governor operating as Governor and Deputy Governor.

According to Muhammad, “the

truth must be told in this case so that what is expected from the House of Assembly must be done to save the state from political chaos and uncertain future.

“Taraba is hypocritically denied the constitutional provision of a functioning executive governor and his deputy as provided in sections 176 (1) and (2) and section 186 without justification other than political hypocrisy and mudslinging.”

Muhammad called on the Legislature to bury its imaginary differences and do the right thing by confirming the acting governor as the substantive chief executive of the state, in the interest of democracy and good governance.

Nigeria loses N1.6trn annual export opportunities from agric commodities, says Minister

T

he Minister of State for Agriculture, D r . Bukar Tijjani, on Wednesday said Nigeria was losing N1.6 trillion due to its failure to exploit export opportunities from four agricultural commodities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commodities are palm oil, cocoa, groundnut and cotton.

Tijani spoke at the training of National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on Seed Certification and Quality Control Activities at the Division of

Agricultural Colleges (DAC), Zaria, Kaduna state.

Tijjani was represented by the Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and Programme Coordinating Director, Rev. Olusegun Olatokun.

He said that the commodities would have contributed immensely to economic growth.

He observed that Nigeria had the opportunity to be the largest exporter of such commodities in Africa but did not take advantage of it.

The minister recalled that by 1960, Indonesian yield per hectare

was lower than that of Nigeria, but 20 years later the former tripled its yield per hectare.

He said that Nigeria’s production remained between 20 and 50 per cent per hectare.

While assuring Nigerians that the days of importing cheap food was over, Tijjani said that agriculture would no longer be a programme government would ignore.

He said that some imported rice were stored for up to 14 to 15 years before they were brought into Nigeria. (NAN)

Ramadan Timing Day 24 TOWNS Aba Abakaliki Abeokuta Abuja Akure Argungu Ankpa Auchi Azare Bama Bauchi Benin Bichi Bida Birnin Gwari Birnin Kebbi Biu Calabar Damaturu Daura Dutse Enugu Funtua Gombe Gwoza Gumi Gusau Gwadabawa Hadejia ` Ibadan Ife Ilorin Jalingo Jere Jos Kabba Kafanchan Keffi/Nasarawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kontagora Lafia Lagos Lokoja Maiduguri Makurdi Malumfashi Minna Port Harcourt Ringim Shagamu Sokoto Warri Yola Zaria Cotonnou-Benin Ndjamena-Chad Niamey-Niger Younde-Cameroun

MAGRIB 6.49 6.47 7.06 6.53 6.58 7.07 6.46 6.54 6.45 6.30 6.44 6.57 6.53 6.58 6.56 7.10 6.33 6.43 6.38 6.54 6.49 6.48 6.57 6.38 6.31 7.05 6.58 7.07 6.47 7.03 7.02 7.03 6.36 6.52 5.47 6.56 6.50 6.53 6.54 6.52 6.58 7.01 6.46 7.04 6.53 6.31 6.46 6.58 6.57 6.48 6.49 7.04 7.07 6.56 6.32 6.53 7.07 7.22 7.20 6.28

ALFIJR 5.09 5.11 5.28 5.09 5.20 5.08 5.10 5.16 4.51 4.38 4.57 5.21 4.58 5.14 5.09 5.14 4.39 5.12 4.44 4.55 4.56 5.12 5.04 4.51 4.40 5.11 5.04 5.08 4.50 5.23 5.22 5.23 4.52 5.05 5.00 5.16 5.04 4.59 5.05 4.58 4.59 5.14 5.04 5.28 5.28 4.39 5.06 4.58 5.11 5.17 4.56 5.26 5.08 5.21 4.48 5.03 5.33 4.32 5.21 5.01

Source: Society for Propagation of Islam Kaduna

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Page 4 Report

Privatisation: BPE goes tough on shrewd core investors

By Abdulwahab Isa

A

comprehensive report on the performance of sold public sector enterprises to core investors is undergoing final touch, preparatory to its submission to National Planning Minister, Dr. Shamusudeen Usman’s monitoring and evaluation committee of the National Council on privatisation (NCP), a presidency source informed Peoples Daily.

When the National Planning Minister gets the report from the Bureau of Public Enterprises (PBE), by August-end said the source, he shall transmit it to the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) for painstaking deliberation and subsequent final action.

Staff of post-privatisation and monitoring unit of BPE, the source say, have been working round the clock putting together findings of the visits to various privatised enterprises, as part of the post –privatization monitoring.

A presidency source who volunteered this development to Peoples Daily in confidence said the Minister, due to his busy schedule and other pressing commitments could only visit three privatised firms as part of his on-the-spot assessment. He declined to give names of firms visited, on the grounds that any attempt to reveal their identities may jeopardize the NCP’s final decision.

BPE Director-General, Mr. Benjamin Dikki confirmed same to our correspondent in an interview during the week.

Asked whether BPE may consider revoking such a sale to any core investor found engaging in asset-stripping and no value-addition since they took over, he said it would be too early to pre-judge such action.

He said: “The NCP meeting will be convened when the final report is ready for consideration.

So, I can’t pre-judge action to be taken, because a final decision lies with the NCP”, Dikki said.

But another source said NCP may apply severe actions, which may include, but not limiting to, revocation of the transaction as spelt by the Share Purchase Agreements (SPA) against any core investors found to be contributing to ruin the fortunes of the firm.

BPE’s Head, Public Communications, Chigbo Anichebe further said that not all privatised enterprises are performing optimally, saying works are on-going to evaluate them for subsequent action to be taken on them. “We are not saints. Some are working and some are also not doing well at all, and we are working towards taking back those that are not working”, he said.

BPE DirectorGeneral, Mr. Benjamin Dikki Ajaokuta Steel Complex, once the dream of Nigeria’s industrialization has become a spent force

However, a source conversant with privatisation exercise urged restraint on the part of BPE in applying revocation clause of the SPA, as according to him, the process may drag endlessly in court of law should a core investor choose court as an option to challenge the action.

“The revocation, as spelt out in the SPA, if unmindfully applied, may enable a core investor secure years of injunction and this could drag for a longer period. I think we have to be very careful on this option. We don’t want to take something away and the core investor goes to court and the proceedings drags till only God knows when. The way out, I think, is to keep up the dialogue

option and keep pushing them to do the right thing”, said the source.

Asked why many of the enterprises government divested its stake from are not performing up to their optimum capacity, he listed obstacles like high cost fund in Nigeria and the challenging business environment.

He said the government dumped a suggestion, contained in a report submitted to it when the privatisation scheme tookoff in early 2000, that a Latin America privatisation model be adopted for Nigeria.

The Latin America model , he narrated allows core investor a grace period of five years during which he would reap gains from plough back done

“

with acquisition funds . He said, with five years grace given the core investor, the investor is expected to have re-invigorated the firm and thereafter pay equity funds to the government.

“But that is not practicable in Nigeria because of ethnic coloration or political dimension it will assume, so the Federal Government objected to it. Again, the cost of procuring funds in Nigeria is highly astronomical compared to other advanced countries” explained the source.

It would be recalled that the Senate leadership had two years ago empanelled a committee, led by Senator Ahmed Lawan to help it solve the mystery surrounding the sale of hundreds of public

However, a source conversant with privatisation exercise urged restraint on the part of BPE in applying revocation clause of the SPA, as according to him, the process may drag endlessly in court of law should a core investor choose court as an option to challenge the action.

enterprises. The committee was mandated to determine, among other things, how much money were realised from the sale of the companies and where the proceeds were kept as well as the contributions of the privatised firms to the nation’s economy.

In a final report submitted to the National Assembly by the Ahmed Lawal-led committee, it noted that BPE failed to undertake painstaking post-privatisation monitoring and evaluation process to ensure compliance of core investors with post-privatisation rules. The consequence, it said, is that majority of the privatised companies ended up worse than they were prior to privatization.

Specifically, the lawmakers expressed alarmed by the manner in which the buyers of key enterprises like Daily Times of Nigeria (DTN), Volkswagen of Nigeria assembly plant, TransCorp and other companies, including steel complexes, failed to transform them after buying them at ‘give-away’ prices.

In the final analysis, despite these challenges, given the unprecedented investor confidence, buoyed by transparent privatisation process, Nigerians and indeed stakeholders are hawkishly watching to see whether the final outcome would turn out to be in the interest of the citizens.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 5

News

We’re investigating sack of Nigerian-Gambian judge, says Minister

By Lawrence Olaoye

M

inister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Gbenga Ashiru, yesterday disclosed that his ministry has commenced investigations into circumstances surrounding the sack of the Nigerian Acting Chief Justice of The Gambia, Joseph Wowir.

Wowir was recently sacked by the Gambian authorities for allegedly soliciting for a bribe over a case in that country.

Speaking with newsmen after briefing the members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s National Working Committee

Group breaks fast with victims of 2011 election riots in Kaduna From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

A

Non-Governmental Organization under the aegis of Network for Human Rights on Wednesday joined victims of the 2011 post elections known as internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) that are still leaving at the Hajj Camp Kaduna to break the Ramadan fast.

According to the group, they visited the camp in the spirit of Ramadan. Addressing the IDPs at the camp, leader of the group, Dr. Bashir Kurfi, urged the state government to try and find a permanent side for the IDPs so that they can vacate the camp.

According to him, the condition of the Displaced persons at the Camp are pathetic.

“Kaduna state government needs to implement the recommendation of the 70-man report and should compensate all tenants whose properties were destroy during the post-election crises.

“The money given by the government was for people who owned houses. All the people that are here are tenants. Government should do something about it,” Kurfi said.

In his remarks, spokesman of the group, Comrade Sanusi Maikudi, said there are about 588 widows in the camp and the state government has not said anything concerning their plight.

“They should be resettled at their permanent abode while people that carry out such act of violence should be punish.

“Up till now government has not said anything about their permanent settlement. “We want to see that there situation has been address because this is there third Ramadan fast in this place,” he said.

Reacting on behalf of the IDPs, Malam Bashir Danhawa said the number of IDPs at the camp was about 700.

According to him, food was not a problem at the camp because many good Samaritans have been taken care of that.

But complained about shortage of water and electricity as he pleaded to the state government to resettle them with their children.

(NWC) on the activities of ministry in the last two years, the minister also disclosed that the country will take appropriate measure to ensure the rights of Nigerians are protected in view of the 3000 pounds bond slammed by the British government on Nigerians seeking to travel to the United Kingdom.

He also disclosed that over $16 billion repatriated into the

country last year by Nigerians in the Diaspora.

But, the Minister clarified that the country would not defend any Nigerian who break laws of other countries just as he assured that the ministry will look into the Gambian judge’s case to ascertain whether any form of highhandedness was used against him.

He said, “we believe in due process and rule of law and we believe in due process that what

we even do in Nigeria here in terms of the Judiciary where our Chief Justice is working round the clock to sanitize the judiciary.

The case in Gambia is being looked into and if there is any case of highhandedness or whatever, the Nigerian government will look into it and take necessary steps to ensure that the interest of Nigeria is protected.

“I want to make it clear that we are all living witnesses to the

fact that where any government in Africa unduly will take action against Nigerian, the Nigerian government will act appropriately.

“We have various way s to do that. We have done it in the past and we will continue to do that.

“But when a Nigerian willfully, plans to commit a crime, then he is on his own because as a government, we do not support criminality, indiscipline, or anybody going to break the laws of

FAAN did not apologise to Oshiomhole, says Dati From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) has debunked reports that its Managing Director, Mr. George Uriesi, apologised to the Edo state government when he visited Adams Oshiomhole on Wednesday over the alleged closure of the Benin by the state government on Tuesday.

Officials of the state Inland Revenue were said to have

stormed the Administrative blocks of the airport demanding for payment of their P.A.Y.E before the whole issue snowballed into a fisticuff between the two agencies.

In a statement issued in Lagos, FAAN General Manager of Corporate Communication, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the agency “wishes to inform the public, especially aviation stakeholders, that it has resolved the

issue of outstanding tax payment with the Edo state government, following a courtesy call on Governor Adams Oshiomhole by FAAN’s Managing Director.”

The statement said its records clearly showed that FAAN was upto-date with its payment of PAYE taxes for Benin Airport up to June, 2013 as the Authority makes month-by-month payment.

“We also wish to clarify that

our MD/CEO did not apologise to the Governor of Edo state over the tax issue during his courtesy visit to him, contrary to some news reports.

“Finally, we wish to restate that no state government, agency or individual has the right to shut down an airport over any issue whatsoever as airports constitute security zones under the jurisdiction of the Federal Government.

L-R: Leader of Kaduna state delegation and the state Governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, presenting a letter of condolence from the people of his state to President Goodluck Jonathan, during their condolence visit over the death of First Lady’s adopted mother, Mrs. Charity Obah, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Nigeria to strengthen ties with Cote d’Ivoire- Sambo

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau

V

ice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo, has said that the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission (BNC) would open new vistas of cooperation between the two ECOWAS countries.

Sambo stated this in Abuja when he hosted the visiting Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, and his delegation to a dinner, ahead of the 1st Session of the BNC. Vice President Sambo expressed optimism that the BNC

would not only further cement the existing bond between the two countries, but would also impact positively on the ECOWAS subregion.

He said, “Nigeria and Cote D’Ivoire are among the largest economies in the West African Sub-Region.

“Therefore, we have common interests and we can add value to one another in areas of improved trade, commerce, exchange of information and capacity building,” adding that “in order to take full advantage of this, the implementation of

the ECOWAS Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services among members of the Community is very important.”

He expressed the hope that by the end of the Session several areas of cooperation would have been given new impetus and a solid platform for purposeful and sustainable future engagements established.

Responding, the Ivorian Prime Minister expressed gratitude for the warm reception extended to him and his delegation since their arrival.

He noted that his country

has started constructing the Lagos- Cotonou - Abidjan highway with six lanes on both sides, commending Nigeria for constructing her own section with ten lanes, five on both side.

President Jonathan and his Ivorian counterpart, President Alassane Ouattara, established the Bi-National Commission, during President Jonathan’s State Visit to Cote d’Ivoire in March 2013. The 1st Session of the BNC commenced with the meeting of the Expert Groups from 30th to 31st July 2013, in Abuja.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 6

News

Zamfara releases N1.9bn for UBE

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

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R-L: Newly Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Secretary, Mrs. Augusta Chinwe Ogakwu, taking her oath of office before INEC Chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega, during the swearing-in, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Jonathan to chair UN summit on HIV/AIDS

By Stanley Onyekwere

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he United Nations (UN) has nominated President Goodluck Jonathan to chair its forthcoming mini summit on HIV and AIDS in the United States in October.

Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, told State House correspondents in Abuja on Wednesday, after the weekly

Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting that Jonathan’s nomination followed the successful hosting of the Abuja+12 summit on HIV and AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis attended by many African Heads of State. According to Maku, the President will cochair the mini summit, alongside his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma and the UN Secretary General, Ban Ki Moon.

The mini summit will be held on the sideline of the UN General Assembly.

Maku said, “following the recent summit held by Mr. President where almost all African countries came to join forces to combat HIV and AIDS, malaria and other communicable diseases here in Abuja, two weeks ago, this conference by Nigeria has continued to excite the rest of the world,

particularly the United Nations.

“And the UN has decided to build on what the President has done, that is the summit the President has called to focus attention on Africa on dealing with the scourge of HIV and AIDS, malaria and other communicable diseases.” Maku announced that a Nigerian had been elected into the Board of Global Fund for HIV and AIDS.

Sanomi nominated for new NigeriaSouth Africa business council

By A’isha Biola Raji

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igerian business leader, Igho Sanomi, the Chief Executive Officer and founder of the Taleveras Group, has been nominated

by Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment for a place on the new Nigeria-South Africa Business Council.

According to a statement made available to newsmen, the formation of the new council is based upon recommendations resulting from Nigerian President, Goodluck

Jonathan’s visit to South Africa in May this year, prior to the World Economic Forum on Africa.

Accompanied by a delegation of leading ministers, President Jonathan met with his South African counterpart, Jacob Zuma, to discuss methods for boosting trade and strengthening economic ties between the two countries.

The visit also featured addresses from the two presidents to business leaders and officials of both countries, which were delivered at a meeting of the South African/Nigeria Business

Forum hosted by the South African Department of Trade and Industry.

The new Nigeria-South Africa Business Council will be responsible for driving bi-lateral trade and investment and strengthening business relations between the two countries.

Commenting on his nomination to the council, Sanomi said, “I am honoured to have been asked to participate in this important venture, which will have a positive impact on the economic and social relations between Nigeria and South Africa. As

Crisis rocks Zimbabwe elections

By Hassan Haruna Ginsau, with agency reports

• Mugabe claims victory

imbabwe Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai dismissed the country’s election as a “huge farce” on Thursday after his rival, President Robert Mugabe’s party claimed a landslide victory.

“This has been a huge farce,” Mr Tsvangirai told a news conference at his MDC party’s headquarters in Harare. “In our view, that election is null and void.” He said that Wednesday’s vote should be considered invalid because of

polling day irregularities and voterigging by the opposition.

Meanwhile, Mugabe’s ZanuPF party said the outcome of the election was already clear. “We’ve taken this election. We’ve buried the MDC. We never had any doubt that we were going to win,” a party source said.

The conflicting claims from the two main competing camps came

Z

• Tsvangirai calls it a sham

even before Zimbabwe’s Electoral Commission had issued any official results, expected by Monday.

The largest independent observer group said the credibility of the poll was compromised because of voter registration irregulaties, with thousands being disenfranchised.

Wednesday’s voting was peaceful across the southern

the continent’s two largest economies, strong and healthy trading between us is vital to the development and success of Africa as a whole.”

Igho Charles Sanomi II is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Taleveras Group, an internationally recognized energy and power conglomerate with offices in London, Geneva, Cape Town, Dubai, the Ivory Coast, Abuja and Lagos. He also acts as Chairman or Co-chair on the boards of companies with interests in construction, telecommunications, shipping, aviation and real estate.

African nation but the MDC’s outright rejection of the vote raises the prospect of an acrimonious dispute.

It also increases the chances of a repeat of the violence that followed another contested poll in 2008 in the southern African nation, which has rich reserves of minerals such as chrome, coal, platinum and gold.

Before party leader Tsvangirai spoke, a senior MDC source had called the election a “monumental fraud”. If confirmed, Mugabe’s victory is likely to mean five more years of troubled relations with the West.

Mugabe is Africa’s oldest head of state.

he Zamfara state government has released the sum of N1.914 billion being its counterpart fund to Universal Basic Education (UBE) for the year 2012-2013.

The board’s Chairman, Murtala Adamu Jangebe, said the board had already begun work on plans to meet up with the state government’s responsibilities of implementing basic education policy in the state.

“This is part of the state government’s commitment aimed at transforming the educational sector and to ensure the smooth implementation of UBE programmes”, Jangebe added.

He further disclosed that before 2011, the UBE was among the poor performing states, unable to access its matching grants for 3 years.

He maintained that the state government has vowed to ensure availability of qualified teachers on the board’s payroll, and improvement of educational facilities across the state.

Kaduna forgery case: Handwriting expert testifies in court From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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n expert in forensic analysis, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Raphael Ouwuzuigbo, has said no two signatures of any human being can be the same no matter how anybody tries to imitate or forgeit.

Giving evidence in the case of alleged forgery, being in possession of forged documents and giving false information with intention to mislead a public servant brought against a business man by the Kaduna state government, Ouwuzuigbo said a signature signed by a person would always remain the same when examined under special equipment.

The police officer who works with the Nigeria Police Forensic Office ‘G’ Department, Alagbon Road, Ikoyi, Lagos, explained that sometime in 2010 a letter from the office of the Inspector General of Police was sent to the Commissioner of Police in-charge of Forensic Office to analyse the two signatures and report back to the Headquarters, the authenticity or otherwise of the signature.

“When I received this directive from my Commissioner, we used all our equipment like the Bio-video to determine the signature pattern and find out the difference between the signature on a letter marked ‘X1’, ‘X2’ and ‘X3’. After thorough examination, I found out that the signature differs from the handwritten signature of the annexed document signifying that this signature is forged.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 7

News

APC registration

Rival APC party vows to fight on

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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he coast appears not to be clear for the brand new registered All Progressive Congress (APC) as its rival, the African People’s Congress (APC), yesterday threatened fresh offensives including legal fireworks to nullify the registration of the merger group.

The group vowed to field its candidate in the November 16th

•Set to contest Anambra guber polls Anambra state governorship election, expressing hope on a positive outcome of the court case which it instituted.

The rival APC at a world press conference in Abuja insisted that it would be too early for the merger group to celebrate adding that it was violation of section 79 of the electoral Act for the Inde-

pendent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to have gone ahead to register the merger APC when the court was yet to decide on a petition by the African Peoples Congress and its disqualification by the Commission.

The group which still lays claim to the APC acronym warned

that the registration of the merger group with similar acronym by the Attahiru Jega INEC is a recipe for anarchy.

According to the National Chairman of the rival APC, Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu, “it is important to note that the decision of INEC to reject African Peoples Congress application for registra-

“Mega party registration’ll make PDP to sit up” From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

former Minister of State for Education and PDP elder in Benue state, Dr. Jerry Agada, has lauded the registration of the new All Progressive Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC.

tion was baseless in view of the fact that we complied with the provisions of the law and provided them with the address of our National Officers.’

“We should also note that by the provision of the Electoral Act, the last phase in the registration process of a political party resides with the court in the event that INEC denies an applicant registration.”

Agada believes the development will make the ruling party brace up. However, Agada told reporters in Makurdi, dispelled insinuations that the new mega party will be a threat to the PDP. “The registration of the new party is a welcome development because there is no doubt that it will make our party, the PDP, to be on its toes and the two parties will now have to articulate their manifestoes towards attracting the people and whichever party that wins the next election will know that it has worked hard to deserve victory,” he said.

UPP commends INEC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

M

National Chairman, African People’s Congress (APC), Chief Onyinye Ikeagwuonu (2nd left), addressing a world press conference on INEC registration of rival All Progressives Congress (APC) and launching of new legal offensive, yesterday in Abuja. With him are other party cheiftains.

Nigerians expect much from APC- Shettima From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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overnor Kashim Shettima of Borno state yesterday said the new All Progressives Congress (APC) needs not be reminded that Nigerians expect a lot from it and that it leaders should strive exceptionally hard to show to the people of the country that it is out to make a difference.

Shettima said the first task before the new party was to convince Nigerians that quality of governance will be greatly improved to better the lives of all Nigerians regardless of their ethno-religious

and socio-political affiliations.

Shettima in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Communications, Isa Umar Gusau, quoted the governor as saying that with the calibre of credible political leaders, highly respected technocrats, academics, successful captains of industries and rights activists associated with the party, “Nigerians expect an immediate indication that the party is coming up with something new to turn the fortunes of the country for the good of all Nigerians.

“I am very optimistic that our party has very patriotic, credible and competent Nigerians who are

selflessly ready to work for the betterment of the country”.

“Nigerians have so much demands but the demands are just about basic things that are well achievable, we do not need rocket science to provide things as basic as portable water, sound education, quality healthcare, jobs, security, roads, electricity and other very basic essentials of human existence.”

“I join in congratulating all Nigerians especially the leaders, members and supporters of our great party, the APC who worked tirelessly to create an alternative platform to deepen our democratic process.”

“It’s a victory for true democracy” From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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presidential aspirant in the 2011 general elections, Francis Onabis, has commended INEC for registering the All Progressive Congress (APC).

According to Onabis, the registration of APC shows that INEC

can still be trusted with conducting the next election if it does away with external influences.

Onabis in a statement yesterday by his media aide, Ayokunle Oloye, in Lagos said the emergence of the new party signaled victory for true democracy and

the Nigerian voters.

He said Nigerians should expect a new era of politicking that will bring progressive development for the country.

According to him, the new party will give the Nigerian people values for their electoral votes.

ore reactions and commendations continued to trail the decision of the INEC to register the All Progressives Congress (APC), as the United People’s Party (UPP) yesterday commended the development, saying that it has cleared the coast for the 2015 general elections.

A statement by the UPP National Publicity Secretary, Ogbuehi Dike, described the registration of APC as “sweet music” to the ears of all lovers of democracy in the quest to build a strong, virile and prosperous democratic nation.

The party also described opposition parties as the bedrock of constitutional governments.

It expressed hope that the emergence of APC in Nigeria will further enrich and strengthen what it called the nation’s frail democracy.

“Nigerians expect credible participation in the political process considering the high profile of APC promoters”, UPP said.

It also congratulated and welcomed the newly registered APC on board, saying “We commend INEC for opening the democratic space and urge it to remain a credible umpire in dealing with all political parties ahead of the 16th November, 2013 Anambra state governorship election and 2015 Presidential poll.”

“UPP will engage all registered political parties in robust encounter that will uplift our democratic process ahead of 2015 general election.

“The coast is getting clear and portends an epic democratic showdown in which UPP, APC, and PDP will lock horns in the November 16 governorship election in Anambra State which UPP has reserved its ticket to Anambra North Senatorial zone”, the statement read.

Ajimobi lauds registration of new party From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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overnor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has hailed the registration of All Progressives Congress (APC) by the INEC, describing the new mega party as succour to Nigeria’s political pain.

The Governor who stated this in a statement in Ibadan yesterday by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo, said with the development, the progressives were now set to rescue the country from the abyss which it had been plunged into by the reactionary elements.

He said that with the registration of APC, history had been made as it is the first merger to be mid-

wifed in the annals of political parties in Nigeria.

According to the Governor, the coming on board of APC was the resultant effect of the commitment, doggedness, political sagacity and the resolve of people of like minds across the country to come together and create a platform through which the country could be liberated.

“With APC, it is a new political dawn in Nigeria and a fresh air in the Nigerian political waters,’’ Ajimobi said.

He added that the stage was now set for the progressives to spread the gospel of APC to all the nooks and cranny of the country and re-awaken the consciousness of Nigerians on the need for change.

PAGE 8

Photo Splash

L-R: Secretary General, Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Obong Ikpe Johnny Obong, NUT President, Comrade Micheal Alogba, and Managing Director, Capital Express Assurance Limited, Mrs. Bola Odukale, during the signing of deed of agreement on teachers welfare insurance package, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

L-R: Prime Minister of Cote d’Ivoire, Mr. Daniel Kablan Duncan, and Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, displaying signed documents during the 1st session of the Nigeria-Cote d’Ivoire Bi-National Commission, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Happy Primary Schools pupil, yesterday at Government Central Primary School, Nasarawo Koma village, Jada local government, in Adamawa state.

Pharmacists prescribing drugs to patients, during the free medical check-up organised by Treasure House Church, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Photo: NAN

Flood at Fadaman Mada area of Bauchi after a heavy downpour yesterday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 10

News

NSCDC boss decries crude oil theft From David Hassan, Gombe

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he Gombe state Commander of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Joel O. Khestossen, has decried stealing of crude

Briefs Illegal varsity: Court remands Professor in Kuje prison

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Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday ordered that the owner of Commonwealth University Belize, Prof. David Iornem be remanded in Kuje prison pending the fulfilment of his bail conditions.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) had arraigned Prof Iornem before Justice A.R Mohammed, yesterday on a 3-count charge of operating an illegal university and using the institution to defraud unsuspecting public.

The accused person pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charges and was admitted to bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in the like sum.

As part of the bail condition, the court ordered that the surety, who must be a Federal civil servant and not below level 8, must be deposed to an affidavit with an undertaking that the accused would not jump bail.

The bail application according to Chris Alaashi, counsel to the accused person was dated August 1, and filed same date. Counsel to the ICPC did not oppose the application.

Earlier, ICPC lawyer, Ebenezer Shogunle, Assistant Director (Legal) had told the court that the 3-count charge was dated July 8, 2013 but filed before the court on the 9th.

The matter was adjourned to September 19, 2013 for further hearing.

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

Katsina indigenes in Kebbi

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s Ramadan come to end, indigenes of Katsina state resident in Kebbi state yesterday organised a breakfast meeting aimed at promoting brotherhood among its members.

The event which took place at the conference hall of Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic Birnin Kebbi witnessed the Mamuth crowd of indigenes resident in Kebbi from different parts of the state.

Speaking at the occasion, Chairman of Katsina indigenes resident in Kebbi, Dr. Bishir Sulemena Yar’adua, called on the members to always pay their dues to enable them to continue to hold the annual event.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

oil by vandals. He warned that the development poses a great threat to survival of the nation.

The Commander spoke yesterday at the maiden stakeholders meeting on Antivandalisation and Protection of Government Critical Infrastructure and National Assets in Gombe.

According to him, northeastern part of the country has

been facing security challenges which have do with terrorism, kidnapping and related crimes ar4guing that there was need for all stakeholders to join hands to address the security challenges.

According to Khestossen, the threat posed by youth militia and other armed groups has tended to disrupt the infrastructure of oil leading to its shut down in

parts of the country.

He called on stakeholders, cooperate bodies, and organisations to look at the security challenges in the country as everybody’s business.

Also speaking at the ceremony, the Area Manager of Petroleum Pipeline Marketing Company in Gombe state Alhaji Abdullahi A. Gundi stressed the need of reviving Jos, Gombe,

and Maiduguri pipeline system at 629km that traverse through Plateau, Bauchi, and Gombe to Maiduguri for efficiency and safety of oil been plagued by vandals.

According to him, petroleum products stolen constitute economic loss to the country noting that 1,500 barrels of crude oil are stolen daily from the pipelines system.

Man arraigned over alleged killing of policeman From Omale Adama, Lokoja

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45-year-old driver, Akeem Taiwo, has been arraigned before a Lokoja Chief Magistrates Court for allegedly killing a policeman, Adewunmi Moses, through dangerous driving.

The accused on arraignment on Wednesday however, pleaded not guilty of the offence of “Causing death by dangerous driving contrary to section 5 of Federal Highway Act LFN, 2004”, levelled against him.

Prosecuting police officer, Mr. Adeyemi James, said that Taiwo, driver of an Iveco Trailer marked Lagos LND 329 XE on July 26, at about 5 pm at Gada-Biu area on Lokoja-Kabba road, drove without due care and attention.

The prosecutor alleged that James’ vehicle in the process, collided with the Nissan Bluebird car with registration number Ogun: AJ 29 AKM driven by the deceased policeman.

As a result of the collision, “Moses of Nigeria Police Force, driver of the vehicle” died on the spot.

James told the court that investigation into the case was still in progress and asked for an adjournment to enable the police complete their investigation.

On bail, he said that the family members of the deceased were in court and had shown that they were not interested in the matter.

Counsel to the accused, Hassan Umar Esq. orally aplied for bail saying the accused would abide by all bail conditions the court might impose saying, “The police is not certain whether the case will proceed into hearing or not” The Chief Magistrate, Mr. Levi Animoku, in his ruling said bail was a constitutional agenda for the accused to enjoy freedom during the pendency of a case.

He granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100,000 with a surety who must be a civil servant or community leader with landed property in Lokoja, in like sum.

Malam Danlami Haruna (right), presenting Tarbiyya (Islamic) books on behalf of the donor to Administrator of Abuja Children’s Home, Malam Suleiman Umar (left), during the presentation, on Wednesday in Karu, Abuja. With them is one of the orphans at the home (left).

NEMA trains 3000 volunteers on disaster management

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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ational Emergency Management Agency NEMA, Director General, Sani Sidi, yesterday said the agency had trained about 3,200 volunteers in 16 local government areas of Kaduna state.

According to him, most of the volunteers are members of those areas and that they have a greater

role to play in prompt, timely, effective and skillful response during emergencies.

Speaking at a one day workshop on the Role of Volunteers in Emergency and Disaster management in the North West held in Kaduna, Sidi called on the state governments to make budgetary provisions to LGs so as to train more volunteers.

According to him, “this can be done by making annual

budgetary provisions for each local government to train 1,000 volunteers in their domains.

“So far, in this zone, we have trained more than 3,200 volunteers in 16 local government areas.

“This exercise is therefore geared towards mitigating the impact of disaster globally thereby channeling more resources to development, strengthening the existing synergy amongst

response agencies and grassroots volunteers and also monitor the state of preparedness of State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), volunteers across the zone,” he said.

He said that the trained volunteers would be involved in all cycles of disaster management including prevention and mitigation, preparedness, response, recovery and rehabilitation.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 11

Money Sense

Fun ways for women to make extra money

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f I were to say that the economy is weak right now, I would be grossly understating the truth unemployment has risen to double digit percentages and banks are failing. It’s only natural to feel anxious about the economy, and want to make extra money. What if I told you that there are fun ways to make extra money? Would you be excited? I would like to share three fun ways to make extra money for women.

Hopefully, this information will keep you having fun in the down economy and give you some additional financial security.

Mystery shopping If you want to make some spare cash every now and again, and aren’t really looking for a steady cash flow then mystery shopping could be for you.

Granted, you won’t get rich off mystery shopping, but you will score some free food and free small purchases. If you like to go out to eat at fast food restaurants, this is a great way to cut down on your monthly expenses because you will be compensated for something you do anyways. In addition, there are local companies out there that will do mystery shopping for local restaurants and vendors.

The pay will be lower for the local companies, but you will get better free meals and purchases.

Beware of get-rich-quick schemes, or companies that require you to make an upfront payment before accepting work.

A legitimate mystery shopping company will never ask for any funds up front, they will reimburse you only after you successfully complete your assignments.

For more information about mystery shopping, you can visit the Market Force website. Market Force is a legitimate mystery

Money Tip: Ways to save money Writing – If one has a gift for writing even simple posts to a forum or blog, then one can probably generate income by writing either long or short articles on the net. Payments are upfront and are quite regular in frequency; as are the myriad of topics and writing assignments.

Following are three outstanding top web sites which specialize in providing writers, not necessarily experienced, a platform to exhibit their writing ability: Textbroker, Demand Studios, and Problogger Job Boards. Sites such as Factoidz and Associate Contents offer residual payments for one’s articles.

Quote The success combination in business is: Do what you do better and do more of what you do.

-David Joseph Schwartz

shopping company.

Fun Way to Make Extra Money #3: Sell Handmade Gifts on Etsy Are you crafty? Do you love to do arts and crafts projects on your spare time? If so, you could be able to sell your handmade gifts on Etsy. Etsy is an online market place that is set up so that people can buy and sell handmade gifts.

I know firsthand that people love to buy stuff that is handmade.

I know this because during my teenage years, I was helping my mom assemble the items she produced for her wholesale home decor line. She was a wholesaler, meaning she only sold to stores with a sales tax exemption certificate. An item she sold to the wholesaler for a price of N1000 oftentimes sold in boutiques for N3000. The markup is huge, and there is great potential if you have unique goods to offer.

How to save up for a car D o you have your eye on that new or used car but you’re not sure how to pay for it? This article will help you figure out a strategy to get you in the driver’s seat, whether it is a used Toyota Camry or a brand new Audi R8.

To achieve this, all you need is income and a savings account.

Before you can decide how much you should save up for a car, determine which car fits your needs. Buying a car that doesn’t do what you need it to do will end up causing you frustration and loss of time and money. Do you commute to work every day and need something fuel efficient like a Toyota Prius hybrid? If you

haul lots of goods, how about a Ford F150, can you save more money buying it used? Buying a used car that is just 2-3 years old (or 10-40,000 miles) is very smart because it allows the first owner(s) to take the major depreciation hit during the first few years while the car still likely has 3/4ths of its lifespan left. Whatever you decide on, make sure this is a purchase that you won’t regret. Do your research.

Now that you’ve done your homework, you know an estimate of how much the car will cost you total out the door (OTD). How much do you need to save for a down payment? Or maybe you want to save up for all of it?

If you’re going to finance

the car with an auto loan, it is recommended that you pay at least a 20% down payment for no longer than 36 months.

While longer loans reduce the monthly payments, they will cost you more in the end.

So now you know your savings goal. Take a look at your monthly budget and calculate how much you can spare per month for a car payment.

Let’s say it is N46500 and your savings goal for a down payment is N465000, so that is 10 months. Each month, put this money into a savings account (preferably one with a high APY so you can gain some interest) as if you are already making payments on a car.

After your down payment, what will your monthly payments

be? It should be no more than N46500 a month since that is all you can spare. Make sure you take insurance, fuel, and maintenance into account.

After your savings goal is reached, you are ready to buy.

Shop around banks and credit unions for the best rate on an auto loan. Then shop around dealers for the best price on your car. Never fall for buying a car you can’t afford.

A few years later, after you have paid off your loan, it may be a good idea to continue putting the N46500 in your savings account as though you are still making monthly payments. This will help in case you need it for car repairs or you can even pay off your next car in full, costing you no interest.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

EDITORIAL

t is common for nations to deport citizens of other countries if such people contravene the laws of their hosts. Nigeria is, however, fast making history as a country where her citizens who have no records of crime are routinely deported to other parts of its territory.

Lagos state stands accused of this accursed absurdity. A few years back about one hundred and sixty destitute northerners were dumped on the outskirts of the Kaduna metropolis, allegedly by the Lagos state government. The destitute including men, women, children, mostly crippled, the deaf, lepers and others with physical disabilities were secretly dumped around 7pm at Abuja Junction, along the KadunaAbuja expressway.

Lately, the same Lagos state government deported 72 persons to Onitsha. It was the second time, in less than one year, that officials of the state government had dumped people picked up from the streets of Lagos in Onitsha. On September 18, 2012, over 100 citizens, made up of children, women, the elderly and physically challenged people were dumped there at about 4am.

Last year, the government denied involvement in the deportation saga.

The Commissioner for Information, Mr. Lateef Aderemi Ibirogba, had said: “We don’t query where you come from or what has brought you from wherever you came from. We

always tell the people that we have the responsibility to take care of whoever is here.”

In the same vein, Ibirogba, last week, denied that the Lagos government deported Igbos from Lagos. He said: “We did not deport anybody. By the Constitution of Nigeria, everybody has

“

I

The provocative Lagos deportations

If the deportees are destitute, they are still Nigerians and a mirror of the failure of our governments to take care of its citizens a right to live in any part of the country but we have been emphasising that people must live within the law.”

If the Lagos government did not approve of the deportations, who did? The deportees are singing a song of pain, agony and disillusionment, saying they were bundled out of Lagos by officials of the state government.

Under the 1999 Constitution, no state government has the right to deport a Nigerian. You cannot deport somebody from one part of the country to another. If any Nigerian resident in any

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”

part of the country commits a crime, he ought to be tried and if found guilty, punished in the state where the crime is committed. The action of the Lagos state government is a brazen violation of the Constitution.

We support Anambra state governor, Mr. Peter Obi’s protest against what the government in Lagos has done. It is barbaric. In his protest letter to President Goodluck Jonathan Obi reminded him about a similar incident last year and argued correctly that “This latest callous act, in which Lagos state did not even bother to consult with Anambra state, before deporting 72 persons considered to be of Igbo extraction to Anambra state, is illegal, unconstitutional and a blatant violation of the human rights of these individuals and of the Nigerian Constitution.”

Obi is not alone. The Onitsha branch of Nigerian Bar Association, NBA, is threatening to drag Lagos state government to court over the issue. We call on all civil right advocates to stand up against this brutal illegality.If the deportees are destitute, they are still Nigerians and a mirror of the failure of our governments to take care of its citizens. The implications of the actions of the Lagos government – if other states are to retaliate - are such that they threaten the foundation of Nigeria. We condemn them without reserve.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM MANAGING EDITOR ABDUL-AZEEZ ABDULLAHI

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

EDITOR, DAILY AHMED I. SHEKARAU

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

DEPUTY MANAGER, PRODUCTION ABDUL-RAUF MUSA

EDITOR, WEEKEND HAMEED M. BELLO

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion ASUU strike and a misguided response

By Ayodele Tunwase

W

hen the president of Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) Dr. Nasir Isa Fagge announced that the union would commence an indefinite strike nationwide on July 1, all patriots expected that the government of Goodluck Jonathan would move rationally and speedily to stop the catastrophe.

But what did we see? For about a month now, the universities have been shut, students are loafing and wasting at home while the government gives no clue as to when and how we will get out of the mess.

To understand this standoff better, we must ask ourselves how we got here in the first instance.

The big issue in dispute is an agreement reached between ASUU and the federal government in 2009 about funding education in Nigeria. The uniqueness in the current strike is that ASUU is not making new demands but calling for the implementation of the agreements reached four years ago with the Federal Government.

It will be recalled that the 2009 Agreement between the Federal Government and ASUU was brokered under the Wale Babalakin led panel. Wale Babalakin is the Chairman of Bi-Courtney Construction Company whose relationship with the Federal

Government has undergone strain and stress. Could the Federal Government’s intransigence be interpreted as an attempt to rubbish the Babalakin Report?

It is clear from the actions of the federal government that it is not willing to confront issues but personalities. Take the government’s response to the stand of National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS), for instance.

Immediately after the strike was declared, the student body pledged its support for it, saying the demands of the university lecturers were in order.“ASUU’s strike actions and demands are genuine and very timely in other to rescue our educational sector from total collapse,” the students said in a press release by NANS President, Prince Miaphen.

“NANS is in total support of the position and stand of ASUU that our educational sector is in shamble and disarray. We also support ASUU’s insistence that government should provide proper funding to all higher institutions in the country. Our hostels are in total mess; our classrooms are largely over-crowded with so many students standing up during lectures. Our laboratories have collapsed with cobwebs surrounding everywhere, no adequate water and electricity supplies on our various campuses and in-fact nothing seems to be

working. Little wonder no Nigerian University is rated among the first 500 Universities in the world.”

And as the strike continues without let, the executive of the NANS have cried out against what they described as intense pressure for them to take sides against the Staff Union. Vowing to resist the pressure, the students appealed to the Federal Government to face the crisis squarely and accede to the genuine demands of their lecturers, pointing out that it was evident that the Federal Government has got it’s priorities grossly wrong.

The students claim that instead of facing the crisis by addressing the problems, Government has resorted to deploying its agents to use material inducements in a bid to break the resolve by ASSU.The students gave a litany of misplaced preferences of the Goodluck Jonathan Administration to include; grants in hundreds of millions of dollars to sports,grants in hundreds of millions of dollars to Nollywood and Kanywood, grants in trillions of naira to the airline industry, to include the misplaced spending on the development of airport lounges.

They also called attention to misplaced engagement of the best performing Governors which amounts to sacrifice of Wammako, Kano, Sule Lamido, Jigawa, Babangida, Niger, Amaechi, Rivers, Akpabio, Akwanga Ibom and Jang,

Plateau in unnecessary bickering over the Presidents ambitions of 2015, to the detriment of good governance which would have seen to resolving the crisis with ASUU.The executive agree that rather than focus on and take seriously statutory responsibilities of working with ASUU towards ensuring quality delivery in university education through the full implementation of national minimum standards, Government has rather preoccupied itself with wasteful and spurious activities such as organizing to involve students in the general political crisis pervading the nation.

The youth cited the misuse made of their colleagues in Rivers State to pelt Governors on a solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi. While applauding government’s decision to establish 12 new universities across geopolitical zones, students lamented that it is a shame that Government has failed to adequately fund existing Universities, making the effort counter productive and almost without value.

The political crisis in Rivers is indeed taking its toll and ASUU has called for the sack of the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike over his alleged involvement in it to the detriment of finding solutions to the lingering crisis in the universities.The Coordinator

of ASUU, Ilorin Zone, Dr. Adeleke Ayan, regretted that instead of Wike to be concerned about the nationwide strike and various crises bedeviling Nigerian universities, he is bogged down with local Rivers politics. Describing Wike as a ‘roving minister’, Ayan declared that, “the involvement of Minister of State for Education in Rivers State crisis is an example of reckless abandonment of serious national issue for pecuniary pursuit.”

Recently the NANS executive meeting in Abuja was invaded by government agents with hefty offers of pecuniary gifts.

Regrettably, while majority of the students rejected the offers to condemn the strike, the same appears not to be with ASUU. Already, the Adamawa State University has pulled-out.

Adamawa ASUU even confronted ASUU national body for going on strike without due process.

AkanuIbiam varsity has also announced their pull out. Before the pull outs cause grave damage to a patriotic the cause, we call on ASUU to stick to its guns. The fight for improved funding of education in Nigeria is a patriotic fight. Like Yakubu Gowon used to say during the civil war years; “It is a task that must be done.”

AyodeleTunwase lives in Lagos and can be reached on tuns@gmail.com

Between el-Rufai and Fiscal Responsibility Commission

By Adullahi Aminu and Adebayo Jagun

M

allam Nasir el-Rufai, a former Minister of Federal Capital Territory (FCT), has carved a niche for himself as someone who courts controversy.

During his tenure as a minister, he stirred quite a few hornet’s nests and ruffled many feathers in his abrasive approach to public administration. In his various altercations with the National Assembly, he endeared himself to Nigerians by his sheer guts (or is it grandstanding?), telling truth to power not minding whose ox was gored.Since leaving office, el-Rufai has transformed into an implacable critic of the Jonathan Administration. The bottom line, ultimately, is to denigrate the extant administration.His latest salvo titled: Fiscal Responsibility Commission: The Sleeping Watchdog’ which appeared in the Peoples Daily of Friday, July 6, 2013 and some social media sites, totally missed the point.

A critic, if he must be taken seriously, must endeavor to be armed with solid facts and figures in order not to misinform the unsuspecting public. Moreso, economic discourse is too rarefied a field to be left to the chicanery of politicians.In the said article, el-Rufai, having highlighted what he perceived to be the problems of the economy finally heaped the blame on the Fiscal Responsibility Commission, accusing it of being “lax about fulfilling its role”. As insiders who should know, we make bold to say that nothing can be farther from the truth!The Commission

has been up and doing since its inauguration in 2009. Despite the problems normally encountered by new organisationsof its kind, the Commission hit the ground running as it were by first creating awareness among the various MDAs through seminars, focus group discussions, advocacy visits and sheer force of institutional example about the responsibilities expected of them by the FRA, 2007.

The Commission has also been following these up with strict monitoring of the MDAs to ensure compliance with Fiscal prudence, especially as it relates to nonremittance of Operating Surplus to the Consolidated Revenue Fund and late submission of Audited accounts as demanded by FRA, 2007. As a result of this, the Commission was able to ensure improved efficiency in Fiscal management in areas of allocation and management of public expenditure, revenue collection, savings and transparency in fiscal matters. Through its oversight function, the Commission was able to compel MDAs to remit over N141 billion ‘Operating Surplus’ to the treasury since its inception. The accusation that the Commission is “lax in fulfilling its role” flies in the face of this glaring reality.

It must be emphasized that the Commission should not in anyway be compared with EFCC or ICPC whose operation is to arrest and prosecute corrupt offenders. On the contrary, the Commission, by its mandate, is set up to nip fiscal infraction in the bud, a sort of preventive act.Needless, to say, the Commission has ensured compliance by both the Federal Ministry of Finance and the various

MDAs with the Medium Term Expenditure Framework (MTEF).

Furthermore, the Commission has been forthcoming and courageous in alerting the public to defective implementation of federal government budget much to the indignation of the economic planners.

In carrying out its mandate, the Commission is encumbered by both legal and operational constraints. For instance, while offences are provided in the Act, sanctions are not indicated. In addition, the Commission is not empowered to prosecute - a case of a dog that can bark but cannot bite. The Commission can only investigate and submit the results of its investigation to the AttorneyGeneral for prosecution. Those who conceived the FRA (including the present Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy) did not envisage this scenario. The then National assembly seemed to have substantially watered down the provisions of the Act in order, in their estimation to curb executive tyranny.

The Executive, especially the Federal Ministry of Finance, must

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also learn to take criticism of its operations by the Commission in good faith. The FRA is a ‘baby’ of the Minister who is expected to nurture it and understand its constraints better than anyone.

There is therefore no point throwing the baby with the bathwater. One is saying this in the light of consistent starving of the Commission with needed fund to carry out its functions by the Budget Office.

Since 2009 when the Commission, in an unprecedented show of accountability and transparency, returned a whopping amount of unspent fund to the government treasury in order not flout financial regulation, the Commission, rather than being commended has continued to be ‘punished’ with dwindling budgetary allocation. The Commission could have embarked on contract award spree to beat the fast approaching end of financial year. But the chairman and his commissioners rather chose the path of honour and set good precedence by returning the money to the coffers of government. Rather than see the Commission as an irritant, it should be viewed as a welcome partner in progress that must be assisted to

In carrying out its mandate, the Commission is encumbered by both legal and operational constraints. For instance, while offences are provided in the Act, sanctions are not indicated.

In addition, the Commission is not empowered to prosecute - a case of a dog that can bark but cannot bite.

actualize its objectives. It is heartwarming to note that President Jonathan recently acknowledged the tremendous efforts being made by the Commission in effectively monitoring the MDAs and compelling remittance of Operating Surplus to the treasury. So pleased was the President that he directed a retreat be held by the Commission to adequately sensitize all its stakeholders.

On the refusal of the state governments to enact fiscal responsibility law, the Fiscal Responsibility Commission cannot hold them to account as it is only mandated to sensitize the states on the merits of enacting the law.

The Commission is not shirking this responsibility as some states have adopted the law while a good number have given it a short shrift.

The oft-stated reason for not doing so is that Nigeria operates fiscal federalism while ignoring the fact that we operate one economy that needs proper harmonization for sound macro-economic framework.

Perhaps, part of the problem is that Fiscal Responsibility legislation is new in the country and must be given time to grow.

But to heap the blame on the new Commission that is striving to do its best in spite of all odds is unfair and uncharitable. Nigerians should be sensitized on the need to utilize the Freedom of Information Act (FOI) and section 50 of the Fiscal Responsibility Act to put respective governments on their toes. By this, the efforts of the Commission will not be in vain.

‘Both writers are members of Advocacy Forum on Transparency and Fiscal Matters.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Opinion

Lagos deportation saga is a red herring

By Francis Oriunebho

F

ifty three years as a nation and sometimes it seems we have learnt nothing. I have observed with some bemusement the recent events surrounding the so-called deportation of the destitute from Lagos to other parts of the country. The matter has predictably been blown out of proportion. It is disingenuous and mischievous to play on tribal sentiments as the crux of the problem. The truth is that the rehabilitation and repatriation of the destitute is commonplace in many parts of the world. The problem stems from the term ‘deportation’ which the media have needlessly latched unto. The word connotes an irreversible or forced banishment from a place.

The reality is that the relocation of the destitute was likely not a forced one and certainly not a permanent one either.

In a federation, such as Nigeria, that has no interstate borders it is an exercise in futility to attempt a permanent expulsion from any one state. According to reports, the destitute in Lagos had been interviewed at great length and had expressed their severe hardships and desire to be with their families again.

Attempts were made to reach out to the respective welfare and liaison offices of their states of origin before they were eventually transferred back to their home states.

In the case of Anambra state I understand there was a series of exchanges between their

liaison office and the Lagos state office of Youth and Social Development.

Anambra had apparently been invited to come and interview the destitute so as to do their own assessments. They never did and ultimately they were relocated to Anambra to re-unite with their families

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in line with their wishes. If anybody did any wrong here it is the Government of Anambra, who let down these people at the time of their need. In fact Lagos state government deserves commendation and not

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commendation for rehabilitation and resettlement of the destitute.

In the recent past, AkwaIbom, for example, has also relocated Lagos indigenes which it had assessed were not playing a contributory role in the welfare

of that state.

Lagos state has responded as any government should for its own people. This did not gain widespread publicity because Lagos state has never rejected them nor threatened legal action.

This is a continuous

exercise. In the last year alone, thousands of beggars and the destitute have been successfully rescued and moved to a Rehabilitation and Training Centre in Owutu, Ikorodu. Once they are there, most of them

In a federation, such as Nigeria, that has no interstate borders it is an exercise in futility to attempt a permanent expulsion from any one state.

According to reports, the destitute in Lagos had been interviewed at great length and had expressed their severe hardships and desire to be with their families again. Attempts were made to reach out to the respective welfare and liaison offices of their states of origin before they were eventually transferred back to their home states.

undergo intensive rehabilitation programs which allow them to be upstanding members of the community. I am quite familiar with the Owutucentre and it is important to note that is not a detention camp. Lagos state could not even hold the destitute against their will even if they wanted without possession of a valid Court Order.

There are provisions and facilities at the Centre that enable people to help them turn their lives around. However resources are limited and the truth is that not everyone is able to be helped.

This is why all residents must first undergo thorough physical and psychological investigations.

Those that would benefit the most from being reunited with their families and communities are then relocated at Lagos state’s expense.

Lagos is a centre of excellence but it is not a utopia. No city in the world is. Whatever part of the world you hail from, if you choose to move somewhere else then you must be prepared to work and abide by their laws.

Lagos is no different. I moved here from my home state of Edo twenty years ago and have been gainfully employed ever since then. Speaking as a non-Lagos indigene, I have always found Lagos welcoming to those who are willing and able to contribute and respect the way of life. I don’t believe there is anything that has changed that.

Francis Oriunebho is an expert in social policy and has published several papers on urban rehabilitation.

Goodluck Mobutu or Goodluck Mandela?

By Abdullahi Musa

T

here is a tide in the affairs of men (so quote some writers from Shakespeare) which when taken at its crest leads to victory. Goodluck Jonathan took such a tide to get into the offices of deputy governor, governor, and now President.

Chief OlusegunObasanjo rode on a similar tide to become Head of State, and two-term President.

Abiola took the tide and ended in a trough. Without the ambitions of men and women, journalists might be out of business.

Nigerians are today faced with the ambition of a man and his wife.

By 2015 they might have spent at least ten years in Government House, (about six in Aso Rock).

But the lady is not done with us yet. She apparently is insisting kn another four more years.

The stories of MobutuSeseSekou and that of Nelson Mandela are well known to many: one sacrificed his nation

to serve his ego, while the other sacrificed his youth, family, and even the coveted chair of President for the good of his nation. As a reward, the hearts of millions are at a Pretoria hospital where the freedom fighter is fighting off complications from an advanced age.

Patriotism my foot, she may blurt out! She has no intention of emulating Mandela; the Rock is really not hard; it gives its occupants the control of black gold. Let’s leave that family alone for a while. What about us ordinary Nigerians, whose ambition may not be more than to just survive? Why do we need to see new faces in Aso Rock come 2015? Well, for one thing life has been harsh to millions of Nigerians for many years of PDP rule.But is Jonathan responsible for all the rot? He may not be, but has been unable to solve it.

What is he offering 2015 to 2019?

How am I to know? May be Tony Anenih knows. It is quite rational

if that couple simply finds life in Aso Rock so pleasurable that they will not want to leave sometime soon. But what about us, ordinary Nigerians? Are we unanimous in an alternative to Goodluck? I dont believe we are. Any attempt on the part of Northerners to point at Jonathan’s failures is interpreted by some Southerners as desperation for power by Northerners Nigerians are beneficiaries of the status quo, and do not really care who are the residents of Aso Rock. And that is music in her ears. The operational template given to Nigerians in political power contest is that of North versus South. Whichever group wants to capture power from Dame must be able to write a new template that appeals to all, irrespective of geography.

Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for her, no group has started doing that yet.

Abdullahi Musa via kigongabas@gmail.com

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Nigerians are beneficiaries of the status quo, and do not really care who are the residents of Aso Rock. And that is music in her ears. The operational template given to Nigerians in political power contest is that of North versus South. Whichever group wants to capture power from Dame must be able to write a new template that appeals to all, irrespective of geography.

Unfortunately for us, and fortunately for her, no group has started doing that yet.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment Who is the father of Nigerian journalism?

By Patrick Naagbanton

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lade Odunewu (20th November, 1927-25th July, 2013), generally called “Allah De”, was one of the wellknown journalists of the 1950s and beyond. Allah De (name of his satirical column in the Daily Times), died in a hospital in Lagos on Thursday, 25th July, 2013, of old age related sickness. My sincere condolence to those he left behind. Alade’s input to journalism in Nigeria is great, especially in the sub-genre of ethics. Allah De’s death like any central character has spurred a central argument like that of Chinua Achebe (16th November, 1930 - 21st March, 2013). The controversy was not caused by Achebe, but his “camp followers”, by reinforcing that Achebe is the “father of African literature”. The contention was over the place of Achebe, the notable writer, poet, teacher and pan-Africanist in the Nigerian, African or world literature. This forced Wole Soyinka, one of the principal literary practitioners of all times, to explode in that exclusive, polemical, lengthy and expository interview on Achebe and others.

Who is the father of Nigerian journalism? This is not a rhetorical question. In tackling this puzzle,

we need to look beyond 1859, which marks the beginning of journalism in Nigeria. This was the epoch when the Iwe lrohim of the Rev. Henry Townsend and that of Robert Campbell of the Anglo-African held sway. The post Townsendian–Campbellian age saw some Nigerians lead the journalism trade and they laid the groundwork for further practice in the country.

Isaac Frederick Akporuaro Omu, 75, history teacher at the University of Benin, Edo state, who died three years ago, still remained an expert on press history in Nigeria.

“Journalism in Nigeria: A Historical Overview” is a well-researched paper published in the book, “Journalism in Nigeria; Issues and Perspectives (1996). The 310 page book (a collection of other equally well-written papers) was edited

by Olatunji Dare and Adidi Uyo. The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Lagos State Council under the leadership of Lanre Arogundale published the book.

Omu wrote thus: “From 1880 when the African Newspaper Press was born to the outbreak of the Second World War which ushered in new journalistic influences, over 50 newspapers of varied frequently and duration were published. The leading newspapers of the period

were the Lagos Times (1880), Lagos Observer (1882), Eagle and Lagos Critic (1883), Lagos Weekly Record (1891), Lagos Standard (1894), Nigerian Chronicle (1908), Nigerian Times (1910), Nigerian Pioneer (1914), African Messenger (1921), Nigerian Spectator-African Messenger (1921), Nigerian Spectator (1923), Nigerian Advocate (1923), Nigerian Daily Times (1926), Nigerian Daily Mail (1930), West African Nationhood (1930), The Comet (1933) and the West African Pilot (1937)” (page 3) “However, there were other more successful contemporaries who distinguished themselves as eminent journalists. The roll of honour should include George Alfred Williams Johnson, James Bright Davies, (Nnamdi Azikiwe later called him doyen of West African journalism in his autobiography) Ernest Sesei Ikoli, (First editor of Daily Times of Nigeria), Richard Akinwande Savage (of the Nigerian spectator), Herbert Macaulay and Duse Mohammed Ali (a radical Egyptian Pan-Africanist of the Comet newspaper)” Page 3 and 4.

Omu argued that the advent of NnamdiAzikiwe, one of Nigeria’s famous journalists and politicians marked the decline in journalism, page 6. Omu’s statement is

rather paradoxical, because the appearance of Azikiwe brought about a new brand of journalism to Nigeria. Azikiwe had spent thirtytwo months (from November 1934 to July 1937) in Gold Coast (Ghana) and returned to Nigeria to start his journalism. Azikwe stated this at page 272 of his 452 page memoir, My Odyssey (1970).

NnamdiAzikiwe wrote, “On the day before publication of the maiden issue (West African Pilot), I reminded my colleagues at our editorial conference that we were entering the field of competitive journalism to do two things; revolutionise journalism as it had been practiced from 1859 to 1937, and demonstrate that journalism can be a successful business enterprise, just as any other field of human endeavour” Page 291.

Omu described the West African Pilot as “ Vivid format, dynamic and combative style and ideological salience anchored on a campaign against racial superiority and domination aimed at restoring the dignity and self-confidence of the black man, served notice of the intervention of a new and formidable journalistic force”- page 6.

After sixteen years of active journalism career and publishing, NnamdiAzikiwe said, “I feel proud that during my sixteen years’

Respite for UniAbuja at last

By Tayo Demola

F

or several years, professional bodies in Nigeria such as the Dental and Medical Council of Nigeria as well as the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN) had denied recognition for products of University of Abuja as a result of this anomaly. The multiplier effects of this are innumerable. The world has undeniably become a global village and whatever happens in the home front reverberates to the outside world and the international community and that accounts for why many Nigerian graduates who seek employment opportunities and greener pastures abroad have been denied placement due to the belief that these Nigerian products possess “untrusted” degrees.

The situation has been of immense concern to stakeholders in recent times; it was shocking a federal university of that status would make its students go through such a harrowing experience of having to spend several painful extra years before finishing their chosen courses. However, news reaching my desk last week indicated that the NUC had finally accredited some of these contentious courses at Uniabuja.

I think it calls for celebration for those students and their parents who have fought tooth and nail all these years for these courses to be accredited and here we are as they have finally been approved by the NUC. But let me advise you: don’t

celebrate yet until you eventually graduate!With the erratic and unpredictable nature of university education in Nigeria plagued by perennial neglect by government, incessant strikes and an unstable academic calendar, the fact that your course has been accredited does not guarantee that you will graduate at the right time from the university.

Students in Nigeria’s tertiary institutions would have to unfortunately contend with a whole lot of unpalatable experiences including constant lecturers’ strikes and denial of accreditation of courses into which they have been validly admitted.

Strikes have a crippling effect on the education sector and no wonder Nigerian graduates are regarded as half-baked by certain employers of labour who feel that these graduates do not have the necessary skills and wherewithal to be entrusted with certain positions of responsibility. We have heard of some Nigerian graduates who went

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abroad in order to obtain a second degree but were either denied such opportunity due to Nigeria’s poor educational standard or asked to undergo some years of study and scrutiny to ascertain their suitability before admitting them into those programs.

When we remember the Uniabuja crisis, it brings a feeling of neglect, incompetence and lack of accountability and foresight on the part of our university administrators. There is a clear-cut difference between teaching well in the classroom and being a good administrator. The two do not necessarily require the same skill and not many people can effectively combine the two skills. A university is not a laboratory or experimental specimen which you hand over to an inexperienced hand to determine the possibility of the outcome because you will be toying with the lives and future of thousands of people who would later on graduate to become future leaders and important decision makers. The

prolonged situation in Uniabuja over course accreditation as well as similar situations in several other Nigerian universities calls for concern of stakeholders because the future of our students is at stake and this is part of the lingering crisis in the education sector that is threatening to cripple the education system in the country.

When students are admitted to universities and other tertiary institutions, the authorities have a constitutional and moral responsibility to ensure that nothing hinders these students from graduating at the appropriate time from such programs.

Why did it take so long for the management of the University of Abuja, a Federal university for that matter, to put in place the necessary facilities required for the accreditation of these courses?

Did the school not receive its own share of Federal allocation over the years or was it just a case of neglect and lack of accountability by people entrusted with the affairs

The lesson here is that when square pegs are put in round holes, the result you get is better imagined than experienced.

We must stop playing politics with every issue in this country if we truly desire any meaningful development. If we must play politics, issues concerning education should be totally excluded.

To avert student protests such as the ones witnessed in Uniabuja, university authorities should endeavour to utilize the resources at their disposal judiciously.

service as managing director of the Zik Group of Newspaper, I was able to give theoretical and practical training in journalism to over sixty of the most eminent journalists and leaders of our country” (page 308, My Odyssey (1970). People like Anthony Enahoro, Babatunde Jose, MobolajiOdunewu (AlhajiAladeOdunewu aka Allah De’s elder brother), A. Dokubo and many others, who turned out to be great Nigerian journalists, anti-colonial activists and leaders were trained by Azikiwe. Even he, despite of his contributions to the growth of journalism in Nigeria and beyond, in page 291 of his book, admitted, “I was guided by the ideas of the great journalists who had preceded me”.

The late AladeOdunewu aka Allah De started his journalism practice in the 50s. His contribution to the development of Nigerian journalism cannot be wished away through “that monotonous, hypocritical aura of deprivations lament, orchestrated by those who, as we say in my part of the world, “dye their mourning weeds a deeper indigo than those of the bereaved”. He deserves his peace.”

Patrick Naagbanton lives in Port Harcourt, the Rivers state capital of the university? These questions are pertinent because the issue here is peculiar to countless other Nigerian universities which are internally sick and need special financial surgical operations to bail them out of a monumental mismanagement of resources threatening to cripple their existence. Aside the lectures’ strike resulting from the failure of government to holistically address funding issues, what of the issue of accountability, integrity and prudence on the part of our university administrators?

Does the case of Uniabuja not show that there is more to it than meets the eye? It is surprising that some state universities are ranked higher in the performance index in certain courses than some federal universities which as a result of the lack of adequate facilities required to run such courses only end up admitting students their facilities cannot cater for and these students end up wasting away their future with the hope that someday they will graduate from these schools all to no avail.

The lesson here is that when square pegs are put in round holes, the result you get is better imagined than experienced. We must stop playing politics with every issue in this country if we truly desire any meaningful development.

If we must play politics, issues concerning education should be totally excluded. To avert student protests such as the ones witnessed in Uniabuja, university authorities should endeavour to utilize the resources at their disposal judiciously.

Tayo Demola is reachable on tayodemola@gmail.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 16

Rural women in Kuje, Gwagwalada, others get devt centre

By Adeola Tukuru

W

omen in Kuje Area Council, Gwagwalada, Zuba and others yesterday applauded the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) for commissioning and handing over a Women Development Centre to them, in order to avert poverty among women in the rural communities in the FCT. During the commissioning and re-opening of various Women Devepoment Centres in Kuje Area Council, the Minister of State for Federal Capital Territory

Demolition of shanties: AMML vows to fine plot owners

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buja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), says it will henceforth fine plot owners, who allow shanties to be erected or constructed on their abandoned plots for the demolition of such structures.

Mr Atebeji Nathaniel, the Assistance Director, Monitoring and Enforcement of the council, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja that plot owners would be charged a fine for allowing illegal houses or shanties on their abandoned plots. ``Anybody who allows people to erect houses or shanties on his or her plot, having abandoned it, will be charged demolition fees whenever such owner comes for approval,’’ he said.

However, he warned people erecting houses and shanties on illegal land, to desist from such acts as the Development Control Department of AMMC would take drastic action to pull down such structures.

“It is a serious offence for people to erect buildings or shanties on illegal plots; even when we remove them, they go back after few months to put another structure up.

“Our men on the field will not relent; once they find any illegal building, they will mark it down for demolition.’’

According to him, one the challenges that the department is facing is the sale of land by traditional rulers and village heads who are still selling land in the name of “it is our land’’.

“At times when we want to demolish illegal structures, the traditional rulers and village heads will mobilise their youths to disrupt our work.’’

“We do not delight in the demolishing of peoples’ houses and shanties but we want to get the Abuja Master Plan right and make Abuja illegal structure free.’’

NAN reports that on July 29, Development Control Department demolished some shanties built illegally on plots of land in Garki Area1.

(FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, explained that the centre was created to address the pertinent issues of poverty and boost the entrepreneurial skills among women in the rural communities of the FCT. According to her, the women constitute a larger percentage of Nigeria’s population, even though some of our women suffer from deprivation.

“It is a fact that in society like ours, our rural women have less access than men to education and economic opportunities.

“This has greatly undermined their abilities to meet the basic needs of livelihood. It is against this backdrop that the present administration made empowerment of rural women an important focal point in its policy agenda for the FCT” She further explained that the vocational trades to be provided

at the Kuje Women Development Center include: computer education, tailoring, hair saloon, catering services and beads and jewelry making” She also noted that the entrepreneurial skills and work based competencies that the center will offer women and provide programme aimed at inculcating in women, the values of hardwork, dedication, ethical rectitude, justice and moral discipline among others.

She urged the women to take advantage of the center to leverage their capacity building and promised to build another in Robochi with the administration’s support for sustainability.

Earlier, the Secretary, Social Development Secretariat, Mrs. Blessing Onuh, said, this is one of the many women empowerment projects embarked upon by the FCT Administration aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty amongst

women in Kuje area council and indeed the FCT. According to her, Kuje Center house has four vital vocational platforms for skills acquisition programme like, ICT room for computer literacy and skills development for women, fashion designing and instruction room, hair dressing and demonstration component and catering services facility” She said, the center is not the only FCTA outfit that is currently receiving a new lease of life for empowerment of women and youth.

“We have also completed the rehabilitation and renovation of the erstwhile abandoned women development centers in Gwagwalada, Zuba and Iddo Sariki.

Work is to commence very soon on those of Bwari and Pasale centers,” she said.

Chairman, Kuje Area Council,

A mobile tailor and two young women hawking fura da nono, Wednesday in Wuse Zone II, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Hon. Shabban Ishaku, expressed the peoples delight with the promise to utilize the facility optimally.

Fadama III seeks traditional ruler’s support for project sustainability

T

he Fadama III, National Programme Unit has called for the support of the traditional ruler of Rubochi community, in Kuje, Federal Capital Territory, to ensure sustainability of projects in the area.

Mr Samuel Alabi, Fadama III Monitoring and Evaluation Specialist, made the call on Thursday when he led a technical assistance mission team to the traditional ruler’s palace.

Alabi said, Fadama would continue to depend on the support of the traditional ruler to ensure that the project made positive impact on the lives of the people of the community.

He added that the support of the chief was essential to guarantee the ownership of the projects by the community.

“We want the people of the community to know that the project is for them and not the government and they should endeavour to take full ownership of it for their benefit,’’ Alabi said.

He expressed appreciation to the chief for his support, especially for donating land to Fadama to site its projects in the community.

The Chief of the community, Alhaji Ibrahim Pada, in his response, thanked Fadama for its work in the community.

Pada said he planned to provide more land to enable the expansion of Fadama projects in the area.

“The land I donated earlier is a small piece of land compared to the volume of work going on.

“I am going to add to the land because the project is expanding and many more members of the community want to register with Fadama III,” he said.

‘No going back on proposed demolition of illegal estates along Airport Road’

T

he Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC), on Wednesday said there was no going back on the proposed demolition of 32 illegal estates along the Abuja Airport Road.

Assistant Director, Monitoring and Enforcement Department of the council, Mr Atebeji Nathaniel, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, explained that the proposed demolition include illegal estates like Ejima Group

Estate, Redwood Bidmusdruhill, Joafra, Efficacy Home, Bg8 Golden Tulip, the Light City and Greenland Estate.

Others include Matovinco Estate, Stone Mountain Homes, Lento Estate, RCCG Estate (site a, b, c and d), Rainbow, Annes Vile, Goldcity, Krista Court 1 Residential, Goshen 1 and 2, M/S Ray Inter Link Services.

Also in the list are Good Heart Group, Osilama, NEPA Cooperatives, Trade More,

Doctors Court, Royalty, Civil Defence/Defenders, Rissun Luxury, Maziyagbe and Ozo, Pent House, Weather Field, Andican Hebron/Delta, Ese Global, Detahan and Jimsurve Estate.

He said that the demolition was being delayed due to National Assembly intervention and because the developers had taken the case to court ``therefore, we are waiting for court’s verdict.’’ ``We know that the verdict will be in our favour because the

developers built on illegal land and some with fake documents. ``We have made it clear to the public to desist from buying houses in the new estates springing up along the Abuja Airport Road because many of them are illegal. ``We do not take delight in demolishing peoples’ houses but we have to do our jobs toward sustaining the Abuja Master Plan to boost the economy and social development in the FCT.” (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 17

Metro

FCT area councils get N1.93bn revenue T

By Adeola Tukuru

he six Area Councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) received total revenue of N1, 937,036,351.75 from the Federation Account for the month of June 2013.

Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCT, Engr. John Chukwu on Wednesday said the area councils received N147.62 million from excess crude.

Akinjide, gave the breakdown of the allocations from the Federation Account as: Statutory

Revenue Allocation, N1.024 billion; Value Added Tax, N682.48 million; N56.77 million from Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P) and N25.54 million being refund by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation.

The revenue represents a shortfall of N276,462,344.70 (about 12.5 per cent) over the N2,213,498,696.45 received by the six area councils of Abaji, Abuja Municipal, Bwari, Gwagwalada, Kuje and Kwali for the month of May 2013.

The Area Councils had in the

the FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACPB) being 15 per cent pension fund, N89.93 million for LEA Teachers Monetisation Entitlement, N44.27 million for health insurance contribution, N30.87 million being contribution to sanitation in the six area councils, and N19.37 million for the FCT Area Councils Service Commission being one per cent training fund.

The Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) topped the revenue distribution for the month of June, receiving N176.81 million as against N199.85 million

preceding month received N1.059 billion from VAT, N821.59 million from Statutory Revenue, N250.35 million from Excess Crude and N56.77 million from SURE-P. The FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee, according to the minister, approved the transfer of N892.46 million to the FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB) for the payment of primary school teachers’ salaries in the six area councils.

Other statutory transfers approved by the Committee include: N95.04 million for

paid in the preceding month.

Gwagwalada and Bwari Area Councils got N132.45 million and N128.72 million, respectively, compared to N157 million and N169.12 million received for the month of May 2013.

The FCT Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee also distributed N113.77 million, N113.09 million and N99.22 million to Abaji, Kuje and Kwali Area Councils.

Abaji, Kuje and Kwali had received revenues of N138.59 million, N151.35 million and N138.61 million for May.

NEMA partners FEMA to curb emergency disasters in FCT

By Mohammed Kandi

D

irector General, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Mohammed Sani Sidi has said the newly established FCT Emergency Management Agency, FEMA is free to access it’s equipment at all-times.

Sidi said this yesterday while receiving the management team of FEMA who visited him to solicit NEMA’s support in the development of the new office.

He said NEMA was prepared to collaborate with FEMA in capacity building and other salient areas that would accelerates it’s preparedness to manage emergency where they occur.

Sidi noted that the establishment of FEMA is fulfilment of the pledge the FCT minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed had made last year when he assured that the Administration will establish its emergency unit to cater for such need when it arises.

The Director, Federal Capital Territory, Administration Emergency Management Agency, FEMA Abbas G. Idris who led the FEMA team to the NEMA boss said the FCT status as host to local and international personalities and institutions imposing the need for best practices in the territory in managing emergencies.

He expressed confidence in the collaborating step between NEMA and FEMA stressing that no single angency can fight emergency situation alone.

According to him, “fighting disaster is not a one man affairs, it is not just for FEMA we have to collaborate With all our stakeholders within the FCT and outside”.

“As at now we respond to distress calls within five minutes in the territory that is where we are”.

“When it comes to evaluation another things definitely will’ve to rely on NEMA now that they are very well equipped. We are just coming up and we do not’ve such equipment”, he said.

A timber seller arranging his goods, yesterday at Nyanya, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Man loses property suit to FCDA

A

n FCT High Court on Thursday struck out a suit instituted by Mr Francis Uchendu urging it to stop the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) from further demolishing his house in DutseAlhaji, Abuja.

Delivering judgement, the presiding judge, Justice Yusuf Halilu said that the land in question was not properly acquired since it was not allocated by the FCDA. He said the land use act specifically vested allocation of all land within the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) on the Federal Government to be managed by the FCT minister. ``It is a well settled fact that the ownership of land comprised in the FCT vests in the president who through the FCT minister vests same on every citizen. ``Without allocation by the minister, there is no way any person can acquire land in the FCT,’’ Halilu said.

He said that Uchendu, having

acquired his plot from a private citizen and validated same through the Chief of Dutse, still did not have any legal rights to prevent the FCDA from re-possessing the plot. ``The plaintiff’s case is hinged on documents that emanated from parties who are not recognised by law to have authority to carry out any transactions on land within the FCT,’’ he said.

The judge said that the plaintiff was wrong to have assumed that a letter of approval by the chief of Dutse was all he needed to construct his building.

He said that ways of proving ownership of land included traditional evidence, production of document of title, act of long possession and proof of possession of connected or adjacent land.

The case was instituted through a writ of summons dated July 17, 2011 filed by the plaintiff’s counsel, Mr Okorie Okorie.

The suit listed the FCT minister, the FCDA, Abuja Metropolitan Management council, and the

Department of Development Control as defendants.

The plaintiff had, in his suit, prayed the court to rule that he was entitled to the land, measuring 50 feet by 50 feet located in DutseAlhaji.

He prayed the court for an order restraining the defendants from further disturbing his enjoyment of the plot.

The plaintiff also prayed the court for a declaration that the defendants did not employ due process in marking the building for demolition as well as the sum of N150,000 being cost of filing the suit and N3 million for general damages.

Okorie told the court that Uchendu purchased the plot from one Alhaji Mohammed Goni at the cost of N45,000 in 1999 and was issued an ``identification letter’’ by the chief of Dutse, but was surprised when in 2011, the house was marked for demolition.

The lawyer argued that the land was located in a densely populated

settlement, occupied mostly by Gbagi indigenes.

He said that the plaintiff, having acquired and developed the land, took possession of it, adding that the defendants had no legal right to demolish the property on the plot.

He submitted that the plaintiff had suffered huge loss and was entitled to compensation.

The defence counsel, Mrs Betty Unegbulem, argued that Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS) was the body responsible for updating land records in the FCT. She said that only the Government of Nigeria could authorise sale or allocation of land within the FCT. She also said that the plaintiff did not obtain any building approval from the Department of Development Control before erecting his building.

She therefore urged the court to strike out the plaintiff’s claims as he was not a legal owner of the land in question. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Metro

Rape: Court refuses bail INSIDE FCT COURTS application of 4 dismissed soldiers

J

ustice Mudashiru Oniyangi of the FCT High Court on Wednesday refused the bail application of four dismissed soldiers, charged with alleged rape of prostitutes in Abuja.

Nse Eywdip, 33, Ugwu Mathew, 23, Emezien Uzonna, 24 and Efosa Ikhomoregbe, 23, all soldiers, have since been dismissed from the Nigerian Army.

The four accused were arraigned on a 12-count charge bordering on conspiracy, rape, assault and armed robbery.

Counsel to the accused filed their bail application.

Justice Oniyangi however refused the bail application filed by counsel to the accused, Mr Richard Ebia and Mr Egwuatu Christian, and ordered an accelerated hearing

of the case which he adjourned to Oct. 9.

He also ordered that the accused persons be remanded in Kuje Medium Prison till the next adjourned date.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the accused were arraigned on June 7.

At the arraignment, the prosecuting counsel, Mr Adama

Musa, had told the court that between Dec. 21 and Dec. 23, 2012 at about 9 p.m. at the River Plate Garden, in Wuse 2, Abuja, the accused did conspire with the intent to commit the offence of armed robbery, rape and assault.

Musa said the accused, armed with their military rifles and horse whip, did forcibly rob one miss Tina Obassy of N40,000 and one

miss Jennifer Joseph of N30,000.

One miss Precious Okorie and one miss Madu Ruth were also robbed of N18,000 and N30,000 respectively by the accused thereby committing an offence punishable under Section 298 of the Penal Code.

He said the offence is punishable under Section 97 (1) of the Penal Code. (NAN)

Court orders school closed for constituting private nuisance Electrician

J

ustice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court on Wednesday ordered the closure of Hopeland International School, Kubwa, for constituting private nuisance.

Halilu gave the order while delivering judgment in a suit filed by Alhaji Isah Yusuf against the school, the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) and the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).

The judge held that it was improper for the school to operate in a residential apartment.

“It is in evidence that the school in located in an area where the plaintiff resides and that the school operates in a residential area built by the FHA.

Bricklayer,20, jailed for stealing zinc

“It is also in evidence that the proprietors did not apply for a permit to operate a school at that location,’’ he said.

Halilu said that evidence showed that both the FHA and the FCDA, had on Sept. 1, 2008, ordered the Education Secretariat of the FCT to close down the school.

“This, to my mind, is an established case of private nuisance and indeed, the operation of Hopeland School is null and void,’’ Halilu said.

He said the plaintiff (Yusuf), having established that the school, operating from its present location, constituted nuisance to him and his family, was enough for the relief sought to be granted.

The judge, however, refused to award any damages to the plaintiff, stating that the court was not a “father Christmas’’.

“No evidence was led to sustain the claim of damages and the court cannot be left to speculate, the relief, therefore, fails and is accordingly refused,’’ Halilu ruled.

NAN reports that Yusuf instituted the case through a writ of summons on July 16, 2012 before Justice Gabriel Kolawale of the Federal High Court Abuja.

The case was transferred to the FCT High Court in December 2012.

Yusuf is seeking for an order restraining Hopeland International School and its proprietress, Mrs Justine Ossai, from continuing with the nuisance caused by them to the plaintiff.

He is also praying the court for an order of perpetual injunction restraining the school and its proprietors from using the premises as commercial or school

premises.

The plaintiff also prayed the court to issue an order compelling the FHA to close down the school for being run from a private residential premise against rules and regulations of the FHA. He had complained to the court that between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. when the school is was session, his peace and quiet, and that of his family was disturbed.

In his defence, the school proprietor, Ossai, countered the plaintiff’s claims.

He said that during school hours, the plaintiff was usually away at work and could not have suffered any disturbance.

He said that the school was sandwiched between the plaintiff’s house and another residential house and occupants of the other house never complained about disturbance. (NAN)

S

enior Magistrate Aminu Abdullahi of the FCT Senior Magistrates Court, Karu, on Wednesday sentenced one Moses Danladi, 20, to three months in prison for stealing aluminium zinc worth N12,000.

The senior magistrate passed the judgment after Danladi, a bricklayer, pleaded guilty to two counts of criminal trespass and theft.

Abdullahi said the sentence was to deter other youths from breaking into innocent citizens’ apartment and stealing their property.

He, however, gave the convict an option to pay N3,000 in fine.

Earlier, the prosecutor, Cpl Umar Mohammed, had told the court that Danladi, of Karu Village in the FCT on July 29 entered Olorunleke Abiodun’s compound and stole aluminium zinc worth N12,000.

Mohammed said that the convict, who lives in the same area as Abiodun, waited until the complainant was away to work, trespassed into the compound and stole the zinc.

He said it was one of the complainant’s neighbours who saw the convict while committing the act and was caught before he could escape.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened the provisions of sections 342 and 286 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

A young man pushing his loaded cart with cushion chairs, yesterday in Durumi village, Abuja.

Phoo: Justin Imo-Owo

charged for alleged criminal conspiracy, cheating

T

he police on Wednesday arraigned an electrician, Adams Yakubu, 36, in a Grade 1 Area Court, Mararaba in Nasarawa State for alleged criminal conspiracy and cheating.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. Inuwa Maigida, told the court that Awuhe Aondongu of 23 Emeka Oloye St., Mararaba, reported the matter at the ‘A’ Division Police Station, Mararaba, on July 21.

He told the court that on July 17, Yakubu and one Halleluya Johnson, now at large, conspired and collected N450,000 from Aondongu with a promise to help him buy a Volkswagen Sharan Car, 2001 model.

Maigida alleged that the accused converted the money to his personal uses and did not buy the said car.

The prosecutor said that the accused was arrested in Mararaba after being in hiding for more than two months.

The offence, he said, contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

If convicted, Yakubu is liable to 10 years imprisonment or an option to pay a fine.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding judge, Mr Albert Maga, admitted the accused to bail in the sum of N150, 000 and two sureties in like sum.

Maga ordered that one of the sureties must be a traditional title-holder with landed property and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to Aug. 15, 2013 for further hearing.

(NAN)

Security man, steward arraigned for negligience

T

he police on Tuesday arraigned two persons, Sunday Jayaola and Francis Isaac, at an Upper Area Court in karu for negligence.

The Police prosecutor, Mr Umoh Inah ,told the court that the matter was reported at the Criminal Investigation

Department of the Police Command in Abuja by Malik Hussaini of Wuse 2, Abuja.

Inah said that the security man was supposed to be at his duty post when unknown gunmen struck at his apartment in Wuse 2.

“He neglected his duty post thereby allowing access to the

compound while the Steward failed to raise alarm,” he said.

The prosecutor said the robbers removed a huge sum and some jewelries from the complainant`s apartment.

Inah said the accused contravened sections 97and 196 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges and the presiding Judge, Malam U.Y. Kagarko, granted them bail in the sum of N100, 000 each with a surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case till Oct. 2, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

isa_abdulwahab@yahoo.com. isaabdulwahab@gmail.com. 08033045613

FG to invest N3.3trn pension funds in infrastructure projects-Okonjo-Iweala

By Abdulwahab Isa commenced with experts putting …appoints new CIO for head together to come up with a igeria’s huge pension Sovereign investment Authority mechanism, assuring that, “once funds in excess of N3.3

N

trillion is to be made active to become one of the sources of investments that yield good returns for pensioners , Coordinating Minister for the Economy/ Finance Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iewala said yesterday .

Towards this end President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, she affirmed has given his nod that Pension funds be made active as obtainable in other climes where pensions are a veritable source of investment in infrastructure yielding good Returns On Investments, ROI. Iweala confirmed government

position to Journalists in Abuja during her first official visit to the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority office (NSIA) .

She said areas of investments shall be subjected to experts’ scrutiny to ensure they yield returns to the people who own the pension.

She said: “One of the benefits we have is that these organizations that want to invest will also, help work along our pension funds.

We are designing a mechanism that would enable us to invest our pension funds.

Mr. President has asked that our pension funds be a bit more active in our own

investment like other countries their pension funds invest in infrastructure. But how to do it to make sure that they’re protected is the issue. One of the things we want to thank NSIA for, is that they have got the expertise to be able to work with this funds to, design a mechanism whereby they can also invest in infrastructure whilst being protected because this is money that people have worked for so it has to be done very carefully so that they earn returns and are able to carry on with their pension activities”.

She said discussions has

L-R: Managing Director, Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA), Mr Uche Orji, Chairman, Mr Mahey Rasheed, and Minister of Finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, during the Minister’s visit to NSIA, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Customers groan over epileptic Ecobank services

By Abdulwahab Isa & Etuka Sunday

N

etwork connectivity problem which occurred yesterday in all the branches of Ecobank nationwide thwarted its banking operation denying millions of the bank customers access to their cash.

The IT hitch which a source within the bank disclosed to our correspondent was a nationwide problem left anxious customers frustrated and heavily burdened apparently due to lack of access to their cash.

In Lagos, and Abuja including Port-Harcourt, findings confirm customers were shuffling from one branch to another hoping that the technical hitch could be limited to one branch.

Checks at Utako branch located at plot 485, BEFS plaza Abuja and some Wuse branches revealed similar situation as customers were seen in piteous state enquiring to know the cause

of the problem without cogent reason offer by staff of the bank.

An official of the branch (name withheld), while offering explainations to correspondent including customers who were desperate to know the cause of the problem, said disconnection was from their headquarters in Lagos.

However, he assured that the problem would be resolved before the close of work yesterday since according to him, they were told from their headquarters in Lagos that a team of experts was working hard to restore it.

Our investigations revealed that the problem started since Monday this week, but worsened by yesterday.

Efforts to get official reaction from the bank’s headquarters in Lagos were futile as Ecobank spokesperson, Mr. Austin Osokpor did not respond to several calls to his cell phone.

Neither did he reply a text message sent to him.

The bank, for the second time yesterday in almost two years, experienced serious technical hitch putting its millions of customers on edge.

Lamenting the situation, Mrs. Orji said she wanted to withdraw her money to enable her travel to the village but both the ATM and the cashiers could not give her money.

Describing the problem as serious, she appealed to the management of the bank to act fast so that people who want to get their money are not turned down unnecessarily.

In like manner, one of the customers who called his name as Mr. Richard said the problem was becoming too frequent, and therefore appealed to the management to permanently resolve the problem so that customers could get their money anytime they want to.

“This is making it my third experience with the bank. They always have network problem”.

it is done, you can imagine that it can attract our own pension funds in a protected manner, I say protected because it is people’s money that they have worked for, but it should also work for the good of the country. So this is another benefit we did not have before”.

This comes as NSIA got new Chief Investment Officer (CIO), Mr. Henspeter Ackermann who would be leading the leading the investment assessments and evaluation of the NSIA. A former President / Managing Director of Deutsche Bank Investment Management Incorporated, parts of Ackermann briefs, include providing guidance and supervision assessments and evaluations of the NSIA. Speaking earlier, NSIA board Chairman, Malam Rasheed Mahey said both the board and members of sub-committee had met four times since its inaugurations adding that it has designed various investment policy frame wok that would guide areas of investments.

“We are going to invest the funds safely. We are working with reputable institutions such as GP Morgan, Citigroup, Union Bank of Switzerland and it is not all Sovereign Funds that you have these big institutions as partners”, he said.

The NSIA is saving fund sponsored and created by an Act of the National Assembly specifically to build a savings base for future generations of Nigerians, enhance the development of Nigeria infrastructure and promoted fiscal stability for the country in times of economic stress.

It started with a seed a authorization of $1 billion to be invested in three windows – future generation fund $ 325 billion (32%), infrastructure fund $325billion (32%) and stabilization fund $200 billion (20%) while the remaining 15 % is to be kept unallocated and used to top up each of the ring-fenced funds as opportunities arise.

S/Africa Liberty Holding earns 6% rise on earnings

- Pg 20

Rising costs: Nigeria troubles blot shell profits - Pg 22

Exchange Rates CBN

as at 1st August, 2013 Selling Buying

$

154.76

155.76

€

235.63

237.16

£

204.73

206.05

41.26

41.53

Riyal

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

To attract the best talent, offer meaningful work

T

alented people used to want high salaries and stable career paths, but now they want work with purpose. Here’s how your company can offer candidates meaningful and attractive roles: Get serious about impact.

Determine the positive impact your organization seeks to make in the world. You don’t have to be a social enterprise to do good.

Tell that story well. Call it marketing or storytelling, but make sure you’re communicating how much you care about your

mission and how you’re working toward it.

Design roles for their future, not just yours. Many people see a job as one of many stepping-stones they’ll visit over the course of a career. Focus on making your stone as attractive and inviting as possible. Decent pay, rewarding perks, and large doses of autonomy demonstrate that you take professional development seriously.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 20

Economy Company News

FAAN reopens Benin airport, regrets closure

T

he Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria has expressed regrets over the activities that led to the closure of the Benin Airport by the Edo State Government on Tuesday.

A statement from the Edo State House quoted the Managing Director, FAAN, Mr. George Uriesi, as saying this when he visited Governor Adams Oshiomhole in Benin City…

T

he Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr Bukar Tijjani said Nigeria was losing N1.6 trillion due to its failure to exploit export opportunities from four agricultural commodities.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the commodities are palm oil, cocoa, groundnut and cotton.

Tijani spoke at the training of

Nigeria loses N1.6trn annual export opportunities from 4 commodities – Minister National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) members on Seed Certification and Quality Control Activities at the Division of Agricultural Colleges (DAC), Zaria, Kaduna State.

Tijjani was represented by

the Director-General, National Agricultural Seed Council (NASC) and programme Coordinating Director, Rev. Olusegun Olatokun.

He said that the commodities would have contributed immensely

to economic growth.

He observed that Nigeria had the opportunity to be the largest exporter of such commodities in Africa but did not take advantage of it.

Preferred bidders emerge for Afam, Kaduna power firms

T

wo consortia on Wednesday emerged preferred bidders for two electricity companies, Afam Power Plc and Kaduna Electricity Distribution Company, offered for sale by the Federal Government.

With a bid of $260.05m, Taleveras beat TES Power to emerge the preferred bidder for Afam Power Plc, the last of the generating companies carved out of the Power…

PHCN workers, retirees, pensioners to get N400bn – FG

T

he Federal Government on Wednesday said N16bn had been approved for the payment of the entitlements of retirees and pensioners of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria in preparation for the conclusion of the privatisation of the power sector. This is in addition to the N384bn earlier approved as severance package for employees of the…

L-R: President, Oodu’a Chamber of Commerce, Industry Mines and Agriculture (Odu’aCCIMA), Chief Alaba Lawson, Representative of National President, NACCIMA, Asiwaju Kayode Onafowokan, and 2nd National President of NACCIMA, Chief Olatunji Osibamowo, During the Annual General Meeting of the chamber, on Wednesday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

Destination Inspection: Nigeria Customs set to test-run PAAR

By Dapo Olawuni

T

he Nigeria Custom Service (NCS) said it is set to test run its newly developed trade document; Pre-Arrival Assessment Report (PAAR) in readiness for its final taking over of Destination Inspection (DI) scheme from the current service providers by December 2013.

PAAR is a trade document developed by the Nigeria customs aimed at building a new customs service and ensuring a paper-less way of transacting business at the port.

The Service has disclosed that the Ministry of Finance has approved the pilot scheme of the PAAR which is aimed to replace the Risk Assessment Record (RAR) which is currently being operated by the three service providers.

...Warns of imminent hiccups in cargo clearance process It would be recalled that the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala recently extended the contract of the service providers namely; Cotecna Destination Inspection Limited, SGS Limited, and Globalscan Systems by six months.

But at a one day Colloquium put together by the Maritime Correspondents Organization of Nigeria (MARCON) in Lagos , Public Relations Officer of Custom, Deputy Comptroller Wale Adeniyi, in his remark told stakeholders to expect minor challenges during the process of cargo clearance.

The image maker of the service who represented the Comptroller General of Customs ,Alhaji Dikko Inde Abdullahi at the event noted that after the approval

from the ministry, the service is in the process of selecting a yet to be disclosed port to test run the initiative which is aimed at facilitating trade and enhance cargo security.

“We just got approval from the Minister to do the test run, and we are in the process of selecting a particular port where we are going to test run.”

“During the test running we are going to run it at parallel to what the service providers are doing now, it is going to be a parallel service,” “It is going to be a parallel service so that we will invigorate the ethics associated with the switching off of (RAR) and the switching on of (PAAR)” He said the purpose of the

test-run is to achieve a seamless transmission which is a period of six months.

The CG representative added that as the service is set to take over destination inspection from the service providers after seven years, stakeholders should expect to experience hiccups and minor challenges during the process.

“I remember in 2005 and 2006 even when RAR started with the service providers and as established as we are, we have some of these human factor but prior to that we started crawling and then we started walking” “So with PAAR will have some initial reports but with your support and your active collaboration we are very sure we will overcome” Adeniyi said

Liberty Holding earns 6% rise on earnings Shell lists four S/Africa New insurance business payout by 10 percent to 212 cents. outh Africa’s long-term normalised headline earnings insurer Liberty Holdings per share of 602.7 cents from a increased 11.8 percent to 3.1 bln “Our core insurance and Nigerian oil rand while total assets under asset management businesses posted a 6 percent rise in restated 568.8 cents a year ago.

BEE normalised headline management grew by nearly 17 are performing better than earnings on Thursday blocks for sale half-year after strong growth in new earnings, which exclude certain percent to 566 billion rand. assumptions,” it said.

S

R

oyal Dutch Shell has listed four more Nigerian oil blocks for sale anytime from now, Reuters reported on Wednesday, quoting sources familiar with the deal. According to the report, the oil major has concluded plans to offload two onshore oil bocks and two offshore blocks. Specifically, Oil Mining Licences 13 and 16 onshore as well…

insurance business.

The firm, majority-owned by Africa’s biggest bank Standard Group, reported a BEE

one-time items and take into account the impact of its black shareholder scheme, is Liberty’s main performance measure.

Liberty, which has operations in 15 African countries and has asset management and property businesses, raised it dividend

…as MTN Group records 20% rise in profit

M

TN Group, Africa’s largest mobile operator, said on Thursday first-half profits likely rose by as much 25 percent, helped by positive currency swings from its vast operations outside South Africa.

MTN, which draws nearly

70 percent of its revenue from countries outside South Africa including Nigeria and Iran, said it expects headline earnings per share for the six months to end-June to rise by 20 to 25 percent.

Headline EPS, the main measure of profit in South Africa, excludes

certain one-time items.

The company said it was helped by foreign exchange gains of 1 billion rand ($100 million) compared with losses of 1.5 billion a year earlier.

MTN is due to release its results on August 14. ($1 = 9.9093 South African rand) (Reuters)

“We anticipate that they will continue to do so and attract higher levels of new business at improved margin despite the current pressure on consumer disposable income in South Africa.”

Standard Bank holds a 53.6 percent stake in Liberty and reports its own first-half performance later this month.

Liberty’s shares have risen over 10 percent so far this year.

Johannesburg’s All-Share index is up 5 percent in comparison

Tax Alert

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 21

Pay as you consume W

hen the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team under the technical assistance program visited Nigeria in January, 2010, one of its recommendations was that the Nigerian Tax Laws be re-drafted in plain English language. Since then, various efforts including working group sessions have been held to achieve this novel feat. The most recent was the working group session on the draft Value Added Tax (VAT) law held from Wednesday, 3rdAugust to Monday 8th August, 2011.

At the end of the working group session, the Federal Ministry of Finance collaborated with the IMF and the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) to organise a two-day stakeholders’ workshop where the draft VAT law was exposed. The Workshop which was held in Abuja in August, 2011 took a critical review of the draft VAT law as it affects telecommunication, e-commerce, financial services, oil and gas industry and government services.

The immediate past Executive Chairman of FIRS, Ifueko Omoigui Okauru stated during the workshop that the role of taxation in national development can best be played if the laws and policies on which the administration of taxes rests are sufficiently robust, simple and clear. This, she said, informed the decision to organise the stakeholders’ conference where inputs/ideas would be obtained from participants so as to develop a well articulated and comprehensive VAT regime that will be widely accepted and durable.

The concept of VAT in Nigeria can be traced to the Dr. Sylvester Ugoh led study group on indirect taxation in November, 1991.

Thereafter, a committee was set up under the chairmanship of Mr. Emmanual Ijewere to conduct extensive research and make recommendations. VAT was finally introduced in Nigeria in 1993 by the VAT Act No 102 of 1993 as a replacement of the Sales Tax which had been in operation under Federal Capital Territory.

VAT is a consumption tax payable on the goods and services consumed by any person, government agencies business organisations or individuals.

VAT can also be defined as a tax on spending/consumption levied at every stage of a transaction but eventually borne by the final consumer of such goods and services. It is levied at the rate of 5%. The consumption taxVAT- has been embraced by many countries world-wide. It is pertinent and difficult to evade.

The yield from VAT is fairly accurate measurement of the growth of an economy, since purchasing power (which determines yield) increases with economic growth. VAT is a selfassessment tax that is paid when returns are being rendered. Inbuilt in VAT is the refund or credit mechanism which eliminates the cascading effect that is a feature of the retail sales tax. The input-

FIRS boss, Alhaji Kabiru Mashi output tax mechanism in VAT also makes it self-policing.

In essence, it is the output tax less input tax that constitutes that VAT payable. It is the equivalent of the VAT paid by the final consumer of the product that will be collected by the government.

Although VAT is a multiple stage tax, it has a single effect and does not add more than the specified rate to the consumer price no matter the number of stages at which the tax is paid.

Illustration: If a product moves from raw materials producer (A) to manufacturer (B) at N1, 000.00 then to wholesale (C) at N1,500.00, then to retailer (D) at N2,000.00; and finally to the consumer who pays N2,500 to the retailer, VAT payable to government at 5% rate of VAT on the product is as follows: Thus, the VAT paid to government in the four transactions if N125 which is 5% of the final consumer price of 2, 500 (see figure 1).

Interestingly, Nigeria operates a VAT rate that is out of sync with the ECOWAS protocol. ECOWAS adopted a uniform VAT protocol due to the constant movement of people and goods across the region and the need to subject them to similar circumstances. Nigeria which then held the chairmanship of ECOWAS was a signatory to the protocol but currently operates a VAT law contrary to the ECOWAS protocol. Most critically is the fact that Nigeria operates the lowest VAT rate across the WestAfrican sub-region – 5% VAT rate (although with Nigeria’s influence, the advisory rate has been reduced to 10%).

An attempt was made under a ministerial order as provided for by the VAT Act ( that the minister may adjust the VAT rate) in 2007n

to increase the rate but it generated a lot of controversy and Nigerians opposed the government’s proposal, citing the prudence of unaccountability, extra burden and non-maximisation of full potentials of collecting the present VAT. The argument, however, is that, there is a clear distinction between direct tax (income tax) and indirect tax (VAT). Unlike direct tax, VAT which is an indirect tax is a consumption tax. It is tied to the cost of goods consumed from which consumers derive satisfaction. In terms of collection therefore, VAT is rather easier to collect than other taxes.

It is also of interest to know that since its introduction in 1993, the income tax burden has been reduced twice (Company income Tax from 35% to 30% and personal Income Tax from 30% to graduated rates – maximum 24%) but the VAT rate has remained static. Another issue is that of the various exemptions granted on VAT. An exemption that is distortive creates a lot of complexity, lack of transparency and arbitrariness in term of application and enforcement.

Hence, the government is shortchanged at two levels: high level of exemptions and low VAT rate.

Beyond exemption is the issue of gross product VAT model which Nigeria adopts. The gross product model is one that tries to maximise tax by disallowing cost. It however allows for restrictions on the recovery of VAT paid on capital terms 9 since the cost of capital is amortised and spread across the item).

In terms of quantifying, if restrictions are removed, there will be a fall in the cost of collection but if the exemptions are rationalised, the net collection would be better. To have a proper rate, however, restrictions would have to be removed and exemptions

minimised.

Although there have been controversies over some states Boards of Internal Revenue enacting their own tax laws, it is noteworthy to state that the FIRS is primus inter pares – first among equals – of all the 37 tax authorities in Nigeria and the VAT law is a federal law . The case of the consumption and hotel tax being charged by the Lagos State Board of Internal Revenue (LASBIR) for example, (although still at the Supreme Court) has been ruled as null and void by the Federal High Court.

The argument of LASBIR was that the law provides that intra-state VAT should be at the purview of the state while that of inter-state should be controlled by the federal government.

However, the problem with this is the controversy that would be generated from across boundary movement, as being witnessed in the constant multiple taxation cases.

Given the constant movement of goods and services therefore, if every state operates its own tax law, there is going to be a huge problem not just for the federal government but for everybody (taxpayers) as well.

Another controversy is that of recovery or offset. If for example, a man buys a product worth N100 in Kaduna and pays a VAT of N5, transports it to Abuja, sells it for N20 and is required to pay another VAT of N6, the man ends up paying a VAT of N11 (about 9.1%) as against N6 which is the statutory 5% he should pay. the reverse would have been the case if he was to pay N5 to FIRS in Kaduna and after sales in Abuja, deduct his N5 and remit the N1 to FIRS in Abuja.

At the moment, there are seventeen categories of goods and twenty four categories of services that are VATable. The goods and services exempted are as follows: (1) Goods Exempted (a) Medical and permaceutical products; (b) Basic food items; (c) Books and educational materials; (d) Newspapers and magazines (e) Baby products; (f) Commercial vehicles and their parts, and (g) Agricultural equipments and products and veternity medicine; (2) Services Exempted (a) Medical services; (b) Services rendered by Community Banks and Mortgage Institutions; and (c) Plays and performances conducted by educational institutions as part of learning.

Returns A manufacturer or supplier of taxable goods or services is to render a return to the Integrated Tax Office (ITO) on or before the 21st day of the month next following that in which the supply was made.

Thus, every VATable person must keep records of all supplies made and received. He must also make a return on form VAT 002. He has to fill in details of supplies made and received during the period and pay

…the value Added Tax the net VAT due to the ITO or claim a refund if tax is owed to him. Every importer of goods into Nigeria is to render VAT returns on all imports into Nigeria to the ITO. The VAT returns must reach the ITO on the due date.

Importers are to pay VAT on imports to the ITO while compliance is to be enforced by the Nigeria Custums Service before releasing the imported goods after a certificate of compliance issued by the VAT office is presented.

Offences and penalties of registered person There are various offences with very stiff penalties under the VAT system: •Given false information on matter considered material •Failing to notify change of address •Failing to issue receipt •Failure to keep proper records There are swift and automatic penalties differentiated by the type of transgression. Some of the penalties are as follows: •Furnishing of false documents or statements. Penalty-liable on conviction is a fine of twice the amount under declared.

•Evasion of tax. Penalty liable on conviction is a fine of N30, 000 or two times the amount of tax being evaded; whichever is greater, or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 3 years •Failure to notify change of address within 1 month of such change. Penalty –payment of N5, 000 •Failure to issue tax invoice for goods sold or services rendered.

Penalty –liable on conviction is a fine of 50% on the invoice that was not issued.

•Rising, considering, obstructing or attempting to hide or to obstruct an unauthorized officer from performing his duty on inspection.

Penalty-liable on conviction is a fine of 10,000.00 or imprisonment for a term of 6 months or both fine and imprisonment.

•Failure to submit returns by a taxable person. Penaltypayment of a fine of 5,000.00 for every month in which the failure continues.

•Failure to keep proper records and accounts for his business transaction to allow for the correct ascertainment of tax. Penalty of N2,000.00 for every month in which the failure continues The law is even stricter in dealing with officers of the service.

Any officer of the service who aids or abets the commission of any of the offences under the VAT law will be liable to a fine of N50, 000.00 and/or imprisonment for five years.

Even though the concept of VAT is largely misunderstood and often times an attempt to increase the rate trends to meet with stiff resistance, given the fact that it is one tax that affects every tax payer (since every one must consume), it is safe to state that the concept is very simple and will no doubt provide more revenue for the government if properly operated.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Thursday, August 1, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

When will Nigerian Police’s Bring am, we get change stop?

By Tobias LegnanDapam

T

hat the above statement is an interpretation of the deeds of the Nigerian Police on the highways is no longer news; that it is a brisk business for the men is to put it mildly; that it has become a virus, spreading fast among other forces amounts to stating the obvious.

It has become common place that those people saddled with the responsibility of hijacking criminality have found themselves enmeshed in the act of extortion which has assume frightening dimension with the authorities forcing hapless motorists to give them money and even provide them with change.

Recently, there have been serious allegations on cases of extortion and harassment of businessmen in the South-East, and some troubled states in the North where security men were deployed to restore peace.

Meanwhile, many Nigerians had heaved a sigh of relief when the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, in February this year, banned police checkpoints across the country.

Policemen generally complied.

But, with the reported resurgence in the country, it has become imperative for the authorities of various security agencies in the country to map out strategies that will put a final stop to criminality in the country.

Affirming on the removal of roadblocks from highways across the country, Abubakar said it has drastically reduced accidental discharges and eliminated the N20 syndrome, as well as harassment of road users.

Abubakar said: “The withdrawal of police roadblocks has reduced 80 percent of the corruption in the Nigeria Police.

These roadblocks were centres of corruption, which dented the image of the Force. With the removal of the roadblocks, the accidental discharge, harassment and human rights abuse have reduced as well.

“Measures put in place for the past one year have led to drastic reduction in complaints against members of the Force, especially extra-judicial killings and N20 syndrome.

“In improving police image and enforcement of fundamental human rights, there has been increased media presence through proactive response to

media and public enquiry, greater synergy between police and other security agencies.

When contacted to respond to the allegations, the spokesman of the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), CSP Frank Mba, he neither responded to phone calls nor text messages sent to his mobile phone. When our correspondent persisted in his attempt to get a tangible response from him, he was eventually snubbed by the Force spokesman.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) in Anambra, Enugu and Ebonyi states have alleged that businessmen in the South-East are losing faith in the Federal Government and the security agencies.

The Chairman of the association in the three states, Chike Obidigbo, reportedly said, “With the Federal Government’s failure to tackle the security situation in the South-East and the manner the Police, Customs and National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control officials keep harassing our business people, preventing them from bringing in their goods, business is gradually being grounded in the South-East.”

Also in the North, Police at most of the road blocks do not perform their duties of checking, but only asked the driver to give them money. it is imperative to know that motorist who park their cars are those who do not want to give the usual N20, which has currently increased to N50 and above with the introduction of minimum wage.

Sadly for the security of the country, cars with tinted glasses are allowed to pass unchecked. and the Police in those places either make attempt to beg or

salute the car without knowing who is inside.

Prior to the ban on roadblocks, the rate of extortion was unbearable. Then, between Sagamu, in Ogun state, and Onitsha, Anambra state, one could count hundreds of checkpoints on the road. And the main target then was not to arrest the bandits that frequently waylaid people on the road, but to collect bribes from motorists and businessmen.

Presently, the situation in Kaduna, Plateau and Nasarawa

“

Judging by these, the security agents have compromised and sold their integrity for the polymer note. It shows that they can do anything to get money

states in the North-Central is alarming. The Police and the soldiers who manned the road blocks are only interested in what the driver will give them.

Instead of the normal stop and search, they stretch their hand in the vehicle for money; and in situations where the driver does not have change, their next comment will be, “bring am, we get change”.

It is in view of this that the Human Rights Watch, a global non-governmental organisation, in 2010, described the Police as the most corrupt institution in Nigeria. The report further alleged that the Police made N20.35bn from extortion in the country between January 2009 and June 2010. Out of this figure, N9.35bn was said to have been realised from the South-East; South-South yielded N4bn; South-West, N4bn; NorthCentral, N2bn; North-West and 303North-East, N500m each.

This amount of money, according to the report, was a fraction of what the security agents made from illegal collections in the country. No large Police Force will ever get rid of every bad apple from its

ranks. But the IG must make a scapegoat of some extortionist cops giving the Police an awful image and putting the nation’s security system in jeopardy. It is time to ensure that such incidents are not only investigated but the culprits are punished.

This same scenario plays out at the international airports as security agents exploit businessmen and travellers who are ignorant of their rights.

Besides, a 2011 investment assessment of Nigeria by the World Bank indicates that 80 percent of businesses in Nigeria pay bribes to government officials.

According to the report, the micro enterprises pay approximately 4.3 per cent of a contract value to secure government contracts.

To recoup this money spent on bribery, entrepreneurs inflate the prices of their goods or services.

Incidentally, some of these businessmen are those that had run away from the North as a result of the activities of the Boko Haram insurgents. They could get frustrated and engage in criminal activities if they would not be allowed to do their genuine business without harassment.

Already, extortion by security

agents has worsened the security situation in the country. Security agents who collect bribes do not usually bother to properly check goods that pass through the ports and borders. This may have accounted for the proliferation of illegal arms and ammunition in the country. The sophisticated ammunition armed robbers and terrorists use these days did not come into the country from the space; they passed through ports and borders.

Judging by these, the security agents have compromised and sold their integrity for the polymer note. It shows that they can do anything to get money. No wonder reports in some quarters alleging that the security agents were paid to to take sides in crisis situation is a pointer to how the quest for money has eroded the security system.

Based on this, pundits are worried that if the Federal Government does not take stringent measures to deal with those found culpable, then it will have to license the Nigerian people to defend themselves whenever the scrupulous security agents tend to demonstrate their highest sense of irresponsibility.

Inspector-General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Abubakar

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Feature

The looting of Nigeria’s pension funds

I

n our series of letters from African journalists, Sola Odunfa in Lagos writes that many elderly Nigerians are battling to survive after their pensions were stolen by corrupt officials.

The compulsory retirement age for public officials in Nigeria is 65 years, after which one is expected to settle down to an easy life of contentment and leisure.

But don’t you believe it.

The reality is that you may spend your old age running after government contracts if you have the wherewithal, or tending chickens in your backyard to eke out a living.

It is not that the pension cannot sustain you. Far from it.

The state pension is big enough to encourage you to seek rejuvenation, even by taking a new wife and starting life all over.

After all, you could be as young as 60, the age for voluntary retirement.

Nigeria has two classes of government pensioners. One consists of those who took insurance for their old age by either stealing as much as they could while in the public service, or collecting as many bribes as they were privileged to do by their offices. Members of this class have no need of their pensions.

The second class is made up of the honest, self-righteous ex-public official who would not touch one kobo of government money beyond

their salaries and allowances and to whom bribe-taking was contrary to their religious beliefs and family values.

Investigations suspended This second class had calculated their pensions and concluded that they and their spouse would live in comfort until death.

But they stepped out of the public service into the embrace of discomfort and hunger brought on them by former colleagues who had stripped the treasury bare.

In the past three years, several official investigations into Nigeria’s pension funds have revealed theft on an unimaginable scale.

Newspapers reports of the hearings convey the impression that the funds were stored in open rooms to which officials had unimpeded access. Apparently, officials were

“

free to walk in and loot as much as they could.

A junior clerk allegedly had 12 million naira (about $75,000; £49,000) in his bank account.

A deputy director in a ministry allegedly had 500 million naira ($3m) in one account and $2m, in hard currency, in another account.

Nigeria’s police officers, themselves not immune to the temptations of corruption, are not guaranteed a comfortable old age either. The investigations have revealed that the Police Pension Fund has also been ravaged.

The list is endless. Yet, the investigations have been suspended without covering all ministries and parastatals.

One of the cases that was pursued caused yet more controversy in January when a high court judge

They stepped out of the public service into the embrace of discomfort and hunger brought on them by former colleagues who had stripped the treasury bare

Pensioners carrying placards, during a peaceful protest.

Police officers cannot be sure of a comfortable retirement imposed a fine of $4,600 on an official who had pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal $142m from the police pension pot - instead of opting for the harshest sentence available, a two-year jail term with a fine.

The judge was subsequently suspended for a year without pay by the National Judicial Council for failing to exercise “discretion judicially and judiciously” in the case.

Government pensioners,

wherever I meet them, now cut a sorry image. They spent their working years serving the public, despite poor pay, in the belief that their old age would be wellcushioned by a generous pension for life.

Now they live by the day in the forlorn hope that a cheque may come in unexpectedly. Many of them regret their honesty in service.

Source: BBCNews.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2 , 2013

PAGE 27

International

From Egypt to Morocco: Islamist witch-hunts move westward ANALYSIS

By Daanish Faruqi

T

he title of ‘umm ad-dunya’ (the Mother of the World) has historically referred to modern-day Iraq, to whom famed Moroccan poet Abdellatif Laabi’s elegant verses above are originally dedicated, it is Egypt that truly continues to play a role second to none in shaping the hearts and minds of the rest of the Arab world.

Even before the dust has fully settled on the latest throes of the Egyptian uprising, it is clear that the ouster of President Mohammad Mursi will have deep ramifications for the entire Arab and Muslim world.

Revolutionary zeal has rapidly traversed the upward channels of the Nile, and has found fertile ground here in Morocco, quickly igniting some heated skirmishes between Moroccan Islamist activists and secular liberals.

And in Rabat, just as in Cairo, the aftershocks may not bode well for the ostensible mandates of freedom and democracy that inspired these uprisings in the first place.

At first glance, interestingly enough, the official Moroccan response to the latest throes of the Egyptian revolution - both within palace and parliament - was relatively tame.

With few reservations, King Mohammad VI swiftly granted his imprimatur to interim Egyptian President Adly Mansour. As for the parliament, official responses were more ambiguous, but ultimately remained understated.

The Islamist-oriented Party of Justice and Development (PJD) - currently the ruling party in the Moroccan parliament, did not adopt an official stance on the latest Egyptian uprising: a declaration made by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, headed by PJD leader Saad-Eddine El Othmani, gives no categorical position either in support or opposition to the coup, but more generically stresses the need to preserve Egypt’s “national unity,” and for Egyptians to finally realise their aspirations for freedom and democracy.

Similarly, the opposition Party of Authenticity and Modernity (PAM) was somewhat opaque in its response, expressingin an official statementits “deep regret” for the jolt to the democratic experience endured by its sister nation Egypt.

But in their ambiguity, both parties allowed themselves the breathing room to cause some serious contention on the parliamentary floor. In the case of the PJD, El Othmani’s relative silence on the matter allowed the party to remain prudently aligned with the monarchy - and by extension its regional allies Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, who applauded Mursi’s removal - while simultaneously giving senior elements in his party the opportunity to stir up their discontents.

Indeed, the ideological and apostolic arm of the PJD, theHarakat al Islah wa’l Tawhid (Reform and Unity Movement), discarded all pretences for

Morocco Foreign minister Saad-Eddine El Othmani’s muted response to the situation in Egypt has put Morocco’s Islamists in a difficult position.ters such caution vis-à-vis the monarchy: in a video statement, the Movement’s former president, Dr. Ahmad alRaysuni, condemned Mursi’s ouster as a ‘scandal’ perpetrated by demagogues claiming to be democrats.

Similarly, high ranking leaders of the PJD proper, like Mohammad Radi Ben Khaldoun, President of the PJD’s international relations wing, used the official silence of their party to express their outrage over what they deemed a military coup in Egypt.

Following suit, the PJD’s youth organisation staged a vigil of protest in Rabatdecrying Mursi’s overthrow. At every strata of the party, moreover, its condemnations were couched in the same terms: what transpired in Egypt was not simply a military coup, but a coup againstdemocracy, and against legitimacy (shar’iyya, in Arabic).

It is precisely that clarion call for ‘legitimacy,’ moreover, that allowed the oppositional PAM to stage a harsh attack against its PJD interlocutors.

Though its official statement does express its regret at the growing pains currently facing the Egyptian democratic process, that same missive offers a glaring series of caveats.

First, it reiterates that true democracy cannot be inconsistent

with the demands of political pluralism.

Pursuant to that, it declares that the ‘intervention’ carried out by the Egyptian military was a measure designed to protect democracy and its relevant institutional framework in Egypt.

And while such an intervention may seem unlawful at face value, the necessity of this measure underscores the need for any political system to have some safety valve in place to safeguard against political exclusion or authoritarianism.

Absent of such a safety valve, so the argument goes, the only available means of preserving democracy - and ultimately legitimacy - in Egypt was through military intervention.

This doublespeak in the PAM’s official platform gave its leadership the breathing room to respond harshly to PJD criticism of the coup.

In particular, it allowed a handful of PAM parliamentarians the opportunity to manipulate the events in Egypt as evidence of the Islamist-oriented PJD’s ideological affiliations with the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood more broadly.

Castigating the PJD youth organization for being far too sensitive to an overseas concern,

“

junior PAM parliamentarian Mehdi Bensaid expresses his surprise that PJD youth wouldn’t instead concern themselves with issues that actually affect them as Moroccans - like economic and social justice concerns, the proper implementation of the new constitution, and the like.

Every party or intellectual in Moroccan society, he continues, is free to voice an opinion on the events unfolding in Egypt - but the PJD leadership stands alone as taking such positions as personal attacks on the party.

Why is the PJD hiding behind words here? Why do Abdelillah Benkirane, Morocco’s PJD-affiliated Prime Minister, and his ‘brothers’ (Ikhwan in Arabic) incessantly prattle that they have no relationship with the Muslim Brotherhood (known more generally, fortuitously enough, as the Ikhwan), when they are in fact a national branch of the same international organisation?

He concludes this elocution by reiterating PAM’s opposition to the marriage of religion and politics on the one hand, and to military rule on the other.

Strong words for sure, but the point is clear: to take full advantage

Whereas the latter has for the better part of its history been harshly repressed by the Egyptian state - which played no small role in its turn to violent extremism - the Moroccan PJD has never faced state repression.

of the opportunity presented by the ouster of an Islamist president in Egypt, key elements within the PAM are attempting to establish a concordance between Morocco’s ruling Islamist party and the most retrograde aspects of global Islamism.

In subsequent skirmishes in parliament, PAM leaders double down: if the PJD were so ardently opposed to this purported military coup in Egypt, undergirded by their belief in democracy and legitimacy, then why their outright silence (sukoot) at countless other military coups throughout Africa and Latin America in recent memory? Was the lack of a Muslim Brotherhood presence in those countries reason enough for them to lose interest in such lofty principles?

As a caveat, this larding of the PJD with the Egyptian Ikhwan may be a creative strategy to make parliamentary gains. With the resignation of the Istiqlal Party from the PJD-led parliament, many in the PAM are calling for early elections.

Perhaps, then, this furore over the PJD’s purported marriage to the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood is a simple pretext to expedite - and win - an unexpected call for elections.

In so doing, PAM could make a strong political comeback well before the anticipated 2016 renewal of parliament.

But more likely is that this is a clever and calculated attempt by secular forces in Morocco - which include members of the Socialist Party, the Istiqlal Party, as well as PAM - as in Egypt, to manoeuvre the tide of revolution to outright repress Islamist activity.

By repeatedly emphasizing a connection the PJD and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood, Moroccan secularists are setting the stage for the marginalization of Islamists from Moroccan political life tout court.

The problem is that Islamism as a global movement cannot be neatly wrapped up into this or that package.

Whatever similarities exist between the Moroccan PJD and the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood are ultimately superficial.

Whereas the latter has for the better part of its history been harshly repressed by the Egyptian state - which played no small role in its turn to violent extremism - the Moroccan PJD has never faced state repression.

Indeed, the PJD is, for whatever its flaws, a wholly institutionalised Islamist party, fiercely loyal to the Monarchy.

While it is indeed a party inspired

by Islamic activism, its allegiance to the King as the “Commander of the Faithful” has largely forced it to curtail attempts to overtly Islamise Moroccan society.

Forcing its marginalisation, as the Egyptian historical experience with the Ikhwan clearly demonstrates, can very quickly compromise that inclusivity.

Plus, it is not altogether clear that PAM leaders decrying this supposed connection between the PJD and the Egyptian Ikhwan are being altogether honest or sincere in their condemnations.

Source Al- Jazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 28

International

Mursi supporters defy cabinet threat to end protests

Mursi supporters continue to defy Government calls to end protests

T

housands of supporters of ousted Egyptian President Mohammed Mursi have defied a new warning from the military-backed cabinet and are continuing their sit-ins in the capital, Cairo.

The country’s interim leaders have ordered police to end ongoing protests at two sites in the city.

But Mr Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood said they had no option but to continue the monthlong sit-ins.

The United States has again urged Egypt to respect freedom of assembly.

Pro- Mursi demonstrators want to see the Islamist leader reinstated. He was removed by

the army on 3 July, after just one year in office.

They have defied previous threats of removal, despite clashes with security forces that have left dozens dead.

The Egyptian interior ministry says gradual steps will be taken to disperse the crowds.

“The continuation of the

dangerous situation in Rabaa al-Adawiya and Nahda squares, and consequent terrorism and road blockages, are no longer acceptable given the threat to national security,” it said in a statement.

Police had been tasked to end the demonstrations “within the law and the constitution”, it added.

On Thursday, it issued a statement urging protesters to “let reason and the national interest prevail, and to quickly leave”.

It said it would guarantee the safety of departing protesters and they would not be pursued by security forces.

But earlier Essam el-Erian, vice president of the Freedom and Justice Party, the Brotherhood’s political party, said the protesters would not be deterred.

“There are expectations of a massacre taking place in front of the eyes of the whole world,” he said.

“The free people in Egypt and the world must stand against this stupid cabinet mandate for the police to end the sit-in protests.”

The main protest sit-in is at a square near the Rabaa al-Adawiya mosque in the capital’s northeast, where clashes erupted on Saturday in which some 70 people were killed, and in Nahda Square near the main campus of Cairo University.

South Sudan’s Kiir forms new cabinet

S

outh Sudan’s President Salva Kiir has appointed a new smaller cabinet after sacking his entire previous team last week, a state decree says.

However, he is yet to fill the key post of vice-president after ousting Riek Machar from the post.

The dismissal of the cabinet followed an apparent power struggle between Mr Kiir and Mr Machar.

Oil-rich South Sudan became independent in 2011, making it the world’s youngest country.

Numerous armed groups remain active in the country.

The US expressed concern that the cabinet’s dismissal could threaten South Sudan’s stability.

Mr Kiir’s office said he had acted to promote efficiency and good governance.

The BBC’s Nyambura Wambugu reports from the capital, Juba, that Mr Kiir may want to gauge public reaction to his appointments before choosing a new vice-president.

Mr Kiir appointed the governor of the violence-hit Jonglei state, Kuol Manyang, to the key post of defence minister.

He was a feared guerrilla commander during the decadeslong rebellion against Khartoum’s rule.

More than 100,000 people have fled their homes in Jonglei in recent months, fleeing bitter rounds of ethnic violence and battles between the army and rebels.

Many people she spoke to see the new cabinet as a reflection of loyalty to the president, our

reporter says.

Those seen to be critical of Mr Kiir have not been reappointed, including Pagan Amum, former head of the governing Sudan Peoples’ Liberation Movement (SPLM), she adds.

Some see this as a blessing for South Sudan because it might push the ejected ministers and their deputies to form a formidable political block that can stand up to the SPLM, our reporter adds.

After his dismissal, Mr Machar said he planned to challenge Mr Kiir for the leadership of the SPLM so that he can run for president in the 2015 election.

Mr Kiir slashed a third of the posts in the cabinet, appointing 10 ministers, AFP news agency

reports.

He retained Stephen Dhieu Dau as oil minister, but rung the changes in most other portfolios, it adds.

Kiir

Tunisia’s ruling party refuses removal of PM

T

Larayedh

he head of Tunisia’s Islamist ruling party refused on Thursday to remove the Prime minister from his post, a hardening of its position toward opposition demands that the government be dissolved.

Earlier this week, leaders from the ruling Ennahda party said they were willing to consider creating a new unity government to help ease the political crisis.

“We are open to new agreements ... but we are holding firm to Mr. Ali Larayedh as the head of the government,” party chief Rachid Ghannouchi told the local Mosaique radio station.

This comes as Tunisian Education Minister Salem Labyedh resigned on Wednesday, as pressure mounted on the Islamist-led government to step down.

Protests against the moderate Islamist Ennahda party intensified after last week’s killing of a leftist politician, the second to be slain in six months, disrupting a political transition that began when Tunisians toppled an autocratic leader in 2011.

Opposition parties, the largest labor union and the secular Ettakatol party, the ruling Ennahda party’s junior coalition partner, have all demanded the government’s departure.

DRC rebels dismiss UN deadline to disarm

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ebels in the east of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) face a deadline to lay down their arms, but they have dismissed the ultimatum as irrelevant.

The deadline, set by UN peacekeepers, was 4pm (1400 GMT) on Thursday.

“We consider that this measure does not concern us,” Bertrand Bisimwa, the M23 chief, said.

He said his fighters were not in Goma or on the road heading south towards Sake where much fighting has taken place recently.

Goma is the capital of North Kivu province, which borders two of Congo’s eastern neighbours, Rwanda and Uganda.

The UN on Tuesday threatened to use force against M23 rebels near Goma if they did not disarm within 48 hours.

The UN peacekeeping mission, MONUSCO, said it was setting up a security zone around Goma to protect civilians. The security zone operation would not amount to an offensive targeting a specific armed group.

A UN source told Reuters news agency the operation would try to clear up small pockets of M23 rebels who remained near Goma after they were pushed several miles further north during recent clashes.

M23 rebels captured Goma on November 20 last year, holding it for 10 days.

They left only when leaders from the Great Lakes nations of Central Africa promised fresh negotiations, opening the talks in Kampala.

The M23 rebels are demanding an amnesty and reintegration into the national army, as well as political concessions.

Rwanda denies backing M23.

It has also alleged that commanders of the newly deployed special force with a mandate to neutralise armed groups such as M23 have met with Rwandan Hutu rebels camped in eastern Congo’s borderlands.

PEOPLES DAILY , FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 29

International

Assad sure he will defeat Syrian rebels

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yrian President Bashar al-Assad said on Thursday he was confident of victory against rebels in a 28-month-old civil war that has killed more than 100,000 people and sent nearly two million fleeing abroad.

Insurgents have seized large swathes of territory, but Assad’s forces have staged a counteroffensive in recent weeks, pushing them back from around the capital Damascus and retaking several towns near the border with Lebanon.

“If we were not sure that we were going to win in Syria, we would not have the ability to resist and the ability to continue fighting for more than two years against the enemy,” state news agency SANA quoted Assad as saying.

Assad has framed the revolt against four decades of his family’s rule as a foreign-backed conspiracy fought by Islamist “terrorists”.

When pro-democracy protests started in March 2011, a military crackdown eventually led to an armed insurrection.

In a statement published in the official army magazine to mark the 68th anniversary of the Syrian army’s creation, Assad said

al- Assad shaking hands with a Syrian army soldier. soldiers had shown “courage in the face of terrorism... and the fiercest barbaric war in modern history”.

State television said Assad visited the town of Daraya, southwest of Damascus, on Thursday to meet members of the security forces.

A picture posted on the presidency’s Facebook page showed Assad, in a suit, shaking

hand with a soldier in army fatigues and a helmet. Behind them was a scene of war; wires hanging from electricity pylons near an apartment block damaged by an explosion. No civilians could be seen.

The army targeted Daraya with artillery after rebels moved into the area last year. The army has since been able to retake parts

of the town but at the expense of widespread material damage and many civilian casualties, according to residents.

U.N. investigators say Assad’s forces have carried out war crimes including unlawful killing, torture, sexual violence, indiscriminate attacks and pillaging in what appears to be a state-directed policy. They say rebels have also committed war crimes, including executions, but on a lesser scale.

The struggle in Syria has become markedly sectarian, broadly pitting majority Sunni Muslim rebels against Assad’s minority Alawite sect, which is an offshoot of Shi’ite Islam.

Assad has relied on Alawiteled army units and security forces from the start, but has turned increasingly to loyalist militia armed and funded by Damascus to fight the rebels.

He has also received solid support from Shi’ite regional powerhouse Iran, Lebanon’s Hezbollah movement and longtime ally Russia, while his fragmented foes have received little military aid from their Western backers, wary of the growing presence of hardline Islamist groups, some of which are linked to al Qaeda.

Bangladesh declares Jamaat Islamist party illegal

B

angladesh’s High Court has declared the registration of Jamaat-e-Islami, the country’s main Islamist party, is illegal, banning it from contesting January’s general election.

The court made the ruling in the country’s capital, Dhaka, on Thursday after a petition was lodged arguing that Jamaat’s charter breached the constitution.

“It is hereby declared illegal,” said Moazzem Hossain, the chief judge hearing the case amid tight security outside the courthouse in Dhaka.

Shahdeen Malik, a lawyer for the Bangladeshi election

commission, which oversees preparations for elections due next January, said the ruling meant Jamaat could not field candidates.

“As a party Jamaat’s registration with the election commission is declared illegal, with the consequence that they cannot contest the election as a political party,” Shahdeen Malik told AFP. “The party can still carry on with other political activities. If it amends its charter, to bring it in conformity with the constitution and reapplies for registration, it can be re-registered.”

Violence flared amid mass

protests after the ruling.

Police said that hundreds of activists blocked a major road and smashed vehicles in Pabna district, northwest of the capital.

Further protests were anticipated throughout the afternoon and evening.

Jamaat immediately appealed to the Supreme Court against the High Court verdict, senior defence lawyer Abdur Razzak said.

The party would be barred from contesting elections if the Supreme Court upholds the verdict.

Top Jamaat leaders are being tried for crimes during the war and four of them have been sentenced

to death for murder, mass murder, rape and religious persecution in Bangladesh’s controversial International Crimes Tribunal, which is not endorsed by the UN and has been criticised by rights groups.

Protests over the verdicts have sparked violence that has left at least 150 people dead during street clashes with security forces, Human Rights Watch said in a report released on Thursday.

Jamaat has said that the trials are a sham aimed at eliminating the party, which is a key opposition force.

Japan Deputy PM retracts Nazi comments

Aso apan’s Deputy Prime Minister Taro Aso has retracted remarks suggesting that the country could learn from Nazi Germany’s constitutional reform.

Mr Aso said on Japan could “learn the technique” Nazi Germany used to change the Weimar constitution.

J

The remarks come amid debate in Japan over its pacifist constitution, which restricts the military to a selfdefence role.

Mr Aso’s comments drew criticism from neighbouring China and South Korea.

“I retract my remarks in which I

cited the Nazis as an example, as it has ended up leading to misunderstanding,” Mr Aso, who is also finance minister and a former prime minister, told reporters on Thursday.

“It is clear from all my remarks that I have an extremely negative view of the events involving the Nazis and the Weimar constitution.”

Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters: “I want to make it clear that the [Prime Minister Shinzo] Abe cabinet will never view the Nazi government positively”.

Mr Aso had said in a speech that: “The German Weimar constitution changed, without being noticed, to the Nazi German constitution. Why don’t we learn from their tactics?”

In 1933 after a fire burned down the German parliament, Adolf Hitler, who was chancellor at the time, and President Paul von Hindenburg enforced a state of emergency, suspending civic freedoms guaranteed by the constitution.

Hitler then successfully passed the Enabling Act, which meant he

could pass laws without consulting parliament - a move viewed as crucial to consolidating his grip on power.

Retracting the remarks on Thursday, Mr Aso said he highlighted the case as “as a bad example of changes made without a substantial debate or understanding by the citizens”.

Constitutional reform is a delicate issue in Japan. Under Article 9 of its post-war constitution, Japan is blocked from the use of force to resolve conflicts except in the case of self-defence.

But Mr Abe - who now controls both houses of parliament after a win in last month’s upper house polls - has indicated he wants to re-examine the role of Japan’s military to meet the changing security environment in the Asia-Pacific region.

Mr Abe has said he wants to “expand and deepen” debate over the constitution in order to ease tight restrictions on the armed forces something China and South Korea, which were invaded by Japan during WWII, are opposed to.

Asia & Middle East

Australia sends first refugees to PNG

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he first asylum-seekers sent to Papua New Guinea (PNG) under Australia’s tough new refugee policy have arrived in the Pacific nation, to be detained at the Australian-run processing centre.

Their arrival on Thursday formally brought into effect July’s bilateral agreement, known as the PNG Solution, where asylumseekers trying to arrive in Australia by boat are sent to PNG for processing and resettlement, even if they are judged to be genuine refugees.

Australia’s immigration department said that the 40 asylum-seekers, mainly Iranian and Afghan men, were flown from Australia’s Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island on Wednesday night, accompanied by Australian police and medical staff.

Tony Burke, Australia’s immigration minister, said it showed that Canberra was serious about not resettling “boat people” in Australia.

“As of now there are the first 40 people in Papua New Guinea who are realising that the peoplesmugglers no longer have a product to sell,” Burke said.

“The promise of living and working in Australia, which is sold by people-smugglers before they push people onto the high seas, is no longer a product available.”

The issue of asylum-seekers has featured prominently in the lead-up to the Australian election, due this year, which will pit the Kevin Rudd-led Australian Labor Party government against the conservative opposition, headed by Tony Abbott.

Both parties have promised a harsh stance, with Abbott unveiling rival plans for a military-led operation and detention for arrivals in a tent city on the South Pacific island of Nauru in Micronesia.

More than 1,400 asylumseekers have arrived on 18 boats since the government announced its new stance.

Australia’s processing facility on Manus Island’s Lombrum Naval base can only house 500 people, but it plans to expand the centre to accommodate at least 3,000.

Burke visited the camp in July, in the wake of rape and torture claims, which he pledged to investigate.

The immigration minister said more people would be flown to PNG in the coming days, with an advertising campaign spelling out the policy in key transit countries like Indonesia and Sri Lanka to be stepped up.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 30

International

US, Pakistan to resume security talks

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ohn Kerry, the US secretary of state, and his Pakistani counterpart, Sartaj Aziz, have said that the two countries will resume high-level talks over security issues.

Kerry also said on Thursday he had invited Nawaz Sharif, Pakistan’s newly elected prime minister, to come to Washington to meet President Barack Obama.

“I’m pleased to announce that today, very quickly, we were able to agree to a resumption of the strategic dialogue in order to foster a deeper, broader and more comprehensive partnership between our countries,” Kerry said at a press conference with Aziz in Islamabad.

He said the talks will cover “all of the key issues between us, from border management to counterterrorism to promoting US private investment and to Pakistan’s own journey to economic revitalisation”.

The US and Pakistan had launched high-level talks on a wide range of security and development programmes in 2010.

But the talks stalled in November 2011 after US air attacks on a Pakistani post on the Afghan border accidentally killed 24 Pakistani soldiers.

Even before that, the bilateral relationship was severely damaged by a variety of incidents, including

a CIA contractor shooting to death two Pakistanis in the eastern city of Lahore and the covert US raid that killed Osama bin Laden, the late alQaeda leader, in the Pakistani town of Abbottabad.

The resumption of the strategic dialogue indicates that

S intelligence leaker Edward Snowden has left the Moscow airport where he has been staying since June after being granted temporary asylum.

He left unobserved after receiving, his lawyer said, the necessary papers to enter Russian territory from Sheremetyevo Airport’s transit zone.

The US has charged Mr Snowden with leaking details of its electronic surveillance programmes.

Russia’s decision is likely to

further strain its ties with the US. Mr Snowden arrived in Moscow on 23 June from Hong Kong, after making his revelations.

The Snowden affair has caused diplomatic ructions around the world, upsetting the United States’ close allies and traditional enemies.

Mr Snowden left the airport around 14:00 local time (10:00 GMT).

Despite the heavy presence of news organisations at the airport, his departure was apparently not

the relationship between the two countries has improved since that low point.

But there is still significant tension and mistrust between the two countries, especially regarding US drone strikes and Pakistan’s alleged ties with Taliban fighters using its

territory to launch cross-border attacks against American troops in Afghanistan.

While this is Kerry’s first visit to Islamabad as secretary of state, he has a long history of dealing with Pakistan as former chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Rajoy

E Sharif (L), alongside Kerry.

Snowden leaves Moscow airport U spotted by media.

The lawyer, Anatoly Kucherena, said: “His location is not being made public for security reasons since he is the most pursued man on the planet. He himself will decide where he will go.”

The whistle blowing organisation Wikileaks, which has been helping him since he made his revelations, said in a tweet that he had been given asylum.

“Edward Snowden was granted temporary asylum in Russia for a year and has now left

Moscow airport under the care of Wikileaks’ Sarah Harrison,” it said.

Ms Harrison is a member of the Wikileaks legal team and has been helping Mr Snowden.

Mr Kucherena also said he had been awarded temporary asylum.

US Attorney General Eric Holder has given Moscow an assurance that Mr Snowden will not face the death penalty if extradited, but the Russians say they do not intend to hand him over.

Manning defence tries to reduce sentence

T

he sentencing phase of Bradley Manning’s court martial has begun, with his lawyers seeking to reduce a potential sentence by having some of his convictions merged.

The motions aim to merge two

Europe and Americas Spanish PM admits ‘mistake’ over scandal

If the judge agrees to merge the counts, it would mean Manning faces up to 116 years in prison instead of 136 years.

The sentencing phase is scheduled to last until August 23.

Manning was convicted of 20 of 22 charges for sending hundreds of thousands of government and diplomatic secrets to WikiLeaks, but he was found not guilty of aiding the enemy, which alone could have meant life in prison without parole.

“We’re not celebrating,” defence lawyer David Coombs said.

“Ultimately, his sentence is all that really matters.”

Military prosecutors said they would call as many as 20 witnesses for Manning, (middle) was not convicted of the most serious charge of aiding the sentencing phase. the enemy.

The government said of the six espionage counts and two of the five theft counts of which Manning was convicted on Tuesday.

All of the counts involve the former Army intelligence analyst’s leak of Afghanistan and Iraq battlefield reports.

as many as half of the prosecution witnesses would testify about classified matters in closed court.

They include experts on counterintelligence, strategic planning and terrorism.

The judge prohibited both sides from presenting evidence during trial about any actual damage the leaks caused to national security and troops in Afghanistan and Iraq, but lawyers will be allowed to bring that up at sentencing.

The release of diplomatic cables, warzone logs and videos embarrassed the US and its allies.

US officials warned of dire consequences in the days immediately after the first disclosures in July 2010, but a Pentagon review later suggested those fears might have been overblown.

Manning testified during a pre-trial hearing that he leaked the material to expose US military “bloodlust” and diplomatic deceitfulness, but did not believe his actions would harm the country.

mbattled Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has admitted to MPs that he made a mistake in trusting a disgraced former colleague.

But he told MPs claims he was corrupt were “lies and manipulations”, and again defied calls for his resignation.

Mr Rajoy is appearing in parliament to answer claims over illegal payments from a slush fund run by the Popular Party’s ex-treasurer, Luis Barcenas.

The claims sparked widespread anger and anti-government protests.

Revelations of apparent corruption have touched a nerve in Spain, hit by a double-dip recession and high unemployment.

Clashes erupted between antigovernment protesters and police in mid-July after more than 1,000 people gathered outside the Partido Popular (Popular Party, PP) headquarters calling on the government to quit.

Mr Rajoy appeared before MPs after threats of a no-confidence vote.

In opening remarks, he said he was appearing to rebuff the “lies, manipulations and malicious insinuations encouraged by certain political leaders” over the scandal.

He suggested that the Spanish economy was beginning to recover from years of crisis, and expressed concern that a continued focus on the scandal was damaging Spain’s image.

For the first time, he admitted making a mistake by putting trust “in someone who we now know did not deserve it”. But he denied “committing the criminal offence of covering up for someone who is alleged to be guilty”.

Mr Barcenas is in custody while being investigated over other corruption allegations.

Mr Rajoy repeated that he would not resign, and said Spaniards should await the outcome of judicial investigations into the affair.

“Justice will show there was nothing illegal in my own behaviour or that of my party,” he said.

In response, the leader of the country’s main opposition Socialist Party, Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, said Mr Rajoy was not in the chamber to debate the state of the Spanish economy.

He said it was Mr Rajoy’s “resistance” to answering parliament that was causing damage to Spain, and said the PP had won elections over 20 years on the back of a system of illegal financing.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 31

Strange World

World’s most crowded swimming pool

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ooking at this first photo I found myself wondering where the water was.

If you think your local swimming pool becomes unbearably crowded on hot summer days, just check out these photos of the so-called Dead Sea, a saltwater swimming pool in China’s Daying County where thousands of people gather every weekend to escape the heat.

Inspired by the real Dead Sea in the Middle East, the Chinese resort build around an underground salt-water lake in Daying County covers an area of 30,000 square meters and is able to accommodate up to 10,000 swimmers at one time.

It’s pretty big even for Chinese standards, but apparently not big enough. According to the Chinese press, over 15,000 people, most of them equipped with large swim rings, descended upon this popular summer retreat last Sunday making it look like a giant bowl of human cereal.

I’m not even sure the term “swimming pool” even applies to this place on such occasions, considering it’s nearly impossible to move without hitting somebody, let alone flap your hands and feet to swim.

The good thing about this place is the high salinity of the water which makes “swimmers” float freely, so there’s no real risk of going under. If that were to happen I can’t see how a person could rise up again.

Scenes from China’s “dead sea”

The Tibetan sky burials “Cornman” walks vegetables, not pets

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ibetan sky burials are a funerary practice in the Chinese provinces of Tibet, Qinghai, and Inner Mongolia and in Mongolia where bodies are chopped up and fed to the vultures.

The majority of Tibetans and many Mongolians adhere to Vajrayana Buddhism, which teaches the transmigration of spirits.

This means they d o n o t s e e a need to preserve the body, as it is now an empty vessel, so they dispose of it through a sky burial.

Some stories suggest the body parts are left in the Tower of Silence for a year, exposed to the elements and

birds – men and women are placed in different sections.

Then when only the bones are left, the pieces are broken up with mallets, ground with tsampa (barley flour with tea and yak butter, or milk), and given to the crows and hawks that have waited for the vultures to depart.

The function of the sky burial is simply to dispose of the remains in as generous a way as possible; this donation of human flesh to the vultures is considered virtuous because it saves the lives of small animals that the vultures might otherwise capture for food.

A lama walking past vultures during a burial.

I

t’s not every day you get to see people dragging vegetables on a leash in the street. Unless you live in Japan, that is.

Over the last year, photos of a well-dressed man walking all kinds of produce through Tokyo like they were pets have been surfacing on various social networks. Known as “Cornman”, he has become one of the human attractions of Japan’s capital city.

Until recently, no one really knew who Cornman was or why he was walking produce on a leash. The first known photo of him dragging an ear of corn outside a subway station was tweeted in May of 2012, and ever since then people started sharing pics of the elusive character with all kinds of produce, from cauliflower to radishes.

There was a lot of speculation surrounding Cornman and the motives of his bizarre habit. Some people said he was crazy, others that he was just looking for attention, and there were those who claimed he was the loser of a batsu game (a competition or a bet where the loser has to do something embarrassing), but no one knew for sure.

Then, a few days ago, Cornman appeared on a Japanese TV show and talked about himself and his produce pets.

Cornman, real name Masahike Namanuma, says he was inspired to walk corn and vegetables on a leash through Tokyo’s Kanto area after seeing a foreigner dragging a Chinese cabbage in his hometown of Tokorozawa in 2006.

For some reason, the image of a person walking a vegetable made a big impact on him so he went home to get his own edible pet and returned to meet the stranger.

“cornman” walking his vegetables.

Unfortunately he was gone, and Namanuma never saw him again, but the habit stuck with him, and he began walking his produce on a regular basis.

Although Cornman never got to meet his inspiration, I have a feeling it might have been Han Bing, the famous Chinese artist who during the last decade traveled around the world shooting his “Walking the Cabbage” photo series.

Contrary to his name, Cornman doesn’t walk just corn ears. He has been spotted dragging along all kinds of produce (radishes, carrots, cauliflower, leeks, etc.) and says

walking broccoli gives him the strangest feeling, for some reason.

Just like he would a real pet, Masahike names all his vegetables, either by changing their Japanese names (e.g. his corn is named Tomomi, after the Japanese name “toumorokoshi”) or by adopting character names from his favorite anime like Dragon Ball Z (his carrot is called Kakarrot).

But he does something no pet owner would ever do. He eventually cooks and eats all his pet produce, and says the bond that develops between them after the walks makes them taste even more delicious.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 32

Weekend Revue

WITH TOBIAS LENGNAN DAPAM lovelengz@yahoo.com 07036990957

BBA: Annabel, Sulu bid farewell to $300,000

By Suleiman Idris

A

nnabel and Sulu waved goodbye to their fellow housemates – and their shot at the USD 300 000 prize - during Sunday night’s live Big Brother: The Chase eviction show after receiving the fewest viewer votes from Africa this week.

Annabel was up for eviction after receiving three nominations from her housemates, while Sulu found himself in the firing line after Head of House Bimp saved Cleo and put him up for eviction in her place.

IK didn’t waste any time in summoning Annabel and Sulu from the house in quick succession, after taking delivery of the envelopes containing the verified voting results from the SizweNtsalubaGobodo auditor.

Out on stage before the rapturous studio audience, Annabel said it hadn’t been easy to cope with the variety of personalities in the house, telling IK: “at the end of the day, it’s all about respect.

Respect my space and I’ll respect yours”. Sulu said that he’d been the same inside the house as he is outside – always full of energy and enthusiasm. He told IK that Selly had been his very good friend and that she had been one of the women in the house that he’d connected with.

Last week’s evicted housemates, Pokello and Bassey, got to have their say about their time in The Chase. Pokello said that some housemates had been nice to each other simply to avoid nomination, which is where “fakeness and pretending” had

Sulu

Annabel

come into play. “That’s not who I am,” she said. Bassey said that Africa had taken the entertainer out of the house by evicting him and explained that coming from a really big family had helped him fit into the house more easily. He told IK that Fridays and Sundays were his lowest moments in the house, where people you’d gotten to know so well were swapped or evicted.

OC Ukeje and Jackie Appiah joined IK on stage to talk about the 2014 AfricaMagic Viewers’ Choice Awards. Both were winners – for Best Actor and Best Actress – in 2013, and Appiah and Best Director winner Akin Omotoso spent some time in the house on Thursday to help judge the housemates’ task presentation.

Ukeje and Appiah joined IK in announcing that the 2014 AMVCA ceremony will take place on 8 March 2014 in Lagos. For more information about submissions, visit www. africamagic.tv.

Boity Thulo was on hand to explain another way for fans to connect with evicted housemates – via the weekly Google + Hangout. By asking a question on Twitter with #DStvReality, the presenters will try to ask the evicted housemates as many fan questions as possible during the Hangout. Fans can watch the Google + Hangout via the DStv Google + page, or catch up afterwards on www. youtube.com/bba. Each week, one of the evicted housemates’ biggest fans stands a chance to participate in the Google + Hangout – check out thee DStv Google + page and www. bigbrotherafrica.com for more details.

Namibia’s multi awardwinning rap kingpin Sunny Boy rocked the stage twice – first with “Yeah Aa / Balance” and then towards the end of the show with his smash hit “Follow Me”.

A highlight of the week,

NBCUniversal International Television today announced the launch of Telemundo, the popular telenovela channel, in Africa. From Monday 12 August, the exciting new channel will be an addition to the DStv Access, Family, Compact, Compact Plus and Premium bouquets, on 118”.

Telemundo will exclusively air telenovelas with the tagline: “Telemundo – Feel the Passion.”

The statement also quoted the MultiChoice Africa CEO, Nico Meyer, saying, “We are delighted to be launching Telemundo as it increases the range of programming available to DStv subscribers. Telenovelas are a popular entertainment

format and we want to provide a dedicated channel where subscribers can go to find this kind of programming.

“The launch forms part of MultiChoice Africa’s commitment to provide viewers in Africa with a wide channel line-up and to ensure that they have a broad variety of genres to choose from.”

“Telemundo in Africa will be dedicated to the most compelling Spanish language telenovelas, offering DStv customers a dramatic rollercoaster of romance, mystery, action and adventure. Telemundo will bring the world of exotic locations and glamorous personalities into African homes.

Telemundo hits Africa with varieties

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A

universal network, Telemundo with multichoiceAfrica has set foot on the continent with innovative entertainment varieties.

A statement issued by the international network indicated that “the exclusively telenovelas, Telemundo brings dramatic storylines, exotic locations and glamorous personalities to Africa, under the tagline: “Feel the passion” It added that the network which will kick start on August 12 will reach DStv customers across the African continent “The channel’s division of

was Melvin and Elikem being surprised by Big Brother’s talking fish. After surprising Elikem very early on Thursday, the fish had a word with Melvin on Friday as he was preparing for a late-night shower. He played it as cool as Elikem had – in stark contrast to Selly’s hysterical reaction the first time the fish spoke to her. The fish set both Elikem and Melvin tasks, for which they would receive rewards if completed successfully.

This week’s viewer vote winners were: HD PVR Decoder

– Hermine Ilunga (Zambia); Uhuru Tablet – Kondwani Muwowo (Zambia) and DStv Walka – Saheed Ayinla (Nigeria). Don’t forget to vote to keep your favourite housemate in the game after Monday’s nominations, to stand a chance to win!

There are fewer than 30 days left in the game as the 9 remaining housemates battle for viewer votes and the USD 300 000 prize. Stay tuned to DStv Channel 197 & 198 24/7 for all the live Big Brother: The Chase action.

‘Sherlock Holmes’ Kelly Reilly to Star in ABC Limited Series ‘Black Box’

S

herlock Holmes’ Kelly Reilly has landed the starring role in the network’s limited series The Black Box, The Hollywood Reporter has learned.

The series will revolve around Elizabeth Black (Reilly), a famed neuroscientist who seems to have it all, but struggles with mental illness -- one of many

Benedict Cumberbatch

secrets she keeps from her fiancé and family.

For the English actress, this is her first stateside series television part following a string of features including playing Mary Watson in the Robert Downey Jr. Sherlock features as well as British TV including Above Suspicion and Wonderful You. Black Box was written by Amy Holden Jones (Mystic Pizza, Indecent Proposal), with Simon Curtis (My Week With Marilyn) on board to direct.

The drama will be executive produced by Anne Thomopoulos, Bryan Singer, Ilene Chaiken and Oly Obst, with Chaiken (The L Word) set to serve as showrunner.

ABC picked up Black Box straight to series with a 13-episode order in June. The drama marks the first smallscreen foray for independent production company Bold Films (Legion, Drive, Only God Forgives), with Sierra Engine tackling international distribution.

PAGE 33

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Weekend Revue

Kenny Rodriguez to be castrated if ...

F

ollowing rampant cases of extra-marital affair, popular Nigerian actress, Uche Jumbo, recently warned her husband, Kenny Rodriguez to be faithful or be castrated.

She told a celebrity journalist at after she finished shooting her new movie, ‘Lies men tell’ where Desmond Elliot played a serial womanizer, that if it happens to her in real life, then Kenny will cease being a man.

According to her, “If my husband cheats on me, I will castrate him; he knows and believes that. To me, there is no excuse to cheat, its either you are with someone or not, and if you are tired of the person, please accord the person decency of respect by saying it’s over. Don’t go making someone look stupid.

“There is no excuse not to honour an agreement you have made; this doesn’t have anything to do with this interview. It is the principle that guides me. It is not just about marriage, it’s how I conduct my relationships, its either it is this or that, if that is my mind-set in a relationship, you should know that for marriage, it’ll be 150%”, she said.

Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury duets to be released

T Uche Jumbo and her husband Kenny Rodriguez

DMX files for bankruptcy

H

DMX

ollywood Reporter has said t h a t popular rapper, DMX, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in Manhattan.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the 42-year old, born Earl Simmons, owes $1 to $10 million in debt with only $50,000 in assets.

This debt includes $1.24 million owed in child support and $21,000 on an auto lease.

News of DMX’s bankruptcy comes just days after his arrest for suspicion of driving under the influence and driving without a license in South Carolina.

However, DMX’s publicist released a statement regarding the bankruptcy, saying that the situation will ultimately benefit the rapper and allow him to regain a passport to perform overseas again.

hree songs recorded by Michael Jackson and Freddie Mercury in 1983 are due to be released, according to Queen guitarist Brian May. He was also reported in 2011 that he was given permission by the Jackson estate to release his recordings with Queen and Mercury.

May is working on the “unreleased material” with fellow bandmate Roger Taylor and producer William Orbit.

He described the experience as “exciting, challenging, emotionally taxing. But cool”.

The duets were recorded at Jackson’s home studio in California, according to Hollywood Reporter.

May wrote on his blog: “As for unreleased material with Freddie singing… strangely enough I was working on

Freddie Mercury

Michael Jackson some tapes this evening - with William Orbit. There are a few items in progress. We will have something for folks to hear in a couple of months’ time, hopefully.”

Both stars were larger than life, hugely successful global pop singers with millions of fans and massive record sales.

Jackson died in 2009 following an overdose of a powerful anaesthetic and Mercury died from an Aidsrelated condition in 1991.

Earlier this month, comedian Sacha Baron Cohen pulled out of a Freddie Mercury biopic over “creative differences”, according to reports.

Sonam Kapoor may pair Johnny Depp in new Pirate of the Caribbean

I

ndia Today, has said that popular Bollywood actress, Sonam Kapoor, may be lucky to pair Jonny Depp, in a new Pirate of the Caribbean movie, after successful auditioning.

It added that Sonam Kapoor, who has been tasting success post her blockbuster hits Raanjhannaa and Bhaag Milkha Bhaag.

The 24-year-old reportedly auditioned for her dream role, the fifth part of the hugely popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise which will also star Johnny Depp.

Sonam reportedly auditioned for the fifth part of the hugely popular Pirates of the Caribbean franchise.

After attending several international events and her unique public appearances at Cannes, Sonam is eager to be soon part of the Hollywood clan.

Sonam Kapoor Johnny Depp

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Feature

Should traffic control be entertaining?

A traffic warden on duty in Lagos

I

t is not uncommon to see enthusiastic traffic wardens at some traffic posts in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), who engage all the parts of the body to control traffic. They pass and stop vehicles by hand; head, hips and sometimes, they suspend one of their legs in the air to dictate the flow of traffic.

While the actions thrill motorists and passersby, some observers, nonetheless, ask a pertinent question: Should traffic control be entertaining?

For those observers who love the style, they say what the wardens’ display demonstrates pure patriotism and dignity of labour. They also note that the traffic controllers subtly entertain the public while discharging their duties.

Mr. Eric Osagie, a motorist, who claimed that he had been driving in the FCT for about six years, said that he was always happy anytime he saw such officers at traffic points. According to him, such moments provide a comic relief for him whenever he is feeling morose because of some hassles at home or work. ``You see, it is interesting that our policemen are taking traffic control to a high level; you don’t see such displays in other parts of the world; these guys are very innovative and must be encouraged. Most times, when I am provoked at work or at home, I drive with aggression but once I sight any of these innovative traffic wardens, my mood swings to a positive note,’’ Osagie said.

Another motorist, Mr. Ikenna Odogwu, said that

the innovative display of the wardens was the best approach to traffic control, particularly in a society such as Nigeria, where many road users were habitually impatient. ``To me, such officers are very productive because they work in tune with what the society needs. Most drivers are always in haste and they hardly obey traffic regulations but when they get to points where these wardens are working; they pause and watch. Even the drivers end up been delayed, they still don’t complain,’’ he added.

Sharing similar sentiments, Mr. Martin Abaga, a taxi driver, said that the lively traffic wardens were making the best out of a stressful occupation. He noted that standing in the scorching sun or rain while controlling traffic could be harrowing, adding, however, that if such duty was combined with fun, it would become somewhat enjoyable.

Abaga said that this group of traffic wardens entertained the pedestrians and motorists, adding that they were inadvertently heightening the public interest in the police force as well. ``I remember that a couple of them had been rewarded in the past; there was a time when a custom boss gave out a car to one traffic officer for his dexterity,’’ he said.

Ironically, the police authorities strongly oppose the sentiments regarding the unconventional mode of traffic control, saying that the colourful displays negate the code and ethics of the police force.

`I don’t think it happens in any other part of the world; driving is a serious business that needs maximum concentration and so is traffic control.

When traffic wardens twist their hands, kick their legs, roll their necks and spin around, they could lose concentration; such acts should be discouraged,’’ she added.

A trafic warden ‘entertaining’ on duty

Mrs. Altine Daniel, the Police Public Relations Officer in the FCT, said that the use of gestures such as body language signs or dancing while controlling traffic was in contradiction of the laid-down procedures. ``We have a standard procedure for traffic control and every policeman is expected to follow it. When a policeman signals a motorist to stop, it should be clear with his hands; when he signals him to move, the message should be clear with his hands. ``But when you dance and use various parts of your body, it could create confusion or even cause an accident because everybody does not understand these signs; so, we try to discourage it and even sanction officers that do that,’’ she said.

Daniel noted that although the public enjoyed such gesticulations, the people would be quick to blame the police if an accident occurred as a result of misunderstanding from the use of body language in traffic control.

Supporting Daniel’s viewpoint, Mrs. Joan Nwagwu, a journalist, said that the use of body language signs to control traffic could cause a lot of distractions.

She said that the underlying motive behind the adoption of such body gestures by some traffic policemen could be a strategy aimed at attracting tips from road users and the public in general.

Nwagwu said that some drivers often took advantage of the seeming joke and humour surrounding such acts to run traffic. `I don’t think it happens in any other part of the world; driving is a serious business that needs maximum concentration and so is traffic control. When traffic wardens twist their hands, kick their legs, roll their necks and spin around, they could lose concentration; such acts should be discouraged,’’ she added.

Mr. Ezekiel Gbolahan, a commentator, said that he never had doubts about the abnormality of such methods of traffic control, insisting that there were extant rules of traffic control guiding the work of traffic policemen.

Nevertheless, observers insist that the code of ethics and professional conduct of the police force is paramount and should be upheld by its officers and men at all times.

They say that the traffic wardens’ efforts to ensure road safety and traffic orderliness should always be guided by the code.

Source: NAN

PAGE 35

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Feature Latino Muslim converts find roots

The number of Latino Muslim converts in the United States has tripled, or quadrupled, since 9/11.

I

n their desperate search for spirituality, strong faith connections and a true portrayal of Islam, a growing number of Latino Americans are converting to Islam.

“I was looking for the truth, the connection between the believer and the Creator,” Nylka Vargas, who has embraced Islam 15 years ago, told Illume website on Thursday, April 14. “[I] had a yearning to know God and I didn’t believe in things that I learned as a Christian. I believed in a higher power.”

Born to a Peruvian-Ecuadorian family, Vargas was born and raised in New Jersey.

“Islam taught me a lot of discipline.

And Islam is perfectly aligned: the prayers and its time. Why things are done. It is flexibility but discipline,” she said.

Being a regular attendant at the North Hudson Islamic Center in Union City, New Jersey, for classes about Islam, Vargas meets other Muslim converts during lessons for Qur`an and Islam.

Milena, from Puerto Rico, converted to Islam only four weeks ago.

Getting married to a Muslim man seven years ago, Milena, a regular churchgoer with strong faith, saw herself far from Islam till she had her first baby.

“I became interested in learning about Islam without converting, because our son is going to be raised as a Muslim,” she said. “That is how my interest in Islam started.”

Attending classes without converting, the learning process went smoothly till she finally found the right path. “I am seeking knowledge, I am hungry for knowledge. I am really excited about what I feel,” she said.

According to the American Muslim Council, Latino Muslims in the US are estimated by about 200,000 in 2006.

The largest communities of Latino Muslims exist in areas with the highest concentrations of Latinos, such as New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles and Miami. Yet, California is the state with the most Latino Muslims.

Spirituality Looking back in their Spanish roots, many Latinos regarded their reversion to Islam as a reawakening of their 800 year Islamic history in Granada, Cordova, Seville and Andalusia.

“There is a kind of reawakening,” Vargas said. “We want to discover our roots, our ancestries. How our culture fitted into Islam. It’s amazing, I have seen how our community has transformed.

“There is more availability of Islamic information in Spanish. Islam

is not so much seen as something foreign. That misconception is going away. Now it is our religion too. Islam is not for others only, it is for all.”

Yet, another study led by Samantha Sanchez, one of the founders of Latino American Dawah Organization (LADO), found that the growing number of converts was basically driven by Latinos search for spirituality.

“Because Latinos are coming from Catholic background, which is a fairly ordered world, to America where is completely free, sometimes they find an alternative in Islam, where they see an order,” Akbar Ahmed, currently the Ibn Khaldun Chair of Islamic Studies, of American University in Washington DC, said.

“At the same time, because they are coming from a Catholic background, they also see some echoes in Islam of their own faith. For example, Catholics have a very high reverence for Mary, the mother of Jesus, so that is something they very much appreciate.”

Imam Shamsi Ali of the Islamic Cultural Center of New York agrees.

“The most important reason why many

“

“The most important reason why many Latinos embrace Islam is because they are naturally religious people as Catholic or Christian, so they are more inclined to religion,” Imam Ali said. “That’s why they can turn to Islam”.

Latinos embrace Islam is because they are naturally religious people as Catholic or Christian, so they are more inclined to religion,” Imam Ali said.

“That’s why they can turn to Islam”.

Others, however, put the tragic 9/11 events as the main driver for many Latinos to start their search for the true Islam.

The number of Latino Muslim community tripled or quadrupled since 9/11, many Muslim organizations say.

“Once I started to read the Qur’an the first time, I said this is true,” Mustafa, born Catholic from Puerto Rican parents, who started to search for answers in the Qur’an after the attacks, said. “I have to testify to it.”

Ahmed, another convert also stated that the false media interpretation of Islam pushed him to search for the true Islam.

“If you are an American, and day and night people are saying Islam is bad, Islam is terrorism, so you may pick up a book on Islam and what do you see? No, Islam is saying something else,” he said. “In that sense, the interest in Islam has gone up since 9/11.”

The rise of Latino converts to Islam in the United States was making an impact beyond the American borders.

“In Nicaragua there was no mosque in the past, but recently a business woman from New York, who became Muslim, went back to Managua and she bought a house that she turned into a house of worship, a mosque,” imam Ali said. “So there is some influence.”

Source: OnIslam.net

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Digest

Rise of the quarter-life crisis

Just under 30 per cent of young people said that work was a major contributor to their stress levels.

Most people in their late 20s said they felt stressed three times a day.

By Rachel Reilly odern life is causing increasing numbers of people in their late 20s to feel extremely stressed, according to a new study.

Researchers revealed that the top three causes of stress are money worries, work problems and lack of sleep.

An expert said that younger people are under more pressure than any other time in recent history and that many turn to alcohol, cigarettes and drugs to cope.

The poll of 2,000 people was carried out by media company Entertainment One to mark

the DVD and Blu-ray release of psychological thriller Side Effects.

It asked participants to rate their happiness from one to ten amongst other questions.

It found that increasingly numbers are turning to professional help for their so-called ‘quarter-life crises’, with a third having undergone therapy and a quarter having been prescribed antidepressants.

Just under 40 per cent of young Britons said money worries were their biggest concern and seven out of 10 said financial issues caused at least one argument a week.

Work pressures were cited as the second biggest stress with 20 per cent claiming to have a bad

boss.

The third biggest issue was lack

By James Gallagher

passed from the body, such as those from the lining of the body’s waterworks, are harvested i n the laboratory.

These collected cells are then coaxed into becoming stem

cells.

A mix of these cells and other material from a mouse was implanted into the animals.

The researchers said that after three weeks the bundle

M

of sleep with 70 per cent saying that the UK needs more public holidays to rest and recuperate.

Neil Shah, Director of The Stress Management Society said: ‘The pressures a modern twentysomething faces are very different to their counterparts from 20 or 30 years ago.

‘It is the hardest time to set out in the world, leave home and establish your career. Today, they have financial concerns and struggle to get on the housing ladder, compared to those currently in their 50s who were able to get settled and secure during a time when it was easier to do so.

‘Stress can be reduced considerably by incorporating relaxation into your daily routine through regular exercise, time outside or activities like yoga and meditation.’

The survey found that 23 per cent turn to alcohol, 10 per cent to cigarettes and eight per cent to drugs to cope with their life.

Others did try aromatherapy and acupuncture in a bid to unwind, however.

The poll also found that anxiety reduced dramatically after the age of 55. The majority of this older age group was found to be stressed just once a month compared to the majority of 20-somethings who said they feel stressed three times a day.

Those in their 30s are also less anxious, with only one in 10 having turned to therapy or antidepressants.

The study also found that men find it easier to cope with stress by relaxing or sleeping their stress off. Women were found to be more prone to depression and more likely to be prescribed antidepressants than men.

Finally, the saddest Britons were found to live in rural areas of East Anglia, where one in 10 gave their life just one out of 10 for happiness.

Conversely, the North West is the happiest region, with 1 in 10 declaring that they are 10 out of 10 and couldn’t be happier with their life.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Generation Stress: Lack of sleep as well as arguing with a partner both made it into the top ten problems of young Britons living in 21st century society

New teeth grown from urine - study

S

cientists have grown rudimentary teeth out of the most unlikely of sources, human urine.

The results, published in Cell Regeneration Journal, showed that urine could be used as a source of stem cells that in turn could be grown into tiny toothlike structures.

The team from China hopes the technique could be developed into a way of replacing lost teeth.

Other stem cell researchers caution that that goal faces many challenges.

Teams of researchers around the world are looking for ways of growing new teeth to replace those lost with age and poor dental hygiene.

Stem cells - the master cells which can grow into any type of tissue - are a popular area of research.

The group at the Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health used urine as the starting point.

Cells which are normally

Could stem cells be a source of new teeth?

of cells started to resemble a tooth: “The tooth-like structure contained dental pulp, dentin, enamel space and enamel organ.”

However, the “teeth” were

not as hard as natural teeth.

This piece of research is not immediately going to lead to new options for the dentist, but the researchers say it could lead to further studies towards “the final dream of total regeneration of human teeth for clinical therapy”.

‘Worst source’ Prof Chris Mason, a stem cell scientist at University College London, said urine was a poor starting point.

“It is probably one of the worst sources, there are very few cells in the first place and the efficiency of turning them into stem cells is very low.

“You just wouldn’t do it in this way.”

He also warned that the risk of contamination, such as through bacteria, was much higher than with other sources of cells.

Prof Mason added: “The big challenge here is the teeth have got a pulp with nerve and blood vessels which have to make sure they integrate to get permanent teeth.”

Source: BBCNews.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

PAGE 37

Neighbourhood watch job: Youths accuse Edo govt of partisanship

Defunct CPC guber candidate battles Ajimobi for APC governorship ticket

By Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

S

ome youths in Edo state have accused the government over alleged partisanship in recruiting people into the ‘neighbourhood watch’ as reward for their support at the April 2012 Governorship elections in the State.

The youths led by Comrade Omobude Agho, President of South south Youth League frowned at the development during an interactive session on initiative for youth on migration, immigration, development and reintegration which theme was ‘the roles of neighbourhood watch in tackling the recurring security challenges in Nigeria through grassroots mobilization’ at the weekend in Benin City.

Omobude reminded participants at the event that ‘‘Having appreciated the efforts of the State government to have established Edo State Neighbourhood Watch, we disagree completely, the means and manner the appointment is being distributed, where people from other states get slot more than people from Edo state. ‘‘I cannot imagine, people from Bayelsa, Delta, Ogun and Ondo states, they all come here to get slot from Edo State neighbourhood watch. We think, it’s injustice done to Edo people...They are on the payroll of Edo State neighbourhood watch.

There is a particular organisation led by one Rex which has 100 slots and some persons from Delta State, has 30 slots.

He urged Governor Adams Oshiomhole to set up an independent panel of enquiry to review the committee’s activities with a view to ascertaining the true situation in the interest of justice as a frontline former labour leader in the country.

He said ‘‘If you come to distribute these number of slots or appointments given to other states, we would have like 10 persons from each local government areas out of 18 local government areas of the state who are earning from the government. And that would reduce crime and criminality. ‘‘I want to assume that the governor is ignorant of this information I have given. But I want him to make his findings...So, we should not take out tax-payers money or whatever means of revenue to pay people for other states.’

President and founder of initiative for youth awareness on migration, Comrade Solomon Okoduwa, tasked the governments at all levels to be alive to their core responsibilities by improving the basic amenities.

He tasked the federal government to quickly complete the ongoing police reforms, stressing that the initiative would among others discourage Nigerians from fruitless adventures.

B

arely twenty four hours after the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) registered All Progressive Congress (APC) as political party, a former governorship candidate of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change, (CPC) at the 2011 election in Oyo state, Adebayo Shittu, has said he would challenge incumbent Governor Abiola Ajimobi for the APC

governorship ticket in 2015.

It would be recalled that Ajimobi had declared his intention to remain in office beyond 2015.

The former Attorney-General in Oyo State, Shittu said in Ibadan yesterday that he was the most qualified of all aspirants warming up for the seat.

“I am the most qualified among the aspirants on ground now in terms of political experience. I have been actively involved in politics since 1979,” he said.

The former governorship candidate of the defunct CPC, during the 2011 election in the state, described the APC as the party to beat in 2015.

Shittu commended on his tremendous achievements in infrastructure, environmental sanitation and beautification, but advised him to improve on capacity building, job creation and empowerment. He urged the governor to also make education accessible to the people, adding that he should declare education free at

primary and secondary level.

“In a supposedly progressive state like Oyo, one would expect education to be free.

“It is good to build bridges and roads, but the priority should be on building human beings and their capabilities,” he said.

He also urged the state government to improve on its youth empowerment scheme, adding that the involvement of public/private partnership would go a long way to achieve good result.

L-R: Chairman, Abaji Area Council, Hon. Yahaya Garba Gawu, Chairman, Abuja Municipal Area Council, Hon. Micah Jiba, and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of FCT, Mr. John Chukwu, during the Area Councils Joint Account Allocation Committee meeting, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Presidential aspirant commends INEC over APC registration From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

A

Presidential aspirant in the 2011 General Election, Francis Onabis, has commended the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for registering the new All Progressive Congress APC

after several attempt by anti progressives in the country to scuttle the merger process.

Onabis stated that the registration of APC showed that INEC could still be trusted with conducting the next election if he do away with external influences.

Onabis in a statement signed by

his media aide Ayokunle Oloye in Lagos recently said the emergence of the new party signals victory for true democracy and the Nigerian voters.

He said Nigerians should expect a new era of politicking that will bring progressive development for the country. He said the new

Mixed reactions over APC registration by INEC From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he eventual registration of the All Peoples Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has attracted mixed reactions from stakeholders across the country.

A University don, Dr. Umar Sanda Gumau said “this is good news. I however hope it’s just not another landmine for the concerned parties, bearing in mind that there are legal matters pending. We hope it

will not in the long run backfire and put the sweet news in a bad taste.”

Political analyst, Barkindo Buba, also congratulated INEC saying “The formal registration of the APC is victory for the people of Nigeria whose unflinching support has served as a source of inspiration for those men and women of vision with a common dream to retrieve Nigeria from the depths of despair and destruction it has found itself in due to 14 years of rudderless and evil PDP impositions. The dangerous and

criminal PDP mafia will be defeated only if we continue to be vigilant, truthful and hardworking. As pointed out by well-meaning compatriots,” Aliyu Musa Jadda said “Mark my words! The PDP will no longer exist henceforth. This is what Nigerians had been dreaming of; to have a party with patriotic citizens as APC! Thank God for this great achievement. I just hope these vultures will not destroy the good intent for which the party was formed” Albert Musa Yelwa, a student

party will give the Nigerian people values for their electoral votes.

“The APC am sure is a government in waiting because Nigerians are tired and yawning for a change, a change that would lead to good governance and economic prosperity of our country, the registration is a pointer that we are very close to a Nigeria of our dream” He described the birth of the party as an hope giver to democracy. “We are now sure that this democracy would make headway, if the power that does not want APC can fail, then no power would be allow to subvert our democracy.

Onabis who is also a chieftain of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Uromi Edo state also commended the leaders and promoter of the new party for their courage and doggedness to ensure the party was not killed.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Politics

Kwara 2015: APC, PDP in game of wits

Sen Bukola Saraki

ANALYSIS From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

head of 2015 general election, the ruling party in Kwara state, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and opposition Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN),Congress for Progressive Change(CPC), now coalesced into the All Progressives Congress (APC), are involved in a game of wit to clinch the governorship position of the state.

Already, PDP has deployed all its officials and party members to fish out the opposition strongholds and work against their agenda.

Part of the strategies is the extension of road construction to a few areas where the people are suffering from bad road networks as well as digging of bore-holes within the state.

The ruling party, it was gathered, had successfully planted its card carrying members in the opposition’s camp and this is meant to create disunity within the newly registered APC. Already, sources informed our correspondent that PDP leader in the state, Dr Bukola Saraki, a Senator representing Kwara Central Senatorial district, is making frantic efforts to hijack APC’s formation in the state.

According to a reliable source close to Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu, Saraki had gone to meet the APC leader recently with a promise to help defeat President Goodluck Jonathan by delivering Kwara state to the opposition by 2015 if only he could hand over the APC structure in the state to him.

But the source informed that Tinubu’s camp rejected the offer stressing that he (Saraki) had betrayed Northeners and those that helped him in the past and there was no guaranty that he would do thesame to them. It was learnt that with the cold shoulder he received

Kwara Gov Abdulfatah Ahmed from the Tinubu’s camp, the former Kwara governor had recoiled into its party.

Speaking on the formation of APC in Kwara State, a reliable source closer to the big wig in one of the party that merged to form the mega party informed our Correspondent under condition of anonymity that “If you don’t see or hear much about APC in Kwara State, that is probably because the party has not formally come into existence and not because it is nonexistent or the parties - ACN/CPC/ANPP - are not relating. “ Indeed there may be rivalry among the parties or some of its leading figures but that is not to say that they do not exist as a strong force in Kwara politics. Rivalry and competition are integral parts of democracy. And everybody, and anybody for that matter, is free to nurse ambition. It is legitimate in democracy. As you can see, the ruling PDP has stopped deceiving itself with its earlier claim that opposition doesn’t exist in Kwara. Now they are asking the opposition to be constructive. So I think we will move full steam the moment INEC pronounce APC a registered political party. That is not to say that the parties are not doing anything.

“There have been funny claims that Dele has been pencilled down to be the APC flag-bearer at the state level.

I don’t think that is true.

Muhammed Dele Belgore

But there is a fact everybody must acknowledge: Belgore is a strong factor in the incoming APC in Kwara politics.

Because he has proven critics wrong about consistency and keeping his base; the man has made himself the man to beat when governorship nomination begins. It would be unrealistic to expect the APC not to field such a person in 2015 the way it is now, except the unthinkable happens. “ For one, the major stakeholders in APC, whether its northern or western wing, believe so much in integrity, consistency, competence and professional success. You will agree with me that Belgore fits that bill. From 2011 to date, you can hardly see a month he did not weigh in on national or state matters and his mentions come with ACN, and that clearly is a plus for not just himself but for his party because the impression that creates is that you no longer have a monotonous politics in Kwara unlike before.

“Whilst I do not believe that he has been pencilled down for the ticket, the hard fact is that real politics give him an edge over anyone else who might want to fly the APC governorship ticket in 2015.”

Reacting to the development, the Kwara State chapter of Congress for Progressive Change(CPC) has refuted the rumour and insinuation making round that the former governor of Kwara State and the leader

“

Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu

of Peoples Democratic Party in the state, Senator Bukola Saraki, has defected to the CPC in his calculations to hijack the structures of the new party, All Progressive Congress (APC), when it eventually got registered.

The party in a statement, signed by its Chairman, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari stated that, “ there is no iota of truth in the allegation that the leadership of our Party has been hijacked and or bought over by Senator Bukola Saraki with a bid to taking over the structure of the All Progressive Congress (APC) when it is eventually registered.

“We state categorically that the State Chairman of the CPC, Alhaji Suleiman Buhari or any other members of our great party never held any meeting with Sen. Saraki or his representatives where the idea of his defection was ever discussed let alone agreed upon. As far as we know, the rumour is but a product of the figment of the imagination of mischief makers that are peddling it, with a sole bid to destabilize the fledging party in the state.”

The statement further emphasized that “CPC’s position is informed by the fact that the members constituting the State Executive Committee of the party are honourable and would therefore not soil their hard earned names by falling cheaply for the antics or inducement of the ruling elite in the state at the detriment of the collective interest of

The ruling party, it was gathered, had successfully planted its card carrying members in the opposition’s camp and this is meant to create disunity within the newly registered APC.

the teeming members of our great party in particular and Kwarans in general.”

The CPC boss appealed to party faithfuls, well wishers and general public to disregard such rumor as it was evidently the antics of mischief makers out to scuttle the goodwill of the party in Kwara state, especially in its march towards its merger with sister opposition parties.It said the party would stop at nothing to get to the root of the malicious rumor and would carry along all stakeholders in its avowed commitment to entrench responsible democracy in the state in particular and the nation in general.

The CPC’s latest release might not be unconnected with the allegation of compromise and financial impropriety leveled against the Alhaji Suleiman Buhari-led State Executive Committee (SEC) by a disgruntled section of the fledgling party in the state.

Reacting, the Kwara State PDP through it Secretary, Prince Yemi Afolayan, maintained that the party leadership in the state has ensured the delivery of the dividends of democracy and had appointed canvassers to feel the pulse of th e people t o a sc e rt a in oth er areas of t he ir liv e s t h at needed to be a ddre sse d by th e ru ling P DP g o v e rn m e n t in th e s tate.

He said “I t is a st o n ishin gly annoying th at t he AC N, as an oppos ition p a rt y w hic h is ordinarily e xp e c t e d t o be cons tru ctive in it s c rit icis m, cou ld go dirt y by a t t empting to s core c he a p p o litical points with a n ide a and programme g e n uin e ly pu rs u ed by th e p a rt y. ” Af o la y an emph as is ed t ha t only a clown will claim ignorance of many achievements of the PDP’s administration in the state stressing that Belgore has demonstrated clearly that he is blissfully ignorant of how political parties are run.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Briefs Kano state SERVICOM

By A’isha Biola Raji

S

ERVICOM Desk/Nodal Officers, appointed by Kano state government Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) have been told to see their new roles as critical to service improvement and delivery in their various stations.

The Coordinator, Malam Kabiru Muhammad Gwangwazo, said this at the first interactive session held for the SERVICOM MDA Desk/Nodal Officers in Kano.

Gwangwazo directed the new appointees to immediately set up SERVICOM units in their ministries and departments ahead of the public launch of the SERVICOM Initiative by Kano State Governor, Engineer Rabiu Kwankwaso.

He said their roles when fully operational would include working within their MDAs in liaison with the Kano state SERVICOM office to lead the implementation of service delivery improvement measures and in particular, all aspects of the state’s SERVICOM Service Charter Policy.

PAGE 39

News Extra

Audit shows massive age falsification by Edo teachers

By Osaigbovo Benin

Iguobaro,

A

n audit of primary schools by the Edo state government has revealed massive falsification of age of teachers in public schools.

According to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, the audit carried out by the state’s Information and Communications Technology showed that 789 teachers out of 1,379 obtained their primary school certificates before the age of 8 or 9.

The Governor who spoke at a town hall meeting on education said that, “some of the records show there were a few who were particularly gifted and they finished primary school before they were born.

“We found that of all our primary school teachers, only 1,287 representing nine per cent out of 14,484 teachers have proper and accurate records in our system while 91 per cent have various forms of discrepancies in their records.

“About 1,379 teachers

representing 11.5 per cent claim that they obtained their primary school certificates after they had been employed as teachers.

“In fact, some obtained their certificates not more than two years ago from the school in which they were employed as teachers.

“The question is whether they went to teachers’ training college or obtained National Certificate of Education (NCE) before they went to primary school.

“It would not be helpful to the cause of education and our resolve

to deliver quality education to our pupils if we do not deal with this issue decisively.”

The Governor who reeled out statistics on the teacher-student ratio in all the local governments said the average of 30 students per teacher is much lower than the UNESCO recommendation on student-teacher ratio.

Oshiomhole explained that town hall meeting on education was called to find a solution to the problems said government was open to suggestions on the way forward.

Kaduna persons with disabilities

K

aduna state government through the Ministry of Women and Social Development has released 40 bags of rice to people living with disabilities following a recent protest by the group.

The Commissioner for Women and Social Development, Mrs. Maria Dogo, regretted what she described as communication gap between the leadership of the Joint People Living with Disability Association of Nigeria (JPLDAON) and the Ministry.

“In fact Kaduna Governor, Mukhtar Ramalan Yero has a special passion for them and they will always be carried along in activities that will make life easier and better for them.

“Many of them have enjoyed free training in various fields in the past, therefore, there is no reason for any uproar as far as the Ramadan package is concerned.”

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

Borno votes N29m for youth training

A

s part of its efforts to address youth restiveness and prevent them from being lured into insurgency and other crimes, Borno state government yesterday said it planned to train 20,000 youth on behaviour change and empowerment.

The Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, disclosed this while inaugurating a 12-member committee on youth orientation, empowerment and employment.

According to him, the Youth Volunteer Group hunting suspected Boko Haram insurgents popularly known as ‘Civilian JTF’ will also be part of the training programme.

He said that out of the target 20,000 youth, 800 had been selected for the take off noting that N29 million has been voted for the programme.

From Mustapha Isa Kwaru

Managing Director, Jos Electric Development Company, Mrs. Vera Osuhor (2nd left) , Ponzhi Zinni of Langtang, Chief Nimnan Langnim (left), in a group photograph with other traditional rulers, during the commissioning of a newly built office complex for PHCN, on wednesday in Langtang.

Katsina announces fares for 2013 Hajj From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

K

atsina state government has announced Hajj fares for 2013 intending pilgrims who will pay minimum of N639, 496.52, medium fare of N675, 996.52 or maximum fare of N753,996.52.

Announcing the fares at a press briefing, Executive Director of the pilgrims’ welfare board, Alhaji Aminu Danbaba, noted that the fares were announced subject to the approval of the national Hajj Commission of Nigeria, NAHCON. He urged intending pilgrims

to ensure completion of their payment on time as he noted that as a result of cutting the state’s seats by 20 per cent, the state has 4,416 as against the 5,520 earlier allocated by NAHCON. Due to the development, the director stated that 211 old timers were barred from performing this year’s Hajj while promising

that those who decided to keep their deposits with the board would be considered first next year.

He added that those who wish to collect their deposit are free to demand for a refund, adding that 68 persons had already collected their deposits amounting to N34 million.

Niger youth group surrenders weapons

N

o fewer than 202 youth from Limawa and Anguwan Daji in Minna, Niger renounced their membership of a notorious group, Yandaba, fingered for perennial clashes in Minna.

The youth also surrendered their weapons to security agents at a ceremony held at the secretariat of the Chanchaga Local

Government Council, after series of meetings and negotiations.

The Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji Saidu Idris, said that the group’s acceptance to embrace peace would boost the socio-economic development of the two areas.

He said that government would continue to provide the enabling environment for people

to live peacefully with one another.

Idris said that the present administration in the state would continue to give priority attention to youth empowerment.

He called on members of the group to expose those sponsoring them, warning that government would deal decisively with anybody caught engaging in

criminal activities.

In her remarks, the Commissioner of Police, Mrs. Desiye Nsirim, said that the group had posed serious threats to the peace and security.

She warned youth engaging in nefarious activities to voluntarily hand over their fighting tools with a view to allowing peace to prevail in the state. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, JULY 2, 2013

PAGE 40

Leisure

Some Interesting Facts

E

mus and kangaroos cannot walk backwards, and are on the Australian coat of arms for that reason.

•Eskimos never gamble.

•Estimated percentage of American adults who go on a diet each year: 44 •Even if you cut off a cockroach’s head, it can live for several weeks.

•Every day more money is printed for Monopoly than for the US Treas.

•Every person has a unique tongue print.

•Every time Beethoven sat down to write music, he poured ice water over his head.

•Every time you lick a stamp, you’re consuming 1/10 of a calorie.

•Facetious and abstemious contain all the vowels in the correct order, as does arsenious, meaning “containing arsenic.”

•February 1865 is the only month in recorded history not to have a full moon.

•First novel ever written on a typewriter was “Tom Sawyer”.

•Goethe couldn’t stand the sound of barking dogs and could only write if he had an apple rotting in the drawer of his desk.

•Hang On Snoopy is the official rock song of Ohio.

•Hawaiian alphabet has 12 letters.

•Heinz Catsup leaving the bottle travels at 25 miles per year.

•Hot water is heavier than cold.

•How can you tell when a gorilla is angry? It sticks its tongue out.

•HowdyDoody had 48 freckles.

SUDODKU

•Hypnotism is banned by public schools in San Diego.

•Iceland consumes more CocaCola per capita than any other nation.

•If an orangutan belches at you, watch out. He’s warning you to stay out of his territory.

•If you are locked in a completely

sealed room, you will die of carbon dioxide poisoning first before you will die of oxygen deprivation.

•If you bring a raccoon’s head to the Henniker, New Hampshire town hall, you are entitled to receive $.10 from the town.

•If you have three quarters, four

dimes, and four pennies, you have $1.19. You also have the largest amount of money in coins without being able to make change for a dollar.

•In 75% of American households, women manage the money and pay the bills.

Say what?

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Stretched to the limit: Seven-year-old Chinese acrobat, Xiu Hua endures brutal training to give her family the chance of a better life. Showing a maturity not matching above her age, Xiu Hua never makes a noise during training.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Federation Cup: Enyimba battle Lobi, Wolves up against Akwa United

T

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday released the fixtures and venues for the semi final matches of the 2013 Men’s Federation Cup competition, following Wednesday’s quarter final games.

Two-time CAF Champions League winners, Enyimba FC of Aba, who saw off the challenge of ambitious Nasarawa United FC of Lafia in Abeokuta, will square up against last year’s runnersup Lobi Stars of Makurdi, at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium, Benin City.

Warri Wolves, which stunned Premier League defending champions Kano Pillars 3-0 in

Ilorin, are up against giant-killers Akwa United FC at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Stadium, Bauchi.

Akwa United FC is the revelation of this year’s competition, following their midweek elimination of Cup holders Heartland FC of Owerri on penalties. Both teams finished 1-1 before the Uyo boys triumphed 5-4.

Lobi Stars prevailed 2-1 over another surprise package, Akwa Starlets of Uyo, at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu and will aim to reach the showpiece Grand Finale in Lagos in September, both matches come up on August 21.

No proof of inducement in Zamfara United’s withdrawal, says committee

T

he five-man committee inaugurated to investigate the withdrawal of Zamfara Utd FC from the Nigeria National League (NNL) has said there was no proof of inducement for withdrawal.

Emmanuel Ochiagha, the chairman of the investigating committee, told the league board in Abuja that there was no any form of match fixing for the withdrawal.

Ochiagha said that after going through the submissions and the evidence of both parties, there was no proof that the team withdrew to accelerate the promotion of a particular club, as alleged.

“After going through all the submissions, both the petition and the defence, we came to the conclusion that there was no proof of any induced withdrawal on the side of Zamfara Utd. “There was also not any form of match fixing, details of which will be made public by the NNL board,” the chairman said.

Zamfara Utd FC in June withdrew from the league’s ‘Division A, due to financial difficulties.

However, three clubs in the NNL alleged that the unexpected withdrawal of the Zamfara-owned club was a plot to accelerate the promotion of a particular club.

Ochiagha said recommendations were made after the committee had received 15 oral testimonies, four written petitions and four text messages, within the 14 days of its meeting.

“The committee received submissions and evidence during our 14 days of meetings; we received 15 oral testimonies, four written petitions, four text messages, as well as 13 hours of recorded audio testimonies.

“It will interest you to know that all our proceedings are recorded, for the avoidance of doubt.

“And we are very confident that our recommendations will help in correcting the flaws in the administration of our leagues and other leagues in this country,” he added.

Ochiagha commended the petitioners and all those that testified before the panel for giving useful guidance during the investigation.

PAGE 41

Federation Cup: We lost to Wolves due to Ramadan fasting, says Pillars coach Stories by Albert Akota he Chief Coach of Kano Pillars Mohammed Babaganaru has revealed that his club’s loss to Warri Wolves by 3-0 in the quarterfinal of the ongoing Federation Cup was as a result of Ramadan fasting.

Babaganaru who disclosed this to newsmen, said that most of his players are observing the ongoing fasting.

“I regret the defeat because the day was our bad day. Besides, most of my players involved in the match are observing their Ramadan fast,’’ the coach said.

He added that Kano Pillars, the current Globacom League leaders, would now have time to focus attention on the league.

Musa Najari struck twice within the first 20 minutes of the match, to give the Warri boys a deserved lead.

Ogenekaro Etobor later sealed the convincing victory in the 40th minute.With the victory, Wolves have advanced to play in the semifinals of the competition against Akwa United.

T

Gambo

NNL resumes league on Aug 3.

T

the season which had been dispensed.

“Our league is restarting this Saturday; week 29 matches will be played.We have two outstanding matches before the close of the season but we had to suspend the league a little bit.

“This is because we had

13 matters with Organising/ Disciplinary Committee which has been dispensed.

The chairman said that the three appeals were left with the committee and decisions would be taken before the close of yesterday.

“If there is any matter after this, we will take it into the midweek before the final matches,’’ he said.

he second tier of the Nigeria National League (NNL) will resume week 29 matches on Aug. 3 at the various centres, says the Chairman of NNL, Mr Emeka Inyama.

Inyama who said this while speaking to newsmen in Abuja noted that the week 29 matches

were postponed for two weeks for Nigeria Football Association Organising and Disciplinary (O and D) Committee to dispense outstanding cases.

Inyama said that NNL had 13 cases with the O and D Committee with two outstanding matches before the close of

T

AFN invites 42 athletes to Sapele ahead of continental championship

he Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has invited no fewer than 42 athletes and 12 officials to camp head of the 11th Africa Junior Championship scheduled for Mauritius.

The Technical Director of AFN, Omatseye Nesiama, said that the athletes would report to camp in

Gloria Asumnu

Sapele, Delta this weekend The tournament was initially scheduled to hold in South Africa from June 26 to June 30.

However, due to a dispute between South Africa’s Olympic Association and its Athletics Federation, the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) withdrew the hosting right.

The championship would now hold from Aug. 29 to Sept. 1 in Mauritius, an Indian Ocean Island.

TM also said the athletes would have to report with their international passports and adhere strictly to the camp rules.

He said that training in the camp would help to put the athletes in good shape ahead of the continental junior meet.

“I am appealing to athletes who have been called to camp to ensure maximum unity and listen to their coaches’ instructions,’’ he added.

The invited athletes for the

men’s 100m event are: Harry Chukwudike, Anthony Egode, Mamus Emoobunovie, Victor Ikhazoboh, Ini-Oluwa Victor and Divine Oduduru.

Also in the team are: Briggs Tamunotonye and Akerele Omeiza for the 200m event, while Oshasha Samson, Ottah Ugochukwu, Akerele Omeiza, Ebelebe Charles, Adeniji Ademola and Japhet Samuel are for the 400m event.

Agboola Daniel will feature in the 800m, while Ifeanyi Atuma and Bashiru Abdullahi are to participate in the110m event.

Thaddeus Okpara will participate in high jump, while Fabian Edoki will feature in triple jump.

Athletes for the long jump are Okulaja Babajide and Joseph Edafiadhe. Ituah Enahoro will feature in the Octathlon event.

In the women’s 100m category is: Peace Uko, Deborah Odeyemi, Mariam Bassey and Nkem Ezialah.

The women for the 400m event are: Rita Ossai, Ekanem Comfort, Ada Benjamin, Uwakwe Nkeiruka, Abike Egbeniyi, Edidiong Ofonime and Alakija Denni.

Abike Egbeniyi is also for the 800m event, while Aminat Olowoora will feature in the 1500m event.

For the 100m and 400m hurdles are: Efe Favour and Ann Nwaogu.

Ese Brume will feature in long jump, while Nwanneka Okwelogu and Anulika Aniefuna will feature in the shot-put and discus events.

Faustina Oguh and Sarah Malagu will feature in race walk.

The coaches are: Tobias Igwe, Daniel Etsebiminor, Uche Emedolu, Maria Usifo, Dr. Peter Oboh, Adebayo Bada, Saheed Alabi, Brown Ebewele, Ayodele Solaja, Tunde Sulaimon, Ken Onuaguluchi, while Olabisi Afolabi is the Team’s Secretary.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Sports

28 Nigeria athletes debut at World Police Games A

By Lambert Tyem

bout 28 athletes and six officials of the Nigeria Police Force are making their first appearance in the Biennial World Police and Fire Games in the 2013 edition of the Games, being hosted in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

A 34-man contingent led by the Force Planning Committee Chairman, CP Abimbola Macaulay, departed the Murtala Mohammed International Air Port, Lagos on Wednesday for Belfast, Northern Ireland with high expectations of winning medals at the event.

Police Spokesman Frank Mba said “The biennial World Police and

IG, Mohammed Abubakar

Fire Games is an athletic competition open to Police agencies throughout the world.

He said Athletes from Seventy (70) countries are expected at the 2013 Belfast Games, to compete in Sixty-six (66) sporting events, including athletics, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Tennis, Marshall Arts like wrestling, Judo, Taekwondo.

“The Nigeria Police contingent will feature in eight (8) events, namely Athletics, Badminton, Boxing, Cycling, Golf, Judo, Table-Tennis and Taekwondo”.

The Inspector-General of Police (IGP) MD Abubakar also warned the contingents against drugs, crime as well as to be good ambassadors of not just the Nigeria Police, but the entire nation.

He enjoined them to conduct themselves creditably throughout their stay in Belfast, and further warned them to distance themselves from drugs, as any athlete cut doping will be dealt with accordingly.

“The IGP in his address reminded the contingent that Nigeria Police athletes are not strangers to international sporting events, as some of them have represented Nigeria and made the country proud in similar Games like the Common wealth Games, the All Africa Games, and even the Olympics.

He challenged them to improve on the record of their predecessors by winning more laurels.

The IGP assured the athletes of a befitting welfare package during the Games, adding that impressive rewards would await those who would win medals for the Force and the country.

The contingent is expected back in the country on 14thAugust, 2013, Police noted.

Chelsea drops Omeruo Utaka replaces Eneramo at Sivasspor for US pre- season

F

ree agent John Utaka has replaced compatriot Michael Eneramo at Turkish club Sivasspor.

Utaka, whose contract at French club Montpellier expired

Utaka - In for Eneramo

this summer, has signed a twoyear deal with the Turkish top league club.

A top agent in Turkey said.

“John Utaka has signed a two-year deal with Sivasspor. He replaces fellow Nigerian Eneramo, who left for Besiktas.

“Utaka is an experienced player and he is expected to fit into the team.”

Utaka will join his new team mates in pre-season training camp after a routine medical checkup.

Another top Turkish club Bursaspor had attempted to sign him. Last season, he played 28 games and scored six goals for Montpellier in the French Ligue 1.

Confederation Cup: Enyimba can’t stop us, Lobi Stars vow

T

he Lobi Stars striker is not bothered they will play the Elephants in the semi finals of the Federation Cup Lobi Stars striker, Anthony Okpotu has told Goal that Enyimba cannot stop them from playing in the finals of the Federation Cup. The Makurdi side defeated Akwa Starlets 2-1 in one of the quarter final matches played at the NnamdiAzikiwe Stadium, Enugu on Wednesday to set up a date with the Aba giants in the semi finals.

Okpotu revealed that if there is one team Enyimba will be afraid of, it is Lobi Stars. “This is not an empty boast. We know how to beat Enyimba and this match will not be an exception,” he declared.

“When you check our records over the years in the Federation Cup, you will notice that if we don’t get knocked out in the round of 64, then we usually

play to the finals.

“I see a good game that football fans will enjoy and be happy that they get to see. Enyimba is a strong side and they have recently started playing very well.

“But that will not stop us from beating them and qualifying for the final. Our aim is to win the trophy this year after losing to Heartland last season.

Omeruo

C

helseahave left out Kenneth Omeruo from the squad they took to the United States of America as they begin the last leg of preseason training.

Omeruo had been expected to make the squad after doing well for Nigeria at the Africa Cup of Nations and at the Confederations Cup but it seems that he is not going to be part of Jose Mourinho’s plans - at least for the forthcoming season.

The likes of Nathaniel Chalobah, Josh McEachran, LucasPiazon have been farmed out on loan and Mourinho mentioned Chalobah specifically that this would be his last loan stint but the portuguese has been silent on Omeruo, which may mean he does not figure in the plans for the new season.

Omeruo could have replaced Tomas Kalas, who had to pull out of the USA tour because of injury but Mourinho has chosen not to replace the 20-year-old Czech Republic defender.

Omeruo has spent two seasons on loan at ADO Den Haag in Holland and may be best advised to tow that same route again.

LMC slams Wikki N2m fine

E

l Kanemi have been awarded a Nigeria league Week 22 match, while hosts Wikki have been slammed following crowd trouble at the game.

Wikki will pay a fine of two million Naira and play their home games behind closed doors on account of the violence.

El Kanemi was leading 1-0 by the 83rd minute before the fans disrupted the game at the AbubakarTafawaBalewa Stadium in Bauchi.

League Management C o m p a n y ( L M C ) top official SalihuAbubakarsaid that the sanctions were meted out to Bauchi to serve as a deterrent.

“The game was not conclusive because Wikki fans encroached on the field and brought the game to an abrupt end and beat up the match officials. The board has resolved that El Kanemi be awarded three points, three goals,” Abubakar disclosed.

“We also fined Wikki Tourists the sum of 2 million Naira, they are to pay for the medical expenses of the match officials that were beaten by their fans.

Akwa United aim high after upsetting Heartland

F

ollowing their upset of Federation Cup defending champions Heartland on Wednesday, Akwa United striker Ada Stephen is convinced they have eliminated the biggest threat to their ambition of lifting the trophy.

Stephen said that they

deserve nothing but the cup after knocking out top premier league sides, Enugu Rangers and Heartland to reach the semifinals.

He insists their semifinal opponents Warri Wolves are next on the firing line.

“I do not see any other obstacle on our way to

winning the cup as we have beaten the major threats to our ambitions this past week,” an elated Stephen said.

“They don’t come any better than Rangers and Heartland in Nigerian football and we outfought and outplayed both of them.

Wikki striker Alaba Johnson

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY| FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Sports WSC: Clos wins gold in Barcelona

O

lympic champion Chad Le Clos won the men’s 200m butterfly gold at the World Swimming Championships in Barcelona.

American Missy Franklin, 18, who won four golds at London 2012, also claimed gold in the women’s 200m freestyle.

South African Le Clos, 21, clocked one minute 54.32 seconds to claim the world title and add to the gold he won in London last year.

British swimmers Lauren Quigley and Georgia Davies both qualified for the 50m backstroke finals.

Quigley finished fourth in the first semi-final with a time of 28.02, while Davies also touched the wall fourth in the second with 28.05.

Le Clos, who beat decorated American swimmer Michael Phelps to the 200m butterfly Olympic title last year to famously prompt an ecstatic

McIlroy hopes positive ahead of WGC tournament

R Chad Le Clos

response from his father Bert, beat Poland’s Pawel Korzeniowski, with China’s Wu Peng third.

China’s Sun Yang won the

men’s 800m freestyle gold, with Michael McBroom of the US second and Canada’s Ryan Cochrane third.

ory McIlroy is hopeful that positive memories from this week 12 months ago can reignite his golf game at the WGC Bridgestone Invitational event.

McIlroy’s fifth place at Akron last year was followed a week later by his stunning eight-shot victory at the US PGA Championship at Kiawah Island.

A year on, McIlroy is in the midst of a slump but he insisted that he remains optimistic.

The Northern Irishman has dropped to third in the world rankings with Open champion Phil Mickelson now behind number one Tiger Woods as McIlroy continues to be without a win since his multi-million switch to Nike equipment.

A second-round 75 saw him missing the cut by four shots at Muirfield and the Akron event is McIlroy’s first tournament since the season’s third major.

The 24-year-old said that he enjoyed some “relaxed golf” with friends at home in Northern Ireland last week with one of his rounds at Clandeboye including a finishing run of seven straight birdies.

WC: Ennis-Hill withdrawal is right decision, says Lewis

McIlroy

Robson beats Kvitova in California Open

Ennis-Hill

F

ormer Olympic champion Denise Lewis says Jessica Ennis-Hill had more to lose than gain by competing at this month’s World Championships.

Olympic heptathlon champion Ennis-Hill has opted not to compete in Moscow because of an Achilles injury.

She withdrew from five meetings between May and July

before competing at the Anniversary Games last weekend, only her second competitive appearance since winning gold at London 2012.

Lewis defied injury to claim gold at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

An Achilles injury threatened her participation in the 800m - the final event of the heptathlon - but, with her leg bandaged, she won gold with 53 points to spare over Russia’s Yelena Prokhorova.

Ennis-Hill is one of a number of Olympic and world champions to have withdrawn from the World Championships, which run from 10-18 August.

Olympic 800m champion David Rudisha will not defend his world title; neither will 100m world champion Yohan Blake nor reigning world heptathlon champion Tatyana Chernova. All three are injured.

L

aura Robson’s progress at the Southern California Open came to an abrupt end when she suffered a 6-1 6-2 thirdround defeat by third seed Petra Kvitova.

The British number one, who beat Kvitova at the Australian Open earlier this year, landed only 41% of her first serves in the opening set.

Robson found her rhythm in the second but could not keep up as Kvitova broke twice late on to win in 75 minutes.

Former Wimbledon champion Kvitova will play either Carla Suarez Navarro or Virginie Razzano in the last eight.

Robson has risen from 53rd to 32nd in the world rankings on the back of form that included a run to the last 16 at Wimbledon and victories elsewhere over Agnieszka Radwanska, Maria Kirilenko and Venus Williams.

Louganis wants high diving at Olympic Games

F Greg Louganis

ormer US Olympic diving champion Greg Louganis is backing calls for high diving to be included in future Games.

Louganis, 53, who won Olympic golds in 1984 and 1988, was a judge for the men’s 27m high diving final as the sport made its World Championships debut in Barcelona this week.

The highest DD score in Olympic 10m diving is currently 4.1 whereas when the height goes up to 27m that degree of difficulty can rise to 6.3.

However, the IOC traditionally does not like adding additional disciplines without removing one.

The British divers will now return to competing in the Red Bull World Series with the next round taking place in Boston on 25 August.

Robson

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, AUGUST 2, 2013

Our young voice for this week is 38 year old Charles Alfred, a PhD candidate (peace and conflict studies) of Babcock University, Ogun state. He is currently undertaking a research fellowship with SPDC and is also a lecturer in the Department of Political Science, Federal University, Wukari, Taraba state. He hopes to see a progressive, unity-seeking, educational system as well as the eradication of extreme poverty in Nigeria.

LATEST

FIFA queries NFF over domestic league decisions

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We hope to see a vibrant opposition that will constructively engage the PDP on issues of governance in a way that Nigerians will be the utmost beneficiaries… — Prince Caesar Okeke, acting National Publicity Secretary of ruling PDP, reacting to INEC registration of the newest party, APC

INTRODUCING YOUNG VOICES

SPORTS

NASIR EL-RUFAI ON FRIDAY elrufai@aol.com

are now comfortable speaking or using local languages as channels of communication in the classes.

They promote stereotypes and prejudice in the lecture theatres with spineless highbrow rigour that transform and transfix the unsuspecting students to ‘hatepreachers’and ‘anti-federalists’ with bigoted Orpheus complexes.

This explains why student unionism and even students’ faculties and departmental associations’ leadership elections have been reduced to nativism and an exaggerated clannish fraternity.

Consequently, the Federal

Nigeria: Federal universities as agents of tribalism, disunity L

ate professor Chinua Achebe in his fiercely controversial but factspacked civil war account and biographical book, There was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra, indicted the intellectuals of Nigeria thus: intellectuals in Nigeria were [and are] the worst peddlers of tribalism.’’ As if this denunciation wasn’t enough, the great wordsmith in details narrated the rather insalubrious roles towering scholars such as: Awolowo, Kenneth Onwuka Dike, Aminu Kano, Gabriel Okara, Cyprian Ekwensi, Francis Ellah, Sir Louis Mbanefo, Zik of Africa, Christopher and his brother Pious Okigbo, Anthony Enahoro and unfortunately Achebe himself and others played in kick-starting and perpetuating the Nigerian civil war that killed approximately four million of our country men, women and children within a timeframe of just thirty-six months.

Somehow, Achebe by omission or commission, did not record in his book, the roles minority rights activists and brains like Ken Saro-Wiwa and Captain ElechiAmadi played during the civil war. The books: On a Darkling Plain and Sunset at Biafra,were the entities where Saro-Wiwa and Amadi respectively recorded their self-righteousness. It was so unfortunate that it was essentially only professor Wole Soyinka that defeated sectional and emotional sentimentalisms with his bookknowledge to call on both sides to sheathe their swords of war.

When Soyinka’s peace and conflict resolution and management moves to stop the civil war became unsuccessful, he, unlike most of the intellectuals of those days stepped aside.

If I am allowed to apportion culpability, I will give 70 percent of the cause of the civil war to

‘

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has been queried by the world football governing body, FIFA, demanding to know how the Nigerian Premier League is run.

FIFA’s query addressed to the General Secretary of the NFF, Musa Amadu, follows a petition written to the global body by the former Chairman of the Nigerian Premier League, Rumson Baribote.

Mr. Baribote accused the NFF and the League Management Company of hijacking the functions of the NPL. “The above mentioned name (NFF) has virtually hijacked our functions as the chairman and that of the elected board members of the Nigerian premier league and given same to a company of his through the instrumentality of the government on Nigeria corporate affairs commission, “he wrote in the petition to FIFA. “Recently he went ahead with other and fraudulently registered his own private company (League management company ltd) with the rules governing the administration of football all over the world as contained in FIFA CAF NFF NPL statutes which is of a strong view that there must be an elected board to administer football even at club levels.

“It is on this note and many more information that will be revealed in the course of investigation that I humbly call on your esteemed office to immediately intervene through and objective investigation of the activities of Alhaji Aminu Maigari so as to save the game of football in Nigeria within your most convenient time,” he added.

In FIFA’s query to the NFF, signed by its Secretary General, Jerome Valcke, it asked the NFF to provide answers on modalities of the operations of the LMC and the current situation of the Nigerian League.

“In order for our office to get a clearer picture of the current situation, we would like to kindly request you to provide us with a report.

In particular this report should include a description of any actions that have been taken by the NFF in relation to and affecting the Nigeria Premier League and/or its officers as well as details of any related action filed in an ordinary court,” FIFA said.

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Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmad Rufa’i our intellectuals. The saddest thing is that; unrepentantly, the intellectuals narrated their near war-crime activities in their post-civil war books. Because public opinion has not taken time to scrutinize the noxious activities of this community—the intellectuals, in Nigeria they are still basking in the euphoria of their trade which is the promotion of disunity and tribalism. Besides teaching/learning and characters moulding of the youths, the federal universities are also set up to make our brand of federalism (unity-indiversity) to work so well like its counterparts in other jurisdictions.

A federal university is a melting pot, it is a centre of multiculturalism and postmodernism that bubbles with the mixture of aged and novel ideas and ideals.

Unfortunately, the federal universities in Nigeria are now the major workshops where the intellectuals of Nigeria manufacture and distribute their nation-annihilating trade of antiunity. The 26th February, 1965, announcement (actively supported by the intellectuals) that relieved Dr EniNjoku (an Igbo) as the VC of the University of Lagos to be replaced

by Dr Saburi O. Biobaku (a Yoruba) was the genesis of the end of our federal universities backed nationbuilding experiment. At present virtually all our federal universities are manned by intellectuals that are from the communities [or states] that the universities are sited because most of them believe it is their fundamental human right.

The recent University of Benin VC’s appointment debacle (that the new VC was/is not acceptable because he is not a Benin man) is a modern example of the abysmal rot and debauchery in our universities.

Our scholars in most of the federal universities are stone blind to merit and good faith when competing for promotions and positions.

At present most of the Deans of Faculties and Heads of Departments of the federal universities are appointed on the bases of ethnicity and geography.

Principal non-academic staff appointments have also jettisoned merit for tribal or mere geographic origins of the applicants. All these waywardness of the intellectuals have resulted in a situation where 90 percent of students in most faculties and departments of the federal universities are from the same tribe or from the same terrestrial geographical area. Therefore, the federal universities are now incubating centre of what will finally explode Nigeria to oblivion. The seeds that disintegrated the former Yugoslavia were mostly planted by the intelligentsia in their various enclaves’ of learning and equally the genocide in Rwanda was orchestrated by the help of the universities’ dons.

The rate at which federal universities in Nigeria breed sectionalism and tribalism is very alarming, the intellectuals do all these disservices to the nation with reckless abandon. Senior lecturers

Ministry of Education and the National Universities Commission should as a matter of urgency do something drastic to help the nation; because what the intellectuals are doing to this nation in our federal ivory towers is worse than what the crude oil illegal bunkers and the Boko Haram militants are doing. This is because the intellectuals are paid monthly, they are respected and their heinous and unpatriotic nation-devastating poisons are pumped into the future leaders of our nation cunningly and as gospel truths.

Like the nine new federal universities with VCs that are not from the localities that the universities are sited; the VCs of all federal universities should be shuffledgeo-politically. The ones from the north should be sent to the south and vice-versa. Also, 20 percent of all lecturers in any of the federal universities should be from other states, for instance, 20 percent of lecturers in UNN and UNIPORT should be northerners.

The most important thing however, is that any reform(s) that will be devised to help free the federal universities from the leprotic grip of the dyed-in-the-wool tribalistic literati should be backed by law.

English poet, playwright and literary critic John Dryden (16311700) admonished; “all delays are dangerous in war” therefore, all hands must be on deck now to get rid of the Sword of Damocles the academics have been hanging on the nation courtesy of their detrimental activities in the federal universities. According to philosopher George Santayana (1863-1952): “progress, far from consisting in change, depends on retentiveness”, he therefore warned: “those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it”. I rest my case.

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