Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday 02, November, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 60

Friday, November 2, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Zhul-Hajj 17, 1433 AH

N150

Okonjo-Iweala fears oil price crash

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency report

C

oordinating Minister of the Economy/Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala has expressed concern

over oil and gas price volatility, saying prices could fall as more countries discover crude oil and gas.

She spoke in London yesterday, almost at the same

time as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was warning the country against wasteful spending.

“We are worried, we are concerned because obviously so

many countries are discovering oil and gas; so the supply will be increasing over the next few years and therefore we need to plan accordingly to make sure we have the necessary buffers in

our own economy,” OkonjoIweala told reporters.

She was speaking in the context of pressure from Nigeria’s National Assembly Contd on Page 2

JTF aggravates Boko Haram insurgency – Amnesty International

Its methodology is unacceptable - Police Sect wants Buhari to mediate truce in S/ Arabia

By Lambert Tyem, Ibrahim Kabiru Sule & Mustapha Isa Kwaru, Maiduguri

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igerian security forces have committed massive rights violations including summary executions in trying to crush the Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX 1st Nov., 2012

CBN RATES BUYING SELLING $ 154.76 155.76 £ 248.1886 249.792 EURO 202.21 203.516 CFA 0.2885 0.3085 RIYAL 41.267 41.5

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan and his Benin Republic counterparts, Boni Yayi during the latter’s visit to State House, Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

PARALLEL RATES BUYING SELLING EURO 202 205 £ 243 247 RIYAL 40 42 $ 155.5 158.50

Group backs Alison-Madueke’s oil industry reform >> PAGE 3

4,000 die in road accidents annually – FRSC >> PAGE 4

Bakassi: Paul Biya sends special envoy to Jonathan >> PAGE 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

CONTENTS

‘JTF aggravates Boko Haram insurgency’

News

Contd from Page 1 insurgency by the Islamist extremist group Boko Haram, Amnesty International said in a report yesterday.

However, the police swiftly reacted saying it did not accept the methodology Amnesty used to compile its report.

In the report, the Londonbased rights group charged the military with carrying out extra-judicial killings and showing “little regard for the rule of law or human rights” in its campaign against Boko Haram.

“The cycle of attack and counter-attack has been marked by unlawful violence on both sides, with devastating consequences for the human rights of those trapped in the middle,” said Salil Shetty, Amnesty’s secretary general.

Violence linked to the Boko Haram insurgency is believed to have left more than 2,800 people dead since 2009, including killings by security forces.

Special military units known as joint task forces (JTFs) have been deployed to several areas hit hardest by the group, including the city of Maiduguri, Borno state’s capital, considered the Islamists’ base.

“Amnesty International received consistent accounts of witnesses who saw people summarily executed outside their homes, shot dead during operations, after arrest, or beaten to death in detention or in the street by security forces in Maiduguri,” the rights group said.

“Witnesses interviewed by Amnesty International described seeing people who were clearly no threat to life, unarmed, lying down or with their hands over their head or cooperating shot at close range

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

18-19

S/Report

24

Religion

26

Int’l

27

Williams sisters excited to be in Nigeria, Page 41

Revue

31-32

Digest

36

Politics

37-39

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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by the security forces,” the report further said.

Residents of Maiduguri have previously accused soldiers of firing on by-standers after suspected Boko Haram attacks, although the military has consistently denied wrongdoing.

Lieutenant Colonel Sagir Musa, the military spokesman in Maiduguri, told AFP he was not yet familiar with Amnesty’s allegations and would respond later.

The rights group said Boko Haram’s relentless targeting of civilians “may constitute crimes against humanity,” but urged Nigeria “to take responsibility for its own failings” in its campaign against the insurgents, who have said they want to create an Islamic state in the north.

However, the police released a statement in Abuja almost immediately, saying the credibility of the report was in doubt because most of Amnesty’s sources were not named and “thus are not open to confirmation or reconciliation.”

Signed by Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, the statement said “the force is deeply concerned over a key research methodology adopted by Amnesty International in compiling its report.

“The fact that most of the sources of the content of the report are not named”, and thus not open to confirmation or reconciliation, puts the authenticity, credibility and legitimacy of the report in question.”

However, it said “”bearing in mind that the Force has no monopoly of knowledge, the Police High Command (on the strength of the report) will not hesitate to accept honest and

factual recommendations (if any) contained therein and initiate appropriate reforms where necessary.”

It assured that the police would continue to do everything “humanly possible” to improve the capacity and efficiency of its service delivery especially where it has to do with the ore responsibility of protecting life and property.

The statement said the force would at all times, reward excellent deeds by its men, while at the same time, holding accountable those found wanting in the discharge of their statutory duties, bearing in mind that no organization, including Amnesty International, is perfect.

Meanwhile, a supposed member of the sect set conditions yesterday for peace talks with Nigeria’s government, asking that negotiations to end its bloody guerrilla fight be held outside of the nation and that a former military ruler be involved.

The demands came during a telephone conference call with local journalists in Maiduguri, that once held the sect’s main mosque and has suffered the brunt of its violence over several years of shootings and bombings.

However, whether the offer represents a clear call for peace from the group remains unclear, as its command and control structure remains a mystery and the call for talks came from a member unknown by the media until Thursday.

The man, who identified himself as Abu Mohammed Ibn Abdulaziz, said the peace talks must be held in Saudi Arabia and involve former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari.

They named other mediators as former Yobe state governor, Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Ambassador Gaji Galtimari.

The man said those were conditions set by Abubakar Shekau, Boko Haram’s leader.

“We are not actually challenging the state, as people are saying, but the security (forces) who are killing our members, children and wives,” the man said in the call. “We are highly offended but if this government is sincere, everything (the attacks) will come to an end. We want to dialogue but government must show sincerity in its handling of the situation.”

The man also said that authorities also must arrest former Borno state Gov. Ali Modu Sheriff as a precondition for talks, as well as compensate sect members whose family members have been killed. Imprisoned sect members also must be immediately released, the man said.

The call came through the channels that Boko Haram usually communicates with journalists, who gathered at the local office of the Nigeria Union of Journalists to listen. However, Abdulaziz spoke entirely in English, which is unusual for the sect.

Also, journalists ordinarily hear from a spokesman who uses the nom de guerre Abul Qaqa in such calls. The man also did not call for the implementation of Shariah law across Nigeria, a multiethnic nation of more than 160 million people.

That long has been a demand of the sect.

It is also unusual for the sect to ask specifically for Buhari as a negotiator. Buhari was head of state between January 1984 and August 1985. He is popularly viewed across as an honest man.

His spokesman, Yinka Odumakin, could not be immediately reached yesterday for comment.

Okonjo-Iweala fears oil price crash Contd from Page 1

(parliament) for the government to count on a higher oil price and save less of its current high revenues from the sector.

The 2013 federal budget assumes a global oil price of $75 a barrel, up from $72 a barrel in 2012, but the House of Representatives has pushed to raise the benchmark to as much as $80 per barrel.

Money earned from oil over the benchmark price is deposited into a savings mechanism called the Excess Crude Account (ECA).

Any increase in the benchmark price will therefore reduce savings and make the country less resistant to oil price shocks.

“In terms of benchmark price, we strongly believe that 75 dollars is the right benchmark for us, it will help us to build buffers,” Okonjo-Iweala said.

“The National Assembly thinks differently. We are a democracy; they want to have it slightly higher (so) we’re in dialogue.”

The minister added that Nigeria was still considering issuing a Eurobond next year.”We are planning one, we are working hard on it, we have to gauge the appetite out there and see what we can do, but yes we do have that in mind,” she said.

Nigeria issued a debut $500 million Eurobond in January last year, which was 2.5 times oversubscribed.”But I can tell you that we’re going, whatever the case may be, to maintain a tight fiscal stance.” On its part, the IMF said should be prudent in expenditures by saving for the future.

Acknowledging that the country’s economy has recorded an appreciable rate of

performance, it however cautioned against undertaking expansionary fiscal policies as global economic crisis and European zone financial turbulence are yet to abate.

Its Senior Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Scott Rogers spoke yesterday in Abuja while presenting to journalists the World Economic Outlook.

Rogers said “the global economic outlook remains uncertain. The global context has continued to witness slowing growth mostly marked in the advanced economies.”

According to him, “export growth in Sub-Sahara Africa has remained weak due to the weakening economies of the advanced countries”.

On Nigeria, he said the country could fence herself off from the meltdown crisis by adopting monetary prudency as well as

saving as much funds as possible to avoid being caught napping should the price of oil crash at the international oil market.

The IMF Reps cautioned Nigeria’s lawmakers against insisting on anchoring the 2013 budget on an oil benchmark price of $80 per barrel of crude.

He said Nigeria operates the cheapest oil price which he was the reason why petroleum products smuggling remains a thriving business, adding that about 80 per cent of the petrol consumed in neighbouring Benin Republic is smuggled from Nigeria.

Rogers also said Nigeria has been paying for petrol in other nations because of its government’s subsidy policy and for a nation which is one of the world’s largest oil producers to be importing fuel and having long queues at fuel stations is an aberration.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Kogi, Enugu, Anambra oil dispute: Reconciliatory meeting holds Nov 29

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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n an effort to resolve the lingering oil feud among Kogi, Enugu and Anambra states, a reconciliatory meeting has been fixed for November 29 and 30 in Lokoja, Kogi state capital.

Governor Idris Wada of Kogi state disclosed this to State House correspondents yesterday after attending the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC).

The meeting is a follow-up to the one held at the instance of the President at the Presidential Villa, Abuja on Wednesday.

Wada expressed the belief that the meeting which would also involve the National Boundary Commission and the boundary commissions of the feuding states would find a lasting solution to the feud.

“The Federal Government has taken it as a serious matter.

Yesterday (Wednesday), Mr. President convened a meeting of Kogi, Anambra and Enugu states and the matter is fully under control.

“A lot of work has been done by the National Boundary Commission and Mr. President directed them to expedite the processes and a meeting has been scheduled to hold in Lokoja, Kogi state capital on the 29th of November and 30th of November precisely to address at the highest level of the National Boundary Commission and the boundary commissions of the three states to resolve the boundary issues and expedite action in concluding the matter.

Wada also said Vice President Namadi Sambo briefed the National Economic Council that he had set machinery in motion to resolve any area of conflict between Cross River and Rivers states.

He said the feuds currently ensuing among state over oil wells had not yet reached the level of war or discord.

PAGE 3

Oil feud: Jonathan summons Amaechi, Kalabari elders to Abuja

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

A

raging dispute between over the ownership of five oil wells in Rivers and Bayelsa states may have forced President Goodluck Jonathan to summon Governors Rotimi Amaechi and Kalabari elders to Abuja for a meeting this weekend.

Amaechi and the Kalabari leaders insist that the oil wells were ceded to Bayelsa state with the connivance of the Presidency which has denied this, calling on

all stakeholders to allow the government agencies in charge of boundary issues to do their work.

President Jonathan had said the dispute predates his administration, and has been a matter for consideration by the National Boundary Commission, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and other relevant agencies, long before now.

He added that the matter was never at any time brought before

either him or the Vice President.

However, a source in the Presidency hinted yesterday that President Jonathan who was embarrassed by a recent protest by Kalabari leaders in Abuja has summoned Governor Amaechi along with the Kalabari elders to a meeting in Abuja.

Though it is said to be a peace meeting , the source added that President Jonathan is unhappy with the way Amaechi and the Kalabari elders attempted to

misinform the public and rope him into something that has nothing to do with him or his office.

Amaechi was quoted to have called on officials of the Bayelsa state government to leave the oil wells in Soku and Elem-Sangama communities for Rivers people as they had been in existence even before the creation of Bayelsa state.

He said Rivers and Bayelsa states had never had issues with their boundary as it is well known to all.

L-R: Deputy Director, Africa affairs of Amnesty International, Lucy Freeman, Secretary General, Amnesty International, Salil Shatty and the organisation’s Director in the Secretary’s office, Steve Grawshaw, during a media briefing on human rights violations by both Security forces and Boko Haram sect in northern Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Bakassi: Paul Biya sends special envoy to Jonathan

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Paul Biya of Cameroon, yesterday sent a special delegation to meet President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, Abuja on issues bordering mutual relationship and African brotherhood.

It would be recalled that the two countries were at loggerheads over the

ownership of the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsular until the International Court of Justice awarded the area to Cameroon.

There have been agitations lately by stakeholders, including the National Assembly, who asked the Federal Government to appeal the ruling before the time limit allowed for appeal expired.

But the government ruled out the option, saying there

were no new facts that could warrant the appeal.

There have also been reported cases of abuse of Nigerians living in the area since the ICJ verdict.

The three-man delegation include the country’s Deputy Prime Minister, Ahmadu Ali; Cameroonian Ambassador to Nigeria, Abbas Iya Ibrahima; and the Minister of Foreign Affairs and African Cooperation,

Jean Nguta.

The delegation told Jonathan that Biya was interested in working hand-in-hand with him to sort out all issues that border on the common interests of the two countries.

The Cameroonian leader was also said to have expressed his willingness to further promote and strengthen relationship between the two countries.

Group backs Alison-Madueke on oil industry reforms

By Muhammad Nasir

A

group known as Oil and Gas Transformation Platform (OGTP), has thrown its weight behind the several transformation initiatives engendered by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke to sanitise the operations of the oil and gas industry.

Addressing a press conference in Abuja ahead of the scheduled submission of the

reports of the Special Task Forces set up by Mrs. AlisonMadueke to reform the oil and gas industry, the chairman of OGTP, Engr. Paul Dudu expressed optimism that the initiatives will usher in the much needed reforms in the sector. Engr. Dudu noted that the task forces were established with the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan to bring sanity, probity, efficiency and reform to all the parastatals of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources ahead of

the passage of the new Petroleum Industry Bill currently being considered by the National Assembly.

He noted that in setting up these task forces, government went beyond partisanship and even appointed known opponents and critics of the Jonathan administration like Malam Nuhu Ribadu and Olisa Agbakoba.

“Nigerians must commend and applaud the minister for inviting tried and tested professionals, technocrats,

labour and civil society members to design a way forward for the greater good of the people of Nigeria”, he said.

On the controversy raised by the circulation of a leaked version of the Ribadu-led committee to the media, the group noted that it would be unfair and also hasty for anybody to rely on a leaked draft version of the report when the final edition was yet to be submitted to government in line with established procedures.

Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 4

N4.56bn pension scam: accused absence stalls trial

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Federal High Court in Abuja was yesterday told that the second accused person in the ongoing pension scam trial, Mrs. Chidi Phina, had since been hospitalised which was responsible for her absence at the trial.

The joint trial which involved a former director, Pension Administration in the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Sani Teidi Shaibu and nine others for allegedly embezzling N4.56 billion, was stalled and subsequently adjourned till January 16, 2013.

In a joint criminal trial, all accused persons are expected to be physically present before trial can proceed.

Counsel to Phina, Godwin Uche tendered a medical report from the National Hospital, Abuja, and asked for an adjournment.

Prosecuting counsel, Emmanuel Egbuagwu from Godwin Obla’s Chambers, did not oppose the application for adjournment saying the trial could not proceed in the absence of any of the accused persons since it is a joint trial.

It will be recalled that EFCC had earlier re-arraigned Shaibu and nine others alongside 30 companies before the court on an amended 24 count charge over a N4.56 billion pension scam.

4000 Nigerians perish annually in road crashes – FRSC

Shettima dismisses ‘political’ Boko Haram

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

B

orno state governor, Kashim Shettima yesterday dismissed the widely held belief that the ongoing Boko Haram insurgency is a political crisis, arguing that it has more to do with poverty.

The governor who spoke to State House correspondents after yesterday’s National Economic

Council (NEC) meeting, said it was the duty of the security agencies to unearth the perpetrators of the Boko Haram violence.

“On the issue of the involvement of politicians, I think is within the realm and the responsibility of the security agencies to unearth the truth.

“I am more of a developmental politician and I

am more interested in addressing the core issues that make our society vulnerable to the antiques of religious bigots and all sorts of misfits that are inducting our young ones to these things.

“So I don’t want to dabble into of the security agencies neither do I want to respond to allegations and accusations from any quarter. But it’s the responsibility of security agencies to unearth

those behind Boko Haram,” he said.

He continued: “I think the problem at hand goes beyond politics, it goes beyond that. The underlying factor is poverty. The most important thing is how we can resolve this problem and restore harmony, peace and how to eradicate endemic poverty which is the underlying factor of the whole crisis…”

L-R: Corp Marshal, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, President, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administrators, Mr. Neil Schuster and Chairman of the occasion, Ambassador Ojo Maduekwe, during the FRSC 4th Annual lecture series, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Corps Marshall, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Mr. Osita Chidoka, has restated that about 4000 Nigerians perish annually in road crashes, declaring however, that the number of deaths has drastically reduced within this period.

He also said the number of people consumed by crashes is more than those killed by Malaria and AIDS. Chidoka, who gave this information yesterday in Abuja, during the FRSC’s 4th annual lecture series, added that most of the deaths in the country are usually caused by the poor conduct of most commercial drivers.

At the programme with the theme: “Safe and Sustainable Transport: Lessons for Nigeria, he said the corp was working assiduously to collaborate with states and notable organisations to fashion a better way that will ameliorate the ills of crashes and deaths in the country.

The FRSC boss also said stringent measures will be taken by the corps before issuing drivers licence to car owners.

Similarly, the guest speaker at the occasion and CEO, American Association of Motor Vehicle Administration, Neil Schuster, said for a country like Nigeria to tow the line of the developed nations, it must introduce transport technology and highway safety programmes to update its road users with the world’s best road practices.

N10.9b theft: No Finbank director paid for 2 billion shares - Witness From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

A

law enforcement officer in charge of Compliance and Enforcement department in the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Anafi Buba Mohammed, yesterday, told Justice Lateefa Okunnu of a Lagos High court sitting in Ikeja, that none of the directors of Finbank Plc paid for about 2 billion units of shares allotted to them.

Mohammed also told the judge that there was no loan involved in the purchase of the shares by the

director of the bank.

The witness stated this while being cross examined by Mr. O. A. Ogunlesi, counsel to Mr. Danjuma Ocholi, the 3rd defendant in the trial of the former managing director of Finbank Plc, Mr. Okey Nwosu.

EFCC had charged Nwosu and three others for allegedly stealing N10.9b belonging to the Finbank.

Those being tried alongside Nwosu include Dayo Famoroti, 2nd defendant, Danjuma Ocholi, 3rd defendant and Mrs. Agnes Ebubedike, 4th defendant, all

former directors of the bank.

At the resumed trial yesterday, Mohammed informed the court that it was customers’ money that was used to pay for the shares.

Mohammed said there was also no board approval for the shares that were allotted to the directors.

The witness explained that the share allotment which is the subject of the on-going litigation is different from the one for which the directors got back loan to purchase.

“I know the source of money that was used to pay for the initial

34 million units of shares.

“But the transaction for the shares in question and under litigation was not approved by the board.

“As a forensic accountant, I interacted with documents and we are supposed to interpret beyond the document”, he said.

EFCC counsel, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs, told the court that he still has three more witnesses to bring before the court in the matter.

Justice Okunnu adjourned the matter till November 27, 2012 for continuation of trial.

Tension in Akwa Ibom over plot to impeach Speaker From Mike Etim, Uyo

B

arely 24 hours after the Akwa Ibom state deputy governor, Mr. Nsimah Ekere resigned his position, tension again gripped the state yesterday over an alleged plan by members of the state House of Assembly to impeach the Speaker, Hon. Sam Ikon.

As earlier as 6:00 am yesterday, all roads leading to the State House Assembly complex were cordoned off by Hilux trucks manned by heavily armed mobile policemen.

Motorist plying the route were re-directed to use alternative

routes, while human movement was restricted in the vicinity.

Workers working in the House of Assembly were thoroughly frisked by armed policemen manning the Assembly gate.

Sources said the Speaker and his deputy, who were always heralded into the complex with sirens and armed escorts, were not spared this ordeal as their vehicles were stopped at the gate and the Speaker equally frisked.

Journalist also who wanted to enter the complex were denied entry but were later allowed in, but not until they passed through the same rigour.

The delay till 1 pm, instead of

10 am when the House usually sits, further fueled the fear that the impeachment plot could be true.

Against all speculations, however when the House finally sat at 1 pm, the tension was diffused as the Speaker announced to the House that the issue of the day was a letter written, signed and sent to the House by the State Governor, Godswill Akpabio informing the House of the resignation of the State Deputy Governor Mr. Nisimah Ekere.

“The purpose of this letter therefore is to intimate the House of the situation of things and to add that a nominee for the office the deputy governor of Akwa Ibom

state would be forwarded soon for clearance”, the letter stated.

The issue of impeachment was not mentioned and the House rose after 30 minutes of sitting.

The house later adjoined till today when the matter of the nominee for the post of the deputy governor is likely to be debated.

Speaking to the press later, the chairman, House Committee on Information, Hon. Effiong Antigha representing Okobo constituency, when asked why there was an unusual presence of fully armed security personnel in the complex said it was to forestall insecurity in respect of the recent happenings in the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 5

EFCC arrests 12 suspected land racketeers

T

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), yesterday, said it had arrested 12 suspected land racketeers operating at the Abuja Geographical Information Service (AGIS).

In a statement in Abuja, the acting Head of Media and

Publicity, Wilson Uwujaren, said the arrests were effected by the commission’s Special Task Force Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML).

The statement noted that the arrests followed intelligence reports on the operation of the racketeers in Abuja, adding

that the activities of the suspects had led to the “fleecing of unsuspecting Nigerians of their hard earned money”.

It also said that four of the 12 were found with suspected fake land title documents and were being held for further explanation on their culpability

Kwankwaso pledges to decongest Kano

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

K

ano state governor, Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, has disclosed his intention to decongest the city of Kano, saying it is part of the ongoing efforts to crea te three new cities in the state.

The idea behind the administration’s resolve to build the cities was informed by the need to decongest and open up the city of Kano through providing a decent accommodation to the people of the state.

According to a statement signed by his Director of Communication and Public Relations Strategy, Baba Halilu Dantiye, Kwankwaso made this disclosure during a meeting with contractors and consultants handling the projects.

He maintained that his government had set aside resources to ensure that the project is completed in two years, saying “as the policy of our administration, we don’t

initiate any project without good plan and adequate provision of resources for its smooth completion”.

He also assured that the

quality of the houses and other infrastructure to be provided in the three cities will be of world standard and quality.

Edo SSG says doctors’ attitude to work unacceptable From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

E

do state Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Simon Imuekemhe, has described doctors attitude to work, particularly in the state public sector, as unacceptable, advising that strong commitment to service delivery to the people is not negotiable.

The SSG made this observation while addressing the chairman and members of Nigeria Medical and Dental Consultants Association of Nigeria, Edo State Hospital Management Board branch, who paid him a courtesy call yesterday at

Government House, Benin City.

He recalled with regret the alleged nonchalant attitude of most medical practitioners as revealed during last Monday’s visit by Governor Adams Oshiomhole to the Central Hospital, Benin City, calling for attitudinal change and strict adherence to the ethics of the medical profession.

The chairman of the Association, Dr. Eghe Abbe, said the purpose of the visit was to intimate the SSG of their forthcoming annual conference, scheduled from 4th to 8th of December 2012.

on the series of land scams going on in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The statement quoted Mrs. Angela Nworgu, the Head of the SCUML, as saying that the arrest would be a continuous exercise until Abuja and its environs are sanitised of

unscrupulous and shady land dealers.

She warned those who specialise in obtaining money under false pretence from unsuspecting members of the public with a promise of offering non-existent land to desist from the practice. (NAN)

Legal Aid Council dispenses over 40 cases in Kebbi From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

T

he Kebbi state chapter of the Legal Aid Council, has disclosed that it has dispensed over 40 court cases in its efforts to give legal assistance to people of the state.

Disclosing this yesterday during the two-day national awareness campaign, the state coordinator of the council, Barrister Salisu Mohammad

Alhassan, stated that they were out in the streets to sensitise people about the existence of the council in Kebbi, which started its operations barely one year ago and to create awareness about their activities.

He added that there were about 100 cases still pending, which the council is perusing, saying that the services of the council are free.

Niger HQ TRADOC observes Tombola today From Iliya Garba, Minna

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he Headquarters, Training and Doctrine Command, Nigeria Army Minna (HQ TRADOC) has declared tomorrow a Tombola Night as part of its activities to consort with members of the public.

A statement issued and signed by the spokesman of TRADOC, Captain Isaac Okorondu, said that the essence

of “Tombola Nite” is to meet with friends and associates of different backgrounds to have a happy moment, adding that civilians should avail themselves the chance to register as honourary members.

Captain Okorondu reiterated that the Tombola Nite is one of the ancient social activities in military circles that is used to further strengthen the relationship between military and civilians.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

No vacancy in Edo LGs, says Oshiomhole From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

E

do state governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole may have ignored the resolution of the state House of Assembly sacking the state’s local government transition committees as he has declared that there is no vacuum in the administration of the state’s local governments.

Speaking during a meeting with the LG caretakers in his office on Wednesday, the governor said people erroneously believe there is a lot of money in the local government system.

He stated that after paying teachers’ salaries, the LGs barely have enough to pay their workers and embark on developmental projects.

“You assumed office at a very challenging time. Many of you inherited huge debts left by your predecessors in office, including debts owed to Federal Governments such as VAT that were not remitted”, he lamented.

He however said “the House of Assembly has passed a resolution requesting for the dissolution for the caretaker committees. Their argument is that the local governments ought to be governed by people elected. That is the law; that is the constitution and that is the idea”.

“But we must remind ourselves that you assumed office not on the strength of your application, but you assumed office because we had a situation

in which it was impossible to conduct a local government election”, he noted.

The governor explained “that at the time of the tenure of the expiration of your predecessors the new voter’s register has not been prepared and we cannot allow a vacuum in the management of the councils. It became inevitable that we appoint caretaker committees to provide leadership for the local governments which led to your appointments”.

Explaining the reason why the local government elections have not been conducted, Oshiomhole said: “Few weeks to the national election, the voters’ register was ready and the whole nation was preparing for the National Assembly, Presidential and House of Assembly elections. It was only natural that it was given priority. As that one was over the governorship election was due.

“Now those two elections have come and gone and so we can say

that conditions are now ripe to conduct the local government election”.

He noted that there are still legal issues adding that he would the find legal solutions such that we would be able to conduct a local government election in the nearest future.

“This must be done according to law, and government must be seen to respect the judgment of the court even when we don’t agree with the logic that informs such judgment.

… suspends teachers’ recruitment

T

he Edo state government has suspended the recruitment exercise undertaken by the state PostPrimary Education Board (PPEB).

A statement endorsed by Peter Okhiria, Chief Press Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole, says “preliminary investigations into the exercise revealed that it was fraught with unwholesome practices as the exercise sacrificed merit on the altar of other selfish motives.

“Consequently, in accordance

with our commitment to transparency and accountability, the exercise is suspended and the appointment letters issued are hereby revoked. All those purportedly offered appointment through the exercise are advised to stay away.

“Government will review the entire exercise and give room to all to re-apply and only those who scale through the fresh test which will be transparently conducted will be offered appointment”.

Nasarawa SUBEB task technical officers on standards From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he Management of the Nasarawa State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) has tasked its technical officers from across the state on the need for maintaining stipulated standards in all the ongoing contracts being executed by the board.

Chairman of the board, Malam Abdulkarim Mohammad Abdullahi, in an address during a meeting with the officers at the premises of the board, stated that it has become necessary to awaken the officers to their responsibility following a complaint arising from Yalwa community in Kokona local government area to the effect that a contractor handling the building of a block of classrooms

was using substandard products.

He described as unacceptable any attempt to flout the standards set by the board for the execution of all the projects ongoing across the state, warning that the board will not hesitate to sanction any erring staff or contractor.

He charged the technical officers to ensure strict supervision of projects in their domain, threatening to sanction anyone found wanting in the discharge of his responsibility.

Speaking on behalf of the officers, Zakari Elayo, technical officer, Keana local government area, pledged cooperation with the management of the board to maintain high standards in the execution of projects.

R-L: Senate President, David Mark decorating his newly promoted ADC, Chief Superintendent of Police (CSP) Abel Miri, yesterday at the National Assembly in Abuja, he is supported by the ADC's wife, Damaris Abel.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NTDC plans to introduce electronic tourist credit card

By Miriam Humbe with agency report

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he Nigerian Tourism D e v e l o p m e n t Corporation (NTDC), has revealed that plans are on to introduce electronic tourist credit cards in the country.

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, Director-General of the NTDC, who made this disclosure in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos, said the plan was part of efforts at improving the tourism

sector.

The card, as Chief Runsewe explained, would afford tourists the ease of shopping in any country in the world and also put to rest complaints by most tourists of not being able to use their foreign credit cards in Nigeria.

He observed that most shopping centres in Nigeria were not accepting foreign credit cards, adding that with the introduction of the card, tourists would conveniently do their shopping anywhere.

Public hearing: NOA boss urges officers to mobilise Nigerians

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam s the House of Representatives committee on the 1999 Constitutional Amendments Review begins federal constituency public hearings, the Director General of the National Orientation Agency (NOA), Mr. Mike Omeri, has directed Chief Orientation and

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Mobilisation Officers of the agency across the 774 local government areas in the country to ensure massive mobilisation of Nigerians to participate in the exercise.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary of the Agency, Paul Odenyi, underscores the importance of the exercise in the development of democracy and directed all

the local government officers of the agency to be physically present at the scheduled public hearings.

The House scheduled constituency public hearings in the 360 federal constituencies of the country yesterday (Thursday, November 1, 2012).

The DG, while intimating the Deputy Speaker of the House and chairman of the committee,

Emeka Ihedioha on the constitutional review in the Lower House, outlined the mandate of the agency to include: publicising government activities and programmes, and mobilising support for them.

He said the public hearing offers the NOA the opportunity to partner with the legislature in the crucial function of constitutional amendment.

“Most of our local shops do not accept credit card, they only operate on Point of Sales (POS) machines and Automated Teller Machines (ATM).

“With the introduction of electronic tourist credit card, if you go to any ATM with the right number, money will be made available to you.

“The card is unique because it will check and protect tourists from losing their money to thieves,” Runsewe stated.

He noted that Nigeria was fast becoming a tourist destination in the continent, and solicited the support of the media in promoting the industry.

“The truth is that we cannot continue to depend on the oil sector. The government is determined to make sure that Nigeria gets her own share as a tourist destination in the global market.

“Besides, Nigeria is one of the most tourist-friendly countries in the world,” he added, saying the country has equally embraced e-tourism like other developing countries of the world.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 7

Jonathan hails Obasanjo’s appointment to Diamond Jubilee Trust

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has felicitated with former president, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo on his appointment as Nigeria’s Representative for Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust.

The President in a congratulatory letter to Chief Obasanjo, expressed confidence that in this new honorific

position, the former president would through his “wide network of contacts across the Commonwealth, ensure that the Trust generates the resources required to fund legacy projects in the name of Queen Elizabeth.”

President Jonathan while wishing the former president success in his new endeavour, said he considered the appointment not only a personal honour to Chief Obasanjo, but also to Nigeria as a country.

••• Condoles with Attah over wife’s death According to his spokesman,

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has condoled with the former governor of Akwa Ibom state, Obong Victor Attah over the death of his wife, Mrs. Allison Attah.

The President who said he received the sad news with a heavy heart, on behalf of himself and the Federal Government, enjoined Attah’s family to take solace in the fact that late Mrs. Attah lived a good life characterised by love and care for the family and service to mankind.

“The particular attention she paid to the welfare and health of children in Akwa Ibom state under her Child Development Trust programme which touched several lives will always be remembered by the beneficiaries,” he said of Mrs. Attah.

Dr. Reuben Abati, President Jonathan prayed Obong Victor Attah good health to keep the memory of his late spouse alive and the fortitude to bear the irreplaceable loss.

Interior ministry refutes recruitment rumour

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has dispelled rumour making the rounds that the paramilitary agencies of the Nigeria Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC); Federal Fire Service (NFF); Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS), and the Nigeria Prisons

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

enate President, David Mark, has tasked men and officers of the Nigerian Police Force to always exhibit attributes of fairness and equity in the discharge of their duties to the nation.

Mark stated this yesterday while decorating his Aide-de Camp, ADC Abel Miri, with the rank of Chief Superintendent of Police, (CSP) in his office, stating that police have major roles to play in ensuring a safer environment and stable economy.

He advised that promotion should be seen as an added responsibility in its entirety, saying “I am appealing to other police officers across the length and breadth of our country as the nearest institution to the people, they have major roles to play in ensuring equity and fairness in our society.

“It takes a man with character and good conscience to recognise hard work and recommend another for promotion. Promotion is a call for higher responsibility and it is a way of doing more and not doing less”, Senator Mark urged.

Service (NPS) were receiving applications for recruitment.

Moro in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja, by the Chief Press Secretary, Taye Akinyemi, said the ministry will make public its vacancies in national newspapers at the appropriate time, saying that the ministry is fine-tuning strategies to introduce the “e-

recruitment method in the processing of applications for job placement in the services.

It also declared that the statement was necessary to properly sensitise the general public and interested applicants who have been trouping in from locations across the country to Abuja to physically submit

applications, for which no vacancies have been advertised, and to emphasise that henceforth, such unsolicited applications will not be received.

The minister further advised the general public to be sensitive to the activities of fraudsters who are out to dupe innocent Nigerians.

Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Malam Nuhu Ribadu which is still pending in court.

The trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole had already thrown out the request on the ground that Clarke is not a party in the suit before him and that the anti-graft agency has not brought any application seeking to join him in the matter.

Clarke said EFCC’s failed attempt against his person was a ploy to stifle good conscience, freedom of speech and expression.

He accused EFCC of doublespeaking in the matter because of what it stands to gain from the $15 million Ibori allegedly

offered as bribe to compromise EFCC’s investigation into allegations of fraud preferred against him when he was governor of Delta state.

Clarke said Chief Rotimi Jacob’s motion seeking the leave of the court to bring contempt proceedings against him shows “an ignorance of the law by his professional steps and infantile application in allowing himself to be used by the chairman of the EFCC, Mr. Ibrahim Lamorde to the embarrassment of stakeholders in the administration of justice in Nigeria”.

The Ijaw leader said it is laughable that EFCC is

receivers of stolen goods who were handed over to the police by the SSS, were yesterday arraigned before an Evboriaria Magistrate Court Benin-City.

Speaking to journalists shortly before their arraignment, the suspects admitted being armed robbers who have robbed in several houses in Edo state.

They claimed to have admitted taking part in the murder on Oyerinde on May 4, 2012 as a result of torture they

went through in the hands of operatives of the SSS. They denied ever being to late Oyerinde’s house and described the killing of the late governor’s private secretary as unfortunate.

Meanwhile, the court presided over by Senior Edo Asemota has ordered that the suspects be remanded in prison custody.

The court also ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecution for advice.

complaining about facts known to the whole world, which he noted he is only reinforcing with other compatriots.

While debunking EFCC’s claim that Senator Andy Uba had no knowledge of the bribe money, Clarke said Uba confirmed to him on 23rd September, 2012 that Ibori actually brought the money to his house and Nuhu Ribadu was in his house to receive the money and later sent for Lamorde, then Director of Operations to pick the money.

“I am further alarmed why there should be two contradictory depositions by the EFCC when Bello Yahaya, a senior Superintendent of Police with EFCC, first in 2007 in suit No. FHC/FD/81C/2007 swore to an affidavit that Ibori made attempt to bribe them with $15 million in question but made a turnaround in 2012 in suit No. FHC/ABJ/CS/415/2012 to state that he had the consent and authority of the EFCC chairman, Lamorde to swear a contrary affidavit that the said $15 million is an unclaimed property and no one has claimed or shown any link to the sum”, he said.

He called for immediate restructuring of EFCC so as not to make the international community view the nation’s anti-corruption agencies as ineffective, having displayed such double standards as in the Ibori bribe saga.

Clark wants review of recipients of SAN

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

Mark tasks police on equity, fairness

L-R: Founder, The Albino Foundation, Mr. Jake Epelle, former Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas and Minister of State for Education, Barrister Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, during the formal presentation of Draft National Policy on Albinism in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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orried by the conduct of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria (SAN) in courts, Ijaw leader and one-time information minister, Chief Edwin K. Clarke, has called for a periodic review by the Legal Practitioners Ethics and Privileges Committee on those conferred with the rank.

Clarke stated this yesterday while reacting to a request that he should be summoned before a Federal High Court in Abuja to give the reason behind his comment on the matter relating to the alleged $15 million Ibori bribe to former chairman of the

We did not kill Oyerinde, suspects squeal From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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hree suspects arrested by the State Security Service (SSS) in connection with the murder of Comrade Oliatan Oyerinde, former Principal Private Secretary to Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state, yesterday in Benin, denied committing the crime.

The suspects – Edeh Chikezie, 32; Raymond Oregbo, 24; and Mohammed Ibrahim along with four other alleged criminal

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

L-R: Chairman, Senate Committee on Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Senator Bukar Abba Ibrahim, Minister of Lands, Housing and Urban Development, Mrs. Amal Pepple and the Vice Chairman of the Senate Committee, Senator Gbenga Ashafa,during a National Social Housing Conference, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: Representative of Minister of Education, Mrs. Oby Ihekwaba, president, Reading Association of Nigeria (RAN), Dr.Chinwe Muodumogu and Deputy Director, Vocational Education, Ministry of Education, Mr. Nabor Jagaba, during RAN 13th Biennial National Conference, on Wednesday in Abuja.

L-R: Convener of event, Comrade Olawale Okunniyi; Director-General, Nigeria Institute of International Affairs (NIIA), Prof. Bola Akinterinwa, Sen. Bassey Ewa Henshaw, and former president, National Association of Women Journalists, Mrs Fatima Abdul Karim, at a National Dialogue on Citizens Perspective on the resolution of the Bakassi Crisis in Lagos on Wednesday

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Dr. George Ossi, representative of Minister of Health, Dr. Bosede Adediran, Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr Abayomi Ajayi, and Secretary, FCT Health and Human Services, Mr. Demola Onakomaiya during the Launch of a clinic, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: past president, Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Engr. Charles Mbanefo, Deputy Director, Informative Deputy, Ministry of Education, Mrs Irene Mbanefo and Abuja branch chairman of NSE, Engineer Emeka Ozioko, during 2012 Engr. Charles Mbanefo Distinguished Lecture, on wednesday in Abuja. Photos: Mahmud Isa & Justin Imo-owo

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 9

Edo Revenue Board seals First Bank for alleged tax default From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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do state Board of Internal Revenue on Wednesday sealed all branches of First Bank Plc in Benin metropolis for alleged tax default.

Officials of the board are yet to declare the bank's alleged indebtedness; just as calls made to the mobile phone of the chairman of the board, Chief Oseni Elamah for confirmation were unanswered.

However, the action left customers the bank, particularly at Ugbowo, Uselu Shell, King Square, Akpakpava, Ikpoba Hill and Agbor Roads axis

frustrated.

It was learnt that as early as 7am on Thursday, notices were posted at the entrance of the gates bearing "restrained by the order of Board of Internal Revenue, Edo state, for failure to pay tax".

Workers of the bank gathered in clusters at their various branches discussing the matter.

They however declined to comment on the issue.

Apart from few customers with automated teller machine (ATM) cards, at branches with the machines outside the bank building, others who were not so fortunate vented their anger on

workers who milled around the premises.

Kate, a nurse, e x p r e s s e d disappointment in the development.

"This is very irresponsible and disappointing. Why will First Bank, of all the banks, fail to pay the tax they deducted from their staff salaries? It is embarrassing and against national interest.

"How do I transfer this money to my daughter who needs the money at school this morning? Do they expect those who came to deposit large sum of money to move about with their money? That is risky and unsafe", she said.

Police arraign 25-year-old pick-pocket suspect

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n unemployed man, Daniel Eluwa, yesterday, appeared before a Somolu Magistrates' Court in Lagos, charged with stealing four cell phones.

The prosecutor, ASP Akinlebi Adegoke, told the court that the accused stole the phones, valued at N34, 500, on Oct. 27.

He alleged that in an attempt to escape, the accused jumped a fence at No. 10, Pedro St., Bariga between 1a.m. and 2a.m.

and ran into a congregation at a vigil.

Adegoke said that the accused was subsequently apprehended and handed over to the police.

"He could not account for the four phones in his pocket; two Nokia, one Sagem and one Itel.

"The church informed the police and he was arrested; the phones were then switched on and the owners were invited to identify their phones", the prosecutor told the court.

He said that the offences contravened Section 278 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State.

Eluwa, 25, who resides at No. 12b, Oketufuwa St., Bariga, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

Magistrate Bola Osunsanmi granted him bail in the sum of N30, 000 and one surety in like sum.

She adjourned till Nov. 21 for further hearing in the case. (NAN)

'ember months'.

During the simulation exercise in Abuja, stakeholders including officials of NEMA, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) Nigerian Red Cross Society (NRCS) and the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC) performed simulations on how best they could synergise to minimise road crashes within the period.

Addressing the press after the exercise, NEMA's Zonal Coordinator in Abuja, Ishaya Isah Chonoko, urged road users on the need to be cautious while travelling around the country during the ember months, which are perculiar for multiple road crashes.

"This forum is in order to prepare us on how to manage disaster situations that result from the mass movement of the people from one place to another during these ember months", he stressed.

"Therefore, I urge all our critical stakeholders including the media to partner with us to gather necessary support for the FRSC which happens to be the lead agency in road/ motor vehicle related disaster, in their quest to reduce accident rates in our country", Chonoko said.

NEMA, others strategise for 'ember months’ crashes

By Mohammed Kandi

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he National E m e r g e n c y Management Agency (NEMA), in collaboration with some relevant stakeholders in disaster control has organised a simulation exercise in preparations to a coordinated operations that would curtail road traffic accidents during

Performance contract not punitive, says minister

By Joy Baba

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he Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olushola Obabda, has said the 'performance contract' being signed in every ministry is not a punitive measure but a means to ensure that viable performance targets are set and achieved.

The minister stated this in Abuja while signing the performance contract agreement with the Chief of Defence Staff, all the service chiefs, permanent secretaries and directors in the ministry, noting that this will also contribute immensely toward the achievement of vision 20:2020.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER, 2, 2012

5 cops bag 25 years imprisonment each for robbery

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Lagos High Court in Ikeja, yesterday, sentenced five policemen to 25 years imprisonment each for robbing a lorry loaded with textiles in Ikorodu, Lagos, in 2002.

Justice Joseph Oyewole convicted Bestman Denner (52), Musa Mohammed (45), Peter Enidiok (53), Godwin Williams (44) and Emmanuel Ajogbor (48) of conspiracy and robbery.

He said the sentence would start from March 3, 2005 when they were first remanded in prison

custody.

"I hold that there is sufficient evidence to conspiracy as to commit robbery as charged.

"I hereby convict each of them accordingly," he said.

The judge said the fact the defendants were policemen was an "aggravating factor".

"I have duly considered the allocutus.

However, the defendants are policemen trained to protect the public and not otherwise. This in itself is an aggravating factor.

"The defendants took advantage of their being members of the Nigeria Police Force to rob citizens.

"Using the police uniform to rob is a bad signal to the public because it will erode people's confidence on the police.

"The image of the police should not be dented to the extent that members of the public will begin to see police checkpoints as armed robbers' locations."

The prosecution had charged the policemen for robbing the lorry

which was loaded with George and lace materials.

Mrs. Patience Alu, the prosecutor, said the incident took place around 9 p.m. on Nov. 17, 2002 along the Ikorodu-Ijebu Ode Expressway, when the lorry was travelling to Benin with the goods.

Alu said the defendants mounted a roadblock on the road and ordered the driver of the lorry and his assistant to come down.

She said the defendants forcibly took the vehicle's keys and drove it away to an undisclosed

location.

She said the occupants of the vehicle, Messrs Ogundare Sadiru and Peter Akpovile, later went to report the matter at the Igbogbo Police Station in Ikorodu.

She said the lorry was eventually found on Acme Road, Ikeja; Lagos, without any of the textile materials.

The prosecutor said some of the goods were later discovered in the house of one of the defendants during a search by the police.

(NAN)

Pass antiterror bill now AGF urges NASS

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoke, has asked the National Assembly to pass the Terrorism Prevention Bill 2012 into law so as to provide the needed impetus for the war against terrorism in the country.

Speaking at a valedictory session held in honour of retired Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Olufunlola Oyelola Adekeye in Abuja, Adoke said Nigeria has signed up to many global initiatives, adding also that extensive collaboration is ongoing to stem the tide of terrorism in the country.

While lamenting that the country is presently grappling with the challenges occasioned by global terrorism, the AGF called for concerted efforts on the part of all Nigerians to overcome it.

The Body of Senior Advocates of Nigeria in an address delivered on behalf of the body by Chief Wole Olanipekun, said unless the dwindling constitutional fortunes of the State High Court is reversed through the amendment of the 1999 constitution, the courts are now facing jurisdictional extinction.

Olanipekun said it is strange to observe that in a federal set up, section 272 (1) of the constitution now subjects the jurisdiction of the state high courts to section 251 of the same constitution.

He said with this development, the Federal High Court enjoys wide powers and jurisdiction.

The State High Court, he said also has the equally extensive powers of the National Industrial Court to contend with.

"By and large, we are deliberately, consciously and cautiously driving the state high courts to jurisdictional extinction. Yet, majority of the justices of the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court, including the three formidable women at the Supreme Court all started their judicial careers on the high court bench".

Olanipekun said by the constituent of federalism, we are not supposed to subject the jurisdiction of a state high court to that of a federal high court Justice Adekeye, in her speech, called on the Federal Government to assist retired justices of the Supreme Court to surmount the problem of accommodation after retirement, just as she urged government to address the conditions of service of both serving and retired justices of the apex court.

L-R: Project Director, SURE-P MCH, Dr. Ugo Okoli, Executive Director/CEO, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr. Ado Jimada Muhammad and Director, Primary Health Care System Development OFNPHCDA, Dr. Muhammad Jibril Abdullahi, shortly after Nigeria received the Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) award in New Delhi, India, recently.

3727 Bauchi pilgrims receive copies of Quran, blankets, praying mats From Ahmed Kaigama, Saudi Arabia

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auchi state government distributed copies of the Quran, two yards of white clothe, one piece of blanket, and praying mats free of charge to pilgrims from the state who performed this year's Hajj.

Amirul Hajj of the state, Alhaji Rilwan Suleiman Adamu

By A'isha Biola Raji

N

igeria has won the 2012 i n t e r n a t i o n a l innovations award by Common Wealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) based on the innovation of National Primary Health Care Development Agency's Midwives' Service Scheme (MSS).

In a statement signed by M. M. Abubakar, Chief Information Officer, Public Relations Unit of the agency, the award was given to Nigeria in recognition of the agency's innovations in the area of public service which led to

while distributing the items in Mecca, called on the pilgrims to continue with the good attitude they exhibited during the pilgrimage.

The Amir who is also the Emir of Bauchi, explained that the poor feeding, health facilities and shortage of accommodation experienced by pilgrims in Mina and Arafat were not deliberate.

He expressed concern over

the shortage of facilities recorded but stated that it was not the responsibility of Bauchi state government but that of the National Hajj Commission, Abuja.

Adamu emphasised that the problem was not exclusive to pilgrims from Bauchi state as it was a general phenomena for the entire pilgrims from Nigeria.

He said that it was

unfortunate that some pilgrims had to spend the night in an open air in Mina due to shortage of accommodation while others could not be fed.

Adamu added that there was shortage in health facilities in Mina and on Arafat Day as Saudi Arabian authorities had earlier banned the entry of drugs, ambulances and other health facilities.

Nigeria wins 2012 CAPAM award establishment of MSS, launched in 2009 to tackle poor maternal and child health.

At the Award ceremony held on the 26thOctober 2012 at The Ashok Hotel in New Delhi, India, the Midwives Service Scheme emerged as winner.

According to the statement, CAPAM received over 120 submissions from across the Commonwealth in all sectors of the public service.

Nigeria's submission on the Midwives Service Scheme made by

NPHCDA emerged as one of the 12 finalists selected by an international panel of public service professionals.

Nigeria however won under the category of Innovations in Government Services and Programmes, where 3 finalists emerged; Nigeria, Canada and Australia.

The Midwives Service Scheme (MSS) is an innovation employed by the Federal Government in recognition of the fact that, improving access to skilled

attendants at delivery will improve the maternal and child health outcomes in areas with the greatest need.

In attendance at the ceremony were Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health; Dr. Ado Muhammad, Executive Director, NPHCDA; Dr. Muhammed Jubril Abdullahi, Director Primary Health Care System Development NPHCDA; Dr. Ugo Okoli, Project Director, SURE-P MCH, and a host of other Nigerians.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 11

Stages to grow your business through online content Compiled By Muhammad Sada

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s we all know, there are various firms and consultants who advertise on newspapers and other media channels about how you can make a lot of money online by developing content i.e. blogging, writing on forums, wikis etc. A lot of them are usually not clear about exactly how you can achieve goals that are specific to business that you already run.

They expose you to various specific things you can do without educating you on the right mix and in what sequence you can do these things so that growing y o u r existing business becomes an achievable outcome of your efforts online.

There is no doubt that the internet is f a s t becoming a resource for consumers in Nigeria to do their research and decide on what to buy or which business to patronize. With the proliferation of smart phones and relatively cheaper internet access, a lot of people are now spending more of their time online. A research done by NITDA in April 2012 estimated a total of 44 million Nigerians with access to the internet compared to 2.4 million in 2005.

That does not necessarily mean every single one of these people have the same quality of access or ability to use the internet productively but that is a huge chunk of our population that is fast maturing and getting familiar with its use. Another important thing about this 44 Million people is that they have a relatively marketable skill set.

They can use computers, get on the internet and in the near future, be productive on the internet. This makes them employable to a certain extent,

Quote Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement.

Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves – Herbert Hoover

have a potential to earn a decent income in the near future if not already, and will have the ability to purchase products and services through the internet. When better to prepare for them than now?

Our major focus in this series of articles will be how you as an entrepreneur or business leader can take your existing business and achieve growth now and in the near future by developing relevant and highly targeted content for existing and potential customers or clients of your business online.

your business, but if there is no plan behind it, you could just be in a futile rat race where you don't achieve results, get burnt out and get back to your business the way you left it. Frankly, it's better to spend your time on other growth initiatives that got you to where you are today than to start getting things done without a plan.

What is right to do and why?

There is no hard and fast process to answering these

their hands off their smart phones or kept talking about how they found out this or that online? Those are your goldmines. Ask them if you can take 15 minutes of their time and ask them If they use research from the internet to take decisions, be it purchase decisions or life decisions. If they do something except connect with friends, they have good information for you. Even the people who connect with friends have the places where they do so. Take that information. Just maybe

We are going to outline this process in 4 stages; Strategy, Execution, Measurement and Improvement. This whole process is also referred to as Content Marketing.

According to Wikipedia, Content marketing is an umbrella term encompassing all marketing formats that involve the creation and sharing of content in order to attract, acquire and engage clearly defined and understood current and potential consumer bases with the objective of driving profitable customer action.

At the end of this series of articles, you should be able to: Know the things to do to grow your business exponentially through Online Content Know what order to get them done Know how to create a process for constantly getting them done Know how to measure the impact of your efforts Know how to improve, concentrate your efforts on what is proven to work and continue growing.

questions typically. When you are new to this whole online thing, you have to make a lot of assumptions.

However, the only thing that makes assumptions okay is if you constantly challenge and validate them during this stage.

Start by doing some research online. Try to find out What others companies like yours are doing (bigger or smaller) - Google the company name and all its variations. What shows up?

Take note of them if they are actually content related to the company.

How engaged are other people with what they are doing? If they are blogging, how many people comment?

How many people like their posts on Facebook or Tweet them? If they post on a forum, how many people reply to the thread? If they comment on blog articles, how relevant are their comments and do the comments inspire other people engaged with the content to reach out to them or take action?

Note all these things down.

No matter how silly or unconventional they are. It could be exactly what will work for you.

Next, speak to your tech savvy customers. Are there those customers that come into your business location frequently? Or have come before and just couldn't get

being visible to them and their friends in those places will influence them to patronise you? You'll never know.

Where do they find the content they use to take these decisions? A surprisingly high number of Nigerians meet each other on Naira land.

They become business partners, patronize other members and get advice or referrals to other businesses, all through Naira land. That's one goldmine, but it could differ for different industries.

Ask your tech savvy customer specifically if they would buy your products or services through online research. If yes, where would be the most likely place they would find this content? Probe as much as possible and note everything down, even if it's a chat room you've never heard of, or a little South African social network, or a low traffic BlogSpot blog. Your customers could be in the most unlikely places.

Tell them a huge thank you and give them a freebie if possible. These people are helping you take your business to the next level.

Interview as many people as possible, find correlations and continue doing your research online.

Finally, from your findings, curate list of channels and actions your competitors, customers or clients have helped you come

Strategy This is the part of the process where you determine what exactly is right for your business, why it is right for your business and how you are going to go about getting those things done. It's a very attractive temptation to go in anywhere or everywhere on the internet, registering accounts, writing articles and poaching people to buy your products or patronise

up with. Examples could be Competitors They blog on Word Press about their products and subjects related to the use of them They discuss on Naira land on threads related to the use of their products They respond to questions related to the use of their products or services on Quota They write on eZine Articles about how to use their products They share slides on Slide share about topics related to their products or services Be as specific as possible stating the exact actions, the context of their actions and where they take those actions.

These are the things that you 'could' do, because you are competitors do them, and your customers or clients do them too. Here, you will also integrate all these things and find a way to achieve them with the least effort possible. For example, this is a scenario You write a blog post on Word Press about how to use a product you sell.

You share it on Twitter and request that one or two of your customers or friends on Twitter re-tweet it as well.

You share it on Facebook, You chime in on a Naira land discussion about how to use an alternative or complementary product and refer to the blog post you wrote, Now, that's a classic example of how one action; writing a blog post, can spiral and help you reach customers or clients on all the fronts that you've validated.

But we're not there yet. To be able to streamline all the gathered information, you need to have an understanding of what all these channels are, what they do and how you can get on them. Two things here: first, ask your customers a lot of questions based on what they tell you, and second, pay attention to detail when researching your competitors.

In this exercise, your customers or clients (the more the better) are your most reliable source of information.

Desired Outcome A list of all the actions you could take, realistically streamlined and prioritized according to the most accessible to you, and importance based on commonality you saw from your customers, competitors or clients.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

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EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Sordid tales from flood victims’ camps

he stories we are getting from camps housing tens of thousands of victims of Nigeria’s worst floods ever are not good. Indeed, most are heart wrenching – ranging from camp officials taking carnal advantage of teenage girls to diversion of relief materials like foodstuffs, blankets and clothing. Just as disturbing, the abuses appear to be widespread; the reports from Benue, Delta and Imo states are exemplary.

The report from Benue is one of “rampant illicit sex” in the two camps –Wurukum and Wadata – in Makurdi, the state capital. The culprits are shockingly “sex-crazy” officials of the government’s emergency agency (SEMA) who allegedly “sneak into the camps at night” to demand to have sex with teenage girls in exchange for food.

This is what a victim at Wurukum camp has to say: “We, most times, are helpless when the officials drive in at night with food. If we turn down their request for sex we are forcibly taken away from the camp and raped mercilessly”. And, of course, their families lose their next food ration. Another victim pleaded with journalist: said: “Please, come here in the night between 8 pm and 9 pm; you will see these officials coming with their vehicles and taking foodstuffs (provided by the government and charities) to their

houses. What they give us is four cups of rice for a family of five and this isn’t every day.” A worse case is that of a mother of four who was sent away from Wadata camp for complaining aloud.

Nothing typifies the inhuman treatment of Benue’s flood victims by officials paid to care for them more than the apparent lack of concern shown by the Chairman of SEMA, Mr. Adikpo Agbatse. He more or less ran from journalists who sought his

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We have not heard what is happening in several other states, may be, because the reports have been hushed up. But the stories from those three states are in themselves disturbing enough to warrant government inquiry. And this we urgently demand comments on the allegations against his staff.

In Delta state, women at Ughelli camp marched in protest against camp officials they accused of diversion of clothing and other relief materials meant for inmates. In Imo, the common complaint is that “some people are feeding fat on our problem”.

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”

We have not heard what is happening in several other states, may be, because the reports have been hushed up. But the stories from those three states are in themselves disturbing enough to warrant government inquiry. And this we urgently demand.

First, the victims did not bring the tragedy on themselves. In anything, they are victims of our governments’ penchant for refusing to act when a disaster is threatening. In the case of this year’s most tragic floods ever, the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) did warn early enough of devastating floods between August and last month across the country, and it advised government at the three levels to take steps to reduce their human and physical impact.

Nobody did anything and the floods came any way. The result is the large number refugee colonies springing up in all the states, something not before seen in this country.

Now, rather than help to give the flood victims succour people who are paid from the common till to do so are taking advantage of the victims; they see in these people’s sorry conditions an opportunity to satisfy their uncontrollable sexual urge and make extra money. Where is their conscience? Where is the “spirit of love and self-control” that our creator enjoins us to show at all times?

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM EDITOR, DAILY ABDULAZEEZ ABDULLAHI

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HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

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HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

“To be a reputable, profitable, innovative and technologically reliant media company offering world class services and products”

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 13

Why CBN should retain its autonomy

By Boniface Chizea

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et me explain upfront that I was privileged to have attended the earlier hearing by the Senate and that of House of Representatives on the autonomy of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) under the umbrella of the South-east/ South-south Concerned Professionals.

The amendment to the CBN Act under consideration recommends that the Governor of the Central Bank should be removed as the Chairman of the Board of the Central Bank with the Deputy Governors delisted as members of the Board. At both hearings it was elaborately made clear that such an arrangement is strange as that is not the situation with most central banks in other countries both within the sub-region and beyond.

The only country in the world that was cited as having a board without the Governor being the Chairman of the Board is Zimbabwe. And most certainly the performance and

record of the Zimbabwe economy with its run away hyper inflation does not recommend it to any other country in the world. In fact evidences were cited that countries with independent Central Banks around the world performed better the maintenance of price stability particularly with the management of inflation expectations. Why then should Nigeria be seen to be taking the retrogressive step of wanting to be like Zimbabwe? And which company is known in the world which has a board on which only the CEO is the only representative of management?

Even individually registered Limited liability company will be breaching the code of corporate governance by having just one person represent the management on the board! So as far as most contributors at the hearing were concerned this idea is a non starter!

The other aspect of this proposed amendment is the section that recommends that in the absence of the Governor,

that the most Senior Deputy Governor shall be in charge of the day-to-day management of the Bank and shall be answerable to the Board for his acts and decisions. This would tantamount to over constraining the Governor and does not align with best practice. Except in situations where there is a designated deputy usually the decision regarding who should act in the absence of the Governor is left at the discretion of the Governor which he will take with an eye to the need to expose his deputies to the challenges of administering the Bank or often depending on the exigencies of operations and usually this is an aspect of corporate governance which is not made part of the code. And in the Nigerian situation whereby the Deputy Governors are usually appointed on the same date, what criteria then will determine who is senior?

The SE/SS Concerned Professional did not have any issues with the amendment that requires that the salaries

or allowances including pension and other allowances payable to the Governor and to his Deputy Governors shall be as stipulated, from time –totime, by the Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission as the thinking is that the Commission in discharging this function will benchmark best practice elsewhere to ensure that the highly qualified staff retained in the service of the Bank will continue to enjoy the correct motivation and demonstrate loyalty from the perspective of stability of tenure of staff.

The aspect of the amendment which requires that the Board of CBN prepares and submits to the National Assembly through the President not later than 30 th September of each year an estimate of its expenditure and income during the next succeeding year was opposed.

The Association is of the view that such a measure would politicize the budgeting procedure and could impede the CBN in the discharge of its function of Lender of last resort

in the economy and does not align with practices elsewhere.

The Concerned professionals would rather prefer the retention of the status quo whereby budgets approved by the Board of the Central Bank are submitted to the National Assembly based on which it could perform its oversight role.

The fact remains that the powers of the Governor of the CBN and his Deputies are enormous and that will explain why it is cautioned that due care must be exercised with the recruitment of its key officers.

Well, the verdict of the hearing is well captured in an article by Henry Boyo bemoans the fact that he was a lone voice in the wilderness during the hearings! In a democratic setting the proposed amendments have not received any support from well informed stakeholders which included many past Central Bank Governors. It should therefore be jettisoned and considered dead on arrival.

Dr. Boniface Chizea is the CEO, BIC Consulting based in Ikoyi, Lagos.

The growing elderly population

By Ike Willie Nwobu

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ongevity is the root cause of one of the most pressing and growing concerns staring the world in the face: an imminent elder citizen population explosion.

The United Nations has been on top of unfolding statistics on the population of the elderly the world over. According to them, there has been projected to be over 400 million people aged 65 and above by the year 2050.

By the reason of better and qualitative access to healthcare and facilities, better information regarding the best health practices in eating, exercise and general lifestyle, the people make better and informed choices and the result is directly represented in this imposing developments, just as life expectancy rates are at an all time high.

In America, for example, in the past 25 years, the number of people that are 80 years and older has risen phenomenally, and quite a smaller number falls within the 65-69 age bracket. Using the indices of various streams of income for the elderly over that time frame, two of the basic the social security programme and the income from fixed assets and bonds, it was easily shown that the population of the older American citizens increased appreciably over that period.

In Nigeria, it is sad to note that the snowballing elder population is not being matched with a corresponding plan and programme to cater to their welfare. As far back as the 1991 population census, the statistics

of the elderly depicted a dependency ratio of one to one, meaning that for every citizen in the active age bracket (25 to 64) there is at least one elderly dependent. This is at variance with the normal and conventional dependency ratio of one to three (three active citizens to one dependent citizen). Naturally, a high dependency ratio would not spell any good for the economy of a country, as it not only constitutes a strain and stress on the economy, but negatively impacts the investment capacity, savings and capital formation of the economy. They are unrepentantly served the unsavoury dish of disappointment and heartbreak at every stop and in almost every other sphere of their endeavour, in a most unfortunate manner.

The elderly, needless to say, constitute a most formidable but unexplored warehouse of experience, expertise and knowledge, that has stood the test and brunt of time and pressure. It is on account of this fact that relegating and disregarding them is an unforgivable disservice to the community and nation where they are domiciled. Apart from the traditional advisory role they find the best application for in the day to day running of the polity, they are most suitable as an alternative means of conflict resolution, which the country is in dire need of, given the prevailing security and peace circumstances. As custodians of culture and tradition of a place, they are the next best options regarding the preservation of

the history of the clime. They as elder citizens also are the foremost educators of the masses on diverse issues, owing to their wealth of knowledge.

The presence of a growing dependent elderly population puts serious strains on the economic formation of a polity on a lot of fronts. Apart from the menace of a reversed dependency ratio, which is already stealthily creeping up on the world and indeed Nigeria, much of the benefits from the contributions of the elderly to the society would be grossly denied the country, and the current precarious position of neglect and want they find themselves would further complicate matters if no urgent and conclusive measure is taken towards their reintegration and rehabilitation.

Already there are growing concerns and alerts from all concerned quarters on the status of the elderly, and the recently observed Physicians Week only added its voice to the

clarion call in that direction.

There would naturally be serious strain on the workforce of the nation, as there would be the need to look for alternatives to fill the vacuum created by a historically older generation. Again, there would be the tendency of diverting resources meant for general well being of the populace to catering to the needs of a numerically stronger elder citizenry, at the expense of the younger generation.

In extreme projections of these, the economic fundamental question of for whom to produce will gravitate towards a senile segment of the polity, like financing pensions, health care and the like with of course its direct disadvantages and inconveniences.

At this juncture and time of our national lives, seeking for pragmatic ways of answering satisfactorily this nagging ageing question is an absolute necessity. This is not a period we can afford to

“

Apart from the menace of a reversed dependency ratio, which is already stealthily creeping up on the world and indeed Nigeria, much of the benefits from the contributions of the elderly to the society would be grossly denied the country, and the current precarious position of neglect and want they find themselves would further complicate matters if no urgent and conclusive measure is taken towards their re-integration and rehabilitation

deprive the country of the sterling utilities of our elder citizens. A lot can be done in this regard to salvage what we can of our already wasting elder resource. First, since health is critical to life, it is imperative that an assiduous effort is made to entrench the geriatric practice in our health institutions. It begins with its inclusion in the curriculum of the medical school, before it could graduate to assigning dedicated departments for the elderly in the various hospitals and health centres.

The retirement programme should be completely reviewed and overhauled, with a view to plugging the loopholes that make them always the worse for their sweat at the long end of their service to the nation. More and more geriatric centres can be established just as the numerous non-governmental organisations with bias for the elderly ought to be lent political will and support. More windows of opportunity ought to be provided to the elderly in various facets of the economy, like agro business, social investment, knowledge resource acquisition and skill development, through wilful encouragement in that venture by soft loans and extension services, as well as provision of subsidized implements and a whole host of them.

Old age has never, and will never, be a synonym for penury and regret. These are their last years. Life ought to be lived gracefully.

Ike Willie Nwobu is reachable on ikewillienwobu@yahoo.com

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Dankwambo’s education agenda for Gombe state

By Usman Nayaya

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here is an African saying that if you praise a man who has taken the right step or who is doing the right thing, he is more likely to be motivated to do more. This saying flows from a clear understanding of human nature. It is innate in man, be he a child, an adult, a king or a pauper, to want to do more if he is appreciated for the little he is doing or the much he has done. It is based on this truth that I want to praise the incumbent Governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, for the steps he has so far taken to revive or resuscitate education in Gombe State.

It is not uncharitable to previous administrations in Gombe if it is said that education in the state had decayed terribly over the years to a level that one can describe it as having become almost comatose when Dankwambo assumed office as governor in May last year. One of the committees he set up to look at all the sectors in the state and mandated to evolve a comprehensive plan for addressing identified problems in each of them had painted a very sorry picture of the state of education in Gombe.

It said, for example, that

out of 18,000 candidates who tackling the many problems in many public schools in sat for the West African School besetting the education sector. which, in some extreme cases, Certificate Examination in It is this will that has led his up to 180 students stay in a 2010, only 18 candidates got government to embark on the classroom meant for 40 five credits and above including massive project of construction students.

English and Mathematics, and renovation of classrooms, This type of poor learning which translates to 0.1%. hostels, science laboratories, environment can only This dismal performance by staff quarters and many other produce learners who are the children of Gombe in the things related to providing a either half-baked or not baked W A E C at all. And Examination is this is nothing but the dangerous symptom of an for any u n d e r l y i n g society.

Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text disease. It was like Dankwambo messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written a headache has given contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 signally that order that words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and there was the number something wrong of students a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed somewhere in the in a class to: body system. It is must not be a clear indication more than The Editor, that so many 45 while a Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, things are maximum 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. fundamentally of 1,500 Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com wrong with students in SMS: 07037756364 e d u c a t i o n a n y planning, quality standard of teachers and teaching, lack conducive environment for secondary school. of infrastructure necessary for everyone in the primary and But his effort has not been good teaching and learning, secondary school system in the limited to expanding classroom quality, or rather, the absence state. space or renovating existing of effective supervision of Under this programme, dilapidated classroom blocks. education by the Inspectorate efforts are either on or have Efforts are also on to furnish Division and above all, lack of been completed, to renovate or these classrooms with desks political commitment on the construct a total of 582 and chairs for both the part of the political leadership classrooms in both selected students and their teachers. To of the state to make education primary and secondary schools this end, a contract for the the foundation for the spread across the length and purchase of 4,000 (three-indevelopment of the state. breadth of the state. This effort one) desk for the secondary Dankwambo has shown is meant to address the terrible schools; 1,410 (three-in-one) sufficient political will in case of congestion of classrooms desk for primary schools;

WRITE TO US

2,590 double-decker beds and 636 tables and chairs for principals, vice-principals and teachers have been awarded.

What is more, science laboratories are being built in some of these schools. But a school, no matter how well built and equipped, cannot function as one unless it is also operated by qualified and committed teachers. Many schools lacked qualified teachers which is why it is also gratifying that Dankwambo has taken steps to address that area of deficiency.

Efforts are currently on to recruit one thousand teachers to augment the acute shortage of teachers at the secondary level of education in the state while the primary schools will get the same number of teachers.

The situation may not have improved dramatically in the past one and a half years but it is easy to see that comprehensive and appreciable efforts have been put in by Dankwambo to improve things and that in the next one or two years, noticeable results in terms of students’ performance in internal and external examinations would be seen.

That is so only because some of these things need time to bear visible fruit.

Usman Nayaya, a retired teacher, lives in Kaltungo, Gombe State.

Why Gov Aliyu ought to go faster

By Suleiman Dangana

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he undercurrent that led o the move by some people who go by the acronym Concerned Citizens in Niger State to take signatures to the Niger state House Assembl, NSHA, seeking for the impeachment of Governor Mu’azu Aliyu, is located on the alleged non performance of the governor.

Aliyu mounted the saddle in May 2007 and had been welcome with a chorus of hosanna just as it was the case with the Lord Jesus Christ only again that such chorus would now turned to his crucifixion.

Going by the argument of the people virtually many sectors of the economy as promised by Governor Aliyu had not been touched. The Critiques of Aliyu’s administration sited many instances as was narrated on the VOA Hausa Service in include non completion of Housing estates in Bida and Kontogora even when that of Minna metropolis has since been completed, the bad roads which now serve as death traps starring on the people and government functionaries in the entire nooks and crannies, the Minna airport project, the five star hotel which had gulped hundreds of millions naira (only last week) a Memorandum of t

Understanding ( MOU) was signed and quite a host of other projects better refer to as abandoned.

The argument of the people stemmed from the position that some of the projects may end up as uncompleted projects due to the fact that (1) The time frame of completing these projects no longer favor the government and (2) the federal allocation to the state is dwelling against the emerging sectoral competitions.

Pushed to the corner on the issue of non performance, the state government came with the statement that “All things being equal work on all projects being executed with the N9 billion bonds acquired early this year by the government will be completed by March 2014.

From this position of government, it is clear that time may not be necessarily on the side of governor. This again has reinforced the fear of the people that just as former governor Abdulkadir Kure left office in 2007 with some projects not only completed and abandoned, which necessitated Governor probing such projects and publishing a white paper on them, the same fate is feared may be waiting the incumbent governor.

Most notable feature in the human relationship between Governor Aliyu and mlajor stakeholders in the state remains that the former has not only snubbed the latter bu had

forgotten those who assisted electorally before he climbed power.

Just one particular sore example is the Nupe zone otherwise referred to as zone “A”.

This zone had during the 2011 governorships race threw its weight to Governor Aliyu. What you find now in the zone is “the forgotten solders”. Antagonists had said that the few Nupe extractions in the zone who are part of the government speak for themselves ves. The same picture is portrayed in both zone “c” that is the Kontogora axis ditto “B” zone. The Chief Servant a self proclaimed prix which Governor Aliyu goes with is from “B” zone but is not of Gwari extraction. He comes from the minority Hausa/ Fulani stock and occupies the number one office in the state.

This again is brewing another political problem of who succeeds the Chief Servant in 2015. To understand the political intrigue

in the state and going by the postulations currently going round, Governor Aliyu may move electorally to the Senate.

This political calculation is not only brewing disaffections but the current occupier of the slot from the “B” zone, Senator Dahiru Awais, has not decided not to call the shots in 2015 or the zone putting up another candidate different from the present incumbent. The “B” zone now is grudging that a minority in the person of Governor Aliyu should take a shot at their zone and would now be nursing an ambition of moving to the Senate in 2015.

The “B” zone is beating its cheat to say that unlike before when the Gwari ethnic group remains divided gone were those days. Another school of thought again has posited that Aliyu may have to calm down if only he wants to leave a solidified legacy by shunning Senate and

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Most notable feature in the human relationship between Governor Aliyu and mlajor stakeholders in the state remains that the former has not only snubbed the latter bu had forgotten those who assisted electorally before he climbed power

going for other political offices.

The Congress for Progressive Change CPC had during the last elections rooted through its candidate Alhahi Bako Shetima but could not make it. What is the prospect come 2015?

All these criticisms notwithstanding, the Chief Servant had in the span of his administration touched on many sector of the economy. In the healthcare sector, the state government has built and equipped new state hospitals at Wuse, Gulu and Nasko and under the Millennium Development Goals programme, Aliyu has refurbished, equipped and supplied drugs to 26 bed comprehensive primary health centres in the twenty-five local government areas. Also under the MDG, 150 solar-powered boreholes at the rate of six per local government area had been provided. According to the government, these have been possible because the government has consistently paid its counterpart funding of about N500 million for each program me per year.

And in the area of public enlightenment, the state owned television station has taken off except that its newspaper company, the Newsline, has not been touched. Whatever the people may say it is still kudos to the Chief Servant.

Sulaiman Danganan wrote in from Minna, Niger state.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

By Ifeanyi Uddin

T

he Sallah holiday weekend was usual in many ways.

Electricity supply was epileptic. The fuel scarcity has held out long enough for an ecosystem to evolve on its back.

Long queues if you are minded to pay the recommended retail price (RRP); and often, the supply at such outlets never is enough for the queue. At the stations that succumb to the logic of the new disequilibrium, the main concern is their preference for odd hours. Now, this is a major worry because there is clear evidence of a further breakdown in the general security condition. But given that patrons pay above the RRP for petrol at these stations, the furtiveness makes sense. No light.

No fuel. Of course, no water. We still have not found ways to power submersible water pumps with air or water!

A generally miserable four days, then?

Almost automatically, thoughts turned to the nature of the Nigerian problem. “Bad eadership”? Yes. We can make a strong case for the dominance of economic illiterates in political/public offices

By Gabriel Zowam

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his year, the entire federal budget (which has continued to depend only on oil revenue) is about N5 trillion, while India is expecting $70 billion (N10.5 trillion) from software exports alone. Perhaps we should remind ourselves of where both India and Nigeria are coming from! In the 1980s, when the Delta Steel Company (DSC) was being built by a consortium of European companies, and Mecon of India was serving as consultants to DSC, Mecon seconded many of its experienced engineers to DSC, who were helping to groom their Nigerian counterparts.

While these highly experienced expatriate Indians were chauffeur-driven in brand new, air-conditioned, official Peugeot cars, people in DSC were usually surprised to hear of how some of them were receiving letters from their home office, informing them of the approval of their motorcycle loans! This was at a time fresh Nigerian graduates looked forward to buying new cars after just a few years of working. This was before our present tokunbomania!

India has since then transformed into one of the sensational BRIC (Brazil, Russia, India and China) economies, while Nigeria is retrogressing deeper into poverty, which according to figures from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), has worsened from 54.7 in 2004 to 61.9 in 2011! Our State governors are busy bickering over statutory allocation, while their counterparts across the world are aggressively harvesting the infinite opportunities created by globalisation! While we remain on revenue allocation, the world is already witnessing the emergence of a new set of “MIST” economies, which includes

PAGE 15

Handling the domestic economy countrywide. What this element of our national life does is to multiply the adverse consequences of governments’ natural tendency (and this is a global thing) to intervene in its bid to improve economy’s prospects. “Corruption in high places”? Doubtless, there is a Nigerian bent to this. “4193 is the new global moniker for the art of the confidence trickster. One of the more intriguing Nigerian contributions to the world’s lexicon.

Not surprising, this. The criminal justice system is shambolic.

Ill-paid court personnel record proceedings in longhand. Even if court personnel were tech-savvy enough to capture proceedings digitally, the average battery life for laptops, tablets, and UPS for desktop PCs, is no match for the PHCN’s incompetence. Generators? This would drive up the cost of procuring justice through the courts. The police? Unspeakable, really. The butt of much public contempt, their investigative nous (their forensic deficit means

they actually trample on evidence in their approach to crime scenes) contributes to much of the delay in courts, as marshaled evidence falls well short of the requirement that conviction be “beyond reasonable doubt”!

Still, at its worst, corruption is nought but an additional tax on domestic transactions. True, by increasing the cost of doing business domestically, corrupt practices make it harder for domestic products and services to compete with their imported substitutes. Nevertheless, one would think that the supply side of the economy would then have factored this component into its production arithmetic, and (in order to remain price-competitive, at least) either reward labour less (very possible in a labour-rich environment such as this), or reward capital less (increasingly difficult in a world where capital is fungible and very mobile).

Our story (the worsening of the country’s bodily and mental functions) is thus best told in terms of the failure of supply and demand responses. In an economy

where output growth has averaged 7% a year over the past decade, it is hard to understand the failure of demand responses.

Arguably, given the pace at which other indices have grown (population, for example) we could have done with higher growth rates. But how to explain the current levels of unemployment and want in the face of these output numbers?

One possibility is that higher levels of income inequality limit the domestic economy’s demand responses. After all, the top 10% of our compatriots, who, as incomes become more unequal, account for more of it, can only buy so much; limiting, therefore, the demand responses that would have been available, were the gains from the yearly increases in output growth trickling down a lot more.

And supply? The shortage/ failure/lack of resilience of domestic supply responses (domestic service providers/ manufacturers take forever to crank up their systems to meet changing customer needs, and

when they finally manage a response it’s often inadequate and miserly) are due to an almost insurmountable mix of failings.

Infrastructure. Not just NEPA in its many incarnations. We must include inadequate and colonial era transport infrastructure, and the absence of depots in this category. (In agriculture for instance, I am not sure how to classify this part of the problem.

But the fact is that everything post-farm-gate is designed for the failure of supply responses).

A culture that increasingly waits on government to set the tone for how the economy ought to respond to new demand streams is also implicated here. We can explain this in terms of the economy’s special response to the fickleness and fecklessness of public policy making. But how to justify it? Obviously, a lot is amiss with this economy, and the culture evolving on its back. But we can do no worse than start by insisting on competent government (at all levels) in response to these.

Ifeanyi Uddin is on Facebook.

Indonesia!

The real tragedy is that even with the pitiable state of our nation, our entrenched interests are still fighting viciously to ensure that nothing is changed!

More tragic is that they are using the rest of us, to bring down anybody that tries to change things! As we shrug at, or even support, the troubles of Aruma Oteh and her reforms at SEC, Bart Nnaji and his power-sector reforms, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his monetary reforms, and Deziani Alison-Madueke and her oil-sector reforms, what are we really doing? We are helping our entrenched interests to ensure that nothing changes, and to deal with each officeholder that refuses to toe their line!

I would like to take us back to the CBN’s banking industry reform of 2004 (under Prof.

Charles Chukwuma Soludo) because of the enduring lessons it seems to hold for our situation today! The most significant aspect of that reform was the decisive deadline it gave to our grossly undercapitalised banks, to recapitalise to at least N25 billion, or lose their licences! Prof. Soludo was almost hounded out of office for daring to advance that policy!

The criticisms that greeted the policy were unusually scathing, with merciless and often hateful condemnations raining on Soludo from all sides, and questioning his competence for the CBN job!

Ironically, the attacks were coming from us, not directly from the threatened bank interests. For example, in a very powerful essay, “The Facts that Soludo Left Out”, by Dr. Ayo Teriba, one of Nigeria’s most influential financial experts, after attacking the policy, had charged: “… As a highly respected scholar, the CBN governor will do well to publicly

retract his utterances in these regards, in the spirit of academic humility.

Consequently, he should withdraw his proposal that all banks must raise their capital bases to N25b ...” Similarly, one of Nigeria’s most respected columnists, Simon Kolawole, in a piece titled “Soludo, Banking is not Ludo” charged: “The impression I get is that Soludo has just entered a new terrain, and without acclimatising, he has dived headlong into the unknown …”.

In the end, it was only President Olusegun Obasanjo’s “stubborn” backing of his reformer that saved Soludo and that reform at that critical time, in clear defiance of the National Assembly and all opposition! This not only sent a clear message of the President’s seriousness with reform, but also served as a Presidential inspiration to his reform team that was daring to say “enough is enough!”

That recapitalisation or consolidation ended up changing dramatically the incentives driving our banking sector, and not minding the abuses that later occurred, making a profound impact on our nation, some of which I need to recall here! Our banks that had previously lacked the capacity to meet the funding requirements of serious businesses causing the likes of MTN and Econet to source most of their funds overseas, could now come together to offer local syndicated facilities to blue chips! CBN data showed bank credit to our core private sector rocketing from N1.19tn in 2003 to N4.9tn in 2007! Banking in Nigeria moved from the realm of rent-seeking and “glorified trading in foreign exchange”, to real banking! The consolidation also capacitated the industry to make required investments in modern technology, which heralded new

banking platforms that finally moved us to a new era of anybranch banking (where you could now walk into any branch of your bank, and get served as fully as if in your own branch)!

It was also the consolidation that helped the banks to achieve the nationwide branch expansion that the government had been demanding since the 1980s. We saw bank branches exploding nationwide, with brands such as Zenith and Oceanic particularly expanding phenomenally! The impact of this was phenomenal on the economy. The number of depositors surged! Bank deposits surged to N5.4 trillion in 2007, from only N1.4 trillion in 2003 (CBN figures)! New ancillary businesses mushroomed overnight to meet the swelling needs of these expanding banks (in the areas of networking, systems integration, media and branding, security services, etc).

Qualitative employment naturally exploded for Nigerian youth, as the expanding banks and their ancillary-service providers snapped up young Nigerians in large numbers! The story was the same in our capital market, where the recapitalisation spurred a spate of public offers, private placements, and daily transactions that drove the market to unprecedented indices, boosting business, industry and employment; and creating wealth for investors. All the earlier apprehensions of labour unions about consolidation became unfounded! Instead, we saw the gradual re-emergence of Nigeria’s middle class!

So optimistic did our national outlook become that Goldman Sachs’ research report for 2007 listed Nigeria among its ‘Next 11’ group of countries expected to catch up to the fastest developing

BRIC economies! That reform might even have been most providential, considering what could have become of the Nigerian economy if the global meltdown that soon followed had met us with a financial sector driven by fragile, undercapitalised banks!

I am sure the people at CBN will have a lot more to say about the benefits of that consolidation; but the point of highlighting them is to help us see the kind of progress the nation is denied each time our powerful vested interests hound and bring down any officeholder that dares to change things! The scenario is replaying itself with many of our present officeholders that are trying to change thingsAruma Oteh, Bart Nnaji, AlisonMadueke, etc!

For example, consider our oil sector: Some of the most transformational initiatives of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan (where exciting clouds with real earth-shaking potentials are gathering) are coming from that sector! For the first time, an industry that had operated in the darkness of powerful untouchables is being fundamentally ripped apart! What many Nigerians don’t realise is that all the unprecedented revelations and debates we are seeing today in that industry are coming because somebody, rather than simply toeing the old line, is daring to change things! In January this year, we almost dramatically deregulated the downstream sector, in an initiative whose impact (had it succeeded) might have liberated the industry from the grip of a few individuals, and dwarfed our Soludo and telecoms reforms! Although Nigeria temporarily lost that battle, it was still a highly significant ministerial initiative!

Gabriel Zowam is reachable on facebook

The forces against reform

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

FCT health board tasks Nigerians on personal hygiene

By Etuka Sunday

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Two teenagers picking at Utako, Abuja.

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

Security guard charged for stealing 7 cartons of curry powder

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Security guard with the Ministry of commerce, Jacob Kure, 42 was on Wednesday arraigned before an Area Court in Kado, Abuja, for allegedly stealing seven cartons of curry powder valued at N63,000.

The accused, a security guard with the Ministry of Commerce, Idu yard, Abuja, is facing a twocount charge of criminal breach of trust and theft.

The accused was said to have committed the offence on Sept.

25, 2009.

The police prosecutor, Mr Egwu Clement, had told the court that the matter was reported to the Life Camp police station, Abuja, on Oct. 25 by one Farida Yusuf of Fast Food Enterprises Nig. Ltd, Abuja, He told the court that in December, 2007, the complainant who had a fast food eatery in the ministry’s premises gave the spare key of her store to the accused who was the security guard, in case of fire.

He added that on Sept. 25, 2009, the complainant discovered that the accused had opened the store and stolen seven cartons of curry powder.

“The accused was seen at Berger roundabout selling the said items,’’ he added.

Clement said that during police investigation, it was discovered that robbers did not break into the store as the padlock on the door was not tampered with.

He said the offences

contravened the provisions of Sections 312 and 289 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty.

The presiding Judge, Ado Muktar, granted the accused bail in the sum of N50, 000 with one surety in like sum.

According to him, the surety must also have a reliable address within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to Nov. 6, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

FCTA postpones ground breaking of waste transfer stations

By Adeola Tukuru

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he FCT Administration has postponed the ground breaking of three new solid waste

transfer stations in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as earlier scheduled for yesterday, Thursday.

In a press release signed by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister,

Muhammed Hazat Sule stated tha t the FCT Administration regrets all the inconveniences this postponement may cause.

He said that the groundbreaking ceremony of these

three solid waste transfer stations was expected to be done at Mpape, Apo and Kubwa respectively to ensure safer and more efficient sanitary disposal of waste in the Federal Capital Territory.

Court remands man, 32, for armed robbery

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32-year-old man, Chidi Sunday, on Wednesday appeared before an FCT High Court in Kubwa for alleged armed robbery.

Sunday was alleged to have conspired with another man, simply called ‘Across’, now at-large, to rob Ezema Emmanuel, a resident of Jikoyi, Abuja, of his Toyota Camry

car on May 2.

The accused was also alleged to have stolen N31,000 cash, and cell phones and generating set valued at about N100,000.

Sunday is also being charged for purchasing the said stolen vehicle with Reg. No. BR 169 RSH. The Prosecuting Counsel, Mr John Fagbemi, said that a gang of

four armed robbers had stormed Emmanuel’s house on May 2,2012 and made away with the listed items.

Fagbemi said the offences contravened the provisions of Section 1 of the Robbery and Firearms Special Provisions Act, but the accused pleaded not guilty, claiming that he was not aware that the car in question was stolen.

“Across got to know that I was trying to buy a car and he offered to sell me a Camry for N600,000.

“I didn’t know that the car was stolen.’’

The Presiding Judge, Mr U.A. Musale, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison custody and adjourned the case to Nov. 20,2012 for hearing. (NAN)

CT Primary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB) has asked Nigerians especially children to improve on their personal hygiene by washing their hands regularly with soap, ashes and water to guard against Cholera, Diarrhea, Typhoid and other transmissible diseases that are harmful to human lives.

The Executive Secretary, FCTPrimary Health Care Development Board (PHCDB) Dr. Rilwanu Hohammed noted this on the occasion of the Global Hand Washing Day Celebration organized by the Board yesterday at the Maitama Model Primary School, Abuja.

Dr. Rilwanu explained that each year over 3.5million children do not live to celebrate their 5th birthday globally and here in Nigeria, over 10% of our children aged 5-10 years carry germs capable of causing diarrhea and cholera in their hands.

In his words : “Over 400,000 children dying from diarrhea and pneumonia annually therefore there was need to take the hand washing campaign to children in the Primary Schools who will in turn teach their parents and brothers and sisters at home”.

According to him, children are more vulnerable to diseases caused by lack of effective sanitation and poor hygiene, hence the need to inculcate in them the habit of regularly washing their hands to stay healthy, adding that it was important after visiting the toilet, before and after cooking or eating, after play and after changing children’s diapers.

Also in his speech, the director, FCT Universal Basic Education Board (UBEB), Mallam Adamu J. Noma said that the FCT UBEB has put in place an effective mechanism for promoting good health habits in all the basic schools which include daily inspection of pupils/students during assemblies, provision of potable water, toilets and sanitary facilities in schools and promotion of Environmental Health clubs in schools.

He said in order to promote health in FCT; the Board has been training and retraining Health Education teachers and thanked the FCT WASH and the FCT Primary Health Care Development Board, other Development partners and NGOs for ensuring a Health Education delivery in the FCT.

AMAC chairman’s campaign cheif urges council to pay up debt of contractors

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he coordinating Chairman of Micah Jiba Campaign 2013 Movement, Mallam Musa Mohammed Bala has advised the

council of AMAC to pay up contractor’s debt, in order for the opposition parties of the Chairman of AMAC, Hon Micah Y. Jiba not to capitalize on that to win him.

Speaking in an interview with journalist yesterday in his office,

the coordinator said that the chairman, Hon Micah Y. Jiba has done what successive chairmen in the council have not done and urged people to measure success based on tangible and material physical projects across all the

wards in the council.

He further said that the alleged abandonment of major projects and contracts within some wards in the council should be blamed on the government policies of due process which has

made some contractors not to carry out their assigned projects on time.

The coordinator stressed that in no distance time all the projects initiated by the council would be completed on time.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Court strikes out suit filed by Gbagyi indigenes against FCT minister

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ustice Yusuf Halilu of the FCT High Court yesterday struck out a case instituted by some original inhabitants of Abuja to prevent the territory’s administration from demolishing their village.

Justice Halilu in a ruling, held that ”there was no such thing as family or communal land’’ within the FCT, going by provisions of the FCT act and the 1999 constitution.

The suit was filed by Mr Bitrus Bmayda, Enoch Timothy and Dan

Asabe on behalf of the Gbagyi indigenes of Galadimawa village against the FCT minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed on Oct. 15, 2011.

Counsel to the plaintiffs, Mr Suleiman Mohammed had prayed the court to declare that the planned demolition of their ‘’ancestral homes’’ was unlawful and unconstitutional.

Mohammed also prayed the court to order the FCT minister and the FCDA not to demolish their houses without first providing them with alternative settlement.

He sought an order of perpetual injunction against the defendants from disturbing the plaintiffs’ use and possession their properties in Galadimawa village.

The defense counsel, Mr Ehimoni Sunday had filled a ‘’notice of preliminary injunction on May 11,2012 arguing that the plaintiffs had no ‘’locus standi’’ to institute the suit.

Sunday also contended that the court had no power to hear ‘’incompetent plaintiffs’’.

Justice Halilu in his ruling, held that the provisions of Section 3 of the FCT Act, vests absolute ownership of all lands within the FCT on the Federal Government. ‘’This is in tandem with section 297 of the 1999 constitution. ‘’Without much ado, I hold that the plaintiffs lack the requisite locus standi to have instituted this action and so hereby decline jurisdiction accordingly.

“Consequently, the said suit is hereby struck out’’, he ruled (NAN)

Gbagyi cultural group entertaining guests at a function recently in Abuja Photo: Miriam Humbe

Rape victim’s father forgives

By Stanley Onyekwere with agency news

T

he father of a rape victim on Wednesday told the Karu Magistrates Court, Abuja, that he had forgiven the 24-year-old alleged rapist.

The accused person, Paul Fidelis, had pleaded not guilty when the case was mentioned on Oct. 3,2012 “I have forgiven the alleged offender,” the father of the victim, Pastor Paul Goodness of Anguwan Fulani, Jikwoyi, Abuja, said on Wednesday.

“As a pastor who preaches to people about forgiveness, I feel I should show good example.

“Fidelis’ family members have come and pleaded with me.”

But the magistrate, Mr Christopher Oba, warned Goodness of the implication of his decision.

“You don’t let your 13-yearold-daughter to be molested and you want to overlook it in the name of compassion.

“This act of defilement can negatively affect her for the rest of her life; it may make her not to trust any man again.”

But Goodness insisted, “I believe the word of God can do better in her life.”

The magistrate then ordered that 21 strokes of the cane be administered on the accused and that he should sign a bond of peace that would run for 10 years.

(NAN)

FCT Club 25 tasks Nigerians on blood donation Man jailed for stealing car parts

By Etuka Sunday

G

roup known as Club 25 in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) has called on Nigerians to donate blood voluntarily, so that it will serve as part of saving other people’s lives.

The spoke person of the Group, Olayemi Peter Ehigie said this in a courtesy visit to the Minister of state for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide , adding that the mission of the Group was to donate blood and appealed to other well meaning Nigerians to do so.

According to him, “these youths are actually recruited when they are in Secondary School, as at today many of them have graduated, some are still in the higher institutions but nonetheless they still kept on carrying out the mission, donating blood. We tried as much as possible as youths to checkmate the spreading of HIV/AIDS among the youths,” he said.

Olayemi said that one of the activities of the Group was to train and monitor youths so as to abstain from all unwholesome activities and become donors. “Our mission is to look for individuals who can donate

blood that is safe in order to save another lives,” he stressed.

The Group requested that they should be part of HIV/AIDS activities within the FCT which according to them will go a long way in helping those that are not infected to become blood donors.

It also requested that a speedy permission should be granted to the National Blood Transfusion Service to have a kind of orientation or sensitisation for secretariat, agencies and parastatals which to a large extent would be helpful in spreading the activities of the National Blood Transfusion Service.

Responding, Dr. Damola Onokomaya, who stood for the Minister of State for FCT, said that safe blood is good because it reduces transmissible diseases like; hepatitis B and HIV/AIDS, maternal mortality and help when there is a traffic road accident therefore commended the efforts of the Group in that regard.

Dr. Damola said the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has once flagged off a blood donation exercise in Maitama as part of the transformation agenda of the President and the result has been very excellent since then.

Court remands lawyer in prison over threat to life

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n Abuja Chief Magistrates Court sitting in Life Camp yesterday ordered one Ifeanyi Ogbonna, a lawyer, to be remanded in prison for alleged criminal breach of trust and threat to life.

Ogbonna was arraigned on a three-count charge of criminal breach of trust, defamation of character and criminal intimidation.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. John Ijagbemi, told the court that one Festus Asikhra wrote a petition to the Police

Command Headquarters against the accused.

“He was hired as a legal adviser to Festus Group of Companies and failed to discharge his duty after collecting money.

“Ogbonna failed to carry out litigation for the said company. This led to huge financial loss to the company.

“When the company lost confidence in the accused, it terminated his appointment and paid him off with N750,000.

“After collecting the money, the accused threatened to kill Asikhra if he refused to pay him N107.45million,’’ the prosecutor said.

Ijagbemi told the court that during police investigation, the accused continued to threaten to kill the complainant.

Ogbonna pleaded not guilty.

Counsel to the accused, Mr Suleiman Yakubu, in an oral application urged the court to grant his client bail.

“The accused is a senior member

of the bar. He is to be presumed innocent until proved guilty. He has no criminal record and he never interfered with police investigation.’’

Chief Magistrate Zainab Bashir said since threat to life in Nigeria could not be treated with levity, “this court rules that a formal application for bail be made by way of motion”.

She ordered the accused remanded in prison pending the formal application for bail and adjourned the matter to Nov. 15, 2012.

A

n Abuja Magistrates Court yesterday sentenced one Peter Paul of Ajegunle Road, Mpape, Abuja, to three months imprisonment for stealing a car engine and some spare parts.

Police prosecutor Francis Tanko told the court that Ayorinde Seyi of the same address reported the case at the Mpape Police Station on Oct. 24.

Tanko said that on Oct. 22, the convict stole the complainant’s vehicle engine and some spare parts, valued at N303,000, contrary to the provisions of Section 287 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty, saying “I promise to take the police to the person I sold the items to.”

Magistrate Aminu Eri sentenced the convict to three months imprisonment with an option to pay N1,000 fine.

Eri ordered the police to recover the items and return them to the complainant.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 17

Kerosene retailers, yesterday in Durumi, Abuja.

Hausa drummers, entertaining at a function, recently in Garki 2, Abuja.

A yam seller setting up his wares for the day's business, yesterday in Nyanya Abuja.

Offloading fruits from a pick-up van, yesterday in Garki Market, Abuja.

A fully laoded truck yesterday in Airport road, Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-Owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

CPC moves against poor performing firms

Mob: 08033644990

Dangote group storms Lagos trade fair

By Abdulwahab Isa

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ompanies under Dangote conglomerate are making their presence at the Lagos International Trade Fair opening today (Friday) at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) Onikan, Lagos.

A statement from Dangote Group listed firms in the group participating in the fair to include, Dangote Sugar Refinery, Dangote Flour Mill, Dangote Agrosacks, National Salt Company of Nigeria (NASCON), Dangote Pasta, Dangote Cement, Dangote Noodles and Dansa Foods Limited.

Some of the products to be displayed at the fair include Danvita, Alkama (wheat meal), confectionary flour, noodles, sugar, salt, tomato paste, various ranges of fruit juice products and bottled water from Dansa Foods. Dangote Sugar will be offering customers its 500 gram granulated sugar at the fair.

According to a statement from Corporate Communications Department

of Dangote Group, visitors to the group pavilion at both fairs will have the opportunity of buying products of these companies at reduced prices.

A unique offering from the Group in this year’s Lagos Trade Fair is the Dangote Combo pack.

The pack contains products from the stable of different companies within the Group and is offered to participants at the fair at a much reduced price.

The statement indicated that, the economy pack which will contain household products like Dangote Noodles, spaghetti, macaroni, sugar packets, and Dansa Fruit juice products range would be combined in a pack at a giveaway price.

The combo pack, it stated further will offer participants at the fair an opportunity to purchase all consumable product range in Dangote Group in a single buy.

There will also be free samples of the products for the visitors.

Dangote Noodles will be offering free samples of several varieties of its noodles to visitors to the kitchen/restaurant which will be attached to the Dangote Stand to wet their apetite.

Association plans uniform logo for microfinance banks

A GMD/CEO, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza and Chairman of Best Foods Global Limited, Mr. Emmanuel Ijewere, during the customers forum held by the Bank in Lagos on Tuesday.

NSE market capitalisation grows by N55bn

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rading on the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) ended on a positive note yesterday after three consecutive days of decline.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation rose by N55 billion or 0.65 per cent to close at N8.48 trillion from the N8.42 trillion posted on Wednesday.

Also, the All Share Index grew by 171.61 points or 0.65 per cent to close at 26,602.53 against the 26,430.92 recorded on Wednesday as a result of price gains.

NewGold ETF recorded the highest price gain of N8 to close at N2, 638 per unit.

It was followed by Nigerian Breweries which gained N6.80 to close at N128 per share.

Glaxo appreciated by N1.99 to close at N41.89 per share, UAC Property gained 90k to

close at N12.70, while Okomu Oil rose by 50k to close at N35 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle led the losers’ chart with a loss of N6 to close at N669 per share, while CAP lost N1.59 to close at N30.43 per share.

Cadbury dipped by N1 to close at N27 per share, UACN dropped 54k to close at N39.46 per share,

while John Hold lost 26k to close at N5.06 per share.

NAN reports that volume of shares traded rose by 46.4 per cent as investors exchanged 409.19 million shares worth N2.79 billion in 4,705 deals.

This was against the 279.43 million shares valued at N2.27 billion traded in 4,664 deals on Wednesday. (NAN)

uniform logo that will enable Nigerians to easily identify registered microfinance bank will soon be introduced, an official of bank’s association, has said.

Treasurer of Lagos State Chapter of National Association of Microfinance Banks, Mr Eniola Agbesoyin, said that the objective was to assist members of the public to easily detect unregistered microfinance banks.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos yesterday that activities of quacks were affecting operators in the subsector.

Agbesoyin, who is also the Chief Executive of Olive Microfinance Bank, said that there were some institutions which claimed to be registered, but were rendering services outside the rules.

According to him, some of

Management Tip of the Day Reward yourself for doing the tasks you hate

C

rossing something off your to-do list can be satisfying. But you may need extra motivation to get through the more dreaded tasks.

Here's how to motivate yourself to accomplish those difficult projects: Save the fun work. There are always aspects of a job you like

more than others. Don't permit yourself to do the fun tasks until you've taken on the arduous ones.

Pay yourself. Set up an account — a savings account, a gift card, an iTunes account — and pay into it every time you complete an especially challenging project. Set different dollar amounts depending on the

size and unpleasantness of the task.

Regenerate.

Promise yourself a reward that recharges your body and brain. Meditate for 20 minutes or use your lunch hour to treat yourself to a yoga class.

Source: Harvard Business Review

them are giving loans at low interest rates to lure customers into their banks.

“I want the public to beware that all that glitters is not gold.

“There are institutions that claim to be microfinance banks offering outrageous interest rates and packages that are not normal.

“Somebody asking you of N100, 000 deposit and you going away with one million naira, bringing N200, 000 to get five million naira in two weeks. I think the public should know that these are quacks.

“The Central Bank of Nigeria has often advised us to report those that are not registered so that it can deal with them.

“In view of this, the association has decided to produce a uniform logo for its registered members.

“When you visit any micofinance bank and you do not see any evidence, you don’t need to do business there,” he said.

Agbesoyin commended the CBN for publishing the list of the registered microfinance banks in the country on the internet.

He also applauded the National Deposit Insurance Corporation for providing stickers to all registered institutions.

According to him, the sticker is enough to identify a registered microfinance bank.

Agbesoyin also solicited for public support by way of alerting the association on activities of quacks. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Ribadu report

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has been urged to sack the Petroleum Resources and Finance Ministers, Mrs. Diezani Alison Madueke, and Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala respectively, following the controversy generated by disclosures from the Nuhu Ribadu led Petroleum Revenue Task Force (PRTF), which implicated government officials.

The president has also been charged to fire the boards and management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Addressing reporters in Abuja Wednesday, the National Convener of United Action for Democracy (UAD) Mr. Jaye Gaskia, and leader of the group further threatened to mobilize Nigerians to stage a mass protest in the city of Abuja should the president fail to heed to their demands.

Nigeria approves Siemens, Korea Electric power grid bids

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igeria approved bids from companies including Siemens AG (SIE) and Korea Electric Power Corp. (KEP) for 10 state-owned power distribution companies, marking the end of a five-year privatization process.

The successful bids were worth more than $1.3 billion, the Abuja-based National Council on Privatization headed

by Vice President Namadi Sambo said in an e-mail yesterday. Siemens led a group of four companies that won with a $135 million bid for the Eko Distribution Co., and Korea Electric headed the winning offer for the grid in the Ikeja region of Lagos, it said.

Buyers are required to provide bank guarantees “for 15 percent of the transaction value within 15 days of notification from the Bureau of Public Enterprises,” the council said in the statement. Payment should be completed within six months, it said.

Nestlé

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estle, makers of popular beverage Milo, transmitted its 3Q earnings to the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday.

Revenue was reported at N85 billion, up 21% from N70.5 billion made over 3Q, 2011.

Profit before tax was up 41% to NN18.28 billion, from N12.99 billion over the same period in the preceding year.

Net Income arrived at N15.4 billion, up 63% from the N9.4 billion it made over 3Q, 2011.

Nestle share price fell by 2.19% in yesterday’s trading to N675.

CPC moves against poor performing firms

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By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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ollowing its recent discovery of shortfalls in declared measures of some products in the Nigerian market, the Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has undertaken quality checks on factories of the manufacturers of the affected products with a view to nipping the problem in the bud.

Though most of the causes of the shortfall had been addressed by the manufacturers of the products, some of the products’ manufacturers confessed that the Council’s exercise and letter drew their attention to the problem.

The inspection teams identified some of the causes of the shortfall as deliberate intent to short-change consumers, use of old technology and non-strict adherence to Nigerian Industrial Standards, among others, which the teams in their reports said have now been addressed.

The Council’s quality officers, however, found out that the manufacturer of Day Light candles attempted to play a decoy in order to thwart the inspection.

Besides the fact that the manufacturer lied on phone that the factory stopped production four months ago whereas the factory’s neighbours claimed daily production was still taking place, it was also discovered that they have been producing packaged table water and Daylight soap in the same premises in a remote part of Ibadan.

It would be recalled that the Council had sometime ago warned nine product manufacturers in the country over the shortfall in declared measures of their products, just as it expressed pleasure with four others for conforming with their products’

declared weights.

CPC, as part of its proactive quality checks on products in Nigerian markets and in response to consumer complaints on the under-filling of products in Nigerian markets, purchased samples of some selected products in different markets for examination.

The products of nine of the companies sampled (names withheld), which included, candles, sweets, tissue papers, milk products, some over-thecounter (OTC) drugs and wheat meal products, were found to have fallen short of their declared weights/measures, while some have issues bordering on violations of Nigeria Industrial Standards (NIS).

The examination carried out on the products of the nine reprimanded companies showed that the short-falls in the declared measures of the products vary from 10 to 70 per cent, a development, the Council found worrisome and referred to as high incidence of fraud.

CPC, in its further examination

of some of these products, discovered that some of them had no shelf life and manufacturing dates on them, while others did not have uniform shelf-life periods.

The Council, while warning the affected manufacturers to desist from short-changing consumers, described the companies’ actions as an abuse of consumers’ right to adequate information, an infringement on the right of consumers to make informed choice and a denial of consumers’ right to have value for their hard-earned money.

The organization cautioned the companies in its letter that it “will not hesitate to invoke its powers, as stipulated in its enabling Act, in dealing with this issue if you do not henceforth stop the production of non-compliant products”.

From the same exercise, the Council found products of four companies worthy in terms of their declared weights, claiming that “this unarguably serves positively the interest of the consumers”.

Pan African Forum to establish 1,000 clusters across Africa

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Pan African Competitiveness Forum has pledged to aid the establishment of 1,000 clusters across Africa to aid the growth and development of small and medium scale entreprises.

Chairman of the forum’s steering committee, Professor Peter Anwalu said in Abuja recently when the forum met Minister of Trade and Investment Lousegun Aganga that since the forum was established in 2008, it had a five year plan to stimulate the establishment of 1,000 clusters in the continent as well as the transformation of existing ones.

He said the aim of the group’s annual forum which comes up in Abuja next week was to stimulate discussion among stakeholdersgovernment, private sector, researchers and resource personson how to enhance the quality of SMEs in Africa.

“The aim of the forum basically is to seek ways of enhancing the

Mobil pre-tax profit falls 48 pct, Nestles rises by 41 pct

competitiveness of Nigerian products in line with global best practice as well as boosting SME progress using the cluster approach.”

While commending the minister for using the cluster approach to drive SMEs growth in the country, he added that Nigeria and the rest of Africa do not have an option except to ensure that goods and services that are produced locally can compete favourably in the international market.

The chairman said the group had organised series of programmes to advance its objectives. One of them he said was the international training programme for cluster operators in Abuja in 2010.

He disclosed that 24 clusters attended the programme and were trained at the office of the Raw Materials Research and Development Council (RMRDC) with the support of the Swedish embassy.

He noted that the conference

was first held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia before it moved to South Africa, Ghana and Uganda in subsequent years.

Nigeria was given the hosting right for this year’s conference which is scheduled to hold between November 4-9th.

10 countries and resource persons from many parts of the world are expected to attend the conference The highpoint of the meeting was the presentation a conference bag made in Sokoto by an SME to Aganga. The conference bag was made up of hundred percent local materials.

Aganga charged the forum to be one of the change drivers in terms of how business is organised in the country, saying the President had approved the setting up of a competitiveness council.

He also pledged to liaise with forum as part of measures to boost the operation of SMEs, which he said were the engine room of economic development.

igerian fuel retailer, Mobil said its nine month pre-tax profit fell 48.10 percent year-on-year to 2.46 billion naira ($15.67 million), compared with 4.74 billion naira in the same period last year. Revenue however, at the local unit of ExxonMobil rose to 61.30 billion naira during the period, compared with 44.93 billion naira a year ago, it said in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Mobil shares in Nigeria were trading flat at 118.75 naira at 1124 GMT. ($1 = 157 naira) Meanwhile, Nestlé’s Nigerian arm said its nine month pre-tax profit jumped 40.72 percent to 18.28 billion naira ($116.43 million), compared with 12.99 billion naira in the same period a year ago.

Revenue at the local unit of the world’s biggest food group Nestle SA also rose to 85.03 billion naira during the period, from 70.54 billion naira last year, it said in a filing with the Nigerian Stock Exchange.

Nestle shares fell 2.1 percent to 675 naira on the local bourse. ($1 = 157 naira) (Reuters)

Ekiti to partner SMEDAN on OLOP – Fayemi

T

he Government of Ekiti State has indicated interest to work with the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria [SMEDAN] in the implementation of the Agency’s “One Local Government Area, One Product” programme otherwise known as OLOP, an enterprise development initiative modelled after Japan’s “One Village, One Product”.

The Programme which is supported by Japan International Cooperation [JICA], was designed to develop and brand each of the 774 Local Government Areas [LGAs] in Nigeria with a product of competitive and comparative advantage.

Speaking at the just concluded Small Business Opportunities Fair held in AdoEkiti, Capital of Ekiti State, for the six States in the South-West Geopolitical Zone, namely: Lagos, Ogun, Ondo, Oyo, Osun and Ekiti, Governor Kayode Fayemi noted that Ekiti State would continue to monitor the progress of her participants at the Fair and work with SMEDAN on more enterprises development initiatives such as the “One Local Government Area, One Product” [OLOP].

The Governor who was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to the State Government, Alhaji [Dr.] Ganiyu Owolabi commended SMEDAN for the recent training of 100 youths from the Ekiti State on how to identify business opportunities and set up their own enterprises.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

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Taxation impact on tourism development in Nigeria (i) T

ourism is one of the world’s fastest growing industries as well as a major source of foreign exchange and employment for many developing countries.

In realisation of the enormous benefits derivable from having a vibrant tourism industry, governments all over the world have intensified efforts at promoting the growth of tourism through the application of robust tax regimes.

Aside from taxation serving as a source of revenue for developing the tourism industry, favourable tax incentives have also proven to be a potent tool for its development.

Taxation is therefore necessary for the development of the Tourism industry which in turn contributes to boosting the tax revenue (in the form additional payment of Value Added Tax, Personal Income tax Companies Income Tax etc) accruing to the government.

This paper will dwell on the following: • What is taxation?

• What is tourism?

• Classes of tourism • Needs for tourism • The tourism Industry • Tourism development • Why tourism development?

• Taxation as a catalyst for tourism development • Incentives existing in the Tax laws • Conclusion.

What is taxation?

Tax is a compulsory payment imposed by the government on its citizens to meet the expenditures of the government in the provision of amenities and general needs of its citizens.

When citizens pay tax, they expect some benefits in return.

Citizens therefore have a legitimate ground to demand for accountability in the utilisation of money collected from them in the form of tax by the government What is tourism?

Tourism refers to activities of persons travelling to and staying in places outside their usual environment for not more than one consecutive year for leisure, business or other purposes not related to the exercise of an activity remunerated from within the place visited. It includes movement for all purposes as well as day visits or excursions. Tourism can be used to describe a system of interacting relationships of people, their need to travel outside their communities, and services that attempt to respond to these needs by supplying products.

meet new people and experience other cultures or simply to do something different or have an adventure. The tourist industry includes: Those sectors which enable the tourist to travel to and from the destination (for example travel agents, airlines, bus companies, tour operators and car rental companies); Those sectors which are part of the product at the destination (for example accommodation, facilities and attractions); The human component of tourism (the labour force); The public sector or government agencies, regional tourism organisation, professional associations and industry training organisations.

FIRS Chairman, Alhaji Kabiru Mashi Tourism is conceptually and technically different from leisure travelling and recreation. Leisure is defined as free time, time at ones disposal that can be taken to embrace any activity apart from work and obligatory duties. Travelling refers to movement from one point to the other. Travelling is a form of spending one’s leisure time. It is an element of tourism as tourism is a broader concept.

Recreation refers to the act of creating anew. It is the act of having discretionary spending of our leisure time. Recreation is about involving oneself in activities like sports, hobbies, games, travelling, and tourism in order to re-invigorate or refreshing oneself.

Classes of tourism Tourism can be classified as follows: International Tourism: Consists of inbound tourism, visits to a country by nonresidents and outbound tourism, residents of a country visiting another country.

Internal Tourism: Residents of a country visiting own country.

Domestic Tourism: Internal tourism plus inbound tourism (the tourism market of accommodation facilities and attractions within a country).

National Tourism: Internal tourism plus outbound tourism (the resident tourism market for travel agents and airlines).

Sports Tourism: This refers to travel which involves either viewing or participating in a sporting event staying outside

one’s usual environment.

Cultural Tourism: Forms of tourism concerned with a country or region’s arts and culture. It generally focuses on traditional communities who have diverse customs, unique form of arts and social practices which distinguish them from other types of culture.

Film Tourism: This involves visiting locations where films are made, where TV series are in produced and where film festivals are being held.

Needs for tourism For people to experience tourism, they usually need the following: • Disposable income • Leisure time • Tourism infrastructure such as transport facilities and accommodation.

• Other factors such as health and motivation to travel.

The tourism industry The Tourism industry refers to a group of firms involved in the business of identifying the needs of tourists and striving to meet those needs with the minimum resource spending possible in order to make a profit.

As a service industry, the tourism industry has numerous tangible and intangible elements.

Major tangible elements include transportation, accommodation and other components for the hospitality industry. Major intangible elements relate to the purpose or motivation for becoming a tourist, such as rest, relaxation, the opportunity to

What is tourism Development?

Tourism Development refers to the totality of activities of the government and industry operators aimed at expanding the operation and enhancing the quality of service delivered to tourists by the industry. Such activities include: Provision of land (usually done by government designating certain land space as Tourism Development Areas i.e. the coastal area of Lagos); Building of transport facilities to allow for easy accessibility to tourist centres; Building accommodation facilities and parks; Developing geographical features like beaches, waterfalls, springs, ranches and mountain ranges etc; Introduction of favourable tax regime; ensuring stable democratic government; Provision of water, electricity and telecommunication facilities etc Why development?

tourism

Tourism is vital to the well being of many countries because of: The income generated by the consumption of goods and services by tourists; The taxes levied on businesses in the tourism industry; The opportunity for employment and economic advancement derivable from working in the industry.

The economic benefits of tourism, however real and significant they may be, do not constitute the only criteria for government to encourage tourism. The opportunity for a citizen to know his own environment, a deeper awareness of national identity and a sense of belonging to a culture are all major reasons for developing domestic and international tourism.

Taxation as a Catalyst to

Tourism Development Taxation has been found to be a potent tool for speeding up the process of tourism development in Nigeria and by other nations all over the world. Aside from taxation serving as a source of revenue for executing development projects in the tourism industry by government, favourable tax incentives introduced by the government have proven to be a strong means of stimulating the activities of operators in the tourism industry.

The federal and state governments of Nigeria, in their effort to develop tourism, have created Tourism Development Authorities charged with the responsibility of planning and controlling the process of tourism development.

Examples of such projects are Development of the coastline of Lagos Bar Beach, Badagry Beach and Lekki Beach by Lagos State Government; Development of the Osun shrine village and the hosting of the Osun-Oshogbo Festival by Osun State Government; Development of the Argungu Festival village and hosting of the Argungu Festival by Kebbi State Government; Development of the Obudu Cattle Ranch and the Tinapa Project by the Cross River State Government etc All these projects are being substantially funded with revenue from government revenue.

The Nigerian government has also been supporting tourism development through tax incentives. Due to lack of awareness, full advantage is not being taken of the incentives. This is why effort has been made to bring them out in this paper.

Incentives existing in tax laws (1) Creation of a Tourism Industry Development Fund to be listed in the 5th Schedule to the Companies Income Tax Act (CITA), Cap C 21, LFN 2004 as amended.

The statutory basis for the above lies under Section 25 of CITA 2004 as amended.

(2) Investment Tax Credit: The applicable statute on this incentive is Section 26(3) of CITA 2004 as amended.

Section 26 (3): “Companies and other organisations engaged in research and development activities for commercialisation shall be allowed 20% investment tax credit on their qualifying capital expenditure for that purpose.”

Source: FIRS

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

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SEC to roll out new market rules to boost investor confidence N

Starcomms gets $210mn from investment group

D

irector-General, Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Ms Arunma Oteh, said the commission would roll out new consolidated market rules to boost investors’ confidence in the nation’s bourse.

Oteh made this known at a press conference at the end of the fourth quarter meeting of Capital Market Committee (CMC) in Lagos.

She said that the commission was committed to

protecting the interest of investors.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the CMC is an avenue where all stakeholders come together to review market issues.

Oteh said that the commission would also issue guidelines on the treatment of investors’ complaints to ensure speedy resolution.

She said that under the new guidelines, investors would know where to direct their

complaints, adding that only major complaints would be directed to the commission.

According to her, the commissions is committed to establishing a world class market and protect market integrity.

Mr. Yusuf Abdurraheem Managing Director of Abuja Commodities Exchange said that the Federal Government was committed to using the Exchange in its agricultural transformation

agenda.

Abdurraheem said that the Federal Government had recognised the importance of the project in the development of its agenda.

He said that the project was one of the key projects that the Federal Government was planning to put in place within the next 15 months.

He said that the government was committed to making the Exchange one of the strongest in Africa. (NAN)

igeria’s Starcomms has agreed to a $210 million investment deal with investor group Capcom Limited for a 90.5 percent stake in the telecom business, the stock exchange said on Wednesday.

Under the deal, Capcom will merge the assets of privatelyheld telecom firms MTS and Multi-links with Starcomms, Nigeria’s only listed Telecoms Company, and provide $98 million to finance their integration.

Nigeria’s telecom regulator told Reuters this month that three of its CDMA mobile operators - Starcomms, Multilinks and MTS - were seeking approvals to merge. (Reuter)

NSE urges more private sector involvement in infrastructure development

C

L-R: Group Managing Director/CEO, FirstBank of Nigeria Plc, Mr. Bisi Onasanya, Overall Best Performing Student, Adesulure Oluwafunmilade, Head, Human Capital Management and Development, Mrs. Ayodele Jaiyesmi and Head FirstAcademy, Mr. Osiomha Irumhekha at the graduation ceremony of 104 students from FirstAcademy, the Bank's training school for fresh employees in Lagos on October 30, 2012

NPA bemoans low capital budget performance

M

anaging Director, Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA), Malam Abdullahi Habib has stressed the need to improve on the performance of capital expenditure in annual budgets.

He said that capital budget performance in the NPA had been low over the past few years.

Habib made the call during the opening of a two-day strategy session on project implementation organised for management staff of the NPA. He said the organisation had not achieved 30 per cent performance on its 2012 capital budget.

“It is my pleasure to welcome you to this seminar on public procurement process and the need to enhance budget performance which has witnessed a low level of performance especially as

regards our capital budget over the past few years.

“This undoubtedly has been an issue of concern for both management and the Federal Government considering the vital role that ports play as gateways for economic trade and commerce,’’ Habib said.

He said that the session was necessary so that the managers could re-align the internal processes of the NPA taking into consideration the requirements of the Public Procurement Act. The NPA boss expressed disappointment that budget performance had not improved in spite of the various reforms being undertaken by the Federal Government such as the Public Procurement Act, 2007.

“This necessitated that we adopt a new and sustainable strategy in order to derive the

full benefit of the public procurement process,’’ NAN quotes Habib as saying.

He said: “the level of our operational performance and revenue which is dictated by the standard of infrastructure are inextricably linked to our ability to procure and maintain our infrastructure and assets.’’

The managing director said that this had made it absolutely necessary to be efficient in NPA procurement processes.

Habib said that matters such as modalities for early identification of projects for implementation, sequencing and allocating priorities for the projects would be considered during the session.

“Other matters to be considered are establishing structures and implementation of a programme for project monitoring and post-

procurement performance assessment of projects.

“Ensuring timely commencement of the procurement process to optimise on the use of time limit for project procurement in order to enhance budget performance.

“We also need to consider and advise on human capacity development programmes necessary to achieve set goals,’’ he said.

Habib expressed optimism that the session would ensure that a platform by which general management could harmonise programmes, projects and proposals was provided.

According to him, this platform will help managers to have a consensus as regards the procedure to be undertaken to further their common objective of enhancing port performance and revenue generation.

hairman of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), Mr Emeka Ozioko, Abuja chapter, has called for the involvement of the private sector in the promotion of infrastructure development through concessioning.

Ozioko gave the advice recently in Abuja at the “2012 Engr. Charles Mbanefo Distinguished Lecture’’ which has “Infrastructure concessioning in a Developing Economy’’ as its theme.

He said the involvement of the private sector in infrastructure development through concessioning was necessary to drive the nation’s economy.

“Given the dwindling revenue accruable to government, coupled with increased cost of the designing, construction and management of infrastructure in the world, concessioning should be considered,’’ he stressed.

Ozioko urged government at all levels to consider the option for the speedy completion of projects.

On his part, Mr. Charles Mbanefo, said that if government and relevant authorities checked challenges such as corruption and ensure proper monitoring of projects, there would be improved results in infrastructure development.

Mbanefo called for the inclusion of more indigenous engineers in the planning, design and construction of projects.

Dr. Carols Siqueira, a civil engineer from Brazil, who was the guest speaker, gave lectures on the design, construction, management and concessioning of infrastructure for economic development.

Siqueira’s lecture was based on the study of the 14-km Niterio Bridge in Rio de Janeiro.

He stressed the need for synergy between Nigerian and Brazilian engineers, saying that it would help to further strengthen infrastructure development and adoption of modern technologies in the field. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

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PAGE 25

Why European fashion buyers are looking to Nigeria A

model struts the runway wearing a flowing newspaper print gown in this African megacity where international high-end fashion buyers are looking beyond the country’s bleak headlines to uncover the next new thing.

There have been steady efforts to turn Lagos, a city with a fearsome reputation, into a fashion destination.

They reached new heights at

the MTN Lagos Fashion & Design Week that ran from Oct. 24 to 27 and drew European high-fashion brands such as the United Kingdom’s Selfridges & Co. and Munich-based MyTheresa.com to Nigeria for the first time.

Ituen Basi’s newspaper inspired Spring/Summer 2013 collection was among 39 collections spotlighted at the city’s latest major fashion week. The Nigerian label’s

collection evoked fun and glamour through its use of print and color — characteristics which have come to define the vibrant local fashion scene.

With local brands seeking wider platforms and international retailers hungry for novelty, designers and buyers see opportunities for collaboration.

“There’s something about the fresh, the unknown, the

A model displays a creation by designer Weizdhurm Franklyn, during the MTN Fashion and Design Week in Lagos, Nigeria (AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

possibility of seeing a new brand springing forth into the limelight. ... These are becoming interesting to people outside Nigeria,” said Omoyemi Akerele, the fashion week’s founder and creative director.

An encouraging response to African-inspired designs by top Western labels gives buyers confidence that designs straight from the continent will also sell.

“Over the past few seasons, there’s been a strong trend for print,” said Bruno Barba, the brand public relations manager at Selfridges. “If you look at the collection of Burberry inspired by Africa last year; there was also Vivienne Westwood, Paul Smith. ...

They’ve made that inspiration quite mainstream now. So, for us, it was interesting to take that trend and take it from its roots in Africa.”

Online retailer MyTheresa.com, which ships top designers’ clothes including Miu Miu, Givenchy, Lanvin and Isabel Meron to clients in 120 different countries, is also looking for products in Nigeria that will sell well.

The company hopes that will set it apart from the competition in a fast-paced industry.

“For me, Nigeria represents a fun individualism,” the company’s buying director Justin O’Shea said. He also said that MyTheresa.com was looking to work closely with designers and adapt products for their clientele if needed.

Previously, several Nigerian designers have helped put the West African

Models display creations by designer Wanna Sambo during the MTN Fashion and Design Week in Lagos, Nigeria

nation on the global fashion map.

Deola Sagoe has gained recognition from U.S. Vogue editor Andre Leon Talley and Oprah Winfrey. Londonbased Duro Olowu is considered one of Michelle Obama’s favorite designers.

Maki Oh has dressed American singer Solange Knowles and Hollywood actress Leelee Sobieski from her Lagos workshop. Jewel

By Lisa, who has also dressed celebrities, designed limited edition BlackBerry mobile phone skins and jeweled cases for Canadian manufacturer Research In Motion Ltd. While looking to Nigeria could bring much-needed novelty to clothes targeted to global audiences, it could also endear a Nigerian clientele.

Though the majority of the nation lives on less than $2 a day, the nation’s wealthy elite have a growing appetite for top-shelf brands. Luxury

goods stores are increasingly opening in a country where seemingly gratuitous displays of wealth are the norm.

“Nigerians are part of our Top 10 highest-spending foreign customers,” Barba said. “It felt right for us to try and find a response that would appeal to them, excite them and be over and above what they already buy, almost as a recognition of that they are an important part of our consumer base.”

JEWEL by Lisa Fashion week after fashion week, Lisa Folawiyo, the creative director of Jewel By Lisa, is a consistent Nigerian designer.

She recently started retailing at the New York-based online luxury store Moda Operandi and continues to draw attention from international buyers and labels looking for a modern interpretation of African

style.

Her Spring/Summer 2013 collection is named “Fula” after the Fulani women it draws inspiration from. The Fulani are a nomadic people spread across several African countries, including Nigeria.

Their women typically

have fine traits and slender frames, not unlike the models that took to the catwalk with soundtrack that crossed the high-pitched melody of the African guitar and the heavy bass of house music.

The Jewel by Lisa collection turned traditional loop earrings into a motif that repeated itself throughout

“

It felt right for us to try and find a response that would appeal to them, excite them and be over and above what they already buy, almost as a recognition of that they are an important part of our consumer base

(AP Photo/Sunday Alamba)

her satin fabrics across stunning color combinations.

Anita Quansah London Anita Quansah London is a prolific one-woman operation based in a London workshop. The GhanaianNigerian designer describes her work as a “labor of love.”

She sells to a global market including Asians and Europeans. She says she is now in talks to build a diffusion line to meet up with the growing demand of her work that has caught the eye of such designers as Christian Delacroix.

Her Spring/Summer 2013 collection is dramatic for “ladies who want to make a statement when they walk in to a room.”

Her show-stopping bib necklaces are embellished with intricate bead work. The beads include imitation coral beads used for traditional outfits in southern Nigeria.

Some bibs are lined with

chicken feathers which also evoke traditional heirlooms.

Her dresses were understated and mostly in solid black, ceding the limelight to the jewelry that included suggestive chain designs inspired by bondage.

Quansah said she wanted to show “women that weren’t afraid to be sexy.”

Lanre Dasilva Ajayi Designer Lanre DaSilva Ajayi is well-known in Nigeria’s fashion scene for her love of 40s elegance.

International buyers such as Selfridges & Co. expressed interest in her designs for retail at their UK stores.

Her ultra-feminine collection used a color palette ranging from cool nude and turquoise to warm orange and gold.

She showed flowing silhouettes and easy-to-wear maxi dresses, using chiffon, raw silk lace and the lace used

in traditional Nigerian outfits to carve European shapes.

Her clothes are for the woman on the move, bold and sophisticated.

Josh Samuels The MTN Lagos Fashion and Design Week 2013 was also the culmination of a months-long competition for new talent. The competition winner was menswear designer Josh Samuels, an architect turned designer that offered a geometric collection.

“I like things organized and appropriate,” said Samuels who won the equivalent of $25,000 and the opportunity to be stocked in some Nigerian boutiques.

His collection called “Casanova” included finely tailored suits with classic checkered and hound’s tooth patterns and matching string ties.

(Associated Press)

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 27

ANALYSIS

S

torms are becoming more severe and it is attributable to "our warming climate and seas and our melting ice caps".

Watching television this week, as Hurricane Sandy descended on Washington, DC, and meteorologists scurried to remain atop the latest forecasting, myriad presidential election campaign advertisements were met with one major marketing competitor: the American Petroleum Institute and its various oil, coal and gas bedfellows.

It was ironic, really, to watch "Vote 4 Energy" commercials - encouraging us to use the dirty fossil fuels that created the climate pretext for the oncoming super storm - as the wind and rain whipped up around my Anacostia neighbourhood in southeast DC. But even before Hurricane Sandy touched down in the District, this week in television witnessed something even more disconcerting vis-Ă -vis climate change.

Airing on PBS, "Climate of Doubt" took an in-depth look into how the climate change bill in Congress got shut down

by Republicans and how conservative groups like the Competitive Enterprise Institute (CEI), the Heartland Institute, Americans for Prosperity (AFP, funded by the Koch Brothers) sowed doubt in the American mind through intimidation and false science promulgated by non-scientists.

Global warming and Frankenstorm Thankfully, I know from recent data provided by the George Mason University Centre for Climate Change Communication that the majority of American public doesn't believe CEI, Heartland, or AFP and, in fact, knows that climate change is happening, recognises that human activity is warming the planet and thinks policymakers should do something about it.

Yet, while there is some chatter among meteorologists, reporters, and city and federal officials about climate change's connection to Hurricane Sandy - also known as Frankenstorm or Super Storm - there is not enough. Without question, storms are becoming more severe and it is attributable to our warming climate and seas and our melting ice caps (the lowest ever on record). With the hottest year so far on record, we should take heed to the warning of the scientific consensus.

But there are two key obstacles that stand in the way of us preventing more Frankenstorms from ever reaching our shores.

The first is obvious and has to do with our lifestyles.

Americans, especially, are heavy carbon users at nearly 25 tonnes of carbon per person every year. Compare that

"We have the power to make sure a super Frankenstorm never hits our shores again," says author [Reuters]

Hurricane Sandy: Time to do something about climate change with China at nearly 5 tonnes and India at less than 2 tonnes.

That means we need to eat greener, transport greener, procreate greener, etc. You get the point.

The second point is less obvious and has to do with our attraction to danger and fear and the positive reinforcement we receive when a storm hits our community. This may sound harsh but think about it.

America is an incredibly fractured and individualistic society, but when a storm approaches, we rally together, we become a community and we support our neighbours in need.

The large amount of emails and phone calls I received from friends near and far - before,

during and after Hurricane Sandy - is testament to the fact that we are different society during a storm. In fact, I got emails from friends in Pakistan and Indonesia. As much as I hate the tragedy, I like what we become during it.

We become a family, we become a community, we take care of each other and we are one. In fact, on the first day of Hurricane Sandy, my neighbours and I rallied for a big brunch and movie watching. It was great.

Reinforcing community values But here's the problem. If we are positively reinforcing community values primarily during climate-related tragedies (and the same goes with America's war on

“

terrorism, its similar tragedies and our collective response), we may well be disinclined to prevent that tragedy from recurring and subconsciously reinforce practices that create more tragedies, and thus, more community building opportunities. Again, like with our response to climate change, so too with our response to terrorism.

The solution, then, is to find alternative communityreinforcing activities so that we're not continuously, and subconsciously, attracted to climate change and terrorism tragedy. The latter approach is simply not sustainable and spells the end of humanity if we can't extract ourselves from that fixation.

The good news is that the

The second point is less obvious and has to do with our attraction to danger and fear and the positive reinforcement we receive when a storm hits our community.

activities necessary to prevent both climate change and terrorism are inherently procommunity: from going green (that is, more walking in the community, more public transit, more local farming and gardening, more local trade), to shielding communities from extremist recruitment, which means reducing poverty and increasing economic and educational access and opportunity for everyone. This is what we need to focus on and fast.

As Hurricane Sandy exits our coasts, we must not forget what brought it here and with such ferocity. In part, we did. And we have the power to make sure a super Frankenstorm never hits our shores again. The answer lies within us, as carbon users and community members. Vote 4 That. It's the only thing that will keep us all alive.

Michael Shank is an adjunct professor at George Mason University's School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution and a senior fellow at the French American Global Forum.

Culled from AlJazeera.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 28

Libyan legislators approve new cabinet

L

Uganda delays fake mobile switch-off date until 2013

U

ganda has delayed plans to switch off "fake" mobile phones until 1 July 2013.

The crackdown - which is designed to prevent counterfeit handsets connecting to local networks - had originally been planned to come into effect this month.

Kenya implemented a ban in October disconnecting millions of devices.

The Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) has suggested about 30% of East Africa's 17 million mobiles are illegitimate copies of popular brands and models.

Users have until March to make sure their Sim card is registered with the regulator ahead of the action.

They are also asked to verify the 15-digit IMEI (International Mobile Equipment Identity) code of legal devices. Fakes usually do not have an IMEI code or have copied another one.

The UCC says the moves will help law enforcement agencies track criminals who use unregistered devices for illegal activities.

Rwanda, Burundi and Tanzania are among other African nations to have discussed counterfeit phone bans.

Dropped calls Fake phones are popular because they are sold at significantly cheaper prices than official models - in part because retailers have avoided paying import taxes.

But officials suggest they can pose health risks. They say the handsets have not been tested to meet safety standards meaning that they may suffer higher than recommended radiation levels or battery leaks.

They also say that because the phones had not been properly configured for local networks that they can cause dropped calls for all users.

The UCC has faced complaints that service quality has worsened over recent months.

The regulator has also threatened network providers with fines if they are responsible for other causes of blocked or dropped calls, or loss of coverage.

Uganda follows Kenya which said it cut off nearly 2 million fake phones at the start of October

ibya's national assembly has approved new prime minister Ali Zeidan's proposed government after rejecting his predecessor's line-up, but members still queried the suitability of several nominations.

In a reminder of the volatility still plaguing Libya a year after Muammar Gaddafi's ouster, the General National Congress cut its session short soon after the vote on Wednesday as security forces fended off protesters outside.

The assembly had met on Tuesday to vote, but its session was postponed after protesters, opposed to some of the ministerial nominations, stormed the building. Some protesters said some of the nominees had past links with the Gaddafi regime.

In a televised vote, 105 members were in favour of Zeidan's government drawn from liberal and Islamist parties. The congress is made up of 200 members but only 132 were present.

Zeidan needed approval from congress to take office. His transitional government will focus on restoring security in the oil-producing country where many militias have yet to disarm since Gaddafi's overthrow.

"There are some objections about some of the ministries but we don't want to obstruct the government taking up its job," congress spokesman Omar Hmaidan told a news conference.

Asked which ministries had been called into question, he said: "I think interior, religious affairs and also oil, local government and foreign affairs."

Some congress members said the ministers called into question would be referred to its integrity committee.

"Even though I have some reservations, I personally hope the government will succeed because it

was chosen in a democratic way," congress member Mohammed Tommy said.

Some ministers come from the liberal National Forces Alliance and the Muslim Brotherhood's political wing, the Justice and Construction Party, the two biggest parties in congress. Others are independents.

Aware of Libya's sharp regional

tensions, Zeidan said he had tried to strike a geographic balance among his 27 ministers.

He nominated Ali Aujali, Libya's ambassador to the United States, as foreign minister; Mohammed alBarghathi, who served in the Libyan air force, as defence minister; and Abdelbari al-Arusi, from the western town Zawiyah, as oil minister.

There was heavy security outside the congress, which was stormed by protesters on Tuesday night [Reuters]

Security tightened after Tunisia violence

P

olice and soldiers have deployed in large numbers in the Tunisian capital after deadly clashes with radical Islamists during the night, according to the interior ministry.

The deployment came a day after Tunisia's state news agency said one protester was killed and three security officers injured in clashes near Tunis on Tuesday.

Wielding sharp tools and swords, the protesters went on the attack in the Tunis suburb of Manouba after police arrested a Salafist suspected of assaulting the head of the suburb's public-security brigade, Khaled

Tarrouche, interior ministry spokesman, said.

"There has been a reinforcement of security, of the National Guard, of the army to prevent any retaliation" by the Salafist movement, Tarrouche said on Wednesday.

"The response by the security forces led to the death of an attacker who was hit by a bullet."

Two security force members were also seriously injured, he said.

A police official told AFP news agency another person died in the violence, but that was denied by Tarrouche.

The security forces would use "all the tools allowed by law" in the event of any further violence, he said, suggesting that they could fire live rounds if confronted.

Tuesday's attacks were carried out by "a large number of people with radical religious tendencies", Tarrouche told the AFP news agency.

"The response by the security forces led to the death of an attacker who was hit by a bullet."

Two security force members were also seriously injured, he said.

A police official told AFP another person died in the violence, but that

was denied by Tarrouche.

The suburb's security chief, Wissem Ben Slimane, said on Sunday that he had been attacked the day before by a suspected Salafist who was wielding a hatchet and wounded him in the head.

The assault took place as the National Guard, the equivalent of a gendarme force, intervened in a brawl between illegal alcohol sellers and a group of Salafists in Manouba.

Tunisia's government has pledged to crack down on extremist violence since a deadly protest outside the US embassy last month.

...Tunisian president extends state of emergency

T

unisian President Moncef Marzouki has extended a state of emergency,

which grants police special powers of intervention, until February 1, 2013, the official

Police and soldiers were deployed heavily in the capital after salafists attacked a police station [Reuters]

TAP news agency said.

"Marzouki decided on Wednesday to extend the state of emergency by three months from November 1, 2012," TAP said.

The three-month extension was proposed by military and security officials, it added.

Extensions of the state of emergency, which has been in place since January 2011, have only been made for 30 days at a time since July.

W e d n e s d a y ' s announcement will likely raise fears of a deteriorating security situation in Tunisia, which is still dealing with instability unleashed by the revolution that ousted long-time president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011.

Tunisia has been shaken in recent weeks by a series of

attacks by salafists. Police and soldiers were deployed in large numbers in the Tunisian capital after Tunisia's state news agency said one protester was killed and three security officers injured in clashes near Tunis on Tuesday.

Wielding sharp tools and swords, the protesters went on the attack in the Tunis suburb of Manouba after police arrested a Salafist suspected of assaulting the head of the suburb's public-security brigade, Khaled Tarrouche, interior ministry spokesman, said.

The authorities have vowed to crack down on violence in the wake of a salafist-led attack on the US embassy in September in which four assailants were killed.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Asia and Middle East

K

uwaiti police have used teargas and smoke bombs to disperse thousands of protesters marching on a prison where an opposition leader is being held over remarks deemed critical of the emir, the interior ministry and activists say.

Wednesday's unrest comes amid rising tension caused by changes to the election law, which the opposition had condemned as an attempt to give progovernment candidates an advantage

PAGE 29

Kuwaitis protest jailing of opposition figure in parliamentary elections on December 1. The opposition are boycotting the poll.

Defence lawyers said on Wednesday prosecutors had charged Musallam al-Barrak on three counts related to a speech in which he made critical remarks about the 83-year-old emir, and ordered him held for 10 days pending further questioning.

Thousands later marched towards the prison demanding Barrak's release.

Some carried a poster showing Barrak behind bars. "Set free the conscience of

the nation, Musallam al-Barrak," a caption read.

Police ordered the crowd to disperse and then used teargas and smoke bombs.

The Interior Ministry said security forces dispersed rioters who had blocked streets and assaulted police with stones and bottles, according to a statement carried by the state news agency KUNA. The ministry blamed "violent agitators and instigators" for the trouble said it had made some arrests and The opposition is planning to boycott parliamentary elections scheduled for next month [EPA]

warned further protests would be dealt with harshly.

Barrak, an outspoken former member of parliament, was picked up from his home on Monday, two weeks after an opposition rally at which he made rare critical remarks about the emir, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-

Sabah. At the rally, Barrak had appealed to Sheikh Sabah to avoid "autocratic rule".

Prosecutors have charged him with encroaching on the pillars of the emirate, insulting the emir and infringing his authority, said a defence lawyer who asked not to be named.

...Kuwait warns of harsher crackdown on protests

A

uthorities in Kuwait have warned they will take a tougher line against antigovernment demonstrators defying bans on protest gatherings.

Thursday's warning came as the Gulf nation's opposition leader Mussallam al-Barrak was released on bail after a night of violent protests against his detention that left dozens hurt, his lawyer and an AFP photographer said.

Kuwaiti media reported that alBarrack, a former member of parliament under investigation for allegedly insulting Kuwait's emir, paid more than $35,500 before he was granted bail.

The interior ministry said forces will "firmly" confront any new demonstrations, adding that a "number" of protesters have been arrested, including a driver who allegedly tried to run over four policemen late on Wednesday.

Opposition groups held an emergency meeting in the wake of the night-long clashes, condemning the government's "barbaric suppression" of peaceful demonstrations.

They said Kuwait was becoming a police state.

Kuwait last week banned any public gathering of more than 20 people in attempts to quash growing protests led by opposition factions that include Islamists.

The protesters are seeking to reclaim control of parliament in elections planned for December The outcome is seen as a pivotal moment in Kuwait's political showdowns. A victory for the Islamists and their allies could bring even more pressures on the Westernbacked ruling family, which has so far turned back demands for stricter Muslim social codes in Kuwait.

Shirani Bandaranayake: Sri Lanka MPs' impeachment bid

A

Opposition leader Musallam al-Barrack (poster) is under investigation for allegedly insulting Kuwait's emir [Reuters]

parliamentary motion to impeach Ms Bandaranayake was submitted on Thursday, officials say.

Impeachment is the only constitutional way to remove a sitting chief justice.

Correspondents say the move is the latest manifestation of tension between the government and the judiciary, which has made some rulings unfavourable to it in recent months.

Ms Bandaranayake was appointed Sri Lanka's first woman chief justice last year. President

Mahinda Rajapaksa's UPFA party has enough seats for the impeachment to succeed, but the process could take months.

The government has declined to give full details of why it is moving against Ms Bandaranayake, but the initial proposal has received the approval of the required number of lawmakers.

Government spokesman Keheliya Rambukwella said the move was made because the chief justice's behaviour and conduct in the past year had "affected the sovereignty of the people" but did not give further details.

22 people killed, 111 injured in fuel tanker crashed in Riyadh From Ahmed Kaigama, Saudi Arabia

A

Sri Lanka's president has the power to appoint - but not remove - a sitting chief justice, but Sri Lankan governing party MPs have begun moves to impeach Chief Justice Shirani Bandaranayake.

t least 22 people were killed and 111 injured after a fuel truck crashed into a concrete flyover and exploded in Riyadh early yesterday Thursday, The Director General of civil defense, Lt. Gen. Saad Abdullah AlTwaijri, comfirm the incident ,saying that the number of casualties could increase as rescuers were still searching the rubble of a building demolished by the explosion.

The accident happened along Quraish road, one of the city's main arteries on the eastern part of the capital city.

TV footage showed the explosion damaged buildings nearby and set several vehicles ablaze. One building, several stories high, was almost levelled by the blast, with only one corner left standing.

“I was inside the building when the

blast came. Then boom, the building collapsed. Furniture, chairs and cabinets blasted into the room I was in,” said survivor Kushnoo Akhtara, a 55-year-old Pakistani worker, who was covered in dirt and bleeding from multiple cuts over his body.

“My brother is still inside under the rubble. There are lots of people in there.”

Over a hundred emergency personnel were combing the wreckage on the flyover and searching for victims in the rubble of the building, which housed operations of Zahid Tractor, a distributor of heavy machinery.

General Al-Twaijri said preliminary investigation pointed to recklessness on the part of the truck driver. The truck hit a post of the flyover and exploded.

He complained that the thousands of onlookers along roads near the accident site were hampering search and rescue operations. The crowd was eventually pushed away by police.

PAGE 30

Europe and Americas Argentina lowers voting age to 16

D

ozens of opposition members of the lower house of Congress walked out of the rancorous late-night session on Wednesday just before the measure won final approval by a vote of 131 to 2.

Fernandez, who polls well among younger voters, has not ruled out a bid by her supporters to change the constitution to allow her to run for a third term in 2015.

Legions of youthful activists have joined the "Campora" movement, known for its rowdy demonstrations in favour of Fernandez's heterodox policies.

Skeptics say the new law is aimed at drumming up support for the president before legislative elections scheduled a year from now.

Supporters say the measure aims to bring Argentina in line with progressive countries such as Ecuador and Brazil that have already extended voting right to people as young as 16.

Fernandez-allied lower house member Diana Conti said the bill "is neither opportunistic nor demagogic," but rather seeks "to widen the electoral base of our democracy."

The makeup of Congress after the midterms will be key to any effort by her allies to open the door to another candidacy.

The 59-year-old Peronist leader won a blowout re-election last year and no strong opposition figure has emerged since.

But her popularity has fallen to below 25 percent as the economy gets hit by sluggish world growth, slowing demand from top trade partner Brazil, high inflation at home and government-imposed currency and trade controls that hurt confidence.

More than a million new voters are estimated to be eligible to cast ballots now that the bill has passed both houses. The Senate approved the measure earlier this month.

You still have to be 18 in Argentina to get married or buy alcohol or cigarettes.

Voting is compulsory for Argentines between the ages of 18 and 70 but it will be discretionary for 16- and 17-year olds under the new law.

Argentina has lowered its voting age to 16 from 18, a change that could help politically ailing President Cristina Fernandez court the youth vote ahead of 2013 mid-term elections.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Obama visits stormbattered New Jersey O

bama joined New Jersey Governor Chris Christie and other officials to inspect damage from the massive storm that struck the East Coast. He saw flooded neighbourhoods and sandstrewn streets during a tour that

came less than a week before election day.

The president told people recovering from Sandy's devastation along New Jersey's coastline that "we are here for you, and we will not forget".

Obama, who visited the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters earlier in the day, said the federal government is "here for the long haul".

Christie, a supporter of Republican presidential candidate

Barack Obama, the US president, is paying a visit to the state of New Jersey to see the damage done by superstorm Sandy, as the East Coast picks up the pieces in the wake of widespread destruction.

Mitt Romney, said he "can't thank the president enough" for his concern and compassion during the storm.

Sandy killed at last 18 people in New York, according to Mayor Michael Bloomberg, while at least 64 storm-related deaths were reported nationwide to date.

Accompanied by the federal government's emergency relief director Craig Fugate, Obama appeared to re-start campaigning he said he had put off until Thursday ahead of Tuesday's national vote.

Christie has been effusive in his praise of Obama's handling of the devastating storm, raising eyebrows in his own party.

Al Jazeera's John Terrett, reporting from Egg Harbor in New Jersey, said: "[Christie] is basically a Republican attack dog, they used him in the Tampa convention to go after Obama."

"It's an extraordinary situation [that he is praising the Democrat candidate]," he said, noting speculation that Christie may be considering his own presidential bid in the next election.

The governor greeted the president at the steps of Air Force One after his short flight from Washington and the two men boarded Obama's Marine One helicopter for an aerial tour of the disaster area.

Greek journalist on trial over ‘Lagarde list’

A

Greek journalist has appeared in court in Athens after publishing a list of 2,059 high-profile alleged taxdodgers in the cash-strapped country.

Costas Vaxevanis, editor of weekly magazine "Hot Doc", faced the court on Thursday, accused of violating a law on personal data.

The list, he claims, was given in 2010 by Christine Lagarde, current head of the International Monetary Fund, to then Greek Finance Minister George Papaconstantinou.

"The Lagarde list" was then believed lost for two years, but resurfaced in early October, when

Greek media printed stories regarding other lists containing names of politicians allegedly probed for their financial transactions.

The list Vaxevanis published contains names of heavyweight former ministers and businessmen, including Leonidas Tzanis, former Greek deputy interior minister, who committed suicide in the beginning of October.

It claims the people named on the list have made major deposits in Swiss banks, inferring that many avoiding paying tax in Greece, a nation embroiled in a debt crisis since 2009.

The trial of Costas Vaxevanis (centre) began in Athens on Wednesday [Reuters]

Barclays faces fine for manipulating markets

U

S regulators have threatened to fine Barclays bank roughly $470 million to settle allegations

that the bank and four traders manipulated California electricity markets, reviving the spectre of a sector-wide crackdown on energy

The British bank said it would fight the charges, likely setting up a landmark legal battle [EPA]

trading.

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) proposed fine, which was announced on Wednesday, would be the largest penalty ever levied by the commission and potentially exceeds the fine Barclays paid over the Libor bid-rigging scandal that cost Chief Executive Robert Diamond his job.

The bank has 30 days to show why it should not be penalised for an alleged scheme of manipulating physical electricity prices at a loss in order to make profits in related positions in the swaps market, a strategy known as a "loss-leader".

British bank Barclays said it would fight the agency, likely setting up a landmark legal battle

that could set a precedent over whether the once-common trading ploy in commodity markets is illegal or simply illadvised.

It will have huge implications across the market, as the FERC which won expanded powers to tackle manipulation in 2005 after the California power trading scandal and related Enron meltdown - pursues similar investigations against companies including BP and Deutsche Bank.

The FERC also said four of the company's power traders -- Daniel Brin, Scott Connelly, Karen Levine, and Ryan Smith -- have 30 days to show why they should not be assessed a total of $18 million in civil penalties.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 40

08050639900 wallybabe2010@gmail.com

By David Adeoye

B

y most accounts, rape cases have been on the increase in Osun State in recent times.

Alarming as such accounts may sound, current statistics, however, confirm such viewpoints.

For instance, statistics from the three magistrate courts in Osogbo, the state capital, indicate that not less than 25 cases of rape were brought before the courts between January and September this year. In these cases, most of the accused persons are currently on bail, while those found guilty in the decided few cases have been imprisoned.

Concerned observers, however, moan that rape cases have become so rampant in the state, noting that the trend has even become quite worrisome because the perpetrators include some respected members of the society.

They lament that the crime involves the elderly, the youth and even the disabled. Some of the observers point at a traditional ruler of a town in the state who was charged to court for alleged raping of a Youth Corp member serving in his domain. The victim alleged that the monarch lured her into his apartment in Osogbo and forcefully had sex with her.

However, the case, which has yet to be decided, is before the state High Court in Osogbo.

In another case, two police corporals were arraigned in July this year for raping a teenager in Ilesa, a town in the state.

It was alleged that the girl was going on an errand to a place when the two police officers accosted her and sexually assaulted her.

Again, a primary school teacher in Osogbo was arrested and charged to court in February for having canal knowledge of his two pupils, aged five and seven. It was alleged that the teacher lured the two minors to the school toilet where he was caught in the act.

On July 20, a Chief Magistrate’s Court I Oshogbo, sentenced a 56year old father of five to 14 years imprisonment for raping a teenager.

In its presentation before the court, the police said that the convict on June 11 in Osogbo, conspired with another teenage girl who lured the victim to his house where he raped her for about two hours.

Under interrogation, the accused man confessed that he had slept with many minors in the past through the help of his accomplice, the teenage girl who, he said, had been assisting him to get young girls to satisfy his libido.

The police also said that they discovered in the course of their investigation that the convict had slept with his accomplice on two occasions before she started luring her friends into the man’s snare.

All the same, observers say that the rising menace of rape in the state reached a crescendo in July when a 60-year-old grandfather was arraigned before a court for allegedly raping a 12year old girl at Oora village, near Ilesa.

According to eyewitness accounts, it was the cry of the hapless girl

Checking prevalence of rape cases in Osun

Indecent dressing such as this by ladies is one factor that has led to high rate of rape that attracted other villagers who rescued her.

People are, therefore, tempted to question the rationale behind the upsurge in rape cases in the state and the country at large.

Dr Temilola Omosanya, a Psychiatric Consultant at Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Osogbo, said that while some rape cases could be attributed to psychiatric disorders, a greater percentage of the cases are criminally motivated.

“One of the reasons why the crime is on the increase is that people find it difficult to report rape cases to security operatives because of the fear of the victims’ stigmatisation.

“This makes the perpetrators to go unpunished, repeat the heinous act, while the victims continue to suffer in silence with the psychological trauma,’’ she said.

Omosanya, nonetheless, advises rape victims to always speak out and visit hospital where a doctor could examine them.

“After the medical examination, the doctor will document some evidence of rape, which could be tendered as evidence if the case is eventually reported to the police and taken to court,’’ she added.

Nevertheless, Omosanya insists that every member of the society has one role or the other to play in the effort to tackle the rising menace of rape.

According to a police officer, Inspector Isiaka Ajadi, lack of cooperation on the part of rape victims is largely responsible for

the delay and poor prosecution of rape cases adding that some of the complainants even prefer out-ofcourt settlement after the arraignment of suspects.

“You hardly see the victims to testify as witnesses when trial begins and once a case is adjourned for several times, the

court has no other option than to strike it out,’’ he said.

Ajadi, nonetheless, appeals to parents and guardians to always take care of their female children, while educating them about the kind of company they should keep.

He also call on the government

Minister of Women Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina

to sensitise the citizens to the effects of rape, while urging rape victims to be bold to pursue their case in courts instead of settling it at home.

He stressed the need for such approach, saying that rapists ought to be punished to serve as deterrent to other criminally minded people in the society.

However, Mrs. Mofolake Adegboyega, the state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Welfare, said that Osun State Government has intensified efforts to sensitise the people to the dangers and consequences of rape.

According to her, workshops and seminars are currently being organised across the state to create appreciable awareness for parents, children and other members of the society on the menace of rape and how to prevent it.

Adegboyega, urged the citizens not to feel shy to report any case of rape or attempted rape to appropriate authorities for action.

She vowed that the state government will not allow perpetrators of rape to escape justice.

In spite of the soothing assurances, observers maintain that the fight against rape is a collective war which should involve government, organisations, security agencies and every member of the society.

Such concerted efforts will surely stem the crime from growing into dreadful proportions, some of the observers said.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 31

Chris Christie sparks speculation at political centre of the storm

W

ith the allegiances of New Jersey’s Republican governor under debate, questions arise over his own leadership ambitions The aftermath of superstorm Sandy has produced one of the strangest political pairings of the year, bringing together Barack Obama and one of Mitt Romney’s most prominent supporters, Republican governor of New Jersey Chris Christie.

The 50-year-old governor has emerged as the public face of the storm: energetic, emotional and efficient, a seemingly permanent presence on television screens over the last few days. Already wellknown in the political world, he is now a national figure.

With Sandy still too raw for anyone to start make political

points, there has been no backlash from Republicans about his alliance with Obama only six days from election day. Christie has said politics do not matter to him at the moment. But on Monday, even before Christie lavishly praised the president’s handling of the storm as “outstanding”, the right-wing talk-show host Rush Limbaugh called the governor “fat” and “a fool”.

Christie was a keynote speaker for Romney at the Republican convention in Tampa this summer and has been out on the campaign trail regularly on his behalf. And yet he not only praised Obama but, unlike mayor Michael Bloomberg in New York, also agreed to host the president on a tour of the stricken parts of his state.

So what is going on? Has

Christie secretly harboured a grudge against Romney and grabbed the opportunity to try to sink his campaign? Or is he just being pragmatic, thinking locally, looking for maximum federal aid from Obama?

One scenario is that although Christie has loyally campaigned publicly for Romney he privately does not really like him much.

Evidence for this? When he delivered his keynote speech to the convention, delegates had anticipated a rousing build-up of Romney and a demolition job on Obama. In the end, in a televised address watched by tens of millions, he barely mentioned Romney, did not mention Obama at all and spoke mainly about himself.

In all the interviews that

Christie has given over the last few days, his response comes across as mainly emotional, the guy from Newark, New Jersey, overcome by the destruction of the beloved shoreline he knew from his youth.

It could be as simple as this.

The most Machiavellian of the scenarios is that Christie, who was pressed by many Republicans to stand for the White House this year but declined, is thinking that if Romney was to get elected next week, Romney might then go on to win again in 2016. Christie’s first crack at the White House would then be 2020 and, given the normal tendency of the electorate to give another party a chance, he might be facing a strongly favoured Democrat. Better for him that Romney fails next week, leaving the way open for a Christie run in 2016.

If the Republicans lose next week, they might just decide to move to the centre and that is where Christie has positioned himself, to the left of the present-day Republican party.

The final and most plausible of the scenarios is that Christie is thinking not about 2016 but 2013 when he faces re-election for governor against a potentially strong Democratic field, of whom Newark mayor, Cory Booker, a strong orator, is favourite to face him in what is a traditionally Democratic-leaning state.

It could be that, like all politicians, Christie holds in his head all these scenarios, emotional about the distress and damage before his eyes, and pragmatic too, but also thinking strategically to next year or even 2016.

Obama faces stiff task to blunt Gary Johnson’s challenge in Colorado L

ibertarian maverick’s message of small government and social tolerance thrills young voters and threatens president’s hopes Barack Obama is due to campaign in Boulder, Colorado on Thursday night to fire up this liberal bastion and try to snuff out a libertarian challenge which threatens to siphon crucial votes.

The president hopes to shore up support in the swing state and neutralise Gary Johnson, who is running for president on the Libertarian party ticket, just days ago after the former New Mexico governor electrified students at the University of Colorado in Boulder.

The maverick Johnson remains barely known to most ordinary Americans but is expected to take votes from Obama – and Mitt Romney – in Colorado on the back of enthusiasm for a separate vote on November 6 over whether to legalise marijuana.

Hundreds packed a university auditorium to hear him speak on Monday night. Dozens who did not fit inside lined the corridors, ears straining to catch the words. All cheered and whooped Johnson’s calls for social tolerance and a radically downsized government.

“There’s a lot of support for my message here. You can feel it,” he told the Guardian afterwards.

“Young people who are disappointed with the president are listening to what I have to say.”

Some Democrats, haunted by Ralph Nader’s torpedoing of Al Gore in 2000, fear Johnson may damage Obama more than Romney and hand the state, and the White House, to the Republicans.

Polls have locked the president and Romney in a statistical tie, with one this week giving each candidate 47% each. A few thousand or even just a few hundred votes could swing the state.

“I want you to make sure you sign, seal and deliver this election to Barack Obama,” Bill Clinton told

Gary Johnson said: 'Young people who are disappointed with the president are listening to what I have to say.' a rally in Denver on Tuesday night.

The outcome could pivot on a handful of votes in Colorado, he said.

No one doubts Obama will sweep Boulder and Colorado’s other liberal strongholds but the question is: will the margin be enough to offset Romney’s advantage in conservative parts of Colorado Springs and the Denver suburbs?

Johnson has declared a target of 5%, saying this would wake up Washington to the libertarian message, but in such a tight race analysts say even 0.5% could prove decisive.

The lack of detailed polling on Johnson has made Republicans and Democrats equally nervous because he could plausibly sink Romney or Obama.

“The few surveys that have captured his level of support show that he draws from both candidates – the young people from Obama and he draws the Libertarians from Romney and those who may have been for Ron Paul,” Floyd Ciruli, a Denver-

based pollster, told DailyCamera.com. “But none of the samples have been big enough to show which candidate loses more votes.”

For Obama to invest precious, dwindling time in Boulder – his third visit of the campaign – underlined concern about Johnson.

“I need your help to put out a spark before it grows into a fire,” Dan Gould, chair of the Boulder county Democratic party, emailed activists before Johnson’s visit on Monday.

“He is trying hard to peel student votes away from President Obama around the issue of deregulation of marijuana. With Colorado being so vital and so close at this point, we can’t let that happen.”

Democrats handed out flyers near the auditorium and, judging from the pro-Obama slant of several questioners, joined the audience, but there was no dampening Johnson’s spark.

A youthful 60, wearing a black jacket over a CND T-shirt, Johnson

bounded onto the platform and started with a brief resumé of his life: entrepreneur, elected governor of New Mexico as a Republican in 1994, re-elected in 1998, vetoed apparently more bills than the country’s 49 other governors combined, competed in Iron Man triathlons, climbed Mount Everest. And now running for the White House with slogans such as “I’m free” and “The people’s president.”

Government, he said, should keep costs low and stay out of the bedroom. “You know you’re a libertarian when you hate speed limits,” he said, earning cheers.

He promised to end the drug war by legalising marijuana as a first step to legalising other drugs.

Colorado’s amendment 64, which would allow anyone over 21 to use marijuana, could set an example for America and the world, he said, louder cheers.

He advocated noninterventionism overseas. “I’m the only candidate that doesn’t want to bomb Iran. And that wants to pull our troops out of Afghanistan

tomorrow.”

Johnson condemned the Patriot Act and the National Defense Authorization act as civil rights violations and called Obama a feeble advocate of gay rights and other liberal causes. “I agree with everything he says. He was the great hope. But none of it has transpired.”

Johnson also said he would abolish the federal reserve, the department of education, the IRS, income tax and corporate tax. A smaller government and a federal consumption tax would tame the deficit.

“Some say a vote for me is wasting your vote. Wasting your vote is voting for someone you don’t believe in. So I say waste your vote, vote for Gary Johnson. If everyone does that, I’ll be the next president of the United States.” A standing ovation followed.

Questioners who challenged his hostility to Medicare and student loans – supposedly a Democrat trump card here – gained little support from the audience.

Johnson, who is on the ballot in 48 states, told the Guardian he had smoked pot but gave it up, along with alcohol, when he became an athlete. He said he appeared to be drawing more support from Obama than Romney in Colorado, New Mexico and Nevada, and vice versa in Michigan and Virginia.

Jack Dille, 21, a humanities major, endorsed Johnson.

“Romney and Obama are like milquetoast, just boring. And think of the drug war, it’s ridiculous.

People say I’m wasting my vote, but if I can’t be idealistic now, when can I be?”

Dille is lost to Obama, but the president’s return to Boulder may sway undecideds like Kevin Blair, 28, an international affairs student who disapproves of both Romney and Obama. “Our drone strikes are killing civilians, it’s appalling. I’m leaning towards Obama but it sucks that we’re stuck with these two schmucks.”

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012 With Tobias Lengnan Dapam 07036990957

James Bond’s “Skyfall’ tops chart of International Box Office

S

kyfall” doesn’t open in North America for 12 days, but James Bond’s latest adventure is already a hit overseas, as the 23rd Bond film grossed $77.7 million in its international debut, topping the box office charts in 25 countries, Nollywood reporter has said.

Similarly, the Los Angeles Times noted that “Skyfall” was most popular in England. It James Bond

The development according to movie analysts would make the latest Bond the biggest ever in terms of opening weekend box office; “Quantum of Solace,” with $67.5 million, which still holds the unadjusted-forinflation record.

The Bond film is actually the biggest in the franchise’s history, with $168.3 million in total domestic gross.

N

ollywood actor, Jim Iyke has disclosed that he will soon start a Reality TV Show, called Jim Iyke Unscripted”, Pulse.com has said.

It added that the Jim Iyke Unscripted which is a joint production of Africa Magic and Oh Africa TV will gives viewers a sneak peek into all areas of the actor’s life.

Pulse.com further said that the reality TV show was brokered

by Jim’s UK-based management company, Greyology Inc.

Genevieve to return Range Rover Evogue SUV to owners in December

I Nollywood actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, dumps acting for evangelism

also indicated that the film earned $32.4 million in the U.K, a 30 percent increase from the opening of “Quantum of Solace” in 2008 and the second-biggest opening ever for the country, behind “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2.”

However, the adventure is expected to earn close to $80 million in the U.S. when it opens in November.

Jim Iyke to start Reality TV show

f rumour reaching Nigeriafilms.com is anything to go by, then, Nollywood actress, Genevieve Nnaji, who was made Range Rover Evogue SUV brand ambassador in June 2012, may return the car to Coscharis, the distributor of

Land Rover brand of cars in Nigeria.

According information made available to Nigeriafilms.com, Genevieve will have to return the about N8million worth car due to the terms she agreed to while signing the deal with the car

distributor.

Source who claimed to be at the agreement told Nigeriafilms.com that Genny, as the actress is fondly called, was given two options while she was about to put pen to papers on the deal.

The first option, was to have

$100,000 and cruise with the car for six months as its ambassador, while the second option was to have the car for keeps and have about $50,000.

So, Genny, as the source said, went for the first option, which means she would return the car by December 2012.

F

or some time now, star actor, Kenneth Okonkwo, who played ‘Andy’ in the popular movie ‘Living in Bondage’ has not been seen in most movies as he used to in the past.

Nigeriafilms.com revealed that the prolific actor has added the gospel of soul winning for God to his already acquired two professions; acting and law profession. The actor surprised many when he was seen at a lawyers’ forum few years ago.

Now, Kenneth has shown that aside from acting and law practice, he is a good evangelist and afisher of men for God. Kenneth Okonkwo recently headlined a 3-day crusade held in Ikorodu, Lagos, as a guest minister of God of the event.

Some actors who dedicated their life to work of God also included: Liz Benson, Pat Attah and Eucharia Anunobi.

Budding actress, Memunat, for Yoruba Heritage Awards

B Kenneth Okonkwo

eautiful Yoruba upcoming actress, Memunat Yunusa, who became popular after she produced her blockbuster movie ‘Mimiano’ and also bears the name, is surely getting the joy of her life now as she has been nominated for Yoruba Heritage Awards.

The busty actress started acting in 2000 and she has produced several movies. She

was once a makeup artist before she went into acting fully and she is tremendously doing well for herself.

The undergraduate student of Mass communication in Lagos State University (LASU), was nominated under the best upcoming actress category with two others.

The event holds in London, on December 7th, 2012.

Davido features Akon in “Dami Duro” remix

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mo Baba Olowo, known as Davido, has joined the number of other artists in the country to sing with foreign stars.

Pulse.com gathered that the music sensation has teamed up with Konvict Music boss, Akon, to remix his hit banger ‘Dami Duro‘.

In the past few years, Akon has teamed up with top Nigerian acts like P- Square to remix their hit songs and raise the bar for the singers.

Memunat Yunusa

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 33

Chuks features top Nollywood stars in ‘A Wish’ movie

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alented actor cum movie producer, Elvis Chuks has joined the league of top Nollywood producers contributing to the growth of filmmaking in Nigeria with the production of good and quality movies.

The actor, who shone in popular TV series ‘Super Story’, has shown to the world why he is a force to reckon with when filmmaking in Nigeria is mentioned.

To this effect, Nigeriafilms.com revealed

that the tall and handsome producer has brought together Patience Ozokwo aka Mama G, Funke Akindele, Hafiz Oyetoro known as Saka, Helen Paul aka Tatafo, Bishop Imeh and others to shine in his new flick titled ‘A Wish’ movie.

Expectedly, with the array of top names that acted in the movie, ‘A Wish’ which will premier in December 1st, 2012, is a hilarious comedy film that centres on a single mother, who is a petty trader

with no opportunity of education. Having only one wish to see her child go to school and explore the opportunities she never had, fate struck, which caused some issues.

AFM 2012: Allen to narrate 3D Penguin documentary Comedian and actor, Tim Allen, will voice the U.S. version of “The Penguin 3D,” which was being touted to buyers during the market in Santa Monica, Hollywood reporter has said.

It added that the film which

was produced by U.K. production and finance banner Atlantic Production, was originally a British version which was narrated and coproduced by legendary broadcaster, David

Tim Allen

Attenborough.

However, Allen will narrate from a re-draft of the original which tells the story through the eyes of a king penguin as he makes his journey from adolescence to adulthood.

The re-drafted script is being penned by Philip LaZebnik who wrote Disney¹s Pocahontas and the screenplay for Mulan.

The Penguin King 3D is an Atlantic Productions film with satellite broadcater Sky 3D in association with Serengeti Entertainment and Galileo Digital Entertainment.

It is billed as “an exhilarating funny, and moving journey through the changing seasons and breathtaking scenery of an un-spoilt Antarctic wonderland.”

Both versions of the movie are available for the international market and will be touted to buyers by U.K. based distribution, sales and finance label Kaleidoscope Film Distribution during the AFM.

Agbani Darego and Chris Attoh decorate Complete Fashion cover

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ce model and first black African Miss World, Agbani Darego, looks extremely chic on the cover of Complete Fashion magazine, discussing about her life and carrier, Nigerifilms.com has said.

The model who won the Miss Nigeria and subsequently Miss world competition

revolutionalised the face of modelling in Nigeria and Africa at large. Her winning was the spur to countless other pageants that lights the screens of television in Africa.

Also on the cover of Complete Fashion and looking very dapper too, is one and only Chris Attoh.

Chris Attoh, is a Ghanaian actor

that has his fair share of swooning ladies.

Attoh has graced the silver screens for a while but his most noticeable work experience has got to be his part in the TV series Tinsel as ‘Kwame’. His acting skills have impressed a lot of people and garnered for him the admiration of male and female fans alike.

Obama enlists Hollywood Celebrities in final campaign

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n his determination to return for the second time as the president of the United State, Democratic candidate, Barrack Obama, has enlisted notable celebrities to accompany him on his tour.

Hollywood reporter, gathered that Eva Longoria appeared alongside Barack Obama at a Las Vegas rally on Thursday, while Stevie Wonder and Marc Anthony

Taylor Swift’s ‘Red’ sells 1.21 million in a week

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Agbani Darego

Chris Attoh

will appear at Florida rallies with the first lady.

While in Florida, Stevie Wonder will be expected to perform at a rally in Jacksonville and Marc Anthony will deliver remarks and introduce the first lady at events in Miami and Daytona Beach.

With the race neck-andneck, expect more star appearances at Obama events across the country.

aylor Swift’s ‘Red’ album sold a whopping 1.21 million copies last week in the U.S, Hollywood reporter has said.

It added that the album sold more than any album sold in a single week since 2002, when Eminem’s “The Eminem Show” sold 1.322 million in its first full week at No. 1 on the billboard.

Hollywood reporter further said that “Red” is only the 18th album to sell a million units in a single week since “SoundScan” started tracking sales in 1991.

It added that the album ranked as the eighth-biggest sales week in that span of time, saying that the “SoundScan” record week was held by NSync’s “No Strings Attached,” when it debuted at No. 1 with 2.416 million in 2000.

Swift’s sizzling start was also

the second-largest sales frame for a female artist, as only Britney Spears had a bigger week, when “Oops Did It Again” sold 1.319 million in its debut in 2000.

Taylor Swift

PAGE 34

PEOPLES FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

The man who sued his wife for birthing an ugly baby A

pparently in China, bad genes are grounds for divorce — and six-figure

fines “Failed relationships can get ugly,” says Ji Lin at the Irish Examiner, but the weird, sad tale of Jian Feng and his wife “really gives meaning to the old cliché.”

The story starts out conventionally enough: Feng, a resident of northern China, met and married a beautiful woman, and they had a baby girl. That’s when things reportedly got, um, ugly. Feng was “so sure of his own good looks, so crushed by the wrinkly ugly mess that was handed to him in a swaddle, that he decided to sue his wife because the awful looking baby was totally her fault,” says Madeline Holler at Babble. And then things went from ugly to crazy: He won.

Here’s what you should know: How was the ugly baby the mom’s fault?

Since the baby didn’t look like either parent, Feng accused his wife of infidelity — “because jumping to conclusions about your wife’s faithfulness is the obvious thing to do when you have an ugly baby,” says Sam Smith at Planet Ivy. After a DNA test proved that the baby is, in fact Feng’s, the wife came clean on her little secret: Before they had met, she had undergone about $100,000 worth of cosmetic surgery in South Korea. And unverified before-and-after photos circulating on Western and Chinese blogs do show a marked improvement in looks after the

women went under the knife.

On what grounds did he sue?

False pretenses — Feng claimed that his wife misled him by not telling him about her plastic surgery before they wed. “I married my wife out of love, but as soon as we had our first daughter, we began having marital issues,” he reportedly

said. “Our daughter was incredibly ugly, to the point where it horrified me.” A judge agreed, and ordered the wife to fork over $120,000. Ugh, says Babble’s Holler. The wife “should probably file her own lawsuit for even more damages from having married Feng under the false pretense that he wasn’t a shitty

husband and father.”

Who’s the biggest loser here?

Well, “it’s usually the victim of court cases that you’re supposed to feel sorry for,” says Planet Ivy’s Smith, but who wants to give emotional succor to a “man who is angry at his beautiful wife for being ugly at some point in her life.” The wife obviously has to pay

a huge amount of money, and got publicly humiliated in the process, but at least she’s free of an obviously odious husband. So “if you’re going to feel sorry for anyone, feel sorry for their child, who will forever be known as the baby that broke her parent’s marriage — with her face.”

Source: The Week

Woman auctions virginity for $780,000 A 20-year-old Brazilian woman received a high bid of $780,000, auctioning off her virginity for an Australian filmmaker's project.

Justin Sisley, whose VirginsWanted.com.au auction site is part of his documentary project, said Catarina Migliorini, 20, received a high bid of $780,000 from a Japanese man identified by the name Natsu, ABC News/Univision reported Friday.

Sisley said Alexander Stepanov, 21, a male virgin offered on the auction site, received a high bid of $3,000 from a Brazilian woman identified as Nene B. Sisley said he was skeptical of Migliorini's statements saying she was planning to donate 90 percent of her money to charities building housing for the poor in Brazil.

"I was surprised she said that because in all my dealings with her, she made it clear that it was a business decision for her," he said. "Now, given how big this story is in Brazil, she's trapped. If she doesn't give any money to charity, she's going to look bad."

The website said the sexual encounters will take place on planes flying over international waters to avoid violating any local laws.

Sisley's website said Migliorini will be examined by a gynecologist and Natsu will be presented with documentation verifying her virginity. Stepanov cannot be medically proven to be a virgin, but will present Nene B. with statutory declarations from two family members.

“

The website said the sexual encounters will take place on planes flying over international waters to avoid violating any local laws

PAGE 36

A

bacon butty for breakfast is a health time bomb in a bun, according to a new study.

Researchers found that just one high-fat meal can affect your heart health and people who eat a sarnie loaded with fat for breakfast will be feeling the ill effects well before lunch.

High-fat diets are associated with developing atherosclerosis - narrowing of the arteries - over a lifetime.

Just one day of eating a fatladen breakfast sandwich of processed cheese and meat on a bun - and ‘your blood vessels become unhappy,’ says Heart and Stroke Foundation researcher Doctor Todd Anderson who is head of cardiac science at

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

A bacon butty for breakfast is a ‘health time bomb in a bun’ the University of Calgary in Canada.

Atherosclerosis can eventually lead to serious problems including heart disease, stroke or even death.

Delegates at the Canadian Cardiovascular Congress heard about a study at Dr Anderson’s lab, led by student researcher Vincent Lee. The key ingredients: breakfast sandwiches and a group of healthy, non-smoking

university students.

Fats can build up in the arteries over decades. One important gauge of how “happy” someone’s arteries feel is how much blood flow can increase in their arm in response to its brief interruption measured as VTI (velocity time integral).

Dr Anderson said: ‘VTI tells us how much blood flow you can you get in your arm. The higher the better, which means the small vessels can dilate to capacity, and the blood vessel hormones are working well.’

He wanted to see what would happen to the university students after starting their day

with a fatty breakfast.

The objective of the study was to assess the acute effects of just one high-fat meal on microvascular function, an indicator of overall vascular, or blood vessel, health.

The students were studied twice, once on a day they had no breakfast, and once on a day when they ate two commercially available breakfast sandwiches, total of 900 calories and 50g of fat. Dr Anderson found that two hours after eating the sandwiches, their VTI had decreased by 15 to 20 per cent.

From just one isolated meal, the results are temporary. But the study shows that such a high-fat offering can do more harm, and do it more quickly, than people might think.

Dr Anderson said: ‘I won’t say don’t ever have a breakfast sandwich. But enough of a diet like that, and you can see how you can build up fat in the walls of your arteries.’

Heart and Stroke Foundation spokesperson Doctor Beth Abramson said: ‘This study reminds us that our behaviours are the backbone of preventing heart disease.

‘Remember that whether you eat at home or go to a restaurant, you’re still in charge of what you eat. So consider all the choices, and try to cut down on saturated and trans fats, calories and sodium.

That’s one of the keys to decrease your risk of heart disease and stroke.’

government actors could be in providing training in work-place skills to students and job seekers to prepare them for the labour market.

This is especially as many Nigerian graduate job seekers lack necessary skills and core competencies even for entry-level jobs, costing employers a small fortune on training new staff in basic office skills. In many developed and emerging economies, young job seekers are typically equipped with competencies, at the barest minimum, familiarity with an office environment, all developed from a range of volunteer jobs and internships while at the University, sometimes right from secondary school.

There is need to inculcate such practice of volunteerism via internships, work-experience schemes and Industrial Training (already included in many science-based courses in Nigeria) especially during the long periods of school breaks and ASUU strikes.

Not-for-profit organizations could also design short courses affiliated to tertiary institutions, for a small fee, to

impart transferable skills such as IT skills; leadership and project management; communication, negotiation and mediation; and administrative skills, all very relevant in the work place.

Families also have a crucial role to play in supporting young people with innovative yet unconventional ideas to allow these ideas mature to fruition.

Parents and guardians ought to realize that not everyone is cut out for “secure” white-collar employment that pays a healthy pension. The world today is markedly different from that of the 1960s and 1970s in which the older generation grew up in, where lucrative public sector jobs awaited anyone bold or fortunate to graduate from the University.

The 21st century is an era driven by creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship of the Zuckerbergs, Steve Jobs and Chris Aires who dared to follow the unconventional paths they dreamt about.

Parents ought to recognize promising talent and potential in their children and wards at an early age and nurture this with the right support and

encouragement, as some would thrive exceptionally well as entrepreneurs, employing others and adding value to the society. Access to funding and credit is usually a stumbling block, and apart from the obvious sources – vis government and financial institutions – communities and well-off individuals could raise funds to be awarded as startup capital especially to less privileged but the most creative people with innovative ideas.

These self-help measures should neither seek to replace the core responsibilities of political leaders in providing education, employment and economic opportunities to Nigeria’s teeming youthful population, nor absolve political leaders of their governance failures.

However, if we do acknowledge the government’s shortcomings in meeting up its responsibilities, then the onus lies on us also to complement government’s efforts (or lack of) in order to reap the “dividends” of our youth bulge and to ensure Sani Musa and millions of his peers have a bright future ahead.

Eating a high fat diet can dramatically decrease blood flow in just two hours, scientists found.

Dr Anderson: Be careful not to eat too many bacon sandwiches.

Managing the “youth bulge” in Nigeria Contd from back page population is productively engaged. There are certain junctures where nongovernment actors could complement government efforts in providing education, employment and economic opportunities.

In the realm of education, since a major problem is that those enrolled are faced with low standards and poor quality, with those graduating from these institutions possessing little relevant skills, how could the quality of accessible education be improved? With the dearth of qualified primary and secondary school teachers who sometimes are barely able to communicate effectively in English on the one hand and on the other hand, an army of unemployed graduates, what incentives could be employed in luring unemployed graduates to fill the skills gap (generally not regarded by young people as a “cool” profession), albeit on a temporary basis, rather than staying idle at home?

Could successful young

professionals and the numerous silent achievers (in Nigeria and in the diaspora) in various fields academia, the corporate world, public service or entertainment – mentor teenagers and young adults at their various former schools, hometowns and communities, by sharing their success stories and useful tips, in order to inspire, motivate and encourage them? This is especially as many young adults are in dire need of a new breed of role models who would remind them that hard work still pays ultimately, that being a kleptocratic bureaucrat or an unconscionably thieving politician is not the only sure way to “success” and “prosperity”.

With employment generation and creation of economic opportunities, the primary issues are limited job opportunities in a labour market saturated with millions of jobseekers, the unemployability of many job seekers according to employers, and the treacherous hurdles those with entrepreneurial ambitions have to scale through.

Thus, a possible area of intervention for non-

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 37

Referendum alien to constitution amendment, Reps declare

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he House of Representatives yesterday ruled out the option of applying referendum in its efforts to amend the constitution insisting on carrying out the public hearings in the 360 Federal Constituencies across the country as planned.

Briefing newsmen on the activities of the House yesterday, the Chairman House Committee on Madia and Public Affairs, Rep Zakari Mohammed pointed out that refendus was alien to the nation's constitution. According to him, having sworn to an oath to defend the constitution at all times,

the House would not resort to a procedure that was not provided for in the constitution.

The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) had earlier opposed the plan of the House to hold public sessions in 360 constituencies on November 10, saying it would be impossible to get the views of all Nigerians on the constitution at a one-day session. NBA President Mr. Okey Wali (SAN), had said "There is no way a one-day public hearing as being planned by the House of Representatives in the 360 federal constituencies, will provide the people adequate opportunity to make substantial and tangible inputs aimed at producing a

Former Lagos councilor arrested for attempted murder From Matthew Aramude, Lagos

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one time Local Government Councillor in FESTAC Town and two others are presently being detained by the police for allegedly attempting to kill an 18 year old girl identified as Mariam Abubakar.

The one time councillor at Amuwo Odofin Local Government simply identified as Babatunde allegedly stabbed the girl on her neck for allegedly refusing to pass the night with him.

The suspect was said to have made advances at the girl in a Night Club in FESTAC town on October 26, a request which she allegedly turned down. ''Her refusal provoked a fight between the Councillor and the girl.

The man grabbed an empty bottle smashed it on the floor and stabbed the girl with it'' a police source at the Command Headquarters said.

Though, the victim was rushed to a nearby hospital, but she almost died as a result of the excess bleeding.

Those who were detained by the police include, staff of the night club who allegedly cleaned up the blood before the arrival of the police.

The police source added that neither the management of the club nor the staff reported the matter to the police when it occurred. The victim was latter moved from the hospital where she had remained unconscious to Ajeromi General Hospital, Ajegunle where she is presently recuperating.

Another police source attached to the officer of the Area Commander, Area E, Assistant Commissioner oaf Police (ACP), Dan Okoro told the reporter that the excouncilor was arrested through a phone call.

The source said the area commander has vowed to get to the root of the matter.

CPC urges FG to improve quality of life for Nigerians

C

ongress for Progressive Change (CPC) yesterday in Abuja called on the Federal Government to uplift Nigerians' living standard by implementing the right policies.

The party's Deputy National Secretary, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Obono-Obla said, ``democracy will make a lot of meaning to the majority of Nigerians only when the policies of government impact on them�.

He said that CPC's commitment to the principles of accountability and transparency in the running of true democracy had remained

unshaken.

He urged President Goodluck Jonathan to buy into these principles of good governance.

He said that the report of the Malam Nuhu Ribadu's Taskforce on the Depth of the Corruption in the Oil and Gas sector of the economy needed to be considered with a view to implementing its recommendations.

Obono-Obla urged President Jonathan to implement the needed reforms in the oil and gas sector as recommended by the taskforce.

He said that the law enforcement agencies should not hesitate to start the prosecution of individuals and corporate bodies indicted by the report. (NAN)

people-oriented document."

Wali said it was only when a referendum was called to aggregate the wishes and aspirations of a people, that the constitution could be said to be "the people's constitution".

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee is set to present its reports on alleged $620,000 scandal involving the former chairman of the House Committee on Petroleum Products' Subsidy probe, Farouk Lawan and a businessman, Femi Otedola.

Deputy chairman of House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Victor Ogene, who is also a member of the Ethics Committee said that the investigation into the

alleged bribery and corruption had since been concluded pointing out that the report would be submitted for debate when the House resumes from its Sallah break next week.

The ethics committee headed

by Rep Gambo Musa, had during its investigation invited and taken statements from Lawan who had admitted collecting the money but said it was aimed at exposing corruption. However, the committee's meeting with Otedola turned sour and unproductive as the latter declined testifying before it on the ground that the investigation was being conducted in secrecy.

The House had suspended Lawan as chairman of the subsidy

ad-hoc Committee and the committee on Education. The House had equally directed the National Assembly Management to investigate and take necessary disciplinary actions against the Clerk of the subsidy probe committee, Boniface Emenalo, who was alleged to have collected the $100,000 of the $620,000 alleged bribe.

But House, lamenting the delay by the National Assembly management to act on Emenalo said yesterday that although its position on Emenalo remained valid, it could not force the National Assembly Management to act on the matter.

L-R Minister of State FCT, Jumoke Akinjide, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publication Dr. Reuben Abati , Minister of Works, Mike Onolememen and Minister of Communication and Technology, Mobolaji Johnson, joinly briefing State House correspondents on the FEC meeting held at the Presidential Villa Abuja yesterday .

Photo: Joe Oroye

ANPP calls for restructuring of petroleum industry From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

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local government chairmanship aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Funtua Local Government of Katsina state, Alhaji Habibu Sule has raised alarm over alleged harassment and intimidation and his supporters.

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Katsina, Sule alleged that some powerful forces in the PDP in the area are bent on making things difficult for him as he was legitimately and lawfully going about his campaign.

The aspirant stated that the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema has encouraged all aspirants to seek for elective posts

through lawful means but, according to him, some persons in the area that hate the party are trying to cause chaos.

"I have over 200 bill boards and campaign signboards in Funtua and its environs but were all destroyed by people from my party. Even the opposition had their bill boards intact but they are only after my own," he alleged.

Sule said that recently his supporters were attacked with dangerous weapons and alleged that some had deep cuts on their bodies as a result of the attack, adding that despite making reports to the security agencies, nothing was done.

He however alleged that in a twist of events he was on Monday arrested with his supporters and

taken to court under framed-up charges which he said negate the principle of justice and fairness.

The aspirant said "I don't know why they are afraid of my contest.

I'm doing it within the ambit of the law and our Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema has showed his open disdain to politics of violence and that is where we his supporters stand".

Sule therefore called on his supporters to be law abiding and continue to support the state governor's effort in sustaining the peace enjoyed by the state, adding "the governor has invested so much energy in making Katsina State secure; we should therefore assist him by rejecting the temptation of perpetrators of evil and destabilization".

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PDP behind my wife's ordeal- Ajimobi

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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overnor Isiaka Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has accused members of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for being behind recent media reports which alleged that his wife, Florence Ajimobi was arrested in London over money laundering.

Speaking to State House correspondents after attending the meeting of the National Economic Council (NEC) yesterday, he remarked that those behind the report were "never do wells" who have lost out in previous elections.

He said "We know those behind it. In fact, they are the political jobbers who lost out in the last election. Three of them are from PDP. They are never do well, they have never achieved anything in their lives. They are coming back with the old system of maligning people."

The governor regretted that his detractors had tried to taint his reputation which was built over a long time, saying, "People like us, we have built our reputation over the years. I didn't come from nowhere, I worked with the oil industry. I didn't work with Wero Enterprises, I worked with National Oil, Shell, I was Managing Director of National Oil, MD of Shell STSL in Togo. I have made my name.

"And when you are doing well as a politician, you see some mischief makers who would want to pull you down, who would like to concoct stories like this

particular one."

He observed that it was unreasonable to expect that anybody would carry the sort of money allegedly found on the First Lady as it would have been tedious and easily detected.

"Even in this modern age, will anybody be so stupid as to be carrying money around in boxes when even if you take more than I think more than $10,000, you will

be arrested and if you are able to hide it, when you get to some of these countries, their dogs will sniff you out," he stated.

"How will somebody now be so mad and go an steal people's money, N500,000,000, its a lot of money. And then, which box will you even use? How will you carry it?"

According to him, "The people who wrote that thing, they are

illeterates, amateurish people. I think we need more quality people in politics.

"When you have wicked, malicious and political jobbers, miscreants, and that is what we are trying to erase in Oyo state.

You know Oyo state has been noted for jungle politics and people like us coming in, we are changing it but for every time you try to take people to area of light, the dark

Youth parliament speaker wants more investment in education

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Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed (middle), His Deputy, Hon. Victor Ogene (right) and Chairman, House Press Corps, Mr. Emmanuel Ovuakporie (left), during a press conference on the constitution amendment, yesterday at the National Assembly, Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

2015: Jonathan can seek re-election, says Tofa From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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he former Chairman of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) Elders Committee, Alhaji Bashir Othman Tofa, has disclosed that President Goodluck Jonathan has the right to contest the 2015 if he wishes to do so.

Tofa who was speaking in Kano yesterday disclosed that the decision to contest or not to contest the 2015 presidential election lies with the President and no other

person has the right to demand his exclusion “The way I see it, if the President intends to seek re-election in 2015, it is his legal right, if he also decides not to contest again”.

The former presidential candidate on the platform of the defunct National Republican Party (NRC) explained that it is also his right insisting that the best anybody can do in the circumstance is to mobilize and wait for him at the polls and vote

him out.

He also condemned those calling on the President to resign his office on account of the state of insecurity in the county, adding that the call was not only baseless but reckless.

According to him “There is no way you can ask the President of a country who was voted into power and occupying the seat through popular mandate to vacate it.

“So, as far as I am concerned he should ignore such calls or any other

actions suggesting he should resign as the President of the country; he is an elected President and so no one individual or group have the people’s mandate to request the President’s exit from the Presidential Villa.

“One thing you cannot say about the President is that he is a dictator, he has been calm and cool despite the harsh and provocative comments against him, yet he has not thrown anyone in jail,” Tofa observed.

Insecurity: ‘We are on top of situation in Kaduna’

By Lawrence Olaoye

K

aduna state governor, Patrick Yakowa, yesterday assured that his government is on top of the security situation in Kaduna in spite of the recent bombing of St. Rita Catholic Church in the state.

The governor who visited the National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, in Abuja told newsmen that he would not resign his position on the ground of bombings in the state.

forces, forces of darkness will always try to stop you but will not stop."

Governor Ajimobi further explained: "I think it was very malicious. It was a very wicked news to me. I know for one thing that my children who are schooling in England, the youngest one was attacked during the electioneering campaign in 2007 and she panicked so much that she couldn't sleep and the doctors advised us that , 'look, change her location.' So, she went to school in England since 2007.

So, it is nothing new.

"For people to be writing such things, it is very malicious, very wicked and when we tried to find out those who are behind it, we discovered that they were just some of these junk internet outfits with one room sites. And the moment we discovered them, they closed up and we didn't see them again."

Asked if he would resign because of the security challenges, the Kaduna state governor said "Let me say to you outright that I will not resign; there is absolutely no reason for me to resign. We are on top of the security challenges we are facing in Kaduna state, we are working closely together with the federal government and the security agencies.

"These sporadic incidences, there is no part of the world where you don't have security challenges; let us be very frank with ourselves. For somebody to look at me to say would

you resign, I will not, there is absolutely no reason for that we are on top of the situation."

Asked why he was at the party national secretariat, Yakowa said "This is the headquarters of our great party PDP, and being a loyal party member, one must always come here to consult with the leadership, to interact with the leadership of the party so that at least as a loyal party leader, leader of the party in my state, I make sure the rules and regulations of the party we properly understand them and implement them.

He added "You can only do that if

you regularly come to the party headquarters and interact with the leadership. I can say to you that I have benefitted tremendously from this visit that I made today and I will come more often."

His counterpart, the governor of Sokoto state, Aliyu Wamakko, who also visited the party national secretary in Abuja to see the leadership of the party said the governors are not at war with the party leadership, adding that "all the governors are fully behind the party, working with the party so that the party gets what it wants."

he Speaker of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, yesterday in Abuja, advised government at all levels to invest more in education, to address the challenges hindering youth development.

Hussain gave the advice in an interview with newsmen on the sideline of activities to mark the 2012 African Youth Day celebrated on Nov. 1 every year in the continent.

According to him, investment on education would boost value orientation and economic empowerment among young people in the country.

He said that insecurity; issues related to national orientation and inadequate youth empowerment initiatives, were some of the major challenges hindering growth of the youth.

He said that the youth formed a major part of the nation’s population and therefore advised governments to invest in education, to promote value orientation and direct their energy meaningfully.

“The challenges Nigerians are having in Nigeria is more important than those that Nigerians outside the shores of Nigeria may be having.

“We have security challenges; we have structural dislocations; we have social issues; we have issues related to national orientation and there is need for us to reorient our society especially the youth in order to pull them forward and pull the resources that are inherent in youths, in order to put this nation back on its track.

“That is as per what Nigerian youth may be facing internally, perhaps what government need to do more is to integrate the nation in such a way that we would have heavy investment in education because education is not only critical to national development, it is critical to value orientation; it is critical to peaceful coexistence; it is critical economic empowerment.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Jonathan's Jigawa visit not political, says Lamido From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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he Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido has said that President Goodluck Jonathan's visit to the state has no political undertone but should be seen as a home coming to fraternize with the people that helped in bringing him into power through democratic process.

According to the governor who briefed pressmen yesterday, ever since the President came to the state during his campaign election, he has not personally come down to say thank you to the people and would want to do so now in the principle of solidarity and PDP brotherhood.

According to him, preparation had reached advanced stage to receive the President as the state is doing everything possible to put finishing touches to some of the major projects on ground. While at the new Secretariat Complex the governor expressed his delight on the beauty of the work so far done.

When asked on the attack his government is getting from its critics over the construction of the Airport, the governor said "It is a usual thing for people to be inimical to changes but as leaders we are bound to do whatever is good for our people and damn the consequence. We shall remain focused and do what is right for the people and leave the rest for history to judge."

PAGE 39

CNPP accuses Jonathan of retaining corrupt ministers

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

C

onference of Nigeria Political Parties (CNPP) has accused President Goodluck Jonathan of sentimentally accommodating corrupt ministers in his cabinet, urging him to summon the courage to sack the ministers for Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Olubebe and Petroleum resources, Diezani AlisonMadueke.

In a statement issued yesterday by the Secretary

General, Willy Ezeugwu, CNPP argued that under normal circumstances, these public officers ought to have resigned their appointments to enable their alleged involvement in corruption be objectively investigated.

It regretted that government has continued to accommodate them contrary to the demands of Nigerians that they be sacked while observing that despite claims by government to sustain the anticorruption fight, corruption is

still endemic among government functionaries.

"Examples being the cases of Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Godsday Orubebe and Minister of Petroleum, Alison Madueke, both indicted by Anti-corruption Network and Ribadu Committee report on Corruption in the oil industry," the statement read in part.

Based on this, CNPP said that what it has always rooted for and stands for is a major cabinet reshuffle that will relieve corrupt, ineffective and

incompetent ministers and aides of their appointment and bring aboard efficient and industrious people to serve the public.

CNPP also waved off the recent explanation offered by Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, where he claimed that the minor cabinet reshuffle effected by the President, which saw two ministers swap portfolios, was meant to raise the level of performance, arguing that the decision will not in any way raise any performance level.

L-R Kaduna State Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, Kogi State Governor Captain Idris Wada and Jigawa State Deputy Governor Alhaji Mohammed Ahmed Gumel, during the National Economic Council (NEC) meeting held at the State House Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

CNPP faults registration of new political party

T

he Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), South- West Zone, yesterday faulted the registration of a new political party, United Progressive Party (UPP), by INEC. Addressing newsmen in Lagos, the South-West Secretary of the CNPP, Mr Austin Nnorom described the action as worrisome "INEC no doubt has constitutional powers to register political parties, but this is like putting the cart before the horse.

"What is of most importance is that INEC should begin to down size the number of political parties in Nigeria," Nnorom said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that INEC at its meeting held on Tuesday Oct. 2, 2012 approved the registration of UPP. Nnorom, however, noted that the registration of a new party was coming at a time when stakeholders in the polity expected the commission to deregister parties that lived below expectations.

"INEC must begin to immediately implement totally the provisions of the electoral act which stipulates that INEC should deregister those parties that could not win any sit in the last general elections. (NAN)

Governors to venture into troubled aviation sector

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

T

he Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), an umbrella body of the 36 state governors of the country has resolved to venture into the aviation industry so as to arrest the myriads of challenges facing the sector.

The governors who met at the Rivers State Governor's lodge Abuja deliberated extensively on the recurrent security situation in the

country as well as the developments in the aviation sector.

Situation in the aviation sector, according to the governors, requires a holistic approach, hence the need to hold talks with all stakeholders in the industry to seek ways of arresting the situation.

Rivers state governor, Rotimi Amaechi, who is the chairman of the forum, remarked that "upon comprehensive discussion on the present state of the aviation

industry, members of the forum observed that there is need for a holistic approach to arrest the dwindling state of the aviation sector and resolved to engage all stakeholders to address this challenge."

NGF has however expressed deep regret over the recent spate of violence in Borno and Kaduna states and tasked a security committee set up for this purpose to immediately commence work that will ensure

lasting solution to the situation.

Chairman of the forum who read the meeting's communiquĂŠ expressed deep concern over the unfortunate aircraft accident involving Taraba state governor Danbaba Danfulani Suntai who is currently in Germany for medical attention.The Forum finally congratulated the governor of Ondo State, Olusegun Mimiko over his recent re-election in the governorship election

Senator sues man for defamation of character From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

S

enator Mahmud Kanti Bello on Wednesday sued Alhaji Bala Mamman Ingawa before an Upper Shari'a court sitting in Katsina over alleged defamation of character.

The Senator through his counsel, Barrister Sadau Garba, told the court that the accused had in a press conference in Abuja carried by the Voice of America, Hausa Service alleged that the senator had, while in

the Senate, collected bribe from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC during an oversight visit.

Similarly, Bello alleged that in the said interview, the accused had stated that President Goodluck showed him the records of many of his financial misappropriations where he had to intervene to save him from the President.

The accused, according to the Senator in the offensive interview, said

Bello had misappropriated funds meant for his constituency projects which he never executed while in the senate.

Bello told the court that the interview aired on an international medium had tarnished his reputation, credibility and integrity in the eyes of his family, friends, associates and the general public.

He therefore urged the court to do justice to him by making sure that his name was cleared of all he defamatory

allegations made against him by the accused.

The counsel to the accused, Barrister Alhaji Bako Nasir, however told the court to give him time to study the charge since that was the first time his client was seeing the allegations.

After listening to the argument of the two sides, the trial judge, Khaidi Yusuf Bala, fixed 12 of November 2012 to allow the counsel of the accused time to study the charges and for continued hearing on the case.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 41

Chipolopolo go to India for Eagles

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local players and other available foreign based stars in setting up a solid foundation from which we shall be able to launch our preparations for the defence of our Africa Cup title in South Africa next year.”

“As you can see from the assemblage, this is not the Chipolopolo but local youngsters and others who the technical-staff feel require the intensity of the sessions the team will have in India in order for them to up their game and possibly stake a claim to be considered for selection to the Chipolopolo,” Mwanza told fazfootball.com.

He added: “India provides us a wonderful environment which is serene, free of any disturbances and therefore ideal for maximum concentration and hard work.

The sub continent has wonderful five star hotels and excellent training facilities. On return from India, Renard will unveil his

he South-South Open Male and Female Volleyball Championships will help to raise the standard of the game Nigeria, according to Dakuku Peterside, one of the game’s stakeholders.

Peterside, a member of the House of Representatives, said the championships, which are exclusively for the six states of the South-South geo-political zone and serves off from Nov. 3 to Nov.11 in Port Harcourt at the Adokiye Amesiemaka Stadium, will enhance the game’s development among the youths.

“Nigeria has the potential to be the greatest nation in volleyball in Africa, because we have the talents across the country, and that is why we are having this championships. We believe the championships will help us to discover more talents, which we know are there to be unearthed,’’ Peterside said.

The legislator and joint sponsor the championships with Masters Energy Oil and Gas Limited said the competition would boost the awareness for the game among youth stressing that it would help shift their attention from restiveness.

“It will not only bring out more talents in the area, but also help promote the game in the zone. We do know that there are huge potentials there for the game,’’ he said.

Peterside, who was Chairman of the Rivers Volleyball Association for 12 years, said the geo-political zone’s security challenges were as a result of lack of opportunities for the youths.

“There were no opportunities created for the youths, and this had led to certain situations that had affected security. But the championships will help to change that.

“We all know that nothing unites like sports, and in the South-South zone where there are multiple ethnic groups, the championships will bring about more unity,’’ he said.

The legislator said he was also sure the championships would help make the geo-political zone the volleyball sport’s hub in Nigeria.

“The competition, I have no doubt in my mind, will help make the game popular in the South-South, and this will further help make Nigeria a leader in the game in Africa,’’ he said.

provisional squad for the Africa Cup finals next January and February.”

Renard Herves

South-South Open Volleyball tourney to raise awareness for game Male and female teams from the South-South’s six states will take part in the championships, while one team each

from the Shell Sports Club and the Rivers Police Command will also participate in the competition.

Nations Cup: Keshi to name squad after Venezuela clash

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

T

he list of the provisional Super Eagles squad that will challenge for Nigeria’s third Nations Cup conquest will be made known after the November 14 international friendly duel between the Eagles and their Venezuela counterparts in Miami, the United States.

The Miami clash is one of the series of friendly matches the Nigerian football Federation (NFF) has arranged to keep the team in the desired physical and mental shape ahead of the Nations Cup fiesta that kicks off on January 19 in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Accordingly, Coach Stephen Keshi has called up 25 domestic league Eagles, who will tackle the Venezuela national team, and the coach hopes to finally make up his mind on those among them that will be added to the foreignbased Eagles that he has pencilled down for selection.

“The Venezuela game is the last test game for me. It’s now time for me to focus on the team and concentrate with the players I have already seen,” he said.

Though Keshi said he already has the picture of the squad he would assemble for the continental fiesta, he, however, still wants to give opportunity to some three or four players, especially in areas where there are noticeable lapses in the team.

“I am looking forward to adding three, four players to the present squad I already have and I am hoping that this

friendly would help me see some of these players.”

Rennes defender Onyekachi Apam, China-based striker Peter Utaka as well as Levante striker Obafemi Martins, Osaze Odemwingie, Kalu Uche, Uche Kalu, Fengor Ogude, Dickson Etuhu, among others could be among those to have such opportunity.

Already, the gaffer has called up the 25 domestic league players to enjoy the first chance of winning shirts to the main squad. They are billed to resume camping on November 4 for the Venezuela game that Keshi wants to prosecute with the local players alone.

“I am looking at having the player rest for two weeks after the Venezuela game after which we will enter camp in the first week of December to begin full preparation for the Nations Cup,” he said.

The Eagles are also scheduled to train in Faro, Portugal, before they head to South Africa by January 4 to finalise their preparations for the Nations Cup. They are in Group C along with Zambia, Burkina and Ethiopia.

Obafemi Martin

W

eeks before he announces his provisional squad for the defence of the Nations’ Cup title next year, Herve Renard has named a 23 member Zambia Development/CHAN Team for a10day intensive training camp in India.

The players, who are mainly drawn from the domestic league players, will leave for India on November 19, two days after the closure of the 2012 local soccer season.

The team, which is dominated by youth internationals and includes Perrugia (Italy) based rising goalkeeper Luciano Sandro Pasquini, returns home on November 30th.

Chisamba Lungu, one of the superstars of the African champion squad, has requested to join the camp to keep his fitness high.

“The training tour of duty of India is important for us because it provides Coach Herve Renard the opportunity to work with

THE FULL SQUAD: Davy Kaumbwa, GK, (Green Buffaloes), Joshua Titima, GK, (Power Dynamos), Luciano Sandro Pasquini, GK, (Perrugia Academy, Italy), Jimmy Chisenga (Red Arrows), Chishimba Changala (Nkwazi), Salulani Phiri (Zanaco), Aaron Katebe (Hwange FC, Zimbabwe), Chintu Kampamba (Unattached), Rodrick Kabwe (Kabwe Warriors), Chisamba Lungu (FC Ural, Russia), Thomas Nyirenda (Power Dynamos), Joseph Sitali (Power Dynamos), Shadreck Malambo (Red Arrows), Mukuka Mulenga (Power Dynamos), Kennedy Mudenda (Power Dynamos), Bruce Musakanya (Red Arrows), Lubambo Musonda (National Assembly), Kangwa Chileshe (Zesco United), Evan Kangwa (Nkana), Moses Phiri (Zanaco), Lewis Macha (Zanaco), Ronald Kampamba (Nkana), Alex Ngonga (Nchanga Rangers).

Williams sisters excited to be in Nigeria

T

Williams sister in Lagos

he Williams sisters, Serena and Venus, who are currently on tour of Nigeria, say they are excited to be in Nigeria as part of a women empowerment programme initiated by Connect Marketing Services.

The sisters, who attended a media conference in company of their mother, Oracene Price at the Palace Hotel in Lagos, said every Nigerian girl must rise and achieve her potential.

Venus said: “It’s so amazing being here for the first time. I tried several times but I’m glad I made it this time around.

“For the Nigerian women, they can do a lot to improve themselves and we salute the organizers of this initiative for thinking about

women empowerment.

Venus added that it will be a great opportunity for her to play an exhibition match against her younger sister, Serena.

“It’s going to be great to play for the Nigeria fans, I don’t know who will win, but I will play my best game today. Thanks For having us here in Lagos.

For Serena, the 15 times grand slam winner said: “We are excited to be in Nigeria. My first time was a brief stopover when I traveled to an African country a few years back.

“It was disappointing that I could not interact with Nigerians back then, that’s why I’m going to cherish every minute I have to spend here now.

“It also makes me crazy to know that we have many fans in Nigeria, in fact, I receive thousands of messages everyday on Twitter from Nigerians who were asking if I would come here. Well here I am and it will be an honour to play against my sister for Nigerians and we will give you a good show.”

The conference was attended by the Asoju Oba of Lagos, Chief Molade Okoya-Thomas, Mrs Dehab Ghebreab, the Public Affairs Officer, United States Consulate General in Lagos, Nigeria and international journalists from Africa and Europe.

The Williams sisters trained some invited kids during a tennis clinic at Ikoyi Club yesterday.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Eko 2012: Cross River to feature in 23 of 25 events

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Gov. Liyel Imoke, Cross River

ross River will feature in 23 of the 25 events at the forthcoming 18 th National Sports Festival, scheduled for Nov. 27 to Dec. 9 in Lagos.

Dr Jude Amadi, the Cross River Director of Sports disclosed this in Calabar stressing that as the next hosts of the festival they want to feature in all events if possible.

“We are the host of the next edition of the festival, which

means invariably we are going to participate in all sports.

“It is better we keep on exposing all our athletes in all the sports from now so that by 2014 it will be easy for us to administer in all available events.

“By 2014, our athletes would have had the feeling of the sports festival,’’ he said.

Amadi added that the state would also double its medal haul at the 2012 festival in

Lagos.

“Last year in Port Harcourt, we won 7 gold, 12 silver and 17 bronze to take the 15th position at the 17th edition of the festival in Rivers.

“By the grace of God, we shall be doubling it this time around in Lagos,” Amadi said.

According to Amadi, the state is prepared as its athletes commenced rigorous and intensive training about three months

… Lagos State athletes begin medical screening

A

thletes that will represent hosts Lagos State at the forthcoming 18 th National Sports Festival began medical screening yesterday, ahead of the festival scheduled to hold from Nov. 27 to Dec. 9.

Olabisi Sulu, a member of the Lagos State Sports Medicine Association, confirmed that the

exercise was to certify the medical fitness of the athletes.

Sulu, who also heads the screening team, said that the exercise started with the 240 athletes camping at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, Surulere.

According to her, the athletes’ state of medical fitness is necessary to know the health status of the athletes and to

enable the state to be able to avoid unnecessary casualties.

“We have to screen our athletes to know their medical status, if they are medically and physically fit to compete at the sports festival.

“We are also checking their haemoglobin, if it is high or low.

We will also give special attention to our star athletes, to

ensure that they are in proper shape for the fiesta,’’ she said.

Sulu added that the screening would last 10 days, to allow the association to be able to go around all the closed camps.

She said that it was necessary to complete the exercise before the commencement of the festival on November 27.

ago and were now in closed camping.

“Our athletes are technically, physically and mentally ready and ready to go. We are hopeful that the performance this year will beat that of Rivers 2011.

“After the 17th edition of the festival, the scope of team preparation, calibres of athletes and coaching levels have greatly improved as a result of the state’s Comprehensive Sports Development programme.

“A lot of athletes have been discovered and groomed and are undergoing training. I can assure you that we are going to do better at this festival,’’ he stressed.

On team sports at the festival, Amadi noted that the state picked the male slot in football at the zonal elimination in Uyo. “We performed excellently well at the zonal elimination because we went to Uyo with discovered and home grown athletes,’’ Amadi added.

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Team Lagos targets 18 gold medals in traditional sports

E

det Ibanga, Head Coach, Lagos State Traditional Sports Association, has reiterated the team’s determination to win 18 out of the 21 gold medals at stake at the forthcoming 18 th National Sports Festival.

Ibanga, who made the pledge in Lagos midweek during an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said the association was fully prepared for the fiesta.

“We have done a lot to actualise our objective of winning as many gold medals as possible; to this effect, we have organised a series of championships to enable our athletes to remain in shape.

“Our athletes have been

exposed to regular competitions and they are training hard to win. ‘We will do our best to get 15 to 18 gold medals, out of the 21 gold medals in the sport, “ he said.

Ibanga urged the government, individuals and corporate bodies to invest in traditional sports, in order to popularise them.

“If our people can give a

proper attention to traditional sports in Nigeria through sponsorship of competitions, it will serve as a motivation for the athletes.

“Traditional sports are ours from generation to generation and we must revamp them and help to promote them to the intentional level, “ he said.

Ibanga identified the dearth of sponsors and poor media coverage as the major challenges militating against the promotion of traditional sports in the country.

Traditional sports disciplines include: Dambe (traditional boxing), Kokowa (traditional wrestling), Langa, Ayo and Abula.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Presidential sports sector retreat and afterward

I

t would have been epochal were it not for its closed affinity to its predecessors.

Yes, the Presidential Sports Sector Retreat held right under the purview of Aso Villa, the most powerful seat in Nigeria.

Well, the quality of persons: sports technocrats, political scientists, their Man Fridays and even the privileged enthusiasts must count for something for the August gathering.

Oh, that it was held in the Villa conveyed some degree of dignity, political willingness and, perhaps, seriousness on the part of the Federal Government that was sufficiently embarrassed by the failure of Team Nigeria at the 2012 London Olympic Games.

So, it was another talk shop. Trust Nigerians, we are so good at it that we seem to have a global

reputation for articulating policies, presenting encyclopedic documents but lack the capacity to implement, and thus actualise its contents.

If you doubt this conclusion simply ask yourself: What has become of Vision 2010 Sports Document? Recall that the best brains in the sports industry were gathered by General Ibrahim Babangida to brainstorm on how to advance the course of sports.

That document till date remains the most c o m p r e h e n s i v e , painstakingly put together, well articulated voluminous document on sports matters in Nigeria.

Yet, it remains caked with dust enough to construct the second Niger Bridge.

There was the Samuel Ogbemudia Panel that recommended the constitution of the National Sports Commission. Albeit a commission was

established, but the core recommendations were jettisoned because the chieftains of the then Ministry of Sports felt that holistic implementation of the recommendation- a full flesh commission with between seven to 10 member board headed by a chairman that must not necessarily be the minister of sports- would defrock them of the chance to flex their muscles about. That board was to exclude the directors of the commission because they were supposed to be mainly technocracts not mere civil servants.

Yes, there is a lame duck commission that is in all ramifications in composition, mental and work attitude civil service oriented as against the c o m m e r c i a l l y entreprenuerailly driven commission that the Ogbemudia panel had recommended.

What about the many

public hearings which were the aftermath of failures such as the most recent 2008 Nations C u p misadventure?

Have we forgot the one-man panel headed by late Commodore owoidoho_ng35@yahoo.com E m e k a Omeruah, that where the well documented statistics. gentleman of blessed country memory, who clearly government continues to Her speech at the retreat. highlighted the issues, command the lion share in I mean the economic, matters, hindrances and funding and management political, social, and other capped them all with of the sports just because the sundry values accruable leaders lack the political will from sports. It's no time for feasible solutions?

No, the government, if to accept and adapt to lip service or in other word one would be blunt, has international best practices. mere talk. No, Nigerian simply been nonchalant in Or are just blackmail to youth deserve not 'tak no do' matters of sports in spite of accept the lie that sports mentality and attitude, but thrive under a the huge economic and cannot break from the social benefits and even private sector supervision. convention: words backed up Indeed, if President by political that the nation drastic action, stands to gain were sports Goodluck Jonathan and his implementation of the final properly and professionally cohorts mean well for sports r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s , and for the huge overhauling of the decay in managed.

One has deliberately congregation of devotees personnel and structures of chosen to ignore the most of whom depend on sports to breathe new life into characters that have over sports for a living, and thus the sector. it beyond mere the years run and ruin the see It's time to halt the then systemic failure. Work the sector purportedly as entertainment, government appointees and Jonathan must take MORE talk and inject the epodemic A SUPERFICIAL juice essential for true as civil servants. It's sad that THAN Nigeria remains one LOOK at Okonjo-Iweala's r e v i v a l .

Eagles overdue for another Nations Cup title, Egwuekwe believers Azubuike Egwuekwe is one of the domestic league players that has carved a niche for himself the newly built Super Eagles squad under Stephen Keshi. The man-mountain central defender, who has been the most consistent player from the NPL in the national team since coach Stephen Keshi took charge last year, has declared that Nigeria are long overdue another Nations Cup title after their last conquest in 1994.

The Jos-born Warri Wolves believes the likes of Ethiopia and Burkina Faso will pose little challenge to the Eagles in January their Group C context for a place in the knock out stage of the tournament.

The newly appointed skipper of Warri Wolves also revealed how the misfortunes that affected his footballing brothers almost cut short his own career. He dreams of plying his trade in the Bundesliga and will therefore remain with Wolves in the NPL until he leaves for Germany.

H

ow was it making your debut for the Super Eagles?

I felt great; it was a dream come true for me.

Which have been your best games for Nigeria so far?

Azubuike Egwuekwe of Super Eagles

I would pick two. The friendly against Peru in Lima and then the AFCON qualifier against Liberia away in Monrovia.

Nigeria have been drawn in the same group as defending champions Zambia, Burkina Faso and Ethiopia. How would you rate this group?

It is an easy group. Zambia are the only team who will give us a bit of a tough time, but Ethiopia and Burkina Faso are nowhere close to us. I see us progressing to next stage from the group as leaders. I am not underrating these teams, but we are not in same class.

How has it been as a regular player of the Eagles?

Honestly, it is a big surprise to me. If anyone had told me by this time last year that I would be playing for the Eagles, I would have disagreed.

I have always dreamt to play for my country, but I didn’t

WATCH DOG By Patrick Andrew

think it would come this early. I give God the glory and thank coach Stephen Keshi for giving me the chance.

How has it been in training camp with the foreign-based pros?

It has been encouraging so far.

There is no discrimination between us. We are just like one big family. In fact, my friends in the Eagles are Efe Ambrose, Ahmed Musa and Obiora Nwankwo. There is no difference at all in camp between the domestic league players and their foreign-based counterparts.

What have you learnt playing alongside skipper Joseph Yobo, Ambrose and Elderson Echiejile in the Eagles?

Playing alongside these top players has been great particularly Yobo. It has been a big experience for me. I have learnt a lot from them.

Which game has been your toughest?

That is our match against Liberia in Monrovia in September.

We arrived two days before the game and our hotel was close to the stadium, people were at the stadium singing, I could not sleep.

It was a tough game.

What are the clubs you have played for?

I played for Adamawa United, OUK and NPA. Which league do you wish to feature in?

I love the German Bundesliga and would be on top of the world if I could play there.

Who are your role models?

Uche Okechukwu and (Nemanja)Vidic of Manchester United.

Where will you play next season?

Warri Wolves. I can’t leave Wolves for any team in Nigeria.

I am a Warri Wolves player.

How did your parents first react to your choice of football as a career?

It was so difficult for me play football because my father didn’t want me to because of the experiences of two of my older brothers who also chose to play

football.

What were their experiences?

We are four boys in my family and the first-born chose football and was poisoned while playing for Greater Tomorrow.

My father spent a lot of money before he survived. The second boy was playing for NIPOST FC of Jos and there he got injured, he almost lost his life.

So, when I came with the same thing, hell was let loose that at a time my father threatened to disown me if I didn’t stop playing football.

But I would jump fences to attend trainings. I did that for about three years before I joined a professional team, even at that he still told me to quit.

Rather reluctantly, he has started accepting that I was born to play football because now he has been hearing about my exploits.

What are your targets for AFCON 2013?

The trophy. It has been a long time this has happened for Nigeria and I wish to be part of the team to do it.

on August 3, 2010, with the task to make the team excel which was achieved under my technical leadership.

“Sir, it is pertinent to know that despite all my efforts and sacrifice made to ensure that the team excel all have not been appreciated while my contract terms had not been respected. I have endured enough.

“I am glad to have contributed to making Sunshine Stars an international brand but I want to advice the management of the umbrella agency (Ondo State Football Agency) to imbibe the culture of administering the club professionally so as to sustain the landmark mileage achieved during my tenure. Sir, for proper disengagement I request all my entitlement be paid in earnest.

Thank you so much for giving me the opportunity to serve wishing

the club good luck in all its future endeavour.”

Ogunbote’s departure brings to an end a three-year relationship with Sunshine Stars.

In 2011, Ogunbote, who won the Manager of the Year (Africa) category in the 2012 League Bloggers Awards (LBA), led the Akure Gunners to a last four finish in the Caf Confederation.

This year, Sunshine Stars succumbed to Egyptian giants, Al Ahly in the semifinals of the Caf Champions League.

Ogunbote explained his rationale for not renewing his contract with the Akure-based team.

“I have resigned as coach of Sunshine Stars with immediate effect. The truth is that Sunshine Stars is very challenging both on and off the field. I have tried my little best and I have to go now so that I won’t have all my hair grow grey.

“It was a hard decision. Akure people are lovely most especially the state governor, Dr. Segun Mimiko, the Commissioner for Sports, the SSA Sports, OSFA Chairman and members, and the club supporters,” he said.

Sunshine Stars finished fifth in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) last term under Ogunbote and missed the chance of playing international football.

Ogunbote dumps Sunshine over contract breach poor management

G

benga Ogunbote has surprisingly resigned as head coach of Sunshine Stars with immediate effect, because of several unfilfilled promises by the club management.

The former Gateway FC coach turned in his resignation letter on Wednesday citing reasons for his stunning decision.

The content of the letter to the club’s team manager, Prince Gabriel Olusho Aborowa read thus: “I hereby want to inform the management of my decision not to renew my contract as the chief coach of Sunshine Stars International Football Club of Akure, after due consideration and review of my stay with the club so far.

“I joined the team on September 1, 2009 as an assistant chief coach, and was elevated as the chief coach

Gbenga Ogunbote

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 45

2013 Nations Cup finals

Adebayor is our ‘hatchet man’, Wome warns CIV, others

T Morocco delighted with Bafana clash

M

orocco coach Rachid Taoussi says the Atlas Lions will be ‘happy and honoured’ to play against South Africa in the African Cup of Nations.

The North Africans were pegged alongside host nations South Africa in Group A, with Angola and Cape Verde filling up the rest of the group, and Taoussi is looking forward to getting their campaign underway.

“I can say my team Morocco is back on the continental scene.

The draw is a favourable one for us despite having to confront the host team,” Taoussi said after the draw.

“I know Group A is a robust one. Besides Group D, every other group is balanced. We’ll feel happy and honoured to play against South Africa. Angola also are a very good side. We’ll be prepared to face them, while not underestimating newcomers Cape Verde, who knocked out Cameroon.”

The tournament will get underway on January 19, when Morcco will kick-off their campaign against Angola.

Morocco will play South African in Durban on January 27, 2013.

Stallions call out DR Congo to war

T

he Stallions of Burkina Faso Burkina Faso will oppose the DR Congo on November 14 in Morocco, for a warm-up match for the Afcon 2013.

The Stallions and the Leopards have met three times before in the past, with a win each way and a draw between them.

In the fight for third place in the 1998 Afcon, they drew 4-4 before the DR Congo staked their claim in the penalty shootout.

They then met again in the qualifiers for the World Cup 2006, with Burkina Faso outclassing the Congolese at home 2-0, but then slipping to a 3-2 defeat away.

The Stallions will play in Group C in the South African Afcon alongside Nigeria, Zambia and Ethiopia, while the Leopards will battle it out with Ghana, Mali and Niger in Group B.

ogolese international and Free State Stars attacking midfielder, Dove Wome, says Emmanuel Adebayor is their star player, but that Togo believe in working as a team.

Wome and Adebayor were the goal scorers in Togo’s 2-1 win over Gabon in Lome, which qualified them for the Africa Nations Cup finals in South Africa next year.

“You are always happy when you score for your country,” Wome says with joy in his voice.

“I was on the bench for our away match in Gabon, but I got to start our home game and played the full 90 minutes. I was in the attacking two, playing just behind (Emmanuel) Adebayor who is our number 9.

“Before we started the game, Adebayor told me to just keep it simple. He said ‘you are a good player, but don’t dribble and just be simple today’. I did what he said

and we won the game. He shook my hand and said well-done afterwards. He is our star player!”

Wome’s teammate at Ea Lla Koto (Free State Stars), Sadate Ouro Akoriko, came on in the second half of the recent Gabon match and brings the total to potentially five Stars players who could be playing at the Finals in January/February 2013.

“Our coach at Stars is very happy for us and so too is the chairman. He wants us to go and play at Afcon. We have Kennedy Mweene and Noah Chivuta, the two of us from Togo and Soriola Gege who could play for Nigeria.

And don’t forget Katlego Mashego who might get into Bafana Bafana,” Wome says.

“We could surprise people at the Nations Cup. We know how good the teams are at the finals. But this is a time for players to make a name for themselves too.”

Togo’s Emmanuel Adebayor

CIV “fear no one”, Kalou brags

T

he LOSC’s Ivoirian international striker Salomon Kalou appears confident a few weeks before the Africa Cup of Nations 2013.

After a rather disappointing start to the season marked by injury at his new club, the Elephants winger has started to get his rhythm back, with a strong desire to silence his critics.

“Up against criticism, I always try to reply on the pitch. That is why I continue to work very hard at training to make sure I have good matches,” he stated to the Ivoirian correspondents at NordSud. Questioned about Côte d’Ivoire’s Afcon group that many quickly deemed the “group of death”, Kalunho’s response was measured.

“It’s a big group made up of two West African teams and two North African teams. The group is very balanced in my opinion. It shows promise,” reasoned the Ivoirian, who refuses to submit to the pressure: “We respect all the teams in the group, but we fear no one.”

The presence of Algeria in Group D will also mean a reunion between Bosnian technician Vahid Halilhodzic and the Elephants, a team he managed between 2008 and 2010. But Kalunho does not think that they will be set on

revenge for the clash.

“It’s going to be a heated reunion with coach Vahid because he knows us very well. But there is no animosity between us. It will be fine,” assured the former Chelsea striker, who knows what they have to do this time if they want to go all the way.

“We have to avoid conceding goals. Besides that, we have strikers who can score at any moment. At a few weeks before the Afcon, I am confident.”

Meanwhile, the Elephants will challenge Austria on November 14 at Linzerstadion in Linz, in a warm-up friendly for the Afcon 2013 which takes place in South Africa from 19 January 19 to February 12 next year.

This is a full-scale test for the Elephants’ coach, who will have the opportunity here to conduct a broad review of his troops before the final submission date for the definitive lists for the Africa Cup of Nations.

Côte d’Ivoire, who find themselves in Group D already labelled the “group of death” along with Tunisia, Algeria and Togo, will not have an easy task.

Kenya line up Libya friendly deal for Nigeria

H

arambee Stars have secured an international friendly match with North African side Libya in February next year.

This comes less than a month after they played South Africa at Nyayo Stadium in a match that saw the hosts silenced 2-1.

“The national football team Harambee Stars has landed an international friendly fixture against North African side Libya during the first FIFA week next year, in February.”

“On November 14 we still don’t have any confirmations but we have sent invitations to Rwanda,

Southern Sudan, Ethiopia and Tanzania,” Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Deputy Secretary General Michael Esakwa added.

The two teams have met four times, with Libya winning thrice and Kenya once. All the wins by the 2012 Afcon finalists were registered in Tripoli while the latter was in Nairobi.

The fixture will be staged in Tripoli as Kenya gears up its World Cup qualifiers preparations that will witness them take on Nigeria in March. Kenya are currently 128th on FIFA rankings while their opponents are 53rd.

Desert Foxes lay ambush for Bosnia

T

Solomon Kalou

French-Tunisian technician Sabri Lamouchi is aware of the difficulty of their mission and wants to use all the means available to him to succeed, hence the choice of Austria who, despite a status of 59th nation on the FIFA rankings, remain a quality opponent.

Besides being a warm-up match, opposing the Austrian national team will also be the opportunity that Didier Drogba and his teammates have dreamt of to take their revenge on a team that outclassed them on October 17, 2007 in Vienna, also during a friendly.

Despite the performance of their captain, who signed two goals, the Elephants were defeated 3-2.

he Desert Foxes of Algeria will play a friendly match against Bosnia on November 14 in Algiers, as they prepare to confront the Elephants of Ivory Coast, the Eagles of Tunisia and the Hawks of Togo the Algeria football federation (FAF) said yesterday.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic hopes to put house in order during the faceoff ahead of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations, where he will be facing in the group stage three top sides Ivory Coast, Tunisia and Togo.

Halilhodzic also plans to visit

and persuade Parma striker Ishak Belfodi, who holds French nationality although born in Algeria.

The 20-year-old former Lyon player has represented France in the junior level but is yet to join the senior team.

Algeria summoned the player during the 2013 Afcon qualifying but he failed to turn up following administrative difficulties. However, despite clearance from FIFA last September to play for the North African team, Belfodi is yet to evince any enthusiasm for the Fennec Foxes.

Coach Vahid Halilhodzic

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

PAGE 47

Say what?

Source: Reader's Digest

FACTS

Quick CrossWord (61)

* The ant can lift 50 times its own weight, can pull 30 times its own weight and always falls over on its right side when intoxicated. * Polar bears are left handed. * The catfish has over 27,000 taste buds. * The flea can jump 350 times its body length. It's like a human jumping the length of a football field. * A cockroach will live nine days without it's head, before it starves to death. * The male praying mantis cannot copulate while its head is attached to its body. The female initiates sex by ripping the male's head off. * Some lions mate over 50 times a day. * Butterflies taste with their feet.

Source: Weird facts

PHOTO OF THE DAY

ACROSS 6 Type of sweater (1-4) 7 Jittery (2,4) 9 Storage boards (7) 10 Liberace’s musical instrument (5) 11 Home and __, soap set in Summer Bay (4) 13 Grievously sad (6) 15 Wearies (5) 16 Refrigerator’s freezing component (6) 17 __ Sharif, Egyptian-born Hollywood film actor (4) 20 Number of pints in a gallon (5) 22 Largest anthropoid (7) 23 Come out (6) 24 Bewitching singer (5) DOWN 1 Song sung at a lady’s window (8) 2 Dodge work (5) 3 Spinney, thicket (5) 4 Moderates (7) 5 Taj Mahal’s Indian site (4) 6 Sees in the mind’s eye (10) 8 Without doubt (3,7) 12 Electronically transmitted hard copy (3) 13 Number of the Commandments (3) 14 Betting people (8) 15 Notebooks (7) 18 Fairy-tale monsters (5) 19 Pie’s outer layer (5) 21 Precious or semi-precious stones (4)

Yesterday’s answer

Residents ride on a pick-up truck that supplies milk and other items in Somalia's capital Mogadishu.

Source: Reuters.com

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Super Falcons beats Ethiopia 40 to sail into AWC semi-final

T

he Super Falcons walloped Ethiopian in their second group match at the ongoing the African Women Championship (AWC) at the Nkoantoma Stadium in Bata, Equatorial Guinea 4-1 to book a place in the semi final.

The Nigerian ladies, who are defending champions, got their title defence off to a winning start, after defeating the Lionesses of Cameroon 2-1 in their first Group B match played on a waterlogged surface, while the Ethiopians lost 0-5 to group leaders, Cote d’Ivoire.

The coach Kadiri Ikhanatutored-side would look to unseat Cote d’Ivoire at the top, while the Ethiopians, placed bottom. The team is favored to retain the trophy won two years ago in South Africa.

Ethiopia may not be a force to reckon with, but the Nigerian ladies were warned not to underrate them at their peril.

Coach Ikhana told the players to be more aggressive against their foes as he paraded the same squad against Cameroon.

Ebere Orji, Esther Sunday and Stella Mbachu, Perpetua Nkwoach, Onyinyechi Ohagugha, who netted in Falcons’ opening match were in action for the match.

The Nigerians’ last port battle will be against Cote d’Ivoire on Sunday in Malabo, an encounter that may decide who leads the group. The Falcons are gunning for a seventh title at Africa’s biennial football showpiece

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Zainab Usman is a brilliant and articulate young lady that is currently a Doctor of Philosophy student at the prestigious Oxford University, UK. She attended Therbow School and Ahmafu Bello University, Zaria earning an Upper Second Class in International Relations. She then proceeded to the University of Birmingham where she earned an M.Sc in International Political Economy and Development with Distinction, along with scholarships and laurels for leadership and academic excellence. Zainab is fluent in French and Portuguese, and proficient in writing software. She has chalked up work and internship experiences with

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE My view of the country's channces of realising its rightfully desired development... would be greatly enhanced if the country adopts a major restructuring of its present governance architecture.

– Chief Emeka Anyaoku, former Commonwealth Secretary General

YOUNG VOICES introduced by

NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com ECOWAS, International Crisis Group, and Sigma Pensions among others.

My attention was first drawn

to Zainab by no less a personality than General Aliyu Mohammed Gusau who had read her seminal article – ‘Northern Nigeria: A

people in Terminal Decline’ (http:/ /zainabusman.wordpress.com/ 2012/02/17/a-people-in-terminaldecline/) and recommended that I read it. I did and we ruminated over Zainab’s frank and objective article for weeks. I then proceeded to make contact with her. Her blog “Zainab’s Musings” is a fountain of youthful wisdom and intellectual discourse. Zainab is a regular contributor to AllAfrica.com, Think Africa Press, People’s Daily and Daily Trust.

Undoubtedly, she represents the best and the brightest of our younger generation. Today, she writes on managing the youth bulge in Nigeria. It is my honour and privilege to introduce Zainab Usman as our Young Voice.

Managing the “youth bulge” in Nigeria

By Zainab Usman

I

t was with utter astonishment that the audience at Kofar Sauri Sharia court in Katsina on that hot July afternoon, listened to 12 year old Sani Musa, charged with theft, tell the court that he had to steal some metal scrap, in order to get money to enable him continue with his studies. He shocked the court further by producing the school materials which he bought with the money obtained from disposing of the scrap metal.

Family members testified to the court that Sani had been complaining over a lack of school materials and acknowledged him to be “hardworking, intelligent and… the best student of his school”. The court subsequently acquitted Sani Musa and resolved to shoulder his needs in school henceforth.

Now this promising pupil, keen and eager to learn but left in want of necessary school materials could easily be one of the millions of young people in Nigeria, a youth demographic, fast becoming a “youth bulge”.

According to the World Bank, nearly 70% of Africa’s over 1 billion people is under 30 years.

Nigeria leads the pack with twothirds of the 164 million Nigerians under the age of 30.

Countries like Nigeria have the opportunity to turn this youth bulge into a “demographic dividend” which can power economic growth and development otherwise, this bulge is a ticking time bomb waiting to explode into a youth “disaster”, disillusioned and

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Zainab Usman frustrated, a threat to the already fragile socio-political stability.

According to the conventional wisdom, the dividends of this youthful demographic can be reaped with adequate education, employment and economic opportunities. Despite Nigeria’s well-documented challenges in providing these opportunities to the youth demographic, our predominant focus on government’s glaring shortcomings has made us overlook the role nongovernment actors can and should play in complementing government efforts to transform our youth bulge in Nigeria into a demographic dividend.

Education is a key building block of skills of a labour force, yet in Nigeria, literacy rates of the 15-24 age group range from 65% to 75% with stark variations

between the northern and southern states.

Though enrolment and completion rates have improved for primary education, enrolment remains low for secondary education, at 25.8%, according to World Bank figures.

Importantly, few have access to quality education. Decaying equipment and facilities, poorly qualified teachers, poorly equipped tertiary institutions, have all resulted in consecutive mass national failure in secondary school certificate exams of up to 98% in 2009, and half-baked graduates from tertiary institutions, at best unable to write formal application letters and at worst lacking transferable skills.

Inadequate funding, mismanagement and corruption have contributed to the persistent systemic decay of the education sector resulting in a poorly educated and largely unskilled youth demographic.

The challenges of providing adequate employment and economic opportunities in order to engage the youth productively are glaring, with the over 20 million unemployed people and about 2 million new entrants into the dispirited realm of the unemployed each year, according to the National Bureau of Statistics. Unemployment among the under-30 age group is much higher at around 50%, according to estimates by civil society groups.

Employment generation is a function of adroit economic policies, government job creation schemes, and private sector

initiatives, flourishing within an enabling environment to create job opportunities. A skilled populace, given the right incentives, interacts favorably with this business-friendly environment to be productive citizens.

Though Nigeria is endowed with a vibrant population, a large market, and an even greater potential of harnessing all these for economic prosperity, the full transition from “potential” to “actuality” is yet to materialize. The 2012 Ease of Doing Business Index ranks Nigeria 133 out of 183 economies in terms of starting a business (116), getting electricity (176), and access to credit (78).

This difficult terrain not only stifles entrepreneurial innovation but has engendered a survival-of-the-mostconnected in a fierce competition for scarce public sector jobs. Lofty poverty alleviation programmes have characterized government employment generation initiatives, though it is too early to assess the success (or otherwise) of President Goodluck Jonathan’s YouWin HYPERLINK “https://www.youwin.org.ng/ whatisyouwin.php”WiNHYPERLINK “https://www.youwin.org.ng/ whatisyouwin.php”! intervention of supporting aspiring entrepreneurial youth.

Thus if countries like Nigeria are to avert a demographic disaster already incubating a lost generation vulnerable to drug addiction, militancy and general disillusionment, then it is imperative that this youthful

Contd on page 36

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