Peoples Daily Newspaper, Friday, February 3, 2012

Rob ber s car way N95 million a obber bers cartt a aw att Mur tala Mohammed Air por t, La gos Murtala Airpor port, Lag

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Vol. 7 No. 66

Friday, February 3, 2012

Rabiul Awwal 11, 1433 AH

N150

I N S I D E Female suspect arrested in Abuja

Judge threatens to free Ndume

The Minister of FCT yesterday, confirmed the arrest of a suspected female member of the Boko Haram sect who had reportedly tried to gain access into the FCDA last week – Page 3

A Federal High Court judge in Abuja yesterday threatened to strike out the case against Senator Mohammed Ali Ndume for lack of diligent prosecution by the Federal Government – Page 3

Nigeria spends N4.8bn on school fees of envoys’ children The Federal Government bankrolled the school fees of Nigerian diplomats’ children abroad to the tune of N4.8 billion in 2011 – Page 4

Boko Haram spokesman speaks From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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pokesman of the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunnati Lidda’awati Wal Jihad alias Boko Haram, Abul Qaqa, whose arrest was celebrated around security circles on Wednesday, has denied being arrested by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

Rather, he said, the man captured was actually Abu Dardaa, head of the public enlightenment unit of the group.

Speaking to newsmen on phone yesterday, Qaqa claimed that contrary to the SSS claims, Dardaa was actually nabbed in Kaduna where the sect directed him to meet some top government officials to discuss Federal Government’s offer for dialogue. President Goodluck Jonathan had, last week Monday asked Boko Haram to come out of hiding and talk with the government.

He said: “We purposely sent Dardaa to Kaduna to discuss with some key government functionaries on the issue of dialogue. Indeed, he had started talking to them but unknown to him; they informed some security agents, who trailed him and was instantly nabbed”.

Contd on Page 2

Says ‘I’m not under arrest’ Identity of nabbed suspect established Six ‘splinter’ group members slaughtered As multiple blasts rock Maiduguri R-L: Yobe state Governor, Malam Ibrahim Gaidam, in a handshake with the acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, during the governor’s condolence visit to the IGP over the death of his wife, Hajya Maryam Abubakar, in Kano, yesterday

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Religion

26

Feature

27

Dare devil robbers carts away N95 million at Lagos airport From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

W

hat could be described as an apparent security lapse around Nigerian airports reared its head in Lagos when dare devil robbers stormed the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Ikeja and made away with the sum of US $600,000 (N 95, 969, 998.17 million) from a Bureau de Change operator inside one of the car parks at the terminal.

A sources at the airport disclosed that the men of the underworld stormed the car park which is usually in darkness, and shot sporadically into the air while shooting a

woman in the process before dispossessing their victim of the said amount around 8.30pm on Wednesday night.

The incident, according to the operator who simply identified himself as Salisu, took place without any challenge from the security agents stationed at various locations at the airport while the robbers carried out their operation and went away with the loot.

Salisu said the robbers who arrived with sophisticated machine guns traced a Dubai bound passenger that came to change some local currency into American dollars when the operator ran into the robbers and were dispossesed of the foreign currency.

Chairman of the Bureau de Change operators at the international wing of the airport, Alhaji Umar Abubakar told journalists that his office is carrying out a detailed investigation to ascertain how the incident that involved such huge amount of money took place within the vicinity of an airport of such magnitude without detection by the security agents.

However when a call was put to the phone number of the Commissioner of Police, Murtala Muhammed Airport Command, Mr. Gwari Alkali, he neither answered nor replied to an SMS while the command’s Public Relations Officer, Mr. Denis Ifijeh also reacted in the same manner.

Army ‘relocates’ GOC to Gombe From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

T Battle of the titans, as Adamawa decides . . ., Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

he headquarters of the Nigerian Army yesterday directed the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Division, Major General Buba Marwa, to immediately relocate the tactical headquarters of the Division in Rukuba, Jos, to Gombe state, temporarily.

Our correspondent learnt that this is connected with the horrible activities of the Boko Haram sect in the North-east region.

Lieutenant Colonel Andrew Idachaba, Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Maxwell Khobe Cantonment

Jos, in a press statement, said the relocation became necessary because of the activities of some religious extremists, adding that the relocated unit would coordinate and fight the activities of criminals within the region.

According to the statement, “Following the intractable security situation in the Northeast region of the country, and that the GOC upon relocation to Gombe has undertaken a visit to the formations in Pompomari in Damaturu, Bauchi, Gombe, Potiskum, Maiduguri, Biu, Mubi and Yola”.

Gen. Marwa assured those within the identified flash region

of his operation of their safety, warning that the division will not condone any act of criminality stressing that any group that will want to engage the division would be dealt with decisively.

The statement said soldiers have already been trained as quick response groups and have been fully deployed to the area to fish out criminal elements.

The GOC, the statement said, has been supported by the chief of training and operations in the army headquarters, Major Gen. Lawrence Ngubane who visited the division and went round the area with the GOC.

10 years after Obj’s failure, Jonathan to licence new refineries

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

en years after former President Olusegun Obasanjo made a failed attempt to ensure the full participation of 18 private companies in the refining of petroleum products, President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday disclosed that the Federal Government was willing to give licences to those interested in setting up refineries in the country.

This, he said, was part of the overall effort to raise the nation’s petroleum refining capacity and reduce the importation of refined products in line with the current deregulation policy.

Speaking to a delegation of investors from Brazil, led by Mr. Reuben Voigt, chairman of the Voigt Group, at the State House yesterday, President Jonathan said, “Nigeria has four refineries, but their combined capacity does not meet the country’s needs, so we are willing to approve applications for refining licences.”

The President said that Nigeria was still a green area in terms of investments, adding that government had opened up sectors of the economy, which were previously restricted, to private sector investment.

He directed the Coordinating Minister of the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to hold discussions with the Voigt Group, to explore areas of mutual cooperation.

Boko Haram spokesman speaks Contd on Page 2 The spokesman further added: “This was what exactly happened; it was unfortunate that Dardaa volunteered to present himself for the dialogue on behalf of us but was betrayed, everybody knows our capability and tactics of operation. It is evidently clear that none of our members could be caught on a platter of gold and without confrontation”.

According to him, the major condition for dialogue Dardaa was expected to raise during his botched discussion with the government representatives was the unconditional release of their entire members, who were picked in various parts of the North.

According to him, the group initially thought that the much pronounced dialogue was real but the latest development has proved government’s insincerity over the issue, saying nobody can now accuse them of causing more bloodshed.

The arrest of Dardaa, he said,

was an outright deception and betrayal by the government and security agents, whom he said, proclaimed dialogue but are doing the opposite, adding that “his arrest has proven to us that they were waiting for us to avail ourselves so that they can arrest us.

“The truth is that even if they arrest all of us, God will protect Islam as we want to reiterate that no amount of threat, arrest and intimidation will deter us from our course. Our slain spiritual leader, Malam Mohammed Yusuf was arrested and detained severally before being killed by the security forces but we, his followers were not deterred from propagating Islam”, he concluded.

Meanwhile, residents of KwarMaila ward of Maiduguri were engulfed in fear yesterday morning following the discovery of six corpses suspected to be those of Boko Haram militants, allegedly slaughtered by their colleagues.

The incident which occurred on Wednesday night, came less than 24 hours after the SSS in the state allegedly captured the spokesman of Boko Haram, Abul Qaqa. The killings were also followed by multiple bomb blasts in six different locations of the state capital, throwing the residents into intense panic.

Although the motive behind the killing of the men allegedly by their colleagues could not be ascertained, it was gathered that the incident may not be unconnected with the suspicion that the deceased persons belong to the moderate faction.

They were said to be accused by the extremist group of leaking information that led to the arrest of the 11 suspected members killed last Saturday during a gun duel with soldiers.

All the incidents had occurred in the same area.

Another version of the story had it that the six slain men were not Boko Haram militants but rather, relations of

members of the moderate group.

Further investigation revealed that the assailants, numbering five went to the area at midnight and knocked the doors of some selected houses, before dragging the victims outside and slashing their throats, the police said.

It was learnt that two of the affected persons were civil servants, including a driver attached to the Governor’s Office at the Borno state secretariat, Zannah Malam popularly known as Goi-Goi, and Baba Gana Shettima.

Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Lt. Col. Hassan Mohammed, confirmed the incident to newsmen, saying “preliminary investigation revealed that the six deceased persons were suspected Boko Haram militants and were killed by another parallel group of the sect”.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

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FCT minister confirms arrest of suspected female Boko Haram member

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he Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, Senator Bala Mohammed, yesterday, confirmed the arrest of a suspected female member of the Boko Haram sect who had reportedly tried to gain access into the FCDA last week.

Although the minister did not disclose the identity of the suspect, he however she said she confessed under investigation by the State Security Service (SSS), that there were plans by Boko Haram to attack the FCDA. He further disclosed that the suspect had provided useful information to the SSS about the sect, and assured residents of the city that security agents were in

Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada (middle), his Deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi (left), and Chairman, AThink Tank Committee on Blueprint for the Transformation of the state, Prof. Francis Idachaba (right), during the inauguration of the committee by the governor at Government House in Lokoja, on Wednesday.

Subsidy probe: Reps reject representatives of major companies T

By Lawrence Olaoye

he House of Representatives yesterday turned back proxies representing the Managing Directors and Chief Executive Officers of major oil companies who are billed to appear before its Ad-hoc committee investigating the nation’s subsidy regime.

Chairman of the committee, Rep Farouk Lawan, who turned back the representatives of the oil majors frowned at the excuses put forward by the Chief Executives for their inability to appear in person before the committee even as he directed that do so in subsequent sittings.

Lawan also directed that the oil marketers must make available

before the committee, "Certificates of Incorporation, Letters of Credits, Letters of Allocations, Bills of Lading, Invoices, quantities of products imported and their countries of origin and evidence of payments."

Also a member of the panel, Rep Ali Ahmed alleged that most of the oil companies were owned by Politically Exposed Persons (PEPS), like top government officials, members of the National Assembly among others.

Chairman House Committee on Appropriation, Rep John Enoh, however warned the major oil companies against feeding the panel with lies and doctored documents.

He said that the excuse of high exchange rates as responsible for

increase in subsidy payments cannot fly before the committee.

Meanwhile, the outstanding debts being owed the importers by both the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) are now on the high side as all the oil companies which appeared before the panel yesterday claimed that they were being owed between N1.9 billion and N10 billion as at December last year.

Also, some of the companies indicted by the KPMG audit report were grilled by the Committee and these include the Managing Director of Dee Jones Petroleum, Mr. Richard Eze and MD of Vitol Company, an offshore concern, Mr. Rodney Gavshon.

control the situation around the city.

Meanwhile, security remained high at the entrance to the complex, which also houses the Ministry of Agriculture.

Following bomb threats in Abuja, some security measures had been introduced by the FCT Administration, which include relocation of the car park farther away from the buildings. Vehicles going into the premises are being searched thoroughly, while the use of bomb detectors has been introduced.

A number of times, traffic were diverted away from the entrance gate. The number of mobile policemen at the gate has also been increased.

...As judge threatens to free Ndume

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

A

Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday threatened to strike out the case against Senator Ali Mohammed Ndume for lack of diligent prosecution by the Federal Government.

Trial in the matter, which was billed to commence yesterday was stalled following the non appearance of the prosecuting counsel, Mrs. Olufumilayo Fatunde The prosecuting counsel who is a Deputy Director in Federal Ministry of Justice wrote to the court asking for an adjournment in the case till another date on the ground that she was on a national assignment.

The trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole who expressed displeasure over the request for an adjournment, asked the Federal Government to bear in mind that

the matter is of national interest and should not be delayed.

He threatened that if the prosecution failed to show up for the case on March 21, 2012, being the next adjourned date; he will be compelled to strike out the case.

Justice kolawole subsequently adjourned Ndume’s trial till March 21, 28 and April 10, 2012.

Ndume is facing trial for allegedly concealing information on attacks being planned by the Boko Haram sect.

He is alleged to have received information on or about October 4 from convicted Boko Haram spokesman, Ali Sanda Umar Konduga (alias Al-Zawahiri) regarding planned attacks on judges of the Borno State election petition tribunal and the National Assembly, but failed to disclose the information to a law enforcement officer as soon as reasonably practicable.

Maulud: FG declares Monday in a statement issued on public holiday his Moro behalf by Mr. Bem Goong,

T

he Federal Government has declared Monday, Feb. 6 as public holiday to mark the Eid-el-Maulud.

The announcement was made in Abuja yesterday by the Minister of Interior, Mr. Abba Moro.

Assistant Director, Press Affairs in the ministry wished all Muslims in the country a happy and peaceful Maulud celebration.

NAN reports that the Eid-elMaulud is marked by Muslims to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad. (NAN)

PDP convenes NEC, holds congresses March Court denies alleged gun runner bail

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday announced that it would hold its suspended National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in the middle of this month.

The party in a statement released to newsmen by its National Publicity Secretary, Prof.

Rufa’i Ahmed Alkali, stated that the PDP would hold its congresses from the ward to the national level in March this year.

This clarification is coming on heels of insinuations in certain quarters that the members of the parties National Working Committee (NWC) may be hatching a plot for tenure elongation by suspending the NEC

and congresses indefinitely.

Alkali stated: “A slight adjustment to the Timetable was made to allow for Congresses to commence on the 4th of February 2012 and terminate an the 25th of February 2012 with the National Convention.

“However, following the Supreme Court ruling on tenure of the Governors of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Kogi, and Sokoto States, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced an election timetable which clashed with our time table in the same month of February 2012.

“This unforeseen action by INEC necessitated a postponement of our earlier programme in order not to complicate preparations for

elections in the four states where elections were ordered by the Supreme Court.

“However, in order to ensure a smooth transition, the National Working Committee resolved to call for a meeting of the National Executive Committee (NEC) of the Party mid-February to consider and approve a new time table for Congresses and National Convention.

“The National Working Committee (NWC) also resolved that, subject to ratification by NEC, all Congresses shall commence from the first week of March 2012. This clarification had become necessary in order to clear all doubts raised as a result of the postponement of Congresses,” he said.

From Agaju Madugba & Moh’d Adamu, Kaduna

A

Federal High Court sitting in Kaduna yesterday rejected the bail application for the release of Alhaji Nuhu Marafa, currently being detained along with one of his sons, by the Nigerian army authorities, on allegation of gun running.

Counsel to the applicant, Bello Ibrahim, had approached the court seeking enforcement of his clients’ human rights in accordance with sections of the 1999 Constitution and the African Charter of Human and People's Rights act as well as and United Nations Declaration on Human Rights.

According to him, failure of the Nigerian Army and the GOC of I

Mechanized Division who are joined in the suit, to charge his clients to a competent court of law within 24 hours after their arrest constituted a violation of their rights to fair hearing.

He therefore sought the court order compelling the defendants to release his clients a he argued that the army invaded the residence of Marafa and arrested him along with his son, without any just cause.

But in his argument, Biola Oyebanji, counsel to the Nigerian Army, said that he received the notice on January 30 and asked for an adjournment to enable him make his response.

In his ruling, Justice Lucia Ojukwu adjourned the case to February 8.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

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Truck crushes soldier, 3 others at checkpoint From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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our persons including a military personnel yesterday died in a ghastly motor accident involving a tanker and two Opel Vectra salon cars at a checkpoint in Sabongari Narabi inToro local government area of Buachi state.

Confirming the incident, the Bauchi Sector Commander of Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC) Zakariyya Mamman said three vehicles-two Opel Vectra cars and a tanker were involved.

He said six persons were affected in the accident adding that only a militarypersonnel died immediately while five others were seriously injured and were taken to hospital.

The sector commander said the tanker trailer had a brake failure and the driver lost control and rammed into two vehicles that were waiting to be passed by the soldiers at the checkpoint.

However an eye witness Shuabu Umar who narrated the incident to our correspondent said the tanker which was believed to be carrying black oil from the southern part of the country to Bauchi lost control on a slope at Narabi and rammed into the two cars at the military barrier.

According to him, the tanker ran over the two vehicles and crushed four of the occupants to death saying four died instantly including the military personnel.

Nigeria spends N4.8bn on school fees of envoys’ children

T

he Federal Government bankrolled the school fees of Nigerian diplomats’ children abroad to the tune of N4.8 billion in 2011, it emerged yesterday as government officials scramble to reconcile past spending, and defend fresh proposals.

Up till weekend, ministries and departments and parastatals are to face lawmakers for the annual budget defence ritual, where frightening details of government’s bogus spending usually meet with lawmakers’ fleeting rebuke.

The House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee headed

by Nnena Elendu-Ukeje yesterday expressed shock at the huge bill the foreign affairs ministry spends annually on school fees.

For 2011, the ministry paid N4.8 billion for foreign education of its workers’ wards -an amount that overshot approved allocation for the purpose.

The ministry proposes to spend a relatively lower N5.2 million for the same purpose this year, a figure lawmakers believe will be raised after appropriation.

The amounts foot the fees of children of ambassadors and other diplomatic staff in the nearly 200 missions run by Nigeria across the world.

Lawmakers said ministry officials have been presenting such fees and other expenditures of the ministry in bulk without details, names of beneficiaries, thereby allowing officials a freehand to later adjust the approved figures, and spend same unilaterally.

E

mbattled Edo state Attorney General and Justice Commissioner, Dr. Osagie Obayuwana was about 3:30 pm yesterday granted bail by the Federal High Court in Benin City on self recognition, four days after the same court remanded him in prison.

The chief law officer of the State was remanded for contempt of court and non-compliance with court order mandating the State government to hand over the management of Bendel breweries to Churchgate Industries Limited, an Indian company.

The bail application of the accused person was argued by his Counsel, Ken Mosiah, SAN after strong arguments to prevail on the trial Judge, Justice Adamu Hobon to order his release.

On compliance with the federal High Court order,

2012 totals a little below N2 billion while it plans to spend N2 billion on transport and travels, another subhead the lawmakers queried.

The minister’s response was simple: “We travel to get the best,” he told the lawmakers” “You need to get well-trained diplomats. Without training, you will not get good diplomats. Without training, there will be no results. We send some of them to Oxford, some to Italy as they will be competing with the best from the world,” he

said.

Nigeria also spent hugely in funding to the United Nations, African Union and the regional body, ECOWAS in 2011.

The house committee branded the lavish levies “ridiculous.”

For 2011, the minister said, Nigeria paid 3.3 billion Naira (16 million US dollars) to the African Union. Contributions to the United Nation was N300 million while N285 million was paid to the Commonwealth. (Premium Times)

Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu (2nd right), in a handshake with Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress, Niger state chapter, Comrade Yahaya Ndako (right), during a solidarity visit to the governor by the Labour leader, in Minna, on Wednesday. With them are Minister of State for Niger Delta, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim Kutchi (2nd left), and state PDP Chairman, Hon Abdullrahaman Enegi (left)

LASTMA official escapes lynching as bus conductor is crushed to death

By Bimbo Ogunnaike and

P

andemonium broke out at the old toll gate area, along Lagos–Ibadan Expressway yesterday following the death of an unidentified bus conductor of a

Contempt: Jailed Edo AG granted bail From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

“You have put votes for security in four different places and that is the issue. You have four different sub-heads showing security votes. That is not acceptable,” Elendu-Ukeje told the minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, at a defense session.

Yet, the legislators have not indicated any plan to block the proposals or to order a discontinuation of the hefty government scholarship.

The ministry’s security votes for

Obayuwana said, “the issue is a policy issue the State government would have to review. These are policy issues, my health deteriorated while I was there. I’m still on medication which I’m taking home now’. But he declined comment on government’s move to alleviate the sufferings of the inmates.

Following a medical report, the Attorney General was taken to undisclosed clinic on Wednesday night by his doctor barely two days after he embarked on hunger strike.

But Edo State government had on Wednesday resolved not to obey the Court order mandating it to hand over the management of Bendel breweries to Churchgate Industries Limited; just as it equally vowed to approach the appropriate court to contest the committal order of the trial Judge, Justice Adamu Hobon and vacate it.

commercial bus who was allegedly crushed to death by another vehicle coming behind while trying to evade arrest by officials of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority, LASTMA. Apparently irked by the death of the conductor of the commercial bus with registration number XZ 76 AGL, who was simply identified as Ilorin by street urchins alias ’Area Boys’, traffic was disrupted as both sides of the expressway were blocked.

One Mutiu Alfred, a Vulcanise worker nearby, who claimed to have witnessed the incident narrated thus; “The LASTMA officers pursued the commercial bus

that was coming from Oworosonki area heading towards the toll gate. ..and dragged the conductor down from the bus by force and in the process he hit his forehead on the ground before another vehicle crushed him to death”.

He told our correspondent that the LASTMA officer who had the word “Oshodi” on his uniform was immediately apprehended by other motorists who gave him severe beatings before a police team patrolling the area came to rescue him from the mob that attempted to set him ablaze.

Samson , a fellow conductor seen weeping uncontrollably told our correspondent that the conductor’s

wife gave birth few days ago , saying the deceased was a peace loving person .

As at press time many motorists were still trapped in traffic while a combined team of LASTMA, Police and Road Safety officers battled to redirect vehicular traffic through other routes.

In a swift reaction, Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa who described the incident as regrettable, however, denied any involvement of LASTMA , saying, he had ordered immediate investigation into the incident with the aim of bringing the culprit(s) to book

Governor Shettima signs N140bn budget From, Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

B

orno state Governor, Kashim Shettima yesterday signed the 2012 Finance and Appropriation Bill passed by the state House of Assembly into law with a promise to embark on massive infrastructure development and employment generation.

Governor Shettima who maintained that posterity would not judge him well if he failed to

improve the lives of the people of the state while signing the bill into law yesterday at a brief ceremony at the Government House, said the level of poverty and despondency in the state were alarming.

He said his government has the responsibility to perform, adding that much was expected from him.

Shettima disclosed that with the signing of the budget into law, the time has come for all members of the executive council to work, adding that all special assistants and other

political appointees would be made to work.

“The era of political appointees collecting salaries and allowances without working has gone,” he declared.

He also said the executive would meet next week to award many contracts for road construction including the Damboa-Chibok road.

According to him, the most ambitious Damasak-Malamfatori road which linked the state with Niger Republic in the northern part of the state would be constructed soon.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

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We did not meet over Al-Mustapha – Northern Emirs From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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orthern emirs and chiefs who met early in the week in Kaduna have refuted reports in a section of the media that they met to take a position on the

conviction of former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-mustapha by the Lagos High Court.

In a reaction, the Emir of Kazaure, Dr. Najib Hussaini Adamu who attended the

meeting, said insinuations in a section of the media to the effect that they met over the plight of Al-mustapha were “crude, false and uncharitable.”

He confirmed that the emirs did met in Kaduna, but insisted

that the meeting had absolutely nothing to do with the conviction of Major Al-mustapha by a Lagos High Court.

“In the first instance, this meeting was called 10 days before the judgment was given. The day the court convicted him was the day of the arrival of the emirs and chiefs. How could the issue be on our agenda?” Dr. Adamu said in a

statement yesterday.

Dr. Adamu, who is also a lawyer, said the matter of AlMustapha was subjudice hence could not have been a subject of discussion by the monarchs.

“Nobody, not even the President can meddle in that case now because it is before the court.

Nobody can touch it unless it is over,” Adamu said.

New IG pledges to reposition police force From Edwin Olofu & Bala Nasir, Kano

T

he Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has promised to reposition the Nigeria Police to what he described as “people oriented police” that will meet the yearnings and aspiration Nigerians.

Mr. Abubakar who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on the governor of Kano state, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday, said he will no longer tolerate corruption and indolence in the force.

“We must have a new and people oriented-police force that will be devoid of corruption and indolence; those who know me believe we can achieve this.”

“With an estimated 10 million (people in Kano), 8,000 police strength is inadequate and we are working towards addressing the in balance”.

“I am not happy with the security situation in Kano following the event of January 20 in which about 186 residents and innocent citizens were killed.”

A minute silence was also observed at instance of the police boss in honour of the departed souls.

Responding, Dr Kwankwaso, prayed that the sad event of January 20 maybe the last of such development.

He then commended the police for their efforts in handling the situation posed by the attack of Boko Haram.

L-R: Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoki, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, during a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Atuche: No bank official should be held liable for customers' default, says witness From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

T

he eighth prosecution witness in the on-going trial of former Managing Director of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the former chief operating officer of

the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, Mr. Alex Ojukwu yesterday told Justice Lateefah Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, that no official of the bank can be held liable for customers’ default on accounts opening.

Mr. Ojukwu, who is a former Head of the Remedial

Management section and centralised shares services of Bank PHB stated in his testimony before the judge that the rule of the bank does not hold any staff liable over default by some customers.

He also stated further that Anyanwu also could not be held for default by any customer whose

Tambuwal promises legislative support for NAEC From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

By Lawrence Olaoye The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday, promised to give maximum support for the development of atomic energy in the country through the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC).

Tambuwal who made this known in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. James Ojo, also assured the agency that the House would amend the obsolete law establishing the agency.

He noted that Decree 46 of 1976 that established the Atomic Energy Commission has not been amended.

He said: “As an arm of government, we shall give the

commission all the necessary support to make us realise the lofty goals and ideas behind the establishment of the commission.

“Of course, technology can only be attained with proper funding because it is very, very expensive. We would call on the executive to pay more attention to critical commission like this, and

de –emphasise investment of our resources into commissions that hardly add little or no value to our national life”.

Tambuwal promised that the National Assembly will not waste time in looking into the bill when it is presented by the Executive for amendment even as he noted that it was unfortunate that successive

administrations in the country had not fully activated the potentials in the sector.

According to the Speaker, many developed countries of the world are reaping the benefits of developing their atomic energy potentials and some developing countries of Africa are equally doing so.

accounts were opened through the deferral policy of the bank.

In his examination in chief, Ojukwu stated that the accounts into which money was transferred were opened without account opening forms based on a mail he got from Ugo Anyawu which instructed him to open the accounts for the customers including Futureview Security Limited, Extra Oil Nigeria Limited and Tragec Oil Limited.

In his cross-examination, he agreed that this was not unusual in the deferment policy of the bank, adding that no official of the bank, who had acted in good faith by bringing customers to the bank under the deferral policy can be made liable for the default of that customer.

The trial continues today.

Miyetti Allah accuses Sayawa people of attacking members From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association have accused Sayawa Youth and Security operatives of attacking their members in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local government areas of the state.

The spokesperson of the group in Bauchi state, Alhaji Sadiq

Ibrahim Ahmed, revealed this while briefing newsmen at the secretariat of Nigerian Union of Journalist in Bauchi.

According to him, we are not happy with the excessive attacks and massive cleansing of our members by both resident Sayawa and security agencies. This is a serious threat which must be checkmated by government

without delay”.

He said: “Two persons namely Hassan Ibrahim, and Gambo Ladan were attacked and killed by Sayawa youth at Wuro Gara village, fake security men invaded Gigyam Fulani village and searched their houses, and on January 1, two persons Wada Abubakar and Dan’asabe were attacked in Tafawa Balewa, Wada was killed and

Dan’asabe narrowly escaped and one person arrested by soldiers was handed over to the police was killed by policeman and his corpse was set ablaze by Sayawa youth.”

In his response, the Secretary of the Sayawa Council of elders, Barrister Bukata Zhadi denied all the allegations made against their people, describing the allegations as baseless.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 5

We did not meet over Al-Mustapha – Northern Emirs From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

N

orthern emirs and chiefs who met early in the week in Kaduna have refuted reports in a section of the media that they met to take a position on the

conviction of former Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Sani Abacha, Major Hamza Al-mustapha by the Lagos High Court.

In a reaction, the Emir of Kazaure, Dr. Najib Hussaini Adamu who attended the

meeting, said insinuations in a section of the media to the effect that they met over the plight of Al-mustapha were “crude, false and uncharitable.”

He confirmed that the emirs did met in Kaduna, but insisted

that the meeting had absolutely nothing to do with the conviction of Major Al-mustapha by a Lagos High Court.

“In the first instance, this meeting was called 10 days before the judgment was given. The day the court convicted him was the day of the arrival of the emirs and chiefs. How could the issue be on our agenda?” Dr. Adamu said in a

statement yesterday.

Dr. Adamu, who is also a lawyer, said the matter of AlMustapha was subjudice hence could not have been a subject of discussion by the monarchs.

“Nobody, not even the President can meddle in that case now because it is before the court.

Nobody can touch it unless it is over,” Adamu said.

New IG pledges to reposition police force From Edwin Olofu & Bala Nasir, Kano

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he Acting Inspector General of Police, Alhaji Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, has promised to reposition the Nigeria Police to what he described as “people oriented police” that will meet the yearnings and aspiration Nigerians.

Mr. Abubakar who spoke when he paid a courtesy call on the governor of Kano state, Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, yesterday, said he will no longer tolerate corruption and indolence in the force.

“We must have a new and people oriented-police force that will be devoid of corruption and indolence; those who know me believe we can achieve this.”

“With an estimated 10 million (people in Kano), 8,000 police strength is inadequate and we are working towards addressing the in balance”.

“I am not happy with the security situation in Kano following the event of January 20 in which about 186 residents and innocent citizens were killed.”

A minute silence was also observed at instance of the police boss in honour of the departed souls.

Responding, Dr Kwankwaso, prayed that the sad event of January 20 maybe the last of such development.

He then commended the police for their efforts in handling the situation posed by the attack of Boko Haram.

L-R: Minister of Justice, Mr. Mohammed Bello Adoki, Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, during a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

Atuche: No bank official should be held liable for customers' default, says witness From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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he eighth prosecution witness in the on-going trial of former Managing Director of Keystone Bank (formerly Bank PHB), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and the former chief operating officer of

the bank, Ugo Anyanwu, Mr. Alex Ojukwu yesterday told Justice Lateefah Okunnu of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, that no official of the bank can be held liable for customers’ default on accounts opening.

Mr. Ojukwu, who is a former Head of the Remedial

Management section and centralised shares services of Bank PHB stated in his testimony before the judge that the rule of the bank does not hold any staff liable over default by some customers.

He also stated further that Anyanwu also could not be held for default by any customer whose

Tambuwal promises legislative support for NAEC From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

By Lawrence Olaoye The Speaker of House of Representatives, Rt. Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal yesterday, promised to give maximum support for the development of atomic energy in the country through the Nigeria Atomic Energy Commission (NAEC).

Tambuwal who made this known in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. James Ojo, also assured the agency that the House would amend the obsolete law establishing the agency.

He noted that Decree 46 of 1976 that established the Atomic Energy Commission has not been amended.

He said: “As an arm of government, we shall give the

commission all the necessary support to make us realise the lofty goals and ideas behind the establishment of the commission.

“Of course, technology can only be attained with proper funding because it is very, very expensive. We would call on the executive to pay more attention to critical commission like this, and

de –emphasise investment of our resources into commissions that hardly add little or no value to our national life”.

Tambuwal promised that the National Assembly will not waste time in looking into the bill when it is presented by the Executive for amendment even as he noted that it was unfortunate that successive

administrations in the country had not fully activated the potentials in the sector.

According to the Speaker, many developed countries of the world are reaping the benefits of developing their atomic energy potentials and some developing countries of Africa are equally doing so.

accounts were opened through the deferral policy of the bank.

In his examination in chief, Ojukwu stated that the accounts into which money was transferred were opened without account opening forms based on a mail he got from Ugo Anyawu which instructed him to open the accounts for the customers including Futureview Security Limited, Extra Oil Nigeria Limited and Tragec Oil Limited.

In his cross-examination, he agreed that this was not unusual in the deferment policy of the bank, adding that no official of the bank, who had acted in good faith by bringing customers to the bank under the deferral policy can be made liable for the default of that customer.

The trial continues today.

Miyetti Allah accuses Sayawa people of attacking members From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi state chapter of Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association have accused Sayawa Youth and Security operatives of attacking their members in Tafawa Balewa and Bogoro Local government areas of the state.

The spokesperson of the group in Bauchi state, Alhaji Sadiq

Ibrahim Ahmed, revealed this while briefing newsmen at the secretariat of Nigerian Union of Journalist in Bauchi.

According to him, we are not happy with the excessive attacks and massive cleansing of our members by both resident Sayawa and security agencies. This is a serious threat which must be checkmated by government

without delay”.

He said: “Two persons namely Hassan Ibrahim, and Gambo Ladan were attacked and killed by Sayawa youth at Wuro Gara village, fake security men invaded Gigyam Fulani village and searched their houses, and on January 1, two persons Wada Abubakar and Dan’asabe were attacked in Tafawa Balewa, Wada was killed and

Dan’asabe narrowly escaped and one person arrested by soldiers was handed over to the police was killed by policeman and his corpse was set ablaze by Sayawa youth.”

In his response, the Secretary of the Sayawa Council of elders, Barrister Bukata Zhadi denied all the allegations made against their people, describing the allegations as baseless.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

NANS hails ASUU for suspending strike

By Abdullahi Yunusa

T

he leadership of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) has commended members of the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU) over its decision to suspend the two months old strike action which paralysed academic activities in public universities across the country.

In a press statement signed by NANS President, Comrade Dauda Mohammed, the body said “while commending ASUU for the step taken, we must also appreciate the commitment shown by the present government towards ensuring that issues surrounding the ASUU/FG agreement are finally resolved in order to ensure the return of normal academic activities devoid of incessant strike

to our Universities”.

The statement further appealed to the Federal government to ensure it fulfilled the agreement entered with the union to avoid future strike actions by university lecturers.

It said, “having realised the decision of both parties to work towards the practical implementation of the agreement as reached between ASUU and the

Federal Government, we want to sincerely appeal that the government should see this avenue as an opportunity to improve on the fortune of the educational sector in Nigeria”.

The body threw its weight behind ASUU’s demand for a yearly increase in budgetary allocation to the education sector beginning from the 2013 budget of the country among other things.

It also appealed to both parties to stick to terms of agreement entered into to avoid a breakdown of negotiations.

“It is our desire that we shall not be once gain forced to go home by the inability of parties in the ASUU/FG agreement to comply with the various terms of the agreement thereby leading to any form of industrial action in the future”.

Birnin Kebbi FedPoly matriculates 3,489 From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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L-R: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Road Safety, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, Corps Marshal/Chief Executive Officer, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, and Deputy Chairman of the committee, Hon. Daniel Akpan, during the committee’s oversight visit to the FRSC headquarters in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

‘Lack of understanding NEMA donates items to hampers MDGs vision’ Kano hospitals From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

A

n expert on development issues working with a Katsina based NGO, PADEAP, Mr. Shola Babadiya has disclosed that lack of proper understanding of the concept and vision of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), is the major factor hampering its success in Africa.

Babadiya who made the disclosure while speaking in an occasion organised by NYSC/MDG Awareness Creation Club in Katsina, noted that people should be made to understand that it was part of the programmes core duty to make the public question the role of government in development and to hold it accountable.

He noted that although the focus of MDG was to address poverty in the developing world,the timeline set for the end of the programme in 2015 may not be achieved due to some perceived setbacks, hoping that the life span of the programme would be extended.

According to him, the MDG projects in the North-West zone of the country focused more on maternal and infant mortality issues, adding that peace and conflicts resolution was also part of their activities and promised to put in more effort.

Earlier, the former president of the club, Mr. Emmanuel Jesuyon listed some of the achievements recorded by the club in Katsina, which he said include the acquisition of an office complex for the club, building partnership with other stakeholders and the establishment of a magazine.

Similarly, Jesuyon urged club members to support the new executive, put the office complex to proper use and add efforts in carrying the good message of the MDG to the grass root so that poverty and hunger could be eliminated.

In a remark, a patron of the club, Mr. Jacob Aaron tasked the members of the club to take the activities of the club very serious as Nigeria, more than any time in its history, was yearning for the peace, security and unity of its people.

From Bala Nasir, Kano

T

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated hospital consumables and beddings of unspecified millions of naira to four hospitals in Kano to treat victims of the January 20 coordinated bomb blasts by the Boko Haram sect.

Presenting the items to the managements of the respective hospitals yesterday in Kano, Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammadu Sani Sidi said he and his team were in Kano to commiserate with the people of the state over the incident and then donate the items.

The Murtala Mohammed Specialists Hospital (MMSH), Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital and the Orthopaedic Hospital Dala are the three hospitals officially directed to admit victims of the blasts.

Muhammadu Abdullahi Wase Hospital otherwise known as Nassarawa Hospital is the fourth hospital that benefitted from NEMA’s donation as some of the blast victims are also on admission

at the hospital.

NEMA Director explained that as disaster managers in the country, his Agency is primarily concerned with the humanitarian consequences of such disasters and that they wouldl do all they could to support Kano state to alleviate the sufferings of the blasts victims.

Responding, the Chief Medical Director of MMSH, Dr Tanko Mohammed thanked NEMA for the drugs and other consumables donated to their hospitals and promised that they would use them judiciously.

He stated that MMSH admitted the largest chunk of the blasts victims at a special ward who were treated free as directed by the state government.

Only one of the victims is still on admission at the hospital as the rest have been discharged, and are now treated as out patients, he said.

The director also paid a visit to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state where he condoled him over the incident and prayed for non occurrence of similar incident in the state and anywhere else in the country .

he Rector, Waziri Umar Federal Polytechnic Arc. Mohammed Kabiru Nabade has urged the newly matriculated students to be law-abiding, shun examination malpractices and other social vices He gave this advise yesterday while matriculating 3,489 students of the Polytechnic in Birnin Kebbi for 2011/2011 session comprising of 879 for HND,2444 for ND, 300 for Pre-ND [science] and pre-NCE with 300 students.

The Rector, also urged the students to be disciplined, lawabiding, responsible, obedient and orderly in and out of the institution.

“You must also remember that the certificate which you have come here to acquire are based first of all in character and then learning. Any student found contravening the rules and regulations of the polytechnic will be sanctioned appropriately,” he said.

Edo govt to treat more cancer patients From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he Edo state government has restated its commitment to screen and treat persons diagnosed with cancer to mark the world Cancer day Celebration billed for February 4 this year.

State Director of the office of the first Lady, Hajia Maimuna Momodu dropped the hint in Benin City, yesterday when the leadership of the State chapter of Nigeria Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ made a courtesy call on her.

The director sued for continued partnership with the association on the need for Nigerians, especially market women to present themselves for screening to slow down the prevalent rate.

State Chairman of NAWOJ, Comrade Amina Ebor had told the Director of the association’s plan to embark on a State wide health awareness campaign with special emphasis on hypertension and cardiac arrest which has taken a bad turn among rural and market women.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 7

Adamawa killings: CAC president urges prayer From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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resident and general superintendent of the Christ Apostolic Church (CAC), where 10 worshippers were recently killed in Yola, the Adamawa state capital, Pastor C.S Fasuyi has called on Nigerians to be full of prayers for the country.

Fasuyi gave the call in Yola during a condolence visit to the ill-fated parish were the gruesome incident which he also described as ‘abominable’, happened.

The clergy decried the critica situation in the country but insisted that with prayers the perpetrators of all evil acts would be exposed and Nigeria would be a safe country again.

“Christ never promised

us a soft Christian life, but with this persecution we will find our way into heaven because the earth is full of tribulations; so be of good cheer bearing in mind that Christ has conquered the world”, he stated.

Recounting the parish’s ordeal to the president, Pastor John Mangai of the CAC Yola District Church Council, said the experience was horrible and unfortunate.

“Members were about rounding off the New Year prayers for the day between 7.00pm to 7.30pm when all of a sudden some gunmen broke in; starting from the gate these merchants of death who had come on motor-cycles started firing right into the church”, Mangai narrated.

Explaining further, he

said: “The sporadic gun fire was deafening, it was like they wanted to wipe away the entire congregation.

Two brothers of same parents were gunned down at the rear of the church; at the front, the elder leading the closing prayers and the other one who had preached and led the prayers for the day were riddled with bullets”.

He placed the figure of those murdered inside the church auditorium at 10, while two neighbours of the church who were outside when the assailants came calling, were also slain.

The state government had placed a N25 million reward for any person who gives a clue leading to the arrest of the assailants while the police say they are still investigating the matter.

NLC lauds Oshiomhole over palliative measures

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), y e s t e r d a y , commended Gov. Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state for introducing palliative measures to cushion the effects of the recent increase in the price of petrol from N65 to N97 per litre.

The chairman of the state council, Mr. Emmanuel Ademokun, gave the commendation in a letter which the NLC sent

to the governor, copies of which were made available to newsmen in Benin.

The labour congress expressed its sincere appreciation of the various palliative measures announced by the governor to cushion the resultant effects of subsidy removal.

“The state council is particularly proud to note that the Comrade

Governor is again the first to announce and implement the relief package in the country.

“Your action is a testimony of a pragmatic and proactive leadership guided by the drive to better the lives of the people of Edo state and Nigeria at large…” the letter stated.

The NLC, however, added that it looked forward to the extension of palliative measures to the public servants in the state.

(NAN)

NACOMYO wants speedy trial over Boko Haram leader’s deathpeace and From Dimeji KayodeAdedeji, Abeokuta

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he National Council of Muslim Youth Organisations (NACOMYO), has tasked the Federal Government to accelerate litigation against police personnel involved in the unlawful killing of Boko Haram sect leader, Mohammedd Yusuf.

The council gave the task in a press statement issued as message to mark Maulud Nabiyy, just as it also emphasised dialogue as panacea to tackling the Boko Haram menace.

The statement signed

by Alhaji Kamal’ddin Akintunde, national secretary of the organisation, equally challenged the Nigerian Inter-Religious Council (NIREC) of not justifying its existence by not being proactive at checking sectarian crises threatning Nigeria’s

corporate existence.

It decried the utterances of the president of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), who is also the chairman of NIREC, as being inflammatory, toxic and prejudicial to

good neighbourliness.

In the same vein, the religious body implored Boko Haram to shift grounds and relax its stance by ceasing fire and embracing the dialogue initiative, as it is a means to an end.

PSC to monitor police conduct during governorship elections

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

A

s part of its effort to e n s u r e transformation of the Nigeria Police Force, the Police Service Commission (PSC), has resolve to monitor the conduct of officers in the forth-coming gubernatorial elections to ensure that high level of integrity, neutrality and professionalism is maintained by the officers.

A statement issued yesterday by the Director of Press in the commission, Ferdinand U. Ekpe, stated that the election will be

held in Adamawa state on the 4th of February, 2012, Bayelsa state 11th February, 2012, Sokoto state 18th February, 2012, Cross River 25th February, 2012.

The statement added that the monitoring team to the four states will be led

by Dr. Otive Igbuzor, a commissioner in the commission, and called on the public to lodge their complaints through the following numbers: 0 8 1 6 4 1 8 3 5 9 7 , 0 8 1 6 4 1 8 3 6 4 7 , 08166857653, and 08166857484.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 8

Compel NASS, governors to also cut salaries, clergy urges Jonathan A

Clergy, Rev. Idongesit Inyang, has called on the presidency to compel members of the National Assembly, state governors and local government chairmen to cut their salaries by 25 percent.

Inyang, the Nyanya Resident Pastor of Qua Iboe Church, Abuja Autonomous District, gave the advice in Abuja yesterday, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He commended President

Goodluck Jonathan for taking the initiative of cutting his salary by 25 percent and those of his cabinet members, as part of measures aimed at reducing the cost of governance.

“The president’s action in

cutting his salary by 25 percent is a rare sacrifice. Members of the National Assembly, state governors, as well as local government chairmen should follow suit without further delay.

“There is no doubt that the

various measures adopted by the Federal Government in cushioning the effects of the oil subsidy removal will soon bring dividends to the poor’’.

Rev. Inyang who appealed to Nigerians to support the Federal Government’s transformation agenda, said the mass transit programme already in operation in Abuja, had started easing the transportation difficulties of commuters within and around the city.

He also appealed to the Federal Government to ensure the judicious use of funds from the subsidy to justify the removal.

“The funds realised from the subsidy should be channeled into road maintenance, education, healthcare, housing, agriculture and job creation.’’ (NAN)

House pledges legislative support to FRSC

By Adeola Tukuru

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L-R: Minister of State for FCT, Ms. Jumoke Akinjide, Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Amma Pepple, Minister of Power, Professor Bath Nnaji, and Minister of Trade and Investment, Mr. Olusegun Aganga, during a meeting on state of the economy with President Goodluck Jonathan at the State House, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Emir charges media on Nigerian unity Gaidam From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Emir of Ilorin and Chairman of Kwara state Traditional Rulers Council, Alhaji Ibrahim SuluGambari, has charged Nigeria media houses to work towards sustaining unity in Nigeria just as he challenged them to educate the younger generation on the norms and traditions of the country.

Sulu-Gamabri, who made the call yesterday in Ilorin, while hosting the founder of Royal FM,

Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, in his palace, noted that the unity of the country was not only the responsibility of the government, stressing that the role of the media would go a long way in bringing people of diverse backgrounds together.

The Emir appealed to all Nigerians to be firm and united despite the challenges the country is facing, adding that all traditional rulers in the state are behind youths who are progressive minded, pledging that they would be given total

support in an attempt to develop the state.

He however appealed to the founder of the station not to allow any pressure group or political associate to suppress the station from carrying out its duties in accordance to the laid down principles.

Earlier, the founder of the station, Engr. Gbenga Adebayo, in his remark, said the challenges facing the country would be resolved if all the traditional rulers in the country work together with government.

Police set to ensure best practices

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

J

ust a week after his appointment as the Acting Inspector General of Police, M.D. Abubakar, has assured Nigerians that he would rebrand the Nigeria Police Force into a combatant and morally responsible force that would meet up with the yearnings of the populace.

Abubakar, who gave this assurance at the force headquarters while briefing newsmen on his determination to transform the force, added that his members will do their

best to protect the lives of citizens and their properties at this time of critical challenges in the nation’s history.

He said though the police has had a turbulent time in trying to cope with various challenges beclouding the profession, it is high time to make adjustments so as to present the public with a police that is free of corruption.

The new police boss further told the officers that the era of corruption and humiliation of the public were over, stressing that the new force would not condone corruption and human

rights abuses.

To ensure that all officers are up and doing in their various stations, Abubakar said Assistant Inspectors General and Commissioners of Police would be held responsible for any crime committed within their purview, while calling on the public to partner with the security operatives with information that would aid them in the fight against terrorism.

He further called on other sister agencies to team up with the police, so as to effectively combat the waves of crime in the country.

commiserates with IGP over wife’s death

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state has described the death of the wife of acting Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, Maryam Abubakar, as a “painful loss”, not only to the Abubakar family but also to Nigeria.

The governor spoke yesterday when he paid a condolence visit to the acting Inspector General of Police at his family residence in Kano.

“It is certainly a great loss, especially at this time when you needed her counsel, advice and companionship to confront the daunting security challenges facing the nation”, Gaidam said.

The governor who told the number one cop to take solace in the Qur’anic verse which says “every soul must taste of death” and that “we are all from God and to Him is our final return”, prayed the Almighty Allah to grant the deceased eternal rest.

he House Committee Chairman on Road Safety, Hon. Nasiru Sani Zangon Daura, has pledged the commitment of his committee to requisite legislations on road safety matters.

Nasiru gave this assurance yesterday, at the routine tour of facilities at the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), national headquarters in company of other members of the committee, during an oversight visit.

The chairman commended FRSC for the level of investment it has made so far on information and communications Technology (ICT), adding that the FRSC has embraced ICT in its operational and administrative activities which impacted positively on last year’s status of road traffic crashes with a downward slide as against previous years.

In his words, “we are absolutely breathless with what we saw today in FRSC, which to a large extent will provide the required boost for the Federal Government’s transformation agenda”.

In his response, the FRSC Corps Marshal, Osita Chidoka, presented the Corps’ 2011 fiscal budget performance which according to him, witnessed a 99.62% performance in the face of N303,104,941.00 released, out of N448,533,941.00 appropriated to FRSC in last year’s budgetary allocation.

Continuing, Chidoka stated that with the limited resources, the Corps has managed 42 help areas and 12 ambulance emergency centres, 224 field commands, 79 ambulances, 28 tow trucks and has remitted N1, 326 billion to the Federation Account as fines generated from enforcement of traffic rules and regulations.

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Wamakko flags off campaign, pledges transformation From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

F

ormer governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has pledged positive transformation in the state, if voted into power come February 18.

Wamakko made the pledge yesterday, at the flag-off of his governorship campaign in Gwadabawa local government area of Sokoto state.

Wamakko pledged to embark on massive construction of feeder roads, hospitals, schools, among others if elected.

He blamed his detractors in the PDP for spreading rumours with the aim of creating confusion and chaos in the state.

The former governor stated that some Abuja politicians had engaged in evil machinations in order to pull him down.

According to him, such mischievous politicians claiming to be 'old PDP' members have lost relevance and want to destroy the party in the state.

Also speaking, Acting Governor of the state, Alhaji Lawali Zayyana, pledged to do whatever it takes to ensure Wamakko's return for second term.

YOSACA buys N9m HIV test kits

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he Yobe state Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS (YOSACA), has bought 15,000 cartons of HIV test kits worth N9.7 million to encourage free and voluntary testing among the people.

Hajiya Farida Mamudo, the director of the agency, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Damaturu yesterday, that each carton contained 100 test kits.

She said the kits were currently being distributed to 19 health institutions in the state, explaining that the state government bought them through the National Agency for the Control of HIV and AIDS to ensure high standards and accurate results.

The director said that test kits worth N2.5 million were distributed to health institutions in the last four months.

“The agency is vigorously trying to instill the culture of HIV test among our people as a measure to combat the virus and encourage those with the infection to access the free drugs provided by government.’’

She noted that the working partnership with traditional and religious leaders had encouraged people to make themselves available for test while those living with the virus were made to access free drugs.

“There is tremendous improvement in the fight against HIV and AIDS in Yobe as people living with the virus join support groups in sensitising the public on preventive measures and accessing drugs for those with the virus.’’ (NAN)

L-R: Members of the House of Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Samuel Adejare, Hon. Joseph Kigbu exchanging pleasantries with Minister of State 1 for Foreign Affairs. Mrs. Viola Onwuliri, during the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, 2012 budget defence before the Committee at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Strike: Students applaud FG, ASUU for reaching compromise

S

ome students of the University of Nigeria (UNN), Nsukka, have commended the Federal Government and ASUU for reaching a compromise that led to the suspension of the nationwide strike.

ASUU embarked on an indefinite strike on Dec. 5, 2011, following the Federal Government’s failure to implement the agreement it signed with the union in 2009.

Mr. Nnamdi Azubike of the Department of Combined Microbiology and Biochemistry, told the News Agency of Nigeria

(NAN) in Nsukka yesterday, that he was happy that ASUU had suspended its strike.

He said: “I am very happy that ASUU has suspended the strike.

The news is cheering.

“I want to plead with university managements not to rush us in the syllabus.’’

Another student, Mr Chinanye Udechukwu of the Department of Foreign Languages and Literary Studies, said that the suspension of the strike would bring relief to students who were tired of staying at home.

“I thank God that government and ASUU have settled their

differences at last. It is cheering news as well as a welcome development.

“I hope they have settled their problems once and for all.’’

A Department of Electrical Electronics student, who pleaded anonymity, said that government should ensure that its agreement with ASUU was implemented to avoid another strike.

“I want to plead with government to implement every agreement reached with ASUU that led to the call-off of the strike.

“Students will not be happy if ASUU goes on strike again because of non-implementation of

agreement reached with government.’’

Dr. Aloysius Okolie, the chairman of ASUU, UNN chapter, confirmed that the strike had been suspended.

He said: “ASUU national body on Wednesday called off its nationwide strike but lecturers are to resume work on Thursday.

“Universities will now hold congresses to suspend the strike so that normal academic activities will resume.

“ASUU considered national interest in suspending the strike”.

(NAN)

Niger govt exonerates NLC, TUC from subsidy unrest From Iliya Garba, Minna

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he governor of Niger state, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, has exonerated the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), and the Trade Union Congress (TUC) from the civil

unrest and attendant destruction of property that followed the removal of fuel subsidy.

Receiving executive members of the organised labour at Government House in Minna, the state capital, he commended the labour movement for

organising a peaceful protest rally which, according to him, was hijacked by opportunistic individuals to wreak havoc.

Gov. Aliyu noted that the attacks and destruction were carried out systematically and targeted at government edifices

Certificate:No evidence to prosecute Customs a counsel from the act. We have taken actions but what chief, DPP says evidence, ministry of Justice, Mr. Olarenwaju we are saying is that until we have From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ttorney-General of Lagos state and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Ade Ipaye, yesterday, told an Ikeja High Court that it lacks adequate information to respond to the call to prosecute the Comptroller General of Customs, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde for alleged certificate forgery as requested by Lagos radical lawyer and rights crusader, Festus Keyamo.

Arguing his application which asked the court to dismiss Keyamo’s suit on the ground that it was immature and lacked sufficient

Akinsola, told the court that it was untrue that the DPP was not interested in prosecuting the customs boss.

According to him, from the evidence available to the office of the Director of Public Prosecution, there was nothing to justify the prosecution of the custom boss as alleged by the Lagos lawyer.

It has filed a counter affidavit challenging the rights of the lawyer to have requested for a mandatory order for the DPP to prosecute the customs boss for the alleged offence.

He said: “The law states that an offence must have been committed before the law officer is meant to

the facts, we are constrained”.

According to him, the DPP had requested the police vide a later dated July 28, 2010, to investigate the matter to enable them issue a considered legal opinion and take necessary steps.

He claimed that the police was yet to conclude its investigation, adding that it was therefore premature for Keyamo to seek for an order of mandamus.

Keyamo had approached the court presided over by Justice Yetunde Idowu for an order of mandamus compelling the DPP to exercise his discretion whether or not to prosecute Inde.

and properties of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and some of its members.

He contended that the peaceful protest by labour was legal and justified but was quick to add that the strike would have been averted if adequate mobilisation and sensitisation campaigns were carried out on the positive implications of fuel subsidy removal.

Chairman of NLC in the state, Comrade Yahaya Idris Ndako said they were in Government House to commiserate and sympathise with the state government over the destruction to public and private properties during the strike by some hoodlums.

Comrade Ndako condemned the violent protests and dissociated the union from the disturbances, adding that labour only embarked on a peaceful protest rally to show its disapproval over the removal of fuel subsidy which was unfortunately capitalised upon by some irate youths in pursuance of their own rebellious agenda.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Interior minister reiterates govt’s determination to protect citizens

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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L-R: Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwumi Ayodeji Adesina, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mr. Ezekiel Oyemomi, during the ministry’s 2012 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday. Photo: Mahmud Isa

15-year-old student stabs 3 colleagues From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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15-year-old secondary school student, Hammed has been arrested by the Ogun state Police Command for allegedly stabbing three of his mates in Orile-Ilugun, Odeda local

government area of the state.

The boy, according to Peoples Daily investigations, had gone wild after a corporal punishment was meted on him by the school authority for indiscipline. His victims were said to have assisted the school authority to discipline him.

According to the school sources, the three stabbed students assisted their teacher to pin the arrogant boy down, while he was being caned.

But hours after receiving the corporal punishment, he went after his mates and stabbed the trio in vengeance.

The boy later ran off from the scene of the crime, while the wounded boys were rushed to the medical centre in the town for first aid treatment, and later

transferred to State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta where they were placed on admission. The runaway suspect was arrested and detained at the police headquarters at Eleweran, Abeokuta.

When contacted, the Ogun State Police Command Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi, confirmed the incident, adding that further investigation was ongoing while the command assured that the law would take its course.

Jigawa to place state, LG’s budget on the net From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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n its effort to ensure good governance and accountability both at the state and in the local government council administration systems, the Jigawa state government has resolved to place the 2012 budget on the internet for stakeholders consumption.

This was disclosed by the Birniwa local government council chairman, Alhaji Aliyu Idris

Diginsa while speaking to newsmen in his office. He said the measure is in line with the Governor Lamido’s effort in ensuring public trust among the people of the state.

Alhaji Diginsa explained that this will also give the general public and avail the citizenry sufficient record and the opportunity to track the budgetary implementation during the year.

The local council chairman explained that the State House of

Assembly had already directed them to bring forth their financial commitment before a committee for further scrutiny and subsequent placement of same on the internet.

According to him, “all the 27 local government councils in the state have been directed by the state House of Assembly to vividly explain their 2012 budget devoid of any ambiguity to either projects or the costs for the execution of the projects”.

He further explained that the decision is a clear testimony of Governor Lamido's commitment to an open-door governance while at the same time allowing the citizens to participate in government programmes.

The chairman however commended Jigawa state government for the adequate funding to the local councils, while calling on the general public to continue to support the policy thrust of the administration.

NAFDAC moves against adulteration of drugs and fake products From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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he National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), has urged drug vendors and pharmacists to help the agency in combating adulterated drugs and fake products across the state.

The Director of Public Enlightenment of the agency, represented by Mrs. Christabel Julie Okoye, gave the advice yesterday in Birnin Kebbi, at the one-day sensitisation workshop on fake and adulterated drugs, adding that the aim was to inform, educate and communicate with

the people on behalf of the agency.

The programme which was organised by the NAFDAC, was aimed at curbing the menace in the state and Nigeria at large with the major concern to safe guard the life of the Nigerians.

She summoned the drug vendors in Kebbi state to join hands in combat against the adulterated drugs and should also stand firm against fake and substandard

regulated products, for a better Nigeria.

Mrs. Okoye added that there is the need to screen herbal drugs and have them listed for registration by the NAFDAC. “Let us be part of rebranding Nigeria; the lives and destiny of our born and unborn children are in our hands; let us channel them properly and direct them right for a better society”, she said.

he Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has reiterated government determination to protect lives and properties of citizens and non citizens alike in the country.

He stated this yesterday at the headquarters of the ministry while playing host to the members of the Red Cross Society of Nigeria (RCSN), added that partnering with the association is sacrosanct, owing to the waves of violence in the country.

He further said the president and all the security agencies would not relent to protect law abiding citizens in the country, as it is necessary for the government to play an effective role in protecting its citizens.

The minister said it is high time for Nigerians to support the government and its security agencies with viable information that would assist the government in stemming the threat posed before it by the Boko Haram sect.

Moro thanked members of the RCSN for their desire to partner with government, while calling on other nongovernmental organisations (NGO), and private organisations to join in the war against terrorism, as government alone cannot quell the problem.

On his part, the leader of the RCSN said the association has been a major supporter of government and would continue to work towards ensuring peace in the country.

MAPOLY student rapists arrested as cult group clashes From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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our suspected rapists identified to be students of Moshood Abiola Polytechnic, Abeokuta, have been arrested and handed over to the police for interrogation.

The gang had kidnapped a female student within the campus, and took her into a bush but the lady victim was discovered to be menstruating.

Our correspondent reliably gathered further that the gang, however held on to the victim’s mobile phone.

The gang used the phone to call her parents demanding ransom of N50, 000, with a threat that she was in their custody having being kidnapped, but luck later ran out of them following their arrest.

As at the time of filing this report, the suspects were said to have been handed over to the police for further investigation, just as two factions of a secret cult in the school yesterday engaged in a gun battle.

Our correspondent reliably learnt further that the exchange of fire which took place at the Onikolobo-Oloke area of Abeokuta claimed the life of a male student while others sustained injuries.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 11

FG plans to cut 2012 budget by N400bn

By Richard Ihediwa

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he Federal Government plans to cut the 2012 N4.749 trillion budget by about N400 billion.

The Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, gave the hint during a meeting with the Senate Committee on Appropriation at the National Assembly.

The cut, however, will not affect provisions for capital projects as it would be restricted only to the recurrent vote, she said. The plan is coming against

zTo borrow N794bn to finance budget deficit the backdrop of prevalent uncertainties and volatility in the international oil market.

The minister told members of the committee that President Goodluck Jonathan was not aware of the proposal as he has not been briefed.

She however, added that capital expenditure for the fiscal year would not be touched but hinted that there will be drastic cuts in overheads and recurrent expenditure.

“Capital expenditure for 2012 is left

untouched while overheads and recurrent expenditure will be reduced", she said.

She also demanded for more cuts on expenditure on part of the National Assembly, though the Senate President, David Mark, had earlier announced a 40 percent cut in its overheads beginning from the 2011 fiscal year.

Dr. Ngozi explained further saying: “We still need to find more cuts. As the Executive cuts its own, we hope that the National

Assembly will still cut its own in order to help us. We are going to look at the statutory transfers, look at the Judiciary, INEC and others; whoever we can negotiate with to help us out this year should do so... We need to make that sacrifice. At the minimum, we need to find N370 billion, almost N400 billion so as to bring down the deficit to a manageable level”.

“There’s a revision (of the budget) we need to show Mr President and we have not had a

chance to tell him about the cuts.

It’s very difficult but that’s where we are now", she said.

Giving further details on the year 2012 budget, the Finance Minister told the committee that government would borrow N794 billion out of the projected N1.104 trillion to finance the year 2012 budget deficit.

Responding, the Chairman of the Senate committee, Senator Ahmed Maccido, reminded the Minister that the National Assembly had already cut its expenditure and added that the ministry must give specific details about its year 2012 budget.

Kebbi FRCN to commence service in two weeks From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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overnor Saidu Dakingari of Kebbi state has assured the management and staff of the Federal Radio Cooperation of Nigeria, Kaduna, that in the next two weeks, the Kebbi state Power Station branch will commence full service.

He gave this assurance when the Zonal Director of the FRCN paid him a courtesy visit in Government House on Wednesday. The governor then ordered the Commissioner for Information, Secretary to the State Government and the Special Assistant on Media to summits the cost implication of the remaining projects at the station.

In his remark, the Zonal Director of FRCN, Malam Ladan Salihu, expressed satisfaction over the development recorded under Governor Dakingari since he assumed office; adding that his mission is to ensure that the FRCN station in Kebbi commences operation as all the equipment are already installed.

L-R: ASUU Vice-President, Dr. Nasir Fagge, ASUU President, Prof. Ukachukwu Awuzie, and former ASUU President, Dr. Abdullahi Sule-Kano, during a news conference on the suspension of their strike, in Abuja, on Wednesday.

Photo: NAN From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Sarkin Hausawa of Ibadanland, Alhaji Ahmed Zungeru, yesterday, advocated constitutional amendment that would give

FERMA lobbies Reps for assessment of 5% petroleum fund

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Federal Road Maintenance Agency (FERMA), has pleaded with the House of Representatives to prevail on the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), to release the statutory five percent pump price on petroleum products in order to augment the agency’s revenue.

FERMA’s Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Engr. Gabriel Amuchi, told the House Committee on FERMA chaired by Rep. Ofor Chukwuegbo, during his budget defense, that the major challenge preventing the agency from delivering on its mandate was paucity of funds.

According to the FERMA boss, the petroleum fund, according to the Act establishing the agency, was to be deducted from both diesel and petrol.

He requested the committee to prevail on the PPPRA to obey the law empowering it to deduct the petroleum tax made in 2004 and remit some to the agency.

According to him, the fund when remitted would be shared on ration 40/60 between FERMA and the 36 states of the federation with road maintenance agencies.

Amuchi, who appeared before the committee to defend his N32.9 billion 2012 appropriation proposal told the committee that several efforts made by the agency and the parent Ministry of Works to compel the PPPRA to remit the funds have failed in the last seven years.

Responding to the allegation, PPPRA’s Executive Secretary, Engr.

Reginald Stanley, told the committee that he was not aware of such tax in the agency’s template on diesel because the product had since been deregulated.

Insecurity: Sarkin Hausawa advocates constitutional amendment statutory roles to traditional rulers in the country as a recipe for nation's insecurity.

Zungeru stated this in Ibadan during a media chat saying this would facilitate enduring peace and unity across the nation.

Specifically, he expressed the hope that a lasting solution would be found to the recurring Boko Haram insurgency in the country with the effective involvement of traditional rulers in the peace processes.

He also insisted that if the royal fathers are involved in peace moves, “they will effectively monitor and unearth the intruders within their respective communities.”

Alhaji Zungeru condemned in strong terms the killings of innocent people in the Northern parts of the country which he described as unnecessary and ungodly.

“There was no need for people to pounce on fellow human beings

as Muslims, Christians and even the pagans own this country. This is why I strongly call on the different state governments all over the country to join forces with the Federal Government and convene sovereign national conference that will give constitutional role to traditional rulers in bringing peace and unity to the nationals, and also bring a total end to religious bigotry in the country,” the Sarkin Hausawa said.

NAPTIP, NDLEA train personnel on combating wealth and resource of any nation. drugs, human trafficking Mr. Jang who spoke through the From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), and National Drugs Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), have commenced a three-month basic course for about 118 junior and senior officers on organised crime investigation and interdiction techniques law to equip the officers on the task of combating trafficking

in the country.

The senior and junior officers of NAPTIP who are participating in the training are drawn from Lagos, Akwa-Ibom, Edo, Sokoto, Borno, Kano and Enugu states and the federal capital, Abuja.

Speaking at the event, Plateau state governor, Jonah Jang, urged NAPTIP and NDLEA to double up efforts in the fight against drug intake among youths which has ruined the future of many youths who are the

Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Olivia Dazyem, said incessant intake of drug by youths has become dangerous to the nation and urged NDLEA to work hard and stem the menace in the country.

He charged NAPTIP and NDLEA to collaborate with other security agencies in order to help the nation by ensuring that “this modern crime against humanity is brought to the barest minimum not only in Plateau state but Nigeria at large”.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

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Jonathan’s ill-advised bid for AU chair

ne of the key decisions taken at the just concluded 18th African Union (AU) Summit held at its newly built magnificent headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, was the choice of a new chairperson for the year 2012, a position that is rotated. At the end of the three-day summit which opened on January 29, President Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin Republic emerged as Chairperson for the year, taking over from the President of Equatorial Guinea, Mr. Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.

In the run-up to the election, Nigeria’s President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, reportedly made an attempt to displace the Benin Republic leader and ready himself as the eventual chairperson of the AU. His move was, however, thwarted by stiff opposition from some of his colleagues at a minisummit of the Economic Community of West Africa States (ECOWAS) of which he is the current chair. The other ECOWAS heads of state and governments had insisted that a gentleman’s agreement reached earlier at the regional level to support Benin Republic’s bid must be respected. Besides, they reportedly urged Jonathan to pay greater attention to containing the rising insecurity in Nigeria, which to them, poses a serious threat to peace and security in the subregion.

At the end of the selection process, President Jonathan’s spokesperson, Reuben Abati, and Nigeria’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Olugbenga Ashiru, made spirited attempts to deny media reports that their boss vied for the Union’s top job. The reports, according to Abati, were “calculated to cast his (Jonathan’s) administration in a bad light”, even as

“

We at Peoples Daily are deeply saddened by the illadvised move of our President, coming at a time when Nigeria needs the goodwill and support of sister African countries, especially in the ECOWAS sub-region, for its higher aspiration for a slot in the United Nations Security Council he admitted: “It is true, however, that in the last week, some newspapers have been speculating that President Jonathan may be adopted by the ECOWAS Heads of State and Governments to be the next chairman of the African Union, since it was the turn of ECOWAS to produce the AU Chairman for 2012-2013. Mr.

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President was indeed approached by leaders within and outside the West African sub-region to take up the challenge of leading the AU for the next one year”.

Credible diplomatic sources within the AU, however, revealed that the Nigerian leader had indeed shown interest in leading the organization, and only backed out of the race when it was all too obvious he would lose if it came down to a vote being called at the ECOWAS level, as the sub-regional group had the mandate to produce the new chairperson.

We at Peoples Daily are deeply saddened by the ill-advised move of our President, coming at a time when Nigeria needs the goodwill and support of sister African countries, especially in the ECOWAS sub-region, for its higher aspiration for a slot in the United Nations Security Council. We feel every Nigerian president should try to subordinate their ambition to the overall national, continental and global aspirations of our country. This is imperative because Nigeria, being Africa’s so-called Big Brother, can hardly achieve its foreign policy goals if its leaders alienate smaller sister African countries. The ECOWAS community spirit and our own enlightened self-interest demand that we be sensitive to the concerns of our smaller neighbours.

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 13

Al- Mustapha: The perversion of cause of justice (I)

By Shehu Abdullahi Zuru

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ith tears in my eyes and a deep hole in my heart I watched the patronizing pronouncement of a supposed court of law. It was a perfect charade by a deranged temple of justice recruited by a blood thirsty cable determined to justify a state murder. The truth is while the hired guns might hail the court as having delivered vengeance, it was a sordid moment for every true legal mind and those genuinely concerned about the justice of the law as against justice of vengeance. The judgement was a class lesson in the art of political engineering of judicial jurisprudence. This is because apart from Nigeria, there is nowhere in the world where a court of law will convict an accused person for alleged conspiracy to commit murder on the fragile grounds of a deranged witness who sounded delusionary even to his choreographers after fourteen years of dehumanizing detention.

Looking at the text of the judgment as carried in most national dailies, as a very senior lawyer I make bold to say that apart from the chief architect of the circus road show with a toxic and demented mindset, there was nothing compelling in the minds of the neutral and the upright about the weight of evidence in the discharge of onus of proof beyond every reasonable doubt within the content of the supposed conviction.

Nevertheless, it was a sweet symphony to the ethnic gate keepers who had worked so hard preparatory to the conviction to poison public opinion against the accused through systematic vilification and pathological demonization of those who served under the regime of late General Sani Abacha of the blessed memory with the diligence, the zeal and the perfection of their professional calling. It is important to remind the cannibals that although it somewhat feels as though they have succeeded in delivering

their prepared script on the matter by making Maj. Hamza Al-Mustapha and others the sacrificial lambs of general Abacha’s regime, the celebrations are peremptory because it will not be over until it is over. On the other hand, for the judiciary, this watershed miscarriage of justice is allowed it will go down as a permanent scar on the collective conscience of the Nigerian Judiciary.

According to Justice Cordozo, one time Chief Justice of the United States and a very long time Harvard University academic, The problem of law and justice stemmed from the fact that often than not there are stupid judges, stupid juros stupid lawyers and stupid sheriff while I may not agree entirely with the learned Chief Justice, the truth is, scenarios like the trial and purported conviction of Maj. Almustapha will most certainly prove him prophetic. Having said that, I take refuge in the proposition of Mitch Albom in his book, The Five People you Meet

in Heaven, that fairness is not the governing regime for life and death otherwise nice people wouldn’t have died.

Yes indeed nice people wouldn’t have died, but it is the greatest betrayal of rule of law and the philosophy of justice for the ultimate beacon of hope (the Judiciary) to degenerate to the level of a licensed executioner ready to tighten the hangman’s noose round the neck of the hated, the despised and even the innocent in a ritual of state murder. This has never happened before as far as knowledge is concerned, not even at Nuremburg when the most serious of serious crimes of genocide and crimes against humanity were in issue and tried by the victor’s tribunal. It was appalling if not despicable to see a judge fully roped abusing the privilege and opportunity of a Courtroom to misinform on the most basic common sense principles of fair trial, procedure and decorum in the callous bid to perpetuate ethnic justice.

Sadly, that is where we are and that underscores the imperative to identify this ethnic conviction for what it is and condemn accordingly; this is a mandatory service to rule of law, democracy and freedom of speech.

In the language of late Gen. George S. Patten, a soldier is purely a product of a baptism of blood and fire. He said that this during the invasion of Sicily during the 2nd world war. Little did he know then that a major in the Nigerian Army would one day fit his thesis on soldiering. The truth is you are a natural soldier, fearless, courageous, intelligent, a perfectionist and your record of gallantry speaks for itself. You are a soldier in the mould of the battle hardened whose pedigree history was forced to stop and took notice, Allah jikan maza, late Gen. Musa Bamayi (magayakin zuru), Gen. Joshua Dogon Yaro, late Gen. Luka Yusuf and, of course, Gen. Victor Malu.

Shehu Abdullahi Zuru is a law lecturer at the University of Abuja.

State police: A policy option for current insecurity

By Umaru Ali Shinkafi

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mid unprecedented threats to national security by local insurgents which have not only posed serious challenge to governance but also continue to claim scores of innocent lives, it is pertinent that public attention is increasingly focused on the need to strengthen law enforcement in general and the police in particular. While there is understandable consensus that this objective entails boosting the capacity and effectiveness of the police in terms of personnel and equipment, the other strategy necessitating the introduction of a second tier of police formation at state level has been engulfed in unyielding controversy. The issue of introducing state police in Nigeria has however not lost credibility on account of such conflicts of opinion and in the latest round it is clear that sooner than later, controversy will give way to sheer necessity, notwithstanding its unfounded rejection by an unduly biased section of public opinion and other entrenched interests. Indeed it was recently disclosed that the President presented a memo to the National Council of States recommending the proposal which the Council unfortunately rejected.

The main opposition to establishment of state police in Nigeria has been driven by an exaggerated, misleading and unfounded precedent focusing on the abuse of state police through political interference and manipulation. The truth is that state police has never been established in Nigeria before, so

there are no unsavory antecedents on which to hang this prejudice.

Critics are deliberately swiping the state police with the stained brush of the Native Authority Police, a creation of convenience of the colonialists’ administration intent on capitalizing on the rudimentary security outfit of palace guards of the traditional rulers in the northern, western and eastern regions for its indirect rule policy. The Native Authority Police was itself an enforcement institution of the paramount ruler, mainly staffed by princes, aristocrats, allies and servants, established to implement administrative directives. The paramount ruler, whether emir, oba or obi, was, in classical autocratic fashion, already an embodiment of chief executive, chief legislator and chief judge in his domain. In furtherance of its agenda, the colonial administration provided the palace guards with a modicum of police training which enabled them to wear police-styled uniforms, among other embellishments. Little or no attempt was made by the colonialists to reform or even curtail the notoriously oppressive and abused service. It was eventually abolished in the sweeping reforms that accompanied creation of states by the military in 1966.

The Nigeria Police Force was also created by the colonial administration in 1943 as a law enforcement agency modeled after the British police formation, with legislative backing and operational guidelines. It was established to maintain a law and

order regime that strengthened the colonial administration’s control of the Nigerian protectorates while collaborating with the provinces through the Native Authority Police. At independence, the Nigeria Police Force was adapted to function as a federal police with elaborate constitutional backing.

There were specific provisions to accommodate the concerns of the new dispensation, especially regarding the fears of the minorities, which included the Police Council comprising representatives of the federal and regional governments and responsible for policies and command appointments. The Force was headed by an InspectorGeneral of Police with regional commands under Commissioners of Police who interacted with Premiers of the regions in maintenance of law and order.

These arrangements also served as checks and balances in the policies and operations of the police, especially in areas where the opposition held sway. It was definitely a departure from the oppressive NA Police which acted on the whims and caprices of a local emir or chief.

This was the scenario until the eventful military intervention in the political administration of Nigeria with disruptive impact on several national institutions, including the Nigeria Police. The military embarked on systematic imposition of its unitary command structure in entrenching itself having abrogated crucial constitutional encumbrances. This signaled the creeping unitarism that altered the status and role of the Nigeria Police and brought the

Force, in effect, under the domineering control of the central military government. All decisions on operations and appointments were made by the military Head of State with the ulterior interest of maintaining the paramount position of the military and also reducing the capacity of the Police to pose real threat to the military government. The provision for a Police Council in the constitution was subverted by the reality, under military rule, of the Council being composed of subordinate officers. The IG therefore became solely and absolutely answerable to the Commander-in-Chief, not even the apex Military Council, necessitating his virtual relocation from Force Headquarters to the Presidential Villa so as to be at the beck and call of the C-in-C, and a mere appendage of the Presidency.

It was observed that since the Second Republic, most IG’s spent a substantial part of their working hours interacting with the Presidency, rather than with the command and main body of the Force! At one time the Chief of Staff (Supreme Headquarters) was the chairman of the Police Service Commission.

Even worse, the Force was later to further be relegated to the supervision of a ministry in the federal system with a substantive Minister of Police Affairs, who gradually assumed responsibility for budgetary spending and procurement, not to mention, as we saw recently, dabbling in “supervision” of operations. The continued retention and reliance on a federally-controlled Nigeria Police Force has not been significantly curtailed despite the

unabated political interference and manipulation by the central government. One regretful result of such undue influence is the exploitation of lapses in the recruitment and appointment process that has effectively today negated the federal character in the Force. Other snags giving police a bad name such as corruption, brutality and indiscipline are essentially traceable to the human factor which can be remedied by institutional measures.

As for the deep-rooted apprehension against abuse, it is relief that today’s judiciary has developed the required sensitivity to the protection of civil rights of citizens and the citizenry is ever more aware and capable of pursuing such rights. In the final analysis, the lee-way for impunity and rampant abuses in police operations has been considerably curbed. Even better is the muchtalked about establishment of a constitutional court with enhanced enforcement of civil rights and monitoring of law enforcement agents at all levels.

However, the prevailing challenging circumstances in maintenance of law and order and the rampant outbreaks of new forms of criminality such as terrorism and insurgency requiring urgent innovative responses demand new strategies and changes in operational structure of the Force. Today, more than ever before, the potency of intelligence gathering and dynamic pro-active engagement in combating crime is assuming Continued on page 15

PAGE 14

By Christopher C. Eke

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finally spent a little over four hours to watch and digest the YouTube debate video from the second town hall meeting on subsidy removal, moderated by Nduka, with government officials, labour and civil society represented. I also heard an unverified rumor that organized labour was “settled” to call off the protests against subsidy removal.

Before I saw this video, I saw quite a bit of news clips of many Nigerians from all works of life, across the globe, protesting the removal of fuel subsidy and using that as an opportunity to “occupy Nigeria,” with additional demands to end all the ills of the society, including corruption.

I have all along stood for the subsidy removal, except for two misgivings. First, like most informed Nigerians, I think the Nigerian government should have drastically cut their cost of running government, put in place certain shock absorbers before it removes the subsidy, and as well as phase in the subsidy removal. Second, allay the fears of Nigerians regarding a general lack of confidence in their ability to truly reinvest the conceived savings from the subsidy removal. Only government’s better performance can satisfy this second point.

In a true capitalists society the market forces must be allowed to work properly for the good of all.

That means government cannot do everything for its people, except provide those things which the people cannot provide for themselves and entrench opportunities to aid the very poor to rise and join the middle or upper

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Yes to subsidy removal class without necessarily being leaders. The point is leadership large to be serious with family socially connected and privileged. comes from the “group.” Logic planning—a common sense issue These are the areas where the suggests that the Nigerian society in today’s world. Why bite more government of Nigeria has is corrupt, inefficient, among than you can chew? Nigerian other things, and that is why it central government has a tough repeatedly failed Nigerians.

In my opinion, capitalism is attracts leaders who are a role here too, to be the chief best described by citizens’ reflection of its society at large. Our advocate for family planning by acknowledgement of who is in redeeming grace lies in someday providing contraceptives and possession of factors of production— having a courageous leader with counselling to those needing them. hopefully in the However, hands of private the federal individuals, in the government right way. Thus, m a y governments have Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text unlikely no business messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written fulfil this running things, contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 role unless except to provide words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and through the climate within a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed voluntary which things are to: s t a t e s run efficiently. I participation have always The Editor, because of advanced the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, religious definition of 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. and political leadership to be a reasons. I movement. That is, Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com think that a leader must have SMS: 07037756364 the political the ability to take need of people and things from one location to another, from impeccable character traits and certain regions of the country to where they are to where they heart unafraid to set the tone from always maintain the highest want to be. This of course the top downward and eventually number of people to ensure presupposes that the led have remove corruption from the fabric exclusive control of Nigerian politics will trump any attempt willingness to follow or are of our society.

My unpopular position is that for a meaningful future persuaded with superior arguments and accomplishments fuel subsidy does not provide poor population control policy. Ideally, to follow, but not coerced to follow. Nigerians the much needed there should be strength in The two questions that most incentive to freely navigate their numbers but in Nigeria’s more numbers Nigerians ought to constantly ask common sense away from the experience, are: who are our leaders? Why are viciousness of poverty. For without proper and efficient they not efficient and effective instance, folks having too many allocation of resources is setting most of the time? Hopefully as kids because of their religious or the country backward to fast you/we ask these questions, you/ customary or political beliefs becoming a failed nation. we look at yourself/ourselves in should face the trickle down effects Invariably, the government’s the mirror and ask if you/we of transportation costs and the cost numerous chats to illustrate possess the same leadership of all other things associated with Nigeria’s oil production and deficiencies of our current or past energy as a way for society at revenue per citizen compared to

WRITE TO US

countries with oil wealth but with smaller population also prove our exploding population is a hot button issue no one wants to address.

According to Democritus, an ancient Greek philosopher and later confirmed by modern elementary physics, an atom is the smallest indivisible particle of matter difficult to see with the naked eye. Electrons and other subatomic particles are smaller than atoms and are even more difficult to discern with the naked eye except, I guess, by those with super eye sight. If Nigeria continues to divide its finite oil wealth among its exploding population, a time will fast approach when each citizen’s share will be difficult to see with the naked eye, let alone benefit anyone in any meaningful way. Some will argue that right now most Nigerians don’t even see their share of the oil wealth or benefit from whatever wealth Nigeria claims to possess. Frankly, because of Nigeria’s endemic corruption, I couldn’t agree more with that argument.

That brings me to this conclusion. To all you passionate “occupy” folks out there, fight the Nigerian government for corruption, its inability to provide security of lives and property, lawlessness and its general inefficiency, but don’t stop it, without the benefit of doubt, from improving the structure of the country’s economy.

Christopher C. Eke is on facebook.com/cceke

Maiduguri: Once a city of peace, now thorn of fear

By Bashir Shuwa

T

his story is about some normal village people.

They lived in communal spirit and have great respect for their elders and community leaders. They are law abiding and go about their business of buying and selling which is the main preoccupation of the people who often take their goods to sell in the city especially after harvests.

Even though they were being extorted by the police who manned numerous road blocks on their way to the city and collect illegal levies from them as well as from the drivers of commercial vehicles on which they travel, the trend was accepted as normal and was carried on until it has now come to a stage when the villagers felt that they are no longer safe.

A major incident in the city was stirred by some self acclaimed religious reformers that went out of hand. It happened when their members openly denounced the introduction of a policy compelling motorcyclists to wear head helmets. Their open disregard to the law and refusal to comply with it was met with heavy handed approach since enforcing the law was met with stiff resistance through open confrontations with law enforcement agents; there was an

incident that led to the death of a member of the self acclaimed religious reformists.

The religious sect members demanded for and obtained the corpse of their dead colleague and prepared for his burial. Their membership swelled as a result of the sympathy to their cause by commercial motor cycle owners who joined the sect members in solidarity and followed them to the burial. Yet another major upheaval was created when they were confronted by joint military and police operatives who opened fire and killed some of the religious sect members who were accompanying the corpse of their member to the cemetery because they were riding on their motor cycles without helmet.

Since then on they vowed to defend themselves against further attacks by security men in the future and started preaching for violence and urging their followers to gather weapons and arm themselves. Their open call for self protection led to the arrest of their leaders who were released on bail. To show their strength they organised a mass reception to their released leaders. The massive turn out that followed rattled the political class and the security operatives which underestimated the initial level of their followers. Buoyed by the

turnout the leadership of the sect decided and issued warnings to the authorities to stop any further arrest against them claiming that they were prepared to resist further arrests and fight back in future if it becomes necessary.

They began organising exercises and combat trainings in the open as a proof of their preparedness.

Yet again the state authorities arrested and detained their followers in various detention centres, some in police stations, others taken to the prison in Maiduguri and other parts of the country. In coordinated attacks on police stations aand prison yards where their members were held, they successfully launched an assault and released prisoners and took away their members. What followed was a full scale war between the Nigerian state and the sect members. Initially, the military succeeded in suppressing the uprising and effectively arresting the leadership of the sect and thousands of their followers. But there was an outcry against the open execution of the leadership of the sect members without trial.

Many armed security personnel exploited the situation and went about unleashing a reign of terror against innocent

civilians in the community.

Citizens living in the area who are not sympathetic to the self acclaimed reformists and have nothing to do with the sect became targets were randomly arrested and shot at because they have common tribal and religious identity with the suspected sect members or have beard.

Villagers travelling to the city on business trips were cut out and many lost their lives and properties to men in uniform who suspect them as reinforcements deployed to back the sect members. People continued to live in fear and find it difficult on who to trust. The local people started losing trust on the activities of the uniformed personnel who continued with their random search and executions of innocent civilians unabated. The attacks by the security personnel that were deployed to contain the situation on innocent citizens who were also accused of looting, committing robberies and raping of their women cause them the loss of trust and made some residents to be sympathetic to those at the receiving end of their atrocities.

Young men who run the risk of being taken away on allegation of being members of the sect even though they were not start to toy

with the idea of seeking for means to avenge the atrocities committed against their relations by the security agents by identifying with the sect members who cashed in on this opportunity to gain more recruits and further regroup and gain more grounds to carry on the fight.

The result is that the previously peaceful and sleepy town of Maiduguri and its people were turned to become wild and violent. Borno and its neighbour Yobe have become a lawless state where only the fittest survive.

Maiduguri which was acclaimed to be the home of peace has now become the city of fear. And when villagers suspect beyond doubt that those who robbed and killed them were uniformed security men and to their dismay realise that the military commanders continued to shield and protect their men and officers against arrest and prosecution for the crimes they commit against them, it is little wonder then that it is no longer at ease for the security personnel and their political masters who are at a loss on how to find solution to the monster they created even though it has become an avenue to further enrich themselves.

Bashir Shuwa wrote in from Maiduguri.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

By Disu Kamor

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his is because Islam, being a highly ethical religion, rejects such anarchy and mischief. Islam commands Muslims to have deep respect for all human life and to ensure peaceful-co-existence. This is why Islam was able to co-exist peacefully with Christianity in the Middle East since the time of Prophet Muhammad (AS), a fact that becomes evident when one considers that the Middle Eastern Christian community is a historical community, rather than a community of converts.

The presence of this community since the time of Jesus Christ (AS) and its thriving under many Islamic rulers bear eloquent testimony to how important Islam considers freedom of worship and peaceful coexistence.

In Nigeria, Muslim and Christians have lived for decades in relative peace and will continue to do so after the current tragedy is ended. Of course there

PAGE 15

Boko Haram and Islam (II) had been tensed times and mutual violence directed against both communities, but the judgmental flaw of the author and people like him who cherrypicks events to promote Islamophobic agenda will only make them a laughing stock before those who have studied divine scriptures and history.

This is because adhering to the elementary requirement of objective evaluation of historical facts is what separates honest critics from ordinary rag-heads.

Mr Igwe’s letter and other caricatures like it only shows that serious discourse on critical national issues must not be left in the hands of mere shenanigans.

Finally it is most important to acknowledge that many Christian and Muslim leaders have spoken and acted courageously during this moment of intense pressure and

crisis. Their words and actions are renewed sources of inspiration and encouragement to those of us who believe in harmony, peaceful co-existence and shared destiny. It is worth reiterating that the entire Nigerian Muslim community stands full-square with Nigerian Christians in revulsion and horror at attacks directed against them and their places of worship. We sincerely feel your pains and share the sorrow of the victims of those attacks. We will continue to stand with you to repel the evil of sectarianism and extremism which are blights on divine religions. This is a difficult time for all Nigerians and only divine religions are capable of sustaining our collective strength as we confront and defeat the ills we face together.

The evil actions of the Boko Haram group affect all Nigerians and their false claim

to piety and self-righteousness are ordinary veneer for their evil ambitions and actions.

Anyone aspiring to establish a “Shariah state” must start by establishing a “Shariah state of mind”. Muslims have been victims of their terrorist attacks as anyone else; as terrorist attacks are indiscriminate. In the same edition of the Guardian newspaper, the spokesman of Boko Haram is reported to have threatened His Eminence, Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Tambuwal, and the Governor of Sokoto State. All those mentioned in this latest threat are Muslims, and so are majority of those killed in the Kano attacks. Muslims suffer directly from the terrorist group when they attack as well as reprisal attacks due to their evil actions. Yet, in all of these we

have risen up in one single voice of total condemnation because our God, as taught to us in the Qur’an and through the examples of prophet Muhammad (AS) commands us to respect the sanctity of ALL human lives (Qur’an 4:29, 6:151, 17:33) and that He, God Almighty, is the “King of mankind, God of mankind” (Qur’an 114: 2-3). The Boko Haram group does not speak or act for Islam or the Muslims.

We reject their rhetoric, we oppose their violent methodology, we pray that the wind of time blows them away as quickly as other extremist groups before them, and we remain very proud of the religion which God has blessed us with.

Disu Kamor is the Director of Media and Communications, Muslim Public Affairs Centre (MPAC), Nigeria.

Concluded

powers over security to state governors lest the opposition secure a means of check-mating their own manipulations of the police command, particularly for political purposes. Political self-preservation overriding considerations for effective state security can only worsen the security situation in the country as is now unfolding.

We are now face-to-face with the deadly menace of guerrilla-styled insurgency and associated modern crimes that can only be better and more effectively tackled within a state-based police structure and operation, accessing all the strategic and logistic advantages of community cooperation and deploying them more efficiently and effectively for law enforcement and counter-insurgency objectives.

Recourse to zonal commands, joint task forces and state government sponsored operational contingents among other ad hoc arrangements are mere halfmeasures with doubtful impact and insecure status. Recent revelations also indicate fiscal problems at the federal level whose implications further underscore the necessity for downloading some responsibility for police work from federal to state governments. We have authoritative admission of huge gaps between budget allocations to the police and actual disbursements, with disbursements as low as 29% in 2010 plummeting to an abysmal 8% the following year. This worrisome trend has already compelled states such as Lagos with serious security challenges to expend as much as N10 billion on various logistic needs of the police command in their states without reference to the federal authorities.

The truth is that the Federal Government itself is no longer able to settle the bills for the Nigeria Police Force.

The emerging state police would be organically and structurally connected to the communities that comprise the state in terms of recruitment and deployment and derive optimum advantage for

intelligence and operations alike.

Lingering constitutional factors which hamper the timely and effective direction and deployment of security measures and operational synergy in relation with the civilian political leadership at state level need to be realistically resolved once and for all in the interest of national security, peaceful coexistence and routine law enforcement functions. The state governors should thereby take charge of the affairs of their states in practical terms that leave nothing of strategic or administrative importance beyond their control.

The level and impact of accountability and transparency in law enforcement and investigations arising from the mutual familiarity between police and community would be substantial and evident. Recognition of realities of today’s law and order situation where states take more than a fair share of responsibility for police operational logistics without corresponding authority over the Force is an aberration that should be remedied. It creates loopholes for illicit connivance between the CP and the governor for local arrangements that are detrimental to maintenance of law and order.

They also leave governors absurdly vulnerable to such explosive political intrigues that once saw an AIG arresting a governor in Anambra state on orders, through a local political lackey, from above!

Previously, there were other shameful cases of the police, at the instance of political forces at the centre, making state governance extremely difficult. Instructively, the adoption of state police conforms to our federalist political nomenclature in a more meaningful manner and is therefore a better option to the current scenario of aberrations, role conflicts and distrust that is demonstrably counter-productive in the quest for effective and efficient police operations in Nigeria. The establishment of state-police does not in any way preclude the involvement of the federal police in

any part of the country because of the envisaged and inevitable requirements for complementary and collaborative interaction of the two formations in order to maximize the impact on national security.

This symbiotic cooperation will be facilitated by the re-allocation of investigative and operational responsibilities to reflect the particulars of focus in law enforcement functions of the two formations such that petty crimes and violations of state laws without bearing on national security or economic adversity can be withdrawn from the jurisdiction of the federal police. This should result in greater efficiency as the two formations are assigned functions commensurate with their jurisdictions and capacity. The present Force Criminal Investigations Department and its ramshackle forensic outfits which must be modernized should be retained. The Police Mobile Force should also be retained. The office of the IG should be retained but reorganized to perform purely inspectorate, standardization and coordinating roles of the sovereign state police command.

Contemporary argument and the convention world-wide encourage localization of the police, especially prevention of crime and maintenance of law and order. This practice has very well stood the test of time in most modern democracies. Modern doctrines of internal security management emphasize small, well-equipped, motivated and extremely mobile enforcement mechanisms in civil settings. These earn prompt and lasting respect from the civil order and therefore much needed cooperation.

In our peculiar circumstances today, we are confronted by the frequent recourse to the use of the military in internal security duties, quite often not in conformity with the law stipulating such intervention and deployment. The damage to the profession of the military itself has

ominous consequences. We are today witnesses of how untoward socio-political behavior has robbed the police of some of its hard earned reputation and this is also beginning to afflict the military equally adversely. Deployment of armed soldiers for civil duties has its other hazards. The average soldier is a thin-skinned, short-fused trained combatant who can spark on the slightest provocation and sometimes take on even his superiors, not to talk of “bloody civilians”. Even for this reason alone frequent and unnecessary deployment of troops for civil duty should be avoided. Again, frequent deployment of troops for civil duty embraces the additional risk of exposing the failure the political order thereby tempting subversion with all its repercussions on the constitution as well as democracy.

Concerns about corruption and political victimization in police operations will not necessarily be simultaneously assuaged by the restructuring process however.

The stubborn prevalence of these ills are the result of systemic lapses in recruitment, training, orientation, discipline, conditions of service, funding and leadership caliber which have to be addressed professionally and sincerely on a continuous basis. This is perhaps where the burden of responsibility lies heavily on the federal and state political leadership to ensure that national/public interest supersedes partisanship and clannishness in dealing with police affairs at all levels. Matters of national security in general and the police in particular are integral to the fabric of governance that is permanent and should be insulated from the vagaries of partisan politics. The level of maturity and ethical conduct of our political leaders is therefore just as critical as enhancement of the structure of government and its institutions.

Umaru Ali Shinkafi, a former Director-General, National Security Organization (NSO), is the Marafan Sokoto, who wrote in from Kaduna.

State police: A policy option for current insecurity Continued from page 13

greater consequence over the previous emphasis on numerical strength and fire power. This changing scenario necessitates a corresponding structural transformation and devolution of command and operational capacity to the state level, being closer to the towns and cities that are the theatres of criminality. The need for such strategic restructuring has also been identified in dealing with public apathy to providing vital information to police thereby giving tacit cover to criminals and their nefarious activities. Concerns over the time honored nexus between police work and local knowledge informed calls on government to adopt a policy of posting policemen to their areas of origin in the light of weaknesses in law enforcement functions at community levels. This did not meet with success owing to overwhelming social pressures and inherent limitations in deployment capacity. But there is no denying that the trust which has to be engendered between police and citizens can be better secured under a police system that gives due priority to posting personnel to their areas of origin which also acts to check excesses, especially corrupt tendencies of policemen by removing the anonymity enjoyed in postings to non-indigenous areas.

The unavoidable partisan competition involving a diversity of political beliefs typical of democratic dispensations often translates into power struggle and mutual distrust between rival political leaders. This underlying animosity has in fact tainted the process of building a rightful consensus on the desirability of state police in Nigeria to the extent that the applicability of federalism itself is dismembered discriminately between governing party and the opposition.

Thus, the political leadership at the centre will not even contemplate transferring executive

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Two robbery suspects shot dead in Kuje

By Adeola Tukuru

T

wo suspected armed robbery were Wednesday, gunned down by men of the Kuje Divisional Police Headquarters after cash and handset robbery by the team in Zuba, Gwagwalada and Kuje.

Kuje Divisional Police Officer (DPO), CSP Isa Danladi, who confirmed the incident to newsmen in Kuje said the

robbery incident took place at about 12 noon on Tuesday in Kuje.

He said his men chased the suspects who carried out the operation with a Honda Civic car with registration number, CU 98 RSH after a distress call by the victim, Hajara Usman.

“Shortly after the call, we alerted our men at various check points as well as our patrol team and when they noticed there

was no way of escape they abandoned the car and ran into the bush.

“That was when our men engaged in shootout on them that led to the death of two while the other two succeeded in escaping with their arms,” he said.

Danladi, who said N30, 000 cash and five handsets were recovered from the victims noted that the Honda Civic car was still

Arresting for traffic offence and causing trafic jam along AYA junction in Abuja, yesterday.

in the custody of the division.

He said police investigation through the handsets showed that they had earlier robbed one Uma Ibrahim in Zuba and Amina Nda in Gwagwalada before robbing Usman in Kuje.

The DPO ,who said corpse of the suspects were deposited at the University of Abuja Teaching hospital added that investigations were ongoing to get the other two arrested.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Cook jailed for stealing from employer

A

n Abuja Area Court sitting in Karmo has sentenced a 28-year old cook, David John, to one month imprisonment for stealing from his Italian employer.

Presiding Judge Abdul Mohammed, however, gave John an option of N3,000 fine after he pleaded guilty to the offence.

John of Suleja, Niger, was

arraigned on a one-count charge of stealing, which the police prosecutor, Insp. Egwu Clement, said was contrary to Section 289 of the Penal Code.

Baico Rudoff, an Italian, who resides at TAK Continental Estate, Life Camp, Abuja, had reported the convict on January 24, 2012 at the Life Camp Police Station.

Rudoff said the convict, who

was his cook, made away with his Acer laptop computer worth N250,000, a Sony digital camera worth N30,000 and gold pendant worth N40,000.

He said that John carried out the act on December 7, 2011 while he was away at work.

The prosecutor told the court that during police investigation, the digital

camera and laptop computer were recovered.

He prayed the court to grant the complainant a compensation of N40,000 being the value of the gold pendant.

Mohammed, therefore, released the convict on bond to enable him to pay the compensation. (NAN)

Dear reader, Metro welcomes human interest stories in your neighbourhood. Please call or send SMS to 08065327178 or e-mail jomarch4@yahoo.com to inform us about happenings in your area. Share your experiences or those of your friends and neighbours with fellow readers.

Council boss calls for unity to stem insecurity in Nigeria

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he chairman of Gwagwalada Area Council Hon. Zakari Angulu has called on Nigerians to unit together in the fight against insecurity in the country.

Angulu said that Nigeria as a blessed country that has achieved developmental stride in the past years should not be allowed to be control by few people who do not have the interest of the nation at heart.

He said that leader in area councils and other local government areas in the country should urge the people residing in their councils to support the fight against insecurity and work in hand with security agencies by reporting suspicious individuals in their communities.

“This is one of the ways to fight the insecurity crisis within all the states that have been effected

by Boko Haram. The issue of Boko Haram should not separate this country or cause crisis all over the country. If we come together in agreement to fight this insecurity, it will transform the present insecurity crisis to peace in the country.

“Nigerians should remain good to themselves and should not allow evil minded people to change their good hearts to evil ones, because it will be a mistake if we do not join hands together to work with the nation security agencies from the federal to the state and local government level,” he said.

AEPB hands 48 hours ultimatum to Gwarimpa contractors over sanitation

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Director, Abuja E n v i r o n m e n t a l Protection Board (AEPB), Mr Isa Shuaibu yesterday, gave the contractors handling the cleaning of Gwarimpa

District, 48 hours to ensure that the areas of his jurisdiction are kept clean or risk revocation of his cleaning contract with the Federal Capital Territory Administration(FCTA).

Shuaibu, who handed the

ultimatum at a press briefing said that there have been numerous complaints from the public on the poor hygienic situation of the area, hence the board was compelled to draw the attention of the contractors of the cleaning

exercise.

He expressed displeasure over what he described as lukewarm attitude of some cleaning contractors especially the one at the Gwarimpa axis.

“We can’t keep sending money without getting results

and if the situation persists, I would be forced to take a decisive decision within 48 hours,” he said.

He charged these contractors to be innovative and selfless in the discharge of their duties.

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Tel: 09-2349080-98 Fax: 09-2349074

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PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

ABUJA DIARY with Josephine Ella Jomarch4@yahoo.com 08065327178

When security operatives place themselves above the law

A

ccording to the doctrine of the Rule of Law, which is fundamental to democratic rule, everybody, irrespective of social standing, political, religious, ethnic, educational or economic status is equal before the law, hence subjected to the common law of the land.

As simple as these sounds and easy to comprehend, this is one dictum that big wigs in the society- high standing persons and other people in the position of authority find very hard to accept and imbibe.

The law enforcement agencies in the country, in particular who are supposed to be custodians of the law are often found breaking the law they are meant to enforce as they see themselves as being above the law.

Cases abound in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), where law enforcement agencies have exude behaviours that portray them to be above the standing rules and regulations as it relates to different aspects.

The high handedness of security agencies, was again brought to the fore last week Saturday, when the authority of the Nigerian Navy bluntly defied the Federal Housing Authority(FHA), the consequence of which was the collapse of a building at navy quarters in 1st Avenue , Gwarimpa, which killed two persons and injured five others.

About seven labourers were said to be working on the defected building, after it had been detected by the FHA, which ordered a ‘stop work notice’ on the building.

The most sympathetic aspect of this incident is that it was the common man, desperate labourers, who paid the costly price with their dear lives.

This ugly incident is one out of a thousand instances, where the big wigs and security operatives in the society, through their high handedness, snuff out innocent citizens.

Sometimes last year, February 23, to be precise an ugly scenario that portrayed this illusion of immunity played out along the Kashim Ibrahim Way at Wuse, to the dismay of passersby.

An officer of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), attached to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) Mr. Ogbadu Austine and his accomplice

Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Ola Ibrahim pounced on an official of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board(AEPB) after he was confronted for parking on the walk way.

The security operative, who was in plain cloth and did not identify himself at that instance, got furious in the process, pounced on the AEPB official, Reuben Adamu, leaving him with a broken forehead.

The AEPB, had earlier that month, embarked on a one-week sensitisation exercise along Wuse and Julius Berger junction, to forewarn motorists, against the chaotic traffic situation along the routes, occasioned by wrong parking.

Barely four months later, as if this was not enough, on June 3, last year, a Divisional Police Officer (DPO) attached to Garki Police Station, Tony Olofo, invaded the AEPB enforcement office at area 3 in Garki.

With a team of fully armed mobile policemen in seven loads of Abuja Crime Control Squad (ACCOS) vehicles, while they were outside the gate they started shooting sporadically.

Olofo and his team on meeting resistance from some AEPB officers on duty at the time, allegedly pulled down a gate to gain entrance into the premises, engaged them in a gun battle in his bid to release the suspects.

The rampage left several AEPB officials injured with one hospitalised and arrest of some staff, including a couple of policemen attached to the place as well as escape of over 15 suspects from the custody of AEPB. What led to the DPO’s invasion of AEPB was the arrest of a lady who is said to be a friend to one Mariam Olofu, a lady who hails from the same community with the DPO during a raid by a team of AEPB at the late hours in some flash points of the

PAGE 17

Territory, in which suspected commercial sex workers were arrested.

It is highly unthinkable and unheard of that for whatever reason, the police, which is meant to uphold the law of the land, in this case show respect to the law on prostitution in the FCT, will tow this rather shameful path.

Whatever the case was then, even if it was his daughter that was picked up, which was not even the case, common sense teaches that the DPO and his men should have followed the due process or a honourable path to resolve the matter.

But, beclouded in their thinking, they rather displayed the madness which earned them a lot of criticism.

I could go on and on with instances whereby security operatives exhibit this above the law tendency by taking it too far but, for space constraint.

The bottom line is that apart from giving security operative the bad name that they are already earning in some aspects, this kind of attitude undermines the principles of the rule of law and the law of the land.

Innocent citizens have often being at the receiving end of this kind of this seeming madness.

Take a look at the collapse building in Gwarimpa, the Nigerian Navy Holdings limited exhibited this tendency which resulted to the unfortunate death of two innocent labourers desperate to eke out a living for themselves, with five others injured.

The navy had in a letter dated December 12, 2011 and signed by lt. E. O Aigbe, made a request to the FHA for a controlled demolition and reconstruction of the building quite alright.

However, according to the Managing Director of FHA, Arc. Terver Gemade, before the integrity of the building would be probed and approval granted (or otherwise) to the navy, the Authority’s Development Control personnel on routine inspection noticed some demolition activity on the site in the evening of Thursday, January 26, 2012.

Following that development the authority issued a’ stop work notice’ the following morning and the building concerned was duly marked.

Those engaged to carry out the unapproved demolition, however ignored the notice and continued with undue haste on Saturday apparently to take advantage of the weekend.

The result was the collapse of the building and the unfortunate loss of lives.

Since this incident occurred, many residents have been criticising the navy over the unfortunate incident.

It behoves on the Nigerian navy and other security agencies to caution their staff against misconducts which will only give them bad names.

Perhaps, this may help reduce these tendencies and to some extend rebuilt their image before Nigerians at the long run.

Driver jailed for causing death of SSS officer

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n Abuja Chief Magistrate's Court has sentenced Godwin Attah to 27 months imprisonment for causing the death of Joseph Kalu by dangerous driving.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the convict, a staff of Bankers Warehouse, Wuse 11, Abuja, was first arraigned before the court on November 21, 2009.

NAN recalls that the convict had then pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N200, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

Police Prosecutor Ahmed Mohammed had told the court back in 2009 that the convict drove a bullion van with registration No. BK 957 EPE, belonging to his employer.

Mohammed said the

convict drove dangerously along Ahmadu Bello Way, Maitama without due care and attention, adding that he also failed to obey traffic sign placed at the junction.

He said the convict ran into a Honda CRV jeep with registration No. EH 195 ABJ and driven by one George Ugoh of Kubwa, Abuja.

He further said that the convict also ran into another Peugeot car with registration No. AA 449 GWA and driven by Joseph Kalu of State Security Service (SSS), Abuja.

Mohammed told the court that the three vehicles involved in the accident got badly damaged, while Kalu and one of the occupants of the car, Dorothy Christopher sustained serious injuries.

The prosecutor said victims of the accident were rushed to the Wuse General Hospital, while Kalu later died in the hospital.

Delivering judgment on Thursday, Chief Magistrate Ademuyiwa Oyeyipo found the convict guilty of the three-count charge and accordingly sentenced him.

Oyeyipo sentenced the convict to 18 months imprisonment without an option of fine for causing death by dangerous driving, and six months imprisonment and N400 fine for reckless driving.

The convict was also sentenced to three months imprisonment and N200 fine for the offence of careless and inconsiderate driving.

Oyeyipo, however, said that the sentence would run concurrently. (NAN)

13 persons escape death in Utako auto crash

By Josephine Ella

T

hirteen persons, including 11 passengers and two commercial drivers yesterday, escaped death in a ghastly accident along Utako-Jabi road.

Eyewitness account has it that the accident resulted when the driver of one of the ill-fated vehicles, the 11seater commercial bus with registration number, FCT AE870 ABC collided with a Toyota Corolla, registration

number XE33KUJ. Narrating how the accident occurred, one Suleiman Ibrahim said: "The Toyota corolla wanted to cross the road, while the bus which was coming from Wuse side, failed break and ran into the taxi which was already crossing".

According to him, some of the passengers and the drivers sustained injuries and had been conveyed to an unknown hospital.

Our correspondent, who was at the accident scene

shortly after it occurred, saw some of the victims that escaped unhurt.They however refused to narrate the experience.

Another eyewitness, Uche Ugwu said that the bus was filled with all fourteen passengers, while the taxi had one passenger.

The ill-fated vehicles were still at the scene.

Officers of the Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), who arrived at the scene declined comments on the incident.

The Utako accident along Eterna filling station involving a commercial bus and taxi.

Photo: Josephine Ella

FCTA approves plots of land for NAFDAC

By A'isha Biola Raji

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed has given his approval for allocation of plots of land for both office and residential use of staff of National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

The minister gave this approval yesterday, when the Director General of NAFDAC Prof. Paul Orhii paid a courtesy

call to his office in Abuja.

In his speech, the DG elaborated the need to partner with FCT government in achieving the goal of getting rid of fake drugs in the society especially hawking and illegal advertising of herbal medicine which is presumed to cure all ailments.

He said as an enforcement agency, accommodation has become a stumbling block as the present head office in Abuja is not big enough and not properly located

considering the security situation in the country.

Senator Bala in his response, promised to work with the agency by immediately providing the land it requested for and also equipping major hospitals in FCT with the Cutting Edge Technology making wave by NAFDAC. He further advised that the agency should see itself as partner of people, providing alternative where necessary and not just persecuting them.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 18

Former militant, Boyloaf, becomes presidential envoy?

T

he former militant now travels overseas inspecting training facilities on behalf of the Federal Government For agreeing to drop his arms and join the amnesty programme of the Federal Government, Ebikabowei Victor Ben, aka Boyloaf, has become a Presidential envoy embarking on international inspection visits on behalf of the Federal Government.

As part of his visits, Boyloaf recently led a delegation to Rotterdam to inspect proposed venues for the training of former militants.

According to African Energy Intelligence, Boyloaf arrived in Rotterdam late January and has already visited Albelda College where government plans to train dozens of militants.

The training programme is part of the amnesty programme put in place by the Federal Government.

The programme, which began in 2009 under late President Umaru Yar’Adua allows for the training of former militants in the Niger Delta in various crafts relevant to the oil and gas industry.

The amnesty program is at present being coordinated by Kingsley Kuku, the special assistant to President Goodluck Jonathan on Niger Delta affairs.

Boyloaf (in dark goggles) during a recent inspection visit to the Netherlands It is unclear why Boyloaf, who has no known professional qualifications, is leading presidential delegations on such visits; but sources say this is not the first time Mr. Ebikabowei would embark on such trip.

As a leader of a federal government delegation, not only does Boyloaf get estacodes and

first class hotel reservations, he is also entitled to aides who accompany him on such trips.

Mr. Kuku could not be reached for comments while Presidential spokesman, Reuben Abati, did not return calls or respond to text messages sent to his telephone.

When contacted, Henry

Ugbolue, spokesperson for the amnesty office confirmed that many of the inspection trips were sponsored from the department, which is domiciled in the presidency.

“All the former militant leaders are stakeholders, they are entitled to these inspections,” Mr. Ugbolue said.

When asked what qualification the militant leaders have to embark on such inspection visits, Mr. Ugbolue responded that “because they stakeholders, the boys are their boys.”

He explained that the militant leaders were playing a major part in the training of militants and the success of the amnesty program saying “that is why from day one when government developed the template they involved the leaders and called them stakeholders.”

It’s a militant world Boyloaf is not the only militant making money from government activities. The militants’ influence within the corridors of power can be seen at the Transcorp Hilton hotel in Abuja where some of them have permanent suites to themselves.

The hotel, used by top government fuctionaries, diplomats and (international) businessmen, is one of the most expensive in Nigeria.

A report by NEXT Newspapers last year showed how another militant, Government Ekpemukpolo aka Tompolo was virtually handed control of a government agency, the Nigerian Maritime Safety and Administration Agency (NIMASA).

Source: Premium Times

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 19

INSIDE amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk 08033644990

By Bimbo Ogunnaike

L

agos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola yesterday disclosed that it will cost the state about $50 billion (N8 trillion) to meet the infrastructural deficit in the state, saying that the regeneration and bridging of the gap has commenced in earnest.

Fashola made disclosure during official handing over for public use three newly rehabilitated roads and a 110-bed Maternal and Child Care Centre (MCC) all in Surulere Local Government Area even as he charged residents to protect the properties against vandalisation The roads are; 1.4kilometre, Akerele Street, 960 metre Adelabu street and 1.2 kilometre Ogunlana street, all located in Surulere The governor, along with all

- Pg 21

ITF donates N50m equipment to Abuja College

Lagos needs N8tr to address infrastructural decay-Fashola the state Executive Council members, traditional rulers and other stakeholders, described the projects as the fulfillment of promise he made to residents of Surulere during his pre-election campaign.

Fashola noted that the roads were constructed by local construction companies, which employed about 738 people during the period of construction thereby providing jobs for unemployed youths in the country.

His words: “We believe that this is the way to grow the economy, this is the way to provide jobs, we

can’t provide jobs by just speaking, you provide jobs by getting things done “The state still has a long way to go in catering for the infrastructural deficit, which will cost the state about $50billion (N8trillion) but the regeneration and bridging of the gap has commenced in earnest. “ The governor continued: “Every year, the best we can ever manage to do is about $3billion (N480billion). The calculation of our budget is about that size and

that includes all the taxes that you pay, so you can see what we are up against” He assured that the train of road construction will continue to move across the state to ensure that network of roads are constructed, urging for the cooperation of residents to ensure that the challenges of infrastructural development are surmounted.”

Fashola, however, cautioned residents against carrying out activities on the roads that could shorten the life span reminding

that the roads were built with tax payers’ money.

“This is not Fashola road, this is our roads, it is for you and I, you have a duty to protect it and ensure it serves you the purpose for which it was built”, Fashola said.

He said the state was also embarking on other road projects in Surulere and its environs including Agbebi, Imam Dauda and Bode Thomas, adding that a block of four flats to house 36 families in Shitta is also under construction.

Etisalat says it may sell African towers

U

nited Arab Emirate (UAE)’s telecoms firm, Etisalat may sell its telephone tower operations in Africa and is considering sharing infrastructure with rival carriers, the former monopoly said in a statement yesterday.

Etisalat operates in about 10

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

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

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

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

IRS AIRLINES

African countries, including Egypt, Nigeria, Tanzania and Ivory Coast.

“Etisalat, like other telecom operators in Africa, is constantly evaluating good business opportunities which includes but (is) not limited to infrastructure sharing with other operators,” the statement said.

“No final decision has been reached at this point in time as (to) selling or sharing towers.”

On Wednesday, two sources told Reuters that Etisalat had invited bidders for its telephone tower operations in Africa.

The firm has about 4,500 towers in Africa, one source said, and wanted to sell them all in a single deal potentially worth around $500 million. (Reuters)

1,200 ‘YouWin’ programme winners to receive between N1m and N10m grant

By Abdulwahab Isa

A

fter a thorough screening conducted by some eminent Chief Executive Officers, 1,200 lucky Nigerian youths have emerged as beneficiaries of Federal Government’s Youth Enterprise with Innovation in Nigeria (YouWiN!) program.

Coordinating Minister of Economy/Minister of Finance, EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

• £ RIYAL $

Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala announced the grant yesterday in Abuja, at a formal signing ceremony between her Ministry and eighth partnering commercial banks for the YouWin programme.

The lucky 1,200 youths will be giving a grant ranging between N1million to N10million as seed equity capital to start their businesses.

She said a total 24, 000 applications were received out which 6,000 were selected and

SELLING 0.3133 247.2883 247.2883 41.7833 156.7

BUYING 210 255 40 164

SELLING 212 257 42 165

1,200 eventually emerged as winners in a strict selection process carried about by some eminent Nigerians. She said winners cut across the six –geo-political zones of the country.

T h e F e d e r a l Government had announced the initiative in October 2011, with sole aim to create jobs for upcoming and exiting youth entrepreneurs.

The Minster said, “Each winner would get a grant between N1 million to N10 million to shore

up their businesses. They will be introduced to banks to access to credit. Winners whose business had not been registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission would be assisted to do so.”

She said the project is expected to create direct entrepreneurial jobs for 3,600 Nigerian youths in the next three years; 1, 200 per year.

They successful youths are in turn expected to create employment for another set of 100, 000 Nigerians she said.

The partnering banks are Skye Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, Union Bank, UBA, Access Bank, Bank of Industry, Stanbic IBTC and Zenith Bank.

Management Tip of the Day

1st Feb, 2012 BUYING 0.2933 204.3251 245.7102 41.5167 155.7

PARALLEL RATES

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

L-R: General Manager, Total Nigeria Plc, Mr. Jeff. Nnamani, Managing Director, Total Nigeria, Mr. Boussagol Francois, and General Manager, Operation, Total Nigeria, Mr. U.J. Ibanga, during the company's presentation before the House of Representatives Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring Subsidy Regime, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

M

Trust your innovation

ost innovators experience crises of confidence-experts dismiss your underlying assumptions, you can't validate market demand, discussions with potential partners stall. If this happens, keep the faith.

Trust your intuition that you are on to a big idea and keep moving forward to test your assumptions. Analysis can only reveal so much. You can't be certain you have a good or bad idea until you take action.

Get out of the office and try

out your idea in the real world.

However, don't have blind faith.

Research other innovations and understand what kind of patterns indicate things are working, and which indicate they're not.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Experts seek upgrade of security personnel at airports

A

group, under the aegis of Aviation Round Table (ART), has expressed fear over the porous nature of the nation’s airports, which it described as a serious security challenge for patrons of the facilities.

Bank of Agric seeks N100bn capitalisation

Calls for merging Aviation Ministry with Transport not well-thought out, says ex Nigeria Airways chieftain The ex-spokesperson for the defunct Nigeria Airways and Managing Director of aviation consultancy firm, Belujane Konzult, Chris Aligbe spoke to Suleiman Idris on pressing issues still bedeviling the industry and suggested on the way forward. Excerpts:

W

orried by the slow growth in the agricultural sector, the Bank of Agriculture (BOA) has identified its low capitalisation as bane of its effective mandate fulfillment to stakeholders.

Ecobank deploys Oracle’s banking software across 30 countries in Africa

E

cobank Transnational Incorporated has implemented three of Oracle’s banking solution to standardise its processing platform across its affiliates in 30 sub-Saharan African countries.

Hershey plans $10m investment on Cocoa in Nigeria, Ghana, others

T

he Hershey Company, the largest chocolate manufacturer in North Amarica, has announced its plan to reinforce cocoa sustainability efforts in Nigeria, Ghana and the Ivory Coast, by enhancing cocoa development in a region reputed to produce 70 percent of the world’s cocoa.

Agusto & Co rates Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund AA (f)

A

gusto & Co has rated Stanbic IBTC Money Market Fund, one of the six mutual funds managed by Stanbic IBTC Asset Management Limited and regulated by the Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC) AA (f).

Survey puts Nigeria ahead of South Africa, others in investment savings

A

recent survey conducted

by MasterCard has put Nigeria ahead of other African emerging markets include South Africa, Kenya, Morocco in investment savings.

Chris Aligbe

T

he Aviation Roundtable recently called for the submerging of the of the aviation ministry under that of the transport; do you think that it is in the right direction?

I strongly disagree with this position. One, because, it has been done before and it never succeeded.

Remember that the present petroleum minister, Diezani AlisonMadueke was a former transport minister when Mr. Felix Hyat was in charge of aviation. Aviation and transport were merged, but throughout that period, nothing literarily happened in the aviation sector because attention was on the transport sector. So, it has been tried briefly, but did not work and that was why it was demerged again.

And it is not going to work in our own situation now simply because the ministries are completely on the ground. The transport sector is even better than the aviation sector because it comprises of the road, rail and maritime sectors. If you look at all of them, they all have problems and that is why the government has focused strongly on the transport sector and is trying to revive the railway sector and looking at the maritime sector and the road transport is another major problem in the country.

What should government do in this case?

Firstly, look at the airport sub-

sector, we don’t have any airport that we can beat our chest and say we are proud of this airport as at today, except a few of the stateowned and the private airports that we can say are ok, like the MMA2, Asaba and Akwa Ibom airport.

These are some of the airports, but in terms of the airline operations and systems, these airports don’t make any serious addition to what it is because they are still new destinations.

Any pass mark for the agencies?

The Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), as an institution is being brought up gradually; it hasn’t come back to what it is or what it should be. Look at Nigerian Airspace Management Authority (NAMA), it has just got a new and young management in place as the past removal of professionals in the agency really affected it. NCAA has acquired some stability, but it has not firmed up. If today, the DG of NCAA goes, people would be worried over who is next?

Yes, there are people that will come in, but NCAA has managed to stabilize, however, NCAA in its function has remained one dimensional. The other dimension like the economic regulations, which are critical haven’t been addressed very seriously and so, it stabilises in one single dimension, but we feel proud with what has happened in NCAA; but that does not mean we can beat

our chest and say we have an institution that is firmly stabilised and nothing can happen to it tomorrow.

Concerning the airline subsector, the only airline today that gives us some pride despite the challenges it is facing is Arik Air, because of its equipment. Arik has gone international, so, you can say there is a Nigerian carrier that represents us out there. Take away Arik, which other airline can we beat our chest and say this is our airline?

It is only Arik air that is internationally rated among our indigenous airlines. So, a country as large as Nigeria, we have only one airline that is rated but then, what traffic does it carry when compared to other airlines that come into this country?

Do you think we have indigenous professionals enough to run the industry?

They talk about scrapping the aviation sector while professionals are allowed to run the institutions under the transport sector. Where are the professionals in the industry? NCAA, which is stabilised to a certain extent is depending on the returning professionals, that is, those who were sacked before were brought back. Without this, what will you take away from NCAA; who will man the place? How much training have we done to get people there? Look at FAAN, it is in a very terrible situation. With the development of airports, how much training has gone on in FAAN? How many strong airport managers can you go to FAAN and pick out today?

The MD of FAAN remains the most exposed of them and he remains so because of his tenure in South Africa and not his tenure here. So, he’s bringing his experience in Cape Town to Nigeria. Who are the other persons here? The professionals they are talking about don’t exist, even in the airport subsector or even in the regulatory sub-sector. The professionals there, remove all the returning professionals that are keeping those agencies in place and the agencies will collapse. They are all the former staff of Nigeria Airways.

NAMA is still battling to add value to what it has achieved. So, look at all of them in the various areas; the industry needs to be grow and therefore, if you now look at our system of government, where policy decisions are made, it is at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) level and it is only a minister

that can take your case to FEC so, once it is scrapped, you have to now have to wait for the transport minister to do this when he has his own mammoth problems. So, what it indirectly means is that the place will be left unattended to and uncared for and then, what will happen? The place will collapse and would be worse-off than what it is today.

Today, we need a very strong minister who can take the problem of the sector to FEC and I think that for once, we are lucky we have a very strong minister of aviation.

This is the time we need to rally round and build up the industry.

Or else, we will go nowhere. So, to suggest the scrapping of the ministry at this point in time, I don’t think it is well thought-out. I have respect for my colleague professionals, but it is not wellthought out.

Your colleagues made references to the information and communication sector…

They made a comparison that the ministry of communication and information are merged. Look, the ministry of information, you can literarily scrap the ministry of information without any problems. The ministry of information has stable institutions like NTA, News Agency of Nigeria and so on and every ministry has an information officer, either deputy director attached to the ministry. I’m not saying the ministry of information should be scraped or whatever, but I’m saying you don’t compare the two of them. A lot of those arms are privatised. We have private media houses today in the country and so, you can have information on this country.

Look at communications, they have privatised it; NITEL is the only problem. The Nigerian Communication Commission is firm and in place despite all the difficulties. The sector has been privatised, we now communicate far better than we used to in the past.

Those ministries have stabilised institutions and can stand and run on their own compared with ministries that are still struggling to stand on their own. So, that analogy is faulty and cannot be compared.

So, to deal with it, we need a very strong aviation ministry and we are lucky for now, because we have somebody that is strong and focused. We need to rally round the minister so that before she leaves, she can take the sector higher.

“

We need to rally round the minister so that before she leaves, she can take the sector higher.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 21

NACCIMA seeks revision of 2012 budget, fiscal discipline From Uche Mbah, Lagos

T

he organised private sector, represented by the National Associations of Chambers of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has advised the Federal Government to do a thorough revision of the 2012 budget to reflect the mood of the nation after the subsidy crisis while at the same time decried the dearth of the actual data for consumption of petroleum product, especially the Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly known as petrol.

In a press conference in Lagos,

the president of NACCIMA, Herbert Ajayi, noted that the wastage resulting from the 23% deficit figure of the total budget can easily be corrected. This figure translates to N1.105 trillion in real terms.

He said though the gesture of 25% reduction of basic salaries of the executives arm was commended, a revision based on the total compensation, emolument of packages is imperative if it is to yield the desired result.

“This is the amount accruable from the 25% of N4.749 trillion less N2.5 trillion slated for statutory transfer services of debt overhang”.

This, according to the president, will help ensure the completion of viable on-going capital projects and help to reduce deficit to about N487 billion.

Mr Ajayi said that with the introduction of N97 per litre of PMS, foodstuffs and transportation cost soared, and under the street marketeering became the order of the day, particularly outside Lagos.

“The Petroleum Products Pricing and Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) claims that 24 million liters’ (valued at N667 billion per annum) was never delivered to Nigerians,” he stated.

L-R: President & CEO General Electric (Africa), Jey Ireland, President, Arik Air, Dr Johnson ArumemiIkhide, Global Chairman, General Electric, Mr Jeffrey Immelt, Chairman, Arik Air, Sir Joseph ArumemiIkhide, Managing Director, Arik Air, Chris Ndulue and Africa Executive General Electric, Mr Jay Wileman, during the preliminary discussion on power and aviation development in Nigeria, at Transcorp Nicon, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

NASS to get revised VAT laws soon — FIRS

T

he Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) on Wednesday in Abuja said that a revised version of the Value Added Tax (VAT) would soon be presented to the National Assembly.

Chairman of FIRS, Mrs. Ifueko Omogui-Okauru stated this at the on-going investigative hearing of the House of Representatives ad hoc Committee on the management of the subsidy regime.

Omogui said that it was a policy of government not to charge VAT on Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), popularly called petrol and kerosene imported into the country.

According to her, this was deliberate to save Nigerians from paying heavily for the products.

‘Government has been very sensitive on the issue of tax on petroleum products which is a major source of revenue,” she said.

The chairman noted that though PMS and kerosene were taxed in other countries, the Nigerian government had been sympathetic to Nigerians.

She promised to forward documents authourising the service not to charge VAT on petroleum products.

Similarly, the Managing Director of Total Oil Nigeria Plc, Mr

Francois Bussagol, in his presentation, said the company was paid N11 billion in 2010 for the importation of 251 million litres of petrol.While in 2011 it was paid N16 billion for importing 211 million litres.He explained that the company did not collect any payment on kerosene which it sold at N50 per litre to the public.

Chairman of the Federal Road Safety Commission, (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka in his presentation said that the number of vehicles operating on diesel were few because of the cost of the product.

Chidoka said that 5,000 tankers transport fuel daily across Nigerian roads. He said that 25,305 vehicles in the country run on petrol while 9, 984 run on diesel, representing 99.7 and 0.3 per cent respectively.

According to him, 88 million Nigerians travelled by road in 2010 while 14 million travelled by air at same period. He urged that committee to advice government to initiate policies that would encourage operators of mass transit programmes.

Earlier, the chairman of the committee, Rep. Farouk Lawan directed the FIRS to make available to the committee paper of authorisation and all oil companies

that benefited from the waiver. He also asked for the details of income and other taxes paid by the companies involved in importation of petroleum products.

Similarly, the committee had requested the Total Oil Nigeria Plc to forward to it, Letters of Credit, Certificate of Discharge and Bill of Lading from 2006 to date. (NAN)

Lagos airport GTB cash centre gutted by fire

ITF donates N50m equipment to Abuja College

he cash centre of Guarantee Trust Bank inside the new domestic terminal two (MMA2) of the Murtala Mohammed Airport, Ikeja, Lagos was late Tuesday evening gutted by fire.

A staff of the terminal told our reporter that the fire out break occurred in the wee hours when the terminal was almost asleep, after all the airlines that operates from the terminal had closed their operations after the last flights in and out of Lagos.

Our correspondent who visited the cash centre observed that as a result of the fire out break, which damaged the ceiling and other major operational equipment of bank, the bank could not operate on Wednesday, as security and fire experts cordoned-off the bank area to carry out a clean up exercise.

Airlines passengers who usually use the bank’s Automated Teller Machines( ATM), to pick up cash to purchase their ticket for flights were however left stranded as some of them expressed disappointment over the situation as they had to find other means of accessing cash enable them continue with their trip.

A visit to the terminal late Wednesday evening, our correspondent saw airline personnel and passengers gathered to glance at the cordoned-off section of the bank, where security and fire personnel were seen carrying out a clean up exercise.

GTB ATMs at the new terminal had hitherto been the most active and patronised at the terminal since other banks in the terminal relocated out of the building.

Reacting to the incident, BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited issued a press statement signed by its Chief Operations Officer, Media Relations & Brand Management , Femi Kolawole which stated that, “Our fire fighting and detection equipment (smoke detector and sprinkler system) had responded appropriately and contained the spread before the arrival of FAAN Fire Tender,” the statement added.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

In its bid to boost the human capital base of Nigeria through technical education, the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) has donated equipment worth N50 million to the College of Science and Technology, Orozo, Abuja.

ITF Director-General, Longman Wapmuk spoke at the commissioning of the Mechanical Craft Workshop in the school, adding that the Fund had identified a huge gap between the skill requirements of the country and the available human capital base, adding that efforts were being made to bridge the gap.

“So, we decided that, as part of our own efforts to revitalise technical and vocational education, we identified two institutions: Yaba College of Technology, in Lagos and the technical school in Orozo and supplied them with some equipment which they will use.

When they brought the equipment, the space was inadequate so we decided to build a workshop for them so that they could move the equipment given to them into the workshop. The equipment had already been put into use while some have not been installed”.

In his remarks, the Director-General, Nigeria Employees’ Consultative Association (NECA), said that except the skill gap in the country was urgently addressed, the quest for a place among the developed nations by the year 2020 would remain a mere rhetoric.

“The vision 2020 document is a well articulated development plan but the fact about it is that without a backup manpower development plan that will ensure that Nigerians are given the competencies and skills to be able to support that vision; it will be a tall order to achieve the various objectives that have been articulated in that document,” he said.

Kwairanga now AshakaCem chairman

T

he Board of Directors of Ashaka Cement company Plc (AshakaCem), a subsidiary of Lafarge Group located in Gombe state has approved the appointment of Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga as its Chairman, .

A professional with several years of experience in capital market, banking and the real sector, Alh. Kwairanga has been serving on AshakaCem Board since 2008. He is also the Group Managing Director & CEO of Finmal Finance Services Limited since 2001.

In addition, he is serving on the Board of several companies including Central Securities Clearing Systems Ltd (Affiliate

of the Nigerian Stock Exchange) Gombe State Investments Co Ltd, Barade Constructions Co Ltd, Jaiz Bank Plc, Penman Pension Ltd, amongst others.

Alh. Kwairanga holds a first and post-graduate degrees in Business Administration, Corporate Governance and Finance respectively. He has also attended courses and training programmes in fields relating to finance, investment and money market in reputable institutions including the Harvard Business School, New York Institute of Finance and Euro Money.

He holds traditional title of Sarkin Fulanin Gombe.

Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Unbundling power sector: Lessons for Nigeria The recent power sector reform agenda of the Goodluck Jonathanled administration was launched last year, aimed at unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Aminu Imam and Lawrence Olaoye in this analysis, while appraising global experiences in similar power sector reforms, contend that such experiences have yielded several general lessons for developing countries like Nigeria.

D

espite the great efforts of federal and state governments in Nigeria for over a decade, there is certainly no greater source of frustration to any individual or institution in the country than irregular electric power supply. Everybody or everything is one way or the other a victim and at the mercy of the perennial shortage of electric power in the country.

Epileptic, irregular and insufficient power supply limits income-generating opportunities of the informal sector; it leads to increase in the cost of doing business for both informal and formal sectors. It also compromises the operations of security agencies and paralyses power-dependent social activities.

In short, it saps vitality out of the national life of a modern society.

Power (energy), especially in its electrical form, is required to fuel the machinery of socio-economic transformation and development.

Without regular and sufficient supply of power, the dream of rapid economic growth and sustainable development would remain largely unrealistic.

Yet, Nigeria’s energy insufficiency and insecurity has persisted not because of lack of conscious efforts to turn the situation around. The civilian administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo took a number of steps to overhaul and reform Nigeria’s power sector with a view to achieving at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity by the target date of December 2007.

The Obasanjo administration engaged in a long and tortuous process of unbundling and restructuring of the erstwhile National Electric Power Authority as well as the privatisation and deregulation of the energy sector.

Among other things, the process led to the setting up of the Electric Power Implementation Committee (EPIC), the formulation of the National Electric Power Policy (2001), the drafting and enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (2005), the transformation of NEPA into Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as well as the unbundling of PHCN into 18 units comprising six Power Generation Companies, an independent Transmission Company and 11 Distribution Companies.

In addition, there was inauguration of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to serve as power sector regulator as well as the

establishment of a Rural Electrification Agency to cater for the energy needs of the rural majority.

The conscious attempt to mainstream the private sector in the Nigeria’s drive for energy security, efficiency and sufficiency also saw the advent of Emergency Power Producers (EPPs), Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Private Power Producers (PPPs), and Build Operate and Transfer (BOTs) initiatives. As part of a National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), the Federal Government initiated 7 new projects located in various states in the Niger Delta.

It is believed that some of the projects are yet to come on stream or function optimally because of non-completion or lack of connection to their gas sources of power. The reality is that the power sector is not only cost-intensive but also one with a long gestation period.

From all indications, past

administration to the challenge of regular power supply in the country.

Electric utility reform means different things to different people in different countries. No one model fits all countries. Several countries have recently unbundled their power sectors. Examples are England and Wales, Argentina, Bolivia, Hungary, Peru, Poland, Ukraine, Kenya and India/Delhi and the Middle East .

Power sector reform is also underway in many regions and countries around the world, particularly in the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region of the Middle East.

The reforms are resulting in independent power production and competition in generation, decentralization, privatisation, unbundling of generation from transmission and distribution, and even – in some countries – competition in

“

Electric utility reform means different things to different people in different countries. No one model fits all countries. desperate efforts and good intentions have not translated to energy sufficiency or security in the power sector. As it were, Nigerians have witnessed plenty of motion without any leap forward. The fact is that we have had a lot of trial and error with many shots fired into the dark without hitting the target. Giving vent to our national tendency for fire-brigade approach, we have thrown so much money, energy and materials at the power problem without arriving at a sustainable solution.

Little wonder, the helplessness, hopelessness and frustration of most Nigerian individual and corporate citizens over the country’s energy situation. It is this reality that has informed the cautious, systematic, scientific but seemingly measured approach of former president Yar’adua’s

distribution.

Since 1981, the six countries in the GCC have made substantial reforms to their electricity sectors. Driven by the so-called ‘second oil boom’, the GCC countries – which comprise the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait – have achieved an average sustained growth of almost six per cent annually, thus making the GCC one of the most robust economic blocks in the world.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the rapid increase in the demand for electric power led to the formation of a privatisation committee for both the power and water sectors. Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates in the

Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji UAE, has undergone major reforms in its power sector since the 1990s.

Prior to 1999, the sector had been vertically integrated and managed by the government. In 1998, a new law was adopted which began reformation of the sector. The new law reformed the sector based on a ‘single-buyer’ model and establish four generation and desalination production companies; a singlebuyer company to purchase the electricity and water production from, and to supply gas.

It also established a transmission and dispatch company, with the responsibility for electricity and water transmission; two distribution companies for the supply of electricity and water to customers and an independent regulator responsible for both economic and technical regulation of the power and water sectors.

In Saudi Arabia, following a Royal decree in 2000, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) was established as a result of merging the ten regional power companies responsible for the Kingdom’s power supply. However, to provide opportunities to the private sector to compete and alleviate the financial burden for investments to meet the power demands, the government has permitted the private sector to invest in power generation.

A proposed electricity sector reforming plan for a three-stage electricity market evolution over the period 2008– 2016 was developed. The plan will consist of: Unbundling & Generation Competitions (2008– 2010): involves the unbundling of the SEC into operationally independent generation, transmission, and distribution companies, and the introduction of competition in power generation. It will see the creation of four generation companies from existing SEC assets, a power

procurement company to act as a single-buyer, and a grid company to own the transmission system and act as an independent system operator.

The plan also consist of Wholesale Competition (2010– 2013), Retail Competition (2013– 2016), which will introduce a full wholesale electricity market being operated by an independent system operator.

Both generation and distribution companies will have independent roles in the market with a restricting role for the single buyer. Currently, major industrial consumers are allowed to generate their own power and sell off excess power to SEC transmission.

In Qatar, the government has already initiated a programme for the reform and privatization of the electricity sector. Functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution has been allowed, along with private sector participation.

Here in Nigeria, a bill seeking to further unbundle the power sector and break Federal Government’s monopoly in power generation, transmission and distribution has scaled through the second reading last week in the House of Representatives.

The bill would also give the state, local governments as well as private individuals opportunity to invest in the sector.

The Bill has moved to the House Ad hoc committee on Constitutional review, power and Justice for further legislative action.

The challenge is obviously to get sufficient energy to more users in ways that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

Well-meaning Nigerians who are desirous of energy sufficiency and security would do well to support and even advocate comprehensive power sector analysis with a view to determining the best options and ways forward.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Unbundling power sector: Lessons for Nigeria The recent power sector reform agenda of the Goodluck Jonathanled administration was launched last year, aimed at unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria. Aminu Imam and Lawrence Olaoye in this analysis, while appraising global experiences in similar power sector reforms, contend that such experiences have yielded several general lessons for developing countries like Nigeria.

D

espite the great efforts of federal and state governments in Nigeria for over a decade, there is certainly no greater source of frustration to any individual or institution in the country than irregular electric power supply. Everybody or everything is one way or the other a victim and at the mercy of the perennial shortage of electric power in the country.

Epileptic, irregular and insufficient power supply limits income-generating opportunities of the informal sector; it leads to increase in the cost of doing business for both informal and formal sectors. It also compromises the operations of security agencies and paralyses power-dependent social activities.

In short, it saps vitality out of the national life of a modern society.

Power (energy), especially in its electrical form, is required to fuel the machinery of socio-economic transformation and development.

Without regular and sufficient supply of power, the dream of rapid economic growth and sustainable development would remain largely unrealistic.

Yet, Nigeria’s energy insufficiency and insecurity has persisted not because of lack of conscious efforts to turn the situation around. The civilian administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo took a number of steps to overhaul and reform Nigeria’s power sector with a view to achieving at least 10,000 megawatts of electricity by the target date of December 2007.

The Obasanjo administration engaged in a long and tortuous process of unbundling and restructuring of the erstwhile National Electric Power Authority as well as the privatisation and deregulation of the energy sector.

Among other things, the process led to the setting up of the Electric Power Implementation Committee (EPIC), the formulation of the National Electric Power Policy (2001), the drafting and enactment of the Electric Power Sector Reform Act (2005), the transformation of NEPA into Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) as well as the unbundling of PHCN into 18 units comprising six Power Generation Companies, an independent Transmission Company and 11 Distribution Companies.

In addition, there was inauguration of the Nigeria Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), to serve as power sector regulator as well as the

establishment of a Rural Electrification Agency to cater for the energy needs of the rural majority.

The conscious attempt to mainstream the private sector in the Nigeria’s drive for energy security, efficiency and sufficiency also saw the advent of Emergency Power Producers (EPPs), Independent Power Producers (IPPs), Private Power Producers (PPPs), and Build Operate and Transfer (BOTs) initiatives. As part of a National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), the Federal Government initiated 7 new projects located in various states in the Niger Delta.

It is believed that some of the projects are yet to come on stream or function optimally because of non-completion or lack of connection to their gas sources of power. The reality is that the power sector is not only cost-intensive but also one with a long gestation period.

From all indications, past

administration to the challenge of regular power supply in the country.

Electric utility reform means different things to different people in different countries. No one model fits all countries. Several countries have recently unbundled their power sectors. Examples are England and Wales, Argentina, Bolivia, Hungary, Peru, Poland, Ukraine, Kenya and India/Delhi and the Middle East .

Power sector reform is also underway in many regions and countries around the world, particularly in the six countries in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region of the Middle East.

The reforms are resulting in independent power production and competition in generation, decentralization, privatisation, unbundling of generation from transmission and distribution, and even – in some countries – competition in

“

Electric utility reform means different things to different people in different countries. No one model fits all countries. desperate efforts and good intentions have not translated to energy sufficiency or security in the power sector. As it were, Nigerians have witnessed plenty of motion without any leap forward. The fact is that we have had a lot of trial and error with many shots fired into the dark without hitting the target. Giving vent to our national tendency for fire-brigade approach, we have thrown so much money, energy and materials at the power problem without arriving at a sustainable solution.

Little wonder, the helplessness, hopelessness and frustration of most Nigerian individual and corporate citizens over the country’s energy situation. It is this reality that has informed the cautious, systematic, scientific but seemingly measured approach of former president Yar’adua’s

distribution.

Since 1981, the six countries in the GCC have made substantial reforms to their electricity sectors. Driven by the so-called ‘second oil boom’, the GCC countries – which comprise the United Arab Emirates, the Kingdom of Bahrain, the Sultanate of Oman, the State of Qatar, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the State of Kuwait – have achieved an average sustained growth of almost six per cent annually, thus making the GCC one of the most robust economic blocks in the world.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE), the rapid increase in the demand for electric power led to the formation of a privatisation committee for both the power and water sectors. Abu Dhabi, the largest of the seven emirates in the

Minister of Power, Prof. Barth Nnaji UAE, has undergone major reforms in its power sector since the 1990s.

Prior to 1999, the sector had been vertically integrated and managed by the government. In 1998, a new law was adopted which began reformation of the sector. The new law reformed the sector based on a ‘single-buyer’ model and establish four generation and desalination production companies; a singlebuyer company to purchase the electricity and water production from, and to supply gas.

It also established a transmission and dispatch company, with the responsibility for electricity and water transmission; two distribution companies for the supply of electricity and water to customers and an independent regulator responsible for both economic and technical regulation of the power and water sectors.

In Saudi Arabia, following a Royal decree in 2000, the Saudi Electricity Company (SEC) was established as a result of merging the ten regional power companies responsible for the Kingdom’s power supply. However, to provide opportunities to the private sector to compete and alleviate the financial burden for investments to meet the power demands, the government has permitted the private sector to invest in power generation.

A proposed electricity sector reforming plan for a three-stage electricity market evolution over the period 2008– 2016 was developed. The plan will consist of: Unbundling & Generation Competitions (2008– 2010): involves the unbundling of the SEC into operationally independent generation, transmission, and distribution companies, and the introduction of competition in power generation. It will see the creation of four generation companies from existing SEC assets, a power

procurement company to act as a single-buyer, and a grid company to own the transmission system and act as an independent system operator.

The plan also consist of Wholesale Competition (2010– 2013), Retail Competition (2013– 2016), which will introduce a full wholesale electricity market being operated by an independent system operator.

Both generation and distribution companies will have independent roles in the market with a restricting role for the single buyer. Currently, major industrial consumers are allowed to generate their own power and sell off excess power to SEC transmission.

In Qatar, the government has already initiated a programme for the reform and privatization of the electricity sector. Functional separation of generation, transmission and distribution has been allowed, along with private sector participation.

Here in Nigeria, a bill seeking to further unbundle the power sector and break Federal Government’s monopoly in power generation, transmission and distribution has scaled through the second reading last week in the House of Representatives.

The bill would also give the state, local governments as well as private individuals opportunity to invest in the sector.

The Bill has moved to the House Ad hoc committee on Constitutional review, power and Justice for further legislative action.

The challenge is obviously to get sufficient energy to more users in ways that are environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.

Well-meaning Nigerians who are desirous of energy sufficiency and security would do well to support and even advocate comprehensive power sector analysis with a view to determining the best options and ways forward.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Arms seizures: Who is sending guns to kill Nigerians?

Comptroller-General, Nigerian Customs Service, Abdullahi Dikko Inde

The assortments of arms and ammunition seized recently in Ghana and Niger, apparently heading for Nigeria raises the question: who is sending guns to Nigeria?

... The arms-bearing ship intercepted by soldiers

Nigerian soldiers show journalists illegal arms seized last year arms at Apapa Port in Lagos

A

s Nigerians were on the street protesting over fuel subsidy removal, a British based man was being arraigned in UK over the shipping of 80,000 rifles and pistols and 32 million rounds of ammunition to Nigeria.

The shipment included 40,000 AK47 assault rifles, 30,000 rifles and 10,000 9mm pistols.

According to a report by the BBC, the man whose name is Gary Hyde, shipped these huge arm cache without receiving permission from the relevant government department in the UK. Gary Hyde was not alone in this deal. It was carried out with his business partner Karl Kleber, a German

national based in Germany, the court was told.

The pair acted as middle men between two Polish companies acting for the Nigerian buyers and Chinese companies, the court heard, according to the BBC report.

Both men received commission payments for the deals totaling around $1.3m (ÂŁ840,000) or N351 million.The story apparently left several questions unanswered. Who were the Nigerian buyers? Were these guns really delivered to Nigeria eventually?

It is also interesting that since this story broke out in the British media, the Nigerian government has not come out with any specific statement on it. Were

these weapons imported by the Nigerian government? If they were not imported by the Nigerian government, have they made any efforts to trace the importers of these large numbers of weapons into the country? Thirty two million rounds of ammunition are enough to kill thirty two million Nigerians, assuming each bullet will kill a Nigerian?

This may be an exaggeration, but there is no doubt that if there is this amount of guns and ammunition out there outside the control of the government, then every Nigerian has a serious course to be worried at this time.

The reputation of Gary Hyde, the man at the centre of the storm shows that

Nigerians have to be concerned that he has set his eyes on supplying arms to the country.

A report in February 2011, in The Observer in UK shows that Hyde is also facing charges in the US for smuggling arms into the country.

The Observer describes him as "Britain's very own lord of war; an international arms dealer, whose chief currency is the AK-47 assault rifle" The Observer reports that US officials arrested Hyde in connection with the alleged illegal import into the US of almost 6,000 Chineseproduced AK-47 magazines, each capable of holding up to 75 rounds of ammunition.

The Observer also quotes a Wiki leaks release of

confidential US embassy cables which shows that in 2008 York Guns, where Gary Hyde is a director, tried to ship 130,000 of the assault rifles to Libya. The WikiLeaks revelation shows that Gary Hyde through his company acted as an intermediary between an unidentified Ukrainian arms manufacturer and Libyan officials. "The size of the deal raised eyebrows in diplomatic circles, as Libya has only 70,000 groundforce troops and these would be unlikely to use a weapon as dated as the AK-47. The cable noted that the export licence was rejected because the "UK is concerned that the intention may be to reexport the weapons,

particularly to armed rebel factions backed by Khartoum and/or Ndjamena in the Chad/Sudan conflict".

Kleber, Gary Hyde's German partner, also has a reputation that does not sit well with the authorities. The Observer reports that "in 2008 the German federal police agency, the BKA, launched an investigation into Kleber to determine whether he had been involved in "the illegal sale of machine guns via Croatia to Iraq". This was in response to allegations that companies linked to Hyde had sold tens of thousands of guns to Ziad Cattan, the former head of military procurement at the Iraq Defence Ministry, without an appropriate arms brokering licence. Cattan fled Iraq after a warrant was issued for his arrest amid allegations that he had siphoned off millions of dollars in corrupt deals."

What emerges from these reports is that the two men now being named in connection with supply of arms to Nigeria should raise serious concerns in Nigeria.

Have they supplied some other arms into the country, that the authorities are not aware?

The concern becomes even more real considering the fact that at the same time Gary Hyde was being arraigned in UK, the Ghanaian authorities intercepted a truck loaded with arms and ammunitions heading to Nigeria. The ammunitions included pump action rifles and live rounds. These arrests are coming at a time that the Boko Haram insurgence is getting worse in Northern Nigeria as bombs explode on almost on daily basis and masked men go on killing spree with sophisticated weapons. The activities of Boko Haram, the continuous crisis in Jos is no doubt raising serious concerns and fears of retaliation from other ethnic groups. Could this inflow of arms be linked to ethnic groups arming themselves?

Are they arming themselves to defend themselves or to go

on the offensive?

This is a critical period in Nigeria's history and all people of goodwill must stand up and douse the rising intention. As I said in my earlier post, the Rwanda trip will be a dangerous place for Nigeria to go.

The government must also act and act fast.

This is also the time the international community must come to the aid of Nigeria. It is clear that the Nigerian intelligence agencies do not have the capacity to deal with the emerging challenge. They must offer their help at this time. They cannot wait for a Rwandan type crisis to develop before they intervene. China, especially, should caution its business community. This is not the time to fuel the crisis in Nigeria for monetary gains.

Nigeria is China's biggest market in Africa.

An unstable Nigeria will not be good for China's long term economic interest.

(Source : Pambazuka News)

Weapons of death: Who is bringing them to Nigeria?

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Mouloud celebration: A defying bid’ah despite disaffirmations T

he Messenger of Allah, on the authority of Aishah, said: “He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected." And "He who does an act which our matter is not [in agreement] with will have it rejected.” (Sahih alBukhari/2697 and Sahih Muslim /1718) .

The month of Rabi’ul Awwal is the third month of the Islamic Lunar calendar, and is usually referred as ‘Shahrul-Maulud’; the month of birthday celebration.

Though, the authentic date of the Messenger of Allah’s date of birth remains disputable among historians, but the generality of the Ummah chose the 12th. Of Rabbi'ul Awwal, yielding to historical coincidences.

As a matter of fact, in Islam there are only two holidays: Idul Fitri (the first day Shawwal, after the fasting month Ramadan) and Idul Adha ((the 10th day of Zuhijjah (the month of pilgrimage)).

Mauloud celebration was first celebrated in Egypt during the rule Fatimides, an off-shoot of Shi'ism, around the year 487-515 AH/ 1095-1121 CE, according to Qalqashandi, in his book Subh AlA’sha. According to this account, the Fatimides also celebrated the Christ birthday during their reign in Egypt. The celebration was not only for the Prophet’s birthday but also the birthday of Ali (the Prophet’s cousin), Fatimah (his daughter) and the Amir as the present imam of Shi’ite Muslim.

The influence of the Shi'ite doctrines of the celebration of the Prophet’s birthday was very clear and is still eminence in modern Egypt even today. The Daura city version remains the most traditional form of mauloud celebration in Nigeria as almost every forbidden thing is not onlys free and allowable, but also abundance. It is christened, ‘sallar gani’, meaning, 'here I am for you'!

Another new phenomina, is the Shi'ites's mothod of Maulouds in Nigeria is a non-elimination method. What I mean from a distant observation is an all inclusive celebration for anybody or organization against the main groups of ‘Ahlus-Sunnah wal jama’ah’. That is why, the Tijjanis, the Qadaris, the Ahmadis, the Qala-Qn the atos and even the 'inda ta fadi sha nes' are invited as stakeholders. In their Maulouds you see young men and women in various raglias and colours, with flags to differentiate. In the various groups you will find, the 'Micheal Jackson, the Bob-Maley, the Niggers and all for, 'wal iyazu billahi, for the Prophet!

Allah says: “And We have not taught him (Muhammad SAW) poetry, nor is it meet for him. This is only a Reminder and a plain Qur’an”.

(Y. S.: 69) And: “As for the poets, the erring follow them. See you not that they speak about every subject (praising

others right or wrong) in their were baseless and unfounded. more important than Lailatul poetry? And that they say what they Among these scholars was the Qadr, Lailatul Isra' and the Hijrah! do not do”. (ash-Shu’ara’: 224-226) Maliki jurist Taaj al-Deen ‘Umar Thus, if what they conjectured is Thus, the Prophet of Allah is Ibn Al-Lakhmi Al-Sakandari by any standard near right, the distant away from these known as Al-Fakahani, who died implication would be a direct inventions. accusation of Allah However, by (wal iya dhu 488 Hijra, all billah!) of the celebrations forgetfulness to were stopped have revealed so to upon an order His last Messenger! from Caliph AlOr indicting His Musta’li billah Prophet of By Husain Zakariyya as stated by Ibn dishonesty or Yawale Al-Atheer in his untruthfulness of book Al-Kamel. concealment, if He +234-8052952900 (sms only) A l - A f d a l had revealed so! islamexplained35@yahoo.com Shahindah, Logically one incidently, was would ask; how can an icon of Sunnah during his rule. in 731 AH; he wrote his thesis Al- such very important and This innovation stopped Mawrid fil Kalam ‘Ala-Mawlid on rewarding event could have completely until the ascension of this issue and even Imam As- escaped Allah’s mentioning in the Al-Ma’mun Al-Bata’ihi to Suyuti mentioned it in his book Qur'an and His Trustworthy power when he issued an official Husn Al-Maqsid.

Prophet in the Sunnah? Such decree in 517 Hijra enjoining the Generally, the pro-maulud prodigious omission is not only distribution of alms in 12th hinged their argument on the need insensitive or wild but Rabee’ul Awwal with Sanaa’ Al- to remember the life time of the unappeasable! This is far from the Malik in charge of distributing Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), and empirical approach. them. to make the youngsters to know No true believer would ever doubt the By the beginning of the 7th absolute sincerity Centuary, that’s in 604 AH/1207 of the Messenger CE, Prince, Muzafar Al-Deen Abi of Allah in Sa’d Kukburi Ibn Zein Ed-Deen ‘Alidelivering all the Ibn Tabakatikin, the brother of revelations he Salahuddin al-Ayyubi (Saladin). received from his not only restored the celebration Lord, Allah the of maulud but passed a decree Most High. making it an official ceremony in Similarly, all the city of Irbil. And that was after Muslims believe a long stoppage by the Ayoubides that Prophet who outlawed all Fatimides Muhammad innovations in Islam. (pbuh) is the last Consequently, there were the and final Prophet days of Crusades when for almost and Messenger of 200 years the crusaders from Allah.

The Europe came to the Middle East to Qur’an testifies: fight Muslims in their own ‘Muhammad countries. Thus, the processes of is not the father of acculturation, adaptations and any of your men, assimilations interchanged. Both but (He is) the Islamic and Christian cultures Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III Messenger of exchanged adherents; Christians took away sciences, technologies the treasures of Islam. However, Allah, and the seal of the Prophets: and wisdom of the East to Europe, the reasons may sound enticing; it and Allah has full knowledge of all and Muslim imitated some is still an act contrary to the things’. (333:40) festivals and feasts of the Prophet and his companions. The Thus, there would never come Christians who lived among them, Prophet never celebrated his a new brand injunction and all the bad behaviours. birthday nor did his companions. commanding or prohibiting the However, one of these feasts is the He used the Qur’an to positively believers of any act of worship tradition to celebrate the birth of changed the world! (ibadah), after the demise of the Prophet Muhammad Additionally, Imam Muslim Prophet Muhammad (pbuh).

For those who hide under the (P.B.U.H) just as Christians reported on the authority of celebrate the birthday of Jesus Qatadah Al-Ansari that the costume of the love of the Prophet Christ, known as Christmas.

Prophet (peace and blessings be legalizing the celebration of Prince Muzaffar paid great upon him), was asked about fasting mauloud, let them know that love attention to such celebrations and on Monday and he replied: “It is is not without legislation in Islam. ordered tents to be erected right the day on which I was born and True loving of the Messenger of from of the month of Safar. The on which I received the Divine Allah is a religious obligation upon tents were extravagantly Revelation”. It is also reported on every Muslim. Incidently, both the decorated in a very long row. The the authority of Ibn Abbas and Ibn Qur’an and the Sunnah have celebration usually begin the 8th Jabir that the Prophet (peace and clearly defined the methodology. of Rabee’ Al-Awwal and well blessings be upon him) was born The Qur’an says: ‘Say: “If you (really) love Allah through the 12th day. in the “year of the elephant”, Ibn Al-Hajj Abu ‘Abdullah Al- received the Divine Revelation, then follow me (Muhammad), Allah Abdari in his book ‘Al-Madkhal’, ascended to the Heavens, migrated will love you.’ (3:31) That is to say, love of Allah love said that such festivals were to Madinah and ultimately passed widespread in Egypt during his away all on the 12th of Rabbi'ul of and His Messenger is only reign and condemned the Awwal. The superimposed events actualised by strict imitation of the innovations that used to take place can cause a lot of mystification to teachings of the Messenger, without addition or subtraction. during such festivals. those who are pro-maulud.

However, due to the spread of This group has gone far grade Thus, anyone who follows the the inherent innovations during the celebration of the Prophet’s Messenger is more eligible to win such celebrations, many scholars birth as the most eminent event the love and favour of Allah and denounced them because they the world has ever witnessed; it is the love of His Messenger.

ISLAM EXPLAINED

Consequently, anybody who thought that by innovating any kind of ‘act of worship’ to form part of the main Islam out of love of the Prophet, or honouring him, the reality is that he or she is actually hating, dishonouring and attainting him (SAW). This is because true love and honouring of him is only demonstrated in following his Sunnah as it was, and practiced by his Companions. And indeed whoever desires to innovate in the Shari’ah of Allah that which is not from it, then his love of Allah and His Messenger is questionable.

Allah says: ‘O you who believe! Do not put (yourselves) forward before Allah and His Messenger, and fear Allah.

Verily! Allah is All-Hearing, AllKnowing. O you who believe! Raise not your voices above the voice of the Prophet, nor speak aloud to him in talk as you speak aloud to one another, lest your deeds may be rendered fruitless while you perceive not’. (45:1-2) And the Messenger of Allah said: “He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected.” And “He who does an act which our matter is not (in agreement) with will have it rejected.” (Sahih al-Bukhari/ 2697 and Sahih Muslim/ 1718).

Similarly, Islam not only frowns at innovation but condemn it in totality. The Messenger of Allah said: ‘Every innovation is perversity and every aberration is in the Hellfire’. And “He who innovates something in this matter of ours that is not of it will have it rejected.”

Personally speaking, I think marking out one day of the 365 days of a year to remember the Messenger of Allah, and call that love and respect of he him, is not only humiliating but assaulting the personality and status of the Holy Prophet (PBUH)! A true Muslim commemorates the Messenger of Allah every moment of his entire life time and believes in him to be the best of models. The Qur’an testifies thus; ‘Ye have indeed In the Messenger of Allah a beautiful pattern (of conduct) for any one whose hope is In Allah and the final Day, and who engages much In the Praise of Allah’. (33:21) The numerous poems, songs, drumming, music and dancing by both men and women are freely use as means of gracing the celebration of the Prophet birthday. In many occasions liquor, drugs of all types of intoxicants are freely sold and served. Single and unaccompanied young women are easy preys. All these are vices that are abhorred not only by Islam, bu by decency and modesty.

Finally, Truth can only be promoted and defended through legitimacy, and falsehood may only win for a short period but can never endure. “O Allah! Show us the truth and grant us the courage to live by it! O Allah! Expose for us falsehood and grant us the audacity to shun it”!

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

I

n recent years, Jos, the beautiful rocky city that is the capital of Plateau, had known no peace.

The home of Irish potato in Nigeria has been stricken by fatal tribal, ethnic and religious conflicts that have claimed many lives and properties.

However, those who have witnessed goings-on in Jos and its environs since mid-December, 2011, realize that there is a bright hope for peace and the return of normalcy to the plateau.

In the days between Dec. 19, 2011 and Dec. 25, 2011, the Nigeria Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC), practically relocated from its Abuja headquarters to Jos, the Plateau capital, advocating peace and peaceful co-existence.

Led by its director-general, Otunba Segun Runsewe, the NTDC team went round the NorthCentral city and its environs with its “peace message” in the course of the “National Peace Week”.

The national peace week was organized in collaboration with the office of the Chief of Defence Staff and the Ministry of Defence.

The week featured interactive sessions with religious, traditional and youth groups, a peace concert, carnivals, as well as golf and lawn tennis tournaments.

It also featured the planting of a “Peace Tree’’, and the cutting of a “Peace Cake.’’

But three weeks after the NTDC peace initiative, residents of Jos have continued to enjoy what many consider an “unexpected, strange calm” as former brothers turned enemies are becoming brothers once again.

Jos residents in particular and those of Plateau in general, are identifying the interactive sessions as largely responsible for the return of peace to their embattled homeland.

Rev. Joseph Bot, Executive Director, Plateau Peace Movement, believes that the peace witnessed in Jos, after the Christmas day bomb that hit Mountain of Fire Ministry Church, is because the youths are heeding Runsewe’s counsel against reprisal attacks.

Bot recalls the massive violence that followed similar bombs on Christmas Eve of 2010, and expresses happiness that the frank talk has made meaningful impact on the youth in Plateau.

Bot also notes that “not a single tyre (bonfire) was burnt during the week-long protests over the removal of petrol subsidy, that turned fatal in many states’’.

According to him, though everybody, from far-and-near, must have expected Plateau to burn during the fuel subsidy protests, they were disappointed as the state recorded zero violence.

With his proficiency in the Hausa language, Runsewe, a Yoruba man, had gathered youths of the various warring communities and created a platform where they all poured out their minds.

Though not exactly the “truth and reconciliation” commission, the meetings were the first of their kind since hostilities began 10 years ago in Plateau.

Speakers from both sides voiced out their worries, after which they all agreed to forgive one another and live in peace.

PAGE 27

NTDC’s peace message bears fruits in Plateau

Governor Jonah Jang of Plateau The sessions witnessed symbolic embracing of one another by youths and elders of hitherto rival communities, a development many observers hardly believed as they had been at one another’s throat for long.

Communities where peace embrace took place included Giring, Dogon Karfi, Dutse Uku, Tina Junction, and Jarawa. These areas had been hotbeds of violence over the years.

Remarkably, the community leaders followed up this path of reconciliation at a meeting between the Jama’atu Naril Islam (JNI) and the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), at the Jos Central Mosque, after the Christmas day bomb. There, they resolved to work together to restore peace to Plateau.

With the “peace seed’’ he planted in Plateau already yielding the right fruits, Runsewe said recently that a sincere approach to the crisis could indeed end hostilities in Plateau and make way for the exploration of its potentialities as a major tourist attraction in Africa.

“Our visit to Plateau gave us a lot of insight into the problem and how to tackle it. Clearly, there has always been a communication gap amongst the people.

“What we did was simply to establish the platform where they could reach out to each other and accept each other as one,’’ he says.

Alhaji Jamilu Yusuf, a top member of the JNI, believes that the NTDC team made much impact because it was a neutral body that had no selfish interest, aside the genuine desire for peace.

“When we listened to Otunba Segun Runsewe, we could see genuine efforts at bringing all parties together. He spoke our language and brought himself to our level. That was why all groups were ready to open up,’’ Yusuf said.

Runsewe says he is happy that the approach is really working.

“Throughout the interactive sessions and my meetings with all groups— both in private and in the open— I could sense that they were willing and ready to embrace peace.

“A large segment of the population showed a deep desire for the return of peace and normalcy.

From my experience, all we need is a sustained, sincere approach that will address the lingering mutual suspicion and Plateau will be very peaceful once again.’’

He says his team was interested in getting to the root of the matter, especially since it was clear that children there would have no future if there should be no peace.

Runsewe speaks further: “In one of the areas we visited, I felt encouraged when a 55-year-old man told me that he was worried over the future of his children.

That shows that everyone, irrespective of tribe or religion, is tired of the violence and wants peace.’’

Runsewe says he was moved to tears the day residents of war-torn communities of Giring, Dogon Karfe, Dutse Uku, Tina-Jarawa, all in Jos North Local Government, embraced each other and pledged to live in peace, henceforth.

“It was emotionally touching

to listen to youths relay how they had been deceived into taking up arms against friends; it was also gladdening to listen to such youths promise to ask people instigating them to first bring their children to the battle field,’’ he says.

He adds that he was happy that some people, who had left their settlements, agreed to return, and particularly recalled the testimony of a man who said he had lost 13 children to the orgy of violence on the plateau.

“The man was convinced he could ‘forgive and forget’, and throw his misfortune to the past, so as to have some peace of mind,’’ he adds.

The NTDC boss also commissioned some people to specially pray for peace in Plateau, noting that only a “significant few” were still distracting the people from their goal of a united, prosperous and peaceful Plateau.

Runsewe, however, agrees on the need to release the white papers of communities on the protracted violence over the years, but declares that the people themselves “must be willing to live in peace”.

“It will be good to release the white papers and implement their recommendations. But, the people must resolve to accept and love one another and live in peace.

“In life, you can never get peace unless there is peace within you and that is our mission here – make the people have peace inside them, so that it can radiate to others.’’

To sustain the effort, Runsewe says that the NTDC and the Plateau Government have agreed to hold an annual peace carnival to restore mutual confidence. He also suggests constant dialogue to resolve misunderstandings.

“Plateau alone can contribute N120 billion to Nigeria if its tourism potential is maximized.

With its rocks, the natural falls, the weather and many other tourist attractions, Plateau can rake in N120 billion tourist funds for Nigeria,’’ he explains.

Runsewe recalls that Plateau was always the destination of foreign and local investors, as well as foreign and local tourists, until peace took a flight and violence scared everyone away.

“As a body, we have always scheduled our conferences here; at a time, every other year, the Federal Government held conferences in Plateau. That is no longer the situation.

“Again, the falls in Dubai are artificial, yet, it is a major tourist attraction. We have natural waterfalls in Plateau, which can earn huge resources,” notes Runsewe.

As the people continue to savour their friendship reunion, Rep. Bitrus Kaze, who represents Jos South and Jos East, has continued to praise the NTDC initiative.

“Honestly, the most laudable aspect of the NTDC peace effort was the interactive session that

brought the people to one platform where they expressed their anger at happenings over the years.

They also voiced the perceived wrongs committed against them.

“That psychological purge did a lot of wonders; people were able to face each other with accusations and some misconceptions they had bottled up, over time, were resolved,’’ he said.

Mr Timothy Parlong, the Special Adviser to Gov. Jonah Jang on peace building, is also happy with the NTDC initiative, and says that the state government will continue to dialogue with all groups toward resolving lingering conflicts.

“Violence and fighting are no more the right way to resolve conflicts and issues in our communities. If you have a problem, there is a channel of communication and we want to encourage people to use such channels,’’ says Parlong.

To consolidate on recent giant strides toward peace, Jang says that government will tackle the remaining areas of suspicion among the communities.

“It is such suspicion that leads to the balkanization of Jos City and some places being referred to as ‘nogo areas’,’’ he says.

With the NTDC initiative already lauded as a huge success, Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Oluseyi Petinrin, recently moved to the second phase of the peace effort by launching a free medical services scheme for the 17 local governments in Plateau.

At the launch in Barkin Ladi on Jan. 9, 2012, Petinrin said that the aim was to boost mutual confidence among the people toward permanent peace.

The services, to be handled by Alliance Professional Resources Services, include free eye, blood pressure, tooth and sugar level tests, free treatment for various ailments, as well as community sanitation.

“The free medical services are a follow-up on the gains on peace building recorded by the NTDC during its Christmas week campaign to end hostilities in Plateau,’’ he says.

Petinrin says he is delighted at the impact the peace week had on the people, and that he is glad that NTDC focused on the poor and vulnerable, who are “usually the foot soldiers and victims of violence.

“But for the peace efforts by the NTDC, the problem in Jos would have been worse during the Christmas festivities.

“In the course of our meetings with the youths, we advised them against being incited against one another. We also spoke against the ‘so called-reprisals’ that usually follow every attack.

“You can see that no one took up arms against another after the Christmas bomb blast. It was not the same when similar blasts happened in 2010. Many people now know that they are victims of the same situation,’’ adds.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 28

Challenges for Nigeria’s broadcast media E

very sphere of the Nigerian society has experienced one change or the other in the last five decades of the nation’s independence.

In sports, arts and craft, sciences, medicine, mass media, education, telecommunications, among others, some of the changes have been most phenomenal in manifestation.

In particular, the growth of the nation’s information sector has been striking as a plethora of media organizations now abound in all parts of the federation.

From just a few media organizations in the 1960s, the number has exploded into hundreds of print and electronic media, operating on public and private ownerships basis in all nooks and crannies of the federation.

Specifically, the broadcast media, which was hitherto monopolized by government, has been liberalized to allow private ownerships, thus offering varieties and alternatives to their numerous audience.

Today, Nigeria boasts of over 40 television stations, about 139 radio stations and a handful of satellite-broadcast stations, while many applications for new licences have yet to be approved by the regulatory authority – the Nigerian Broadcasting Commission (NBC).

Analysts say that the phenomenal growth of the broadcast media has also come with unique challenges, both for the media owners and the media practitioners.

Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, Chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON), says that broadcasting in Nigeria has come of age and that BON is always ready to support the government’s development efforts.

According to him, the main challenge for the media is living up to the emerging demands of globalization of the broadcast media.

He says that more than ever before, broadcast stations are giving more access to all segments of the Nigerian society.

He, nonetheless, expatiates that the main preoccupation of broadcast media in the country in the months and years ahead will be the transition to digital broadcasting.

“As chairman of BON, I can tell you that our members are committed to addressing these challenges; our only problem is with the private stations, but we will get there,” he says with optimism.

Mr Yemi Farounbi, a veteran broadcaster, also appraises the television revolution in Nigeria and concludes that it has recorded a phenomenal growth, including moving from ‘black-and-white’ to colour production, and from analogue to digital broadcast

Malam Abubakar Jijiwa, Chairman of the Broadcasting Organization of Nigeria (BON) mode.

“The emphasis in the sector is shifting from quality of content to the impact of content on the attitudes and aspirations of the audiences.

“A child must learn to crawl before he can walk. Colour broadcasting in television is one level of development after the ordinary black-and-white era.

“We started television broadcasting in Nigeria when there was no colour anywhere around the world; we used ‘blackand-white’, and when the time came for the engineers to develop and design colour production, it took time to join the trend.’’

Going on memory lane, Farounbi recalls that the first colour television production in Nigeria took place in Jos, Plateau State.

For Mr Steve Koranyom, who in 1979 was a 22-year-old student at Midland Commercial College in Jos, “all I knew about television then was NTA’s telecasts.

“We did not have the luxury of choosing which station to watch nor did we have access to satellite channels like we all have today.

NTA was all that we knew about television.”

Koranyom, who is now 54, sees television from a broader perspective these days, having experienced those years of government’s monopoly of the media.

He contrasts those years of very

limited choice of television entertainment to the current era of ‘liberalisation’ of broadcasting.

He, however, advises that policy makers and experts in the sector must strive to continually make adjustments to suit emerging needs of the dynamic world.

Lasode Ogunbiyi, a mass communication scholar, says that innovations in technology, no doubt, pose a challenge as they have invariably changed the attitude of media audiences around the world.

“These challenges are mostly in the areas of access and content, which are the hallmark of the emerging broadcast revolution.”

Re-echoing Ogunbiyi’s viewpoint, Mr James Ashiekpe, a mass communication lecturer at the University of Jos, posits that the challenges for the broadcast media in the 21st century extend to changing tastes and preferences.

He insists that because of the intensity and extensiveness of media globalization, the broadcast media needs to act as agents of development, arguing that the changing tastes and preferences of the society will always alter their posture and structure.

For Rev. Fr Patrick Alumunku, a catholic priest and communication scholar, a lot still needs to be done in the area of “democratizing” broadcasting in Nigeria.

He argues that in spite of the

struggle in the past five decades, Nigeria has yet to get it right in terms of “democratizing” communication as compared to what obtains in other developing nations of the world.

“Despite almost a decade of our fight, we still have not entered into a democratic era in broadcasting – the granting of licences to private organizations.

“Democratic communication’ means that the people have communication in their hands and are able to use it to bring about development in their communities since democracy aims at development,” Alumunku expatiates.

He advises that after 51 years of independence, the ultimate challenge for the broadcast media in Nigeria is to consolidate on the liberalisation of the sector, which started in the 1990s.

“Nigeria is a huge society with a variety of voices and so, those voices need to be heard. Unless those voices are heard, you will be hearing the voices of a few people who pretend to speak on behalf of everybody else,” he says.

The communicator-cleric recalls his experiences in some African countries.

“I lived in a country for twelve years where every single community in that country — every little town, had a radio station. Some of them operated their radio stations for just two hours; that is, when they came back from work in the evening.

“Some villagers would sit down to play music and discuss local problems — how to improve their town.

“If you take a look at countries that surround Nigeria such as Cameroun, Benin, Niger, Chad, you will find out that they are far ahead of us.

“My study of many of these African countries show that we are far behind many of them in information management,” he says.

The cleric insists that the technology available today allowed every single community the access to responsible broadcasting, emphasing that the democratization of broadcasting is absolutely a great challenge for the broadcast media in Nigeria today.

“It has nothing to do with the equipment; it has to do with a change of mind and of attitude,” he says, adding that much energies are being dissipated on the change from analogue to digital modes of broadcast.

These viewpoints notwithstanding, there are those who believe that the desired changes in the nation’s broadcast media should be gradual as the existing stations are really doing their best.

Malam Awwalu Salihu, Head, Public Affairs Department of the National Broadcasting

Commission (NBC), says that tremendous strides have been made in the nation’s broadcast industry despite daunting challenges.

“Initially, the private players were not so sure of their place in the industry as very few of them dared to stake their resources in the sector.

“It took a long time for people to realise that this is for real and now, we have a deluge of applications for new licensing pending.

“We have people who are interested in community broadcasting; people who are interested in all kinds of broadcasting.”

Awwalu, however, expresses worry that there are other troubling dimensions to the phenomenal growth in the industry, especially with regard to the dearth of efficient manpower.

“You find in some instances, unqualified persons holding key positions in big broadcast stations, to the detriment of genuine growth in the sector,’’ he says.

Awwalu, nonetheless, stresses that “broadcasting in Nigeria is holding its own as far as the sector is concerned.”

He observes also that the challenge of digitization and democratization is very critical to the development of the broadcast industry in the country.

“Digitisation is a natural and normal progression in the industry; avoiding it is at the country’s peril. If there is no transition to digitization, there will be no space to accommodate new players.”

He adds that ‘democratisation’ of broadcasting cannot be pursued in isolation, noting that digitization is closely tied to democratisation.

On his part, the DirectorGeneral of the National Broadcasting Commission, Mr Yomi Bolarinwa, expresses optimism that Nigeria is most likely to be one of the first nations to go truly digital in terms of broadcasting in Africa.

Nigeria, he insists, has developed in broadcasting; from the initial government’s monopoly to the over 345 broadcast stations currently existing in parts of the federation.

He points out that the NBC has always given the required direction to them, thereby enabling quality service to their audiences.

Malam Mohammed Garba, President of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), posits that just like their print media counterparts, broadcast journalists in Nigeria have held their own in the industry.

He describes Nigerian broadcasters as being among the best on the continent, having grown from a modest background to becoming major players in the sector.

He, however, decries the poor remuneration for broadcasters, insisting that it is uninspiring to professionalism, as it will not bring out the best in them.

Culled from NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

M

adonna has announced plans to build 10 new schools in Malawi with a new partner after mismanagement forced the pop star to scrap her first project last year.

The singer, who has adopted two children from the impoverished southern African nation, said she hoped the 10 new schools would educate at least 1,000 children a year - half of them girls.

That is double the number of children she hoped to help with her previously planned academy for girls, which was scrapped in March 2011 because of mismanagement and cost overruns.

Madonna said her Raising Malawi charity was teaming up this time with the non-profit group buildOn, which has constructed 54 primary schools in Malawi in the last 19 years.

In a statement, she said: ‘I am excited that with the help of buildOn, we can maintain our ongoing commitment to move forward efficiently.

‘We will now be able to serve twice as many children as we would have served with our old approach.

‘I have learned a great deal over the last few years and feel confident that we can reach our goals to educate children in Malawi, especially young girls, in a much more practical way.

PAGE 29

Madonna plans ten new schools in Malawi

New project: Madonna walks with her daughter Lourdes in Gumulira village, Malawi, in 2007. The singer has announced plans to build 10 new schools in the African country ‘Constructing smaller schools in partnership with buildOn has restored my faith that we can accomplish what we promised we would.’

The Material Girl’s earlier plan to build a state-of-the-art school for around 400 girls just outside the

Star: Madonna stands with villagers at the Home of Hope Orphanage in Mchinji, Malawi

“

Collapsed: Madonna digs the beginnings of foundations for a girls' school in 2009, and carries the foundation brick, right. But plans for a 400-pupil school outside the capital Lilongwe fell apart last year because of mismanagement

I have learned a great deal over the last few years and feel confident that we can reach our goals to educate children in Malawi, especially young girls, in a much more practical way

Malawi capital Lilongwe collapsed last year, and the board of her Raising Malawi charity were sacked.

The New York Times said at the time that $3.8million had been spent on the school, with little to show for it.

Madonna has lent $11million to the organisation which she cofounded in 2006.

Earlier this month, she agreed to pay £96,000 to a group of charity workers who sued her after they lost their jobs when the first school project was abandoned.

Last year, it emerged that Raising Malawi’s initial plan involved land set aside by the government, but which had already been claimed by local villagers.

Malawi has more than half a million children orphaned by the AIDS epidemic and is ranked by the UN as one of the world’s 20 least developed countries.

Madonna’s plans for new schools came at the start of a busy week for the singer, actress and director.

Her new film, ‘W.E’, which she wrote and directed, opens in U.S. cinemas on Friday and she will perform at Sunday’s half-time show at the Super Bowl.

She will also release the first single from her new album on February 3.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Mission: The singer holds Mercy, whom she adopted two years ago from Malawi

Foundation: The pop star holds her adopted son David Banda alongside the boy's biological father Yohane during a visit to Malawi in 2009

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

World’s smallest woman becomes election campaigner for right wing party in India

T

he world’s smallest woman has revealed her very big ambitions - after turning her hand to politics to become the world’s smallest election campaigner.

Jyoti Amge, who stands just 62.8cm (2ft 6ins) tall, was seen supporting candidates of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) party, ahead of the forthcoming civic election in Mumbai, India.

The 18-year-old was officially recognised as the world’s smallest woman on her last birthday in December by Guinness World Records officials.

Earlier this week she beamed at a huge crowd after being hoisted into the air while supporting the MSN Party in Mumbai.

She was lifted above the crowds by 7ft 1inch tall look-alike of the WWE wrestler ‘Great Khali’, drawing cheers from the large crowd who had gathered around her.

Jyoti had shown her support for the local right wing party in the local municipal elections this week.

However, she fears her diminuitive status means she has become too famous.

She said: ‘One of the problems with being famous is people mob you wherever you go.

‘Many of them ask very irritating questions. If I were not the shortest woman in the world, I would not have become famous.’

Jyoti weighs just 12lbs (5.5kg) only 9lbs more than she did at birth - and has a form of dwarfism call achondroplasia, which stopped her growing after her first birthday.

She has brittle bones and is likely

Hitting the heights: Jyoti is held aloft while supporting her local right wing political party ahead of civic elections in Mumbai, India to need care for the rest of her life.

As a teenager at school in Nagpur, Jyoti had her own small desk and chair, but said the other students didn’t treat her any differently.

She also has to sleep in a specially-made bed and uses

utensils that are smaller than average.

This was not Amge’s first Guinness record. Until her 18th birthday she was considered the world’s shortest teenager, but in turning 18 qualified for the new title.

She has grown less than 1cm

(0.4in) in the last two years, Guinness said in a statement, and will grow no more due to a form her dwarfism.

Her teenage title brought the chance for multiple Guinnesssponsored trips to Japan and Italy for tours and meetings with other

record holders, she said.

The title of shortest woman in history continues to be held by Pauline Musters, who lived in the Netherlands from 1876 to 1895 and stood 61 centimeters (24 inches) tall.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Budget 2012 (3) - The security spending spree Contd. from Back Page What should interest us and citizens and our national assembly members is that similar provisions were made in the 2011 Budget for all these items, so what have we spent so far and when will the budgeting cycle end and the “ongoing projects” completed? Are we getting value for money? Except for Iridium which there is enough comparative data, there aren’t enough details on the other items to say no for certain and since security procurements are usually exempted from open, competitive bidding, ‘due process’ and procurement audits, we can all draw our conclusions.

The SSS proposes to spend about N46 billion in 2012. About half of this will go to paying the 15,000 or so staff of the service about N1.56 million per head. The regular overhead to run the SSS offices in Abuja and all the states of the federation is a N4.14 billion.

Compared with the NSA’s overhead, the SSS provision looks modest! The “operations vote”, that is what the SSS can freely spend on informants and intelligence is a mere N700 million for operations in 36 states, the FCT and

headquarters compared with the NSA’s N950 million in one advisory/coordinating location.

There is something amiss here!

The capital budget of the SSS is nearly N18 billion, a nearly tenfold increase from last year’s. The SSS intends to spend N1 billion on vehicles, cellphone location tracking system (N1.3bn), counter surveillance jammer (N500m), VSAT project (N1.675bn), advanced explosive detectors (total of N3bn), arms and ammunition (N500m) and construction of various office and residential buildings all over the country for N6bn. Should SSS staff live in special “provided” accommodation? Should they not live within the communities they are located, enabling blending and more effective intelligence gathering? These are policy questions that require serious consideration.

The NIA intends to spend about N41bn this year - N23.6bn for personnel costs, about N3bn for overhead and about N14.8bn for capital projects. The regular overhead to run NIA’s Abuja office and its agents abroad is some N2.6bn, about the same as the NSA’s office. The operations vote is N450m, less than half of the NSA’s!

Again, there is something that does not add up here. The NIA plans to spend a whopping N530m to buy computers (N146m), active and counter-measures equipment (N142.5m), GSM monitoring equipment (N104.5m), Access control system for Abuja office (N101m) and covert photographic equipment for N36m). If each computer and software bundle costs an average of N150,000, it means the NIA intends to buy nearly 1,000! There must be something to explain here.

The NIA wants to purchase its own firefighting engine for about N14m and upgrade its fire alarm system for N46m!. The agency intends to purchase encrypted fixed satellite terminals (N128m), 115 Bgan terminals for N100m, and an assortment of satellite communications equipment, interception systems and accessories for over N1.5bn! Bomb detectors, metal detectors and cyber-security (again!) investments will cost over N1bn. Servers, storage, central power backup and virtual private networks will cost about N2bn. ’Training and technical presentation tools’ for Abuja and our 135 missions abroad will cost another N2bn.

The NIA intends to buy P.90 Belgian rifles for N1m each instead of the average retail price of about $1,900. Russian-made AK-47 assault rifles retail for between $400 and $600 in the open market, with the East European version as cheap as $100 each. We hope the N63,750 NIA proposes to spend will purchase the more expensive, original Kalashnikovs! In all the NIA will spend N286 million buying such rifles, pistols and ammunition of various kinds. Ongoing construction projects to be undertaken in the year include residential buildings (N2.28bn), Schools (N2.7bn), three entrance gates at the headquarters (N100m), the expansion of its clinic (N100m), and the rehabilitation of gym and shooting range (N321m).

Back to the value-for-money question. Are the prices that we are paying for these items the right prices? Those amongst us that are quantity surveyors, cost engineers and procurement experts would opine that we are paying way above international market prices for many of these items. However, a more pertinent question is whether the duplication of investments in satellite communications, GSM/ GPS tracking and interception

systems in the NSA, SSS and NIA budgets (details above) are not wasteful and proof of coordination failures! Clearly, the investments need to be streamlined with all the services connected to a ‘situation room’ in the NSA’s office and the Villa, not what appears to be here each agency pursuing its investment agenda independent of the other, and buying similar stuff that are probably technically incompatible.

Unless we target our resources to real needs, increase transparency and accountability in security spending as suggested by General Muhammadu Buhari in December 2011, and eliminate duplications and copy-cat procurements in our budget, we will continue to lose the value of these investments. When the spending is supposed to be for our security, it might simply end up in the pockets of officials and contractors, while the citizens get insecurity as the result. Security must not be seen as an easy, moneymaking machine. This is what it appears to citizens these days. We can do better. Our leaders must do better. There is no better time to act than right now, that security is on everyone’s mind.

Concluded

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Race relations in Britain: How far have we really come?(I) ANALYSIS

T

here are some days that will stain our collective conscience for generations to come.

April 22, 1993, was one of these. This was the day that black teenager Stephen Lawrence was stabbed to death by a group of young white men in an act of racist abuse in Eltham, south London. The victim was 18.

January 3, 2012, was another of these days. Almost two decades after Lawrence was killed, 35-year-old David Norris and 36-year-old Gary Dobson were convicted of perpetrating his racially motivated murder, and later sentenced to a minimum of 14 years and 15 years respectively.

The verdicts may have been cathartic in the minds of some, a sense of relief that Britain and its attitudes toward race have come a long way since 1993.

Stephen's race-related murder, London's Metropolitan Police Service's (MPS) abysmal investigation of it and two failed prosecutions forced the country to take a long, hard look at itself. And we didn't like what we saw. For when Stephen's future was stolen from him, the UK was also robbed of the comfort blanket that it had cocooned itself in.

We had been under an illusion that the days of widespread racism, of the National Front marches in the 1970s and Brixton race riots of 1981 had been consigned to history. This was a fact that many nonwhite people had long known: that certain elements within British society were still racist. And the myth that only white working-class youths were bigoted was exposed for what it was: a lie.

Some in the middle classes and in our institutions - the police, the Crown Prosecution Service and the judicial system - the very people we, as Britons, turned to for justice, were also racists.

The publication of the Macpherson report in 1999 in the wake of Stephen's death was seminal in modern British culture. The official inquiry catalogued a series of failures in the criminal justice system and the Metropolitan Police

Stephen Lawrence's racially motivated murder dispelled the illusion that racism no longer existed in the UK [EPA]

handling of the murder investigation. It branded the force, and British police in general, as "institutionally racist". The findings shocked mainstream British society to the core.

In the weeks after Stephen's murder, I recall my mother's fears for my teenage brother's safety. She urged him not to stay out late, for fear the next time she would see him would be in a hospital morgue.

Many mothers, whose children were not white, also felt the same.

These anxieties are nestled alongside of childhood memories of having friends of various races. At school in London, my classes included children of many ethnic backgrounds, a diversity that I took for granted. But this was a childhood that was also punctuated by flashes of racism - of growing up on a council estate where being south Asian wasn't acceptable to some.

"Why are you riding a bike when you should be on a camel or an elephant?" Or: "Paki, go home." These would be among the insults my older brother and I would sometimes receive from white teenagers. When he was 11, I saw him take a beating from a much older white boy because of the colour of his skin. So when covert police surveillance footage of Dobson and Norris - in which they boasted of how they'd like to kill "coons" and "Pakis" - was made public, something hit home. Hard.

Britain has come a long way since then. Stephen's death and the public outcry which followed forced a long period of introspection that led to procedural and institutional changes within law enforcement and the criminal justice system.

The Macpherson report prompted the Metropolitan Police to initiate reforms that vastly improved the ways

“

victims of race crime were treated by officers. The force also worked towards recruiting more black and Asian officers. Today, almost ten per cent of the MPS' approximately 32,000 officers are from ethnic minority backgrounds almost three times the number a decade ago - though rising to a senior rank remains elusive to many.

Legislative reform also formed the backbone of M a c p h e r s o n ' s recommendations. England and Wales' double jeopardy law - which meant a person could not be re-tried for an offence they had already been acquitted of - was amended in 2005. This meant that suspects could be re-tried if new evidence was discovered a change that was instrumental in securing Dobson's conviction, after he was acquitted of Stephen's murder in 1996.

But though societal attitudes are changing, progress in addressing systematic institutional discrimination has been far too slow. Legislation is only as fair if it is correctly implemented.

Courts also came under greater pressure to impose heavier sentences on racially motivated and faith-based crimes, and political pressure led to the extension of the Race Relations Act to legally require all public institutions to promote race equality.

Today, we can also see many more MPs of different ethnic backgrounds in parliament. This inclusive participation in the democratic process is a marked change that should be acknowledged. Recent official figures point to this heterogeneity - around 12 per cent of the 55 million people in England and Wales are not white.

But though societal attitudes are changing, progress in addressing systematic institutional discrimination has been far too slow. Legislation is only as fair if it is correctly implemented. Nowhere is this more evident than in police stop and search figures, conviction rates and the sentencing of black and Asian people.

These are controversial litmus tests against which the police, courts and broader criminal justice system continue to fall short.

Source: Aljazeera.com

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 32

E

Tunisian forces kill two in clashes with armed group

T

unisian forces killed two gunmen and captured a third after clashes on Wednesday night with what appeared to be a group of Islamists smuggling weapons in the east of the country, several security and government sources said.

Five Tunisian security forces were also wounded in the fighting near the industrial port city of Sfax, 237 kms (147 miles) southeast of Tunis, and police and military had cordoned off the area, security sources said.

The clashes were the first to take place in Tunisia since elections in October ushered in a government dominated by moderate Islamist group Ennahda and two secular partners.

Tunisia's interior ministry forces were shaken by the revolt that ousted Zine alAbidine Ben Ali and brought down his police state a year ago and secularist groups have accused Ennahda of being too soft on armed militants and religious extremists.

Mohammed al-Tunsi, a National Guard official, had said the three gunmen appeared to be Salafis, ultraconservative Islamists, but Interior Minister Ali Larayed, a senior member of Ennahda, told reporters on Wednesday night it was too early to identify them.

He described the incident as "dangerous" and promised more details on Thursday.

Larayed said a large stash of assault rifles and ammunition had been discovered in the vehicle the three men were travelling in.

The gunmen abandoned their car and hid in the surrounding countryside where they exchanged fire with police and military for several hours while a helicopter buzzed overhead.

A spokesman for President Moncef al-Marzouki told state television he believed the gunmen were part of a 20strong gang that smuggled weapons through Tunisia.

Tunisia, the birthplace of the Arab Spring protests that swept the region in 2011, has made a relatively smooth transition to an elected constituent assembly that will draft a new constitution for the country.

gypt has declared three days of mourning for at least 74 people who died at a football stadium amid violent clashes between rival supporters in the northern city of Port Said.

Angry members of parliament denounced the lack of security at the match and gathered for an emergency session yesterday, a day after violence erupted following an upset victory by home team al-Masry over Cairo's top club, al-Ahly.

"Egypt went through a difficult night yesterday. Egypt spent its night crying [over] its dead," parliament speaker Saad Katatni said in the session's opening remarks.

Earlier, Essam el-Erian, a politician from the Muslim Brotherhood's Freedom and Justice party, said the military and police were complicit in the violence, accusing them of trying to show that emergency regulations giving security forces wide-ranging powers must be maintained.

"This tragedy is a result of intentional reluctance by the military and the police,'' he said.

Mohamed Ibrahim, Egypt's interior minister, said many of the victims had died in a crush of people at the stadium.

At least 52 people have been arrested and authorities said the search for suspects linked to the violence was continuing.

Activists scheduled rallies for Thursday outside the headquarters of the interior

Anger in Egypt over deadly football riot

Al-Ahly players escaped from the field as al-Masry fans rushed to the pitch after Wednesday's match in Port Said [AFP] ministry in Cairo to protest against the inability of police to stop the bloodshed.

In Port Said, residents marched early on Thursday, denouncing the violence and saying it was a conspiracy by the

military and police to cause chaos.

The violence broke as soon as the referee blew the final whistle in Wednesday's match, which saw alMasry beat al-Ahly 3-1.

Fans of the winning al-Masry team flooded the field seconds after

the final whistle.

A security official said fans chased al-Ahly players and cornered their supporters on the field and around the stadium, throwing stones and bottles at them.

Lapodini Marc Atouga of Togo Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources Mr. Hamid Ahmed of Niger - Trade, Customs, Industry, Mines and Free Movement Amb. Ibrahim Ba of Mali - Macroeconomic Policy Mr. Ebrima Njie of The Gambia - Infrastructure Mrs. Khady Ramatu Sacco of Sierra Leone - Administration and Finance Mrs. Salamatu Suleiman of Nigeria - Political Affairs, Peace and Security During the brief introduction ceremony at the Commission's

Abuja Headquarters, President Gbeho welcomed the new Commissioners and expressed the hope that they would put their vast, varied and impressive experiences at the disposal of the Commission in pursuit of the goals of the regional Organization. He also pledged the commitment of the staff to work closely and diligently with the new Commissioners. The outgoing VicePresident of the Commission, Mr. Jean de Dieu Somda welcomed the new statutory appointees and wished them well. The President had

earlier anniounced that the incoming Vice-President Dr. Toga Mckintosh, until now Liberia's Foreign Minister, will be joining the Commission's management team later this month. Following its transformation in 2007 from an Executive Secretariat to a Commission, the ECOWAS Commission is run by a management team comprising the President, VicePresident and seven Commissioners.

The tenure of the pioneer seventh Commissioner, Dr. Adrienne Diop will end in June 2012.

ECOWAS new commissioners assume office

S

ix new ECOWAS Commissioners yesterday assumed duty at the Commission, replacing some of the pioneer Commissioners whose fouryear tenure ended on 31st January 2012. The Commissioners, who emerged from a recent recruitment exercise, validated by the ECOWAS Council of Ministers at an extraOrdinary meeting on 14th January 2012, were introduced to staff by the President of the Commission, His Excellency James Victor Gbeho. The new Commissioners are: Dr.

DR Congo opposition makes election gains

T

he Democratic Republic of Congo's ruling party and its allies won a reduced

parliamentary majority in November elections, according to results released two months after the disputed polls.

The electoral commission announced the figures yesterday, saying President Joseph Kabila's People's Party for Reconstruction and Democracy (PPRD) and its allies captured an absolute

Opposition leader Etienne Tshisekedi's Union for Democracy and Social Progress (UDPS) party won 41 seats [Reuters]

majority of about 260 seats in the 500-seat National Assembly.

The opposition won about 110 seats, the results from the November 28 vote showed.

Despite the parliamentary majority, Kabila's party lost more than 40 per cent of its legislative seats to its rivals.

The outcome could weaken his rule in the central African state after his own presidential re-

Rights groups condemn violence in Senegal

H

uman-rights groups in Senegal, including the local branch of the UKbased Amnesty International, have condemned police violence during an opposition rally in which one person was killed.

Officers used tear gas and water cannons to break up the protest in the capital, Dakar, on Tuesday night, attended by an

estimated 10,000 people in what until now had been one of Africa's most stable countries Amnesty International and the Senegalese Human Rights League and African Assembly for the Defence of Human Rights said in a statement on Wednesday they "vigorously [condemned] deliberate

violence perpetrated by police against peaceful, unarmed protesters".

The joint statement, drawing on witness accounts, said live bullets had been fired into the crowd. They also accused police of having "fired tear gas at medical vehicles."

Scores were injured and one man killed when a police lorry

election was decried by the opposition as fraudulent, in polls which were also criticised by international observers.

"The results of these elections took a long time, but it was to ensure their overall transparency," said election commission chief Daniel Ngoy Mulunda.

Kabila's PPRD party won 62 seats in the assembly, down from 111 after the p r e v i o u s l e g i s l a t i v e polls in 2006, Mulunda said. drove into the crowd. Police have denied it was their vehicle which killed a 32-year-old man.

The two rights groups called for an independent inquiry into the night's unrest.

Thousands of people were protesting against plans by President Abdoulaye Wade, 85, to seek a third term in office in February 26 polls in what the opposition has branded a "constitutional coup d'etat".

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 33

China’s investment in Africa reached $14.7bn in 2011 MrJiaQinglin, is the Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference(CPPCC). He attended the opening ceremony of the 18th AU Summit in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Prior to his visit, he spoke to reporters on current China-AU, China-Africa relations. Excerpts:

INTERVIEW

H

ow would you comment on the current development of China- Africa relations?

How will China help Africa gain its due place on the international arena?

In recent years, relations between China and Africa have continued to make fresh progress on the basis of their traditional friendship, demonstrating a strong vitality and a huge potential for development.

Political trust between the two sides has deepened steadily with cooperation in the economy, trade and other fields ascending to new levels and cultural and people-to-people exchanges increasing in scope and depth.

The two sides have maintained close coordination on major international and regional issues. Under the guidance of the Forum on the China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), the new type of strategic partnership between the two sides is growing in strength and assuming new dimensions.

We are pleased to note that the role played by Africa in international and regional affairs has become increasingly important in recent years. This, in my view, is attributable to two factors. The first is that the trend of seeking strength through unity among African countries has picked up momentum. The second is that the solidarity and cooperation between African countries and other developing countries has grown stronger.

Facts have proven that ChinaAfrica cooperation has not only served the economic and social development and rising international status of the two sides but also contributed to peace and development globally.

I have come here upon invitation to attend the African Union summit and pay a visit to Ethiopia. The purpose of my visit is to show to Africa and the international community at large that China firmly commits itself to enhancing solidarity and

cooperation with African countries, firmly supports African efforts for strength through unity and the integration process, and that China firmly support a greater African role in international and regional affairs.

China endeavors to deepen its cooperation with African on the basis of equality, mutual trust and mutual benefit, and is ready to join the international community in promoting peace and development in Africa.

What are the principles guiding China's efforts to promote economic development in Africa? What will the Chinese government do to expand investment in Africa?

China pursues a win-win strategy of opening up, which means that China aims to develop itself amid the common development of all developing countries. While working to develop ourselves, we strive to enhance economic cooperation with Africa and accelerate African development through our own development. In conducting cooperation with Africa, we adhere to the principles of mutual benefit and common development, making sure that our assistance will be results-oriented and that we will not interfere in the internal affairs of the recipient countries.

This practice has been widely appreciated by African countries.

Investment is an important part of China-Africa economic cooperation.

The Chinese government has all along encouraged and supported greater investment in Africa by competitive and reputable Chinese companies and has taken measures to guide such efforts. They include providing concessional loans, establishing the China-Africa Development Fund and setting up economic and trade cooperation zones in Africa. These measures have served as effective incentives.

The stock of Chinese investment in Africa surged from US$490 million at the end of 2003 to

“

US$14.7 billion in 2011, which covers mining, finance, manufacturing, construction, tourism, agriculture, forestry, animal farming, fishery and many other fields. The number of Chinese companies that have made investment in Africa has surpassed 2,000.

The Chinese side stands ready to discuss with the African side on the areas, modalities and channels of expanding investment with a view to improving the quality of cooperation in the future.

How do you view the status and role of AU? What symbolic meaning does the AU Conference Complex built

by China have for ChinaAfrica relations? The 18th AU summit will convene under the theme of "Boosting IntraAfrica Trade". What role will China play in promoting this kind of trade?

The AU is the most representative and most important inter-governmental organization in Africa. Since its inception 10 years ago, it has made significant contribution to peace, stability and development in Africa and become a banner of strength through unity in the continent.

China attaches great importance to its relations with the AU. In recent years, thanks to the concerted efforts of both sides, China-AU relations have achieved comprehensive and rapid growth with bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various fields deepening continuously. The decision to build the AU Conference Complex was a key outcome of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

With less than three years of construction, it was completed on schedule at the end of last year. The AU Conference Complex on top of the "Roof of Africa" embodies China's staunch support for Africa's effort for strength through unity and the integration process, and will undoubtedly become a new monument to China-Africa friendship and China-AU cooperation.

China will step up consultation and coordination with African countries to make good preparations so as to ensure its complete success and pave the way for greater progress in the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

MrJiaQinglin, Given the complex and grim picture of the world economy, strengthening economic integration at the regional level will help build up Africa's capacity to resist external risks.

That the 18th AU summit chose "Boosting Intra-Africa Trade" as its theme is of great significance.

We sincerely hope that the meeting will make positive progress to this end. We have noted that both the AU and the African countries at large hope to see China actively participating in the integration process of Africa, Particularly in the areas of cross-border and cross-region infrastructure development. China holds a positive attitude towards this.

We are ready to step up exchanges and dialogue with the AU and sub-regional organizations and will lose no time in promoting cooperation for enhanced connectivity in Africa in a spirit of practicality and innovation.

The Chinese government announced eight new measures to advance ChinaAfrica practical cooperation at the 4th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC. What progress has been made in the implementation of these measures?

Since the inception of FOCAC in October 2000, the Chinese side has earnestly implemented all its cooperation commitments made at various ministerial and the Beijing Summit. The achievements, which have been well received by the African side and highly regarded by the international community, are here for everyone to see.

In well over two years since the 4th Ministerial of FOCAC, China and Africa have worked

together to implement the outcomes of the conference and made important headway in cooperation despite grave challenges posed by the international financial crisis.

Smooth progress has been made in debt cancellation, tariff exemption, provision of concessional loans and the scheme of special loans designed to help small and medium sized African enterprises.

Such projects as agricultural technology demonstration centers, clean energy development and China-Africa friendship schools have all been well underway.

Personnel training programs for Africans have been carried out in an allround way. A series of important and exciting activities such as the China-Africa Agriculture Forum, the FOCAC-legal Forum, the Young Leaders Forum, the People's Forum, the Science and Technology Forum, the Thinktank Forum, the "African Culture in Focus" program, the 20+20 Cooperation plan for Chinese and African Institutions of Higher Education and the Joint Research and Exchange Program, have been held one after another, bringing China-Africa Cooperation to a new high.

This year will see the "grand finale" of the implementation of the 4th Ministerial outcomes.

China will keep on working with African countries to complete all follow-up actions.

With the 5th Ministerial of FOCAC due to be held this year, China will step up consultation and coordination with African countries to make good preparations so as to ensure its complete success and pave the way for greater progress in the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership.

PAGE 34

I

ndia's Supreme Court has revoked all 122 telecom licences issued under a scandaltainted 2008 sale, plunging the mobile network market of Asia's thirdlargest economy into uncertainty.

Thursday's ruling is a setback for Manmohan Singh's government, which oversaw the sale of the licences at below-market prices, costing the exchequer up to $36bn in lost revenues.

The licences affected by yesterday's decision include those held by Unitech Wireless, the Indian joint venture of Norway's Telenor and Unitech.

"We have been unfairly treated as we simply followed the government process we were asked to," the Telenor joint venture said in

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

India revokes graft-tainted telecom licenses a statement.

"We are shocked to see that Uninor is being penalised for faults the court has found in the government process."

The telecoms scandal is the biggest of several to emerge during Singh's second term and triggered massive street protests last year.

Two ministers, including former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja, who presided over the 2008 grant process, have resigned. Raja is in prison awaiting trial.

"This country is no longer willing to allow these corrupt corporations and these corrupt public officials to retain the benefits

of their illegal and corrupt actions," Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer and petitioner in the case, said.

India is the second-largest mobile phone market in the world by subscribers, with 894 million at the end of December, although the market is crowded with more than a dozen operators, making call rates among the lowest in the world.

Investors and operators have long been calling for consolidation in the crowded industry, and Thursday's ruling stands to benefit the country's biggest operators, including Bharti Airtel and Vodafone.

Kuwaitis vote to choose new government

V

oting is under way in oilexporting Gulf Arab state of Kuwait to elect a fourth parliament in six years after a

youth revolt last year led to the resignation of the prime minister.

"In the past years the parliament broke our hearts and

Kuwaitis took to the polls after the country's ruler dissolved parliament and called for elections in December [Reuters]

let us down," said Badr Yousef alJuweihel after casting his ballot yesterday at al-Adeyliya polling station in central Kuwait.

"We didn't benefit, in fact we went backwards and our time was wasted."

Kuwaiti opposition parties are expected to make gains in the snap election called by country's ruler, Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad alSabah, in December after dissolving the chamber in response to a deepening political deadlock that has stymied reform and held up vital development projects.

Frustration has been growing at the impasse which came to a head in November when protesters led by opposition MPs stormed the assembly demanding the resignation of then-Prime Minister Sheikh Nasser al-Mohammed alSabah, accusing him of corruption.

India's former telecoms minister Andimuthu Raja is awaiting trial over widespread corruption allegations [AFP]

Court summons Pakistani PM in contempt case

P

akistan's top court has summoned Yousuf Raza Gilani, the prime minister, to appear later this month for the framing of contempt charges over his refusal to pursue corruption cases against the country's president, his lawyer said.

Yesterday's court's decision follows an attempt by Gilani's lawyer to avoid the charge in a hearing before the judges last month.

"The court has decided to frame charges against prime minister Yousuf Raza Gilani. He has been asked to be present in person on February 13 when he will be indicted," Gilani's lawyer, Aitzaz Ahsan, told reporters.

"There is a possibility for an appeal in this matter. It is up to the court whether to suspend this order or not. This will be decided after getting a copy of the order," Ahsan added.

Extreme freeze claims lives in eastern Europe

A

t least 43 people have died in the past five days in Ukraine in a cold snap that has brought temperatures down to minus 33 degrees Celsius, causing chaos across swathes of southern and eastern Europe.

Most of the victims were homeless people killed by hypothermia, Ukraine's emergencies ministries said as the country reeled from its coldest winter in six years.

Temperatures in the eastern European nation do not normally drop below minus 15C in winter.

Another 500 people have been treated in hospital for frostbite and other cold-related ailments while 1,600 centres have been set up to provide makeshift accommodation and dispense food and drinks for homeless people, the ministry said.

In the Black Sea, Turkish coast guards are searching for eight crew members missing since a cargo ship sank in stormy conditions near the port of Zonguldak on Tuesday.

The Cambodian-registered Vera was sailing from Russia to the Turkish Aegean port of Aliaga, according to Turkish media..

Three members of the 11strong crew, consisting of 10 Ukrainians and a Georgian, were saved and taken to hospital.

Also in Turkey, the Bosphorus Strait, a key shipping route for Russian oil and other commodities, was closed to all vessels on Tuesday due to reduced

visibility caused by a snowstorm, coast guard officials said.

Passage for vessels longer than 200 metres and those carrying dangerous cargo was suspended on Monday due to poor visibility in the strait, which runs through Istanbul and forms a vital link for traffic between the Black Sea and

the Mediterranean.

Seven north-bound and southbound tankers were waiting for the Bosphorus to re-open, shipping agenct GAC said.

There were gale warnings for parts of the Marmara, Black Sea and Aegean, the shipping agent added.

The judge told the Supreme Court that there were grounds to proceed against Yousuf Raza Gilani [Reuters]

US to end Afghan combat role in 2013

T

he United States has announced plans to end its combat mission in Afghanistan in 2013 and shift to a training role, one year prior to when most US troops are expected to withdraw.

Wednesday's comments by Defence Secretary Leon Panetta was the first time the US administration had forecast American and allied troops could end their combat operations by the second half of next year.

"Hopefully by the mid-tolatter part of 2013, we'll be able to make a transition from a combat role to a train, advise and assist role," Panetta told reporters aboard his plane en route to a NATO meeting in Brussels.

"That's basically what...we did in Iraq. And it's what we're going to try to do in Afghanistan", Panetta said.

In keeping with the approach used by the administration of US President Barack Obama in

Iraq, Panetta said the end of a US combat role in the CentralAsian nation is part of a gradual NATO plan adopted in Lisbon in

November 2010, which calls for handing over security duties to Afghan forces by the end of 2014.

The United States had no plans

to move up the 2014 deadline for the withdrawal of American and coalition forces, Panetta said.

Panetta was "pleased" France indicated it would retain long-term training and advising role in Afghanistan [Reuters]

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 35

‘I’m a figure of hate’: Single mother of 14 slams critics who brand her a scrounger

J

oanne Watson responds to critics on TV show 15 Kids and Counting 40-year-old insist that she regrets their infamy Pays £27 a week rent on fourbedroomed house while receiving £565 in benefits Squeezed into a four-bedroom council house in Guernsey lives a woman branded the UK's most prolific single mother.

Joanne Watson, 40, has 14 children, ranging in age from three to 22 and survives largely on state benefits after the breakdown of her marriage in 2010.

Once celebrated in endless articles in the press for her clan of immaculately turned-out blonde children, who were then supported entirely by the salary of her hardworking husband John, Joanne Watson and her family have now become figures of ridicule - and even hate.

The family's bubble was burst four years ago when an accident meant John, 46, had to give up work as a lorry driver.

The financial pressure of caring for his 14 children meant John made a decision he will forever regret. As his health improved and with bills mounting, John claimed benefits while simultaneously taking some earnings.

He was caught, and the man who for two decades had been seen as the model father was sent to prison. The couple, who Joanne says had been arguing for years, separated and divorced.

'I feel pretty sore about what went on,' John says now. 'I've been married 20 years and been a good father. I've worked hard. Nobody can say I haven't, because I have.'

'I did get done for benefit fraud,' John admits.' But I paid my punishment, I went to prison and I paid all the money back.

Joanne leaps to her exhusband's defence. 'He wasn't doing it to go on holidays and buy mobile phones,' Jo says. 'He was doing it to support us.'

Thewatson children "

Natasha, 22

"

Bradley, 21

"

Shanice, 19

"

Mariah, 16

"

Georgia, 14

"

Caitlin, 12

"

Brittany, 11

"

Febrianne, 10

"

Charlie, nine

"

Lilly-Arna, eight

"

Nerilly-Jade, seven

"

Armani, five

"

Tallulah, four

"

Indianna, three

Mum of Britain's biggest family Joanne Watson, 40, left, stands at the head of her 14 children at their family home in St Martin, Guernsey: From left to right, Indianna, two; Tallulah, three; Armani (known as Arnie), five; Nerilly-Jade, six; Lilly-Arna 7; Charlie, nine; Febrianne, 10; Brittany, 11; Caitlin, 12; Georgia, 15; Mariah, 15; Shanice, 19; Bradley, 20; and Natasha 22 The publicity the case attracted has made life - one that was already played out in the public eye - yet more difficult for the Watson children. Georgia, 15, says her regular appearance in the papers makes life at her school in St Martins very difficult.

'When we're in the papers, everyone talks about it at school

the next day,' she says. 'Last time I was in the paper everyone was discussing it. People were leaving messages on my Facebook page.

There were over 100 comments and not one of them good.

'A boy at school the next day saw me and said, "Oy, what's a Watson doing here?" I said I'd been here all along but he said I

shouldn't be there because there was too many of us.

'We're only a family. We're like everyone else,' she adds.

But Georgia is not entirely like everyone else. She is a sweet, calm girl with an outlook that is mature beyond her years. She helps tirelessly at home: planning school uniforms and

packed lunches for the rest of the children, bathing her threeyear-old sister Indianna and putting her to bed.

While her home life is no doubt happy and full of love, she has, perhaps, missed out on some of the carefree moments that children in smaller families take for granted.

Last time I was in the paper everyone was discussing it. People were leaving messages on my Facebook page. There were over playing happy families. It's not 100 comments and not one of them good. right. I couldn't take any more.

S

on Bradley, a professional boxer, says the taunts are never-ending. 'If your name is Watson, it doesn't go down too well,' 21-year-old Bradley says evenly. 'They never say anything to my face, but your ears are always burning. I don't like it, but what can you do about it?'

But while the children of the household struggle with life under the microscope, Jo is defiant about the public's reaction to her

Supplies, supplies: Joanne at home with her weekly shopping

and her brood.

'When I was in town this week, a woman looked at me and said, "Oh look, it's the baby-making machine." I just glared at her,' Jo adds. 'Sod them all,' she says. 'This is the way I am.'

Despite Jo's ability to rise above the attention though, it's clear that her children despair of their mother's continual procreation - and of their own cramped (if always neat and tidy) quarters.

'Our family is huge, laments one of the littlest boys. There's a new one born nearly every year.

Being in a big family is horrible. If she has any more, that's it, this house won't fit us.'

Indeed, the house is full to bursting. With 11 children still living at home, getting ready for school is a military style operation, with little uniformed bodies filing out of the front door in a seemingly endless line. Packed lunches are a production line involving bags of fruit and dozens of sandwiches. There are mountains of washing to be done daily - 56 loads a month, to be precise.

Joanne pays only £27 a week rent for the house, a heavily subsidised fraction of the normal cost, receives a total of £160 a week in family allowance for the

11 children still living at home, and another £405 a week in supplementary benefit. But money is still tight, and a budget must be adhered to.

And since her marriage broke down, with a little help from her children, Jo has to do it all herself. But despite the workload, Joanne believes firmly that ending her crumbling marriage was the right thing to do.

'When I was expecting my 14th child, my husband phoned the papers to tell them so they could arrange a photoshoot. But I refused to do it. I couldn't go on

The way we were arguing, I didn't want the children to hear it any more.'

Since her marriage broke down, Joanne has been on the look out for a new love - and hasn't given up on the idea of having another baby.

In the hopes of meeting a new man, Joanne signed up to local dating agencies. But even there she met with prejudice.

One dating agency refused point blank to have her on their books, saying the men they dealt with wouldn't want someone like Joanne.

Squeezed on the sofa : Joanne Watson with the 11 children who still live at the family home

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 37

Battle of the titans, as Adamawa decides . . .

ANALYSIS

B

arely twenty four hours to the Adamawa state governorship election, the plots and strategies political groups in the state have hitherto kept close to their chest is beginning to play out amidst mounting tension in the various camps.

The forthcoming election which promises to be keenly contested has the likes of Brig.

Gen. Buba Marwa of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), Engr. Markus Gundiri of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Dr. Zainab Kwonchi of African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the immediate past governor, Murtala Nyako of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Judging by the build up to the election, analysts have always insisted that the battle for who takes the cake is mainly for the ACN, CPC and ruling PDP because of the simple fact that only the three out of five political parties that fielded candidates embarked on a statewide campaign.

This assertion gained more credence yesterday when ANPP, which before now was considered a dead party and an extension of the PDP, led by its flag bearer Alhaji Ahmed Usman actually dissolved into the PDP and urged all its supporters to transfer their loyalty to former Governor Murtala Nyako.

A

lhaji Usman had told a news conference, barely two weeks ago, that “ANPP would not step down for any candidate whatsoever, especially my other three male colleagues. I am aware that they brag and say all sorts of things; but we are not shaken by their propaganda.”

Tomorrow, people of Adamawa will decide who becomes the governor of the state for the next four years. Our correspondent in Yola, Blessing Tunoh, reports on the intrigues and strategies in play, and the challenges facing the major contestants.

Former Governor Murtala Nyako

To participate in a governorship election in a state like Adamawa is financially burdensome considering the fact that it boasts of affluent politicians that have exposed the electorate to money politics. Therefore, for political parties like the ANPP and ADC to chicken out of the race is rational.

But the ADC’s candidate who was formerly Nyako’s Health Commissioner before she was unceremoniously ditched, her entrance in the

“

In the midst of all these support enjoyed by Nyako, closure of the state House of Assembly comprising of over 2/3 majority as PDP members for about two months, has sent wrong signals that all is not well in the PDP after all

General Buba Marwa

arena as seen by some politicians in the state, appeared to be a decision intended to take her pound of flesh and probably deplete the PDP’s votes in Fufore, her local government area which is the largest in the state. But at the same time, Fufore also houses Nyako’s greatest political strategist, Senator Bello Tukur ( Nyako’s former Chief of Staff).

Hence, Kwonchi’s mission will be determined at the end of the political hostility. Her inability to campaign in the 21 council areas is suggestive of the lack of funds rocking the little known party in Adamawa as the only cash donation so far received by Dr. Kwonchi was N2 million from the national secretariat of the party.

Chairman of the party Mr. Alfa Ephraim, had recently slammed the nation’s First Lady’s ‘Women for Change Initiative’ for turning their back on its candidate, even when she approached them severally for support. For

“

Though, few see him as a threat to the reelection bid of the former governor, considering the intimidating number of vehicles on his campaign entourage, pundits have written him off, alluding that he is only living on past glory achieved in a military junta Kwonchi, therefore, pride is the only thing at stake and posterity will record that she has contested and lost Adamawa state governorship election.

A

dmiral Murtala Nyako, on his part, who bears the PDP flag is the immediate past governor of the state and would be going to the polls tomorrow to run for governorship of the state for the third time; the first being April 2007.

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orn in Mayo Belwa council area on August 27, 1942, Nyako entered into politics in 2006, successfully contested and was elected governor of Adamawa state in April 2007. Eight months into his administration, his mandate was quashed by the Election Petition Appeal Tribunal; a fresh poll was run and the retired naval chief returned with a landslide victory, winning in all the 21 council Contd on page 38

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Battle of the titans, as Adamawa decides . . .

Contd from Page 37 areas, and resumed office on April 29, 2008.

Saturday’s election would serve as another litmus test for the Admiral who has had to contend with a lot of nagging intra party wrangling.

However, observers of political happenings posit that Nyako’s role in ensuring that Adamawa people voted for President Goodluck Jonathan in the April 2011 general elections would earn him a good turn.

It did not come as a surprise, therefore, when during the Adamawa PDP campaign round off in January 2012, Vice President Namadi Sambo who doubles as National Point man of the Nyako Re-election Committee, set up by the presidency and PDP, said the governor must be returned.

Sambo affirmed that Adamawa PDP really worked hard ahead of other northern state chapters of the party to ensure victory for President Jonathan.

But in the midst of all these support enjoyed by Nyako, closure of the state House of Assembly comprising of over 2/ 3 majority as PDP members for about two months, has sent wrong signals that all is not well in the PDP after all.

termination of Nyako’s tenure by the Supreme Court and the subsequent swearing in of an Acting Governor, Umar Ahmed Fintri, the new Speaker who Nyako’s government was opposed to, just as his deputy Kwamoti Laori assumed acting Speakership.

It is widely believed that with the humiliation and opposition suffered by the lawmakers who were barred from performing their constitutional responsibilities for more than a month, they might be tempted to work against the former governor, Nyako.

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ut state chapter of the PDP which had sponsored thugs to barricade the assembly complex ever since the mantle of leadership fell on Fintri

ACN to urge Fintri to “provide a fair playing ground in the forthcoming governorship election,” saying, “We are not unmindful of the fact that he is a member of the defunct Nyako administration. So, we caution against giving him preferential treatment by providing him with some government facilities and services as if he were still a serving governor. Nyako is a former governor and a candidate like other candidates for the election.”

During Fintri’s one week transitional government, he lifted completely the dusk to dawn curfew hitherto placed on Numan and Lamurde council areas of the state by Nyako - a development that doused tension in the state which led to postponement of the governorship election twice.

“

The structure of his party and his career path also make him better placed than Brig. Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa of the CPC whom analysts believe is a big fish in a small pond Resources in June 1999.

Having retired from civil service, Gundiri joined active politics in 2010. He is described largely by his supporters as one with tremendous intellectual endowments, unrivalled vision

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n aspirant to the national Chairmanship of the party, Senator Jibrin Aminu, who has for long joined the opposition to unseat Nyako, described the closure of the Assembly complex as a treasonable act. Aminu had accused the then governor and the party of undermining the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria by aiding security agents to barricade entrance and cordon off the complex because of the December 5, 2011 change of leadership at the House, which many stakeholders say Nyako has opposed.

The House only reconvened following last week’s

Zainab Kwonchi

suddenly made a U-turn as soon as he took over Nyako’s office, by describing him as “an illustrious member of the one big PDP family”.

The development had led

“

As ADC's candidate who was formerly Nyako's Health Commissioner before she was unceremoniously ditched, her entrance in the arena as seen by some politicians in the state, appeared to be a decision intended to take her pound of flesh and probably deplete the PDP's votes in Fufore, her local government area which is the largest in the state. But at the same time, Fufore also houses Nyako's greatest political strategist, Senator Bello Tukur (Nyako's former Chief of Staff).

Engr Markus Gundiri

Though he had joined his party candidate in a rally around the state capital last Wednesday to garner support for the Saturday election, he is not unmindful of the fact that all eyes are on him and would not undermine the confidence reposed in him.

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ngr. Markus Natina Gundiri (ACN) was born in Gashala, Hong local government area on July 1952.

He grew up educationally to become a professional engineer. He was formerly a Director General and Commissioner in charge of Agriculture, Water Resources and Rural Development from August 1988 to February 1991 in the defunct Gongola state. In 1999, he was appointed Deputy Director and Director in charge of all federal government dams and reservoirs under the Federal Ministry of Water

and creative powers to turn around the fortunes of Adamawa state for good. eing a new entrant in Adamawa’s political arena, Gundiri enjoys an overwhelming goodwill from the southern and northern zones of the state as well as parts of the central, his hometown.

The structure of his party and his career path also make him better placed than Brig.

Gen. Buba Mohammed Marwa of the CPC whom analysts believe is a big fish in a small pond.

Born September 9, 1953 in Michika, Marwa served in the Nigerian Army where he rose through the ranks to retire as a Brigadier General. He was formerly military administrator of Borno and later Lagos state.

After retirement, he joined politics and nursed a

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presidential ambition before declaring intention on December 15, 2010 to run for the Adamawa state governorship seat.

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he former Nigeria’s Ambassador to South Africa’s governorship ambition, at a time the leadership of PDP in Adamawa said there was no vacancy in the government house, caused him to leave the party in protest. He joined the CPC after moves to align with the ACN hit the rocks in December 2010.

Though, few see him as a threat to the re-election bid of the former governor, considering the intimidating number of vehicles on his campaign entourage, pundits have written him off, alluding that he is only living on past glory achieved in a military junta.

As a leading opposition figure, many had thought of an alliance between the CPC and ACN, since both parties have repeatedly said their aim is to oust Nyako from office. But unfortunately, rather than pooling resources and synergizing on how best to actualize their mission, both the ACN and CPC have continued to throw banters on each order.

Barring unforeseen circumstances, with over 72 ethnic groups who live in segmented communities, and also considering the fact that most people in the state are mainly Muslims or Christians, these factors would no doubt have a bearing on the voting pattern on Saturday.

Against this background, should people of the state vote on religious lines, Nyako and the CPC candidate will share Muslim votes while Gundiri would take the prize on a clean slate.

On the other hand, if votes are cast on ethnic lines, Nyako would reclaim his office as votes of the non-Fulani tribes in the state would be shared between Marwa and Gundiri - assuming the polls are made free, fair and credible.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Kogi: Wada inaugurates think-tank committee From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada has restated his commitment to run an all inclusive government that will be based on the application of transparency and accountability in governance when he inaugurated a 22 -member thinktank committee on Wednesday.

The governor who inaugurated the committee at the conference hall of Lugard House, Lokoja, stated that the committee which is to be headed by Professor Francis Idachaba has, among other terms of reference, the duty to fashion out a transformational blueprint that will, in a short period, launch the state among the most developed states in the country.

Wada noted that the members of the committee were carefully chosen based on their integrity, hard work and track records, stressing that government will implement in totality all the recommendations by the committee.

He promised that his administration will focus on best practices in the management of resources accruable to the state, vowing to punish those who will circumvent the rules through corrupt practices, and reward those who excel in their assignment.

According to the new governor, his administration will focus on total transformation of the state with special interest in functional education, health care delivery, youth empowerment and agriculture, adding, that the best talents will be brought on board to uplift the state.

He said accountability and transparency will be his article of faith with the people, promising that he will be guided by the aphorism that “there is no immunity in the people’s court.”

The governor stated that his administration will be “based on all inclusion, as no one will be denied a place simply because of the circumstance of his birth” but will bring on board the best Kogians, both at home and in the diaspora.

“We have lots of our people with expert knowledge in all spheres of human endeavours that can move the state forward. I will advance symphony of Kogians with talents and skills that will bring out the best for us and by us, “ he promised.

In his response, the chairman of the committee Professor Francis Idachaba, thanked the governor for considering the members worthy for the assignment, saying that they were ready for the job if only “the train of progress was not derailed”, adding they will work hard to justify their appointment.

He said he had no doubt in his mind about the capability of Wada piloting the state to the desired destination, saying that “the antecedent of Wada as a pilot will weather the storm of statecraft.”

PAGE 39

Dino Melaye drags former Kogi gov to court

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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former member of the House of Representatives, Ding Melaye has dragged the immediate past governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, to court, seeking an order for forfeiting all properties, monies and shares Idris allegedly acquired illegally while he was in office.

Melaye, in the suit filed on his behalf by his counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), asked the court to order the former governor to forfeit the private residence he just acquired and currently lives in at 99 Kwame Nkrumah Street off Thomas Sankara Street, Asokoro Abuja.

Other properties he sought to be forfeited are; Gubabi Royal Hotel, Sokodo Crescent Wuse zone 5, Abuja, Dreamland Suites, 4 Amsi Musa Street Jabi, Abuja, Summerest Hotel, 73 Lumba Street off Gana Street Maitama Abuja, Palmac Hotel 11 Bola FGE

Asokoro, Abuja, Executive Suite [Hotel] 104 Kwame Nkumah street off Thomas Sankara Street Asokoro [presently under going reconstruction and remodernization], Grand Ibro Hotel formerly known as Ibro Hotel at Herbert Marcaulay Way, Wuse Zone 5, Abuja, Etal Hotel, [formerly Excelsior hotel adjacent plot 30 Kudirat Abiola Way, Oregun Lagos (Opposite First Bank) and Etal Hotels and Halls [formerly Excelsior] 1-5 Ede Street, Apapa Lagos.

In the suit which was filed at the Lokoja High Court, Melaye further asked the court for an order directing Idris to forthwith “forfeit and return to the government of Kogi state all salaries, allowances, emoluments, travel claims, estacodes and perquisites of office which he illegally, unlawfully and unconstitutionally collected from the coffers of Kogi state between May 29th 2011 and January 27th 2012 during which

period he illegally occupied the office of the governor of Kogi state.

“I verily believe that the meagre salary and perquisites of office available to the 1st defendant as governor of Kogi state in eight years and eight months even if all added cumulatively could not have been sufficient to buy one of the aforesaid properties which values I verily believe run to several billions of naira”, he averred.

In an affidavit in support of the suit deposed to by Melaye, he averred that “I verily believe that because of misgovernace and mismanagement of public funds of Kogi state by the 1st defendant, the state has suffered stunted growth and development leading to lack of basic amenities such as good roads, portable water, electricity, good hospitals, reliable educational system and shelter.”

He equally wants an order compelling the 1st defendant

[Idris] to declare all the assets he acquired whilst he was governor of Kogi state between May 29th 2003 and January 27th 2012, and an order directing the AccountantGeneral , Auditor-General and Commissioner of Finance of Kogi state who were cited as the 2nd to the 4th defendants to give a full and wholesome account of all incomes, receipts and expenditure of the government of Kogi state headed by Idris between May 29th 2003 and January 27th 2012.

Melaye equally wants “An order of the court annulling all executive decisions and approvals including all contract carried out by the 1st defendant between May 29th 2011 and January 27th 2012, during which time the 1st defendant illegally and unconstitutionally occupied the office of Governor of Kogi state.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Senator Gamawa urges fair play at PDP convention From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

S

enator Babayo Garba Gamawa has urged Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to provide a fair playing ground for the delegates at the forthcoming national convention of the Party.

Gamawa made the call while talking to newsmen in Bauchi, saying that with experienced and competent executives as leaders, the party will sustain its popularity and triumph in the 2015 general elections in the country.

According to him, “The convention is very simple.

Very simple in the sense that there are people with the mandate to select who is going to be the national chairman of the party, that is the delegates.

What I will advise is that the party should provide a fair playing ground for the delegates.”

He noted that there will be no rancor in the party if justice and fairness prevail during the party’s election.

Babayo Gamawa, who is the Senator Representing Bauchi North senatorial district, also charged Bauchi state chapter of the party to resolve its internal wrangling.

He called on the executive arms of government at all levels to intensify efforts in order to surmount the deteriorating state of security in the country, noting that provision of security is purely the responsibility of the executives.

L-R: Governors Sullivan Chime of Enugu, Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers, Ibrahim Shema of Katsina, Patrick Yakowa of Kaduna, Jonah Jang of Plateau, and Gabriel Suswan of Benue, all PDP governors arriving for a meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan and Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the State House, in Abuja, on Wednesday evening.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Kaduna: Election body to spend N1.3bn on LG elections From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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aduna state Independent Electoral Commission (KDSIECOM) will spend over N1.3 Billion for the execution of forthcoming local government elections scheduled to hold within the year.

This amount, according to the state’s electoral body’s boss, Dr. Hannatu Binyat, would be expended in printing of ballot papers, purchase of ballot boxes and other logistics that will ensure free and fair local government elections in the 23 local government councils in the state.

She pointed, during a press briefing in Kaduna, that with almost four million voters and 5,184 polling units spread across

the state, the commission is faced with enormous challenges; as such the said amount would be needed for the successful conduct of the event.

Dr. Binyat, who faced harmonization committee of Kaduna state House of Assembly early in the week, urged the lawmakers to look at the budget of the commission dispassionately.

She further noted that another greatest challenge her commission is facing is that of ignorance among the rural illiterates, but stated that she had toured the 23 local government councils, met and sensitized stakeholders in the forthcoming electoral event, describing the tour as “very successful and it would assist the commission’s job.”

Meanwhile, the Kaduna state government has lifted embargo placed on employment and said it is ready to recruit workers into its civil service this year.

The head of service of the state, Mrs. Hannatu Ugah, disclosed this in a chat with newsmen in Kaduna.

While commenting on the continued accommodation of casual workers in the state civil service, she said the situation was caused by the embargo placed on employment as well as last year’s verification exercise carried out.

She said “now that everything is over, we know the total number of our workforce. Government will, this year, employ more people including the casual workers; thereby, bringing to an end any casualisation of workers in the Kaduna state Civil service.”

PAGE 40

Makurdi: PDP loses 6 appeals at C/Appeal From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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he reconstituted Court of Appeal panel in Makurdi yesterday struck out 6 appeals brought by the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, against opposition parties, Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, and All Nigeria Peoples Party, ANPP. Most of the appeals were on the mandatory 180 days time frame within which to hear and determine election, as enshrined in the Electoral Act 2010 as amended.

In the cases between PDP versus Prof. Daniel Saror, Governor Gabriel Suswam versus Prof. Steven Ugbah, as well as Suswam versus Prof.

Daniel Saror, Justices Theresa Orji and Regina Nwodo who read the judgments, held that the 180 days, as prescribed in section 285 of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended, excludes the time to appeal; noting, it deals strictly with the period within which to hear and determine the matters and deliver judgment by the election tribunal.

They also added that section 294 of the Constitution does not affect period of determination of the petition.

According to the judgment, “After due consideration of the issues formulated, arguments and briefs of counsels, we hold that the appeals lack merit and are accordingly dismissed.”

In same vein, the court dismissed the appeal filed by Mrs. Theresa Ujege of PDP against Ortese Gbev of the ACN for Konshisha state House of Assembly constituency on the same 180 days misinterpretation.

The Appeal Court also struck out the appeal of Hon. Emmanuel Ayua PDP versus Letter Titus of ACN for GwerWest state House of assembly constituency on grounds that the inspection of electoral materials, which was done by the petitioner and the presentation of the report made to the tribunal which the respondent objected to, should go ahead.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Court joins Sylva in Seriake’s suit over Bayelsa guber election

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Federal High Court in Abuja yesterday joined the former governor of Bayelsa state, Timipriye Sylva as the second respondent in the suit filed by Seriake Dickson praying it to declare him the lawful flagbearer of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the forthcoming Bayelsa state governorship election.

The trial judge, Justice Gladys Olotu had earlier granted an ex-

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affidavit that he has interest in contesting for the Bayelsa state gubernatorial election on the platform of the PDP. She further held that the applicant have shown that he would be affected by the judgement of the court and that Sylva had made out case that warrant him to be joined.

"On that basis, the motion for joinder is hereby granted as prayed and the applicant is hereby joined as the second respondent.

"The case thereby adjourned

L-R: British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Mr. Andrew Lloyd, Permanent Secretary, Department for International Development (DFID), Mr. Mark Lowcock, and Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, during the envoy's visit to the Speaker, at the National Assembly, in Abuja, yesterday.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

till February 6, 2012 for hearing", she stated.

Sylva had earlier described the order as "immoral, ungodly and pathetic", saying it was "obtained by fraud in the dead of the night."

Counsel to Dickson, Joe -Kyari Gadzama (SAN) had at the last adjourned date applied to the court for adjournment on account that he had just been briefed and therefore needed time to study the file so as to represent the interest of his client "properly and professionally."

Gadzama insisted that under the rules of the court, he was entitled to seven clear days within which to respond to Sylva's joinder application adding that his time was still running.

However, counsel to Sylva, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) argued that the application for adjournment was deliberately to delay hearing of his application because they had already gained an advantage by "the extraordinary order of mandamus issued by the court.".

Fagbemi said he was convinced if all the facts of the subject matter had been brought before Justice Olotu including the pendency of the subject matter at the Supreme Court, she would not have made the order.

He reminded the court that time had already been abridged in the matter and therefore Gadzama could not rightfully lay claim to seven days to respond to his joinder application.

INEC fixes February 25th for Katsina bye-election From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he Independent National Electoral Commission, (INEC), Katsina state office has fixed the 25th of February, 2012 as the tentative date for the conduct of a bye-election into the state House of Assembly for Mashi Local Government Area.

Addressing newsmen on the preparations for the byeelection, the state resident electoral commissioner, Alhaji Abubakar Umar Wara, noted

Suswam condoles IGP over wife’s death From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi enue state Governor Gabriel Suswam has urged the new Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, to be emboldened by the demise of his wife, Hajiya Maryam Abubakar, especially in the face of difficult national assignment placed on his shoulders.

The governor said this in a condolence statement yesterday, and made available to the press by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs Dr. Cletus Akwaya, in which he noted that the death of the IGP’s wife

parte order compelling the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to re-list Dickson's name in the list of governorship aspirants in Bayelsa state.

This led Sylva to have approached the court through his counsel, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) seeking to be joined as a party in the suit.

While ruling on the application yesterday, Justice Olotu held that the party seeking to be joined has shown in his

came at a time when he is expected to hit the ground running in the task of confronting the enormous security challenges presently facing the country.

Suswam attributed the records of successful outings credited to Abubakar at his previous duty posts to the support of his late wife, adding, “members of her family will surely miss her; but I urged the IGP to take solace in God’s abundant grace and abiding love for humanity. I pray God to grant him and the immediate members of her family the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.”

that the seat became vacant following the death of the former occupant of the seat, Late Sirajo Mashi (PDP).

“Let me briefly mention that we have proposed to conduct the bye-election on Saturday 25th February 2012, if approved by the National Headquarters of the commission. Mashi local government area has a total number of eleven registration areas,” he added.

Similarly, Wara stated that his office has started putting

adequate preparations and arrangements In terms of logistic requirements, recruitment of personnel for the conduct of elections, training, provision and deployment of security personnel to all polling units and collation centres in the area.

He also said they were going to mobilize a total number of 429 NYSC members that would be deployed to the 143 polling units as presiding officers, adding that they had already produced

copies of the proposed time table.

The resident commissioner assured all political parties to contests the bye-election in the state that INEC would continue to show great sense of humility and dedication to service.

Wara alerted that the parties to ensure internal democracy in their choice of candidates, shun violence, rigging and money politics that he said had negative consequences on the election in a growing democracy like that of Nigeria.

Wamakko’s re-election chances still bright, which brought about numerous say election monitors democracy dividends for his

By Augustine Aminu

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he Good Governance Project Initiative (GGPI), which studied the most recent Supreme Court verdict that terminated the tenure of five governors of Kogi, Adamawa, Sokoto, Bayelsa and Cross Rivers states, has said the chances of Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko being reelected as the governor of Sokoto state are still bright.

In a press briefing in Abuja yesterday, the national president of GGPI, Dr. Innocent Okadigbo and its Secretary-General, Saleh Mohammed, said that despite this

verdict, Wamakko is still in the race for the state’s gubernatorial election scheduled to hold in February as the PDP gubernatorial flag-bearer, because INEC has promised to go ahead with the election as originally planned since the Supreme Court judgment did not invalidate the election timetable and his candidacy.

According to Dr. Okadigbo, “Wamakko is the most likely winner of the election because of his populist policies and programmes in the areas of education, health, agriculture, infrastructure, economic empowerment of its citizens, etc.,

people.

“It was Wamakko’s administration which stabilized Sokoto state as a frontline PDP state.

He nurtured the state to be 100 percent PDP, such that all the elective local government, state and National Assembly positions are occupied by PDP members who had good working relationship with Wamakko” Okadigbo stated.

According to him, Wamakko is a humble and grassroots leader who is greatly loved by his people who commands amazing popularity at the grassroots, thus signifying his chances of being reelected.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

NPL extends sledge hammer to Lobi Stars and Sharks FC Stories By Albert Akota

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he Nigeria Premier League (NPL) has descended heavily on Lobi Stars and Sharks following the unruly conducts of their home fans during league matches last weekend.

SuperSport.com gathered from the NPL acting executive secretary, Tunji Babalola that Lobi are to cough out N400,000.

This followed an attack by its fans on the assistant referee one and fourth referees shortly after the first half in the match against Akwa United at the Katsina Ala stadium. In line with Article 5.8 of the Rules and Regulation, the payment is expected to be made before Lobi’s next home match against Heartland this weekend.

The Secretariat also expressed worry over what it described as unnecessary harassment of match officials during the match involving Sharks and Warri Wolves in Port Harcourt.

Precisely at the 89th minute supporters of the home team (Sharks) harassed the assistant referee 1 for picking an offside play.

The report also stated that ThankGod Amaefule with Jersey No.10 of Sharks assaulted the assistant referee 1 immediately after the match thereby violating Article 5.8 of the Rules and Regulations.

Sharks are fined the sum of N200,000 and their subsequent home matches shall be played behind closed doors while the player, Amaefule is given a four-match ban.

Coach Erasmus Onuh of ABS is banned for four matches with a fine of N200,000 to be paid before his club’s next home game. Onuh was penalized for what the league board described as his unsporting behaviour during the league match involving Warri Wolves and ABS at the Warri City Stadium.

Babalola said the match report revealed that the assistant referee 1 was assaulted by coach Onuh in the 89th minute. The m a t c h reports have been sent to N F F Disciplinary and Referees Committees for further action.

Baribote

Officials For Flamingoes/Kenya Match Match Commissioner: Ekene Wa Maluka Madeleine (Dr Congo) Centre Referee: El-Harkaour Incaf (Morocco) 1st Asst Ref:Oulhaj Souad (Morocco) 2nd Asst Ref:Jalal Zahra (Morocco) Reserve Ref:Neama Mohamed (Egypt

PAGE 41

Keshi invites 30 home based players

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he Super Eagles’ Head Coach, Stephen Keshi has invited 30 players to the camp of the Senior Men’s National Team, Super Eagles, ahead of the international friendly match against the Lone Star of Liberia in Monrovia on Wednesday, February 15.

The 49-year old former Senior Team captain, presently in South Africa analyzing the on-going African Cup of Nations finals for Supersport, and who is expected back in the country early next week, has ordered the players to resume in camp on Sunday, February 5.

There are three goalkeepers, eight defenders, 11 midfielders and eight strikers. Most of the players were in the squad that held Angola’s to a 0-0 draw in an international friendly in Abuja on Wednesday, January 11.

The Super Eagles are expected to leave for Monrovia on February 13.

THE FULL LIST: GOALKEEPERS: Chigozie Agbim (Warri Wolves), Okemute Odah

(Sharks FC), Daniel Akpeyi (Heartland FC) DEFENDERS: Juwon Oshaniwa (Sharks FC), Osasco Omomo (Sunshine Stars), Azubuike Egwueke (Warri Wolves), Godfrey Oboabona (Sunshine Stars), Gbenga Arokoyo (Kwara Utd), Uche Oguchi (Heartland FC), Ahmed Adesope (3SC), Papa Idris (Kano Pillars) MIDFIELDERS: Ossai Uche (Warri Wolves), Kola Anubi (Sharks FC), Ejike Uzoenyi (Enugu Rangers), Bartholomew Ibenegbu, Kingsley Salami, Stanley Ohabuchi (Heartland FC), Reuben Gabriel (Kano Pillars), Henry Uche (Enyimba FC), Solomon Jabason (Akwa United), Chidi Osuchukwu (Dolphins FC), Daniel Essien (Niger Tornadoes) STRIKERS: Sunday Emmanuel (Enyimba), Sunday Mba, Jude Aneke (Warri).

Wolves), Izu Azuka (Sunshine Stars), Barnabas Imenger (Kwara Utd), Kabiru Umar (Heartland FC), Uche Kalu, Ifeanyi Ude (Enyimba FC).

Keshi

Gombe defeat worst ever – Shark’s coach

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hief Coach of Sharks, Imama Amapakabo has expressed frustration after watching his side go down 0-5 to table-toppers, Gombe United on matchday six.

The Blue Angels, mediocre all evening, were torn to pieces by the pacesetters of the Nigeria Premier League in a ruthless display of attacking football that left the former Kano Pillars’

goalkeeper red-faced.

Sanusi Sani dispatched a hat-trick while his teammate, Mustapha Babadidi claimed a brace as Sharks were put to the sword in emphatic fashion at the Pantami Stadium, Gombe.

“I have never been humiliated like that in football in all my life. Without a shadow of a doubt, it was my worst day as a coach in football,” Amapakabo told

Fear grips Kenya over Flamingoes preparation

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he Nigerian Football Federation ( NFF) has said that Kenya’s U-17 female team is afraid of their Nigerian counterparts, the Flamingoes, ahead of tomorrow reverse fixture of the 2012 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup qualifier. To this end, the Kenyan Football Federation, (KFF) are using the security situation in Nigeria as an alibi not to honour the match.

The Flamingoes go into the first round preliminaries qualifier slated for Abeokuta, Ogun State with a 2-0 advantage, after defeating their Kenyan counterparts at the Nyayo Stadium, Kenya, and a fortnight ago. Demola Olajire, NFF image maker said: “There is no truth in their claim that security in the country is not conducive for the match to hold.

“The home-based Super Eagles recently played a friendly match against their Angolan counterpart at the National Stadium in Abuja without any hitches. The truth is that the Kenyan girls are scared of our players and they are making excuses to gain easy victory.

They are not going to get it.”

Peoples Daily Sports can report authoritatively that the Kenyan authorities have since withdrawn their protest and the team will arrive in Nigeria later yesterday to honour the match.

SuperSport.com.

The trainer was however quick to identify ‘basic mistakes’ made by his players for the loss to the Desert Scorpions.

“My players made several basic mistakes and the Gombe United lads punished us severely. I am not making excuses. Fair play to Gombe United and congrats to them for their victory,” he said.

Sharks will now look to regroup ahead of their Week Seven game against Akwa United in Port Harcourt and Imama fears there may be a backlash for the newlypromoted side.

“Sharks will never underrate any team but there is an anger among the (Sharks) boys. They are angry with themselves for losing so badly against Gombe United and will want to vent their frustrations on the side they will meet next so I say to Akwa United watch out,” Imama said.

The young gaffer rounded off by apologising to the fans of the club for the heavy loss in Gombe.

“There is nothing much to say. We apologise to the fans and promise to make them happy in the coming days,” he said.

Ocean Boys cry-out over unpaid wages

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he Nigeria Premier League (NPL) club, Ocean Boys is struggling under the weight of unpaid wages as the 2011/ 2012 season enters Week Seven.

Playing personnel of the club are owed 250 percent of their signing-on fees from the last two seasons. Morale at the club is at its nadir as players at the club seek for succor.

Midfielder Felix Benjamin says things must improve if the club is challenge for honours. “Things are really difficult for us.

We have not been paid anything since last season and we have been performing well on the pitch,” Benjamin explained.

The club reached the semifinals of the Federation Cup last season, eventually overcoming Bayelsa United on penalties to finish in third place.

Circumstances were however not happier in the NPL last term as the club managed to beat the drop to the lower division on the last

day of the season.

Benjamin says the club’s management would need to offset the debts to players if the club is to effectively challenge for honours this season. “To be honest, the salaries are paid promptly but the main issue is the signing-on fees which represent the bulk of our money. It will help greatly if the money is paid,” he said.

The 18-year-old took some time to discuss his objectives for the new season.

“I want to perform better than I did last season this time. I have been working on my skills alone after the normal training sessions with the team. “I have noticed improvements in my game and I will continue to go from strength to strength,” he said.

Benjamin who scored twice for Ocean Boys last season joined the club from Jigawa Golden Stars in 2009.

Felix Benjamin

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Ghana are pets to lift ACN, says Guinea coach G Uganda coach, Bobby Williamson

Swedish-born Ugandan set for fatherland – Coach

uinea coach Michel Dussuyer has maintained that Ghana are still favourites to win the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations even after he accused the referee of helping the Black Stars beat his team.

Guinea crashed out of the competition on Wednesday night after they could only manage a 1-1 draw with four-time winners Ghana in a final Group D match.

Ghana, who last won this tournament in 1982, will face Tunisia in a quarterfinal on Sunday night.

“I said it before the tournament that Ghana are my favourites to win this competition and even after how the referee helped them against us I still believe they can go all the way here,” said Dussuyer.

“They are a much organized team.

They are a great team and against such a team you cannot afford to make any mistakes like we did against them.”

Frenchman Dussuyer lashed out at

South African referee Daniel Bennett for only penalising Guinea in the first half of the match against Ghana, while he also questioned the first booking Mamadou Bah received before he was eventually sent off.

However, he said he was satisfied with the overall showing of the Syli National at this tournament.

“I’m satisfied with my team. We played well but could not qualify,” he remarked. “We will continue to work hard and improve and hope to qualify for the next tournament.

“We will now look to the future. We have a young team with many of the players getting only their first experience at the Nations Cup in Gabon.

We have learnt after playing at a high level competition like this.

“We played good football and showed we have qualities. Therefore we are looking forward to a very positive future.”

C

ranes of Uganda coach, Bobby Williamson secretly met with Swedish-born Ugandan Martin Kayongo Mutumba over the possibility of the forward playing for Uganda.

The meeting place in Kampala early last month. “I met him here in Kampala in January, just about three weeks ago.

“We exchanged mobile numbers and he promised to get back to me, I’m waiting. But I will get in touch with him soon and possibly, invite him for a game and see how it goes. I’ve watched his videos he is a brilliant player.” The 26-year-old, AIK’s Mutumba, was once quoted in Swedish press saying he would love to be Uganda’s Zlatan Ibrahimovic.

He would be a welcome addition at a Cranes side that lacked the cutting edge as they drew goalless with Kenya last October, a game that would have qualified then to Gabon and Equatorial Ghuinea had they won it.

While on his trip to the United Kingdom in December to look at some of the known players with Ugandan roots, Bobby also got to speak with 16-year-old centre-half Bevis Mugabe from Southampton Academy. “The boy is excited at the prospect of playing for Uganda,” he said, “But his first target is to break into the Southampton senior team.”

Other players with Ugandan origins Bobby is looking at include Ibra Sekajja (19-year-old from Crystal Palace) and 16year-old Ismail Luswata Seremba, a midfielder with Chelsea’s Academy.

Uganda’s 2013 Nations Cup first leg qualifier against Congo Brazzaville is away on the weekend on February 27-29

P W D L GF GA Pts Zambia 3 2 1 0 5 3 7 Eq Guinea 3 2 0 1 3 2 6 Libya 3 1 1 1 4 4 4 Senegal 3 0 0 3 3 5 0 21/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 1-0 Libya, Bata 21/01/12: Senegal 1-2 Zambia, Bata 25/01/12: Libya 2-2 Zambia, Bata 25/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 2-1 Senegal, Bata 29/01/12: Equatorial Guinea 0-1 Zambia, Malabo 29/01/12: Libya 2-1 Senegal, Bata Ivory C Sudan Angola Burkina F

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 1 1 0

D 0 1 1 0

L 0 1 1 3

GF 5 4 4 2

GA 0 4 5 6

Pts 9 4 4 0

22/01/12: Ivory Coast 1-0 Sudan, Malabo 22/01/12: Burkina Faso 1-2 Angola, Malabo 26/01/12: Sudan 2-2 Angola, Malabo 26/01/12: Ivory Coast 2-0 Burkina Faso, Malabo 30/01/12: Sudan 2-1 Burkina Faso, Bata 30/01/12: Ivory Coast 2-0 Angola, Malabo Gabon Tu n i s i a Morocco Niger

P 3 3 3 3

W 3 2 1 0

D 0 0 0 0

L 0 1 2 3

GF 6 4 4 1

GA 2 3 5 5

Pts 9 6 3 0

23/01/12: Gabon 2-0 Niger, Libreville 23/01/12: Morocco 1-2 Tunisia, Libreville 27/01/12: Niger 1-2 Tunisia, Libreville 27/01/12: Gabon 3-2 Morocco, Libreville 31/01/12: Gabon 1-0 Tunisia, Franceville 31/01/12: Niger 0-1 Morocco, Libreville Ghana Mali Guinea Botswana

P 3 3 3 3

W 2 2 1 0

D 1 0 1 0

L 0 1 1 3

GF 4 3 7 2

GA 1 3 3 9

Pts 7 6 4 0

24/01/12: Ghana 1-0 Botswana, Franceville 24/01/12: Mali 1-0 Guinea, Franceville 28/01/12: Botswana 1-6 Guinea, Franceville 28/01/12: Ghana 2-0 Mali, Franceville 01/02/12: Botswana 1-2 Mali, Libreville 01/02/12: Ghana 1-1 Guinea, Franceville Quarter-Finals: 1. 04/02/12: Zambia v Sudan, Bata 2. 04/02/12: Ivory Coast v Equatorial Guinea, Malabo 3. 05/02/12: Gabon v Mali, Libreville 4. 05/02/12: Ghana v Tunisia, Franceville Semi-Finals: 08/02/12: QF1 winner v QF4 winner, Bata 08/02/12: QF3 winner v QF2 winner, Libreville 3rd place play-off: 11/02/2012, Malabo Final: 12/02/2012, Libreville

Ghana squad

Enyimba key player out for two weeks

E

nyimba Football club of Abia key player Josiah Maduabuchi, has been ruled out of action for the next two weeks.

The midfielder aggravated a hamstring injury during his side’s 2-0 win over Ocean Boys on Wednesday and will now miss out on the trip to Kaduna when they face Kaduna United this

weekend.

The midfielder has been in fine form this season scoring four times in the sixweek-old season.

He netted against Bukola Babes and Sharks before taking his tally to four with a well-taken brace against Ocean Boys on Wednesday.

The 22-year-old is now certain to miss

out on Enyimba’s Week Seven game against Kaduna United on Saturday.

“The team will be travelling without me (to Kaduna). I am not happy because I have been playing well. But I wish them well and I will be looking to come back as quickly as I can,” Maduabuchi said.

Maduabuchi scored seven goals in all competitions for Enyimba last season.

Anger in Port Said over killing of Football fans

P

ort Said residents in Egypt has horrified by the football violence that left 74 people dead in their city accused police of incompetence by alleging a plot to enflame nationwide unrest.

Troops were stationed around the sprawling northern hub to prevent more violence after Wednesday night’s unrest, but the city was calm as people gathered outside hospitals treating the hundreds of wounded.

Witnesses spoke of fans being crushed by the panicked crowds, trampled, beaten, stabbed and trapped as the anti-riot police

were not able, or did not want, to control the crowds.

“The lack of security was not normal,” charged one resident Medhat Mokhtar Naim who had been at the match between home-side Al-Masry and their fierce rival and Cairo star team Al-Ahly and saw people trapped in the stands. “The security forces did nothing,” added a young man, who gave his name only as Mohammed.

“They just let people enter freely; the searches were not done properly.”

Others questioned why police dogs were not brought out or security reinforced,

with tension already brewing at halftime.

“What happened was a plot!” interjected another man on the pavement.

“That was done on purpose, and it was planned so that there would be chaos,” added Abdelfattah Mohammed, among the many who allege a deliberate attempt to feed insecurity a year after the fall of longtime ruler Hosni Mubarak.

The dead were flown back to Cairo’s Zeinhom morgue where shocked family members stood around corpses wrapped in plastic sheets.

Mothers and sisters of the deceased,

dressed in black, screamed in mourning as some of the bodies were taken out ahead of their burial.

A favoured theory is that the violence was staged in the interests of Mubarak’s interior minister Habib el-Adly, who is on trial alongside the former dictator for the killing of demonstrators in last year’s uprising.

As investigations begin into the country’s deadliest football violence, the government has sacked Port Said security chief Essam Samak and city governor Mohammed Abdullah.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 43

England coach vows to beat Pakistan

C Andrew Strauss

West Ham want Olympics stadium

W

est Ham is believed to be one of the 16 parties to have expressed an interest in moving to the Olympic Stadium after the 2012 Games.

The Championship club had looked set to move into the venue but a deal with Newham Council collapsed in October.

The government opened a tender process on 20 December and bidders have until 23 March to submit full proposals.

The Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC) revealed the numbers after the 30 January deadline passed.

A spokesperson for the OPLC said: "There have been 16 registrations from parties interested in bidding to use the stadium after the Games. They now have until 23 March 2012 to submit their full bids.

"The Legacy Company plans to appoint the winning bidders in May 2012 and remains on track to reopen the venue in 2014."

Challenges from Leyton Orient and Tottenham Hotspur, as well as an anonymous complaint to the European Commission, led to fears that the battle for use of the stadium could go on for years.

However, after West Ham's bid collapsed it was decided that a new tender process would be opened in December 2011 for an anchor tenant at the venue and the government revealed the stadium would remain in public ownership.

The OPLC also reiterated that the athletics track remaining in place is a non-negotiable part of the process.

aptain Andrew Strauss says England are determined to salvage pride when they face Pakistan in the third and final test, which starts today Strauss's men, 2-0 down, are looking to avoid a series whitewash and hold on to their number one Test ranking.

He said: "For 24 hours or so,

after the second Test defeat, there was a bit of doom and gloom, as you might expect.

"But we've resolved to move forward. It's just a very strong opportunity to salvage something from the series."

Strauss also warned against players taking their places for granted.

"For the environment to work properly, we've all got to feel the pressure for our place," he added.

"No-one has a God-given right to represent England. "I think you've always got to look at things rationally and think about how extended a period you can give someone in the side.

"You've got to look at people's states

Hook wants redemption after World Cup

J

ames Hook says his World Cup troubles are behind as he prepares for Wales’ Six Nations opener in Ireland.

The 26-year-old concedes he had a disappointing tournament although Wales earned plaudits for their fourth place.

Hook missed kicks against South Africa , semi-final rivals France and against Australia in their bronze medal match, but could return to fly-half if Rhys Priestland fails a fitness test.

“It was so disappointing for me and my family,” Perpignan star Hook admitted.

“The semi-final was the

lowest I have been after a game, without a doubt. You can’t quite think straight for a while and going out to France was the best thing for me, probably.

“I was bitterly disappointed.

I worked so hard for what is the pinnacle of international rugby and it didn’t go well.

Hook completed his move to Perpignan from Ospreys on his return from the World Cup. He was unavailable for Wales’ Australia rematch in December due to his commitments in France but he could find himself filling the crucial fly-half position in Dublin on Sunday.

Wales’ first-choice number 10 Priestland is battling to recover from a knee injury and Hook may be given a chance to make amends from his World Cup frustrations.

He missed six penalties and one conversion in three-and-ahalf games at the World Cup, after starting the tournament at full-back and ending it playing fly-half.

The 59-times capped Welshman suffered a shoulder injury in their second pool game against Samoa and returned for a three-minute cameo as a replacement in Wales’ World Cup quarter-final win over Ireland.

of mind and how they're doing technically and all that sort of stuff.

You throw all that into the mix and then decide what the best XI is."

England played two seamers and two spinners in the 72-run defeat in Abu Dhabi, with the recalled Monty Panesar returning figures of 6-62 in the second innings.

Britain, Australia set up London duel

B

ritain and Australia have both named strong lineups for February's track cycling World Cup in London.

The event, at the Olympic Velodrome, is set to become an early chance to see the likely squads for the 2012 Games.

Sir Chris Hoy and Victoria Pendleton lead the British team while Anna Meares and Jack Bobridge star for Australia.

Chief Dave Brailsford called the event a "learning opportunity" ahead of the Games, adding: "We have selected a full-strength squad accordingly."

Australian counterpart, Kevin Tabotta, said: "This will be our only opportunity to race on the Olympic Velodrome and familiarise both athletes and staff with the environment ahead of the Games.

"We are on target to qualify the maximum number of track places for the Games, so the focus now it to ensure we are in the best possible position to win medals in London."

Ross Edgar, earlier suggested as a doubt for London's leg of the World Cup series as he recovers from injury, is named in the British sprint squad and is now likely to form the GB men's sprint team alongside Hoy and Jason Kenny.

The Olympics being on that track later in the year, it's obviously going to be important for everyone," said Olympic and world champion Kenny.

James Hook

Britain defeat Portugal in Fed Cup tie

B

ritain defeated Portugal 30 in their opening Fed Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group I match.

Anna Keothavong beat Maria Joao Koehler 6-3 6-4 before Elena Baltacha saw off Michelle Larcher de Brito 6-2 6-3 to seal the tie, being played in Israel.

Heather Watson and Laura Robson then defeated Koehler and Larcher de Brito 7-5 6-0 in their doubles match.

“Today was fantastic,” said Judy Murray after her first match as captain. “We did not drop a set.”

And Murray added: “We’ve got a tough one against the Netherlands but we’ve prepared well and we’ll be ready.”

Baltacha was pleased by the form shown both by herself and Keothavong.

She said: “We knew it wasn’t going to be easy because the

Portuguese girls have done well in the past.

“I think sometimes with girls at that level you’re never too sure which one of them is going to turn up, as in you don’t really know what kind of game they’re going to bring. But Anne and I knew that we’d have to stick to our guns and get the job done which was the most important thing.”

The format sees 15 nations

form four round-robin pools, played from Wednesday to Friday. The nations that finish top in each pool will go through to the promotion play-offs, which take place on Saturday.

The two winning teams will go through to the World Group II play-offs, while the bottom nations contest the relegation play-offs to decide which two teams are relegated to Euro/ Africa Group II.

Chris Hoy

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

Bell passes fit for third test against Pakistan

England trio set for debut against Scotland

W

orld number eight, Phil Dowson is one of three uncapped players in England's starting XV to face Scotland in their Six Nations opener tomorrow. Centres Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell make their debuts, while Saracens team-mate Charlie Hodgson plays at fly-half in place of the injured Toby Flood.

Lock Mouritz Botha, another Saracen, wins his second cap in interim coach Stuart Lancaster's first line-up.

Only six players remain from the World Cup quarter-final defeat by France.

Phil just has match experience at club level which we think will transfer to the international arena," said Lancaster of 30-year debutant Dowson, who was captain of England's second-string Saxons side during Lancaster's time in charge.

Saracens have five players in the side, with David Strettle making his first start since the 37-20 defeat by New Zealand in June 2008.

Lancaster insists his back division will have a different style to that used by the Premiership champions.

E

Jones and David start for Scotland

W

inger Lee Jones will win his first international cap in Scotland's Six Nations opener against England at Murrayfield tomorroe. Edinburgh team-mate David Denton makes his first start in the back-row, alongside Ross Rennie and Al Strokosch.

The number 10 jersey, subject of much debate among Scottish supporters, will be filled by Dan Parks, with Chris Cusiter given the nod at scrum-half.

Hooker Ford taking over the captaincy, World Cup skipper Al Kellock drops to the replacements' bench, with Jim Hamilton and Richie Gray the preferred second row pairing.

Glasgow-bound Sean Lamont and Edinburgh's Nick De Luca are the centres, with the latter coming in for the injured Joe Ansbro.

Joining Kellock on the bench are Scott Lawson, Geoff Cross, John Barclay, Mike Blair, Greig Laidlaw and Graeme Morrison.

Andy Robinson Scotland head coach said that Jones, 23, has represented Scotland at A level and played seven international.

Mayweather agrees to fight Miguel in May

F

loyd Mayweather will step back up in weight to fight Miguel Cotto for his WBA light-middleweight title on 5 May at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

The fight ends speculation that Mayweather would fight Manny Pacquiao in a super-fight in May. "It will be a challenge for me to compete with him at this weight, but this is the type of test I thrive on," said Mayweather, 34.

Cotto responded: "On 5 May I will convincingly beat Floyd Mayweather."

He added: "I am here to fight the biggest names in boxing. I've never ducked anyone or any challenge in front of me."

Mayweather is due to serve an 87-day prison sentence for a domestic violence conviction but the Las Vegas authorities have deferred his sentence until 1 June and granted him a one-fight licence to allow the Cotto fight to take place.

Miguel Cotto is a world-class fighter who can never be taken for granted and continues to prove he is one of the best in boxing," added Mayweather.

Cotto, 31, who has a 37-2 record, successfully defended his WBA super welterweight crown with a revenge stoppage win over Antonio Margarito in December.

Mayweather, meanwhile, scored a fourth round stoppage of Victor Ortiz last September.

The 34-year-old, who holds a 42-fight unbeaten record, last fought at lightmiddleweight when he outpointed Oscar De La Hoya in a disputed split decision in 2007.

Floyd Mayweather

Ian Bell

ngland batsman Ian Bell has been passed fit for the third Test against Pakistan, which starts today.

Bell has been suffering from the effects of a stomach bug and missed training on Tuesday.

However, he has now been cleared to play in the final Test in Dubai. England trail 2-0 in the series.

Bell, who has scored just 36 runs in four innings, accepts England's batsmen owe their bowling team-mates a muchimproved display.

England's top six, Bell, Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen and Eoin Morgan have been impotent against Saeed Ajmal and Abdur Rehman in particular.

In the first two Tests, 34 of England's 40 wickets have tumbled to Pakistan's spinners.

Off-spinner Ajmal has led the destruction with 17 scalps, while leftarmer Rehman has claimed 12 wickets and off-spinner Mohammad Hafeez five.

Following honest exchanges in a team meeting on Tuesday, all of England's batsmen returned to net practice hoping to work out a method of playing the slower bowlers.

Muhammad Ali trainer, Dundee, dies at 90 C

elebrated boxing trainer, Angelo Dundee Muhammad Ali’s cornerman in his greatest fights died Wednesday at the age of 90.

“Angelo died surrounded by family and friends,” his family said in a statement.

“He was very happy that he got to celebrate Ali’s 70th birthday earlier this year, and also that he got to go to the Hall of Fame”, the statement said.

Noted for his ability to motivate and challenge the best of boxers, Angelo passed away at his home in Tampa, Florida.

While working with Ali for the majority of the boxing great’s career, Dundee trained 15 world champions in total, including Sugar Ray Leonard and George Foreman.

One of the more indelible memories of Dundee’s career came in 1981 when he loudly exhorted Leonard in the late stages of a world championship unification fight against Thomas Hearns.

After famously telling the fighter, “You’re blowing it, son,” Leonard came back out to register a thrilling knockout after having been dominated in preceding rounds.

“He saved Ray Leonard in the Hearns fight.

He saved Ali (against Joe Frazier) in Manila,” longstanding boxing promoter, Bob Arum, told Reuters, having worked with Dundee countless times over the years.

“To motivate (a fighter) takes a special skill and there aren’t many people that can do it.

In the more than 45 years I’ve been in boxing, he is the greatest cornerman by far of anyone that I’ve ever witnessed.”

Dundee’s work spanned six decades and he was inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 1994, cementing his legacy as an invaluable asset to some of the most decorated boxers of all time.

“Ali was this unbelievable figure, and a guy who symbolised an entire era of American culture and was idolised around the world.

“And through all those times, the person at his side was Dundee. For that, he will always be remembered,” Arum added.

Angelo Dundee, insert Ali during training

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

PAGE 45

2

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Pictorial

7 Pix 1: Egypt's ruling military council announces three days of mourning after at least 74 die in clashes between fans of rival football teams. Pix 2: Phil Dowson, Brad Barritt and Owen Farrell will make their Test debuts for England in their Six Nations opener against Scotland. Pix 3: England batsman, Ian Bell, recovers from a stomach bug in time to play in the final Test against Pakistan. Pix 4: Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and Retief Goosen are all in action at the event held in Doha, Qatar. Pix 5: Former Olympic champion, Lynn Davies, recall Bob Beamon’s historic 1968 long jump win, which is still an Olympic record. Pix 6: Great Britain beat Portugal 3-0 in their opening Fed Cup Euro/Africa Zone Group I match in Israel. Pix 7: Angelo Dundee, who worked with Muhammad Ali and Sugar Ray Leonard, dies aged 90.

4

5

6

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE “On the whole human beings want to be good, but not too good, and not quite all the time” — George Orwell

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

FIFA consoles Egyptians, offers assistance

T

he World Football Governing Body (FIFA) is deeply saddened by the tragic incidents which led to the death of football fans and others in Port Said (Egypt).

As expressed by President Blatter in a letter to the Egyptian Football Association (EFA), FIFA is in mourning and our thoughts are with the families of all those who lost their lives.

Furthermore, FIFA has asked the Egyptian authorities for a full report on the incidents in order to evaluate what happened.

It is important to recall that FIFA has established strict safety regulations for all of its competitions. As is mentioned in article 1, paragraph 2 of those regulations the regulations may only serve as guidelines for competitions and matches not organised by FIFA, in which it is the responsibility of the respective organiser and local authorities to apply their own safety regulations.

Finally, FIFA has offered its full support to the Egyptian Football Association and will provide the EFA with any assistance it needs with regard to this tragedy.

Prime minister sacks president, board

T

he Egyptian Prime Minister, Kamal Al Ganzori has sacked the Egypt Football Association (EFA) President, Samer Zaher and his entire board.

This came after thousands of fans called for their removal after the recent disaster that claimed 74 lives.

Reacting to the news, board member Magdy Abd El Ghany advised that they were being singled out and made scapegoats while the real people who had dropped the ball namely the security forces were being left unpunished.

Ironically Abd El Ghany was a former Al Ahly player who scored a goal for Egypt in the 1990 World Cup.

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Budget 2012 (3) - The security spending spree

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e continue our detailed review of the 2012 Budget proposals today looking closely at the amounts earmarked for the office of the NSA, the SSS, and the NIA. Our objective is to appreciate the huge amounts allocated and ask the standard quantity surveying question - is Nigeria getting value for its money? A security consultant familiar with Nigeria Gordon Duff wrote recently in www.veteranstoday.com that our security services budget for Rolls Royce and end up buying Volkswagen Beetle when procuring services and equipment. Is it plausible?

Are the amounts spent purchasing security for the Nigerian citizen, or are they making a few "security chiefs" and their appendages so stupendously rich, thereby exacerbating the income disparities, inequalities and injustice amongst us which in turn have contributed to the insecurity in our land? How are security budgets made up? How are they spent? Is there any oversight and accountability like other public funds? We will raise these and other issues, providing some insights about practices and spending processes for improvement.

First, some history of our civil security services. The first internal security organization in our country started as a department of the Nigeria Police Force, and the regional police units. The most important function of these officers was collecting information, however innocuous - that is what is called 'intelligence'. They were plain-clothes policemen living and working in their communities, in constant touch with traditional rulers, hotel owners, motor park and market managers, and even commercial sex workers as informants. These 'informants' are placed on modest payrolls - which the bulk of security vote is supposed to be utilized for. There was a similar outfit within the Nigerian Army which evolved into the Intelligence Corps. Nigeria was a safe and secure place to live in then.

The system worked for most of the citizens, until quite recently.

This system and practice continued intact until the assassination of General Murtala Mohammed (may his soul rest in peace) on February 13, 1976.

Abdullahi Mohammed, then a colonel and governor of Benue-

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NASIR EL-R UF AI EL-RUF UFAI ON FRID AY FRIDA elrufai@aol.com

SSS D-G, Ekpeyong Ita Plateau state was recalled by General Obasanjo and tasked with the job of establishing a national security organization. That led to the birth of the NSO which became not only the coordinating body and clearing house of civil and military security and intelligence matters, but the main operational body of internal security and intelligence.

The Research Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs focused on external counter-intelligence but with a dual reporting relationship to the NSO and the Foreign Minister.

The national security and intelligence system was restructured in the late 1980s under the Babangida administration creating three separate operating services

reporting to Aliyu Mohammed, then a brigadier, as Coordinator of National Security (CONS), the precursor to the current NSA position. The old NSO was renamed the SSS, the old Research Department became the NIA, the Defence Intelligence Agency was then created, while the Police and Military maintained the remnants of their old intelligence services and remained internal to them. This remains the operating structure today to a large degree, with the change of title from CONS to NSA under Babangida. The NSA's profile rises or falls depending on the occupant of the office, personal closeness to the president, type of administration and how insecure the administration feels about its legitimacy!

Three points need to be grasped from the foregoing (1) over 90 percent of security effectiveness is proactivity arising from getting quality information, in advance (2) intelligence work is a thoughtful, patient process not the gun-toting and arresting culture we now see, and certainly NOT the extra-judicial killing of people that are intelligence assets and (3) the system worked well when quiet, analytical, 'below-the-radar' professionals did their work as operatives, while coordination is undertaken by experienced political appointees with deep intellect and good judgment, who

“

The office of the NSA is supposed to advise on, and coordinate national security matters. Its direct involvement in operations is quite limited. It is therefore inexplicable that it has N2.69 billion as a lump-sum regular overhead with less than 100 staff in one location. This means the NSA intends to spend about N27 million per employee or N7.35 million every day including weekends on running his Abuja office

enjoy the trust and confidence of the nation's leadership. Looking at these, and the current focus of the sector leadership on spending partly explains the gaps we see, and the high levels of insecurity in our nation.

Now back to the budget and spending priorities. The budget of each agency consists of three components - personnel costs, overhead and capital.

The overhead is sub-divided into two regular overhead which I assume is for stationery, snacks, tea, coffee, diesel for generators, and other maintenance and the "operations vote". None of these components is broken down, so while we know that the Villa wishes to spend nearly a billion on food and snacks this year, the NSA's expenditure on coffee is a state secret - a manifest absurdity! The 'operations vote' is another name for that notorious "security vote" for which no records or receipts are kept, i.e. a slush fund for the officials to spend as they please! For each of the services, this amounts to several millions daily.

The capital components itemize what our intelligence services spend their investment money on - buildings, equipment and infrastructure to get their job done.

We will now look at these in some detail and then encourage the reader to draw some conclusions.

The office of the NSA is supposed to advise on, and coordinate national security matters. Its direct involvement in operations is quite limited. It is therefore inexplicable that it has N2.69 billion as a lumpsum regular overhead with less than 100 staff in one location. This means the NSA intends to spend about N27 million per employee or N7.35 million every day including weekends on running his Abuja office. The NSA's security vote(operations vote) is extra - it is N950 million this year, about N2.6 million every single day of monies that are never recorded, accounted for or audited! The capital budget is some N29 billion to be spent on satellite communications including training (N8.9 billion), data signal centre/equipment (N14.4 billion), Iridium/Thuraya communication platform (N3.2 billion), 12 Jeeps with motorized direction finder (N373 million), Cyber-Security (without any enabling legislation yet) (N150 million) and Presidential Communication Network (N2 billion).

Contd. on Page 30

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