Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednesday 03, April, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 68

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Why we can’t fly Kano, Abuja – Emirates, TurkishAirlines >> PAGE 2

Jimadal Ula 23, 1434 AH

N150

Jonathan can’t stop APC, says ACN >> PAGE 3

MEDICAL CHECK-UP

Patience Jonathan moves to Italy

By Agaju Madugba & Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he presidency may have, again re-ignited the raging controversy over the abuse of property of the state as feelers emerged yesterday that it may have dispatched a presidential jet to ferry the First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan, who has been away on “routine medical checkup,” in Germany, to Italy.

The 1999 Constitution does not have any provisions for the office of the first Lady.

A competent source at the Presidency hinted that the Contd on Page 2

. . . aboard presidential jet

I don’t deserve gang-up – Tukur

By Lawrence Olaoye

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ational Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, yesterday said he does not deserve the recent gang-up against him by some stakeholders in the party in their bid to remove him.

Contd on Page 2

Borno state Governor, Kashim Shettima (left) assessing the quality of the state’s free school uniform, when students of Government Girls College, Maiduguri, paid him a visit, yesterday in Maiduguri

Onaiyekan condemns pardon for Alamieyeseigha

>> Page 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Why we can’t fly Kano, Abuja- Airlines From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

Property

26

Arts

29

E

mirates Airlines, one of the national carriers of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday disclosed why it is yet to operate passenger flight schedules into Malam Aminu Kano International Airport (MAKIA) in Kano and Abuja, six years after it entered into a Bilateral Air Services Agreement (BASA) with Nigeria.

The airline’s inability to fly direct flights into the FCT and MAKIA has come under intense criticism as reports fingered the aviation ministry for its alleged refusal to allow direct flight operations by the airline alongside two others originating from the Middle-East.

According to a copy of the acknowledgement letter from Emirates Senior vice-president, Public, International, Industry

and Environment Affairs, Andrew J. Parker, dated 20th March 2013,”we are continuously looking at the possibility of enhancing our operation to Nigeria.

“Abuja is on our radar but we do not as yet have a firm date for operations there.

“We are monitoring the fuel price movements and market conditions and at an opportune time we would come up with a deployment plan for Abuja.”

Also, a spokesperson for Turkish Airline told our reporter that the airline has commenced negotiations and necessary documentation for the expansion of its flight into Nigeria.”

However, a press statement from the Ministry of Aviation shows that Etihad has not yet applied for direct flight into both Abuja and Kano.

Furthermore, the ministry

declared that Etihad and Emirates airlines have not applied to operate into MAKIA, Kano, saying that, “Emirates applied to operate the Abuja route.

“Approval has been granted but the airline is yet to decide on when to commence operations on the route.

“Turkish Airlines applied and has been granted approval to operate the MAKIA route.

According to a press statement

by Special Assistant (Media) to the Minister , Joe Obi, “for the umpteenth time, we wish to state that Emirates and Etihad Airlines have not indicated any interest to operate into the Mallam Aminu Kano International Airport, MAKIA, Kano.

“With regards to Turkish Airlines, a letter conveying the Minister’s approval for the airline to operate the Kano route was dated February 26th, 2013.

“On the 20th of March, 2013, the airline’s General Manager, Nigeria, Ali Bulut, in a letter to the Honourable Minister, acknowledged the approval granted the airline. Details on when the airline would commence operations on the route are currently being worked out between officials of the Ministry and Turkish Airlines.

Regardless of whether or not Emirates or Etihad airlines had applied to operate either into MAKIA, Kano or Abuja, subsisting Bilateral Air Services Agreement between Nigeria and the UAE already grants them landing rights to the two destinations.

“All they need do is to apply for approval to commence operations on the routes.

“Instructively, neither of the two airlines has indicated any interest to operate into the two destinations.”

Patience Jonathan moves to Italy

Atiku, el-Rufai's duel over Pentascope deal, Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Politics

38-40

Sports

41-45

Leisure

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

Contd from Page 1 presidential aircraft would take Mrs. Jonathan and her entourage to Milan, Italy, for an undisclosed appointment.

Milan is a choice destination for the jet set and trend setters.It is still unclear what the first lady mission would be in the city famous for assorted jewelry A statement from the Presidency on Monday had denied reports suggesting that Mrs. Jonathan had taken ill again insisting that her overseas trip was a combination of official and private engagements during which she was expected to visit her mother, Mama Sisi, who is currently hospitalised in Germany.

Although the statement hinted that Mrs. Jonathan would visit Italy, it did not say for what purpose as it merely explained that, she travelled to Dubai after which she

proceeded to Paris, France, to participate in the 1st Green Women Conference, which took place in Paris on March 17, 2013 where she received the 2013 Global Women Leaders’ Award for Peace.

According to the statement signed by her spokesman, Ayo Osinlu, the First Lady would also spend “quality time” with her holidaying children in Germany before they return to school, as they are with her to see their grandmother.

In dismissing the First Lady’s reported ill health, Osinlu noted that “it is also instructive to state that medical experts have recommended that every human being should undergo medical checkup every six months even if not suffering ill health.”

After seven weeks in a German hospital last year, Mrs.

Contd from Page 1 Tukur, in a statement from London where he went for Easter break, against the backdrop of reports of moves to ease him out as the party’s chairman; he stressed that there was nothing he had done to wrong any member of the party to warrant any ‘gangup’ against him.

There have been several reports that top stakeholders in the PDP have resolved to bow to pressure from some governors on the platform of the party to remove Tukur.

According to a recent report, Tukur drew President Jonathan’s and the governors ire when he wrote to the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, asking him to recognize the Adamawa PDP faction led by Joel Madaki even when efforts were ongoing to resolve the Adamawa’s impasse.

Meanwhile, Jonathan had earlier set up a Presidential

Committee headed by the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, to resolve the logjam and reconcile the feuding factions in the state. Tukur’s action was viewed as further deepening the crisis in Adamawa even when Lamido’s committee has yet to submit its reports on the Presidential task of reconciliation in the state.

Responding to this development, the PDP National Chairman said: “As the Chairman, I love my party. If I am serving PDP at my age, the reason is not because I want anything as gains. The reason is that serving the ruling party amounts to serving my nation. I have my nation to serve and diligently too, because the country has made me. So for me, it is a pay-back time for the country that made me who I am.

So why would I complain in the face of stiff challenges.

“Yes, as the Chairman, I had taken decisions which had

Jonathan returned to the country on October 17, 2012 although the Presidency had equally denied earlier reports of her hospitalisation.

Initial reports had indicated that the First Lady was being treated for suspected food poisoning but it was later gathered that she had ruptured appendicitis for which she was said to have undergone multiple surgeries.

On her return, Mrs. Jonathan confessed that she went through hell and that God saved her because, “I have not completed my mission for Nigeria.”

Speaking on the uproar over the apparent use of presidential planes for “shuttle services” by the office of the First Lady, an Abuja-based legal practitioner, Edwin Adakole Inegedu, noted that the Constitution does not provide for the basic ingredient

of equipment or tools for the use of the President.

According to him, “the British Prime Minister does not have any jets, he uses the British Airways and President Barack Obama pays for his food except when hosting a state banquet and he even pays rent on his official residence.

“Even though the jet is for the use of the President, he can not just use it for the wife and children.”

On his part, Yahaya Mahmood (SAN), said that “the 1999 Constitution has no provisions for office of the First Lady but the budgets approve presidential jets for the President and that may include his family.

“You cannot stop the wife of the governor from using state government’s vehicles.” he concluded.

I don’t deserve gang up – Tukur metamorphosed into the reconciliation moves we have been making. We want every member to see the party as his or her own and as a party that bestow pride on all. Many people would not like such. In that case, I have no apology for doing good to PDP. Tukur vowed to continue to conduct the party’s affairs with transparency and openness as, according to him, all the aggrieved party members have the open ticket to reach the National Headquarters and hold the leadership in confidence on their points of grievances.

He insisted that every action he took since he became the Chairman was in the interest of the party, and in line with the set agenda of Reconciliation, Reformation and Rebuilding PDP at all levels in Nigeria.

He added: “Some members may not like the idea of

ensuring openness and transparency in the manner we conduct our affairs. But the truth remains that openness and transparency remain the best tool for making the PDP to progress.” According to him, he has been resolute in ensuring that all members of the party get carried along in all its programmes and policies.

“While I take care of my health, I urge party members to continue to support the National Working Committee (NWC) in its drive towards relaunching PDP into a more formidable structure capable of winning and winning elections without stress”.

The PDP boss thanked every member of the PDP for being steadfast, most especially in the face of threats by the opposition groups to pull down PDP at all costs, noting that the agenda by the opposition in that regard would always come to naught if PDP members all over the country would not succumb to the antics of the opposition.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 3

Cardinal Onaiyekan condemns Alams pardon ...Says Nigeria’s clock of social tension dangerously ticking towards explosion

By Joy Baba with Agency reports

T

he infamous presidential pardon granted former Governor of Bayelsa state, Depriye Alamieyeseigha, a political patron of President Goodluck Jonathan, may never go down well with most Nigerians as more high profile figures have joined in condemning the pardon.

The latest condemnation was issued by a prominent leader of the Catholic Church in Nigeria, Cardinal John Oniayekan, in his Easter message.

The Cardinal, troubled by the pardon, like many Nigerians, dedicated his Easter message to condemning the pardon and commenting on a raging argument over whether amnesty should be granted to members of the Boko Haram terrorist sect.

Nigeria’s President Jonathan drew local and international anger after he granted state pardon to his former boss, Mr. Alamieyeseigha.

The former governor, wanted in the United Kingdom for money laundering and convicted in Nigeria for embezzling state funds while he was governor, was pardoned alongside another convict and former head of the Bank of the North, Shettima Bulama.

Mr. Bulama, like Mr. Alamieyeisegha, was investigated and later prosecuted for corruption by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC for crimes committed as head of the Bank of the North.

While many Nigerians have described it as the worst setback to the fight against corruption

in Nigeria, the controversial pardon granted Messrs Alamieyeseigha and Bulama sparked diplomatic row between Nigeria and the United States, with the Americans threatening to punish Nigeria over Mr. Jonathan’s action.

The Cardinal said both the pardon and the argument for an amnesty for Boko Haram are “cases where moral issues are at stake, where people are condemned or liable to be condemned for breaking the law and going against moral norms.

“Furthermore, a sincere effort must be made to pay back as much as possible of what has been stolen.

“That money belongs to the Nigerian people and it must be given back to them.”

The cleric advised the government not to forget that the issue of massive corruption in high places is of major concern to Nigerians who are fast losing confidence in the sincerity of government to turn the tide.

“Pardon for high profile corruption cases will certainly reduce further whatever is left of the confidence of the people.

“This has serious political and social fall-out that government cannot afford to ignore.

“We must tell the truth that anger is mounting in the land especially among the youth whose patience is running out.

“The clock of social tension is dangerously ticking towards explosion. The nation is in danger.

“What is needed are clear and visible gestures of reassurance that a real change and genuine transformation for the better has started.”

Mandela’s condition unchanged, no deterioration – presidency

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nti-apartheid hero Nelson Mandela’s condition has not changed after a weekend improvement, the South African government said on Tuesday.

It also denied media reports suggesting the former President had suffered a relapse in his pneumonia.

“His condition is unchanged as reported yesterday,” Presidency spokesman, Mac Maharaj, told Reuters.

The government said on Monday there was “no significant change” in the condition of the 94year-old Nobel Peace Prize laureate.

Asked about an NBC News report saying Mandela was still suffering a fluid build-up in his lungs, Maharaj said, “it is unfortunate that there are reports circulating in some media which suggest a deterioration, which is not true.”

Mandela was admitted to

hospital late on Wednesday for a recurrence of pneumonia.

Doctors said on Saturday they had drained excess fluid from his lungs and that he was breathing without difficulty.

It is the third health scare in four months for Mandela who became South Africa’s first black President in 1994.

He was in hospital briefly in early March for a check-up and was hospitalised in December for nearly three weeks with a lung infection and later surgery to remove gallstones.

Mandela stepped down as president in 1999 and has not been politically active for about a decade but he is still revered at home and abroad for leading the struggle against apartheid rule and then championing racial reconciliation while in office.

Global figures such as U.S. President Barack Obama have sent get-well messages.

L-R: Chairman, Kaduna state standing committee on Qur'anic recitation, Dr. Bello Abdulqadir with the Emir of Zazzau, Alhaji Shehu Idris during the committee's visit to the emir, yesterday in Zaria.

Jonathan can’t stop APC – ACN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has vowed that no presidential directive or executive order can stop the merger of progressive forces in the country to democratically take power from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015.

“It is therefore futile for anyone to embark on such an impossible task,” the party said in a statement in Lagos yesterday and signed its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed.

According to him, “Nigerians are yearning for change, therefore targeting our leaders will not help the disappearing behemoth whose so-called reconciliation efforts have even worsened its plight.

“Needless to say that, every attempt or attack on perceived political opponents by the government and its apparatchiks will be contested and resisted.

“The leaders of APC know what they are up against and are

mindful that the battle ahead may be rough and difficult but they are irrevocably committed to establishing a party that will sound the death knell of the bumbling PDP and bring development to Nigeria.”

The statement noted that ACN has always been aware of all the attempts to derail the registration of the APC, by some impostors who have been given funds by their “‘ogas at the top.”

“It described as an eye-opener but not a surprise the report carried by a national newspaper on Tuesday, April 2nd, that a presidential directive, dated March 26th, 2013, has been issued by the presidency for everything to be done to frustrate the merger of opposition parties.

ACN recalled that in a statement it issued on Jan. 8th 2013, it alerted the nation to the desperate measures being planned by the PDP-led Federal Government to discredit and silence key opposition leaders, especially the ACN leader, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, and his CPC counterpart, Gen. Muhammadu

Buhari, as well as their political associates.

“The report confirms what we already knew, including the sinister plan to stop Tinubu ahead of the 2015 elections.

“We like to add that part of this plan is to hurt his business interests, scare off most of his business partners and political associates, try to pin some activities of Boko Haram on him and generally go after the leading figures including governors in the APC initiative. “‘But there is also another plan which is to ensure that elections either do not hold in 2015 or that they will hold under a curfew. “To achieve this, those who have now succumbed to a mortal fear of the APC are stoking the fire of violence across the country, either through incompetent handling of existing crises or by instigating fresh ones.

“With the north-east and the north-west in the throes of violence, the south-west is their next target in this regard and we will reveal the full details of their shenanigans in due course.”

CBN issues new guidelines on bank charges

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has pegged interest on savings, deposit accounts at minimum of 30 per cent of approved Monetary Policy Rate (MPR).

Similarly, interests on current account in credit, term deposit and domiciliary accounts under savings deposit accounts are negotiable, the CBN said yesterday in a circular on its revised guidelines for banks.

According to the circular signed by the CBN acting Director,

Financial Policy and Regulation Department, Mr. I.T. Nwadioha, the new rates took effect from April 1, 2013 and has been communicated to commercial banks and discount houses.

In the revised CBN guideline, lending rate on local currency loan is negotiable but the guideline stipulates that the rate must reflect the risk base pricing model.

According to the guideline, “where there is a change in agreed rate, the customer must be notified within five business

days in advance of the application of the new rate.

“The lending rate for foreign currency loans is also negotiable.”

The Guide to bank charges, first issued in 2004, was meant to provide a standard for the application of charges in the banking industry and to minimize conflict between banks and their customers.

Overtime, it was observed that various charges in the Guide had become out of tune with current realities in the industry while some provisions were ambiguous.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 5

Corruption in police is a societal perceptionChaplain

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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ioneer chaplain of the Nigeria Police Force, ASP Raphael Fagbohun, has said that corruption in the force was not an institutional case as it is being portrayed but a societal perception.

Fagbohun stated this while speaking with journalists yesterday in Abuja, as part of activities marking the 7th anniversary of the formation of the chaplaincy in the Nigeria Police Force.

“It is a societal one that has to do with Nigeria as a whole. It is a personal one that has to do with individuals. Every wise person knows that corruption is a Nigeria problem and not a police issue. The Police Force happens to be a part of the Nigerian society with corrupt individuals who are personnel of the Force, which does not condone corruption”. he said.

He buttressed his points with a statistical fact that the Force was the organisation with highest number of dismissal rate of indisciplined officers in the civil service.

On the effort of the chaplains to right sundry wrongs, ASP Fagbohun disclosed that the force currently has102 trained and commissioned Pastors/ Imams in the Force.

“Though spiritual matters are not easily physically observable, but we can point out that our success is visible in the areas of establishment of places of worship for officers and men and their families to easily connect spiritually with their God in all Police formations and Barracks throughout the country”, he added.

While warning the people whom he said might want to take the advantage of the group, he said, police chaplaincy was not a religious organisation or appendage of a particular church denomination, adding that it is purely an administrative section of the Nigeria police.

L-R: Gov Rauf Aregbesola of Osun; Mrs Hid Awolowo and Gov Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta state, during a condolence visit to the Awolowo family over the death of Chief Oluwole Awolowo, yesterday in Ikene.

Photo: NAN

Wada worries over Kogi, Anambra oil crisis From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada has expressed concern over the oil crisis between the people of Odeke in Anambra state and Echeno in Ibaji local government council of the state.

He made this known on Tuesday when the delegations of the two communities visited the governor.

The governor who said that he immediately mandated his deputy to intervene on the issue, added that he was working for the release of the two Ibaji people

kidnapped by the people of Anambra state.

The governor said that he was still in contact with the governor of Anambra state on the matter and therefore commended the Odeke and Echeno communities for their maturity in handling the crisis.

Wada assured the people that he would supply food to the people of Ibaji to cushion the effect of the flood disaster and post-conflict losses on the people as he pledged government’s support to the police in protecting the people.

In a related development, a

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resident of the Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ), Muhammad Garba, has given media houses owing their staff backlog of salaries, a two weeks ultimatum to pay up or face industrial action from the union, in conjunction with Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Radio and Theater Workers Union (RATTAWU).

Addressing a press conference yesterday in Lagos, Garba said despite protracted negotiations and appeal to the media owners to take the welfare of their staff into consideration by paying

embarrassing flood which submerged the whole communities of Ibaji were forced to face another embarrassment from the Igbo community.

Alhaji Meyanga who was speaking with Peoples Daily in Lokoja yesterday maintained that this has further revealed the insensitivity of the Peoples Democratic Party controlled government, to lives and property of the citizens of the nation, noting that the issue of Boko Haram had not been resolved and yet the government was plunging the nation into an oil war.

Bonga oil spill: Reps to intervene in Shell’s $11.5 bn fine

By Lawrence Olaoye

I

ndications emerged yesterday that the House of Representatives may have concluded plans to intervene in the $11.5 billion fine imposed on Shell Nigeria Exploration Company (SNEPCO) by two government agencies over the oil spill which occurred in Bonga Field in 2011.

The House is set to make the intervention through its committee on environment chaired by Rep Uche Ekwunife.

The two agencies-the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA) and Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Management Agency (NIMASA)- have asked SNEPCO to pay a total of $11.5 billion as

NUJ, NLC, RATTAWU to picket media houses over unpaid salaries From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

chieftain of Congress of Progressive Change, CPC, in Kogi state Alhaji Idris Meyanga has laid the furore between Odeke in Kogi state and Aguleri in Anambra state on the doorstep of President Goodluck Jonathan.

The CPC chieftain blamed the President for hastily declaring Anambra as an oil producing state when the boundary issue had not been resolved, noting that the present mayhem would been averted were it not for the pronouncement.

He said Odeke and Echeno communities that were just trying to recover from the

salaries as at when due, media owners have refused to honour agreement reached with the national body.

Garba who decried a situation where media houses owe their staff up to fourteen months and make no effort to pay, said this has frustrated the efforts of NUJ to encourage professionalism and ethics in the practice of the profession.

“Journalists who have not been paid their salaries are exposed to several temptations in the course of their duties”, he said.

He further revealed that the Nigerian Labour Congress and

RATTAWU have been engaged to enforce this ultimatum.

Garba, who has just been elected as President of the Federation of African Journalists pledged to maintain the unity of African journalists and address the problems confronting journalists throughout the continent.

Speaking also, the chairman of Lagos State NUJ, Deji Elumoye, confirmed that efforts have been made by the Lagos Chapel of NUJ to negotiate with the media houses to pay their staff outstanding salaries but to no avail.

Administrative Charges for the spill.

While NOSDRA charged SNEPCO $5 billion, NIMASA is charging $6.5 billion for the same spill.

The Bonga oil spill which investigations revealed, was caused by a rupture in an export hose poured an estimated 40,000 barrels of crude oil across 950 square kilometres of water and greatly defacing the environment and the livelihood of the surrounding communities.

Speaking at a session with officials of NOSDRA, NIMASA and SNEPCO, Ekwunife said the two agencies should present her committee with the parameters used in arriving at the two amounts, adding that the committee would resolve the issue of different penalties in collaboration with the two agencies involved.

Though the Managing Director of SNEPCO, Mr. Chike Onyekekwe, said the company has always obeyed the law regulating the sector, and that the cause of the accident was still being investigated, Mrs.Gunwa Juliana who represented NIMASA said the agency was

denied access to samples from the spill site by the facility manager.

Speaking further, Ekwunife noted that the environment and people’s livelihood suffer when oil firms and government agencies bicker over who is responsible for oil spills, The lawmaker charged SNEPCO to ensure that relief materials were sent to the affected communities adding that excuses would no longer be condoned whenever oil spills occur.

She said: “This committee is of the view that oil companies have a responsibility to protect their facilities and if their pipelines become compromised either due to sabotage or equipment failure, the oil companies have a responsibility to immediately clean and remediate the impacted sites.

We cannot continue to sit down and watch our environment being continually degraded and our people lose their lives and sources of livelihood.”

Ekwunife said her Committee has set up an Adhoc Committee to meet with the different stakeholders with a view to resolving all the contentious issues.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Police deny bomb explosion at Karu shopping complex

By Lambert Tyem

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he Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Police command has refuted the alleged bomb explosion in a shopping complex in Karu, a suburb ofAbuja, explaining that the explosion took place in an uncompleted building contrary to earlier insinuations that it was in a shopping complex.

While dismissing the insinuations than it was an act of

terrorism, FCT Police Commissioner, Femi Ogunbayode, said the explosive that went off was not an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) but a commercial explosive used in road construction by workers to crack rocks.

This is even as residents of Karu community are recovering from the shock of last Monday night's explosion that occurred in the area, as reported by our correspondent.

Though the police authorities had allayed fears of terrorism, the blast had shattered the glass windows of some malls in the area.

Peoples Daily correspondent who visited the area reported that the popular Karu Shopping Plaza, which houses a major eatery, in addition to a nearby plaza, were affected by the explosion.

The explosion had forced funseekers at the eateryto scamper for safety, with some leaving their loved ones to their fate.

The FCT Police Commissioner said, "it is necessary for us to clear the air about what happened on Monday at Karu.

"Initially, we thought the incident happened at Mr Biggs but when our men responded swiftly, we discovered that it happened in an uncompleted building.

"After combing the entire site, we discovered it was contrary to what we thought. It was discovered that it was a disposed

insecticide that was ignited." he said, adding that commercial explosives are permissible by law.

"We are investigating as to how these explosives got there.

We discovered eight other commercial explosives that weren't detonated.

"We have also spoken to the owner of the site who is also providing a clue as to how the explosive got there. We will continue to provide security," Ogunbayode said.

Insecurity: Kwankwaso wants Saudi govt's help From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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L-R: Representatives of the Minister of Health, Dr. Wapada Balami, President, Association for Reproductive and family Health.

Abuja, , Professor Oladapo Ladipo; Face of Endomentriosis in Nigeria, chief Adenike Oshinowo; and Managing Director, Nordica Fertility Centre, Dr. Abayomi Ajayi, at a seminar on pains of Endometrosis in Abuja yesterday

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middle-aged woman, identified as Mummy Ajimo, and her son were electrocuted in Abebi area of Oke Baale in Osogbo by a cable felled by the rain on Monday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) learnt that the rain was associated with violent lightning and thunder that wreaked havoc in some residential areas.

NAN learnt that during the torrential rain, the cables of an electric pole in Abebi area fell and sent shocks through the affected buildings.

Woman, son electrocuted in Osun The Commissioner of Police in Osun state, Mrs Dorothy Gimba, confirmed the incident, saying the Police Area Commander informed her about the event.

She said that early on Tuesday, residents, who were scared, including Ajimo, scampered for safety as many of them relocated to avoid contact with the fallen electric cables.

Although the police report identified the deceased woman as

Mummy Ajimo, some eyewitnesses identified her as Simiatu Rafiu, who had attempted to escape the danger with her son.

As residents hurried out of the area, Mummy Ajimo, took her son, Ajimo, to leave the area but as they made their way out, they stepped on the live electric cable and were electrocuted.

The Police Public Relations Officer, Mrs Folashade Odoro, made a report from one Ishmail Oyebode

of Ile Balogun Abe Obi area of Osogbo available to NAN. The report read, "there was an electric spark a few hours ago and people living in that area started running out for safety and one Mummy Ajimo and her son ran into the wire and died immediately.''

Meanwhile, the police said details of the report would be made available to newsmen as soon as investigation from the Area Commander's office was completed. (NAN)

overnor Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state has urged the Saudi Arabian government to support Nigeria in its quest to restore peace and security in the country.

Kwankwaso, who made the call while receiving the Secretary General, World Muslim League, Sheikh Abdallah AbdulMuhsin al-Turki, at the Government House Kano, lamented that the fragile peace and security in some parts of the country is militating against its development.

He said Nigeria stood to benefit a lot from its membership of Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) and urged the organization to open up more windows of opportunity for Nigeria, especially in the areas of education and agriculture, among others.

The governor who praised the World Islamic League for promoting mutual cooperation and support of Islamic activities worldwide, appealed to the body to assist the state government by executing some projects at the Northwest University in the state capital.

The projects, he explained, include an Islamic center and mosque. He further urged the league to provide technical and logistic support toward the setting up of a school of Islamic studies in each of the 44 local government areas of the state, by the state government.

NOA set to tackle vices on Jigawa campuses From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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pparently disturbed by the general insecurity situation in the country occasioned by the gullibility of the youths as willing tools for perpetrators of violence, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Jigawa state has staged a value re-orientation lecture for students of the State College of Education Gumel.

The NOA Director General, Mike Omeri, in his welcome

address bemoaned situations on the campuses of Nigerian tertiary institutions where various forms of social vices have found a nurturing ground.

Omeri who was represented by the Director of Planning and Research of the agency, Garba Haruna, said the implication has been far-reaching, hence most of the vices nurtured on the campuses have adverse effects on the society.

According to him, "the implication has led to the

graduation of mediocre products who have found their way into the public and private sector of the economy, including the legislature and other Government's departments charged with the responsibility of translating government's policies in to tangible benefits for the well being of all citizens."

He said that NOA was determined to seek ways of leading the Nigerian youths back to the straight and narrow

path of propriety, ethical goodness and moral rectitude, recalling that the agency has embarked on other programs that seek to effect genuine attitudinal change of the citizenry.

Jigawa state Commissioner of Youth, Sports and culture, Babandi Ibrahim Gumel, described the schools as major stakeholders in the shaping of values and norms of the society and the attitude of those that pass through them.

He cautioned that character

molding in the higher institutions of learning should be taken as a serious academic learning, commending NOA for introducing civic education into the curriculum of primary and junior secondary schools.

The papers presented by the various resource persons dwelt on the effect of drug abuse, examination malpractice, armed robbery, cultism, religious violence, indiscriminate disposal of pure water sachets and intercommunal conflicts.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 8

L-R: Wife of the President, Ibadan Grammar School Old Students Association, Mrs Tola Aworh; former Ambassador to U.S., Amb. Olu Sanu; Chief Folake Solanke; Chief Judge of Ondo state, Justice Olubunmi Olateru-Olagbegi and Chief Judge of Oyo state, Justice Badejoko Adeniji, at the centenary award dinner of Ibadan grammar school in Ibadan on Monday.

Photo NAN

L-R: Vice-Chancellor, University of Jos, Prof. Hayward Mafuyai (l), with the Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Benjamin Ogwu, addressing a pre-convocation news conference, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

Students of Methodist girls' secondary school, Gbagada, Lagos, resuming after Easter break, yesterday.

L-R: National President, Vigilante Group of Nigeria, Alhaji Ali Sokoto; national chairman, NIGGAS rehabilitation and skill acquisition centre, Malam Niga Rigasua and executive director, peace revival and reconciliation foundation of Nigeria, Pastor Yohanna Buru, at the Muslims and Christians reconciliation meeting, yesterday in Kaduna

Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro (middle) in a group photograph with NYSC Corps members, during the Unveiling of NYSC status at Ugbokolo in Okpokwu local council of Benue state by the Minister recently.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

NEMA gives relief materials to IDPs from Plateau From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

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L-R: FCT Police Commissioner, Femi Ogunbayode, Officer in Charge of Police Bomb Squad FCT, Sergent Okey Maybo, during the inspection following the explosion in Karu on Monday, in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Sule Ya'u Sule's book for launch at AU 50th anniversary

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

P

ractice of Public Relations in Africa," a book written by a Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), Malam Sule Ya'u Sule, is set for public presentation at the at the headquarters of African Union (AU) in Ethiopia, Addis Ababa, next month.

A statement by the organizers describes the book as a compilation of different topical presentations by scholars as well as practising PR officers during the 2011 African Public Relations Association (AFRA) in Mombasa, Kenya.

The launch will coincide with coincide with the AU 50th anniversary and the 2013 APRA

conference which will hold between May 8th to 10th at the state-of-the-art AU headquarters in the Ethiopian capital.

The APRA is a professional body that guides and regulates the practice of Public Relations in Africa.

Sule who is a Special Adviser to the Governor of Kano state was recently appointed by the body to coordinate and mobilise delegates, sponsors, advertisers and exhibitors from the northern Nigeria for the summit.

Forced marriage: Court grants woman's request for divorce A Grade One Area Court in Abuja on Tuesday granted a housewife, Mrs. Sadiya Turaki's

request for divorce from her husband, Mustapha.

The Judge, Mr. Qaseem Muhammed, granted the divorce following complaints by Sadiya that she had never loved her husband.

Muhammed said that he granted the divorce because from all indications the marriage was not working.

Sadiya told the court, "I have never loved him as I was forced to marry him. My heart is elsewhere.

"I cannot stand being married to him. Since I was forced to marry him three years ago, I have never agreed to live with him.

"I have been living with my parents. I just moved to his house

two weeks ago.

"I was very young when I was forced to marry him, but now I am older, wiser and educated. I can now stand for myself."

Mustapha, a civil servant, of Wuse, prayed the court to grant his wife's request.

"Please grant her request because I do not want to force her against her wishes, I want her to be happy.

"This divorce should not spoil the relationship between us, we will remain brother and sister,'' he said.

He said that the divorce was against his wish, but that he wanted to make his wife happy.

After the court granted Sadiya's request, Abdul wished her good luck in the future. (NAN)

Conference of Imams wants dialogue of Muslim, Christian leaders From Iliya Garba-Minna

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he north-central zone of Juma'at Imams' Forum has demanded a stop to what the grorup described as arbitrary arrest, intimidation and extra-judicial killing of innocent religious leaders in the country.

In a communiqué at the end of a three-day workshop in Minna, Niger state, the Imams said that their positions should not attract monthly salary.

According to the communiqué signed by Malam by Malam Umar Faruk Abdullahi, "the forum recognised the importance of youth education particularly the girl child and Almajiri education, curbing street begging as it is the primary responsibility of government at all levels to ensure sound and qualitative education of its citizenry.

"The forum condemned in strong terms all forms of violence and killing of innocent souls across the country as such

act is anti-Islam and counterproductive to national development.

"To ensure cooperation and understanding between Muslims and Christians, the forum called for a clearly and well defined objective of both religious leaders on a round table

conference in order to proffer lasting solution to the crisis in the country.

"The forum called on government to strengthen Sharia and its institutions and also ensure strict compliance with all its provisions aimed at curbing immorality in our

society.

"For continued peaceful coexistence amongst the people of two religions in the country, the forum recommended delivery of justice in all forms to both parties and ensure that offenders are punished accordingly irrespective of their status."

Group tasks Southern Kaduna elite over underdevelopment From Mohammed Ibrahim, Kaduna

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he Bajju Development Association (BADA) has blamed the elite of southern Kaduna state for the alleged backwardness and under development of the area.

The group in a communiqué at the end of its annual national youth conference of at Zonkwa, said that the Bajju will develop a scale of assessing elected representatives and appointees so that the people get effective and sound representation.

The communiqué signed by

the National President of the youth wing of BADA, Comrade Gad Ezekiel and national Secretary, Ezra Bassta, urged youth from the area to rise up and salvage the situation.

According to the communiqué, "the elite of southern Kaduna are responsible for the backwardness and underdevelopment of entire southern Kaduna.

"The youth of southern Kaduna should rise and and salvage the situation.

"The Politics of money in southern Kaduna politics must be de-emphasised for collective

development and the people should embark on genuine reconciliation.

"Bajju people must develop a scale of assessing elected representatives and appointees so that the land gets effective and sound representation.

"It was also resolved that illustrious sons and daughters of Bajju should help the unemployed graduates and the less privileged.

"It was also resolved that security is in the hands of government and that all securities agencies should ensure that the menace of night killings is addressed."

he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has provided relief materials for about 300 Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from Bokkos local government area of Plateau state.

The displaced persons fled to the IDP camp at Tafa, Kagarko local government of Kaduna state, at the when unidentified gunmen attacked the Bokkos community last week.

The relief items consist of 100 bags each of rice, maize, Guinea corn and millet.

They also include, 15 jerry cans each of vegetable and palm oil, 50 cartons each of milk, 50 cartons of detergents, 175 mattresses and 300 pieces of mosquito nets.

According to the NEMA northwest zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah, "the victims at the IDPs camp at Tafa are from neighbouring Bokkos local government area of Plateau state who were displaced during the crisis in which about 30 people lost their lives, 25 still missing, hundreds rendered homeless and hundreds of cows missing.

Katsina flood victims share N11.3 m FG assistance

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o fewer than 900 victims of last year's flood disaster in Sandamu local government area of Katsina state have shared N11.3 million as assistance from the Federal Government.

Alhaji Abubakar Yusuf, the Special Adviser to the state governor on Community Development, stated this while distributing the donation to the victims in Sandamu on Tuesday.

Yusuf said the amount was part of the N300 million released to the state by the federal government to assist last year's flood victims in addressing some of their problems.

The special adviser sympathised with the victims and urged them to make best use of the fund.

Yusuf also urged them to desist from blocking waterways, as well as to clear drains and dispose refuse properly to avoid reoccurrence of the disaster.

In a remark, the Caretaker Chairman of Sandamu local council, Alhaji Sani Sabo, said the victims had earlier received relief materials from the state and local governments, as well as Non Governmental Organisations and philanthropists.

He thanked the Federal Government and other donors for the gesture, saying it was a demonstration of their concern to the plight of the victims.

One of the victims, Malam Ja'afaru Baushi, thanked the federal, state and local governments for the assistance which, he said, would be used to re-build their houses.

NAN recalls that Gov. Ibrahim Shema had two weeks ago in Matazu, said 10 people died in the flood which affected 10,000 people in 18 of the 34 local government areas of the state. (NAN)

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

O

ne of the realities of life is that sometimes unexpected financial emergencies can strike. Indeed, you never know when a natural disaster, job loss or some other catastrophe will strike. When you do run into financial difficulties, the way you react can make a big impact on how you resolve the situation, and whether or not the result is financial ruin.

If you are faced with a financial emergency, here are a few things to keep in mind as you prepare to handle the situation: Step Back and Consider the Situation It can be difficult to stop and consider your situation.

However, before you make a decision, you need to know where you are at. First of all, look at the situation. " What costs are you going to incur?

Money Tip: Get a Look from the Outside

A

sit-down with your accountant can help you map out money-saving tax strategies. McBean recommends meeting with your accountant, attorney and other key advisors.

Sure, they provide vital services like keeping your finances straight and your business on the right side of the law, but the real reason for a friendly chat over lunch is to get a broader and fresh perspective on market forces that impact your business.

Becoming an expert in your field can oftentimes narrow your view. Recounting his time selling cars, it was easy to view his business through a single lens, said McBean. "All I really knew was my car market," he lamented.

It dawned on him that there were other professionals whose insights on the economy could help him move more cars off his lot.

"I talked to my banker, I wanted him to tell me what else is going on in my market," he said.

Sure enough, his banker's knowledge of how money was moving in the local economy helped McBean better tailor his practices for his market.

Likewise, a sit-down with your accountant can help you map out money-saving tax strategies. A chat with your attorney can give you a glimpse at the legal landscape before you embark on a new venture or pursue new ventures.

Quote The man who will use his skill and constructive imagination to see how much he can give for a dollar, instead of how little he can give for a dollar, is bound to succeed.

- Henry Ford

How to handle a financial emergency "What is your emergency fund like? " Do you have a measure of income diversity to help offset your increased costs and/or loss of income? " What other assets do you have?

"Do you have items you can sell?

"Do you have home food storage to help you reduce your immediate grocery bill?

Your first impulse might be to make a fast move, pulling all of your money out of your emergency fund, or immediately trying to stop all of your spending. You might be better served, though, by stepping back and considering the problem.

Determine whether or not you might be able to set up a payment plan, and figure out what sources of income and financial help you might have available to you.

You might not want to ask friends and family for help, but it might be necessary in some cases.

Understand your position, and recognize the assets you have access to, as well as the possibilities you have of making the situation more manageable.

Prioritize Your Bills In some cases, not all the planning in the world allows you to pay all of your bills when they come due. As a result, it is vital that you prioritize your bills.

Figure out what your most important priorities are. if you want to remain in your home, then your top priority is making sure the mortgage is paid. If you

need to keep your car, you need to ensure that you have enough money to make the loan payments. Utilities, groceries and other necessities should be ranked as well, although you can usually find assistance programs to help you with utilities, and you can find community pantries and food

banks to help you with food, if you decide that's necessary.

Realize that some bills just aren't as important as others.

Your credit card issuers might be calling and asking for payment, but if you are more concerned about keeping your house, paying the unsecured credit cards just isn't going to be

practical. You do have rights, and you can get creditors to stop calling you about payments you just can't make, due to financial emergency. The important thing is to prioritize your bills so that the most important items are covered.

Contact Your Creditors As soon as you know you are in trouble, contact your creditors. See if you can work out a new payment plan. You might be able to work something out with your creditors, in terms of a new plan, forbearance, deferral or modification. Realize, though, that in some situations interest will still accrue on your debts, even if you aren't making payments right now.

Contacting your creditors can help you salvage some of your credit rating, as well as reduce the number of phone calls and payment due notices you receive.

Be realistic about your ability to repay the loan right now, and work with your creditors on a payment plan. Many creditors are willing to work with those who show an interest in repaying their debts, instead of just turning to bankruptcy as a way out.

Look for Other Ways to Earn Money One of the best ways to shore up your finances during an emergency is to have income diversity. As soon as your emergency hits, look for ways that you can earn more money.

Consider side hustles, home business ideas and part-time work. You will likely need more income, from different sources, if you are going to weather the emergency.

How saving for retirement might backfire

S

aving for retirement is now the top financial goal of the vast majority of people who hold a job, according to a recent survey. That's great news. We have a savings crisis in Nigeria and whether that has signaled a serious concern for its necessity or not is another thing entirely.

The same survey that found that 72% of workers regard saving for retirement as their top goal also found that relatively few are

doing much about it. More than two-thirds of those with a 401(k) plan say they are contributing 10% or less of their pre-tax income. A stunning 29% say they have no idea at what rate they are contributing to their company-sponsored plan.

Saving 10% of annual earnings is widely considered to be a minimum target. A financial expert advises saving 15% to 20%, beginning at age 25 and

wrapping employer contributions into the calculation. But it isn't just the low savings rate that is troublesome.

The rise of retirement savings as a financial goal may have more to do with the fall from grace of other financial goals. As recently as 2008, paying down debt was international countries' top financial New Year's resolution.

Depending on the survey, homeownership and paying for college also have outstripped retirement savings as a top goal.

Debt repayment has all but fallen off the map; in the T. Rowe Price survey, it ranks behind retirement saving, improving current lifestyle, and building an emergency fund. Maybe that's because world countries generally have improved their personal balance sheets since the Great Recession, a good thing. According to Fed data, 39.4% of families say they have at least one credit card with a balance on it, down 6.7 percentage points from 2007.

But what about home ownership and higher education as financial goals? It's possible that the deep housing slump, when millions lost their homes to foreclosure or saw their equity wiped away, took much of the luster off owning a house. A poll by the National Endowment for Financial Education found that

retirement had replaced homeownership as the dream of most people around the world, especially Americans. This is a potentially troubling development. Could it be that Americans are turning their backs on homeownership just as the housing market begins to recover?

Meanwhile, a debate rages over the value of a college education. Students graduate with an average of equivalent N350, 000 in student loans and have bleak job prospects, according to the Project on Student Debt. Critics of higher education are getting an airing like never before.

Yet surveys continue to show a wide gap between the lifetime earnings power of college graduates and those who do not get a degree. Are we discounting higher education just as the global economy begins to demand more - not fewer - educated workers?

If saving for retirement now tops our list of financial goals because Americans recognize the savings crisis and want to do something about it - that's a gain.

But if it has risen to the top by attrition, and without commitment, we may be headed for even more trouble down the road.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

Tambuwal’s dangerous prevarication

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he drama playing out in the House of Representatives, presided over by Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, should disturb every true lover of Nigeria’s democracy. Two people, both of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), are laying a claim to the seat for Anambra East/West federal constituency in the House. They are Tony Nwoye, a former national president of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and Mr. Christcato Ameke, who presently occupies that seat. He does so because Independent National Election Commission (INEC) initially declared him winner of the April26, 2011 election. But today, the story has changed in favour of Nwoye.

This was how. On July 13, 2012, a federal high court ruled that INEC erred by declaring Ameke winner of the election and ordered that the Certificate of Return given to him be withdrawn and reissued to Nwoye.

INEC complied with the court decision three days later (July 16).

That should have been enough ground for Ameke to have been thrown out of the House and Nwoye sworn in, but that has not happened, a good nine months after.

The argument of the House leadership for not complying with the court order and defying INEC, thereby breaching the 2010 Electoral Act, was that there were still some legal hurdles, chiefly, Nwoye’s challenge of the court judgement on the ground that it was a pre-election

matter, bordering on who was the rightfully nominated candidate of the PDP. He also asked the Court of Appeal that sat in Enugu to grant a “stay of execution’ on the judgement.

“It is better to do the right thing to both parties than rushing to make a costly mistake. We want to ensure that at the end of the day neither Nwoye nor Ameke suffers any injustice," Speaker Tambuwal had argued. However, the court struck out that application, meaning that the

“

This is a House that has been crying itself hoarse over the failure of the Executive to implement its resolutions, now clearly in contempt of judicial decisions and breach of an electoral law it helped to enact last hurdle in the way of Nwoye taking his seat in the House had been scaled.

Besides, based on the high court and appeal court decisions, a fourman House panel, headed by Rep. Ishaka Bawa, did advise the House leaders to boot out Ameke and replace him with Nwoye. Still, this has not been done. Meanwhile, we have an impostor sitting in the House and

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

drawing salary and other pecks of that office while the rightful occupant is outside.

Interestingly, a similar case happened in the Senate over the same April 26 National Assembly elections. It pitched Margery Okadigbo against Prince John Emeka . The matter reached up to the Supreme Court which sacked the latter and asked that he be replaced in the Senate with the former, the wife of Third Republic Senate President, late Chuba Okadigbo. The Senate has since complied. So why is the House adamant about not letting Nwoye take his rightful seat?

It has been suggested that solidly behind Ameke stands House Deputy Speaker, Rep Emeka Nkem Ihedioha, though the two are from different Igbospeaking states, Anambra and Imo respectively. The two seem determined to drag the case to the Supreme Court, hoping that it would overturn the decisions of the high court and the appeal court. That will be difficult, going by precedents. However, Tambuwal appears to tag along.

Which is unfortunate.

This is a House that has been crying itself hoarse over the failure of the Executive to implement its resolutions, now clearly in contempt of judicial decisions and breach of an electoral law it helped to enact. By insisting on giving Ameke a lifeline, the House is trying to interpret the law, something that is outside its purview. We cannot grow our fledgling democracy this way. Nwoye must take his place in the House.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

CHAIRMAN MALAM WADA MAIDA, OON, FNGE DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM ACTING EDITOR, DAILY HAMEED M. BELLO

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HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

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HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 13

Dear President, how do you eradicate rats?

By Aliyu Mukhtar Katsina

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hree things occupy my mind these days. I believe they must also concern many other Nigerians. First, I watch with concern how a particular section of the country, the north; adherents of a particular religion, Islam; and an ethnic group, Hausa/Fulani, for whatever reasons, are being criminalized by the Nigerian government and even otherwise respectable persons from other parts of this country.

Two, I watch with amusement the debate in the media, print and online, for and against amnesty for the Boko Haram, and how it is taking a dangerous sectarian dimension. Those who call for amnesty tend to be mostly Muslims and northerners, while those vehemently opposed are mostly southerners and Christians. Third, I have

By Tony Eluemunor

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he University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Literature 301 (African Fiction) Class was weeks late in starting for the 1980/81 academic year. In the fourth week, the students had gathered as usual even before it was time for the class. Then five minutes after the time, a large Mercury Monarch car drove in and parked beside the class. A man of middle height in a brown safari suit and with a deeply creased and very serious face, atop an erect body, walked into the class.

He greeted the class and went straight to perch at the edge of the table, disdaining the chair – and waited for the hum his entry had elicited to die down. It didn’t.

Two minutes later he cleared his throat, went to the black board and began to write even as he spoke: “my name is…” and the class roared: CH-I-N-U-A A-C-H-E-B-E!!!.

He shook his head ever so slightly, like somebody who had gotten used to such antics, nay adulation, and reminded the class that other students were also taking lectures in other sections of the Ansah Building which the English Department shared with Economics. Then he apologized for having not been in the country for almost a month, making the students to lose several lectures. He explained that such international engagements were making more demands on his time and he had decided to do something about his having to struggle to meet up with his lectures. With that he

watched the infantile approach of the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to the Boko Haram insurgency. The government bullies, intimidates, blackmail, lies, kills, except asking the simple and straight question: Just how do you eradicate rats?

Kenneth Janda is certainly not a soldier or security official, but by asking President George W. Bush that kind question back in 2004 during the frenzy of the destruction of Iraq and Afghanistan, he exposed fundamental flaws in the GWOT. He also did his country, the US, great service by showing the whole world that in most cases those who supervise our security are dunces.

Now, I am not saying Mr. Jonathan and his bunch of security watchers are idiotic. Nevertheless, he appears illogical to me. The question he seems to run

away from is simply this: Terrorists are like rats. You can kill one, two, or even dozen. However, like rats, killing will not stop them from breeding. They recruit as long as the conditions are right. And like rats subsisting on garbage, terrorists feed on the alienation which the Nigerian state fosters on its citizens. Yes, they feed on the violence which the Nigerian elites unleash on common citizens every day.

And the assault which Goodluck and his handlers subjects us to daily. These foster and sustain insecurity on a grand scale. They provide terrorists with a huge reservoir from which they recruit adherents. And when you wonder why people would want to kill themselves, you should ask why people would not want to die when they have lost all hope of justice and living a decent life as human beings. So Mr. President,

how do you kill rats?

Is killing an effective strategy for eradicating rats? If you are dealing with a couple yes, but if you are dealing with an insidious community, you eradicate them by denying them dominance over their environment. This can be done in three ways. Scorch earth approach in which you go in, start shooting from the hip Rambo style until not a living soul breathes. This seems to be the favorite, and this reinforces the view among some northerners that BH is actually a conspiracy conceived and hatched by the president to destroy the north. Not that I believe them anyway, but I think it is the most cruel and futile of all the approaches available. Poison kills rats, but never eradicates rats.

Alternatively, you can leave them alone to breed and pester until they take over in which case you retreat to

another place. This I think is the most stupid unless you are planning to declare your own republic after your presidency, as many conspiracy theorists want us to believe.

The third approach is simpler, but it requires a small dose of sincerity and commitment. To kill off rats completely, you need to remove the garbage which, in the first place, gives them a feasting place. It is annoying that most of the professionals and academics who know the changing nature of security in the world are not speaking up.

Security has changed.

Approaches to fighting insecurity have shifted away from guns and tanks.

You build trust, ensure justice, promote equality, and stop stealing public money. Upholding these values attains security.

Aliyu Mukhtar Katsina is reachable on amkatsina@gmail.com

Achebe: The novelist as class teacher (I) had hinted us that that we would be his last class in Nigeria … but that master of understatement did not make it that clear then.

He asked if we had all bought the long list of recommended text books, and he added another long list; the class asked if we could ever have the time to treat all of them. “No”, he spoke ever so softly, so softly that you sometimes had to strive to hear him, saying that our studies would neither begin nor end in the class room. “You have to go beyond the official list of books. The world is your stage”, he announced: “reach out and take it.

Tackle it, subdue it. I’m just your guide. Soon, you’ll forget me and open your wings wide and fly”. His words were not rushing out; instead, he almost counted his words as he released them slowly as though he deliberately weighed each word before letting it pass through his lips.

Achebe was ever patient; never shouting at any student; not even when they gave the worst of answers.

Instead, he would say, “why not look at it this way”?

There was a particular student, Tony Ejiochi, who loved to antagonize Achebe, telling him often that he rated Cyprian Ekewnsi to be Africa’s best. Achebe thanked him for the stance, especially for his courage but warned him that his style of writing, filing the entire essays with “phantasmagoria” and such high-faluting words just to

make an impression, would not help him in making the world to appreciate Ekwensi the more. “I wonder if Ekwensi ever used the word phantasmagoria in any of his books” concluded Achebe.

From that day, “Phantasmagoria” took over the student’s name. If I see tomorrow, I’ll still call him “Phantasmagoria.”

Then one day, Achebe flared up. He had asked the class to read a certain section of the Senegalese diplomat, Cheikh Hamidou Kane’s “The Ambiguous Adventure” as preparation for the next class discussion.

The class went on smoothly until somebody asked Achebe the meaning of the word “Occident” (from Kane’s phrase: “The morning of the Occident in Africa was couched in crimson for those who landed on our shores were white and mad”).

Achebe went back to his seat, (the table’s edge really) then asked the student to stand up, and then roared: “what

is your dictionary for”. This is “terrible” (his favourite word for describing a bad situation). You are not ready for the task at hand if by now you have not fallen in love with your dictionary”.

Ngigi began writing while still a student.

From there began the class’ great love affair with Ngugi Wa Thiong’o . Before Achebe would teach any book, he would spend hours on the novelist, his society, the time in which the novelist wrote and lastly, he would say “when I met him”. It was clear from the time he spent on the East African society that he held great score with the Mau Mau uprising, especially with its organization. The result was that Ngugi became the class’ favourite author.

Every discussion session was filled with Ngugi and East Africa plus Meja Nwangi’s “Carcass for Hounds”; it was clear Achebe greatly admired “Gen” Dedan Kimathi. Once he admonished the class: “You are

“

We need to swallow up all the whites in South Africa because from the Cape to Cairo belongs to us by divine right, and know that when South Africa becomes free, some Whites will elect to remain there”, he argued. Her tears dried up immediately.

Gordimer would later win the Nobel Prize

asking too many questions about Ngugi, I may need to get him for you to answer the questions himself”. The class went delirious! But we took it as a joke – until Ngugi arrived!

Understandably, he made us take great interest too in South-African literature. From the 1980/81 session, the question will always resonate whenever our former class mates gather: “Is we not people?” That came from Alex LaGuma’s “A Walk In The Night”. To Achebe, that was all that matters: the humanity of the African which has been denied by others; of course to us the rotten English of that unschooled black ghetto dweller on the run from the apartheid policemen made the question more memorable! Then talking about when he met SouthAfrica’s Nadine Gordimer, he chuckled and said she was crying because the “young hot heads” had refused to allow her to attend a conference of African authors in Kenya. Achebe took her into the hall and convinced the others that the lady had been writing against the apartheid system and she lived in South-Africa. “We need to swallow up all the whites in South Africa because from the Cape to Cairo belongs to us by divine right, and know that when South Africa becomes free, some Whites will elect to remain there”, he argued. Her tears dried up immediately. Gordimer would later win the Nobel Prize! www.facebook.com/ tony.eluemunor

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 14

How corruption weakens Nigeria’s education sector

By Rotimi Ogungbola

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hat Nigeria’s education sector has continued to suffer from an unending scourge of corruption and incompetence is not a difficult thing to notice; funds meant for educational projects are mismanaged without. Corrupt politicians are elected onto the governing boards of universities; they then go on to politicize the system. The learning environment remains unconducive, academics struggle to get their pecuniary entitlements. These are just few of the pressing issues confronting Nigeria’s educational sector even in our fourteenth year of democratic rule.

In every human society, education is concomitant to growth and research is highly rated as the bedrock of progress. For quick, effective and sustainable growth, thorough

investment education in education sector, is inevitable.

Minister of A large does Education, Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text Professor of investment messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written in education Ruqayyatu contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Rufa’i, said: by founding words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and fathers of this “the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed nation, such government to: in 2012 as the great awarded a Obafemi The Editor, significant Awolowo, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, N900billion gave sound 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. education to naira for Email: pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com many of the tertiary SMS: 08134607052 leaders, institutions business and N24 tycoons and investors we can even necessary to improve the production capacity of call ours-the vision of the billion for special Nigeria and reduce poverty. founding fathers was to intervention projects to Since the dawn of liberate the people from twelve tertiary democratic rule in 1999, poverty using the strongest institutions.” But isn’t it preceded by many years of weapon which is education, ridiculous that such an military rule, trillions of but unfortunately, the amount was awarded to Naira have been invested in federal government led by tertiary institutions in 2012 the education system by the the People’s Democratic yet no noticeable change, at federal government yet Party has turned this dream least, one. regression has been the into a nightmare with Nigerian institutions result. During a press severe corruption which has which have a critical role to conference in 2012, while thoroughly weakened the play in renewing and discussing the federal education sector and its reengineering the nation goals which would have been government’s response to a have suffered huge setbacks. clarion call for reform in the highly instrumental and For instance, student and

academic staff welfare is far below global. It is disgraceful and shameful that the federal government has extended its hand of mismanagement and incompetence to the education sector. There is a pressing need for us to rise against this rapidly falling standard to save Nigeria’s future. The federal government and its education ministry have to be renewed to champion a positive and sustainable vision to transform this nation; our education sector is too fragile to be left in the hands of looters, unqualified and corrupt persons; a thorough reordering of our priorities must be considered, progressive rethink of public education also even as we battle to recover the education sector from the hands of this failing administration.

Rotimi Ogungbola, postgraduate student, Religions Department, Univeristy of Ilorin.

country’s top producer of rice, what is unknown is the volume of investment in this enterprise. Already, the government is working closely with the federal government which has just commissioned a one-stop-shop agro inputs centre at Wushishi and a whopping N500 million set aside by the state government to support its response mechanism to federal government’s conscious effort at stopping the importation of rice by the year 2015.

The government had earlier accessed N1 billion from the N40 billion fund provided by the federal government for small holder farmers and has distributed same to 757 cooperatives/ farmers’ associations in the state. These initiatives were bolstered by a recent visit by Governor Babangida Aliyu to Germany along with his

agriculture ,the state government and the private sector. Not done, the state government is partnering with AGCO, an American agric equipment firm to provide end to end solutions to agro-mechanisation across the rice value chain.

Similarly, AGCO will also be promoting “total value, total systems” solutions that will focus on development across the value chain.

Already, a tour and assessment of Agro farm facilities at Doko, Jima and Mambe rice farm clusters have been concluded. The sites visited were proposed locations for farm equipment hiring centres. AGCO is providing equipment financing solutions for small farms with little or no working capital. Dr. Aliyu also got 25,000 metric tonnes of fertilisers to rural farmers to up the ante, while he has continued with his administration’s policy of buying 100 tractors every year, a good number of which have been evenly allocated for the purpose of rice production.

There is no piece-meal solution to the food insecurity crisis. It is an issue that has engaged all serious leaders across the globe and Babangida Aliyu is taking the lead in the sub-region.

Danladi Ndayebo is the Chief Press Secretary to Governor Babangida Aliyu of Niger state.

WRITE TO US

Niger state’s rice multiplication success

By Danladi Ndayebo

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igerians are used to sloganeering, but it has never solved any problem. In the past, we had Operation Feed the Nation, Green Revolution, Farm Settlement Scheme etc, but hunger is still top of the challenges holding the nation back from realising its full potentials. It is therefore not surprising that the Niger state government has elected to play down its rice multiplication programme.

Yet, it has cultivated over 100,000 hectares of land, engaging over 50,000 rice farmers in the 25 local government areas in the state to achieve in a quest to ensure food security and stimulate exports to the West African sub-region.

The government is determined to increase rice production in the state from the present 500,000 tonnes to 1,600,000 tonnes annually.

At the moment, Nigeria spends N1bn daily on rice importation from India and other countries of the Far East, including Thailand.

Nigeria is the largest rice importer on the African continent, with imports amounting to over 2.5 million tons in 2011-12, according to minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Dr. Akinwunmi Adesina.

Nigeria’s quest to increase local production led the Jonathan administration to increase the import tariff for rice by about 9% in the second quarter of 2012.The motive is to discourage importation. While flagging off the commercial agriculture credit scheme and official roll-out of the growth enhancement support programme last year, he lamented Nigeria’s profligate spending of N1billion daily to import rice, a product that it has huge potential of exporting - to foreign countries. He promised that the Federal Government is putting structures in place with a view to stopping rice importation by 2015.

Less than 20 months away, Nigeria is increasingly relying on Niger state’s rising rice cultivation to achieve this dream. While it is not in doubt that the state is the

“

counterparts from Rivers, Enugu, Plateau, Borno and Katsina States. During the visit, Dr Aliyu was impressed by what he saw in small holder farmers’ partnership with equipment leasing and manufacturing firms and decided to replicate the German model to address the challenges confronting prospective entrepreneurs in the state, nay the nation and the sub-region.

Some of the best practices he has brought to bear include the setting up of farm equipment hiring centres, bolstering cooperatives and rice production clusters and encouraging private sector participation. Already, seven rice milling centres have been established in Wushishi, Baddegi, Wuya, and Auna, others are located at Kwakuti, Jima Doko and Gonagi in a collaborative effort with the federal ministry of

Less than 20 months away, Nigeria is increasingly relying on Niger state's rising rice cultivation to achieve this dream. While it is not in doubt that the state is the country's top producer of rice, what is unknown is the volume of investment in this enterprise. Already, the government is working closely with the federal government which has just commissioned a one-stop-shop agro inputs centre at Wushishi and a whopping N500 million set aside by the state government to support its response mechanism to federal government's conscious effort at stopping the importation of rice by the year 2015.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 15

Of partisanship and political participation

By Babatunde Rosanwo

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have been an advocate of political participation by those who so desire, as well as civic engagement by all levels of the population. The engagement and participation of young Nigerians in our political arena today is, however, hampered by intrigue and cutthroat rivalry.

In building our nation however, we must strive to create a healthy balance between criticisms and our ability to put our best foot forward in ensuring that our best men and women are at the vanguard of the change we so earnestly desire.

If Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 1999 had been swayed or deterred by the negativity attached to the political terrain, he would not today walk in these shoes of the highest honour as Nigeria’s president. The collective amnesia that seems to rob our country of pragmatic thinking encourages an atmosphere for propaganda that is not backed by facts or careful unbiased research. More than often, young people at the fore front of leadership in Nigeria attempt to present themselves as nonpartisan and by extension, saints who irrespective of their actions or inactions should be absolved of any culpability of the development challenges that had befallen us as nation. How did we get to this point where it has become the order of the day to hide one’s political leaning just so as to look politically correct? I admittedly have no respect for Nigerians who I know are actively involved in politics one way or the other, yet claim to be nonpartisan. This set of young people try to be politically

By Kwesi Baako

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hristmas, Easter, Eid Ul Fitr, Kwanzaa, Hanukkah, Valentines Day…All Fools Day! Wow! Even fools have a day! That is the nature of the world we live in today. And it is beautiful. I mean the human specie has advanced so much, to the point where we have ‘animal rights’; and a day for fools. We have learned to come out of the age when ‘brute force reigned’ to the era of the rule of law, and children’s rights, and women’s rights and whatever other right is next that all humanity will be fighting for; without the need for the sharp polarization that the issue of certain kinds of rights comes with. My never-ending desire to ask the silliest question ever is still burning. My neversatisfied-with-petty-answers mind is still active and buzzing with all manner of questions.

And if you find my questions silly, don’t worry.

After all, I always wonder why we have animal rights and yet some animals sleep in the master’s bed while others end up in the stew pot, without anyone raising their voice for them.

Does the dog perhaps have more rights than the cow or chicken? I

correct, but the disconcerting result is that they swing back and forth whilst unassuming and more ignorant citizens swallow their pretensions hook line and sinker.

The priority of any business enterprise is to make as large a profit as possible, financial or otherwise; it is not a welfare agency. Likewise political parties, politicians and their associates – the priority is to win elections and retain positions of power and influence. Political parties are by no means charity organisations; they are primarily driven by the quest for power and control. It is what they do with this power (if attained) that subsequently goes on to define who they truly are and what their agendas are without the glare of campaign lights. To wit, there is absolutely nothing wrong with having an agenda – everyone including politicians, associates, interest groups, young people and even the voters have an agenda. Even the so-called independents have one; they hold on their votes and swing it in any direction they please to influence the final outcome of elections. What is cynical however is the hypocritical attempt of some to take up the roles of saints as a form of smart play.

I grew up thumbing through my father’s library collection which included books covering pre independence and early Nigerian history. Quite at an early age, I had read through all of them and was debating Nigerian politics and history with my father. My interests have always centred on the particular roles any individual played in the history of Nigeria

and the emergence of our democracy. By way of what we learnt in social studies classes, we all knew the historical landmarks and their outcome, but we were not taught about the specific actions of the many individuals involved in the process. Perhaps this is one of the reasons I find it funny when the likes of Femi Fani-Kayode and Akinloyes, attempt to rewrite history by painting their own fathers as saints. They remind me of efforts by the Belgians to rewrite history as regards the crimes against humanity committed by King Leopold II in the Congo.

When Reuben Abati wrote ‘The Hypocrisy of Yesterday’s Men’ which made reference to political office holders in the last decade, asides the personal efforts to tarnish the names of his master’s political antagonists, I saw it as a piece to reckon with by examining it from another angle. Take, for example, President Olusegun Obasanjo, his third term bid and his subsequent chess-like moves that led to the installation of the late President Musa Yar’adua as his successor, resulting in one of the worst leadership succession fiascos that Nigeria has ever experienced. The Yar’adua era was an eye opener for a lot of young people. From the protests to the general elections and up until the #occupyNigeria episode, it is rather amazing that all these have happened in the span of 3 years but somehow they do not seem to carry an overriding influence in 2013.

Are young Nigerians so forgiving or so forgetful, and in so short a time?

I recently came across the leadership series being written by Chude Jidenowo which threw me into fits of laughter. The first picture it called to mind was that of Arthur Francis Nzeribe – the affluent Oguta politician and elite of his generation who got a scholarship from the Nigerian Ports Authority in 1958 to study Marine Engineering in England.

By 1960, Nzeribe the entrepreneur sold life insurance in Britain and later moved to Ghana to work for Kwame Nkurumah. He soon after bought his first Rolls Royce. This was a man whose company reported an annual turnover of 70 million pounds by 1979. With a reputation of selling weapons to all warring sides across several African countries, he spent N12M to win a senatorial seat in 1983. Beyond this introduction of Francis Nzeribe, what struck me about him was his open support for Ibrahim Babangida through the ridiculous Association for Better Nigeria (ABN) in 1993 when the country was yearning for a democratic regime. Yet by the turn of the decade, the same Nzeribe would become a senator – the collective amnesia was firmly in place.

An article that caught my attention from Chude Jidenowo’s New Leadership Series was the article titled “What exactly happened to the Nuhu Ribadu we fell in love with?” Reading this came as a surprise to me and I once again saw the same elements I have described earlier manifesting in another young person who is trying to be conservative with the truth in a bid to be seen as an independent. I have so much respect for

Even fools have a day guess its all part of that same hypocrisy that makes us pretend as a human race that the world is OK the way it is today. That some nations have the right to rob other nations of their resources in the name of economics or investment or all these fabulous terms my greatgrandfather never understood and yet lived a better life.

The same kind of hypocrisy that sees the economic impact of Mugabe’s actions in Zimbabwe without seeing the dehumanizing effect of sanctions or simply refusing to see beyond 1980! If you think I do not understand, don’t worry. After all…And then the almighty debate - the one that we are shy, or paranoid, or scared or just not interested in; the one that is difficult to explain to the kids but is slowly but surely becoming part of the curricula in western schools.

In Australia, there was a huge debate about a woman who in the name of her religion and culture decided to appear in court before a judge wearing a ‘burqa‘. What makes this debate

interesting to me is that it presents so many sides to the ‘rights’ issue. Does the woman have the right or not to dress in accordance with her culture and religious dictates? Or as the opposition leader Tony Abbott said, does wearing a burqa in court or in other public places present a ‘problem for law enforcement’? Imagine swearing before a judge when the said judge cannot establish if it is really the one swearing. Or the police trying to pick a culprit from one out of ten burqa’d (pardon my usage) individuals.

So we clearly see the dilemma here. What is even more interesting to me does not come from politicians or the courtroom. It comes from civil society some of who said the wearing of the burqa is an invasion of Australian social and cultural norms.

My point is, some Africans (from civil society too) are busy kicking against certain ‘rights’ as an affront to African culture.

It is not my place at this time to judge whether it is or not. What I am trying to do is draw the

parallel in an attempt to see if there is a justification. I can clearly see how the burqa, which is a harmless piece of garment, can actually be a security hazard and by extension a social issue. I can also see how certain kinds of rights can be issues in Africa where a link with the ancestors is at perpendicular angles with the propagation of some kind of rights that disrupts the natural progression of the generational link. Ancestors in most African cultures are believed to come back to earth through childbirth. (And it is not superstition! In the US they actually have a groundhog telling them how the seasons are going to turn out…and it’s not very reliable either) Should the West be so engrossed in getting African nations to accept all manner of rights? Or should they be working on granting other types of rights to their own people and ensuring greater freedoms and equality for them? I have heard several angles to the debate and my opinion is that people are

individuals who stand by their actions and openly declare their interests but not for those who try to rewrite history especially when it is plain to see to even the blind. I have no doubt that Ribadu reached out to various youth and youth groups to work alongside him on his presidential ambition. While I opted for Buhari, some of my very good friends and associates campaigned for Ribadu. There is no law in Nigeria that forbids us from openly supporting any presidential candidate and this amongst others, helped ensure that the friendship between my friends and I remained unbroken despite our supporting different candidates at the general elections.

I have never been a card carrying member of any political party but will continue to openly work with any political party I share interests with. We must not frown upon participation in the polity by any means; I am more interested in a Nigeria where the citizens will reward politicians at the polls for their performance in office. The opposition parties must not take for granted the desire of the people to vote the ruling party out of office. Should they tow the same line as the current ruling party by selecting candidates who are not able to take the interests of the citizens into account nor deliver, I will advocate for the youth to vote neither for the ruling party nor the opposition. There are no men without a history but our ability to glean useful information from the decisions they have made provides some of the answers we seek.

Babatunde Rosanwo is on www.facebook.com who they are and it is best to leave people to be who they want to be. In my opinion, the word ‘rights’ does not even mean much in certain instances. For instance, you cannot give women any rights! They are the RIGHTS in themselves. They gave each and every one their own ‘birthright’ – the mother of all rights.

I would also want to establish that attacking anyone on any grounds at all is wrong and must never be encouraged under any circumstances.

However if certain ‘rights’ are not pushed down people’s throats, they may be as good as non-existent to them. As my good friend Sitya says, “I am training my daughter to love and respect men as her potential partner. I deserve the right to do so without an established institution telling her otherwise.

I am not attacking anyone for what they do behind closed doors. But I am gonna be irate if they want to come out from behind the closed door to compete with what God has taught me to teach the children that are mine.” So what shall we say?

Kwesi Baako’s professional profile on LinkedIn.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2012

PAGE 17

Some motorcycles seized by the security operatives at Federal Secretariat in Abuja

Fruits sellers at Federal Secretariat in Abuja An overloaded pickup with a passenger along Keffi, Abuja road

A scavenger filled up his truck with unused items in Mararaba, Nasarawa state

Two shoe shiners out for business in Mararaba Nasarawa state. Photos: Mahmud Isa

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

Mob: 08033644990

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Businesses in SouthWest most confident, says LCCI

Bi-Courtney Aviation Services owes FG N 1.9bn - FAAN Nigeria fastest From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

F

resh facts have emerged over the on-going dispute between the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN and Bi-Courtney Aviation Services Limited, managers of the Murtala Muhammed Airport Terminal 2 MMA2 in Ikeja, Lagos.

It was learnt that the company owes FAAN a debt profile totalling N1,968,634,455.95.00 being debts it incurred for services rendered at the domestic terminal of the airport in Lagos.

To this, FAAN has ordered BiCourtney Aviation Services Limited (BASL) to pay the agency the said amount but the company shot back alleging that the federal agency owe it a staggering N132 billion being the charges FAAN has generated at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the same airport since 2007 because according to the agreement the GAT belong BASL. A breakdown of the figure shows as follow, Aviation Security, N45,604,085.74; Fire/Safety Cost, N36,649,223.96; Marshalling N2,125,065.54; Electricity Cost, N252,038,510.006; Maintenance Band, N200,000,000.00; 5% Concession Fees, N726,900,069.00; REUT (Hotel), N97,200,000.00; SRC (Hotel), N9,720,000.00; Reut (Conference Hall), N73,860,219.00; SRC (Conference Hall), N7,386,021.00, amounting to N1,968,634,455.95.

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during his term administration concession the burnt terminal to BASL built and operate the domestic terminal, referred to as MMA2 under the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) concession agreement.

The deal has generated controversies because of the nature it was hurriedly put together when he was about to leave office.

Part of the regulations states that FAAN, being the Federal Government agency overseeing the airports in the country, must provide for the terminal security, mershallers, fire cover and other services which BASL must pay for.

General Manager, Corporate Communication of FAAN, Mr. Yakubu Dati, said the figure represents the total amount owed FAAN for services rendered the company as spelt out in the concession agreement since September 8, 2007 when it began operating the terminal.

He affirmed that Bi-Courtney has rebuffed every attempt made

by FAAN to recover the huge debt, including debt reconciliation meetings between officials of the two organisations.

“It is important to state that since Bi-Courtney started

operating the BOT terminal in September 8, 2007, it has refused to make its audited account available to the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, in line with the terms of agreement for that concession, despite several reminder letters,” he told reporters.

However, BASL Public Relation Officer Mr. Steve Omolale-Ajulo denied the debt saying the federal agency actually owed the company the sum of N132 billion, being the

charges generated at the General Aviation Terminal (GAT) of the same airport since 2007. He said “because by our agreement, GAT belongs to us”.

Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, who also spoke on the claim of ownership of the terminal by Bi-Courtney reiterated that “There is no controversy as far as we are concerned. One, GAT does not belong to Bi Courtney; two FAAN has always used that GAT for scheduled flights. It did

not start today and it will not stop today. Government took the decision to remodel the GAT based on overriding public interest which any and every responsible government should do. This means simply that the interest of the people supersedes any other interest.”

The Minister also affirmed that “The interest of the citizens is what drives government actions and policies.

That is simply what government took into consideration”.

R-L: Representative of Secretary of Health and Human Services Secretariat in Federal Capital Territory, Mr. Niyi Oduneye, Representative of Minister of State for FCT, Mrs. Uchenna Nwafor, Director of Biomedical Training and Technical Services, Medshare, Mr. Eben Armstrong, and Special Assistant (Legal) to the Minister of State for FCT, Mr. Richmond Akpalanta, during the training of bio-medical technicians and engineers by the Federal Capital Territory Administration, in collaboration with Medshare, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

BPE transmits Offer Letter to KEPCO for Egbin Power Plant

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has transmitted an offer letter to KEPCO Energy Resources in respect of the Supplemental Share Purchases Agreement (SPA) for the 70 percent sale of Federal Government’s shares in Egbin Power Plant at the cost of USD$407.3million (N65.2 bn), BPE said in a statement.

The NCP had at its second meeting for 2013 held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, approved the sale of 70 percent of Federal Government’s shares in Egbin Power Plant to KEPCO Energy Resources at that amount.

Council asked KEPCO to pay

51 percent of the plant’s shares at the 2007 valuation of USD$549.01 million and further pay for additional 19 percent of the shares at the current valuation of USD$670 million.

In the letter conveying the NCP’s approval to KEPCO, acting Director-General of BPE, Mr. Benjamin Ezra Dikki, said KEPCO was expected to pay 25 percent of the money within 15 working days onreceipt of the offer letter and the balance of 75 percent within 90 working days.

In the approval, Council directed that the BPE reserves 10% of the reminder of 30% (which is 3%) for the workers and the remaining 90% of the 30% shares (which is 27%) to be

sold to the Nigerian people through Initial Public Offer (IPO) at a later date.

Recall that the privatization of the Power company was earlier concluded with KEPCO Energy Resources for the sale of 51% on May 17, 2007 at a price of US$280 million.

An initial 10% of that bid price, in the sum of US$28 million was received at the time and an escrow agreement was entered into by committing the payment of a further 50% (US$140 million), of the purchase price within 90 days after the conclusion of due diligence by the investor in accordance with the terms of the sale.

Management Tip of the Day

3 ways to bounce back from adversity

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on’t beat yourself up. Think: “I did the best I could in the circumstances.” If something keeps gnawing at you, forgive yourself. Don’t get mired in a

cycle of self-recrimination.

Understand that it’s not just you. Everyone goes through loss. Difficult experiences are part of the ups and downs of being a human.

Tap into life’s deeper meaning. Be authentic and spiritual, in whatever way makes sense to you.

Source: Harvard Business Review

growing economy among MINTs, say analysts

By Ibrahim kabiru Sule with agency report

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igeria appears to be ahead of its peers in the MINT, the new economic bloc that has raised hope for investors following the dwindling Brazil, Russia, India, Chinese and South African (BRICS) economies.

The MINT, comprising of Mexico, Indonesia, Nigeria and Turkey (MINT), is seen as a successor to the BRICS which is expected to graduate from an emerging market to a developed economy.

It is believed to be a fertile destination for long-term investors, according to Samir Gadio, emerging markets strategist at Standard Bank, London.

We believe Nigeria is the fastest growing economy when compared to other MINTs, considering its strongest fiscal balance, lowest public debt, and the only country with a current account surplus as all other MINTs currently have deficits”, Yvonne Mhango, director, subSaharan African economist at Renaissance Capital said.

Nigeria’s huge population potential has enabled it gulp a good percentage of foreign investment in Africa over the last decade.

Recent reports put Nigeria’s foreign direct investment (FDI) at $8.9 billion, which is estimated to be 16 percent of Africa’s total FDI. Indonesia can only boast of FDI worth $5.9 billion while Mexico FDI has being losing steam early 2013 amid fears of tax hikes in USA. Turkey FDIs have slightly reduced to $8 billion since the beginning of 2013. Equally, Mexico’s FDI has tumbled from $21.5 billion in 2011 to $12.7 billion in early 2013.

Nigeria’s 7.2 percent Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth, which has been predicted to be upwardly revised year end 2013 is only second to Turkey’s 8.5 percent but exceeds Mexico’s 5.5 percent and Indonesia’s 6.2 percent.

Studies also show that Nigeria’s current $7 billion gross external debt is minimal compared to Turkey’s $274 billion, Mexico’s $341 billion public debt and Indonesia’s $213 billion. Given the above, Nigeria’s fiscal deficit was projected to improve to about 1.85 percent of GDP in 2013, compared to 2.85 percent in 2012.

In addition, Nigeria’s 18.8 percent of GDP to public debt is also the lowest compared to Indonesia’s 24.8 percent, Mexico’s 35.4 percent and Turkey’s 40.4 percent.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS

GlaxoSmithKline

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laxoSmithKline Consumer Nigeria Plc., a world-class research driven organization, has added a new variant of its Sensodyne toothpaste called Sensodyne Rapid Action to its stable.

Sensodyne Rapid Action, which was unveiled to dentists at an expert launch held recently in Lagos, is formulated to offer relief within 60 seconds of consumption to consumers who are experiencing sensitive teeth. This is in a bid to provide its potential consumers long lasting relief from pain of dentine hypersensitivity and improve dentine health care in Nigeria.

With more fluoride, more mint and less abrasion, the new variant provides rapid relief from the discomfort of sensitive teeth.

UBA

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wo country subsidiaries of United Bank for Africa Plc have emerged the ‘Best Banks’ in their respective countries, Cameroon and Senegal.

A statement issued by the bank on Monday said UBA Cameroon and UBA Senegal were named: ‘World’s Best Bank in 2013’ in their respective countries by Global Finance magazine in New York, USA. Global Finance magazine is the world’s leading corporate finance magazine with readers across 160 countries, focusing on C-suite level management, corporate and selected financial institutions and international investors.

IITA, Japan

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he Japanese Embassy in Nigeria is collaborating with the International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA) and the Afe Babalola University, Ado Ekiti to assist farmers in Ekiti state.

This is contained in a statement by IITA communications officer, Godwin Atser, made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan at the weekend.

The statement said that the three institutions had signed a memorandum of understanding to improve cassava production and processing for Agbekoya farmers in the state.

‘We will make Benin airport a one-stop shop’ - Benin Airport Manager Last month, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) commissioned the re-modelled Benin Airport Terminal to the delight of the passengers, airlines, other airport users and the people of Edo state. An elated Benin Airport Manager, Mr. Ayodele Sunday Olusegun, while speaking with journalists shortly before the commissioning, said that the terminal, which is installed with modern facilities, can now take 500 to 600 passengers compared to pre - remodelling. He also said that a five-star hotel and a multi-storey car park will be built at the airport, amongst other issues. Suleiman Idris was there; Excerpts:

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oday Benin airport terminal is been commissioned; How it was before it was transformed into this beautiful edifice?

It was like a poultry farm, completely abandoned and neglected but we thank God today, it has been massively remodelled. For me, it is not remodelling but total reconstruction, because you will agree with me that none of the old structure is still standing. None; all the old buildings were completely pulled down. But the reason people did not know that all the buildings were pulled down was because we did not stop operations for one day while construction was going on, we were moving from one station to the other, and of course appealing to the passengers that they should bear with us.

And today, we are seeing the results; this is real transformation in action.

What was the capacity the terminal before the transformation and now?

It was built initially to take 200 passengers but today, at our peak, it can take conveniently 500 to 600 passengers.

Can you tell us some of the facilities passengers will enjoy using this terminal?

One, air conditioners; Before, we didn’t have them but the cooling system is better now; we have conveyor belts, modern VIP Lounge, modern X-ray screening machines, CCTV, check-in counters, more conveniences, more toilets, shops, brand new chairs and and other facilities comparable to the best in the world. This makes facilitation of passengers in and out of the airport easier and better.

Can you tell us the length of the Benin Airport runway?

The runway is 2.4 kilometres.

How many check in counters do we have at the airport?

We have eight check-in counters.

How many airlines are using this terminal?

We have three; Associated Airlines has gone for C-Check; presently, we have Aero and Arik Air operating into the airport. At the moment, we have five scheduled flights per day, and for your information, one airline is also talking to us and by next week they will be coming for inspection and we

intend to achieve that.

Where are you going to relocate the shop-owners that were evicted from the airport in 2012 to?

Mr. Ayodele Sunday Olusegun already have an office for them. We hope that within the next one month another one will come, but I don’t want to disclose the name of the airline.

What about the facilities for the Very Important Persons (VIPs)?

Yes, now we have a bigger and better Protocol Lounge for government officials and we also have a better and bigger VIP Lounge for our teeming passengers.

In terms of revenue, before now how much was Benin airport generating despite its small nature?

The Managing Director of the Federal Airports Authority (FAAN) has given every Airport Manager a marching order that we should contribute significantly to the pool, and of course, I have taken that as a challenge and it is my wish to also contribute significantly to the pool of FAAN. I am looking at doubling my revenue. At least, with this one now, I have no excuse to give to the Managing Director and the management that I cannot perform.

The problem of power has been a major challenge to most airports in the

country; how do you generate power for the airport, in view of the fact that power from the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) is epileptic?

We have three generators.

Just last week, we took delivery of 1000KVA generator from our headquarters and of course that is giving us a better power generation at the airport.

What efforts are you making to ensure that Benin Airport is not underutilised now that it has been re-modeled?

That was why I told you that one airline has indicated interest to operate the Benin route and will soon commence flight operations. I am going all out also to ensure that more airlines come to Benin; but I want you to know that all over the world, we have two sources of revenue; we have aeronautical and non0aeronautical; and in other climes 30 per cent of revenue are actually gotten from aeronautical while 70 per cent is from non aeronautical.

So, I want to basically pursue vigorously the 70 per cent nonaeronautical sources of revenue for this airport and I

The old shops we were having before were directly opposite the terminal building.

There were very old to the extent that is not befitting for the Benin airport and that was the reason we had to let them go. But I can assure you that within the next few months we are going to have a brand new multi-storey car park just across; we are going to have a five-star hotel in Benin airport and we are also going to have a business complex at the airport .We are going to take into consideration the interest of those people that were displaced initially and it would also allow more people to come in and do business in Benin.

We want to make Benin airport a one-stop shop, where you can have everything; you can come to Benin airport without going to town; do your business within the Benin airport and that is what we mean when we talk about aerotropolis. That everything can be done within the Benin Airport and you go back without even getting to town.

We want to make it more convenient, we want to make it very easy for passengers to come in and go out from Benin.

The Benin airport does not have perimeter fence.

Are you not worried?

I am very worried but it is the commitment of the Managing Director of the FAAN to Governor of Edo state, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole that the perimeter fence will definitely be done along with the resurfacing of the airport’s 2.4 kilometres runway.

Has there been any encroachment on the Benin airport land by the people living within the airport premises?

We patrol our runway every one hour to ensure that people do not encroach on it.

What message do you have for air travellers who were still flying through the airport while the remodelling was going?

I want to thank the air travellers for their patience, for believing in us, for their perseverance and for everything while the re-modelling of the Benin Airport terminal lasted.

We promise to give the better and satisfactory services in FAAN.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Zaina, Tolu, Ice Prince, Timi Dakolo, 2Face, Waje, Banky W and Praiz at LLAM concert , February 2013.

Photo: BHM

Nigerian banks to spend billions on entertainment

F

ormany years, it was the abandoned child. But now, Nigeria's entertainment sector is getting more than enough attention from left, right and centre.

Still, without the necessary stuctures, and a system that can help it exploit opening opportunities, the entertainment scene is grabbing a huge share in marketing budgets, as many big spenders continue to realise the importance of using fashion, music, movies and the power of celebrity to reach customers in different segments, especially the youth demography.

Telecoms companies like MTN, Etisalat, Globacom and Airtel have long perfected a profitable relationship with entertainment; same for companies like Unilever, NB PLC, Guinness, Coca Cola and Pepsi.

But there are new entrants - the banks - warming up to play on a bigger scale and rip all the dividends on offer.

According to investigations

by Nigerian Entertainment Today (NET), 2013 total spend on the sector, by the banking industry - a sector that's just beginning to open up its wallets to entertainment -will be in billions of Naira.

The relationship between corporate Nigeria and advertising has moved from buying sponsorship or advert slots on shows and programmes, to property acquisitions, title sponsorships, and brand generated initiatives.

So, gone are the days of Benson & Hedges concerts, Sunday Rendezvous (Sponsored

by Coca-Cola Nigeria), and all the primetime TV adverts more popular than the national anthem (remember 'Joy Girl'?).

When the private telecoms companies arrived in the early 2000s, they immediately

spotted new opportunities and went full throttle, throwing sponsorship and endorsement deals (worth hundreds of millions) not just to music shows and entertainment establishments but also to individuals - while the likes of MTN rolled out with big budget tours in school campuses and towns, GLO handpicked those they believed were influential entertainers and made them brand ambassadors.

'It's a fantastic strategy; while one was beaming through local towns, the other got entertainers with strong appeal to do the talking for them', Sola Fanawopo, a Public Relations and Communications experts says.

'Entertainment is the 'new bride', the bride that will never get stale or fade', Fanawopo adds.

'There are endless possibilities and too many strategies that can be developed and deployed around the entertainment sector'.

Well, there's a new suitor in town. In search of new markets and determined to build a good base in a country that's

increasingly supporting local talents in music, films and fashion, Nigerian Banks appear ready to put their money where their mouth is - working with consultants, in house teams, and executive policy directions to understand the entertainment sector, with a view to exploiting inherent opportunities.

Nollywood, one of the biggest movie industries in the world, has become the preferred means of home entertainment for many Nigerians, as seen in the success of Africa Magic and productions like Jenifa; while the success locally and internationally, of acts like D'banj, Psquare, Wizkid, Davido, and their contemporaries continues to show the power of urbane culture and pop music on young Nigerians scattered across the world.

The banks are increasingly interested in speaking to these young people, and the realization is clear: the language they understand is the language of social media, the langiage of entertainment, of everything hip and trendy.

‘Entertainment is the ‘new bride’, the bride that will never get stale or fade’, Fanawopo adds. ‘There are endless possibilities and too many strategies that can be developed and deployed around the entertainment sector’.

'It's simple, we've noticed that the best way to reach the Nigerian youth in this time and generation is through entertainment. They are locked on entertainment - from music, to movies, theatre, cutting through some areas of sports and merchandising', a strategy officer at a top Nigerian bank told NET at the weekend.

Taking the front row is Guaranty Trust Bank. Under the leadership of the late Tayo Aderinokun, the bank seemed to have understood early enough how the entertainment industry runs. So, in early 2012, they launched Ndani TV, the entertainment hub which showcases music (Ndani Sessions, The Juice with Toolz), movies (Gidi TV), Fashion (Fashion Insider), African business starters (Young CEOs) and more.

Setting up this has put them in the lead, and many agree that most young Nigerians believe GTBank is the most entertainment-friendly bank around.

Sponsoring events such as D'banj's 2012 Koko Concert has also helped. Sources say the bank is planning more events sponsorship for the year, with some deals already sealed. (Don't forget that extravagant Ndani TV advertisement on the back of D'banj's T-Shirt during his performance at the closing ceremony of the African Cup of Nations finals in February).

Diamond Bank, which recently re-branded, appears to have also discovered the benefits of associating with entertainment. With eyes fixed on the youth segment, insiders say Diamond is adopting entertainment as a major marketing tool, with Nollywood, Media and Music key areas of interest. The company has already sponsored the 2012 movie 'Last Flight to Abuja' as

well as the recent inaugural Social Media Week Lagos and Maxwell's Valentine concert (both in February 2013).

Diamond Bank is currently working on two big projects also worth millions - first off is the upcoming 'Divas Rock' concert which will host US based 90s rap duo Salt-N-Pepa as headliners.

The other is the upcoming Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) project which will see Diamond Bank setting up small scale entertainment hubs around Lagos.

And we've confirmed from those who know, that they're also working on Diamond bank entertainment properties to cut across TV, online and music.

The trend continues with Africa's pioneer money house First Bank. The respected bank which had positioned itself as a big supporter of the theatre (remember Umoja in 2012?) is now embracing mainstream and pop projects, identifying with events like the Lagos Fashion Week, Gbenga Adeyinka's 'Laffmattazz with Gbenga Adeyinka D 1st and Friends: The Home Coming' and Darey's N300m 'Love Like a Movie' music concert.

Analysts say it is only natural for other banks like Zenith, Skye and Access bank to follow. Some, like Access, are actually in already, with the 2012 Nickelodeon/Dora partnership and a shift in policy, according to insiders, that allows the management freedom to exploit opportunities entertainment platforms may present.

And from Nollywood to the music scene and beyond, practitioners are aware of this sudden love - and they're keen, according to those who spoke with NET, to exploit it to the benefit of the industry.

(Source: Nigeria Entertainment Today)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 22

AfDB launches Open Data platforms for 20 African countries

T

he African Development Bank (AfDB) has launched Open Data Platforms for the following 20 African countries: Algeria, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Ethiopia, Malawi, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Ghana, Rwanda, Republic of Congo, Senegal, South Africa, South Sudan, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The Open Data Platform program is part of the AfDB’s recently launched “Africa Information Highway” initiative aimed at significantly improving data management and dissemination in Africa. Work is on course to complete platforms for the rest of African countries by July 2013.

The Open Data Platform is a user-friendly tool for extracting data, creating and sharing own customized reports, and visualizing data across themes, sectors and countries in tables, charts and maps. Through the Open Data Platform, users can access a wide range of development data on African countries from multiple international and national official sources.

The platform also facilitates the collection, analysis and sharing of data among countries and with international development partners. The platform offers a unique opportunity for various users, such as policymakers, analysts, researchers, business leaders and investors around the world, to gain access to reliable and timely data on Africa.

Users can visualize time series development indicators over a period of time, perform comprehensive analysis at country and regional levels, utilize presentation-ready graphics or create their own, blog, and share their views and work with others, thereby creating an informed community of users.

The Open Data Platform initiative is a response by the AfDB Group aimed at significantly increasing access to quality data necessary for managing and monitoring development results in African countries, including the MDGs. It responds to a number of important global and regional initiatives to scale up the availability of quality data on Africa and so foster evidencebased decision-making, public accountability and good governance. (Source: AfDB)

Businesses in South-West most confident, says LCCI From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos he second quarter (Q2) Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industries(LCCI)’ Business Confidence Index (BCI) has shown that businesses located in Nigeria’s South-West are the most confident, scoring 38 percent.

The region is trailed by companies in the South East and South-South with BCI score of 29 percent and 19 percent, respectively. Businesses in the Northern regions are not so favoured due to the increasing insecurity in the area.

“Expectedly, businesses located in North-East, NorthWest and North-Central sustained negative confidence at BCI score of -2 percent, -1.5 percent and -0.1 percent, respectively”.

“While we note the resilience of businesses

T

19th W/Africa oil, gas & energy confab focuses on oil and gas exploration in region

operating in the southern Nigeria for keeping up amid increasing threats, the worsening security situation may have caused severe setback to businesses and potential investment particularly in the North and the country in general.”

The second quarter 2013 aggregate Business Confidence Index (BCI) recorded a modest improvement of 16.5 percent from the 10.5 percent it achieved in Q1 2013. This represents a six-point movement of the index along a positive trajectory.

This improvement notwithstanding, BCI scores for Q1 and Q2, 2013 continue to trail far below the 50 percent global confidence threshold.

Investors and business leaders are still wary about the state of the economy and the unfriendly doing business

environment.

The factors that weakened the index score, according to LCCI, include poor access to credit, inhibitive tendencies of monitoring and regulatory agencies, sustained insecurity situation across the country, dwindling public power supply and budget approval/ implementation crisis.

Macroeconomic factors such as exchange rate and inflation rate exerted neutral influence on the Q2, 2013 BCI score. This is due to the relative stability achieved over the last few months.

However, the downside remains that the current stabilisation of prices through monetary tightening has been achieved at the expense of investment, employment, output and growth.

The real sectors, agriculture, manufacturing

and solid mineral, reversed the negative confidence they posted in Q1, 2013 survey by joining other sectors on the positive confidence trajectory.

Notwithstanding, the real sectors remain at the bottom with very low confidence levels at seven percent, five percent and two percent scores, respectively.

Impressively, hotel/ restaurant, IT/telecoms, finance and professional services sectors continue to lead the sectors with the highest confidence levels at 35 percent, 27 percent, 21 percent and 17 percent, respectively.

According to the report, the business environment remains largely constrained by rising socio-economic uncertainties.

This, it said, has kept the BCI scores trailing far below the global optimum levels.

Motorcycles to be distributed to village heads under the Adamawa emirate council, yesterday in Yola to enable them supervise government projects in their areas. Photo NAN

By Etuka Sunday with agency report

W

ith an interior domain across 27 countries, covering one half of the African land mass, and a offshore potential from Morocco to the Cape, the Western Africa oil and gas exploration zone is one of the world’s richest and most promising for ventures and new opportunities in the upstream market. The 19th Western Africa Oil, Gas & Energy Conference 2013 will focus on the oil and gas opportunities and potential, both offshore and onshore, in this vast zone.

The conference is hosted by Global Pacific & Partners and held from April 22nd until 24th at the Hilton Hotel in Windhoek Namibia.

The meeting will reveal opportunities and business cases for hydrocarbon exploration, discovery and development as well as gasLNG and energy development.

The conference is attended by governments, national oil companies, licensing agencies and leading corporate players.

The program highlights presentations about future offshore and on-shore potential in numerous countries including inter alia: Equatorial Guinea, Cameroon, Sierra Leone, Mauritania, Sao Tome, Senegal, Guinea Bissau, Namibia and Congo –plus on regional projects and joint development zones, and the West African gas pipeline.

Western Union, VTN to launch mobile payment service in Nigeria

G

lobal payment solution provider The Western Union Company, in partnership with leading Nigerian payment operator Virtual Terminal Network (VTN), have launched a new transfer service that allows subscribers in Nigeria use their mobile phones to direct Western Union funds into their electronic VTN VCASH account.

According to Africa news, VCASH subscribers can use the mobile money service to directly transfer up to $300 of one Western Union remittance received, and combined daily remittances of up to $800 into their accounts.

The monies in the VCASH account can then be used for transactions, payment of bills, make bank deposits or

transferred to other VCASH users.

Western Union Regional VicePresident for North, Central and West Africa, Aida Diarra, said, “Western Union is pleased to launch this international mobile money transfer service in collaboration with VTN VCASH in Nigeria. Being able to move international money transfers into mobile phones in a nation that has a greater penetration of mobile phones than bank accounts is central to facilitating financial inclusion.”

According to World Bank, Nigeria which has a population of over 160 million, currently has over 105 million mobile phone subscribers and received $21 billion in annual remittances in 2012.

The Bank furthered saying

the country was underbanked.

Only 29. 7 percent of adults over the age of 15 are banked.

The Chief Executive Officer of VTN, Peter Ojo, said, “The choice, flexibility and convenience (of the new mobile payment service) – given the vast remoteness of some parts of our nation – are priceless.”

“We are thankful to the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN) mobile payment regulatory framework, which allows nonbank model operators to facilitate international remittances to both scheme and non-scheme recipients. Such innovation within strict regulatory guidelines facilitates greater economic prosperity at all levels for all our citizens and resident”, he added.

(Source: Ventures Africa)

PEOSPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APIRL 3, 2013

Report as at Thursday, March 28, 2013

PAGE 23

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Kebbi state: Marching towards good health for the citizens Health, they say, is wealth. In Kebbi State, this slogan is now being transformed into reality by the incumbent proactive administration of Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari.

K

ebbi State was created out of the then Sokoto State, following the creation of nine additional states by the then military government of General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1991.

With a population of 3.2 million (2006 census estimates); total land area of 36,129 sq.km; and situated between a latitude 10°8’N and 13°15’N and longitude 3°30’E and 6°02’E, the state is bounded by Sokoto State to the north and east, Niger State to the south, and Niger and Benin republics to the west.

Kebbi State is made up of 21 local government areas, four emirate councils (Gwandu, Argungu, Yauri and Zuru), and 35 districts. It has three senatorial districts, eight federal constituencies and 21 legislative state constituencies.

Kebbi, the Land of Equity, has its equitable share of the challenges of healthcare

especially among the state’s rural folk who constitute more than 70 percent of the population.

Kebbi is one of the states on the fringes of the Sahara Desert.

An open veld of Sahel and semi arid land, it experiences bouts of difficult weather conditions that pose health challenges to its people.

The state experiences extremes of cold and hot weathers and lying along the flood plains of the Sokoto and Rima basins, is prone to seasonal flooding.

Such a difficult terrain usually presents serious challenges in health and wellbeing of the people. It is against such a difficult background that the Kebbi state government under the leadership of Governor Saidu Usman Dakingari has been working to make available to the common people of the state available and affordable health

His Excellency, Saidu Usman N. Dakingari, Executive Governor, Kebbi State.

One of the two newly build School of Health Technology students hostel in Jega.

New 40 bed Amenity ward at Sir Yahaya Specialist Hospital, Birnin Kebbi.

Newly build 200 bed Specialist Hospital at Kalgo.

Staff quaters of the 200 bed Specialist Hospital at Kalgo.

One of the 30 new General Hospitals fully equiped with modern hospital equipment.

Walk-way in one of the newly build hospitals.

which has been converted to the Federal Medical Centre, in Dakingari.

The expansive quarters also has residences for doctors and senior medical personnel.

As attested to by Alhaji Shehu Sambawa, the Commissioner for Health in Kebbi State, the vision of the state government has brought the health sector in the state alive. According to him, all the general hospitals built by the state government are functional, well equipped and Kebbi State is close to achieving its goals in the health sector.

Alhaji Shehu Sambawa adds that the government has also built a specialist hospital along Kalgo-Jega road and is renovating old ones, constructing more clinics in conjunction with the MDGs projects in the rural areas of state.

not relent in the effort to combat polio in the state.

The challenge of staffing the hospitals in the state, according to the commissioner, is not peculiar to Kebbi State: “This issue is a national issue; you see health personnel are virtually difficult to get in the various states of this federation. But this government is doing all that is possible to employ competent hands to work. For now, all hospitals in the state have doctors and nurses and other supporting essential staff. However, recruitment is ongoing in the state and I’m very sure the issue will soon be over, our government is up and doing on that.

“You know, all our retired staff nurses and doctors have been given contract

care treatment within reasonable distance of their areas of residence.

Recognising that health is basic ingredient for socioeconomic wellbeing of the society and the citizenry, the Kebbi State government is committed to ensuring that the people attain high standards in maternal, child health and nutrition.

To this end, the state government has built and furnished 35 general hospitals to serve all the districts of the state.

This is in addition to a multitude of primary health care centres, comprehensive health centres, tertiary health institutions spread across the state. It also delivers free treatment to women and children under five years across the state By this fact, it can be claimed without fear of

contradiction that Kebbi State has the highest number of general hospitals and other health institutions than every other state of federation including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

Besides, the state government, in conjunction with the Millennium Development Goals (MDGS) has established 125 Primary Health Care Centres and nutritional clinics across the state to cater for malnourished children as well as other basic health needs of rural people.

This is aimed a realising the MDG Goals 4 and 5 which are targeted at enhanced child nutrition and reduction of maternal mortality, which is estimated to be 1000 per 100, 000 live births in the North-

west region (Kebbi State inclusive).

The general hospitals in the state are all equipped with a stand-by ambulance, call duty vehicle, mortuary vehicle and medical and doctors’ quarters.

In addition, they are all furnished with computers, ultra sound and x-ray machines, osteoporosis machines, laboratories, operational theaters and two stand-by electricity generators.

Indeed, the greatest challenge facing the state currently is to get the requisite and adequate manpower to staff hospitals as well as man the installed equipment. Most other equipment procured are also awaiting installation.

It is worthy of note that the state government built and furnished the general hospital,

The state has also set up health institutions such as the College of Health Technology, Jega, the School of Nursing and Midwifery, Birnin Kebbi where the government has constructed both male and female hostels classroom blocks, laboratory complexes and installed various kinds of equipment.

On the critical question of child and maternal mortality, Alhaji Shehu Sambawa said: “This government has made giant strides in that aspect. We are giving free medical care to pregnant mothers and children of less than five (5) years; when any of them goes to the hospital, the drugs and the treatment given to them is free.

“Kebbi State government in collaboration with the

National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has brought midwives who are doing a lot in all the hospitals across the state.

“You see government has done all in terms of maternal mortality, government also spend over N200 million for the feeding of malnourished children to ensure the health and wellbeing of especially rural children in order to reduce incidence of child death arising from malnutrition”.

Also on the controversial and recurrent issue of polio, Kebbi State in the last two and half years has been declared polio free, with no single case reported. According to the commissioner all the traditional rulers, religious leaders and stakeholders across the state did

A Primary Health Centre in one of the 185 beneficiary villages in the state appointments and from November last year to date, we have recruited more than 80 nurses and doctor in other to meet up with the aspirations of the people.

“We used to employ NYSC doctors in order to meet up with the manpower needs of the hospitals. But I’m comfortable with what is happening now”, he said.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Making impact with Marble designs Marble is a natural stone composed of calcium carbonate; it's in the same stone family as limestone and travertine. Color variations occur in marble due to mineral impurities in the stone. Slabs, rather than tiles, are typically used for countertops and other aesthetics from floor to ceiling. Here are marble design tips to inspire you in your next remodeling or new project.

Marble and rich color wood floors.The quintessential modern living room would not be complete without a dramatic all-white marble fireplace.

Veining as marble: Yet it has the same color scheme and also shows off the beauty of nature.

Solid granite same as countertop extends behind hood to ceiling

Marble and steel - stainless steel countertop with marble backsplash

Marble shower walls: Granite and Marble shower seats are popular items.

The marble look and the shower. Marble continues up and top of tub deck as alternate to cabinet panels. Nice layout and Marble Pattern Matching

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 27

As Nigeria lags behind on Millennium Development Goals on Housing

By Udenna Orji

U

nless concerted efforts are made to reverse the current state of affairs, Nigerians nationwide will have to wait much longer than other nations before they can enjoy the benefits of the Millennium Development Goals on Housing.

Millennium Development Goals on housing are a global pact to ensure that citizens of nations have access to affordable and decent housing by the year 2020.

The Millennium Declaration was adopted by Member States of the United Nations in September 2000. It contains eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG's) ranging from eradicating extreme poverty to combating HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases. The MDGs detail out 18 specific development targets, each with a time-frame and indicators designed to monitor the extent to which the target has been achieved.

Specifically, Millennium Development Goal 7, Target 11 assigned the UN-HABITAT the responsibility of assisting Member States to monitor and gradually attain the "Cities Without Slums" target also known as Target 11, which is one of the three targets of Goal 7: To Ensure Environmental Sustainability". Target 11 aims to achieve a significant improvement in the lives of at least 100 million slum dwellers by 2020.

By UN-HABITAT definition, a slum household is a household that lacks any one of the following five elements: Access to improved water: (Access to sufficient amount of water for family use, at an affordable price, available to household members without being subject to extreme effort).

Access to Improved Sanitation: (Access to an excreta disposal system either in the form of a private toilet or a public toilet shared with a reasonable number of people).

Security of Tenure: (Evidence of documentation to prove secure tenure status or de facto or perceived protection from evictions).

Durability of Housing: (Permanent and adequate structure in non-hazardous location).

Sufficient Living Area: (Not more than two people sharing the same room).

But the increasing growth of slums in Nigeria, borne out of the nation's estimated deficit of 16 million housing units is causing unease in government circles and among industry operators.

While commending the federal government for the newly approved housing and urban development policies, experts say bills on Land Tenure (the proposed amendments/repeal of

President Goodluck Jonathan the Land Use Decree), Foreclosures, Tax Incentives for Housing and Mortgage related transactions still pending at the National Assembly constitute major impediments to the realization of the United Nation's Millennium Development Goals on Housing in Nigeria.

According to mortgage banker, Muhammed Jibrin, Chief Executive Officer of Sun Trust Savings and Loans Ltd, "If you look at the Nigerian economy generally, it is clear that minimum attention has been paid to the housing sector‌ Every body in this country knows that the land tenure system confers the right of title to the governor of the state,

Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms Amal Pepple making ownership and transfer of title cumbersome. The banks cannot easily foreclose on properties that mortgages have been created on. The foreclosure law has to be passed. The Law concerning tax incentives for housing and mortgage related transactions should also be passed. Unless the National Assembly passes these legislations, the expected Millennium Development Goals in terms of providing decent affordable housing will not be achieved. Government needs to move forward and make sure those bills are passed into law."

Explaining further, he said "the second thing is that you bring in private sector

participation. Nigeria today has an estimated shortage of 16 million houses based on Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria figures. Assuming a decent home in the country will cost a minimum of N10 million, to meet 10 million housing units, it will sum up to 100 trillion. So government must provide a holistic policy framework and the necessary environment to tackle this shortage. Only then can the needed long-term private sector funds to develop the sector be attracted."

A recent World Bank report says Nigeria has the potential to become Africa's foremost economic power, with an average GDP of six per cent per

annum, buoyed by a young and growing population of 160 million. Morgan Stanley, an investment banking institution, also predicted that Nigeria's economy would outperform South Africa's by 2025 to become the biggest in Africa. The macroeconomic outlook is favourable. With an expected stable inflation rate, five per cent rural to urban immigration, and three per cent population growth, experts say Nigeria is a huge real estate market by all standards.

Concurring with the statistics, the Jibrin noted that "in the highly developed economies, the average contribution of the real estate and housing sectors to the GDP is 40 per cent. In every economy, there is an engine room for that economy. The Nigerian housing sector can serve as that engine room as we seek to diversify our economic base. The sector has the potential to generate and create huge economic activities.

The housing sector needs to consume other building materials and products such as electrical equipment, furniture, paints, roofing, cement, etc. The sector can help in developing small and large scale production of these key inputs thereby generating employment and increasing the level of national income. Addressing the housing sector problem is the same as addressing the unemployment problem and one avenue to diversify the economy away from dependence on the oil sector".

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

OPS Decries Challenges to Real Estate Development in Nigeria M

embers of the Organised Private Sector have alerted the federal government to the growing challenges hindering the development of construction and real estate in Nigeria stressing that the downturn in the economy could not make the construction industry fulfill its potentials in job creation.

While reviewing the performance of the Nigerian economy, members of the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) lamented that the challenges of the operating environment for business has intensified, adding that “across

all sectors, there are concerns over weak consumer demand, reflecting the general downturn in the economy. Structural and institutional problems persisted as well”.

President of the LCCI, Mr. Goodie Ibru who spoke on behalf of the LCCI regretted the stagnating state of the construction industry in Nigeria

noting that “the construction industry has very profound potentials to create jobs. But the recent downturn in the economy has taken its toll on this sector.

More importantly however, there are other specific challenges highlighted by operators in this sector in the last quarter”.

He said the challenges

included high cost of building materials – cement, iron rods, etc; low indigenous participation in infrastructure projects, high cost of funds as well as access to credit, inadequate technical skills due to the collapse of technical education in Nigeria.

Enumerating more problems of the sector, Ibru said ongoing projects in Northern parts of the

Nigeria’s real estate market outlook favourable, say foreign bankers

REDAN mulls low cost housing

A

R

eal Estate Developers Association of Nigeria (REDAN), has called for a national strategy to boost the development of low cost housing and social housing in Nigeria.

Among its proposed options is the need for governments at the various levels to compel estate developers in high brow areas like Ikoyi, Lekki, Asokoro in Abuja, Port Harcourt to incorporate in their schemes, low cost housing for the workers that are serving residents and owners of high end properties in these estates. This means that ongoing and new developments in high brow areas must make provisions for the low and medium income groups with 10 per cent of houses in such estates set aside for the low income group, another 10 per cent for the medium income earners and the balance of 80 per cent set aside for the high income group.

To achieve this, REDAN is facilitating a meeting of stakeholders, including the Minister of Housing, Federal Housing Authority (FHA) and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN). According to a REDAN official, Mr. Shola Enitan, the association is also canvassing support for social housing provision whereby people in distress can be tem porarily accommodated in decent government houses before they are able to sort themselves out. “Except for the destitute, there must be a place of temporary abode for a family, who may have accommodation crisis, either with their landlords or by other means. No Nigerian should be allowed to spend all his earnings paying house rent to landlords, either private landlord or government for ever, and in a situation by which government is the landlord, the tenants must have the opportunity to buying off the apartment at the long run without much sweat,”

country have been badly affected by the security situation, along with problems of corruption both in the process of securing contracts and getting paid for the contracts. He also noted that demand for high end properties had declined sharply while absence of long-term affordable credit and inadequate information on ownership of land were ravaging the sector.

Mortgage loans below 10% will reduce housing deficit - Ozoani

T

he Federal Government has been called upon to develop mortgage policies that will encourage Nigerian banks to grant mortgage loans to Nigerians at a maximum of 9% per annum.

Government has also been urged to check the rising inflationary trend in Nigeria as the trend is causing a steady rise in the cost of building inputs in Nigeria, leading to high costs in property development and sales.

Speaking with Peoples Daily on how to boost homeownership in Nigeria and reduce the nation’s estimated 17 million units housing deficit, the Group General Manager of mass housing developer, El-Salem Nigeria Limited, Mr. Geoffrey Ozoani appealed to government to “come up with very definite policies on mortgage. Definite implementable policies on mortgage that make it

attractive for commercial banks to offer mortgage loans to Nigerians because most commercial banks are not providing mortgage facilities”.

He noted that “the fear of our commercial banks is how they can recover their money but a mortgage loan is the easiest loan to recover because the house serves as collateral and usually also rises in value over time. The Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) loan is at 6% but if all our commercial banks are encouraged through attractive policies to offer mortgage loans at say 8% or 9%, Nigeria’s housing deficit will drastically reduce. Even in Namibia where I recently returned from, the commercial banks pursue people to come and collect mortgage loans because their mortgage system works perfectly.

He noted that “there is also the burning need to create

awareness to Nigerians about mortgages and Nigerian mortgage institutions. Even contributors to the National Housing Fund (NHF) do not know what they are contributing for. States and local governments should make land available to developers and encourage their workers to get loans from mortgage institutions to buy their own houses”.

Commenting on the problems hindering the development of the housing sub-sector, he regretted that “prices of cement and other building materials keep rising even after you have agreed on a house price with a client. By the time the client pays 10% of say N5 million, the cost of building the house has risen to N7 million. Besides all these is the difficulty in getting land.

A plot of land jumps in prices virtually monthly. These are some of the challenges”.

new World Bank report says Nigeria has the potential to become Africa’s foremost economic power, with an average GDP of six per cent per annum, buoyed by a young and growing population of 160 million.

Morgan Stanley, an investment banking institution, has also predicted that Nigeria’s economy would outperform South Africa’s by 2025 to become the biggest in Africa.

Both institutions say Nigeria’s macroeconomic outlook is favourable. With an expected stable inflation rate, five per cent rural to urban immigration, and three per cent population growth, the financial institutions say Nigeria is a huge real estate market by all standards.

Concurring with the statistics, Mohammed Jibrin, Managing Director of mortgage banker, Sun Trust Savings and Loans Limited noted that “in the highly developed economies, the average contribution of the real estate and housing sectors to the GDP is 40 per cent. In every economy, there is an engine room for that economy. The Nigerian housing sector can serve as that engine room as we seek to diversify our economic base. The sector has the potential to generate and create huge economic activities. The housing sector needs to consume other building materials and products such as electrical equipment, furniture, paints, roofing, cement, etc. The sector can help in developing small and large scale production of these key inputs thereby generating employment and increasing the level of national income.

Addressing the housing sector problem is the same as addressing the unemployment problem and one avenue to diversify the economy away from dependence on the oil sector”.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 29

AWF's April writing workshops

FR OM THE FROM LIVE ST AGE STA with Patrick-Jude Oteh 0803 700 0496, 0805 953 5215 (SMS only)

ANOTHER NOTE ON ACHEBE

I

believe I really got involved with Achebe in 1995. Before then I had read almost all his works but like everyone else the one that kept gnawing at my guts was Things Fall Apart.

In 1995, the Birmingham Repertory commissioned the multitalented Nigerian-British writer, Biyi Bandele to adapt the novel for the stage. The Director chosen for the play was Chuck Mike of the Collective Artistes/ Performance Studio Workshop, Lagos. The play was eventually read and through casting in 1997/98, the world tour was put in place.

Note that all the funds that came for this work came from the UK and the US! A trickle came in from Nigeria when the tour was to enter Lagos.

Achebe joined us for a reading in Amherst, Massachusetts and later at the Kennedy Centre where he watched the first of over thirty performances. The reading in Amherst was fortuitous as we all were witnesses to what in later history were the initial thoughts and idea of his last

Emman Shehu

Bob Majirioghene

T

he April Writing Workshops, organized by the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF), is designed to give those with a genuine interest in writing the requisite skills in Fiction, Poetry and Drama.

Participants will over four Saturdays in April (6th, 6th, 13th, 20th & 27th), get the opportunity to develop their writing skills in any of the aforementioned genres. They would be working with a group of dedicated resource persons.

Bob MajiriOghene - poet, short story writer and public commentator will handle the Fiction module. Author of Tears for a Birthday (poetry) and Deep Sighs (short stories), his forthcoming work Secrets of a Diary, is a story of love and hate narrated by a diary. He began expressing his writing flair as a student-columnist with the Nigerian Observer in 1991 with a column that gained rapid popularity called Acada Gist. He later worked with TELL newsmagazine first as staff, then as senior writer. He was also editorial assistant and columnist with Daily Independent Newspaper, Nigeria. His column identity then was Avant-garde.

MajiriOghene is published locally (Daily Independent, Pointer-on Saturday, TELL, The Guardian, The Nigerian Observer and Vanguard) and internationally by Associated Content aka YahooVoices, Equatorial Press, the German K u l t u r a u s t a u s c h , Nigeriansinamerica and South Africa's Urban Green File.

A graduate of English from the universities of Benin and Lagos, MajiriOghene was the recipient of two German fellowships organized by the International Institute of Journalism, IIJ of InWent, first in Ghana (Reporting on ECOWAS & its Institutions) and next in Berlin Germany (Environment Reporting) in 2008.

He runs his own media and publishing agency, Bob

STILL ON THE FESTIVAL - FUNDRAISING

Anthony Abu M a j i r i O g h e n e Communications, and works as office manager and editorial consultant with the law firm of Jackson, Kargbo & Associates.

His interests include chess, music, philately, writing, sports.

Anthony Abu, who will handle the Drama module ,is a Development Communication Expert who has worked on development projects of the UKaid, British Council, Action Aid and others in the areas of research, communications and media engagement. A Beststudent-award-winniing graduate of the Theatre and Communication Department of the University of Jos, Abu has impeccable playwriting skills; most of his plays written to amplify social development messages, addressing issues of peace building, governance and reproductive health.

Abu is skilled in writing, producing and directing for the screen and stage. He was Coordinator of the NOAsupported Winds of Change Theatre Group where he wrote most of the plays used in the campaign on peace building and

work - There Was A Country!

The experiences in Biafra had never left his mind and his thoughts of home were still quite clear and as he was to say in later years, being on a wheel chair and living in Nigeria was going to be a tough life!

We have seen various eulogies been spoken on the man. In the last one week, I have had cause to wonder who are they talking about? The same man that barely two months ago was been rubbished? In death, Achebe left many of us with a lot of things to think about in two lifetimes combined if we ever live that long.

I am extremely proud of the fact that our company in his lifetime produced and performed two of his landmark works - Things Fall Apart and Arrow of God which was initially adapted for stage by Emeka Nwabueze as part of the activities lined up for Achebe's 60th birthday at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.

We are proud and we hold this dear in our hearts. His was a great life that so many only dream of.

resolution; same he did with Future Africa Network, WACWIN and Manji Foundation.

His pet projects BE WISE and ASEREKHU in Akure and Jos used plays as tools. He believes in Theatre for Society sake and has used his productions for this reason.

Dr Emman Usman Shehu will take care of the Poetry module. He has taught creative writing over the years including during his stint at the Usmanu Dan Fodio University, Sokoto.

Apart from teaching creative writing and media related courses, he heads the Abujabased International Institute of Journalism and is the founding President of the Abuja Writers Forum (AWF) .

He has published two collections of poetry, Questions For Big Brother and Open Sesame. The latter was a runner up in one of the editions of the prestigious Nigeria Literature Prize organized by the Nigerian Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG) group. He has two forthcoming poetry collections, Tailspin and Icarus Rising, as well as a collection of short stories, A Cry of Bugles.

T

he fundraising aspect of the recently concluded festivals was a huge nightmare. All thanks to the US Mission, Nigeria that made our burden lighter and very easy to shoulder. At the Abuja end of the festival, we had no sponsors but only a few supporters who had assured us of their support and commitment to help the Abuja festival see the light of day. At the end of the day, with the exception of four individuals, the rest ended up being what they were initially billed to be - mere promises.

In our arts management classes at the DeVos Institute and in our own classes at the Center For Arts Management, Nigeria we continually stress the fact that 'no one owes us a donation'. This rang out so true this festival.

A lot of phone calls became cold calls, a lot of lines went simply dead on us, a lot of promises turned out to be just that, a lot of letters went unreplied! And then came the ultimate - we were told that we were not reaching out enough to the one source that could help to solve our financial woes government. On this note I will say that if reaching out to

government means carrying your bed to the person's office, let him meet you when he comes in the afternoon and let him leave you there when he closes early evening, then that was simply a waste of rehearsal time. We had a case when I had a note to meet with someone in Abuja who could help. We called from our mutual friend's office. An appointment was set. On the set day, I drove to Abuja only to get to his office to be told that he was not in the city. I ended up waiting for three days. He neither picked my calls and on the 4th day, he merely said I should have confirmed my appointment before coming to Abuja and that he was busy at a state function. Yet I had an appointment!

My conclusion to some of the experiences was that we are simply not ready for some things.

However, the confounding attitude that I did not find amusing or dramatic is the attitude of some theatre arts graduates who should know better and who have found themselves in government.

You will think, they will be more supportive? Na lie. Many of them are the worst of the lot!

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Lagi, Sawa feature as AWF's Easter guest writers T

animu Lagi and Ater Sawa, two writers with a background in Mass Communication will feature in the Easter edition of the Abuja Writers Forum's (AWF) Guest Writer Session which holds on March 30 at Hamdala Plaza, Plot 23, Jimmy Carter Street, off Protea Hotel, Asokoro, Abuja.

Tanimu Sule Lagi, whose latest novel, The BOFAK Illusion appears on the Parisea imprint, is an indigene of Wamba in Nasarawa State and has a fascination for criminal satire. He studied Mass Communication at the University of Jos and later attended the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ), Lagos. He had a stint in News reporting with the Platau Radio Television Corporation (PRTVC) in the old Platau State, as a crime correspondent.

In the last ten years, Lagi has been involved in corporate legal practice, having also qualified as a lawyer. He is also a member of the Institute of Chartered mediators and conciliators (ICMC) and lives in Jos with his family.

His previous publications include short stories ("The Easy Price of Life", "Kofi's Metamorphosis" and " Broken Hearts Never Mend" ) published in Sunday Standard and a novel, Tsoho's Manuscript (Spectrum, 2005).

Ater Sawa hails from Garkida in Adamawa State of Nigeria. He attended primary school at the Demonstration Primary School Yola. Even though he loves reading and writing, he never got the opportunity to offer subjects like Literature and History because he acquired his secondary school education at the Federal Technical College Orozo where he studied Agricultural Mechanization.

After secondary school, he got admission to Federal

Ater Sawa

University of Technology Minna for a B. Tech in Estate Management.

Partly because of his love for writing, Sawa decided to drop out of the University in his third year and went to pursue a diploma in Journalism at the International Institute of Journalism, Abuja. His parents were mad at him, especially his father who said, "You mean you abandoned Estate Management just to become a gossip?"

After his diploma programme, he got a direct entry to NTA TV College Jos for a

Bachelor's Degree. But at the end of his first year, his admission and that of a couple of other students were revoked by a screening committee from ABU Zaria (which the college is affiliated to). The committee said his admission was revoked because he did not offer Literature in secondary school.

Thereafter he got admission to study a Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communication (Print Media major) at Africa Nazarene University Nairobi, graduating with a second class honours (upper division) in 2013.

NANTAP president urges govt. to put infrastructure in place to boost theatre patronage

G

regory Odutayo, the President of the National Association of Nigeria Theatre Art Practitioners (NANTAP), has urged governments and other stakeholders to help build infrastructure to boost theatre patronage. ``We are gradually being deprived of the infrastructure that can be used to speak to the people and portray our culture,'' Odutayo told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. ``Insecurity is another bane.

With security in place, and with the proper infrastructure,

patronage will increase. ``Government has to, as a matter of urgency, maintain the existing theatres and establish new ones to help boost patronage."

He urged the private sector and people to embrace the theatre, adding, ``we must bring theatre and allied arts to the people".

The president said that NANTAP had consistently been at the forefront of professionalism and advocacy for the theatre industry, ``but unfortunately our voice is gradually being suppressed''.

He said NANTAP planned to rebuild the theatre this year ``so that we can start to speak to the people again".

Odutayo, however, said that to achieve the objective, there was need for sustainable development of the sector. ``As the moral conscience of the society, we at the NANTAP are poised to do more, to tell the rest of the world about the Nigerian identity; who we are and what we do. ``We should not allow Nigeria's indigenous languages and its dress culture to die," Odutayo said. (NAN)

Sawa has written a number of short stories, among which is Lost in the Wind; which was published in Dugwe (Abuja Writers' Forum anthology).

Another short story, A War Within, was also published by Storymoja Kenya. He has written numerous articles in magazines and newspapers which include Daily Trust, Leadership, and Sunday Express Kenya. His debut book is a novella, The Storm is Over. He is presently working on his second book.

Sawa is also into storytelling and performance poetry. He also does a bit of acting and was a support actor (2012) in a Swahili television comedy Vioja Mahakamani which airs on Kenya Broadcasting Corporation (KBC).

The introverted Ater Andrawus Sawa who loves traveling, playing volleyball, and table tennis, is also adventurous with meat. He is 30 years old and single.

The March 30 edition of the Guest Writer Session starts at 4pm and will feature live music by guitarists Bem Sar and William Owoduni, and a mini art exhibition. The Abuja Writer's Forum meets three Sundays each month and hosts a reading on every last Saturday at the International Institute of Journalism, Hamdala Plaza, Jimmy Carter Street, Asokoro, Abuja.

POEM OF THE WEEK Three Months of Courtship

By Anele Mkhwananzi Dashing heartwards, for spent emotions and balding feelings Discolouring gentle, the gloss of sweet words peels off A barrier of bulging betrayal, heartbreaks and guilt Through peaceable arteries of untainted friendship That wither in the heat of the afternoon blaze - this act Of traditional chivalry is passed like the music of the wind Or the anonymous beauty of a bird's chirp ignored Until on the loose, words rain down heavily, the way of boiling water Once it spurts off the kettle and spills onto the floor Like faith after death Splintered clichĂŠs, haphazardly sown, broadcast Everywhere - stunted by unbreakable rules, older than dinosaurs Die - a natural death, like meteorites - and comets Tangenting off into galaxies unknown and lost - in space Taken like that of any other suitor - the honesty Poetry, a bleeding soul, a drifting heart and nothing else Against the omnipresence of lame love songs - turns old and gray The column of smoky truth twists, retreats and rises again.

Slowly reality dawns on the unsuspecting devotee Like a rainbow after a destructive storm Stinging retorts, rhetoric questions, considered worthy of inclusion Where nothing obvious is said, brazenly stare - saved By an occasional uneasy smile and the infection of laughter. Confusion!

Will abound, put under scrutiny the returning hero Defeated - ready to resurrect the battle on paper - empty words Nude souvenirs of loss, the local taste of folklore Warmth, truth, curious candour, and razor-marked faces all taste stale.

Boredom - a private hell beckons open-armed and gentle welcoming He limps, wearily, not-so-surefooted, painstakingly slow and heavy of heart Like Jesus on the road to Jerusalem

QUO TE UOTE Let your literary compositions be kept from the public eye for nine years at least. – Horace

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

ANALYSIS

By MurtazaHussain

S

cientific racism is a term seldom used today but which has a long and ignoble history in the modern world. In the late 18th century, the renowned scientist and philosopher ChristophMeiners published his famous treatise The Outline and History of Mankind. Central to his analysis was a qualitative comparison of peoples by race - a comparison which his own popularly-accepted findings claimed revealed a clear hierarchy.

Drawing in large part on the nowdiscredited science of Phrenology (the measurement of human skulls), Meiners described whites as being endowed with clear superiority to all races in both their intellectual as well as moral faculties.

About blacks, his scientific analysis was far less generous finding them not only to be inferior to whites in every mental capacity but in fact "incapable of any mental feeling or emotion at all", as well as "unable to feel physical pain".

As influential as it was, Meiners' work was par for the course in the institutionalised science of racism of the age. Famous philosopher Voltaire - whose works were among the most significant of the French Enlightenment - wrote of his empirical research on those humans who possessed dark skin: "They are not men, except in their stature, with the faculty of speech and thought at a degree far distant to ours. Such are the ones that I have seen and examined."

While they wore a veneer of disinterested scientific analysis in their conclusions, in the context of their times it can be seen that such proponents of scientific racism had the specific goal of legitimating certain policies. With regard to those of African descent, the intention of then-contemporary scientists was often - implicitly or explicitly - to report findings which could be used to justify the socio-political institutions of slavery and colonialism against African societies.

Alongside routine characterisations of blacks in scientific analyses as naturally childish and in need of patronage from "superior races", were outright claims regarding the scientific necessity for slavery as a natural phenomenon.

While the prominent American physician Josiah Nott wrote that "the negro achieves his greatest perfection, physical and moral, and also greatest longevity, in a state of slavery", others such as Samuel Cartwright diagnosed aversion to slavery among blacks as a fullfledged disease unto itself.

Calling the purported malady "drapetomania", Cartwright wrote that it was a legitimate mental defect which could be treated by visiting corporal punishment upon blacks up to and including amputation.

We rightly recoil with horror today at what we know to be the false claims and methodologies of the pseudoscience of the past. The level of institutional racism masked under scientific study reached a particularly horrific apex at Paris' infamous "human zoo" - where peoples of different races lived their lives for both scientific observation as well as the enjoyment of the general

PAGE 31

Scientific racism, militarism, and the new atheists

"Popular author and neuroscientist Sam Harris' pseudoscientific characterisations of Muslims dovetail nicely with his extreme right-wing views on military intervention in Muslim-majority countries," writes author [EPA] public.

Viewed in proper context it can be seen that the crudest racism has often been cloaked in the guise of disinterested scientific inquiry. Those claiming this mantle have often felt licence to engage in overt bigotry using science as a smokescreen, and yet far from being a relic of history, many celebrity-scientists of today show startling parallels with their now-dishonoured predecessors.

In the present atmosphere, characterised by conflict with Muslim-majority nations, a new class of individuals have stepped in to give a veneer of scientific respectability to today's politically-useful bigotry.

At the forefront of this modern scientific racism have been those prominently known as the "new atheist" scientists and philosophers.

While they attempt to couch their language in the terms of pure critique of religious thought, in practice they exhibit many of the same tendencies toward generalisation and ethnoracial condescension as did their predecessors - particularly in their descriptions of Muslims.

To be utterly clear, Islam itself does not denote a race, and Muslims themselves come from every racial and ethnic grouping in the world.

However, in their ostensibly impartial critiques of "religion" - and through the impartation of ethnocultural attributes onto members of a religious group - the most prominent new atheists slide with ease into the most virulent racism imaginable.

That this usefully dovetails with government policies promoting the military subjugation of Muslimmajority countries is telling with regard to what purpose these contemporary scientist-philosophers serve.

While one could cite Richard Dawkins' descriptions of "Islamic barbarians" and Christopher Hitchens' outright bloodlust towards Muslims - including lamentations of the ostensibly too-low death toll in the Battle of Fallujah and his satisfied account of cluster bombs tearing through the flesh of Iraqis - these have been widely discussed and are in any case not the most representative of this modern phenomena.

Indeed, the most illustrative demonstration of the new brand of scientific racism must be said to come from the popular author and neuroscientist Sam Harris. Among the most publicly visible of the new atheists, in the case of Muslims Harris

“

has publicly stated his support for torture, pre-emptive nuclear weapons strikes, and the security profiling of not just Muslims themselves, but in his own words "anyone who looks like he or she could conceivably be Muslim".

Again, while Islam is not a race, those who are identified with Islam are the predominantly black and brown people who would be caught up in the charge of "looking Muslim" which Harris makes. Harris has also written in the past his belief that the "Muslim world" itself lacks the characteristic of honesty, and Muslims as a people "do not have a clue about what constitutes civil society".

His sweeping generalisations about a constructed civilisation encompassing over a billion people are coupled with fevered warnings parallel with the most noxious race propaganda of the past - about thepurported demographic threat posed by immigrant Muslim birthrates to Western civilisation.

Harris' pseudoscientific characterisations of Muslims dovetail nicely with his extreme right-wing views on military intervention in Muslim-majority countries. As he has said:

That this usefully dovetails with government policies promoting the military subjugation of Muslim-majority countries is telling with regard to what purpose these contemporary scientist-philosophers serve.

"It is time we admitted that we are not at war with terrorism. We are at war with Islam."

This belief in the need to fight openended war against Muslims has extended to both his steadfast support of the Iraq War, as well as to the conflict between Israel and Palestine which ironically enough for one in his position as a scientist - he sees in strictly religious terms. About this issue he has written: "Liberals ignore the fact that Muslims intentionally murder noncombatants, while we and the Israelis seek to avoid doing so. Muslims use human shields, and this accounts for much of the collateral damage we and the Israelis cause‌ there is no question that the Israelis now hold the moral high ground."

Citing "Muslims" as a solid monolith of violent evil - whilst neglecting to include the countless Muslims who have lost their lives peacefully protesting the occupation and ongoing ethnic cleansing of their homeland - Harris engages in a nuanced version of the same racism which his predecessors in scientific racism practiced in their discussion of the blanket characteristics of "Negroes". Indeed he argues in his book that the only suitable form of government for Muslim people is "benign dictatorship", an echo of the 19th century social theorist George Fitzhugh who argued in favour of slavery by saying: "The Negro is but a grown up child, and must be governed as a child."

Finally, dismissing the possibility that Muslims may have legitimate objections to being subjects of torture, murder, and - as he's advocated wholesale nuclear genocide, Harris helpfully states: "The outrage that Muslims feel over US and British foreign policy is primarily the product of theological concerns."

A statement of deeper myopia and more emboldened ignorance would be hard to produce. However, what is nearly certain is that Harris' nightmares about, in his words "dangerous and depraved" (not to mention monolithically terrifying and foreign) Muslim hordes aided him in making it.

What Harris and those like him represent is the time-honoured tradition of weaponised racism in the guise of disinterested scientific observation. When Harris - as a scientist - claims to observe the innate dishonesty, violence and intellectual inferiority of Muslims, he gives his own scientific approval to the propagation of themost heinous violence against them as a people.

Indeed he makes the case for this violence explicitly, putting him in class with the worst proponents ofscientific racism of the 20th century - including those who helped provide scientific justification for the horrors of European fascism.

Far from being a hyperbolic characterisation of his views, Harris has stated that the correct policy with regard to Western Muslim populations is in fact that which is currently being pursued by contemporaryfascist movements today. In Harris' view: Source: AlJazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Central African Republic opposition to boycott new government

C

Ghana president names deputy Central Bank governor to top job

G

hana's President John DramaniMahama has appointed Henry Kofi Wampah as governor of the central bank, elevating him from the deputy position he held for four years, a source close to the presidency said on Tuesday.

Wampah, 58, replaces KwesiAmissah-Arthur who is now Ghana's Vice-President.

"The President has confirmed him (Wampah) as the governor - he was informed last week," the source told Reuters on condition of anonymity because the government has yet to make an official announcement.

Wampah, who holds a Masters' degree and a PhD in Economics with specializations in econometrics and public finance from McGill University in Canada, was appointed by former President John Atta Mills as first deputy governor of the central bank in April, 2009.

He previously served as head of the central bank's research department for five years and also worked with the International Monetary Fund and the West African Monetary Institute.

entral African Republic's opposition said on Monday it would not participate in a caretaker government nominated by the country's self-proclaimed president, claiming it has been stacked with rebel sympathizers.

The move will complicate a planned transition back to civilian rule in the resourcerich former French colony after fighters from the Seleka rebel coalition stormed the capital on March 24 and ousted President Francois Bozize.

"We are suspending our participation in this new government because we can not accept the fact that 16 posts have been handed over to Seleka allies disg u i s e d a s civil society activists," s a i d EdouardKoyambounou, a spokesman for the country's nine main opposition parties.

Central African Republic's new leader, Michel Djotodia, named a cabinet of ministers on Sunday night that included eight opposition slots, 16 for civil society members, and most of the remaining 10 chosen from among Seleka's ranks.

Djotodia claimed the role of Defense Minister.

Koyambounou said the opposition's decision to suspend its participation in the government did not affect Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye, who was

nominated to his role under a January peace deal between Bozize and Seleka.

That deal ultimately unraveled when rebels accused Bozize of failing to uphold his end, triggering the overthrow.

Regional and Western leaders have condemned the rebel takeover, in which at least 13 South African soldiers bolstering Bozize's ranks were killed. The coup triggered days of looting in

the dilapidated riverside capital Bangui.

Neighboring Cameroon's government on Monday said 3,000 Central African refugees had streamed across its borders since last week, and added it had bolstered its troop presence along thickly forested frontier.

Chad will host a regional summit on the situation in Central African Republic on April

3. South African President Jacob Zuma is expected to attend. Koyambounou said the opposition was not planning to attend the N'Djamena summit.

Central Africa's regional central bank said it would reopen its branch in Bangui on Tuesday, and urged commercial lenders t o d o t h e same, offering a financial lifeline to cashstarved businesses a week after a coup.

Central African Republic's new President Michel Djotodia (L) sits next to Prime Minister Nicolas Tiangaye

Egyptian students protest mass food poisoning

S

Henry Kofi Wampah displays a new note (file photo).

tudents at Cairo's al-Azhar university are planning a second day of protests after almost 500 of them were taken to hospital because of food poisoning.

On Monday, hundreds of students demonstrated

demanding the resignation of the head of the university.

According to the Egyptian health ministry all of the 479 cases of poisoning came from one dormitory.

President Mohammed Morsi has visited one of several

hospitals that the students have been taken to.

The senior Egyptian prosecutor has ordered an investigation.

Basic hygiene standards are not always observed at Egyptian universities, but this

incident is one of the largest cases of food poisoning in recent years.

The prestigious al-Azhar university belongs to the alAzhar mosque, one of the main centres of Sunni Muslim learning.

Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan

"Objectively, it [the army] must be entirely rebuilt," said Gen Lecointre.

"The Malian authorities are well aware of the need to reconstruct the army, very aware that Mali almost disappeared due to the failings of the institution."

The first fully trained battalion of Malian troops is expected to be operational in July.

Islamist groups took advantage of a coup in March 2012 to seize the vast north of Mali including major cities including Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu.

They imposed a strict form of Islamic law in the area.

France intervened after saying the al-Qaeda-linked militants threatened to march on Bamako.

France is now preparing to withdraw its 4,000 troops fighting in Mali, which will be replaced by forces from several West African countries.

French President Francois Hollande said troop levels would be halved by July and reduced to about 1,000 by the end of the year.

The African force in Mali currently numbers about 6,300 soldiers.

Mali crisis: EU troops begin training mission

A

n EU mission to train Malian soldiers is due to begin as part of efforts to help the West African country counter an Islamist insurgency.

The first of four Malian battalions will train under European instructors at the Koulikoro base some 60km (37 miles) from the capital, Bamako.

A French-led intervention that began in January has regained the main cities of northern Mali from Islamist groups.

However, fighting continues in the north.

Of the 550 troops from 22 EU nations sent to Mali, about 150 are trainers with the rest made up of mission support staff and force protection.

France is the biggest contributor to the force with 207 troops, followed by Germany with 71, Spain with 54, Britain 40, the Czech Republic 34, Belgium 25 and Poland 20.

Training takes place under the control of French Brigadier General Francois Lecointre and is expected to continue for about 15 months.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Asia and Middle East

N

orth Korea will restart all nuclear facilities at its main Yongbyon complex, in the latest move which is likely to escalate tensions further with South Korea and the United States.

Plans have been announced to rebuild and restart nuclear facilities including its uranium enrichment facility and the 5 MW Yongbyonreactor which it closed in 2007, the state news agency KCNA said, quoting a spokesman at North Korea's atomic energy agency.

The report said the "readjusting and restarting" of nuclear facilities would be used for electricity shortages and military development.

The move was being made in line with a policy of "bolstering the nuclear armed force both in quality and quantity" as well as solving "acute" electricity shortages, the spokesman said.

South Korea reacted immediately on Tuesday, with foreign ministry spokesman Cho Taeyoung calling the report, if true, "regrettable."

He said: "North Korea should keep

Several dead in Pakistan power station attack

PAGE 33

North Korea to restart nuclear facilities their promise and agreements and they should keep to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula. Our government will closely monitor the situation."

UN Chief Ban Ki-moon said: "The current crisis has already gone too far," at a press conference in Andorra.

"Things must begin to calm down, there is no need for the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to be on a

collision course with the international community. Nuclear threats are not a game."

China and other countries also waded in, some offering regret at the news and urging restraint.

"We have noticed the remarks of the DPRK and express our regret," Beijing's foreign ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a regular briefing, using the North's official name. "We

that this plant will resume means that North Korea could be a step closer to plutonium enriched weapons."

The announcement follows weeks of warlike rhetoric from North Korea, including threats to launch nuclear strikes against the US. The country has also declared that making nuclear arms and a stronger economy are the nation's top priorities.

India lifts travel ban on Rome envoy

I

The 154-metre long USS Fitzgerald warship is now stationed off the Korean Peninsula [US Navy]

A

t least seven people were killed in a rocket attack on a power station in the outskirts of the northern Pakistani city of Peshawar, after dozens of gunmen attacked it overnight.

Police said that the attack on Tuesday killed a policeman and a Water and Power Development Authority employee, destroying the biggest power station in Khyber Pakhtunkwa province.

"They attacked the power station at around 2:30 am (2130 GMT).

They killed two officials on the spot and abducted 10 others," Javed Khan, a senior police official in the area.

"They threw five dead bodies of the kidnapped officials in the fields close to the power house on Monday morning. Five others are still missing," Khan said.

The police added that the grid station was completely destroyed in the incident, distrupting electricity supply to half the city of Peshawar.

Mohammad Ishaq, a police official, said that the bullet-riddled bodies of the captives were recovered.

He added that the attackers traveled to the grid from Darra Adam Khel, a nearby Taliban stronghold.

However, there has been no immediate claim of responsibility.

ShaukatAfzal, a spokesman for the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (PESCO) said the militants killed four of its staff and three policemen.

"One PESCO employee and one policeman were killed on the spot.

The militants then kidnapped seven PESCO employees and three policemen. Later, we found the bodies of three PESCO officials and two policemen," said Afzal.

"Four power house employees and one policeman are still missing," he said.

call on relevant parties to keep calm and exercise restraint."

The reactor, closed as part of an international nuclear disarmament deal, was the sole source of plutonium for the North's nuclear weapons programme.

The country's remaining plutonium stockpile is believed to be enough for four to eight bombs.

Florence Looi said the "declaration

ndia's Supreme Court has withdrawn its earlier order barring the Italian ambassador from leaving India after a row over two Italian marines accused of killing two Indian fishermen.

Ambassador Daniele Mancini was barred from leaving India last month after Rome said the marines would not return.

The marines returned after a bitter diplomatic row between India and Italy.

The court had allowed MassimilianoLatorre and Salvatore Girone to travel home to vote in the February election.

The marines were ordered to return in four weeks to stand trial in India.

Ambassador Mancini had given his personal assurance that they would return within four weeks.

The marines are accused of shooting the fishermen off the Kerala coast in February 2012.

They had been guarding an Italian oil tanker and said they mistook the fishermen for pirates.

On Tuesday, the Supreme Court asked the government to set up of a special court to try the marines.

The court said it would hear the matter again on 16 April.

The marines returned to India on 22 March in an Italian military plane, accompanied by Deputy Foreign Minister Staffan de Mistura.

Anti-government strike hits Bangladesh

Health workers transfer some of the deceased to the morgue.

Ambassador Daniele Mancini

O

pposition activists have detonated small homemade bombs and set fire to several vehicles in the latest anti-government protest to hit Bangladesh's capital, according to police.

Bangladesh's main opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party and its 17 allies staged the protest to enforce a nationwide strike on Tuesday to press for the release of more than 150 opposition members arrested during earlier antigovernment protests.

Police officials say at least 30 people were injured in the violence.

The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they are not authorised to make public comments.

Calling a general strike is a common opposition tactic in Bangladesh to highlight demands, and the country has been hit by a series of strikes and street protests recently that have left at least 70 people dead.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas France, Germany opt out of UK's EU membership review

UN General Assembly to vote on global arms treaty

F

rance and Germany have decided not to contribute to a review of the impact of EU powers on the UK, it has emerged.

The review, launched last year, is seen as preparing the groundwork for the UK's renegotiation of its membership of the EU, as promised

by David Cameron.

But France and Germany, who previously criticised an "a la carte" approach to Europe, have decided not to take part in the "domestic political exercise".

A Foreign Office source said ministers were "unworried" by the situation.

David Cameron has pledged to hold an in/out referendum on Britain's membership of the EU if the Conservatives win the next election.

He wants to renegotiate the UK's relationship with the EU, which is likely to include the repatriation of some powers, and then give people a vote on staying in under new terms, or leaving the EU. Last July, Foreign Secretary William Hague launched a "comprehensive audit" of European Union powers and their impact on the UK. The review, which will conclude in 2014, is expected to contribute towards discussions about which powers Britain wants to repatriate as part of the renegotiation.

Prime Minister David Cameron has already said the balance of powers between the EU needs to be examined in a "many areas" and "nothing should be off the table".

As part of the process, Mr Hague wrote to the 26 other EU member states informing them of the review and inviting them to contribute.

However, two of the EU's most influential members, France and Germany, have decided not to take part after high level discussions, according to the Financial Times.

The newspaper says that Sweden and Italy are among the countries which have responded.

A French diplomat told the BBC: "This is a British domestic political exercise. We have therefore decided we would not participate."

A source at the Foreign Office told the BBC: "It isn't a problem. The review is about the effect on the UK. We invited others to contribute.

French and German responses would have been a nice-to-have but we are unworried about it."

France and Germany have previously warned the UK that it cannot cannot pick and choose its EU membership terms.

Following Mr Cameron's referendum pledge, French foreign minister Laurent Fabius and his German counterpart Guido Westerwelle wrote a joint article saying: "An a la carte Europe, which would see some claiming the advantages of the EU without complying with the obligations that come with them, is not a conceivable option."

Activists put a replica of a military helicopter on a roof near the UN in New York.

T

he UN General Assembly is due to vote on what would be the first treaty to regulate the $70bn (ÂŁ46bn) global trade in conventional arms.

The vote comes a week after Iran, North Korea and Syria blocked the treaty's adoption by consensus.

Supporters of the treaty say it is needed to keep weapons out of the hands of terrorists and organised

crime.

The draft is expected to be passed by a majority of the 193-nation assembly.

The treaty would prohibit states from exporting conventional weapons in violation of arms embargoes, or weapons that would be used for acts of genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes or terrorism.

It would also require states to prevent conventional weapons reaching the black market.

Diplomats have worked for nearly a decade to agree on a set of principles to control the flow of such arms.

Attempts to agree the treaty last year broke down after the US, followed

by Russia and China, said they needed more time to consider the issues.

Then, last week, a UN treatydrafting conference failed to reach consensus after objections from Iran, North Korea and Syria.

Iran said the treaty was full of flaws and loopholes and North Korea said it was unbalanced.

Paul Adams, in Washington, says the Syrian government, which depends on arms imports from Russia and Iran, is clearly worried about its ability to continue fighting its civil war.

The draft was then sent to UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon who was asked on behalf of nations backing the treaty to put it to a vote in the General Assembly on Tuesday.

Our correspondent says several other countries still have concerns about the treaty, including Russia, China, India and Pakistan.

However, its backers believe it will easily achieve the simple majority of votes needed to pass the General Assembly, he adds.

After that it will need to be ratified by at least 50 members in order to come into force.

In the US, the biggest pro-gun lobby group, the National Rifle Association, has vowed to fight against ratification by the Senate, although the UN says the treaty does nothing to interfere with domestic firearms legislation.

Cyprus bailout: Finance Minister Michael Sarris quits

C

ypriot Finance Minister Michael Sarris has resigned after completing talks on a controversial bailout deal.

Mr Sarris will be replaced by Labour Minister HarisGeorgiades, reports in the local media suggest.

The 10bn-euro (ÂŁ8,5bn; $13bn) deal - agreed by the EU and IMF - originally envisaged a levy on all Cypriot bank depositors, triggering public anger.

Under the revised deal, Bank of Cyprus depositors with more than 100,000

euros could now lose up to 60% of savings.

On Tuesday, the Cypriot government said that President NicosAnastasiades had accepted the resignation of Mr Sarris, who had been under fire for his handling of the bailout deal.

The president earlier ordered an investigation into what led the island nation to the brink of bankruptcy before it was forced to accept tough bailout conditions.

The inquiry will be carried out by a three-judge panel.

Michael Sarris had been under fire for his handling of the bailout deal.

Venezuela campaign starts to elect Chavez's successor

T

he official election campaign to replace the late President Hugo Chavez is getting under way in Venezuela.

The two main candidates have already been holding events in the month since Mr Chavez died of cancer.

On Monday, opposition candidate Henrique Capriles accused acting president Nicolas Maduro of unfairly using state media in his campaign.

He is trailing Mr Maduro in the opinion polls for the election on 14 April, the first without Mr Chavez for 15 years.

"The state media have become a propaganda wing of a political party," Mr Capriles said about Mr Maduro's United Socialist Party (PSUV).

In response, Communications Minister Ernesto Villegas asked Mr Capriles to be interviewed on state television, a request Mr Capriles has

turned down in the past saying state media was biased against him.

Mr Maduro, who was chosen by Mr Chavez as his successor before the former president travelled to Cuba for cancer surgery in December, will

start his campaign in Barinas, Mr Chavez's home state.

He will then follow the route Mr Chavez travelled during the last presidential campaign six months ago, hoping that he too, will end it in

Henrique Capriles (R) is taking on acting president Nicolas Maduro (L).

the presidential palace.

Mr Capriles will kick off his official campaign in the state of Monegas, after a previous plan to start in Barinas was labelled "a provocation" by the government.

The BBC's Irene Caselli in Caracas says even though these are the first elections without the presence of Mr Chavez for almost two decades, he continues to dominate the campaign.

Mr Maduro has continually invoked the memory of Mr Chavez and called himself his son and apostle, while Mr Capriles has told his supporters that Mr Maduro is not as competent as the late president.

Mr Capriles has also focussed on insecurity in the country, saying that the government has failed to put forward "a single proposal to defeat violence and give peace to Venezuela".

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 35

Weeping for Strangers - The Professional Mourners of Taiwan

By Spooky

I

n Taiwan, staging a dramatic funeral for relatives who have passed away is of the utmost importance. So, to create the proper atmosphere, wealthy families hire professional mourners who cry, sing and crawl on the ground to show their grief.

Taiwan's "filial daughter" phenomenon emerged during the 1970s, when sons and daughters left their families to work in the city. Transport was limited, so if one of their parents died and they couldn't make it back in time for the funeral, they would hire a filial daughter to take their place and lead the family in mourning. For some Taiwanese, showing grief in a dramatic fashion is the highest reverence for relatives who have passed away, because funerals are considered the most important times to honor one's family.

But not everyone has it in them to shed tears and show their pain in public, so to help create a grieving atmosphere, they hire professional mourning daughters.

They chant, dance and wail, warming the hearts of the audience and helping them release their emotions.

Crying on command isn't easy, but professional mourners, like 30-year-old Liu Jun Lin, say

Photo: China Times it helps to really get involved in the event and consider the family that hired them their own. "I just imagine that I am part of the family and I fuse myself into the occasion," she says.

Mourning rituals start with the group of performers lined up outside the funeral parlor, slowly crawling inside, to symbolize the daughters married into other families returning home for their parent's death. Crying and chanting into a microphone, they make their way to the coffin

Photo: Macau Daily

for their final goodbyes. The mourners wear traditional white hoods and robes to hide their faces and tears. Even though she considers herself a dutiful actress, young Liu Jun Lin says every tear she sheds is real. She doesn't have to practice crying on command, it just comes naturally to her, after seeing the sad members of the grieving family. She has been mourning for strangers for 19 years and is now the most famous filial daughter in Taiwan.

The tradition of hiring professional mourners is slowly dying in Taiwan. While older generations still appreciate their role in staging a dramatic funeral, younger Taiwanese have begun opting for more reserved events, and only hire filial daughter bands at the insistence of older relatives .

Public authorities have also banned this kind of performances in some parts of the country to cut noise pollution. Unless they can reinvent their profession, mourners-for-hire will just have to deal with the idea that they'll be out of a job in a few years. The custom is also practiced in parts of China and African countries like Kenya.

And just in case you were wondering, this isn't the only bizarre funeral tradition in Taiwan. In some parts of the country, exotic dancers are hired to attract more mourners, thus honoring the dead even more.

English farmer makes vodka from cow milk

J

ason Barber, a farmer from Dorset, England, has spent three years creating the world's first milk vodka. Now, his Black Cow label is the poison of choice for celebrities like Elizabeth Hurley and James Bond star

Photo: Black Cow

Daniel Craig.

47-year-old Jason Barber, a sixth generation farmer, got the idea for his pure cow milk vodka after watching a TV documentary on Tuva, a small Siberian republic where people make vodka from yak

milk. Intrigued by the idea, he set out to make his own, from the milk of the 250 cows on his farm in Beaminster, Dorset. It took him three long years to perfect the process, but the final result is nothing short of impressive, according

to food and drink experts.

Barber starts out by separating the milk into curds and whey. He uses the former to make cheese, while the latter is fermented into beer, using special yeast, to convert the sugar into alcohol. After being distilled, the milk beer goes through a special blending process.

The resulting vodka is triplefiltered and hand-bottled.

Made from fresh whole milk Black Cow vodka is apparently an exceptionally smooth drink with a distinct creamy character.

According to the IB Times, Jason has a long history of making his own drinks: he was thrown out of school for making a brew from fermented orange juice and storing it in unused school cellars. He also has a personal interest in vodka, as it's the only alcoholic drink that doesn't give him a hangover.

Black Cow has received positive reviews since it was launched, and can now be found on the menus of posh English restaurants like those

Pure milk vodka owned by acclaimed chefs Heston Blumenthal and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall. The world's first pure milk vodka is priced at ÂŁ27.85 ($42) per 70cl bottle, and ÂŁ22.85 ($35) per 50cl bottle.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Borno and APC: Shettima re-enacts history but ...

By Victor Izekor

I

saw him in the midst of other governors reading the communiqué in Lagos of the proposed All Progressives Congress (APC) made up of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP), the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA) and the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) at the end of the historic meeting of the parties. The APC is the acrynomyn (combined name) of the opposition parties which among others is aimed at wrestling power from the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) at the centre, come 2015 as according to them PDP government not only has failed but corrupt as well.

And before the shout of Jack Robinson, I saw him again this time hosting in Maiduguri the governors of Osun, Ogun, Oyo, Lagos and Edo (ACN Governors) APGA (Imo State governor), CPC governor and ANPP governors of Borno and Yobe states to the first meetings of the APC after the formation in Lagos. While Lagos state hosted the formation of the APC, Borno state took the burden of what may be referred as inauguration.

As I was saying, Alhaji Kashim Ibrahim, the Borno State governor read the communiqué of the formation of APC to the world in Lagos and the same Kashim hosted the inaugural meeting of the governors of the alliance in Maiduguri thereafter.

Sometime back, I wrote an article (feature) titled “The Awo and Goni in Shettima”. In the article I drew a semblance of Governor Goni’s administration viz avis Shettima’s in-terms of achievement personified, forthrightness, foresight, participatory democracy and nationalistic disposition as well Shettima’s brutal frankness especially, on national issues in the trait of Chief Obafemi Awolowo.

Today, Shettima’s unequivocal participation in the APC with total commitment and resolute zeal has vindicated my assessment of him or gradually revealing the true character of the man in the closet. Time will tell.

Consciously or unconsciously, Shettima is reenacting history. Mohammed Goni, the governor of Borno

Ibrahim Shetttima Executive Governor of Borno State State between 1979 and 1983 was a member of the Great Nigeria Peoples’ Party (GNPP) of Waziri Ibrahim the party along with three other opposition parties formed the Progressive Parties Alliance (PPA). The other parties were the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) of Aminu Kano, the Unity Party of Nigeria (UPN) of Chief Obafemi Awolowo and the Nigeria Peoples’ Party (NPP) of Dr. Nnamdi Azikwe. Governor Goni apart from being one of the founding members of the PPA was indeed a major player and an arrow head in the formation of the PPA Governors forum.

Like the APC, the PPA of Shagari era had us one of its objectives,

the wresting of power from the centre from the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), the ruling party on allegation of failure and corruption.

In its editorial comment on the formation of the PPA, the Daily Star of march 27, 1982 reads in parts, “At last, what started as a breeze of discontent

”

Today, Shettima’s unequivocal participation in the APC with total commitment and resolute zeal has vindicated my assessment of him or gradually revealing the true character of the man in the closet.

Time will tell.

and dismay at the apparent drift and lack of positive approach and public orientation on the part of the present Federal government controlled by the National Party of Nigeria (NPN) has metamorphosed into a redemption patriotic movement called the Progressive Parties Alliance (PPA).

“The Progressive Parties Alliance is a protest front against political aggression, plutocracy, brigandage, official corruption and general exploitation of the poor and Continued on page

37

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 37

...Shettima reenacts history but ...

Gov Ibrahim Shetttima Continued from page

36

helpless against rape of the constitution and against all evils that have infected our present set-up. It is the last hope of the common man and the only focus of progressive solidarity, the nation over”. In his own comment on PPA in the Nigerian Tribune, March 11, 1982 Governor Goni warned “The NPN could do anything underground, there is a lot of sabotage, a lot of purchasing of people with public money.

Every sign, every indication is cautioning to the progressives to fight really hard”, adding, in the Daily Sketch of November, 27, 1981, “The coming together of the four political parties would do Nigeria more good”. According to Alhaji Lateef Jakande, the UPN governor, “Unless the four parties come together, the mismanagement of the nation’s economy at the centre would continue to create more problems, which the country may find difficult to solve”.

(Daily Sketch, March 8, 1982).

In his own comment Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, the Presidential candidate of the NPP declared, “Awo and myself will not want to leave a heritage of strive or suspicion or mistrust to posterity. This is why we say no, we are going to come together”.

Like Governor Goni in the PPA Shettima from the heart of the North is a major player and an active participant in APC. Like Shagari’s NPN administration who regarded Goni’s active involvement in the PPA as an affront to the central administration and betrayal of

“Northern identify and northern central administration and reacted with wholesome punitive measures all aimed at crippling Goni’s administration in the state, Shettima should expect no less from Jonathan’s administration. Even, when President Jonathan might like to play softly or lie low, some hawks in his administration and his party might think or do the contrary. Goni had attacks from all fronts the federal, the NPN in the centre, the NPN as opposition part in the state and with the fifth columnists in his own party (GNPP).

For example, right from the inception of GNPP administration in Borno in October, 1979 to its exit in October, 1983, Goni’s administration knew no peace as arsenals against his administration came from both the NPN Federal controlled government, the NPN and even from the Borno State Judiciary and the Police. Goni’s problems became compounded the moment he became an unrepentant member of the PPA. Though the PRP administration in Kano and Kaduna knew no peace but the heat was more on Borno then elsewhere in the country. For example right from the inception of his administration in 1979, Goni was told by his defeated NPN gubernatorial rival, Alhaji Kam Selem, that Goni’s administration would “not last three months”. The NPN as well the federal government of Shehu Shagari manifested their threats. From nowhere, Alhaji Shugaba Darman, the majority leader in Borno State House of

Assembly was deported overnight to Chad republic on the allegation of not being a Nigerian and a security risk.

Similarly Federal presence in the state became scanty or non-existent. There was this allegation that the Assembly Plant for production of heavy duty vehicles and jeeps meant for Borno as a result of its desert prone weather environment was diverted to Bauchi despite the fact that Borno had prepared already all infrastructures to accommodate the plant.

Not ready to accept the victory of the GNPP at the polls, the NPN in the state proceeded to challenge the constituted authority of Goni’s administration and its agencies both in the state capital and in the rural areas by appointing parallel structures of administration, especially in the traditional section where they know the fibre of state lies; and where also they knew or believe that they could manipulate the gullibility of the rural folks to persist in their recklessness.

There were political violence in almost all parts of the state resulting into deaths and destruction of property. There were allegations and counter allegations by both NPN and GNPP supporters.

The NPN accused the GNPP administration of discrimination against NPN supporters in government through denial of promotion, non-appointment of NPN supporters into the state civil service and refusal to give NPN supporters contracts and outright dismissal of civil servants loyal to NPN. The GNPP in the other hand accrued NPN of sabotage in all ramifications.

The Bembem Judiciary Commission of inquiry set up by the state government to unravel the causes of Bembem bloody riot (one of such ugly riots) this time captured the

mood of the time in its findings.

According to the commission, “To the supporters of both parties “Adalchi” of the GNPP and “Amici” of the NPN were abusive and repulsive words or taken as such and neither side at Bembem on the faithful day took kindly to them... What is said of Bembem, at that point in time, could be said so for the whole state”.

The Commission continued, “...daggers drawn animosity and hostility permeated the political scene in the state; the political situation was tense; and security of the state unstable.

Riots, clashes, ambush, threats to life, killings and destructions of properties were rampant”.

But even more ominous, the commission observed: “No police action, if any at all on some of these riots etc, like the burning of Uno (Nduguno) village which occurred about six months ago and other atrocities was taken”.

As pointed out earlier, though there was no love lost between the GNPP and NPN in Borno state from the onset as the NPN accused the GNPP of rigging both the gubernatorial, state and national Assembly elections in the state during Goni’s period, but the situation became more sour and irredeemable when Governor Goni became an arrow head of the PPA, a forum that placed the “communist tag” (a no go human habitat) on the NPN and its federal controlled government.

It is therefore pertinent to remind Kashim here and then that since he has out of conviction chose the fate of the APC, he must be prepared for the good and bad the journey would entail. What is certain and must be made crystal clear to all members of the APC especially, the sponsors is that a battle line has been drawn between the APC and the PDP and its Federal controlled government. The fight might

”

It is therefore pertinent to remind Kashim here and then that since he has out of conviction chose the fate of the APC, he must be prepared for the good and bad the journey would entail.

What is certain and must be made crystal clear to all members of the APC especially, the sponsors is that a battle line has been drawn between the APC and the PDP and its Federal controlled government. The fight might be dirty and Machiavellian.

be dirty and Machiavellian.

Because of its strategic location and its position in the scheme of things Borno state might witness the first port of call in the anticipated power struggle for the centre between the APC and the PDP. Unfortunately for Shettima, the present security challenges engulfing the state is no plus for him in the struggle ahead. Instead, he would have more to contend with.

Certainly, he has crossed the Rubicon and got to a point of no return. Only recently after the meeting of the APC governors in Maiduguri, Shettima accused some politicians as masterminds of the bombings in the state capital during and after the meeting of the governors. A possible indication of the worst to come.

However, Shettima should rest assured that in his conviction to thread along the path of justice and equity along with the like minds, he would not be alone at the hour of difficulty, just as Governor Goni was not abandoned when the attacks came from all directions. The PPA rose in defence of Goni. When Shugaba was deported, the UPN facilitated the services of well grounded lawyers that argued his case and brought him back to Nigeria.

The UPN government of Lagos state assisted Borno in no small measure including granting of interest free loans to the state.

These loans were eventually written off. The Oyo state government of Bola Ige, gave technical assistance to Borno Radio Television for onward of three months free of charge.

The Borno State government on the other hand among others sent personnel from Borno to Lagos to impact the Knowledge of burnt bricks making. The benefits are mutual and embracing.

Besides, the nationalist disposition of the PPA this period helped in fostering national unity. No less should be expected from APC. Already, on coming to Maiduguri, the APC governors collectively gave Borno state government the sum of N200million to help in rehabilitating victims of security challenges in the state. By coming to Maiduguri, they are better informed of the happenings in the troubled zone and their solidarity is an inspiration to Borno people especially Shettima who knows where the shoe pinches most.

Victor Izekor writes from Maiduguri

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Nwoye vs Chriscato: ANPP calls for constitutional amendment

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has suggested that electoral laws should be amended in order to ensure that all pre-election litigations would have been concluded before elected officials are sworn-in into office.

The party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Emma Eneakwu, said "we take this stand in a bid to ensure that our dear nation achieves free and fair elections; we envisage that this will stop all the bad blood and unnecessary advantage endowed on the incumbent as they are predisposed to use the resources and power of government to execute their electoral litigation, thereby provoking strife in the political

space".

The court had compelled INEC to recognize Nwonye as the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP's candidate for the April26 House of Representatives' for the Anambra West/East federal constituency election instead of Chief Ameke Ikechukwu. Based on the judgment, INEC, on July 16, 2012 issued a Certificate of Return to Nwonye, but Chriscato filed a motion for a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal. The Court of Appeal, on February 27, 2013, struck out the application for a stay for lack of prosecution.

"Our great party is concerned because the row over this matter has succeeded in raising a lot of dust in the polity and thereby distracting the Lower Chamber in its daily legislative duties; "We wish to point out that our

aim is to lead the nation away from politics of personality to issues-based and ideas-driven politics as is obtained in many developed democracies that we envy today. A couple of months ago, our great party was similarly justified in its other electoral proposal, when the Chairman of the INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega, said elections in the country after 2015 should be held same day as staggered elections were costly. It is on record that the ANPP was the first voice to call for all elections to be held in one day as this will save cost and guarantee better participation. As a party, we are convinced that with free and fair elections, the problems faced by our great nation shall be solved and we will begin to excel," the opposition party stressed.

The party called on the leadership of the House of Representatives to employ tact, as well as abide by the rule of law, in tackling this legal issue facing it on the matter.

"We also call on the INEC and the lawmakers who are leading the ongoing constitutional amendment to note this case as a justification to amend our laws in order to ensure that the nation avoids a repetition of this unpalatable impasse, by making it constitutional for every electoral litigation to be concluded before the swearing in of victorious elected officers.

As a party, we believe that Nigeria has all it takes to become the giant we are destined to be, and hold our shoulders high in the comity of nations" the statement concluded.

President, Aten Development Association, Ganawuri, Plateau Mr Chom Bagu (right), briefing newsmen on the recent crisis at Ganawuri, yesterday in Jos. With him is the Chairman, Community Action For Participation (CAPP), Advocacy Unit, Ganawuri, Mr Pam Kut.

Tribunal cannot order recount of 2006 census of LGAs – Chairman

O

rdering the National Population Commission (NPC) to recount the local government areas it voided their 2006 census figures is not part of the census tribunal’s mandate, an official said yesterday.

The Chairman of Census Tribunal ‘A’, Mr Abraham Yisa, gave the explanation in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Yisa said the tribunal’s job was to verify the claims and evidence of both the complainants and the

respondent whether or not they were factual before judgment.

According to him, after due consideration of claims by both parties the tribunal declares the population figures of the affected councils valid if it discovers that the census has been done properly.

Yisa added that when the tribunal verified the claims of both parties and discovers that the complainant’s claims of inaccurate enumeration was right it would as well declare the population figures voided.

“The Census Tribunal was established to give credibility to

the National Population and Housing census conducted in 2006 and it was opened for any aggrieved Nigerians to challenge the figures when necessary.

“The tribunal’s job ends in either validating or voiding population figures of local government areas that have filed petitions against the National Population Commission in the 2006 census.

“This is after verification of evidence given by both the complainants and the respondent.

“At the conclusion of the cases

filed before the tribunal we do a report to the Federal Government who in turn would decide whether to order the commission to repeat the exercise or not,’’ Yisa said.

NAN reports that the tribunal was set up by Section 28 of the National Population Act Cap No 67 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria 2004.

The tribunal, which is an independent body from the National Population Commission, has the mandate to hear complaints and objections to the census results as they relate to specific local government areas.

(NAN)

Group queries S/ West governors over N15bn subsidy fund From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

A

Yoruba political pressure group, the South West Defenders (SWD), has queried governors in the zone over the use of the over N15 billion already received from the Subsidy Fund.

The group said "Our people deserve to know what the governors have done with the fund because we are aware of what the Federal Government is doing with its own share of the Subsidy Fund."

In a statement issued by the SWD National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Lere Olayinka, the group, which accused the governors of squandering the fund, alleged that; "the Osun State governor, Mr. Rauf Aregbesola has already borrowed N2.5 billion and another $1.5 million from Sterling Bank with agreement to pay back with the Subsidy Fund."

"Today, we are aware that the Federal Government, through the Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SUREP) has recruited no fewer than 25,000 youths in the six South-West States under the Community Services, Youths and Women Employment Scheme.

Beneficiaries of this scheme are being paid N10,000 stipend per month. "We are also aware of the SURE-P Graduate Internship Scheme (GIS), under which beneficiaries are being paid N18,000 per month.

"Above all, we are aware that the construction of some federal roads is now being funded with the Subsidy Fund and we wish to ask our governors in the South-West States: what they have done with the over N15 billion they have received so far?

"Who are the beneficiaries of the States' share of the Subsidy Fund, because the fund is shared among the Federal Government, States and Local Councils?

"More appalling is the information available to us that Governor Aregbesola of Osun State has borrowed N5 billion (N2.5bn and $1.5m) at unprecedented 18 percent interest to finish repayment in 2016, two years after his tenure.

"Payment of this loan is to be made from the Subsidy Fund accruing to Osun State, and the implication of this is that in 2013, Aregbesola is already spending funds to be received by Osun State from the Subsidy Fund in 2016!

"Even though bank sources as saying there were concerns over the loan agreement because it was signed with "State of Osun" which has been declared illegal and nonexistent by a Lagos High Court, the loan is already being serviced with the Osun State share of the Subsidy Fund.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PPA Chairman accuses some public office holders of fuelling security challenges

T

he National Chairman of the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), Mr Sam Nkire, has accused some public office holders of fuelling security challenges in the country.

Nkire made the accusation in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday, as a part of his Easter message to the people.

He condemned the activities of some governors, senators, ministers and chief executive officers of arrogant display of wealth when they return home for either Christmas or Easter.

“They distribute a few bags of rice and cartons vegetable oil to people in order to announce their arrival at their constituencies.

He advised them to stop playing “Father Christmas” with public funds and pursue policies that could provide the enabling environment for people to work instead of waiting for occasional hand-outs.

The PPA boss also reminded the people that Easter symbolised freedom for mankind, and urged them to challenge leaders who enslaved them through ill-gotten wealth. (NAN)

Commissioner tasks Executive Secretaries on counterpart fund in Imo

T

he Executive Secretaries of Autonomous Communities in Imo have been urged to ensure the payment of N250,000 counterpart fund for the development of their areas.

Mrs Ugochi Nnanna-Okoro, the state Commissioner for Community Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, made the call in Owerri yesterday.

Nnanna-Okoro noted that the essence of establishing Community Government Councils (CGC) was to foster rapid development especially in rural areas.

She said that each community would be developed based on its potential.

“We want to ensure that our people are carried along in government affairs and for us to achieve this, all communities must contribute their quota,’’ she said.

The commissioner urged the secretaries to discharge their duties with utmost sense of responsibility.

Nnanna-Okoro enjoined the executive secretaries to work in conjunction with government liaison officers to ascertain the number and condition of schools and the number of teachers and students in their respective communities. (NAN)

PAGE 39

Immunity clause for legislators: Matters Arising

By Chijioke Okoronkwo, News Agency of Nigeria

T

he bill seeking to accord immunity to lawmakers at both at the federal and the state levels and sponsored by a member of the House of Representatives, Mr Ali Ahmed (PDP- Kwara), is generating controversy.

The bill which has passed through second reading, seeks to amend Section 4(8) of the 1999 Constitution as amended.

According to the bill, verbal or written comments made by lawmakers in the course of legislative duties, will not be questioned in any court of law.

Rep. Zakari Mohammed, the Chairman, House Committee on Media and Publicity, defends the bill, arguing that it is in tandem with parliamentary practice worldwide.

He lists countries where such legislation exists to include Tanzania, United Kingdom, United States, Malaysia, Indonesia.

However, a legal practitioner, Mr Maxwell Opara, says the motive behind the bill is questionable.

Opara says he can not readily remember a time any legislator has been arrested based on his comments on the floor of the house.

He says that Section 308 of the 1999 Constitution as amended, grants immunity to the President, Vice-President, Governors and their Deputies so that they will not be distracted while in office.

“Legislative immunity is not healthy for our democracy at this point in time; it is being pursued in bad faith,’’ he notes.

A PDP chieftain in Osun, Chief Abiola Ogundokun, says that universally, lawmakers are not liable for their utterances at plenary and at committee sittings.

According to him, “they don’t need it because it is a universal convention that is applicable everywhere, as every issue in the house is a parliamentary one..

“The rights and privileges of what you say in the house begin and end there.”

Ogundokun says that a bill seeking to provide them immunity outside their functions as lawmakers is superfluous and should be discarded.

He wonders why the lawmakers should be pursuing this issue at a time when people are clamouring for the removal of the immunity clause.

He says Nigerians need to be enlightened on the rights and privileges of lawmakers as

Sen. David Mark contained in the constitution.

Malam Umar Mustapha, the National Chairman of Kowa Party, observes that the bill has portrayed the lawmakers in a bad light.

“It is like seeking protection against criminality and if they do not have anything to hide, they have better things than passing a redundant bill.

“The 2015 election is around the corner, let them put in place laws that will enhance good governance, social and economic development and job creation, rather than immunity law,” he said.

The spokesman, Save Nigeria Group (SNG), Mr Yinka Odumakin, describes the bill as an “aberration” which should be challenged by all Nigerians.

“While Nigerians are talking of removing immunity clause completely from the constitution to checkmate corruption, the legislators are coming up with their own bill.

“It is only in Nigeria that legislators will be asking for immunity which they do not need, except they have plans to contravene the law,’’ he remarks..

Human rights lawyer Fred Agbaje urges the lawmakers to drop the bill and address more fundamental issues.

“Rather than putting in place laws that will enhance good governance, the lawmakers are busy thinking of laws that will shield them.

“This bill is mundane and cannot enhance Nigeria’s

Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal national growth’’ Agbaje says.

Mr Festus Keyamo, another human rights lawyer, says if the“ lawmakers pass such a law without constitutional amendment, it will be null and void.

“The constitution guarantees immunity and has covered it all. The bill is inconsistent with the existing law.

“Apart from the legal side, on the moral side, those elected to represent the people want to shield themselves.’’

Chief Charles Nwodo, former National Chairman of de-registered Progressive Action Congress (PAC), says that the bill is unnecessary as the lawmakers could make speeches that could heat up the polity.

“Our fear is that some people can hide under the immunity to subvert the state, by taking laws into their hands, all in the name of immunity.’’

According to him, the spate of insecurity, terrorism and other vices in the country make the bill ill-timed.

Nwodo further says that the passage of the bill could ridicule Nigeria’s democracy in the international community.

“No National Assembly member has been arrested, detained or tried for what he/ she said, but the law can only go after them when they are involved in corruption,” he says He says the lawmakers

should eschew trivialities in the course of their duties in order to strengthen the system for the overall good of the nation.

Nwodo also urges them to place higher premium on national interests in all their activities than their narrow interests.

“Instead of the representatives engaging in building bridges at this time of security challenges in the country, they are debating on the need for immunity for lawmakers,’’ he adds.

The Senate, however, differs with the House of Representatives.

Chief Enyinnaya Abaribe, the Chairman, Senate Committee on Information, Media and Public Affairs, notes that the powers being sought by the lower chamber ,are extant in the Legislative Powers and Privileges Act. “I do not think that the bill will pass on the floor of the Senate, because whatever you say inside parliament is already covered under the Privileges Act. “If we see such a bill, then we consider it based on merit,’’ Abaribe says.

Analysts want the lawmakers to remember that they are representatives of the people and should, therefore, concentrate on making laws that will have positive impact on the lives of the people and not to embark in self-seeking agenda.

(NANFeatures)

PAGE 40

LG to spend N16.5m on youth empowerment

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he Argungu Local Government in Kebbi State says it has earmarked N16.5 million for the 2013 youth empowerment scheme, to reduce unemployment in the area.

Its Chairman, Alhaji Salihu Ahmed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Argungu yesterday that the fund would be disbursed to the unemployed based on merit.

He said the community development department had screened the beneficiaries who would be trained on skills acquisition such as welding, carpentry, weaving and tailoring.

He said the local government skills acquisition centre had been upgraded and equipped with modern gadgets to expose the trainees to modern vocational challenges.

The chairman promised that the council would sustain the programme.

He said the programme was initiated four years ago, adding that it had produced 2,500 trainees who became employers of labour.

Salihu called on the people of the area to always support the efforts of the state and local governments in delivering dividends of democracy to the people.

The chairman said priority would be given to the development of health and education sectors in the area. (NAN)

Yuguda appeals to political, traditional leaders to tackle insurgence

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overnor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State yesterday appealed to religious, traditional and political leaders in Northern Nigeria to take urgent steps to re-build the region currently being ravaged by insurgency.

He made the appeal when he met with former President, Court of Appeal, retired Justice Mamman Nasir, in Bauchi.

According to him, the leaders have the responsibility to restore lasting peace by identifying the main causes of the insurgence that has devastated the development of the entire region.

Earlier, Nasir said the religious, traditional and political leaders had been disturbed by the lingering crises that had assumed communal and ethno-religious dimensions.

He said the crises were threatening the unity and wellbeing of the entire region.

The Chairman of Ahmadu Bello Memorial Foundation then called on political leaders to unite the region and play politics that would benefit the ordinary people. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

We are not witch-hunting MDAs – Ogun lawmakers T

he Ogun House of Assembly yesterday said the appearance of various Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) before it was not to witch-hunt them.

The Chairman, House Committee on Public Accounts, Mr Abiodun Akowoyon, stated this in Abeokuta while conducting checks on audited reports of MDAs for 2011.

Akowoyon said the step was in line with the constitution and meant to maintain transparency as well as promote

checks and balances in governance.

He said the exercise was not to witch-hunt any ministry or agency but to correct anomalies noticed in their 2011 auditor's report.

The lawmaker urged officials handling the account books of government to always update their records and make them available to the AuditorGeneral as at when due and in line with the financial rules. `` I want to advise all the affected ministries and agencies

to allow the internal auditors to operate according to rules and regulations in their own interest," he said.

He advised internal auditors in MDAs to be more pro-active and continue to promote transparency, saying some of them always took the Auditor General's query for granted.

The lawmaker also warned that those cautioned in the previous year would be sanctioned this year if they were found to have committed the same offence.

Also speaking, a member of the committee, Hon. John Obafemi, advised ministries to allow internal auditors to operate freely, saying this would make the auditor- general's job more effective.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that representatives of the Ministry of Sports and Youth development, Board of Internal Revenue Service and State Emergency Management Authority were in attendance.

(NAN)

L-R: Sen. Bindow Jibrilla being honoured for exemplary leadership by Chairman of Mubi North LGA, Alhaji Sahabo Jauro, in Maiha town, yesterday in Adamawa.

Photo: NAN

Faskari LG inaugurates fire station, vehicle

F

askari Local Government Area of Katsina State yesterday inaugurated a fire station and fire-fighting vehicle to facilitate prompt response to fire outbreak in the area.

Alhaji Isiyaku Faskari-Ahmad, the Transition Council Chairman, said it spent about N4 million on the new building, adding that the truck was among the ones provided to 34 local government areas in the state.

Faskari-Ahmad said the

council’s trained firemen were collaborating with state government fire officials in the area to ensure maximum productivity.

He called on the people to cooperate with the firemen to protect lives and property.

He said fire was detrimental to human progress as lives and valuable property accumulated over a long period could be destroyed within a short time.

Faskari-Ahmad called on the people to adopt safety measures at

home and at work places and also inform authorities promptly in case of fire for speedy response.

The chairman called on firemen to conduct routine check on facilities and redouble efforts to sensitise the public to the dangers of fire and possible remedies.

He commended the state government for its effort to safeguard the people’s lives and property through its various programmes.

Faskari-Ahmad also urged the

people to support government initiatives aimed at transforming their lives.

A committee, led by Alhaji Gide Batagarawa, the Commissioner for Information, Culture and Home Affairs, in March, conducted interactive sessions in the area on dangers of fire disaster.

The committee educated the people on safety measures that could be adopted to prevent fire incident and how to handle its outbreak. (NAN)

Empowerment: Mubi North LGA recruits 200 youths

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ubi North Local Government Area in Adamawa has recruited 200 youths in the last three months, its Chairman, Alhaji Sahabo Jauro, has said.

Jauro told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Yola that the recruitment was done under the local government’s

empowerment programme in the area.

Jauro said the measure was also in line with steps taken by his three-month old administration to sustain peace in the area.

“My council has also implemented in full the long awaited minimum wage to staff

members.

“We also pay workers as at when due. No more delays in payment of salaries,” he said.

Jauro also said that his administration, had within the period under review, embarked on drilling of boreholes and rehabilitation of roads and drains in Mubi.

“We are also very active in the opening of feeder roads to link our border villages with Mubi town for easy transportation and business activities,” he said.

Jauro called for continuous support and cooperation of the people in sustaining the peace in Mubi. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 41

Eagles praise, Dangote, Ovia, others hope for redeemed pledges

I

Imo Ezekiel, will get nod to join Flying Eagles squad

NFF to overhaul Flying Eagles for World Cup

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

T

he Flying Eagles will be overhauled before the FIFA U-20 World Cup Championship in Turkey in June, according to the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) General Secretary, Musa Amadu.

Apparently displeased with the bronze won by the dethroned champions at the just concluded African Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria, Amadu expressed disenchantment with the team’s dismal performance and assured that it would be overhauled to allow fresher and hungrier legs for the World Cup. Amadu said though the team secured qualification for the World Cup and won the bronze at the championship, the football federation would monitor its preparations for the FIFA U-20 World Cup and where need be ensure the right changes were made.

“It is important we monitor this team closely because we have a pedigree at the U20 World Cup and we are not going there to make up the numbers.

“When the team was playing the qualifiers for the AYC, they looked matured and their pattern of play and tactical approach to the game was quite good. I do not know when there was a “dip’’ in their pattern of play and I am sure the coach himself is worried.

“The coach will give his report as to what happened in Algeria when he returns today: This will be submitted to the Technical Committee, which will determine the way

forward.

“However, I know there will be a few changes in the team as far as players are concerned; I believe Ezekiel Imoh, a top striker with Standard Liege FC in Belgium, will get a call up.

“There is a lot of work to be done if we must come out of the World Cup group comprising Portugal, Cuba, and South Korea.

“Cuba could be new to the tournament but we know the pedigree of Portugal and South Korea,’’ Amadu said.

However, he said monitoring the team would not mean interfering with Coach John Obu’s job, close relationship that would for proffering of solutions when necessary.

He noted that the NFF was only working to avert the ugly experience the country witnessed at the last World Cup in Colombia.

“The last time, we crashed out in the quarterfinal match against France and that was a game we ought to have won.

“So, we will ensure that this team does well at the World Cup because winning bronze at the AYC does not mean that they can’t win the World Cup. “We have faith in the team and that was why we registered it for the Toulon tournament in France which will come up late next month.

“The team are to camp in Europe to enable it prepare for the Toulon tournament and the World Cup; it will travel from there to Turkey for its first game against Portugal,’’ he added.

Flying Eagles arrived in the country yesterday, after winning a bronze medal in Algeria and failing to retain the AYC trophy.

n a veiled reminded to business moghuls Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Alhaji Isyaku Rabiu, Mr. Jim Ovia, former UBA Plc Chief Executive, Tony Elumelu and former Anambra State Governor Senator Chris Ubah, the Super Eagles expressed a longing for them to redeem their pledges.

It would be recalled that these prominent Nigerians had in appreciation of the Super Eagles’ conquest of the rest of Africa at the 29th AFCON made several pledges that amounted to several millions of Naira, even as did the Presidency that hosted them to a state dinner.

“We believe that these patriots will help our cause in the next round of games by making good their promises to the team. Their busy schedule may have been the hindrance but we thank them in advance and call on them not to relent in their continued support for the growth and development of Nigerian football,” a statement released by the team’s media officer, ben Alaiya said.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Alhaji Dangote the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the Dangote Group, had appreciated the Eagles with a promise of $800,000, while others listed equally pledged sundry amounts in millions of Naira.

The players, according to Alaiya lauded Globacom boss, Otunba Mike Adenuga, Chief Emeka Offor, Delta State Governor, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan, his Lagos State counterpart, Babatunde Raji Fashola.

They heaped enconimu on governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom State and Cadbury Nigeria Plc for making good their promises to reward them for winning the Nations Cup in South Africa.

Meanwhile, deputy skipper, Vincent Enyeama has cautioned against treating ex-senior team players with disdain as they are important assets to the nation.

“We have to be careful in how we handle senior players of the national team, because we need their experience, leadership and above all they serve as motivation to the younger players.

“That is why Yobo is still important and the technical crew knows so. If we treat them well the level of commitment of both the old and the new players will be total, but if we do otherwise we will have problems on and off the pitch”, declared the Alhaji Aliko Dangote Maccabi Tel Aviv FC shot stopper from his base in Israel.

We will do better at the World Cup, says Aminu

F

lying Eagles striker Umar Aminu yesterday assured that the team would lift their game the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey in June.

The Golden Boot winner with four goals at the African Youth Championship (AYC), where the Flying Eagles won the bronze said, “I believe we will do better at the World Cup in Turkey.’’

Aminu said this in a statement issued by the Flying Eagles Media Officer, Samm Audu, in Abuja.

Further he said, “I will take it that we were destined to finish third in Algeria, even when we ought to have been crowned champions.

“I believe we will do better at the World Cup in Turkey than what we did at the AYC, because I believe we will get to the final and go on to win the World Cup for the first time.’’

The highest goal scorer at the AYC said his target was to finish as top scorer at the World Cup and noted that he was delighted with his perfomance at his first international outing.

According to him, he never expected any award, stressing that he would have done better, but for his inexperience and an injury which affected him.

“To be honest with you, I did not expect it, but I’m very happy that I received the award of the highest goal scorer at the AYC, even when it was my first international outing.

“The award is a massive boost to the entire team because I could not have won it without the support of my teammates and coaches. I should have scored a few more goals, but probably inexperience made me not to.

“Also, I wasn’t fully fit for the tournament as I had problems with both my ankles and I believe if I was fully fit, I would have done a lot more.’’

Aminu said he would put in his best at the World Cup and wished to play for the Super Eagles in the future.

“I wish to continue to move up in my career, get to play for the Super Eagles and become the African Footballer of the Year, like Rashidi Yekini, Kanu Nwankwo and Emmanuel Emenike.’’

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Kwara Utd blame fatigue for away defeat

Oribamise clinches gold at 2013 World Cadet/Junior Global Circuit

N

osiru Bello, the Head Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTFF), yesterday expressed joy over the brilliant performance of Tosin Oribamise at the justconcluded 2013 World Cadet and Junior Global Circuit.

The player won the country’s only gold medal at the global event that took place at Hammanet, Tunisia.

Bello said in Lagos that the gifted cadet player was only just beginning to show the stuff she was made of.

“Tosin proved herself again by clinching the gold medal from her Egyptian opponent, with her powerful top spin and drive; she has won gold for the second time, this year.

“I am happy about our gold medal; it shows that there is hope for our upcoming players.

Tosin is an exceptional player and if properly groomed, she will go places,’’ he said.

The coach noted that it was the first time Nigeria would be winning a gold medal in a world championship.

“We want to bring back the country’s lost glory in table tennis and to become respected again in the world,’’ he said.

Nigeria won one gold and three bronze medals at the 2013 World Cadet & Junior Global Circuit which held between March 28 and March 31 in Hammanet, Tunisia.

The team is also preparing for the forthcoming African Underage Championships slated for April 1 to April 6, also in Hammanet, Tunisia.

ABS management reads riot act to coaches, players

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he management of the Abubakar Bukola Saraki (ABS) FC of Ilorin has warned its coaching crew and players to sit up or face the wrath of the club.

The warning came just two days after the Saraki Boys, as the team is fondly called by fans, suffered a 2-3 home defeat from Kano Pillars, the champions of Nigeria’s apex league.

A statement by Alloy Chukwuemeka, the club’s General Manager, rated the performance of the team after five matches as “very poor and unacceptable’’.

The statement charged the players and officials to see the challenge as a temporary setback and pleaded with their fans to be patient with the team.

It, however, called for more prayers from the admirers of the only private club in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL).

ABS are placed 17 th on the NPFL log with four points from five games, having won one match, drew one and lost three.

O

Shehu Abdullahi of Flying Eagles

F/Eagles’ Abdullahi to join Pillars versus Leopards

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ano Pillars have confirmed that Flying Eagles defensive midfielder, Shehu Abdullahi, who returned yesterday from Algeria, will be part of their CAF Champions League game against the Athletic Club Leopards de Dolisie of Congo this weekend.

Abdullahi featured prominently in coach John Obuh’s Flying Eagles that finished third at the just concluded Africa Youth Championship (AYC) in Algeria.

An official of Pillars, Idris Malikawa , said the midfielder will be part and parcel of the squad to confront the Congolese side if he is fit for the game which first leg Pillars won 4-1 at the Sani Abacha Stadium, Kano. ”We hope to feature Shehu Abdullahi against AC Leopards but that depends on the arrival time of the Flying Eagles in the country and whether he’ll be satisfied fit for the encounter. If he’s approved for the encounter

we would like to have him, he’s one of our regulars in the middle,” he said to supersport.com.

Malikawa said Pillars are going to Dolisie, Congo for outright victory at AC Leopards.

“We’ve served the notice of what to expect in Dolisie, Congo against AC Leopards with the 32 win at ABS in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) week five game in llorin.

“We’re going to Dolisie for a win, nothing short of a convincing victory. We know it will be a tough duel but the players have assured they’ll do whatever it takes to achieve victory at AC Leopards’ backyard.

“We’ve received dossier on their fans’ hostility, and we’ve taken adequate measure to ensure it doesn’t work against us.

We’ll come back with a decent result that will put smiles on Nigerians,” he said.

Malikawa informed that Kano Pillars will travel on a chartered

flight and head back home shortly after the game.

“We’re yet to confirm the matchday but if the game is on Sunday we’ll depart on Saturday, however, if it’s on Saturday we’ll leave on Friday.

The matchday will determine the departure date but we’ll return immediately after the match,” he said.

Gambo Mohammed

layioye Ajide, the Media Officer of Kwara United FC of Ilorin, has blamed the team’s weekend loss to Rangers International FC of Enugu in the ongoing 2012/ 2013 Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) on fatigue.

It would be recalled that the Ilorin-based side were beaten 31 on Sunday by their hosts at the Nnamdi Azikiwe Stadium, Enugu.

A statement released yesterday in Lagos said that the team got stranded for eight hours on their way to Enugu, after their vehicle broke down.

The statement added that the team which left Ilorin on Friday, did not get to Enugu until 1 p.m. on Saturday and did not have enough time to recuperate before the match.

It described the development as a “harrowing experience’’ that a team should not be made to go through before an important league engagement.

The statement added that the management of the club had passionately requested for a new bus from the state government.

“The league is still young and we have to travel around the country to places like Maiduguri, Kano, Bauchi, Aba and Port Harcourt, among other league centres.

“It is not good for a highlyrated club like Kwara United to continue to subject its players and officials to road hazards with a rickety bus.

“The management board will continue to make a case for new bus,” the statement added.

It, however, quoted the players as vowing to get over the trauma and to jostle for available maximum points in the club’s subsequent league games.

Onigbinde urges Flying Eagles to step up preparation for Turkey

A

Coach John Obuh

degboye Onigbinde, a former Head Coach of the Super Eagles, has charged the handlers of the Flying Eagles to remain unwavering as they prepare for the forthcoming 2013 FIFA U-20 World Cup. Onigbinde is confident the Flying Eagles who are drawn in Group B alongside Cuba, North Korea and Portugal, could do well at the fiesta if they remain focus in their training.

The Flying Eagles emerged in the third position at the justconcluded Africa Youths Championship (AYC) in Algeria to automatically qualify for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Turkey.

The Eagles were the defending champions, but could not retain the trophy they won in South Africa in 2011.

“We lost the championship, sad as it is, but we should not dwell too much on that; we have to prepare for the World Cup, the technical committee should consult among themselves.

“I know that the situation left Nigerians with mixed feelings; the bronze medal did not go down well with football fans.

“But at this point in time, we need to rally round the team and give our support to the Flying Eagles to have a superlative performance in Turkey,’’

Onigbinde said.

On his assessment of the country’s football development, the CAF and FIFA instructor said that his passion for the game had made him to regularly voice his views to the authorities.

“I have written severally on how we can increase the pace at which our country’s football can grow from my point of view. But I think it has not yet gotten to the appropriate quarters.

“My passion for genuine development programmes cannot be overemphasised, I still want to believe that someday soon, we will get it right,’’ the former coach added.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 43

Mourinho wants to end goal drought against Gala

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eal Madrid coach Jose Mourinho is hoping his goal shy team rediscovers their goalscoring form in the first-leg of their UEFA Champions League quarter-final against Turkish giants Galatasaray today.

Cristiano Ronaldo kept up his imperious form with his 43rd goal of the season in Saturday’s 11 draw away at Real Zaragoza, but the lack of goals from other areas of the pitch concerns Mourinho.

“Perhaps that is one of the differences this season,” he said. “Last season with four chances we would score three goals, we were scoring goals with great ease and the only one who has maintained a similar average has been Cristiano.

Indeed since the turn of the year, Ronaldo has nearly outscored his team-mates single handedly with 21 goals to their combined 23.

However, Mourinho is particularly concerned about the form of strikers KarimBenzema and

Gonzalo Higuain.

Mourinho also indicated that IkerCasillas would not be involved against the Turkish champions despite returning to training following a hand injury.

Raphael Varane and Fabio Coentrao are though expected to return after missing the Real Zaragoza league game with slight muscle injuries and Xabi Alonso, Sami Khedira, MesutOzil and Angel Di Maria will start after being rested at the weekend.

Mourinho, though, is determined his side take a lead to Istanbul rather than living on their nerves as they did in the previous round against Manchester United where they drew the first leg in Madrid 1-1.

The Dutch international also believes that his side has a chance of progressing if they can ensure the tie is still alive for the return leg in Istanbul.

“For us it is very important to arrive at the game in Istanbul with a realistic chance of going

alaga winger J o a q u i n Sanchez is promising a big performance from his side tonight as the Spanish side host Borussia Dortmund in a UEFA Champions League quarter-final in their first ever appearance in the competition.

Malaga turned

around a tie as they were losing by a single goal after the away game and showed the good home form that allowed them to top their qualifying group ahead of AC Milan.

Indeed, Malaga has never lost at home in thirteen European games in their history.

Ronaldo

That includes group wins this season over the Italian giants, plus Zenit St Petersburg and a qualifying round win over Panathinaikos for a home record in the competition that reads four wins and one draw, hitting 10 goals and conceding only 2 in the process.

The form of

Europa offers England salvation

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fter a collective blow-out in the Champions League, England has a three-pronged attack on Europe’s second tier competition with Chelsea, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United all vying for Europa League success.

The three Premier League sides were all kept apart in the draw for the last eight and head into tomorrow’s quarter-final first legs looking to earn back some of the country’s European lustre.

European champions Chelsea host

Russian outfit Rubin Kazan, London rivals Tottenham welcome Swiss side Basel and Newcastle travel to Benfica.

Fenerbahce’s clash with Lazio is the only quarter-final not to feature a Premier League club.

For Chelsea match against Rubin is the start of a gruelling fixture pile-up that involves playing five matches in 13 days as they look to do battle in three competitions.

Defeat to Southampton in the Premier League on Saturday left them looking vulnerable in a three-way

fight with Tottenham and Arsenal for the final two Champions League qualification spots.

But victory over Manchester United in an FA Cup quarter-final replay 48 hours later set them up nicely for an end-of-season push for silverware.

Chelsea start as overwhelming favorites but Rubin are no pushovers having knocked out holders Atletico Madrid and their La Liga rivals Levante in two previous rounds to reach a European quarter-final for the first time.

PSG chief ponder Rooney move

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Wayne Rooney

Granada in trouble after defeat

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Malaga out to shock Dortmund today M

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through. If we manage to arrive here with the tie still open it would be incredible. Our fans always support the team a lot and anything can happen.

aris Saint-Germain has put Manchester United on alert by confirming their interest in Wayne Rooney. PSG, with huge financial wealth at their disposal, have made it clear that they want to become one of the big players in European football.

They are still in with a chance of Champions League glory this term, but President Nasser Al-Khelaifi has insisted he has a long-term vision at the club. With that in mind, money is likely to be made available to manager Carlo Ancelotti in the summer and there would be no objection from the PSG chief should a bid be made for Rooney.

“He is a great player, one of the best strikers in the world,” Al-Khelaifi told Sky Sports News. “I think everybody would like it to happen.

“But if you want to talk about the facts we have not approached him.

Rooney’s future at Old Trafford is far from clear, despite manager Sir Alex Ferguson insisting the forward would not be sold in the summer.

Speculation intensified when Ferguson omitted Rooney for the second leg of their Champions League last-16 defeat to Real Madrid, but later said the decision was purely tactical and that he had no desire to sell the England international.

A r g e n t i n i a n goalkeeper Willy Caballero has been decisive for Champions League progress and in Malaga boasting La Liga’s second best defensive record, and the his form will be key if Borussia are to be thwarted in La Rosaleda stadium.

JurgenKlopp’s Dortmund are renowned for their attacking prowess having scored 91 goals in all competitions this season in 40 games, including a 2-2 draw in the Santiago Bernabeu that came after beating Real Madrid 2-1 in Germany to top Group D in qualification.

Caballero will come face to face with in-form striker Robert Lewandowski, who has scored in nine c o n s e c u t i v e Bundesliga outings and has 13 goals in his past 13 games for the club.

The Polish international got the winner on Saturday as Borussia won 2-1 at Stuttgart to deny Bayern Munich an early celebration of the Bundesliga title.

Malaga are also in contention for qualification to next season’s competition currently sitting fifth in La Liga, but the Costa del Sol club is currently banned by UEFA from next season’s competition, barring an appeal, for outstanding debts.

thletic Bilbao10 defeat has left Granada in deep trouble.

The only goal in old San Mames which is due to be demolished in June was scored by Bilbao’s veteran striker AritzAduriz in the 68th minute, when he headed in a corner from youngster Ibai Gomez.

The hosts had Spain midfielder Markel Susaeta sent off 10 minutes from time for a second yellow card offence, but managed to play out time without too many problems.

The win left Bilbao in 14th place and practically safe from relegation.

Granada, in contrast, is fifth from bottom. They are one point above Zaragoza, four above Celta Vigo and Mallorca and five above bottom team Deportivo Coruna.

Last season, Granada escaped relegation due to other results going their way on the last day.

They are nowfacing another grim struggle for survival.

Their principal problem is not in defence - they have only conceded seven goals more than runaway leaders Barcelona - but in attack. They have scored only 25 goals in 28 games, the poorest ratio in La Liga.

S e v e n t h placedBetis were scheduled to take on Getafe, who are eighth. Both teams need to win in order to keep intact their faint hopes of playing in Europe next season.

Aritz Aduriz

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

Official thumbs up officiating at Beach Volleyball tourney

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he Chairman of the Nigeria Volleyball Referees Association (NVRA), Anthony Oresegun, said yesterday that the just-concluded Samsung Electronics Male and Female Beach Volleyball Championships got the best officiating.

Speaking while reacting some complaints of unfair officiating at the championships, Oresegun said that the officials adhered strictly to the rules of the game.

It would be recalled that the second edition of the championships was held from March 29 to March 31 at the Jabi Lake Dam, Abuja, with 12 out of the 20 expected teams. The NVRA chairman said: “there is nothing unfair about the officiating, but players will always complain when they lose.

“I want to tell you categorically that the rules of the

game were followed strictly, but the problem now is that the players and coaches don’t have the current rule books.So, when they were playing, they played as if they were playing in 2011 or 2012.

“New rules are in vogue and those are the rules the referees adhered strictly and religiously to. As far as I am concerned, there was no partiality in the officiating throughout the championships.’’

The volleyball referees’ chairman added that the best of its referees were chosen and they went through some tests before they were allowed to officiate.

“Our referees have been attending seminars almost on a monthly basis, just to be kept abreast of the new rules and as we were preparing for the championships, we got the best out of the referees we have.

“And as they got to the venue, they were compelled to write qualifying examinations to test their knowledge of the rules of the game, before they were allowed to officiate.

“So, the 2013 championships got the best officiating.’’

He, however, advised stakeholders in the game to keep themselves abreast of the new rules, to avoid disparity and clash of interests.

“It is the responsibility of individuals to keep themselves abreast of the rules of the game, if they are actually interested in the sport, whether as players, coaches, officials, spectators or any other stakeholder,” he said.

The Ondo State Delta teams won the male and female categories of the championships, respectively.

NIGERIA’S WINNING QUARTET:

(L-R): Odiong Edidiong Ofonime, Adewale Adewunmi Deborah, Cecilia Francis and Jumaid Abimbola celebrating their gold feat in the Medley relay last Saturday in Warri

AYAC sets pace for revival of athletics in Nigeria

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he maiden Africa Youth Athletics Championships (AYAC) in which 34 countries participated ended in Warri, Delta, on Easter Sunday, showing that Nigeria still had the chance of producing future world beaters in athletics.

It is germane to note that Nigeria went into the competition with U-18 athletes discovered at the recent 3rd D.K. Olukoya Athletics Championships, sponsored by the General Overseer of the Mountain of Fire and Miracles Ministries, and the Lagos State Premier Lotto Athletics Championships.

The two competitions, held in March, were used by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to select the country’s representatives at the event. AFN hopes to continue training the newly-discovered youth athletes to maturity, for the Rio 2016 Olympic Games in Brazil. They will also be representing the country in other international competitions.

The championships and the performance of the Nigerian AYAC contingent showed how serious the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) and the National Sports Commission (NSC) are about reviving athletics, which used to be the country’s pride at international sports meets.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nigeria emerged overall winner with 13 gold, 10 silver and 12 bronze medals; Egypt was second with eight gold, six silver and two bronze medals, while Ethiopia came third with six gold, 13 silver and six bronze.

Kenya was fourth with five gold, four silver and two bronze medals; Gambia placed fifth with two gold medals; Eritrea was sixth with one gold, one silver and one bronze, while Morocco had one gold and three bronze medals to be in the seventh position.

Uganda took the eighth position with one silver; Burkina Faso was ninth with one silver medal, while Namibia came 10th with two bronze medals.

The competition threw up Divine Oduduru, 17, who won gold at the 3rd Dr. D.K. Olukoya Athletics Championships in the 100m event with a time of 10.51 secs. He again proved his mettle at AYAC, to become Africa’s fastest 100m and 200m athlete.

Oduduru returned a time of 10.63 secs in the 100m and 21.53 secs in the 200m, which are records in that category.

He told NAN that he was not happy with the 10.63 secs recorded as he had returned 10.51secs but, however, promised to improve to become the world’s fastest athlete.

Oduduru, who had boasted that he would deliver the 200m gold, added that he had fulfilled his promise.

Other Nigerian athletes who excelled at the AYAC are Deborah Adewale, who also won the women’s 100m and 200m, Samuel Aladesuyi who won the Octathlon with 4,820 points, Ofonime Odiong, who ran a time of 54.46sec in 400m.

Nigerian officials were apparently joyous with the performances of the Nigerian athletes’ at the championships, which they said indicated that the lost glory in athletics was gradually being regained.

Navy Commodore Omatseye Nesiama, the Technical Director, AFN, expressed happiness with Nigeria’s performance and said that the AFN would improve in necessary events like the steeplechase and the long distance races.

“The Kenyans, Ethiopians are all diversifying into our areas of strength, so, we must also plan to see how we can improve our skills in events such as steeplechase and the 1,500m that they are good in.

“Although we have some athletes that are very good but needed encouragement and training in techniques, we will continue to work on all the areas.

“We came into this championship with the notion that we will not win at all costs, especially through unfair means.

“I am proud of these athletes and they are part of our Rio 2016 Olympics Project of getting to the podium in international events. They have really done us all proud,’’ he said.

Tunde Suleiman, a long jump coach, said he was thrilled

by Nigeria’s performance, adding that Egypt thought they would win but Nigeria gave them a surprise.

“The first three days, Egypt and Kenya were the ones leading; but we knew that we would win because most of our strength was reserved for the last day.

“I am overwhelmed by these athletes’ excellent performance; it shows that there is truly hope for improvement in athletics and good hopes for medals at the 2016 Olympics,’’ Suleiman said.

Tina Iheagwam, a former athlete, also commended the athletes for their excellent performances, saying developing sports at the grassroots was essential to attaining glory in competitions.

One other thing is that the AFN has resolved to henceforth use the Electronic Distance Measurement (EDM) devices in its Golden Leagues, to boost the competence of its scoring officials.

The continuous use of the devices made scoring easy for officials at AYAC and its continuous use will improve the officials’ knowledge. Information Technology keeps changing, so the federation needs to continue to train its officials with modern devices for competitions. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 45

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5

2

3

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PICTORIAL 1] Miguel Delaney on how winning the Champions League requires years of experience.

2] New Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio insists he is not fazed by the recent criticism of his political beliefs and is sure he will be a success at the Stadium of Light.

3] Worcester chief Cecil Duckworth says a potential top-flight AngloWelsh league is "worth looking at seriously".

4] Welshman EnzoMaccarinelli faces a rematch against Ovill McKenzie on 20 April for the Commonwealth light-heavyweight title.

5] Paris Saint-Germainhas put Manchester United on alert by confirming their interest in Wayne Rooney.

Liberty Counsel wins the Irish Grand National at Fairyhouse at odds of 50-1 for trainer Dot Love and jockey Ben Dalton.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

PAGE 47

Last edition’s solution

SUDOKU

Say what?

Some Interesting Facts •The coconut is the largest seed in the world.

•There is cyanide in apple pips.

•If you were to take 1 lb. of spiders web and stretch it out it would circle the whole way around the world!

•If every person in China stood on a chair and jumped off at the same time...it would knock the earth off its axis!

•A mole can dig a tunnel 300 feet long in just one night!

•The shortest war on record, between Britain and Zanzibar in 1896, lasted just 38 minutes.

•The Shell Oil Company originally began as a novelty shop in London that sold seashells.

•The symbols + (addition) and - (subtraction) came into general use in 1489.

•If you save one penny and double it every successive day, (day two you have 2 pennies and day three you have 4 pennies, and so on), by the end of 30 days you'll have $5,368,708! (or £'s or whatever currency).

•It is not possible to tickle yourself. The cerebellum, a part of the brain, warns the rest of the brain that you are about to tickle yourself. Since your brain knows this, it ignores the resulting sensation.

•The best time for a person to buy shoes is in the afternoon. This is because the foot tends to swell a bit around this time.

•The typical lead pencil can draw a line that is thirtyfive miles long.

•Due to precipitation, for a few weeks, K2 is taller than Mt. Everest.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Children of war: The photo was taken in front of a barricade in the neighbourhood of Salahadeen, Aleppo - the front lines of the bloody Syrian civil war Source: Dailymail.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 3, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

FIFA chooses German goal-line technology

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IFA has approved the appointment of GoalControl GmbH as the official provider of goal-line technology for the Confederations Cup in Brazil this year, the world soccer’s governing body said yesterday.

GoalControl will also be used for the World Cup in Brazil in 2014 “provided that the performance of the system during this year’s Festival of Champions meets all necessary FIFA requirements.

FIFA approved the use of technology to see if a ball has crossed the goal-line last year following a number of controversial incidents.

FIFA said the use of GoalControl-4D in Brazil was subject to a final installation test at each stadium.

Goal-line technology was used at the Club World Cup in Japan at the end of last year.

FIFA president SeppBlatter pushed for technology after Frank Lampard’s goal was ruled out in England’s 4-1 defeat by Germany in the 2010 World Cup. GoalControl uses 14 highspeed cameras around the pitch as part of its GoalControl4D system.

The 14 cameras are fixed in elevated positions around each goalmouth, with the ball’s position continuously captured in three dimensions - X, Y and Z coordinates when close to the goal.

All the cameras are linked to the GoalLine system, which removes players, the referee and any other objects when processing the images it receives.

With other elements removed, only the ball remains, with its position precise to a few millimetres in the coordinate system of the pitch, according to the GoalControl website.If the ball has crossed the goal line, a vibration and optical signal is sent back to the officials’ watches within one second.

UEFA president Michel Platini said last month that goal-line technology was too expensive for use in the Champions League.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Today we have a constitution that defines the maximum tenure that an individual can stay in office. And even if it doesn’t no leader will stay there forever — President Goodluck Jonathan

Wole: The inimitable Awolowo F

or the two years I have written on this page from the outside, I can attest to the freedom and egalitarianism that has ensured the survival of the Nigerian Tribune as Nigeria’s oldest independent newspaper.

We must give this credit to its leadership.

Before coming here, I have been to a few destinations in my nearly thirty years of sojourn in the journalism profession.

It is not unheard of that the newspaper owners have a role in what goes in and out of their papers. There are some in this country who put down the rule concerning what to print and what not to print. Some owners have a long list of friends and a long list of enemies to be dealt with accordingly..

In all circumstances, the publisher’s wish must be respected. In the case of the late publisher of the defunct Concord, Chief M.K.O Abiola, he wasn’t hypocritical about anything. He laid down “three don’ts” for his newspapers. He said to them "don’t attack Islam, which is my religion; don’t attack my business because that is my livelihood and three, don’t attack the marriage institution because I have respect for it."

In some media houses, they softly whisper into your ears to spare a particular government, an institution, a politician or ask that you write a good aphrodisiac for a big man in cahoots with the owner. In its heydays, the Zik Press Enterprises published nearly a dozen newspapers scattered across the length and breadth of this big country and in all cases, they allowed each publication to take account of the local political climate and run purely as a business. These were newspapers founded side-by-side with the Nigerian Tribune in the preindependence period. It will continue to interest scholars and practitioners in Nigerian publishing why, as I said from the beginning, that the Nigerian Tribune weathered all storms and beat all odds to come this far.

I have chosen to dedicate this column to the late publisher, Chief Oluwole Awolowo, who passed away last week at 70, in the hope of providing a clue to the longevity and the survivability of the Tribune.

As I read tributes upon tributes that have poured forth

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Late Chief Oluwole Awolowo since his demise, I can only see good deeds he did. Reading those nice things said of Wole was by itself deeply touching. They say that he was patient and very humble. As a publisher of a newspaper in the country’s top five, he had power which he could use to advance the self, but he declined to do that to the point where he was accused of being an “Awo without being Awoist”.

I think what they meant to say was that he was apolitical. His obscurity from routine as well as

historical chronicles was a function of his deep humility. He wasn’t a regular face in Abuja at ministers’ waiting lounges. He kept a back role and allowed the newspapers to keep the old tradition of “publish and be damned” He gave them the wide latitude of freedom they needed to operate independently and I am a witness to that. The Tribune has never rejected my manuscript. They have never edited my copy for political correctness or business reasons.

The publisher had never requested my phone lines to pass down a word or request a meeting by way of interference or censorship.

I wrote as I wished. As Catherine Crahen, the late publisher of Washington Post wrote in her auto-biography “Personal History”, the biggest gain a publisher makes is not in terms of cash returns. If it’s about money, you can make more hawking gold or foreign currencies in the notorious Lagos traffic. The gain of publishing comes from influence. Yet, Wole wasn't sucked into that. The late Wole shied away from the glamour, glitter and fortune that attend publishing. The first time I saw him was at the offices of the defunct Today, published by late Abidina Coomassie. He

“

Today as I write, Nigerian Tribune is managed by an enterprising young man from Delta state, South-South Nigeria. In making the recent changes, the late publisher may have laid a new vision for the paper in the final moments of his life, that the Tribune must continue with its steadfast and aggressive expansion of its market to maintain its leadership role as the country’s oldest, freest and independent newspaper.

was in the company of Malam Ismaila Isa who was the President of the Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria, NPAN, at that time.

Throughout the meeting, the late Wole just managed to mutter a few words. He spoke little. My thinking was that he was aristocratic. Mallam Ismaila Isa later explained to me that no, it was humility. He said the late Tribune publisher was a wellraised child who grew up amid material wealth. He was the closest, of all his siblings to their mother in whose life he filled an important role after the death of their father and the family’s patriarch. When the widow shook off her grief, she went on to play a shaping role in the life of the family and that in doing this, she handed the family’s most important possession, the Tribune newspaper, to Wole to direct. That today, Wole is dead and Tribune is alive and stronger is a vindication of his mother’s confidence in him. As a reporter and publishing aspirant, I have been left in awe and admiration of his success in the Tribune..

Today, every Tribuneman or woman takes a full salary at the end of the month. A survey of the publishing environment will reveal a lot of newspapers that fail in their obligation in this regard. Where some are reduced to the life of scavengers, Tribune staff walk in and out with their heads held high.

In a bid to reduce the “Jewishness” of the New York Times by its Jewish owners, they once set the rule that no Jew should edit the paper. That has changed with time. Today as I write, Nigerian Tribune is managed by an enterprising young man from Delta state, South-South Nigeria.

In making the recent changes, the late publisher may have laid a new vision for the paper in the final moments of his life, that the Tribune must continue with its steadfast and aggressive expansion of its market to maintain its leadership role as the country’s oldest, freest and independent newspaper.

Chief Wole Awolowo has paid his dues as a publisher, which the thing I mourn most. He was a responsible family head and a true son of his parents. He truly was inimitable.

May his soul rest in peace.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 320 6567. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141