Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, July 03, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 72

Tuesday, July 3, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Shaaban 13, 1433 AH

N150

Posers as ‘Faroukgate tape’ goes public

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he airing of the purported conversation between the former Chairman of the House of Representatives ad hoc committee which investigated

the nation’s subsidy regime, Farouk Lawan, and the Chairman of Zenon Oil, Femi Otedola, in the alleged $3 million scandal by Channels Television yesterday has raised a lot of posers.

The purported conversation revealed how the duo negotiated the delivery of the alleged bribe on phone and agreed that Lawan should send someone to pick the balance of the $2.5 million from Otedola at the airport before the

mogul’s departure to China.

According to the audio, Lawan agreed to send one TJ with phone number 08036513355 to receive the balance of the alleged bribe from Otedola because he could not do

so personally.

But, in a swift reaction, Lawan’s lead counsel, Chief Mike Ozekhome (SAN), described the purported conversation aired by Channels TV as “devilish, Contd on Page 2

Ayuba, Malam jostle to replace Bello Halliru

By Lawal Saddiq Sanusi & Ahmed Idris, Kebbi

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o fewer than 10 politicians from Kebbi state, home of the immediate past Minister of Defence, Dr. Bello Halliru Mohammed, have made the list of personalities being considered to succeed him in the Federal cabinet, our investigation in Birnin Kebbi has revealed.

Following the removal of Mohammed as defence minister by President Jonathan, investigation by our correspondent in Birnin Kebbi, revealed that also among those jostling for the position include former ministers, Alhaji Sa’idu Samaila Sambawa, Alhaji Buhari Bala, Professor Abubakar Ka’oje, two former Kaduna state military administrators, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), and General Tanko Ayuba (rtd).

Others include former Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) gubernatorial candidate, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki; as well as former Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) gubernatorial candidate, Alhaji Abubakar Gari Malam, who at the heat of the 2011 Kebbi gubernatorial elections defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

Unconfirmed reports also Contd on Page 2

Gunmen kill 14 Maiduguri mosque workers >> PAGE 2

Ka’oje, Turaki, others too

L-R: Sokoto state Deputy Governor, Alhaji Mukhtari Shagari, Kano state Governor, Engineer Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso and Sokoto state Governor, Alhaji Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, during the commissioning of Fanre-Lokobi Road, yesterday in Wamakko Local Government Area of Sokoto state.

Photo: NAN

Abdulsalami, Yayale, Storm renders Shekarau at Senator 200 homeless in Al-Bishir’s burial Kebbi >> PAGE 3

>> PAGE 7

FG sells N9.6tr oil blocs to Trafigura, Vitol, others >> PAGE 19

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Issues

26

Newsxtra

27

Agriculture

29

Lamido-Facebook controversy: ECOWAS Court resumes hearing today, Page 3

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Gunmen kill 14 mosque workers in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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he orgy of violence and bloodbath currently on in Borno state took a turn for the worse yesterday at Bolori Ward, Maiduguri, the state capital when unknown gunmen raided a large compound and killed 14 artisans working with a construction firm engaged on the Maiduguri Central Mosque project.

The mosque is situated close to the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai el-Kanemi.

Our correspondent gathered that the incident occurred at about 2.00am when about 30 young men, armed with assault

rifles and other dangerous weapons arrived the area, firing several shots into the air, before storming the compound.

The attackers reportedly used sharp knives to slit the throats of their victims. Several other workers were also injured in the stampede that ensued as everyone scampered for safety in the darkness of the hour.

The house, which has several apartments, was popularly called civilian barracks, as it was occupied by many tenants from different religious, ethnic and geographical backgrounds.

Upon getting to the area, the invaders reportedly divided themselves into two. One group stood guard outside while others jumped over the fence and sur-

rounded the apartments.

“We were fast asleep when we were woken up by horrific sounds of sporadic gunshots, which prompted some of us to hurriedly come out from our rooms, while others locked themselves inside. Those who summoned courage to come out were intercepted by over 20 men, holding rifles and other dangerous weapons. The assailants told us to lie down as they fired several shots into the air”, one of the residents who preferred anonymity told our reporter.

According to the resident, the gunmen might have targeted the 14 slain construction workers as they spared all those that came out from their rooms but broke into their victims’ rooms

and slaughtered them.

“We don’t know what criteria the attackers used in selecting their targets; all we know is that those that came out were held at gunpoint as the attackers interrogated them for over 30 minutes, while the 14 construction workers who happened to be among those that locked themselves in were killed”, the resident added.

Spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF), Lt-Col. Sagir Musa, who confirmed the incident in a statement, however said only nine construction workers were killed.

Musa said the remains of the victims had been deposited at the morgue of the Borno Specialist Hospital.

Ayuba, Malam jostle to replace Bello Halliru Contd from Page 1 hinted that Hajiya Salamatu Suleiman, a former Minister of State for Foreign Affairs is the only female politician that made the list of natives of Kebbi state from which one would be selected to represent the state in the federal executive council.

Mrs. Suleiman who is currently holding the position of Commissioner for Political Affairs at the African Union Commission (AUC), had earlier been pencilled for reappointment into the Jonathan cabinet before Bello Halliru made a fast move to grab the seat when it was obvious he could not retain his chair at the PDP national headquarters.

Bello Halliru, who was removed last two weeks, represented the state at the FEC, occupying its slot and has not been replaced by anybody due to the controversy that politicians in the state were yet to marry their differences in who occupies the position from the state.

It is a constitutional requirement that each state of the Federation must have at least one representative in the

ministerial council, and the President would therefore have to pick someone from Kebbi to join his cabinet.

However, it is not clear yet if the candidate eventually chosen from Kebbi state will be posted to man the Defence portfolio as the recently appointed representative of Sokoto state in the cabinet, Inuwa Abdulkadir was posted to a ministry which is different from the one his kinsman, Yusuf Suleiman vacated.

Although most of the candidates listed as jostling for the Kebbi slot in the ministerial council could not be reached for comments up to press time yesterday, some sources close to them separately confirmed that the each of the politicians was hoping to be the chosen candidate to represent the state.

Our correspondent learnt that the three names that were top on the list were those of Gari Malam, Barrister Turaki and General Ayuba.

But Gari Malam, who defected to the PDP recently told one of our reporters on phone last night that he was not formally contacted for consideration into

Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd) the Federal cabinet, though a number of people had intimated him of rumours making the rounds that he had been pencilled down to fill the vacant slot of Kebbi left by Bello Halliru on Jonathan’s cabinet.

Similarly, close associate and friend of Barrister Turaki, Abu Geda, confirmed that the names

of some few people have been shortlisted from the state, among whom is his friend.

The media aide to Kebbi state governor, Ibrahim Musa Argungu, however, when contacted on phone over the issue refused to comment, saying that he knew nothing about the insinuations.

Meanwhile, a group of youths from Jega local government area of the state have appealed to the Federal Government to appoint a youth to represent the state as a cabinet minister as replacement of the former minister Bello Halliru Mohammed.

However, some young members of the PDP are protesting that two candidates, Kabiru Tanimu and Gari Malam, defected to the PDP recently, and are not supposed to be assigned any position now.

Briefing newsmen yesterday in Brinin Kebbi, the leader of the youth group, Musa Abdullahi Jega, said it was high time that government shortlist the name of a youth to represent the state in the Jonathan cabinet.

Posers as ‘Faroukgate tape’ goes public Contd from Page 1 satanic, luciferous and mischievous.”

Ozekhome added in a statement he personally signed that the audio was “infertile, vague, puerile and inadmissible in evidence by any law court or tribunal.”

Ozekhome said: “Professionally, Channels did make the vital point that the audio was “purported to be their voices”. One simple question here is: where is the visual of the audio? Recall that Mr Otedola had told the whole world that he used SSS to carry out a so-called “Sting Operation”, which

showed Farouk Lawan not only pocketing the sum of N500,000 US Dollars, but also putting some under his cap, in Mr. Otedola’s Lagos home.

“On Farouk’s instructions, we had debunked this allegation and challenged Mr. Otedola, or the Police and SSS to produce this complete audio video, unedited and undoctored”, he stressed.

The lawyer argued that the audio was manipulated even as he added that Otedola would require forensic evidence to prove that the voices aired actually belonged to his client.

While challenging Otedola to air the entire audio visual in

order to show the actual setting Lawan took the alleged bribe, Ozekhome maintained that his client was taken out of context.

He added: “Even from what was said, there was no mention of the purpose of the alleged balance of N2.5 million US Dollars, or any mention of Mr Otedola’s indicted companies, Zenon Oil and AP Petroleum, whose desired removal from the Committee’s indicted companies list allegedly formed the fulcrum of the bribe itself. If it was actually a “sting operation”, why is it Mr Otedola and not the SSS officially releasing it on

Channels TV? The audio has raised more questions and doubts than answers. Mr. Farouk Lawan says it is a doctored anti-climax”, the statement concluded.

Otedola had alleged that he paid $620,000 out of the negotiated $3 million bribe in three tranches to Lawan and his committee secretary, Boniface Emenalo, in order to make him remove his companies names from the list of firms indicted by the investigative committee for sourcing foreign exchange (FOREX) without importing petroleum products into the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 3

Late Senator Usman Albishir's body, during the funeral prayers, yesterday in Kano.

Abdulsalami, Yayale, Shekarau attend Al-Bishir’s funeral in Kano A F

FG, Lagos strike deal on Third Mainland Bridge

From Edwin Olofu, Kano

ormer Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, former Kano state governor, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, and former Head of Service and Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Alhaji Mahmud Yayale Ahmed

among others were some of the dignitaries who attended the funeral of late Senator Usman AlBishir in Kano yesterday.

Senator Usman Al-Bishir, died in ghastly motor accident along ZariaKaduna highway. Late Al-Bishir met his untimely death in an auto crash on his way to Abuja in Kura area of Kano about 40 kilometers away from

the city of Kano after spending the weekend in Kano.

He was travelling with his driver and his police orderly identified as Danladi; but the duo were said to be alive but sustained injuries and are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Kano.

Al-Bishir was a two-time Senator from 1999 to 2003 and

contested the Yobe state governorship seat in 2007 but lost to late Governor Mammam Ali in the primaries.

He contested again in 2011 and lost to Governor Ibrahim Geidam.

He has since been buried according to Islamic rites in the Dan Dolo Cemetery, Goron Dutse area of Kano metropolis.

on Press Affairs and Information to Governor Gaidam, said: “The thoughts and sympathies of His Excellency Governor Gaidam are with the family of the late Senator at this time of great loss.

As a philanthropist, Senator Usman Al-Bishir has positively touched the lives of thousands of people not just in Yobe state but all across the country and as a politician; the late Senator has left an indelible mark in the

promotion and sustenance of democracy”.

Governor Gaidam prayed the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant Senator Al-Bishir Aljannat Firdaus and his family the fortitude to bear the loss.

Yobe govt mourns Senator Al-Bishir’s demise

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state, yesterday, expressed shock over the passing of Senator Usman Al-Bishir in a ghastly motor accident.

A statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, Special Adviser

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he ECOWAS Community Court of Justice will today resume hearing in the suit brought before it by one Moukhtar Ibrahim Aminu against the Jigawa state government, Inspector General of Police and two others over an alleged infringement of his fundamental rights.

Lamido-Facebook controversy: ECOWAS Court resumes hearing today Aminu had approached the ECOWAS Court seeking, among other things, the enforcement of his fundamental human rights and all the members of his family and to also restrain the Lamido-led government, the police and their

Police pension fraud: Ex-IGPs demand prosecution of culprits

By Lambert Tyem

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etired Inspector Generals of Police yesterday, described as “a monumental theft” the current system whereby police pension matters have been shifted to the Office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation rather than allowing the force to handle its own pension scheme.

The ex-IGPs speaking after a meeting with the Acting Inspector

General of Police M.D Abubakar in Abuja, lamented the poor conditions the policemen pass through both in and outside the service.

A former IGP, Alhaji Muhammadu Gambo Jimeta who spoke on behalf of eight other former IGPs opined that retired policemen fared better when the scheme was under the office of the Inspector General of Police recalling that police retirees had their pension claims promptly paid.

agents from further persecuting, arresting, intimidating and detaining him or in any way affecting his fundamental human rights.

The plaintiff was alleged to have posted on his Facebook page, a message perceived to be insulting to Governor Sule Lamido and his political party, the

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and that the message was calculated towards making Lamido loss the governorship election in the state.

But, Lamido had told the Court that he never ordered the arrest and detention of the plaintiff for allegedly insulting him on Facebook.

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

mid insinuations and rumour making the rounds that politics and intrigues had stalled the planned repair of the 22 years old Lagos Third Mainland Bridge, indications have emerged that both the Federal and Lagos state governments have agreed to work together to achieve the common purpose of ensuring the bridge is safe for motorists and commuters plying it.

The new rapprochement is expected to put an end to the controversy created by the agencies of both governments who had been talking about the project from different perspectives.

The Federal Comptroller of Works in Lagos, Mr. Ejike Mgbemena told newsmen in Lagos that: “We are not suspending anything. You will be informed when the project will commence between today (yesterday) and Tuesday. We will hold a press conference on Friday where the Minister of Works will brief you.

The Lagos state government in readiness to collaborate with the Federal Government said though the project is a Federal Government project, the state government in whose domain the repairs would be done has a duty to ensure that its people do not suffer the brunt.

Fashola wants Police, Immigration to partner against trans-border crimes From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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overnor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos state has urged the authorities of the Nigeria Police to partner with the Immigration Service with the aim of combating the trend of transborder crimes currently prevalent in the country.

Fashola, while decrying the high rate of trans-border crime in the country, stressed that there was urgent need for constant check on all entry borders in Nigeria.

The governor, who made the remarks receiving the Assistant Inspector General (AIG) of Police Zone 2, Mamman Ibrahim Tsafe,

in his office at Ikeja House, Alausa, said cases of car theft being recorded in the country recently proved that there was a trans-border market for it.

Speaking earlier, Tsafe commended the governor for the good leadership in the state and his relentless effort to continue to improve the state security.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 4

How to end youth restiveness, by NYSC ex-DG From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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ormer Director-General of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) BrigGeneral Maharazu Tsiga, has urged stakeholders to initiate plausible youth empowerment programmes as a way of addressing youth restiveness across the country.

Tsiga who stated this in an interview with newsmen in Katsina, stressed that NGOs, religious groups and parents must join hands in making youth programmes work.

The NYSC ex-DG warned that the future of the country was at risk if the potential of its youths were not tapped.

He lamented the youths’ involvement in armed robbery, drug abuse, political thugery and rape, urging on the society to re-embrace its value system that rejected such crimes.

From Salisu Maradun, Gusau

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eligious and community leaders in the country have been urged to continue to enlighten the citizenry on the importance of polio eradication.

Sultan of Sokoto and president, Nigeria Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, made the plea in Gusau, Zamfara state in a speech at the start of the Polio Free

Sultan tasks clerics, community heads on polio eradication Torch campaign.

Sultan Abubakar explained that it was high time polio was kicked out of the country going by the efforts being made by those responsible for its eradication.

The Sultan also stated that the people should discountenance the rumour making the round that

the polio vaccine was meant to destroy the future of their children, pointing out that it has been tested in many places and proved beneficial to vaccinated children.

He stated: “As leaders, we have tested it even on our children and if it is not good or harmful, we

would not have done that to our children”.

On recent polio outbreaks in the North, the Sultan said: “We were told that there are four cases in Zamfara alone, two in Zurmi and the other two in Gummi. We have to stop this scourge in our country.”

L-R: Former InspectorGeneral of Police, Alhaji Aliyu Attah, Acting InspectorGeneral of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, and former InspectorGeneral of Police, Alhaji Gambo Jimeta, during former IGPs meeting with Acting IGP, yesterday in Abuja.

FG pledges better healthcare system Aliyu donates blood, advocates incentives for donors Photo: Justin Iwo-Omo

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

he Federal Ministry of Health has declared its resolve to continue to render affordable health care services to civil servants and the general public.

Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu, gave the pledge yesterday at the precommissioning inspection of the Federal Staff Hospital built in collaboration with Republic of China, at Jabi, Abuja.

Chukwu assured that the ministry under his charge would continue to ensure that crucial policies were devised and executed for a better health system.

According to him, the ministry would ensure that the staff hospital is fully equipped to world-class standard.

He said: “I will like to assure you that this institution will provide prompt, quality and affordable healthcare services to public servants, their families and the general public.”

The minister pledged a prompt completion of the road networks leading to the site, adding that the Nigerian government would continue to partner with the government of China, especially in the health sector.

“We shall continue to ensure our hospitals grow from strength to strength,” he assured.

Medical Director of the hospital, Dr. Chinwe Igwilo, thanked the minister and promised that the facility would be well maintained.

The hospital will soon open to the public after its commissioning

by President Goodluck Jonathan.

From Iliya Garba, Minna

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iger state governor, Babangida Aliyu, has called for the introduction of better incentives to blood donors in order to boost the fledging blood donation culture in the country.

The governor stated this yesterday during the flag-off of the Very Important Personality (VIP) blood donation campaign at the Minna General Hospital, where he led by example and

donated blood.

He said the campaign should also be carried out more regularly across the state.

Aliyu also debunked some of the negative myths associated with blood donation in some quarters, saying: “At this age and time we should not be distinguishing between VIP and ordinary donors, we should have outgrown this to keep our blood banks healthy.”

He said the country’s health institutions should determine

the quantity of blood required over a given period and work seriously towards meeting the goal by promoting regular blood donation.

Aliyu stressed the importance of blood donation, saying: “It is even more important than giving sadaka (alms) to the poor because it is a way to save lives”.

Permanent Secretary, Niger State Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Tiffin, disclosed that most of the state hospitals were always in short supply of blood as

a result of people’s reluctance to donate blood.

Tiffin also linked some deaths through child-birth and accidents with lack of blood to transfuse into the patients.

Head, Donor Care branch of the National Blood Transfusion Service, Mrs. Helen Goyo, lauded Aliyu for being the first governor to voluntarily donate blood following in the footstep of former President Olusegun Obasanjo and one time Minister of Heath Prof. Eyitayo Lambo.

Enthusiasts charge govt to prepare for UFO visit

By Etuka Sunday

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igeria UFO Network (NUFON) yesterday joined the rest of the world to celebrate the “World UFO Day,” with a call on the Federal Government to set up a committee of experts, including the military, to investigate claims of unidentified flying objects (UFO) sighting in Nigeria and prepare the country for UFO visits.

UFOs, also known as flying saucers or alien spacecraft, are strange noticeable abnormalities in the sky that are not readily identifiable as any known object but appear to be technological and not natural phenomena.

The UFO Day celebration, the first of its kind in Nigeria, was held at Dennis Garden, Apo, Abuja, “to serve as the platform to rally Nigerians to the emerging and growing incidents of unexplained aerial sightings in our skies, which are witnessed by many Nigerians, with most of them not understanding what

they experience or its global import.”

According to NUFON, “the World UFO Day came into being

in 2001, and it is a day dedicated to the existence of unearthly/ unidentified flying objects. The day is dedicated to raising

awareness about the undoubted existence of UFOs and with the intelligent beings from outer space.”

NYSC camp opens amidst security worries

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) all over the federation, yesterday, began the three weeks

Orientation Camping ahead of the one-year mandatory national youth service, despite hue and cry of redeployment from troubled areas of the North.

However, a statement made

NGO lauds FCT minister, others From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

A

non-governmental organisation, Eyes on Democracy of Nigeria (EDN), yesterday commended the Minister for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Bala Mohammed, Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state and his Lagos counterpart, Babatunde Fashola, for their development strides.

Speaking with newsmen in

Jos, national secretary of EDN, Comrade Shittu Salisu, said the group has been monitoring the trio and had come to the conclusion that they had been prudent in managing public resources.

Salisu disclosed that the group had perfected plans to honour some prominent Nigerians within and outside government who had touched lives of the ordinary Nigerians in one way other.

available to Peoples Daily yesterday, said that the NYSC Director- General, Brig-Gen Nnamdi Okore-Affia, insisted that all states deserved the services of corps members, “but we will reduce the number of corps member and post few to areas where their security will be guaranteed,” Okore-Affia said.

He also assured that any corps member posted to area seeking for redeployment on security grounds would be protected to the highest level.

Meanwhile, Security has been beefed up at the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) camp in Gombe, as some of the Batch B corps members numbering over 2,050 begin to report in camp.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Alleged toxic waste dump: Minister launches investigation in Kaduna From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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inister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafiya, has launched an investigation into an alleged dumping of substances suspected to be toxic waste by the Kaduna Refining and Petro-Chemical Company (KRPC), at Rido community, on the outskirts of Kaduna metropolis.

A deputy director, Pollution Control and Environmental Health, Kasim Bayero, yesterday led a team on a fact-finding mission to Kaduna, on the orders of the minister who described the report of the alleged toxic waste dumping as enormous.

According to Bayero, “we are here on the specific instruction of the Honourable Minister for Environment in connection with the report of alleged toxic waste dumping.

“So far we have taken a tour of the various places, we went to where the waste was initially dumped and to where it was evacuated, we went to Rido community to talk to the community Head, we heard his own view, and from all we have gathered, what we will do is to get to Abuja, put our report together with recommendations and we hope it will take off from there.”

Ex-cop arrested in Jigawa over car theft From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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35-year-old ex-police officer, Mr. Saleh Gabriel was arrested in Kiyawa local government area of Jigawa state for alleged gun-point robbery of a van in Enugu state.

The state commissioner of police, Mr. Theophilus Kayode, disclosed to newsmen yesterday in his office that the alleged criminal was apprehended after the stolen vehicle was traced to the area via a tracking device that was already planted on the vehicle.

The commissioner of police said the vehicle, a Hilux van is believed to belong to the Enugu state branch of PHCN. According to the commissioner the suspect was tracked down to Kiyawa by police officers where the vehicle was parked only for the suspect to emerge from atop a tree to continue with his journey.

"On sighting the suspect, my men rounded him and apprehended him", he explained.

He said the police are still investigating the matter before charging him to court, meanwhile the owners of the vehicle has since been contacted and would soon come down to collect their property.

PAGE 5

N35.5m fraud: Deji Abiola regains freedom From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of an Ikeja High Court, yesterday acquitted and discharged Deji Abiola, son of late Moshood Abiola of the one-count of stealing and fraudulent conversion preferred against him by the Economic and Financial

Crimes Commission (EFCC).

Justice Onigbanjo’s decision followed a notice of withdrawal filed by prosecuting counsel, Omeiza Adebola on behalf of the anti-graft agency.

Adebola however told the court that in accordance to Section 73 of the Administration of the Criminal Justice Law of Lagos state, the judge

could only discharge and not acquit Abiola since the prosecution had opened its case while the defence was yet to do so.

But Justice Onigbanjo said the same law provided him with the discretion of both acquitting and discharging the defendant.

He said the defence counsel had provided him with fresh

information indicating that parties in the matter had virtually settled the conflict between them.

The trial judge then pronounced: “In respect of the information supplied by the defence counsel, the defendant is therefore discharged and acquitted”.

Deji Abiola had been standing trial for allegedly swindling one Hamzat Babatunde Jose of N35.5 million under the pretext of importing a printing machine for him, from Switzerland.

Benue revenue boss laments loss of over N100m to vandals From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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L-R: Director-General, Defence Industries Corporation Ofnigeria (DICON), Major-Gen. Sule Labaran, President Goodluck Jonathan, Kaduna state Governor, Mr. Patrick Yakowa, and Minister of State for Defence, Erelu Olushola Obada, during the commissioning of DICON-Marom ballistic vest production facility by the president, yesterday in Kaduna.

NSCDC boss warns against fake biometric cards

T

he Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Dr. Ade Abolurin, has advised private security guard companies to be wary of fraudulent persons issuing fake biometric cards.

He gave the advice in a statement signed by the NSCDC Public Relations Officer, Mr. Okeh Emmanuel, in Abuja following a

report on the activities of some fraudulent persons.

He said that some organisations and persons had been found to be issuing biometric cards to private security guards company with the intent to defraud them.

“Government will not tolerate any act capable of destabilising the private guards industry that over the years is undergoing commendable

reforms towards the actualisation of the transformation agenda.

“I hereby warn such unscrupulous persons to desist from it or face the full wrath of the law.”

The statement said that in line with the amended NSCDC Act of 2007, only the corps had the responsibility of monitoring, supervising and licensing private guards companies and the issuance of biometric cards. (NAN)

hairman of the Benue State Board of Internal Revenue Services (BIRS), Mr. Andrew Ayabam has disclosed that the board lost over N100 million due to vandalisation of its secretariat by hoodlums during a recent riot by students of the Benue State University, BSU. Mr. Ayabam who revealed this while speaking with journalists in his office yesterday, said the figure is not authentic as the board is still carrying out inventory of properties destroyed as a result of the incident.

He said the incident has slowed down activities of the board but expressed confidence that they are still alive to their responsibilities to the Benue people.

The BIRS boss said at the moment, the board is in the process of regularising the appointment of staff, who hitherto were on contract following the lifting of ban on employment by the state government.

“For over 20 years there has been no recruitment exercise in the revenue board. This is a milestone and we are living nothing to chance to ensure that only the best are engaged”, he said.

SON seizes N2.7bn worth FRSC to prosecute operators of substandard products of right-hand drive vehicles From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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perators of right-hand steering wheel vehicles have been given a 30-day ultimatum to convert them to lefthand or face arrest and prosecution.

A statement signed by Kenneth Nwaegbe, Corps Commander, Edo state sector of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), who gave the indication noted with dismay the influx of righthand drive vehicles into the country despite the ban of such vehicles some 38 years ago.

“Nigeria banned the use of

right-hand steering vehicles in the country following the change from right hand to left hand drive on the nation’s roads in 1972. A RightHand Steering Drive Change-over Act of 1972 was enacted to make it an offence for anyone to import or use right-hand steering vehicle into the country.”

The FRSC said National Road Traffic Regulation (2004) Section 71 states that no vehicle with apparatus fitted on the right hand side shall be registered or driven on public roads, which, according to FRSC, constitutes hazardous practice both the user and other road users.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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he Director-General of Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu yesterday said his men have removed N2.7 billion worth of sub-standard products from the Nigerian market since it launched the zero tolerance campaign.

According to Odumodu, the products range from cables, children toys, tyres, automatic voltage regulators among others.

He said the organisation had issued a two-week ultimatum to marketers on sub-standard products to remove them or face prosecution.

“We are collaborating with relevant agencies to make it

difficult for dealers on sub-standard products to thrive and we have the support of the president and the minister.”

Odumodu said the organisation had sent a bill to the National Assembly to enable it to have prosecutorial powers.

The SON boss regretted that foreigners were conniving with some Nigerians to ship substandard products into the country, adding that the organisation was working to check that.

Odumodu said that by September, products coming into Nigeria would go through a revised Standards Organisation of Nigeria Conformity Assessment Programme (SONCAP).

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Bauchi plans power plant, issues permits to hawkers From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Bauchi State E n v i r o n m e n t a l Protection Agency (BASEPA), has issued temporal permits to hawkers to operate around public institutions owned by the state government.

Permanent Secretary, BASEPA, Waziri Yahaya Jalam, disclosed this yesterday while briefing newsmen on the activities of the agency at the statesSecretariat in Bauchi.

He said any hawker who failed to acquire a temporal permit would be made to vacate the area within 24 hours.

Yahaya also disclosed that the agency, in collaboration with the Nigerian Environmental Standard Regulation and Enforcement Agency, (NESREA), under the Federal Ministry of Environment, had put in place all necessary machineries towards establishing a waste disposal plant that would produce methane gas for power generation and recycle most wastes.

He noted that the state has a waste disposal capacity of 492,750 metric tonnes per annum.

The agency, Yahaya added, has set up a mobile court to handle cases relating to environment violations under the charge of the Chief Magistrate's Court.

According to him, "the court so far has treated 10,310 cases, while 290 cases are pending, including those to be treated (Bench Warrant).

"The enforcement team of the agency also carried out the seizure of items displayed illegally along major streets and unauthorised locations.

"Also, the state government has revived the monthly environmental sanitation exercise, which is observed at the end of each month", he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Lawyer sues lawmaker over N7.5m fee A

Bauchi spends N1.4bn on pensions, gratuities

L-R: AIG Zone 10, Malam Mukthari Ibrahim, in a hand shake with state Director of SSS, Malam Abubakar Danliman, during the AIG’s visit to SSS office, yesterday in Sokoto.

Photo: NAN

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi he Bauchi State Local Government Pension Board has paid its monthly pension allowance, outstanding gratuities and pension arrears to the tune of N1.4 billion.

Permanent Secretary of the board, Abubakar Garba Lili, who disclosed this yesterday during a media briefing in Bauchi, noted that the federal government's inability to remit its five percent contribution to the Local Government Pension Board has contributed to the outstanding sum the board has to pay, which currently stands at N2.3 billion.

He appealed to the federal government to release the unpaid contribution in order to alleviate the sufferings of pensioners in the state.

According to the commissioner, The local government pension Board in the state has been processing retirement benefit promptly.

"The state government now pays N7,900 to pensioners against N4,000 before a recent review. In the case of death, the next of kin of the deceased will be paid gratuity and five years pension," Abubakar stated.

o fewer than 400 employees of the Education Department of Olamaboro Local Government yesterday protested the nonpayment of the salaries for 29 months.

The workers, who spoke with reporters yesterday in Lokoja,

urged the state government to intervene in the matter.

In a statement titled "Save our soul" signed by Linus Onu, Oguche Emmanuel and John Oche, the workers observed that nobody had claimed that they had been laid off from work.

According to their leader, Onu, the council's education secretary has refused to comply with a High

Court order that the workers should be paid their entitlements.

They urged Governor Idris Wada not allow his transformation agenda to be thwarted by the alleged greed of some people in the state education service.

The workers also called on the Kogi head of service, accountantgeneral and all well-meaning indigenes of the state to prevail on

the Education Secretary of Olamaboro to pay the 29-month salary arrears.

When contacted on phone, the education secretary said the matter was receiving attention and that he had instruction to lay workers off.

However, when asked to mention who issued the layoff order, the secretary declined.

Armed Forces and other security agencies in the country.

President Jonathan noted that the landmark event showed that the "nation's military establishment has effectively keyed into the Federal Government's Local Content Policy, which is aimed at building indigenous capacity in the petroleum and other sectors of the national economy."

The President restated his administration's commitment "to creating the requisite enabling environment for local

manufacturing industries to grow, become major employers of labour and progressively become globally competitive."

President Jonathan noted that the Nigerian Navy's locally designed and constructed Seaward Defence Boat, which he commissioned about last month in Lagos and the Armoured Personnel Carriers (APCs) locally produced by the Nigerian Army Engineering Corps, which he also commissioned yesterday at the Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna as part of activities to

celebrate the 2012 Nigerian Army Day Celebrations (NADCEL), marked the beginning of the end of the nation's total reliance on foreign suppliers for its security needs.

Urging all Nigerians to show patriotism by buying DICON products, President Jonathan indicated that a directive would soon be issued to compel all federal agencies to patronise DICON unless they could prove convincingly that such products were not available locally.

"That is the only way we can move on as a nation," he said, even as he charged other foreign

investors to emulate MAROMDOLPHIN. The President Jonathan, who was accompanied by the governors of Kaduna and Bayelsa states, ministers, members of the National Assembly and the Chief of Defence Staff, among other top government officials, also inspected weapons made by DICON-MAROM. DICON was established by an Act of Parliament in 1964 to primarily produce small arms and ammunitions for the use of the Nigerian Army, paramilitary and security agencies in the country.

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

member of the Benue state House of Assembly, Avine Agbom (Makurdi North Constituency), has been dragged to court by his counsel, Andrew Wombo, over his alleged refusal to pay the lawyer for services rendered at the state's election petition tribunal.

In a writ of summons, Wombo

alleged that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) House member owed him the sum of N7.5 million which is the professional fee he charged him to prosecute the case against former Speaker of the state Assembly, Terhemen Tarzoor.

However, the lawyer regretted that six months after Agbom's triumph at the tribunal, the lawmaker has

deliberately refused to pay him even as the AKN, which was also joined in the suit, has remitted the sum of N1 million to him.

"Several messages sent to Hon. Agbom has not yielded any positive response, hence the court attention," Wombo explained.

No specific date has been fixed for hearing of the suit.

All efforts to get Agbom's reaction to the summons proved abortive.

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Kogi council workers protest 29-month salary arrears From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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Jonathan commissions bullet-proof vest factory

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem & Agaju Madugba, Kaduna resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday in Kaduna commissioned the Defence Industry Corporation of Nigeria (DICON) bullet-proof vest production factory.

The President commended the Public Private Partnership (PPP) between DICON and MAROM-DOLPHIN Nigeria Limited, which resulted in the domestic production of the bullet-proof vests and other textile needs of the Nigerian

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 7

How Senator Albishir died in auto crash

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam ... We’ve lost a fine former senator representing Yobe parliamentarian– Mark North senatorial

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district, Usman Albishir, is dead. Alshirshir died yesterday morning in an auto crash along Kano-Zaria expressway.

Reports made available to Peoples Daily said Albishir died as a result of injuries sustained in the crash, while his driver and police orderly were still in critical conditions up to press time last night.

The deceased was since buried in his Kano residence according to Islamic rights.

The late Albishir was a member of the Senate committees on Banking and Currency, Defence, Transport and Privatisation shortly after

his election into the Upper House in 1999.

He was appointed Senate Minority Leader after he was re-elected in 2003, but resigned from this position in December 2004.

He was also the Peoples Democratic Party’s candidate in the 2011 governorship election in Yobe state, but lost to Governor Ibrahim Geidam, who was re-elected at the polls.

Meanwhile, Senate President David Mark, literarily wept yesterday when the news of the demise of his former colleague reached him.

Mark noted that late Albishir was a patriotic Nigerian who stood to be counted when it mattered, especially when it concerned the wellbeing of Nigerians.

An emotion laden Mark recalled that late Albishir was in very high spirit a fortnight ago exchanging banters with colleagues at a public function in Abuja.

"He was a nice man, a fine politician who played politics without bitterness.

As a Senator he distinguished himself as a statesman who stood for the truth no matter whose ox was gored. The nation was his constituency".

… death is huge loss to Borno – Shettima

By Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri n a related development, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state has commiserated with the family of Senator Usman Albishir and the people of Yobe state.

Shettima described the death of Albishir as a huge lost to the people of Borno

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state. As a citizen of old Borno State from where Yobe was carved out, Albishir peacefully lived in Maiduguri while he impacted on the lives of many people until he passed on yesterday.

A statement issued by Isa Umar Gusau, Special Adviser on Communication, Government House, Maiduguri, said the late

Senator was a humble elder statesman who acted in peace and preached it. It added that the late Senator created hundreds of employment opportunities for many Nigerians through his successful entrepreneurship drive, and remained a rallying point for many Nigerians regardless of their ethnoreligious and geo-political backgrounds.

Regular exercise excellent therapy for stress - psychologist

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psychologist with the Ekiti State U n i v e r s i t y Teaching Hospital, AdoEkiti, Mr. Adedotun Ajiboye, has said that engaging in regular exercise could be an excellent therapy for managing stress.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Monday that regular activities such as cooking, tennis and basketball could help an individual to reduce tension.

“When stressed, each of your body systems; cardiovascular, nervous, respiratory, muscular need to interact efficiently for you to respond well.

“Exercise helps your body systems interact with each other in a healthy way. This directly leads to a better overall response to stress.

“Although more research is needed, there's no doubt that long periods of moderate high intensity exercise, does have a happy effect on your emotions", he said.

Ajiboye said that 'fight or flight' was an individual's natural reaction to stressful situations, which in turn was harmful to the body.

"The problem is that much of today's stress doesn't require either physical fighting or running but your body still provides the chemicals for it, which can be harmful if they remain.

“The best and most logical way to clear the chemicals is to actually do some exercise."

He advised people to engage in social activities with friends to help reduce

stress.

"Having a laugh with friends is more than just fun. It gives you a chance to share your problems and know that someone is there if you need them."

The psychologist said that having sleeping disorder could lead to a vicious cycle, causing stress and anxiety during the day which ultimately leads to difficulty in sleeping at night. (NAN)

Storm renders 200 homeless in Kebbi From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi rainstorm on Sunday night destroyed 40 houses, and rendered 200 people homeless in Makera Village in the Fadama Zauro Development Area of Kebbi state.

A statement by the Director of Social Development in the area, Malam Salihu Mohammed, noted yesterday that the storm occurred late on Sunday night.

It said many people, including primary and

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secondary school pupils, whose schools were affected, had been forced to seek refuge elsewhere pending when assistance would reach them.

The statement said that schools and primary healthcare centres (PHC) were affected by the storm.

The statement also added that though no life was lost, residents of the affected houses lost property, food stuff and other valuables to the storm.

The statement noted that the area was also affected by rainstorm last year.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Travellers stranded for hours as a vehicle carrying a container fell, blocking the Okene-Okpila road, yesterday in Kogi.

Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (right), being received by representative of the manager, Royal Palace Hotel, Burundi, Mr Pikiri Eptihas (left), during his arrival to Burundi for the 5oth independence Anniversay celebration of the country, on Sunday.

With him is Secretary General of Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Colonel Musa Shehu (2nd left).

Rainstorm wrecks havoc at the Bar Beach, Victoria Island, yesterday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

Erosion threatening Abuja Securities and Commodities Exchange (ASCE) building on Muhammdu Buhari road, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Photo: NAN

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Minister to Sanction Directors for poor project design, implementation

By Mohammed Kandi

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he Minister of Water Resources, Sarah Ochekpe, has threatened to sanction Directors in the Ministry and its parastatals and Project Implementation Officers over poor design and implementation of water projects in Nigeria.

Ochekpe who issued the threat yesterday at the midyear retreat on service delivery and projects implementation in Abuja, warned that henceforth, Directors would be held responsible for “poorly supervised and badly implemented projects.”

The minister, who cautioned that her ministry would no longer tolerate poorly designed projects, explained that in view of the capital intensive nature of water infrastructure and the current dwindling funding in the sector, there was need for judicious utilisation of the available resources.

Pensioners’ funds plunderers risk divine punishment, says Wada From Sam Egwu, Lokoja overnor Idris Wada of Kogi has said that whoever steals and plunders pensioners’ funds risks divine judgment and wrath of God here on earth and here after.

Wada gave warning in Lokoja when executive members of the state chapter of Nigerian Union of Pensioners paid him a courtesy visit.

Represented by his deputy, Mr Yomi Awoniyi, the governor described pensioners as people who had spent the better part of their lives, energy and time serving their father land and wondered why people should delight in inflicting pains on them.

“Anybody that stole their entitlements using official position or through any subtle means”, he said, “would face the wrath of God and get their punishment right here on earth and hereafter, they would never go unpunished”.

He said that the plight of pensioners was of serious concern to the government noting his administration had stepped up its monthly allocation for pension and gratuity to N100 million.

Wada assured that his government was putting in place modalities to enhance the living standard of pensioners in the state and ameliorate their hardship though constrained by paucity of resources and over stretched expenditures.

He appealed to the pensioners to exercise patience while government considers the demand for upward review of their monthly pension and an increase in Local Governments remittances for pensioners, to 15 per cent from the current 7.5 per cent.

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Gov. Chime swears in 5 permanent secretaries, auditor-general

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ov. Sullivan Chime of Enugu State on Monday swore in five permanent secretaries and an auditorgeneral with a call on them to contribute toward moving the state’s civil service forward.

Speaking at the swearing-in in Enugu, Chime urged the officials to ensure prompt implementation of government’s

policies to speed up the development of the state.

The governor, represented by his deputy, Mr. Sunday Onyebuchi, called on the newlyappointed officials to instill discipline in their subordinates as it would go a long way to move the civil service forward.

“Your appointment, by now you may have known is based

on your individual merits so government expects that you’ll bring to bear this wealth of experience you have acquired in your various assignments.

“I can tell you that the civil service here needs forward movement. You have a lot of work to do, especially in the area of discipline. It has been noticed that permanent secretaries shy

away from enforcing discipline using the public service rules.

The governor also called on the officials to shun corruption, adding that government would review their appointments if found wanting in any form.

Speaking on behalf of the appointees, one of the permanent secretaries, Mrs. Angela Gbanite, pledged unalloyed support and determination to move the agenda of the state government forward to make the civil service better. (NAN)

L-R: Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Godknows Igali, Director General, Bureau for Public Procurement, Engineer Emeka Eze, during the opening session of the three-day mid-term retreat organised by the ministry, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye From Sam Egwu, Lokoja he six Federal Prisons in Kogi state, with little or no improvement on the dilapidated facilities and crumbling structures will now be over-seen by a new boss, CP Adam Ilemona Omale, as the sixteenth Comptroller of Prison, since the creation of Kogi state, 21 years ago.

Omale, who resumed office in Lokoja yesterday, after making some landmark in 8 different units of the Federal prison in

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Kogi Comptroller of Prison Resumes Office Abuja and Kaduna, took over from CP Terver G. Dabo, who retired last month after 35 years of meritorious service to the fatherland.

CP Omale expressed readiness to work with the philosophy of the Comptroller General of Prisons aimed at repositioning the prisons saying that major marks would be achieved during his stay as the Comptroller of Prison in Kogi

state.

He said that with the present security challenges in the country he would ensure safety of prisons and officials in the state with renewed vigor, stressing that they would be proactive at any given circumstances to meet international standard.

While urging officers and men of Federal prisons in Kogi to be committed and dedicated to

their duty, he noted that for effective service delivery, officers should abhor laziness and embrace their duty with pride.

Omale stated that he would cooperate with other security agencies in the state to stamp out crime and criminal tendencies, pointing out that in the current security challenges Kogi state would be made safe for lives and properties through joint efforts of security agencies.

I did not snub Jonathan, says Benin monarch From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he Benin Monarch Oba Erediauwa, on Monday denied newspaper reports (not Peoples Daily), that he shunned the President Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP members who were in his palace last Saturday on a courtesy visit before attending the Edo PDP grand rally at the Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium.

A statement endorsed by his Secretary to the Palace, Frank Irabor said, it is the respect and love the Oba has for the President that he manage to see the

President in a private chamber in his palace despite a “complicated situation on that day”.

“The Palace would like to make it clear that the Omo N ‘Oba did not shun Mr. President and the Peoples’ Democratic Party members that came with him”.

The Oba said, “three weeks ago, the Omo N ‘Oba waited for over two hours in his open office, where he received the VicePresident Dr. Namadi Sambo and the PDP chieftains that were in Benin for their political rally”.

The Oba has pleaded with politicians to shun violence

during the July 14 2012 polls, adding that political office occupation should not be seen as a do or die affair.

Meanwhile, Students Union Government, Institute of Technology and Management, Usen, Ovia North East, Edo State yesterday took a swipe at the state command, Nigeria Police force, over claims that they were responsible for last week Governor Oshiomhole’s convoy attack.

The police public Relations officer, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo had in a press statement said that the students who were earlier promise by governor to visit their institution while on his way to a

campaign tour to the palace of Elawure of Use, resorted to barricade the highway when due to time constrict, the governor could not keep to his words A press statement jointly signed by the Student Union Government, Comrade Odeh Osasumwen Ebomwonyi, the secretary, Comrade Chukwujekwu Christian and the entire executive members, said they would not have react to what they termed baseless allegation but for the public ridicule the institution was subjected to , describe the police report as totally absurd and false.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Philips to advance diagnostic healthcare in Nigeria From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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L-R: Director-General, Standards Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr. Joseph Odumodu, Director, Testing, Engr. John Achukwu, and Head, International Standards, Mr. Robert Okuyi, during a press conference on checking substandard products in the market, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Lagos flood: Institute of Surveyors blames poor map From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Nigeria Institute of Surveyors (NIS) has blamed the perennial flooding of Lagos state to poor map and inability of Federal Government to employ the service of institute to lay out strategy to avoid the annual disaster.

The National President of the Institute, Bode Adeaga, who stated this in Ilorin at the weekend, while briefing Journalists after the 47th

annual general meeting of the institute noted that many Nigerians have encroached the normal areas they ought not to because of lack of monitoring and inability to adhere to the professional advice.

Reading the communiqué, Adeaga said National Emergency Management Agency(NEMA) needs to work with the institute especially on the concrete area to avert disaster, instead of concentrating on relieve material giving out to victims of various

misfortune.

The institute recommended, “comprehensive topographical maps of our cities which are indispensable in the planning of a good drainage system should be produced. Up-to date geospatial information in Geographical Information System (GIS) environment should be made available to facilitate quick location of disaster areas.”

The Institute noted that most of the well mapped countries are advanced countries and it is always possible for them to predict disaster and place precaution steps on ground.

oyal Philips Electronic has emphasized its commitment to improving maternal and child care in Nigeria, advance diagnostic healthcare facilities and invest in both human resources and clinical training in the country.

The company made the commitment during the Lagos stopover of its third consecutive Cairo to Cape Town road show for the year 2012.

Addressing stakeholders at a strategic roundtable on Mother and Child Care, the company highlighted its history in Nigeria; its dedication to improving the value proposition it brings to mother and child care in the country through the introduction of relevant solutions, partnerships and clinical training workshops for doctors, clinicians and healthcare workers.

The Netherland based company, Philips, also announced that it was appointing a dedicated business development manager to

Edo Revenue Board chairman canvasses support for widows

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hief Oseni Elamah, Chairman, Edo Revenue Board, has stressed the need for the three tiers of government to empower women, especially widows.

Elamah made the call yesterday while presenting empowerment tools to women in Auchi in Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo. He said that empowering women would help curtail some of

He said, “Nigerian scholars should redouble their efforts in making authentic researches into the origin, history, culture and tradition of the peoples of the country.”

The emir said that the more researches were made in those aspects, the more discoveries would be made.

Umar also told the delegation that the history and tradition of the Hausa Land was traced through the

establishment of Daura Kingdom thousands of years ago.

He then commended the Egyptian scholar, Prof. Mustapha Igabi, for promoting Hausa Language through his numerous writings.

Earlier, Dr. Abdulrahman Adoro, leader of the delegation, said they were at the palace in recognition of the historical background of Daura town and the

prominence of Hausa Land.

Adoro, who introduced Igabi to the emir, said the professor had established the teaching of Hausa Language in two universities in Egypt and Saudi Arabia.

According to him, the scholar has also written many books in both Hausa and Ajami (Arabic form of Hausa writing) and translated many Hausa books into Arabic Language. (NAN)

the security challenges facing the country.

The chairman said that since women vote more than the men during elections, they found themselves as tools in the hands of politicians, who only used them to further their interest.

While reiterating the commitment of the Adams Oshiomhole led Edo Government of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to women empowerment, Elamah said that what most governments did were mere rhetoric.

“What most governments do is to make promises to these women without keeping to their promises.

“Improving the lots of women should not be compromised for any reason. Supporting them would also translate to improving on security of the nation,” he said.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that during the occasion, several widows received empowerment tools such as grinding machines. (NAN)

of the over N27 billion received from June 2011, to April 2012.

Chairman of the joint committee Francis Orogu (PDP, Keana), while speaking on the floor of the assembly, pleaded with the house for more time to enable the committee do a thorough job on the assignment, given its importance and sensitivity.

The House had at several periods frozen the accounts of the local governments and developments areas, alleging several wrongdoing by the

caretaker administrators following the failure of the CPC government to conduct elections into the local government councils.

Meanwhile, in a related development, a resolution was passed by the house urging the state government to reinstate the suspended management of College of Education, Akwanga led by the Provost, Mrs. Esther Amu-Nnadi.

Presenting the findings of the committee on the floor of the House, chairman House committee on education, Mr.

Raphael Sa’aka said the provost and her management members were suspended following alleged mismanagement of N25 million loan received from UBA. According to Raphael Sa’aka, the loan earlier applied by the former provost Victoria Titi Monde for the completion of the colleges’ ICT centre and library, was cancelled when she was appointed a commissioner in the state.

While questioning the rationale behind the earlier cancellation of the loan by the

former provost, Mr. Raphael remarked that there was nothing wrong in expending the loan to clear staff peculiar allowances, as well as renovate the ICT centre and library of the college by the suspended management.

In his ruling, the Speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed, who called on the state government to reinstate the suspended management, stressed the need for staff of the college to shun sentiments, religious or ethnic differences in discharging their duties.

Emir calls for more research on origin, history, culture

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he Emir of Daura, Alhaji Faruk Umar, has called on scholars in the country to engage in more authentic research into the origin, history and tradition of the Nigerian peoples.

Umar made the call while receiving a delegation of Egyptian scholars from the Umaru Musa Yar’adua University, Katsina, in his palace in Daura, Katsina State on Monday.

be based in Nigeria to handle, support and drive ongoing collaborations with the local healthcare authorities in addition to the support of its local partner PPC Ltd. Director and District Manager, Philips Healthcare Africa Roelof Assies told the gathering that “Philips is dedicated to providing meaningful solutions based on local needs that will significantly expand access to care. These new products we have launched in Nigeria, leverage Philips’ global expertise and offer cost effective technology that suits caregivers across a wide variety of clinical environments, at the same time we maintain Philips’ quality legacy and drive for innovation and efficiency.”

Also speaking at the occasion, Chief Medical Director, Citizens Hospital, Dr. Olumuyiwa Ore stated that maternal health had become an important public priority in Nigeria, which made the training of future healthcare professionals an essential part of reducing pregnancy-related mortality rates.

Nasarawa Assembly uncovers N2bn fraud in LG joint accounts From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he joint committee on public accounts, finance and local government of Nasarawa state House of Assembly has uncovered a N2 billion fraud in the accounts of the state’s local governments.

In a preliminary report presented to the house, the committee investigating the state’s local government joint account, accused the ministry for local government of not accounting for over N2 billion out

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 11

Lamido faults FG’s fertilizer sales to farmers From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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overnor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state has faulted the Federal Government system of allocating fertilizer to rural farmers across the country, saying that the approach must be holistically revitalized.

The governor, who made the comment on Friday when he received the Minister of State for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, in his office that came to formally launch the sale of Federal Government fertilizer to the farmers in the state, expressed his fear and concern over the new policy.

He said “several policies and

programmes were introduced by past and present governments, ranging from the Operation feed the Nation to this one on Agriculture but failed to achieve the desired aim due to lack of political will and direct involvement of the people concerned when fashioning out the policies.”

Lamido, who reacted to the minister’s comment on the new policy to use alert systems on GSM phones of farmers, as means of allocating them with the commodity, said the system is absurd and may also collapse as most of the peasant farmers do not have mobile phones nor would they allow themselves the rudiment of using scratch cards introduced by

the government.

“I have about three million farmers in my state, more than 80% of them do not have cellphones. How could they benefit from this programme when they do not have the phones,” Lamido asked.

The governor, who also said he could not envisage how the President intends to fund the agricultural sector through the gains realised from fuel subsidy, said “I wonder how a project that has, year in and year out, been encompassed in the national budgetary allocation be tied down to an imaginary gains from the fuel subsidy.”

He lamented that in the 21st century that farmers the world

over are going high-tech in the Agricultural sector, Nigerian farmers are still battling with hoes and other archaic farm implements.

Earlier, the Minister of state for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijjani, has explained that Federal Government introduced a new method for selling fertilizer, and seeds through GSM cell phones to ensure that the commodity reaches the targeted peasant farmers across the country.

According to the minister, “Federal Government has introduced the new method to curtail activities of middlemen, who had been observed to have been influencing the diversion of the fertilizer over the years, and at the same time depriving the farmers from enjoying government subsidy”.

L-R: Chairman, Leadership Newspapers, Mr. Sam Nda-Isaiah, Chairman, IRS Airline, Alhaji Rabiu Isyaka Rabiu, and Niger state Governor, Dr. Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu, during the public presentation of sensitization materials against child abuse organised by Media for Morals Organisation, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

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itizens of the Kaduna state have applauded President Goodluck Jonathan’s desire to run an all inclusive government in the country, even as they appealed to Nigerians to give peace a chance for the sake of development.

The people under the aegis of Kaduna Youth Forum, specifically commended the President over the recent appointment of both Engr.

Andrew Yakubu to head the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and the Col. Sambo Dasuki as the country’s security adviser.

Speaking at a press conference in Kaduna, the forum’s national leader and sole administration officer of Giwa area of Kaduna state, Hon. Aminu Mallamonah Bonet Pompo said “the genuine sons and daughters of Kaduna state have cause to be proud of Jonathan’s decision in view of recent accusations by critics of his

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he Nnewi Unit Commander of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Mr. Anthony Etuechere, has called for closer synergy between the corps and road users as well as with humanitarian bodies.

Etuechere made the call on Monday in Nnewi, Anambra state, while speaking to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said that the commission was reaching out not only to the motoring public and road users, but also to other humanitarian bodies to make its functions effective, especially in remote areas of the country.

The commander said that the work of the FRSC as a career was not for money-making but a career that had a lot of human compassion and humanitarian demand from those in the commission.

“It is humanitarian in the sense that it is near spiritual; saving lives or preventing harm or preventing death is not just a normal profession, it’s just not a career for money.

“It is career that people should look at as very helpful and very much needed in the society. (NAN)

Peace in Kaduna is peace in the Army, says COAS From Moh’d Adamu, Kaduna with Agency report

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Kaduna citizens celebrate Yakubu, Dasuki’s appointments From Moh’d Adamu, Kaduna

FRSC wants closer collaboration with road users

government that he only considers persons from his Niger Delta extraction for sensitive positions under his administration.”

According to the forum, “the recent appointment of Engr.

Yakubu as the Group Managing Director of the NNPC is one of the things Jonathan has done which has elicited joy and made our State and the region proud.”

“Before now, the critics of this administration have always painted Jonathan as the enemy of the North, and created the impression that he is South-South president, who will only appoint people from his region into sensitive national positions.

“We are happy that such unfair criticism can no longer hold water in view of last week decision by the president to replace a Niger Delta son with a core Northerner as National Security Adviser (NSA).”

The group expressed hope that both the NSA and the GMD NNPC will not disappoint the north and the country.

Lecturer raises alarm over resurgence of cultism in tertiary institutions

A

lecturer in University of Ilorin, Prof. Hassan Saliu, has called on governments at various levels to make concerted efforts aimed at curbing the resurgence of cultism in Nigerian tertiary institutions.

Saliu, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin yesterday, decried the recent clash between two cult groups at the Kwara Polytechnic, Ilorin in which two persons were confirmed dead.

According to the professor, cult activities have begun to resurface in the tertiary institutions due to the absence of proactive strategies at checking the menace again.

He explained that cultism was a social menace that was threatening to consume the future of the country, noting that high crime level and the associated

restiveness in the nation were closely related to cult activities.

Meanwhile, the professor said that curbing the menace of cultism was a collective affair, involving governments, parents, students, teachers and the civil society groups.

He said, “the starting points, however, is the synergy of purpose among the tiers of government. It is surely not a war that one tier of government can wage successfully.

“There should be concerted efforts among the levels of government and of necessity, sharing of intelligence information.”

Saliu said that the issue was for all Nigerians to know and appreciate the problem that the nation would face, if the country did not come to terms with destabilisation and destruction that cultism represented. (NAN)

he Chief of Army Staff, LtGeneral Azubiuke Ihejirika, said on Sunday that “when Kaduna state is not in peace the Army will not be at peace, as Kaduna is the home of the Nigerian Army.”

Ihejirika, who made the remarks when he paid a courtesy visit to Governor Patrick Yakowa, promised that the Army would not relent in its efforts to restore normalcy to the state.

The visit was part of activities to mark the Nigerian Army Day Celebration tagged: NADCEL 2012.

The event began on June 29, with special Juma'at prayers.

He urged members of the state executive to collaborate with security agencies to restore normalcy to the state after reprisals that followed bomb attacks on three churches in Kaduna and Zaria.

Responding, Governor Yakowa commended the Army for the prompt intervention during the June 17 attacks and in ensuring peace in the state.

Yakowa said the state government would support ``the security agencies to bring back peace in the state’’.

NAN reports that President Goodluck Jonathan declared the week-long NADCEL 2012 open on Monday at Jaji, near Kaduna, the day the Nigerian Army marked its 149 years of existence.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

F

Egypt: Looking to the future with a new president

rom where it was least expected, the Arab Spring, instigated by a Tunisian vegetable vendor, who set himself ablaze in frustration at and protest against police harassment, has produced its most spectacular result yet, in the Arab world’s largest and most influential country, Egypt. On Saturday, Egypt’s only freely and democratically elected president, Mohammed Mursi, was sworn in, even though the military command, which midwifed the election, has shorn the presidency of most of its important powers, including the command of the armed forces and the power to declare war. Yet not even this power-stripping of the presidency could undo the significance of Egypt’s first freely elected president.

Mursi narrowly won the presidency after defeating the perceived candidate of the military, former Air Force General and Mubarak’s last Prime Minister, Shafiq, by a margin of less than five percent. However, as Field Marshal Hussein Tantawi, who headed the military council that oversaw the political transition said at the swearingin ceremony of Mursi, “Egypt is reborn as a modern democratic state where the sovereignty is with the people”, it is still a positive new beginning for that country.

President Mursi, a member of the long persecuted Muslim Brotherhood, was clearly the underdog in the second round of the poll, featuring Shafiq, the favourite of the political establishment.

However, the potent threat of the Brotherhood that should they lose through vote theft and the vigils kept at Tahrir Square by huge column of

Egyptians demanding that their votes should count, combined to make clear to the establishment that manipulating the votes would attract far-reaching consequences. With a General Buhari-like advocacy that voters should protect their votes and take other measures to ensure their votes count, Egyptians now have the president they voted for, regardless of his

“

Egyptians have demonstrated how a determined people could take their destiny in their hands successfully considerably diminished powers.

We salute the Egyptians for the enormous steps they took to ensure that the victory they won at the revolution square, where they massed and pressed until the Mubarak dictatorship caved in, was followed up with acute vigilance until it became manifest in a democratic vote.

Egypt has set a good and impressive record in the region. However, we want to make clear that Mursi must appreciate the profound suspicion against his Muslim Brotherhood, which translated in the huge votes for the establishment candidate,

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”

Shafiq.

President Mursi must integrate the sentiments and fears of those who voted against him in his overall strategy of national reconciliation. In his speech at the swearing-in ceremony, he assured the military high command that no one would “touch any of your rights” but said nothing about assorted secularists, Christians, Salafists and the others whose defiance of Mubarak and his henchmen made his presidency possible.

We are however, persuaded by Mursi’s broadmindedness with his emphasis on “the state of Egypt’s commitment to international treaties and agreements,” and his assurance that “Egypt will not export the revolution”, an assurance that would resonate well in many capitals of the region.

This reassurance, in our view, is important given the reputation of the ideology of the Brotherhood which transcends national boundaries.

However, we are sure that Egypt’s first elected president will have his hands so full in solving political existential problems to be distracted by ideological questions. He has already pledged “to encourage investment in all sectors and restore tourism to its rightful place”.

This, we believe, would not be easy, after both areas were severely damaged by turmoil that followed the fall of Mubarak.

Egyptians have demonstrated how a determined people could take their destiny in their hands successfully. So, on this auspicious moment of the birth of a new Egypt, we wish the people a bright future.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

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

DIRECTOR/ EDITOR-IN-CHIEF RUFA’I IBRAHIM CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND RICHARD IHEDIWA

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HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

By Judge Sang-Hyun SONG

O

n 1 July 2002, the first three staff members of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered the ICC’s building in The Hague, the Netherlands. On that day, the ICC’s founding treaty, called the Rome Statute, entered into force.

Ten years after that modest beginning, the ICC has turned into a major international institution, securing justice for victims when it cannot be delivered at the national level.

121 States have ratified the Rome Statute, and another 32 countries have signed it, indicating their intention to join the treaty.

The ICC is working in seven situation countries, and monitoring developments in seven others on several continents, turning the principles of the Rome Statute into reality. In March this year, the ICC delivered its first judgement in a case concerning the use of child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Six cases are in the trial stage and nine others in pretrial phase. These proceedings are testimony that impunity for genocide, war crimes and crimes against humanity is no longer tolerated by the international community.

The victims are a vital part of the ICC’s work. Thousands of victims have been given a voice in the arena of international justice, where their rights are upheld and their suffering recognised.

The ICC’s proceedings have emphasized,

By Jean Herskovits suspect that as the numbers of Nigerian students abroad increased, the sense of being Nigerian did too. By the late 1950s, in Oxford or London, if you asked a Nigerian where he (it usually was he) was from, he’d answer “Nigeria,” and would resist being pressed for more specifics. In the United States by 1960 “Nigeria” would be the answer, delivered with nearaggressive emphasis that closed off probing further.

1966 changed that for some.

In July that year I was in Atlanta, Georgia, as an instructor in a Peace Corps training program for volunteers heading to Nigeria’s Eastern Region. My assignment was Nigerian history; my fellow Nigerian instructors were Igbo language teachers. They and I felt some distance from the other Americans on the staff, including a few who had already been in the Peace Corps in Nigeria. We talked endlessly about what was happening “at home.” That’s how I knew that on July 28th they were building in their minds a Nigerian future.

On July 29th, they wavered, and by the next day, for them, a Nigerian future had disappeared.

Civil war came in 1967 and ended 30 months later, with General Gowon’s remarkable “No Victors, No Vanquished” policy, rare if not unique for victors in “brothers’ wars.” Those on the side of “One Nigeria,” especially

I

PAGE 13

As International Criminal Court turns 10 Court’s orders. The ICC has no police force of its own. The Court relies entirely on states to execute our arrest warrants, to produce evidence, to facilitate the appearance of witnesses and so on. Unfortunately, several suspects subject to ICC arrest warrants have successfully evaded arrest for many years.

on a global scale, that children cannot be used as soldiers during hostilities, that sexual violence as a weapon of war is an unacceptable international crime, and that those in positions of power must safeguard the fundamental human rights of people caught in conflict.

Support for international justice is growing around the world every year. Everywhere, people want peace, justice, rule of law and respect for human dignity. The ICC represents the voluntary gathering of nations in a community of values and aspirations for a more secure future for children, women and men around the world.

However, rather than rejoice over our accomplishments, it is far more important that we recognise the shortcomings and the obstacles that remain, and redouble our commitment to further strengthen the Rome Statute system in order to move closer to our ultimate goals. If we act wisely, pulling our strength together, we can prevent terrible suffering before it takes place.

The ICC is the centrepiece of the evolving system of international criminal justice, but the most important aspect of the fight against impunity

unable for whatever reason to carry out this task. In a spirit of solidarity, the States Parties to the Rome Statute have expressed their commitment to work together to ensure that this principle of complementarity is effective.

Another crucial aspect of the ICC is the cooperation of states and the enforcement of the

Political will and international cooperation is crucial in order to bring these persons to justice.

While we work together to prevent impunity and to ensure accountability, we must remember that international criminal justice is one piece in a bigger framework for protecting human rights, suppressing conflict and

those who had fought for it and their families, were proud to be Nigerians; understandably, those who fought for Biafra had a harder time with such feelings, which would rebuild—and sometimes recede—for individuals over time.

But in the aftermath of the civil war, forging the country’s unity and increasing Nigerians’ sense that the country belonged to all of them was an explicit goal of the two military governments of the 1970s. Creating states out of the regions was designed to do that. Even though designating the first twelve in 1967 had a tactical dimension as war approached, doing so responded to long-time agitation from “minorities” in Nigeria’s regions to get out from under ethnicallydefined majority rule.

Indeed, as Independence approached, the British government had set up the Willink Commission to “enquire into the fears of Minorities and the means of allaying them.” Its (allBritish) members did not recommend creating states for two reasons that still resonate: “In considering the problem within each region,” they wrote, “we were impressed by the fact that it is seldom possible to draw a clean boundary which does not create a fresh minority.” They continued: “…a new state created

today would have to compete with the existing Regions, and the cost in overheads, not only financial but in resources— particularly in trained minds— would be high.“ Despite the hope in1976 that creating seven more states would make for a more unified Nigeria, the reservations the Willink Commission expressed have come all too true. I understand that even with the current 36 states, the National Assembly has received requests for over 60 more and has agreed to consider 46. And we all know, and are appropriately shocked by, the percentage of Nigeria’s resources that already go to maintaining its many governments, few of which, if any, starting with Abuja, take measures to reduce costs.

Nor have those been the only negative consequences of multiplying states. It has been obvious since the Second Republic that state governors could act as they please, unchecked institutionally except by an impeachment process. Not only is that too blunt an instrument, it has been flagrantly abused for purely political reasons.

Nonetheless, Lord Acton’s saying about how power corrupts applies as well to governors as to presidents, not to mention local government chairmen, when

they get their hands on resources.

Over the years I have traveled by road in all but one of the current states, and it is beyond words to describe how it feels now to see dilapidated structures and pathetic roads—the same or worse, than they were 35 years ago, when the population was far smaller.

And how did the admirable idea of bringing government and development closer to the people work out? With a few exceptions, it has simply meant more contracts for state houses, more ministries, more motorcycles for more outriders—more spent to assure the comfort of those who, at least in theory, govern. And because elections have been, at best, problematic and, at worst, massively rigged, many people have no recourse, no hope.

Why in amending the 1979 constitution three or more times, has nothing been done about this? A rhetorical question. And when, for the overwhelming majority of Nigerians, day-today existence is threatened by insecurity and poverty—they are linked, whatever the complexities of each—how can they feel proudly Nigerian?

Even the new capital Abuja, purposely sited in the middle of the country to make it equally accessible to all, has bred unexpected resentment. Yes,

takes place in each country, society and community around the globe. Domestic justice systems must be strong enough to be able to act as the primary deterrent worldwide, while the ICC is a “court of last resort”, a safety net that ensures accountability when the national jurisdictions are

“

Let us cherish our spirit of solidarity as we look forward to the ICC’s next decade, celebrating our achievements and acknowledging the challenges that remain ahead. We must be united in our resolve to defeat impunity and the lawlessness, brutality and disdain for human dignity that it represents

working for peace and stabilisation. It is vital that other essential elements of conflict prevention and postconflict recovery are present where needed, alongside international justice mechanisms.

Only when accompanied by education, democracy and development, can justice truly help prevent the crimes of the future.

Let us cherish our spirit of solidarity as we look forward to the ICC’s next decade, celebrating our achievements and acknowledging the challenges that remain ahead.

We must be united in our resolve to defeat impunity and the lawlessness, brutality and disdain for human dignity that it represents. At this crucial juncture, we must continue the fight against impunity with renewed resolve and increased vigour. We cannot rest until every victim has received justice.

On the 10th anniversary of the International Criminal Court, I call on states, organisations and people everywhere to join this shared mission of humanity.

Sang-Hyun SONG is the President of the International Criminal Court

How to be a Nigerian (II)

people flock there in their tens of thousands, in search of work or patronage. But the opulence and extravagance have made many of those who see it say to themselves, “So that’s where the money goes.” We know that this prompted young men of the Niger Delta to turn to violent protest, after some of them were brought to Abuja, in 1998, and paid to demonstrate in favor of a civilian Abacha presidency.

Those who rule now have Julius Berger building eight-lane highways that whisk them quickly past people they are supposed to represent, to get to the airport, or wherever else. But turn off one of those highways, into the “bush” of the Federal Capital Territory, and you will drive on dirt tracks for forty minutes to reach a village only dozens of kilometers away. How can those villagers, desperately hungry for education, not to mention power and water, think about being Nigerians?

And then there is the idea of federal character. It was introduced to cement the feeling that the country belonged to all Nigerians, but it has been taken to unforeseen—and, I would argue, destructive—extremes.

Very like American “affirmative action,” it was designed to Contd. on page 14

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Stop destroying Nigeria’s education sector

By Bashir Sa’ad Ibrahim

E

ducation is the bedrock of development in any society.

Developed countries such as UK, US, Russia, China & France have reached the position they are today due to the high regards given to the educational sector in their respective countries.

The Whiteman believes in quality education. That is why a secondary school student in the good olden days can hold on his own against our graduate of nowadays. Alhaji Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa was only 19 years old and a product of a teachers college when he wrote the book Shehu Umar.

The reason for this, to my mind, is not farfetched.

Interviewers are, in my view, essentially to blame for the deterioration of the standard of educational in the country.

Although the federal government is doing its best toward improving the standard of education in this country by establishing new federal universities, funding them adequately, with the Educational Trust Fund complementing these efforts, interviewers and those in charge of recruiting academic staff tend to undermine that by acting contrary to the standing Continued from page 13

compensate for historically deep disparities. It was a companion to the new, 1979 Americanstyle constitution, that I thought, along with those who mandated it, would be appropriate for Nigeria’s complexity and its then-19 states.

I was wrong.

Astronomical cost apart as states multiplied, federal character made selecting members with appropriate credentials ever harder in ever-larger cabinets.

If a minister was chosen from one Senatorial zone, an ambassador had to come from another. Even local governments replicated the pattern.

And who knew that the phrase “indigene of” a state would be taken to unspeakable lengths, used in politics, education, and job opportunities to exclude non-indigenes or, perhaps more shamefully, “settlers.” This violates the constitution, which has stated since 1979 that “…national integration shall be actively encouraged, whilst discrimination on the grounds of place of origin, sex, religion, status, ethnic or linguistic association or ties shall be prohibited” and “it shall be the duty of the State to…secure full residence rights for every citizen in all parts of the Federation.”

Not only that, the term “settler” defies accurate definition. The land mass now called Nigeria has seen extensive movement of peoples over time— into it, throughout it, away from it. Indeed, it was the mobility of Nigerians that contributed to the feeling of being Nigerian.

Few of Nigeria’s people can

order of recruitment. For (MBBS) is giving wrong much that it is free of political instance, one of these newly prescriptions, lawyers passing interference and excessive established federal universities in wrong and biased verdict, intervention. Thus, if we are not North East, having short listed mechanical engineers cannot committed towards improving successful candidates for repair or solve any fault in our own, we will end up recruitment as lecturers, called machines. Hence, we have to jeopardizing it further and end for an aptitude test and successful employ the service of experts up rushing to foreign countries applicants were accordingly from abroad. Graduates of to obtain one degree or the invited for an interview. Sadly, various disciplines cannot defend other.

L a t e those who Professor Babs neither wrote Babatunde Aliu an aptitude Fafunwa (one test nor time minister of attended the Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text education) was interview messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written the first were offered contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Nigerian to earn appointment a Ph.D in 1955. for lecturing. words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and He contributed This will a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed immensely ultimately to: t o w a r d s manifest on improving the the products of The Editor, standard of this newly Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, N i g e r i a n established 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. educational. He university. It Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com was the brain is very SMS: 07037756364 behind the 6-3unfortunate 3-4 system. In that, this his days as a university will be based on wrong footing. their certificates. We know this lecturer in University of Nigeria (Documentary evidences are and yet we continue to destroy Nsukka UNN in 1961 and available on request). the system. All these are University of Ife, Ile-Ife (1967These incompetent and manifestation of recruiting 1970), Fafunwa groomed fine unqualified lecturers employed unqualified and incompetent students. Yet, the standard he could not deliver what is expected lecturers who produce quacks and his likeminded lecturers have set are now almost to the student. Consequently, graduate. this has multiplying effects, for; India, Ghana, Egypt, Turkey, destroyed.

In his book, “The state of it affects the products of Nigerian Iran, and Malaysia are Institutions. You will experience developing rapidly because they Higher Education in Nigeria”, that a graduate of Medicine take education very serious so Roy Chikwem (nd) reveals that

state of higher education has drastically fallen in the country.

Nigeria used to produce world class university graduates that competed well with their counter parts around the world. Today, we only produce semi literates as graduates.

This sad state of affairs led to foreign companies and other multi-national corporations based in Nigeria such as Accenture, Cadbury, Chevron, Citibank, Guinness, Mobil, and Texaco among many others to recruit Nigerian graduates of foreign institutions. These foreign educated graduates are receiving salary from $30, 000 to $150, 000 per annum in addition to allowances payable to them. On the other hand, Nigerians who graduated from local universities receive a paltry $2, 000 to $5, 000 per annum without any benefit or allowances.

Therefore, those who are polluting the noble profession of lecturing /teaching should stop, so that our dear country can regain its reputation educationally. Those qualified to be employed as lecturers should be offered to serve diligently even if they don’t know anybody.

Bashir Sa’ad Ibrahim wrote from the Department of Research and Consultancy, Bayero University, Kano.

indeed future generations have no other country than Nigeria. We shall remain here and salvage it together,” he said.

Now, I’m told, people have become so distrustful of one another that friends who happen to come from the old Midwest and live in Lagos—tell me of reactions ranging from shock to disapproval from fellow Southerners who learn that their teenage son has on occasion stayed, in Lagos, with family friends from the North.

I’ve since been repeatedly told not to be surprised by such feelings.

It was not always like this, as most of you know. I remember peaceful times in the 1970s when Christians and Muslims celebrated each other’s holidays and both took part in local traditional festivities. And I saw the impact of the original NYSC, started under General Gowon and designed to increase national cohesion. It produced, among other things, friendships and families across ethnic and religious lines and careers far away from “home.”

Apart from the purposeful distortion of the NYSC, the tragic deterioration—even demise—of Nigeria’s educational system has made its own negative contribution. Access to subsidized education for all, especially in the educationally-disadvantaged North, was vital in so many ways, not least in bringing together students from different parts of the country at an age where lifelong friendships are made.

With12 or even 19 states, secondary schools provided

in the days when north-south highways were being built to open up areas and bring economic activity nationwide. In the days when industries were to be found and growing in many parts of the country, not just the LagosIbadan corridor. In the days when, it’s true, telephones often didn’t work and power was erratic, but rural electrification was happening. Refineries were being built and petrol and kerosene were available, even if that made for monumental goslows in Lagos. What has happened to the middle class throughout the country, including its professionals, now?

And what has happened to Nigeria’s millions now in shocking poverty, especially in the countryside? Joe Garba gave a speech in Kaduna on 11 September 1979, and what he said then is all the more true now: I have always believed that the economic and social progress of a developing country such as ours cannot be measured simply by referring to the level of per capita income. I think that what really counts are the visible and tangible signs of progress in the rural areas such as schools, rural health clinics, water and electricity, access roads for easy movement of goods and persons.

Professor Jean Herkovits delivered this speech at Nigerian Institute for International Affairs, Lagos on 31 May 2012 in honour of Joseph Nanven Garba, 19432002.

WRITE TO US

How to be a Nigerian (II)

consider themselves autochthonous—that is to have been where we now find them for as long as anyone’s history or traditions or archeology can tell.

But linguists give us a basis for thinking that some groups in the Niger Delta and in the hills of Plateau may qualify. In both places the linguistic complexity is stunning. Indeed, in the Niger Delta any two neighboring languages, we’re told, are farther apart linguistically (indicating eons-long presence without contact with others) than the entire Bantu-language family— that is, the languages spoken by virtually all Africans living south of an east-west line from, roughly, Calabar to Kenya. But in the context of Nigeria as a whole, these autochthonous groups are very, very few, and even they came from somewhere.

So, historically speaking, virtually all Nigerians are settlers. Coming closer to the present, some labeled as settlers have lived for generations where they are now—and those who single out settlers for self-serving political purposes are, in fact, settlers themselves. But who has reprimanded those who talk about indigenes or settlers and provoke violence when they do?

The last ringing speech I remember by a Head of State invoking Nigerian patriotism came from General Buhari in 1984, when some young Nigerians had begun leaving the country with uncertain plans about returning: “This generation of Nigerians and

opportunities for Nigerians to learn about one another. And the world-class university system, allowing its graduates to gain admission to the best graduate and professional schools everywhere, stretched local horizons further.

No more, and not, sadly, for several decades.

The proliferation of states and the fallout from “indigeneity”—a word as ugly in consequences as it sounds—has narrowed opportunities for Nigerians to learn about one another.

Further, there is a curriculum that, incredibly to me, does not include Nigerian geography or history. I was stunned a few months ago, while visiting a secondary school in Edo State.

When students and teachers there, in a large assemblage, were asked if they knew where Taraba State was, no student, no teacher knew. I’m sure similar ignorance is nation-wide. How can Nigerians have patriotic feelings for a country they really don’t know? How can this be in 2012?

And then there is economics.

In New York, London and South Africa you now find investment bankers and some multinationals bubbling over about opportunities in Nigeria.

They visit Lagos and Abuja, and they read the statistics about growth in per capita GDP. They talk about the “burgeoning middle class.”

But I remember what Nigeria looked like when it truly had a burgeoning middle class—

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

By Charles Chikezie

T

he saying by William Shakespeare that when beggars die there are no comets seen but that the heavens themselves blaze forth the death of princes could not have been better exemplified than what was witnessed at the burial of Professor Celestine Onyemobi Onwuliri who lost his precious life in the catastrophic Dana Airplane crash of Sunday 3rd June 2012.

Imo state was, in a manner of speaking, over-run by the sheer number of personalities and populace, who turned out to bid farewell to a man whose origin is in the remote but highly educated village of Amazi in Ahiazu Mbaise Local Government Area of Imo State.

If the state was over-run, then Mbaise, notorious for its overbearing population, was indeed trampled. It was for a good cause though.

Mbaise people came into early contact with the missionaries and the church, and have, unarguably, the highest concentration of clergy and religious people, that can be recorded per clan, in any part

By A.S.M. Jimoh

T

he much-awaited Egypt election result was announced and the Muslim Brotherhood’s candidate, Muhammed Morsi won. Before the Egyptians, Tunisia planned and conducted, in a space of nine months, a highly successful election in a similar charged atmosphere. The winners and losers of the elections are not however the topic of discussion here. It is the successes of these elections in spite of the near absence of law and order. For my country Nigeria that has been in the business of election for a very long time and yet not getting it right, I think a lot can be learned from these elections.

Egypt has been under a farce democracy for a very long time as long as we can remember.

During this period, the military council which rules Egypt had conducted elections where it candidates, the now bed-ridden Hosni Mubarak, won with as much as over 90% of the votes.

In those days, popular candidates were barred from contesting, while the Muslim Brotherhood, the most organized political group, was banned from politics, its members harassed, intimidated and thrown into jails for demanding freedom and fair political platform. In reality, Egypt never had a true vote until these last ones.

Like Egypt, Tunisia so called elections before the last one, which was ushered in by the people revolution that swept away their long time dictator, Zine Al Abidine Ben Ali, was anything but election. Ben Ali, like Hosni Mubarak, was a dictator who muzzled all oppositions and was winning ‘election’ with 90% of the votes.

Elections were won by him as he was, technically and realistically speaking, the only candidate.

The potential opposition, the Islamic Al-Nahda party and

PAGE 15

Professor Onwuliri: Standing still for a departed hero of the country, if not the world.

It will be interesting to research into this.

The President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, like every other Nigerian, was so shocked at the enormity of the carnage that three days of national mourning was declared in respect of the perished souls. The outpouring of emotions was so real and tangible, and translated into the indescribable number of people who dared the threat of rain and fear of kidnappers (whether founded or unfounded) to come for the burial.

The President was there, very ably represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Senator Anyim Pius Anyim and a large number of ministers, the Governors of the South East region, members of the Federal and state legislatures, and the

academia. The church, which he served so committedly and of which he was the Head of the highly respected Knights of Saint John International (KSJI) in Nigeria, was not outdone by the executive, even though there was no competition.

Bishops, Reverend Fathers

and Sisters, the Knights and other religious personage paid deserving tribute to a man who had done so much for the propagation and sustenance of the faith. Less cannot be said of the academia, led by the equally grieving National Universities Commission

“

Less cannot be said of the academia, led by the equally grieving National Universities Commission (NUC), and throngs of students from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), who eulogised one of their own, cut short by the unfriendly and daring enemy called death. And the students, as they are wont to, chided death, which had done its worst!

(NUC), and throngs of students from the Federal University of Technology Owerri (FUTO), who eulogised one of their own, cut short by the unfriendly and daring enemy called death. And the students, as they are wont to, chided death, which had done its worst!

Finally, immeasurable credit should be given to Mbaise youths, people and royalties who rose in one voice to say “Viola ndo!” “Professor ga nke oma” which is translated as “Viola, take heart”, Professor, farewell”.

And so, the Professor was laid to rest, the ‘Ugo mmuta’ (priceless learned jewel) of Mbaise, the devoted husband, father, grandfather, real brother and man-of-God. Adieu, Professor Celestine Onyemobi Elihe Onwuliri Charles Chikezie wrote from Federal Ministry of Information, Abuja

Arab/Asian elections: What can Nigeria learn?

other smaller opposition parties were hounded by the Ben Ali regime. Their leaders were brutally repressed, jailed, some forced to live in exile and those who remains in the country were constantly harassed.

From the background provided, it shows that neither of the countries had held election until the last ones. But when the opportunities came, opportunities which were not obtained by grammar-speaking activists and political actors, it was like the countries have been conducting election for long. There was no bickering; no pre-election violence; no assassination of candidates; no printing of candidates names in rice bags, recharge cards, etc. Candidates’ biscuits, soaps and bale of cloth did not suddenly appear from nowhere.

Their own equivalent of INEC Chairman and Residence Electoral Commissioners were not noisy about with Arabic grammar. Electoral materials arrived on time. Ballots boxes were not found where they were not supposed to be. People did not go to polling station and found their name missing. Mandela, Mike Tyson, Sam Loko, Lamidi Adedibu, etc, did not appear in the voters’ register. Soldiers and police were not drafted to intimidate voters and abet electoral heist.

Elections were announced at the designated center, not in a politician’s sitting room or in government house; votes were not being delayed intentionally from one region because the other region that is the strong hold of opposition candidate was

churning out big figures and votes were not recorded more than the registered voters.

Election went into run-off and was conducted. The word ‘rigging’, a byword that defines our best election, never appeared anywhere in the election. And, above all, what was eventually presented by their electoral bodies as results corroborated with exit poll projection.

When one looks at the successes of these elections which were organized within a short period and in the midst of uncertainty, one would come to the sound conclusion that it is we that have decided to fail. But where we have chosen to fail, we would always look for something or somebody to blame. It is either our INEC would say that Nigeria is unlike Tunisia which has a small population or the plurality of our society did not allow for a free and fair election. Though we are large, we do not have more voters than India and Indonesia. India has more than 800 million voters; four times our entire population, and a pluralistic society, while Indonesia has close to 180 million eligible voters, more than the entire population of our country, yet elections are held here without any of the negativities that trail our elections. And if the smallness of voters’ size in Tunisia or even Ghana was responsible for their high quality elections, Ekiti state is not bigger than any of these countries and cannot be described as being diverse in tribe. A re-run election in a small part of small Ekiti in 2009 was a big issue.

The electoral commissioner was disappearing

and re-appearing like a witch and when eventually the result of the election was announced, it was in the midst of heavily armed soldiers taking order from Abuja.

Egypt and Tunisia politicians, out of greed, could have decided to make mess of the elections saying it was a nascent democracy and so they were building the democratic process.

These are bywords we usually hear from all organs of our political system-politicians, electorate, electoral commission, etc-to cover our deliberate electoral failure and accept mediocrity. Still facing a serious security challenge after the exit of strongman Moumar Gaddafi, Libya is set to conduct its first election in history in July. I can bet anyone they are going to get it right also. Then, what is really wrong with us?

As a people, we have repeatedly done something same way but expecting to get different result. When you continually mix salt with water, you are always going to have salt solution. It can only get to being saturated, but it will remain salt and water. Our politicians have intentionally refused to change and are adamant in the refusal to test other form of voting process and yet we expect to get improved result. Whether in Egypt, India or Indonesia, elections are staggered across region and more than a day of voting is allowed for one arm of government election.

For instance, the just concluded presidential election in Egypt

was conducted over two consecutive days likewise the parliamentary elections that preceded it. In our case, this might be a dangerous example, as figure will begin to change overnight. Agreed, elections figures are normally altered during the night of counting here in Nigeria, but with proper documentation of the number of vote cast in a day through the number of ballot paper used at the close of vote on that day can help establish cases of manipulation.

In short, everything tends down to sincerity and the willingness to get things right.

It is not too early for INEC to start updating voter register, if we have any, by early next year before the next round of general election. We do not have to close down schools for a rushed voter registration to be conducted. This may be a legislation matter, but INEC can ask for the necessary amendment, as I am sure it will get the support for its intention to do a good job. Also, INEC always in a rush to announce result without verifying genuine complaint adds to our electoral woes.

Getting election right also depends on the youth, an age bracket to which I belong (not PDP-type, please). Physical activism and social networking is a veritable tool for the youth to get things working right. Sadly, many of our so called youth activists are fraudsters cum sycophants who are driven by pecuniary motives.

A.S.M Jimoh can be reached at Anehi2008@gmail.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Ghastly accident kills pedestrian along Mabushi road

By Miriam Humbe

A

n unidentified man yesterday lost his life in a ghastly motor accident along Mabushi expressway in Abuja.

The deceased, who was knocked down by the driver of a black Honda car with registration number; Borno AA 424 BAY at around 1pm, was attempting to cross the

road in a haste when the incident occured.

Eyewitness accounts have it that the driver of the vehicle, who was driving on top speed, ran into the deceased when he tried to cross the road from under the bridge at Mabushi, killing him on the spot.

When our reporter arrived at the scene, officers of the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), the Directorate of Road

Traffic Services, otherwise known as VIO and the Police were seen evacuating the remains of the deceased while the driver of the vehicle was taken to the Wuse Police Station.

An eyewitness, who wouldn’t want his name in print said the driver of the vehicle, who drove on a very high speed would have avoided the accident if he had been more careful and was not on top

speed.

According to him, the vehicle that passed the man before the accident occurred had cleverly dodged him and drove off shortly before accident occurred.

The road leading from Wuse Market to the Federal Ministry of Works And Housing in Mabushi has recently been noted to be a hot bed of motor accident in the Federal Capital Territory.

Orange sellers popularly call mai lemo, displaying their wears in front of Garki Market, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

House maid allegedly steals 5,000 dollars from employer

A

house maid, Salomi Nangil, 26, was yesterday arraigned before an Abuja Senior Magistrate’s Court for allegedly stealing $5,000 belonging to her Indian employer.

Nangil, who was also accused of stealing N150,000 cash, was arraigned on a one-count charge of theft contrary to Section 287 of the Penal Code.

Prosecutor, Mohammed Ahmed told the court that the case was reported at the Maitama Police Station by Nangil’s master, Anand Signh, on June 26, 2012.

Ahmed said that the accused entered her employer’s bedroom and stole 5,000 dollars and N150,000 cash in June.

He said that when the complainant returned from office, he discovered that the

money was missing.

The prosecutor told the court that the accused had confessed stealing the money during investigation.

However, Nangil refused to respond to the charge against her.

The Magistrate, Mrs Rosemary Kanyip, then asked the accused if she understood the content of the First Information

Report read.

The accused further declined to respond.

The counsel to the accused, Mr Emmanuel Donsing, urged the court to adjourn the case to enable his client to respond to the charge.

The magistrate then ordered that the accused be remanded in Kuje Prison, till she responded to the charge. (NAN)

Building plan now to be accompanied with soft copy

By Josephine Ella

A

pplicants seeking for building plan approvals in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), are henceforth required to submit both hard and soft copies of such plans.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed disclosed this yesterday, during the monthly FCT Operations Briefing Session in Gwarimpa.

He said that this new policy has become necessary to accelerate all the processes of building plan approval by the FCT Development Control Department.

Senator Mohammed revealed that the FCT Administration is already partnering with the NIGCOMSAT as staff were being trained to synchronize and invigorate the e-vetting of such building plans, while also pursuing monitoring of on-

going development real time in the years ahead.

He said with the recent publication of 435 abandoned buildings scattered across the Federal Capital City, many owners of such structures have come to re-validate their building plans and subjecting same to integrity tests with the aim of completing, reinforcing or removing them.

Meanwhile a task force has been

set up to re-validate their plans within a very short period of time, he added.

The minister revealed that the administration was thinking of commercializing the construction waste in the Federal Capital City because most developers either leave construction wastes on the road corridors/walk ways or dump such wastes in undesirable locations like green areas, sewer lines and/or flood plains.

Two in court for allegedly swindling a woman

By Kerem Kurugh

A

25-year-old man, Daniel Ogbonna of Apo village and a 29-year-old lady, Cynthia Uche of Karimu village are standing trial before an Abuja Magistrate’s Court in zone 6 for alleged theft.

The Police Prosecutor, Simon Ibrahim told the court that the case was reported to the Utako Police Station by one Chinwe Ifianu of Kagini village in Abuja on June, 28 2012.

According to the prosecutor, the same day, the complainant boarded a taxi from Kagini junction to Julius Berger and while in the car, both accused persons formed a common intention and made several attempt to defraud her of her money before the police arrived and arrested them.

Simon said that during police investigation, one Ifeoma Odoh of Shagari Quarters in Dei-Dei reported that on May, 23, 2012, that same persons also connived to defraud her of N250, 000.00 cash and her provision worth value N150,000.00.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravenes Section 79 and 322 of the Penal Code The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Fatima Malo granted them bail in the sum of N50, 000.00 with one surety each, who must have assets or property worth N50, 000.00, and must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

She adjourned the case to July, 11, 2012

Two convicted of theft of driver’s licence

T

wo men, Awwal Abubakar, 22, and Ibrahim Danfari, 29, of Dakwa village in Dei-Dei, Abuja were yesterday, sentenced to two months imprisonment each by an Abuja Area Court for stealing a driver’s licence The presiding Judge, Abdul Mohammed, however, gave the convicts an option to pay N3, 000 fine on each of the charge of joint act and theft.

Police Prosecutor, Inspector Clement Egwu had told the court that one Mr Musa Isah of Life Camp, Abuja, reported the theft at the Life Camp Police Station, Abuja, on June 23, 2012.

Clement said that Isa gave his car to Awwal for commercial purposes but Isa forgot his driver’s licence in the car, explaining that Awwal leased the licence to another taxi driver, Ibrahim Danfari.

Mohammed, said the sentence was to serve as a deterrent to others, who might want to commit similar offences. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

UniAbuja matriculates 4, 000 students T

By Usman Shuaibu

he University of Abuja in Gwagwalada has matriculated 4,000 students, the Vice Chancellor (VC) of the University, Prof.

Sunday James Adelabu said.

Adelabu , disclosed this during the 21 st m a t r i c u l a t i o n ceremony which was

held at the main campus of the university.

He assured the matriculating students that his administration would continue to provide a conducive atmosphere in the university and urged them to abide by the rules and regulations guiding the university community.

He advised the fresh students to desist from

e x a m i n a t i o n malpractices, cultism, religious intolerance and any other antisocial vices which could impact negatively on their character.

The VC reassured that the management of the institution is working hard to ensure that the three new programmes, suspended recently by the Federal Ministry of Education

meet the criteria for accreditation in October, this year as directed by the ministry.

The ministry had ordered the suspension of Medicine, Veterinary medicine and Engineering courses in the University of Abuja for lack of infrastructural facilities to meet up with the a c c r e d i t a t i o n

requirements.

Commenting on the state of basic amenities in the university, the vice- chancellor said that his administration had tackled the problems of potable drinking water and electricity supply to encourage the students to face their studies squarely.

While fielding questions from the

Commission tasks civil servants on loyalty

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he FCT Area Councils Service Commission at the weekend charged civil servants to be loyal to council chairmen and other political office holders in order to enhance development in the territory.

The Administrative Secretary of the commission, Mr. John Okomodu gave the charge in Gwagwalada and Kuje area councils during a monitoring visit to area councils.

He said the visit was to share ideas and synergies with the civil servants in the area councils, on how the politicians could be assisted to deliver the dividends of democracy to the people.

According to him, the monitoring exercise being undertaken by the commission was part of its responsibilities aimed at ensuring qualitative and quantitative service delivery.

Okomodu called for change of attitude to work among civil servants in the FCT, stressing that the habit

ADVERT

of absenteeism and lateness to duty in the FCT would no longer be tolerated.

He said the commission was committed to ensuring that staff welfare especially in the areas of promotion and training were not compromised.

The secretary called for regular management and Junior Staff Management Committee meeting to ensure that staff problems are addressed timely within the area councils.

In his remark, Head of Administration, Kuje Area Council, Mr Mohammed

Loko commended the delegation, saying that the visit was a wake-up call for staff of the council.

Loko pledged to support the commission in ensuring that the challenges of absenteeism and lateness to work among civil servants in Kuje Area Council were addressed.

On his part, the Head of

Administration, Gwagwalada Area Council, Mr Musa Sarki said there has been good working relationship between the executive and civil servants in the council.

He said efforts were being made by the council to provide transport services for staff of the council in order to reduce lateness to duty.

Man dupes lady of N.35m in guise of marriage

O

ne Sabastine Linus, 33, of Kurudu village in Abuja, before an Abuja Upper Area Court in Karu for alleged deceit, criminal intimidation and cheating.

The Prosecutor, Francis Udofia, told the court that one Matha Agana of Kurudu, Abuja, reported the matter at the Karu Police Station on June 13, 2012.

Udofia said that sometimes in February 2010, the accused came to Agana’s shop at Karu Site, Abuja and caused her to believe that he would marry her.

He said that in the process, the accused collected N358, 000 from the complainant and abandoned her.

Udofia added that when Agana confronted the accused about the promise he made regarding the marriage, he threatened to kill her and her entire family.

According to the prosecutor, the offence contravenes Sections 383, 397B and 322 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The presiding Judge, Mr Umar Kagarko, granted the accused bail in the sum of N100, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Kagarko ordered that the surety must be reasonable and reliable and must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

He adjourned the case to August 10, 2012 for hearing.

(NAN)

School dropout in court for theft

A

25-year-old school dropout, Bulus John, was on Thursday arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court, charged with theft.

The accused, of no fixed address, was also charged with conspiracy, causing hurt and public nuisance.

Police Prosecutor, Francis Tanko told the court that Segun Onauga, a resident of No. 10, Lobito Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja, reported the matter at the Wuse Police Station, Abuja on June 18, 2012.

He said that as a result of the attack, Onuaga sustained serious injury on the head and had to be rushed to the hospital for treatment.

The prosecutor added that the accused also stole a blackberry cell phone valued at N28,000 and N8,000 cash from the complainant.

He said the offences were punishable under Sections 79, 284, 242 and 196 of the Penal Code, but the accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor pleaded with the court to deny the accused bail on the grounds that he had been convicted three times.

The Magistrate, Malam Musa Jobbo, ordered the accused to be remanded in prison and adjourned the case to July 23, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

journalists during the occasion, Adelabu said that the management of the university was executing a lot of developmental projects in the institution to enhance learning.

Meanwhile, during the matriculation ceremony the top management of the university went round to supervise the ongoing projects

Trader dupes woman of N.8m

A

trader in Nyanya Market, N n a e m e k a Onyelobi has appeared before an Abuja Upper Area Court in Karu for alleged criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Onyelobi, 28, was reported by one Obianagha B. Ifeanyi of Anambra state at the Nyanya Police Station on June 12, 2012.

The Prosecutor, Jerry Tangshak, told the court that sometime in October 2011, Ifeanyi’s wife, Mrs Ifenyinwa Obianagha gave the accused her Golf Volkswagen car to sell for her at the rate N800, 000.

He said the complainant’s wife told the accused to pay the said money into her account after selling the car.

Tangshak added that the accused sold the said car and converted the money to his personal use.

The prosecutor said that during police investigation, the accused confessed to the act.

According to the prosecutor, the offence of criminal breach of trust and cheating contravenes Sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge and Judge Umar Kagarko granted him bail in the sum of N900, 000 with one surety in like sum.

Kagarko ordered that the surety must be reasonable and reliable and adjourned the case to August 7, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 17

1

3

2

3 1. A cobbler mending slippers while a little boy watches with keen interest, yesterday in Nyanya, Abuja.

2. A young man clearing bush to keep the surrounding clean, yesterday in Area 2, Abuja.

3. Refuse collectors taking a dangerous ride behind a trailer loaded with waste, yesterday in Kubwa, Abuja.

4. Women patronizing second hand clothes, yesterday in Garki

4

market, Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

By Muhammad Nasir with agency report resident Goodluck J o n a t h a n ’ s administration will soon award nearly half of its $60 billion (N9.6 trillion) annual supply contracts to local companies.

According to a document showed the Reuters news agency, the oil, which amounts to around 580 million barrels sold over the next 12 months, is worth nearly $60 billion based on current premiums of the country's light, sweet crude to Brent futures.

The tender result, awaited since April, showed that around 45 percent of the allocated oil was earmarked for companies either based in Nigeria or owned by Nigerian companies including the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)'s subsidiary Duke Oil, which doubled the size of its contract from last year to 60,000 bpd.

Industry sources expressed surprise at the number of small Nigerian firms on the list after government pledged to cut back on cronyism in the sector and the introduction of tough new entry requirements for this year's tender.

"The first thing you notice is that this isn't a significantly shorter list, so the promise to simplify and streamline hasn't been met," said an Abuja-based oil industry source who confirmed the contents of the document.

"On the surface, many of the public's concerns haven't been dealt with."

Global oil traders Glencore, Vitol and Trafigura, firms that have traditionally had a strong presence in the country and last year won the biggest contracts, had their supplies halved to 30,000 bpd.

It could be recalled that some these companies have been indicted in the House of Representative’s fuel subsidy probe report.

Trafigura and Glencore spokesmen declined to comment and a Vitol spokesman was not available for comment.

The volumes for Swiss-based traders Gunvor and Mercuria stayed unchanged from 2011 at 30,000 bpd.

The OPEC member has allocated about three-quarters of its daily production or around 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd) via term contracts to 50

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

Oil price averaging $107 in 2012 – Fitch

Mob: 08033644990

P

NNPC Headquarters in Abuja

FG to sell N9.6tr oil blocks to local firms

companies including 21 Nigerian firms, a document sent to winning firms showed.

NNPC hardened the qualification terms for the supply contracts when it first released the tender document in March as part of a drive to reform the sector.

These included at least 10 years' experience in the industry, a minimum annual turnover of $600 million and a $5 million deposit, and were expected to help large international traders at the expense of local firms.

But the number of companies on the list grew from last year's 45 and included many small African firms such as Tempo and Benny Peters, the document showed.

"They (Nigeria) faced

CFA • £ RIYAL $

26th June, 2012 BUYING 0.2758 193.4361 241.9849 41.3049 154.91

SELLING 0.2958 194.6848 243.547 41.5716 155.91

PARALLEL RATES • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 250 40 156

SELLING 212 252 42 158

patronage," she said.

Nigeria is unusual among major producers in that it allows international trading houses to compete alongside refiners and state oil firms in the annual contracts.

It sells the rest of its 2.2 million bpd of production through equity holders such as oil majors Total and Royal

By Abdulwahab Isa

N

igeria's foreign reserves fell by $857 million to $36.829 billion on June 27 from the $37.686 billion it

Encourage an open discussion of risk

Y

ou can monitor and control preventable risks - such as those resulting from employees' actions or breakdowns in routine operational processes - by setting rules and using standard compliance tools. But, rules often

can't prevent strategic and external risks, neither of which you have much power over.

To deal with these kinds of risks, encourage managers to openly discuss them. Use tools, such as maps of likelihood and impact and help team leaders

Dutch Shell.

Some companies were dropped from this year's list including Italian oil group ERG, although it was not clear it had applied.

Other winners include Indian Oil Corp and China's Unipec, the trading arm of Sinopec Corp, which both received 60,000-bpd contracts.

Foreign reserves fall to $36.83bn in June

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN

pressure and had to increase the list by around 20 companies. It was likely a struggle of back and forth and that also delayed the process," said a trader with a company that won a contract.

The deadline for submissions was extended in April.

Alexandra Gillies, head of governance at Revenue Watch Institute, said the list of companies should be scrutinised carefully to ensure that all are operational oil firms and were fairly chosen.

"The desire to encourage Nigerian participation is understandable, but it only helps the country if these are legitimate companies, chosen in a manner that was competitive and free from

envision risks through scenario planning. Then engage them in finding cost-effective ways to manage those potential risks that can't be avoided by regulation alone.

Source: Harvard Business Review

stood as at June 1.

Data obtained from the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) showed that the reserves derived mainly from the proceeds of crude oil production, suffered steady decline last month as a result of the dwindling prices of crude oil in the international market.

Oil prices tumbled further last Thursday despite an agreement by European leaders in Brussels, to use the continent's bailout fund to save struggling banks in the zone. Light sweet crude fell $1.60 to $78.61 per barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange last Thursday. Brent crude also fell by $1.33 to $92.17 per barrel.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Stransact reiterates Oil & Gas tax potentials amid knowledge dearth

S

transact Partners, an independent transactions and tax services firm has reiterated the importance of Oil & Gas tax to the nation’s revenue base.

InfoWARE develop mobile apps to boost trading on exchange

I

FG, Epic Industries sign N1.2tr oil project agreement

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Federal Government and Epic Refinery and Petrochemical Industries Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja for the establishment of a $7.5billion oil (N1.2 trillion) company in Nigeria.

The disclosure was made by the Managing Director, who noted that the project would be done in conjunction with the company’s technical partners, Sino Asia Energy Group Company Ltd, and assured that the new company would not only

create jobs, but also eradicate poverty among Nigerians and Africans in general.

Minister of State for Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, signed on behalf of the Federal Government while the Managing Director of Epic Refinery, Hon. Barango Mattew Wenke Jnr. signed for his company.

According to Wenke: “The project intends to achieve the construction of a 100,000 barrel per day refinery and petrochemical, co-generation plants and associated industries at Oporoma, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State”.

“The impact of this project can never be over-emphasised. With an anticipated creation of over 100,000 jobs, with over 180 petrol stations across the nation, electricity generation of over 500 megawatts and their multiplier effects on the economy, no one can doubt the enormous benefits of this project to the country and Africa as a whole”, he stated.

Wenke informed that the company, after the signing of the build, operate and transfer, and the joint venture agreement with the SAE had met “all conditions and our partner have been very supportive and have provided

nfoWARE Limited/Solutaris LLC has developed an innovative mobile application “Nigerian Stocks” on all the top mobile platforms in the world, which will deliver daily market updates.

A statement from InfoWARE revealed that, the “Nigerian Stocks” apps will be able to provide information promptly on top gainers, losers, news, analytics and more about the Nigerian stocks exchange to anyone with a smartphone no matter the platform.

2.4m bpd of crude oil produced daily in February – NNPC

By Muhammad Nasir

W

BlackBerry maker prospects dire after launch delay Analysts

R

esearch In Motion Ltd could run out of cash and ultimately fail, even with the launch of its now-delayed BlackBerry 10 device early next year, Wall Street analysts said.

DN Meyer plots strategies to return to financial stability

D

N Meyer plc is optimistic about its future financial stability, notwithstanding the very difficult and challenging operating environment.

The optimism follows the board and managements, restated commitment to meeting the challenges through a combination of strategies.

Declining consumer purchasing power, increased competition dips Tantalizer’s revenue

T

antalizers Plc, one of Nigeria’s major fast- food company has announced its 2011 full year results showing a significant drop in turnover from N 4.9billion in 2010 to N 4.6 billion in the year under review.

proof of fund for the project to the tune of $7.5 billion”.

He said the Federal Ministry of Trade and Investment, in its determination to attract foreign direct investment (FDI), create jobs, generate wealth and enhance economic growth of the country, have assisted the group to establish the new company in Nigeria.

The Managing Director assured that activities would be stepped up towards ensuring that the project was launched within 24 months, saying “our partners are determined, focused and ready” for its early completion.

L-R: Regional Sales Manager, Lafarge cement Wapco Nigeria Plc (North), Mr Sadig Bello, Key Account Manager, Mr Kayode Akintolu, Brand Manager, Mrs Tina Sobola, and field Sales Officer, Lokoja, Mr. Rahman Oseni, during the 56th Annual General Meeting of Federation of Construction Industry, recently in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

Oil price averaging $107 in 2012 - Fitch

O

il prices are forecast to average $107 a barrel this year, well above breakeven prices for Gulf producers, Fitch Ratings has said in a new report.

The disclosure was made by Fitch in its latest bi-annual global Sovereign Review and Outlook, which states that the economic and rating outlook in the Middle East and Africa remains dominated by the

impact of oil prices and political risks.

The report said that although the oil price has fallen from its peak in March, Fitch’s latest forecast is for the Brent oil price to average $107 this year.

Brent crude oil has fallen by 20 percent in the second quarter, but on Friday the contract for August delivery was up $5.11 to $96.47 a barrel. The daily gain of more than 5.5 percent, the

biggest since May 2011.

However, US crude was up $6.29 at $83.98 a barrel posting its biggest daily percentage gain since February 2011. It remains down 18 percent for the quarter.

Meanwhile, supply from OPEC has averaged 31.63 million barrels per day (bpd), down from a revised 31.70 million bpd in May, the Reuters survey of sources at oil companies, OPEC officials and analysts found.

ith Nigeria’s daily crude oil production pegged at 2.4 million barrels in February 2012, statistics obtained from the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) indicate that 69.57 million barrels of crude oil was produced in the month under review.

An analysis of the data showed that the February crude output was 3.20 per cent lower than that of January, when production was 69.11 million barrels for the month or 2.23 million barrels per day.

The latest edition of NNPC “Monthly Petroleum Information” indicated that crude oil and condensates lifted for both domestic and export in February were about 68.26 million barrels.

It was noted that oil companies lifted about 39.14 million barrels or 57 per cent of total production, while NNPC lifted 29.12 million barrels or 43 per cent of the total production. Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) produced in February 2012 stood at 91,806 metric tonnes.

The data also showed that only 81,012 metric tonnes of the natural gas was lifted in February.

Shoreline to acquire 45% interest in Nigeria’s oil and gas lease Stories by Muhammad Nasir

S

horeline Natural Resources Limited has reached an agreement with Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC), Total E&P Nigeria Ltd and Nigeria Agip Oil Company to acquire a 45% participating interest in a producing oil mining lease in Nigeria (“OML 30”) .

Shoreline is a joint venture between Shoreline Power, a leading private Nigerian energy and infrastructure company and

Heritage Oil Plc, an independent upstream exploration and production company listed on both the London and Toronto stock exchanges.

However, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), through its subsidiary, Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) will hold the remaining 55% interest, and will also be the Operator of OML 30, working in partnership with Shoreline to further develop the field.

The Standard Bank Group and JP Morgan provided instrumental support in financing the acquisition price of OML 30. Standard Bank will further provide the permanent long term financing for the Company, located onshore in the delta area of Nigeria, approximately 45 kilometers east of Warri, Southern Nigeria, OML 30 covers an area of 1,095 square kilometers. The license includes eight producing fields, associated infrastructure, and ownership and operation of a

segment of the Trans Forcados Pipeline.

Reacting to the signing of the agreement, Mr. Kola Karim, Chief Executive Officer of Shoreline Energy International said it was a major development for the company. ”Shoreline will inaugurate capacity developments and training programmes ensuring we add value and develop close relationships with local communities and other stakeholders in the delta region.” Karim stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 21

Changes in NNPC may affect reform policy- PENGASSAN

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has said the changes in the leadership of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) might affect ongoing reforms in the oil and gas sector.

The disclosure was made available to newsmen by the association’s President, Mr. Babatunde Ogun, in Lagos that the on-going Turn Around Maintenance (TAM) in some of the nation’s refineries could suffer setback.

Ogun was reacting to the sacking of the NNPC’s Group Managing Director (GMD), Mr. Austin Oniwon, and three executive directors last week Tuesday by President Goodluck Jonathan.

The PENGASSAN, boss who

picked holes in the incessant changes in the management of the NNPC, expressed fear that the changes could delay the growth of the oil and gas industry, adding that the changes could affect the ongoing investment drive in the oil and gas sector.

Ogun said the rehabilitation of the four refineries, which were being restored to operate at their installed capacities, could equally be delayed as a result of the changes.

He recalled that in the past few months, the NNPC management had been working on how to bring back the refineries as part of its transformation drive.

“The Kaduna and Port Harcourt refineries have started working progressively towards their installed capacities while there are plans to put back the Warri refinery,” Ogun said.

The union leader expressed fears that the new management might abandon the ongoing TAM of the refineries, which could compel the Federal Government to sell the refineries.

He said the experience of the leaders would have been tapped in kick-starting the successful take off of the impending Petroleum Industry.

Ogun said PENGASSAN, without prejudice, was not happy with the process of appointment and removal of the NNPC management, saying it had always set the industry backward.

“It does not engender continuity in development policies as every GMD comes with his own style and discontinues the growth policies of previous administrations,’’ he said.

Ogun pointed out that in the

union’s various engagements with government; it had always demanded that the appointment of the NNPC GMD should be based on tenure, just like what existed at the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) and the Bureau for Public Enterprises (BPE).

He recalled that in the past 10 years, the NNPC had six GMDs, from Dr. Jackson GaiusObaseki to Mr. Austin Oniwon, unlike other agencies that had just two changes.

Ogun congratulated the new GMD, Dr. Andrew Yakubu, and his team, urging them to follow the laid-down reform policies and plans of the outgoing team.

He urged the Federal Government to address the concerns of workers, saying it would go a long way in enhancing the growth of the oil and gas industry.

L-R: Outgoing Chairman of Nigerian Insurers Association (NIA), Mr. Olusola O. Ladipo-Ajayi, new Chairman, Mr. Remi Olowude, Director General/CE, Mr. Olorundare Thomas and Principal Counsel, Funmi Adeyemi and Co., Professor Moses O. Adeyemi, during the 41st Annual General Meeting and handing over to the new chairman, recently in Lagos.

DuPont expands frontier, opens new office in Nigeria

By Muhammad Nasir

A

s part of its continued growth strategy in key developing markets, DuPont has opened a new office in Nigeria to serve as its hub for the West African region. The company said it is currently working in partnership with local companies, industry leaders, academic institutions and government to produce innovative solutions in the country.

“Over the past several years, we have invested in developing markets and leveraged our technology.

Our full-year financial results were very strong. Sales of $38billion were up 20 per cent compared to 2010, with a 27 per cent increase in developing markets,” said Ian Hudson, DuPont President Europe, Middle East and Africa, at the opening of its Lagos office.

He stated that with the new ultra-modern office in Lagos, the company has brought its services closer to the Nigerian people and has solidified its presence as stakeholders in the country’s economy.

OmoighuiOkauru urges new FIRS management to surpass achievements

FG, oil firm to establish two I refineries worth N720bn

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Government yesterday signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a firm, Petroleum Refineries and Strategic Research Ltd, on the construction of two modular refineries in the coastal areas of Nigeria at the cost of $4.5 billion (N720 billion).

The refineries are expected to be commissioned in 12 months time and they have a joint capacity of between 30,000 and 60,000 barrels per day.

Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga

who signed the MoU on behalf of the Federal Government, said it was part of National Industrial Revolution Plan which aimed to stall the exportation of raw materials and jobs from Nigeria while encouraging the transformation of the raw materials and exportation of finished goods which add value to the economy.

Aganga added that the firm had a history of performance and a trusted track records having delivered on bigger projects in Russia and other countries.

The minister also noted that government will give the firm

all the technical support it needs to accomplish the task, saying that the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) is actively involved in the deal.

“This is part of the paradigm shift we talk about. We have to stop exporting crude oil and therefore we need more refineries.

With the signing of this deal, I am sure the two refineries which will cost about $4.5 billion dollars will be commissioned in a year’s time,” he added.

Aganga justified the involvement of the private sector in government’s transformation agenda, adding

that the Eleme Petrochemicals is now 30 times more productive than when it was in the hands of government.

Chairman of the company, Chief Edozie Njoku said the two refineries were part of a 30month plan to construct 6 modular refineries in strategic places in Nigeria. He added that the construction of the other four refineries will commence after the first two are completed in 12 months time.

He added that his firm will build simple refineries, “that will help tackle the problems of Nigeria as against the existing complex refineries.”

mmediate past Executive Chairman of the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), Mrs. Ifueko Omoigui Okauru has urged the new FIRS Management to surpass in two years what she achieved in a decade.

Omoigui Okauru who spoke during the week in Abuja at a send-forth dinner in her honour, said surpassing what she did with others during her tenure is the greatest honour the FIRS could do her and other past chairmen.

She said: “I thank all stakeholders, the staff, members of the National Assembly, members of the Federal Executive Council (FEC), he Police, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), former Presidents, the incumbent President, former ministers and members of the Board without whom we couldn’t have done all what you are praising us for.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Nigeria-South Africa trade volume grows to N4.8tr From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

T

he relationship between Nigeria and South Africa has seen trade volume between the two countries expand significantly to $30 billion (N4.8 trillion), South African High Commissioner to Nigeria, Kingsley Mamabolo has said.

However, the trade relationship is in favour of South Africa, which presently has a more diversified economy, and according to Mamabolo, trade volumes would rise considerably in coming years, particularly as his country is taking a resolution to look to Nigeria for oil and crude oil needs.

Speaking during the official at the opening of the Abuja shopping mall, which was developed by the Grand Tower African Property Fund, Novare South Africa with Stanbic IBTC,

he said, “We are very happy with the development of the binational commission and we are looking forward to many other issues. I can actually say that in the next five years, we would want to increase investments. I do not know how much but there is a great potential here.

Popular Shoprite, a South African retail shop is the anchor food tenant in the Abuja shopping mall, which also houses a variety of international, national and local stores.

Grand Tower African Property Fund, Novare South Africa with Stanbic IBTC, DTV and Group 5 as partners, generated $100m for investment in West Africa with Nigeria as the primary focus and Abuja considered as the first beneficiaries of the fund.

According to Mamabolo, the mall exemplifies what he

termed: ‘the good existing relationship” between Nigeria and South Africa and which according to him, must be strengthened not just for the benefit accruing to the two countries but anticipated gains to the entire continent.

“I must say that I am very proud of this investment because to me; it is one indication once again that Nigeria and South Africa have no alternative but to be together. We absolutely have to be together, such that whatever South Africa might have as an advantage, Nigeria can share and vice-versa.

“Although sometimes, we cross lines and we miss the point entirely, we focus on some very wrong things, there is no fight between us; the point is that we need to work together because politically, economically and otherwise, the two countries need each other.

Backward integration: Manufacturers, Obasanjo commend Dangote Cement’s leading role From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN) has lauded the leading role being played by Dangote Cement Plc in the implementation of backward integration policy of the government in the cement sector and called for the replication of the policy in other sectors.

The manufacturers, who gathered in Lagos for their 40th Annual General Meeting described as noble and commendable the position of Dangote Cement on the policy.

President of MAN, Kola Jamodu, who was responding to remarks made by former President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, said there is the need for the policy to be replicated in other sub-sectors of the economy and that government should also play its role for other sector players to embrace the policy.

He attributed the successes being recorded by Dangote Cement in the continuous expansion of its plants to accommodate local consumption

and export to the policy consistency of the federal government and urged the government to help manufacturers by ensuring right policies are not only in place but also consistent.

According to him, there are lots of opportunities for investors if the right policies are in place citing the example of Alhaji Aliko Dangote who he said was just “a cement bagger, but keyed into the policy of backward integration to become a leading cement manufacturer worldwide.

There was no special privilege enjoyed by him from government, he only embraced the policy and determined to make something out of it.

“Dangote was not singled out for any favour, he only embraced the policy. Initially there were attempts to truncate the policy but thank God it is still subsisting” Earlier, Chief Obasanjo, who was a guest speaker on the occasion, had expressed hope that Nigeria could become an industrial giant with the right policies and manufacturers displaying the right attitude.

W/Africa July oil flow to China seen at 2012 low

C

L-R: Executive Director, Central, Unity Bank Plc, Ibrahim Mohammed, Executive Director, Information Technology and Operations, Ahmed Yusuf, and Regional Manager, Garki branch, Aminu Bafta, during the "Aim and Win" promo of the bank, at the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

hina's demand for West African crude oil for July is expected to fall to the lowest level this year following refinery run cuts there, a Reuters survey of traders showed yesterday.

China, the world's top energy consumer, has purchased about 29 cargoes, or 889,000 barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil, which will be loaded in July from West African countries.

Angola accounts for the bulk of the volume.

The volume is about a 12 percent fall from June and the lowest since December last year, according to Reuters data.

Total West African exports to Asia will fall to 1.50 million barrels per day, also the lowest since

recharge with N10, 000 will get a whopping N10, 000 extra, giving them a total of N20,000 worth of airtime.

This latest promo does not limit the amount that can be recharged by a customer, however, all recharges and bonus doubled must be used by end of the weekend and all unused recharges and bonus credit for the promo expires by 12 midnight every Sunday.

Etisalat Customers who recharge with N200 or

above by using e-top up equally benefit from this amazing offer.

Commenting on the offer, Chief Commercial Officer, Etisalat Nigeria, Wael Ammar said, “We realise the need for Nigerians to connect with their loved ones especially on weekends and so we are giving our customers double the amount of any recharge they make during the weekend to call their friends and families in Nigeria and abroad at the applicable rates.”

December, the survey showed.

Traders said Chinese companies resold some July cargoes, which they had bought earlier, on the spot market.

China's top refiner, Sinopec Corp, will cut crude throughput by close to 236,000 barrels per day in July versus an earlier target, curbing production for a second straight month as inventories bulged and margins contracted, industry and trading sources said in June.

The cut would represent 5 percent of the 4.5 million bpd throughput target the refiner set in March for 2012. Taking into account a planned overhaul at the Sinopec Wuhan refinery, the reduction would total about 303,000 bpd. (Reuters)

Etisalat offers customers double talk-time with ‘Double Ur recharge weekend promo’ From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

E

tisalat, as part of its commitment to enhance the communication lives of its customers and also give them more value for their money, is offering its customers an overwhelming airtime reward offer.

The reward offer, tagged: “Double Ur Recharge Weekend Promo”, which doubles recharges made during weekends between 6pm on

Friday and 11:59pm on Sunday.

To reap the benefit of this fantastic weekend promo, all customers have to do is opt-in by dialing *356*1#, or texting ON to 356; and ALL recharges of N200 and above made during the weekend between 6pm on Friday and 11:59pm on Sunday will be doubled.

Customers that recharge with N200 airtime will get an additional N20 making a total of N400 and customers that

“Our customers have always been at the centre of our business, so we have designed the current promotion in such a way that they get double value for their money.”

The “Double Ur Recharge Weekend Promo” is a clear example of Etisalat’s commitment to rewarding its customers and providing exciting offers on its network, while offering consistent and innovative products and services.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Boosting workers’ productivity in Nigeria NLC President, Abdulwaheed Omar

P

roductivity is a dependent variable in the development efforts of any nation, as it is an underlying factor of all economic development processes.

Development economists assert that no country can be self-sufficient without attaining appreciable productivity in all the sectors of its economy.

Aware of the importance of productivity in national development planning, the Federal Government has been striving to put in place policies that would enhance productivity.

For instance, the National Productivity Centre (NPC), established by Decree No.7 of 1987, now NPC Act, Cap 272 of 1990, was set up to boost productivity in the country.

The kernel of NPC’s mandate is to: “Facilitate socioeconomic growth and development through productivity improvement. ’’ The Centre is constitutionally empowered to achieve its mandate by “stimulating productivity consciousness towards the attainment of effective and efficient work systems for a better and efficient service delivery ’’.

Besides, SERVICOM (Service Compact with all Nigerians) was set up in March 2004, as part of the Federal Government’s efforts to improve the quality of public service delivery in Nigeria Also, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) recently approved the first National

Policy on Productivity for the country.

The policy, which was proposed by Chief Emeka Wogu, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, would pave way for the creation of the National Council on Productivity.

The Council is intended to provide guidance for the dayto-day implementation of the policy.

The Minister of Information, Mr Labaran

Maku, said that FEC approved the policy after an exhaustive debate, adding that it was meant to enhance national productivity as part of efforts to foster the country’s development.

“Our efforts to transform the country can only be fruitful if our nation adopts the culture of productivity, innovation, improvement and proper management of resources.

“This is because enhanced national productivity is at the

Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu

heart of any economic development and progress,’’ he said.

Wogu bemoaned the decline in national productivity and stressed that the vision of the policy was to transform Nigeria into a productive nation through hard work and efficient management of resources.

“The policy itself has a vision, a clear cut vision; and the vision is to transform Nigerian into a productive and competitive economy through

hard work and creativity; innovation and adoption of best practices,’’ he said.

The minister, nonetheless, stressed that the guidelines for the policy’s implementation would soon be released by the Ministry of Labour and Productivity.

“The policy’s implementation involves nongovernmental stakeholders, the organised private sector, the media and other sectors of the economy,’’ he said.

Wogu said that implementation committees would be set up at state and local government levels to ensure the maximum effect of the policy.

Efforts toward the formulation of a National Productivity Policy for the country began in 2009 when the late President Umaru Yar’Adua directed the NPC to convene a summit to deliberate on the policy.

Yar’Adua stressed that the policy should provide the framework for achieving sustainable growth in productivity, while serving as a roadmap to guide the productivity movement in Nigeria.

Prince Adetokunbo Kayode, a former Minister of Labour and Productivity, succinctly underscored the need to inculcate productivity consciousness in the country’s workforce.

Kayode, who spoke at one of NPC’s Foundation Day celebration, stressed that efforts to achieve enhanced productivity should be brought into a wider national focus.

He said that Nigeria’s underdevelopment over the years could be blamed on the low performance of the various sectors of the economy.

Kayode insisted that government’s efforts to promote the wellbeing of the citizens could only be fruitful if they were anchored on a “sound and sustainable productivity improvement framework’’.

Dr Paul Bdliya, the Director-General of NPC, said that productivity was vital to the success of any national development agenda.

“Increased productivity at various sectoral levels is a task which we must achieve. This is because Nigeria’s underdevelopment over the

Nigerian workers in a rally to mark the year 2012 Workers Day years has been attributed to the low performance of the various sectors of the economy on the productivity scale,’’ he said.

Bdliya emphasised that great nations of the world were built via their citizens’ creativity, hard work, innovativeness and pursuit of excellence.

“We must, therefore, resolve, both at the individual and organisational levels, to develop our productive mindset, as this will enable us to attain the Nigeria of our dream,’’ he said.

Mr Jide Mike, the immediate-past DirectorGeneral of Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (MAN), said that Nigerian workers should be provided the enabling environment to enable them to boost their productivity.

“I know that Nigerian workers are very hardworking but there are a lot of factors which actually discourage them from putting in their best,’’ he said.

He said that the factors included poor remuneration,

transportation problems, corruption and poor supervision.

Mike, however, said that good structural organisation, competent manpower, training, positive attitudes toward employment, good wages, consistent power supply and good transportation would lead to higher productivity.

Mr Olusegun Oshinowo, the Director General, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA), noted that the productivity of workers, who usually travelled long

distances to the workplace, was somewhat poor.

He urged employers, particularly the Federal Government, to create an enabling environment for productivity to thrive, adding that it could do this by addressing the lingering power supply problems.

Mr Peter Onwubuariri, an Abuja-based journalist, said that the lack of encouragement from employers of labour had been a major factor limiting the productivity of Nigerian workers.

He underscored the need to improve the workers’ welfare, saying that a good remuneration system was fundamental to efforts to improve workers’ productivity in any organisation.

Onwubuariri also said that workers should be given perks and incentives such as free health care, among others.

He reiterated that good remuneration and welfare packages for workers would boost their productivity and encourage them to be more diligent.

Experts insist that since productivity is an intervening factor in fulfilment of any organisation, tangible efforts should be made to initiate and sustain pragmatic schemes to boost productivity in the country.

They particularly urge the Federal Government to properly fund its agencies, which are specifically set up to promote productivity, so as to enable them to fulfil their mandate without any hitches.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 27

Nigeria’s problem: Where Senate President David Mark went wrong (1)

By Dr. Sule Bello

T

he Senate President David Mark, was said to have made some remarks on the state of the nation in relation to the activities of Boko Haram, at a 3 - day retreat for senators which opened on Monday, June, 2012, at Uyo, the capital of Akwa Ibom State.

In these remarks, an abridged version of which was carried in the Peoples Daily of Tuesday June 2012, certain observations were made by the Senate President. He was reported to have opined that Nigeria may break up unless its major problem, the activities of the Boko Haram, is somehow contained or brought to an end. He further identified the "northern elders" as the key group that need to speak up, and somehow act, if this potential calamity were to be averted.

Given the position of the Senate President, and the occasion at which the speech was delivered as well as the extent to which it represents, or might influence, the direction of thought in the senate the speech demonstrates a significant problem bedeviling the nation at the level of policy formulation and oversight functions. This is because the speech is clearly not studied, evidence-based, objective, constitutional or national in outlook. In fact in a number of cases it seems clearly one-sided, unrepresentational and evasive of the available evidence, as well as inclined towards the further promotion of illegal and unconstitutional acts by government. he views he expressed do not seem to have been founded on the basis of some objective and factual studies of the politics of the 4th Republic, or violent conflicts, in Nigeria. It is important to note that a good number of studies by many Nigerians, as well as foreigners, have been conducted for such purposes. On the contrary the views expressed by the senate President tend to only further politicize the problem by pandering to political constituencies, and patrons, on the basis of politically motivated sectionalist sentiments, and prejudices, rather than principled, constructive and rational arguments.

It is precisely in order to overcome such problems that legislative assemblies are representational in character while their decisions, the world over, are expected to be sourced from studies conducted by employed, as well as commissioned, experts who can be relied upon to bring their training to bear in the course of such works, thereby paying due attention to the basic principles of objectivity in terms of methodology, evidence and conclusions conscious of the need to respect the centrality of constitutionalism, and national interests, in their work. It is hoped that the need for such an approach will be more profoundly expressed in the future presentations of the senate President, as well as the

T

activities of the National Assembly.

The fact that the above stated approach was not adopted, and followed through, made it difficult for the senate President to truly identify the primary problem of Nigeria, its nature or its consequences. Similarly it became impossible for him to offer any definite policy position that is both national and constitutional on how the problem of Boko Haram could be solved beyond the clearly confused, and disturbingly naĂŻve, appeals to the "northern elders" to speak up, or the Boko Haram activists to "come out of hiding", in addition to some threats of a possible Christian "vengeance". He also indicated that not only is the government not likely to heed the various appeals to it, to proceed on the basis of the constitution and the rule of law, he even stated that the government will not be restrained "by mere rule of law" in its violent, and repressive, campaigns in the areas concerned.

The Problem of Nigeria "The problem we have in this country today and we must say it loud and clear", the senate President proclaimed, "is the Boko Haram".

In the first place the senate President made an error in logic that is simply unpardonable. Boko Haram, like many other crises in Nigeria, is itself a by-product of a more general and more primary problem which many have already characterised as the extent of corruption and general maladministration that has gripped the country since the inception of the 4th Republic in 1999. This problem is associated with the neomilitary nature of the 4th Republic and its tendency to disregard the national constitution, and rule with impunity. Further to this is the tendency of the 4th Republic regimes to surrender Nigeria's sovereignty and control to the USA, and its allies, in various areas of our national life, with very serious consequences for our national interests, security and the character of national governance.

I

n the second place the senate President failed to observe that Boko Haram is only one, and perhaps the latest, of the many cases of violent conflicts in the country that are all associated with the long-standing failure of the governments to discharge their responsibilities to the country. This led him to discuss the problem of Boko Haram outside its national, and socio-political, contexts resulting in a subjective stereotype which simply reduces the crisis to a confrontation between members of one faith and another, in the very manner those behind its incitement wanted it to be perceived, even though all the evidence indicate the involvement of members of all faiths as either organizers, facilitators, perpetrators or victims.

Appreciating this fact is essential to an objective, investigative and

lawful solution to the problem in order to identify those who have conducted criminal activities as distinct from those who are innocent, in opposition to the blatant, jaundiced and unfounded generalization that seeks to prejudge people as either culprits, or victims, based on their religious faith only, as the senate President clearly did. The fact that he evaded mentioning the numerous cases of christians found involved in bombing various churches in all parts of the country does not only point to an uncritical tendency, on his part, to go along with a public incitement programme designed to achieve some nefarious purposes, but is also a sad reflection of his lack of concern for justice. The least expected of him is to call on the government to come out and fully tell the public who the sponsors of these suspects, and what their real motives, are. His lack of interest in, or sympathy for, the many other Nigerian's who are of different faith or social standing from him, especially muslims, that have either been killed, maimed or have had their fortunes destroyed in this conflict, as well as in many other related ones, is not a good reflection on the senate Presidents national, or indeed humane, leadership qualities.

In the third place the senate President did not pay any attention to various other views, or perspectives, presented by many other Nigerians on Boko Haram or, indeed, the dominant viewpoint that corruption is Nigeria's major problem. Similarly the senate President paid no heed to the various calls by community organizations, political parties and civil society organizations to the effect that the extra-judicial conduct of the JTF in particular, and of the security forces in general, in Nigeria are increasingly bordering on repression and extortion and therefore moving more in the direction of criminality. On the contrary he only promised further extra-judicial activities for the nation.

It is indeed curious that he called only on the "northern elders", rather than the national leadership, to actually serve as the major agency for the solution of the problem.

What is particularly worrisome is the fact that the senate President does not seem to be aware of the fact that the same "northern elders" he is calling upon to speak have not only already, on the 30th of May 2012, spoken up to President Jonathan but had indeed even submitted a number of recommendations which they believe could help solve the various problems of the nation. They spoke at length not only about Boko Haram but also about the extrajudicial conduct of the Joint Task force (JTF) as well as the vindictive and discriminatory policies of the Federal Government against the northern states, which many believe is at the root of the so-called poverty of the north that is being referred to. Paying attention to these various

Senate President David Mark views and complaints, as well as addressing them, rather than neglecting them, is an important schedule of responsibility for the senate President. It does not augur well for Nigeria, or the National Assembly, where the senate President publicly advertises his ignorance of these various complaints, petitions and developments.

Causes and Consequences of Nigerias Problem

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ather than discussing what many Nigerians, and foreigners, advance as the major causes of the Boko Haram conflict the senate President only touched on those circumstantial issues which many believe, a better handling of, could help to defuse the difficulties, pressures and tensions that tend to only further aggravate the problem, thereby compounding it, and making it less amenable to a viable solution. To assume that socalled "poverty", "lack of education" "unemployment" and "lack of national values" are being claimed by anybody as initial, direct and actual causes of Boko Haram, as the senate President seems to suggest, is to mistake attendant, contingent and circumstantial factors for prime and actual causes. It is important to emphasise that responsibilities of providing education, employment and national direction, in the form of "national values", as well as combating poverty is the primary and constitutional responsibility of the government which it ought to, and need to, be seen to discharge in all parts of the country- including in the north with, or without, Boko Haram. Those who have urged the

Federal government to pay attention to issues of development in the north have only done so in order to alert it of its basic responsibility, one which it has derelicted upon since.

Various people have advanced a number of causes as to why, and how, the Boko Haram crises had originated and grown as well as persisted. Most commentators believe that the almajiri followers of Mal. Mohammad Yusuf, who were agitating for justice after their teacher and associates were extrajudicially murdered by the nations security forces could not be seen as the prime moving force of this conflict. Attention has thus been drawn to criminal syndicates as well as agent provocateurs, mostly nonMuslim and of southern Nigerian origins, that are associated with such criminal acts, as was convincingly argued by Prof. Jean Herskovits and Rev. Matthew Hassan Kukah. Furthermore many people have highlighted how powerful, and national, political, bureaucratic and financial interests have come to have some stake in the continuation of this conflict. In this regard a number of critics, such as Prof. Ango Abdullahi, have classified Boko Haram into a number of groups while some others have even identified the Federal Government of Nigeria as the biggest Boko Haram. In the third place other schools, of thought represented by writers like Gordon Duff and national movements like GREENWHITE coalition, believe that the hands of the USA, and its allies, play the leading role in the orchestration of the Boko Haram affair.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 27

Mother told she would never have children celebrates christening of quadruplet daughters

H

aving been told at the age of 15 she would never have children, Charlene Medlicott thought her dreams of starting a family were over.

But two sets of twins later, the 20-year-old has defied doctors and beaten twenty five million-toone odds to give birth to quadruplets.

The gorgeous girls, Evelynn, Gracie-Lou, Rosaline and AmaliaRose Connaughton, are six months old and have been christened in a heartwarming ceremony in their hometown of

Telford, Shropshire.

Remarkably, all four were conceived naturally in a quadruplet pregnancy considered to be very rare and potentially very dangerous.

Their mother had been diagnosed with suffering from polycystic ovaries as a teenager and been told she would never give birth.

Charlene’s condition restricts ovulation and, doctors told her, dramatically lowered the odds of her becoming pregnant to almost zero.

Mark Connaughton, 26, and Charlene Medlicott, 20, with their miracle quadruplets Evelynn, Rosaline, Gracie-Lou, Amalia-Rose.

The girls wore identical gowns for the christening - but different hairbands so the vicar could tell them apart.

Charlene Medlicott, who suffers from polycystic ovaries, was told at 15 she would never have children.

The girls wore unique hairbands so that Reverend Rosemary Freeman, centre, could tell them apart.

And upon discovering she was pregnant with quadruplets, doctors advised the 20-year-old to abort two of them to give the other two a better chance of survival.

Charlene battled against the odds, however, and more than 100 friends and family turned up to see the babies christened at the Shropshire ceremony.

Proud parents Charlene Medlicott, 20, and Mark Connaughton, 26, dressed their daughters in identical traditional christening gowns, with their own style hairbands to tell them all apart.

The christening at St Michael’s Church in Madeley, West Midlands, comes as the couple plan to marry, after being engaged since 2010.

And now they have four beautiful bridesmaids already to hand for the ceremony.

Father Mark, said the birth of their four daughters caught the couple completely by surprise: ‘It was a big shock to the system.

‘To find out you’re having one is enough of a surprise, but four is very different.’

Evelynn Lillian Julie and her twin Rosaline Anita Mae were born prematurely in the same delivery as Gracie-Lou Anne and her twin Amalia-Rose Rachael last December.

The quadruplets spent several weeks in neo-natal care before their parents were allowed to take them home.

And Charlene has said that all four of the miracle babies are hardly any trouble: ‘We have learned to deal with them very well - they are all very well behaved babies.

‘They cry when they want something but then they just go back to sleep.’

She accepted, however, that she is likely to have her hands full as the baby girls grow up: ‘You can tell they will argue when they are older - they already have little tiffs to get more attention.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Briton jailed on suspicion of mass murder in Central African Republic begs for help T

he British safari pilot held on suspicion of committing mass murder in the Central African Republic is seriously ill in prison after contracting malaria.

David Simpson, 24, has been held in a squalid Bangui jail cell for three months on a charge of using black magic to murder and torture 13 men.

Since his arrest, Mr Simpson has lost three stone in weight and is giving up hope of ever leaving prison alive.

To compound matters, a police investigation into the charge – which carries the death penalty – has been abandoned after troops from Joseph Kony’s Lord’s Resistance Army occupied a village near the murder site.

The notorious Ugandan warlord is widely believed to be behind the brutal murder of the 13 goldmine workers.

Speaking on a mobile phone smuggled into his cell, Mr Simpson told the Daily Mail: ‘I am giving up hope. I am getting so desperate.

‘It is hell in here. I have contracted malaria three times but the last bout has left me so very, very ill.

‘I am three stone lighter than when they first arrested me.

‘I feel like the world has forgotten about me. I don’t want to die in here.’

Mr Simpson, the son of a Yorkshire farmer, was arrested in April along with his Swedish boss Erik Mararv, 26, after stumbling

David Simpson, 24, is giving up hope of leaving the jail in the Central African Republic, where he has been held for three months, alive.

David, who grew up in North Yorkshire, is being held in prison without charge

across the mutilated bodies of the mine workers.

He was helping to clear a road through the dense African bush in his role as manager for a big game hunting company - a firm which offered wealthy clients the chance to shoot lions, leopards and buffalo.

The bodies had been tied together, tortured with boiling water and hacked to death with machetes.

Mr Simpson reported his gruesome find to police but was arrested and accused of concocting mystical potions to make the men sleep.

At the time, Mr Simpson weighed a healthy 14 stone but his weight has now plummeted to less than 11.

Last month, the Mail became the first and only paper to travel to the CAR to see Mr Simpson in prison and witness first-hand the abject squalor and brutal conditions of Ngaragba jail in the capital Bangui.

He shares his cramped and filthy cell with 12 others and along with his Mr Mararv, is the only white inmate out of 600 prisoners.

Mr Simpson added: ‘The whole thing is just so frustrating and ridiculous. I am in a living nightmare.

‘There is no evidence against me at all.

‘I am so desperate to get out of here but I cannot see an end in sight.

I just want people to remember that I am here, that an innocent man is in prison for a crime he clearly did not commit. For God’s sake don’t forget me.’

Mr Simpson, who grew up in the North Yorkshire village of Gillamoor, believes his arrest was motivated purely by greed and the belief that as a Westerner, he would be able to pay a substantial bribe to make the allegations disappear.

He added: ‘There is no justice here. There is no legal system. It is all about how much you are

prepared to pay.

‘They asked me for £250,000 to get out of prison but I don’t have that kind of money and now it has almost gone too far as too many people would lose face if the accusations were simply dropped.’

Two investigations, which Cawa has had to pay for, have so far been carried out into the murders.

According to Mr Simpson, these were farcical affairs at best, which

consisted of little more than soldiers posing for pictures at the massacre site.

Almost three months on, the bodies have not been identified or removed, so their remains will now have been eaten by animals.

The Foreign Office said it was providing consular assistance and had been in regular contact with Mr Simpson and his family.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

“

I am so desperate to get out of here but I cannot see an end in sight. I just want people to remember that I am here, that an innocent man is in prison for a crime he clearly did not commit. For God’s sake don’t forget me

CAR police have abandoned the investigation after members of Joseph Kony's Lord's Resistance Army, who are widely believed to be behind the murders, occupied a village near the spot where the bodies were found.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 29

Bauchi govt to cultivate 100,000 hectares of cotton in 2012, says Programme Manager

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n line with the Federal Government’s programme on the revival of cotton production, the Bauchi State Government has said it will cultivate 100,000 hectares of the commodity this year.

The Programme Manager of Bauchi State Agricultural Development Project (BSADP), Dr Aliyu Gital, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recently in Bauchi.

Gital, who is also a member of the committee set up by the government to implement the programme, said each one of the 20 members of the committee was expected to cultivate not less than five hectares.

“Each member of the committee, about 20, is cultivating not less than five hectares - some are 20 and some are 10. Then for the cotton farmers, we were saying that a minimum of 10,000 hectares should be cultivated

Agriculture: Malaysian conglomerate to invest $400m in Abia

T

he Abia State Commissioner for Agriculture, Chief Ike Onyenweaku has said the State government has signed an agreement with a Malaysian Conglomerate, ‘Sime Darby’, to boost the palm oil sector of the state.

Onyenweaku told journalists recently in Umuahia, the Abia State capital that ‘Sime Darby’ had agreed to invest 400 million dollars in the sector.

He said that the conglomerate owned the largest palm tree plantation in the world, adding that the investment would restore Abia to its past glorious years in palm oil production.

“You can agree with me that the oil palm value chain is not fully developed as it has not gone beyond the mid-stream level. This poses a serious challenge in our bid to harness the potentials available in the sector in order to return Nigeria on top,” he explained.

It was leant that Malaysia, which obtained its first palm fruit from Nigeria, is today the world’s largest palm oil producer.

The commissioner said that the state government had shown much zeal in the agricultural sector, stressing that Abia would vigorously pursue the Agricultural Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

According to him, the Minister of Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina, is expected in the state to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of 240tonne high quality cassava flour mill in Abia.

“We are ready to accept any useful suggestions on the exploration of the palm oil sector for the well-being of farmers in view of the ATA,” Onyenweaku said.

He said that the state government aimed to make agriculture a lucrative private enterprise that would be result-oriented. (NAN)

per state; but then the purchase we have done for the cotton seeds are 100,000 hectares,” he explained.

“Because most farmers that are not registered may come for the seeds; and we believe when we stock these seeds, if we cannot exhaust them this year, next year with the promise that buyers will come, more farmers will come,” Gital stressed.

“The journey so far is good; apart from the mobilization that was done - you see me going round the local governments that are affected - we

also took some key agriculturalists and policy makers to Adamawa Sabore Farms - they were trained. It was supposed to be a train-the-trainer programme,” he added.

He expressed regret that cotton production was neglected over the years and spoke of the need to revive the production of the crop through the retraining of farmers and other key stakeholders.

“Cotton has been produced, but for the past 20 years of more we have not produced cotton, as expected.

“So, most of our farmers now don’t have the knowledge or technology of cotton production. That is why the state government feels it is necessary to send some people to go and train on modern production. So, that our farmers and some extension agents that are going to supervise the farms are trained.

“Right now the training is ongoing, because the train the trainers was completed at the middle of last month, so now is the farmers and some of the ES that are being trained.

“So now I think we are going to do cotton business in 15 local governments out of the 20 because they have the comparative advantage, they have the history of cotton production.”

He said the state government would integrate the local government councils at a later date so that all the councils would participate in cotton production.

Gital added that seeds and chemicals would be made available to the farmers to ensure mass production of the commodity. (NAN)

Gov. Theodore Orji of Abia State (center) flanked on the right by the Hon. Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Akinwuli Adesina, and Chief Ike Onyenweaku, commissioner of Agiclture (left) after the signing of an MoU on Agricultural growth enhancement scheme recently in Umuahia

IFAD rates RUFIN projects high

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he supervision mission of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD) on the Rural Finance Institution Building Programmes (RUFIN) projects in the 12 participating states has rated the programmes as “moderately” satisfactory.

Miss Atsuko Toda, the Country Programme Manager of the International Fund for Agriculture Development (IFAD), gave the

verdict on Monday at the mission’s mini wrap-up in Ibadan.

RUFIN is a seven-year IFADassisted programme designed to improve the performance of nonbank rural finance institutions to enable them to develop to sustainable rural microfinance institutions in the participating states.

The goal of the programme is to strengthen the income, food security and general living conditions of poor rural households, particularly

women-headed households, youths and the physically challenged.

The supervision mission comprises the Federal Government officials, consultants and the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The mission had visited Benue, Akwa Ibom and Oyo states; which are among the 12 participating states.

Other participating states are Anambra, Adamawa, Edo, Imo, Zamfara, Katsina, Lagos, Bauchi, and Nasarawa. Toda explained that the

states.

The goal of the programme is to strengthen the income, food security and general living conditions of poor rural households, particularly women-led households, youths and the physically challenged.

“We will try to reinforce the capacity building and training for microfinance officers at the local level, ” Toda said. She added that the savings, credit and loans groups needed to be consolidated to be more viable.

In his remark, Kolade urged IFAD to introduce RUFIN projects in more local government areas of the state.

The commissioner expressed regrets that: “our people in the rural areas prefer to save their monies in a pot and hide it under the bed.

Kolade said the state was contemplating the re-financing of farmers in the state and noted “But if RUFIN can spread to more agrarian parts of the state they can help sensitise our people on how to bank their monies. ” Earlier, Mr Musibau Azeez, National Programme Coordinator of RUFIN, commended the state government for its efforts in assisting farmers. He said it was important to inform the commissioner on the mission’s findings in the state. (NAN)

...recommends more capacity building for co-ordinators

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he Country Programme Manager of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) has recommended more capacity training for state coordinators of the Rural Finance Institution Building Programme (RUFIN).

While briefing the Oyo State Commissioner for Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development, Mr Daniel Kolade, on the mission’s findings in Ibadan, Miss Atsuko Toda made the recommendation recently.

The coordinators are for AkwaIbom, Anambra, Adamawa, Edo, Imo, Benue, Zamfara, Katsina, Lagos, Bauchi, Oyo and Nasarawa

rating was based on what the mission saw on ground in the states.

She explained that there was a lack of partnership between RUFIN and the financial non-governmental organisations, which could link up to more groups.

Toda also suggested that RUFIN should consolidate its good relationship with the 33 microfinance banks it was mentoring.

She called for the strengthening of RUFIN projects in all the states in order to bring more local government areas on board.

In his remark, Dr Rauno Zander, a consultant to IFAD, stressed the need to ensure that savings, loans and credit groups were viable for microfinance banks.

“The comfort level at the microfinance banks is not adequately developed for the groups to explore, ” Zander said.

He called for the involvement of more women at the executive level of the groups to ensure high loan recovery rates.

Another consultant, Dr Samuel Negedu, said that there should be a continuous sensitisation on RUFIN projects at the local level and that states should fulfil their part of the intervention fund.

Mr Musibau Azeez, the National Programme Coordinator of RUFIN, gave an assurance that RUFIN would ensure more linkage between microfinance banks and the groups. He said more micro-finance banks had shown interest in RUFIN projects.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 30

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he Abia State Farmers’ Cooperative Union Limited has said it will guarantee cooperative societies wishing to benefit from the N1 billion agriculture loans in Abia.

Chief Uzoma Nwogwugwu, the Chairman of the union, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Umuahia recently.

NAN reports that the state government has outlined conditions for accessing the loan.

FG plans to increase food production to 20 metric tonnes annually

Farmers’ union moves to guarantee disbursement of N1bn agric loan One of the conditions is that the beneficiary must be guaranteed by a senior civil servant from Grade level 09 and above.

This condition has not gone down well with most farmers, particularly those who claim that they do not have anybody to guarantee them.

Most civil servants are apprehensive of such responsibility for fear of the unknown. But Nwaogwugwu told NAN that the cooperative union would assume the responsibility of guaranteeing any group of individuals applying

for the loan.

He said that the Abia farmers’ Cooperative union was instituted to assist farmers to take advantage of such opportunities provided the group seeking the facility was affiliated with the union.

“Our aim is to bring all farmers’ cooperatives in Abia together to pursue their interest because you cannot achieve much, if you are standing alone.’’

Nwogwugwu said that the state government was committed to assisting farmers to increase their productivity.

“If we have support from the federal and state government we will do better in Abia. Abia farmers have been crying that for eight years, they have not had fertilisers, and this is the opportunity for us to alleviate such problem.’’

Nwogwugwu appealed to the state government to first consider cooperative societies in the disbursement of the loan before individual farmers.

“There is need for cooperative societies to benefit more from this loan and if this loan passes through us, we shall make sure that only

genuine farmers benefit.

“We have the capacity to guarantee any group that affiliates with us and we shall institute a strong machinery to monitor the repayment of the loan.”

With the number of cooperative societies in the state, Abia is gradually becoming a cooperative village, the chairman said.

He added that the Federal Government had demonstrated willingness transform the sector through the Agricultural Transformation Agenda. (NAN)

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he Federal Government says it will increase food production in the country to 20 metric tonnes annually.

The Minister of state for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukur Tijani, made this known recently in Kyado, Gboko Local Government Area of Benue.

Tijani was in Benue to inaugurate the distribution of fertiliser and seedlings to farmers under the government's Growth Enhancement Support (GES) scheme.

He said that the Federal Government would give more support to farmers by next year to promote high crop yield in the country.

The minister said that government would soon replace imported rice with the locally produced variety.

He announced the inclusion of yams and sesame seeds in the programme by next year and urged the State Government to take advantage of the programme and lead in the production of the crops.

Tijani urged the farmers in the state to use the improved seedlings to enhance their crop production.

He said the state had potential to galvanise the country into becoming a major rice producing country and assured that the Federal Government would set up rice mills to actualise it.

Tijani said the registration of farmers in the country under the GES programme was ongoing and would last till the country attained the 20 metric tonnes target annually.

In his speech, Gov. Gabriel Suswam, commended the Federal Government for introducing the programme and said that Benue farmers would benefit from it.

Represented by the Deputy Governor, Mr Steve Lawani, he, however, appealed to the Federal Government to increase its inputs to the state to enable more farmers benefit from the scheme.

He said Benue was predominantly an agrarian state with arable lands for the cultivation of maize, rice, soya beans and rice.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the event was witnessed by traditional rulers, farmers and members of the Benue Executive Council.

NAN also reports that Kyado is one of the largest producers of soya beans, cassava and groundnuts in the state. (NAN)

Farmers in trainning in Ibadan

AfDB-assisted agric programme to boost livestock production in Nigeria -- Coordinator

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he African Development Bank (AfDB) has concluded arrangements to boost livestock production in Nigeria under its Community-based Agriculture and Rural Development

Project (CBARDP).

The National Coordinator of the project, Dr Ibrahim Arabi, made the announcement on Monday in Yola in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Ex-Commissioner advocates more tractors for Anambra farmers

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he immediate past Commissioner for Agriculture in Anambra, Chief Godson Ezenagu, has urged the state government to purchase 81 additional tractors to boost food production in the state.

Ezenagu, who made the call recently in Awka, the Anambra State capital, recalled that he met only five tractors on assumption of office as commissioner in the ministry, adding that the number was later increased to 19.

He said that 81 more tractors were needed to bring the total number of the machinery to 100, in order to enhance agricultural

production in the state.

Ezenagu said that more machinery were needed to enable farmers to move away from subsistence farming to mechanised agriculture.

He advised farmers in the state to shift from cultivating rice, yam and cassava to more lucrative areas such as pepper and tomatoes as well as groundnut and poultry production.

Ezenagu said under his tenure, more than N750 million was disbursed to farmers in the state and urged his successor to adopt the principle of continuity, to move agriculture forward. (NAN)

He said that similar projects were currently on-going in five states, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna and Kwara states, adding that the projects included training farmers and support for rural infrastructure development.

Arabi said that following the successful implementation of the first phase of the project, the management of the bank was looking forward to implementing livestock development in Nigeria. ``Following the successful implementation of the project in the five states, we are looking forward to extension and implementation of livestock development programme. ``In just two week’s time, we are going to sign contract with four research institutes in the country,’’ Arabi said.

He said that the main reason for expanding the project to include livestock programme was to improve cattle production in Nigeria. ``We are going to implement artificial insemination programme,

and training of pastoralists on pasture development and production in the five states to breed our local cattle. ``This will enable Nigerian farmers to produce high quality meat and milk, and also reduce the importation of the commodities,’’ Arabi said.

He said that due to the successes record in the project, the bank was making efforts to expand the programme to cover additional communities. ``There is the possibility of expanding the project to cover more local government areas in the country,’’ he said.

He also appealed to the Adamawa Government and the beneficiary local government councils to support the project by redeeming their outstanding counter-part funds.

Arabi was in Yola to attend the 2012 pre-season training and interactive meeting with desk and technical officers of the project.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 31

Passing judgement on ten years of the ICC

An ICC warrant was issued for the arrest of Omar Bashir, but the African Union is not cooperating [Reuters]

ANALYSIS

By Salil Shetty ondon, United Kingdom The creation of the International Criminal Court (ICC) on July 1, 2002, was without doubt the greatest achievement for justice in the past 50 years.

Today, governments, human rights organisations and ordinary people around the world are celebrating its tenth anniversary but we must not lose sight of the threats and challenges it still faces.

Thanks to the ICC, victims of genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes who have been traditionally ignored and left to suffer now have some hope of international justice and reparation when their governments fail to act.

Much has been achieved in the ICC's first decade. The court not only survived a determined onslaught by the Bush administration, but managed to become an accepted part of the international system, as demonstrated by the UN Security Council's unanimous referral of Libya to the ICC prosecutor last year.

The ICC is now fully operational, with investigations in seven locations - Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya, the Darfur region of Sudan, and Uganda. A number of cases are in progress, including that against the former president of Ivory Coast, Laurent Gbagbo.

The court also issued its first verdict earlier this year, resulting

L

in the conviction of Thomas Lubanga Dyilo for enlisting and conscripting child soldiers in the Ituri region of the Democratic Republic of Congo.

These are significant achievements. But the ICC is also facing serious threats and challenges that must be addressed if it is going to achieve a real impact in bringing justice to victims and deterring crimes. The court came into existence at a time when crimes were still being committed at an alarming rate around the world.

Although the ICC is active already in the seven African locations, there are legitimate expectations it will step into other situations where there are serious doubts about the authorities' ability and willingness to act, including Afghanistan, Colombia, Georgia, and the occupied Palestinian territories.

The UN Security Council could also refer further crimes to the court, particularly with growing pressure for action on Syria.

To be able to respond to such situations, as well as to conduct its current work, the ICC requires

strong budgetary and political support as well as cooperation from states - sadly lacking at this time.

The ICC's largest financial contributors - France, Germany, Italy, Japan, and the United Kingdom - are determined to freeze the court's current budget.

The resources requested in 2011 were cut significantly at their insistence. If they succeed in imposing the freeze, the ICC will struggle to meet its current workload, let alone to respond to more situations when needed.

The ICC is also facing a political backlash because of its current focus on Africa. In particular, the African Union has decided not to cooperate with the arrest of Sudanese President Omar Bashir, who has been charged with genocide, crimes against humanity and war crimes in Darfur.

Bashir continues to be allowed to visit many countries without being arrested. However, some African Union members including Botswana, Malawi, South Africa, and Zambia are courageously resisting pressure and have indicated they would

“

arrest Bashir if he arrives in their territories.

The problem is not limited to the Sudanese president. Of the 17 people who are the subject of ICC arrest warrants, only six have been arrested and surrendered to the court. More must be done by governments around the world to ensure that obligations are met and suspects surrendered to face justice.

The UN Security Council, which has the ability to refer situations anywhere in the world to the ICC prosecutor, even when the governments have not signed up to the ICC, has been selective in exercising this power, taking the step only in regards to Darfur and Libya so far. It continues to refuse to refer Syria, even though crimes against humanity continue to be committed there.

Not all challenges are external. Some aspects of the court's work in its first decade have been disappointing.

The prosecution strategy has been so restrictive that only a small number of crimes are being investigated or prosecuted.

Charges against suspects

The ICC is now fully operational, with investigations in seven locations - Central African Republic, Ivory Coast, Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya, Libya, the Darfur region of Sudan, and Uganda.

accused of "bearing the greatest responsibility" only reflect a fraction of the overall pattern of crimes - so international justice is limited to a very small percentage of victims.

Of course, the court could never deal with every single crime in a situation where crimes have been committed on a large scale, as in the DRC. But the current balance applied by the Office of the Prosecutor is too exclusive. When victims are lucky enough to have their crimes prosecuted by the ICC, they encounter an often bewildering bureaucratic system.

Hundreds of victims seeking to participate in the court's proceedings have so far been excluded because their applications were not processed in time.

Legal representatives for victims have been appointed without adequate consultation and then denied the resources they need to perform their role, including travel to meet and take clients' instruction.

Victims seeking reparation in the Lubanga case have no idea what to expect from the process or the awards, because the 18 judges failed to agree principles on reparation in advance of the first case, and are now seeking to do so on a case-by-case basis decided by different panels. There is a real danger this situation will cause inconsistency and further disappointment.

One shining light is the ICC's Trust Fund for Victims, which provides assistance to victims in situations under investigation by the ICC and can use its resources to implement reparation orders, including stepping in when those convicted lack the means.

The Trust Fund has helped more than 80,000 people so far in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda, with projects about to commence in the Central African Republic.

It is dependent on voluntary contributions to complete its work.

As Amnesty International's members mark the tenth anniversary, they are calling on their governments to make annual contributions to the fund.

The tenth anniversary is an important occasion to celebrate this massive achievement in international justice. However, the fight against impunity and the campaign for international justice is far from over. The ICC must do more for victims in its next decade, and governments must give the court and its Trust Fund better cooperation and the resources to tackle impunity wherever it exists.

Our verdict? Some progress; must do better.

Salil Shetty is the Secretary General of Amnesty International.

Source: Ajazeera-com

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 32

ICC threatens Mali Islamists with war crimes Protesters storm electoral office in Benghazi

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undreds of Libyan protesters demanding greater autonomy for the country's east have stormed the election commission building in the city of Benghazi, setting materials on fire.

Chanting slogans in support of federalism, the angry protesters, some of whom were armed, occupied the election commission office in the eastern city, took computers and ballot boxes out of the building and began crushing them.

The violence comes less than a week before the North African country holds parliamentary elections in the first democratic polls since former dictator Muammar Gaddafi was toppled and killed last year.

The protesters demanded a larger share of seats in the new 200-member parliament. The country's electoral law allocates 60 seats to the east and 102 to the west, while the remaining 38 seats will go to the rest of the country.

Pro-autonomy leaders in the eastern city of Cyrenaica have also called on the people to boycott the elections, demanding guarantees of fair representation for provinces before the voting.

"We want justice," Fadallah Haroun, a former revolutionary commander said. "We lost tens of thousands of martyrs because we want a state built on justice, law and equal rights."

Cyrenaica enjoys twothirds of Libya's oil reserves, but it was marginalized under Gaddafi's rule.

The July 7 vote will be the country's first nationwide election since the 1960s.

Gaddafi, who ruled for over 40 years, had banned political parties and elections.

Libya has been the scene of sporadic clashes between rival militias since the Gaddafi regime was overthrown following an uprising that started in the coastal city of Benghazi and other eastern cities.

A still from a video shows militants destroying a shrine in Timbuktu. They have also broken down the door to the Sidi Yahya mosque. Photograph: AFP/Getty Images

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he International Criminal Court has threatened Islamist fighters in Mali with legal action if they do not halt their destruction of ancient Islamic monuments.

"My message to those involved in these criminal acts is clear: stop the destruction of the religious buildings now," Chief Prosecutor Fatou Bensouda told the AFP news agency in an interview. "This is a war crime which my office

has authority to fully investigate."

She said that Mali was a signatory to the Rome Statute, a document that established the ICC and states that deliberate attacks against undefended civilian buildings which are not military objectives are a war crime.

"This includes attacks against historical monuments as well as destruction of buildings dedicated to religion," Bensouda said.

Members of the group Ansar Dine have destroyed the mausoleums of Sufi saints in historic Timbuktu for two straight days.

Yaya Tandina, a local journalist, told the Reuters news agency that about 30 members of the group, armed with Kalashnikovs and pickaxes destroyed three mausoleums of saints on Sunday.

"They had armed men guarding the door. Just like yesterday, the population did

not react. They said we need to let them do what they want, hoping that someday we will rebuild the tombs," Tandina said.

Seven ancient tombs have been smashed by Ansar Dine since Saturday. The group's strict interpretation of Islam considers such places unholy and calls for their destruction.

The demolitions began on Saturday with Timbuktu's independence monument, which depicts Al Farouk, a symbol of the ancient city on a horse.

Ansar Dine have also threatened to destroy the city's three ancient mosques, one of which dates back to 1327.

Sanda Ould Boumama, an Ansar Dine spokesman, has said the group was acting in the name of God and would "destroy every mausoleum in the city. All of them, without exception".

The destruction comes after UNESCO listed the city as an endangered site because of the continuing violence in northern Mali and in the wake of an attack on a fifteenth century tomb in May. "God is unique. All of this is haram [forbidden]. We are all Muslims. UNESCO is what," said Boumama.

The government of Mali has urged the outside world to take concrete steps to stop the destruction of the sites.

"Those who are destroying religious buildings in Timbuktu should do so in full knowledge that they will be held accountable and justice will prevail," she said.

Kidnapped aid workers rescued by Somali troops

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omali government troops have rescued four foreign aid workers held hostage inside Somalia, three days after they were seized from a refugee camp in neighbouring Kenya.

Somali military commander Colonel Abduallahi Moalim said government soldiers in the Lower Juber region that borders Kenya stopped a vehicle on Sunday carrying supplies for the attackers.

The army seized three of the occupants who directed them to the hostages, he said. They were being held near the border between the towns of Diff and Dhobley.

"Our forces have rescued the four aid workers kidnapped from Kenya in an overnight

rescue operation," Moalim told Reuters.

"They are healthy and unhurt."

Friday's attack at the Dadaab refugee camp was the first abduction of foreigners from Kenya since the east African country sent troops into Somalia in October to crush an insurgency linked to al-Qaida. A Kenyan driver was shot dead during the kidnapping.

The four work for the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and come from Canada, Norway, Pakistan and the Philippines.

The NRC declined to comment but said it would be releasing a statement shortly.

Kenya sent in troops to

Somalia days after two Spanish women working for Médecins Sans Frontières were kidnapped at Dadaab last October. They are still being held. Dadaab, about 62 miles (100km) from

Somalia, was set up in 1991 to house Somalis fleeing violence in their country. It has since become the world's biggest refugee camp with almost 500,000 residents.

One of the vehicles in which the aid workers were travelling before they were kidnapped. A Kenyan driver was shot dead during the ambush. Photograph: AP

Morsi orders review of detained protesters’ cases

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gypt's first democratically-elected President, Mohammed Morsi has ordered the formation of a commission to review the cases of the people arrested following last year's popular revolution.

The commission is going to be made up of members of the military and the Interior Ministry as well as a general prosecutor, the country's official Middle East News

Agency (MENA) reported.

It quoted Morsi as saying "this commission should be formed as soon as possible to release all who were proved not involved in any criminal cases."

A large number of Egyptians were imprisoned, many not formally charged, during last year's deadly crackdown on protesters calling for the downfall of former dictator Hosni Mubarak's

regime.

Mubarak, his Interior Minister Habib al-Adli, and six police chiefs had been charged with ordering the killing of nearly 900 protesters during the revolution that ousted the dictator on February 11, 2011.

Mubarak and al-Adli were sentenced to life in prison last month, while the police chiefs were acquitted.

Morsi, who was officially sworn in as Egypt's president on

Saturday following run-off presidential polls of June 16-17, has called on all Egyptians to unite, saying the revolution will continue.

"I call on you, great people of Egypt...to strengthen our national unity," he said in his first address following his electoral victory, which had been announced on Jun 24, adding that national unity "is the only way out of these difficult times."

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 33

Opposition claims victory in Mexico election

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he first official results have been released in Mexico's elections, and Enrique Pena Nieto of the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) is set to become the next president after his party spent 12 years in opposition.

With more than 80 per cent of the votes counted from Sunday's elections, the country's federal election institute on Monday put Pena Nieto in the lead, winning

Texas researchers

37 per cent of the country's votes.

Leftist candidate Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador from the Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD) gained 30 per cent of the votes and ruling party candidate Josefina Vasquez Mota trailed with 25 per cent.

Pena Nieto, 45, is ahead by a narrower margin than early polls suggested, with many polls predicting he would win by at least a 10 percentage point, leading to

claims of victory by Nieto's campaign team.

In a nationally televised speech after the exit polls, Pena Nieto told supporters: "In this election, we all won."

"I assume, with great commitment, in full responsibility, the mandate that Mexicans have given me today ...

Today, July 1st, it's been the citizens who spoke and they did it with absolute clarity when they

voted for a change with direction."

Pena Nieto said that there would be no return to the past.

"We're a new generation. There is no return to the past,'' he said.

"It's time to move on from the country we are to the Mexico we deserve and that we can be ... where every Mexican writes his own success story.''

Following the exit polls, Lopez Obrador gave a brief speech in which he said he was not conceding

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merican researchers at the University of Texas have successfully taken control of a flying drone by "hacking" into its GPS system, showing its weaknesses to the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

During the experiment at the University of Texas at Austin's Radio navigation Laboratory, Professor Todd Humphreys and his team successfully hijacked a drone by "spoofing" its GPS receiver.

Humphreys says that Iran's success in bringing down a US spy drone last December gave him the idea of doing the experiment.

"So we decided to conduct the experiment, which showed us that it's possible to take control of a flying drone," Humphrey said.

Humphreys says that unlike military UAVs, which use an encrypted GPS system, most drones that will fly over the US will rely on civilian GPS, which is not encrypted and wide open to infiltration.

This is while many private companies in the US are planning to use unmanned aircraft for commercial proposes.

However, there have been limited researches about the drones in the US, due to its high cost.

Unlike GPS jammers that can only muddle signals, spoofers can actually manipulate navigation computers with false information that looks real and send new commands to the onboard computer.

Spoofing is a technique where the drone mistakes the signal from hackers for the one sent from GPS satellites.

Pointing out that the US drone brought down by Iran was probably using a military encrypted GPS, Humphreys said that there are many unanswered questions on how Iranians could capture the drone.

Washington has carried out assassination attacks using the unmanned aircraft in other countries including Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya, Pakistan, and Yemen.

There have been many arguments regarding the use of drones by the US government both internally and internationally.

In addition to the US, Israel has also been manufacturing drones.

Enrique Pena Nieto, presidential candidate for the Revolutionary Institutional Party (PRI), accompanied by his wife Angelica Rivera, flashes his election ink-stained thumbs after he cast his vote in the general election in Atlacomulco, Mexico, yesterday

Nevado del Ruiz volcano spews volcanic ash during an eruption on June 30, 2012.

Colombia volcano erupts, prompts evacuation of 5,000 people

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eople in western Colombia have been evacuated after the Nevado del Ruiz volcano erupted, spewing smoke and ash 10 km into the sky.

The volcano started on Saturday, leading emergency services to call on all 5,000 residents in Caldas and Tolima provinces to leave their homes and get to safe places.

President Juan Manuel Santos posted on his Twitter on Saturday that the area around

the Nevado del Ruiz was put on red alert and that people should evacuate the area.

Even as volcanic eruption began to subside, the officials asked people to stay away from the area.

"It's fundamental that communities near to the volcano follow all security recommendations; that means preventative evacuations and that people remain calm," Carlos Ivan Marquez, who heads the

security effort, said.

"Until this moment nobody is affected since Manizales and Ibague cities' alert systems were activated when the eruption occurred," Marquez added.

Nevado del Ruiz last erupted in 1985, affecting 20 towns in Caldas and Tolima. The eruption brought a river of rocks, mud and lava at the time and swept across the town of Armero, killing as many as 25,000 and injured 5,000 others.

victory to Pena Nieto.

"We are going to wait until we have definitive results," he said.

"We are not going to act in an irresponsible way. At the right time we will inform the people of Mexico."

"We have information that indicates something different from what they're saying officially,'' he said.

Lopez Obrador had promised to respect the results of the election.

25-nation bloc to end Kosovo’s supervision

A 25-nation group supervising Kosovo's democratic progress announced Monday that it will end oversight of Europe's youngest independent nation in September, a move that will bring the ethnically divided country closer to its aspirations of European Union and NATO membership.

The decision, announced Monday in Vienna by Pieter Feith of Kosovo's International Civilian Office, reflected confidence that Kosovo's leadership could reduce tensions between majority ethnic Albanians and minority Serbs.

However, international military and police units will still patrol Kosovo to lower the risk of ethnic violence.

Such violence still occurs, even 13 years after a NATO bombing campaign ended war between the two sides and the former Serbian province was put under international control. Kosovo Prime Minister Hashim Thaci -a former ethnic Albanian guerrilla commander - pledged to work hard for reconciliation.

"I will communicate and cooperate with every single Serb leader elected in the North who respects the institutions of Kosovo," he told reporters in Vienna, referring to the country's restive northern Serb enclave, which has been at the forefront of defying his government's authority.

Feith said "much remains to be done" in Kosovo's transformation into a Western-style democracy that meets EU criteria. But he also noted progress, including in the northern Serb region whose people had long seen neighboring Serbia as their lifeline but now in "increasing numbers are asking for services from the Kosovo government. " The mandate of the International Civilian Office, which operates under the 25nation International Steering Group, was to run out this year.

Monday's announcement affirmed expectations that Kosovo will enact remaining legislation guaranteeing and strengthening democratic institutions and human rights

by September.

While 91 countries have recognized Kosovo's 2008 independence declaration,

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Three British soldiers killed in Afghanistan

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man in an Afghan police uniform has shot and killed three British soldiers in southern Afghanistan, according to the UK defence ministry.

The three soldiers came under fire on Sunday at a

checkpoint in Nahr-e-Saraj in Helmand province, where they were meeting local elders, the ministry said.

The American-led NATO coalition said a man in an Afghan National Civil Order Police uniform was responsible.

An ISAF spokesman said the gunman was wounded and detained after the attack, which happened around 5:00 pm (1230 GMT), and is now under investigation. The incident is not thought to have happened on an

The wreckage of a bus that was damaged in a roadside bomb blast sits beside a road in Ghazni [Reuters]

ISAF base, the spokesman said.

The spokesman added that ISAF was still investigating whether the attacker was a police officer or not.

Their deaths bring to 39 the number of foreign troops killed this month, and 215 so far this year.

Earlier, Afghan police said a roadside bomb killed five Afghan civilians in the eastern province of Ghazni.

Mohammad Hussain, the deputy provincial police chief major, said a bus full of people struck the explosives on Sunday morning while driving near Ghazni city, capital of the province of the same name.

He said another 11 people were wounded, and the dead included women and children.

The bus was travelling from Kabul to the southern city of Kandahar.

NATO has around 130,000 soldiers fighting alongside some 350,000 Afghan security personnel, but they are due to pull out of the country in 2014.

The Western forces is to hand over security to local forces by mid-2013 and will play a support role up to the final withdrawal by the end of the following year.

Iran’ll endure sanctions to pay price of independence - Foreign minister

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ranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi says the Islamic Republic will resist the US-led Western sanctions to safeguard its independence.

Referring to the newlyenforced European Union sanctions on Iran, Salehi said, "We have been subjected to sanctions for 33 years and these [fresh] sanctions are an addition to the previous ones and this is not a problem."

Salehi urged national unity, resistance and patience in the face of the sanctions, saying safeguarding one's independence has a price which everyone has to pay.

Earlier yesterday, Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Ramin Mehmanparast said the unilateral and illegal US-

engineered sanctions against Tehran run counter to international regulations and have jeopardized the global energy security.

On January 23, under pressure from the United States, the EU foreign ministers approved new sanctions mainly against Tehran's oil and banking sectors. The sanctions came into force on Sunday.

Later in March, the US administration approved new embargoes on Iranian crude, which aim to penalize other countries for buying or selling the Iranian oil. The sanctions took effect on June 28.

The sanctions by the US and EU are meant to pressure the Islamic Republic over its nuclear energy program, which Washington, Israel

and some of their allies claim includes a military aspect.

Iran dismisses such allegations, arguing that as a committed signatory to the Nuclear Non

Proliferation Treaty and a member of the International Atomic Energy Agency, it has the right to use the nuclear technology for peaceful purposes.

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in protest.

Forty lower house members and 12 upper house members will resign, including political heavyweight Ichiro Ozawa, though the government will keep

Former Democratic Party of Japan leader Ichiro Ozawa (C-top) attends a lower house plenary session of the National Diet in Tokyo.

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he head of the Arab League called Monday for the fragmented Syrian opposition to unite and said a U.N.-brokered plan for a transitional government in Syria fell short of expectations.

Speaking at the start of a twoday conference that brought together some 250 members of the Syrian opposition, Arab League Secretary General Nabil Elaraby urged them not to waste the chance presented by the meeting to overcome their differences and band together to help lift Syria out of its crisis.

"There is an opportunity before the conference of Syrian opposition today that must be seized, and I say and repeat that this opportunity must not be wasted under any circumstance," he said. "The sacrifices of the Syrian people are bigger than us and more valuable than any narrow differences or factional disputes."

More than one year into the Syrian revolt, the opposition is still hobbled by infighting, although in general the disparate groups agree that President Bashar Assad should have no role in a transitional period. One main sticking point is how to achieve a peace plan that would end the bloodshed and Assad's authoritarian rule. While some activists have called for international intervention in Syria, others have rejected the idea.

Iraqi parliament refuses to accept nationals deported from Europe

Iranian Foreign Minister Ali Akbar Salehi

52 MPs of Japan’s ruling party quit over tax-hike legislation

ess than a week after Yoshihiko Noda, Japan's prime minister, won approval for a controversial sales tax increase, 52 politicians have decided to quit his governing party

Arab League says Syrian opposition must unite

a slim majority in the powerful lower house, an aide told the Reuters news agency yesterday.

The defection would leave the Democratic Party of Japan (DPJ) with just 249 members in the 480member lower house of parliament.

The departure of Ozawa and his followers means Noda could be in a better position to consolidate his grip on his fractious party, though he will need opposition help to pass laws, since rival parties control the upper house, which can block bills.

The plan to double the sales tax to 10 per cent in three years to curb ballooning public debt was passed by parliament's lower house last week with the help of the opposition.

But 57 politicians from the ruling Democratic Party voted against it, with 15 others

abstaining or absent.

Ozawa, a 70-year-old former party leader, has argued the planned tax hike violates campaign pledges made when the Democrats swept to power three years ago, promising to limit the powerful bureaucracy and cut wasteful spending before raising taxes.

Noda, a former finance minister, has insisted the measure is vital to get Japan's fiscal house in order and fund the bulging social welfare costs of a fast-ageing population.

Japan has suffered a string of credit downgrades in the past two years, largely because of its failure to make progress in tackling its debt, already twice its economic output and the worst among advanced industrialised countries.

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he Iraqi parliament has banned the forced return from Europe of tens of thousands of failed asylum seekers, and threatened to fine airlines that take part in deportation programmes.

The unilateral declaration has already resulted in deportees being turned back at the border, according to the London-based refugeee support organisation that lobbied for the policy change.

For the past year, the United Kingdom has been unable to remove Iraqis, even after they have lost the right to remain in Britain, owing to legal disputes over their reception at Baghdad airport and the state of security within Iraq.

Across Europe, tens of thousands of Iraqis are in legal limbo, waiting to have asylum claims processed, or under threat of return to the Middle East if their applications have been rejected.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 35

Couple transform bus into twobed home to beat property prices that he and Stacey, who works at Whitstable bowling alley, can take a trip to Cornwall where he grew up.

The vehicle is currently based on a plot of land, which the couple rent on the outskirts of Canterbury.

Stacey said: 'I love it.

My friends love it everyone thinks it is just a brilliant idea.

'Our mates who also struggle with high house prices even want to come and build their own house bus and live next to

us.

'I am only 4ft 10 so i have more than enough room plus the bus is pretty spacious. If it wasn't for the bus we would not be able to be living together.

She added: 'We do not have any kids on the way at the moment but if we ever do maybe Daniel can convert a school bus for them to live in.'

Daniel hopes to buy his own plot of land and plans to turn a single-storey bus into a bar as his next project.

Stacey and Daniel relax in their purpose built bed in their double decker bus.

(Picture: SWNS)

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couple who were priced out of the housing market have spent ÂŁ11,000 turning a doubledecker bus into a home.

The self employed autoelectrician was desperate to move in with girlfriend, Stacey Drinkwater, 20, but the young couple couldn't afford to buy anywhere.

They couldn't save enough for a deposit and found it impossible to get a mortgage from the bank as Daniel is self employed.So the electrician decided to buy the double-decker

bus last October despite his mum telling him it was 'barmy idea'.

Daniel and Stacey now live in the converted 1991 Leyland Olympia and say they could not be happier with their solution to the plight facing first time buyers.

Daniel said: 'We were desperate to move in together but house prices were just way to high and we did not want to waste our money renting someone else's property.

'It is really difficult for first time buyers so this seemed like

the best solution.

The bus, which was used on routes in Dublin and East Sussex is now kitted out with a double bedroom, a twin bedroom, kitchen, TV lounge, bar, toilet and bathroom.

It has full plumbing running throughout, a 220 litre water tank, and can be connected to mains electricity to power lights and appliances.

The kitchen has a hob, cooker, fridge and sink with running water.

Daniel hopes to have his bus driver's licence by August so

Motorist banned from driving Flintstones car on German roads

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motorist's bid to begin driving a replica of Fred Flintstone's footmobile has been foiled after German police ruled his Stone Age vehicle was too unsafe to take for a spin.It was a case of 'Yabba Dabba Don't' for Flintstones nut Sebastian Trager after police banned his custom built motor from German roads.

Featuring a wooden frame design and leopard print seat covers, engineer Trager built the model using the chassis of a Volkswagen Polo.

There's no need for Fred Flintstone and Barney Rubble's pedal power however, with the modern adaptation of the Flintmobile boasting a 1.3 litre

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Bitesize: A baboon bares its teeth in one of artist Clive Cooper's watermelon creations (Picture: Caters)

Commuters trip on same step half an inch higher than all the others

A Sebastian Trager in his Flintstone mobile (Picture: CEN) engine hidden under the front roller.

Trager's bid to make his vehicle legally roadworthy hit

the skids after German police ruled that the vehicle was too unsafe to be driven on public roads.

Artist creates mouthwatering works of art out of watermelons rtist Clive Cooper has started a fruitful venture - crafting faces out of

On the buses: Stacey and Daniel show off their double decker home. (Pictures: SWNS)

watermelons.

The 54-year-old uses them to make lifelike faces based on films and TV shows.

Each artwork takes up to six hours to carve and lasts a day before it shrivels and loses its shape.

Explaining the careful process behind his creations, the Canadian said: 'I used to carve pumpkins but I couldn't achieve what I really wanted to because the insides don't have enough structure.

'I like to use watermelons because they have green, white

and red colouring whereas with pumpkins you only have orange to work with.

'Working with the different colours allowed me to create an interesting visual effect.

'I watch TV programmes and films and develop ideas from there. Comic books can also be very inspiring as they are full of expression.'

Mr Cooper, from Vancouver, Canada, has carved them for weddings and parties.

'People like to have something special and unique at their celebratory events,' he said.

tricky subway step is proving to be particularly problematic for commuters in Brooklyn who have been filmed repeatedly failing over it.

Eagle-eyed filmmaker Dean Peterson kept tripping on the same step at 36 Street subway station, Sunset Park, when he decided to investigate further.

He noticed that one step leading out of the hazardous station was an inch taller than the rest, causing people to keep on tripping over.

To prove this was the case, Peterson decided to film commuters leaving the station exit and he didn't have to wait long before the stumbling began.

The video shows several members of the public tripping up, with many trying to cover up their stumble with a follow-up light jog.

'My girlfriend and I would walk up all the time, and we would always trip,' he explained. 'We just thought we were kind of klutzy.

But then I kind of noticed that other people were doing it, too.'

Watch your step: A commuter trips over (Picture: YouTube/ GlobalNewz)

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

What fat pigs (and other animals) can teach us about our own waistlines A round the world, doctors are wringing their hands over an obesity epidemic.

But this isn’t the human outbreak you’re thinking of, nor are these the physicians you would envisage. Vets are seeing more and more overweight animals; the scale of the problem is now comparable to the human battle against the bulge.

They treat increasingly portly ponies. They instruct owners not to overfeed chubby fish. They describe tortoises so fat they can no longer pop in and out of their shells. They’ve seen so many overweight birds they have a new nickname for them: perch potatoes.

Dogs are put on diet drugs to curb their appetites. Liposuction has been the treatment of choice for obese canines whose extra

flab threatens to snap their spines or splay their hips. Felines are put on the ‘Catkins’ diet – a veterinary version of the highprotein, ultra-low-carb Atkins Diet for humans.

With our pets’ excess pounds has come the familiar suite of life-threatening ailments: diabetes, cardiovascular problems, musculoskeletal disorders, glucose intolerance, some cancers and possibly high blood pressure.

Despite the billions of pounds spent combating many dangerous conditions and disease in humans, few people would think of turning to a vet to look for clues to their health.

Yet these animal doctors are helping fight flab every day.

Vets in North American and European zoos have placed

Wild about food: Like humans, pigs, robins and orangutans will overeat given the chance.

Weighty issue: Humans could have more in common with pigs than we realise.

Overweight orangutan: Wildlife biologists have begun tracking what seem to be wild-animal obesity trends.

Round robin: An animal's mental state can influence its weight.

overweight animals from flamingos to baboons on diets. If you’ve ever tallied daily WeightWatchers points, you will understand the routine of the gorillas and cockatoos at Brookfield Zoo in Chicago; the animals there have been put on a similar system.

Startlingly, wildlife biologists have begun tracking what seem to be wild-animal obesity trends, too. Over the past 40 years, yellow-bellied marmots in the Colorado Rockies, country rats in the north-eastern United States and blue whales off the coast of California have become chubbier and chubbier.

We imagine that in the wild, animals will eat until they are full and then stop. But given the chance, many wild fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals overindulge. Abundance plus access – the twin downfalls of many a human dieter – can challenge wild animals, too.

Mark Edwards, an animal nutritionist in California, noted: ‘We are all hardwired to consume resources in excess of daily requirements. I can’t think of a species that doesn’t.’

When presented with unlimited food, domestic species, including dogs, cats, sheep, horses, pigs and cattle, eat nine to 12 meals a day.

Doctors’ standard advice to

their overweight human patients is ‘to change your body, you must change yourself’.

That’s also the directive of practically every diet book and guru. Eat less. Exercise more.

Exert more willpower.

But when vets see animals getting fatter, they don’t say: ‘Those animals don’t have much willpower.’ Instead, they ask: ‘What’s going on in that animal’s surroundings?’ Vets don’t see obesity as a disease of an individual; they see it as a disease of the environment.

There are a number of environmental factors beyond abundant food that make wild animals overweight. Light exposure – artificial or natural – promotes the accumulation of fat. The blend of bacteria in their intestines can lead them to harvest more or less energy from their food and become plumper.

Rarely do doctors consider these factors’ effects on human weight. Of course, just as environmental changes can promote wild-animal weight gain, seasonal and other shifts lead to slimming. Cyclical periods of food scarcity are typical.

For many animals, weight goes on, but it also comes off. It’s a dynamic process. If you want to lose weight the wild-animal

way, decrease the abundance of food around yourself and interrupt your access to it. In other words: change your environment.

Intriguingly, an animal’s mental state can influence its weight. Like us, anxious animals change their eating habits. The presence of predators can determine whether they nibble or gorge. Manatees eat less when sharks are prowling nearby; elk intimidated by wolves eat fewer daily meals.

Obesity isn’t the only eating problem physicians could conquer with help from their veterinary colleagues. Animals binge-eat. They hide and hoard food. They eat in secret and at night. Such types of behaviour are called ‘disorders’ by psychologists when they see them in their human patients.

Yet wildlife biologists would call them eating ‘strategies’ that enhance an animal’s survival abilities or evolutionary ‘fitness’.

Clues for treating conditions such as anorexia nervosa and binge-eating could come from the experts studying when and why such behaviour intensifies in animals.

No animals evolved to have food placed on a plate in front of them. They ran. They dug. They schemed. They starved. Eating was the reward for all that ‘work’.

But, like many pets and zoo animals, most of us in the developed world no longer worry about where our next meal is coming from.

As we increasingly outsource where and what we eat to agribusiness, supermarkets and restaurant chains, we hand over not just the inconvenience of food-gathering and preparation but also the challenge, the puzzle, and even the excitement of eating. No wonder, then, that we have an obsession with food.

The urge is in our genes, it’s driven by our environments, it’s deep within.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

PAGE 37

Reps threaten to arrest Finance, FCT ministers, others over extra-budgetary expenditures

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he House of Representatives yesterday threatened to issue warrant of arrest to compel the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela, the Federal Capital Territory Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed to appear before its Public Accounts committee to answer queries on extra-budgetary expenditures by their ministries.

Others billed to answer queries from the committee chaired by Repm Solomon Adeola include the Ministers for Communication, Omobola Mobolaji-Johnson; Edem Duke, Minister of Culture and Tourism, Caleb Olubolade, Minister of Police Affairs and Olusegun Aganga, Minister of Trade and Investment, Labaran Maku, Minister of Information as well as Executive Secretary of Federal Character Commission.

Adeola issued the threat notice at a meeting held with Accountant General of the Federation and Auditor General of the Federation in Abuja.

Adeola said the arrest was necessary because the committee had thrice invited the Ministers and the Directors in the agencies affected to come forward to defend their audit queries for 2006 by the Office of the Auditor General of the Federation to no avail.

A total sum of N16.7 billion was said to have been spent in excess of the MDAs Capital Development Fund in 2006 fiscal year without recourse to appropriation as stipulated by the constitution.

From the amount, N6,049,128,835.86 was over spent by Federal Ministry of Police

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwaela Affairs/Nigeria Police; N1,961,406,158.40 overspent by Federal Capital Territory (FCT); N1,346,905,995.44 by FCT High Court of Justice; N1,469,692,118.93 by Federal Ministry of Information and Orientation; N1,082,381,868.81 by Federal Character Commission; N819,779,118.77

by Federal Ministry of Industry.

Others include N747,356,291.59 for Federal Ministry of Communication; N1,084,885,003.56 for Federal Ministry of Culture and Tourism; N700 million for Nigeria Agriculture and Cooperative Bank; N163,612,405.19 for

FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed

Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; N6,049,128,835.86 for Nigeria Police Affairs and Police Force; N 285, 810,083.75 for Federal Ministry of Justice; N49,180,544.47 for Supreme Cout; N253,986,135.19 for Federal High Court; N187,198,580.37 for FCT Judicial Service Commission; N5,514,805 for National Salaries and Wages Commission while N1,082,381,88.73 for Federal Civil Service Commission.

He added that Jonah Otunla, Accountant General of the Federation had earlier intervened and pleaded to appear before the committee along with the officials of the affected MDAs.

Adeola who expressed concern over the inordinate attitudes of officials of the affected MDAs noted that three invitations were sent to them, but they failed to appear before the committee.

Meanwhile, the committee has hinted of its intention to investigate the utilization of revenue generated from the sale of public assets over the past eight years.

To this extent, Adeola has directed Bolanle Onagoruwa, Director General of Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) to appear before the committee on Monday, 9th July 2012 over the sale of public assets.

Kano spends N17.5 billion on projects From Bala Nasir, Kano

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ano state government is to spend about N17.5 billion in the execution of development projects across the state, the state Commissioner for Information, Youths, Sports and Culture, Dr. Umar F. Jibril has announced.

According to him, out of this amount, N16.2 billion will be spent in the execution of the second batch of the five kilometre dual roads in each of the 44 local government

headquarters in the state.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the weekly State Executive Council meeting at the Government House in Kano, Jibril stated that the council also agreed to release N184.9 million for the construction of a boarding primary school in Minjibir Local Government Area, to be named after Alhaji Shehu Minjibir, a renowned teacher in the state.

Other approvals granted by the council for other projects under the state ministry of education are the

reconstruction of G.S.S. Kafin Maiyaki at the cost of N84.25 million, additional works at Governor's College, N35.7 million, additional works at G.S.S. Kwankwaso, N19 million and completion/ expansion of a school at Unguwar Gini in Kano city at the cost of N26.9 million.

Similarly, the Council consented to release N136.5 million for the installation of street lights at Korar Ruwa-Kofar Waika, N 17.5 million for the installation of street light at NITEL Training Center to INEC roundabout in Kano city, while N10

million was approved for the production of Gum Arabic at Dawan Adam, Gabasawa local government area.

In the same vein, Dr. Faruk added that approval was given to the state Housing Corporation for the construction of commercial blocks at Enugu road in the state capital at the cost of N99.6 million, rehabilitation of Kano Medical Center, N78.3 million while 3 pay loaders will be purchased for the state refuse management agency, REMASAB at the cost of N85.6 million.

Bishop, Benin elders support Oshiomhole's re-election From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

he Bishop of the Mercy for Souls Outreach International Ministry in Benin City, Dr. Samson Eleyinmi, and a group of politicians in Edo South Senatorial District in Edo State, popularly referred to as Otu-Ede-Oseghe have predicted Edo State Governor Comrade Adams

Court strikes out PDP, Oyinlola's suit against MTN

Oshiomhole re-election on July 14 2012 Governorship poll.

Eleyinmi said there was a divine revelation that Oshiomhole will win the July 14 2012 governorship elections in the state, while the veterans group says that following his "outstanding performance in the past three and half years", the governor deserves reelection.

According to Eleyinmi, "despite the distractions, fears that is making many in Edo uncomfortable about the elections, leading to an uproar among political, religious leaders and the electorate, God has crowned a king in the person of Oshiomhole on July 14 2012.

He said that God brought Oshiomhole "out of the minority to rule the majority but would want him to

avoid abusing his office and power as done in the past".

The religious leader then said that God will judge all traditional rulers who in their self-interest want to jeopardize and thwart the wishes of the majority of Edo people as his wrath will be visited on them from heaven as he dealt with King Nebuchadnezzar.

Federal High Court in Abuja has struck out a suit filed by former Osun state Governor, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola and the People's Democratic Party (PDP) against a telecommunication giant, MTN Nigeria.

The duo accused the MTN of not releasing the full Call Data Records (CDRs) of the suspended President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Isa Ayo Salami to the National Judicial Council (NJC).

MTN, in its statement of defence, claimed it does not have the storage capacity to store and release CDRs beyond three months.

The trial Judge, Justice Bilikisu Aliyu struck out the suit following the notice for discontinuance filed by the Plaintiffs without tendering any reason.

It will be recalled that Justice Peter Affen of a High Court had dismissed a suit filed by Oni against Justice Salami for not disclosing reasonable cause of action.

Kano Assembly adopts committee's reports on Ram allowance From Bala Nasir, Kano

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he Kano state House of Assembly yesterday adopted the report of its Public Service Committee on ram and millet allowances for the civil servants of the state.

The Public Service Committee in the Assembly which reviewed the allowance is under the chairmanship of Hon. Garba Yau Gwarmai.

The Act which made it compulsory for the state government to pay the allowance to the civil servants before every Ramadan fasting period and Eid-el Kabir was signed by the immediate past Governor of the state, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau into law.

The Governor did not however, start paying the allowances due to the expiration of his tenure only to be left to the incumbent Governor, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso to commence the payment.

But problem arose when it was due for the allowances to be paid as Governor Kwankwaso was not ready to pay workers the allowances in spite of their incessant demand for the payment because it had been passed into law.

The Governor therefore, sent a bill to the State's House of Assembly amending the law to make payment of the allowances not compulsory.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Nasarawa LG polls: Lawyer threatens to sue Al-makura for contempt From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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L-R: Plateau Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Olivia Dazyam, Majority Leader, Plateau House of Assembly, Hon. Gyang Fulani, and Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Plateau chapter, Mr Haruna Dabin, briefing journalists at the end of a 3-day Orientation Programme for newly elected officers of the party, recently in Jos. Photo: NAN

PDP demands free and fair guber polls in Edo

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to ensure the conduct of a free and fair election in the July 14th gubernatorial election in Edo state.

The party in a statement made available to newsmen yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh stated "We are sure of victory in the election. All that the PDP is asking for is free and fair election. We are asking for the cessation of intimidation and regime of violence by the ACN, so that the people will vote their choice without inhibition."

The party equally stated that the police investigations and subsequent report which linked the ownership of the lorry that crashed into the convoy of the Edo state Governor, Adams Oshimole, on the 28th of April 2012, killing three journalists to an ACN stalwart in the state, was a clear vindication of the position of the PDP that desperation is driving the ACN and its candidate into the abyss of the dastardly in quest for electoral victory.

"We recall that Governor Oshiomhole has blamed the PDP for this tragic incident. We also recall that we stated unambiguously that the PDP does not need the blood of innocent Nigerians to win

elections anywhere in Nigeria much less in Edo state. We categorically urged the security agencies to look beyond the crocodile tears and the loud alarm of lion -in- the -neighbourhood raised by the ACN. We are today vindicated."

According to Metuh, the incident connects direct to the orgy of violence which the machinery of the ACN controlled Edo state government has been unleashing on the members of the PDP. "Violence does not win elections. Superior ideas and track record of performance do. We therefore urge our members to remain peaceful and convince the Edo electorates with superior ideas in their campaign," the PDP

spokesman emphasized.

He noted that the strength of the PDP in Edo state has continued to grow with the approach of the governorship election as thousands of ACN members decamp to the Party.

The PDP further commended its members and supporters in Edo state for a successful grand finale of its gubernatorial campaign which was attended by President Goodluck Jonathan.

"The unprecedented turnout at the campaign rally is a firm comment on the strength of our great Party in the state. We are not in doubt that this is a compelling sign of a sure electoral victory in the coming election."

Ondo ACN guber aspirants endorse Akeredolu From Inumidun Ojelade, Osogbo

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he Governorship aspirants under the banner of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ondo State have resolved to work with Rotimi Akeredolu so as to win the October 20, governorship election in the state.

The ACN governorship aspirants at a forum in Osogbo with Governor Rauf Aregbeosola, eleven of them agreed to work with the chosen candidate.

It would be recalled that Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, former

Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) has been chosen as the standard bearer of the broom party in the state for the forthcoming election.

The party said it has reviewed all processes and procedures leading to the final endorsement of one of us as the candidate of the party and the structure and strategies aimed at wining the October 20 election.

According to the aspirants, "We are committed to the emergence of ACN candidate in Ondo state and we shall do

everything within our powers to ensure that our great party emerge victorious in the October 20,2012 gubernatorial poll."

Denying the statement that the people of the state has been allegedly short- changed by the Labour Party in the state ,they stated that the people of the state needed to enjoy the dividend of democracy as is being witnessed in all other ACN States.

In a jointly signed resolution by the eleven aspirants, they stated that "the ACN has commenced the process of bringing hopes and aspirations

of our people to fruition" They however called on coaspirants who were absent at the meeting to join hands with the candidate to win the October 20 election.

Those present at the meeting with Governor Aregbesola were Soji Iji, Abegunde Ifedayo,Ajatta Jaiyeola,Wale Akinterinwa, Senator Ajayi Borofice Robert,Olatayo Aribo,Senator Meroyi Oluwole. Others were Festus Oluwole,Tayo Alasoadura, Rotimi Akeredolu,Ayodele Adedipe and Oniye Olomoyewa

Jos based legal practitioner, Chief Gideon Musa Kuttu, has threatened to sue Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state, for contempt of court if after 30 days, beginning from the 25th June, 2012, he fails to conduct elections for the 13 local government areas of the state.

In a letter addressed to the governor, a copy of which was made available to Peoples Daily, Kuttu, cited an earlier letter to him requesting Al-makura to observe and comply with the judgment of a Lafia High Court, headed by Justice Badamasi Maina, in a case between one Samson Abimiku and two others and the Nasarawa state government, with reference no.

NSD/LFSS/2007 wherein it was declared, among others, that the Transition Management Committee for LG Administration Law 2002, was contrary to section 7(1) of the 1999 constitution and therefore illegal.

The lawyer described as shocking that in spite of being served the court order, Al-makura has remained adamant, acting contrary to the oath of office he took to observe, uphold and defend the constitution.

Part of the letter reads "Take notice that, you are on a thirty days notice from the date of this letter to immediately caused to be in place machineries towards the immediate conduct of local government elections to comply with the provision of the constitution of FRN 1999 (as amended) by releasing the Election Time Table."

In the event of the failure, refusal or neglect by the governor to conduct the said election, Kuttu, threatened that "we shall explore various legal alternatives which will include the taking- up of Forms 48 and 49 against your person and commit you for contempt."

It would be recalled that the House of Representatives recently described as illegal, Transition Management Committees (TMCs), put in place by some state governors, including Nasarawa, to run the affairs of the local government areas, instead of elected officials as stipulated by law.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

INEC’s delay to conduct rerun election for Oguta unfair, says APGA candidate

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he APGA candidate for the Oguta Local Government constituency, Chief Walter Uzonwanne, says it is unfair for INEC to continue to delay the conduct of a rerun election to fill the vacant seat in the Imo State House of Assembly.

“It is uncharitable to deny a people an effective representation in parliament, and it against social justice to keep the people away from the dividends of democracy,” Uzonwanne said in a release on Sunday in Abuja.

He said that he was both concerned and disturbed that INEC had yet to conduct a rerun to fill the Oguta seat in the Imo Assembly in spite of various judgments delivered by the Election Petitions Tribunal, Federal High Court and the Supreme Court on the matter.

Uzonwanne said the Imo State APGA Chairman, Marshal Anyanwu, has since written the INEC Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega, over the matter and yet, the nation’s electoral umpire had yet to intervene to save the bad situation from degenerating.

“My constituency is loosing the benefits of effective representation for close to one year after the first election was disrupted.

“It is wrong to continue to deny my people any representation in the state assembly.

“We want INEC to rise to the occasion by organising a rerun election as upheld by the Supreme Court. We are waiting.’’

Uzonwanne said that with the court judgments, there could have been no legal basis for refusal to conduct election in the Oguta constituency after the first ballot was voided.

He described as unfortunate, the refusal by INEC to conduct a rerun in Oguta because of purported law suit contravening the spirit and letters of the Electoral Act, asking the Commission not to conduct that particular poll.

The APGA candidate said he was aware the opposition party in the state was behind this ugly development and pointed out that “their antics would come to an end soon.’’

Uzonwanne said that a Town Hall Meeting of all the stakeholders in Oguta was held on April 17, which was moderated by the INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner in Imo State, Prof. Celine Oko. “It was agreed that the election would hold on May 5. But I wonder why INEC still refused to conduct the election.’’

He said that he was aware that the resolutions of that stakeholders’ meeting were quickly communicated to the INEC headquarters in Abuja, and yet, no action was taken to that effect.

Uzonwanne said he would sustain the agitation for justice and ensure that his people get“ proper and right representation’’ in the Imo State House of Assembly.

But the INEC’s Spokesman Kayode Idowu said the commission would not be drawn into the controversy until all the pending cases in relation to the election were settled.

PAGE 39

Edo guber polls: Oshiomhole's aide defects, mobilizes for Airhiavbere From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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head of the July 14 governorship election, a Special Adviser in the Office of governor Adams Oshiomhole, Mr. Ehiozuwa Johnson Agbonnayinma, who recently defected to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), has stepped up mobilization of electorate in Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area of Edo state for the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Major General Charles Airhiavbere (retd).

Agbonnayinma, who was a close confidant of Oshiomhole, took his vote-for-Airhiavbere campaign to his kinsmen and women at the

weekend in what the people described as "formal home-coming after he resigned from the Action Congress of Nigeria government in Edo State early this year."

He said at a rally where he addressed thousands of youths and market women as well as other members and leaders of the ACN who followed him to the PDP that Airhiavbere had agreed to establish a University of Science and Technology in the Local Government when voted into office.

According to Agbonnayinma, "I stand before you today to denounce the irresponsible neglect that this Local Government has suffered for close to four years under Oshiomhole's government; no single

development project has been executed in this Local Government and we have over 240,000 registered voters here.

"There is no single road; there is no single hospital; there is no single market built by the government of the day in our Local Government; from Wards 1 to 10, there is nothing on ground to show as Oshiomhole democracy dividends to our people; the only road that we can see here is the one being constructed by the Federal Government."

Agbonnayinma said that the PDP governorship candidate (Airhiavbere) "has pledged to industrialise Ikpoba-Okha Local Government Area, build roads, markets and create quick

employment by revamping the grounded Bendel Breweries in the area."

He lamented that the incumbent governor has borrowed so much that "if an accountable and a financially responsible governor is not voted into power on July 14, the future of generations of Edo sons and daughters would be perpetually mortgaged."

He added that it was inconceivable that "a governor who professes to be people-oriented and presents to be austere in outlook would lose his sense of discretion by embarking on the building of a multi-billion naira mansion and estate in his Iyamho village."

Concerned citizens of Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency, during a news conference on plans to recall the member representing Darazo/Ganjuwa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, last Friday in Bauchi.

Photo: NAN

Bayelsa council boss laments security challenges

C

hief Tiwei Orunimighe, the Chairman of the SouthernIjaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa, has decried the poor security situation in rural areas in the state, saying it was a major challenge.

He said the problem was much in his domain, describing it as a “big headache”, which was affecting governance in the area.

Orunimighe spoke in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at Oporoma, the

local government’s headquarters.

He said that the council area was also contending with other challenges, which included sea piracy and illegal bunkering.

He disclosed that the nefarious activities had continued in the area in spite of raids by “Operation Pulo Shield”, the Joint Military Taskforce in the Niger Delta.

According to him, illegal refineries and attendant illegal bunkering have been resurfacing every now despite the

presence of the taskforce.

Orunimighe, however, commended the state governor, Chief Seriake Dickson, for constituting a committee that would check criminal activities in the coastal parts of the state.

“The major challenge we are having is security. As a local government, we have tried to partner with the security agencies like the police, army and all the rest of them to ensure safety of lives and property.”

He said that the council has assisted the police authorities in the area with two new speed boats with engines and renovated police stations as well as built new ones area.

Orunimighe also stated that the area was facing transportation problems and commended the governor for bringing back construction giant, Julius Berger Nigeria Ltd., to continue work on the YenagoaOporoma Road project.

Gov. Aliyu urges public servants to emulate Rotary Club on transparency

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ov. Babangida Aliyu of Niger has emphasised the need for public servants to copy the approach of Rotary International on transparency and accountability in governance.

Aliyu made this known at the N500 million Fund Raising Dinner of Rotary International District 9125 Nigeria in Abuja on Saturday.

“Those of us in the public service need to learn from the

approach of the Rotary International on issues of transparency, accountability and proper planning before expenditure.

“This is very fundamental to the real essence of life, especially when ponder we over our purpose on earth.

“I believe that the world will be a more peaceful, more secured and much happier place to live if we imbibe the spirit of sacrifice, good neighbourliness, kindness, equity, fairness and justice.

“These are the hall mark of Rotary International,’’ Aliyu said.

The governor, who delivered a key note address with the theme: “Peace Through Service’’, noted that leaders could add value to humanity through selfless service.

He added that peace through service was critical to the effort at finding lasting solution to some of the challenges confronting the nation.

According to him, to guarantee peace and foster sustainable development, we need integrity in

service delivery, transparency, accountability as well as equity in all ramifications.

“These are some of the principles of servant leadership, which we must all imbibe and uphold to achieve our developmental aspirations as a nation. ’’ He further explained that peace would not thrive in the midst of corruption, inequities and carelessness, adding that all must join hands to fight corruption in the country.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

Kwara Assembly re-run: Controversy trails PDP's victory From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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eoples' Democratic Party, PDP, candidate at the weekend bye election into the state House of Assembly, Abdulfatah Salman Babakini, has has emerged the winner.

He defeated his closest political opponent, Kayode Abdul Aiyelabegan of the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, in the re-run election held in the Oloje and Alanamu wards of Ilorin WestNorth constituency.

Babakini scored a total vote of 25,708 to defeat Aiyelabegan who scored 15,759 votes while candidates of parties such as Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN, scored 3,698 votes, Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, 730 votes, All Progressive Grand Alliance, APGA, 227 votes among others.

But Kwara ACN declared that it rejected the outcome of the election stressing that the outcome was not acceptable to the party.

The party candidate in a statement issued and made available to journalists stated that "the exercise was marred by wholesale violence and thuggery

by PDP chieftains and thugs who toured the polling units to intimidate and scare off voters with gun shots and violent attacks on ACN chieftains and agents who challenged their lawlessness.

"Among them are Mashood Mustapha, a House of Representatives member, a state Commissioner, Sulu, Alh Saka Onimago, Alhaja Segi Momo, Alhaji Sule Maja. From the beginning to the time of issuing this release, the exercise was

riddled with mindless disregard for law and order. It was chaotic.

There were gun shots at Ile Onimago, Mount Camel, Ita Kudimo, Ode Isowo, Pakata Primary School, Ode Alfa Iwo, Ode Balogun Alanamu, Ile Manma, Ikhwanu Primary School which also doubles as the collation center for Alanamu ward, Ode Isowo where, apart from the usual beating of our agents, our party elder Alhaji Koobe was beaten to a pulp.

"These are only a few of the numerous places where PDP brazenly subdued the law with impunity.

This leaves us wondering what exactly is wrong

with the PDP. The media would recall that we issued a statement on Thursday predicting this violence and disrespect for popular wish. It is shameful that a party/ government that routinely entertains the world about its outstanding achievements' cannot allow the voters to reward its laudable efforts with votes and instead resort to violence to keep it goons in power against popular wish.

"And despite our earlier warnings we are disappointed that the security agencies allowed this lawlessness to happen. This is a pointer to what to expect in 2015 as the PDP is unprepared

for any credible elections."

But PDP state Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Masud Adebimpe, said the election was free and fair as he said "The coming out of the people to perform their civic responsibility once again confirms the confidence the people has in the party though the ACN attempted to mis-inform the people alleging the non-existing threat and attack.

"As the ruling and law abiding party we want to thank our people for coming out en mass, as well as the Security agencies for their alertness in ensuring peaceful atmosphere during the election,” he said.

L - R: Ogun state Chairman, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Alhaji Tajudeen Bello, Ogun state Deputy Governor, Prince Segun Adesegun, the state Governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, Speaker, the state House of Assembly, Hon. Suraj Ishola Adekunbi, and Secretary of the party, Hon. Adewole Adeniji, during the meeting of the leadership of Ogun ACN on the forthcoming local council elections, last Friday in Abeokuta.

Wada swears-in new SSG From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada yesterday sworn-in the former Vice-Chancellor of the National Open University of Nigeria (NOUN) Professor Olugbemiro Jegede as the new Secretary to the State Government (SSG).

Performing the ceremony at the Banquet Hall of Government House in Lokoja, the state governor congratulated the former Vice Chancellor for his appointment which he described as putting right peg in a right hole.

The governor further stated that he decided to draw the professor from the academic

world to civilian politics with aim of making Kogi state one of the top ranking states in the country.

He said what his administration required of him was leadership by example, absolute loyalty "because the position is based on trust".

Wada said his administration will never tolerate corruption

and any related ones adding that his doors are open to the indigenes of the state both at home and in diaspora to contribute their quota to the development of the state.

He told all the political office holders in state to exhibit highest level of tolerance and embrace equity devoid ethnicity for the general benefits of the citizenry.

Don’t politicise repairs of Third Mainland bridge – PDP warns

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he Lagos State Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has warned that the planned repair work on the Third Mainland bridge should not be politicised as it may cause unnecessary delays.

The state publicity secretary of the party, Mr Taofik Gani, gave the warning in a statement made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

The PDP urged the Lagos state government to give maximum support to the Federal

Government and to caution its officers against comments capable of creating a face-off.

Gani faulted the statements by the Commissioner for Transportation, Mr Kayode Opeifa, that the Federal Government roads in the state are so bad that they would add to the sufferings of motorists.

“As the repairs start, we expect that the LASG should assist the Federal Government in ameliorating the possible hardship rather than

politicising the event,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, the Lagos Sector Commander of the Federal Road Safety Commission, Mr Charles Akpabio, said the repairs had been postponed in order to put more measures in place.

Akpabio said there would be an all-stakeholders meeting later in the week to discuss a new takeoff date.

He stressed the need for the state to work for the construction of a fourth mainland bridge to reduce the

pressure on the Third Mainland bridge.

Akpabio said the commission had concluded plans to coordinate the various traffic agencies involved in the exercise.

He added that information on traffic would be communicated from time to time via radio, television, newspapers and social media network when the repairs finally took off.

The repairs were earlier scheduled to commence on July 1 and end on Nov. 6.

Anglican diocese honours Obi, Uduaghan

T

he Anglican Diocese of Enugu on Sunday honoured Gov. Peter Obi of Anambra and his Delta counterpart, Dr Emmanuel Uduaghan.

The recognition was part of activities to end the first session of the 15th synod of the diocese.

Obi was recognised as the ‘Good Financial Planning Governor’ and Uduaghan bagged the award of ‘Most Dynamic and Development Governor’.

Receiving the award, Obi expressed gratitude for the honour and enjoined Nigerians to pray for those in public office to use public funds for public good.

He urged them to pray for the unity of the country not only because of insecurity but also against financial difficulties.

Obi said Nigeria would experience difficulties in years to come as the domestic debt of the nation was about 20 per cent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) totaling more than N7trillion.

He said most of the domestic debts were used for consumption instead of production which could have yielded profits especially in employment.

The governor urged Nigerians, especially the church, to stop celebrating impunity, mediocrity and those that come to church for thanks giving after stealing, embezzling and diverting public funds.

“The greatest problem government has is deceit from the adults while one of the irresponsible decision taken by government is taking over schools from churches which lead to moral decadence.

“Our business as a government is to formulate policies and supervise agencies and institutions.

“In line with this, we handed over schools to the mission and assisted them to re-position for better performance,” he said.

Accepting his award, Uduaghan said that the honour spoke volumes, coming from a cleric who fearlessly criticised government.

He said that it was a big challenge for him and would spur his administration to do more work for its people.

The governor appealed to the clergy to continue to objectively point out to those in public offices where they had gone wrong to ensure improved governance.

The two governors pledged to always support and identify with the diocese in their evangelisation programmes.

The Bishop of the diocese, Dr Emmanuel Chukwuma, said the awards were in recognition of the development strides in the states and also in the diocese.

Earlier in his sermon on ‘Christian Contentment’, the Bishop of New Bussa Diocese, Rt. Rev. Israel Amoo, urged the faithful to always be content with their positions, finances, wealth and situations.

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

TUESDAY, JULY 3, 2012

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Any organisation or individual found guilty of fr aud or cor fraud corrr uption will ultimately face the full weight of sanctions prescribed by the extant la ws of the countr y laws country — President Jonathan

SPORTS May your road be rough, Dasuki (I) LA TEST LATEST

Silva signs new Milan deal

T

he AC Milan defender, Thiago Silva, has spurned the attentions of PSG and Barcelona and has signed a new deal that will keep him at the San Siro until June 2017.

Thiago Silva, 27, is highlyrated in Italy and has risen to become one of the best defenders in world football after arriving at Milan in January 2009 from Fluminense.

The Brazilian centre-back was linked with a summer move to PSG, who made a •46 million move for him last month. However, he has now agreed a new deal running for another five years.

Milan owner Silvio Berlusconi confirmed: "Thiago Silva is staying at Milan'' while an AC Milan statement said that the club have extended the player's contract until June 30, 2017.

Thiago Silva

Murray leads Cilic at Wimbledon

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ndy Murray will resume his Wimbledon fourth-round match against Marin Cilic today after rain suspended play with the Scot leading 7-5 3-1 yesterday.

Murray was 40-0 up in game five of the second set when umpire Carlos Bernardes led the players off, and drizzle persisted for the rest of the day.

They are scheduled back on Court One, although the weather forecast is not promising.

Andy Murray

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W

ithin the first week of his appointment, Col. Sambo Dasuki, the new National Security Adviser (NSA), undertook dashing visits to Maiduguri and Damaturu, the capitals of Borno and Yobe states respectively, where Boko Haram insurgents are most active - where he met and discussed the situation with leaders, elders and the Ulama.

Whether the visits were a oneoff, designed to create the impression of an "action man" NSA, or the first in a series that Dasuki will be paying to the warfront as part of a major policy shift in security management, will become clear in the coming weeks and months.

But given that in his almost two-year tenure as NSA, Dasuki's predecessor, Gen. Owoeye Azazi, never once set foot at the warfront, and couldn't care less what the commanders and troops did there, it is understandable why they changes about a fortnight ago of top security personnel were generally welcome and Dasuki's visits are seen as signalling a significant shift in policy.

There has long been a loud cry in the country for a major security policy changes, and an even louder cry for a shake-up in the upper reaches of government, especially in the state security apparatus.

Thus, if there was any surprise in the changes made by President Jonathan, it was the sack of Defence Minister, Dr. Bello Mohammed.

It was, however, not on account of any remarkable performance on his part that his fall was generally not expected. It was, rather, on account of the fact that he was generally seen as a "come-and-chop" appointee rewarded with the defence portfolio for standing by Jonathan during the 2011 election, who, therefore, deserved to be given more time to 'chop.'

Azazi's case was different. A very large and loud chorus, which was daily being joined by individuals, groups and forces from across Nigeria, including the ruling party, PDP, itself, formed and was pushing for his sack.

Still, Azazi's sack must have been a difficult decision for Jonathan. The man is the president's fellow Bayelsan and Ijaw kinsman. It is said that no one person in the Jonathan government, except the president himself, had accumulated as much influence and resources as he (Azazi) had done. And he was generally, and in fact acted, as the epitome of the very foundation of the regime's stability and survival.

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FOR THE MASSES

By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

NSA, Col. Sambo Dasuki At long last, President Goodluck Jonathan demonstrated, if anyone ever doubted, that he is, in fact, his own man. That he is made of steely nerves, a man of tough inner calibre whose mien nevertheless masks a willingness and readiness to face the hard and often messy choices that his office requires of him.

In fairness to both men, the President didn't pick Azazi as his NSA chiefly because of their shared Ijaw ethnic identity. In fact, Azazi was suggested to him for appointment as his Chief of Staff by a thoughtful northern retired army general, and there were influential Northerners who, it is said, backed the man's initial ambition to be made a minister with either defence or the Federal Capital portfolio .

But given the latter's formidable military profile, picking up many laurels all the way from the time of his graduation at both the Nigerian Defence Academy in 1974 and the War College years later, until retirement as Chief of Defence Staff on 20 August 2008, and a career mostly spent in military intelligence coupled with sound academic credentials, it was not a surprise that Jonathan made him his NSA. Yet, keen observers could tell that influential voices inside and outside our security and intelligence infrastructures had long come round to the view that our current national security nightmare could not easily be curbed or resolved as long as Azazi remained the NSA. For, his alleged

behind-the-scene aggressive persona and role in government, especially his controversial army past as General Officer Commanding 1 Division (Jan 2005-June 2006) and Chief of Army Staff (2006-2007) and his ethno-sectional and muscular approach to counterinsurgency in the Nigerian north, had come to be seen by especially his northern critics as obstacles to northern security co-operation with the Jonathan presidency.

So, it seems, Jonathan was left with no better choice than to move Azazi on if he wanted a new way out of a deadly northern insurgency that has been polarising the whole country, especially along our major religious divide. To undercut potential criticism from his own home base, Jonathan cleverly paired Azazi's dismissal with that of the Defence Minister, Dr Bello Mohammed, who is a northerner with caliphal ancestry. Federal character at play, you may say.

In a way, therefore, the changes, especially in the case of Azazi, were at once, a response to public outcry and concern, an admission of failure of current policies and a signal of an intension to sculpt new approaches and responses to the grave situation in the country. The president, after all, has now been forced to eat his words, having failed to keep the mid-year deadline he himself gave -and by which he staked his honour and reputation before world leaders in Korea, early this year- for putting an end to the Boko Haram insurgency.

It is either that the president was misadvised, in which case Azazi must take the blame for Jonathan's loss of face, or the president misadvised himself, in which case he has only himself to blame. But this is beside the point here. The issue now is that although there is hardly any doubt that Boko Haram's military capacity has been, in recent months, severely undermined, and many of its leaders are either in the grave or in jail, the sect seems, by its most recent coordinated, violent attacks across many Northern states, to be telling

us that although it may not be able to give Jonathan himself the "Ringim treatment", it is still very much alive and capable of inflicting maximum damage.

Were these attacks the last snarls of a dying sect, as some security chiefs want us to believe, or are they evidence that we still have a big problem in our hands?

Only time will tell.

But there is also another way in which the changes are significant. In fact, Jonathan's shake-up of the security apparatus seems to have drawn up three important markers: one, that he is the boss; two, that no one in his government is indispensable; and, three, that top officials especially will have to do well or face the music. In a word, he has proclaimed the riot act.

How very nice it would be to see him carry this through with vigour and despatch to all other departments and agencies of government! And how even nicer and patriotic it would be if he were to go beyond that to move decisively against the oil robber barons who have, in the recent past, so mercilessly plundered, and are still plundering our treasury, but are still very much in business and smiling everyday to the bank!

For, it is under Jonathan's watch that the most stupendous and brazen heist in Nigeria's history has taken place, and not without the collusion of officials in his government or under his ultimate control. And it is under his direct watch that the greed of a small cabal of officials and private venal interests has magnified our country's economic woes, occasioning the imposition of cruel and unbearable burdens on the people and pushing their tolerance to its limit.

Certainly, the president cannot claim not to know that the present unprecedented levels of thievery and corruption in the land have unequivocal, direct and immense bearing on our current national malaise and insecurity.

But let's back up a little and return to the issue of Dasuki's appointment, which forms our main concern in this column today. I doubt that there is a good basis for the suggestion in some quarters that Dasuki is essentially a proxy of some Northern notables who got the job for him and will, therefore, be pulling the strings from wherever they are. My own information is that the job came as a reward largely of his individual effort. He had expressed to Jonathan his interest in the job since the latter was Acting President, and has kept his eye on it since then.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141