Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 04, February, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 26

Monday, February 4, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Rabiul Awwal 23, 1434 AH

N150

2015: PDP using SURE-P to empower members - ACN Account for N10bn subsidy funds, PDP challenges ACN

...as CPC accuses FG of aiding corruption in NNPC

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi, Abuja & Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has warned that the PDP-controlled Federal Government is now using part of the funds accruing to the Subsidy Reinvestment Programme (SURE-P) to empower the party's cronies ahead of the 2015 general elections, instead of using it for the benefit of all Nigerians.

In a statement issued in Lagos yesterday by its national publicity secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, the party said the Federal Government's current abuse of the SURE-P set up in the wake of last year's partial removal of fuel subsidy, amounts to a gross violation of the country's constitution and constitutes an impeachable offence.

It warned SURE-P's head, Dr. Christopher Kolade, a respectable citizen who is known for his transparency and integrity, not to allow the skewed and partisan implementation of the programme by the FG to tarnish his hard-earned reputation.

Contd on Page 2

AfCON: Eagles retire Drogba as Nigeria sails to semis >> PAGE 41 PD INDEX

1st Feb., 2013

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.74 244.10 209.59 0.2981 41.25

SELLING 155.74 245.68 210.95 0.3181 41.52

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 208 254.50 42 157

SELLING 210 257.50 43 158

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (left) inspecting an operation theatre after commissioning the 250-bed Muhammad Shuwa Memorial Hospital in Maiduguri, on Saturday. With him is Governor Kashim Shettima (2nd left) of Borno state.

KANO STATE ASSEMBLY BYE-ELECTION RESULTS AS DECLARED BY INEC ON 02/02/2013 GAYA PDP ANPP DPP CPP CPC. CAP. ADC. AD. AA.

GARKO 42,696.

2,379 150 155.

979.

55.

77.

82.

44

PDP ANPP DPP. CPC. CAP. ADC. AD. AA.

53,895 2,168 174 1331 62 89 71 39

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

Law

26

Education 27-28 Health

29-30

Nigeria: Workers dismantle rotting airplanes in ‘graveyards’, Pgs 24-25

Int’l

31-34

Revue

32-33

Strange World 35 Politics

37-40

Sports

41-46

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Oil drilling in Chad Basin to commence 2014 – Sambo From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

V

ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, at the weekend, declared that drilling of petroleum products in the Lake Chad Basin will commence in the first quarter of 2014, saying the Federal Government has so far budgeted the sum of $100 million for oil exploration projects this year.

Sambo, was speaking at the palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Garbai ElKanemi, in Maiduguri, while on a one day working visit to the state.

He said the move was parts of the President Goodluck Jonathan determination to actualize the ongoing oil exploration activities in the region.

He disclosed that already, three major oil blocks have been discovered in the state, adding that the sum of $75 million was equally spent the on the exploratory study of the project last year.

The Vice President said the Federal Government was carrying Borno state along in its developmental projects, noting

that “in fact, the oil exploration in the Chad Basin has shown significant promising results. Last year, the Federal Government spent $75 million on exploration activities in the Chad Basin and this year, Mr. President has approved the appropriation of $100 million for the same project.

“We have completed a lot of exploratory services that are required. I am pleased to inform you that so far, we have identified three major oil blocs and one of these blocs is in Maiduguri itself.

Our plan is that by the third quarter of this year, or the first quarter of 2014, we would commence actual drilling exploration test in some of the blocs,” he said.

Commenting on the recent unilateral ceasefire declared by the Boko Haramn sect, Sambo described it as a welcomed development, explaining that Federal government supported the move and will do everything within its powers to ensure that peace is finally restored to the state and country at large.

“We are happy with the ceasefire, the president has always advocated for dialogue, even after

a long drawn war combatants still come to the roundtable to discuss peace,” saying “we are happy that this has been achieved in a short time and what has been the agitation of President Jonathan.”

He claimed that the presidency had at no time left the people of Borno to their fate, insisting that the state had always have the deserved attention.

He stated that President Goodluck Jonathan was unable to visit the state because of the exigencies of his office and lamented that some people are working tirelessly to politicize the issue.

The Vice President said: “People want to politicize the issue that the president and myself have not visited Borno, but I must say the state and its people have been on our heart.”

Sambo assured that the federal government was determined to partner with the state government to find a lasting solution to the Boko Haram insurgency and provide job opportunities to the people, adding that “we hold Borno dearly in our hearts, not only because of its historical significance but

because of its strategic importance to national development.”

In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno urged Federal Government to facilitate the reduction of the countless security check-points mounted by operatives of the Joint Task Force, (JTF) in Maiduguri metropolis as well as relaxing of the ongoing curfew imposed between 6 am to 9 pm.

The monarch noted that the call was imperative as the two problems raised have caused decay in the socio-economic activities of the city, plunging residents into intense sufferings.

According to him, the curfew and security roadblocks have virtually hindered many people from accessing their places of business, saying urgent steps need to be taken to address the plight of the people.

Earlier, the Vice President had commissioned a 250-bed capacity hospital named after late General Mamman Shuwa (rtd) who was killed last year; laid the foundation stone of 300 housing unit in the Teachers’ Village named after Shettima Ali Monguno; and opened the 3.5 kilometer township road in Moduganari Ward.

PDP using SURE-P to empower members for 2015, ACN warns Contd from Page 1 ''Ordinarily, SURE-P seems laudable as it is aimed at the empowerment of the citizens through job creation and infrastructure development, but in reality, PDP apparachiks have hijacked it for the purpose of empowering only the party's members.

They have created State Implementation Committees (SICs) to handle the disbursement of SURE-P cash to party members as a strategy to arm them with a war chest ahead of the 2015 elections.

“To make matters worse, the PDP is denigrating the traditional institution by using traditional rulers in some states as the conduit to distribute SURE-P funds, ostensibly to empower Nigerians but in reality to put money in the pockets of PDP supporters”, ACN said.

Meanwhile the PDP in the South-West in its response to the ACN’s allegations has described as mischievous and laughable the claim that the SURE-P has been hijacked by the PDP to empower only the party’s members, saying; "it is politics taken to a bizarre level and we hope these characters in the ACN won't criticise God for creating human being in His own image one day."

The party accused ACNcontrolled States of syphoning their own share of the Subsidy Fund just as it added that: "Instead of making noise on the

implementation of the federal government's SURE-P, the party should rather account for over the N10 billion Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Osun, Ekiti and Edo States share of the Subsidy Fund."

In a statement signed by its Zonal Publicity Secretary, Hon. Kayode Babade, the PDP said: "We just read a statement from the ACN loudmouth, Lai Mohammed, claiming that the PDP-controlled federal government was using part of the funds accruing to the programme to empower the party’s cronies ahead of the 2015 general elections, instead of using it for the benefit of all Nigerians.

"The questions that we wish to ask the ACN is; assuming but not conceding that only PDP members and supporters are benefiting from the SURE-P programme, are the supposed PDP members and supporters not Nigerians?

"Who are the beneficiaries of the ACN controlled States' share of the Subsidy Fund because the fund is shared among the Federal Government, States and Local Councils?

"As at today, there is no state in Nigeria that has not received more than N1.5 billion as its share of the Subsidy Fund and if the PDPcontrolled federal government is empowering Nigerians with its own share, to whose pocket has the over N10 billion received by the ACN-controlled States gone?"

While berating the party for

insulting traditional rulers in Yorubaland by accusing them of being used as conduit to distribute SURE-P funds, the PDP said; "Such a statement insinuating that our revered traditional rulers are being used to steal public fund is to say the least, reckless.”

In a related development, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) has accused the Federal Government of encouraging shrewd dealings in the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), calling on the National Assembly to save the situation by invoking relevant laws.

In a statement issued over the weekend by the party's national publicity secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said NNPC failed to remit N1.305 trillion to the Federation Account, being amount for crude oil sales in a three-year period as at December 2011.

The party said this is in addition to $4.84 billion (N726 billion) in dividends and loan payments which the corporation owes Nigerians, regretting that NNPC deducts subsidy payment directly from crude sale funds before remittance to the Federation Account thereby distorting proper accounting in oil sales.

Moreover, CPC said between 2009 and 2011, NNPC received 445,000 barrels of crude per day for local refining and consumption, but due to poor condition of Nigeria’s refineries,

20 percent was refined, while the remaining 80 percent was sold as crude at over $35.6 million daily, yet no palliative is provided for the suffering masses.

"How and where did the NNPC get the authorisation to deduct fuel subsidy payments from crude oil sales before remittance into the Federation Account? Why did NNPC refuse to remit the $4.73 billion collected from NNLG over the two-year period (20092011)?

Undoubtedly, the implication of this ..., aside revealing the NNPC (under the Jonathan regime) as a citadel of institutionalised corruption, there are other salient issues that leave soul grapes in the mouth", the party stated.

While blaming these corrupt practises for the raging youth unemployment which is currently creating tension in the polity, CPC said there is no reasonable juxtaposition of the N21.525 trillion made from crude oil sales in the years under review and the infrastructural development within the polity in the period thereof.

Meanwhile, CPC is reacting on the report recently released by the Nigeria Extractive Industry Transparency Initiative (NEITI) on the state of affairs in the nation's oil industry.

In the report, NEITI had implied that Nigeria’s oil earnings between 2009 and 2011 stood at $143.5billion, equivalent of N21.525 trillion.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 3

Obasanjo makes shocking appearance at Aso Villa

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

F

ormer President Olusegun Obasanjo yesterday made a surprise appearance at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

He worshipped with President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Patience, at the Aso Villa Chapel.

The former PDP BoT chairman has not enjoyed a cordial relationship with President Jonathan in recent times with rumours linking their feud to the 2015 elections.

He has in fact turned the number one critic of the administration and has accused

President Jonathan of been incompetent in handling the Boko Haram crisis.

The former president was accompanied to the villa by two of his children and Femi Otedola.

Obasanjo read the second lesson of the service and led a prayer session.

At the end of the service, Obasanjo visited the Children’s Church in company of Jonathan. He also offered prayers for the children.

The former president thereafter followed the President Jonathan to his official residence where they had lunch together before departing.

R-L: Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-Makura, with Captain Yusuf Salisu, during the presentation of Hilux vehicles donated by the state government to 177 Battalion, yesterday at the Government House, in Lafia.

Kaduna okada accept plan to ban operations From Muhammad Adamu, Kaduna

T

he Association of Commercial Motorcycle Operators otherwise known as acaba in Kaduna city, have accepted plans by the state government to ban their operations and put in place of tricycles or Keke NAPEP. The resolution by the executive of the commercial motorcyclists came after series of meetings with government.

Speaking after the meeting yesterday in Kaduna, chairman of the commercial motorcyclists, Comrade Auwal Muhammad, said his association has agreed to From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

P

ro-National Conference Organisation (PRONACO), has alerted the nation of the danger in the failure of government to urgently utilise the historic commemoration of Nigeria’s centenary to sustain and re-engineer the Nigerian union as the amalgamation foisted on the country by the British authorities in 1914 expires next year.

Addressing the nation yesterday in Lagos through its spokesperson and advocacy coordinator, Sir Olawale Okunniyi, PRONACO carpeted Federal Government centenary programme expected to kick off in

collaborate with government in ensuring that the ban on acaba does not render their members unemployed.

Leaders of the commercial motorcyclists in Kaduna, Zaria and Kafanchan that attended the meetings however requested the government to allocate to their members numbers of tricycles when the scheme begins to cushion effects of the loss of their means of livelihood.

Government on its part, agreed to the request and has offered to reserve 30 percent of the tricycles it imported to members of the association. A list of those to benefit has also been compiled and

submitted to government by the executive of the commercial motorcyclists.

Also speaking during the meeting, the leader of Commercial Motorcycle Operators from Zaria, Malam Ibrahim Isa Kagoro appealed to the state government to incorporate their members in the government proposed transportation sector regulation and modernisation scheme.

Kagoro explained that the association is collaborating with security agencies across the state to ensure sanity in the business of commercial motorcycle operators in the face of the current security challenges and the use of

motorcycles to commit crime.

Leader of commercial motorcyclists from Kafanchan zone, Malam Badamasi Adamu Kafanchan, assured of their support and cooperation but urged government to have their interest at heart.

In his remark, leader of the Kaduna State representatives and the Director General Media and Publicity to the Governor, Ahmed Maiyaki assured that government would collaborate with stakeholders in the transport sector, especially the motorcyclists association even before the bill meant to guide their operations in the state is passed into law.

Centenary: PRONACO warns FG to re-engineer Nigeria in 2014 Abuja for lacking depth and substance against the reality and needs of the country.

Okunniyi lamented government’s “lousy commemorative plan” to celebrate what he tagged false national unity and non-existent wellbeing of the Nigeria people at a very critical and trying moment in the nation’s life, when Nigerians are dying in their hundreds on a daily basis due to violent ethno religious reactions to corrupt leadership and

exploitative structures in the country”.

He said instead of the organisers of the ‘centenary jamboree’ thinking of how to enrich themselves from the nation’s scarce resources during the historic occasion, the Nigerian government should rather facilitate a solemn process of renegotiation by a Constituent Assembly to effectively fashion a national consensus and collective ownership of the renaissance of a

united and stable Nigeria beyond 2014.

The veteran political activist warned that it will be dangerous and unimaginative for the sitting government to embark on a spree of personal enrichment and wild celebration of falsehood and self delusion like the days of the biblical Noah only to be suddenly confronted by the reality of the expiration of Nigeria’s amalgamation and sudden struggle for secession.

Tourists commend Nigeria over visa card

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he International Coalition of Tourism Partners (ICTP) has commended Nigeria for introducing tourist visa card to ease the burden of tourists carrying cash while in Nigeria.

In a press statement released in Madrid, Spain by the organisation, a co-founder of the internationally acclaimed body, Alain St.Ange, also commended Nigeria for initiating a biometric registration system for the tourism industry workers, saying it will go a long way to curb fraudulent tendencies in the tourism sector.

This followed a meeting at FITUR between Otunba Olusegun Runsewe, the Director General of the Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation (NTDC) and Minister Alain St.Ange of the Seychelles.

Alain St.Ange, who is the Minister of Tourism and Culture of Seychelles, observed the efforts at repositioning the tourism industry in Nigeria with international standards and best practices, saying it will develop the tourism sector.

"We in ICTP are very pleased with these development and innovations in Nigeria. We believe these new products are good for tourism growth in the continent," the statement read.

Accordingly, the ICTP encouraged other countries in Africa to do what Nigeria has done for the growth of tourism in their countries, saying “We encourage other countries in Africa to introduce these products to ease the movements of tourists who would not carry cash because people don't carry cash across borders any longer”.

…As Plateau to partner Mikel, Moses, P-Square for peace

T

he Commissioner for Tourism and Hospitality in Plateau state, Hon. Sylvanus Dongtoe, has applauded the contribution of John Mikel Obi, Victor Moses and popular musicians P-Square among numerous others who started their careers in the state, to the development of sports, arts and music in Nigeria.

Dongtoe made the commendation over the weekend during the launching of a group under the auspices of Project S.A.M held in Jos describing Plateau as a state that has bred many talents who are competing favourably in of sports, and music industry.

He regretted that the state of violence in Plateau has scared tourists from visiting the state and pledge to partner with these talents in fostering peaceful co-existence among Nigerians who have made Plateau their home.

The Coordinator of Project S.A.M, Hon. Kim Titus said all the personalities produced by the state will storm Jos in March to celebrate the return of peace in the state and assist crisis and flood victims.

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

UNESCO set to restore Mali’s cultural heritage

By Adeola Tukuru

D

irector-General of the United Nations Educational, Scientific Cultural Organisation (UNESCO), Irina Bokova, has assured that UNESCO is willing to safeguard and rebuild Mali’s extraordinary cultural

heritage, describing it as “a vital part of the country’s identity and history and fundamental for its future”.

According to her, its restoration and reconstruction will give the people of Mali the strength and confidence to rebuild national unity and look to the future”.

In her words: “Now that Timbuktu will return to normalcy, we must do everything to help the people of Mali turn a new page in the spirit of national cohesion”, she said.

Bokova explained that the recent escalation of wanton destruction of Mali’s heritage

makes this all the more urgent.

UNESCO will spare no effort to help rebuild the mausoleums of Timbuktu and the tomb of Askia in Gao, and we will mobilise all our expertise and resources to help safeguard and preserve the ancient manuscripts that testify to the region’s glorious past as a major

centre of Islamic learning. I appeal to all our partners to work with us.

She stated that UNESCO would send a mission, as soon as security permits, to undertake a complete evaluation of the damage and determine the most urgent needs, in order to finalise a plan of action, in cooperation with the Government of Mali that will guide reconstruction and rehabilitation.

2015: Yuguda throws weight behind Sule Lamido From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

B L-R: Secretary USPF, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Mr. Abdullahi Maikano, Director, Legal And Regulatory Affairs, NCC, Ms. Josephine Amuwa, and Manager, Price Waterhouse Coopers, UK, Mr. Carlos Soto, during NCC stakeholders' forum on the review of 2009 interconnection rates determination for voice services, at the weekend in Lagos.

Gunmen attack police post, injure cop in Bauchi From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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unmen launched an attacked on Dass Divisional Police Station and injured a police corporal at the weekend in Dass local government area of Bauchi state.

The Bauchi state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Mohammed Auyo, confirmed the incident to newsmen in Bauchi.

He said the police had

repelled the attack at Dass Divisional Police Station and that a police corporal was injured during the exchange of fire with the hoodlums. “They did not destroy the police station, they did not sack the policemen and they did not steal our arms; even the injured police man escaped with his riffle”, Auyo said.

Auyo said investigation in to the incident had commenced and that soon the police would get the

suspects. He reiterated the commitment of the Police to guarantee the security of lives and property of the people.

A security source in Bauchi said: “Police had intelligence report on the attack; the hoodlums were looking for arms but the policemen on duty were brave enough to have chased them away, the injured policeman’s name is Corporal Yohanna Joshua who was shot

on his leg”.

He said it was not clear if there was casualty on the part of the hoodlums because they used to pick their injured and corpses when they are running.

It was also reported that the hoodlums threw explosives at the station but were not able to destroy it. They riddled the building with bullet holes but everything is intact.

On why it took this long for compensation to be paid to the ground victims, Usidamen explained: “In order to ensure that just and fair compensation is paid to the affected families, several processes have to be followed by law, and settlement reached by all parties concerned”.

“These processes usually take time but our insurers are leaving no stone unturned to ensure that all the matters are

resolved”.

The airline’s insurers have also continued to deal with claims by families of passengers and crew onboard the ill-fated flight.

According to Usidamen, “Over 84 families have received advance payments of 30,000 USD and payment of final settlement to families who have produced the requisite Letters of Administration (and Letter of Guardianship in the case of

minors) has since commenced.

Usidamen expressed appreciation to the Lagos state government for the cooperation and assistance rendered so far.

“With the waiver of statutory fees and fast-track system, families will have the requisite documents expeditiously.

This will enable the insurers to settle all claims within the shortest possible time, and in accordance with the law.”

Dana crash: Ground victims get compensation

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

I

nsurers of Dana Air have begun payment of compensation to Iju-Ishaga residents whose properties were damaged when an aircraft crashed into the area on June 3, 2012.

Tony Usidamen, Dana Air’s Head of Corporate Communications, confirmed the development in a telephone chat.

He said: “We can confirm that payment of compensation to affected Iju-Ishaga residents has commenced. The process is still on-going, and our insurers are committed to ensuring that all claimants are compensated to the extent of their losses”.

Though he declined to give the names of the residents or amount paid, investigations revealed that Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, who has been the most vocal of all affected residents, is among those who have received compensation; an initial payment of 30,000 USD.

NSCDC is well equipped to handle arms, says Plateau commander

P

lateau state commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps (NSCDC), Mr. Sodange Bature Vincent, has disclosed that men of the NSCDC have undergone successful military training in both intelligence and weapons handling.

Speaking to our reporter in

Jos, the commandant revealed that his men qualified to handle arms just like any other armed force, adding the army has been the one training them right from the onset of the force.

He maintained that the Nigerian army has been their backbone during the training

of men of the NSCDC, and called on the Nigerians to have confidence in them.

He however maintained that the corps is doing very well in the state in promoting peace – working in collaboration with the police and STF.

auchi state governor, Malam Isah Yuguda has indicated readiness to support his Jigawa state counterpart, Alhaji Sule Lamido to contest the presidential position in 2015.

This was disclosed by Yuguda over the weekend while fielding questions from journalists at the Government House, Dutse in Jigawa state.

Yuguda said: "he is my senior brother, what did you mean?, I can support governor Sule Lamido's presidential ambition, because I believe in his ability to handle the office very well".

The Bauchi state governor was in Jigawa on a private visit but the duo held a marathon meeting till late evening.

The governors discussed extensively behind closed doors, while journalists were asked to stay outside the presidential lodge.

Offa/Erin-Ile crisis: ACN alleges plot to sack council boss From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

ction Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Kwara state has alleged plots by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government to sack the only ACN chairman, in the state, Prince Saheed Popoola, using the recent Offa/ Erin-Ile crisis as a smokescreen.

The party in a statement issued in Ilorin yesterday by its chairman, Kayode Olawepo, said ACN "has it on good authority that the leadership of the Kwara state PDP has resolved to hide under the recent Offa/Erin-Ile crisis to remove the only ACN LGA chairman in Offa council by dissolving the council".

Olawepo accused the PDP of hiding under the crisis to achieve its longstanding aim of ridding Kwara of opposition by removing the only chairman elected on the platform of the ACN.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Foundation advocates regular tax payment, monitoring From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

A

tax advocacy and manpower development group, Raphadon Leadership Foundation, has tasked Nigerians to imbibe the culture of regular tax payments as well as close monitoring of taxpayers monies by government at all levels in order to check cases of misapplication.

Director General of the foundation, Mr. Ralph Ayua who made the call yesterday when he led students of selected secondary schools in Benue state on an advocacy visit at the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), in Makurdi, noted that it is only this way that Nigerians would start to reap the benefits of prompt and regular tax payment as stipulated by the laws of the land.

He said the visit was in tandem with the ‘Students’ Tax Advocacy Initiative’, of the FIRS which provides the basis for the establishment of Students Advocacy for Tax (SAT) clubs across the country in order to sensitise the students on the need for regular tax payment in.

He lauded the FIRS initiative which he contended has exposed most Nigerians to the socioeconomic benefits of regular tax payments.

…as Benue indigenes lament absence of industries

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enue indigenes have expressed displeasure over activities at the state Internal Revenue Service (BIRS), which has resulted in a drastic drop in the internally generated revenue of the state.

Mr. Gilbert Aboh, an economist, attributed this development to in ability of the state government to resuscitate ailing industries, maintaining that this has resulted in non investment in the state’s economy by outsiders.

“How can the revenue be high when there are no industries in the state and government has not made conscious effort to revamp ailing industries to make them functional and viable for growth and development? Not even the attempt made to revive the Taraku Mills that used to be the pride of the state yielded the desired result. Now we rely only on Benue Cement Company which has remained the only functional industry in the state”, he regretted.

PAGE 5

You’re a malicious liar, Fani-Kayode replies Abati

By Lambert Tyem

F

ormer Minister of Aviation, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode, yesterday described the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, as a malicious liar.

Fani-Kayode while speaking to journalists in Abuja, said he thought Abati is self-serving and essentially dishonest, adding that if he focused specifically on what Abati said of his own tenure as Minister of Aviation, he cannot come to any other conclusion “rather than the fact that Reuben Abati is a liar”.

“And not only is he a liar, he is also a malicious liar. I have known him for many, many years. I

never knew that serial lying is one of the things that are his hobbies.

“And the fact that he can lie whilst he is spokesman to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, may also be a reflection of the kind of government that we have in this country”, FaniKayode said.

Fani-Kayode who was reacting to an article written by Abati titled “The Hypocrisy of Yesterday’s Men” published in some Nigerian dailies, further said Abati “sought to ridicule and demean those of us that served President Olusegun Obasanjo’s government and that are not very impressed with the performance of his boss”.

He added that the essay written by Abati, was nothing but

the usual smear campaign and a crude attempt to intimidate, which has been the hallmark of this government whenever they are faced with even the mildest form of criticism.

Focussing on the aviation aspect of the essay where Abati said: “When one of them was in charge of this same estate called Nigeria, he shut down the Port Harcourt Airport and other airports for close to two years under the guise of renovation...,” Fani Kayode said Abati indulged in with a response other than to say that he told a shameless and pernicious lie when he wrote that as Minister of Aviation, I ‘shut down Port Harcourt Airport for two years’ and

‘allowed grass to grow all over it”.

“The fact that we asked President Goodluck Jonathan to account for the 67 billion USD that he squandered from our foreign reserves has clearly upset him.

“We dared to ask about the money and so, we were singled out and targeted for a tonguelashing and a long lecture from the Presidency. Yet we remain undeterred.

“This is how weak governments that have nothing to offer and something to hide always behave. They come after their perceived enemies with full force and they are petty and over-sensitive”, he said.

R-L: President Goodluck Jonathan, with former President Olusegun Obasanjo, mother of the President, Madam Eunice Jonathan, Chairman, Forte Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, and other worshippers, during the Sunday service at the Aso Villa Chapel, State House in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

10-man robbery gang smashed in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja etermined to flush out criminals from the state, Police in Lokoja, weekend nabbed a 10-man robbery gang alleged to have been terrorising Okene, Adavi, Lokoja and its environs in Kogi state.

The suspects are Suleman Jamiu, Emmanuel Israel, Michael Joseph, Muhammed Salihu, Lateef Jimoh, Mohammed Ejimah, Okehi Yusuf, Haruna Isah, Adams Suberu and Abu Jimoh.

Parading the suspects, the Kogi state Commissioner of Police, Mohammed Katsina, said the gang specialised in using hammers to smash holes in walls before robbing shops owners.

He said the gang was made up of bricklayers and block moulders who in such disguise, would come to the road with their working materials in search of prey who normally mistake them for genuine casual labourers and hire them.

He added that in the course of the work, they would survey the

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area and come back at night to carry out the robbery operation before luck ran out on them.

He explained that with the aid of one of them who was a member of the living Faith Church in Okene, they were able to attack and rob the church of several thousands of naira and other valuables.

“The leader of the gang Suleman Jamiu, a youth leader of

Living Faith Church, Okene, said in one of their operations he led the gang to attack the church, using a sledge hammer to smash a hole on the wall, enter the pastor office, broke the safe and made away with N300,000.

They broke into several shops and made away with items and money,” Katsina explained.

He further narrated that the command’s special Ambush Squad

have been trailing the gang for some times now following the report by victims, saying that after careful investigations, they were able to track them down one after the other.

The police also paraded two OND students of the Kogi State Polytechnic, David Enimola Opeyemi and Joel Oluwaseun who were alleged to have been terrorising their school mates and other victims on campus with a toy gun which they used to force them to part away with valuables.

Preachers’ license will not work in Nigeria, says cleric From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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rimate Rufus Ositelu of The Church of the Lord Aladura Worldwide (TCLAW), has said the suggestion that religious preachers obtain license from government before operating will not work in Nigeria.

Ositelu who was answering questions from journalists in Ibadan, said the recent suggestion that preachers be licensed by the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Saad Abubakar, was commendable when considering the level of

insecurity especially in the Northern part of the country.

He said he would also agree with the Sultan when he looked at the background from where he spoke.

Ositelu said however that when one looked at the country in general, with its huge population and different religions, then it would be seen that monitoring of all religious preachers through permits was not practicable.

“The Sultan suggested it because he knows that many

Muslim clerics gave sermons at Friday prayers and some in the past have incited violence among their followers who came out to cause havoc after the prayer sessions”, the TCLAW leader said.

Ositelu recalled the case of the cancelled Miss World beauty pageant which ignited violent reactions in the country following preaching at Friday sermons by Islamic clerics in the north.

He said such cases must have been the catalyst behind the Sultan’s suggestion.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Communal clash: Al-makura decries level of devastation G

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state has described his recent visit to Agbashi, headquarters of Ekye development area, Doma local government council, as his saddest moment since his inauguration as governor.

Al-makura made his feelings known when he paid a visit to the area which recently witnessed a devastating communal clash, with the entire Agbashi sacked and abandoned for over two weeks.

The governor who earlier on

planned to lead the Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) from the area back home, however changed his mind after seeing the level of destruction of the town, saying that government will immediately dispatch adequate security to forestall re-occurrence of the crisis.

While acknowledging that no security arrangement would ensure that peace returns to the area, without the total commitment of residents, the governor announced the stationing of a detachment of soldiers permanently in Agbashi, while a surveillance team that will patrol

the area is also to be put in place immediately.

"If I should count the days of sadness since I came into office, today will be the highest. We have seen clashes or disturbances even before I came into office, but I am sad to say that the devastation and destruction of Agbashi is second to none", Al-makura lamented.

In an effort to open up the area and make Agbashi accessible, Almakura announced that the state's Ministry of Works will commence work on the grading of the road from Adadu to Agbashi, before the project is included in the second

phase of roads to be built across the state.

He appealed to the people of the area to be tolerant of one another, not to be discouraged but be hopeful as according to him, his administration will provide all the necessary support to enable the people live their normal lives.

Our correspondent recalls that two weeks ago, suspected Fulani militias overran the rural settlements around Agbashi, with over 100 houses burnt while the entire residents of the town fled to take up refuge in displaced persons camps in Doma and Lafia.

L-R: Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters, Senator Joy Emordi, with wife of Senate President, Mrs. Helen Mark, at the opening of 8th African Regional Conference of the Catholic Women Organisation, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NAFDAC should adopt sample survey for clinical trials, says don From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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rof.

Isaac Olayiwola Oshungade of Department of Statistics, University of Ilorin, has recommended adoption of sample surveys for clinical trials by National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC).

Oshungade noted that for the agency to gain total control over illegal drugs, experimental designs against fake drugs should be carried by research institutes across the country.

The statistician stated this while delivering 121st inaugural lecture of the University of Ilorin entitled "The Art of Everyday Sampling", saying that a qualified statisticians should be encouraged by the Federal Government to assist the agency in its bid to rid the country of fake drugs.

"For the improvement and prospect of statistical sampling and in particular survey sampling in Nigeria, sampling survey methods for clinical trials and medical statistics should be organised by institutions like NAFDAC and university teaching hospitals for drug regulation and pharmaceutical research for medical control.

Grant amnesty to Boko Haram, Tsav advises FG From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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rstwhile Lagos state Commissioner of Police, Alhaji Abubakar Tsav, has called on the Federal Government to show determination and grant amnesty to members of the Boko Haram sect.

Tsav noted in an interview with journalists in Makurdi at the weekend, that the offer of ceasefire by the group is good

but must be seen to be realistic, adding that there is a need for President Goodluck Jonathan to emulate late President Yar Adua by granting pardon to the sect.

He frowned at the magnitude of destruction caused by the group as well as the murder of several innocent souls, blaming the President for failure to visit areas like Maiduguri, Yobe and other areas where there were series

of bombing to commiserate with the people.

"Late President Yar' adua extended amnesty to members of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta and many of them were later sent abroad to be trained in one skill or the other. Up till now, most of them are under government payroll. I believe same should be done to Boko Haram members.

Government should be sincere with the sect", Tsav urged.

'Adopt community driven approach in tackling poverty' From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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overnment at all levels have been urged to adopt CommunityDriven Development (CDD) approach in tackling poverty scourge prevalent in rural communities in the country.

Mr. James Odiba, General Manager of Kogi State Community and Social Development Agency (KGCSDA), made the call in an interview with our reporter yesterday in Lokoja.

He said that a number of country progammes were initiated by the World Bank in collaboration with the Federal Government to experiment the CDD approach under the Community Poverty Reduction Project (CPRP).

The General Manager said that 12 states selected from the six geo-political zones under the pilot scheme to experiment the "bottom-top approach to development" showed that the effort was worthwhile. ''An important lesson emerging from the experiences gathered at all levels of participation is the fact that the CDD could really assist the country in getting out of the seemingly intractable problems of pervasive and excruciating poverty' ' , he enthused.

Odiba noted that with CDD's emphasis on grassroots participation in decision making, management of resources and direct responsibilities for implementation, ownership and sustainability concerns could be easily addressed.

He suggested that against the backdrop of the success of the CPRP which ended in 2008, the programme should be replicated and sustained in the 36 states of the federation for rapid socioeconomic development of the rural poor.

This, he pointed out, would also enable increased access of the poor to improved social and natural resources in a sustainable manner and thereby, increase their access to human development services.

FG urged to ban music, videos promoting negative values From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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rofessor of Medical Sociology, Ayodele Samuel Jegede, has asked the Federal Government to ban music and entertainment which promote negative values.

Prof. Jegede who is the Head, Department of Sociology, University of Ibadan, noted that only effective moral and cultural revival can restore sanity to Nigeria.

The don observed that Nigerian youths are on a daily basis being

socialised to bad values of corruption, cybercrime, rape, and ritualism which dominate the music and entertainment industries today.

In a release titled: "Family Values and Social Order in Nigeria: Government to the Rescue" signed by him, the sociologist said as a matter of urgency, government should put in place policies that will promote family values through cultural revival.

Jegede who noted the negative effects of imported culture on Nigerian children, further said

folklores and storytelling should be reintroduced in primary schools in order to inculcate core values in children.

He further asked government to promote the use of local languages because they are the reservoirs of cultural values while charging parents should communicate with their children in their local dialects.

"The change in value system has significant influence on social transformation in societies. This is because value is something (as a principle or quality) intrinsically

valuable or desirable that drives peoples reasoning and perception of life. Value emphasises good in society.

We have moral and natural goods.

While "moral goods" are those that have to do with the conduct of persons, on the one hand, "natural goods", on the other hand, have to do with objects, not persons. Generally, moral good can attract praise or blame.

"Whether an action is good or bad it can transform society according to the direction of actors who constitute its elements", he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

NDLEA decries absence of rehab centre for drug addicts

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) yesterday expressed concern over its inability to build a rehabilitation centre for victims of drug abuse since its 23 years of operations.

The agency’s spokesman, Mr Michelle Ofoyeju, said in Lagos, that arresting persons smoking hemp on the streets was not a solution without rehabilitation centres.

“We need a world class rehabilitation centre that will take about 300 victims where we will train them in skill acquisition, at least for six months,” said Ofoyeju.

“You know we cannot charge them to court, they are not criminals, they are sick persons,” the spokesman said.

He stated that though the agency carried out raids periodically in black sports such as motor parks, under bridges

LG spends N37m on boreholes From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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n its effort to address water shortage in the area, Kankia Local Government of Katsina State has spent the sum of N37 million on the repairs of boreholes and construction of new ones in the area.

The caretaker chairman of the council, Alhaji Abubakar Lawal Kaita who made the disclosure while conducting newsmen on inspection of the council’s water projects, noted that the repairs were carried out covered in about six wards in the area.

Kaita stated that the repair which covers no fewer than 265 boreholes include fixing of their booster power, summers, electricity generating sets and provision of water tanks.

He added that in this year’s budget, the local council has made a provision of N5O million for the drilling and repairs of additional boreholes, adding that out of the amount, the sum of N6 million was earmarked for the repairs of Rimaye and Sukuntuni Dams.

To solve the acute water problem of Kankia town, Kaita disclosed that Governor Shema’s administration was currently constructing a multi million naira water treatment plant to compliment the existing one.

According to him, with the completion of the water works, it would provide additional 180, 000 gallons to the town and a 280, 000 gallons-capacity water reservoir.

Kaita stated that the Kankia Dam was currently receiving facelift through a Federal Government project that was attracted by Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema, which include dredging, extension of its embankment and water channels.

and estates, most of the smokers were jobless and needed to be rehabilitated.

The spokesman, however, noted that the beautification of under bridges by the Lagos State Government and dispersing of hoodlums who turned such places to their smoking centres, had greatly reduced the menace.

Ofoyeju said that fighting drug abuse should not be NDLEA’s job alone, adding that

there was need for stakeholders, especially governmental institutions and religious bodies, to cooperate with the organisation to fight the menace.

“The NDLEA is playing its role, other stakeholders such as churches, mosques, schools, parents, National Orientation Agency and National Directorate of Employment need to do more in attitudinal change among the youth,” he said.

The spokesman stated that hemp smoking became a major problem in the country because it was being produced in commercial quantity.

“Our approach has always been cutting off supply from the sources, thereby making it difficult for the addicts to get it. ”We consistently destroyed the farms in state where it is being cultivated in large quantity like Delta, Edo, Ondo and Ekiti. Some times it will take

Nasarawa distributes 16 more vehicles to task force From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state yesterday donated 16 Hilux vans to a combined team of soldiers from the 177 Battalion in Keffi, the Nigerian police as well as officers of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, to facilitate their

effort towards restoring peace across the state.

In a brief ceremony held at the Government House Lafia, Almakura, who handed over keys of the vehicles to the commander of the security taskforce, maintained that the problem being faced by the state presently is a challenge that requires deliberate effort, “in our minds,

in our actions, in our relationships with one another to live in peace.”

While appreciating the effort of the taskforce in restoring peace in trouble spots across the state, the governor,observed that there was the gradual failure in civic and communal responsibilities towards living peacefully together.

Harmattan to end soon, says NIMET boss From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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irector General of the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Dr. Anthony Anuforom, has said the current harmattan weather will subside in the next one week.

He said the harmattan will not negatively affect flight operations as a result of improved navigational aids

installed in airports across the country.

According to him, a lot of technology was being acquired

by NIMET to ensure correct and verifiable meteorological services,to operate within the internationally acceptable standards as obtained anywhere in the world.

Dr. Anuforom announced that two upper air stations would

be installed in the country to bring to seven, the operational upper air stations in the country to enhance accuracy.

He commended the aviation minister for supporting the agency in providing the best service second to none in the world adding that foreign airlines especially British Airways relied mostly on its weather forecast.

us weeks to destroy a farm because of its size,” he said.

According to him, if the substance escaped being destroyed at the farm, the NDLEA traces it to warehouses before inter state distribution takes effect.

Ofoyeju said there were ways in which the agency also blocked it from passing through the connecting states like Edo, Kogi, FCT and Kaduna before getting to its destination. (NAN) He stated that the communal clashes across the state were the handiwork of some undesirable elements, adding that government as well as the security agencies are doing their best to rout these group of people.

Al-makura said it would be a matter of time before security forces vanquished these elements, who would have the herculean task of contending with the highly trained professionals and security operatives.

He urged community leaders to prevail on their youths to conduct themselves with civility and a sense of responsibility, warning that any community that tries to take the laws into their hands, would be dealt with.

Peoples Daily recalls that recently, the Nasarawa state government distributed 42 Hilux vans to security agencies operating in the state, all in a bid to facilitate their work of ensuring lasting peace across the state.

L-R: Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, Chairman of Daar Communications, Chief Raymond Dokpesi, during the commissioning of AIT and Ray Power, at the weekend, in Gombe.

Youths condemn pension thief’s light sentence From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia n umbrella youth organisation, the Northern Youth Assembly of Nigeria (NYAN), has lent it voice in the condemnation of the light sentencing of Mr. John Yakubu Yusuf, a former Director of the Police Pension Board, who was convicted by an Abuja High Court for stealing N23.3 billion.

The former Director was recently sentenced to a two year

A

jail term or a fine N750, 000 by Justice Mohammed Talba.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Lafia at the weekend, signed by the Speaker of the youth assembly, Obande Gideon, NYAN lamented that the judiciary, which is the last hope of the common man, has continued to fail in its responsibilities, stressing that it is unfortunate that those who loot the nation’s treasury are

regarded as sacred cows, while the ordinary people are made to face the full wrath of the law.

While calling on the National Judicial Council to investigate the conduct of the judge involved in the case, NYAN urged the nation’s financial crime agencies to revisit the case and to include among charges levelled against the former Director, conspiracy to murder, as according to the group, “many police pensioners

died while seeking their right, which was stolen by the convict.”

NYAN also saluted Governor Kashim Ibrahim of Borno state, for the bold step he has taken toward resolving the insecurity in the North, urging the Northern Governor’s Forum, to give him all the necessary support in resolving the insecurity in the region permanently.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 9

Jonathan begs Indonesian leader over Nigerians on death row

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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resident Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to his Indonesian counterpart, President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono to stay action on the execution of Nigerians on death row in his country for drug trafficking.

The President made the request on Saturday during bilateral talks with the Indonesian President who is on a two-day State visit to Nigeria.

President Yudhoyono who was in company of his wife, Ani Bambang arrived State House at 3.45pm.Both leaders addressed a joint press conference after the

Kogi lauds FG, seeks new roads

bilateral talks which lasted about one hour.

According to a communique, the two leaders noted, with concern, the increasing number of Nigerians in detention, jails and death rows in Indonesia for drug related offences and financial crimes.

While condemning in strong terms, drug abuse and illicit trafficking of narcotic drugs, psychotropic substances, and their chemical precursors, they welcomed the signing of an MOU to combat drug abuse and illicit trafficking.

"In that regard, the President of Nigeria requested his Indonesian counterpart for stay of execution of those on death row while the two countries explore opportunities, for an Agreement

of Exchange of Prisoners and Mutual Legal Assistance between the two countries", the communique read in part.

The conflict in Mali, GunieauBissau and the Sahel and the correlation between these and the war on terror also featured prominently in their discussions.

Agreeing that terrorism remains a global security threat, both leaders therefore "agreed to foster closer bilateral partnership to address this threat by cooperating closely in exchange of information, training and education as well as sharing of best practices".

Consequently, they instructed the relevant agencies of both countries to asses counterterrorism needs upon which bilateral collaboration would be

appropriately developed", Also, realizing that Indonesia and Nigeria are among important troops contribution to UN Peace Keeping Missions, the two Presidents agreed to have a closer cooperation between the peace-keeping centers of both countries in order to encourage sharing of experience and best practices, as well as exchange of visit by trainers and experts.

According to the communique, both leaders agreed "to promote training cooperation involving military officers of both countries by encouraging participation of Indonesian and Nigerian military officers in training programmes at the staff colleges of both countries.

On Economic, Trade and

Investment Cooperation, both leaders agreed to encourage contacts between their respective countries National Chamber of Commerce. They also agreed that Nigeria and Indonesia would share best practices in and capacity building in the attainment of MDGs. In the same vein, they expressed determination to encourage agriculture cooperation between the two countries especially in the areas of cocoa, palm oil, and rubber plantations as well as revival of groundnut cultivation in the northern Nigeria.

Present at the bilateral talks were the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Olugbenga Ashiru, Petroleum Resources, Dezani Alison-Madueke; Attorney General, Mohammed Bello Adoke; Agriculture, Dr Akinwumi Adesina; Aviation, Stella Oduah; National Planning, Shamusdeen Usman and few presidential aides.

From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ogi State Government has expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for awarding the contract for the dualisation of Lokoja- Benin road, even as it solicits the construction of Obajana – Egbe – Ilorin roads in view of its importance to the socio – economic development of the nation.

Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada who was represented by his Deputy Yomi Awoniyi, expressed the thanks when he received the Federal Controller of Works in Kogi State and the Zonal Director, Federal Emergency Road Management Agency, Engr. Aigbe Osayi and Engr. Femi Kayode in his office.

While promising to partner with the Federal Ministry of Works on ways aimed at improving all federal roads passing through the state, the State Government, Awoniyi disclosed, the state governor will soon assent to the bill passed on the establishment of the state road maintenance agency.

The State Government promised necessary support to the contractor carrying out maintenance works along Lokoja Abuja road leading to the turbine in the State.

The governor equally solicited the support of the Ministry of Works in the introduction of three interchanges along the on – going dualisation of the Lokoja – Abuja road.

Kogi State, Wada explained. has approved the review of the Lokoja Master Plan, solicited the support of the Federal Ministry of Works in human capital and technical assistance for the development of the State.

Earlier in his speech, Engr.

Aigbe Osayi, said the road dualisation work from Lokoja will soon commence as the contractor has been mobilized.

He averred that Ekpe – Omaron, Ajaokuta – Okene and the Obajana – Ilorin roads are to be maintained in the interim until approval for the construction was given.

Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo (middle), unveilling Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno teachers village, during his one day official visit to Borno state on Saturday. with him are Borno state, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (left), and Chief of Staff to the Governor, Alhaji Abubakar Kyari (right).

Subsidy scam: Youths want Otedola arrested From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he current move by the office of Attorney General of the Federation to single out Hon Farouk Lawan for prosecution over bribery scandal while leaving out his counterpart; Mr Femi Otedola has been condemned by the Northern youths wants him to be also arrested and prosecuted.

Reacting to the ongoing prosecution of Lawan by the Federal Government, President of Arewa Youths Consultative Forum, AYCF in Lagos, Alhaji Shettima Yerima accused the Presidency of connivance and bias in the handling of Otedola/Farouk saga.

Yerima said by isolating Farouk Lawan for prosecution and tacitly dumping the House of Representatives fuel subsidy probe resolution, the Presidency appeared desperate to tilt both the subsidy scam and bribery scandal in favour of its protégé, Mr. Femi Otedola

Yerima however accused Otedola of also trying to influence the course of justice by maliciously sponsoring some notable activists to compel the Federal Government to charge his counterpart, Mr. Farouk Lawan to court over the bribery saga involving both of them.

He said there was no justification to leave out Mr.

Otedola from the ongoing prosecution of the bribery allegation because according to him, both givers and takers of bribes were liable.

“What is the intention of the contrived bribery by Otedola in the first place? Our structures have been inundated with reports of the subtle conspiracy between the presidency and Mr. Otedola to

undermine the House committee probe on fuel subsidy scam which found Otedola and his cohorts culpable”, Yerima said.

The group urged the Federal Government to immediately commence action on the lawmakers’ resolution in order not to provoke its mass intervention in concert with other civil society groups.

Legal council seeks collaboration with Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja ogi state office of the Legal Aid Council (LAC) has solicited the collaboration of the state judiciary to enable it carry out its mediation and arbitration services to indigent litigants.

State Cordinator of the council, Mr. Helmon Koston made the call when he paid a courtesy call on the Kogi state Chief Judge, Justice Nasir Ajanah weekend in Lokoja.

Koston said without the cooperation of the judiciary, it would

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be difficult for the office to discharge its statutory obligations aimed at enabling the poor to access justice.

He noted that the council was empowered to handle all criminal and civil cases and had the mandate to visit police stations and prisons, get compensation for victims and pay fines for convicted persons.

The coordinator stated that the state office from inception in 1993 to date had handled 1,374 cases in court and settled 84 others out of court.

He said that the office was

facing office accommodation and logistic challenges and solicited the assistance of the Chief Judge.

Responding, Justice Ajanah pledged to liaise with Liason Officers of Idah, Okene and Kabba Local Government Councils to provide office accommodation for the council's offices in the areas, adding that he would soon embark on tour of the six Federal prisons in the state in an effort to decongest them and urged the LAC to cash in on the opportunity.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

Adopt civil, military strategies to solve insecurity, NBA tells FG

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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L-R: Former Nassarawa state Governor, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, National President, Miners Association of Nigeria, Alhaji Sani Shehu, and Senator Effiong Bob, during the presentation of roadmap for the development of solid mineral sector, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FG committed to restoring peace in Borno- Sambo

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

V

ice President Arc Mohammed Namadi Sambo has restated the determination of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure that total peace and normalcy is restored to Borno state.

The Vice President stated this on Saturday at the Government House, Maiduguri, when he paid a courtesy call on Governor Kashim Shettima.

Sambo expressed delight with the improved security situation in the state commending the efforts and resilience of the state government, its people and the

security agencies on the achievement. " We are glad to note that life is gradually returning to normalcy. I want to seize this opportunity to assure you that we hold all our brothers and sisters in Borno state with high esteem."

He used the opportunity to condole with the people of Borno over the loss off lives and property due to the unfortunate incidences, while also commiserating with the victims of last year's flood disaster.

He enumerated several projects being executed by the Federal Government to improve the socio-economic status of the people of Borno, which cut across

power supply, agriculture, transportation, education, arresting desertification and exploration of hydrocarbon in the lake Chad Basin.

Speaking, Governor Shettima who was visibly exited over the visit, commended the efforts of the Federal Government at restoring peace in the historic state.

He attributed the security challenges in the state to poverty and social exclusivity.

Earlier the Vice President was at the Palace of the Shehu of Borno, Alhaji Abubakar Ibn Umar Garbai El-Kanemi, where he commiserated with him over the attempt on his life by a suicide

bomber.

In his remarks, the Shehu of Borno called on the Federal Government to expedite action in the areas of oil exploration, road construction, agriculture, desertification and Federal appointments for Borno indigenes.

He also implored the government to take advantage of the ceasefire announcement and consolidate on the restoration of peace in the State.

Similarly at a meeting with Borno Elders, the Vice President intimated them on the efforts of the Federal Government at positively impacting on the lives of the people of Borno, of which their leader, Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno expressed satisfaction.

Customs chief wants Okada banned throughout Adamawa From Umar Dankano, Yola.

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he Nigerian Customs Service Area Comptroller in charge of Adamawa/ Taraba Command, Lawrence Ikpebe has called on the Adamawa state government to extend its ban on motor cycles to all the 21 Local Government areas in the state.

Ikpebe made the call in an interview with journalists in his office in Yola, stressing that, the extension of the ban especially to local councils at the border area, would checkmate the activities of smugglers who use motorcycles due to the leaky borders, using narrow routes difficult for patrol vehicles.

While reviewing last year’s

performance, he said, “last year my command witnessed an attack on our barracks and office in Maiha Local Government Area of the state by unknown gunmen where they burnt our barrack and office with some official vehicles but with all these, we were able to generate N84m out of the earmarked target for 2012

which is N120m, I think we have tried”.

On seizures of smuggled goods, Ikpebe maintained that, in the year under review, his command arrested vehicles, and prohibited items but most of them were made to pay the duties as required by the law and their properties released to them.

Dangote beneficiaries urged to be prudent From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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eneficiary Selection Committee members for the Dangote Foundation’s Micro grants programme have been told not to see the funds as political or for family members, friends and associates.

The fund, the Kogi State Governor, Capt. Idris Wada, explained, was aimed at

empowering and providing financial support to women in helping families meet their needs through economic activities.

It would be recalled that following the outbreak of last year’s flood that ravaged Kogi State, Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his foundation promised to empower 22,000 women with small grants.

Ensuring that the monies get

to those targeted, the State Government, Wada explained, would develop an appropriate evaluation and monitoring strategy, disclosing that the funds is not a Micro credit scheme, but a kind gesture to the poor and the unemployed women in the 21 Local Government Areas and Obajana communities.

Represented by his Deputy, Yomi Awoniyi at the

inauguration ceremony, he reiterated that every donation made towards the flood, would be delivered to those intended.

Earlier in her speech, wife of the Kogi State Governor, Hajia Halima Wada, expressed her gratitude to Dangote Foundation, saying with government’s lean resources, there was need to partner with individuals and organisations.

he Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) Thursday rounded up a two-day Peace and Security Summit with a call on the Federal Government to adopt both civil and military strategies in order to achieve both short and long term solutions to the disturbing security problem in the country.

In a communique at the end of the summit, the association observed that insurgency, kidnapping, armed robbery and corruption have taken alarming tolls on lives and properties in Nigeria.

The communique which was read to newsmen weekend by the NBA President, Okey Wali(SAN) stated that these vices have badly damaged both national and regional economies of the country.

According to the NBA, there is mutual distrust between government and insurgent groups in the country, thereby making dialogue difficult in achieving lasting peace and security in the country.

The summit identified corruption, in-adequate distribution of income and social amenities, unemployment, tribal and/ethnic allegiances to the detriment of national patriotism, poor and in-effective educational system, poor leadership among other things as responsible for insecurity in the nation.

Wali said the judiciary was considerably weak due to insufficient funding, coupled with corruption and lack of strong will to hear and determine corruption cases with dispatch as a matter of utmost public policy importance.

It called on government to establish non-reprisal mechanism whereby victims of violence and insurgency will be pacified and economically rehabilitated.

Director lauds Gov Aliyu for lessening parents’ pains From illya Garba-Minna

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iger state Director of Land Transport, Mallam Umar Shehu has commended the Niger state government for ameliorating the sufferings encountered by parents while sending their wards to school.

Mallam Shehu said in Minna weekend that the present administration’s magnanimity in lifting parents’ burden by taking their children to and from schools all over the state, was a testimony that education is on course and the expression of the essence of governance.

According to the Director, “Parents were sure that it is only Niger state that have continuously maintained transportation of students of their state to and from unity and exchange programme schools”.

He said that this administration has assisted parents to ensure that their children have better education and commended the efficiency of the drivers.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

Your right as debtor I

f you are drowning in debt, it can seem as though there is no way out. And it doesn't help that creditors could be calling you - and maybe even your family members and neighbours - looking for you.

It may seem that you are at the mercy of debt collectors, but the truth is that you have rights, and you have protections from unscrupulous collectors. The law spells out practices that debt collectors can't engage in. So, know your rights, and don't be afraid to report debt collectors who violate provisions of the law.

1. Debt collectors have to stop calling if you tell them to The hitch? You have to do it in writing. So, if you don't want debt collectors to call you anymore, you need to write a letter (keep a copy for yourself) and send it along. I recommend using certified mail so that you can prove the debt collector received the letter. After receiving your

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here's nothing harder to plan for than unexpected events that impact your life and finances. Yet loss of a job, the death of a loved one, illness or other unexpected occurrences happen at one point or another in most of our lives. The key to successfully surviving these lifechanging events from a financial perspective is to anticipate hard times. Shore up your financial situation before you are hit with an unexpected expense, so you will be covered in the event something happens.

The Importance of an Emergency Fund Because we cannot predict when life will throw us an unexpected challenge, it is important for everyone to build and maintain an emergency fund with three to six months'

request, debt collectors can only contact you, by mail, to let you know of certain actions that will be taken (including a lawsuit).

2. You Have a Right to Verify the Debt Debt collectors have to send you written notice of the debt amount and the name of the creditor, as well as let you know you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days. This has to be sent within five days of the first communication with you. You have the right to have this debt validated, and you have the right to dispute. Once you ask, in writing (use certified mail and keep copies), for verification or if you dispute, the debt collector can't try to collect until the matter is settled.

3. You ask collectors not to call your workplace If debt collectors know your employer doesn't want you to answer personal calls at work, or that your employer objects to

these calls, they can't call your workplace.

4. Don't pay more than you owe Ask for verification. Debt collectors can't misrepresent your debt, claiming you owe more than you do. Additionally, they can't tack on extra fees that aren't allowed by your original credit agreement. Make sure you understand your original terms, and the law. You don't have to pay more than what the law allows.

5. Debt collectors can't harass you on the phone The law considers certain actions like calling on the phone, as harassment and it is illegal for them to engage in these actions: * Threats of violence * Profanity or abusive language * Personal insults o*Calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. * Repeated or continuous calls o*Threats of arrest (no

Handling the unexpected

Finishing well: Pass on your money Death and Money eath, that morbid subject nobody wants to talk about. Yet, it is inevitable.

You may be wondering what death has got to do with money.

Well, living costs money.

Dying costs even more money. In fact, your death might cost you and your surviving family members almost all the money and assets you had spent your entire life accumulating. You only need to ask spouses or families whose loved ones passed on without planning for that inevitable event. They know better.

A life skill The need for you to come to terms with death has gotten critical on account of the financial implications of failing to make

D

Quote It is not the strongest of the species that survive, nor the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change - Charles Darwin

warrant will be issued for regular debts) Debt collectors can't harass you, and you should note harassment from debt collectors and report it.

6. Debt collectors can't inform third parties about your debt Debt collectors aren't supposed to publicly share your debt.

Indeed, the only people that debt collectors can legally inform of your debt are the credit reporting

early and adequate preparations before it comes calling. Early and adequate preparations before you pass on are what estate planning is all about.

With recent global economic upheavals and its impact on people's overall personal wealth, estate planning is now categorised as a critical life skill. It is basically about you consciously making very clear decisions on how you want all the money and property - your estate - that you have accumulated in your lifetime inherited or distributed after you pass on, and by whom. If you make such decisions and state them in unambiguous terms in your estate plan, using estate planning devices such as wills and trusts, then you are certain to dictate how your estate will pass on to your preferred beneficiaries, literally from the grave!

Choices Please note, however, that it is entirely your choice to plan your estate. Where you choose to die without planning for all the property or wealth you will leave behind, the governments of the

States where you reside or where your houses are located will immediately commence their own already-made plans for your money and property.

Most States in Nigeria have existing laws that provide for how estates "not accounted for", so to speak, are to be managed and distributed by the respective governments on the estate owners' behalf. Governments earn generous income from the fees and charges slammed on estates not planned for by their owners at their death. Your family members get to inherit the remainder of your wealth only after the governments have deducted their fees and charges from your entire estate.

A resource custodian There are numerous financial reasons that should drive you to quickly commence the process of planning for your estate today.

Before you go religious on this subject, as a lot of Nigerians are wont to do, think of yourself as having resources left in your care by the Supreme Being that you revere. If you take it that you are

agencies, your attorney, the creditor, the creditor's attorney, your legal spouse, or, if you are a minor, your parents.

Additionally, debt collectors aren't supposed to repeatedly call third parties, such as neighbours, for information about your location. If there is reason to believe previously provided information is false, a debt collector can call a third party once to get location information (but they cannot discuss the debt in the process).

worth of living expenses. The key to building an emergency fund is to set money aside every month, no matter how small the amount.

Financial experts recommend that, unlike retirement funds, emergency savings should be kept fairly liquid, in a savings account or a money market fund. Hopefully you will never need it. But if you do, you'll be glad it's there.

A new financial picture Once the immediate financial matters are taken care of after an unexpected life event, it will be time to take stock of your new financial situation and create a plan for yourself moving

forward. Whether you have faced job loss, divorce, illness or another event, you should create a new budget reflecting your situation. This is the first step toward financial security and rebuilding your emergency fund, which you may have tapped into to manage a financial crisis.

To develop a budget, write down your current expenses, indicating whether each expense is a necessity or a luxury. Pulling out recent credit card bills and bank statements can help with this process. Next, estimate your monthly income, including only income that you are certain you will receive. Then compare your income to expenses. If your expenses are higher, you will need to trim your expenses until your income is higher than your expenditures.

carrying out the job of a steward in managing the resources you were given in your lifetime, then you need to properly finish that responsibility through ensuring that you pass on the assets to other stewards worthy of those resources. Surely, you would not want to be directly responsible for the financial loss that may be incurred for the misuse of those resources.

Asset protection Have you thought of the need for asset protection? Why would you work your entire life to acquire wealth - no matter how 'small' - and then become complacent in making sure its value is not diminished or eroded?

Protecting your assets makes better sense if you take the measures while still alive as a lot of devices will be available to you for best results. Your passing on almost automatically denies your estate such advantages, with additional costs borne by it.

Costs to survivors A little dose of introspection would throw up questions that would indicate further potential costs to your surviving family and loved ones; avoidable costs if you really take the time to think and

put together an adequate estate plan for their benefit. Ask yourself these questions: "What will be the cost of letting my unplanned estate result in a family dispute and a battle in the courts between my wife and siblings? How about the loss of income from rental property that I owe if I fail to specify how the property should be managed and by whom? How will the outstanding loan facility I took be paid back from my assets? How will my children's education be paid for till the university level? How will my wife or siblings access all the money in my bank accounts? How about my pension funds? Who will eventually take over my investment in shares?

If anything happens to my wife after I am gone, who will take care of my young children the way I would want them taken care of?"

Conclusion It is really amazing that, despite our current level of exposure, education and the numerous incidences of family conflicts and unending court battles over estates left behind by dead relatives reported daily in our clime, people still pay little attention to proper estate planning.(Source: www.moneyning.com)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

N

Shea nut, the forgotten cash cow

ot many Nigerians are aware that their country is the leading producer of shea nut in the world. Nigeria, which exports about 50,000 tonnes of the commodity annually, is believed to account for almost 60 per cent of the world's total annual output, valued at $3.8 billion.

The ignorance of Nigerians about this international cash cow is a result of the discovery of oil which has misdirected our attention away from other avenues of raising foreign exchange for sustainable national development.

Shea butter is a form of margarine extracted from the nuts of the Shea tree, popularly called "The karite tree" (the tree of life). It is valued for its numerous therapeutic properties. It is adjudged to be a very efficacious skin moisturising agent, an effective antiinflammation cream, which also promotes rapid healing for burns etc., Unfortunately, due to inadequate government attention, the methods of processing it in Nigeria remain manual, backbreaking and crude. It is even looked down

upon as a woman's job in most Nigerian communities. Even with these crude and primitive production processes, experts say that the federal government loses an estimated $2.166 billion (about N340.6 billion) annually through smuggling of shea nuts across its borders.

“

We strongly suggest that there be a strong Nigerian government representation at this conference and that it commits to the implementation of its resolutions It is in recognition of Nigeria's potential for leading the world in this economic activity that Global Shea Alliance- the coordinating body for shea industry worldwide has fixed the sixth annual shea industry conference in Nigeria from March 4 - 6, this year. The conference is an annual gathering of producers, exporters,

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”

wholesalers, retailers and other stakeholders in the shea butter industry. It is described by industry watchers as the most important shea industry event of the year because it allows everybody in the industry to identify and discuss industry issues and present solutions on how to resolve them.

We strongly suggest that there be a strong Nigerian government representation at this conference and that it commits to the implementation of its resolutions. Shea butter can generate a lot of income for the people. There is a growing need to empower those involved in it through educational schemes about the product to enable them to make the right investment decisions.

Government, at the federal, state and local levels, can also establish small training centres to train the producers so as to improve their skills.

For now, efforts to modernize Shea processing in some parts of the country are being carried out courtesy of the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ). We believe the Nigeria government can, and should do better.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 13

Yero's uncommon transformation strides in Kaduna

By Ahmed Maiyaki

S

ince his assumption of office following the demise of his predecessor; the late Sir Patrick Yakowa, Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, has exhibited exemplary leadership that depicts him as selfless, fair and competent. His revelation of a frosty relation with his late boss is no longer news but it was indicative that the two were able to settle their differences before the sudden death of Yakowa. That disclosure by Yero, no doubt, put fear in not a few aides of the late governor who were accused of being the masterminds of the discord between the two leaders.

At that time, the aides exploited albeit negatively their closeness to the late governor to sow seeds of confusion in the corridors of power in Kaduna state.

It is now common knowledge within and outside the state that Yero's political survival under the late Yakowa was basically as result of the maturity of his late boss and the patience of the present governor.

Many had expected that the new governor would move swiftly, after taking oath of office, to dismantle all structures put in place by his late predecessor. But in what is now playing out as a disappointment to many political pundits, Yero has retained the old order for over a month since he became governor. At least, for now he has not dissolved the state executive council while heads of

By Michael Jegede

A

utonomy for Local Government (LG), which is the third tier of government in Nigeria, is one of the cardinal issues listed for consideration in the current effort of the National Assembly to further review the 1999 constitution to meet the yearnings and aspirations of the Nigerian people.

As a way of ensuring that Nigerians are completely carried along in the exercise, both chambers of the federal legislature in November 2012 held public sessions and public hearings to get the people's input on all the items to be considered for review and amendment. The House of Representatives held people's public sessions in the 360 federal constituencies, while the Senate conducted public hearings in the six geo-political zones.

Reports at the end of the exercise by the Green and Red chambers of the National Assembly clearly indicated that the majority of Nigerians (both the high and the low in the society) are in support of the strengthening of local government councils via autonomy. It was indeed the only item that got the 'yes vote' from participants in all the 360 federal constituencies. Similarly, speakers at the zonal public hearings were very strongly in favour of LG autonomy.

Unfortunately, the recent outburst by the Nigerian Governors' Forum (NGF) has shown that the governors are the only group that does not think there is need for any form of autonomy for the effective and efficient running of the local government administration. NGF chairman,

government agencies and parastatals appointed by the late governor are still in office. This action

by Yero has further confirmed his sterling leadership quality as one with a forgiving heart, ready to carry all stakeholders along in building a peaceful Kaduna state irrespective of political, religious and ideological differences.

His attribute as a tolerant leader manifested shortly after he took over the mantle of leadership.

The first challenge that confronted Yero as a governor was the appointment of a deputy. The circumstances of the death of Yakowa had generated interest in various groups in the state and beyond in who occupies the position of deputy governor. In keeping with the tradition of balancing the political equation, a deputy was to be selected from the southern part of the state. A believer in political inclusiveness, Yero involved all stakeholders in the selection of his deputy. Yero did hold a series of meetings and consulted widely before settling for the former chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the state, Ambassador Nuhu Bajoga.

This decision was by no means a show of political naivety or mere intrigue but clearly an intelligent move by the governor to have a mix of youthful dynamism and will power and elderly experience.

Yero is still within the age bracket of a youth while Bajoga is an elder with many years of experience in politics and business. The age gap

between the two will surely ensure mutual respect and cooperation which is the oil that lubricates the wheels of a vibrant government capable of delivering democracy dividends to people of the state.

And so far, the governor has been steering the ship of the state at a commendable pace that continues to endear him to people of the state. Yero has repeatedly pledged to sustain programmes and policies of the late Yakowa as long as they are for the benefit of the people.

As a leader that places the highest premium on security of life and property, Yero recently distributed 40 vans fully equipped with state of the art communication facilities and other gadgets to the state security outfit 'Operation Yaki' to facilitate security surveillance in the state.

In a similar move aimed at cementing the peace in the state, Governor Yero approved the disbursement of N410m as assistance to victims of the 2011 post-election crisis. He called on residents to embrace peace. "It is my fervent hope and prayer that we will live with one another irrespective of our religious and ethnic differences, as development, no doubt can only be attained in an atmosphere of peace and harmony and we must therefore reconcile and forgive each other," he said recently.

Sensing a new dawn in Kaduna state, the US government through its envoy to Nigeria, Ambassador Terrence McCulley has expressed

its readiness to re-establish a consulate in the state. Speaking at the Sir Kashim Ibrahim House, Kaduna, the envoy said the U.S will make its presence felt again in Kaduna to serve as "a window to reach millions of people in the North".

Having observed that high unemployment rate amongst youths in the state has become a major source of crime, the governor has commenced plans to provide about 6,000 jobs for women and youths across the 23 local government areas of the state through the Subsidy ReInvestment Programme, (SUREP). There are also plans by the Yero administration to further create more jobs through commercial agriculture.

The governor therefore solicited the support of the people and government of the U.S in that sector to make it attractive to the teeming youths in the state.

Within the last one month in office, Governor Yero has provided equipments worth over N470 million in order to enhance the provision of potable water to people of the state. Among the equipment were 12 Hilux vans, 100 motor cycles, 360 tonnes of alum, 75 tonnes of liquid chlorine, 200 tonnes of HTH (Granules/powder) and 60 tonnes of HTH (chips).

On the political side, to prove arm-chair critics wrong and in keeping with his promise of fairness to all sections of the state, Yero has ensured that the chairmanship of the ruling PDP

remains in the southern senatorial district.

Several political jobbers had cried foul when Bajoga was appointed deputy governor. There were claims that the move was to deprive Southern Kaduna Zone of leadership of the Party. Contrary to such spurious assertions, Hon A. G Haruna, from Kachia in southern Kaduna, emerged as PDP chairman. The move has further lent credence to the governor's resolve to treat all sections of the state fairly without dichotomy.

It is therefore pertinent to call on the people of the state to reciprocate Yero's gestures and genuine intentions by cooperating with his administration. It will not be fair for any group or section to sustain suspicion even in the absence of any cause to complain.

Kaduna like all other states in Nigeria is divided into three senatorial zones. The governor has the responsibility to distribute the wealth and opportunities accruable to the state equitably.

Political appointments, development projects, human capacity building as well as wealth distribution has to be shared in accordance to parameters that ensure equity and fairness. It is erroneous to reduce the geopolitical configuration of Kaduna to North and South while relegating the central part of the state to the background.

Ahmed Maiyaki is the Director General, Media & Publicity to Governor Mukhtar Ramalan Yero

LG autonomy and govs' opposition Rotimi Amaechi of Rivers state, reportedly said they (governors) will do everything possible as a pressure group to stop lawmakers (state and federal) from granting autonomy to local governments.

Asked why the governors were opposed to local council autonomy, while addressing newsmen, Amaechi said he did not believe local government administration is a constitutional issue. He declared, "There is no country in the world where there are three fed: erating units; there are only two all over the world. Why should you say that there must be third federating units in Nigeria?"

Notwithstanding the whys and wherefores propounded by the NGF for kicking against the agitation for independent LGs, informed Nigerians know the real motive behind their stance. It is well known that state governments are in the habit of emasculating local

governments under their control, thereby reducing them to mere appendages. The governors have continued to take advantage of the deficiency in the constitution, where even though local councils are acknowledged as a tier of government, framers of the constitution failed to give them the full autonomy needed to operate as such. Local governments are diametrically subjected to the control of the state governments, in a manner that they really cannot do anything on their own.

And this, in the views of most Nigerians, has adversely affected development at the local council level.

Reacting to the position of the NGF, Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman said there was no cause for alarm.

According to the Senator, representing Kogi Central

“

Even President Goodluck Jonathan, who was once a governor, is on the side of the people on the debate for LG autonomy. I think the president understands that it is not about what obtains in other parts of the world, as posited by Amaechi, the NGF boss, but what the people who elected him into office are asking for

Senatorial District, the governors do not have the constitutional power to hinder the granting of autonomy to LGs in the ongoing constitution review process.

Abatemi-Usman, whose bill seeking for financial autonomy for local governments had scaled through seconding reading and was referred to the Senate Committee on Constitution Review in March last year, argued that of all the items listed for consideration, nothing could be more necessary than LG autonomy. He observed that the operation of the state/local government joint account as currently practiced was an aberration that must be corrected in the interest of Nigerians, regardless of the position of the governors.

Also, in his reaction, Chairman Senate Committee on Media and Publicity, Senator Eyinanya Abaribe was reported to have said that the position of the governors on local government autonomy is not binding.

The Senate spokesman said it is the public opinion expressed through the National Assembly and the various State Assemblies that would determine the autonomy of local government administration, while acknowledging that the governors are however entitled to their notion on the issue.

Abaribe was quoted as saying that, "If at the end of the day, the bill on the autonomy for local government administration passes through the two chambers of the National Assembly, there will be no problem as we will just follow the constitution, and if it doesn't

work, then it is not our fault as we now know who does not want democracy to work at that level."

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro had equally lent his voice to the debate on local government autonomy in an interview. An expert in local government administration, Moro was a council chairman for about eight years and one-time chairman of the Benue State chapter of Association of local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON).

Responding to questions during the media chat, he said, "I am an advocate for an holistic approach.

I want a situation where the local government will or operate as a true tier of government. We are operating federalism, a federalism that is epitomized or encapsulated in the three tiers of government of the federal, state and local government".

Even President Goodluck Jonathan, who was once a governor, is on the side of the people on the debate for LG autonomy. I think the president understands that it is not about what obtains in other parts of the world, as posited

by Amaechi, the NGF boss, but what the people who elected him into office are asking for. It is my hope that members of the National Assembly and state assemblies, who are constitutionally empowered to effect changes in the constitution on behalf the people, would not pander to the whims and caprices of the governors, in their Machiavellian move to ensure continued emasculation of the local governments.

Michael Jegede is Abujabased media practitioner

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 14

Terrorism and militarization of the Nigerian populace

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

o say that the spate of violence in the country has militarized the citizenry is to say the least. That the political system has conjured up a Frankenstein monster to consume the craftsman is to put it mildly.

That it has pitched community and religion against each other, attracting attack and counter attack is something disturbing.

Presently in Nigeria, the waves of terrorism have given birth to militarizationarming the common citizens with dangerously advanced weapons.

Already in the south-south region, the populace have since rearmed and soaked themselves in crude oil to avoid detection by security forces so that they can continue to vandalize oil pipelines.

The oil thieves under the guise of Movement for the Emancipation of Niger-Delta (MEND), few years back, had been persuaded by late President Umaru Yar'adua to return weapons in their possession in exchange for amnesty. Despite that, pundits are aware that the MEND did not return all weapons in its possession to the Nigerian government. To make matters worse, the government did not bother to know how such weapons were brought into the country.

Nigerians were left to speculate.

However, reports at that time indicated that the politicians in the region armed the youths to help them rig elections.

Meanwhile, in what commentators described as exchange of baton, the waves of

By Arowolo Ajisafe

T

he unwarranted judicial harassment of the two senators and nine National Assembly members of the CPC is a pointer to seeming vulnerability of our democratic dispensation to post-election scheming plotted to forcefully reverse, or infamously annul, the expressed will of the electorate. It used to be the military marauders but now the fear of a judicial junta has become the essential wisdom of the political class which they trivialize at their ever present peril. The very fact that the pronouncement of judges can undo the outcome of a politically correct democratic process stands out as a monumental mockery of the supposed sovereignty of the people and the much-touted separation of powers. In the view of democrats such undue interference is akin to subjecting the judicial process to the post-verdict review of a peoples' parliament, an unheard of travesty of justice indeed.

The facts of the Katsina case are simple and straightforward even by the ambiguous tenets of the constitutional and electoral laws brought to bear on the democratic process in the country. Of course it should be the business of the party national headquarters to hold primary election in the states in the interest of fairness to all contestants and to provide for an independent umpire. Logically, it is the party headquarters that will subsequently inform the electoral body of the outcome of that process, complete with the list of those elected. The function of the

statement "State terrorism of the nation", the relocated to the novelists jointly north. This time w r o t e : even more "Rumblings and deadly than the Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text veiled threats oil theft in the messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written have given way to South-south. contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 eruption, and the Obviously, words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and first cracks in the the Boko Haram a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed wall of patience insurgents in the to: and forbearance north do not can no longer be have any wished away. persuasive The Editor, BOKO HARAM is grounds to Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, very likely justify their 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. celebrating its violence like Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com first tactical t h e i r SMS: 07037756364 v i c t o r y : counterparts in provoking the South-south retaliation in r e g i o n . some parts of the nation.

Adopting religion as an ideology is weapon to protect themselves.

"We insist however that this Sources of the weapon have just a convenience for carrying on their criminal acts. So far, their been traced to opportunistic need not be, and should not be so. major victims have been security political big shots in the region who And as long as any part, however operatives, Christians and those are bent on heating up the polity minuscule, opts for the more Muslims who oppose their ideology. whenever the electoral process does difficult path of envisioned Since the Boko Haram sect not favour them in their forbearance, we are convinced demonstrated its thirst for blood, unrestrained quest for power. that its responses will find the streets in the region have been Unfortunately, these so called neighbour emulation between made desolate by mass hysteria. political big wigs who enjoy homesteads, between towns and Parents are afraid of leaving their immunity and are therefore villages, between communities on children at home, people are afraid untouchable, continue to shy away all levels and indeed - states. This of venturing out of their houses or from addressing the problem they hard, demanding, but profoundly condemning the sect. Everyone is have created. But like the creator moral and heroic option will be quiet, overwhelm by fear of of the Frankenstein monster, recognised and embraced as the nemesis at times catches up with only option for the survival, and becoming the next victim. integrity of the whole. All who Those who are tired of being them.

Speaking on the state of the claim to be leaders must lead - but targets of the sect have decided to starve themselves to buy arms for nation recently, the trio of in the right direction!

"We urge a proactive resolve in their own protection from Nigeria's literary icons, Wole ubiquitous the sect. On most of the Soyinka, Chinua Achebe and J.P all such claimants to leadership. It streets and villages in the north, Clark, called for a stop to the spread is not sufficient to make pious poorly clothed young people who of violence across the country. pronouncements. All who possess obviously cannot afford a meal like They warned that the country any iota of influence or authority, the malnourished children of could not afford another civil war. who aspire to moral leadership Registering their displeasure in a must act now to douse the first Somalia are carrying heavy

flickers of 'responses in kind' even before they are manifested, and become contagious.

"We urge that, beginning from now, leaders become true leaders in all communities, utilise the platforms of their associations, professions, clubs, places of instruction and places of worship, NGOs and other civic orgnisations, that they relentlessly spread the manifesto of Community - capital letters! - as an all-embracing human bond, and refuse to be sucked into the cauldron of mutual attrition that is the purpose of the religious warmongers among us.".

As a way out of this quagmire, those in positions of leadership must act now to prove to the people that they are capable of saving the country from various violent forces arrayed against our country and its peace-loving peoples. Our ecurity forces must adopt a more humane approach to stemming the violence. As it stands, security operatives have failed woefully in those areas they have been stationed to restore peace.

Members of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) have been accused severally of extra-judicial killings, involving mostly taking innocent people that they are paid to protect.

Should the situation remain the way it is, law-abiding citizens who are beginning to acquire arms to protect themselves from the insurgents will lose their patience and turn those arms on the state.

The gainers will then be the Boko Haram and its co-travellers.

Tobias Lengnan Dampam is in the Editorial Dept., Peoples Media Ltd., Abuja.

Court and averred that by the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 (as amended) and the 1999 Constitution (as amended) the party at the National Level is the only organ empowered to organise primary elections and NOT any of its branches and therefore the Katsina state Chairman of the CPC "cannot usurp the powers conferred on the National Executive committee....and any such act...without any evidence he was delegated to so act is outside statutory provisions and such act is invalid;" and finally at the Supreme Court in SC/157/ 2011they were clearly told that courts do not have the right to nominate candidates for or on behalf of political parties, as the Constitution stipulates that candidates to all elections must be

members of and sponsored by a political party. It specifically chided the Federal High Court, Abuja for assuming jurisdiction on the matter.

All the while, the lawfully elected legislators were denied membership of the legislature ostensibly due to the pendency of the appeal processes instituted by those who emerged from the flawed process who sat tight until recently when INEC cancelled their certificates of return in compliance with the Supreme Court verdict.

Interestingly it is yet another Federal High Court that has set aside the Supreme Court's verdict without any negation of the wellestablished illegalities highlighted by the court of superior jurisdiction.

This highlights the dubious process by which even an outrageously aberrant pronouncement of a lower court that holds the highest court of the land in utter contempt and ridicules the presumed sovereignty of the peoples successfully thwarts the democratic process with impunity.

The tragedy of this detestable episode is that the judiciary has inflicted upon itself another injury that is fatal to its purported role of independent arbiter in a democracy thereby making the stroke of a pen just as lethal as the AK 47! Justice denied is injustice, period.

Arowolo Ajisafe, a political analyst, wrote from Ibadan

WRITE TO US

Democracy on the bench delegates of the electoral body as observers is decidedly in support of the observance of regulations by the national officials organising the congress, only relevant in reporting breach.

Once these procedures have been correctly followed there should be no contention on the conformity of the outcome with the expressed wishes of the electors, much less the provision of a backdoor route to question or supplant a concluded process. It was on this transparent pedestal that the Katsina CPC federal legislators secured and actualized their mandated election and rightful place in the respective chambers of the legislature, with the full concurrence of the electoral body which accordingly issued them with the credentials of election.

Amazingly, these legislators have today become victims of a circuitous circumvention of established due process facilitated by, wonder of wonders, a court of law whose aberrant stance on this matter has outraged even the judiciary on account of its contempt for the principle of adherence to judicial precedence set by the Supreme Court.

While the blatant disregard of the Supreme Court's supremacy over lower courts in setting precedence is no doubt an outrageous ouster of the legality of the offending lower court pronouncement, it is not half as abominable as the added injustice of turning a blind eye on glaring

illegalities out of obvious desperation to penalize the victims. For example, those whose case has just received the blessings of the Federal High Court, Abuja emerged from an election organized by the very candidates defeated aided and abetted by the now suspended Katsina state CPC Chairman, contrary to the regulations; not surprisingly INEC refused to recognize the flawed election; when they sought and obtained the endorsement of the Federal High Court, Abuja, presided over by Justice Abdul Kafarati for their taboo election it was merely a temporary reprieve as the Court of Appeal sitting in Abuja agreed with ALL the arguments of the CPC and consequently set aside the judgement of the Federal High

“

Sources of the weapon have been traced to opportunistic political big shots in the region who are bent on heating up the polity whenever the electoral process does not favour them in their unrestrained quest for power. Unfortunately, these so called political big wigs who enjoy immunity and are therefore untouchable, continue to shy away from addressing the problem they have created

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

I am a not a Catholic. I couldn't have been, given the circumstances of my birth, but I support the Church's principled stand on its membership of the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN). The Administrator of the Catholic Diocese of Abeokuta, Monsignor Christopher Ajala, stated at a recent news conference that the Catholic Church has suspended its membership of CAN because it is too close to government. He alleged that the Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor-led CAN had derailed from the objectives of the body, adding that the Catholic Bishops Conference is not comfortable with the present direction of the association. "CAN is now being run as part of the government and we say no.

Because they (government) will dictate to us what to do and they will not take our advice seriously.

The Catholic Church has decided to withdraw from the activities of CAN at national level; we are still part of it at the state level. We made our stand clear in November, last year, and by December, the man bought a jet. I don't know how he got it but the president was there on that day the jet was delivered to him."

The problems of CAN today have their origins in day one of its founding. It all started in the dying days of colonial rule in the late 50s when Christian minority groups began to ask questions about their fate in an independent Northern Nigeria, dominated by Muslims.

This led to the formation of a Northern Nigerian non-Muslim League in 1950 which was later renamed the Middle Zone League in 1951, under the guidance of the Berom Progressive Union (BPU).

The focus of the organization was religious at the beginning but it soon took a political shape when the disparate political/tribal groups in the north coalesced into the UMBC with its demand for political autonomy of the Middle Belt.

In the early days of independence, Jolly Tanko Yussuf

By Ify Odanye

P

lease do not bother with the accuracy of the number.

Police say 18, journalists 5055, and the villagers say 100. Do not dwell on the number. Just dwell, if you can, on the sanctity of human life. Dwell on the fact that the lifeless bodies in the Ezu River floating all the way between Amansii (corrupted to Amansea

by British Colonialists) and point of connection with the Anambra River, deep in the Anambra basin, are born of parents.

Do not worry what happened to this all-male crowd between the ages of 25 and 35, who died all wearing boxer shorts and singlets, for those we entrusted with power must find out or bite the dust.

Never let the fact that this may only be a fraction of what has been happening bug you, nor the fact that many more lie undisclosed beyond the confluence of Ezu and Omambala (Anambra) rivers.

Leave the river bed to worry about the undiscovered fragments on the molly underneath of the river, or those making their way through the bellies of the endangered fish in the lower Niger tributaries.

Do not think that the fish are endangered by the scarcity of

PAGE 15

The crack in CAN was elected to represent Takum was the fact that Sir Ahmadu Bello, district of Benue Province in the the Sardauna of Sokoto was made Northern Regional House of the life Patron of the NCA by Jolly Assembly in Kaduna. He contested Tanko Yusuf. the elections as an independent That action had a clear sign of candidate and his one line political opportunism. It had manifesto was that he was going become clear by 1964 that Yusuf into the House in Kaduna to defend was involved in a clientele/patron his faith. Once in relationship with Kaduna, he the Sardauna and abandoned his was doing his best status as an to ingratiate independent himself to the lawmaker and powerful Premier. crossed over to In that frame of the Northern mind, he even People's Congress forgot that the (NPC), the Sardauna was not ruling party only a Muslim but Emmanuel Yawe with a majority a very, very proud in the House. one. In fact, left to 08024565402 If Jolly royawe@yahoo.com choose between Yusuf's change of being the Prime status was swift, so was his Minister of Nigeria and the Sultan promotion rapid in the hierarchy of Sokoto, he gladly chose to be the of the ruling NPC. He was soon Sultan. Why did Yusuf choose to appointed the Provincial Secretary make such a blunder? for Benue Province. His most If the consequences of his amazing achievement, however, opportunism were not clear to him was that he revived the moribund then, they would soon be clear as Northern Nigerian non-Muslim the years rolled on. The Sardauna League and renamed it Northern in his last year alive embarked on Christian Association (NCA). Even wide tours, holding public rallies more amazing than the mere at every stop where large numbers resurrection in 1964 of this of Christians abandoned their association which had died in 1951 religion and declared for Islam. Did

it not seem contradictory to Yusuf that his 'life patron' was daily converting members - whose religious conviction he ought to protect - to another religion? But the biggest blow to the NCA was the assassination (most unfairly) of the Sardauna of Sokoto. With the 'life Patron' dead, the association also died.

The voice of the NCA was never heard in the first ten turbulent years of the military in Nigeria's affairs. In 1976, an opportunity came for the revival of NCA. The Federal Military Government, under General Olusegun Obasanjo, gave out money to Jamatuul Nasir Islam (JNI) to erect a mosque in the new Federal Capital, Abuja. The Christians complained of religious discrimination and they were told

by General Umaru Musa Yar'adua, the Chief of General Staff, that unlike the Muslims, the Christians did not have an umbrella body to benefit from such largesse. It was then that the Christians fell back on the structures of the dead NCA, revived them and gave it a national outlook to form the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN).

All through its history, therefore, CAN has always been a

“

During the bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims in Plateau state under Joshua Dariye, President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly called Rev Pam “an idiot, a total idiot.” He went on to declare “CAN my boot!” I did not hear any reaction from CAN condemning this un – Christian outburst. What if it were Babangida or Abacha that rained such curses on an ordained priest and the umbrella organization of Christians? Would CAN have ignored the Muslim leaders?

Wasted souls of Anambra water or because they have lost their ecosystem due to the avoidable flood that has just ravaged the Anambra Basin among other plains of Nigeria.

Think more in terms of human action. Think more in terms of those who go on the quick-fix lane, killing fish with chemicals without the intervention of Anambra and Kogi governments. But think also of the fact that no one set of bodies can have such a colour without a reason. Not unless the chemical has interfered with their surfacing into the innocent serene waters of Ezu. Acid or not, chemical or not, think about one institution being the custodian of the explanations for the mystery of the dead bodies in Anambra.

What is your finding?

Anambra State government?

Caretaker local governments?

Anambra State Command of the Police?

Anambra Vililante Services? Communities in the Ezu River course? Think deeper. Can't you think? Well, if you cannot, let us get others to think.

Let us get Nigeria to think. Let us get West Africans to think if the Malian casualties were imported

to Ezu River in the dead of the night in nine buses, trailers or trucks, and deposited in a fast-flowing river in secure Anambra by unknown importers, without Police detection. Get Africa to think if Boko Haraam now makes a case for airlifting dead human victims to Ezu River, rather than live ones, pilgrims, on to the peak of Mount Arafat. Get the world to think if sentencing Nigerian terrorists in far away South Africa means that all his followers chose to jump into a choice River in Anambra to protest the incarceration.

Are they helping your thinking? Are you helping them with clues? Are you hiding that you know something? What is your hunch? Do you want to look good to those you should fight? Does life mean anything to you? Can you not be counted on to stand up for 100 lives? You still wonder whether you should keep quiet to help build 'a good image for your country' or if you should loudly raise questions, demanding to know what happened to 100 ablebodied Nigerians? And you think this is the first time this is happening or if it would be the

last? By the way where is your cousin currently in police detention for wandering and your mechanic brother in-law arrested by ravaging Police who arrived at an armed robbery scene, two hours after the robber had gone?

Where are they? Can you call them? Can they receive your calls? Do you want to visit them today and insist on seeing them?

Perhaps you should before the bodies from the Ezu River are buried? Yes buried! I know what you are thinking, but don't worry we can always exhume them after the burials if necessary, or if one of those nosy civil rights organizations obtains a court order to the effect.

Oh yes, you need it because your eyes are not enough to identify these bodies and the fresh blood that eager onlookers detected on the Amansii Bridge over the Ezu River by Old Enugu- Onitsha Road are not enough to put you on the path of certainty about Hyginus and Maximus your friends ( what else do I call unidentified persons),being part of the black bodies in the river connecting Anambra and Enugu states.

product of political expediency and opportunism. It is more a forum for grandstanding and political opportunism than a sober organization for the promotion and protection of the body of Christ.

When Christian communities are attacked by Muslims, CAN shouts loud, but when Christians attack Christians, CAN loses her voice. I come from a part of the country where the predominantly Christian Tiv and Jukun communities in Taraba have formed the bloody and unChristian hobby of killing themselves abundantly. I have never heard the voice of CAN on this sinful conduct.

During the bloody clashes between Christians and Muslims in Plateau state under Joshua Dariye, President Olusegun Obasanjo publicly called Rev Pam "an idiot, a total idiot." He went on to declare "CAN my boot!" I did not hear any reaction from CAN condemning this un - Christian outburst. What if it were Babangida or Abacha that rained such curses on an ordained priest and the umbrella organization of Christians? Would CAN have ignored the Muslim leaders?

As a Christian, I feel threatened and hurt anytime a church is bombed and or a Christian community attacked

by Muslims. I feel the same when a Christian community is attacked by another Christian community. Both deserve to be condemned; but I do not see CAN doing that.

Christianity has been commercialized and bastardized in Nigeria today. The likes of Rev King, the condemned murderer, are still very much in our midst today. What is CAN doing to purge the body of Christ of the heresies they preach and practice every day in the name of Christianity? The physician must heal himself and I think the Catholic Church has taken a bold and correct step in this direction.

Why are you crying now? You have not seen any reason to be sure you should cry or laugh. Just wipe your tears, do the needful and stop there. Those that got brand new cars for their seasons gifts will do the rest. I repeat for emphasis, do not go shouting or blabbing about why bodies are being buried before identification.

Just follow the code -Do not talk more than your mouth or your leader.

Do not ask who is suppressing facts because we know those who have reason to. Do not ask anything else. Just pray, but not with any extra-Pentecostal high decibels, or fervently.

One last thing, before I forget, please do not try to conjure up anything to make your bank account N5 million richer because you may not even be so lucky for river currents to blow your own body to the banks to be discovered by the village fishermen when it would be your turn. And certainly, no one would attest to the fact that there are bullet holes in your body. Just weep for the wasted homo sapiens of Anambra and pray that God will deal justly with their souls.

Now go! Go!! Go!!! I want to weep. My heart is heavy.

Ify Odanye wrote in from Lagos.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

FCT gets ultra modern youth centre

Polio immunisation: Abaji council fails to release funds for exercise

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

he non-chalant attitude of the Abaji Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) towards mobilising immunisation officers to take part in the ongoing National Immunisation Plus Days exercise is posing challenge to successful polio immunisation coverage in the FCT. Peoples Daily gathered yesterday that while other area councils in the territory have been up to their responsibilities of realising funds to ensure the necessary arrangements for the

A

ll is set for the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to commission an ultra modern youth centre in Abuja Municipal Area Council(AMAC) aimed at training youths in various skills and vocational courses.

The centre which is fully equipped with modern facilities, according to the administration, is aimed at changing the fortunes of less privileged youths as it would provide the platform that would absorb street hawkers to gain requisite skills for their economic empowerment.

FCT Secretary of Social Development, Mrs. Blessing Onuh said while conducting journalists round the centre yesterday that the centre is the first of its kind in Nigeria, pledging the administration willingness to maximize its benefits for the development of its youths population.

According to her, the current FCT administration has been very worried over the alarming rate of unemployed youths roaming the street of the FCT which informed the construction of the Centre.

“The FCTA is greatly pained by the rate of unemployment amongst is youth population which represents its future, part of which informed the development of this centre which is capable of churning out skilled manpower in the areas of ICT, digital printing, welding, carpentry, fishery, fashion designing, artwork etc,” she said.

Onuh, who conducted journalist round the ultra modern printing press maintained that the centre to can even generate huge amount of money for the FCT as the youths under training perfect their arts and provide services to members of the public when fully operational and considered along such line.

She also stressed that those to be trained at the centre will be in the boarding house which has a fully furnished and equipped five hundred bed hostels as she urged FCT youths to take advantage of the facility.

Some notable features at the centre which would be commission by dame patient Jonathan on Tuesday includes: ultra modern ICT centre, multipurpose hall, workshop premises, classrooms, hostels blocks, basket ball pitch, five aside football pitch, and volley ball courts amongst others.

By Josephine Ella Ejeh

T

exercise like logistics, are adequately taken care of, the Abaji council has frustrated all efforts to ensure that it fulfils the obligation.

Lamenting the situation yesterday, the Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Development Board(PHCDB), Dr. Rilwanu Mohammed confirmed that all area councils were up and doing towards success of the exercise except Abaji Area Council.

“Actually the local governments are trying. The only local government we are not happy with is Abaji Area Council.

They refused to release money.

We have been writing to them a reminder letter but the Abaji chairman refuse to release money for their staff to go out,” he said while fielding questions from journalists during monitoring of the four-day immunisation exercise in churches which commenced on Saturday in Abuja.

However, he said: “By Monday(today) the chairman said he is going to get them money to move out and it is already late because we only have four days for the immunisation.

“So they are only going to carry out the immunisation for

Igbo women displaying their rich cultural heritage in a public function, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

Photo: Justin ImoOwo

Monday if he actually gives them the money as he said because immunisation ends on Monday.

The vaccinator refused to move out of the area because they have not been paid for the last exercise so they want to make sure this time around there is money.

We are pleading with the local government chairman to please know that he is not the only one in the area so that we can protect all the children in the FCT”.

Dr. Mohammed, who led officials of the board on the monitoring expressed happiness with other councils that have released money for the exercise, saying all hands must be on deck to ensure that every child in the FCT is immunised.

He said the board had last week distributed about 900 doses of vaccines it received , trained all the health care workers and distributed monitors and supervisors to respective areas.

He expressed delight that Christians were accepting the immunisation exercise unlike their Muslim counterpart as he appealed to Islamic religious leaders to talk to Muslim faithful to accept polio immunisation.

“Prevention is better than cure.

They should accept polio immunisation so that together we can kick polio out of Nigeria,” he stressed.

Reacting on the exercise, the Reverend in charge of ECWA Church in Area 3, Garki, Abuja Reverend Samuel Zaki thanked the government for making polio vaccine free for children immunisation.

This was as he advised those who do not understand the importance of immunisation to take it seriously so that their children who are the future leaders of tomorrow can grow to the glory of God.

Blocked sewer: Faeces take over Jabi highway

A

blocked sewer line has been emptying faeces on a major highway in Abuja metropolis, resulting in stench taking over the atmosphere in the affected area, investigation by the News Agency of Nigeria(NAN) revealed at the weekend.

The effluence, being discharged on to the road from the pipe beside Jabi Primary School perimeter fence along Obafemi Awolowo highway, has become a matter threatening public health.

A News Agency Nigeria (NAN) check in the affected area showed that waste water, mixed with human faeces, flowed freely on the road.

NAN also reports that concerned citizens have called for urgent attention to arrest the situation and save that neighbourhood.

But, Mr Joe Ukairo, the AEPB Head of Information, quickly

reacted in a phone interview with NAN correspondent that the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) was not aware of any such development in the area.

He said the establishment had yet to receive any official report about the leakage, and decried the inadequacy of machines to respond to such situation.

Ukairo said that the only master canal machine (evacuation machine) which could be used to rescue the situation had broken down.

He, however, said that officials of the AEPB would be sent to inspect the leakage preparatory to repairing the damage.

On the sewage holes, which were kept open on the road, Ukairo explained that AEPB was not responsible for every issue in the FCT. “Not all issues are attended to by the AEPB. There is a department

called Abuja Metropolitan Management Council (AMMC) and they have city maintenance department responsible for the replacement of broken facilities,” Ukairo said.

City health watchers told NAN they were not interested in “buck passing’’ or in which of the departments of the FCT should fix whatever facilities.

They insist on a clean, healthy environment, not given to the filthy situation.

Some respondents said the condition could cause a serious health hazard to the immediate environment and the public.

Mr Emmanuel Aboje, a photographer operating within the school premises in Jabi, that the pipe had been discharging its contents for more than two weeks now.

He said that if he had known where to make a report, he would have done

so since the situation had become a serious source of pollution and threat to their health.

“The odour from the sewage is affecting the people in this environment.

I am appealing to the authority to do something about the leakage before it is too late,” he said.

Aboje also said that the situation was posing serious health challenges to the pupils who were always playing around the field during break period.

He observed that some of the sewage holes were kept open on the road, and that such situation was dangerous to pedestrians, especially at night.

Muhamadu Samaila, a sachet water seller, said that he had observed the flow from the hole for some weeks.

He said the odour from the sewage had been disturbing the environment. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

INSIDE FCT COURTS 25-year-old charged for forgery

A

25-year-old-man, Mike Olorunmowaju, was arraigned before a Karu Upper Area Court at the weekend for alleged forgery, criminal trespass and theft.

The Prosecutor, Inspector Philip Akogwu, told the court that one Inspector Simon Musa of the Nigeria Police, attached to Access Bank, Asokoro, Abuja, reported the matter at the Asokoro Police Station on Jan. 31.

“Olorunmowaju criminally trespassed into the banking hall with a forged cheque of N180,000.

On presenting the cheque, it was discovered that the accused criminally forged the signature of one Mr Dalhatu Makama of Lagos State,” Akogwu said.

He also told the court that the accused had previously withdrawn N90,000 from Makama’s EcoBank account.

Olorunmowaju pleaded not guilty to the charges.

T h e Judge, Alhaji Umar Kagarko, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 with a surety who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was adjourned to March 4, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

PAGE 17

Guard, 35, jailed for employment racketeering Senior Magistrate Rosemary Kanyip of the Kubwa Senior Magistrates Court in Federal capital Territory(FCT) has sentenced 35-year old security guard, Innocent Adoga, to five months imprisonment for fraud.

Kanyip, however, gave the convict an option of N4,000 fine and ordered that he should refund N58,700 to the complainants.

She also warned him to desist from fraudulent activities henceforth.

“Be warned that hardship is no

defence for the commission of a crime.

You claim to have a wife and children, what example do you intend to show your children as they grow up?,.’’ he said Police Prosecutor, Arziki Kaura, had told the court that the case was reported at the Dutse Police Station on January 19, 2013 by John Cole, Augustine Oneje, Sunday Akogwu and Ajido Samson.

Kaura said the convict, who claimed to be a security guard with a company named “Nigeria Private

Intelligence’’, collected various sums from the complainants under the pretence of getting them jobs.

“He collected a total sum of N58,700 from the four complainants, promising to get them employment in his company and in the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps.

“He subsequently issued them fake employment letters and during investigations, refused to give information about his employer.’’

Kaura said the convict

committed the offences of cheating, forgery and failure to give information to a public servant.

He said that the offences contravened the Penal Code.

The convict had pleaded guilty to the charges, adding that the financial challenges he faced at the time led him to commit the crimes.

“My wife was pregnant and it resulted in an operation, and I had no money,’’ he said.

He begged the court to temper justice with mercy. (NAN)

A scavenger at a public dust bin looking for valuable use at Secretariat in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Man charged with allegedly being in possession of stolen property

T

he Police at the weekend arraigned one Julius Amadi before a Kubwa Upper Area Court charged with alleged cheating and being in possession of stolen property.

The Police Prosecutor, Mr Peter Ode, told the court that Amadi sold four water tanks to one Alhaji Ali Mohammed, a resident of Suleja, Niger, at the sum of N1 million.

“Police arrested Mohammed on Dec.12, 2012, when he was conveying the tanks to Suleja as he could not produce the receipts for buying them.

“Mohammed took the police to Amadi who could not also produce the receipts,’’ Ode said.

He said the offences contravened Sections 312 and 323 of the Penal Code.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to him.

The presiding Judge, Malam Munir Lawal, granted Ama-di bail in the sum of N100,000 with one surety in like sum.

He adjourned the case to February 7, 2013 for hearing.

(NAN)

Man jailed six months for burglary

O

ne Abdulrahim Mustapha of El Dorado Site, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Lugbe, Abuja, has been sentenced by an Abuja Senior Magistrates Court to six months imprisonment for burglary.

S e n i o r Magistrate Aliyu Shafa who handed down the judgment, however, gave Mustapha an option to pay

N7,000 fine.

The Prosecutor, Corporal Paul Anigbo, had told the court that the matter was reported at the Lugbe Police Station by one Zainab Mohammed on January 30, 2013.

“The complainant went out to buy food stuff within Lugbe village when Mustapha came to perpetrate the act. She caught Mustapha who

had scaled the fence to enter the house.

“He had already destroyed the burglary proof on the window with pincers and had packed some of her property,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said the stolen items, which include a Nokia phone, were later recovered from the accused during police interrogation.

The accused pleaded guilty to the

charge, pleading with the court to show mercy to him.

“I went to steal those items because my mother is not feeling fine and I don’t have money to go to Kaduna to see her. I beg the court to have mercy on me, I will not do it again,’’ the convict said.

The magistrate said the sentence was on compassionate grounds.

(NAN)

Four women, five others held for allegedly constituting public nuisance

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n Abuja Magistrates Court at the weekend arraigned nine persons, including four women, for allegedly constituting public nuisance capable of obstructing the peace in the area.

The accused are Christopher John, 28, Ahmed Salisu,30, Ikenna Nicholas,33, Joseph Adoga, 22, Tyoor Titus,31 and Comfort Atum, 24.

Others are Evelyn Johnbul, 27, Angela Umaru, 32 and Jennifer Emmanuel, 24.

They were found to be people of no visible means of livelihood.

The Prosecuting Police Officer, Mr Simon Emmanuel, told the court that, a team of patrol policemen arrested the suspects and detained them at the Life Camp police station on January 18, 2013.

Emmanuel said the suspects were caught wandering about at Jabi Daki-Biyu village with no defined mission at that time of the night.

The prosecutor told the court that they could not give satisfactory

reason nor proper identification that explained their mission.

The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and gave various reasons for their mission while the second accused, Salisu, pleaded guilty stating that he was pressed and went out to ease himself.

The Counsel to the Salisu, Mr Humphery Onyeukwu, however, prayed the court to tamper justice with mercy on the accused who was a first time offender, and should be given an option of fine.

The Magistrate, Mr Mohammed

Zubairu, thereafter, sentenced Salisu because he did not give a satisfactory reason to convince the court of his mission.

He was sentenced to one month in prison with an option of N1,000 fine.

Zubairu granted the remaining eight accused bail in the sum of N50,000 collectively.

According to him, they should also bring one surety each, who must have a reasonable means of livelihood, and be resident within the jurisdiction of the court. (NAN)

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

A look at Yobe’s roads to everywhere

By Ahmad Jinjiri

R

oads have always had an abiding, evocative power in human discourse. They are a metaphor for entry and exit, a representation of “a means to an end,” a symbol of advancement, a signifier of mobility, and the antithesis of stagnation.As Ted Conover writes in the epilogue to his book,The Routes of Man, “So essential a part of the human endeavor are roads that road- and driving-related metaphors permeate our language”.

But it isn’t only in language and symbolic representation that roads pervade human life. They are also some of the most visible physical markers of development. They mark the distinction between civilization and backwardness.

That is why both advanced industrialized societies and Third World countries—and societies in between— invoke roads as barometers of development, as the measure of progress, and as the compass to locate prudence and waste in governmental spending.

For instance, during America’s 2008 presidential election, “roads” were a prominent, ever-present theme. Sarah Palin, former Alaska governor and Republican vice presidential nominee, was roundly pilloried in the news media for her ill-reputed “road to nowhere.”

According to the Los Angeles Times, Sarah Palin, as governor of the state of Alaska, wasted state resources to construct a 3.2mile-long, partially paved “road to nowhere” that starts from a “small international airport on Gravina Island, home to 50 people, ending in a cul-de-sac close to a beach…. But no one knows when anyone will need to drive it. That’s because the $26-million road was designed to connect to the $398-million Gravina Island Bridge, more infamously known as the ‘bridge to nowhere.”

So roads are central and crucial ingredients of the development of any society. While America’s Sarah Palin built roads to nowhere (and deservedly got ridiculed for it), Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State appears to be building roads to ‘everywhere’ in his effort to open up the state. From the outside looking in, I get a sense that road construction is a signature policy of the Gaidam administration. In the past few years, the governor has opened up hitherto landlocked communities and linked many remote villages and towns to the outside world with well-paved roads throughout his state.

I learned that in the space of only a few years, over 700 kilometers of roads have been built by the Gaidam administration.

That’s an admirable record by any standard. Representative samples of the roads that have been built by Governor Gaidam are the 109 Kaliyari-BayamariGaidam Road and the 32 kilometer Gaidam-Bukarti Road. Reconstruction of the 150-kilometer Potiskum-JakuskoGarn Alkali road is currently ongoing.The government has also completed the Bularafa-Gulani Bridge, the Gadaka-Maiduwa road, and built scores of rural roads that are designed to

Yobe State Governor

IBRAHIM GAIDAM open up rural areas and link agricultural communities with the “outside world.”

The completion of roads such as those linking Ngelzarma and Mashio and Ngelzarma and Ngenshegele have boosted agricultural production and tremendously enhanced intra-state mobility, especially in Yobe’s far-flung countryside.

Similarly, all major towns in the state, including Damaturu, Gaidam, Potiskum, Gashu’a and Nguru, have been provided with brand new qualitative township roads and drainages that can compete with the best anywhere in the world.

The Gaidam administration has, in addition, given approval for the construction of roads in housing estates in Damaturu. These estates were built by previous administrations. However, they were not equipped with befitting internal road networks. The government seeks to correct that with a N500 million allocation, which will be spent through the Ministry of Works for the construction of estate roads in Ben Kalio, Dabo Aliyu, 3 bedroom Maiduguri Road, State Low Cost, Waziri Ibrahim, and Shagari Low Cost Housing estates. Furthermore, the government has also built new roads within the newly completed 200-bed capacity hospital in Damaturu stretching over 2 kilometers.

Also, the state executive council has approved the construction of 8.7Km road with 17.4Km of drainage at the newly constructed 300 housing estate along Gujba – Maiduguri ring road in Damaturu. This is a new housing estate built by Governor Gaidam. The governor wants the roads built before the houses are allocated to beneficiaries.

There are several other road construction projects that space will not allow me to list here. But it is clear that if the governor keeps his current pace of road construction, Yobe State will become one of the most physically connected

states in the country.

For instance, for a long time, the northern swathe of Yobe had remained without good roads. It had, as a result, remained disaffiliated from the rest of the state. The Gaidam administration is changing that. The government is building what has been dubbed the Trans Saharan Road network. It is a huge expanse of road that stretches over 300 kilometers from Kanamma to Machina.

Work has already started on the project, and the first phase will cover Kanamma to Kafiya towns, which amounts to nearly 80 kilometers of road. When this is completed, the geographic and social isolation of northern Yobe will become history. This is good both for intra-state integration and for the overall economic vitality of the entire state.

But what is even more heartening than what I’ve just listed here is that this year is going witness even more road

“

The Gaidam administration has, in addition, given approval for the construction of roads in housing estates in Damaturu.

These estates were built by previous administrations.

However, they were not equipped with befitting internal road networks. The government seeks to correct that with a N500 million allocation, which will be spent through the Ministry of Works for the construction of estate roads in Ben Kalio, Dabo Aliyu, 3 bedroom Maiduguri Road, State Low Cost, Waziri Ibrahim, and Shagari Low Cost Housing estates

constructions and infrastructural uplift, if the state’s 2013 budget is any guide. A public policy analyst, who is also a Yobe indigene, analyzed Yobe State’s 2013 budget in recent newspaper articles and had this to say about roads: “Many new roads will be built and many old roads will be rebuilt. In the governor’s budget speech, for instance, he said he would construct new township roads at several local government headquarters.”

The writer’s analysis has basis in facts.

In the budget speech, which I just got hold of a couple of days ago, Governor Gaidam said his priorities for 2013 “include the construction of Township Roads at Dapchi, Babbangida, Jaji-Maji, Jakusko and BuniYadi, while the construction of Estate Roads in the Housing Estates will also commence in the 2013 fiscal year. In order to demonstrate our commitment towards the realization of this objective, the sum of N3 billion will be expended by the State Government on the execution of these projects in the new financial year.”

Other road-related highlights of the 2013 budget speech are that scores of township roads will be built in Nguru, and priority attention will be devoted toward the completion of the PotiskumDanchuwa-Garin Abba Road, the Kanamma-Kafiya Road, the GashuaYusufari Road, and the Bulafara-Jibulwa Road. Similarly, the governor disclosed that the government will award contract for the construction of Gashua-DumburiDadigar Road, Daya-Fadawa Road, and Damaturu-Sasawa road. This is in addition to others such as the BularafaGulani Road, the Girgir-Karage-Bukarti Road, the Juma’a-Maganna Road, the Fika-Maluri Road, the Garin Alkali-Gwio Kura-Lafiya-Buduwa Road, and the Karege-Dawayo spur road that will also feature in the current fiscal year.

In the budget speech the governor also revealed that the government would construct a road that will connect Godowoli to Gadaka, Gujba to Ngalda, and the Nangere, Kayeri, BornoKichi road.

Similarly the Kaliyari Bridge will be rehabilitated.

The Yobe public policy analyst I quoted earlier said of these various road projects: “When all this is done, it is obvious that there will be a huge boost in the economic activities in these areas. The multiplier effects of such a boost can only be imagined.” He is right.

If roads are indeed a marker of physical and civilizational progress (and they are), Yobe is surely on the path to greatness.

One of the metaphoric imports of roads is that roads afford us the latitude to stand at a place and gaze into a wide vista of previously unseen views. It is safe to say that Governor Gaidam’s aggressive push to open up his state through road construction is sure to literally expose the state to a wide panorama of developmental possibilities never seen or thought of before.

Jinjiri writes from Bra-Bra Estate, Gashu’a-Maiduguri bye-pass road,Damaturu Yobe State. He can be reached atdanjijiri2020@gmail.com

BUSINESS

PAGE 19

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

By Aminu Imam

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igerians living abroad, who remitted $21 billion (N3.36 trillion) home last year, rank among citizens of the top five countries that remitted about $530 billion to their countries in 2012, showing a tremendous increase from the previous year.

In the latest ranking by the World Bank, India led the pack, followed by China, Philippines, Mexico and Nigeria in the fifth position.

Figures show that India and China received $60 billion from their citizens abroad, Philippines ($24 billion), Mexico ($24 billion), and Nigeria ($21 billion).

Others who also joined the top 10 include Egypt, the sixth largest, with about $18 billion remittance last year, indicating an astronomical surge from $9 billion in 2008. It is believed that the surge is perhaps driven by increased support by migrants to their families in the face of political uncertainty or savings brought by returning migrants.

The remittances of $530 billion last year by the migrants outstripped the World Bank’s projection for the period, which were expected to reach $406 billion in 2012, a growth of 6.5 per cent over the previous year.

INSIDE

Dangote reopens Gboko Cement Plant, to operate at half capacity

Mob: 08033644990

Nigerians in Diaspora remitted N3.36tr home in 2012

These flows are expected to rise to 8 per cent in 2013 and 10 per cent in 2014 to reach $534 billion in 2015.

Analysts believed the rise in remittances from Nigerians in the Diaspora is being done to enable them subscribe to a Diaspora bond being planned by the Ministry of Finance. Coordinating Minister for

the Economy and Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, in September 2011, had announced in Washington the plans by the Federal Government to issue the Diaspora bond in a bid to secure alternative means of funding critical infrastructural projects in Nigeria.

A Diaspora bond is a debt

instrument issued by a country or a private corporation to raise financing from its citizens in foreign countries.

However, the remittances come at a high cost to migrants from sub-Saharan Africa, which the World Bank identified as the most expensive region to send remittance to, with a transfer

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costing in the third quarter of 2012 about 12.4 per cent of the amount transferred. This is almost twice the corresponding figure of 6.5 per cent for South Asia.

According to the World Bank, the new figures for 2012 now surpassed the international community global aid for development, poverty reduction, healthcare and other strategic sectors.

According to the World Bank, over 215 million people, about 3 per cent of the world’s population, live outside their countries of birth. Remittances by them are considered three times the size of official development assistance and provide an important lifeline for millions of poor households in their countries.

‘First Bank remains Nigeria’s most valuable banking brand’

Brent rise poses threat to fragile recovery rude oil prices are nearing the pain threshold for consuming nations, with the price of Brent, the global benchmark, rising above $115 a barrel on Wednesday for the first time since mid-October.

ICE March Brent yesterday climbed almost 1 per cent to a high of $115.24, before retreating to $114.59 shortly before 5pm in late afternoon London trading.

The global benchmark has now climbed 3 per cent this year, as sentiment towards the global economy has improved markedly. Wednesday rally came despite data showing the US economy shrank 0.1 per cent at an annualised rate in the fourth quarter of 2012.

Analysts warned that further rises in the Brent price could threaten the fragile global economic recovery.

Analysts said they expected any rise to more than $120 to be short-lived, with producing countries acting to increase supply.

“Saudi Arabia has shown its intention to keep price volatility low and we expect the kingdom to respond quickly to changes in the market,” Ms Sen said.

The discount on Brent for delivery in April compared with March has widened from 68 cents in mid-January to more than $1, a sign of a shortage of crude oil for purchase.

(Bloomberg)

- Pg 21

By Aminu Imam

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L-R: Director-General of SMEDAN, Alhaji Umar Mohammed, with Director-General Small and Medium Industries Directorate of Indonesia, Mrs Euis Saedah, exchanging MoU document on Technical Cooperation for Development of MSME in Nigeria, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

MAN boss urges FG to speed up industrialisation efforts

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he Chairman, Manufacturers Association of Nigeria, lkeja branch, Mr. lsaac Agoye, at the weekend, urged the Federal Government to adopt proactive measures that would speed up the nation’s industrialisation efforts.

Agoye gave the advise in Lagos on Saturday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said the government needed to provide an enabling environment for businesses to grow so as to encourage indigenous manufacturers and foreign investors to establish industries.

He said that power generation was one of the challenges being faced by the indigenous industries and appealed to the Federal Government to solve the inadequate electricity supply to the citizens. ‘’The problem of epileptic power supply in the country is really affecting the developmental process of the nation’s economic growth, in which many industrial companies are exiting the country as a result. ‘’For meaningful development to be achieved, electricity must be given urgent attention to create employment opportunities in the

country,’’ he said.

Agoye remarked that some government actions also hinder rapid growth of industrialisation, and cited inconsistencies in government policies as a disincentive to industrial growth.

He said that the government needed to make favourable policies that would make industries to thrive, adding that this would impact positively on the economy.

Agoye said that many companies had folded up because of some government’s policies that had increased the rate of unemployment in the country. ‘’The sacking of people by the government and indigenous companies were counterproductive and waste of human resources to the economy,’’ he said.

(NAN)

Management Tip of the Day

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Reach an agreement by seeing it their way

ompromise gets a bad rap, but it’s an essential leadership skill. And you can’t do it effectively without understanding the other side’s point of view. Don’t let your ego prevent you from seeing the merits of their case. Instead, ask open-ended questions to

stimulate conversation. Try “Why do you feel that way?” or “How can we do it better?” or “Help me understand the issue more clearly.” If talking doesn’t work, experience the other individual’s perspective firsthand. For example, visit your colleague’s office to

understand the forces and people that are shaping her point of view. Meet with her boss. If you still run into roadblocks, maintain respect. This lays the foundation for mutual trust, which makes compromise — now or later — much easier.

Source: Harvard Business Review

irst Bank of Nigeria has once again been named the most valuable banking brand in Nigeria by the world’s leading independent brand valuation consultancy firm, Brand Finance Plc. Three Nigerian banking brands made the top 500 and their combined brand value has increased by 18% since 2012.

The Banker / BrandFinance Banking 500 is an annual study conducted by Brand Finance Plc, the world’s leading brand valuation consultancy and published in the The Banker magazine. The world’s biggest banks are ranked by their brand value, with the results reflecting industry trends and indicating future developments.

Following a tumultuous year for the Nigerian economy in 2012, three Nigerian banking brands feature in the report.

After losing almost US$0.33 billion between 2011 and 2012, First Bank of Nigeria and Guaranty Trust Bank have increased their brand values by a combined US$0.63 billion.

Through a series of innovative strategies such as complementing its large network of branches with “minibranches”, First Bank of Nigeria has a strong 2012. It has also launched “The Premium Lounge”, a preferred banking service to attract more affluent, higher-margin customers. These strategies appear to be an attempt to counter the threat of mobile banking in the region, which is gaining significant market share in a highly cash based economy.

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Interswitch/ Mastercard

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igerian shoppers who make cashless purchases at merchant locations with Verve Card and MasterCard at designated shopping outlets that are Reward Money enabled, or through a point of sale (PoS) are to get instant rewards.

This is based on the merchant’s pre-agreed discount to customers, and is instantly converted to spendable money on the customer’s card. It is an automated process and requires little effort from the merchant.

This cashless initiative, which requires little effort from the merchant is a robust loyalty platform capable of building profitable customer relationships for competitive edge.

Lufthansa airlines

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he year 2012 saw all the airlines in the Lufthansa Group significantly improve utilisation through more effective and more flexible capacity management, as the group airlifted over 2.5 million passengers.

The airlines in the group are Lufthansa German airlines, Germanwings, SWISS and Austrian Airlines.

According to Akeem Jimo, the Lufthansa German airline’s spokesman in Lagos, ‘the group carried around 2.5 million more passengers than in the earlier year’.

In total, all the airlines carried 2.4 per cent more passengers in the January to December term, than in the previous year.

TransCorp/ General Electric

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Aggressive central bank intervention may lead to burst – Sanusi

By Abdulwahab Isa

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ggressive intervention and monetary easing by global central banks may lead to another financial crises in the medium term, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, has said.

Sanusi was speaking in an interview last week on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.

“I hold the view that you can never print your way out of a recession and the idea that by expanding its balance sheet indefinitely the central bank can continue in the long to medium term create growth is an illusion,” Sanusi said.

“I have a very strong premonition and think that in a

few years from now we are going to see the impact of that in another boom bust scenario.”

The US Federal Reserve, the European Central Bank (ECB), and the Bank of Japan, have in recent times embarked on unlimited Quantitative Easing, leading to fears of currency wars.

According to Sanusi, monetary policy is by its nature should be short term as, it provides stability and buys time for governments to fix things.

“I am not really an advocate of austerity, but what I think governments need to do is look at the quality of spending not so much the amount and see whether Government spending goes into areas that promote competitiveness and productivity, or areas that

FCMB provides customers convenience, offers free Naira cards From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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irst City Monument Bank (FCMB) Plc has introduced a free range of Naira Visa cards to its customers.

The FCMB Visa Cards, which are available in debit, credit and prepaid variants, are Europay, MasterCard and Visa (EMV) compliant and come with enhanced security features in line with global card industry standard chip technology.

Speaking at the introduction of the cards, FCMB’s Divisional Head, Retail Banking, Shiba Ghosh said, “We are excited to introduce these internationally acceptable VISA Naira denominated cards which come in three variants and provide our customers the convenience to transact anywhere in the world”.

Cardholders stand to enjoy various benefits such as discounts on purchases at certain merchant locations, secure online functionality

with Verified by Visa, which is a second level authentication service that reduces the risk of making online transactions.

The cards can be used worldwide on Point of Sale terminals, over one million ATMs and 29 million merchant locations, thus fulfilling cardholders’

electronic payment, purchasing and withdrawal needs.

The bank is partnering Visa Cards, an electronic payment agency for the initiative and, according to Shiba, “We are delighted to be partnering with Visa, which is a globally acknowledged brand in

electronic payment systems. At FCMB, we believe that it is the extras we do for our customers today that they remember tomorrow. We are always eager to give our customers our very best. We listen and respond to our customers in line with our priority to be simple and better for our customers.”

Don calls for review of PENCOM guidelines

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rof. Timothy Nubi of the University of Lagos, at the weekend, has urged the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) to review its guidelines, which hindered access to pension funds for real estate development.

Nubi, a professor of Housing and Urban Regeneration, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.

He stressed that the Pension Act 2004 made provision for the investment of 40 per cent of the pension funds in real estate.

“However, this cannot be

because PENCOM has a clause in its guidelines for accessing pension funds; the clause stipulates that the 40 per cent of the funds could only be accessed through the Real Estate Investment Trust Fund (REIT).

“Currently, there is no REIT in the country and the processes of having one are cumbersome.

It involves a review of capital market rules and regulations,” he said.

Nubi stressed that as far as the clause remains, nobody could have access to pension funds for real estate

development.

“This is a pity as the funds have accumulated to over N2.4 trillion as at the end of December, 2012,’’ he added.

The professor said that pension funds had played a major role in boosting and increasing housing stocks in developed and developing economies, which had been able to find solutions to their housing problems.

Nubi reiterated that the clause in PENCOM guidelines should be reviewed so as to stimulate real estate development in the country.

(NAN)

Naira strengthens against US dollar on $69m sale from Mobil

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ransnational Corporation of Nigeria on Thursday said it had signed an agreement with General Electric (GE) of the U.S. to revamp the power and transportation sectors in the country. It said that the agreement was signed in March, 2012.

Transcorp, in a notice to the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), said that both companies would facilitate the generation of 10,000 mega watts of electricity in the next 10 years.

According to the notice, the firms will refurbish and expand the Ughelli Power Plant in Delta and modernise the transport sector, especially in the rail system.

Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

promote consumption,” he said.

Nigeria’s bond markets have in recent times attracted funds from investors which analysts say is partially due to the quantitative easing and cheap money coming from Bernanke and other Central Bank heads flooding the world with excess dollars.

The inclusion of Nigerian Bonds in the JP Morgan emerging markets index, helped to lure $1.5 billion into the country or about 0.56 percent of year end (YE) 2012 Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The total amount of offshore funds in the economy is less than 20 percent of dollar reserves according to Sanusi.

“It is something that if it continues for too long that will be a source of concern, but at the moment it is not,” Sanusi said.

By Abdulwahab Isa

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Inflation rates from Jan, 2012 to Dec, 2012 Max = 12.9 %, Min = 11.3 % for period in display.

Current Inflation rate = 12 % Source:CBN

he Naira yesterday appreciated by 0.2 kobo or 0.12 percent against the US dollar at interbank market closing at N157.20/$ as against N157.40/$ on Wednesday, data from Financial Markets Dealers Association (FMDA) has indicated.

Dealers attributed the improvement on inflow of $69 million sales from Mobil which try to cushion the demand for dollar.

Meanwhile, the local currency remained stable at the official, Bureau De Change and

parallel markets closing at N155.74/$, N158.5000/$, and N159.0000/$, respectively.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on Wednesday offered and sold $120 million to 13 Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) at the rate of N155.74/$.

On the other hand, liquidity improved yesterday as the Nigeria Interbank Offered Rates (NIBOR), ranging from midnight call to 365 days tenor went down by 15.61 percent.

Financial dealers had earlier predicted that rates are would moderate on the back of Treasury bills repayment on Thursday January 31, 2013.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Stocks record +2.62% gain in week Stories from Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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ctivities on the Nigerian bourse remain active as the stocks continued to experience impressive bargain hunting on the back of sustained commitments while investors remain optimistic throughout the week despite bearish start to extend the 4weekly gains with strong market breadth.

Stocks experienced increased market volatility on Monday, dipping by -0.34% to open the week on negative note as speculators scrambled for early profits. However, the key benchmark indices erased previous losses on Tuesday as market closed with moderate gains by +0.31% on the back of

…YTD stands at 15.43% renewed optimism.

Furthermore, market sustained the rally as the key benchmark indices climbed further on Wednesday and Thursday by +0.77% and +0.12% respectively on the back of growing commitments.

Subsequently, equities sustained healthy breadth on Friday as market traded above the line despite increased volatility to end the week with aggregate gain of +2.62%.

Further analysis on acquiring banks since transaction date showed that the share price of Access Bank Plc has recorded +130.71% gains

with FCMB recording +28.97% gain while Union Bank Plc leads the chart with +301.91% gains.

Also, Sterling Bank Plc recorded +124.41 gains and ETI closed positive with 11.40% gain recorded.

However, the All-Share Index (ASI) in the week under review appreciated by +2.62% to close at 32,411.86 as against appreciation by +2.12% recorded last week to close at 31,583.49.

In the same vein, the market capitalization in the week appreciated by N267.43 billion (US$1.67 billion) to close at N10.37 trillion (US$64.81

billion) as against appreciation by N209.93 billion (US$1.37billion) recorded last week to close at N10.10 trillion (US$66.03 billion) The total volume traded in the week closed at 2.82 billion units valued at N22.19 billion (US$125.51 million) compared with 2.61 billion units valued at N19.51 billion (US$135.22 million) exchanged in 27,186 deals last week.

The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved up by +8.10% as against downtrend by -19.85% recorded last week. Weekly value also went up by +15.87% as against negative position of -11.28% recorded last week.

L-R:Lazarus Angbazo President and CEO GE Nigeria, Jay Ireland – President and CEO GE Africa, Jeff Immelt – Global Chairman and CEO GE, Aliko Dangote – President Dangote Group at a meeting in Lagos where a strategic agreement was signed between Dangote Group and General Electric

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anagement of Dangote Cement Plc has announced the reopening of its Gboko Cement Plant in Benue State.

The factory which is to operate at half capacity was closed down last year as a result of the glut in the domestic cement market.

The decision to reopen the plant was reached immediately after a meeting between President Goodluck Jonathan and the Chairman of Dangote Cement Alhaji Aliko

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Dangote reopens Gboko Cement Plant, to operate at half capacity Dangote in Abuja yesterday.

Giving reasons for the reopening, a source from Dangote Cement said, “Since the shutdown of the Gboko Cement Plant, Government has been engaging local cement manufacturers in discussions, trying to find solutions to the challenges facing the industry.

FSDH Research gives ‘Buy’ rating for Oando rights issue

irst Securities Discount House (FSDH) Research has given ‘Buy’ rating for Oando rights issue.

On December 20, 2012, Oando announced that its subsidiary Oando Energy Resources entered into agreements with ConocoPhillips to acquire its entire business interests in Nigeria for a total cash consideration of US$1.79bn plus customary adjustments.

The deal is stated to be finalized around March 2013. This is part of the company’s strategic move

to enter into the high profit margin upstream oil industry in Nigeria.

The current market value of Oando share is N14.40 while the Rights Issue price is N12.00.

This means that the Rights were offered to shareholders at a discount to the market price while the market price is also trading at a discount to a fair value. On the basis of this, FSDH recommend that existing shareholders take up their rights or trade it on the floors of the NSE and JSE.

According to the source, Aliko Dangote was in an upbeat mood after the meeting with the president and in appreciation of the President’s concern and willingness to intervene; he gave immediate directives to restart operations at the Gboko Plant.

When contacted, Group

Head, Corporate Communications, Dangote Group, Tony Chiejina confirmed the reopening and said, “We are confident that in the days ahead, we will see positive developments and actions that will address problems of local cement manufacturers in Nigeria.”

Four eminent Nigerians join the National Council of the NSE

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he National Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Thursday said that it has co-opted four eminent Nigerians into the membership of the Council.

The announcement was made at the end of the Council meeting held in Lagos. This brings the number of Council members to thirteen (13).

According to the Secretary to the Council and Head, Legal and Regulation Division of The Exchange, Ms. Tinuade Awe, the four persons are Group Managing Director, Access Bank Plc, Mr. Aigboje AigImoukhuede; Managing

Director, Shell Nig. Closed Pension Fund Administrator Ltd. Mrs. Yemisi Ayeni; Mr. Abubakar Mahmoud, SAN, Partner, Dikko and Mahmoud and Mr. Abimbola Ogunbanjo, Partner, Chris Ogunbanjo & Co., Barristers and Solicitors.

Ms. Awe noted that the Management of The Exchange is very pleased to have them join the Council and bring their wealth of experience to bear on The Exchange. “We look forward to working with them and other Council members to further The Exchange’s transformation agenda”.

INVESTORS NEWS BITS

Flour Mills of Nigeria

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lour Mills of Nigeria reported a 2% year-onyear (Y-o-Y) growth in 9 month revenues to N205.5billion though FQ3 13 revenues were 9% lower than the corresponding period in FY 12 indicating some underlying weakness from deceleration over the seasonally strong period.

2012 performance contrasts with growth patterns in previous years and though the company has yet to provide segmental breakdown, a relatively robust food business in financial H1 and quarterly growth pattern does suggest its cement business probably contributed to weaker FQ3 revenues in response to the impact of the FGN restrictions on cement importation.

The company had reported stockpiling products that were sold through FQ2 13 and these were likely exhausted in FQ3 which falls in at the start of the dry season when construction work typically picks up. Incidentally FMNL expects to cease reporting on this segment from FY 14.

NewGold Exchange Traded Fund

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he N12 gain recorded by NewGold Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) placed it ahead of other securities in the gainers list after yesterday’s trading at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

NewGold ETF rose from N2, 547 to N2, 559, followed by Flour Mill which rallied from N85.05 to N89.90, after it gained N4.85.

The bourse closed further high by 0.12 percent evidenced in the movement of the benchmark performance indicators –the NSE All Share Index (ASI) and market capitalisation.

Samsung Corporation

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onsumer electronics manufacturer, Samsung Corporation, is keenly considering establishing a mobile phone manufacturing plant in Nigeria in no distant time.

The Managing Director of Samsung Electronics, West Africa, Brovo Kim, who made this known on Thursday, said the sheer size of the Nigerian market was enough incentive for any foreign handset maker to set up a phone factory, but added that there were critical drawbacks hindering such moves.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 22

Africa: Continent’s twin poles on different trajectories S

ub-Saharan Africa's voice on the global stage has been strongest in the past decade and a half when its two most powerful players have worked together.

When Thabo Mbeki and Olusegun Obasanjo were heads of state in South Africa and Nigeria, respectively, this was often the case. The two men had a shared history dating back to when Gen Obasanjo was military head of state in the late 1970s and Nigeria supported Mr Mbeki and other African National Congress exiles from apartheid South Africa.

In different ways the gruff, former general, elected as civilian leader in 1999, and the prickly intellectual, who succeeded Nelson Mandela as head of state the same year, had clout and influence across the globe. Controversial as they both were at home, when addressing African crises or mapping out a more collaborative approach to the continent's economic future, they could be an effective duo.

The same cannot be said of President Goodluck Jonathan in Nigeria and his counterpart Jacob Zuma in South Africa, both of whom have been struggling with domestic crises in the past year - fuel subsidy protests and an Islamist insurgency in Nigeria, and industrial unrest and social tension in South Africa.

These days, Africa's strongest poles have often found themselves apart in continental disputes. They are more often rivals than allies in projecting an African viewpoint, in advocating a permanent African seat on the United Nations Security Council, and have taken positions that have split the continent in recent conflagrations, such as in Ivory Coast and Libya.

At one recent African Union summit, Nigerian and South African delegates standing outside a trilateral meeting at which Mr Jonathan and Mr Zuma were at odds nearly came to blows.

Yet the two countries have much to offer each other, as Nigeria's economy continues to take off on the back of soaring world oil prices - and an expansion of services and agriculture - while South Africa struggles with rising unemployment, decreasing competitiveness and industrial unrest.

South African businesses, from MTN, the continent's leading telecoms company, to smaller tech companies, retailers such as Shoprite, and banks such as Standard Bank,

At odds: Goodluck Jonathan (left) and Jacob Zuma have all won an important foothold in the continent's most populous nation as they seek as do other foreign investors to tap into the faster growth of frontier markets as the rest of the world slows down.

Nigeria's economic trajectory has meanwhile begun to threaten South Africa's pre-eminent position, although South Africa's physical and financial infrastructure is still far more developed.

Economists and investment banks forecast that, for all its endemic corruption, structural

shortcomings and infrastructure deficits, if Nigeria's economy continues to grow at 6 per cent or more it is only a matter of years before its $255bn economy overtakes South Africa's $400bn as the continent's largest.

Forecast by the IMF to grow at 6.3 per cent again this year, Nigeria could begin to gallop faster if continuing reforms designed to liberalise the power sector deliver on one chronic impediment to a more dynamic business environment electricity shortages.

Partly as a result of

“

A decade ago, South Africans used to quip that Nigeria produced 2,000 megawatts with 40,000 employees at NEPA, the dysfunctional and defunct state electricity company. South Africa’s Eskom meanwhile produced 40,000MW with 10,000 employees.

optimism over power reform and the prospect ultimately of this unleashing Nigeria's industrial potential - Standard & Poor's, the rating agency, upgraded the country in November. The upgrade still leaves the sovereign rating three notches below investment grade and far below South Africa.

But as the finance minister and co-ordinator of economic policy, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala noted, it is in the right direction, at a time when many countries are heading the other way.

That said, compared to South Africa, Nigeria is coming from far behind. It ranked 178th out of 185 economies, for example, for access to electricity for new businesses in the World Bank's latest Doing Business report. More than half of the 160m population has no access to the power grid, the Bank found.

A decade ago, South Africans used to quip that Nigeria produced 2,000 megawatts with 40,000 employees at NEPA, the dysfunctional and defunct state electricity company. South Africa's Eskom meanwhile produced 40,000MW with 10,000 employees.

But there is less of that brash talk from South Africans these days. In South Africa, meanwhile, after some of the most turbulent months in the country's post-apartheid history, all three main credit rating agencies have recently downgraded the country.

Mr Zuma, in an interview last week, cast blame for the country's economic woes and social disturbances on the global economic crisis and legacies of apartheid.

"There's a certainty that the ANC is going to be in government, the ANC has policies that are very certain and are very clear," he told the FT. "As an investor those are the things I would look at, I would not look at what people say."

But such talk has not prevented some investors from taking fright. As one Londonbased private equity manager puts it, if South Africa starts to present emerging market risks for developing world returns, its relatively mature economy is not an especially compelling prospect.

The case for fund managers to leapfrog into potentially more lucrative African markets, such as Nigeria, becomes stronger.

Not that the government in Abuja can in any way claim to be out of the woods. Both of the continent's biggest economies face a conundrum in tackling widespread unemployment, failing education systems, and social tensions associated with inequality.

And while Nigeria's growth looks more impressive on paper, the majority of Nigerians, like South Africans, have yet to experience real improvements in their livelihoods and in both countries public patience with the status quo is wearing thin.

(Source: Financial Times)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Nigeria: Workers dismantle rotting airplanes in 'graveyards' in a country with history of crashes L

anding in Nigeria’s largest city, one of the first thing visitors see as they peer out of their airplane’s windows is the moss-covered metal carcasses of what used to fly in Africa’s most populous nation.

Workers at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos call it “the graveyard,” an overgrown field filled with about a dozen cargo and passenger airplanes long since abandoned and left to rot by insolvent airlines. At least 65 abandoned airplanes, ranging from small commuter jets to one massive Boeing 747, sit at airfields across the country and serve as a haunting reminder of Nigeria’s chaotic and disaster-filled aviation history.

Now, however, workers have begun dismantling the planes as part of a government plan to remake Nigeria’s aviation industry. While some the federal government’s plans seem aspirational at best, the modest goal of simply removing the derelict aircraft represents at least a change in a nation where corruption often ensures

Crashed Dana plan

Aviation Minister, Ms. Stella Oduah

things remain exactly the scrambled way they are.

Nigerians “need to fly,” said Henry Omeogu, director of airport

operations at the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria. “They need to fly and feel safe in their airplanes.”

Not many Nigerians have felt safe flying since June 3, when a Dana Air passenger jet had both of its engines fail and crashed just north of the Lagos airport, killing 163 people.

The crash came after a series of other major crashes in the country, where airlines often have shaky financing and rely on aged aircraft.

The graveyard at Murtala Muhammed, at the far north end of the runway where planes come in, is where the derelict planes serve as tombstones for those failed airlines. An airline called Space World has two aircraft there — Hallelujah 1 and Hallelujah 2. Bellview Airlines has two planes there, left after the carrier collapsed following an October 2005 crash that killed 117 people.

Planes sit at airports across the country, partly due to local regulations allowing airlines to park their planes for free at any airport they declare as their base of operations, Omeogu said.

Some companies became insolvent and left planes still loaded with first-class china service and large

briefcases for captains containing flight manuals.

Other aircraft sit parked on the apron nearby, including one for Air Nigeria, which collapsed last year amid allegations that owner Jimoh Ibrahim hadn’t paid staff for at least four months, despite receiving millions of dollars from a government bailout fund. An airplane from Ibrahim’s Nicon Airways, which collapsed after one year of operations in 2007, sits in the graveyard as well.

For years, the planes sat, partly out of the inertia that often grips government in Nigeria, an oil-rich nation earning billions that has an ailing state-run power company that can’t provide reliable supplies of electricity for the nation’s more than 160 million people. But in the last few weeks, government officials decided the planes must go, partly out of security concerns as a radical Islamist sect continues to launch bloody attacks in the country.

Officials decided to offer the planes free to those who applied for them. On Thursday, workers used hammers and saws to tear apart fuselages as landing aircraft roared overhead.

Seats rose up in the tall grass, as oxygen masks and paperwork littered the ground. Most of the planes appear to be heading to scrapyards.

The removal of the planes come as Nigeria’s federal government is remodeling terminals, some of which haven’t seen much work in as many as

A worker dismantles an abandoned aircraft at Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, Nigeria, Thursday, Jan. 31, 2013. Nigerian aviation officials have begun trying to dismantle and remove the hulks of abandoned airplanes from airports around the country. Officials say there are least 65 abandoned planes at the country's airports, with at least 13 at Lagos' international airport.

(AP Photo/Jon Gambrell)

50 years. The government also has announced plans to buy planes and begin its own national carrier.

However, corruption allegations still lurk. In

“

When you fly an ‘old mama,’ an old aircraft, and you run into problems, maybe weather or anything, you’re confident about yourself, but when you have to worry about the aircraft you’re using, that’s double jeopardy

September, Nigeria’s largest carrier, Arik Air, halted its domestic flights and alleged that Aviation Minister Stella Oduah had a financial interest in seeing their business fail.

Oduah denied the claims through a spokesman and the airline began flying again days later.

Omeogu, director of airport operations who is a pilot himself, told The Associated Press on Thursday that the government’s plans would aid an industry that needs both a safety and a psychological boost.

“When you fly an ‘old mama,’ an old aircraft, and you run into problems, maybe weather or anything, you’re confident about yourself,

but when you have to worry about the aircraft you’re using, that’s double jeopardy,” he said.

So, for now, the hammers continue to hit the steel fuselages of the planes, some already opened up like tin cans.

Omeogu hopes the airplanes at Lagos will be cleared in several weeks and workers will move onto the nation’s other airfields.

However, cynicism about Nigeria lurked even on the remains of an abandoned Douglas DC-8 cargo plane.

Someone wrote the following into the dirt coating a moss-covered landing gear: “The cat is dead. The world is good for a rat.” ( S o u r c e : Canada.com)

Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

The hypocrisy of yesterday’s men

By Reuben Abati

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loosely bound group of yesterday’s men and women seems to be on the offensive against the Jonathan administration. They pick issues with virtually every effort of the administration, pretending to do so in the public interest; positing that they alone, know it all.

Arrogantly, they claim to be better and smarter than everyone else in the current government. They are ever so censorious, contrarian and supercilious. They have no original claim to their pretensions other than they were privileged to have been in the corridors of power once upon a time in their lives. They obviously got so engrossed with their own sense of importance they began to imagine themselves indispensable to Nigeria. It is dangerous to have such a navel-gazing, narcissistic group inflict themselves with so much ferocity on an otherwise impressionable public. We are in reality dealing with a bunch of hypocrites.

With exceptions so few, they really don’t care about Nigeria as a sovereign but the political spoils that accrue from it. And so they will stop at nothing to discredit those they think are not as deserving as they imagine themselves to be. President Jonathan has unfairly become the target of their pitiable frustrations.

Underneath their superfluous appearance, lies an unspoken class disdain directed at the person and office of a duly elected president of the country. It is a Nigerian problem, perhaps. In the same advanced societies which these same yesterday men and women often like to refer to, public service is seen and treated as a privilege. People are called upon to serve; they do so with humility and great commitment, and when it is all over, they move on to other things. The quantity surveyor returns to his or her quantity surveying or some other decent work; the lawyer to his or her wig and gown; the university teacher, to the classroom, glad to have been found worthy of national service. When and where necessary, as private citizens they are entitled to use the benefit of this experience to contribute to national development, they speak up on matters of public importance not as a full-time job as is the case in Nigeria currently.

What then, is the problem with us? As part of our governance evolution, most people become public servants by accident, but they soon get so used to the glamour of office that they lose sight of their own ordinariness.

They use the system to climb: to become media celebrities, to gain international attention and to morph into self-appointed guardians of the Nigerian estate.

They mask self interest motives as public causes and manipulate the public’s desire for improvements in their daily struggles as opportunity for power grab.

They are perpetually hanging around, lobbying and hustling for

undeserved privileges. They exploit ethnic and religious connections where they can or join political parties and run for political office. They even write books (I, me and myself books, packaged as cerebral stuff); if that still doesn’t work, they lobby newspaper houses for columns to write and they become apostolic pundits pontificating on matters ranging from the nebulous to the non-descript. Power blinds them to the reality that we are all in this together and we have a unique opportunity to do well for the taxpayers and hardworking electorate that provide every public official the privilege to serve.

Unsatisfied with the newspaper columns, they open social media accounts and pretend to be voices of wisdom seeking to cultivate an angry crowd which they feed continually with their own brand of negativity. They arrange to give lectures at high profile events where they abuse the government of the day in order to gain attention and steal a few minutes in the sun; hoping to force an audience that may ‘open doors’ for them, back into the corridors of power. These characters are in different sizes and shapes: small, big; Godfathers, agents, proxies. The tactics of the big figures on this rung of opportunism may be slightly different. They parade themselves as a Godfather or kingmaker or the better man who should have been king. They suffer of course, from messianic delusions. The fact that they boast of some followership and the media often treats them as icons, makes their nuisance factor worse. They and their protégés and proxies are united by one factor though: their hypocrisy.

It is in the larger interest of our country that the point be made that the government of the day welcomes criticism and political activism. This is an aspect of our emergent democracy that expands on the growing freedom of expression, thought and association but there is need for caution and vigilance, lest we get taken hostage by the architects of odious disinformation. Nigerians must not allow any group of

Dr. Reuben Abati individuals to hold this country to ransom and no one alone should appropriate the right to determine what is best for Nigeria. The accidental public servants who have turned that privilege into a life-long obsession and profession must be told to go get a life and find meaningful work to do.

Those who believe that no one else can run Nigeria without them must be told to stop hallucinating.

The former Ministers, former Governors, former DGs, and all sorts who have been busy quoting mischievous figures, spreading cruel propaganda must be reminded that the Jonathan administration is in fact trying to clean up the mess that they created. They want to own the game when the ball is not in their possession. They want to be the referee when nobody has offered them a whistle. They seek to play God, forgetting that the case for God is not in the hands of man.

One of the virtues of enlightenment is for persons to

“

These yesterday men and women certainly don’t seem to care very much about the Nigerian taxpayer who has had to bear the brunt of the many scandals this administration is exposing in its bid to clear out the Augean stable.

have a true perspective of their own location in the order of things. What they do not seem to realise or accept is that the political climate has changed.

When one of them was in charge of this same estate called Nigeria, he shut down the Port Harcourt airport and other airports for close to two years under the guise of renovation. The Port Harcourt airport was abandoned for so long it was overgrown with weeds after serving for months as a practice ground for motoring schools. It was reopened without any improvement and with so much money down the drain, and the pervasive suspicion that the reason it was shut down in the first place was to create a market for a new airline that had been allowed the monopoly use of the other airport in the city. Under President Jonathan, airports across the country are being upgraded, rebuilt and modernized; in less than two years, the transformation is self-evident.

Perhaps the greatest hypocrisy from our see-no-good commentators comes from the one who superintended over the nearcollapse of the aviation sector who is now audacious enough to claim to be a social critic.

For the first time since 1999, the Nigerian Railway Corporation is up and running as a service organization. The rail lines have become functional from Lagos to Kano; Ewekoro to Minna, and very soon, from Port Harcourt to Maiduguri, Abuja to Kaduna and Lagos to Ibadan. They couldn’t do this in their time, now they are busy looking for money that is not missing with their teeth. When questions are asked, they claim they invented the ideas of due process and accountability. They once promised to solve the crisis of electricity supply in Nigeria.

But what did they do? They managed to leave the country in darkness with less than 2,000 MW; abandoned independent power projects, mismanaged power stations, and uncompleted procurement processes. The mess was so bad their immediate successors had to declare an emergency in the power sector. It has taken President Jonathan to make the difference. Today, there is greater coherence in the management of the power sector with power supply in excess of 4, 200 MW; a better conceived power sector road map is running apace, and the administration is determined to make it better.

They complain about the state of the roads. Most of the contracts were actually awarded under their watch to the tune of billions! They talk about corruption, yet many of them have thick case files with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, the courts and the police on corruption-related charges. One of them was even accused of having awarded choice plots of government land to himself, his wives, his companies and other relations when he was in charge of such allocations!

Really, have we forgotten so soon?

These yesterday men and women certainly don’t seem to care very much about the Nigerian taxpayer who has had to bear the brunt of the many scandals this administration is exposing in its bid to clear out the Augean stable.

They’d rather grandstand with the ex-General this, Chief that, Doctor this and ex-(dis)Honourable Minister who has no record of what he or she did with the funds the nation provided them to deliver results to protect our interest so that we don’t end up continuing to make the same wasteful mistakes.

It is enough to make you shudder at the thought of any of them being part of government with access to the public purse; but then we’ve already seen what some of them are capable of doing when in control of public money, authority and influence; and to that the people have spoken in unison – they have had enough.

Nigerians are wiser and are now familiar with the trickery from these persons whose claim to fame and fortune was on the back of their public service.

Our point at the risk of overstating what is by now too obvious: We have too many yesterday men and women behaving too badly. We are dealing with a group of powerpoint technocrats who have mastered the rhetoric of public grandstanding: carefully crafted emotion-laden sound bites passed off as meaningful engagements.

That is all there is to them, after many years of hanging around in relevant places and mingling in the right corridors, all made possible through the use/abuse of Nigeria. Our caveat to their audience is the same old line: let the buyer beware!

Dr. Abati is Special Adviser (Media and Publicity) to President Goodluck Jonathan

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

Universities inherit cultism from secondary school, says UNILORIN VC From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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he Vice Chancellor of University of Ilorin,Prof.

Abduganiyul Ambali, has noted that some of the unregistered group members in Nigeria Universities, especially cultists were products of secondary schools.

The Vice-Chancellor who

stated this in Ilorin during an interview with journalists at the weekend said some of the suspected members of cult caught by security agencies were groomed from their homes, primary and society.

"Universities inherit wards already groomed from homes, primary and post primary schools and even the

polytechnics or colleges of education. Most of the students caught belonging to one secret cult or the other confessed to have started their cult activities right from secondary schools.

"To eradicate cultism on campuses, parents, primary and secondary school teachers, polytechnics and colleges of

education teachers should educate their wards to shun cultism before they enter the universities."

Speaking on how to empower professionals, Ambali said government should set up machinery where the professionals would be empowered to establish their private practice.

"A fresh professional graduate is in a dilemma in Nigeria. On one side he is trying to build himself, on the other side he is looking at repaying his parents. The greatest challenge before a fresh graduate is sponsorship and financial support", he said.

Catholic schools in Ekiti to fly national flag

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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atholic church in Ekiti state has ordered it's schools to immediately hoist the national flag and recite the national anthem at the beginning of any school day.

This follows the submission of flags by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), to the Catholic church in the state.

A statement issued over the weekend by the Chief Press Secretary of the Agency, Paul Onenyi, indicated that the church also ordered all the institutions to replace worn out and torn flags currently flying over their premises as a mark of loyalty to the vital symbols of the nation. according to the statement, Catholic bishop of Ekiti diocese Rt Reverend Dr. Ajakaye, told the Director General of the agency, Mike Omeri who paid him a visit in his office in Ado Ekiti that the church teaches’ respect for the national symbols is a way of promoting national identity.

He said that irrespective of individual and various inclination, all Nigerians must uphold the national identity, because we must first be Nigerians before we become other things which we believe in, whether as Muslims, Christians, or other religions, ethnic or tribal divide.

The bishop said government has a duty to all its citizens to implement policies that promote good governance as a way of galvanising patriotic instincts within the populace.

Earlier, DG of NOA said the agency has designed programs that will promote respect for the national symbol to help achieve national cohesion, inspire national pride in the younger ones who did not witness the struggle for national independence, the statement added.

According to him, Nigerians national symbols are beautiful colours and renditions that were produced after careful reflection by the leaders of the country adding that divisions within the Nigerian society are inspired by elite struggle for power and opportunity because the living conditions of the average man in the country remain the same across the country.

L-R New Permanent Secretary, Dr. Jemila Suara, and Executive Secretary of the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, during the swearing in ceremony of two new permanent secretaries by President Goodluck Jonathan, recently at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

NAWOJ to embark on Girl Child Education sensitisation From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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s part of its effort to ensure quality education for the girl child, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Bauchi state chapter has expressed its determination to embark on the sensitisation campaign on girl child education in the state.

This was disclosed yesterday in Bauchi by the state Chairperson of NAWOJ,

Hajiya Kaltume Abdullahi Shall, when she paid a courtesy call on the Commissioner of Special Duties to the state Governor, Bappah Azare, in his office.

Shall who stressed the need for the promotion of girl child education in the society, stated that NAWOJ is working tirelessly to ensure that all girl child in the state is educated.

She said "NAWOJ as an affiliate of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ) played a

vital role in the promotion of Girl Child education. We have concluded plans to embark on an intensive campaign through the media to educate and enlighten the people on the significance of educating the girl child which is like educating the entire society”.

She also revealed that the association plan to partner with relevant organisations in enlightening parents on the importance of immunising their children and wards

against killer diseases.

The Chairperson also called on the state government to put the necessary measures in place to curtail flood disaster in the state saying “I call on the state government through your ministry to bring an end to the problem of flood, especially in Bauchi, the state capital whenever during the raining season in places like Wunti roundabout, Bakin Kura street, Ran road among others”.

Parents, others laud Bill Clinton College

By Christiana Popoola Dayo

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ollowing the impressive performance recorded by students of Bill Clinton College, New Nyanya, in recent times, some stakeholders, including a group of old students of the school and parents, have showered encomiums on the school’s management for being proactive and visionary.

The stakeholders, who spoke in separate interviews at a recent function organised by the school, expressed

satisfaction with the state-ofthe-art facilities at the college located in New Nyanya, Nasarawa State, as well as the remarkable performance of many of its students in NECO, SSSCE, and other such examinations.

“I must confess that the high standard of education here, the learning aids as well as the conducive environment are a source of pride to parents like me who want the very best for their children,” remarked one of the parents, Mr. Anebi Uweh.

“What impresses most of us here is the quality of education as evidenced by the interesting performance of our students in recent national examinations.”

Another parent who gave her name simply as Hajiya Fatima, said apart from what she described as “the commendable standard of education” for which the College is known for, its wellequipped laboratories and high level of discipline, she said she is impressed with the kind of attention the school authority give to detail in rendering

sundry services.

Using the secondary school’s transport services as an example, Hajiya Fatima said: “As a parent whose child relies on the school’s buses for transportation, my initial concern had centered on whether their services would be up to expectation in terms of keeping to time, drivers’ professional competence, proper maintenance of vehicle, and the like. Well, from what I have seen and experienced so far, I would say ‘so far, so good’; they are trying.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

Association promises to maintain high academic performance at Igbobi College, Lagos

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r. Olasunbo Ikuomola, Secretary, Igbobi College Old Boys Association (ICOBA), on Saturday said the body would support its Alma Mater to ensure it continued to produce high quality students.

Ikuomola said this while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) after a Holy Communion Service held to commemorate the school’s 81st Founders’ Day anniversary at its chapel in Lagos.

He said that the school management was working hard to lay a solid foundation for its students to ensure that they became noble Nigerians who would help in nation building.

The secretary said he was delighted that the college had been able to maintain the morals and values with which it had been identified over the years. ``The college has its own traditions and culture which the authorities of the school ensured

is maintained that is why the anniversary is not only centered on celebration, we also have the interest of the students at heart,’’ he said.

Ikuomola noted that the anniversary was not really a major one coming after its milestone celebration when the school turned 80 last year.

He, however, said it was another opportunity to thank God for the favour He had bestowed on the

college with a series of activities. ``The college has produced many outstanding and renowned students who have represented the school well in all areas in the country. ``I remember one particular challenge the college went through during the Lateef Jakande regime when it was taken over by the government and at that time, the standard of education went down the drain.

``After the college was returned to the mission, the old boys association worked tirelessly and had been able to bring back the standard the college was known for,’’ Ikuomola said.

NAN reports that many old boys joined present students of the school at the communion service, held ahead of a thanksgiving service and merit award on Sunday.NAN

Contractors abandon N800m schools' projects in Benue, says Commissioner

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Students of Igbobi College during their 81st founders' day Anniversary and Holy communion service, on saturday in Lagos.

Photo: NAN

he Commissioner for Science and Technology in Benue, Mr Godwin Adah, on Friday in Makurdi said contractors have abandoned over N800 million science and technical schools’ projects in Anyiin and Otukpa .

Adah said this while briefing newsmen in Makurdi after inspecting projects in Anyiin, Garaboghol and Otukpa Science and Technical Schools.

The commissioner said that 80 per cent of the total contract sum has already been paid to the contractors concerned.

“The government has paid all the contractors in this ministry, so it is the fault of the contractors who are already playing politics with the contracts,” he said.

The commissioner, however, pointed out that all the contractors handling the projects were people in government or of high profile status in the state adding that the over N800m projects involve renovation and conversion of three year old Government Secondary Schools in the state into science and technical schools.

According to him, the contracts were awarded to

indigenous contractors within the location of the schools since last year adding that he reported the contractors to the House Standing Committee on Science on the contractors’ lackadaisical approach on the projects.

“The committee had earlier in Nov. 2012 ordered them to mobilise back to site, but they have not done so up till now”, he said.

Adah said that one of the contractors has already been ordered by the committee to refund N11million to government due to the poor materials used and that the state government had also approved contract for the supply of three water tankers to the three schools under review.

Investigations however, revealed that the students in the three Science and Technical schools sleep on the floor as government is yet to approve contract for the provision of school beds.

The students also sleep alone in the night in all the schools as the staff quarters as well as the matron houses are still under construction.

Fed Poly Bauchi expels students for exams offences From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Rector Federal Polytechnic Bauchi, Dr. Shuaibu Musa, has disclosed that thirty One students of the polytechnic were expelled from the institution for committing various examinations offences.

Musa made the disclosure

at the weekend while speaking to newsmen in Bauchi, saying that the exercise is part of the effort of his administration to maintain academic excellence and sanity in the institution.

According to him, the 31 students were expelled on the grounds of committing examinations misconduct during the second semester

examinations for the 2011/ 2013 Academic session and that the board had approved the full recommendations of the Committee that investigated the allegations.

He said the decision to expel the students was taken during the regular Academic Board Meeting this year 2013.

He said the institution will

not relent on its effort to ensure that it provide exemplary leadership in the polytechnic adding that two of the students were rusticated for a semester due to the level of their involvement in the act and while one was exempted when the committee found out that he was not guilty of the offence he was been charged for.

Musa however, pleaded with students to concentrate on their studies as the management is doing all it could to make the environment conducive for teaching and learning.

He commended the Academic Board Committee, the Examination Misconduct Committee as well as the staff of the Polytechnic for putting in their best during the exercise.

...Federal Information centre to partner NAWOJ on ICT

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ederal Information Centre, Bauchi is to collaborate with the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in training its members on Information Communication Technology.

Head of the centre, Audu Chindaya, disclosed this yesterday to newsmen in Bauchi when he received the delegation of state chapter of

NAWOJ led by its chairperson, Hajiya, Kaltume Abdulahi Shall, who paid him a courtesy visit in his office.

Chindaya who emphasised on the need for journalists to be computer literate due the digitalisation of dissemination of information said the centre has all the facilities to train people on ICT. According to him, the centre has embarked on the training and re training of

Journalists in the state as well as staff of federal parastatals.

He however, expressed optimism that training of NAWOJ members on the use of computer system will go a long way in assisting them in the course of their work.

“Training is a key to productivity and journalists need to be trained and re-trained in order to discharge their duties effectively as well as compete with their colloquies

all over the word so, that is why we are willing to partner with the state chapter of NAWOJ to train its members”, he said..

He commended the leadership of NAWOJ for their effort in developing the association urging them to carry all the members along in their effort to move the association forward.

Speaking earlier, the state Chairperson of NAWOJ, Hajiya Katume Abdulahi Shall, said

they were in his office to solicit for support and cooperation in moving the association forward.

Kaltume who attributed some of the challenges of media outfit to lack of training saying they are seeking for partnership with the centre to train their members to enable them discharge their duties effectively and diligently, also solicited for the centre’s assistance in training NAWOJ members.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

PAGE 29

Date rape: What women should know?

What are date rape drugs? hese are drugs that are sometimes used to assist a sexual assault. Sexual assault is any type of sexual activity that a person does not agree to. It can include touching that is not okay and attempted rape. These drugs are powerful and dangerous.

They can be slipped into your drink when you are not looking.

The drugs often have no color, smell, or taste, so you can't tell if you are being drugged. The drugs can make you become weak and confused or even pass out so that you are unable to refuse sex or defend yourself. If you are drugged, you might not remember what happened while you were drugged. Date rape drugs are used on both females and males.

The three most common date rape drugs are: *Rohypnol: It is the trade name for flunitrazepam. Other names given to this drug are: Circles, Forget Pill, LA Rochas, Lunch Money, Mind Erasers, Poor Man's Quaalude, R-2, Rib, Roach, Roach-2, Roches, Roofies, Trip-and-Fall and Whiteys. *GHB, which is short for gamma hydroxybutyric acid.

GHB is also known as: Bedtime Scoop, Easy Lay, Energy Drink, Gamma 10, Salt Water, Soap and Vita-G *Ketamine also known as: Black Hole, Bump, Cat Valium, Green, Special K and Super Acid These drugs also are known as "club drugs" because they tend to be used at dance clubs and concerts.

The term "date rape" is widely used but most experts prefer the term "drugfacilitated sexual assault."

These drugs also are used to help people commit other crimes, like robbery and physical assault. They are used on both men and women. The term "date rape" also can be misleading because the person who commits the crime might not be dating the victim.

Rather, it could be an acquaintance or stranger.

What do the drugs look like? *Rohypnol comes as a pill that dissolves in liquids. Some are small, round, and white.

Newer pills are oval and greengray in color. When slipped into a drink, a dye in these new pills makes clear liquids turn bright blue and dark drinks turn cloudy. But this color change might be hard to see in a dark drink, like cola or dark beer, or in a dark room. Also, the pills with no dye are still available.

The pills may be ground up into a powder. *GHB has a few forms: a liquid with no odor or color, white powder, and pill. It might give your drink a slightly salty taste. Mixing it with a sweet drink, such as fruit juice, can mask the salty taste. *Ketamine comes as a

T

liquid and a white powder.

Effects of drugs on the body These drugs are very powerful. They can affect you very quickly and without your knowing. The length of time that the effects last varies. It depends on how much of the drug is taken and if the drug is mixed with other drugs or

(black out), seizures, can't remember what happened while drugged, problems breathing, tremors, sweating, vomiting, slow heart rate, dream-like feeling, coma and death.

Ketamine Ketamine is very fastacting, you might be aware of what is happening to you, but

and loss of coordination, aggressive or violent behavior, depression, high blood pressure and slurred speech.

Legality of the drugs in Nigeria Some of these drugs are legal when lawfully used for medical purposes but that doesn't mean they are safe. These drugs are powerful and can hurt you.

alcohol. Alcohol makes the drugs even stronger and can cause serious health problems, even death.

Rohypnol The effects of Rohypnol can be felt within 30 minutes of being drugged and can last for several hours. If you are drugged, you might look and act like someone who is drunk.

You might have trouble standing. Your speech might be slurred. Or you might pass out.

Rohypnol can cause these problems: Muscle relaxation or loss of muscle control, drunk feeling, problems talking, nausea, can't remember what happened while drugged, loss of consciousness (black out), confusion, dizziness, lower blood pressure, stomach problems and death.

GHB GHB takes effect in about 15 minutes and can last 3 or 4 hours. It is very potent: A very small amount can have a big effect. So it's easy to overdose on GHB. Most GHB is made by people in home or street "labs."

So, you don't know what's in it or how it will affect you. GHB can cause these problems: Relaxation, drowsiness, dizziness, nausea, problems seeing, loss of consciousness

unable to move. It also causes memory problems. Later, you might not be able to remember what happened while you were drugged. Ketamine can cause these problems: Distorted perceptions of sight and sound, lost sense of time and identity, out of body experiences, dreamlike feeling, and feeling out of control, problems breathing, convulsions, vomiting, memory problems, numbness,

Now in Nigeria, they should only be used under a doctor's care and order, where it is prescribed for sleep problems and to assist anesthesia before surgery.

Caution: Don't accept drinks from other people, open containers yourself, keep your drink with you at all times even when you go to the bathroom, don't share drinks, don't drink from punch bowls or other

“

Don't accept drinks from other people, open containers yourself, keep your drink with you at all times even when you go to the bathroom, don't share drinks, don't drink from punch bowls or other common, open containers,

common, open containers, they may already have drugs in them. If someone offers to get you a drink from a bar or at a party, go with the person to order your drink, watch the drink being poured and carry it yourself.

Don't drink anything that tastes or smells strange, sometimes, GHB tastes salty.

Have a nondrinking friend with you to make sure nothing happens. If you realize you left your drink unattended, pour it out. If you feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol or, if you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual, get help right away.

Ways to tell if one might have been drugged and raped It is often hard to tell, most victims don't remember being drugged or assaulted. The victim might not be aware of the attack until 8 or 12 hours after it occurred. These drugs also leave the body very quickly. Once a victim gets help, there might be no proof that drugs were involved in the attack.

There are some signs that the person might have been drugged: You feel drunk and haven't drunk any alcohol or, you feel like the effects of drinking alcohol are stronger than usual. You remember having a drink, but cannot recall anything after that. You find that your clothes are torn or not on right and loss of memory on what really happened while you passed out.

What to do if you think you've been drugged and raped *Get medical care right away. Don't urinate, douche, bathe, brush your teeth, wash your hands, change clothes, or eat or drink before you go.

These things may give evidence of the rape. The hospital will use a "rape kit" to collect evidence. *Call the police from the hospital. Tell the police exactly what you remember. Be honest about all your activities.

Remember, nothing you did including drinking alcohol or doing drugs can justify rape. *Ask the hospital to take a urine sample that can be used to test for date rape drugs. The drugs leave your system quickly. Rohypnol stays in the body for several hours, and can be detected in the urine up to 72 hours after taking it. GHB leaves the body in 12 hours.

Don't urinate before going to the hospital. *Don't pick up or clean up where you think the assault might have occurred. There could be evidence left behind. *Get counseling and treatment; feelings of shame, guilt, fear, and shock are normal. A counselor can help you work through these emotions and begin the healing process. www.womenhealth.gov

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY, 4, 2013

Vitamins, minerals and nutritional supplements Facts about nutrition ood nutrition is much more than something to fill your stomach, what you eat can affect your health, energy and well-being in so many ways.

The most important feature of a good diet is variety. We all know variety is the spice of life, but did you realize that unless you eat a wide variety of foods, you may be missing out on important vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients? Eating the right mix of vitamins and minerals will help you feel and look your best at any age.

Color rules To make sure your eating plan contains all the nutrients you need, choose a rainbow of colorful foods. The pigments that give foods their color are also the nutritious substances that can reduce your risk of cancer and chronic diseases like heart disease.

Of course, foods with the most "pigment power" are mostly fruits and vegetables, yet another reason to fill your plate with these fiber-filled, low-calories, fat-free, super foods! Eaten together, fruits and vegetables pack an even bigger punch in reducing free radicals, unstable molecules

in the body that damage cells and are thought to contribute to the development of many diseases.

Vitamins in the news The hottest vitamins these days are the antioxidants (E, C, and A, along with the mineral selenium) and the

"sunshine" vitamin, also known as vitamin D. Antioxidants help gobble up those nasty free radicals.

A diet rich in antioxidants has been linked to a host of healthpromoting, disease-fighting activities in the body.

Antioxidant-rich foods

include: *Vitamin A and betacarotene: pumpkin, squash, carrots, spinach, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens and mangoes *Vitamin C: citrus fruits, strawberries, cauliflower, broccoli, tomatoes and sweet

potatoes *Vitamin E: vegetable oil, almonds, whole grains, wheat germ, sweet potatoes and yams *Selenium: salmon *Vitamin D has been in the news lately as studies have shown that people living in northern latitudes may not get enough of this nutrient.

Without adequate vitamin D, your body can't properly absorb calcium, leading to a higher risk of broken bones, especially in the elderly.

A recent Swiss study suggests that elderly folks may be able to reduce their risk of injury from falls with vitamin D supplementation.

The best source of this nutrient is sunshine. Other good sources include: *Fortified milk and some orange juices.

Juice manufacturers are now adding both calcium and vitamin D for better absorption. *Salmon and mackerel *Eggs *LiverS P PpP Psoriasis

What Is Psoriasis? he most common type of psoriasis is called plaque psoriasis. It causes a thick, patchy, red rash with silvery, white scales. It can appear anywhere but most often

T

Nail Psoriasis Up to half of people with skin plaques have psoriasis of the nails as well. This makes the nails look yellowish-red.

The nails may also crumble, become pitted, or develop

These include steroid topicals, moisturizers, salicylic acid, anthralin, retinoids, calcipotriene, (a form of vitamin D), and coal tar. Tar shampoos are helpful for psoriasis of the scalp.

Natural Remedies for Psoriasis Soaking up the sun is a triedand-true remedy for psoriasis.

As many as 80% of people who get regular sun exposure say their symptoms improve. The trick is not to overdo it, a sunburn actually makes psoriasis worse. Other natural alternatives include aloe, tea tree oil, and oatmeal baths to soothe itchy skin.

Although alcohol has been linked to psoriasis, experts are skeptical about special diets that claim to treat psoriasis.

There's no convincing evidence that they work.

Climatotherapy For decades, people have claimed that visiting the Dead Sea in Israel is a powerful treatment for psoriasis. The sun and water, which is 10 times saltier than the ocean, are believed to be a healing combination.

It may sound like a myth, but scientific evidence suggests this form of climatotherapy works. In studies, 80% to 90% of patients improved after visiting the Dead Sea. Almost half saw their rash disappear for the next several months.

Stress Reduction Stress tends to worsen psoriasis, so relaxation techniques may help control flare-ups. Anything that helps you relax, whether it's yoga, deep breathing, or a long walk, may help ease your symptoms.

occurs on the scalp, elbows, knees, and lower back. The condition is not contagious, and it's fairly common, affecting 2% to 3% of Americans. Psoriasis is more common in adults than children.

Psoriasis typically starts as a few red bumps. These may become larger and thicker, eventually developing scales.

The patches may join together and cover large areas of the body. The rash can be itchy and uncomfortable, and it may bleed easily if rubbed or picked.

grooved lines. Nearly everyone with psoriasis of the nails also has psoriasis somewhere on the skin.

Psoriatic Arthritis About 15% of people with psoriasis develop psoriatic arthritis, a painful and sometimes disabling inflammation of the joints.

Psoriatic arthritis can occur at any age but is most common between the ages of 30 and 50.

What Causes Psoriasis?

The exact cause of psoriasis is unknown, but experts believe that the immune

system, genes, and environmental factors play central roles. Normally, old skin cells are replaced with new ones every four weeks.

In people with psoriasis, the immune system triggers inflammation, causing new cells to move to the surface every three or four days. The resulting buildup forms the rash. Psoriasis cannot be passed from person to person, but it does tend to run in families.

Psoriasis Triggers People with psoriasis may find their condition flares up at certain times.

Common triggers include: *Skin injury or infection *Emotional stress *Certain medications *Smoking or drinking alcohol Diagnosing Psoriasis A doctor can usually diagnose psoriasis by examining your skin, scalp, and nails. A biopsy can be done to confirm the diagnosis. If you have swelling and pain in your joints, your doctor may also order blood tests and X-rays to check for arthritis. Psoriasis cannot be cured, but treatments can relieve symptoms and control the condition.

Treatment: Topicals People with mild to moderate psoriasis may benefit from topical treatments, creams or ointments that reduce inflammation, itching, and the rate of skin cell growth.

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Psoriasis, symptoms causes and treatments

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2013

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South Africa's critical turning point ANALYSIS

By Abdi Ismail Samatar

S

outh Africa's liberation struggle has been very long and its human cost enormous.

Those who had borne the brunt of the cruelties of liberation had hoped that once the shackles of settler colonialism and apartheid were cast aside, the preoccupation of the new order will be an ethical pursuit of a political economic programme that would enable the people to regain their dignity. Stalwarts of liberation who imagined the country's future had no illusion about the difficulty of translating those hopes into reality.

It is 18 years since that glorious day in 1994 when the oppressor and oppressed became equal citizen and Mandela was elected president of the rainbow nation. Eighteen years is not long enough to undo the damage that was centuries in the making, but it is a sufficient time in which to assess whether the course that has been taken is the appropriate route or a bridge to nowhere.

This essay is from a concerned African who recognises the depth of the deficits which the African National Congress government inherited but whose worry is that mistakes made elsewhere in the continent are being repeated here.

I offer three critical benchmarks to gauge whether or not the country is heading in a direction that embodies the hopes of the liberators: the quality of leadership, the transformation of education, and the reforms of the economic structure.

Africans are among the easiest people to lead, but unfortunately the continent's political leaders, with very few exceptions, have utilised the population's readiness to follow as an opportunity to abuse that trust and pillage the commons. Consequently, in many countries the promise of independence has turned into catastrophe in the form of unending civil wars, incompetent and long lasting dictatorship, economies on the skids, systemic corruption, and enduring and deepening poverty.

Pioneering Ghanaian writer AyiKewiArmah's prognosis in 1968 was on target when he noted that politicians "were senile before they were born".

South Africa had the benefit of these negative lessons before embracing liberation and one wonders whether those in position of leadership have learned them well.

The question is whether the ANC which has consistently garnered the African people's support - and its leadership have the ethical fortitude and the competence to transform liberation into a vibrant democracy, and a growing and just economy.

The liberation movement failed to deliver the knockout punch to apartheid and had to negotiate the terms of its "surrender".

Consequently, the dispensation that spawned in 1994 was half beast half human since much of economic apartheid was left intact in private hands. But what Mandela and Mbeki had was an iron clad trust from the population earned through their unwavering commitment to justice in the face of the horrors of apartheid.

It appears that Mandela's task was to

Nelson Mandela and his successor Thabo Mbeki safely steer the ship of state away from the real possibility of nightmarish civil war, and lay the basis for common citizenship. Meanwhile Mbeki's mission was to deepen the democratic form of government and modernise the economy while providing services for the millions of people devastated by apartheid.

Having been in and out of South Africa since 1993, it is clear to me that Mandela's team exceeded the limits of what was possible under such constrained national and international circumstances. The horrific political violence which the last apartheid regime stoked was masterfully extinguished.

In addition, the political alienation of the white population that was frightened by the prospect of an African government was well managed and Mandela's team snuffed out any chance for racially motivated civil war through

Africa of which he is still involved.

His gratuitous forced departure from the presidency, just seven months before the end of his second term expired, showed his maturity and at the same time exposed very troubling forces at work within the ANC's leadership circle. Since then malfeasance, clouded judgements, and muddy vision has become the hallmark of ANC leadership.

Apartheid's strategic objective was to ensure that Africans never gained access to quality education.

Key to this evil project was the socalled Bantu Education, whose aim was to enfeeble African children early on and saddle them with insurmountable and lifelong intellectual handicaps. For those Africans who miraculously escaped this destiny, the bush colleges lay in waiting to finish them off. Bush colleges were mostly staffed by third rate white staff whose objective was

“

Historically class and race were coterminous in South Africa, but class is decisively the key watershed that segregates the well healed from the indigent. diligence and fair play.

While Mandela was attending to these pressing political issues, Vice President Mbeki was busy directing not only the transformation of the state but relentlessly pursued timely delivery of housing and service delivery for the indigent. With Mandela's retirement, the ANC under the leadership of Mbeki continued to march forward. On the eve of Mbeki's second presidential term the ANC was able to garner a higher proportion of votes than it did in the 1994 plebiscite, marking sustained confidence from the public. In addition to these, President Mbeki initiated a new agenda for

not to empower their students but to guide them into intellectual dead ends.

The consequence of apartheid's education strategy was the creation of a fragmented and unequal education system whose legacy haunts the rainbow nation even after these systems were amalgamated and to some degree reformed.

Among the chief reforms of the system has been the opening up of former white universities to all South African students. One can easily see the quick impact this had on the diversity of the student population in the bastions of

apartheid, such as the University of Pretoria and the University of Cape Town. Although significant progress has been made in this regard, it will take at least another five decades for the professorate of the country to reflect the nation's rainbow colours unless a major effort is invested in this area. In addition, rural and poor schools where most African children are educated lag well behind the expected educational standard and require urgent action. Meanwhile, many in the new black middle class are opting out for private schools thus deepening the gap between the rich and the poor.

The ANC leadership which guided the liberation encountered a hostile Western World whose ideological fixation was to maintain economic hegemony and insure that alternative economic development practices did not emerge in Africa. It was because of such Western commitments that Mandela's government was forced to: a) repay the debts which the apartheid state accrued; and b) maintain the economic culture that pre-existed liberation. Repaying the debt amounted to the evacuation of tens of billions of dollars from the economy which could have been used to rebuild education and induce employment generation. If the Western world had any conscience they would not have demanded Mandela to repay the very resources the racist regime used to brutalise the African people. It is imperative to recall that two key Western countries central to this project were led by none other than liberals Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.

Western demands did not stop at the repayment of the debt, but engaged in intimidation before and after liberation. For instance, the ANC leaders were told that they dare not introduce any systemic economic reforms that couldshake market confidence.

Mindful of these challenges Mandela/Mbeki steered the ship of state in ways that provided tangible relief for the population in the form of jobs, service delivery, and most fundamentally freedom from the

terror of apartheid.

The aforementioned reforms notwithstanding, the major structures of the economy remained in the grip of the old guard, and the new policy of black empowerment has allowed the old guard to cherry pick a very small fraction of Africans joining their ranks. The latter group have thoroughly internalised the new ideology of "it is glorious to get rich quickly" and care little about the fortunes of the indigent. In the apt words of the Nobel Laureate Desmond Tutu, "the gravy train stopped just long enough for a few well positioned blacks to get on it." Ironically, many of the African fat cats behave as if there is nothing wrong with economic apartheid now that they have joined the well to do, and are scornful towards those who continue to demand economic justice.

Historically class and race were coterminous in South Africa, but class is decisively the key watershed that segregates the well healed from the indigent.

The increased concentration of the country's wealth in few hands and the mild reforms of the last eighteen years is not a credible strategy for conquering apartheid's legacy. Despite these problems Mandela and Mbeki retain the population's reverence because their integrity was never doubted. Their reputation as incorruptible leaders remains in tack to this day. Mandela is in a league of his own as a global icon, and Mbeki's stature has grown.

Unfortunately, the post-Mbeki ANC cannot make the same claims.

Corruption and lack of national direction have become the features of the liberation party, and the Marikana massacre in 2012 where the police shot dozens of striking platinum workers signal that something is seriously wrong in the rainbow nation. In spite of all this the majority of the population will vote for the ANC in the 2014 election, in part due to the absence of a viable alternative. However, it will be imprudent for the leadership to assume the vote is an endorsement of its policies or behaviours.

We proffer that the proud tradition of the ANC and the wellbeing of the population are at stake. Maintaining recent political economic trends is not sustainable if democracy and social justice are the core values of the struggle. Black empowerment has become black embarrassment and the translation of political power to economic power for a few is exactly what has impoverished Africa.

What is needed is leadership and a political organisation whose ethical principles and political judgment can inspire the population.

Currently, the ANC leadership lacks these vital qualities and ought to realise this urgently. The ANC's recent conference reshuffled some of the senior leadership posts to give President Zuma and his supporters a new image. Unfortunately, image management is not what is required.

Instead, the country and the ANC need men and women whose integrity, vision, and competence the public can trust. Without such leadership the country will survive but it will not flourish.

Source: Al Jazeera

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

French President Hollande pledges to help rebuild Mali F rench President Francois Hollande has said his government will help rebuild Mali, three weeks after launching an offensive against Islamist rebels who had seized the north of the country.

Speaking in the capital, Bamako, he pledged more French aid to its former colony and vowed to restore cultural sites damaged by the rebels.

Mr Hollande said France would help Mali re-establish control in the north.

"Terrorist groups have been weakened, but not disappeared," he said.

French troops would stay in Mali "as long as necessary", he added, reiterating that France would hand

over to African troops "once the sovereignty of Mali is restored".

Mr Hollande was speaking alongside Mali's interim leader, DioncoundaTraore, who thanked France for freeing the north to from "barbarity and obscurantism".

The French president also promised to help restore cultural artefacts damaged by the rebels - who set fire to about 2,000 priceless manuscripts in Timbuktu, a Unesco World Heritage site.

"We cannot tolerate what happened in Timbuktu," he said.

Earlier on Saturday Mr Hollande travelled to the northern city, which was recaptured by French and Malian troops six days ago.

Thousands of residents welcomed him with chants of "Vive la France".

Many women wore vibrantly coloured clothes and jewellery, which correspondents say they could not do during the past year of Islamist rule.

"The women of Timbuktu will thank Francois Hollande forever," 53-year-old Fanta DiarraToure, one of thousands of people who gathered in the city's main square, told the AFP news agency.

The French president's visit comes as armoured columns of French and Malian troops continued their advance in northern Mali.

They are attempting to secure the north-eastern city of Kidal, the

militants' last stronghold, having captured the airport on Wednesday.

In Bamako, Mr Hollande also said "terrorists" must be punished, but added: "You must do it while respecting human rights."

There have been allegations of human rights violations committed by the Malian army, including summary executions and disappearances.

There had also been reports of incidents of mob lynching and looting of properties belonging to Arab and Tuareg communities, which had been accused of supporting armed Islamist groups, the UN says.

A total of 3,500 French troops are currently in Mali.

F

President Francois Hollande visited the West African country.

Thierry Burkhard,

spokesman for the French army in Paris, said on Sunday the overnight raids targeted logistics bases and training camps used by the al Qaedalinked rebels to the north of the desert town of Kidal.

"These were important air strikes," Burkhard told Reuters.

He said the bombing raids took place around the settlement of Tessalit, close to the Algerian border, one of the main gateways into the Adrar des Ifoghasmountains where the rebels are believed to be hiding after fleeing major towns.

Malian military sources said French and Chadian troops had clashed with members of the Ansar Dine militant group in the

region around Kidal on Saturday.

French attack helicopters and transport planes carrying special forces left the city of Gao to reinforce the French and Chadian contingent stationed at the airport in Kidal.

The town of Kidal itself is under the control of the proautonomy MNLA Tuareg rebel group, which occupied it after Ansar Dine fighters fled six days ago.

France has deployed 3,500 ground troops, fighter jets and armored vehicles in the threeweek-old Operation Serval (Wildcat) which has broken the Islamists' 10-month-old grip on the towns of northern Mali, where they had violently imposed sharia law.

…As troops pound camps in northern desert rench warplanes pounded rebel camps in the far north of Mali, military sources said, hours after French

Thierry Burkhard, spokesman for the French army.

Angola suspends Pentecostal church for 60 days after stampede

A

ngola's government has suspended a Pentecostal church from conducting any activities for 60 days after a New Year's Eve stampede during an overcrowded religious vigil killed 16 people, the presidency said in a statement.

The incident took place at the CidadelaDesportiva stadium in the capital Luanda, where the Universal Church of the Kingdom of God (IURD) organized a Pentecostal Christian vigil.

The death toll included three small children. Another 120 people were injured.

The presidency said in a statement issued late on Saturday that an inquiry commission had concluded that IURD had attracted 150,000 people to a venue with capacity for 30,000.

It added that the church had caused the overcrowding by marketing the event as "The Day of End - come to end all your problems in life: illness, misery, unemployment...".

The inquiry commission said it would pass its findings to the public prosecutors office to investigate criminal and civil responsibility.

It also suspended six other evangelical churches for the

same period, adding that they conducted activities similar to those of IURD. Catholicism is the main religion in Angola, but

evangelical churches have in the last decade flourished in the country and attracted large followings.

IURD was created in 1977 in

Brazil, where it has over 8 million followers, according to its website. IURD says it is active in most countries of the world.

L-R: Wife of Indonesian President, Mrs. Ani Yudhoyono, President Susilo Yudhoyono of Indonesia, President Goodluck Jonathan and his wife, Mrs Patience Jonathan, during the visit of the Indonesin President to President Jonathan, on Saturday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

South Sudan accuses Sudan of bombing; Khartoum denies

S

outh Sudan on Sunday accused Sudan of bombing its side of their volatile border, killing one soldier and wounding four others in what it said was the third attack on its northeasternRenk County since November.

Sudan's army spokesman alSawarmi Khalid denied the accusations, as it has each time South Sudan has alleged an attack.

Reuters reporters have witnessed several air strikes against South Sudan since it seceded from Sudan in 2011.

The African neighbors have been at loggerheads over oil, territory and other disputes and came close to war in April. Neither has implemented a deal signed in September calling for the creation of a buffer zone and resumption of oil exports.

South Sudan's army (SPLA) said it repulsed a Sudanese helicopter attack early on Saturday morning at a water-point near Babaniss, in the oil-producing Upper Nile state.

"At 10:30 (Sudanese Armed Forces) SAF attacked with two helicopter gunships, killing one SPLA and injuring three," SPLA spokesman Philip Aguer said.

Sudanese warplanes wounded another SPLA soldier in a second air raid at mid-day, some 21 km (13 miles) inside South Sudanese territory, according to Aguer.

Talks between the Presidents of Sudan and South Sudan ended without a breakthrough in Ethiopia's capital last month, further delaying the restart of the landlocked South's oil industry after a year-long shutdown.

"Their plan is to escalate the conflict so the people always discuss new issues and postpone implementation of the agreements," Aguer said.

South Sudan, which inherited three-quarters of the former unified nation's oil production when it broke away, shut down its entire output of 350,000 barrels a day in January 2012 after tensions over pipeline fees escalated.

Sudan's army spokesman alSawarmi Khalid

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, JANUARY 4, 2013

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas U.S., Mexico reach tomato deal to avert trade war

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he U.S. government and Mexican tomato growers reached a tentative agreement that reduces the threat of a costly trade war stemming from a U.S. decision last year to pull out of a 1996 bilateral tomato trade pact.

"I am pleased that we were able to come to an agreement on fresh tomato imports from Mexico that restores stability and confidence to the U.S. tomato market and meets the requirements of U.S. law,"•• U.S. Commerce Under Secretary for International Trade Francisco Sanchez said in a statement.

The draft agreement substantially raises the minimum "reference" price at which Mexican plum, cherry and other tomatoes can be sold in the United States and accounts for changes that have occurred in the tomato market since the original agreement, Sanchez said.

For some Mexican tomatoes, the new reference price is more than double the current such price, Sanchez said. The deal is expected to take effect on March 4, after a public comment period, he said.

Mexican Economy Minister Ildefonso Guajardo said the deal guaranteed Mexican farmers access to the U.S. market under conditions that were "fair and competitive."

"We worked hand in hand with Mexican producers on this agreement to avoid damage to the sector," he said.

The U.S. Commerce Department made a preliminary decision in September to terminate the 1996 tomato agreement after Florida growers complained that the arrangement no longer protected them against Mexican tomatoes sold below the cost of production.

That angered Mexican growers, who argued the pact had benefited U.S. consumers and brought stability to the North American market.

Mexican officials said the U.S. move appeared designed to help President Barack Obama carry Florida in his election battle against Republican Mitt Romney. Obama won the state in the November contest.

Francisco Sanchez

Turkey says tests confirm leftist bombed U.S. embassy A

member of a Turkish leftist group that accuses Washington of using Turkey as its "slave" carried out a suicide bomb attack on the U.S. embassy, the Ankara governor's office cited DNA tests as showing on Saturday.

EcevitSanli, a member of the leftist Revolutionary People's Liberation Army-Front (DHKP-C), blew himself up in a perimeter gatehouse on Friday as he tried to enter the embassy, also killing a Turkish security guard.

The DHKP-C, virulently anti-American and listed as a terrorist organization by the United States and Turkey, claimed responsibility in a statement on the internet in which it said Turkish Prime Minister TayyipErdogan was a U.S. "puppet".

"Murderer America! You will not run away from people's rage," the statement on "The People's Cry" website said, next to a picture of Sanli wearing a black beret and military-style

clothes and with an explosives belt around his waist.

It warned Erdogan that he too was a target.

Turkey is an important U.S. ally in the Middle East with common interests ranging from energy security to

counter-terrorism.

Leftist groups including the DHKP-C strongly oppose what they see as imperialist U.S. influence over their nation.

DNA tests confirmed that Sanli was the bomber, the Ankara governor's office said.

A security officer runs after an explosion at the entrance of th U.S embassy in Ankara.

It said he had fled Turkey a decade ago and was wanted by the authorities.

Born in 1973 in the Black Sea port city of Ordu, Sanli was jailed in 1997 for attacks on a police station and a military staff college in Istanbul, but his sentence was deferred after he fell sick during a hunger strike.

He was never re-jailed.

Condemned to life in prison in 2002, he fled the country a year later, officials said.

Interior Minister MuammerGuler said he had reentered Turkey using false documents.

Erdogan, who said hours after the attack that the DHKPC were responsible, met his interior and foreign ministers as well as the head of the army and state security service in Istanbul on Saturday to discuss the bombing.

Three people were detained in Istanbul and Ankara in connection with the attack, state broadcaster TRT said.

Cubans vote in parliamentary elections

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olls have opened on Cuba to select 612 members of the National Assembly, in balloting derided by opponents of the ruling regime as a "farce".

More than 90 percent of Cuba's eight million voters are expected to turn out for Sunday's polls, which open at 7am local time (12:00 GMT) and close at 6pm (23:00 GMT).

Critics note that the number of candidates vying for seats in the legislature's next five-year-long term is identical to the number of open seats, leaving little suspense about the outcome.

However, about two thirds of this year's candidates are running for the first time, raising hopes that the election will bring some change

to the country.

Also up for grabs on Sunday are 1,269 seats in 15 provincial assemblies.

"It is a farce," former political prisoner Oscar Espinosa Chepe told the AFP news agency.

Another prominent opposition figure, Elizardo Sanchez, called the election "a race with only one horse" - since the Communist Party is the only one running.

Cuban authorities, however, hail the electoral system as a grassroots democracy since all nominees are elected by municipal delegates and by citizen assemblies.

"There is no political campaigning going on," Al Jazeera's Teresa Bo, reporting from Havana, said.

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Spain Socialist's tells PM Rajoy to go

he leader of Spain's opposition Socialists has urged PM Mariano Rajoy to resign amid corruption allegations made in a centre-left newspaper.

Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba said Mr Rajoy "cannot lead the country" as Spain faces a huge economic crisis.

El Pais has published images of ledgers showing payments to members of the governing PP. Mr Rajoy says they are false and denies receiving payments.

Protests against Mr Rajoy were held on Saturday in several cities.

An online petition demanding the leader's resignation has gathered more than 740,000 signatures.

Mr Rubalcaba said Mr Rajoy should "cede his place to another leader".

"His presence is not going to help resolve this political crisis," he said.

El Pais said the photographs it had published were of ledgers kept by former treasurers Luis Barcenas and Alvaro Lapuerta between 1990 and 2009.

Money was allegedly paid by

firms via Mr Barcenas, who stepped down in 2009 and is currently under investigation for moneylaundering.

El Pais splashed photos of the alleged ledgers on its website on Thursday.

Investigators recently revealed that Mr Barcenas held a Swiss bank account which at one point held as much as 22m (ÂŁ19m; $30m) euros.

Until 2007, Spanish political parties were allowed to receive anonymous donations.

Spaniards have been asked to accept painful

"One of the candidates is Mariela Castro. She is [President] Raul Castro's daughter, who is expected to become a high-profile figure in the new assembly," she said.

No dissident has ever been allowed to run for office and no national legislator has stood up to the Communist leadership by casting a no-vote.

During last October's municipal vote, in a sign of disaffection with the regime despite recent economic reforms, government critics urged voters to write a "D" on their ballots, to press for a direct presidential vote.

Cuba watchers also say there has been an increasing number of blank ballots cast in recent elections.

Havana held a round of municipal elections in October, one

austerity measures as the government battles to avoid an international bailout. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate has reached a record 26%.

PM Mariano Rajoy

in a series of votes ahead of Castro's impending coronation.

That election is followed by Sunday's voting and ultimately by the election of Cuba's State Council president - a position held by Raul Castro.

That vote traditionally takes place on February 24, the anniversary of the start of the war of independence in 1895.

If Castro is re-elected - and there is no doubt that he will be - it would be his second fiveyear mandate as Cuba's leader.

Castro was elected president in 2008, after taking over from his brother, Fidel Castro, whose health is faltering and who has largely retreated from the public eye.

Demonstrators took to the streets in Madrid, Barcelona and Seville on Saturday evening calling on Mr Rajoy to step down, with clashes with police in Madrid.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 35

Prisoners build ice palace at Saranac lake

The prisoners at the construction site.

I

t's a far cry from breaking rocks in the hot sun on a chain gang. In New York's Adirondack Mountains, inmates break ice on a frozen lake to make a giant winter palace.

A work crew from an area "shock" prison camp once again this year helped local volunteers create this mountain village's lakeside ice palace - the shimmering centerpiece of the annual Saranac Lake Winter

Carnival, starting Friday.

Under snowy skies this week, inmates marched onto the frozen lake in military formation in winter-weight prison greens and hard hats.

Working alongside the volunteers, they were handed poles to break off blocks or head-high saws to cut through the ice. Others in the boot camp-style incarceration program were dispatched to the tall walls of the palace with buckets of

slush to fit between blocks like mortar.

"Sir, yes sir! This is an experience of a lifetime, sir," said inmate Patrick O'Donnell. The 24-year-old from Long Island, like all inmates at Moriah Shock Incarceration Correctional Facility, answers questions like a new military recruit.

"Sir, where I live there's not much snow, so to see something like this is an experience, sir."

Moriah, about 45 miles from Saranac Lake through twisting mountain roads, houses a six-month shock program designed to build character and self-esteem.

Prisoners convicted of nonviolent offenses like burglary, forgery or drug sales can shave months or years off their sentences by successfully completing a shock program - but it's tough. Inmates wake up at 5:30 a.m. for intense days of

exercise, academics and substance abuse treatment.

And they work. Moriah began sending crews to help build the ice palace in 2009, after the closing of a prison closer to Saranac Lake that had sent workers since 1984.

The inmates move about the snow and ice without shackles, but under the watch of corrections officers.

Officer Mike Maloney said the labor on the lake helps inmates get ready to go back

to "the real world" when they graduate from the program.

"It's actually great, sir. It makes the day go by fast - get away for a little while, get a little peace of mind, sir," said Norman Bloom, who is from Rochester. Bloom, 25, worked with a heavy metal pole to break ice blocks into the frozen water.

Ice palaces have been a winter feature of Saranac Lake since 1898, fitting for a quaint mountain village where winter temperatures can plunge to minus 30 during cold snaps. Festival organizers say the palace tradition stems from the days when ice from local lakes was harvested for refrigeration.

Volunteers were out on the village-side lake the weekend before the festival, cutting out big ice blocks. The footlocker-size ice cubes are plucked from the water by crane and fitted into the walk-in palace on the shore.

This year's palace is about 70 feet wide and 50 feet deep inside and requires as many as 2,000 blocks, said ice palace committee chairman Dean Baker. So every hand helps.

"We could do it without them, but it would be a lot more work," Baker said.

"We're glad they're here."

Man steals candy with toy gun- Cops

A

man was arrested early Saturday morning after allegedly stealing candy from a South San Francisco convenience store with a replica gun and for allegedly hiding drugs in his rectum, police said.

Around 3:31 a.m., the suspect entered a convenience store in the 600 block of El Camino Real and was stopped by store clerks after trying to steal candy, according to police.

Police said the suspect, 29-year-old Daly City man Michael Aragon, pulled out a replica handgun and

Gun similar to the one in image was used in the raid refused to pay for the candy, then fled in his car onto El Camino Real.

Officers informed of the robbery found Aragon walking away from his car at the Towne Center shopping mall in San Bruno and quickly apprehended him.

Aragon was evaluated and determined to be under the influence of a controlled substance. While he was being booked into San Mateo County Jail in Redwood City, he was also found to be concealing crystal methamphetamine in his rectum.

Man steals candy Wild monkeys attacks village, wound manywith toy gun- Cops

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mbo Ella, spokesman

a for

SidendengRappang

District in South Sulawesi province, says the surprise attack by about 10 monkeys happened in

A mob of wild monkeys has gone on a rampage in a village in eastern Indonesia, entering houses and attacking residents. Seven people were injured, including one who is in critical condition.

ToddangPulu village.

He said Wednesday that a 16-year-old boy was badly bitten in the attack Monday and is being treated at the hospital He believes the troop came from a nearby forest protected by a local tribe. It's unclear why the monkeys, which are usually afraid of humans and flee when they hear human voices, emerged and attacked.

Local authorities are investigating to find out what prompted the attack, which caused panic among villagers.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

PAGE 37

PDP wins Kano Assembly bye election

L-R: Former Zamfara State Governors, Senator Sani Yerima, Alhaji Aliyu Shinkafi, and Minister of State for Works, Ambassador Bashir Yuguda, during a stakeholders meeting for the establishment of more development projects in Zamfara, recently in Abuja.

By Lawrence Olaoye

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Photo: NAN

LG autonomy: NULGE threatens govs with violence

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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igeria Union of Local G o v e r n m e n t Employees (NULGE) over the weekend threatened mass action against the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) over its roles aimed at thwarting autonomy of the local government system as demanded

by Nigerians.

In a communique read by the Union’s National President, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, after a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, NULGE condemned the moves by the state governors to scuttle the success already recorded in the process of amending the 1999 constitution to give autonomy to the local governments.

NULGE also pointed out that the intention of the governors is to intimidate and influence members of the state Houses of Assembly to frustrate the section of the amendment that will make local governments financially autonomous.

While calling on the members of the state Houses of Assembly to patriotically and courageously adopt the position of Nigerians as expressed in the public sessions and zonal conferences, NULGE advised the governors to learn to be democrats by respecting the wishes of Nigerians rather than resorting to arm twisting in other to keep the local governments under their excruciating control.

According to the communiqué, “The NEC resolved to adopt a more drastic ‘Get angry

and Fight Back’ approach to confront the new challenges to the local government autonomy.”

In a related development, the union also expressed dismay over the discriminatory policy of some state governors who refuse to pay local government workers the new minimum wage, while they pay workers at state level, calling on governors of Oyo, Osun, Plateau, Adamawa, Zamfara and Kebbi states to be cautious as their policy controverts the law of the land.

On this background, it mandated its committee on the implementation of the new minimum wage to compile all cases of non compliance, with a view to mobilise and embark on mass action against the affected states.

On the crisis currently raging between the Plateau state government and the local government workers in the state, NULGE commended the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and other bodies for their solidarity and concern to Plateau local government workers whose salaries were seized for over seven months due to their refusal to collect old minimum wage while workers at state level enjoy the new wage.

It also commended the courage of the affected members for being firm despite harrasment and intimidation by state government, condemning the renewed victimisation of the union leaders in the state, and sacking of local government workers, saying it is not necessary.

Labour party will not melt into merger – Chairman

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he newly appointed Acting Chairman of the Labour Party (LP) in Kano state, Malam Tasi’u Abdurrahman Kofar Waika, has said that his party will not enter into merger and melt at the expense of its ideology.

In a press statement signed by Sheikh Kofar Waika and made available to newsmen, Waika described the Labour Party as an entity that could transform the nation into a bastion of leadership by example; free from the vices of corruption and all acts capable of giving the nascent democratic system a bad name.

He said the party could only enter into an alliance with other parties provided that there is a convincing reason to do so affirming that the party will

never make the mistake of melting away at the expense of its ideological interest.

He claimed that the Labour Party is an entity globally recognized attested to by its predominance in the United States of America and other parts of Europe. He said such overwhelming influence was borne

out of its ability to effect a positive transformation.

He however stated that with the mandate given to him as the party’s helmsman in Kano, he would do everything within his power to accord the Labour Party some balance of legitimacy and acceptance in the parlance of

opposition.

Waika further revealed that he would also strive to ensure that the party was made to become a force to be reckoned with in the race for Kano Government House comes 2015 just as he stressed that with vision and clear focus, the feat is achievable.

he ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kano has won the two seats of the state Assembly bye election of Garko and Gaya constituencies held at the weekend.

Announcing the result in Garko, the INEC Returning Officer, Professor Habu Muhammad, declared that Ibrahim Garko of PDP scored 53, 865 votes, while his main challenger, Ashiru Ado of ANPP polled 2,168 votes.

Professor Muhammad said that “With the power conferred on me by the electoral laws, I hereby declare Ibrahim Garko as duly elected to the Kano House of Assembly having scored the highest votes in the keenly contested election”.

On his part, the Returning Officer for Gaya local Government bye election, Alhaji Munir Abdullahi Kamba declared Alhaji Tafida Tijjani Gaya as the winner of the election.

Munir Abdullahi Kamba declared that “Tafida Tijjani Gaya of PDP polled 42,696 votes, while the All Nigerian Peoples candidate, Ahmad Abdullahi scored 2,659 votes” The Returning officer stated that “in line with the outcome of the result, Tafida Tijjani Gaya has emerged as winner of the electoral contest and he is hereby elected in to the Kano House of Assembly” In a reaction to results declared by the INEC, Senator Ibrahim Kabiru Gaya declared the results as “null and void”, adding that “the exercise was rigged in favour of PDP”.

Senator Gaya who lost his constituency in the hotly contested bye election alleged that “the ruling PDP government in the state exported thugs to the two local councils and make it difficult for my people to exercise their civic right as empowered by the law” I have decided to inform the Inspector General of Police on the development in writing and copy other relevant agencies on how the ruling PDP messed up the whole process” Kabiru Gaya who described the election as a” sham” failed to say whether he will challenge the election in the law court.

PPA urges FG to involve parties in centenary celebration

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he National Chairman of Progressive People’s Alliance (PPA), Mr Sam Nkire, has urged the Federal Government not to exclude other political parties in the arrangements for Nigeria’s centenary celebrations.

Nkire said in a statement yesterday in Abuja that government should

relate with other political parties to be part of the occasion, not a few, to show that the government belonged to all Nigerians.

According to the PPA chairman, the government shoud not limit the planning and celebration of Nigeria’s 100 years of existence to PDP members alone

“This is Nigeria. Nigeria should be for all Nigerians, irrespective of their political differences, and should welcome contributions from other political parties.

According to him, some group of people are making it impossible for President Goodluck Jonathan to reach out to non PDP members and

Nigerians.

“Government is neither a winner takes all nor a sole administrator,” he said.

He, therefore, advised those in government to always pursue inclusive policies, for greater achievements. (NAN)

PAGE 38

SURE-P: Monarch urges FG to ensure prompt payment of allowance

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he Paramount Ruler of Etinan, Edidem Dickson Umoette, has urged the Federal Government to ensure a regular payment of allowances to beneficiaries of the Subsidy Re-investment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P).

Umoette said this on Saturday when members of the SURE-P State Implementation Committee in Akwa Ibom paid him a courtesy visit.

He thanked the federal government for the remedial intervention programme to reduce poverty among the women and youths in the country.

The traditional ruler called for a long-lasting measure to be put in place to tackle youth unemployment.

He also tasked the state government to key into the federal government job-creation programme by reviving the ailing industries in the state.

Umoette noted that unemployment was the reason for insecurity in the country and advised that it should be tackled by all and not only the federal government.

“Government should be serious in ensuring job-creation, because idleness is the cause of our security challenges,” he advised.

The monarch advised the beneficiaries of the SURE-P programme to invest their little income in farming.

“Beneficiaries should inculcate the habit of savings, save something out of the little you will receive and go back to farm.

“Farming should be encouraged to make people selfreliant,’’ he said.

Earlier, the Chairman, Akwa Ibom State Implementation Committee of SURE-P, Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga (rtd.), had explained reasons for the committee’s visit to the paramount ruler.

Nkanga, who was represented by the committee’s Secretary, Mr Dennis Akpan, said youths in the community would be engaged in rehabilitation, community services, clearing of roads and public buildings.

He solicited for the support of the royal father in ensuring the success of the progamme.(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

N4 Billion First Lady’s Mission Office: corruption at its worst- says ANPP

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has described as corruption at worst and unpatriotic at best, the proposal by the Federal Capital Territory Administration to spend N4 billion on building the First Ladies Mission office complex in Abuja this year as contained in the FCTA’S N253 billion budget for 2013.

The party in a statement issued by the National Publicity Secretary of the party, Emma

Eneukwu, stated that the ANPP believes that the matter is a nonissue as the budget for the complex is inherently illegal and should not waste the time of the distinguished Senators in their work.

“The fact on ground is that the Federal Government has already declared that the African First Ladies Peace Mission (AFLPM) is a non-governmental organization (NGO) and could not be funded with the taxpayers’ money.

“For the avoidance of doubt,

the party wishes to remind Nigerians that in July 2012, the Presidency, while refuting reports that the Federal Government had purchased 200 new exotic cars for the African First Ladies Summit in Abuja, affirmed that AFLPM which was holding its summit in Abuja is an NGO and its activities are funded by stakeholders and members of the private sector who support and identify with its objectives”.

Eneukwu said Dr. Reuben Abati, Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity,

Anambra Women Organisation (AWO), during its meeting over 2014 gubernatorial election, recently at Ezinifite community in Aguata Local Goverment Area in Anambra.

Photo: NAN

was quoted as saying that “in accordance with its modus operandi, the AFLPM set up several committees, including a finance committee to raise funds and sponsorship for the organization of its Abuja summit.

As part of its own contribution to the successful hosting of the summit by the First Lady, Dame Patience Jonathan, Coscharis Motors Ltd, offered to provide some cars for the event at no cost to the organizers or the Federal Government of Nigeria.’’

He added that the ANPP found it puzzling, absurd and incongruous that another project of the AFLPM could now be smuggled into the budget of the FCT, an undeniable burden to the already burdened citizens of our great nation.

He stressed that the proposal which came up for second reading in the Senate last week should be resisted by the distinguished lawmakers. “This is unpatriotic at best, and corrupt at worst, there are myriads of people-oriented projects begging for attention in Nigeria. The education sector for example did not get up to the expected percentage in this year’s budget to meet up with international best practices; so also agriculture”.

“N4 billion is a great lot of money to give out to an NGO, even if the Federal Government decides to donate to charity; as a party, we believe that fiscal discipline, transparency and accountability is what our country needs at this critical epoch in our nationhood in order to surmount even unforeseen financial stress and leave a sustainable future for Nigerians yet unborn”, he said.

Kwara govt relaxes curfew in Offa, Erin-IIe for religious obligations

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he Kwara Government has relaxed the 24-hour curfew imposed on Offa and Erin-Ile communities to allow Muslims and Christians to observe their religion obligations.

Alhaji Isiaka Gold, the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), gave this directive in a statement in IIorin.

The statement advised

Muslims and Christians in the two communities to use the relaxed period for Fridays and Sundays for religious purposes.

Gold said the relaxation was as a result of satisfactory on-the-spot assessment of the situations in the two communities.

The statement said movement would be allowed between 12:00 noon and 6:00 p.m. on Fridays and

between 7:00am and 2:00pm on Sundays.

It, however, said the 24-hour curfew would continue to operate on other days besides Fridays and Sundays.

Meanwhile, Alhaji Najeem Yasin, the President of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) on Friday called on the Inspector-General of Police to

investigate causes of the crisis.

Yasin made the call at Offa after inspecting scenes of the crisis and described the level of destruction and loss of lives in the two feuding communities as enormous.

Yasin appealed to the communities to give peace a chance and adopt amicable means of settlement. (NAN)

Tambuwal identifies corruption, poverty as threats to national development

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he Speaker, House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, has said that corruption and poverty are national social menaces that are detrimental to national development.

He said this at a lecture on "Religion, Ethnicity and Corruption : Challenges of National Security" held at the Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria on Saturday.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the lecture was organised by the Centre for Peace,

Conflict and Security Studies, ABU, in collaboration with Students' Representative Council of the institution.

Tambuwal, who was represented

by Rep. Bashir Adamu, Chairman, House Committee on Defence, lamented over the prevalence of corruption and poverty in the country.

"Corruption is not only in the public service but it cuts across all segments including schools, businesses and even our homes.

"In the same vein, unity of Nigeria is a forgone conclusion, this should be a topmost priority because the idea of separation is not an issue," he said.

The speaker stressed the need for Nigerians to exploit all avenues to ensure corporate existence of the nation through unity, peace, tolerance and understanding of one another's cultures and values.

"For democracy to succeed, people must learn to accommodate, tolerate and embrace one another," Tambuwal said.

In his speech, the ABU ViceChancellor, Prof. Abdullahi Mustapha, observed that national conflicts were added conflicts emanating from ward, local and state levels.

Mustapha, who was represented

by Prof. Adebayo Joshua, Dean, School of Post-Graduate Studies, assured the centre of the institution's support.

He hoped that more of such lecture would be organised to enlighten the people on the consequences of the menace.

The Guest Speakers, Prof. Aminu

Mohammed-Dorayi, of Institute of Security Studies and Dr Abubakar Saddiq-Muhammad of Political Science Department, ABU, advised Nigerians not to use religion and ethnicity as a means of achieving political goals.

They identified lack of political will to genuinely deal with corruption, poor criminal justice system, absence of moral code of ethics and integrity benchmark, as some of the factors responsible for endemic corruption in the country. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

PAGE 38

I have no hands in Wayas’ troubles – Olisa Metuh

By Lawrence Olaoye

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L-R: President David Mark, his wife, Mrs. Helen Mark, and Oche Otukpo Odu, Chief John Eyeimoye, during the opening ceremony of the 2nd edition of Pa Aikwuta Mark Memorial Pro-AM Golf Tournament, on Saturday at Otukpo Golf And Country Club St. Mark Akpegede Benue State.

2015: Buhari can defeat Jonathan, says CPC From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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ational Vice Chairman of the Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, in the North Central zone, Alhaji Abu Onaji has said the Presidential candidate of the party, in the 2011 election, General Muhammadu Buhari has the capacity to defeat President Good luck Jonathan if fielded again in the 2015 after the merger by the opposition parties.

Onaji who was reacting to the various comments from the chieftains of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) across the nation on the opposition parties’ merger arrangement and the consequences of fielding General Muhammadu Buhari as

the candidate in the 2015 election said it was a sign of fear of defeat by the ruling party.

The CPC chieftain, who is a seasoned journalist and a retired Managing Director of Kogi State Broadcasting Corporation, said in an exclusive interview with this reporter in Lokoja that the ruling party should concentrate on how to win back the public confidence which had already been eroded as a result of mis-governance, instead of continuing to belabouring itself on the merger talks.

He described the assertions by the members of the ruling party that Buhari cannot defeat President Jonathan as speculative in nature, adding that they should be preparing for a free and fair election in the 2015 as the masses will reject

them because of their abysmal performances which have brought untold hardship on the average citizenry.

“The comments from the chieftains of the ruling party is burned out of panicky situation as they are aware that they will lose in the 2015 elections because Nigerian citizens will demand for their stewardship when the times comes,” he stated.

The 76 year old politician said the merger arrangement of the opposition is already a reality which, according to him, will consume the ruling PDP because of the personalities involved.

He explained that the political parties that have agreed for the merger have already put aside personal interests and gains for the

sake of national interest to safe the country from total collapse due to the prevailing greed and corruption initiated into governance by the ruling party.

The CPC zonal leader therefore appealed to the electorates to ignore what he termed evil machinations of the ruling party to perpetuate itself in power despite the growing rate of poverty and un-employment among the Nigerian youths.

It would be recalled that chieftains of the ruling PDP have been expressing their views over the planned merger of the opposition political parties in the country as a dream that can not come to fruition in view of the in-conclusive arrangement of that similar exercise in the 2011 elections in the country.

ALGON urges Reps to adopt public opinion on constitution review

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he Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) yesterday urged the House of Representatives to adopt the reccommendations of the constitution review committee collected from 360 federal constituencies.

The National President of the association, Mr Nwabueze Okafor, made the called in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said expressed the belief that members of the public did not support the deferment of the presentation of the collected results from all the constituencies. “ I think that may be they are trying to put one or two things

together in terms of collation of the results from the public at the federal constituencies. “ I don’t think the Speaker, Aminu Tambuwal, a forthright person who calls a spade a spade, will want to be dragged to the level of trying to change or alter the wishes of the people,” he said.

The ALGON boss further stated that most organisations had the result already as the public sessions were being monitored.

“We have the results already because we have representatives at all the federal constituencies who followed the public sessions; a lot of organisations equally have.

“Autonomy for local government administration has

overwhelming support in the new constitution. So, the results are known to Nigerians.

“We know the feelings of Nigerians on the issues. It is not personal as power is transient.

“I don’t think that it’s something we should be worried about, rather we should do things that will reflect the wishes of the people,’’ he said.

According to him, people opposed to the local government autonomy are beneficiaries of the present situation where the resources and the funds of local government are diverted.

Okafor further disclosed that ALGON was an interested party and ready to receive collated

results to tally with what it has on the ground.

“I met the speaker and I saw how passionate he was about ensuring that we enthrone a virile local government system and a constitution that Nigerians will be happy with,” he said.

“The local councils will have the capacity and resources as well as sufficient authority to implement their policies and ensure that their mandate from the people are fulfilled,” he said.

“We hope to have financial autonomy, the issue of Section 162 and other areas like section 174 should be abolished as they have failed the people,” he added.(NAN)

he National Publicity Secretary of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olisa Metuh has debunked reports linking him to the demolition of part of the Abuja home of Second Republic Senate President, Dr. Joseph Wayas.

Part of Wayas’ house located in Asokoro District of Abuja was on Monday demolished by officials of the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), one of who was said to have cited encroachment into an adjourning plot allegedly owned by Metuh as reason.

But dismissing the allegation, Special Assistant to Metuh, Mr. Richard Ihediwa yesterday said the PDP chieftain is not the owner of the said adjourning plot and could not have had any hand in the demolition.

Ihediwa said Metuh acquired the land a few years ago but was forced to dispose of it last year at a give-away price after several meetings with Wayas over his encroachment into half of the property yielded no results.

He said Chief Wayas is fully aware that the land has since been sold to another person and in fact has been transacting with the new owner.

“We read in the papers that part of the house belonging to Second Republic Senate President, Chief Joseph Wayas was demolished by officials of the FCDA. The report said that the demolition was because the property encroached into an adjourning land said to be owned by Chief Olisa Metuh.

“For the avoidance of doubt, the plot of land in question does not belong to Chief Olisa Metuh.

He acquired the plot a few years ago but noticed that there was an encroachment into half of the land by Chief Joseph Wayas.

“After several meetings with Chief Wayas, which yielded no result, Chief Olisa Metuh was forced to sell the land at a little or no value. Chief Joseph Wayas is fully aware that the land has since been sold to another person. In fact, he has been transacting with the new owners of the land. So Chief Olisa Metuh has no interest in the land and is in no way involved in the demolition”, he said Ihediwa said Metuh places no value on lands and material acquisitions adding that he is not involved in any land dispute with anybody in Abuja or in his village.

Describing Metuh as a modest person, Ihediwa said the PDP chieftain has been living in the same house for over eight years and has no need for any new house.

He however advised that people should be more straightforward and forthright on land matters.

PAGE 40

Wada tasks Nigerians to trust its professionals

By Adeola Tukuru

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he Governor of Kogi state, Idris Wada, has called on Nigerians to trust the country's professionals at home and expressed the hope that with a little more patriotism, the country would make the kind of progress Nigerians desire.

Wada who disclosed this when he received some executives of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), FCT Council who paid him a get-well visit, spoke against the background of his opting to be treated in the country rather than abroad after a ghastly accident in Kogi state.

The governor said he believes in Nigeria because of the opportunities the country has afforded him to be who he is.

Wada explained that his being a pilot was made possible by the sponsorship of the government; therefore he has every reason to believe in the potential that abounds in the country.

In his words: "I was sponsored abroad to become a pilot instructor by the country. When I finished my course, I was offered partnership by the school because I emerged overall best but I turned it down because I believe I owe this country something in return."

He further explained that on return to the country, he became an instructor at the Nigeria College of Aviation Technology Zaria for five years before joining the defunct Nigeria Airways.

Speaking on his treatment, Wada said: "I am satisfied with the treatment I have received. If I had decided to go to Germany it would have taken 24 hours before I could have been attended to given travel and all the protocol involved.

"For a patient in trauma, it is advisable you get treatment as soon as possible. When the doctor explained the procedure to me and said it would take 2hours, I trusted his judgment as a professional and the procedure lasted for the two hours he said."

He called on Nigerians to trust the country's professionals at home and expressed the hope that with a little more patriotism, the country would make the kind of progress Nigerians desire.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2012

Kwara crisis: ACN alleges fresh plot to sack Offa council boss From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Kwara Action Congress of Nigeria ( ACN) yesterday alleged fresh plot by the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) led state government to sack the only ACN chairman, Prince Saheed Popoola, using the recent Offa-Erin Ile crisis as a smokescreen.

The party in a statement issued in Ilorin, the state ACN chairman, Kayode Olawepo, said the party "has it on good authority that the leadership of the Kwara

State PDP has resolved to hide under the recent Offa-Erin Ile crisis to remove the only ACN chairman in Offa council by dissolving the council."

Olawepo accused the PDP of hiding under the crisis to achieve its longstanding aim of ridding Kwara of opposition by removing the only chairman elected on the platform of the ACN. "This is the latest evil plan of the desperate PDP after previous plots to remove the chairman have failed.

"This latest plan is condemnable

and reeks of hypocrisy and cheap politics. It will fail! It is on record that the Offa Chairman has since four months ago - long before the outbreak of the recent violence intimated the PDP-led state government of suspicion that some elements were planning to unleash violence on the two communities.

"He not only wrote to the office of the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), he also attended a meeting convened in Ilorin to devise strategies to maintain peace.

"We therefore see as

mischievous and pre-determined the attempt to hide under this security challenges to dissolve the council and remove the chairman.

If the state government which equally had prior knowledge of the situation could not forestall the outbreak of violence, any attempt to blame the Offa chairman for the violence is cruel and suspicious. The PDP perhaps sees the crisis as the cheapest means of achieving the evil plot to rid Kwara of opposition by all means, however unfair and crooked."

L-R: Former Minister of Information, Professor Jerry Gana, Ona of Abaji, Alhaji Adamu Baba Yunusa, Chairman, Senate Committee on Power, Senator Phillip Aduda, during the final flag-off of Jummai Aduda Organisation, on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Wada’s victory affirms hope for democracy, Kogi Deputy Governor From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he Kogi State Deputy Governor, Arc Yomi Awoniyi,has described the appeal court verdict affirming Capt idris Wada’s governorship as victory for the people and democracy. Awoniyi said the time to forge ahead as a people

with a common destiny is now, reiterating that this is not a time for the government to be distracted again having passed numerous challenges in the previous year.

He called on the people to join hands with Capt Wada’s administration in moving the state forward adding that in

politics you win some and lose some.

While urging those aggrieved to bury their hatchets and join hands in the transformation agenda of the governor, Awoniyi thanked people of the state for their love, understanding and steadfastness for the Wada’s administration, stressing that

their supports would be reciprocated with transparent and purposeful leadership.

The Deputy who spoke through a press statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Abu Mike, commended the judiciary for serving as the bastion of democracy.

Gombe ready for Good Governance team

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he Rev. Habu Dawaki, Commissioner of Information and Orientation in Gombe State, says the Gov. Ibrahim Dankwambo administration has executed “unprecedented’’ development projects in the last one and a half years.

In an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe, Dawaki said Dankwambo had

transformed the state to an “enviable height’’ sincw his assumption of office.

The commissioner said that the government was paying attention to education, roads and infrastructure, water resources, erosion control, healthcare as well as youth and women empowerment.

He said the government had embarked on a massive construction

of roads with a view to opening up the state for agricultural and socioeconomic development.

“Right now, Gombe State is a massive construction site, where government has embarked on the construction of 52 township roads within Gombe metropolis.

“There are also inter-town link roads that connect villages and local government headquarters spread across all the 11 local government

areas.

“Most of these roads have been completed while some are under construction,” Dawaki said.

The commissioner also said the government was collaborating with the Federal Government in the construction of the 52-km KanawaDeba-Jauro Gotel road at a cost of N6.2 billion.

He explained that the Federal Government had given the state

government the go-ahead to execute the road to be reimbursed later.

Dawaki also said that in an effort to make Gombe a modern city, the government had embarked on beautification projects with the installation of street and traffic lights at 19 critical road junctions.

He said the projects had lit up Gombe and reduced incidents of insecurity and theft in the night. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 45

Peoples Daily CLASSIFIED PUBLIC NOTICE

1] Man City slipped nine points behind Man Utd at the top of the table after being held to a 2-2 draw by Liverpool. City took the lead through EdinDzeko before two wonderful strikes from Daniel Sturridge and Steven Gerrard put Liverpool ahead. But, with Pepe Reina out of position, Sergio Aguero managed to save a draw from an impossible angle.

SIGNED: BARRISTER FELIX AKINNISOLA (08023014395)

PUBLIC NOTICE CHANGE OF NAME OLD NAME: TRICYCLE OWNERS AND RIDDERS ASSOCIATION OGUN CHAPTER NEW NAME: TRICYCLE OWNERS AND RIDERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA, OGUN STATE CHAPTER THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED UNION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR CHANGE OF NAME, TRUSTEES, AIMS & ALTERATION OF CONSTITION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE OLD TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OLASUPO MUYIDEEN - RETAINED 6. SAMUEL IDOWU - RETAINED 2.PASTOR OLUDIRAN PHILIP - RESIGNED 7. ASIMIYU OKE - RESIGNED 3. SULAIMON ILORI - RESIGNED 8. ADEBAYO IDOWU - RESIGNED 4. OLALERE SHOLA - RESIGNED 9. MRS BALOGUN BOSE - RESIGNED 5. JIBOLA AJIBADE ADEMOLA - RESIGNED THE NEW TRUSTEES ARE: 1. MR KAMORUDEEN BUSARI OLADELE APPOINTED 2. COMRADE MUYIDEEN KUNLE OLASUPO REAPPOINTED 3. CHIEF SAMUEL IDOWU REAPPOINTED 4. HON. LOLA AWONIYIN OMOSANYA APPOINTED 5. MR WAHEED DALEKO APPOINTED 6. MR RASAQ DADA APPOINTED 7. ALHAJI AYO OGUNSHOLU JUBRIL APPOINTED 8. ALHAJI OLABODE RAZAQ APPOINTED 9. ALHAJI MORUFU AJANI APPOINTED 10. MR AFUI ETTU /+APPOINTED NEW AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. ORGANISATION AND HARMONIZATION OF ALL OWNERS AND RIDERS, ENGAGED IN COMMERCIAL TRICYCLE TRANSPORT THAT ARE QUALIFIED FOR MEMBERSHIP OF THE ASSOCIATION. 2. PROTECTION OF THE INTEREST OF ALL MEMBERS AND MONITORING OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION. 3. PROVISION OF BENEFITS AND OTHER ASSISTANCE TO THE MEMBERS AS PROVIDED IN THE CONSTITUTION. 4. TO FOSTER UNITY, SOLIDARITY AND PROGRESS AMONG ALL MEMBERS, THROUGHOUT THE STATE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS CHANGE SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED: SECRETARY

PUBLIC NOTICE

ONYENAGOD GERIATRIC CENTRE THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED CENTRE HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. OKAFOR REGINA 2. OKAFOR IFEOMA ZITA AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO CATER FOR THE AGED. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

PICTORIAL

NOBLE VESSEL BIBLE MINISTRY THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. REV. OLUWAGBEMI ISAAC ODUNAYO 2. PASTOR RUFUS ALABA SUNDAY 3. PASTOR THOMSON OLA AYENI 4. BROTHER ONWUSIKIBE SERGIUS AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PROPAGATE THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST AS PRESENTED IN THE HOLY BIBLE. 2. TO ESTABLISH LOCAL CHURCHES FOR THE PROPAGATION OF THE GOSPEL IN THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA AND ELSEWHERE. 3. TO ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN SUITABLE ADMINISTRATIVE MACHINERY FOR THE MANAGEMENT OF THE CHURCH AND FOR THE SUPERVISION OF THE LOCAL CHURCHES AND INSTRUCTIONS ESTABLSIHED BY THE CHURCH. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION.

1

2] Tottenham had to rely on a thumping strike from Gareth Bale to see off ten-man West Brom 1-0, after Jermain Defoe suffered a foot injury.

The Baggies lost Goran Popov early in the second half after he was sent off for spitting at Kyle Walker.

3] IBF super-middleweight champion Carl Froch will face Mikkel Kessler at London's O2 Arena on 25 May. 4] Seven-time French Open champion Rafael Nadal says he will need weeks on the circuit before he can return to his best after a knee.

2

5] Pace bowler Katherine Brunt says England's 32run World Cup over India proved the hosts' captain Mithali Raj wrong.

6] A late goal from Sunday Mba gave Nigeria a 2-1 win over Côte d'Ivoire in the CAF Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final, seeing the tournament favourites eliminated.

3

SIGNED BY: OGBONNA NWANOSIKE

PUBLIC NOTICE 4

THE VINEYARD OF GOD EVANGELICAL PRAYER AND DELIVERANCE MINISTRY INTERNATIONAL THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC THAT THE ABOVE NAMED MINISTRY HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC) ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART ‘C’ OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT NO. 1 OF 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1. PASTOR EJOH AUGUSTINE IWEANYA -(GENERAL OVERSEER) 2. PASTOR EJOH VINCENT CHUKWUMA - (ASSIST. GENERAL OVERSEER) 3. MRS EJOH NGOZI ANNELLA - (TREASURER) 4. PASTOR OKONJI GABRIEL - (SECRETARY) AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. TO PREACH THE GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST TO THE WORLD. 2. TO WIN SOULS UNTO REPENTANCE FOR CHRIST. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BY: CHAIMAN

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PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Cape Verde’s coach rues ouster C Appiah happy at semi-final berth

G

hana coach Kwesi Appiah says he is happy to reach the semi finals of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) tournament.

He told newsmen shortly after the match that he would correct “some deficiencies’’ that hampered his team’s performance against Cape Verde in the quarter final match on Saturday.

The Black Stars beat the Blue Sharks 2-0 in Port Elizabeth, with a brace from substitute Mubarak Wakaso.

Ghana will play the winner of Sunday’s clash between Burkina Faso and Togo.

“The first half was okay,’’ Appiah said after the game, according to the official Ghana Football Association (GFA) webstie. “The second half was not one of our best games but I think we’ve got more room for improvement.

“We were playing so well until when we had the first goal. That was when we had some deficiencies in our midfield.

“On a whole our mental attitude was really good. Cape Verde dominated the second half, but we stood up and the most important thing was that we got the win at the end of the day,’’ he stressed.

ape Verde Islands coach Lúcio Antunes says the best team in the tournament are going home.

Antunes was referring to his side that fell to a 2-0 loss at the hands of African powerhouses Ghana in their Africa Cup of Nations match at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth on Saturday.

The Islanders dominated large parts of the encounter, and the game changed just after the break when Ghana were awarded a controversial penalty and The Black Stars never looked back.

Cape Verde threw every player forward in desperate search of an equaliser and were caught out on the break, handing Ghana their second goal.

“Today we watched a beautiful game of soccer, unfortunately the best team is going home tomorrow so the tournament is going to lose a little bit of shine,” said Antunes after the game.

Antunes went on to question the match officiating.

“Today was our fourth game of the tournament, never were there questions of the first, second and third. Now the questions come.”

Wakaso Mubarak

Emenike, Mubarak, Traore lead top goal scorers chart

Enyeama denies S being ‘special’

N

Malians celebrate team’s qualification for semi-finals

H

undreds of Malian youths took to the streets of Bamako on Saturday to celebrate their team’s qualification for the semi-finals of the ongoing 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

Incidentally, it was the South African hosts that Mali knocked out 4-2 on penalties to qualify.

The match ended 1-1 after 120 minutes of play, before the Malians scored three of their kicks, while South Africa scored only one.

PANA reports that car drivers and motor cyclists were blaring their horns in the city centre in celebration, in spite of the state of emergency imposed across the country following the war against Islamist insurgents in the north.

Antunes sarcastically said nobody would want to watch Cape Verde in the last four and that is why the Ghanians were going through.

“Although the score was 2-0 Cape Verde really did put Ghana under pressure, especially in the second half they had a lot of stress. Do you think this result is fair?

“The result is fair because Ghana win the match. I don’t think there would be very big interest for the tournament if Cape Verde for example was to play with Togo in front of maybe 200 spectators. It is important for the tournament that Ghana stays on to the semifinals.”

The coach questioned the objectivity of the referee, and also the selection of the officials.

According to Antunes, even local South Africans would be disappointed that Cape Verde was eliminated.

“Cape Verde is the best team of this tournament, and there are lots of South Africans even crying that Cape Verde is out of this tournament. “The positives that I’m taking from this is that Cape Verde is not worse than any of the other teams, in fact Cape Verde is as good as any of the big teams here.”

Vincent Enyeama

igeria goalkeeper, V i n c e n t Enyeama, has played down talks about his record of never losing in any quarterfinal match at the Afcon he has appeared in.

Enyeama was in goal throughout as Nigeria’s Super Eagles tripped pre-tournament favourites, the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire, by 2-1 in Rustenburg in a quarterfinal game at the Africa Cup of Nations yesterday.

The 30-year-old goalkeeper when asked about his record of never losing in the quarterfinal of the Afcon he has taken part in his country’s squad said: “I don’t know how it happens as I’m not the Special One.” He further said: “I can only thank God for all of the achievements as I don’t care about statistics.”

The Maccabi Tel Aviv goalkeeper has been in goal throughout the 360 minutes of Nigeria’s participation at the ongoing Afcon in South Africa.

The former Enyimba custodian has made more than 70 appearances for Nigeria since his debut in 2002.

Enyeama is expected to continue in goal for Nigeria when they face Mali in the semifinals.

uper Eagles’ forward, Emmanuel Emenike, leads the top scorers’ chart with three goals after his blasting effort yesterday to open the Eagles score sheet against the Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire.

The goal takes his tally to three and is joined in the pool by Wakaso Mubarak, whose two goals for Ghana on Saturday against Cape Verde in the quarter-final of the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations had propelled the player to the top of the goal scorers’ chart.

The player now jointly leads with Alain Traore of Burkina Faso both with three goals each.

Next to them are the seven players who have scored two goals each so far.

They are: Seydou Keita of Mali and Victor Moses of Nigeria, Dieumerci Mbokani of the Democratic Republic of Congo, Siyanbonga Sangweni of South Africa, as well as Yaya Toure and Gervinho, both of Cote d’Ivoire.

Seven players finished jointly on top of the goal scorers’ chart at the last edition of the Nations Cup in Gabon and Equatorial Guinea.

Each of them scored three goals, but the Confederation of African football (CAF) declared only one - Emmanuel Mayuka of Zambia - as the top goal scorer, after adding an assist in one of Zambia’s matches to his total of three.

Alain Troare

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 43

Australia, Japan storm through in Davis Cup

A

ustralia and Japan celebrated perfect 50 Davis Cup victories yesterday but

India paid the price for fielding a second-string team following a dispute involving their top

Matthew Ebden

players.

Former world No 1 Lleyton Hewitt led Australia’s charge into the second round of Asia/ Oceania Group I with a singles and doubles win, with Matthew Ebden and Marinko Matosevic also winning their singles matches against Taiwan.

Japan had newly promoted Indonesia eyeing a quick return to Group II when Go Soeda and Tatsuma Ito spearheaded a straightforward win in Tokyo.

Wu Di, who became the first Chinese man to play a Grand Slam main draw at last month’s Australian Open, recovered some pride for his country in Sunday’s singles but it wasn’t enough to stop a comprehensive 4-1 defeat

by Uzbekistan.

And India, without Somdev Devvarman, Mahesh Bhupathi and Rohan Bopanna after a row over pay and conditions, slumped to a 4-1 loss against South Korea to end their hopes for another year.

In the second round in April, Australia will play Uzbekistan and Japan take on arch-rivals South Korea for a place in September’s World Group play-offs.

China face Taiwan and India will play Indonesia in the first round play-offs, with the losers going into a relegation tie to decide which team drops down to Group II next season.

Australia are likely to face a debate over the inclusion of wayward star Bernard Tomic, who was

kept out of the first round team over problems with his behaviour.

Marinko Matosevic

Adamawa 2013: Abuja emerges winner of national para-soccer championship

F

ederal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja team has emerged winner of the maiden edition of Baba Mai Mangoro National ParaSoccer Championship (Adamawa 2013), which ended on Saturday in Yola.

In the final match of the tournament, Abuja defeated Kano to emerge

the overall winner while Adamawa came third after beating Nasarawa in the third place match by three goals to nil.

The final match between Abuja and Kano ended in a penalty shoot out after the two teams drew 2-2 at full time.

Abuja scored all its three penalty kicks to have a total of five goals while

Kano scored only two of its penalty kicks missing one to emerged runners up with four goals.

Highlights of the closing ceremony was the presentation of trophies to the winning teams, participants and some dignitaries, as well as prizes to the most valuable player and goal keepers.

The prize for the most

valuable player went to Mohammed Hussaini of Nasarawa, while prize for best goal keeper went to Ibrahim Abubakar of Gombe. Mohammed Abdullahi of Kano got the prize for the highest goal scorer.

The closing ceremony was witnessed by the President of para-Ssoccer Federation of Nigeria, Dr Halima Nyako; its

secretary-general, Malam Umar Lambu, and the initiator of the game in Nigeria, Alhaji Misbahu Lawan, as well as other dignitaries A total of eight teams, comprising Adamawa, Bauchi, FCT, Gombe, Kano, Katsina, Zamfara and Nasarawa participated in the fourday championship.

Team Cross River emerges winner of 5th School Sports Festival T

eam Cross River emerged the overall winner of the 5th National School Sports Festival (NSSF) which ended in Port Harcourt, the Rivers capital, on Saturday.

School sports

They clinched a total of 264 medals to beat their closest rival, Delta, to the second position.

Cross River won 89 gold, 88 silver and 87 bronze medals, while secondplaced Delta won a total

234 medals, made up of 81 gold, 85 silver, and 68 bronze.

Team Rivers finished in the third position, having notched up 154 medals 56 gold, 38 silver and 60 bronze medals.

Mrs Helen Martin, Cross River weightlifting coach, said in Port Harcourt that the victory was as a result of hard work and determination.

“I know all the states desired to win, but I thank God that the essence of the Games was not defeated.

“Our children have come from far and near to showcase their talents, to meet people of different tribes and cultures; this will engender greater love for the nation,” she said.

Mr Julius Itegbiku, Delta Football Coach, commended Team Cross River for winning the festival’s overall trophy, describing them as “heroes’’.

National School Sports Federation (NSSF) president, Ibrahim Mohammed, said that the competition was not only to win laurels, but to also promote unity and widen the horizon of the participants.

Mohammed noted that the festival had helped the children to know the other side of their country.

Japan may also hope to welcome back their top player, Kei Nishikori, who has been troubled by injury in the early part of this season.

He frowned at some states that could not participate at the 10-day Games, urging every state in the country to embrace school sports.

“I am not happy with some states that did not come for the festival; states like Imo, Bayelsa, Bauchi, Gombe, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara.

“NSSF is the best way to develop sports in any nation, but I don’t know why these states cannot support school sports,” Mohammed said.

The Federal Capital Territory (FTC) and Borno, however, did not win any medal at the fiestal.

The festival held between Jan. 24 to Feb. 2.

Bolaji Abdullahi, Sports Minister

Tornadoes keeper relishes NNL win

N

iger Tornadoes’ g o a l k e e p e r , Mustapha Aliko has said his side were fortunate to pull off a 2-1 win against hard fighting Zamfara United on Matchday 7 of the NNL at the Bako Kontagora Stadium, Minna on Saturday.

The Minna-based side edged forward through Shehu Shansu Sabole in the 51st minute while Zamfara equalised almost immediately through a well taken dead ball but the hosts grabbed the winner in the 89th minute through Simon Opiteku.

The victory takes the points haul of Godwin Koko Uwua’s team to 12 from a maximum of 21 points.

They will be away to ambitious Jos-based side, Mighty Jets on Matchday 8 in Jos next weekend.

Aliko said his side dreamed of amassing as much as four unreplied goals against the visitors.

“It was a difficult game perhaps we underrated Zamfara United because we were thinking of an easy win with a wide goal margin of up to four, five goals.

I’m excited we survived their scare and were able to pocket the three points at stake.

“The hard won victory will prepare us adequately for the crunch encounter against Mighty Jets in Jos next weekend. This win is a big boost going into the game.

“We’ll prepare harder to ensure we win valid points at Mighty Jets aimed at helping our push to the top of the log,” he said.

Niger Tornadoes lost their elite league status at the conclusion of the 2011/ 12 NPL season.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

Peoples Daily CLASSIFIED

B

enedict Moeng comfortably won a pedestrian men’s race, while Cornelia Joubert came out tops in a closely fought women’s battle at the SA Marathon Championships in Oudtshoorn yesterday.

Moeng crossed the line in

Kawauchi wins BeppuOita marathon apanese runner Yuki

J

Kawauchi broke his previous personal best and a meet record to beat London Olympian Kentaro Nakamoto in the last two kilometres and win the Beppu-Oita marathon on Sunday.

Kawauchi emerged victorious in a shoulder-toshoulder battle against compatriot Nakamoto after 28 kilometres before taking the lead at around the 40km point to cross the finishing line in two hours eight minutes 15 seconds.

Nakamoto also set his personal best of 2:08:35 to finish second, followed by compatriot Kenji Higashino third in 2:12:13.

“I’m really happy about my new personal best and a new meet record. I was able to set (the new record) because Nakamoto ran aggressively,” said Kawauchi, 25 Kawauchi failed to clear the bottom line of running under 2:07:59 set by the Japan Association of Athletics Federations for a place in the world championships in Moscow in August but still has a chance to qualify.

“I was a bit slower than 2:07:59, but I’m satisfied with my time. I had been always under pressure, but today, running with Nakamoto who was sixth in the London Olympics, I felt no pressure.

“Hopefully, I can compete against him again in the world championships in Moscow,” he added.

Moeng, Joubert win SA Marathon crowns an unimpressive time of two hours, 17 minutes, 32 seconds (2:17:32), easily holding off Lucky Mohale by more than two minutes.

Mohale finished second in 2:19:38 and defending champion Coolboy Ngamole, who stepped on the podium for the fourth year in succession, was third in 2:21:39.

Joubert, meanwhile, held off a strong challenge to secure the women’s crown in 2:46:13, with the first four women dipping under two hours, 50 minutes.

Kim Laxton bagged the

Benedict Moeng

Cornelia Joubert

RESULTS MEN: 1 Benedict Moeng (AGN) 2:17:3 2 Lucky Mohale (CGA) 2:19:38 3 Coolboy Ngamole (CGA) 2:21:39 4 Anthony Godongwana (AGN) 2:21:49 5 Othaniel Phahlane (AGN) 2:22:14 6 Pule Hlabahlaba (AFS) 2:22:51 7 Mazolisi Makhanda (EPA) 2:23:09 8 Lucky Miya (CGA) 2:23:50 9 George Ntshiliza (EPA) 2:24:04 10 Lucas Raseruthe (CGA) 2:25:00 WOMEN: 1 Cornelia Joubert (CGA) 2:46:13 2 Kim Laxton (CGA) 2:47:25 3 Melanie van Rooyen (KZNA) 2:48:35 4 Suzette Botha (KZNA) 2:49:38 5 Caroline Wostmann (AGN) 2:53:35 6 Kerry Koen (KZNA) 2:55:14 7 Ndofhiwa Mandiwana (AGN) 2:55:45 8 Kerryn Armstrong (WPA) 3:01:19 9 Bulelwa Simae (WPA) 3:02:54 10 Debbie Perry (KZNA) 3:08:49

It’s over for Spinks, Castillo as Lopez, Dirrell shine

V

eterans Juan Manuel Lopez, Jürgen Brähmer and Andre Dirrell have shown they can still fight at a decent level.

But for Cory Spinks and Jose Luis Castillo it is time to get out of the ring and join the league of former champions.

Spinks, fighting in his 47th professional bout, lost to Carlos Molina in Chicago on Saturday night and Castillo, in his 77th outing, was beaten by Antwone Smith in the same tournament.

Brähmer, a former WBO light-heavyweight champion, beat European light-heavyweight champion Eduard

RESULTS 1. Yuki Kawauchi (JPN) 2hr 08min 15sec 2. Kentaro Nakamoto (JPN) 2:08:35 3. Kenji Higashino (JPN) 2:12:13 4. Yoshiki Otsuka (JPN) 2:12:51 5. Masanori Ishida (JPN) 2:13:07 6. Michael Shelly (AUS) 2:13:12 7. Yu Chiba (JPN) 2:13:19 8. Naoya Hashimoto (JPN) 2:14:36 9. Masanori Sakai (JPN) 2:14:44 10. Tomoyuki Sato (JPN) 2:16:05.

silver medal in 2:47:25 and Melanie van Rooyen clinched bronze in 2:48:35.

The championships were expected to play a significant role in team selection for the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, Russia, in August, but nobody managed to reach the relatively undemanding qualifying standards.

Moeng missed the men’s qualifying mark of 2:17:00 by 32 seconds, and Joubert was more than three minutes outside the women’s standard of 2:43:00.

Juan Manuel Lopez

Gutknecht on points in Berlin – 114-113, 116-111 and 117-110.

Gutknecht was the aggressor but Brähmer landed the cleaner punches, despite being cut near the right eye in the fourth round. He also benefitted when Gutknecht was docked a point for illegal tactics in the ninth round.

Brähmer improved his record to 39-2, including 30 knockouts. Gutknecht dropped to 24-2; 9.

Lopez, a former junior featherweight and featherweight champion, stopped Aldimar Silva Santos in the ninth round of a junior lightweight bout in Bayamon, Puerto

Rico, taking his record to 32-1, with 29 knockouts.

Santos, who now stands at 18-4; 9, was knocked down in the fifth, seventh and ninth rounds before referee Luis Pabon stopped the fight.

Dirrell, back in the ring after more than a year, beat Michael Gbenga on points over ten rounds in McAllen, Texas, improving his record to 21-1; 14. The outclassed Gbenga dropped to 13-7; 13.

Molina, improving to 215-2, with only 6 knockouts, beat a faded Spinks (39-8; 11) on points 119-106 on two cards and 120-105 on the third over twelve rounds in a IBF junior middleweight title eliminator.

Former knockouts artist Castillo, whose professional record dropped to 64-12-1, with 55 shortcut wins, was beaten 100-90, 98-92 and 99-91 as Smith moved to 23-4-1; 12, after their junior middleweight bout.

Polish heavyweight Artur Szpilka (13-0; 10) stopped Chicago’s Mike Mallo (20-4-1; 12) in the sixth round and supermiddleweight Donovan George (24-3-1; 20) stopped James Cook (11-51; 8) in the first round.

Lightweight Jose Gonzales, rated No 1 by

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL OFFER OF STATUTORY RIGHT OF OCCUPANCY (R of O) ISSUED BY THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY, ABUJA, PLOT NO. 248 WITH FILE NO, AK20878 OF ABOUT 981.00sqm. BELONGING TO ANIEKAN JOHN UDOFIA, GOT MISSING. ALL EFFORT TO TRACE THE SAID DOCUMENT PROVED ABORTIVE. IF FOUND, PLEASE CONTACT ANY NEAREST POLICE STATION, AGIS, FCDA AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

LOSS OF DOCUMENT THIS IS TO INFORM THE GENERAL PUBLIC OF THE LOSS OF ORIGINAL CERTIFICATE OF OFFER OF THE TERMS OF GRANT/CONVEYANCE OF APPROVAL OF PLOT NO. 825 OF ABOUT 800SQ.M IN CHIKAKORE LAYOUT BYAZHIN, KUBWA BEARING JOY PATRICK GOT DESTROYED AS A RESULT OF WATER LICKAGE FROM THE DECKING OF THE BUILDING OF THE HOUSE OPPOSITE DENOYABS HOTEL BY LIBERTY JUNCTION, BYAZHIN. ALL AUTHORITIES CONCERN AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS GIWA FATIMAH BINTA, NOW WISHED TO BE ADDRESSED AS MRS. FATIMAH LAWAL. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTICE.

PUBLIC NOTICE JOURNALIST INITIATIVES FOR AWARENESS ON HEALTHY ATTITUDE (JOIN 4) THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE ABOVE NAMED ASSOCIATION HAS APPLIED TO THE CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION (CAC). ABUJA FOR REGISTRATION UNDER PART “C” OF THE COMPANIES AND ALLIED MATTERS ACT. 1990.

THE TRUSTEES ARE: 1.MUHAMMAD SALISU AUWAL 2.RABI’U IBRAHIM 3.KABIR ISA BALA 4.HAMISU UMAR KAIGAMA 5.HUSAINI BAKO 6.HUMMAI TANIMU 7.FOLORUNSHO ADUGBE AIMS AND OBJECTIVES 1. PUBLIC AWARENESS AND ENLIGHTENMENT TOWARD HEALTHY ATTITUDE. ANY OBJECTION TO THIS REGISTRATION SHOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE REGISTRAR GENERAL CORPORATE AFFAIRS COMMISSION, PLOT 420, TIGRIS CRESCENT MAITAMA, ABUJA WITHIN 28 DAYS OF THIS PUBLICATION. SIGNED BY: FARIDA M. KABIR 08184841106

the WBO, remained undefeated when he beat Alejandro Rodriguez, who did not come out at the bell for the sixth round.

Gonzalez now stands at 220; 17 and Rodriguez at 189; 10.

Flyweight McJoe Arroyo (12-0; 7) stopped Felipe Rivas (16-11-1; 9) in the fourth round and his brother McWilliams (14-1; 12) knocked out Miguel Tamayo (14-6-2; 12) in the fourth round, also at flyweight.

Another flyweight bout, between Jonathan Gonzalez (11-0; 10) and Omar Salado (23-5-2; 14), ended in a no-contest after only 73 seconds when Gonzalez was injured by what was ruled an unintentional rabbit punch.

London Olympic Games lightweight Felix Verdejo

(3-0; 2) stopped Jose Santiago (2-4; 2) in the third.

In LAS VEGAS, welterweight Frankie Gomez improved to 15-0; 11 when he beat Lanard Lane (13-3; 8) on points over ten rounds 100-90 on two cards and 98-92.

Lightweight Mickey Bey improved to 19-0-1; 10 when he knocked out Roberto Rodriguez (7-3; 3) in the third round.

Another 2012 Olympian, Joseph Diaz, knocked out Jose Ruiz in the third round of a bantamweight bout, improving to 2-0; 1.

Ruiz dropped to 2-3.

In BALLERUP, Denmark, heavyweight Claus Bertino moved to 154; 8 when he beat Humberto Evora (4-10-2; 3) on points over eight rounds 77-73 and 78-73 on the other cards.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 41

Kurfi urges Eagles to adopt Mali’s spirit

A

By Patrick Andrew

T

he Super Eagles’ 2-1 defeat of over rated Elephants of Cote d’ Ivoire in the AFCON quarter-final clash yesterday may have ended the international career of the skipper and legend of the Elephants- Didier Drogba.

Drogba, who had led the Elephants to three consecutive finals without managing to clinch the trophy, had been optimistic that he would drop the curtain of his international future at the 29th edition of the AFCON by winning the trophy this year.

But that has proved to be a mirage.

A goal each from Emmanuel Emenike and Sunday Mba ensured that the Eagles forced the Elephants’ exit at the last finals of the Africa Cup of Nations in a match decided in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg, yesterday. The Super Eagles will now play the Eagles of Mali in the semi-final.

Emenike had again stamped his credentials when he blasted home

It’s Burkina Faso vs Ghana

T

ogo’s dream of first semifinal berth ended in a mirage yesterday following the 1-0 loss to Burkina Faso in the last of the quarterfinal matches decided yesterday.

The Stallions secured the much needed breather in the first half of the 30 minutes extra-time and held on tenaciously till the referee’s blast of the final whistle.

midst the raging civil unrest in the Mali, their representatives, the Eagles of Mali have given the people something with their qualification for the semi-final of the AFCON in the face of travails.

Accordingly, the proprietor of Future Africa Football Academy, Alhaji Aminu Balele Kurfi has urged the members of the Super Eagles to learn

vital lessons from the commitment and resolve of their Malian counterparts.

Incidentally, the Super Eagles are billed to clash trade tackles with their northern neighbours from the West African axis and Alhaji Aminu believes the character, resilience and national fervour demonstrated by them were worthy of emulation.

“The Malians have shown

character.

They have displayed a rare mentality and patriotic zest that is uncommon with Nigerian players. Imagine, Seydou Keita paid the bonuses of the team the other day.

“Besides, as a leader he showed true leadership qualities in the way he commands the troop on the pitch. The Eagles can learn a lot because one of the major problems that the

Nigerian team in two previous matches was clear lack of leadership,” he said adding that the Eagles must emulate their exemplary conduct.

According to him, since sports and football in particularly has proved a rallying point for Nigerians, members of the Super Eagles should at all times reflect a mentality that’s never short of patriotism.

the opener to raise his tally in the tournament to three. But then, Cheick Tiote added spark to the glow of the Elephants when he drew them level on 66 minutes.

The goal gingered them as they began to threaten but that again was momentary. Mba took on the Elephants defence line, dismantled them and posted a gritty effort to re-established Nigeria’s lead just 12 minutes from time. A late rally from the Elephants yielded no dividends as the tournament favourites crashed out.

Keshi made only two changes to the Nigerian team that beat Ethiopia 2-0 in their last group C outing. Midfielder Fegor Ogude – suspended for picking up two yellow cards in the group stages – was replaced by Ogenyi Onazi, while striker Ikechukwu Uche made way for Brown Ideye.

Also, Coach Lamouchi re-jigged the squad that forced Algeria to 2-2 and included Yaya Toure among others in the line. That hardly contained Nigeria which dominated for most of the period.

The first real opportunity of the match fell to Nigeria’s Victor Moses, who made a darting run in the 10th minute, before drilling a shot at goal, but Ivorian goalkeeper Boubacar Barry parried the effort, before the defence cleared the danger.

Nigeria got their first sniff at goal in the 27th minute, with Brown Ideye laying the ball off to Emenike deep inside the Elephants’ half, but Emenike was unable to keep his shot down and blazed over Barry’s goal.

Nigeria kept up the pressure and

were deservingly rewarded two minutes from the interval, as Moses continued to trouble the Ivorian defence and was brought down outside of the area.

Emenike stepped up to take the resulting set-piece, unleashed a deadly long-range effort at goal and beating Barry, who was left stranded.

Ivory Coast came out into the second period looking to find a way back into the clash and were gifted an early opportunity when Didier Drogba was fouled just outside the Nigerian box.

Drogba delivered a neat ball toward the back post, finding an unmarked Tiote, who headed in

past goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama, levelling the scores early in the second half.

The Ivorians found their rhythm with the help of a boisterous crowd and stamped their authority on the game, with Drogba, Tiote and Salomon Kalou threatening the Nigerian defence.

Nigeria, meanwhile, had chances of their own, with Ideye heading a set-piece ball at Barry from close-range, but the Elephants’ shot-stopper was equal to the task and made a good save low down.

Shortly after, Toure was put through with a pinpoint pass that split the Nigerian defence, before the playmaker turned and rocketed

a shot at Enyeama, who parried away and kept the scores locked at 1-1.

The Super Eagles soaked up the pressure and stunned their opponents a second time when they snatched the lead through Mba, who was allowed space to run in the Ivory Coast half.

The striker passed three Ivorians before getting his shot away, which took a nasty deflection and looped past Barry.

With the lead back intact, Nigeria had to withstand a barrage of Ivorian attacks, as second half replacement Lacina Traore came close, but was thwarted by a resilient Nigeria defence.

Super Eagles retire Drogba as Nigeria send Ivory Coast crashing

Super Eagles jubilating after their historic win over the Elephants of Ivory Coast

Mark, Tambuwal hail Super Eagles victory

T

he Senate President, David Mark, and the Speaker of House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal have hailed Super Eagles for their 2-1 victory over the Elephants of Cote d’Ivoire at the ongoing Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in South Africa.

In separate statements yesterday the Chief Press Secretary to the Senate

President, Mr Paul Mumeh and the Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Malam Imam Imam, quoted their bosses congratulating the team for disappointing pundits that had written them off before the match.

“This victory has brought joy and smiles to the faces of Nigerians. I want you to sustain this triumphant momentum

and go all the way to lift the trophy. I salute Nigerians for their overwhelming support to the Eagles. We at the National Assembly will do the needful to reward them,” Mark said.

Similarly, Tambuwal said the victory was particularly noteworthy because the fledgling Eagles did not only trample on the Elephants but did so in a manner that left none in

doubt about their technical and tactical depth.

“The unity of purpose shown by the team only reaffirmed the notion that when all hands are on deck, achieving a common objective will be easier than expected,” Tambuwal said stressing that the nation expects nothing but the trophy from the Eagles.

The senate president urged

Nigerians to pray for the continued success of the team when they battle the winners of the Burkina Faso/Togo tie in the semi-final.

While congratulating the nation for the achievement, Tambuwal urged Nigerians to intensify prayers for the team and their handlers until the trophy is brought home to Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

PAGE 47

Yesterday’s solution

SUDOKU

Say what?

Some Interesting Facts •56,000,000 people go to Major League baseball each year.

•7% of Americans don't know the first 9 words of the American anthem, but know the first 7 of the Canadian anthem.

•85,000,000 tons of paper are used each year in the U.S. •99% of the solar systems mass is concentrated in the sun.

•A 10-gallon hat barely holds 6 pints.

•A cat has 32 muscles in each ear.

•A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

•A company in Taiwan makes dinnerware out of wheat, so you can eat your plate.

•A cow produces 200 times more gas a day than a person.

•A dime has 118 ridges around the edge.

•A dragonfly has a lifespan of 24 hours.

•A fully loaded supertanker travelling at normal speed takes a least twenty minutes to stop.

•A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue.

•A giraffe can go without water longer than a camel can.

•A goldfish has a memory span of three seconds.

•A hard working adult sweats up to 4 gallons per day. Most of the sweat evaporates before a person realizes it's there.

•A hedgehog's heart beats 300 times a minute on average.

•A hippo can open its mouth wide enough to fit a 4 foot tall child inside.

•A hummingbird weighs less than a penny.

•A jellyfish is 95 percent water.

PHOTO OF THE DAY

A grinning baby panda seems to wave a cheery hello in this amazing picture.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Aguero brilliance rescues Manchester City

C

hampions Manchester City lost more ground in the title race as they were held to a 2-2 draw in a thrilling encounter at home to Liverpool.

Edin Dzeko's 12th goal of the season put the hosts ahead from close range midway through the first half only for Daniel Sturridge to smash home his fourth in six matches since his move from Chelsea.

An even better trademark Steven Gerrard strike put Liverpool ahead with 17 minutes to go only but Sergio Aguero salvaged a point with an exquisite shot from the narrowest of angles.

However, it was not enough on a weekend when rivals Manchester United won and the result leaves Roberto Mancini's side nine points adrift of the leaders.

After criticising the youngsters in his side after their FA Cup exit to League One Oldham a week ago Brendan Rodgers selected Liverpool's oldest starting line-up (average age 28 years and 18 days) since Oct 2011.

It looked a sensible ploy as City have been imperious at home since before they won the title last May - losing just one of their last 41 league games - and they made their intent clear from the off.

A deft touch by Sturridge took Stewart Downing's lobbed pass past Hart in one move but he was denied a goal as Pablo Zabaleta got back to block.

Luis Suarez, busy without being particularly threatening, flashed a shot across Hart and wide of the far post as it seemed the visitors were about to take control.

Agger appeared to go through Dzeko to get the ball but referee Anthony Taylor saw no foul and with the Bosnia international collapsed on the turf in their own half Liverpool played on.

The boos grew louder as the Reds made their way upfield but almost a minute had expired with City momentarily winning the ball back on the edge of their area - before Sturridge scored.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE We are happy with the ceasefire; the president has always advocated for diallogue. Even after a long drawn war, combatannts still come to the roundtable to discuss peace.

— Vice President Namadi Sambo on Boko Haram’s ceasefire offer

A world without borders When a problem visits, it arrives with its own bed and table — African proverb

I

t seems such a long, long time ago when we had a world made up of nations. These were territorially-defined, legally recognized entities where sovereignty was located in the people and exercised by governments. They had rights, privileges and obligations in the manner they related with other members of the international community. They were also bound by international laws, conventions and institutions to conduct their internal affairs, particularly the manner in which basic government-citizen relations were conducted. It was an unequal world, with a few powerful and dominant nations changing the rules as they suited them, or as they were compelled to do when strategic interests clashed. Small and weak nations jostled for some space mostly taken up by big nations or clusters of nations, and the dynamism of the system guaranteed some global peace and limited inevitable conflicts between and within nations.

Then things changed dramatically. The collapse of a bipolar world which allowed a few weak nations to find succour and relief around powerful clusters of nations and interests exposed all and sundry to the realities of the dominance of the US and its allies, and the emergence of new powers on the global stage, such as China.

Rapid changes in military technology rendered territories and sovereignty of weak nations merely academic. Aggressive assaults on global pluralism converted international institutions such as the United Nations into instruments for achieving hegemony by the few over many. Emergence of regional economic and security bodies rendered old boundaries, markets and military structures obsolete.

The world became a confederation of groups, with one or two, such as NATO and EU asserting their world view as global standards. Value systems, economic production and distribution on a global scale and security issues came to be defined by the strong and the rich. The weak and poor nations suffered as they must, while the rich and powerful did as they willed.

From the late 1970s, militant governments and groups began to challenge US role in the global order. Flashpoints such as Israel, oil and gas supplies from the Middle East, and rising frustrations among millions in Muslim countries began to create tensions and hostility between the US and its allies (the West) on the one hand, and the Muslim world on the other. The collapse of the bipolar global structure and the vulnerability of international

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FIFTEEN MINUTES with Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed drbabaahmed@yahoo.com

US President Barack Obama organizations such as the United Nations to manipulation by strong nations, particularly NATO countries which robbed them of capacities to mediate relations, and set basic, legal benchmarks for conduct, heightened and prolonged many crises which could have been more easily contained or solved in the older system. The US emerged as the enforcer of a world order in which territorial integrity and sovereignty of other nations became virtually irrelevant to the degree that they threatened vital and strategic interests of the US and its allies. These interests were extensive and profound, and every world citizen was part of the strategy for achieving them, or subverting them.

As the US and its allies became targets of weaker nations and groups that espoused different value systems, the world became one massive battle front. The West improved its military technology to ensure that every inch of the globe is within striking reach; created alliances and reinforced relationships to enforce regional compliance with its interests, and transformed international institutions and re-wrote international laws, conventions and protocols in a way that allowed it to act as it wished at the global stage. After the 9/11 attacks, the US government introduced its most drastic legislation against its own citizens, inhibiting their basic rights for what it saw as a prelude to an effective fight against global terror.

The world duly took notice. The fight against terror provided the excuse for near total US and allies'

dominance and action at every nook and cranny of the globe. It gave the cover for the war in Iraq, in Afghanistan and parts of Pakistan. It was the reason for the ouster and murder of Ghaddafi. It was the motivation behind the establishment of the US African High Command (AFRICOM); the determination to stop Iran developing a nuclear capability, and the radical improvements in military technology and deployments such as the drone, spy satellites, military bases in farflung territories, and the aggressive subversion of regional organizations which could resist the muscle of the West.

The new frontier in the fight against terror is the Sahel and the Maghreb. Decades of local grievances, a hostile and difficult terrain which gave cover for large scale crimes of trafficking in humans, drugs, small arms and militant ideas and tendencies combined with the spreading influence of militant Islamic groups to threaten fragile democracies like Mali; large nations with perennially corrupt governments like Nigeria; and Muslim nations with decades of history of repression against citizens like Algeria.

It is an indicator of the failure of regional organizations like ECOWAS and the dominance of the US and its NATO allies, that the assault on the threat in Mali and the Sahel is being spearheaded by France. Two decades ago, Nigeria successfully led the resistance against rebels in Liberia and Sierra Leone. Now ECOWAS countries are foot soldiers behind France's blitz into Mali, and its allies are lending technical support and intelligence, while African troops and nations will be used to legitimize its involvement. The US alone will be spending about $95m in Mali.

Members of the African Union and their friends (the West) just raised over $400m in support of the Mali campaign.

You have to ask what are the short and long term strategic interests of France, US and NATO in Mali. The short-term goal has virtually been accomplished.

Most of northern Mali has been cleared of rebels. Is France likely to maintain a presence in northern Mali, and for how long?

If African nations take over security and the fight against the

possible resurgence of rebel activities in the north, what will be their mandate? Are there plans against possible emergence of hostile groups in Mauritania, southern Algeria, northern Niger and even other parts of northern Mali?

It is quite probable that the thinking in the US, France and NATO is that they should have an extensive and prolonged presence in the entire Sahel. This will explain the plans by the US government to deploy bases for use by drone aircraft, which, reports say, have been approved by the government of Niger. Drones are relatively easy to deploy, serve multiple purposes, and can be used to obviate mundane concerns such as violations of territorial integrity and airspace. They are active in Pakistan and Afghanistan, and have been the single most unpopular symbol of US presence in the region. For every suspected life they took, they have taken ten innocent lives. The public hate them. Governments complain over them, but are powerless to stop them. They are popular with US government because they kill, maim and destroy foreign suspects without putting a single American life at risk. A single man can decide to direct a drone operation from the comfort of his chair in the US, and a wedding party or a gathering of young people will register casualties within a few hours in a country thousands of miles away.

If the government of Niger Republic is contemplating approving a request by the US government for bases for drones, it should be told very strongly by the Nigerian government that it should not approve it. Drones in Niger will heighten tensions in the entire region, and jeopardize relations in the ECOWAS subregion. It will endanger every citizen in the region. Nigerien citizens will resent it. What happens in Niger will affect Nigeria. US drones will threaten security of Niger, Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region.

They must not be allowed in any country in Africa.

If the government of Niger Republic has taken the decision to allow US drone activity from its soil, Nigerian government should take every step to show its displeasure. Niger cannot, and should not contemplate a souring of relations with Nigeria. If the Nigerian government has been consulted by the government of Niger Republic, and as expressed no objection to the stationing of US drones in Niger, Nigerians should condemn the action of our government. We have made many mistakes in the manner we reacted to the threats to our lives and our nation. Allowing US drones in Niger Republic will be one of the worst mistakes we will make.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos. Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 805 727 9862. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141