Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday, April 05, 2012

Gunmen kill Katsina FMC finance director, 7 traders in Maiduguri

PAGES 3 & 5

Vol. 8 No. 10

Thursday, April 5, 2012

Jimadal Ula 14, 1433 AH

N150

Peacekeeping operations

Policemen accuse high command of extortion

By Lambert Tyem

M

embers of a contingent of the Nigerian Police who served in a United Nations (UN) Peacekeeping Mission in Haiti last year have

accused the police high command of short-changing them in the payment of their allowances after their return to the country.

A representative of the 140man contingent who spoke to our

reporter on condition of anonymity alleged that each of the 140 officers and men was short-changed to the tune of $556 (or N86,736) by the police authorities.

The amount allegedly extorted from the

allowances of the 140 of them totalled to N121.4 million.

According to our source, “Each of us was entitled to $1000 (about N156,000) per month, making it a total of $7, 000 ( or N1.09 million). However, to our

dismay we were given $6,444 each without any explanation on what happened to the balance�.

The police officer further alleged that N450,000 estacodes for each of the officers which was Contd on Page 2

North marginalised, endangered, says Al-makura From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

G

overnor Umaru Tanko Al-makura of Nasarawa state has observed that the North as a political entity has not only been marginalised but is also endangered, with the region lagging behind in terms of development because of the lopsidedness in the Contd on Page 2

R-L: Nasarawa state Governor, Alhaji Umaru Tanko Al-makura, receiving some copies of Peoples Daily from Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Peoples Media Ltd, Malam Ali M. Ali, during a visit by the management of the media organisation to the governor, at Government House, yesterday in Lafia, Nasarawa state.

INSIDE

Hisbah screens 372 for matchmaking >>PAGE 2

Fuel subsidy probe report ready April 16

NASS meets Jonathan over 2012 budget

>>PAGE 2

Drama as passenger steals N.2m in aircraft

>>PAGE 3

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

>>PAGE 4

Magistrate orders arrest of 16 journalists >>PAGE 5

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Tribute

26

Earth

27

Discourse

30

UniAbuja students protest against suspension of faculties

S

tudents of University of Abuja yesterday protested against the suspension of courses at the Faculties of Medicine, Agriculture, Veterinary Medicine and Engineering by the Federal Government.

The Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufa'i, announced the suspension on Tuesday, citing lack of facilities and failure to accredit the courses by the National Universities Commission.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Giri-Airport Road was blocked for more

than two hours by the protesting students, who carried placards with the inscription: “Adelabu must go”.

Prof. James Adelabu is the Vice Chancellor of the university.

Some of the students, who spoke with NAN, called for the reversal of the suspension, adding that they were not responsible for the problems of the faculties.

A student of veterinary medicine, who declined identification, blamed the problems on non-release of funds for the procurement of facilities needed for the accreditation of the faculties.

“It is wrong for government to make the innocent students to suffer for the offence they know nothing about.

“Our position is for government to reverse the suspension and provide more funds that will enhance full accreditation of the affected faculties.”

Adelabu addressed the students at the university gate and appealed to them to tread the path of peace.

He said the management was doing its best to ensure that the students were incorporated into other universities that had been accredited. (NAN)

Fuel subsidy probe report ready April 16

By Ahmed Shekarau

C

hairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Honourable Zakari Mohammed, yesterday assured that the House will receive the report of its ad-hoc committee which investigated the management of fuel subsidy in the country, once it reconvenes from the Easter break on April 16.

Addressing newsmen at the National Assembly, the House spokesman also assured that

the green chamber was determined to televise the forth-coming probe on the capital market when it commences.

He said this was necessary because the House was ready to use the opportunity of the probe to clear the doubts that Nigerians are having on its sincerity in conducting the myriad of probes that are ongoing.

Astounding revelations were made during the probe of the ad-hoc committee led by Hon. Faruk Lawan, which

lasted more than 10 weeks on how the nation’s fuel subsidy was being mismanaged.

For instance, it came to light during the probe that no fewer than 100 marketers had illegally collected funds to the tune of almost one trillion Naira of tax payers' money under the cover of subsidy.

The ad-hoc committee had also reportedly demanded that marketers who took illegal subsidy funds must pay back the collected funds or face criminal proceedings against their persons and businesses.

Hisbah screens 372 for match-making

T

he Kano State Hisbah Com mand has screened 372 out of 1, 000 persons to be married in April in match-making.

The Public Relations Officer of the command, Malam Musa Tanko, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in an interview in Kano yesterday that the command had received a large number of interested persons for match-making.

He said that the 1,000 interested persons would be screened in the first round and that the first 100 would be married very soon.

Tanko said “24 out of the 372 screened were females and most of them have even got suitors already, although most of them were shy to show their faces at the venue of the screening."

Tanko said that the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero, would be the father of the brides, while the state Governor, Dr. Rabi'u Kwankwaso, would act as the father of the grooms.

NAN reports that the Kwankwaso administration initiated the match-making to reduce the hardships of widows and divorcees in the state.

The applicants will be empowered and married off to interested persons. (NAN)

Policemen accuse high command of extortion Remembering Jarman Kano, Dankabo, 10 years after, Page 26

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Contd from Page 1 supposed to be paid has not yet been paid, almost a year after their return.

The peacekeeper said all their efforts to ensure that they were paid the money has been fruitless, as according to him, both the officer that led the contingent, CSP Mamman Dauda and the officer-in-charge of Peacekeeping Unit at the Force Headquarters, ACP Mohammed Zanna, have not been forthcoming on the issue.

Reacting to the allegations, however, the Police Public Relations Officer, Mr. Olusola Amore, a Deputy Commissioner of Police, insisted that members of the contingent have been paid all their allowances as

stipulated and as and when due.

He argued that the authorities discovered that the officers, during their peacekeeping operations in Haiti, were overpaid certain allowances, and therefore ultimately retrieved. “It was discovered that the officers were over paid. They were paid $1,028 instead of $1,000 for six months”, he said, stressing that this necessitated the recovery.

DCP Amore, while neither confirming nor denying the nonpayment of the officers’ estacodes, said the Ministry of Police Affairs has the sole responsibility of paying that, but that if they have not been paid it may be because funds meant for the payment have not been

provided, “and so it’s not the Police high command’s fault”.

Complaints over underpayment of allowances of Nigerian military and police officers and men involved in international peacekeeping operations galore in recent times.

It will be recalled that 27 Nigerian soldiers involved in peacekeeping operations in Liberia were sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2008, for protesting alleged cheating, stealing and diversion of their allowances by some military accounting officers.

Similarly, writing in his column titled “Failing State, fading peacekeepers” in Peoples Daily of Friday, March 16, 2012, former Minister of Federal

Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir el-Rufai, noted that available records have shown that series of rape on funds meant for welfare of Nigeria’s military and police personnel has over time impacted negatively on their performances.

The former FCT minister further noted, for instance, that, “poor feeding also affects the performance of our troops. The UN pays for the feeding of the troops but in our case, the money is provided to the home government to ensure the inclusion of local content. What is ultimately provided by the MOD/Presidency contractors never meets the expected international standards”.

North marginalised, endangered, says Al-makura Contd from Page 1 revenue sharing formula of the federation.

Al-makura made the observation yesterday, while hosting the management of Peoples Media Limited, publishers of Peoples Daily and Peoples Daily Weekend, who paid him a courtesy visit at the Government House in Lafia.

The governor who lamented the indices employed in determining the derivation policy, which he said was disadvantageous to the North, also decried insinuations from

other parts of the country that the region is “parasitic, waiting to receive dole outs in order to survive.”

Al-makura’s comment is not unconnected with recent agitations from northern leaders for the review of the revenue formula against the backdrop of endemic poverty that is generally assumed to have galvanised the insecurity currently plaguing the region, especially the activities of Boko Haram insurgents.

While tasking leaders to lead by example, he listed two role models whose guidance were

germane in his quest to see that Nasarawa state contributes to the development of the North — the late Northern Premier, Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto, who did not discriminate against anybody irrespective of tribe or religion and Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, for his discipline.

Earlier, leader of the visiting team and Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Peoples Media Limited, Malam Ali M. Ali, said they were in the state to felicitate with the governor over his victory at the Supreme Court and to see how the

company could collaborate with the state government to further its cause and that of the North, which is the company’s main focus.

Malam Ali called on northern governments to patronise emerging newspapers from the area, stressing that such publications were in vantage positions to tell the story of the region better than media organisations from the South.

Other members of the visiting team include Abdulazeez Abdullahi, General Manager, Publications and Hussaini Abdulrahman, Head, Advert and Marketing.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

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Gunmen kill Katsina FMC director From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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unme n suspected to be hired assassins, yesterday, killed Alhaji Kabir Yahaya, 56, an assistant director of finance at the Federal Medical Center, Katsina.

Our correspondent gathered that the assailants invaded the house of the deceased located in Tudun Mutawalle off IBB Way,

Katsina around 2:30 am yesterday and shot the deceased on the neck where he died instantly.

A friend of the deceased from Kano, Alhaji Baba Ado who was in the house during the incident, told newsmen that the assailants numbering about 19 who invaded the house shot their victim on the head before waking other people in the house.

“After killing him, they came

to the room where we were sleeping and asked us to take them where the deceased keeps his gold.

When we told them that he doesn’t deal in gold, they led us into the house and when they searched the rooms and could not get any gold, they left the house,” he added.

Similarly, our correspondent gathered that the assailants collected an undisclosed sum of money from the deceased before

killing him.

A police patrol team that was attracted to the area by the sporadic gun shots ran into the assailants who on spotting the police opened fire on their vehicle.

Our correspondent who met the police vehicle riddled with bullets learnt that the officers on the vehicle jumped out of it when they came under fire and took cover where they were lucky as none of them was hit by the

assailant’s bullets.

When contacted, the Katsina police spokesman, ASP Muhammad Shehu Koko, confirmed the incident and said the police would soon issue a statement.

The deceased, Alhaji Kabir Yahaya according to family sources left behind four wives and 26 children. He was buried yesterday in Katsina in accordance with Islamic rites.

Oyo workers allege threats to lives From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he on-going strike in Oyo state took a dangerous dimension yesterday, as the officials of the state council of Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU) cried out over alleged threats to their lives.

The officials, in a statement issued by Comrades Kehinde Oparinde and Dupe Adewoye, state chairman and organising secretary of NCSU respectively, alleged that some labour leaders had been after their lives for daring to order their members to suspend the strike and go back to work.

It would be recalled that the union, acting on the directive from its national headquarters, had last week bowed out of the ongoing strike embarked upon by workers over the agitation for new minimum wage and directed its members to resume work immediately.

“Our union decided to agree on the current table to forestall the possibility of government retrenching workers,” they said.

Robbers attack LG secretariat, cart away salaries From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

rme d robbers attacked Katagum local government area Account Office and took away workers March salaries in Bauchi state yesterday.

It was gathered by our reporter that the local government staff that were still waiting to collect their March salaries were shocked by the unfortunate incident.

The deputy caretaker chairman of the local government, Alhaji Hamisu Abdu confirmed the incident to newsmen in Bauchi yesterday, saying that the incident occurred on Monday night around 2 pm when gunmen suspected to be armed bandits raided the local government secretariat with dangerous weapons and plundered undisclosed amount of money meant for staff salaries.

When contacted, the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) of the Bauchi state command, Hassan Muhammad, said “we are yet to received the report on arm robbery in Katagum LGA, but I promise to talk to the press when any report as such come sto us.”

R-L: Vice- President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Deputy Chief of Staff State to the President, Alhaji Abubakar Kachalla, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, and Chief of Staff to the President, Chief Mike Ogiadomhe, discussing during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Magistrate orders arrest, assault of journalists From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

I

n a display of show of power and arrant abuse of magisterial office, Magistrate A.A. Oshoniyi of an Ikeja Magistrate Court, yesterday ordered immediate arrest, assault and detention of journalists covering a coroner inquest proceedings which was later adjourned till April 25, 2012.

The crisis began, when a female prosecutor/social worker who was in mufti and identified herself as Rose raised her voice and asked journalists who were gathered at the corridor to vacate the premises.

While trying to explain

themselves and asking the prosecutor to be civil in her approach, Magistrate Oshoniyi came down from her seat and ordered immediate arrest of the journalists.

“Do you know where you are at all? Oya, arrest them all. Go and lock up all of them,” the Magistrate roared.

Immediately after the Magistrate gave the order, a female police officer with the name Mariam Joseph, swooped on Wale Busari, a judicial correspondent with Silverbird Television, grabbed his cloth and was about dragging him away.

His resistance led other

judicial staff in the area to clamp down on other journalists. After a brief lull, the female prosecutor who earlier shouted at the journalists arrived at the scene in the company of four armed uniformed police officers.

Without asking any question, the police officers swooped on journalists, beating them with gun butts and dragging them on the floor.

One of the policemen, Olakekan Ajayi, dealt a heavy blow on Wahab Abdullah of Vanguard newspaper and that emboldened others officers who wasted no time in assaulting, dragging and beating journalists.

After the hustling and shuffling, about 10 of the journalists were shuffled into a 14 seater police bus with number plate, Lagos XJ 812 Epe. “Because you are journalists does not make you above the law.

"I will deal with you mercilessly," Ajayi, the police officer raining punches on Wale Busari, shouted.

An unidentified superior of Ajayi also instructed, "use maximum force on him”.

The journalists were later released on the instruction of the Court Registrar, Mr. Ganiu Safari and further intervention of the Chairman and Secretary of the Nigeria Bar Association, Ikeja branch.

21-year-old KWASU kidnapped student regains freedom From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

21-year-old student of Kwara State University (KWASU), Malete, Ridwan Adeleye of the Department of Business Administration, who was kidnapped by suspected ritualists along Yoruba road, Ilorin, has been released after he ‘tested negative’ for the alleged money ritual.

Peoples Daily learnt that the student of the institution, who was staying with his uncle received a

bank alert that his father had sent a money into his savings account on Thursday last week, but he later found himself in the hand of his abductors.

While speaking with our correspondent on his ordeal, Adeleye disclosed that after he had collected the money from the bank, he stopped a taxi to take him back home but instead, the suspected ritualist turn to another route.

“I was at Challenge to

withdraw money. Unfortunately, as I wanted to enter a car, I said I am going around Taiwo, as I discovered when we reached the Yoruba road side, and it was like they wanted to pass through the Railway. So I challenged the man and asked him why he wanted to pass through that way. The man said he wanted to avoid the traffic hold up at post office that is why he wanted to pass through that way. That is all I could remember”.

Adeleye who was discharged from the hospital added that “later when I recovered myself, I remember that they took me to an uncompleted building.

From there, I discovered that I found myself in one room. I could not communicate with anybody. I could not see anyone coming in or going out. I was the only person inside. I noticed that someone came in and drew blood from my body with a syrin ge.”

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

JTF not out to molest anyone, says GOC From Bala Nasir, Kano

T

he General Officer Commanding (GOC), One Mechanised Division, Kaduna, Major-General Garba Ayodeji Wahab has said that the Joint Task Force (JTF) is in Kano to bring peace and not out to molest or punish civilians.

The GOC who was in Kano on an official visit to Army formations under his command, was responding

Claims 3 Boko Haram members killed to alleged killing of two women in the state capital by the JTF. He said soldiers were professionals who would not descend to killing the same people they are out to protect.

Major-General Wahab also announced the killing of three gunmen suspected to be members of Boko Haram last Tuesday after

a gun duel at an unspecified location in Kano.

The GOC, who refused to mention the location for security reasons, stated that the three men were gunned down by JTF after a complain by a civilian that his car was just snatched by the three men.

Knowing that they were being awaited by the JTF, he said the

three men started shooting when they arrived at the next checkpoint, adding that the men were identified with the description of the snatched car.

“During the brief but intense encounter, three of the terrorist elements were gunned down. An immediate search conducted on the vehicle revealed that the

Projects: MDGs asks govs to hurry up as it closes shop in 2014

L-R: Director of Judicial Affairs, American University of Nigeria (AUN), Mr. Abdul Omar, Assistant Dean of Students Affairs of AUN, Mr. Bello Abdullahi, Director Admissions of AUN, Basil Fahmy, and 1st Deputy Chairman, Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, Alhaji Mohammed Sani, during AUN Career Fare, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Court of Appeal, Abuja Division yesterday ordered that the suits challenging the election and inauguration of Captain Idris Wada as the executive governor of Kogi state pending before Justice Donatus Okorowo of a Federal High Court in Abuja be re-assigned to another Judge by the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Justice Ibrahim Auta.

The three-member panel led

by Justice Zainab Bulkachuwa, also ordered de-consolidation of the suits filed by the two governorship aspirants of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi state, Mr. Oyebode Makinde and Alhaji Jibril Isah Echocho seeking to unseat

By Abubakar Ibrahim

T

Kogi guber: Appeal Court orders transfer of case to another judge Captain Wada from the Kogi state governorship seat.

The appellate court, in a short ruling after receiving the report of agreements reached by parties in the appeal brought before it by Chief Chris Uche, the counsel representing Captain Wada challenging the decision of the lower court which consolidated the suits, also ordered that the two suits be given accelerated hearing at the lower court.

Wada had asked the Appeal Court to de-consolidate the Echocho and Makinfde’s suits,

order the remittance of the two suits to the Chief Judge of the federal High Court for reassignment to another Judge, other than Justice Okorowo.

Uche alleged that Justice Okorowo made a pronouncement on issues that touch on the substance of the suits at an interlocutory stage and as such, there was no point going back to the same Judge.

The court which allowed all the reliefs brought before it by Wada, however ordered that parties in the de-consolidated suits should adopt

their written addresses when the matter comes up at the lower court before a new Judge.

Efforts by the counsel representing Echocho, Chief Wole Olanipekun, to convince the court that Wada had no appeal before the Appeal Court proved abortive.

In his objection to Uche’s application, Olanipekun told the court that if the court granted the request for transfer of the case to another judge, it would amount to an indictment on the part of Justice Okorowo, who was hearing the matter before the appeal.

FG launches polio torch campaign in Borno

By A’isha Biola Raji

N

ational Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), in conjunction with Federal Government has launched polio torch campaign in Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

In a statement signed by Saadu Salahu Head, Public Relations Unit of NPHCDA, the Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate assured the people and government of Borno state of its full support and commitment in

occupants had 2 AK 47 rifles, 1 pistol, 1 locally manufactured pistol, 47 rounds of 7.62mm special and 6 rounds of 9mm ammunition.”

He said that members of Boko Haram are planning another major attack in Kano and have gone into car snatching and kidnapping to finance the attack.

He called on the people of the state to cooperate with the security agencies with a view to restoring security.

the current efforts to ensure peace, stability and wellbeing of the people.

Dr. Pate disclosed this in demonstration of his commitment to reduction of maternal mortality and infant morbidity saying, “President Goodluck Jonathan has inaugurated the Presidential Taskforce on Polio Eradication in the country.”

The minister, who is the chairman of the Presidential Taskforce, expressed delight on the achievements of Borno state government on polio eradication

effort and primary healthcare in general stressing that the achievements were impressive, given the security challenge in the state.

In his remark, the Executive Director, NPHCDA, Dr. Ado Muhammad assured that the minister’s call on development partners to return to Borno would be followed up effectively.

According to him, scorecard of Borno state government showed that in spite of the security challenges, all

indicators confirmed that the state fulfilled its obligations on Abuja Declaration of commitment by Governors on Polio Eradication initiative in the country.

In his keynote address, Governor Kashim Shettima reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to polio eradication in the country and Borno state in particular.

The duo also paid an advocacy visit to Governor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state at Government House, Damaturu.

he Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr. Precious Gbeneol has appealed to state governments to put in place machinery that will ensure completion of projects under the scheme and delivered for the beneficiary communities within the set time.

Gbeneol who said this during a courtesy call on her by Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state on Tuesday, said quick completion of projects was important since performance dictated the amount of funds allocated for MDGs in subsequent years.

While noting that the timeline for the drawdown of curtain on MDGs is less than 36 months away, SSAP said the MDGs projects currently going on across the country were being executed with funds released last year and that her office is ready to release more funds to the States for the year 2012 projects.

“So, I want to urge that these funds are utilised on time and we are able to accomplish all our projects on time this year because I don’t think the budget implementation time is going to be extended and more so, we don’t have luxury of time as we wind down in this administration and close the curtain on MDGs”.

According to Gbeneol, N1.3 billion and N300 million was extended to the state and three local governments respectively in 2011 as counterpart funding for the MDGs projects.

The SSAP added that the MDGs would scale up its investments in the State this year and therefore appealed to Governor Obi to start capacity building, provide the counterpart funding for new projects as well as ensure that ongoing projects were completed and delivered for commissioning.

Speaking, the governor said that Anambra state was set to meet the MDGs 2015 target date and that this has prompted the state to adopt those goals as the vision of the state.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 7

Niger govt donates N2.2m for Presidential debate From Iliya Garba, Minna

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Deputy Director, Public Relations,Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETF), Mr.Sam Piwuna (left), submitting verification report of his team on University of Abuja to ASUU President, Professor Ukachukwu Awuzie (right), who stood in for Chairman of Needs Assessment Committee of Nigerian Public Universities, on Tuesday in Abuja. With them is Committee Secretary, Mr. Femi Melefa (middle).

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Benue deaf protest, block access to Govt House From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

B

enue State Association of the Deaf yesterday staged one of their annual protests over neglect by the state government.

The deaf even engaged policemen in a scuffle as they sat on the road preventing cars from gaining entrance into the

Government House.

Chairman of the association Mr. Tardoo Amande who led over 100 of his members to block the Government House gate in Makurdi, carried placards some of which read: "Equal right and opportunity", "No employment for Benue state deaf, "see the suffering of Benue deaf", "we need business, employment and break

through".

Mr. Amande lamented their pains and sufferings as a result of government's continued refusal to provide support to them in areas of skills acquisition or employment that would permanently change their lives rather than beg for alms on the streets.

The chairman said they had approached the Ministry of

Parents accuse teachers of spearheading strike in Oyo From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

A

n interest group, Association of Concerned Parents of Oyo State, has accused teachers in the state of spearheading the ongoing strike to jeopardise the educational development of their children and wards.

In a statement issued in Ibadan yesterday by its chairman, Chief Moses Oderinde, the association berated teachers in public

schools leading the industrial action. ``It is highly unfortunate that the teachers, who are supposed to be concerned with the progress of their pupils, are the ones threatening fire and brimstone, if the strike is ever called off. ``It is so bad that even when their leaders, who appeared to have exhibited enough understanding with the government , suggested that the strike should be suspended to

allow for further negotiation on the minimum wage, it is this group of teachers who have refused to be convinced,'' the association said.

It expressed regret that at a time when the teachers ought to be concerned with how their students would come out in flying colours in the forthcoming WAEC and NECO examinations, they had allowed themselves to be used to further worsen the already troubled education sector in the state.

Women Affairs/ Social Development as well as that of Education but were turned down as both commissioners said the governor had not approved any initiative for them.

"Many deaf people are tired. We are hungry. We are humans too and therefore need to be encourage to live like others", Amande cried out.

Students protest is unfortunate, says Bauchi commissioner From: Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

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auchi state Commissioner of Health, Dr. Sani Malami Abubakar has described as unfortunate the action of some “disgruntled elements alleged to have been students of the state polytechnic who sabotaged government's good intention to

UBA denies involvement in N3bn police pension scam

By Ali Alkali

T

he United Bank of Africa, UBA, has denied involvement in N3billion police pension scam, as reported by many newspapers, describing it as "misrepresentation", even though the bank admitted that it maintains the account in which the said controversial N3bn police pension fund was lodged.

"UBA is one of the banks where the police pension fund account is maintained." (But) "We have been constrained to issue this press release to put records straight and clear the misrepresentation that the reports have created."

In a statement signed Charles

Aigbe, Divisional Head, Marketing and Corporate Relations, Lagos, the banks said: "Contrary to reports, the Police Pension Office account was opened with an approval from the Accountant-General of the Federation. There are no records of the account in the name(s) of individuals.

"The account was opened for the purpose of paying the pension benefits of retired police officers has the authorisation of the office of the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation."

The statement said the account was opened on June 29, 2011; and "an inflow of N3bn from the Police Pension Fund was credited into the

account on July 22, 2011."

It maintained that UBA broke no law because it has acted in a very professional manner by following the instructions given by minister of finance concerning the account.

"On September 15, 2011, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and the Minister of Finance, wrote a letter to UBA endorsing the signatories, freezing the account and mandating that no transactions are conducted on the account except through her direct supervision. This mandate has since been upheld. Till date, there have been no transactions conducted on this account," the bank said.

CSM outbreak claims five lives

he sum of N2.2 million has been donated by the Niger state government to support school children from the state who qualified to represent the six states in the North Central Zone including FCT in a presidential debate coming up by June this year in Abuja.

The Commissioner for Education, Dr. Peter Sale Sarki made this known yesterday at a post-executive council briefing at the Government House, saying education is one of the key areas of human endeavor for the realisation of national goals and programmes hence the need to attach it optimum attention.

He said that revival of clubs in schools would improve the education of children to enable them compete with children in other countries.

He said the debating club introduced in the education system of the state has helped our children to exchange ideas, adding that parent should encourage their wards to belong to the club for academic excellence.

Dr. Sarki stated that the pupils have used Thing Fall Apart by Chinue Achebe to depict climate change in their drama recently and urged parents to always push their wards into such club.

in Adamawa A diseas e s usp ect ed to be cer ebro spi nal meni ngit is (CSM) has claimed five lives in Lamurde local government area of Adamawa state.

In a motion on a matter of urg ent publ ic i mpor tanc e, Mr. Mic hael Zid on, who rep rese nts Lamu rde consituency in the Adamawa House of Assembly, said the disease had claimed five lives in the area with many others hospitalised.

Zidon urged the House to as a m atte r of urg ency to mandate the relevant health officials to rush to the area to handle the epidemic.

construction a new specialist hospital”.

Dr. Abubakar who was reacting to a protest staged by some students of the institution on the relocation of the school of management studies to the polytechnic's permanent site along Jos road in Bauchi, said the “retrogressive elements were sponsored to embarrass the government”.

"We have received information that a group of people who claimed to be students of the State Polytechnic were at the press centre to address a press conference, I have confirmed through reliable source that they are not actually authentic students but a group of miscreants sponsored to embarrass the government", he said.

The Commissioner stated that any student worth the name of the institution would know that having a Specialist Hospital for the rapidly expanding Bauchi metropolis would be welcome by any right thinking individual.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PHOTOS: NAN. Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed (left), presenting keys of five Hilux patrol vans donated to the representative of the state Commissioner of Police, Mr Abdul Bube, on Tuesday at Government House, in Ilorin.

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L-R: Wife of Vice-President, Hajiya Amina Namadi Sambo, Sudan First Lady, Mrs Widad Babiker Omar, and Manager, Sanad Charitable Foundation, Mrs Samiali Mohammed Usman, during a visit

by Hajiya Amina to the foundation, on Tuesday in Khartoum, Sudan.

2

L-R: Commandant, Armed Forces Command and Staff College (AFCSC), Air Vice Marshal Ahmed Mu'azu, Director of Sports, Defence Headquarters, Commodore Benjamin Nathus, and Deputy Commandant, AFCSC, Rear Admiral Duke Usuofa, during a security training workshop, recently in Jaji, Kaduna state.

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Roof of a building damaged by rain storm at Garko village, recently in Abuja.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

OBJ’s aide says resignation CAN calls for has no political undertone religious dialogue From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

F

ollowing the resignation of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), one of his close associates and former chairman of the party in Ogun state, Elder Joju Fadairo, has ruled out any political undertone over the resignation.

Speaking to newsmen in Abeokuta, Fadairo described Obasanjo as "normal and a sign of a great democrat", adding further "Baba left when the ovation was loudest, we are very proud of him and as a democrat; he has demonstrated that he is actually a great democrat. He had served well in that position".

He described Obasanjo as a world leader, whose schedule is

very tight now, stressing that "I can tell you that his programme for the month of May is filled up. So if he resigns there is nothing wrong".

The former PDP boss in Ogun state added that "Baba had paid his dues in the scheme of things in the PDP. That the world still requires his service and his personal projects are there to attend to."

"I can assure you that there is a good replacement for him."

From Ayodele samuel, Lagos

T

he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) under the leadership of Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor is committed to the principle of progressive religious dialogue to address the spate of terrorism attacks in the country.

The Special Adviser to the CAN President on Conflict Resolution and Terrorism Matters, Pastor Ladi Thompson who stated this in a release, said the Church in Nigeria seeks to build a consensus on the need to identify and isolate the individuals, groups and countries who form the Islamist coalition that threaten the continued wellbeing of the c o u nt r y .

"The specter of an Islamist Nigeria is not something that this world can afford and we are prepared to work with anyone that will assist in ensuring that uniform justice is applied

across the board.

"The senseless massacres must cease and religious freedom must be preserved.

This is what "progressive religious dialogue" is all about and CAN will cooperate with all religious bodies, international concerns and governments that will work to find a lasting and peaceful solution to the real and present danger", Thompson said.

"It is for this reason that the CA N p resi den t h as co nsi sten tly de mand ed an up grad e o f th e " rel igio us di alog ue" pla tfo rms to "p rogr ess ive rel igio us di alo gue" wh ere th e overa ll ef fect s o f t he e xer cis es a re mo nito red bot h lo cal ly a nd in ter nati ona lly wit h t he in clus ion of sea son ed ar bitr ato rs if n eed be . Th is shift is again in concordance with biblical injunctions that it is the truth that makes free and principles upheld by the United Nations", he stated.

‘Pure’ water sale soars in Kano - Survey

S L-R: Vice-President, Nigerian Internet Registration Association (NIRA), Mr. Sunday Folayan representative of Minister of Communications, Mrs. Moni Udoh, Director General, National Information Technology Development Agency, Professor Cleopas Angaye, and President of NIRA, Mrs. Mary Uduma, during a workshop for federal ministries, departments and agencies , yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

atchet water hawkers are now enjoying a boom in Kano due to the scorching heat being experienced in the are a.

A survey by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano in the past one week revealed that most vendors of the water recorded high sales with an increase by as much as 300 percent, when compared to the past weeks.

Nigerian Army to train LASTMA officials on safety

T

he Nigerian Army on Tuesday said it was collaborating with the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) on the training of its men in personal safety.

Col. Michael Adegbesan, Director of Studies, Nigerian Army School of Medical Science Ojo, disclosed this in Ikeja during a visit to the state Ministry of Transportation.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Adegbesan led 26 other officers on Senior

Executive Management Course 14/2012 to understudy the state transport management system.

Adegbesan said the Army would train LASTMA officials in "Combat Medics" to enable them handle emergency situations and protect themselves while on enforcement duties.

"I think that we can really collaborate and it will be a winwin situation and we will be able to take LASTMA for an equivalent course in the army called Combat Medics.

"This training will enable

them take care of themselves more while on duty, especially when they sustain injuries.

"I know LASTMA officials are exposed to various stab injuries, even gunshots and incidents like that, this training is just apt.

"They will be trained on how to give immediate intervention in the event of injuries to prevent loss of blood."

The state Commissioner for Transportation, Mr. Kayode Opeifa who received the military officers, said the training would ensure safety of traffic officials

while on duty.

Opeifa said: "Combat medics training for LASTMA personnel is to enable them handle injuries and I am not talking about First Aid because the kind of serious injuries LASTMA officials get are beyond First Aid treatment.

"These are the kind of situations the military formations are in good position to handle because most of them have experienced these peace keeping mission and war situations and have been able to stimulate it. (NAN)

A water vendor, Aliyu Usman, said he made as much as N2, 500 every day since the turn of the season.

"I am very happy with the sales because I get four times the sales I used to get in the past," Usman said.

25-year-old Aminu Nura said he had to go for replenishment every hour because his stock got exhausted rather quickly.

Nura said that he made an average of N2, 000 daily on sales of the product.

"The venture is now very profitable and this has helped me in paying my school fees for this term."

He said that his younger brother usually joined him in the business after school hours.

Malam Isa Ahmed, a teacher, said the severe weather condition and the attendant high level of dehydration had increased the demand for sachet water in the area.

One sachet sells for N5 while a bag containing 20 sachets goes for between N50 and N60 in the state. (NAN)

Uduaghan announces 100 percent increase in bursary to law graduates From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

D

elta state governor, Dr. Emmanuel Uduaghan has announced a 100 percent increase in the bursary paid to law graduates in law schools across the country.

The governor who announced the increase from N50, 000.00 to N100, 000.00 per student while presenting cheques to beneficiaries yesterday in Asaba, said the increase should take retrospective effect from the last batch.

He therefore directed the

chairman of the State Scholarship Board, Monsignor Buchi Aninye to prepare a supplementary estimate to accommodate the expenditure.

Amidst applause from the beneficiaries and the audience at the ceremony, the governor disclosed that his administration spends about one billion naira yearly on bursary and promised to sustain it irrespective of the capital intensive nature of the programme.

He said he has no regret

investing so much in the bursary programme, explaining that human capital development was central to the economic transformation of the state.

He however decried the attitude of Students Unions in the state towards the programme warning them to be orderly and act within the ambit of the law or be prepared to face the full weight of the law.

The governor explained that it was the statutory function of the State Scholarship Board to disburse

bursary to students and no amount of intimidation or pressure would make the state government shift that responsibility to student union bodies.

In his speech the Commissioner for Higher Education, Prof. Hope Eghagha enjoined the beneficiaries to be good ambassadors of the state especially as government was providing the scholarship in spite of competing demands.

Prof. Eghagha however invited the Private Sector to

partner with the state government in its human capital development agenda.

Prof. Eghagha appealed to student bodies to be honest, behave maturely and reduce the problem of fake names on the list.

Responding on behalf of the recipients, Barrister Rachael Obodo expressed appreciation to the state governor for the laudable project and pledged their loyalty and support to the administration of Governor Uduaghan.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Health Ministry holds stakeholders data validation meeting

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

he Federal Ministry of Health has held a stakeholders’ Data Validation Meeting for the 2011 Joint Annual Review exercise.

In a statement made available to newsmen in Abuja, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima

Bamidele, said that the Joint Annual Review (JAR) exercise will provide clear data to inform Nigerians on how the health sector is performing.

She noted that the review exercise will bring about accountability, transparency and it will also focus on results in the health sector.

She explained that the report

of the (JAR) exercise from the 36 states, FCT and all Federal Ministry of Health departments, agencies and parastatals will be used to develop the annual health sector report for the year 2011.

Mrs. Bamidele said that the report is the main instrument for providing Nigerians with government’s accountability and commitment to improving the

general health status in the country as documented in the National Strategic Health Development Plan (NSHDP), Presidential Declaration on Health, Vision: 20:2020 and the Transformation Agenda.

To underscore the importance of the document, she said it is imperative that the data they are providing is the best available that reflects the true situation in the

country, according to the systems and performance of the NSHDP. In her welcome remarks, Director, Health Planning Research and Statistic in the ministry, Dr. F.O. Yemi Esan said that the ministry has now institutionalised the Joint Annual Review mechanism as a tool for fostering accountability and transparency in the health system.

Lamido signs 2012 budget into law

IFAN celebrates 2012 World Health Day

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

nternational Federation on Aging-Nigeria, (IFAN) has mapped out series of activities to mark this year’s World Health Day, with the theme, Ageing and Health: Good Health Adds Years to Life.

According to a statement signed by Mr. Tom Ndibe, the Events Coordinator, the programme is starting with a media outreach and interaction with stakeholders and select senior citizens within the week followed by a life walk also at the weekend.

The focal point of this year’s World Health Day is on how good health throughout life can help older persons to lead full and fruitful lives and remain a resource to their families and communities.

The media outreach and interaction with stakeholders and senior citizens is expected to attract participants from the National Assembly, the Federal Executive Council, government agencies and parastatals, military and paramilitary organisations, financial institutions, the bar and the bench, political parties, community development organisations, the organised private sector, international donor and development agencies.

According to the statement, the event will be chaired by the Special Adviser to the President on Inter Party Affairs, Senator Ben Obi. Position papers revolving on the ‘elderly and graceful ageing’ will be presented at the event. The Life Walk Show, also designed to avail stakeholders and senior citizens the opportunity to exercise and keep fit, is expected to be led by an elderly senator.

By A’isha Biola Raji

I

G

ove rnor Sule Lamido of Jigawa state has solicited fervent prayers from the people of the state for the actualisation and implementation of the state’s 2012 fiscal budget.

Stating this yesterday during the official signing of the budget, the governor said the state needs a continued commitment and prayers of the entire citizens to ensure a reflective drive towards budget implementation.

The governor praised his entire executive council for their commitments and doggedness towards over 80 percent budget implementation every year since the inception of the administration in 2007.

He urged the people of the state to remain steadfast in their belief on the government, assuring them that they would not be disappointed at the end of the two term tenure.

It would be recalled that on the 30th of December last year, the governor submitted a proposed budget of over N159 billion being proposed expenditure for the state government and 27 local government councils of the state.

Ogun to set up mobile court for environmental offenders From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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gun state government yesterday said it has finalised plans to setup mobile courts to try environmental offenders, just as it also disclosed that it is going to organise a summit on climate change to raise public awareness about the current trend in climate conditions and the best approach to combat the negative effects.

The Commissioner for Environment, Adebayo Fari, made this known at a press conference in Abeokuta, stressing that “it is the responsibility of everybody to manage our environment in a sustainable wa y” .

He added: “The role of the citizenry in providing a clean environment is germane to having a disease free state. Let’s see the state as our own and contribute our quota to this new development in the state”.

Lagos state Governor, Babatunde Fashola (2nd left), Commissioner for Works and Infrastructure, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat (left), Director of Special Committee, Schools Rehabilitation, Engr. Gbenga Abudiore (middle), Project Consultant, Arc. Titus Ajumobi (2nd right), and Executive Director, Moreno Marinas Group Plc, Mr. Gillian Philippi (right), during Governor Fashola’s inspection tour of the on-going comprehensive redevelopment of Eric Moore Schools, on Tuesday in Lagos.

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin-Kebbi

A

medical consultant at Sir Yahaya Memorial Hospital in Brinin Kebbi, Dr. Aminu Haliru, has expressed dismay at some parents whose children have cases of Autism, which he said can be taken care of medically if detected and treated three days after birth.

Dr. Haliru said during the questioning session from newsmen that: “As a medical expert in human medicine, the disease has low-level awareness among people

Medical expert urges parents to be more aware of Autism which causes the disorder to affect children”.

He further explained that some of the obvious symptoms of the disease include impairment in the use and understanding of languages and social relationship, aggression, self injury and fixation.

Speaking earlier was Alhaji Aminu Usman of Anwar Trust Foundation who organises

programmes and activities for providing social and educational services to Autistic children.

He also called on the governments to intervene and address the menace, adding that Anwar Foundation aims at providing assistance, support services and network to parents and guardians of children with at the disease.

Bus conductor, driver charged for alleged manslaughter T he conductor of a mass transit bus, Musibau Lawal, who allegedly took over driving from his boss, Philip Umoh, and allegedly caused the death of a pedestrian, has been docked.

Lawal, 32, was arraigned at the Surulere Magistrates’ Court in Lagos yesterday alongside Umoh, 27, for the alleged offence.

The duo face a four-count charge of dangerous driving, causing death and driving without

licence.

Lawal resides at No. 3, Omojuwa St., Ojo while Umoh is No. 7 Adeleye St., off Ajangbadi, Lagos.

The prosecutor, Insp. Gabriel Ekundayo, said Lawal, being the conductor of the bus with registration no. XA 586 NDN, drove it on the highway in a dangerous manner.

He told the court that his action caused the death of one Adijatu Usman, a 40-year-old female, who resided at No. 40 Mosalashi St.,

Sari-Iganmu.

Ekundayo explained that the conductor took over the steering when the driver stepped down from the bus to ease himself in a traffic jam.

The prosecutor said that the conductor, on moving the bus, hit the pedestrian as she was crossing the highway.

He said that the duo also drove without driver's licence and that the driver allowed an unlicensed person to drive the bus.

He said that the offence took place on March 30 along SariIganmu road, Orile, Lagos.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Sections 7(1), 27, 28 and 68(9) of the Road Traffic Act of Lagos state.

The duo pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate M.K.O. Fadeyi ordered the defendants remanded in prison custody pending the advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 11

Benue begins validation of its anti-stigma bill

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he Benue judiciary has commenced the validation process for its Anti-Stigma Bill for people living with HIV in the state.

The bill is to discourage stigmatisation and discrimination of people living with the virus.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the state’s Ministry of Justice held a one-day workshop yesterday to obtain inputs from stakeholders for the validation of the bill.

Speaking at the opening in

Makurdi, the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Mrs. Christie Anagende, said with the high prevalence of infections in the state, it was necessary for stakeholders to contribute to fight stigmatisation.

According to her, while it is important to discuss HIV and stigmatisation, it is also necessary to balance it with morality.

Anagende said it was in the effort of maintaining the delicate balance that scared participants from discussing the topic.

Kano dep gov appeals to citizens over polio immunisation From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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he Kano state deputy governor, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje, has paid an unscheduled visit to the non-polio immunisation complying families in the state with a view to appeal to them.

Dr. Ganduje who is the chairman of the state’s Task force on Immunization and Polio Eradication, embarked on the visitation of the families that rejected the immunisation to make them accept the programme.

On the team of the deputy governor to ensure all children under the age of five have been immunised are some commissioners, Sarkin Yakin Kano and District Head of Ajingi, Alhaji Wada Aliyu, vaccinators, police and Hisba guards.

He noted that the reoccurrence of the disease in the state was basically due to rejection of the

immunisation by some families, hence the new operation for total coverage.

Some of the local government areas he visited include, Ungogo, Tarauni, Dala, Municpal and Fagge.

Ganduje said the exercise which is tagged “Operation Total Coverage” was embarked upon to practically demonstrate the state government’s commitment to ensure the eradication of the disease in the state.

At the houses visited, the deputy governor explained to the families visited that “polio is a communicable disease that could easily be spread and unlike malaria, polio cannot be cured, the moment a child is affected he may either die or be permanently crippled”.

He therefore appealed to them to understand the danger the disease poses and allow their children to be immunised.

Jigawa farmers get N198m to boost agric production From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

T

he sum of N198 million has been disbursed to 432 Fadama User Groups under the 36 Fadama Community Associations in Jigawa state to execute community development projects in their areas.

The amount is an assistance provided jointly by the World Bank, Federal and Jigawa state governments to farmers’ associations and groups under the Fadama III programme.

Disbursing the fund, the state governor Alhaji Sule Lamido who was represented by the Speaker State House of Assembly, Hon. Adamu Ahmed, said the present administration is committed to improving the socio-economic lives of the people.

Alhaji Sule Lamido explained that since the inception of his government in 2007, a lot had been achieved in the agricultural sector that was aimed at mass food production to achieve food security and eradicate poverty among the people.

In his welcome address the permanent secretary ministry of agriculture and natural resource,

Alhaji Mohammed Idris Danzomo said that the present administration under Governor Sule Lamido took a bold step towards transforming the agricultural sector by making it one of its cardinal priorities with a view to attaining purposeful growth and development.

R-L: Anambra state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, with Senior Special Assistant to the President on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Dr. Precious Gbeneol, during the governor's official meeting with the senior special assistant, on Tuesday night in Abuja.

Court admits more exhibits against Atuche From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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n Ikeja High Court presided over by Justice Lateefa Okunnu, on Tuesday admitted as exhibits, some documents from the investigations conducted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in the ongoing trial of former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche, his wife, Elizabeth and a former director of the bank, Ugo Anyanwu over financial impropriety, bringing the number of exhibits to 200.

The prosecution, led by Kemi Pinheiro, continued taking the Examination-in-Chief of a witness, Davis Olom Nkpe, an operative of the EFCC, who works in the bank’s Fraud Investigative Department.

The documents admitted includes a certified true copy of a

letter of incorporation of a company, Petrosam Oil and Gas, a letter from Bank PHB dated October 28, 2009 stating that they have no records for the opening of some accounts for certain companies and an internal memo of Bank PHB dated February 15, 2007 titled: Approval Limit for Credit Avail.

David, who gave an in-depth breakdown of the shares bought by some companies with credit allegedly made available by Bank PHB under Atuche’s leadership of the bank, added that he did come across documents relating to the bank’s deferral policy credit avail during investigations.

He explained that there are some conditions attached to the deferral policy for credit benefit as a duly completed credit avail form must be submitted before a customer can enjoy the policy.

“Some companies- Extra Oil,

Petrosam Oil and Gas, Trajec Limited and Futureview Financial Services have no duly filled deferral forms attached to it.

"In the course of our investigations, we discovered certain funds were disbursed into three companies but found no account exists for this companies as the account opening packages were not available after diligent search," he added.

Some new companies that were alleged to have benefitted from Bank PHB shares with the bank’s fund were also mentioned to include Arabian Probity Management Limited, Clearmont Management Company Limited, Commercial Trading and Services Limited, Pine Petrosam Limited, Consolidated Business Support Limited, Financial Company Limited, Noelle Investments Limited, APCO and Venture Resources Limited.

Reps to investigate FAAN, Maevis feud

By Umar Mohammed Puma

T

he Management of Maevis Nigeria Limitwed, an airport operation management and database system company, has urged the House of Representative to investigate and stop the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) from vandalising its data centres and Intermediate Distribution Facilities (IDF) both at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport and Nnamdi Azikwe International Airport in Lagos and Abuja respectively.

The executive director of the company, Mrs. Tokumbo Fagbemi said this while addressing newsmen at the venue of the

earlier postponed hearing of the House Committee on Treaties and Agreements, between the company and the FAAN, accusing FAAN of deviating from the agreement signed through public private partnership (PPP).

According to her, the agreement through Build Own Operate and Transfer for the acquisition, operation and management of a world-class integrated Airport Operation Management System, (AOMS) Airport Operation Database (AOBD), Common Uses Terminal Equipment (CUTE), Pricing and Billing System (PBS), Revenue Management System and Electronic Payment Gateway at Lagos, Abuja, Port Harcourt and

Kano Airports has not been breached.

Furthermore, the agreement which was signed in 2007, states that the Maevis would provide, operate and maintain the necessary equipment, software and well-trained personnel for transparent invoicing system.

However, equipment for Kano and Port Harcourt are available for deployment, every effort to deploy into these places has been met with stiff resistance and uncooperative attitudes of FAAN, alleged Maevis.

After being constantly reminded several times by FAAN that Maevis are the weaker partners in the relationship, the company had to seek the

intervention of the court for protection of their rights and for the interpretation of enhancement fee which FAAN suddenly began to query after authorising its payment in line with the agreement. The court had given various orders and injunctions restraining FAAN from any unilateral action pending the arbitration or determination of the case before the court which FAAN has continued to deliberately refuse, neglect and disobey.

The chairman, House Committee on Treaties and Agreements, Hon. Yakubu Alebionun, promised to investigate the matter with a view of finding lasting solutions to the feud.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 12

EDITORIAL

This is really objectionable, Mr. President

P

resident Jonathan’s minders, often boil with rage when some public commentators point to the apparent lack of finesse in his conduct. The Presidential aides and other hangers on in the corridors of power often depict such comments as disrespectful, while also labeling the commentators as detractors of the President. But nothing could be further from the truth. Or how else could anyone justify the President's recent gleeful show while commissioning what can best be described as a Greek Gift — a church to his hometown, Otuoke, Bayelsa state, by his "friends". The President reportedly said at the dedication of the 2,500-seat church on March 17, that the building was donated to him by Italian construction firm, Gitto Construzioni Generali Nigeria Limited (GCG). President Jonathan, according to media reports, said the Gitto chief executive pledged to rebuild the church for the Otuoke community after he (the President) had decried its aging structure.

It is an open secret in Nigeria that many contractors deploy several unethical means to bribe their ways to fat government contracts. Such 'gifts', solicited or unsolicited, are clearly what they

are: illegal and corrupt. And thus, the President's action of soliciting, even if indirectly, and receiving such a 'donation', are not only objectionable but also condemnable. The President, as many other observers have pointed out, should be conversant with the code of conduct for public officers as enshrined in our Constitution.

“

By his inappropriate action, therefore, the President has not only undermined the highest office in the Land, but also the nation's anti-corruption crusade Section 6 of the Code of Conduct for Public officers embodied in the First Schedule of the 1999 Constitution and the Code of Conduct and Tribunal Act (CAP C15) Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, frown at such conduct as exhibited by the President.

According to the law: “A public

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”

officer shall not ask for or accept any property or benefits of any kind for himself or any other person on account of anything done or omitted to be done by him in the discharge of his duties. For the purposes of subsection (1) of this subsection, the receipt by a public officer of any gifts or benefits from commercial firms, business enterprises or persons who have contracts with the Government shall be presumed to have been received in contravention… unless the contrary is proved.”

By his inappropriate action, therefore, the President has not only undermined the highest office in the Land, but also the nation's anti-corruption crusade. Already, many keen observers have noted with concern the loss of steam in the fight against corruption, which has been partly attributed to political interference. And now, unfortunately, the President has gone cap-in-hand to solicit for, and accept a 'gift' from a contruction firm. Worse still, many questions are being raised about the handling of some contracts by the company concerned-Gitto. In other climes, this action would have been enough to compel Mr. Jonathan to resign for accepting such a Greek Gift as it undermines his moral authority and aids corruption across the country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

By M. L. Ismail

I

nfrastructure is the principal benchmark for measuring development in any municipality. Basically, this revolves round the provision of basic social amenities like good roads, portable water, electricity supply, good education/schools and affordable housing for the citizenry. Infrastructure also to a huge extent capture the socioeconomic standard of the people since all it entails work together for their good.

No wonder the programme for infrastructural provision in addition to the provision of socioeconomic comfort for the populace always define the mode electioneering activities every time there is election the world over. Unsurprisingly, it follows therefore that any campaigner or government that fails to plan its programmes to reflect these essentials run the risk of being snubbed or rejected in subsequent elections.

Over the years too, it has been the concern of international bodies to see to it that governments put these basic things in place for the betterment of their citizens. This is the underlying concept that birthed the much orchestrated Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) which today has become a haunting standards for measuring governments’ performances.

This is to underscore how really important infrastructural development in any city or town can be to both the provider and the

PAGE 13

Confronting the challenge of infrastructure in Gombe state beneficiaries.

Hence governors at all times assure their readiness to make life comfortable for their citizenry and quite frankly, many fail to deliver this promise; only a few do stand out as ‘talking and do’. In Gombe state, Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo has proved to be one among the few that match words with action in spite of the lean statutory provision from the federation accounts.

Through out the three senatorial districts, including the state capital, there is the mark of infrastructural development here and there, thereby reducing pressure on the existing ones. Just recently for instance, the Dankwambo administration made a bold statement in the educational sector by awarding contracts for the upgrading the Faculties of Medical Sciences and Pharmaceutical Studies of Gombe State University with a view to making possible, the full accreditation of the University’s School of Medicine and Pharmacy Department this year.

But in the meantime, students of Gombe state origin undergoing training in medicine and pharmacy and training in core related disciplines across the country are on scholarship while receiving basic salaries of practicing doctors and

pharmacists as additional incentive. This is done with the understanding that after studies, they will reciprocate government’s investment on them with working at home.

The move is borne out of the resolve to address the acute dearth of professional medical and other paramedical staff in the state. But as a precursor to this effort, is the decision to construct entirely new State School of Nursing and Midwifery a well as School of Health Technology following the recommendation of the committee on the full accreditation of both institutions which among other inadequacies are presently too understaffed, lacking in space for expansion and inadequately equipped to be accredited by the National Board of Technical Education (NBTE).

The massive failure of secondary students in certificate examinations is a great source of worry and embarrassment and government is determined to turn things around said Governor Dankwambo when he assumed office newly. Thus a lot of activities that will culminate in total overhaul of primary and postprimary education in the state are going on at the moment. But also going on side by side is a stop-gap measure towards ensuring that students obtain the required

number of credits to qualify for tertiary educations. Accordingly, the School of Remedial Studies in Gombe State University has now been converted into a full blown institution and relocated to Kumo, headquarters of Akko local government area to replace the previously existing College of Arts and Basic Studies (CABS).

Under the new arrangement, the school can now conveniently accommodate 2,000 students for a start. Contract was recently awarded for the construction of additional classroom and administrative blocks as well as for the full equipping of the school to meet with the growing challenges of the need for selfreliance. To say the initiative is commendable is good, but the idea of combining formal education with learning of trades in order to afford graduating students alternative choice of how to proceed from there is simply clever and fantastic.

Road is unarguably the most veritable and effective means of transportation in the country and Gombe is no exception. It accounts for bulk of the movements of man, goods and services across the nation hence it is very vital to the socio-economic growth and development of a society. As a way of keying into the inherent advantages good roads offer, this

essential social amenity has so far received so much attention under the governorship of Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo.

Several, among the 34 roads so far awarded for construction within and outside the metropolis were completed far ahead of deadline and qualitatively too. As if that is not enough, about ten roads measuring a total of 32 kilometres have just been awarded in Balanga, Billiri, Dukku, Funakaye and Kaltungo local government areas of Gombe state. These road constructions are meant to galvanize the economy of the state in demonstration of commitments to enhancing the socioeconomic good of the citizenry through infrastructural development.

Going on at the same time with roads is erosion control efforts. This goes beyond mere construction of gutters alongside the new/ existing roads to calculated construction of concrete channels to control and direct the flow of water in such a way that the fear of washing away land and other vital things the way are allayed for good. On the other hand, conscious efforts are being made to ensure that the question of obstructing waterways with debris or structures does not arise anymore.

Continued on page 14

Three questions to ask the three candidates for World Bank top job

By Nancy Birdsall

T

he Obama Administration, whether by design or by accident, has opened the door for the first time in the World Bank’s history to the possibility of a real contest over the merits of its nominee to take the helm there compared to a nominee from the developing world. All three candidates have experience working on development (and that is a refreshing change from the tradition of financiers and political heavyweights at the helm). But their strengths are different. In the case of Kim, the U.S. nominee, and Ngozi OkonjoIweala, their training, their experience, their instincts, and their worldviews are completely different.

Jim Kim is an MD anthropologist and most recently a university president who has devoted most of his career to finding better ways to deliver better health care to the world’s poor. He is steeped in the tradition of medical science: deeply committed to measuring and evaluating what works on the basis of evidence before intervening—an approach to learning that has recently been taken up enthusiastically among

micro-economists inside and outside the World Bank. He believes in the power of popular movements to overcome financial and behavioral obstacles to better health regardless of poverty or hopeless politics in poor countries – as illustrated in the case of the work he led at WHO to extend treatment of HIV/AIDs to millions of people.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is a Harvard and MIT-trained economist, former finance and foreign affairs minister and current economic czarina of Nigeria, and longtime staff member of the World Bank, where she rose to become for all practical purposes the deputy to Robert Zoellick before returning to her own country. She has devoted her career to changing economy-wide (“macro”) policies and practices around the world — in countries like her own and in the rich world as well – in support of the kind of broad-based growth in poor and middle-income countries that empowers the poor to escape poverty. She has practiced good economics in the hard soil of tough politics in Nigeria, fighting high-level corruption at personal risk, recently working to eliminate gasoline subsidies that benefit the car-owning rich while sapping the

public budget of resources to serve the poor. (Full disclosure: Ngozi is also a member of CGD’s board of directors.)

For the first time, these two and the third candidate (José Antonio Ocampo of Colombia now at Columbia University, nominated by Brazil* — more on that in another post!), can be asked to publicly set out his or her vision for its next decade. Also for the first time, members of the bank’s board will interview the candidates. Government officials and development advocates will have a similar opportunity, assuming each of the candidates travels to the world’s major capitals to make their respective cases, as Agustin Carstens and Christine Legarde did recently in their competition to head the IMF. Here are three questions worth asking each of the candidates to be the next president of the world’s premier development institution.

1.Should the World Bank bring its institutional and financial clout and expertise to the problems of the global commons (and a broader set of “global public goods” (GPGs) in economics lingo) that are especially costly to the livelihoods and welfare of the world’s poor:

climate change; drug resistance; the missing Green Revolution in Africa; Would you as president seek a new mandate and new capital to deal explicitly with the development challenge a deteriorating global commons poses, as some have advised, asking the Bank to become a catalyst for global public goods.

Would you as president seek capital from China, Brazil and other developing countries with ample currency reserves to support a new GPG arm of the Bank based in Mumbai, Sao Paulo or Shanghai?

The Bank is engaged in crossborder work – including some infrastructure and watershed programs that involve more than one country, and it manages several global programs including Climate Investment Funds and a small carbontrading platform. But its global engagement is ad hoc, at the behest of one or another member country that sets up a special fund to support “global” programs. It lacks a clear mandate and instrument to do more. History, habit and politics have tethered its operational machinery to its bread and butter countryspecific loans and grants for more than 50 years after all. Without leadership from the top, it may

well miss the boat on a pressing set of 21st century challenges to the elimination of global poverty.

Kim has thought about challenges that transcend country borders in his work on drug-resistant tuberculosis.

Okonjo-Iweala has thought about the issue in the context of “green venture funds“ with public backing for “deal-packaging” and first-loss guarantees that would catalyze institutional and sovereign wealth fund investments in clean energy for the poor. She inspired and led the Bank’s work to recover stolen assets that crooked heads of state – often from oil and mineral-rich nations like her own — have with impunity deposited in western banks..

2.What is your vision for the future of IDA, the bank’s fund for grants and concessional loans to the poorest countries? Should it be bigger in 10 years or smaller?

Under current rules lowincome countries such as Pakistan, India, Nigeria and Vietnam are likely to have graduated from IDA by 2025.

Remaining countries eligible for IDA will be mostly flailing and failed states suffering a toxic combination of internal conflict Continued on page 15

PAGE 14

By Emeka Oraetoka

T

here is no doubt that Bwari Area Council witnessed a lot of storm in the run-up to the Area Council elections in FCT; arising from what political experts termed, Peter Yohanna/ Musa Dikko political tango. It could be recalled that Peter Yohanna had won the primary election of his party, Peoples Democratic Party [PDP], just as he was celebrating his victory, some elements within the party, supposedly his political enemies, threw spanner on his victory wheel.

The position of Peter’s detractors was that he did not resign his appointment where he was last employed before contesting the primary election of his party. The mischief crafted

by Peter’s few political opponents saw Musa Dikko parading himself as the authentic candidate of the party in Bwari Area Council. The confusion created by the splinter group within the party, meant that the party had two [2] candidates for the Area Council election.

As Peter Yohanna went on with his campaign as the authentic candidate of PDP on account of having won the primary election; Musa Dikko was also canvassing for the votes of the people of Bwari Area Council. The National leadership of PDP intervened on the crisis authored by desperate splinter group, when it ruled that Peter Yohanna remained the authentic candidate of the party in Bwari Area Council election.

The decision to back Peter Yohanna was based on the clean sheet given to him after the investigation of the allegation against him, which they found to be baseless. In a nutshell, he was not indicted by the party of any wrong doing. The clean bill

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

An Area Council chairman and his detractors of health given to Peter Ushafa Area Council. Reports have it Council has done a lot on this issue effectively cleared the path for that the Education Sector has because for us, healthcare is a intensification of his campaign. attracted deserved attention by priority. It’s important to inform Not done with the decision of PDP the administration of Peter this gathering that to on the issue, Peter’s detractors Yohanna. demonstrate our commitment to headed to the court to stop him.

Health sector has also this cause; we have increased our The court, after looking at the attracted attention of the Hon budgetary allocation, with accusation critically, dismissed Chairman. This report in Daily community mobilization/ the case brought against Peter Trust on Tuesday, June 28, sensitization by (N700, 000), Yohanna. In the election proper, 2010, at a press briefing on training of personnel (N1million) Peter Yohanna defeated other “Sustaining Free Family and family planning consumable contestants from other political Planning Commodities Through (3.6m) receiving the largest parties. allocation” .

In the “Obama” as the third week of Chairman is May 2011 he popularly called was sworn in announced that Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text as the “health is wealth. messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written executive If we concentrate contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 Chairman of on ensuring that words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and Bwari Area our citizens are a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed Council. After in good health, taken over to: then we can sure from Isah of sustainable Dara, many w e a l t h The Editor, had feared he creation”. There Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, would not be is no doubt that 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. able to provide the Peter Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com effective Y o h a n n a SMS: 07037756364 leadership in U s h a f a ’ s Bwari Area adm inis trat ion Council because of the Prompt Budget Approval and in Bwari Area Council places a distractions from his political Continuing Funding” organized high premium on health sector opponent. The success story being by the Nigeria Urban and this is commendable. told in the Council in terms of Reproductive Health Initiative Bwari Area Council had democracy dividend has silenced (NUHRI) in Abuja, Hon. Peter since commissioned its newly his critics. Today, almost all the Yohanna Ushafa’s succently completed legislative house and project started by his predecessor, captured his administration’s office complex located in the Isah Dara, had been completed by giant strides in this important area council secretariat Peter Yohanna Ushafa. Unlike sector, —. The Chairman has this respectively; this is in line with many other leaders, who will to say, “This programme is Peter Yohanna administration’s prefer to abandon the projects barely two years in Bwari Area commitment to completing started by their predecessor, Council, we spent a total of those projects that are of Peter elected to do first thing first- N1,450,000 in 2010, and so far benefits to the council. It could completing ongoing projects for this year, we have spent another be recalled that the expensive the benefit of the people of Bwari N1,476,000” . “The Bwari Area two-story building legislative

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house and office complex was inherited from the previous administration but on assumption of office, council accelerated its completion.

In the Educational sector, report has it that Bwari Area Council of the FCT awarded scholarships to 1,649 students in the area in the 2011 academic year. The report further stated that council spent about N17.6 million on the scholarship scheme.

Apart from the scholarship award, the Chairman informed that public libraries, orphanages, health centres and many construction projects were also completed in the area in 2011. The chairman promised to embark on repair of rural roads in the first quarter of 2012, to create access routes for socio-economic development in the area. He expressed optimism that a housing scheme for people of the area would be made a priority in 2012 to ease accommodation problems facing residents.

The chairman’s statement here has shown that the council is committed to infrastructural development.

Clearly, Bwari Area Council under the leadership of Peter Yohanna Ushafa has provided democracy dividend in the area council.

Emeka Oraetoka Information Management Consultant & Researcher Wrote in from Kubwa, Bwari Area Council P.O.Box 18928 e-mail: oramekllis@lycos.com

Confronting the challenge of infrastructure in Gombe state Continued from page 13

Already, over 200 building plots and 50 buildings through the 2.1-kilometre erosion control work between Shongo estate in the state capital and Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have been salvaged and we are still counting. The 2004 flood disaster is just a year shy of one whole decade, yet the bitter memories of the anguish and death is still fresh and frightening “and we do not want a repeat of that nightmare” said the Governor during a recent inspection of ongoing erosion control works. It is no longer news that Gombe metropolis and most of the settlements are sited in valleys and the gradients coupled with the either loose or clayey nature of the sand are such that make gully erosion or flooding thrive and devastatingly too And as part of the efforts to give Gombe a look that befits it as a state capital are concerted attempt to beautify the town also hitherto referred to as ‘big village’.

In not too distant time from now, the central roundabout, Government House junction roundabout, the main market roundabout, Union Bank and

Emir’s Palace roundabout would be beaming with new adornments. The street traders crowding around the central roundabout would be relocated elsewhere while intensive landscaping is going on in paripassu.

But having observed that all the beautification efforts would be rubbished by the present rowdy traffic situation, nineteen spots were identified for ultramodern solar powered traffic lights to make road use in the metropolis a worthy experience for all and sundry.

Works on the roundabouts, landscaping and traffic lights have since begun in earnest.

As we are all aware, power supply is key to socioeconomic development in any society. It is against this backdrop that Gombe state government accords priority to the electrification of rural areas in its efforts to raise the quality of life of its citizens. That is why the Dankwambo-led administration much earlier on purchased and installed 50 transformers to areas of critical need.

In the same vein, arrangements have been made to procure 55 other transformers for

55 areas identified by the state Ministry of Rural Development and Cooperatives as requiring urgent intervention on supply of electricity. And in another phase of lighting up Gombe state, the Ministry has also conducted a survey for the provision of electricity to the under construction Military Cantonment in the outskirts of the state capital as well as Desheru, Bakwana, Jarori, Feshingo, Shuwari, Sabon Gari Zambuk, and Dunbe communities.

With the exploding population in Gombe metropolis vis-à-vis the high rising cost of accommodation, the need for lowcost housing cannot be overemphasized.

It is in recognition of this fact and the need for a well motivated civil service that provoked the plan to have 5,000 units of housing in the state. Although the state Commissioner for Transport and Housing, Mr. Rabenson Zebulon Wasa did not want to preempt government’s plans as to when,

“

With the exploding population in Gombe metropolis vis-à-vis the high rising cost of accommodation, the need for low-cost housing cannot be overemphasized. It is in recognition of this fact and the need for a well motivated civil service that provoked the plan to have 5,000 units of housing in the state

where and how, “but one thing I can assure you is that plans are ongoing and will soon be made public,” he affirmed.

“Let me reaffirm that our administration will consistently match words with action. We shall ensure that except for the necessary planning and gestation periods, there is no hiatus between policy formulation or approval, and implementation of projects and programmes throughout the state,” said Governor Dankwambo while speaking at the recent flag-off ceremony of Barunde-east community electrification project.

From the foregoing, there is no gainsaying government’s commitment to confronting the challenges of infrastructural development as a means of making life more meaningful for the people of the state. It is true that so far, Gombe state government under Alhaji Hassan Dankwambo has delivered everything he ever promised, but how this play out subsequently is a function of the cooperation and support of all-and-sundry.

M. L. Ismail writes from Bolari quarters in Gombe metropolis

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 15

The battered and hopeless

By Dave Eniwomake

T

he essence of government is to provide the basic needs of life to those who willingly gave their mandate to those in government to hold it in trust for them. Even dictatorial regimes strive to provide these basic amenities that make life meaningful to their people. In all, the primary responsibility of any government is to steer the course of leadership in such a way that the well being of the populace is made manifest as the essential reason for its existence.

Countries like Libya under the late Col. Gaddafi, Cuba under Fidel Castro and Hugo Chavez in Venezuela have seen tremendous development in spite of the dictatorial tendencies of these leaders. These leaders saw the need for the development of their countries and people. At least, a leader must strive to add value to the lives of the citizens.

At the death of Gaddafi, Libya did not owe any debt amidst the high level development that the country witnessed during his reign. Health and education in Cuba enjoyed so much prominence under Fidel Castro that Cuba exports Medical doctors and other health officials to various countries of the world. I am aware that Cuba eradicated polio in 1968 and literacy level in the country is among the highest in the world. So what manner of government would inflict pain on the citizens at will through obnoxious policies and rules rather than seeking the growth of the nation?

Here in Nigeria, the policies and activities of our leaders leave much to be desired. Government policies over the years appeared

to be geared towards making life more miserable for Nigerians.

Even when it appears Nigerians are beginning to cope with the pains inflicted on them by an unpopular policy, the government comes out with yet another pain bearing policy as if to ensure the sustainability of the pain on the masses.

It becomes imperative for one to ask if these ‘leaders’ in government have not sworn to the powers of darkness to always inflict pain on Nigerians.

There is no rationale or any cogent reason why Nigerians should wallow in untold hardship and poverty while the leaders live a life of financial recklessness and flaunt their ill-gotten wealth as if to taunt the masses from whom they have stolen same.

The recent fuel subsidy removal saga says much about the level of hypocrisy and contradictions that have enveloped Nigeria as a nation.

For instance, the cost of running Nigerian government is about the highest in the world and comparisons are never made in this regard. But when it comes to justifying obnoxious policies that are capable of plunging the nation and the poor masses into further poverty, it then becomes very easy for our leaders to compare situations with other countries who are, in fact, are not at par with us in such areas of comparison.

The comparison that was done to justify the oil subsidy removal was ridiculous. Comparing the prices of petroleum products in Nigeria with that of Niger Republic, Togo, Benin Republic Ghana and a host of others was nothing but comic relief of a sort to some of us.

One would have expected comparison to be made with oil producing countries such as Libya, Angola, Algeria, U.A.E., Gabon etc.

While a litre of petrol in Venezuela costs about four Naira, the minimum wage in the same country is equivalent to about one hundred thousand Naira (N100,000.00) per month. With this, one can imagine how many litres of petrol the lowest of the Venezuelans can buy conveniently.

Meanwhile his Nigerian counterpart earns about eighteen thousand Naira (N18,000.00) monthly while the cost of petrol is officially put at ninety-seven Naira (N97.00) per litre. One can also imagine how many litres of petrol can be purchased from the monthly stipend.

By 2003, before the invasion of Iraq by the U.S., fuel was almost free as you only pay a token which was more of service fee than for the fuel itself. So why is our case different?

This situation that has submerged the nation in a paradoxical reality was made manifest by some self acclaimed ‘avant gardists’ who chose to indulge in negativism to quench their thirst for aggrandisement.

What did they do? They simply mortgage the future of the nation in connivance with some allies across the various continents who have cut their teeth in the art of financial and economic voodooism long ago.

These economic vampires that have attained global status are backed by some super powers that, in fact, are using these vampires to suck the economic blood of countries in the guise of either proffering solutions to their

economic problems or helping to improve their economy.

It is important to note that these vampires have never helped any country out of economic problem; rather they help to plunge further any ailing economy that welcomes them into economic abyss.

These are the people our leaders have chosen as allies to direct them in formulating their economic policies.

For quite a while the IMF has harped on the ‘too cheap’ petroleum products in Nigeria and the need to increase the prices if the country’s economy must improve. Like obedient servants our leaders have severally increased the prices of fuel that one has lost count.

Never has the IMF or our leaders see the genuine need to improve on the non-oil sector of the nation’s economy.

Apart from the regime of Gen. Buhari, no other Nigerian leader has thought it wise to revisit and resuscitate our agricultural potentials.

Rather than creating enabling environment to bring back agricultural boom, some of our leaders have only established personal farms which they used state funds to run.

Information revealed that large chunks of the produce from the farms are exported out of the country when it is very obvious that food is still not sufficient in Nigeria. The masses are always at the receiving end of these misdirected policies.

Another mind bugging issue that is presently provoking Nigerians is the issue of new plate numbers for vehicles.

One finds it very difficult to deduce any meaningful reason

for the introduction of a new plate number let alone the cutthroat price. At this point of our nationhood is our problem that of plate numbers.

What is the cost of producing a pair of the plate numbers? Is it more than a thousand naira to produce a pair? Behold, people paid as much as forty thousand naira to get the new plate number. Thank God for the timely intervention of the National Assembly that suspended the malady called the sale of the new plates and driver’s licence.

The tale of torture inflicted on Nigerians is an endless one.

Nigerian leaders should encourage the citizens by doing what is expected of leaders and not to seek to justify their short comings.

The government should not have told Nigerians that the activities of a certain cabal necessitated the removal of fuel subsidy. This is an open way of admitting the failure of the administration to enforce the rule of law and a subtle way of telling Nigerians to pay for the weakness and failure of the government to combat economic saboteurs.

Government policies should have human face and not debase humanity in any way. The citizens should be given hopes and in total, the activities of our leaders should not relegate the nation to the status of a laughing stock in the comity of nations.

Let us pray that our leaders should not leave us battered and hopeless, so that together we can propel this nation to a greater height and the future generation would pray for us rather than curse us Dave can be reached at meetdavor@yahoo.com

Three questions to ask the three candidates for World Bank top job Continued from page 13

and corrupt or ineffectual leadership. Should the freed-up IDA resources be committed to countries like Somalia and Afghanistan, in the interests of global security, or go mostly to countries like Honduras, Liberia, and Rwanda, where they are more likely to improve lives in the short run and more likely to help end dependence on aid?

Should some IDA resources be deployed to deal with global commons problems, where the traditional Bank country loan is not useful? Or should IDA funds be used to subsidize loans to countries like Brazil, Egypt and India which though “middleincome” have huge numbers of poor people?

Kim believes services can be delivered to people effectively in tough environments. He is not naïve about the dependence of service delivery on appropriate policy and politics but his starting point is that there is a way to get it done if the right management and execution lessons can be found, adapted and brought to bear. Okonjo-Iweala is also in her way a radical optimist on

improving the lives of the poor.

But she is probably equally focused on getting the macroeconomics and politics right to raise incomes of the poor.

She led the difficult campaign to replenish IDA funds just over a year ago at the World Bank (the replenishment amounted to $30 billion or $45 billion depending on accounting definitions). In the short run at least she would be probably more aware of the tradeoffs over time and place and challenges that are implicit in the question posed above.

3. What is your vision for the role of the Bank in the dynamic emerging economies, and for their role in the governance and management of the Bank? Will you encourage the United States to support changes in governance such as a reduction in its veto power, and encourage the Europeans to give up their unreasonably large number of board chairs – in the interest of engaging China and other developing countries more actively in the development challenge for the next decade?

Will you support the initiative of the BRICs to make the IFC, the

private sector arm of the World Bank Group an independent entity with own president? Do you think the Bank needs more capital even if it comes from China and other countries, reducing the influence of the U.S and Europe, steady and benign supporters for over 50 years?

Would you consider a change in the selection process for your successor, such as the introduction of double majority voting (under which your successor would need both a majority of weighted votes and a majority of country votes)?

The underlying shift in global influence and power toward the dynamic emerging economies (on which global growth and prosperity in rich countries now heavily depend) puts a premium on the World Bank president’s negotiating and consensusbuilding skills. Consider one source of tension: At the InterAmerican Development Bank, Brazil and other developing country members have had the votes to avoid transferring net income from its regular incomeearning loan facilities to its concessional facility. But with

control of the World Bank in the hands of the traditional transAtlantic powers since its founding, that is a practice that has been routine at the World Bank. The most recent IDA replenishment included billions of dollars to come from the IFC’s and the IDBRD’s net income.

Brazil and other developing countries reasonably argue that the transfers have been a nontransparent way for the rich economies to minimize their direct contributions to IDA, while indirectly raising the costs of borrowing from the regular facility. The option in the future is for China and Brazil to contribute directly to IDA. . . .and then of course to take their place at the table where IDA policies and programs are set.

This last set of questions goes to the heart of the issue of the role and standing of the World Bank in a shifting geopolitical landscape. Kim, as a KoreanAmerican with experience working in Peru and Haiti and at WHO, has presumably thought about geopoliltics. Did he demonstrate at Dartmouth convening and consensus-

building skills a World Bank president needs? Okonjo-Iweala grappled with geopolitics when, as Nigerian Finance Minister, she negotiated that country’s $30 billion debt relief package in Paris, Washington and New York. And she did so at the World Bank, when she held the high-level management position of Secretary of the Board. Does she have those consensus-building skills?

I know all three candidates enough to be confident they have qualities that could make them effective as president of the world’s preeminent development institution. They all have shown in one realm or another that they are effective leaders of men and women. For me the key question has to do with their vision for the World Bank of the future. Will the next president focus on business as usual, but better? Or will she or he lead the bank in new directions for a new era? *Correction: The Brazil chair nominated José Antonio Ocampo on behalf of the Dominican Republic; the DR is one of the countries Brazil represents at the Board of the World Bank

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

FCTA ‘park and pay’ scheme: The pains and gains FEATURE

By Josephine Ella

O

n-street parking or ‘park and pay’ scheme as it is called, may not be new to cosmopolitan cities across the globe like South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tanzania but in cities in Nigeria, it is a novel idea.

Perhaps, this is the reason many motorists have found the system too difficult to accept since January, this year when it was officially launched in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

In order to facilitate effective operation of the parking management system, in the ongoing pilot project, the FCT administration has classified the city into zone A & B, with 5000marked-parking-bay on the streets of the city.

Two private companies, Integrated Parking System and Platinum Parking Management Service to whom the monetized parking space have been concessioned are presently, executing the project for the FCT administration.

With the launch of the policy, motorists are required to pay N50 for every 30 minutes and N100 per hour for parking at designated parking zones. By implication, an average civil servant in the FCT, who works for up to 12 hours daily would now pay a parking fee of about N650 daily, or N14,300 in 22 days and N171,600 per annum.

The scheme is presently, adopting a “pay and display” method, whereby, tickets are dispensed at the Point of Sale (POS) terminals at every parking area, managed by parking assistants.

However, not only a few, have perceived the scheme as a calculated ploy by the FCT administration to rip off

Officials of the Integrated Parking System during the launch of the FCT on-street parking in Abuja motorists of their hard earned money in the face of the daunting economic hardship confronting the average man in the country.

For motorists, as far as they are concerned, the policy is ‘ridiculous and exploitative’ because they see no reasons why they should be coerced in to paying for parking their vehicle in any parking space anywhere in the city as the scheme demands. ”Why will they ask us to pay before parking our cars? This is Nigeria where the economy is

nothing to write home about, the standard of living is very poor, people are only managing to survive.

So, to compare us with the United States of America or wherever in the world that they might have copied this system from is very bad,” a motorist,” Fidel Omaku lamented during an interaction with our correspondent.

Another motorist, Suleiman Abdulkadir, who also disapproved of the parking system was particular about knowing what the revenue

Cars parked on marked parking bays along a street at Area 11 in Garki yesterday. Photos: Josephine Ella

generated from this scheme would be used for.

“I have never supported this policy from day one. Whether they say they want to use it to generate revenue or whatever is their reason for introducing it, I can never support it because I want to ask, what are they going to do with the money. They will end up enriching themselves,” he alleged.

Expressing, his disapproval over the parking system, a motorist who simply gave his name as Godwin said: “We are not happy because the government which is supposed to make life better for the people is making things tough for us. How much do we civil servants earn per month that we should pay such huge money for parking.

“N100 per hour, we are talking of about N650 per day, which will run into thousands of naira every month. This is too muc h”.

However, it is not all knocks for the FCT administration because a few other motorists have commended the scheme as a welcome development that will benefit residents on the long run.

One of them, Adehi Gabriel, urged residents to respond positively to change rather than complain about the policy which has restored sanity in areas where the parking meters now operate.

“Changes like this, is

something that people usually find difficult to embrace. But I think what matters here, is the orderliness we all can testify to now. If paying a little token can make for such orderliness compared to the chaotic traffic situation that we suffer in the city, then I think people should try to make this sacrifice,” he said.

The Senate President, David Mark has also thrown his weight behind the scheme, as he even encouraged the FCT minister, while commending the introduction of the scheme not to hesitate to take painful decisions, saying the free space for parking must be maximally utilised to generate revenue for the FCT. Mark spoke at an interactive session between the FCT Minister and residents of Abuja, organised to commemorate 20 years of relocation of seat of power from Lagos to Abuja. ”For Abuja to be a model city you must take painful decisions.

In any case you need to provide enough for things to work in Abuja. I’m saying this, so that those in charge of Abuja would embark on initiatives to generate internally generated revenue so that they can provide the facilities that you want them to provide.

“The minister of Abuja Contiuned on page 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 17

An overloaded lorry along Asokoro Power House bus stop

A motorcyclist guaging a pressure on his tyre at one of the suburbs of the FCT

A wheelbarrow operator waiting for customers at Tipper Garrage, Abuja

A beggar with her child solicting for arms, at Mararaba, recently.

Spliting wood for the furnace at Dei-Dei.

Photo: Joe Oroye and Mahmud Isa

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Kubwa residents re-live el-Rufai days, task Mohammed on cleanliness

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents in Kubwa, a district in the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, have called on the FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed to work in the interest of residents by improving the sanitary situation within and outside the capital city to meet the expected standard of a developed capital c it y .

One of the residents, Engr.

Chris Okoh, Proprietor of Royal Foundation International School in Kubwa who made this known to newsmen during the school graduation ceremony, said that the call for complete sanitation

of the FCT was borne out of the need to make the FCT as the most beautiful city in Africa as proposed by past FCT administrations.

Okoh said the FCT noted that the way some satellite towns outside the city centre are left unkempt, leaves many wondering if these satellite towns were part of the FCT. The Proprietor who commended the past El rufai administration said that the administration made him proud to be domiciled in the FCT, having spent 20 years in Abuja acquiring properties without considering going back to his homeland in Benue state to contribute to its development

until the former FCT Minister, Mallam Nasir El-Rufai but he saw reasons with the former minister later.

"I lost buildings to the el-Rufai demolition exercise including my first school buildings because of lack of title documents, it was bitter and unbearable at the time.

"When the demolition started, I realised the mistake I made by having properties in the FCT without any in my village, that was when I decided to go to my village to give my own contribution to the development. I used the opportunity to set up a standard building which has been nicknamed Abuja style and now

each time I travel home,I am happy, because it came as a result of the right step Nasir Elrufai took at the time, which we all condemned, but now I appreciate him for taking that decision.

"My advice to the FCT Minister is for him to insist on doing what is right, there is need to sanitize the capital city, not by demolition, but looking at the complete cleanliness of satellite towns around the FCT to ensure that the beauty of the city is complete, not only in the city centre," he said.

Mrs. Gladys Ohia, a special guest at the graduation ceremony said that the call to sanitize the FCT was very

necessary as most area councils of the capital city were getting worse by the day, noting that if measures were not taken, the beauty of the city will become a thing of the past.

"It is right to say that most parts of the satellite towns especially those along the roads are becoming a dumping site for refuse, an instance is when you are driving along the Kubwa express way to the city center, you will notice refuse dumping sites by the road side, this is not supposed to be for a developing capital city, the Minister of FCT should work seriously on sanitizing the city to bring out its true beauty," she said.

FCTA ‘park and pay’ scheme: The pains and gains Contiuned from page 16 should make sure that there are facilities to take care of the pressure and those trooping to Abuja because if care is not taken, sooner than later, Abuja will be like Lagos. People have to pay for the parking space in Abuja”, he said.

On its part, the FCT administration justified its resolve to make the system work, citing several reasons ranging from the incessant traffic congestion that has now become the bane of different parts of the city and the indiscriminate parking by motorists.

Giving an insight into the idea behind the scheme, the Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Engineer, Jonathan Ivoke Achara said during a chat with Peoples Daily that its major focus is on traffic management.

According to him, the scheme is aimed at bringing sanity to Abuja roads by checking the traffic congestion in the city, where people park haphazardly on the shoulders of the road and walkways meant for pedestrians.

Furthermore, he added that it would help inculcate best practices on road-use, amongst

Secretary, FCT Transportation Secretariat, Engineer Jonathan Ivoke Achara

users especially drivers who park indiscriminately on-road within the city.

Although, the FCT administration said, the main focus of the scheme is not the money it is yielding, but it admits that it is another avenue to boost its Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) base for implementation of its numerous people oriented projects.

“Our target is traffic management not how much the FCT is going to make or is making. However, I want to tell you that the FCT minister mentioned at several occasions that the administration will subsidize mass transportation.

How are we going to get the money to subsidise mass transportation. It is through government earnings in projects like this we are going to make some money to achieve this goal,” the secretary said.

“Because the project is a PPP programme, we are going to generate some revenue for the FCT. Off course you are aware that government should be in the position to finance itself so the internally generated revenue has to be such that the problems of the administration have to be tackled. It should not only be from the federal allocation that is coming monthly, otherwise government cannot survive,” Ivoke emphasised.

The secretary, also listed employment creation as one of the numerous benefit of the project as he said that the scheme has already provided employment for more than 500 youths, who are presently working with the two companies managing the scheme on the streets.

Meanwhile, he said more youths are envisaged to be gainfully employed soon when other parts of the territory are integrated into the scheme.

“So far, the operators have employed more than 500 people

Staff of the Platinum Parking Management Service, pose for a photograph at the launch and they are recruiting more people. For now they have not been able to cover the zones allocated to them but gradually with this recruitment exercise, they will be able to cover the entire area and the new zones we are going to give out to make sure the whole city is well organised. With this, more people will be employed, thereby addressing the unemployment situation of youths in the FCT in a way,” he said.

The secretary also sees the scheme as a tool to check the influx of motorists into the Abuja metropolis, which results in prolonged persistent traffic gridlock along some routes, saying, taking this into consideration “you will realise that parking management service is long overdue in the FCT”.

Notwithstanding the growing dissension from the public over the new parking system, the FCT administration

is not moved as it said it would ensure that the entire FCT city centre is effectively covered in the scheme and motorists brought to compliance.

In view of this, motorists, who fail to comply with the scheme, are liable to attract even higher fines as the FCTA has also signed a document, authorising the parking managers to fine those found culpable.

According to Ivoke, motorists, who park on the parking area without a valid ticket, would attract a fine of N5, 000. A similar fine would also be meted for wrong parking on shoulders of the road, flowerbeds and walkways.

In the same vein, defaulters, who have their vehicles impounded and towed to the auto pond, would have to pay a fine of N10, 000 before it is released, aside the payment of a N1,000 demurrage each nig ht.

Though, the public is not in

the know of the exact percentage of money which accrues to the FCTA from this project, the Chief Executive Officer of Platinum Parking Management Services, Otunba Olusegun Olarewaju said bulk of the money generated goes to the administration.

Olarewaju, who’s company is in charge of the zone B, which comprises of the Central Business District, Ahmadu Bello way, Shehu Shagari, Aguiyi Ironsi, Malali and Samuel Ademulegun among others including the corridors, speaks further, when asked if they have a financial target to remit to the FCT administration, ”We are not given any target. They own most of the revenue but the fact is; out of that, certain percentage is given to us as running cost so that we can pay the operatives that we engage. All the money is going to a dedicated account that is being monitored by the government”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 19

BUSINESS Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

INSIDE

- Pg 20

CPC arrests Lebanese, confiscates fake products worth N10m

Mob: 08033644990

FAAC allocation for the month of March 2012 S/N

BENEFICIARIES

SUB-TOTAL (N)

1

FG (52.68%) States ( 26 .7 2% ) L/govt Councils (2 0.72 %) Derivation (13% of Mineral revenue-oil/gas) Value Added Tax (VAT) & Transfers

620.7 billion

Dangote Cement’s pre-tax profit rises to N118bn in 2011

D

angote Cement said its pre-tax profit rose to N118.28 billion ($750.70 million) in 2011, compared with N117.84 billion in the previous year.

Dangote Cement, which is Nigeria's biggest capitalised

company proposed a N1.25 per share dividend, plus one bonus share for each 10 held.

Turnover rose marginally to N235.91 billion, compared with N235.70 billion in the previous year, the company results said.

CBN to sell N183bn in treasury bills

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) yesterday said it would auction N183.64 billion ($1.17 billion) in treasury bills at its regular monthly debt auction next week.

The CBN said it would sell N30.15 billion in 91-day paper and N73.49 billion in 182-day bills and 80 billion in 364-day bills next Wednesday.

The CBN issues treasury bills regularly to reduce money supply, curb inflation and help lenders manage their liquidity.

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-ABJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 ABJ-LOS : 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ-S OK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-S OK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-S OK (WED /SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED /SUN): 13.20

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

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN)

Yields on the papers were mixed at the last auction with yields on the 91-day paper falling, while returns on 182-day bills rose. (Reuters)

NDIC kicks- off risk-based training for staff

By Abdulwahab Isa

A

s part of capacity building for its staff, the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), in collaboration with the Office of Technical Assistance (OTA) of the United States Treasury, has begun a six- week training programme on risk-based supervision for its staff.

In his keynote address at the opening ceremony of the training programme, the NDIC Managing Director/Chief Executive, Alh. Umaru Ibrahim, said the need for the adoption of RBS framework in the supervision of banks in the country was based on the fact that both the system and the institutions were getting more complex in terms of size, nature of products and volume of transactions.

He added that if these complexities were not properly identified, measured, monitored and controlled, they could inflict damages on the institutions and the system at large.

LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-L OS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN

ABJ-LOS (SAT /SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS -KANO: 08.10 KANO-L OS: 11.25 KANO-ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO: 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

CFA € £ RIYAL $

SELLING 0.314 208.1528 249.0249 41.6116 156.06

PARALLEL RATES

LOS-ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45 ABJ-L OS : 11.30, 3.45, 4.45 LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (S AT /SUN): 16.30 KANO-L OS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (S UN /SUN): 10.30

27th Mar, 2012 BUYING 0.294 206.819 247.4292 41.3449 155.06

€ £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 255 40 158

SELLING 212 257 42 159

L-R: Chairman, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Director General, Bureau of Public Procurement(BPP),Engineer Emeka Ezeh, and Mr. Jim Ovia, during the Economic Management Team’s meeting presided over by President Goodluck Jonathan, at the State House, on Tuesday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

BPE releases revised transaction agreement to PHCN investors

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has released the revised industry and transaction agreements to the 152 potential investors interested in the privatisation of the seventeen successor companies created from the unbundling of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

The 13 agreements were sent to the bidders on Friday, March 30, 2012 aBPE statement issued by Chukwuma Nwokoh said.

The transaction documents are: Share Sale Agreement; Shareholders Agreement; Performance Agreement; and Concession Agreement.

The industry documents

are: Gas Sale and Aggregation Agreement; Gas Transportation Agreement; Bulk Power Purchase Agreement (Thermal); Bulk Power Purchase Agreement (Hydro); Vesting Contract; Transmission Use of System Agreement; Grid Connection Agreement; and Ancillary Services Agreement.

In a letter to the bidders, the acting Director of Electric Power at the BPE, Malam Ibrahim Babagana, stated that "as per the timetable issued to you, we expect to receive all comments on these documents

by April 20, 2012 at the latest."

He added: "We commit to provide to you the final version of the transaction and industry documents by May 11, 2012.

After this date, further

modifications to any documents will not be accepted."

It would be recalled that following the bidder feedback received by the privatisation agency on the industry and transaction structure, a legal retreat was organised by BPE in Enugu between November 29 and 31, 2011 which involved key stakeholders in the power sector.

According to Babagana, "Out of the retreat, agreements were made and the way forward was established in working to address the comments the bidders made on the documents. The revised industry and transaction agreements are the products of extensive review process and working with all key stakeholders responsible for the various industry documents."

Naira flat at CBN auction, interbank market

T

he Naira currency was unchanged against the U.S dollar yesterday after the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) increased dollar supply at the biweekly foreign exchange auction.

The naira closed at N157.65 against the dollar on the interbank market, the same rate as the previous day.

"Trading was quiet today, as

there was no major activity that could upset the market," one dealer said.

Traders said anticipated dollar sales by the state-owned energy company NNPC failed to materialise, but dollar liquidity in the market was able to meet demand from customers.

At the bi-weekly auction, the central bank sold $150 million at N155.90 to the dollar,

compared with $100 million sold at N155.90 to the dollar at Monday's auction.

"We have more than $200 million inflows this week alone from energy companies, this is enough to keep the market stable," another dealer said.

Dealers said they expect the Naira will continue to hover around N157.50-N157.85 for the rest of the week. (Reuters)

Management Tip of the Day

Use your 118 seconds wisely

T

he average length of an elevator ride in New York City is 118 seconds. If you use that as a guide, it means you've got less than two minutes to deliver a winning elevator pitch for your amazing new idea-

wherever you are.

Start by grabbing your prospect's attention in the first few seconds. Convey who you are and describe what your business offers. Focus on what's in it for the person you're

pitching. Be sure to describe exactly what separates you from everyone else that sells the same product or service.

If you hook him in, you might get to continue the discussion when you arrive at his floor.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

OAAN leadership: One year after Stories from Soji Oyinlola, Lagos

I

n a few weeks, the present leadership of the Outdoor Advertisers' Association of Nigeria, (OAAN), led by Mr. Charles Chijide, would be a year old in the driver's seat of the association.

Chijide and the present members of the association's executive council were elected at the association's last Annual General Meeting (AGM) held in April, 2011.

Interestingly, since the inauguration of the present council, not a few believed that the association is still in a state of inertia, due to the fact that its leadership has not really mapped out a strategy for combating the myriad of problems facing the association and its members.

Though, the association's leadership, in a release, made available to newsmen recently, has slated this year's AGM for this month, and expressed its determination to use the event to arrive at some far-reaching decisions on issues bordering on the association, Notably, the association has not been able to elicit the usual optimism that always heralds such meetings.

Chijide had, in the release, disclosed that the association would be joining forces with the Advertising Practitioners' Council of Nigeria (APCON), the apex regulatory body in the industry, at the event, to map out strategies that would redefine governmentpractitioner relationship, mode of practice and checkmating of

quacks in the industry.

However, the leadership of the association will need more than mere oratorical skill to arouse members' dwindling interests in the affairs of the association, since many believe it is still tied to the apron strings of its immediate predecessors in office and in consequence, might not have the courage to 'walk the talk' when the chips are down.

For instance, it is an open

secret that the dust raised by the last election of the association, is far from settling.

The elections, held in April last year, which saw to the emergence of the present executive, was seen by many as being designed to scheme some influential, but 'stubborn' members out of the scheme of things.

The way the rules were amended at the twilight of the last administration's tenure,

and the inability of the association to fill some key positions in the association, in consequence, no doubt left a sour taste in the mouth of stakeholders.

"One would have expected the incumbent leadership to have embarked on a 'fencemending' mission immediately it was sworn in, unfortunately we've not seen much of this," argued a practitioner, who would not want his name in

An ideal LED Outdoor billboard on display

Nescafe commences campaign in 3 cities

F

ollowing its highly successful innovative brand activation campaign tagged NESCAFE Magic Mug Flight in October and November 2011, Nestle Nigeria Plc., makers of the coffee brand, Nescafe, along with Mr. Konfydens, are set to storm the cities of Ibadan, Ife and Ilorin on its season 2 of the Nescafe Magic Mug Flight cam paig n.

The season 2 of the campaign, which kicked-off at the nation's premier university, University of Ibadan, on 29th of March, 2012, will also be held at the Obefemi Awolowo University, Ife and University of Ilorin, Kwara State.

Another innovation in this year's edition, according to the organisers, is the introduction of a television commercial

(TVC) and social media campaign tagged Mr. Konfydens, expected to herald the campaign.

Mr. Konfydens is a character in the campaign that spurs consumers lacking in confidence into action. The fusion of the character to the Nescafe Magic Mug Flight campaign is therefore to remind consumers that confidence is what they need

to embark on any venture.

Explaining the combination of Mr. Konfydens and the brand activation, the Category Business Manager, Coffee, Mr. Tayo Olatunji, stated that since the campaign was new in the market, Mr. Konfydens was introduced to encourage consumers to be adventurous.

In one of the witty TVCs, a guy who plans to bolt away

print.

Instead, the face-off between it and a prominent member of the association over whether that member had the right to organise an award on creativity is seen by many as portraying the association as the proverbial house that is divided against itself.

In a bid to stop the award, christened 'Bra nd As King ', OA AN t hro ugh its pub lici ty se cret ary , Mr . Em ma Ajuf o, had dispatched an electronic mai l to ove r 92 mem bers of OAAN, few days to the event, asking members to steer clear of the event scheduled to hold on August 21, 2011, since the ass ociati on's presi dent, who was to be a guest of honour at th e event was not in form ed before using his name.

'A part fr om t he fac t th at ou r pr esi den t wa s n ot in form ed befo re usi ng h is na me, we also do no t kn ow how the vario us aw ards and th e r eci pien ts eme rge d.

Theref ore, it is based on the above, that our association is dis-associating itself from this function,' part of the letter read.

In spite of the warning, prominent members of the association still showed up to identify with the awards.

Not a few believe the present leadership was only toeing the path of its predecessors that almost botched the maiden edition of this initiative from Billboard World magazine, a sister company to Executive Options Limited, few years ago. through the window on seeing his girlfriend's military officers father is reminded by Mr. Konfydens that the window is not the door, essentially encouraging him to bravely face his fears. Suddenly, the young man gets his confidence back and walks through the door briskly, without any incidence.

The second TVC features Mr. Konfydens again, reminding a football player, apparently in a dilemma of taking a spot kick, on the need to be decisive and be self-assured.

Firmenich builds flavour laboratory in Nigeria F irmenich, one of the world's leading manufacturers of fragrance and flavour, has put in N12 million to build a flavour laboratory at the Yaba College of Technology (Yabatech), Lagos State.

The laboratory, which is the first of its kind in West Africa, is in partnership with Yabatech and aimed at localising the company's services to its large customers in the food and beverage industry, as well as enhancing practical training in the Food and Science Technology Department of the institution.

Emmanuel Frenck, vice

president, sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) of Firmenich Flavour Division, said the laboratory project started like a dream about a year and half ago to provide direct technical presence of the flavour company in Nigeria.

"The partnership with the Yaba College of Technology demonstrates our commitment to developing a direct presence in Nigeria to ensure an understanding of the Nigerian consumers' taste and be closer to the local food and beverage manufacturers.

"Our close partnership and presence within this prestigious institution offers

great potential to capture ideas and create technical solutions for our local customers through the expertise of our Yaba Food Technology partners, as well as transfer our flavour expertise to the future generation of students, which is also part of Firmenich's commitment to sustainability," Frenck stated.

Christian Schwab, vice president, Zone India/Middle East/Africa (ZIMEA) of Firmenich, during the commissioning of the laboratory last week, stressed the importance of public private partnership (PPP) in

the development of all sectors of the economy, including education.

While describing the new laboratory as one of such projects, Schwab noted that it would boost the training of Food and Science Technology students in the institution, thus providing adequate manpower for the food and beverage industry. He said the project was a way of giving back to the country, as it will bring together players in the food and beverage industry, companies, teachers and students to enhance productivity in the sector.

"We are giving back to the

country through the establishment of this laboratory, which not only takes our services closer to our customers but also assist teachers as well as students with the latest technology in the sector," the Firmenich executive stated.

He went on to point out that they were attracted to the Nigeria in the first place, majorly because of the viability of the Nigerian market, coupled with the fact that the country has a lot of macro-economic indicators that would ensure the achievement of her Vision 2020 ranking among the top 20 economies in the world.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 23

Report as at Wednesday, April 4, 2012 Security

Price

Change

Price Open High Low Trades

Volume

Value

Clo se

IKEJAHOTEL

1.38

INTBREW

5.98

1.41

+

5.98

+

0.61

-

0.03

217,800.00

302,096.00

15

150,430.00

857,886.70

24

2,626,702.00 1,602,288.22

+

5

15,845.00

628,607.77

JAPAULOIL

0.64

ACADEMY

2.09

2.09

+

1

40,000.00

80,000.00

JBERGER

30.25

30.25 +

13

94,471.00

2,796,879.68

ACCESS

5.61

5.61

5.89

5.61

5.88

+

173

7,070,273.00

41,108,734.20

LASACO

0.50

0.50

+

1

3,290.00

1,645.00

AFROMEDIA

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

+

2

1,000,200.00 500,100.00

LINKASSURE

0.50

0.50

+

1

200.00

100.00

AGLEVENT

1.32

1.38

1.38

1.38

1.38

+

3

107,729.00

LIVESTOCK

0.97

0.97

+

25

1,496,502.00 1,432,541.36

AIICO

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

+

56

15,986,521.00 7,993,260.50

LONGMAN

3.09

3.09

+

1

500.00

1,470.00

AIRSERVICE

1.94

1.94

+

1

25,000.00

50,750.00

MAYBAKER

2.30

2.19

-

11

297,040.00

651,627.60

ALEX

10.60

10.60 +

1

500.00

5,035.00

MBENEFIT

0.50

0.50

+

2

20,000.00

10,000.00

ASHAKACEM

11.02

11.00

11.00

10.60

10.60 -

62

1,175,872.00

12,668,016.61

MOBIL

139.30

51

465,070.00

65,987,615.14

ASOSAVINGS

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

+

1

1,627,333.00 813,666.50

MORISON

7.77

7.77

+

1

50.00

369.50

AUSTINLAZ

2.00

2.00

+

2

5,500.00

MULTITREX

1.10

1.10

+

1

1,000.00

1,050.00

BAGCO

2.14

2.15

2.21

2.04

2.04

-

0.10

51

2,982,591.00 6,175,754.90

MULTIVERSE

0.50

0.50

+

1

1,000.00

500.00

BERGER

8.50

8.09

8.09

8.08

8.08

-

0.42

13

316,258.00

2,557,434.64

NAHCO

8.02

8.00

8.12

7.88

8.12

+

0.10

89

1,144,613.00

9,168,000.95

CADBURY

12.01

11.41

11.41

11.41

11.41

-

0.60

57

1,107,394.00

12,635,365.54

NASCON

4.28

4.10

4.10

4.07

4.07

-

0.21

20

341,434.00

1,401,592.28

CAP

19.44

20.00

20.00

20.00

20.00 +

0.56

33

211,916.00

4,224,429.18

NB

97.50

97.00

97.21

97.00

97.21

-

0.29

150

2,831,096.00 275,017,239.98

CAPHOTEL

6.78

6.78

+

1

50.00

322.50

NCR

13.01

13.01

+

5

46,196.00

624,627.72

CAPOIL

0.50

0.50

+

2

1,010.00

505.00

NEIMETH

0.80

0.80

+

2

2,000.00

1,520.00

CCNN

5.00

5.00

+

15

306,400.00

1,562,795.39

NEM

0.50

0.50

+

1

4,000.00

2,000.00

CHELLARAM

6.43

6.43

+

2

7,082.00

43,271.02

NESTLE

400.10

CHEVRON

37.22

37.22 +

18

101,674.00

3,595,192.64

NNFM

21.48

CILEASING

0.50

0.50

7

3,306,000.00 1,653,000.00

OANDO

21.00

20.12

20.12

19.95

19.95 -

CONOIL

24.44

20

158,029.00

3,675,807.04

OKOMUOIL

29.41

30.88

30.88

30.88 30.88 +

CONTINSURE

1.01

0.96

0.96

0.96

0.96

-

3

735,000.00

705,600.00

OMATEK

0.50

CUSTODYINS

1.46

1.49

1.49

1.46

1.46

+

15

443,000.00

647,750.00

PAINTCOM

0.81

0.77

0.77

CUTIX

1.58

1.60

1.60

1.60

1.60

+

3

116,000.00

185,600.00

PORTPAINT

3.79

3.97

DANGCEM

115.50

10

8,594.00

987,611.21

PRESCO

10.68

10.15

DANGFLOUR

4.64

4.46

4.46

4.45

4.45

-

0.19

30

504,365.00

2,248,514.10

PRESTIGE

0.55

DANGSUGAR

3.75

3.75

3.76

3.68

3.68

-

0.07

71

2,003,056.00 7,448,422.53

PZ

24.00

24.00

24.00

24.00

24.00 +

DIAMONDBNK

2.38

2.32

2.49

2.32

2.48

+

0.10

91

47,030,010.00 114,436,161.55

REDSTAREX

2.39

2.40

2.40

2.38

2.38

-

DNMEYER

0.85

0.85

+

1

1,000.00

810.00

ROYALEX

0.50

0.50

+

DUNLOP

0.50

0.50

+

2

9,092.00

4,546.00

RTBRISCOE

1.17

1.16

1.16

1.13

1.14

-

ENAMELWA

36.19

36.19 +

1

10.00

343.90

SKYEBANK

3.85

3.80

3.90

3.75

3.89

+

ETERNAOIL

3.45

3.30

3.30

3.30

3.30

-

0.15

14

308,375.00

1,026,588.75

STDINSURE

0.50

0.50

+

ETI

11.10

11.29

11.29

11.10

11.11

+

0.01

74

14,750,344.00 163,939,873.70

STERLNBANK

1.14

1.19

+

ETRANZACT

4.47

4.47

+

3

500.00

2,125.00

TOTAL

139.69

EVANSMED

0.50

0.50

+

4

69,767.00

35,607.24

TRANSCORP

0.52

FCMB

4.40

4.33

4.40

4.20

4.40

+

84

13,499,314.00 57,811,326.87

TRIPPLEG

FIDELITYBK

1.40

1.41

1.42

1.40

1.41

+

0.01

56

12,924,517.00 18,264,338.41

FIDSON

0.96

0.96

0.96

0.92

0.92

-

0.04

19

FIRSTALUM

0.50

0.50

+

1

FIRSTBANK

9.53

9.85

+

FLOURMILL

58.00

FO

10.99

10.60

10.60

10.60

10.60 -

GLAXOSMITH

21.00

21.10

21.10

21.00

GNI

0.50

GOLDINSURE

0.59

0.57

0.61

GTASSURE

1.27

1.22

GUARANTY

13.80

14.00

GUINNESS

239.84

HONYFLOUR

2.27

2.20

2.20

2.20

2.20

-

IBTC

6.70

6.62

6.80

6.62

6.80

+

IHS

2.47

2.47

+

5.00

0.50

5.00

0.50

5.00

0.50

0.42

+

24.44 + 0.05

2.19 139.30

419.00

0.99 2.19

0.93 2.19

146.26 139.30 140.00 +

419.00 418.50 418.50 +

0.11 0.70

18.40

103 396,350.00

165,448,576.87

5

4,156.00

88,751.09

1.05

170

3,448,778.00 69,300,376.77

1.47

9

228,718.00

7,062,811.84

1

1,000.00

500.00

21.48 +

0.50

+

0.77

0.77

-

0.04

10

904,020.00

696,095.40

3.97

3.97

3.97

+

0.18

3

183,375.00

716,091.75

10.15

10.15

10.15

-

0.53

18

263,050.00

2,698,519.04

0.55

+

1

1,600.00

880.00

82

1,247,959.00 29,896,241.03

16

459,620.00

1,088,455.20

1

4,715.00

2,357.50

0.03

16

496,650.00

566,877.45

0.04

65

7,769,319.00

29,529,791.23

2

11,000.00

5,500.00

22

2,430,520.00 2,821,693.82

139.69 +

29

15,665.00

0.52

+

40

4,009,799.00 2,074,890.68

2.66

2.66

+

1

599.00

1,515.47

UAC-PROP

10.00

10.00 +

12

57,387.00

557,236.50

2,169,306.00 2,012,105.12

UACN

29.00

29.16

29.16

29.16

29.16 +

57

236,267.00

6,893,810.77

2,000.00

UBA

2.60

2.60

2.60

2.56

2.60

+

144

8,361,779.00

21,651,485.94

554 14,848,298.00 145,151,007.99

UBN

2.58

2.46

2.46

2.46

2.46

-

0.12

28

559,747.00

1,376,977.62

57

162,667.00

8,996,879.44

UNILEVER

31.00

31.50

31.50

31.42

31.42 +

0.42

69

674,107.00

20,997,631.67

22

79,571.00

848,378.56

UNITYBNK

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

+

20

13,459,267.00 6,729,633.50

21.00 +

24

386,109.00

8,119,554.00

UNIVINSURE

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

+

2

437,493.00

218,746.50

0.50

+

2

1,000.00

500.00

UPL

3.28

3.12

3.43

3.12

3.43

+

10

275,829.00

897,594.93

0.57

0.61

+

0.02

10

293,600.00

169,370.15

VANLEER

13.28

1

4,000.00

50,800.00

1.33

1.21

1.33

+

0.06

10

822,500.00

1,010,549.00

VITAFOAM

3.06

14

504,383.00

1,563,812.30

14.39

14.00

14.39 +

0.59

508 25,972,447.00 372,606,860.62

VONO

1

661.00

1,903.68

70

215,007.00

49,146,706.27

22

110,983.00

4,430,136.50

0.07

8

101,250.00

221,820.00

0.10

37 1

0.02

115.50 +

9.54

11,000.00

0.95

0.03

10

41.75

148,666.02

0.61

1.41

41.75

0.06

0.61

1.41

7UP

0.27

0.61

1.41

9.99

9.54

0.32

58.00 + 0.39

239.84 +

1,000.00

1.11 0.52

1.19 0.54

1.11 0.51

0.01

0.05

0.16

0.15

13.28 + 3.10

+

2.88

2.88

+

WAPCO

41.00

41.00 +

WAPIC

0.52

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

-

0.02

3

338,600.00

169,300.00

1,486,148.00 10,041,061.75

WEMABANK

0.51

0.50

0.50

0.50

0.50

-

0.01

20

315,000.00

157,520.00

500.00

ZENITHBANK

12.40

12.60

13.00

12.40

13.00 +

0.60

398 31,217,320.00 392,033,365.65

1,175.00

3.10

3.10

3.10

0.04

2,200,435.66

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Why young people do not read Results released last week by both the National Examination Council (NECO) and the Joint Admission and Matriculation Board (JAMB) show that students failed woefully with only three students scoring over 300 in the latter. Blessing Tunoh, traces the non reading culture among Nigerian youths to this problem and many others bedeviling our educational sector in this write-up. parts of the country occasioned by the ineffectiveness of the Power Holding Corporation of Nigeria (PHCN). Coupled with the uncharitable hot weather in the state,the Library is almost uninhabitable.

Mr. Bakari Mayemwiso has been the state Librarian since 2010, he told Peoples Daily that save for book donations periodically received from the Education Trust Fund (ETF) and other public spirited individuals,the last supply

by the state government was in 1989.

“Our major problem is lack of funding, we have complained severally to the government at different occasions and even though they keep promising to come to our aid after assessing the level of decay which is peculiar to all our zonal branches in Mubi, Ganye and Numan we are yet to feel their impact.”

Mayemwiso stated.

He further lamented the deplorable state of the Library in the capital city

“

During the rainy season as you can see from the rotten ceilings we are always faced with leakages which usually destroy some of our books especially during weekends

Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Rufai

G

one are the days when young people spend time in libraries reading written texts from books particularly novels to boost their vocabulary while imbibing the much needed reading culture required in their academic pursuit.

Back then, the intelligence quotient of students at all levels was measured by the number of books they have read and the quality of vocabulary spoken as every smart student always reads with a jotter and a pen, taking note of difficult words that would need to be cross checked up in a dictionary or fascinating new words he would like to practice and impress friends wi th .

But with the advancement of technology today which has brought information to our finger tips, very few people both old and young consider reading books more so toy with the idea of visiting a library to have some quiet and serious

time of reading.

A visit to the Adamawa state Library along old market road confirms this as the building which has a sitting capacity of at least fifty persons which ideally should be considered insufficient plays host to not more than ten persons every day and even fewer on other day s.

The dilapidated structure of the supposed library is the first factor that kills the interest of a potential reader as the walls are dotted with cracks housing lizards and other bizarre creatures just as most parts of the ceiling have fallen off.

The remaining portion bear water patches indicative of leakages during the rainy season.

The furniture is equally old fashioned with nails sticking out while basic facilities like a lavatory is lacking. The library is always in perpetual darkness since it is not left out of the blackout experienced in most

and stressed the need for automation, renovation of the structure and putting up an e-library as promised by the state government.

“During the rainy season as you can see from the rotten ceilings we are always faced with leakages which usually destroy some of our books especially during weekends so we have to pack them in a place we consider safe-so you talk about reading culture tell me how you can get people to read in this kind of sickening environment,” the Librarian lamented.

Mr. Tendu Moses, a school teacher who has patronised the library since its inception and official take off in 1991 however says “I have not noticed any difference, I met it this way at its dilapidated state and I would say there has been some improvement in terms of books.”

Tendu believes that if the state government could introduce internet facilities like it is done in other modern libraries as well as air conditioners and fans, it would be more conducive as

Students writing an examination; how many will pass without functional libraries in schools and towns?

A disused library in a school

according to him, the environment is unfriendly and hot which make readers to find it hard to concentrate.

“Reading culture is on the decline, something else has taken over the life of youths; films, internet, consequently they do not have time to read. The implication is that since youths are the future leaders, if it goes on like this there will be chaos in the future-so if the government can bring in the kind of books youths are interested in, it would no doubt attract some of them to read,” he advised.

He also lamented what he described as insufficient relevant reference materials thus; “sometimes I come here to seek for

certain information but I don’t find it because most of the books are outdated, so I just come here to read my own books which I bring from somewhere else because I don’t find the books I need here.”

Educationists argue that the repercussion on today’s generation of students has led

them to develop spelling skills largely dependent on abbreviating words and phrases, translating letters to numbers, communicating through text-based symbols and intentionally misspelling words. Students who often use online venues such as IM chat and social networking can find it

“

Educationists argue that the repercussion on today’s generation of students has led them to develop spelling skills largely dependent on abbreviating words and phrases, translating letters to numbers, communicating through text-based symbols and intentionally misspelling words

difficult to adopt the more traditional modes of communication necessary to achieve passing grades.

Students who rarely depend on handwriting will find it difficult to create consistent, legible writing and will instead need to rely on typed words to communicate.

This deficiency will affect both the student’s grades in handwriting-based assignments and any writing assignment.

It has now become the norm for students to frequently conduct research by using sources that lack credibility and are potentially inaccurate, such as wikis. Consequently they can end up committing plagiarism because of their confusion about accepted

research methods and their lack of research skills.

Many final year students in grade schools writing their final year thesis are the most affected just as other students are prone to plagiarize obscure articles, poems or short stories for a writing class simply because they do not expect to be caught or because they expect instant success with little effort.

It is therefore little wonder how the rate of failure of national examinations and IQ tests by young people has become increasingly high; a development that educational institutions should take proactive measures to address to safeguard the future of our future leaders.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Remembering Jarman Kano, Dankabo, 10 years after

By Hashim Muhammad

O

n a day like yesterday, April 4, ten years ago, a great soul answered the inevitable call. The call all mortals must respond at the appointed time. The world was rudely awakened by the distressing news that poignant April morning in 2002 that Alhaji Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo, the late Jarman Kano was no more. An incredulous world was told that the cold hands of death, that intruder in the affairs of men and beasts, had snuffed the life out of the fabled philanthropist and humanist just hours after the man, bubbling with life, had celebrated his 60 th birthday.

A day earlier on April 3rd, the late Jarman Kano, a perfect blend of tradition and modernity had rolled out the drums thanking his creator for witnessing a milestone. As a devout Muslim, he had known from childhood that to live beyond that over ripe age of 60 to 70 was a bonus. So he had lived life to the fullest.

He lived each day as if it was his last.

Were he alive today, Dankabo would have been 70, the proverbial three scores and ten. He witnessed the three scores alright but he never got to witness the ten. A sage once said it is not the years spent that count but the quality of the years spent. To say that the Jarma’s 60 years of earthly sojourn was qualitative is to state the obvious. Touching lives and changing the fortunes of whole communities defined his life.

His philanthropy is legendary. His generosity was boundless. These virtues also defined his business philosophy.

To late Dankabo, wealth was meant to serve mankind and not mankind serving wealth. That explains, in part, his fabled generosity.

To attempt to capture the essential Jarman Kano in a short tribute like this is to attempt the impossible. He was a polyglot with a multiple of skills and qualities. At one end, he was a trail blazing entrepreneur who pioneered the capital intensive airline business. At another, he was a resourceful traditional title holder and ruler willing to sacrifice his immense wealth for the good of his subjects. Yet at another end he was a disarmingly humble philanthropist prepared to share his last penny with the needy.

It was therefore, not surprising that the late business mogul earned several chieftaincy titles from across the vast expense of the nation in recognition of his selflessness and service to mankind. Besides being the Jarman Kano and Hakimin Kabo, he was also the Oruwase of Urhobo land, Adah

Idah-ke Eburutu of Calabar land, the Sardaunan Kagoro.

His pioneering exploit in the aviation industry at a point made world history .His seven Boeing 747 jets at a time made him the sole-owner of the world’s largest fleet of long range private jet liners. From two leased aircrafts at its inception, Kabo Air had, at its peak period of operations 24 fully owned aircrafts of varying sizes to consolidate its position as No1 in Africa.

Indeed with continued dwindling fortunes of Nigerians well into the 1990’s the pragmatic and visionary owner of Kabo Air, late Jarman Kano, swiftly ventured into the more viable international operations especially Umrah and Hajj operations. His successes in the aviation industry are indeed remarkable.

The airline was established in February 1980 and started operations in April 1981. It is wholly owned by Kabo Holdings.

From a humble beginning, Kabo Air steadily grew to overwhelmingly dominate the skies of Nigeria in the field of air operations.

For over a decade, Kabo Air operated about 20 domestic flights daily linking Nigerians from both sides of Rivers Niger and Benue especially businessmen and women from Kano through which business transaction flourished, catapulting Kano people to new level in modern business.

The company stopped operating domestic services in 2001, but recently said that new services are on the table.

For now, it focuses solely on hajj operations and international charters. Traffic rights were given to Kabo Air for operating scheduled services to Rome, Nairobi and N’Djamena. For some time there were flights to Cairo.

It met the requirements set by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) for recapitalization in May 2007.

As the pioneer of the private airline industry in the country, his business astuteness saw his company Kabo Holdings Limited ­ operators of Kabo Air, stay afloat with its peers falling by the wayside. In the risk-laden and uncertain business terrain

Late Jarman Kano, Alhaji Muhammadu Adamu Dankabo in Nigeria, Kabo Air has metamorphosed into an enduring institution exploding, in a profound manner, the myth that airlines business in Africa hardly thrive after the demise of their originator.

Great leaders create leaders not followers, so goes a common saying. Late Dankabo clearly fall into the category of great leaders because he was able to create leaders that have taken the business he originated to new high. Last year, the management of Kabo Air led by the Managing Director Captain

“

Saidu Muhammad acquired a Boeing 747 -400 to boost the fleet to a total of four Boeing 747s.

A well trained pilot with years of flying experience, Capt Saidu Muhammad has diligently piloted the affairs of Kabo Air in the last decade expanding its operational scope to the West African Sub-region with offices in Sierra Leone, Benin Republic, Cameroun and Ghana.

Headquartered in Kano, Kabo Air originally operated special charter services for corporate bodies, executives and

His philanthropy is legendary. His generosity was boundless. These virtues also defined his business philosophy. To late Dankabo, wealth was meant to serve mankind and not mankind serving wealth. That explains, in part, his fabled generosity

government officials.

During his life time, Dankabo being a key and visible player in the aviation industry ensured that his airline offered the lowest fare. There were instances passengers on domestic route were routinely flown to their destinations free especially if he happened to have been aboard.

Thanks to his fabled generosity. Umrah and Hajj passengers used to rush Kabo Air on account of its low fare and lenient haulage of pilgrim luggage. During his life time he anonymously executed philanthropy which was only discovered after his passage.

Yesterday marked ten years of the death of this illustrious business man and traditional ruler. To mark this milestone, his family visited hospitals, orphanages and homes of the less privilege and donated handsomely in the tradition of their late patriarch. Indeed the death of Dankabo has left a big vacuum difficult to fill years after he departed this world.

Hashim Muhammad is a student of Ahmadu Bello University Zaria

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Tips for admission into higher institutions in Nigeria

By Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde

J

AMB recently released the results of Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UMTE. Our blessed children have done theirs. Now, with the UTME results, I will say that they have handed the baton to us, as they turn their attention away to prepare for their WAEC and NECO examinations. May God be with them.

I am writing this brief article on what parents need to do with the UTME results in their hands in order to ensure their wards are admitted into our universities and other tertiary institutions without much difficulty. It is not my intention to write on university admissions in Nigeria generally. I have done that in 2006 (?) in the article, The Ten Commandments of University Admissions. Interested readers can refer to my blog.

This post, though prepared for some three yahoo discussions in Northern Nigeria, is in English for the benefit of other Nigerians who are not Hausa speaking, just in case they would be interested in it. What I will say is largely drawn from my experience in handling mass admissions for indigenes of my state when I was an adviser on Education in Bauchi and the recent efforts to secure admissions for my children in Nigerian universities.

The interest to write this advice, however was prompted by a bad experience last year. The best science student in St. Louise, Kano, a classmate of my daughter, applied to BUK last year. Her UTME score was 248.

It is a catholic school. No cheating. She sat for the postJAMB test after filling an online form provided by the university.

Then the sad news: She didn’t gain admission into the university, neither for the medicine she applied for nor for any other course due to a technical problem in processing the post-JAMB test forms. Her admission was vitiated along with that of over 3,000 applicants like her, many of them I believe excellent students too, for no fault of theirs.

When my daughter informed me of her sad case I instantly called Hadiza’s father and got the details. Then I linked him with a lecturer friend at BUK. They tried but the university was adamant. Hadiza is now studying physics at Kano State University of Technology, Wudil.

Wallahi, Kano has missed a fine doctor in that cool but exceptionally brilliant girl that was collecting prices in almost all subjects she was offering at St. Louise.

So parents and guardians, my first advise is take the admission of your children seriously. Don’t leave it to chance or to Nigerian bureaucracy. It is a battle. Please

let us fight it for our children who have read so hard, who grew lean as a result of hardwork and who are yet to gain the capacity to survive the struggles for survival in Nigeria. I have been in this battle for the past ten years.

I will be very brief, giving just the important things to do.

1. Request from your child his UTME result. See what he scored.

If he has anything 160 and above, depending on a number of factors, he may be admissible into a university, but even with slightly lower marks, he can gain admission into other types of tertiary institutions.

2. Weigh your chances, if need be a more informed person. If your ward has high scores like 240 and above, your worries may not be much, again depending on the course he applied for and the university.

3. If the scores are low, you may, depending on your assessment of chances, even need to change the course or institution he applied for, or both. Fortunately, even if your child was over ambitious in his choice, because children usually fill the forms while they are at school without consultation with their parents, you now improve his chances of admission by buying a GREEN CARD at the nearest JAMB office and making the necessary changes online.

Please inquire from the JAMB office the dateline for effecting the alterations or else it may be too late. Just do it as quick as possible from the week following the one in which the result was released after taking an informed decision.

3. FIRST CHOICE of a polytechnic, College of Education or University, is what is used for admission. Hardly would any university listen to you if your child has chosen it as a second choice. From my experience, they often get annoyed with you.

The list of applicants sent to the universities by JAMB is usually of the first choices of applicants only. Be very careful on this. It is a golden rule.

4. If you find out that your child is not likely to be admitted into a university, you may wish to try your luck in a polytechnic or college of education of his FIRST CHOICE. There, the cut-off points are usually much lower. This is one of the dividends of unifying the matriculation examination.

Kudos to NBTE, NBCE, NUC and JAMB. 5. Also, play it safe by restricting your choices to your CATCHMENT AREA. The entire country is a catchment area for UNIABUJA. Apart from it, I don’t think there is any with that wide net. Please let me be corrected on this if I am wrong.

Then ABU is a catchment university for all states in Northern Nigeria. The same thing I think are UI, UNILAG and

Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i IFE to the South-west. Then other universities and institutions have their respective catchment areas in their zones and neighbouring states. If you are an indigene of Bauchi for example, BUK is not your catchment university, but UNIJOS and all universities in the former North-east are, as well as UNIABUJA and ABU as mentioned. Please pay attention to this golden rule too, unless you are sure that your child has the high scores that will place him on the national MERIT LIST of the institution he has applied for.

6. Once you have finalized on where the child has the best chances of admission, immediately establish a link with someone you know in the university or higher institution of his FIRST CHOICE. If you don’t know anyone, please find one by taking a trip to the place and meeting with someone in the department he applied for or in the academic office. Make sure you EARN his goodwill if you want him to be picking your calls and giving you the correct information. And depending on how well you EARN that goodwill, he may even be the one calling you and intimating you on the stage of the admission process. As a Nigerian you know what I mean. Haba! A beg, me I no dey for wahala if Lamorde catch una wo. But if you have a good friend there, ah, you may not need to go that far. It could even backfire especially in Northern Nigeria.

7. Maintain a regular contact with your link. Enquire from him when the admission exercise of the university will commence.

(Note that different institutions in Nigeria have different academic calendars). Disturb him. Be on his neck, until your son is through, of course softening his mind with your

polite mouth and smiling pocket, if necessary.

8. For universities especially, the post-JAMB, or post-UME test as it is called, may be necessary.

Don’t miss it. Don’t joke with it.

Ensure that your ward prepares for it as he prepared for UTME and WAEC, in fact even more.

The post-JAMB scores are pooled with that of the UMTE to determine the admissibility of your child. But not all universities conduct it, and hardly do polytechnics and Colleges of Education.

9. Do whatever is possible to ensure that the name of your ward appears on the first list of admitted students; otherwise get it on the second. Even with the best promises, banking on the third list, or “VC’s list” as it is called, must only be the last resort for people with long legs. If you are an ordinary Nigerian, your final chance is the second list.

Otherwise, better start preparing for the worst.

10. Finally, for universities that do not conduct the postJAMB test but admit solely on the basis of UTME scores, ensure your child works hard during the first semester. If he doesn’t earn at least a certain GPA aggregate, he may be withdrawn immediately the results of the first semester are out.

THE CHILD OF THE POOR 11. One can easily foresee disaster for children of the poor in this Darwinina struggle given the fact that every parent or guardian will try to press all the buttons he has to ensure that his child is admitted. I will be very frank here. Children of the poor must, first, put their trust in hardwork to acquire merit. That is the reason behind the merit list.

12. If the child cannot be that meritorious, it will not be a bad idea to try his luck in less scoredemanding institutions or

courses. Or he may even choose to take the long route through Alevels and diplomas in order to gain admission into the university directly later.

13. State governments could be of assistance. By building a good rapport with institutions in their zones, they can easily, from my experience, gain mass admissions for their indigenes regardless of their social status.

This has worked in Bauchi when I was the Adviser on Education.

Following the difficulty I had with the admission of my first daughter into UNIMAID in 2003, I sought the approval of the then governor to officially seek admissions for all indigenes of Bauchi state regardless of where they stay in Nigeria, as much as I could.

I will approach a VC and say, “Sir, I have come for the admission of Bauchi state indigenes. If your total admissions this year is so and so, as our state belongs to your catchment area, we will at least be entitled to so much number of entries. Give me your JAMB list, biko, I will work on it overnight, sieve out the names of students from my state who meet your cut-off marks and meet you with it tomorrow morning.”

The following morning the list will be there. Then a trick: I will remind him of a promise our governor made to build a lecture hall or hostel block for his university. I will mostly get all I requested and returned home happy. Back in Bauchi, I will usually exagerate to His Excellency the cooperation of the VC and demand that he instantly call the VC and thank him. The governor will set the machinery for redeeming his pledge, as I prepare to visit the next university.

Gladly, this effort was inherited by the Yuguda administration under the able leadership of his then Commissioner for Higher Education, Malam Bala Jibrin. I do not know much about the state of that programme now as I have lost touch with the government for quite a while now.

Other people can try it, depending on the “rules of engagement” relayed admissions on the ground.

Conclusion The above, as I said is my advise to parents and guardians.

It is a general guide because some universities may demand for more or less. People more conversant with the admission exercises can please correct any error I might have committed, a point that I omitted, or shade more light in the comment space below.

Dr. Aliyu U. Tilde is a renowned columnist based in Jos

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE

By Baba Ali & Halima Suleman

F

loods are the most common and widespread of all natural disasters. Nigeria is one of the highly flood prone countries in the world. Floods cause damage to houses, industries, public utilities and properties resulting in huge economic losses, aside from loss of lives. Though it is not possible to control flood disasters in totality, but adopting suitable structural and non-structural measures flood damages can be lessened.

Nigeria has lost thousands of lives and properties worth billions of Naira to flood disasters in recent times. Flooding are due to natural phenomena, such as excessive rain, overflowing of rivers banks, leading to flash flooding, it can also result due to human negligence like bad construction of structures on waterways, dumping of refuse on drainages, disregard of professionalism in building constructions and many more, Worried by the repetitive nature of flood disasters, for more than a decade, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) being an entity saddled with the responsibilities to coordinate resources towards effective and efficient disaster management has discovered that planning flood management measures, reliable, accurate, timely information, publicity, sensitization and awareness campaigns are required to reduce the anticipated impacts that may be recorded.

Recently, NEMA having been alerted by the Nigeria Metrological Agency’s (NIMET) 2012 Seasonal Rainfall Predictions (SRP) which indicates there would be irregular flooding in some parts of the country especially the coastal and riverine areas, the agency reiterated adequate preparation to abate the anticipated irregular windstorm and the ravaging flooding predicted by NIMET. According to the predictions “based on expectations, there will be a normal onset of rainfall in 2012 in most part of the country.

The rainfall amount would be from 1200mm –2700mm in the south and 300mm to 1100mm in the northern parts of the country which may lead to high surface runoff and flash flooding.”

“Furthermore, the predicted normal rainfall may result in flash flooding particularly in the North West zone. It should also be noted that wet spells and flash floods could occur even n areas with a likelihood of near normal to below normal rainfall. Hence, there is need for sensitization of NEMA, and other relevant agencies to ensure adequate emergency preparedness for the associated risks.” The report stated.

Over the years, NEMA has reaffirmed its commitment in Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) action plan strengthening every of its preventive mechanisms. The agency has intensified its public education and enlightenment programmes, sensitization and awareness campaigns on disaster prevention and mitigation across the country.

In response to this, NEMA North West Zonal Office spearheaded by the Acting Zonal Coordinator, Alhaji Musa Ilallah mandated with the herculean task

Timely warning on 2012 rains, storms and floods of prompt intervention of responding to disasters across the seven (Kaduna, Kano, Katsina, Jigawa, Zamfara, Sokoto and Kebbi) states of the zone embarked on relentless sensitization and awareness campaign to avert the anticipated hazards.

Last year, Six States in the North West zone suffered severe flooding and unless measures are taken to prevent and mitigate its possible consequences, this year’s will not be an exception at a time when some of the communities that suffered from previous flood disasters are still recovering from their losses.

Flooding has become seasonal occurrence in some parts of the country, communities are therefore required to prepare by taking precautionary measures.

NEMA confirmed that the rainfall forecast for the year 2012 for Nigeria by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) points to more rainfall than normal.

The occurrence of floods is something that may come with or without warning, and there is

nothing you can do to stop it.

However you are not that helpless.

There are preventive measures one can do to lessen or control the damage and to protect their homes from the fury of the flood. This is why it is important for measures to be taken before disaster occurs.

It is poor judgment for communities that are extremely vulnerable to wait for authorities to provide answers to all the threats by floods. Without waiting for NEMA, communities can avert flood disaster by taking preventive measures. They can organize to open up blocked river channels and waterways. If the threat is from dams, concerned authorities should give timely or even mandatory evacuation notices to host communities, who should be provided with alternative shelter as the problem lasts.

NEMA Identified the remote causes of flood to include construction on waterways, constant indiscriminate dumping of refuse in drainages especially polythene bags and non-distilling of drainages which lead to blockage of waterways is one of associated

risk factors in floods. Land owners must not construct bridges, fences or other permanent structures across watercourses nor should they restrict the flow.

Nothing should be stored on the banks in such a place or way that it may be washed away or fall in.

Watercourses must not be used to dispose of debris, Drainage and sewage lines in many urban towns and cities have been turned into refuse dump sites, while people build on sewage lines and water channels. There is also the need to improve upon town and regional planning methods, while government must ensure that structures are not erected on water channels.

Another cause of flooding is poor cultivation pattern in overused farmlands.

When farmlands are overused, they lose their capacity to contain the weakest threat by flood. The indiscriminate cutting down of trees is also a major factor associated risk factor, which does not only lead to flood but also prepares the soil on a perfect path to gully erosion. Dam brakeage

due to improper maintenance can also lead to undue over-flooding of the banks, with consequence on the host communities.

Authorities at the state and local governments through relevant stakeholders need to establish and support their populace in complementing the efforts of NEMA. The Grassroots Emergency Volunteer Corps (GEVC), NEMA/NYSC Emergency Management Volunteer Corps (EMV) and DRR Clubs in secondary schools are programmes designed by the agency to reduced vulnerability in respective communities.

Disaster prevention and management should be seen as everybody’s business.

This principle should be imbibed by all in both public and private sectors. The prevention of disasters is certainly more desirable than the provision of relief assistance as NEMA is not a recompense agency but rather provide relief support to victims of disasters.

Halima Suleman and Baba Ali wrote in from Kaduna

Officials of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), in a group photograph with King Gabriel Dickson Moko 5th of Sangana, Southern Ijaw, Bayelsa State when they paid a visit to victims of recent gas explosion in the state.

Gas Explosion: NEMA to assist more communities in Bayelsa

By Mohammed Kandi

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he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has said it would to provide additional assistance to the victims of the recent gas explosion that caused serious damages in Brass and Southern Ijaw in the coastal areas of Bayelsa state just as it has identified more affected communities affected by the disaster.

A statement issued by

NEMA’s head of media and public relations, Yushau A. Shuaib, noted that the agency has carried out special assessment of the additional communities to benefit from the next sets of intervention exercise.

Director General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi, according to the statement, identified some settlements located near Sangana and Fishtown in Southern Ijaw and Brass local government areas of the state.

Represented by NEMA’s Director Search and Rescue Operations, Air Commodore Alex Abayomi Bankole who led the assessment team to the area, Sani Sidi said the communities had alerted of the spillover effects of the explosions to their areas after several weeks of the disaster, with dangerous health hazards.

The team was made up of the Bayelsa State officials and received by the leaders of the various communities including King Gabriel Dickson Moko 5th of

Sangana and King Ngozi O. Nammah 6th of Fishtown.

It would be recalled that the agency had recently delivered some relief items to some of the affected communities in the area.

The materials include food items and toiletries such as bags of Rice, Gari, beans, kegs of vegetable and palm oils.

Others are pieces of buckets, bags of Salts and Sugar, cartons of bath soap, cartons of detergent among other items.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Averting bio-habitat hazards of global warminig

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Governor Umaru Tanko Al-Makura of Nasarawa state (middle) in a group photograph with stakeholders at the recently held peace building conference organised by the National Emergency Management Agency in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital.

NEMA provides relief materials to Igwuruta fire victims T he National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has donated relief materials worth millions of Naira to victims of the recent fire incident in Igwuruta, Ikwere Local Government of Rivers.

The Director General of the agency, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, handed over the materials to the state Commissioner for Special Duties, Mr Emeka Wogu, in Port Harcourt.

Sani-Sidi said that the donation was part of the agency’s efforts to cushion the effects of the disaster on victims of the March 17, 2012 fire incident which ravaged the community.

The materials included bags of rice, beans, groundnut oil, onions, and mattresses.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the fire incident, which claimed many lives and properties, including a family of four, was ignited by a petrol tanker which skidded off the road and caught fire.

The Director General urged the commissioner and the Chairman of the Council to be transparent in the distribution of the materials, saying that every victim must benefit.

He commended the state government for its efforts to mitigate disasters over the years.

``Your giant stride in the development of the state and support to NEMA are the manifestation of your commitment to good governance,” Sani-Sidi, said.

Wogu, who received the items, expressed happiness for the donation, adding that the prompt response of NEMA indicated that Nigeria had a caring government.

Wogu said the ministry would continue to partner with the agency to ensure effective disaster management in the state and the South South zone.

He assured that the materials would be judiciously shared to the victims of the incident. (NAN)

Disaster mgt: Adamawa deputy governor solicits NEMA’s support Stories by Mohammed Kandi

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he Adamawa State Deputy Governor, Barr.

Bala James has solicited partnership and support of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to enable its newly established State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) carry out its functions effectively.

Speaking during a courtesy call to the headquarters of the agency yesterday in Abuja, the deputy governor lauded NEMA for its continuous assistance especially in the area of swift response to disaster issues in the state.

Barr. James, who sought the agency’s collaboration in the

areas of staff training and provision of sophisticated equipment for the SEMA, however recalled that, NEMA gave an early warning on possibility of floods in the area due to anticipated over flow of water from rivers within and neighbouring countries.

“I want to personally thank the DG of NEMA for his support and desire to ensure that the agency’s mandate of providing succor to the distress person at times of emergency is strictly adhered to. Sani Sidi has taken the agency a step further in terms of performance and delivering to the people what is expected of him,” he explained.

Responding, the NEMA’s boss pledged to continue to support

individuals, states, and organisations that were in need of assistance due to disaster related issue, adding that, the deputy governor’s visit shows that Adamawa state was ready to contain emergencies.

Sani Sidi, who called on the state government to provide funds for the newly established SEMA in the state, noted that, “SEMA in every state are the first responder to emergency situations and as such needed to be well financed and mobilized for efficient operations.”

He also assured of the agency’s readiness to partner with the SEMA, especially in the area of training and logistic support for the staff of the agency in the country.

he earth which is recorded to have been founded about 4.6billion years ago, has witnessed series of atmospheric changes, among which is the ongoing increase in Global warming which has caused several damages to biological beings that inhabits it. This increase in global warming hurts human health, animals, and plants; it is generally known to have been facilitated by greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor, nitrous oxide, and methane which trap heat and light from the sun in the earth’s atmosphere and accelerate it’s temperature level.

This phenomenon has posed negative effects to the weather and agricultural conditions across the world as drier situations have prevailed in the Sahel region of western Africa, southern Africa, the Mediterranean, and parts of southern Asia; while droughts have been projected to become longer and more intense since 1970 particularly in the tropics and subtropics. From the latest development, weather patterns have become less predictable around the world giving chances to sudden occurrences of natural disasters like floods, Hurricanes, desertification etc.

Also, the increasing warm nature of the atmosphere has caused reparative effects on the surface layer of the ocean, as it expands in volume thus raising sea level which has complicated life in various parts of the world; since erosion of cliffs, beaches, and dunes will increase and invade the mouths of rivers resulting to heavy flooding. The rises in the temperature will cause a great harm to plants which are naturally sources of food to man and animals. Meanwhile, Global warming has accounted for the increase in tropical diseases such as malaria mostly found in the tropics and transmitted by mosquitoes, yellow fever, and encephalitis.

Consequently, in attempt to proffer workable solutions against the negativities arising from Global warming that could cause damage to man, plants and animals, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under the leadership of its DirectorGeneral, Alhaji Muhammed SaniSidi in collaboration with National Metrological Centre has organized a number of conferences and workshops across the country on sensitization campaign against global warming.

It was resolved that responding to the challenge of controlling global warming will require fundamental changes in energy production, transportation, industry, government policies, and development strategies around the world.

Forest preservation is an essential tactic to keep carbon dioxide emissions from reaching the atmosphere. It has been reported that trees, especially young and fast-growing ones, soak up a great deal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and store carbon atoms in new wood. There is a need to reduce the growing rate of deforestation particularly in the tropics. Over the years, Industrial demands for agricultural products, like rubber has resulted to deforestation and soil changes across the globe. These patterns have accelerated as industrial growth has spread more widely, and creating global warming.

Carbon dioxide brought to the earth surface through the natural gas drillings around the world must be captured, compressed, and then injected into an aquifer deep below the seabed from which it cannot escape. In most cases, the process of carbon capture would also involve transporting the gas in compressed form to suitable locations for underground storage as it has been adopted in natural gas drilling in Norway since 19 96 .

Adequate environmental and wastes management through the adoption of systematic recycling is another tactic to tackle global warming. It has been observed that recycling reduces pollution because recycling a product creates less pollution than producing a new one. Recycling can also reduce pollution by recycling safer products to replace those that pollute. It also saves energy by reducing the need to process new material, which usually requires more energy than the recycling process.

Apart from these, carefulness has been urged in part of individuals towards the use of electrical gadgets such as leaving turned on television, computer, and the lights. Instead, it is advisable to take time away from the television and spending more time outdoors; while excessive use of mechanical engines like cares, buses, trucks that generate fume must be reduced to combat global warming.

There is a need for the review and full implementation of the global Environmental Protection Laws as this will help proper and timely sanctions on agro-allied industries contributing to environmental pollution. For instance, United States has embarked on serious effort against local and regional air pollution since the promulgation of Clean Air Act of 1970, which was amended in 1977 and 1990. This can also be achieved in Nigeria through reformation and mobilization of the existing Environmental Protection Board across the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 27

UN observes ‘Earth Hour’ in New York

Flooding: Meteorologist wants govts to invest in construction of massive drains

he UN recently switched off the lights at its headquarters for one hour to observe the annual “Earth Hour”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Earth Hour is an annual global event that seeks to raise awareness on the need to take action on climate change.

The UN Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon, in a statement in New York stated that the other UN facilities around the world observed it.

Ban, said that it observed the symbolic power outage “in solidarity with men, women and children – 20 per cent of all humankind – who live with no access to electricity. ” He explained that UN had in September launched an initiative to achieve universal and sustainable access to the vital resource, called Earth Hour “a symbol of our commitment to sustainable energy for all.”

He said that the move underscored the need to “fuel our future with clean, efficient and affordable energy.

“Earth Hour launched in 2007 in Australia by the World Wide Fund for Nature, calls for people, organisations and cities to turn off their non-essential light for one hour starting at 8:30 p. m local time.”

The UN scribe said that this was the third year that the UN had joined hundreds of millions of people around the world in switching off the lights. (NAN)

meteorologist, Prof. Temi Ologunorisa, recently urged the three tiers of government to invest massively in wide and deep drain construction to check imminent flood-related disasters.

The meteorologist told journalists in Lagos that climate change would cause much flooding in the vulnerable parts of the country.

Ologunorisa, who is the Director of the Centre of Climate Change and Environmental Studies, Osun State University, Osogbo, said that lives and property would be lost to the flooding, if unchecked.

“Today, some coastal communities and some communities in the northern parts of the country are at the receiving end of erosion and flooding, traceable to climate change,” he said.

“Hundreds of people are often displaced anytime heavy rain fell. If the appropriate flood control measures are not put in place, more lives and property would be lost,” he stated.

He said that governments should stop paying lip-service to flood control and management but embark on flood risk assessment in communities.

The meteorologist also urged effective enforcement of environmental laws, saying “until governments and the relevant agencies ensure that

T

A

people no longer live in floodprone communities, more people will be exposed to flood-

related emergencies,” he said.

Ologunorisa urged sensitisation of individuals and

communities on the dangers of living in disaster-prone areas.

(NAN)

A man rides a motorcycle through a flooded road after heavy rains in Ikoyi district in Nigeria's commercial city Lagos

Scientists cite global warming for more heat waves, heavier rainfall

By Mohammed Kandi, with agency report

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nvironmentalists and several major insurers argue policymakers must move quickly to cut carbon emissions and devise strategies to adapt to climate impacts.

According to two recent reports, Scientists are increasingly confident that the uptick in heat waves and heavier rainfall is linked to human-caused greenhouse-gas emissions, posing a heightened risk to the world’s population.

Recently, the U.N. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) released a 594-page study suggesting that when it comes to weather observations since 1950, there has been a “change in some extremes,” which stem in part from global warming.

The report — the product of a collaboration of 220 authors from 62 countries — makes distinctions among different phenomena. It shows there is “limited to medium evidence” that climate change has contributed to changes in flooding, for example, and there is “low confidence” that long-term hurricane trends over the past 40 years have been driven by the world’s growing carbon output.

But the IPCC team projects that there is a 90 to 100 percent

probability that sea level rise “will contribute to upward trends in extreme coastal high-water levels in the future.”

Chris Field, who co-chairs the IPCC’s Working Group II and serves as the director of the Carnegie Institution’s Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University, said in an interview that although many uncertainties still exist when it comes to extreme weather, “We also know the risk people face is changing as a result of climate change.”

Asking whether a particular extreme weather event can be blamed on human-caused global warming is the wrong question to ask, said Dim Coumou, a climate scientist at the Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research in Germany. There’s no way to determine whether a single event was triggered by climate change, he said.

Instead, a new analysis from Coumou and a colleague, published in the journal Nature Climate Change, examines patterns of extreme weather since 2000 and asks whether the likelihood of these events was heightened by human-driven climate change.

For extreme heat waves and unusual downpours, the answer, Coumou and his colleagues found, is yes.

“The evidence is solid,” he said: Extra heat in the atmosphere from human-caused greenhouse gases has made these two types of events much more likely. The climate has already changed, and the sheer number of these events over the past decade reflects it, they find.

Linking hurricanes, tornadoes and other storms to climate change is much harder, as records for these events are poorer than temperature and rainfall records.

Coumou pointed to the 2010 heat wave in Moscow and western Russia as an example of an extreme event made much more likely by climate change. The hottest summer in 500 years of temperature records caused 15,000 deaths, shaved billions off Russia’s economic output, triggered 500 wildfires and destroyed 30 percent of the country’s grain harvest.

“We found very strong warming since 1970s in the Moscow region,” said Coumou, “and this warming has dramatically increased the chances that a record summer would occur.”

Across the United States this year so far, warm-weather records have outnumbered cold records by a factor of 12, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Climatic Data Center.

Coumou used a “loaded dice”

analogy that’s become popular with climate scientists. Rolling one six is not evidence of a loaded die.

Rolling 10 in a row? Now you’re suspicious.

Human-induced climate change has loaded the dice toward certain extreme events, Coumou said.

Both environmentalists and several major insurers argue policymakers must move quickly to cut carbon emissions and devise strategies to adapt to climate impacts.

“The IPCC report is yet another reminder of the pressing need to tackle climate risk in both the near and long term,” said Mark Way, head of Swiss Re’s sustainabledevelopment activities in the Americas. “Last year in the United States, even with the absence of major hurricane impacts, the insurance industry paid out approximately $35 billion in losses due to weather-related events.

Severe weather will continue to impact the economy and society in general, until we take the necessary measures to increase our resilience.”

Although extreme weather in developed countries exacts a higher human toll than in industrialized nations, the high economic cost associated with recent U.S. disasters is shifting more of the financial burden on taxpayers.

Cynthia McHale, who runs the

insurance program at the nonprofit Ceres, said the National Flood Insurance Program now has $1.2 trillion of commercial and residential assets on its books.

Beyond flood risk, the risk pools backed by state guarantees known as “residual markets” grew from $55 billion in 1990 to $758 billion in 2010.

“If we continue on this path, extreme weather is certain to cause more homes and businesses to be uninsurable in the private insurance market, leaving the costs to taxpayers or individuals,” McHale said.

Last week, Lloyd’s of London posted its first pretax loss in six years, citing the costs it incurred related to natural catastrophes last year. That year now ranks as the second-most expensive on record in terms of insured disaster claims, with industry estimates ranging between $100 billion and $116 billion.

The IPCC report identifies “no regrets” strategies policymakers can pursue that reduce the risk of disasters while promoting sustainable development and climate adaptation, including early-warning systems for hurricanes and better building design and regulation to lower the impact of flash floods.

“There are lots of opportunities which pay off,” said Field, who co edited the new report.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 31

Targeting Iran: The dogs of war are off the leash (II)

By Tom Burghardt

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oreover, Panetta’s leak to The Washington Post “seriously undercut the message carried to the Israelis by Gen. Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, last month that the United States would not come to Israel’s defence if it launched a unilateral attack on Iran.”

Although there is trepidation amongst military planners in Tel Aviv and Washington should Israeli officials opt for a preemptive attack on Iran—and a retaliatory counterstrike by the Islamic Republic would have devastating effects on both Israel’s civilian population and U.S./NATO military forces in the Persian Gulf and beyond—should such disastrous orders be given, it is a certainty that Washington would follow suit.

This in fact, is what the Israeli leadership is banking on and, contrary to sanctioned leaks to media conduits like Ignatius, is fully in keeping with Washington’s strategy of employing Israel as a cats’ paw to “drag” the United States into a war with Iran.

As the World Socialist Web Site points out, “any differences between the US and Israel are purely tactical.”

“Washington could of course use its considerable influence to veto an attack by Israel, which is heavily dependent on the US, diplomatically, economically and militarily,” leftist critic Peter Symonds writes.

Ignatius’ column however, “makes no mention of this possibility.

In effect, the Obama administration appears to be giving Israel a tacit green light for an illegal, unprovoked attack on Iran, and threatening its own military action if Iran retaliates.”

Indeed, the right-wing Israeli publication Debkafile reported Saturday that while Panetta “has been outspoken about a possible Israeli offensive against Iran taking place as of April ... no US source is leveling on the far more extensive American, Saudi, British, French and Gulf states’ preparations going forward for an offensive against the Islamic Republic.”

Accordingly, Debkafile’s “military sources” (read highplaced intelligence and military officials favoring an attack) “report a steady flow of many thousands of US troops for some weeks to two strategic islands within reach of Iran, Oman’s Masirah just south of the Strait of Hormuz and Socotra, between Yemen and the Horn of Africa.”

Debkafile also noted that “the Saudis this week wound up their own intensive preparations for war.

Large forces are now deployed around Saudi oil fields, pipelines and export facilities in the eastern provinces opposite the Persian Gulf, backed by anti-missile Patriot PAC3 batteries. American, British and French fighter-bombers have been landing at Saudi air bases to safeguard the capital, Riyadh.”

And with the Pentagon speedingup arms sales to repressive Gulf monarchies and Saudi royals (with tens of billions in profits flowing into the coffers of American and European death merchants), the stage is now set for a bloody military

Gen. Martin Dempsey, US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff confrontation.

On the so-called diplomatic front, as “useful idiots” and “accessories before the fact” in the drive towards war, the shameful part played by the International Atomic Energy Agency must be underscored.

Despite, or more likely because Iran’s top leadership have expressed their willingness to reopen stalled talks over their civilian nuclear program and have taken steps to do so, the United States and NATO are stepping-up their propaganda offensive, with the IAEA playing a leading role.

Indeed, The New York Times reported Sunday that “American and European officials said Friday that a mission by international nuclear inspectors to Tehran this week had failed to address their key concerns, indicating that Iran’s leaders believe they can resist

widely believed to be in charge of important elements of the suspected weaponization program, and that they could not visit a military site where the agency’s report suggested key experiments on weapons technology might have been carried out.”

What Worth and Sanger fail to mention in their report is that Iranian officials asserted that before Roshan’s murder he “had talked to IAEA inspectors, a fact which ‘indicates that these UN agencies may have played a role in leaking information on Iran’s nuclear facilities and scientists’,” Russia Today reported at the time.

Protesting the killing before the UN Security Council last month, Iranian deputy UN ambassador Eshagh Al Habib said there was “‘high suspicion’ that, in order to prepare the murder, terrorist circles

“

The Obama administration appears to be giving Israel a tacit green light for an illegal, unprovoked attack on Iran, and threatening its own military action if Iran retaliates pressure to open up the nation’s nuclear program.”

Times’ stenographers Robert F. Worth and David E. Sanger averred that an unnamed “senior American official described the session between the agency and Iranian nuclear officials as ‘foot-dragging at best and a disaster at worst’.”

Why is the onus solely placed on Iranian negotiators?

Because “members of the I.A.E.A. delegation were told that they could not have access to Mohsen Fakhrizadeh, an academic who is

used intelligence obtained from UN bodies.”

According to the deputy ambassador’s charge, “this included interviews with Iranian nuclear scientists carried out by the International Atomic Energy Agency and the sanction list of the Security Council,” RT disclosed.

Sound far-fetched, the product of Iranian “conspiracy theories”?

Better think again!

As former UNSCOM Iraq weapons’ inspector Scott Ritter revealed in his 2005 book, Iraq

Confidential, “The issue of uncovering incriminating documentation suddenly took on a higher priority, and the CIA, supported by activist elements within the Department of State, pushed for more direct involvement in the operations of UNSCOM and the IAEA. For the first time, the darkest warriors in the CIA’s covert army, the Operations Planning Cell (OPC), were getting actively involved in preparing intelligence for UNSCOM’s use.”

According to Ritter, “The secret warriors of the CIA were accustomed to plying their trade in the shadows, far away from prying eyes.

UNSCOM inspections, however, were carried out in full view of the Iraqi government, representing the antithesis of covert action. The existence of the OPC, as with any CIA affiliation with UNSCOM, was a carefully guarded secret. Officially, therefore, all OPC personnel were presented to UNSCOM as State Department ‘experts’.”

In light of past practices by the CIA, or for that matter the IAEA itself, Iranian fears that their scientists are being set-up for liquidation are fully justified.

Indeed, the “cautious” U.S. Secretary of Defense, former CIA chief Leon Panetta, speaking at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany on Friday, echoed Israeli Defense Minister Ehud Barak’s claim that Israel would need to “consider taking action” should nuclear inspections and sanctions fail.

“My view is that right now the most important thing is to keep the international community unified in keeping that pressure on, to try to convince Iran that they shouldn’t develop a nuclear weapon, that they should join the international family of nations and that they should operate by the rules that we all operate by,” Panetta asserted. “But I have to tell you, if they don’t, we have all options on the table, and we’ll be prepared to respond if we have to.”

One of those “options,” passed by the U.S. Senate Banking Committee on Friday were demands made to the Society for Worldwide Interbank

Financial Telecommunications, or SWIFT. “The new Senate package,” Reuters reported, “seeks to target foreign banks that handle transactions for Iran’s national oil and tanker companies, and for the first time, extends the reach of Iranrelated sanctions to foreign subsidiaries of U.S. companies.”

The new legislation would target SWIFT with wide-ranging penalties if they failed to exclude sanctioned Iranian banks from the international system.

The bill now goes to the full Senate “where the likelihood of passage is considered strong,” The New York Times reported.

With the Orwellian title, the “Iran Sanctions, Accountability and Human Rights Act” Banking Committee Chairman Tim Johnson (D-SD) said that “Iran can end its suppression of its own people, come clean on its nuclear program, suspend enrichment and stop supporting terrorist activities around the globe. Or it can continue to face sustained, intensifying multilateral economic and diplomatic pressure deepening its international isolation.”

Now if only Senator Johnson offered similar demands on America’s Israeli allies who possess upwards of 200 nuclear weapons, refuse to jSWIFT officials were quick to cave to U.S. pressure.

“SWIFT fully understands and appreciates the gravity of the situation,” Reuters disclosed.

In its statement, “SWIFT said it is working with officials and central banks to find ‘the right multilateral legal framework’ to ‘expedite’ a response to the issues.”

“This is a complex situation, and SWIFT needs to ensure that it takes into consideration the implications to the functioning of the broader global financial payments system, as well as the continued flow of humanitarian payments to the Iranian people,” the organization said.

Needless to say, a boycott of Iranian financial institutions by SWIFT would be catastrophic to Iran’s economy, a provocation fully intended as a step towards wa r.

As the World Socialist Web Site noted, “if Israel does attack Iran, it will not simply be ‘a surgical strike’ that destroys Iran’s key nuclear facilities. Any Iranian retaliation will be used by the US as a pretext for a massive air war aimed at destroying the country’s military and infrastructure. As a result, any conflict carries a real danger of becoming a regional war that could embroil the major powers.”

Despite the evident madness of countenancing an Iran attack, political calculations by capitalist elites during a critical election year in the United States, with “conservative” and “liberal” factions angling for advantage by currying favor with the powerful Zionist and U.S. defense lobbies, Israel’s unambiguous message to the White House is: “We’ll give you the war, you give us the cannon fodder.”

Tom Burghardt is a researcher and activist based in the San Francisco Bay Area.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 32

Mali junta defies deadline for handing over power S.Africa ANC suspends rebel youth leader from party

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outh Africa’s ruling ANC has temporarily removed party rebel Julius Malema from his role as president of its Youth League and is barring him from attending party meetings, it said in a statement yesterday.

The move escalates the party fight with Malema, who has been expelled from the African National Congress for breaking party rules but allowed to stay in his post and attend meetings for months as his appeals have wound their way through party committees.

If Malema loses his appeal, he will be formally expelled from the party that dominates the country’s politics.

He is scheduled to have an appeals hearing next week.

The ANC reprimanded Malema on Tuesday, angrily condemning his assertion made last week that President Jacob Zuma’s government is a dictatorship.

“The temporary and immediate suspension of comrade Malema will come into effect on Wednesday, 4 April,” an ANC disciplinary panel said in a statement.

Qaeda using Mali crisis to expand, France warns

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rance warned yesterday the seizure of northern Mali by a Tuareg-led rebellion was playing into the hands of local al Qaeda units, urging neighbours including Algeria to do more to tackle the threat.

For long one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, Mali has plunged into turmoil since a widely condemned March 22 coup that emboldened Tuareg rebels in their quest for a northern homeland.

They have been joined by Islamists bent on imposing Islamic sharia law across the whole of the moderate Muslim state, the latest security worry for a region battling organised crime and home-grown militant groups such as Nigeria’s Boko Haram.

“We fear that in this confused situation al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) will take advantage of the situation to expand its perimeter of activity and strengthen the terrorist threat,” French Foreign Ministry spokesman Bernard Valero said.

M

ali’s junta ignored a demand by neighbours for an immediate exit from power on Tuesday, instead simply repeating its offer to hold open-ended talks on a future transition to civilian rule.

Malians rushed to stock up on petrol and cash after the 15-state ECOWAS West African bloc launched trade and diplomatic sanctions aimed at forcing the leaders of last month’s coup to stand down.

Long one of the most stable democracies in West Africa, Mali has plunged into turmoil since the widely condemned power grab on March 22 further emboldened Tuareg rebels to seize half the country in their quest for a northern homeland.

They have been joined by Islamists bent on imposing sharia, Islamic law, across the whole of the moderate Muslim state, now the latest security headache for a region battling al Qaeda cells and home-grown militant groups such as Nigeria’s Boko Haram.

An emergency ECOWAS summit on Monday gave the coup leaders 48 hours to quit power - a Wednesday deadline the junta did not even acknowledge in a statement delivered from the ramshackle barracks outside the capital Bamako that are its headquarters.

“We are inviting the political class and all civil society representatives to be present without exception at a national convention that will start on

Mali’s junta leader Captain Amadou Sanogo speaks during a news conference at his headquarters in Kati April 3, 2012.

Thursday, April 5,” junta leader Captain Amadou Sanogo told a news conference.

The convention, first announced on Sunday, is due to decide on what form the transition to civilian rule will take.

“The conclusions of this convention will be accepted by everyone,” said Sanogo, without giving any further details of the

organisation or timetable of the convention.

Sanogo and his team of midranking officers have been condemned by the U.N. Security Council and on Tuesday faced new isolation as the African Union announced travel bans and asset freezes on them, echoing existing ECOWAS measures.

Ivory Coast, from where the landlocked country sources much

Somalia theatre suicide bombing kills top sports officials

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he presidents of Somalia's Olympic committee and soccer football federation are among at least 10 people killed yesterday in a suicide attack on the country's newly reopened national theatre.

The explosion happened as

Somali prime minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali, was standing at the podium to deliver a speech. The prime minister was unharmed, but the president of Somalia's Olympic committee and the president of its soccer federation were killed, according to Shafici

Somali prime minister, Abdiweli Mohamed Ali

Mohyadin, the federation's secretary.

The blast shattered a tentative peace that descended on Somalia's capital, Mogadishu, after fighters belonging to the Islamist group alShabaab were pushed out last August by government and African Union troops.

The government said a female suicide bomber carried out the attack, but al-Shabaab, using its official Twitter feed to claim responsibility for the attack, said explosives had been planted in the theatre before the event.

Sports leagues have blossomed and seaside restaurants have been setting up shop, marking a longawaited revival of the seaside capital.

Wednesday's ceremony two weeks after the theatre reopened was held to mark the first anniversary of the start of a national TV station. The blast cut chairs in half, filled the room with smoke and splattered blood across the walls.

"It was a cowardly act and that will not deter the government from performing its national duties," Osman said. "The prime minister will energise the government to eliminate the terrorists out of the country."

of its fuel, was among the first to close its borders on Tuesday as part of sanctions including the freeze of Malian funds at the central bank of the West African franc currency zone.

“Our bosses told us to let nothing go in or come out without orders from the top ... We’ve started patrolling to stop all movement of goods,” border guard Ben Casaban said by telephone from the border point by the town of Pogo.

Guinea followed suit but others acted more slowly. Authorities in Burkina Faso said they were preparing steps needed to close the border with Mali, while border officials in Mauritania and Senegal said they were still awaiting orders.

At garages in central Bamako, residents armed with jerry cans queued to try to beat shortages that could choke off the economy of Africa’s third-largest gold miner within days.

The National Office for Petroleum Products (ONAP) said existing national stocks would last about 10 days.

While one banking source said the financial sanctions did not yet cover commercial bank transactions with the BCEAO regional bank, many Malians began queuing to take out their savings for fear that funds would dry up soon.

“I’m here to withdraw my bursary money,” Cisse Yacouba, a 25-year-old student, said.

“Everyone is rushing to get some money because it is certain that there will not be enough.”

While the stated aim of the coup leaders was to give the army more clout to tackle the twomonth-old revolt, their power grab triggered a rebel sweep through a northern zone the size of France - in many cases hard on the heels of fleeing army forces.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 33

UN ceasefire moves fail to deter Syria violence A t least 70 people were killed in intense fighting in Syria over the past 24 hours, activists said yesterday, despite the imminent arrival of a U.N. team to discuss a possible mission to monitor a ceasefire set for next week.

Western powers were seeking U.N. Security Council endorsement of envoy Kofi Annan’s deal with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for an April 10 withdrawal of military forces, to be followed within 48 hours by a ceasefire by rebel forces.

“Let me say that from the U.S. point of view, and I think the point of view of many member states, what we have seen since April 1 is not encouraging,” U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice said.

If Assad uses the next seven days to intensify the violence, Rice said, the Security Council would need to respond urgently and seriously.

Human rights group Amnesty International said it had counted 232 deaths since Syria accepted Annan’s proposals on March 27. “The evidence shows that Assad’s supposed agreement to the Annan plan is having no impact

on the ground,” it said.

Nevertheless, an advance party from the U.N. peacekeeping department was due in Syria shortly to discuss deploying a team of around 250 observers to monitor a ceasefire.

It is headed by Norwegian General Robert Mood, Annan’s spokesman said.

The opposition Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a British-based monitor which collates reports from inside Syria, said 58 civilians and 18 soldiers were killed on Tuesday.

It said 20 civilians died in Homs province, including 15 killed in bombardment, shooting and sniper fire in Homs city.

In Idlib province, 20 civilians and seven soldiers were killed in clashes in Taftanaz village, east of Idlib city.

Rami Abdulrahman, head of the SOHR, said rebel fighters had hit at least two of the tanks bombarding the village.

The Syrian state news agency SANA said “several terrorists” and three security men were killed in Taftanaz.

“Armed terrorist groups ... were attacking citizens, and perpetrating acts of killing, kidnapping and planting explosives,” it said.

“At a poultry farm in a Dir

Baalba orchard (Homs province), the terrorists killed a number of citizens in cold blood,

mutilating and burning their bodies after kidnapping them.

The terrorists also killed four

women at one house in the same neighbourhood after storming it,” SANA said.

Demonstrators protest against Syria”s President Bashar Al-Assad in Kafranbel, near Idlib

Iran proposes Baghdad as nuclear talks venue

I

ran has approached Baghdad to host forthcoming talks with six world powers over its disputed nuclear programme, Iraq said yesterday, apparently departing from plans for an Istanbul meeting following Iranian frictions with Turkey.

Iranian media quoted Iranian foreign minister Ali Akbar Salehi as saying the talks could take place in Baghdad or China. He gave no further details.

U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton announced the April 13-14 negotiations would take place in Istanbul, the first such meeting since January 2011 when the sides did not even manage to agree on an agenda.

Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshiyar Zebari told Reuters an Iranian delegation proposed Baghdad for the talks during a visit to Iraq on Tuesday.

“The proposal came from them. We received a delegation from Iran ... Today we are inviting G5 plus one ambassadors to hand over a letter about the proposal,” Zebari said.

A Western diplomat in Baghdad confirmed envoys had been called to Iraq’s foreign ministry for a meeting on Wednesday.

There was no immediate reaction from the six powers the United States, Britain, France, Russia, China and Germany - to the proposal to hold talks in Iraq.

Iraq’s Shi’ite-led

government is closely aligned with Iran in a region where Sunni Arab Gulf powers are jockeying for influence with Shi’ite power Tehran.

A senior Iranian figure recently spoke out against Turkey hosting the talks as once warm Iranian-Turkish relations have cooled in the past year over Turkey’s hostility to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, Iran’s close Arab ally.

Turkey has demanded Assad halt a year-long crackdown on opponents in Syria and step down. Last month, Turkey also announced it would reduce the amount of oil it buys from Iran by 10 percent, ceding to U.S. pressure over Iran sanctions.

The United States and its allies suspect Tehran is covertly working on nuclear weapons and have imposed tough sanctions on Iran, including measures against its financial and energy sectors. Tehran says its nuclear activities are peaceful.

Tehran last month agreed to renewed talks with the five permanent members of the Security Council, as well as Germany, but said negotiations over the venue were ongoing.

Pulling back from years of war, Iraq last month hosted the Arab League summit for the first time in two decades, as part of Baghdad’s push to return to the diplomatic stage in a region split along sectarian lines over the Syrian uprising and Western sanctions on Iran.

Israeli security forces at the scene of the eviction in Hebron. Photograph: Sebastian Scheiner/AP

At least 10 dead and dozens wounded in Somalia, including government minister, as al-Shabaab targets newly reopened national theatre

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers to meet

T

he Israeli and Palestinian prime ministers will meet later this month, officials said yesterday, but the rare talks may only sharpen differences that have brought peace negotiations to a standstill.

The Palestinians said they will present Benjamin Netanyahu with a letter spelling out Israel’s failure to implement a 2003 “road map” that includes a halt to settlement activity as a step towards achieving a final peace agreement.

“The real test in front of Netanyahu is to stop the settlements, after which he will find that we are ready for negotiations,” Mohammed Shtayyeh, a member of the Palestinian negotiating team, told Reuters.

“These aren’t conditions, but what we want him to say is that he’s ready to end the occupation,” he said.

An Israeli government official said Netanyahu would reiterate, at the meeting with Palestinian Prime Minister Salam Fayyad, his call for peace talks to get under

way without any terms for their resumption.

U.S.-hosted peace negotiations froze in late 2010 after Netanyahu rejected Palestinian demands that he extend the 10-month partial construction freeze he had imposed at Washington’s behest to coax them into talks.

The official said Netanyahu would also repeat his demand that Palestinians recognise Israel as a Jewish state in any peace agreement — something they oppose.

Fayyad will become the highestlevel Palestinian official to have met Netanyahu since the negotiations broke off.

But the upcoming talks, which the officials on both sides said would be held after Jewish holiday of Passover that ends on April 14, will not be attended by the highestranking Palestinian leader in the West Bank, President Mahmoud Abbas.

Nabil Shaath, a senior official in Abbas’s Fatah movement, said the Palestinian letter to Netanyahu “is an assessment of where we are” in the peace process.

French police swoop on more suspected Muslims

P

olice arrested 10 suspected Muslim militants in dawn raids across France yesterday after a shooting spree by an al Qaeda-inspired gunman prompted President Nicolas Sarkozy to order a security clampdown, just ahead of an April 22 election.

The DCRI domestic intelligence service, supported by elite police commandos, carried out arrests in the southern cities of Marseille and Valence, two smaller towns in the southwest, and in the north-eastern town of Roubaix, a police source said.

The raids, which followed Friday’s arrest of 19 suspects, came 13 days after police snipers shot dead 23-year-old gunman Mohamed Merah, who had killed three Jewish school children, a rabbi and three soldiers in a spate of attacks around Toulouse.

“Those arrested have a similar profile to Mohamed Merah,” a local police source said. “They are isolated individuals who are selfradicalised.”

He said the suspects were tracked on Islamist forums expressing extreme views and said they were preparing to travel to areas including Afghanistan, Pakistan and the Sahel belt of West Africa to wage jihad (holy war).

Some of those arrested had already visited these areas and returned to France, the source said.

Sarkozy, who faces an uphill task to win re-election in an April-May two-round vote, has vowed to root out any form of militancy following Merah’s killing spree.

Television channels showed images of the early morning raids, with police shown taking suspects away handcuffed and with their faces covered. Officials also confiscated bags and other items.

Some French media had been tipped off about the raids and police did not cordon off the areas ensuring mass coverage.

Television channels showed images of the early morning raids, with police taking suspects away handcuffed and with their faces covered. Officials also confiscated bags.

Former Turkish president on trial for 1980 coup R etired General Kenan Evren, symbol of an era when the military dominated Turkish politics, went on trial yesterday for leading a 1980 coup that shaped the country for three decades until reforms cut back the power of the “Pashas”.

Fifty people were executed and half a million arrested, hundreds died in jail, and many more disappeared in three years of military rule after the coup, Turkey’s third in 20 years.

More than 30 years after the September 12, 1980, military takeover, an Ankara court began hearing the case against 94-year-old Evren, who went on to serve for seven years as president, as well as the other surviving coup architect, former air force commander Tahsin Sahinkaya, 87.

Hundreds of mainly leftist protesters gathered outside the court, waving flags and shouting slogans demanding justice and the prosecution of more than just the coup ringleaders.

The names of hundreds of those killed during military rule were read out through loudspeakers on a nearby bus.

“They are among us!” the crowd shouted after each name, before taking a minute’s silence with their left fists clenched in the air, a reminder of their political allegiance.

“The day will come, the tide will turn, the junta-ists will be called to account,” the crowd then cried.

The nationalist far-right also fell foul of military rule and some of their number were outside the court to demonstrate, standing at a distance from the leftists.

“The court issued a death sentence against me, but I served 11 years in prison. I have lived in exile in Germany for 21 years and came back for this case,” said Hasan Gundogdu, a 67-year-old retired manual worker and former right-wing activist.

“Many of our friends were tortured and hanged, they walked towards Allah, and through this walk, they never bowed to the junta. We will not bow either until all the junta have been held to account,” he said.

Turkey’s former President Kenan Evren At the time, the coup offered relief for some from the daily street fights between left and ring-wing armed factions, and for years the military was the most popular institution in Turkey. But there is now a growing confidence and will to confront the injustices of the past.

“After September 12, they threw me in a cell with a rightwing kid. When I saw the torture committed against him, I understood it wasn’t a left versus right problem,” Kutlug Ataman, Turkey’s most famous artist, wrote on Twitter.

The silver-haired Evren is now frail and neither he nor Sahinkaya appeared in court on Wednesday due to ill health.

The panel of judges ruled testimony via a video link from the defendants could not be admitted and said they would rule later whether the indictment could be read in their absence.

The prosecutor’s office has said it could hear the testimonies of Evren and Sahinkaya via video link. Evren recently underwent intestinal surgery and Turkish media reported on Tuesday that he had also broken an arm.

The judge demanded a larger courtroom after some

lawyers were forced to sit in the spectators’ stands, state-run TRT television said. Evren’s lawyer told the court he would not start his defence before order was restored.

Most media were denied access to the courtroom.

Evren’s trial, unimaginable only a few years ago, will be watched closely by hundreds of military officers, including top serving and retired commanders, now on trial as members of the alleged “Ergenekon” and “Sledgehammer” coup conspiracies against Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan.

The generals, known widely by their Ottoman title of “Pasha”, traditionally saw themselves as the guardians of a secular order set up by soldier-statesman Mustafa Kemal Ataturk from the ashes of the Ottoman Empire in 1923.

They mounted a coup in 1960 that led to the hanging of the prime minister and two other senior ministers, and then staged two more takeovers in 1971 and 1980 to oust governments they saw as a threat to Ataturk’s legacy.

Each time the coups restored a revised form of democracy, and as recently as 1997 the army forced Turkey’s first Islamist-led government to resign.

It was a recent constitutional amendment that ended Evren’s immunity from prosecution over the coup.

NY police probe death of top French academic

A

prominent French academic, Richard Descoings, was found dead naked in a New York hotel room on Tuesday afternoon and New York police opened an investigation into the circumstances of his death.

New York City Police said that the body of Descoings, 53, director of the prestigious Institute of Political Studies or “Sciences Po” in Paris and a

member of France’s Council of State, a government advisory body, was found in his room at the Michelangelo Hotel on 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan.

A police source initially categorized the circumstances of the incident as “suspicious,” in part because Descoings’ room was a jumble when investigators arrived.

But later on Tuesday, Paul Browne, chief spokesman for the

New York Police Department, said investigators now believe the disorder in the room was caused by rescue workers while they tried to resuscitate the Frenchman.

Police believe there is no evidence of a struggle, Browne told Reuters. “We’re awaiting the medical examiner’s report as well as toxicology reports,” he said. A law enforcement source said police were still looking into

the possibility that an unknown person had been with Descoings in the room before his death.

They are also investigating the possibility that the death was a suicide, the source said. Some of Descoings’ belongings had been thrown out a window, the source said, but they were subsequently recovered by investigators, undermining the likelihood that he might have been the victim of a robbery.

President Nicolas Sarkozy, who had commissioned Descoings for a report on French high schools, offered condolences to his family and friends, and paid homage to what he described as an exceptional career, dedicated to promoting education in France.

“Richard Descoings contributed more than anyone of his generation to furthering the prestige of France’s higher education system,” Sarkozy said in an emailed statement.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 35

Talented musician, 16, suffocated herself after death of close friend in brutal family slaying

A

t alen ted mu sici an killed herself after her be st fri en d w as ho rrif ica lly mur der ed al ong side he r s iste r a nd parents, an inquest heard.

To rme nted Na tas ha Wa rnes , 1 6, d escr ibe d as a 'bubbly and outgoing person', never came to terms with the brutal death of Xing Ding, 18.

Xing was stabbed to death

wi th h er sist er Ali ce a nd pa ren ts u nivers ity lec tur er Jifeng, 46, and Ge Chui, 47 kn own as Hele n - at the ir home in Northampton on the da y o f la st yea r's Roy al Wedding.

The friends used to play in th e sa me Nort ham pto nshi re Youth Orchestra and became cl ose bef ore the qua drup le murde r.

Tragic: Depressed Natasha Warnes, 16, never came to terms with the brutal murder of her best friend Slaughtered: The Ding family all died from stab wounds after being attacked in their Northampton home on April 29, last year

'So much ahead of her': Natasha Warnes, 16, was a talented musician, who often busked in Northampton town centre, and had a bright future, her inquest heard

Butchered: Sisters Alice, left, and Xing Ding were found stabbed to death upstairs in their home in Wootton, Northamptonshire

Tragedy: Jifeng Ding, a Manchester Metropolitan University lecturer, left, and his wife, Helen Chui, were both found dead

Murder scene: The comfortable home in Wootton, near Northampton, where the bodies of the Ding family were found

Natasha - known as Tasha to friends - barricaded herself in her bedroom after placing a 'Do not disturb' sign on her door, on July 28, last year, an in ques t at No rth ampt on General Hospital heard today.

Sh e wa s d isc over ed by friend Alexsandr Rokicki, 19, un cons cio us, having tak en sleeping pills and suffocated herself.

He wen t t o he r h ome in Br oadw ay, Nor tha mpto n, after realising something was wrong because she had deleted her Facebook profile.

She was taken to hospital but was pronounced dead on ar riva l. Two suic ide not es were later discovered.

H er b oyf rien d, Nath an Smith, told the hearing that the night before she died she ha d c onta cte d h im s ayi ng 'What would you do if I died tomorrow? Don't worry, just curious.'

He replied: 'It would be like when Xing died, only worse.'

He de scr ibed Ta sha , w ho often busked in Northampton town centre, as a 'bubbly and ou tgoi ng pers on' who loved mu sic an d wa s r are ly un happ y.

Once or twice he said she ha d t old him sh e w as depressed.

Northamptonshire Coro ner An n e P e m be r r et u rn e d a ve r di c t t h at sh e took her own life.

The coroner said: 'She was only 16 and should have had so much ahead of her to live for. ' At th e t im e , s he wa s feeling low and depressed and she made a decision that she no longer wished to live.'

C hu r ch g oi n g T as h a, wh o live d with her pa rents Mark a nd Em m a a n d y ou n ge r s is t er Sa m an t ha , w a s a s tu d en t i n t he mi x ed s i xt h form Northampton School for B oy s .

S he pl a ye d t h e vio l in , mandolin, penny whistle and guitar and had composed her ow n mu si c, w hi ch h ad b ee n p la y ed a t h er sc h oo l in th e town's Derngate Theatre.

Her father Mark said she h ad be en a c lo s e f ri en d o f Xing an d described h er as a 'perfect child and best friend'.

Xing, and the bodies of her parents and sister were not discovered until two days after they were murdered, when a worldwide hunt was launched for prime suspect Anxiang Du, 52 - a former business partner of Helen.

Detectives investigating the quadruple murder, this week, went to China to speak to known associates of Du, in a bid to uncover a ny in fo rma ti on ab out the pe opl e wh o m ay ha ve been ha rbo urin g t he fugitive for the past year.

PAGE 36

LUMPS ON FINGERS SYMPTOMS: Smooth, soft lumps under the skin around the joints of the fingers and wrist.

These can sometimes be painful.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Ganglion cysts — these swellings contain synovial fluid, the thick, jelly-like material that lubricates joints. They can form in response to damage, but in many cases the cause is unknown.

TREATMENT: Most disappear over time, but if they are painful, the liquid can be removed with a needle under local anaesthetic or the cysts can be surgically removed.

SAUSAGE FINGERS SYMPTOMS: Swelling and pain, accompanied by pitted or crumbly nails.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Psoriatic arthritis, which is linked to skin condition psoriasis. Up to 600,000 people in Britain suffer from psoriasis, and one in five will suffer swollen hands. It often begins with a single finger being affected.

The condition is caused by the immune system attacking the finger joints.

TREATMENTS: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs such as ibuprofen may help, as can disease-modifying anti-rheumatic drugs (DMARDs) which reduce inflammation and slow progress of the disease.

COLOURED HANDS SYMPTOMS: Cold weather or even touching something cold can change the colour of the fingers from white to blue, then red. This is accompanied by numbness, tingling, throbbing, and possibly pain and swelling.

PROBABLE CAUSE: In chilly temperatures the blood vessels in the extremities, such as fingers and toes, narrow to prevent heat loss from the skin. However, in the condition Raynaud’s phenomenon, these are oversensitive.

In some people they constrict to such an extent that blood flow is almost stopped, causing the fingers to turn blue. The blood vessels then dilate again, and the return of blood causes throbbing and pain.

It is thought to be a malfunction in the part of the nervous system that controls blood vessels — as many as one in nine women and one in 12 men is affected. There is evidence that it can be inherited.

In some cases, known as secondary Raynaud’s, the problem can be a symptom of an underlying condition, such as lupus or rheumatoid arthritis.

TREATMENT: Lifestyle changes such as stopping smoking and boosting exercise can improve circulation. Stress can exacerbate the condition, as it causes the release of the hormone adrenaline which can narrow blood vessels.

A group of drugs called calcium channel blockers can help by widening blood vessels. Surgery to cut the nerves responsible may be used in severe cases. Rarely, a finger may have to be amputated if the blood supply has been blocked and gangrene has set in.

KNOBBLY JOINTS SYMPTOMS: Finger joints and knuckles are painful and

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

The causes of hand pain and how to get a grip on it tender; the top joints of the fingers develop knobbly swellings.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Osteoarthritis — more than 12 per cent of people over the age of 50 suffer from severely disabled hands due to the condition, according to a study at Keele University.

It’s caused by wear and tear of the cartilage, the tissue that cushions the bones in the joint. The base of the thumb and joints at the ends of the fingers are usually affected, possibly because they receive the greatest stresses and strains on a daily basis.

‘Osteoarthritis of the hand is considered to be less disabling than hip or knee osteoarthritis, but a large proportion of people affected report they have significant difficulties with everyday tasks,’ says Philip Conaghan, professor of musculoskeletal medicine at the University of Leeds.

‘This has a great impact on their quality of life.’

TREATMENT: While painkillers are the first port of call — paracetamol or paracetamol with codeine — anti-inflammatory painkillers such as ibuprofen can help by reducing swelling.

Another option is a prescription non-steroidal anti-inflammatory such as diclofenac or celecoxib. In severe cases, surgery may be offered. The most common procedure is a trapeziectomy, where the thumb joint is removed and replaced with an artificial one.

Knuckles can also be replaced, while finger joints can be fused, though this can lead to a loss of flexibility.

WEAK GRIP SYMPTOMS: Pain and muscle cramps in the thumb, fingers or wrist during activities that require fine movements.

There may be uncontrollable and excessive gripping.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Focal dystonia of the hand, also known as writer’s cramp, triggers involuntary muscle contractions and leads to slow repetitive movements or abnormal

Causes of hand pain include touching something cold, stiff and swollen joints, painful lumps on the palm and dry and cracked skin. postures. ‘Task-specific’ dystonias, which mainly affect the hands, usually occur during a repetitive activity such as sewing.

Up to 100,000 people in Britain are affected, but doctors are unsure of the cause — one theory is that it’s connected to an abnormality in the basal ganglia, the region of the brain that controls movement and coordination.

TREATMENT: Musclerelaxing drugs can help, as can Botox. Physiotherapy can be used to ‘re-train’ muscles. In severe cases, patients may undergo surgery to sever the nerves to the problem muscles, stopping the spasms.

CREAKING HANDS SYMPTOMS: Stiff and swollen joints, accompanied by tingling, pain and a creaking sound during movement. The space between the fingers and thumb may also widen.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Rheumatoid arthritis, a condition

Up to 600,000 people in Britain suffer from psoriasis, and one in five will suffer swollen hands

that affects 400,000 in Britain.

This is caused when the body’s immune system starts to attack joints. The creaking is due to worn cartilage or loss of synovial lubricating fluid.

TREATMENT: Splints to immobilise the joint; painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs; DMARDs such as methotrexate — these help to dampen the inflammation and pain. Joint replacement surgery may be necessary as the condition is progressive and can lead to joints eroding over time.

CLAW HAND SYMPTOMS: Painful lumps on the palm of the hand, thickening of the skin in the palm and the inability to straighten one or more fingers.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Dupuytren’s contracture. This condition, which causes the tissue in the palm to thicken and pull on the fingers, affects two million people in Britain. The cause is unknown; it tends to affect more men than women, and is more common in the over-50s.

TREATMENTS: Most cases are mild, but surgery may be needed to cut or remove connective tissue. A new treatment involves injections of collagenase clostridium histolyticum, a drug that contains bacterial proteins, which break up the connective tissue.

ITCHY FINGERS SYMPTOMS: The skin is dry and cracked, with tiny itchy blisters.

PROBABLE CAUSE: Eczema, also known as hand dermatitis. This is a non-contagious condition where contact with allergens such as soap or detergents irritates the skin. A specific type, pompholyx, occurs

more often in women, and triggers small, itchy blisters on the palms.

The exact cause is not known, but there may be a genetic link.

TREATMENT: Fragrancefree moisturising creams may help, and corticosteroid creams — over the counter or on prescription — can rapidly reduce inflammation.

TINGLING PALMS SYMPTOMS: Burning, itching, tingling or numbness in the palm and the fingers, especially the thumb, index and middle fingers. Symptoms appear in one or both hands during the night, and this develops into tingling during the day. Grip may weaken, and there may be piercing pain that shoots through the wrist and arm in certain positions.

PROBABLE CAUSE: These are characteristic symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome. The carpal tunnel is a channel that runs between the wrist and hand, carrying tendons and a nerve — repetitive movement of the wrist during activities such as typing, sewing and gardening can lead to these soft tissues being compressed on the thumb side of the hand.

TREATMENT: Wrist exercises, such as making tight fists and then relaxing them, can help.

Over-the- counter painkillers such as aspirin and ibuprofen can help ease symptoms of pain and inflammation.

Doctors can prescribe diuretic drugs — tablets or injections — to reduce swelling of tissue, or corticosteroids to tackle inflammation. In extreme cases, surgery to trim tissue in the wrist can reduce pressure on the nerves.

However, there is a small risk that symptoms will return after the procedure.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 37

PDP is set for a rebound under Bamanga, says Baraje’s ex-aide INTERVIEW Emeka Nwankpa was the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, to the immediate past People’s Democratic Party (PDP) acting National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje. In this interaction with newsmen, the media practitioner x-rays the task confronting the leadership of Alhaji Bamanga Tukur’s National Working Committee (NWC) of the party and concluded that the PDP is set for a political rebound. Lawrence Olaoye was there.

Excerpts:

W

ith the inauguration of the new members of the National Working C’ttee in the PDP, what’s happening at the party level?

The party has been literarily electrified by what many now call the Bamanga aura. Those familiar with the personality and persona of the man known in many circles as the grandmaster of Nigerian politics are not surprised though. A politician is rated by his colour and content, his company and clout.

From the moment he took over from former Acting National Chairman, Abubakar Baraje at a brief ceremony, he hit the ground running.

Last week, he started a series of visits to PDP facilities such as Legacy House, the party’s presidential campaign office in Maitama Abuja, the on-going national Secretariat building in the Central Business District, the party’s pioneer office building located off Monronvia Street in Wuse 2, Abuja which now houses the Peoples Democratic Institute.

Such is the crowded itinerary of the chairman of the ruling party that only a true politician can fit into without breaking down. Yet, very early the following morning, he was at the Abuja airport with other NWC members to fly to Birnin-Kebbi to join PDP’s governorship candidate, Saidu Nasamu Dakingari whose victory he prophesied a fait accompli.

He has started like a man who has evaluated the task before undertaking it. If this momentum continues, his exploits in it will change many things in the party.

Take for example what he has done to the African Business Roundtable as its executive president within a very short time and space.

So, what are those changes expected from the Bamanga new leadership?

Let me say that from what you can see and from the man’s political antecedents, the razzmatazz in Bamanga’s politics has colour and content. It is not for nothing that they call him the grandmaster of Nigerian politics.

Take for example, the facility tours. It shows a man who wants to get first hand briefing while setting out his priorities. I recall here that as a Parastatal Correspondent for The Guardian in 1994, when Bamanga was appointed Minister of Industry, he was the first member of that cabinet to hit the road on familiarization visits. I was privileged to be on his tours to Bacita, Bauchi, Sokoto, Osogbo, Oku-Iboku, Ibadan, Onne, Enugu, etc to assess the state of Federal Projects and facilities. It was exciting seeing the way and manner he exposed non-performing contractors at the project sites. He gave us instant news headlines. His patriotism was infectious. We have a man who appears not to have changed. He does not say what he doesn’t mean. He has promised to bring back members who left the party for one reason or another. He will bring them back. Recall that a reconciliation committee headed by former Vice President Alex Ekwueme was raised, in 2008 by the former National Chairman of the party, Prince Vincent Ogbulafor. Another Committee headed by former acting National Chairman, Dr. Bello Haliru Mohammed (now Defence Minister) was set up to produce a final report that comprehensively set out what the party needed to do immediately. That document has become the official blueprint for reconciliation within the party.

Now that he has asked for that document, you can be sure that he will not only ensure that total reconciliation is implemented, it will be seen to have been implemented.

Remember also that during his

Baraje’s Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Emeka Nwankpa extensive campaign tours across the country, he announced that his tenure will stand on a tripod: – Reconciliation, Reformation and Rebirth. It therefore stands to reason that by asking for the Ekwueme Report, a reconciliation programme is being renewed in the party. The most essential element I must say is to seize the initiative. The National Chairman has pointed the way forward. He has set the priorities which I also believe are attainable. He has said his team will employ dialogue in interfacing with those who left the party due to one grievance or another. The message here is that with genuine reconciliation, the party would have fulfilled its obligation to all members, new and old, as a political family where equity, justice and fair play reign.

He wants a party that is not only big but sufficiently relevant to Nigeria socially.

How are party men reacting to this reconciliation message?

What are their expectations?

They are indeed happy about the whole development. Can’t you see that age is no longer the issue. It is about the currency of his ideas; the vibrancy of his intellect, the audacity of courage and the clarity

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The party must practically brace up to align itself and its operations to best practices just as the electorate is getting more and more sophisticated in their insistence on and demand for fairer, freer and more credible electoral contests

of his vision. People’s expectations are quite high. The people can see in the man a raw passion to serve to the best of his ability. It is now that they are beginning to see what the man saw; it is now they are beginning to realize that when a man is possessed by a great dream, what calls to question is not the number of his years but the weight of his dream. Tell me, what Bamanga has not achieved in life except to offer more service to his fatherland?

What then is your expectation of the new leadership of the party having worked round past its successive national leadership?

My quick take is that PDP is perfectly safe in Bamanga’s hands.

Under him PDP is set to bounce to the big league. He knows what to do to make an impactful tenure. He has an uncanny ability and capacity to connect with the people, high and low. Having been a founding and funding member of the PDP, he knows the party from the cradle. His Chairmanship is not an accident. He has the vision, he is running with it.

He has said he did not come to be National Chairman to play politics but to seek how to collaborate with other concerned stakeholders to reform the party and bring about its eventual rebirth.

As an accomplished administrator, industrialist and business icon with wide national and international network, he has the administrative savvy and political acumen to drive the party as a vehicle to guarantee social justice, equity, dividend of democracy, good governance to the people of Nigeria and not just to a few bearing in mind that the party, like any in the country, is tellingly imperfect in its politics and political

culture. Of course, there are always problems and challenges of policy, strategy and methods, not forgetting also the constraints of openness, fairness, inclusiveness, disregard for the constitution, the rule of law, internal democracy, etc.

The party must practically brace up to align itself and its operations to best practices just as the electorate is getting more and more sophisticated in their insistence on and demand for fairer, freer and more credible electoral contests.

As a matter of priority, internal democracy needs be further deepened in the party so that its candidates who emerged can be sufficiently confident to face free and fair general elections and on the strength of their credibility and popularity drive the process of providing good and quality governance by which true and genuine transformation can take place in the life of the people. This is an area I foresee the new NWC builds on because the last NWC, to be fair, did its best to ensure that unpopular candidates were not imposed. Nevertheless, there is still much room for improvement.

Do you foresee a paradigm shift in policies and strategies?

Will it be safe and proper to assume that the new team will start on a completely new slate?

It is indeed too early to say in details where the Bamanga team is headed but you can tell by the National Chairman’s outing so far and of course robust profile of the team. This team has a good mix of tested career politicians, seasoned administrators and technocrats who have no excess baggage. You can tell from their rich pedigree what they are bringing to the table.

There will be sound debates, quality policies, programmes and accurate execution.

The new Chairman has also appointed a Chief of Staff in the person of Mallam Habu Fari, a former Minister, a former party Chairman, a tested administrator who, in fact, was the pioneer Director of Administration in the party in 2008. As chief of staff, he will attend NWC meetings to offer his experience.

Do we expect a paradigm shift?

Well, the dramatic way the new National Chairman has moved in his first week in office shows that he will raise the bar. There is a local proverb that says the morning tells what the day will look like.

What about the assets and liabilities of the party?

I don’t think there is any problem about that. The past acting National Auditor presented his report at the Convention and has published it in some newspapers. I don’t think there is any problem about that. The administrative machinery in the party is a continuum.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

One-party State beckons as parties lose ideological base

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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n all democracies, political parties are formed on the basis of ideology, which is expected to transcend individual or clique interests. This is obvious considering that parties, irrespective of how strong or weak, democratic or autocratic, remain a compendium of divergent interests, with the ideology remaining revered.

Ideally, what distinguishes political parties and what contributes to it success or failure, lies on the ideology upon which it is built, in addition to the circumstances prevalent at the point in time. Thus, in advanced democracies, ideology is so much adored by party’s promoters to the extent that members see each other as belonging to same cult.

In fact, party ideology serves as the only tie with which citizens are distinguished other than religion, tribe or race. This goes a long way to explain why members of a party would rather remain united and focused, even in the face of successive failure in general elections. The popular Nazi party of Germany, founded and headed

by Adolf Hitler, typifies what political party and party membership implies.

However, the case in Nigeria today appears to be an aberration, especially in the face of the emerging trend where politicians frolic among parties, throwing ideology to the wind. This has become so worrisome that even the most reputed and valued personalities in the Nigerian politics have descended so low that one begins to question their line of thought and the values they intend to bequeath to the upcoming generation.

It is evident that this negative trend, which is currently threatening Nigeria with a one party state, became more pronounced since the inception of the third republic.

Third republic, which started in 1999, brought in Olusegun Obasanjo, as the President, through the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, which defeated the All Peoples Party after the 1999 general election conducted by Maurice Iwu. Since after that election, Nigeria political scene has witnessed series of defection. In some cases few aggrieved party members leave to form their own platforms, probably to gratify their need for political relevance in the country, other than winning elections. In other cases, some members of a party gang up against those they perceive as threats to their ulterior ambitions, thereby creating internal crisis and disunity within the party.

This development has negatively affected Nigeria democracy, hence in most cases, not just that these mushroom parties are not able to win elective

Prof. Attahiru Jega seats, but has crippled the opposition front in politics.

Meanwhile, it is this opposition front that is supposed to run a shadow cabinet to put the ruling government on its toes, as obtains in functional democracy.

The disturbing fact about these defection is that they are mostly into the ruling PDP, thereby buttressing the claims by political observes that money is the reason behind such actions.

Money and personal gains have become so much pronounced in Nigerian politics to the extent that ideology has become completely obliterated.

In 2009, the Governor of Bauch state, Isa Yuguda, who was elected through the platform of ANPP; shortly after getting married to the daughter of the Late President Yaradua, defected to PDP. This decision, many argued, was in order to afford him a more formidable ground to retain his governorship post in the 2011 general elections.

So, rather than faithfully implementing the lofty and noble ideologies in the ANPP manifesto, which will invariably guarantee him re-election, he opted for a place where victory was more guaranteed, even in the face of monumental failure, as common with many PDP governors across the country.

This defection, among other negative consequences, has shrunk the space of Nigeria multi party system; hence the fortunes of ANPP with the variety it offers Nigerians, in addition to the manifesto, has been dumped for PDP. In a similar development, when disagreement raged between former governor of Sokoto, Attahiru Bafarawa and

Magatakadar Wamako, incumbent governor of Sokoto, who was then in ANPP, both of them left the ANPP for places they believe had more to their personal benefits.

While Wammako, in a bid to wrest the soul of Sokoto politics from Bafarawa, joined forces with the PDP, which ultimately resulted in ANPP losing the state to PDP. Bafarawa, on his party floated his own party, Democratic Peoples Party (DPP), upon which he contested for the presidency and lost. He later left DPP to join the Action Congress of Nigeria and later back to the ANPP.

(CPC).

Still on CPC, just few weeks before the recent Kebbi re-run, which many believed would have been in favour of CPC, the state leader CPC, Adamu Aliero, denounced his membership of the party and publicly joined the PDP, during the Dakingari’s re-election campaign in Kebbi state.

However, unlike the Buhari/ Ume-Ezeoke case which was more of a problem of principle and ideology, the case of Aliero was more of personal interest and selfishness. This is because he did not even consult with the national leadership of the party before taking the decision.

Similar problem has calved out UPGA from APGA today. The crisis in All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), which started back in 2003, was such that many did not imagine its capacity to conceive a new political party, which is today called United Peoples Grand Alliance (UPGA).

But whichever way it is looked at, it x-rays one key point, which is the level of decadence and intolerance among Nigerian politicians.

APGA as a political party started out as a formidable platform intended to sell an ideology that encapsulates the political yearnings of the Igbos, nay, Nigerians. This was even given more boosts by the personality of the Late Odumegwu Ojukwu, who was then its national leader.

Having been successfully registered by the INEC, the party contested for the 2003 election in Anambra state and was overwhelmingly voted. However, due to the decadence in the electoral body, the victory was upturned by INEC in favour of PDP candidate in the election,

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All said and done, the fact that party proliferation, which weakens the politics of opposition in the country, is brewed by both selfishness and inability of party members to subsume personal interests under ideology through tolerance Similarly, it would be recalled that General Muhammadu Buhari, who had contested for the presidency through the platform of ANPP, later defected to CPC due to the failure consensus between him and the Late chairman of ANPP, Edwin Ume-Ezeoke, on whether the party would join with the Yar’adua’s Government of National Unity.

Owing to their faceoff, before 2011 general election, Buhari and his loyalists had formed the Congress for Progressive Change

Chris Ngige.

This brought about the court suit by Peter Obi, who was the APGA candidate then. However, while the suit was still being prosecuted in the court, Ngige had started having misunderstanding with his estranged political godfather, Chris Uba. The situation degenerated to the stage that Chris Ngige and Chris Uba were expelled from the party, but Uba was subsequently readmitted and honoured with the position of member of the Board of

Trustee of the party.

At that situation, Ngige became an incumbent Governor without a political party.

According to Chekwas Okorie, who was the National Chairman of APGA, the situation made many prominent Anambra indigenes to approach him on the need to woo Ngige into APGA, before other parties like Alliance for Democracy (AD) and ANPP. He insisted that it was this effort to bring Ngige into APGA that made some APGA members then to accuse him of anti party activities, which subsequently resulted in his suspension and expulsion from APGA. On the other hand, Umeh’s group had argued that Okorie was suspended for trying to thwart the chances of Obi, emerging victorious at the tribunal, through what it described as clandestine dealings with Chris Ngige without party approval.

Reacting to this, Okorie insisted that as at the time he led party members to visit Ngige, Obi had already closed his case at the tribunal, maintain that he was merely being proactive to avoid APGA loosing at both ends.

With his expulsion as the chairman of the party and Victor Umeh assuming the acting chairman, long legal battle ensued between Umeh led APGA and Okorie. So many judgements and lodgments of new cases took place within the time under review, until March 7 th , 2012, when Okorie returned the original certificate of APGA registration to INEC, to mark the halt of the celebrated longest political legal battle in Nigeria.

Shortly after the return of the certificate to APGA, Okorie founded new party called UPGA. He said the party is formed to chart a new political course, and to severe all links with APGA. Umeh has equally enjoined INEC to deny UPGA registration on the ground that it has similar acronym with APGA and therefore capable of confusing voters at elections.

Insinuations are ripe equally that Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state is hatching plans to defect to PDP, where he hopes to be the running mate to President Jonathan or David Mark in 2015, whichever way the decision goes.

All said and done, the fact that party proliferation, which weakens the politics of opposition in the country, is brewed by both selfishness and inability of party members to subsume personal interests under ideology through tolerance.

This trend, if unchecked, would militarise Nigeria’s democracy, where only people belonging to a particular stratum of the social system would continue to rule. This will therefore truncate the joy of democracy which lies in diversity.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Jang tasks SAs on peace building From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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pparently, disturbed by the increasing waves of attacks in some parts of the state, Plateau state Governor, Jonah Jang has directed all Special Advisers (SAs) to work in close collaboration with their various communities saying such collaboration would foster peace building and unity.

The directive was contained in a press statement issued at the end of a maiden meeting between the Governor and the Special Advisers which held at the Governor’s lodge.

Media Adviser Mr. Pam Ayuba and Legislative Liaison and Coordinator of forum of SAs Hon. Isa Chungwom Song, the statement urged the Advisers to work with top government officials in order to promote unity and cohesion.

The statement stressed the need for the state government to strictly adhere to budgetary provisions and laid procedures.

“The governor expresses satisfaction with the spirit of team work and encouraged greater working relationship amongst top government officials as a way of fostering unity and cohesion”, the statement said.

The statement said arrangement was ongoing for The Nigerian Standard Newspapers to go daily following the purchase of modern printing machine and overhauling of the publishing company.

Kebbi Assembly confirms 2 state Electoral Commissioners

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he Kebbi House of Assembly on Tuesday confirmed the appointments of two commissioners for Kebbi state Independent Electoral Commission.

The commissioners are AlhajiAliyu Mohammed and Alhaji Mohammed DanHundeji, who were nominated by the executive to replace AlhajiShehu Utono and Alhaji Aminu Wakili, who resigned their appointments vo lu n t a r il y .

The Acting Speaker of the assembly, Alhaji Mohammed Bena, who presided over the session, called on the commissioners to exhibit “selfless public service” to the people Similarly, the assembly confirmed the appointment of Alhaji Musa Shehu, as Assistant Sole Administrator of Gwandu Local Government.

Shehu promised to work for the development of “remote parts of the area”.

PAGE 39

Lawmaker sues Ondo legislature over recall moves R epresentative Ifedayo Abegunde (LP-Akure), has sued the Ondo State House of Assembly and six others over the moves to recall him from the National Assembly.

Abegunde,who represents Akure South and North Federal Constituency, joined the state Labour Party (LP) Chairman and INEC in the suit.

Also joined in the case at the Federal High Court in Akure were the Speaker of the House of Representatives and LP National Chairman.

Other defendants are the Chairmen of Akure South and North Federal Constituencies and urged the court to stop the recall proceedings.

Abegunde had dumped the LP, the platform on which he was elected, before defecting to the ACN, citing the crisis in the LP as the reason for the defection.

But Labour Party denied any split in its rank and proceeded to initiate recall moves against the twoterm legislator.

The party has been collecting signatures of registered voters in the Constituency, to recall him from the National Assembly.

Abegunde, through his counsel, Mr. Kola Olawoye, went to the court to seek protection against the move.

The lawmaker prayed the court to determine whether by the provisions of Section 68 (1) (g) of the 1999 Constitution and the crisis, division and factions in the LP, he

was not entitled to dump the party.

He said that by the virtue of the constitutional provisions and the crisis within the party, he was entitled to dump the party.

The plaintiff also urged the court to grant an interlocutory injunction restraining the defendants from any step whatsoever concerning to his defection from LP to ACN. The defendants in their counter claim declared that the applicant had dumped the platform for his election into the National Assembly.

They argued that since Abegunde had failed to prove any division within the LP, he had automatically vacated his seat as a member of the National Assembly.

The defendants asked the court to pronounce that by the reason of his defection, he had ceased to be a member of the House of Representatives.

Apart from asking him to vacate the seat, the counterclaimant also prayed the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare the seat vacant and INEC should conduct by-election to fill the seat.

When the case came up for hearing on Tuesday, the judge, Justice Grace Okeke, refused to hear an interlocutory application brought by the applicant.

Okeke ruled that the court would begin definite hearing of the substantive suit brought by Abegunde. The court fixed hearing of the matter for April 26.

L-R: Senator Hope Uzodinma, Senator Matthew Nwogu, and Senator Nkechi Nwoagu, during the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Caucus meeting, at the National Assembly, recently in Abuja.

NGO wants Kwankwaso to conduct LG polls

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Kano-based NGO, Coalition for the Protection of Democracy, has called on Gov. Rabi’u Kwankwaso of Kano state to conduct local government council election in the state.

The Chairman of the organisation, Alhaji Abdullahi Shuwayya, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kano on

Wednesday.

He said that the call had become necessary in view of the fact that elected local government councils were closer to the masses at the grassroots level.

“As an NGO that supports democracy in its entirety, we feel it is necessary to call on the governor to conduct the local government council elections in the state.

“Democracy is the popular trend being practised all over the world, hence the need to ensure its sustenance.”

He said that the failure to conduct elections into the local government councils had negatively affected the socioeconomic development of the areas.

“There is a high level of poverty in the local government areas due to the inability of the state

government to conduct the local government elections,” he said.

He, therefore, urged Kwankwaso to reconstitute the Kano Independent Electoral Commission (KNSIEC) with a view to conducting the elections within the shortest possible time.

He also urged the Kano state House of Assembly to ensure that the executive arm conducted the elections into councils.

Workers urge Rivers govt. not to delay payment of salaries

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ivil Servants in Rivers have reacted to the introduction of new payroll system by the state government, saying it should not delay payment of their salaries.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the government recently opened a payroll office in the Ministry of Finance, removing it from Zenith Bank.

The Commissioner, Mr. Chamberlain Peterside, said that

with the system, pay slips would be automatically generated by the software and given to workers through electronic mails.

He attributed the policy to government’s determination to tackle the menace of ghost workers.

However, some civil servants told NAN that the government should ensure that the new policy did not result in the delay of their salaries.

Dr Charles Ikeziem, a staffer of

the Ministry of Health, said it was a “good step’’ since it would encourage the issuance of pay slips.

“If pay slips are given out, complaints can be addressed, overpayments and shortfall can be handled.”

Mr Anele Tony, a teacher, called on the government not to return to the old era when some staff of the ministry used it to enrich themselves illegally.

“Let the new order be used to

check fraud, especially unexplained deductions from salaries, then we will have nothing against it.’’

Mrs Angela Bune, an officer on Grade Level 12 in the Ministry of Transport, called on the Finance Ministry to ensure effective implementation of the new system to the advantage of workers.

“What the worker wants to see is prompt and complete salary at the end of the month, we hope the new system offers us just that.’’

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Group tasks Tambuwal to swear-in Iyortyom as Buruku Rep

By Muhammad Nasir

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uruku Solidarity Movement (BSM) has called on the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, to swear-in Honorable Sakav Iyortyom of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as the rightful candidate representing Buruku Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives.

BSM’s demand is contained in a petition to the Speaker signed by its leader, Mr. Terlumun Kpan.

BSM said its demand was in line with the rulings of both High Court and Court of Appeal sitting in Markudi, Benue state which directed respectively that Iyortom be sworn in immediately.

It noted that “contrary to the directive of the two courts of competent jurisdiction, the Speaker has refused to uphold the rule of law thus denying Buruku Federal Constituency proper representation”.

Kutigi urges PDP NWC to close ranks

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member representing Lavun/Eda ti/Mok wa Federal constituency in the House of Representative, Rep Mohammed Sani Idris Kutigi has called on the newly elected members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the Peoples Democratic Party to close ranks for the growth and development of the party.

According to him, the party needs to work as one big family so that it can reach out to all stakeholders adding that the just concluded PDP elections into national offices through consensus was an indication that, consensus if properly handled engender cohesion and harmonious relationship in the party.

Kutigi said “At this critical time of Nigeria national development, PDP as the ruling party cannot afford any internal wrangling that will cause disaffection among its members at all levels.”

He said for the party to continue to make the desired impact on Nigeria’s political landscape, the new leadership must hit the ground running. “The party chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur with other members of the executive must start to reach out to especially those who contested with them. They should bring them on board so that they have a sense of belonging. ” He congratulated Alhaji Bamanga Tukur and the National Youth Leader, Alhaji Garba Chiza urging them to strive to invest in the young people in the party for continuity.

“The National Youth Leader has the task of mobilizing millions of Nigerian youth who are already card carrying members of the party. He also has a greater task of bringing other young people into the PDP family for the common good of Nigeria.”

L-R:Deputy Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, Hon. Betty Apiafi, Chairman of the committee, Hon. Abike Dabiri Erewa, and a member of the committee, Hon. Abdulrahman Terab, during a press conference on the Nigerians in Brazil prisons for drug offences, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Impeachment: PDP accuses ACN of hidden agenda

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has accused the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) of habouring a hidden agenda against the Federal Government following the party’s call on the National Assembly to commence an impeachment proceedings against President Goodluck Jonathan over a church ‘gift’ by a construction company.

The ruling party in a statement issued by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisa Metuh, wondered whether the opposition was plotting to destabilize the nation or gain through the back-door the electoral relevance it lost through the ballot boxes.

While urging the National Assembly to disregard the call and focus on its statutory responsibilities, the PDP said it was worried by “the incessant destructive hue of an opposition, who though bereft of a credible alternative model, still struts the stage in a jaundiced illusion of a model driver of the perfect.”

According to the party “The strength of any viable democracy lies in the mettle of a credible opposition. The PDP welcomes this.

However, where the opposition is irresponsibly engrossed in making a mountain out of a mole hill and ceaselessly creating an imaginary tiger in the neighbourhood, it leaves no one in doubt that it is committed to a hidden agenda that neither

benefits the nation nor ennobles the people.

“Let’s therefore ask the ACN; ‘quo agendum? ’ – whither your agenda?” Is it to destabilise the Federal Government and hasten the quest for a divided patria? Is it to gain what the opposition in their collective whole failed to achieve in April 2011 presidential election? Or still, is it a vengeance for the inability of the opposition to win successive five governorship elections, the nullification of some of which was achieved via judgments with questionable trends”?

The PDP equally demanded from the ACN a proof that the rehabilitation of a Community church by a construction company has personally benefited the President

of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

According to the PDP, it was very unfortunate that the ACN was ruffling the sensibilities of Nigerians at a material time that religion has been wrongly appropriated by unpatriotic elements to wreak chaos in parts of the nation.

The Party further warned the ACN not to distract the National Assembly. “We are not surprised the ACN is losing sleep over the maturity and stability that the National Assembly led by our great Party has gained in the last few years, much less its smooth working relationship with the executive. We therefore call on the National Assembly to disregard the ACN and remain focused in the joint effort to achieve the transformation of Nigeria.”

Gov. Aliyu signs vigilance committee bill into law

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ov Babangida Aliyu of Niger yesterday signed the bill on the establishment of a state vigilance committee into law.

The organisastion is meant to provide necessary support for the security agents to deal with the security challenges in the state and the country at large.

Aliyuurged members of the public not to regard the committee

as a parallel organisation to the Nigeria Police Force but as a group meant to complement the efforts of the police.

He said the committee would provide necessary information required by the police and other security agents to prosecute criminals and expressed the hope that the step would help check crime in the state

Aliyu said an implementation committee had been set up for the successful take-off of the vigilance group.

He said the committee was mandated to recruit Nigerians, aged 18 years and above, who had lived in Niger in the last six years.

Aliyusaid the law provides for the establishment of a state Advisory Committee with the Secretary to the

State Government as Chairman and all heads of security agencies in the state as members.

He said the law also provides for the position of a state commander, two deputy commanders, who in the first instance, would hold offices for four years, in addition to three assistant commanders, each representing one of the three political zones in the state . (NAN)

PDP chieftain urges electorate to monitor representatives

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lhaji Habu Kaunawa, a PDP Chieftain in Dange Shuni Local Government Area of Sokoto State, has advised Nigerians to monitor the performance of their elected representatives to ensure good democratic governance.

Kaunawa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Sokoto on Tuesday that proper monitoring of the elective representatives’ performances was crucial to enable them to meet the desired objectives of Nigerians.

He advised the electorate to

desist from demanding money from their representatives but lay emphasis on the provision of projects that would improve their welfare.

According to him, it is high time for Nigerians to shun selfcentred politicians, to move the

country forward.

Kaunawa stressed that Nigerians must cultivate the habit of monitoring the action and performances of their elected leaders carefully so that those who failed to meet their expectations could be voted out of power.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 41

Amokachi tasks Eagles on CAF clubs championships

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uper Eagles assistant coach, Dan “the bull” Amokachi, has challenged members of the Super Eagles whose clubs are featuring in continental fiestas to show character in their respective clubs’ African championships assignments.

Amokachi, who was speaking yesterday during the team’s training ahead of the international friendly games this month and the next, said the players must always demonstrate competence as national team players during their clubs’ continental engagements.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that Dolphins, Heartland, Sunshine Stars and Warri Wolves are Nigeria’s continental flag bearers and together contribute more than half of the players -14 Eagles- currently in camp at the National Stadium Abuja.

The ‘Bull’, who expressed confidence in their competence and experience, said they have what it takes to give the country not just representation but the trophies at stake and noted that the players have so far demonstrated winsome traits.

All the four club sides, who will be on CAF Champions League and CAF Confederation Cup assignments, have the prospects of securing qualifications into the next round of the campaigns.

Amokachi challenged the players to go all for the good of Nigeria adding that he was particularly happy with Sunshine Stars skipper Godfrey Oboabona, who as a defender has so far scored six goals in the Nigeria Premier League.

“For a defender that is pretty encouraging and that is the type of reports we want to be getting from players that will call up to the

Papa Idris Stories by Patrick Andrew

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national camp”.

Incidentally, Oboabona’s Sunshine Stars walk a tight rope in their tie this weekend against Angolan side Recreativo FC following their 4-1 loss in the first leg.

Oboabana explained that Sunshine were subjected to all sorts of fowl treatment the climaxed of was the antics they employed to score three goals with 14 minutes left of play.

“You can imagine that they seized the jerseys

of about seven of our players when we arrived at the match venue and only released them few moments before the match. They were also hostile and treated the match as if we were in a war situation, but we hope to turn the tables in Nigeria”, he said.

Similarly, Warri Wolves defender, Azubike Egwueke, who is expected to play a key role in is side’s game against FC Kallon of Sierra Leone, said he was optimistic that his team will win the game, having drawn the first leg 1-1 in Freetown. “We are waiting for words from our team on when to come and we’ll show our stuff there” he said.

... Says Eagles unfazed by cancellation rumour versus Egypt

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uper Eagles Assistant Coach, Dan Amokachi, has dismissed fears that the rumoured cancellation of the international friendly game between Nigeria and Egypt may have had adverse affect on the players in camp.

Amokachi said yesterday’s training session that the team have not been training with a particular game in mind but want to be combat ready for any opponents that may come their way.

“We kept our focus on what we came to do and even if the game is off, we’re still going to be here and train for the number of days we were supposed to be in camp. That was the arrangement from the beginning; we’ll just keep preparing and wait for the opportunity to play friendly games,’’ Amokachi said.

It would be recalled that the international friendly match scheduled to hold on April 12 in the United Arab Emirates had been rumoured to be put on hold but the NFF debunked the

Chi gozie Agbim

report stressing that all hands were on deck for the game.

He assured that the players were being groomed to respond to challenges adding such rumour would have little psychological effect on them.

“They just have to be in tune with what we do here because everyone has his own system or formation of how they do things in their clubs; so we are just working with them on how we know best,’’ he said.

The coach commended the players on their response to training, saying that they were doing their best to make Nigerians happy and make careers out of football.

“We do have good players who need guidance and when they get that guidance they will excel, and so far so good they’ve proven us right and we have faith in them. “We should just keep working with them and try to get the best out of them so that we can move Nigeria’s football forward,’’ Amokachi said.

Ejike Uzoenyi

Sunday Mba

25 Eagles battle for shirts against Pharaohs

uper Eagles coaches have the full complement of the 25 domestic league players called up to camp ahead of the April 12 battle against seventime African Cup of Nations champions, the Pharaohs of Egypt.

The coaches led by Dan Amokachi in the ab senc e of Ste phen Ke shi were del ight ed with the turn out as all but Gombe United’s go al po ach er , Must ap ha Bab ad idi , w ho se in ju ry h as h am pe re d h is p re se nc e in t he c am p , s we a te d i t o ut fo r a pl a ce in th e sq ua d.

In fact, the battle for shirts intensified as players work assiduously to edge out each

other for places in the squad.

Although the coaches were yet to decide the actual number that would eventually be selected for the Abu Dhabi duel, the players could be seen work hard to merit a place in the team.

Former Super Eagles first choice in goal Ike Shorunmu took time off to drill the three goalies, Dan Akpeyi, Okemute Odah and Chigozie Agbim, who double as skipper of his side.

Defenders Azubuike Ewueke, Godfrey

Oboabona, Papa Idris, Adesope Hammed, Juwon Oshaniwa and Henry Uche, Ogonna Uzochukwu were in excellent shape.

From the midfield Uche Ossai, who lost his father recently has not shown any sign of bereavement, same for Bathelomew Ibenegbu, Izu Azuka, Shehu Maijema, Nura Mohammed, ever impressive Ejike Uzoenyi, Gabriel Reuben and new comer Husein Hassan.

Kalu Uche, Sunday Mba, Jabason Solomon, Gbolahan Salami, Obinna Nwachukwu, Barnabas Imenger and Lawal Mohammed have added to the selection headache of the national team handlers for the friendly against Egypt . “Only the best will be picked” Amokachi has assured.

NSC DG’s office burgled

T

he office of the D i r e c t o r General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Dr. Patrick Ekeji, was reportedly burgled by unknown person/s pervious night.

According to a released issued yesterday, items stolen from the office the DG’s personal computer, the Secretary’s personal computer, the office desktop and a CPU. The incident, which has been reported at the Police post for investigation in the Federal Secretariat Complex generated angry reaction from staff of the commission.

According to the Director, Human R e s o u r c e s Management and Finance, Mustapha Mohammed, the perpetrators were out to tarnish the image of the Commission.

He asserted that this was a follow up to several methods adopted in the past including parading false documents by the unknown persons to discredit the Commission.

Further, he alleged that stealing of the computer may be specifically to obtain Ekeji’s official information that may be used for m i s c h i e vo u s purposes.

Ekeji

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

WAUG: UNIPORT grabs 23 gold medals in swimming

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he University of Port Harcourt (UNIPORT) has increased its gold hauls at the 13th West Africa Universities Games (WAUG) in Ilorin after winning the swimming event.

Already, Uniport has grabbed 23 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze out of the 30 gold, 30 silver and 29 bronze medals on offer in the event at the Games. Benson Idahosa University (BIU), Benin, are a distant second

with three gold and four silver medals, while the University of Benin placed third with three gold, one silver and three bronze medals.

The University of Lagos are fourth with one gold and two silver medals, while the University of Nigeria Nsukka (UNN), are fifth with three silver and two bronze medals.

Also on the medals table are the University of Ghana, Legon, which placed sixth with two silver and nine bronze followed by the host,

University of Ilorin, with two silver and four bronze medals.

The University of Ibadan placed eighth with two silver and two bronze medals, while in the ninth position is the Lead City University (LCU), Ibadan, with one silver medal. The Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), with two bronze, is last on the swimming medals table.

However, the official medals table released

by 2:40 p.m. yesterday showed UNIPORT leading with 20 gold, 13 silver and seven bronze, but this did not include the results of the final day of the swimming events at the Games.

The three-day swimming competition had featured events in the men and women’s backstroke, freestyle, breaststroke and men’s and women’s individual medley as well as the men and women’s butterfly; medley relay, and freestyle relay.

Pirates turn to Siasia, Eguavoen, 3 others for rescue

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Samson Siasia

Austin Eguavoen

amson Siasia or Austin Eguavoen, two former Super Eagles coaches may be the next manager of South Africa’s top team, Orlando Pirates, which have shortlisted them along with three others for interview next month.

Siasia, who was sacked by the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) following Eagles’ 2-2 all draw with the Syli Nationale of Guinea- a result that ensured that Nigeria failed to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup Finals held in Gabon/ Equatorial Guinea, told a wire service that he has been approached for the job.

The Buccaneers are on the lookout for a coach for next season following Julio Leal’s exit earlier in the week, and already a number of top names have been linked with the position. And it appears Siasia has fallen over for the job, according to the wire service which reported that the former Belgiumbased star may have turned down other offers for the South Africa job.

Eguavoen, who has had a brief stint at another South African club Black Leopards and is presently coach of NPL front runners Enyimba after he quit as Nigeria Olympic

team coach in November, has equally expressed interest in the post.

Siasia, a striker for the Super Eagles at the 1994 World Cup and Africa Nations Cup winner that same year, is currently in line to coach a team in the new, prestigious India Premier League, but says an opportunity to take the reins at Pirates would be one too good to turn down.

“All I can say now is that someone contacted me to ask if I was interested in the job. I told them I am open to discussion. What coach in Africa would not be interested in Orlando Pirates? But, for now, no discussions have taken place,” he told the wire service.

As a coach, Siasia led the Nigeria Under20s to the African title in 2005, and also to a silver medal at the Youth World Cup, but could not replicate the results at the senior level.

It would be recalled that other Nigerians had previously handled South African clubsides. Former Nigeria coach Shuaibu Amodu also coached Pirates between 1996 and 1997. Other Nigerian coaches who have worked in South Africa are Musa Abdullahi (Free State Stars) and Okey Emordi (Bush Bucks).

No Nigerian assistants for Saintfiet C hairman of the NFF technical subcommittee, Chris Green, has dismissed media report that the NFF Technical Director, Tom Saintfiet, will be assigned indigenous assistants.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that former director in the football

Shirt deals for Enyimba, 3SC revealed

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he duo of Enyimba and Shooting Stars Sports Club (3SC) have joined Warri Wolves to secure private sponsorships outside of the usual government patronage.

The clubs yesterday sealed shirt sponsorship deals which were officially announced, according some officials of the clubs who expressed delight with the development.

3SC and Enyimba agreed to enter into shirts sponsorship agreement with one of the leading brewing brands, Guinness Nigeria Plc, in March.

Accordingly, Guinness’ partnership with the two football clubs would result in their wearing the newest brand, Dubic Extra Lager, on the stable of the beer brewing company on their jerseys.

An official launch of the partnership took place in Aba yesterday was followed by announcements of the shirt sponsorship deals.

federation’s technical department, James Peters had been rumoured to be in line for the deputy technical director’s job.

But Green explained that the position is not a coaching position which requires assistants, but one within a technical department structure, hence does not require deputisation of any kind.

“He is not coming to coach, but to plan and implement a development programme for the country. So he will not have assistants,” Green told a wire service.

“What the framework calls for is for different positions within that structure. Saintfiet will be the national Technical Director, and we will have a number of local coaches who will fill the remaining positions, like the positions of Head of National Football Development and Head of Youth Football Development, and so on.

“All those people will work with him, and understudy him while the process goes on,”he said thus rubbishing earlier reports which had suggested that the NFF will allow the Belgian to come with his own assistants or even appoint local ones.

Green said that could happen, but not on the NFF’s tab. “We are not aware of this assistants talk. But if he decides that he needs to bring assistants, then that is his decision and he will be responsible for paying them from his wages.”

Those wages are due to come from the Development grant that the NFF receives from FIFA but Green also explained that the funding is yet to a r r i ve .

“FIFA only remits the money for developmental purposes, but they will not do so until a technical director is in place and the department is fully functional.”

Tom Saintfiet

Blatter sends condolences to Somalia B l a t t e r to Somalia F s e n d s condolences IFA president Sepp Blatter has sent his condolences to Somalia after a bombing in Mogadishu killed several people, including Somali Football Federation president, Said Mohamud Nur. President of the Somali Olympic Committee, Aden Yabarow Wiish, was also fatally injured in the attack, which took place at a newly-opened theatre as dignitaries celebrated

a

year since the launch of the country’s national television station.

Prime minister Abdiweli Mohamed Ali was also in attendance but escaped without injury. At least seven people are said to have been killed by the blast.

Blatter said: “I am shocked to hear about the attack that has today taken the lives of several people in Mogadishu, including the president of the Somali Football Federation Said Mohamed Nur and Somali Olympic Committee president

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

WAUG 2012: Ghana’s Adwubi wins athletics first gold medal

E

sther Adwubi of the University of Education, Winneba, Ghana on Tuesday in Ilorin won the first athletics gold medal at the ongoing 13th West Africa Universities Games (WAUG).

She won the gold medal in the women’s 5000 metres as the athletics competition got under way at the University of Ilorin Sports Complex.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the WAUG 2012 athletics competition was starting two days behind schedule and will end on Thursday.

Adwubi returned a time of 19 mins 09.87 sec in the race, while Muibat Ogunkoya of Lagos Sate University won the silver medal in 20 mins 01.99 sec.

Veronica Onyechinwa was third in the race for the bronze medal in a time of 20 mins 33.98 sec. In the women’s 1500 metres final, Nuelie Yarigo of University of Abomey, Benin Republic, coasted home ahead of Nigeria’s Esther Asamu.

Yarigo won the gold in 4 mins 48.17 sec, while Asamu, who competed for Lead City University, Ibadan, won the silver win a time of 5 mins 01.15 sec. Jumoke Oribamise of Ekiti State University won the bronze medal after 5 mins 18.34 secs.

The men’s version of the one mile race saw Tom Alaga of Ahmadu Bello University (ABU), Zaria, winning the gold medal.

He recorded a time of 4 mins 25.16 secs, ahead of Austeen Ibileke of host University of Ilorin who had a time of 4 mins 29.14 secs.

Lambert Coulibaly of Burkina Faso’s Universite Polytechnique Du Bobo Doularosa (UPB) claimed the bronze medal with 4 mins 40.84 secs.

World tennis tourney: Coach blames poor outing on inadequate preparations

N

asiru Bello, National Coach, Nigeria Table Tennis Federation (NTTF), has attributed Nigeria’s poor performance at the just concluded World Team Table Tennis Championship in Germany to inadequate preparations.

Nigeria had lost in both the male and female categories to Brazil and Slovenia respectively at the quarter-final stage of the championships and Bello said had the National Sports Commission (NSC) provided needed funds, the team would have had adequate preparations for the event.

“The truth is that the

preparations were not adequate because we ought to be in camp at least one month before the championships began. But we trained here for only two days before our departure. Also we participated without the foreignbased players’’.

However, in spite of the quarter-finals exit, the NTTF official applauded the players for their performances at the preliminaries.

Bello regretted that Nigeria would not be represented at the team’s event at the 2012 London Olympics scheduled from July 27 to Aug. 13.

One of the players, Cecilia OtuAkpan, blamed the quarter-final

defeat on the cold weather, saying they did not have enough time to acclimatise and to train.

“The weather in Germany was not friendly at all and there were not enough days for us to adapt to the atmosphere which affected our training schedule,” she said.

Otu-Akpan said the fire brigade approach to international championships had always been a setback to a good outing, adding that the snag should be addressed to avoid a recurrence.

“If we had done what we ought to do, we would not find ourselves in this position, the zeal is there but our preparations have

FCT FA to introduce home and away league format, says chairman

By Albert Akota

T

he FCT Football Association has set up a committee to draw up modalities in conjunction work with the six local Area Councils for the commencement of home and away league matches in the Territory next season.

The Chairman of the association, Alhaji Musa Sa’eed Talle said the league board

committee has been mandated to write letters to the respective sports units of the councils for stadia inspections.

He said the home and away fixtures would not only take the game to the grassroots but conscientise the teams on proper modalities of league and thus prepare them for national challenge when they eventually gain promotion to the national amateur league.

“The aim of the board is to develop the game from the grassroots where raw talents are discovered, expose them to proper league format and thus enshrine in their hearts the trend in league fixtures as well as meet the objectives of the association.

“Our focus is the grassroots where newer talents who have the game at heart would be found and given opportunity to

Cecelia Otu always been faulty and clumsy.

“I think inadequate preparation is a major fault and should be given prompt attention for players to be committed to bring glory to Nigeria in international tournaments,” she said. showcase their talents at the city centre.

“I want the Nigeria Football federation to visit Nyanya or Kwali stadia where they can discover real talents. These set of players are in rural areas playing football with passion.We are ready to fish them out in the interest of Nigeria football development,” he said.

Talle maintained that the board has reaffirmed its determination to secure a ticket for one of the three FCT clubs currently playing in national division to premier league at the end of the 2011/ 2012 football season.

Younger brother of hurdles champion, Erese, wins gold G

FIFA official for World Cup meeting in Brazil

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IFA General Secretary Jerome Valcke will return to Brazil next week for a senate hearing to discuss Brazil’s World Cup preparations.

This will be Valcke’s first trip to Brazil since the saying that the World Cup organisers needed a “kick in the pants” due to the slow pace of preparations for the 2014 global football event.

Brazil’s Sports Minister Aldo Rebelo said he would no longer involve Valcke in his dealings with FIFA. But a subsequent meeting between FIFA President Joseph Blatter and Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff seems to have resolved the matter.

Rebelo and Valcke will be part of the April 11 sitting, to be conducted by Brazil’s commission for education, culture and sport in Brasilia.

PAGE 43

William Erese

abriel Erese, a younger brother of ex-national hurdler, William Erese, stepped into the limelight in Ilorin on Tuesday when he won the gold medal in 110m hurdle at the 13th West Africa University Games (WAUG).

His older brother William Erese was the national champion until recently.

But his younger sibling Gabriel from the Benson Idahosa University, Okada, Benin City showed that the sport runs in the family with a win in the men’s 110 metres hurdles final.

He won the gold medal at a time of 15.29 seconds, while Wilson Yeboah of University of Cape Coast, Ghana, returned at 15.43 to win the silver medal.

Luqman Oguntade of University of Lagos finished third for the bronze medal with a time of 15.80 seconds.

In the women’s event, Efe Favour of University of Port Harcourt won the 100 metres hurdles at a time of 14.72

seconds, while Edith Ekechi of University of Benin won the silver with a time of 15.53 seconds, while Oghene Eferobor of Lagos State University (LASU) won the bronze with 15.79 seconds. University of Port Harcourt’s Augustine Nwoye won the gold medal in the men’s discus event at the 13th West Africa University Games (WAUG) holding at University of Ilorin.

He made a throw of 47.58 metres to win the event, ahead of teammate, Sunday Osi, who won the silver medal with a throw of 47.29 metres.

Clement Onejeme of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, won the bronze medal with a throw of 46.44 metres. In the women’s 400 metres event, Glory Chimanwambu of LASU and Zinazorie Victor of University of Port Harcourt, qualified for Wednesday’s final from heat one.

Chimanwambu qualified first with a time of 51.37 seconds, while Victor qualified with 52.23 seconds, while Charity Ibeh of University of Lagos with 54.81 seconds and Viviana Dausowaa of University of Legon, Ghana with 56.61 seconds, also qualified for the final. Fatou Diabaye of University of Dakar, Senegal, won heat three to qualify also with 55.05 seconds. Adewumi Adewale of Lead City University, Ibadan, joined her from heat three with a time of 56.31 seconds.

Patience George of University of Calabar and Egone Kesiege of University of Legon, Ghana with 53.32 seconds and 54.49 seconds respectively in heat one also qualified for the final.

Twenty-four qualifiers also emerged for the semi-finals from five heats in the men’s 400 meters event.

NCF to attend Africa regional development seminar

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he Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF) on Tuesday said it would participate in the Africa Cricket Association (ACA) 14th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and Africa Regional Development Seminar in South Africa.

The General Manager, NCF,

George Wiltshire, said in a statement in Lagos that the AGM and seminar would hold from April 6 to April 9 in Cape Town.

It said the essence of the meeting was to review countries’ development of the sport and fashion out ways to move it forward.

According to the statement, Zuraida Badat of International Cricket Council (ICC)-AFRICA will chair the executive meeting of the ACA before the AGM. It said that the country would be represented by Wiltshire at both events.

The statement said that in a

bid to improve the country’s facilities, the federation recently commissioned an Astro-turf at the Tafawa Balewa Square Cricket Oval, Lagos.

“The artificial wicket was donated by a group of cricket enthusiasts called Friends of Nigeria Cricket,” it said.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

Wheelchair Tennis: ITF official visits Nigeria ahead of Olympics

I

n acknowledgement of Nigeria’s growing profile in Wheelchair Tennis, the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is sending one of its top development officers, Suzie Dyrbus, to Nigeria.

Sani Ndanusa, the President of the Nigeria Tennis Federation (NTF), said in a statement in Lagos, that the visit was to foster the growth of the game in the country. According to the statement, Dyrbus’ visit, scheduled for April 12 to April 15, is part of the ITF’s Silver Fund Project which is aimed at developing the game across the world.

It said that while in Nigeria, Dyrbus would acquaint coaches and players with the latest techniques of the sport in which

Nigeria ranks among the top nations in Africa.

The statement said that Dyrbus’ visit would have a positive effect on the game in the country which, it noted, had a high number of potential players who could compete at the highest level of the sport.

It noted that Ndanusa was recently appointed a member of the Developmental Committee of the ITF Wheelchair Tennis.

Reacting to the visit, Coach Frank Tarmena of the National Wheelchair Tennis of Nigeria (NWTN), said that the players were looking forward to it.

Tarmena said that the visit would have as much impact as when Britain’s Mark Bullock, now an ITF Wheelchair Tennis Manager, visited in 2005. He recalled

that Bullock conducted a four-day workshop in Lagos.

Tarmena said that Bullock trained the likes of Beijing 2008 Olympians, Wasiu Yusuf, Jude Uwaize, and a host of others who were now ranked among the top 10 players in Africa.

The coach said that Drybus’ visit would also help Nigeria to post a decent outing at the London Olympics as well as the World Team Cup in South Korea.

He recalled that Dyrbus was the one who presided over the Africa qualifiers for the World Team Cup in Kenya in March. Nigeria picked Africa’s men’s sole ticket for the World Team Cup in South Korea, holding in May, after defeating Morocco in the final of the qualifiers.

Jeter, Fraser-Pryce listed for New York Samsung Diamond League showdown eigning 100m women World champion Carmelita Jeter and Olympic champion Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce have both indicated their availability for the adidas Grand Prix, the sixth stop on the Samsung Diamond League series, in New York on June 9.

Jeter had on her way to becoming the one of the premiere 100m runners, won gold at the 2011 IAAF World Championships at 100m and silver at 200m and also anchored the U.S. squad to a gold medal in the 4x100m relay.

The American became the secondfastest woman in history with a personal best of 10.64, a race she dominated from start to finish last year, winning 11 of her 12 competitions at 100m.

Hot in chase in terms of pedigree is Fraser-Pryce, 25, who is the reigning Olympic gold medallist and 2009 World Champion at both 100m and the

R

4x100m Relay.

Finishing fourth, just 1/100ths of a second behind Kelly-Ann Baptiste in Daegu for bronze last summer, FraserPryce nonetheless ran the first leg on the Jamaican 4x100m team that set a national record on the way to winning a silver medal.

Baptiste, from Trinidad and Tobago, is the 2011 World Championships bronze medallist at 100m. The 25-year-old’s personal best of 10.84 is a national record.

Aside from the women event that is rich in depth and will be highly competitive, in the men’s version will witness a resurgent Jeremy Wariner returning to Icahn Stadium to defend his 400-meter title.

On the men’s side a resurgent Jeremy Wariner will return to Icahn Stadium to defend his 400m title while looking toward his third Olympics. The 28-year-

old already has four Olympic medals: gold at 400m in 2004 and in the 4x400m relay in 2004 and 2008, and silver at 400m in 2008. He also owns five World championships titles, including individual gold in 2005 and 2007.

On the comeback trail from a torn toe ligament that kept him out of the World championships last summer, Wariner anchored his Central Texas All-Star 4x400-meter relay team to victory on 31 March 31 at the Texas Relays. He and his wife, Sarah, married last November, are expecting their first child in October.

In its eighth year as one of the premier track and field events in the world, the adidas Grand Prix, at Icahn Stadium on Randall’s Island, will feature dozens of Olympic medallists and World champions, including the reigning men’s World champion at 100m, Jamaica’s Yohan Blake.

Carmelita Jeter

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce

Jeremy Wariner

Again, Greek athletics federation suspends operations

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reece’s cash-strapped athletics federation (SEGAS) has suspended its operations in protest at continuous cutbacks in state funding, the organisation’s executive board said yesterday.

Following a SEGAS general assembly meeting, the board said it would cease operating “until further notice”, while calling on the state to review the funding situation following cuts in the 2011 and 2012 budgets for athletics.

Just eight years after hosting the Olympics in Athens, the government has already halted funding for the country’s elite athletes preparing to compete in the 2012 London Games. “The federation, under the authority of the general assembly, has unanimously decided to suspend all sporting activity until the decisions of the unfair and selective cuts in funding for the organisation in 2011 and 2012 are reviewed by the government,” SEGAS said in a statement. “The federation calls on the state’s sports leadership, and particularly the Minister of Culture, Pavlos Geroulanos, to intervene in order to prevent the economic collapse and dissolution of the structure of Greek athletics. “The federation will be ready to reconsider its position in the next few days for further escalation or deescalation of decisions, depending on the progress that has been made concerning this major problem,” it added.

The decision means no regional or national competitions will be held and expenses for athletes and coaches are frozen.

SEGAS made a similar move in December, suspending its operations for 15 days as a warning for the state to give assurances that more money would be available. SEGAS president Vassilis Sevastis said in December that the sports ministry had cut funding by 50 percent from 2008 to 2011 and the federation budget approved for 2011 was 7,350,000 euros ($9.80 million), which “barely covered basic operating costs”.

He added that, according to the proposals from the finance ministry, further cuts in 2012 could reach up to 85 percent of those reported for 2011.

Greek athletics has felt the country’s economic crisis more than most sports due to its reliance on state funding. Olympic hopefuls have been forced to rely on handouts from the International Olympic Committee’s solidarity programme after initial state cutbacks in funding at the end of last year.

That was followed in January by the announcement that the sports budget would be cut by 33 percent for 2011, while recent disparaging comments by several top Greek athletes that training facilities are poor have exacerbated the issue. On top of that, the government’s decision to withdraw 190 million euros of funding for accommodation projects for the Mediterranean Games ended in humiliation.

The Games, which were initially supposed to be held in Volos and Larisa in 2013, were taken away from Greece and awarded to the coastal city of Mersin in Turkey as a result.

Japan’s Kameda retains WBA bantamweight title

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apan’s Koki Kameda successfully defended his World Boxing Association (WBA) bantamweight title yesterday, winning by unanimous decision over Nouldy Manakane of Indonesia.

Three judges scored the fight at Yokohama Arena 115-113, 118-110 and 117-110 in favour of the defending champion.

It was Kameda’s fourth defence since winning the vacant title when he beat Alexander Munoz of

Venezuela in December 2010, stretching his record to 28 wins, including 17 KOs, against one defeat.

Kameda is the eldest of a trio of boxing brothers who have bad-boy images in the media and among boxing fans.

Second brother Daiki was suspended from boxing for a year after his failed title bid against then World Boxing Commission flyweight champion Daisuke Naito in October 2007 for using dirty

tactics.

Koki Kameda was reprimanded by the Japan Boxing Commission for urging his brother to fight dirty. Their father, Shiro Kameda, has been barred by the WBC from serving as a cornerman in its matches for abusing match officials and has been slapped with a life ban by Japan’s boxing authority.

Manakane, ranked 11th in the WBA, now has 24 wins, including 15 KOs, against 11 defeats and a draw.

Koki Kameda

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 45

PAGE 46

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resh from an impressive win at last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational, Tiger Woods takes his skills, which are doubtless, to Augusta National-one of the Masters’ most anticipated in years.

And with so many younger and ambitious players breathing down his neck, Woods whose splendid form has given renewed energy is surely the man on the spotlight.

The former world number one has a renewed spring in his step after ending a 30-month title drought on the PGA Tour with a win at last month’s Arnold Palmer Invitational and is unquestionably the player to beat at a venue where he triumphed four times.

Woods has been installed as a 4-1 favourite by British bookmakers Ladbrokes to win his 15th major title on Sunday and he exuded a quiet confidence when he spoke to reporters after playing nine holes in practice on Tuesday.

“I certainly am excited about playing and really looking forward to getting out there,” the 36-year-old American said of Thursday’s opening round.

“I feel like I’m driving the ball much better than I have.

I’ve got some heat behind it, and it’s very straight. My iron game is improving, so, everything is headed in the right direction at the right time.”

Woods, who won the most recent of his Masters titles in 2005, has always relished competing at Augusta

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

All eyes on confident Tiger Woods as Augusta National tees off today National, given its relative lack of rough and slick, heavily contoured greens which place a premium on a razor-sharp short game.

“Playing here for so many years now, this is my 18th year here, so understanding how to play this golf course has really helped me over the years,” he said.

“It’s also coming here to a

Tiger Woods

golf course that I know.

Knowing how to play it, and just the history behind this tournament, makes it so special.”

Woods’ victory at Bay Hill, his first in a full-field event since the 2009 Australian Masters, has given him a much needed jolt of confidence ahead of the year’s first major.

“It felt good to go out there

Rory McIlroy

and play as well as I did and under those conditions,” he said of his five-shot triumph at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. “It wasn’t like it was easy that Sunday. The scores were pretty high.”

Woods began the final round at Bay Hill a stroke behind Graeme McDowell, the 2010 U.S. Open champion, before going on to seal his first win

Lee Westwood

since the very public breakdown of his marriage after sordid details of his affairs were revealed.

“It was just a process,” Woods said of his work with swing coach Sean Foley. “I’ve been putting together two good rounds, eventually three, and now four. I just had to keep sticking with it and getting more experience working with Sean.

“This year you can see the numbers. End of last year and most of this year, I’ve been in contention.

I’m just continuing the process.”

U.S. Open champion Rory McIlroy and three-time Masters winner Phil Mickelson, are among several top players competing this week who have produced good early season form.

Woods, however, is the leading contender, according to the nine-time major champion Gary Player.

“It’s hard to go against Tiger Woods,” said the 76-year-old South African. “When Tiger Woods is playing his best, there’s nobody better playing than Tiger Woods. This man has won 14 major championships already. And only having won once in the last two years, Woods says he’s got a great hunger and a great passion, and a focus that is hard to match.”

If Woods can clinch his fifth green jacket on Sunday, he would draw level with Jack Nicklaus on 73 PGA Tour victories. “I’d like the green jacket more,” Woods said. “I know the 73 would be a byproduct of it, but I’m here for the green jacket.”

Germans break world record twice G

Miriam Welte

ermany broke the world record twice in the space of an hour to win the women’s team sprint title at the track cycling world championships yesterday. Miriam Welte and Kristina Vogel clocked 32.549 sec in the final at the Hisense Arena to better the mark of 32.630 sec set in their qualifying heat.

After dumping in-form British pair Victoria Pendleton and Jessica Varnish out of their head-to-head qualifier, the ice-cool Germans withstood a ferocious challenge to deny Anna Meares and Kaarle McCulloch a fourth consecutive title.

Pendleton and Varnish set the previous world record of 32.754 at the London World Cup meeting last February.

“I don’t know what we did today. It’s so amazing and we never believed we could go so fast,” Vogel told reporters after the Germans edged the Australian pair by 0.048 sec.

“It’s now just a dream and I have to calm down.

“I told Miriam that we wanted to do a new German record but to do a new world record, it’s amazing. I don’t understand that at the moment.”

The Germans’ achievement was a bolt from the blue at Hisense Arena, where Australia was expected to battle with Britain for the title.

“They’re a great combination... It’s not as if they’ve just turned up,” Olympic individual sprint champion Pendleton said.

“The pair of them have both had exceptional performances over the last four or five years but they’ve never managed to put them together at the right time and tonight that’s what happened.

“I wouldn’t say we did a terrible ride, they just did an exceptional ride in terms of a really storming first lap and a very, very strong finish.”

Kristina Vogel

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

PAGE 47

King Arthur books shot at WBO title

A

rthur Abraham has landed a shot at the WBO super-middleweight title by beating Piotr Wilczewski.

The German, a former world champion who is known as King Arthur, beat the Pole on points in Kiel on Saturday night.

Abraham is now the mandatory challenger for WBO champion Robert Stieglitz, also of Germany.

Stieglitz, however, is due to defend his belt against Mikkel Kessler in Copenhagen op April 14.

The 32-year-old Armeniaborn Abraham used to hold the IBF middleweight title. He has won 34 of his 37 fights but at times looked unconvincing in a tournament attended by about 6 000 on Saturday nig ht.

“I tried to do what my coach told me,” he said after the fight.

“I will train more and will be in shape for the world title.”

Abraham was later taken to hospital after complaining of dizziness and pain in his right ear. It was suspected that he had suffered a perforated e ar d r um .

Having lost to Britain’s Carl Froch and Americans Andre Dirrell and Andre Ward during the Super Six series at super middleweight after stepping up a division, Abraham has struggled to recapture his previous form.

He was disqualified against Dirrell in March 2010 for hitting his opponent after he slipped in the 11th round. It was the first defeat of his care er.

He then lost over 12 rounds to Froch in November 2010 and to Ward in May last year.

The former middleweight champion Jermain Taylor is set to return to the ring. He will meet Caleb Trauax in Biloxi, Mississippi, on April 14.

On the same night, in Mexico City, Juan Manuel Marquez will face Ukraine’s Sergey Fedchenko for the interim WBO light-welterweight belt.

Marquez has held “world” titles at featherweight, superfeatherweight and lightweight.

And also on April 14, Tony Bellew will defend his British light-heavyweight title against Danny McIntosh at the Echo Arena in Liverpool.

Englishman James Degale is scheduled to defend his European super-middleweight title against Cristian Sanavia in Frederikshavn, Denmark, on April 21.

David Price and Sam Sexton have agreed to meet for the vacant British heavyweight title. They will fight in Liverpool on May 19.

Former IBF and European middleweight champion Sebastian Sylvester has retired from boxing, with a professional

record of 31-5-1; 16.

The 35-year-old David Diaz, a former WBC lightweight champion, has also announced his retirement. He finished with a record of 36-4-1; 17.

T Arthur Abraham

Olympics qualifiers: Mensah upbeat about Nigerian boxers

N

igerian boxers, currently camping in Benin, ahead of African qualifiers for the London Olympics in Casablanca, Morocco in May, will excel, according to their coach, Joe Mensah.

Mensah, who claimed his presence at the camp to assist the national coaches for the qualifiers, has further motivated and improved the psyche of the boxers, said going by the vigorous preparations

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abu Gumel, a former President, Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC), says African countries to the London Olympics will perform better than they did at the 2008 Beijing Games.

Gumel,who expressed the optimism while speaking on telephone yesterday, said his confidence stemmed from various which have indicated that several African countries’ athletes had been training hard ahead of the Games.

“I believe that countries participating would have started training early enough because they would

and the commitment of the boxers the country would reap good results at the Games.

“I am pleased to be here to assist the other coaches in bringing out a high quality team, and I am glad to say we are gearing towards it day by day. I am confident that the team will deliver at the qualifiers, especially when they begin their training tour of some African countries,” he said.

According to Mensah, the

training tour will expose the boxers for the qualifiers and the Olympics if they eventually qualified. Ten boxers; five male and five female, have been selected for the qualifiers coming up in Morocco.

Speaking on the tour, Patrick Uwagbale, the Secretary, Nigeria Amateur Boxing Federation, the team would later this month leave Nigeria for Accra, Ghana.

“We are still processing some other African countries through

invitation to join us in Ghana for friendly game before the qualifiers,” Patrick said adding that the training tour would be rounded off a few days to the qualifiers to fully prepare them for Morocco.

The males will fight for places in three categories, the heavyweight, the middleweight and the lightweight, while the females will feature in the flyweight, middleweight and the light-heavyweight divisions.

Africa will fare better in London 2012 Olympics, says Gumel want to surpass what they achieved at the last competition,” he said.

Gumel, who is a member of the International Olympic Committee, said that it would take some time before an African country could be selected to host the Olympics

adding that because of poor maintenance culture of facilities, African countries’ desire to host the Games may not be realized.

“It is not that in Africa we do not have sports facilities that can be used for the Olympics.

Some of the countries in Africa have all the needed facilities.”

He decried the poor maintenance culture, stressing “we spend huge amounts of money in building sport facilities yet fail to maintain them and appealed to governments, sports administrators and athletes on the continent to endeavour to maintain the existing facilities and bequeath worthy legacies to posterity.

Nigeria have qualified to participate in taekwondo, wrestling, canoeing, table tennis and athletics at the London Olympics, billed to hold from July 27 through Aug. 13.

Africa U-19 withdrawal: Squash federation decries dearth of sponsorship

Blessing Okagbare, Nigeria’s medal hopes for the London 2012 Games

he Nigeria Squash Federation (NSF) has decried the lack of sponsors for its programmes, which has forced it to pull out of the Africa U-19 Junior Championship that begins today in Harare, Zimbabwe.

Decring the situation in Lagos on Tuesday, the NSF’s Secretary, Evelyn Fabunmi, said the withdrawal from the continental tournament in particular has set the federation many years back.

She regretted that the cancellation of their trip to Harare, which she said was meant for the further exposure of its players to the right kind of competition in Africa, would have negative effect on their quest to reposition the game in the country.

The secretary lamented the non-release of funds by the National Sports Commission (NSC), which she quoted as saying that its problem had to do with the government’s failure to implement the 2012 budget.

“We are not going for the U19 championship in Zimbabwe because of the poor state of our finances. The NSC has advised us to source for sponsors, pending the release of its budgetary allocation from the government,” Fabunmi said.

When asked about the effect the cancellation would have on its players who were billed to travel for the competition, the NSF secretary said that they were taking the development in good faith.

“I have always kept them informed on the happenings, although they are not happy. I understand how they feel. At the moment, we are seriously soliciting for sponsors,” she said.

The secretary said that the NSF’s efforts to get sponsors for its programmes had not yielded the expected results.

However, Fabunmi said that the lack of sponsors had not deterred the body from preparing for some local competitions.

“The David Mark’s President Cup will come up in May, and we are looking forward to that,” she said.

QUOTABLE QUOTE Whoever knows all things without knowing God - Great and Glorious - is not worthy to be called wise because he does not know the most sublime and highest of all things — Imam Al-Ghazali

THURSDAY, APRIL 5, 2012

SPORTS

LATEST Chelsea set up Barca semi after seeing off Benfica

C

helsea beat Benfica 2-1 in their Champions League quarter-final second leg at Stamford Bridge yesterday to seal a 3-1 aggregate victory and set up an eagerly anticipated semi-final with holders Barcelona later this month.

Chelsea doubled their aggregate advantage when Frank Lampard scored a 21stminute penalty and their grip on the game tightened five minutes before halftime when Benfica skipper Maxi Pereira was sent off for a second yellow card after a lunge.

Javi Garcia headed in from close range on 85 minutes to prompt a nervous finale for the Londoners before Raul Meireles struck in stoppage time. Roberto Di Matteo’s team have now reached the semi-final for the sixth time in the last nine seasons.

Meanwhile, Cristiano Ronaldo scored twice and Kaka added a first-half goal as Real Madrid completed its easy passage into the Champions League semifinals with a 5-2 victory over APOEL Nicosia.

Madrid reached its second straight semifinal under coach Jose Mourinho after winning the quarterfinal 8-2 on aggregate, with the record ninetime champion’s progression never in doubt at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium.

Ronaldo scored in each half to take his season goal tally to 49, while Kaka curled home in the 37th to match Rivaldo’s 27 Champions League goals, a record for a Brazilian player.

Gustavo Manduca netted for APOEL in the 67th, while substitutes Jose Callejon and Angel di Maria added goals for Madrid and Esteban Solari scored a late penalty for the Cypriots.

Frank Lampard

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Right of reply T

his week we give the floor to all esteemed readers of this column who have taken the time to send me feedback whether by email or text (SMS). As usual the protocol I observe is publishing names and location but not numbers or email adresses. Some comments are edited. Also only those responses with the writer's name and/or location included are considered.

All comments are deeply appreciated.

Positive or negative, thought-provoking, angry, or educating and interesting, this commentary is important. It is apparent that there are real conversations about our development taking place away from the Cartelopian fraud of meaningless probes and staggering 'revelations' of old, well-established criminal enterprise in the public sector.

More on that game of Russian roulette called our anticorruption drive next week.

Re: Saying no to Spring 20/10/11 Cartelopia is in the tropics, [there is] no spring, only summer. That's why we are always celebrating. We'd rather hold carnivals than protest marches, even in the face of the worst abuses. ..But I believe something will give soon.

— Alex O., Abuja.

Turns out you were very right Alex. The protest marches that took place in January 2012 took even organisers by surprise with their nationwide success. Of course our Cartelopian ruling elite including the Labour union leadership soon closed ranks with a clever two track strategy.

Anyone calling for complete honesty and transparency were either labelled coup plotter or Northern tribalist! AY I was enjoying your Peoples Daily article when suddenly I stopped. How anyone can joke about a deceased or otherwise crack jokes at their expense is beyond me. Late President Umar Musa Yar'adua deserves more than that. Because of the sour crack at his expese I could not read to the end...

— Yunusa, Katsina.

This satirical piece, 'Saying No to Spring' was written in the voice

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CARTELOPIA

By Aisha Yolah ayolah06@yahoo.com 08086296783 (text only please) individuals should have given President Jonathan their support for just these 4 years he asked for. — Usman, Abuja Logically speaking and thinking, not much of what happens in Cartelopia actually makes sense, on the surface that is. I think we Nigerians need to start looking a little more closely and critically - including at relentless official doctrine that seeks to paint Jonathan as helpless victim. AY President Goodluck Jonathan

of a die-hard, Jonathan supporter who is trying to convince the sceptical reader that Nigeria needs no protests like that of the Arab Spring...to the extent of painting President Jonathan as some kind of messiah over the man (Yar'Adua) who chose him (Jonathan) as his vice-president.

No offence was intended. AY Re:Theories of Boko Horror (1) -10/11/2011 I have gone through your [piece] and am full of admiration. Pls keep on telling the truth whether they like it or not. Best regards.

— Hassan Rihogi Re: Full Powered Disclosure (Repeat)- 17/11/ 2011 You have spoken our mind.

The write-up is a masterpiece.

Keep it up.

— Yusuf H. Adams, Garaku, Nasarawa State.

Re: False Flag Operations - 8/12/2011 Aisha, Dont u think there r more logical ways to handle issues than killing ourselves?

What impression r we giving [fellow Nigerians], that we can sacrifice our unity 4 cheap political gain? These group or

Re:Theories of Boko Horror (4) 19/01/2012 Assalam Aisha, was able to read the concluding part of Theories of BH. Well done Aisha.

I cant stop wondering how the police can afford o let this main suspect [Kabiru Sokoto] escape.

— Hadiza Garba, Abuja Re: The Maiduguri Treatment -26/01/2012 One life lost in cold blood'according to Dele Giwa, 'is as gruesomeas millions lost in a pogrom'. My condolences to Kanawa for the innocent lives lost during the attacksof last Friday. And thank you so much Aisa, for the beautiful writeup...Am glad that vigilant, fair writers like yu have started appreciating and sympathising over the travails of Maidugurians. Insha Allah, it is a temporary eclipse.The Borno Sun will start illuminating the African landscape very soon.

— Kashim Shettima, Governor Borno State.

Ameen,thumma, ameen!AY Re: Death of Patriots 09/ 03/12 Good morning. Don't you think [the late] Professor Sam Aluko ...doesn't deserve such praises?

— Sanusi Shuaibu, Katsina

Excellent question Malam Sanusi. My answer to this question is simple: that good people are good and deserving of praise regardless of their religion, colour or creed, especially if they are NOT shameless brigands, thieves, fraudsters or political thugs who still attend oracle, church and/ or mosque religiously.

Our herd mentality of seeing good only in those 'similar' to us is counterproductive, making it easy for us to be manipulated along religious or regional lines as is happening right now in Nigeria.

More, importantly I also think that the onus is on us Muslims, to educate and convince wellmeaning Non-Muslim intellectuals like the late Sam Aluko that Islamic Banking is not only our right to have (and why) but also to demonstrate our religion's positive value to our nation and lives, by being better Muslims.

Even in America with all the Islamophobia and anti-Islam propaganda people are still converting to Islam - for a reason… Thank you so much for this frank questioning. AY Re: Just Handover, Please! 08/03/12 You really made me happy today..The systematic deindustrialization of the North, especially Kano is quite true..it started with Abulsalami, then uncle Obasanjo and now under Ebele…Thank you.

— Kabiru Tsakuwa, Kano Re: Is Jonathan listening? - 21/03/2012 Your article exposes the arrogance of leadership that is supposedly democratic in turning deaf ears to serious national issues.

One is inclined to believe that the current leadership is implementing a well orchestrated design to ostracize the North. Let those who would want to hunt others know that the jungle contains those that will hunt the hunters. Only those that have hearts full of compassion listen. …So help us God. — Muhammad Basheer, Katsina Amen to that! AY

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141