Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, June 05, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 52

Tuesday, June 5, 2012

NNPC mourns Levi Ajuonuma >> PAGE 3

. . . putting the people first

Attack on churches un-Islamic, says JNI >> PAGE 4

UNILAG: Students institute suit against Jonathan >> PAGE 6

Rajab 15, 1433 AH

N150

CAN accuses military of extra-judicial killings >> PAGE 6

Crashed plane not airworthy – DANA official No, it was old but serviceable, says Mgt I warned airline earlier – Gov Akpabio 137 bodies, black box recovered

By Richard Ihediwa, Mohammed Sada, Abuja Seyi Oyinlola, Ayodele Samuel & Suleiman Idris & Matthew Ojebola, Lagos

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egligence has been identified as being responsible for the crash of Dana Airlines flight in a densely populated suburb of Lagos on Sunday, killing all 153 passengers and crew on board and several others on the ground.

An official of the airline, who did not want her name in print, told Channels Television after the crash that the MC Donnell Douglas (MD 83) aircraft should not have operated the ill-fated flight 0992 from Abuja because it was faulty.

MC Donnell Douglas MD 83 was sold to Dana Airlines in 2009 by a US-based Alaska Airlines, ahead of the airline commencing its services in Nigeria.

Similarly, Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom said he had earlier warned the owners of the airline about the poor state of their aircraft.

President Goodluck Jonathan, following up the Contd on Page 2

L-R: Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola, and President Goodluck Jonathan at the site of Sunday crash of DANA Airline plane at Iju, Lagos

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

CONTENTS News

Crashed plane not airworthy – DANA official

2-11

Contd from Page 1

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

lament yesterday on his first visit to the crash site, described the tragedy as “a major setback” to the reforms going on in the aviation sector”, and he promised “a thorough investigation”.

On their part, however, the Indian owners of the airline admitted that the crashed plane was 22 years old, but argued that it was “still serviceable and operational”.

There is a subsisting federal government policy that says any aircraft that is over 20 years old should be grounded.

No doubt, the more damning allegation of criminal negligence is that of the female engineer working for the airline.

In her interview on Channels TV late Sunday, she alleged the same plane developed a fault shortly after it left Lagos and had to stop over in Calabar, Cross River state that Sunday morning.

She alleged that the Indian owners of the airline threw caution to the wind, insisting on flying the plane to Abuja to pick passengers, when it should have been returned to Lagos for repairs.

According to her, the plane has a history of persistent faults with its hydraulics.

“The plane has been giving problems for a very long time,” she said. “There was a time when it was on the ground in Uyo for over six hours because of delayed flight; it had a bolt.

“And then in Abuja it happened a few days ago, then some people went with the aircraft but they could not come back because it had a fault there and it couldn’t leave Abuja.

“The engineers that fixed it and then they sent crew to bring it with passengers to Lagos.”

Confirming that the plane that crashed on Sunday was not supposed to have left Lagos at all, the Dana official stated: “Yesterday, it (Dana Air flight 0992) was not supposed to leave Lagos at all, but it left and then got to Calabar, reported a fault and it was fixed.

“Then they took it to Abuja, when they should have returned to Lagos, loaded full passengers, and then it couldn’t get to Lagos.

“It has been having faults over time, continuously, hydraulics or one thing or the other. That aircraft kept having problems and they were not ready to park it,” she alleged.

Appearing to confirm her allegation of the plane was in a good condition, Special Adviser, Technical to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Victor Oche Elias, revealed that the pilot had alerted the aviation authority at the airport about an emergency, 11 nautical miles to landing.

It was further disclosed that the pilot’s May Day cry was

Metro

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Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Newsxtra

26

Agriculture

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PDP government is a failure, says CPC Rep, Page 37

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

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Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

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given priority, but the plane could not make it, as it crashed 4 nautical miles to landing.

Speaking through his Commissioner for Information, Mr. Aniekan Umanah, Governor Akpabio recounted that he had, in a recent telephone chat with Dana Airlines’ Managing Director, Mr. Jacky Hathiramani, advised it to to ensure that its aircraft were air worthy so as not to endanger the lives of Nigerians.

The warning came on the heels of an averted air disaster involving Dana aircraft en route Lagos from Uyo which had technical problems that forced the aircraft to hover for hours before making it back to Lagos where it managed to land.

Reacting to the charge of negligence, Dana Airlines yesterday explained that its aircraft, with registration number 5N-RAM, despite being 22 years old, was “serviceable and operational”.

Speaking at De Skyline Hotel, Director of Flight Operations, Captain Oscar Wilson, accompanied by the Director of Ground Operations, Amos Olajide and Communication Manager, Tony Usidamen, said the aircraft was in a good condition.

Captain Wilson, who explained the airline’s schedule the day it crashed, said that it had been flown to Ibadan on Saturday without any hitches contrary to rumours that it was undergoing repairs.

He said that what happened the following Sunday was “a different story entirely”, explaining that the aircraft started operations as early as 7.47am.

He explained: “On Sunday, 5N-RAM flew at 7.47am, left Lagos for Abuja on flight 999 and from Abuja back to Lagos on flight 998. The aircraft went back to Abuja flight 993 and was coming back before the fatal flight 992.

“No aircraft would go if not in perfect condition. We don’t take risks with people’s lives. I did the test flights myself, there was nothing wrong with the aircraft, it was okay.”

Meanwhile the airline has pledged to compensate the crash victims under the terms of the operations of airlines in the country.

Its Head of Public Affairs, Abuja , Mrs. Henrietta Yakubu V. told Peoples Daily yesterday that “the victims will be fully compensated by the owners of the airline according to the provisions of the Insurance Companies Act as well as the operational terms and agreements of the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority Act.” According to Mrs. Henrietta,” the minister has already talked and we believe she knows and can handle this

better and further comments will be reserved pending what happens next.”

Managing Director of the airline, Jacky Hathiramani, in an earlier statement expressed his sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased.

“The Dana Air family is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of the passengers and crew of flight 9J-922 on Sunday June 3, 2012.

“The aircraft, with registration number 5N-RAM, departed Abuja for Lagos with 146 passengers on board: 1 Dana Air Flight Engineer, 2 pilots and 4 cabin crew members were also on the flight.

“We extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the deceased and we are doing everything we can to assist them in this extremely difficult time.”

On his part, President Jonathan who arrived at the site of the crash at exactly 1.40pm yesterday amid tight security said the incident was a snag to the administration’s efforts at rebuilding the aviation industry.

It was a “was a major setback to the aviation industry at a time when the industry was undergoing a massive transformation to meet the global aviation standard,” he said.

He, however, pledged to have the accident “thoroughly investigated to ascertain the immediate and remote causes.”

According to the president, he will institute an inquiry into the technical and administrative issues relating to the incident in order to prevent a future occurrence.

Jonathan was accompanied by the Lagos state Governor Babatunde Raji Fashola, the Minister for Aviation, Stella Oduah, Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, heads of the various aviation agencies.

Meanwhile, the Director, Search and Rescue Operations of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Alexander Bankole, at 7 pm yesterday, announced the suspension of search and rescue operations till today after the bodies of a woman and her baby that she was clutching were recovered.

So far 137 bodies have been removed from crash site and taken to the mortuary,while an official of the Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Mr. Femi Oke-Osanyintolu, said more than 70 corpses have been retrieved and deposited at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH) mortuary.

Meanwhile, LASEMA official also said that residents of the affected buildings would be evacuated to Agbowa relief

camp.

Reacting to this, a resident, Mr. Akeem Olaniyi said that the state government should ban people from visiting the scene of the incident, adding that “it is the sure way to ensure the security of the properties of residents.”

Olaniyi stated that despite the troops of security agencies deplored to the area there are cases of items such as phones and other portable accessories missing from the residents of the area.

“Some people are not there to sympathise but come to steal other people’s properties. Let the government boost the security around the scene both day and night to prevent criminals from perpetrating evil deeds in the area,” he added.

According to another resident, who lamented late intervention of the rescuing team, said, “If help had come early, the over 140 persons, who died in the Dana commercial air plane crash at Iju, Lagos, yesterday might have been saved.

Reacting to the incident, the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC), in a statement, described the incident as a multiplication of sorrows for Nigerians against the backdrop of the unrelenting Boko Haram menace in some parts of the north.

“We call on the Federal Government through its various aviation agencies: the NCAA, FAAN and NAMA to strengthen their capacities to make our airspace safer.

“We do not know the circumstances that must have led to the crash of the Aircraft but we do know that the Dana flight was less than few minutes to its destination – the MM2.”

The Senate, on its part, yesterday, demanded an immediate investigation into the activities of all airlines to ensure the air worthiness of planes operating in the country.

Senate spokesman, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, said there must be a thorough investigation into the accident as well as the operations of all air lines operating in the country saying as the nation could not afford to slide back to the “dark ages of aviation.

“Senate demands nothing but a holistic investigation of the remote and immediate causes of the Sunday crash devoid of rhetoric. Senate would also insist that the probe should not be limited to Dana Airlines and its fleet but all the aircraft operating in Nigeria.

“We had thought that Nigeria has landed in the golden era of safe aviation industry where all the standard codes that conform to international best practices are complied with.

It is therefore unfortunate that the latest incident suggests ominously that we may be headed to the aviation dark ages.”

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 3

DAN A AIR MISHAP ANA

I can’t quantify my loss, says owner of plane crash building I

How insufficient cash saved me – Warigo

From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he owner of the building on Popoola street in IjuIshaga area of Lagos into which the ill-fated Dana Air MC Donnell Douglas MD 83 plane crashed on Sunday, Pastor Daniel Omowunmi, told reporters he was yet to come to terms with the loss of his properties consumed by the disaster.

He however said he was grateful to God for sparing the lives of his family, whom he said were

all in the church when he received the news of the mishap that happened in his compound.

Briefing reporters at the scene, which has become a shadow of its former self as a result of the impact of the crash, he said the properties include a twin bedroom duplex with a penthouse and two warehouses, a bungalow spanning over two plots of land, four fish ponds each measuring 13 feet by 10 feet. Other includes containers loads of books recently imported that he is preparing to

sell, among others.

Omowunmi said, “We had six container loads of books and not a single one has been sold. We just brought them in from abroad and I also have about four container load of kitchen utensils. I have a lot of machines for my furniture work. I had a jeep which you can see the car carcass over there".

Asked if he can quantify the cost of his properties, a shocked Omowunmi simply said they run into millions of naira.

"I was in the church when the plane crash happened and I was told; when I came back, I saw that it was beyond repairs. I first appreciate God that my family is safe. There was no casualty, I went to church with my wife, my three children and my aged mother and the two young girls living with us and our house help. The only thing left for me and my family now is the only thing that we wore to the church yesterday", he told reporters at the scene.

‘Delete my daughter’s name from the manifest, she is not dead’

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

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here are indications that the manifest released by Dana Airlines with names of victims of the crash may have been hurriedly printed and distributed to the media without verification.

The fact that a female potential passenger, Obianuju Erokwu, has her name on the manifest even though she did not travel with the flight, attests to this.

Following the development, the Erokwus have been inundated with calls from friends and well wishers sympathizing with them on the unfortunate demise of their loved one.

The mother of Obianuju, Mrs. Obiageli A. Erokwu, has therefore called on Dana Air to delete her daughter’s name from the manifest and also bring same, to the notice of the media.

In a letter to the Manager, Dana Airlines Ltd, signed by Mrs. Erokwu, a copy which was made available to Peoples Daily, Mrs.

Erokwu while sympathising with the airline on the unfortunate incident, stated however that her daughter, Obianuju "actually booked on-line but could not pay and subsequently did not travel with the flight. We are therefore highly embarrassed to see her name in the published manifest".

Mrs. Erokwu, who, evidently has been sad about the incident and was crying, while speaking on phone with this journalist, said her daughter was scheduled to resume work with a company yesterday, and had planned to travel with Dana Airlines on the day of the crash but she could not get booked properly on-line due to the problems she encountered and therefore opted for Arik Air. Asked why she was crying then, she said "I don't know why, I am confused, but it is cry for joy and thanking God for the miracle".

Also speaking on phone, Obianuju confirmed that she is still alive and was not on the Dana flight, having failed to get a boarding pass.

NNPC mourns Ajuonuma, colleagues

By Muhammad Nasir

Obianuju Yvonne Erokwu

DANA crash: Muslims Media Watch urges FG to revisit past recommendations many of the nation's domestic airlines, "are not properly managed and those that are to certify them to be air-worthy seem not to be doing their job".

While commiserating with the families of the victims of the Sunday plane crash in Lagos, the group urged the Federal Government to take bold steps to

arrest aviation disasters in the country by upgrading the facilities at the nation's airports to international standard.

The government, it said, must also ensure that the regulatory bodies in the aviation sector undertake regular inspection of air-crafts in the fleet of all airlines operating in the country.

he Muslim Media Watch Group (MMWG), has appealed to the Federal Government to implement all the recommendations contained in past reports on air crashes in the Nigeria.

The Group in a statement

made available to journalists in Ilorin yesterday by its cocoordinator, Alh. Abdullahi Ibrahim said: "failure to implement recommendations of the past panels of enquiries on similar incidents has been the cause of frequent air crashes in the country".

The group lamented that

By Mohammed Kandi and Ikechukwu Okaforadi

Daily Trust columnist recounts ordeal

he atmosphere in household of Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar, was yesterday completely gloomy as a huge number of sympathizers thronged his Maitama residence in Abuja, to commiserate with the family over the death of one of his daughters, Kaltum Abubakar, who lost her life on the Dana Air flight that crashed on Sunday.

The father of the deceased, Sanusi Abubakar, said his daughter was in a fantastic and

lively mood when he dropped her off at the airport, noting that some family members were making effort to identify her body for burial according to Islamic rites.

“We never expected that but the accident was the will of God,” he said.

“For some reasons, she was greeting everybody before leaving for the airport. She was a fantastic child and we just have to continue praying for her,” Abubakar said.

While thanking all those who

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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nsufficient ‘cash-at-hand’ has saved the life of a potential victim of the ill-fated DANA aircraft which crashed in Lagos on Sunday.

Recalling his lucky escape in a telephone chat with Peoples Daily, Mr. A.D. Warigo was quick to thank his stars for not having sufficient cash to buy a business class ticket in the doomed aircraft.

According to him, his lucky escape came in the form of insufficient cash on him to make up the difference for a business class ticket which was the only available option.

“I got to the airport and that airline was the only one available to take off to Lagos by 2:15pm. The other ones were scheduled to take off around 6pm. I was not prepared to spend 4 hours for the next flight so I struggled to get on board that flight which was fully booked except for the business class.

“Unfortunately, I did not have sufficient cash to make up the difference so reluctantly I let go.

The plane didn’t take off as planned and was delayed till around 3:00pm. An hour later, I heard of the tragedy and I heaved a sigh of relief”, he told our correspondent.

He continued: “I am still in shock because I have lost some very dear friends on board that plane. I thank God for saving me; for once, I am glad I was short of money. I dread to imagine what would have happened if I had sufficient funds.

It is sad indeed.”

visited to commiserate with the family, Abubakar said, “Kaltum will be greatly missed, especially by her twin and other siblings.”

The twin sister, Hasiya Abubakar, recalled her last encounter with her late sister, saying tearfully, “she was my best friend and we did everything together.”

“I could not escort her to the airport inspite of her insistence. I was avoiding her and I came out to wave her bye-bye after she

boarded a car because I didn’t want to follow her to the airport.”

“I didn’t know it was the last we were going to meet in this world. Again, it was the first time her flight took off and she didn’t send me a text message.”

On her part, Rukayyat Bello, who was one of the closest friends of late Kaltum, said they last spoke on telephone on Friday when she called and was asking her (Rukayyat) to help wish her mum happy birthday.

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he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), yesterday said it received with great shock the news of the air crash involving Dana Airlines Flight 0992 from Abuja to Lagos on Sunday, June 3, 2012 in Iju-Ishaga area of Lagos.

A statement signed yesterday by the General Manager, Media Relations Department, Group Public Affairs Department, Dr. Omar Farouk Ibrahim, disclosed that the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr. Austen Oniwon said that, “NNPC, as a family is united in faith with God, who is all-knowing; it is only God that can comfort and console the corporation at this dark hour.

“I pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our departed colleagues, members of their families and other Nigerians and international passengers and crew in the ill-fated aircraft and for God to grant the nation, the nuclear families that lost their beloved ones the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss” he added.

Oniwon also extended his deep condolences to Mr. President, the Honourable Minister of Petroleum Resources, members of the NNPC and the Nigerian oil and gas industry family that lost a number of their colleagues in the disaster. Adding that, although it is a trying period, the NNPC family must keep faith.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

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DANA AIR MISHAP...

Lagos Speaker condoles with families of air crash, condemns Bauchi bombing From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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peaker of the Lagos state House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji has sent a condolence message to the families of the 153 passengers who lost their lives during the ill-fated Dana Airline crash, which occurred on Sunday afternoon in Lagos.

This was made known through a statement signed by the chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Segun Olulade. The Speaker said he received the sad news with great shock, adding that the alarming rate of death of

innocent Nigerians is becoming more worrisome by the day.

He noted that while the country was yet to recover from the shock emanating from the Saturday incident of a Nigerian cargo plane crash, which occurred in Ghana and left about 10 people dead and about 43 others injured, the Dana air crash was rather a greater tragedy that broke the camel’s back.

In a related development, the Speaker has condemned the bombing of the Living Faith Church, Yelwa Tudu in Bauchi state on Sunday, which also left about 15 people dead and 27 injured at the close of church service.

Ajimobi suspends anniversary programmes for one week From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Governor of Oyo state, Senator Abiola Ajimobi has commiserated with the families of those who lost their lives in the ill-fated Dana Airline crash on Sunday, stating that it was a monumental disaster.

He said this in a statement yesterday in Ibadan through his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

According to him, as a mark of respect for those who lost their lives,

the state government has suspended all state activities, especially the programmes of its first anniversary for one week, in honour of the dead.

The governor admonished Nigerians to spend the period of mourning to reflect on how Nigeria could overcome its aviation challenges.

Governor Ajimobi lamented that the state lost ample number of quality sons and daughters in the crash, praying the Almighty would wipe away the grief of the nation.

Fashola rescues three kids from crash site G From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

ov. Babatunde Fashola has rescued and taken custody of three kids whose parents have been missing since the DANA Air aircraft crashed into their Iju-Ishaga neighbourhood at Iju, Agege, a Lagos suburb, on Sunday.

The homeless children; Joel Okechukwu (11), Chisom Okechukwu (9) and Esther Okechukwu, whose age could not be immediately ascertained, were wandering around when they were spotted and rescued by the governor during his visit to the site yesterday.

The children, who are now at the Government House, Ikeja, were sent on errands by their parents, Mr. Jeremiah Okechukwu and

Mrs. Josephine Okechukwu, when the aircraft hit their home and reduced it to a rubble.

Emergency response officials still working on the crash site are yet to ascertain whether the couple was dead or still trapped in the debris.

Briefing newsmen on the rescue of the kids, the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Mr. Aderemi Ibirogba said they would remain with the governor until some of their relatives were identified.

“As things are now, the kids will remain with the governor here at Alausa. It‘s so unfortunate that we cannot find the parents, but Joel, the eldest of the kids, has mentioned to us a particular uncle of theirs.

“He said the uncle‘s name is Anthony Okechukwu and that he

lives in Abuja. We are trying to establish links with him and inform him of the situation of the kids. We want the public to help us in this search.

“Of course, the governor is very willing to assist the kids, but the government thinks we should still know their relations.

“The kids are safe and are being taken care of at the Government House.”

The governor had, during the visit, described the plane crash as shocking and emotionally devastating, expressing his condolences to the families of the victims.

Fashola later visited some of the victims of the crash at the Emergency Unit of the Lagos state University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), in Ikeja. (NAN)

Yobe gov condoles with Lagos crash victims

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overnor Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe state has expressed shock over the news of the fatal crash of a Dana Air plane in Lagos in which more than 160 people lost their lives.

A statement signed by Abdullahi Bego, Special Adviser on Press Affairs and Information

to the governor, described the incident as a ‘monumental loss to the nation and the thoughts of Governor Gaidam are with the families of the victims at this time of great loss’.

The Governor prays the Almighty Allah (SWT) to grant eternal repose to the victims.

Attack on churches un-Islamic, says JNI From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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he Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) has described the attack on any place of worship as un-Islamic and condemned last Sunday’s bomb attacks on two churches in Bauchi which resulted in the killing of some worshippers.

In a press statement yesterday, signed by its Secretary-General, Dr. Khalid Abubakar Aliyu, the JNI said that, “the Jama’atu Nasril Islam (JNI) under the leadership of its President-General, His Eminence, the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, once again expresses displeasure and condemns in strongest terms the Bauchi bomb blast on two churches which resulted in the loss of human lives and the destruction of properties.

“This is totally unacceptable, as attack on any place of worship is against the tenets of Islam. We offer our heart-felt condolence to the families of the victims and call on security agencies to rise up to the occasion and bring to an end these dastardly activities of the criminals who are destabilising our country.

“In the same vein, JNI commiserates with the Federal Government and the people of Nigeria over the national tragedy of Dana air crash which occurred in Lagos, killing all the people on board and offers condolence to the

families of the victims. While commiserating with those who lost their beloved ones in the unfortunate tragedy, we call on the Federal Government to carry out extensive investigation in unearthing this tragedy in order to guard against future occurrences.

“We call on Nigerians to intensify prayer to the Almighty for intervention and bring an end to these calamities.”

Meanwhile, Kaduna state Governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa, has also joined other Nigerians and groups in condoling families of those who lost their relations during the DANA aircraft crash and bombing of churches in Bauchi.

Also, according to a statement yesterday by Yakowa’s Senior Special Assistant (Media), Reuben Buhari, the Governor described the incidents as saddening and prayed God to grant the souls of the departed eternal rest and their families the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

Yakowa urged authorities at the nation’s aviation sector to join hands with the Federal Government in finding solution to such air mishaps.

Also reacting to the Bauchi incident, the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN) in 19 northern states and Abuja described the bombing of the churches as barbaric and unacceptable and commiserated with the families of those who lost their loved ones.

L-R: Alhaji Bello Abubakar, Alhaji Sanusi Abubakar, Alhaji Jida Waziri and former clerk of National Assembly, Alhaji Ibrahim Salim, during a condolence visit, yesterday to Alhaji Sanusi's residence in Abuja, over the death of his daughter on the ill-fated Dana Air flight that crashed in Lagos on Sunday.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam & Sunday Etuka

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igerians in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) yesterday, blamed the Federal Government and authorities of the Ministry of Aviation for the Dana plane crash on Sunday, which killed over 150 persons in Lagos state.

Residents, who spoke to Peoples Daily, said that the appropriate authorities should be blamed for not doing enough to prevent the plane crash.

An accountant, Imoh Ubong said: “This is no time for blame game, but the appropriate authorities should be blame for this unfortunate incident. How would a plane crash just after leaving Abuja to Lagos.

Somebody somewhere is not doing his job to have warranted this kind of incident which forced so many people to their early grave”.

He, however, appealed to the government to ensure a thorough

Abuja residents blame FG, Aviation Ministry for DANA plane crash investigation into the issue with a view to finding lasting solution to these unfortunate incidences.

He alluded to the incessant cases of bomb blast, especially in northern states of the country, saying: “This blast does not present the country in good light before the international community”.

“These are trying times in Nigeria; it is a call for the government to match action with words instead of talking without action”, Ubong added.

Similarly, Yunusa Babale, who said that the plane crash was devastating news to the family of the victims and Nigeria at large, said that the situation speaks so much about the devastating state of the aviation in the country.

“The present administration should wake-up and be on the driving seat, as the issue calls for serious responsibility on the part

of the appropriate authorities saddled with the responsibility of revamping the aviation industry after the unfortunate Belview and the Sosoliso plane crash which killed so many important people in the country, including the late Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammed Maccido”, Babale said.

Also speaking, Elizabeth Nwogu, noted that it was unfortunate that foreigners were involved in the crash, calling on the appropriate authorities to take urgent steps to forestall future occurrence She said: “Nigeria is a very sick country with nothing working properly. We should ask ourselves why the country’s airliners only purchase outdated/junk planes for business in the country and why our regulators would allow that”.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 5

DAN A AIR MISHAP ANA

Lagos to conduct DNA test on victims From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

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he Lagos state government said it will conduct DNA test on some of the recovered bodies from the Dana Air crash of Sunday for identification purposes by their family members.

The government also said that the evacuation exercise would come to an end by the end of operations yesterday while those not much mutilated as a result of the burnt would be taken to mortuary.

Speaking yesterday at the crash site, the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Emergency Management Authority, Dr. Femi OkeOsanyintolu said that the bodies would be taken to the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital for specialized test on the victims of the air crash.

Apart from this, OkeOsanyintolu explained that the Lagos State government had prepared an emergency ground for the residents of the building at Agbowa area of Lagos for stability socially and psychologically.

He lauded all the security agencies like the Federal Road Safety Corps, Civil Defence Corps, Red Cross, National Emergency Management Agency, the Nigerian Police and the military for their collective cooperation since the unfortunate accident happened.

Also speaking, the Director General of the NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi confirmed the movement of the bodies to LASUTH, but said that most of the passengers in the business class were still trapped inside the top most building of the two storey house hit by the aircraft.

However, most of the economy passengers were burnt beyond recognition.

Sidi said that the evacuation exercise would be rounded up yesterday (Monday) while he bodies of those mildly burnt would be identified by their families.

He could not however give specific numbers of the recovered bodies in the crash site, but explained that substantial bodies had been recovered by all the security agencies at the site.

L-R: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, with Minister of State for Foreign Affairs 1, Professor Viola Onwuliri, during the VicePresident's condolence visit to Onwuliri over the death of her husband, Professor Celestine Onwuliri in the Dana plane crash on Sunday in Lagos.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Tambuwal suspends retreat, condoles with families

By Umar Mohammed Puma

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he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Tambuwal, yesterday suspended the planned retreat for Journalists covering the House of Representatives scheduled From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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overnor Babatunle Raji Fashola of Lagos and Governor Ibukunle Amuson of Ogun state, yesterday, commiserated with families of the ill fated Dana air crash at Ijushaga area of Lagos, which killed all the passengers onboard.

Speaking to journalists at the crash scene yesterday, the governor noted that it was a painful experience as people who were trying to earn a living, ended up so tragically and untimely.

He also pleaded with the media

yesterday in Kaduna, in order to commiserate with the families of all the Dana plane crash that kill all the 153 passengers on board.

Tambuwal said it is a painful loss, not only to the families, but indeed the entire country, saying the NASS share the grief of this

...Fashola, Amosun also saying “I want to appeal once again to the media and everybody that they should keep some distance and we should keep all the sad images away from our home, our children are at home watching television".

Also, his Ogun state counterpart, Governor Ibukunle Amuson while commiserating with the families of the deceased said "Our sympathy goes to the families of the victims who are involved in this terrible crash

43,000 Nigerian soldiers on peace keeping mission in Darfur From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

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he Nigerian Army has so far deployed a total of about 43,000 officers and men to the United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID), according to the Commandant of the Nigerian Army Peace Keeping Centre (NAPKC), Jaji, Major-Gen. John Zaruwa.

Zaruwa, who spoke yesterday at the graduation ceremony of another batch of 800-man troop after their pre-deployment training at the centre, noted that Nigeria remains highly rated among the troop-contributing nations.

According to him, the participants received an appreciable level of training to ensure their effective performance in any peace support operation theatre.

As Zaruwa put it: “considering the volatility of the Darfur operational environment, the troop has been equipped with Advanced Rifle Marksmanship and Field Training Exercise to deal with the challenges.”

In his message, the GOC, 1 Mechanized Division of the Nigerian Army, Major-Gen. Garba Wahab told the soldiers that: “as you are aware, Nigeria is

national.

We urge the families of those affected by this tragedy to take heart and consider it as an act of God that someday we would all return to Him. In his address, the Chairman House Committee on Media, Zakari

the largest troop contributing to the UNAMID operations.

“In this regard, you should strive to live above board and avoid anything that will ridicule the good image of our dear country as built over the years in the area of international peace and security.

“As your General Officer Commanding, I have confidence in your ability to execute your task in accordance with UNAMID’s mandate, but I must remind you that Nigerian Army will not accept any situation where its soldiers are disarmed, hence the need for effective leadership at all levels.”

disaster; we pray that God will be with those families".

He said, "As Governors, what we need to do, we should do it quick to get all the corpses out and this place should be given what I called appropriate area protection".

“Let me use this opportunity to thank all the rescue team, of

Mohammed, said the House would investigate the cause of the crash in order to find out what actually happened before the accident.

Zakari said Nigeria can no longer entertained any excuses as to the where about of the Black Box, pointing out that it is only through the black box that the authorities can get first hand information as to what actually transpired 30 minutes before the crash.

course since yesterday, they have not rested, they have been working round the clock, I just came out to see what have happened here and what I saw is a gory site,” he affirmed.

General Manager Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA), Dr. Femi Osanyintolu also noted at the time of this report that they have been able to recover over a hundred and twenty bodies from the plane crash.

Amosun wants befitting burial concerned authorities, to quickly for victims join forces in arranging a befitting From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

O

gun state governor, Ibikunle Amosun, yesterday called the federal government to accord the victims of the Dana plane crash a befitting burial, expressing sadness over the mishap.

Amosun said this during his visit to the scene of the crash which claimed lives of the 153 passengers on board and crew members, as well as some residents of the area which is located between Lagos and Ogun States.

He described the calamity as a big loss, emphasizing that the next thing at this critical period of national mourning is for the

burial for victims of the air-crash.

Amosun who commiserated with Federal Government and families of the late passengers and the crew, prayed for the repose of the souls of the departed victims.

Our correspondent further reported that rescue effort were still on-going by the officials to evacuate residents, who are still trapped in the 3-storey building in which the plane crashed.

Speaking with newsmen, Femi Osanyintolu, Disaster Manager who was on the spot disclosed that five residents of the near-by building already rescued have been moved to hospital for medical attention adding that those who are displaced are being moved to temporary relief centre.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

UNILAG: Students institute suit against Jonathan S

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

ome students of the Moshood Abiola University, Lagos, formerly University of Lagos (UNILAG), have dragged President Goodluck Jonathan to a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, for changing the name of the school.

In the originating summons, before Justice Mohammed Liman, the students, numbering 10, are seeking for a declaration

that the University of Lagos being a creation of an act of the National Assembly to wit: University of Lagos Act, 196 7(as amended), cannot be governed except in accordance with the provisions of the University of Lagos Act, 1967.

Consequently, they are seeking the court's order declaring that the announcement contained in the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria's May 29th, 2012,

broadcast changing the name of University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University is unconstitutional, ultra vires, null and void and of no effect whatsoever.

The students put forward two questions for the court's determination. These are: (1) Whether the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in his capacity as the Visitor to the University of Lagos has the power under the University of Lagos Act,

1967, to unilaterally change the name of the institution to Moshood Abiola University?

(2) Whether the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria in the exercise of the executive powers of the federation vested on him in Section 5 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria can unilaterally change the name of University of Lagos without recourse to the National Assembly?

In an 11-paragraph affidavit in support of the originating summons

deposed to by one of the students, Sunday Gabriel Asaolu, of the Faculty of Law, it was averred that the unilateral change of the name of the University of Lagos sent great alarm and panic to the entire community of the institution.

In the meantime, leave has been granted to the students by the court to serve the originating summons, affidavit in support and the accompanying documents on the defendant (President Jonathan).

Hearing of the matter has been fixed for July 10, 2012.

The names of the students who filed the suit are; Sunday Asaolu, Julius Ayoola, Idowu Odumosu, Seyi Olowu and Oladapo Obasa.

Others are; Idowu Awopeju, Adebanjo Sunday, Femi Omotosho, Segun Ogunjobi and Aiyelabola.

Corruption has brought institutions to their knees, says ICPC boss

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

C

orruption, institutional integrity, transparency and accountability are said to have intimately intertwined to bring several persons, institutions and countries to their knees and greatly influences the belief of citizens in public institutions.

These were the words of the Acting Chairman of the Independent Corrupt Practice Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, who noted that corruption which is internationally viewed as the abuse of public power and authority, has become a normal practice in institutions of government in Nigeria, denting the country's image as 143rd most corrupt out of 183 sampled nations of the world by Transparency International.

Speaking at the sensitisation and enlightenment campaign against corruption for NDDC staff, Nta noted that "Corruption usually manifests as bribery, extortion, favouritism; nepotism, rigging of elections, tainted recruitment processes; splitting, inflation and illegal revision of contracts; misappropriation, fixing of bidding processes, sexual harassment, etc. These abuses may involve infractions of an administrative, criminal or moral nature", Nta said.

On the individual level, the ICPC boss said that integrity which is the quality of having strong moral principles and a state of internal consistency devoid of corrupt tendencies, should be imbibed and institutionalised against other means of corruption.

"All these no doubt, capture all that is desirable in personal and official dealings. Therefore, if any public official thinks or claims to have integrity, attributes such as self discipline, honesty and uprightness, fairness, consistency in behavior, dependability, reliability and zero tolerance for corruption are expected to be conspicuously seen in him or her", the ICPC boss said.

L-R: Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufai, with Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, during the minister's condolence visit to NUC office, yesterday in Abuja, over the death of the commission's staff who were in the ill fated Dana plane which crashed in Lagos on Sunday.

Photo: Justin -Imo-owo

Bauchi explosion: CAN accuses military of extra judicial killings From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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he Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Bauchi state chapter, has accused the Nigerian military of extra judicial killing during the bomb attack on Living Faith and Harvest Field churches respectively last Sunday which left 21 people dead and 45 injured.

The chairman, Bauchi CAN, Reverend Lawi Pokti made the declaration in a press conference at COCCIN Church Bauchi

yesterday, saying that the CAN declared that at the scene of the bomb blast, the security had no moral, ethical and empirical justification to open fire on the people who came out to commiserate with their loved ones.

According to him, women and children sustained various degrees of injuries from military bullets; "we see this act as extra judicial killing".

The CAN chairman said a total number of 21 people have been confirmed dead, 12 died as

Woman in coma after fire disaster in Benin From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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yet-to-be identified middle-aged woman have been reported to be in state of coma, following yesterday morning's inferno that ravaged over 25 engineering spare parts shops at the popular 'Lagos Street' market in Benin.

According to eyewitnesses, the victim believed to have obtained undisclosed sums of money from a commercial bank as loan fell into coma on hearing about the fire incident.

The disaster was occasioned by a surge of electricity current at about 1am at No. 20 Lagos Street to No. 15 Butcher Street in Benin City, the Edo state capital.

Eyewitness account revealed that help came rather too late from the men of Fire Service who were said to have arrived the scene by 7am when the inferno had reduced the houses to rubbles.

One of the victims, Mr. Wilson Opkara-Oka who is appealing to privileged Nigerians and government to assist them, said a good neighbour had called to tell him that his shop was on fire.

a result of bomb blast while eight were shot dead by the military who went to the scene of the blast, adding that a total of 45 sustained different degrees of injuries. 25 were injured by the blast while 20 sustained injuries from gun shots from the military that went to the scene to maintain law and other.

Reverend Pokti said CAN Bauchi, condemns in strong terms the extra judicial killings and

injuring of all the unarmed and aggrieved relations of the victims of the blast.

He said the Nigeria military should claim full responsibility and also compensate all the victims of this extra judicial killing.

He then called on Christians to remain calm and not to embark on any act of reprisal or vengeance as this will constitute a criminal act and a violation of teachings of the faith.

FG renews Makurdi FMC directors tenure

By Aisha Biola Raji

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has approved the renewal of the appointment of Dr. Mathias Oyigeya as the Chief Medical Director of the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, Benue state for a second term.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammed Ali Pate in a letter dated May, 9, 2012 with reference number HMSH/FMH/23 conveyed President Jonathan reappointment of Dr. Oyigeya as the CMD of FMC, Makurdi.

The letter stated: "I write to inform you that Mr. President and Commander-in-

Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR, has approved the renewal of your appointment as the Medical Director of Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Makurdi, Benue state for a second and final term of four years".

The minister who congratulated the medical director for his re-appointment, urged him to improve on the achievements accomplished at FMC, stating: "I call on you to justify the confidence reposed on you by this re-appointment and work collaboratively with stakeholders in support of Mr. President's Transformation Agenda".

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 7

Constitution amendment: NULGE inaugurates memorandum c’ttee

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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head of the proposed public hearing on constitution amendment, the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), yesterday inaugurated a seven-man committee to package its memorandum and work with the National Assembly to avert the systemic collapse in the nation’s local government system.

Inaugurating the committee at the headquarters of the union, the President, Comrade Ibrahim Khaleel, stated that NULGE has been agitating for a reform in the local government system, pointing out that the system in Nigeria has lost the essence of its creation as contained in the 1976 local government reforms.

He said that the union has been agitating against the imposition of caretaker committee to run the affairs of local governments by some governors, adding that illegal deductions from local government funds through the joint state-local government account by the state governments has obstructed

development in the communities.

Khaleel however demanded that the constitution be amended to grant constitutional protection to the office of the Auditor General of the local government to enable it function effectively.

He also demanded the scrapping of the State Joint Local Government Account, as well as restoration of the autonomy of the local government, to guarantee its status as the third tier of government in Nigeria.

“There is no State in the federation where one form of illegality or the other is not committed with the funds of the local government.” He stated.

Speaking further, he disclosed that only nine, out of the thirty seven States have elected representatives running the affairs of their local government councils.

Meanwhile, the committee is headed by Comrade Godwin Ayendi, who is the NULGE President in Cross River, while the Secretary is Comrade Muyiwa Cole, who is the NULGE secretary in Lagos State, among other members.

Benue guber: S/Court slates June 8 to decide Suswam’s fate

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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he Supreme Court yesterday slated June 8, 2012 to rule on the preliminary objections by Governor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state to the lection petition appeal filed by the Benue state governorship candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Prof. Steve Ugbah and his party challenging Suswam’s election victory at the April 2011 governorship election in the state.

When the matter came up yesterday, Suswam had through his counsel, Damian Dodo, told the court to dismiss the appeal brought before it by the ACN and its governorship candidate in Benue state, describing the appeal as an abuse of court process.

According to Damian, the 180 days as upheld by the apex court in the case of ACN verses Governor Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom state as the period for which election petitions are

heard and determined is sacrosanct.

Counsel to the appellant, Chief Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, said his client, in exercise of his constitutional right to fair hearing cannot be said to be an abuse of court process, which he said is the main ground of the respondents’ preliminary objections.

The appellant prayed the court to allow the appeal and grant it right to fair hearing by determining the petition on merit.

After listening to arguments by counsels in the appeal, the seven-member panel of Justices of the Apex Court, led by Justice Mahmud Mohammed adjourned till June 8, 2012 to deliver its ruling on the preliminary objections raised by governor Suswam.

Ugbah is challenging the declaration of Gabriel Suswam as the Governor of Benue state on the grounds that the April election was fraught with irregularities and fraud.

Suspected unrepentant militants, pipeline vandals, operators of illegal refineries, kidnappers and armed robbers paraded by the Commander 4 Mechanised Brigade of Nigeria Army, yesterday in Benin.

Army destroys 2000 illegal refineries, parades 57 unrepentant militants From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he Nigeria Army says over 2000 illegal refineries have been destroyed in Edo and Delta states between April and May 2012 through inter-agency cooperation.

Brig. Gen. Abel Umahi, Commander, 4 Mechanised Brigade, gave the indication while parading the suspects, among whom is a 62-year-old widow and cannabis dealer, Mrs. Elizabeth Nunu, and other suspected

militants, pipeline vandals, operators of illegal refineries, kidnappers and armed robbers.

Gen. Umahi conducted Governor Adams Oshiomhole of Edo state who inspected ammunition recovered from the raid including surface to air missile, general purpose machine gun, general purpose machine gun and explosives.

He said some of the suspected vandals had attempted to blow up Chevron installations in Delta state when they were arrested; adding that additional 20 suspects

Yuguda appeals to Muslims and Christians to unite to fight terrorism From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

B

auchi state governor, Malam Isa Yuguda has called on both Muslims and Christians to come together to fight acts of terrorism in the country. The governor said this when he visited the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital to see those receiving treatment due to the bomb attack in Bauchi on Sunday.

Yuguda in a state-wide television and radio broadcast over the act, declared that he received the news with shock, wondering why a human being will wake up with the

intention of killing a fellow human being for no just cause saying, “it is time we stood together to fight the terrorists no matter who they are and their numbers.”

A visibly sad Isa Yuguda described the incident as a “dastardly act, an unprecedented tragedy, a callous and animalistic behaviour that must be condemned in its totality”.

The Governor added that “we should be our brothers’ keepers; religions should not be the barrier between us because God created us together knowing that we have different languages,

NLC applauds recall of dismissed Lagos medical doctors

By Morufat Ojulari

T

he Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), has expressed appreciation on the recall of the 788 sacked doctors by the Lagos state government and the decision of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) to suspend

their strike.

“We are specifically appreciative of the receptiveness of the state governor to our intervention, and his frankness and commitment to improve health services in the state, during our meeting with him on Wednesday, 30th May

including those who were earlier apprehended by the command for alleged economic sabotage have been handed over to Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), in Ondo state for prosecution.

The army boss said the suspects most of whom were apprehended from Mosoga, Jesse, Botijeremy, and Benin Warri road were believed to have carried out series of armed robbery operations and will soon be handed over to appropriate authorities for necessary action.

2012 in Lagos” the group said.

The congress which commended the leadership of the NMA for its forthrightness on the issues in contention and passion for a virile medical profession and sustainable health delivery system in Lagos state, also applauded the roles of individuals and organisation

in the course of the crisis as they urged dialogue to ensure that all issues are resolved.

“The process of collective bargaining for mutual outcomes in the interest of the people remains a major tool that ensures industrial peace and harmony” labour group said.

religions and communities and we must learn to tolerate each other in order to have a lasting peace that will promote togetherness and give us a sense of belonging”.

He therefore called on the people of Bauchi state to remain calm and go about their normal duties assuring that the government is on top of the situation.

Also speaking, Rev. Lawi Pokti of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Bauchi state chapter, called on Christians to remain calm and allow government to take necessary action saying that, “as Christians we should leave vengeance to The Almighty, it is not about Christians or Muslims but an act of terrorism that must be fought by all”.

The Chief Imam of Bauchi Central Mosque, Bala Ahmad Baba Inna, commiserated with the Christian community for the dastardly act condemning it in strong terms declaring that “the perpetrators are not Muslims because the religion of Islam preaches peace and peaceful coexistence.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Unemployed youth scrambling for employment forms, yesterday at the Civil Service Commission office annex, in Utako, Abuja.

L-R: Director, Community Health, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Nnanna Ihebuzor, and Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Ado Jimada Mohammed, leading other staff of the agency, during a “Walk to life�, a health promotion initiative designed to awaken Nigerians to the need to stay fit, at the Weekend, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

A nurse attending to an elderly man during free medical service provided by Islamic Development Bank Scholarship Graduates Association in Nigeria (IDBSGAN), recently in Minna, Niger state.

Photo: Justin Imo-owo

Abia state Governor Chief Theodore Orji (middle) commissioning a block of eight classrooms built by C Y Umuoha, recently in Isiala Ngwa North Local Government Area of the state. With him are Deputy governor, Sir Emeka Ananaba (right), and Chairman, CY Foundation, Sir Cyprian Nwankwo(left).

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Achaba ban: Accident rate drops in Yola From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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s reality of the ban on motorcycles in Adamawa state dawns on pedestrians in the state capital who now have to trek long distances, the rate of accidents in the

metropolis has drastically reduced.

Dr. Mamza Jabani of the Accident and Emergency unit at the Federal Medical Centre, Yola in an interview said since the ban was announced cases of accidents usually

involving motor cyclists known as “achaba”, has drastically reduced.

“Before last week’s ban we typically record between five to six cases within the morning shift alone, it could even be more sometimes but since the ban we had only one

case; this is actually the bright side of the ban”, Jabani said.

In the meantime, residents have resorted to trekking long distances following the ban while private car owners on the other hand make brisk business by converting to

commercial services.

Similarly, security agents have continued to parade major streets of the state capital and the five other local governments where the ban is in effect to enforce the law as well as forestall possible breakdown of law.

It may be recalled that the Adamawa state government announced ban on both private and commercial motorcycles last week following the killing of four Igbo traders by unknown gunmen who usually come on motorbikes.

Nigerian receives 7 awards at New York’sCity University graduation

A

Nigerian graduate at the Lehman College, the City University of New York (CUNY), Olu Onemola, has received seven awards at the university’s 2012 graduation ceremony.

He received the awards during the graduation ceremony held on Saturday in New York.

The North America Correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Olu is the son of Bukun-olu Onemola, Nigeria’s Deputy Ambassador at the United Nations in New York.

A graduate of Political Science at Lehman, young Onemola received the distinguished “Golden Key” award, otherwise referred to as International Honour Society.

NAN reports that it is

an academic honour society for high-achieving scholars.

Other awards are the Pi Sigma Alpha, National Honour Society in Political Science, and The Jacob Hammer Memorial Prize

in English which is awarded to a student leading in theatre performance.

He also won the Edgar Dawson Prize in Political and Legal Theory which is an award to the

outstanding Political Science graduate with the strongest portfolio of political and legal essays.

Onemola also received the CUNY ViceChancellor’s Excellence in Leadership Award, and he

similarly received the Cum Laude award.

This is a Latin term that signifies “With Honours”, a distinction bestowed on graduates that fall within a 3.4 to a 3.59 GPA on a four-point scale.

Speaking with NAN on the awards, the elated Onemola said they had inspired him to continue to thrive in all his endeavours, regardless of any obstacles that might stand on his way. (NAN)

Ambassadors’ wives, CRH train LG health workers on family planning

By Ikechukwu OKaforadi

A

nongovernmental organisation, Center for the Right to Health (CRH), in conjunction with Ambassadors Wives Association, yesterday organised a workshop on family planning for health workers in the Area Councils in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).

The programme which was facilitated by the Wives of High Commissioners in Nigeria,

is primarily aimed at creating awareness in the area councils, with regards to family planning, as a measure to curb the prevalence of infant and maternal mortality in the communities.

Addressing journalists at AMAC Hall in Abuja, the Chairperson of the Association of Wives of High Commissioners in Nigeria and the wife of the Australian Ambassador to Nigeria, Libby McClutchan, said that the knowledge that would be

imparted into the participants would be spread in the primary health centers in the communities.

She also stated that the training will reduce in long term, the rate of mother and child mortality and improve women sexual

reproductive health in the area councils, adding that government should reinforce education of health workers, and training the health workers in the rural areas.

Also speaking, the Secretary of the Association, Genevieve

Aune, Said the maternal and child mortality rate in Nigerian communities is serious and requires a lot of improvement for Nigeria to meet the Millennium Development Goal (MDG), adding that it is why they have resolved to show solidarity to the women.

WAEC confirms Kwande’s result From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos he West African Examination Council (WAEC), has officially confirmed that Hon. Suleiman Yahaya Kwande, member representing Jos North/ Bassa federal constituency in the House of Representatives genuinely obtained the WAEC certificate at Government College, Maiduguri in

T

1989.

Assistant Registrar of WAEC, Anyem Kingsley, testified before the court and produced a certified true copy of the respondent’s WAEC certificate.

Under cross examination by the lead counsel to petitioner, Mr. S. S Obende, Mr. Kingsley presented to the tribunal a true certified copy of the WAEC certificate saying, “I don’t have the photocopy of

the certified copy of the certificate, because when we issue certificates we don’t keep duplicate copies”.

Counsel to the petitioner, presented a photocopy of Kwande’s WAEC which was marked exhibit P2, number NGSS 0177062 and asked Kingsley to verify whether it was altered or not and the registrar said he could not talk on the photocopy but that if it were original copies he would respond appropriately.

Govt steps up measures to check violence in Nasarawa From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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n emergency security meeting which lasted five hours was held in Lafia, the Nasarawa state capital, to find lasting solutions to the lingering communal clashes that broke out recently in Assakio, headquarters of Lafia East development area, involving Eggon and Alago farmers.

Briefing newsmen on the outcome of the meeting, state commissioner of police, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale, said the state Security Council has adopted measures to curb the crisis, which has so far resulted in the loss of scores of lives as well as damage to property.

The CP disclosed that well armed military men and mobile policemen have been deployed to all flash

points and strategic locations, as well as roads leading to Assakio to avert any possible fresh attack.

“We have put security men on the road now for stop and check so that people cannot externalise the crisis and also to control the movement of people coming in from other places,” Mr.

Akeremale stated.

While reiterating the commitment of the command not to allow similar incidence to repeat itself, the CP maintained that measures have been adopted to ensure that the situation would not extend to any part of the state.

No arrest has been made so far but that investigation was ongoing.

Traditional titles not for sale – Zuru Emir From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi he Emir Zuru, Gen. Muhammed Sani Sami (rtd), has said that the traditional tittles he bestowed prominent people from Zuru recently were based on merit and not for sale.

He made this declaration while turbanning the state Commissioner for Environment and Forestry Hon. Ishaku Daudu, as the Sarkin

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Bauran Zuru and Sarkin Yakin Wasagu. The emir said Daudu deserved the title considering the effort he made to the Zuru emirate and entire state at large.

“Your title is a challenge to the council and to you, I gave the title to whom I know can handle it and contribute to the emirate; I don’t give titles to whom I know will not assist the people of my emirate and will run away”, he said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

70-year retirement age for lecturers ’ll cause redundancy, says don A

university teacher, Prof.

Kayode Oyesiku, says the 70 years allowed for professors to retire will result in high level of redundancy in Nigerian universities.

Oyesiku, a former vicechancellor of Tai Solarin University of Education, Ijagun in Ogun state, made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in IjebuOde yesterday.

According to him, at 70 years of age, there is likelihood that of most of the professors will

be too old to attend to their academic responsibilities and will also find it difficult to learn new things.

“Knowledge is extremely dynamic and the older you go, the narrower it becomes. There is a certain age that a man attains and learning new things actually becomes difficult.

“Rather than placing the retirement age at 70 years, the healthy and productive professors at 65 years should be employed on a contract basis.

“The contract should be subject

to renewal based on the state of the health of such a professor.

“But now the situation is whether you are healthy or not as a professor, you can only retire at the age of 70.

“For me, the level of redundancy will become extremely high”.

Besides, Oyesiku said that with the new retirement age, university management would spend large part of its resources on the failing health of most professors due to old age.

“Considering our environ-

ment, professors above 65 years of age may just be ending in health centres more often due to old age.

“And, it is the responsibility of the institution they work with to take care of them while the job suffers.

“In this situation, how much energy will a sick professor be able to put actually into what he/she is supposed to do?”

Oyesiku also explained that the new retirement age would also deny the younger ones the opportunity to get to the top of the

ladder at the appropriate time.

“When the old professors do not retire on time, how will the new ones who can embrace new ideas and culture, be able take over?

“In this situation, it will be difficult for young ones with fresh ideas to come in because the top will still be full.

“And for this obvious reason, I do not support the new retirement age for the professors. Rather, the healthy and productive ones should be placed on contracts”.

(NAN)

FG plans to increase cotton production nationwide From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

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Representative of Acting Chairman of ICPC, Alhaji Mohammed Salame (right), presenting medical materials to combat malaria to the Chief of Lugbe, Chief Danlami Bitrus (middle), at the weekend in Abuja. With them are NYSC Zonal Director, Sunday Adegoke (2nd right), AMAC representative, Dr. Christine Archibong (2nd left), and originator of the project, Dr. Ajayi Toyosi (left).

Malaria: ICPC, corps member donate medical items to AMAC

By Morufat Ojulari

I

n order to boost the treatment of malaria in Nigeria, the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offences Commission (ICPC), has sponsored an NYSC a medical doctor, Ajayi Toyosi to help donate medical items worth thousands of naira to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) Health Centre in Lugbe.

Dr. Toyosi who is presently

serving with the ICPC noted that malaria parasite was growing in Africa, and that pregnant women and children were vulnerable to this disease.

“If this is not treated early enough in the pregnant women, it could bring about leprosy, measles, tuberculosis for the unborn child and destruction of the red blood cells of the body”, she said.

The items include net, ambulance bag, weighing scale,

stethoscope, surgical gloves, cotton wool, sphygmomanometer, mentholated spirit among others.

She said the donation of these items, which is part of her Community Development Service, is to reduce the rate of maternal and infant mortality.

Dr. Toyosi however urged Nigerians to make sure that they continue to live in a healthy environment to reduce the disease as she revealed that 300 million

cases of malaria were recorded yearly worldwide while nine out of 10 cases occurred in Africa.

Alhaji Murtala Salame, ICPC Director of Administration, who represented the chairman Barrister Ekpo Nta, said ICPC decided to sponsor the project to let people know that the commission still “undertakes projects that are of benefit to the community as part of the ways to fight corruption."

he Federal Government has planned to increase cotton production by farmers nationwide from 125,000 metric tonnes to 400,000 tonnes by the year 2015.

The Minister of State for Agriculture, Dr. Bukar Tijjami, disclosed in Gombe at the flag off the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme in Northern states.

Dr. Tijjani said that the objective was to bring back the lost glory of Nigeria in cotton production globally where it used to produce 18 percent world consumption total.

He explained that in an effort to encourage massive production of cotton in the country, the Federal Government had planned free distribution of highly improved quality seeds to farmers nationwide, adding that 100,000 hectares of land will be used for cotton cultivation.

The minister further announced that the Federal Government plans to assist farmers in the marketing of their produce at local, national, regional and global levels depending on quality.

Speaking at the occasion Governor Ibrahim Dankwambo announced plan to train 1, 000 youths in poultry production; adding that about 160, 000 farmers had been registered in the state to benefit from the Growth Enhancement Support Scheme of the Federal Government.

Dana crash: Probe corruption in transport sector, SERAP tells ICPC From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

S

ocio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP), yesterday, called on the chairman, Independent Corrupt Practices and other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), Mr. Ekpo Nta, to begin a thorough and efficient investigation into allegations of corruption in the transport and aviation sectors starting from the

allegations that the Ministry of Aviation may have allowed the registration of the Dana plane which crashed in Lagos on Sunday June 3, 2012 despite reports that the plane was purchased with known pre-existing safety issues and past safety concerns record.

The group in a petition dated June 4, 2012 and signed by its executive director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said: “We are seriously concerned that this is not the first

time an air mishap has claimed a large number of people primarily because of the systemic corruption in the aviation sector and the lack of due diligence or complicity of the regulatory authorities in allowing the registration and operation of aircraft with safety concerns.

SERAP also expressed concern that pervasive corruption is responsible for the failure to provide immediate emergency response system that could have helped to

reduce the casualties of the Dana airline crash, as information reveals that the aircraft exploded about 20 minutes after the crash.

According to the organisation, “In the transport sector including the aviation industry, corruption starts right from the registration of unsafe vehicles and aircraft as a result of official bribes.

"The transport sector is plagued by deadly accidents primarily due to a combination of decrepit

infrastructure, human negligence, and high level official corruption and the lack of political will at the very top to deter, prevent and combat the problem.

The group repeated that the aircraft, MC Donnell Douglas MD 83, which claimed many lives, has a well known history of worrying defaults even before the original owners – US-based Alaska Airlines, sold it to Dana Airlines in February 17, 2009.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 11

Wamakko appoints pioneer VC for Sokoto varsity From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

G

overnor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko, has approved the appointment of the former Vice Chancellor of the University of Abuja, Prof. Nuhu Yakub as the pioneer Vice Chancellor of Sokoto State University.

A statement issued by the Director of Press Affairs, Abubakar Dan Gusau said the appointment was in exercise of the powers conferred on the state governor.

“This is by virtue of the powers conferred on the governor and visitor to the University in section 4, sub section 1 of the First Schedule of the Laws of Sokoto State University to appoint a Vice Chancellor."

The statement also said Governor Wamakko has approved the appointment of Dr. Myra Gordon as a consultant to the university.

Lamido Adamawa sanctions guards over ill treatment of journalist From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

L

amido Fombina of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammadu Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, has sanctioned at least four of his palace guards notorious for acts of tyranny against commoners in the state capital.

The guards were sanctioned last week following their latest assault on a journalist at American University of Nigeria (AUN) while on official assignment.

Secretary of the Fombina Emirate Council, Alhaji Umar Yahaya expressed regret over the ugly incident describing it as unfortunate and uncalled for.

“His Royal Highness is one of the most educated monarchs in this country and there is no way he could ever condone this type of inhuman behaviour, the guards were only being overzealous which is why after our investigations we put those found guilty on suspension to serve as a lesson to others”, Yahaya explained.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, State House, Emmanuel Ogbile, Benue state Deputy Governor, Steve Lawani, and Ochi'Idoma Agabaidu, Elias Obekpa during the conferment of chieftaincy title of Orohu-Chari K'Idoma on the permanent secretary by the Och'idoma in his palace at the weekend in Otukpo, Benue state.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FG has hand in Boko Haram bombings, says el-Rufai

By Abubakar Ibrahim

F

ormer minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Nasir elRufai, has accused the Federal Government of complicity in the continuous bombings and shootings orchestrated by the Boko Haram sect.

Citing the fuel subsidy probe conducted by the House of Representatives, the member of opposition Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) alleged that the frequency and simultaneity of bomb attacks and the ignition of controversial national issues point

R

ussian President, Mr. Vladimir Putin has commiserated with Nigeria over the passenger plane crash which occurred in Lagos on Sunday.

In a letter addressed to President Goodluck Jonathan

bombing? Or are they working together? They are yet to give us an answer; there are many other things, which up till now, there are no explanations for. Every Nigerian knows that two years ago, there was rest of mind and he could sleep well at home. But today, there is no rest of mind, things have deteriorated.”’

He also bemoaned the deterioration of the economy, wondering why salaries are paid well behind schedule and criticised unjustified Federal Government borrowings.

“Salaries are delayed in the Federal Civil Service. Since I left

Abuja last week, April salary has not been paid. That of March was paid in May. Even the monthly allocation to states, they were unable to pay. We don’t know where the money is going, so the economy is in trouble.

“We calculated and I wrote on it in the paper, nobody came out to say it is not true: Every month since Jonathan became the president, on the average, every month he takes $1 billion loan. The Debt Management Office published it, it is a government office. So, I am not just saying it. Even last month, the federal government sold bond.”

Olofa pledges to put town on world tourism map From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Olofa of Offa, Oba Mufutau Gbadamosi, has pledged his commitment to ensure that the town is enlisted on the world tourism calendar before the end of year 2012.

Oba Gbadamosi, who made this disclosure at the investiture of Offa Role Model Award organised

Plane crash: Russian govt commiserates with Nigeria

By A’isha Biola Raji

to a calculated Federal Government involvement that should be simply dismissed.

“We have to start accusing the government because anytime we are in this problem, like when the Farouk committee in the House of Representatives came out with its report on the fuel subsidy scam, at that time they started coming out with bombs all over,” el-Rufai claimed in a BBC interview monitored in Kaduna.

“Therefore… we keep on asking the government: ‘Why is it [that] whenever they have problem, that is when those they call Boko Haram will start

dated 04th June 2012, the Russian President expressed his heartfelt sympathy describing the crash as a “severe tragedy.”

President Putin expressed his grief by imploring President Jonathan to covey his condolences to the families of the deceased wishing them quick recovery from the loss.

by Ijakadi Publication in collaboration with the Correspondents’ chapel of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), in Kwara state, said he would also be happy if all indigenes of the town cooperate with one another for its development.

“We are committed to organising a very colourful festival this year with the paraphernalia of a world class festival as a launch-pad for our

cultural heritage to be on the world tourism calendar. The success recorded in the maiden edition of Ijakadi cultural festival held last year was a test case”.

The monarch, who emphasised that the cultural festival is a veritable tool for community development, disclosed that N43 million was pledged for the community development at the annual Olofa dinner that he hosted last year.

He added that the fund has been channeled into the ongoing construction of Offa Descendants Union Hall along Olofa way, Offa and appealed to all sons and daughters of Offa to co-operate with him and the leadership of Offa Descendants Union in their development drive, especially in their efforts to get the town hall completed and plans for the forthcoming Ijakadi festival.

500 youth undergo agricultural training in Taraba From Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

A

bout 500 youth in Kurmi local government area of Taraba state are undergoing training in various fields of agriculture to alleviate poverty in the area.

Chairman of the local government area, Danasabe Charles Hosea, who spoke with our reporter, said his administration

would give more emphasis to agriculture, road construction and youth empowerment to move the area forward.

He said youths were being trained on how to use incubators in poultry farming and fishery.

The chairman said as part of his plans to develop the area, he would ensure that it becomes one of the major producers of palm oil not only in the state but in

Nigeria.

Danasabe said over 5,000 palm seedlings would be acquired from Edo State for distribution to villages in the area to boost palm cultivation.

He also said his council would give priority to rural roads to connect villages to the local government headquarters to move their farm produce to the market.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

T

Let Nigeria handle Boko Haram its own way

he United States government is considering putting the Nigerian militant Islamic sect, Boko Haram, on its terrorist watch list. The measure, pushed by the US Justice Department would give law enforcement agencies the power to prevent known members of Boko Haram from travelling to America and stop American companies from doing business with the group.

If the measure goes through, it may be as a result of pressure from the US Congress where there has been a lot of concern about the activities of the group. A Congressman, Rep. Patrick Meehan, has already introduced an amendment to a defence bill that would force the government of Barack Obama to act more decisively against Boko Haram. In the alternative, it is to explain to Congress why it has not done so.

Other members of Congress like Rep Mike Rogers are very disturbed by the bombing campaign of the sect particularly the suicide attack on the UN headquarters in Abuja which recorded 23 deaths and left over 80 injured.

“That meets my definition of a terrorist group, but if the administration has a reason why they don't want to designate them, I would like to hear it,” said Rogers.

However, Nigeria has voiced its opposition to the US move. Our

ambassador to Washington, Mr. Ade Adefuye and National Security Adviser, General Andrew Azazi, have formally requested the United States not to put Boko Haram on its watch list of foreign terrorist groups. They fear that including Boko Haram on the US watch list could make it more difficult for Nigerian citizens to travel

“

We share the belief that classifying Boko Haram as an FTO will not help matters. It will radicalize the sect the more. But more than that, it will harm the dialogue that the government is initiating with the sect. Earlier talks were aborted by Boko Haram because a government official opened his mouth too wide to the US and harm trade between the two countries.

Also arguing almost along the same line, 24 scholars in the United States have written a letter to Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, urging her not to designate Boko Haram a foreign terrorist organisation (FTO). In a three-page letter dated May 21, the 24 scholars

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”

said accurate understanding and properly addressing the issue of Boko Haram would require “a diplomatic, developmental, and demilitarised framework” which must be led by the State Department and its civilian developmental partners. They said: “A lasting solution to the Boko Haram menace would require robust political and developmental components initiated by the Nigerian government and broadly endorsed by the Nigerian people.”

They further argued that FTO designation of the sect would give disproportionate attention to counter-terrorism in Nigeria, and “increase the risk that the US becomes linked – whether in reality or perception – to abuses by the security services.”

We share the belief that classifying Boko Haram as an FTO will not help matters. It will radicalize the sect the more. But more than that, it will harm the dialogue that the government is initiating with the sect. Earlier talks were aborted by Boko Haram because a government official opened his mouth too wide.

We appreciate the concern the US, indeed the entire international community, has shown over the Boko Haram insurgency. However, this is a Nigerian domestic affair that should be handled in our own peculiar way.

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

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

By Anas Galadima

R

ecent comments by General Muhammadu Buhari on the 2015 elections have elicited widespread reactions, some people even calling for his arrest and prosecution. The senior politician used the parable kare jinni, biri jini, to express his views that the next general elections would be tough.

The next day, many papers misquoted him as saying: “If what happened in 2011 (alleged rigging) should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.” Indeed, as many have pointed out, it may have been unwise for such a statement to be used in politics and especially by someone like Buhari who was accused of instigating the 2011 postelection violence.

But regardless of the rightness or otherwise of the usage, the misrepresentation of Buhari is a clear example of the failure or absence of public relations.

Politicians all over the world sometimes say things that may be misconstrued by the general public, but it is the duty of the public relations team to either put the statements in context or draw the attention of their principal so they

By Kennedy Emetulu

T

he fact that some people are protesting the change of name from University of Lagos to Moshood Abiola University indicates how far we have fallen in political and social consciousness. Do these protesters understand who Abiola was and what he represents in our nation?

Who is worthier to have the University of Lagos renamed after if not the foremost icon and martyr of Nigerian democracy? Do they know what honour the name of Abiola is bringing to University of Lagos, including President Goodluck Jonathan’s promise to also establish an Institute of Democratic Studies in the university? Do they know how much Abiola contributed to the University of Lagos while he was alive sans politics? Yes, Abiola contributed immensely to the wellbeing of several Nigerian universities while he was alive, but none more than the University of Lagos. Indeed, if there is one Nigerian university to which Abiola’s name should be fully associated, based purely on his financial and moral support, even before the events of June 12 1993, we need look no further than University of Lagos.

I think there are two negative and ignorant impulses at work here. One is that some people are letting their ahistorical limitations stampede their politics and the second is that those members of staff, students and ex-students protesting are trying to redefine radicalism as ignorance and lack of intellectuality. It is in the latter light that I categorize the reaction of the National Executive of the University of Lagos Alumni Association.

Honestly, I don’t know how they arrived at categorically declaring that the “students and the entire University Community reject the shocking announcement by President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan during his democracy day address

PAGE 13

Media relations in politics: The Buhari case (I) can provide explanation to what was said.

In societies where political communication has gone scientific, the media team is always on hand wherever a politician is to make a public comment. Highly trained staff are designated to cover his speeches like news reporters do, so as to observe areas that are likely to be misrepresented. Before the reporters leave the scene, the principal’s attention is brought to such potentially controversial areas and he or his media aide would shed more light on them, putting issues in the appropriate context. This is what is professionally called “media briefing”.

In the case of Buhari’s now famous ‘dog and monkey’ comment, the General would have had the chance to draw newsmen’s attention to the fact that he was using a Hausa proverb and the meaning would be explained accordingly. Any right thinking journalist who bothers to dig, will

discoverer that the phrase simply means that “the contest will be tough” and this would have saved everyone the trouble of clarifying the statement afterwards.“Media briefing” has become very important in political communications around the world that hardly a top politician, in the US or UK for example, addresses the press without his spokesman “briefing” the press either before or after his speech, putting context to what he has said or is going to say.

In Nigeria, most public relations and media practitioners simply refer to press conferences as media briefings. “Media briefing” is actually the explanation that precedes or succeeds a speech or address by a top figure. In Buhari’s case, his party and supporters too did not help matters. They failed to provide explanation even after he was misquoted. Instead, they put forward the argument that only riggers are afraid of what he said and that it is the PDP that is likely

to cause bloodshed, if any would occur in 2015. This only compounded the situation. Another public relations blunder.

General Muhammadu Buhari and indeed other politicians and public speakers must realise that one of the most important ingredients of successful media strategies is the ability to control the flow and representation of information that appears in the media. One of the things that I have learnt from practicing public relations over the years (and western scholars have scientifically proved it) is that, with very few exceptions, the initial media coverage of an event or speech largely dictates the opinion that many people will hold on the matter. This is even truer in societies like Nigeria where many people hardly believe when a story is denied by a politician. And that is why briefings are important. So media aides must ensure that their boss is properly understood before

any journalist leaves the venue.

In 2003, Buhari was reported to have advised Muslims to vote only for Muslims and same for Christian voters. In 2011 his comments were linked to the postelection violence. He has since said he was misrepresented in both cases and to his advantage; no audio or video clip has ever been presented by his accusers to support such claims. Today, in 2011, the old man is once again facing a major PR crisis.

From a professional perspective, it is obvious that these frequent misrepresentations are largely due to the failure of his media relations apparatus. By the way, a presidential candidate needs a robust team of highly competent media and communications experts; he shouldn’t rely on the party’s public relations unit.

Anas Galadima, a media and communications expert, lives in Abuja. Anas can be reached at anastique@yahoo.com

Unilag: What opponents of renaming are missing renaming the University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University”.

When was the poll conducted amongst the alumni to determine this? I mean, one of the grounds for their rejection of the change of name was the claim that Jonathan did not follow “due process”, because “neither the Governing Council nor the University Senate nor any other stakeholder was consulted before the change was announced”.

But who did they as the National Executive of the University of Lagos Alumni consult with before making such categorical claims of rejection?

Worse still is the claim that President Jonathan needs an Act of the National Assembly to change the name, because the University of Lagos was established in 1962 by an Act of Parliament. Well, the plain truth is that the President, as the Visitor, does not have to consult with anyone to do such a thing as the change of name of the University, because this is not one of the objects of the University or something over which the University Council or Senate have been expressly given power to decide . As the Visitor of the University, the President actually has inherent power to change the name of the university without consulting anyone. There is no law anywhere in our books requiring him to send a bill to the National Assembly simply for a change of name or any one requiring him to seek the approval of the University Governing Council or University Senate to do so. A reading of section 15 of the University of Lagos Act indicates that renaming the school is within the discretion of the visitor: 15. Power of visitor to decide meaning of statute

(1) In the event of any doubt or dispute arising at any time as to the meaning of any provision of a statute, the matter may be referred to the visitor, who shall take such advice and make such decision thereon as he shall think fit.

(2) The decision of the Visitor on any matter referred to him under this section shall be binding upon the authorities, staff and students of the University, and where any question as to the meaning of any provision of a statute has been decided by the visitor under this section, no question as to the meaning of that provision shall be entertained by any court of law in Nigeria: Provided that nothing in this subsection shall affect any power of a court of competent jurisdiction to determine whether any provision of a statute is wholly or partly void as being ultra vires or as being inconsistent with the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999.

What does the above mean? It means the President is the law within the University of Lagos to the extent that no court can entertain questions relating to how he interprets the University of Lagos Act. So, of what use is quoting the same law for him over the renaming of the University of Lagos when it is easy to justify the renaming and when it is obvious that there is nothing in that Act that can be or has been construed as inconsistent with the Constitution? And, of course, the man has a long list of precedents to fall back on to justify this by way of convention and practice. Or did Samuel Ogbemudia consult anyone before renaming Institute of Technology, Benin as University

of Benin in his Budget Speech of April 1972? Did President Ibrahim Babangida consult anybody before renaming University of Ife after Obafemi Awolowo in 1987? The fact is the naming and/or renaming of a university is not such a huge issue as to detain anybody making a case against it before a judge. The law establishing every university in Nigeria strongly, even if impliedly, supports the Visitor doing virtually anything they can, except those things expressly indicated that they cannot do.

For the professional politicians who think President Goodluck Jonathan renamed the University of Lagos in Abiola’s name to win over Lagos to the PDP from the ACN, all I can say is that such claims are scraping the barrel stuff. Goodluck Jonathan may have done this to score a political point, but it is not a bad point for him or the nation and indeed, it is not a bad point for the political opposition as well. This is because the protest is antithetical to the unifying political truth that nudged us here. Any true democrat knows what June 12 was and still is about. It was the day the freest and fairest election was held on our shores. It was the day Nigerians, North and South, opened their eyes to a new day of political unity based purely on secular sentiments without the fear of religion or ethnicity tainting their resolve. It was the day the man who won the historic vote of the day showed that Nigerians from everywhere will support anyone who has a real vision for change in the country.

For almost 20 years now, the

political establishment that killed the man have been trying to bury his political legacy to no avail, because, no matter what they do, June 12 and Abiola keep popping up in every political discourse. We have had 13 years of uninterrupted democratic rule and yet, June 12 remains a scar on the conscience of the Nigerian establishment. Year in, year out we accuse the Federal Government of not honouring Abiola’s name or of not doing enough to immortalize him. Now, President Jonathan, for whatever reason anyone can think up, finally names a worthy institution after him and we get brainless protesters spilling out of everywhere, spewing tosh! Why are they complaining because the acronym doesn’t sound ‘nice’? Are they concerned with the form or the substance?

For me, the solution is simple.

President Jonathan has to stop this mischief dead in its track. He should get back on national TV and tell Nigerians that the University of Lagos is renamed “Moshood Kashimawo Olawale Abiola University” and let’s see how many pinheads will be running around crying blue murder with the ‘MAUL’ acronym!

It’s actually a sad indictment of today’s Nigerian university undergraduates that they have got no sense of history; but then what can one say about the exstudents and other members of the university community joining in?

Kennedy Emetulu, a public affairs commentator. He can be reached at engb.facebook.com/ kennedy.emetulu

PAGE 14

By Ayo Turton

W

ith the announcement yesterday of rechristening of University of Lagos as Moshood Abiola University it is yet another slap in the face of the Yoruba people and it has become imperative to mention some of these follies against the Yoruba Nation.

Is it now the turn of President Goodluck Jonathan to continue the folly and the vexatious naming of institutions in Nigeria against Yoruba interest? University of Lagos is 50 years old; it has become a brand recognized for its name across the world. The students are not in the street because they hate Chief Abiola, the students are in the street because of the unthoughtfulness of the action.

Many of these students were born well after the 1993 elections had been concluded and annulled, as much they appreciate the impact of that history, they have come to be identified more with the name UNILAG, it is bound to evoke some emotions. We appreciate what Abiola did for education in Nigeria, besides awarding several scholarships to students across the country, there was a time he bankrolled all the higher institutions in Nigeria from Colleges of Education to Universities. But people have greater sentimental attachment to the name of their

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Re - christening of UNILAG and the Yoruba experience (I) alma-mater than the memory of upgrade, MKO Abiola was the from? Naming an institution like an individual. They carry the man who won the most CBN or Abuja Stadium would be name as an identity. Chief Abiola detribalized votes across Nigeria more financially prudent since could be recognized in other areas and died fighting for Nigeria CBN or Abuja stadium where he tremendously people’s mandate. Why not look equipment and stationeries will contributed to Nigeria like in outside Yorubaland for a still carry the name of the sports, what about naming the structure, why UNILAG? institutions unlike a University, A b u j a everything Stadium after carrying the old him?

What name has to be about naming changed.

Or the Central should we Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text Bank of consider this messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written N i g e r i a a n o t h e r contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 building after opportunity to words, Articles 750 words.

Please include your name and him?

What create a “come a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed about naming and chop” to: one of those avenue for the f e d e r a l boys?

The Editor, buildings in T h e Abuja after shenanigans of Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, him?

Okay institution 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. what about naming in Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com University of Nigeria did not SMS: 07037756364 Abuja? start with Naming P r e s i d e n t the University of Lagos after him Only recently our Minister of Jonathan, there is a background was another attempt to Finance and the Central Bank to it. At the death of Chief sectionalize his position in the Governor cried out that our Obafemi Awolowo in 1987, the history of Nigeria, like they did to economy is in jeopardy, did Mr. only institution that then a man who was second in President consider the financial military President Babangida command and the most senior implications of changing the considered worthwhile to name civilian in the Federal Executive name of a University in the light after him was that great Council of Nigeria in its most of our present economic reality? tertiary institution known then turbulent times but saw the Or he is just running a day by as the University of Ife an country through with his day government depending on institution that was a ingenuity. For their memory what side of the bed he wakes up brainchild of Chief Obafemi

WRITE TO US

Awolowo and his ruling Action Group at the Western Region at the time. The University was conceived and launched in response to leaving the then Western Region out of the regions where federal universities would be sited as recommended by Ashby Commission.

The Commission was set up by the colonial government to review education in Nigeria. It recommended one University each for the Protectorate of Lagos, Northern Region and the Eastern Region while the Western Region the most educational vibrant region in the country was left out of the equation. The Western Region had turned out several high school graduates due to its free education program and the only available University, the University of Ibadan was not only incapable of absorbing all the qualified graduates, it also did not have relevant courses like Pharmacy, Law, Engineering etc. This was how University of Ife was born, the University tagged ‘Africa Most Beautiful Campus’ was later hijacked by the federal government of Nigeria.

Ayo Turton is the National Legal Counsel to the Egbe Omo Yoruba in USA & Canada.

Tobacco: Still the silent, ruthless killer near you!

By Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye

M

ay 31, was “World No Tobacco Day” (WNTD).

First observed in 1987 following a motion passed by a cabinet of the World Health Assembly (WHA), which received the tacit support of the World Health Organisation (WHO), it has become a day devoted to global campaigns to significantly reduce, and eventually eliminate, the consumption of tobacco, which not only ruins the health of its users, but also exposes every other person to serious harm by polluting the air we all breathe.

This is most worrisome given, for instance, a recent study published in the British medical journal, Lancet, which contains the chilling discovery that secondhand smoking (that is, passive smoking by people who are in the same environment with smokers) claims about 600,000 lives annually. More disturbing is the revelation that a third of these unfortunate victims are hapless children who inhale these poisonous cigarette fumes from their parents or other family members who are smokers.

The theme of this year’s “World No Tobacco Day” is “Tobacco Industry Interference.”

So, today’s campaign will focus on the very urgent need to counter the brazen and increasingly aggressive attempts by the usually rich tobacco companies to deploy their massive influence and money to undermine campaigns and efforts worldwide

to not only significantly reduce the consumption of tobacco, but also eventually abolish it.

The expectation is that this year’s theme should sufficiently inspire more men and women across the world who cherish an environment uncontaminated by poisonous tobacco smoke and are pained by the killer diseases with which tobacco generously rewards its users to actively identify with all efforts in their communities today and henceforth aimed at achieving a world free from this grossly harmful product and its usage.

As I allow my mind today to endure the oppressive thought that tobacco still remains the silent, ruthless killer next door, what, if I may dare ask, can anyone safely call its producers and distributors without being accused of being unfair? To my mind, the answer can only be simple and straightforward: They are people who prosper at the expense of other people’s lives because they rake in billions of dollars from the production and distribution of products that only ruin other people’s health, and eventually terminate their lives. So, in very plain language: they are unrepentant killers of their fellow human beings!

In a recent release to mark “World No Tobacco Day 2012,” the European Commission scared many people with the benumbing disclosure that “Tobacco is the single largest cause of avoidable death in the EU. It accounts for around 700.000 premature deaths each year in the EU.”

Indeed, how these people are able to deaden their conscience to go on prospering and sustaining their own lives with the huge profits accruing to them from the production and marketing of a scientifically confirmed poisonous product whose only known benefit is its ability to cruelly terminate the lives of fellow human beings beats me hollow? Yes, tobacco never adds even the tiniest bit of value to life; it only destroys it completely and without mercy.

This is a fact nobody has even attempted to deny.

Happily, Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health has been screaming the warning that TOBACCO SMOKERS ARE LIABLE TO DIE YOUNG? What the Health Ministry here is saying is very simple: Anyone offering you a cigarette is only wishing you an untimely death!

In fact, he is just saying to you: May you die young! And that is exactly what tobacco companies, including the government that issued them the licenses to operate are wishing those that patronize them.

Before now, tobacco companies used to put up at strategic points in our city centres very beautiful and alluring billboards, and fill several newspaper and magazine pages with very appealing, glossy adverts. Unfortunately, that option is no longer available to them in many countries, because of the widespread ban on outdoor advertising of tobacco products.

I am glad that those pleasant pictures of vivacious achievers smiling home with glittering

laurels just because they were hooked to particular brands of cigarette which used to adorn glossy billboards and magazine pages, and which had proved irresistible baits to several people, especially youths, have now vanished from our cities, highways and the media.

As a youth, the elegant, gallant, athletic rodeo man whose image marketed the 555 brand of cigarette was my best idea of a handsome, hard-working winner.

My friends and I admired him, carried his photographs about, and yearned to smoke 555 in order to grow up and become energetic and vivacious like him.

One wonders how many youths that have been terminally ruined because they went beyond mere fantasies or obsession with their cigarette advert heroes and became chain-smokers and irredeemable addicts. Managers of tobacco adverts are so adept in this grand art of monumental deception that their victims never suspect any harm until they have willingly place their heads on the slaughter slab.

Only very few, perhaps, may at some point muster the will to look beyond the meretricious pictures and the pomp and glitter of cigarette promotional tricks and see the blood-curdling pictures of piecemeally ruined lungs and other sensitive organs, murky, chimneylike breath tracts and heart region, the gradually approaching merciless fangs of an all devouring cancer, tuberculosis, sundry lung and heart diseases, and various

other horrible diseases which are the only rewards that tobacco generously distributes to those who embrace it.

I have heard that tobacco companies pay huge taxes to government, award scholarships to indigent students and embark upon several projects to better the lot of the common man in several communities. But how many people have their lethal product sent to their early graves? How many widows, widowers and orphans are they producing with alarming rapidity? How many cancer, TB and lung disease patients do they produce in a year?

How many babies have they killed in the womb with the collaboration of pregnant smokers?

How many among their hapless employees are gradually ruined daily because of the harmful fumes they inhale during production of cigarettes? It is so saddening that while in several countries of the world, tobacco companies and their owners are being isolated, hounded and choked with harsh laws, they have been allowed to invade Nigeria and other African countries with their filthy billions because we have incompetent and insensitive governments that have no qualms welcoming smiling, gentle, urbane, but ruthless producers of poisonous products as “foreign investors.”

I will never be tired of referring to an interesting development in the United States on June 7, 2001 Continued on page 15

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 15

From national security to national resilience

By Ike Willie Nwobu

T

he national security of a state or nation is a term that has, over the years been closely associated with war situations and elements that impinge on external aggression. In fact, the earliest definitions of national security, in the words of Walter Lipmann, was a situation whereby a nation or state does not have to sacrifice its legitimate interests to avoid a war situation, and is also able to maintain such interests by war, when challenged. But with the advent of democracy and its attendant modifications of governance and leadership, the definition and scope of national security, even, was not spared. It also came to embrace other facets of the subject which were not hitherto on the fore, as well as springing up newer dimensions to an all-round appreciation of the subject. It thus became the requirement to maintain the survival of a state through the use of economic, diplomacy, power projection and also political power.

The non military aspects of national security came to include unexplored avenues such as environmental, economic, and energy security, which began to enjoy massive consideration, outside the stockpiling and improvement of military arsenal.

Even the scope of security threats broadened too to accommodate origins such as violent non-state actors, narcotic cartels,

By Wole Soyinka

T

his is one gift horse which, contrary to traditional saying, must be inspected thoroughly in the mouth.

Primary from all of us must be a plea to the MKO Abiola family not to misconstrue the protests against the naming of the University of Lagos after their heroic patriarch. Issues must be separated and understood in their appropriate contexts. The family will acknowledge that, among the loudest opposing voices to Jonathan’s gift horse, are those who have clamoured tirelessly that MKO Abiola, the Nigerian nation’s president-elect, be honoured nationally, and in a befitting manner.

Next is my confession to considerable shock that President Goodluck Jonathan did not even

multinational cartels, nongovernmental organisations, and even natural disasters.

Today, in order to be fully confident of a secure nation, one has to make apt and extensive use of diplomacy to isolate threats, protect classified information and also safeguard the state from internal threats. Anti-terrorism legislations, importantly, should be in place.

There also has to be an airtight and formidable armed forces to go with it, while beefing up efforts at emergency preparedness and disaster contingency and all the while empowering the resilience of the people.

The concept of national resilience is one that has come on the heels of modern administration to occupy a most prized and integral position in ensuring the holistic security situation in a nation or state. In fact, in many parlances, national security has been woven around national resilience, which is the concept of empowering and supporting the indigenes, by deliberate and conscious effort at federal, state and grass root levels to be first responders and preventers of critical emergency situations.

In the Nigerian context, national resilience, which is to security what blood is to life, is a concept which understanding has been grossly impaired and its grasping and implementation summarily dehydrated. This was what the National Security Adviser, Gen. Owoeye Azazi was trying to put across to the public

albeit in a manner that seemed bereft of the professionalism and tact which his sensitive office hoisted.

Gen. Azazi spoke the truth and the fact. His boss announced that some members of his cabinet were security risks, associated with Boko Haram, even Prof. Wole Soyinka addressed them as nest of killers. The NSA is just an adviser, therefore President Jonathan should resign if impeached or be accepted, tolerated and be guided till 2015, but he wants to continuewhich is his entitlement but the ballot box must determine.

He was trying to give a brief sequence of how the people factor had been progressively stifled and subsequently hand-tied by bad party leadership, which in effect makes them powerless and illequipped in occasions as this. But it came to his audience as an unforgivable faux pas which must cost him his office. But they forget that in the international front, the Detroit-bound airplane was prevented from exploding to smithereens because of the concerted efforts of the passengers, who braved all risk to get a bomb blanket around the delinquent Farouk Abdulmutallab. Similarly, in September of 2001, the terroristhijacked Delta Airlines was saved from crashing directly into the allimportant Pentagon, by a patriotic pool of bravery-induced actions, which foiled that attempt. In Israel, they have a culture of national resilience ingrained into their psyche and national system, such that the term eventuality has long

ceased to translate into disaster, no matter the magnitude and causative factor. Back home, we should not be in a hurry to forget that the thrust of the post civil-war rehabilitation, re-integration and reconstruction owes its success to the conglomeration of resources and efforts of the people of the grassroots in Eastern Nigeria, and that is apart from the fact that the recent terrorist activities that would have claimed lives and property in Kaduna were frustrated by none other than hangers-on and bystanders at the scene of the media houses involved.

It is therefore without mincing words that I wish to state that national resilience is key, if not substitutional to national security.

Security in its essence is not about fabulous and grandiose sums of money daily exchanging hands in the name of security votes; it is all about empowering and sustaining the people factor in security operation. It is not all about the latest breakthroughs in military weaponry, it is about the latest form of improvement and enlightenment of the people who are being secured, to equip them for eventuality. A great need exists to develop national resilience by way of establishing forums for cooperation and coordination among interest groups, supporting research and education, developing national standards, and generally inculcating a culture of emergency preparedness by promoting certain sets of values

and habits that make for excellent and perfect environmental, regional and national surveillance.

National security has transformed and transited from mere deployment of arms and ammunition and technology to the people factor-a national and community resilience, which is the ability of a nation to utilize its joint resources in a manner that will maximize the nation’s and community’s ability to cope with an emergency situation, minimize the long term consequences and allow community rehabilitation and sustainability.

People information and communication bank and data, interfacing with institutional security network as major component of national resilience remains a working and successful model in any country that has solved and is solving major security threat like ours.

It is sad that a country of this standing in the international community has little or no plans towards emergency preparedness and response, in an era where it has become a yardstick for evaluating the healthcare delivery index of nations.

Pre-hospital care, paramedics and simple first aid and its effluent contingencies is a facet of healthcare that is in dire need of government an even private sector exploration and investment, and our country would most definitely be the better for it.

Ike Willie Nwobu can be reached at ikewillienwobu@yahoo.com

Goodluck Jonathan’s gift horse think it fit to consult or inform the administrators of the university, including Council and Senate, of his intention to re-name their university for any reason, however laudable. This arbitrariness, this act of disrespect, was a barely tolerated aberration of military governance. It is totally deplorable in what is supposed to be a civilian order.

After that comes the badmouthing of MKO Abiola and the Nigerian electorate by President Jonathan who referred to MKO as the “presumed winner” of a historic election.

While applauding the president for finally taking the bull by the horn and rendering honour unto whom honour is due, the particularities

of this gesture have made it dubious, suspect, and tainted. You do not honour someone while detracting from his or her record of achievement. MKO Abiola was not a presumed winner, but the President-elect of a nation, and thus universally acknowledged.

It is sad, very sad, that after his predecessor who, for eight full years of presidency, could not even bear to utter the name of a man who made his own incumbency possible, along comes someone who takes back with the left hand what the right has offered. However, there is hope. Legalists have claimed that there is a legal flaw to the entire process. The university, solidly backed by other tertiary institutions nation-wide,

should immediately proceed to the courts of law and demand a ‘stay of execution’. That should give President Jonathan time to reconsider and perhaps shift his focus to the nation’s capital for institutions begging for rituals of re-naming. After all, it is on record that the House of Assembly did once resolve that the Abuja stadium be named after the man already bestowed the unique title of “Pillar of African Sports”. He deserved that, and a lot more. What he did not deserve is to be, albeit posthumously, the centre of a fully avoidable acrimony, one that has now resulted in the shutting down one of the institutions of learning to whose cause, the cause of learning, President-elect MKO

Abiola also made unparalleled private contributions.

Let me end by stressing that my position remains the same as it was when the University of Ife was re-named Obafemi Awolowo University. I deplored it at the time, deplore it till today, have never come to terms with it, and still hope that some day in the not too distant future, that crime against the culture of institutional autonomy will be rectified. Let us not compound the aberrations of the past with provocations in an era that should propel us towards a belated new Age of Enlightenment.

Wole Soyinka a renowned author, can be reached at www.wolesoyinka.blogspot.com

Tobacco: Still the silent, ruthless killer near you!

Continued from page 14

where a Los Angeles Superior Court slapped an unprecedented $3 billion in damages on Phillip Morris, a tobacco giant company, in response to a suit by a tobacco casualty, Richard Boeken, who had developed incurable cancer of the brain and lungs after smoking two packs of Marlboro cigarettes every day for 40 years.

This should serve as eye opener to Africans that with several class suits from victims of tobacco, these merchants of death can easily be run out of town. According to the New York Post editorial of June 9, 2001, 56-year-old Boeken who

began smoking as a teenager in 1957 claimed that “he continued smoking because … he believed claims by tobacco companies that smoking was safe.” He told reporters in a post-trial interview: “I didn’t believe they would lie about the facts that they were putting out on television and radio.”

Now, that is exactly the issue.

Tobacco companies deploy beautifully packaged lies to lure people into taking their fatally poisoned wraps called cigarettes.

Their billboards do not advertise the unfortunate and pitiable cancer patients treading the cold, dark, lonely path to a most painful, slow

death.

The argument that smokers ought to be dissuaded from smoking by the warnings put out on cigarette packets, and that people are merely being allowed to exercise their right and freedom to make choices, is akin to endorsing suicide as a lawful expression of freedom? Why allow a killer-poison to circulate among humans in the first place? Do all humans possess equal capacity to discern and resist the allurement of this clear and present danger? No matter how we look at it, we must be willing to admit that every society has a responsibility to defend its unwary

and ignorant members from the ruinous wiles of their illintentioned neighbours. So, the only way to STOP the mass death that tobacco and its producers are carefully and religiously prosecuting in our world today is to totally and unambiguously outlaw it.

It is even widely known that many tobacco producers are nonsmokers because they know too well how deadly their products are!

In court and in several enquiries, tobacco producers have admitted that their product contains very harmful substances. So why should the government not protect

its citizens from these products whose manufacturers have admitted contain harmful substances? That is one question that ought to engage our minds as “World No Tobacco Day” is marked across the world today. Indeed, it has become necessary and urgent for us to agree that we as a people can no longer continue to postpone the decision to rise as one man and reject and resist the continued existence of this cannibal in our midst. It is a sacred duty.

Ugochukwu Ejinkeonye can, be reached at scruples2006@yahoo.com www.ugowrite.blogspot.com

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Gwarimpa residents threaten to sue AEPB over menace of prostitutes

By Josephine Ella

R

esidents of 321 Road, 3rd Avenue in Gwarimpa Estate have threatened legal action against the management of the Abuja Environmental Protection Board(AEPB), over alleged failure of the board to abate nuisance being constituted by operators of ‘brothels and clubs’ in the area.

This is coming on the heels of repeated petitions by residents through their lawyers to the board in the last five years on the same issue, which according to them yielded no result.

The latest of such petition to the Director of the AEPB, Isah Shuaibu by Barrister Peter Opaluwa Okwoli, tittled ‘Notice to abate continuous nuisance at G-Lounge night

club, 321 Road corner shops, 3rd Avenue, Gwarimpa Abuja, was dated April 13, 2012.

In the petition, residents have alleged negligence by the board, which they further claimed, refused to act on previous letters, even after they were intimated on the nefarious activities of the night clubs, which operate during the day under the guise of eatery and restaurants, only to

harbour criminals and prostitutes at night. ”We have been briefed that when the operators of this night club commenced their nefarious activities under the guise of an eatery/restaurant sometimes in 2007, our clients alerted you and other relevant authorities vide letters dated 19,10,2007 and 24,10, 207 that the eatery was just a smokescreen for the operation

Social workers hanging out at Abuja’s street coners

of an illegal night club cum brothel. Copies of these reminders attached as annexure I (a) and (b) respectively”, the letter reads in part.

Continuing, it said: “We are further briefed that following your inaction, our clients were constrained to write several reminders which till date have been treated with levity. Our clients(residents) informed us further that owing to the nefarious activities of the operators of this illegal night club, the neighbourhood has been taken over at night by prostitutes and hoodlums and has consequently become a security prone area harbouring all manners of criminals thereby endangering the lives of our clients and their families”.

The residents lamented that owing to the notoriety of this night club and their activities, their neighbourhood has attracted media attention in the wrong way.

“We have our clients instruction to demand and we hereby demand your taking immediate steps to abate this nuisance as a matter of public duty failing which we will perfect our clients’ further brief to take legal steps to compel you to discharge your duties by abating this nuisance and or claim damages for negligence or abdication of your duties,” the letter warned.

Attempt to get the reaction of spokesman of the AEPB on the issue, were not successful.

Islamic school begs Kwali chair for classrooms Fulani council inaugurates school, said if this would prevent the teachers for imparting 20 chieftaincy holders

By Usman Shuaibu the students from learning under knowledge on the students,

T

he head teacher of Madarasatul -Nurul Yaqeen in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory, Malam Musa Zubairu has appealed to the Chairman of the council, Hon. Joseph K. Shazin and other private individuals to as a matter of urgency, build four blocks of classrooms for the school.

Zubairu, made the appeal while speaking in an interview with Peoples Daily during the 3rd graduation ceremony of the

the sun He further called on the council chairman to come to the aid of the school by assisting to pay the salaries of teachers, noting that teachers are only receiving token amount of money from the school management.

He advised parents and guardians to support the education of their children anytime, adding that education is the only legacy they can leave for their children The head teacher commended

assuring them of God’s abundant reward in returns.

On his part, the proprietor of the school, Malam Kabiru Rafindadi thanked parents for turning out en masse to attend the occasion.

Also speaking, the former Vice – Chairman of Kwali Alhaji Saidu Ashara implored parents and guardians to send their children to Islamic schools close to them.

Meanwhile, about 16 students graduated from the school during the ceremony.

Man, 28, charged with theft

T

he Police yesterday, arraigned a 28-year old man, Believe Agbahabe, at an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court, charged with mischief and theft.

The court heard that one Yakubu Dennis reported at Lugbe Police Station on May 24, 2012, Agbahabe burgled his house and stole N78,000 and a Nokia handset, valued at N13,000.

The Police Prosecutor, Inspector Jeremiah Elijah, said the accused, together with three others now at large, had a misunderstanding with the complainant.

He said that Agbahabe later connived with his friends to commit the offence.

Elijah said the accused was unable to give satisfactory account of his

action during interrogation.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Magistrate Ann Akobi granted Agbahabe bail in the sum of N8,000 and one surety with a fixed address in Abuja.

She adjourned the case to June 8, 2012 for continuation of hearing.

(NAN)

...Solicits support from cabinet members

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he head of Tudun Fulani Traditional Council in Dei- Dei, a settlement in Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC) of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Malam Muhammadu Gwandabe has counts his cabinet to back hin to take the community to a greater height.

Gwandabe, who spoke during the inauguration of twenty chieftaincy holders in the area, also cautioned the cabinet members against truancy and absenteeism during the palace’s routine meetings.

He said his administration would continue to join hands with new cabinet members to restore peace in Tudun Fulani.

The traditional head of Tudun Fulani explained that his administration crowned twenty traditional title holders to the existing ones so as to pave way for every tribe to contribute their quota towards the development of Fulani community.

Responding on behalf of the newly appointed cabinet members, a Peoples Democratic Party( PDP) p r esidential candidate in 2007, Dr Caro Nwosu who was crowned as the Magajiya of Tudun Fulani, thanked the Fulani community for the honour done to her.

She assured that she would parley with other cabinet members to arrest some pending issues affecting the community.

The occasion witnessed a large turned out of the masses across the FCT.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Kwali farmers urged to take advantage of tractor scheme

By Adeola Tukuru

F

Tractors distrubuted to the six area councils of the FCT recently by Minister of State, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide in Gwagwalada. Photo: Josephine Ella

11 persons fined for sundry environmental offences

By Adeola Tukuru

A

mobile court sitting in Kwali Area Council has convicted eleven persons for sundry environmental offences.

The Head, Environmental Sanitation Department of the council, Alhaji Abdullahi Takwa, revealed this in an interview with journalists.

He explained that some of those who were convicted refused to abide with some basic environmental rules and

regulations spelt out in the council, saying, the essence of using the mobile court was to expedite judgment.

He said all the defaulters were fine accordingly, emphasising that the house –tohouse inspection in the area is still in force.

Abdullahi, therefore, call on the people irrespective of their education and social statue to brace up for and support those who may visit their premises for that reason as health is wealth.

The HOD frowned at the

attitude of people who dump refuge in unapproved sites, maintaining that such attitude could lead to flooding in the area as some sewer lines could be blocked along the process, thereby creating more problems to residents.

He thanked the council Chairman, Hon. Joseph Shazin for his supports to his to the sanitation department.

According to him, many residents had been suffering from malaria related diseases; however, the problem is now

over because the council has made everything humanly possible to avoid health problems linked to untidy environment.

On evacuating truck, Takwa disclosed that such are available in the council, calling on residents to always make sure they dump all their solid waste at designated collection points made available by the department.

This, he added would make collection on daily and weekly basis, easy for those in charge of the exercise.

CIIN to hold educational conference in Abuja

T

he President of Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigerian (CIIN), Dr Wole Adetimehin, said at the weekend that the institute is set to hold its 2012 education conference in Abuja.

This was contained in a statement in by the Director/ Head, Corporate Affairs of the institute, Mr Joseph Oba. He said the theme of the conference, scheduled to hold

between June 13 and June 15 at Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

“All is set for the 2012 international Education Conference of the Chartered Insurance Institute of Nigeria (CIIN) scheduled to hold from June 13 and June 15, 2012 at the Sheraton Hotel, Abuja.

“The theme is ‘New Tunes for Lean Times’ and it will explore the pragmatics of managing scarce resources for

productivity.”

Oba said the conference would provide platform for knowledge sharing in the realm of paradigm shifts in the global economy.

He said that the Chairman of Subsidy Reinvestment and Empowerment Programme (SURE-P), Dr Christopher Kolade would lead other speakers at the conference.

Other sub-themes of the

conference, Oba said, included “Security and Business in Nigeria” and “the Insurance Industry Score Card”.

Oba said the insurance industry score card would be a roundtable session to be led by Mr Fola Daniel, the Commissioner for Insurance.

He said the Institute’s annual general meeting and council elections would hold at the same venue. (NAN)

NGO to introduce new approach to eradicate malaria

T

he Coordinator of a nong o v e r n m e n t a l organisation (NGO), Free Health Care Charitable Organisation, Dr Abu Augustine has said that the organisation will introduce a new approach to eradicate malaria in the country.

Abu made this known in Abuja at a stakeholder summit on the nationwide malaria free society programme.

He said the NGO was introducing a new technology, the Transdermal Patches (TPI),

which contains vitamin B1 THAIMIN 300 mg for military and 150mg for civilians.

According to him, the patch has the ability to repel mosquito and other vector bearing insects 36 metres away from the user. ”The special thing about the patch is that the B1 vitamin has been known in medical history as a medication prescribed to control beriberi. It has been discovered that it should be used on malaria and other vector born disease and this has been tried in other countries of the world,’’ he

said.

Abu said the TPI was a new technology that had been discovered to control malaria and other vector born diseases like river blindness, filariasis and fever.

According to him, the patch is used in a very simple way. You don’t have any problem with it and you just wear it and walk away.

Abu explained that the stakeholders’ summit was to discuss the way forward on how to eradicate malaria in our

society.

Deputy Director Medical Services, Nigerian Air Force, Air Commodore Adebayo Bolajoko, said the problem with military was that most of them were posted to rural areas where mosquitoes were common.

Bolajoko said the patch would act as repellent to the mosquito to make life easier for people.

The summit was attended by representatives of NAFDAC, Nigerian Army, Consumer Protection Council, Ministries of Health and Education. (NAN)

armers in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been urged to take advantage of the subsidised tractors now available in the council to boost their farm operations.

The Head, Agricultural Department of the council, Alhaji Ibrahim Alhassan explained to journalists in Kwali that the tractors, disbursed by the FCT administration to all the six area councils are available for hiring by farmers to raise their financial profile.

It would be recalled that two weeks ago, the Minister of State for the FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, flagged-off the distribution of 80 tractors to the area councils at 50 percent subsidy of the prevailing market price.

On their parts, the councils are expected to sell the tractors to farmers’ cooperative societies at a subsidised rate and at the long run, the cooperatives are expected to lease the machine to farmers at the council.

The minister had also disclosed that the tractors, each cost N7 million, making a total of N560 million.

While emphasising the benefits of the initiatives, affirmed that since his assumption of leadership of the department, his uttermost interest had been see to raise fund for the government and ensure bumper harvest for all farmers in the council.

Earlier on the procedure for the hiring of the tractors to interested farmers in his council, he said: “We always encourage them to form a cooperative group so that after the payment of N15, 000 daily for the tractor, they would be able to maximise the profit”.

According to him, Kwali has proven to be an agricultural environment with good soil profile that could produce more food for the people and feeds for animals.

On allegations of the council diverting fertilisers meant for farmers to non farmers, he denied the claims, saying the rumour may not be unconnected with some persons that wanted to acquire the products but could not because of the strict measures involved.

He advised those in position of fertilizers distribution to expedite action on such, stressing that fertilizers received by farmers after the first rain may not have any benefit to them.

He also expressed the readiness of the council to promote agriculture, stressing that agro-chemicals and pest control mechanism are always given to farmers at a very subsidize rate.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 17

1. A disabled woman eking out

a living through cell phone recharge card business outside the Federal Secretariat, yesterday in Abuja.

2. An office assistant carrying files from one office to another, yesterday at Federal Secretariat, in Abuja.

3. You can't cheat nature, can you? Driver of a NAPEP tricycle taking a nap ???? yesterday in Durumi village, Abuja.

4. Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) worker mowing a lawn yesterday at Area 8, in Abuja.

5

. A woman selling roasted yam, yesterday near old Federal Secretariat, in Abuja.

1

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

3

2

4

5

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

FG to implement gas master plan worth over N 4.65tr, says Minister

Mob: 08033644990

Pension managers struggle to meet N1bn recapitalisation as deadline nears

By Abdulwahab Isa

M

ost Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the country are struggling to meet the N1 billion recapitalisation requirement set by the National Pension Commission (PenCom). The deadline for the exercise expires at the end of this month.

The commission last year gave a June 30 deadline to all the PFAs for the attainment of the new capital base, which the commission considers “adequate to absorb unforeseen losses and improve the financial condition and business processes” of the PFAs .

The PFAs have been operating with a capital base of just N150 million.

Investigations reveal that as at last week, some of the PFAs were yet to conclude arrangements for mergers or raising funds through rights issues, an indication that some of the 24 PFAs currently operating might lose their licenses to revocation by PenCom. The commission is insisting that the only passport to the continued existence of any PFAs

is meeting the new capital base, as anything short of that would mean inability to absorb unforeseen losses, in which case the revocation law would be applied.

“The commission has asked PFAs to update it with their efforts to meet the re-

capitalisation requirement. For those that are unable to meet the requirement before the deadline, which is 30th June 2012, the Pension Reform Act (2004) provides steps which the Commission will take in dealing with them, Mohammad Ahmad, Director-General of the

Commission said recently.

Further investigations have revealed that the development is causing anxiety in the industry, particularly with those PFAs owned by banks, whose operations are paralysed on account of divestment of staff and other interests by the

By Aminu Imam

I

n line with its vision of becoming a frontline food business in Nigeria, the Chairman of National Salt Company of Nigeria Plc, (NASCON), a subsidiary of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote has assured the shareholders of bumper returns on their investment on a consistent basis as the company has concluded arrangements to diversify into other lines of businesses.

Speaking last week at the company’s 2012 annual general meeting (AGM), Dangote said, “Your Board and Management are working on

establishing a seasoning business, vegetable oil refinery and Tomato packing operations, which unfortunately have been delayed for a while”.

Dangote assured that limited production will commence in the two factories before the end of this year.

He said, “ I wish to assure you that our commitment to maintain our leadership in the salt industry remains the same, regardless of increasing competition within the subsector. We continue to be committed to improving our upward trend, and we will ensure your company continues to grow and remain competitive so as to deliver increasing

dividends to all stakeholders”.

It would be recalled that the shareholders of the company have describing the dividend payout of 70 kobo per share, as a very good motivation, especially at this period of genera lull in the capital market.

Dangote, who highlighted some of the challenges faced by the company during the year just like other manufacturing concerns, said the company was able to surmount the hurdles to post a good performance.

He explained that the payment of N1.855 billion as dividend, representing 70 kobo for every 50 kobo ordinary shares held, was in line with the practice of the management to

AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY)

ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ -SOK (MON): 09.35

T

ABJ-SOK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-SOK (WED/SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED/SUN): 13.20

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

LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10

L-R: State Co-ordinator, National Traders and Market Leaders Council of Nigeria, Mr Sulaimon Olawale, Treasurer, Mr. Maliu Adagbadun, Chairman, Alhaji Ganiyu Adeniji, during a news conference on the forthcoming national congress, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

ABJ-LOS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT/SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS-KANO : 08.10 KANO-LOS: 11.25 KANO -ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO : 10.08

IRS AIRLINES LOS -ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

CBN CFA • £ RIYAL $

1st June, 2012 BUYING 0.2744 190.6365 236.8604 41.2623 154.75

SELLING 0.2944 191.8684 238.391 41.5289 155.75

PARALLEL RATES • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 210 250 40 156

SELLING 212 252 42 158

he Naira weakened to a four month low of 161.25 to the dollar yesterday, as foreign investors nervous about inflation and currency weakness pulled their money out of government bills and bonds to repatriate it.

“Foreign investors are exiting the market and that’s affecting the Naira. This has been the trend since May,” a dealer told Reuters, adding that the Naira was also very illiquid at the moment.

“Real interest rates have slimmed down due to a rise in inflation and ... FX rates (of dollars) are going up.” (Reuters)

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

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

reward shareholders for their unwavering support.

Reacting to the performance of the NASCON, the shareholders commended the management for wading through the difficult times to record good performance to their delight, urging the Board and Management to continue in that direction.

Alhaji Kabiru, Tunde Sarumi of the Independent Shareholders Association, lauded the NASCON management and expressed the satisfaction of his colleagues with the results saying it has become obvious that no share of any the Dangote Group’s subsidiaries is a bad buy because all of them have declaring good profits, and the NASCON was no exception.

He urged the management to launch into the diversification plan with the utmost seriousness it deserve as it has proven to be capable of delivering results even when the situation is tough.

Naira drops to a 4-month low

LOS-A BJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 ABJ-LOS: 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN)

parent banks, from the institutions, in line with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’s directive for them to focus on strict banking activities.

Similarly, other corporate owners of the PFAs, such as insurance companies, are facing challenges which are having spillover effects on the operations of the subsidiary PFAs. Consequently, most of the affected PFAs are being operated at sub-optimal level, a development that is negatively affecting their merger talks with their potential investors in the industry.

NASCON diversifies, declares 70 kobo dividend

Flight schedule

ABU-LOS (SAT): 18.30

- Pg 20

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3 things you shouldn’t tweet

f the 175 million tweets generated each day, how many are actually worthwhile?

Some are more valued than others. Here are three types of tweets you should avoid sending, no matter how tempted you are.

Me now. If a tweet answers

the question, “What are you doing right now?” don’t send it. Unless you’re a celebrity, people don’t care about your every move.

Whining. Don’t complain about something unless you’re also giving useful advice. Just like in person, people on Twitter don’t like to listen to

moaning.

P r e s e n c e maintenance. Don’t send a tweet for the sake of making your presence known. Instead of typing “Good morning, world” wait until you have something insightful or useful to share.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS IFRS Academy takes off in July

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he Centre for the study of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) would be opened in July this year.

Mainstreet, Sterling, others partner Glo on mobile banking

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ainstreet Bank Limited and five other banks have sealed up a partnership with Glo to lend greater depth to the on-going campaign for a cashless society through the provision of seamless mobile banking services to their customers.

Future of the nation’s economy lies in SMEs – Aganga

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he Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga has said there is a better future ahead for the nation’s economy, even as that lies in small and medium enterprises.

IFC, AFDB sign ISDA ‘Master Agreement’ to expand local currency finance

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he International Financial corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, and the African Development Bank (AfDB) have signed an ISDA Master Agreement to enter into crosscurrency swap transactions to facilitate local currency lending and bond issuance in Africa.

First Bank, RIA International seal money transfer partnership

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irst Bank Nigeria Plc has signed partnership agreement with RIA International for money transfer worldwide. RIA International operates from more than 120 countries and with numerous outlets across different regions.

L-R: Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Mines and Steel Development, Alhaji Idris Kuta, Minister of state, Malam Musa Sada, and Director, Planning, Policy Analysis and Monitoring, Mr. John Mshelia, during the oversight visit by the House of Representatives Committee on Mines and Steel Development to the Ministry, recently in Abuja.

Photo: NAN

FG to implement gas master plan worth over N 4.65tr, says Minister

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he Federal Government is set to implement a gas master plan that would attract over $30billion investment in gas infrastructure and development of gas based industries.

The disclosure was Made by the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs.Diezani AlisonMadueke on Tuesday at the Concluded Ministerial Platform in Commemoration of President Jonathan’s One year Administration, adding that the ministry was working with all stakeholders in the sector and international oil companies to increase the gas supply to the Independent Power Plants (IPPs).

Alison-Madueke said that the Ministry is working on oil theft in the country by collaborating with the security agencies and that a taskforce was underway to curb the menace.

She also reveals that the federal Government has spent one billion dollars in the last one year on the development of infrastructure meant to fast track the economic development of the country.

“In the last year, we have made significant progress in gas infrastructure, gas supply growth and stimulation of gas industrialisation.

“Specifically, in this time frame, we have invested close to a billion dollars in almost 1000km of gas pipeline development.

“The investment, which is the most expensive in the last 30 years, is aimed at developing the sector; create job opportunities and make Nigeria the regional hub for gas-based industries.”This is done to achieve the gas-to-power initiative, she noted.

Alison-Madueke also said that more power plants have been opened; like the 130km, 24-inch Oben-Geregu gas pipeline has been completed and commissioned and it will open up gas access to the Geregu Independent Power Plant (IPP) and Dangote Obajana cement plant, and the 50km Ipe Annang-Calabar Pipeline will also open up the Calabar axis to gas and other industries.

She said there were other ongoing projects across the country that would ensure adequate power supply when completed.

“The 104km, 24-inch Escravos-Warri pipeline doubling capacity to 600mm cf/ d that will provide immediate access to 80mm cf/d of gas is nearing completion.

“Production has continued to grow steadily, attaining a peak

NDPHC to boost electricity generation by 120MW from Omotosho plant Stories by Muhammad Nasir

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he Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) Limited, owners of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), James Olotu, has disclosed that the Omotosho Power Plant Phase 2 would contribute about 120 megawatts (MW) to the national grid.

Investigations revealed that unit one of the four units of 125mw installed capacity is already running as the company shows the readiness of the unit two to go into operation without hitch as assured by the management of China Machinery Engineering

Corporation (CMEC).

While conducting journalists round the power plant in Omotosho, Ondo state, at the weekend, Olotu confirmed that the Omotosho Unit two, out of the four units, was ready to hit the grid while the rest, were expected to come on stream as soon as possible.

In line with the Federal Government’s transformational agenda for the power sector, Olotu stated recently at the commissioning of some power injector sub-stations in Lagos, which had been completed and handed over to distribution companies that the sub-stations, when completed, would inject additional capacity of 1,000MW

by December this year to the national grid subject to availability of gas to fuel them.

According to him, “We are working seriously to ensure all power plants under the NIPP commence operations before the end of the year as we are working aggressively to ensure all power plants under the NIPP come on stream.

“The commissioning of the power plants installation and the housing estate in Omotosho was supposed to be delivered within 75 days from today, but through hard work we are delivering it in the next few days to come,” he said.

He declared that in terms of power distribution and

production rate of 2.5 million barrels per day.

“This has been underpinned by major new projects, including the USAN project which was commissioned in April with a production of 180,000 barrels per day, “she enthused.

Allison-Madueke explained that the ministry was developing the country’s gas and hydrocarbon potential in other inland basins in addition to reserves in the Niger Delta and offshore basins.

“With the dredging of the River Niger, we will be able to move Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) around the country, bringing gas to the east, west and northern parts of the country.”

She said the government was committed to stimulating economic growth through the development of the oil and gas sector. commissioning, Nigerians should be rest assured that the days of total darkness were getting over.

“Light is here and every single month we will ensure effective power delivery to Nigerians in all NIPP projects across the country,’’ the NDPHC managing director said.

The NIPP boss also stated that Geregu Power Station Phase 2, which is an NIPP plant, would be completed to inject 434 MW to the grid by December, subject to gas supply, while the Alaoji Power Station would come on stream by early next month.

“In Olorunsogo right now, we have over 600MW but over 500MW of that is stranded because there is no gas. In Sapele, we have two units already and the third unit is coming on stream in the next one month but only one unit can be fired because there is no gas,” he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 21

Oil exports to U.S. rose to N5.3tr in 2011 Stories by Muhammad Nasir

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rude oil exports from Nigeria to the United States has rose to $34 billion (N5.27 trillion) in the year 2011, from $31 billion and $19 billion in 2010 and 2009 respectively.

These was disclosed recently by the Economic Counsellor of the US Embassy, Mr. Perry Ball, at a recent media briefing held in Abuja.

It was noted that within the same period, the figures for nonoil export rose from $101 million in 2009 to $115 million and $150 million in 2010 and 2011 respectively.

He also added that the success of the amnesty programme of late President Yar’Adua was responsible for the rise after production dropped due to the restiveness in the Niger Delta region.

He added that the global economic downturn accompanied by drop in oil prices caused the oil export figures to drop from $35 billion in 2008 to $19 billion in 2009.

Briefing on the benefits of African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) for Nigerian businesses, Ball advocated that small and medium business owners can liaise with big companies in Nigeria or in the US to participate in exports to the US

Oando to acquire 40% interest in Qua Iboe oil field

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ando Exploration and Production Limited (OEPL), a subsidiary of Oando Plc with exploration and production assets has sign a farm-in-agreement with Network Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (NEPN) for the acquisition of 40 percent participating interest in the Qua Iboe field (OML 13) subject to the consent of the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke.

The oil firm made this available to newsmen, noting that OEPL signed all agreements relating to the transaction on the February 2, 2012 and have subsequently filed an application with the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) for the consent of the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Upon the minister’s approval, OEPL would have acquired a 40% participating interest in the Qua-Iboe field (OML 13) and will be designated the Financial and Technical Services Partner, delegated to perform some of the Technical and Project Management duties and obligations of the Operator in the development of the Qua Iboe field.

especially for non oil exports.

The benefits of AGOA, he outlined, include the provision of duty free treatment for 1,800 products in addition to the standard 4,600 products available to non-AGOA countries.

Exports from sub-Saharan Africa in 2011 amounted to $74.2 billion, he said with Nigeria topping the list with $33.7 billion mainly from crude oil sales and Chad at the bottom of the list with $3.1 billion also from crude oil sales.

It also provides an additional preference in the form of duty free/quota free access for apparel made from fabric originating anywhere in the world under a special rule for lesser developed beneficiary countries with per capita GNP of under $1,500.

Ball disclosed that over 300,000 jobs have been created in Africa since the creation of AGOA in 2000; many of these jobs for women in the textile industry. It has also encouraged the export of non mineral products to the US, he added.

L-R: Vice-President, Jeun Afrique, Mr. Amir Ben-Yahmed, and Director, Private Sector, Operations, African Development Bank, Mr. Tim Turner, announcing the date for the launch of African CEOs forum, recently in Arusha, Tanzania.

Photo: NAN

Nigerian, British partnerships to invest N77.5bn in oil sector

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ver 40 new alliances formed by British and Nigerian companies are expected to expand over $500m (N77.5 bn) in the Nigerian oil and gas industry within the next five years.

The disclosure was made by the Deputy British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Peter West while speaking at the Nigeria-UK Oil and Gas Supply Chain programme in Lagos recently, said the partnerships, some of which will undertake specialist local

manufacture, technology cooperation for deepwater production and gas utilisation, have the potential to create new investment, business opportunities and high value employment for skilled Nigerian talents.

West underscored the importance of the Nigeria-UK Supply Chain events, stressing that they bring Nigerian and UK companies together to form sustainable, long term partnerships which will contribute to the competitive

delivery of Nigeria’s oil and gas projects.

Delivering a keynote address at the event, the Executive Secretary, Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Mr. Ernest Nwapa, also disclosed that the proportion of contracts awarded to Nigerian companies in the oil and gas industry has risen to 85 per cent, describing it as a partial percentage value of Nigerian Content achieved by the

industry.

Similarly, he informed that the industry has achieved between 85-90 per cent Nigerian Content in engineering, while fabrication tonnage is over 50 per cent, with thousands of jobs created.

According to Nwapa in a statement by Public Affairs Officer, NCDMB, Obinna Ezeobi, ”The real Nigerian Content value hovers between 12 per cent and 18 per cent at this point, up from 3 to 5 per cent recorded two years ago.”

PHCN spends N1.5 billion on power distribution in Lagos

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oised to improve power supply to electricity consumers in the state, the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) Eko Electricity Distribution Company has expended about N1.5 billion on various distribution facilities in the state within the last six months.

The utility firm, which was among the 11 electricity distribution companies put up for sale under the Federal Government’s privatisation agenda, stated that the facilities would be supported by about new 27 projects implemented under the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP), to further improve power supply in the network.

According the Chief Executive Officer of the company, Oladele Amoda, the 10 out of the 27 NIPP projects were new injection substations, which were at various stages of completion.

Amoda, who was speaking at the Customers’ Parliament held

at Mainland Hotel, Oyingbo, Lagos recently, said that all hands were on deck to surmount the challenges militating against regular power supply in the network.

He said the company was equally committed to phase out the problems of corruption, crazy billing, meter installation, estimation and attend to complaints through its new customer care offices and website.

According to him, the installation of new and replacement of faulty transformers gulped about N500 million.

However, the replacement of switchgears such as the 33KV switchgear at Ademola injection substation, Victoria Island, Berkley injection substation, Lagos Island, 11KV switchgear at FESTAC, Satellite and Amuwo Injection substations costs about N96 million.

Also, construction of 11KV relief overhead lines in several

locations such as Mushin, Lekki, Victoria Island, Ikoyi, Ijora, Yaba among other cost N58 million, while the sum of N295 million was spent on replacement of faulty 15MV, 33/1KV transformers at Cappa/Nitel, Ademola Anifowoshe, Keffi and

Yaba injection substations.

Amoda added that additional 15MVA, 33/11KV transformers was on-going at Agungi in Lekki and those proposed for Sanya, Keffi and Ajah should soon commence. This he said would gulp about N295million.

CAMAC Energy signs exploration deals with Kenya, Gambia

U

S traded Nigerian owned oil and gas firm, CAMAC Energy, is expanding its business in Africa signing two new exploration deals in Kenya and Gambia within two weeks this month, Empowered Newswire reports.

According to the Nigerianborn Chairman of the US company, Dr. Kase Lawal, CAMAC will also be offering training and skill development for African nationals in the countries, including creating fully funded scholarships for some of the nationals to study

Petroleum Engineering in the University of Houston, Texas State, US. International news wires also reported that the two African countries expressed their pride that an African-owned oil company would be exploring and producing from its shores, Earlier this week The Gambian government signed a production agreement with CAMAC Energy for two offshore blocks in the west African nation, the first such deal Gambia is signing with a foreign oil company. (Bloomberg)

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

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he sound of fleeing feet rustles from the undergrowth in this swampy enclave in Nigeria's Delta, where a fire burns beneath an open tank of crude oil and black smoke fills the sky.

Criminal gangs are quick to run when boats approach the illegal refineries all over the Niger Delta, a region of creeks and waterways latticed by hundreds of kilometres of unguarded pipelines pumping valuable oil.

Standing in a foot of oily water, behind a steel tank of hot crude percolating down pipes, Peter, 38, explains how it's done.

"We carry the crude, put it in these drums and then we cook it and it runs down these pipes," he said, oil dripping off his hands, a hood covering his face.

"First we get gasoline, then kerosene and then diesel," he added, coughing as a wave of smoke gets sucked into his lungs. He gave only his first name; others asked not to be named at all.

Almost three years since an amnesty was agreed with 26,000 Niger Delta militants, oil theft remains a major headache and is now on the rise, authorities and oil firms say.

Although the illegal refiners only make up for a small portion of the theft, the environmental damage they do is huge. Oil spills from leaky pipes pollute vast tropical waterways.

Shell, the biggest operator, says 150,000 barrels per day is stolen from Africa's top oil producer. Nigeria's Finance Minister Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala said that as much as one-fifth of government revenue is lost to oil theft.

The small amount that is refined locally finds a ready market in a country whose legal refineries are largely defunct.

"We're doing what they can't," quips one oil thief from his barge, a swipe at the Nigerian government's failure to refine much of the fuel it produces because of decades of corruption.

Most of the theft happens on a larger scale, when coordinated groups of workers tap into oil infrastructure, siphoning crude into barges and motorboats before transporting the oil onto larger crafts a few miles offshore.

The complicity of corrupt security officials and politicians means this is unlikely to end any time soon, although President Goodluck Jonathan's administration has pledged to crack down.

Floating down waterways in Jonathan's home state of Bayelsa, dozens of plumes of smoke are visible from microrefineries.

The damage is incalculable: broken pipelines are abandoned and left to hemorrhage into the creeks, while deadly accidental fires desecrate several square

Niger Delta militants before the 2009 amensty programme

Rampant oil thefts ravage Nigeria’s Delta kilometres of wetland vegetation.

A visit to one site shows mangrove shoots tipped black where they immerse themselves into the water, dying trees sagging over the creeks and fires raging where illegal refineries are set ablaze by soldiers in periodic crackdowns.

One barge carrying illegally refined fuel can be seen dropping off jerry cans to soldiers at a jetty.

"I can assure you we are on top of the situation," Onyema Nwachukwu, Joint Task Force (JTF) spokesman, told Reuters in a barracks in Bayelsa's capital, Yenagoa. He gave few details.

At the height of the conflict in the Delta, in the late 2000s, militants could move global oil prices with large-scale sabotage attacks on pipelines and flowstations.

In 2009, the government agreed an amnesty with the militants, who agreed to give up their arms in return for training programmes and a 65,000 naira-per-month stipend, about three-and-ahalf times Nigeria's minimum wage.

Although thousands have been trained in everything from welding to flying planes, there are not always jobs for them, and more than 10,000 have yet to be trained in anything at all.

“

"If nothing changes we'll be back to the guns," another said. "We'll kill the oil companies, the JTF, all of them."

Many ex-militants complain that they only receive a small portion of the stipend, while their former commanders pocket most of the hand-out.

The militants said they were fighting for freedom from the shackles of foreign oil firms and corrupt government. But many were criminal gangs stealing crude, kidnapping oil workers and fighting turf wars with little interest in changing the Delta.

Since the amnesty, violence has subsided and at first oil theft dipped. But while former militant leaders sit in opulent homes in the capital Abuja or enjoy lucrative government contracts, their foot soldiers, bereft of such luxuries, are reverting to old habits. And newcomers are joining in.

"Small scale bunkering and illegal refining is becoming more decentralised and freelance because of turf left open by militants," an oil security official in the Delta told Reuters.

Although the government allocated a portion of the budget to regenerating the Niger Delta after the amnesty, many local politicians have not delivered the promised jobs, roads, schools and hospitals, and unemployment has not fallen.

"Don't talk to me about the amnesty. I get 25,000 naira,

not the 65,000 they promised.

It was all a scam," said a large figure sitting on the edge of a barge, who identified himself by the nickname 'Killer'.

"If they had given me a job I wouldn't be doing this."

On the far side of the river bank, crude oil worth hundreds of dollars every minute was being pumped into barges balanced and shifted by six ex-militants, barking orders at each other, nervously looking around to check for the JTF. The destructive methods of the thieves have helped to further ruin fishing habitats and contaminate water already degraded by decades of oil production in the area.

Children wash in rivers filmed with shiny oil. There are no roads to many villages, pushing food and fuel costs three times higher than in wealthier urban regions.

The United National Environment Programme (UNEP) said it would take 30 years and an initial $1 billion to clean up the dangerous levels of pollution and environmental degradation in Ogoniland, a small portion of the Delta.

The report found one community was drinking water contaminated by deadly levels of benzene, which causes cancer.

Security sources believe without genuine regeneration, criminals could return to war.

"Yeah, we got amnesty, but nothing changed. This is all we have to do," one of the oil thieves said.

"If nothing changes we'll be back to the guns," another said.

"We'll kill the oil companies, the JTF, all of them." (Reuters)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Horrific scenes at the Dana plane crash site where all 153 passengers on board were killed A

commercial airliner crashed into a densely p o p u l a t e d neighbourhood in Nigeria’s largest city of Lagos on Sunday, killing all 153 people on board and others on the ground in the worst air disaster in nearly two decades for the nation.

The cause of the Dana Air crash remained unknown Sunday night, as firefighters and police struggled to put out the flames around the wreckage of the Boeing MD83 aircraft.

Authorities could not control the crowd of thousands gathered around to see the crash site, with some crawling over the plane’s broken wings and standing on a still-smoldering landing gear.

Harold Demuren, the director-general of Nigeria’s Civil Aviation Authority, said all on board the flight were killed in the crash.

Lagos state government said in a statement that 153 people were on the flight travelling from Nigeria’s central capital of Abuja to Lagos in the nation’s southwest. Rescue officials feared many others were killed or injured on the ground, but no casualty

figures were immediately available.

Firefighters and locals were seen carrying the corpse of a man from one building, its walls still crumbling and flames shooting from its roof more than an hour after the crash.

President Goodluck Jonathan later declared three days of national mourning in Africa’s most populous nation.

President Jonathan ‘prays that God Almighty will grant the families of the victims of the plane crash the courage and fortitude to bear their irreparable loss,’ a statement from his office read.

The aircraft appeared to have landed on its belly into the dense neighbourhood that sits along the typical approach path taken by aircraft heading into Lagos’ Murtala Muhammed International Airport.

The plane tore through roofs, sheared a mango tree and rammed into a woodworking studio, a printing press and at least two large apartment buildings in the neighbourhood before stopping.

A white, noxious cloud rose from the crash site that burned onlookers’ eyes, as pieces of the plane lay scattered around the

muddy ground.

While local residents helped carry fire hoses to the crash site, the major challenges of life in oil-rich Nigeria quickly became apparent as there wasn’t any water to put out the flames more than three hours later.

Some young men carried plastic buckets of water to the fire, trying to douse small portions. Fire trucks- from the very few that are stationed in Lagos state with a population of 17.5million- couldn’t carry enough water.

Officials commandeered water trucks from nearby construction sites, but they became stuck on the narrow, crowded roads, unable to reach the crash site.

The dead included at least four Chinese citizens, the official Chinese news agency Xinhua reported late Sunday, citing Chinese diplomats in Nigeria.

Nigeria, home to more than 160million people, suffers from endemic government corruption and mismanagement.

The nation also has a history of major aviation disasters, though in recent years there hasn’t been a crash.

In August 2010, the U.S.

Distressing: Smoke pours from the wreckage of the plane after it crashed into the building, killing at least 153

Rescue efforts: The bodies of victims are carried from the scene of the disaster announced it had given Nigeria the Federal Aviation Administration’s Category 1 status, its top safety rating that allows the West African nation’s domestic carriers to fly directly to the U.S. But many travellers remain leery of some airlines.

On Saturday night, a Nigerian Boeing 727 cargo airliner crashed in Accra, the capital of Ghana, slamming

into a bus and killing 10 people. The plane belonged to Lagos-based Allied Air Cargo.

Officials with Lagos-based Dana Air did not respond to calls for comment Sunday night.

The airline has five aircraft in its fleet and runs both regional and domestic flights. Local media reported a similar Dana flight in May made an emergency landing

at the Lagos airport after having a hydraulic problem.

Nigeria has tried to redeem its aviation image in recent years, saying it now has full radar coverage of the entire country.

However, in a nation where the state-run electricity company is in tatters, the power grid and diesel generators sometimes both fail at airports, making radar

In pieces: Onlookers survey the rubble and remains of the crash.

screens go blank.

Sunday’s crash appeared to be the worst since September 1992, when a military transport plane crashed into a swamp shortly after takeoff from Lagos. All 163 army soldiers, relatives and crew members on board were killed.

The crash also comes as Nigeria, which became a democracy in 1999 after years of military rule, faces increasing sectarian bloodshed across its largely Muslim north from a radical Islamist sect known as Boko Haram. Earlier Sunday, a suicide car bomber killed at least 15 people and wounded dozens of others.

As night began to fall Sunday, more and more worried relatives of passengers arrived in the neighborhood, pushing their way down the crowded, narrow streets to make it to the crash site.

The eyes of one man who stopped to see if anyone had survived grew wide when he heard no one escaped alive, his hand rising to his mouth.

His brother was onboard.

‘Oh God, we lost him,’ the man whispered, before slowly walking away.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Lost hope: Crowds began to gather and wait to see if they could help after some of the fires were put out hours after the Sunday afternoon crash

Devastating: A white, noxious cloud rose from the crash site that burned onlookers' eyes, seen here carrying a hose to help firefighters' rescue efforts

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Son on the run after ‘getting his own mother pregnant for the second time’ A

man is on the run in Zimbabwe after allegedly making his own mother pregnant for the second time.

Simon Matsvara and his mother Ethel Vhangare fled their home in Pote Village, Mashonaland Central province when members of their church group discovered she was expecting another child.

Just four years ago the pair, whose ages are unknown, were fined by village elders after Mrs Vhangare suffered a miscarriage.

Village chief Chinamhora said the community had been outraged by the claims and he has dispatched aids to hunt the mother and son down.

He told the state-owned Herald newspaper: ‘We are going to hunt for the two and we will punish them severely to send a clear message to would-be offenders that we do not tolerate such acts.’

Village sources claimed the pair started their incestuous relationship in 2008 after relatives assigned him to help care for his father Agripah, who had suffered a stroke. Agripah later died.

When details of the first pregnancy emerged, the family was fined by village elders and ordered to

break off the relationship.

Mrs Vhangara’s new pregnancy became obvious to the community after she started skipping church.

Neighbours visited her home to check she was not sick and allegedly discovered she was five months pregnant.

The incestuous couple then fled their home, fearing they could be targeted by the community.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Hunt: Village chief Chinamhora is searching for the missing incestuous mother and son

Residents of Pote Village, Mashonaland Province (pictured) are ruled over by a villlage chief (file photo)

Chavez may die of cancer in months, ‘taking opiate 100 times stronger than morphine’ V enezuelan president Hugo Chavez’s cancer battle has ‘entered its end stage’, it was reported.

Chavez, 57, is not expected to live more than a few months at most, according to Spanish newspaper ABC. The South American leader is now taking an opiate ‘100 times stronger than morphine’ to relieve the severe pain of the aggressive cancer which has spread to his bones and the side effects of the chemotherapy and radiation.

The drugs are so potent that ‘at any moment his body will not be able to tolerate them’, according to doctors treating him.

Chavez is seeking re-election for a third time and registered his candidacy last Friday at the National Electoral Council. He already has a comfortable lead in the country’s polls.

But sources within the president’s

Ailing: Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez pictured last month after his latest cancer treatment.

cancer team believe it is doubtful he will live to see the results on October 7.

The medical report, seen by the Spanish newspaper, revealed that Chavez is also suffering from rhabdomyosarcoma, a cancerous tumour of the muscles attached to the bones, with metastasis.

As well as the painkiller fentanyl, medical specialists have also prescribed ‘bisphosphonate to combat the metastasis’ and ‘corticosteroids to alleviate the side effects of radiation and chemotherapy’.

But the treatment is aimed at combating the spread of the cancer, not eradicating it, according to the report.

The dire prognosis comes weeks after Chavez said he was making a ‘progressive recovery’ after undergoing cancer treatment in Cuba. His chemo

followed an operation in February to have a second malignant tumour removed.

The first tumor was extracted last June, also in Cuba, where the president’s cancer was first detected when he fell ill during an official visit.

Two months ago Chavez called on God to spare his life in an emotional speech to the Catholic community.

Chavez cried and his voice broke in the televised speech made in his home of Barinas, in front of his parents and other relatives.

He has not released any details about the nature of the disease, saying only that it was in his pelvic region.

He recently claimed the US may be infecting left-wing Latin American leaders with cancer after the presidents of Brazil, Paraguay and Argentina were struck down with the disease.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Praying: Hugo Chavez during his visit to Brazil where he was blessed by a priest.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 27

Motorcycling, gun-toting Afghan who’s the only woman to lead a village W hen things go wrong in a war torn country, you sometimes have to come up with unconventional ways of getting jobs done.

That is just the same in Afghanistan where 50-year-old Zarifa Qazizadah decided to run for political office in a fight to get electricity to her village in the northern Balkh province of the country.

However, she was worried that doing things like riding a motorbike on her own would mean she is not taken seriously. To overcome this she dresses as a man and even dons a fake moustache.

Her mission first started in 2004 and, undeterred by the people who laughed at her ideas, she fought on. Despite losing her election she continued to fight for electricity and has now been asked to become head of the Naw Abad village.

And now her work has been recognised with her being appointed as one of the village elders and if someone is found to connect themselves to the grid without permission they have to answer to her.

She claims she become village chief through force of personality and determination to get things

done - but she has to wear a fake moustache to control some people.

She said: ‘I tell the men of the village all I want is their prayers when they have a problem, I’ll speak to the government on their behalf.

‘Whenever there is any disturbance at night-time I’ll pick up my gun and go to their house to see what’s going on.

‘When something happens in the village at night and I have to react quickly I put on men’s clothes and ride my motorbike. I can’t let people steal electricity because we have to respect the law.’

Women in rural Afghanistan are rarely seen riding motorbikes alone so mother-of-15 Zarifa disguises herself with men’s clothes and a fake moustache to avoid attracting attention.

She has also been known to come to the rescue of her villagers by wrestling Jeeps out of ditches with a tractor.

To keep her promise to voters on electricity, even though she failed in her bid to get elected to parliament, she travelled to Kabul to confront Minister for Power, Shaker Kargar, and demanded to speak to him.

He agreed to see her the following day in his office and by the

Determined: Women are rarely seen on motorbikes on their own so Zarifa Qazizadah dons men's clothing to avoid attracting attention.

Qazizadah sold jewellery, borrowed money and re-mortgaged her house to raise money for electricity.

If anyone is caught stealing electricity they have to answer to Qazizadah after she fought so hard to get power to the village in northern Afghanistan.

Qazizadah has become an inspiration to other women in her village and she tells them that they could achieve the same as her as she is a housewife just like them. end of the meeting he had given his consent but insisted the village had to pay for the posts and cables itself.

Determined Zarifa, who had already sold some of her jewellery to pay for the trip to Kabul, borrowed money where she could and remortgaged her house to raise the cash.

Five months later everyone in the village had electricity in their home.

She added: ‘The income from the electricity system went towards the construction of a new bridge over a dangerous river to connect our village with a major road.

‘It was only then that people recognised what I’d done and started to pay me back. When people saw the work I was doing on these projects they started to join in.’

Ambitious Zarifa also sponsored the building of Naw Abad’s first mosque, which, unlike most mosques in the country, is designed so men and women can pray together.

One local supporter Molavi Seyyed Mohammad recently said: ‘She does the type of work that even men are not capable of doing and she doesn’t take no for an answer.’

Zarifa was married at 10 years old - and she was just 15 when she became a mother. Her young adult life was spent living in a remote village with her husband’s family where she was little more than a servant.

During Taliban rule she moved to the regional capital Mazar-eSharif with her husband where she gained her first taste of community

work.

She volunteered to help parents get their children vaccinated - and, secretly, helped teach young girls to learn to read.

Now aged 50, with 36 grandchildren, she is head of the local women’s council as well as village head. She hosts large meetings of local women in her home encouraging them to follow her example.

She told them at one meeting: ‘I was just a housewife like you. But today I can have a meeting with 1,000 people. I can meet and discuss issues with authorities.

‘In Western countries, women can become presidents. These women are brave and they can achieve a lot.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Kofi Annan sets out vision to fight global hunger

F

ormer UN Secretary-General and Chairman of the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA) Kofi Annan has outlined how food security for the world’s poorest can be achieved by reforming global food systems.

In a speech to be delivered at Caritas International’s annual conference in Vienna, Mr Annan called for improved coordination of food and nutrition programmes to strengthen the world’s food and nutrition security.

Mr Annan warns that after decades when the overall price of food fell and the number of people going hungry declined, this trend has now been reversed – food prices are increasing and millions of people are being pushed into abject poverty.

Outlining the areas for major structural reforms, he said, there was need for an improve global governance and overhauling unfair trade rules to deliver a more powerful voice for developing countries in global decision-making bodies.

Significantly increasing agricultural investment – including for research –in developing countries, and encouraging greater private sector engagement and ensuring continued support from richer countries, Mr Annan stated, was required, adding that there must be “increasing investment in small-holder farmers, in particular women farmers, through providing access to credit, markets and the latest knowledge in farming practices.”

According to the former UN Secretary General, “though I am pleased that African leaders were invited to last month’s G8 at Camp David to talk about food security, developing countries need a permanent seat at the table.”

“Trade restrictions which distort the markets and put the poorest at a disadvantage must be swept away. I believe a financial transactions tax could be used to help curb excessive speculation while raising money for development and climate change finance,” he stated.

“We need as well to increase research into new crops and techniques which focus on the challenges of farmers and farming in the developing world. This must include how we can use new crop varieties and managing water so harvests can be increased and land helped to stay productive despite climate change.

“We must invest, in people and particularly in the small-holder farmers who remain the backbone of agricultural production. We need to give them access to the latest knowledge, increased support and credit to create fair markets so they can sell their surpluses at a fair price.

This must also include women farmers who make up the majority but face the greatest barriers and disadvantage.

Food production simply can’t be increased at the speed and scale needed in a sustainable way without mobilizing this army of smallholders. If we do, not only will they transform food production, but their efforts will provide a springboard for wider economic development.” Mr Annan explained.

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Unemployment: NYSC proposes grass cutter, snail and bee businesses

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

T

he Director General of NYSC, Brigade General Nnamdi Okore- Affia, has asked corps members to consider grass cutter and snail rearing businesses after their national youth service. Saying they would benefit immensely from such venture, he said it is also one of the ways to beat massive unemployment in the county.

He was speaking at the Newsworld Leadership forum organized by the Nigerian Pilot newspapers in Abuja. He posited that though it may sound funny, there is a ready market for grass cutter and snails rearing especially as government jobs are no longer available.

Affia said that it is no longer news how Nigerian graduates thronged the streets looking for jobs which are no longer available. "The NYSC therefore, felt the need to introduce skills acquisition for corps members.

So, we told those who are willing, to take advantage of certain skills which are agro based and thereafter, we will give them something to enable them practice at the end of their service year in case the labour market is unfriendly and the jobs are not available" "We have skills in the area of animal husbandry, fish farming, grass cutter farming, snail rearing and bee keeping. It may sound funny to corps members and their parents or guardians that their children who have graduated are asked to access the opportunities, but if you go out there, especially where night life thrives, these, sell a lot. And if you have a good business producing grass cutter, there is a ready market waiting for you. It is an alternate means of livelihood; it does not negate your training in school".

To build on the skills acquisition, the NYSC also introduced the War Against Poverty initiate derived from the MDGs. This qualifies corps members who partake in the schemes' skills acquisition training, and who, at the end of their one year

service are desirous of servicing their own businesses to get interest free loans.

Affia explained that the main requirement is to have a workable MOU and a guarantor, while the only collateral required is the certificate of national service which will be released to the corps member at the completion of payment of the loan facility. So far close to three thousand corps members have shown interest to access the loans ranging from N150, 000 to N250, 000 per individual for small scale enterprise, he stated.

The Director General expressed optimism that the initiative is paying off. "That these loans are being repaid by the first set of beneficiaries is an indication that their businesses are thriving and that we are beginning to find answers to large-scale unemployment because for every business that succeeds, members of the community benefit wth local hands being engaged too".

After over 38 years of the NYSC, Affia said it was high time new initiatives were fashioned to redirect the scheme. According to him, "Thirty eight years is a long time to pursue the agenda of unity. I did my NYSC 31 years ago but I discovered when I came on board as DG, that NYSC was

still running the same programmes as when I was a corps member. We then decided that there was a need for a paradigm shift to reposition NYSC, to embrace modern day reality".

As a result prominence was given to the areas of posting by the scheme.

Before now corps members were posted to every available space that needed subsidised labour, the DG observed, saying that was not correct, and if NYSC was established to foster national unity, then corps members should be seen to render service to the nation first, before service to self and service to private organisations or individuals. For instance, "we looked at corps members serving in banks and private organisations, where does the national service come in if they are sent to banks?, Affia queried.

To foster national unity, the NYSC decided to bring back the concept of real national service by posting corps members to rural communities to render services in education, primary health care for instance, because it was discovered that these communities will not only benefit from corps manpower but they will also begin to appreciate the need for national unity. The posting policy was therefore designed to address such key areas namely

education, agriculture, infrastructural development and primary health care.

The realization that most organizations and private individuals shed their responsibility in enhancing employment opportunities for the teaming youths in Nigeria, also made the NYSC to discourage the use of corps members for cheap labour.

According to the DG, because we now have 3 Batches per service year, many organisations wait for each batch to come on board to replace the batches passing out, that means that they do not bother to go to the labour market and recruit Nigerians. So it was felt that if such organizations were deprived of corps members, they would feel compelled to employ Nigerians. The implementation of this policy was commenced with Batch A of 2012.

All these were aside the review of the contents of the orientation course programmes, which have always been dominated by Man O' War activities, drills, parades and a few lectures on the cultures, traditions and history of host communities. As such the NYSC introduced some elements of martial art training in its orientation training, especially targeted at female corps members for self defense.

Borno gov. donates N411m to IFAD-CBARDP programme

T

he Borno state Government has donated N411 million to the International Fund for Agriculture (IFAD), Community Based Agriculture and Rural Development Programme (CBARDP).

This was contained in a statement issued by Communication Expert of IFAD in Nigeria, Mr Mouktar Adamu, recently in Abuja.

The statement said the donation would fast-track the implementation of the activities of the IFAD-CBARDP programmes in the state.

According to the statement, it would also enable the state to catch up with the serious time-lag experienced compared with other

participating states due to the lack of government support, noting that, “the amount, totaling N411,700. 00 million included N51 million to the State Support Office (SSO).”

“And the sum of N359 million to the nine participating local governments of Askira-Uba, Kwaya, Kusar, Gwoza, Kalabalge, New Marte, Guzamala, Gubio and Kaga.”

The statement said that the donation would provide a cushion for the implementation of the state’s 2012 planned activities whereby draw-downs would be faster and intensified.

It noted that the states had only drawn about N159 million from IFAD-assisted programme from

2003 to October 2011.

The statement, however, said that the state CBARDP had recorded a lot of successes in its activities in spite of the paucity of funds, adding that the donation would intensify the programme.

It said that that the National Programme Coordinator of IFADCBARDP, Alhaji Abu Kankia, described the donation as commendable.

The statement assured the state that serious and focused efforts would be made to justify the confidence and support to the programme, while urging other participating states to continue giving their support to the programme. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 30

Tackling agriculture’s challenges A

griculture is important sector for the development of every economy, as it has high potential for employment generation, food security, poverty reduction and industrial growth.

It is not surprising therefore, that agriculture was made one of the key sectors that will drive the President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration Transformation Agenda Programme. It would be recalled that the Agricultural Transformation Agenda (ATA) of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was launched in July 2011.

The programme was designed to make agriculture the mainstay of the economy as well as give priority to rural development.

Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Akinwumi Adesina, recently during a summit on agriculture held in Washington DC, assured that Nigeria was set to make agriculture the mainstay of its economy. He noted at the summit organised by the Embassy of Nigeria in Washington DC, which agriculture accounted for 75 per cent of the growth of the non-oil sector of the Nigerian economy.

Adesina also articulated investment opportunities in the nation’s agriculture sector and assured Nigerians of the possibility of reclaiming the country’s position as a net exporter of food.

Similarly, the minister, who spoke in Abuja, at a Ministerial Platform, marking President Goodluck Jonathan’s first anniversary, restated that the ATA was designed to create jobs.

“The agenda is set to create over 3.5 million jobs from rice, cassava, sorghum, cocoa and cotton value chains, with many more jobs to come from other value chains under implementation.

“The programme also aims to provide over N300 billion of additional income in the hands of Nigerian farmers. Over N60 billion is to be injected into the economy from the substitution of 20 per cent of bread wheat flour, with cassava flour.”

The minister also said that the implementation of the ATA would enhance food security by increasing production of key food staples by 20 million tonnes, listing the key staples as rice, cassava and sorghum, adding that priority would be given to the cultivation of cotton, maize, oil palm, dairy, beef and leather, among others.

Adesina also announced that private sector-driven commodity trade and market development corporations would also be established, saying the corporations would coordinate the various commodity value chains to enhance competitiveness.

To make the commodities to conform to international standard, he said, 18 Staple Crop Processing Zones (SCPZ) would be established across the country.

“This would also link farmers in clusters to food manufacturing plants, create jobs and drive rapid rural economic growth.

“Operators in these zones will receive fiscal, investment and infrastructure incentives, “the minister said, adding that a

Farmers harvesting cassava national farmers data base had been introduced.

The minister said that farmers were being registered as existing data on agricultural census and farmers’ cooperatives were also being harmonised for effective implementation of ATA. He said the ministry was also collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to use Guarantee Minimum Price (GMP) to stabilise prices and to absorb excess output of agricultural produce.

The minister explained that the move was designed to encourage increased production of commodities in a manner that would benefit the stakeholders involved in the ATA value chain process.

“This administration will be promoting agricultural mechanisation through the use of farm machinery, implements, and processing machines for the

production of crops, livestock and fish as well as their finished products.

“We are identifying existing and new private sector operators, that will provide mechanisation support through leasing, hiring and rentals to the farmers.”

On cassava production, the minister said, a lot had been achieved under the Value Chain Mechanism, adding that, through the Cassava Value Chains, sustainable demand had been created in the “industrial food, beverage and chemical sector for cassava and cassava-based products.

The minister said the use of modern technology was encouraged in manufacturing activities, in order to reposition Nigeria as a leading producer and processor of cassava.

“We will accommodate the utilisation of high quality cassava flour, as 20 per cent substitution of

wheat flour for making bread and confectionery through public private partnership arrangement with multinational,” Adesina explained.

On his part, the Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development, Alhaji Bukar Tijani, emphasised the desire of the administration to expand economic opportunities for Nigerian farmers.

He stressed the need for all relevant stakeholders in the agroindustry to engage in workable partnership in order to achieve success in the agro-business.

While stressing the importance of forming alliances with processors, out growers, input agencies and banks, Bukar suggested that insurance firms should be brought in to enhance growth in the sector.

The Abuja Station Manager, International Institute of Tropical Agriculture (IITA), Mr Olusegun

Adunoye, appealed to Nigerians to embrace ATA. He said Nigerians should ensure the success of the programme, as it would help to reduce the high level of unemployment and poverty in the country.

On value chains for some crops, he observed that Nigerians had great preference for already processed foreign foods at the expense of local foods.

“We have fresh foods on our farms which are nutritious and very cheap compared to foods that have lost their nutrient values which we import at exorbitant prices.

“Most of these countries that export foods to Nigeria feed on fresh food. Sometimes they export to us food items that have stored for 15 years after production.”

He stressed that Nigerians must patronise locally processed foods, especially rice, adding that people who feed on fresh foods live longer.

Also speaking, Dr Ben Odoemena, the Country Programme Officer, International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) advocates the adoption of yield-enhancing technology to make produce competitive.

He said that the country’s agriculture would not be competitive without improved productivity, as increased productivity would reduce the cost of labour as well as the unit cost of output.

“You cannot make Nigerian agriculture competitive without improving productivity; because once productivity is increased, the cost of labour drops. The unit cost of your output will also drop, thereby making you very available to the consumers.

“If consumers cannot access your products at a price they can afford, then certainly you are not competitive and you are out of business.”

Meanwhile, some experts who spoke on the potentials of the agriculture sector in Nigeria are expecting the ministry to implement policies which will restore the lost glories in the sector.

(NAN)

African agribusiness: AfDB launches investment initiative A

By Mohammed Kandi

n initiative, “Fund of funds”, with potentials to facilitate unprecedented investments in the agribusiness sector throughout the African continent has been launched.

This followed intensive efforts

by African leaders at ensuring that Africa’s agriculture and food security gets increasing prominence on the global agenda, especially during the recent G8 Summit in Camp David, pledging to promote investments in sustainable agriculture on the continent.

President, African Development Bank Group (AfDB), Donald Kaberuka, in a statement issued at

the Annual General Meetings, stated: “A Fund of Funds focused on agribusiness investments on the African continent.

This transformative initiative will address growing food security concerns and unleash the largely untapped potential of the African agriculture and agribusiness sectors.”

“There was broad consensus that it is the right thing to do, it is doable and it’s good for the world.

The Summit was about growth, and growth in Africa begins with agriculture,” the President said.

In his own view, Mouhamadou Niang, Manager at AfDB’s Private Sector Department, stated: “The potential will of course only

materialize through efficient and responsive implementation. I have no doubt that with the combined experience of the international fund manager, its local African banking partner, the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) as environmental advisor, and AfDB’s oversight as sponsor, this transformative goal will be achieved in the medium term.”

As the first initiative of this nature on the continent, this Fund of funds, the manager said, will catalyze investment into the agribusiness sector with the ultimate goal of inclusive job creation and promoting innovative, environmentally sustainable approaches throughout the agribusiness value chain.

Meanwhile, the “Fund of Funds” will be in compliance with a state-of-the-art environmental and social management system, currently being developed by AfDB in cooperation with the WWF, just as the initiative is in line with AfDB’s strategy to support private sector development on the continent.

It is complementary to current efforts undertaken by AfDB’s in cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and The United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) in the context of the African Agribusiness and Agroindustries Development Initiative (3ADI).

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

ANALYSIS

By Larbi Sadiki

A

bdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh is unique. He has a long history of fighting against the political power structures within Egypt. These experiences have enabled him to develop the much needed stamina and exceptional qualities to help reshape his country's political landscape.

In this historical juncture of Egypt's democratic reconstruction, Aboul Fotouh is a credible figure, and refuses to hold any grudges against the Ikhwan.

He speaks about them with a tone affection and respect. He is now rooting for Dr Mohammed Morsi and the Muslim Brotherhood (EMB) in their quest for the presidency. However,this may seem strange, as the EMB, where Aboul Fotouh was for decades schooled in politics and activism, is primarily what stood between him and the presidency. In fact, the EMB partly fielded its own candidate to deny one of its rebellious prodigal sons for with refusal to close ranks with the formidable Ikhwan.

There are two reasons for this.

The able and seasoned EMB stalwart, Dr Morsi, shares many of the qualities and political values that distinguish Aboul Fotouh.

More importantly, Aboul Fotouh is a humble leader who places premium on ideas, institutions and values - less so on personalities.

Based on 20 years of contact with and knowledge of the physician, I suspect that little will stand in the way of Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh from reconciling with the EMB and playing a major mediating role in the lead-up to the mid-June Morsi-Shafiq runoff election to decide Egypt's first civilian and democratically elected president.

Abdel Moneim who?

I recall meeting the Aboul Fotouh in 1992 - still a fresh doctoral candidate at the Australian National University.

The subject of my investigation was notions of democracy in the discourse of four Islamist movements - Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood (EMB), Tunisia's Nahda Party (NP), Jordan Islamic Action Front (IAF), and Sudan's Islamic Front led then by Hassan Al-Turabi.

Of all of the Islamists I met and engaged with in discussion over democracy during that period, coming soon after the Algerian debacle, Aboul Fotouh was amongst the limited number of interlocutors who felt at ease with that concept and the whole notion of good government. Then, the concept was not as yet popular with most Islamists. Not even the creative Rashid Ghannouchi, whom I sat with and interviewed many times for the purpose of my PhD and beyond, had at the time acquired a firm grip on the term.

It was largely considered for being a specifically Western concept underpinned by Western values.

At the time, 'democracy' in Islamist parlance, lacked the scruples and rigour of shura, Islam's consultative ethos, even though the likes of the innovative Hassan Al-Turabi in Sudan sought

PAGE 31

The ‘blueprint’ for Arab Muslim democrats (I)

More than 40 years ago, Dr Aboul Fotouh defended Egypt and Egyptians in a rare audience with the Pharaoh that was Sadat, accusing him of hypocrisy. He did that as a student in his early 20s [AP] a move towards defining a shurademocracy synthesis. Regardless, cynicism prevailed and the fact that that Algeria's generals booted out democracy violently and with Western approval or indifference indefinitely postponing a shortlived experiment in pluralist politics - added to doubts about the future of Western democracy.

The ray of hope came from Abdel Moneim Aboul Fotouh. The research looked gloomy - with the qualified exception of sophisticated discourse by the NP exiles in France - which at time counted amongst their ranks Habib Mokni, Ridha Idriss, Lotfi Zitoun and of course Ghannouchi himself.

Aboul Fotouh did not fear democracy nor did he get bogged down into the semantics of how to wed shura and democracy.

Younger by 20 years than his current 61 years of age but no less mature intellectually, he was always quick to point out that the spirit of Islam, or the maqasid, the Godly sanctions, were intended to deliver humanity from oppression in its entirety and facilitate eudemonia (happiness) in this world and the hereafter. As a system dedicated to selfgovernance, democracy for 41year-old Aboul Fotouh did not then contradict with the spirit of Islam.

Listening to his ideas was a reassurance that Islamist discourses were nuanced. It encouraged me to get on with the

inquiry upon return to the ANU. Over the years, I was able to interview him more than a dozen times. In a down-to-earth manner, he reasons that "Islam's gems and beauty are validated only through the travails of continuous testing... " Theory is for the theologians; but lived Islam is for the mortals who translate God's word. When they err, Dr Aboul Fotouh reasons, they can keep on trying to improve till they find the right balance, according to time, space and good intention, in bridging the gap between the theory of Islam and practice, that is to embrace Islam and live up to Godly sanctions.

Not even in Egypt with its huge pool of intellectual talent, was that kind of thinking commonplace. Dr Aboul Fotouh was then, as he is today a breath of fresh air. There was intellectual resonance in his discourse hinting at deep influence by one of the Muslim world's most exegetical minds, his compatriot the late Sheikh Mohammed Al-Ghazzali.

I had the privilege of interviewing many of the leading voices with the EMB for over twenty years, including the Brotherhood's current candidate, the versatile and modest Dr Morsi, and consider Dr Aboul Fotouh to be a class act. However, he has one flaw, his Achilles' heel as it were: he is very honest to the point of having an absensce of

“

political cunning or guile.

I have sought to profile Dr Aboul Fotouh by tracing his robust intellectual and moral lineage as an uncompromising defender and practitioner of both Islam and democracy. Egypt's post-Mubarak leadership calls for figures that have what it takes to be aided by Islam and democracy so that they, in turn, can aid both.

The assets that will make Dr Aboul Fotouh prominent during this phase of transition are all contained within him as a sociopolitical and moral quality. The twist in all of this is that man who might denied him the presidency, Dr Morsi, learnt his activism, dedication, discipline and politics in the same school as Aboul Fotouh: the Ikhwan.

The pharaoh and the student First, no profile of Dr Aboul Fotouh is complete without distilling meaning from his encounter with Egypt's second and omnipotent president, the late Mohamed Anwar Al-Sadat.

All of those who contested the presidency in Egypt must be asked where they were in 1977 when Aboul Fotouh stood up to Sadat. That was a historical day - in my view, the day when Dr Aboul Fotouh's campaign for a democratic Egypt began.

To stand up to Sadat, a kind of Pharaoh reincarnate, was no small political feat. He spoke eloquently and fearlessly. Dr Aboul

Not even in Egypt with its huge pool of intellectual talent, was that kind of thinking commonplace. Dr Aboul Fotouh was then, as he is today a breath of fresh air.

Fotouh, then only 26 years-old, took a jab at Sadat when he rose to speak, to lambast sycophantic or hypocritical figures the president kept in his posse. The young physician was referring to the dismal state of civil and political rights when non-establishment preachers were banned, including at the time, Sheikh Al-Ghazzali. As the elected president of the Cairo University's Representative Council at the time, Aboul Fotouh had the detention of student protesters uppermost in his mind before Sadat retorted with his own scorn ending the young Islamist's verbal outburst.

In those few minutes in 1977, Dr Aboul Fotouh managed to settle Egypt's Pharaoh more than did, at the time, the entire media and any other oppositional network, long before the rise of legalised political parties. Sadat called the meeting after the 1977 bread riots or uprising and was not interested in a discussion he was seeking to calm down an explosive atmosphere in Egypt.The young physician paid a high price for that short but moral stand - and as Aboul Fotouh recounts this fondly, he never regretted speaking truth to power - as it were. He was not only barred from teaching at medical schools, but was also imprisoned in 1981, during Sadat's last month of fury against civil society and all kinds of dissidents - the next month he was assassinated.

So Dr Aboul Fotouh's interest in public affairs is not new. In the prime of youth he stood up for Egypt against a man who could have easily locked him indefinitely and thrown away the keys. In an act of defiance in an audience with the highest patriarch in a patrimonial regime, Dr Aboul Fotouh did not mince his words. He seized the moment, at the same time showing dissidence way beyond the call of duty.

Aboul Fotouh is not someone who would fail to display leadership - and this includes an ability to differ honestly and openly. This is trait is undoubtedly the cause behind his demise within the EMB. He broke ranks, rejecting the ritual of obedience or perhaps the culture of deference expected of high-ranking leaders within the EMB's structure. He would have been a natural choice for presidential candidate had he kept his senior position in the brotherhood.

Larbi Sadiki is a Senior Lecturer in Middle East Politics at the University of Exeter, and author of Arab Democratization: Elections without Democracy (Oxford University Press, 2009) and The Search for Arab Democracy: Discourses and Counter-Discourses Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 32

A

Rwanda military aiding DRC mutiny, report says

Congolese government troops are trying to suppress the mutiny in the east of the country

N

ew evidence has emerged that the Rwandan military is aiding rebels in the Democratic Republic of Congo, Human Rights Watch says.

The rights group says former rebels have described how Rwanda provided the rebellion with hundreds of recruits and also with weapons and ammunition.

Rwanda also offered shelter to renegade leader Bosco Ntaganda, wanted by the International Criminal Court, HRW says.

The Rwandan government has denied any involvement in April's mutiny.

Correspondents say the report does not go as far as explicitly accusing the government of approving support for the rebels, but calls on Kigali to ensure it is stopped.

The mutiny was led by fighters from Gen Ntaganda's former rebel group the CNDP, which was integrated into the Congolese national army in 2009 as part of a peace deal.

Over the weekend, the political wing of CNDP pulled out of a political alliance with Congolese President Joseph Kabila, which it joined as part of the 2009 peace process, and officially allied itself with the rebels now known as M23.

"The M23 soldiers are our brothers," a spokesperson, Antoine Mahamba, told our reporter, adding that the group's provincial minister in North Kivu has resigned.

Rwanda should immediately stop all support to Ntaganda and assist in his arrest" Latest reports say the rebels are holed up on three hills close to the Rwandan border.

The report cited defecting soldiers who said they had been trained in Rwanda under the pretext of joining the army, before being sent over the border to fight.

HRW now says the Rwandan military was directly involved in providing the rebels with between 200-300 men.

Libyan armed brigade has withdrawn from Tripoli's international airport after seizing control of the complex earlier in the day.

The official said on Monday that the group, called al-Awfea Brigade, from the town of Tarhouna, 80km southeast of Tripoli, had demanded the release of one of their leaders who they said had disappeared two nights ago.

The agency said the gunmen fired into the air, slightly wounding an airport employee and causing panic among travellers.

Al Jazeera's correspondent Omar al-Saleh in Benghazi that the group "have heavy weapons and they are not allowing flights to land or take off. All flights have been diverted".

"Cars mounted with antiaircraft guns and armed men are surrounding the aircraft and preventing them from moving," an official told AFP, adding that some passengers were forced to leave planes The ruling National Transitional Council spokesman Mohammed alHarizy said the Awfea head, Colonel Abu Oegeila alHebeishi was kidnapped by unknown armed rebels while travelling between Tarhouna and Tripoli late last night.

Mohammed al-Harizi, spokesman for Libya's interim government, said

Libyan fighters withdraw from Tripoli airport

An anti-Gaddafi fighter - just outside Bin Jawad - brandishes his weapon earlier that an investigation had been launched to determine the circumstances of the Al-Awfya brigade commander.

Tripoli's security commission, which answers to the interior ministry, said it had nothing to do with "the disappearance and abduction of Colonel Abu Ajila al-

Habshi" and that it was still tracking those responsible.

The ruling National Transitional Council (NTC) is still struggling to fully integrate many Libyans who fought forces loyal to dictator Muammar Gadaffi, who was ousted and killed in October last year. The former rebel fighters have remained in organised

armed brigades, taking upon themselves to ensure law and order in the absence of fully functional police and armed forces.

The developments come as a Libyan official revealed to Al Jazeera that the country's assembly elections will be delayed until the first week of July at the earliest.

conflict.

The men from Ukraine, Russia and Belarus were found guilty of repairing surface-to-air-missile

batteries.

Sentences range from life imprisonment for the man identified as the group's coordinator, to 10 years of hard labour for the others.

The men deny the charges and insist they were just oil workers in Libya.

The judgment, the first of its kind, was handed down following several hearings in recent months.

The men were captured by rebel fighters last August in the Tripoli suburb of Girgaresh, shortly after Col Gaddafi's regime was toppled.

They were reportedly detained along with a number of Africans and Libyans also accused of being

mercenaries.

Ukraine has rejected the judgment, saying the men were innocent.

Ukrainian ambassador Mykola Nahornyi told Reuters news agency they had initially come to Libya to work for an oil company, but were forced to stay on after conflict broke out to help build anti-aircraft material.

"The court's verdict was inconsistent with the laws of the countries of the citizens who were tried," he said. "We will continue our efforts to appeal and our final goal is to bring these citizens home."

The former Gaddafi regime maintained close ties with Europe's Eastern Bloc for decades.

…Libya jails 24 ‘foreign mercenaries’ who claim innocence

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Libyan court has jailed 24 foreigners accused of being mercenaries for Muammar Gaddafi's regime during last year's

The 24 eastern European prisoners maintain they were oil workers in Libya

African migrants hurt in Jerusalem ‘arson attack’

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he fire was started at the entrance to the two-storey building on Jaffa Street in the city centre after 03:00 (00:00 GMT), trapping the 10 Eritreans inside.

Graffiti found at the scene read: "We want the foreigners out."

There is increasing argument and dissent in Israel over what to do with the 60,000 Africans who have entered the country illegally in recent years.

On Sunday, a new law came into force allowing immigration authorities to detain illegal migrants for up to three years.

The four Eritreans injured in Monday's attack were taken to hospital with burns on their hands and suffering from smoke inhalation.

Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told Al-Jazeera: "We

believe that those individuals from the African foreign community were targeted specifically."

We don't need to import more problems from Africa" End Quote Eli Yishai Israeli Interior Minister He said the building had graffiti sprayed on its walls saying: "We want the foreigners out."

In south Tel Aviv, in particular, African-run businesses have been attacked and many migrants have been abused in the streets, our correspondent adds.

"This was the first incident which has taken place... on a level of a specific attack," Mr Rosenfeld said.

The police spokesman said that of the 60,000 illegal immigrants

living in Israel, an estimated 35,000 of them lived in the Tel Aviv area and about 5,000 in Jerusalem.

In a newspaper interview on

Friday, Interior Minister Eli Yishai referred to African migrants as a demographic threat who could "end the Zionist dream".

Israelis staged demonstrations against racism after race-related violence in Tel Aviv earlier this month Four African migrants have been hurt in a suspected arson attack on their home in Jerusalem, Israeli police say.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 33

Blast targets Shia charity office in Iraq Reaction from The Mall to Prince Philip A missing concert powerful car bomb has exploded outside a Shia administration office in central Baghdad, killing several people and wounding many others, according to Iraqi officials.

Iraqi officials say that at least 18 people were killed and up to 100 injured in Monday's attack.

The blast targeted the Shia Endowment office - a government-run body that looks after Shia religious sites damaging its headquarters and a nearby health administration office, police said.

The blast destroyed the facade of the three-storey

building, and was the deadliest single attack in the country in three months, according to Iraqi officials.

In apparent retaliation, a mortar shell hit close to Iraq's main office for Sunni Muslim religious affairs in northeastern Baghdad later on Monday, but caused no damage or injuries.

Violence has dropped sharply in Iraq in recent years, but attacks on government offices and members of the security forces, aimed at undermining the Shia-led ruling coalition, are still common.

Monday's explosion came at a time of a prolonged political

paralysis caused by sectarian tensions.

Nouri al-Maliki, the prime minister, issued a statement regarding the attack, which said: "We strongly condemn the cowardly terrorist attack ... and confirm that these ugly crimes will fail in planting sectarian sedition between Iraqi people ... the terrorist attack that targeted the Sunni Endowment later today is proof that there is one side that is trying to ignite sedition."

Monday's attack was the deadliest in Iraq since March 5, when assailants waving the battle flag of al-Qaeda killed 25 policemen in the western Iraqi town of Haditha.

Reaction to Prince Philip missing concert Watch 路 Jubilee crowds

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he Duke of Edinburgh has been taken to hospital with a bladder infection, to the disappointment to members of the public gathered outside Buckingham Palace for the Diamond Jubilee concert.

One member of the public, speaking to AlJazeera, said the news was "sad for the Queen because it is her special weekend".

Prince Philip, who is 90, has been taken to the King Edward VII Hospital in London from Windsor

Castle as a " p r e c a u t i o n a r y measure".

He will miss the Diamond Jubilee concert at the palace - being attended by 12,000 people - but the Queen will still go, a palace spokesman said.

Monday's blast in central Baghdad was the deadliest single attack in the country in three months [Reuters]

EU officials pressure Russia over Syria

V

ladimir Putin is meeting senior European Union officials for summit talks in Saint Petersburg, with the newly elected Russian president expected to come under pressure to harden his country's stance on the Syrian crisis.

Official talks got under way on Monday at the Konstantinovsky Palace in the suburbs of the Baltic city, with EU leaders also expected to press Putin over its opposition to tougher action against Iran over its nuclear programme.

But the situation in Syria appeared likely to emerge as the sharpest point of contention, with

Russia refusing to sanction tougher action against Damascus by using its veto powers on the UN Security Council.

Putin met on Sunday evening Herman Van Rompuy and Jose Manuel Barroso, the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission respectively, for an informal dinner.

"We fully agree that the Annan plan as a whole provides the best opportunity to break the cycle of violence in Syria... avoiding a civil war," Van Rompuy said after talks with Putin.

"We need to combine our efforts in order for this to

happen."

But Putin has so far displayed no sign that Moscow is preparing to abandon its Cold War-era ally, despite growing i n t e r n a t i o n a l condemnation of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government over continued deadly violence in the country.

Russia's foreign ministry has stated that the only way out of the crisis involves a cessation of violence and support for the peace plan of the UN-Arab League mediator, Kofi Annan.

"Russia will continue supporting this position and calls on other states to do the same," it said.

Van Rompuy, left, and Barroso, centre, are expected to press the case for tougher action on Syria [Reuters]

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Gunmen in Mexico attack drug rehab centre

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n attack on a drug rehabilitation centre in northwestern Mexico has left at least 11 people dead and nine others wounded, according to police.

The attack on Sunday evening in the city of Torreon is believed to have been carried out by contract gunmen, officials said.

"The armed attackers came on two pickup trucks, entered the centre and opened fire," a senior police official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the AFP news agency.

The gunmen used assault rifles and handguns, the police noted, saying more people could have been wounded in the attack.

According to witnesses, some of those wounded walked away from the centre and disappeared before the police arrived.

The dead have not been identified yet.

The assault took place nearly a year after an attack on a similar rehabilitation centre in Torreon, located in Coahuila

state, that left 11 people dead and two wounded.

In 2010, five drug rehabilitation centres - all in the north of the country - were attacked.

More than 50,000 people are believed to have been killed in drug-related violence in the Central American country since 2006.

That year the government launched a military crackdown on the country's powerful drug cartels, which are themselves locked in brutal turf wars marked by violence such as beheadings and mass graves.

The government's official count of more than 47,000 dead has not been updated since last September.

Japanese PM shakes up cabinet

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oshihiko Noda, Japan's prime minister, has reshuffled his cabinet, bowing to opposition pressure for ministerial scalps as he looks to secure cross-party support for a sales tax increase.

Noda on Monday announced a limited rejig naming five new ministers and called on the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to give their backing to a bill that would eventually double sales tax and help partially plug a gaping budgetary hole.

"I decided to reshuffle and strengthen the cabinet so as to

create an environment that enables progress in issues including an overall reform of social security and tax," Noda told reporters.

Noda has staked his premiership on the sales tax, which would bring it to 10 per cent by 2015 from five per cent now.

International bodies, academics and journalists all agree the raise is a sensible measure in the battle to overhaul Japan's debt mountain, which currently stands at about twice GDP.

More than 50,000 people are believed to have been killed in drug-related violence in Mexico since 2006 [Reuters]

Jail terms in Kazakhstan riot trial

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Noda reshuffled his cabinet hoping to smooth the way to a deal with the opposition on doubling the sales tax [AFP]

Cuban revolution ages as Raul Castro turns 81

C

uban President Raul Castro has marked his 81st birthday, exposing for another year the absence of indicators that the country's leadership is moving quickly to prepare younger successors.

Castro proposed in April 2011 to impose term limits on everyone in government including himself, but that has yet to be enacted. His retired older brother Fidel is 85-yearsold while his two top deputies are 81 and 80 respectively.

"Time and again they've postponed elevating figures from the next generation to the top levels of leadership," said Philip Peters, a Cuba analyst at the Virginia-based Lexington Institute.

"It creates some uncertainty."

Discussion of Cuba's future beyond the Castros crops up year after year in a testament to the brothers' staying power, offering a reminder to both their

court in Kazakhstan has jailed more than a dozen people for mounting mass riots in a western oil town last year at the end of a trial in the Central Asian nation.

Thirteen people were sentenced on Monday to between three and seven years in jail for their involvement in the unrest, during which at least 14 people died.

A further 16 people on trial were granted conditional sentences, five were granted amnesty and three were acquitted.

Al Jazeera's Robin ForestierWalker, reporting from Kazakhstan, said that rights groups have taken issue with how evidence was collected for the case.

"Human Rights Watch has strongly criticised the way this trial was conducted because of the numerous allegations of torture by the defendants and by the witnesses," he said.

T

as happened back in December, can expect very severe consequences."

The unrest in Zhanaozen in December came after a sevenmonth-long occupation of the main square by oil workers demanding higher salaries.

Relatives of 37 protesters accused waited for four hours for the judge to deliver his verdict [Reuters]

China and US in Tiananmen anniversary row At 81, Raul Castro is already 15 years past Cuba's official retirement age [Reuters]

C

hina has expressed "strong dissatisfaction" over a statement issued by the US calling for the release of prisoners still detained over the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing.

Deaths in latest drone strike in Pakistan he third US drone strike in as many days in Pakistan has raised the three-day death toll in the aerial attacks to at least 27, according to Pakistani intelligence officials.

Monday's strike in the Hesokhel village of North Waziristan's tribal areas, was said to have targeted a hideout for fighters, officials said.

The latest strike, which officials said had killed 15

The government said it has "given a good account of itself, that its been even-handed in its justice ... but many believe here that [the trial] has had a very political element to it, that anyone, effectively, who has dared to challenge this government,

people, was the seventh in a span of less than two weeks.

The attack on Monday morning came just after a strike on Sunday that killed 10 suspected fighters.

Two Pakistani intelligence officials say in that attack, four missiles were fired at targets in the village of Mana Raghzai in South Waziristan near the border with neighbouring Afghanistan.

The continued US drone campaign, which has accelerated under President Barack Obama, has become a point of contention between Islamabad and Washington.

Al Jazeera's Imtiaz Tyab, reporting from Islamabad, said the recent spate of attacks have led to a "pretty toxic [relationship] right now between Islamabad and Washington".

The response from China's foreign ministry on Monday came on the 23rd anniversary of the quashing of pro-democracy demonstrations by the Chinese military in which hundreds of protesters are estimated to have been killed.

The US statement, issued by the Department of State, called on Beijing to "provide a full public accounting of those killed, detained or missing; and to end the continued harassment of demonstration participants and their families."

"We renew our call for China to protect the universal human rights of all its citizens; release those who have been wrongfully detained, prosecuted, incarcerated, forcibly disappeared, or placed under house arrest; and end the ongoing harassment of human rights activists

and their families," said the statement, issued by Mark Toner, the Department of State's deputy spokesman.

The 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in China gained international coverage, with an image of a lone protester obstructing a column of tanks, bringing the protests to the attention of the world at a time when citizens of the Soviet Union and Communist countries in eastern Europe were gaining greater freedoms.

But on June 4 the Chinese military dispersed the protesters using tanks and live ammunition.

No official toll has been provided, but estimates range from hundreds to more than 1,000 killed, with up to 10,000 injured and thousands detained.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 35

My husband told me to get a boob job and a toyboy after he died. He’d be proud of me now.

Phil’s a great lover and I can’t get enough of him

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reat-gran Joan Lloyd, 66, on relationship that spans 38-year age gap GreatGran Joan Lloyd has found love with a toyboy 38 years her junior, after fulfilling her dead husband's last wish that she get a Boob Job. After he died in 2010, the former model spent £4,250 of her life-savings on breast implants, taking her from an A to an F cup - as The Sun reported at the time.

Unemployed Phil came across her photos on Facebook and got in touch with Joan.

Following weeks of messages and phone calls, Joan finally agreed to meet the former photographer and the chemistry was instant.

Now the mother of four, from Abergele, north Wales - who has 13 grandchildren as well as seven great-grandchildren says Phil has given her a new lease of life.

Joan said: "Before he died David told me to get a boob job and a toyboy after his death.

"He said, 'Get your boobs sorted out. They're not as good as they used to be.' I know that he would be proud of me now."

Joan says it took her children a little while to accept her new

The 66-year-old OAP has moved Phil Absolom, 28, into the home she used to share with late hubby David.

Dying wish Joan's husband David didn't want her to be alone

relationship but now she and Phil plan to holiday in Cuba with her daughter Anne, 45, and her partner.

Joan says: "After the story about my new boobs made it into The Sun, I received almost 500 Facebook messages from young men asking me out.

"I chose Phil because he was quite persistent and ever so sweet.

"We talked on the phone for hours - I ran up a £680 phone bill in a couple of weeks.

"I was due to go to London and I asked Phil if he'd like to join me at the hotel. He took me for an Italian meal, then stayed over with me.

Laughing, she says: "We didn't get a lot of sleep that night."

Despite the age gap, Joan insists it is Phil who has trouble keeping up with HER. Fitness fanatic Joan does 300 press-ups as well as running five miles every day.

She says: "Phil calls me his pocket rocket as I have so much energy.

"We're like a couple of kids we love having water fights and playing Monopoly.

"I'll hide and then jump out on him to give him a scare and he throws pillows at me.

"We're like two peas in a pod.

It's like we've been together for years.

"The only time I can't understand him is when he uses modern slang terms that I don't know.

"He called me a 'numpty' the other day and I had to ask my grandson what it meant."

Joan's grandson, Simon, 21, regularly visits the house to talk to Phil about their favourite team, Manchester Utd, and they play the Xbox game Call of Duty.

Meanwhile, Joan says for the

Boy, 12, rapes girl, 9, after viewing porn

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boy of 12 who raped a nine-year-old girl after watching hard-core porn online was shown mercy by a court yesterday.

The lad, now 14, was spared a spell behind bars as a judge instead put him under supervison until he is 18 for the chance to "make something" of himself.

At the High Court in Edinburgh, Lady Smith told him: "You should not and must not regard pornography as any guide at all as to how to behave sexually."

But the boy's lawyer Sean Templeton told the court a generation of youngsters was growing up "with a skewed view of sex" because of early exposure to web porn.

He said "This is the tip of the iceberg. Many cases may not be identified, not reported."

Mr Templeton told how the boy had identified to cops the websites he had visited - and told officers in

an interview he assaulted the little girl so he could feel grown up.

He went on: "He was afforded unfettered access to the internet and it has become apparent from the age of 12, he was accessing hardcore pornography. The

Danger kid online

behaviour witnessed was reminiscent of the acts carried out by him."

The boy, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, had earlier admitted statutory offences of rape and sexual assault committed between December 1 in 2010 and January 31, 2011, in a Scottish island community. The offences did not include full sex.

Prosecutor Jane Farquharson said the offences came to light after the girl complained of a sore stomach and would not accept her mother's explanations for what might be wrong.

The victim eventually asked if her problem could be because she was about to have a baby.

When her mother asked if something had happened, she became hysterical before revealing what the boy had done. Inquiries revealed a 12-year-old friend of the boy had seen a sex act being carried out.

first time in years she is enjoying a fulfilling sex life.

She says: "Phil is a great lover and I can't get enough of him. I'd defy anyone to say I was too old to have a sex life - usually it's him saying he can't keep up with me."

Phil was diagnosed with severe epilepsy when he was 18 and receives incapacity benefit.

The pair use their bus passes to go on shopping trips together.

In February retired carer Joan moved Phil into the home she had shared with her mechanic husband of 49 years.

David and Joan's other children are Peter, 45, and Vivienne, 42.

Joan says: "I cared for David for 15 years. He had a heart and lung condition, cirrhosis of the liver, diabetes and Alzheimer's.

"He wanted me to get a toyboy so I wouldn't be alone. He said I had earned it."

The former model says she loves showing off her new, enhanced figure when she goes out with Phil.

She says: "My husband worked away a lot and was quite a jealous person, so I didn't tend to go out as much as I would have liked.

Handful buxom Joan knows how to keep toyboy Phil busy in the bedroom

Online meeting Joan and Phil got to know each other on Facebook

Ali, 11: I smeared myself in my brother’s blood to escape Syria massacre

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boy who survived a discussed the possibility of slaughter in Syria told military action against Syria at yesterday how he an emergency meeting of the soaked his clothes with his dead National Security Council. brother's blood to fool the No10 said the NSC backed a killers. fresh diplomatic offensive and Ali el-Sayed, 11, said he fell new sanctions against the to the floor and "acted like I was Assad regime. dead" after a bullet fired at him missed.

He smeared himself with blood from his brother, who lay lifeless beside him, and the brutes left believing they had killed Ali. Gunmen burst into his family's home in the middle of the night. They killed Ali's parents and all four of his siblings one by one.

Ali is now being cared for by relatives. Around 50 children were shot or hacked to death in Houla last weekend. Forces loyal to President Bashar Assad were Gruesome: The body was found in a freezer in a fishing company blamed. which Yamada owns LastMr night PM David Cameron

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Drinking plain water instead of fizzy drinks and fruit juice ‘lowers the risk of women developing diabetes’

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omen who choose plain water over sweet fizzy drinks or fruit juice, have a lower risk of developing diabetes.

Replacing sweet drinks with water could help stave off the metabolic disorder, according to researchers at the Harvard School of Public Health.

But adding water to the sugary beverages a person consumes throughout the day won’t make a difference, they said.

The results are based on the drinking habits of 83,000 women followed for more than a decade.

Lead researcher Dr Frank Hu said it is well established that sugary beverages are bad for diabetes risk.

People have recommended drinking plain water instead of sugar-sweetened beverages, he said, ‘and the question is whether this kind of substitution has any impact on diabetes’.

Dr Hu and his team collected data from the massive Nurses Health Study, which tracked the health and lifestyle of tens of thousands of women across the U.S. The study included 82,902 women who answered questions about their diet and health over a 12-year span.

Over time, about 2,700 of

them developed diabetes.

The amount of water women drank did not seem to influence their diabetes risk - those who drank more than six cups a day had the same risk as women who drank less than one cup a day.

However, sugar-sweetened drinks and fruit juice were tied to a higher risk of diabetes - about 10 per cent higher for each cup consumed each day.

The research team estimated that if women replaced one cup of fizzy drink or fruit juice with one cup of plain water, their diabetes risk would fall by 7 or 8 per cent.

While it is not a huge reduction in the risk, ‘because diabetes is so prevalent in our society, even 7 or 8 per cent reduction in diabetes risk is quite substantial in terms of the population,’ Dr Hu said.

About 10 per cent of women, or 12.6million, have diabetes in the U.S. A 7 per cent reduction would mean that instead of ten out of every 100 women having diabetes, the number would be closer to nine out of every 100.

Dr Hu’s study, published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, also found that unsweetened coffee or tea might be a good alternative to sugary beverages.

The researchers estimated

Study: Women who choose plain water over sweet fizzy drinks or fruit juice, have a lower risk of developing diabetes. that replacing one cup of a carbonated drink or fruit juice with one cup of coffee or tea could reduce the risk of developing diabetes by 12 to 17 per cent.

Dr Hu said the study is important in pointing out that fruit juice is not an optimal substitute for soda or other sugar-

sweetened drinks.

He said: ‘The reality is those juices contain the same amount of calories and sugar as soft drinks.’

The bottom line, he said, is that plain water is one of the best calorie-free choices for drinks, and ‘if the water is too plain, you can add a squeeze of lemon or lime’.

Dr Barry Popkin, a professor at the University of North Carolina School of Public Health who was not involved in the study, said: ‘It is essentially not that water helps, except with hydration, but that the others hurt.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Millions risk overdosing on paracetamol by ignoring the recommended daily limit M

illions of people are at risk of unintentionally overdosing on Britain’s most popular painkiller, scientists have warned.

Nearly a quarter of adults taking paracetamol are misusing the drug by exceeding the recommended limit with a 24hour period.

This can lead to accidental overdoses and acute liver damage, according to researchers at Northwestern University in Chicago, who have called for ‘urgent attention’ to address the problem.

Many users ignore the manufacturer’s dosage instructions, while some, particularly the elderly, forget how many tablets they have taken.

Others fail to realise that they are taking various medications containing the active ingredient acetaminophen.

Doctors recommend a maximum daily dose of eight 500mg paracetamol tablets, to be taken no more than two at a time during each four-hour period.

One consequence of an overdose of acetaminophen causing liver failure is a potentially fatal build-up of fluid in the brain.

Lead researcher Dr Michael Wolf and his team looked at the prevalence and potential misuse of pain medication containing acetaminophen as well as the

likelihood of overdosing.

They interviewed 500 adult patients receiving care at outpatient general medicine clinics in Atlanta, Georgia, and Chicago, Illinois, between September 2009 and March 2011.

Over half the patients reported some acetaminophen use and 19 per cent were ‘heavy users’, taking it every day, or at least a couple of times a week, during the previous six months.

The researchers tested

whether these patients understood the recommended dosage and were able to selfadminister over-the-counter acetaminophen appropriately.

They did this by testing if the patients could work out the proper

Risk: Nearly a quarter of adults taking paracetamol are misusing the drug by exceeding the recommended limit with a 24-hour period.

dosing of a single pharmacy medication over a 24-hour period and then assessing the risk of their ‘double-dipping’, or simultaneously taking two acetaminophen-containing products, and thereby exceeding the recommended dose.

The scientists found that nearly a quarter of the participants were at risk of overdosing on pain medication using a single paracetamol product, by exceeding the 4g limit in a 24-hour period Five per cent made serious errors by dosing out more than 6g. In addition, nearly half were at risk of overdosing by ‘doubledipping’ with two acetaminophencontaining products.

Dr Wolf said: ‘Our findings suggest that many consumers do not recognise or differentiate the active ingredient in over-thecounter pain medicines, nor do they necessarily closely adhere to package or label instructions.

‘Given the prevalence of the problem, risk of significant adverse effects, and lack of a learned intermediary - for instance, a physician to guide decision making and counsel consumers on proper use - we believe this to be a serious public health threat requiring urgent attention.’

The research is published online in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 37

PDP government is a failure, says CPC Rep INTERVIEW

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he Administration of President Goddluck Jonathan is one year old.

As a member of the opposition (CPC), how do you rate the performance of the administration?

Well, as far as I’m concerned, this administration has failed woefully. To me, it is not only this administration, but the consistent administration of the PDP. For thirteen years now, the PDP has been ruling this country and nothing has changed. In fact, it is getting worst by the day. So it is time for the PDP to pack its bags and allow serious people who have track record of integrity and transparency to take over. So that this country can move forward.

As far as I’m concerned, PDP has done nothing for Nigeria and Nigerians, be it at Federal, state and the local levels.

What have been the achievements of the 7th Assembly and your achievement as a legislator, in terms of Constituency project and bills sponsored ?

First and foremost, I would start with our ability as legislators to unite and elect our choices as our Speaker and the Deputy Speaker in the likes of Rt. Hon, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Rt. Hon. Emeka Ihedioaha, as our presiding officers. That is our single greatest achievement, because if we had not elected these two honorable gentlemen, then any achievement would not have come. You are a witness to what happened during the removal of petrol subsidy crisis we have when under the leadership of our presiding officers, to conven an emergency session to attend to the serious crisis we find ourselves in.

Despite being Sunday when most of our Christian brothers were supposed to be in their church services, they honour the invitation because of the credibility of our presiding officers.

We sat on that day and at the end took a unanimous resolution on that matter.

There are so many landmarks like that. For example, the stock exchange probe, this is not the kind of Assembly that we are use to in Nigeria. This Assembly is working for the people because, for the first time, our people have come to believe that this Assembly is peoples oriented Assembly, where the interest of the people matters most. Recall during the inauguration of the 7th Assembly, the Speaker told each and every one of us that this Assembly is not business as usual, but business un-

Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi, is member, House of Representatives, representing Bauchi Federal Constituency and Chairman House Committee on Internal Security. In this interview with Umar Mohammed, he speaks on the crisis in his party, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), and performed of the Jonathan presidency in the last one year. Excerpt: usual.

And for our actions and the way we debate on the floor, either in any motion or bill, one would clearly know that this Assembly meant what it says; This is an Assembly that Nigerians can trust and for the first time that this is the Assembly that put the electorate first before the elected.

So this is of leadership being subservient to the people who elected us into the Green Chambers.

And in terms of constituency project, they are there in my constituency for you to see.

Almost all the promises that I made during my campaign, even before we were sworn in, I have started dispatching them. In education sector, I was able to provide computers to all primary schools in Bauchi. In line with the vision of my party, the CPC. We believe that computer education should not be seen as something that is reserved for the rich and the privileged few, it would be made available to everybody, poor or rich, even the almajiris, would enjoy our educational policies. I also provide exercise books for the primary schools, among others.

Water, for example, particularly there is a village which is dear to my heart called (Wuro Mayo) where they haven’t had drinkable water for the past 17 years. I was able, by the grace of Allah, to provide drinkable water for them. I have engaged the less privilege in my constituency with training in the usage of computers, all these things are there in Bauchi. I have provided at least one motorized borehole in every ward of my constituency. I have done so many things that sometime; I feel it is not right for me to start blowing trumpet.

We are here and, by the grace

Hon. Aliyu Ibrahim Gebi of Almighty Allah, we would represent our people in the best way we can. And Insha Allah we would do more to our people, so that at the end, our people would know that they have a representative that is out to protect their interests and possibly take it to another level.

In 2011, your party, the CPC faced serious crises which many believed was one of the reasons why the party lost out in the elections in many state.

Now these crises are resurfacing. What do you think the leadership of the party ought to do in order to salvage the situation?

“

Our party did not lose out because we are in crisis. It was taking away from us by force by the PDP. The facts are there, all these are artificial problems, every party has its own peculiar problems

Our party did not lose out because we are in crisis. It was taking away from us by force by the PDP. The facts are there, all these are artificial problems, every party has its own peculiar problems. And mind you these problems are caused by the PDP, they always try to create problems especially in the CPC because they feel threatened by the CPC. The PDP feels that the CPC is growing bigger every day so they feel threatened.

Like I say, PDP has nothing to give Nigerians, Nigerians have tolerated them for 13 years, and I believe now that no sane Nigerian would want PDP to come back after 2015.

There was statement credited to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari on the likely consequences of flawed election in 2015 which has generated controversies across the country; what is your take on that?

Buhari spoke in parables, he did not say there would be this or that, what Buhari said was that the Government should ensure free and fair election come 2015 so that there won’t be disquiet. For God sake, this is the man that fought for the unity of this

country, this is the man that has consistently given everything he has for the betterment of this nation.

When Asari Dokubo was quoted with treasonable offences in some of the dailies newspapers, in which every paragraph could be said to be treasonable, did anybody say anything? There is nothing that he did not say against our leaders and the northerners and as a people, did you hear anybody say anything, or is it only about Buhari because of his simplicity and nature that whatever he says, people would start bastardizing his name. We shouldn’t play dangerous politics, and I’m grossly disappointed with our people that nobody even talked about what Asari Dokubo said. Even the government did not call him to order; even the Nigerian public, nobody said anything about it. This is not fair.

We all know what Buhari stands for; even his opponent knows that. If it was a southern leader that says worse than what Buhari said, nobody would have said anything, but because it was Buhari and is CPC. Everyday Buhari is whipping.This, Buhari that there are people that says worst things than Buhari, has anybody ever said anything about it?

So let be fair to ourselves, we are one nation, under the same constitution, every Nigerian should be seen as equal. So, please let’s leave Buhari alone. We as members of the CPC, would continue to pray for blessing, guidance and long live for him, preparatory to 2015, Insha Allah.

What do you intend to achieve before the expiration of your tenure as a legislator?

Like I said when I came to office, my mission is to restore dignity to my people the people of my state are intelligent, humble and hospitable, and not subservient, let the world know that they are not subject, but citizens, and being citizens, they have right, and those right must be given to them.

We would make sure everything that is expected of them to get must be giving to them. We would legislate to the best of our abilities, and where we find in the course of legislation; is skewed to one side that would not favor our people, we would make sure we amend it to make sure it is balanced.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Nasarawa PDP scores CPC government low From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Nasarawa state, has after reviewing the activities of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) administration under Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura in the past one year, scored the party low.

According to the party, so far the CPC government has only succeeded in “installing a regime of lies, contraptions, v i n d i c t i v e n e s s , maladministration and poverty on the people of the state.”

Laying the charge yesterday

in a press conference at the secretariat of the party, Chief Yunana Iliya, Nassarawa PDP chairman observed that the party had maintained silence since Almakura became governor, simply because the party felt it should give the new leadership the opportunity “to prove their inefficiency and ineffectiveness in the management of public affairs.”

While condoning with Nigerians over the plane crash that led to the dead of 159 persons, the state chairman lamented the rising insecurity in the state, particularly, the Assakio communal clash that claimed the

lives of many people, stressing that the CPC administration lacked the ability to foster cordial relationship between the different tribes in the state.

He accused the CPC administration of claiming as its own projects those virtually completed by former Governor Aliyu Doma awaiting commissioning, describing the act as being brazen and shameful.

Iliya challenged the CPC administration to show what it did with the about N58 bn it has so far collected as its share from the federation account, stressing that the PDP will not fold its arms and

watch as the present administration destroys the legacies and projects of past PDP administrations in the state.

The state party chairman vowed that as the voice and conscience of the people, the party will no longer sit and watch while the CPC administration covers its maladministration with concocted lies and deliberate falsehoods.

Earlier, one of the two committees recently inaugurated by the party, the committee on strategic planning, headed by Dr. Bala Ahmed Tafida, submitted its report to the chairman of the party.

L-R: Executive Director of United States National Conference of Black Mayors, Ms. Vanessa Williams, awardee of the President's Leadership Valiant Award and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) National Secretary, Prince Olagunsoye Oyinlola, and President of the Mayors Conference, Mayor Robert Bowser, after conferment of honour on Oyinlola, at the weekend in Atlanta, United States of America

2015: Count me out, says Interior minister From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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inister for Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, has distanced himself from insinuations that he has his eyes on a political office in 2015, maintaining that such rumors were the handiwork of his detractors.

Comrade Moro, who dispelled this rumor during a chat with newsmen in his country home, said his pre-occupation at the moment was to discharge his duties to the best of his ability to the country.

“I will not be distracted by such insinuations. I do not have any political ambition for 2015.

My biggest concern is to discharge my duties meritoriously as minister of the Federal Republic.

How can I be thinking of 2015 now when I occupy a very sensitive position and have a big challenge”, he said.

The minister also commiserated with victims of the bomb blast in Bauchi, reiterating

ANPP condoles Dana Air crash victims

By Umar Mohammed-Puma

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he All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) has condoled with the families of the 153 passengers and crew members who lost their lives in the recent DANA Airline plane crash in Lagos.

In a statement signed yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Emma Eneukwus, the party said it was a sad and painful loss, not only for them, but indeed for the

entire country. “We share the grief of this national calamity and pray that the Almighty God will grant the souls of the departed, eternal rest. We urge the families of those affected by this tragedy to take heart and find eternal consolation in the knowledge that all mortals shall someday return to their Maker.”

Eneukwus urged the Federal Government to move beyond mere rhetoric in issues of this nature that involves the loss of precious human lives. “It should strengthen the

enforcement of more stringent measures that will ensure and guarantee comprehensive safety standards for all airlines operating in Nigeria,” the party stated.

“All over the world, air travel is the safest means of transport. It is worrisome that in Nigeria this does not seem to be the case as we have, in the recent past, recorded countless number of air plane disasters that have claimed several lives, including the recent one,” he added.

The ANPP spokesperson

the commitment of Federal government to fight terrorism.

He intimated that only recently government through joint border patrol repatriated over 20000 illegal immigrants from the country.

“I believe that we will win the war against terrorist. We are not resting on our oars at all”, he said. demanded a review of existing safety standard procedure and processes in our aviation industry to ensure conformity with global best practices. “As a nation, we just cannot continue with the state of affairs in the aviation industry which portends far reaching implications for the social and economic development of our dear country.

Once again, we mourn with the bereaved at this period of sorrow and pray that the Almighty God will comfort them and also grant the souls of the departed, eternal rest.”

Sokoto CPC suspends Exco From Sadeeq Aliyu, Sokoto

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ight members of the Executive Council of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in Sokoto state have been suspended for alleged incompetence, blackmail and anti party activities.

The suspension came barely few days after the purported suspension of the national executives of CPC by a group of members which the party‘s flag bearer in the last presidential election General Muhammadu Buhari vehemently rejected.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend, Chairman of the state CPC Forum for Local Government, Bello Ibn Labaran Gwadabawa, said there were facts to believe that the former executives, who acted on sole administrators’ capacity, were sponsored to kill the party by creating divisions in all the 23 local governments’ executives.

Gwadabawa said their leadership style has led to most of the party‘s candidates for senatorial, House of Reps, state Assembly and local government chairmen and councillorship candidates to decamp en mass to other parties. He also accused them of misleading the teeming supporters of the party with fake promises.

The chairman who was flanked by 22 chairmen of the Forum said prior to the last gubernatorial election, the suspended executive members had been holding series of meetings in different hidden locations with opposition parties.

He added that they failed to organize gubernatorial campaign throughout the campaign period and refused to pay party agents and returning officers who would protect the party votes on electionday, while the sole administrator they brought to lead the party has decamped to PDP few days after governorship election.

Members of the Forum announced that very soon they would call a stake holders meeting to select reliable care taker committee to run the affairs of the party at state level. They also indicated their support to the national working committee of the party under the leadership of Prince Tony Momoh and Engineer Buba Galadima, and condemned the actions of those they called splinter group being sponsored to create problems to the party.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 39

ACN tasks INEC, security agents over sacked Kwara PDP lawmaker

Mark drums support for industrialization policy

From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

By Richard Ihediwa

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he Kwara Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) has urged security agents at the state House of Assembly to prevent sacked Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s lawmaker, Mr Salman Abdulfattah, representing Ilorin North/ West constituency, from further participation in the business of the House.

The party also urged the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) to “as a matter of urgency announce the date for the rerun election as ordered by the court, as further delay would imply that the commission is complicit in the PDP’s bid to frustrate the law.”

The PDP candidate, Abdulfattah was sacked by the Court of Appeal in Ilorin following a petition by ACN’s Abdul Kayode Aiyelabegan.

A PDP’s motion in April praying that the court should review the judgment was also dismissed penultimate Monday; but Abdulfattah has continued to attend House sittings.

While upholding the objection of ACN that the PDP’s motion was an abuse of the court process, Justice Ita Mbamba of the Appeal Court had held that “applicant, PDP, Abdulfattah’s motion of April 30, 2012 is a gross abuse of the process of court.

Apart from trying to relitigate a matter that has been heard and concluded, and subjecting the adverse party (ACN and Aiyelabegan) to irritation and annoyance, frustrating or delaying the realization of the justice of the case, the application is a stranger to the law, and appears to be targeted at blackmailing the judgment, in the absence of any further right of appeal.”

In his reaction, the ACN Chairman in Kwara State, Mr. Kayode Olawepo, said in a statement issued in Ilorin on Sunday that the continued disrespect for the court ruling threatens public peace and should be forestalled by the security agencies.

“We have written several letters to the House leadership on this matter but they have treated the correspondences as a nonissue. This underscores their disrespect for law and the judiciary, and such attitude must be resisted by all lovers of democracy and rule of law”.

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resident of the Senate, Senator David Mark has tasked Nigerians at home and in the Diaspora to support the federal government’s policy to fully industrialise the nation’s economy such that the economy would generate new jobs.

Senator Mark specifically requested Nigerian professionals in the diaspora to avail the nation of their expertise and experience to realize the dream “ because industrialization is critical to economic

development if Nigeria would achieve her ambition of becoming one of the most developed economies in the world by the year 2020”.

Addressing Nigerians in London, United Kingdom, at the second Ibibio (Akwa Ibom state) second summit at the weekend, senator Mark pointed out that the nation has had chequered history of industrialization since independence adding “ our industrial sector has experienced uncertain and difficult times and has been incapacitated by several factors

which includes energy crisis, excessive import dependence as well as lack of clear strategy for areas where we have competitive and comparative advantages” .

Represented by the chairman, Senate Committee on Rules and Business, Senator Ita Enang ,he appreciated President Jonathan’s new approach towards industrialization which necessitated the constitution of Professor Mike Kwanashe led committee to among other things identify factors

L-R: Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Christian Oboh, Chairman Governing Board of Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Dr. Tarilah Tebepa, and Chairman Senate Committee on Niger Delta, Senator James Manager, during the committee oversight function on NDDC projects, recently in River state.

militating against the implementation of previous industrial policies and formulate sector specific policies based on areas where the country has comparative and competitive advantages among others.

Senator Mark assured that the resultant industrial policy will go a long way in fasttracking Nigeria’s march to industrialization.

He added: “ it will ensure specific interventions in the areas of industrial and infrastructural development , innovation and technology, improves business environment with appropriate technologies as well as skills acquisition for our youths”.

Another notable effort towards industrialization, Senator Mark listed include the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) which the federal government signed with Global Biofuels Limited, an indigenous bio-fuel producer, for the construction of 15 integrated bio-fuel plants in the country.

This project, he remarked would create 120,000 directly and 750,000 indirect jobs across the value chain; link 15 states to cheap bio-fuel generated electricity at 30 megawatts per state.

The President of the Senate believes that full industrialization of the nation’s economy is achievable within the next two decades if all Nigerians- professionals at home and in diaspora, politicians, business men and women commits to industrial development”.

Kwara governor, Speaker, ACN, Baraje mourn Dana crash victims From Olanrewaju Lawal,Ilorin

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he Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed, Speaker of the House of Assembly, Barrister Abdulrazaq Atunwa, Action Congress of Nigeria(ACN) and immediate past Acting National Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Alhaji Abubakar Baraje, have mourned the 153 victims of DANA plane crash which occurred in Lagos on Sunday.

Governor Ahmed, in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba urged Nigerians to pray for the nation to complement government efforts to avert further tragedy in the country.

The Governor described the Sunday’s twin tragedy of a commercial flight crash in Lagos State and the Living Faith Church bomb blast in Bauchi as unfortunate and a national disaster of

monumental proportions.

Governor Ahmed said the plane crashes in Nigeria and Ghana resulting in loss of innocent lives and the Bauchi Bomb Blast call for sober reflection on the state of affairs in the country.

The Bauchi incidence, the governor noted, further underscores the fact that the spate of security challenges calls for collective efforts of all Nigerians to tackle as “all of us must be watchdogs and advocates for peace as security agencies cannot tackle it alone.”

The ACN, Kwara state Chapter, in a statement by its gubernatorial candidate in the 2011 election, Muhammed Dele Belgore, condoled the families of the victims and appealed to the federal government to ensure proper probing of the incident.

He said such probe could also help avert future occurrence of such tragedies.

He also condoled with the families and friends of the victims, praying God to grant “our departed compatriots the rest associate with death.”

“I nonetheless join the call for thorough probe of this tragic incident to ascertain what went wrong and how it may be averted in future.

Pending the outcome of such a probe, whatever immediate and urgent steps that may be taken to further ensure the safety and comfort of air travellers should be taken by the appropriate authorities.”

The speaker of the Kwara state house of assembly, Hon. Razak Atunwa, has advised the federal government to seek the assistance of the International Civil Aviation Authority (ICAA) to review and improve the nation’s aviation safety standards and enforcement.

The speaker in a statement he personally signed said, “it is alarming that there have been about aircraft accidents

in Nigeria since 2005".

He said the latest air crash involving DANA airline should serve as a wakeup call to the government and other relevant stakeholders in the aviation sector.

Also the Former Chairman of the National Airspace Management Agency (NAMA), Alhaji Kawu Baraje has described the crash of the Dana Airlines where one hundred and fifty-three passengers lost their lives as a National Calamity.

Alhaji Baraje in a statement said the development was a monumental loss to the Nation, the Aviation Industry and the immediate families of the victims.

According to him, in recent time, the nation had not witnessed such a colossal air disaster in the Aviation industry lamenting that the recent one was not only demoralizing but disheartening.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Buhari, CPC commiserate with crash victims' families

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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L-R: Director General, National Institute for Legislatives Studies, Dr. Ladi Hamalai, Deputy Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, and Deputy Senate President Ike Ikweremadu, during a retreat organised for States Assemblies, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

he National Leader of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), General Muhammadu Buhari, in conjunction with the National Executive Committee of the party, have commiserated with the families of the victims of the DANA Air crash.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by CPC's Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, the party regretted that this latest aviation disaster, which came a day after another Nigerian Air Plane crashed in Ghana, is already causing concern among Nigerians.

He lamented that this is coming when Nigerians seem to have heaved a sigh of relief from the aircrashes in the last six years.

"This pervasive corruption by the successive PDP-led Federal

Court orders OGSIEC to recognize two PDP factions for LG polls

2015: CPC denies meeting with ACN A

From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

gainst the alleged meeting between the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) over the possible strategy to mobilise for 2015 general election, the CPC has described the insinuation as baseless and untrue.

The party explained that though opposition parties are mulling alliance, the rumoured meeting was aimed at deceiving Nigerians.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by its

Publicity Secretary, Rotimi Fashakin, CPC said there was no time the meeting ever took place, adding that though the party have always believed that constitutional order was jettisoned in the suspension of Justice Ayo Salami, it had never at any time, been involved in any subterranean action to corruptly influence the NJC. CPC further said the allegation was a botched propagand schemed to delude the unsuspecting Nigerian, adding that it was another manifestation of the recklessness and degenerative

extent PDP administration can go in employing deliberate lies for hollow political end.

According to the statement, "Since the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Muhammed Uwais, gave an informed opinion on the constitutional powers of the NJC in suspension and recall of any Judicial Officer without Presidential approval, the ruling PDP had been seeking for ways to extirpate that position."

Against this background, the party urged the members of the NJC to treat the alleged memo with ignominy and do justice as it sees it without fear or favor.

Foreign Affairs minister commends Reps Diaspora C'ttee

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mbassador Olugbenga Ashiru, Minister of Foreign Affairs has hailed the House of Representatives Committee on Diaspora, saying it has a great role to play in Nigeria's foreign relations.

Receiving the committee led by her chairman, Rep Abike DabiriErewa in his office in Abuja, the minister said the committee has been working well with the ministry to ensure that the welfare of Nigerians abroad are in the front burner.

He expressed delight in the committee's positive interventions in the affairs of many Nigerians abroad, especially those who have issues in their respective countries of residence alongside Nigeria missions.

Ashiru said that the ministry attached so much importance to consular and diaspora matters that it created a Diaspora Desk in all Nigeria embassies abroad with an Ambassador over seeing it. ``It is the responsibility of our embassies to associate with our nationals there and also visit those in

distress for possible assistance'' he said.

The Minister said that the present administration attached so much importance to Nigerians in the Diaspora that 25 per cent of President Goodluck Jonathan cabinet members are Nigerians in the Diaspora.

He said the Ministry was working on data for Nigerians in the Diaspora to be used centrally for planning both at home and abroad in such a way that it would be beneficial for the country to tap from its potentials abroad.

Ashiru, however, said the greatest challenge to the ministry was the Nigerians in the diaspora involving in drug trafficking and other nefarious activities, thus creating a bad image for the country.

He appealed to the committee to join the ministry in mounting an enlightenment campaign against bad attitude of some Nigerians creating bad image for the country abroad through their

unpatriotic acts.

Earlier, Abike Dabiri-Erewa (ACN-Lagos) accompanied by her committee members, said the visit was part of the oversight functions to intimate the Ministry on areas of collaboration and new developments in Diaspora Affairs.

She said her recent visit to some countries abroad, showed that Nigeria should not be left behind in Diaspora matters, rather it should be in fore front in Africa.

The lawmaker said that there was need to take the country's foreign policy to another level with the Ministry paying more attention to the welfare of Nigerians living abroad in line with its mandate. ``Nigerians are getting into trouble and the ministry are not intervening enough. We have Nigerians in prisons and being discriminated against in US, UK, Egypt, India, Iran, Malaysia, Brazil, Singapore, Lebanon, Spain, Togo, China, Austria and so on''

Governments as regards administration of the Aviation sector has corrupted this important sector of the Nation state that Industry best practices are often circumvented at will by the Airline operators." Fashakin stated.

While calling for judicial probe of the disaster, the CPC scribe expressed doubt over the sincerity of the PDP-led Federal Government in unearthing the real causes of these disasters.

According to the statement, "The feeble handling of the probes shows in the way and manner the recommendations are never implemented! For example, on the 4th of May, 2002, an EAS aircraft (with 77 on board) crashed in Kano."

It therefore called on federal government to see stability in the Aviation sector as a sacred duty for ensuring a peaceful polity.

n Abeokuta High Court yesterday ruled that the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission {OGSIEC} should recognize the controversial factions of the Peoples Democratic Party {PD} ahead of the July council polls.

Peoples Daily reports that crisis had been the order of the day within the party following a supremacy tussle of which of the factions is the authentic in the state which brought about a faction led

by Chief Bayo Dayo to have gotten an experte motion from the State High Court on May 28, 2012 presenting the faction as the authentic PDP in the state to the Ogun State Independent Electoral Commission for the forthcoming council poll.

However, the faction, through the counsel Rotimi Oluyele moved ahead to extend the exparte motion earlier granted but about to lapse and also prayed the court to order

the erlectoral body not to receive any nominations from any other faction.

However, as hearing resumed yesterday, counsel to the state Electoral body, Mr. Abraham Adeoye, moved against the submission on the ground that the motion has no foundation since the application which the motion rest on has been struck out by the court The lawyer further pointed out and stressed that the second application mentioned by the plaintiff has not been served on his client. The argument of both parties resulted in confusion., Hence, the judge summoned the court bailiff, Ogundare Olumide, and the Assistant Head of Registrar, for questioning on the process of serving the two processes.

The counsel to other faction of the PDP, Mr. Iseoluwa AbiodunJohnson told the court of an application from his client to be joined in the suit but was prevented by the presiding judge who only allowed him to file the application.

Ikuforiji condoles families of Dana crash, condemns Bauchi bombing From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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peaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Adeyemi Ikuforiji, has sent a condolence message to the families of the 153 passengers who lost their lives during the ill-fated Dana Airline crash, which occurred on Sunday afternoon in Lagos.

The Speaker, who reacted through a statement signed by the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy, Security and Publicity, Segun Olulade, said he received the sad news with a great shock, adding that the alarming rate of the death of innocent Nigerians is becoming more worrisome by the day.

He noted that while the country was yet to recover from the shock emanating from the Saturday

incidence of Nigerian cargo plane crash, which occurred in Ghana and left about10 people dead and about 43 others injured, the Dana air crash was rather a greater tragedy that broke the camel's back.

In a related development, the Speaker has condemned the bombing of the Living Faith Church, Yelwa Tudu in Bauchi State on Sunday, which also left about 15 people dead and 27 injured at the close of the church service.

The Speaker said that the security operatives still need to strengthen their surveillance networks and engage more citizens for more effective intelligence gathering, which would help them to further isolate the areas that are susceptible to attack by bombers and other anti-social elements.

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 41

Unknown persons burgled Flying Eagles Assistant Coach’s home

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nknown persons burgled the home of Flying Eagles Assistant Coach, Samuel Abimbola, in Abuja on Sunday, even as the wingless junior Eagles are expected to return today from South Africa.

Abimbola, who confirmed the incident on phone yesterday, said

unknown persons had carted away with valuables worth several milloins of Naira while the family was away to Sunday service.

“My house in Area 11 in Abuja was swept clean by robbers while my family were away in church on Sunday.

“My wife has since reported the

incident to the police. She informed me that nothing of value was left in the house after it was forced open by the burglers,” reported Abimbola.

Meanwhile, the Flying Eagles, who failed to defend their 8nations Invitational trophy in Cape Town, South Africa are due in

Lagos this afternoon.

The John Obuh tutored Eagles were eliminated at the group stage after losing three straight matches to Ghana, Argentina and South Africa.

The team of 25 players and seven officials will arrived in Lagos aboard Arik Air fight after

FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup

Falconets draw Brazil, Korea Republic

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Esther Sunday, Flaconets’ players

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uper Eagles skipper, Joseph Yobo, says he has a feeling that his injury worries will be over before the tie against the Wasps of Rwanda in Calabar on June 17.

Super Eagles Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, quotes Yobo as saying that his healing process has assumed a faster dimension than the medics at his Turkish club, Fernabahce, had thought and that he was sure he would be available for the game against Rwanda, who were held to a goalless draw in the first leg of the Nations Cup qualifier in Kigali.

Yobo, who said he was still enjoying his break from club football with his family, also praised the output of the national team

igeria’s U-20 team, the Falconets, yesterday were against South American heavyweights, Brazil, Asian powerhouse Korea Republic and 2012 European semifinalist, Italy in Group B of the forthcoming 2012 FIFA Women’s World Cup, which kicks off from August 19 to September 8.

The draw, which was conducted in Japan at the prestigious Conrad Hotel, kicks off the countdown to the junior

Speaking after the draw, Coach Okon, allayed fears insisted that the team have the depth to tackle any opposition noting as the finalists two years ago, the Falconets were not underdogs.

‘Now we know who our opponents are great teams with excellent records in the women’s game. So it is an indication that we would need to step our preparations, technically, professionally and otherwise,” he said.

“We have the full assurance and support from the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) to see us through. Once l return to Nigeria, we will continue from where we stopped to prepare for the task ahead,” Okon assured.

It would be recalled that in Thailand at the 2004 edition, Nigeria squared up against Brazil and Italy at the preliminary stage defeating the South Americans and getting a 1-1 draw against Italy.

However, two years later in Russia, Brazil eliminated Nigeria in the quarter final stage.

Nigeria were runners-up at the last edition in Germany.

Yobo to lead Eagles against Rwanda June 17 players on Sunday against Malawi.

“The mere fact that the team was able to get a win against Namibia after squandering several chances, should give Nigeria hope that this is a team for the future and sooner than later they will be scoring the number of goals that the fans want”, he said.

We need a few experienced players to join this bulk and we

Eagles plot Malawi’s fall today in Abuja Stories by Patrick Andrew

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women championship that will attract 16 participating teams battling for the ultimate trophy currently in the hands of Germany.

Representatives from each of the qualifying team that included Nigeria’s Head Coach, Edwin Okon and team secretary, Faith Ben-Anuge were among those that closely followed proceedings presided over by FIFA Head of women’s competitions, Tatjana Haenini.

departing Johannesburg, according to team secretary, Sirajo Hassan, who disclosed that efforts to get the team to return to the country earlier failed because the organisers did not wish to incur extra costs to change the team’s departure time.

rked by the shoestring win against the Brave Warriors of Namibia on Sunday, the Super Eagles will return to training today in Abuja determined to improve on their offensive approach.

According to an official of the team, Head Coach Stephen Keshi, wants to focus on the attack which was somewhat lacking the required bite as well as directs attention to the engine room that did not quite provide the telling passes needed to inspire the upfront to perform.

“The game against Malawi, we learn will be played on a synthetic pitch and unfortunately we don’t have one in Calabar, we have to relocate to Abuja and start preparing at the FIFA Goal Project for us to consolidate on what we have already achieved”, Keshi said.

The Eagles, who are to arrive in Abuja in this morning, will later train in the evening at the FIFA Goal Project and it’s expected to be doubled the following day as the team steadies for the tie against Malawi.

Meanwhile, the national team medical team is working round the clock to ensure that injured players like Nnamdi Oduamadi and Obiorah Nwankwo recover on time for this weekend crunch tie against Malawi.

will become the greatest national team in Africa. For me, I’m praying

Joseph Yobo to return against Rwanda

that I should be ready for the game against Rwanda, I’m really

missing my teammates on the pitch”, he declared.

Nnamdi Oduamadi, medics are working on his fitness against Malawi

…Utaka says Eagles’ll take fight to Malawi

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igeria will adopt an offensive approach in Saturday’s 2014 World Cup qualifier in Blantyre against hosts Rwanda, according to Montpellier forward and Super Eagles returnee, John Utaka.

Utaka, who led Nigeria’s attack in Sunday’s slim 1-0 home win over Namibia in Calabar but was substituted for Ahmed Musa, is confident the Eagles would adopt an aggressive approach as well as take their chances unlike what obtained in Calabar where they frittered away several goal scoring opportunities.

“We will ensure another victory

in Malawi. We will resume training on Tuesday and will take the matches one at a time,” said Utaka.

Warri Wolves defender Azubuike Egwuekwe said the Eagles cannot afford a slip on the road against Malawi. “We’re blending into a formidable team and so cannot afford not to get a result in Malawi. All the same, we need to work harder to get a positive result in our next game,” said the giant Egwuekwe.

Added Uche Kalu: “It was great to help out as a substitute for us to win against Namibia. “I believe

our next game in Malawi will be much better.”

Nigeria lead their qualifying group on three points, while Malawi and Kenya have recorded a point each after they played out a goalless draw in Nairobi on Saturday.

The Eagles will resume training today in Abuja at the FIFA Goal project ahead of a chartered flight to Malawi Thursday.

The team are using the artificial pitch in Abuja because Saturday’s match will also be played on such a surface at the Kamuzu Banda Stadium in Blantyre.

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PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Zambia didn’t play like champions, says Renard

Enyeama says Nigerian football needs prayers to succeed

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erve Renard has conceded that African champions, the Chipolopolo of Zambia deserved to lose to Sudan who outplayed in their 2-0 away loss on Saturday in a 2014 qualifier.

Renard said in Ndola yesterday less than 48 hours after losing in Khartoum that Sudan had prepared well for the African champions to revenge their 30 Africa Cup quarterfinal loss to his team last February in Bata.

“We deserved to lose, we did not play well. The conditions were very difficult. It was very hot but we knew before it was very very hot, the pitch was not very good and we played against one team that was better than us yesterday,” Renard said.

Zambia struggled to find any consistent rhythm against Sudan throughout the game as their hosts out-passed and outplayed the newly crowned African champions.

Sudan secured their win over Zambia with second half goals from Madathir Careca and Saif Masawi in the 49th and 70th minutes respectively.

Zambia returned home to a low key welcome at Simon Mwansa Kapewpwe Airport at lunchtime on Sunday before headed to The Michelangelo, an upmarket Italian themed hotel in Ndola where they will be camped.

Zambia host Ghana in Ndola on June 9 in both sides second Group D match at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium.

Ghana, who beat Lesotho 7-0 in their opening game on Friday in Kumasi, lead Group D on three points, level with Sudan whom they pip to top spot thanks to a superior goal difference.

V

Herve Renard

How we contained Kenya, Malawi coach Phiri recalls Malawi coach Kinnah Phiri was in full praise of his charges after they pulled a 0-0 draw against Kenya in the 2014 World Cup qualifying match at Moi International Sports Centre (MISC), Kasarani.

Phiri, who watched his good record against Kenya continue with the draw, said that his team had proved a point after managing to hold the hosts in Nairobi. He was speaking to Cafonline.com after the match.

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hat can you say about t o d a y ’s match and outcome?

A goalless draw in Kenya is a good result for us in this campaign and I think my young boys

played very well today. I am very happy since this sets us up nicely for the next match against Nigeria that we are playing at home.

Do you think that the result reflects the

pattern of the match?

To be sincere no. No because both teams played well. The first half belonged to Kenya and they dominated but we improved in the second. We needed a

goal to kill the game off but a draw is a good result to take back to Lilongwe. It was not our intention to pick a draw here but since we have it now I feel happy for my boys.

How did you find the Kenya team?

Kenya is a very good side. They dominated the first half and we could not have recovered in the second quarter had they scored a goal.

They are also well coordinated in the back and are good in

the air . We wanted to beat them on counters in the second quarter but their goalkeeper (Boniface Oluoch) was also up to the task.

How good a start for Malawi is this?

Yes it is a good start because coming to Kenya and earning a draw is not an easy task. We wanted to win but Kenya were also up to the task. We need to prepare well for our next assignment against Nigeria at home. Nigeria is a good that cannot be underrated.

Nigeria no longer an African soccer super power, says Namibia coach

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amibia coach B e r n a r d Kaanjuka has dismissed Nigeria’s claim to giant-stature in African football, instead the Super Eagles have joined the other ranks in the continent.

The coach, who said this before the Brave Warriors’ narrow defeat to the Eagles on Sunday, said the Warriors have

equal chances of qualifying for the 2014 World Cup, even ahead of Nigeria.

Kaanjuka said the Eagles no longer have the status that they used to have, stressing that Nigeria’s failure to qualify for the 2012 Nations Cup clearly demonstrated that Nigeria have lost the status of a continental soccer super power.

“If we win Nigeria no one can view it as an

Bernard Kaanjuka, coach of Namibia

upset because Nigeria could not even qualify for the Africa Nations Cup,” he said.

“They have been losing matches recently, and are now used to losing so it is no big deal if they lose to us too.

“The match (against Nigeria) is important for us because we’ll also use it to prepare against Liberia in the Nations Cup qualifying return leg which we host in about two weeks,” he added.

Kaanjuka, who led the Warriors to some impressive results in their training camp in Germany, reckons he is helped by the fact that his team has played together for about five years, having progressed together as unit from schoolboy level.

“My players have played together from under 17, under 20 and under 23 and they now

form the nucleus of the team,” he proudly said.

“There are three players coming from Europe, while the others play their football locally, so the understanding is there. I’m satisfied with our preparations and believe we are ready to take on Nigeria.”

“The Brave Warriors played a goalless draw against Mozambique and beat local side SV Herbern 3-1 on a training

incent Enyeama Super Eagles stand-in captain for the Nigeria-Namibia World Cup qualifier in Calabar says the team needs prayers to surmount its challenges and bring back the happy times in football.

Enyeama, who was handed the skipper’s band

by Head Coach, Stephen Keshi in the absence of injured Joseph Yobo, said prayers were needed for divine intervention in the distress Nigeria football is currently undergoing.

“Nigerians should pray for us because it is a new team that we are trying to build; it is not going to be easy. There is no push over in football now. We have to try with the help of God to get that three points and try at the same time to give Nigerians the football they are craving for.

Enyeama said that the team was going through a rebuilding process and urged Nigerians to be patient with the coaches and noted bringing in of home and foreign-based players need time to blend.

Enyeama, who currently plays with Lille FC of France, said that he was worried about the dwindling fortunes of Nigerian football.

“I am worried that Nigerian players and football have gone down and every Nigerian player, soccer players will be worried that we not achieve something big in the recent years. We are disturbed, we are worried and we want to change it, we want to rewrite history with Nigerians.

“The three games we have ahead, we do not care what it is, Nations Cup or World Cup, whatever; but we will take the games the way they come.”

Enyeama lauded respective governments’ commitment to the development of football in Nigeria and the Super Eagles.

He said that Federal and States Governments had been amazing in supporting the team and pushing the team through.

“They have really done great, marvelously well, amazingly well, they have been taking football by the neck and they really have done well handling it. Big kudos to them,” he said.

tour of Germany in preparation for Sunday’s match.

They will also play Malawi in the World Cup qualifiers, before hosting Liberia in the Africa Nations Cup qualifiers. The last time Namibia visited Nigeria back in 2000 in an African Nations Cup qualifier, the Eagles won 4-0, but only managed 1-0 win on Sunday.

Aminu Maigari, NFF president

Vincent Enyeama

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 43

Coaches decry low turnout of fans at female league final

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oaches at the ongoing Zenith Bank Female Basketball League in Lagos, have decried the lack of publicity for the league which, they said, was responsible for spectators poor turnout.

The coaches on Saturday spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the Indoor Sports Hall of the National Stadium, Lagos, venue

of the competition.

The coaches said that the low turnout of basketball lovers was due to lack of publicity for the competition and urged the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) for assistance.

The coaches were of the opinion that with support from the NBBF, the league would get the required

publicity for large turnout of fans and basketball lovers.

Coach Nosa Uyigue of Delta Force Basketball Club of Asaba, said it was unfortunate that the organisers failed to ensure adequate publicity to attract large spectators.

“A lot of people do not know that a female league is holding in Nigeria.

“Sometime ago, I was discussing with

Nigerian handball female team in action

Nigeria’s handball teams emerge victorious in African zone 3 tourney

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usa Hamza, the Technical Director, Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN), has expressed joy over the victories recorded by Nigeria’s male and female teams at the African Zone 3 U-20 Challenge Trophy in Accra.

“I feel fulfilled and my heart is bubbling with joy because our teams have brought honour to the handball family and Nigerians as a whole,” Hamza, who led Nigeria’s two teams to the tournament, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) via telephone over the weekend.

He said that Nigeria’s male and female teams defeated their Republic of Benin counterparts in the finals on June 1 to emerge the winners.

The director said that the male team defeated their opponents 3430 while the female played a 20-20 draw and finally won the final 26-24 in a penalty shootout.

Hamza said that with the victories, Nigeria’s teams had qualified to represent the zone at the next World Youth Challenge Trophy.

He said the Confederation of

African Handball would meet at a later date to determine the host country and date for the global competition.

The director said that the teams were due to depart Ghana for Nigeria on Saturday by road.

He commended Nigerians in Ghana for their support and encouragement during the tournament held from May 27 to June 1.

Other countries that participated at the tournament are hosts Ghana, Togo, Liberia and Niger Republic.

a friend in the U.S. and he said he never knew there was any female league in Nigeria.”

According to him, NBBF is lucky enough to have one or two sponsors that other sport do not enjoy.

“So, what will it cost NBBF to popularise the entire league?.”

Uyigue urged the federation to do radio and television jingles, newspapers advertisement and bill board to give both the male and female leagues more value.

Also, Coach Sola Aluko of Sunshine Angels of Akure, described the poor turnout of spectators as embarrassing, saying that the spectators’ turnout at the female national league final was even worse.

“How do we expect our sport to grow when members of the public are not aware that a national league of this magnitude is going on in a big city like Lagos?

“The same thing happened in Ilorin, Kwara State, venue of the second phase of the league.’’

Coach Adewunmi Aderemi of First Bank Basketball Club of Lagos, expressed dismay at virtually empty spaces at the venue of the competition with only players, clubs officials and match officials present.

“If the situation can be like this in Lagos with large population, it simply means there has been no publicity whatsoever.”

Aderemi urged the organisers to urgently take necessary action to ensure adequate publicity for the competition.

According to him, the organisers can embark on series of promotions that will attract large crowd for the competition.

He said that promotions such as raffle ticket, distribution of souvenirs and other side attractions, including singing, dancing and invitation of schools, would add glamour to the league.

Aderemi said that Nigeria’s aim to be a great basketball nation could only be achieved through publicity.

Sunshine Stars target CAF, NPL trophies, says Itodo

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layer of Sunshine Stars, the only Nigerians club left in the CAF Champions League, Cletus Itodo, has revealed that the club is determined to clinch the continental and domestic league trophies thatv they are currently campaigning for.

The player said as the only club left in the league, the team are determined to work hard to bring home the trophy at first demand noting the players are aware of the magnitude of the challenge before them.

“We will not disappoint Nigerians as the only club left after the ouster of Dolphins FC, PortHarcourt. We are going to be the second team to win the CAF Champions league trophy after Enyimba of Aba,” Itodo said.

The player denounced the claim that their participation in the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) had affected their performances in the CAF league.

Gbenga Ogunbote, coach He said that rather their of Sunshine Stars

participation in both competitions has further boost their confidence and proper blending.

“No, our participation in both competitions has not stressed us in any form, rather it has assisted in boosting our confidence in both CAF and the domestic leagues,” he said.

Itodo said that his club still stands the chance of winning the 2011/2012 NPL if they strive to win their remaining matches in the league, but they now occupy the 10th position on the league table after defeating Gombe United 2-0 last Saturday.

“We can still win both trophies because of the confidence we have in ourselves and due to support from our numerous fans and Nigerians in general,’ he said.

Sunshine are in Group A with Esperance and Etolie Sahel both of Tunisia and ASO Shelef of Algeria.

Cletus The group stages of the league Itodo would commence on July 6.

Fatayi-Williams says Ibile Games is database for Lagos State athletes

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abatunde Fatayi-Williams, Chairman, Technical Committee of the justconcluded Lagos State Sports Festival tagged: “Ibile Games,” has said that the Games will serve as the database of the state‘s athletes.

Fatayi-Williams said yesterday in Lagos that with the games, the state now had a proper data of each athlete.

He said that the database would strictly be adhered to while the state is preparing to host the 18th National Sports Festival in November.

“Registration of athletes for the games had enabled us to have a proper database of the state’s athletes. We now know those who are qualified for the festival and those who are not.

“The database would also enable us to detect athletes who had defected to other states and such athlete would be expunged from our database,” Fatayi-Williams said.

According to the chairman, the Ibile games achieved its objectives of discovering budding potentials, who would represent the state at the festival and other national and international engagements.

Wahid Enitan-Oshodi, Commissioner for Youth and Sports, however, said that the era of athletes poaching or defecting to other states was over. Enitan-Oshodi said that this was because the welfare of the state athletes had been given priorities by the state government.

“The state government has promised to cater for the educational or vocational career of the athletes and will also give monetary rewards to athletes who win laurels for the state at the festival.

“The government discovered that poaching had been a serious issue and as such, attention had been given to their welfare to forestall it,” EnitanOshodi said.

NAN reports that about 1,500 athletes from 120 schools, 20 local government areas and 37 local council development areas (LCDAs) in the state took part in games.

The Ibile games, held between May 14 and on May 26, featured 25 events already registered for the National Sports Festival, including games for paraathletes.

The games were held in seven venues across the state.

Yaba LGA emerged the overall winner with 361 medals, made up of 158 gold, 104 silver and 99 bronze medals.

Bariga LCDA was second with 388 medals, having won 153 gold, 120 silver and 115 bronze while Lagos Island came third with 230 medals, 86 gold, 72 silver and 72 silver medals.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

Transfer

The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

RVP admits Juve is a great team

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rsenal forward Robin van Persie has admitted that Juventus are a “great team”, although he has refused to discuss his long-term future.

Van Persie is currently preparing for the European Championship with Netherlands who defeated Northern Ireland 6-0 in a friendly on Saturday but speculation continues about his club future, with his contract at the Gunners set to expire in 12 months.

Clubs including Manchester City, Barcelona and Juventus have been linked with a move for the 28-year-old but Van Persie is remaining quiet on his plans although he did admit that Juventus, the Italian champions, are an attractive option.

Jagielka fears Fellaini bid

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verton defender Phil Jagielka fears team-mate Marouane Fellaini could be prised away from Goodison Park by a big-money bid this summer. Marouane Fellaini joined Everton from Standard Liege for £16 million in 2008 Fellaini came up against Jagielka during England’s 1-0 friendly victory over Belgium at Wembley on Saturday and caught the eye with a bustling performance in midfield.

The 24-year-old is part of a highly-rated, young Belgium set-up that includes new Chelsea signing Eden Hazard, Tottenham target Jan Vertonghen and a number of other players attracting a lot of attention from across Europe.

Fellaini has really progressed at Everton since his move from Standard Liege in 2008, so much so that Jagielka can see the midfielder becoming a target for a number of clubs.

Dortmund defender snubs Premier League move

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Robin van Persie

an United and Man City target Mats Hummels has committed his future to Borussia Dortmund by signing a new-five-year contract.

The 23-year-old has been heavily linked with a Premier League switch after helping Dortmund claim back-to-back Bundesliga titles and establishing himself as one of the top defenders in Europe.

It had been suggested that the two Manchester sides would face fierce competition from Roma, Juventus and Inter Milan for the ever-present defender.

Ahead of representing Germany at Euro 2012 he has seemingly ruled out a move from the Westfalenstadion by extending his stay until 2017.

“As soon as the club approached me and asked if I

would like to extend, I knew immediately that I want to continue being part of this team, which is so successful and is so much fun to be in,” he said.

Mats Hummels

Hulk hints at Porto exit

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Bacary Sagna

Chelsea in ambitious plot to sign Sagna, Walcott

helsea transfer target Hulk has appeared to pave the way for a move to Stamford Bridge by suggesting it may be time for him to leave Porto. Hulk has won seven major trophies in his four years at Porto, including this season’s league title The Blues were widely reported to have agreed a £38 million fee for Hulk with his Portuguese club last week, with personal terms yet to be agreed.

Hulk, who is earmarked as a replacement for Didier Drogba at Stamford Bridge, refused to admit a deal with Chelsea is done but the 25-year-old hinted a summer move was on the cards.

He has been linked with the Blues all season. His record is outstanding - 57 goals in 91 games in the past two seasons and there is the belief that he can improve in the Premier League.

West Ham face £6m tag for Holt

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helsea owner Roman Abramovich is lining up an ambitious move to sign Arsenal duo Bacary Sagna and Theo Walcott as the Russian billionaire looks to continue his summer spending spree.

Abramovich is keen to flex his financial muscles this summer and will look to make the most of Chelsea’s ‘Champions League winner’ status as he prepares to make further moves in the transfer market.

Chelsea are said to be on the lookout a more reliable right back after allowing Jose Bosingwa to see out his contract and seemingly opting to use Branislav Ivanovic as primarily a central defender.

Abramovich is willing to offer Sagna a lucrative contract and is ready to stump up a significant fee for the 29 year old French international.

Sagna has two years to run on his current deal and may feel that at this stage of his career he needs to be considering his options.

Grant Holt

est Ham boss Sam Allardyce has been told it will take £6m to land Norwich striker Grant Holt.

Allardyce will also face competition from exNorwich boss Paul Lambert’s Aston Villa and newly-promoted Reading for the want-away striker.

Holt, 31, has asked for a transfer and Norwich face a battle to keep him despite trying to offer him a new improved contract.

West Ham are keen but their £3m enquiry has been knocked back with Norwich officially insisted that no official bid has yet been lodged.

Cardiff’s Malky Mackay, Birmingham boss Chris Hughton and Celtic boss Neil Lennon have all been tipped to be on Norwich’s hit list.

Fabricio Coloccini

City target Newcastle hit man

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ewcastle captain Fabricio Coloccini has emerged as a transfer target for Manchester City, as Roberto Mancini looks to add to his central defensive options.

Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott were among the standout players in City’s titlewinning campaign, but Mancini believes it is an area he needs to strengthen.

He was interested in Ajax’s Jan Vertonghen, but the Belgium international looks set to join Spurs, and has also been linked with Inter Milan’s Andrea Ranocchia.

The 30-year-old enjoyed a fine season as the Magpies finished fifth in the Premier League and his composed defending was rewarded with a place in the PFA Team of the Year.

The Argentina international is a fans’ favourite at St James’ Park and recently signed a new fouryear contract with Newcastle.

Cicinho returns to Brazilian league

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ormer Real Madrid defender Cicinho has confirmed he will return to Brazil once his contract with AS Roma expires at the end of the month.

Cicinho swapped Madrid for Rome in an •11 million deal in 2007 but has struggled to hold down a place in the Italian side in recent seasons.

The 31-year-old had loan spells at Sao Paulo and Villarreal before returning to Roma last summer, but made just two league appearances in the 2011/12 Serie A campaign.

Cicinho, who won the Club World Cup with Sao Paulo in 2005, has also previously played for Botafogo and Atletico Mineiro in Brazil.

Cicinho

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 45

PICTORIAL Ivica Olic is ruled out of Croatia's Euro 2012 squad after suffering a thigh injury, with Nikola Kalinic called up to replace him.

1

With the series won, England pace bowler James Anderson is rested for the third Test against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

Defending champion Li Na goes out, while Maria Sharapova struggles, with Andy Murray and Rafael Nadal playing later on Monday.

Tiger Woods conjures a piece of magic to clinch the Memorial Tournament and join Jack Nicklaus on 73 PGA Tour wins.

2

Chelsea transfer target Hulk has appeared to pave the way for a move to Stamford Bridge by suggesting it may be time for him to leave Porto.

Police have confirmed that QPR midfielder Joey Barton was attacked outside a nightclub in Liverpool during the early hours of Monday.

3

Red Bull is being forced to change their cars' floors after holes in them were deemed illegal by Formula One's governing body.

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1

2

4 3

4

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PAGE 46

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ermany arrived in Gdansk for UEFA Euro 2012 yesterday with key midfielder Bastian Schweinsteiger having received a clean bill of health and coach Joachim Loew in a confident mood.

Germany are based in the Baltic port of Gdansk, Poland, for the duration of Euro 2012, which starts on Friday with the final in Kiev on July 1, with all their Group B games taking place in Ukraine.

The Germans have had minor setbacks in their final preparations after a largely second string team suffered a shock 5-3 defeat to Switzerland, while midfield star Schweinsteiger has been recovering from a calf injury.

Schweinsteiger, who strained his left calf a fortnight ago when Bayern Munich lost the Champions League final 4-3 on penalties to Chelsea as his missed spot-kick in the shoot-out helped the Blues seal victory, returned to training yesterday.

Arsenal-bound forward Lukas Podolski, who turned 27 yesterday and was born in Poland, was presented with a birthday cake

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

UERO 2012 Germans hit Euro in confident mood by the squad before the Germans trained and the crowd of around 8 000 sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to him in Polish.

Along with Schweinsteiger, Podolski is in a core group of players central to Loew’s hopes of bringing home a fourth European crown, having last lifted the title in 1996 after also winning the 1972 and 1980 tournaments.

After giving his players the weekend to relax before the three-week long tournament, Loew was upbeat.

With the quartet of Borussia Dortmund midfielder, Mario Goetze, Arsenal defender, Per Mertesacker, Lazio striker, Miroslav Klose and Schweinsteiger, all returning from recent injuries, Loew still has a few decisions to make.

Should Schweinsteiger fail to be fit in time, Bayern teammate Toni Kroos is most likely to partner Real Madrid’s Sami Khedira in the defensive midfield role, while Captain Philipp Lahm is set to start on the left with his Bayern teammate Jerome Boateng on the right.

Loew needs to choose between Dortmund’s Mats Hummels, Bayern’s Holger Badstuber and Mertesacker for the two places available at centre-back.

For the single striker berth, Bayern’s Mario Gomez is vying with Lazio veteran Klose, who turns 34 on Saturday, and is just five goals short of Gerd Mueller’s all-time record for Germany of 68 in 62 appearances.

Loew has promised his players an intense week of training with Holland and Denmark still to come in Group B after Portugal.

Bastian Schweinsteiger

Henin in 2007. She notched 41 errors and was broken seven times by her 24-year-old opponent.

Shvedova, who was a quarterfinalist in 2010, had to come through qualifying after a knee injury in 2011 saw her ranking plummet to 206.

She will now face fourth-seeded Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova who brushed aside unseeded American Varvara Lepchenko 6-2, 6-1.

Sharapova struggled into the quarterfinals, defeating Czech veteran Klara

Zakopalova 6-4, 6-7 (5/7), 6-2 in an errorscarred clash which featured 21 breaks of serve.

The Russian second seed, seeking a Roland Garros title to complete a career Grand Slam, goes on to face either Estonian 23rd seed Kaia Kanepi or Arantxa Rus of the Netherlands for a place in the semifinals.

But she will be hoping for an improvement in conditions in Wednesday’s quarterfinal after a stiff wind and bitter cold, which saw temperatures dip to a chilly

14 degrees, played havoc with her game, temper and movement.

Sharapova finished with 53 unforced errors to her opponent’s 48 and served up 12 double faults against seven.

With serve constantly under siege, Sharapova carved out a massive 31 break points in total, converting 12.

Sharapova, twice a semifinalist and the favourite for the title following the exits of top seed Victoria Azarenka, Li and Serena Williams, rarely settled in the three hour 11 minute encounter.

Rafael Nadal

Maria Sharapova

Novak Djokovic

econd seed Rafael Nadal won 17 games in succession as he coasted into the French Open quarterfinals yesterday with a 6-2, 6-0, 6-0 demolition of Argentina’s Juan Monaco.

The defending champion, bidding to become the first man to capture seven Roland Garros singles titles, will tackle fellow Spaniard Nicolas Almagro for a place in the semifinals.

Nadal, who celebrated his 26th birthday on Sunday while title rivals Novak Djokovic and Roger Federer were struggling into the last eight, took his career record in Paris to 49-1.

Monaco, the 13th seed, went into Monday’s match with solid claycourt form under his belt having captured titles in Vina del Mar and Houston this year.

But he had lost all three previous clay meetings against Nadal, claiming just 10 games in the process, and the 28-year-old was swept

aside again by the champion in just one hour and 46 minutes on Suzanne Lenglen court.

Nadal will start his quarterfinal as comfortable favourite as he leads Almagro 7-0 in their series.

Britain’s Andy Murray reached the quarterfinals with a 1-6, 6-41, 6-2 win over Richard Gasquet of France. The fourth seed will play sixth seed David Ferrer of Spain for a place in the semifinals.

Spanish pair David Ferrer and Nicolas Almagro led the way into the quarterfinals on the back of comfortable straight sets wins.

Joining them in the last eight, in matches held over from Sunday in the opposing top half of the draw, were Frenchman Jo-Wilfried Tsonga and Juan Martin del Potro of Argentina.

Sixth seed Ferrer cruised past countryman Marcel Granollers 6-3, 6-2, 6-0, while 12th seed Almagro pushed aside Janko Tipsarevic of

Serbia 6-4, 6-4, 6-4.

Tsonga, seeking to provide a first French win in the men’s singles since Yannick Noah in 1983, next takes on top seed Novak Djokovic of Serbia, who has history-making on his mind too as he bids to become the first man in 43 years to hold all four Grand Slam titles at the same time.

Del Potro was two sets to one up against Tomas Berdych of the Czech Republic when darkness fell on their fourth round tie late on Sunday and he wasted little time on their return Monday to complete a 7-6 (8/6), 1-6, 6-3, 7-5 win.

His reward will be another crack at third seed Roger Federer, against whom he lost a thrilling five-setter in the 2009 semifinals.

Ferrer’s win over Granollers took him through to the quarterfinals for the third time in his career and he will meet Andy Murray in the last eight finals.

Defending champion Na crashes out, Sharapova fights on

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efending champion, Li Na, crashed out of the French Open yesterday while Maria Sharapova survived a deluge of errors on a bitterly cold day in Paris to struggle into the quarterfinals.

Li, who was Asia’s first Grand Slam singles champion when she took the 2011 title, lost her crown at the fourth round stage, going down 3-6, 6-2, 6-0 to Kazakh qualifier Yaroslava Shvedova, the world 142.

World No 7 Li was attempting to be the first French Open women’s champion to successfully defend the title since Justine

Blanc wants more French consistency

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rance coach Laurent Blanc has called for more consistency in his side’s play ahead of their final Euro 2012 warmup game against Estonia in Le Mans today.

France produced some thrilling football in the first half of their 2-0 defeat of Serbia last Thursday before their level dipped and Blanc wants to see a more complete performance against the Estonians.

Yann M’Vila succumbed to an ankle injury in the early stages of the Serbia win, which means that Alou Diarra is in line to take his place for both the Estonia friendly and Euro 2012 opener against England.

The 30-year-old endured a disappointing debut season with Marseille but Blanc, who worked with Diarra at Bordeaux, says he has the necessary experience to occupy the key midfield position in front of the French defence.

Blanc is expected to name his firstchoice starting line-up against Estonia, with skipper Hugo Lloris in goal behind a back four of Mathieu Debuchy, Adil Rami, Phillipe Mexes and Patrice Evra.

Diarra will be flanked in midfield by Yohan Cabaye and Florent Malouda, behind a three-pronged front line of Samir Nasri, Karim Benzema and Franck Ribery.

Although both M’Vila and fellow midfielder Blaise Matuidi are expected to miss the England game, Blanc’s selection problems pale in comparison to those dogging his English counterpart, Roy Hodgson.

Hodgson has lost key midfielders Frank Lampard and Gareth Barry and centreback Gary Cahill to injury in the last week, while Wayne Rooney is suspended for England’s opening two matches at Euro 2012.

Nadal coasts closer to seventh Roland Garros singles titles S

PEOPLES DAILY, TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

PAGE 47

Li tackles Roland Garros with eyes on last Olympic chance

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Lateef Kayode and Antonio Tarver fighting in Saturday’s Cruiserweight bout in Los Angeles

Kayode cries blue murder after draw with Tarver L

ateef Kayode has declared that the result of Saturday’s clash with Antonio Tarver was not a fair representation of what transpired on ring, and boasted that he was the better boxer.

The referees scored them thus: Tarver and Kayode each won 115-113 on one scorecard, and the third was 114-114.

“Everybody knows I won this fight,” Kayode said.

“I am a strong man. I came to fight. Power is my name, and I did my job. I am better than him. He won because he works for Showtime. Let’s go to HBO.” Kayode showboated and goaded Tarver to throw more punches throughout the bout. However, he landed only 8 per cent of his punches compared to 20 per cent for Tarver.

Tarver last fought when he stopped Australia’s Danny Green in July last year. But after only three fights in the previous 43 months, he realises he’s running out of time to land the big-money bouts he wants.

In Saturday’s fight, Tarver, the veteran, avoided his first defeat since May 2009 when he drew with the unbeaten cruiserweight champion.

Kayode dominated the early rounds, keeping Tarver on the defence, but the 43-year-old veteran broke through in the sixth round and finished strongly.

Tarver, who is determined to fight one of the Klitschko heavyweight brothers for a final careerdefining achievement, got Kayode’s attention months before the fight with critical comments about Kayode’s fighting style.

Kayode got mad in the third round when Tarver hit him as the referee separated them out of a clinch, dismissively waving away Tarver’s apologetic offer to touch gloves.

Kayode landed most of the decent punches in the first five rounds, but Tarver came back with several big shots in the sixth and a left hand in the eighth that buckled Kayode’s knees.

However, Tarver insisted that he was better than the Nigerian. “I beat this guy in every aspect,” said Tarver, who works as an analyst for a television group.

I dictated every round. I hit him with clean shots all night long. He was sloppy, just like I said he was. He was just slapping and never landing.

“I swept him after the sixth round. From the sixth to the 12th, it was a shutout. I was slow to start.

That’s all he had on me.”

On the same bill, Winky Wright lost a unanimous decision to unbeaten middleweight Peter “Kid Chocolate” Quillin.

The 40-year-old Wright, whose record now stands at 51-6-1, was soundly outpointed in his first fight in nearly three years.

The former middleweight champion was fighting in the co-main event behind his good friend and fellow Tampa-area fighter Tarver.

Wright showed ring rust in his first fight in 38 months. But he demonstrated a willingness to engage Quillin (27-0; 20) in one of his most entertaining fights in years.

Quillin’s speed and power caused enormous problems for Wright, who was knocked down in the fifth round.

“He definitely won the fight; no doubt at all,” Wright said. “My timing was off. He fought a good fight, and he came prepared. He was quicker than I thought, and he was stronger than I thought.”

Wright had fought only once since losing to Bernard Hopkins in July 2007. He lost a one-sided decision to Paul Williams in April 2009.

He claimed he couldn’t find any fights that intrigued him, even with his 40th birthday looming last November.

Quillin was highly watchable in the biggest victory of his career, consistently breaking through Wright’s defence with combinations and big shots.

The fight was a step up in competition for Quillin, whose style could attract bigger fights with bigger names.

“I’m very proud. This was hard work for me,” said Quillin, who grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the hometown of Floyd Mayweather Jr. “I threw a lot of punches and made him fight me.

He was very smart and crafty. I had to watch for the shots.”

Earlier, African-Australian super-middleweight Sakio Bika returned to prominence with a dominating performance, stopping Dyah Davis in the tenth round.

Among the spectators at the tournament were Canelo Alvarez, Abner Mares, Sugar Shane Mosley, Victor Ortiz and Laila Ali.

aving missed out on an Olympic medal on home soil four years ago, Li Na is looking forward to one more try, although she knows the atmosphere will be different from Beijing.

“I’m really looking forward to London especially because it’s my last chance to play in the Olympics,” the 30-year-old French Open champion told Reuters after beating American Christina McHale in the third round at Roland Garros on Saturday.

“The next ones will be in four years so you never know. I had a good experience in Beijing, I wish I can do better this time.”

With the Olympic tournament being held at Wimbledon, more than an hour’s drive across the capital from the East London athletes’ village, Li will be staying in a hotel.

“We’re not staying in the Olympic village because it is too far. So we will be staying in a hotel with the other Chinese players,” she said.

“In Beijing we could more feel that it was the Olympics because there was a lot of support for the Chinese players. And I was staying in the Olympic village, which was nice and just 15 minutes away from the courts.”

The Chinese champion, who lost to Russian Vera Zvonareva in the bronze-medal match in Beijing, will

be playing in her third Olympics after also taking part in the Sydney Games 12 years ago.

Last year, she failed to shine on the grass courts at the All England Club, losing in three sets in the second round to German Sabrine Lisicki, but said she was not worried that the surface would spoil her Olympic hopes.

“I’m not doing that bad on grass courts so I am confident in my chances,” Li said.

“I don’t think I played a bad match against Lisicki, we both played a great match. I’m not worried at all by my level on grass.”

Li, who reached the quarterfinals at Wimbledon twice and won the Edgbaston Classic in 2010, will skip theBirmingham tournament this year.

“After Roland Garros, I’m going straight away to Wimbledon. If I had not reached the second week here, I would have asked for a wildcard for Birmingham,” she said.

The Olympic tournament will start on July 28, three weeks after the Wimbledon women’s final, and Li believes the Games will feel different to the grand-slam event.

“Of course it’s different from Wimbledon because during Wimbledon it’s all about tennis.

During the Olympics, there will be other events in other sports going on,” she said.

Li Na

Technical adviser faults referee’s officiating

T

he Technical Adviser, Rangers FC of Enugu, Okey Emodi, has faulted the officiating of Saturday’s premier league match which ended 1-0 in favour of hosts Heartland FC of Owerri.

Emodi also faulted the inadequate security provided during the match played at the Dan Anyiam Stadium, Owerri, and said that Rangers lost the match because of some ‘negative variable’ which include fans’ reactions during a 10-minute match disruption.

A rough tackle against a Heartland player during the match caused a misunderstanding that delayed the match proceedings for about 10 minutes.The delay also caused reactions from

spectators and fans.

Emodi said that the referee’s decision against his players was too harsh and affected their concentration during the match.

The adviser added that the host team’s officials failed in the area of security during the game.

He said that the Nigeria Premier League stipulated 50 policemen for every premier league match, adding that there were few policemen during the match.

Ndubuisi Nduka, Heartland Chief Coach, however denounced Emodi claim, saying that the officiating was balanced.

Nduka said that the victory was possible due to some technicalities which they used before the match started.

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

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TUESDAY, JUNE 5, 2012

SPORTS

LA TEST LATEST Euros harder than World Cup, says Xavi

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pain midfielder Xavi Hernandez believes the European Championship is harder to win than the World Cup. World and European champions Spain are looking to complete an unprecedented treble by retaining their European crown in Poland and Ukraine, and Xavi is aware that his nation are the team to beat this summer.

The Barcelona player said "I have the feeling that the duty has been completed, that we are in peace. There are no urgencies anymore, no fear of the quarter-finals, no worries.

"Everyone wants to beat the champions. For us it is another game, for our opponent is it the game. Moreover, we are without (David) Villa and (Carles) Puyol. (Coach) Vicente Del Bosque was right to say they are irreplaceable but we will try to compensate for their loss with other people.

"The European Championship is harder than the World Cup, more intense.

There are no Cinderellas. In the World Cup, with all respect, you can face Honduras or Saudi Arabia. In the Euros, anyone can beat you."

IOC begins 3-day inspection visit in Rio

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he IOC is making its annual visit to inspect Rio de Janeiro's preparations for the 2016 Olympics.

The International Olympic Committee entourage began its three-day visit yesterday. It will receive updates from Rio officials and local organizers and visit some of the construction sites for the games.

Coordination commission leader Nawal El Moutawakel and IOC executive director Gilbert Felli will stay in Rio through Wednesday along with the other 16 members.

It is the third full inspection visit to Rio since the city was picked in 2009 to host the games. The IOC will make two more annual visits, beginning next year.

IOC officials were in Rio for a project review in March, saying they were satisfied with the city's preparations but warning organizers not to waste time.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE It is not giving children more that spoils them; it is giving them more to avoid confrontation — John Gray

A journey to nowhere?

You have given assurances of support but some of you are secretly campaigning for Atiku. I can't stand here and be humiliated by you. Everything I have asked for, you have refused to give me. No president anywhere has been treated by his party the way you are treating me. I am the captain of this boat.

I am not going down alone. I am going to sink this boat and go down with all that are in it.

FOR THE MASSES

By Rufa’i Ibrahim ruf585@hotmail.com

T

hat was President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GEJ, back in December, 2011, as reported by all the papers at the time. He was at a meeting with his party chieftains at the PDP headquarters in Abuja. He had become president about six months earlier after the demise of his boss, Yar'adua, but was now one of the many aspirants for his party, Peoples Democracy Party's ticket for the 2011 presidential election.

GEJ believed then, rightly or wrongly, that the PDP governors were playing a double game, feigning fealty to him in the afternoon but jumping into bed with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar in the night. Hence, his outburst and the threat to sink the boat with everybody in it.

It was not exactly clear whether it was the PDP or the nation's boat that GEJ had in mind. There was little difference, in any case, between the two, with PDP in control at the centre and in 27 states at the time.

But would GEJ really have sunk the boat if he did not have his way? Perhaps not. But that he, in his position as president, issued the threat was the issue.

No matter the provocation, there was something unpresidential, even reckless in the very act of issuing such a threat. It gave cause for concern.

The threat shone a very unflattering light on GEJ as a person as well as on his leadership abilities and understanding of politics.

But, more importantly, it showed us the essential, or real GEJ: fiercely ambitious, impatient, a man who has difficulties controlling his emotions, a man from whose mouth words may sometimes blurt out before they are assessed and weighed, and a man who doesn't easily suffer impertinence with grace - an almost totally different persona from the one presented in popular perception as a meek, simple and unambitious man who grew up without shoes.

It can hardly be said that threat defined his administration. But it certainly set the tone.

From the time of that threat to now, what the nation has been getting from the GEJ camp are even more ominous threats, not mindful commitments or thoughtful actions.

Today, one and a half years after that threat, the ship has not

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President Goodluck Jonathan been sunk. But, given the country's bleak backdrop, current happenings and the way our affairs are being run, no one can be certain that the boat will not, at some point, be sunk.

More importantly, and which forms our main concern here today, no one can say for certain where the boat is headed. Is the captain taking us on a journey to nowhere?

We must grant that GEJ came to power in this complex country not in the best of circumstances and in very trying times. This posed two challenges for GEJ. The first, which was conceptual, was to properly analyse and gauge the size of the problems facing the country.

The second, was to fashion appropriate responses to the problems.

It can hardly be said that GEJ has passed either test. Beyond the talk about transformation, which is itself not well put together and anchored around a well-defined idea, it is not clear what the administration's real agenda or programme is for a new Nigeria.

But this is hardly a surprise.

GEJ is not exactly an ideas man.

Even his closest associates will be hard put to cite a single "big idea" about the Nigerian future that GEJ has, or something or idea about which he is passionate.

It is only natural and understandable that a leader will be influenced, in his thinking and actions, by the circumstances of his rise to power. And one measure of good leadership is the extent to which a leader allows his experiences to exert an influence on his conduct of state affairs.

GEJ must be forgiven for feeling bitter about the activities of the socalled cabal that tried to block him from assuming power even in

acting capacity at the time of Yar'adua's sickness. Most people in his position would feel the same.

But taking such a thing too much to heart, and equating the cabal with the North, as GEJ clearly does, when in fact, it was Northerners who came to his rescue and saved an ugly situation, doesn't show mature leadership.

Today, almost all the leading positions in the public sector and the big portfolios in the cabinet are held by largely people of Southsouth extraction. It is difficult to understand why the leaders cannot see the danger in this wholesome application of a winner-take-all approach in a country such as ours.

GEJ came to power largely through the manipulation of passions and sentiments to forge a coalition of minorities, the so-called "majority of minorities." And it is clear that only through such methods can he remain in power and/or get re-elected in 2015.

This makes GEJ and his men essentially prisoners of the passions and sentiments they have been using and stirring to get and retain power.

But it leaves Nigeria a much more polarized country than at any time in its history. And it is not just an unhealthy situation for the country, but a dangerous one too.

It is rare, and often does not endure for long, for a minority to govern majorities.

But the Jonathan presidency itself was conceived and born in some kind of betrayal. A betrayal of both the PDP's zoning formula and the unwritten elite consensus that bourgeoisie politicians in the country have forged among themselves as a way to ensure some order in leadership succession.

That this betrayal, this shuffling aside of a consensual arrangement, has been a source of unease, tension and even conflicts that now dog the polity is something that even GEJ himself will readily admit.

GEJ made promises to us, among which are that, there would be a change for the better, there would be 'a breadth of fresh air' and there will be a radical "transformation" of the economy and society.

We grant that one year is too short a time for some of these promises to be fulfilled. But GEJ, in reality, has been in power now for a little over two years. If two years are still too short a time for us to see results work done, we expect to see

at least concrete plans for the execution of the agendas.

But where is the breadth of air or even the plan to achieve it? And just what is being transformed in either the society or the economy, or both?

We were even made to expect a whiff of good luck if we elected as president the man of that name, who himself has good luck to thank for his meteoric rise to political preeminence.

Can it rightly be said that in this one year, Nigeria has been blessed by good luck or good fortune?

But leaders achieve their stature not so much by fulfilling their promises as by impoverishing wisely when faced with the inevitable surprises and challenges that crop up during their tenure.

GEJ has, in these two years, had his own fair share of surprises and challenges. But let's consider only the two most prominent: insecurity and corruption.

Luck, which has always been GEJ's best friend, seems now to be showing the man its other, bad side on the issue of corruption. The past six months especially have been a season of scams in the country. Yet, the need for coverage and the will to confront the monster of corruption has been matched only by the absence of these qualities in our leaders. In none of the many cases of corruption has GEJ shown real leadership, courage and the willingness to get to the bottom of the problem.

His response to the challenge of insecurity has not been any more courageous. But it is even worse in this case in that he has been viewing the problem from a narrow and prejudiced prism that reflects a very serious national problem in essentially ethno-regional and religious colours.

Boko Haram, for instance, is for GEJ not a problem with social and economic roots, but a northern conspiracy against his person and his rule. And for him, the solution is, and remains, to defeat it militarily.

It doesn't seem to matter to GEJ that this approach is not succeeding, and that the problem is not one that can simply be wished away.

GEJ has three years ahead of him, and we may yet see a new approach and a much more purposeful leadership that will change things in the country.

For now, though, what we have are, unfulfilled promises, weak and confused responses to challenges and problems and a polity that is becomes more polarized by the day.

Will the country continue on this journey or flight to nowhere?

Or will groups and forces, with determination and ideas come together and work together to reconfigure the political order in a way that will ensure for the country a better and more secure future?

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