Peoples Daily Newspaper, Monday 05, August, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 11 No. 56

Monday, August 5, 2013

Ramadan Timings for Abuja MAGRIB

ALFIJR

6.52 p.m.

5.09 a.m.

. . . putting the people first

5 killed as rival Borno ‘youth JTF’ fight >> 3

Ramadan 28, 1434 AH

N150

Anenih ‘reunites’ Obasanjo, IBB, Jonathan >> 2

IG to redeploy Rivers CP, Mbu

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arring last minute changes, the Police Force headquarters will redeploy its embattled Commissioner in Rivers state, Mr. Joseph Mbu, any moment from

By Lawrence Olaoye & Lambert Tyem

today.

Although Mbu’s next destination

after the redeployment was not clear up to press time yesterday, Peoples Daily investigation revealed that the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar plans

to post him to Imo state as police commissioner.

Our source revealed however, that the Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, who got wind of the

planned transfer of the controversial police commissioner to his state swiftly protested to the Police High Command.

Contd on Page 2

Residents of Nyanya and Karu districts of Abuja forced to raise their hands up as a sign of surrender by security operatives who took over the environment, after Okada riders took to the streets after one of them was allegedly killed by soldiers, yesterday. Inset: A soldier arresting one of the Okada men. See more pictures on page 17

Photos: Mahmud Isa & Justin Imo-Owo

2 killed in Abuja soldiers, Okada riders’ clash >> 2 Ramadan Message

“As for him who gives (in charity) and keeps his duty to Allah and fears Him. And testifies to the Best. We will make smooth for him the path of ease (bliss or goodness). But he who is a greedy miser, and thinks himself self-sufficient. And Belies to the Best. We will make smooth for him the path for evil. And what will his wealth avail him when he goes down (in destruction)? (Qur’an 92:5-11) Sponsored by Kano state government

Dr. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso Governor, Kano State

PAGE 2

News

CONTENTS News 2-10 Editorial 12 Op.Ed 13 Letters 14 Opinion 15 Metro 16-18 Business 19-22 Stockwatch 23 S/Report 24-25 Law 26 Education 27-28 Health 29-30

Abandoned cargoes at Nigeria port: How is to blame Page 4

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest 36 Politics 37-38 Newsxtra 39 Leisure 40 Sports 41-44 Columnist 48

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

2 feared killed in Abuja as soldiers, Okada riders clash wo persons were feared killed yesterday when some commercial motorcyclists, popularly known as Okada riders, clashed with soldiers deployed to St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Karu district of Abuja for a weekly special assignment.

The incident, which occurred at about 1pm, also led to the damaging of over 30 cars and destruction of other property belonging to petty traders in the area.

The clash followed a silly dispute between one of the soldiers on special Sunday duty at the church and an okada rider, said to have been killed in the incident.

According to eyewitnesses, the okada rider had conveyed a lady attending a mass at the church and stopped at a “No Parking” zone around the premises. The motorcyclist, who was allegedly rude when was accosted by one of the soldiers was then tortured and forced to drink dirty water from a nearby gutter.

One of the commercial motorcyclists, who gave his name as Musa, told our reporter that they mobilised to protest upon realization that their member, who is a Muslim and was observing fasting, was forced by the soldiers to break his fast by drinking the dirty water.

One of our reporters, who visited the scene about 1.20pm yesterday, confirmed seeing one corpse in the area which was latter taken away by the security agents.

An eyewitness, also a resident within the vicinity who preferred anonymity, also disclosed that another person lost his live while one critically injured security guard who went out to know what was happening and was hit by a stray bullet was rushed to Asokoro Hospital.

Another eye witness who

simply gave her name as Lucy, said the soldiers, who were obviously irked by the alleged security breach by the okada rider, “descended on the man, leading to his passing on”.

“After he fainted, some of his colleagues who probably thought he was dead began to haul stones at the security men who then fired several shots into the air. The incident happened outside the gate and so the soldiers ran inside the premises after that. Few minutes later, there was reinforcement. I was held in church for almost three hours”, she said.

But a slightly different version of the story was narrated by the church’s Chief Security Officer (CSO), one Eugene Uba. Uba said: “It was at the time of commencement of church service when we do search every person before entering the church premises for worship.

“It was in the process that a man was discovered with a knife.

The soldiers punished the man by asking him to do frog jump and allowed him go. But later, the okada riders from Nyanya and Karu mobilised and came out en mass and started throwing stones with sticks and other dangerous weapons. That is what happened”, the CSO said.

The violent clash led to a heavy traffic snarl in the area and it took the combined team of security operatives, soldiers and police several hours to bring the situation under control.

FCT Police Command’s spokesperson, Altina Daniel, corroborated the first version of the report as she acknowledged that the incident resulted from a misunderstanding between soldiers attached to the church and okada riders.

The PPRO however said there was no casualty in the incident, stressing however that the police have commenced investigations into the matter.

But the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, in a statement signed by his Special Assistant on Media, Nosike Ogbuenyi, corroborated Uba’s account of the incident.

The minister said: “Eyewitness accounts at the place stated that a commercial motorcycle rider who was found with a dangerous weapon (long dagger) caused the fracas which was fortunately nipped in the bud through the timely intervention of the Police and soldiers.

“According to the eyewitnesses, while the soldiers guarding the church were carrying out their routine stop-and-search exercise of vehicles, motorcycles and persons at the entrance of the church premises, they found a long knife (dagger) in the possession of a young motorcycle rider.

“The man was said to have initially resisted the search but was later overpowered by the security men. For his infraction, he was made to sit on the bare ground and

Contd. from Front Page Our investigation revealed that the decision to redeploy Mbu out of Rivers is in line with ongoing efforts to reach a truce between President Jonathan and Governor Rotimi Ameachi.

It would be recalled that Governor Ameachi had called for Mbu’s redeployment following his alleged complicity in the crisis that is currently rocking his government.

This was followed by a resolution passed for the removal of the state police commissioner by both the Senate and the House of Representatives, demanding Mbu’s redeployment by the Police authorities as part of steps towards the resolution of the political impasse currently rocking the oil rich state.

Also, five governors from the North had last month paid a solidarity visit to Governor Amaechi, during

which they used the opportunity to ask the inspector general of police to redeploy Mbu out of Rivers, accusing him of “unprofessionalism and political partisanship.”

The five governors who called for Mbu’s redeployment were Mu’azu Babangida Aliyu of Niger state; Murtala Nyako of Adamawa state; Sule Lamido of Jigawa state; Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano state and Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto state.

“With the way the police is being used and abused, and with officers like Mbu in the bus, we do not see the need for state governments to fund an antagonistic police and may be forced to reconsider our position on the financial contribution of states towards the funding of the Nigerian police,” the governors said in a joint statement read on their behalf by Governor Aliyu in Port Harcourt.

Following the crisis of confidence between Governor Amaechi and Mbu, the former had said that he could no longer entrust the state’s security in the hands of the police commissioner.

Shortly after Mbu’s open rejection by the state governor, the Rivers state House of Assembly was embroiled in a leadership tussle which resulted in hoodlums invading the House on July 9, attacking lawmakers and taking away the mace under the CP’s watch.

The controversy also saw five lawmakers claiming to have impeached the Speaker of the 32-member Assembly even as a lawmaker whipped his colleague with a mace with the latter ending up in hospital.

Though the Presidency had repeatedly distanced itself from the feud, many Nigerians are insisting

By Lambert Tyem & Tobias Dapam

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subjected to frog-jumping by the soldiers who also confiscated his dagger. The accused was however, subsequently released without further charges.

“But trouble started when the offending young man resurfaced minutes later with dozens of miscreants whom he had mobilized to support him. He had lied to his supporters that the soldiers had killed a motorcycle rider by forcing him to drink waste water from the gutter.

“The mob that came with him started smashing vehicle windscreens, attacking passersby and others within the vicinity of the church and the adjoining roads. The fracas would have spread to other parts of the overpopulated settlement but for the quick intervention of the security agents”, the statement said.

According to the minister, the soldiers were deployed to worship places following security alerts that some miscreants were planning to foment trouble in the territory.

Anenih ‘re-unites’ Obasanjo, IBB, Jonathan

By Umar Muhammad Puma

A

grand reception to mark the 80th birthday anniversary of chairman of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, yesterday in Abuja turned out to be a veritable opportunity to re-unite the nation’s former leaders with President Goodluck Jonathan.

The programme which held at the International Conference Centre had in attendance, former military President, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, former Head of State, Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar, and former President Olusegun Obasanjo, among others.

Anenih said he was thrilled at Obasanjo’s presence as he noted

that, “I must confess that I was thrilled that former President Olusegun Obasanjo came to the church service.

“This is the kind of forgiveness leaders have to show for the country to move forward,” he said.

Anenih, who was delivering a vote of thanks, advised both former and current leaders of the country to learn how to forgive each other.

“The leaders are gathered here today and this is why we have asked ourselves, why can’t we forget the past and move forward?”, he asked rhetorically.

Anenih also urged that past and present leaders not to harbour any Contd. on Page 3

IG to redeploy Rivers CP, Mbu

that the crisis was fallout of the leadership tussle between President Jonathan and the oil rich state’s governor.

Several efforts by our reporter to reach the Police spokesman, Frank Mba, to get the Force headquarters’ confirmation of the planned redeployment of Mbu failed yesterday.

Mba could not be reached on his cell phone. Also, a text message sent to his phone was neither acknowledged nor replied.

When contacted to confirm if the planned redeployment of Mbu had been communicated to the government in Rivers, the state Commissioner for Information, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, told one of our reporters that: “Some of our colleagues have also called me for confirmation, but I am not officially aware of this development”.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 3

Five killed as rival ‘Youth JTF’ clash in Borno From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

the supreme legitimacy to capture all insurgents within their domain and would never allow outsiders to inflitrate into the area.

The situation was said to have led into heated arguments a leading to a free-for-all fight.

Dangerous weapons such as machetes cutlasses, swords, knives and daggers among others were freely used by both groups.

Five persons were reportedly killed in the encounter while several others sustained machete cuts and gunshot injuries.

Operatives of the Joint Military Task Force (JTG) were said to have intervened and fired sporadic shots to disperse the warring groups.

Abdullahi Mohammed who was wounded during the clash and tajen to Maiduguri blamed the clash on the intense disagreement between the Biu and Maiduguri Volunteer Groups on who has the ultimate mandate to capture the fleeing Boko Haram mmbers.

“Thank God I survived the fight as I was only hit with stick.

“Trouble started when some group civilian JTF from Maiduguri accompanied by soldiers invaded Biu town in search of Boko Haram terrorist.

“The Civilian JTF in Biu had asked the those that came from Maiduguri to leave the town because their presence in the town is likely to cause more harm than good to residents of Biu town”.

“It was in the process of rejection of the Maiduguri civilian JTF that fight ensued between the two youth groups which led to the killing of five persons”, Mohammed further added.

He said those that sustsined severe injuries were taken to the Federal Medical Centre Gombe (FMC) for treatment.

“I saw five dead bodies before I was rushed to FMC in Gombe.

“It is possible the casualty figure may be more than five because only two of us the survived the shooting from soldiers before we were taken to the hospital.

“I cannot tell where the other dead bodies were deposited,” Mohammed said.

ormer Vice President Atiku Abubakar has protested to the national leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) over an alleged manner he is being treated by the ruling party since he revalidated his membership about three years ago.

In a letter dated July 11 to the National Chairman of the PDP, Bamanga Tukur, Atiku specifically complained about the exclusion of his name from the list of statutory delegates to the August 31 Special National Convention of the party.

He also complained about the systematic withdrawal of the respects and privileges accorded to him as a former vice president, in line with the PDP Constitution and sought the rectification of the mistake.

Abubakar served as Vice President in the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo between 1999 and 2007.

He however defected to the defunct Action Congress (AC) where he contested the 2007 presidential election but lost to the late President Umaru Yar’Adua.

The Atiku who hails from Adamawa s returned to the party after securing a

waiver which was granted him by the party’s National Executive Committee, NEC, at its September 2010 meeting.

In the letter, made available to PREMIUM TIMES, Abubakar recounted that he read a news report in a national daily which contained the list of delegates from Adamawa state, his home state, to the convention but that his name was omitted.

He added that his inquiries at the PDP national secretariat confirmed the omission and that after waiting in vain for a response from the party to correct or refute the publication, he decided to write the national chairman to draw his attention to what he regarded a “mistake.”

“In the said report, the delegate list for the Special National Convention submitted by the Adamawa state chapter did not contain my name and further inquiries at the PDP National Secretariat also confirmed same,” Atiku said.

“After waiting for a public statement for the party, correcting and refuting the abnormally in vain, I decided to draw your attention to this mistake.

Abubakar recalled that NEC, at its meeting of September 15, 2010,

approved his application for a waiver to return to the PDP, alongside similar applications from Imo, Abia, Edo, Anambra and Kogi, which enabled him to participate in the party’s activities, including contesting its 2011 presidential primaries.

He reminded the national chairman that his return predated the amendment of the party’s constitution in 2012 and therefore his name should have been on the list.

According to him, “it is in this regard, that I consider the omission of my name as a mistake since it contradicts Section 32 subsection 1 (a) of our party constitution which states that Board of Trustees members of the party shall consists of all past and serving Presidents and Vice Presidents of the Federal Republic of Nigeria who held or hold the respective posts as members of the party and who are still members of the party.”

Atiku requested the party to restore the respects and privileges conferred on occupants of the office of the Vice president and founding members of PDP.

Contd. from Page 2

by certain individuals, urged politicians to emulate the nationalistic virtues of Anenih.

Jonathan said that Anenih enjoyed unparalleled reverence in the nation’s political space because of his nationalistic outlook.

“We can learn from him; he has always been a nationalist. Let us learn to sing the song of unity and use our cleavages for good and not to promote disunity.

“Some provocative statements have come from some elder statesmen who witnessed civil war.

“But Tony Anenih has never made

such statements; this explains why the hall is filled to capacity today,” he said.

Other government functionaries were at the church thanksgiving service and the reception.

It will be recalled that former president Babangida made an attempt to contest the 2011 presidential poll with Jonathan, but was screened out by the Malam Adamu Ciroma led panel on northern aspirants.

Also, recent reports indicate that General Obasanjo and Jonathan have a frosty relationship, and that the former may back a northern candidate against the latter in the 2015 presidential election.

A

t least five persons were reportedly killed when two rival groups of Youth Vigilante Volunteers (Civilian JTF), hunting for suspected Boko Haram insurgents clashed in Biu local government area of Borno state at the weekend.

The incident had reportedly occurred on Friday when a separate group went to Biu town, the administrative headquarters of the local council to effect the arrest of the fleeing insurgents.

Biu is about 185 kilometres from Maiduguri, the capital city which had witnessed series of killings and bombings allegedly carried out by suspected terrorists.

However on getting there, the other groups based in the town had reportedly rejected the idea, arguing that nobody could come to their ‘territory’ to carry out any operation without their consent.

It was further learnt that the Biu youth insisted that they had

Atiku protests mistreatment

by PDP, alleges ostracisation

F

Anenih ‘re-unites’ Obasanjo, IBB, Jonathan grievances, adding that they should also support the current administration.

“Generals Abdulsalami Abubakar and Ibrahim Babangida are here. I believe that if all of us here put our hands behind Jonathan and genuinely advise him, even our worst enemy, Boko Haram, will be afraid,’’ he said.

Jonathan, in his remark, urged the country’s politicians to shun politics of ethnicity because Nigeria needed nationalistic political leaders.

The president, who decried the inflammatory comments being made

News

Ramadan Timing Day 27

TOWNS MAGRIB ALFIJR Aba 6.49 5.09 Abakaliki 6.47 5.11 Abeokuta 7.06 5.28 Abuja 6.53 5.09 Akure 6.58 5.20 Argungu 7.07 5.08 Ankpa 6.46 5.10 Auchi 6.54 5.16 Azare 6.45 4.51 Bama 6.30 4.38 Bauchi 6.44 4.57 Benin 6.57 5.21 Bichi 6.53 4.58 Bida 6.58 5.14 Birnin Gwari 6.56 5.09 Birnin Kebbi 7.10 5.14 Biu 6.33 4.39 Calabar 6.43 5.12 Damaturu 6.38 4.44 Daura 6.54 4.55 Dutse 6.49 4.56 Enugu 6.48 5.12 Funtua 6.57 5.04 Gombe 6.38 4.51 Gwoza 6.31 4.40 Gumi 7.05 5.11 Gusau 6.58 5.04 Gwadabawa 7.07 5.08 Hadejia ` 6.47 4.50 Ibadan 7.03 5.23 Ife 7.02 5.22 Ilorin 7.03 5.23 Jalingo 6.36 4.52 Jere 6.52 5.05 Jos 5.47 5.00 Kabba 6.56 5.16 Kafanchan 6.50 5.04 Keffi/Nasarawa 6.53 4.59 Kaduna 6.54 5.05 Kano 6.52 4.58 Katsina 6.58 4.59 Kontagora 7.01 5.14 Lafia 6.46 5.04 Lagos 7.04 5.28 Lokoja 6.53 5.28 Maiduguri 6.31 4.39 Makurdi 6.46 5.06 Malumfashi 6.58 4.58 Minna 6.57 5.11 Port Harcourt 6.48 5.17 Ringim 6.49 4.56 Shagamu 7.04 5.26 Sokoto 7.07 5.08 Warri 6.56 5.21 Yola 6.32 4.48 Zaria 6.53 5.03 Cotonnou-Benin 7.07 5.33 Ndjamena-Chad 7.22 4.32 Niamey-Niger 7.20 5.21 Younde-Cameroun 6.28 5.01 Source: Society for Propagation of Islam Kaduna

PAGE 4

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Page 4 Report

Abandoned cargoes at Nigerian ports: Who is to Blame?

From Adesoji Oyinlola and Dapo Olawuni, Lagos

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he ultimate hope of every importer of goods into a country is for its immediate clearance at the point of entry, and in a situation whereby you see containers being abandoned, something must have gone wrong, either on the part of the importer or the authority saddled with the responsibility to make the port functional.

While there might be other remote causes for people to abandon their cargoes at the port, majority of the containers abandoned at the ports today are custom goods that are prohibited, sometimes goods are abandoned because they are prohibited and the importer knowing full well that he cannot have his way will deliberately abandon it A visit to any of the ports in Nigeria reveals an array of containers abandoned by importers. Cases of abandoned containers abound at such ports as the Apapa, Tin-Can, Onne, Port-Harcourt, Calabar, Warri, Lillypond, Kiri-kiri and Murtala Mohammed International Airport, among others.

Abandonment of containers mostly arises as a result of insincerity on the part of the importers. The facts remains that when Nigerian importers travel abroad to import goods, they negotiate with the exporter in that country and agree on the terms of credit, which usually stipulates that the importer sell and remits the money before the exporter send the Bill of Lading for the next importation, and if he reneges, the exporter will not send the Bill of Lading and the container is consequently abandoned in the port.

Investigations however show that the problem is usually lack of honesty on the part of Nigerian importers; greed is the main cause, because often times, the importer reneges on the credits term entered into with exporters the moment the money gets to their hands as they do not remit same.

This action has caused many terminal operators a lot of headaches because their terminals are now littered with overtime cargoes. Importers deliberately use the facilities as a warehouse to keep their cargoes; by so doing, the terminal owners cannot get their money or use the space to stack other legitimate imports.

Speaking through its General Manager, Mr. Tunde Keshinro, one of the port concessionaires at the Tin Can Island complex in Lagos, the Ports and Terminal Multiservices Limited (PTML), told a gathering of stakeholders recently at Tin Can Island Port that it was prepared to grant owners of abandoned used vehicles at its terminal a 75 percent waiver on demurrage. He however said that this is applicable only to vehicles imported between 2008 up to 2012.

He also called on the Federal

Containers lined up awaiting clearance at the Apapa Port terminal in Lagos Government to intervene and authorize the auctioning of overtime cargoes in the terminal, as according to him, there are more than 2, 000 overtime vehicles that have been abandoned within its terminal that need to be auctioned out.

Keshinro stated that the company has been battling the issue for about two years. He blamed freight forwarders for the problems because, according to him, the freight forwarders who stand as agents to the importers usually bite more than they can swallow.

“Part of the challenges we are having today is that many clearing agents collect jobs but because of inadequate quotation they are unable to deliver the jobs” “A lot of people are bringing vehicles to Nigeria without having their money in their hands to clear it; please help us to enlighten your customers, if you have capacity to bring two vehicles then bring only two and not 10. Gone are the days when people are bringing vehicles to the ports to sell; that will not happen again, so please don’t bring vehicles to come and sell”, he warned freight forwarders.

“A lot of vehicles are being locked up in our terminal without being cleared; we have over 2,000 over time vehicles that we want to get out of our terminals. We have been working on this for the past two years, to even get the government to auction overtime cargo in our terminal” Keshinro further said.

Apart from these, investigations also revealed that about seven thousand containers where removed from the port to Ikorodu sometime ago; these are containers belonging to Nigerians.

Surprisingly, there has been an increase in the demand for sale of these cargoes. Many of those who have shown interest in buying the abandoned goods are top politicians belonging to the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), government appointees and senior civil servants.A senior Customs officer said since the government ordered the sale, some politicians and civil servants have been making enquiries.

Speaking with Peoples Daily however, the Chairman of the New Nigeria Peoples Party (NNPP) and founder of the National Association of Government Approved Freight Forwarders (NAGAFF), Dr. Boniface Okechukwu Aniebonam said he believes that the problems associated with cargo clearance at the ports has to do with the various charges inherent in moving that cargo out of the port.

“It makes the business worthless, there are lots of things involved; Section 30 of the CEMA clearly spells out the dwelling time for cargoes in our ports, but nobody is enforcing this regulation; this means that such goods, after two weeks, should be moved to the outer ports where the owner can pay less amount of money, but this is not being enforced.

“

“Terminal operators and concessionaires, instead of doing what they are supposed to do as provided for by this Section 13 of CEMA, refused to do this because they want to collect storage charges. The ultimate aim is for us to have a regulator in our port system; somebody we can run to and complain, because for now, there is nobody we can complain to” Also, during a chat with our correspondent, the Public Relations Officer (PRO) of the Apapa Area 1 Command of the Nigeria Custom Service, Mr. Emmanuel Ekpa warned importers that “once you make up your mind to start a business, you have to follow it through and know what it takes; before you start any importation you must first open your ‘Form M’ and inquire very well about the business so that you don’t get stuck on the way”.

According to him, most of the goods were abandoned at the ports because they were seized

by Customs officials for false declaration, under-declaration, or in an attempt to evade duty, contrabands and demurrage charges by terminal operators.

Some of the goods, he said, were imported with tax payers’ money and abandoned at the port because they are sub-standard or prohibited items, which they cannot clear from the port under normal circumstances. Some of the items in some of the containers included lace, used clothes, secondhand shoes, bags, truck head, iron

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offenses Commission (ICPC), in its final Corruption Assessment conducted at four major ports in Nigeria recently, revealed that in order to clear cargoes from Nigerian ports, an importer needs not less than 76 signatures.

rod, angle bar, pipes, gas trucks, rice, furniture, light and other household items.

However, it is not only the importers that should be blamed on the abandonment of cargoes at the ports. The frustrating demands of some of the government agencies involved in the clearance of goods at the port also contribute to the problem.

Until recently, when the Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala pruned down the number of agencies at the port from sixteen to seven, the agencies has always posed problems to importers.

Some of these agencies promote corruption with so much impunity; all they are after is how to milk an importer for money without necessarily carrying out their duty.

The Independent Corrupt Practices and other related Offenses Commission (ICPC), in its final Corruption Assessment conducted at four major ports in Nigeria recently, revealed that in order to clear cargoes from Nigerian ports, an importer needs not less than 76 signatures.

An importer, Chief Osita Machie blamed the government agencies at the port for the reason importers abandon their cargoes there. He equally blamed the destination inspection contractors who scan cargoes at the ports.

“If you import goods from China for instance, electronic ‘Form M’ takes five days, during which your ship must have arrived. The destination inspection agents will also cause delay, by questioning the format of the payment you made; in this process, three weeks would have been wasted; eventually, if you see that you will not make any profit on the cargo and they are still asking you for more money, the best thing for you is to abandon the container”, he lamented.

“We do not need the inspection agents; it is better if we go back to days of pre-shipment inspection”, he advised.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Oshiomhole, Lawal, Aremu mourn late journalists From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin & Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

E

do state Governor, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole has commiserated with the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ over the death of three of its members in an auto crash last Friday.

In a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr Peter Okhiria, Comrade Oshiomhole said the death of the journalists is most painful given the fact that they embarked on the journey to press home a case for enhanced welfare of their members.

“I had met the late Adolphus Okonkwo at the Constitution Review conference of the NUJ held in Benin in 2011 and from my interactions with him, he came

across as a dedicated, dutiful and thoroughbred professional who knew his onions. I have no doubt that the other victims, Olatunde Oluwanike and Kafayat Odunsi, were no doubt eminent journalists in whom their colleagues reposed great confidence thus electing them as their representatives.

“I commiserate with the President of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, and the other entire media profession on this unfortunate incident.

“The death of the three journalists is a sad loss not only to the media profession but to the whole nation which has lost some of its best gatekeepers.

Also mourning the deceased, Kwara state Governor in a condolence message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, said the death of the journalists while

pursuing enhanced welfare of their colleagues has yet denied Nigeria the services of the vibrant Nigerians who could have made meaningful contributions to the national process of promoting freedom of speech and democratic values in the country through the pen.

Also reacting yesterday in a statement, Vice President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Isa Aremu, who is also General Secretary, National Union of Textile, Garment and Tailoring Workers of Nigeria (NUTGTWN) said that described the death as regrettable and avoidable.

According to him, We received with deep shock the tragic death of three Nigerian working Journalists who were members of NUJ in a road crash on the poot-hole ridden Federal AkureIlesa road in the State of Osun on

Saturday August 3, 2013.

The comrade journalists died on duty while returning to their bases after a national assignment of Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), which held in Abuja on Thursday.

Those reportedly died in the crash are Olatunde Ojenike, Chairman of the NUJ Radio Nigeria, Ibadan Network Centre chapter, Adolphus Okonkwo of the Voice of Nigeria and Kafayat Odunsi of the Nigeria Television Authority (NTA), Tejuosho, Lagos.

“It is time President Jonathan declared emergency on Federal roads to stop these “accidents”.

There must be time frame to fix all major highways and halt the ongoing road “murders.”

There must be zero-tolerance to preventable suicidal driving and drivers.

Sheikh Ahmad Gumi (right), addressing the Officials of UNICEF/Polio Survivor and Journalist Association of Polio (JAP), during their Iftar with the Sheikh at his resident on Saturday in Kaduna

Borno fumigates liberated Boko Haram enclaves

From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

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orno state government at the weekend commenced massive fumigation and clearing of drainage as well weeding of areas within the Maiduguri metropolis previously under the stranglehold of the outlawed Boko Haram sect.

The sanitation of the areas came on the heels of the call by the state government to all the fleeing residents who had been held hostage by the outlawed sect, to return back to their homes. The former enclaves of the sect, which

were deserted at the peak of the crisis have started showing signs of life as some of the residents who fled the areas have returned.

Officials of the Ministry of Environment and the Borno State Environmental Protection Agency (BOSEPA) were seen evacuating and clearing the drainages and fumigating the streets.

The affected areas comprising of Budum, Kofa Biyu, Shehuri, Abbaganaram, Gwangbe and Old Jere, which were earlier deserted and became inaccessible due to insurgency, are now become a beehive of activities, with residents gradually returning to

News PAGE 5

their homes.

The Deputy Governor, Zanna Umar Mustapha, who inspected the areas, urged people to be calm as normalcy had been restored.

“As you can see life has returned to Maiduguri and those that fled these areas who were dens of the Boko Haram have returned.

“I appeal to those that fled at the peak of the crisis to return back to their homes as their security is now assured and the insurgents have either been captured or are fleeing.”

He praised the effort of the youth vigilante group and the

Joint Task Force who have both collaborated to check the excesses of the Boko Haram sect.

He also assured the returnees that the state government will quicken the evacuation and clearing of the drainage and cut the outgrown weeds so that the areas can be once again habitable.

Mustapha who also gave words that the vandalized electrical transformers will immediately replaced, promising that the government will continue to work with both the youth vigilante group and the JTF to ensure that the gained ground in terms of security is not lo

Electricity: SERAP demands reversal of tarrif

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he Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) in an open letter to President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the new electricity tariff ,urging the president to order the reversal of the tariff as it does not mirror fairness, justice in the society as it also debases human rights.

“We urge President Jonathan to use his leadership and position to urgently instruct the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) to reverse the new electricity tariff as it is manifestly arbitrary, unfair, unjust and discriminatory.”

In letter signed by SERAP Executive Director Adetokunbo Mumuni, the organization has considered the multi-year tariff order under which the increase in electricity tariff is that it is a violation of human rights.

“We are seriously concerned about the increased electricity tariff by your government under the Multi-Year Tariff Order (MYTO), and consider this increase as anti-people and a flagrant violation of the human rights of the most vulnerable and marginalized sector of the population.”

SERAP however threatened to take matters to another level by seeking legal actions nationally and internationally if the federal government refuses to yield to the request of the organisation within seven days.

“Requests are entirely consistent with the country international human rights obligations and commitments,” and threatened “international and national legal actions if the government fails and or neglects to reverse the increase within 7 days of the receipt and/ or publication of this letter.”

The organization also stated that it would “work with civil society, social movements and community organisations and the citizens to challenge this manifestly unlawful action by the government.”

“Increasing electricity tariff by over 100% at a time power supply has not improved and indeed remains irregular and despite this government’s oftexpressed commitment to improve electricity supply, is anti-people.

The much promised transformation of the power sector by the government has remained unfulfilled while the majority of the citizens continue to face extreme poverty. Rather than arbitrarily increasing electricity tariffs, the government should investigate the spending of about $3.5 billion annually on power in the last 10 years, and bring to justice anyone suspected to be responsible for the stealing or mismanagement of public funds,” the organization stated.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 6

News

Wild TB virus uncovered in Adamawa From Umar Dankano, Yola

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Vice President, Mohammed Namadi Sambo (2nd left) Praying with his entourage, during the his Umrah at Holy Mosque in Makka on Saturday night.

Kwara NUJ suspends officials over alleged N1.69m scam

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin he Kwara state Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has ordered that all its state executives should step aside for aninvestigativecommitteetointerrogate them over alleged mismanagement of N1.69 million insurance scheme fund released by Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed.

In a statement issued and signed by the chairman , Pastor Sunday Oyedele and Deacon Joseph Kolapo,Protem Secretary, the allegation has to do with life assurance of all working Journalists which need urgent attention.

According to the statement, “Following allegation of financial scandal against Mr. Biodun Abdulkareem-led executive committee of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Kwara State Council, the State Working Committee (SWC) has been directed to step aside pending the outcome of investigations against them.

“The SWC allegedly mismanaged N1.69 million Life Insurance premium paid by the State government since December 2012 for all working Journalists in the State.

“The State congress of the Union

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which was presided over by a member of the SWC, Elder Segun Bamidele in line with the NUJ constitution since neither the embattled chairman, Mall.

Abiodun Abdukareem nor his Vice, Mrs. Silifat Adeyemi was present, arrived at

the decision at the end of the meeting.

It also set up a five-man committee headed by Pastor Sunday Bello to investigate the controversial issue of insurance premium”, the statement added.

Other members of the

committee include the former Deputy Chief Press to the immediate past governor of the State, Mr. Jimoh Salawu, Mr. Bashir Jimoh, Michael Oduegwu and Mrs. Fatimoh Mohammed Lawal of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).”

From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

rousing reception. He was scheduled to pay a visit to the Ter Makurdi, Chief Sule Abenga but claims were that since the State government did not approve of his visit, the chief would not receive him.

Peoples Daily also learnt that the erstwhile Chief Security Officer to late Gen. Abacha was in Makurdi on a thank you visit to one Mr. Ihagh Iorbee who was a Controller of Prison.

Iorbee had served as the head of Kirikiri Prison in Lagos where Al Mustapha was incarcerated.

He was persuaded to release Al Mustapha to the army but insisted

that a production warrant be issued.

This action cost him his job and imprisonment for two (2) years .

He was later released and promoted to Controller of Prison, then retired and now lectures at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi.

Al-Mustapha went to his house and later proceeded to Jato Aka in Kwande local government area, home country of Wantaregh Paul Unongo where he held discussions with him. Indications are that he is been wooed to join politics and possibly go for the new registered All Progressive Congress (APC).

Al-Mustapha holds secret talks with Unongo in Benue

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undreds of Benue indigenes trooped out at the weekend to take a glance at Major.

Hamza Al- Mustapha who was acquitted by the Appeal Court in the case of the murder of Kudirat Abiola, wife of late Moshood Abiola.

The crowd which was made up of mostly members of the opposition party in the State filed out as early 9 am at the Agan toll gate waiting patiently to welcome the hero.

Al-Mustapha’s convoy which included son of late head of state, Mohammed Abacha as well as Coach Fanny arrived at about 1:30 to a

disease that attacks human spinal chord which is suspected to be a wild tuberculosis virus has been detected in Koma Hills, the coordinator of Tuberculosis (TB) Control, Dr. Stephen John has disclosed.

John said the epidemic, if not tamed, can lead to the death of many persons in the affected area just as he said it kills within a short period of time after infection.

He stated that Koma community and other nomadic settlements found on the mountainous areas were well known to be flashpoints of TB and leprosy due to the lack of health facilities, adding that many cases of the infection are being recorded in the area on a daily basis and that such cases are treated with dispatch.

According to him, the state has 142 clinics and forty four laboratory centers where TB cases are being treated for free.

He acknowledged the state government’s efforts at combating the ailment through the recruitment of volunteers who were once suffering from TB to help reach communities in the mountainous settlements and identify TB and Leprosy cases.

John commended the state ministry for local government affairs for its tremendous support especially in training the local volunteers across the state and appealed to well meaning Nigerians and private organizations to come to their aid to curtail the potential threat of the disease.

The District Head of Koma, Malam Hamma-Jalo Abba, said the people of the area are concerned over the increasing rate of the disease in the area and called on the state Government to come to the rescue of his people through the improvement of social amenities like health facilities, roads and other social infrastructure.

A patient suffering from the disease and who is on admission at the Nasarawo Koma clinic, Mr. Bitrus Shallangwa, said he contracted the disease six months ago resulting paralysis of his two legs.

Islam not against polio vaccination, says Sheikh Gumi From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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renown Islamic Scholar, Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Gummi, has expressed displeasure over unguarded utterances of some Islamic scholars on the Polio Oral Vaccine , saying that Islam was never against Vaccination.

Speaking during a breaking of fasting with officials of UNICEF, Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency, Polio Survivals Association and Journalists Against Polio, Kaduna state

Chapter, Dr. Gumi said it was unfortunate that Polio has remained one of the challenges facing the northern region despite the fact that professional pharmacists have confirmed that the polio oral vaccine is safe and very effective to the health of children.

He debunked the allegation by some people who say the Polio Oral vaccine was contaminated with virus aimed at reducing the Muslim population, pointing out that this allegation is far from the

truth.

He said Islam does not work under the assumption or suspicion, but is a religion that has laws that govern all aspects of life, adding that if there is any thing that people do not understand its sources, they should ask people who have its knowledge.

Dr. Gumi called on the Muslim Ummah, especially those that have a negative mind towards the Oral Vaccine, to shelve their thinking and allow the health workers to immunize their children for the

sake of Allah.

Earlier in his remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Kaduna State Primary Health Care Agency, Dr. Safiyan Muawiyya Baballe, commended the Islamic scholars for their effort towards educating the general public on issues of polio, maternal mortality and other children diseases Dr. Baballe said in the past there were difficulties in implementing the vaccine but with support and preaching by Scholars like Dr. Gummi, things have changed for

better.

According to him, “The issue of poliomyelitis will soon become a thing of the past, as from December last year to date, there has been no reported case of polio in the State.”

Chairman, Polio Survival Association, Alhaji Rilwan Abdullahi, thanked Dr. Gumi for his aggressive campaign to the non-compliant parents, urging him not to relent his efforts in preaching against those that have deprived their children of immunization.

News

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 7

Two years after, doctors treat victims of Zamfara lead poisoning

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he Nigerian village that suffered one of the world’s worst recorded incidents of lead poisoning is now habitable and doctors can start treating more than 1,000 contaminated children, a doctor and a scientist from two international agencies said Friday.

For some, it already is too late to reverse serious neurological damage, said Dr. Michelle Chouinard, Nigeria country director for Doctors Without Borders, told The Associated Press on Friday.

Some children are blind, others paralyzed and many will struggle at school with learning disabilities, she said.

Doctors Without Borders uncovered the scandal in 2010 but nothing was done until this year about the worst-affected village, Bagega, because the federal government did not provide a promised $3 million, the group said.

The poisoning caused by artisanal mining from a gold rush killed at least 400 children, yet villagers still say they would rather die of lead poisoning than poverty, environmental scientist Simba Tirima told the Associated Press Friday. Villagers make 10 times as much money mining as they do from farming in an area suffering erratic rainfall because of climate change, he said.

Managing five landfills with some 13,000 cubic meters (nearly 460,000 cubic feet) of highly contaminated soil, and teaching villagers how to mine safely are major challenges to prevent new contamination, he said.

“That’s a big, big worry. But I am joyful that for the kids who will be born in Bagega, we have at least removed one of the major strikes against them because they have so many strikes against them -- nutritional problems, diseases ...” said Tirima, who is the field operations director in Nigeria for TerraGraphics International Foundation.

The Moscow, Idaho-based foundation advised Nigeria’s northern Zamfara state government and oversaw the 5 1/2-month cleanup, or remediation, of Bagega that ended two weeks ago.

There, people were exposed to mindboggling rates of lead contamination: Some residential soil with up to 35,000 parts per million of lead and the processing area with over 100,000 parts per million, Tirima said. The United States considers 400 parts per million safe for residential soil.

At the peak of the gold rush, Tirima said, more than 1,000 itinerant miners and followers were camped around the village -- deep in the countryside, beyond the reach of paved roads and electricity and quite cut off in the rainy season when dirt roads become impassable.

Despite its remote location, the booming economy attracted people from Burkina Faso, Mali and Niger to Bagega, which also drew many locals as a regional

Zamfara Lead Poisioning commercial centre with a primary and high school, a hospital and weekly market. In addition, cattle herders and nomads came here to water their animals at a reservoir so dangerously contaminated it killed goats and cows.

The entire human population of 6,000 to 9,000 was exposed, including some 1,500 children under the age of 5. Human Rights Watch said the death toll of 400 was only an estimate as villagers initially tried to hide the deaths, fearing the government would stop their illegal mining. The group said it was the worst epidemic of its kind in modern history.

The government released money for the cleanup in February, Doctors Without Borders began prescreening in March and found that nearly every one of 1,010 children tested need therapy, Chouinard said. Of them, 267 are severely contaminated and will get chelation -- where medication binds the lead to a child’s blood and helps them to eliminate it faster from their system.

All the children had more than the international standard maximum of 10 micrograms per decilitre of lead in their blood. Some had as much as 700 micrograms per decilitre, she said. The children will have to be treated for one to two years, she said.

The more basic methods used to get at gold helped cause the poisoning. Some women used

hammers to beat open rock ore.

Others used some of the 60 grinding mills at a processing area adjacent to the village and water reservoir, Tirima said.

Many took the rocks that carried high concentrations of lead into their homes for processing.

The poisoning was facilitated because the particular lead com-

pounds are very toxic and easily absorbed into the body, unlike other forms of lead, Tirima explained.

His TerraGraphics Foundation has trained dozens of Nigerians to clean up any future contamination.

Government officials initially reacted by trying to enforce a ban on illegal mining. When that did

not work, they promised to find other sources of income for villagers, but nothing has happened in a country where corruption is endemic.

Tirima pointed to mounting evidence linking lead poisoning to crime waves and said he fears for the community when their poisoned children grow up.

Oyo rewards outstanding students

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he Oyo state government has rewarded two of its students and a school that won different laurels and prizes in national competition.

One of the students, Motolani Akinpelu of Alayande School of Science, Oke Bola, Ibadan won first position at the Professor Wole Soyinka National Essay

Competition.

Akinpelu’s school one of the six that represented the state at the competition. Others were School of Science, Pade, Queen School, apata, Kings International School, Moniya and Best Brain College, all in Ibadan, as well as Sharon Rose College, in Saki.

Also, Master Agmineha Tochukwu of Baptist Grammar School, Oke-Ado, Ibadan won the overall best in the state at the 2012 Basic Education Certificate Examination, while the Yejide Girls Grammar School team won bronze medal for the state at the Nestle Milo National Basketball Competition.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

Governor Ahmed added that two additional hostels would be built to accommodate the increasing number of students, while the provision of additional aircraft through collaboration with international agencies would be on a programmed and continuous basis.

“It is a moment of history that we are making, we are training pilots in Ilorin who will go across the whole world and make a mark in the aviation industry”, he said.

The governor assured the students and instructors of the In-

ternational Aviation College that the vision of the state government was to make the institution one of the best in the world, adding that the stakeholders should remain steadfast in making the international aviation college a citadel of excellence.

The Commissioner for Works and Transport, Dr. Amuda Kannike, said the College which started its training programme 17 months ago, has been endorsed by the Nigerian Air Force as 25 of its personnel in two batches are in training at the college.

Kwara Aviation College acquires two aircraft

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he Kwara State International Aviation College, Ilorin has acquired additional two single engine aircraft to boost its fleet and enhance its capacity to train commercial pilots that would meet international standards.

Speaking at the delivery of the aircraft at the Ilorin International Airport, the state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed said the school is being positioned to fill existing shortfalls in the training of pilots in the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 8

USEFUL PHONE NUMBERS ON ANY EMERGENCY Council endorsed the useful phone numbers submitted by the security agents for easy access in case of any emergency on the metropolitan Roads. Accordingly, the general public may easily Contact KAROTA for: Breakdown of Vehicle(s), Traffic Congestion, Accidents, and Illegal/Wrong Parking to kindly Call KAROTA through the following number – 08091626747. Similarly, the State Police Command could be contacted on – 08032419754 and 08123821575. In addition, the State Fire Service can also be contacted on – 07051246833 and 08191778888.

109th KANO STATE EXECUTIVE COUNCIL MEETING

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he Kano State Executive Council held its one hundred and ninth (109th) sitting today Wednesday 31st July, 2013 (22nd Ramadan, 1434AH) under the chairmanship of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. An appreciable number of forty eight (48) memoranda were submitted from seven (7) MDAs for deliberation among which the majority thirty two (32) were approved for execution with an expenditure of Two Billion, Eighty Four Million, Seven Hundred and Thirty Four Thousand, Two Hundred and Eighty Four Naira, Ninety Nine Kobo (N2,084,734,284.99) covering thirty (30) projects. Thus;

1. OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY TO THE STATE GOVERNMENT Thirteen (13) memoranda were submitted on behalf of some MDAs for deliberation by Council from the Office of the Secretary to the State Government. Nine (9) of them were approved for execution as follows; a. Request for Funds for the Sponsorship of Thirty Seven (37) Kano State Indigenous Students to study Pharmacy in Three (3) Indian Universities/Colleges:Office of the Secretary to the State Government politely reminded Council, through contents of this memorandum, of its decision on the training of one hundred (100) Kano State Indigenous Students to study Pharmacy abroad as part of the incumbent administration’s educational transformation initiative.

Relatedly, thirty (30) Pharmacy Students were granted approval to study in India during the Kano State Executive Council sitting of 8th July, 2013.

Meanwhile, contents of this memorandum further notified Council that thirty seven (37) additional number of Kano State Indigenous Students have gained admission to study Pharmacy at three (3) Universities in India. Details were presented to Council for consideration while the financial implications for their sponsorship covering a period of 4years were summarized as follows; SN. College/University Number of Student Cost (US Dollar) i. Kripanidhi College of Pharmacy, India.

15 486,000.00 ii. Bapuji College of Pharmacy, Davangore 11 537,450.00 iii. Sam Higginbottam Institute of Agriculture Technology and Sciences Allahabad11 576,850.00 Total 03 37 $1,600,300.00 So, Council was requested to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of $1,600,300.00 (equivalent to N256,048,000.00) to sponsor the thirty seven (37) Kano State Indigenous Students for the study of Pharmacy in the three India Universities/Colleges cited above.

Significance of the request prompted Council to approve the release of the requested sum of $1,600,300.00 (equivalent to N256,048,000.00) to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to facilitate for the stated purpose. b. Request for Funds to Execute the Sustainable International Medical Mission U. S. in Collaboration with the Kano Medical Mission:The recommended trimmed down sum of N10,000,000.00 was approved for release by Council to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Ministry of Health to enable conduct of the first phase of the exercise cited above for the year 2013 as was done in 2012 whereby numerous surgical operations were performed on more than five hundred (500) under privileged patients.

Specifically, the exercise targets 6,390 patients suffering from Hernia, Ovarian Cysts and Fibroids to be selected across the three Senatorial Districts of Kano State at which two (2) weeks will be covered for the year 2013. c. Request for Funds to Sponsor Seventy One (71) Officers of the Ministry of Justice to Attend the 2013 Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference Scheduled (25th – 30th August, 2013) in Calabar, Cross River State:The Annual Conference of the Nigerian Bar Association is a mandatory activity/requirement in Legal Education for all Lawyers in Nigeria targeted towards exposing participants to new trends in the dispensation of Justice.

So, seventy one (71) Officers from the Kano State Ministry of Justice were sponsored for the conference at the aggregate financial cost of N6,500,000.00 which was released to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the State Ministry of Justice to enable seventy one (71) of its Officers attend the 2013 Nigerian Bar Association Annual Conference in Calabar, Cross River State (25th – 30th August, 2013).

disbursed according to the details presented. h. Request for Funds for the Commencement of Planting Assorted Tree Seedlings Along Thirteen (13) Identified Road Networks at Kwankwasiyya City:Kwankwasiyya city is among the laudable achievements of the present administration in Kano State under the leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. The city is being established along with its counterparts – Bandirawo and Amana cities to possess all necessary infrastructure and environmental amenities to enhance their aesthetic value and general serenity.

As such, the Ministry of Environment alerted Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government that, thirteen (13) road networks have been identified in Kwankwasiyya city for the planting of assorted tree seedlings at the cost of N5,854,810.00 which was requested for release by Council as details were presented for consideration.

The request was considered credible as Council approved the release of the sum of N5,854,810.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Ministry of Environment to enable planting of the stated tree seedlings at Kwankwasiyya city according to the specifications presented. i. Request for Funds to Ensure Timely Apprehending of Defaulters for Repayment of Loans Granted under the Animal Traction Programme:Contents of the progress report submitted by the Animal Traction Committee, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government prompted Council to approve the release of the trimmed down sum of N650,000.00 to facilitate for the possible litigation/prosecution of the of the defaulters from fifteen (15) LGCAs.

Governor Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso d. Request for Funds to Conduct Training on Emergence Preparedness and Update on Contingency Plan for State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Education and Child Protection from Ten (10) DFO States:The Ministry of Planning and Budget informed Council, through the Office of the Secretary to the State Government that, arrangements to conduct an activity on Emergency preparedness and update of contingency plan under the State Government partnership with UNICEF has reached advanced stages.

Importantly, the Kano State Ministry of Planning and Budget requested Council to approve the release of the sum of N1,425,000.00 as the State Counterpart Fund to add to the UNICEF contribution of N2,055,320.00 so as to aggregate to the sum of N3,480,320.00 required for the Stakeholders training tagged “Stakeholders Training on Emergency Preparedness and Update of Contingency Plan for State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA), Education and Child Protection from ten (10) DFO States.

Council noted, considered and approved release of the sum of N1,425,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government for onward payment to the Ministry of Planning and Budget as the State Counterpart Contribution for the purposed activities mentioned above. f. Request for Funds to Enable Payment for the Cost of Placement of Thirty Two (32) Advertorials by Four (4) National Dailies on the 96th – 99th and 100th – 103rd Executive Council Resolutions:The resolve to operate transparently by the present administration in Kano State under the second incumbency of the capable leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE made Council to approve progressive placement of its resolutions in four (4) widely circulated National Dailies which include the following; • The Nation Newspaper • The Leadership Newspaper • The People’s Daily Newspaper • The Blue Print Newspaper Each of them made eight (8) publications on Kano State Executive Council’s resolutions from the 96th to 103rd sittings to the aggregate sum of N16,618,547.04 which was requested for release by Council to enable payment for.

The request was considered credible as Council approved release of the sum of N16,618,547.04 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to enable payment for the placement of Kano State resolutions in the four (4) National Dailies to be

3. MINISTRY OF LAND AND PHYSICAL PALNNING All the eight (8) memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning were approved for execution as they commonly address the same issue on request for funds to enable payment of compensation for structures affected by construction of 5KM roads at the following eight (8) LGCAs as approved for release by Council to the Ministry of Land and Physical Planning. Thus; a.

Bunkure LGCA N127,558,345.00 b.

Kura LGCA N413,381,650.00 c.

Bichi LGCA N57,108,380.00 d.

Ungogo LGCA N129,559,320.00 e.

Rano LGCA 39,933,763.00 f.

Warawa LGCA N72,601,100.00 g.

Dambatta LGCA N31,615,257.00 h.

Bebeji LGCA N161,053,653.00 4. MINISTRY OF WATER RESOURCES Three (3) of the four (4) memoranda submitted for deliberation from the Ministry of Water Resources were approved for execution

by Council as follows; a. Request for Funds for the Procurement of One (1) Unit of 15 Tons Mobile Crane and One (1) Unit Low Bed Truck:The Ministry of Water Resources amply substantiated the need for the frequent use of mobile crane to enable movement of heavy items from one point to another and removal/instalment of raw water intake pumps among many other works. Unfortunately, the only available mobile crane stationed at Kano River Intake was damaged beyond repairs in the year 2012 as a result of flood at the location.

As such, the Ministry of Water Resources requested for Council to approve release of the aggregate sum of N41,816,250.00 to enable procurement of one (1) unit of 15 tons mobile crane (clark model 30 – 50 tons) and one unit of Low Bed Truck (Mercedes Afros Model) for effective operations of the State Water Board at the River Intake Stations.

The request was considered relevant and Council approved release of the sum of N41,816,250.00 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable procurement of the Machinery cited above for use by the Water Board in its operations at the referred locations. b. Request for Funds for the Construction of Daburau Earth Dam in Madobi LGCA:Harnessing of the Water Resource base in Kano State cannot compare to any other State in the Federation (Nigeria). Fourteen (14) dams exist which are properly managed and utilized for the Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013 provision of water for domestic, industrial, agricultural (irrigation), recreational, etc purposes.

Nevertheless, Daburau Village and surroundings whose Communities are dominantly farmers are in dire need of the provision of an Earth Dam in order to make water available for dry season/irrigation farming so as to curtail/check rural urban migration (chi rani).

So, the sum of N92,874,211.50 was requested for release by Council to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable execution of the viable project of constructing a small earth dam across an existing stream in the area. Details were presented for consideration by Council which prompted approval for the release of the requested sum of N92,874,211.50 to the Ministry of Water Resources to enable construction of an earth dam at Daburau Village in Madobi LGCA. c. Request for Funds for the Completion of Garun Malam Water Supply Project:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Water Resources politely notified Council that, Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE embarked upon the construction of two (2) Tube well based water supply schemes for Bebeji and Garun Malam Towns during his first tenure. However, the Bebeji water supply was successfully completed while the Garun Malam water supply is still pending.

As such, the State Water Board conducted a full survey of the situation which resulted in the request for the release of the sum of N135,760,412.34 by Council to the Ministry of Water Resources for the execution of the highly required project.

Council noted, considered and approved for the release of the requested sum of N135,760,412.34 under the Joint Water Project between the State and the Garun Malam Local Government Council to enable the Ministry of Water Resources complete the Garun Malam Tube Well based water supply scheme.

5. MINISTRY OF WORKS, HOUSING AND TRANSPORT This Ministry submitted eleven (11) memoranda for deliberation by Council. Eight (8) of them were approved for execution. Thus; a. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Two (2) Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Ups for Use by the State Fire Service Department:The Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport notified Council, through contents of this memorandum of the request for the allocation of two (2) Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Ups. The correspondence indicated that one of the vehicles is to be used in remote areas where Ambulance cannot gain access while the other is to be used as back up to fire fighting vehicles and prevention vehicles across the State.

Council noted, considered the plea/request and approved release of the sum of N6,950,000.00 to the Office of the Secretary to the State Government to process the procurement and allocation of one (1) unit of Toyota Hilux Double Cabin Pick Up to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport for use by the Fire Service Department. b. Request for Funds to Facilitate for the Provision of Reflective Jackets and Traffic Control Sticks for Use by KAROTA Personnel:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport notified Council, through contents of this memorandum that, for effective and smooth traffic flow, especially at night by the ever busy junctions in the metropolis there is the need for the provision of traffic and patrol devices for use by KAROTA Personnel. Specifically, the following were requested by authorities at KAROTA; i.

Reflective Jackets 1,200 x N3,000 = N3,600,000.00 ii. Reflective sticks 100 x N15,000 = N1,500,000.00 Total N5,100,000.00 Council favoured the request and approved release of the requested sum of N5,100,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable procurement of reflective jackets and traffic control sticks for use by KAROTA Personnel. c. Request for Funds for the Conversion of Single Arm Street Lights to Double Arms Along Malam Aminu Kano Way for a Distance of 2.4KM:Provision of Street and Traffic Control lights along major Streets in the metropolitan area of Kano State has been among the cardinal preoccupations of the present administration in the State under the Leadership of the second incumbency of Governor Engr.

Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Continuing with the laudable effort, the Task Force Committee on the Repairs and Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control Lights identified the road cited above for the stated project which was assessed and vetted to the sum of N55,946,688.60 as the requested sum to enable execution.

Council noted, considered and approved release of the sum of N55,946,688.60 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable the Task Force Committee on the Repairs and Reactivation of Street and Traffic Control lights execute the stated project. d. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Operational and Monitoring Motor Bikes for Use by KAROTA Personnel:The Services rendered by KAROTA personnel in the areas of Traffic Control, Enforcement of Traffic rules and regulations and decongesting of roads in Kano metropolis and those in the 44 LGCAs on periodic Market days have provided succour to road users across the State to the appreciation of all and sundry.

However, some challenges exist in the dispensation of Services rendered. These include flexibility in operations, surveillance and

PAGE 9 monitoring of operational Staff.

As such, the Management at KAROTA deemed it necessary to address the issue adequately by requesting Council to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of N5,100,000.00 for the following purposes; i. Procurement of Six (6) Units of Kawasaki GY – French Operational Patrol Motor bikes for operations and deterrence at N750,000.00 x 6 (bikes) = N4,500,000.00 ii. Procurement of Six (6) units of Jincheng Motor Cycles for surveillance and monitoring operational activities at N100,000.00 x 6 (motor cycles) = N600,000.00 Total N5,100,000.00 The request was considered relevant as Council approved for the release of the sum of N5,100,000.00 to the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable procurement of the operational and monitoring motor bikes for use by KAROTA Personnel. e. Request for Funds for the Procurement of Operational Vans on Domestication of Animals:KAROTA is saddled with the responsibility, among others, of clearing our streets and major roads of roaming animals that unnecessarily cause accidents which can be avoided.

So, a proposal was forwarded to Council for consideration on the possibility of enforcing the Law on domestication of such roaming animals. However, the operation requires dedicated vans/ vehicles, collection shed and feeding for the animals. Thus; • Two (2) Toyota Diana vans at N3,000,000.00 = N6,000,000.00 • Modification of the two (2) vehicles at N150,000.00 = N300,000.00 • Collection shed for the animals at N250,000.00 = N250,000.00 • Feeding of the animals at N100,000.00 = N100,000.00

Total = N6,650,000.00 So, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the aggregate sum of N6,650,000.00 for the purpose cited above.

Relevance of the request prompted approval by Council. f. Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Numbering of Taxis and Town Service Buses in Metropolitan Kano:Side numbering and issuance of proper identification cards for operators of commercial tricycles has yielded the envisaged dividends and KAROTA proposed to Council for the exercise to be extended to Taxis and Town Buses in metropolitan Kano. Apart from the benefits of regulating the commercial transport sector, the exercise will certainly generate revenue to the Government.

Specifically, the exercise has the following cost implications; • Production of registration forms 10,000 at N100 = N1,000,000.00 • Numbering of vehicles/ID Cards 10,000 at N700 = N7,000,000.00 Total = N8,000,000.00.

As such, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the sum of N8,000,000.00 to enable execution of the exercise cited above.

Approval was granted as requested in view of the viability of the project. g. Request for Funds to Facilitate for Public Sensitization and Awareness on the Activities of KAROTA through the Media and Publications: The aggregate sum of N9,181,530.00 was approved for release

by Council as requested through contents of this memorandum from the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport to enable sensitization and public awareness on the achievements of KAROTA through the Media and Publications. Details presented on the issue to Council for consideration prompted the approval. h. Presentation on Revalidation and Request for Funds for the Construction of Jan’guza – Kabo – Karaye Road and Three (3) Bridges Along the Road:Six (6) bridges exist on the road cited above numbered as 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 with bridges number 1, 3, 5 being handled by Messrs.

Quadron Nigeria Limited after conceding 10% discount on the remaining fund to complete the project.

The remaining three (3) bridges 2, 4, and 6 and the road are handled by Messrs. TEC Engineering Limited after conceding 5% discount making the discounted cost for the road to the sum of N3,023,053,107.39 and the cost for the bridges No. 2, 4 & 6 to be N194,806,190.04 as the revalidated contract sums for the road and remaining bridges.

Nevertheless, the Contractor has the following outstanding payments; a. Bridge NO 6 CV NO 5 N64,071,136.48 b. Road CV NO 2 N154,882,202.32 c. Road CV NO 3 N86,967,509.01 Total N305,920,847.81 So, the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport requested Council to approve for the release of the sum of N305,920,847.81 as outstanding payments to Messrs TEC Engineering Limited.

Council noted, considered and approved revalidation of the project and directed the Ministry of Finance to settle all the Contractor’s outstanding payments to the tune of N305,920,847.81.

6. MINISTRY OF EDUCATION Presentation on the Need and Request for Funds to Enable Construction of Perimeter Wall Fence at GTC Ungogo and Demarcation of GSS Bachirawa:Fortification and provision of general security to Government owned buildings and facilities/properties is among the cardinal preoccupations of the incumbent administration in Kano State under the leadership of Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE. Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Education politely

drew Council’s attention to the fact that GTC Ungogo urgently requires the construction of a perimeter wall fence so as to provide required security for life and property of Students, Teachers, etc. in the College.

Further, GSS Bachirawa which was carved out from GTC Ungogo and shares the same premises requires separate perimeter wall fence and a standard separate gate. The aggregate sum of N56,010,519.70 was requested for release by Council to the Ministry of Education to enable execution of the two (2) projects.

Thus; • GTC Ungogo construction of perimeter wall fence N52,068,726.29 • GSS Bachirawa construction perimeter wall fence and provision of a standard gate N3,941,793.41 Total = N56,010,519.70 The request was considered significant as approval was granted

by Council for the release of the aggregate sum of N56,010,519.70 to the Ministry of Education to enable execution of the two (2) projects according to the details presented.

7. MINISTRY OF PLANNING AND BUDGET Both memoranda submitted for deliberation by Council from this Ministry were approved for execution as follows; a. presentation on Progress in the Preparation for the Implementation of 2012 MDGs Conditional Grant Scheme (CGS) to the State:The Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Planning and Budget intimated to Council that the total amount of money for CGS to the State comprising Rano, Bichi and Dambatta General Hospitals is N904,618,870.53. Due process was followed which was forwarded to Council for consideration and granting of approval and subsequent award of the Contracts to the successful bidders for CGS to State.

Council acknowledged the presentation in appreciation and upheld the award of the Contracts to the tune of stated CGS amount of money to State comprising Rano, Bichi and Dambatta General Hospitals totaling the sum of N904,618,870.53. b. Presentation on Progress in the Preparation for the Implementation of 2012 MDGs Conditional Grants Scheme (CGS) to Local Government Council Areas in Kano State:Contents of this memorandum substantiated to Council that the six (6) LGCAs considered in the 2012 CGS in Kano State are Bagwai, Bunkure, Minjibir, Kunchi, Sumaila and Warawa and the total amount of money for them is N856,570,913.90. Due process was followed as forwarded to Council for consideration and granting of approval and subsequent award of the Contract to the successful bidders for the CGS to LGCAs in Kano State.

The presentation was acknowledged in appreciation by Council and the Contract awarded to successful bidders were upheld.

UPDATE ON ACTIVITIES OF THE 109TH EXCO SITTING 1. MARRIAGE ORIENTATION PROGRAMME IN THE STATE Council delightfully acknowledged the successful conduct of Marriage Orientation Programme organized by the State Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Development, in collaboration with Hisbah Board and All Families Forum which was flagged-off by the Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE ably represented by the Secretary to the State Government on Saturday 27th July, 2013 for 4400 women selected across the 44 Local Government Areas (100 each) aimed at orienting women on exemplary family life towards curbing social vices such as rampant divorce, drug abuse, adolescent crimes, prostitution, hawking & begging by minors etc.

2. CONDUCT OF MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE ACROSS THE MINISTRIES, PARALSTATALS AND AGENCIES IN THE STATE Council witnessed the successful conduct of the monthly sanitation exercise on Friday 26th July, 2013 across the MDAs and Local Government Area Councils in the State. Accordingly, the Government delegation headed by the Hon. Commissioner, State Affairs Comrade Aminu Abdussalam commended the State Civil Servants for their commitments and urged them to put more effort towards ensuring a healthy and conducive working environment.

3. CONDUCT OF MONTHLY SANITATION EXERCISE Council witnessed the successful conduct of the Saturday 27th July, 2013 monthly sanitation exercise where 369 sanitation defaulters were arraigned before a mobile court and fined the sum of N351,020.00. Council called upon the general public to cooperate in subsequent exercises.

4. PRESENTATION OF AWARDS Council delightfully witnessed the presentation of awards by Zaria Education Development Authority (ZEDA) and the Nigerian Military School, Zaria (NMS) to the Governor Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso, FNSE towards his wonderful performance and foresight on the development of Education in the State and Nation at large.

Signed: Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of Information, Internal Affairs, Youth, Sports and Culture, Kano State

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 10

News

Committee for distribution of Ramadan food accused of diversion From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

T

he Habu Idi led committee for the distribution of Ramadan food stuff in Kaura Namoda local government council of Zamfara state has been accused of diverting the items against the initial directive given by the state government.

A petition signed by Basiru Sahabi Liman Kaura, claimed that, he numbers of bags of assorted grains supposed to be shared in each of the 175 polling units in the local government were extremely reduced for selfish reasons.

Kaura said, the state government had arranged to serve Kaura Namoda with 10 trucks of Rice making it 6000 bags to all 177

poling units of the 11 wards, but it was noticed that only 5,250 bags were up loaded for the exercise.

Others, he said were 1,925 bags of Sugar instead of the legally counted 2, 400 meant for the gesture, 900 bags of millet and 900 bags of guinea corn respectively were tempered with, by delivering only 700 bags for each of them to the targeted destination.

The petition further condemned the wider minus given to the 29,750 pieces of wrappers and 9,625 pieces of brocades by delivering the total number of 26,250 and 7,000 wrappers and brocades respectively across the 11 benefiting wards in the local government area.

He lamented sharing the

compiled illegal deductions to all members of the committee including local government Chairman, his Vice, state ANPP Chairman, Emir and DPOs from Kaura, Kurya Madaro and Kasuwar Daji Police Divisions despite having their slots direct from the source and called the intervention of the state government.

Briefs Five inmates regain freedom

F

ive inmates awaiting trial on various capital offences at the Gusau Medium Prison have been freed, as the State Chief Judge Kulu Isah Aliyu began the 2013 annual prison visit aimed at decongest the prisons in the state.

The five inmates who were freed by the state Chief Judge include, two suspects, one Rabe Abubakar and Rabe Adamu, who were arrested by the police at Aja Village in Gusau for charges of armed robbery and criminal conspiracy since 2011, but finally freed for want of evidence.

From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

Bus driver loses leg

A

driver with a popular transport company may have lost his right leg to some officials of Edo State Traffic Management Agency (EDSMA).

The incident occurred along Sapele Road by Mutala Muhammed way junction in July this year.

The victim, Samuel Egbune in an interview told Peoples Daily at the weekend that the traffic officials attached to the beat clubbed his right leg with an iron rod and he became unconscious.

Egbune said the traffic officials took him to a traditional healing home in Owina Street in Benin City, the State capital and abandoned him.

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

Jigawa builds N1.6 billion houses for legislators

T

he Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido has approved N1.6 billion for the construction of official residents for all members of the state House of Assembly.

The Commissioner for Information, Alhaji Babandi Ibrahim Gumel revealed this while briefing newsmen on the outcome of the state executive council meeting.

He said the total number of 30 housing unit would be constructed in line with council approval.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

L-R: Coordinator, Ogoni Generation Next Project (OGNP), Comrade Kadillo Kabari, Member of the Presidential Committee on Ogoni Land, Justice Peter Akere (Rtd), Catholic Bishop of Sokoto Diocese and the Presidential Mediator on Ogoni, Most Rev. Hassan Kukah and the President, Supreme Council of Ogoni Traditional Rulers, His royal Majesty, King GNK Gininwa, during OGNP reception ceremony for the presidential Mediator, over the weekend in Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

NPAN asks court to restrain APCON from harassing advert executives

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Newspaper P r o p r i e t o r s ’ Association of Nigeria (NPAN) has urged a Federal High Court in to restrain the Advertising Practitioners’ Council (APCON) from further harassing advert executives of the newspaper

From Ado Abubakar Musa, Jos

N

o fewer than 14 children between the age of 12 and 16 years were left dead in Barikin ladi Local Government Area of Plateau state on Saturday morning when one 505 Peugeot wagon along Barikin ladi -Bokkos road went into a group of children, killing fourteen of and got nine seriously wounded.

The children who were said to have been members of Boys and Girls Brigade of Baptist church, Assembly of God Church and Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) of Barikin ladi local government area of Plateau State were on their normal morning exercise by the roadside when suddenly the car rushed through and hit them.

Heavy traffic jam was experienced along the road

houses.

In the appeal filed on behalf its behalf by John Aga NPAN also sought an order restraining APCON from relying on Article 21 of the Code or any other related enactment to compel advert xecutives of newspaper houses to submit their advertisement for vetting and approval pending the hearing and determination

of the appeal before the Lagos Division of the Court of Appeal.

An affidavit deposed to by one Adefela Adejuwon, a lawyer in the chambers of Tayo Oyetibo & Co NPAN is seeking, among others, “a declaration that Article 21 of the Nigerian Code of Advertising Practice and Sales Promotion which require that all advertisement, except public

notices, goodwill messages, obituaries and vacancies shall be presented for vetting and approval by the Advertising Standard Panel (ASP) before publication is inconsistent with the provisions of section 29 of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 and therefore is unconstitutional, null and void.

immediately after the accident, as drivers, passengers and residents of the community trooped into the scene of the accident in shock and worry to rescue the victims of the incident.

Peoples Daily gathered that the 505 Peugeot wagon was carrying maize from Bokkos to Bukur Market in Jos South Local Government Area of the State. It was about 40 km distance from the scene of incidence to the vehicle’s destination.

Our correspondence further gathered that the victims who were seriously injured were later rushed to the Plateau State Specialist Hospital for emergency treatment and the corpses of the incident were also conveyed to the mortuary.

Confirming the incident on

phone, the state Police Public Relation Officer, DSP, Felicia Anslem said the incident had

occurred and that the police had begun necessary investigation to get the detail of accident.

14 children killed in Plateau auto crash

Ihejirika calls for increased budgetary allocation

T

he Chief of Army Staff, Lt.Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, on Sunday called for increased budgetary allocation to security outfits in the country because of the prevailing security challenges.

Ihejirika made the call at the graduation ceremony of the Basic Counter-terrorism Course 12 of the Nigerian Army Training Centre in Kontagora, Niger.

He said that more officers needed to be trained in counterterrorism, to meet the level of manpower required to cope with current security challenges in the

country.

The army chief who was represented by the Commander, Corps of Artillery, Maj.-Gen. A.K. Kwaskebe, commended the Federal Government for funding various security agencies in the country, stressing however, the need to increase budgetary allocation to the agencies. ``Government is trying its best in terms of resources that is why the training is going on as expected but it is not easy to train people for such challenges that we face today in our country.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Money Sense PAGE 11

Take advantage: Children are also making money on the internet

I

n today’s recessionary economy when disposable income is no longer keeping up with the cost of living, more and more are searching for

alternative source of income.

It doesn’t come as a surprise that blogging has become one of the most pervasive ways of making money online that has

come a long way since the birth of eBay. Blogging may not be the easiest way of making money online but it is certainly not the hardest either.

give them a clothing budget so they learn they can increase their savings by not buying designer jeans. A part-time job may help them work toward the things they want to buy. Also, give them an overview of taxes by going over their paycheck with them

and explaining deductions.

What they don’t teach you in secondary school: Though some students may learn basic personal account in school, many are clueless on money matters they will face after graduation.

Upon starting University, many

The latest trend is with children under the age of 17 blogging for money. Not just pocket change either. These kids are making money hand over fist.

In developed countries, some are already making millions with just their online business.

Kids are much more technically advanced than we want to give them credit for. They embrace the internet quickly and aren’t afraid to explore and use them.

They have no inhibitions or worries about trying something new. The start-up cost is almost zero or low enough that they may not have to even use their entire allowance to get started.

One of the most difficult parts of blogging is the daily maintenance and up keep along with finding the advertising and affiliating to make money.

Once you have overcome these obstacles there is nothing to it.

Children as young as 8 are doing it with great success, it’s their parents that are dumbfounded that it could be that easy.

As adults, we have been taught that “anything worth having is worth working for” and that “if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is” but children seem

You should also teach your children how to budget wisely

I

t’s never too early to give your children basic lessons in money management that will benefit them throughout life. Managing money is a skill that can occasionally be overlooked by parents while kids are growing up. Children as young as 5 years old should begin learning the fundamentals of money.

The sooner, the better: Give kids small doses of information by showing them what money looks like, where it comes from and how it is earned. Explain to them the difference between needs and wants, and eventually a piggy bank can be a good hands-on tool to learn how to save. Help your child think of a small item they can save for, and over time show them how they are working toward it.

Allowance helps teach responsibility: Paying your child an allowance is often seen as the most effective tool to teach kids about money. Let your children learn by doing, giving them the power to spend their own money. With that power, comes responsibility so they must prioritize and monitor their spending. Once they reach the age of 9 or 10, introduce them to the concept of banks and down the road, set them up with a checking and eventually a savings account. Instill the practice of saving by showing your children how compounding interest in a savings account can work to their advantage.

Teenagers will most likely have the urge to spend money like it’s going out of style, giving them a budget to adhere to can promote frugality. For instance,

students will be faced with free money, seemingly free money to them, make sure your children are educated about money.

Young adults may also be faced with debt from student loans and should set up a reasonable payment plan post-graduation.

to be proving those old adages wrong.

With the use of the internet, making money online has become easier than ever. It just seems to the adults that it can’t be true. We are always looking for the catch to these simple ways of making money.

We believe that it’s a “zero sum game”. They aren’t just going to give it to us for nothing. We in fact over-complicate what seems to be “simple things in life”.

Maybe it is time for us to start looking at the world in a different way. This is, after all, the internet generation. We need to start realizing that the computer on our desk can be useful for something other than checking e-mail and sending jokes to our friends. Our children already know this and we just need to catch up.

It’s time for us to change and be open to seeing this new generation and the changes in our world. Instead of being upset with our children for spending so much time on their computers, we need to understand and be supportive of what they are doing.

And look into new and revolutionary ways of making money the smartest way instead of hard labor. This is a new world and the kids seem to be taking the upper hand in it. We as adults have been so resistant to these new advancements that we have cut ourselves off from some of the best sources of income.

Children from 10 years old right on up can do what we seem to find impossible in this economy.

They can make money and have no trouble doing it. Maybe the only adage that we need to be concerned with is “and a child shall lead them”. That is certainly what is happening when it comes to making money on the internet.

Money Tip

Simple things you can do to earn money I know of a teacher who supplements his income by repairing sewing machines, another one who does auto tuneups and/or oil changes and yes, and one that mows lawns. All these bring in cash or quick money. If someone has an old pickup or van, then it should not be a big deal to haul away debris, trash or even give someone a helping hand in moving on the weekends.

The elderly or disabled are certain enough to need a companion to run errands, accompanying them to the doctor’s office or to the bank. Dogs are there also. How about feeding Fido or walking him during the day? You’d be surprise at how much you can earn in a week doing all these.

Quote

Appreciate everything your associates do for the business.

Nothing else can quite substitute for a few well-chosen, well-timed, sincere words of praise.

They’re absolutely free and worth a fortune. -Sam Walton

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

EDITORIAL

Now that APC is officially a political party Despite the euphoria, the battle has just begun for the mega party.

Notwithstanding PDP’s message welcoming the newest party, we are certain it will not fold its arms and allow APC to unseat it from power. Even though it has a lot going for it now - with its control of several states, and 214 seats in

“

T

he granting of a certificate of registration to the All Progressives Congress (APC) by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) last week signalled a new dawn in our politics.

It is the first time in our history that a mega political party has been formed to attempt to wrest power from a ruling party. It is no wonder then that the birth of the new party has been hailed by many Nigerians who have long felt that a move in a different political direction is sorely needed to get the nation back on track after 14 years of misrule by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).

The journey of APC which came into being after the merger of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) and a faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has not been smooth as expected.

Evidently aware of the threat the party would pose the PDP behemoth in subsequent elections, efforts were made to truncate its emergence with two rival groups suddenly springing up and laying claim to the APC acronym.

Its leaders have also come under intense smear campaigns aimed at derailing their progress. It is a welcome development that even with the litigation over its name, INEC has been forthright and gone on to do what has been widely perceived as the right thing.

APC’s registration is a shot in the arm for our fledgling democracy which since 1999 has been unable to perfect the multi party system. both chambers of the National Assembly, a lot more home work needs to be done to ensure its success come 2015. For one, the general elections are still well over a year ahead, maintaining a united front is going to be a big challenge that it has to surmount considering its diverse membership. Some of its leading lights must surely put their ego in check and work for the greater good. This is the only way to lay the foundation for success.

The attempt at building an alliance failed in the run-up to the 2011 presidential election when the ACN,

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”

CPC and ANPP came close to fielding a single candidate. But as it turned out, they were unable to close ranks. That challenge still faces the party now as it parades a number of persons who had and perhaps still have aspirations to the highest office in the land. APC also has the challenge of rolling out a manifesto that captures its plan of action that will change the nation’s fortunes for good.

Its members should be able to convince Nigerians that theirs will be a different dispensation that will actualise their expectations.

Entrenching internal democracy will be at the heart of the party’s success as that is one way to ensure rancour free primaries as it seeks to pick its representatives in coming elections.

What transpired during the 2011 elections where both the ACN and CPC failed to uphold internal democracy which led to their painful losses in some of the elections should be avoided this time. All said, we salute the resilience of the leaders of the various parties that have come together to form the APC. We also salute INEC for demonstrating courage in registering the party despite efforts to frustrate its emergence.

APC’s registration is a shot in the arm for our fledgling democracy which since 1999 has been unable to perfect the multi party system. The attempt to entrench a multi party system saw the registration of over 50 parties but many of the parties have failed to really connect with the people and were deregistered by INEC.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Managing Editor Abdul-Azeez Abdullahi

Chief Operating Officer Ali M. Ali

Head, Advert/Marketing Hussaini Abdulrahman, Cna

Editor, Daily Ahmed I. Shekarau

Manager, administration Hassan Hammanyaji

Deputy Manager, Production Abdul-Rauf Musa

Editor, Weekend Hameed M. Bello

Head, Lagos Bureau Adesoji Oyinlola

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

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 13

Opinion

Time to fix the North, or bury it

By Muhammad Sani Dattijo

I

t is common knowledge that northern Nigeria has been on a steady decline for almost two decades, with dismal performance in almost all measures of socioeconomic development. This much has been widely written about and agreed to by policy makers, public commentators and academics. To further compound matters, the growing violent insurgency within the region is decimating what was left of the northern economy and hindering the ability of governments to deliver vital public services. Unfortunately, the future does not look any brighter.

A number of risks are in the horizon.

These include the rising population that will put a further strain on service delivery, declining revenue from the Federal government which may render a number of states bankrupt, environmental challenges leading to water scarcity, decreased farm output and ultimately conflict. Combined with the age old problems, these have the ability to further plunge the region and indeed the nation into chaos.

The consequences of allowing the current situation to deteriorate are dire. Time has come to discard the myopic vision of jumping from one electoral cycle to the next. James Clarke captured it aptly when he said- “Politicians think about the next election, statesmen think about the next generation.” Indeed for the North to survive, it requires statesmen leading the urgent implementation of a well thought and sustained renewal strategy. A number of people have

identified the need for this strategy, frequently citing the Marshall Plan that rebuilt Europe after the 2nd World War. While elements of this plan are indeed relevant, the 19 Northern States need one single integrated framework backed by a robust and realistic financing and implementation mechanism. The required strategy does not refer to a glossy document to be dumped on the shelves of government ministries or another nostalgic conference on the overflogged theme of how great Sardauna was- we already all know that.

Rather, this renewal strategy could focus on 5 transformative actions.

Firstly is true structural transformation of the northern economy- the kind that hasn’t happened since the beginning of the trans-Sahara trade. To kick-start the economy, we must re-integrate ourselves into the local, regional and global value chains. From agriculture to mining to manufacturing and services, we must consistently ask the question; what can we provide to ourselves, to Nigeria, to Africa and the world? What production methods will engage and empower most of the northern people while delivering efficiently? Then we must identify the regional locomotives that can drive the exploitation of these chains. Our states must complement each other by providing various inputs across the path towards finished products. The markets are there.

Secondly, we must be able to identify and build critical infrastructure including power and roads. It currently costs less to ship a container from the United States

to Lagos, than to transport the same container from Lagos to Kano! This is unacceptable. High transport costs erode the competitive edge and trading volume of the region.

We should ensure the realisation of the full economic potentials of the recently completed dredging of the river Niger from Warri in Delta State up to Baro in Niger State. This holds significant promise and would benefit from increased political attention and private investment. The opportunities are there.

As a third transformative action, education needs to be reinvigorated from its current sterile state to respond to the demands of today and the future. In transforming the Northern economy, emphasis must be on sectors that create jobs for all levels of skill, providing opportunities for upward social mobility and reducing inequality. Vocational education, investments in science, technology and innovation need to be prioritised and adequately tailored to supply the capacity which the region requires for the future. Next, the region must embark on what some writers have referred to as a psychological revolution. The attitude of our people is in dire need of change. Destructive use of culture and religion needs to be checked through meaningful partnerships with our traditional, religious leaders and indeed the Hausa movie industry. The apex religious bodies must act as regulatory bodies to stem the spread of divisive messages cloaked in sermons. Similarly, the family as a unit needs to step up and take responsibility for young children.

We have seen what one generation of neglected children can do, we should not create another.

Implementing such a strategy requires significant amount of resources. However, Northern Governors have always pointed to the lack of finances to cover even recurrent expenditure. A number also claim that with insecurity, they are unable to do anything else. While it is particularly important to acknowledge that budgetary constraints do matter, we must strive for innovation in finding solutions to financing gaps.

This is the 5th transformative action.

The North cannot afford to continue running almajiri governmentsawaiting handouts from the centre.

Alternative funding sources exist and must be tapped into while greater efforts are made on all fronts to ensure greater efficiency of current financing.

Unfortunately, a number of states still refuse to widen their tax base for fear of political repercussions and being held to account, refuse to partner with the private sector and refuse to engage international partners. This has to change.

We must also understand that we cannot halt governance while dealing with issues of security. The two are interwoven and must be tackled simultaneously with the realisation that there is no peace without development and no development without peace. And we will have neither if we continue down this current path. In implementing this ambitious yet practical strategy, it is imperative to emphasise that we do not need to create new institutions

or organize grand conferences. The Vice President and our Governors need to be in the lead. The Northern Nigeria Governors Forum provides a veritable political platform while the Northern Nigeria Development Corporation, existing since 1949, can be retooled to provide the technical level coordination and strategy.

Private sector participation is strongly required to fill gaps in finance, drive growth and create jobs.

International partners will need to boost aid to the region and give it preferential treatment. For all intents, northern Nigeria is no different from the land locked least developing countries of the Sahel.

The people, whose attitudes need to change, ultimately hold the power- at least in theory. We need to expand our philanthropic activities, provide mentorship for the increasingly young population and refuse to follow the bad examples we see everyday. It was the late Mallam Aminu Kano underscored the fact that “…we cannot expect to meet new challenges with old concepts but (we need to) adopt new approaches based on changing world conditions.” His wise counsel is more imperative now to the North, than it was in 1971 when he made that statement. The leaders of the north have a decision to make today. And it is more important than who becomes President. It is a decision to fix the north, or bury it Muhammed Sani Dattijo, a New York-based development economist, who wrote in from www.dattijo.com

2015: Can Wamakko, Lamido, others save PDP?

By Aminu Mohammed

T

ime is described as the ultimate determiner of human affairs and like a blink of an eye, the 2015 general election is taking the centre stage in our national discourse.

Already, the drum beats are on while the dancers are taking steps to confront the challenges of the uncertain 2015 elections. So far, the newly registered political party, All Progressives Congress (APC) is yet to prove how strong it is while the so-called largest party in Nigeria, (sorry). Africa, the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) is engaged in in-house fighting that may signal trouble for it in the next general elections. Although, President Goodluck Jonathan once said the in-fighting within the PDP has always been the strongest tool for its survival.

But then, recent troubles in the PDP have not appeared to be strongest tools for a convincing victory for the party in the next two years, rather the PDP seems to be a party celebrating its final days in office because it is either the party chairman Bamanga Tukur is fighting with Professor Jerry Gana or President Jonathan and ProAmaechi colleagues are having a show down. It is true that the ruling party has been able to mend its fences several times in the past but the way nemesis is catching up with it now it will be difficult to say the PDP can win the presidential poll in 2015 as it is now.

It is in realization of this that perhaps made some progressives

in the party to embark on a very serious rescue mission to see whether there could be a true and lasting reconciliation. The mission embarked on by some patriotic northern governors as they were described by former President, Gen Ibrahim Babangida is a mission not only to save the embattled ruling party but the country in general.

Nigeria is in dire need of political, social and economic salvation and unless men of focus, men of honour and integrity sacrifice their all and shop for a credible presidential candidate to move this country forward, then, the future is bleak.

The move by governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Murtala Nyarko of Adamawa, Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Aliyu Makatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto is one of the steps by concerned stake holders in the ruling party to bring to an end the era of misrule which has been the major problem pulling this nation down. In fact, IBB got it right when he described the 5 northern governors as “patriots” there is no better word to qualify them than what the former military leader has used in describing them.

Before the last Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) election which the presidency planted a stooge in person of Jonah Jang of Plateau state, the PDP was already a party divided but the show of shame put up by the anti-Amaechi forces within the presidency appears to be the final straw. The presidency is already afraid of Amaechi’s rising profile and his alliance with the north because he believes in good

governance which is lacking at the top at the moment. It is no longer a secret that the north is preparing to take over power in 2015 and the Rivers State governor Rotimi Amachi is a front-liner in that project that is why the Presidency is after him.

The crisis at the Rivers Assembly is a creation of Aso Rock but the National Assembly has already got wind of the plot to disturb the peace in that state and has acted accordingly. There is no stopping the “Northern Project” which the 5 patriots have already started and with the matured way these concerned governors are handling the political future of Nigeria by carrying along some political stake holders in the south especially former president Olusegun Obasanjo who anchored Jonathan’s ascendency to the throne, the north is preparing to stage a comeback and it will be fool hardy for anyone to think of stopping the fast train

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on a rescue mission. Ever since governor Amaechi was re-elected by his colleagues as the chairman of the Governors Forum, Aso Rock has been developing goose pimples because it does not need a soothsayer to tell Nigerians that there is cold war between the presidency and the “progressive governors” in the PDP. As soon as Amaechi’s reelection result was confirmed, the presidency used the PDP chairman Bamanga Tukur to “deal” with the arrow-heads of the pro-Ameachi camp and the stick was used on the Rivers state governor as a preamble before governor Wamakko of Sokoto state had his own share.

The Pro-Ameachi PDP governors were marked for suspension and Wamakko who the presidency did all it could last year to stop from contesting the governorship election but failed was picked by the rubber stamp-led PDP National Working Committee under

The move by governors Sule Lamido of Jigawa State, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano, Murtala Nyarko of Adamawa, Muazu Babangida Aliyu of Niger and Aliyu Makatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto is one of the steps by concerned stake holders in the ruling party to bring to an end the era of misrule which has been the major problem pulling this nation down. In fact, IBB got it right when he described the 5 northern governors as “patriots” there is no better word to qualify them than what the former military leader has used in describing them.

Bamanga Tukur. Already, when Tukur came on board, his mission was to flush out all perceived “enemies” of the presidency and the progressive governors in the party were the major targets. The Wamakko project Tukur embarked on failed and nearly caused the PDP chairman his seat. Although, governor Wamakko and his colleagues restated their resolve to have the PDP chairman removed after their solidarity visit to Amaechi in Port Harcourt which some failed politicians hired thugs to stone the visiting governors from the north.

They were stoned not because they are from the north but because they are behind social and political justice. How many of the governors in the south-south sympathize with Amaechi? Is Amaechi not a southsouth governor and a major stake holder in that region?

Nigerians should stand up and support the cause embarked on by these patriots who believe Nigeria is under siege and the time to salvage her is now by a collective effort. The simple reason behind the Rivers crisis is that tenure elongation is under threat and those misleading the powers that be at Aso Rock believe Amaechi, Wamakko, Lamido, Nyarko, Kwankwaso and those yet to come out clearly to show themselves must be dealt with decisively but what they forget is that Nigerians are fed up with their misrule and change is the new master key to unlocking their tenure misuse.

Aminu Mohammed via Kafayashuaibu@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Opinion

What’s luck got to do with it?

By Ebenezer Obadare

I

n the middle of 2010, a debate was started by Father Mathew Hassan Kukah, the current Bishop of the Sokoto Catholic Diocese, published an article titled “The patience of Jonathan”.

In his article, Father Kukah argued that, other than sheer luck, or what he calls “a monumental act of divine epiphany,” there is really no rational sociological explanation for President Jonathan’s journey to the summit of political ambition in Nigeria. For Father Kukah, “This man’s rise has defied any logic and anyone who attempts to explain it is tempting the gods.” He added: This man has never spent any money to purchase a form of (sic) declaring his intention to run for public office in politics. This man does not seem to have been sponsored into politics by any known godfather. Like the rest of us who are considered children of lesser gods, he comes from an insignificant family and a village that hitherto, could not easily be found on the national or state map. He does not seem to have invested heavily to become either Deputy Governor or Governor.

In this account, the facticity of which is a different matter entirely, President Goodluck Jonathan’s career seems to perfectly encapsulate what, according to the philosophical literature on luck, we might call positive unchosen luck. How? According to Fr. Kukah, the President has found himself in his current situation (and it’s not a bad one when you come to think of it) due to no calculable agency on his part, but precisely due to a convergence of circumstances and a series of (at least for him) happy coincidences outside his capacity which eventually catapulted him to the nation’s highest officebeing deputy to Alamieyeseigha, vice to Yar’Adua, etc. By merely hanging around, Fr. Kukah seems to suggest, “all

these events have cascaded into his laps within a period of a mere 12 years.”

For Fr. Kukah, probably the most significant symbol of President Jonathan’s luck is his name, Goodluck, and that of his spouse, Patience.

Other than that, Fr. Kukah argued, “Dr. Jonathan has done absolutely nothing to warrant what has befallen him. I am sure I can safely say he has neither

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prayed, lobbied nor worked for what has fallen on his lap.” In other words, he was a lucky beneficiary of, shall we say, a series of fortunate events.

Those who have followed the metamorphosis of President Jonathan from a university lecturer to a deputy governor, then governor, vice president and now president, will see a definite pattern-a pattern never witnessed in the annals of the country. The enigma

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of the man Jonathan does not lie in his meteoric rise to the apogee of the nation’s political hierarchy. It lies rather in the hand of God upon his life.

Anybody may sir or write whatever he likes about him, but one thing nobody can dispute is his manifest covenant with God. It is epitomized succinctly in Jonathan in practical, unambiguous terms. Can anybody tell the difference between Goodluck Jonathan and David

the son of Jesse?

The idea that the Jonathan presidency was positively underserved, and that an inexplicable ‘luck’ was the lodestar of the new president’s political career became the fuel for various jokes.

I am sure you’ve heard this one, titled, “If your deputy is named Goodluck”. I find

it significant that President Jonathan, especially in the first few months of his presidency, did a lot to fan the embers of this creeping luckism for the purposes of social acceptance and political legitimation, particularly through the many public ‘confessions’ and ‘testimonies’ in which he clearly strove to articulate an autobiography as a humble man on whom God, providence/ fate/luck had so inexplicably smiled.

Those who have followed the metamorphosis of President Jonathan from a university lecturer to a deputy governor, then governor, vice president and now president, will see a definite pattern-a pattern never witnessed in the annals of the country. The enigma of the man Jonathan does not lie in his meteoric rise to the apogee of the nation’s political hierarchy.

It lies rather in the hand of God upon his life. Anybody may sir or write whatever he likes about him, but one thing nobody can dispute is his manifest covenant with God. It is epitomized succinctly in Jonathan in practical, unambiguous terms.

In this regard, the notorious picture of President Jonathan kneeling before Pastor Adeboye in an attitude of prayer, apart from being clearly strategic, could not have been more exquisitely timed.

One immediate consideration is that if luck becomes a substitute for, or is too closely associated with what, for want of a better word, we might call Fate or Destiny, it makes the attribution of agency or any kind of individual or social responsibility for that matter, especially problematic. For the concept to have any sort of utility, this problem has to be wrestled with, and one way to escape the looming gridlock of inevitability is to marry unchosen luck with what philosophers call option luck.

In the latter, individuals are not totally at the mercy of fate, but exercise agency, which is also not totally pure. In the case of President Jonathan, a combination of the two should produce a more nuanced socio-biography in which, to paraphrase Fr. Kukah, although events did cascade into President Jonathan’s laps, that does not establish him as totally lacking agency.

A second implication of the acceptance and promotion of the language of luck, specifically in the Nigerian case, is that it comes with the danger of reinforcing the metaphysics which is instantiated in sayings like: “ise ko lowo,” and kira kita o dola.” Afterall, if everything is a matter of unchosen luck or ‘favor’ (to put it in the language of modern day Pentecostals), where is the incentive to strive, search, or build?

Third, and with specific regard to the question of leadership, if leadership or the emergence of good leaders ultimately rolls on the dice of luck, whither the imperative to invest in the training of good leaders? Whither the sociology of leadership? Whither, in fact, justice?

Ebenezer Obadare wrote in from Lagos.

Lagos deportations abuse of citizen rights

By Obi Enweze

W

hen it comes to the constitution, Nigeria’s political class abandons discretion . The legal impotence of the Nigerian constitution will likely rank first when compared to other developing nations of the world. Politicians, the corruptly enriched and powerful routinely find creative ways to simply side-step sections that they deem inconvenient or uncomfortable.

The section dealing with fundamental rights of Nigerian citizenship had long been dust binned and completely forgotten.

When convenient or supportive of some of their excesses, like the devil who quote the Bible to justify an evil scheme, these corrupt politicians recite the same constitution often violated at will.

Governor Babatunde Fashola of Lagos walked this now predictable line, barely twentyfour hours after trampling on the protected rights of ordinary Nigerian citizens. Fashola, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria,

sought refuge in the principles of separation of powers when protesting a call for the national government to review his reckless acts. The validity of contested provision is not in doubt, yes Fashola have state police powers.

However, he has absolutely no powers on earth to deport a fellow citizen! The right of citizenship is inalienable and remains the fundamental principle of society.

Today, with evil power-drunk dictators, like Babatunde Fashola, those rights mean little in Nigeria.

Somebody should whisper into the ears of Fashola that the ultimate purpose of separation of powers is to protect the liberty and security of the governed, as opposed to giving him the discretion to decide who to forcefully kidnap and deport to any place of his choice.

Now, the ruling class is moving it notches higher, of course in geometrical progression.

Deportation based on poverty, is even worse that the above cases and that is exactly what Fashola is doing, period. What the man who at the bare minimum understands

the meaning of human rights is doing is unreasonable or more obnoxious to Nigerian constitution which he once swore to uphold.

When Fashola started his new wave of violating fundamental human rights of Nigerians, he did so by deporting, northerners. His rationale for the deportation was “to free the state of the destitute and beggars, and who are mostly from the northern part of the country.” Some of us cried out in shock. This argument remains the most heart-breaking argument proffered by any person anywhere in the world for an egregious constitutional breach. One of the most important duties of a government is to improve the welfare of the citizens, including the poor, rather than do that, Fashola is not only trampling of the rights of the poor, but committing mass-murder. Some of these people will die off out of frustration. After listening for a while, and sensing that Nigerians have forgotten. Fashola then embarked on a new wave. This time just like in the first exercise,

he looks at people faces, and decided that they are likely from Anambah State, and deported all of them.

Even if one grudgingly listens to Fashola’s belated argument about “welfare,” what type of welfare is he providing by forcefully deporting them from a place they call home. Fashola is eager to welcome the rich who swell the huge purse of his godfather with monies taken through taxes, levies and penalties for unlawfully confiscated goods, yet he cannot even use a small percentage of the fund to provide basic amenities for the poor. The quick-fix is deportation.

Deportation is defined as the “expulsion of an undesirable alien from a country”. Therefore, to be deported, one has to be expelled from another country where he is an alien. Never in the history of mankind has a man been deported from his own country!

If there is genuine dispute as to the citizenship of the deported, the court ought to resolve it, not the executive. That is exactly why

we have anti-aggrandizement principle. On the other hand kidnapping refers to “unlawfully seizing and carrying away a person by force or fraud, or seizing and detaining a person against his or her will with an intention to carry that person away at a later time.”

The situation even when viewed in a light most favorable to Babatunde Fashola, will still be kidnapping. The formulation of illegal deportation decrees in these type of cases presents problems of considerable complexity. Any public policy consideration of appropriate goal of freeing the state of destitute must necessarily be subordinated to the primary question -- the constitutionality of a dictatorial state governor trampling in a most egregious manner, on the constitutional rights of Nigerian citizens. Such an act is a violation equal protection of the laws and the most basic right, fundamental human rights.

Obi Enweze was the Secretary General of NADECO –USA/Canada

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 15

Comment

A case for “true” federalism

By Chido Onumah

N

o topic has generated as much interest in the ongoing bogus constitution amendment process as the issue of local government autonomy. Autonomy, like independence, is a fancy word; one that everybody wants to identify with. It would be understandable, therefore, if you asked most Nigerians whether they supported local government autonomy as being canvassed in the current constitution amendment, they would answer in the affirmative. Unfortunately, in the opinion of this tyrannical majority whose voices appear dominant, anybody who has a contrary view is not a democrat.

Of course, there is a strong case to be made for local governments. Local governments are closest to majority of Nigerians and are in a vantage position to cater to the needs of our rural population. However, in the context of federalism, autonomy for local governments ought to be defined by states and not the federal government.

When you ask why they support local government autonomy, proponents point to the constitution; the same dubious constitution given to us by the military in 1999. It is important to note that the country went through Gen. Abacha’s transition which was completed by Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar without the electorate seeing this

constitution.

The constitution lists 774 local governments, effectively putting an end to development at the local level because it is unlikely that a civilian government can create new local governments even if the need arises. It is absurd to provide for local governments in the constitution.

Apart from constraining the states, it presupposes that our rural areas can’t grow beyond their current state. Few days ago, in a conversation with a member of the National Assembly, I raised the issue of listing local governments in the constitution.

He agreed it was an anomaly, but one that we have to live with.

Why do we have to live with this anomaly when we can change it?

Why have we arrogated to the federal government the power to create local governments in the states? Why have we given the federal government the power to give money to local governments?

It is this unregulated power that has created the twisted logic that makes it possible for a state, for example, to have 44 local governments while anther with the same population but lesser land mass has 20 local governments. It is bad enough that the constitution stipulates a system of local government administration, it is retrogressive to dictate the number of local governments states should have.

Clearly, the whole talk about local government autonomy is sophisticated BS. These local

governments were not created to bring governance to the rural population but as a means of sharing the national cake.

Moving forward, we must make our states the centre of development. States in Nigeria were created depending on the whims of the military regime in power. It is unfortunate that because the military created these states, they have remained dependent entities that go cap in hand every month to the centre for sustenance. States should be allowed to create the number of local governments, local council development areas or any other name they want to call it as it suits them. They should decide the structure of these councils and how they would be run. They should run their law enforcement (police), subject, of course, to the

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Nigeria Police in inter-state crimes and federal offences.

It means also that state assemblies would have to fashion out rules for election in each state. I know our apostles of autonomy for local government would rise in righteous indignation. They would argue that state governors can’t be trusted to do the right thing in their states. But it is clear that because we have lived under the military for the better part of our independence we are willing to replace the so-called tyranny of the state with that of an overbearing federal government.

We have forgotten that we are a federal republic.

Agreed that some state governors have not managed their states well, but that is not a case for granting autonomy

There are no signs for the future because the future has not been read to be successful. This is the more reason Nigerians prefer success as personal, not national. So that if national at anytime collapses, personal at anytime will take you to other parts of the world. Not long ago, vision 2020 was on every lips because of the thought that it is far from approaching.

But now that it is closer than expected, vision 2020 is rarely in use because of the thought that the time cannot be met. Who then knows not that the vision has crashed 70%? That is just one of the countless doubts for the future.

What it costs to be a Nigerian

By Olayinka Aji

B

efore I put my pen to this paper, impossibility rose from its seat and I almost gave up this piece. I didn’t know how to raise my points because I wasn’t sure if there was anything to reconsider. But I have weighed it a couple of times and I found reconsideration in most cases as a process of covering the uncovered part of life. Hence, if there is anything worthy of being called true, I think it is a picture that has not by any means been captured using an electronic focus.

Nigeria is a place with too many things to learn from. Upon seeing day and night, you cant stop seeing new and different things. But when i say learn, people wonder if there is actually anything to learn in this country. A lot of people have given up on the name, Nigeria. This is because the only thing that signifies a place of learning is development, and they have looked around and found no development that is truly ours. Cultural or structural, it seemed we wouldn’t have survived if it were just us in this world.

Learning is engaging in anything that breeds positivity.

That was the definition that killed my calling Nigeria a place of knowledge. And before I could

say what I really meant, my codebaters had concluded i was just hallucinating when the reality of life had all it takes to reinstate my consciousness. I paused for a while and I said to myself, so protecting the image of this country now has to be done with optimum vigilance?

Hence not, an angry Nigerian might just gun you down at the slightest move to praise this nation.

What a case?

If they knew i was just running a public assessment to complete my research on this topic. I know they would have bombarded me with too many reasons to paint Nigeria with horns. Many of them were ready to off-load points that would convince a psychiatric patent that

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coming to Nigeria was a mistake.

In fact, if they were to die and be born a second time, they were so sure they wouldn’t write Nigeria for a destiny. Again i said to myself, if this can pop up now, what would be said about this country in the next twenty years?

There are no signs for the future because the future has not been read to be successful. This is the more reason Nigerians prefer success as personal, not national.

So that if national at anytime collapses, personal at anytime will take you to other parts of the world.

Not long ago, vision 2020 was on every lips because of the thought that it is far from approaching. But now that it is closer than expected,

vision 2020 is rarely in use because of the thought that the time cannot be met. Who then knows not that the vision has crashed 70%? That is just one of the countless doubts for the future.

The only thing I appreciate is that fools are not raised from this country. To be a Nigerian there are natural qualities you must possess and fool is not just one.

A Nigerian by the grace of God is a stubborn man because that is the first tool he needs to survive.

You have to be stubborn to face anything because everything comes like some kinds of Romanian wars.

Secondly you have to be dependent and independent to stand on the soils of this land. If you depend on

There are no signs for the future because the future has not been read to be successful. This is the more reason Nigerians prefer success as personal, not national. So that if national at anytime collapses, personal at anytime will take you to other parts of the world. Not long ago, vision 2020 was on every lips because of the thought that it is far from approaching. But now that it is closer than expected, vision 2020 is rarely in use because of the thought that the time cannot be met. Who then knows not that the vision has crashed 70%? That is just one of the countless doubts for the future.

to local governments outside the powers of the states.

Unlike the USA and Canada, for example, where the states (USA) and provinces (Canada) were independent entities before they joined their different unions or were bought as the case may be, our own states are the arbitrary creation of the military and they have ever since acted as appendages of the federal government. Rather than clamouring for local government autonomy, we should be talking about “independence” for the states and how the states can contribute to the centre.

Every state in Nigeria today is viable. But because we have created a monstrosity in Abuja that is set to consume all of us, we have denied the states control of their resources and prevented them from taking responsibility for their own sustenance and development. The issue of local government autonomy challenges our democracy and nationhood. Now is the time to tackle it frontally. Now is the time to unbundle the federal government. Our federalism is a fraud and its fraudulent structure feeds much of the problems Nigerians have to contend with everyday. If we want to create a more perfect union, as Americans say, we should go beyond the current hysteria and think seriously about renegotiating Nigeria.

Chido Onumah via conumah@hotmail.com somebody, you are not safe, and if you depend on nobody, you are just dead.

Oppression is another thing as you must know that fundamental human right only lives on the pages of a government textbook. you have oppress and be oppressed depending on your position in the power profile. As an army officer, you can go to fuel stations and jump over queues like no one was waiting. And as a doctor, you have to let some people die so that others will know what it means to handle a stethoscope. But if you are among the oppressed and you cant just conquer your depression. There is always a weaker Nigerian to pour your aggression on. That way you have succeeded in transferring oppression.

Lastly, you don’t have to be intelligent to find your way on this land. Just be smart and desperate, and you will be amazed by the product of the combination. By putting rules in your pocket and knowing that you wont’ just remain a gentleman. I bet you will be among the wisest Nigerians in what you can call a miracle. If there are more to this i know they are just of lighter weights. I have walked the length and breadth of this country and I can tell the condition with bold mind. Is it our people, environment, and culture? Is it our history or the mysteries? Even in the darkest night, i wouldn’t mistake a Nigerian for a Nigerien!

Olayinka Ajia’s profile is on LinkedIn

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 16

Residents okay security checks in Kubwa

By Adeola Tukuru

R

esidents of Kubwa, a suburb situated along the Suleja express way in the FCT have commended the police in the area for curbing to the barest minimum the activities of men of underworld hitherto terrorizing the community.

Peoples Daily observed that policemen are stationed at all entrance into Kubwa, phase 3 junction, Federal housing junction, Bhyazm and Arab junction as from 9.00pm till midnight, while Okada riders will alight from their bikes with their

passengers they are thoroughly checked by these policemen, while private car owners and other motorists are not left out.

Some of the residents, who spoke to this reporter over the weekend, however, called on the Divisional Police Officer in the area not to relent but beef up such measures.

A resident of Pipeline extension, Mr James Ojakwu said the activities of the police in the area have actually helped the security situation in their neighborhood.

“There is a police patrol vehicle always stationed along the

road from 8.00pm in the night and this has actually helped to check criminal activities in the area,’’ he said.

Peoples Daily observed that policemen are stationed at all entrance into Kubwa as from 9.00pm till midnight. Okada riders will alight from their bikes with passengers as they are thoroughly checked by these policemen, while private car owners and other motorists are not left out.

Another resident in Federal Housing, Kubwa , Mrs. Laura Okechukwu appealed to the police to intensify efforts on night patrol

A wheelbarrow pusher taking empty cement bags to his client, yesterday in Garki market, Abuja.

in the entire Kubwa town, saying there are still some cases of house burglaries in the night in some places.

“Even though it is obvious that security has greatly improved here, there is need for the police not to only sustain the tempo but put more efforts in some areas where night burglaries are still being experienced,’’ she said.

Another resident of Bhiayzm, Grace Adams, said the police need to put more efforts in securing the town, adding that there are cases where hoodlums burgle houses and steal people’s property while asleep.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Principal tasks FCTA to convert school into boarding

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he principal of Government Secondary Yangoji in Kwali Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mrs Hafsat H. Suleman, has called on the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) to as a matter of urgency to convert the school to a full fledge coeducational boarding institution to encourage the students in their studies.

She also urged the FCT Administration as well as FCT Secondary Education Board (SEB) to build a modern administrative

block, so as to ginger the principal officers of the school to put in their best at work.

Suleiman, who made the call while delivering a two-page speech during the send forth ceremony which took place at the school premises, requested the SEB to provide more computers for ICT training of the students.

She urged the SEB to deem it necessary to repair some dilapidated facilities as well as recruit more teaching staff in the school to enhance learning.

She further appealed to the FCT Administration to complete perimeter fencing of the school

as well as connect the school to National Grid tom boost the electricity supply in the school, added that staff and students laboratory should be given adequate attention as the school was located adjacent to the highway road.

“The school needs a functional borehole to solve the acute water shortage during dry season.

We need adequate and relevant textbooks to equip our libraries from individuals and philanthropic organizations”, the principal said.

Suleiman, however, advised the graduating students to be good ambassadors of the school

and prayed for God’s guidance of the graduands in their future endeavours.

On his part, the Guest Speaker of the occasion, Alhaji Umar Sanda, urged the graduating students to stay away from bad friends if they were admitted into the institutions of higher learning.

Sanda advised the graduands to always devote their time for future ambition, emphasized that their future could be bright or shining based on their determinations or hard work.

Meanwhile, a total number of 48 students graduated in this year’s academic calendar in the school.

Basic amenities: Residents of Rafindaji call for government intervention

R

esidents of Rafindaji in Abaji Area Council of the FCT on Friday called for government’s intervention in the provision of basic amenities to alleviate people’s suffering in the community.

Some residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Rafindaji, decried the lack of portable water, road, health facility and a Junior Secondary School in the community.

Mr Bawa Shaba, a community leader, particularly decried the lack of medical facilities in the area.

Shaba said that many women had been lost to child birth as a result of the absence of health facilities in the community.

He said that people trekked several kilometres in order to get medical attention in Abaji General Hospital. ``Whenever our women are in labour, we take them to, as far as Lapai, Niger state, which is about 30 kilometres from here to deliver. ``We have lost many women to child birth because of the distance and the deplorable state of the road we have to travel on,” he said.

Shaba, who also decried the lack of potable water in the community, said the only source of drinking water in the community, was wells.

Mr Musa Dauda, a resident, called for immediate government’s intervention in the provision of access road, schools, health centre and potable water. ``We are passing through a lot of anguish in this community because we do not have any basic amenity of life, especially in the area of health, education and road. ``The provision of a Junior Secondary School in the community would encourage youth enrolment in school. ``The closest Junior Secondary School to this community is in Gau, about 50 kilometres from here. ``Our children cross the river to get to that school. However, whenever it rains, because the river overflows, they cannot cross it to get to school. So, they stay at home,’’ he said.

He attributed also poor children’s enrolment in school in the community to the failure of government to bring education closer to them.

Another resident, Mrs Mary John, appealed to the Abaji Area Council and the FCT Administration to come to their aid. ``We are passing through a lot of anguish in this community because we do not have health facilities. We need help to reduce our suffering,’’ she said. (NAN)

Photo Splash

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 17

A vehicle smashed by some protesting Okada riders along the KaruJikwoyi road, in Abuja after one of them was allegedly killed by soldiers who tortured him yesterday.

An okada rider being beating by a soldier into the mud by the road side, yesterday in Nyanya Abuja Heavy traffic caused by the okada riders’ riot, along Karu-Jikwoyi road

St Mary’s Catholic Church, Karu, where the incident happened, yesterday

Some okada riders took to the streets over alleged death of their colleague after he was tortured by soldiers, yesterday in Nyanya, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa and Justin Imo-Owo

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 18

NIGERIAN PRESS COUNCIL

Nigerian Press Council, No. 26, Bissau Street, Zone 6, Wuse, P.M.B 377, Garki, Abuja Tel: +234 (0) 96233004-5. Website: www.presscouncil.gov.ng; E-mail: info@presscouncil.gov.ng

Nigerian Press Council Not Against Press Freedom PRESS STATEMENT

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he attention of the Nigerian Press Council has been drawn to misleading reports based on a communiqué and advertorial by Newspaper Proprietors Association of Nigeria (NPAN) that the Nigerian Press Council (NPC) is moribund, as a High Court has ruled the existence of the Council to be unconstitutional.

These reports are opinions based on half truth. The whole truth is that following the appeal against the High Court decision at the Court of Appeal, the judgement is held in abeyance until the appeal is resolved.

The Council wishes to reiterate that in Journalism, facts are sacred and comments are free.

The facts about the Council should be known. The idea of Press Council could be traced as far back as 1964 when a compromise was reached between the then Minister of Information, Chief T. O. Benson; Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) to prevent a Newspaper Amendment Act of 1964.

Other moves at establishing the Council stem from the Federal Government Ekineh Committee of 1968. The committee in looking at the future of the Press opined that the non-existence of a Press Council was a serious omission in the socio-political life of the Nation.In 1970, the NUJ called upon the Federal Government to help set up a Press Council.In 1972, AlhajiLateefJakande as President of NPAN called for the establishment of a Press Council. While In 1992, Decree 85 was promulgated in agreement with the industry stakeholders, NUJ, NGE, NPAN to establish the Nigerian Press Council with Journalists as predominant members, using the Code of Ethics to oversight journalism and with AlhajiAladeOdunewu as Chairman.

An Amendment Decree 60 of 1999, proposing clauses on: Code of Conduct; an Executive Secretary; Documentation and Registration of Newspapers; Registration of Journalists; Penalties for Unprofessional Conduct; among others, made the NPAN and some NGO’s to file a suit, FHC/L/CS/1324/99 at a Lagos High Court.The suit challenged the President, the Attorney General and the Minister of Information from implementing the law, which the plaintiffs claimed violated section 39 of the 1999 Constitution; and also contended that the National Assembly was not competent to make laws regarding the Press.

However, in 2002, Professor Jerry Gana, then Minister of Information, met and agreed with stakeholders, NUJ, NGE, NPC, BON and NPAN on fresh amendments that if passed by the National Assembly, NPAN will return to the fold of the oversight of NPC. In May 2010, a proposed bill to repeal the NPC Act by Hon. AbikeDabiriErewa led to the House of Representatives House Committee on Information composing a committee of stakeholders; NUJ, NGE, NPAN, NPC and NAN, headed by Prince Tony Momoh to further review and update the earlier agreed bill of 2002 for consensus.The Tony Momoh Committee proposed bill is now before the House of Representatives for consideration and passage into law as a consensus law.

With the amendment yet to be passed into law and the law suit subsisting Justice A. M. Liman on February 25, 2010, after 11 years of the suit, ruled seventeen of the thirty-two clauses of the NPC’s act to be in conflict with the 1999 Constitution. However, he upheld that the National Assembly can make laws for a professional occupation.

The judgment was immediately appealed by the defendants with a stay of execution at the Court of Appeal, thereby holding the decision of the High Court in abeyance for the judgment of the Superior Court.

From the foregoing facts, reports based on the communiqué and the advertorial by NPAN alleging clandestine moves to revive the “moribund Press Council as a usual official tool to gag the Press” is not only misleading, but may portray our professional colleagues as deliberately not purveying the true position based on the foregoing facts which may lead to scare mongering.

As the issue is subjudice, it will suffice to assert that the alarm is false. The Press Council is NOT against Press Freedom, rather its function is to “ensure the protection of the rights and privileges of Journalists in the lawful performance of their professional duties” and however hold Journalists accountable to the public in the context of the Professional Code of Ethics of Nigeria Union of Journalists.

Signed: Management

National Teachers’ Institute (NTI), Kaduna INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PREQUALIFICATION/TENDERING EXERCISE The National Teachers’ Institute, (NTI) Kaduna is inviting interested and qualified registered companies to submit Technical bids for the following projects: LOT 1: Construction of 1no. script room LOT 2: Construction of 1no. Store building PREQUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS Interested firms should submit their bids along with the documents mentioned hereinafter in a sealed envelope to the address indicated below. Failure to submit any of the underlisted documents may lead to the disqualification of the bid: i. Full detail of the Company’s profile. ii. Certificate of Registration with the Corporate Affairs Commission. iii. Tax Clearance Certificate for at least Three years (2010, 2011 & 2012). iv. Evidence of VAT Registration and Remittance. v. Evidence of similar jobs(s) executed in the past (with verifiable addresses). vi. Organisational structure, available manpower with list of technical staff with their resumes. vii. List of equipment/Distribution facilities viii. Evidence of financial capability/Bank Reference and Annual Turn Over of at least N50 Million Duly Stamped by the Bank ix. Company audited accounts over the past three years (2010,2011 & 2012). x. Evidence of Registration with Pensions Commission in Compliance with provisions of Section (16 (6) (d) of the Public Procurement Act, 2007 (PPA 2007). xi. Payment of non-refundable bidding fee of N30,000.00 (Thirty Thousand Naira only) in Bank Draft payable to the National Teachers’ Institute, Kaduna. xii. Evidence of payment of Training Contributions to Industrial Training Fund (ITF) in line with Section 6 (1) – (3) of the amended ITF Act. No.19 of 2011. xiii. Evidence of Compliance with the Employer’s Compensation Act which requires that all Employers of Labour must remit 1% of the total annual emolument of their workers to the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund.

SELECTION CRITERIA Consulting firms will be selected in accordance with the provisions of the Procurement Act 2007 and Due Process mechanism.

BID PRESENTATION Interested firms are to submit separate prequalification/Technical Proposals in sealed envelope. The proposal together with the documents earlier listed are to be submitted in sealed envelope addressed to the Director-General and Chief Executive, National Teachers’ Institute, KM5 Kaduna-Zaria Road, P.M.B. 2191, Kaduna duly marked “TECHNICAL PROPOSAL”. The bid should be dropped in the Tender Box in the office of the Registrar. Bidder’s name, address and telephone numbers, should be indicated on the reverse side of the envelope. Bidders are to ensure that they also sign the Submission Register in the Registrar’s office.

CLOSING DATE All bids must be delivered to the address below not later than 12.00 noon on the 42nd Day after the date of the publication.

Signed.

Management

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 19

INSIDE

Isa_abdulwahab@yahoo.com, Isaabdulwahab@gmail.com 08033045613

NSE set to clamp down on erring brokers

- Pg 21

Deputy Managing Director, United Bank for Africa Plc, Mr. Kennedy Uzoka(2nd right) flanked from left, by Divisional Head, eBanking, UBA Plc, Dr. Yinka Adedeji; Vice President, West Africa, MasterCard, Omokehinde Ojomuyide; Managing Director, Electronic PayPlus Limited, Bayo Adeokun; and Head, Cards, UBA Plc, Mr. Adedeji Olowe;, during the official launch of UBA All About U Debt Card, held at UBA House, Marina, Lagos, Friday

Dry port takes off in Kano January 2014

From Dapo Amara, Lagos

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hairman, Dala Inland Dry Port Ltd, Alhaji Ahmad Rabiu, has assured that the Kano dry port would commence operation in January 2014.

Rabiu told newsmen in Lagos that the management of the dry port was waiting for the Federal Government to declare it a port of

origin and a port of destination.

The shipper said that the declaration would fast track the completion of the dry port.

He said that the declaration would enable the foreign technical partners to move down to Nigeria and complete the remaining aspects of construction work.

Rabiu said the dry port could

take 20, 000 containers, adding that there was room for extension as only 35 acres of land had so far been occupied out of its 200 acres.

He said it would take about six months to complete the technical aspect of the dry port, for full operations to commence.

Accordiing to him, “it will take a matter of six months to complete it

Auchi residents lament high cost of cooking gas, kerosene

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rices of kerosene and cooking gas have risen in Auchi in the Etsako West Local Government Area of Edo, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

A survey by NAN showed that price of kerosene had recorded about 100 per cent increase in the past one week.

According to the survey, one litre of kerosene which sold for between N100 and N120 up till July 25, now sells for N200 at filling stations in the area.

At black market spots, a litre of kerosene is sold for between N280 and N300.

The survey also showed that the price of cooking gas has risen by 11 per cent, with a 12-kilogramme cylinder, selling for N3,500 as against its former price of N3,000.

Lamenting the situation, some residents of the area who spoke with NAN said the increase in the prices of the products had adversely affected them.

They described the

development as sad, saying it had added to the hardship most families in the area were facing.

According to Mrs Kehinde Edigan, a housewife in Auchi, most of us make a lot of sacrifice to ensure that we provide food for our families, adding that the high cost of cooking gas and kerosene ``is like killing us.

“I am managing to buy kerosene at the new price, because my husband is supportive but I imagine how many people can afford such amount for just a litre of kerosene. ``It is quite painful that the masses of this country are going through this type of stress and each time I reflect on this, I cannot help but wonder how people are suffering in this country.”

She accused petroleum products dealers in the area of conniving with black marketers to “inflict hardship on the people”, saying that they were adding to the burden on the people.

Another resident, Mrs Hafsat Olubukoye, said she was embarrassed when she was asked to pay N3,400 to fill a 12kg cylinder.

She said she had only N3,000 on her, which she said, was the normal price she had bought the commodity three weeks earlier.

“I just wonder how long we will continue to wake up and discover sharp changes in things, especially rise in prices of items used daily for upkeep of families.

“The worst is that even the price of kerosene has gone out of the reach of the ordinary man,” she lamented.

At a gas dealer’s shop, the operator, Mrs Agatha Umoru, told NAN that the new price of the product was dependent on the cost at which it was being procured from the depot but declined to disclose the depot price.

On their part, filling stations dealers attributed the rise in the price of kerosene to “market situation”. (NAN)

to full operation.``It will function like the Tin Can Island Port; like the Apapa Port, except that there will be no water.

“What will happen when goods arrive any of the sea ports, they will be mainly in transit, and therefore, Customs duty and inspection cannot be done in the sea port.

“It would be done in my facility at the dry port in Kano.

“We have just started on site.

We have not gone far, but what is required are essentially few elements, which can be fixed.

“We are working to ensure that within a matter of six months, we are ready and will commence full operation,`` Rabiu said.

He said that presently, there was a temporary arrangement to market the take-off of the dry port

by Jan. 2014.

He urged the Federal Government to gazette the dry port, saying that this was the main bottleneck hindering further action.

CBN on recovery of N9bn excess charges from banks - Pg 22 CBN

Exchange Rates

as at 2nd August, 2013 Buying Selling

$

154.76

155.76

€

234.64

236.16

£

204.53

205.85

Riyal

41.26

41.53

Parallel Rates Buying

Selling

$

157.50

158.40

€

250

253.00

£

206.00

210.00

Riyal

43.00

45.00

MANAGEMENT TIP OF THE DAY

Don’t let your colleague claim all the credit

W

hen you’ve put long hours into a project, you want proper credit for it. It can be frustrating to watch a co-worker present your collective work as his or her own. When someone steals the show, take these steps to put things right: Have a candid, face-toface conversation. Give specific examples. Point out that he or she claimed to stay up all night finishing the project, for example, when you both did. Many times just identifying the behavior will put an end to it.

Go to your boss. If you can’t resolve it with your coworker, go to your manager. Review the steps you’ve already taken. Suggest another solution or two that you’ve thought of, and ask your boss for input.

Prevent it from happening again. Next time you work on a project together, be clear up front about roles and responsibilities.

Agree early on that you’ll share the visibility.

Source: Harvard Business Review

Money Market PAGE 20

Company News

Bond funds worldwide suffer $1.6bn outflow — BoA

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ond funds worldwide suffered outflows of $1.6bn in the latest week as investors awaited signs from the Federal Reserve regarding its bond-buying stimulus, data from a Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research report showed Friday. Reuters reported on Friday, that the outflows from bond funds in the week ended July 31 came after investors…

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

MoneyGram Partners PocketMoni to pilot remittances via mobile in Nigeria From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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lobal money transfer giant, MoneyGram International, has concluded arrangement to deploy its network to assist Nigerians embrace the current cashless policy directive of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN. To this end, MoneyGram has launched a new partnership with Etranzact, one of the leading alternate payment solutions companies in Nigeria; to enablePocketMoni Customers in Nigeria receive MoneyGram

Money transfers from all over the world onto their PocketMoni mobile-wallet directly at their convenience, any time of the day, all round the year.

PocketMoni is a leading independent mobile wallet solution offered by Etranzact, with more than 3,000 agent locations across the country providing cashin, cash-out service to customer’s wallet from which Customers can then transfer funds directly into their bank account in Nigeria as well as pay bills.

Speaking on the new offering, Regional Director for North West Africa, MoneyGram International, Francois Peyret, noted that the new partnership with Etranzact is in line with MoneyGram’s corporate responsibility strategy aimed at deepening financial inclusion by aggressively developing alternate Channels of seamless, convenient, safe and reliable cash transfer in its countries of operation.

“With about one hundred million mobile lines for a population of 150million, Nigeria enjoys positive Penetration of

Firm takes green technology campaign to Ibadan

Unity Bank to deepen retail banking services

A

n alternate energy products distributor, Simba Den Limited, says it has opened its products outlet in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to provide services for its customers in the South-West states. The Head, SDL, Arijit Mukherjee, while speaking during the opening of Cocoa Mall at Dugbe, Ibadan on Thursday, said the company was determined to…

Customs intercepts 3,263 bags of rice in Oyo

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he Nigeria Customs Service, Oyo/Osun Command, said on Friday it had intercepted 3,263 bags of rice allegedly being illegally conveyed into the country via three articulated trucks. The Customs Area Controller of the Command, Mr. Richard Oteri, while addressing reporters on the seizure, which was made in the Oke-Ogun area of Oyo State, said three…

Nigeria, Cote d’Ivoire in railway development talks

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here are indications that Nigeria and Cote d’Ivoire will work together to execute a number of transport infrastructural projects to speed up the economic development in the two countries. Already, the two nations have agreed to jointly fight against coastline piracy and have initiated discussion on the construction of rail line between Abidjan and Lagos

mobile technology. MoneyGram’s concern is how to help Nigerians derive more value by deploying this huge mobile technology penetration to achieve financial transaction that promotes convenience and unlimited accessibility”, he said.

Also speaking on this service, Executive Director, eTranzact International Plc, Sullivan Akala, said “eTranzact is at the forefront in ensuring that the CBN cashless policy drive is a huge success.

And eTranzact has built an e-payment service platform that meets the need of every Nigerian by providing a secure, convenient and cost effective way to send and receive payment using their mobile phone”.

U R-L: Secretary, Transport Secretariat, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Jonathan Achara Ivoke, Chairman of the occasion, Mr. Moses Siloko Siasia and Managing Director, Harbor Auto Centre, Mr. Bonaventure Eneh , during the official commissioning of the Auto Harbor Centre on Saturday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

CBN guarantees N25bn agric loans through NIRSAL From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

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he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) agric initiative – the Nigerian IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) introduced July last year, has guaranteed N25bIllion of agricultural loans, the latest data from the apex bank has revealed.

This has effectively lifting lending to the sector to 4 per cent of banks’ total loans, from the average of 1.5 per cent that it had stagnated since 2009.

The Nigerian IncentiveBased Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) guarantees up to 75 per cent of bank loans to the sector.

The initiative, which is the brainchild of the CBN, the Bankers’ Committee and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development (FMARD), seeks to create incentives and catalyze processes to encourage the growth of formal credit, direct

and indirect, for the agriculture value chain, as a mechanism for driving wealth creation among value chain participants.

The apex bank plans to spend an estimated $500 million to create further incentives for the banks to sustain the flow of agric credit.

There is also a Risk-sharing Facility of $300 million, planned to address banks’ perception of high-risks in the sector by sharing losses on agricultural loans. There is equally an insurance Facility of $30 million intended to expand insurance products for agricultural lending from the current coverage to new products, such as weather index insurance, new variants of pest and disease insurance.

Besides, there is also a Technical Assistance Facility amounting of $60 million meant to equip banks to lend sustainably to agriculture, producers to borrow and use loans more effectively and increase output of better quality agricultural products, among others.

The increase has been linked to the N200 billion agriculture credit scheme and N600 billion NIRSAL. The current improvement in the sector was also linked to access to credit through the new policy focused on increasing private sector participation, emphasis on the entire agriculture value chain, and using agriculture to boost employment, wealth creation and food security.

Analysts have commended the performance by Nigerian banks as demonstrating their fate in the capacity of agriculture to transform the economy. The CBN explained that with the credit trend emanating from the banks, Nigeria might be close to winning its economic diversification objectives that will lead to less dependence on oil.

The NIRSAL is one single programme that has brought banks back to their role of intermediation for national economic development.

nity Bank has emphasized its commitment to taking leadership position in the provision of retail banking services in the country by deepening its reach.

According to the bank, this is not only in line with its strategic direction but would be a natural progression from its history and antecedents of being close to the people.

This reassurance emerged from a review meeting yesterday of the bank’s on-going Savings Promotions headlined as 3-in-1 Savings Advantage especially the just concluded Road-Shows which take place in Lagos, Abuja, Bauchi, Dutse and Port Harcourt.

At the meeting, the bank’s Divisional Head, Retail banking, UsmanAbaji said that the roadshows were part of a plan to deepen the bank’s retail thrust and noted critical lessons to be leant from Road-Shows especially it relates to feedback from the people.

He expressed confidence that the lessons would be internalized and harnessed to further fine-tune the bank’s retail banking offerings in addition to the Savings Promotions.

At the launch of the second phase of the Promo in June this year, the Managing Director of Unity Bank, Ado YakubuWanka had restated the bank’s strategic direction and indicated plans to introduce more life-enriching retail products that will cater for the needs of retail banking services consumers.

The road shows which lasted for about two weeks covering some days in the month of June and ending in July, afforded the bank the opportunity of taking banking services to customers and noncustomers in the places of their primary business in a much informal atmosphere. The staff in the cities walked round the cities and stormed markets where they interacted with members of the banking public.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Capital Market PAGE 21

NSE set to clamp down on erring brokers From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos he Nigerian Stock Exchange, NSE, said it is putting in place strict measures and business practices that will decisively deal with stockbrokers.

It said checks would be beamed on stockbroking firms

T

that pose the highest risks to the investing public in order to strengthen the integrity of the market.

Giving this in a notice of warning, NSE said it will prioritize its supervision roles, which would address the several risk areas as well as supervision priorities that apply to all operators in the market, adding they would be

published by the Broker Dealer Regulation Department, BDR, of the NSE. NSE said that the supervision priorities would enable firms build risk management programs to mitigate risks to support the Exchange’s regulatory objective to protect investors, and to maintain a fair, orderly and efficient market.

The Exchange identified the areas of its supervision priorities to include fraud detection and prevention, unauthorized sales, market manipulation, insides trading, commingling of clients assets and segregation of accounts, corporate governance and enterprise risk management, conflicts of interest, technology and sales practices/frauds.

Others are trading, capital, Anti-Money Laundering and Combating Financing Terrorism (AM/CFT), uniform financial year end, International Financial Reporting Standards, IFRS, annual recertification of approved persons, criminal investigation and escalation, manipulation of financial statements and inter-member transfers from inactive firms.

in contrast to a total of 2.500 billion shares valued at N17.035 billion in 28,638 deals the previous week.

Specifically, the NSE AllShare Index appreciated by 3.44% to close on Friday at 38,424.34 while the market capitalization of the listed equities on the main board also appreciated 3.44% to close at N12.169 trillion. Also, the NSE 30 Index appreciated by 3.64% to close at 1,805.63.

Likewise, the NSE Consumer Goods, NSE Banking, NSE Insurance, NSE Oil/Gas, NSE-Lo-

tus II and NSE Industrial Goods appreciated by 3.89%, 4.60%, 0.42%, 0.75%, 3.54% and 5.09% respectively, while NSE-ASeM remained unchanged.

Analysis of activities showed that the Financial Services sector (measured by volume) led the activity chart with a turnover of 990.484 million shares valued at N7.916 billion traded in 15,243 deals; contributing 72.61%, 48.96%, 53.82% to the total equity turnover volume, value and number of deals respectively.

The Banking subsector of

the Financial Services sector, boosted by activity in the shares of Sterling Bank Plc and UBA Plc was the most active subsector on the week’s activity chart with a subsector turnover of 638.021 million shares valued at N6.093 billion which exchanged hands by investors in 10,059 deals. Also, the Banking subsector accounted for 46.77% and 37.69% of the total subsector traded volume and value respectively.

Fifty (50) equities appreciated in prices during the week higher than twenty eight (28) equities of the preceding week. Thirty-three

(33) equities depreciated in prices lower than Sixty (60) equities of the preceding week, while one hundred and eleven (111) equities remained constant higher than one hundred and six (106) equities of the preceding week.

Courterville Business Solutions Plc led gainers table in per centage terms, enhancing by 21.21 per cent or N0.14 kobo to close at N0.80 kobo, Champion Breweries Plc followed with a gain of 21.00 per cent or N2.31 kobo to close at N13.31 kobo while Stanbic IBTC Holding appreciated by 17.75 per cent or N2.84 kobo to close at N18.84 kobo.

Other stocks that recorded price appreciation during the week include UBA Capital 16.36 per cent, Fidson Health Care Plc 11.82 per cent, Lives Stocks Feeds Plc 11.13 per cent, Multi-Trex Integrated Foods Plc 10.00 per cent, Academy Press Plc 9.88 per cent, CutixPlc 9.84 per cent and Wema Bank Plc 9.35 per cent On the contrary, Vono Products Plc led the losers chart in per centage terms, dropping by 33 per cent or N0.46 kobo to close at N0.93 kobom Trans-Nationwide Express Plc trailed with a loss of 24.24 per cent or N0.32 kobo to close at N1.00 while IHS Plc declined by 16.72 per cent or N0.51 kobo to close at 2.54 kobo. Other companies that depreciated in price were Unity Bank Plc 11.48 per cent, Airline Services and LongisticsPlc 10.00 per cent, John Holt Plc 9.63 per cent, A.G. Leventis Nigeria Plc 9.49 per cent, Thomas Wyatt Nigeria Plc 8.99 per cent, Wapic Insurance Plc 8.87 per cent and First City Monument Bank (FCMB) 7.55 per cent Report on the OTC market for FGN bonds revealed that a turnover of 146.632 million units valued at N148.095 billion in 1,043 deals were recorded this week in contrast to 215.032 million units worth N230.068 billion in 1,519 deals recorded in the preceding week ended July 26, 2013.

Traded during the week were 80 units of NewGold Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) valued at N165, 000 executed in 2 deals compared with a total of 80 units valued at N165, 400 transacted last week in 2 deals.

Also, 1,470 units of FGN bonds valued at N1.612 million were traded during the week in 7 deals in contrast to 40,200 units valued at N3, 112 million transacted last week in 7 deals.

Stock trend last week: Investors wealth up by 3.4% From Ngozi Onyeakusi, Lagos

F

ollowing price gains by major blue chips, equity transactions on the floor of the Nigeria Stock Exchange (NSE) recorded an upbeat last week.

The twin market indicators- the All Shares Index and market capitalization inched up by 3.44% respectively as market loss a total of 1.136 billion shares.

The market turnover was 1.364 billion shares worth of N16.168 billion in 28,322 deals were traded by investors

L-R: President, Nigeria Society of Engineers, Engineer Mustapha Shehu with Minister of Power, Prof. Chinedu Nebo, during the president of NSE working visit to Power Minister on the coming world engineering summit to be hosted by Nigeria in 2014.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Berger Paints to raise N543.42m Rights Issue, ordinary shares

B

erger Paints Nigeria Plc has concluded plans to raise N543.42 million from the capital market through a Rights Issue of 72.5 million ordinary shares of 50k.

The company said this in a statement which was made available to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Saturday in Lagos.

It said it would offer existing shareholders N7.50 for a unit of the shares.

The statement said that the

net proceeds of N543.42 million would enable the paint manufacturing company to finance the modernisation of its operations.

It added that the Rights Issue, allotted on May 31, would be opened on Aug. 20.

Mr Clement Olowokande, Chairman of the company, said the net proceeds from the shares sale would increase activities in its factory.

Olowokande said that the

modernisation of the company’s operations was the main thrust to ensure that it continued to be in the forefront of paint technology in the country.

He stressed the need to replace the company’s aging infrastructure. ``The modernisation of our factory operations will lead to improved efficiency that will positively impact on our turnover and profitability.

``The proceeds from the shares will be used to purchase and install a water-based plant and a solvent-based plant from Spain,`` he said.

Olowokande said that the company also planned to substantially invest, to improve on the distribution of its produce.

He urged all the company’s shareholders to participate fully in the Rights Issue, to ensure that the company is able to maintain its position in the industry. (NAN)

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Economy M PHCN decries vandalism of electricity facilities anaging Director of Jos Electricity Distribution Company (JEDC), Mrs. Vera Osuhor, has decried the massive vandalism of facilities of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

She said the act was frustrating the quest for stable electricity supply to the people. ``We try to put everything in place to ensure stable supply and cover hitherto uncovered areas but vandals keep tampering with our facilities.

They are frustrating all our moves,’’ Osuhor told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos on Saturday.

Osuhor spoke to NAN shortly after opening the PHCN new office complex in Langtang, Plateau.

She called for stiff measures against the damage of electricity facilities and appealed to traditional rulers and vigilance groups to step up efforts to end the trend.

Osuhor said the trend had adverse consequences as participants were electrocuted, maimed or imprisoned, while innocent people were left in darkness.

She called on security agencies to set up teams to check the sale of stolen PHCN facilities to discourage the thieves and their patrons.

Osuhor warned the people against making illegal electricity connections and refusal to pay bills, saying such activities were major obstacles to electricity supply. ``Such attitude is found among the poor and the rich but even among government agencies and we want the royal fa-

thers to intervene to help PHCN to serve the communities better,’’ she said.

Osuhor attributed the rise in the cost of power supply to the execution of some projects that had eased power transmission and distribution, especially to hitherto uncovered areas.

She listed some of the projects as the 2 x60MVA 132/33KV transmission station in Makeri, a 2 x 30MVA 132/33 KV transmission in Pankshin and 1 x 15MVA, 33/11KV substation at Rantya in Jos. Others are the 8km 33KV line to Wase-Nyankpai-PalakWunkp-Wase through to Tofa in Langtang North Local Government Area, as well as the

``re-conductoring’’ and rehabilitation of LV networks in Jos metropolis.

Osuhor said that the JEDC had also rehabilitated injection substation control rooms, constructed six 33 KV lines for the evacuation of power from the newly completed Makeri transmission station and one 1 x 7.5MVA substation each at Pankshin and Langtang.

She listed some projects still under construction as the rehabilitation of the vandalised 132/33KV line to Panknshin and the construction of a 1 x 7.5MVA substation at BarkinLadi, Wase, Shendam Lamingo, Maraban-Jemaa, and Zaria Road.

The Phonzi Tarok, Gen. Domkat Bali, also told NAN, commended the JEDC for the new complex and described the former office as ``as an eyesore’’.

People were reluctant to pay their bills because they did not feel that the PHCN deserved any respect since they were occupying such a ramshackle structure. ``But with a befitting PHCN edifice now in Langtang, we shall now see such staff differently and treat them with utmost respect,’’ Bali said.

The traditional ruler also promised to mobilise traditional and community leaders to check the activities of vandals and described their behaviour as ``pure sabotage’’.

CBN on recovery of N9bn excess charges from banks

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anking experts on Saturday commended the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) over the recovery nine billion naira excess charges deducted from customers’ accounts by commercial banks across the country.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Mr Olumuyiwa Ojoawo, CBN Controller in Abeokuta, announced the recovery at a forum, organised by the bank’s Consumer Protection Department on July 31.

Ojoawo said that CBN had facilitated the recovery of the excess charges collected by commercial banks in the last one year. ``It is worthy of note that within the last one year, in pursuance of the consumer protection

mandates, the CBN, through the department, was able to assist consumers to recover over nine billion naira excess charges by banks,`` Ojoawo said.

Reacting to the development, Mr Samuel Durojaiye, the President of Finance Houses Association of Nigeria (FHAN), said that the recovery was a good development.

Durojaiye said that such erring banks should be punished for charging excess money on customers. ``There is no reason why banks should engage in exploiting their customers because such practices discourage people from embracing the banking system,” he said.

Durojaiye said that it was

unfortunate that almost all the banks in the country were involved in such negative practices, which was not good for the economy.

According to the FHAN president, the practice can make the public to lose confidence in the financial system.

Mr Rasak Quadri, a former President of Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, said that the CBN action was right and added that banks needed to be transparent in their transactions with their customers.

He urged CBN to intensify efforts in protecting the interest of bank customers. (NAN) CBN Governor, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi

Minister wants synergy with states, LGs on stimulants production

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

he Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom has underscored the importance of synergy among all tiers of governments in the country, to pro-

mote proper research on stimulant crops, so as to harness its huge potentials for national economic development.

Ortom who made the call in Abuja over the weekend, when Oyo state Commissioner for

Minister of state for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom

Trade, Investment and Cooperatives, Mr. Adebayo Olagbenro, led a delegation on a courtesy visit to the ministry, however disclosed that Nigeria has not fully tapped into the potentials derivable from stimulant crops which are indigenous to Africa.

According to the Minister, if proper research was done on stimulant crops such as kolanuts, bitter kola, alligator pepper, moringa oleifera, among others, it can uncover other derivable benefits besides the medicinal value from direct consumption of the crops, as it can be used as raw materials for the pharmaceutical industry if produced in large scale.

This, he said the federal level or anyone can do alone, but working in synergy with the states and the local governments will promote the course of the sub-sector, as a critical aspect of the industry, trade and investment in the country.

“Today in Nigeria, we use them as just stimulants, but I believe that if we do proper re-

search, we can get more opportunities in these fruits; and these unique fruits are hardly found in any other part of the world as it is found in Nigeria predominately in the west, and in particular Oyo state.

“And I believe that if Nigeria is fully industrialised, trading as it should be and attracting investments into our country, it would go a long way in providing several opportunities; providing jobs as well as creating wealth for our people.

“Even for the common purpose of stimulating, we can sensitise the international community to also partake in the consumption; and by doing that we will be creating demand for the crop,he said.

Also, the minister, said governments at all level must also find a way to see how to encourage farmers, so that there will be massive production of these stimulants, in order to extend it to other places within and outside the country.

“What we are doing is very key to the economy transformation and development of our country; and if we are able to harness these opportunities that are available in this cooperation drive, I believe that posterity will deeply appreciate our laying a solid foundation for the country’s industrialization, trade and investment,” h expressed.

Earlier, the commissioner, who told the minister that the visit was to solicit for support, to enable the state host the 3rd International Conference on Africa’s Indigenous Stimulants, scheduled to hold in Ibadan, the Oyo capital from October 22 – 23.

He said the State Government decided to host the conference because of the immense benefits it would derive from it, being a stimulant crop producing state.

According to the commissioner, Kola nut, which is used in the manufacture of kola wine, kola chocolate, livestock feeds and a variety of other consumer goods, can be further harnessed.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 23

Stock Watch

Report as at Friday, August 2, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Special Report

How Yobe residents are rebuilding their lives

The Voice of America (VOA), in this report examines life in troubled Yobe state and how residents struggle to make sense out of the chaos.

R

esidents of Yobe State in northern Nigeria are rebuilding their lives after what they say have been years of violence, and months during which they were cut off from the rest of the country by the military.

But while military officials say Yobe State is stable, schools remain closed after gunmen slaughtered nearly 30 children at a secondary school.

Malam Abubakar was a teacher at Mamudo Secondary school, when some gunmen threw explosives and opened fire on students in the middle of the night in early July. The school, like all the rest in Yobe state, was closed immediately, but Abubakar still comes to work because every now and then frightened children return to the boarding school to gather their things.

In a nearby mud home, partially collapsed due to rain, 14-year-old Isa Saleh Dasheri said he ran from the school when he heard the gunshots, jumping over dead bodies into the bush. But if the nowburned school is repaired and re-opened, he said, unlike some students, he will go back to school.

But his mother said that he, like all the other children, will be scared.

Other locals blame the school attack, in part, on the fact that phone lines were cut for two months by the military, after a state of emergency was declared in three northeastern states in mid-May. President Goodluck Jonathan said at the time the Islamist militant group Boko Haram had overrun parts of the north, and he sent thousands of troops to the battle. Farmer Adamu Nguru said if they had mobile phones, locals could have warned security forces the militants were about to attack the school.

But the spokesman for Yobe state security forces, Lieutenant Eli Lazarus, said phone service has been restored and life is starting to get back to normal. He said the restoration of the phones may help security forces conquer Boko Haram for good, because they rely heavily on local informants.

“Somewhere along the line, with the outage of the telecommunication service people who were intent to give

us information were unable to do so and that has impacted our operation in so many ways,” said Lazarus.

Defeating Boko Haram Critics say if the Nigerian military can successfully beat Boko Haram, a fractured group of shadowy militants that has been blamed for thousands of deaths since 2009, the victory will not last. In the past, Boko Haram has melted away only to resurface later, stronger and better armed.

Lazarus said actually

putting an end to attacks could take a long time.

“Insurgency is something that takes time to fizzle out, to overcome completely.

You keep on seeing one or two hits around. Probably because these people are disguised as civilians and they carry themselves as innocent citizens only for them to wreck havoc somewhere. You still have pockets of them,” he said.

Farmer Ahmed Dori said it will take even longer for the

“

Insurgency is something that takes time to fizzle out, to overcome completely. You keep on seeing one or two hits around.

Probably because these people are disguised as civilians and they carry themselves as innocent citizens only for them to wreck havoc somewhere.

You still have pockets of them

Some captured insurgents displayed for the public by the authorities

region to recover economically, after two months of living “at a standstill.”

Farmers say that in the past year they have not been allowed to grow some of their regular staple crops because high plants can provide cover for insurgents.

Parents say although they are afraid to send their children back to school, after Ramadan ends, they are even more afraid of what will happen to their children if the schools do not open again.

Offensive has destroyed most Islamist bases The Nigerian military said, last week Monday, that a twomonth-old offensive in the northeast had “substantially achieved” the aim of destroying Islamist bases, as well as killing or capturing a number of fighters and freeing victims of abductions.

In a statement, defense spokesman, Brigadier-General Chris Olukolade also said 23 women and 35 children being held on charges of aiding Islamist militant group Boko Haram had been released, as a gesture of peace to its more moderate sympathizers.

Nigerian forces are

carrying out their most concerted effort yet to end a four-year insurgency that has left thousands dead - many of them killed in gun or bomb attacks - and destablised swaths of the north of the country.

“The mandate to the forces involves the destruction of all terrorist camps and apprehension of perpetrators,” Olukolade said. “This mandate has been substantially achieved with destruction of terrorists’ strongholds. A number of terrorists have been apprehended ... Many of them have died in battle.”

Boko Haram, which is fighting for an Islamic state in the religiously-mixed country, has in the past proved masters of resurrecting themselves after apparent defeat.

Nigerian authorities thought they were finished after a 2009 crackdown left 800 dead, including the sect’s founder Mohammed Yusuf, but they came back stronger than ever, developing ties with al-Qaida-linked militants in the Sahara.

President Goodluck Jonathan declared a state of emergency on May 14, ordering extra troops into the

Some residents in a rural settlement on the outskirts of Nguru, in Yobe state northeast after reports Boko Haram had taken over large stretches of the remote semidesert region.

The Federal Government has deployed thousands of soldiers to fight the Boko Haram in the North after emergency rule was declared

in three states on May 14.

Since then, security sources say the number of attacks has dropped sharply, although a spate of deadly attacks on schools showed the sect can still inflict mayhem.

Olukolade said the destruction of bases in Nigeria

had pushed the militants back inside northeast Nigeria’s cities, like Maiduguri, where many had been seized in cordon and search operations.

Last Sunday, Nigerian forces said they had uncovered a vast network of underground tunnels connecting houses and bunkers in the Maiduguri area of Bulabulin, as well

as some collective graves of people killed by the militants.

Olukolade said some of the bunkers could accommodate over 100 people.

Critics say no amount of military force will solve the underlying issues driving the insurgency, such as the north’s poverty and sense of political exclusion, but efforts to dialog

with the sect have failed to get a positive response.

The authorities had also arrested the parents-inlaw of Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau, who recently uploaded a defiant Internet video vowing never to “dialogue with a government (Source: VOA)

PAGE 27

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Education

wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

Matters arising as NUC accredits Uni Abuja Medical College

By Maryam Garba Hassan

R

ecently, the National Universities Commission (NUC) accredited Medicine, Veterinary Medicine, Agriculture and Engineering courses for the University of Abuja, which were suspended by the Minister of Education, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, in April 2012, sequel to the visit of the Needs Assessment Panel setup to assess the needs of universities.

The accreditation came weeks after the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria visited the University for verification and expressed satisfaction with what was on ground.

The Chief Medical Director of the Teaching Hospital, Dr. Peter Alabi, said there were currently more than 120 consultants ready for academic activities at the Medical College and that the facilities at the hospital are superior to those in other teaching hospitals.

With the full accreditation for medical and agricultural courses and interim accreditation for Veterinary Medicine, the University may now be on the verge of overcoming the serious challenges that had hindered it from realising its potential in the last 8 years and made it to be on the front- burner of national discourse.

Chairman of the Task Team on the accreditation of the College of Medicine and Visiting Prof. to NUC, Eugene Okpere and the team for the accreditation of the four courses that were suspended took a tour of facilities at the University before they declared that all is set for the takeoff of the programmes in the institution.

To get the nod from the NUC, accordingly, the University took over the Gwagwalada Specialist Hospital with all the facilities required and renamed it University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, Abuja as part of the requirements for the running of its medical programme.

The Council’s verification team, led

by Prof. Francis. Akpuaka, expressed satisfaction with the facilities and quality of academic staff put in place for the take-off of the medical programme.

The accreditation has finally taken place, but one of the issues at stake at the moment is the fate of the engineering students of the school earlier transferred to 6 universities in the country, as recommended in the report of the task force team to the University set up by the Federal Government.

The worrisome thing is that some of the students transferred have not been accepted in some of the Universities even as the Vice-Chancellor of University of Abuja, Prof. James Sunday Adelabu, said they will come back to the University to see what courses they can fit into.

It would be recalled that in March this year, the task force team to the University chaired by Prof. Chinedu Mafiana, submitted its recommendations to the NUC and gave nod to Medicine and Veterinary medical students of the University to proceed for their clinicals and distributed the 334 students of faculty of Engineering of the institution for absorption into 6 other Universities and Polytechnics in the country to proceed with their studies.

The Universities were: Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi, Modibbo Adama University of Technology, Yola, (MAUTECH), Federal University of Technology, Akure, University of Illorin, and Federal University of Technology, Minna, where the final year students

Entrance gate to the main campus of University of Abuja. were transferred to and recommended to undergo one year of rigorous training and graduate with UniAbuja Certificate.

One major problem the task force team to the University discovered in the course of its work at the school’s Faculty of Engineering was qualification, on the basis of which some of the students gained admission into the university. It was discovered that some of the students lacked the minimum requirements for the courses as well as JAMB, which is a prerequisite for admission.

This finding has further exposed the level of rot in the University system, which needs to be addressed to avoid future occurrence, particularly as some of the students transferred to other universities were rejected on that ground, according to UniAbuja VC, Prof. Adelabu.

The VC said those who do not qualify for the engineering course will return to the institution and change to alternative courses of their choice as recommended by the visitation panel to the school.

Some of the engineering students felt aggrieved and are not too keen to be absorbed in other departments, arguing that they are still at the receiving end as some of them had stagnated for about eight years for a course originally designed for five years and for which they accused the management of negligence.

Just three weeks ago, at the end of inspection of facilities at the University Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, the Senate Committee on Education attributed

the lingering crisis that rocked the institution to poor funding by the Federal Government that owns the institution.

Chairman of the Committee, Sen. Uche Chukwumerije, who led other members of the Committee on oversight function to the University, said the institution ought to have attracted special funding by the government, in view of its strategic location in Federal Capital Territory.

According to him, University of Abuja occupies a unique position in the Federal Capital Territory and therefore, deserves priority attention in the national budget.

He further explained that the Committee normally recommend special provisions for special challenges observed during such visits, and that such will be done for the institution.

The Senate Committee Chairman said that, in terms of its general status as the only University domiciled in the FCT, it will henceforth always have special attention in the budget.

The institution, no doubt deserves special attention in the budget as the committee has rightly said, but such may not be realistic, in view of the fact that, the Federal Government does not place priority on the education sector in the country.

Another thing is that, there is need to lift the University far above its present level because it was the cynosure of all eyes and therefore, a ready reference point by first time visitors to the country.

Its position placed far greater responsibility on it than on other

One major problem the task force team to the University discovered in the course of its work at the school’s Faculty of Engineering wasqualification,onthebasisofwhichsome of the students gained admission into the university

Universities in terms of the projection of the country’s image to foreign visitors.

During the tour of facilities of the now Teaching Hospital, Gwagwalada, the Medical and Dental Council of Nigeria (MDCN), the accreditation Committee of the Council, set up to ensure that the University put in place all facilities required for running a medical college, the council, which gave the indications that the Medical programme of the University is ready for take-off, in view of the adequate infrastructure and personnel put in place by the University authorities, raised some issues concerning some outstanding expectations the University needs to address.

These outstanding requirements the school is yet to meet include the siting of a clinical hostel within the hospital premises, provision of standard offices for the academic staff and provision of a college block.

For the institution to succeed, the management of the University and the hospital needs to establish a standard in the college that would make the Medical College compete favourably with others in the country and at the same time, the two must work in harmony to ensure a conducive environment for learning and operations, to avoid dichotomy between the hospital and the University.

In May this year, the estranged medical students of the University again staged another peaceful protest which was the second in the year, to protest what they described as “government’s insensitivity towards their plight and future” and prevented students of Centre for Distance Learning and Continual Studies from writing their exams.

The students issued a communiqué where they made three requests among others from the government, which include: that each of the affected students be given N10million as compensation for the five years they have wasted; secondly, that government should transfer them to other Medical Colleges to finish their degree programme, a development that resulted in the setting up of a committee headed by the Deputy Vice -Chancellor, Academy, Prof. Samuel Kukulu to dialogue with.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 28

Education Senate passes enabling law on College of Education, Zuba

By Maryam Garba Hassan en. Smart Adeyemi, Chairman, Senate Committee on the FCT has revealed that the enabling law for the College of Education, Zuba has been passed by the National Assembly.

A statement issued at the weekend in Abuja, by the Head, Public Relations Unit, FCT Education Secretariat, Anthony Ogunleye, stated that the Senator who described the Education sector as “critical” disclosed this during the Committee’s oversight visit to the FCT College of Education, Zuba, as part of its visit to the FCT Education Secretariat.

The statement said the Senator called for adequate funding of the sector in the FCT and commended the FCT Secretary for Education for improving the academic standard of schools in FCT. The Committee visited the permanent site of the College of Education Zuba where on-going projects which include the School of Vocational and Technical Education, Library Complex and the School of Education were inspected, the statement added.

According to the statement, the Committee pledged to appropriate more funds in the 2014 Budget to enable the completion of the on -going projects and called for the use of better building designs for future structures in the College to reflect its status as a tertiary institution in the FCT. Structures in FCT would be of world-class

S

200 Nigerian school Principals to converge in Ghana for 2nd int’l best practices retreat

By Maryam Garba Hassan

M

ore than 200 principals of secondary schools from Nigeria will be joining their African counterparts in Ghana for the 2nd International Best Practices Retreat.

A statement issued by the Programme Director, Mr. Charles Ofonimeh,

at the weekend in Abuja disclosed this.

The statement said Nigeria has been chosen to present the Keynote address to be delivered at the event by the National President of All Nigeria Confederation of Principals of Secondary Schools (ANCOPSS), Hajiya Fatima Abdulrahman.

According to the statement, the conference,

K

with the theme: “Update on Global Best Practices For Successful Governance and Administration of Schools”, is slated for 12th to 16th of August, 2013, and aimed at empowering Principals and school administrators in Africa with up-to-date comprehensive body of knowledge on global best practices for successful administration of schools.

The conference is

also organised to provide opportunity for Principals and school administrators from all over Africa to share experiences and to help them relax, unwind and prepare for a new session of academic work,” it said.

“The Retreat features high impact lectures, special sessions and case studies by a cast of international faculty” it added.

standard to reflect the status of FCT as the capital of Nigeria.

On the passage of the enabling law for the College, of Education, Zuba, Adeyemi commended the efforts of the Provost of the College and the Education

Secretariat for their efforts in ensuring its passage.

Speaking earlier, while receiving the Senate Committee on the FCT, the Provost of the FCT College of Education, Prof. Tijanni Ismail, revealed that the institution has had all

He said the session could have ended on July 26th and urged principals of secondary schools in the 16 LGAs to comply. ``Our ministry has called a meeting of principals in the state to ensure credibility for the upcoming mock examinations in the state for SSII students. ``Government will use the examination to measure performances of the students for next year’s National Examinations Council (NECO) and SSCE examinations,” he said.

Mohammed said that

government had promised to sponsor candidates who performed well in the examination.

He said government would also delegate supervisory roles to principals across the local government areas, adding that principals would be held responsible for any examination malpractice.

The director said that the students were expected to pass the five major subjects comprising of Mathematics, English Language, Civic Education, Economics and Biology.

its courses accredited by the National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE) and that the College management has a cordial relationship with all the students, and academic unions.

He however expressed joy at the passage of

Army school to introduce citizenship, leadership training into curriculum

C

the enabling law of the College by the National Assembly and said that the College will now be able to carry out all its statutory responsibilities which hitherto had been hampered by the lack of the enabling law, the statement added.

hief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, said citizenship and leadership training would be introduced in the Nigerian Military School (NMS), Zaria.

Ihejirika, who was represented by the Army Chief of Administration, Maj.-Gen. Mohammed Abubakar, said this at the weekend in Zaria-at the 55th passing-out parade of the school.

He said the introduction of the two courses would be done in the review of the school’s curriculum.

The Army chief pleaded for continued support and co-operation from parents to enable the school to maintain its leading academic role amongst secondary schools in the country.

While assuring that the Army would not relent in its efforts at funding the school, Ihejirika said there was need to review tuition fees upward-to meet some of the challenges facing the College.

He advised the graduating students to remain disciplined, committed, focused and be good ambassadors of the school in particular and the Nigerian Army in general. ``Today’s event, not only symbolises the end of all training and academic activities for the graduating students, but also a milestone in your lives. It marks the successful completion of an adult journey that began six years ago. No doubt, you must have passed through instructive and stimulating experiences during your stay here,” he said.

The Army chief urged the graduants to use the resilience and cognitive experiences they acquired in the course of their study to address the challenges that would confront them lates in life.

ANEEJ, Rev. David Ugolor, Students Union Government Presidents of University of Benin, Comrade Osasere Favour Osifo, Ambrose Alli University, Comrade Asuenimen Joel Reason and the National President of the National Association of Edo State Students, Prince Festus Otono, said the strike is fast eroding the positive gains already recorded in the educational sector recorded during the present administration.

It called on all

religious leaders, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to join the voice in calling on the Federal Government to put an end to the on-going strike action so that Nigerian students can go back to school. ``The much talked about Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan would be a mirage if the whole Federal and stateowned universities in the country are continuously shut down”, it said .

Centagon International School Principal, Mr. Thomas Hunt and other staff of the school displaying the plaque of the Best school in Nigeria, won recently in Abuja

Kwara govt extends secondary school calendar by 2 weeks

wara state Government has extended the current academic session for schools in the state to Friday Aug. 9, 20013, to allow senior secondary school II students to sit for their promotional examinations.

The Director, Quality Assurance Bureau of the state Ministry for Education and Human Capital Development, Alhaji Abubakar Mohammed made the disclosure in Ilorin the Kwara state capital.

wallybabe2010@gmail.com, 08050639900

Groups want NASS to dialogue with ASUU From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

cross-section of students and members of the Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), at the weekend, called on the National Assembly to revisit the on-going industrial dispute between the Federal Government and the Academic Staff Union of Universities (ASUU).

In a communique, endorsed by the Executive Director of

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 29

Healthy Living

Avoiding risks of HIV and other sexual transmitted diseases in early marriages

By Abbas Aminu Bamalli

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common belief is that child marriage protects girls from promiscuity and therefore, disease; but some have the belief that the reality is quite different, saying that married girls are more likely than unmarried girls to become infected with STDs, in particular Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV).

In sub-Saharan Africa, girls ages 15–19 years are 2–8 times more likely than boys of the same age to become infected with HIV. The risk of acquiring HIV from a single act of unprotected vaginal intercourse is 2–3 times greater for women than men. Globally, the prevalence of HIV infections among women is highest from ages 15 to 24; the risk for men peaks 5–10 years later.

Marriage by age 20, has become a risk factor for HIV infection for young and adolescent girls, as has been shown by several studies of African populations.

A study in Kenya demonstrated that married girls had a 50% higher likelihood than unmarried girls of becoming infected with HIV, which the risk was even higher (59%) in Zambia.

In Uganda, the HIV prevalence rate for girls 1519 years of age was higher for married, (89%) than single girls (66%); for those 15-29 years of age, HIV prevalence was 28% for married and 15% for single girls.

This study noted that the difference between the men and their wives was a significant HIV risk factor for the wives. All of these studies showed that girls were being infected by their partners.

A hypothesis relevant to this finding is that a young girl may be physiologically more prone to HIV infection because her vaginal wall is not yet well lined with protective cells and her cervix may be more easily eroded.

Risk for HIV transmission also heightened because hymenal, vaginal, lacerations increase the transmission rate, and many of these young girls lose their virginity to HIVinfected partner; also, STDs such as herpers simplex virus type 2 infection , gonorrhea, or chlamidia enhance girls’ vulnerability to HIV. In Nigeria, the present generation of young people is the largest in the country’s history, which coincidentally, the highest rate of HIV infection is constantly recorded among this group of

HIV/AIDS infected lady

young people, who are one of the most vulnerable groups to the disease.

As Nigerian adolescents begin to engage in sexual relations at a much earlier age than in the past, cases of HIV/AIDS infection are being reported among pre-teenage youths in schools.

The occurrence of new infections is highest among young people aged 15-24 years, accounting for 40 per cent of new infections in 2006.

Having multiple sex partners continues to be recognised as a persistent problem driving the epidemic in the country, especially among adolescent and young people.

UNICEF revealed that a recent HIV/AIDS schoolbased survey shows a low risk perception among- school pupils towards contracting the HIV virus, a high tendency to discriminate and stigmatise HIV positive persons and some level of misconception about the mode of transmission of the HIV virus. For instance

26% of respondents thought that mosquitoes could transmit the virus.

In response to this situation, the Government has developed the Education Sector Strategic Plan on HIV/ AIDS and has included HIVAIDS in the public school’s health curriculum.

In many parts of the country, some have the belief that traditional values promoting female submissiveness make adolescent girls more vulnerable, because it is difficult for them to refuse sexual relationships.

In addition, some believe that early marriage for girls remains a common practice in some communities in some parts of the country, as in 2005, the median age at marriage for women in Nigeria was 17, with some regional or religion variations which believe that given out marriage of girls as young as 12 or 10 years protect them from sex- hawking which they believe can easily expose them to the HIV/AIDS diseases.

This has been described in some parts of the country as worrisome, given the implications on the child bride.

Consequences of child marriage include obstetric fistula, infections, HIV, infertility, limited social support and high infant and maternal morbidity and mortality.

Of recent, an issue of child marriage has almost divided the Senate, as the issue was presented to the floor by Senator Ahmed Sani, which generated a lot of discussions among people in the country and placed the issue along regional and religious lines.

Sen. Ahmed Sani Yerima while speaking on the controversial issue, said the 1999 Constitution does not provide for any specific age when a girl can be married, but only stipulates that any girl aspiring to be married must attain a full age, saying the constitutional provision is in concord with the Islamic law which states that for a girl to be married she must have

In some parts of the country, some believe that poverty plays a vital role in perpetuating child marriage, as they believe parents want to ensure their daughters’ financial security, or are considered an economic burden, while in other parts of the country, parents worry about ensuring their daughters’ virginity and chastity and also as a protective mechanism against pre-marital sexual activity, unintended pregnancies.

attained the stage of maturity and puberty.

In some parts of the country, some believe that poverty plays a vital role in perpetuating child marriage, as they believe parents want to ensure their daughters’ financial security, or are considered an economic burden, while in other parts of the country, parents worry about ensuring their daughters’ virginity and chastity and also as a protective mechanism against pre-marital sexual activity, unintended pregnancies.

In 2010, Nigeria, through the National Agency for the Control of Aids (NACA), launched its comprehencive National Strategic Framework, to cover 2010 to 2015, which required an estimated N756 billion to implement, with the aim of reaching 80% of sexually active adults and 80% of most -at risk populations with HIV counseling and testing by 2015, and to ensure 80% of eligible children are receiving ART by 2015, and to improve access to quality care and services to at least 50% of people living with HIV by 2015.

Despite being the largest oil producer in Africa and the 12th largest in the world, Nigeria is ranked 156 out of 187 on the United Nation’s Development Programme (UNDP), Human Poverty Index, which has meant that Nigeria is faced with huge challenges in fighting HIV and AIDS epidemic.

PAGE 30

Healthy Living You are on your own, NHIS tells HMO

T

he Acting E x e c u t i v e Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), Dr. Abdulrahman Sambo has declared that allotment of lives to Health Maintenance Organisations (HMOs) is no longer the scheme’s responsibility.

Sambo, who made this declaration during the official launch of AVON HMO in Lagos, said that the HMOs would henceforth market themselves to the public.

In a release signed by his DGM Media and Public Relations, Hannatu

George Ardo, Sambo stated that HMOs are to design programmes and products that would make them the desirable brand in the market, adding that they would only be distinguished by their performance and ability to satisfy enrolees.

The Acting Executive Secretary commended management of AVON for putting up a viable organisation and charged them to cooperate with the scheme to make health insurance accessible to all Nigerians.

In her speech, the chief Executive officer of AVON, Simbo Ukiri said

that health insurance can only be meaningful with universal coverage, saying that amendment of the Act establishing the NHIS to make it mandatory would go a long way in enhancing universal coverage.

Ukiru called on the National Assembly to accelerate the process so that this could be achieved, and promised that AVON would ensure that it complies with the guidelines of the scheme, particularly by ensuring enrolee satisfaction so as to make itself the preferred choice for healthcare solutions in the country.

NAFDAC boss honoured in US

T

he Director General of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Paul Orhii has received another honour and recognition at the 2013 US World Conference, barely one month after his conferment with the US Special Congressional Award. of Mayors.

A press release signed by the Acting Director, special duties, Abubakar Jimoh said, Dr. Ohii was

honourd in recognition of his pioneering and global leadership in the use of cutting edge technologies to fight drug counterfeiting.

In his acceptance speech, Dr. Orhii called on the Mayors and other members of the International Community to support Nigeria’s quest at the World Health Assembly for an International Convention that will make drug counterfeiting a criminal offence with severe penalty worldwide.

Health benefit of Lemon Skin Lemons have long been used for their anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties but also come packed with phytochemicals and antioxidants that heal and create healthy, glowing skin.

Liver Cleansing: Lemons are helpful in cleansing the liver, which is responsible for processing toxins and hormones. Add a fresh squeezed lemon to your morning water to cleanse and strengthen your immune system.

Anti-inflammatory: While lemons are acidic in nature, they are actually

“alkaline forming” meaning they become alkaline in your body thus they have been used for their antiinflammatory properties by arthritis patients, -Weight Loss/ Cleansing: Lemons are blood purifying fruits, and can aid in digestion. Squeezing lemon onto your food or into your water will help your body properly metabolise a heavy meal. Some scientists even say lemons aid in weight loss.

Toothache: Try some lemon juice on the gum area to relieve pain

NAFDAC DG Dr. Paul Orhii

and stop the bleeding.

Sunburn: Run some lemon juice on your skin to prevent your skin from getting worse after a burn. They are a natural anti-septic so using lemons on your skin can also help with acne and eczema.

Cold/Sore Throat: Lemons are antibacterial in nature so squeeze lemon juice into your drink or onto your food if you have a throat infection to help kill bad bacteria and speed up the healing process. (Celery, cucumber, ginger and lemon is a great combo for sore colds and sore throats - blend in a smoothie.

Daily health

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Do you know that bottled water in your car is very dangerous to health?

Stories by Abbas Aminu Bamalli

B

ottled water in your car is very dangerous! On the Ellen show, Sheryl Crow said that this is what caused her breast cancer.

It has been identified as the most common cause of the high levels of dioxin in breast cancer tissue.

Sheryl Crow’s oncologist told her: women should not drink bottled water that has been left in a car. The heat reacts with the chemicals in the plastic of the bottle which releases dioxin into the water.

Dioxin is a toxin increasingly found in breast cancer tissue. So please be careful and do not drink bottled water that has been left in a car.

Dioxin chemical causes cancer, especially breast cancer. Dioxins are highly poisonous to cells in our bodies. Don’t freeze plastic bottles with water in them as this releases dioxins from the plastic.

Recently the Wellness Program Manager at Castle Hospital , was on a TV program to explain this health hazard.

He talked about dioxins and how bad they are for us. He said that we should not be heating food in the microwave using plastic containers….. This especially applies to foods that contain fat.

He said that the combination of fat, high heat and plastic releases dioxin into the food.

Instead, he recommends using glass, such as Pyrex or ceramiccontainers for heating food… You get the same result, but without the dioxin.. So, such things as TV dinners, instant soups, etc., should be removed from their containers and heated in something else.

Paper isn’t bad but you don’t know what is in the paper. It’s safer to use tempered glass, such as Pyrex, etc.

He said some of the fast food restaurants moved away from the styrene foam containers to paper.

The dioxin problem is one of the reasons….

Also, he pointed out that plastic wrap, such as Cling film, is just as dangerous when placed over foods to be cooked in the microwave.

As the food is nuked, the high heat causes poisonous toxins to actually melt out of the plastic wrap and drip into the food. Cover food with a paper towel instead.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 31

International

Diplomatic impunity: Why the US should reach out to Iran ANALYSIS

By Tara Maller

W

ith the birth of Prince George in London and the slow death of Anthony Weiner’s campaign in New York, the world’s invite to the inauguration of Iranian President Hassan Rouhani - one of Tehran’s most high profile events of the year - went fairly unnoticed, as did the rescinded inaugural invites that followed just days later.

In a moment of preinaugural confusion, the Iranian Foreign Ministry Spokesman Abbas Araghchi invited world leaders to the August 4 inauguration of Iran’s next president.

However, just a few days later, Iran’s Foreign Ministry clarified that no RSVP would be required from the United States and Israel since they were not invited.

Israel’s foreign minister, Paul Hirschson, assured the international community that they weren’t offended. “We’re not taking it personally,” Hirschson said, flippantly overlooking what might have been a rare diplomatic opportunity.

While the British were deemed acceptable for inclusion on the invite list despite no embassy presence in Iran and strained diplomatic relations, they will not be sending over a British official.

Douglas Alexander, Labour’s Shadow Foreign Secretary, has criticised the British decision not to attend the inauguration, even though they were invited.

He noted that declining the invite “represents both a misjudgment and a missed opportunity”. Opening the doo r to d i p l o m ac y can play a real and concrete impact.

Even if the United States were included at the inauguration, it is unlikely that it would have responded by sending a high level official to Iran to the event. This type of diplomatic resistance needs to be overcome if the US and Iran truly desire to work together to make progress on serious foreign policy issues in the region, such as Iraq, Afghanistan and Syria and resolve differences in the realm of nuclear negotiations.

The lack of official diplomatic channels between the US and Iran, along with the lack of an embassy in Tehran, means that the United States is not only inhibiting its diplomatic

Iranian President Hassan Rouhani ability to work with the Iranians, but it is limiting its ability to put pressure on the regime, monitor on-theground dynamics, gauge the population’s sentiments, and directly observe the impact of sanctions.

In my research I looked at more than 100 episodes in which the US imposed sanctions on other countries.

I found that diplomatic engagement makes sanctions more effective, whereas disengagement has the reverse effect.

When the US closes its embassy in a targeted country, for instance, the probability that sanctions will fail increases to 73 percent from 42 percent.

When controlling for other variables, simply increasing the economic costs imposed on the target state did not

lead to compliance with demands.

Engagement improves the ability to convey demands, target the correct entities, monitor the impact of sanctions on the ground, and calibrate policies over time. Diplomacy can also provide a window into the regime’s decision-making processes, motives and vulnerabilities.

Increased diplomatic interaction also helps clarify the nature of the demands on a sanctioned country and resolve ambiguity or misperceptions that exist.

In a study conducted in 2011 that examines 900 sanctions episodes over three decades, findings illustrated that specific demands had a success rate of 53 percent, whereas only 18 percent of ambiguous

“

demands were met.

These findings suggest that strong parallel diplomatic efforts have the ability to directly strengthen punitive economic measures by helping to clarify the nature of demands and foster cooperation between both sides.

Unfortunately, when mutual suspicions and hostilities are present, leaders tend to resist diplomatic outreach.

Critics of diplomatic engagement with states like Iran and North Korea sometimes invoke the “Munich analogy” - referencing to the deal struck by Great Britain, France and Italy with Adolf Hitler in September 1938, permitting Germany to annex western Czechoslovakia and argue that engaging enemies is tantamount to

In my research I looked at more than 100 episodes in which the US imposed sanctions on other countries. I found that diplomatic engagement makes sanctions more effective, whereas disengagement has the reverse effect.

appeasement, particularly if the enemy is the one asking for or demanding the talks in the first place.

However, such an analogy is misguided since diplomacy and appeasement are not the same thing. In fact, di pl om a cy ca n a l so b e u se d in conjunction with ramping up pressure on a regime and more forcefully articulating and clarifying demands.

Political leaders may also worry about appearing weak to domestic or international audiences if they make diplomatic overtures or express a willingness to negotiate with certain actors or states.

These concerns can be even more salient if they are thinking about reversing from a strong and public position of non-engagement towards one of engagement.

In other words, Iranian and US leaders may worry that their previous strategies will be perceived as failures if they modify their positions, and they may also fear losing credibility with certain segments of the population at home.

While the inauguration may represent a missed opportunity, the United States can still seize the moment with diplomatic overtures of its own - both real and symbolic.

Just last week, in what seems to be a gesture of good will, the US Treasury Department already eased restrictions on some humanitarian aid and medical supplies entering Iran.

In a recent and compelling piece about US policy towards Iran in the N e w Y o r k R e v i e w of Books by William Luers, Thomas R Pickering, and Jim Walsh, the authors propose the United States initiate some of its own invitation diplomacy.

They encourage the United States to express its openness to a meeting in the next few months between President Obama and President Rouhani and that President Obama send a private letter or congratulatory message to the new Iranian president following the inauguration.

There are serious and real differences between the US and Iran that will need to b e w o r k e d o u t i n t h e context of negotiations addressing the nuclear issue. However, the inauguration provides a window of opportunity for both countries to start taking symbolic diplomatic steps in the right direction.

Source: Al jazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

International

Africa and West at odds over Zimbabwe election S outh Africa’s President Jacob Zuma on Sunday congratulated Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe on his re-election, in sharp contrast to Western governments which questioned the credibility of a rushed, disputed vote.

African monitors broadly approved the conduct of the election but Mugabe’s main rival, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader Morgan Tsvangirai, has said he will challenge the results in court with evidence of massive vote-rigging, irregularities and intimidation.

The sharply divergent views of Wednesday’s vote surfaced after Zimbabwe’s election officials declared a landslide win for Mugabe and his ZANU-PF party, giving Africa’s oldest president five more years at the helm

of a nation he has ruled for 33 years.

The standoff raises some fears the southern African nation risks repeating the turmoil that followed another contested vote in 2008. Election violence then forced Zimbabwe’s neighbors to broker a shaky unity government between ZANU-PF and the MDC. But Sunday’s “profound congratulations” extended to Mugabe

by Zuma, leader of Africa’s economic powerhouse, reflected a willingness by the continent’s diplomatic bodies to swallow the re-election of Mugabe, 89, for the sake of regional stability.

“President Zuma urges all political parties in Zimbabwe to accept the outcome of the elections, as election observers reported it to be an expression of the will of the people,”

the South African leader said in his statement.

Monitors from the African Union and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) who observed them made a point of stressing that they were peaceful, in contrast to the violence of 2008 polls, and also endorsed them as broadly free.

In contrast, the United States and European governments, which have sanctions in place against Mugabe over past election-rigging, listed a litany of alleged flaws in the vote, from lack of availability of the voters’ roll to pro-Mugabe bias in the media and security services that skewed the election run-up.

ZANU-PF has angrily rejected all vote-rigging allegations.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry

spelled out Washington’s distrust of the result in no uncertain terms.

“Make no mistake: in light of substantial electoral irregularities reported by domestic and regional observers, the United States does not believe that the results announced ... represent a credible expression of the will of the Zimbabwean people,” he said in a strongly worded statement on Saturday.

Former colonial power Britain expressed “grave concerns”. Foreign Secretary William Hague said the reported irregularities “call into serious question the credibility of the election”.

The 28-nation European Union has also pointed to “identified weaknesses in the electoral process and a lack of transparency,” completing a picture of general Western skepticism.

Mali rivals to face off in poll run off

F

ormer Prime minister Ibrahim Boubacar Keita will face former finance minister Soumaila Cissé in an August 11 run-off after failing to win Mali’s presidential election in the first round.

The provisional results round off a week which saw Malians voting for their first president since a coup toppled the twice-elected government in March 2012.

Despite lingering security concerns and complaints over a flawed voter registration process, government figures suggest a turnout of 51.54 percent, shattering Mali’s previous record high of 38 percent.

Keita, known locally by his initials, IBK, garnered 39.23 of the first round vote, falling short of the 50 percent needed to win outright.

He was, however, well ahead of Cissé, who secured 19.44 percent, said Colonel MoussaSinkoCoulibaly, minister of territorial administration.

Friday’s results should help ease tensions after Coulibaly told reporters on Tuesday, before votecounting had finished, that Keita may exceed the 50 percent threshold.

In a chaotic press conference, the

minister said that, with one-third of votes counted, Keita held a wide lead over the 27-candidate field.

But even before Coulibaly’s claims, officials within the Cissé campaign were questioning the fairness of the vote.

Cissé even said he would reject the election result if the poll did not go to a second round.

But thus far, election observers, including those led by the African Union, European Union and APEM - a network of 2,100 Malian election observers - maintain that voter turnout was high and elections were carried out in an orderly manner.

“They [Malians] did it with serenity, calm and discipline,” said Louis Michel, head of the EU Election Observation Mission in Mali. “The entire process was based on transparency,” he continued.

“The first round of the presidential election took place in a peaceful atmosphere.”

The August 11 vote will pit two mainstays of Mali’s much maligned political class against each other.

Keita was considered by most analysts before the vote to be the

Cissé (R) will face off with Keita (L) frontrunner, and served as the country’s Prime Minister for much of the 1990s, He ran for president - unsuccessfully - twice before, and was parliamentary speaker during the first term of President AmadouToumaniTouré, who was ousted by mutineering soldiers last year.

Cissé has served as Mali’s finance minister and is an as well as head of the West African Monetary Union. Like Keita,

Cissé rose to prominence within the ADEMA-PASJ, running as the party’s presidential candidate in 2002. After losing the election to AmadouToumaniTouré, Cissé had a bitter falling out with ADEMA-PASJ, and formed his own party, the Union for the Republic and Democracy, in 2003.

Both Keita and Cissé will be forced to build coalitions if they hope to win the August 11 vote.

Tunis. Ennahda officials said more than 150,000 attended.

Fireworks flashed overhead and red Tunisian flags fluttered over a sea of demonstrators.

“No to coups, yes to elections,” the crowd shouted, in a reference to the army-backed ouster of Egypt’s elected Islamist president last month.

The secular opposition is stepping up efforts to oust the transition government in the North African country. At the same time, security forces are struggling to fight off a spike in attacks by radical Islamist militants, whom the moderate Islamist Ennahda has condemned as terrorists.

The opposition, angered by the assassination of two of

its figures and emboldened by the backlash against deposed Egyptian President Mohamed Mursi, has been protesting daily.

Across the capital, around 10,000 opposition protesters rallied against the government.

They vowed a mass march on Sunday and an even bigger rally on Wednesday to mark the death of politician ChokriBelaid, who was gunned down six months ago.

Prime Minister Ali Larayedh appealed to demonstrators on both sides for calm.

“Tunisia is in need of national unity. ... I call for calm so the army and security forces can combat terrorism and not waste efforts on protests,” Larayedh told a news conference.

Thousands rally to support embattled Tunisia government

T

ens of thousands of Tunisians came out in a show of force for the country’s Islamist-led governmentin one of the largest demonstrations since the 2011

revolution.

Supporters of the ruling Ennahda party crowded into Kasbah Square next to the prime minister’s office in the capital,

Tunisians in a show of support for the troubled government.

Egypt army chief holds talks with opposition

E

gyptian Army chief Abdel Fatah El Sisi met overnight with leaders from the different Islamist movements to try and resolve the crisis pitting supporters of ousted President Mohamed Mursi against the country’s new rulers.

Sisi“metwithseveralrepresentatives of the Islamist movements ... and stressed that there are opportunities for a peaceful solution to the crisis provided all sides reject violence,” army spokesman Colonel Ahmed Aly said in a statement on Sunday, without specifying who his interlocutors were.

Mursi supporters have been holding two major sit-ins for more than a month, paralysing parts of the capital, Cairo, and deepening divisions.

The news of the military chief’s crisis meetings comes amid diplomatic push by the US and the EU. The political arm of Mursi’s Muslim Brotherhood, which met US Deputy Secretary of State William Burns, reiterated its continued commitment to “legitimacy, which stipulated the return of the president, the constitution and the Shura Council,” referring to the upper house of parliament.

He is expected to meet the interim interior minister and defense minister on Sunday.

The latest declaration by the Brotherhood suggested that Burns’s visit had failed to shift their position.

“We affirm our welcome of any political solutions proposed on the basis of constitutional legitimacy and rejection of the coup,” said the statement from the Freedom and Justice Party.

Their sit in protests in Cairo against army rule continued, with demonstrators at one point blocking roads around the Rabaa Mosque, in Nasr City, when police officers attempted to enter the area.

Sisi, meanwhile, has urged the US to use its leverage over the Muslim Brotherhood to end the political crisis.

He also told the Washington Post newspaper on Saturday that he did not “aspire for authority”.

Sisi

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 33

International

Iran’s Rouhani sworn in as president

Rouhani

I

ran’s new moderate President Hassan Rouhani took the oath before parliament at a ceremony attended for the first time by foreign dignitaries including regional leaders.

The ceremony in parliament took place on Sunday, a day after Rouhani was formally endorsed by Iran’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khameini, in a ceremony that was attended by top Iranian figures including outgoing president, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and foreign

dignitaries.

Saturday’s endorsement came after Rouhani expressed solidarity for the Palestinian people in a speech marking Quds day, an annual event in Iran held in support of the Palestinian people and opposing Israel’s control of Jerusalem.

Al-Quds is the Arabic name for Jerusalem.

Rouhani, a relatively moderate cleric who won the June 14 June 14 presidential election by a significant margin and ran on a platform that included a promise to follow a “path

of moderation” in international affairs and to ease restrictions on Iranian civil liberties.

His election has raised hopes that Iran and the US can solve the dispute over Iran’s nuclear programme.

But Iran expert Hamid Dabashi said a change in approach is needed from the US, as well. “Already there are many indications that he will be drastically different. No flamboyant statements, no rash decisions, no regional or international belligerence, at least at the rhetorical level.”

was a bombing near a Sunni mosque in western Baghdad which killed two worshippers.

Hospital officials confirmed the death tolls in the two attacks.

All officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they are not authorised to talk to the media.

Suicide attacks, car bombings and other violence have killed more than 3,000 people since April in Iraq, according to an Associated Press news agency count.

Al- Bashir

However, Dabashi added, “it takes two to tango”.

“The ‘Western world’ too needs to drop its ideological and rhetorical language and deal with Rouhani on equal footing,” he said. “The Iranian presidency is neither all-powerful, nor entirely powerless.

“We need to think of the Islamic Republic in terms of the ruling apparatus which includes the military, intelligence, security, and clerical establishment and their collective will to survive - rather than a singleminded supreme leader calling all the shots.”

The US House of Representatives on Wednesday passed the toughest package of sanctions yet, targeting Iran’s oil exports.

For millions of Iranian voters who elected Rouhani, the past decade has been marked by steadily declining living standards due to a deepening economic crisis exacerbated by sanctions.

The direction and success of Rouhani’s presidency depends in part on his ability to redefine Tehran’s relations with the West.

Dabashi said he is hopeful that Rouhani will restore “some sanity” in domestic affairs and use his internal legitimacy to address Iran’s regional and global issues.

Rouhani secured a clear victory in the June election, with voter turnout at 72.7 percent

S. Arabia bars al- Bashir from entering airspace

A

suicide bomber has blown himself up outside a Shia mosque in the Iraqi capital, Baghdad, leaving seven people dead and wounding at least 11 others.

The blast occurred near the Assad Allah mosque in the Hussainya suburb to the northeast of the capital.

“As the suicide bomber was on his way to approach the mosque to blow himself up, one of the guards grabbed him.

He immediately exploded,” said eyewitness Abu Zahra.

In separate attacks, there

Asia & Middle East

Israel announces Palestinian prisoners’release date

S

aeb Erakat, the chief Palestinian negotiator, says that Israel will free the first batch of a promised 104 long-serving Palestinian and Palestinian-Israeli prisoners on August 13.

“The release of veteran prisoners will be in four batches as Israel refused to release them all at once,” he said in a statement on Sunday.

Israel says that the men will go free in stages depending on progress in newly-resumed talks with the Palestinians.

“It agreed on releasing 26 of the old prisoners on August 13,” Erakat said.

According to local media reports, The Palestinian Prisoner Society published a list of prisoners expected to be freed.

The prisoner release was approved by the Israeli cabinet last week to coincide with the talks, revived after a three-year hiatus.

A first meeting took place in Washington earlier in the week,and the Israeli negotiator, Justice Minister TzipiLivni, said on Saturday that another session would be held shortly in the Middle East.

“These discussions that began in Washington will resume during the second week of August and will take place in the region,” Livni told the private Channel 10 television station.

Sh e sa i d th e t a l k s w ou l d alternate between Israel and the Palestinian territories, and that the first of 104 prisoners imprisoned by Israel prior to the 1993 Oslo peace accords would be freed before the next round.

Australia announces election date

K

evin Rudd, the Australian Prime minister, has named September 7 as the date for his country’s next parliamentary polls, six weeks after he took over the leadership from former Prime Minister Julia Gillard, according to an email to supporters.

Rudd flew to Canberra from his hometown of Brisbane on Sunday afternoon and later spent several minutes in GovernorGeneral Quentin Bryce’s official residence.

“It’s on. A few moments ago I saw the governor-general and asked that she dissolve this parliament and call the federal election for September 7,” Rudd said in the email to Labor party members.

Rudd will be hoping to complete a stunning political comeback by leading the centreleft Labor party three years after

it ousted him as leader.

After meeting the governorgeneral, Rudd later confirmed the election date at a news conference at Parliament House. Prime ministers almost always pick the earliest available date, which in Rudd’s case is September 7.

Rudd became prime minister for a second time in late June when Labor members of parliament voted to remove the nation’s first woman leader, Julia Gillard, for former diplomat Rudd in hopes of saving the party from electoral defeat.

Rudd’s first prime ministership, which began with his landslide victory over conservative leader John Howard in 2007 polls, ended suddenly in mid-2010 when his Labor colleagues turned on him and voted in Gillard.

He now faces a conservative

opposition led by Tony Abbott, a former minister in Howard’s government, in the election which had to be held before November

30.

Since then, Rudd has changed several key policy positions, and opinion polls suggest Labor is

closing the lead of the conservative opposition. His government remains, however, the underdog in the campaign, according to polls.

Rudd

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 34

International

Western embassies shut amid security alert T

he United States has temporarily closed 21 embassies and consulates in mostly Muslim countries, and several European states have shut embassies in Yemen over fears al-Qaeda was planning to launch attacks.

The US closed its facilites on Sunday, after saying it had information that al-Qaeda and its allies may increase efforts to attack Western interests this month.

The closures came as Interpol issued a global security alert after hundreds of militants were set free in prison breaks linked to the al-Qaeda terror network, and suicide bombers killed nine near the Indian consulate in the Afghan city of Jalalabad.

Britain, Germany, France and the Netherlands said they would close

their embassies in Yemen on Sunday and Monday for similiar security reasons. Yemeni authorities said they were on a state of high alert.

The US has also issued a global travel alert to warn its citizens of potential “terrorist attacks”.

A heavy military presence was reported around the US and British Embassies in Yemen’s capital Sanaa on Saturday, with numerous checkpoints.

In London, the Foreign Office said that a number of staff at the British embassy had been withdrawn from Sanaa, particularly because of increased concerns in “the final days of Ramadan and into Eid”. France and Germany cited instability for their decisions in Yemen.

In Washington DC, meanwhile, top US officials met to review the

threat, with US President Barack Obama briefed following the session.

Susan Rice, Obama’s national security advisor, led the meeting, which was also attended by top state department, defence department and intelligence agency officials.

No official statements were made regarding the cause of the threat level elevation following the meeting.

Canada, meanwhile, said its mission in the Bangladeshi capital Dhaka would also be shut on Sunday.

Below is The State Department’s list of US diplomatic outposts that will be closed on Sunday.

U.S. Embassy Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates U.S. Embassy Algiers, Algeria U.S. Embassy Amman, Jordan U.S. Embassy Baghdad, Iraq U.S. Embassy Cairo, Egypt

U.S. Consulate Dhahran, Saudi Arabia U.S. Embassy Djibouti, Djibouti U.S. Embassy Dhaka, Bangladesh U.S. Embassy Doha, Qatar U.S. Consulate Dubai, United Arab Emirates U.S. Consulate Erbil, Iraq U.S. Consulate Jeddah, Saudi Arabia U.S. Embassy Kabul, Afghanistan U.S. Embassy Khartoum, Sudan U.S. Embassy Kuwait City, Kuwait U.S. Embassy Manama, Bahrain U.S. Embassy Muscat, Oman U.S. Embassy Nouakchott, Mauritania U.S. Embassy Riyadh, Saudi Arabia U.S. Embassy Sana’a, Yemen U.S. Embassy Tripoli, Libya

Turkey appoints new military commanders

PM RecepTayyipErdogan, right, chaired the Supreme Military Council which made the appointments [Reuters]

T

urkey has overhauled the top ranks of its military, appointing new army commanders in a move that underlines the government’s control over armed forces.

P r i m e M i n i s t e r RecepTayyipErdogan chaired the Supreme Military Council which made the appointments.

The council decides on promotions and retirements of

top officers every year at its threeday August meeting and had been expected to make major changes at this week’s gathering.

The Council’s decisions were announced after approval by President Abdullah Gul. The most unexpected of the council’s decisions was the forced retirement of paramilitary gendarmerie force commander General

BekirKalyoncu, who had been the leading candidate to take over land forces.

Media reports said top officials were opposed to Kalyoncu leading the country’s land forces as he was regarded as a government critic and his name had cropped up in testimony in the trial of the alleged Ergenekon conspiracy against Erdogan’s government. A verdict on that trial is scheduled for Monday.

EU concerned about lack of transparency in Zimbabwe election

T

he European Union said it was concerned about alleged irregularities and a lack of transparency in Zimbabwe’s election, its strongest criticism so far of a poll that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has branded a “farce”.

The EU’s verdict on the fairness of the elections will be crucial to deciding whether it continues to ease sanctions on the southern African country.

“The EU is concerned about alleged irregularities and reports of incomplete participation, as well as the identified weaknesses in the electoral process and a lack of transparency. The EU will continue to follow developments and work closely with its international partners in the weeks to come,” EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton said in a declaration issued on behalf of the 28-nation bloc.

Ashton

Instead, General HulusiAkar was given the job and, according to custom, would be expected to replace General NecdetOzel as overall head of the armed forces in 2015.

The General Staff also announced on its website the appointment of Vice-Admiral BulentBostanoglu as commander of the navy, Lieutenant General Akin Ozturk as head of the air force and General ServetYoruk as commander of the gendarmerie.

The new appointments come as NATO’s second-largest army is facing multiple challenges in neighbouring Syria’s civil war, which has spilled across the border.

Turkey has also been involved in a peace process with Kurdish fighters that looks increasingly fragile.

Although the military once dominated Turkey’s political life, Erdogan has eroded the army’s power since his Islamist-rooted AK Party first came to power in 2002.

The secularist military staged three coups between 1960 and 1980 and pushed the first Islamist-led government out of office in 1997.

Two years ago, a major upheaval in the military - when the chief of staff and three other generals quit allowed Erdogan to install a chief of staff of his choice, General Ozel, and relations between government and military have since improved.

Europe and Americas

Brazil police jailed over prison massacre

T

wenty-five police officers have been sentenced to life in prison for their role in the 1992 Carandiru prison massacre that left 111 inmates dead.

The massacre, among the worst mass killings to have taken place in Latin America’s notoriously overcrowded jails, inspired the formation of a powerful prison gang that carried out scores of deadly attacks on police in 2006.

Each officer was sentenced to 624 years in prison on Saturday for using deadly force to quell a fight among inmates.

The court found the officers guilty of killing 52 prisoners.

Judge Rodrigo Tellini read out the sentence reached by a seven-person jury, saying there had been a “clear abuse of power” by the police.

A lawyer for the police said they would appeal the ruling, but admitted it would be difficult to overturn the sentences.

The ruling was reached after a week-long trial, the second part of a process broken into four in which 79 military police officers are accused of killing Carandiru prisoners. The case was brought to trial in April after more than two decades of procedural delays.

At the time of the massacre Carandiru had 8,000 inmates and was the largest prison in Latin America.

Each trial segment focuses on the killings that took place on each of the four floors of the prison in Sao Paulo on October 2, 1992.

Prosecutors argue that the inmates were executed, while the defence claims police officers were being threatened and fired in self-defence.

Eighty-seven prisoners were wounded in the melee, but the police were unharmed.

Forensic evidence presented in the trial indicated that at least 90 percent of the prisoners who were killed died from gunshot wounds to the head and neck, and that many were shot while kneeling or lying down.

In the first phase of the trial, 23 police officers were found guilty and sentenced to 153 years in prison for the deaths of 13 inmates.

The only person previously tried for the massacre was the commander, Colonel UbiratanGuimaraes, who was sentenced in 2001 to 632 years in prison. Guimaraes, a former state deputy, appealed the sentence and was absolved. He was found in 2006 shot dead in his Sao Paulo apartment.

The Carandiru massacre is shown as key factor in the establishment of a criminal gang known as First Command of the Capital (PCC) in 1993.

From the prison, PCC bosses coordinated a series of assaults on police stations and public buildings which left more than 170 people dead and paralysed Sao Paulo for four days in May 2006.

The violence later spread to other cities, and scores of civilians suspected of criminal activity were gunned down in a subsequent wave of police reprisal attacks.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 35

Strange World

Humans withactual tails A rshid Ali Khan is worshipped as the living incarnation of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, and has faithful followers who refer to him as “Balaji,” Nairaland. com reported.

Doctors have a different, less spiritual, theory: The appendage is actually meningocele, a rare form of spina bifida that causes the spine to grow abnormally.

As a result, Khan is worshipped as the living incarnation of the Hindu monkey god Hanuman, and has faithful followers who refer to him as “Balaji,” Nairaland.com reported.

Although medical experts believe Khan should have the “tail” removed because he risks further medical problems, he is philosophically opposed to it.

“I love my tail. It’s a gift from God. It’s unusual, but people respect me and bow before me because of it,” he said, according to the Sun. “I feel special.”

Kesha, who previously claimed she had sex with a ghost,

told the British publication Heat that she was born with a tail, but that it was removed before she

could shake it.

“I had a tail when I was born.

It was a tiny tail, about a quarter

of an inch, then they chopped it off and stole my tail,” she told Heat. “That was when I was

little. I’m really sad about that story.”

Kesha’s alleged tale has been lost to history (and to the hospital waste bin).

Dr. Scott Meyer, a member of the neuro-spine team at Morristown Medical Center in New Jersey, said meningocele can be associated with a tuft of hair in the lower back.

“The combination of a membranous sac with a tuft of hair could certainly produce a likeness to a monkey’s tail,” he told The Huffington Post.

He recommends people who have meningocele have surgery to put the “tail” back into the body because of an increased risk of infection. Meyer added that the condition has been reduced by 50 percent in North America thanks to programs that “support folic acid supplementation during pregnancy.”

About 40 cases of human tails have been reported according to a study by the People’s Journal of Scientifc Research, but you don’t necessarily need the condition to have one.

that made him drink lots of water all day long.

He currently consumes up to 15 liters of water in a day, and his father backs up his story that he never touches a single scrap of food, whether it’s rice, steamed bread or meat.

The closest thing to food that doesn’t make NingXuefa sick is milk, but his family is too poor to buy milk for him every day. So the thirsty young man is forced to survive on water alone.

He tried to get a job in construction to help out his parents, but his weak body, frail constitution and the constant need to go to the bathroom even at night eventually got him fired.

Ning had to return home and depend on his family for help.

But, considering his eating habits, I don’t think they consider him a big burden.

NingXuefa has also been examined by doctors and diagnosed with a rare chronic thirst-inducing

disease, but they haven’t yet been able to determine how he was able to survive all these years without any kind of food.

Usually I’d be quick to classify this story as bogus, but I remember writing about the Indian Yogi who proved he can survive on air alone,

and the woman who didn’t drink water for 78 years. I’ll try to keep an eye on this story to see how it develops.

Khan has what looks like a 7-inch tail sticking out of his back.

Chinese man has lived on water alone for 12 Years

H

ow long can you survive without food? It all depends on a person’s weight, overall health and metabolic rate, but according to scientific data, a human being can’t go much longer than 3 weeks without food.

Now, a 22-year-old man from China means to challenge this theory claiming he has survived 12 years on water alone.

NingXuefa, a young man from China’s Henan province, has recently made headlines for claiming he hasn’t had a bite of food in the last 12 years. Looking at the 1.50-meter-tall, 40-kg-heavy Ning one can tell he doesn’t like to eat much, but his story seems almost impossible to believe.

He told Chinese media that he completely renounced food when he was just a 10-year-old child.

Just looking at bread or vegetables at the dinner table made him nauseous, and he always had a dry throat and a weird sensation like something was stuck there

Prisoner attempts to smuggle cell phone in mother’s coffin

The phone was concealed in the inmate’s mothers coffin.

M Ningtold Chinese media that he completely renounced food when he was just a 10-year-old child.

exico City prison authorities say they have quashed an attempt to smuggle a prohibited cell phone into a city prison in the coffin of an inmate’s mother.

Prisoners in the city have the right to have the casket of a deceased parent or child

brought into the prison yard so they can bid farewell to their relative.

But city correctional spokesman Emilio Castelazo said that before the coffin was allowed into the Santa Marta Acatitla prison, guards searched the casket and found the cell phone inside.

Castelazo said a criminal complaint has been filed. Several relatives were with the coffin at the time.

Cell phones are banned because inmates frequently use them to coordinate criminal activities outside prison or make extortion calls.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Digest

Now that’s a cheap way to lose weight

Former actor Miki Ryosuke claims to have lost two stone and five inches from his waist in seven weeks by following his Long Breath Diet which he discovered by accident

By Emma Innes f you are struggling to stick to a diet of carrot sticks and lettuce leaves, news of the latest weight loss technique to be sweeping Japan could be music to your ears.

Former actor, Miki Ryosuke, claims to have lost two stone and five inches from his waist in seven weeks by following his Long Breath Diet.

Mr Ryosuke, 55, claims that followers of the diet just have to spend two minutes a day concentrating on taking long breaths and then exhaling aggressively.

The dieting guru says that he invented the diet by mistake while practicing breathing techniques in an attempt to reduce his back pain, Oddity Central reports.

While he was practicing the breathing techniques, Mr Ryosuke noticed that he was losing weight.

As a result of the discovery,

I

he drew up the Long Breath Diet which involves the dieter taking a specific position before inhaling for three seconds and then exhaling powerfully for seven seconds.

Mr Ryosuke claims that people who practice this breathing technique for two to five minutes a day will see rapid benefits.

Oddity Central reports that there are two ways of practicing the diet.

The first involves tensing the buttocks while standing with one foot in front of the body and placing most of the body’s weight on the back foot.

In this position, the dieter is encouraged to inhale for three seconds while lifting their arms above their head.

They are then told to breathe out while tensing all of their muscles for seven seconds.

The second way of practicing the technique involves the dieter standing upright while tightening

their buttocks and placing one hand on their stomach, and the other on the bottom of their back.

They are then told to inhale for three seconds before breathing out for seven seconds, all of the time holding in their stomach.

Jill Johnson, creator of the Oxycise, another weight loss programme based on breathing, told Oddity Central: ‘Fat is made up of oxygen, carbon, and hydrogen. When the oxygen we breathe reaches these fat molecules, it breaks them down into carbon dioxide and water.

‘The blood then picks up the carbon dioxide – a waste product of our bodies – and returns it to the lungs to be exhaled.

Therefore the more oxygen our bodies use, the more fat we will burn.’

The Long Breath Diet is believed to increase a dieter’s muscle strength and to boost

their metabolism by increasing their blood oxygen levels.

However, most experts believe that practicing it for just two minutes a day is not sufficient to see any significant weight loss.

Richard Godfrey, chief physiologist at the British Olympic Medical Centre, says the effectiveness of the technique is highly doubtful.

He said: ‘Medium to high intensity work out - such as rowing, brisk walking, or running - over a long period is the only way to burn up fat and elevate metabolism.

‘Deep breathing and gentle exercises for five minutes a day is not going to burn up enough calories to transform body shape.’

In fact, Professor Ian Macdonald, professor of metabolic physiology at the School of Biomedical Sciences in Derbyshire, warns breathing too deeply can do more harm than good.

‘Inhaling and exhaling too

The Long Breath Diet involves the dieter taking a specific position before inhaling for three seconds and then exhaling powerfully for seven seconds

Mr Ryosuke claims that followers of the diet just have to spend two minutes a day concentrating on taking long breaths and then exhaling aggressively deeply can disturb the balance between carbon dioxide and oxygen in the body needed to neutralise the blood. This can cause light headedness and even make someone faint.’

And, he doubts simply breathing will turn fat into fuel.

‘Contraction of muscles caused by exercise mobilises fat stores. But it is only vigorous aerobic sport that triggers enough energy to turn fat into fuel. Deep breathing alone will burn up fat by two per cent at best.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

How 80 per cent of adults don’t do enough to keep fit

A

New research has suggested almost eight out of ten people in England fail to do enough exercise (file picture)

lmost eight out of ten people in England fail to do enough exercise, research suggests.

People who are poorer and less educated are least likely to exercise, but most adults do far below the recommended amount of activity needed to stay healthy.

The study, led by researchers at the University of Bristol, examined data for more than one million adults from the Active People Survey – which covers socio-economic position and factors such as the weather and access to sport facilities.

It found only around 20 per cent of people carried out moderate exercise at least 12 times in a four-week period.

More than 8 per cent of those physically able to walk had not done so for even five minutes continuously in the past four weeks and experts said participation in the most common activities was also ‘very low’.

Some 46 per cent had walked fewer than 30 minutes continuously during leisure time, 88 per cent had not been swimming and 90 per cent had not visited a gym in the previous four weeks.

Those with a degree had only a 12 per cent chance of not exercising enough but adults with no qualifications were three times as likely to be inactive.

Unsurprisingly, the blue skies and warm weather of summer prompted people to be more active than in winter.

Tam Fry, of the National Obesity Forum, said the results showed a failure to deliver pledges – made by the Blair government during Britain’s Olympic bid – to encourage

participation in sports.

She said: ‘The bid pledged that two million adults, let alone millions of children, would be inspired be to be active in a commitment to grassroots sports as an Olympic legacy.’

She said most people were ‘as uninspired to be active as ten years ago’.

The NHS recommends moderate exercise for 2.5 hours a week.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

The study suggested those with a degree had only a 12 per cent chance of not exercising enough but adults with no qualifications were three times as likely to be inactive (file picture)

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 37

Join APC now, party chieftain urges PDP members in Adamawa From Umar Dankano, Yola

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he ex officio member National Executive Council of the newly registered All Progressive Congress (APC), Pastor Babachir David Lawal, has said the party is extending a hand of fellowship to anyone who aspires to help in building the nation, including PDP members and its National Chairman.

Lawal made the disclosure at a Press Conference organized by the party after a brainstorming session involving all the stakeholders drawn from the merging political parties in the state saying that already three Committees have been established to oversee the consolidation of the party processes which include Contact and Mobilization Committee, Party Launching Committee and Planning and Strategy Committee.

He said APC has put some mechanism of reformation that will infuse decorum and ensure the prevalence of discipline in any member that comes to its fold, regardless of background, stressing that they can mould all manner of politicians.

Commenting on the to the mass decampment of PDP members into the APC in Adamawa he said all members of PDP are all welcome into our party. “We welcome anyone that comes from the evil party because we know how to exorcise the evil spirit of PDP in them saying that even the National Chairman is welcomed into the fold”.

Lawal said the party is set to wrest power from the PDP come 2015 in view of the massive failure brought about by PDP leadership in the last 14 years of democratization process in the country. “The days of PDP using devide and rule tactics to win elections is over in Nigeria with the registration of our new party”. he dared.

Lawal said the party will soon take over the leadership of the country from the sinking ship of PDP whose reign in governance promotes disunity and impunity in the country.

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state has said that the All Progressive Grand Alliance (APGA), was never part of the alliance that led to the emergence of the now registered All Progressive Congress (APC).

This is coming as he also stressed that there was no need for anybody to resort to legal actions when indeed APGA was never part of the merger.

Al-makura stated this at the weekend on the occasion of the final meeting of the state executives of the defunct Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which saw to the dissolution of the state CPC exco, with both officials and supporters formally

“Since the beginning of democracy in 1999, Nigerians and Adamawa people have not enjoyed any form of development at all.

“People are fed up with the PDP maladministration and mismanagement of Nigerian funds.

The regimes that emerges in Adamawa are those that came to power without any cogent agenda for its people”.

He said that his party is poised to right all the wrongs rooted by the PDP which set the nation on the verge of the precipice promising that his party will ensure the entrenchment of justice, equity, level playing ground, the ability of individuals and groups to meet their aspirations as well as ensuring that internal democracy is rooted in the psyche of party members. “We, the members of the All Progressive Congress Adamawa State, pledge to our people that we will midwife a political party that will practice justice, equity and fairness to all its members.

“We will provide a level playing ground in which all citizens of this state will work to actualize their individual and group political ambitions and ensure the sustenance of a political party that will practice internal democracy and inclusiveness”.

Lawal said the party is ready to accommodate suggestions and constructive critism from members of the public in its strides to build enduring democratic legacies in the country.

He chided the ruling party in Adamawa state calling it a party that lacks focus and sense of direction as a result of which the indigenes never had the opportunity of enjoying democratic dividends like other states such as Kano, Kaduna and Gombe States. “In the history of our great state, today marks the true beginning of our march to recover Dougirei Government House from impostors and political jobbers with no interest in the well being of our great but patient people”.

Lawal said the people are enthusiastic in APC because of the confidence they have in the integrity of its inventors who will no doubt bring development to all nooks and crannies of the country which is responsible for the decay that becomes the hallmark of Adamawa State. “Since the coming of the current PDP administration, they cannot claim tarring up to 50km of road while education, health and general infrastructure have completely collapsed. That is why APC is here to change the destiny of the people for good.”

He called on the people to disregard the cheap propaganda being bundled by the PDP to the effect that APC is a religious based political party. “The PDP has once again come with its cheap propaganda to use religioun to get at us. Now this sentiment will not work, their days are numbered we will never allow them to use divide and rule to rule us again”.

L-R Kaduna State Liaison Officer in Abuja, Alhaji Turaki Mu’azu, in handshake with President Goodluck Jonathan during a courtesy visit to the State House on Thursday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Anambra PDP Primary: I don’t subscribe to consensus arrangement, says aspirant

By Lawrence Olaoye

A

n aspirant to the governorship slot in the forthcoming November 16th Anambra governorship polls, Sylvester Okonkwo, has kicked against the proposed consensus arrangement for candidates on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) in the state.

Okonkwo who spoke to newsmen when he came to the PDP Abuja headquarters to obtain an Expression of Interest Form at the weekend insisted that such arrangement runs counter to true mocratize practice.

He said ``I am not and will never be a student of consensus. I will want to have a consensus after the election and a winner emerged and we say let us have unity government. ``The 21th century of selection of leaders of the people is through exercise of the people`s free will and that is the one I submit to as a democrat.’’ Okonkwo said.

Commenting on his program if elected, Sylvester assured that he would restore the state’s lost glory.

He said that though incumbent governor had done his best for the state, a lot still needed to be done in Anambra being the premier state in the country.

He said that Anambra used to be the best in education, religion and in economy in the country, a situation he said he would revive if elected as governor of the state. ``The only way to return the state to its past glory is to have a focus and people oriented government. ``I do know that I have the consummate experience and capacity to take Anambra to the new level and back to its lost glory.

I made the decision to become the state governor conscious of the fact that there is so much to be done and I can do it and do it better.

APGA not part of APC merger, says Al-makura joining the APC. According to Al-makura, the controversy generated after the successful registration of APC by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), when leaders of APGA threatened legal action against APC for its alleged inclusion as part of the merger, was needless, as APGA was never part of the merger.

“Only the officials of APGA are not part of the merger but majority of the party’s supporters are with us in this journey to liberate our people and entrench a viable democracy”, Almakura told listeners at the meeting.

While expressing his appreciation to the former CPC exco in the state

and the mass of supporters, whom he said, even without a structure, “not even a single councilor”, but were able to trounce a sitting government and to show the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) led administration of former governor Aliyu Akwe Doma the way out in the 2011 general election, Almakura, urged supporters of APC to go about with all sense of pride, as according to him, “a panacea to mismanagement and waste of resources have been given birth to with the coming of the APC.” He described the coming of the APC as a new dawn in the country’s democratic experience, stressing that the era of flagrant abuse, corruption

and all similar negative tendencies that have bedeviled the growth and development of Nigeria, “will now be swept away” in order to usher in a new era of social justice, fairness, prudence and accountability.

“As we all move to embrace our new party, the APC, I want to assure you that all the qualities of our former party, the CPC, have been enshrined into the creed of the APC. So, there is nothing different, rather, the APC will provide a platform for all the progressives to come together and salvage our country from the shackles of corruption and bad leadership”, Al-makura stated.

Earlier in an opening remark, outgoing state chairman of the CPC,

Alhaji Hamidu Haruna, lauded the governor for his developmental strides, saying he has not disappointed the people when he promised to deliver while seeking to become governor.

He charged the governor not to relent in his effort to bring development to the people of the state.

At a short ceremony after the meeting, when the governor performed the symbolic lowering of the CPC flag and hoisting that of the APC’s, signaling the demise of the CPC that brought him into power, Al-makura, described the act as that of raising the status of the sovereignty of Nigeria, as well as salvaging the people from the misrule of many years.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Politics

Suntai tipped successor from Taraba South- Sen. Bwacha Senator Emmanuel Beacha, who represents the Southern Senatorial constituency in the Senate and also the Chairman of the Senate Committee on agriculture and natural resources, in this interview with our Correspondent, Ayodele Samuel, in Lagos, discloses that the ailing governor of Taraba state, Danbaba Suntai, had conceded the governorship to his Senatorial District in2015 amongst other issues. Excerpts:

W

hy, in your opinion will the Acting Governor of Taraba state sack some officials including the Secretary to the State Government SSG and other loyalist of ailing Governor Danbaba Suntai?

Mind you I stay in Abuja, I am not a Jalingo person; and Jalingo does not fall into my territorial district. Be that as it may, this is a statewide matter, and I think some of my constituents are actually involved. Well, we know that the Acting Governor has sacked the commissioners; there are many insinuation and rumours, but we are waiting to see the processes of their being replaced because Taraba is a very complex state. Like I told you, there have been many rumours.

If you talk about Suntai loyalist, I don’t know what you mean, because the acting governor himself should be considered a Suntai man.

Because he was not around during the election. So he is a Suntai man; Governor Suntai went and brought him; most of us don’t actually know him. As a matter of fact, I have never met him since my 22 years in active politics in the state. Now for you to say Suntai loyalists, because if you bring somebody who is not your man you can’t cultivate the land and call somebody to come and eat with you when the person is not your man. So I don’t think that assertion is correct, the acting governor is also a Suntai loyalist.

You are perceived to be a loyalist of the ailing governor and not supporting the Acting Governor in becoming the substantive governor, is hat correct? Is the acting governor aspiring to be a substantive governor if I may ask?

Well I don’t know about that but if he is, that should be wrong because the governor is alive and kicking well.

I remember we have a similar experience in this country. The late President (Umaru) Yar’Adua, Acting President Goodluck never became substantive President until Yar adua was pronounced dead.

So, don’t quickly forget that one and make no mistake about it that precedence has been set.

And again, there has been no clear definition of what time an acting governor can act. So, he has all the latitudes to act as an executive governor; nobody stops him from awarding contracts; nobody stops him from sacking and

appointing commissioners; nobody stops him from doing anything that a substantive governor should do.

So, I don’t think there is a quest or a cry for a substantive governor except if he tells you there is; that is his mindset. Then, some of us can now speak. But, as he stands today, he has not told us that he is trying to become the governor. He may be doing this, I don’t know; I don’t want to insinuate. But, as far as we are concerned, the governor is coming back very soon. That I can tell you authoritatively.

What is your relationship with the Acting Governor?

He is the acting governor of my state and I am the serving Senator representing Taraba South; and among the three senators, I am the only senator that is friendly with the state governor, his government and his boss, the ailing governor.

Some political stakeholders from Southern Taraba, under the name Southern Taraba Peoples Congress, led by one Daniel Likam are calling for your recall from the Senate, what in your opinion informed this?

I had dismissed this question as one I should not reply because I would be dignifying some people with the response. I am not known to be a person who responds to ranting ants but the truth about it is that the so called stakeholders and a former Minister of State under Obasanjo Government, Salome by name; remember she contested election with me in the PDP, she lost; she didn’t only loose, she came last.

She decamped to the CPC to contest again with me to come to the Senate.

There again,she lost. Not only losing, as a matter of fact, she came last.

The leader of the so-called stakeholders; I was told he is known to be a thug. He was working with the ACN candidate that I defeated.

Now, placing these two people to where they belong, which vote are they going to recall.? can you go and

withdraw the money you did not keep in the bank?

People who voted for you are endowed with right to recall, which votes are they going to recall? But,I am deeply concerned why people should even be distracted by these kind of persons who neither voted for me nor the PDP. So, how do you recall? If it were her wish, I wouldn’thave won the election in the first place. So why did you think if she calls for a recall it would disturb me?

People who will call for my recall and I would be disturbed are the people who elected me and I know them.

When they talk, I would act and then I would go home and call for town hall meetings to know the problems.

One allegation levelled against you is that you hardly visit your senatorial district since your election I am the first Senator in the history of the Southern Senatorial District that organizes town hall meetings regularly until the governor had this crash and, secondly, no public elected officer elected from my own zone can claim that what he has on ground is better than what I have provided for the people. These facts speak for themselves; let the person come out and speak out.

Those calling for recall only want a situation where I should speak and talk about them. That is why I don’t like to reply them because I would be dignifying and glorifying them with my response. These are people who don’t deserve reply when they talk because they don’t have the electoral value to distract me.

What are your plans for 2015, some say you have been anointed by Governor Suntai to take over from him?

First and foremost, people appear to have lost touch with the position of the world. Now, everybody appears to be focused in what he is going to be in 2015; people are not believing that the world has come face to face with the reality; the world is in a rapture mood; people don’t know and that calls for a deap concern; we

“

Now, you would be insulting me if you think am not qualified to be a governor. Again, I am experienced enough by the history of my state to know that governors emerge by divine arrangement; not by the might of the candidate, not by the wealth they have, not by their connections

Senator Emmanuel Beacha should not only focus on 2015.

In politics, am aware that the ailing governor has agreed that the governor would come from my zone, Southern Taraba. He has told me, he has told the world, he has told several other politicians from my zone but he has never told us who he wants to succeed him from the south.

I have made this clear times without number.

Also when they say they are doing this to distract me, I am not surprised because some of them, sometimes when you think differently when you are being focused, somebody tries to distract you. I have well over two decades of experience in practical politics. Now if you say do I have gubernatorial ambition?

In developed democracy, I would have told you that I wished I was the President of Nigeria; because in developed democracy, like the United States, even in Europe, you find that President are being sourced from the countries parliament, particularly the Senate. Now, you would be insulting me if you think am not qualified to be a governor. Again, I am experienced enough by the history of my state to know that governors emerge by divine arrangement; not by the might of the candidate, not by the wealth they have, not by their connections. Our state governors emergence are largely attributable to divine direction. From Governor Jolly Nyame who came from nowhere and just emerged as the governor; even Suntai was not the candidate that the then sitting governor wanted and I think Suntai is also well experienced enough not to tell anybody that any candidate that he want is automatically going to be the governor. He has said it, is God who would decide who is going to be the next governor of the state and I am aware of that as the truth, so I don’t know why people are being mischievous and are being hyper active about trying to distract me .

Internal crisis in the state PDP? Well if you want to know that, we replied them and that is actually what gave rise to our being in court

with Senator Aisha (Alhassan).

When the congress was conducted, they decided on their own to stay away; all of us were there- myself and the other five members of the House of Representatives. So, it is not possible for two people, out of nine, to say that a congress that was held was not held. So, to me, it is sounding very strange. The congress was held and the former party chairman who vacated office also made public speech, endorsed the congress probably out of naivety and hypocrisy that is inherent in Nigerian politics or in the third world politics. The chairman that left office also turned around and said that there was no congress. So, I am not surprised because it is very typical of losers in Nigerian politics.

What is the chance of PDP in the state looking at the coming together of opposition to form the APC? Parties are like huts in the farm land. When there is sunshine or rainfall, to ensure you don’t fall victim of the effect, you remain under the umbrella. If PDP allows a hole in the umbrella, when you create a hole in the umbrella and when the rain is falling nobody would like to stay under the umbrella but if the umbrella of the PDP remains as we know it to be, I am a foundation member of the PDP, by the way, I was the State Secretary General of the Peoples Democratic Movement PDM (Yar’adua political machine that gave birth and was the principal partner in the coalition that formed the PDP, in my own state). We were actually the dominant group that formed the PDP and I was the secretary of the state chapter.

So, if the umbrella is like how we formed it from day one, we have never known any opposition party in the state, but if somebody else has decided to create a hole in the umbrella, then you never can tell because like I told you nobody would like to stay were rain would be falling on his head; you would naturally run outside to seek for where you can stay and rain would not fall on you.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 39

News Extra Briefs

Lagos House probes film piracy

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agos State House of Assembly joint Committee on Judiciary, Human Rights and Public Petitions and Transportation, Commerce and Industry have commenced investigation into a petition written by the Yoruba Video Films Producers and Marketers Association of Nigeria over act of piracy in Ojo, Alaba international market.

At the inaugural meeting, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade directed all stakeholders at the meeting to forward documents that would assist the committee do a thorough investigation.

According to him, the state House of Assembly would ensure that justice is done, urging the stakeholders to provide necessary information on the people indulging in film piracy in the state.

From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

Boko Haram: Group wants FG to spread searchlight From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

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he Federal Government had been advised to deploy its security apparatus and intelligence network to look beyond the borders of the country in its fight against the Boko Haram insurgency.

The President of Joint Faith Peace Initiative Ambassador Liberty Okon made this assertion during breaking of Ramadan fast with Muslims community in Kaduna

yesterday.

Pointing at the sophistication of weapons and expertise with which the insurgency link and executes their operation, the group said there must be international collaborators.

Amb. Okon while commending the recent efforts of the federal government towards bringing an end to the insurgency said the efforts will not yield the deserve result unless the borders of the country are combed by the security agencies to ensure that

foreigners did not take advantage of the current security challenges in the country.

In his remarks, Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Murkthar Ramalan Yero said Nigeria has overcome the era of religion intolerance or crisis saying that the two major religions in the country preach peace. “Islam and Christianity do not encourage wanton destruction of lives and properties and whosoever preach violence in the name of Islam or

Christianity does not know the dictates of the two religions.

“The perpetrators or advocates of religious crisis are nothing but sadists who take delight in seeing others suffer as they are neither Muslims nor Christians,” he pointed out.

However, the Head of National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Kaduna, Mr. Elisha Sabo, said the breaking of the fast is a move to show that there is but little difference between Muslims and Christians.

Jos varsity gets N1.7m books donation

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s its own share of supporting University of Jos to recover from the recent fire disaster that engulfed the University main library, the Progressive Educational Services Limited, Kaduna has donated various current books worth N1.7million to the Institution.

Speaking while presenting the books, the Managing Director of Progressive Educational Services Limited, Mr. Moses Jikka McDaniel said the books cover academy fields such as Engineering, Agriculture, Public Administration and Islamic Studies among others.

Mr. Jikka who is the President of Nasarawa state Youth Forum, Kaduna chapter, said the donation was part of the company’s social responsibility towards enhancing reading culture in the society.

From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

NGO distributes cars, motorcycles to women in Kaduna

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Non-Governmental Organization, Annasar Victory Foundation of Nigeria, has distributed cars, motorcycles and sewing machines to women and youth in Kaduna.

According to the group, the gesture was part of its poverty alleviation programme.

Speaking during the distribution ceremony held at Women Multipurpose Center, Kaduna, Executive Chairman of the Group, Alhaji Ahmad Inuwa said the group came to be in the year 2007 with the aim of providing assistance to less privilege in the society.

According to him, from 2007 to date, millions of naira has been spent in providing sucour to the class of people.

From Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna

R-L: Kano state Governor, Engr. Rabi’u Musa Kwankwaso and Former governor of Kaduna state, Senator Ahmed Mohammed Makarfi, at Kano Governor’s Lodge, Aminu Kano House, Asokoro, at weekend in Abuja.

Nigeria will not break, says cleric From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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rophet Paul John Paul of Assemblies of Giant, Abuja has debunked foreign analysts prophecy that Nigeria would split before 2015.

The Cleric noted that the prediction is wrong yesterday in Ilorin during the thanksgiving

ceremony of Flight Sergeant (Rev.) Tanko B. Barnabas, who had just returned from a United Nation (UN) peace keeping in Mali.

The cleric in an interview with journalists said the foreign analysts are not the maker of heaven and earth and it would be very wrong of them to predict

that Nigeria will break because of crisis.

“Nigeria would not split, that is wrong prophecy. “They are not the maker of heaven and earth.

“If you are Muslims or Christians, serve your God very well and things will be okay again for this nation,” he advised.

Addressing issue of corruption

and 2015 general election, Prophet Paul warned negative Politicians that they would be wiped off before the election time if they did not repent.

He said, “2015 will be a year of prospect for Nigerians because God is about to wipe off all the negative politicians and bring stability in Nigeria.”

How to fast-track rural development by Commissioner From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

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agos state government has urged traditional rulers, community leaders and opinion leaders in rural and riverine communities to encourage their graduate and professional children take up employment in their communities in order to fasttrack rural development.

The Commissioner for Rural Development, Mr. Cornelius Ojelabi made this plea during his project inspection and assessment tour of year 2013 and proposed 2014 projects at Oriba, a riverine community in Epe local government.

Ojelabi stated that if graduates/professionals from the communities stayed behind and worked in their communities, they would be more dedicated and committed to duty than people from outside the areas, who might find it difficult to settle down and subsequently abandon their duty posts, especially in teaching and medical professions.

He assured the people of the community that the state government through its ministry is determined to reduce rural urban drift and therefore would do everything within its limited resources to provide basic infrastructure in the rural/riverine

communities.

While promising that the government would provide a palliative rural road in the area to facilitate movement of farm produce to the upland, he assured them that the ministry will also interface with their Community Development Association (CDA) to ensure that their requests get government attention.

Earlier, the Chairman of the CDA, Mr. Waheed Bello and the Baale of Oriba Alhaji Nurudeen Olowolayemo solicited support from the ministry in the construction of a road to link the community with the upland because of the difficulty in

transporting their farm produce to the market, a development they said was adversely affecting their means of livelihood, since they are mostly farmers and fishermen.

They urged the commissioner to assist in getting the relevant agency of the government to provide medical staff in the completed but abandoned primary health centre in the area due to lack of personnel.

The Baale who conducted the Commissioner round the project complained that the medical facilities are rotting away, adding that the non-availability of workers in the health centre is having a toll on the health of the people.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 40

Leisure

I

Some Interesting Facts

n 1681, the last dodo bird died.

•In 1976, a Los Angeles secretary formally married her 50-pound pet rock.

•In 1977, a 13-year-old boy discovered a tooth growing on his left foot.

•In 1980, a Las Vegas hospital suspended workers for betting on when patients would die.

•In 1980, the Yellow Pages accidentally listed a Texas funeral home under frozen foods.

•In 1980, there was only one country in the world with no telephones - Bhutan.

•In 1983, a Japanese artist made a copy of the Mona Lisa completely out of toast.

•In 1984, a Canadian farmer began renting ad space on his cows.

•In 1984, a New Jersey man opened a summer camp for Cabbage Patch dolls.

•In 1987, a 1,400-year-old lump of still-edible cheese was unearthed in Ireland.

•In Casablanca, Humphrey Bogart never said “Play it again, Sam.” •In every episode of Seinfeld there is a Superman somewhere.

•In high school, Robin Williams was voted “Least Likely to Succeed.”

•In Kentucky, 50% of the people who get married for the first time are teenagers.

•In Los Angeles, there are fewer people than there are automobiles.

•In the 1940s, the FCC assigned television’s Channel 1 to mobile services (two-way radios in taxicabs, for instance) but did not re-number the other channel assignments. That is why your TV set has channels 2 and up, but no channel 1.

•In the Caribbean there are oysters that can climb trees.

•In the early ‘80s, a toad was discovered that meows instead of croaking.

•In the great fire of London in 1666 half of London was burnt down but only 6 people were

injured •In the last 4000 years, no new animals have been domesticated.

•Intelligent people have more zinc and copper in their hair.

•Isaac Asimov is the only author to have a book in every Dewey-decimal category.

Say what?

SUDODKU PHOTO OF THE DAY

A lad, Arion holds up a super rare six-legged octopus — just before his dad bashed it to death and served it up for tea.

Source: TheSun.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 41

Moses, Nsofor desperate for Bafana bite

Moses

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he build up to the August 14 Mandela Challenge prestige clash between the Super Eagles of Nigeria and South Africa’s BafanaBafana has started to reach the real actors of the game, with Chelsea of England’s Victor Moses, declaring that he has missed his colleagues in the national team and cannot wait for the Mandale Challenge to reunite with them.

Super Eagles Scribe DayoEnebiAchor, was quoted by Media Officer, Ben Alaiya, as saying that Moses was the first player to put a call though to the team to say

Stories by Albert Akota he President of the Nigeria Cricket Federation (NCF), EmekaOnyeama, has said that the success achieved by the team in London has showed that football, athletics and wrestling cannot be the only thriving sports in the country.

Onyeamawho disclosed this over the weekend when the victorious team visited minister of sports MallamBolajiAbdullahi at his office in Abuja said that the preparations and support got from the National Sports Commission were responsible for the success.

The Nigeria’s team qualified into Division 5 of the ICC World Cricket League in London,

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The victorious boys

he will be available for the game and will be among the first player to arrive South Africa for the game.

In consonance with renewed interest by the national team stars for the game, ObinnaNsofor, has been making desperate enquiries about his return to the national team and has also promised to be

early for the game in South Africa’s warmest city of Durban.

Other players who have been making concerted enquiries about the friendly so far include power playing Lazio of Italy midfield ace, OgenyiOnazi, wing wizard Ahmed Musa and slow poison striker Brown Aide Ideye.Arrival for all

the players according to the NFF remains, Sunday, August 11 in South Africa for the game scheduled for Wednesday, August 14.

Similarly, the NFF leadership through the Secretary General, Barr Musa Amadu, has reacted quickly to an initial position of Russian side, Spartak Moscow,

that it will not release CAN 2013 goleador Emmanuel Emenike for the Mandela challenge.

“The NFF will not accept any of such claims that it’s not a FIFA free window, because it is and as I speak with you the NFF Scribe has also made his position known to Spartak”, team sources declared.

FCT Queens will soon be paid, says chairperson

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he Chairperson, Nigeria Women Football League (NWFL), Dilichukwu Onyedinma yesterday assured that players of the FCT Queens FC of Abuja would soon be paid their 18 months outstanding salaries.

Onyedinmawho make this known in Abuja, said that the salaries have been approved and would be paid as soon as the process for the release of the funds was completed.

“The FCT Administration is preparing their money because the government has approved the payment and they will be paid any moment from now, once the process is over,’’ she said.

Onyedinma, however, added she would not know how long it would take before the payment would be effected.

“I don’t know how long it will take before it is paid, but I have done my part of interceding on

their behalf.

“I am neither an accountant nor an auditor, mine is just an administrative work and in the civil service, you have your schedule of duty, you do your part and leave others to do their part.

“I have finished my part which is coordinating the matches and making sure that everything went well, as far as the matches are concerned and ensuring that players are given what they deserve.

Football can’t dominate Nigeria sports, says NCF according to Onyeama, the country’s qualification for division 5 league had boosted the federation’s chance of getting credible sponsors for the sport.

“Cricket is the second largest game today in the world in terms of money, before, in the history of Nigeria when we used to go to the national sports festival, every other game is at par,now you will see more people watching football than those watching other games.

“So, it is part of what we are trying

to enact; we are trying to bring back that scenario where more people will know about cricket, we are now a cricket playing nation,’’ Onyeama said.

Meanwhile the minister of sports and chairman National Sports Commission (NSC) MallamBolajiAbdullahi said the sports sector has been vindicated by the performance of the country’s cricket team at the just-concluded International Cricket Council (ICC) World Division 6 League.

He said the unprecedented feat achieved by the team came as a surprise to many sports lovers in the country.

According to him, the successes recorded in sports so far can be attributed to the preference given to professionalism in the management of sports in the country.

“What we get now is what happens when you allow the right people to take charge of the management of sports administration.

“I am particularly delighted in what is happening in the cricket federation that wasn’t happening in the past two months of the inauguration of the sports federation.

“I must say this because your achievement this time has gone on to vindicate our desire to encourage all the sports and to ensure that all the federations are functioning.

“To see that you are African champions ahead of countries traditionally associated with cricket like South Africa, Kenya and Zimbabwe makes your achievement very commendable, I was surprise to see Nigerian young men playing cricket because it is one game I didn’t know we are so good in.

Abdullahi added that the successes recorded by some sporting federations within a short period of time would go a long way to show that Nigerian sports were transforming rapidly.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the Nigerian team was second to hosts Jersey at the end of the Division 6 league that took place from July 21st to July 28th, winning four out of five games.

The team defeated Vanuatu, Kuwait, Bahrain and Argentina but lost to Jersey.

“So, the other side of the payment issue is now on other people’s tables and we are thinking that before long, they will pay them,’’ Onyedinma said.

The chairperson, however, promised that the players would not be paid in part, but full payment.

“Their salary payment will be in full because we will never allow payment of part or half salaries,’’ she said.

NFF warns state FAs, nationwide clubs

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he Nigeria Football Federation at the weekend issued stern warning to clubs in the Nigeria Nationwide League and host State Football Associations to be upright as the final matches of the season in the Divisions 1B and 1D are played on Tuesday, 6th August.

NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr. Mohammed Sanusi said any club or host State FA found to be involved in any hanky-panky would be visited with severe sanctions.

“It is important that the clubs take a cue from what has happened to those four clubs involved in scandalous scorelines.

The NFF will not hesitate to deal severely with any club found to be involved in dirty compromise or inducement, or any other silly game for that matter, and the host State FA will not be spared.”

In Tuesday’s final matches of the season in the aforementioned divisions, Atiba United square up against J. Atete in Oyo town, while AjirobaOoni and Go Round FC light up Ile-Ife. Canaan City host FC Inter and Court of Appeal take on Rhapsody in Lokoja.

Dallatu FC is away to Boro United in Kaduna while Bida Lions are home to FC Lokoja and Meridian Airline and Sardauna Kano tackle themselvesin Kano.

Lobi Jnr. Stars are up against Nigeria Prisons FC in Makurdi.

“All State FAs and clubs involved in these matches are warned to abide strictly by the rules and regulations guiding association football.

The Secretariat will sanction any misdemeanour by any club while concerned State FAs will not be spared,” Sanusi added.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Sports

Team Delta wins National Weightlifting competition Stories by Albert Akota

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eam Delta has emerged the overall champions of the week-long National Youth Junior and Senior Weightlifting championships which ended over the weeken in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.

Delta won a total of 49 medals comprising 26 golds, 16 silvers and 7 bronze, to emerge the overall champions.

Plateau was second with 30 medals comprising, 24 golds, 4 silvers and 2 bronzes, while Edo was third with 31 medals

DG NSC, Elegbeleye

comprising 17 gold, 5 silver and 9 bronze.

Coach Emmanuel Oshoma of Team Delta said after the championships that his team prepared well for the competition, adding that the victory was welldeserved.

Oshoma then called on the National Sports Commission (NSC) to support the championships, to enhance the participation of athletes in the sport.

Tochukwu Ejimuno, a Team Delta athlete, also said that the major problem with the sport was lack of encouragement from the NSC and the various state governments.

Speaking at the closing ceremony, the NSC’s DirectorGeneral, Gbenga Elegbeleye, said that weightlifting was dear to the country and enabled it to win many medals in international competitions.

Elegbeleye pledged that the NSC would continue to support the activities of the Nigeria Weightlifting Federation, organisers of the championships, to motivate the athletes.

Chibudom Nwuche, president of the federation, who sponsored the competition, promised to continue to sponsor the championship annually.

A total 19 states and the Police Team took part in the week-long competition which started on July 29.

NPLF confirms Golden Olympian deed

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he Nigeria Power Lifting Federation (NPLF) over the weekend confirmed the death of Joy Onaolapo, who won gold in the 52kg powerlifting category at the London 2012 Paralympics.

The Head Coach of the federation, Are Feyisetan, said in Lagos that Onaolapo’s death was made known to the federation on July 26.

Feyisetan said that the federation had yet to be fully briefed on the cause of the death of the athlete, who was with the Edo State Sport Council.

“What we know so far is that Onaolapo, married with two children, died last week in her home state, Edo,’’ Feyisetan said, adding that the federation was trying to contact her family through the state sports council for burial plans.

Kwara Utd player hospitalised

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wara United striker, Segun Alebiosu has been hospitalized over the weekend’s 0-0 draw against Sharks at the Kwara State Stadium.

Alebiosu was introduced as a second half substitute but had to be stretchered off about five minutes after his introduction following a challenge from Sharks’ Gabriel Olalekan.

The player was immediately

taken to the General Hospital, Ilorin where he spent the night under supervision of the medics.

Head coach of Kwara United, Samson Unuanel who confirmed the incident to newsmen, expressed unhappiness at the failure of the referee to “deal with the situation” during the feisty encounter.

“In my opinion, the referee did not deal with the situation because the Sharks defender deserved a straight red card (for the tackle). Instead, he

was allowed to go scot free without receiving even a yellow card,” Unuanel said.

Unuanel then took the time to discuss Alebiosu’s condition as he expressed hope the attacker will soon be back on his feet.

“He spent the night in hospital and I want to pray this is not too serious.

“I spoketo the club doctor yesterday to ascertain his present condition and I want to believe all will be well, “he said.

Team Nigeria hit Russia tomorrow

Okagbare

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igeria’s team for the World Championships will travel out today to Moscow, Russia for the event which runs from August 10th to18th this month.

The team will compete in mostly sprints and relays elected at the Cross River/All Nigeria Championships in June are being expected in Lagos over the weekend from their different abodes as plans by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria.

“We are only going to Russia to do our best. Our athletes have prepared on their own and I am sure we can get one or two medals,” said a member of the AFN. Okagbare raised the hope of AFN officials last week when she ran a personal best of 10.79 seconds in the women’s 100m.

If she can reproduce this performance, she could be on the medal’s podium in Russia. She is also expected to anchor the women’s 4x100m relay.

Other notable athletes in the team are Ajoke Odumosu, Gloria Asumnu as well as Regina George who is seeking to establish herself in the world after winning the African championships last year in Benin Republic.

Others include Ogho-Oghene Egwero, Noah Akwu and new comer Leoman Momoh who will run in the 800m men.

3SC to lift Salami’s sanction this week

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Onaolapo

lo Premier League, 3SC could this week lift the sanction placed on their striker, Gbolahan Salami.

A club official disclosed that the Ibadan outfit is expected to review the punishment meted out to the player after he was declared absent without leave on July 30.

“The club management is going to review the punishment of Gbolahan Salami this week as the team is expected to return to Ibadan on Tuesday after their league game at Lobi Stars on Sunday,” the 3SC official said.

Salami has made a visit to the office of 3SC based in Jericho area of Ibadan last Thursday to explain why he was unavailable for two days.

However, the coaches were said to have felt it was unnecessary to make his absence formal since he asked for an excuse. But the shock visit of the Oyo State sports commissioner, Dapo Lam Adesina to watch the team’s training last week led to the discovery of Salami’s absent.

Last Wednesday, the 3SC management issued a statement declaring the former Enyimba man missing from their camp for “two days without official permission.”

Salami could have the punishment of his salary being slashed to half from the month of July upturned after the review.

The striker has scored five league goals for the Oluyole

(M) Gbolahan Salami

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 43

Dempsey signs for Seattle Sounders Lugano

Sports

joins West Brom Gareth Bale

Bale bids teammates goodbye

Diego Lugano

P Dempsey

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lint Dempsey has left Tottenham to join Seattle Sounders in his native United States.

Dempsey, 30, only joined Andre Villas-Boas’s side last summer in a £6m move from Fulham and is believed to have departed for a

similar price.

Spurs have agreed a deal to sign striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia, which is likely to have restricted Dempsey’s first-team chances.

He played 43 times for the White Hart Lane club, scoring 12 goals.

Dempsey, who has 99 caps, left New England Revolution in his homeland to join Fulham in January 2007.

He scored 50 goals in 184 league appearances for the Cottagers before Spurs beat Liverpool and Aston Villa to his signature.

Irwin backs Ronaldo’s M United return anchester United legend Denis Irwin believes Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could make a return to Old Trafford this summer, although he suspects the signing of Barcelona midfielder Cesc Fabregas remains manager David Moyes’ main priority. Cristiano Ronaldo Ronaldo has long been linked with a move back to United, and the speculation has only mounted with Madrid determined to sign Gareth Bale from Tottenham.

United ambassador Irwin has questioned whether the Spanish club can accommodate both players on their wage bill something he feels could work in the Red Devils’ favour.

Ronaldo

Gervinho in Italy for Roma medical

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rsenal forward Gervinho is reportedly on the verge of completing a £6.9 million move to Roma after arriving in Italy yesterday for a medical with the Serie A club.

The 26-year-old, who signed for the Gunners from Lille in 2011 for £11 million, has been linked with an exit from the Emirates all summer.

And manager Arsene Wenger revealed on Saturday that Arsenal are “close to an agreement with a club where he [Gervinho] should go”.

That club now appears to be Roma after the Ivory Coast international was photographed arriving at Rome’s Fiumicino Airport on Sunday morning.

“Of course it could happen, but I believe the speculation may be sparked by the ever-clearer

indications that Gareth Bale is on the way from Spurs to Real Madrid.

Redknapp wants Barton to stay at QPR

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PR manager Harry Redknapp wants to keep Joey Barton at the club and has praised the midfielder’s attitude.

The 30-year-old, who spent last season on loan at Marseille, played 79 minutes in QPR’s 2-1 Championship victory against Sheffield Wednesday.

Redknapp added: “I had never worked with him before, but he has come in and trained hard every day and showed a lot of quality in training.

Barton has been linked with a return to France or a move to Premier League side Everton, although Redknapp does not expect Barton, who grew up in Merseyside, to return to his hometown.

aris St Germain’s Uruguay centre back Diego Lugano has joined English Premier League side West Bromwich Albion, the two clubs said.

British media said the fee was one million pounds ($1.53 million) for the 32-year-old, who has 85 caps and helped Uruguay win the 2011 Copa America.

He had spent the last six months on loan at Malaga after failing to make an impact at PSG where he played only 12 league games in 18 months after joining from Fenerbahce in 2011.

Lugano is Uruguay’s secondhighest capped player and has captained his country 77 times more than any other player.

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ottenham take on Monaco over the weekend without Gareth Bale, who misses the pre-season friendly in the Principality through injury ahead of a likely defining week for his forecast world record transfer to Real Madrid.

The Wales superstar bid “an emotional farewell” to his teammates in London on Friday, autographing their shirts before they left for Monte Carlo, according to a report in The Sun. The Spurs forward sits out Saturday evening’s match, and may also miss Wales’ friendly against Ireland in Cardiff on August 14, with a minor hamstring problem.

The 24-year-old is set to become the most expensive player of all time, an honour currently held by Cristiano Ronaldo, who moved from Manchester United to Real for €94 million in 2009.

Andrade eyes Premier League

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antos starlet Victor Andrade has set his sights on the Premier League with the young striker hoping to mimic the career of his godfather, former Manchester City striker Robinho.

The 18-year-old Andrade has just witnessed his former teammate, Neymar, move to Europe in a €57 million move to Spanish champions Barcelona.

And with the World Cup in his home country next year, Andrade said it was time to joining the growing Brazilian contingent in England.

“And many Brazilian players have done well when they have played in England. Players like David Luiz and Oscar at Chelsea and now Paulinho has gone to Tottenham to play alongside Sandro.

“It is a very exciting prospect for me. My dream is to play for Brazil in the World Cup and I

Andrade believe that moving to Europe will help me because it will help my all-round game.

Man Utd turn to Schweinsteiger, if Fabregas bid fails

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club-record offer of £35million and £5m in add-ons is being lined up for the Barcelona midfielder, with Schweinsteiger a back-up Manchester United will set their sights on Bayern Munich star Bastian Schweinsteiger if a third bid for Barcelona’s Cesc Fabregas fails this week.

The Premier League ¬champions have become aware of whispers in Germany that Schweinsteiger may not fit into Pep Guardiola’s new Bavarian blueprint.

And with United ¬looking for top-class midfield alternatives should a final -attempt to prise Fabregas away from the Nou Camp be unsuccessful, the 29-year-old German would fit the bill perfectly.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Sports

No states have taken sport to grassroots like FCT, says Director of Sports The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Director of Sports, Alhaji Muhammad Alim says no state in Nigeria has taken sports to grassroots level the way FCT administration has done under the leadership of Senator Bala Mohammed. In this interview with Albert Akota, he also discloses that the territory has so far recorded tremendous achievements even in spite of the little available resources, among other issues. Excerpts: Sports development in FCT e have record of positive achievements under the present FCT Administration, whether it was during the recently-concluded National Sports Festival, held towards the end of 2012 in Lagos, whereby the FCT team placed 12th, out of the 37th participants, with a total of 7 Gold, 12 Silver and 10 Bronze medals.

That single achievement, which was the first and best of its type since the territory joined national competitions, particularly the National Festival in 1987, portray the appreciable level of sports development in the FCT under the present administration; and the FCT athletes were said to be the most youthful out of all the other participants. The performances placed the territory 1st among all the 19 states in the North.

If you look at the sports level in the FCT, within the context of Nigeria, from the National Sports Commission and other states, you would find out that what they are doing is not different for what FCT is doing. But let me tell you, it is only in Nigeria that you seen government owing a club.

However, the Bala Mohammed-led administration is doing something very unique in sporting activities, as I talk to you now, works are on-going at the six Area Councils, if you think I am saying the contrary, go and visit Bwari, Kuje, Gwagwalada, Abaji, Kwari area councils or the FCT sports centres; you will see yourself the on-going projects and the completed ones.

Some people, who did not even visit these centres are criticising the administration for not doing anything. I expect those that are criticising us to go round the six local government area councils of Abuja, to see the sporting facilities we built as well as the on-going projects.

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FCT athletes in training

Musa Alim, FCT Sports Director People are judging us from wrong perspective; for one to judge us, let them first go and check the entire facilities rather than to just outrightly condemn us.

I can tell you categorically, that every national tournament hardly do you see 9 states participating without FCT because this administration is doing everything possible to ensure FCT are not left out.

Sporting infrastructures are on-going in all the six two wards in FCT; even though ordinarily, you don’t expect first class infrastructure at the ward levels but we are doing this to encourage our prospects players.

We will not relent in our effort to developing sports in FCT because sport is about life, we want people to see it and appreciate it. The only way forward is to leave all the criticism and reach out to people in the territory that is our goal and by the grace of God we are going to achieve it Training

In sports, we have two seasons either you are competing or you are training. Sports is not all about competition, it is also about training your materials; if you are off-season then you start training your athletes if they are to do the country proud.

Since I came here, we have never in anyway attempt to import athlete from other states to compete for FCT; we prepare our athletes locally, If those who think we are not doing what they want because they think only FCT centre is Abuja are wrong, FCT comprises six wards that need full attention for sporting facilities.

We also sent sporting equipments to the six wards of the FCT. We also have a central of competition called ‘Athletes of Hope’.

This is not limited to Under-13 alone; the same is done for the First Lady’s competition, the newly-introduced championship, just as we have the Under-17 Minister’s Cup targeted at secondary schools; there is also

the First Lady’s female football competition among the girls in the secondary schools.

Grassroots sports competition We organise different sports competitions for the six area councils yearly. Between 2010 and today we have introduced over 10 sports-related programmes, from the U-13 football competition, to the primary school football competition, which I started in 1987, when I served as a secretary under the former Minister of Sports. The Nigeria Football Association (NFA) gave us a trophy; it is still maintained till date.

We organize competition for the six wards as well as buying sporting kits for the teams that qualified from each of the wards.

We gave them money to organize the ward competitions so that the competitions will attract spectators.

“How many states in Nigeria are taking sports programme to wards like we have done? “he asked. “Let me give you run down; in 2004, we hosted national sport festival, we registered 624 athletes and were placed 14th at the medals table. During the 15th National Sports Festival in Abeokuta we went with 580 athletes and scored 15th. At the16th National Sports Festival in Kaduna we went with 500, and came 15th; at the 17th National Sports Festival in Port Harcourt 198 we came 14th at the last national sport festival in Lagos 148 we came 12th.

“But again, the question to me is: what parameter do they use to judge our performances?

In Lagos, during the National Sports Festival, our athletes were the best kited compared with other athletes in the competition; they had track shoes, they had traditional wears, ceremonial wears, competition wears; they

“

It is painful to hear it when some people accuse me as saying that the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed is poorly funding the sporting sector, but such accusation is a blatant distortion of facts

had everything at their disposal, including all their entitlements.

Again FCT has newly introduced a programme called: “Understanding and Appreciate the Games” programme, which is meant to identify youths from all the six wards in the territory who would eventually participate in the various zonal and national competitions, especially the National Youth Games.

The programme will complement the “Athletes of Hope”, an inter-collegiate athletics championship that began in the territory since 2006, which we have been using to produce young athletes.

Funding As you may be aware, sports development requires adequate funding and this can be attested to by what is happening at the six Area Councils.

In the Area Councils, for the first time since the creation of the territory, funds have been earmarked for the construction of sports centres at the headquarters of each of the six Area Councils.

It is expected that each Area Councils will compliment this efforts that is ongoing by taking advantage of the facilities.

It is painful to hear it when some people accuse me as saying that the FCT minister, Senator Bala Mohammed is poorly funding the sporting sector, but such accusation is a blatant distortion of facts.

It is on record that since the inception of the present administration in 2010, sports, in terms of its administration and organization, have been restructured and redefined towards attaining development.

The achievements recorded in sports by the FCT could not have been possible without adequate funding of the sector by the FCT Minister.

FCT Queens Some critics are also accusing the FCT Queen players, saying they have turned to prostitute; personally, I am not aware of such and I doubt that such a thing will happen to our players. I am not in position to comment because I have received nothing tangible to show that our FCT Queen players are turning into prostitution.

Athletes Welfare We pay our athletes as at when due; if our athletes and officials are going out for competitions and money is not released at the time they are going, we normally ask them to source for money and when the administration release the money, we settle everybody; all this is in our bid to ensure that the FCT is duly represented at the national level.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

Sports

P-i-c-t-o-r-i-a-l

1. Jessica Ennis-Hill will miss 12 to 15 weeks with an Achilles injury according to Coach Toni Minichiello.

2. British number three players Dan Evans and Johanna Konta are through to the singles finals at the Vancouver Open.

3. Manchester United legend Denis Irwin believes Real Madrid forward Cristiano Ronaldo could make a return to Old Trafford this summer.

4. New Zealand’s Chiefs won their second successive Super Rugby title with a 27-22 victory over Australia’s Brumbies at Waikato Stadium.

1

5. John Duerden questions whether a tournament similar in style to cricket’s twomonth IPL is the much sought after route to success for football in India

2

3 5

4

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

PAGE 47

PUBLIC NOTICE

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MONDAY, AUGUST 5, 2013

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Just before APC begins business

I

Emenike

f I were given to frivolities, the mint fresh registered All Progressives Congress (APC) calls for merriment. It calls for the popping of champagne bottles and dancing to the drumbeats of wanton abandon. Just so for the record. I am not a politician. That bears stressing.

I am not a card-carrying member of any of the existing political parties. I am a patriot concerned about the fate of my country. I am excited because the new party, properly guided could save the country from the brink.

I happen to be among millions of Nigerians that are convinced that the party in power has not walked its talk.

It is all sound and fury and little action.

The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) talks big and delivers at the height of a midget. It deludes itself as the ‘biggest’ party in Africa.

Everything about it is in superlative.

Its founders conceived it as ‘a mass movement’ bringing all Nigerians under the umbrella. But like the monster it had become, some of its originators from G18 to G34, were the first to be consumed by this rampaging genie.

As a party it has brought a ‘mammoth’ brand of moral and financial destruction on the polity since it took charge of government at the centre 14 years ago.

Under its progressively degenerating watch, the country has danced drunkenly on the precipice.

Insecurity, massive poverty, mammoth corruption and a thriving culture of impunity have defined the years of PDP as the most dominant political party in power.

Under the current President, these ills have assumed arrant visibility.

This explains my joy that the APC, properly nurtured, could dislodge the grossly underperforming PDP. The first hurdle has been scaled.

Pretty soon the real business would start. And this is where the men would be separated from the boys.

I am pretty certain Nigerians in the popular category of pepper soup consuming and kaikai guzzling must have spent a fortune celebrating the feat notwithstanding the precarious times engendered by a ‘transformative’ President. I say ‘feat’ because naysayers had dismissed a day like last Wednesday as unlikely. The tribe of pessimists mostly domiciled in a frightened and haughty party was emphatic that the APC was unworkable. But midweek turned out the day the almighty INEC found its balls after months of lethargy. On that day it capitulated and bowed to the ‘authentic’ APC. Before then, a number of ‘APCs’ had emerged, all of them except the

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Fenerbache must break bank for Emenike, says Spartak

F

enerbahçe will have to pay over 20 million pounds to land Nigeria striker Emmanuel Emenike, said Spartak Moscow CEO Roman Ashkabadze.

“There are only two ways this transfer will go ahead; firstly his minimum fee release clause will have to be activated. The other option is to agree a price close to his release clause fee,” Ashkabadze said.

Though he didn’t reveal how much the release clause in Emenike’s contract is, it was reported to be about 45 million pounds.

He also disclosed the Turkish giants are not the only club interested in the Nigeria striker.

“There is a growing interest in Emenike, but not just from Fenerbahçe, it’s natural that Emenike wants a move to Fenerbahçe, everybody has their own interests,” Ashkabadze said.

West Ham has also been linked with the Nigeria star recently in the Russian press.

“The Yellow Canaries’ released an official statement on the Istanbul Stock Exchange confirming that negotiations are underway.

Fenerbahçe signed Emenike from Karabükspor for €9 million in 2011, but the Nigeria international was sold to Spartak for €10 million without playing a single game for them.

Emenike still has three years left on his contract with Spartak and has scored two goals in three games this season.

— Mr. Surdimam Haseng, Indonesian ambassador in Nigeria

7458 1765 9046 1969 0344

MONDAY with

Ali M. Ali aliyumaliyu@yahoo.com

Professor Attahiru Jega

one now registered, looking like the foster child of ruling (read ‘ruining’) PDP. There was, for instance, the Africa Peoples Congress (APC) and there was also the All Peoples Congress.

Not too many watchers were surprised that APC was sprouting all over like mushroom with known figures that were decidedly political ‘merchants’. In other words, these were people prepared to throw a spanner in the works of the authentic APC at probably a fee. In one particularly hilarious gaffe and a confirmation that it was, indeed, an appendage of the PDP, the rival APC dispatched email from a PDP address to several newsrooms!

Expectedly the PDP reacted.

“

Then Publicity Secretary Olisa Metuh debunked the on line media report. He shouted hoarse that fake APCs strutting the land were not hurried contraptions of the PDP to scuttle the registration of the authentic APC. Few believed him.

For a number of reasons, informed Nigerians have ceased to believe the PDP. It is lacking in credibility. It says what it doesn’t mean. And mean what it does not say. Its national leader, President Jonathan is like President Nixonyou can’t buy a used car from either. They are as trustworthy as a cornered viper.

Real work awaits the APC. The first is that of identity. It must be distinct. Sure it has a name. It would be its conduct that should separate her from the party it seeks to dislodge. It must seize the moral high ground.

Its most visible leaders also have a name. Some would say its most two prominent leaders Buhari and Tinubu are a mismatch. Some elements especially in the PDP are emphatic the two would fall out sooner or later. They sneer and snigger that it was just a matter of time before a ‘rigid’ Buhari would get tired of the ‘foxy’ Tinubu. This may not be farfetched. Their pedigree attests to that.

Some 30 years ago, a General Buhari would not hesitate to haul a Tinubu into jail if there was evidence that he had abused the public Till.

Three decades ago, it would be unthinkable that the Southwest, the bastion of opposition politics,

this time around, it is country first and self later. It has dawned on them that unless the ‘foxy’ is rigid and the ‘rigid’ foxy,there may probably be no country to be ‘rigid’ and ‘foxy’ in. This is a positive development.

would be in political romance with the tendency that Buhari represents.

The amalgam into APC amounts to culture shock. Politics is truly amazing.

In the run up to the 2011 election, Tinubu and Buhari proved bookmakers right. They went their separate ways. The result is what we are reaping today-a spectacularly incompetent and divisive leadership.

The two pillars of this rainbow coalition have probably realized that this time around, it is country first and self later. It has dawned on them that unless the ‘foxy’ is rigid and the ‘rigid’ foxy, there may probably be no country to be ‘rigid’ and ‘foxy’ in.

This is a positive development.

In more ways than one, the APC looks like the PDP. Let’s pray it doesn’t act like it. PDP sprouted from the bowels of elements courageous to halt a military ruler continuous hold on to power. At the time it was intrepid of the 18 or so elements led by Alex Ekwueme to have even contemplated so. It was designed to be a very strong party that could check and confine the military to the barracks.

That explains the presence of mortal political enemies in the ‘umbrella of multiple colours’.

In the PDP of 1998 was a potpourri of right-wingers and progressives united in the expressed desire to send the military out of power. It did but years later, the PDP has become the new military denying Nigerians real democracy.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, the ways of this party is truly confounding.

The APC sprang from the dismembered bowels of parties that faced the bleak prospects of being swallowed by the relentless apparition called PDP. In 1999 for example, the collapsed APP later ANPP, had nine governors, while AD similarly defunct had 6.By 2003,the PDP had ravaged the South-west with only Lagos Tinubu surviving the onslaught. On its part, ANPP was lucky to have escaped with 7 governors but by 2011,the number had shrunk further to a paltry 3 governors.

Just before it begins the business of real politik, the APC should be mindful of the banana peels the PDP had stepped on. It should guard against the albatross of the PDP. It should have a level playing field. It should always put forward its best candidates for elective posts. It should not forget its history and the reason for its evolution, which is to check an arrogant anti people party and truncate its 60-year rule pipe dream.

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