Peoples Daily Newspapers, Monday 6th, February 2012

Ritualists pluck eyes, teeth of 56-year old man in Bauchi

Vol. 7 No. 67

Monday, February 6, 2012

Rabiul Awwal 14, 1433 AH

PAGE 4

N150

MEND resumes terror campaign Claims bombing of oil rig Ignore Boko Haram threat, Dangiwa tells southerners

By Abdulwahab Isa with agency report & Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

A

gainst all expectations, another major security challenge apart from the Northern based Islamic sect, Boko Haram, has emerged from South-South zone’s militant groups, the Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), which at the weekend announced the resumption of bombing of oil installations in the region.

The group which usually claimed responsibility for destroying Contd on Page 2

Aggrieved workers threaten to shut down MTN centres

By Aminu Imam with agency report

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ome aggrieved workers of the MTN call centre in Jos, have threatened to shut down the company’s facilities over alleged “exploitation’’ by the management

of the local station.

The workers told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Jos at the weekend that the communication outfit promised an upward review of their wages Contd on Page 3

Students of Madrasatul Fityanul Islam School, marching during Eid-el Maulud celebration, in Kaduna, on Saturday.

Photo: NAN

I N S I D E Anxiety over Tinubu’s health

Nyako wins amidst voter apathy

Kano is an urban jungle – Dambatta

Former governor of Lagos state and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is said to have been hit by stroke and flown abroad for treatment – Page 2

Admiral Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), beat four others contestants to emerge winner in the state governorship election held on Saturday, 4th February 2012 – Page 3

Alhaji Magaji Dambatta has identified uncontrolled influx of foreigners, huge rural/urban migration, among others as one of the reasons that reduced Kano to an urban jungle – Page 10

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Education

27

Health

29

President Jonathan should resign, says Bugaje, Page 38

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

Anxiety over Tinubu’s health F From Adesoji Oyilola, Lagos

ormer governor of Lagos state and national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is said to have been hit by stroke and flown abroad for treatment.

Though, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, National Publicity Secretary of the ACN in a telephone conversation with our reporter, dismissed the rumour of

Tinubu’s ill health, some party members insisted that their leader is suffering from a very serious ailment and has been flown abroad for treatment.

Mohammed said he was with Tinubu on Saturday night and that he, (Tinubu), had gone to Abuja on Sunday (yesterday), when our reporter inquired about the whereabouts of the former governor.

According to information making the rounds within Lagos

political circles, Tinubu, who has not been seen at any public function since the protest against petroleum subsidy removal, was said to have arrived the country from abroad, where he went shortly before the commencement of the strike.

Though, he issued a press statement during the industrial action embarked on by the NLC and civil society groups, sources close to the politician said he was abroad at that time for medical

attention and only issued the statement through his media office.

Also, checks at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport to know either Tinubu was actually flown abroad yielded little result. Sources at the Airport told our correspondent that it is difficult to monitor his movement at the airport for the simple fact that he at times engaged the services of private airlines when traveling.

MEND resumes terror campaign Contd from Page 1 oil installations and kidnapping of oil expatriates prior to 2009 amnesty deal brokered by late President Umaru Musa Yar’adua, issued a fresh warning over Saturday’s attack on an Agip trunk line at Brass in Bayelsa state, and at Ogbobagbene in Burutu local government area of Delta state, in the home of Godsday Orubebe, the Minister for Niger Delta.

MEND in a statement released yesterday by its spokesperson, Jomo Gbomo said the relatively “insignificant attacks” were a reminder of its presence in the creeks of the Niger Delta and a sign of things to come.

The group said its long silence was both strategic and deliberate and threatened that “we will reduce Nigerian oil production to zero and drive off our land, thieving oil companies. British petroleum is prepared to pay $25 billion compensation for the Gulf of Mexico oil spillage, yet for worse spillages in the Niger Delta; our people are paid with death at the hands of the Nigerian m i l it a r y .

“The general public is again advised to take very seriously, any warnings of impending bombings. Such warnings will always precede a bombing, providing sufficient time for evacuation. Specific members of the security services and the media will in addition to email, receive notification of an impending attack, by SMS in order to minimize the possibility of civilian casualties”, MEND said.

The group berated President Goodluck Jonathan for his “insensitivity and lack of direction” for the country.

“We have constantly warned Nigerians about Goodluck Jonathan and his train of idiots running Nigeria.

Events of the last few months have vindicated our position on the inability of this man to lead Nigeria anywhere but downwards.

“Rather than address serious issues facing the nation and its citizens, Goodluck Jonathan squanders public funds on tribalistic sycophants and thugs calling themselves ex-militants.

“Nigerians should disregard the idle threats and ranting of

imaginary militant groups and other hired ‘Jonathan praise singers’. Besides empty talk, they are unable to help Jonathan in any way. In fact most so called ex-militants are hiding in Abuja or Lagos, not venturing near their villages in the Niger Delta,” the group stressed.

MEND said its renewed hostility would also target security forces and “Niger Delta’s traitors” even though it understood the negative impact of its assault on the Nigerian oil industry and the ordinary citizen in a country which relies almost entirely on one source of revenue.

“A government incapable of managing roads, refineries, power stations and other basic infrastructure is again squandering valuable public funds on a committee tasked with investigating the viability of nuclear energy for electricity generation.

MEND also warned that MTN, SACOIL, and other South African investments will pay a heavy price for the interference of Jacob Zuma in the legitimate fight for justice in the Niger Delta, by its people.

“The South African President has reduced himself to the position of a hired thug for Goodluck Jonathan,” the group alleged.

In the meantime, MEND has claimed responsibility for attack on an oil pipeline owned

by Italian firm, Eni, where witnesses said there was a fire late on Saturday.

Eni was not immediately available for comment but witnesses said there was a fire on the company’s Nembe-Brass pipeline.

Meanwhile, the former military governor of Kaduna state, Col. Abubakar Dangiwa Umar (rtd), has asked Christians and Igbo living in northern Nigeria to ignore the recent Boko Haram notice directing them to vacate the are a.

As part of its quest to enforce the Sharia rule in the North, Boko Haram had issued an ultimatum to Christians to relocate apparently in retaliation against similar threats on Muslims by Ijaw youths of the South-south- the Egbesu Boys.

But in a press statement in

Kaduna at the weekend, Dangiwa Umar described the quit notice as impossible to enforce; regretting however, that religious leaders, leaders of ethnic or regional groups and politicians at all levels may have contributed to efforts by Boko Haram to destabilise Nige ria.

According to Umar, “we will say this openly and frankly and without fear of contradiction that given the spread and depth of our integration as a people, it is futile to expect Igbo, Hausa, Yoruba or any ethnic group to relocate easily or peacefully to their ancestral lands even if Nigeria were broken up. It is not time alone; many things in nature are not reversible.

“Boko Haram’s ambition of creating a climate of fear, terror and panic ahead of their plan to re-invent Nigeria, seem close to reality. A visitor to some of the major cities in northern Nigeria – Kano, Bauchi, Maiduguri, Kaduna etc, will be forgiven to conclude that Nigeria is at war. Indeed, every passing day brings heart rending stories of cruel killings from Boko Haram’s bombs and explosions with panic stricken citizens running from pillar to post.

“And with police and military check-points conducting widespread stop and search everywhere, the scenario of a nation at war is hardly disputable. There are many issues that the Boko Haram insurgency has thrown up which cannot be easily addressed; some have no solutions at all”.

“Yet, whatever it is that Boko Haram want to achieve or create, one thing they seem to be doing rather well now is setting the various groups in Nigeria one against the other.

One day, Boko Haram say they are killing Christians because Christians are killing Muslims; another day, they say they will drive southerners out of the North because southerners are sending northerners out of the South; yet another day, Boko Haram would say they are fighting the government because government leaders and agents are corrupt and un jus t.

“After that, they will stand aside and watch with glee as the different groups engage

each other in mutual blame and recrimination,” the former MILAD regretted.

He said, “Despite all this, what is clear and what we all see is that Boko Haram remains on the offensive and their bombs do not discriminate between friends and foe, notwithstanding their propaganda.”

“And in the face of the generalised climate of fear, apprehensions and mistrust, people respond in ways that are neither calm nor measured, precisely the type of reaction that pleases Boko Haram,” Dangiwa stressed.

This, he observed, has to change as according to him, “People of goodwill everywhere must beware of the nature of the problems we are facing and should say or do nothing that will help the aggressor”.

“One particularly unhelpful reaction came from certain Igbo leaders who advised their kinsmen in the wake of the onslaught by Boko Haram to move out of Northern Nigeria and to return to their ancestral homes in the east. Clearly, such advice, apart from playing into the hands of the insurgents, is a wanton infringement of the civic and legal rights of the people,” he declared.

Citing an instance, he said, “over 200 people were reportedly killed and over a thousand others injured with many more displaced when two long feuding communities in Ezillo council area of Ebonyi state clashed towards the end of last year. Where were the survivors advised to re-locate to?, he asked.

“Truth is, Nigeria is currently in the grip of unprecedented crisis of insecurity - Boko Haram, kidnappings, armed robberies, militancy, communal conflicts etc - and there is no shortage of purveyors of doomsday reports, feeding a vicious cycle of suspicions, conspiracies and more insecurity.

“As the authorities grapple with ways to address these challenges, Nigerians must remain unflinching in their support and cooperation so that together we will keep these troubles on the front banner until they are addressed,” he stressed.

PEOPLES DAILY, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Nyako wins amidst voter apathy From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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dmiral Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), beat four others contestants to emerge winner in the state governorship election held on Saturday, 4th February 2012.

Nyako who went to the polls alongside Markus Gundiri of the ACN, Mohammed Buba Marwa (CPC), Zainab Kwonchi (ADP), and Lilian Musa (ANPP), polled a total number of 302,953 26, votes to secure victory.

. . . Jonathan congratulates winner

Nyako’s victory followed his clearing 14 council areas while his closest challenger, Engr. Markus Gundiri of the ACN won in 7 local government areas, with General Buba Marwa of the CPC failing to win any. 850 votes were declared invalid.

Announcing the result at the collation centre, Yola, the Returning Officer of the election, Prof Mohammed Hamisu Mohammed of the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University (ATBU) Bauchi, said having polled the highest number of votes, “Admiral Murtala Nyako of the Peoples Democratic Party is hereby

declared as winner of the governorship election.”

Peoples Daily gathered that a total of 1,843619 were registered for the election, but only 685,13 eligible voters took part in the election, which had to be rescheduled twice owing to the security situation that bedeviled the state in the last four weeks.

A breakdown of the result indicates that Nyako got 44.22 percent and the required 25 percent in all the 21 Local Government Areas of the state.

The candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Engr.

Markus Natina Gundiri, scored a

total of 241,023 votes to come second on the table, while General Buba Marwa of the Congress for Progressive Change got 107,546 to come a distant third position.

Mrs Musa, who was running mate of Usman Belel in ANPP, bore the party’s flag when Belel dropped out of the race on the eve of the election; she scored 3885 while Dr. Zainab of the ADC placed fifth position with 2846 votes.

Prof. Hamisu Mohammed announced that the ACN had 35.1 percent, PDP 44.22 percent, CPC 15.7 percent, ANPP 0.57 percent while ADC had 0.40 percent of the total votes cast.

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has congratulated the Adamawa governor-elect, Murtala Nyako, urging him to see his fresh mandate as a call to further service to his people.

In a congratulatory message signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Reuben Abati, Jonathan also advised him to see the result as an opportunity to continue the good policies, projects and programmes initiated during his first term to promote progress and development in the State.

“The President looks forward to continuing to work harmoniously with Admiral Nyako and the government of Adamawa state on the implementation of the Federal Government’s agenda for national transformation,” the statement read in part.

He also commended PDP National Executive Council members, members of the state executive of the party and all stakeholders of the party.

Winner of the gubernatorial election in Adamawa state, Alhaji Murtala Nyako (right), exchanging pleasantry with his supporters who beseiged his residence, after the announcement of the result of the election by INEC, in Yola, yesterday. Photo: NAN

Aggrieved workers threaten to shut down MTN centres Contd from Page 1 after confirming their appointments.

“When we were recruited two years ago, we were given a flat salary of N35,000 per month with a promise that the figure would be “significantly increased’’ after we were confirmed.

“But to our dismay, we were only given a flat rate of N20,000.

We find that simply unbelievable because our contemporaries in other states are paid between N100,000 and N120,000,’’ the workers claimed.

The worker, who pleaded anonymity, said they were no fewer than 2,000 and insisted that they would shut down the centre if the management continued what they described as ‘organised exploitation’.

“We do the same work with other colleagues in Lagos, Kano and Kaduna. There is no reason why the workers in those call centres should earn more than twice our wages here.

“Again, we run similar shifts.

We went through similar training, so it is confusing that we should earn less than half of their own wages.’’

NAN learnt that MTN contracted a Lagos-based private firm, CNSSL Contact Centre Limited, to recruit workers for the take- off of the Call Centre in 2010.

Documents made available to NAN in Jos indicated that CNSSL placed each worker on a salary of N120,000 a month instead of N35,000 the workers claimed they were receiving.

The staff, who said they suspected a rip-off, also claimed that the local management made some deductions from their salaries, monies meant for rice and oil given to them by MTN during Christmas.

“We know MTN usually gives such gifts free to its workers and even some customers while we were asked to pay for such items here is surprising,’’ one of the workers added.

They alleged that the centres were owned by some senior managers of MTN.

The staff also accused MTN of preventing them from forming a workers’ union and described the situation as “unfair’’, saying the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Plateau Government should intervene.

The Regional Technical Officer of CNSSL in Jos, Mr Adeboh Ejiga, refused to comment on the allegations and claimed that he was not allowed to speak to the media. However, MTN’s General Manager for Corporate Affairs, Mr. Funmilayo Omogbenigun, said the company’s local outsourcing model was unique in the communication industry.

Omogbenigun, who rejected claims that the centre owners had any association with MTN or its board, said that they were selected “through a rigorous bidding process which ensured that the winner had demonstrable abilities in call centre management.

“We also insisted that their policies are aligned to MTN’s best practice with respect to the ethical treatment of employees.

“What we tried to do is to make

sure that MTN staff provided by outsourced partners are remunerated in line with the current levels for their particular job profile and geographical area.’’

On the salary of the workers, Omogbenigun, said staff were paid based on their location and as such disparities were bound to exist.

“Our commitment to the welfare of those who work in our call centres is well established and we are unaware of any threat to shut down MTN’s call centre in Jos,’’ the officer said.

The Plateau Chairman of NLC, Jibrin Bancir, confirmed that the council was aware of the dispute between MTN and its workers in Jos. “We have been investigating the conflict since 2011. If not for the nationwide strike on subsidy, we would have resolved the issue by now.’’

He said that the union leaders had met with all relevant officers in MTN who promised that the issue would soon be resolved.

Jos building collapses, injures six children From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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ix children sustained various degrees of injury in Jos, Plateau state capital, as a onestorey building sharing a fence with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) secretariat, known as Kalwa House, collapsed in Jos. The children were said to be passing under the building, which was under construction while the workers were said to have gone on break when the buildin collapsed, leaving the six children wounded.

Our correspondent gathered that the injured children are currently receiving medical attention at the Plateau state Specialist Hospital.

However, a female doctor with the specialist hospital who refused to disclose her identity told our correspondent that the six children were responding to the treatment very well and were under intensive care, as they require special attention.

According to a building expert, Mr. Audu Nansel Barabe, the collapse of the buildings was due to weak foundation, sub-standard building materials and inadequate supervision, advising people to use standard materials for building.

However, non of the contractors and the site engineers were on ground to explain the cause of the collapse as at press time.

Shiekh urges govt to respond to electorate’s yearnings From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he 26th edition of the Plateau State Qur'anic competition ended in Jos, Plateau state capital, with a call on government at all levels to live up to responsibilities of providing basic dividends of democracy to the electorates.

The Secretary-General of JNI, Shiekh Khalid Aliyu Abubakar, who made this call while speaking during the competition, also stressed that Muslims must wake up and face the challenges of economic down fall, through creation of job opportunities that will absolve the teeming jobless people.

According to him, "Government should create the conducive atmosphere that will attract entrepreneurship. Muslim faithful in the state and beyond should respect their values and assists the poor and needy in the society.

He further charged Muslims in the state to establish Standard health care facilities with a view of reducing the problems of health matters, calling on those saddled with positions of authority to strive to provide good governance for the electorates, irrespective of their religion, ethnic and political difference.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Ogun NSCDC arrests 97 suspects From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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he Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Ogun state command disclosed that it has arrested 97 suspects for various offences, just as it provided telephone numbers: 08033604321 and 08039407131 to members of the public for useful and timely information to the command The command which made this known in Abeokuta, weekend said that, those arrested were charged to court, explaining that part of the command’s operations include Anti-Vandal Operations, Private Guard Companies(PGC) Supervision, Government Activities, Surveillance Duties and Proactive Activities.

It said, the year under review had been challenging, particularly in the area of information gathering, especially relating to vandalism and private guard companies monitoring, pointing out that generally, the corps carried out a total of 1038 major operations.

“However, energy was exerted on Proactive Activities, such as routine patrols, surveillance duties, enlightenment and awareness programmes within and around areas where we have gas, petroleum pipelines, PHCN powerlines and transformers, Telecommunication installations and other Government Infrastructure”, the command emphasized.

Boko Haram is product of injustice, says SAN From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Ola-Olu Ali has identified the root of the Boko Haram insurgency in the North to injustice, failure of government and unfaithfulness of citizens to their religion.

The SAN who spoke on NTA, Ilorin programme and monitored by our correspondent argued that the believe by many that Boko Haram was working for Islam was totally a misconception. “ I am worried as a Muslim that a group could be using the name of Islam to perpetrate evil which Islam has abolished more that 1500 years ago.Islam has prescribed how to show annoyance with leaders, violence is not one of it. Islam has prescribed other circumstances when life could be taken; indiscriminate bombing and assassination were not part of it. And Islam went further to state that whoever takes life unjustly, is like killing the whole world.

“Going by the Boko Haram, it is a combination of so many things that have gone wrong in this country. We have OPC, Bakassi Boys, Niger-Delta militants. It is just unfortunate that this group comes from the Islamic part of the country. I disagree that Boko Haram is fighting for Islam just like we did not agreed that OPC is fighting for Sango, Ifa or Bakassi boys, Niger-Delta Militants are fighting for Christians”.

Boko Haram: We can’t dialogue with ‘spirits’, say Reps From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he Chairman, House Committee on Media and Public Affairs, Hon. Zakari Mohammed, representing Baruten/Kaima Federal Constituency of Kwara state in the House of Representatives has assured of the House readiness to champion peace among any aggrieved Nigerians irrespective of their religion or tribe.

Mohammed who disclosed this in Ilorin at the weekend while briefing journalists, noted that the Speaker of the House, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal would only broker peace between the group, Boko Haram and Federal Government if they came out of hiding.

The House spokesman who

described the action of the Boko Haram as criminal said it would be difficult to dialogue with an invisible group stressing that when Niger/Delta militants agitated for better welfare for the region, they revealed themselves to the public.

“We cannot dialogue with ‘spirits’. They should make themselves available. The ways they are operating is like criminality and no government will be watching the killing of innocent people to go unabated.

Unlike Niger Delta militants, they started breaking pipes and keeping saying that they would tolerate insensitive of government to their plight while crude oil is being taken from their environment to

develop other areas.

“And when the late President Ya’Adu saw this, he introduced amnesty programme and the whole issue was solved. So, let this group make themselves available and then, the House shall do something about it”, he said.

Zakari who condemned the agitation in some quarters for a Sovereign National Conference, said the situation in Nigeria does not warrant such, pointing out that all the federal constituencies across the country have each representative and they are ready to serve in any capacity.

While speaking on the on going probe of alleged oil subsidy scandal rocking oil sector, Zakari

said the committee set up to probe the scandal, headed by Hon. Faruq Lawal, would do their work to the end and ensure that those found guilty were prosecuted according to the law.

He said that it was revealed that Nigerians were even paying for the oil not used in the country while 24 million gallons of crude oil were not accounted for saying “ as we should be accountable to our people, we would also be accountable to God.” The House Chairman on Media added that Nigeria would not break as predicted by a foreign country noting that the entire national was interwoven enough to make it difficult for separation.

Al-Makura initiates peace between Tiv, Fulani tribesmen From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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o end the lingering conflicts between border communities in Nasarawa and Benue states involving Tiv farmers and Fulani herdsmen, Governor Umaru Tanko Al-makura, at the weekend, held a joint peace meeting with stakeholders and opinion leaders from Kadarko, in Giza development area and Idadu, in Ekye development area of the state.

The meeting was to fashion out lasting solutions to the crisis, which of late has escalated to involve the Eggon tribe in Ekye development area.

The governor, who lamented that the Tiv/Fulani crisis was recurring at a time of pressing national security challenges, admitted that the problem is a thorn on the flesh of the state government.

He said though government has provided vehicles for security operatives to keep surveillance in the areas involved in the skirmishes, it was not getting the desired result, hence the meeting.

Al-Makura said, “I have the believe that there are some people in our midst, who want to mischievously sabotage this government, otherwise, there is no reason whatsoever, why this very small and modest problem could not be solved by village heads, paramount rulers and political leaders of this area, not to talk of the government”.

He also announced the abolishment of the refugee camps in the state, particularly that of Kadarko, in Giza development area, saying the continuous stay of the refugees, was its self a threat to peace.

L-R: Member, House of Representatives Committee on Army, Hon Mohammed Imam, Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Muktar Aliyu, GOC 1 Div. Nigerian Army, Kaduna, Major General Joseph Shoboiki, members of the committee, Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, and Hon. Mohammed Sani Idris Kutigi, during the passing out parade of 66th regular recruits at Depot Nigerian Army, Zaria, at the weekend.

Ritualists pluck eyes, teeth of 56-year old man From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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en suspected to be ritualists have plucked the eyes and teeth of a 56-year old man and left him in his own pool of blood when he went to cut woods in the bush.

The victim, Malam Umar Bojinji who has two wives and 13 children and currently receiving treatment at the Abubakar Tafawa Balewa Teaching Hospital Bauchi revealed that some people came and greeted him while he was cutting wood and waited for him. The attackers, he said, even assisted him to lift the woods to his head

before they started hitting him with a cutlass on his neck and tied him down.

The Bauchi state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Muhammad Barau confirmed the incidence at the weekend in Bauchi, explaining that investigation on the crime was in progress.

The victim’s younger brother, Yakubu Abdullahi blamed insecurity for the bizzare act, coupled with unemployment.

“There are Fulanis in the area who have nothing doing and their cattle has finished, they have nothing doing but engage in terrorism, when they come

across people, they ask them if they have seen cattle. If the people are in group, they’ll allow them to go but if it is an individual they tend to fight and create havoc”, he said.

According to him, the incident has scared people of the area from going for wood in the bush but warned that the people of the area may avenge the act done to one of its kinsmen, if security was not improved.

Our correspondent gathered that police have gone to the area to make arrests but the relatives of the victim urged them to leave the matter but continue with their investigation.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Oyo gov preaches peace at Eidel Maulud From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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L-R: Acting Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mr. Samson Opaluwa, Minister of Health, Professor Onyebuchi Chukwu, and National Coordinator, Cancer Control Programme, Dr. Patience Osinubi, during a press conference on 2012 World Cancer Day, in Abuja, at the weekend.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Nigeria’ll not pull out of AU - Jonathan’s aide

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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s the dust surrounding President Goodluck Jonathan’s reported bid for the African Union (AU) chairmanship lingers, the Presidential Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr Reuben Abati has denied a statement credited to him that Nigeria would pull out of the continental body if Jonathan is not made the chairman.

An online columnist, Dr. Michael J.K. Bokor had yesterday lambasted such a move and criticised President Goodluck Jonathan for seeking to use arm twisting tactics to get the AU top seat. According to him, Reuben Abati had issued a statement

giving the AU a week to consider making Jonathan the chairman or have Nigeria pull out.

The columnist had accused Abati of writing that: “Since Africa does not consider our President, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan good enough for the chairmanship of the African Union, then Africa does not deserve our presence on the continent.”

The columnist further said Abati had threatened in the statement that Nigeria would go ahead to form an independent continent if the threat was not taken seriously.

But reacting while speaking with Peoples Daily on phone yesterday, Dr. Reuben Abati denied ever issuing such statement. He

further attributed the statement to ‘mischief’ makers.

“I never issued such a statement, and Nigeria has never threatened to pull out of AU and let me repeat that Jonathan did not contest for that election. The people who have continued to repeat that only do it out of mischief,” Abati said.

It would be recalled that President Jonathan had last weekend attended the 18th Ordinary Session of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where Theodoro Mbasago Obiang of Equatorial Guinea handed over to President Boni Yayi of Benin Republic as chairman.

It was widely believed that

Jonathan had made spirited efforts to convince ECOWAS Heads of States and Governments to nominate him for the position instead of Boni Yayi but his pleas fell on deaf ears and Benin Republic leader got the nod of ECOWAS since the position was zoned to the sub region.

The President however denied ever contesting for the position. A statement from the office of Dr Reuben Abati had claimed earlier in the week that Jonathan in fact facilitated the emergence of Boni Yayi.

He added that the position had been offered the President on a platter of gold but he rejected it and endorsed the emergence of Boni Yayi.

Bankole’s trial over N894m contract scam commences tomorrow

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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Federal High Court in Abuja will tomorrow commence trial in the case of alleged N894 million contract inflation instituted against former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dimeji Bankole by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The embattled former Speaker who was recently sent free alongside with his deputy, Alhaji Usman Nafada by an Abuja High where they were charged on a 17count charge bordering on alleged N40 billion loan scam preferred against them by the anti-graft agency, is standing trial on a 16count charge before Justice Donatus Okorowo.

Bankole, who was arraigned on June 8, 2011, had lost bid to stop his trial and to disqualify a

Lagos based lawyer, Mr. Festus Keyamo from prosecuting him in the matter.

He had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

In another development, further hearing in the case of alleged laundering of N75.5 billion preferred against former minister

of works, Dr. Hassan Lawal and others will also commence tomorrow before Justice Adamu Bello of a Federal High Court in Abuja.

The former works minister and the rest of the accused persons had filed applications for the quashing of the charges preferred

against them by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

The former works minister and the rest accused persons have been admitted to bail by the court in the sum of N50 million each and a surety in like sum, who must have landed property in Abuja.

Crushed conductor: LASTMA hands over 3 suspected officers to police From Bimbo Ogunnaike, Lagos

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he Lagos state government at the weekend handed over to the police three officers of the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) suspected to be involved in the tragic death of a commercial bus conductor whose driver was trying to evade arrest.

The General Manager of LASTMA, Engr. Babatunde Edu who disclosed this, said the suspects who were arrested in their various homes in the early hours of Friday, had been directed to stay away from their duty posts so as to allow the Police carry out proper investigations into the matter.

Edu reiterated the commitment of the Lagos state government in

ensuring safety of life and property of the citizenry and charged all officers of the agency to be more civil in the discharge of their duties.

It would be recalled that last Thursday, a 24 year old, commercial bus conductor identified as Rasheed Alabi died along Lagos-Ibadan old Toll Gate Plaza, when his vehicle was pursued by LASTMA men while trying to apprehend him, (deceased) over alleged contravention of traffic laws.

s Muslims all over the world mark the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) today, Governor Abiola Ajimobi of Oyo state has called on Nigerians to imbibe the spirit of peaceful coexistence among themselves.

The governor gave the admonition in a special Eid-elMaulud message issued in Ibadan by his Special Adviser on Media, Dr. Festus Adedayo.

He urged Nigerians to be their brothers' keeper and live together in love, saying it was only in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility that the nation could make ample progress.

While preaching forgiveness among neighbours and Nigerians in general, Gov Ajimobi said if Nigerians do not habour grievances against one another, it would be easier for the leadership to paddle the national boat that contains people who live together in peace.

The governor who likened the violent activities of the Boko Haram sect to terrorism, urged the members to meditate on the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) so as to realise the sanctity of human lives.

He called on them to tell Nigeria their grievances, rather than taking laws into their hands and holding the country to ransom.

… Cleric calls on Nigerians to pray for the nation From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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rominent Islamic scholar, Sheik Dahiru Usman Bauchi has called on Nigerians to pray for an end to the current security challenges bedeviling the country.

He said this to thousands of Muslim youths who observed this year’s Eid-el Maulud celebration in Bauchi at the weekend.

The renowned scholar explained that the purpose of the event was to commemorate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW).

He added that the celebration would help inculcate the spirit of love in the minds of Muslim adherents.

Our correspondent noted that the Maulud rally which commenced as early as 8: am from the palace of the Emir of Bauchi, lasted till evening.

Emir of Bauchi, Alhaji Rilwanu Suleiman Adamu was among the thousands of people who closed their houses and shops to monitor the event just as the motorists encountered serious traffic difficulties.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Joda tasks Nigerian students on unity

Okorocha sues for peace From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

By Abdullahi Yunusa

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E

lder statesman and chairman of the American University of Nigeria (AUN) Board of Trustees, Alhaji Ahmed Joda, has tasked students in various schools across the country to work towards promoting the nation’s unity.

He also advised them to see the travails that Nigeria has been experiencing in the last one year “as the birth pangs that will yield a great nation”.

Alhaji Joda gave the charge recently in Yola, the Adamawa state capital during the “New Students Pledge Programme” of the university.

While admonishing the students not to lose faith in the country in the face of mounting security challenges, he said “There is no nation in this world which is great and significant, and which has not been built with the toil, blood and tears of its people”.

The elder statesman who made reference to recent unfortunate events in the country, said Nigeria’s socio-political and economic life were negatively affected by the unrest.

He recalled that in the past few weeks, Nigeria’s existence was again threatened and showed concern over the recent economic standstill resulting from the strikes and the rising wave of insecurity across the north.

On efforts by the university to train responsible and productive citizens, he said “AUN wants to develop great minds”. The new students he observed “will be among those who will take over the leadership of Nigeria and provide the quality of leadership needed by Nigeria”.

Sixteen-year old Halima Ibrahim, the only survivor of one of the several bomb explosions in Bulunkutu, Maiduguri, spoke to journalists in Kaduna, in her efforts to trace her grandparents with the help of Jama'atu Nasril Islam after losing her entire family, recently.

Borno bombings: 16-year old survivor traces roots to Kaduna From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

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ixteen-year-old Halima Ibrahim, the only survivor of one of the several bomb explosions in Bulunkutu, Maiduguri is in Kaduna trying to trace her grandparents after losing her entire family in an explosion in Maiduguri, where they resided.

Halima, who spoke to newsmen on Friday, said she found her way back to Kaduna through Jama'atul Nasril Islam (JNI), to assist her trace her extended family whom she last saw seven years ago.

According to Halima, "I’m in Kaduna to trace my grandparents whom I lost contact with seven years ago. My mother

is an indigene of Kaduna while my father is an indigene of Adamawa, but my mother, two of my siblings and I were based in Maiduguri. They were killed in the bomb blast that leveled our house.

"I came to Kaduna to look for my grandparents whom I last saw seven years ago. I want them to come and take me home because I

don't have anybody now", she said.

Malam Usman Yusuf a representative of JNI headquarters in Kaduna, said Halima has been with them for months now. “She has been with us for months but all efforts to reach her family members in Kaduna proved abortive. We hope somebody recognises her so that they come for her", he said.

Okonjo-Iweala commiserates with AGF

By Isa Abdulwahab

T

he Co-ordinating Minister for the Economy and Finance, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, has commiserated with the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF), Mr. Jonah O. Otunla, management and staff of the Office of the AccountantGeneral of the Federation (OAGF), over the death of three members of staff who were involved in a

motor accident.

The minister said it was painful losing three dedicated members of staff who have committed their time working into late hours to ensure everybody’s salary was paid.

The minister said she would personally find time to visit and commiserate with the families of the deceased and urged the AGF to ensure that all their entitlements were promptly paid.

In a response, the AGF thanked the minister for making time out of her busy schedules to console him and his staff over the loss of the three staff. He said the office has started processing the entitlements of the deceased and has also informed the Head of Service of the Federation to help by initiating the process of getting the Group Life Insurance to their respective families.

The three staff of OAGF who

lost their lives are Alh. Abubakar Fana, Principal Officer, Alh. Usman Saleh, Executive Officer and Mrs. Nsidibe Umoren Mfon, Data Processing Officer. They died in a motor accident which occurred at Kugbo along AYA - Nyanya road on Tuesday around 9pm after closing from work.

The remains of Abubakar and Saleh have since been buried according to Islamic rites in Kebbi and Kano states respectively.

he Imo state governor, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has charged Nigerians to pursue peaceful coexistence with all their vigour for sustainable development of the nation.

Okorocha made the plea during an interactive session with different tribal groups at the weekend in Bauchi. He urged Nigerians not to allow religion or ethnicity to divide them.

He similarly described reprisal attacks among Nigerian ethnic groups as attacks not on Christians and Muslims but against the nation which must be addressed the way HIV is being addressed.

The governor who was in Bauchi to interact with different tribal groups in the state, urged Nigerians not to allow religion or ethnicity divide them.

“The people that are being killed are Nigerians, the people killing others are also Nigerians, these are our children, this is not the time to count who is right or who is wrong, but what we can do to stop that”, Owelle advised.

He explained that unless Nigerians act quickly now on the situation, they may be destroying the nation which their forefathers laboured to build.

The governor therefore appealed to Nigerians generally to come together and be their brothers’ keepers as, “There is nothing in this world better than peace”.

“Retaliation would not solve the problem; revenge will not solve the problem, we should leave all fates to the Almighty who knows how to avenge”, Owelle Okorocha further admonished.

Qur’anic recitation: Zamfara govt donates 2 cars, 15 motorcycles to winners From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau

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overnor Abdulaziz Yari of Zamfara state has reiterated the determination of his administration towards fulfilling his campaign promises, including the sustenance of the shari’ah legal system.

Yari made the assertion in Gusau, capital of the state at the occasion of closing ceremony of the national annual Qur’anic Recitation competition held at the JB Yakubu Secretariat.

At the occasion, two cars and 15 motorcycles were donated to the winners of this year’s competition as well as 10 deep freezers and refrigerators.

The governor who was represented by his deputy, Malm Ibrahim Wakkala Muh’d, explained that leaders at all levels will be held responsible for the wellbeing of their people, and will be questioned by their Creator in the hereafter.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Governors have accessed N50bn UBE funds, says education minister

By Jamila Nuhu Musa

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he push by governors in the country for direct access to the Universal Basic Education (UBE) funds, has been achieved as various governors have accessed over N50 billion, the Minister of State for Education, Mr. Nyesom Wike has said.

Mr. Wike made the disclosure while speaking at an interactive session with journalists organised by the Nigerian Pilot/Newsworld Leadership Forum in Abuja.

He expressed dismay over the decline in basic education in the country and stressed the need to move the sector forward in line

with the transformation agenda of the administration. He decried the situation whereby schools are dilapidated and teachers, parents and students lack commitment and discipline is at its lowest ebb.

He observed that some principals are not qualified to head schools while there are no teachers for some core subjects and wondered how basic education can be attained given such situations.

Wike then said that the Federal Government will continue to play its own part with a view to restoring the dignity of schools for the development of basic education in Nigeria.

Towards this end, various

governors of states, he said, have accessed UBE funds while certain amounts were being released by the Federal Government for the training of teachers amongst other interventions. According to him, “when we came on board not less than N5 billion was released to the 36 states and the FCT for training of teachers. Similarly, the training of 22,000 teachers was flagged off through the National Teachers’ Institute to enhance the quality of teachers”.

The minister also said about 30 Federal Government secondary schools otherwise known as Unity Schools were being considered for proper funding in the 2012 budget

to restore their glory and the lofty dream of the founding fathers.

He stated however, that “the ministry would focus attention on performance of schools by undertaking unscheduled visits to drive education and ensure that funds are judiciously utilised for the benefit of Nigerian students”.

Earlier, chairman of the forum and publisher of the Nigerian Pilot, Mr. Denis Sam said the minister has shown considerable commitment to the education sector, the reason he earned an award by the Nigerian Pilot/ Newsworld Leadership organisation.

L-R: VicePresident Mohammed Namadi Sambo, with the chairman, Bayelsa state Council of Traditional Rulers, Chief Joshua Igbagara, during the VicePresident's visit to the tradional ruler in Yenagoa, at the weekend.

South-west governors protest revenue sharing formula From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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overnors of the Southwest region have teamed up against what they describe as imbalance in resource allocations to states by the Federal Government, with a resolution to ensure that justice is done on the revenue allocation framework in the country.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a meeting held at Government House, Abeokuta.

In attendance at the meeting were governors of Ogun, Oyo, Edo, Osun, Ondo, Lagos and Ekiti states.

Also, the governors contended that the states’ contribution to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) needs to be considered.

Reading the resolution to

newsmen, Ekiti state governor, Dr. Kayode Fayemi accompanied by his colleagues, also canvassed the devolution of more powers from the Federal Government to state governments, pointing out that the Federal Government as

currently constituted was holding on too much power and responsibilities to the detriment of the federating states.

The governors also expressed deep concerns about the deplorable condition of Lagos-Ibadan and

Sagamu-Benin expressway and called for the review of the contractual agreement between the concessioner and the Federal Government over the dual carriageway which they described as being in an appalling state.

Niger justice ministry to finance investigation and other security agencies of criminal cases would be involve in facilitating From Iliya Garba, Minna

T

he Niger state government has expressed its commitment towards quick dispensation of justice as it has undertaken to fund the investigation and prosecution of criminal cases.

The state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Bar. Abdullahi Wuse, made this

known while interacting with journalists in his office at the state secretariat in Minna, the state capital.

He said there are about 70 criminal cases pending for either investigation or prosecution of which the state government has given approval for the release of funds to security agencies to pursue.

According to him, “the police

the process of administration of justice because government is committed to the decongestion of prisons and to enhance accessibility to justice”.

The commissioner said “criminal trials as well as logistics demand are been addressed by the government as a measure to assist in reducing inmates at the over bloated Suleja Prisons”.

Kogi to implement new blueprint in 100 days From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

T

he Kogi state governor, Captain Idris Wada has said that he would implement the recommendations of the 22man think tank committee for an economic blueprint for the state within the next 100 days.

Wada gave this assurance over the weekend in Lokoja, while receiving the preliminary report and recommendations of the committee.

The governor who described the recommendations as “heavy duty”, explained that he is committed to implementing every issue raised to the letter.

“I will not be able to sleep if these recommendations are not implemented. This was done by eminent sons and daughters of the state and as such, it must be implemented’, Wada said.

He noted that the work is thorough, painstaking and priceless, stressing that the state is grateful for the work the members have done describing it as a world class report.

Earlier in his address, the chairman of the committee, Prof. Francis Idachaba, had urged the governor to implement all the recommendations within 100 days in office.

Prof. Idachaba pointed out that members of the committee were looking forward to the mplementation of the recommendations without further delay.

According to him, the stakeholders that were part of the committee shared a common sense of value and agreed that: “There must be a transformation of core values among those that will anchor all projects”.

He told the governor that he must appoint technocrats as his cabinet members if he is desirous of success, stressing that “It is only when members of the governor’s team imbibe your value system that transformation can be achieved”.

Ogun pledges support for implementation of FOI Act From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

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gun state government has given assurance on its preparedness to support the implementation of the Freedom of Information Act within the limit of the law, disclosing that a department will soon be created in the state’s

Ministry of Justice to treat information as required by members of the public in accordance with the provisions of the Act. The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun, made this known at a workshop organised by the Nigerian Press Council with the theme “FOI Act, Implementation and Challenges

to Journalists”, which held in Ota town of the state.

The governor who was represented by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Wemimo Ogunde, maintained that while it is important for members of the public to have access to information, it is equally necessary to observe due process.

Commending the media for the noble role it plays in the enthronement of democratic rule in the country, the governor congratulated the organisers; the Nigerian Press Council for its courage in organising the event, saying it would help journalists to have a better understanding of how to seek information, particularly from government

and its agencies.

The director, Centre for Leadership in Journalism, School of Media and Communication, Pan African University, Lagos, Mr. Richard Ikeebe who spoke at the event, underscored the need for journalists to evolve means of reaching out to the Nigerian audience, particularly at the grassroots.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Kano is an urban jungle, says Dambatta From Bala Nasir, Kano

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ncontrolled influx of foreigners, huge rural/ urban migration, the Almajiri syndrome, teaming unemployed youths and grinding poverty have reduced Kano to an urban jungle as they have made it susceptible to adverse security challenges.

This observation was made by statesman and veteran journalist, Alhaji Magaji Dambatta while presenting a report to Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano

state on the January 20 bomb blasts in Kano two weeks ago.

Alhaji Dambatta headed a committee set up by the governor after a stakeholders meeting which took place at Government House at the instance of Governor Kwankwaso with part of its terms of reference to chart course on which the state government should approach the problem.

According to Danbatta, with the virtual collapse of governance structure at the community level it became impossible to keep track of activities in the local communities.

He also lamented that the flagrant abuse of town planning regulations, illegal motor parks, petty trading that have dotted all available premises in the city as well as armies of motorcyclists have put Kano in a sorry state.

To address these problems, he said, his committee among others recommended the resuscitation of communal governance system which manifests from the ward heads, district heads and community leaders.

This would assist in achieving peace and security as well as

identifying foreigners besides certifying their means of livelihood, he added.

He noted that the apparent lapses in the nation’s security system due largely to inadequate training, obsolete equipment materials and low morale in the Nigeria Police Force and other security agencies in the country have worsened the situation.

On the issue of non-indigenes living in the state, Alhaji Magaji Danbatta stated that every citizen has an obligation to live with them in peace and harmony as brothers,

Eid-el- Maulud: Jonathan preaches peace, tolerance

Governor, Rotary Club International (District 9110), Kennedy Ejapkomewhe (left), presenting artificial limbs donated by the club to Dr. Oluokun Soyinka on behalf of Ogun state Committee for Health (right), at the weekend.

With them is an official of the committee, Mrs. Abidoun Oduwole (middle).

Photo: NAN

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

A

Insecurity: Police, govt partner on crime prevention in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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he Kogi state police command has advanced a synergy with the state government and other security agencies to fashion out a strategy to guarantee the security of lives and property.

The Commissioner of Police, Mr. Marvel Akpoyibo, who disclosed this in a chat with newsmen on Saturday in Lokoja, said part of the strategy was to keep arms and ammunitions of the command out of the armoury.

He said “the command is sending out a signal to criminals to have a rethink and relocate from Kogi, if they would not repent” adding, “because we are going to be very decisive with them”.

Akpoyibo added that the police force was presently going through a major re-organisation and reorientation that would culminate in the emergence of a “brand new Nigeria Police”.

The Kogi police command boss revealed that a good number of arms snatched from police stations across the state last year by armed

hoodlums had been recovered.

On the Friday armed robbery attack on the Ajaokuta Area Command office of the police and branch of a new generation bank, the commissioner said the incident had nothing to do with the Boko Haram as alleged.

“It was a clear case of armed robbery and that was why they headed straight to the bank, attacking the area command police division in Ajaokuta, because they wanted to traumatise the police and diminish our level of resistance”, he said.

Students honour ex-minister for philanthropy

By Mohammed Kandi and Miriam Humbe

F

ormer foreign affairs minister, Alhaji Buhari Bala yesterday in Abuja, received the award of ‘Icon of Democracy’ and ‘Youth Ambassador’ which was conferred on him by a student group, the Association of Northern Nigerian Students for his support for various student groups of northern extraction irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliations.

NANNS president, Comrade Ibrahim Alih, while presenting the

just as it is expected that people across the Niger should treat other Nigerians in their midst as brothers.

Receiving the report, Governor Kwankwaso assured that the report would be thoroughly studied with a view to implementing its recommendations earnestly.

The governor assured that the committee would not be disbanded because of the caliber of its membership, saying their wealth of experience is highly needed now that the state is gearing up for socioeconomic transformation.

award on behalf of the students group made up of tertiary institutions in the northern part of the country, said NANNS had meticulously evaluated and deliberated on all the nominees for the honour after which it concluded that the credit should go to the recipient, Alhaji Bala for his bursary awards to less privileged students from the north and other philanthropic gestures.

He said those honoured with the similar award in the past were individuals with proven track records of distinction, even as he

noted that “the award recipient has given scholarships and countless financial aid to indigent students, educational materials to schools, seasonal donation of food items to the less privileged and the needy, care for the orphans and widows and donation of relief materials to victims of various crises.”

Alhaji Bala who said he was humbled by the award, thanked the students and promised not to relent in his efforts at contributing to the educational and socio-economic development of the north in particular and the nation at large.

Mr. Akpoyibo however solicited the help of the public and the media to avail the police of vital information without necessarily disclosing their identities, saying: “Policing is the business of every one of us and of course, the media.

s most Muslims all over the world celebrate the birth of Prophet Muhammad (SAW) today, President Goodluck Jonathan has urged all Nigerians to collectively reflect on the virtues and ideals of the prophet as a way of moving the country forward.

The President in a statement yesterday said: “ I sincerely believe that we will make much faster progress towards the realisation of our shared vision of a strong, united and prosperous nation if more of our people imbibe the Prophet’s lessons of peace, peaceful coexistence with others, tolerance, honesty, selflessness, sincerity, justice, equity and fairness to all.

He continued: “My administration greatly appreciates the untiring effort being made by our religious and traditional rulers to foster national unity and promote the peaceful coexistence of all Nigerians in the face of current challenges and I urge them to do more in this regard.”

He assured Nigerians that his administration is fully committed to the successful implementation of its agenda for national transformation.

Kebbi citizens challenge IG to match words with action From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

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he association Kebbi state indigenes residing in Kaduna have called on the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar, to match his words with action and avoid paying lip service to security issues in the country.

Speaking during a courtesy call to Desmims Independent Television, (DITV) Kaduna, the public relations officer of the association, Malam Garba Mohammed, said the services of some former IGs in the country left a lot to be desired having left without improving the security situation of the country.

“We hope the new IG will make

positive impacts on the security situation of Nigeria so that we will continue to enjoy peace and harmony in the country,” he said.

In another development, the association also commended the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmumin Kabir Usman for “traveling all the way from Katsina state to visit the victims post election violence in Kaduna state”.

“What the emir did was commendable because none of the northern emirs has taken his time to visit these poor people just to donate food items to them. We hope other emirs will follow suit because these people need help after been abandoned by the government”, he said.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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EDITORIAL

That Supreme Court judgement A bout a fortnight ago, the controversial stay in office of the five governors of Adamawa, Bayelsa, Cross-River, Kogi and Sokoto states, came to an abrupt end. The Supreme Court, in a unanimous judgement, held that their tenures ought to have ended on May 29, 2011, and that, therefore, their continued stay in office beyond that date was illegal, a violation of our Constitution which expressly stipulates a renewable four- year term for governors. The learned justices of the court were of the belief that it is not within the contemplation of the Constitution that governors, would, for whatever reason, remain in office beyond the eight years of two terms allowed them.

All the five governors were first sworn into office on May 29, 2007, along with their other colleagues, but had their elections challenged and annulled, stood and won the re-run elections ordered, and were consequently sworn into office a second time, though on different dates.

In both the lower court and the Court of Appeal, where the five governors' case was heard and decided, the holding on the issue of tenure was that, for each of the governors, time began to run from the day he got sworn in and subscribed to the oath of office a second time after the re-run election. In the opinion of both courts, the first election, having been nullified, no longer exists in the eyes of the law, and, therefore, nothing can be based or built on it. Everything considered, that was a sound judgement, based on the law at the time.

This position has now been upturned by the Supreme Court judgement.

It is, in a way, understandable why the Supreme Court decided the way it did. In deciding cases of public interest, the superior courts especially take into consideration not just the fine points of law but other factors as well: public interest, cultural and social sensitivities, and the need to maintain public morality and order, for instance. Central to the case of the five governors is the issue of tenure of public officers, a very touchy and sensitive one in Nigeria. Tenure extension, for whoever and whatever reason, is something that touches a raw nerve and provokes instinctive

opposition among Nigerians across the board.

In fact, opposition to any move or action perceived as capable of leading to tenure elongation is one of the very few settled issues in this country. And the decisions of both the lower and appeal courts appeared to many Nigerians to be tenure extension granted through the back door to the governors. Even among the amici curiae (friends of the court) invited by the Supreme Court to proffer opinion on the case, this was the preponderance of opinion.

In reaching its decision, the Supreme Court, curiously, did not seriously address the new amendment in the Constitution that provides that the tenure of governors involved in re-run elections will start to run from the day of their first, not second,

“

It is to be hoped that the Supreme Court will always in future and in such cases, follow its judgements with consequential orders, in order to avoid confusion and a possible breakdown of law and order swearing- in and subscription to the oath of office. The court said, in fact, that the second swearing- in was secondary. The learned justices, it seemed, were swayed by the strong public sentiments against perceived tenure elongation and the arguments by especially rights activists that allowing the five governors to complete their tenures as per the appeal court judgement would be to reward election rigging and promote undemocratic currents in the country. The judgement has, understandably, been welcomed in such circles as being creative and quite in order. But was it really so?

In the first place, all the five governors stood and won their re-run elections at a time

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when the law was that the tenure of an elected official would start to run from the day of his second oath of office - a fact which, in our humble view, the learned justices ought to have used as the guiding light in their deliberations. Secondly, there is the court's own precedent in the very similar case of Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, which, in our view, should have been followed. Thirdly, there is the issue of the fact that an annulled election does not exist in the eyes of the law. And, fourthly, there is the well known legal maxim that you cannot build something on nothing.

With due respect to the learned justices, we believe that the Supreme Court would have served our country and our democracy better if it had upheld the judgement of the appeal court in this matter. That way, due and proper regard would have been given to the letter and spirit of our Constitution, and a regime of staggered elections in the country would have been instituted, which could go a long way to check election rigging and entrench a culture of free, fair and credible elections.

It was largely because of the failure of the Supreme Court to give consequential orders that there was confusion in especially Kogi state. There was otherwise no reason for any confusion. For, in Kogi an election had been conducted by a properly constituted and legally authorized body, INEC, and a winner had emerged and had been so declared. And the governorship election was held based on a valid court judgement that extended the tenure of Governor Ibrahim Idris. There was, therefore, no reason known to Iaw or commonsense why the winner of that election, Captain Wada, should not be allowed the benefit of his victory and sworn in to take over from Governor Idris whose tenure the Supreme Court had, by its judgement, brought to an abrupt end.

It is to be hoped that the Supreme Court will always in future and in such cases, follow its judgements with consequential orders, in order to avoid confusion and a possible breakdown of law and order. It was only because, in the end, commonsense prevailed that a breakdown of law and order was averted in Kogi.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 13

Yuguda’s unique recipe for peace

By Danlami Baban Takko

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ne of the essentials of good leadership that can easily command the respect and confidence of the followers is to lead by example because powerful leaders impress and intimidate by action rather than by saying much.

Governor is a Isa Yuguda’s style of leadership by example built on his personal desire to ensure peace and security for his people, are really amazing and exceptional especially in distress circumstances.

Presiding over the affairs of more than four million people of diverse culture, traditions and religions is no easy task and especially at a time when the unity and peace of the nation is being threatened from all directions. Bauchi State remains among the very few that are secured and protected from such onslaughts. The state also remains the pearl of tourism which it is known for. In his inaugural speech for a second four year term, governor Isa Yuguda spoke about the security situation in the following words, “The issue of security of life and property has caused a serious threat to our economic development.

We have experienced chains of crisis, the Tafawa Balewa crisis, Boko Haram, the Zango kala-kato crisis and the recent post-election crisis are all indicated setbacks to the peaceful co-existence in our dear state. A large portion of our

resourses have to be utilized to resolve these crises. We hope that our people have garnered enough experience on these crises so as to avoid future occurrences. We should understand that such crisis neither resolve problems nor improve the living condition of human co-existence, i.e trust, confidence and well-being of the citizens. As a responsible government, we will not allow the perpetrators of such acts to go free.”

True to his words, the governor demonstrated this commitment by initiating sound policies which have exterminated the ‘Sara-Suka’ men of the underworld whose potentials and energy have now been re-channelled for the course of development of the state.

Earlier, his administration had embarked on focused youth and women empowerment programs to address the youth restiveness and women unemployment by establishing the Bauchi State Agency for youth and women Rehabilitation and Development (BAYWARD) in July 2007. The Agency was placed directly under the Governor’s office and now transformed into commission.

Only recently, about 200 youth voluntarily and publicly surrendered their resolve to bid farewell to the dreaded acts of Sara-suka. Many thanks to Governor Isa Yuguda’s magnanimity and commitment to provide security as the Bauchi

people now happily sleep with their two eyes closed, with no threat of Sara-Suka, thefts or acts of banditry. During the justended nationwide strike embarked upon by the organised labour and civil societies to demonstrate against the removal of fuel subsidy, Bauchi state was spared the wanton destruction of public property and mayhem perpetrated by the youths. The governor Malam Isa Yuguda stayed in Bauchi throughout the one-week traumatic strike, and did not move an inch out of the capital preferring rather to live and die with his people. The people in return responded kindly to the Governor’s show of concern for his people by conducting themselves in a peaceful and orderly manner devoid of violence and destruction.

This is not the first time that Governor Yuguda will demonstrate his readiness and commitment to peace. After the Yelwa crisis which left many homeless, the governor appointed a special Rehabilitation committee which assessed the damages and reconciled the warring factions to embrace peace and live harmoniously with one another.

He built new houses to replace the destroyed ones for victims of such senseless mayhem. He built such houses for another victim of Tafawa Balewa crises and at the time of writing this peace, the various people of Tafawa Balewa have finally come together in the

spirit of peace and reconciliation fully resolved never again to fight.

The Yuguda led administration also created the much desired Sayawa chiefdom to promote lasting peace in the TFB/Bogoro areas. This has really restored peace to the area.

Mallam Isa Yuguda is a peaceloving man who is sensitive to issues bordering on collective security and peace for his people.

As he rightly puts it during his inaugural address for the second term, “Security, life, honour, and property are the major concern of any government. To this end, government has put in place several strategies of combating crime in the state. In like manner, security committees have been re-positioned to take up the challenges at the local government and community levels. At the macro level, the state government have initiated sound policies which have exterminated the ’Sara-Suka’ men of the underworld……”

Contrary to insinuations in certain quarters that portrayed the governor in bad light during the post-election violence which claimed the lives of some innocent corps members, the Governor publicly shed tears to mourn their death. He did not stop there, offered on behalf of the government the following compensation packages to the families of the deceased: N2 million to each family; three Hajj/Jerusalem pilgrimage seats to each family; and scholarships for two of their younger siblings

from secondary school to the university in Nigeria.

Governor Yuguda is good at crisis management. Under his exemplary leadership, Bauchi State was adjudged as the most investor-friendly by the World Bank. The state was able to attain this position as a result of the Governor’s ability to manage crisis and ensure peace and stability. The Governor doesn’t run away from crisis, he stays and manages it using the wisdom of the saint and the valour of the brave. But the greatest quality which sets Yuguda apart and gives him an edge over crisis, is his patience and ability to stay calm under stressful circumstances. He exhibited such noble traits prior to his becoming Governor in 2007 when all the forces were marshalled against him by those holding the reign of power at the time. His unshakable determination and sense of endurance saw him through the entire trauma.

Matching violence with nonviolence, Yuguda’s personal peaceful conduct defeated the barrage of atrocities, persecution and oppression meted out to him and in the end he emerged victorious.

Bauchi State is now peaceful and will remain so for all time to come, because Yuguda as the man in-charge is a peace-loving man.

Danlami Baban Takko is the Senior Special Assistant on e-Governance Governor Isa Yuguda

Al- Mustapha: The perversion of cause of justice (II)

By Shehu Abdullahi Zuru

T

hese were textbook references in soldiering with a larger than life personality frame that rattled and dazzled their competitors which earned them the admiration of even their worst enemies. Conversely, they were not seminar paper soldiers who got to the top of their career through boardroom intrigues and the deceptive ruse of international conferences. This is the group I decided to call the easy come easy go soldiers, to them it is all about life rather than dying, what an ironic professional fraud because in the words of Gen. Macarthur (the American God of war) soldiering is about a believe structure anchored on educated principles of fighting to preserve an idea where life and death becomes mere cosmetic luxuries for the cowards. Needless to remind about your brilliance at the publicity jamboree called (Oputa panel) which had ironically helped redeemed the image of the military which before your cleansing performance was sentimentally considered a cheap sanctuary for the indolent, a mere legion of the failed. The Oputa trajectory had in a twist of fate earned you an avalanche of unsolicited praise both from the army as at then and immense admiration even from your most hawkish circle of enemies, in the

same vein, it had struck palpable fear about your awesome capacity for self reinvention, for your intelligence which had emboldened the resolve of the cabal to feast on your bones and blood.

That is the courage of the cowards, they have forgotten so soon that you are a soldier who took the oath of office to die if inevitable in discharge of the integrity of duty. To my relief and delight you have already reconciled with fate, you may be that conspiratorial lamb to the slaughter house in accordance with the wishes of the serial killing cabal, but as a soldier true to the professional calling, you will not die but rather fades away.

Like Che Guevarra, the Latin American revolutionary, tell the state executioners, the cowards to go ahead to hang you, they can only kill a innocent man but not his ideas. Paradoxically, you have become a quintessential symbol of courage in the face of a consuming pathological hatred, a symbol of protest against executive paranoid driven miscarriage of justice. The fact that you had the singularly honour like the Generals mentioned above to live the life of professional integrity, plant the seeds of your life, harvest the grains, drink from its wine and depart honourably, perhaps as alluded by Captain Thomas Sankara, yours would be an honour death in order to water the

tree of your cause. After all, what is it? According to Mitch Albom, in “Tuesdays with Morrie Death”, only ends life but does not end relationships, what it does most is to change a conversation. Albeit we know it is not over yet before you are led to the rituals, wrap yourself with the syllogism of Martin Luther King Jnr when he posited that anyone who does not find something to die for is not fit to live.

Undoubtedly, the conviction of Al-Mustapha and others has huge ramifications for Nigeria. It has once again reopened the old wound about ethnic hatred and regional xenophobia. Regardless of the ruse of political correctness and the gaffe of indifference about it, it has instantaneously compelled a poisoned retrospection about the future survival of the Nigeria project.

As rightly observed above, the purported conviction would have huge ramifications for ethnic relations within the context of the Nigerian project. It has once again brought to the fore the fragility of the Nigerian state, a country already living with the nightmare of the American 2015 prophesy hanging over it. Wrongly or rightly, the conviction of AlMustapha and others is increasingly seen as a returned ethnic vengeance for the perceived sins of the region and the ethnic

group that produced Gen. Abacha whose military regime mismanaged the June12 saga which culminated into the death of Chief M.K.O Abiola of the blessed memory and the trial of Ken Sarowiwa for treason and his eventual conviction and execution despite passionate appeals by a section of the international community.

Now, despite the tantalizing temptation to juxtapose these complex scenarios of pathological ethnicity among the various components of the Country, the truth is if we prolong the cynical circus of pursuits of ethnic vengeance using the instrument of political power, then we will forever remained on the edge of self destruction. Already we are struggling with the consuming threat of Bako Haram, a menace spiralling out of control, a potent threat beyond the conventional training of a contemporary soldier.

Therefore, the conviction was unprecedented, stupendous and profoundly insensitive; in short, it was a worst cut of an already bleeding injury.

The ruse of a supposed court verdict and conviction of Maj. Almustapha would have terrible implications for the North. The tension widely generated by the conviction among the youths in the region can be understood from two perspectives; first their controlled anger about the manner

the leaders from the regions neglected the issue even though it was clear to everybody that trial was purely a pursuit of ethnic vengeance against the region that provided political leadership during the period of Late General Abacha of the blessed memory.

Maj. Almustapha is only the vicarious object of hate against the region, therefore people from the region feel that he is being persecuted for the sins of the mother (North) It was therefore, unforgiving and unforgettable abomination the manner the so called leaders of the region shamelessly abandoned him to a twisted fate perhaps for reasons of a selfish salvation and continued political patronage (It is synonymous with a family of witches that decided to give one of its own to the cult for the periodic ritual sacrifice). As it were, sadly, the major casualty was the patriotism and genuine sense of purpose and obligation to the region as evident during the period of the irreplaceable Sir Ahmadu Bello, the Sardauna of Sokoto (of the blessed memory) Already there is clear evidence of disconnection between people and the previously revered institutions of leadership in the region e.g Jamaatul Nasirul Islam (JNI), Traditional Institutions, Council of Ulamas, and the worst case, the Continued on page 14

PAGE 14

By Moh’d Qaddam Sidq Isa

I

followed with interest the comment made by General Babangida at the Daily Trust Annual Dialogue held recently in Abuja which warned of his readiness to take up arms again in order to prevent this country from disintegration. In a following interview on BBC Hausa service, the General lamented that the sacrifice he had made and the loss of more than one million Nigerian lives in the 30 months long civil war would have been in vain if the country broke up.

IBB’s warning comes amid escalating existential challenges facing the country at a rate never experienced since the end of its civil war more than four decades ago.

And it also comes when an increasing number of some ethnic groups that make up the country are calling for the review its terms of corporate existence, alluding to the possibility of going to the extent of using force to affect it.

Incidentally, even though it is obvious that such ethnic groups don’t have any specific understanding on even the geographical basis on which they want the country divided, they nonetheless effectively agree on at least one demand i.e. getting rid of the core north in particular.

On their part, the core northern Nigerian elites particularly those with military backgrounds have often warned against any move to divide this country under any circumstances, equally alluding to their readiness to go back to the trench in order to prevent it.

Perhaps, this is the only issue on which the core Northern Nigerian elite have a consensus regardless of their political persuasions, partisan affiliations and philosophical ideologies. For instance, in a well prepared research presented more than a decade ago, titled “The Misrepresentation of Nigeria: The facts and the Figures” late Dr. Yusuf Bala Usman had argued vehemently in favor of Nigeria’s continued corporate existence,

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Core North’s dilemma where he eloquently debunked have enjoyed over the decades. After Nigeria in the 60s came, do no longer many misconceptions surrounding all, their region remains one of the identify themselves as northerners its historical evolvement as a most economically backward per se. In fact, every now and then corporate state. regions in the world and is their different organizations Interestingly enough, in progressively competing to become disassociate themselves from addition to the conventional one of the most volatile also. northerners and instead seek to arguments repeatedly cited by the By the way, ordinarily whoever identify themselves primarily on advocates of the status-quo, which claims a commitment to something religious basis to connect with some largely highlight the pre-colonial to the extent of warning to go to war other religious groups in the region historical and socioa n d commercial links elsewhere. between various F o r Nigerian ethnoinstance, r e l i g i o u s o n l y Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text components, Dr. recently an messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written Yusuf went ahead to organization contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 also establish the c a l l e d words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and existence of U n i t e d a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed g e o l o g i c a l , Middle-Belt to: hydrological, Y o u t h climatic, linguistic Co n g r e s s ; The Editor, and geographical U M Y C Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, commonalities exp ress ed 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. between various the region’s Nigeria’s ethnoregret to Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com religious groups long fight on the SMS: 07037756364 before the advent of northerners’ the colonial powers. side in the However, poor Dr. Yusuf, he died in order to protect it is expected to 60s in the first place, vowing to not with a burning desire to see a better practically prove that repeat Nigeria that evokes hope and commitment in the maintenance what they call “that mistake”. inspiration in its citizens. and improvement of that thing. As Nonetheless, the core northern In a nutshell, Nigeria’s a matter of fact this is only what Nigerian elites seem to have taken continued corporate existence is a determines whether he is really things for granted more than red line as far as the core northern honest and serious in his claim or necessary, counting on some luck Nigerian socio-political elites are not. and coincidences, which have concerned. However, in as much Anyway, as result of their influenced circumstances in their as such commitment is laudable, it commissions and omissions the favor in the past, as a result of which is pretty lamentable that it has not bond which hitherto bound the they often underestimate similar been matched with appropriate region’s diverse ethno-religious warnings from concerned performance in leadership groups has now eroded, ushering individuals and bodies. particularly over the last few in mutual distrust and hatred They don’t seem to realize that, decades. between them, which also they have rendered the average This is especially considering the frequently deteriorate into core northerners (on whom they fact that, the political elites from atrocities. obviously count when they warn this particular sub-region had (until Consequently, the concept of of taking up arms) too disappointed, just a little more than a decade ago) northern region is fast shrinking too dejected and too demoralized to used to (almost exclusively) call the into a mere reference to Hausa- fight in order to prevent this country shots either directly or indirectly Fulani, Kanuri and other smaller from disintegration, because they in the country’s leadership affairs. predominantly Muslim ethnic hardly if at all see anything Ironically however, their groups. While the minority ethno- worthwhile enough to warrant performance in general neither religious groups in the region, from risking their lives for despite reflected their much touted belief where the majority of the northern enduring miserable lifestyles in in Nigerian project in general nor regular army who fought for the general. justified the huge influence they continued corporate existence of Incidentally one doesn’t

WRITE TO US

necessarily need to have anything tangible in order to fight for its protection, but he definitely needs to have a hope inspirable enough to make him risk his life for it. As a matter of fact, without such a hope, even if one has tangible assets worthy of risking his life in order to protect, he will not have the amount of courage necessary to make him prevail.

In view of these circumstances, it is obvious that not even the average core northerners let alone the minority ethno-religious groups would go to any war if the other regions or some of them decide to get rid of the north or core north for that matter. As matter of fact, should the core northerners decide to fight anyway, the minority ethno-religious groups would probably go against them.

Hence as things stand now and unless some fundamental sociopolitical and economic transformations take place dramatically in the north, there seems to be nothing capable of preventing the eventual removal of particularly the core north sooner or later, notwithstanding what sort of political circumstances would emerge in the aftermath.

I therefore implore particularly the core northern Nigerian elites to wake up and face this reality. They need to swallow their largely empty pride in order to realize that there is no alternative to the provision of good governance that will restore hope to the people.

Once people’s hope is revived they will automatically become proactive hence appropriately productive, and thus become motivated enough to make any sacrifice for the region and indeed the country no matter how costly.

Moh’d Qaddam Sidq Isa lives in the UAE and ca ne reached at www.qaddamsidq.blogspot.com Subsidy: The President’s little black book

Al- Mustapha: The perversion of cause of justice (II) Continued from page 13

forum of Northern Governors (The arrogated harbingers of self opportunism). The anger and destruction that was directed against these institutions following the bungled presidential, governorship and parliamentary elections of 2011 were self evident of this thesis. As a matter of fact the breakdown of the congenial relationship between the peoples of the region and these revered institutions hitherto, is feeding into the general condition of national insecurity. That is why today, the Boko Haram whoever they are, have the convenient environment to operate and the effrontery to state categorically that they neither recognize nor respect the sultan or any emir from the region. The region has therefore lost that voice of leverage and containment during a period of crisis, by extension, government has also lost the strategic link essential for calming explosive discontent during the period of national emergencies.

Until this conviction, the judiciary had retained semblance of moral high ground, but with this fluid conviction and its attendant toxic perception, the sanctity of the image of Judiciary has been eroded.

The image summersault began in the 1990s with the infamous ruling on an interlocutory application brought before Late Justice Bassey Epkeme

by Nzerebe’s notorious Association for Better Nigeria in order to stall the controversial June 12 election.

Albeit it managed to stagger through the choke of fabrication generated by the ruling and the avalanche of subsequent injunctions by Courts of equal jurisdictions in various parts of the Country, it is obvious that veritable lessons were either avoided or ignored out rightly (in the words of Ghandi, the future depends very much on what we do in the present). It was a missed opportunity for the Judiciary to come clean about the endemic cancer of ethnic jurisprudence in the toga of justice of the law. It was

this culture of denial by the Judiciary that was the precursor to what had happened in the case of Al-Mustapha and others (a very ethnic sensitive case). The implications on the Judiciary are obvious; The case puts demonstrated the issue of struggling independence of the Judiciary. The truth is, the Judiciary is a starving and dying patient barely kept alive on the life support machine of government’s statutory allocations. Therefore, pointless to argue that he who pays for the piper dictates the tune. This is the system responsible for creating a legion of executive hired guns within the realm of Nigerian Judiciary today. Consequently, little surprise that a very important case of charged ethnic nationalism upon which the reaffirmation of rule of law and survival of the nascent democracy hinged upon could be bungled so easily by a tribal warlord presiding over a court case. In the words of Justice Holmes in classical jurisprudence, a judge like all of us

can be overcome by sentiments, religion, ideology and even casual predilections, therefore, according to his thesis on American Realism, a homosexual, or tribal judge with obscured and narrow parochial mentality would not have seen anything wrong with his blurred thesis on Law and Justice.

The conviction is capable of ethnicizing the administration of justice in Nigeria (may the Lord forbid) whereby every wrongly or rightly accused would develop a mindset that unless he or she is tried by a judge of his ethnic group and in his own part of the country he will never receive a fair trial or a proven conviction based on the logic of the Law and superior reasoning in judicial jurisprudence. In order words, public confidence in the Nigerian Judiciary is at the lowest ebb, the purported conviction will further deplete what remained of it and perhaps the stunted goodwill towards the Judiciary.

The conviction also represents an indictment of the various pseudo human rights platforms in Nigeria.

So called amnesty international and human right watch have all fallen short of international standard practices. Despite the detention of the accused under an unprecedented dehumanizing condition, very little was heard from them. I suspect them of pursuing a narrow parochial ethnic agenda using the composite of a human right community.

It is not yet over until it is over in view of the numerous appeal windows available to the convicted, therefore, for the conviction, the jury is still out. For the Nigerian Judiciary, let me warn that it is a minute to the midnight of selfredemption, as you sift through the appeal system be guided by the fact that we have all eaten from the same calabash of dissatisfaction.

Perhaps with the benefit of hindsight, we have over-stretched the rubber band and it is a critical moment to keep within the limits.

Shehu Abdullahi Zuru is a law lecturer at the University of Abuja.

Concluded

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 15

Hafiz Ringim: Exit of a bad cop F

ormer Inspector General of Police, Hafiz Ringim, had three golden opportunities last year to leave service voluntarily and honourably. On June 16, 2011, a member of the Boko Haram sect trailed his convoy from his residence to Force Headquarters in Abuja and then exploded a bomb in the premise.

For a police chief who only a few days ago had boasted that the days of Boko Haram were numbered, this was a clear case of incompetence. If he could not guarantee his own personal safety, certainly he had no business remaining in charge of the security of over 100 million people.

Again on the August 26, a Boko Haram suicide bomber went to the United Nations building in Abuja and exploded a bomb. At the last count, the death toll was over twenty. Nigeria, for the wrong reasons, attracted global media attention. But Hafiz Ringim would not resign. He held tight to his office.

Then on Christmas Day of last year, Boko Haram bombers exploded their lethal ware at a Catholic Church in Madalla, near the Federal capital. The attack killed over 40 instantly. More deaths followed. The world was aghast. Hafiz Ringim responded by sitting tight in his office. I may be unfair to him. Early this year, we heard that Kabiru Sokoto, the man who masterminded the Madalla Church bombing, was caught in a governor’s Abuja lodge.

We all heaved a sigh of relief, thinking that our security services

were up to the task after all.

Amazingly, a few days later, we were told that the man had escaped from police custody!

There was an immediate followup by Boko Haram in the commercial city of Kano. This town was completely overrun by Boko Haram in the same medieval cruelty that Obasanjo’s troops overran the Sankera zone of Tivland in 2001. The only difference is that whereas the Obasanjo military juggernaut had three good days to do a thorough job of murdering unarmed civilians, Boko Haram only took one hour to unleash terror that forced the Emir of Kano, Alhaji Ado Bayero - a man hardly known for any emotion – to shed tears in public.

The Nigerian police is seen as a hopelessly inept institution nationwide. It is bedevilled by the twin evils of corruption and incompetence. We would, therefore, be unfair in our criticism if we expected Hafiz Ringim to have achieved anything other than what he did in his short and shoddy period as Inspector General of Police. Where we must blame him is in his attempt to perfect corruption and incompetence into an art in the NPF. I wouldn’t have said so if I did not personally experience Hafiz Ringim’s unusual style of policing.

Sometime last year, my friend Charles Ayede was gunned down as he drove between Lafia and Makurdi.

The manner of his killing was In the history of the Nigerian suspicious and Prof. Stephen Ugba, police, as chequered as it is, Hafiz the ACN gubernatorial aspirant in Ringim was the first IGP to turn last year’s elections in Benue, said so victims of a gruesome crime like loudly. He, in fact, called a press murder into victims. The police began conference at which he pointed a with a 30 -member consular guard finger at Governor Gabriel Suswam formed in Lagos colony in 1861. In of Benue state. The governor, of 1879, a 1,200-member armed course, denied the allegation of his paramilitary Hausa constabulary complicity in the murder, saying that was formed. In 1896, the Lagos police Ayede was a victim of armed was established. A similar force, the robbery. Hafiz Ringim did not only Niger Coast Constabulary, was buy the governor’s side of the story, formed in Calabar in 1894 under the he sent 12 lorry newly proclaimed loads of well Niger Coast a r m e d Protectorate. In the policemen to North, the Royal Benue to arrest Niger Company set the ‘armed up the Royal Niger robbers’ he C o m p a n y suspected had a Constabulary in hand in Ayede’s 1888 with murder. headquarters at Top on the Lokoja. When the Emmanuel Yawe list of these Northern and 08024565402 armed robbery Southern Nigeria royawe@yahoo.com protectorates were suspects was Mr. Adaa Maagbe proclaimed in the who was with Ayede at the time he early 1900s, part of the Royal Niger was shot but he miraculously escaped Company Constabulary became the the gun man’s bullet. Others were Northern Nigeria Police, and part of Prof. Ugba whom Ayede was working the Niger Coast Constabulary for in his campaign organization as a became the Southern Nigeria Police. media aide; Crucial Abua, former Northern and Southern Nigeria Chairman of Gboko Local were amalgamated in 1914, but Government Council, Ayede’s cooks their police forces were not merged and house boys at his rather remote until 1930, forming the NPF. village in Kwande Local government Every Nigerian government Area. The most ridiculous arrests since independence in 1960 has tried were those of under aged primary to make the best out of this ugly school pupils from the village. security contraption without much

success.

Each of these governments civilian or military - had set up a panel or committee to recommend ways of improving policing in Nigeria. The last one was by late President Umaru Yar’adua in 2008. It was headed by M.D. Yusuf, a respected former IGP, and it was populated by all former IGs. The amazing thing is that each of these committees went about an elaborate process of collecting volumes of information and wrote diligent reports. They submitted the reports to government and the story ended there.

With Hafiz Ringim’s tenure coming to a ghastly end recently, President Goodluck Jonathan has set up yet another committee. Every Nigerian is wondering what will come out of this ritual this time around. He has also retired the cream of the police and appointed M. D Abubakar as the new IGP. Even this drastic step does not seem to address the fundamental challenges ahead particularly as they relate to Boko Haram. Some people have raised questions about the propriety of appointing a new IGP who was indicted for his partisanship in handling a religious riot in the past when the country is sitting on a keg of religious gunpowder.

These are hard times for Nigeria.

Even in Sodom and Gomorah, there was one man – Lot – who was found to have unimpeachable records.

Tragically, there appears to be none in the Nigeria Police Force.

Kalu I. Kalu’s ‘kalakuta’ economics D

r. Kalu Idika Kalu is a known name in the nation’s economic establishment. He is among the few egg-heads who can be said to have seen it all. Except that he doesn’t seem to have seen very clearly. Perhaps his vision is blurred by partisan, self-serving selfrighteousness. He is an apostle of Nigeria being an eternal debtor! He believes many of us are economic illiterates by being “anti-credit”, that is, anti borrowing, courtesy of the “illuminations” he provided in Segun Ayobolu’s column of Saturday, February 4, in THE NATION. He has been a Commissioner of Finance (Imo state), and a two time minister in two military regimes – Minister of Finance; Minister of National Planning under Gen. Ibrahim Babangida and Minister of Finance under Gen. Sani Abacha - , so you expect him to bring better illumination to national economic issues.

Kalu is a also a World Bank alumnus, having worked in the global development institution which should have provided him with a broader perspective on national development challenges in developing countries of which Nigeria is one. The ex-Minister chairs a lucrative consultancy outfit, apparently parleying his forays in government to a good retirement nest of monetary goodies.

Of course, consultancy is a natural progression for those who have held high public office; after all, Dr. Henry Kissinger, a.k.a. Dr. K, Henry the K, the former American Secretary of State, still

enjoys consultancy briefs nearly 40 Developing Countries, 1985” held at years after coming into global the Martin Luther King Jr. Centre limelight during the tenure of in Atlanta, US, on January 11, President Richard Nixon in the early 1985.“The (World) Bank has to mid-1970s. outlined an Action Program for Kalu made strenuous effort to Africa. It stresses that policy reforms project himself not only as the good by the governments of Africa are economist in his text rejoinder to fundamental to progress”, he stated.

Ayobolu’s column but perhaps more Policy reform is a euphemism for as a defender of dazzling Diezani structural adjustment.

(Alison-Madueke) when he poohEarlier at a lecture at Harvard poohed the notion that the Petroleum University on February 24, 1983, Minister unilaterally ordered the Clausen had conceded that the Petroleum Products Pricing and Bank’s ‘sister institution’, the IMF, Regulatory Agency (PPPRA) to effect was the arrow-head of structural the fuel subsidy removal on adjustment programmes but added: January 1, 2012. He had noted the day’s newspaper headlines: ‘Diezani ordered subsidy removal” and shot back with “That may be as true as the fiction that World Bank/IMF ‘ordered SAP’”. olawunmibisi@yahoo.com If Kalu believes World 0803 364 7571 (SMS only) Bank/IMF role in forcefeeding Nigeria, and some other developing countries, “The World Bank complements the with structural adjustment IMF. While the Fund emphasizes programme (SAP) is fiction, it short-to medium term adjustment, means he is allergic to truth, as well the Bank was designed to focus on engaged in intellectual mischief. The long-term economic development”. truth of the matter is that the World So, while the IMF takes the stick Bank and the International to indebted Third World countries, Monetary Fund vigorously pushed ab initio stampeded into ill-conceived the SAP agenda and bamboozled ill- borrowing, the World Bank comes informed African political leaders with the sweetener of facilitating with esoteric statistics. external resources to sustain the On various platforms, the then adjustment programme. But by World Bank President, A.W. (Tom) 1986, when Clausen addressed the Clausen, made the case for SAP and Commonwealth Secretariat in owned up to the bank conceiving the London, the Bank had to admit that programme in an address at a “the implementation of sound conference on “Poverty in adjustment programs is being

The Bisibee Bisi Olawunmi

jeopardized by inadequate financial support”.

The countries implementing SAP ended up being led up the alley - a dead end.

Anyway, I was a resident Foreign Correspondent in Washington during that period and interacted with Tom Clausen and other senior officials of the Bank and knew how aggressively they pushed the SAP agenda. Kalu was, therefore, spinning his own fiction when he asserted that lead roles attributed to the World Bank/IMF in making developing nations, including Nigeria, adopt SAP, are a fiction.

But while apologists like Kalu are putting up a defence for his ‘Alma mater’, the Bretton W o o d s institutions, the World Bank admits to its own failures in earlier policy options implemented in Africa. “We have had more project failures in agriculture than in any other sector, and the failures have been concentrated in Africa”, said Clausen. Agriculture used to be the linchpin of World Bank projects in Africa; so, some day, the World Bank and the IMF will similarly admit to the failures of SAP in Africa.

As to Kalu’s dismissive position on the debt pay-off as “naïve celebration of a so-called ‘debt exit achievement in the midst of terrible vital infrastructural statistics”, wouldn’t the situation have been much worse if the nation were still

to be servicing debts running into trillions of naira? I call this ‘Kalakuta’ economics that preaches being in debt as superior to being debt-free.

Even indebted America is struggling to reduce its debt, hence its trade battle with its big trading partner, the surplus suffused China!

The Addis Ababa non-event Newspaper speculative reporting, in cohort with its travelling companion, anonymous sources, got ditched when the speculated Goodluck Jonathan chairmanship of the African Union at its just concluded Summit in Addis Ababa got short-changed.

Neighbouring Benin Republic’s President Boni Yayi got the crown.

It should teach journalists how not to be led by the noose by dubious sources claiming close connections with the Presidency.

And those protocol bad guys at Addis even shunted the president of the most populous Black nation on mother earth to the back row in the group photography. He was almost lost in the crowd!

The dilemma of Igbo leaders They lament the killing of their brethren by Boko Haram in the North. They say husbands should stay put while wives and kids return to hunger in a homeland from which many have been alienated. But the joke is that they commended President Goodluck Jonathan for his efforts at securing the peace! These people can talk from both sides of the mouth.

Perhaps, the intimidating presence of Pius Anyim Pius, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation got them uncoordinated.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Dear reader, Metro welcomes human interest stories in your neighbourhood. Please call or send SMS to 08065327178 or e-mail jomarch4@yahoo.com to inform us about happenings in your area. Share your experiences or those of your friends and neighbours with fellow readers.

Childhood obesity: Nutritionist encourages children to do physical exercise L-R: Senator representing FCT, Senator Philip Aduda, in a handshake with Eze Igbo 1, of Abuja, Eze Nwosu Ibe, who led a delegation of Igbo Traditional Council in the FCT on a condolence visit to Senator Aduda to commiserate with him on the death of his mother, in Abuja, yesterday.

Civil Engineer remanded for assaulting lady A

n Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court has remanded a civil engineer, Daniel Adeola, 42, in prison custody for allegedly causing bodily harm on a wom an.

Adeola was arraigned before the court on a two-count charge of criminal force and assault occasioning harm.

Prosecutor Christopher Roko told the court that Mrs Asabe Waziri of Ebitu Ukiwe Street, Jabi in Abuja, reported the matter to the police on Jan. 16.

Roko said that the complainant told the police that she was supervising workers at an estate, when the accused drove his car toward her with

an intention to injure her.

The prosecutor said that due to the effect of the intentional act, the complainant fell and sustained bruises on her lap as she made effort to escape.

He said that the complainant also alleged that the accused threatened to deal with her after calling her unprintable and abusive names

like prostitute.

Roko said that offence contravened Section 263 of the Penal Code.

Adeola pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The Chief Magistrate, Mr Okeagu Azubike, remanded the accused in prison custody and adjourned the case to Feb. 10, 2012 for further hearing. (NAN)

Security man, 19 jailed for stealing A n Abuja Magistrate’s Court has sentenced one security man, Michael Dauda, 19, residing in Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nyanya, Abuja, to two months imprisonment for stealing 75 litres of petrol valued at N7, 275, 22 empty paint rubbers, old meter,

compressor and electric wire.

The Senior Magistrate, Nkwadimi Buba, who convicted the accused after he pleaded guilty, however, gave him an option of N3,000 fine.

The Police Prosecutor, Jerry Tangshak, told the court that the case was reported at the Karu Police

station by one Mr Mohammed Iya of Federal Housing Authority, Nyan ya.

Tangshak said that on Jan. 17, 2012 the convict stole Iya’s 75 litres of petrol valued at N7, 275, adding that the he also stole 22 empty paint rubbers, old meter, compressor and electric wire.

He added that during interrogation, the convict confessed that the petrol and empty paint rubbers valued at N11, 675, were sold to one Sanusi Umar of Area A Extension, Nyanya, Abuja.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 288 of the Penal Code. (NAN)

PDP south/ south to partner AMAC on infrastructure development

By Adeola Tukuru with agency news

T

he South South People Democratic Party (PDP) FCT Chapter has pledged to partner the Abuja Municipal Area Council stride in infrastructural development in the area.

Mr Godwin Ilede, Chairman, South South PDP FCT chapter in

an interview said that the good works of Mr Micah Jiba, Chairman, AMAC was the reason behind the support.

“Why we are in support is that, the chairman has done so many things that other chairmen were not able to do.

“He has executed projects that touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians and we want to partner

with him to do more,’’ he said.

Ilede said that the South South PDP people in the FCT has identify the AMAC chairman as a workable tool to partner with to further better lives and infrastructural development in the council.

He noted that the people of FCT would no doubt give their mandate to the chairman to come in for second tenure.

In other interview, Mr Alex EbiEdim, Supervisory Councilor for Special Duty, AMAC said the called by the South South PDP for the chairman to vice for second term in office was a called for other zones to collaborate with the council.

He described the chairman as an epitome of humility and that his adoption by the South South was not a surprised.

A

nutritionist has called on parents to encourage their children to do physical exercise as it will reduce health risks and help weight management.

Hajiya Jummai Hassan, nutritionist at the Wuse General Hospital, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday. “ We have lots of junk food here in Nigeria and our children consume them a lot but what we can do to prevent obesity is by encouraging exercise.”

Hassan said families could take their children for a walk in the evening and weekends as well as swimming and biking which they would find fun and interesting.

According to her, the children will prefer to sit and play games, watch movies and eat all the junk foods and drinks available.

“Its important that we as parents have to encourage them to be physically active in that way, in spite of their intake of junks or eating so much food ,they will be healthy and obesity could be prevented.”

Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia, described childhood obesity as a condition where excess body fat negatively affects a child’s health or wellbeing.

It states that “as methods to determine body fat directly are difficult, the diagnosis of obesity is often based on Body Mass Index (BMI) “Due to the rising prevalence of obesity in children and its many adverse health effects it is being recognizsd as a serious public health concern.” (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 17

Man gets 3 months imprisonment for theft

FCT unveils N137bn district infrastructure

A

ByAdeola Tukuru

n Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court has sentenced one Kalit Inyang to three months imprisonment for shop breaking, joint act and stealing of 60 pieces of cloth.

Police prosecutor Irimiya Buba had told the court that on Jan. 23, 2012, Mr Sunday Eziekwu of Kado Kuchi Village, Abuja, reported at the Utako Police Station that Inyang and Sunday John on Jan. 15 allegedly broke into his shop.

He said the accused allegedly made away with 60 pieces of cloth valued at N60, 000, and N40, 000 cash.

Buba said that on Jan. 22, Inyang was caught while stealing some clothes from the same shop with an iron rod through the window.

He said the items recovered from the convict were kept as exhibit.

Buba also said that the offence contravened Sections 347, 79 and 288 of the Penal Code.

Inyang pleaded guilty to the charge and promised not to steal again, while John pleaded not guil ty.

On account of their plea, Buba prayed the court to direct Inyang to pay N50,000 compensation to the complainant, and asked for hearing of John’s case.

Magistrate Aminu Eri, however, gave Inyang an option to pay N400 fine on each offence.

He also ordered the convict to pay N50, 000 compensation to Eziekwu, the owner of the 60 pieces of cloth within seven days or serve the prison term.

Eri, however, granted John bail in the sum of N50, 000 and two reliable sureties, adding that the sureties must be responsible Nigerians, who must reside within the jurisdiction of the court He adjourned the case to Feb. 14, 2012 for hearing. (NAN)

T

he FCT Administration has flagged-off i n f ra s truc t ura l development worth N137billion in three districts, which are Katampe district, Kagini district and Maitama Extension district in the Federal Capital Territory

(FCT).

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Abdulkadir Mohammed revealed that the total development cost of Katampe District infrastructure which will be executed through PublicPrivate-Partnership (PPP) is N61, 194,747,645.00; the Kagini I District is N52,609,879,284.47 while Maitama Extension District

is at the cost of N23,650,000,000.00 totaling N137,454,626,929.00.

He explained that he has pushed for its full actualization in line with President Goodluck Jonathan’s transformation agenda and the FCT Road Map for sustainable development.

In his words: “Over the years, the Federal Government has been

facing the challenges of meeting up with its financial obligations towards providing the necessary infrastructure and amenities for the citizenry and that the FCT Administration is not an exception, hence the resort to the concept of Public-Private-Partnership.

“These concept requires the private sector to make available its resources and expertise for the

A car laoded with jerrycans and kettles along Kubwa Express Way, recently

Abuja motorists reject park and pay scheme

By Josephine Ella

B

arely one week that the Federal Capital Territory administration (FCTA) unveiled its new parking scheme in which motorists park on the street and pay N50 for 30 minutes, have motorists in the territory described the scheme as exploitative.

The administration had late last year concessioned on-street

A fruits hawker at GSM village, Abuja.

parking in the city to two private firms; the Platinum Parking Management Services and Integrity Parking Management Company under Public Private Partnership (PPP) arrangement.

The scheme according to the administration would help to control the traffic situation in the nation’s capital which is already a source of headache for both the administration and the residents of the city.

However, when members of

Photos: Joe Oroye

staff of the two firms who operate in A and B zones of the city concessioned to them started operation last week, many motorists did not only find the scheme strange but also exploitative.

Some of them who spoke with Peoples Daily said that the scheme though may help ease the chaotic traffic situation in the city but the cost according to them should be reviewed.

A motorist who did not want his name to be mentioned was particular about paying as much as N650 for 12 hours which he noted is too exorbitant in a city where there are no public car parks.

“Imagine, where we park off the street, we pay between N50 and N100 for as long as you want in a day. But look at what government is providing for us; they are asking us to be paying N50 per 30 minutes and N650 for 12 hours. To me this is too much”.

But while speaking, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Platinum Parking Management Services, Otunba Olusegun Olarewaju said the scheme was out to ease traffic situation in the city.

His words: “In every cosmopolitan city of the world; if you go to South Africa, Morocco, Egypt and Tanzania nearby here; parking in most cosmopolitan

cities of the world is not free because a lot of factors are being considered by the government.

Number one, sanity, the parking arrangement on the road and you know People Park haphazardly on the road like the problem of double parking. If you look at the influx of motorists into the Abuja metropolis you will realise that onstreet parking or parking management service is long overdue.

“You see that cars are parked haphazardly on the road, illegal parking, triple parking, some people parking and block ways with man hours lost in the process.

We envisaged all these problems due to the geometric rate of influx of people into Abuja metropolis.

We knew this was going to happen and that’s what we are experiencing now thereby man hours are being lost in Abuja that has not been noted for traffic jam”.

“On the cost of parking, he explained that the cost is very moderate compared to what is paid elsewhere across the world saying “I think it’s very moderate. A lot of people are saying we should not use what is happening in the advanced countries to judge our own situation in Nigeria.

“We have to make sure that it commensurate with our standard of living and mind you, what we are trying to do at the end of the day, the government is not making any money”, he said.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 19

amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk 08033644990

INSIDE - Pg 21 NSE to lower listing requirement

N30bn bond: Kwara govt says it only accessed N17bn From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Kwara state government at the weekend disclosed that it only accessed N17 billion out of the N30 billion sought for at the Stock Exchange Security Market (SEC) during the immediate past administration of Dr. Bukola Saraki in 2009.

The Commissioner for Planning and Economy Development, Chief Tunde Adeoti and Special Assistant (SA) to Governor on Investment, Mr. Yomi Ogunsola at a press conference in Ilorin said that the bond cost the government a lot of money before it could access N17 billion to finance its capital projects.

Addressing journalists on the matter, Ogunsola, who was also party to the bond issuance during Saraki's administration explained that the government sold a self prospectus to the bond holders and before they settled agents at the security market, it cost them not less than N250 million while other expenses were also incurred during the

Flight schedule AIR NIGERIA (MONDAY - SUNDAY) LOS-ABJ: 07.15, 11.40, 14.00, 16.30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30.

ABJ-LOS : 07.00, 09.30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.35 ABJ-KANO: 18.40 KANO-ABJ: 08.35 ABJ-S OK (MON): 09.35 ABJ-S OK (FRI): 10.10 ABJ-S OK (WED /SUN): 11.20 SOK-ABJ (MON): 11.35 SOK-ABJ (FRI): 12.00 SOK-ABJ (WED /SUN): 13.20

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

DANA AIRLINES (MON - SUN) LOS-ABJ: 07.02, 08.10, 12.06, 15.30, 17.10 ABJ-L OS: 07.20, 09.36, 13.05, 14.40 ABJ-LOS (SAT /SUN): 13.05, 18.00 LOS -KANO: 08.10 KANO-L OS: 11.25 KANO-ABUJA: 11.25 ABUJA-KANO: 10.08

IRS AIRLINES

transaction.

While giving a breakdown of the projects executed and uncompleted one during the Saraki's regime, Ogunsola disclosed that three projects not executed, which were listed in a document sent to the SEC include Kwara state Secretariat, which was later

bond at the capital market said the interest on the N10 billion the state has sought from Guaranty Trust Bank on rice processing would be completed at the expiration of the present administration's tenure.

While corroborating the explanation of Ogunsola, the Commissioner for Planning and Economy Development, Chief Adeoti said few of the projects that were not executed during Saraki's regime were substituted with other projects, adding that some of these projects were injected into the second tranche of the bond.

However, the SA to the Governor on Media, Dr. Muideed Akorede explained that the press briefing on the matter was not connected with rumour that EFFC was after Dr. Bukola Saraki, adding that the state government deemed it fit to explain some issues on the bond for transparency.

He however could not confirm whether the state government was servicing the bond with N400 million deducted monthly from federal allocation or not ,stressing that the state was targeting N600 million monthly on its Internal Generated Revenue (IGR) to ensure that it service its external debt.

Lagos govt. re-opens popular Mile 12 market From Bimbo Ogunnaike, Lagos

T

wo days after its closure, Lagos state government on Friday ordered the reopening of the popular Mile 12 market with a proviso that traders will abide with the state environmental laws.

It will be recalled that men of the State Taskforce on Environmental and Special Offences Agency, on the order of the state government shut down the market on Wednesday over unwholesome practices.

The state Commissioner for the Environment, Mr. Tunji Bello who led a high delegation of the ministry, gave the order during an inspection of the market.

Bello, while addressing the large numbers of traders led by EXCHANGE RATES

CBN CFA € £ RIYAL $

3rd Feb, 2012 BUYING 0.2918 204.8856 246.4887 41.5156 155.7

SELLING 0.3118 206.2015 248.0718 41.7822 156.7

PARALLEL RATES

ABJ-L OS : 11.30, 3.45, 4.45

KANO-LOS (S UN /SUN): 10.30

was abandoned by the past administration while Ilorin metropolitan cost N250 million and electrification projects in the state also cost N400 million.

The SA, who revealed that the government later realised that it pays to seek for a loan from commercial bank than

Anambra state governor, Mr. Peter Obi (middle), with a delegation from Chinese railway construction company, during their visit to the governor at Government House, Awka, at the weekend. Photo: NAN

LOS-ABJ: 9.45, 11.45, 2.45

LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (S AT /SUN): 16.30 KANO-L OS: 07.30

ren ovat ed.

He said that out of the bond, N1.4 billion was budgeted for Diagnostic center, with additional N1.5 billion set to be spent on the projects while 14 urban roads gulped a total of N1.49 billion.

Ogunsola also disclosed that the Mix use of Asa dam

£ RIYAL $

BUYING 243 43 154

SELLING 257 45 159

their leadership, expressed government’s concern over various unwholesome practices being practiced by the traders which he said must stop with immediate effect.

The commissioner gave out six conditions to be met and to be put into an undertaken if the market must remain in operation, which they (traders) agreed to abide with.

The conditions are: That no trailer must park on the highway to offload food items.

That nobody in the market, henceforth should sell in filthy mud but rather provide stalls or shelfs and maintain good sanitary environment; that nobody sell on the road to allow free flow of traffic; that the traders in the market should be closed by 6 pm daily; that no traders should sleep in the

market and that no trader must patronise cart pushers, rather should patronise Lagos Waste Management Authority, LAWMA.

Bello, while recalling that the market was shut about five years for a similar offence, stated Governor Babatunde Fashola’s resolve to maintain and ensure healthy standards in all the markets across the state, saying the state government would not hesitate to sanction any offender(s).

Charging the leadership of the market to immediately set up an internal mechanism to serve as monitors in ensuring total compliance to all the conditions in their own interest and the general public, Bello, later gave the order for the reopening of the market after 15 man representatives of

the traders signed an undertaking.

Responding on-behalf of the traders, the leadership of the market, Alhaji Mallami Abdullai, the founder of the market and Alhaji Sheu Usman, secretary of one of the unions, were full of praises for Fashola, who they described as one of the best governors in the world and a lover of the masses.

The market leaders assured the state government that they will ensure strict compliance to all the listed conditions even as they asked for more government presence in the improvement of the market.

They particularly asked for deployment of LAWMA operators in quick evacuation of heavy refuse being generated on a daily basis as cart pushers had been ban in the market.

Management Tip of the Day When working globally, master cultural norms

I

f you’re thrust into an unfamiliar culture, as a manager, you have to modify your behavior to fit cultural norms. This can be tough, especially if it makes you feel inauthentic. If you face this discomfort, try these three things: Identify the challenge.

Pinpoint what’s making you uneasy. For example, in a culture that values a top-down leadership style, are you struggling to provide clear directives?

Adjust your behavior.

Make small but meaningful adjustments that both reflect the culture you’re working in

and stay true to your values.

You don’t have to yell at employees, but could you be more assertive?

Recognize the value.

While you may need to behave in counterintuitive ways, focus on the desired outcome.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Total to resume exploration in South Sudan

F

rench oil giant, Total, plans to resume exploration activities on its Block B concession in South Sudan after 27 years, the company said in statement on Friday. “A preparatory work program is to be soon submitted to SouthSudanese authorities for their approval,” the company said in the statement.

Obat oil debunks N85bn subsidy report Claims receipt of N5.35bn

C

ontrary to reports that one of the listed beneficiaries of fuel import subsidy, Obat Oil and Petroleum Limited received N85 billion subsidy, the Managing Director of the firm, Prince Akinfemiwa Akinrutan, has declared that only N5.35 billion was paid to the company.

Yelwa makes case for increased IGR in states

T

he Chairman, Fiscal Responsibility Commission, Alhaji Aliyu Jibril Yelwa, has canvassed the need for an increase in Internally General Revenue (IGR) profile of states and local governments.

Lagos enlightens intending retirees

L

agos state government is planning an enlightenment seminar for the workers of the state who are billed to retire in year 2012.

The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Adekunle Hussain who revealed this recently disclosed that it was part of efforts by the state government to keep retirees well informed about retirement.

Interbank rates ease on budgetary inflows

N

i g e r i a ’ s interbank lend ing ra tes closed at an average of 13.50 percent this week, ea sin g fr om 15. 50 pe rcen t l ast wee k, following the release of so me o f D ece mber ’s budgetary allocation to go ver nme nt a gen cie s, traders said on Friday.

Th e bo rro win g ra te op ened th e week at 12 .25 per cent on lar ge budget ary inf lows, b ut rose back up to Friday’s cl ose af ter the ce ntr al ba nk o f Nige ria (CB N) mopped up liquidity by selling treasury bills.

“A port ion of De cem ber b udg et allocations to state and lo cal govern men ts finally hit the system on Mo nday , h elp ing to boost liquidity level and this reflected in the cost of bo rro win g a t t he in terb ank ,” o ne deal er said.

December budgetary allocation were delayed fo r o ver two week s, ca usi ng a l iquidi ty sq ueeze i n th e s yste m, pushin g up c ost of bo rro win g in t he in terb ank ma rket la st wee k.

Africa’s top crude-oil exporter shares proceeds fr om o il sal es f rom a ce ntra lly hel d a ccount every month to its three ti ers of governm ent federal, states and local - providing liquidity to the banking system and im pac tin g on le ndi ng r at es .

Th e s ecured Op en Buy Back (OBB) eased to 14.0 percen t from 15.0 perc ent las t week, 200 ba sis poi nts abo ve t he ce ntr al ban k’s 12 .0 pe rce nt b enc hma rk rat e, a nd 4 .0 percentage points above th e S tan ding De pos it Facility (SDF) rate.

O v e r n i g h t pl ace men t dr opp ed to 13.50 per cen t fr om

15.50 percent, while call mo ney tr aded at 14 .0 pe rce nt agai nst 16 .0 percent last week.

Ma rke t o pen ed on Fr iday wi th a ca sh ba lanc e o f 22 5 b illi on na ira ($1 .40 bil lio n)

N

ag gre ssi ve l iquidi ty mop-up exercise by the ce ntr al ban k a nd re gul ar fun din g f or fo rei gn exch ang e a nd tre asur y bi lls purch ase s,” an oth er dealer said.

Also , the CBN pl ans to auction treasury bills wo rth 14 9.27 bi lli on naira at its regular debt auctio n n ext wee k, furth er exe rti ng pr essure on l iquidit y.

(Reuters)

Private sector lending to increase by 20% in 2012 – Analysts

B

anks’ lending to private sector which has been dawdling since the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), commenced its reform of the banking sector is expected to show some form of improvement this year, FBN Capital, the investment arm of First Bank of Nigeria PLC, has said.

The company stated in its monthly economic review and analysis that there will be an expected growth rate of about 20 per cent in lending to the private sector by the time the year draws to a close.

It also stated that activity in the oil & gas, power and agriculture sectors will experience t r e m e n d o u s improvement contrary to what obtained the previous year.

The company affirmed there is no likelihood of banks being unduly to lending risk as most of them are yet to recover from the loses of the recent past.

“We do not have concerns about a new credit bubble in Nigeria.

The banks learnt lessons in 2008 and 2009, with some paying the ultimate price by being taken over

Foreign reserves rise to $34.67bn igeria's foreign e x c h a n g e reserves rose to $34.67 billion on Feb. 1, their highest level in four and half months, central bank of Nigeria (CBN) data showed on Friday, raising hopes of a more stable exchange rate on the naira.

The figure was up on the $32.98 billion of forex reserves that the countrty had at the start of last month, and also higher than the $33.16 billion it had at this time a year ago.

Strong demand for the dollar on the domestic

co mpa red wi th abo ut on e bi lli on n air a ca sh balance a week ago.

“Th e ma rket is ex pect ed to t igh ten up next week, while lending ra tes sho uld cli mb hi gher be cause o f t he

market has piled pressure on local currency the middle of since last year, eating into the forex reserves of Africa's second biggest economy as the central bank intervened to prop it up.

The apex bank said outlook for oil prices in the short-term suggested that forex reserves would continue to recover.

Forex reserves at current level could finance more than 6 months of imports of goods and services, the central bank said.

(Reuters)

by the CBN. Additionally, regulation has been considerably tightened,” it said.

“The data on lending by sector is almost one year old. We detect higher activity in the oil and gas, power and agriculture sectors,” the report added.

Giving a breakdown of economic activities in the previous year, the firm explained that lending by the banking sector to the private sector grew by 4.1 per cent in month-tomonthin December and by 33 per cent year-onyea r.

Iit noted however that the year on year figure was deceptive ‘since total

loans outstanding contracted by N1.05 trillion (9.7 per cent m/ m) in December 2010 due to write-offs under the direction of Asset m a n a g e m e n t Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).

Affirming this development, a research and investment advisory company, Afrinvest Limited, stated that with the banking sector reforms well at an advanced stage, it is expected that there would be an increased credit flows to the private sector during the year.

“After consistent yearon-year declines in half year, 2011, credit to the

private sector seems to have picked, recording about 7.6 per cent growth y-o-y in September 2011; 15.9 per cent in October and 15.5 per cent in November 2011 to stand at N12.4trn, 163.8 per cent higher than the federal government budget for 2012,” the company said in the r e vi e w.

“While Nigerian banks have a penchant for playing the corporate high-end lending space with a cheap low cost funding pool, we expect banks’ increasing focus on retail lending in 2012 to favour more customers at the lower end of the spectrum,” it added.

(Bloomberg)

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRAURY 6, 2012

Market sentiments remain weak, index dips by -0.07% in the week

M

arket activities closed red in the week as the positive outlook recorded in three out of the five trading days could not salvage the negative posture witnessed while CBN Monetary Policy Committee left its main interest rate on hold at 12 percent on after its meeting on Tuesday.

Furthermore, Nigerian stock market retraced on Monday to open the first trading day of the week pessimistic as small cap stock contributed to the negative outlook while trading activities on the Nigerian bourse closed in the positive territory amid improved market turnover.

The bears re-surfaced in style

on Wednesday as market closed southerly due to renewed sell pressure while NSE Index rose on Thursday as bargain activities outweighed sell pressure witnessed across board.

Subsequently, market maintained uptrend on Friday as continuous bargain activities further impacted market outlook positively while trading closed with aggregate loss for the week.

In the same light, the key benchmark indices slides by 0.77% to open the first session downbeat due to renewed sell pressure. The second session closed positive as stocks trim losses while NSE Index pull back by +0.70%.

Equity market resumed

southwards movement after opening on a bullish note in the early hours of trading while index plummeted by -0.41% to end the third session southwards. NSE Index showed some resilience in the fourth session as it inches up by +0.15% while investors continue to tread cautiously as market sentiments remained weak despite improved breadth Consequently, continuous bargain activities witnessed on Friday further impacted market outlook positively to close the session with +0.27% gain while All Share Index closed with 0.07% aggregate loss for the week.

However, the All-Share Index

in the week under review dips marginally by -0.07% to close at 20,877.64 as against a decline by +0.35% recorded last week to close at 20,892.66.

In the same vein, the market capitalisation in the week depreciated by N4.73 billion (US$31.55million) to close at N6.57 trillion (US$43.84billion) as against appreciation by N23.56 billion (US$157.07million) recorded last week to close at N6.58 trillion (US$ 43.88billion).

The total volume traded in the week closed at 1.61 billion units valued at N15.10 billion (US$100.69 million) compared with 1.32 billion units valued at N10.07 billion (US$67.17 million) exchanged in 15,973 deals last week. The volume transaction in the week when compared with the previous week data moved up by +21.91% as against upwards movement by +80.36% recorded last week.

Weekly value also went up by +49.91% as against positive position of +93.54% recorded last week.

NSE to lower listing requirements to attract more firms into capital market From Samuel Ayodele, Lagos

T

he management of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) has begun moves to lower listing requirements which companies must meet, to qualify for enlistment on the floor of the Exchange.

The effort is targeted at making the market attractive and easy for companies to come and raise new capital for growth.

Targeted in this fresh exercise, are telecommunication companies, international oil companies and private companies which have operated in the country for a certain period of time.

A senior official of the NSE said the Exchange has applied to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) for approval of the new terms, expressing confidence that it would be approved before the end of the first quarter of this year.

According to our source, one of the new conditions is that instead of a minimum five years financial records, companies can now be listed with three years of same.

For companies with strong foreign technical partners, the NSE will allow them, even if they have just one year financial record.

Besides, companies having a total of N300 million profit after tax (PAT) within three years of

operation, or N600 million profit after tax (PAT) in one year, could be allowed for listing, the NSE boss said.

The flexibility in listing requirements, the source pointed out, would help enrich the market, as well as deepen penetration and enable more Nigerians benefit from the huge earnings of some of these multinationals, particularly the telecommunication companies, which have in the last ten years, repatriated huge profits from the country.

Commenting on the development, Kola Adedeji, deputy managing director, Niger Insurance plc, described it as a healthy development for the nation’s capital market.

Before seeking the approval of SEC, the NSE had made available to operators in the capital market, a draft of the proposed rules, noting that mineral companies, comprising mining and oil and gas companies, were exempted from fulfilling the requirements that a company seeking listing on the main board, must have been in operation for at least three years.

The draft also proposes that the NSE should exempt companies with market capitalisation in excess of N500 billion, from meeting the requirements for public float, which stipulates that the public shall hold a minimum

of 20 per cent of each class of equity securities of the company.

According to the NSE, mineral companies are exempted from the three year track record requirement. It notes however, that the company is required to produce a competent persons report (CPR), describing the nature and extent of the company’s rights of exploration, geographical

characteristics of reserves, estimates of volume and expected extraction volume, along with assumptions on forecast revenues and operating costs.

The NSE however noted that the interests of the investing public remain paramount in its decision to grant or reject an application for listing.

Dangote Noodles highest selling product From Samuel Ayodele, Lagos

D

angote Noodles was the highest selling product at last year's Kaduna International Trade Fair. Alhaji Umar Yahaya, president of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture has said.

Yahaya said this when the executives of the chamber paid a courtesy call on Alhaji Aliko Dangote, president/chief executive of Dangote Group at his office in Lagos recently.

He said they were in Lagos to congratulate Dangote Group on the phenomenal growth of the company which made it the largest conglomerate in Africa, adding that the Chamber appreciated the support the company had always extended to the chamber during the

trade fair.

Responding, Alhaji Aliko said "we continued to support you not because of the sales but to help turn around the northern economy."

He said that the company earned more than $300 million dollars in cement business, adding "we would be commissioning a six million metric tonnes cement plant and 112.5 MW power plant at Ibese in Ogun state in the coming week."

He stated that when it was commissioned the plant would have the capacity of loading one track of 800 bags of cement per minute.

"A few years ago, when we discovered that the future of Nigerian economy was not in banks, we sold off our two banks and invested in the cement business that is what brought us this level," Alhaji Aliko said.

INVESTORS NEWS BEAT Sun Trust Savings and Loans to raise N20bn from capital market

S

un Trust Savings and Loans has floated an offer to raise N20 billion from the public.

Insecurity hampers investors’ confidence, says analyst

T

he high level of insecurity in the country is taking a toll on investors’ confidence. The Managing Director, Partnership Investment Company, Victor Ogiemwonyi disclosed this recently, during a bimonthly discourse sponsored

by Zenith.Bank Plc.

Cash solid GE to invest in Nigeria’s rail, energy • Seeks

foothold in local manufacturing

A

fter decades of ineffectiveness and dwindling fortunes under government control, Nigeria’s rail system is set for a new lease of life, as General Electric (GE), one of the world’s leading industrial giants, says it will invest in the country’s rail and energy sectors.

Crusader Nigeria Rights Issue extended

T

he Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has approved the extension of the time allowed for the board of Crusader Nigeria Plc, to raise additional capital from existing shareholders by way of rights.

The offer, which was scheduled for closure on Ja nuar y 27 , 20 12 h as n ow been extended to February 10, 201 2.

Nestle Nigeria Plc announces board meeting

T

Source:Pro-share Nigeria

he Company has notified the Nigerian Stock Exchange that its Board of Directors will meet on Monday, February 20, 2012 to consider the company’s Audited Financial Statements for the year ended December 31, 2011 The Directors may consider and recommend the payment of final dividend to shareholders at the meeting.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRAURY 6, 2012

PAGE 22

Why we are against privatisation of PHCN – President, Electricity Union Comrade Bede Opara is the National President of Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), In this interview with selected reporters, he insists that there is an urgent need for the Federal Government to initiate a new policy paradigm to promote inclusive job-rich growth for the teeming unemployed youths in Nigeria. Ayodele Samuel, was there for Peoples Daily. Excerpts:

W

hat was the policy trust of the stakeholders’ meeting between the Power Minister and the workers in Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)?

When the problems of winding up the headquarters and transferring the staff of PHCN started, naturally labour reacted seriously because we felt that our jobs are being threatened and for that reason, Labour reacted greatly and the reaction was what culminated into the meeting held with the Minister of Power.

And for the meeting to take place, we went to the Minister to have a meeting to resolve the anti-labour activities in the sector and he agreed to come for the stakeholders’ meeting which comprised the three unions, the Senior Staff Association of Electricity and Allied Companies (SSAEAC), National Union of Electricity Employees (NUEE) and the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), electricity sector that are in the sector and the meeting was quite interactive.

This was the first time the unions had this type of interactive meeting with the Minister of Power, Professor Bath Nnaji since he became the Power Minister and the meeting was quite fruitful, because we have made our position clear that winding

down of PHCN must follow due process.

The Minister made some promises and we were given the opportunities to explain our disappointment over the antilabour policies and our concern to the Minister and he promised to address our grievances for peace to reign till when our tripartite negotiation starts from February 18, 2012.

If the meeting has been fruitful, what now is the point of disagreement that is creating tension in the sector?

The tension in the sector was created by the sudden transfer of principal staff out of the corporate headquarters of the PHCN. We were worried because the government could not answer our questions on the level of administration Managing Director/CEO of PHCN will be undertaking when every other member of staff of the corporate headquarters have been transferred to other companies, with the claim of reinforcing those companies?

We also asked why staff of a subsisting company would be transferred to another employer without his knowledge and consent, and the former Contract of Appointment not formerly

“

We challenge the propaganda of privatisation to come and sign agreement with the workers if tariff will remain the same for the number of years till power generation and transmission situation improves.

exhaustively concluded, and no answer was provided This is because, it should be understood that the Trade Act on declaration of redundancy is clear and the act as contained in Cap. 20 and 10 cannot be discountenanced through Ministerial pronouncement.

Suppossing the Minister fails in his promise again during the negotiation fixed for February 18, 2012?

We are not pessimistic about the outcome of the negotiation meeting, but we think positively, and if by any reason the Minister disagrees with all the promises made at the stakeholders’ meeting, I will prefer to say that when we get to the bridge we will cross it.

Does PHCN staff support government privatisation agenda?

Our position on privatisation is very clear in the sense that we have seen privatization in Nigeria as jinxed, but we can give our position when government go into negotiation table, because what the government has been doing is that when one or two individuals because of their interest comes up with a road map, Government will tow the line of the roadmap. The Nigeria Society of Engineers complained that even the roadmap lacks their input and the road map is a programmes that will come up in an engineering sector.

I think, if we were invited in the privatisation or road map at the initial stage, we could have told them what happened in Daily times, Nigeria airways, NPA, NITEL, Oshogbo steel mills, Durbar hotels, in fact in all the public companies privatized.

We are equally aware of what happened in the communication sector, when MTN, Globacom, Airtel came and never bought over NITEL, but if people in government felt they have the monopoly of ideas, we equally have our own proposals that we are going to consider, but as at today, the experts in the power sector have not even debated, yet

government came up with its own road map.

All we know is that the interest of Nigerians may not be the concern of the so-called investors seeking to take over the power sector because as at today, tariff has started going up without commensurate improvement in the power sector.

We challenge the propagandists of privatisation to come and sign an agreement with the workers if tariff will remain the same for the number of years till power generation and transmission situation improves.

The investors should tell Nigerians that tariffs would be at a stable situation till power stabilises for Nigerians to know those telling the truth between the government and the workers, but none of them want to tell Nigerians the truth, rather, they prefer to declare that when the sector is privatise, there would be constant power suppl y.

Sir, as a labour leader, how best do you think government can reduce the high rate of unemployment in the country?

There is an urgent need for the Federal Government to initiate a new policy paradigm to promote an all-inclusive job-rich growth for the teeming unemployed youth in Nig er ia .

This is because, it is obvious

Comrade Bede Opara

that a major driving force behind the youth crisis in Nigeria was a slack in aggregate demand at the global and, in some cases, national level and so, I suggest it is time for the government of Nigeria to concentrate on pro-employment strategies for the youth that would eventually sustain consumption, boost demand, promote growth and create more jobs.

This is not only an agenda for the three tiers of governments, but also for the business and private sector, because the number one constraint for small-andmedium-sized companies for hiring youth is the lack of credit access.

The critical role of education and training, especially in times of crisis is for governments to work closely with the private sector to reduce skills mis-matches.

There is also an urgent need for the government to provide a wide variety of incentives to promote youth employment, such as hiring subsidies, training and retraining grants and services to facilitate the transition to jobs, including career guidance, effective contacts with enterprises and advice on how to prepare for interviews.

Government should not fail to call for the promotion of youth entrepreneurship and partnerships between public employment services and private employment agencies.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

The day Nigerian children told government a bitter home truth Nigerian children, recently, went on the offensive when they told the government their views on the partial petroleum subsidy removal, at a special sitting of the Children’s Parliament, organized by the Minister of Women Affairs, writes Maryam Garba Hassan.

F

ollowing the federal government’s removal of a hefty chunk of the subsidy on petrol and the mass protests that greeted it, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, organized a special sitting of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament and a Town Hall meeting with Nigerian women, to make the two groups appreciate the government’s action in the context of the imperative to strengthen the economy.

The Special Children Forum on subsidy removal, attended by both former members of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament and students of secondary schools in the Federal Capital

Territory (FCT), told the government what it considered the “home truth” about the decision to slice the subsidy. It said the decision adversely affected the future of the Nigerian youth.

According to it, it was clear that the subsidy removal policy did not go down well with the majority of Nigerians who showed their revulsion by leaving the comfort of their homes and families and even putting their lives on the line while some lost their lives for the policy to be reversed. The young men and women, some from reputable backgrounds, with a sound education, who have done the country proud as former members of the

Students at the special sitting for children on subsidy removal

Nigerian Children’s Parliament, told the minister and her counterpart from the Ministry of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and the Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Value, Mrs. Sarah Jibril, that the government was insensitive to the plight of ordinary Nigerians to have contemplated the policy in the first place.

Based on past experiences when government made promises that it did not fulfil, the children sought the government’s assurance that it would keep its promise to use the money that would accrue from the subsidy removal to invest in the education and health sectors. A number of

Former members of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament at the special sitting on subsidy removal

L-R: Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Elizabeth Emuren and Special Adviser to the President on Ethics and Values, Mrs. Sarah Jibril

the former members of the Parliament asked why government did not address the deplorable state of education, the country’s rising maternal mortality rate and the national minimum wage before deciding to remove the subsidy.

In spite of their anger, the youths made a strong case for dialogue a tool for resolving national issues no matter how pressing or grievous. The first President of the Nigerian Children’s Parliament, Dayo Israel, observed that Nigerians opposed the removal of subsidy because of the insensitive manner in which the government approached it. According to him, government should have embarked on a public awareness campaign and consulted all stakeholders in the oil industry before introducing the policy.

Another former member of the parliament, Senator Hafsat Kaigama, who condemned the attacks by the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) on the January protesters, said Nigerian children were made to believe that the killings in

connection with subsidy removal subsidy were a way of reducing the population of the country by the government.

She said that Nigerian children needed government’s assurance that it would use the money that will be saved from the removal of the subsidy judiciously. To her, that is the only way to restore citizens’ confidence in governance.

On her own part, Senator Habiba Adamu Abdullahi asked why the government went for the removal of fuel subsidy when the issue of the national minimum wage was not completely resolved.

Some of the school

children who spoke on the occasion expressed their worry over the action of the government on fuel subsidy, saying that removing the subsidy would remove from the scene the cabal that had denied ordinary Nigerians the benefit of the subsidy did not hold water.

“It is the poor that will suffer”, they said, and urged government to work towards regaining the confidence and trust of the citizens by implementing policies and programmes that are people friendly.

In the parliament, there were, however, progovernment elements. They told the government what it

“

It is not new for government to mobilize women for a political cause even though it may not be in the interest of the society at large, but what is new about the present administration is its decision to mobilize children to be part of its propaganda machine in the name of giving them a chance to air their views on national issues

wanted to hear. The articulate manner in which the pro-subsidy removal group defended its support of the policy could very easily have swayed anyone not too conversant with the politics of oil subsidy. They augured as if they understood the issue better than their mothers who attended the minister’s Town Hall meeting.

Earlier, Hajiya Zainab, had described children as the medium through which parents and adults who joined organised labour, civil society groups and the public on the streets to protest the policy can be made to understand why government took the decision to remove the subsidy.

According to her, palliatives will be put in place by the government to cushion the hardships that the policy would bring about. She mentioned the launch of a public transport scheme, a N15 billion interest-free soft loan to ensure stability in the transport sector, maternal and child care for 12 million

Members of Market Women Association of Nigeria at the Town Hall meeting

pregnant mothers, a boost for the agricultural sector through an increase in local food production; construction and rehabilitation of roads and bridges ,etc.

The Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, described the event as “apt because the children of the nation need to be educated on the various policies of government so that they will be better informed on what their government is doing

and to make inputs in matters that concern them.

“The future of Nigeria depends on what we plan for our children; the education we give them and other social welfare programmes. Every policy the present government puts in place is to ensure that Nigerian children have a better future”.

A parent of a former member of the Parliament, told Peoples Daily that (“it is

not new for government to mobilize women for a political cause even though it may not be in the interest of the society at large, but what is new about the present administration is its decision to mobilize children to be part of its propaganda machine in the name of giving them a chance to air their views on national issues.)

The implication is that not all children understand such issues as fuel subsidy,

with two sides of the argument, will be turned into blind government propagandists”.

Ironically, during the Town Hall meetings Hajiya Zainab held with women, on two occasions, a number of the grassroots women showed they did not understand what subsidy meant, talk less of the implications of its removal.

But they spoke in support of the government’s position all the same.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Half news is not better than none

By Taiwo Obe

T

his is what you get when Government officials believe they are doing journalists a favour. This is what you get when journalists forget about the basics of news - who, what, when, why, where and how (5Ws and H) - and become content with the crumbs instead of the full, enriched meal.

In the news recently was a report about some trillion Naira investments coming to Nigeria via the Trade and Investment Ministry. A variation of this report in newspapers and online news portal shows that if there was any contact with officials of the Trade and Investment Ministry at all, then it must have been either through a half-baked press statement or a news briefing where pertinent questions were neither asked nor answered.

From one of the reports filed by a reputable foreign financial newsservice, we learnt that one Vulcan Energy Corp "plansto invest N620billion in Nigeria's oil and gas industry within a year." So, if we follow the aforementioned "5Ws and H" principle, you will expect the report to answer these questions: Who is Vulcan Energy Group? Where are they coming from? What does N620billion cover? What are their credentials, qualifications, feats/ achievements/records? When would the investment roll in? What really does "within a year" mean? This year? 2015?

National President of NUJ, Malam Garba Mohammed 2020? And, how would this happen?

When these questions are answered, other questions may just follow. One of such questions will follow presently.

But, what do we get next? Another sentence that tells us about proposed investments by two other companies.

Let's read: "China Petroleum & Chemical Corp., or Sinopec, and Califonia-based Torch Petroleum Inc. also plan to invest 155 billion naira each in Nigeria's oil and gas industry‌." The story then goes to quote the Trade and Investment Minister Olusegun Aganga as saying the government has "begun collaboration with the various companies to ensure that the investments are executed within the time-frame given, especially by

ensuring that there are no bottlenecks in the way of smooth business for the operators." Finally we are told that "more than 20 companies including US-based GE Corp and Maire Technimont SpA have proposed to invest 4.9 trillion naira in power, mining, health and transportindustries of sub-Saharan Africa's second biggest economy within four years," Aganga said. Adding: "The commitments have been on a win-win basis," Aganga said.

Whatever that means.

End of story. "To God Be The Glory," as they say in Nollywood?

Well, one dissatisfied reader refusedto chant "To God Be The Glory."

Before we follow the adventure of that reader, please note that in several other stories, the Vulcan Energy Corp was referred to as Vulcan Energy International.

As it were, this reader, the inquisitive one, that is, had that morning come across a story about one Vulcan Energy Group, which reportedly defrauded the Sokoto State Government, then headed by the recently sacked Governor Aliyu Wamakko, on a purported power plant project. In 2008, the Vulcan Energy Group reportedly got $3million as payment for technical partnership with a Nigerian company which the Wamakko Government awarded the contract for the said power plant to.

One American, Ford G Graham, said to be the principal partner of the said

Vulcan Energy Group, after intense pressure from the people of Sokoto State and the State House of Assembly, flew into Sokoto with a chartered plane with some crates (mini-cargoes) of fairly used old switch-gear boxes. The Secretary to the State Government of Sokoto was said to have, with fanfare, received the worthless cargo. As we speak, there is neither a plant nor power in Sokoto. If you have time, please Google Ford Graham+Vulcan Energy Group, and you will be amazed at the kind of fraudulent deeds that are associated with him and his accomplices in Sokoto and the United States of America. Highly recommended for reading is the account on http:// subsaharanintel.blogspot.com, entitled, "FAITH's CHICKENS - The Story of Fraud and Incompetence in the Sokoto IPP." Quite sordid.

What would be more sordid is if this Ford Graham has anything to do with the N620 billion Vulcan Energy Corp or Vulcan Energy International or whatever the Trade and Investment Ministry's investor is.

While we wait for "clarifications," "putting the records straight," another company which caught the attention of that inquisitive reader in one of the newspaper reports on the multi-trillion investments "secured" by the Trade and Investment Ministry "from the over 60 investor meetings held in and outside the country in line

with the ministry's aggressive investment drive and transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan's administration" is called Tecnimont, "a premier engineering firm in India." An alarm bell goes off.

In the heat of the protests that occupied Nigeria, news came from the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) that officials from one "Maire Tecnimont group of Italy" visited the Port Harcourt Refinery, in line with NNPC's desire to carry out the refinery's Turn Around Maintenance (TAM). As usual, the story of that visit was also relayed in some crumbs-filled information dish which failed the simple "5Ws and H" test but the concern here is: is there any relationship between the Trade and Investment's Tecnimont and the NNPC's Tecnimont.? That is the kind of question readers ask, and it is the duty of the newspaper or broadcast station to provide the answers; not for the readers to go to Google or wherever else to find the answers. That's what they are supposed to get in exchange for the money they part with, or/and even the time they spend reading or listening or watching; not some half or less-thanhalf ne Obe is the Group Editorial Director of Harpostrophe Limited, Lagos and founder/ m a n a g e r , EverythingJournalism group on Linkedin

State police, police state Contd. from Back Page Below the state level, all chairmen of Local Governments know you have to literally pay for operations of the police units deployed to the Area. At lower levels, the police have very few linkages with the communities with which they are to work, and have few incentives to be transparent or accountable.

Citizens who report crimes have pay for investigations every step of the way.

When you report a crime, you have to fund logistics, intelligence, investigations and sometimes even prosecution if, that is, suspects are found. If you are unable to do this, your case is as good as dead, unless you have powerful political connections in lieu of a strong financial clout. This is why many citizens say to report crimes to our police is to risk suffering double jeopardy. The Nigeria Police has acquired a global reputation as the embodiment of crime, and most Nigerians will readily admit that the fight against corruption and serious crimes will not be won with the type of police Nigeria has.

If any evidence is needed that the manner our police is controlled, structured and managed is fundamentally flawed, they only need to look at the fact that in the last ten years, the size and funding of the Nigeria police has more than doubled.

Yet, crimes are rising, and more significantly, the nature of the crimes are such that they represent far more serious threats to larger numbers of lives and the security of the entire

polity. Before initial skirmishers were even over, the capacity of the police to deal with the organized criminality in the Niger Delta was entirely exhausted, and the military took over.

It is now part of the infamous record of the Nigeria police that its handling of the leaders of the Yusufiyya movement was singularly responsible for the escalation of a localized problem into the monstrous threat we now have to deal with. Because the police has failed in its primary responsibility of maintaining internal security, law and order, our entire military asset has now been deployed to do its job. This has very serious consequences over the professionalism of the military, and the long-term effect of its exposure on civil-military relations. Neither the police nor the military is involved in exercising its core responsibilities at the moment, and no nation is as exposed as we are in this situation.

On the face of it, there are many good reasons why the case for state police should be given serious consideration. This consideration must however be informed principally by the nature of our political system.

The quality of the political leadership basically determines the manner it manages critical institutions which are available to it for governance. The cynicism of a large number of Nigerians towards the establishment of state police is well-rooted in the poor perception of the capacity of our leaders to lead with transparent commitment to public interest,

honesty and even-handedness. The worst example of state governmentcontrolled institutions is the State Independent Electoral Commission (SIEC), a vital institution for engineering the entrenchment of democratic values, institutions and practices at grassroots levels and in popular culture, but which has been turned into an embarrassing parody

by State Governors. Governors have turned state civil servants into organized sycophants. They treat public funds as if they are their private assets to do as they wish. State legislatures have been turned into mere chorus lines of governors, even where opposition members are in large numbers. Local Governments have been perverted by Governors; their funding and autonomy have become entirely subsumed to the whims of Governors. In short, states are increasingly looking like personal estates of governors, and it takes less than six months after elections before all political and other forms of opposition are completely silenced or obliterated. To live with police controlled and managed by these types of leaders will be a nightmare few will contemplate. Certainly, even the worst critic of the police today is likely to prefer it to a state police under Governors. So, a major weakness of the argument for state police is that it is vulnerable to the accusation that it will make policing worse, not better for Nigerians.

To allow the types of leaders we have at state levels the control of their

own police will amount to the Hausa proverb which says that God does not give the man with the knife in his hands access to the meat. This is most unfortunate for a nation genuinely in need of radical reforms in the manner it organizes its federal system and its security. Only recently, it was revealed that Kano State with a population of 9million has only 8,000 police deployed to it. Virtually the entire police personnel, particularly in the north, is now mobilized against the threat of Boko Haram. This means that essential duties of the police are being sacrificed. The South-East has long had the look of an occupied zone, yet it has an endemic crime rate unheard-of in the history of this nation. The current level of deployment of police in the South East will only will be reversed at great political cost and resentment. There are huge parts of the nation where only the visible presence of heavily armed police personnel will give citizens the comfort to sleep with both eyes closed.

Even Governors only venture into some parts of their States with a very large, heavily armed escort of police.

Yet, crimes and massive breaches of security continue to rise. We are told we are under-policed, but there is little evidence that more police personnel will make us more secure. Finally, there will be many citizens in states which experience ethno-religions conflicts who will shudder at the mere thought of a state governmentcontrolled police.

The fear of having state police is

that we will become a police state. In truth, we are not too far from that state, what with the self-defeating belief of the administration that it can fight Boko Haram with force, and the massive deployment of police personnel into every nook and cranny where armed robbery, kidnapping or communal strife are daily occurrences.

There are many attempts by State Governors to raise quasi-police formations, especially in the western states, to plug loopholes in the manner policing is handled. These do-ityourself, which include Hisbah and similar organizations in the north merely compound the problem, and make the management of law and order and the rights of citizens that much more complicated. The real value in the suggestion of Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi for the establishment of state police is that in the short-term, government and all citizens with responsibility must explore all avenues to bring the Boko Haram insurgency to an end. Those who complain that northern elite are silent on Boko Haram should see Shinkafi's contribution as a major attempt to address the issues. The Boko Haram insurgency is the worst case scenario for a police such as ours which is poorly managed and structured. In the long run, it reminds us that a leadership creates a police after its own image.

There is a case to be made for state police, but the quality of our political leadership must be radically improved before Nigerians can feel comfortable with the idea.

PAGE 28

We won’t build new secondary schools, says Kaduna govt

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he Kaduna state Government has said that it would not build new secondary schools between this year and 2014.

The state Commissioner for Education, Dr Mohammed Usman, made the declaration in Kaduna while defending his ministry’s 2012 budget proposal before the Committee on Education of the State’s House of Assembly.

“The state government will not establish new secondary schools in the 2012-2014 education development rolling plan, because of paucity of funds.

“We also want to ensure that the existing schools are made more functional and qualitative.

“I personally do not believe in opening new political schools without funding the existing ones properly.”

Alhaji Usman urged the committee to approve the N2.909 billion proposed allocation for capital projects and N8.871 billion for recurrent services in 2012.

He said the N10 million annual grant given to each of the 10 special schools with management boards would also not be paid this year because of lean resources.

However, the Committee Chairman, Malam Umar Yunusa, advised the ministry to transfer N50 million for the development of the 10 special schools, with each collecting N5 million, within the current financial year.

African education ministers move to promote national languages, French Abdullahi Yunusa with agency reports

E

ducation ministers from several African countries and the International Organisation of La Francophonie (OIF) on Wednesday, in Bamako, launched a language education project.

The project is aimed at promoting African national languages alongside French.

The project called “Ecoles et Langues Nationales (ELANAfrica)” is aimed at promoting and introducing bilingual education in primary schools built around an African language and French.

It will be introduced in Benin, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Niger, DR Congo, Senegal and Mali.

The launching ceremony followed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the OIF and the Ministers of Education from the countries involved in the project.

The project was co-sponsored by the French Agency for Development (AFD), the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the OIF and Francophone University Agency (AUF).

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Katsina govt to spend N600m on computer institutes T he Katsina state Government has earmarked N600 million for the establishment of seven Computer Institutes in the state this fiscal year.

The Special Adviser to Gov. Ibrahim Shema on Science and Technology, Alhaji Sule Kuki said this in Katsina recently while defending the 2012 budget before

the Appropriation Committee of the state Assembly.

He said that the institutes would be established in the old seven local government areas of the state, which were Katsina, Kankia, Daura, Dutsinma, Funtua, Mani and Malumfashi.

Alhaji Kuki said that the establishment of the institutes

was in line with the administration’s efforts to make the people of the state computer literate.

According to him, the project is expected to generate employment and spur the development of science and technology among the youths in the state.

The special adviser said the state government was collaborating with the Federal Government to establish a Technology Incubation Centre in Katsina.

He said that the centre when established would create more employment opportunities for the people of the state.

Unity schools still needed for national unity, says group

By Abdullahi Yunusa

T

L-R: Education Minister, Prof. Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa’i, Executive Secretary, Education Trust Fund (ETF), Prof. Yakub and Executive Secretary, Nigerian Universities Commission (NUC), Prof.

Julius Okojie, during their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on education at the State House, Abuja, recently.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Court docks graduate over attempt to steal neighbour’s car

A

n Ejigbo Magistrates‘ Court in Lagos has arraigned a 29year-old Polytechnic graduate, Seyi Olumide, for allegedly attempting to steal his neighbour‘s car valued at N1.5 million.

Mr Olumide, who resides at 28, Abimbola St., Modina Road, Egan, Lagos, is standing trial on a fourcount-charge of conspiracy, burglary, stealing and attempted stealing.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges.

The prosecutor, Cpl. Oladejo Balogun, told the court that the accused burgled the house of his

neighbour, Onyeye Blessing, and stole her property, including her car documents and key.

“Olumide stole two Nokia cellphones valued N8, 000, a flash drive valued N15,000, a wrist watch valued N5, 000, two ATM cards, 36,000 CFA Francs and N5,000.

“He also stole the original documents of a Toyota Camry car with Reg. No. VT 995 KJA valued at N1.5 million and the car keys, all property of Onyeye Blessing,“ Balogun said.

He said that the accused was caught by a neighbour who saw him coming out of the

complainant‘s room and the matter was reported to the police and the stolen items were found in his room.

He said that the offence was committed on Jan. 26, at about 11.30 a.m, at 28, Abimbola St., Modina Road, Egan in Lagos.

According to the prosecutor, the offences are punishable under Sections 390 (d), 414, 509 and 516 of the Criminal Code, Laws of Lagos State, 2004.

The Magistrate, Mrs Maimunat Folami, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500, 000 with two sureties in like sum.

The case was adjourned till Feb.27 for further hearing.

Educationist wants varsity curriculum reviewed

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n educationist, Mrs Bola Adeniyi-Taiwo, has said that Nigerian universities needed to change their teaching techniques to be able to compete favourably with their counterparts abroad.

An international education consultant and career expert, Mrs Adeniyi-Taiwo, said that Nigerian universities needed to transit academically to bridge the gap between them and foreign-based institutions.

In an interview with newsmen in Lagos she said that the present teaching modules showed that Nigerian students were being spoonfed academically.

She said that the teaching techniques used in universities abroad were research-based, adding that they encouraged personalised

learning, where students did a lot of reading and researching on their own.

“What we found out is that students in Nigeria are spoon-fed, their lecturers teach them everything with little of their input.

“And to teach student like that will not make them read broadly and will surely not prepare them for critical thinking for their examinations.

“There is need for a teaching technique change, so that students will do most of what will constitute lectures to them as homework,” she said.

Adeniyi-Taiwo also Nigerian students needed to be taught to be more self-directed, learning how to carry-out researches so that they could compete with their peers

abroad.

She noted that strikes at the university level in Nigeria were a major bane of the education sector.

She added that the decay of infrastructure in universities, corruption, non-implementation of government policies and poor funding of universities were also “very critical issues for qualitative education“.

“Nigerian students are brilliant, hardworking and courageous, show them the right path and they will adapt to it very fast.

“We need to start doing things the right way.

“Teaching and learning will be made more interesting for university students when they are pushed to be independent and research inclined,” she said

he Unity Schools Old Students Association (USOSA), an umbrella body of former students of Federal government Colleges popularly called Unity Schools across the country has maintained that unity schools remains a bastion of unity.

According to a communiqué signed by the body’s National President, Engr. Muhammad Kabiru Nuhu-Koko after its 20th Plenary Session/AGM/Election with the theme ‘Rekindling and Sustaining the Vision of the Founding Fathers of the Unity Schools’, said “if the Unity Schools are retained, appropriately funded, transparently managed and admission policy is truly national, some of the challenges that tend to threaten our very existence as one nation will be greatly minimized”.

He expressed worries over the alarming state of decay in most Unity Schools across the country, stressing that “it is sad that the Unity schools as they stand today are no longer what they used to be at the inception in 1966 when the first set of these schools were established by the founding fathers of this great nation. This is evident in their abysmal academic performance since the mid 1990s, localized admission system, poor funding/funds management and decaying infrastructure and indeed in the level of insecurity and threat to our coexistence as Nigerian nation”.

He further said, “It is sad that the fate of the Unity schools is still an issue for discussion in government circles. This has been the case since 2006. USOSA believes that if leakages of funds are blocked and governments at all levels devote more funds to education, these schools would not suffer the neglect they now face.

He reiterated the body’s readiness to partner with government in her efforts to revamp Unity Schools in the country, stressing that “While the association aligns itself with the steps being taken by the present administration in the Education sector as manifested in the adoption of the Roadmap by the Ministry of Education and the Presidential summit on Education, USOSA believes that there is still room for improvement,” the body adviced..

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 27

Govt will revive technical, vocational education -Minister Recently, Minister of State for Education, Barr. Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, in a chat with newsmen in Makurdi, the Benue state capital, reiterated the readiness of the Jonathan administration to transform the nation’s education sector for the benefit of all its citizens.

The minister also expressed the administration’s willingness to revive technical and vocational education to tackle the challenge of unemployment in the country. Our correspondent, Uche Nnorom was there. Excerpts

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any are worried about the state of education in the country, especially as it pertains to tertiary education which is believed to be the sector that would provide the needed manpower for the nation’s growth, what are some of the plans put in place to address the situation?

The administration is working towards making education very functional and a means of empowering the people, especially the less privileged. You will agree with me that education is the best way to empower a large percentage of the population. The government of President Jonathan is ready to create jobs and that is what we intend to do with education. The government has started the process of developing technical and vocational education in a manner to create millions of jobs for Nigerian youths. What we are doing is to ensure that the curriculum of the vocational and technical colleges is aligned with the respective industries and realities of the economy to create the needed jobs for graduands of these schools. The government has deliberately worked out a scheme to depart from the past when technical and vocational schools did not serve the purpose for which they were set up. We are moving towards a well trained workforce skilled in different trades who will be self reliant and also in position to work in industries, medium scale organizations and factories to earn a respectable living for

Minister of State for Education, Nyesom Wike themselves. The government is de-emphasizing the over reliance on certificates, rather than the capabilities of skilled tradesmen.

Technical and Vocational Centres will be established across all the six geo-political zones, while the existing technical colleges will be fully strengthened this year to provide functional technical and vocational education to Nigerian youths.

These technical schools have suffered years of neglect, facilities in such schools have all being lost, so how do u intend to fix them to help in preparing the needed manpower?

Like I said earlier, we are taking a fundamental look at the curriculum of these schools and ensure that the curriculum is in a state that graduands of these schools can be employable and employers of labour.

Furthermore, the government will work in the coming months to build the capacity of teachers in vocational and technical schools to make them deliver the kind of education needed to generate the nature of employment that the administration is interested in.

Also, we will have a fundamental shift in the quality of teachers in these vocational and technical colleges. We intend to attract teachers with industry and practical experience to help in training the students to be practical oriented against the current situation where training is theoretical in nature. Some of

our technical colleges are not equipped with the right equipment to train our students, but we will remedy that in selected schools in the course of this year.

It was reported in the media that you went an official visit to thefamous Highbury College, Portsmouth, a renowned technical and vocational institution in United Kingdom, what was the aim of the visit?

My visit to this reputable institution was facilitated by the of the school’s management.

They wrote to the ministry seeking partnership to help in developing the nation’s technical and vocational education. After necessary investigation, we

accepted the invitation. I visited the school with the Executive Secretary of National Educational Research Development Council, the Executive Secretary of UBEC, the chairman of the Forum of State Education Commissioners, the director of Basic and Secondary Education and two principals of technical colleges. The aim was to drive home the complete transformation of the nation’s technical and vocational education. Our desire is to build a strong international network which will assist us make our vocational and technical education truly functional. We have involved the states, the schools and different implementing agencies to ensure that we get it right. We are interested in creating millions of jobs by providing the right training to our youths and this we will drive to its logical conclusion. At Highbury College, Portsmouth, which incidentally is administered by a Nigerian, we saw a down to earth system of vocational and technical education that helps to uplift less privileged members of their community, without robbing them of their dignity. We will tap from the positives of the programmes of this school as we have started to build areas of possible collaboration, especially in the capacity building of our vocational and technical teachers. We are also reaching our to different schools and experts in Asia and Europe to ensure that our technical education becomes functional in all ramifications.

Beyond this renewed drive on vocational and technical education, what are other plans for developing basic education in the country?

Remember that at the close of last year, I met with all the major stakeholders driving the nation’s basic education. I received the different action plans for 2012, which I demanded from them in the fourth quarter of 2011 and we extensively discussed the implementation of these plans.

“

We intend to attract teachers with industry and practical experience to help in training the students to be practical oriented against the current situation where training is theoretical in nature

We have set in motion the implementation of aspects of the distilled plans with the intention to ensure that all Nigerian children of school age have access to quality education. This is the dream of President Goodluck Jonathan that Nigerian children should have access to quality education and he has already made the situation right with the budget of 2012 geared towards that direction. This year, we also hope that we will uplift a reasonable number of Federal Unity Colleges to centres of excellence to be emulated by states, private owners and non governmental organizations.

Before the end of the first quarter, all stakeholders of universal basic education at the federal, state and local councils will meet to chart a better way to improve access to basic education, especially by encouraging the states and local councils to play their respective roles.

In view of mounting security challenges in the country, do you think this current administration stands the chance of implementing some of her laudable projects?

You will agree with me that all nations of the world have different levels of security challenges and Nigeria cannot be an exception. However, in our case, the government is on top of the situation and concrete steps have been taken to resolve the security challenges that now face the nation. With the steps that President Jonathan and the security agencies have taken, these security issues will be totally resolved in no distant future. Our advantage as a nation is that the President has the capacity to drive the process towards the return of peace in the nation. He has proven to be a calm and calculative leader with the instinct for the right and futuristic leadership needed by the nation at this critical period in its history. For the complete deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector, it has been agreed by all that it is the right thing to do. Nobody has spoken against the need for this policy shift because of the benefits that would accrue to the nation’s economy. What people have talked about is the methodology.

That being the case, it is in the best interest of the nation that this policy is implemented to its conclusion so that all sections of the population will benefit from the investments of government that will arise from the complete deregulation of the downstream sector of the petroleum sector.

Indeed, key sectors of the economy like education and infrastructure will benefit, leading to the overall development of the nation. The deregulation of the downstream sector of the economy will help the nation far better than the present state of affairs.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Expert wants FG to intervene in lead poisoning issues

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he Federal Government has been called upon to intervene in issues of lead poisoning in the country.

Dr Gboyega Fawale of the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital (UITH) made the call in Ilorin on Friday in an interview with journalists.

Fawale said there is a rise in the number of children dying from lead poisoning in some parts of the country, he advised government to ensure the safety of children in the affected villages.

The expert called for a comprehensive response from government, as children are at the risk of brain damage and death.

It is recalled that in 2000, Medecins sans Frontieres (Doctors without borders), an international medical humanitarian organization, called the attention of the Federal Government to the deaths as a result of lead poisoning.

A report by the humanitarian organization indicated that mining in those villages had not stopped.

It warned that the illegal gold mining by villagers without safety measures had resulted in the death of 50 per cent of children in those villages.

The doctor said that the laws of the land had to be implemented concerning the protection of workers.

He said though, the villagers are illegal miners; government could legalize the trade for them and provide the necessary protection.

“A mining corporation should be established in the villages, while they get enlightenment and educative programs on safety measures,” he said. NAN

PAGE 29

Gombe to establish fourteen new hospitals From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

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n effort to improving health care delivery to the people especially those at the grassroots, Gombe state government has concluded plan to establish fourteen hospitals across

the state.

The state Commissioner for Health, Dr. Kennedy Ishaya who disclosed this in Gombe while exchanging view with Peoples Daily, said that the new fourteen hospitals to be established in the state were intended to provide

President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia; Chairperson, African Leaders’ Malaria Alliance (ALMA)

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that do not require specialized tests, adding that the hospital would be located in Akko, Bage, Boh, Dogon Ruwa, Gwandum, Gombe-Abba, Maikoho, Gujuba, Kalshingi, Nyunwar and Wade.

Dr. Ishaya further added that fourteen ordinary ambulances would be acquired for the new hospitals to be established and that four specialized mobile ambulances with life saving equipments and telephone had been acquired for distribution to each of the senatorial districts for enhanced healthcare delivery.

The Commissioner said that all the nearby hospital would be linked on telephone to the special ambulances so that adequate arrangement would be made to receive their patients before their arrival.

He further explained that plans were underway to enter into agreement with the Federal Medical Centre Gombe for the training of their Doctors to obtain higher degrees qualification.

On mass exodus of doctors from government hospital in the state, he indicated plan to increase medical workers salary to be at par with that of their counterparts at the federal Medical Centers.

African Leaders declare: Funding gaps threaten fight against malaria

By A’isha Biola Raji

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frican leaders had described funding gaps as threat in fighting malaria in Africa.

This declaration was made

recently in Addis Ababa Ethiopia, where President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf of Liberia assumed Chair of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA).

According to Sirleaf, ALMA

NABDA to establish hypertension study centre in Abuja he National Biotechnology Development Agency (NABDA) recently said that it would establish a hypertension study centre in Abuja.

The Director General of NABDA, Prof. Bamidele Solomon, made this known while speaking at a lecture entitled, “European Project of Gene in Hypertension–Findings using Echocardiographic Phenotyping”.

The lecture was organised by NABDA in collaboration with College of Health Science, University of Abuja.

Solomon, who identified hypertension as the most common sickness relating to heart, stressed the need to devise a strategy for its control and prevention.

He said the agency was ready to build a catalog of generic variants that would help researchers across the world to understand causes of the disease in human.

Solomon said that the agency would take advantage of the new technologies to step into genetics and genomic basis of hypertension in the country.

“It is really necessary to have a centre that will study the genetic basis of all diseases and the first one we are looking at now is the issue of hypertension, which we know tend to move from parent to children.

“If hypertension travels within the family, then we should be able to track down the gene that is

comprehensive health care delivery to the people in remote areas of the state.

He explained that the hospitals when established would provide general medical service, maternal, Anti natal, pediatrics minor surgeries and all other treatments

responsible for such and maybe we will be able to provide solution to it at that molecular level.

“As an agency that is using biotechnology for us to have affordable health care, I believe it is the right thing to do as the disease will be more manageable when they can be personalized.”

He said the agency had set up laboratory that would be used for the project to fight and stem the menace that had claimed lives of many Nigerians.

Prof. Jan Staessen, the Head, Division of Hypertension and Cardiovascular Rehabilitation, Department of Diseases, University of Leuven, Belgium, in his lecture, advised Nigerians to adopt life style that would help to prevent the disease.

Staessen stressed the need for people to take care of their life style and smoking habits, saying that blood pressure, smoking and the cholesterol levels in the body accounted for 85 per cent risk factors causing the hypertension.

“Be moderate in everything you do and know that physical exercise prevent hypertension and live a healthy life,” Staessen said.

The Provost of College of Health Science, University of Abuja, Prof.

Samuel Asala, described the collaboration as a new relationship between the agency and the institution.

He promised that the institution would render the needed support toward the success of the project.

Dr Felicia Amumah, the Head, Department of Medicine, University of Abuja, also described the collaboration as a necessity and called for more sensitization on the prevention of hypertension.

Amumah said the prevalence of the disease in Nigeria was about 25 per cent of the population, adding, “it is unfortunate that quite a number of people are not aware that they have it, and end up in complication.” She said. NAN

estimates a gap of USD $3.3 billion in funding needed to achieve and sustain universal coverage of essential malaria interventions including artemisinin-based combination therapies (ACTs), rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) and long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) to the end of 2015.

“The malaria campaign is emerging as a standout success in the effort to improve the health and welfare of mothers and children, but we cannot lose focus now. “There is a moral and economic imperative to fill the malaria funding gap,” said Ellen.

ALMA members agreed to intensify efforts to close financing gaps and made key recommendations and commitments including the use of World Bank IDA allocations to protect health gains and prevent the resurgence of malaria.

Deepen Africa’s commitment to transparency through the ALMA Scorecard for accountability and action, an innovative tool that tracks progress across key health indicators, increase African financing for health moving toward the Abuja target of allocating 15% of public sector budgets to health and pursue innovative financing approaches to expand the resource pool for health.

President Sirleaf inherits a malaria campaign that has made significant progress, yet faces real challenges in terms of funding.

According to the World Health Organization, there has been a 33% decrease in malaria deaths in Africa over the last decade. Despite this progress, the current global funding crisis as evidenced by the postponement of the Global Fund Round 11 threatens momentum.

MSH to implement several projects on health in Nigeria From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

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anagement Sciences for Health (MSH) a nongovernmental international organization with Head quarters in Cambridge USA is celebrating its 40th anniversary in Nigeria with a view to implementing several projects on health for capacity building in form of institutions and civil society organization to improve leadership and management among other interventions.

In a press release made available to Peoples Daily in Gombe, MSH said as effort to enhance the sector, the organization is working tirelessly to

implement an organization system of AIDS Care and treatment project that will support the government in Nigeria to provide comprehensive AIDS care and treatments in 25 sites across 6 states.

However, it will also implement Nigerian Indigenous capacity building projects of NICaB in collaboration with CHAN that is affiliated with the TB- care project through PEPFAR program. The release stated.

According to the release, the ceremonies which took place 31st January and 2nd February respectively officially handed over to pre-selected beneficiaries of US Agency for International

Development (USAID) that will hold in Asaba Delta State.

The release also stated that the handover ceremony initiated implementation of livelihood and economic strengthening activities under the IGA umbrella to meet the need of providing OVC families with food, shelter, health, education and other services.

It said among the beneficiaries, are females OVC care-givers and heads of house hold that will be supported by the community based support for orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Nigeria (CUBS) project under it income generating activities component.

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Massages are good for you: Shoulder rub mimics effect of pain-killers at molecular level

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soothing massage does more than relax aching muscles, scientists have discovered.

It reduces inflammation at the molecular level, mimicking the action of pain killing drugs, research suggests.

Massage also promotes the growth of new mitochondria, the energy-generating ‘power plants’ in cells.

Scientists conducted a genetic analysis of muscle tissue samples taken from volunteers who had exhausted themselves on exercise bikes.

One of their legs was randomly chosen to be massaged. Biopsy samples were taken from both legs prior to exercise, immediately after a 10 minute massage and after two and a half hours of recovery.

The results, published in an online edition of the journal Science Translational Medicine, showed that massage dampened the effect of cytokines - immune system signaling molecules which contribute to inflammation.

At the same time, it promoted

the biogenesis of mitochondria.

The pain reduction associated with massage may involve the same mechanism as that employed by anti-inflammatory drugs, the scientists believe.

Lead researcher Dr Mark Tarnopolsky, from the Department of Pediatrics and Medicine at McMaster University in Canada, said: ‘The potential benefits of massage could be useful to a broad spectrum of individuals including the elderly, those suffering from musculoskeletal injuries and patients with chronic inflammatory disease.

‘This study provides evidence that manipulative therapies, such as massage, may be justifiable in medical practice.’

Massage therapy is used by The Royal Marsden NHS Trust for cancer patients who are having problems relaxing or getting to sleep.

‘It can help cope with pain, muscle stiffness, breathlessness, anxiety and fatigue,’ a spokesman said.

Heart failure ‘can make patients forget when to Sugar ‘is toxic and must be regulated take their medication’ just like cigarettes’, claim scientists Relaxing: Massages also have an anti-inflammatory effect, say scientists

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eart failure could be linked to memory loss, say scientists.

A study found people suffering from the condition experienced changes in regions of their brain responsible for higher mental processing and decision making.

The researchers believe this could make it harder for people to remember simple tasks such as when to take medication.

Heart failure is a serious condition that describes what happens when the heart has trouble pumping enough blood around the body, often because it has become too weak or stiff.

It is characterised by breathlessness, extreme tiredness and weakness and swelling in the legs, ankles and feet and in most cases medication is prescribed to temper the symptoms.

However the latest findings suggest that the condition could lead to a loss of grey matter in the brain, making it difficult for people to stick to treatment regimes.

Lead researcher Professor Osvaldo Almeida, from the University of Western Australia said: ‘Consequently, loss of brain cells in these regions may affect a person’s performance in a number of different areas, such as memory, behavior modification, inhibition, both emotional and cognitive, and organization.

‘Our findings indicate that diseases that affect the heart affect the brain as well, and that the changes in organ function and blood circulation associated with heart failure seem to compound these effects in the brain.’

The small-scale study, published in the European Heart

Journal, analyzed data for 35 people with heart failure, 56 with coronary heart disease and 64 healthy people acting as controls.

All participants were aged over 45 and did not suffer any obvious cognitive impairment.

Each was subject to a series of tests, including using MRI scans to look at the volume of grey matter in the brain.

The results showed that people with heart failure had worse immediate and long-term memory and reaction speeds than healthy people, and experienced changes in their brain linked to cognitive and emotional processing.

Prof Almeida added: ‘What we found in this study is that both ischaemic heart disease and heart failure are associated with a loss of cells in certain brain regions that are important for the modulation of emotions and mental activity.’

The scientists have said that larger and longer studies are now needed to confirm the results.

Natasha Stewart, senior cardiac nurse at the British Heart Foundation (BHF), also called for more studies, adding: ‘The biggest implication of this research is that patients may find it difficult to stick to treatment regimes and forget to take their medication.

‘It is important to speak to your GP and your heart failure nurse about what is best for you.’

Heart failure affects about 900,000 people in the UK. It tends to affect older people, is more common in men than women, and can be caused by other problems, such as high blood pressure or a heart attack. www.dailymail.co.uk

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ugar is a poison and its sale should be as tightly regulated as cigarettes and alcohol, scientists say.

They warn that sugary foods and drinks are responsible for illnesses including obesity, heart disease, cancer and liver problems.

They claim it contributes to 35million deaths a year worldwide and is so dangerous it should be controlled through taxation and legislation.

In an article entitled The Toxic Truth about Sugar, published in the journal Nature, the scientists add: ‘A little is not a problem but a lot kills slowly.’

The U.S. authors warn obesity is now a bigger problem than malnourishment across the world, and that sugar not only makes people fat but also changes the body’s metabolism, raises blood

pressure, throws hormones off balance and harms the liver.

The damage done mirrors the effects of drinking too much alcohol – which the scientists point out, is made from distilling sugar.

The authors, led by Robert Lustig, a childhood obesity expert at California University, say that, like alcohol, sugar is widely available, toxic, easily abused and harmful to society.

They say teaching children about diet and exercise is unlikely to be effective and instead the answer lies in taxes and restricting availability.

The study recommends using taxation to double the price of fizzy drinks, restricting their sale to those over 17 or 18, and tightening regulations covering school vending machines and snack bars.

Dr Laura Schmidt, also of

Sugar is 'toxic' beyond its calories, warn scientists. They suggest a sales tax licensing requirements on vending machines

California University, said: ‘We’re not talking about prohibition.

We’re not advocating a major imposition of the government into people’s lives.

‘What we want is actually to increase people’s choices by making foods that aren’t loaded with sugar comparatively easier and cheaper to get.’

The article also reveals that consumption of sugar has tripled in the past 50 years and that there are now more obese people than malnourished ones across the world.

It concludes that responsibility lies with the food companies, saying that while they may resist change, shifts in policy are possible if the pressure is great enough.

Examples include the ban on smoking in public places and the fitting of airbags in cars.

The article ends: ‘These simple measures are taken for granted as tools for our public health and wellbeing. It’s time to turn our attention to sugar.’

However, other scientists have described the essay as ‘puritanical’, saying sugar is only toxic when eaten in unrealistic amounts.

Barbara Gallani, of the Food and Drink Federation, which represents the UK food and drink industry, said that while urgent action was needed to beat heart and other diseases, it was wrong to focus on sugar alone.

She added: ‘The causes of these diseases are multi-factorial and demonising food components does not help consumers to build a realistic approach to their diet.

‘The key to good health is a balanced and varied diet in a lifestyle that includes plenty of physical activity.’

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

AU’s inconclusive election: A danger signal?

ANALYSIS

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hen the Organisation of African Unity (OAU) -the forerunner of the Africa Union (AU) -- was formed in the 1960s, its founding fathers envisaged that it would be the bastion of unity and development for the African continent.

All through the decades, African nations had faced enormous challenges such as wars, political and economic problems, which sometimes warranted the intervention of the continental body.

The AU and by extension OAU, on the other hand, have had their own challenges too, which sometimes threatened the very foundation of their existence.

Observers recall that one of such instances occurred in the early 1980s, when most African leaders boycotted the annual summit slated for Tripoli, Libya; all in efforts prevent the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi from taking his turn to head the OAU. Such trying times for the organizations, however, had been few and far between since their formation.

Between Jan. 29 and 30, Heads of State of African nations converged on Addis Ababa for the 18th ordinary summit of the AU. Fifty-four nations were represented at the summit, while the key agenda was the election of new officers to run the affairs of the AU Commission. The offices were those of the AU Chairperson, the Deputy AU Chairperson as well as eight AU Commissioners.

For the first time, however, the election was deadlocked as the leaders failed to elect the new set of officers for the AU, largely because of conflicting national and regional interests of member nations.

Some foreign affairs analysts expressed various viewpoints on the ugly development, underscoring the fact that it was unsettling for Africa, while undermining efforts to foster unity.

In addition, they said that the deadlock may have stalled efforts to evolve a united approach to tackling the numerous challenges facing the continent.

"The leaders have shown to the entire world that the much talked about and much needed unity, integration and cooperation among African countries and their leaders are far from being a reality," one of the analysts said.

Other observers note that it is particularly ironic that the open disagreement among the leaders manifested at the historic summit, which went down in history as the most-attended by Heads of State in the organization's history.

More embarrassing, perhaps, was that the deadlock occurred at the formal inauguration of the ultra-modern 200-million-U.S.dollar AU headquarters complex donated to the continental body by the Chinese government.

Nevertheless, during the summit, bilateral meetings took place between the leaders and international partners, donor agencies as well as UN agencies.

Dr. Jean Ping, AU Commission Chairperson.

A Kenyan diplomat, Mrs Martha Kennedy, said that it was unfortunate that the summit's fate went against its theme of "Boosting Intra-African Trade''.

"The continent is agitating for unity and the theme of the summit revolves about having a united Africa through trade but unfortunately, our leaders were so divided to the extent that they could not agree on a single candidate,'' Kennedy lamented.

She attributed the failure to external influences, especially from the West, which in her viewpoint, was not happy with China's diplomatic inroad into Africa via its giant contribution to the AU Commission.

For Mr Ayeni Oladipo, a Nigerian diplomat, both the AU Commission and the continent will continue to miss the late Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, who ensured through various means, the continued unity of Africa.

"If Gaddafi were still alive, the unfortunate incident would not have happened. He would have made sure that all issues were settled before the Summit proper.

"There was no time the situation ever got as worse as this. I attended many AU elections but the trend was that before it got very hot, Gaddafi would ask the candidate with the least votes to withdraw, while mobilizing his colleagues to vote for the other candidate with higher votes to enable him to get the required number of votes.

"This was the problem we had with the last elections; none of the Heads of State could assume the role

Gaddafi played. They allowed their individual interests to ride above the continent's interests,'' he noted.

Oladipo stressed that "Africa and Africans will pay dearly for losing Gaddafi", stressing that "he was a true African leader, who had the interest of Africans and the continent at heart.

"It is unfortunate that in less than one year after Gaddafi's death, this is happening in our continent.''

No doubt, the successful election of a Chairperson for the AU Commission at the Summit would have set the tone for the agenda to be discussed by the African leaders.

All the same, a critical appraisal of the circumstances surrounding the election could unfold certain underpinnings, which may not have been discernible to many observers and analysts.

The main contestants for the office of the AU Chairperson were Dr Jean Ping of Gabon and Nkosuzana Dlamini-Zuma of South Africa. Ping sought a second term in office, while Dlamini-Zuma, the incumbent Interior Minister of South Africa and a former wife of President Jacob Zuma, offered a challenge.

In the first round of the election, Ping got 28 votes while DlaminiZuma had 25, while the second round fetched Ping 27 votes and Dlamini-Zuma, 26. In the third round, Ping scored 29 votes and Dlamini-Zuma, 24, which forced the latter's country, South Africa, to tender her letter of withdrawal from the race.

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The fourth round of the election required Ping to get two-thirds of the total votes cast by the leaders before he could be declared the winner but unfortunately for Ping, he got 31 out of the required 35 votes.

Consequently, the election was pronounced inconclusive.

A suggestion by Nigeria to allow tenure elongation by six months for the incumbents' in office was accepted by the summit.

Before then, however, some nations had pushed for the outgoing deputy Chairperson of AU, Mr Erastus Mwencha, a Kenyan, to step into Ping's shoes in an acting capacity until the summit's next meeting in June. The bid failed as many opposing nations described the option as alien to AU's Rules of Procedure and Acts.

The deadlock notwithstanding, the Summit agreed to set up an adhoc Committee of five heads of state from Africa's five regions, with Presidents Zuma (South Africa), Ali Bango (Gabon), Boni Yayi (Benin) - the new Chairman of the Union -as automatic members.

The committee, which will meet in March, is expected to review the current challenges as well as the candidature of the Ping and Dlamini-Zuma, so as to advise African leaders accordingly.

Nevertheless, some analysts project that a likely scenario in June, during the next summit in Malawi, will be that Ping and Dlamini-Zuma may yet contest the office, or in the alternative, the former may be recommended as the sole candidate, since the latter had withdrawn in the last summit.

Nevertheless, some analysts project that a likely scenario in June, during the next summit in Malawi, will be that Ping and Dlamini-Zuma may yet contest the office, or in the alternative, the former may be recommended as the sole candidate, since the latter had withdrawn in the last summit.

The time constraint, they add, may constitute a limiting factor an indication that another deadlock still looms.

"If the heads of state could not agree on one candidate for the top AU post during the last election, it will also be very difficult for them to accept a report from the committee," said a diplomat, who preferred anonymity.

He feared that some of the leaders and their voting blocs would strategise better or even harden their existing positions.

With such pessimisms, there is palpable fear by many about the future of the AU, especially as some critics claim that the continental body has yet to find its true bearing, in order to decisively address the numerous problems of the continent.

"The failure of African leaders to have a united stand on a single issue as AU leadership is an embarrassment not only for the continent but for the leaders themselves," another diplomat said.

Some perceptive analysts have, however, attempted to X-ray the circumstances that led to the inconclusiveness of the election.

For instance, Sheik Omar ElHicham, an observer from the OIC, blamed the deadlock on South Africa's ambition to take over control of the continental body and the consequent resistance by other African leaders.

"You could see the division between the southern African bloc, supported by some Central African countries on the one hand, and the West African bloc, supported by East Africa on the other hand, while some North African countries decided to be on the fence.'' ElHicham said.

He, however, noted that the exit of a personality like Gaddafi had engendered South Africa's ambition to wield greater influence in the continental body.

El- Hicham, nonetheless, expressed optimism that the leaders would resolve the issues at their next Summit in June at Malawi.

"With all the issues at hand, I am optimistic that before the next Summit in Malawi, some African leaders with the interest of the continent at heart will resolve the crises,'' he added.

For President Michael Sata of Zambia, however, the postponement of the election does not mean that the continent is divided.

"It does not mean that the continent is divided. When there is an election, such election will always divide the people,'' Sata said.

All said and done, the June summit of the African leaders promises to be a big test for African leaders regarding their yearning for integration and development.

It will also provide a platform for the leaders to dispel fears that some of them were being teleguided and unduly manipulated by some foreign powers to advance certain selfish interests.

Source: NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 32

Blast hits Egypt’s gas pipeline to Israel n explosion hit a gas pipeline running from Egypt to Israel yesterday, the latest in a series of attacks on the installation that crosses the increasingly volatile Sinai region, witnesses and state media re por te d.

T he pi p el i ne , whi c h a ls o s up p li e s g a s t o J or d a n, ha s come under attack at least 12 t im e s s in c e E g yp t ia n President Hosni Mubarak was toppl ed in Fe bruary 2 011.

The latest blast took place

in the Massaeed area west of t he Me d it e rr a ne a n c oa s ta l t own o f a l- A ri s h, in n o rt h S in a i. Ga s p ump i ng wa s stopped after the explosion.

T he s ta t e- o wne d o pe r at i ng co m pa n y, Ga s co , s ai d t h e f ir e wa s b ro ugh t und e r c on t ro l b y d a wn but t he fl o w r em a in e d c ut , incl uding e xports , the s tate news agency reported.

Residents in al-Arish told Reuters they could see flames from their town when the attack

took place. Security forces and fire trucks raced to the scene, witnesses said.

Security in Sinai loosened after Mubarak's fall as the police presence thinned out across Egypt.

Egypt's 20-year gas deal with Israel, signed in the Mubarak era, is unpopular with some Egyptians, with critics accusing Israel of not paying enough for the gas.

Previous explosions have sometimes led to weeks-long

shutdowns along the pipeline run

by Gasco, a subsidiary of the national gas company EGAS. Egypt said in November it would tighten security measures along the pipeline by installing alarm devices and recruiting security patrols from Bedouin tribesmen in the area.

Sinai has long been a restive area, where Bedouins complain of government neglect. Many people in the region possess weapons. The area hosts several Red Sea resorts with five-star hotels, but Bedouins say they do not see the benefits.

Egypt doubled the gas price for Jordan in October. Jordan said Monday it would raise electricity prices as of February to cover the rising burden of imported fuel costs after loss of regular Egyptian gas supplies.

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city of Port Said. Five more have died in Suez.

Some protesters believe that remnants of the government of ousted president Hosni Mubarak were behind violence that caused a stampede at the soccer match last Wednesday, and see it as part of a plot to create chaos to reassert their influence.

Political figures and a civilian advisory body to the military have suggested bringing forward a

presidential vote to April or May, from the June date foreseen in the transition timetable of the army, which took power after Mubarak quit.

Police and protesters, some waving flags of Al Ahli soccer team which played in Wednesday's match, hurled rocks at each other and police fired volleys of teargas to push the lines of mostly young protesters back from the ministry building.

The authorities erected fresh barriers of big concrete blocks barring access through streets leading to the ministry. Some earlier barriers had been hauled down.

"The demand is that the army step down politically and announce the start of nominations for the presidential election immediately," said Waleed Saleh, 30, an activist with a facemask at the ready, speaking near the ministry.

The military council, which took charge when Hosni Mubarak was toppled by a popular uprising on February 11, has promised to hand power to civilians by the end of June after an election.

But calls for a swifter handover have mounted, and the Muslim Brotherhood which has the biggest bloc in parliament, added its voice

on Saturday to calls for a faster transition.

An army-appointed civilian council set up to advise the military is proposing accepting nominations for the presidency from February 23, nearly two months sooner than the April 15 date previously announced. This could lead to a vote in April or Ma y.

"If the army adopts that proposal, it will reduce the level of tension," said Saleh, who is also a member of the Lawyer's Syndicate, though he voiced a view popular among activists that the army might still try to influence policy from behind the scenes even with a president in place.

Saleh is among hardened activists who have kept a permanent presence in Tahrir Square since January 25, the anniversary of the eruption of protests against Mubarak.

Other protesters also called for the army to quit now and demanded retribution after the soccer deaths and for those killed in protests. There has been intense speculation about the cause of the soccer stadium disaster, Egypt's worst.

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Morocco king pardons jailed Islamist leaders Cairo protesters demand early vote, clash with police

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orocco's King Mohammed issued pardons to several leading Islamists who rights groups say were unfairly jailed, signaling a less hard-line approach after moderate Islamists came to power in an election last year.

Royal pardons are customary each year to coincide with the Muslim holiday of Mawlid, the birthday of the Prophet Mohammad which fell this weekend, but it is unusual for the monarch to pardon such high-profile detainees.

The prisoners covered by the pardon included leading figures in an Islamist group called Salafia Jihadia.

Morocco's authorities say the group helped orchestrate a coordinated wave of suicide bombings in the commercial capital, Casablanca, in 2003 which killed 45 people.

But local and international human rights groups say after those attacks, Moroccan authorities jailed hundreds of Islamists on fabricated charges, sometimes torturing them to extract forced confessions.

Among those who received pardons were Hassan Kettani, one of the ideological leaders of Salafia Jihadia, who was serving a 20 year sentence, and Mohamed Rafiki and Omar Haddouchi, two other leaders of the group who were each serving 30 years.

The pardons are part of a changing political landscape in Morocco after an election last year which gave the north African country its first Islamist-led coalition go vern men t.

The Islamist PJD party spent years in opposition but was helped to victory by a trend in the Middle East for Islamists to gain power in the aftermath of the "Arab Spring" upheavals.

Mustafa Ramid, the new justice minister and himself a PJD member, last month said he would seek royal pardons for critics of the authorities who had been unfairly jailed.

Before his appointment to the government, Ramid was a lawyer who represented several jailed Islamists.

rotesters demanding a swift presidential election and an early handover of power by the army hurled rocks at police guarding the Egyptian Interior Ministry yesterday and were forced back with volleys of tear gas.

It was the fourth day of clashes outside the ministry, in which seven people have died. Protesters accuse the ministry of failing to prevent the deaths last week of 74 people after a soccer match in the Mediterranean

Protesters stand in line to prevent their compatriots from throwing stones at riot police during clashes near the Interior Ministry in Cairo, on Saturday.

Senegal opposition signs anti-Wade pact

S

enegalese President Abdoulaye Wade's main rivals pledged on Saturday to campaign together in an effort to force him to withdraw from an election next month.

The group did not give details on how they would try to prevent Wade from running for a third term in the February 26 vote. But the pledge, a day before campaigning officially opened, underscored rising tensions in a country that has long been an island of stability in West Africa.

Wade's candidacy was approved last week by the country's top legal body, but it has sparked riots on the streets and drawn criticism from foreign donors, especially the United States, which said the bid posed a risk to Senegal's stability.

"We will take part in the election campaign in order to step up the fight ... to force the withdrawal of the candidacy of Abdoulaye Wade," read a document that was signed by eight of Wade's main rivals.

The group includes music star Youssou N'Dour, whose bid was

blocked by the same legal body that signed off on Wade's application; two former prime ministers, Macky Sall and Idrissa Seck; and veteran opposition leaders Moustapha Niasse and Ousmane Tanor Dieng.

Wade's rivals have so far struggled to forge a unified front against him. Having himself led street protests before coming to power in 2000, Wade has openly mocked the opposition for failing to mobilise a serious challenge and dismissed foreign criticism.

But his rivals sought to put their divisions behind them.

"We will channel all our efforts to one single, united and targeted campaign: to force Abdoulaye Wade to withdraw his candidacy and to hold an election without him," they said in the statement.

Wade's rivals say his bid for a third term breaches rules setting a two-term limit, but the president argues that his first term should not be counted as limits were added in 2001, after he had already begun his time in power.

At least four people have been killed in street clashes over Wade's candidacy. World leaders have called on all sides to show restraint, warning that the West African nation's democratic credentials were at stake.

Opposition leaders, who have come together with civil society organisations under the M-23

banner, have called for a demonstration in Dakar on Sunday.

Violent street protests last June forced Wade to backtrack on proposed changes to the election law that were widely seen as aiding his re-election, but demonstrations against his candidacy so far have failed to gather the same momentum.

Senegal's President Abdoulaye Wade greets supporters after receiving a local prize for good governance in the capital Dakar, recently.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 33

Anger after Russia, China block UN action on Syria

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estern and Arab countries responded with outrage yesterday after Russia and China vetoed a U.N. Security Council resolution that would have urged Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said she was "disgusted" by the vote, which came a day after activists say Syrian forces bombarded the city of Homs, killing more than people in the worst night of bloodshed of the 11month uprising.

"Any further bloodshed that flows will be on their hands," Ambassador Susan Rice said after the Russian-Chinese veto.

All 13 other members of the Security Council voted to back the resolution, which would have "fully supported" an Arab League plan under which Assad should cede powers to a deputy, withdraw troops from towns and begin a transition to democracy.

Russia said the resolution was

biased and would promote "regime change." Syria is Moscow's rare ally in the Middle East, home to a Russian naval base and a customer for its arms.

The Syrian National Council, which represents major opposition groups, said it holds Moscow and Beijing "responsible for the escalating acts of killing and genocide; it considers this an irresponsible step that is tantamount to a license to kill with impunity."

The Security Council's sole Arab member, Morocco, voiced "great regret and disappointment" at the veto.

Ambassador Mohammed Loulichki and said the Arabs had no intention of abandoning their plan.

Syrian U.N. envoy Bashar Ja'afari criticized the resolution and its sponsors, which included Saudi Arabia and seven other Arab states, saying nations "that prevent women from attending a soccer match" had no right to preach democracy to Syria.

Manning to face court martial over WikiLeaks

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private charged in the biggest leak of classified information in US history will face a general court martial, the army has said.

Major General Michael Linnington, commander of the Washington military district overseeing the prosecution of Private First Class Bradley Manning, announced the decision on Friday.

Linnington's statement follows a six-week-long Article 32 hearing, during which army lawyers argued that Manning should face the general court martial, the most serious form of military trial.

The decision means that Manning will stand trial for allegedly giving more than 700,000 secret US documents and classified combat video to WikiLeaks.

The whistleblowing website published them online and assisted numerous media organisations in disseminating and explaining the

secret material.

Manning accessed the files while serving as an intelligence analyst at Forward Operating Base Hammer, near Baghdad, during a deployment that lasted from late 2009 to mid-2010.

The 24-year-old Oklahoma native faces 22 counts, including theft of public property, wrongfully causing intelligence to be published on the internet, and aiding the enemy.

The latter charge carries the death penalty, but military prosecutors have said they will seek no more than life in prison.

Manning's court martial has not yet been appointed a judge, who will then set out a schedule of hearings. His lead defence counsel, thus far, remains civilian lawyer David Coombs.

Defence lawyers say Manning was a troubled young soldier whom the army should never have deployed to Iraq or given access to classified material.

United States Ambassador Susan Rice speaks with an unidentified delegate during the U.N. Security Council meeting to discuss a European-Arab draft resolution endorsing an Arab League plan calling for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up power in New York, on Saturday.

Many have rallied to Manning's side, saying he was right to expose US wrongdoings [EPA]

India court drops fraud charges against minister

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n Indian judge has thrown out a petition to prosecute Palaniappan Chidambaram, the country's home minister, for signing off on part of a telecom scandal that may have cost the government as much as $36bn in lost revenue.

The plea "to summon Chidambaram as an accused is dismissed", Judge OP Saini told the courtroom in a brief statement on Saturday.

The ruling brought a rare moment of cheer to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's government, which has seen its standing battered by the cut-price mobile licence sale.

"It is a relief," Pranab Mukherjee, India's finance minister, told reporters.

The ruling comes just before state elections scheduled on

Wednesday, whose outcome could have an influence on the 2014 general elections.

Regional opposition party leader Subramanian Swamy, who brought the case against Chidambaram, had insisted the politician could have intervened to avert the tainted sale when he was finance minister in 2008.

The latest ruling can still be challenged in a higher court.

The telecoms ordeal is the largest of several scandals to have emerged during Singh's second term, denting India's image as an investment destination and heightening concerns over policy when Asia's third-largest economy is slowing.

The Supreme Court on Thursday ordered 122 telecoms licences issued under that 2008 sale be revoked.

Subramanian Swamy, opposition party president, has said the home minister could have stopped the scandal [AP]

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Iran says will attack any country used to strike its soil

I

ran will attack any country whose territory is used by "enemies" of the Islamic state to launch a military strike against its soil, the deputy head of Iran's elite Revolutionary Guards told the semi-official Fars news agency yesterday.

"Any spot used by the enemy for hostile operations against Iran, will be subjected to retaliatory aggression by our armed forces," Hossein Salami said, during military maneuvers.

The Revolutionary Guards

began the two-day ground exercises on Saturday as a show of military might as tension rises between Tehran and the West over Iran's disputed nuclear program.

Iranian media said it was a small-scale exercise in southern

Iran.

The United States and Israel, Iran's arch enemies, have not ruled out a military strike against the country if diplomacy fails to resolve the standoff. Iran says its nuclear program is purely peaceful, rather than

aimed at developing weapons.

Iran has warned that its response to any such strike will be "painful," threatening to target Israel, and U.S. bases in the Gulf, along with closing the vital oil shipping route of the Strait of Hormuz.

bomb kills nine in Romney wins Nevada Car Afghan city Kandahar Republican caucuses A car bomb in the south Afghan city of Kandahar killed at least nine people and wounded 19 yesterday, the presidential palace said in a statement.

The Kandahar province's media office said five police officers and two civilians were among the dead. "(The) explosion took place near a busy shopping area of (the) city," it said on its official Twitter feed.

Last year, fighting in Afghanistan killed more than 3,000 civilians, the United Nations

said on Saturday, the fifth year in a row that the number of civilian deaths has risen.

Suicide attacks carried out by insurgents and roadside mines were the biggest killers of noncombatants, the U.N. report said.

"Once more, enemies of the people of Afghanistan showed, by launching such a terrorist attack in a crowded place in Kandahar city, their enmity toward the innocent people of Afghanistan," President Hamid Karzai said in the palace's statement.

Romney crushed rivals Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum in Nevada [Reuters]

R

epublican frontrunner Mitt Romney has easily won Nevada's presidential caucuses, further taking command of the party's race to pick a challenger to President Barack Obama.

Romney's win on Saturday was his second in a row and third in the first five contests in the state-bystate Republican nominating battle.

The well-funded and organised Romney, a former Massachusetts governor, crushed rivals Newt Gingrich, Ron Paul and Rick Santorum.

Romney captured 44 per cent of the vote, with about 43 per cent of

precincts counted, taking about a 20-point lead over his closest rivals.

Nevada, which has a faltering economy and a big Mormon population, was considered friendly territory for Romney, a Mormon and former head of a private equity firm.

He captured 51 per cent of the vote in 2008 to win the state during his failed 2008 presidential bid.

Romney had stressed his business background as a cure for the ailing economy in Nevada, which has the country's highest state unemployment rate, 12.6 per cent in December, and the highest home foreclosure rate.

One Republican voter in

Pahrump, a town near Las Vegas, told Al Jazeera, "I think the consensus is that we don't need socialism, and that's how we feel about Obama."

Al Jazeera's Rob Reynolds, reporting from Parhump, said: "With Nevada and other western swing states likely to play a crucial role in this year's presedential election, the candidates will be paying a lot more attention to places like this."

Romney hopes the Nevada result will launch a February winning streak that could position him for a knockout blow to his main rival, Gingrich, during the 10 "Super Tuesday" contests on March 6.

An Afghan policeman keeps watch next to a blood stain after a car bomb blast in the city of Kandahar yesterday. The car bomb in the south Afghan city of Kandahar killed at least seven people and wounded 19 on Sunday, the province's media office said.

Military comeback a distant dream for Afghan Taliban

Fighting over captured Yemeni city kills five

F

our Islamists linked to al Qaeda and a government soldier have been killed in clashes in southern Yemen, security sources said yesterday, hours after the breakdown of a short-lived ceasefire designed to pacify the area ahead of a presidential election.

The clashes between militants from Ansar al-Sharia (Partisans of Islamic Law) and government forces broke out late on Saturday on the outskirts of Zinjibar, capital of Abyan province, which militants seized last May. The capture of the coastal city has increased the vulnerability of Yemen's second city, Aden, security experts say. The United States and Saudi Arabia are particularly concerned that emboldened militants linked to al Qaeda could threaten nearby oil shipping routes through the Red Sea. Zinjibar has been nearly destroyed in regular clashes

between the government and Islamist militants in the past eight months. Tens of thousands fled and are now refugees in nearby Aden and Lahej.

Tribesmen and residents said government mediators on Saturday forged a ceasefire with militants in an effort to create a peaceful environment for voting on February 21, but militants denied they had made any such agreement.

"They (the government) wanted to hold negotiations with Ansar al-Sharia, but (we) refused," a representative of the Islamist group told Reuters.

Diplomats hope the elections, agreed as part of a deal to ease President Ali Abdullah Saleh out of office, will pull the country back from the brink of civil war. Over the last year, militants have exploited lawlessness that accompanied protests against

Saleh's 33-year rule to seize towns like Zinjibar and Radda in Yemen's mountainous interior.

Authorities had opted for negotiations in Zinjibar after it became clear that the military option was "not viable," a government official in Sanaa told Reuters, especially given that the army had been weakened by divisions between supporters of the uprising and Saleh loyalists.

"Because of the split in the army and the political crisis, the military solution did not succeed in Abyan... Tribal negotiations may help get the al Qaeda members out of Abyan as they did in the city of Radda," he said.

Militants quit Radda, around 170 km (105 miles) southeast of Sanaa, in exchange for the release of jailed comrades and the formation of a council to govern the town.

Taliban militants hand over their weapons after joining the Afghan government's reconciliation and reintegration program, in Herat, recently.

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secret NATO report showing the strength of confidence among the Afghan Taliban is raising concerns from Kabul to Washington that the militant group might overrun the country again when foreign combat forces finally leave.

But analysts doubt the militants, who rose from the ashes of Afghanistan's civil war, will be able to again race into the capital in pick-up trucks, hang their opponents in public and once more impose their austere brand of Islam on the country.

Although still much feared, experts say they don't have the military capability to seize control of the whole

country when NATO combat troops withdraw in 2014.

Despite the bold predictions of Taliban detainees whose opinions formed the basis of the NATO report, which was leaked last week, circumstances have changed substantially. A partial comeback appears to be the best the Taliban can hope for.

"When they ruled before, many people had fled Afghanistan. There was no young generation. Without much fighting, they captured 90 percent of Afghanistan. But now the situation has completely changed," said Waheed Mujhda, Kabul-based expert on the Taliban.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 35

Amazing table tennis baby, Jamie, a smash hit on YouTube

Ping-pong kid: Jamie slams down another winner

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table tennis-playing baby has become a smashing success on YouTube after wowing viewers with ping pong skills way ahead of his young years.

Appearing in a video named 'Jamie playing multiball',

wonderkid Jamie returns shot after shot while perched on the left hand side of the table.

He calmly swats the balls back at his dad and trainer, pausing only to regain his Zenlike composure.

On 44 seconds he displays a

wholly unconventional backhand before gleefully launching into a series of powerful smashes aimed straight at his dad.

In fact so efficient is Jamie in his Forrest Gump-esque whiff waff skills that his dad has

to refill the box of table tennis balls halfway through.

While most of the praise online has understandably been reserved for Jamie, one commenter on YouTube remarked on his father, saying 'that is an awesome dad'.

Jamie's dad may have his work out however in coaching him to greatness, however; since table tennis became an Olympic sport in 1988 Chinese athletes have dominated, winning 20 out of 24 gold medals available.

Forget planking. Breading is here to stay.

be en set up enc our agi ng people to upload their snaps for th e br ead ing com mun ity to look at.

Thousands ar e discussing the new pheno menon across the internet which looks set to take off in a big way.

Twitte r user David Eggleton tweeted: 'Thank you in ter net, on ce aga in y ou' ve surpassed my expectations of what can be considered 'cool'.

It looks as if this new trend could be here to stay.

‘Breading’: The bizarre new internet cat craze causing a stir online ac ross th e web, bei ng pr omot ed by b logg ing sit es and posted on Twitter.

It 's t he late st 'in tern et meme', a term used to describe a trend which spreads quickly ac ross th e we b, to emer ge following last year's planking c ra ze .

A Facebook group has also

Flock of sheep terrorising Russian farmer video goes viral

A Breading- One of the strange snaps posted online.

T

he re' s a b ran d n ew internet craze sweeping the globe. 'Breading' is wh en a ca t owner pl aces a pi ece of bre ad aro und the ir fe lin e fr ien d's fa ce b efo re sn appi ng the unusua l sh ot and posting it online.

It may be hard to believe but cat lovers everywhere are

be ginn ing to emb rac e th is cr azy tren d.

Breading fans first take a sl ice of brea d, dril l a lar ge round hole in the centre before placing it around their pet to create a mane effect.

Pictures of cats dressed in wholemeal, plain and multise ed b rea d ar e p opp ing up

video clip featuring a flock of sheep running rings around a farmer's moving car in Russia has become a YouTube hit.

The rowdy rabble of sheep were caught on a camera phone running amok in the farmer's yard as he attempted to navigate his way out of his driveway and away from the funny farm.

The 23 second clip shows the frustrated farmer caught in a woolly whirlwind of sheep as the furry animals create an impenetrable shield around the vehicle.

The novice cameraman can be heard laughing hysterically at his friend's misfortune as he records the strange event, while the unlucky driver furiously hoots his horn attempting to bulldoze his way past the problematic herd.

The video, dubbed 'Sheep

Cyclone', has now been viewed over 800,000 times on video sharing website Youtube with the caption: 'We have surrounded you. Come out with your hands up'.

Ewe shall not pass.

Many YouTube users believe they know the reason why the dizzy animals were in such a spin, claiming that sheep run together in a circular motion when they are scared.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Drinking just one glass of milk a day could boost your brain power M

ilk has long been known to help build healthy bones and provide the body with a vitamin and protein boost.

But now it’s being hailed as a memory aid after a study found those who regularly have milk – and other dairy products such as yoghurt, cheese and even ice cream – do better in key tests to check their brainpower.

Scientists asked 972 men and women to fill in detailed surveys on their diets, including how often they consumed dairy products, even if only having milk in their tea and coffee.

The subjects, aged 23 to 98, then completed a series of eight rigorous tests to check their concentration, memory and learning abilities.

The study, published in the International Dairy Journal, showed adults who consumed dairy products at least five or six times a week did far better in memory tests compared with those who rarely ate or drank

them.

The researchers said: ‘New and emerging brain health benefits are just one more reason to start each day with low-fat or fat-free milk.’

In some of the tests, adults who rarely consumed dairy products were five times more likely to fail compared with those who had them between two and four times a week.

The researchers, from the University of Maine in the U.S., believe certain nutrients in dairy products, such as magnesium, could help to stave off memory loss.

They also suspect dairy foods may help protect against heart disease and high blood pressure, which in turn maintains the brain’s ability to properly function.

Some experts have disputed this, however, claiming dairy products increase the likelihood of heart disease and strokes as they are high in saturated fat.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Drinking just one glass of milk a day could boost your brain power, say scientists

When dizzy spells are an early warning sign to stroke

J

im Marco was driving to work one morning when suddenly everything went dark — for 30 seconds he could see nothing and he was terrified he’d gone blind.

Even when his vision gradually returned, he was seeing double.

‘The world was spinning,’ says Jim, now 66, a retired delivery driver from Ratby in Leicestershire.

‘I felt shaky and unwell.’

His wife Gillian, who was with him, drove them straight home and called the GP, who diagnosed vertigo, a dizziness commonly caused by a problem with the balance mechanisms in the inner ear.

But he was wrong. In fact, Jim had suffered a mini stroke, where a blood clot temporarily blocks blood flow to the brain.

It is a warning that the brain is not getting enough blood — and one in four people who have a mini stroke go on to have a fullblown stroke, often within 72 hours.

In a mini stroke, a blood clot passes through the brain, meaning symptoms are temporary. In a full stroke there is a complete blockage, meaning brain cells start to die, often with devastating results.

But Jim had little idea of the risks. His GP told him to rest in bed and within a few days he started to feel better.

Then, as he got ready to go out with friends the following Saturday night, he suddenly felt dizzy again.

‘It was as though I was tipsy, but I’d hardly drunk a thing,’ he says.

The next morning, he collapsed on the bathroom floor —

and when he came to seconds later, he was paralysed from the waist down.

At the hospital, doctors took a computerised tomography scan and told Jim he’d had not one but several mini strokes (also known as transient ischaemic attacks).

‘Gillian and I were shocked,’ says Jim. ‘I’d thought only very elderly people had strokes.

‘I was only 59 and hadn’t even had the classic signs of stroke — my speech was fine and there was no face or arm weakness, just that feeling of being unwell.’

Four days later, while he was still in hospital, Jim had a massive stroke that left him unable to speak or move anything other than his eyes.

He spent the next six months recovering in hospital.

His movement and speech gradually returned, but today he

About 150,000 Britons have a stroke each year

still has weakness on his left side and balance problems.

About 150,000 Britons have a stroke each year, and the condition causes 53,000 deaths annually.

A stroke happens when a blood clot forms in another part of the body and moves to the brain and causes a blockage.

What is less well known is that about 50,000 people a year have mini or mild strokes.

Many recognise the obvious and well-publicised symptoms of stroke, such as weakness down one side of the face, tingling in one arm and slurring of speech.

But there are other, more subtle signs, says Dr Sharlin Ahmed, research liaison officer at charity The Stroke Association.

‘Warning signs can include a temporary loss of vision, because a blood clot is passing through the retina.

‘But because symptoms are temporary, people often ignore a mini stroke. Yet it is an emergency, and people need to seek help.

‘When there are other risk factors, including high-blood pressure and smoking, people need to see a doctor much sooner, because temporary loss of sight, feelings of dizziness and even a strange taste in the mouth could be a warning,’ says Dr Ahmed.

Dr Raj Kumar, consultant physician at the Stroke Unit at Aintree University Hospital, adds: ‘We see people in their 50s, 40s and even 30s who have dismissed a mini stroke as a trapped nerve or too much to drink the night before when they’re really warning signs of a devastating stroke.

‘Even health professionals sometimes miss the more subtle

mini strokes, those that involve balance and vision, but not the classic signs of stroke.

‘More people need to be aware and go to a doctor or hospital when they experience symptoms they know aren’t right for them. They can then be sent for a brain scan.’

A mini stroke won’t do any lasting damage, but diagnosing it can help prevent a more serious stroke.

‘If we spotted the warning signs sooner, we could prevent 10,000 strokes a year in this country,’ says Dr Ahmed.

Doctors can prescribe medication to reduce blood pressure and may offer bloodthinning drugs.

Patients can also be encouraged to eat and exercise more healthily, and reduce salt intake.

Robert Washbrook, 62, a factory inspector from Nuneaton, Warwickshire, is another patient who knows from bitter experience the importance of spotting a mini stroke.

He was working in his garden in May 2005 when suddenly he felt sweaty and clammy.

There was a strange tangy taste in his mouth, which he thought was pollen so he went inside to drink some water.

Then he felt tingling down his left arm and leg, but as this subsided over the next day or two, he didn’t seek help.

When the symptoms came back two days later, doctors diagnosed a mini stroke, and sent him home with blood- thinning medication and a referral for a brain scan.

But it was too late. Within a week, Robert had a full stroke that left him drifting in and out of consciousness for days.

He thinks failing to act on the first mini stroke was to blame.

‘Now I know there are different warning signs of stroke, I’d like to see people acting on them more quickly,’ he says.

He has recovered almost entirely — his treatment included classes to help him recover his speech — though he still has weakness down his left side.

Others have been luckier.

When nurse Maria McDonald, 49, from Liverpool, lost the sight in her left eye for a few minutes four times in a fortnight, she blamed high blood pressure.

But her GP referred her to Dr Kumar at Aintree, who told her she’d had four mini strokes.

‘I was gobsmacked — I’d watched the TV campaigns about the signs of stroke, but I’d had none of them,’ says Maria.

‘A massive stroke could have left me dead or disabled.’

Dr Kumar put Maria on bloodthinning medication that day, increased her blood pressure medication and sent her for a scan that showed the narrowing.

Within two weeks, she had lifesaving surgery to clear a dangerously furred-up carotid (main) artery in her neck, after doctors explained bits of the plaques could break into clots and pass to her brain.

Meanwhile, Jim, who is still living with the after-effects of his stroke, wonders if it could have been avoided in the first place.

‘Too many GPs have been ignorant of all the symptoms of strokes and what to expect,’ he says.

‘Now I want to warn people: don’t ignore the symptoms — go straight to hospital, rather than risk a devastating stroke.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 37

PDP chairmanship: Why Bunu wants to clinch it

As the forthcoming national convention of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) gets closer, aspirants for the office of the party’s national chairman sharpen their campaign skills and strategies for the big event. Arch. Ibrahim Bunu is one of them. Ali Alkali writes on the man and why he wants to get the position.

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eoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s national convention is less than three weeks away. Now that the position of the national chairman of the party is zoned to the North-East sub region where Architect Ibrahim Bunu came from, he sees it as an opportunity to participate in the race and, if elected, reform the party and help its governments implement the party’s manifesto aand transformation programmes.

“My aim and objective in pursuing the national chairmanship of the PDP is to add value to what the party is today; to improve on the democratic tenet within the party; to improve and enhance cohesion within the various components of the party, within the various leadership structure in the federal, states and local governments and bring harmony within the party – and then to expand our tentacles in the areas where we have not capture power, yet.”

When he visited the Headquarters of Peoples Daily last week, he said as an active politician for about 40 years, he has all the required qualifications to be the chairman of the party.

After consulting with many senior stakeholders in the party who have called and encouraged him to contest for the position, Bunu said he was very encouraged by the response he got, saying “That is the reason I am in the race.”

He also wants to be the chairman of the party to harness all the party’s potentials and resources in order to help the Federal Government achieve its transformation programme, because “the Federal Government Transformation programme is a PDP document,” he said.

Born on December 25, 1950, the former two-time minister is an architect by training and a politician by conviction because

he started his political career very early in his adulthood as a student union politician.

After graduation and a threeyear stint in the civil service, he went into active national politics; and within a very short time, at the age of 32, he was appointed Minister of State, Housing and Environment, in the Shagari administration.

After the military coup in 1983, Bunu went back to his field of architecture, though remaining a politician – consulting, planning and strategizing with other politicians waiting for the military junta to end.

Politics is a contagious game, because as Bunu put it, “The two years I spent in the Shagari administration made my conscience to be tied to public interest as I came to realize that pursuing one’s self interest only, offers very little challenge.”

Another aspect that keeps pushing the architect to pursue political and public service life is his desire to give back to the society what it gave to him, because he grew up in a generation that got good education and good professional training on a flatter of gold at the expense of the public. ”I consider it my duty to give back to the public what this nation had given me. That’s why I continue to remain a politician, and continue to pursue public interest, in addition to pursuing my business,” he said.

Apart from the behind the scene political activities during the military era, Bunu was also involved, officially, in several committees.

When Gen. Ibrahim Babangida formed the not-so-convenient two parties (National Republican Convention, NRC, and Social Democratic Party, SDP) for the entire nation, Architect Bunu registered with NRC. Though he did not contest for any elective position, he was a very active participant.

In 1997, when Gen. Sani Abacha started the transition, to civil rule, programme, Bunu was an important pillar of the formation of UNCP. When current dispensation started in 1988, he was among the early people who joined the then powerful team known as G8 which metamorphosed into the present PDP. Bunu was practically the person who took PDP to Borno; and, together with other politicians in the state, nurtured and developed it .

After the election, he was appointed in the Obasanjo cabinet as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja. He served for two years in that position (May 1999 t0 Feb. 2001); and thereafter, went to his consultancy business as architect, yet remaining a politician and active participant in the PDP affairs as member of its Board of Trustees.

One of the biggest problems that might be facing anybody who becomes the national chairman of the PDP is the issue of taking care of, and harmonizing divergent groups and personal interests of members; for, the party is notorious of leadership tussles that, more often than not, end up consuming its chairmen.

How can Bunu survive that, if elected chairman?

Bunu’s survival strategy, if elected, is to “carry all along.”

He said, “Because of what

Arch. Ibrahim Bunu frontline politicians from all over the nation who belonged to different political ideologies and opinions in the Second Republic.

Their objective, at that time, was to unseat the military.

When they started, their different ideologies were dissolved. That was what made PDP a truly national party with presence everywhere across Nigeria.”

Due to this composition of the party, Bunu believes that it is natural that after attaining the power and appreciable development as a party, one will expect some frictions, weaknesses and divergent views,

“

I believe in one Nigeria as a united one entity. I believe in PDP as a political party that believes in this Nigerian enterprise.

And if I am elected chairman, I will peruse all the objectives that will promote the success of this enterprise PDP stands for, there is no way one can manage it without carrying along the leadership of the country; the leadership of the National Assembly, the leadership of the State. This is the position of PDP, and this is the role any leader would play.

And I intend to do that in the best interest of the generality of the party and the best interest of the generality of Nigerians. That is the role I intend to play; that is the agenda I intend to pursue. ”PDP, as a political party, has developed into a certain level because it was formed by

just like in any other organization. He argued that PDP may have gone through some teething problem and other crisis but, by and large, it is a successful party and a successful democratic organization.

Bunu’s other dream for PDP is to make sure that the party begins to introduce intellectual element into its programmes and activities.

With him at the helm of affairs, he said, “PDP will begin to discuss issues of governance and social issues. Issues that affect the people will be subjected to intellectual discourse by

organizing and inviting intellectuals, professionals and experts for conferences, including people from the opposition, so that issues could be discussed and solutions recommended for PDP to implement in governance.

“Under my chairmanship, PDP will embrace such open door dialogue to enrich the intellectual content of governance in Nigeria. These, and other similar relevant areas, are the areas that I will engage myself in, if elected national chairman of our great party, PDP. And in doing that, I do not think I will be in conflict with the leadership of the party to warrant booting out of office earlier that the normal time.”

Bunu also firmly believes that PDP, despite the challenges the nation is facing under its watch, is still the only party that can find the needed solution, if it gets a focused and purposeful leadership.

“PDP today is the party that has the Federal Government, the party that has produced the President of Nigeria. The party that has produced more than 200 of the 360 members of the House of Representatives, produced more than 60 of the 109 senators, and 23 of the 36 state governors. Therefore, PDP has taken charge of Nigeria.

Anybody who wants to be the chairman of the party has to be a believer and a true patriot in the Nigerian enterprise. And I am that believer; that patriot.

“I believe in one Nigeria as a united one entity. I believe in PDP as a political party that believes in this Nigerian enterprise. And if I am elected chairman, I will peruse all the objectives that will promote the success of this enterprise.”

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

President Jonathan should resign, says Bugaje INTERVIEW The immediate past National Secretary of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and former member of the House of Representatives, Dr. Usman Bugaje speaks on the state of the nation. In this interview, he dissects the nation’s insecurity vis-à-vis government’s approach and concludes that President Goodluck Jonathan should resign.

Abubakar Ibrahim was among the journalists he spoke with. Experts.

The rising insecurity in Northern Nigeria: he North was a refuge for people who ran away from other parts of the country for insecurity until very recently.

Many of us travelled even at nights and there was no fear of anything.

That was as recent as the last 15 to 20 years. But in the last five years or so, the situation has changed.

There are a number of causes of insecurity in our country, Boko Haram, with all the terrible attacks that we have witnessed.

But of course before then, there had been criminal activities like armed robbery, car snatching, house breaking etc. But I think the most worrying is Boko Haram. The government and its security agencies don’t appear to have any clue as to what the Boko Haram phenomena is all about. They tend to be completely ignorant. In the last three or four years, they basically applied force. They have not related themselves even to the rhetoric of the Boko Haram; not tarried a while to understand what the group is talking about; their background; what informed their kind of ideological position; where could they have got these ideas. Are there similar ideas around the world? If there are, how do societies in which these ideas have created similar conflict tackled theirs? Is there room for comparison? Is there something that is unique? Do we need to customise certain approaches? What is the strategy to deal with the issue? Here, the government and the security forces are completely incompetent and oblivious of what exactly constitute Boko Haram.

Statements by security officials whether in the army, the SSS and the police, I find them astonishingly shameful because as security officers, they ought to have had the credit to know.

Whenever you have an insurgency of this magnitude, there could be a political problem which could result from exclusion.

We call it marginalisation. There could be economic problem where people do not have work to do; therefore they have to find something to occupy themselves.

In this case, any devil can give them any idea. Then, there is the problem of ideology. People can pick an idea and set themselves against the whole of society. This has been known throughout history; there is no society that is completely homogenous in its thinking, ideas and so on. The human mind is

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inherently creative and is bound to come up with ideas, some good, some bad. Why do they want Sharia? They are not the only people who want that. There were people in Zamfara and other places who demonstrated peacefully; they followed due process by going to their Assembly to enact laws.

You might find fault in their (Boko Haram) procedure. You might want to engage them. In any case, can we believe the sources who say they are talking on behalf of these people?

Are they really representing these people or are there people masquerading in their name? There is also the problem of competition. When there are limited resources in the society, there is often conflict. But you only solve this when you have integrity. We have always had insurgencies around the world.

Britain has had the issue of IRA (Irish Republican Army) for many decades. How did we get a situation where Jerry Adams and McGuinness who, until recently, would not even be allowed to speak in any British media, now they are members of parliament. They walk into the Westminster, they come out, and they address the press. How was this achieved? The IRA was known for bombing London. It was one bomb which shook London that made the British authorities to say ‘look, we can’t continue applying force on this people, let’s go and find out what it is’. They discovered that in Northern Ireland, there wasn’t a single Irish in the police force, they are all British. They have occupied their area and the Irish will never accept to work with them.

President Jonathan on Boko Haram infiltration of government: If indeed the President has that

Dr. Usman Bugaje information, it is not the kind to divulge in the church. Why are you the commander in chief? He should summon his officers; get those that he trusts to fish out those people so that he brings them to book. But by saying so, he has created division among the rank and file. Now, if the Chief Justice of Nigeria says Ok Mr. President, can you mention their names so that I will deal with them through my own disciplinary processes, what is he going to do? How can you, as commander in chief, make a statement with such helplessness?

If Nigeria is a country where the people are concerned, from that point, we should demand that the President resigns because what he is saying is that he is completely helpless; that he cannot perform his duty as commander in chief of the armed forces. In fact, that is one of the most unintelligent statement I have heard from any president. I think this man is telling us, really, ‘I can’t do this job’.

Tell me how that statement has helped the security forces to fish out those people from within? It has only succeeded in creating suspicion among the service chiefs; some officers will not trust others and so on. He basically destroyed the service. Are you saying you cannot trust some of your service chiefs; that you cannot rely on them? The best thing to do is fire them and bring in those you can trust.

US prediction of Nigeria’s break up The US government is too smart. It cannot talk about any

“

If Nigeria is a country where the people are concerned, from that point, we should demand that the President resigns because what he is saying is that he is completely helpless; that he cannot perform his duty as commander in chief of the armed forces. In fact, that is one of the most unintelligent statement I have heard from any president. I think this man is telling us, really, ‘I can’t do this job’

country in the world disintegrating. What is being referred to, are reports from security institutions within the US. Some of (which)do advise the United States government, but do not speak on behalf of the government. The latest report says that by 2030, Nigeria will break up. They are doing so because anywhere in the world the interest of the US is in jeopardy, they will rise to the occasion and defend that interest. And the interest of the US here in Nigeria is that by 2015, 25% of its oil will come from the Gulf of Guinea, and that quantity is so critical that it cannot simply afford to lose. But I think that as a country, we don’t need these reports to know that we have a problem. The proper thing to do is to go back and see how we came to this point. That is why I said our security agencies are a total disappointment; because they don’t seem to have an idea. But I do not doubt the fact that within those agencies we have smart officers who have ideas on how to get around these areas, but these people will not be allowed to hold the position that their qualification and expertise earn them. Because they cannot play ball in terms of racketeering, they are completely marginalised. That leads us to another problem; and that is the obsession of people in government for making money, buying houses, buying cars and investing in stocks as if the world is going to end tomorrow. One of the top security chiefs, I understand, when he gets home, the kind of people you see around him are land and home dealers because he comes from Abuja with lots of money and he can’t put them in the bank because there will be an alarm.

So, the only way to launder that many is to buy land, buy homes etc. People get to know these things. At a time, one of the heads of the courts in Nigeria was behaving like that. He would go home, buy trailers and so on.

Where is this money coming from?

It is coming from politicians who were getting the kind of judgments they wanted from the court!

The greed in our country has reached a pathological proportion that it has made whatever budget

we make in this country useless.

Sometimes you see in the budget, public address system costing N150million. Every year you put computers in budgets and the provision is five times the street price. Everybody knows. It is no longer a budget for the citizens of this country; it is a budget for the rulers of this country. In fact, budgets have become a euphemism for racket. I have been in the National Assembly and I have gone through four budgets.

You do the budget, you allocate the figures, the money goes to them and you come back after one year and find that the jobs that ought to have been done in that budget have not been done. Sometimes, when you raise the issue they say, ‘Ahhh! Honourable, you see we have been in this country, you know.’

And sometimes, we politicians will say oh we have to do this and that. Fine, you do that but these are some of the consequences.

Every year, you are creating millions of angry, young people who have nothing to do. Why wouldn’t they go and do anything to get money? You have not given them jobs, you have not given them hope, you have not given them anything to hang on to; and they have to survive. So if these people are recruited by Boko Haram to go and fight, I really can’t blame the Boko Haram or the people. I blame those who created the condition which made it easier for people to be recruited.

On national conference and restructuring: Simply holding a sovereign national conference and talking and coming out with any ideas will not make things happen. There are questions we need to ask if we are going to have a conference. For instance, what are the objectives of the conference? What do you want to achieve? You don’t set out on a journey without knowing where you are going. Who are the people that are coming to discuss, and on what basis are you selecting those people? Are you going to say this ethnic group, or whatever nomenclature you are using, has less than a million people therefore they should send one representative; and the other nationality that has over 20 million people also give them one representative? Is that fair? How do you ascertain the actual number of these nationalities? Or are you going to use states as the basis? If you will use states, are we going to say OK every state should be represented by senatorial districts, or local governments? So, these are issues we have to clarify.

I accept that there is need for us to talk, because there are many issues that we need to thrash out.

But I will not rush into calling for any kind of conference; because if you don’t have a framework, it will come to nothing. The civil society or the academicians (should) put forward a proposal including the objectives of such a conference, or the constitution of that conference in terms of the way it will be convened, in terms of membership, what procedure you are going to follow in recruiting the membership etc.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 39

Sokoto: ANPP gov candidate decries thuggery From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

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he governorship candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alhaji Yushau Ahmed Muhammad, has appealed to politicians to stop using thugs against political opponents in the state.

Speaking to journalists at NUJ press centre Sokoto yesterday, Muhammed stated that the negative trend is a threat to the conduct of peaceful election in the state.

According to him, the use of political thugs to unleash attack on other political parties will not augur well for the progress of the society.

"How can we allow other people's children to be roaming the streets while our own kids are studying abroad?"

"We have youths in all the political parties but it is the responsibility of the leadership to ensure that they are properly guided and put in check to avoid chaos," Muhammad said.

He urged the commissioner of police, Alhaji Baba Adisa Bolanta, to take decisive measures to curb the menace of thuggery in the state.

On his agenda for Sokoto, Yushau said he will give priority to agriculture, if elected as governor.

INEC pledges free bye-election in Borno

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he state of emergency in parts of Borno will not affect the free conduct of the bye-election in Konduga state constituency of Borno, INEC said in Maiduguri.

The Resident Electoral Commissioner for Borno, Prof.

Tukur Sa’ad, made the statement in his office, adding that that the commission would work with the Joint Task Force (JTF) on Operation Restore Order (ORO) to ensure a hitch free poll.

The seat became vacant following the death of Modu Bintube, the incumbent, last yea r.

“I want to assure that INEC will strive hard to conduct free and fair election come Sa tur da y.

“We are already making contacts with the JTF to ensure that the state of emergency in some local government areas in the state did not affect its conduct,’’ he said.

Sa’ad further said that INEC had recruited 401 ad hoc staff for the conduct of the election.

“We have recruited about 401 university students mainly from the University of Maiduguri to serve as ad hoc staff for the exercise.

“They have already been trained to ensure successful conduct of the polls,” he said.

The commissioner said that INEC had also moved some nonsensitive materials to the area in readiness for the election.

(NA N)

He noted that agriculture has gone beyond the distribution of fertilizer and pesticide, adding that for the state to move forward, agricultural production must go scientific and commercial.

"We have practiced subsistence farming over the years and it has not taken us anywhere," "We are going to bring in commercial farmers and experts to work with our local farmers and ensure that our fadama land and irrigation facilities are adequately utilized," "We have no excuse to import rice when we have fadama lands that will be used for massive food production," he added.

R-L: Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Rural Development, Hon. Godfrey Christopher Isu, Deputy Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Garba Musa Gurma and a member of the Committee, Hon. Abiodun Abdu-Balogun, during the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development 2012 budget defence at the National Assembly, in Abuja, recently.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Wamakko urges PDP members in Sokoto to shun Abuja politicians

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he immediate past governor of Sokoto state, Alhaji Aliyu Wamakko, has urged members of the PDP in the state to shun Abujabased politicians who are bent on causing disharmony.

“These are the people who claim to be members of the old PDP in the state who are always disposed to causing disaffection

among members of the party.

Wamakko spoke in Gwadabawa at the commencement of his reelection campaign.

“These people had earlier killed the party and I inherited a dead PDP in 2007; and they are still bent on destroying the party because of their selfish interests.

“Wanga Alu Sai dai Allahmeaning- this Alu is God –sent.

God gives and takes leadership to the person He likes at the time He wants,’’ he addd.

The former governor acknowledged that the people of the state love and pray for him always, promising that he would not disappoint them when re-elected.

The Actin Governor Lawali Zayyana, urged the people to give Wamakko block votes during the Feb. 18 gubernatorial election.

Zayyana also noted that the former governor and now PDP gubernatorial candidate, Wamakko, had transformed the state in the last four years.

(NA N)

ACN stages protest in Calabar, wants Feb. 25 poll rescheduled The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Cross River chapter, has staged a peaceful protest in Calabar, urging INEC to reschedule the Feb. 25 governorship poll to April 14.

The protesters numbering more than 1,000 also said that Feb. 25 earlier fixed for the poll by INEC was an abridgement and not acceptable to them.

They also pledged to participate in the Feb. 25 poll in the event that their appeal is rejected by INEC. The group carried placards with inscriptions: “February 25, we no go gree!; INEC, why are you in a hurry?; Jega, why the haste?; Do not wait for the court to reverse February 25; and April 14 date must stand’’.

The Chairman of the Party, Mr. Hilliard Etta, alleged that membership of the ACN in Cross River had to register their grievances

because they felt they were being shortchanged.

“It offends not only the Electoral Act; it offends the Nigerian constitution.

“Their grievances are that they are supposed to respect the law, INEC is breaking the law.

“The basic ingredient of democracy is participation; this is the way they are participating and deepening democracy in Nigeria!,’’ he said.

Etta said: “We are aware that the law says that every political party must submit the list of its candidates 60 days to election.

“And if you count from Feb. 25 to when it was announced it is not even 30 days and we are asking the question who will be injured?.

“It is very normal for an organisation to ask for time if they

are to do complex duties.

“It is very surprising to us that instead of INEC asking for time, INEC is bridging time.

“That is why the ACN membership says that we need some answers to certain question,’’ he said.

Etta, however, said that the party would not boycott the forthcoming elections if it eventually held on Feb. 25.

“We are not interested in boycotting the poll even if INEC insisted on Feb. 25.

“We are doing everything that we can to make sure that ACN presents a credible, crowd pulling personality as the gubernatorial candidate of the party.

“Whichever date that INEC will feel free to give to us we are interested in the election and in taking over the government through the ballot.

“But we must not close our eyes to the infraction of the law. This we will not do. We will always be alert and alive to our responsibility as the alternative government,’’ Etta said.

Earlier, Mr Samson Wudah, Commissioner of Police, Cross River, said that he was aware of the protest and that the police was alive to its constitutional roll.

“We are aware of most of the plans of the political parties in the state.

“There is a position in law and that position is that you can be doing something legally but then in an illegal manner.

“So these things do happen, others might not be happy with what they are doing, they might be infringing on the right of others. They could be attacked and we must protect them. (NAN)

Dankwambo, Okorocha harp on peaceful co-existence among Nigerians

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ov. Ibrahim Dankwambo of Gombe state and his Imo counterpart, Chief Rochas Okorocha, have called on Nigerians to ensure peaceful coexistence for the country to develop to enviable heights.

The governors made the call in Gombe when Okorocha led some traditional rulers from Imo on a bridge building mission to the state, to promote peace and unity in the country.

The two governors urged all Nigerians “who love the peace and progress of the country to come together and fight violence”.

“We will continue with the dialogue. Even before now, we had held dialogue with the non indigenes. They call them non indigenes but I call them non

Hausa speaking people”, Dankwambo said.

He noted that the problems of insecurity in parts of the country was caused by a few people who wanted to create artificial problems in the country.

The Gombe governor, therefore, urged Nigerians to disregard “the ill intention of those people trying to plant evil and sow a seed of discord among the citizenry”.

On his part, Okorocha recalled that he had a successful business life in the former Bauchi state, saying he had build long lasting relationships which transcends any parochial consideration.

He advised Nigerians to shun rumour mongering and ignore those sending false text messages

to create fear and hatred among the people.

The governor said the present insecurity in the country which was characterised by killing of innocent persons was “a strange thing in the country”.

“We have assured the Hausas in the South East to relax as there will be no reprisal attack. We have to come together and fight for the unity of the country.”

“I made my first $1 million in Balanga, Gombe state, and as for me, I have no choice but to be a true Nigerian. I was born by an Ibo man and an Igbo woman but I grew up all my life in the North.

“I was educated in the North; attended University in the North, primary education in the North. I was only born by the Igbos but I

got fed by the North. The man who linked me up to Balanga was from the West.”

Various speakers during the meeting, including traditional and religious leaders urged Nigerians to live together irrespective of tribal and religious differences.

Among those who spoke were the Chairman Imo state Traditional Rulers Council, Eze Samuel Ohiri and the Deputy Chairman, Gombe Council of Emirs and Chiefs, Alhaji Saleh Mohammed.

Others are the state Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Rev. Abare Kalla and Sheik Hamza Adamu, state Chairman of the Council of Ulamas of Jama’atu Izalatul Bid’a group. (NAN)

PAGE 40

ANPP says Eid-el Maulud calls for peace

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

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s Muslims Umar celebrate Id el Maulud, All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) has urged Nigerians to eschew vices and embrace peaceful coexistence.

In a statement issued in Abuja by the National Chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu, ANPP also called on the leaders of the country to have the political will to do things right, explaining that more determined efforts should be made to tackle the insecurity in the country through job creation.

In addition, the party pointed out that revitalising the power sector by government would help to open up employment opportunities for Nigerians, saying such measure would ultimately get Nigeria back on her feet as one of the leading nations of the world.

“Though tribe and tongue may differ, but in brotherhood we should continue to stand.” The statement read in part.

While wishing the Muslims happy Id el Maulud, ANPP enjoined them to draw an enduring inspiration from Prophet Mohammed, to rededicate themselves to the attributes of love for one another, saying it was an outstanding virtue of Prophet Mohammed, whose birth is being celebrated.

Moreover, the party reiterated the need for Nigerians, both leaders and followers, to retrospect on the path the country has travelled through, to determine if to continue with violence or embrace virtues.

“We urge that in the spirit of the new season, which the occasion symbolises, we should renew our faith in the sacredness of human freedom, eschew hate, restore tolerance and above all, embrace forgiveness for one another”, the party stated, describing forgiveness as the soothing balm that will calm frayed nerves and heal wounds and pains.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Kogi guber: ACN calls for fresh election, slams INEC

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), has called for fresh governorship election in Kogi state, saying the December election conducted into the office of governor in Kogi is null and void, having contravened the provision of Section 178(2) of the 1999 Constitution, based on the recent Supreme Court ruling on tenure elongation.

The ACN, in a statement issued yesterday in Lagos by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai

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Section 178 (2) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) states that ‘’An election into the office of governor of a state shall be held on a date not earlier than 60 days and not later than 30 days before the expiration of the term of office of the last holder of that office.’’

The party said the Supreme Court has now held that the tenure of the incumbent of governor of Kogi expired in May 2011, and that the seat of governor had become vacant, even though no election was conducted before the expiration of that tenure contrary to Section

178(2) of the Constitution.

It blamed INEC partly for the confusion that has now occurred in the state, in which two persons are claiming the governorship seat in the wake of the Supreme Court ruling.

“Though INEC issued a notice of election within the prescribed time sometime in January 2011, the election was conducted on December 3rd 2011, a period of six months after the expiration of the term of the last holder of the office.

“The election, cannot be valid and constitutional, since an act or event will be valid and constitutional if it is done in accordance with the laid down procedure or law. That’s why the Supreme Court succinctly held, per Tobi J.S.C., in the case of the removal of Senator Ladoja as governor of Oyo state by the State House of Assembly, thus: ‘It is good law that where the Constitution or a statute provides for a pre-condition to the attainment of a particular situation, the pre-condition must be fulfilled or satisfied before the particular situation will be said to have been attained’,” the party said.

Justice Party candidate declares support for Wada From Sam Egwu, Lokoja L-R: Adamawa state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Adenlere Shinaba, with INEC Commissioner in charge of Adamawa and Taraba states, Dr. Nuru Yakub, during the declaration of the result of last Saturday's Adamawa governorship election, in Yola, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

Maulud: Speaker sues for tolerance, love

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

T

he Speaker of the House of Representatives, Waziri Tambuwal, has enjoined Nigerians to imbibe the virtues of tolerance and love for one another, saying there are enough examples for mankind to learn from the life and teachings of the Prophet Muhammad.

Guber poll: Cross River elders endorse Imoke the state. he Cross River Elders Forum, a group of elder statesmen, has endorsed Sen. Liyel Imoke as their sole candidate for the Feb. 25 governorship election in the state.

The group announced the decision in Calabar in a communiqué issued at the end of its emergency meeting.

In the document signed and read by a former Military Administrator of Kwara, Col. P.A.M. Ogar, the elders said their action followed what they called “the general performance of the former governor since 2007”.

The elders said the former, governor’s administration had during the period, undertaken development programmes across the 18 local government areas of

Mohammed, said neither the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), nor Capt. Idris Wada, its candidate in that election, can benefit from the election.

“The election into the office of governor in Kogi state ought to have been conducted in April 2011 in accordance with Section 30 of Electoral Act 2010 (as Amended).

Since this was not done, December’s election cannot be said to have complied with the stipulations of the Act and the Constitution,’’ ACN said.

The statement added that

“The Forum reviewed the general performance of Sen. Liyel Imoke of Cross River state, since his assumption of office in 2007, and passed a vote of implicit confidence in him.

“The Forum’s endorsement of Imoke is based on his sterling leadership qualities manifested in his phenomenal infrastructure and people-oriented programmes,” the communiqué stated.

The group called on all stakeholders to ensure free, fair and credible election for which it said Cross River was known.

The elders expressed deep concern over the current security challenges in some parts of the country, especially the activities of the Boko Haram sect, and called on President Goodluck Jonathan to deal with the situation decisively. (NAN)

Tambuwal, who made this call yesterday in a statement issued by his Special Adviser on Media and Public Affairs, Imam Imam, said tolerance and love for one another are essential components needed for the building of peaceful and stable societies.

He said Nigerians should use this year’s celebration to pray for the country, adding that they

should also reflect on the ideals of peace, unity, harmony and selflessness taught by all religions in order to build a stable nation.

“With peace, tolerance and brotherly love, we can build a country of our dream. We should therefore eschew all forms of vices as we continue our march towards unity, development and self sustenance.”

Atiku congratulates Nyako, calls for behind them personal bickering and unity in PDP acrimonies and join hands with

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

F

ollowing the return of Murtala Nyako, yesterday by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), as governor elect of Adamawa state for the second time, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, urged all stakeholders in the Adamawa state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), to rally behind the governor.

In a congratulatory message issued yesterday by his Media Office, in Abuja, the former Vice President who cast his vote in Jimeta-Yola, said with the election now concluded, all PDP members should work together as one family for the overall progress and development of the state.

According to him, they should put

Governor Nyako for the advancement of Adamawa state.

He said the state is a classic example of Nigeria’s complex ethnic, cultural and religious diversity, noting that the nation stands to benefit from the success that will be achieved in this regard.

The statement pointed out that Governor Nyako needed all the goodwill, cooperation and support of all people of Adamawa state in the challenges of undertaking the task of governance.

While congratulating the governor and the state chapter of the PDP for ensuring Nyako’s re-election for a second term in office, the former Vice President advised him to carry all stakeholders along, rather than isolating or alienating any group however small.

T

he governorship candidate of the Justice Party (JP), in the December 3, 2011 election in Kogi state, Mrs. Aisha Eleojo-Audu nee-Emeje, has pledged total support of her party to the state governor, Captain Idris Wada.

Hajia Aisha, disclosed this in a brief chat with newsmen shortly after she met with Governor Idris Wada in government house, Lokoja, the Kogi state capital , stressing that “as a peace loving woman who has the interest of Kogi state at heart, I came to government house to see our governor Captain Idris Wada, to express support for his administration in the task of transforming our beloved state”.

According to her, “Kogi state governorship election is over and we now have a brand new governor in person of Wada who needs the support of everybody. That is the more reason I am in government house, to offer our own support for him and joined hands with him in the task ahead”.

The former governorship candidate appealed to the governor to run an open door policy style of administration, where people with good ideas can contribute meaningfully to overall success of his administration.

To this end, she called on all aggrieved politicians who have genuine interest of the people to drop their litigation against the governor and embrace dialogue which is the best way in resolving any differences.

On why she withdrew her petition in the tribunal, Hajiya Aisha explained that her decision was based on the fact that she wants peace to reign at the state; and for the new governor not to be distracted with series of court injunctions.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Nasarawa United starts in good note, says chairman Stories By Albert Akota

T

he Nasarawa United of Lafia have begun their 2011/2012 season in the Nigeria National League (NNL) campaign on positive note with a 3-0 win over Sokoto United.

The team, which has been relocated to Kafanchan, based club at the weekend, walkover their opponent after the Sokoto State government’s own team failed to turn up at the match venue.

The match officials awarded the host team three goals and three points after no reason were given by the team visiting for their failure to turn up for the game.

Speaking to Peoples Daily Sports on phone, the club chairman, Barrister Danladi Isaac said the three points’ walkover of Sokoto United is a moral boost for his side. “Our target is to ensure Nasarawa United returns to the Nigeria Premier League, and the first three points will serve as a moral boost for us to face any opposition throughout the soccer season.

The former appeal committee member of the Nigeria premier league commended it players and the technical crews for their determination and dedication to the club to ensure the aims and objectives is achieved.

“Of course, we have assured the good peoples of Nasarawa state that we will do all within our power to revamp the club to the premier league with the full support of the present administration and prayers from Nigerians who have are devotee of the leather game, I thanked my players and the technical crews for their prompt response to the team activities that is serving as a moral to the players to withstand the heat without fear or intimidation from opponent in respect of the venue” he said.

He reiterated it board desire to provide adequate security in Kafanchan before and after the game and assured the lafians to be calm that the club will return to its former based as soon as the ongoing renovation at the Lafai township stadium is completed.

The Kafanchan club next match is against Meridian Airline of Kano with a three point’s advantage.

Dami Paul

PAGE 41

Bomb Shell

NSF blast Sports Minister T

he President of the Nigeria Scramble Federation (NSF), Chief Toke Aka has condemed the Minister and chairman of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Bolaji Abdulahi for his suggestion for removal Scrabble and Chess from national sport federations.

He said that the minister particularly questioned the relevance of Scrabble and Chess as federations, stating that the NSC can derive comparative advantage by streamlining the federations to a manageable size that can get results for the country.

Toke Aka noted that the substantive

Alhaji Bolaji Abdulahi

minister does not know anything about sports in Nigeria. “This shows the kind of people we give our sports to manage, for him to make such statement, it means that he does not know anything about sports in Nigeria.

“I suggest he should consult widely and find out record by record performance of all sport federations before make such comment next time in public.

He doesn’t know what Scrabble means to Nigerians and the honoured it has brought to this country. Because in terms of performance, organized championships and winning of international medals, the federation that remains and can be best described as the best is Scrabble federation.

There is no federation that can boast of the quality of the Return-On-Investment (ROI) scrabble has if this were a business,” said NFS president, Toke Aka. Abdullahi, who is the substantive minister of Youth Development, however said federations that can source their own funds instead of depending on government's subvention can continue to exist.

The Supervising Minister has come under fire over his call for the scrapping of Scrabble and Chess from national sport federations in order to save costs and make other sports efficient. It would be recalled that the Minister suggested to the National Assembly during the public hearing conducted by the House of Representatives Committee on Sports when the NSC appeared before it to defend its 2012 budget that the current 37-federation structure is superfluous because the country was not in position to competently fund them.

Flamingoes wallop Kenyan

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igeria’s Under-17 women’s team, the Flamingoes defeated their counterparts from Kenya 3-0 at the MKO Stadium, Abeokuta over the weekend.

They are most likely to confront Zambia who earned a 5-0 win away to Botswana in the final stage of the African qualifiers for the 2012 Fifa Under17 Women’s World Cup in Azerbaijan.

The visitors came out strong with the aim to reverse the 2-0 deficit but succeeded in holding their more experienced hosts to a goalless first half. The resumption of second term saw the Nigerians push forward and got rewarded at the 50th minute when Kesiana Biahwo hit the back of the net for her side’s opening goal.

Oluwatosi Adeboyejo made it two in the 68th minute while Ibrahim Halima Ayinde sealed victory for the home side on 87 minutes. Coach of the Nigerian team, Peter Dedevbo said that he is excited qualifying for the next stage of the qualifiers. “I am excited that we won big today (Saturday) and advance to the next stage.

“The Kenyan coach is at liberty to say whatever he likes; we will try and get better as

we progress. “We’re determined in qualifying Nigeria for the World Cup,” he said.

However, his opposite number, Frederick Mmasi Serenge intensified his accusation that the Nigerian women are over-aged. “Merely looking at the Nigerians you will see that they’re old. “This stage of the game is purely developmental. “Unfortunately, Nigeria is not looking in that direction, they just want to win. “I am proud of my young players, they are inexperienced but in two years time, I bet you they will beat your team hands down.

“There is nothing to feel bad because they not our mates,” he said.

The Flamingoes go through to the next stage on 5-0 aggregate.

Peter Dedevbo

Minister to cooperate with Football stakeholders

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he Supervising Minister of Sports and Chairman, National Sports Commission (NSC), Alhaji Bolaji Abdulahi has assured sponsors and partners of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) of their investment regardless of the recent court order that declared the body illegal.

He assured that any contractual agreement signed by the NFF or the Nigeria Premier League (NPL), that was properly and legally entered into will be honoured and respected.

“I am aware of the apprehension among Nigerians especially sponsors and partners of the Nigeria football, particularly the league on what would happen to the contracts they signed with the NFF or the NPL because of the recent court order.

“What I want to assure everyone is that any contractual agreement entered into whether by the NFF or the League, and were properly carryout and signed by both parties would be honoured and respected regardless of what will happen to the institutions as a result of the recent ruling by the court or the outcome of notice of injunction.” He said.

The minister, who gave the assurance in Abuja, revealed that he is already working day and night to explore peaceful means of resolving the crisis in football.

He noted the lingering crisis in football is largely political and has nothing to do with lack of technical competence or legality as widely speculated.

“I am already getting familiar with the issues in football having been posted to the commission recently, and what is clear to me is that the issue of Nigeria football is not lack of technical competence. It is not even issue of legal, it is largely political.

“Because it is political, we have to find ways to negotiate and bring the warring factions to a drawing board. It is not as if, and I want to make it clear that it is not that we cannot wake up one day and decide what to do. We have the courage and the capacity as well. But, I don’t believe in that kind of approach. We have to explore peaceful means of resolving issues.” he noted.

He however said that he would be forced to take alternative ways if efforts to resolve them peacefully fail to yield positive result.

“If within the reasonable timelines that we have set for ourselves we are unable to peacefully resolve it in a way that will advance Nigeria football, then we have to deplore alternative means of resolving them and I can assure you that every single day we are working toward resolving them once and forever.” he vowed.

Eagles camp bubbles as 30 steady for Liberia

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ll the 30 players invited by Super Eagles boss, Stephen Okechukwu Keshi, are expected in camp today despite being a public holiday, as the camp officially bubbled in yesterday with most team officials.

Already in camp is team Coordinator,

Victor Atta, Team Psychologist, Dr Robinson Okosun, Security Chief ACP Gideon Akinsola, Team Scribe, Dayo Enebi, Chidi Ngoka, goalkeeper’s trainer and former national team first choice Ike Shorunmi, is also in camp with a host of other officials.

Big Boss Keshi, is expected in camp

today along with all his assistants and preparations for the Liberia friendly is expected to commence in earnest and with few days to the encounter, Keshi is expected to pick the players that will prosecute the encounter early next week.

“In fact, some players came in early

yesterday but we hope the camp will be full by today and we can start preparing the team for the task at hand. Two Enyimba players were the first to come in but we have more than that and we should be talking of a full camp by today afternoon”, Atta declared.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Zambia coach aims final

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he Chief Coach of Zambia Herve Renard has ranked his team as one of the favorite to lift the Africa Cop of Nations trophy.

Zambia beat 10-man Sudan 3-0 in Bata to book their semifinal place and keep their emotional quest to reach the Libreville finals alive.

Libreville has great historical significance to Zambian football where 19 years ago the entire national team perished in an air crash off the coast of the Gabon capital on their way to Dakar.

Zambia’s passage to the semifinals is the teams’ first appearance in the Last 4 since 1996 when they finished third in South Africa.

“It was a high target because we haven’t reached this target since 1996. Sixteen years later Zambia is back in the semifinals,” Renard said.

“We hope to go to Gabon on the 12 of February and together today we did a great job.”

Renard, however, admitted that Sudan pushed them to the limits in the second half despite cruising through the opening 45 minutes while enjoying a 1-0 lead courtesy of a 15th minute header from TP Mazembe defender Stopilla Sunzu.

Kennedy Mweene was the busier of the two goalkeepers in the latter half of the game, denying Khalifa Ahmed, Mohamed

Tahir and Amir Kamal just before the hour-mark.

“They have skills and they caught us sleeping in the second half,” Renard said.

“We were lucky to score the second goal from the penalty and played 11 against 10 so it was easy for us after that.”

The 66th minute sending off of Al Hilal midfielder Eldin Ali after tripping man of the match Rainford Kalaba proved to be the turning point of the game when Christopher Katongo stepped up to convert the resultant penalty.

James Chamanga added the third with a sublime curling shot three minutes from full time.

Coach of Zambia Herve Renard

Drogba land Ivory Coast in semi finals

D

idier Drogba had a penalty saved before scoring in each half as Ivory Coast triumphed 3-0 against Equatorial Guinea Saturday in a 2012 Africa Cup of Nations quarter-final.

The 33-year-old Chelsea striker struck with his right foot on 36 minutes and his head on 69 as the Elephants made it four wins in four matches and set up a semi-final date against Gabon or Mali in Libreville next Wednesday.

Yaya Toure completed the scoring nine minutes from full-time with a superb goal off a free kick, curling the ball over the wall and goalkeeper Danilo to send home supporters streaming to the exits.

It was a predictable outcome to a match that never scaled dizzy heights with the Ivorians fielding stars from some of the top leagues in Europe while the Equatoguineans relied heavily on Spanish lower-league footballers.

Ivory Coast made six changes from the virtual ‘B’ team that outplayed Angola to top

Group B, but there were no starting places for English Premier League duo Salomon Kalou or Cheik Tiote.

Equatorial Guinea recalled Laurence Doe and Iban ‘Randy’ Iyanga after they completed one-match bans plus David Alvarez, and preferred Cameroon-born Narcisse Ekanga to compatriot Thierry Fidjeu up front. Although 133 places separated them on the FIFA world rankings, the home team held their own early on, getting plenty of players behind the ball each time the Ivorians threatened.

But the ball was almost exclusively in the Equatoguinean half with Ivory Coast goalkeeper Boubacar Barry a mere onlooker and the visitors had a good chance to take the lead just before the half-hour mark.

Ben Konate fouled Didier Zokora just inside the penalty area only for Drogba to have his hard, well-placed spot kick superbly pushed away at the expense of a corner by Brazilborn Danilo.

The captain atoned soon after with a

Akwa United chairman applauds Thomas’ heroics

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he Akwa United Chairman, Isong Isang, has applauded the performance of the club’s goalkeeper, Femi Thomas, at the newly-promoted club. Thomas has been impressive since he arrived from Ocean Boys on the eve of the present season.

The former Under20 and Under23 goalkeeper was brilliant as Akwa United earned their third draw on the road at Sharks, where Akwa United got an important point.

Akwa United had earlier shared points at Rising Stars and Ocean Boys.

“I’m not surprised that he’s doing well. That’s the reason why we got him to be in goal. He’s a good goalkeeper,” Isang said.

Thomas frustrated Sharks forwards, Gomo Onduku and George Amakiri, who came close to scoring on match day.

Cranes set for South Sudan friendly

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he Uganda Cranes will face South Sudan on February 16 after the world’s newest nation confirmed the international friendly.

Bobby Williamson’s side plays Congo Brazzaville in the first round of the 2013 Nations Cup qualifiers on Fifa dates February 28-29.

The friendly against South Sudan will help Bobby have a closer look at local-based players to which point he has summoned 23 of them. The summoned players start training on Monday in preparation for this game. “More players could be added or some could be removed,” said Bobby.

Summoned players Goalkeepers: Hamza Muwonge, Ali Kimera Defenders: Saka Mpiima, Godfrey Walusimbi, Henry Kalungi, Ivan Bukenya, Israel Emuge, Denis Guma, Ismael Kazibwe, Midfielders: Noah Ssemakula, Isaac Kirabira, Willy Kavuma, Moses Okello, Patrick Senfuka, Kizito Luwagga, Julius Ogwanga, Steven Bengo, Brian Majwega, Owen Kasule.

Strikers: George Abege, Jimmy Kakembo, Caesar Okuthi, Gerald Bagoole clinical finish although the goal came giftwrapped from centre-back Fernando Rui, who had plenty of time to clear a long pass but let it slip past him.

Drogba darted forward, turned inside Rui and fellow central defender Doe and unleashed a low shot that beat Danilo and flew just inside the near post to give the Elphants a deserved 1-0 half-time advantage.

Equatorial Guinea won more possession in the early second-half exchanges before Gervinho squandered a great chance to double the Ivorian lead on the hour mark as he dribbled past several defenders before losing control.

Reigning African Footballer of the Year Toure took the free kick that led to the second goal with Drogba soaring above Doe and his flying header gave Didier Drogba Danilo no chance.

E/Guinea set training for ultra-modern facilities

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quatorial Guinea’s domestic footballers will be able to swap their baggy shorts for the latest kit and train in ultra-modern facilities if the country’s ambitious plans come to fruition.

The tiny, oil-rich nation, co-hosting the African Nations Cup with Gabon, wants the legacy to include a professional league and youth academies, although the lack of genuine fan culture could hinder progress.

The team, a modest 151st in the Fifa rankings, played their biggest game on Saturday when they faced favourites Ivory Coast in the quarterfinals. Yet many fans ambled into the stadium well after kick off and a large number left after Ivory Coast scored their second goal in a 3-0 win, in the 70th minute.

In other countries, a team which had exceeded expectations in such a spectacular manner could have expected a rousing send-off despite losing but the final whistle on Saturday was greeted with almost complete silence by the few remaining spectators.

Spanish-based team captain Juvenal Edjogo seemed as confused as anyone by the public reaction.

“Sincerely, I don’t really know what people expected of us,” he said. “At the start of the competition, nobody gave us any chance and everyone was completely pessimistic. Then, after we beat Libya and Senegal, there was complete and utter euphoria.”

Organisers believe the future is bright, however, and plan to use government money to set up a professional league with

Sudan coach Mohamed Mazda Abdalla

Sudan fulfilled after Zambia ouster

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udan coach Mohamed Mazda Abdalla has said the team met a lot of objectives at this year’s Africa Cup of Nations despite bowing out at the quarterfinal.

The 1970 champions reached their first quarterfinals in Equatorial Guinea for the first time in 42 years before their dreams were crushed by Zambia on Saturday after going down 3-0 in Bata.

Mazda said in the post-match briefing that the team has shown promising signs after two forgettable appearances in 1976 and 2008.

“For us, it was a successful tournament.

You know, until this tournament we hadn’t scored a goal at the Africa Cup since 1976,” Mazda said.

Sudan traced their last Africa Cup goals prior to this year’s tournament to 36 years ago in Ethiopia, where they came away with just a draw in round one and scored three goals.

They left their next outing in 2008 tournament winless and goalless with three defeats, ironically they also lost 3-0 to Zambia back then in a Group C match.

“So many objectives have been achieved here this year and I have 16 new players and six from 2008. They have more experience and ambitions to go further now after reaching the quarterfinal. It will be the semi-finals next time,” Mazda said.

Meanwhile, Zambia and Sudan will not have to wait long for their next meeting this year.

The two are due to clash in Khartoum on June 1 in their opening Brazil 2014 FIFA World Cup Group D qualifier.

foreign players.

“Thanks to the Nations Cup, football in Equatorial Guinea will change,” Ruslan Obiang, chief executive of the country’s Nations Cup organising committee (COCAN), told CHANGE OF NAME Reuters.

I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS “Our players and our OBIAMAKA URIAH IBEKWE, NOW WISH TO BE youngsters have first-hand KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS OBIAMAKA experience of a continental URIAH UMAHI. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN competition, and they have VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE seen what a high-level N OT E . competition is really like.

Equatorial Guinea had CHANGE OF NAME never participated at this I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS level before, and the IMAOBONG EFFIONG UKPONG, NOW WISH TO BE population enjoyed it, and KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS IMAOBONG this will help the JONATHAN. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN youngsters and federation VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE strengthens football here.”

N OT E .

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

PAGE 43

Shock as Tabitha Wambui fails cooper test

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he World Football Governing Body (FIFA) referee, Tabitha Wambui, was among eleven whistlers who failed the mandatory Physical endurance test (PET) popularly known as the Cooper test that ended over the weekend at the Moi International Sports centre (MISC) Kasarani in Keyan.

Other casualties included 2009/10 KPL referee of the year Isaac Ochieng, Nicodemus Ochieng, Agneta Itubo, Ken Kiema, Nathaniel Ndwiga, Leonard Onyiengo and Titus Ochieng. It was however heartbreaking for Coast based new fifa referee Jubal Mwandawiro who also failed the test.

This was after a grueling three day seminar and a physical endurance test for sixty one referees that was

Bayern lack spending mentaility, says Ribery

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rance star Franck Ribery has criticised Bayern Munich’s lack of spending over the winter break and said the German league leaders missed a chance to strengthen their squad.

Bayern are at Hamburg over the weekend in the Bundesliga and need a win as rivals Borussia Dortmund and Schalke are level with them on 40 points, with the Bavarians top by virtue of goal difference.

Ribery is expected to play in Hamburg despite suffering with back pains at the start of the week and says Bayern should have strengthened their squad during January’s transfer window.

Coach Jupp Heynckes and chief executive officer Karl-Heinz Rummenigge have said the league leaders enjoy enough strength in their squad already, but Ribery disagrees.

“I think it’s a big problem for us if two or three players are injured,” Ribery told German magazine Kicker. “(Bayern) have no real good bench and don’t have a really good second team. But I’m not the president, nor the manager, just a player.”

With sub-zero temperatures expected in Hamburg, Ribery says he is ready to play on Saturday, but was struggling with the arctic temperatures at training in Munich.

Bayern play FC Basle in the round of 16 of the Champions League later this month and Ribery says he is still dreaming of Bayern winning three titles this season.

Frank Ribery

organized by Football Kenya Federation in conjunction with KPL...The exercise was held at the Moi international Sports Center Kasarani. Apart from the eighteen, forty others will handle the National Division One League.

Football Kenya Federation Chairman Sam Nyamweya who closed the ceremony disclosed that the Federation is negotiating with an international company that will be the title sponsors of the league.

The KPL broadcast rights holders and the entry of the league title sponsor will increase revenues to clubs. The refereeing body will also benefit with an increase of their match allowances. The Kenya Football Referees Association Chairman GMT Otieno urged the selected

L

iverpool manager Kenny Dalglish expects controversial striker Luis Suarez to hit the ground running when he returns from suspension against Tottenham on Monday.

The Uruguayan, 25, has missed the last eight matches through suspension after being found guilty of racially abusing Manchester United’s French defender Patrice Evra in the 1-1 draw at Anfield in October. Suarez had been Liverpool’s main attacking threat since arriving in a £22.8 million deal from Ajax in January last year.

In his absence, the Reds have won through to the League Cup final at Wembley, where they will face Cardiff later this month, and the

match officials to inject professionalism and interpret the laws of the game to the book, “We shall monitor and evaluate their performance during the season and we shall side line those who fail to live up to the expectations.

The world Football Governing Body FIFA will only admit referees to the international list after they undergo a physical and medical fitness test in June this year.”noted Otieno.

Meanwhile, The National referees appointment committee led by Evans Mwachia has appointed Nassur Doka, Mike Mwangi, Jane Cherono and sylvester Kirwa was in charged on yesterday Super Cup match between Tusker and Gor Mahia.

Dalglish expects instant impact from Suarez FA Cup fifth round.

But their problems in the Premier League have continued, with just one win in the four matches that Suarez has missed.

His return is sure to be a major boost for the Reds and Dalglish claims the striker has been looking sharp in training.

Dalglish could also recall captain Steven Gerrard, who was rested for the 3-0 victory at Wolves in midweek.

He may well need Gerrard as Tottenham continue to push Manchester City and Manchester United hard at the top of the

Premier League table. And Dalglish claims he would not be surprised if Spurs lasted the distance.

He added: “Spurs were a wee bit unfortunate at the beginning of the season but since then they’ve kicked on and have been as good as anyone in the league.

Tottenham assistant manager Kevin Bond admits Spurs have revised their targets for the season since the start of the season.

Spurs manager Harry Redknapp has talked of his desire to get back in the Champions League, but Spurs were five points behind City going into this weekend’s fixture and Bond

Real beat Getafe to pull 7 points clear of Barca

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a Liga leaders Real Madrid pulled seven points clear of chasing Barcelona when Sergio Ramos nodded the only goal in a 1-0 win at city neighbours Getafe on Saturday.

Ramos rose above the home defence to head a Mesut Ozil corner high into the net in the 18th minute on a bitterly cold and blustery night at the Coliseum stadium and lift Real to 55 points from 21 matches.

Real comfortably held on to their lead against a largely toothless Getafe and it was a sixth straight league win for Jose Mourinho’s side since they lost 3-1 at home to Barca in December.

Champions Barca, bidding for a fourth straight league title, can

trim the gap to their arch rivals back to seven with a win at home to Real Sociedad in the late kickoff.

Valencia, who play a King’s Cup semifinal second leg at Barca on Wednesday after this week’s first leg ended 1-1, are nine points behind the Catalans in third ahead of their game at a resurgent Atletico Madrid.

Fourth-placed Levante, Valencia’s second club missed the chance to close within two points of their more illustrious city rivals when they surrendered the lead and were held to a 1-1 draw at home by struggling Racing Santander.

A diving header from striker Arouna Kone put Levante ahead in the 23rd minute before midfielder Manuel Arana levelled

Spanish Primera Liga LOGS

for Santander just past the hour.

The draw leaves Levante without a win in six games since they beat Sevilla 1-0 in December and puts them on 32 points.

Athletic Bilbao were on the verge of leapfrogging Levante into the fourth Champions League qualifying spot but conceded an added time goal in an entertaining 3-3 draw at home to Espanyol.

Barcelona-based Espanyol are fifth on 32 points behind Levante on goal difference, with Bilbao two points back on 30 and Atletico on 29 in seventh.

Real Mallorca climbed away from the relegation places when Gonzalo Castro’s splendid first-half freekick was enough for a 1-0 win at home to Real Betis.

believes the title is well within reach.

Meanwhile, Redknapp is planning to make a quick dash from London to Liverpool by plane after it was confirmed that his trial for tax evasion will still be running on Monday.

Redknapp has been absent from training for the last week and a half as he has been contesting two charges of cheating the public revenue at Southwark Crown Court. He has managed to make it to all three of his team’s games during that time, but will have to make the 180-mile trip to Anfield from the court, in south London, after Monday’s proceedings have come to an end.

The 64-year-old would miss the kick-off if he made the journey by road and he is reportedly considering a plane journey to Anfield.

Liverpool Manager Kenny Dalglish

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PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Mark fit for Sky debut tour in Qatar

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ritish cyclist Mark Cavendish has been declared fit to make his Team Sky debut in the opening stage of the Tour of Qatar after recovering from illness.

The 26-year-old, who won two stages of the event in 2009, did not take part in a training ride on Saturday after falling ill on his flight from London.

However, Cavendish has been passed fit for yesterday’s opening stage in Doha.

“We’re all delighted Mark has been able to battle back from the bug,” said Team Sky’s Sports Director Steven de Jongh.

Yesterday’s opening 142.5km stage takes the riders from Barzan Towers to Doha Golf Club. It is the first of six stages and will see Britain’s world race

champion ride for the first time in Team Sky colours.

“It will be a real boost to the rest of the guys to know that he’ll be starting,” De Jongh added. “Our medical team have done a fantastic job in looking after him and Mark has followed their advice to the letter. Clearly, he’s not going to be at his best in the next few days but we’re hoping he’ll get stronger with every passing stage.

“We’ll continue to keep a very close eye on him but hopefully he’s over the worst of it now.”

Cavendish is joined in the eight-man squad by former HTC-Highroad team-mate Bernhard Eisel.

Davide Appollonio, Michael Barry, Juan Antonio Flecha, Jeremy Hunt, Christian Knees and Ian Stannard are also in the squad.

While Cavendish has been declared fit, the Tour has lost one of its marquee names after Germany’s Andre Greipel pulled out of the race due to illness on Thursday.

Greipel, who claimed his maiden Tour de France stage win in 2011, has enjoyed a blistering start to the season winning three stages at the Tour Down Under two weeks ago.

But his bid to test his early season sprinting legs against the likes of Cavendish will have to wait as he is suffering from fever, caused by a stomach virus, according to his LottoBelisol team.

Mark Cavendish

Britain reach Fed Cup play-offs B ritain powered through to the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs after beating Austria in their Euro/Africa Zone promotion play-off in Israel.

After wins over Portugal, Netherlands and hosts Israel saw them top Pool C, the team faced Pool A winners Austria.

Anne Keothavong beat Patricia Mayer-Achleitner 7-6 (75) 6-3 and Elena Baltacha beat Tamira Paszek 6-1 6-4 to give them an unassailable lead.

Britain could face USA or Belarus in the World Group II play-offs in April.

The Americans are playing Belarus in the four World Group II first-round matches. Japan face Slovenia, France up against Slovenia and Switzerland taking on Australia.

The four winners go through to a play-off for promotion into the World Group; the four losers join Britain in a battle

for a place in World Group II on April 21-22, the draw for which will take place on 14 February.

Keothavong, the world number 88, recovered from 4-2 down in the first set to force a tie-break against MayerAchleitner, ranked 96th, and having safely negotiated that she soon broke to lead 4-2 in the second and went on to complete victory.

At 57th in the current rankings Baltacha was nine places below Paszek but the Briton started superbly, claiming an immediate double break of serve to gain control of the match, and another break early in the second set confirmed her superiority.

Her victory ensured that doubles pairing Heather Watson and Laura Robson did not need to feature, as Judy Murray’s team celebrated their fourth victory in as many days.

Britain set for final after Germany defeat

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reat Britain reached their first Champions Trophy final after goals from Sarah Thomas and Ashleigh Ball sealed a 2-0 semi-final win over Germany.

Danny Kerry’s side dominated throughout against the side ranked three in the world and took the lead when Wales’ Thomas steered home from close range.

Ball then converted Crista Cullen’s shot to seal a first Champions Trophy win for a British side over Germany.

Britain will face hosts Argentina, who beat the Netherlands, in yesterday final.

The Dutch wilted as their semi-final tie went to penalties, failing to score any of their attempts after Argentina had levelled the game at 2-2 with a penalty stroke late in normal time.

Women’s hockey has a large and vocal following in Argentina and Britain can expect relentless noise in the final.

The question is whether that home support is enough to compensate for the stamina-sapping extra time and penalties endured by Argentina, who twice came from behind before triumphing.

Earlier, Germany were a distinct secondbest for much of their semi-final clash and Britain coach Kerry felt his side earned their comfortable margin of victory.

He said: “I’m chuffed to bits. The girls are a pleasure to work with, they listen to everything and they work intently. I’m proud to work with them. We’ve easily been in the top two teams here, and we deserve to be in the final.

“In the first half we were playing with them, taking them apart. In the second half we had to be a bit smart at the end when they took their goalie off, and we did that very well.

Danny Kerry

Fallon retires from judo ahead of Olympics Craig Fallon

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ritish judoka Craig Fallon says his decision to retire from the sport five months before a home Olympics was ‘easy’.

The former world champion had only returned to judo a year ago following a disappointing performance

at the 2008 Games in Beijing.

The under-66kg fighter says: “I wasn’t where I wanted to be, it was quite an easy decision.

“I wanted to be competitive (in London) and didn’t feel like I would’ve be en .”

Fallon continued: “Although it’s a home Olympics and it’s a special thing, it’s still a competition. Sometimes you need to make a decision and know when to call time, instead of hanging on .

“I never thought I’d have had the

success that I did. I never thought I’d be in two world finals (2003 and 2005) back-to-back.”

After finishing an unexpected seventh place in Beijing, Fallon took two years out of the sport.

Use accessible player and disable flyout menus Fallon surprised by Worlds defeat Without funding or a world ranking, and moving up from the under-60kg division, Fallon made a successful return to the British Judo set-up last yea r.

But injuries soon hampered Fallon’s comeback, who said: “When I came back, I got straight into it but I didn’t expect the injuries.

“That knocked me back quite a lot. I think I missed too much from injury.

“Prior to the worlds last August [ in which he went out in the first round ], I hadn’t had a full block of training for three months without having an injury.”

Whilst Fallon is currently taking a judo coaching course, his future plans are still undecided.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

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Pictorial

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Pix 1: England's new-look side give interim coach Stuart Lancaster the best possible start by claiming a first win at Murrayfield in eight years.

Pix 2: England need 324 runs to win the third and final Test against Pakistan in Dubai after Monty Panesar's five. Pix 3: Lee Westwood, Graeme McDowell and John Daly are the star names at the Qatar Masters in Doha. Pix 4: Great Britain qualify for the Fed Cup World Group II play-offs by beating Austria through wins from Anne Keothavong and Elena Baltacha. Pix 5: British cyclist Mark Cavendish is declared fit to make his team Sky debut in the opening stage of the tour of Qatar. Pix 6: Great Britain beat Germany 2-0 to reach their first Champions Trophy final, where they will face hosts Argentina.

Pix 7: Nigeria’s U-17 female team, The Flamingos celebrating their 3-0 win over their Kenyan counterparts at the Mko Abiola stadium, Abeokuta at the weekend.

Pix 8: Usain Bolt's thrilling world-record runs to a superb golden haul for team great Britain.

PEOPLES DAILY, MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

Walter Mazzarri

I’m an innovator, says Mazzarri

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alter, you hail from Tuscany but you have a reputation in Italy for being as superstitious as a Neapolitan. Is there any truth in that?

Not really. I believe in organising my work down to the last detail, and the way I see things there really isn’t much room for superstition. Obviously there are times when things go well and you look back and put it down to something that’s brought you luck. When that happens I always ask my players to repeat everything they’ve done in the lead-up to winning a game.

You also have a reputation as a straight talker and you’ve said that you always speak your mind. Is that not risky in modern-day football?

Yes, that is my motto. I know it’s a risky approach in the football world but I’m proud of the way I am. I want to approach football in the same way I approach life: always the same, no compromises.

You were Renzo Ulivieri’s assistant coach at Napoli during the 1998/99 season. How much had the club changed when you came back in 2009?

An awful lot has changed. For a start, football has changed a lot more quickly than you think. Working with Ulivieri was very useful for me. I’ve grown and developed since then and I’ve had a lot of different experiences (the Napoli job is the eighth of his club career). And in terms of the club I think everything’s changed over these last ten years.

I’m an Italian coach but I advocate a flexible style of football that isn’t based on just the one system, the ideal thing for me is to play elegant, dynamic football that’s easy on the eye.

Is this the first time you’ve been in charge of such a strong team?

It’s the strongest team I’ve coached, which is not quite the same way of looking at it. It all depends on what yardstick you’re using. I’m talking about a team with potential, which can then go out on the pitch and play good football.

You’re employing a 3-4-3 formation at Napoli, though the team is at their most dangerous on the break. Why is that and does it not go against the grain in the land of catenaccio?

That’s exactly the reason why I see myself as an innovator.

I’m an Italian coach but I advocate a flexible style of football that isn’t based on just the one system. In any case, it’s not the system that counts but the mindset, the movements and the selection of players according to their position on the pitch. We’re effective on the counter because these days teams have to be capable of doing everything as well as they possibly can. The counterattack is effective when it’s launched from deep down the pitch, with the whole team involved.

How do you manage to juggle a squad of players with so much goalscoring talent?

And who told you they all have to play at the same time?

(Laughs) Having so many attackers in the squad means you’ve always got plenty of good options, just like any big team. It’s also important to get your selections right, to look at the formation and know which player will contribute most to the team.

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It’s how the team plays that’s always the key thing for me.

Players are there to make the side stronger.

Are you eventually looking to make Napoli play the same kind of football as Barcelona?

We know what kind of system works best for our team and we’re trying to develop that as much as we can. We don’t model ourselves on any side, but obviously Barcelona, who are making history right now, have a winning mentality and that’s the image they’re projecting to everyone. A lot of other clubs have studied the way they play, and their style is a benchmark for everyone.

Which is more important to you right now: beating Chelsea in the Round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League or a top-three finish in Serie A? We said at the start of the season that this ought to be a year of development. We’re not thinking about any specific objectives but we’ll fulfil all our commitments as best we possibly can. We’ll analyse everything at the end of the season and draw our conclusions then.

Marcello Lippi has said that Napoli are playing the most exciting and interesting football in Italy. Is your priority to play an attractive game or to get results at all cost?

The ideal thing for me is to play elegant, dynamic football that’s easy on the eye, but it goes without saying that we’re doing our utmost to get results at the same time.

You’ve said in the past that you want to be the “Alex Ferguson of Naples”. Does that mean you want to stay here for a long time and achieve something lasting?

I like the way Ferguson has gone about his work at Manchester [United]. It’s a very functional model, one you see in England more than anywhere else, and it’s clear that I find the role of manager-coach fascinating.

Do you think Napoli have finally emerged from the shadow of Diego Maradona?

Every era is different. Maradona represents Napoli’s history and we’re doing all we can to make the city understand that. That said, we are proud to have brought the enthusiasm and passion of that period back to Naples.

Walter Mazzarri is one of a new wave of Italian coaches who have broken with the defensive traditions of Serie A in favour of a more attractive brand of football.

The former defensive midfielder fell short of the highest level during his playing days; the same cannot be said of his coaching career. A little over two years ago he was recruited from Sampdoria by Napoli owner Aurelio De Laurentis, the man who rescued the southern club from oblivion in September 2004.

Since taking over from his predecessor Roberto Donadoni, Mazzarri has brought back the glory years of the 1980s, when Napoli traded blows with Italy’s northern giants. In reward for an excellent league campaign last season, I Partenopei secured a place in the UEFA Champions League and is now awaiting a Round of 16 ties against Chelsea. A place in the semi-finals of the Coppa Italia is also theirs following last week’s 2-0 defeat of Inter Milan.

Discussing the Neapolitan renaissance with FIFA.com, Mazzarri reveals his vision of the game, his short- and long-term goals and his methods for managing a side crammed with attacking talent.

“

I’m an Italian coach but I advocate a flexible style of football that isn’t based on just the one system, the ideal thing for me is to play elegant, dynamic football that’s easy on the eye.

Walter Mazzarri, coach of Napoli

QUOTABLE QUOTE “It is better to be silent and be thought a fool, than to speak and remove all doubt” — Abraham Lincoln

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 2012

SPORTS LATEST

FIFA steps in to re-instate Egypt's FA

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he world Football Governing Body (FIFA), will take steps to reinstate Egypt's Football Association (EFA), suspended

by Cairo after 74 people died in violence at a match in Port Said, Chief Sepp Blatter said yesterday.

Blatter, attending an extraordinary congress of the South American Football Confederation at its Paraguay headquarters, said the EFA's suspension after Wednesday's violence was a direct intervention into soccer affairs which Fifa could not accept.

"The information we have received at Fifa confirms the number of dead as 74. It was also confirmed that the (Egyptian) government intervened directly by suspending the (country's) football association," Blatter told a news conference.

"We are going to take up the case from today so that this association is reinstated because it is the (body) that has the responsibility to organize the competitions and it must carry on (its work)," the president of world soccer's governing body said.

The incident, when fans invaded the pitch in Port Said after home team al-Masry beat Cairo giant’s al-Ahli, was Egypt's worst soccer disaster and Prime Minister Kamal alGanzouri sacked the EFA board.

It was also the incident with the highest number of victims in Egypt since an uprising brought down the government of Hosni Mubarak early last year. Most of the deaths were among people trampled in the crush of the panicking crowd.

Results Chelsea 3 Man Utd 3 Newcastle 2 Aston Villa 1 Nations Cup Mali 5 Gabon 4 Ghana 2 Tunisia 1

Sepp Blatter

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State police, police state No system of government was ever so ill devised that, under proper men, it wouldn’t work well enough - William Penn (1644 – 1718)

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he respected former Director-General of National Security Organization (NSO) and a former top policeman, Alhaji Umaru Shinkafi, recently made a strong case for the introduction of police formations to be controlled and managed by state governments.

He made the case in the context of the current concerns over the need to improve the state of our national security; as well as the many problems which have arisen in the course of implementing a constitutional provision which vests control and management of the police exclusively in the Federal Government. The case he made also noted a widely-known fact that state governments assume huge responsibilities for the upkeep and maintenance of the Nigeria Police, but have very little control over its operation. He drew attention to the negative influences of state governments on the police, particularly the tendency to subvert its neutrality and integrity in the achievement of partisan political goals by state governors.

Collusion and corruption at higher levels of state governments and police leadership have created situations where the effectiveness and credibility of the Nigeria Police have become severely compromised. Finally, he reminded the nation that much of the criticism against state police is entirely informed by unfounded prejudice, because a state police had not existed in the nation’s history in the strict sense of the concept. The case he made is basically that state police will improve the management of internal security and the maintenance of law and order, because local communities are likely to be more involved, and those with power will also have responsibility to determine how a vital institution like the police operates.

Shinkafi is eminently qualified to understand the weaknesses of the Nigeria Police, and the how the political context in which it operates can affect its effectiveness. A lawyer and an intelligence officer who made his mark at a time the NSO was rated among the best of such organizations in the world, he also has genuine roots in the traditional authorities in the North, as well as an extensive network of relationships across the entire nation. A well read man who has never shied away from

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FIFTEEN MINUTES with Dr Hakeem Baba-Ahmed drbabaahmed@yahoo.com

Ag. IGP, Mohammed Dahiru Abubakar offering his views in public on matters of national security, he is highly regarded in national and international circles as an authority on security management in Nigeria.

He has an extensive understanding of the operations and limitations of the Nigeria police; so when he makes the case for the establishment of state police, the nation should consider his advice very seriously. The examples of advanced industrialized democracies that have state or regional police which enjoy high degrees of autonomy, and effective collaboration with central police and each other, and which operate at very high levels of efficiency also speak volumes for the case being made by the Marafan Sokoto. Among the most telling arguments he makes for

the introduction of state police is the position he puts forward that critics of the idea have no historical basis for their criticism.

In spite of the existence of Native Authority and federal police prior to the unification of the police under the Nigeria Police Force, he says those local police operated only with limited powers, were substantially decentralized, but effective in dealing with local crime, protecting law and order and in intelligence gathering.

Sceptics and hostile opponents of the establishment of state police should pay more than a cursory glance to the case for state police put forward by the Marafan Sokoto. The professionalism and overall impact of the Nigeria police in maintaining internal security, law and order and fighting crime has been declining at such a rate that millions of Nigerians now see the police as a major liability, unless you want an illegal act to be committed, and you have the money to pay for it.

The federal government which controls and manages it all but publicly acknowledges it as its biggest handicap in the fight against crime. In the last ten years, we have had numerous Inspectors-General of police, and the last one was removed because of the spectacular failure of the police to handle the Boko Haram insurgency.

The federal government is supposed to finance the operations and maintenance of the police, but it does this substantially by default, or so it

“

Shinkafi is eminently qualified to understand the weaknesses of the Nigeria Police, and the how the political context in which it operates can affect its effectiveness. A lawyer and an intelligence officer who made his mark at a time the NSO was rated among the best of such organizations in the world, he also has genuine roots in the traditional authorities in the North, as well as an extensive network of relationships across the entire nation

would appear. Time after time Nigerians accuse it of active collusion in subverting the electoral process, and sundry abuses of human rights. State and Local Governments spend huge amounts in providing logistics, allowances and many other unseen forms of assistance to the police. Yet, state governors particularly complain that what they have is responsibility for the police, but no power over them.

As chief security officers, they have no power under the law to direct the police command in their states to undertake any activity unless it is cleared and authorised by superior police authorities outside the state. When, in order to allow the police in states some flexibility, their superiors outside the state give them room for some initiative or decision-making, governors complain that the relative autonomy and flexibility is put at the disposal of governors only at great cost. They find that they have to fund every emergency or contingency, even though the nation knows that billions are routinely budgeted for police operations and contingencies. What they do not publicly say, however, is that they routinely put police commands in their states to marginally-legal or out rightly-illegal use, most often around partisan political activities.

Governors complain that superiors of Police Commissioners in states at zonal or national headquarters are too removed from the ground to appreciate the need for some specific engagements or operations; and in many instances, the federal government uses its monopoly over the control of police operations to hamstring or frustrate them in exercising their responsibilities as chief security officers. When Commissioners of Police and State Chief Executives build close relationships, they are suspected by superiors of colluding to achieve narrow political objectives.

Governors who are not in States controlled by ruling parties say that they literally have to buy loyalty of the Police, and even this does not guarantee that they will not face periodic hostility or obstruction. Funds expended by the Federal and State Governments together on the same police are impossible to establish; and this represents a worrying source of corruption.

Finally, the case has long been made that a federal system which centralises policing severely crippled the capacities of federating units to function as effective levels of government.

Contd. on Page 26

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