Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday 06, September, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 9 No. 19

Thursday, September 6, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Shawwal 19, 1433 AH

N150

Why ministerial slots have not been filled - Jonathan

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said he was waiting for the Senate to resume from its recess before filling the two vacancies in the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

. . . Appoints Dagogo-Jack as Power Task Force Chair "Definitely immediately the National Assembly comes back especially Senate, we will clear the two vacancies that we have. They will get cleared and we will place people accordingly so that the Min-

ister of Power will come up. But, in the interim, the Minister of State for Power is holding on to that", he stated.

The other vacancy concerns the position of Minister of Defence

left by Mohammed Bello Haliru who was fired by the President few months ago.

Meanwhile, the President has reconstituted the Presidential Action Committee on Power (PACP),

and the Presidential Task Force on Power, with Engineer Reynold Dagogo-Jack of the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) as the Contd on Page 2

Gunmen attack GSM facilities in Borno, Bauchi

By Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri & Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

G

MTN offices, 15 masts destroyed

unmen yesterday launched coordinated attacks on telecommunication installations in Borno and Bauchi states destroying masts and other facilities belonging to the major telecommunication companies in the country.

This is just as suspected gunmen slaughtered at least four persons in Gwange Ward of Maiduguri, the Borno state capital.

The assailants were said to have on Tuesday night attacked their victims while they were fast asleep and used sharp object to slit their throats. Worst hit in the Borno Contd on Page 2

PD INDEX

6th Sept., 2012

CBN RATES $ £ EURO CFA RIYAL

BUYING 154.8 246.5 194.9 0.2779 41

SELLING 155.8 248 196 0.2979 41.5

PARALLEL RATES EURO £ RIYAL $

BUYING 201 257 40 159

SELLING 203 259 42 161

Maiduguri MTN office on Baga Road after it was destroyed by unknown persons in the early hours of yesterday.

Photo: NAN

I’m alive and well, says Diezani AlisonMadueke >> PAGE 3

Navy rescues Singaporean oil vessel >> PAGE 2

FG lifts DANA Airline’s suspension >> PAGE 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-20

S/Report

25

Earth

26

Feature

29

Buhari blames insecurity on poor PDP leadership, Page 37

International 32-34 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

Gunmen attack GSM facilities in Borno, Bauchi Contd from Page 1 attack on telecommunication companies was GSM giant, MTN which had its Maiduguri regional office that houses its major installations burnt down by the gunmen.

Similarly at least 15 masts, belonging to various service providers including Globacom, Etisalat, Airtel and Visafone were burnt down by the gunmen.

The situation resulted in serious network hitches as operations of some of the service providers were completely disrupted, while phone users suffered hardships using the services.

Investigation revealed that the MTN regional office along Baga road, west end of Maiduguri metropolis, was the first target, when over 10 men, armed with AK 47 rifles and explosives stormed the area and fired several shot into the air, before bombing the entire complex.

The incident, which occurred at about 2 am, caused confusion in the area as residents were woken up by the horrifying sounds of explosives and gunshots. The arsonists had reportedly chased away the three night security guards at the building, who escaped unhurt.

Further checks also revealed that few minutes later, other service masts in various locations were attacked and burnt by the rampaging gunmen. Reporters, who went round the city observed that the affected masts were located in Dala Lawanti, Bolori, Ngarnam, Dala Alamdiri, Adam Kolo areas.

Others were Gwange, Railway Quarters, Bulunkutu, Gomari, Silimanti, Polo, Bulabulin Ngarnam, among others. In all the incidents, there was no report of casualty, as the attackers were said to have only targeted the facilities of the telecommunication firms and only chase the guards

away without attacking them.

A statement issued yesterday by the spokesman of the Joint Military Task Force, Lt- Col. Sagir Musa blamed the incidents on members of the Boko Haram sect.

The statement read: “The JTF has observed the mutation of criminal activities occasioned by Boko Haram terrorists in Borno state, who commenced the burning and destruction of GSM masts and communication facilities in some areas of Maiduguri metropolis.

Consequently the task force wishes to inform the public that it is determined and committed to securing lives and properties of Nigerians within its area of operational responsibility”. “The JTF wishes to appreciate cooperation and understanding between members of d public and security agencies and to reemphasize that there is a collective responsibility. Thus, the public are reminded to continue to give credible information to the security operative through the following hotlines: 08064174066; 08154429346; 07065464012, so as to contain the ugly trend”.

The Borno state Police Commissioner, Yuguda Abdullahi, however declined comments on the issue, saying he was yet to be briefed by the divisional police officers of the affected areas.

In Bauchi, gunmen also attacked the installation of a telecommunications company injuring one person. The attackers threw an explosive at the installation which exploded at the gate without causing serious damage on the equipment.

Another explosive device also targeted at an installation along Gombe state was diffused by the police.

Bauchi state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Hassan Mohammed Auyo, confirmed the incident but said he will furnish journalists with the details later.

Contd from Page 1

mentation in the areas of power generation, transmission and distribution.

According to Jonathan "Whether the Minister of Power comes or not, we want to reconstitute the two teams because Nigerians will not be happy if we relapse and I believe that as we progress from now till December, if Nigerians can go home in December and do their parties without generators and can drive to their states without gutters on our roads stopping them, I think the rating of government will improve. So we must work hard to get to this level.

"Before this term, in terms of power, we were meeting every two weeks. There were two committees on power but we stopped meeting because the former Minister of Power was the head of the technical team and when he moved across, we have not been able to meet but Nigerians are happy with government because power is get-

However, a security source said the security agencies earlier got wind of plans of the attacks and deployed personnel to strategic points. He said: “We took adequate security measures; we deployed security personnel to guard every identified flash point to ensure that they did not give them chance to attack. Even the one targeted at the mast exploded outside the gate where the hoodlums dropped it.

“The security man guarding the place was on red alert.

Everything inside the mast was intact except the metal door that slightly injured the security guard”, the source said.

The motive behind the attacks and those responsible were not clear as at press time. However, it will be recalled that in February this year, the Jama’atu Ahlissunna Lida’awati Wal Jihad, also known as Boko Haram, through its spokesman, Abul Qaqa had threatened to renew its onslaught on GSM service providers for “leaking the identify of its members to the security operatives.

In a telephone interview with newsmen at that time, Qaqa warned that the GSM operators would be targeted for allegedly conniving with security agents to release the bio-data and locations of the sect’s members.

Meanwhile, unknown gunmen on Tuesday night stormed a compound in Yoruba street, Gwange Ward, in Maiduguri metropolis and slaughtered four persons.

The slain persons were reportedly fast asleep, when the assailants, who were said to be armed with dangerous weapons, raided their house and held them at gun point, before using sharp object to slit the throats of their victims.

Spokesman of the police command, Mr. Jubril Gideon, confirmed the incident to newsmen yesterday. He said the attackers had fled the scene before the arrival of security agents adding that investigation has commenced to unravel the perpetrators.

Navy rescues oil vessel

By Richard Ihediwa with agency reports

A

Singaporean oil tanker hijacked on Tuesday by pirates off Nigerian coast has been rescued by the Nigerian Navy.

Navy spokesman, Kabir Aliyu, stated this yesterday soon after the vessel was rescued. He said the hijackers had fled the vessel when the Navy launched the rescue with two ships and a helicopter. None of the pirates were however captured.

The vessel, MT Abu Dhabi Star, was hijacked by pirates on when it was sailing towards the open sea.

A spokesman for Pioneer

Ship Management Services LLC, Pat Adamson, said a Nigerian Navy vessel pulled along the MT Abu Dhabi Star and took control of the vessel after it rushed towards the ship as soon as it received distress signals.

All crew members on board, including 22 Indian sailors, were declared safe after the rescue. They had locked themselves in a cabin in the vessel to evade being manhandled by the pirates.

Last month, two similar hijackings occurred along the coast near Togo. In both incidents the oil was siphoned into other containers before the vessels and crew were released.

Why ministerial slots have not been filled - Jonathan chairman of the Task Force.

The two bodies are charged with responsibility of overseeing the implementation of Federal Government’s agenda for power sector reforms.

Speaking while inaugurating the reconstituted committees at the State House yesterday, Jonathan said he was retaining the chairmanship of the recomposed PACP, with Vice President Namadi Sambo as Deputy Chairman.

The committee was established in June 2010 to provide leadership and guidance for the rapid development of Nigeria’s power sector and determine the general policy direction and strategic focus of reforms in the sector.

On the other hand, the Task Force has the duty of developing and driving the Federal Government’s action plan for the power sector as well as articulating a proper plan of action for imple-

ting steady and I don’t want us to relapse", he added.

Other members of the Presidential Action Committee on Power include the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, the Head of Service, the Chief of Staff to the President, the Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation, the Coordinating Minister for the Economy and Minister of Finance, the Minister of Labour and Productivity, the Minister of Power, the Minister of State for Power and the Minister of Petroleum Resources.

Others are the Minister of National Planning, the Chief Economic Adviser to the President, the Special Adviser to the President (Performance Monitoring & Evaluation), the Director-General – Bureau of Public Enterprises, the Director-General – Bureau of Public Procurement, the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, the Chairman of the Nigeria Electric-

ity Regulatory Commission and the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on Power. The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Power will serve as Secretary of the PACP. Members of the recomposed task force are the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Power, the Chief Executive Officer – Transmission Company of Nigeria, the Managing Director, Niger Delta Power Holding Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Gas Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Geregu Generation Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Ughelli Generation Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Eko Distribution Company, the Chief Executive Offcier, Abuja Distribution Company, the Chief Executive Officer, Nigeria Bulk Electricity Company, the Chief Executive Officer of the Gas Aggregation Company of Nigeria and Mr. Evaristus Mogbo.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 3

NEC, governors yet to discuss N5000 note, says Suswam

…as CBN defends policy, keeps mum on cost of printing

By Lawrence Olaoye & Abdulwahab Isa

B

enue state governor, Mr. Gabriel Suswam, yesterday disclosed that the proposed introduction of the new N5000 and the coinage of smaller denominations including N5, N10 and N20 are yet to be discussed at the National Economic Council (NEC).

Suswam, who paid a solidarity visit to the National Working Committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) chaired by Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, disclosed that the 36 state governors are yet to be intimated formally on the intention of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

Suswam, who kicked against the N5000 note, said the governors, as members of the NEC which is also the highest decision making body in economic matters in the country, chaired by the Vice President, Arc. Namadi Sambo, have not been formally briefed on the matter.

Commenting on the proposal, the governor said “Let me tell you that economically, I do not support that. I am not an economist; I do not know what informed that.

That means that Nigeria’s money will be devalued. I don’t know how the whole issue will address the economic challenges facing us.

If we are saying that we want a cashless society, I don’t know how printing of N5000 notes will help us. It will only help somebody to

carry N10 million in his pockets. I expect that this issue would have been mentioned at the National Economic Council and this issue has never been discussed at the meeting. So, I am as confused as the man on the street”.

Meanwhile, the CBN, yesterday, denied that the printing of the new currency would cost N40 billion.

In a bid to douse public outcry, the CBN said the proposed currency restructuring, would aid drastic reduction in cost of currency management as there would be significant savings in cost.

A statement by its Director, Public Communications, Ugo A. Okoroafor, said no decision had been taken in respect to any

contract pertaining to the proposed currency restructuring exercise, and described such reports as “dangerous misrepresentations”.

According to CBN, it costs it a whopping N47.141 billion in 2009, N45.507 billion in 2010 and N32.627 billion in 2011 to print currency and coins respectively.

It said that, “under the new currency structure in which the N5, 000 denomination will be introduced, our projection is that the total volume of currency to be produced will drop and the total cost of production will drop consequently.

The apex bank did not however, state how much the currency restructuring is to cost.

L-R: Minister of State Works, Alhaji Bashir Yuguda, FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Minister of State for Health, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate, Minister of State Finance, Dr. YarimaNgama, and Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Mohammed Sada, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

PHOTO: JOE OROYE

By Lambert Tyem

T

he Head of the Special Control Unit against Money Laundering, (SCUML) in the EFCC, Angela Nworgu, yesterday, revealed that nongovernmental organisations, (NGOs) now serve as conduits for money laundering and sponsorship of criminal activities.

In her opening remark at the

I’m alive and well, says AlisonMadueke

P

etroleum Resources Minister, Mrs. Dieziani Alison-Madueke, yesterday denied reports that she had been hospitalised in London with “a potentially serious” condition.

In a Facebook post at 3.37pm Nigerian time, the minister said: “On the contrary to recently published articles concerning my health, I haven’t been hospitalised in London. Both my family and I are well”.

She did not, however, state her current location.

A report on Saharareporters yesterday quoted an unnamed medical source as saying that “the minister’s diagnosis was for a condition related to abnormal cell development in her body.

FG lifts DANA Airline’s suspension From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

T

he Federal Government yesterday lifted the suspension of the Operating Licence of Dana Airlines.

“This follows government’s satisfaction with the airworthiness of the airline after a rigorous technical, operational and financial audit of the airline,” Stella Oduah, the Aviation minister said.

“By this development, Dana Airline is free to resume its normal commercial flight operations,” the minister added.

The operating license of Dana Airlines was temporarily suspended following the crash of one of its aircraft on June 3, in Lagos as a safety precaution. The crash killed 153 persons including all passengers on board and some residents of the community it crashed on.

NGOs: Vehicles for money laundering — SCUML annual seminar for designated Non-Financial Institutions (DNFIs) with the theme “Strategic Partnership Amongst DNFIs for Effective Implementation of AML/ CFT Regime in Nigeria” at the EFCC Academy, Karu, Abuja, Nworgu disclosed that research by the Financial Action Task Force

indicates that money launderers “who use NGOs to carry out layering of stolen wealth through several countries…to disguise the actual origin of the money do not mind losing 40 percent of the total amount in the process, because it is money gotten from illegitimate means”.

Spokesman of EFCC, Wilson Uwujaren said she stated that the essence of the seminar was to expose compliance officers to their obligations and responsibilities in the fight against money laundering and terrorist financing.

The participants drawn from various DNFIs such as Bureau de

Change, hotels, law firms, jewelers, etc, were taken through the provisions of the Money Laundering Act 2011, KYC (know your customer) principles, Anatomy of CTRs/STRs, implication of the CBN circular on AML/CFT compliance, among others.

FEC approves N87bn for roads, rescue equipment

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Federal Government yesterday approved contracts worth N86.7billion for the re-construction of Benin-Ofusu-Ore-AjebandeleShagamu road, 10-lane Southern Parkway in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) as well as the purchase of emergency equipment for the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

According to the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, who briefed State House correspondents after yesterday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, the approval followed presentations made to the Council by the Ministries of Works and FCT. A breakdown of the contracts showed that the sum of N65,223,155,642.34 was considered and approved for the rehabilitation and reconstruction

of the Benin-Ofusu-OreAjebandele-Shagamu road in favour of RCC Nigeria Limited with a completion period of 36 months.

The construction of Southern Parkway from Christian Centre, S8/S9 to Ring 1, (RRI), Abuja was awarded at the cost of the cost of N10, 901,225,367.90 bringing the total cost of the project to N16,234,553,335.64 in favour of Setraco (Nig) Ltd with a completion

period of 30 months while the total contract sum for the purchase of NEMA equipment was N933,865,037.

Maku said the construction of the Southern Parkway in Abuja was part of efforts to reduce heavy traffic being experienced in the city, adding that when completed, it would ease the increasing heavy traffic situation in the southern parts of the city within the corridors of already developed and fast

developing districts such as Central Area, Garki, Gudu and Durumi.

On the NEMA Maku noted that NEMA lacked most of the necessary operational equipment to meet the challenges posed by disasters, saying "it has therefore become necessary for the agency to urgently increase its equipment outlay in order to improve its capacity to cope with emergency incidences in an effective and timely manner".

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

THE PAGE 4 REPORT N5000 single note: As govt courts nation’s angst Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the Governor of the Central Bank Nigeria (CBN) is unarguably controversy personified.

Three years in the saddle as boss of the apex bank, Sanusi has courted controversies through his policies and pronouncements such as the reorganization of the banking sector, introduction of the cashless economy and, recently, currency restructuring. Abdulwahab Isa, in this analysis, examines the mood of the nation vis-a-vis the Federal government’s decision to release N5,000 note next year.

M

iss Rekiya, (surname concealed) is a typical young Nigerian in her late twenties.

She daily commutes from Zuba, a satellite town, to Abuja metropolis where she earns her living as a shop attendant in Wuse market.

A Senior Secondary School certificate holder desirous of proceeding to a higher institution to upgrade her certificate, Rekiya, who works as a photocopying machine operator, receives as her take home pay by month end the “princely” sum of N10,000.

But come early 2013, when Central Bank of Nigeria is expected to usher into circulation a single currency note of N5,000, Rekiya’s monthly N10,000 would lose its dignity and esteem. Just two notes of N5, 000 become her lot for the hard efforts she put in 30 days.

In a chat with this reporter Rekiya expresses the fear that the introduction of N5,000 is a humiliation to their hard labour.

Penultimate Thursday, the CBN Governor set the stage for the current debate when he announced the planned currency restructuring at a media briefing in Abuja. He announced the introduction of a new currency series under which the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and the N1,000 notes will be redesigned with added security features.

He said a N5, 000 note would also be introduced, while the denominations of N5, N10 and N20 are to be coined.

“On November 28, 2011, the CBN Board considered and approved the new currency series.

It subsequently sought and, on December 19, 2011, obtained the approval of President Goodluck Jonathan.

“Under the new structure, the existing denominations of N50, N100, N200, N500 and N1,000 will be redesigned with added new security features. It is also our pleasure to inform you that a new high currency denomination will also be introduced. It is the N5,000 note.”

According to him, the CBN plans to launch the redesigned N50 and new N5,000 notes in early March 2013.

He said the introduction of the new currency series “will be a gradual process, as the banknotes will circulate simultaneously with the old series until they are fully withdrawn from circulation.

“Therefore, there will be no urgent need for exchange of the old for the new banknotes by the general public for as long as the old notes are in circulation, they remain legal tender.”

Mallam Sanusi revealed that the N5, 000 note would bear the pictures of three notable Nigerian women: Margaret Ekpo, Funmi Kuti and Gambo Sawaba, all deceased, as a way of recognising their contributions to the

development of the nation.

The second side of the note, he added, will carry the picture of the National Assembly, which represents the symbol of democracy in Nigeria.

In anticipation of the rash of criticisms, Sanusi allayed fears that the introducing higher denominations at this period could push up inflation.

“Inflation in Nigeria is a monetary phenomenon. Secondly, in some countries such as Singapore, Germany and Japan, the highest denominations are 10,000 SGD, 500Euro and Yen 10,000, respectively.

“These denominations have relatively high dollar equivalent.

The levels of inflation are, however, low at 2.8, 1.1 and -0.7, respectively as at 2010.

“We believe that the introduction of a higher bill would complement the bank’s cashless policy as it would substantially reduce the volume of currency in circulation, particularly in the long term.”

Expectedly, practically nearly the whole nation is up in arms against the currency restructuring with many experts believing that the move is counterproductive to the fragile Nigeria economy.

All known professional bodies and labour unions, including the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA), the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), NUPENG, among others, have voiced opposition against the policy.

On Tuesday, members of the Anti-Corruption Network, a nongovernmental organisation, led by political activist and former House of Representatives member, Dino Melaye, marched to the headquarters of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) and protested the planned introduction of N5000

CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi banknote by the bank.

At the CBN headquarters in the Central District of Abuja, the group chanted anti-government songs amidst heavy rain and accused the bank of trying to further impoverish the poor with the introduction of the N5000 denomination.

Dino said the policy would only increase the sufferings of the Nigerian people contrary to the views of the CBN governor, Sanusi Lamido.

“We have received and heard of the corporate policy of the CBN; we have analysed it and I want to believe that laws are meant for men and not men for man,” he said.

“Democracy will continue and must continue to be government of the people, for the people; and by the people and not government of the greedy, for the greedy and by the greedy.

“We are here today as Nigerians

to show our displeasure for this very hash policy that the CBN is about to introduce.

How will the introduction of the N5000 note bring food or leverage on the table for the common Nigerian? We believe that many failed policies of the CBN, under Sanusi Lamido, have brought more pain and sufferings to us. With this N5000 note, is the CBN approbating and reprobating?”

Tunde Lemo, a Deputy Governor of CBN, who received the protesters on behalf of the bank, said it was not true that the apex bank will use N40 billion to print the new currency as recently reported in the media. He also said that even if the CBN was not introducing the new notes, it will still spend money to print currency.

Mr Lemo added that the CBN would not do anything that will not be in the interest of the masses,

while arguing that contrary to popular opinion, the introduction of the new N5000 note will not lead to higher inflation.

Sanusi merely sensitized Nigerians of the impending N5,000 note with his press briefing, as approval for the contract for the printing had long been gotten from President Goodluck Jonathan way back in May. Endorsing the new policy, the National Economic Council (NEC), a think tank for the government, said Sanusi and CBN were right, adding that the N5, 000 as currency has come to stay.

The National Planning Minister, Shamsudeen Usman, said the note would be reserved for banks and heavy cash users.

He said the meeting endorsed the proposal by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to introduce the big note and coinage of N5, N10 and N20.

He said the introduction of the N5, 000 note would neither lead to inflation nor encourage corruption as argued by some Nigerians opposed to it.

The Governor of Adamawa state Murtala Nyako and his Anambra state counterpart, Peter Obi, also supported the new monetary policy.

Leading private sector members like Atedo Peterside, Aliko Dangote and Aigboje AigImoukhuede also expressed their support for the plan to redenominate the country’s currencies and introduce the N5, 000 note.

Apparently, the game is up for Rekiya and other folks, still thinking CBN may apply wisdom on the road to N5, 000 journey.

What is the value of money after all, you may ask?

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 5

FG denies plan to withdraw Lagos-Ibadan highway from Bi-Courtney

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Minister of Works, Mr. Mike Onolememen yesterday denied any plan by the Federal Government to withdraw the Lagos-Ibadan Expressway from Bi-Courtney Highway Services.

Rather, he said, government would continue to engage in talks with the concessionaires to enable them reconstruct the road.

Fielding questions from State House correspondents after yesterday's Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, Onolememen said talks were still on-going with the concessionaires, adding that Nigerians would be informed once a decision is taken.

According to him, government was committed to delivering the road on record time because of its strategic position and economic value not only to the south west, but the entire nation.

The minister assured that work would start on the road as soon as the rain was over.

“What I can say is that the Federal Government through the Ministry of Works is determined to ensure full rehabilitation of that road. It is a task that we must deliver. We are engaging the concessionaires and the engagement is still on.”

Insecurity: Invest on youths devt, Kumuyi urges govt

By Lambert Tyem

G

eneral Superintendent of Deeper Life Bible Church, Pastor William F. Kumuyi yesterday called on government at all levels to give prominence to youth development so as to move the country forward.

Speaking in Abuja at a Press briefing on the ongoing three days nationwide youth success seminar, the pastor believed that Nigeria needs to invest more in its youths who are precious assets to the nation adding that the church is also giving her best to ensure their success.

“The church has always given attention and resources to ensure that the youths are successful in life as they are indispensable assets to the church and the nation”.

Kumuyi also said that God has a purpose for bringing every child into the world and therefore has deposited potentials and talents in them for success in life , which the church is out to help discover and develop.

L-R: Minister Of Labour, Chief Emeka Wogu, Vice- President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, CCESSA President, Mr. Augustine Etato, and Deputy-President of BWI, Mr. Per Olof Sjoo, during the 2nd Africa & Middle East Conference of the Building and Wood Workers International, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO: JOE OROYE

Al-makura harps on cordial relations with MPs From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

G

overnor Umaru Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state, yesterday, observed that there is the need for continuous interface between the executive, legislature and the judiciary to get good governance, saying that the era of executive/ legislature squabbles is gone

Al-makura made the observation shortly after holding a meeting with legislators for over three hours behind closed doors, at the office of the Speaker, Nasarawa state House of Assembly.

He said he was in the Assembly to discuss state matters so that his administration could deliver the right service to the people, through

dialogue with the other arms of government.

Al-makura said the meeting would henceforth be frequent since its take-off last year shortly after the retreat organised by the state government for the Assembly members.

On the confirmation of Alhaji Sabo Ago as chairman of the Nasarawa State Independent

Electoral Commission (NASIEC), which the Assembly turned down twice, Al-makura denied discussing the issue at the meeting.

On his part, the Speaker, Musa Ahmed Mohammed, observed that there was the need for the three arms of government to work together, adding that “soon things will start unfolding in the state”.

Corps member gives lifeline ABU denies plot to re-award degrees to the poor, lepers in Kwara Carter, Annan, others Mustapha however clarified From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

A

member of the National Youth Service Corp (NYSC), Batch “C” 2011/2012,KW/ 11C/1934, Dr. Chuka Obienu has launched “operation feed the poor “and initiated a “Leprosy Trust Fund” for the inmates of the leper colony at Okegbala, in Omu Aran, headquarters of Irepodun Local Government of Kwara state.

The corps member, while speaking at the event, said, “I have understood what it means to be poor in an attempt at managing how to build my nation and to make it bigger and greater. We are here today to show deep concern to the less privileged citizens of Nigeria;

we are here today to show a greater concern to the leper community of Okegbala, we here today to understand the things they are going through and their challenges. We are here today to show the great love and support for we care”.

Obienu who hails from Nnewi North local government area of Anambra state appealed to Nigerians to come out en masse and support the less privileged.

He lauded the efforts of Olomu of Omu Aran, the police, Federal Road Safety Corps, medical doctors , the NYSC, EcoBank, in Omu Aran ;management of ECWA Leprosy Hospital Okegbala for his programme a success.

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

M

anagement of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, has denied the reported plan to confer for the second time, an honourary doctorate award on ex- United States President, Jimmy Carter, ex-United Nations Secretary General, Kofi Annan, and Zimbabwean President, Robert Mugabe, during its 50th Anniversary celebration.

In a statement signed by his Media Adviser, the Vice Chancellor, Abdullahi Mustapha, described the report as incorrect, expressing shock over the story.

He regretted the level of embarrassment which the story has caused the University Management, Senate and Council.

that Jimmy Carter, Kofi Annan and Robert Mugabe are expected to grace the occasion in their capacity as stakeholders who were awarded the institution’s honourary doctorate degrees a long time ago.

He stated that this was why the University regards them as being among top awardees of its honourary doctorate degrees,who are not coming to be awarded another honourary degrees.

According to him, “The University has an age long tradition of honouring distinguished and selfless personalities from different parts of the world, there is really plan to award such degrees to some personalities during the Golden Jubilee celebration which is slated for November 4-24, 2012.”

Contractor denies receiving N278m for Ondo stadium

By Richard Ihediwa

T

he contractor handling the Ile-Oluji Township Stadium in Ondo state has denied collecting N278 million for the job without executing the project.

The Project Manager of Alfredo Global, the contacting firm, Bayo

Fashanu stated this in a statement in reply to recent claims by the spokesman of the Akeredolu Campaign Organization (ACO), Idowu Ajanuku that the firm bolted with the said sum.

Fashanu said, his company only received a mobilisation fee of N37 million and has executed a job worth

over N80 million as evaluated by the state government.

According to him, from the mobilization fee, the company had moved to site and commenced work by clearing the site and preparing the soccer pitch as well as building the gate houses. This, Fashanu said, was in addition to

the erection of the pavilion.

He said 80 percent of the earth work has been done before the consultants noticed a technical omission in the entire project leading to are-evaluation of the contract sum and a new award letter issued to the company at the cost of N173 million, bringing the total contract sum to

N273 million and not N278 million as alleged by the Ajanaku.

Stating that the allegations were aimed at tarnishing the image of the company and Governor Olusegun Mimiko of Ondo state, Fashanu asked Ajanaku to apologise to the company within 14 days or face legal actions.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 7

FG calls for proper organisation of informal sector

By Muhammad Nasir

A

s part of its effort to ensure effective co-ordination and utilisation of the informal sector for economic development, the Federal Government has called for proper organisation and regulation of the sector for more quality control service to the nation.

A statement issued yesterday

by Samuel Olowookere, the Assistant Director, Press, in the Ministry of Labour and Productivity, noted that the minister, Chief Emeka Wogu stated this in Abuja, when he declared open the 2nd Africa Middle East Conference of Building and Wood Workers International.

Wogu stressed that the contributions of informal workers who are the support nerves of the economy is very valuable and essential to our national growth and development which should be organised and regulated to be more functional.

Discussing on the topic: “Confronting Labour Mobility in the Context of Globalisation…”, Chief Wogu said “The emergence of globalisation has created both threats and opportunities for the sustenance growth and development which is inclusive of employment”.

Earlier in his speech, the secretary-general of Building and Wood Workers International, Mr. Amber Yuson, called on government, working with the civil society especially unions, to prioritise the challenges of the “new scramble for African resources” where multi-national corporations are scrambling for Africa’s oil, minerals, water, natural gas and vast tracts of land for biofuels. He warned that Africa should be cautious and alert to some conflicts and wars that may have arisen on the continent as a result of this newfound competition based on neo-colonialism.

Delegates from over 20 countries in Africa and the Middle East are participating in the conference.

Traders salvaging their goods at the scene of fire incident at Ogunpa market, yesterday in Ibadan.

Policeman slumps, dies in Benue From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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middle-aged policeman yesterday slumped and died along Lagos Street close to the Federal Medical Center, Makurdi.

The body of the late officer

A

attracted a large crowd of people who were left wondering what could have caused his death.

The man had a syringe/needle tapered on his left arm which suggested that he was on admission at the hospital.

Some policemen who later

came to the area identified the man as Abubakar, who had just been transferred from Nasarawa state.

Confirming the death, Benue State Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), DSP Daniel Ezeala said the deceased was sick and had been at the hospital where he

slumped and died, adding that investigation into his death has already commenced. ”He slumped and died, he was not attacked. Experts have already started investigation to ascertain the cause of his death”, Ezeala said.

of the Federal Polytechnic, saying Flying Dove Consults comes at a time that the Federal Government has introduced entrepreneurship courses in all tertiary institutions in the country as a policy for technology development.

According to him, the institution is interested in some of the programmes run by the consultants which according to him will greatly assist the

polytechnic in achieving its objectives.

Dr. Shuaibu assured the consultant of the polytechnic’s readiness to implement the programme proffered with a view to assisting the students to be selfemployed after graduation.

Speaking earlier, the Director, Flying Dove Consultants, Alhaja Oriyomi Shekirat, said the working class and those preparing to leave

service as well as those that have left service can also be trained on self sustenance.

Also speaking the Director, Academic Planning of the polytechnic, Engr. Samuel Sule, said this development is a welcome one as it has added to the number of partnerships which the institution has gone into with other training centers both at home and abroad.

Bauchi Poly partners consultants on entrepreneurship development From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Federal Polytechnic Bauchi has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU with Flying Dove Consultants for entrepreneurship development.

The Rector of the polytechnic, Dr. Shuaibu Musa, disclose this yesterday in Bauchi during the signing of the MOU in the chamber

Ophthalmologist cautions against use of traditional therapy for eye cataract

n ophthalmologist, Dr. Kayode Oladehinde, yesterday cautioned against the use of traditional therapy to cure eye cataract.

Oladehinde of the State Hospital, Ijaiye, Abeokuta, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that traditional treatment of cataract might worsen the condition of the eye.

He said that the crude method employed by some people to treat the condition might cause permanent damage, describing it as unprofessional.

According to him, the traditional therapy is called “couching” in which the so-called surgeon uses blade-like object to scrape the surface of the lens in a bid to make it transparent.

Photo: NAN

“While the normal surgery tries to remove the bad lens, couching pushes the bad lens into the eyes, which further worsens the situation.

“During couching, rupture and inflammation may occur which could result in total blindness.

“I advise people to always seek professional hands in the treatment of their eyes; it only takes 30 minutes”.

Oladehinde said that cataract resulted from blocking of vision when the lens of the eye became less transparent to light.

He listed the causes of cataract to include old age, the most common cause, diabetes, use of drugs such as l=steroids, congenital and hereditary causes. (NAN)

I am not under obligation to sack my commissioner – Suswam From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi overnor Gabriel Suswam of Benue state has stated emphatically that he is not under any obligation to abide by the resolution of the State House of Assembly directing him to sack the Commissioner for Information Mr. Conrad Wergba.

The governor who said this while speaking to newsmen yesterday, maintained that there is no proper correspondence before him from the House on the issue, adding that once he receives such the matter would be resolved through dialogue with the members.

G

“I have the right to hire and fire a commissioner according to law and the House resolution that I should remove a member of the state executive council was not binding on him. I will resolve the misunderstanding between the Information and Orientation Commissioner and the State House of Assembly”, Suswam assured.

It could be recalled that the Assembly had last week given the governor seven days to sack Mr. Wergba as commissioner for Information and Orientation following his adamant refusal to resign within one week in disregard to their resolution that he should do because of uncomplimentary remarks he

made on the House.

The House had summoned the Finance Commissioner, Mr. Omadachi Oklobia, to appear before it and give account of the finances of the state following delays in the payment of salaries of civil servants including members of the House for several months.

But Mr. Wergba in a bid to debunk the allegation, had described the action of the House as ‘arm twisting the executive for pecuniary motives’.

Consequently, he was summoned before the House where he apologized for his comments but the Assembly resolved that he must resign within seven days.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2012

MTN Trade Marketing Manager, North-East, Alhaji Yakubu Baba (left), presenting security patrol vehicles to Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda (middle), on behalf of MTN foundation, yesterday in Bauchi. With them is the state head of service, Mr. Abdon gin (right).

Photo: NAN

L-R: Former Justice of the Supreme Court, Justice Bola Babalakin, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, President, Ogunsheye Foundation, Professor Adetowun Ogunsheye, and former chairman of the defunct Peoples Bank, Professor Akin Mabogunje, during a book launch on late Ayo Ogunsheye, yesterday in Ibadan.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Minister of Works, Mr Mike Onolememen, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku, and Minister of State for FCT, Chief Jumoke Akinjide, briefing House journalists on the development in the Federal Capital Territory, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Chairman, re-constituted Presidential Task Force Committee on Power, Mr. Briggs Dagogo Jack (right), answering questions from journalists after his meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

L-R: Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Ohii, Director, Gain Geneva, Dr Tina Vanden Briel, Country Manger, Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN), Mr. Larry Umunna, and Chief Executive Officer, Bioanalyt, Germany, Inventor of I-Check, Prof. Florian Schweigert, during the presentation of the monitoring of fortified foods for Training of NAFDAC staff, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Mark mourns ex-CBN boss

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

P

L-R: Head of Health and Child Survivor, Save the Children, Dr. Brinyam Gobru, Executive Director, Chief Executive Officer, National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Ado Muhammad, Country Director, Helen Keller International, Dr. Ima Chima, and representative of Director-General, National Population Commission (NPC), Mrs. Ifeoma Nweke, during the national review meeting of the implementation of 20012 MNCHW and Planning, yesterday in Abuja.

PHOTO: MAHMUD ISA

resident of the Senate, David Mark, has described the death of former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Chief Olabode Vincent, as a huge loss to the nation.

Mark lamented that the late Vincent died at a time his wealth of experience was needed by the nation to navigate through the socio-political and economic challenges.

In a condolence message to the government and people of Lagos state, Mark noted that the former CBN helmsman between 1977 and 1982, was a quintessential economist, banker and industrialist with very high moral standing and integrity.

He remarked that Vincent was among the pioneer economists and foremost bankers who laid the foundation for today's Nigeria apex bank.

According to Mark, “Ola Vincent was a patriotic Nigerian, a philanthropist, a very diligent and meticulous banker who stood to be counted when it mattered.

“We shall miss his humility; we shall miss his sense of humour. We shall miss his knowledge, intelligence and wise counsel. We shall miss his kind gesture”.

National Eye Centre workers State police begin indefinite strike necessary for From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

W

orkers at the National Eye Centre, Kaduna, began an indefinite strike action Tuesday, paralysing activities at the hospital.

The workers are aggrieved over the non-implementation of the CONTISS/CONHESS10, by management of the hospital.

Chairman of the Senior Staff Association of the hospital, Aliyu Olorunfemi, told reporters that the non-implementation of the salary

structure was a breach of an earlier agreement reached between the workers and the hospital management.

According to him, the agreement was based on a meeting held on July 16, 2012 at the instance of the Minister of Labour and Productivity with representatives of the offices of the Head of Service of the Federation, Secretary to the Government, National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission, Ministry of Health, and five trade unions,

comprising of the Joint Health Sector Unions (JOHESU).

Olorunfemi said that, “we have no plans to call off the strike action until we receive a directive from the national umbrella body to do so.”

However, contrary to the position of the workers, the Chief Medical Director, Dr. Godwin Adejor, said that the nonimplementation of the salary regime was based on a circular he received from the Ministry of Health.

As he put it, “the circular I received from the Ministry of Health was dated the 29thAugust, 2012 and was copied to my mail on the 31st August, 2012 asking that the non skipping of the CONTISS 10 should be implemented pending the Judgment of the National Industrial Court (NIC) which is sitting on the matter.

“The circular also added that any institution who fails to comply with the order will be made to face sanction and the CMDs of such institution be held responsible”.

Court strikes out Railway suit against Oyo From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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n Oyo state High Court No.14 in Ibadan, presided over by Justice O.I.Aiki. has struck out the suit filed by the Railway Property Management Company Limited against the Oyo State Government, for want of

diligent prosecution.

The claimant, Railway Property, had dragged the Oyo state government before the court to challenge government's revocation of all lands hitherto vested in the Nigerian Railway Corporation (except those being used for rail track and railway staff

quarters) for overriding public interest.

The judge struck out the case on the ground of "indolent prosecution" during the court's vacation.

Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government through the State Attorney General, Mr. Bayo Ojo, has issued a final notice to all persons

"be it natural, corporate or incorporate whose root of titles are derived from the Nigerian Railway Corporation and Railway Property Management Company Limited" in view of the revocation and urged anyone whose title was voided to contact the Ministry of Land, Housing and Surveys of Oyo State.

Nigeria, says constitutional lawyer From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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Lagos based constitutional lawyer, Barrister Yemi Opemuti, yesterday said if the states own the police distinct from the federal authority, it will ensure the security of lives and properties.

He argued that, with the insecurity problem seemingly overwhelming the country’s security apparatus, the evolution of state police alongside the federal authority, would adequately guarantee the safety of Nigerians.

The constitutional lawyer said that security challenges would continue to stare the country in the face, unless the states take security measures.

Court orders police to reinstate Tokyo as Oyo NURTW chairman From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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Federal High Court sitting in Ibadan, the Oyo state capital, has ordered the state police command to reinstate Alhaji Lateef Akinsola (aka Tokyo), as the chairman of the union in compliance with the judgement of the court.

The court in a letter dated September 3, 2012 and signed by

A.A. Tahir, Deputy Chief Registrar of the court, urged the police to implement the court judgement delivered by Justice Johnson Shakarho on May 25, 2012.

The letter which was addressed to the state Commissioner of Police and copied the Assistant Inspector General of Police (AIG) Zone 11, titled, “Application for Police Assistance in respect of the execution of court order in suit

number FHC/IB/CS/30/2012”, stated: “ kindly avail the bailiff of this Honourable Court with the police assistant in executing the court judgement delivered by this Honourable Court on 25th May 2012.”

It would be recalled that Justice Shakarho in a judgement delivered on May 25, 2012, declared that the proscription of the National Union Road Transport

Workers in Oyo state was a violation of Tokyo’s fundamental human rights as enshrined in section 33, 40, and 42 of the 1999 constitution and article 3, 4, 5, 10 and 22 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights.”

The judge then declared his removal as the chairman of the union, “as ultra vires, unconstitutional, null and void, as NURTW is a trade Union Registered

under the trade Union Act cap t14 LFN 2004.”

When Peoples Daily contacted the caretaker chairman of the Union, Alhaji Taofeek Oyerinde (aka Fele), he said such letter was irrelevant.

According to him, NURTW has resolved to move on, as “such letter cannot deter us from restoring peace among the union members in the Oyo state”.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

MONEY SENSE

PAGE 11

How to save thousands on hospital bills W

hile the value of a house is based on an assessment, and the cost for an antique is determined by an appraisal, a full explanation of medical costs is hard to come by.

After we asked 18 health-industry sources, we learned that no one seems to know the whole story. But one point was clear: Paying attention to the billing process may save you money.

Here, four eye-opening facts about medical bills-and how to use that knowledge to save money on your health care.

1. Hospital prices are shockingly complex.

Considering that industry analysts claim that hospital price calculations are arbitrary, we asked hospitals nationwide a simple question: How do you calculate your sticker prices? For an outpatient MRI, as an example, some hospitals calculate their charges based on such factors as the cost of buying or leasing the machinery, the wear and tear on that machine, staff salaries, the climate control and electric bill, cleaning costs, local competitive pricing, and other costs related to the hospital's overhead, like malpractice insurance.

Surprisingly, medical services can vary wildly from one hospital to the next.

Some hospitals also have facility charges, covering room and board, certain room-use fees (such as the operating room), and nursing services, all of which get consolidated into the bill sent to you and your insurance company. As technology advances, those charges rise.

To save money: Shop around.

Compare prices in advance.

“When you schedule your procedure, say ‘This is my insurance. How much will this cost me?’” advises Healthcare Blue Book's Jeffrey Rice. "If the hospital can't tell you, that's a warning sign they might not be a good deal; once you make two or three calls, you can usually find a good-value facility." Research your own resources.

2. Coding is so tricky, even doctors don't get it.

Unlike the corner gas pump, CT scan machines and syringes don't have visible price tags, making it hard for patients and doctors alike to know their cost. “Most physicians are in the dark about costs," Dr. Epperly says. "I did a procedure this morning to put a scope into a patient's stomach, and I don't know how much she'll get charged-I'm focused on what to do as a physician to help people. I just filled out the form and put down what we did; my coder is the person

who will translate that into money.”

In a nutshell: Medical billing runs on three sets of universal codes: one for diagnoses (ICD-9), one for procedures (CPT), and one for durable medical goods and certain services (HCPCS). It's the job of the coder-who can be one of many coders in a hospital billing department or an office manager doubling as a coder in a neighborhood practice-to translate every single illness, treatment, and pair of crutches into a number.

Those codes are critically important because they help dictate the rest of the payment stream that follows.

The system is only getting more complicated.

To save money: Ask up front.

Coding is typically too technical for a layperson to grasp: It would be like going to a grocery store and seeing aisles of bar codes without

the products they're attached to, says Richard Gundling, vice president of health-care financial practices for the Healthcare Financial Management Association. But it's useful to learn the codes for your care.

3. Supplies and appointments are hard to track.

4. Not every doctor is in your network.

Even with regular audits and billing software to ensure accuracy, hospital bills are subject to honest human error. One common problem: getting charged for something that didn't happen. Say you're in the hospital for surgery, and a CT scan scheduled for Tuesday morning got canceled because your condition changed. "Eight out of ten times, that charge is still going to show up on that bill because it was put into the system and not taken out," says Palmer.

Other errors include double billing or charging for items you didn't use.

To save money: Maintain a patient log. Avoid mistaken charges by noting what happens during your hospital stay. Granted, when you're laid up, you're not thinking about billing. But to the extent possible, you or a family member could keep a notepad by your bed and record the tests and medications you receive-and any that are canceled-along with the dates.

Contest the charge. If you get an outrageous out-of-network bill, negotiate with your insurance company for better coverage, says Jennifer Jaff, executive director of Advocacy for Patients with Chronic Illness. You can also ask your insurance company to cover an out-of-network physician at your in-network rate, a strategy that Palmer has used successfully.

13+ things your car dealer won't tell you (II) 11. Attractive people sell more cars.

I've seen some incredible deals go down because the only thing the customer was paying attention to was the salesman paying attention to her.

12. When you bring in your friend or your father to negotiate for you, we call him "the quarterback."

Just know that he's often as clueless about the process as you are.

13. If you want to test drive a bunch of models or need a lot

Quote The penalty of success is to be bored by the people who used to snub you - Lady Nancy Astor

of information, Don't pull in on a weekend without an appointment. Come by on a Tuesday or Wednesday.

14. Despite the stories you've heard about sleazy car dealers.

Plenty of us are honest folks frustrated by the guys who give the rest of us a bad name.

15. Once you've agreed on a price, you think you're done but we're just getting started.

Worn out and ready to go home, you sign document after document. Then you wake up the next day, look down, and you signed a contract that had a N1,995 extended warranty that isn't worth the paper it's written on. And you're stuck.

16. Forget the overall cost of the car. Let's talk about what you want to pay each month.

Then I can build in profit generators such as extended warranties and credit insurance, and you won't even notice.

17. Think you'll get a good deal by coming in at closing time when I'm anxious to get home?

Think again.

18. I'll promise you just about anything to get you to sign on the dotted line.

But if I don't put it in writing, I may not remember the next day.

19. You shouldn't leave the dealership not knowing how to turn on the windshield wipers.

Make us show you everything before you drive away.

20. You accuse us of being the biggest liars in the world, but we like to say "buyers are liars."

You tell us you're looking for a car for a friend, that you've got to

run to get to daycare, that you've got perfect credit. Right.

21. Don't expect retail for your trade-in and wholesale for our car.

We have to recondition your trade, advertise it, warranty it and pay interest on the amount we have in the car, then sell it for less than we want after it sits on the lot for months.

22. Please do the math.

If you want a bargain, try to wait until the end of model year, usually in September or October, when we need to move cars off the lot.

23. Sure, I'd be happy to tint your windows, apply rustproofing, or paint a pinstripe on your truck.

But I'll probably charge you two or three times the cost of doing it elsewhere.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

The footdragging on lead poisoning and illegal mining in Zamfara

T

wo years after more than 400 people, most of them children, died in Zamfara state from lead poisoning as a result of unsafe mining and ore processing, the deaths have continued but the authorities are still footdragging on the appropriate course of action to take and who to take it.

The lead poisoning was first reported in Anka and Bukuyyum local government areas of the state in March 2010 when a high number of child deaths was discovered in the course of the annual immunization programme in the state. It was thought that all the children had contracted malaria but an investigation showed that they had been digging for gold at the time in an area where lead is prevalent and confirmed by the Genevabased NGO Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) which found unusually high levels of lead in their blood during tests. At the time, MSF’s leader in Nigeria, Ivan Gayton, referred to the incident as "one of the worst, if not the worst, lead-poisoning crises ever." And the President of the Blacksmith Institute, a non-profit organization that works to clean up polluted sites around the world, Richard Fuller, described it as “an emergency situation. We are racing against the clock to remove toxic lead from the houses now before the rains come in July and spread the pollutant".

Last week, the Emir of Gusau, Alhaji Mohammed Kabiru Danbaba, raised an alarm over the resurgence of the scourge in four villages following the death of two children from lead poisoning in Gusau, the state capital, and neighbouring areas. In a broadcast on state radio, the emir

confirmed that “lead poisoning has affected many persons in four areas of my emirate.

Medical officials have certified that it was lead poisoning. Many villagers are now having diarrhoea and are vomiting blood because of the poisoning.

"We have also received reports from Magami ward that some children have been affected by a disease which doctors confirmed to be lead poisoning.”

But in a typical passion of denial, the state

“

But for the intervention of international agencies, the body count in the Zamfara illegal mining incident could have probably been in the thousands and still counting Commissioner of Information, Alhaji Ibrahim Birnin Magaji denied the fresh outbreak of lead poisoning as claimed by the emir. He categorically stated that "It is not true that there was an outbreak of lead poisoning because the medical team drafted to the villages said to be affected told us that there was nothing like that.”

At the onset of the crisis, the federal government requested for the assistance of international agencies, including the World Health Organization (WHO), the U.S.

OUR MISSION “To be the market place of ideas and the leading player in the industry by putting the people first, upholding the truth, maintaining the highest professional and ethical standards while delivering value to our stakeholders”

Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the New Yorkbased Blacksmith Institute and, in November 2011, “committed” US $5.4 million to help the poisoned children. But according to MSF, the fund has yet to be released more than one year after the promise.

The allegation was early in the week confirmed by the opposition All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP) in a press statement in which it accused the federal government of failing to redeem the “the half-hearted N800 million funding proposal to assist the cleanup effort in Zamfara state.

It is unfortunate that, although Zamfara is believed to be rich in such minerals as gold, copper, iron ore and manganese, neither the state nor the federal government has deemed it fit to take any concrete step to formally exploit these or any of the minerals for the common good. Even more unfortunate is the fact that despite the huge risk illegal mining and ore processing pose to the citizenry, it has to consume hundreds of lives before the state government could take the half measure of banning the processing of gold ore in any part of the state, with a warning to “prosecute anybody found violating the directive”.

It is indeed such a tragedy and a sad commentary on government’s concern for the wellbeing of Nigerians and the culpability of Nigerian officials that, but for the intervention of international agencies, the body count in the Zamfara illegal mining incident could have probably been in the thousands and still counting.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

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MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 13

Today’s fears and certainties about 2015

By Anthony A. Kila

F

or many people these are clearly uncertain times, it is the same everywhere you look in the world. In Nigeria, however, uncertainty is the norm, it is neither a temporary nor a new phenomenon.

Generally, most people living in Nigeria and those dealing with Nigeria are never certain of what to expect; they are rarely sure of what might pop up tomorrow. A new law or directive might be announced, that same law might almost immediately be in turn amended. Your flight may be delayed or the road blocked without any previous announcement or warning.

Ordinary people live by the day and just hope for the best or at least a better tomorrow.

Yet in the middle of all these uncertainties, Nigerian politicians, and public office holders in general, are in a world of their own. They, of course, have more information and even more power to influence things; sadly though, they do not use such information and power to stabilize the polity. Rather they tend to be the cause of most of the uncertainties and instability their people are forced to cope with. These politicians and public office holders make laws and issue

By Ola Onikoyi, Jr

L

ike the proverbial man who ‘defecated on the pulpit during the pastor’s sermon’ in the presence of all congregation, Reuben Abati has once again desecrated the public space with his brazen and unabashed war of political words. The Baba Legba with no shame has dared the growing population of Nigerian children of democracy with his unrepentant stones of no remorse.

As in the proverbial Yoruba saying, Abati has, because of ede, spoilt his own ede. This roughly translates as because of porridge he has sold his constituency. How dare he refer to comrades and writers and collective public thinkers as children of anger? How dare Abati refer to our gege wura (pen of gold) as gege alaseju?

Through his brazen face, Abati shall live to see that the voice of the people is the voice of God and that the voice of Reuben is the voice of shame and of self-absorption.

Reuben must live on to see that although persistence may not be financially rewarding but brings self respect, honour and dignity.

Persistence, which Reuben Abati lacks in its severity, is not about self righteousness but continuous commitment to the task at hand.

As Napoleon Hill once says, “there may be no heroic connotation to the word persistence but the quality is to the character of man what carbon is to steel”.

Reuben oni je kuje, tells us that he has travelled with the president for the past 14 months. He knows that the president is an intelligent man, a man of honesty and one with many clues. Reuben has told us that nobody is more committed to the

directives and then reverse or modify them; roads are blocked because of them and rules bent to please them.

As usual, the people are in the dark and are hoping. They are hoping that the sitting president fulfills his promise to transform the country; in the meantime time, most people are frustrated and disappointed at the pace and mode of governance. More precisely, Nigerians are unhappy that to date there is little or nothing they can point to as the achievement of this administration. One cannot blame them. President Goodluck Jonathan has been at the helm of the affairs of the country for more than two and half years - I am counting from his term as acting president and then as president.

Contrary to the nonsense pro Jonathan are trying to make us believe, two and half years is quite a long time in politics by any measure.

Even in Nigeria, there are examples and lessons to be learnt from our recent history. A comparative analysis of what the then Governor Lateef Jakande and his commissioners did in one year in Lagos State and what President Jonathan and his ministers have done in two and half years will be quite revealing about how long two and half years can be in politics. More

precisely, Nigerians are unhappy because the few times they have felt the presence of this government it is to learn about the announcement of measures that cause them pain and embarrassment. One cannot blame them. They ended 2011 with questionable nominations and appointments and started the new year with the removal of oil subsidy, topped it with increase in electricity tariff, and along the way, they are treated to news and rumours of corruption and violence.

In the meantime, Mr. President is reported to have promised to surprise all by 2013 when the contents of his programme start to unfold. At least we now know that even Dr. Jonathan knows that all is not well in the country, to put it mildly. For our sakes we wish him

well.

If nothing dramatic like a coup d’état, sudden death or a civil war happens, 2015 will be the year of reckoning for all those in power. That is when they will get a clear and resolute verdict of their stewardship from the people they have governed for four years. There are only two possible verdicts, but objectively, we don’t know what that verdict will be. Everything is possible.

The President might still perform and in that case, he and his party will deserve another term; the president may fail and in that case he, his party and all those that work with him will have to make way for others.

For the people to reach a meaningful verdict, however, they need some certainties that can come only from the opposition and with the help of the press. And

“

In the meantime, Mr. President is reported to have promised to surprise all by 2013 when the contents of his programme start to unfold.

At least we now know that even Dr. Jonathan knows that all is not well in the country, to put it mildly. For our sakes we wish him well

Abati’s faux pas Nigerian Project than President Jonathan. Abati wants us to know that President Jonathan is a clever, methodical and intelligent man who understands the complexity of Nigeria”. Really?

All this baseless claims and assertions makes Abati no better than Jonathan in any slightest way (Awon alakori meji – Aves of the same plumage). May be we should ask Abati where Jonathan’s many clues has led Nigeria. We should ask Abati what his boss’s competent character has added to Nigeria since his ascension as President. Abati in many of his previous write ups has written about Jonathan’s faux passes and incompetence, therefore the acclaimed clues and transformation of Jonathan must have come within the last 14 months.

There hardly passes a day in Nigeria without the dreaded boko haram throwing bombs and pellets at innocent citizens killing people in their multitudes, yet Jonathan has Nigeria at heart. A day hardly passes without multitudes of people dying through our dilapidated hospitals, roads, bridges and schools yet Jonathan has many clues.

Hardly there passes a day when people do not die of diseases, hunger, robbery and generator fumes, yet Abati claims that Jonathan is working.

There is hardly a day passes without innocent children and foreigners being kidnapped and yet Jonathan is a man with intelligence! Over the past two years, Nigeria’s corruption

perception index has worsened.

Inflation rate is now standing at 12.8% and has continued to fluctuate so unevenly.

Just last week, the CBN admitted that the naira has lost its value. When asked, the CBN would say that while the value of the naira may be determined by monetary policies, such policies are greatly influenced and cannot be isolated from the macroeconomic and political environments. Therefore, it is all down to political decisions and what politicians do.

The recently concluded summer Olympic Games were yet another evidence that Abati’s boss has gone to sleep. Not only did Nigeria fail to win one medal, Nigeria indeed failed woefully in the preparations to the Olympics yet one yeye president claims he is working in the people’s interest.

The oil subsidy saga of January this year also attests to one of the President’s misinformed knowledge about governance and leadership. Claiming any progress for President Jonathan is ridiculous and a very false claim that must be crushed in its entirety without mercy. Abati claims that the President is doing everything possible to bring electricity to the country and that is why we have crossed 4,400 MW. Making such statement as the one above makes Abati sound like one of our desperate politicians who have no shame and those who travel 1500 kilometres to open 2 kilometre roads with fanfare and carnival.

Boasting about any success with

4,400 MW is a shameful act. It simply shows that Abati like his sleeping boss knows nothing about governance and the type and level of commitment needed to transform the Nigerian state from its sinking position. Boasting of 4,400 MW in a country of 150 million people is like boasting of 1 borehole in the city of 5 million people. It is ludicrous.

Abati claims that his boss is doing everything possible to transform the state of Agriculture by distributing fertilizers to farmers and that sounds like another political sweet- talk The problem of Nigerian agriculture is beyond fertilizer and baseless political words. We have written and have talked several times that Nigerian agriculture is seriously threatened by deagriculturalisation whereby, for many reasons, it is becoming impossible for thousands to farm again and farmers are simply finding their way to urban centres as okada riders and obioma as well as bus conductors. Intelligent Nigerian researchers and writers have spoken that the problem of Nigerian Agriculture is not solely about fertilizer distribution or seed dissemination; it is also about issues with land allocation, water management, storage, processing, marketing and transportation.

Perhaps, Abati should have talked about his boss’s sustained progress over the past years with regard to those specific problems.

Baba legba also claims that the president eats modestly and is a not

therein lies the rub; for whilst it is clear that the government of the day is considered by most to be underperforming, the opposition does not seem to be promising any certainty of a better future either.

What we know about 2015 today is that the opposition feels that this President should not be allowed to return to power. Whilst we know why commentators and analysts are not happy with the government, all we know about the opposition is that they want power in 2015. To this end, those outside the PDP are talking about alliance and those inside it are talking of forming a new party.

Let us be clear: These are all legitimate tactics, but these politicians can and must do a lot more than just manoeuvres if they really want to contribute to the progress of the country. They need to provide some certainty to the people of Nigeria; we need clear and measurable commitments.

They can and need to start by telling us in clear terms what they do not like about the current system and what they will do differently. Let them come out and tell us where they stand on federalism, on state police, on the role of the CBN, implementation of budgets etc.

Anthony A. Kila is a professor of strategy and development. a glutton yet has no explanation for his boss’s irresponsible budget on presidential feeding. If indeed, the President only eats boiled plantain and fasts during lent and Ramadan seasons as Abati claims, then something must be wrong with the President for allocating such a gargantuan amount on feeding.

Abati has chosen not to explain but to brag that the president only eats cassava bread and boiled plantain.

Cassava bread indeed!

Abati also claims that that the President is a man of simplicity and an epitome of loyalty but Abati always gets it wrong. He should get it in his skull that most sensible Nigerians do not flipping care about simplicity and loyalty? Effective leadership is about committing himself absolutely to the task at hand even if the character needed to succeed is to be far from being simple? President Jonathan whose simplicity one admires and would admire were he to be the head of Bayelsa zoo is far from being anything close to effective or convincing.

Ebele Jonathan is characterized by too many flaws which do not pass him for the president of the world’s smallest island country, not to talk of a complex country like Nigeria.

Mr. Cassava bread is too meek and simple to create and stimulate the change that we desperately need to move the ship of our sinking nation forward. Where the president of the day should be flying because of too many backlog of work, he, Jonathan is simply crawling. Where the president of the day should be found shouting and jumping, our current president is mimicking and not doing anything at all.

Ola Onikoyi, Jr. Is reachable on olaonikoyijr@yahoo.com

PAGE 14

By Debo Adejugbe

T

he clear danger to government’s business is that we have a lot of expired and redundant advisers repeating same rubbish clichés and too many mistaken intelligent persons in government unmasking their idiocy, lending relevance to cassava-induced conclusions. Hold on. I don’t want to be misunderstood. I am not saying nobody should work with the Nigerian President. I spent some time learning that street maxim: “a doctorate does not equate to wisdom”. Public position comes with its own share of amnesia and thoughtlessness . But the turncoats, senile old men, attention grabbing crowd in the presidency must be guided by facts.

Hold your stone. Don’t haul it yet. Wait, Dr. Olodo! They have spent the last fourteen months working with President Jonathan.

They followed him everywhere of note and can obviously write a whole book on his Presidency so far, but you won’t get to read that until much later because there is still an abundance of wealth they want to amass.

What they can report, for now, is that the President is grossly misrepresented by his aides. Too many of them are untruthful and economic with facts about him.

People criticize him out of ignorance because if they know the truth, they will stone his convoy at every opportunity.

They abuse him out of mischief when they should have never voted for him. And the opposition doesn’t make things easy at all – they clearly, are not offering a better alternative.

Can we look at a number of issues?

They say he is not a clueless President. You are wrong. He is clueless. Nobody is more deluded

By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

N

igerians love sports. All kinds of sports– soccer, track and field, basketball.

You name it, they love it. Nigerians are also good at playing sports.

There is no greater proof of this than the number of Nigerians playing each sport at the international professional leagues. I do not mean Diaspora born Nigerians, but the home grown kind. Christian Okoye, Olajuwon etc of the 80’s and 90’s were all born and bred in Nigeria before finding fortune in football (American variety) and basketball (American invention).

Neither of these men learned the rudiments of his sport seriously in Nigeria but each had developed the proper athletic attitude and determination in Nigeria before venturing abroad.

With the above as background I can state unequivocally that sports talent abounds in Nigeria. I can also state with equal confidence that the coaching talents abound in Nigeria.

These points are important to make because we are or should be preparing for 2016/2020 Olympics and 2014/2018 World soccer games. The time to start preparing is now although 2014 World soccer may be too late already.

There are three components to sports’ success: talent, coaching and

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Abati: Hold your stone, don’t haul it yet about the Nigerian Project than painting him as an Ijaw President told to fix the East- West road and President Jonathan. President (even if not consciously), the fact get it done quickly – that should Jonathan is doing his utmost best on ground and the President’s body sound irritating to even Abati.

Abati exquisitely painted what to blame everyone but himself on language has not dispelled these his failure to transform Nigeria. notions. Jonathan has made nightmares meant to him, but Ordinary Nigerians know and are Tompolo, Asari, Clark and the likes what he failed to point out about tired of this. Those parading his unofficial spokespersons to the situation is: No one in Aso Rock deemed it fit to themselves as disclaim advisers claiming Tompolo, that the President Asari and his has the support of wife, Edwin N i g e r i a n s Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text Clark……or represent only messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written whoever sees themselves and contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 it necessary to their befuddled words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and attack the minds.

President’s President a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed adversaries.

Jonathan is to: They come overwhelmed, gun blazing lacking in ideas and The Editor, when the surrounded by Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, “twittering neophytes, He has 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. addicts” and successfully made Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com “Children of himself a butt of SMS: 07037756364 anger” decide jokes, leaving to stick the people to secondguess his motives. He understands underline his ethnic sentiments. He boot in.

For him to actually list out few the complexity of prosecuting sees himself as weak without corruption cases in Nigeria and he persons of shady character in his positions, with corresponding is milking it to commit a full frontal employ. He is focused on looting our states of origin, bandying it like corruption-assault on our treasury. treasury blind. He wants to some sort of achievement says He is the bane of the common transform Nigeria into a Cassava more about the state of his mind than the President’s – even by his person, particularly the children of republic. all blue collar workers who never He knows Nigerians want calculation, the reason he wrote wore shoes or got a chance to eat regular power supply. Rather than them out was defeated.

Mr. President gets to the office three-square meals, and whose consolidating on the improvement mothers and aunties could never seen in some areas, 4, 400 MW has very early and leaves very late. I be part of policy-making processes been turned into a song with think we should all clap for the – He is making sure people see them several remixed versions coming president; he is doing what the as mentally ill equipped and out every passing day. If a country average Nigerian does with his ideologically weak for any position of 150 Million people sees this as an life, but without the attendant of value. unparalleled achievement when luxury obtainable in Aso Rock.

When he spoke about not 100,000 MW is required to make What Abati didn’t tell us is whether wearing shoes as a child, he meant Nigeria an industrialized nation, the President spends all that time every word of it literally just like then we should tell the apologists to playing solitaire – we definitely want to know why he wastes his MKO did in ’93, and he had to shed shut up! tears to drive home his point. But I He knows Nigerians want precious time doing nothing in the have heard some persons infrastructure. But all we get is a office. Dr. Jonathan is on metaphorically attributing it to threat to a contractor to fix the Facebook, Twitter, email, SMS, Nigerians’ simplistic view. carnage called Lagos-Ibadan BB, and he reads. And he writes.

Attention needs to be drawn to the expressway, two years into his There are countless trolls on fact that his henchmen are presidency. A minister has been Facebook, Twitter, Email, SMS, BB

– they all read and write, so what is Abati’s point?

Appointment of women now counts as an achievement?

Sacking them must make him a devil, judging by Diezani’s case. Mr President is definitely not clueless in that area. Abati went on to dawdle out a list of women in the employment of Mr President. He obviously doesn’t get it, we want performers and not a list to remind us they are women. Who cares?!

They say Mr. President doesn’t drink. He does and we know it.

You’ve only worked with him for 14 months, so you definitely don’t know him like the people he grew up with. Stop feeding us lies.

They heard that the President spends billions on feeding. It’s a shame that they failed to break down the President’s feeding budget in an attempt to dispel the lies of the “Children of Anger”; facts failed them and they had to grapple at straws to make their point that Mr President is not a glutton. Well, we know that whoever budgets Three million naira a day for eating Fish pepper soup, cassava bread, slices of yam, rice, boiled plantain, fruits and vegetables….and claims to eat a little, is not only a glutton but a thief and first class “wobiliki Wobiya”.

Here is a man who is an epitome of cluelessness mistaking it for simplicity. The thing about the President’s advisers and handlers is that they just cannot challenge their benefactor to sit up. This is the Abati Complex. Abati finds it hard to tear into his benefactor because he is now in the inner circle. looting, drinking and eating cassava bread. And just like Abati threw the words at Jonathan out of.

Debo Adejugbe is on i’m@deboadejugbe

administration. I have posited that talents abound and gave as example the number of Nigerian players abroad. Now to the proof that coaching talents exist let us explore what we know. Highly paid coaches in the international sports world are more like finishing teachers and schools. The heavy lifting was done in the primary schools, secondary schools, and colleges. It was in these places that athletes were discovered; given the fundamentals of competition; and sent out to the finishing schools.

Harvard University brags about the brilliance of her graduates, but if you really want to know the secret one must go to the history of the students they recruit. Most often these students were stand outs in both primary and secondary schools where they learned to study hard for long periods. So it is with Nigerian athletes. The coaches who developed them in primary schools and in secondary schools are the real geniuses not the Real Madrid coach.

And this is where the Nigerian preparation for the 2014 – 2020 international sports competitions should start. And start now. If history is any guide I speculate that sometime in 2014, say around March, Nigeria

coaching courses abroad when not available locally, attendance to international conferences to join in establishing the rules. Referees should also be afforded such opportunities.

All these items could be classified under sports administration. It is in this area that talents are lacking.

Management is a learned skill and Nigerians can be trained to acquire this skill.

So what have I just said?

Nigeria has a gold mine of athletic talents. Nigeria has a truck load of good coaches. Nigerians love sports. Nigeria should therefore recruit and train these athletes and coaches and charge them with being competitive in the 20142020 Olympics and World Cup soccer matches. The time to start is now and should involve cooperation between the government, the private sector and the ordinary Nigerian people.

The people to do all these abound in Nigeria now.

It will be stupid to wait for the last six months before the competition to roam the world in search of miracle workers.

They do not exist.

But if we insist, one con man or woman would come around and take our money.

Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba wrote in from Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

WRITE TO US

Let us still talk sports would be looking for a miracle worker from Europe to take over a rag tag sports team and expect the miracle worker to turn the team into a world class team. It has not worked and will never work.

Nigeria should in the next couple of months before this year ends settle on Nigeria based coaches for both the Olympics and World Cup Soccer games. The Country will give the coaches wide mandates to recruit, train and motivate the players and bring them to world class standards.

The country would make clear what the goals are and how those goals will be measured and compensated if achieved.

The country would then move to the owner’s box and hands off the recruitment, training, and motivation to the hired coaches with the message “call us if you need help.” There would be no tying of the coaches hands with such ropes as national character standards; or contributions to the political parties; or invitation to join clubs. Unless the coach calls for help Nigeria would assume the coaches are OK until the first review period is reached.

When I say Nigeria I do not mean the Jonathan Administration. That body should care less if any team is

fielded or not; if the fielded team won or lost; if the entire teams’ last names are Aduba from Oji River in Enugu state and none from Ekiti or from Sokoto. This government would not even care if stadia are built beyond the promise to lease land to whoever wants to build one at the fair market value for such land.

The government’s other promise would be limited to providing infrastructure (roads, water, power, etc to and around the stadia). Let the local communities via the LG deal with these issues.

Let the wealthy men and women, who have capital form clubs; Let the wealthy ones form corporations to build the stadia and lease them to the clubs. The only involvement of the governments would be in establishing sports commissions whose sole purpose would be the regulation of activities.

There is money to be made in sports in Nigeria, let the government allow individuals to make the money.

With the coaches hired and given broad mandates, government would create a suitable environment for athletes and coaches to reach the objectives established such as advanced

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

By Yangeh Dueh-Richardson

“

T

he Apex Bank shall introduce 5,000 Naira note to the Nigerian polity from the beginning of 2013.” That is not from me, it is from Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, the GovernorGeneral, sorry the Governor of Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). In addition to what is already a life threatening blow to the Nigerian economy, “the N5, N10, and N20 shall thenceforth be converted to coins”. When I heard this, I could only say somebody must be demented.

It is either the CBN Governor or whoever it is that allowed such a piggy thought to enter their brain, and for opening their lips to spill out this vomit in the name of policy formation for the economy.

Or may be it is the presidency that has consistently and continuously shown how incapable it is in steering the country that is demented. Otherwise, why would the president give the CBN Governor the go ahead to pursue this stupid, idiotic and nonsense idea of N5000 note.

May be it is me that is demented and that is why I am seeing fault lines in this N5000 note as well as the N5, N10 and the N20 coin issue.

In other to justify this line of thought, the CBN governor is quoted to have advanced several water tight reasons. Water tight indeed, he should have gone for airtight reasons instead.

The CBN governor anchored his

By Chinedu Anarado

O

n March 24, 2011, the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Council adopted a resolution titled Promoting human rights and fundamental freedoms through a better understanding of traditional values of humankind in conformity with international human rights laws. This resolution, which was proposed by Russia and supported by the OIC states and the Arab League, has been generating heated debates and criticisms mainly because of its ‘grave’ implications for universal human rights.

For instance, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights described the adoption of the resolution as ‘highly dangerous’. ‘Such a concept’, its states, ‘has been used in the Arab region to justify treating women as second class citizens, female genital mutilation, honor crimes, child marriage and other practices that clearly contradict with (sic) international human rights standards. Does this resolution now mean that such practices are acceptable under international law?” I really think it does. Some states have also voiced concerns over the resolution citing that it could lead to cultural relativism.

They said it could be used to justify human rights abuses particularly the rights of minorities.

The piece takes a critical look at the resolution and its implications for human rights in Africa. Generally, Africa has a long way to go in terms of upholding the values of human rights and dignity. In fact it is in Africa that we have countries with some of the worst cases of human rights violations. People are denied their rights with impunity by states.

PAGE 15

N5000 note: Do we need it? argument for a higher denomination on the need to complement the cashless policy, as it would drastically reduce the volume of currency in circulation.

I see this as a very lame and thoughtless argument. A higher denomination will rather encourage the use of cash and not the cashless economy as is insinuated by the CBN boss. Take an example; Suppose a businessman is to pay a million naira for goods; if the there is the N5000 note, he needs just two hundred pieces. This is just two packs of the N5000 notes, this can be easily carried in ones trouser pocket.

Consider however the same businessman who has only the N100 notes available. He will need 10,000 pieces. Even a mad man knows that 10,000 pieces of naira notes is too bulky to be carried around, as such he will be forced to use an electronic means of transfer.

This is simple logic, yet I wonder how the acclaimed intelligent Sanusi didn’t or can’t get it. May be he just refuses to see it.

Another issue is that, majority of Nigerians, about 70 percent live on less than a dollar (N161) a day. If truth be told, only less than 10 percent of the Nigerian population will have need of that N5000 note.

What then is the sense wasting the nations scarce resources to mint money that would be useful to just a handful. That would be wastage.

Nigeria ideally do not need more than N100 denomination.

This N5000 note will take corruption, which is already high, to the heavens. Why do you think bribe takers and givers prefer dollars? It is because a few notes exchanging hands will be converted to millions of naira. If this administration is serious about fighting crime, it should shelve the N5000 note idea.

Money fakers will have a field day with the N5000 note. Nobody goes about faking the lower currencies, they go for the top. I can just imagine somebody buying drugs worth N5000 in my pharmaacy with a fake note. God help me!

He, Sanusi, opined that some countries, notably Japan, Singapore and Germany with higher denominations of currencies recorded 2.8, 1.1 and -0.7 inflation rates respectively in 2010.

Why do we always have to rush to these countries when it suits us but turn around the next day to say Nigeria is a developing nation and should not be compared to developed nations. Mallam CBN Governor needs to know that we have made decisions in the past using successes obtained in Western countries as yard stick to project how successful ours too will be, only to have a disastrous failure. Nigeria is different.

One classical example is Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP). Who

needs more of such failures? NONE. Besides is Governor CBN aware that there are calls in India to phase out the higher denominations (Rs 500 and R1000)? May be he chooses not to notice since that won’t support his warped policy.

The CBN governor was also reported to have said that various segments of the Nigerian state shall be encouraged to create avenues for the usage of coins.

Really? The first place I was told to “take that thing (coins) away” was a government office. Besides with all the noise he calls jingles on TV, radio about not spraying naira notes on people, not squeezing, not writing on them etc, as well as not selling new currencies, have these practices stopped? Well, I guess Sanusi is not aware. Talk, as they say, is cheap.

The last time that 50k and N1 were changed to coins we saw what happened. The prices of items were adjusted overnight to the nearest naira note. All items that were initially valued between N1 and N4.50k became N5. Candies that used to sell N2 or N3 each became N5; items between N6 and N9.50k became N10 naira, and so on and so forth. Within a short time of the introduction of those coins, prices of commodities were adjusted such that nobody even needed to use them. These coins, printed at a cost to the nation, have

since disappeared. What a waste!

CBN governor, where are the coins? May be CBN mopped up these coins from the market and kept in the vaults to rust, (or they have been sold to smiths that converted them to very costlyjewelleries), yet they want to repeat this same foollishness which leads to increased hardship on the masses as a result of increased prices consequent upon inflation. Why, why, why Sanusi, why?

My one kobo advice is this: CBN should jettison the N5000 note idea.

Rather than mint a N5000 note, the N1000 and the N500 notes should be withdrawn from circulation. This will help create need for the cashless economy policy, fight corruption, and also check faking of notes.

The coins idea should also be thrown into the thrash can. If Sanusi wants to introduce coins by all means, he should revalue the naira. He should drop at least a zero from the naira, that way we would have a need for the N1 and 50k coins, as items selling for N10 now will sell for N1, and those selling N5 now will sell for 50k. It makes absolutely no sense to coin the N5, 10 and 20 notes.

I do not know much, but I do know bad when I see bad, and Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, this policy is a BAD one!

Yangeh Dueh-Richardson wrote in from Makurdi, Benue state.

The human rights mechanisms are weak and ineffective. They exist mainly in paper and not in practice.

Human rights are enshrined in the constitution of states across the region. Most states have signed and ratified various international human rights instruments.

Most African countries have national human rights institutions and allow non-governmental human rights groups to operate. In fact, Africa has its own Charter on Human and People’s Rights. But that has made very little difference in terms of human rights protection.

Many African governments are in breach of their human rights obligations. They pay lip service to their human rights commitments.

And my humble submission is that this resolution on traditional values will not help the human rights situation in the region. Instead it will worsen the situation.

First of all, the term, ‘traditional values’ is ambiguous and can be given different meanings and interpretations.

Those who sponsored the resolution did not clearly define the term, ‘traditional values’. They did not state how to determine ‘traditional values of dignity, freedom and responsibility’.

Virtually every society lays claim to having such values. The term, traditional values, is so broad that it can contain or condone anything including practices that are not compatible with human rights. So the resolution can be used to undermine what it actually seeks to promote and protect. With this resolution, human rights will lose their power and value. They will become traditional, not universal human, entitlements, which states

could selectively uphold.

Again in Africa, anything described as tradition is taken to be sacrosanct. That means it should not be tampered with even when such a tradition does not make sense any longer or is outright harmful.

With this resolution, human rights and dignity could be justifiably denied on the name of tradition. For instance, in many African communities caste discrimination, women subordination, witch persecution and killings are traditional practices. And these practices are incompatible with human rights and dignity.

Also, traditions are often based on religion or supernaturalism. So they are regarded as divine or god sent articles of faith that should not be questioned, revised or abolished.

Actually, there is hardly any difference between traditional values and religious values. So the resolution expressly legitimizes ‘religious values’ which are often in conflict with universal human rights values.

Generally speaking, Africans value traditions and customs. They are the pillars of the society or community. Traditions constitute the basis of laws, norms and policies in most countries including laws and policies that are discriminatory or oppressive. Traditions often originate in the past. They are forged based on the norms, information and mentality of people who lived centuries ago.

Traditional values are often in conflict with contemporary norms.

And a human rights mechanism based on traditional values will clearly be backward. It will hamper efforts to address these conflicts and contradictions.

It is important to note that in the past decades the UN has made efforts to eradicate some of these practices related to female genital mutilation, child-birth, nutrition and marriage. This resolution will really deal a heavy blow on those efforts and other initiatives to combat human rights abuses related to tradition or custom on the

black continent.

The resolution legitimizes racism and xenophobia, homophobia, caste discrimination, domestic violence, child marriage, witch-hunting, patriarchy, corporal punishment, the death penalty, honor crimes, ritual killing, female genital mutilation, women subordination, and other practices that violate human rights standards. Many African states are often in a dilemma as to how to combat these harmful traditional practices. Some states invoke ‘local culture or tradition’ to justify their inability to do so. Now this resolution provides them a cover and a weapon to ignore these abuses. It shields states from being held responsible and accountable.

Lastly as noted above, this resolution will mainstream cultural relativism and prejudice into human rights discourse, creating a situation where states can justify certain human rights violations on the ground that they are in accordance with their ‘own’ culture or tradition. This is particularly the case in Africa where human rights principles are often described as part of western culture, and a cultural imperialist tool that is alien to the continent.

Unfortunately there have been moves, in recent years, by some states to use culture or religion to trump human rights. And the UN should, instead of encouraging such dangerous precedents through resolutions like this, persuade states to adopt the ‘tradition of universal human rights’ Chinedu Anarado is reachable on chinedu.anarado@gmail.com

Short-changing the younger ones

“

It is important to note that in the past decades the UN has made efforts to eradicate some of these practices related to female genital mutilation, child-birth, nutrition and marriage.

This resolution will really deal a heavy blow on those efforts and other initiatives to combat human rights abuses related to tradition or custom on the black continent

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Man in detention for beating up wife Stories by NAN

A

carpenter at Kapwa village in Lugbe, Jonathan Daniel has been remanded in prison custody for beating up his wife.

An Abuja Senior Magistrates Court presided by Senior Magistrate, Mrs Binta Dogonyaro, yesterday, ordered the remand of the accused, saying it was to enable the police provide evidence of

treatment of the victim.

Police Prosecutor, Paul Anigbo had told the court that the case was reported at the Lugbe Police Station

by Lydia Jonathan of the same address on September 2, 2012.

“On Sept. 2, at about 7.00 p.m., Daniel allegedly saw Jonathan standing with another man and started beating her for no justifiable cause,’’ Anigbo said.

The prosecutor said that Jonathan sustained injury as a

result of the beating and was rushed to the Wuse General Hospital, Abuja where she spent N20,000 on treatment.

He said the offence contravenes Section 245 of the Penal Code.

Daniel pleaded guilty to the charge and begged for mercy, saying, “I know that what I did was bad, I am begging the court for mercy’’.

The prosecutor prayed the court for a summary trial based on the plea of the accused and the provisions of

Section 157 of the Criminal Procedure Code.

He, however, urged the court to order that the accused pay compensation of N20,000 to Jonathan.

Dogonyaro in her ruling said that the sentence would be reserved to enable the police provide evidence of hospital bill for the treatment of the complainant, and adjourned the case to September 25, 2012 for sentencing.

Suleja General Hospital wants more medical personnel

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Head of Department of the Pharmaceutical Services at the Suleja General Hospital in the neighbouring Niger state, Pharmacist Shehu Attahiru Malagi has appealed to the Niger state Ministry of Health to recruit more medical personnel into the hospital.

He also urged the ministry to provide infrastructural facilities for the hospital to boost the morale of staff.

Attahiru Malagi, who made the appeal in an interview with newsmen during a celebration of one of their management staff, who retired from the civil service, advised staff of the hospital to continue to tolerant one another so that they would be remembered for the good legacy they left behind.

Malagi, commended the celebrant, Pharmacist Abdullahi Mohammed Jihu for giving fatherly advice to staff of the hospital during his active service in office.

Meanwhile, the celebrant who retired as a deputy director attended Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria in 1977.

The Occasion was attended by the representative of Permanent Secretary of Niger state Hospital Management Board, Pharmacist Yakubu M. Isah and Head of Hospital Services at the Suleja General Hospital, Dr. Husseini Yabagi among other dignitaries.

Local mason on duty, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Three teenagers remanded in prison for theft

A

n Abuja Magistrates Court sitting in Kubwa yester day remanded three teenagers in prison custody for alleged joint act, housebreaking and theft.

The accused allegedly committed the offences with one Mohammed, now at large.

Police prosecutor, Igonor Ocholi told the court that the accused broke into the house of Mark Adams in Byazhin in Kubwa, Abuja, on

August 22, 2012 and stole N266,000 cash and an LG cell phone valued at N14,000.

Other items the accused allegedly stole are a First Bank ATM card and a driver’s licence.

The prosecutor said the accused were apprehended while attempting to sell the items, and that the offences contravenes the provisions of Sections 75, 346 and 286 of the Penal Code.

However, the accused pleaded

not guilty to the charges and the prosecutor applied for adjournment to enable him produce witnesses.

He prayed that the court not to grant the accused bail on the grounds that they could not be trusted.

The presiding Magistrate, Malam Ahmed Ubangari, adjourned the case to September 24, 2012 and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

Copyright society to begin issuing music licence in FCT

T

he Copyright Society of Nigeria (COSON) yesterday said that it would begin issuing music licence in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) this month.

FCT COSON project consultant, Mr Segun Awosanya, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), urged commercial music users to comply with the copyright law and obtain licence for the use of music in public places.

He said that there has been zero

compliance from commercial music users and it was not encouraging.

He noted that the basic challenge was getting people to buy into the idea and comply with the society's objective.

"We try to manage the relationship between COSON and the commercial music users in the FCT, it has been challenging but we hope that this month we will start licensing," he said.

According to Awosanya, the lack of compliance is due to the fact that

people claim not to understand why they should pay to use music or the need to obtain licence.

He said that getting people to comply with the law which compels them to obtain licence before playing music in public places was difficult as people were Intransigent.

"People fear change and so they have refused to buy into the idea," he said.

He said the society would continue to advise and encourage people to obtain licence as demanded by the law,

adding that as a last resort, legal action would be taken against those who disobeyed.

Awosanya said that the society had filed a suit before the Federal High court, Abuja, against Transcorp Hilton which should serve as a warning and eye opener to other music users.

He therefore, called on all commercial music users to obtain a license as it would begin issuing licences this month in order to prevent any legal action being taken against them.

Don urges FG to recruit quality teachers

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he provost of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) College of Education, Zuba in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Professor Tijjani Isma’il has called on the Federal Ministry of Education to employ quality teachers into higher Institutions in the country to enhance productivity.

He also urged the Federal Government to provide teachers for all the available courses or subjects and equipment to boost academic excellence in schools.

Isma’il, made the call while delivering his address during the 4th National Conference of Association for the Promotion of Academic Excellence in Tertiary Institutions of Nigeria (APAETIN), held at the college multi-purpose hall with theme “The Role of Education in the Transformation Agenda: Issues and Changes”.

According to him, for the education to be relevant, there is need to radically transform the curriculum in a way that will link societal needs with what goes on in the classroom.

He explained that knowledge which was disconnected from the society had no use in the society.

He further called on the government to provide enough fund for institutions of higher learning across the country to arrest the pending issues affecting education.

While answering questions from the newsmen, the provost appealed to the tutors to be committed to their job.

Presenting a lead paper at the occasion, Prof. Kayode Alao in the Faculty of Education from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, said that appropriate legislations should be put in place by the National House of Assembly to ensure adequate funding of educational programmes and policies to achieve the transformation agenda.

The professor of counselling psychology urged the government at all levels to pay better salaries to teachers in public schools to put in their best in the teaching profession.

Commenting on ICT, Alao advised teachers across the country to be technological equipped to meet up with the global challenges in the educational system.

On his part, the National President of APAETIN, Prof. S.O. Oluladewo said that the leadership of the association would continue to tackle the problems confronting education in Nigeria.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

NURTW read riot act to members over reckless driving

By Adeola Tukuru

T

Scene of an accident, at Nyanya on Sunday, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

FCTA offers N250m revolving loan to farmers •••Farmers demand for extension of timeline for empowerment scheme

By Josephine Ella

T

hree hundred and eighty five poor communities across the six area councils of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), have been provided with about N250 million community empowerment agriculture revolving loan by the FCT Administration.

Speaking during an inspection tour of farms in Kuchibuyi and Guita communities of Bwari Area Council and meeting with farmers in the two communities, the Minister of State for FCT, Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide, who disclosed this, said t he Community Empowerment Agriculture Initiative is the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) Project Support of the FCTA under the Department of Economic Planning, Research and Statistics (EPRS).

She explained that the community empowerment agriculture initiative was aimed at empowering women and youth in 385 poor communities identified by the FCT MDGs Baseline Survey conducted in 2008.

Akinjide also disclosed that the sum of N60 million was provided in 2010 in the community empowerment agriculture loan scheme, N120 million in 2011 and N60 million in 2012.

She further explained that out of the N250 million available for farmers, including women and youth, the sum of N120 million has been accessed by the beneficiary communities through four microfinance banks (MFBs).

The MFBs include: EWT Microfinance Bank, Fims Microfinance Bank, Hasan Microfinance Bank and Credit Link Microfinance Bank.

“We are supporting the poor and rural communities through capacity building in modern farming techniques and agricbusinesses to address the issues of poverty, unemployment and gender equality among the rural populace, thereby improving their income and quality of life.

“This initiative started with 60 communities across the six area councils in 2010 and by 2011, the initiative was scaled up to 180

communities with FCT UNDAF II supporting 60 communities.

Presently, the scheme is in 236 communities across the six Area Councils and the remaining communities will be covered before the end of 2013,” said Akinjide, who supervises the FCT MDGs Project Support of the FCTA. The EPRS Director, Ari Mohammed, said the scheme was designed to boost agricultural production, create employment and reduce poverty in the FCT. He stated that under the scheme, agricultural inputs such as tractors, improved seed, pesticides and fertilisers are provided for the communities for cultivation while extension workers are also deployed to the communities to supervise the various stages of production.

Meanwhile, the farmers and communities have urged the FCTA to extend the timeline of the empowerment agricultural scheme to three years from the current timeline of one year.

The Chairman of the MDGs Farmers Cooperatives, Mr. Marks Thomas, who commended the

FCTA for the scheme, said that the scheme had increased their income level from between N10,000 and N20,000 to over N100,000.

“This initiative has strengthened farmers in the Area Councils and it has encouraged many others to take up agrobusiness because of improved income level. We are pleading that the scheme should continue and that the timeline for repayment of the facility should be extended,” he said.

Court sentences motorcyclist for violating traffic rules

A

30-year-old man, Adamu Sani was yesterday, sentenced to six months imprisonment by an Abuja Upper Area Court sitting in Kubwa for violating traffic rules.

The Judge, Malam Lawal Mannir, in his judgment, said the court had found the accused guilty of the offences and thereby sentenced him to six months imprisonment, with an option of

Expert cautions mothers against use of feeding bottles

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Head of Nutrition Division in the Federal Ministry of Health, Dr Chrys Isokpunwu has cautioned mothers in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and other parts of the country against the use of feeding bottles for children in order to eliminate bacteria transmitted infections.

Isokpunwu gave the warning in Gwagwalada at the opening ceremony of 2012 World Breastfeeding Week organised by the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH).

He advocated exclusive breast feeding for children below the age

of six months, adding that the required nutrients for healthy growth were contained in the breast milk.

The expert, in his paper titled: “Current Status of Breastfeeding, Challenges and Way Forward”, said statistics had shown that Nigerian mothers were yet to embrace the realities of breast milk.

Isokpunwu attributed most death among children especially before the first six months of birth to failure of mothers to feed their children with the required nutrient that breast milk could provide.

He called on mother to

embrace the use of cup and spoon for feeding children above the age of six months to reduce incidences of bacteria transmission.

“Apart from protecting children from various infections, exclusive breastfeeding also create a bond between the nursing mother and her baby. It also facilitate contraction of womb, control excessive bleeding, protect women against ovarian cancer as well enhance child spacing,” he said.

Earlier his remark, Justice Mwoda Balami of FCT High Court, Gwagwalada cautioned against the use of nannies to bring up babies, among nursing mothers.

he Unit Chairman of National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Garki, Area 1 branch in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Comrade Edo Jolly has warned members of the union against reckless driving on Abuja roads.

The Chairman at an interview with journalists emphasised on the need for them to always obey all the traffic rules and regulations to protect their lives and those of their passengers.

He said became necessary due to the increasing cases of accidents in the FCT, advising members, commercial drivers and also private car owners on the need to be cautions while driving.

Jolly said that the union organises workshops; seminars as well as orientation exercise for all its registered members on regular basis to this effect, adding that over three hundred persons have benefited from it.

He called on other drivers who are not part of the union to register in order for them to benefit from many incentives available to those who are already members.

He explained that such arrangement was part of his union strategies for recognising drivers for their day to day contribution toward national development in the country.

Jolly also appealed to commercial drivers to pay their daily tickets and other levies.

He advocated the extension of maternity leave to six months so as to cover the exclusive breast feeding period in the interest of the babies.

The Chief Medical Director (CMD) of UATH, Dr Peter Alabi, pledged the commitment of the hospital management to promote baby friendly initiative considering its nutritional value.

Alabi represented by Chairman, Medical Advisory Committee of the hospital Dr Abubakar Haruna, called on mothers to embrace exclusive breast feeding initiative to enhance healthy living among children.

N200 fine for each of the offences.

Earlier, the Prosecutor, Corporal Garba Abdul, told the court that the convict was standing trial on a 10-count charge of driving without driver‘s licence, failure to produce motorcycle particulars on demand and neglecting traffic direction.

Other offences, Abdul said, were failure to observe traffic sign, careless and inconsiderate driving, causing obstruction, failure to sound horn, using an unregistered motorcycle, contrary to Section 3 chapter 126 of the Insurance Act. He added that the convict carried excess passengers, and that the offences were contrary to Sections 7 (1), 14 (1), 36 (Q), 17, 36 (K), 21 (1), 39 (3), 36 subsection (1) (D) and section 44 (A) of the Road Traffic Act. The prosecutor, who arrested the accused along Masallachi Junction in Kubwa, Abuja, on Sept. 3, said the accused was riding a Boxer motorcycle.

The convict pleaded guilty to the charges and asked the court to tamper justice with mercy.

The prosecutor then prayed that the court should try him summarily and was consequently sentenced. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 17

Fuel black marketers doing brisk business, yesterday in Wuse, Abuja.

A man hawking drugs, yesterday in Garki village, Abuja.

A young man hawking snacks, yesterday in Kubwa, Abuja.

A mother performing domestic duty, yesterday in Nyanya.

Young men entertaining guests in public function, recently in Abuja.

Photos: Justin Imo-owo

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

FG working on job creation – Ortom

Mob: 08033644990

ATM high charges sends customers back to banking halls

By Chris Alu

C

L-R: Deputy Executive Director, International Business, German Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Dusseldorf, Dr. Gerhard Eschenbaum, explaining Germany Customs Operation to Director-General, Nigeria Governors´ Forum (NGF), Mr. Asishana Okauru, and Rivers state Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Gogo Charles, yesterday in Dusseldorf, Germany.

Photo: NAN

Air Nigeria suspends operations, sacks staff

By Muhammad Sada with agency report

A

ir Nigeria has announced the suspension of all its operations — local, regional and international — with effect from Monday, September10.

The suspension, according to the management of the airline, is due to staff disloyalty and environmental tension, “which are not conducive for business in the aviation sector.”

The airline regretted any inconvenience the decision would cause its passengers on all the routes and advised them to contact agents from whom they had purchased tickets for refunds.

Reacting to the development, the chairman of the airline, Mr. Jimoh Ibrahim, said it was difficult to continue further investment in the airline, with the level of disloyalty on the part of the staff and weak business

Nigeria stocks soar to 59 week high

N

igeria’s stock index hit a 59 week high yesterday, crossing the psychological 24,000 point level, on confidence from the recovery of the banking sector and heavy buying of Union Bank shares, dealers said.

The Nigerian Stock Exchange index gained 1.46 percent to 24,365 points at 1148 GMT on Wednesday, after rising consistently last week, hitting its highest since July 13, 2011, when it closed at 24,410 points.

Shares in Union Bank jumped almost 5 percent to N5.89, on cross dealing of 2.2 billion shares by new investors in the lender, pulling other banks up with it.

The banking sector up is up 36.2 percent this year on a recovery in earnings, compared with gains in the overall Nigerian index of 15.83 percent.

Union Bank shares gained 152 percent last year. Fidelity

bank rose 4.41 percent and Guaranty Trust Bank rose 3.07 percent.

Last week, Guaranty Trust Bank became the latest lender to post strong half-year results, reporting a 63 percent rise in pretax profit to N53 billion ($334.38 million) and saying that 73 percent of its gross earnings came from interest income.

environment.

“But we are strongly committed to ensuring that Air Nigeria survives,” he added.

He said about 50 loyal staff from various departments of the airline had been selected with a mandate to recommence business within 12 months, while other members of staff had been relieved of their employment, effective from the last day of work on their various routes.

Ibrahim thanked the stakeholders for their support in the last two years of the operation of Air Nigeria under the new management.

He said the suspension of all the operations of the airline was not unusual as, according to him, “corporations are like individuals who naturally will get sick and the usual thing to do is to admit them to hospitals, either for corporate surgery or for treatment, as the case may be.”

ustomers are bickering over the high cost of charges on the Automated Teller Machine (ATMs) which is sending them back to the banking halls, opposing the original intentions of decongesting the banking halls and encouraging the use of e-payment channels.

Peoples Daily investigations can authoritatively report that while intrabank ATM withdrawal is at no cost, some banks still charge customers for these services attributing it to maintenance fee.

There are also some other charges, like the flat rate of 100 per transactions on inter-bank ATM withdrawal pegged by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), as some have risen to N210 for a single transaction.

Intra-bank withdrawal is when a customer withdraws money from the ATM of his or her bank while inter-bank is when a customer withdraws money from the ATM of other banks.

Musa Bello, a business man in Wuse market, said the

SEC, Police partner to check capital market fraud

By Abdulwahab Isa

H

enceforth, capital market fraud perpetuators are likely to face instant prosecution from the police authorities if they fail to desist from their nefarious act, the Inspector-General of Police (IGP),Mohammed Abubakar, warned yesterday.

Towards this end, the IGP said he has ordered the deployment of 18 of his officers to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to help investigate capital market crimes.

Abubakar gave the readiness of his men to crack down of criminals specializing on stock market manipulations to desist in Abuja, at a formal inauguration of police seconded to the SEC. He said the police would do all it takes to ensure that the economy of the nation is protected by ensuring that the capital market is given all the support it

Management Tip of the Day Build a better innovation team

N

o matter how great your idea, your innovation effort will fall apart if the wrong team executes it. Here are three steps for hiring a team that will help you achieve breakthroughs: Focus on skills. Start by asking “What skills do we

need?” not “Who do we know?” or “Who is available?”

Tailor job descriptions. Don’t be hindered by your company’s hiring practices. Create custom titles and descriptions for the task at hand.

Rethink hierarchy. Put

situation has made him to go back to the hall to do his transactions which is on the low side and explained that sometimes he withdraws money from the ATM but later discovered that he had a shortfall of cash when he returned to conduct the next transaction, apart from the fact that he frequently receives SMS notifications on abnormal charges from the bank, which according to him is exploitation.

Further investigation revealed that though the banks notifies customers of the N100 deduction on the ATM screen before conducting the transactions on the machine and also via SMS after transactions, however, the N110 is not included in the notification sent to the customers’ bank.

Only vigilant customers with a good knowledge of their account balance can determine the actual amount deducted as ATM charges for inter-bank withdrawals and most banks’ customers do not take time to check their account balance after withdrawals and do not actually know when they are exploited.

the most important people at the top of the pecking order, regardless of their title or tenure. For example, if you’re taking your business digital, put your IT specialists at the top.

Source: Harvard Business Review

requires to function effectively.

“Without safety and security, Nigeria cannot be developed in whatever way. We will therefore not fold our arms and allow criminals to do whatever they want to in this country. They should either desist from their criminal ways or get caught and face the consequences”, Abubakar said.

Speaking earlier, DirectorGeneral of SEC, Ms. Ms Arunma Oteh had explained that her Commission approached the police for assistance to help the commission combat capital market crimes.

She said, in spite of breakthroughs recorded in nipping in the bud capital market crimes, the commission is still confronted with what she termed “illegal fund managers, wonder banks and possible cases of market abuse. These infractions, she said, informed the partnership between the police and the SEC to combat capital market crimes.

She informed the police management team at the ceremony that the unprecedented decline in the Nigerian stock market between 2008 and 2009 was caused by excessive risk taking and various market abuses and to ensure speedier resolution of cases, the commission she said was compelled to approach the police to deploy officers to jointly work with staff of the SEC in vestige ting criminal issues in the capital market.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS WTO

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andidates to replace Pascal Lamy as head of the World Trade Organization when the Frenchman steps down in a year’s time are warming up for a contest that looks likely to become another round of international horse trading.

Emerging market countries will want to see one of their own in charge of the Geneva-based trading club, after the top jobs at the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank went to a European and an American.

But there are already signs that developing nations will squabble over the identity of their candidate, meaning the race for the job overseeing negotiations to reform global farm subsidies, customs and trading rules is wide open.

LNG

N

igeria has launched a sell tender for one cargo of liquefied natural gas (LNG) on the spot market, loading in mid-October, industry sources said.

The tender for the standardsized 140,000-cubic metre cargo closes on Sept. 11 and loading is due between Oct. 13-14, one of the sources said on Wednesday.

Africa’s top oil producer, which is also the world’s seventhbiggest LNG exporter, loads tankers from its Bonny Island liquefaction plant in the Niger Delta for export to Europe, Asia and the United States.

Zero-tolerance policy on sub-standard products working, says SON DG Stories by Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Director-General of Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), Dr Joseph Odumodu, says his agency has, so far, destroyed sub-standard products such as tyres, cables and electronics worth N2billion since the launch of its zero tolerance policy last year.

Dr. Odumodu also said the agency has sealed over 50 firms involved in illegal businesses, adding that 80 per cent of the sub-standard products are manufactured in China He described Nigeria as an import-dependent economy, adding that with such rating, the country remains the highest in the world that patronises sub-standard products.

Odumodu said most

Nigerian importers should be blamed for dumping substandard products in the country because they tell the manufacturers to lower the standard in order to cut costs and maximise their gains.

He said Nigerians were part of the problems because they patronise fake and substandard products, which to them are relatively cheap. ”Once you patronise a substandard product, you are indirectly killing our local industries and by extension endangering your lives and that of others.”

He said the agency will soon celebrate 70 per cent reduction in the level of substandard products in the country.

The decision to reduce substandard products, he said, was informed by the organisation’s desire to build

confidence in products manufactured, imported and distributed in Nigeria for the overall benefit of the economy and welfare of the people.

He assured that the SON

Council cautions agric ministry on plan to boost industrial sugarcane

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he National Sugar Development Council (NSDC) has sent a word of caution to the ministry of agriculture and rural development on its reported plans to "develop industrial sugarcane in addition to the present sugarcane farms in the farmers' possession."

The NSDC, an agency under the ministry of trade and investment, was reacting to an interview granted a national

Nigeria’s GDP

3MFuture

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South-Africa based small technology company, 3MFuture has won its legal claim for patent infringement by sector giants MTN and Standard Bank. 3MFuture claimed that the respondents had infringed the company’s intellectual property rights by their use of 3MFuturedeveloped payment card security technology in joint-venture application, MTN Mobile Money.

The invention under dispute provides credit-card holders with the ability to turn credit-cards on and off (for example, at the point of sale), through use of a mobile phone or via the internet thus allowing for secure credit-card transactions and precluding the possibility of credit card theft and/or fraud.

daily by a top official of the ministry (of agric), in which he disclosed a mandate given to the ministry to boost the production of sugarcane in the country with effect from next year.

A statement issued by NSDC spokesman, Ahmed M. Waziri however drew the attention of the ministry to the fact that production of sugarcane by farmers is not the problem of sugar production, adding that with a little help, farmers are always willing to produce.

"The problem is and has always been off-take of the canes produced by farmers. This is a direct result of low and inadequate milling capacities for cane in the country", he said.

While welcoming a collaboration with the ministry of agriculture, the NSDC expressed confidence that the Sugar Master Plan which the Minister of Trade and Investment, Olusegun Aganga is pushing for expedited implementation, is capable of driving significant investments into the production and milling aspects of the sector.

FG working on job creation – Ortom

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igeria’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) is expected to overtake South Africa in 2014 when Nigeria Energy sector is fully reformed, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has said.

Nigeria Gross Domestic Product, GDP is expected to overtake South Africa in 2014 when Nigeria Energy sector is fully reformed, an official of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC has said.

would, in the next few weeks, come up with a policy on how to detect sub-standard products, especially television sets and the number to call for necessary action.

M Students of Business Administration and Management Studies, Federal Polytechnic Mubi, Adamawa, displaying some of their products at this year's annual students' trade fair, yesterday in Mubi.

Photo: NAN

Manufacturers reject N5,000 note

T

he Organised private sector and Manufacturers have rejected the proposed introduction of N5, 000 note, saying that this will aid money laundry, corruption and inflation. The Director General, Nigeria Textile Manufacturers Association of Nigeria (NTMA), Mr. Jaiyeola Olanrewaju said this will leads to inflation because it will discourage the use coins, adding that the minimum note will be N50.

He said the result of this is that coin such as N10, N20 will be valueless. He said it will also encourage traders to jerk up the price of their goods.

“People will not spend coins again and price of goods will increased. Before you know it, people will forget N20 and this

will cause inflation,” he said.

Director General, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), Muda Yusuf said although the idea of restructuring the currency is a welcome development, “there is a flip side to the policy”.

The initiative is a negation of the cash-lite policy of CBN, if it is now much easier to carry around large amounts of cash.

The introduction of N5,000 note will aid corruption as many cases of bribery and extortion involve use of cash. The higher the currency denomination, the better the use of cash as instruments of corruption.

“The risk of counterfeiting increases with denominations.

The higher the currency denomination, the higher the

risk of faking and this is something to also worry about,” he stated.

On the other hand, Yusuf said this would mean that the use of Ghana must go bags would no longer be necessary to move large amounts of cash.

His words: “The new currency restructuring initiative of the CBN is a step in the right direction. It should be seen as a policy response to current economic dynamics. I believe the introduction of higher denomination of N5,000 would reduce the volume of cash needed for transactions in the economy. This, by extension, would reduce the cost of currency management – printing, movement, storage and distribution.

inister of State, Ministry of Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, said the government is pursuing a national industrial development plan aimed at ensuring full employment and social progress.

Ortom speaking after inspecting a factory- in Lagos, said unemployment among Nigerians is high and intensifying, assuring that government has resolved to create more jobs.

He said the ministry has an expanded mandate to attract investments, combat unemployment and reduce imports of agric commodities through building competitiveness of local producers, adding that Nigeria has comparative advantage in agriculture, necessitating the repositioning of the sector.

Ortom, said government is ready to encourage agribusiness owners to increase investment to boost productivity and growth, by removing excessive taxation and regulatory burden.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 21

La Casera introduces water variants into market Stories from Seni Durojaiye

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ith a focus on consumers who crave great-tasting, the La Casera Company Limited, makers of La Casera Apple and the Latina Range of Sugar Free Fruit Drinks, has introduced Nirvana Soda Water and Tonic Water drinks into the Nigerian market.

Speaking at the Launch which took place in Lagos recently, Head of Distribution of the La Casera Company Limited, Mr. Guna Sekaran, said a lot of research had gone

into making the new entrants.

“We recognise that there is a significant segment of the Nigerian market that demands premium, affordable quality drinks. As the name Nirvana implies, these Drinks offer a great-tasting and refreshing escape from the stress and hustle of daily life. Nirvana Soda Water is a refreshing low calorie drink, which appeals to young and sociable upwardlymobile professional Men and Women. They enjoy feeling and looking good so they tend to go for low-calorie or zero-calorie soft drinks either on the go or at

their favourite hangouts.”

On Nirvana Tonic Water, General Manager Marketing, CBTI, Mr. Dave Van Rensburg, also emphasized that it offered many of the same qualities as Nirvana Soda Water variant.

According to him; “If you are looking for a great tasting drink which offers refreshment and comes at an affordable price, then Nirvana Soda Water is the drink for you. Nirvana can also be used as cocktail mixers or consumed on its own, as it offers a refreshing time for mind and body along with its unique great taste.”

L-R: Director, Marketing Segment and Strategy, Mr. Oluwole Rawa; Head, Events and Sponsorship, Ms. ModupeThani, and Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Steven Evans, all of Etisalat Nigeria at the Etisalat FC Barcelona Press Conference/Novelty Match held at Fun Turf, Lekki, Lagos.

CSR: Beneficiary of 7-up scholarship scheme set for Harvard

I

n line with its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) philosophy, which includes giving Nigerian students quality education and leadership skill, 7-up Bottling Company Plc has announced the scholarship award to Mr. Olujimi Williams to study at Harvard University for two years. Last year, the company extended the same scholarship to Miss Misan Rewane.

The Executive Director, 7up Bottling Company Plc, Mr Femi Mokikan who made this known at the award ceremony held recently in Lagos said the brand attached so much importance to human and physical development of its area of operation.

He said the purpose of the “7-up Harvard Business School Scholarship” is to give young qualified Nigerians the opportunity to acquire business skills and leadership training in

the world’s topmost business school.

“One of our problems in this country is leadership. We want to fill the gap by training young Nigerians in Harvard where they can acquire leadership skills to save our country from future leadership problem,” he added.

According to the ED, the scholarship which will cost over $100,000 will last for two years without any string tired to it. He explained that it is not mandatory for scholarship recipients to come back after graduation and work for 7-up, stressing that its objective is to transform our youths leadership mentality so as to get the best from them when they come back.

To benefit from the scheme, Mokikan noted that aspirants must tender a provisional admission letter from Harvard school and must

be resident in Nigeria. The letter, he noted will be taken to Harvard for confirmation, after which applicants will face three stages of interview from 7up executive panels.

He pointed out that the panels will probe into how they funded their primary, secondary and university education in the past to ascertain if there was financial need indeed which they could not afford. “Funding will not be an issue as 7-up is ready to support any candidate that comes out successfully,” he said.

On his part, Olujimi William, the recipient of the scholarship said, he was elated to be privileged to study in Harvard University which is known as one of the best universities in the world adding that what thrilled him about the institution is its style of teaching.

AAAN announces 2012 “LAIF Awards”

T

he Association of Advertising Agencies of Nigeria (AAAN) has concluded plans to hold the 2012 edition of the industry Creative Awards, tagged LAIF Awards.

President of the Association and Chairman of LAIF Management Board, Mrs. Bunmi Oke, in a statement issued in Lagos, indicated that this year’s edition of the awards would mark the seventh in the series of the Awards Ceremony which was instituted in 2006.

Meanwhile the organizers have also announced the theme for this year’s edition as being ‘The Best get LAIF. According to a statement, the 2012, LAIF Awards will reward and recognise outstanding creativity, promote excellence in brand strategy development as well as create a platform for celebrating ideas.

It also disclosed that the association will have international creative and brand management experts, from leading integrated marketing communication agencies to serve as jurors and advisors during this year’s event.

The statement also quoted the Vice Chairman of the LAIF Management Board, Mr. Lanre Adisa, who explained that the Creative Awards will hold in four categories namely, LAIF Television, LAIF Press, LAIF

Outdoor and LAIF Radio. Each category will have 12 subcategories.

Awards will be given in Gold, Silver and Bronze for each sub-category and the Gold winner of each sub-category will compete for grand prix in the category. In all 144 awards will be given.

Mr. Lanre Adisa pointed out that entries for the 2012 awards commenced on August 1st, 2012 and will close on August 30th, 2012. Qualified entries for this year’s awards are campaign materials that were exposed between January 2011 and December, 2011.

As part of the new category, the Awards Management Board has introduced the ‘Digital Marketing” category starting with web banner designs, and a Young Laifers category for practitioners 30 years old and below, in the industry. The 2012 edition will also include the annual Creative Award’s Seminar and Exhibition, a forum for extensive discussion of issues as it affects the practice of Advertising in particular and the industry at large.

The LAIF Awards & Dinner will hold on Saturday, November 3rd 2012 at the Federal Palace Hotel, Ahmadu Bello way, Victoria Island, Lagos, during which award plaques will be presented to award winning agencies.

Indomie expands brand portfolio with Oriental Fried Noodles

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ufil Prima Foods Plc, makers of Indomie Instant Noodles has expanded the brand’s portfolio with the addition of two new SKU’s; Oriental Fried Noodles (OFN) and the new 210 grams of the regular chicken tagged “Hungry Man Size” as the brand continue to own the conversation and market leadership in the noodles segment.

According to the Public Relations Manager, Dufil Prima Foods Plc, Mr. Tope Ashiwaju the introduction of the new offering is to further expand the varieties for consumers and give the more options in the company’s continued zeal to satisfy its esteemed customers.

The Public Relations Manager disclosed that the birth of the two new SKU’s is a result of the company’s huge investment in research and development and deep consumer insight which revealed that consumers of Indomie crave for new innovative product both in terms of the flavours and seasoning as well as size.

“We conducted extensive

research into the areas of trend need of consumers especially young adults either in the Universities or young Business Executives and the results reveal that many Nigerians seek to enjoy the exotic taste that comes with the noodles served in high profile restaurants and so we came up with the Oriental Fried” he said.

On the new 210 grammes pack, tagged: ‘Hungry Man Size’, introduced for the regular chicken flavour, Ashiwaju declared that research also indicated that the consumers still yarn for a bigger pack to the 120 grammes pack otherwise known as the Super Pack. He noted that the hungry man size was produced for consumers with a relatively huge appetite.”

“We believe that the addition of these two new SKU’s will further affirm the leadership position of our brand through innovation to achieve consumer satisfaction as well as helping consumers to differentiate their favourite Indomie brand from others in the market” he said to the market.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 22

Get ready for IPSAS, IFRS adoption, FG tells accountants

By Abdulwahab Isa

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he Federal Government has charged accountants in Ministries, Departments and Agencies to equip themselves with the newly introduced International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) as well as the implementation of the ongoing International Financial Reporting Standard Standards (IFRS) in the country for them to function properly in line with dictate of transformation agenda.

Minister of state for finance, Dr. Yerima Ngama gave the charge yesterday in Abuja, at a

By Etuka Sunday

A

irtel, one of the l e a d i n g

telecommunications companies in Nigeria on Monday announced that it has entered into a strategic cooperation agreement with leading South African financial services group, Sanlam, for the distribution of insurance and health funding products to seven African countries including Nigeria.

In a statement made available to the African Press Organisation

two-day sensitisation workshop organised by the FAAC SubCommittee on the Roadmap for adoption of the IPSAS in the country.

He said a standardised uniform chart of Accounts, Budget and General Purpose Financial Statements was required in order for Nigeria’s MDAs to meet international best practices as required by IPSAS. Describing the adoption of the IPSAS as one of the strong platforms to drive the ongoing transformation agenda for a better Nigeria, the Minister urged the participants to consider the workshop as

an interactive avenue for experience sharing and contributions that would fasttrack the IPSAS implementation process at all tiers of government.

“The Sub-Committee has successfully held similar sensitisation workshops in Kaduna for the North-West, Enugu for South-East, PortHarcourt for South-South, Ibadan for South-West and Bauchi for the North-East zone as part of the strategies to achieve the implementation process.

The Sub-Committee expects that at the end of the

implementation process, it will deliver to the nation a Standardised Uniform Chart of Accounts, Budget and General Purpose Financial Statements that will meet international best practices as required by IPSAS. “This will assist in peer review mechanism of Financial Reports among the three tiers of government.

Indeed, the adoption of IPSAS by the country will no doubt serve as a foundation for a better Nigeria”, Ngama said.

Speaking, the Accountant General of the Federation, Mr. Jonah Otunla, noted that the commitment accounting officers

Nigerians to benefit from Airtel’s insurance and health funding products (APO), the agreement is aimed at enhancing value for Airtel customers and increasing access to insurance which will enable Sanlam to market and sell its Life, General and Health insurance products through Airtel’s e x t e n s i v e telecommunications networks in the seven countries, namely Kenya, Ghana, Tanzania,

Zambia, Uganda, Malawi and Nigeria.

Speaking on the transaction, Airtel’s Director & Africa Head, Airtel Money, Chidi Okpala, said “We are delighted to be partnering with Sanlam on this exciting initiative. This will offer our customers in Africa access to a broad range of sophisticated products and services to support

their lifestyles and aspirations, and this partnership will enable us to significantly enhance the value we offer our loyal customers.

Our customers stand to benefit from access to Sanlam’s world-class Life, General and Health Insurance products,” he explained.

In reaction, the Executive Director for Africa at Sanlam Emerging Markets, Margaret Dawes, said “We are passionate about supplying sound

financial solutions to the wider African market and are delighted by this opportunity to provide our services and solutions through Airtel’s network. We look forward to providing competitive products that meet the client’s needs – drawing on our collective years of experience and research in these markets,” she e x p r e s s e d confidently.

Asia Rice: Demand from Iraq, Nigeria supports Thai prices

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emand from Iraq and Nigeria is helping to keep prices for Thai rice steady, despite Thai government plans to offload a some of its massive stockpile onto the market, traders said on Wednesday.

The Thai government said on Wednesday that it would sell 220,000 tonnes of rice from a total 753,000 tonnes stocks it tendered for sale in late July.

“We may sell 220,000 tonnes at first as bid prices were quite good. We may tender again to sell the rest later,” said a senior Ministry of Commerce official.

Benchmark 100 percent B grade Thai white rice and 5 percent broken rice were steady at $600 per tonne and $585 per tonne, respectively, traders said.

“Although more rice from government stocks is about to come to the market, prices have not dropped as overseas demand has provided

support,” said a Bangkok-based trader.

Traders said Nigeria had been talking to exporters in the market, seeking a total of about 200,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from Thailand. Parboiled rice is made from the same grade of paddy as common white rice, so demand for parboiled rice helps support prices in general.

Also providing support was an order for 70,000 tonnes of 5 percent broken grade white rice from Iraq that Thai exporters were awarded in July.

The Thai government declined to release price details, but exporters who joined the tender said bids had been made at market prices, which are nearly $200 per tonne below cost for the government rice.

(Reuters)

give to the implementation process would go a long way in the success of government’s current transformation agenda, adding that this therefore requires all accountants in the MDAs should build the needed technical skills to help them in understanding the operational principles of the IPSAS and by implication, the IFRS. He therefore advised the participants to regard the workshop as crucial to the knowledge-building agenda of the FAAC Sub-Committee by utilising the two-days in learning and probing into the issues and challenges of implementing the IPSAS and getting the best out of its adoption in the country.

Flight Schedules Aero

Los-Abj: 06:50, 13:30, 16:30, 19:45 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun); 12:30 (Sun); 16:45 (Sat) Abj-Los: 07:30, 13:00, 19:00 (Mon-Fri/Sat); 10:30, 14:30, 19:30 (Sun), 18:30 (Sat)

IRS Los-Abj: 9:45, 11:45, 2:45, (Mon-Fri); 9:30, 12:45 (Sat & Sun) Abj-Los: 11.30, 3:45, 4.45 (Mon-Fri); 12.00, 14:30, (Sat/Sun) Los-Kano: 6:15 (Mon-Fri); 16:30 (Sat & Sun) Kano-Los: 07:30 (Mon-Fri), 10:30 (Sat & Sun)

Arik Lag-Abj: 07:15, 09:15, 13:45, 15:50, 18:45 (MonFri); 7:15, 10:20, 2:20 (Sat & Sun) Lag-Kad: 10:00, 15:10 (MonFri) Lag-Kano: 12.20 (Mon-Fri);

Air Nigeria

Lag-Abj: 07:15, 11:40, 14:00, 16:30, 17.00, 17.20, 18.30 (Mon-Fri, Sat & Sun); 08.00, 12.40, 13.10, 20.00 (Fri) Abj-Lag: 07:00, o9:30, 10.30, 11.15, 16.15, 19.15, 19.25, 19.35 (Mon-Fri/Sat/ Sun), 14.55, 15.15, 20.45 (Fri), 19.45 (Sun), 11.25, 13.35, 16.25 (Mon) Abj-Kano: 18.40 (Mon-Fri/ Sun) Kano-Abj: 08.35 (Mon-Fri/ Sat) Abj-Sok: 09.35 (Mon), 10.10 (Fri), 11.20 (Wed/Sun) Sok-Abj: 11.35 (Mon), 12.00 (Fri), 13.20 (Wed/Sun)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

It’s North’s turn to produce the next president, says Sen. Abdullahi Adamu wrangling...

I have said I would work for PDP to the tail end. I will not forget, at the formative stages of the NPN (National Party of Nigeria), I had the of opportunity of serving in the constituent assembly that produced the 1979 constitution and when parties were being formed, we were the young set and, to the elder statesmen then, we were the errand boys for them but we were involved effectively. And I remember writing a letter to late Mallam Aminu Kano because I was more inclined to go to his Peoples Redemption Party (PRP); that was my natural inclination. My parents were NPN to the root, my parents, grandparents were traditional rulers and I had difficulty shaking off what’s in me, but at the same time as a politician in the making, my attraction was towards Aminu Kano because of his brand of politics. And it was a very large meeting that broke the camel’s back that prompted Aminu Kano out to form the PRP. I was in the meeting and I personally felt he was insulted when he was asked to become the publicity secretary of NPN after being the secretary. I was going to Kano to see him; he was campaigning in some villages; you know Belgore, when you pass through Saminaka from Jos, near the tributary of Kano river, a large fishing community; he was there, and he said my prayer for you is that you should go and continue to be with them (NPN) and stay there like the rock of Gibraltar. I will never forget that. So, I will tell you that

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, former governor of Nasarawa state, former minister and ex-scribe of the Board of Trustees (BOT)of ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) spoke with some journalists recently on his farm. The interview touched on issues like state creation and more. Peoples Daily’s Nasarawa state correspondent, Ali Abare Abubakar was there. Excerpts:

I

t’s over a year now since you became a senator. What has been your experience so far?

It has been quite an experience. I love the experience; one has been through some apprenticeship, if you permit, because no matter your background, no matter your past experiences, once you get into new callings, you must learn the ropes to understand how things are done; to learn the most fundamental things about parliamentary tradition and practice. If you fail to do that you may not be able to make the kind of mark you ordinarily will desire to make. So for those of us who are first timers, it’s been a period of learning but that notwithstanding, we have been able to make contributions where the situation permitted and I feel that one could have done more but in a house with about 108 equals, under the supervision of one person, each time there is a debate, you count your stars if you want to make a contribution and the eyes of the president are able to see your hand and he gives his permission for you speak. Sometimes you get to identified; other times you may not because not every person will get to talk on one issue. It’s been a very worthy experience for me. I have made new friends and I have seen that this 7th Senate is the richest that the country has had in this dispensation in terms of experience, party background.

There are (former) military and civilian governors, senior advocates, captains of industry. So there is quite a good mixed grill of persons.

How would you react to the general perception that the legislature in Nigeria cares more for the welfare of lawmakers than it does for the people who

elected them?

Well, it is an unfortunate reading of what the legislative arm of government does; some of it is induced by people’s understanding of what is happening, by the actions of the parliamentarians themselves. You may have an issue which is on the front burner of public opinion, but maybe, the reality and the thrust of the debate is such that does not seem to be in tune with what the public wants. Sometimes it happens and I say it is for the legislators to try carry the public along in that kind of situation. Every parliament worth its name is supposed to be the voice of the people. You cannot claim to represent people and then your opinion is different from that of the people that you are supposed to represent. Sometimes you won’t make much sense if you hear a person talking against the grain of public opinion.

It very much depends on what topic or the subject matter is under discussion but it is not the best for any parliament to be seen to be going against the grain of public opinion that it is supposed to represent. But there are moments when a parliament might be adjudged to be towing the line of the executive. It’s another perception, but in whatever we do, maturity, a sense of responsibility should normally dictate to you that the executive, if you are an elected one like our own, is supposed to have the same interest as that of the people but there are situations where there is no consultation between the executive and the parliament and so there would appear to be conflict in the perception and understanding of issues that are at stake and there are moments when what the president wants may not be very popular at a particular time.

But in the

understanding of parliament, may be, may be not, they may share the position of the president and therefore the debate might go in line with the thinking of the president. But also, there are moments when the executive doesn’t agree with you; you don’t agree with it.

If you know that what you are doing is really, truly, inherently motivated by a desire to do the will of the people, then you go right ahead and do it; if you are on that course, you can go right on. But the executive arm holds the official instrument of state, and there are moments when they have disagreements over issues where the parliamentarians say they have not been consulted. It could be an executive bill issue and the two arms of government decide to go their separate ways on the debate, and the executive might not be happy. The only thing is where there is the misfortune of the executive not working in tandem with the interest of the public like on the oil subsidy matter.

The president got the voice very clearly and had to review the position that he took. So it is sometimes a counterpart kind of relationship. It must be driven by goodwill, it must be driven by sincerity; it must be driven by good faith. Nobody is seeking to undo the other, that should not be part of a responsible parliament; we are supposed to work for one purpose - the interest of the people. That should be our obligation and where there is that understanding clearly, even where the debate takes some form that is not favorable to any of the two, it should be understood. And nobody sets out to do something that may offend the president; we don’t do that, no matter what price is paid.

There is a view that creating more states would promote national

Senator Abdullahi Adamu, ex-Governor of Nasarawa state unity. Considering your experience as a former governor, what is your take on this assumption?

To be honest, I was part of the agitation for the creation of Nasarawa state. I thank God we got it and I thank God that we were able to realize an ambition which we believed held the promise of our actualizing our dream as a people in the context of the Nigerian family. We now stand in the comity of 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory.

But I know for a fact that, yes, it is a struggle between an identity and ability, if I can reduce it to that. You can’t help but ask yourself,

knowing federal might dangles over your head like the sword of Damocles, whether our states as we have them today, are viable.

Everyday people open newspapers to hear governors say their states are broke. Governors of some states now are unable to pay salaries. So the question is, will we do the right thing? I am a senator, I don’t want to pre-empt what the National Assembly will do; we have an ad hoc committee on constitution review. But I believe strongly that we need to take a more serious look at the growing agitation.

I have been through it, I know what it means; I

governed Nasarawa state when we were at the rock bottom of the ladder of revenue allocation in this country. When I became governor, Nasarawa state was mobilizing under half a million naira internally generated revenue; the record is there. Under one million naira and I had a work force of over 10, 000 civil servants. We inherited a foreign loan of between N20 billion and N22 billion from our days in Benue/Plateau state to the days of Plateau state to Nasarawa but I didn’t take any loan. We were able to do what we did and gradually the revenue base improved and we were able to

stay afloat. But with what is going on today, with the states having a very hard time at the moment and given that there is no attraction in my view; there is little or no attraction for creating more problems, but it will be unfair for me to stand here with you and say, no more states should be created.

There are demands, some demands may be genuine.

On the issue of state police, some people have argued for and against it.

On which side do you stand and why?

I think the issue is now becoming an issue for blackmail. I don’t want to

discuss it because it is now becoming an issue for blackmail. We have now tilted off reason, it is now blackmail. If you say you want state police, you are labelled whatever; if you say you don’t want state police you are labelled. It has been reduced to that and I don’t belong to that school of thought.

You were the Secretary of the PDP Board of Trustees (BoT); internal wrangling within the PDP has the potential of dimming the fortunes of the party in the nearest future. Some parties are coming up and cashing in on this internal

with PDP I am there until either death do us part or Nigeria’s political development do us part. But as long as I am in PDP, I am PDP inside out; I’ll continue to work for PDP irrespective of the problems that we encounter. Problems, yes, the noise you hear, yes, it is part of it; I call it the sound of democracy. But my only appeal is that the leadership of the party should not selfdestruct, we must not selfdestruct, we must not destroy the party by our own doings or misdeeds, we must not contribute to its failure.

Before we talk of discipline we must see discipline from the highest level of the party, down because there is no point you talking of discipline but you are not disciplined yourself; it does not make sense. I believe that the present set of national officers (of PDP) mean well and we will make it possible for them to do good for the party. We will wait. There is a lot of noise in Nasarawa state, a lot of noise in AkwaIbom, Borno, in Sokoto, Kebbi, Kaduna, Kogi, Kwara, everywhere you go. But to me, it is a natural phenomenon for political parties but sometimes we take all these things too far.

When we see parties do wrong, we tolerate them to do wrong but when some other party does wrong somewhere else you punish the wrong-doing. It doesn’t make for good followership.

My hope and prayer is that the leadership will help by doing good to ensure that there is discipline in the party and that we do not selfdestruct. But you can count on me, I have just done a

“

I believe that everybody is saying the same thing – a Northern president for 2015; I believe that the north should have a crack at it again. I believe that, it is no sin. We have a right to it like everybody else. Of course, we deserve to have it again. Take it or leave it, the country is divided; it is North and South. This is a fact; it’s either North or South

programme to promote PDP. Let’s walk our talk, that’s the key.

Recently, the Nasarawa state executive of the PDP held a reconciliation meeting...

As far as I am concerned, there is no state executive in PDP, you can still quote me; I’m saying so. I went to the national headquarters, I told them. I stand with the Concerned Group because they saw me as an elder; they came to share their thoughts about the party with me and I did share their thoughts, and I do understand where they are coming from and where they want to take the party to. I share their sentiments; I share in the sacrifices they make for promoting PDP and I share with them about their concern for the failure of PDP in the state and I’ll work with them until somebody tells me or shows me why I shouldn’t.

If I hear a superior argument I will bow, but until then, I am working with them and we will hoist the PDP flag proper, fully blown, not the mourning PDP. There are some former governors pushing Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso’s candidacy for president. Do you support it?

That is not a fair question.

Has Kwankwaso said he wants to be president? But PDP has no choice but to give the presidency to the north (in 2015); I believe in that.

Kwankwaso is more than a friend to me, Kwankwaso is my brother; we started PDP together, we were governors together, he had some misfortune midway in his governorship, he didn’t win re-election and became minister of defence. He has been elected again in Kano after eight years, he is back in the saddle, and he is doing a good job. But if he comes out to say he wants to be president that will be the time to talk. For now let’s wait and see. I don’t cross bridges until I reach them. I believe that everybody is saying the same thing – a Northern president for 2015; I believe that the north should have a crack at it again. I believe that, it is no sin. We have a right to it like everybody else. Of course, we deserve to have it again. Take it or leave it, the country is divided; it is North and South. This is a fact; it’s either North or South.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

EMERGENCY UPDATE NEMA convenes forum on IDPs camp

By Mohammed Kandi

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ational Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), has assembled stakeholders to discuss issues relating to Internally Displaced Person (IDPs) in the agency’s various camps across the country.

The event, was held yesterday in Abuja. The agency’s DirectorGeneral, Muhammad Sani-sidi, said it was necessary in view of the increasing emergencies arising from natural and human induced disasters in the country.

While addressing the press at the occasion, the D-G, who was

represented by NEMA’s Director of Planning, Dr. Charles Agbo, informed that “the Camp Management forum is also to sensitise operators, develop and assign roles amongst stakeholders with emphasis on enhancing collaborative performance based on the sectoral and cluster approaches of the National Contingency Plan.”

Admitting that though the IDPs camps do not provide permanant solutions to human displacement considering the rate of emergencies in the country, Agbo, however, noted that they have served as refuge for those

seeking safety in the event of emergency.

He stressed the need for apt camp management which is in line with international standards to provide relief to the IDPs. Agbo also urged participants to examine and take seriously all issues relating to the management of IDPs so as to enable stakeholders respond effectively to the issues.

Meanwhile, participants who attended the forum include representatives of some UN agencies, NGOs, state emergency management agencies, corporate organisations and faith based organisations.

...attributes ocean surge to natural disaster

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fter a week of rescue efforts and assessment of the impact of the devastating Atlantic Ocean surge at the coastline of Lagos state, a team from the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, concluded its assignment with a report indicating that the causes of the surge were natural disaster, while human-casualty was man-made.

NEMA rescue officer at the

weekend recovered another body floating on the water near Nigerian Navy Dockyard, Victoria Island, Lagos, through the use of an emergency boat.

Leading the NEMA team after the completion of the assessment, weekend, Director of Planning Research and Forecasting of the agency, Dr. Charles Agbo, said: “Though nine bodies have so far been recovered and confirmed by

NEMA officials while others, as claimed by residents, are still missing, the surge at Kuramo beach and other areas of Lagos was natural phenomena.

“But the human casualty could be blamed on carelessness of people living too close to the danger of coastline, when early warning alerts were raised by appropriate authorities on the effect of climate change and global warming.”

L-R: Director Search and Rescue, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, Director Training of NEMA, Mrs. Clementina Aisuen, and Director, Planning Research and Forecasting of NEMA, Dr. Charles Agbo, during 2012 NEMA Camp Management Forum, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

NEMA seeks evacuation as disasters sack 40 communities in C/River

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HE National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has stressed the need for immediate evacuation of some citizens of Cross River state from disaster zones to safer areas in the event of threat to lives.

The agency issued this proactive warning as it was disclosed that following recent natural disasters, over 40 communities in 12 local council areas of Cross River state have

been sacked by either storms or flooding.

According to the Agency, some of the communities affected by flood and landslide include Ayimor, Ugbem, Agwagune and Umon communities in Biase local council area. Landslide and flood also affected residential houses, bridges and farmlands in EnyiBoje, Kachie Boje, among other councils.

The Zonal Coordinator, South-

South, NEMA, Mr. Umesi Emenike, who gave the advice while assessing flood disaster in Biase local council area of Cross River state, stated that the overflow of river banks was a phenomenon that could hardly be checked and that residents of flooded areas occasioned by overflows should not expect immediate recession of the water and should, therefore, move to safe areas.

Sani-Sidi expresses worry over attacks on aid workers

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irector General of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammed SaniSidi has expressed worry over the global rise in cases of attacks on aid and humanitarian workers.

Speaking recently during this year’s World Humanitarian Day celebration in Abuja, Alhaji Sani-

Sidi said it has become essential to draw attention to the upsurge of threats and attacks on humanitarian aid workers across the globe.

He said the services of emergency workers should be appreciated especially now that they are faced with increasing risk at the ever growing hotspots of disasters and

armed conflicts across the world.

Sani-Sidi said though Nigeria was less prone to the natural hazards of volcanic eruptions, earthquakes and tsunamis, there were other causes of emergencies that often result in human displacement that require “concerted efforts at raising awareness on effective humanitarian service delivery.”

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Averting rainstorms hazards in Nigeria

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ecently, there was a proactive warning from the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET) to Nigerians to clear drains because of anticipated heavy rainstorms that may lead to serious flooding between August and October.

The Agency further observed that flooding incidents may accompany high rainfall events in and around Lagos, Ogun, Delta, Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Bauchi, Gombe, Kano, Katsina and Jigawa states, and would leave in its trail devastation and destruction.

The devastating consequences rainstorms have posed to different nations across the world should serve as proactive signal to Nigeria that there is urgent need to prepare ahead of the predicted danger.

For instance, the July 21 rainstorm in Beijing has caused the economy $1.6 billion in flood damage and stranded about 80,000 travelers after their flights were delayed.

Such awful phenomenon has also been witnessed in Nigeria, just as forty eight hours after a devastating rainstorm ravaged parts of Lagos early this year, 12 pupils and 2 women were perished in a boat mishap which occurred in a riverine community in Otto-Awori Local Council Development Area of the state.

Meanwhile, prior to the warning by NIMET, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) under the leadership of the Director General, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, issued several warning alerts to some states like Lagos, Niger, Kwara in February, 2012; March, 2012, and May 2012 respectively.

In addition to this, NEMA in collaboration with federal and states’ ministries of Environment has issued many proactive measures through which the consequences of rainstorms could be efficiently averted in the country.

From such measures, states have been encouraged to continue on their part and embark on adaptive and mitigative efforts to fight the global scourge. These include pre-rainy season massive cleaning and dredging of canals and drainage channels to prevent flooding.

The state and local governments can collaborate

with residential engineers and drainage maintenance officers to tackle flood-related matters in the states and local government areas; and make public their phone numbers in order to receive complaints on possible blocked drains, people dumping refuse inside canals, and other related drainage matters in their domains.

The resident engineers appointed in this case are expected to maintain affective level of interaction with respective community leaders, residents associations, community development associations, and familiarise themselves with the drainage and canal problems affecting their localities mainly to proffer reasonable solutions that will benefit the states and local councils.

Individuals at both states and local governments must imbibe discipline and demonstrate significant level of seriousness and profound support towards their states and local governments’ development programmes in order to reduce flood to the barest minimum.

They must ensure proper disposal of refuse through the states and local government approved disposal agents.

A special task force or monitoring on environmental sanitation team can be appointed by the states and local councils to arrest individuals found dumping waste into canals in residential or market areas; and appropriate sanctions must be meted out for such offence.

All stakeholders on emergency management must embark on massive enlightenment campaigns across the country, using various campaign strategies such as conference, workshops and seminar which must be organised in their local dialects as well as distribution of instructional materials like hand bills, banners and flyers majorly to sensitised residents on the need to prepare for the rainy season.

Furthermore, building on drainage channels must be discouraged by the structural development authorities in the states and local councils; as dumping of refuse into drain paths has become a source of epidemics and flooding, thereby constituting serious threat to lives and property in the country over the years.

PAGE 26

Kwara Govt for cooperation with waste collectors

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he Kwara Ministry of Environment and Forestry has urged people of the state to cooperate with and support waste collectors in the state with a token fee for effective service delivery.

Alhaji Sikiru Olanipekun, the Director of Environment, made the appeal in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ilorin.

Olanipekun urged the people to stop indiscriminate dumping of refuse into gutters, drains, waterways and rivers, adding that the key to good health w a s e n s u r i n g a clean environment.

The director also urged the people not to litter the roads and streets with dirt so as to prevent diseases.

He announced waste management in the state would soon be commercialised and that when it becomes operational road side waste bins would be removed while people be expected to buy plastic waste bins and bags from the Kwara Environmental Protection Agency at affordable prices.

(NAN)

Monsoon rains, floods kill 15 in Pakistan

T

orrential rains and floods yesterday killed at least 15 people in Pakistan, officials

said.

Pakistan-administered Kashmir in the north and the southern port city of Karachi were among the worst-hit areas.

Police officer Malik Shafiq said “13 people, including three women, were swept away’’ by a flooding stream in Machhera village, about 35 kilometres from the Kahmir capital Muzaffarabad.

“So far we recovered one body while efforts were underway to find others,’’ Shafiq said.

Two people died when the roof of their house collapsed due to rain in the Hafizabad district of Punjab province.

Police said more people were still trapped under the debris.

In Karachi, prolonged power cuts and gridlocks were reported after heavy rainfall as officials struggled to restore electricity to the financial hub of with a population of more than 18 million.

Chief meteorologist Arif Mehmood said his department had forecast heavier monsoon rains than the previous year.

“More showers were expected from Thursday to Saturday in the country’s upper parts, especially Khyber Pakhuntkhwa and Punjab provinces,’’ he said. (dpa/NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Traders decry flooding at Port Harcourt market

S

ome traders at the Mile One Temporary Evening Market in Port Harcourt have described the flooding in the market as worrisome.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the evening market is usually water logged

anytime it rained.

The traders have to wade through filthy flood while selling their wares.

The situation had forced them to acquire rain shoes which they wear while doing business.

Mr Taiwo Adisa, one of the

Flooding at Ijora G.R.A in Lagos, yesterday.

traders, described the situation as major challenge to the traders’ health.

Adisa, who is also the Chairman of Meat Sellers Association in the market, linked the situation to poor drainage system.

Photo: NAN

Environmental stakeholders advocate legislation on municipal, agric waste management best

T

he national stakeholders’ workshop on Review of the Draft National Policy on Municipal and Agricultural Wastes Management (MAW) advocated for a legislation in line with environmental best practice.

The participants made the call in a 14-point communiqué issued at the end of the threeday workshop held in Lagos.

The communiqué stated that the enforcement of the legislation should be within the purview of the Ministry of Environment at the Federal and State levels and the relevant department at the local government level.

It recommended the review of the National Municipal and Agricultural Waste Management Policy every five years to ensure sustained environmental practices.

The stakeholders said that the five-year review would help to attain the goals of the policy and urged the three tiers of government to make adequate yearly budgetary allocations

toward addressing environmental challenges.

They also stressed the need for intensive environmental education and awareness campaign, including compliance monitoring and enforcement.

They recommended that all levels of government should undertake the training of waste handlers and farmers.

“The Federal, State and LGAs should develop appropriate Legislations, and technical guidelines on waste management systems and establish a database on municipal and agricultural waste management and Unintentional Persistent Organic Pollutants (UPOPs) for the purpose of planning by Federal Ministry of Environment.,’’ the communiqué stated.

The stakeholders further called for collaboration among the three tiers of government and coordination of all activities to achieve sustainable management of municipal and agricultural waste

management.

They also advised all tiers of government to employ and promote best available environmental friendly technique and practice on sustainable waste management as well as the promotion of the concepts of zero waste and waste-to- wealth through the practice of composting.

The communiqué suggested that the draft policy should ensure the segregation of waste at source, undertaking resource recovery, re-use, and recycling and environmentally sound safe disposal.

It also called for the establishment of strategic alliance with relevant stakeholders and ensuring that waste management f a c i l i t i e s complied with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) requirement.

The stakeholders recommended that states and local governments should provide land for the construction of waste management facility. (NAN)

“Due to the flooding, people prefer to buy from open shops instead of the market, ‘’ he said.

Adisa urged the state government to come to their aid and complete the remaining phase of the market.

Another trader, Miss Nkeiruka onyia, who sells fresh pepper and tomatoes, said that there was no reason the traders were being made to do business in such condition.

“It is always terrible anytime it rains; sometimes our goods perish due to flooding, ‘’ she said.

Miss Stella Ihejirika, a stockfish seller, said that the state of the market could discourage buyers.

“The goods we sell here are for human consumption and we need to operate in clean environment; this market is not befitting at all,’’ she said.

Mr George Fineman, an Economist, said allowing the traders to do business in such unfriendly environment would discourage the growth of small scale businesses.

“As traders, we thank the government for the first segment of the market; we are asking that the other segment be built so that we all can have shops, ‘’ he said. (NAN)

...Kwara issues warning to residents

K

wara Government has warned residents living on river banks across the state to move to higher plains due to the likelihood of flooding.

The state Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr Tunji Moronfoye, gave the advice on Monday in Ilorin while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

According to him, there is the need for those living on the banks of the River Niger to vacate their homes to avoid impending flooding of the downstream section..

He said the warning became imperative in view of the recent flooding in some parts of the country, especially in Jimeta, Adamawa.

The incident reportedly followed the release of water from a dam in Cameroon.

He said the recent publication issued by the management of Jebba Hydro Electric Plc indicated that the volume of water had increased significantly at the Jebba reservoir.

The commissioner assured residents that the state government was doing everything possible to ameliorate the situation. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 27

Some flood displaced people migrating from their homes in Kwata, Sheka, and Maigemu villages, across the River Benue into Mutum-Biyu, headquarters of Gassol local government area in Taraba, on Tuesday.

Photo: NAN

M

r Lawal Oludare, an Environmental Health Official (EHO) with the Lagos State Ministry of Environment, has advised the government to fund preventive health and employ more environmental officers.

He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday in Lagos that the government needed to employ more officers to ensure healthy environment.

Environmental health officer seeks adequate funding for preventive health “I want to appeal to the governments in general - federal, state and local governments - to give preventive health its right sense of place.

“That is, ensuring that

Gov. Orji threatens to demolish 1,800 buildings on sewer lanes in Aba

G

ov. Theodore Orji of Abia has threatened to pull down 1,800 buildings allegedly built on sewer lanes in Aba, the economic hub of the state.

Orji issued the threat in Umuahia, while briefing newsmen on the plans by his administration to transform the commercial town.

He said that efforts so far made to build the city had been stalled by flooding, which resulted from the blocking of drains and sewer lanes.

The governor said, “the problem of Aba is flooding so for you to succeed in developing the city you have to do flood control.

“An aerial and land survey had been conducted and 1,800 houses are built on drainage.”

Orji alleged that the owners did not have approvals before erecting the structures and charged them to ‘’look for alternatives elsewhere’’.

He said that government would open up all the drains for free-flow of rain water and also begin massive road construction in the city at the end of the rains.

He said that the government had contacted the Niger Delta Development Commission to intervene in the rehabilitation of the deplorable Obohia Road.

Although he described the

revenue generated from Aba as ‘’paltry,’’ he said that ‘’no government can afford to neglect Aba’’ because of its economic relevance to the state. ‘’The highest wage bill in the local government system is from Aba North and Aba South local government areas, while government gets the least revenue from the areas,’’ Orji said.

He gave the assurance that the construction of the proposed waste recycling plant in Aba would soon begin.

The governor also spoke on the dilapidated Enugu-Port Harcourt Expressway,and said, ‘’the Abia portion of the road is the worse.’’ ‘’We have also contacted the Federal Government and Ministry of Works over the poor condition of the road and they have promised to do something,’’ he said.

He said that the newly inaugurated Abia Road Maintenance Agency had been given the marching order to fix all the potholes in different parts of the state.

He explained that the government had directed that remedial measures be taken to salvage the Isuikwuato-ABSU Road from being severed by gully. (NAN)

money is committed to it, employing officers in numbers that require covering all places.

“If an environmental officer really performs his job, the doctors, nurses and other curative health services delivery agents will have less to do and they will not be bottled up or neck-down to eventually be crying woe for over-working them.

“Prevention, they say, is better than cure.’’

Oludare, who is also a legal practitioner with the ministry, said that the last recruitment of such officers was done between 1989 and 1990, under the Ministry of Health, across the country.

He said that the World Health Organisation’s requirement was one environemntal health officer to 8,000 persons.

“Rather the present ratio is one officer to 50,000 persons, which is not encouraging.’’

He said that when more officers are recruited on preventive health, illnesses will be reduced.

Oludare also complained that due to dearth of officers at the local and state government levels, public and private the premises were not being properly monitored against preventive environmental nuisance.

He advised that preventive health should be embraced to reduce health indices in the

state.

“Government should embrace preventive health.

“Preventive health is an essential part of health where illnesses are prevented and nipped on the bud.

“So, by the time government employs environmental officers, they will be able to work on them to ensure services are delivered and illnesses are prevented and health promotion is guaranteed.’’

Oludare pleaded with the government to urgently inaugurate a committee to oversee regulation of the practice of the Environmental Health practices and conducts.

(NAN)

Govts advised to give proper attention to tree planting

T

he Forestry Research Institute of Nigeria (FRIN) has urged governments at all levels to give adequate attention to tree planting, to reduce the rate of deforestation and enhance sustainable forest management.

The Executive Director of FRIN, Prof Sam Badejo, gave this advice in Ilorin at a lecture organised by the Forestry Department of the Kwara State Ministry of Environment and other stakeholders.

Badejo said that the changing climate was likely to a have profound effect on the nation, adding that paying mere lip service to tree planting would not suffice.

Speaking on the topic “Forest Management Concept: A Way Forward in Nigeria”, Badejo said: “Tree can help promote water infiltration by providing

preferential pathways and help bind soil.”

He noted that afforestation and reforestation was recognised under the Kyoto Protocol as an eligible activity to help mitigate the emission of Green House Gases (GHG).

He also recommended the enforcement of a properly conducted Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) as a precondition for approving projects in various sectors of the economy.

Badejo explained that tree planting should be encouraged because in larger reforestation programmes, it would increase government income from taxes and stimulate the demand for labour.

He stressed the need for all stakeholders, including NGOs, civil society, among others, to be involved in tree planting so as to

protect the environment.

The executive director advised governments at all levels to increase the level of education and awareness on tree planting and also introduce workable forest laws in the country.

According to him, there is the need for the government to increase allocation and resources to forestry research and forestry departments to enable them to regulate, rehabilitate and conserve forests.

Badejo also recommended the implementation of recycling and reduction of wood wastes, adding that local communities should be involved in forest management.

The director advised the government to create alternative means of livelihood for the local communities, to reduce the pressure on the forest estates across the country. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 28

Nigerian Army re-jigging for enhanced security

By Ephraims Sheyin

N

igerian soldiers are everready defenders of the nation, but confined to barracks when not in action.

However, these days, their presence on streets are becoming a usual phenomenon.

With most states under siege by militants, terrorists, kidnappers, armed bandits, pirates and some groups pursuing unpopular agenda, soldiers on internal peace keeping missions have literally become part of many Nigerian societies.

Records from Defence Headquarters indicate that soldiers have been deployed into 28 states, out of the 36 states of the federation, to keep peace and suppress various forms of insurrection.

With the violence spreading into more areas, Defence sources have said that more states are to make soldiers their neighbours as government continues efforts towards a stable society.

The Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, says that the massive internal insecurity is just one out of many other challenges the armed forces have to contend with.

He says that international peace operations by the Nigerian Armed Forces have also been enormous, presenting a massive challenge.

“Nigerian soldiers have been in Liberia for two decades and in Sudan since 2004, while troops are being prepared to be deployed to Mali and Guinea Bissau,’’ he points out.

He says that the massive international demands, coupled with the internal security problems, have stretched the army to a great extent.

“The result is that practically every army unit is engaged and there is no redundancy or reserve to cater for rest and recuperation of troops after operations,’’ he says Aside the personnel, he says that the very limited resources available to the army have also been stretched, and particularly notes that funds from the Federal Government are becoming scarce.

To meet the demand for personnel, he calls for more massive recruitment to all segments of the armed forces.

According to him, the population size and threats facing a nation usually determine the strength of its armed forces, recalling that there were massive recruitments into the army during the civil war.

“Immediately after the war, the Nigerian Army had to downsize its strength in tune with post-war realities. Since then, recruitment in the Nigerian Army ,although consistent, has been conservative, since there were no apparent threats, both internally and externally.

“Clearly, there is the need for

Soldiers undergoing anti-terrorism training recently in Command and Staff College, Jaji, Kaduna. more personnel to handle the challenges that are becoming more enormous by the day.’’

Ihejirika says that the army has upgraded the reference hospitals in Kaduna and Lagos to international standards to provide quality service and reduce expenditure on overseas trips for medical care.

The army, he says, has also set up a Nigerian Army Small Scale Drug Manufacturing Unit (NASDMU), which manufactures some of the drugs used by the army and the public.

NASDMU, aside saving resources, is also recording some appreciable earnings.

Defence sources have, however, expressed satisfaction that the armed forces have continued to explore avenues to shore up their financial fortunes.

One such resource diversification team is the Nigerian Army Engineers (NAE), a combat support arm, whose primary role is to provide combat engineering services.

According to Maj. Gen. Jack Nwogbo, General Officer Commanding, 3 Div NA, Rukuba, Jos, the NAE also has the capacity to offer various engineering services to government and other establishments.

To explore this potential, the Nigerian Army has established under

the NAE, a Direct Labour Project Unit, to carry out rapid and urgent construction works, especially the rehabilitation of barracks to minimise expenditure on such projects.

The armed forces have also floated an engineering company - the Sappers Engineering Company Ltd, which has raked in some appreciable revenue by engaging in the construction of roads, buildings and bridges in some states.

The Chief of Defence Staff, Air Marshal Petinrin, for instance, believes that the armed forces must key into technological advancements

if the nation is to effectively tackle global crimes, terrorism and crises.

“Effective human security management requires up-to-date equipment that will keep pace with the ever changing security environment,’’ he says.

To prepare the armed forces for the global challenges, the Minister of State for Defence, Mrs Olusola Obada says the Nigerian Air Force is developing an unmanned aerial vehicle called “Amebo’’.

According to her, the army has also manufactured a prototype

“

With the violence spreading into more areas, Defence sources have said that more states are to make soldiers their neighbours as government continues efforts towards a stable society Chief of Army Staff, Lt.-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika

Armoured Personnel Carrier to ease operations especially in crises-ridden areas, while the Nigerian Navy recently commissioned a locally manufactured boat named “NNS ANDONI’’.

‘The DIC is performing averagely, but it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the old military machines with foreign parts and expertise sourced at exorbitant prices.’’

She says that the army must build specialised capacities on a continuous basis to cope with the dynamic dictates of contemporary realities in efforts toward national development and self-reliance.

While government and other stakeholders in the security sector intensify efforts to meet the modern challenges, Prof. Tijjani MohammedBande, the Director General, Nigeria Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies, says concerted efforts must be made to minimise the internal security challenges.

“The lesser security challenges we face locally, the better for us as a nation striving to develop because so much resources are currently sunk to check local insurgencies.”

He notes that no amount of troops deployed to troubled states is sufficient to end Nigeria’s security challenges if the nationals are not willing to give peace a chance.

“We must collectively resolve to love one another and accept one another as one. No soldier can force us to do that.

“It is sad that while other nations are making progress, Nigerians are busy asking each other of where their fathers came from and their religions.’’

Analysts indeed agree with Mohammed-Bande on the need for a more stable society to free Nigeria to concentrate on efforts towards enhanced security and greatness.

Source: NAN

PAGE 30

P

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

US PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION 2012 Poll: Obama gets high marks on likeability, weak on economy

resident Barack Obama goes into his Democratic National Convention getting high marks from voters on personal attributes but facing doubts about his handling of the U.S. economy, a Reuters/Ipsos poll found on Tuesday.

Overall, Republican presidential opponent Mitt Romney led Obama 46 percent to 45 percent among likely voters on who they said they supported at this stage of the campaign, with nine weeks to go until the November 6 election.

The online poll showed that voters found Obama more likable than Romney by 50 percent to 30 percent. Forty-one percent said they believed Obama “understands people like me,” while 28 percent said that about Romney.

But on the overriding issue of the campaign, the strength of the U.S. economy, Obama has left Romney an opening, with 75 percent believing the economy is on the wrong track compared to 17

percent who think it is going in the right direction.

The overall poll result is little changed from Sunday’s poll when the two candidates were tied at 45 percent. Romney got only a short-

lived, small bounce in the polls from the Republican National Convention in Tampa last week, and Obama now has the chance to gain a bounce of his own.

He is to address his party’s

convention in Charlotte, North Carolina on Thursday night.

“With the launch of the Democratic convention today, I think we will see the numbers begin to shift in Obama’s direction soon,”

As Democrats rally, Romney trains for debates against Obama

A

s President Barack Obama’s Democrats are rallying in North Carolina, Republican challenger Mitt Romney is going through what aides describe as “intensive” training here for the three upcoming debates with Obama.

Romney, who spent Labor Day on his boat in New Hampshire while Obama was campaigning in swing states, is spending most of the week in this tiny, rustic town at the home of Kerry Healey, who was Massachusetts’ lieutenant governor when Romney was governor from 2003 to 2007.

Aides said Romney will likely return to campaigning in several key states by the end of the week, but that for now his focus is on the three October debates for which he began preparing in June. This week is the first time Romney has squared off against Ohio Senator Rob Portman, a fellow Republican who was Romney’s choice to stand in for Obama during the practice sessions.

The sessions begin with an hourlong mock debate, with campaign aide Peter Flaherty, Romney’s point man for conservative constituencies, in the role of moderator.

After the debate, Romney and his advisers analyze the session. After a break for lunch, they conduct another hourlong mock debate.

Romney’s running mate, U.S. Representative Paul Ryan of Wisconsin, has continued to campaign during the Democrats’ convention.

A senior adviser to Romney says the campaign decided that the best use of Romney’s most valuable resource - his time - was to prepare to face Obama, whom the adviser called “a good debater ... steeped in policy. We think this is time well spent.”

There will be three presidential debates - and one vice presidential debate between Ryan and Vice President Joe Biden - in October, starting with an Obama-Romney debate on October 3 in Denver.

Mitt Romney, Craig Romney, Ann Romney with kids on stage.

said Ipsos pollster Julia Clark.

At this point there were indications that Republicans were more enthusiastic about voting for Romney than Democrats for Obama.

The poll found Romney got the support of 86 percent of Republicans, compared to 79 percent support for Obama from Democrats. Independent voters were basically tied, 36 percent for Romney to 35 percent for Obama.

Vice President Joe Biden, who speaks before Obama on Thursday, was viewed unfavorably by 51 percent compared to 49 percent who supported him.

The rolling poll measures sentiment during the two-week convention season by polling over the previous four days. Monday’s findings are from an Ipsos poll conducted for Reuters from August 31-Sept 4.

For the survey, 1,447 American registered voters were interviewed online. The precision of the Reuters/Ipsos online polls is measured using a credibility interval. In this case, the poll has a credibility interval of plus or minus 2.9 percentage points for all respondents.

DNC exposes US labour pains A

s tens of thousands of Democratic faithful stormed into shiny uptown Charlotte, North Carolina, on Monday, a very different kind of gathering was taking place on the other side of town at Wedgewood Baptist Church.

Away from the roar of the Democratic National Convention, where supporters of President Barack Obama were coming together to push for another four years in power, organised labour leaders from across the US South had gathered to muster up the diminished power their movement still retains.

The Southern Workers Assembly, a meeting of hundreds of workers and officials, representing dozens of local unions from seven southern US states, was timed as a protest against the choice of North Carolina, the least unionised state in the US, as a summit site for the Democrats, a party with deep ties to the American labour movement.

At least one major US union, the United Mineworkers of America, had already dropped its endorsement in the presidential election. The president of the American Federation of Labor has said the organisation would not devote any resources to the convention in Charlotte.

According to the organisers, the Southern union assembly was also meant to draw attention to what they consider a strong, state-led trend against collective bargaining, outdated anti-union legislation and a widening gap between rich and poor.

“Workers in the South need unions and the region has been a

battleground for years. This represents a lot of local unions coming together to create a social movement aimed at changing laws that were put in the way of workers’ rights,” Jim Wrenn, secretarytreasurer of the United Electrical, Radio and Machine Workers Union of America (UE), --and a veteran labour leader, told Al Jazeera.

The goals of the group notwithstanding, the event and its timing have highlighted growing dissatisfaction within the American labour movement, a trend that seems certain to be a challenge to the next president.

A large sign outside the brickbuilt Wedgewood Baptist Church reads “Discrimination is sin”. The words spoken inside, at the Southern Workers Assembly, were no less fiery.

Donna Morgan, 57, a red-haired disability examiner and president of the UE-WVPW in Charleston, West Virginia, began her speech by pounding the table and saying, “I’m mad and I’m not going to take it anymore”.

“In this country, and now with what has happened in Wisconsin, states are moving to destroy unions.

The South is a critical place for this fight because the South has never been able to get strong unions. State governments and big business have been keeping us down,” Morgan said, referring to the move earlier this year by Wisconsin Governor Scott Walker to curtail the collective bargaining rights of public employees.

“It has become a country of haves and have-nots. The gap between rich and poor is getting greater and there will be more unrest in this country unless our

leaders start listening and paying attention to the poor people.”

Each union leader who took the podium referred to an unprecedented level of anti-labour sentiment in the US, and a trend of adopting, strengthening and maintaining union-busting state laws.

“Part of the reason the South remains mired in poverty, discrimination and low wages is the laws that restrict and oppose workers from unionising,” said Dianne Mathiowetz, 66, a retired automaker from Atlanta, Georgia.

“It’s not only about unions: it’s about workers’ right to organise in their own interests.”

Like most leaders at the assembly, Tom Anderson, 42, president of Communication Workers of America Local 3865 in Knoxville, Tennessee, had advice for Obama. “[I would tell him] you have to support unions across the board, public and private. He’s has got to give public-sector unions formal recognition at the federal level.”

If not, Anderson said, the consequences could be severe. “If you take away their seat from the [negotiating] table, the worker has to have his voice heard in other ways, civil disobedience, whatever it takes,” he said. “We are really talking about what kind of country we’re going to have going forward. You hear that on the news, but it’s real on the ground for us as workers.”

“I’m here to show them unions aren’t evil. We’re working for workers’ rights and benefits and job security.” - Matthew Pichler The dissatisfaction voiced by organised labour was hardly contained to southerners at this

year’s Democratic conference.

At the convention center on Monday, Wisconsin delegate Matthew Pichler wore a button that read “Proud to be a union thug”.

“In Wisconsin we were having protests after [Walker] busted the unions and someone from the right called us ‘union thugs’. We’ve now embraced it and proud of it,” said Pichler, 29, a student at Milwaukee Area Technical College and a union member.

Coming from the frontlines of the US labor dispute, Pichler put his perspective in no uncertain terms.

“We’re under attack. The right is trying to kill the union movement to cripple the Democratic Party. I’m here to show them unions aren’t evil.

We’re working for workers’ rights and benefits and job security.”

Delegate Andy Bock, 51, a member of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees in Ames, Iowa, said unions are the target of “highly financed PR companies that paint unions as the cause of the economic downturn”.

The end of unions in the US, in Bock’s opinion, would mean the end of the American middle class.

Back at Wedgewood Baptist, Saladin Muhammad, the organiser of the Southern Workers Assembly, looked around the church at the end of the event and offered some advice for the presidential candidates.

“They need to know that working people in the southern states are dissatisfied with policies and laws that both parties have in regards to workers,” he said. “We can see that we have to build our own movement and fight for it ourselves.”

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 31

‘US sanctions helped us to develop’ – Iranian Ambassador in this interview with Joy Baba, the Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi, opens up on the reason his country is at the fore front of the Non Aligned Movement and why crises has persisted in the Middle East.

What is the state of the bilateralrelationbetweenNigeria and I ran?

T

he federal Republic of Nigeria and Islamic Republic of Iran enjoy long standing, cordial and friendly relation. Iran established her diplomatic relation with Nigeria about 40 years ago and the ties has always been in right track and to the benefit of both Countries and people.

Iran and Nigeria are two important countries in the two different geographical regions of Middle East and West Africa and both play important role for the stability and security of the two regions.

The fourth joint economic commission between the two countries was held a few months ago in Tehran .

Iran and Nigeria have enormous potential and resources which have not been utilised. Iran has had significant achievements in the areas of science, technology, engineering and we are prepared to cooperate with Nigeria and share our experiences.

The two countries have about 250 millions population and we are prepared to utilise our potential to the benefit of both Nations and meet each other needs.

Islamic Republic of Iran, three decades after the victory of Islamic Revolution, has had great achievements in the areas of technical, medical , agriculture and reached to self sufficiency in many areas or is on the verge of it. For example, in the area of generating power, establishing power plants and production of its related equipments, we are about 90 percent self sufficient. At present, we produce more than 70, 000 of Mega Watts electricity and we export part of it to our neighboring states. We can have close cooperation in this area and other technical and engineering ones.

Iran and Nigeria are members of many regional and international organization such as, Non Aligned Movement, D8, G16, G77, OPEC, OIC and so on, and have had fruitful cooperation in the said organisations.

United States has just announced more sanctions against Iran claiming that its nuclear programme is still going on. What is your reaction to these sanctions?

After the victory of Islamic Revolution in Iran, United states has always imposed sanctions against Iran in various occasions and by resorting various pretexts. American sanction against Iran is not new as we have experienced it for more than thirty years.

These sanctions have some times been to the benefit of our country and due to sanctions, we achieved self sufficiency in many areas. We utilised the sanctions as an

opportunity and produced most of our requirements in the country.

United States and some western countries are well aware that Iran follows a peaceful nuclear programme in fact they are concerned about Iran’s scientific progresses. They intend, in line with their expansionist and domineering policy in the world, to limit the monopoly of nuclear fuel production to a few countries and misuse its political and economic privileges.

Iran is signatory to and one of the committed member of Non Proliferation Treaty (NPT) and support the idea of a world free of nuclear weapons and by no means is after nuclear weapon. The position of Islamic Republic of Iran on banning and making nuclear weapon is based on our religious belief and it is not for the satisfaction of America and West.

In the Middle East, Israel is the only country which has nuclear weapon and by continuing its secret nuclear oriented programme has always endangered the Middle East.

In line with enforcement of sanctions, even they (West) don,t sell spare parts of aircraft to Iranian airlines which should be regarded as humanitarian issue, because it might endanger the life of civilian people.

Iran hosted the Non- Aligned Movement summit last month are the issues and given the fact that many people claimed that NAM is a cold war relic, what is Tehran view on the relevance of NAM in contemporary times?

Non Aligned Movement was established during the cold war era and played significant role at that time, but it has maintained its important position and is still regarded as a powerful block of developing countries. Now, as much as ever we need to endeavor towards revitalising the Movement based on the world current condition.

NAM, which consists of 120 countries with reliance on its original objectives and aspirations is able to play outstanding role at the present time and compensate part of shortcomings of the existing Global System, political, economic and cultural potentials of member states, create a great category of power. A power which defends

Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Saeed Koozechi peace and justice and that will be able to bring about positive impacts for solving global challenges.

55 five percent of world population and 20 percent of Global economy belongs to NAM member states. NAM, with regard to its various enormous potentials and capacities can play effective role and create further political, economic, security convergent among member states and enhance its global position.

As long as we witness domination, injustice and discrimination in the global arena the world needs It. Enjoying lofty values and principles and its shinning precedence, the role of NAM and all member states is very important in the international developments.

New powers are emerging in the world and it is clear that this process would weaken the old ones. This shifting of power provides an opportunity for NAM to prepares ground for the fair management and sharing one in real term in the world. Non Aligned Movement, which consists of about two third of world population is able to play vital roles in the world arena. The current structure of global management is impaired and allows a few bullying and domineering countries to control major part of world’s wealth and resources through their own major companies. After 65 years of Palestine occupation by Zionist, in spite of this fact that, all nations have admitted to their Inalienable rights, the behavior of Security Council has practically led to

“

stabilisation and expansion of usurpation.

The people and the Government of Iran are wholeheartedly prepared to assume the responsibility entrusted upon them by the NAM members, and make effort to further the noble principles and purposes of the Movement with a view to promote its role and position in the world affairs. In doing so, full support and participation of all member states could greatly help our Movement to move forward to achieving its goals and objectives.

We are glad that the Nigerian delegation headed by His Excellency Namadi Sambo, esteemed vice president of Nigeria attended the Summit in Tehran .

Iran has promised to retaliate against any attack from Israel and United States.

Does Iran really feel threatened by these powers?

Iran is a peace loving county and is against war and follows a peaceful policy. Israel and United States are war mongers and have always pursued this policy. Israel, which is a usurper regime since the very beginning has been at war with its neighboring states and repeatedly attacked innocent Palestinian people and expelled them from their homeland. Israel has an aggressive nature and has assassinated many Palestinian throughout the world.

United States is an arrogant and interventionist regime. It has attacked many countries throughout the world. In recent

American sanction against Iran is not new as we have experienced it for more than thirty years.

These sanctions have some times been to the benefit of our country and due to sanctions, we achieved self sufficiency in many areas. We utilised the sanctions as an opportunity and produced most of our requirements in the country.

Photo: Joy Baba years, it has attacked two neighboring states of Iran , Iraq and Afghanistan and during these attacks, thousands of innocent of people have lost their lives and many others injured and displaced. Unites States even attacked our civilian aircraft and shot it down it with 290 passengers on board over Persian Gulf men US wanted to attack Iraq, it raised the issue of chemical weapon and declared that Iraq have stockpiles of it, but after invasion chemical weapon was found.

Iran has consistently warned that any attempt to forcibly removetheregimeinSyriawould have a wider implication both for the region and the world. What are these implications?

Iran is against any foreign intervention in Syria . We are of the opinion that foreign intervention will further complicate the situation and will lead to internal war in Syria . In the last 18 months, Some Syrian oppositions with the support of some countries have attempted to destabilise Syrian Government and to overthrow it, but they have not succeeded. These countries have drawn the opposition of Syrian Government to a proxy war against the Government. This proxy war is the reality of Syrian crisis.

Iran supported Kofi Annan peace plan for Syria. We believe dialogue is the only way to overcome this crisis, but those who led proxy war in Syria hindered Kofi Annan peace plan and did not allow it succeed.

Islamic Republic of Iran, since the very beginning of crisis in Syria has reiterated on priority of political and peaceful measures for restoring peace and tranquility in Syria as well as implementation of political reform and fulfillment of people’s demands.

Iran is against killing civilian by both sides and is of the opinion that Syrian people’s demand should be addressed in the process of regional development.

Intensification of crisis in Syria, arming civilian and sending mercenaries to Syria and preparing ground for extremists such as Alqaeda xdoes not only aggravates the problem but also spreads it to the regional countries.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 32

Strikers march at S Africa’s platinum mine Mauritania sends Gaddafi spy chief to Libya

M

ore than 1,000 striking South African miners have demonstrated at Lonmin's Marikana mine, where police shot dead 34 of their colleagues last month.

Dozens of police arrived at the scene on Wednesday while a helicopter

hovered above the protesting rock-drill operators, whose strike to demand a hefty pay hike is now in its fourth week, crippling Lonmin.

One man at the front of the column waved a placard reading "We want 12,500 or nothing else", a reference to the group's demand for a

hike in base pay to $1,500 a month, more than double their current salary.

Another protester, who did not wish to be named, said the demonstrators were heading to Lonmin's nearby Karee mine to "take out the people who are working in the

M

auritanian authorities have handed over Muammar Gaddafi's ex-spy chief to Libya nearly five months after he was arrested for entering the country illegally, state television reported.

"Mauritanian authorities hand over ex-Libyan spy chief Abdullah alSenussi to Libya," read a newsflash on the screen written in Arabic on Wednesday.

An official in the ministry of foreign affairs who requested anonymity because he was not authorised to speak on the matter, said that Senussi boarded a flight at 9am local time (0900 GMT) and was headed to Tripoli.

A delegation from Libya, including the defence minister and army chief of staff, were in the capital Nouakchott on Tuesday for a visit which several official sources said was in connection with the extradition.

Senussi, a brother-in-law and feared former right-hand man of the slain Libyan dictator, was arrested in Mauritania in March and charged two months later for illegal entry and use of forged documents.

Libya has since pushed hard for the extradition of the man who is also wanted by France and the International Criminal Court in The Hague.

In July, Libya's new authorities dispatched Prime Minister Abdel Rahim al-Kib to Nouakchott to press for the handover, but Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania's president, said Senussi had to face justice for illegally entering the country.

On June 27, 2011, the ICC issued an arrest warrant for Senussi saying he was an "indirect perpetrator of crimes against humanity, of murder and persecution based on political grounds" in the eastern Libyan city of Benghazi.

Benghazi was the birthplace of the Libyan revolt that started in February 2011 and eventually put an end to more than four decades of dictatorship. It led to the death of Gaddafi and the arrest of several of his allies.

Senussi is the target of another international arrest warrant after a Paris court sentenced him in absentia to life in prison for involvement in the bombing of a French UTA airliner over Niger in September 1989.

The plane was carrying 170 people from Brazzaville to Paris via N'Djamena.

That attack - along with the bombing of a Pan Am jumbo jet over Lockerbie, Scotland in December 1988 in which 270 people were killed - led to a UN-mandated air blockade of Libya in 1992.

South Africa miners have been protesting since August 16 [Al Jazeera

mine shaft".

Al Jazeera's Tania Paige, reporting from Marikana, said: "People are in a good mood, people have broken from two police barricades, they are demanding their bosses at Lonmin ... speak to them."

"The miners are trying to invigorate their campaign - after incidents of the past two weeks," said our reporter.

However, at the Gold Fields KDC East mine in Johannesburg, the scene of violence on Tuesday, workers have agreed to go back to work.

Lesiba Seshoka, spokesperson for the National Union for Mineworkers (NUM), told Al Jazeera that the 12,000 miners striking at the mine had agreed to go back to work tonight.

"They have agreed to go back to work when their shift begins tonight," he said.

"They have managed to highlight their concerns and this is important."

On Tuesday the violence had spread to Johannesburg, with police and security guards firing rubber bullets and tear gas at sacked gold miners who have been blocking colleagues from working, officials and police said.

AU condemns abuse and violation of human rights in Mali

By Joy Baba

A

frican Union (AU) has condemned the abuses and violations of human rights committed in Mali and warned the perpetrators of these dastard acts that they will be held accountable for their actions.

This was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 332nd meeting of the Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the AU held on 4th September 2012, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Council expressed its deep concern at the holding of northern

part of Mali by terrorist and armed groups and condemned the reported presence of elements of the Movement for the Uniqueness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO) around Douentza near the city of Mopti. It also condemned the announcement by MUJAO that it has murdered an Algerian Diplomat who had been held hostage and demands immediate and unconditional release of the Consul of Algeria to Gao and his colleagues still being held hostage.

PSC expressed its solidarity and condolences to the Algerian Government and the affected

families.

The communiqué further said PSC requests that AU in close cooperation with ECOWAS to expedite the finaliation of the strategic concept for implementation of the relevant provisions of the communiqué of it 323rd meeting held on 12 June 2012 in New York and in accordance with the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council PSC reaffirms the unwavering commitment of AU and its Member States to the national unity and territorial integrity of

the Republic of Mali and the absolute rejection by the AU of terrorism and resort to armed rebellion to assert political claims.

It further welcomed the formation of Government of National Unity on August 20, 2012 stressing the need for this Government to spare no efforts to aim at overcoming the challenges of restoring the authority of the state in the northern part of the country and the organisation of free, transparent and credible elections within the 12 month deadline stipulated for the conclusion of the transition.

to the league, said on Wednesday in the capital Cairo.

He said that a quartet of regional states - Saudi Arabia, Iran, Turkey and Egypt - would meet to discuss the Syrian crisis, which started 17 months ago as an insurrection, but has turned into a civil war with opposition fighters battling to dislodge Bashar al-Assad from

power.

"The quartet which Egypt has called for will meet now," Morsi told a meeting of Arab foreign ministers, without giving more details of the gathering.

Morsi's comments follows his speech at the Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in the Iranian capital Tehran where he called it an "ethical duty" to support the Syrian people against the "oppressive regime" in Damascus.

He said Assad must learn from "recent history" and step down before it was too late, alluding to the fate of authoritarian regimes in Tunisia, Libya, Egypt and Yemen that have been overthrown by Arab uprisings.

"I tell the Syrian regime 'there is still a chance to end the bloodshed'," Morsi said, adding: "Don't take the right step at the wrong time... because that would be the wrong step."

Morsi, who in June was elected Egypt's first Islamist leader after an

uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, urged the Arab diplomats to move quickly to resolve the Syrian conflict which has left 26,000 people dead, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

Al Jazeera's Jacky Rowland, reporting from Cairo, said Morsi recognised that Iran could not be ingored if a solution was to be found for the conflict in Syria.

"Morsi's speech touched many issues related to the Arab uprisings.

Regarding Syria, he said there should be an Arab solution for the conflict," said our correspondent.

"The Syrian blood that is being shed day and night, we are responsible for this," Morsi said.

"We cannot sleep while Syrian blood is being shed.

"I call on you, Arab foreign ministers, to work hard to find an urgent solution to the tragedy in Syria.

"If we don't move, the world won't move with any seriousness."

Egypt president calls for ‘change’ in Syria

M

ohammed Morsi, Egypt's president, has told an Arab League conference that "change" of government is needed in violence-wracked Syria and that time should not be wasted "speaking of reform".

"This time has passed now. Now it is time for change," Morsi, who was making his first presidential address

Morsi, centre, rebuked Syria in a speech delivered at the NonAlligned Movement (NAM) summit in Tehran on August 30 [AFP]

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Asia and Middle East

A

t least 34 people have been killed and 30 others injured in a massive blaze at a fireworks factory in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, police say.

The fire at the Om Shakti factory triggered off several explosions of firecrackers with thick black smoke rising into the sky.

The blaze took place in the town of Sivakasi, the hub of India's firecracker industry.

The town has hundreds of factories and produces 90% of India's fireworks.

It took fire fighters about five hours to bring the fire under control, the BBC's Sanjoy Majumder in Delhi says.

PAGE 33

Blaze at India fireworks factory ‘kills 34’ It broke out in one of Sivakasi's largest fireworks factories, spreading through packed warehouses and setting off explosions.

At one point the heat from the blaze was so intense that rescue workers found it difficult to get into the facility.

More than 250 workers were said to be inside at the time of the incident.

Najmul Hoda, superintendent of police for Virudhunagar district where Sivakasi town is located, told the BBC that the number of dead had risen to 34.

He said some of the victims were factory workers, but most were local villagers.

"People had walked to the factory after the fire and many of the bystanders were then caught in the

explosions," he said.

Mr Hoda said the factory's licence had been suspended on Tuesday for violating safety rules and "no work should have been happening there today".

He said the police were trying to trace the factory owner. He faces possible charges of culpable homicide, police say.

Earlier, Mr Hoda told the BBC

that firefighters and rescuers had been unable to get into the factory because of continuing explosions.

"It's very hot and the conditions are difficult for my men to enter the building.

"The factory has a huge stock of firecrackers and the explosions are still going on," he said.

It was not immediately clear how

Bo Xilai scandal: Ex-police chief Wang Lijun charged

T

he ex-police chief at the centre of China's biggest political scandal for years has been charged with a number of offences, Chinese state media say.

Wang Lijun is charged with defection, abuse of power and bribetaking.

He briefly fled to a US consulate in February, triggering a series of events that led to the downfall of the powerful politician Bo Xilai.

Bo Xilai's wife has since been given a suspended death sentence for the murder of British businessman Neil Heywood.

Mr Bo had been tipped for promotion to China's highest leadership this year.

The BBC's Martin Patience in Beijing says the charges against Mr

Wang appear to be an attempt to bring the scandal to an end before China embarks on a change of leadership later this year.

Wang Lijun, 52, was the former police chief of the south-western Chinese city of Chongqing and had a reputation for being tough on organised crime.

He was once the subject of a TV drama called Iron-Blooded Police Spirits.

He began his career in law enforcement in the Inner Mongolia Region in 1984 and moved to Chongqing in 2008.

He had close ties with the former chief of Chongqing, Bo Xilai, but in early February the Chongqing city government said Mr Wang had been shifted to another job.

The fire left scenes of devastation at the factory site

Iran says it treats Israeli military threats as American

I

ran makes no distinction between U.S. and Israeli interests and will retaliate against both countries if attacked, an Iranian military commander said on Wednesday.

The comments came after the White House denied an Israeli news report that it was negotiating with Tehran to keep out of a future IsraelIran war and as U.S. President Barack Obama fends off accusations from his election rival that he is too soft on Tehran.

"The Zionist regime separated from America has no meaning, and we must not recognize Israel as separate from America," Ali Fadavi, naval commander in Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, was quoted as saying by the Fars news agency.

"On this basis, today only the Americans have taken a threatening stance towards the Islamic Republic,"

Fadavi said. "If the Americans commit the smallest folly they will not leave the region safely."

Iran - which has missiles that could reach Israel and U.S. targets in the region - has conducted military exercises and unveiled upgraded weapons in recent months, aiming to show it can defend itself against any strike against its nuclear sites.

Israel - thought to be the only country in the Middle East with nuclear weapons - says the prospect of a nuclear armed Iran would pose a threat to its existence. Tehran denies it is developing weapons and says its nuclear program is peaceful.

With the approach of U.S. elections in November, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has called for a tougher stance against Iran implicitly knocking Obama's emphasis on diplomatic and sanctions pressure to halt Iranian nuclear work.

Wang Lijun had a reputation for being tough on organised crime

Dozens killed in Afghan suicide attack

A

suicide blast has killed at least 25 people and left another 60 wounded in eastern Afghanistan, officials say.

The attack on Tuesday afternoon targeted the funeral of a tribal elder in the Durbaba district of eastern Nangarghar province near the border with Pakistan.

Officials said Hamisha Gul, local district governor, injured in

the attack, was the likely target.

"The target was the district chief," Sediq Sediqqi, spokesman for the Afghan ministry of interior said.

The funeral was of a "prominent village elder" and "the bomber was amongst the mourners".

There was no immediate claim of responsibility.

Iranian forces in a warm-up

the fire started.

Accidental explosions are common at Indian fireworks factories, which provide fireworks for weddings, festivals and other ceremonies.

Sivakasi has about 700 registered factories but correspondents say they outsource work to thousands of smaller units which function illegally.

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas US points to ‘gross negligence’

by BP

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Colombia president begins FARC peace talks

T

he US justice department is blaming BP PLC for the massive 2010 oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, describing in new court papers examples of what it calls "gross negligence and willful misconduct".

The court filing is the sharpest position yet taken by the US government as it seeks to hold the British oil giant largely responsible for the largest oil spill, as well as the largest environmental disaster, in US history.

Gross negligence is a central issue to the case, scheduled to go to trial in New Orleans in January 2013.

A gross negligence finding could nearly quadruple the civil damages owed by BP under the Clean Water Act to $21bn.

The US government and BP are engaged in talks to settle civil and potential criminal liability, though neither side will comment on the status of negotiations.

"The behaviour, words and actions of these BP executives would not be tolerated in a middling size company manufacturing dry goods for sale in a suburban mall," government lawyers wrote in the filing on August 31 in federal court in New Orleans.

The filing comes more than two years after the disaster that struck on April 20, 2010 when a surge of methane gas known to rig hands as a "kick" sparked an explosion aboard the Deepwater Horizon rig as it was drilling the mile-deep Macondo 252 well off Louisiana's coast. The rig sank two days later.

The well gushed at least 4.9 million barrels of oil into the Gulf of Mexico for 87 straight days, unleashing a torrent of oil that fouled the shorelines of four Gulf Coast states and eclipsed the 1989 Exxon Valdez spill in Alaska in severity.

Al Jazeera's DahrJamail, who has covered the disaster from the beginning, believes the government's statement is an accurate portrayal of BP's actions that led to the disaster, and that it underscores the fact that the impacted areas of the Gulf continue to suffer environmental impacts.

Workers at a drilling facility in the Gulf of Mexico off the coast of Louisiana, May 12, 2010

Colombia's main leftist rebel group, FARC, has agreed to the start of talks to end a half-century-old conflict that has claimed tens of thousands of lives, the Colombian president has said.

P

resident Juan Manuel Santos announced on Tuesday that his government will open peace talks in Oslo next month with the FARC. The talks "will begin in Oslo in the first half of October" before

moving to Havana afterwards, Santos said, adding that the talks "will be measured in months, not years".

He made the announcement at a press conference in Havana called by the Cuban government

on Tuesday morning.

Santos said the agreement does not include a ceasefire and does not include the granting of a safe haven, as occurred in the last peace talks, which ended in disaster in 2002.

Santos announced last week that preliminary talks to end the confrontation with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, already have been held.

At least some of the formal discussions are expected to take place in Cuba, whose communist government has mediated in past peace efforts and maintains surprisingly good relations with Colombia's conservative government.

The sides have agreed to open talks in Oslo, Norway, with Havana serving as the main seat of the peace process, according to a report by RCN Radio of Colombia, which is run by a cousin of Colombia's president and has published what it says is the text of the preliminary agreement between Santos' government and the FARC. The document names the Cuban and Norwegian governments as "guarantors" of the discussions, and Venezuela and Chile as "participants".

The radio station reported that the agenda for discussion includes six central points: agrarian reform, political participation,

drug trafficking, victims and reparations, ending the conflict and implementation of the peace deal. It said that Colombia and the FARC had been in preliminary discussions since late February.

Cuban authorities announced on Tuesday press conference in an email to the foreign press, but gave no details on who will speak for the FARC. The FARC delegation is believed to include some members of the rebels' ruling Secretariat, most of whom have grown old in the jungles as the stubborn conflict has dragged on. The ruling council includes Pablo Catatumbo and Mauricio Jaramillo, top military leaders.

Another big name who might have a role to play is Rodrigo Granda, who was once called the FARC's foreign minister and is considered a top negotiator, though he is not a member of the Secretariat.

The Havana press conference was the first the rebels have given outside Colombia in more than a decade.

The FARC has about 9,000 fighters but has suffered major setbacks in recent years, and the smaller National Liberation Army has 3,000 combatants.

Santos has said they, too, could be interested in laying down their arms, though officials have not said they are part of the current discussions.

Longer working week suggested for Greece

G

reece's international lenders have suggested measures including increasing the maximum working week to six days.

It is one of a series of unofficial proposals to liberalise the labour market and increase government revenue in a document seen by the BBC. The proposals were not included in the original bailout agreement signed with the Greek government.

Inspectors from the EU, IMF and ECB, collectively known as the troika, are due in Greece this week.

They are writing a report that will decide whether Greece receives its next instalment of bailout funds.

There have been many demonstrations against the austerity measures agreed so far

Mexico ‘Gulf cartel boss’ Mario Cardenas Guillen held

M

Mario Cardenas Guillen brought before the media

exican marines have arrested Mario Cardenas Guillen, a suspected leader of the Gulf drug trafficking cartel.

Mr Cardenas Guillen, alias El Gordo or the Fat One, was arrested in Altamira in the northern state of Tamaulipas.

Officials say he headed a faction of the cartel, which split in 2010 after his brother Antonio Ezequiel was killed in a shootout with marines.

The Gulf Cartel has been engaged in a bloody battle for trafficking routes with the Zetas drug gang.

Mario Cardenas Guillen was paraded before the media on Tuesday, a day after his arrest, flanked by two masked and heavily armed marines.

He was "one of the main leaders" of the Gulf Cartel, navy spokesman Jose Luis Vergara said.

Mr Cardenas Guillen's highprofile arrest comes just months before President Felipe Calderon, who launched a crackdown on the cartels in 2006, ends his term in office.

Over this period, a number of key cartel leaders have been killed or arrested.

PAGE 36

O

rganic produce and meat typically isn’t any better for you than conventional food when it comes to vitamin and nutrient content, although it does generally reduce exposure to pesticides and antibioticresistant bacteria, according to a U.S. study.

“People choose to buy organic foods for many different reasons.

One of them is perceived health benefits,” said Crystal SmithSpangler, who led a team of researchers from Stanford University and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care.

“Our patients, our families ask about, ‘Well, are there health reasons to choose organic food in terms of nutritional content or human health outcomes?’”

She and her colleagues reviewed more than 200 studies that compared either the health of people who ate organic or conventional foods or, more commonly, nutrient and contaminant levels in the foods themselves.

The foods included organic and non-organic fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry eggs and milk.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, organic farms have to avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics.

Organic livestock must also have access to pastures during grazing season.

Many of the studies used, though, didn’t specify their standards for what constituted “organic” food, which can cost as much as twice what conventional food costs, the researchers wrote in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found there was no difference in the amount of vitamins in plant or animal products produced organically and

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Organic food no more nutritious than non-organic – study

An organically grown Heirloom tomato is seen in the produce section at the Whole Foods grocery story in Ann Arbor, Michigan. conventionally - and the only nutrient difference was slightly more phosphorous in the organic products.

Organic milk and chicken may also contain more omega-3 fatty acids, but that was based on only a few studies.

More than one third of conventional produce had

detectable pesticide residues, compared with 7 percent of organic produce samples. Organic pork and chicken were 33 percent less likely to carry bacteria resistant to three or more antibiotics than conventionally produced meat.

Smith-Spangler told Reuters Health it was uncommon for either

organic or conventional foods to exceed the allowable limits for pesticides, so it was not clear whether a difference in residues would have an effect on health.

But others said more research is needed to fully explore the potential health and safety differences between organic and conventional foods, and it was

premature to say organic foods aren’t any healthier than nonorganic versions.

“Right now I think it’s all based on anecdotal evidence,” said Chensheng Lu, who studies environmental health and exposure at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Source: Reuters.com

Tilde’s vitriolic attacks on Nigeria’s Muslim leaders Contd. from Back Page Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, since his assumption of office in 2006, has had his hand in every pie in terms of the activities and progress of the Fulani in Nigeria. He has sent us as his ambassadors and emissaries on trouble-shooting for the Fulani in many states and local government areas in this country. Such interventions by the Sultan achieved results never achieved before. I remember, particularly, his intervention in Takum Local Government Area in Taraba state where two military MPGs and a mobile police AK 47 rifle were recovered from our people and handed over to the police and army. There is now peace in Benue state and neighbouring Nasarawa and Taraba as a result of the Sultan’s official and personal intervention.

Dr. Tilde’s contradiction in terms is noticeable in this remark: “The Jama’tu Nasrul Islam (JNI) and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs are practically government mouthpieces because their core members - the Emirs and their President, the Sultan – are officials of their respective

state governments. They dare not say anything unpalatable to the government otherwise they will soon (incur) the wrath of their emperor – governors”. As officials under imperial governors, maybe, by extension, the President, where does Dr. Tilde, in this world, want the Sultan and the Emirs to derive their powers from to do what he is blaming them for not doing?

The irony of it all is that this same Dr. Tilde who could write such virulent, perilous and contemptuous articles, is a spineless, cowardly, fainthearted and fearful individual who could not introduce or present himself in any environment he considers hostile. I recall him pleading with us not to disclose his true identity during a security meeting, preferring to borrow a name and yet this is the man who challenges people occupying responsible public offices to come out and tell him what they did or intended to do for their people and for him to go to press later and tell the world.

Talking to Dr. Tilde, even one on one, is a hazardous, risky and dangerous adventure. Anything you want to keep out of the public domain as confidential,

appropriate and private, keep the doctor at arm’s length, otherwise you are in trouble. I hope the Sultan and others know this now. Dr. Tilde is a man who holds everybody in contempt who differs from him.

Hear him again: “What crop of leaders are these who cannot defend the interest of their people, be with them during crisis or assist them during disasters? How can

they command the respect of their followers with this blatant abdication of responsibility?

Nobody is asking them to carry any sword as their grandfathers did. We are only asking them to speak out; yet that too is not forthcoming. Kai”.

The Sultan, may be, the commander of the Fulani, but he is also the Amirul Mumineen and

“

By the very nature of the Northern or Muslim traditional leadership, based on Islamic teachings, as opposed to other religious or non-religious traditional leadership, you could easily understand the patience, restraint and discipline of Muslim leaders. It needs maturity and wisdom to understand. It was not for nothing that Lord Lugard adopted this system of leadership known as indirect rule

the Chairman of the Nigerian Traditional Rulers’ Council. By these positions alone, the Sultan has a responsibility to every traditional ruler and his subjects in Nigeria, without recourse to religion, creed, section or ethnicity. And at this point, the Sultan’s position transcends all the sentiments Dr. Tilde raised for him to address.

By the very nature of the Northern or Muslim traditional leadership, based on Islamic teachings, as opposed to other religious or non-religious traditional leadership, you could easily understand the patience, restraint and discipline of Muslim leaders. It needs maturity and wisdom to understand. It was not for nothing that Lord Lugard adopted this system of leadership known as indirect rule. If, for example, our leaders were to emulate other non-Muslim leaders and behave in a similar manner, for just 24 hours, Nigeria would become a burning hell.

Sale Bayari is Secretary, Sultan’s Tiv Farmers/Fulani Cattle Rearers’ Relationship Committee and Protem National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association.

PAGE 36

O

rganic produce and meat typically isn’t any better for you than conventional food when it comes to vitamin and nutrient content, although it does generally reduce exposure to pesticides and antibioticresistant bacteria, according to a U.S. study.

“People choose to buy organic foods for many different reasons.

One of them is perceived health benefits,” said Crystal SmithSpangler, who led a team of researchers from Stanford University and the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care.

“Our patients, our families ask about, ‘Well, are there health reasons to choose organic food in terms of nutritional content or human health outcomes?’”

She and her colleagues reviewed more than 200 studies that compared either the health of people who ate organic or conventional foods or, more commonly, nutrient and contaminant levels in the foods themselves.

The foods included organic and non-organic fruits, vegetables, grains, meat, poultry eggs and milk.

According to U.S. Department of Agriculture standards, organic farms have to avoid the use of synthetic pesticides and fertilizers, hormones and antibiotics.

Organic livestock must also have access to pastures during grazing season.

Many of the studies used, though, didn’t specify their standards for what constituted “organic” food, which can cost as much as twice what conventional food costs, the researchers wrote in the Annals of Internal Medicine.

Smith-Spangler and her colleagues found there was no difference in the amount of vitamins in plant or animal products produced organically and

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Organic food no more nutritious than non-organic – study

An organically grown Heirloom tomato is seen in the produce section at the Whole Foods grocery story in Ann Arbor, Michigan. conventionally - and the only nutrient difference was slightly more phosphorous in the organic products.

Organic milk and chicken may also contain more omega-3 fatty acids, but that was based on only a few studies.

More than one third of conventional produce had

detectable pesticide residues, compared with 7 percent of organic produce samples. Organic pork and chicken were 33 percent less likely to carry bacteria resistant to three or more antibiotics than conventionally produced meat.

Smith-Spangler told Reuters Health it was uncommon for either

organic or conventional foods to exceed the allowable limits for pesticides, so it was not clear whether a difference in residues would have an effect on health.

But others said more research is needed to fully explore the potential health and safety differences between organic and conventional foods, and it was

premature to say organic foods aren’t any healthier than nonorganic versions.

“Right now I think it’s all based on anecdotal evidence,” said Chensheng Lu, who studies environmental health and exposure at the Harvard School of Public Health.

Source: Reuters.com

Tilde’s vitriolic attacks on Nigeria’s Muslim leaders Contd. from Back Page Sultan Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, since his assumption of office in 2006, has had his hand in every pie in terms of the activities and progress of the Fulani in Nigeria. He has sent us as his ambassadors and emissaries on trouble-shooting for the Fulani in many states and local government areas in this country. Such interventions by the Sultan achieved results never achieved before. I remember, particularly, his intervention in Takum Local Government Area in Taraba state where two military MPGs and a mobile police AK 47 rifle were recovered from our people and handed over to the police and army. There is now peace in Benue state and neighbouring Nasarawa and Taraba as a result of the Sultan’s official and personal intervention.

Dr. Tilde’s contradiction in terms is noticeable in this remark: “The Jama’tu Nasrul Islam (JNI) and the Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs are practically government mouthpieces because their core members - the Emirs and their President, the Sultan – are officials of their respective

state governments. They dare not say anything unpalatable to the government otherwise they will soon (incur) the wrath of their emperor – governors”. As officials under imperial governors, maybe, by extension, the President, where does Dr. Tilde, in this world, want the Sultan and the Emirs to derive their powers from to do what he is blaming them for not doing?

The irony of it all is that this same Dr. Tilde who could write such virulent, perilous and contemptuous articles, is a spineless, cowardly, fainthearted and fearful individual who could not introduce or present himself in any environment he considers hostile. I recall him pleading with us not to disclose his true identity during a security meeting, preferring to borrow a name and yet this is the man who challenges people occupying responsible public offices to come out and tell him what they did or intended to do for their people and for him to go to press later and tell the world.

Talking to Dr. Tilde, even one on one, is a hazardous, risky and dangerous adventure. Anything you want to keep out of the public domain as confidential,

appropriate and private, keep the doctor at arm’s length, otherwise you are in trouble. I hope the Sultan and others know this now. Dr. Tilde is a man who holds everybody in contempt who differs from him.

Hear him again: “What crop of leaders are these who cannot defend the interest of their people, be with them during crisis or assist them during disasters? How can

they command the respect of their followers with this blatant abdication of responsibility?

Nobody is asking them to carry any sword as their grandfathers did. We are only asking them to speak out; yet that too is not forthcoming. Kai”.

The Sultan, may be, the commander of the Fulani, but he is also the Amirul Mumineen and

“

By the very nature of the Northern or Muslim traditional leadership, based on Islamic teachings, as opposed to other religious or non-religious traditional leadership, you could easily understand the patience, restraint and discipline of Muslim leaders. It needs maturity and wisdom to understand. It was not for nothing that Lord Lugard adopted this system of leadership known as indirect rule

the Chairman of the Nigerian Traditional Rulers’ Council. By these positions alone, the Sultan has a responsibility to every traditional ruler and his subjects in Nigeria, without recourse to religion, creed, section or ethnicity. And at this point, the Sultan’s position transcends all the sentiments Dr. Tilde raised for him to address.

By the very nature of the Northern or Muslim traditional leadership, based on Islamic teachings, as opposed to other religious or non-religious traditional leadership, you could easily understand the patience, restraint and discipline of Muslim leaders. It needs maturity and wisdom to understand. It was not for nothing that Lord Lugard adopted this system of leadership known as indirect rule. If, for example, our leaders were to emulate other non-Muslim leaders and behave in a similar manner, for just 24 hours, Nigeria would become a burning hell.

Sale Bayari is Secretary, Sultan’s Tiv Farmers/Fulani Cattle Rearers’ Relationship Committee and Protem National Secretary, Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders’ Association.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 37

Buhari blames insecurity on poor PDP leadership

Why we are detaining Adamawa Deputy Speaker-Police

From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

By Lambert Tyem

T

he Presidential candidate of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) in the 2011 Presidential election, General Muhammadu Buhari, has attributed the prevailing insecurity in the country to injustice, bribery and corruption caused by the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party [PDP].

Buhari made this statement yesterday while flagging off the campaigns for the local government elections scheduled to hold on the 15th of September at the Haliru Abdu Stadium in the state capital.

According to him, governments at all levels are not living up to expectations of the electorates because they have elevated corruption in governance; a situation he said

General Muhammadu Buhari is responsible for the evil currently bedeviling the nation.

He said it is disheartening to note that corruption has killed every sector of the economy

especially the petroleum sector.

He lamented that the nation now imports the products from other oil producing countries a situation he maintained clearly showed a sign of failure.

He however called on CPC loyalist in the state to vote for the party in the forthcoming council elections and to keep vigil to ensure that their votes are counted just as he appealed to them to maintained peace and order in the course of exercising their civic rights.

Buhari who presented flags to the 16 chairmanship candidates of the party in the scheduled local governments elections enjoined them to mobilize their people to use their votes wisely and for the party.

Receiving the Head of State at the Government House Council Chamber on a courtesy call, the state acting Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim K. Aliyu, thanked him for the visit while assuring him that government has provided an enabling environment to ensure all participating parties are treated equally.

Adamawa: Commissioner blames Assembly for law on statutory deductions From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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he Adamawa state Commissioner for Local Government Affairs, Dr Salihu Bakari yesterday blamed the state House of Assembly for creating the law on statutory deductions on council areas funds in the state.

Fielding questions from newsmen in his office, Bakari said although the local government tier gets statutory allocation from the federation account, the funds vanish into thin air as a result of statutory deductions.

He disclosed that about 80 per cent statutory deductions are made on funds accruing to various council areas in the state, a development he described as not healthy for the development and sustenance of grassroots administration.

The Commissioner pointed out that out of what each local government council gets during the Joint Allocation Committee (JAC) meeting, 18 per cent goes to the State Universal Basic Education Board, 15 per cent to the Pension Board, 15 per cent to the Primary Healthcare

Board, while 7 per cent of the fund goes to Chieftaincy Affairs.

Other statutory deductions made on the local government allocation from the federation account are; 5 per cent for the State Assembly, 1 per cent for the Local Government Service Commission and 20 per cent, to the State Development Area administration.

With an average monthly allocation of N2.4 billion, Bakari stated that council chairmen in the state could not utilize the funds adequately due to wrong decisions and poor financial management, stressing that out of the amount, over N800 million is used to settle salaries of workers at the local government level.

He explained that with the statutory deductions, what is left for the running of council areas is meager; a situation which he said has made many council chairmen to borrow loans from financial institutions.

"As I am talking, we have deferred deductions of over N3 billion because Local government councils cannot pay. They take decisions that are not priority decisions, and end up borrowing from banks." Bakari

disclosed.

The Commissioner said, since the inception of the Governor Murtala Nyako's administration, the state government has been paying the counterpart funding of the UBE programmes in the state, which is supposed to be paid by the local governments as well as the funding of primary education in Adamawa state.

It was in the face of these financial challenges, the Ministry for Local

Government Affairs decided to bail out these council areas through the provision of soft loans to cushion the effect on the masses, Bakari asserted.

Commenting on the withholding of funds of 7 State Development Area administrations, the Commissioner defended the action of government by saying, "that the administrators were appointed politically by Governor Nyako, he swore them in and still has the power to sack or hold back their funds if need be."

Dr Salihu Bakari

Kebbi youth group commends Ushe’s ministerial nomination

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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youth group in Kebbi state, Kebbi Unity Forum, has commended the nomination of Brigadier-General Bitrus Boka Ushe as a ministerial nominee by the state chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP. The forum in a statement issued in Abuja also described as untrue the insinuation by a “malicious” group

that Ushe was single handedly nominated by Senator Muhammad Magoro.

“We can authoritative say that Senator Magoro had no hand in the choice of Ushe, rather it was the Federal Government that needed someone with military experience from Kebbi state to replace former Minister of Defense, Dr. Haliru Bello,” the forum said.

“Gen. Ushe, who is well qualified for the task, was discovered and found

handy. Kebbi PDP was never a factor to the nomination of the minister from the state. Such accusation is therefore a malicious and a deliberate attempt to drag the elder statesman into unnecessary political controversy,” the group said.

The Forum also praised President Goodluck Jonathan for the nomination of Ushe and urged him to proceed with the process of his confirmation as a minister.

Bitrus (rtd) attended several courses in Nigeria and United States of America and is also a graduate of National War College now National Defense College’s Course 12.

Bitrus held several regimental appointments and was member of many boards and panels as a member or secretary and was equally a member of the board that drafted the Nigerian Army Peace Support Operations Doctrine in 2005.

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he Nigeria Police yesterday disclosed that they are detaining the Deputy Speaker of Adamawa state House of Assembly, Kwamoti Laori, for allegedly having links to terrorists that were involved in the violent clash in Ngbalang community in Numan Local Government Area in January.

Laori was detained in Abuja by the Anti-terrorism and Heinous squad investigating the January 12 retaliatory attacks on the HausaFulani community in response to a bloody attack on a Christ Apostolic Church,Yola on January 11,2012 by suspected terrorists.

The lawmaker had visited the Special Anti-robbery Squad office in Abuja on Monday with his lawyer, but was asked to write a statement and was later detained at Garki police station.

The Deputy Force Public Relations Officer, Frank Mba, explained that Laori was detained in connection with security problems in his state, and that he was assisting the police with their investigations.

“The Deputy Speaker is with us and all I can say is that he is assisting the police in their investigation into the clash in Numan Local Government Area of Adamawa State,” he said.

But Laori’s lawyer, Chief Leonard Nzadon, stated that his client was being roped in to the matter by Governor Murtala Nyako on account of their political differences.

According to him, the Deputy Speaker was ‘framed up’ merely to ridicule and cut him to size politically, adding that Laori petitioned the police ahead of his detention to forestall injustice, but the police authorities still detained him.

Nzadon in a petition to the Inspector-General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, dated September 4,2012 explained that the Laori was being detained on the basis of framed up allegations that he secretly buried two corpses and took three Bwatiye youths involved in the bloody communal clash to an unknown place for treatment.

The lawyer contended that Laori’s problems with Nyako began in December 2011 following the leadership change in the state Assembly, adding that the lawmaker had in a petition to the police mentioned the governor’s hostility to him (Laori), his Bwatiye ethnic group and the Assembly.

Nzadon stated that he had it on good authority that the three suspects earlier arrested by the police, Kachalla Augustine, Zaro Murrion and Mathias Vello did not mention Laori as a mastermind of the retaliatory attack on the HausaFulani community in Ngbalang in spite of the torture they were subjected to.

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Flood: PDP has failed the nation-ANPP

By Umar Muhammad Puma

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isturbed by the recent barrage of flood in several parts of the nation and the slow pace of distribution of relief materials to affected victims, the opposition All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday declared that the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has failed the country.

The party in a statement issued yesterday by its National Publicity Secretary, Hon Emma Eneukwu, said the ruling party exhibited reactionary attitude in tackling the environmental challenges facing the nation.

He stated "The PDP government is not living up to expectation as a party leading the biggest and most influential black nation on earth.

The government's engagement in environmental issues is lackluster; and it lacks ideas and the courage to be proactive. For instance, it is almost two years now the National Assembly passed the Climate Change Commission Bill; what is President Goodluck Jonathan waiting for to sign it into law" "It is a globally accepted truth that what we are facing is as a result of climate change; a current reality facing the whole world where every other nation is concentrating on mitigation and adaptation of strategies. Climate change is expected to hit developing nations the hardest. Considering that as the giant of Africa, Nigeria is expected to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change," he lamented.

Eneukwu said the party was particularly worried by the Adamawa's case because authorities in the state had confirmed that the threat from the dam is an annual occurrence only that this year's trouble was unprecedented. "We believe that the government has abdicated its constitutional responsibility of protecting its citizens from present and foreseeable dangers; it is only comfortable in limiting itself to the usual sharing out of mattresses, blankets and food items as relief materials through the National Emergency Management Agency [NEMA]. Indeed, experts are of the opinion that with a little more proactive measure taken by the government, the country would have been saved a lot of resources in terms of unnecessary collateral damages incurred through these environmental disasters".

"We also advocate for the formation of a National Environment [Advisory] Committee which will involve critical stakeholders in order to catalyze a nationwide environment-awareness culture; NEMA is not enough for the evolving environmental concerns predicted to manifest as a result of global warming. We also call on the good people of this great nation to resurrect the can-do spirit for which the Nigerian people are known for and nurture a personal culture of environmental awareness, alertness and cleanliness in order to engender a sustainable environment," he stressed.

Delegates of Labour Party (LP), queue during the party's primary bye-election for Plateau North Senatorial District, yesterday in Jos.

Photo: NAN

Protect your votes, Mimiko tells Ondo voters

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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ndo state Governor, Dr Olusegun Mimiko has urged the electorate in the state to be vigilant by protecting their votes during the October 20 governorship election scheduled to hold in the state.

Mimiko who spoke in Odigbo local government area of the state at the continuation of his reelection campaign warned the people to also refrain from selling their voters' cards saying that desperate politicians are now on the prowl to deprive them of their right to choose their political leaders by offering money for the cards.

He, however, assured the people that the desperados would fail in

their plans to thwart the people's popular wish.

Addressing gathering of supporters at Imorun- Lege community, Mimiko said that his administration has, since inception, been working assiduously to alleviate the sufferings of the people of the state by executing various developmental projects in over 400 communities in the state in the last three and a half years.

The governor who assured the people of the community to start work on the construction of Imorun-Lege/ Kajola road which would link the Ore-Lagos expressway as soon as the dry season sets in, explained that the road project, when completed, would add value to the economic

lives of the people and also boost the economy of the state as the communities were largely food and timber producing ones.

Reacting to the agitation of the people for a Basic Health Center, Mimiko assured them that a Comprehensive Health Center would be constructed in the community before the October 20 election.

Commissioning a basic Health center at Obadore, Mimiko reiterated the commitment of his administration to ensure that the people of the state have access to good health delivery system as a means of reducing mortality rate.

Welcoming defectors from the opposition party to his Labour Party led by Major (Rtd) Akin Ogundeji,

former Deputy Gubernatorial aspirant under the umbrella of the ACN and PDP women leader in the area, Mrs. Bose Jogun, the governor described Labour Party as the only kind hearted party that can transform the state. He enjoined the defectors to work together with the leadership of the party in the area in ensuring victory for it at the governorship election.

Also at Kajola, where the governor commissioned a N3.5million Divisional Police Headquarters built by his government, Mimiko said that his administration would continue to make concerted effort aimed at promoting and sustaining peace in the state.

Gulak calls for strengthening of laws setting up local councils

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he Special Adviser to the President on Political Matters, Alhaji Ahmed Gulak, on Wednesday called for the strengthening of the laws setting up the local councils in the ongoing constitution review by the National Assembly.

Gulak, who made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja, added that

there should be elected officials at the local councils at all times.

“I want the local government law in the constitution to be more robust, where the constitution says that at every given time, there must be democratically elected officials of local governments.

According to him, this to disallow a governor waking up one day and then dissolving the elected

local council and only to come up with a caretaker committee that has no provision in the constitution.

The special adviser also said that funds should be allocated to the councils directly without passing through any joint account.

He said that doing so would enable local governments carry out their statutory functions as the closest institution to the people.

On the tenure for the executives, Gulak told NAN that single term would be alright, adding that second term pattern usually created unrest in the country.

“This single term, too, is also important, second term syndrome is taking a lot of our time and bringing a lot of political crisis, let us go for single term for president and governors,’’ he said. (NAN)

Prepare adequately before aspiring for public office, Fagbemi advises politicians prepared his mind to weather the the character of the leader it has.

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Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Lateef Fagbemi, has urged politicians to prepare adequately for leadership challenges before vying for public office.

Fagbemi gave the advice on Tuesday in Ibadan while delivering a lecture entitled: “Essence of Political Leadership, the Nigerian

Situation.’’

The lecture was organised by the NTA Ibadan Chapel of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).

Fagbemi said leaders must prepare for the anticipated leadership challenges on their path in order not to betray the trust of the people. “ A good leader should have

storms of leadership and avoid giving excuses for his inaction. “ He must be mentally and physically prepared for the challenges of his office. “ A nation can only develop and achieve self-sustenance if it has leaders who can manage its resources adequately.

“The growth and development of any nation depends largely on

“It will take a leader who might have done his home work before getting to office to translate the resources available to him into meaningful developmental programmes,” he said.

He lamented a situation where politicians got to leadership position without manifestoes and prior assessment of the task involved in governance. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Governors are real impediments to constitution amendment, says Fagbemi From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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egal luminary, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) yesterday identified the state governors as major impediments to successful amendment of the constitution of the country because of their influence on their House of Assemblies and local governments.

The lawyer said this while delivering 2012 public lecture of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, NTA Ibadan chapel tagged: The Essence of Political Leadership, The Nigeria Situation. He expressed doubts if aspiration of having a constitution amendment will be achievable.

Fagbemi explained that state governors will not allow their legislators to support local government autonomy while the federal government will stand against state police, region integration and resource control.

He identified state governors as major impediment militating against successful review of 1999

constitution with manners they control state legislators, local government chairmen and counselors.

"The state legislators are the key players that need to be actively independent for the assignment but unfortunately, most of these speakers prostrate for their governors; it's a rare privilege for a legislator to exchange hand with sitting governor "None of these Speakers can stand up to their governors because they are tools for self

actualization, a governor once confide in me to forget LG autonomy "Unless present attitude of some states governor changes, there is sign of effective and meaningful constitution amendment," he said.

He urged Nigerians to appeal and seriously beg all the 36 governors for meaningful constitution amendment even as he recalled that this is the third time of the review without direct impact on the masses. According

to him, the exercise is only to deceive people to submit memoranda which never received due attention.

Fagbemi added that leadership should be by example and not by precept insisting that for a nation to enjoy economic prosperity, such must get its leadership system right.

He called for a synergy between political leadership and national development even as he urged public officer seekers to prepare to serve rather than

Enugu Assembly adopts motion to re-write wrongly-spelt Igbo words

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`Yoruba leaders call for regional autonomy, not secession' – Lawmaker

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member of the Lagos State House of Assembly (LAHA), Mr Segun Olulade, said the call by some Yoruba leaders for regional autonomy would not disintegrate Nigeria.

Olulade of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN-Epe I), made the remark in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ikeja.

NAN recalls that the Yoruba Elders' Forum recently in Ibadan advocated regional autonomy, which was vehemently opposed by the Northern leaders.

The northern leaders said the call by the Yoruba Forum was capable of throwing the country into crises and disintegration.

The Forum, chaired by Retired Lt. Gen. Alani Akinrinade, also called for a reversion to the parliamentary system of government, because the presidential system was too expensive for Nigeria. ''The Northern leaders should not misunderstand the call by the Yoruba leaders. ''Our problem in this country is that we always attach ethnicity and religious sentiments to issues; this cannot bring about development in the nation.

"Whenever people come up with a decision, some people see it as an attack, instead of developing the ideas for progressive purpose,'' the lawmaker said.

Olulade, the Chairman Committee on Information, Security and Strategy, said the best way to redress the imbalance was for the Federal Government to give additional autonomy to the state governments.

deceive the people.

He maintained that most state governors still leverage on achievements of chief Awolowo, Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa among others who truly served their people and epitomized simplicity.

He charged leaders in any capacity, especially those at handling sensitive office to embark on long term projects that will benefit the people and appealed to upcoming leaders to consolidate on their predecessors' achievements.

Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Plateau North Senatorial Aspirant, Mr Gyang Pwajok (middle), with his wife, Mrs Pwajok (3rd right), inaugurating his campaign office, yesterday in Jos. Photo: NAN

Gemade assures constituents of quality representation From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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enator representing Benue North-East district, Chief (Engr.) Barnabas Gemade, has continued to assure his constituents of quality represention that would impact positively on their lives.

The Senator, who made the assurance yesterday during his one year constituency briefing at the NUJ House, disclosed that within the period he has awarded scholarship to over 60 students and engaged over 20 unemployed youths in state and federal parastatals including Nigeria Police Force, National Bureau of Statistics,

Federal Civil Service Commission, National Human Rights Commission, Nigeria Air Force and Benue State University Teaching Hospital.

He also disclosed that he embarked on several private projects including the establishment of Technical College to train youths in skills acquisition, a cement factory in Mbaviende, Ushongo LGA which field work is undergoing, a yam and cassava processing plant in Ukum LGA, a bridge at Agba, Mbakyan, Kwande LGA amongst others.

The Senate committee Chairman on National Planning, Economic Affairs and Poverty

Alleviation added that he has sponsored two (2) bills, the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission amendment bill 2012 as well as the Police Service Commission Amendment bill 2012.

He also maintained that he has ensured that over six (6) projects in his constituency were appropriated for in this year's budget.

He listed the projects to include rehabilitation of Vandeikya-Obudu road valued at over N3 billion, erosion control work at St. John's Street in Katsina-Ala, repair of Ushongo-Lessel-Tse AgberabgbaOju Ihugh-Korinya-Wuese FERMA road and several MDG and Poverty Alleviation Constituency projects.

Ondo poll: Oke woos traditional rulers

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he gubernatorial candidate of the PDP in Ondo state, Mr Olusola Oke, has promised to place traditional rulers in their rightful position if elected in the Oct. 20 poll.

Oke made the promise at the palace of Oba Gilbert Ogunlowo, the Awosunye of Atosin, during his campaign tour of the state.

The PDP flag bearer said his administration would release five

percent of the monthly allocation of the local government to the traditional institution.

“I am privileged to know that the money our traditional rulers are receiving is not satisfactory. “ We will make sure that five percent goes to our Obas to reposition the traditional institution and make it more relevant,’’ Oke said.

Oke said he had embarked on

a ward to ward campaign to feel the pulse of the people and ascertain their needs.

The candidate also called for the support of the traditional rulers of Irowo, Ijomu, Alade, Ijomu-Isurin and Ologbosere. communities. “ We are fully on ground and by the grace of God, we will make the difference clear on Oct. 20,’’ Oke said.(NAN)

he Enugu State House of Assembly has passed a five-point motion urging the state government to re-write and correct all Igbo names and places wrongly spelt by the colonial masters.

Presenting the first motion in Igbo on Tuesday in Enugu, the Leader of the assembly, Mr Sunday UdeOkoye, regretted that some Igbo names which were wrongly spelt since the colonial era, were still in use.

During the sitting, which marked the second Igbo Language session in the assembly, Ude-Okoye noted that the situation had portrayed the language as being inferior and incomplete.

He listed some of the wrongly spelt names in the state to include Enugu which he said should be Enugwu; Nsukka-Nsuka; Awgu-Ogwu; EnehEne; Okafor-Okafo, Attama-Atama; Awkunanaw-Okunano, Awlaw-Olo, Awhum-Ohum and AgboguguAgbogwugwu.

In the prayers, the assembly unanimously urged the state government, the local governments, schools and other government establishments in the state to start rewriting the wrongly-spelt Igbo names and places.

The legislators urged the National Assembly Committee on Constitution Review to re-view and re-write “Ibo” to “Igbo” and other towns and local government names wrongly spelt in the constitution.

The members mandated the assembly committee on culture and tourism to ensure that all the corrections were effected by the concerned MDAs within a time frame to be given by the state government.

They added that failure by the institutions concerned to comply would attract a fine of N100,000 each.

Supporting the motion, Mr. Okechukwu Nwoke (PDP-Igbo-Etiti West), said the Igbo Language was fast being eroded and urged the Igbo to use their position and wealth to promote their language. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Nigerians in Diaspora collect signatures to support voting right

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igerians living abroad have began the collection of one million signatures for “Nigerian Diaspora Voting Rights Petition’’ to demand for the right to vote and to be voted for in future elections.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Nigerian Diaspora community have been advised to log on www.ourvotecounts.org to sign the petition and donate at least one dollar each to help their lobbying programme to win the battle.

The group had earlier in the

year submitted a memorandum to the House and Senate Committees on Constitution Amendment requesting that every Nigerian of voting age both at home and abroad have the right to vote and to be voted for.

NAN, however, learnt that the memorandum was among those accepted for public hearing in October by the Committee on Constitution Amendment.

Chief Gabe Okoye, Chairman, Diaspora Voting Right Implementation Committee, in a statement to the Diaspora

community and made available to NAN on Tuesday, said because of the likely cost implication for a start they should be allowd to vote in presidential, gubernatorial and National Assembly elections.

“Let us for now not worry about what those members of the National Assembly who oppose us will do, because in the words of Martin Luther King, Jr. ‘in the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends’.

“Get off the fence, get involved, take action, sign the petition and

together we shall overcome it,’’ he said.

He explained that the project was led by Nigerian Diaspora organisations, such as the Nigerians in Diaspora Organisation (NIDO), Central Association of Nigerian in UK (CANUK) and All Nigerian Nationals in Diaspora (ANNID).

“I believe that no project can unify us better than the fight for our fundamental right to vote and to be voted for,’’ he stressed.

Okoye noted the petition was to gather at least one million signatures within one month in support of the memorandum to be presented during the public hearing.

He also stated that the funds raised would be deployed to mount a serious and sustained lobbying effort to achieve the desired Diaspora Voting Right.

The Chairman urged parents to make sure their children, over 18 years sign the petition too.

“After all, this fight is also for their future, they should be able to exercise their options as full citizens of Nigeria, not as second-class citizens.

“We are full-fledged citizens of Nigeria by constitutional definition and it is not a crime to live outside the borders of Nigeria, in search of greener pastures. It is our right and we must fight for it. (NAN)

Moves to impeach Kogi Speaker externally motivated, says lawmaker From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

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R-L: Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and former Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, Hon Korn Dabbaransi, during the opening session of the second Global Economic Leaders' Summit, yesterday in Changchu, Jilin Province of China.

Ex-NLC boss seeks special courts to handle corruption cases

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he former NLC Chairman in Kwara, Mr Emmanuel Aiyeoribe, has urged the Federal Government to establish a special court to handle corruption cases.

He made the call in Ilorin on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

Aiyeoribe said that the establishment of such a court would ensure speedy and thorough handling of corruption cases pending before the courts.

“Setting up of special courts

for corruption cases is very desirable in Nigeria, going by the spate of high profile corruption cases ravaging the country.

“It is worrisome that some people are walking the streets as free men and women and enjoying their loot because they are granted bail and the cases are not given accelerated hearing.

“Most of the cases seem to have been swept under the carpet for lack of diligent prosecution and that makes it expedient for

government to set up special courts to help fight corruption,’’ he said.

The former NLC boss said corruption had eaten deep into the polity and called for genuine policy initiatives to tackle it.

“The fight against corruption in Nigeria transcends political terrain and it behoves on Nigerians to start asking their representatives questions and making them accountable for their stewardship,’’ he said.(NAN)

Commissioner calls for lasting peace in Nasarawa state

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asarawa State Commissioner for Education, Mr Hussaini Abubakar, has urged stakeholders in the political development of the state to ensure lasting peace in the community.

The commissioner made the call on Tuesday at a conference of the Academic Staff Union of Polytechnic (ASUP), Nasarawa State

Polytechnic, Lafia, and chapter.

The commissioner said, the theme of the conference, “The Imperatives of Polytechnic Education and the Challenges of Security in Nigeria,” was relevant and timely.

He said that the current security challenges in the country constituted a threat to the corporate existence of Nigeria.

Abubakar said it was regrettable that the sense communality and brotherhood, nurtured by the founding fathers of the country, were dying fast because of the events of the time.

He said for peace to return to the country, all stakeholders must work hard to ensure lasting security of the nation by shunning corruption and other vices. (NAN)

he move by some members of the Kogi state House to change the Speaker, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello and other principal officers has been described as not only needless, but externally motivated.

Speaking with Peoples Daily in his office yesterday, chief Henry Ojuola, representing Yagba East in the Assembly said the Speaker has been piloting the affairs of the House to the admiration of majority of members and wondered why the hurry to substitute him.

The ACN member of the house while using the House of Representatives as an example, stressed that the House must be allowed to choose and sustain their leaders without any external influence.

He noted that owing to the

overwhelming support the Speaker enjoys from members, the House has severally passed votes of confidence on him and urged him not to be deterred.

Ojuola added that the speaker as at today controlls majority support in the Assembly and advised those canvassing for his removal to exercise restraint.

"The speaker has been conducting the affairs of the House very well to the admiration of all of us. He is transparently honest; he is not a corrupt leader. So I called all the few members who are rooting for his removal to exercise restraint" Ojuola stressed.

The lawmaker enjoined the executive to concentrate on creation of peaceful co-existence between it and the legislative arm so as to ensure rapid transformation of the state.

Ogun registers 906 community groups

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he Ogun Government said that it organised and registered 906 Community Development Associations (CDAs) between June and July 2011 to enhance grassroots empowerment.

Mr Samuel Aiyedogbon, the state Commissioner for Community Development and Cooperatives, disclosed this during a tour of the ministry by a committee of the state House of Assembly.

He also said government recently disbursed N500,000 as 2012 subvention to the state Community Development Council while no fewer than 400 leaders of various CDAs were sponsored for leadership training.

The commissioner further said that 502 cooperative organisations were formed within the period, bringing the number to 9,524.

He said about N1.7 million was realised from their registration.

Aiyedogbon said government had released about N25 million to the Ogun State Cooperative Federation Limited (OGSCOFED) to strengthen the organisation.

The commissioner also said

that government was collating a comprehensive data on all the CDAs, cooperative societies as well as trade organisations for close monitoring and supervision.

He, however, identified lack of adequate operational vehicles as a major challenge of the ministry.

The commissioner lamented that inadequate project vehicles had made access to remote areas difficult.

Abiodun Akovoyan, a member of the Committee on Community Development and Cooperative Societies, said many cooperative societies were not financially healthy.

He urged the ministry to devise means of resuscitating them, saying the importance of such societies could not be over-emphasised.

Olaitan Odofin, another member, urged the ministry to intensify efforts at sensitising and enlightening the public on the need to form cooperative societies and development associations. (NAN) The committee also visited the Office of the Head of Service and the Ministry of the Civil Service Commission. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

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Jigawa Golden Stars gears up to escape relegation

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Elderson Echiejile

Elderson says it’s fight to finish

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igeria defender Elderson Echiejile has said the Eagles have to put their bodies on the line to win Saturday’s AFCON clash in Liberia.

Nigeria battle fellow West Africans Liberia for a place in next year’s Nations Cup to be staged in South Africa.

And Sporting Braga of Portugal star Echiejile said that the Eagles will have to be at their best to ensure qualification.

“This match is fight to finish and anyone telling you that it will be easy for us in Liberia, does not know football,” said Echiejile, who joined the Eagles training camp in Abuja Tuesday morning. “Nobody expected us not to qualify for the last Nations Cup, but Guinea came to Abuja and got the result they needed to qualify ahead of us.

“I’m very sure that we have all learnt that very bitter lesson and as such we cannot afford to take any chances.

Rather I expect us to do everything including putting our bodies on the line so as to ensure victory on Saturday.”

Echiejile’s rallying call for total commitment runs contrary to widely held belief that the country’s pros are often very mindful of their careers when they are on duty for Nigeria.

“We all love Nigeria and for many of us we are in Europe today because this country gave us the opportunity,”further stressed the left back who featured at the 2010 AFCON in Angola. We are ready to spill our last blood for our country at any given time and I believe this resolve will again be evident in Monrovia.”

In the meantime, more foreign pros have joined up with the Eagles for the Liberia face-off.

Real Betis of Spain midfielder Nosa Igiebor took the number of foreign-based arrivals in the Eagles camp to eight.

Nosa, whose club were in action Monday night in the Spanish La Liga, entered the Eagles camp in the early hours of Tuesday. His arrival swelled the Eagles camp to 21 players.

More players including captain Joseph Yobo are expected to hit camp before the Eagles Tuesday evening training session.

Victor Moses and Obiora Nwankwo were the early birds, while Ike Uche, Brown Ideye, Efe Ambrose, Elderson Echejile, Ahmed Musa, Emmanuel Emenike and Nosa Igiebor have since followed suit. The AFCON qualifier will kick off at 6pm Liberian time (7pm Nigerian time) on Saturday inside the Samuel Kanyon Doe Stadium.

EKO 2012: Deaf Association plans athletics competition

oach Evans Ogenyi, the Head Coach of Jigawa Golden Stars FC has vowed that he would apply his wealth of experience to ensure that the club escapes relegation, as the season ends on Sept. 7.

The club is currently in the 17th position on the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) table, with 38 points.

Ogenyi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse that he would fall back on his past experience to work hard to train his players adequately for the last match of the season.

He said he would work to ensure that the team played well in that match, to keep its position, so as to escape

2012 Paralympics Nigeria, 9 other African nations win 71 medals

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igeria lead nine other African countries in the overall medal chart with a total of 71 medals at the ongoing 2012 London Paralympic Games.

The current performance is in sharp contrast with their

performances in the ablebody Games which ended last month. In fact, the medals secured are the continet did throughout the conventaional Olympics that ended on August 22, even as there still four days to the end of the fiesta.

They have so far, 22 gold,

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BFN holds championship in Abuja

he Badminton Federation of Nigeria, (BFN) has concluded plans to host the 3rd edition of the Abuja City National B a d m i n t o n Championships.

While revealing this yesterday in Abuja, Secretary, BFN, Akawo Amechi, said the

competition which is expected to come up from 23rd to 29th September, 2012 will also feature a junior category.

“The new thing about this year’s championship is that it will feature a National

22 silver and 27 bronze medals and Nigeria are still leading the African medals challenge with five gold, five silver and a bronze medal.

Nigeria is closely followed

by Tunisia with four gold, four silver and two bronze medals. South Africa has

Junior championship for players under the age of 20 years.”

The junior and senior championship will feature single both men and women including double for both men and women as well as

three gold, five silver and seven bronze medals, with Egypt having three gold, three silver and six bronze medals.

Others are: Morocco (3-01), Kenya (2-1-1), Algeria (1-1-7), Ethiopia (0-1-0), Namibia (0-1-0) and Angola (0-0-1).

mixed competitions, “ Amechi said.

BFN has also concluded plans to verify the ages of the junior participants while three million naira has been set aside for cash prizes.

Crown FC coach urges NNL to stick to its match calendar for 2012/2013 season

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oach Oyekale Oladunni of Crown FC of Ogbomoso, has urged the board of the Nigeria National League (NNL), the next to Premier League, to strictly adhere to its 2012/2013 calendar.

Oladunni, disclosed this in a telephone interview while commenting on the backdrop of frequent postponement of matches which elongated the 2011/ 2012 season.

“The NNL should improve on its calendar, because the last season witnessed a lot of rescheduled matches which unnecessarily elongated the duration of the season.

“The board should adhere to its calendar for the next season, the trend of constant rescheduled matches really dampened teams’ spirits. This is one cogent issue the Nigeria Premier League (NPL) board has not been able to tackle,” he said.

The coach said that his club was putting everything

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he Lagos State Deaf Sports Association says it has concluded plans to organise a two-day Deaf Champions Athletics Competition, to select the state’s representatives at the 18th National Sports Festival scheduled for November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.

Lanre Aiyejuyo, the Chairman of the association, said on Tuesday in Lagos that the trials would hold between Sept.

13 and Sept. 14 in Lagos, but added that the venue wasn yet to be fixed because of the ongoing renovation of sports centres in Lagos, in preparation for the fiesta.

“The motive for the athletics tournament is to try our athletes and see our strengths and weaknesses, with the hope of working on all shortcomings discovered.

“We mean business; this is the spur for the competitions we are organising, to ensure a good outing during the festival. “We have not decided on the venue we are going to use because of ongoing renovations at sports centres in the state,” he said.

The association chairman urged private organisations and individuals to encourage the physically-challenged athletes by sponsoring their competitions.

The association had just-concluded a two-day Deaf Invitational Table-Tennis Tournament at the Akinwunmi Sports Centre, Alagomeji, Yaba.

relegation.

Ogenyi stressed that the manner in which he managed the club had helped it to retain its current position on the league table, in spite of the exit of some key players.

“I am optimistic that the club will escape relegation and move forward,” he vowed, saying that he would not let the club down.

Ogenyi has coached various clubs, including Lobi Stars FC, Nasarawa United, Ocean Boys and Enyimba of Aba, before coaching Jigawa Stars.

He won the 1999 Pepsi Super league and the 2008 FA and Charity cups.

Folashade Oluwafunmilayo

in place to ensure it had a better performance next season should they still remain in the NNL. Team ended on the 33rd position of the 36-teams league table and within the relegation zone to the Amateur League.

“We are awaiting the outcome of the AGM of the NPL board that will determine the number of teams to be relegated.

“Rumours have it that two teams and not three may be relegated, but Crown FC is determined to either have a better performance in the next season should we remain in the NNL. “If we remain in the NNL, we will strive to return to the premier league next season, if, however, we are demoted to the amateur side, we will also strive to come back to the NNL,” he said.

A total of 36 teams, grouped into A to D, participated in the NNL 2011/2013 season.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Rain disrupts Lagos State tennis tourney

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he preliminary matches of the Lagos State Tennis Association’s Championships which began yesterday at the Mobolaji Johnson Sports Centre, Yaba, were disrupted by a morning rainfall.

The championships, which will end on Sept. 8, are aimed at selecting players who will represent the state at the 18th National Sports Festival scheduled for November 27 to December 9 in Lagos.

Kunle Sewoniku, the Chief Umpire of the championships,confirmed that they could not continue to play on wet courts and therefore resolved to postpone the matches to avoid exposing the players to injuries.

“The rain has affected our competition for today, though we might still play if it stops in time because we can still mop the courts.

“Wet courts are dangerous to players because they can sustain severe injuries, I only hope the rain will not disturb us on Thursday when the competition proper will start,’’ Sewoniku said.

Some of the players who spoke however expressed divergent views with some stating that the rainfall has affected their preparations for the championships while held contrary views.

Abidemi John-Enitan said that the rainfall did not have any effect on his training, adding that he was confident that he would perform well at the tournament.

“The rain will only delay us; it did not disturb my preparation for the competition which I know I will excel in,’’ he said.

Andrew Omoniyi said that the rainfall had distracted his focus, but that he would try his best to perform well.

A female player, Esther Lasoju, said she was prepared for the championships before the rainfall and was hopeful of being among those to be selected to represent the state at the sports festival.

“No matter the weather, I am ready to fight for a place in Team Lagos, for the sports festival,’’ Lasoju said.

Victoria Peters said that the rain affected her because it would make the organisers to lump together the day’s matches and make Thursday’s matches strenuous.

No fewer than 40 players from 15 tennis clubs in the state are taking part in state governmentsponsored three-day championships.

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he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) has approved a nationwide talent-hunt programme to be executed by the head coach of the U-13 national team, Danladi Nasidi, an official has said.

NFF’s Director of Competitions, Dr Sanusi Mohammed, while disclosing this in Abuja yesterday said the federation hopes to build nurture talents that would combine education with the game.

“The coach submitted his programme about two weeks ago and some of the proposals he put up have been approved.

“He wants to take a tour of the 36 states of the federation and the FCT to fish out young primary school pupils, who can fit into our U-13 national team,’’ he said.

Further, Mohammed said the federation was eager to see the

PAGE 43

NFF approves U-13 talent-hunt programme kick-off of the programme, adding not until the grassroots talents are in camp would the rest rest on its oars.

“This is because we know that the players are the bedrock of our football development and at the same time we want to have elite players. We want for our players to combine education with football.

“If you look at the girls in the U.S. team which defeated our Falconets at the ongoing FIFA U20 Women’s World Cup in Japan, you will find out that almost all of them are in the university.

“This is why we will be sending our coaches to the various school competitions to help us find talents that can do this great country proud in the nearest future,’’ he said.

On his part, Nasidi said he was happy that the programme had been approved, adding that he would soon start visiting the various states of the federation to look for talents to fortify his team.

“There is the need for continuity. Now that the former U-13 boys have graduated to the U-15 team, there is the need to find new boys to replace them,’’ he said.

The coach said that even though the NFF was making plans for a national U-13/U-15 championship, it was still necessary to go round to fish out more players.

“Before the championship, I want to go round the country so that I can have a team on ground to build on with the players we will discover at the

Work permit delays Ambrose Celtic debut

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Efe Ambrose

ut for the delay in the issuance of work permit, Glasgow Celtic new acquisition and Super Eagles’ defender Efe Ambrose would have debut before now.

But the former Israel-based player said he was still awaiting the formal grant of the permit.

Ambrose, whose told a wire service that he would returned to Israel after the Nations Cup qualifier in Liberia so as to process his work permit, confirmed that efforts to secure the permit did not yield immediate result.

“I am looking forward to my

debut with Celtic but it would be delayed because I am yet to get a work permit,” said Ambrose, who signed a three-year contract with Celtic worth 1.5 million pounds.

“I don’t see that to be a problem.

I know I will get it because after the game in Liberia, I will head back to Israel to process it so that I can be available for Champions League action with my new club.”

The defender, who has been handed jersey No 4 at the Glasgow team, added that a whole lot of factors were responsible for his move on the last day of transfer.

competition,’’ Nasidi said.

Nigeria’s U-13 boys won the 2010 edition of the English Premier League Youth Championship by defeating the youth teams of big European clubs such as Liverpool FC, Fulham FC, and FC Porto.

Dr. Mohammed Sanusi “I want to say first that God made it possible for me to be at Celtic, being close to England and playing in the Champions League are some of the reasons for my switch because I never expected that I would play Champions League football this year.”

Efe Ambrose, whose wife recently gave birth to a baby girl, declared that Nigeria will qualify for the 2013 Nations Cup in Liberia.

“We are going to Liberia to qualify for the Nations Cup,” predicted the versatile player who may be played in defensive midfield should Pillars star Gabriel Reuben not recover in time from a groin injury.

I’m not having money blues, says Ronaldo

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ristiano Ronaldo has dismissed speculations that he current sadness with Real Madrid was because he wants more lucrative money deal from the club.

The world’s most expensive player hit the headlines after Sunday’s 3-0 La Liga win over Granada when he failed to celebrate his two goals and told reporters he was ”sad” for “professional” reasons and that the club knew why.

“That I am feeling sad and have expressed this sadness has created a huge stir,” the 27year-old Portugal forward said via his Twitter account.

“I am accused of wanting more money, but one day it will be shown that this is not the case,” he said in reaction to media speculations about his desire for an improved contract agreeement.

He was reported to have had a

meeting with club president Florentino Perez on Saturday and said he did not feel he had the support of the dressing room, was unhappy and wanted to leave.

Ronaldo rejected the idea he was downcast at losing out to Barcelona’s Spain midfielder Andres Iniesta for the Best Player in Europe award on Thursday.

There were also suggestions the former Manchester United winger, one of the world’s bestpaid players, earning some 11 million euros ($13.82 million) a year, was seeking an improved contract.

“I just want to guarantee to the Real Madrid fans that my motivation, dedication, commitment and desire to win all competitions will not be affected,” he added.

“I have too much respect for myself and for Real Madrid to ever give less to the club than all I am capable of.”

Cristiano Ronaldo

Russian cities to host 2018 FIFA World Cup to be announced Sept. 29

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Sepp Blatter

he Federation of International Football Association (FIFA) and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) will, on September 29 in Moscow, announce the host cities for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

In a press statement on FIFA’s

website, 13 Russian cities are competing to host the 2018 FIFA World Cup matches.

“The cities bidding to host the matches are Moscow, St. Petersburg, Kaliningrad, Yaroslavl, Nizhny Novgorod, Kazan, Samara, Saransk, Volgograd, Krasnodar, Rostov-on-

Don, Sochi and Ekaterinburg.

“Details of the format of the event will be made pulic in due course. As part of the preparations for the announcement of the host cities, the candidate cities are developing official 2018 FIFA World Cup posters.

“The posters will be unveiled

Pls use pixs of Cristiano Ronaldo (money blues), Dr. Mohammed Sanusi (U-13), Efe Ambrose (permit), Sepp Blatter (Russian)

simultaneously with the announcement of the final list of host cities, the statement read.

A delegation from the LOC and FIFA officials had taken an inspection tour of the 13 different 2018 FIFA World Cup candidate host cities between Apr. 10 and Jun. 22.

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

Schurrle: Brazil 2014 is my main aim In November 2010, Andre Schurrle made his international debut for Germany against Sweden. The 21-yearold has been a key fixture in coach Joachim Low’s squads ever since and participated in his first major international tournament at UEFA EURO 2012 in Poland/ Ukraine.

The Bayer Leverkusen midfielder, who was on the radar of several top European clubs in the summer transfer window, so far has 17 caps and seven goals for Germany.

FIFA.com spoke exclusively to the forward about his aims for his second season at Leverkusen, the attentions of top European clubs, the disappointing UEFA EURO 2012 exit and his FIFA World Cup dream.

Andre Schurrle

“

I know that I’ve still got plenty of room for improvement, even if the stats aren’t all that bad. However I’m the kind of person who always demands the best from himself. I push myself a lot and that’s how I know that I can still do more. Physically and technically I’m at a very high level and I hope to get more goals and assists in order to help the team.

Andre Schurrle making a move in a Premier League

Y

ou only had a short break after EURO 2012. How did your preparations go?

Having a holiday after the tournament was really important as I was very tired. After the preparations I feel good again. I did a lot of individual training and am fit for the season.

In your first term at Leverkusen you finished in fifth. This year many people expect the team to reach at least fourth. How do you think your club compares to the rest of the Bundesliga competition?

We don’t need to be scared of anyone. Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have the best chances of finishing at the top, but then there are seven or eight teams who are at the same level. At Leverkusen we don’t have a huge squad, but we have a lot of quality. If we can show that out on the pitch then we’re capable of anything.

On the European stage Leverkusen are taking part in the UEFA Europa League this season. History has shown it’s a competition where anything is possible.

We reached the last 16 of the Champions League last season despite being in a very tough group. We’re going into the Europa League with a lot of confidence. Our first aim is to reach the knockout rounds.

Many experts were dissatisfied with your performances in your first year at Bayer. However, the statistics tell a different story: seven goals and six assists represent a very good haul.

How satisfied were you personally?

I know that I’ve still got plenty of room for improvement, even if the stats aren’t all that bad. However I’m the kind of person who always demands the best from himself. I push myself a lot and that’s how I know that I can still do more. Physically and technically I’m at a very high level and I hope to get more goals and assists in order to help the team.

How did you cope with the pressure following your •10m transfer from Mainz to Leverkusen, a Bundesliga record for a 19-year-old?

Pressure is part of everyday life in professional football and was automatically there after my transfer from Mainz. But I can handle it well and don’t put myself under pressure as I’m confident in my own abilities and know my strengths.

Other top European clubs are aware of them too. How flattering is their interest in you and how does it affect your concentration?

Offers from big clubs are a confirmation of the work I’ve been doing.

It’s a huge honour for me. At some point it’s a step I’d like to take, but right now I’m focusing entirely on Bayer Leverkusen.

Moving on to the national team, how did you get over the disappointment of being eliminated in the semi-finals at EURO 2012?

At first it was hard to take in. As a young player, getting knocked out for the first time at a big tournament made for a tough few days. But after a while I was able to look back and take lots of positives from it. As a team we played very good football and I was very satisfied on a personal level too. Now I’m concentrating fully on new targets with club and country.

Just six months ago you said in an interview that your aim was to be in the first 11 with the national team. How do you view your progress within the side since then?

I view it very positively. Recently I’ve played a lot, have performed well and even managed to score a few goals. I feel good within the national team setup and it’s a lot of fun to play there. In the future I’ll give everything as well, but you can’t forget that we have a huge amount of quality in the squad. Everyone is replaceable because we have such strength in depth.

How do you see the team developing further? Critics are currently talking of stagnation.

It’s easy to see how much the team has progressed. Increasing numbers of good players are being called up to the side and our statistics have also improved. At the Euros we had more possession and more shots on goal than at the 2010 World Cup. You can’t say that’s stagnation. In the semi-final at the European Championship we didn’t play our best and we lost to a very strong Italian side. It’s as simple as that.

The next big objective is the FIFA World Cup 2014. In qualifying Germany face Sweden, Republic of Ireland, Austria, Faroe Islands and Kazakhstan. Is it a manageable group?

Of course our group is manageable. We know we have lots of quality and we have a very strong team. Nevertheless, we can’t take any of them lightly. We’ll need to give everything, especially in the games against Sweden, Ireland and Austria, as they all have very good players.

Brazil 2014 would be your first FIFA World Cup. How eager are you to play there?

The 2014 World Cup is my main aim. It’s a much bigger tournament than a European Championship. It would be great to be part of it, especially in Brazil, where they absolutely love football. In the next two years I’ll give everything to get there.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

PAGE 45

PICTORIAL A/ John Cena, CM Punk Batte Big Show on WWE Championship Triple Threat Match.

B/ Having squandered a hatful of chances against Mexico in the quarter-finals of the FIFA Women's U-20 World Cup Japan 2012, Nigeria paid the price, failing to score against USA despite creating plenty of chances and conceding twice.

D

A C/ Barcelona forward Lionel Messi says that he dreams of following club and personal success by winning a trophy with Argentina following years of international disappointment.

D/ Portugal have moved above Uruguay into fourth place on the global ladder, while Ecuador and Switzerland have risen to 17th and 20th respectively and four African teams have achieved their highest-ever positions.

B

E/ Norfolk archer Mel Clarke insisted there was no sense of disappointment after narrowly missing out on a gold medal at the Paralympics.

E

F

F/ Atletico Madrid rebuffed interest from four clubs including Chelsea and Manchester City in Radamel Falcao this summer.

G/ Italian exFormula 1 driver Alex Zanardi, who lost both legs following a crash in 2001, has won Paralympic gold.

C

G

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

FIFA U-20: NFF charges Falconets to win bronze

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Aminu Maigari, NFF President

Williams defends ‘Friends of Rugby League’

he Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) yesterday charged the Falconets to win the third place match in the ongoing FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. The federation, through its Chairman of Media and Publicity Committee, Emeka Inyama, urged them not be deterred by the semi-final loss to the US on Tuesday.

The Falconets lost 2-0 to their American counterparts in spite of dominating the game.

“Of course, the team was not

disgraced. The players put up good fighting spirit and gave it their all, but it was not their day.

They created more chances than the Americans, had greater ball possession and had more actual playing time than their opponents.

“We want them to go all out for the bronze medal on Saturday in order to console football fans and the generality of Nigerians who have supported the team ever since.

“It is something they can do against the Japanese, by being

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Paralympics: Oluwafemiayo expresses sadness over silver victory

igeria’s Folashade Oluwafemiayo was in tears after setting a new World reord but only won silver in the -75kg category in powerlifting.

Folashade lost to China’s Taoying Fu in the women’sin event but

believes she rather than the Chinese woman deserved the gold

well-organised and disciplined,” he said.

Inyama said the NFA was working hard to discover more players for all the women teams.

He said the Falconets’ performance in Japan meant there was hope they could form the nucleus of the new senior national women’s team, the Super Falcons.

“The age grade competitions are strictly developmental and to that extent, the Falconets have done fairly enough to be considered for the next level,” he

in the event.

The new Paralympic record that

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tiense Williams, the Secretary, Friends of Rugby League, has advanced reasons for organising the ‘Friends’ of Rugby League’ stressing that it was done to sustain the game in the country.

Williams disclosed in Lagos that that was the reason why the members of the body came together to sponsor fortnightly, the Friends of Rugby tournament.

“We members of the Friends of Rugby came together to sponsor the tournament to ensure that the love for rugby lives on in Nigeria,” Williams said.

Williams said that the twice monthly tournament at the main bowl of the National Stadium, Lagos, was to make up for the dearth of competitions in the federation.

The secretary who is also the Technical Adviser, Nigeria Rugby Football Federation, also admitted that the game also suffered set back due to lots of political play in the federation.

“There has been a lot of politics in the federation militating against the organising of competitions. That is why we decided to put this competition in place.

“If we all decide to abandon the game for the political wrangling in the federation, the game which in the first place is not popular will fade out,” he said.

The first phase of the league was held between May 13 and July 28, while the second phase which started on Sept. 1 would end in November.

Six teams were featuring in the second phase out of which five were from outside Lagos.

The teams were Cowrie RFC, Gosar RFC, Police RFC, Young Lions RFC Ilorin RFC and Lagos RFC. Williams said at the last match played at the weekend where Lagos defeated Gosar 180, Police beat Ilorin 22-0, while Cowrie outpointed Young Lions 74-7, their intention remains for the good of the game.

NSC North-East Zone to hold zonal eliminations festival Friday

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performance of the Nigerian athletes at the just concluded London Olympic Games where the country did not win any medal.

He asserted that many went wrong especially the dependaence on overaged athletes that had passed their peak.

Shua explained that each states in the North east zone will produce three young athletes that will be camped and trained in an environment conducive for proper training and with all the necessary facilities.

He said that the aim will be to develop them to a reason level

she set was in the 143kg in her second attempt and a world record of 146kg in her final attempt. Her Chinese opponent thereafter lifted 146kg in her final attempt and was awarded the gold medal.

Fu also lifted 147kg after the competition which was a new World Record but the Nigerian bettered the record with a lift of 148kg.

While speaking with National Mirror at the competition venue, Oluwafemiayo said, “I was robbed of my gold medal. The Chinese opponent was supposed to go out before me but I was asked to come out before her for the final lift. I was the one who first broke the world record but I was surprised that the gold was awarded to her.

“I was bitter yesterday. It wasn’t the fault of our coaches because she had booked 145kg as her last lift while I booked 146kg.

“However, her coach ran to the juries to change it at the last minute and the screen inside was switched off so we didn’t know what was happening until I came out to compete. I went further to 148kg at the end of the competition but the damage had already been done.”

Mexican athlete wants dope test for Nigerians

Hockey match during the Kada Games

ational Sports Commission, (NSC) North East Zone has pledged to collaborate with states sports councils to address the decline sports performances by athletes.

The Zonal Director in charge of the zone, Alhaji Umar Talba Shua, disclosed this while speaking to sports journalists in Bauchi, and noted that the commission intends to introduce pilot study programme for the long distance athletes aimed at discovering talents that will compete for the country in future competitions.

He noted with concern the poor

said.

The leader of Falconets’ delegation to Japan, Effiong Johnson, also charged the girls and officials to remain focused.

He urged them not to be discouraged but rather, to look ahead to their third place match against Japan, saying the team was not disgraced and gave its all against the Americans.

The semi-final match between Nigeria and Japan is slated for Sept. 8 in Tokyo, while the final will be held in Tokyo where Germany will battle the US.

where they can represent the country at international competitions.

He pointed out that the Unity Torch for the intra zonal sports festival billed for Gombe state will arrive Bauchi on Friday enroute to Gombe and Taraba states, adding games to be competed for includes football, basketball, handball, hockey, volleyball and abula.

The zonal fiesta is billed to be held September 17-22. Athletes that excelled will,be selected to represent their respective states at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival in lagos in November.

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exico’s athlete, Catalina Diaz Vilchis has raised eyebrows over the performance of Nigerian power lifters at the ongoing Paralympics Games in London. The lifter who competed alongside Nigeria’s Loveline Obiji in the women’s 82.50kg, finished in fourth place.

She said, “I would like to make an observation about the Paralympics Games. I would like the Nigerian team to be more closely checked. It’s the first time they’ve competed in the Games and I think they should go through anti-doping because they are doing extraordinarily well.”

So far, Nigeria’s 11 medals at the games have been secured through power lifting.

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

NSC NorthEast Zone to hold zonal eliminations festival Friday

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ational Sports Commission (NSC), North East Zone has pledged to collaborate with states sports councils to address the decline sports performances by athletes.

The Zonal Director in charge of the zone, Alhaji Umar Talba Shua, disclosed this while speaking to sports journalists in Bauchi, and noted that the commission intends to introduce pilot study programme for the long distance athletes aimed at discovering talents that will compete for the country in future competitions.

He noted with concern the poor performance of the Nigerian athletes at the just concluded London Olympic Games where the country did not win any medal.

He asserted that many went wrong especially the dependaence on overaged athletes that had passed their peak.

Shua explained that each states in the North east zone will produce three young athletes that will be camped and trained in an environment conducive for proper training and with all the necessary facilities.

He said that the aim will be to develop them to a reason level where they can represent the country at international competitions.

He pointed out that the Unity Torch for the intra zonal sports festival billed for Gombe state will arrive Bauchi on Friday en-route to Gombe and Taraba states, adding games to be competed for includes football, basketball, handball, hockey, volleyball and abula.

The zonal fiesta is billed to be held September 17-22.

Athletes that excelled will,be selected to represent their respective states at the forthcoming 18th National Sports Festival in lagos in November.

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QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE Clearly, the N5000 note, unlike some people misrepresent (it), is not going to lead to higher inflation. There is absolutely no link — Dr Dr.. Shamsudeen Usman, National Planning Minister

Tilde’s vitriolic attacks on Nigeria’s Muslim leaders I

n an article published on the back page of Peoples Daily of August 21 2012 and posted online on August 23, Dr. Aliyu Tilde spat venom at Northern traditional rulers, especially the Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar III, political and religious leaders as well as public office holders. The ideologue and social critic launched a vitriolic attack at these leaders, without a second thought. He gave feeble and ridiculous justifications here and there, which constituted his own idea, defence and understanding of what was expected of these leaders and their failure, according to him, to discharge that burden of responsibility.

Dr. Tilde who I have known now for two years has never ceased to fascinate me by the way and manner in which he wishes things were done his own way alone. As the academic that he is, I often wonder through which prism he sees things and believes that he alone is always right. Tilde belittles himself while trying to glorify himself.

With his sanctimonious attitude, he does not respect any rules and he does not have any rules of engagement, at all. Little wonder, therefore, that he had this to say: “Honestly, our leaders at the top are not helping matters. We could not reach any of them since yesterday; neither the Inspector General of Police (IGP) nor the National Security Adviser (NSA). Their lines have been switched off. One cannot but feel helpless and abandoned in situations like this”. He continued in the same write-up: “Also, when the Fulani in Riyom and Barkin Ladi Local Governments were given a quit notice by the STF last month, I immediately got in touch with the Sultan, the Supreme Command of the Fulani in Nigeria, to register my disapproval of the order. To be fair to him, he took me into confidence and said he would appeal to the President to withdraw it….”

Now, is Dr. Tilde saying that the Inspector General of Police and the National Security Adviser deliberately switched off their phones in order not to attend to him? Were they

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GUEST COLUMNIST Sale Bayari bayarisale@yahoo.com

Alhaji Muhammad Sa’ad Abubakar, Sultan of Sokoto

informed by Tilde earlier that he was going to call them at so and so time and did he request to speak with them and did they give their word only to be unavailable, at the nick of time?

These are very busy officers with very tight schedules and these schedules are not limited to the problems of only one section of this country. I wonder how they could have switched off their phones to dodge talking to Tilde who they never knew would call them. After all, were these officers expected to only act through the intervention of the writer? Otherwise, it meant that they did nothing or did not care for “their people”. This shows how little the doctor understands power and influential people and their ways.

Look at the way Dr. Tilde publicised his communication with the Sultan, verbatim, to the world. Was he sure that was what the Sultan would have wanted? Or did he find the justification for such action in the Sultan’s refusal or inability to return his calls? In anger and exasperation, he then decided to expose his discussion with the Sultan to the public in order to ridicule him. Is this the way we are supposed to treat our leaders

when they don’t do what we feel they should do? Would somebody else not be grateful to the Sultan if he did what he did to Dr. Tilde, by talking to him the way he did, by disclosing to him what took place between him and the President and all the steps he took or intended to take? Should this line of discussion have been exposed to the public by Dr. Tilde, no matter his grouse against the Sultan later?

How many calls does the Sultan receive from all over the world within minutes or hours that not responding to that of Dr. Tilde becomes an issue, especially when he knew what Dr. Tilde wanted to tell him and that, may be, he had already taken action on the matter? I was particularly unhappy at the way and manner Dr. Tilde tried to turn the table on the Fulani in Riyom and Barkin Ladi, when he did not get any response from the Sultan, by telling them to leave their homes and run way. He gave that advice, according to him, because the Sultan appeared to have failed to do anything to protect the Fulani by refusing to pick calls or return them. To Tilde, that the Sultan might have gotten an alternative to him, now that I was out of detention and on the ground, while he was in Bauchi, was not within his contemplation. As soon as I was released by 4.30pm on July 22, the Sultan knew everything that was happening and I knew what he was doing in respect of the Fulani case. By Monday July 23, when the military operation was to begin it was I who invited Dr. Tilde to join me to see the STF commander in Jos. Despite his earlier effort at bungling, in anger against the Sultan for not responding to him, our plans and strategies to save the Fulani, he came along and we saved them.

How does Dr. Tilde imagine

that highly placed persons such as the NSA, the IGP will open themselves to him as the Sultan did and have themselves to blame in the event he (Tilde) takes them to the public and disseminates whatever they told him in confidence, once next time they don’t pick calls from him or return them due to one reason or the other? This is the same man who called for donations online from Nigerians, which they obliged and sent in their widow’s mite and he unilaterally went online to publish such donations and what he did with the money (even if it were not true) without the respect and decorum to ask if that was what the donors wanted. The reality was that some of the donors might have wanted anonymity and confidence. As soon as the donors and what they donated were beamed online, the donations stopped flowing in.

Dr. Tilde would do well to know that everybody deserves the right to do or behave as they want – not giving a damn about what other people do or think. The Sultan that I have known since November 2006, when he was our 2006/2007 Amirul Hajj and who since then I have remained close to, in October 2008, established the Sultan’s Tiv Farmers/Fulani Cattle Rearers Relationship Committee, chaired by the Emir of Gombe and myself as secretary, to address the perennial violent conflict between the Tiv and the Fulani in Banue, Taraba and Nasarawa states. As a result of this his singular initiative, the first time in over 30 years, there is peace now between the Tiv and the Fulani in these states.

Neither the Sultan nor I knew Dr. Tilde prior to March 2010.

So, we have known him for barely two years but I have known the Sultan for over seven years from very close quarter as a result of the work the Tiv/Fulani Committee as well as the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association which the Sultan is the grand patron and chairman of its board of trustees. I am also the Protem National Secretary of this association and working directly under the Sultan.

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