Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 06, October, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com www.peoplesdaily-online.com

VOL. 2 NO. 10 SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

. . . putting the people first

Cover: Caught-in-the middle: Harrowing tales of internally displaced persons

ZHUL-QADAH 19 - 20, 1433 AH

Nursing mother, 5 children killed in fresh Jalingo blast

>>Pages 9,10&11

Mysterious thunder kills footballers on Emir’s land >>Pages 9 & 10

N150

>>Page 4

THE ENTREPRENEUR

Northerners killed our industries —Adhama

>>Page 34

LIFE STYLE

Minister in sizzling romance with cleaner >>Page 4

PERSONALITY

I don’t have a bank account, says Barmani Choge >>Page 40 KANNYWOOD

I sang ‘Tasirin Kauna’ after a girl broke my heart — Sa’ad >>Page 24

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Special Report How mysterious thunder killed three footballers on Emir’s land I

n what appears to be a continuation of the widespread baptism of devastating natural disasters raging across the country, a mysterious thunder strike has devoured three local football stars in Karmo, a suburb of Abuja.

The deceased persons were playing a testimonial match on a field popularly called ‘favour field’ located within an open space which reportedly belongs to the Emir of Kano.

The match was meant to honour an undisclosed friend of theirs, who was celebrating his birthday, when the thunder stroke leaving all of them, numbering about fifty including spectators unconscious, only for them to regain consciousness five minutes later.

Emmanuel Ayanwu, 22, Joseph Ushe, 20 were killed instantly while Abdullahi Bello, 22, gave up the ghost at the entrance of Gwarinpa General Hospital where he was rushed for treatment.

Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that the deceased persons including most of the affected persons were members of the Golden Star FC and Sampolo FC, both of the area, who were the two teams engaged in the match when the incident happened.

While late Emmanuel and Joseph were members of the Golden Star FC, late Abdullahi played for Samdora FC. One of the survivors, Adebayo Ilesanmi, who is the coach of Golden Star FC, gave an account of the incident, saying they were all out for a friendly match which doubled as training with Sampolo FC, before the thunder stormed, ‘that was the only thing I could remember.”

“The incident happened around 5:30 when we were on the field playing a friendly match for one of us who was celebrating his birthday; it wasn’t long we started that we noticed a drizzling at that time, and sudden the thunder struck, and immediately we fainted.”

He continued: “Only for us to regain consciousness later and find the lifeless bodies of three of my boys on the ground; two of them were severely burnt beyond recognition while the other one appeared untouched. The space of time between when the thunder struck and when we recovered from the shock was about five minutes.”

According to him, after gaining composure to check what has happened, he noticed smoke escaping from late Emmanuel’s body, and when he got closer, he saw smoke bursting out of his chest like a release of gas.

Adebayo told Peoples Daily Weekend how the badly burnt remains of the deceased were

They were three young and promising lads who went out to play a friendly game in honour of their mutual friend who was celebrating his birthday.

They didn’t live to tell the story of the game. Stanley Onyekwere and Morufat Ojulari report

Late Bello immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, which referred them to Gwarinpa General Hospital, in Life camp, for treatment, He said the hospital declined accepting them and attending to them unless they get a police report.

“After failed attempts to resuscitate the deceased persons by a few of us who survived the ravaging thunder, we decided to take the remains of the affected persons to a nearby hospital. And when we got to the hospital they asked us to first get a police report before they could attend to us. And before we returned from the Life camp police station, the victims were confirmed dead.

“It was when we came back with a policeman that our worst fear was confirmed as we were told the victims were dead already”.

When asked if they sensed that the deceased persons were still alive by the time they were taken to the hospital, he said they couldn’t tell because at that time many of them who managed to escape death by the whisker were still in shock and barely conscious to be able to understand the true state of things.

Also he said it was later, that they discovered that another person had sustained injury on the head, before he was admitted at a nearby hospital, before the

Late Emma relatives came and transferred the fourth victim to an undisclosed private hospital for proper treatment.

The coach, who is still in shock, also recalled how the thunder lifted him off the ground and hugged him on top of a nearby tree, saying

Late Joseph it was a friend who woke him up and helped him descend down from the tree.

On whether such devastating thunder strike had happened in the past on that pitch, he said it was the first time as the place was used for school prior to the demolition

exercise by the FCTA. “I believe people have been using the field for football training and matches after the demolition exercise. So I’m seriously surprised by the unfortunate incident. They

The field allegedly owned by Emir of Kano, Alhaji (Dr) Ado Bayero

Contd on Page 3

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 3

Special Report Mysterious thunder killed three footballers on Emir’s land Contd from Page 2 are my boys and I have been coaching them since February, 1995”, he said.

Narrating his ordeal, the father of one of the deceased, Mallam Sarki Bello, who was still mourning his loss, said the incident was a surprise because he has never heard or seen such occurrence since his birth.

The bereaved father who is also an adviser to the Chief of Karmo, disclosed that the land within which the field is located belongs to the Emir of Kano who commissioned the land in the year 2010, to pave way for construction work to commence there.

Corroborating the account given by the coach, the father said he received news of the incident, when one of the victims came around the house shouting and calling his late son’s name: who immediately broke the news when he was able to calm the man down.

And before I could get to the scene, the four victims have been rushed to the hospital, where three of them including my son, Abdullahi were pronounced dead.

“We got to know that two of the victims who got burnt from the attack died on the spot while my son gave up the ghost in the hospital,” he said.

In what appears as a submission to the will of Allah, the father said he has accepted his son’s demise in good faith, according to him: “If there was something I could do to bring him back I would have done that but there is nothing I can do, I pray that God should stop such occurrence in future.”

Prior to his death in the incident, late Abdullahi had obtained his Senior Secondary School Certificate and wrote UTME, hoping to gain admission into a tertiary institution to study Business Administration.

To save money to support his parents pay for his education, he worked as a newspaper vendor at Karmo last gate while awaiting his admission.

On his part, Yakubu Bello, the elder brother to late Abdullahi, described his late brother as a very understanding person who he still can’t believe has left him to the great beyond.

He said his late brother was buried the same day at about 10:00pm according to Islamic rites.

Mr and Mrs Sarki Bello, parents of late Abdullahi “Abdullahi apart from having a great passion for education as a vehicle to achieving his dreams in life, had an ambition to become a football superstar.”

Most people living in the area told Peoples Daily Weekend that the incident would for a long time remain fresh in their minds as the scene of the incident being a field would always remind residents of the horrific and terrifying venom of the thunder which threw the entire place into mourning mood.

Late Joseph was the first child of his parents, who hail from Cross River state. He was described by a neighbour as a friendly child who was easy going.

He had just recently finished his O’ level exams after completing his secondary education this year.

Late Joseph’s neighbour, Mrs. Lucy Oko, who told our reporters that the deceased had earlier in the day helped in looking after her child while she was away in the

“

I told him to eat his food before going to play but he refused, saying he won’t be able to play well if he ate and he covered the food, only for me to hear that he was dead

market, could not believe what happened to him.

It was when I returned from the market that Joseph left the house for the field after he was briefed about the testimonial by his friends; only for us to receive the sad news of his death.

She said the report they got from the people who survived the incident was that when the thunder came like a fire, everyone around the field fell and lost consciousness only to find Joseph with two others on the floor burnt.

She added: “His corpse was taken to his hometown on Saturday for burial but his parents are yet to be back from their state.

The third victim, Emmanuel, who we gathered just gained admission to study Microbiology in Nasarawa state University, was supposed to resume academics in October.

Recalling the last discussion she had with her child before he was taken away by the hand of death, the deceased mother, who simply identified herself as Mrs. Anyanwu, said he just finished preparing his meal when his friend came to call him out for the game.

Emmako as the he was fondly called was said to have gone to the field on this ill-fated day with the mindset of going to play with a friend of his whose birthday it was and to also train for the match holding the following day.

“I told him to eat his food before

going to play but he refused, saying he won’t be able to play well if he ate and he covered the food, only for me to hear that he was dead”, she revealed.

Lamenting her loss, she said: “I knew he would have done a lot of

things if he was to stay alive but this has dashed every hope of whatever plan we have.”

She however disclosed that the remains of Late Emmanuel had been laid to rest in his home town in Imo state.

The tree where the coach was hugged

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

News

Nursing mother, 5 children killed in fresh Jalingo blast From Ayodele Samuel and Yusha’u Alhassan Jalingo

C Gov. Danbaba Suntai

onfusion rocked Jalingo last night as another bomb blast hit the city, leaving a nursing mother and about 5 children dead.

The explosion occurred at about 7.30pm at a local drinking joint in Malam Joda village behind the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).

As at the time of filing this report, a nursing mother and about five

other children who were said to be playing close to the joint, were feared dead, while more than 11 people were injured and rushed to the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo.

The bomb attack is coming after Thursday blast which death toll had hit 10 at the early hours of Friday before the latest attack.

The bomb went off at about 8.00pm on Thursday night at Dorawa along Ganye near Sky bank.

While commercial and social activities resumed normally in the state, residents went about doing

their usual businesses under heavy security presence.

Peoples Daily Weekend was at the Federal Medical Center, Jalingo where victims of the blast where receiving treatment and gathered that death toll increased early Friday morning with 3 more victims dead and about 11 seriously injured.

Police Public relation officer Taraba Command Amos Olaoye said only one person was killed and 8 people injured.

An eyewitness, Kabiru Umar said he saw three dead bodies and

many people where rushed to the Federal medical Center, “I was just near the place when I heard heavy sound and tick smoke coming from a local drinking joint, I took off my shoe and run for my dear life.”

Police spokesman, Amos Olaoye confirmed the incident, saying officers are on ground at the scene of incident.

Soldiers were also deployed to the state. Governor Danbaba Suntai was locked in a close door meeting with security chiefs as at the time of going to press yesterday night.

Flooding: Presidency, NASS consider EFCC arrests 10 over supplementary budget for victims money laundering

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan and the leadership of the National Assembly may have agreed on the need to urgently consider a supplementary budget so that the Federal Government could assist states that have been ravaged by flooding.

Emerging from a meeting of a Federal Government and state governors of the affected states, which ended around 1.15 am on Friday, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal, gave the indication that it would not be out of place to consider the option of supplementary budget considering the gravity of the issue at hand.

The meeting, which started at 9.30 pm on Thursday night, was attended by Vice President Namadi Sambo, Senate President David Mark who declined to talk, Speaker Tambuwal, governors of the affected states and some principal officers of both Senate and House of Representatives.

The House of Representatives Speaker also cautioned Nigerians not to blame governments for the flooding, insisting it was a natural disaster that called for urgent action by all.

"Whatever concerns Nigerians should be the concern of a responsible government and this government is responsible and it is responding to the yearnings and aspirations of Nigerians. That is why we had this

high level meeting at this period to consider the issue of flooding and how it has affected our communities.

"The Federal Government is going to intervene in collaboration with the states to be sure that the immediate situations are remedied.

Our resolution that the executive arm of government should send a supplementary budget on the issue is still being discussed," he told State House correspondents.

Also speaking, Governor Emmanuel Uduaghan of Delta, said the governors resolved to put in more efforts in providing succour to the displaced, just as the Federal Government through the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) would intensify efforts to ensure that relief materials get to every nook and cranny of the affected states.

His words, "we just finished from a meeting with Mr. President. We listened to a briefing by the committee put up by the President and the governors also gave some more details about the states.

"What was decided was that every governor should go back and put in more efforts. We are already putting in efforts, but we are going to put in more efforts. The Federal Government will continue to also ensure that relief materials get down to the states.

"In an emergency situation, you first look at short term solution then you start working on medium and long term plans. But for today, how do we resettle those that were displaced by this flooding that has

ravaged a lot states in Nigeria?

"So the medium and long term will follow later. You have an emergency situation that people have been living in a place for several years. The first thing you want to do is to relocate them to places where you can give them shelter, water and other basic social needs. That is the immediate need because these people are in millions scattered all over the country.

The Minister of Environment, Hajiya Hadiza Mailaifia briefed the governors on the short term, the medium term and the long term measures that must be put in place to guide against future occurrence.

According to her, the President expressed satisfaction "with the support and resilience of Nigerians and governments at states and local governments. We will continue to consistently persuade them.

The governors present at the meeting were Danbaba Suntai (Taraba); Patrick Yakowa (Kaduna), Ibrahim Dakingari (Kebbi), Emmanuel Uduaghan (Delta), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Tanko AlMakura (Nasarrawa), Idris Wada (Kogi), George Akume (Benue), Theodore Orji (Abia), Peter Obi (Anambra), Babangida Aliyu (Niger) and Lyel Imoke (Cross Rivers), as well as Deputy governors of Bayelsa, Kwara and Plateau States.

The Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, Minister of Water Resources, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe and Minister of State, Works, Bashir Yuguda were also in attendance.

Jonathan to host UN commission on commodities for women, children

By Ai’sha Biola Raji

I

n his capacity as the co-chair of the United Nations Commission on Life-Saving Commodities for Women and Children, President Goodluck Jonathan is scheduled to host the international working meeting of the group on 16th October, 2012 in Abuja.

The meeting will be a follow-up to an earlier one convened on August

30thand 31st, 2012 in Oslo, Norway

by Norwegian Prime Minister, Jens Stoltenberg, who is a co-chair of the commission with President Jonathan.

According to a statement signed

by Abubakar Jimoh, Deputy Director Public Relations and Protocol Unit, National Agency for Foods and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC), one of the key objectives of the commission is to increase access of women and

children to appropriate use of medicines, medical devices and medical supplies that effectively address death during pregnancy, child birth and childhood.

The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate and Director General of NAFDAC, Dr. Paul Orhii who had represented President Jonathan variously on the commission, said preparations for the Abuja meeting are now in top gear.

By Lambert Tyem

T

h e Special Control Unit Against Money Laundering (SCUML), yesterday, said it has commenced the enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the Money Laundering Act 2011 by Designated Non- Financial Institutions DNFIs (hotels, real estate firms, auto dealers, audit and accounting firms, casinos, supermarkets Bureau de Change, law firms, among others), with the arrest of officials of seven companies in Abuja.

Those arrested include Mr. Austin Olefa, manager, Pent House Properties; Alhaji Abdullahi Mohammed , chief executive officer, Abmed Motors; Mathew Abang and Eguakum Ekenema, manager and general manager respectively, Jorany Hotels; Ndubisi Akabogu, accountant, Grand

EFCC Boss, Malam Ibrahim Lamurde

Product Company Limited (Grand Square); Juvita Akwari, and Obinna Ugoma, manager and accountant respectively, Lamonde Hotels; Wole Oladapo and Osayi Gavin, accountant and marketer respectively, Febsons Hotels and Abiodun Adelasu of Nawa Properties.

They were arrested at the start of a special operation designed to compel compliance with the anti-money laundering and combating financing of terrorism regulations by DNFIs. Section 5 of the Money Laundering Act 2011, requires existing businesses to submit, within three months from the commencement of the Act, a declaration of their activities and all record of transactions. They are equally required to file returns on transaction within seven days from the date of the transaction in chronological order, indicating each customers surname, forenames and address.

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), a few weeks ago, also came up with a circular, directing financial institutions to demand evidence of registration with SCUML as condition for doing business with DNFIs. Angel Nworgu, Head SCUML said the arrest of the company executives marks a turning point in the enforcement of the anti-money laundering laws, adding that the days of impunity and non compliance by DNFIs were over.

Fire razes Buhari Primary School in Katsina From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

A

fire outbreak has destroyed Muhammadu Buhari Primary School, Daura, Katsina state.

An eyewitness told our correspondent that the fire started in the early hours of Thursday.

Similarly, the witness whose identity was not disclosed, said the fire which lasted for several hours was brought under control by men of the state fire service.

It was also gathered that the fire destroyed three class rooms, the headmasters' office and store.

All documents in the headmasters' office of the school which was established in 1917 were reported to have been destroyed.

The acting education secretary of the local government, Alhaji Ahmed Zango, confirmed the incident, expressing relief that the incident occurred in the night when the pupils were not in school.

He disclosed that 170 pupils of the three affected classes would be distributed to other classes in the school.

The executive chairman of the state Universal Basic Education Board, Alhaji Suleiman Dikko, has visited the school to assess the situation.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 5

News

Commissioning of Petroleum College may stall —PTDF From Agaju Madugba, Kaduna

T

he Executive Secretary, Petroleum T e c h n o l o g y Development Fund (PTDF), Muntaka Rabe Darma, says the N25 billion Nigerian College of Petroleum Studies located in

Kaduna may not take off in December as earlier scheduled.

According to Darma, apart from massive encroachment into the college site, residents at the location have failed to vacate in spite of compensation paid for them to seek alternative accommodation.

Speaking when he paid a

courtesy visit to the Kaduna state governor, Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa on Thursday, Darma noted that the government failed to play its role by effecting the resettlement of the residents.

According to him, “in 2009, the PTDF paid all the affected people a compensation of N250,

000 each, to enable them move to wherever the state government might deem fit to relocate them since the college is the rightful owner of the land, having obtained the Certificate of Occupancy (C of O).

“Now that we have reached 90 percent completion, they

should be relocated, so, we are appealing to the state government to help us move the people by playing its part to compensate them.

“Again, so many illegal buildings have sprung up on the land and this time around we are not ready to pay any compensation.

Katsina gets shelterbelt, Suspected foreign armed robbers aforestation c’ttees From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

K

atsina state government has approved the establishment of three shelterbelt and aforestation committees to oversee the implementation of the proposed Great Green Wall Sahara Project in the state.

A statement signed and made available to newsmen in Katsina by the Commissioner for Environment, Alhaji Aminu Ibrahim Safana, said the committees are to prepare action plan as well as supervise and monitor the

implementation of the programme and are to also to mobilise necessary resources for achieving the programme of the project.

It stated that the state shelterbelt and aforestation committee has the deputy governor as chairman while the commissioner of environment, chairman of the state House of Assembly committee on Habitat, special adviser Forestry and Commissioner for Agriculture would serve as members.

Similarly, the statement added that the state shelterbelt and aforestation technical committee has the commissioner of environment as its chairman

while an official of the state Forestry Department would serve as secretary.

nabbed in Kebbi From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

F

Gov Ibrahim Shema

o u r suspected armed robbers from Niger Republic who have been terrorising the residents leaving at the border area in Kangiwa and Kamba local government areas of Kebbi state, have been arrested by the Kebbi state police command.

Addressing newsmen on Thursday, at the police headquarters, the Kebbi state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Tonye E. Ebitibituwa, said one of the suspect accused of being the matron of the notorious

FCT Muslim pilgrims urged to be good ambassadors of Nigeria

By Josephine Ella

P

ilgrims from the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) for this year’s Hajj have been advised to be good ambassadors of the country.

The Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide gave the advice on Thursday, when

she paid a scheduled visit to the Permanent Hajj Camp close to the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport.

She assured the pilgrims of their comfort and security while at the camp before transiting to Jeddah to perform the pilgrimage.

She explained to the pilgrims that the little delay in the Hajj

permanent Hajj camp.

The minister was presented with a certificate of merit by the National Coordinator (Women Affairs) of the Eagle Eye Hajj Monitors, Hajia Modinat Mohammed, for fulfilling her promise to make the permanent camp operational for this year’s Hajj.FCT Muslim pilgrims urged to be good ambassadors of Nigeria

African students’ union condemns killing of students in Mubi

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T Oloye Olajumoke Akinjide

Operations has been resolved with the Saudi authorities and the country has renewed flight operations to the holy land.

Akinjide commended Unity Bank for the donation of a building for the use of the female pilgrims and called on corporate organisations to partner the FCT Administration in completing the second phase of the

h e All African Student Union (AASU), has condemned the killing of several students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa State on Monday by yet to be identified gunmen.

A statement signed by the Public Relations Officer of Federal College of Education, Yola, said members of the union from different African countries, made

the condemnation in Yola at the occasion of the conferment of Kwame Nkrumah Leadership Award on the Provost of the Federal College of Education, Yola, Prof. Abdul-Mumin Sa’ad by AASU. According to the statement, the deputy speaker of the union’s parliament, Yinka Gbadebo, while condemning the killing of the students, called on the Federal Government to engage any aggrieved group in a dialogue to

prevent loss of more lives and property.

Gbadebo further said the award conferred on the Provost was because of his leadership quality and commitment toward uplifting the college.

In his acceptance speech, Prof.

Sa’ad who dedicated the award to all staff and students of the college, said it was a challenge to strive for further achievements to make the college the best institution in the country.

Emir blames elites for deprivations facing North From Yusha'u Alhassan, Jalingo

T

h e Emir of Muri, Abbas Njidda Tafida, has blamed elites in Northern Nigeria for all the woes confronting the region.

Tafida stated this Thursday while receiving members of the North-east Unity and

Development Forum who visited him in his palace in Jalingo.

The Emir said elites in the north cheated the region and that the Almighty would not forgive them if they did not change their attitudes.

He noted that the elites felt that they were educated and could not listen to their

leaders as a result the north had found itself in the present condition.

On Boko Haram, Tafida said there was no Boko Haram in Nigeria but it was someone who wants to destroy the north that was perpetuating the evil and that the person started in the North-east region.

The Emir accused northern

leaders of keeping mute over the issue of Boko Haram and not saying the truth.

Earlier, the leader of the forum, Alhaji Yayale Ahmed, stressed the importance of unity, explaining that the Forum was constituted to settle grudges among politicians in the region irrespective of political parties.

gang, Hajiya Sa'adatu Mohammad (40) was arrested at Barki Daji in Kangiwa area of Kebbi state in the early hours of Wednesday.

“We have arrested the matron of the armed robbery syndicate that comes from Niger Republic to unleash terror on motorist of Kangiwa-Kamba road”, he said.

To tackle the gang, he said his men mounted 24 hours surveillance on the area and villages surrounding it. He said they have since commenced investigation on the woman's case.

Kogi flood: NEMA evacuate 6,654 from Ibaji, delivers relief items

A

b o u t 6,654 persons from 33 local government areas trapped by the flood that submerged communities in Ibaji local government area of Kogi state have been evacuated to safe locations by the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), DirectorGeneral of the agency, Alhaji Muhammad Sani Sidi has said.

He said this in Lokoja at the official presentation of medical items, tents and mobile toilets to the Kogi state government for improvement of health and sanitation conditions of the various IDP camps in the state.

Represented by the Director Search and Rescue, Air Commodore Charles Otegbade, the NEMA boss said the intervention was part of the agency’s mandate to provide succor in alleviating the suffering of those affected by the disaster after successful search and rescue operations.

Receiving the items on behalf of the state government, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Omede Idris, appreciated the agency for the gesture. He assured that the items would be judiciously used.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

News Yobe to recruit 3000 graduates

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he government of Yobe state has approved the re cruitment of 3000 graduates including degree, HND, NCE holders and other professionals into its civil service.

The Yobe state executive council chaired by Governor Ibrahim Gaidam after its recent meeting which ratified resolutions aimed at repositioning the state, was also

briefed on the efforts made by the government in the recent absorption of 6,672 candidates listed for employment and 8,871 are being screened from the Chiromari Committee to be re-considered for absorption into the local government service immediately.

According to a release made available to our reporter signed by the state’s Commissioner for Information and Home Affairs, Alhaji Goni Fika, apart from the

massive employment strategy, the Yobe government also approved the purchase of 40 units of Messey Farguson and 375 tractors and implements to further re-invigorate agricultural activities in the state.

According to the resolution of the council’s meeting, the state Agricultural Mechanization Authority (YOSAMA), currently has only 32 unserviceable tractors which were procured since

the year 2000 which needed to be replaced in order to serve the farmers well”.

Considering the dilapidated state of the state owned hotels in Gashua, Potiskum and Nguru, the council resolved to engage consultants to assess them with a view to selling them out to respective local governments or interested individuals because they have ceased to generate funds for the government.

Petroleum minister insensitive to workers’ plight –PENGASSAN From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

Gov Ibrahim Gaidam of Yobe State (left) in a handshake with the State Amirul Hajj for the 2012 Pilgrimage, Barrister Ado Isiaku during the inauguration of the Amriul Hajj Committee at the Conference Hall, Government House Media Center, Damaturu yesterday

Animal health bill passes second reading

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

h e bill to regulate the practice and to make pro visions for the Animal Health and Husbandry Technologists Registration Board of Nigeria on Thursday passed second reading, with all the Senators who contributed, emphasizing its potentials to check dependence on imported meats and create jobs for Nigerians.

The bill which was presented before the Senate by Ita Enang (PDP Akwa-Ibom), aims at professionalising the practice of

animal husbandry in Nigeria.

Leading debate on the bill, Enang explained that the bill had passed second and third readings in the House of Representatives and was at the second reading in the sixth senate, but could not be completed before their tenure elapsed.

Enang who was supported by Solomon Ewuga (PDP Nasarawa), said when passed, the bill will determine the level of knowledge and qualification for practitioners, in addition to creating jobs and stimulating economic growth.

Also speaking, Ahmed Lawan

(ANPP Yobe), argued that if it becomes an Act, the practitioners of the profession should work hard to move the animal industry into an export sector, saying this will in turn create more jobs for the youths.

In his contribution to the debate, Senate President David Mark, said the bill makes it simpler for government to provide social amenities for the farmers, in addition to easy medical care for the animals, and therefore referred it to the Committee on Agriculture to consider and report back in three weeks.

h e Petroleum and Natu ral Gas Senior Staff Asso ciation of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), has described the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Allison-Madueke, as insensitive to plights of workers in the oil and gas industry.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the 3rd triennial delegates conference of PENGASSAN branch in the Pipelines and Products Marketing Company Limited (PPMC) in Abeokuta, Ogun state on Wednesday, the PENGASSAN president, Comrade Babatunde Ogun, said that the Petroleum minister does not care about the workers in the oil and gas sector.

He stated that PENGASSAN will support the PPMC branch’s decision to withdraw the services of members if the government cannot find the workers either dead or alive, who were attacked by hoodlums and vandals when they went to repair the damaged pipeline at Arepo, Ogun state.

Ogun said: “The minister that has the oversight over the oil and gas industry does not care about the workers. Since the minister assumed duties, she has never met with the workers. All entreaties and efforts to meet with the minister and tell her our challenges and problems failed because the minister is not ready to listen”.

He also berated the Group Managing Director (GMD) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Andrew Yakubu, for not trying to meet the two unions, PENGASSAN and NUPENG, since he assumed office some months ago.

Reps task NNPC on transparency in daily crude production

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

h e House of Representa tives on Thursday man dated the management of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) to be transparent in the daily crude production in the country by making public the data.

The House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) chaired by Rep Ajibola Muraina which conducted oversight on the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), lamented the situation where that nation’s daily crude production data are shrouded in secrecy.

The chairman pointed out that a situation where discordant figures would be coming from the data given by the officials of the NNPC and the DPR was unacceptable even as he mandated the agency to ensure daily reports of the volume of crude lifted out of country are made public.

Responding, DPR Managing Director, Austin Olorunsola, assured the lawmakers that he would begin to post the daily crude production data on the agency’s website with such being viewed by Nigerians without any password in the next two weeks.

Asked why there are discrepancies in the pump price of petroleum products across the country, Olorunsola said the official price of petrol stands at N97 per litre across the country as the DPR boss has mandated his directors and inspectors across the country to clamp down on any erring station that sells above the recommended pump price.

Meanwhile, the committee has succeeded in making the Accountant-General of the Federation (AGF) to agree to release the funds due to the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) from the signature bonuses being withheld by the agency.

Corruption: Finance, Petroleum ministers stall Reps’ $1.1 billion Malabu probe

By Lawrence Olaoye

M

i n i s t e r of Finance, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala and her Petroleum Resources counterpart, Diezani Allison-Madueke on Thursday, stalled the House of Representatives investigative hearing into the alleged $1.1 billion shady sale of OPL 245 involving the Federal Government, Shell/

Agip Companies and Malabu Oil and Gas Limited.

The Ad-hoc committee chaired by the Deputy Majority Leader of the House, Rep Leo Ogor, was restricted because the two ministers failed to furnish the lawmakers with relevant documents.

The decision to investigate the alleged shady oil deal was predicated upon a motion raised under matters of urgent national impor-

tance that was sponsored by Hon. Robinson Uwak at the Thursday, May 31, plenary which was adopted by the House.

Allison-Madueke who denied information about the subject matter and blamed it on the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), was countered by the chairman who insisted that several letters addressed to her on the matter were ignored. Ogor pointed out

that she had no excuse on the matter since the DPR operates under her ministry.

Okonjo-Iweala who was represented by the Minister of State, Yerima Ngama, equally failed to present any position paper on the matter.

Ogor disclosed that the committee only received a letter earlier in the day from the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation and Min-

ister of Justice, Mohammed Bello Adoke asking for the postponement of the public hearing as he would not be available because of his involvement in the case of the International Court of Justice (ICJ)ruling on Bakasi.

Because major stakeholders in the investigative hearing were not prepared, the committee resolved to postpone the hearing until further notice.

PAGE 7

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

News How ‘negligence’ of hospital staff killed Oshiomole’s aide

NYSC commends Bauchi govt for providing support

From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he last may not have been heard about the assassination of Governor Adams Oshiomole’s aide, Oyerinde Olaitan.

Controversy is brewing over how some staff members of the Central Hospital, Benin allegedly acted when Oyerinde was taken to the hospital for treatment after he was shot several times by a gang of assassins in his apartment.

Rather than get prompt attention that could have saved his life from the medical staff that day, Oyerinde was reportedly allowed to die because the doctor on duty locked up all the staff in a room because of the fear of attack from hoodlums, which is said to be a usual occurrence in the area.

The executive director of African Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), Rev. David Ugolor, who claimed his car was used for the rescue operation, has also come out to accuse the medical staff of negligence and poor attitude to work in the way Oyerinde’s treatment was handled.

The incident occurred on May 3rd, 2012 at about 2am when late Olaitan, the Principal Private Secretary to Oshiomole, was shot and left in the pool of his blood by gunmen at his private residence in Ugbor Quarters, Benin City.

Our reporter gathered that following the shooting, he was taken to the said hospital on account of proximity, for prompt attention.

Unfortunately, the entire staff of the hospital were asleep and didn’t respond to banging of the

gate by those who brought the victim.

Another factor that reportedly contributed to Oyerinde’s death was the deplorable state of the Accidents and Emergency Department of the hospital which was established in 1906.

Ugolor recalled that Oyerinde was not dead as at the time they went to the hospital.

The doctor, he said, later came around after the man had already died.

The doctor further argued that they never knew who late Olaitan was then, and that was why he was abandoned; because they thought, he was an ordinary Nigerian.

“I cried and wept, even as I was driving that night my brother I cried’, he said.

Corroborating Ugolor’s account, the permanent secretary in the ministry of

T Gov. Oshiomohle health, Dr. Peter Ugbodaga, said it was some of his claims that led to the sanctioning of the staff on duty the night the incident occurred.

Ugbodaga disclosed that a committee has also been set up to look into the circumstances of Oyerinde’s death at the hospital and make appropriate recommendations to the state government.

N4.6bn subsidy scam: EFCC docks more oil marketers, companies From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

S

ome oil marketers indicted in the fuel subsidy probe were, yesterday, arraigned by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), before Justice Habeeb Abiru of a Lagos High Court sitting Ikeja, over allegation of obtaining by false pretence the sum of N4.6 billion.

The marketers13 in number, were arraigned before Justices Abiru and Justice Lateefa Okunnnu.

Six of the indicted marketers and four of their companies were arraigned before Justice Abiru on eight- count charges.

The charges bordered on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence, obtaining by false pretence, conspiracy to forge documents and uttering false documents.

According to EFCC, the marketers and their companies had conspired to and obtained huge sums of money from the

EFCC Chairman, Ibrahim Lamorde Federal Government of Nigeria, purporting the sum to be payment for subsidy under the Petrol Support Fund for the purported importation of premium motor spirit from Europe to Nigeria.

Those arraigned are Anosyke Group of Companies Ltd, Ifeanyi Anosike, Dell Energy Limited, Emeka Chukwu, Ngozi Ekeoma, Downstream Energy Sources

Limited, Alhaji Adamu Aliyu Maula, Rocky Energy Limited, George Ogbonna and Emmanuel.

Anosyke Group of Companies, Ifeanyi Anosike, Dell Energy Limited, Emeka Chukwu and Ngozi Ekeoma were arraigned on an eightcount charge bordering on conspiracy to obtain by false pretence; forgery and uttering false documents to the tune of N1,537,278,880.82 (one billion, five hundred and thirty seven million, two hundred and seventy eight thousand, eight hundred and eighty naira, eighty-two kobo), being payments, fraudulently received from the Petroleum Support Fund for a purported supply of 15, 000 metric tonnes of premium motor spirit.

The anti-graft agency alleged that all the defendants at various times forged different bill of ladens for petrol not supplied all in a bid to claim the Federal Government’s subsidy on fuel.

They pleaded not guilty to the charges and their counsel applied for a date for hearing of bail application with a prayer that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.

Justice Abiru subsequently adjourned the matter till October 19, 2012 for hearing of bail and ordered that the defendants be remanded in EFCC custody.

However, before Justice Lateefa Okunnu, out of the expected eight people and companies, only three - ASB Investment Limited, Aro Samuel Bamidele and Abiodun Kayode Bankole were arraigned on an 18 count charge bordering on uttering, obtaining and falsifying documents.

Among those that were absent is Abdulahi Alao, son of Aare Musulumi of Yorubaland, Alhaji Arisekola Alao.

This makes it the third case in which he and his company, Axenergy Nigeria Limited will be facing trial since the fuel subsidy trials commenced.

Bakassi indigenes sue FG, Jonathan

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

B

akassi indigenes in Cross River State have approached a Federal High Court, Abuja with a suit seeking an order voiding the Green Tree Agreement that Nigeria signed with Cameroon in 2006.

The Federal Government and President Goodluck Jonathan and the AttorneyGeneral of the Federation are joined as respondents in the suit filed on behalf of the plaintiffs by their lawyer, Mr. Festus A. Ogwuche.

In a motion ex-parte moved by their counsel yesterday, the applicants sought an order of

mandamus that would compel the Federal Government to by any means available to it, repossess, occupy and take full legal and administrative control of the Bakassi Peninsula.

The motion was filed pursuant to section 1 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Enforcement and Ratification Act Cap 10, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 1990, as well as Order 34 Rules 1(a), 3(1) and (2) of the Federal High Court Civil Procedure Rules, 2007.

Besides, they sought leave for an order of mandamus, compelling the Respondents to, “unilaterally withdraw,

rescind, repudiate and/or revoke Nigeria’s obligations under the Green Tree Agreement entered into between Nigeria and Cameroun in Green Tree, New York, USA on the 12th day of June, 2006, for its being invalid and in breach of Articles 1, 2, 20, 21, 22 and 24 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, Article 1 of the International Covention on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights, Article 1(2) of the UN Charter, and the UN Declaration on the Rights of indigenous peoples, and being inconsistent with sections 1-3, 2(1) and (6), 13, 14(1) and (2)(b), 17(1), (2)(b), (c ) and (d), sections 19(a)

and 9(d), 21(a) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended).”

The applicants, argued that the ICJ gave its judgment on the protracted dispute over ownership of the oil rich Bakassi Peninsula, based “on archaic and anachronistic colonial declarations, and communications between colonial officers”.

Meanwhile, the trial Judge, Justice Gabriel Kolawole yesterday adjourned ruling on the application till October 9, saying he needed time to carefully peruse the court processes in view of “weighty national issues raised therein.”

he Director-General, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier General N.T. Okore-Affia has commended the government of Bauchi state for the safety of corps members and provision support to the scheme.

A press statement signed by the chief press secretary to the Bauchi state governor, Ishola Michael, in Bauchi, yesterday, said NYSC had sent a letter to Governor Isa Yuguda expressing appreciation to the government for the support.

It stated that Brig. Gen. Okore-Affia has also commended the governor for his disposition in reassuring the corps members of their safety in the state.

This action according to the DG, has led to the withdrawal of applications earlier submitted by some of corps members for deployment to other states of the federation.

Death toll hits 7 in Jalingo blast, as Emir blame northern leaders over woes From Ayodele Samuel & Yusha’u Alhassan, Jalingo

T

he death toll from Thursday night’s bomb blast in Jalingo has hit seven as police and state government remain confused over the bomb attack.

While commercial and social activities resumed normally in the state yesterday, there was heavy security presence across the state capital.

Peoples Daily Weekend at Federal Medical Center Jalingo where some of the victims of the blast were receiving treatment, gathered that the death toll increased early Friday morning with three more victims dead and about 11 seriously injured.

Police Public Relations Officer of the Taraba state police command, Amos Olaoye, said only one person was killed while eight were injured.

Gov. Danbaba Suntai

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Life Style Minister in sizzling romance with cleaner

By Our Reporter

A

former Senator from the northeast, turned Minister of one of the strategic ministries (names withheld) is alleged to be in sizzling romance with a cleaner in his office in Abuja.

The news of the affair was first broken by some online media. The alleged love affair according to the said media is playing out at the corridor of the ministry and has transcended the confines of the lady's home as her husband is now said to be in the full picture of the relationship.

Towards this end, 'the mistress is living the Abuja dream' of making fast money as she has since risen from grass to grace because the beautiful damsel from the Plateau, said to have caught the eyes of the Minister, whom the media said exhibits "genial dispositions towards his female staff", has now been redeployed to the minister's office as his Personal Assistant.

"Upon his appointment, the minister redeployed the lady to his office where the cleaner has now been elevated as Personal Assistant to the minister". With the appointment she is said to be held in high esteem due to her relationship with the man at the helm of affairs.

Though an earlier online media indicated that the woman in question is married to an

News

Adamawa born staff of the Power Holding Company of Nigeria, (PHCN), another online source said the girl was engaged to the man whose office is located in one of the settlements outside the Central Area, insisting that the lady enjoys the attention of politicians and civil servants who want the ear of the minister.

The media also stated that it learnt that the senator/ minister who later became aware of her engagement to the Adamawa man pleaded with her to entertain the relationship as he was prepared to sponsor the marriage between her and her heartthrob. But not a few frowned at this proposal of the minister from the northeast who was formerly of the ANPP, on which platform he became senator, but got into the mainstream politics and is now part of the ruling party having been compensated with the post of minister.

However, the minister did not renege on his promise as he went ahead to buy his mistress a house at the Federal Housing Estate Karu, as well as a car and also sponsored her marriage to the Adamawa groom, to the amazement of those who are in the know of the controversial love affair.

One would have expected the lover boy minister to hands off Lady Plateau after the marriage since she now belongs to another man, who is also her husband,

but the media's investigation showed that "not even after the marriage did the senator let go of the girl as the newly wedded couple continued to enjoy lots of favours from him".

Sometimes ago, the senator allegedly dropped the woman at the PHCN office of her husband,

about 15 kilometers from the FCT, after an "emergency work" in his office on a Saturday, and tongues certainly wagged about the type of emergency work the minister had on a Saturday, with the woman he purportedly claimed is now his Personal Assistant.

According to the media, "the visit by the minister to the PHCN attracted comments of other staff in the Adamawa groom's office".

Meanwhile, a source at the PHCN confided that the husband of the woman has squealed that even on weekends the minister would invite his wife to his office on the reasons that as his PA, he needed her to do some work for him. But with money and gifts showered on the couple the husband is constrained to do anything about it while the minister continues his escapades.

Investigations at the PHCN office by Peoples Daily Weekend showed that the husband of the former cleaner is highly disturbed about the development which is already taking a toll on his marriage but he is reluctant to press for charges for obvious reasons.

According to a reliable source which craved anonymity, the minister has tremendously enhanced financial status of the couple. It would therefore be difficult for the man to let the cat out of the bag.

The minister's wife is said to have heard about her husband's dealings with his mistress but preferred to maintain sealed her lips. "Some staff loyal to her has intimated her about it but she has decided not to bust the bubble as that may tarnish the minister's image and threaten her own marriage", the source said.

Group hails Tijani’s Senate tasks NIMC strides in agric ministry on identity management project T

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

h e Chairman, Senate committee on Identity Card and National Population Commission (NPC), Senator Maina Maji Lawan has called on the Director-General of National identity management Commission (NIMC) to quickly and urgently deliver on the National Identity Management System (NIMS) project.

Senator Maina made this call during the committee’s oversight visit to the Commission Headquarters in Abuja.

The Chairman noted that the Committee was in NIMC on a fact finding mission on the total activities and implementation of the of the NIMS project.

He recalled that due to the importance of the NIMS project, the Senate gave a hundred percent approval to the project in the 2012 budget appropriation, adding that with the committee’s fact finding on the NIMC project, the Committee will have first hand information that will guide them on the project in the 2013 budget.

He expressed the Committee’s readiness to complete the facility visit in order to make sure that the fund released on the project was judiciously utilized.

In his response, the Director-General of NIMC, Barr. Chris Onyemenam noted that all funds released for the execution of the NIMS project were judiciously utilized and well deployed.

He emphasised that

massive deployment and installations were done at the Back-End of the project at the NIMC’s Headquarters, and at the back up site located somewhere in a central state of Nigeria.

Barr. Onyemenam further explained that all funds released on the project were above 99% utilized, he mentioned of the project as: the Maintenance/Professional Support, Completion of ongoing renovations at all the NIMC’s offices nationwide, Awareness/Enlightenment Campaign, Logistics supports and Disengagement cost.

Others are upgrading and updating of the NIMS project, Development and job completion and the total issuance of the General MultiPurpose Identity Card (GMPC).

he Hope Arewa Development Initiative, a pan northern, nongovernmental organization has hailed the performance, so far, of the Minister of state for Agriculture, Alhaji Bukar Tijani saying he is a source of inspiration to all northern youths.

The Group noted that under the present administration thousands of youths in the north have gone back to farm due to the enabling environment and favourable policies of the present government.

In a communiqué signed by Its President, Muhammadu Ibrahim and Secretary General, Rebecca Maikudi after its annual general meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, the initiative lauded the Federal Government’s commitment towards improving the lots of farmers in the country, considering the fact that agriculture is the mainstay of the Nigeria economy and a major driver of the economic growth in Nigeria.

The initiative pointed out that since the creation of the ministry in 1966, the northern farmer has never had it so good, though they admitted that there are hiccups

here and there, but above average the northern farmer have no cause to complain.

They lauded the Minister of State for sensitizing the northern farmers on the Growth Enhancement Scheme embarked upon by the ministry.

“The Minister has mobilized the farmers on the strategic importance of the schemes as well as the procurement and distribution of fertilizer through the private sector.

The initiative added that the scheme really boosted the morale of farmers and further proved that the Transformation Agenda of Mr. president in the agriculture sector was indeed a reality.”

The Minister of State has also sensitized the Nigerian farmer on the E wallet innovation in the agric sector, the initiative however urged the ministry to expand more on the sensitization of Nigerian farmers on the e wallet.

Alhaji Bukar Tijani success story in the Agriculture and Rural Development ministry, according to the communiqué is not a surprise to the initiative considering his pedigree.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Cover

PAGE 9

Caught-in-between: Harrowing experiences of internally displaced persons

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem, Blessing Tunoh, Olanrewaju Lawal, Sam Egwu & Uche Nnorom

A

s predicted, ravaging floods have in the past few weeks wrecked severe havoc in parts of Nigeria. Sad tales have been emanating from states like Adamawa, Jigawa, Kogi, Edo, Delta, Lagos and Bayelsa.

Aside the stories of houses and properties worth millions which were lost, people killed and federal roads that have to be blocked, worse tales about how some families were hit by the floods have largely gone under- reported.

In Kogi state for example, there was a story that a man mistakenly shot and killed his own child in a flooded area, having mistook him for fish.

There have been tales of people giving bath to babies in camps while a particular woman delivered her own baby in a boat while being taken to a camp.

Inadequate attention and care from state governments have also been observed, leading to tales of woes by the victims. This is aside the fact that the same government failed to take adequate preventive measures to mitigate the effect of the

flood since it was predicted. Relief materials have been short in supply at the camps while they are also too short or too far in some places to really take care of the accommodation needs of the victims.

Theft of relief materials There have been cases of stealing of relief materials by some unscrupulous elements while a lot of persons have also taken advantage of some flooded parts to carry out ceaseless looting. Despite stories flying in the media that state governments are doing a lot to help the victims, smiles have since deserted the faces of those who were caught by these angry floods.

Though, a natural disaster, the human (Nigerian) factors that have made the effects of the floods more devastating are inexhaustible…

Contaminated food The Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Benue state, for example have complained bitterly of being given unsafe food items by officials of National Emergency Relief Management Agency (NEMA) as well as the State Emergency Relief Management Agency (SEMA).

This is even as they lamented over being poorly fed in spite of the large quantity of foodstuff given to them by individuals and corporate organizations.

Peoples Daily Weekend observed at St. Catherine

camp located at JS Tarka Way that a sack of 25kg rice which was distributed to some women and children were glued together like cake which made it look unsafe for consumption.

An elderly man, Mr. Shikaa said the quantity of the food given to them is usually too small especially for some of them with large families, crying out that urgent step needed to be taken to reverse this or else they may die of starvation.

“A measure of rice is given to me and my 6 children in an interval of 3 days. Up till now we still sleep on bare floor. This is unfair,” he lamented.

An aged woman, Mrs. Wandoo Aper corroborated Shikaa’s lamentation, accusing the camp officials of hijacking the materials meant for the victims for their personal use.

“These officials including the SEMA state chairman are very wicked. They are exploiting this incident for their selfish gain while the victims suffer untold suffering and pain. This is cruel,” she frowned.

Mrs. Aper equally decried the poor sanitation around the camp, noting that they are usually bitten by mosquitoes and cockroaches as the medics have refused to provide them with mosquito nets or chemicals to fumigate the classrooms.

Contd on pages 10&11

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Cover Caught-in-between: Harrowing experiences of internally displaced persons Contd from page 9 It was also observed at the camp that over 40 mattresses were stocked, three 50kg of Miva rice bags, two 25kg bags of rice, 2 bags of gari which appeared to have spoilt, 25kg bags of rice, toiletries as well as cartons of biscuits and other snacks.

In an apparent reaction to the alleged spoilt bags of rice in the camp, commandant at St. Catherine, Mrs. Dinah Akera explained that it was in the course of transporting the rice

by NEMA officials from Abuja that some of the bags were beaten by the rain.

Although she said she was not giving the spoilt rice to the displaced persons, at the time of filing this report some of the affected rice were seen spread in the sun at the premises.

State Chairman, Benue SEMA, Mr. Adikpo Agbatse however confirmed in a phone conversation that the affected rice were beaten by rain in Government House after they had presented them to Governor Gabriel Suswam, stressing that he had instructed that they should be quickly distributed but his directive was flouted by his officials.

In Kogi, it was harvest of babies as not less than seven babies arrived into their parents’ world of floods.

Most of the pregnant women who were caught up by the flood and evacuated to four different camps in Idah and Lokoja were midwifed by fellow victims when labour came calling.

Mrs. Amina Shaibu who delivered a baby girl in Lokoja told Peoples Daily Weekend that she had asked the husband permission so that the baby could be named after her sister Babiana, who died in the flood.

Pregnant woman swims in flood, delivers in boat In an interview with our correspondent, one of the new mothers who had her baby in a boat, Mrs. Philomena Victor said though heavy with the baby, she had to swim alongside her mother in the flooded waters in search of help.

According to her, at a point, she became too weak to swim and her mother was aiding her to keep afloat the water till rescue team from the Catholic Diocese of Idah pulled them into the boat.

Shortly after the rescue, she continued, she began to feel labour pains and was delivered of a bouncing baby boy few minutes after in the boat as they were being ferried to Idah.

Another victim of the ravaging flood disaster from Ibaji, Mrs Grace Egwuche equally had a baby boy on Wednesday in one of the camps as she went into labour and had the baby before medical attention could reach her.

Grace was however, taken by the catholic emergency and

rescue team to the catholic church-owned Holy Trinity Hospital in Idah where she is currently receiving medical attention.

The chairman of the Catholic rescue team for Idah flank, Rev. Father Elias Ojoma, said the Diocese under Most Rev. Bishop Anthony Adaji made available six vehicles and some boats for evacuation when the mission got wind of the ravaging flood.

He confirmed that the team, last week, saved the life of Philomena Victor who was in a critical condition, adding that the entire Ibaji LGA had been submerged with many victims still trapped there.

Ojoma said all catholic schools in the area had been converted to camps for the victims, adding that the camps created by the Diocese and the registered victims had been handed over to the state government.

He called on the state government to close down all post-primary public institutions in the area to accommodate people from Ibaji local government who were still being rescued.

Ojoma added that the Ibaji experience was particularly pathetic and required special attention, Baby dies in camp The Liaison Officer 1 for Ibaji local government, Mr. David Ogwu confirmed birth of the six babies on four camps in Sabongari area of Idah, adding that one of the women lost her baby before she could be attended to.

He appealed to wellmeaning individuals to come to their aid and called on security agencies to beef up security around the camps as hoodlums were taking advantage of the vulnerability of the people to steal from them.

Ogwu hinted that so far, one motorcycle, money and various household items had been stolen from the people by ‘’merciless miscreants. Marine police and men of the Nigerian Navy have

however taken over the high water where miscreants perpetrate these nefarious activities.

Meanwhile, the former military administrator of Kogi state Col Bizigu Afarkariya has made available relief materials worth about N2.3 million to cushion the effect of the disaster victims.

Recently authorities of the Cameroun Republic issued a statement assuring Nigeria that there shall be no more release of water from Lagdo dam.

The release of excess water late August this year had claimed at least thirty lives and sacked over five hundred communities in Adamawa just as other states sharing borders with Cameroun suffered their own share of calamity.

The state government had swiftly camped displaced persons in public schools and later relocated them to temporary camps following the resumption of schools.

The state commissioner for special duties, Salisu Hayatu Zumo and secretary to the state

government, Kobis Ari Thimnu at the official flag off of the relocation recently, said victims whose homes were in highlands where the water has receded and dried up, could return to their homes.

Zumo said the state government was considering evacuating residents of flood prone areas who are now occupants of the temporary camps and settling them in highlands as a permanent solution to avoid an annual recurrence of the unfortunate incident.

A visit to the camp in Yola North however indicates that the population is a lot less than it was in the past three weeks as most of the displaced persons have left the camp.

Secretary of the State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) Shadrack Daniel told Peoples Daily Weekend in an interview that some of the displaced persons have gone to live with their relatives or elsewhere but maintained that the agency would still reach out to the IDPs with relief items to ease their

suffering.

Abandoning the camp by these evacuees may not be unconnected with the hardship being faced with regards to beddings, feeding and health concerns.

Monica Rinyi, a mother of six who conducted Peoples Daily Weekend around the camp, said feeding has become a challenge to them at the camp, adding that both children and adults are ill.

Only five medium sized rooms have been completed at the camp, each accommodating between eight to nine persons while the other structures have since been abandoned.

Fadimatu Umar who put to bed barely three weeks ago just before they were relocated to the temporary camps said both herself and the baby are sick and malnourished.

No health care “The water has dried up from my house but when I went to wash it in preparation to return, it was all muddy and ever since we came back from there we all took ill, the flood water must have brought diseases. If you see my son’s body you would think hot water poured on him, we are all scared of going there again unless the government would help us with sand and chemicals to fumigate our homes.”

Aisha, mother of seven, stated.

Red Cross officials also revealed that out of the 1,084 registered Internally Displaced Persons at the centralized camp, only 72 sleep at the camps for obvious reasons.

They also bemoan shortage of food items, drugs and water; adding that if not checked it could be disastrous as those ill could not access any health care.

Contd on page 11

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 11

Cover Caught-in-between: Harrowing experiences of internally displaced persons

Contd from page 10 Experts predict famine Meanwhile experts have predicted impending famine in the state unless farmers who lost their farms to the flood are encouraged to engage in dry season farming.

Patigi, a rural and agrarian/fishing community is about three hours journey from Ilorin, the capital of Kwara state. The people will not forget September 2012 in a hurry.

It would be recalled that a week ago, the floods from Rivers Niger and Kaduna, coupled with heavy rainfall and overflow of Jebba dam, led to displacement of old and young people including animals and unaccountable property. More than 70 communities in Patigi local government were displaced.

Investigation by Peoples Daily Weekend in the areas showed that about one million hectares of farmland of rice and large number of hectares of maize worth more than N300 million were destroyed in some of the affected communities like Kpata-Gbaradogi, Gunji-Saaci, Gbafun, Gakpan, Vuma, Esungi, Mawogi, among others.

It was gathered that the last time the area witnessed a disaster of such magnitude was about 76 years ago.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists recently, a victim, Mohammed Ibrahim, who was displaced with members of his family, said the flood destroyed his abode, his belongings, farms, animals, boats and nets saying “all I have now is soaked mattress and cooking pots.

Some community leaders of Gunji-Saaci and Gbafun who are now at the Patigi resettlement camp, located close to another river with their family members, said it was the seventh time they were relocating from one location to another due to flood.

The community heads said flood usually destroyed their

cash crops, food items and property anytime there was flood occurrence, the situation they said had made it difficult for them to garner enough financial muscle to erect comfortable and permanent structures to live in.

Those who spoke in their local dialect in an emotional laden voice, said what they needed was a permanent relocation to a place and appealed to government to assist them with befitting structures.

One of the affected victims was the commissioner for Solid Minerals and Industries, Alhaji Aliyu Umar, who said the affected people are helpless.

“There is nothing we can do but to pray to Allah to put a stop to all the misfortune. It has happened but we never expected it so soon. We experienced this kind of flood, according to one of my grandfathers who is still alive; 76 years ago way back around 1934/1935. It used to happen, but not as much as it did this year.

“Because of the construction of dam upstream, those of us at the downstream are at the mercy of the flood. Before the dam, we at the downstream knew when the flood would come and how to manage the resources, the level it will reach and how to control it, even the breed of the rice they will plant which no matter the level of the water, it will not affect the rice.

But after the construction of the dams, people living around riverine areas as fishermen were forced to become farmers, which they were not just because they don’t have alternative means of living. The same land they were using to plant their crops the flood washed it away. This is devastating. River Kaduna has a confluence of River Niger here in Patigi. The rivers affect us here. So many communities have migrated against their

wish,” he said.

Speaking to journalists when he led Kwara state delegation to the areas on Thursday last week, the state Head of Service (HOS), Alhaji Dabarako Mohammed and Special Adviser to Governor on Emergency and Relief Services, Alhaji Musa Abdulahi said no lives were lost, adding that residential buildings, worship centres and schools were washed away by the flood.

The Head of Service who pleaded to Federal Government to commence the dredging of River Niger in order to avoid further disaster, especially in the riverine areas, requested for immediate intervention of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) to complement efforts of the state government in bringing succour to the residents.

On his personal view on how to put a stop to the problem, the HOS said the FG should continue the dredging of the River Niger beyond Lokoja and Barro and extend it to Jebba in Kwara state, saying, “this will ensure the water path is deep

enough so that the effect of flood will be so minimal before it comes to this side. Secondly, FG has been so slow on Hydro Power Area Development Commission (HYPADEC) issue. If addressed by the President, it will go a long way to assist in solving the problem. HYPADEC can be able to do the dredging or build upland dam even if the FG will not do it.”

While addressing members of the affected communities in Gbaradogi/Kpata Regatta village, the HOS assured the victims of government’s support in the areas of welfare, adding that government would provide relief facilities for the affected victims to cushion the effect of the disaster on them.

While assuring that government had set machinery in motion to provide lasting solution in the affected areas, Alhaji Mohammed urged the people to vacate the river banks, stressing that the flood is likely to persist till the end of November.

Also speaking, Chairman of Patigi local government, Alhaji Taoheed Lata, said the 48-hour flood alert notice, given by NEMA

to residents of river banks, was inadequate for the residents to relocate.

He said the agency should give longer notice in case of future occurrence, just as he called on the agency and the FG to come to their aid, saying the extent of the calamity is beyond what the local and state government could handle.

“They should have given up to one month or two months notice. There are crops you can plant for three months and they will germinate. But with rain already going, it will be late to plant any crop again this year and the people will be the one to suffer for this”, he said.

Also speaking, the acting Village Head of Gbaradogi/Kpata Regatta village, Alhaji Mohammed Sha’aba appealed to the governor to take urgent actions that will alleviate their problems, stressing that government should provide alternative accommodation in the up-land areas for a lasting relocation from the water-prone areas and build a new village at the new location offered to them

by Etsu of Patigi.

PAGE 12

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Insight

Lawmaker enrolls own children in public school, challenges Shema to do same From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

h e collapse of Nigeria's education sector has been attributed to many factors, one among which is the proliferation of private schools across states of the federation. Proponents of this argument are of the view that political and public office holders neglect development of such schools because their own children are not in public schools. To them it is only when children of the affluent enroll their own children in government schools that they would feel the need to redeem image of education in public schools, for the children of the poor to benefit.

But a member of Katsina state House of Assembly, Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Mahuta, of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) representing Malumfashi Local Government, has now set the standard by initiating a programme aimed at encouraging public office holders to send their children to public schools.

The programme popularly called 'NI MA NA YARDA' was

Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Mahuta initiated by the lawmaker as one of his major campaign strategy and promise in the run up to the 2011 elections.

To set an example, Alhaji

Abubakar Imam and Mohammed, children of Mahuta

Abdullahi Ibrahim Mahuta withdrew his daughter from a private school in Kaduna and enrolled her in Galadima Primary school in Malumfashi local government.

Last Wednesday, the lawmaker stunned Katsina public again when he withdrew his sons, Abubakar Imam, 8, and Muhammad, 5, from their former school in Kaduna and enrolled them in Barhim Primary School in Katsina. The lawmaker noted that he took the step to show how leaders can match their words with action. He added that if truly leaders in Nigeria believed they have improved primary, secondary and tertiary education then they should prove this by sending their children to public schools.

He said, "like in Katsina our governor claimed to have improved primary and secondary schools across the state. We have new schools, improved structures and teachers. Even the state governor echoes this as part of his achievements, and if he so believes this he should enroll his children in public schools".

The lawmaker wondered why a commissioner of education would send his children to private schools. And argued ' there is no way you would be benefiting from public funds and you are serving the public while on the other hand you don't want to patronise public institutions'.

The lawmaker said Nigeria must borrow a leaf from

Malaysia if it seriously wants any improvement in its education sector, and noted that in Malaysia there is no way a public servant would take his children to private school. Mahuta observed that if the children of public office holders attend such schools they would ensure proper application of resources in these schools. He expressed surprise that in the Katsina State 2011 budget, of the N11.4 billion naira for capital projects in tertiary institution, only N1.8 billion was released.

The lawmaker equally added that of the N4 billion allocated to Umaru Musa 'Yar'adua University, only N399 was utilized. According to him, in the 2011 budget N950m was approved as miscellaneous for the government house but N1.645 billion was spent, adding that this year's

miscellaneous budget for government house has skyrocketed to N2 billion. He added that the money spent on miscellaneous for government house was more than the whole money spent on capital projects in the tertiary institutions'. Alhaji Abdullahi Mahuta then argued that if the children of the governor and other public servants studied in these institutions they would not starve them of funds.

The lawmaker however disclosed that his campaign for the returned of children of the public and political office holders to public schools was not without some risks as according to him, early this year some political thugs attacked him on his way to the State House of Assembly threatening him to abandon the campaign. He said despite the threat he has vowed never to relent in the noble campaign to uplift the standard of education in the state. The CPC lawmaker advised the electorate in the state to rise up and sponsor bills to the State House of Assembly on this and other issues. He disclosed that since the inception of the State House of Assembly there was never a time the public sponsored a bill.

To further garner support for his 'Back to public schools campaign' Mahuta said he plans to reach other stakeholders. Towards this end, he has already spoken with some NGOs in the state with a view to intensifying moves to send children of public servants to public schools, while also selling the idea to the other law makers in the State House of Asssembly, already he said a good number of them have agreed to follow his footsteps by sending their own children to the public schools in the state. `

“

like in Katsina our governor claimed to have improved primary and secondary schools across the state.

We have new schools, improved structures and teachers. Even the state governor echoes this as part of his achievements, and if he so believes this he should enroll his children in public schools

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 13

Interview

Nigeria @52: There is still better future for Nigeria —Kumuyi Pastor William Kumuyi, is the General Superintendent (GS) of Deeper Life Bible Church. Recently, he stormed Abuja for a special 4-Day national independence anniversary celebration service, which coincided with Nigeria’s 52nd independence. The programme tagged “Divine Connection for Full Freedom”, was organized by the church, in commemoration of the Independence. The events which kicked off last Friday, was rounded up on Monday, 1st October. Kumuyi, in a chat with journalists, at the end of the programme, says there is still a better future for Nigeria, only if there is unity and courage to move on. Stanley Onyekwere was there. Excerpts: What informed your decision to hold the progamme when Nigeria is celebrating her 52th independence? bviously when you have Nigerians on your mind, invariably you have Nigeria as a nation in mind. Even if are touching only one, ten or twenty lives; because what we do for the few will eventually also affect the rest of the people. This is because we need a network of relationship to forge ahead. Of course, I had Nigeria as nation in mind while having the programme. And what we wanted to do was that on one side, we have gotten independence and then on the other hand, what we do in our personal lives as families, colleagues or our immediate communities all of which are part of the benefits of independence. Which is freedom and ability to look at life and directing the people to live the way the Lord wants us to live on earth in order to become achievers. If you are an achiever and I’m an achiever too, it will benefit the country at large. So, let everybody do something positive and progressive.

Though Nigeria is 52; the country is still battling to stand and walk, what is your message for the nation?

Sometimes what you find in an ocean as water, you can find also in a drop of water. I read of a particular woman, who decided at age of 62 that she wanted to go back to school. She went through different levels of education, graduated and became a lecturer. From trends of events everybody knows that as a people we are not happy. But we can talk and see things. So, what we need look at is what we should have done that we had not done and the things we shouldn’t have been doing in order to make progress as a nation. Everybody knows that we are not happy the way we are; but we can stop and think about what we have not done right. And if there is a united focus and courage to move on, I believe that there is still a better future for Nigeria.

So in spite of all the challenges facing the country even at 52, there is room for improvement; and if there is a united focus and courage to move on; our nation will get to where it is expected to be.

As a spiritual leader are you worried about the state of the nation, especially now the country is 52?

Well, if you don’t look at where you should have been compared to where you are in life, you might not have the

O

Pastor William Kumuyi passion to move on, thereby resulting in dissatisfaction with your current status. So, it is dissatisfaction that is hampering the change a people desire.

It when you realize that the place you are in life is not where you should be that brings about change. I don’t want to say that as spiritual leaders that we are anxious about the state of the nation.

But I would say we’re concerned about the nation. The age at which we are, we are not supposed to be talking about how to handle some issues facing the country. But whatever we are today would reflect on the future. So we’re not worried but concerned about what the country portends for the future generations yet unborn as some of these issues bedeviling the nation ought to have been solved long before now. This should be the time to correct our mistakes as a nation collectively, and

not when we clock one hundred.

Therefore we should be concerned now that since Nigeria has come together as a nation, by the time we become hundred years old what would be the story we are going to our children?.

And we will achieve this once we talk and discuss issues; in order to come up with a workable solution to our problems; but it should not be an event per se but continuous and focused deliberations to provide a way out of the pit we have found ourselves today.

In recent times, top among the challenges facing the nation is insecurity; what would be your take on this?

When it comes to the issue of insecurity, many of us think that it is the role of the community, local, state, and the federal government to solve the problem. From leaders at the

community level up to federal levels, they use the word insecurity. But I would say as followers that we shouldn’t leave the issue of security in the hands of our leaders alone. Because we have just elected few people as governments at different levels, we feel relaxed; and whether we live or die it is in the hands of the government. No, everyone should be concerned with security issues. And the way to go about it is to educate and enlighten ourselves from the local community up to the national level.

There are people, including security experts that can rise up and give us the necessary information on how to effectively secure our communities. We can recruit these people to go to different communities and educate our people on issues of security; no amount would be too much to pay for their services.

Also, we must be ready to collaborate with security agents by providing them with correct information about persons posing as security threats to communities or the nation. So, we must individually and collectively do all we can to solve the insecurity problem. We are not looking at the issue as a church but as citizens of the country. For this reason, we must rise and join hands together and form common force to address the issue for a more secured life.

Nigeria is known to be a country, which always would want to blame God for virtually everything bedeviling her; in the light of this, what would you say is responsible for the reoccurring religious crisis in the country; and the way out?

It still comes down to what I said earlier; enlightenment and education of our people. The point is that as an individual, you are an important person to God almighty, humanity and yourself. So, as a person practicing a particular religion, you should understand that another person’s religion is different from yours and is significant to them. And if I realized that the way that I treat you in relation to your belief matters, there would not be any crisis. For instance, we have other institutions in the society, like hospitals where both Muslims and Christians offer and receive medical services to persons not minding their religious background; and schools where both Muslims and Christians lecturers lectures in the same environment.

Virtually, every area of human endeavor one can think of, there is the presence of Muslims and Christians working there without having religious crisis. So, let everybody do something positive and progressive together.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Special Report NIMC crisis and matters arising For three consecutive days, disengaged staff of the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) marched on the streets of Abuja in protest of the act asking for the removal of Barrister Chris Onyemenam as the commission's boss. The management of the agency however, insists that the disengagement exercise which affected mainly redundant workers, was carried out in the best interest of the country.

Abdulrahman Abdulraheem examines the situation

I

t all started on the 9th of January, 2008 when the National Identity Management Commission (NIMC) took over the assets and liabilities of the former Department of National Civic Registration (DNCR), a department which was established by an Act of Parliament and administered under the Ministry of Interior.

The management of NIMC inherited about 10,000 staff, mostly of junior cadre from the defunct DNCR and after a thorough staff auditing process a good number of them were found to be either redundant, inefficient, poorly educated or unskilled.

Immediately the management announced its intention to lay off some of the inherited staff members, crisis ensued between it and the workers' union. Though, a couple of meetings were held to agree terms on modalities for the redundancy exercise, talks broke down sometimes last year and workers embarked on a protest which was restricted within the premises of NIMC. Numbering in hundreds, the protesting workers locked up the gate of the premises and occupied the premises with placards in an attempt to draw the attention of the world to an alleged injustice which was about to be inflicted on them.

They accused the management of attempting to sack them and employ their relatives and tribesmen in the commission.

Inspite of this protest, the disengagement exercise was carried out successfully and about 4,000 staff members were affected. Nothing was heard about the crisis again and Nigerians thought that all parties to the industrial dispute were happy about the outcome.

That was the situation until about a forthnight ago when some of the disengaged workers marched round Abuja, and proceeded to the National Assembly to protest their alleged ill treatment by NIMC management.

The placard-carrying workers demanded the sack of Barr Onyemenam, accusing him of exhibiting highhandedness in carrying out the redundancy exercise. According to them, he unjustly relieved them of their duties without following due process and with the alleged intent to employ some of his relatives and kinsmen.

They also accused him of failing to meet up with all the commission's financial obligation to them months after they lost their jobs.

The protesters, who were blocked at the entrance of the National Assembly, said they decided to march there to fight against what they termed injustice and

D-G, NIMC, Barr Chris Onyemenam humiliation by the management of the Commission.

According to them, it was simply unjust to be used to produce the National Identity card only to be sacked on the ground that they were not qualified to work there.

Some protesters, who spoke to reporters said: "the DG has turned the commission into a private concern

instead of a government outfit. We are tired of his antics because today, majority of workers are from his village after he sent many of us packing."

At the gate to receive them were Chairman, Senate Committee on National Identity and National Population, Senator Maina Lawan, Borno South; Chairman, Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence,

“

We were the ones that produced the identity card that Nigerians are proud of from 2003 to 2006. Since this DG came into office, there has been no identity cards production

Senator Mohammed Magoro, Kebbi South, and Chairman, Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity, Senator Wison Ake, Rivers West.

One of the leaders of the protesting staff, Abidoye Charity, told the senators: "The DG of NIMC disengaged 4,029 staff that is why we are here to let the National Assembly know what is happening.

"We were the ones that produced the identity card that Nigerians are proud of from 2003 to 2006. Since this DG came into office, there has been no identity cards production.

"We are here because we were dismissed unjustly. And he is saying he has the backing of the Senate and even the President. He said they gave him authority. He even bought over all the unions that could have fought for us."

Senators Lawan, Magoro and Ake assured the protesters that their grevances will be addressed.

Addressing the angry protesters, Chairman Senate Committee on National Identity and Population, Senator Lawan, who promised that the Senate will intervene and ensure that there was justice, said: "For Nigerians from different backgrounds and professions to come and gather in such numbers to present their grievance to the National Assembly, we must take it seriously."

Senator Ake told the protesters: "Our concern is justice. Nobody should be victimised for whatever reason. So we are saying no! to injustice. We have agreed to sit down and look into the cases you have raised.

The protesters continued the next day and proceeded to the headquarters of the commission with placards which talk about the same grievances and demands.

In his reaction however, Barr Onyemenam said contrary to the claims by the protesters that the exercise did not follow due process, the management involved the workers' union from the beginning and series of meetings were held with the union on the modalities to be adopted for the exercise.

He insisted that the whole exercise followed due process , involving the office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Head of Service, Ministry of Labour and Productivity as well as the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

He also informed newsmen that all the entitlements of the disengaged workers which include reinstatement benefits, promotion allowance and severance benefits had been fully paid, contrary to what the protesting workers said.

Barr Onyemenam revealed in a media parley last week, that the management under him carried out several staff audits

Contd on Page 15

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 15

Special Report NIMC crisis and matters arising

Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Interior, Rep. Umar Bature (r) being captured for the National Identity Number (NIN) at the National Identity Management Commission Abuja recently. NAN Photo.

Contd from Page 14 since it took over the assets and liabilities of DNCR and uncovered a lot of integrity deficit in most of staff members that were inherited.

Cases of ghost workers, absenteeism and redundancy were discovered and most of the staff inherited were junior staff who did the Sagem Identity card system and who had been idle since the close of the exercise.

This according to him, coupled with the fact that modern day National Identity Management System (NIMS), which NIMC is working on required education and the competence which the disengaged staff didn't have.

"What we are doing is all about integrity, character and trust.

How then can I trust someone who will lie that he is running a programme on part-time basis whereas he is doing full-time?"

He continued: "People won't come to work for years, yet they were drawing salaries from the commission. So, we decided to put a stop to that and relieve them. About 3,000 of them could not even be recognised during the biometrics exercise while about 300 of them were outrightly dismissed for falsifying certificates and service records."

"There were a couple of them who were reabsorbed because we discovered that they were still

useful and they had acquired additional certificate. This set of people returned their severance pays and we trained them. They are now working with us. We have proofs that we have paid all the disengaged workers their entitlements."

Going down memory lane, the NIMC boss said: "In 2008, management appointed a consortia of firms that conducted a Due Diligence, Evaluation and Audit of the DNCR. Their appontment followed due process and was approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC).

The Nominal Roll of the defunct DNCR had over 10,000 staff, most of which were junior staff.

There were also correspondingly a high level of Executive Cadre staff. Most of these workers have been idle since the 'massive card production' exercise under the SAGEM card issuance scheme that ended in December, 2006 Absenteesim was expectedly high.

One particular department which ran 'two shifts' of about 350 persons per shift, was shut down since December, 2006, one full year before the NIMC took over the DNCR." He continued: "The National Identity Management System (NIMS) architecture, workflow process, the adoption of modern processes and advancement in identity management technology

eliminated the need for the ICR and a few other departments. The NIMS workflow process requires special skills that are not available in the required number at the DNCR. Also, the data capture activities had been outsourced to the private sector under a Concession Arrangement, following a due process approved by FEC in May, 2007. It was thus clear from the onset that a comprehensive staff restructuring exercise was inevitable. Indeed, a redundancy exercise is a part of the staff restructuring that started since 2008.

He argued that since the vision of NIMC is to 'provide assured identity,' technology is very important but the most important is human resources.

"Various reports and audit exercises we conducted revealed a dearth of required skill set, deep integrity and character issues and an urgent need for massive training exercise. First issues were however, suitability and character," he revealed.

To further justify the disengagement exercise, the NIMC boss continued: "Management took certain decisions to address the immediate challenges; first was to ascertain the Nominal Roll of over 10,200 people. At the end of the 2008 exercise, we could not account for over 3000 staff inherited from DNCR. Those verified were immediately absorbed into the service of NIMC,

following approval granted by the supervising authority.

Second, payment of staff salaries was centralised, eliminating leakages and those we could not verify.

Third, a committee was set up to investigate disciplinary cases, particularly, falsification of service records. All relevant offices were fully involved and upon approval, those found culpable (about 300 of them) were either dismissed or had their appointments terminated Fourth, we commenced the payment of outstanding staff entitlements and promotion arrears, liabilities in excess of N190 million.

Fifth, the office of Head of Service of the Federation was requested to redeploy the Pool Staff (excess over requirement) Sixth, management conducted an aptitude test and oral interviews for all those who were qualified/applied for upgrading/conversion. 19 of them who were successful got their appointments upgraded after management obtained the necessary approval.

Finally, management got approval of the Governing Board for the Personnel Policies of NIMC including a revised, functional structure, establishment vacancies and a minimum entry level educational qualification."

On the new national identity project the agency is embarking

upon, the DG said during the briefing that about 100 million Nigerians will be the target even though it has a capacity to handle 150 million.

According to him, the new project will be concluded in the next 30 months and will aside a proper national identity card, provide every Nigerian with National Identity Number (NIN) as well as a national identity smart card which will be used for all activities including election, banking, security measures etc.

“

Cases of ghost workers, absenteeism and redundancy were discovered and most of the staff inherited were junior staff who did the Sagem Identity card system and, who had been idle since the close of the exercise.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Tourism

Eyo Festival: A timeless tradition their turns in that order from Monday to Thursday.

The Eyo festival is a dramatic tribute to the past and this continually shapes the present and defines the future. It also commemorates the passage of illustrious sons and daughters of the city of Lagos, who have been the prized custodians of its customs and history, and who contributed in no small way to the advancement of the city and society. But more so, it is a festival of the people, as they go about enjoying the spectacle of how the city is cleansed of evil and sanctified for further prosperity.

The Eyo Festival mostly occurs as a platform for

showcasing to the world all that is noble and desirable in the Lagos, the city by the Lagoon.

This is shown in the diversity of its ways of life, the receptive and accommodating nature of the Lagos people, the splendour of the landmarks and environment of the city, and the greater possibility of creating and harnessing wealth from its human and material resources.

The popular Tafawa Balewa Square has become the central venue which is designated for the convergence of the parades of all the Eyo Masquerade conclaves, so that more people can witness the pageant and fully participate in one way or the other.

Adamu Orisha masquerades entertaining guests

T

h e word "Eyo" also refers to the costumed dancers, known as the masquerades that come out during the festival. The origins of this observance are found in the inner workings of the secret societies of Lagos. It is widely believed that the play is one of the manifestations of the customary African revelry that serves as the forerunner of the modern carnival in Brazil.

On Eyo Day, the main highway in the heart of the city (from the end of Carter Bridge to Tinubu Square) is closed to traffic,

allowing for procession from Idumota to the Iga Idunganran palace. The first procession in Lagos was on the 20th of February, 1854, to commemorate the life of the Oba Akintoye.

Here, the participants all pay homage to the reigning Oba of Lagos. The festival takes place whenever occasion and tradition demand, though it is usually held as part of the final burial rites of a highly regarded chief.

Among the Yorubas, the indigenous religions have largely given way to Christianity and Islam. But the old festivals are still

widely observed. It is during these occasions that their traditional monarchs and nobles exercise the most of their residual power.

Order of events A full week before the festival, (always a Sunday), the 'senior' eyo group, the Adimu (identified by a black, broad-rimmed hat), goes public with a staff. When this happens, it means the event will take place on the following Saturday. Each of the four other 'important' groups like the Laba (Red), Oniko (yellow), Ologede (Green) and Agere (Purple) take

An Eyo Iga Olowe Salaye masquerade jumping

Korea: Pomoting cultural fusion with food

By Mohammed Kandi

E

arlier in the week Nigerian dignitaries and some diplomats from various embassies and organizations in the country were warmly received to a treat of amusing Korean dishes, delicacies many guests at the occasion will not forget in a hurry.

Though the Embassy of Korea, through its Cultural Centre has since its establishment in 2010, reeledout lots of cultural programmes such as arts exhibition, Korean Pop (K-Pop) musical shows, Taekwondo as well as Korean martial art, but the food week was entirely a new feat with which the government of Korea wishes to fortify its diplomatic ties with Nigeria.

Many people, who attended the opening of a four-day event at the Papillion restaurant in Sheraton Hotels and Towers in Abuja, were no doubt introduced to new dishes, mostly vegetables lightly blenched to retain its natural nutrients.

Much talked about foods were the Kimchi and Joegal (salty seafood), which needs to

be fermented for long period of time, but retains the nutritional values from the coordinated array of ingredients that have been blended together.

Also on mostly "sevencheop" tables were bowls of white rice, soup, stew, Kimchi, steamed meat, various sauces and ginseng.

For Korean Ambassador in Nigeria, Mr. Choi Jong-hyun, it was a great pleasure having the audience accepting variety of Korean meals as well as adopting other aspects of their culture, especially when a group of Nigerian artists displayed some dexterous steps of the K-Pop dance, thereby stimulating the guests at the occasion.

Mr. Jong-hyun couldn't conceal his sentiment for his country’s cuisine saying "food and medicine are grown from the same root; therefore, there is no better medicine than food", adding "most vegetables are lightly blanched, therefore retaining most of its nutrients, and boiled steamed meats are low in fat and calories."

He said variety of food items being launched at the occasion would promote diverse cultural fusion between Nigerian and

Korean people, saying the groceries comprised of necessary ingredients for healthy living.

Also speaking, Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Mr. Edem Duke, described the event as instrument for cultural cohesion among the two countries.

His words: "with food, we

Guests at the event

can win hearts across mountains, miles, countries and continents. Food is actually the same wherever you go". He however lauded the dance group that performed wonderfully the KPop musical steps.

The high point of the occasion was impressive raffle draw, with some guests winning scintillating gifts such

as Samsung smart phones, DVD players, and a plasma TV. This benevolence would engrave in the hearts of spectators pleasant memories for a very long time.

No guest was left without any gift as the ushers by the entrance handed over packs of edible gifts and a collection of Korean friendly books to the visitors.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 18

Relationship If you have any relationship story you want to share with our esteem readers, please send to the above address. Let's share your love story.

Benefit of long distance relationship

Heart Matterz With A'isha Biola Raji E-mail: rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com Phone: 08082071393

Can I call her my ex?

I

met this girl about a year ago on Facebook and mingled and talked for a while before we started dating. We never really talked about getting in a relationship. Anyway, we always flirted and talked like we were a real couple. So a few months later I would always tell her we should go out (relationship) and she always said "no just wait a while" so, at this point I'm pretty much being led on. But when we finally do go out, we barely saw each other but things were still good because we always talked.

Then one day, she sent a text to me, breaking up with me. Then she tries friend zoning me. Now we don't even talk but I still have feelings for her. What do I do?

- Stanley We always flirted and talked like we were a real couple. So a few months later I would always tell her we should go out (relationship

How can I apologize to him?

L

o n g distance relationships are not usually something people choose, but they are a fact of life in modern societies where people move around and travel a lot. The saying "absence doth make the heart grow fonder" is usually built-in to long distance romance. Need space? You have it in abundance when experiencing long distance love.

Long distance dating has many benefits: -Every now and then you get to leave your normal life behind. You hop on plane, or automobile and can immerse yourself in someone else's world (Or alternatively, someone you like drops into your life for a finite time, you play and have fun and then they leave).

-You are required to make no major adjustments to your life, no need to make space in the closet or to do somebody else's laundry.

-When together, in your space, in theirs, or in some vacation spot, you know your time is limited. So usually both partners are on best

behavior. You both want to make the most of the time and are attentive to each other's needs for affection, romance, and physical intimacy while it's hard to say goodbye at the end of a weekend, there's an advantage to long distance relationships. When they leave, you have back your space and can settle into your own habits, your own rhythms, and your own lifestyle without any day-to-day attention to the needs of a boyfriend or girlfriend.

Many long-distance couples find this arrangement to be the best of both worlds, living life without constant attention to the needs of a partner, yet having a person with whom you connect periodically for romance and fun.

One sure-fire way to undermine the advantages of this arrangement, however, is when long-distance relationships start to mirror a relationship with someone you live with. Cell phones, Blackberries, email, and the rest of our communication technologies make is possible to not go a minute

without contact with someone on the opposite side of the world. This can be comforting and reassuring at times when you need that immediate contact. At the same time, it can undermine one of the main advantages of a long-distance romance: DISTANCE! The distance piece of a longdistance romance may be hard at times but it's also what allows each party to feel a sense of autonomy and freedom from obligation to constantly be on alert to the needs of another. Of course, in the case of an obvious crisis, a parent's hospitalization or getting laid off from a job, it makes sense to reach out to one's intimate partner wherever they are. But that's different from texting, emailing, or calling 5, 10, 25 times a day, just to touch base. If it works for both of you, that can be OK. But if one of you starts feeling a pressure to answer and conflict emerges over the question "Where were you?" … pay attention.

An imbalance may be emerging over needs for contact and space.

Does he really like me —Tessy

I

have a boyfriend and I know he has another girlfriend. We live in the same town and his girlfriend lives in his home town. They have been in love for five years, while I just met him few months back. But he calls me every day and sends text messages to me. He opened up to me and told me everything. We have a lot in common; he is honest. He is like a brother to me because he guides, he takes care of me, helps me and is always there for me whenever I need him.

He also shows me his diary. Whenever he is under pressure he calls me. Though they are still in love with his girlfriend, he says he is only happy (that I never make him angry or sad). Does he really like me? Does he really think we are just friends or brother and sister? I'm confused.

I had a fight with my boyfriend just because he didn't come with me to my aunt's house.It has been two months since we started our relationship but I always hurt him by saying: You don't love me, you don't want to be with me . . . But this time he is very sad about this, so how can I apologize for what I did and make him forget everything? Please help.

—Asabe.

How can I make him realize that I love him —Sandra

T

h i s is my first relationship and last night, I talked with my boyfriend,I asked him: do you believe that you found your love? He told me no, I asked him why? He said he can't realize it yet, but it doesn't mean he is not in love with me. . .) I want to know why he said that and if it's because he is not sure that I will be with him forever or not.

I want to make him realize that I will be with him forever and that he got his love but can you tell me how? I need quick answers please. No matter how difficult and how long it takes, I will make him realize that he got his love but I need your help please.

Re - Why not move on with your life and leave the guy alone. The guy has no problem because he has told you the truth; he has not realized his feelings for you yet, when he is ready, he will come back to you - Abdullahi Since he cannot tell you if he loves you but it does not mean he is not in love with you, that means he can't make up his mind about you even though he asked you out in the first place. The best thing is for you to leave him and move on with your life - Dare

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips

Aging gracefully after 50 There are no creams or lotions or miracle cures that can actually slow or reverse aging. You can always maintain your skin with a healthy glow.

T

h e effects of exposure to sun, smoking, the wrong diet and stress, age skin noticeably after you reach or cross, 50 years. You are often plagued with spots known as liver spots.

There are some simple tips to keep skin healthy and nourished.

Try not to expose yourself to direct sunlight between 10am-4pm,protect your face, neck and arms with sunscreen lotion to avoid photo ageing and flaky skin. Try to wear a full-sleeved shirt and wear a scarf or a hat. Don't forget to wear sunglasses as they will keep you from squinting in the glare of the sun.

The best time to moisturize your body is after a bath, while your skin is still moist.

Apply sunscreen lotion, even when you are at home.

Exfoliate on a weekly basis as this will keep the skin clean from dead cells and a scaly look.

Use cold water to wash and bathe as the loss of moisture will be less compared to using hot water and pat skin dry.

Include a lot of fiber in your diet as this will keep toxins away from your body.

Drink plenty of water, at least 8 glasses a day.

Avoid use of heavy foundation and

blush as these will lodge in fine lines and show up wrinkles and liver spots.

Use a colored lip-gloss instead of lipstick as this will keep your lips soft and will not high light wrinkles around the mouth area.

Freckles that did not bother you earlier may at times grow bigger and look patchy.

Liver spots are very disturbing as they look bad. They must be checked by a dermatologist as they sometimes turn into skin cancer. They are usually harmless and are caused by extra melanin production. For some people these are hereditary.

The common method preferred by women is either getting a chemical peel or a dermabrasion, which means that the top and spotty layer of skin is peeled away either with the use of a chemical or rubbed with something alike sandpaper.

The skin turns red and scabs will form which clear up after a few days - though at times there is some scarring.

There are some home remedies, which may be used instead: 1. Dip cotton wool in lemon juice and apply on the affected areas, leave for 10 minutes before washing off. (Use this only when skin is not sensitive to lemon juice.)

2. Ripe, mashed papaya fruit can be applied liberally and left on skin for 20 minutes.

3. Break open a vitamin E capsule and apply the gel on affected area. Wash after 15 minutes.

4. Massage the skin with castor oil,

using circular motions, done regularly this will lighten the spots.

Wear your age and skin with care and dignity. Regular skin care will keep you looking a svelte and glowing mature person www.medindia.net

How to use bananas for beautiful skin and hair Bananas are loaded with vitamin A and potassium. Used alone or combined with other natural ingredients, bananas are Mother Nature's secret to repair and preserve beautiful skin and hair. Bananas have no known substances that cause irritation to the skin.

1

.Use an overripe banana alone as a dry skin mask.

The vitamin A will restore a youthful glow while healing damage caused by cracked, dry skin. Leave on the face for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

2. Combine mashed bananas with honey for a great firming mask. Leave on face for 20 minutes and rinse thoroughly.

Like bananas, honey is high in potassium and helps clarify the skin while retaining moisture.

This plumps the skin, which decreases sagging.

3. For an anti-aging facial mask loaded with vitamins A and E, mash together an avocado and a banana. Leave on skin for 25 minutes and rinse. Skin will be soft and youthful. The vitamin E in avocados combined with the nutrients in bananas fight free radicals and repair damage.

4. Mash a ripe banana and apply to hair. Wrap in plastic and leave on for 15 minutes before shampooing as usual. This will make dry, brittle hair soft and repair split ends.

5. Mix a banana with a few drops of almond oil for a nourishing hair repair mask.

Leave in for 20 minutes. This is great for sun-damaged hair.

Tips & Warnings

Apply mashed banana to soften hair

Banana as facial mask

Banana and oats for smooth face

PAGE 20

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Learning Book Review

With Augustine Aminu 07038749120 julius2001_a@yahoo.com

There Was a Country: A Personal History of Biafra

F

rom the legendary author of Things Fall Apart comes a longawaited memoir about coming of age with a fragile new nation, then watching it torn asunder in a tragic civil war The defining experience of Chinua Achebe's life was the Nigerian civil war, also known as the Biafran War, of 1967-1970. The conflict was infamous for its savage impact on the Biafran people, Chinua Achebe's people, many of whom were starved to death after the Nigerian government blockaded their borders. By then, Chinua Achebe was already a world-renowned novelist, with a young family to protect. He took the Biafran side in the conflict and served his government as a roving

cultural ambassador, from which vantage he absorbed the war's full horror.

Immediately a f t e r , Achebe took refuge in an academic post in the U n i t e d States, and for more than forty years he has maintained a considered silence on the events of those terrible y e a r s , addressing them only obliquely through his poetry. Now, decades in the making, comes a towering reckoning with one of

modern Africa's most fateful events, from a writer whose words and courage have left an enduring stamp on world literature.

Reforming the Unreformable: Lessons from Nigeria

C

o r r u p t , mismanaged, a n d seemingly hopeless: that's how the i n t e r n a t i o n a l community viewed Nigeria in the early 2000s. Then Nigeria implemented a sweeping set of economic and political changes and began to reform the unreformable.

This

book tells the story of how a dedicated and politically committed team of reformers set out to fix a series of broken institutions, and in the process repositioned Nigeria's economy in ways that helped create a more diversified springboard for steadier long-term growth. The author, Harvard- and MIT-trained economist Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, currently Nigeria's Coordinating Minister for t h e Economy and Minister of Finance a n d formerly Managing Director of the World Bank, was a c r u c i a l player in her country's economic reforms. In Nigeria's D e b t Management Office and later as

minister of finance, she s p e a r h e a d e d negotiations with the Paris Club of Creditors that led to the cancellation of sixty percent of Nigeria's external debt.

Reforming the Unreformable offers an insider's view of those debt negotiations; it also details the fight against corruption and the struggle to implement a series of macroeconomic and structural reforms.

Nigeria's efforts can be viewed as a laboratory for other countries--not just r e s o u r c e - r i c h developing countries like Nigeria, but any country interested in reining in debt, managing volatility, saving for the future, or building credibility with debtors and investors. This story of development economics in action, written from the front lines of economic reform in Africa, offers a unique perspective on the complex and uncertain global economic environment.

Your iPad May Have Trouble Charging on Certain USB Ports

S

o m e of you who received just your iPad might have encountered some issues while trying to charge it, possibly getting the "not charging" message when you plug it into your laptop. Well, it appears that this has happened to quite a few people, and the reason behind it is the use of high-powered USB ports and lowpowered USB ports on certain computers/ laptops. Taking into account the iPad's larger display, it's obvious that it requires more juice, which your USB port may or may not be able to provide.

Generally, when you're iPad is plugged into a high-powered USB

port, it gets enough juice to keep it charged, but if you happen to only have low-powered USB ports, your iPad will still be able to charge, provided that it's on standby mode, so that it's not using more power than it's receiving.

Newer Macs such as the latest iMacs and MacBooks seem to

provide enough juice to keep your iPad going, while the older MacBook Pro, Mac Pro, and many Windows powered computers didn't seem to cut it.

Of course, if you really want your iPad to charge quickly, the iPad's 10-Watt USB power adapter would probably do the job quickly, as it's able to charge your iPad in a few hours, even if you're fooling around with your iPad during charging.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 21

Healthy Living

How diphtheria killed six children in Duzum community From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

S

i x out eighteen children have died of diphtheria virus in Duzum community in Madara district of Katagum Local Government Area of Bauchi state recently.

The community is about 30 kilometers away from Azare, the headquarters of Katagum local government.

Medical experts explained that the cause of the virus was poor attention paid to the routine immunization in the area.

The Director of the Primary Health care of Katagum local government area, Alhaji Samaila Yusuf told our correspondent that “we received the report of the outbreak from the district head of Madara few weeks ago. When we heard about it, we went to the area and saw about 18 children with the disease and out of them six died.

We then took the samples of the cough to the Abubakar Tafawa University Teaching Hospital Bauchi where it was diagnosed and confirmed that the community suffered from Diphtheria.”

Yusuf said the present care taker committee chairman brought money from his pocket

from which drugs worth over 300,000 were bought. “We went to the community, we immunized them and gave them the drugs purchased for one week.”

The Director added that “we met with the leaders of the community and the Imam together with the district head of Madara , we spoke to them about the importance of embracing routine immunization plan and they agreed, we used the routine immunization given to us by the state primary health care in our store and after that we reported the matter to the officials of the primary health care they sent their people and promised to assist us but we are still expecting their assistance. The Zonal office personnel whom we visited the village together came with chlorine powder which we used in their wells in order to protect them from water borne diseases, because when we went there we saw people that were suffering from fever, eye problems cough and swollen neck.”

He continued: “We have educated the community on the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and clean environment. And between October and November, we will go

Bauchi state Chairman SPHCDA Dr Nisser Ali Umar and immunize the community because we have to repeat the immunization after every four weeks before we would be sure that every boy is cured and protected.

He said each boy need to be immunized three times before we can make sure that we cure and protect all the children in the area.

The Executive Chairman of Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Nisser Aliyu Umar said the agency got wind of the outbreak of the virus

Drugs donated to Duzum community

One of the sick children

Duzum community listening to advice from health personel

Children in Duzum village

two months ago through their surveillance system in the state.

“There was an observation that a good number of patients in a particular community have problem of cough, with swollen neck and fever. Dr Nisser said, “when we heard about the incident, the agency sent an emergency team, they got there and conducted epidemiological survey and reported that there were patients suffering from fever and swollen neck, they took samples after investigation in the laboratory and got confirmation that one of the samples out of the 23 samples had microscopy outlook like diphtheria.

The Chairman said: “But the reported mortality of six children in number was what surprised me , because when we got the report that six people were killed, they were already buried, and we were not able to examine and verify whether they were killed as a result of the virus called diphtheria or not.

And to my knowledge diphtheria doesn’t kill.”

“As for the agency, when we got to the community, they did not record any death, because the six deaths recorded were recorded before anybody stepped in, our

emergency response team stood with the community and made sure that all the 30 children remaining in that community got access to antibiotics and we noticed some that were mal nourished. We gave them food supplements, we also gave the community wide routine immunization, we gave pentabaline vaccine to the community. To make sure that none of them got infected, Nisser added that the agency personnel sensitized the community and for the last two months, no more complaints were recorded.

Our correspondent gathered that the caretaker committee chairman of Katagum local government area, Alhaji Abubakar Dahuwa, had reported the outbreak of diphtheria virus that killed six children in Duzum village.

The chairman stated this when commiserating with the families of the deceased, he said from the report they gathered, five boys one girl died and advised the communities to embrace routine immunization in order to protect and guarantee the health of their children.

Dahuwa who was represented by the council head of administration, Alhaji Aliyu Adamu said government is committed to render free antenatal services and routine immunization to women and children in the area and urged them to embrace government policies aimed at protecting their people and maintaining personal hygiene and clean environment.

Presenting drugs and injections for the prevention of diphtheria to the communities, the Director Primary Health Care of the council, Alhaji Sama’ila Yusuf said lack of routine immunization for the communities is the main cause of the outbreak.

He said recently the council purchased and distributed chlorine for use in all wells in the area in order to reduce water borne diseases.

The Village head of Duzum village, Alhaji Adamu Duzum thanked the council for the gesture and pledged to make the best use of the drugs and assured that the community will embrace government policies and programmes.

According to experts, Diphtheria virus is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacteria Corynebacterium diphtheriae. Symptoms usually occur 2 to 5 days after someone has come in contact with the bacteria.

The symptoms of the disease include clued fever, cough and swollen neck and the cough usually came out with thick water with something that looks like small blood due to the swollen neck.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The scolding little bird

Nigeria

I

By Onuora Amobi

N

igeria, officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a country in West Africa and the most populous country on the African continent. Nigeria shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, Niger in the north, and borders the Gulf of Guinea in the south. Since 1991, its capital has been the centrally-located city of Abuja; previously, the Nigerian government was headquartered in Lagos.

The country’s name first appeared in print in The Times in 1897 and was suggested by the paper’s colonial editor Flora Shaw who would later marry Frederick Lugard, the first Governor General of the Amalgamated Nigeria. The name comes from a combination of the words “Niger” (the country’s longest river) and “Area”.

Its adjective form is Nigerian, which should not be confused with Nigerien for Niger.

The people of Nigeria have an extensive history, and based on archaeological evidence, human habitation of the area dates back to at least 9000 BC. The Benue-Cross River area is thought to be the original homeland of the Bantu migrants who spread across most of central and southern Africa in waves between the 1st millennium BC and the 2nd millennium AD. However, the Nigerian state came into being on October 1, 1960 when Nigeria declared its independence from the British and at present consists of 36 states and the federal capital territory. Nigeria re-achieved democracy in 1999 after a sixteen-year interruption by a series of military dictators. From 1966 until 1999, Nigeria had been ruled (except the short-lived second republic, 1979-1983) by military dictators who seized power in coups and counter-coups.

Nigeria has had a unique history. More than 2,000 years ago, the Nok people were producing sculptures.

In Kano and Katsina, recorded history dates back to around 1000. Hausa kingdoms and the Kanem-Bornu Empire prospered as trade posts between North and West Africa. The Yoruba kingdoms of If¹ and ÌyÍ were founded about 700-900 and 1400 respectively. The If¹ produced the terra cotta and bronze heads, the ÌyÍ extended as far as modern Togo. The Kingdom of Benin developed an efficient and renowned army. The Benin people, (Edos) are related to the Yoruba by history. The southeast produced the Onitsha, Nri, and Arochukwu kingdoms.

t was early in the morning.

The Little bird woke and heard her mother scolding her sister for not dusting her nest. The words of scolding interested this little bird like a sweet music. The entire day it had used these words – you stupid, dirty fellow, rascal, useless fellow, lazy creature, filthy animal, etc.

The way it used the words amused others rather than hurt them. Like a wild fire the news about the amusing way of scolding by this little bird had spread in the forest. The animals big and small have planned to visit this bird and get scolded by it.

On the second day came the elephant, the first animal to get the scolding from this little bird. The little bird scolded the elephant continuously for three minutes. Seeing this little bird scolding, the elephant rolled on the floor with peals of laughter. Seeing the elephant in that condition the little bird further added some unknown words to the abuses. This made the elephant gasp for its breath.

The elephant spread the news of the amusing way of scolding by the little bird further by adding its own experience. The entire forest

brought it and made it sit on a small stone.

The lion approached the little bird and greeted by waving its head front and back. The little bird got annoyed and started scolding it as usual.

The lion was not able to control its laughter.

has been buzzing with this news and the several animals including the lions have started journeying towards this little bird’s place.

Several animals waiting to see the process of scolding surrounded the tree on which the little bird lives. Since the Lion was the king there, it has decided to get the scolding first.

The mother of the little bird

Seeing the struggle of the lion, all the animals watching this unique scolding event started laughing. The lion’s laughter increased and ended with a big roar. That made the little bird to stop scolding and it hugged its mother saying, “I shall never scold any one from now on.” All the animals scolded the lion for this and went back to their places.

HEAL TH TIP HEALTH

Water and its importance Suddenly, everyone is carrying bottles of water, people have realized that dehydration can be a major danger to health, and this is especially so if you are active in the heat of the day.

Dehydration can sneak up on you while you are distracted by a game. You may not feel thirsty but if you have a dry throat and mouth, have a drink at once. Those are the first signs of dehydration. Ignore these

early signs and they will be followed by decreased urination, a sign that your body is in water conservation mode. This is a serious situation, you need water and you need it quickly.

CARTOON OF THE WEEK

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

Kodilikane Y

ou are in terrible danger down here, and without my help you would never see the golden sunshine on the surface of this pool again.

“There is no River God here, only Dimo the giant cannibal.

Now, his coming is always accompanied by a light wind and a few drops of rain. Eat now, and then hide behind the wall over there. I’ll think of a way of getting you back to sunshine and moonlight, singing and dancing, to the kind of life I knew before I fell into this same pool forty years ago and lost an arm and a leg to a crocodile’s jaws and became Dimo’s slave.”

Just as Kodilikane finished her meal, a light wind blew through the cave and a few drops of rain tinkled into her plate, and she rushed away to hide, quakingbehind the wall.

Footsteps came like thunder and she heard a voice booming, “Who is here? I smell a human being!”

“You ear dreaming, Dimo, how could a human being come down here and not be drowned?”

“That is true. I am so hungry I must be imagining things. Give me food, woman, and plenty of it.”

And Kodilikane could hear the cannibal’s mighty jaws chomping his food. Then, later, she heard him yawn mightily, and there was a crashing and a creaking as he fell into bed. The old lady hopped up to her,

whispered that she should sleep and that they would make their plans in the morning.

When she awoke, Dimo had gone. The old woman gave her food, and after she eaten, decorated her with the loveliest beads she had ever seen. On Kodilikane’s arms she placed gleaming copper bracelets, and on her ankles, the most finely made copper bangles. She dressed the girl in a robe made of jackal fur and placed a silver-fox mantle over her shoulders.

“Now this is what you must

MODEL OF THE WEEK

do,” she said. “Take this smooth pebble with you, and as soon as you are outside the pool, rub your cheeks with it and throw it back. If you don’t do this, you will fall back into the water and drown, for then the hole will be covered with water.”

Embracing the old woman in farewell, Kodilikane did as she was told, clambering up the steep side of the hole until she stood on the bank, rubbing her cheeks and throwing the pebble over her left shoulder and then running off to her village.

Even as she started, she heard a sucking and gurgling behind her and knew that the water had rushed in to close up the hole in the pool.

To be continued

Name: Divine Ele-Ojo Sunday Age: Three years School: Gid-Vic Academy, Kugbaru Road, Ado, Nasarawa state.

Hobbies: Love singing and writing

ACTIVITIES It is funny right? Name and paint the image with any colour of your choice show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

How to make a pillow

P

illows are pretty simple to assemble, and have the added benefit of being very cheap to make. Square and rectangular pillows are the easiest to make. The

directions below will guide you through the process, but once you get familiar with it, you can improvise to make new creations, all cheaper than anyone your Mummy could

buy at the store.

Any fabric is fine. Preprinted fabrics are also available and they can make a ho-hum project very interesting.

(1) Cut the fabric adding a one and a half-inch seam allowance on all sides.

(3)Stitch these three sides of the pillow, leaving a half-inch seam allowance.

(5) Prepare the opening. Tuck a half-inch of fabric inside the pillow and iron it flat.

(6) Stuff the pillow. Store-bought cotton filler works best, but anything from down feathers to scrap fabric can be used.

Improvise.

(2) With right sides together, pin three sides of the pillow together.

(4)Turn the pillow right side out and iron it flat.

(7) Stitch the opening together with tiny whip stitches.

(8) Stitch the opening together with tiny whip stitches.

(9) You have your pillow!

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Kannywood

Mikel Obi starts record label

C

helsea and Nigerian midfielder, John Obi Mikel has made foray into music with the setting up of a label named Matured Money Minds.

To prove his seriousness the Champions League winner with Chelsea last season, has signed on four acts, Splash, Jason ‘Kido’ Igho, brother of the winner of Big Brother Africa, Karen Igho, Edgar and Charass.

It was gathered that the artists on the label have already cut their album and full promotions are in the pipeline to promote and make then rub shoulders with the biggest artistes in the music industry in Nigeria.

With the help of his younger brother Patrick Obi, the 25-year-old football star has set up his Matured Money Minds (MMM) entertainment label and has already signed a couple of music acts Mikel who has a relationship with P-Square, is hoping to take music promotions in Nigeria to another level. Mikel was born in Jos, a City that has produced great acts like P-Square, MI and Ice Prince.

“Mikel had always showed his love for music. Setting up a label is just a confirmation of his desire to contribute to the growth of the industry in Nigeria,” said a source.

Sa’ad Mustafa Suleiman is a songwriter in the Hausa music industry. His songs, “Alkawari” and “Yadda Da Ke” are few of the songs he’s composed. In this interview with Nasiru Mu’azu Isa he shares his views about the industry, and how he is not letting anyone in on his one big secret- his girlfriend’s name.

S

there are those that do R&B. In the north, our audiences prefer the love songs which we call “wakokin nanaye”, and sometimes you might release two to three love albums before you do a hip hop album because it is not as appreciated as the love songs.

Most fans think Hausa musicians are romantic, is that the case or is it only to do with the songs?

I can say yes and no, at least 25% of musicians who sing love songs, base their songs on personal experiences or the experience of close friends or relatives, it is from that experience that we drive our ideas and lyrics. For me, I initially wrote songs for others but didn’t sing, what made me change my mind was because I got my heart broken by a girl after a year’s relationship, so I sang a song called “Tasirin Kauna”, and what you hear on “Tasirin Kauna” actually happened to me, it is a true story. So it depends, while some actually happened, some are just figments of our imagination based on stories we have heard from others.

Considering the culture and traditions of the north, musicians are seen as unserious, as such parents are not keen to support their sons and daughters as musicians, did your parents support your choice of career as

musician?

No, I did not encounter any problems from my parents. My songs have meaning when you listen to them unlike some songs that have no meaning when you listen to them.

There are two types of music lovers, those who listen to the beat and those who listen to the lyrics. There are songs that are just feel good songs not really saying much, but with beautiful beats such as “Zubar Gado”, that is what some music lovers want. When you listen to my songs, it’s a combination of beautiful beats and meaningful lyrics, some of the songs are really touching because they deal with issues of love which 95% of people have experienced. On the issue of culture and tradition, we are not trying to erode them; in fact the movie and music industries employ a huge number of people. So I don’t understand when people call us unserious and jobless people, since they have helped to solve unemployment.

There is a strong opinion that most northern musicians adopt the Indian style of singing, is this true and why is it so?

We grew up watching Indian films and most Hausa people love watching Indian films and that has really influenced us in our movies and songs.

Most of our early movies where

Nollywood

Entertainment

I sang ‘Tasirin Kauna’ after a girl broke my heart- Sa’ad What is your name? a’ad Mustafa Suleiman but I’m popularly known as Sa’ad SD Nagudu?

Are you related to Adamu Nagudu, another artist in Kannywood?

I can say yes! But we are not blood relations. I got the name because we worked together when he started the Nagudu Investments; I used to hang out there doing little jobs for them but he has become like a brother to me, plus, we hail from the same village.

When did you start singing?

I started singing sometime last year. I don’t have any album out yet but my most popular songs are “Alkawari” and “Yadda Da Ke”.

Are you married?

No I’m not but I have plans, I have a girlfriend that I’m dating. I don’t want to give out her name yet.

When not working in the studio, how do you relax?

Apart from singing, I’m also a teacher and a student. So, most times I am busy with work and usually relax at night, even the singing I usually do it at night or just relax with friends. My best relaxation activity is to sleep as much as I can because lack of proper sleep can cause serious problems.

As a teacher and musician how do you manage your students who are also your fans?

When I first started teaching, there was that problem because a lot of them know me as musician. I had to make it clear to them that, when in class, I’m not a musician but a teacher, so far we have had no problems and they have accepted me as their teacher.

Why is it that majority of northern artists sing love songs?

Personally, I don’t sing a lot of love songs. I concentrate on three categories of songs, love songs, enlightenment songs and hip hop. I even sing in English, I have a single that I released called “Chameleon”.

Talking about hip hop, why is it that most northern musicians don’t do hip hop unlike your southern counterparts, is it difficult?

It is not the difficulty that is the problem, you know there are different types of music and every musician has his or her own unique style. Some sing only hip hop, while some sing romantic songs and others different types. There are those who sing all types of music, I for one sing all the types. Even in the south it’s not all of them that sing hip hop,

PAGE 25

modeled after Indian movies, where you see that in the middle of the story they break out singing and dancing and that is why most people think we are copying the Indian style, and now it has become the norm in the industry due to this influence. And right now if you make a movie without singing and dancing scenes, you will find that most of our audiences will not watch the movie. When new movies are made, their trailers are usually from the scenes with music because that helps in the selling of the movie. So yes, I can say there is a huge amount of Indian influence in our music and movies.

Is singing lucrative?

Yes it is, that is if you take it as a profession not just for fun sake. We make a lot of money especially from songs for weddings or political songs.

Sometimes you might do three or four wedding songs in a day at the rate of ten thousand naira and above.

How do you cope with fans especially those of the opposite sex because not all of them like you for your songs, I’m sure there are those who will want a bit more from you?

(Laughs) Yes, that is definitely true, I remember a programme I did on Wazobia here in Kano and they asked me to give a number where people can reach me, I gave them my personal number and I still regret that decision. People kept calling, some to say they liked my song but, the ladies, which is a whole different matter. Some have called to say they want to meet me and some have even called with a marriage proposal. The ladies call with all sorts of requests but as your fans you just have to take it in your stride and try to be nice and civilized.

What is your advice to young people who are interested in joining the music industry?

My advice to them is, God has given all of us one talent or the other, if you have identified singing as your talent by all means go ahead and explore it. There are a lot of musicians in Kano, you can visit any of their studios and sit down and talk with them, share your ideas and challenges and I’m sure they’ll give you good advice on how to achieve your goal. Also make sure that whatever song you are going to sing is meaningful, there are so many issues you can pick from, marriage, love, politics, religion, violence and many more so that your audience will want to hear your songs over and over again. That is my own advice to everyone interested in becoming a musician.

I’m engaged but still searching

N

ollywood actress and super model, Princess Chineke, product of New York Film Academy, who has featured in many movies and soap operas such as Ladies Cult, Tarima, Papa Ajasco, Bola’s Place, Echoes, Heroes and Zeroes, Rebound (shot in USA), Cut in the Middle,Where the Heart Lies, Courtesy of Vengeance, and Prize of Stardom has announced that she can still go with any man that catches her fancy even though she is engaged.

“A man should guide you in achieving your dream. I met a

Princess Chineke

guy sometimes ago who insisted I leave the movie industry and work in the bank. It is selfish. Does he know if it is what I wanted to do? I see it as a prison. The woman too should be able to bring out the best in her man. My ideal man I’m not sure I’ve met my ideal man. You might think you have seen him and he changes. People change.

Even the woman can change. I am still scrutinizing. Even if I’m engaged, as long as I’m not married, I’m still searching. I am not really a feminist. But I have a strong passion for the feminine gender.” These were her words.

Most fans of Top Nigerian musicians / artists today are only familiar with their nicknames and not their real birth names. See them below

E

Ex-Nollywood actress, fights cancer

x-Nollywood actress, Juliet Agunwa who used to be a darling of every one then at NTA’s TV series called ‘Twist Away’ and ‘Memorial Hospital’ before she jetted out to America is due to return home from her base in America as she continues her campaign against breast cancer.

The beautiful mother of two daughters who survived the pangs of breast cancer when she was diagnosed of the ailment stage 3c in 2008 is now preparing to storm Nigeria to continue her awareness programme for underserved Africans worldwide and the need to reach out to underprivileged African women who are undergoing the painful trauma caused by breast cancer.

Through her ‘Courage to Dare

Foundation’, Juliet who appeared as a presenter of a talk show on NTA before she migrated to the USA to further her studies, is looking forward to launch her inaugural program, an educational Breast Cancer Awareness later this month at the instance of Imo State’s First Lady, Mrs. Nkechi Okorocha.

The awareness programme will be the first-ever event of its kind in the State.

Last year, Juliet’s awareness gala event attracted over 300 participants at Lagos State University and Lagos University Teaching Hospital and she is hoping to make an even bigger impression with her awareness programme in Imo State.

She said, “through Courage to Dare Foundation, I am determined to ensure that individuals of African

descent have access to information about breast cancer and also have access to preventive mammogram screenings. These days, I feel as though breast cancer gave me a new life.

Before I had breast cancer, I worked hard on being a mother and a wife, and I think one of the things I neglected most was me! So after cancer, I decided that you only have one time to live your life. I want to go back to the film industry.

I am pursuing a master’s degree in public health in Wisconsin where I live now. “I am also going to keep talking about breast cancer because people have to know that being diagnosed with the disease doesn’t mean that they are going to die, that with early detection and quick action, they can survive breast cancer.”

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List Of Top Nigerian Musicians and Their Real Names Wizkid real name Ayo Balogun.

2.

IcePrince real name Panshak Zamani.

Asa - Bukola Elemide.

4.

M.I real name Jude Abaga.

D’banj - Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo. 6.

Terry G real name Gabriel Amanyi.

Jesse Jag - Jesse Garba Abaga.

Banky W - Olubankole Wellington.

Eldee - Lanre Dabiri.

2face - Innocent Idibia.

Don jazzy - Michael Collins Bouqui Psquare - Peter Okoye & Paul Okoye (Their are twins).

Sauce Kid - Babalola Falemi.

Eva - Eva Alordiah.

Timaya - Inetimi Alfred Odom.

9ice - Abolore Adegbola Akande.

Davido - David Adedeji Adeleke.

Wande Coal - Ojoshipe Wande Jnr. D Prince - Charles Enebeli.

Dr SID - Sidney Onoriode Esiri.

Stylplus - Shifi Emoefe, Tunde Akinsanmi and Zeal Onyecheme.

Rugged Man - Michael Ugochukwu Stephens.

Skales - Raoul John Njeng-Njeng.

Mo’Cheddah - Modupe Ola. Naeto C - Naetochukwu Chikwe.

Sould Sultan - Olanrewaju Fasasi.

Nigga Raw - Okechukwu Ukeja.

Durella - Oluwadamilare Kulaja.

Darey Art - Dare Alade.

GT da guitarman - Olaolu Olugbemiro Tokunbo Skales Sasha - Anthonia Yetunde Alabi Mode 9 - Olusegun Baboontunde Faze - chibuzor orji Vector Tha Viper - Olanrewaju Ogunmefun Olamide - Olamide Adedeji Bouqui - Bukola Folayan Brymo - Ashimi Olawale Cidyrella - Maryam Hiyana Lagbaja - Bisade Ologunde Mo GM Compere - Olugbenga Odusanya Cheddah Eva Ill Bliss - Tobechukwu Ejiofor DJ Zeez - Kingsley Elikpo Kwam 1 - Omogbolahan Anifowoshe

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6— SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Hollywood/Bollywood 2013 Oscars: How Things Stack Up So Far

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v e r y o n e wants to prognosticate the Oscars. They are months away. We still have not seen several movies, and some we won't see for a while. Steven Spielberg's "Lincoln" and Tom Hooper's "Les Miserables" are big, big question marks. No one knows what will come with Quentin Tarantino's "Django Unchained." But based on what we've seen, and what's being shown this week at the New York Film Festival, here's how things stack up. To be continued, with many twists and turns to come‌ BEST PICTURE: Argo, The Master, Silver Linings Playbook, Exotic Marigold Hotel, The Life of Pi, The Paperboy, and Cloud Atlas are all in the mix to different degrees. Lincoln, Les Miserables, and Django Unchained are out there, somewhere. Zero Dark Thirty and The Promised Land also have promise.

Flight, and two movies with similar titlesQuartet, and A Late Quartet, have possibilities.

Hitchcock, with Anthony Hopkins, remains a mystery still.

BEST ACTOR: Ben Affleck (Argo), Joaquin Phoenix (The Master), Bradley Cooper (Silver Linings), Tom Hanks (Cloud Atlas), Tommy Lee Jones (Hope Springs), Richard Gere (Arbitrage), Omar Sy (The Intouchables), Bill Murray (Hyde Park on Hudson), John Hawkes (The Sessions), Brad Pitt (Killing Them Softly) are all strong as is Jean-Louis

Jennifer Lawrence

Ben Affleck

Trintignant, a long shot from Amour. Daniel Day Lewis, Denzel Washington, Hugh Jackman, and Russell Crowe are wild cards.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR: Philip Seymour Hoffman, Robert DeNiro, Roberto Benigni (outstanding in Woody Allen's To Rome with Love), Scoot McNairy (Killing Them Softlywatch him), Alan Arkin, Jim Broadbent (brilliant in Cloud Atlas), Matthew McConnaughey (The Paperboy), Jeremy Irvine, lead the list. A lot depends on who does what in Django.

BEST ACTRESS: Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings), Halle Berry (Cloud Atlas), Kiera Knightley (Anna Karenina), Meryl Streep (Hope Springs), Viola Davis (Won't Back Down), Marion Cotillard (Rust and Bone), Greta Gerwig

(Frances Ha), Emmanelle Riva from Amour are names to be considered. I loved Jane Fonda in Peace, Love and Understandingshe'll get a comedy nomination from the Golden Globes, certainly.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS: Nicole Kidman, Amy Adams, Judi Dench, Maggie Smith, Anne Hathaway (Dark Knight Rises? Les Miz?), Jackie Weaver, Susan Sarandon, Mickey Sumner (Frances Ha), Laura Linney (The Details), Winona Ryder (The Iceman). Unknown: Sally Field is a strong possibility from Lincoln, Kerry Washington from Django.

BEST DIRECTOR: Ben Affleck, David O. Russell, Paul Thomas Anderson, and then-who knows? Steven Spielberg, Tom Hooper, Kathryn Bigelow? The Wachowskis?

Woody Allen? (Come on, the singing in the shower stuff was hilarious).

Veteran Sridevi, returns in English Vinglish

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h e may have been out of the spotlight for 15 years, but Bollywood superstar Sridevi, still knows how to work her camera angles.

Dressed in a canary yellow jacket, cream blouse and skinny jeans, augmenting her five-footsix frame with shiny beige heels, she cut a striking figure as she strode into a room full of reporters. When told she was up for a TV interview, she yelled for her makeup artist and proceeded to vigorously blot the shine off her face, looking into a handheld mirror.

"She looks exactly the same," murmured those familiar with her film career, which started with Tamil films in the 1970s before dominating Bollywood in the 1980s and '90s with films such as Nagina and Chandni.

Sridevi was in town last month to promote the gala presentation of English Vinglish, her comeback film in which she plays the lead role, at the Toronto International Film Festival.

It opens in GTA theatres on Friday.

It's the story, narrated to her by director Gauri Shinde, that drew her to the project, she said.

"I just fell in love with the script," said Sridevi, 49, speaking so softly that you had to strain your ears to hear her. "And Gauri also.

We instantly clicked."

In the movie, Sridevi plays a middle-aged Indian housewife Shashi, an expert at making ladoos (an Indian sweet), but whose lack of fluency in English makes her the butt of family jokes. Frustrated, she enrolls in an English tuition class when she

Sridevi travels to New York to attend her niece's wedding.

Encouraged by her classmates, including a Mexican nanny, an Asian hairstylist, a Pakistani cabbie and a South Indian IT guy, she comes into her own. Some romantic tension is added by Shashi's French chef classmate Laurent (Mehdi Nebbou).

English Vinglish was inspired by her mother's struggles, said debutante director Shinde.

"My mom faced similar problems of English language," she said.

"English is all pervasive, most dominant language, especially in India. People make fun of you if you can't pronounce correctly or [speak] confidently . . . It's true for my mom, and so true for so many people.

That's where I thought everyone could connect to it."

With her saris all pleated and pinned to perfection, Sridevi doesn't exactly look like a harried housewife in the movie.

Nevertheless, Shashi is a far cry from the glamorous

roles she used to play, when she was one of two Bollywood actresses who could be truly called a superstar in an industry dominated by men. (The other one was her competitor Madhuri Dixit.)

In Nagina, she played a shape-shifting snake, who could take on human form, bent on avenging her husband's death. In Mr. India, directed by Shekhar Kapur (Elizabeth), she played a journalist who happens to be the tenant of a man with the power to become invisible.

English Vinglish's simple story allows for Sridevi to subtly showcase her many talents - her ability for drama and her brilliant knack for comic timing. The only thing missing is the big Bollywood dance spectacle she was famous for.

It's the sign of a new era of female-centric Bollywood films.

"It's really good to see the heroine not just doing some few scenes and running around the trees," said Sridevi. "I hope and pray it continues."

Bollywood producers drawn to Dubai's new Indian-themed project

W

Django Unchained

h i l e Dubai's n e w l y announced Taj M a h a l - t h e m e d development won't be completed until the end of 2014, it has already attracted interest from Bollywood producers eager to use the venue as a movie backdrop; it was announced at Cityscape Global on Tuesday.

Falconcity of Wonders (FCW), a Dubai-based project which will include global iconic architecture

from around the world, such as The Pyramids of Egypt, The Hanging Gardens of Babylon, The Eiffel Tower, The Great Wall of China, and The Leaning Tower of Pisa, on Tuesday announced the latest addition will come from the Indian subcontinent.

The new project will be named the "Land of India and the Taj Arabia" and will include a replica of the iconic Agra tourist attraction. Set to be themed as the "New City of Love" and due to be

completed by end of 2014, the developers behind Falconcity said it has already attracted interest from Bollywood.

"Some of Bollywood producers are also interested in shooting movies in "Land of India and the Taj Arabia" due to the fact that the surroundings of Taj Arabia are what a producer is looking for in making a movie," they said in a statement issued at Cityscape Global.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 27

Homes

Terracing may be the best option for sloppy backyard

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h e t h e r it's steep or slight, a sloping yard can complicate your landscaping plans, create flooding problems and decrease water retention. Flattening or leveling out the soil can be accomplished with a variety of methods, but will usually require a lot of labor and a few basic tools.

If you want to raise the soil level in general, importing additional topsoil may be necessary.

Otherwise, you can accomplish the task with a shovel and existing soil. It's important to separate topsoil and subsoil layers when removing and redistributing soil in a landscape.

In yards with a steep slope, terracing is the only practical option and still allows you to build a beautiful landscape.

Tools you'll need: Shovel Rake What to do Remove topsoil from the entire area that is to be leveled, including ditches and/or hills.

Place the topsoil aside in a pile. If you reach the subsoil in areas that need leveling, create a second pile for it. You can distinguish topsoil from subsoil by a noticeable change in color and texture. Topsoil is a lighter color and usually goes no deeper than 6 to 8 inches.

Redistribute the exposed subsoil until it is level, using a shovel and rake to even out the surface. If you are working with a very large area or extensive landscape, a bulldozer may be necessary, but for most home landscapes, a shovel, rake and some diligence is sufficient.

Pile the topsoil onto the redistributed subsoil to make the surface even. It is best to form a slight slope that descends away from your house, which will aid in storm-water drainage. For ideal drainage and water retention, the slope should move downward away from your house at a rate of 1 foot lower per 50 feet of distance.

Remove all the topsoil from the slope and the dips of the area that you intend to level. Topsoil usually incorporates the uppermost 8 inches of soil, and is often a darker color than the subsoil below. Place the topsoil aside in its own pile. If the slope needs to be lowered further, begin removing the subsoil and placing it in a separate pile from the topsoil.

Distribute the subsoil evenly across the yard until the soil is level. Use a shovel and a rake to make the surface even. In large backyards, a bulldozer or other heavy equipment may be

Terracing flattens your yard

Creating usable patio spaces in a sloping backyard helps flatten it necessary, along with some professional assistance. Where excess soil is creating drainage and flooding problems, consider having some of the soil carried away in trucks.

Move the topsoil from its pile, and distribute it across the yard to make an even surface. You probably do not want to make your yard perfectly flat, as a slight slope ensures effective drainage conditions. Ideally, the slope should move downward away from your house at a rate of 1 foot of decline per 50 feet of soil.

Tips & Warnings It is important to keep separate piles of topsoil and subsoil and to avoid mixing these layers.

If you have raised the soil by more than 1 foot, allow it to settle for up to a year before laying down turf.

Lawn rollers and similar tools

are not meant for leveling out a lawn, but merely firm the soil surface. You cannot flatten large bumps or lumps with a lawn roller.

Ensure your drainage is adequate or establish a drainage system when redistributing soil.

When raising the soil to level out a slope, make sure the layers are still below your house's foundation to avoid flooding issues.

Lawn rollers are not appropriate tools for leveling out a lawn, as these merely firm the soil surface.

Adequate drainage is essential when you are leveling out your yard. Improper drainage could lead to topsoil loss or flooding of your house during rain. Run water with a hose to determine the drainage pattern your yard creates. ehow.com

Turn a steep slope into a landscape

A slight incline in your yard is best for drainage

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Cuisine

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Put your corn to the best nutritional use

Corn, or maize, is a traditional ingredient of comfort foods in most parts of the world. When dried and milled, it is used for a whole lot of nutritious varieties of foods. In its fresh form, it finds its way into many favorite soups, main courses, side dishes, and salads. And, of course, it becomes a handy snack for lovers of popcorn.

Corn-beans pottage

Fresh corn salad

This is a meal that is widely enjoyed all over Nigeria; the Yoruba's call it "Adalu" while the Ibos call it "Agua na Oka" Ingredients 2 cups red or black eyed beans 3 cups karnel corn 1/2 medium size onion (chopped) 1/4 cup palm oil 1/4 cup blended crayfish (optional) 2 bouillon cube (Knor or maggi) 1tea spoon salt 1tea spoon dried chili or cayenne pepper

Recipe for six servings: 6 medium ears corn 1 1/2 cups chopped celery 1/2 cups chopped green pepper 3 hard-cooked eggs, chopped 2 table spoons diced pimiento, optional 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon grated onion 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar Salt and pepper to taste Dash hot pepper sauce Preparation: Boil corn, cool and cut from cob. Mix with celery, green pepper, eggs and pimiento combine remaining ingredients; stir into corn mixture, chill, serve in tomatoes.

1tea spoon sugar (optional) Direction Set a large pot on low heat, add in 4 cups of water and the onions Once the water starts to boil, add in the beans. Let this cook for 2hrs. The water should be almost dried out Add in the palm oil, Bouillon cube, salt, chili, sugar and crayfish. Simmer for 10mins Add in the corn. Simmer for another 10mins.

Serve with Dodo and Fish

Popcorn Cook time: 10 minutes Ingredients -3 Tablespoon canola, peanut or grape seed oil (high smoke point oil) -1/3 cup of high quality popcorn kernels -1 3-quart covered saucepan -2 Tbsp or more (to taste) of butter -Salt to taste Method 1 Heat the oil in a 3-quart saucepan on medium high heat.

2 Put 3 or 4 popcorn kernels into the oil and cover the pan.

3 When the kernels pop,

add the rest of the 1/3 cup of popcorn kernels in an even layer. Cover, remove from heat and count 30 seconds.

(Count out loud; it's fun to do with kids.) This method first heats the oil to the right temperature, then waiting 30 seconds brings all of the other kernels to a near-popping temperature so that when they are put back on the heat, they all pop at about the same time.

4 Return the pan to the heat. The popcorn should begin popping soon, and all at once. Once the popping starts in earnest, gently shake the pan by moving it back and

forth over the burner. Try to keep the lid slightly ajar to let the steam from the popcorn release (the popcorn will be drier and crisper). Once the popping slows to several seconds between pops, remove the pan from the heat, remove the lid, and dump the popcorn immediately into a wide bowl.

With this technique, nearly all of the kernels pop and nothing burns.

5 If you are adding butter, you can easily melt it by placing the butter in the now empty, but hot pan.

6 Salt to taste.

Scalloped corn Recipe for two servings: 2 tablespoons cooked corn 1 medium size onion (finely sliced) 1 medium size fresh tomato (finely sliced) 4 tablespoons groundnut oil 60gm boiled prawns or shrimps 1 level top red chillies 2 hard-boiled eggs Heat the oil until a faint blue smoke appears. Fry corn, chillies, onions, tomatoes and peppers for about seven minutes. Add boiled prawns or shrimps and combine all thoroughly serve and garnish with the hard-boiled eggs.

(Cut vertically).

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Womanhood

Dealing with psychological traps of widowhood T

h e loss of a spouse is considered one of life's most stressful experiences. And this is especially true for women, who are not always encouraged to develop financial and emotional independence when their spouses are alive.

As a result, widows must deal with normal grief and loneliness and they may also have frightening doubts about financial security and their ability to survive on their own.

However, once these issues are dealt with successfully, widowhood can actually mark the beginning of a highly rewarding and satisfying chapter of a woman's life.

Key: Learn to see widowhood not as the end of your life but as a time to achieve personal goals that you had previously neglected.

The grief process Mourning a loved one is an intensely painful process, but it is a process that may naturally come. The pain eventually recedes, making room for a new, satisfying way of life. The grief process includes the following stages: Shock. Initial reactions may involve numbness and disbelief as well as overwhelming sadness.

Emotional expression. Once the initial paralysis has worn off, the bereaved person may need to cry for hours on end or talk about the loss to whomever will listen.

Acceptance/adjustment.

The widow begins to face the fact that her husband is no longer in her life. She reassesses her personal goals and values, and starts to think about the changes she needs to make now that she is on her own.

Rebuilding. She slowly begins to nourish new interests and friendships and to realise that life can still be enjoyable and fulfilling.

The grieving traps From personal experience of some bereaved people, It has been concluded that mourning takes at least four seasons.

Problem: Each season brings up memories that can temporarily intensify the sense of loss.

However, some people become stuck at one or more points in the grief process. They may be paralyzed by overwhelming emotions or unable to carry out basic activities such as buying house hold items or paying the bills

weeks or months after the loss.

You may be stuck in grief if, several months after your husband's death, you notice any of the following: Continued weight loss.

Sleep problems.

Chronic feelings of fear or desperation, Inability to stay alone.

Reversion to a childish state. A younger widow may move back in with her parents and may not want to leave.

Inability to make decisions or making a series of bad decisions because concentration is too difficult.

Unwillingness to talk about anything but the loss.

If you're having trouble moving through the grief process, seek help. One of the best sources is a support group for widows, which you can locate through your church or mosque. Not everyone is a joiner.

If you're more comfortable with one-to-one support, you may want to consider grief counselling with a psychologist, social worker,

minister or rabbi.

Make sure this person has specific training and experience in dealing with issues of loss as well as women's issues.

Other emotional issues Guilt. If a spouse died from an illness or accident, the widow may feel guilty about being spared. Some women may be troubled by the feeling that they should have done more for their husbands while they were still alive. Feelings of disloyalty often arise when a widow attempts to move out of mourning and into new friendships.

Another kind of guilt may strike a woman whose marriage was unhappy or unsatisfying especially if her reaction to her husband's death was more relief than sadness.

Like unchanging grief, being stuck in guilt is a problem that may require professional counselling. This guilt never accomplishes anything but it can be hard to identify and work through on

your own.

Fear of imposing. During the month after the death, you'll probably be surrounded by neighbours, friends and family who visit and bring food and support. You'll need their help just as much later on, but they may be less likely to come around on their own not because they don't care, but because there are fewer prescribed roles for them to follow.

Most people want to help but don't know how. Don't be afraid to let family, friends and neighbours know when you need companionship, an ear to listen to you, a ride or any other kind of support.

Making new friends.

Obviously, you shouldn't give up your old friends. But moving beyond your existing circle and bringing new people into your life is desirable.

The combination of new people and familiar ones is important to your recovery.

Good ways to meet interesting people include

support groups, volunteer work, classes at a community college or during sports and other physical activities (such as Tennis, yoga and aerobics).

Though this may be referring to female friends, but dating is another way of looking forward. You shouldn't feel pressured to date but it's also not healthy to avoid dating simply out of fear or loyalty to your late husband. Your husband isn't here now but you are and you need to move on.

Besides, dating doesn't imply a commitment. It can be a way of enriching your life by getting to know a variety of interesting new people.

Important: Don't get pushed into sexual contact especially from in-laws who may claim it is cultural to inherit their brother's widow, if you're not ready. When you are ready, remember that times have changed and there are lots of insincere people out there.

Hold on to your integrity until you remarry. www.havenofnova.org

PAGE 31

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Leisure WORD SEARCH

With Augustine Aminu

Find the hockey words from the bottom in the Hockey Word Search grid. The words can be forwards or backwards, vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. Circle each letter separately, but keep in mind that letters in each hockey word may be used in more than one word.

Hockey Word Search Puzzle S

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ARENA BLUE LINE BREAKAWAY CENTER CHECKING DEFENSE FACE-OFF FORWARD GOALIE HAT TRICK

JOKES A Real Lagos Child

CALL SUMMARY ANALYSIS boy to boy=00:00:59 boy to mum=00:10:30 boy to dad=00:02:36 boy to girl=01:15:01 girl to girl=00:29:59 girl to boy=00:00:05

HELMET HOCKEY STICK HOLDING HOOKING NET NEUTRAL ZONE NHL OFFSIDE PENALTY POWER PLAY

QUOTES REFEREE SKATES SLAPSHOT SLASHING SPORT STANLEY CUP TEAM THREE PERIODS TRIPPING WRIST SHOT

One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.

—Plato It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first.

—Ronald Reagan In politics, nothing happens by accident. If it happens, you can bet it was planned that way.

—Franklin D. Roosevelt

○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○ ○

Proverbs and wise sayings A straight tree never lasts in the forest.

—Ghanaian proverb A crab does not beget a bird.

—Ghanaian proverb A cracked bell can never sound well.

—Ghanaian proverb A healthy person who begs for food is an insult to a generous farmer.

—Ghanaian proverb A woman is a flower in a garden; her husband is the fence around it.

—Ghanaian proverb He who seems to be for you may be working against you.

—Ghanaian proverb Fire and gunpowder do not sleep together.

—Ghanaian proverb Let not what you cannot do tear you from what you can do.

—Ghanaian proverb Hunger is felt by a slave and hunger is felt by a king.

—Ghanaian proverb If things are getting easier, maybe you're headed downhill.

—Ghanaian proverb If an opportunity is not taken when it comes, it passes away.

—Ghanaian proverb If the strong man has nothing else, he can at least command others.

—Ghanaian proverb

CARTOON

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F Red carpet: Frills and Folds By ???

T

he 64th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, honouring the best in primetime television programming from June 1, 2011 until May 31, 2012, was held on September 23, 2012 at the Nokia Theatre in Downtown Los Angeles, California. It was a frills and folds affair.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 33

Business

Convener of the Summit, President of the African Business Roundtable and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur flanked by NEXIM Bank MD, Mr. Roberts Orya and one of the American investors at a recent Investment Summit in New York .

FAAN gets additional three directorates, now has nine

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

F

ollowing the on-going reshuffle in the various parastatals of the Aviation ministry by the Federal government, the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is now having nine directorates. This is aimed at fine-tuning the sector to be more proactive and resultoriented.

In a statement released by FAAN revealed an establishment of three new Dirctorates, which are: Legal Services, Projects and Cargo Development directorates, with a liquidation of the erstwhile directorate of Environment into a department the Directorate of Airport Operations.

With this new development, FAAN is now having the following directorates: Airport Operation under Mr. Henry Omeogu, Human Resource and Administration with Hajiya Salamatu Umar-Uluma as the Head, Legal and Services under Mr. Mark Jacobs and Projects directorate to be headed by Saleh Dunoma.

The rest include Maintenance and Engineering under Olufemi Ogunode, Security Services under Wendell Ogunedo, Commercial and Business Development to be headed by Dr. Adeniyi Balogun, the new Cargo Development directorate is headed by Mr. Uche Ofulue and Finance and Accounts with Mr. Austin Tadafera as the Head.

Nigeria –US trade volumes hit $1,485 billion in 2011, FG assures investors of investment safety

By Abdulwahab Isa Trade relations between Nigeria and United States of America peaked at $1,485 billion in 2011 available data on Foreign Direct Investments (FDI) between the two countries reveal.

The robust trade volumes qualifies United States of America one of the largest sources of FDI for Nigeria. Prior to the attainment of trade volume of about $1,485 billion in 2011; there had been a clear trace of trade declines from the US. For instance, US- FDI shrunk from US$4.95 billion in 2008 to US$3.3 billion and US$1.2 billion in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

Notwithstanding previous downslide in trade volumes which characterised 2008, 2009 and 2010, economic experts and diplomatic sources say commercial exchange between the two countries have remain encouraging.

At a recent 3rd Nigeria Investment Summit jointly organized

by African Business Routable and the Nigeria Mission to UN which held in New York, participants at the forum which included President Goodluck Jonathan, President Africa Business Rountable and National Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party Alhaji Bamanga Tukur,

Managing Director of NEXIM Bank, Mr. Roberts Orya including eminent world personalities like former British Prime Minister, Mr. Tony Blair and former US Secretary of State, Ms. Condoleezza Rice harped on need for US and Nigeria to expand the existing business frontiers for mutual benefit of both citizens.

Declaring open the summit, President Goodluck Jonathan said Nigeria will remain the giant of Africa, pledging his administration’s commitment to sanitise the business sector.

He implored investors in Nigeria to latch on abundant business opportunity in Nigeria by creating job opportunities for the people.

In his contribution, NEXIM Bank Managing Director Robert Orya notes commercial exchanges between Nigeria and the US had been quite encouraging.

He said : “On investment, the United States of America still remains one of the largest foreign direct investment source for Nigeria, understandably this has slowed down in recent years with the US FDI shrinking from US$4.95 billion in 2008 to US$3.3 billion and US$1.2 billion in 2009 and 2010 respectively.

The FDI figures for 2011 rose to US$1,485 billion.”

Espousing the role of NEXIM, as member of ECA, Orya said the bank assists in the area of concessional lines of credit, co-financing arrangements and facilitation of buyers’ / suppliers’ credit transactions to facilitate the adoption and acquisition of new technologies; encouraging joint ventures and technical partnerships with foreign companies, and providing support to exporters/importers desiring to acquire inputs that would facilitate production of value added goods for exports, among others.

Going further, Mr. Orya stated that to shore up its capital base and deepen the foreign capital flows to the real sector of the Nigerian economy, the Bank is seeking additional commercial lines of credit at competitive but concessionary rates to support projects in sectors with high growth rate, export and employment generation potentials especially in the MASS sectors of the economy namely, Manufacturing, Agro-processing, Solid Minerals and Services – Tourism; Transportation and Entertainment. Hence the MASS Agenda of Nigeria Export-Import Bank. Recognising the US as the leading country in green technology and renewable energy, Mr. Orya used the platform to invite partnerships in

projects with Clean Development Mechanisms (CDM) potentials towards facilitating sustainable development and also called for collaborations for the establishment of a dedicated regional transport/ maritime corridor for timely and costeffective haulage/shipment of cargoes in West and Central Africa regions which the Bank is facilitating under the Sealink initiative.

Concluding his presentation, Mr. Orya expressed his expectation that the Summit will provide a platform to further promote co-operation and enhance commercial exchanges between Nigeria and the United States of America, particularly in priority sectors of the Nigerian economy such as Solid Minerals, Agriculture/Agroprocessing, Manufacturing and Services – (Tourism, Entertainment and Transport) as well as in the sectors of Environment.

President of the African Business Roundtable and PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur who is the convener of the Summit assured foreign investors of their investment safety.

The former British Prime Minister Tony Blair urged investors desirous of investing in Nigeria to go ahead saying Nigeria presents good business opportunity to investors.

Nigeria confirms plans to increase tax take from oil

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke has defended the increased level of taxation on oil fields in deep offshore waters that could be imposed if the proposed Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB)

were to be passed by parliament.

Madueke noted that the total government take and its total share of oil revenues in royalties and taxes in the proposed bill from the deep offshore oilfields that are mainly operated by the world’s oil majors would reach 73%, a substantial increase over the 61% it receives in current production

sharing contracts (PSCs), adding that the PIB would provide a new legal and regulatory framework for the industry as a whole.

However, one of its main objectives is also to increase federal revenue, particularly from the profitable oil fields in deep offshore waters.

The bill would provide the

possibility to establish the basis for the calculation of both royalties and income taxes. The royalty system would have two sliding scales, one relating to the daily production of the oil or gas field and the other price sensitive, which will be related to the oil or gas price.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

The Entrepreneur

Northerners killed our industries, says Adhama Alhaji Saidu Dattijo Adhama, a renowned industrialist and Chairman Adhama Textile Limited Kano, in this interview with Edwin Olofu blamed the collapsed of industries in the north on the northern elites, but still believe that there is hope if all hands will be on deck to address problems bedeviling the sector.

W

h a t is the state of the industrial sector in Kano and the north generally?

The state of the sector is pitiable and disheartening that, there is need for urgent attention in terms of policy or what I would call legislation and serious financial intervention. This is what I feel the industrial sector of the north presently need.

One of the problems of the sector over the years has been inadequate power supply, but recently there is improvement in power supply across the country, do you think that will help in the revitalization of the sector?

We have been talking about power supply over the years and power has been one of the problems I agree, but if power improves today, it doesn't mean that industries would improve today because they are already down. The fall of industries was partly caused by inadequate power supply and so many other things happened after the loss of power supply that also need to be checked.

You cannot tell me that 90% of industries in the north collapsed only because there is no electricity, there is also no financial institution to back any investment in the north. Long before the challenges we are facing now, the only financial house we had in the north boosting grass root economy was Bank of the North. It was closed and the northerners did nothing about it.

In a nutshell, it is nobody's fault but the fault of northerners, it is their fault they allowed our economy to go down, and they allowed our industries to go down though they have the means to stop it, they have the power to stop the plan to cripple the economy but they didn't. So I don't blame anybody but the northerners.

Although late Umaru Yar'adua's administration tried to revive the sector, the programme is still on, thanks to almighty Allah, my industry is one of the beneficiaries of that revival strategy of late Yar'adua. The sector is a poverty fighting sector which was neglected by the northerners for a very long time, we blame the northerners because they knew very well that they had cotton as a poverty fighting commodity. They knew the importance of cotton because everybody needs cotton, because from birth to burial you need cotton.

But they only depend on rain fed cotton production while we

Alhaji Saidu Dattijo Adhama can do it throughout the year by using our dams for irrigation.

If you look at the industries that have caused unemployment in the north, there are mainly two; the oil industry that produce cooking oil, groundnut, Sesame and seed cotton, which have now closed down. Secondly, the Textile mill, that process cotton, they are also closed down. How can you say you will not see poverty in the north when these industries have closed down?

How is the transformation agenda of President Good luck Jonathan impacting on the sector?

The transformation agenda is good, but it is like every other agenda of previous administrations.

Green Revolution, War Against Indiscipline, so many agenda of previous administrations and they are all good.

As far as the northern economy is concerned, if you initiate any transformation agenda particularly the agricultural transformation agenda, and you dropped groundnut, cotton and wheat, you are leaving out a very big fortune.

Cotton, groundnut, and wheat are the major commodities that must be included in the agricultural transformation agenda. If you concentrate on these three crops that are very important, then you would reduce poverty.

How about the breweries?

All the breweries in Nigeria are producing, but most of the oil mills that prepared cooking oil are not in production, why

because they have low cotton seed to crush to give us cooking oil, there is no groundnut enough to crush to give us cooking oil but there are enough grains to produce and get food and get enough beer in the country. No brewery is idle in Nigeria what do you make of that? Today in Kano we consume an average of two hundred million Naira worth of cooking oil, most of which are imported; don't we have the land to produce groundnut or cotton so that we will get the seeds to crush? We do, God has blessed us, we can produce groundnut round the year not only during raining season to get enough groundnut, when we crush groundnut, we get part of the raw material for making soap, we will get the cake that will give us raw material for biscuit, raw material for animal feed, raw material for fish feed, raw material for poultry not to talk of the Suya we prepare.

These are from groundnut cake alone.

When you come to the cooking oil itself, we did a study and realized that we have over one million houses in Kano in the forty four local governments of Kano. We also did a study and understood that, using a figure of only one million houses, we allocated to each house one litre of cooking oil per day and that translated to consumption of one million litres per day in Kano.

As at the time of our study, one litre of groundnut oil was N230 per litre. Today it is over N300 per litre and the petrol we are making noise about is only N150 per litre. If you remove all subsidies, remove everything and assume Nigeria has no oil;

that we are importing oil from other countries, the cost of one litre of oil will be N150 per litre in any part of the country even in the far north, and you have groundnut oil with the cost at N230 per litre and there is no complain, people are buying it, no demonstration, nobody makes any complaint that cooking oil is very expensive.

We don't bother to make a very good study and produce groundnut in mass that will make our people productive, work and get money to buy petrol from any part of the world. We don't do that, and this is Kano alone and if you multiply one litre of oil consumption in Kano per day, you take a round figure of N200 alone per liter that translate to N200 Million daily if you multiply it by 30 days, that is N6 Billion per month. How much did Kano state government get as statutory allocation from the federation account, is it up N10 Billion? And from one commodity you get N6 Billion in a month, the commodity is groundnut the product is cooking oil and out of it you will still get the shell that covers the groundnut which is equally a raw material for low-cost houses.

Take cotton, in every hospital you must find cotton wool. But most of the cotton wool we are using in this country now is imported.

Look we have a problem in this country, let me give you one example, in Kano my state, since the inception of this republic in 1999 to date, there were 131 bills passed by the state House of Assembly, none talked about protecting or promoting commerce or agriculture and industry. Simply because of what they called liberalization of trade, so if you cannot make a law that will protect the interest of your people's economic concerns, what type of laws are those?

How about marketing of products in Kano?

You see Chinese and Indians coming to do retailing business in all our markets, they go to villages and buy raw materials from our rural markets freely and if you go to their countries, you have to go through licensed agents for business ABCD. Each business is categorized, Nigerian business has no grading, you come to Nigeria, and the government will say they need investors instead of coming to invest in heavy investment they are investing on uprooting the local economy. Our legislators need to look at the grass root economy, look at what is happening.

Today foreigners are operating even in laundry business and our legislators, because they get big money, they patronize such people forgetting the people that lined up to vote for them like the traders, tailors, bakers, washmen. So what is the use of their votes?

Can the sector survive with all these myriads of problems?

No sector can survive without regulations, not only our sector but any sector. Our sector is now being revived gradually and I know it will succeed but the problem is that you must regulate things. You don't have to leave it open, you must protect your child. We are babies of government and our government must protect us, they must not be protecting foreign economies they must protect the indigenous economy.

Even in the World Trade Organisation, there is a clause that allows signatory countries to protect their home based industries but they don't, so there is hope if we can revisit our previous laws.

The laws that we have abrogated that protected our local economy must be revisited, go to China or India; do they do what Nigeria is doing? Can you go to China and do what the Chinese are doing here?

Do you think the security challenge in the north is affecting your sector?

Of course, any part of the world where there is security challenge, it affects the economy, education, health and so on because security is the backbone of life.

Not only the private sector even you the journalist, are you free to go and get news wherever you want and at the time you want? It affects you too because you risk your life to do your work now so it affects every sector.

But what are the causes of the insecurity? They are mostly injustice. Let's be fair, then there will be peace, let's make our people productive, then there will be peace.

Are you still in politics?

No, I don't like partisan politics but I'm in economic politics but to go and look for votes, I'm not interested in that.

Economic politics to better the lots of my people this is the economic politics I'm talking about. So on a final note, my prayer is that the northerners will make sure they advocate for special study of the northern economy and appeal to Mr. President to kindly include groundnut and cotton in his transformation agenda on agriculture.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 35

Business Feature Abuja Trade Fair winds down as participants bemoan change of venue T h e fair was organised by the Abuja Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (ABUCCIMA) with the theme: Transforming and Reforming SMEs as Growth Drivers for Economic Development. It kicked off on Sept. 27, at the J.T. Useni Trade Fair Centre, Airport Road.

One of the major activities observed by our reporter was the presence of several officials representing the services of one financial institution or the other in order to provide services to participants from across the globe.

Notably, the specialized subsidiaries of the banks involved in estate management, stockbroking, bureau-de-change, microfinance, insurance brokerage, trustees and asset management, capital market operations and investment banking were adequately represented at the fair to enable participants have access to the full services of the Afribank Group.

An official representing one of the banking institutions simply identified as Joseph while responding to questions on the reasons of the heavy of presence of financial administrators at the event , explained that it was expected that at any fair of such nature, there would be visitors, willing investors as well as many other participants and customers who need guidance on their financial activities and as such, funds management, pension funds administration, corporate, investment and commercial banking products had been packaged for participants at the fair to ensure an effective and profit attracting event as well as make a great impact on the economy of the nation.

“If you can notice, you can see at the stand of Afribank that a lot of activities are going on, participants can safely deposit and withdraw money, open accounts at concessionary terms, secure draft, pay for taxes, buy and receive free gifts at the Fair ground.

Small scale entrepreneurs across the country are also invited to the Bank’s stand to take advantage of the Bank’s advisory’s services on how to establish and manage small firms,” he added.

On the issue of acceptance at the trade fair, he noted that it was quite okay but not as good as when it was conducted at area10, an area which is more accessible to majority of Abuja residents thereby leading to a large turnout of customers and more profitable business activities. He also acknowledged that the flood that has damaged the roads linking to many commercial cities and towns which contribute their own quota during the fair were not opportune to attend thereby leading to lack of some items usually provided by them. On what his expectation was for the

The 7th Annual Trade Fair activity is currently underway in Abuja along airport road. Our reporter, Muhammad Sada was there to get first hand information on the activities, interests, challenges as well as opinions and expectations of the organizers, exhibitors, visitors as well as residents of the environment where the event is taking place. He also observed happenings and interacted with the various stakeholders and brings this report.

President/Chief Executive, Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote (left) , with the CEO, Tiger Brands Limited, Mr. Peter Matlare (right), and the COO, Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake (middle), during the signing ceremony of the divestment of shares of Dangote Flour Mills Plc (DFM) to Tiger Brands at Dangote Group corporate head office in Lagos on Thursday. next trade fair, he anticipated a greater and broader event with business activities at their highest peak. He however urged that a more closer venue be chosen for residents to have an easy access.

According to Mr. Kuffour Mensah, an exhibitor from Ghana whose trade is sale of packaged natural foods, “ the patronage would increase noted that the location of the fair outside the city centre has an adverse effect on sales of goods and services because many people would find it difficult to come the venue”. He decried on why the organisers did not put into consideration the choice of the venue with the interest of Abuja residents in their minds as the fair was previously held at the Old Parade Ground which is accessible to many people without much stress especially considering the rainy season being experienced in the FCT. He also lamented the issue of effective transportation methods as the hotels where they were staying were not provided with free vehicles to convey them to and from the venue of the event centre as done in several countries.

Another exhibitor from Philippines, Angelo Isaac Raven who deals in gold trinkets and

fabric as well as African attire has this to say: “The previous venue is better and more accessible as well as cheaper to both the organizers, participants and visitors in terms of procurement and transportation. Raymond noted that in terms of proximity to their hotels, the former venue was by far better and much more convenient. I would have preferred the old venue because it is closer to the hotels where we used to lodge. I spent almost N1, 500 in order to get here every day from where I am lodged” he added.

Another participant from Egypt, Mr Anwar Salem, who exhibited electronics, attires and water filtration machines and perfumes, “the fair have quite recorded some transaction and patronization but honestly nothing comparable to the previous one held at area10, it was more accessible and free, but I know it is because of security reasons that it is being held here, but actually I have not recorded as much as I did last time I was here for the same thing,” he said.

An Okene based businessman, Abraham Atta who also is part of the local participants and deals in fruit juice and energy drinks, noted that he has had a nice and

prosperous business activity as he had played host to customers of different backgrounds and nationalities.

He praised the rainy season and the organizers, though he also lamented on the location of the event citing that it is too far, thereby making many people who want to visit to abandon the idea as the time to get in and out of the new venue is too much.

He however expressed the hope that sales would improve next time as the organizers are doing their best to ensure efficiency and effectiveness in the discharge of their duties. He urged the organisers to do more on environmental sanitation and also called for more campaign about the fair to improve the patronage and ensure profits.

According to a senior official of the organizers of the event, who identified himself as Frank, who quoted a speech of the head of the organizers, “the chamber was looking forward to re-cooping its investment and so far had a successful fair”. He added that among the participating countries, apart from Ghana that came with 52 companies, exhibitors from Senegal, Mali, Egypt, Indonesia, Philippines and

India were also participating in the fair adding that there were seven foreign countries and about 140 local participants attending the event. He also expressed optimism that the next event was going to be at the highest peak.

According to Blessing Imo, a food seller, “we are really having brisk businesses and have so far recorded a very huge profit. I make a lot daily but I don’t need to say how much. She added that the patronage was quite encouraging despite the distance of the event and expressed her hope and belief that the next event will be a grand success and advised the organizers to keep up with their job.

A police officer attached to the place and who pleaded for anonymity disclosed that the level of crime recorded since the event commenced had been very low, and praised the participants on their proper coordination of their activities.

It was also observed that security had been beefed up at the venue with soldiers, policemen and personnel of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps on standby to address any emergency that might arrive.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

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”

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

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

PTDF as model of transparency Re: Sovereign wealth fund

T

he Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) was established primarily to help in the development of indigenous man-power for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry in the fields of engineering, geology, science and management in the petroleum and gas subsectors. Over the years, the organisation was able to execute entrepreneurship projects in some tertiary institutions across the country as well as sponsor engineers and technicians for local and overseas trainings on specific technical areas relevant to the petroleum and gas industry.

While most Nigerians at that time expressed dissatisfaction with the level of performance of PTDF in carrying out its statutory responsibilities, the much that the Fund achieved was overshadowed by the massive public outcry and condemnation of the organisation following allegations and counter allegations of corrupt practices by some top government functionaries involving budgetary allocations to the Fund. Investigations later revealed that the Fund was being used as conduit for self- aggrandizement for which the leadership was highly vilified. The image of the Fund was equally battered.

It was no surprise therefore that the decision of the succeeding Federal Government to re-organise the Fund and replace its leadership was highly welcomed by a greater majority of the populace. Today, the rationale for that change has been justified as PTDF has been remodeled and transformed to become a reference point for quality service delivery, transparency and accountability.

To most Nigerians therefore, the greatest achievement recorded in PTDF by its present leadership is the sanitisation and purging of its accounting system and funds disbursement process. This has helped in blocking the openings through which public funds were diverted to vested interests and at other times out- rightly stolen. This positive development has reversed the hitherto notorious image of the Fund as an epic theatre of the absurd. The public now see PTDF as a brand of starling quality as well as centre of best practices.

At no time also has PTDF executed projects that have direct bearing on its mandate with overwhelming impact on the nation’s education, technological and scientific development than, now one of which is the establishment of the Oil and Gas Polytechnic located in Bayelsa State. The institution is the first of its kind in Africa and the Middle East.

In addition, PTDF under the leadership of Engr. Muttaqa Rabe Darma has rested the controversy it inherited over alleged

N

Let Okupe be

o political appointment of government in recent time has generated the type of interest as that generated by the appointment of Dr. Doyin Okupe as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Public Affairs. But why this interest which has, by its unique genre, become rather undue ? Why the fuss? From which quarter is the fuss being generated?

Of course, politicians. Political opponents, to be exact.

In the United States where they point as their reference, politicking stops the day election results are announced, nationbuilding starts thereupon. Not the same here; our politicians are a rare breed, the race for the next electoral contest starts the moment they lose it at the polls. The primary and driving force is the control of the national till, not service. In this quest, everyday is politicking and every instrument is a fair game. Still in most,

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Email: letters@peoplesdaily-online.com

there is vacuity of solution. Otherwise, their own spheres of influence and operation should have endeared and commended them to the armies of the oppressed against whom they strut our spaces with armed guards.

And the scenario of a President who by nature is not disposed to the cavalier brings out the best from our politicians. Still, like America’s Romney, they see only gloom but offer no solution other than “I’m not that guy”, an obvious reference to Obama coming from a most unlikely quarter and a most unlikely background. Thus far, that’s Romney’s qualification, solution and trump card.

Opponents of President Jonathan are not dissimilar. From pulpit to political pitch they taunt him of his “shoe-less” past which, in their judgment, was just enough to disqualify

abandonment of the Petroleum Technology Institute (PTI) Warri. The ambitious project embarked upon by the Fund to upgrade PTI to a world- class petroleum institute has reached 90 percent completion. Other oil and gas related institutions are equally being upgraded to meet the challenges of these times.

Another laudable achievement of the Fund is the training of thousands of Nigerian engineers and technicians in specialised and highly skilled engineering fields that were hitherto the exclusive reserve of foreign workers who were paid in hard currencies by oil companies operating in the country.

For the first time since it was established, PTDF has succeeded in training 11 Nigerians in Underwater Welding Engineering. They were trained at the Institut National De Plongee Professionelle (NIPP) in Marseille France.

Presently, the Fund has trained 1,200 Nigerian International Welders in the Fillet area, 463 International Welders in Plate, 400 International Welders specialising in Pipe

him from being President.

I, for one, cannot take the impression they make here that our problems started today.

That is mendacity in its audaciousness. Most of them have been in government at various strata and times; they never made us any better. No doubt, with a man of Okupe’s experience and capacity, this lie can easily be rested. Little wonder therefore opponents of government have waged, relentlessly, strident calls against his appointment. In aid of their cause is every manner of tricks, chief of which are the criminalization of a contractual relationship, media trial and conviction. That is malicious and most unfair.

Their heck? The Senior Special Assistant had interest in a company that was/is in contractual relationship with the Benue State

Welding, and 20 International Welding Specialists. All these graduates have been awarded international certification which qualifies them to work in any part of the world as expatriates. This has helped in saving the nation millions of hard currency that would have been paid to foreign workers.

As part of its commitment to the development of oil and gas related skills among Nigerian students, the Fund has upgraded 15 Nigerian universities by establishing laboratories of specialised learning including oil and gas related Communication and Information Technology centers. A total of 559 qualified students have been trained in these centers.

One of the gains of this innovation is that it provides opportunities for in- country studies to qualified Nigerians as well as confirming the capacity of Nigerian universities to render academic service on highly technical fields.

The Fund has also sponsored 1,996 scholars in the Masters Degree category while 445 students have benefited at the PhD level; both in local and overseas scholarship schemes. They were trained in diverse fields of engineering such as Control Engineering, Sub- Sea Engineering, and Seismic Data Mapping Interpreting. While these and many more landmark achievements are taking place, a new and most befitting national secretariat of the Fund is nearing completion in Abuja, Nigeria’s sprawling city of beauty and splendour.

Bonaventure Melah is an Abuja- based journalist and public analyst.

Government, here called the principal.

Later, conflict arose as a result of disagreement in that contractual relationship. Largely, the disagreement centres on the milestone covered by the company and the extent of liabilities of parties in the circumstance. Now, given the company’s contention that it was induced into incurring onerous costs as a result of the principal’s failings at the time, it has dragged the principal to court. Consequently, on the merits of the contentions of the parties, we shall go no further as that is now solely the precincts of the court. Suffice it to say here that a mere interest in previous obligations that are purely contractual and civil should not be a bar to national service.

Rolland wrote from Umuahia in Abia

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 37

Opinion

By Lawal Y. Hafiz

P

r e s i d e n t Goodluck Jonathan while reconstituting two power committees recently said the vacant portfolios of Defence and Power Minister would be filled immediately the Senate resumes from its recess. But going by the events preceding the vacation of these portfolios by the erstwhile Ministers, Dr Bello Haliru Muhammed and Prof Barth Nnaji respectively, the President need not be told to be circumspect in naming their replacements.

The former Defence Minister was booted out along with the former National Security Adviser (NSA), Andrew Owoeye Azazi following their inability to curtail the rising wave of insecurity in the country. This, no doubt, smacks of incompetence on his part. For Prof Nnaji, story was that he had to leave the cabinet because of a conflict of interest regarding his handling of the power sector privatisation.

President Jonathan did the right thing in these two cases. The sacking of the ex PDP chairman was seen by many as a bold step.

The focus of the President should now be how to get competent hands for these all important ministries. But given the usual issues and forces that come into play when considerations for ministerial nominations are about to be made, including regional, ethnic and political consideration as well as state quota, one becomes apprehensive as to whether competence will not be sacrificed on the altar of these primordial considerations.

Why Mr President must look beyond political balancing Mr President will do well to know that national security, in particular, is too important to be subjected to these usual political considerations. Same goes for the power sector which is the catalyst of national development.

Because of the importance of these two positions and given that it is necessary that the President gets it right when announcing replacements for the former defence and power ministers, it is my considered opinion that even if it has to require the President reshuffling his cabinet, getting the right persons for those positions is a must. The President will do well to ensure that only performers are appointed and dead woods are shown the way out. Considering the sensitive nature of national security and preeminent position of power to national development, there is no gainsaying that Mr President may have to do away with the need for regional balancing.

Already, the Kebbi state chapter of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) is embroiled in a controversy over who should take slot of the state. The person Mr President is reported to be considering for that position, a retired general, has been disowned by the state PDP. And following this, the people of Enugu state where Prof

Nnaji hails from are reported to have demanded, and rightly so, that the position vacated by former minister should be given back to the state. These are all normal agitations as the ministerial position is seen as a reward for the contribution to Mr President’s emergence during the election.

As I said earlier, if filling these two strategic positions could warrant a cabinet reshuffle, Mr President should not hesitate to do so. People of high pedigree should be nominated to fill these vacant positions. If there was anything that caused serious criticism for the present administration, it was the apparent inability to tackle the menace of Boko Haram and other related incidents of insecurity in the country.

However, in the power sector, the challenge is for someone with the pedigree of sustaining the feat recorded by Prof Nnaji.

By the time he left office, the Professor of Robotics had generated an unprecedented 4,477 megawatts with a series of reform initiatives moving on the fast track.

Whereas the Defence top hierarchy was booted out for non-performance and their replacement would be easily judged by putting an end to the insecurity in the land, the Power helmsman would be expected to measure up to and even exceed the standard set by Prof Nnaji as well as

surmount the myriad of problems confronting the sector.

Mr President needs not look further in getting a replacement for Prof Nnaji. His Special Adviser on Energy and DirectorGeneral of the Energy Commission of Nigeria, Prof Abubakar Sambo can perfectly fit in. Prof Sambo, a Professor of Energy and current Vice President of the World Energy Forum has had a wonderful tenure at the ECN and is a performer capable of tackling the multitude of problems in the power sector.

Similarly, it is my belief that Dr Dora Akunyili should be brought back to face the security challenges facing Nigeria.

Yes, some would ask the rationale behind appointing a lady to this sensitive post.

The answer is that Dr Akunyili is one woman who fought the menace of fake drugs in the country and cleansed the sector of fake and expired to the satisfaction of all.

Mr President should not bother about Dr Akunyili ditching the ruling PDP to contest under APGA. The fact remains that she can do the job. His performance in NAFDAC and Ministry of information are good testimonials.

Lawal Y. Hafiz writes from NBTE, Kaduna

Talban Gombe: Fighting for the soul of education in Gombe State Junaidu Usman Abubakar

T

h a n k s to his antecedents, we are all very sure Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, OON, Talban Gombe, will turn around the good fortune of Gombe State, considering the way he started the way he did to turn around the Treasury House into the most vibrant and respectful financial institution in Nigeria.

Dankwambo single-handedly built one of the nation’s solid monuments as the head office of the Treasury House, in addition to building many area offices across the Nation.

During his time as accountant-general of the federation, he initiated so many economic and financial policies.

Governor Dankwambo rose through the ranks and reached the highest peak of his career as a reputable chattered accountant to become the Accountant General of the Federation, AGF. He declined many awards, accepting only a few – like the one given to him by the Senior Civil Servants Association alongside illustrious civil servants like the former head of service/SGF Alhaji Mamoud Yayale Ahmed and former Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Ama Pepple.

Prior to his emergence as governor, Governor Dankwambo, Talban Gombe, inherited an education sector, which was, according to the report of the Prof.

Abdussalam Sambo-led Education Committee, one with primary schools having 153,262 pupils and 16,036 teachers. Of these 16,036, more than half – 9,436, to be precise, were unqualified, in the light of the national standard. Worse still, 3,783 of this unqualified lot were were secondary school failures. Figure also show that there are 143,000 students in public

junior secondary schools within the state, with only 196 English Language teachers and 55 mathematics teachers(teacherstudent ratio for English was 1:730 and a horrible 1:2600 for mathematics). As if these disparities were not sickening enough, the Teachers Service Commission had not recruited new teachers since 2006, due to non-approval from the state executive.

Compared to the previous administration’s measly N1.3bn-worth of capital projects executed in eight years in the education sector, the current administration, under the leadership of Governor Dankwambo, within one-and-a-half year, spent more than N4.5bn in turning around the primary and secondary schools in the state. Among other measures, the current state government is revamping the primary and secondary education sector through prompt allocation of sufficient financial resources to accommodate enrolment and expansion needs of schools in the city, charging managers of human resources in the state’s education sector to prepare for, and consciously seek to attain and sustain major improvement across the tiers of government in the state. The Almajiri/Islamic schools system has been reviewed to find a lasting solution, so as to enable the almajiris study under more dignified circumstances.

Governor Dankwambo had, in his first anniversary speech, promised that the government will intervene to curtail the plight of almajiris. Famous for roaming the streets in rags begging for food, making them easy targets and as ready fuel during moments of unrest, these young people now have an opportunity to claim the days lost through discovering their academic side and become useful in future.

With tens of thousands of secondary school-leavers recording failures in their O-

Level exams all over the state, Governor Dankwambo ordered an immediate setting up of the Pilot Programme and Remedial School at Kumo, to prepare secondary school-leavers to meet the requisite criteria for admission into universities, with the University of Maiduguri being its major partner. Governor Dankwambo promised scholarships to 500 candidates in the state who obtain five credits and above, including mathematics and English in West African Examination Council exams.

To meet up with the recommendations of the Prof. Abdussalam Sambo-led committee on education to upgrade and improve the deteriorating education standard in the state, Governor Dankwambo immediately awarded the contract for the renovation and expansion of four senior secondary schools that are presently at the completion stages. These schools are GSSS Gombe – which will be decongested, so that it can meet up with the 40 students per class; GSSS Billiri, the GDSS Ibinola which is also undergoing constructions; GTC Gombe, GAC Gombe, and GCC Doma in Gombe. Similar expansion works are already at completion stages at the Central Primary School, Gombe Gabukka Primary School, Herwagana Primary School, Abubakar Umar Memorial School, Army Barrack and four new technical colleges. On the other hand, renovation and construction of GDSS Kurjale in Yamaltu Deba LGA has seen the government invest over N500m to procure the instructional equipment and chemicals for the laboratories. Part of the procurements also includes class, hostels and staff furniture, while the expansion covers the complete turn-around of the schools covering new structures like hostels, laboratories, and administrative

blocks, among others.

Governor Dankwambo also approved and extended N200m for the purchase of equipment for College of Medicine and Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences of the Gombe State University, GSU. Similarly, N4.1bn was approved and expended for building of hostels, classrooms, libraries and laboratories in the School of Remedial Studies, Kumo, and workshops and other entrepreneurship centres for youths in the state. As an interim measure to address shortage of staff, governor Dankwambo has currently recruited 1,000 teachers for secondary schools in the state. This will soon be followed by another 1,000 teachers for the primary schools.

Presently, work on phase 1 of the model schools within the metropolis and one in each local government area has already reached completion stages. Arrangements have also been concluded with the Islamic Development Bank of Jeddah for funding of three bi-lingual (English and Arabic) schools in the state.

Dankwambo also established the Gombe State Polytechnic in Bajoga Funakaye LGA to train indigenes in engineering and other kinds of professional courses. He also established the College of Education, in Biliri LGA, to train and mentally equip our primary and secondary school teachers in the state.

From the above submissions people will understand that Governor Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo is highly committed to seeing that the education sector, especially the primary and secondary schools – which are foundational aspects – are on the right track of excellence in Gombe State.

Junaidu Usman Abubakar is a special assistant to the governor, on press.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Feature

Attah of Igala tussle gathers momentum From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

N

o w that the first myths about the death and burial of the 21st Attah Igala, HRH Alhaji Aliyu Obaje has been settled with the final rites coming to an end on the 28th of August 2012, the second hurdle which is causing controversy is the issue of who have the right to select the next Attah.

From the recorded history of Ayegba Omidoko‘s dynasty till the tenure of the last Attah, Aliyu Obaje, it was a held belief which was substantiated by the modification of Igala Native Law and custom relating to the selection of a person to be the Ata Igala order of 1961 CAP 77 empowering Achadu Ata to choose an Ata who must be a son of an Ata from the four ruling Houses in consultation with the traditional Igalamela.

However, with the recent story carried

by The Graphic newspaper, the transfer of the power bestowed both by the custom and tradition and the law of Northern Nigeria CAP 77 from Achadu Ata to the Etemahi, who is the paramount ruler of Ajaka, is threatening to lead to a litigation for the first time in the history of the stool.

The paper had quoted a minute of the meeting of 14 traditional rulers from the Igala kingdom held on 31st August, 1998 at the Atah’s palace Idah under the chairmanship of late Dr. Aliyu Obaje the Ata of Igala, that the resolution of the meeting has invalidated or modified the Igala native law on the selection of Atah passed by the Northern Nigerian government in 1961.

According to the report, the royal fathers had modified some clauses of the 1961 law which transferred the power to nominate from Achadu Ata to Etemahi of Igalamela and the inclusion of grandsons of Atah as eligible to the coveted throne. Since the publication, some prominent sons and daughters of Igala kingdom have lent their voices in condemning the publication calling it a subterfuge and a rape of custom and tradition and the act of parliament.

According to his royal highness, Ajofe Okpaga of Itobe district, Livinus N.A. Enemaku said the purported document cited by the publication was neither a law, bye-law or edict, saying the Igala traditional Area council under which the traditional rulers met and modified the law and custom was not a local government legislative council or state House of Assembly, the two arms of the National Assembly nor the ministry of justice.

He averred that the late Attah who purportedly signed the document into law during his early reign, represented the northern government to the constitutional conference in London but could not sign the 1961 law as the Atah Igala as the document was signed by Abdullahi K. Namadu, the acting secretary to the executive council of northern Nigeria government, why then, he said, should he and his secretary, Alhaji Suleiman Musa sign a controversial amendment?

The royal father urged the ruling houses and the good people of Igala extraction to disregard the publication, saying that the law no 7 of 1992 and 23 of 2006 on the appointment and

Prince Idakwo Ameh Oboni deposition of chiefs in the state was explicit and unambiguous.

Speaking to reporters recently at his place in Idah, HRH the Achadu Ata, a retired Assistant commissioner of police, Alhaji Yusuf Ameadaji said that he was neither absent nor present in the purported meeting which was convened by the late Atah as he was not invited. He stressed that the Atah had tried many times to edge him out of the scheme of affairs in the traditional council.

He noted that he had to take his case to the Court of Appeal in Jos in 1991 to reclaim his mandate. He alleged that there was no love lost relationship between him and the late Atah which made him to send a protest letter to colonel Afakiriya ,the then governor of the state over his marginalization .He said even as a lay man, an extract from a council meeting could not have a force of law, stressing why the document had to be kept in the cooler until the demise of the Atah before the ministry of local government and chieftaincy affairs could release it to the public.

The royal father added that it was the then Achadu Atah, Peter Achema who nominated and signed his appointment in 1956, arguing that the same stool that signed his appointment is no longer credible to nominate his successor.

Etemahi HRH Abel E Etuh, the royal father upon which the new modified law empowered him to nominate the new Attah opined that, what was done by the 1998 modification was an application of the principles of fair hearing stressed that the appointment of Ata by the Achadu in 1956 was a taboo and an aberration as the present law was to give legitimacy to the process of appointing Ata. He added that the 1976 local government reforms has rendered the 1961 law obsolete, saying that both the no7 and 23 of 1992 and 2003 laws of Kogi state had equally rendered the 1961 law of northern Nigeria ineffective.

Prince Kabba Aliyu Obaje The royal father averred that the Igalamela were the aborigines of Idah and it was the emergence of Ata royal stool that Etemahi moved to Ajaka ,Ugwolawo ,part of Ankpa and other communities in Igalaland, making the Etemahi stool the oldest in the Igala kingdom which predates both Ata and Achadu. He stressed that in the form of hierarchy ,Etemahi was number one followed by Ata and Achadu. According to him Achadu only gained prominence when he married the first Ata Ebulejonu, a woman who have to pierce her ear and put ear ring, a culture that is still maintained by the subsequent Atas till date.

Reacting to the publication, a senior officer in the department of chieftaincy affairs of the ministry of local government who spoke on the condition of anonymity, told Peoples Daily Weekend that he had earlier warned the director of the consequences of giving out the document for public consumption. He said there was nothing legal about the document that will modify the act of parliament.

According to him, there is supposed to be an exercise that will make chieftaincy declaration for all the existing stools in the state but lamented that it was only in Kotonkarfe and Okene local government traditional area councils that were carried out leaving others without ascension order.

Speaking on the legal implication of the purported modification, a lawyer, Barrister Samuel Igono Momoh debunked the genuineness of the document, saying that except the 1961 law itself gives room for the declaration and even at that the law will not run in concurrent with the mother law.

He averred that the 1961 law got its legitimacy from the ground norms which is the constitution, making the modification null and void except it gives powers or authority to make sub laws that will be consistent with the provision

of the mother law.

Momoh argued that an act of the state House of Assembly or National Assembly cannot be repealed by another law by a resolution, it could only be repealed by a law by a higher authority in case of an edict or act of parliament.

According to him, the act of parliament cannot be repealed by a resolution even if the state makes a law to that effect. Thus, he noted the purported extract was inconsistent with the provision of the mother law of 1961 CAP77 law of Northern Nigeria.

He posited that the amendment lacked the power of legality and therefore cannot be cited in law ab initio.

Corroborating his argument, Barrister Yomi Mohammed said although he is yet to read the purported Kogi state law of no7 of 1992 and 23 of 2006 as it relates to the traditional institutions in the state, an extract from a meeting could not derive its legitimacy from the constitution to amend an act of parliament.

“

the transfer of the power bestowed both by the custom and tradition and the law of Northern Nigeria CAP 77 from Achadu Ata to the Etemahi, who is the paramount ruler of Ajaka, is threatening to lead to a litigation for the first time in the history of the stool.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 39

Feature

Ilorin land dispute: Who is deceiving who?

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

L

i k e the old wine in a new bottle whose taste is always the same, the cold battle between Kwara state government and Ilorin Emirate Descendant Progressive Union (IEDPU) over the acquisition of land within the emirate axis has turned a new dimension.

There was an allegation against the government that it sponsored a false story that the union had agreed with government on the urban law which empowered it to take over the land.

Ilorin union, headed by Justice Saka Yusuf had however denied in a counter publication that there was no time he granted interview to journalists and said anything about the union yielding to the government.

A statement issued by Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Alhaji Oba Abdulwaheed disclosed that the people of Ilorin Emirate have dissociated themselves from the insinuation making the rounds that the Kwara state government intends to sell the Muslim praying ground and the Emir’s palace.

According to the statement, Justice Yusuf was reported to have clarified that IEDPU never raised such accusation because there was no need to do so, adding that, "we never said that. We couldn't have said such a thing. IEDPU never said the government wanted to sell the praying ground and the Emir's palace. Who will the government sell them to and for what purpose? May be the politicians are at work again."

The statement read in part: “The IEDPU president emphasized that the union is a non partisan one and would not involve in any act that could embarrass Governor Abdulfatah Ahmed or Senator Bukola Saraki.

"Yusuf explained that the misunderstanding that ensued over the urbanization law was as a result of communication gap, adding that IEDPU's utmost concern was the interest of Ilorin Emirate and not that of being a watchdog of the government.

"He added, “whatever happened was never a planned affair, but expression of our people’s apprehension. He noted that the urbanization law as enacted by government was not properly understood by the people and urged government to do more of public enlightenment through well publicized public hearing and sensitization on its policies."

The national president of

Gov. Abdulfatah Ahmed IEDPU however denied the entire story.

The publication entitled: "Re: IEDPU denounces sale of eid ground rumour," the retired jurist wondered why the state government would sponsor such story while he did not grant any interview.

He continued: "The organisation is totally disappointed that in spite of all her efforts to ensure an amicable resolution is reached on the issue, attempts are being made here and there, by those who could be described as unpatriotic, to politicize the issue at -hand. We have indeed reposed too much confidence in the ability of the state government to swiftly put -theissue behind us but unfortunately it is as if the concerned authority has been playing games with the potentially-volatile matter.

"The report under review was and should be seen as a sacrilegious violation of the sacred cultural template of Ilorin. It was an unethical sensationalisation of a serious matter cardinal to the continuous existence of the Emirate as a distinct polity. It was also a disparage and a deliberate misrepresentation of a venerable senior citizen as well as a disdainful attempt to ignite unnecessary confusion in a community that cherishes harmony. It was to say the least a symptomatic display

Sen. Bukola Saraki of professional misconduct and journalistic lethargy which is a pathological characteristic of either an unrepentant quack or a diabolical quisling."

Reinstating its belief in the scrapping of the urbanization law, the IEDPU leader said the people of Ilorin Emirate stand on their previous position that they reject the indiscriminate and wanton acquisition of land without clear definition of boundaries and without payment of fair compensation and devoid of due consideration to the original landowners as in the case of Budo Osho, Malete and Lanwa among others.

"The organization also made it crystal clear her disappointment with the manner with which premises of educational institutions in the Emirate are balkanised and sold to private individuals. These institutions included the premier postprimary school of the state, the famous Government Secondary School(GSS) Ilorin, the farm centre within the hitherto premises of the Ministry of Agriculture as well as the Taoheed Nursery and Primary School, Ilorin, to mention but a few."

However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in a statement issued and signed by its Director of Publicity, Alhaji Mosud Adebimpe linked the unresolved cold war to the

Justice Saka Yusuf opposition party in the state.

Adebimpe stated that the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) meant to cause public disaffection against the PDP administration of Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed by rekindling a resolved misunderstanding between the government and the Ilorin Emirate Descendants Progressive Union (IEDPU) over the suspended Urbanisation Law 2009.

The statement stated: “Kwara PDP, accused the ACN of attempting to destabilize the government by manipulating the public using sensitive issues that have been amicably settled by the concerned parties.

“As a responsive government, the PDP administration in the state has met with leaders and agreed unequivocally that there is not and there has never been a plan by the state government to sell the Eid praying ground to any individual or group. The meeting also agreed that the dispute over the implementation of the Urbanisation Act 2009 was due to a communication gap which has since been bridged. It is therefore mischievous and unpatriotic of the ACN and its cohorts in the opposition to heat the polity by scheming to unearth an issue that had been amicably resolved.”

The party added that incitement was against the tenets

of the law saying " PDP warned those it described as 'disgruntled elements who lack the capacity to add any value to governance in Kwara state to desist from their reprehensible act or face the wrath of the law as the issue will be reported to the police for investigation if the opposition continues to foment trouble in the state."

In its reaction, the state chairman of CAN, Mr. Kayode Olawepo said "Our response to PDP is that the party should endeavour to stand on the neck of its nonperforming government to face the challenge of governance and be truthful in its dealings. This redherring and growing phobia for opposition would do PDP no good."

As the cold war continues to re-echo between the warring parties, Governor Ahmed has also disclosed during an interaction with journalists that the government had discussed with the union and they have been told to write a memo on the controversial clauses in the urbanisation law before it would be re-forwarded to the House of Assembly for necessary amendment.

Nevertheless, since community has vowed to fight on, those that occupied the affected areas are living in fear over the possibility of losing the portion of land they acquired through the Bureau of Lands.

PAGE 40

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Personality

I don’t have a bank account says Barmani Choge The calabash music maestro, Hajiya Barmani Choge, is an accomplished female musician who is very popular in the north. With remarkable artistry of calabash beating and over one hundred songs to her name, there is no doubt that Choge, has carved a niche for herself as female musician of the Hausa genre. But despite her achievement and recognition in the music industry, the 80 year old woman would seem to have been relegated to the background even as she battles an ailment and struggles to make ends meet. In this interview with Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, she discloses that now, she has to sing to get money to pay for her treatment in hospitals.

We have not been able to interview you for about two months now due to your ailment, what is actually wrong with you? ell, I’ve been sick for some time now; my sickness has to do with the pain in my legs. Most often I sit instead of standing but even in a sitting position I can sing for a whole day. I recently performed in Musawa, where I sang at the ceremony of one Isa. Despite my ailment I spent the whole night singing.

You are known as Barmani Choge, what is your real name?

My real name is Sa’adatu. I was born some 80 years ago in a village called Gwaigwaye in the outskirts of Funtua town. I’m originally a Fulani by tribe and all my relations live in Funtua. My father was a Fulani man but not an itinerant Fulani, he stayed in one place.

I did not inherit the art of singing from my father or mother. My father, Malam Abdullahi was an Islamic scholar while my grandfather, Malam Ahmadu was the Imam of our village. So it was only by fate that I found myself in this profession.

What motivated you to go into this profession?

Like I said, it was Allah’s will. But let me tell you how I started. On the eve of every Sallah day, we women would gather to beat the calabash and sing to usher in the Sallah.

What happened at that time was that I sang better than all my contemporaries. So when I left my village and relocated back to Funtua with my husband, I met a woman praise singer called Kushalle, who, when she realised I had moved to Funtua, would advice people to call me if there was any naming ceremony because according to Kushelle I was a good singer.

How did you come into limelight in Nigeria?

During the Festac 77, a man called Burtu in Funtua came to me to inform me that I was selected to participate in the event.

When he told me about the invitation I told him, I was not going because then I was singing for leisure and my husband would not allow it. You know then the constituted authorities were very strong. My husband was therefore summoned and advised to allow me to go since this was God’s design.

That was how I attended the event.

Ironically my husband has never witnessed me singing on the stage. Any time I sensed he would be where I would sing, I would shun the place completely. At the Festac 77 ceremony I won three prizes and since then I never looked back. After the event my husband’s father called him and advised him to allow me to continue singing since according to him it was the Will of God. How have you benefitted from the profession?

I’ve gain a lot in this profession, it’s now 45 years since I started singing and people are still demanding for my services. And interestingly I never participated in an event that I was not invited.

How many songs have you composed and sang so far?

I have composed a lot of songs but I cannot give an exact figure because some are inspirational, and were composed while on stage and there are chances that after the

W

Aged 80, Barmani waxing strong, can sing for a whole night.

Barmani Choge entertains at an event performance, you may not sing the exact song again. That means that it was for a specific purpose. But I could say I have sung hundreds of songs, numerous to remember.

Every musician has a particular song that is considered as his master piece. Can you tell us which one was your own master piece or favorite?.

The one I like most was the one I sang for my closest friend, Hajiya Maduga, the wife of Sarkin Magana, who is now late. She was the one that gave me my first Hajj seat. So whoever gave me anything afterwards, was the fir after her, Late Hajiya Maduga. But my first car was given to me by Alhaji Tsoho Abdullahi Zaria, followed by Maryam Babangida and the current Secretary to Kaduna State Government, Alhaji Lawal Sama’ila.

What is your relationship with Kushalle?

We are not related but she was the one who encouraged me to go into singing in the first place. Kushalle and all those who started with me are all dead now. They are Ladi, Kushalle, Abangaji Romo, Azumi among others. I now perform with my grandchildren. They are all in school, but whenever they are free I go with them to events.

How many children do you have? I have 12 children; some are alive while some are now late.

You sang for a number of wives of

presidents. Can you recall their number?

The first president’s wives I sang for were President Shehu Shagari’s wives during the wedding ceremony of his son, Bala Shagari.

After that I sang for Maryam Babangida, Maryam Abacha and Fatima Abubakar Abdulsalam.

There was a song you sang, gwanne, where you encouraged women to have more children, what informed the reasoning?

The reason behind that song was that in the past, when a woman was giving birth without spacing, she became a subject of mockery in her compound. Women would be mocking her to the extent that she would be crying. That was why I composed the song to give women confidence.

Do you have new songs?

I have new songs but the issue is that I have no names for them.

One of your songs called, sakarai, encourages women to embrace businesses. What was the motive behind It.?

You know a woman that is not into any business to generate funds is in serious trouble, especially now women have to look for ways of survival.

Even in my own situation now I have to sing to be able to get money to pay for my hospital bills.

How would you rate your children’s

education?

They did not study up to Diploma or University level they all stopped at the secondary school level. You know it is a woman that trains the children but during the peak of my career I had no time to mentor them. At that time whether they go to school or not I didn’t care because I was not always at home. But my grandchildren are now in high schools even the female among them.

Is there any of your children or grandchild that you think would take after you in the business of singing?

This is hard to tell because I found myself in it by fate. There is one of them though, Rabi, who is my granddaughter who is showing interest now. But the truth is you cannot have two tigers within the same periphery, so time will tell.

You have travelled to different places in the world. Can you recall them?

Through singing I was privileged to travel to Makkah for about eight times, I was in London, Niger. In Nigeria I’ve been to almost all parts of the country.

What is your philosophy about life and success? Whatever you do in life do it with the fear of God. I spent 45 years singing but there was never a time I was harassed.

I don’t engage in gossips. I’ve never in my life fought any of my contemporaries. Even the late Shata, whom we came from the same town with, we never had any quarrel our relationship was cordial up till the time he died.

What legacy would you leave for your children?

I want to leave behind for them a legacy of hard work, honesty and fear of God. Before I die I want to see all of them getting married.

As for wealth, I don’t have any I don’t even have a bank account. I got a lot of wealth in this profession but you know if you have large family that depends on you, you can’t keep anything or save any money.

Calabash music maestro, Hajiya Barmani Choge in her early days.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 41

Weekend Sunshine Stars posing for a group photo graph before their game against Esperance

Sunshine Star s seek to r epel Ahl y Stars re Ahly in CAF semi-f inals c lash toda y semi-finals clash today

By Patrick Andrew

L

ast year, Sunshine Stars reached the last four finals of the CAF Confederation Cup but failed to progress beyond that after losing to Club Africain. Today, they have another opportunity to make amends as they host six-time CAF Champions League winners- Al Ahly of Egypt- at the Dipo Dina Stadium, Ijebu-Ode. Sunshine had a stormy start to the group stage of the fiesta but much to their credit, resolve and technical discipline kept their pecker up to berth at the semi-finals.

To arrive at this stage, Sunshine Recreativo do Libolo, Djoliba and worked hard enough to come second behind Esperance in their group. To further the journey, they must beat Al Ahly and they have both the ammunition and the flair to accomplish the task.

Ahly may have an intimidating pedigree on paper as well as the usual notoriously uncanny mentality and attitude typical with North African opponents. But playing against teams with such reputation won’t be a maiden experience to Sunshine Stars since they had held their own against them previously.

True, they lost last year to Club Africain but at the early stage of the competition they held their own against Esperience though losing 0-2 at home and narrowly with a marginal result in the return leg.

Thus today’s clash will definitely go down as Sunshine’s biggest continental challenge since its formation in 1990.

The Nigerian team can draw confidence and inspiration from Kano Pillars who defeated Ahly as well as a lesson or two from Heartland FC who were held in Owerri but lost in the return leg in Cairo.

Good enough, the Ijebu-Ode-based squad have the materials to marshal needed technical and tactical discipline. All they need is to confront them with gut, depth and that extra technical edge that gives advantage to ambitious teams.

That’s where skipper Godfrey Oboabana, a dependable defender will be needed to act decisively in coordinating the wall while motivating the midfielders to plot and supply enough ammunition for the attack to finish of Ahly.

Here strikers Izu Azuka,Dele Olorundare, midfielder Tamen Medrano and goalkeeper Moses Ocheje are expected to bring their skill, depth and experiences to bear in the game.

However, they must contain the experience of Ahly who are older in exposure, had faced harder challenges and are therefore sharpened for duels of any kind.

Ahly will be the favourites to advance to the final of the

Champions League going by their pedigree as six-time winners.

The Cairo Red Devils also finished top of Group B with 11 points from six matches, a point ahead of TP Mazembe of DR Congo.

But football defies mathematical order. Sunshine Stars can see about that today as Gbenga Ogunbote commands his charges from the sideline and ensure the plots are both daring and potent to achieve the desired success.

Meanwhile, Esperance of Tunisia will seek to exorcise the 1-6 defeat they suffered in the hands of the TP Mazembe in the final of the 2010 CAF Champions League when they trade tackles Sunday.

But TP Mazembe will continue their quest for a third African Champions League title in the past four years when they host Esperance in the first leg of their semifinal in Lubumbashi.

DR Congo side Mazembe, the champions of the competition in 2009 and 2010, progressed relatively comfortably from the group phase, finishing second behind Egyptian giants Al Ahly although they had already secured a place in the final four when they lost their final Group B match away to Ghana’s Berekum Chelsea. The hosts will look to make the most of home advantage in the first leg, knowing that the return game in Rades later this month will be a brutal examination of both their technical ability and mental strength.

Flying Eagles, Amajitas in 2013 finals duel

J

ohn Obuh’s tutored Flying Eagles will battle South Africa’s Amajitas for a place in the 2013 African Youth Championship cracker.

The clash scheduled to be held at the Ilorin Stadium, will bring to a climax the qualifying contest for the ticket. Two weeks ago, the Flying Eagles were forced to 1-1 draw in Nelspruit, South Africa and Sunday’s duel is delicate encounter that both sides must approach cautiously.

And the sides are well acquainted with each other having played both at friendly and competitive games in the most recent past.

But Head Coach Obuh is determined to ensure that the junior Eagles stand out and grab the ticket which will offer them avenue to defend their Africa title in Algeria come March next year. Obuh has re-jigged the squad and finally settled for two foreign-based professionals in the team that will confront the Amajitas: Kenneth Omeruo and Aliyu Mohammed, who were expected in the camp last night.

Ghana stun favourites Japan

G

hana stunned tournament favourites Japan with a 1-0 win in Baku as Sherifatu Sumaila’s goal following a huge goalkeeping mistake saw the African side upset the odds.

Japan had come into the game without conceding a goal throughout Azerbaijan 2012 and as the competition’s top scorers, but Black Maidens coach Mas-Ud Dramani put a stop to that and ended their sojourney in Azerbaijan.

It took 15 minutes before the first meaningful effort on target, with Ghana’s resident goal-getter Jane Ayieyam testing Chika Hirao as the African side matched Japan well.

Priscilla Okyere really gave the Japanese stopper a scare ten minutes later, firing a dipping, swerving strike that the 15-year-old had to watch keenly before tipping over.

It took Japan over half an hour to get their first clear chance as Ghana defended solidly, when Ruka Norimatsu volleyed wide after meeting a corner well.

They then tested Victoria Agyei in the Ghana goal fully 5 minutes from the break, Rika Masuya striking low and hard after good work by Ayaka Inoue.

Poor goalkeeper at the other half sent the Japanese reeling soon after half-time though.

Sherifatu Sumaila was allowed to run a long way down the right wing, but even she wouldn’t have expected Hirao to let her tame cross-come-shot through her legs.

It was the first goal they had conceded in 364 minutes, a new tournament record, though unlikely a feat they’ll celebrate in the circumstances.

Earlier, Germany had stunned Brazil 2-1 with the winner nicked in with the last gasp of breath barely 60 seconds into the final minutes of the two minutes added on time.

FIFA semifinals pairings Ghana vs Germany France vs Korea DPR

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 42

WBO title chaser ‘a proud gay man’ P

uerto Rican featherweight Orlando Cruz has described himself as “a proud gay man”.

He is believed to be the first professional boxer to come out as openly homosexual while still competing.

Cruz said in an interview on Thursday he was happy and relieved about his decision but had some initial reservations.

“I developed physically and mentally to take such a big step in my life and in my profession, which is boxing, knowing it would have pros and cons, highs and lows in this sport that is so macho,” he said.

“I kept this hidden for many, many years.”

His announcement comes two weeks before the 31-yearold southpaw challenges Mexican Jorge Pazos for the WBO Latino title.

Cruz is ranked at No 4 by the WBO and has a professional record of 18-2-1 with nine knockouts.

He consulted psychologists and other people before making the announcement and has the full support of his family, trainer and manager.

Cruz praised his mother and sister for their unconditional love and said his father had always supported him 100 per cent.

“Like every father, he wants his son to be a fullblooded man,” Cruz said. “But he is aware of my preference, my taste.”

Pedro Julio Serrano, spokesman for the US-based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, praised Cruz for his decision and said it broke stereotypes that gay people are not involved in sports such as boxing.

Orlando Cruz

“It also gives a lot of hope to young gays who can see in him the integrity and bravery to be who you are and face a society that is often intolerant, especially in this type of sport,” he said.

Reaction to Cruz’s announcement was largely positive across social media, with many praising him for taking what they called a brave step given the sport’s violent history.

Among those who sent messages of support was Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, who announced he was gay in March 2010.

Some people on Twitter expressed concern for Cruz’s safety, and wondered whether other boxers would be reluctant to fight him.

Dommys Delgado, president of the Boxing Commission of Puerto Rico, brushed aside those concerns.

“Orlando has proven to be an excellent boxer with very good chances of becoming a world champion,” she said.

“We know it is a very macho sport. Those who don’t want to fight with him, well, don’t fight.”

The only other professional boxer who was quoted as saying that he had relations with men and women was US Virgin Islander Emile Griffith.

He told The New York Times in a 2005 interview that he struggled with his sexuality.

His comments came decades after he ended his 18-year boxing career.

Griffith is best known for his

March 1962 fight against Cuban Benny Paret, who taunted Griffith with gay slurs before the bout. Griffith knocked him out, and Paret died ten days later.

Cruz said he was prepared for the fallout from his announcement, saying many boxers had already suspected he was gay but gave him privacy.

“I’ve been fighting for more than 24 years and as I continue my ascendant career, I want to be true to myself,” he said. “I have always been and always will be a proud gay man.”

Cruz compiled an amateur record of 178-11 and competed for Puerto Rico at the 2000 Sydney Olympics. He won seven Puerto Rico national titles.

Swimmers begin preparation for African Zone II championships

S

wimmers will begin camping on Oct. 9 to hone their skills for the maiden African Zone II Junior Swimming Championships holding from November 7 to 12 in Akure.

The President, Nigeria Swimming Federation (NSF), Babatunde Fatayi-Williams, who disclosed this yesterday in Lagos, said they would be camped in Akure.

Fatayi-Willims said that the federation’s coaches had promised to ensure that the swimmers had intensive training to excel at the championships.

He said that the young swimmers who would begin the training were discovered from series of development programmes embarked by the NSF to raise future champions.

He also said that the best 10 male and 10 female swimmers would be selected to represent the country.

“Our junior swimmers will begin training next week for them to be in top shape for the African Zone II Championships in Akure,’’ he said.

According to Fatayi-Williams, the competition which will expose the young swimmers to internationally was long awaited.

He thanked the Ondo State government for sponsoring the championships, adding that other individuals and corporate organisations should also stake their monies in promoting swimming.

“We have been looking for sponsorship for this programme for a long time and the Ondo State government for accepted, I thank it for sponsoring,’’ he said.

Fatayi-Williams also said that 17 countries are expected to participate in the championships in the three categories of 14 years and under, 15 and 16 years.

He said the six-day championships would feature swimmers in 52 events, including eight relay races and 44 individual medleys.

Farah wins European award for Olympic feat

B

ritain’s double Olympic champion Mo Farah has been voted the European Athlete of the Year for the second straight year.

Farah, who pulled off the 5 000/10 000 metres double in London, is just the second athlete to win back-to-back European Athlete of the Year awards after Swedish triple jumper Christian Olsson in 2003 and 2004.

The 29-year-old Somaliborn distance runner defended his European 5000m title in Helsinki to become the first man to win consecutive gold

medals over the distance at the European Athletics Championships.

Six weeks later, he captivated the 80 000 capacity crowd in the Olympic Stadium with two wins executed in spectacular fashion with blistering finishes over the last lap to become the first Briton to win Olympic titles in long distance running events.

He became the seventh man, and fifth European, to do the distance double in the history of the Olympics, but the first to achieve such a feat in front of a home audience.

However, for the first few months of the 2012, such an emotional and climactic end to the year didn’t seem possible.

He won only one of his four indoor competitions and, although he did set a European indoor two miles best, he also finished out of the medals in fourth place over 3000m at the World Indoor Championships.

Once the outdoor season started though, Farah showed his true colours.

He won over 5000m at the Diamond League meeting in Eugene in 12:56.98 in early

June, the best time by a European runner this year, and never looked back thereafter.

Farah’s feats will be recognised at the European Athletics Awards Night in St Julians, Malta, on Saturday 13 October alongside those of the women’s winner of the European Athlete of the Year award, Jessica Ennis.

French athletes took second and third place for the European award, behind Farah through pole-vaulter Renaud Lavillenie and sprinter Christophe Lemaitre.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 43

Barca wary of Ronaldo in El Clasico

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eal Madrid face Barcelona in a make-or-break El Clasico tomorrow aided by a resurgent Cristiano Ronaldo but acutely aware that defeat would see them trail their bitter enemies by a massive 11 points.

Ronaldo has hit form at just the right time, netting three in the 4-1 win at Ajax in the Champions League on Wednesday, that haul coming after his hat-trick in the 5-1 La Liga rout of Deportivo La Coruna last weekend.

The last time Real and Barcelona clashed in the league last April, Ronaldo scored the decisive goal at the Camp Nou as Madrid went on to win the league.

But this season Barcelona has begun with ominous intent to reclaim their crown with six straight victories.

Perhaps the result of basking in their own triumph, Jose Mourinho’s side instead made a stuttering start with just one win from the first four games but since then they have clicked into gear and Ronaldo has looked more like his old self.

The Portuguese had looked moody and introspective; refusing to celebrate

some goals with his teammates and declaring himself unhappy but his winner against Manchester City in the Champions League last month showed his desire was back.

“I am very happy with the way we are playing and the victory against Ajax gives us all plenty of confidence while for me personally to score three is vital for my own confidence,” said Ronaldo.

Although Barca have a 100 per cent record they have had injury worries to deal with especially in defence.

And the bad news to come from their mid-week Champions League win over Benfica was that Carles Puyol will be out of action for up to two months with a dislocated elbow.

The talismanic defender was only just returning from a lengthy layoff and is now back in the treatment room along with fellow centre-half Gerard Pique, so it is likely that Javier Mascherano and Alex Song will line up in the heart of the defence on Sunday.

Elsewhere unbeaten duo Atletico Madrid and Malaga go head-to-head

FIXTURES

Ronaldo while high-flying Sevilla and Mallorca, both on 11 points, are against Celta Vigo and Granada respectively.

At the other end of the table the situation remains desperate for Espanyol who have just one point and they are now away to Valladolid while Athletic Bilbao and Osasuna immediately above them face each other.

Buoyant Arsenal visit West Ham as Chelsea aim to extend

A

Yahaya Toure

rsenal play a second successive derby in the English Premiership with a visit to West Ham today.

The Gunners’ visit to Upton Park comes exactly a week after suffering their first Premiership loss this season when leaders Chelsea beat them 2-1 at The Emirates.

Eighth placed Arsenal are two points behind West Ham, who are just above them in seventh position on nine and 11 points respectively.

Arsenal assistant coach Steve Bould said he hoped The Gunners would build on their 3-1 UEFA Champions League win over Olympiacos on Wednesday when they visit the East End this weekend.

We did great tonight, without being fantastic. We have got back on track, and we’re hoping we will get some confidence for the weekend [against West Ham] - and that will be a tough game.”

And despite losing to Chelsea, Arsenal have lost just once away in their last 11 games with six wins to show for it.

Moreover, The Gunners are unbeaten against West Ham with six wins from eight meetings while the latter is seeking its first Premiership win at Upton Park since September 1 when they beat Fulham 3-0 there.

Meanwhile, Arsenal will be without key midfielder Abou Diaby, as he is out for three weeks due to injury.

West Ham, on the other hand, are happy with the news that recent signing striker Andy Carroll is available following his recent recovery from a hamstring injury.

Meanwhile, Chelsea will face struggling

Norwich City at Stamford Bridge after their Champions League win over Nordsjaelland on Tuesday.

Norwich are without a league win and in 18th position. Manchester United, who face a tricky trip to Newcastle United on Sunday, still have a long list of injuries with defender Jonny Evans the latest casualty after suffering a dead leg in United’s 2-1 win over CFR Cluj in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Newcastle, who beat Bordeaux 3-0 in the Europa League on Thursday, should have Fabricio Coloccini back after a hip and thigh injury.

Champions Manchester City, who have looked far from impressive this season and struggled to a 1-1 draw in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund on Wednesday, put their unbeaten league record on the line against unbeaten Sunderland at the Etihad Stadium on Saturday.

City have won three and drawn three while Sunderland have won one and drawn four of their league games to date.

Tottenham Hotspur, who are unbeaten in eight games in all competitions since their opening day defeat to Newcastle, hope to include Emmanuel Adebayor in the squad for Sunday’s home match against Aston Villa with the striker fit again after a hamstring injury which has sidelined him for five weeks.

Spurs have climbed to fifth while Villa, who have just one win all season and sit in 15th, will be without midfielder Stephen Ireland, who has a broken wrist.

EPL Man City v Sunderland Chelsea v Norwich Swansea v Reading West Brom v QPR Wigan v Everton West Ham v Arsenal Sunday Southampton v Fulham Tottenham v Aston Villa Liverpool v Stoke Newcastle v Man Utd FRENCH LIGUE 1 Montpellier v Evian TG Sochaux v Rennes Lille v AC Ajaccio Bastia v Troyes Reims v Nice Toulouse v Valenciennes Sunday Brest v Bordeaux Lorient v Lyon Marseille v PSG German Bundesliga Bayern Munich v TSG Hoffenheim Schalke 04 v Wolfsburg SC Freiburg v Nurnberg Mainz v Fortuna Greuther Furth v Hamburg Sunday Borussia M'gladbach v Eintracht VfB Stuttgart v Bayer Leverkusen Hannover 96 v Borussia Dortmund ITALY SERIE A Chievo v Sampdoria Genoa v Palermo Sunday Roma v Atalanta Catania v Parma Fiorentina v Bologna Pescara v Lazio Siena v Juventus Torino v Cagliari AC Milan v Inter Milan Napoli v Udinese SPANISH PRIMERA LIGA Rayo Vallecano v Deportivo Real Zaragoza v Getafe Valladolid v Espanyol Real Betis v Real Sociedad Sunday Levante v Valencia Mallorca v Granada Athletic Bilbao v Osasuna Barcelona v Real Madrid Atletico Madrid v Malaga

Van Persie

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 44

Red Bull’s Mark Webber heads McLaren’s Lewis Hamilton in Japan yesterday practice, as Michael Schumacher crashes

P.I.C.T.O.R.I.A.L Sri Lanka’s bowlers stifle Pakistan to give the hosts a 16-run win and a place in the final of the World Twenty20

Joey Barton calls the FA’s decision to give John Terry a four-game ban for abusing Anton Ferdinand a “shambles”.

Ospreys Rugby launches an investigation after their Wales centre Andrew Bishop is convicted of assault following a night out in Cardiff.

Defending champions Esperance travel to Lubumbashi to face recent rivals TP Mazembe as the last four of Africa's biggest club competition gets underway this weekend.

Defending champion Andy Murray beats Switzerland's Stanislav Wawrinka to reach the semi-finals of the Japan Open.

Rebecca Knaak gave Anouschka Bernhard the perfect birthday present by seeing Germany into the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup semi-finals at Brazil's expense, but she was made to wait for it.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

PAGE 45

RUGBY

The rules of the game

By Augustine Aminu with reports from Wikipedia The Game rugby union game is called a ‘Match’. It is a competition between two teams. Each match lasts for 80 minutes plus time added to account for injuries and stoppages during the game.

A match consists of two halves of 40 minutes each. It is controlled by a single referee on the firld of play, two assistant referees (touch judges), and in professional matches, a match official called the video referee who can use television replays to rule on a particular incident.

The object of the entire game is that each team scores as many points as possible. The team with the greater number of points when time is over wins the match.

Scoring: Points are scored by either scoring a try or a goal.

A try is only scored when the player takes the ball across the goal line and grounds the ball. Grounding happens when the ball is on the ground and the player’s hand is on the ball. This ‘try’ is worth 5 points.

A goal is scored by kicking the ball between the uprights and above the crossbar of the goal posts. There are three ways to score a goal: 1. a dropped goal (scored in open play where the ball must hit the ground immediately before it is kicked); 2. a penalty goal (awarded after the opposing side infringes against the laws of rugby and may be kicked from a stationary ground position or by drop kick); and 3. a conversion (awarded after a try is scored) by either a drop kick or a place kick. A penalty or dropped goal is worth 3 points; a conversion is worth 2 points.

The Playing Area: The pitch must have 100 meters or less between the goalposts and an in-goal area behind each post. The length of the in-goal must be between 10 meters 22 meters.

The pitch must be less than or equal to 70 meters wide.

The goal posts are ‘H’ shaped and are placed in the middle of the goal line. The two uprights are placed exactly 5.6 metres apart and the crossbar that links them is 3 meters above the ground.

Playing the game: The team currently with the ball (called ‘having possession’) moves the ball up the field toward his opponent’s goal line or to try for a dropped goal.

These are the only two ways a team can score in ‘open play’.

In moving the ball up the field, the team with possession meets with the defending team who wish to 1. stop their opponent’s progress; or 2. take control of the ball (A ‘turn over’) 3. attack the other goal This process is repeated until •Someone violates the Laws of the game – a foul; •the ball moves off the field of play – into touch; or a •try or goal is scored.

Ball Travel: The team in possession may choose to advance by kicking the ball forward. The ball may be passed from one player’s hand to another as long as the ball does not travel forwards in the pass. Rugby union is one of the few ball games where the ball cannot be passed forwards.

Offside: Any player who is part of the attacking team must be behind the ball to take an active part in the game.

A player taking up a position between the ball carrier and the opposition goal is offside and may not join the game or interfere with play.

Tackling: The defending team who wants to take possession will tackle the ball carrier to stop him and make him release the ball. A tackle consists of grabbing hold of the opposing player and bringing them to ground.

A tackled player must either pass or release the ball otherwise a foul is called. Releasing the ball allows the opposition to contest possession of the loose ball in open play. Play continues like this until a rule is broken or the ball goes out of play.

Line Out: If the ball goes into touch it is thrown back into play. This may be taken quickly from one player to a member of his own team. More usual is the ‘line-out‘; here,

A

both teams line up in equal numbers, one metre apart and contest a ball thrown between them.

Restarts: If the game stops because a rule has been broken, play restarts with either •a scrum, •free kick or •penalty kick The decision whether to award a Penalty Kick or a Free kick rests with the refereeing team and is dependent on the nature and severity of the infringement. A penalty is a more severe award than a free kick Kicking for Goal: The attacking team may score by kicking the ball between the posts and above the crossbar. When attempting to kick for goal the ball may only be kicked from the ground: In the case of a place such as a penalty kick the ball can sit in a small plastic cradle or pile of sand. From open play, the player drops the ball to the ground and kicks it

– this takes skill and timing.

A successful kick at goal is worth three points.

Scoring a Try: The most prized and most valuable scoring method is a ‘try’ attained by grounding the ball in the in-goal area behind the goal line. This is worth five points.

Conversion: After scoring a try, the attacking team are awarded the opportunity to have a free kick at the goal. This is called a conversion The conversion kick is taken from a point between the two sets of posts directly in line with where the ball touched the ground for the try. The ball may be any distance away from the posts as long as it is along that line.

Kicking the ball between the two upright posts makes a ‘converted try’ and brings an additional two points

PAGE 46

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

City Life

With Stanley Onyekwere 08138559513

Model City Gate Bridge: Where trading thrives at night C

By Evelyn Yankyaa

onsidered by many to be one of the fastest growing city and the most beautiful in Africa, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, of Nigeria, is also the pride of the most populous black nation.

Night life in the nation's capital Abuja was once described to be dull and uninteresting. But years down the line, the story has taken a dramatic twist. Today, night life has blossomed as many residents now go out at night and you could say Abuja is gradually becoming like every other big commercial city in Nigeria.

The saying: "One man's food is another man's poison", would be relevant here. This is because Night markets or night bazaars in form of street markets, which mainly operate at nights, have become the order of the day.

Earlier in the day empty spaces along the street would be noticed but they get transformed into high trading hubs at night. From local food vendors offering sizzling delicacies, beef sellers, and other conceivable sundry commodities, Abuja's suburbs and city centers are bustling with not only night trading but other nefarious activities. One of such places is located at the entrance of the Model city gate in Galadima, near Gwarimpa estate along Kubwa expressway.

Conversely, going by the trend of events at this particular part of the FCT, the big inscription "PLEASE KEEP ABUJA CLEAN" on the Abuja model city gate overhead bridge, visibly designed in green and white colour, appears to be ignored by the people who have fallen in love with the new haven for buying and selling activities of divergent categories.

Of course aside from becoming a hub for trading activities, in the same vein, it has become notorious for robbery and criminal activities usually associated with such places. This is not unconnected to the high vehicular and human traffic, especially at night when people tend to mind their businesses.

Also, another threatening feature of the night market is the habits of some traders displaying their wares on top of the overhead bridge meant for pedestrian crossing from one side of the expressway to the other. Thereby, turning the bridge into a trade zone where people can buy what they want.

On top of the bridge where the trading takes place there is a lot of human traffic, those buying make the place uncomfortable for those individuals that are just crossing the bridge at that

particular time.

Here, different items are being sold, like cosmetics, shoes, cloths, books fruits, snacks, toiletries, food seasonings etc.

This aspect poses a threat to both traders and their customers including passersby and residents of the area.

Notwithstanding the fact that some of the street trading has turned the place to a place for people with criminal tendencies, it offers some sought of relief for those who genuinely patronize the place for one thing or the other on a regular basis.

According to one Mr. Adewale Ogunmola, a civil servant, he said " I love the night activities because it saves me the stress after a hard day in the office", so he would stop over at the place to buy what he wanted before going home.

On his part, Pauline Adejo, a student of College of Education, Zuba who was seen trying out a second hand cloth(otherwise known as Okirika) at the Okirika spot of the market, she revealed that she was a regular visitor at the night market.

"I like buying things here because most times I don't really plan to buy anything but as I'm passing, something might just catch my attention and I would end up making a purchase because the prices are cheap."

A trader, Ibrahim Isah, said "80 percent of the people who make use of the bridge every evening always stopped to get something for themselves before reaching to the top of the bridge.

The traders having observed their movements, during the

early hours of the day would go to the different markets for the purpose of getting more goods from the wholesalers in order to get busy at night to sell to customers making their way home.

However, investigations showed a dangerous trend. The traders have turned the place into a refuse dump, owing to the habit of people who, after buying and consuming prepared foods throw away wraps, polythene bags etc.

And this keeps increasing dirts in the place thereby making the bridge look untidy.

Commenting, one Mrs. Lola Ademoju, an indigene of Lagos state, who spoke in pidgin English, said "ah this won na small tin ooh, because if you come my place for Lagos you go see wetin pass dis one three times."

She went further to say that Lagos is a very big city where everybody wants to make it: "Lagos is a happening place and people go come from far places to buy something and mostly the trading de start in the early morning up till night".

While the marketers are having a field day, most of the people who use the bridge say it's dangerous to trade on the bridge.

Philip Anula said, "There could be danger of falling objects from the bridge on moving vehicles below".

Another serious trend is the increasing pick pockets, because of the slow human traffic on the bridge, there are lots of pick pockets.

"The government will have to provide adequate facilities to accommodate these traders. The cost of rent should be looked into",

Anula said.

For Mary Ogochukwu, a trader, what pushes herself to resort to night trading on the bridge; it was the high cost of renting shops that is responsible for her involvement. She said: "Abuja is too expensive and all of us you see here are small scale marketers. I don't think all of us here have up to N300,000 as our initial capital and you want us to take a shop of N400, 000 to N500,000 in some cases N1m?."

While the trading in Galadima and other parts of Abuja are booming in the night, it is a taboo in other places to trade in the night.

Just as the coin has got two sides so is the issue of trading in the night in some other places, according to Mr. Omera Opaluwa, an indigene of Kogi state, who resides in the area, he said night market in his place is not allowed as it is a restricted activity.

In his words: "Night market in my place is regarded as a taboo because as from 6pm the market is known to have closed, anybody found trading after that time is liable to punishment according to the customs and law of the land; it is believed that night market are done by the evil people and those that indulge in night trading are considered as those with evil intentions."

Perhaps, it is high time residents in the FCT, including constituted authorities to accept the reality of night sales as it may have come to stay, hence, the need for the provision of infrastructures to sanitise the activities.

Got interesting stories about life or happenings in your neighbourhood? Contact CityLife, and let others read about them. Send suggestions/comments with your names and phone numbers via mycitybeat2pml@gmail.com.

CITY BRIEF: Mechanic jailed 1 month for cheating A mechanic, Ahmed Adamu, 28, was on Thursday sentenced to one month imprisonment with an option of N2,000 fine by a Karu Senior Magistrates' Court in Abuja, for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The Prosecutor, Cpl. Francis Udofia, told the court that one Alhaji Ibrahim, reported at the Karu Police Station that he entrusted N42,000 to the accused to rent a one-room apartment for him at Angwan Hausa, Karu.

Udofia said the accused dishonestly converted the money to his personal use and when the complainant asked him for the rented apartment, he could not give a satisfactory reason for not renting the apartment.

He said that Adamu was not ready to refund the money given to him, explaining that the offence was punishable under sections 312 and 320 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded guilty to the charge and asked the court to allow him pay five thousand naira every month pending when he would redeem his promise. ‘’I had the intention of paying him the money so that this case would not reach court but I have some family problems but if the court would grant my request, I promise to pay the money all within four months."

The Senior Magistrate, Chinyere Nwecheonwu, turned down the accused's plea and sentenced him to one month imprisonment and a compensation of N42, 000 to the nominal complainant within two weeks. ‘’You do not expect the complainant to sleep under the bridge, knowing how difficult life could be in Abuja . He gave you the money out of trust and based on your relationship, why did you choose to pay him back in this way.''

She appealed to the accused's relatives to help him pay the money while he served his jail term.

CITY QUOTE I have an affection for a great city.

I feel safe in the neighbourhood of man, and enjoy the sweet security of the streets.

—Henry Wadsworth Longfellow Any city however small, is in fact divided into two, one the city of the poor, the other of the rich.

These are at war with one another.

—Plato

From the Pulpit PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Don't lose your crown

T

he Christian race is a race to be run with endurance. Heb 12:1 says, "And let us run with endurance the race that God has set before us." (NLT) In Phil 3:14, Paul says, "I strain to reach the end of the race and receive the prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us up to heaven."

(NLT) To strain means to struggle, labour, strive, make great effort, try hard, exert yourself. That is why you need endurance, perseverance. Every race that athletes participate in always requires endurance, perseverance especially long distance races. You must approach the Christian race with this mind-set too. It is not a 100-Meters dash. No. It is a marathon.

God is the one who sets the race everyone is to run. He knows what race He has set before you. So you are to know and run the race He has set before you.

As we have seen, Paul said in Phil 3:14 that he was straining to reach the end of the race and receive the prize. But in 2 Tim 4:7 Paul said, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith." (KJV) The word "course" there is rendered "race" in some Bible translations. Paul said he had finished his own race or course. He ran his own race; he didn't run other persons' races.

Face your own race; don't engage in competition or comparison. Your Christian race is your entire Christian walk and work after being born again.

You may jog for pleasure but you hardly will run in a race for pleasure.

What motivates an athlete to run in a race is the prize to be won. Crown is what Apostle Paul calls the wreath of leaves awarded the winner of an athletic competition in the Grecian games. "And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it Ephesians 6:16,17; Mark 9:23; Matthew 17:20

F

a i t h is an indispensable attribute of saints of old.

Hebrews chapter 11 captures their actions and exploits of faith. The Scripture teaches that though people may have different callings, commissions, responsibilities, the common thread that binds them is faith.

Their exploits, endurance and courage in the face of trials are all by faith. Among these saints of old are patriarchs, princes, prophets and common people – men and women – some with legitimate or illegitimate birth.

Irrespective of status, it is faith that enlists the believer among saints who possessed faith that never fails. With faith, the Christian is able to face any challenge, fulfil his commission, achieve his goal and realize his dreams.

To be able to overcome obstacles, the believer is required to put on the whole armour of God. But without faith, the armour is incomplete and will not work effectively. With it, the believer “shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked”. Some people suffer long in their predicaments because they accept that it is impossible to overcome all their problems; they are not sure it is the will of God for them to receive divine intervention; and they think that God predestined them to such fate. But Jesus says unbelief is the cause. “If thou canst believe, all things are possible to him that believeth.” Unbelief, not lack of resourcefulness, connection or knowhow, is the reason many believers have big dreams, goals and aspirations without accomplishment. When

to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown" (1 Cor 9:25 NKJV). There is a prize for the Christian race too. The prize is superior to the earthly prize. The crown given to a winner of an athletic competition is perishable but the crown in the Christian race is imperishable - it doesn't fade. "All athletes practice strict selfcontrol. They do it to win a prize that will fade away, but we do it for an eternal prize" (1 Cor 9:25 NLT). The Christian prize is eternal, not earthly prizes that lose value over time.

In the Book of Revelation, Jesus Christ is shown as wearing many crowns depicting him as King. "His eyes were like a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns. He had a name written that no one knew except Himself"(Rev 19:12 NKJV).

Jesus said, "Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown" (Rev 3:1112 NKJV). That scripture shows that someone can miss his crown. Also, the singular word "crown" is used in that scripture but the Bible talks of more than one crown that Christians will receive as reward for their Christian race. These crowns are not gifts - they are rewards.

They are the future inheritance of Christians but you must meet the conditions to receive them. I want to talk briefly on these crowns and what to do to win each. My prayer is that you will not miss your crown in Jesus' name.

-The crown of righteousness. 2 Tim 4:7-8 says, "I have fought a good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. And now the prize awaits me - the crown of righteousness that the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on that great day of his return.

And the prize is not just for me but for

all who eagerly look forward to his glorious return." (NLT) To win this crown, a Christian must not only fight a good fight and finish his race but must also remain faithful. To win this crown, you must have loved the appearing of the Lord; you must have lived expectant of his glorious return. Will you fight the good fight, finish your race and remain faithful to the end? Do you love the appearing of the Lord? Are you expecting his glorious return?

-The crown of life. James 1:13 says, "Blessed is the man who endures temptation; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him." (NKJV) This crown is for those who endured temptations and lived a life approved of God. It is a crown that the Lord will give to Christians who loved him even to the point of death; those who didn't deny him because of the fear of being killed. "Do not fear any of those things which you are about to suffer. Indeed, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and you will have tribulation ten days. Be faithful until death, and I will give you the crown of life" (Rev 2:10 NKJV). Do you love Jesus? Or are you afraid of persecution and therefore deny him? Are you qualified for this crown?

Remember it's a reward, and not a gift.

-The crown of glory. This crown is for pastors and Christian leaders who led the people under them willingly and not by compulsion; those who served not for what they would get out of it, but because they were eager to serve God; those who didn't lord it over the people assigned to their care, but led them by their good example. "The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of

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GREEN PASTURES

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away" (1 Peter 5:1-4 NKJV). As a Christian leader, how are you leading the people God has put under your care? Are you doing it willingly or grudgingly? Are you doing it because of the salary, allowance and perquisites of office? Or maybe you're doing it in order to make a name for yourself. God already knows if you're doing what will qualify you for this crown or not. There's still time to repent.

Conclusion: You should value and cherish the crowns God has reserved for Christians above whatever award this world offers - the crowns of this world areperishable.Ihave said,theBibledoes not leave us in doubt that it is possible for believers to lose their crowns. (Rev 3:11) Paul was very much conscious of this. He understoodthattheLordwouldgivehim crown of reward because of the people he ministered to. That is why he called theThessalonianshisrewardandcrown.

"After all, what gives us hope and joy, and what is our proud reward and crown? It is you! Yes, you will bring us much joy as we stand together before our Lord Jesus

when he comes back again. For you are ourprideandjoy"(1Thess2:19-20NLT).

Paul said a similar thing in Phil 4:1, "Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved" (NKJV). Your Christian walk and your work will determine the crowns you shall obtain from the Lord. Therefore hold on to what you have, so that no one takes away your crown.

I believe God has already spoken to your heart. Be a doer of the Word and not a reader alone.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God" Ibelieveyouhavesaidthisprayerfrom yourheart.Congratulations!Youwillneed to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus.Ipraythatyouflourishlikethepalm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.

Possessing the faith that never fails unbelief gives way to faith, the believer begins to succeed where he previously failed. While churches now point to the need to discover causes, and science teaches discovery of solution through research, and prophets foresee the unreal, the Lord commands believers to speak to their mountains by faith. If you believe and obey, “...nothing shall be impossible unto you.”

1. THE FAITH THAT COMES

BY THE WORD Romans 10:17; Acts 12:24; 2 Samuel 7:25; Luke 5:5,6; Ezekiel 12:25,28.

“So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.” Faith in God and His power does not come by listening to words that cause fear, suspicion and hatred in the heart. The Scripture reveals that it is listening to and hearing God’s word that builds faith. The faith of Abraham, Moses, Joshua, Elijah, David and other saints grew and they were able to do mighty exploits through the word of God they heard. Faith that never fails grows in the believer who commits himself to hear the word of God daily.

To have faith implanted and growing in your heart, you must read, hear, believe, study, meditate on the word; you must obey, preach and multiply the word; and you must pray through and act on the word. Thus, a net-breaking breakthrough comes through acting on the unfailing word of God. “For I am the LORD: I will speak, and the word that I shall speak shall come to pass; it shall be no more

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi prolonged... There shall none of my words be prolonged any more, but the word which I have spoken shall be done, saith the Lord GOD” (Ezekiel 12:25,28).

The word of God does not depend on feeling, talent, ability, experience, or knowledge of anyone to be fulfilled. And Satan cannot hinder God from fulfilling His word in the life of the faith-filled believer.

2. THE FAITH THAT CONQUERS THE WORLD 1 John 5:4; 4:4; 2:13,14; Revelation 12:11.

To be able to go through life successfully, every believer needs to possess the faith that conquers the world and everything in it. “For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.” Fear to face challenges in any believer is as a result of ignorance of the power and personality of Christ in him. As a

believer, you must believe and constantly affirm God’s word that, “greater is he that is in [me], than he that is in the world” (1 John 4:4). Satan and sinners in the world cannot overcome the believer who has Christ in him. Moses ran from Egypt because he believed that Pharaoh was greater than his God. After his encounter with God and his faith in His might grew, he confronted the king of Egypt and set the Israelites free from bondage. If you are a believer, you are not weak: “ye are strong, and the word of God abideth in you, and ye have overcome the wicked one” (1 John 2:14). With faith in the power of the indwelling Christ and His word, you will continue to overcome the world.

3. THE FAITH THAT CONTINUES HIS WORKS Acts 1:1; John 5:17,19;14:12.

God expects believers to continue the works of Christ by faith. What Christ

has done is what the believer is to continue to do. Through the great commission, we are to carry on with the signs and wonders, miracles, soulwinning, manifestation of the gifts of the Spirit and “all that Jesus began both to do and teach”. He completed and perfected the work of our redemption without any part left for human contribution. But He did not complete the work of soul-winning, teaching, healing and deliverance. Christ Himself incarnated to continue the work of the Father. “But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work.”

To succeed, the believer must follow Christ’s pattern. “Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise” (John 5:17,19). Now, Christ commands the believer to also do the works He left uncompleted. To be able to continue Christ’s works, the believer needs to believe, internalize and personalize His words, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me, the works that I do shall he do also; and greater works than these shall he do; because I go unto my Father.” The believer is able to continue Christ’s works and do exploits like Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, Sarah, Ruth, Jephthah, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, Abednego, Elijah, Elisha, Stephen, Philip, Paul, Peter, with the possession of the faith that never fails.

BIG PUNCH “I don’t share Achebe’s view that Awolowo did all he did for personal political aggrandisement. It was all in the process of keeping Nigeria one. What he and General Gowon did was in the process of preserving the integrity of Nigeria .”

—Senator Biyi Durojaiye reacting to Chinua Achebe's rant where he took Awolowo and General Gowon to the cleaners for an alleged attempt to exterminate his people in the civil war.

SATURDAY 6 — SUNDAY 7, OCTOBER, 2012

Blueprint on Northern Economy (1) Prof Aminu S. Mikail et al Note: This blueprint is the outcome of one of the key recommendations of the First Islamic Summit held in June 2009 at Kano, organized by the Muslim Centre for Research and Planning, Zaria. The blueprint examines the sort of issues that would need to be considered by policy makers and top government functionaries in any attempt aimed to develop the economic potentials of the Northern Region of Nigeria and, by extension, the bulk of the country's Muslim ummah.

Overall, the blueprint has analyzed and proffered numerous workable recommendations for policy and decision making on five key issues with profound economic implications: agriculture; industrial development; solid mineral exploitation; micro-finance; and hajj saving scheme. Detailed SWOT analyses and measurable action points on each of these five areas were developed with focus on the following vision: Emergence of a Northern Nigeria, and by extension, a Muslim Ummah," in which food and nutritional security is not only assured for the ever growing population, but with the hope that the contribution of agriculture to Nigeria's GDP would increase by 25% in the next ten years.

Emergence of a favorable investment climate that will make the Northern" Region to be the most industrialized in the country by the year 2020.

Emergence of a self reliant and prosperous Northern Region through the" exploitation of its numerous mineral resources; adoption and development of viable micro-finance institutions; and inauguration of a workable hajj saving scheme.

Finally, we express our deep gratitude for the opportunity given to us and the wealth of contributions, input and suggestions from all involved towards the development of this blueprint for Muslim economy.

The authors are: Prof Aminu S Mikail , Prof Idris M Bugaje, Prof Ahmad M Falaki, Dr Sanusi A Muhammad, Alhaji Lawal Ibrahim Kankia, Dr Sulaiman A Karwai, Dr Ahmad Bello Dogarawa.

AGRICULTURE SITUATION ANALYSIS Agriculture has been the backbone of Northern Nigerian

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economy with more than 70% of the working adult population employed in the agricultural sector directly and indirectly; 60% of which are peasants, dwelling in the rural areas.

These peasant farmers produce over 90% of Nigeria's agricultural output and it is the only area of the region's comparative advantage in the country; in the production of annual crops, such as cowpea, groundnut, maize, millet, rice, sorghum, cassava, cotton and perennial crops with proven existing technologies for increasing production and productivity in a diversified agriculture under rainfed conditions. The comparative advantage is as a result of the region's varied ecology, which range from Southern Guinea Savanna in the southern end to drier Sahel in the extreme North, covering an area of about 731,340 sq km of good agricultural land and grassland.

The region comprises of all the Central, North-Western, and North Eastern zones of the Nigeria.

Estimated land use pattern comprises 60,840 sq km of woodland, 275,775 sq km of grassland, 302,340sq km of agricultural land and 78,815sq km of others. The estimated population of Northern Nigeria based on 2006 census is about 80million.

This scenario, where a region has the potentials for not only agricultural development, but the capacity to form the nucleus of agricultural industrial base of Nigeria, is being paralyzed by low productivity, high inefficiencies, and extreme poverty levels should be unacceptable to every Northerner, but most especially to the political, religious, academic, and business leaders of the region. Despite Allah's (SWT) endowment of the region with these rich agricultural resource potentials, the sector has been growing at a very slow pace.

This may not be unconnected with the fact that vast majority of farmers in this region of the country have limited access to modern inputs and other productive resources, and are unlikely to have access to pesticides, fertilizers, improved seeds and irrigation without some form of public and private

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sector intervention.

The North's livestock population is put at about 14million cattle, 22million sheep and 34million goats, 104million poultry, 0.9million camels, 1million donkeys, and 0.2million horses. More than 90% of Nigeria's total ruminant livestock (cattle, sheep, and goats) which constitute the major source of animal protein for human consumption are under management of the traditional extensive Fulani transhumance and mixed farming systems in the Northern part of this country; a system that is less efficient in enhancing productivity of the livestock.

Less than 1% of the national herd is under improved management system. The poultry industry which hitherto is considered a commercial venture, only about 11% of the birds is commercially managed. The fishery resources in the North are from the inland water sources (rivers, lakes and reservoirs); rich in diverse species, but relatively untapped

using improved methods of fish husbandry. The need to upgrade the entire livestock breeds to improve their productivity is a recognized fact. This calls for sedentrization of the nomadic pastoralists, whose age long method of production is now seriously curtailed by population pressure and continuous expansion of cropland that have led to loss of grazing land and stock routes; consequently, feed availability for the stock.

The genetic pools require improvement through a programme of artificial insemination, cross breeding with exotic breeds and provision of improved quality pasture.

Poultry and fish production have fast turnover and accommodate gender production systems that can provide income and employment opportunities, therefore, an aggressive development campaign for commercialization of these agricultural production systems

requires urgent attention so that the region protein nutritional needs are met in a short time. A comprehensive animal health management programme to cater for economically important livestock diseases that are endemic need to be developed to curtail losses of animals and economic wellbeing of the region and the nation in general.

Livestock and fishery farmers are largely illiterate and not organized, thus in the existing free market such farmers are left to the mercy of collusive exploitation by middlemen and speculators. Where semblance farmer organizations exist, they are not effective in protecting their members' interest within the industry.

Thus, governmental and organized private sector intervention to support and motivate farmers to take advantage of organized marketing in this sub-sector is necessary.

In conclusion, it is worthy to note that the various challenges facing agriculture in Northern Nigeria are well-known, researched and documented through numerous sectoral and sub-sectoral studies and surveys.

Opportunities for development have been identified and recommended. But the questions begging for answers are: Has anything been done? Who did it?

Where was it done?

When was it accomplished?

And how was it carried out? If actions have been taken, how effective have they been in mitigating the stated constraints?

Therefore, like other previous work e.g. The Turaki Committee, an attempt is hereby made to, once again, highlight and re-affirm the need to collectively act in order to salvage Northern Nigeria from the economic paralysis and ridicule its hard working people found themselves. No matter how difficult, the political, economic, business and religious resolve have to be found to implement growth enhancing programmes and initiatives, otherwise our survival as a people, as a ommunity, and as a society of a proud Islamic belief and tradition should not be freely taken for granted.

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