Peoples Daily Newspaper, Wednesday March 7, 2012

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PAGE 19

Vol. 7 No. 89

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Rabiul Thani 14, 1433 AH

N150

INSIDE

Nigeria in tit-for-tat with South Africa >>PAGE 2

Benin monarch ‘chases’ PDP from palace

NNPC blames customs for fuel scarcity

>>PAGE 3

2 killed in Jos attack

>>PAGE 3

>>PAGE 3

Kogi Assembly Speaker escapes impeachment >>PAGE 7

Boko Haram

Jonathan lacks political will – CAN

By Abubakar Ibrahim

I

n outbursts typical of him especially after the Christmas day bomb blasts, President of

the Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Pastor Ayo Oritsejafor yesterday accused the Federal Government of stalling and pampering members of the

Boko Haram sect.

Orisejafor said the development, amongst others, has given bite to conclusions that the Federal Government has

failed to confront the Boko Haram insurgency.

Speaking at the National Christian Centre, Abuja on the State of the Nation, the CAN boss

further alleged a lukewarm approach to the Boko Haram issue by government and said the purpose was to exterminate Contd on Page 2

Police corporal goes berserk, kills Inspector, self From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

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R-L: Former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, presenting a birthday card to former President Olusegun Obasanjo, during Obasanjo's 75th birthday celebration, at the Civic Centre on Monday in Lagos.

police corporal serving under the Lala Division of Gombi local government area in Adamawa state late Monday, opened fire on two of his colleagues on duty with his rifle and later turned the gun against himself.

Confirming the incident to journalists in his office yesterday, the Commissioner of Police, Adamawa state command, Mr. Adenrele Shinaba identified the killer cop as Ishaku Nuhu (A station guard) while his victims are Chokita Inchi (Corporal) and an unnamed Inspector who was until his death the Charge Room Officer of the station.

“Policemen were on duty and everything was going on fine when a station guard just brought out a rifle and shot the CRO twice and a fellow corporal equally on duty for no just cause; then he turned the rifle against himself and shot four times-unfortunately the CRO died”, Shinaba explained.

He however disclosed that the second corporal survived the attack

WWW.PEOPLESDAILY-ONLINE.COM

Contd on Page 2

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

CONTENTS

Nigeria, S/A row: NASS backs FG’s tit-for-tat measures

News

By Richard Ihediwa, Lawrence Olaoye, Ali Alkali & Aisha Biola Raji

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-17

Business

19-22

S/Exchange

23

S/Report

24

Motoring

26

Newsxtra

27

Arts

29

T

he diplomatic row between Nigeria and South Africa over the deportation of 128 Nigerians has worsened with senators calling for the closure of all South African owned companies in Nigeria.

This is just as the Federal Government has deported about 28 South Africans on Monday said to be in possession of fake immigration papers.

Also, the Federal Government has indicated readiness to apply all immigration rules on all South Africans staying in the country.

Members of the Senator Committee on Foreign Affairs, at a meeting with the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, yesterday, frowned at the deportation of Nigerians from South Africa for allegedly being in possession of fake yellow cards, saying such was inhuman and unacceptable considering the brotherliness Nigeria has continued to show that country.

Angered by the action of that country, the lawmakers asked the Federal Government to consider immediate closure of Nigeria’s embassy in South-Africa.

The lawmakers also canvassed the closure of all South African owned companies in Nigeria as

reciprocity to the inhuman treatment given to Nigerians by the country over the years.

Chairman of the committee, Senator Mathew Nwagwu, said that Nigeria as a country was conscious of all the things South Africa was doing to her nationals, adding that the recent deportation was the height of inhuman treatments and insult to Nigerians.

He said that senate, as an institution, would support the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in whatever action it may deem fit to take to pay back the people of South Africa.

Speaking at the meeting, the Foreign Affairs Minister, Amb. Ashiru, who confirmed the deportation of the 28 South Africans, said that was one out of the many diplomatic measures already listed by the Federal Government.

He said, “For every ten Nigerians deported, we are going to take reciprocal action. We have already deported 28 on Monday.

“We want to make it clear to South Africa and all other countries that they should not take Nigeria’s maturity and the friendliness of our people towards other people for granted. They must also not take for granted the very friendly environment we have here whereby foreign companies do come here, including South African companies, and

made huge profits, bigger than what they could make in South Africa, and treat Nigerians the way they did.

This is unacceptable.”

The minister told the senators that the Federal Government had listed some conditions for the South Africa to meet for amicable resolution of the diplomatic row, adding that the recent experience was not the first time that country unleashed inhuman treatment on Nigerians.

According to the minister ‘this is not the first time South Africa is unleashing this inhuman treatment to Nigerians and I call it assault on Nigerians and we will not let it go.”

He noted that most South African owned companies operating in Nigerians do not comply with the expatriate quota, adding that the time to enforce the laws has come.

“The law requires the companies to return the management of the companies to Nigerians and send back the expatriates after two years.

We are going to look at all these and we are discussing with the ministry of interior to enforce strict compliance of all immigration laws and practices to all nationals of South Africa.

“The South African companies are here in Nigeria making so much money, bringing in half baked graduates as expatriates to manage these companies. We will look at all these”, he said.

Earlier in the day, the minister also appeared before the House of

Representatives Committee on Foreign Affairs chaired by Rep Nnenna Ukeje where he assured the lawmakers that Nigeria had protested to the South African government. “We have opened discussion with them; we are going to demand for apology from South Africa and insist that officials on duty must be punished.”

Equally, the Minister of Health, Prof. C.O. Onyebuchi Chukwu has kicked against the deportation, saying, yellow fever disease is not prevalent in Nigeria.

The Minister, at a press briefing yesterday in Abuja, said there has not been any case of yellow fever in a long time or any report of fake yellow card.

“The last confirmed case of the epidemic was in 1995 with 25 cases, with one person dead,” he said.

Wondering over the South African government’s declaration of the Nigerians’ yellow cards as fake, he explained that only three diseases; smallpox, cholera and yellow fever required yellow cards out of which only yellow fever required vaccine. Small pox, he said, has gone extinct while cholera could be prevented with improvement in hygiene.

He said ICVP which last for a period of 10 years was only valid if vaccine used has been approved by World Health Organisation (WHO).

Jonathan lacks political will – CAN I want Nigeria divided, says Jigawa CPC governorship candidate, Page 40

International 31-34 Strange World 35 Digest

36

Politics

37-40

Sports

41-47

Columnist

48

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

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Contd from Page 1 Christians from Nigeria. “It is being done according to their plans. We refuse to believe that this is a clash of interest and mode of worship.”

He warned the Federal Government, the Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), leading political figures in Nigeria and other stakeholders about the consequences of the latest threat by Boko Haram, saying “government has failed to confront the nature of the threat Nigerians are dealing with.

“What we have so far witnessed in the few months of the first threat is enough for CAN to warn that if so-called Boko Haram makes good its latest threat, Nigeria may never be the one and united country that we know. Our concern is not just about the terrorist methods, but their views.

“Our concern is also not just their barbaric acts, but their barbaric ideas. This is why we call on majority peaceful Muslims to rise up against the so-called Boko

Haram in their midst as a demonstration of their love for One Nigeria.

“To the Federal Government, we say the time for action is now.

Stop the foot dragging and pampering of the sect members.

This is the hour for courage. These bombings and killings of innocent Nigerians may be termed senseless. But it is not without sense for the so-called Boko Haram sect.

“The implications of an insecure nation need not be overemphasised. But the death toll arising from the activities of the Boko Haram sect coupled with what is becoming a routine threat to the lives of Christians has compounded the security challenges facing Nigeria. This is not, however a problem for Christians alone. And what is at stake is the need for Christians in Nigeria to be free to practise their religion wherever they are. This should be a struggle by all Nigerians who believe in the Nigerian project, progress, pluralism, tolerance and freedom of worship”, he said.

One of the solutions, he said

was for all the nationalities to discuss as “God always want us to live together, we do not wish for a divided Nigeria, we are praying and trusting that Nigeria will remain one. We may wish for one thing and get another.”

Orisejafor also accused the security agencies of not doing enough to tackle the Boko Haram insurgency.

“We do not think what the security agents are doing is adequate. It does not meet the kind of challenge we are facing from these criminals (Boko Haram). And there are many reasons why, I think one of the reasons could be that they don’t have enough personnel. Because they do not have enough people, they do not have enough means of gathering intelligence. In the world of today, it does not necessarily mean how many guns and bullets that you have but how much intelligence and information you can gather.

“They need to be able to do that and I think this is also an issue and lot of these security agencies have been polarised

along religious likes. There are people who ought to be fighting for Nigerian but they are fighting for religion. There are people who are withholding information who ought to give information and are not giving it because they believe they are protecting religion. There are people who are doing all kind of strange things. All these problems are there”, he said.

He denied allegations that Christians disguise to attack Churches, saying: “I do not see this as a place to join issues with people.

We want to rise above all that. It is very interesting to note at this time that most of the bombings that have happened, those who did it have come out to claim responsibility. Which of these bombings so far have been done

by Christians? We know those who did it. We are pulling some things too much and that may create tension and unnecessary misunderstanding among different communities. I think that is what some of these people will want. That is not the way to go because it is not true.”

Police corporal goes berserk, kills Inspector, self Contd from Page 1 adding that surgeries have already been conducted on him.

“So at the moment nobody knows what prompted that kind of action, for one to just go berserk and start shooting his colleagues;

but we hope by the time the injured corporal recuperates, he would give us a vivid account of what happened”, the CP said.

Similarly, the CP said unknown gunmen had also stormed the Jimeta Divisional

Police station in a Toyota car at about 12:40am shooting sporadically, but according to him, “the boys responded positively which made them to flee the scene; on our part we recorded no casualties but we

cannot speak for them.”

He assured that the Police was vigilant and alert just as he urged members of the public to always report the presence of suspicious characters to the police for appropriate action.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 3

Don’t turn my palace to campaign ground, Benin monarch warns PDP From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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enin monarch, Oba Erediauwa has warned the leadership of Edo state chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) that: “I will not allow you to use my palace as a soap box….I started watching you on television. I will continue watching you on television”.

The Oba gave the warning

when the state chairman of the PDP, Chief Dan Orbih and others were at the palace to present the PDP governorship candidate, Major Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) and seek the endorsement of His Majesty as they kicked off their campaigns ahead of the July 14th governorship election.

Chief Orbih told Oba Erediauwa that the PDP dug deep

to pick someone whmo he said ‘can provide services for the people’.

But he also berated the alleged non performance of the ruling party for the rising taxation policy and decay in Edo Line Transport Company, amongst others.

According to Orbih, “We find him dependable. He has respect for our elders, tradition and a burning passion to serve. We are concerned

about the high taxation and demolition of houses. This is not the dream of our state.”

Downcast Airhiavbere who could only mutter a word, said Edo state needs rapid development for a change and requested for royal blessing.

Meanwhile, some youths engaged in a free-for-all over funds provided for mobilisation and a palace chief was injured during the

Gunmen kill 2 in Plateau

L-R: Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olugbenga Ashiru, members, House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Hon. Yakubu Balogun, Hon. Ibrahim Gusau, and Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Nnena Ukeje, during a meeting with the minister on the recent deportation of Nigerians from South Africa, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Nankpah Bwakan and Bayo Alabira, Jos

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NNPC blames Customs for fuel scarcity

By Mohammed Nasir

A

ctivities of the Nigeria Customs Service and the Nigerian Navy at the ports are responsible for the recent shortfall in fuel supply in the country, an official of NNPC has said.

Dr. Levi Ajuonuma, the NNPC Group General Manager (Public Affairs), disclosed this yesterday in Abuja in an interview with newsmen.

He explained that some

T

he Federal Government may be angling to tighten its media policy through a new guideline that may see greater scrutiny of web news publishing which has proliferated throughout the country.

Worst hit might be the streaming of news visuals on the web, which the National Broadcasting Commission (NBC), insists its approval must first be obtained for.

Already, the commission has denounced an operator’s “unilateral” streaming of such signals on the internet, the second time in two months it will issue a major rebuke of live coverage and reportage of events on the

brawl.

Reacting to a purported failed endorsement of the candidate, the PDP chairman, Dan Orbih, said: “For us as a party we do not seek endorsement from the various traditional institutions.

What was done for today is a Royal blessings and we got more than enough. It’s very clear that there is nothing that‘ll stops us…”

products-laden vessels had been detained at the Apapa port for three weeks by the Customs and the Navy, thereby causing a hitch in the product supply system.

“We are still importing petroleum products, but the challenge right now is that a number of the vessels bringing products have been detained by the customs and the navy so they could not discharge.

“The most worrisome aspect of this development is that they are detained at the berthing point such

that other vessels with petroleum products are deprived from berthing and discharging”, he said.

He, however, explained that one of the ships detained by customs was alleged to have contravened the rule three years ago when it brought petroleum products into the country without a temporary import permit.

He said though the corporation was not against the Customs and the Navy’s checks, their activities

should not impede the discharge of the products.

“We are not saying that they should not detain vessels that contravene our laws, what we are saying is that they should not arrest and detain the vessels at the berthing or discharging point”, he said.

He also said the NNPC and its subsidiary, Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), were meeting with the relevant agencies in resolving the issues as soon as possible.

FG moves to block Internet streaming television or internet.

In a recent letter that offers an insight into what may after all become the government’s new position, the commission ordered the Ogun State Television to suspend its airing of visual news contents on the internet until same was approved by the commission.

“I am directed to convey the commission’s disapproval of the unilateral commencement of the streaming of OGTV’s signal on the web without the approval of the commission.”

“You are directed to immediately cease the streaming on the web and

apply to the commission for the required approval,” the NBC said in the February 21, 2012 letter exclusively obtained by this website.

Officials of the commission refused to categorically confirm to if the move represented a government policy or how the NBC planned to enforce that on the thousands of news sites in the country should it be.

The spokesperson for the commission, Maimuna Jimada, did not respond to several calls, but another staff in the public affairs unit who refused to be named said getting an approval was only a

basic requirement of doing “any business.”

“Before you do any business with anybody, you have to have an approval,” she said.

Thousands of privately owned and state-owned publications have sprung up on the internet in the country in the past one year. It is not clear which amongst could be the targets of the new directive.

Lately, the NBC has sought to up its control of the media industry that has gained traction with the widening use of the internet and blogs.

Source: Premium Times

nknown gunmen yesterday attacked Makera market in Riyom village of Riyom local government area of the state killing two people and setting many houses ablaze in a broad day light attack.

Our correspondents gathered that the trouble started at about 2 pm yesterday when people of Riyom village went to Makera market and unknown gunmen launch an attacked on the people and killed two as well as burnt many houses.

It was also gathered that last week, precisely on Sunday, when some gunmen attacked Jwol village and killed a man and a woman and that on Saturday the attackers attacked Gwom village in Rim ward where they wounded Mrs. Muri who was said to have gone to fetch fire wood.

The invaders were said to have engaged the soldeirs in a gun duel with the soldiers calling for reinforcement.

Meanwhile, the Special Task Force Media and Information Officer, Captain Mdahyelya Markus confirmed that incident started at about 1:30pm and alleged that it was carried out by Fulani herdsmen but that since no arrest has been make he cannot confirm that it was Fulanis that carry-out the attack saying investigation is on.

He said two people were killed and some houses were burnt assuring that the Sector 9 commander and his men have since brought the situation under control and that they are making efforts to arrest the attackers.

However, the member representing Riyom constituency in the Plateau state House of Assembly told our correspondents that since the villagers killed cattle in retaliation over past attacks, the village had come under severe threats.

He wondered why despite the state of emergency declared by President Goodluck Jonathan on Riyom and three other LGAs in the state, killings still persist particularly in his constituency, alleging that the attackers were wearing bullet proof jackets.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 4

Manslaughter: Bus driver sentenced to 10-year imprisonment From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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ustice Olubunmi Oyewole of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, Lagos, yesterday sentenced a 52-year-old commercial bus driver, Ayobami to 10 years imprisonment for causing the death of one Tope Durojaiye in February 2007.

Ogunsola was arraigned on Jan. 10, 2008 on a two-count charge of manslaughter and had

pleaded not guilty.

Oyewole held that the prosecution led by Mr Femi Adamson, had successfully proved its case against Ogunsola beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge said it was clear that the reckless driving of Ogunsola on February 26, 2007 at Pleasure Bus Stop, along Lagos/Abeokuta Expressway led to Durojaiye's death.

He said Ogunsola was driving

a Volkswagen Paragon Commercial Vehicle at high speed, on the wrong side of the road and facing on-coming traffic.

The judge said:" On noticing LASTMA officials, he panicked and swerved to escape and in the process, hit Durojaiye who was on a motorcycle.

"Both Durojaiye and the un-

identified commercial motorcyclist died instantly and the accused ran away to Oke-Odo Police Station to escape being mobbed".

According to Justice Oyewole, "A killing is manslaughter if it is the result of a grossly negligent act or omission on the part of the accused.

"The testimonies of the three prosecution witnesses were not discredited in anyway and were very relevant in the court arriving at its decision."

Oyewole said he cannot accept the explanation of Ogunsola who had claimed that he was driving on the right lane and was not on high speed as alleged.

NAPTIP charges Edo govt on human trafficking From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

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he National Agency for the Prohibition of Traffic in Persons and other Related Matters (NAPTIP) yesterday, called on the government and people of Edo state to do something about the tag of being widely known as citadel of prostitutes.

The acting director, training and manpower development, Mr. Aondoaver Kuttuh who spoke in Benin, during a "Sensitization Workshop against Human Trafficking for Policy Makers and Local Government Chairmen in Edo state: "Trafficking in human beings has become the third most lucrative type of organized crime after arms and drug trafficking.

Nigeria has been classified as a source, transit and destination country in human trafficking, and Edo state is featured prominently on the global trafficking map as a source of exportation of young females for exploitation in Europe.

"The fight against human trafficking is not even a fight against prostitution. Rather, it is a fight against slavery and slaverylike practices, it is a fight against the ruthless exploitation of vulnerable members of the society, especially women and children. It is a fight against prostitution and prostitution in which the payments go to someone else rather than the prostitute, against her will", he added

L-R: Ondo state governor, Dr. Olusegun Mimiko, and CBN Governor, Malam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi, after their meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on state of the economy, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

NDLEA arraigns woman FG, CBN, want judge to dismiss Bank over 1.8kg of heroine PHB's suit against nationalisation From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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he National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), yesterday arraigned a middle aged woman, Chinyelu Uchendu at a Federal High Court, Lagos for attempting to unlawfully export 1.8 kilogrammes of heroine to Spain.

NDLEA alleged that the accused on December 3, 2011 attempted to illegally export the banned substance to Madrid, Spain through the Murtala Mohammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.

But the woman, who looked frail, pleaded not guilty to a one count charge preferred against her when it was read to her by the court's registrar following a request by the prosecuting counsel, I.J Iguebor.

But with her 'non guilty plea' the accused counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara, relying on his bail application filed on March 1, 2012 urged the court to admit the woman to bail on compassionate ground.

He also urged the court to exercise its discretion considering the medical state of the accused, who had just undergone a surgery with a medical iron inserted in her spinal cord.

The defence also argued that all the documents to her medical conditions were in the possession

of the prosecution.

But the prosecution in opposition urged the court not to admit the accused person to bail.

The prosecution in his opposition contended that a mere admission of medical report cannot be a sufficient condition to grant bail.

But the trial judge, Justice John Tsoho in his ruling said the prosecution had not provided enough material that will warrant the denial of bail to the accused person.

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

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he Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and Keystone Bank Limited, yesterday, opposed the legal move by Bank PHB at the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos to void the August 2011 action of the apex bank which nationalised it.

Counsel to Bank PHB, Chief Anthony Idigbe (SAN) had filed a suit challenging the August 2011 nationalisation of the bank by the

STF arrests four car snatchers, one impostor From Bayo Alabira, Jos

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he Special Task Force (STF) Operation Save Haven keeping the peace in Plateau state has arrested four car snatchers and one impostor who dressed in complete Military uniform with the rank of Sergeant at the check point along Jingre Jos road.

Parading the suspects yesterday at the STF headquarters behind Hill Station Hotel Jos, the spokesman of the force, Captain Mdahyelya Markus explained that among the four car snatchers one Mr. Nankum

Durdan was a student of the ECWA Seminary Jos, while the other one was 400 level student of the University of Jos. He added that their gang leader, Charles Martin was shot on his two knees when he attempted to escape.

The suspects were arrested with three locally made pistols, a Toyota Matrix car with registration number Plateau PKN 88 AA. Captain Markus said the three suspects with locally made pistols, one cartridge, two live ammunitions and one expended ammunition will be handed over to Plateau state police command for further investigation.

CBN. The bank had contended that the apex Bank in nationalising their bank last year acted maliciously by singling them out for punishment without considering their investments.

In the suit, which had the CBN, FGN and Keystone bank Limited as defendants, the plaintiff argued that the action of the apex bank was discriminatory and constitutes an abuse of its powers by nationalising the assets of Bank PHB and transferring the same to third defendant (Keystone Bank Limited).

The bank also contended that, no compensation was given to its shareholders as a result of the action.

But in three separate preliminary objections filed by Kola Awodein (SAN) for the CBN , Fabian Ajogwu (SAN) for the Federal Government and Dr Khrushchev Ekwueme for the Keystone Bank limited, the defendants urged the court to dismiss the action on the ground that the action was not brought within the three months period stipulated by the Public Officers Protection Act. They also argued in their preliminary objections that the plaintiff had not shown that the action by the apex bank on August 2011 was in bad faith.

The defendants further argued amongst other grounds that the Nigeria Deposit Insurance

Corporation (NDIC) was the proper person to bring the action, and not the plaintiff, whose operating license had been revoked.

Responding to the objections however, Idigbe, who led Dr Tochi Nwogu and Rafiu Bello faulted the arguments of the defendants on the issue of time limit, saying that the action was brought well over within the three months time frame provided by law.

He also asserted that Bank PHB had shown by its statement of claims that the CBN acted in bad faith by singling it out for punishment.

Idigbe further contended that it was the law that, it is the NDIC who can complain that the plaintiff was not the right persons to bring the action.

On the issue of the revocation of Bank PHB's operating license, he said it was a substantive issue that the court cannot determine at the preliminary stage.

Ruling on the matter has been fixed for May 12, 2012 by the trial judge, Justice Charles Archibong.

It would be recalled that the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) last August announced revocation of the operating licenses of Afribank Nigeria Plc, Spring Bank Plc and BankPHB with the reason that they had not shown capacity and ability to recapitalise before the September 30 deadline.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Fulani admits attack on Benue community

By Mohammed Kandi

S

pokesperson of the association of Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa state, Alhaji Muhammadu Hussaini, confirmed that his members were responsible for the recent attack as reprisal for the killing of their animals by the Tiv communities of Benue state.

“We would not say the Fulani people didn’t do it since their animals were killed. In fact, if you hurt a Fulani person, he will surely revenge. Over 700 hundred of their cattle were killed the previous weeks. What jobs should these people fall back to when they don’t have any other occupation except rearing of animals?” Hussaini said.

“We got information that our only possessions, which are rearing of cattle, have been destroyed and the government didn’t do anything about it even though we assured our village head that we are reporting the incident to the government,” he explained the attack on Sunday, reported on the Hausa service of the BBC, but only substantiated yesterday, quoting leaders of the Fulani herdsmen in Nasarawa state.

According to him, “we expected compensations by the government and those who destroyed our only source of income and killed our cattle. We agree that the Fulani too in other areas carry out some damages such as having the cattle eat up about ten or twenty tubers of cassava and get a fine of say N50,000, N60,000 as compensation to the farmers, but we don’t get justice when ours are destroyed”.

Refuting allegations that residents of Gwer community were responsible for the killing of the over 700 cattle belonging to the Fulani in the area, the district head of Gwer, Mr Andrew Agindi, said he has had several meetings involving the Fulani leaders and the security operatives in the area but said no one ever mentioned that their cattle was killed or even reported to the police in the area.

He recalled that there were killings in the past between the Fulani herdsmen and the Tiv tribesmen residing along the borders of Benue and Nasarawa states on issues relating to Fulani encroachment on their farmlands.

PAGE 5

Contracts approval by FEC illegal, Reps declare

By Lawrennce Olaoye

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he House of Representatives has declared that approval of contracts by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) is illegal.

The House Committee on Public Procurement chaired by Rep Jumoke Okoya-Thomas at a scheduled meeting with the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Mohammed Adoke, said the FEC

usurps the power of the National Council on Procurement (NCP) as provided in the Public Procurement Act, 2007 by approving contracts.

According to the committee, the Executive has yet to constitute the 18-member Board of the NCP which has the constitutional duty to oversee the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPE) in spite of continuous calls from the National Assembly for it to do so without

delay.

The committee flayed Adoke for his inability to attend the meeting though the Minister sent a representative in the person of Mrs. Olusola Umoh, a Director from the Solicitors department of the ministry.

Umoh, who pleaded for understanding said the Minister was engaged at the National Judicial Council in “a statutory meeting.”

Okoya-Thomas said the reason for the meeting was for the Minister to brief the committee on the meeting which he promised to have with President Goodluck Jonathan over the issue of nonconstitution of the board of the NCP. The committee members however gave the Minister till Thursday to appear and explain the non-compliance of the executive with the 2007 public Procurement Act.

New Constitution to include roles for traditional rulers

By Richard Ihediwa

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R-L: Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Maduke, with the Chairman, National Refineries Task Force, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu, during the inauguration of the task force at the NNPC Towers, yesterday in Abuja.

he proposed amendment to the 1999 Constitution will pave way for the inclusion of statutory roles for traditional rulers in the country.

Senate President David Mark who gave this hint on Monday during a courtesy visit to the Awujale of Ijebuland, Oba Sikiru Adetona in Ijebu Ode, Ogun state also assured that all requests before the National Assembly for new states would be treated equally and fairly.

"Our traditional rulers have inspired peace and unity in our nation. I believe that if they have constitutional roles, we might not have found ourselves in the present security challenges that we are facing today," he stressed.

On the agitation for the creation on more states, the President of the Senate cautioned that the exercise should not be aborted on the grounds that some states are considered as not viable.

Minister inaugurates refineries task force

By Muhammad Nasir Minister of Petroleum Resources Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke yesterday inaugurated the National Refineries Special Task force to assess the Warri, Portharcourt and Kaduna refineries and to review all past reports for a change to the roadmap.

The inauguration which held

at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation headquaters was to emphasise President Goodluck Jonathan’s determination to reverse the continued slide in the performance of refineries and to reach out to patriotic and credible Nigerians in and out of the industry to brainstorm on a holistic system that would bring the refineries to global standard.

She maintained that the committee would review the report of the Warri, Kaduna and PortHarcourt refineries with a view to improving efficiency and commercial viability and work with the world class auditors to audit the finances of Warri, PortHarcourt and Kaduna refineries and to produce the audit reports over the past two years.

The committee would design a

template for key consumption management of critical performance indicators and to design an ultimate consumption work bench to monitor the performance of Portharcout, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

The special taskforce is headed

by Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu.

The special taskforce is expected to submit its report within the next sixty working days.

Guber polls: Al-Makura, Ahmed, Elechi, win at Supreme Court

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

T

he Supreme Court yesterday declared that Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and Chief Martins Elechi are the validly elected governors of Nasarawa, Kwara and Ebonyi states respectively in the April 2011 governorship election.

While dismissing the appeal challenging the election victory of governor Al-Makura, the apex court held that the cancellation of governorship election in some polling units of Doma Local Government Area of Nasarawa

State did not substantially affect the result of the election that brought Al-Makura to power on the platform of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

The five-member panel of Justices of the apex court headed

by Justice Mohammed Mahmud consequently dismissed the appeal of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its governorship candidate, Alhaji Akwe Doma for lacking in merit.

In a lead judgment delivered

by Justice John Afolabi Fabiyi, the court held that Doma did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that there was multiple thumb-

printing, ballot-box stuffing as well as other alleged election malpractices.

"I therefore resolve all the issues against the appellant, except issue six which does not affect the result of the election. The judgment of the Court of Appeal Makurdi Division delivered on 7/1/2012 is hereby affirmed”, Justice Fabiyi held in the judgement.

In the same vein, the Supreme Court justices unanimously upheld the election of Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed and dismissed the appeal brought before it by the candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria,

Mr. Dele Belgore.

Belgore and the ACN had prayed the court to nullify election results in five local government councils and 28 wards on account of alleged electoral irregularities, nonaccreditation and other forms of non-compliance with the Electoral Act 2011 as amended.

He had prayed the court to declare him winner of the election, arguing that he scored the majority of valid votes cast when the votes from the parts of the state where he had complained of electoral malpractices were deducted from the results that

INEC declared.

Delivering the lead judgment, Justice Francis Tabai held that the appellant failed to proof that the allegation of non compliance to the electoral act was substantial enough to affect the April governorship election result in Kwara State. The appeal was consequently dismissed.

On Ebonyi state, Justice Bode Rhode-Vivor, while delivering the decision of the court affirmed Elechi’s election as Ebonyi State governor, saying that he was elected in compliance with the Electoral Act.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

SURE: FG, states, LGs to share N426bn

By Muhammad Sada

T

he National Economic Council (NEC), has endorsed the sharing of N426 billion among the three tiers of government as accruals from the partial deregulation of the downstream petroleum sector.

According to the Finance Minister, Dr. Yerima Ngama, who made this known after the NEC meeting on Monday at the State House presided over by Vice President Namadi Sambo, the amount was for the implementation of the SURE (Subsidy Reinvestment) programme of the Federal Government.

Ngama, however, noted that the SURE-P funds had dropped from the

expected N1.134 trillion to N426 billion following the reduction in the pump price of fuel from N141 to N97 per liter.

According to the minister, 'If you look at SURE-P document, the estimate of the re-investable fund was N1.134 trillion but with the partial deregulation, the computed total re-investable fund per annum came to N426 billion and that is what is available to the three tiers of the government, the share of the federal government came down from N478 billion to N180 billion so, the document you have seen was based on an expectation of N478 billion annually for four years but now that we are getting N180 billion annually for four years, we have to be prioritized,'' he added.

The Minister listed the areas of priority to include maternal and child health, public works programme for employment, mass transit and technical skill acquisition. ``These are the safety nets that will be implemented and of course we have already launched the public work and the mass transit and we now look at the transportation sector,'' he said.

He emphasized that the SURE programme had not been jettisoned as claimed in some quarters, but that was reviewed based on the reduction off accruals due to partial deregulation.

Also, the National Planning Commission Minister, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, said "the

council also received a report on federal government irrigation projects across the country adding that the Agriculture minister, Dr Akinwumi Adeshina, presented a report of the sub-committee on the utilization of the special intervention funds for agriculture.

He also noted that the subcommittee chaired by the vice president, broadly suggested what should be done with the balance of the special intervention funds, amounting to about N137 billion".

In attendance at the briefing were governors of Borno, Enugu,and Yobe state Deputy Governor, The NEC is chaired by vice president Namadi Sambo. Other members are the 36 state governors including the FCT Minister, Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Economic Adviser to the President, National Planning Minister, CBN Governor and the Minister of Finance.

L-R: Deputy President, Nigerian Institute of Chartered Management (NICM), Dr. Nelson Uwaga, President and Chairman of NICM, Micheal Olawale-Cole, and Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Isa Bello Sali, during the presentation of the institute's report on subsidy removal and national security to President Goodluck Jonathan, through the Head of Service, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Concerned Northerners call for restructured federation

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he Coalition of Concerned Northerners (CCN) has expressed resolve to support the calls for the restructuring of the Nigerian Federation in manners that the lopsidedness in the structure of the nation's politics and economy will be addressed.

According to a statement issued by the convener, Junaid Muhammed after a conference held at the Asokoro District in Abuja, CCN, which is a northern socio-political organization made up of Northern Politicians, academics, professionals and businessmen also reflected on the elements that bond the Northerners and their cultures together, irrespective of ethnicity and religion over the past years and expressed sadness that the basis of unity of the region has of recent come under a serious assault.

After deliberating on matters of

concern to the Northern States of Nigeria and their peoples, the group therefore called on the Northern Governors' Forum (NGF) to liaise with other Stakeholders in the North, such as the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), Northern Union (NU), Jama'atul Nasirl Islam (JNI), Christian Association of Nigeria (CAN), Women, Youth and Student Bodies and other groups to join hands to tackle the identified threats confronting the region.

They also highlighted the threats posed by the resurgent activities of

Movement for the Emancipation of Niger Delta (MEND), other Niger Delta militant groups, Movement for the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB), in addition to the threats and recent calls by groups for a Sovereign National Conference.

It condemned the alleged excesses of the JTF (Joint Task Force), saying it amounted to gross human rights abuses. Based on this, they argued that the threat posed by Boko Haram insurgency could best be attended to without the attendant attacks on individual rights and on businesses.

During the meeting, 11 committees comprising: coordinating, interfaith dialogues and inter community harmony, security, education, media, economics, policy frameworks, strategic investments & infrastructure, agriculture, water resources & mineral investments, constitutional amendments, revenue & fiscal systems, structure of Nigeria federalism, youth strategy & contacts, Borno dialogue were inaugurated to address the various challenges facing the north.

not allow political parties access to electoral materials.

In a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by the Press Secretary to the INEC Chairman, Kayode Idowu, said access to the biometric data of voters, as sought by the petitioner is not the same thing as access to election

materials.

According to him, "Giving access to the data base would have compromised it and infringed upon the secrecy of voting statutorily guaranteed. By such access, for instance, the petitioner could determine who voted for whom in the election."

INEC releases 2011 election brief

By Ikechukweu Okaforadi

T

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has released the Executive Brief on the conduct of the 2011 election, refuting the allegation s that the commission did

Senate moves to tackle erosion

By Ali Alkali

E

rosion and other e n v i r o n m e n t a l challenges yesterday took centre stage at the Senate floor as lawmakers debated over a proposed bill to establish Erosion Control and Prevention Commission.

The bill, which passed second reading, seeks for the establishment of a unique agency with expertise and modern technological knowhow on erosion management and prevention.

According to the sponsor of the bill, Senator Hope Uzodinma (PDP Imo West), erosion is costing Nigeria about one trillion naira annually by reducing soil productivity, damaging water supply, negatively affecting fishing and livestock farming and eliminating many communities.

He said that "The World Bank, in a survey on Nigeria as far back as 1990, revealed that gully erosion inflicts an annual national damage worth about N500 billion. This was 21 years ago. I dare say that as of today, the cost in damage from erosion should be in the neighbourhood of one trillion naira."

He added that "A more recent report from National Council on Environment indicates that over 10 percent of the land area of Nigeria is under severe erosion problems classified as 'sheet-rill-gully and coastal erosion."

Senate Majority Leader , Victor Ndoma Egba (PDP Cross River) though supporting the general principles of the bill, said creating a commission to handle erosion would not be the answer to the devastating phenomena but empowering the existing ministry of environment.

Agreeing with the majority leader, Senator George Akume (PDP Benue) said, "Since I came to the Senate in 2010, I think we have created more than 100 commissions and agencies; but I don't think there is one that is put to use effectively. So, it is not creating a new agency that will solve the problem but funding the ones we have effectively."

But to Senator Ahmed Lawal (ANPP Yobe) establishing the agency was necessary. "I believe we need the agency; but when this bill reaches committee level for public hearing, there is need to take a holistic view on the entire environmental phenomenon."

Supporting the bill, Senator Abdul Ningi (PDP Bauchi) said, "So far, we have not seen any serious effort by the Ministry of Environment in the last decade to deal with menace of erosion. So, to my mind, we need to give this area the attention it deserves by creating the agency and funding it properly."

After a long debate, the nays had it; and the bill was referred to the Senate Committee on Environment and given four weeks to complete its work.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 7

Katsina gets new accountantgeneral From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Katsina state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Shehu Shema has approved the appointment of Alhaji Abdullahi Ibrahim Remawa as the new Accountant-General of the state.

The new AccountantGeneral whose appointment takes immediate effect has vast experience working with the state civil service.

He was an accountant with the Internal Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and a former financial controller at the state ministry of works, housing and transport.

Until his recent appointment, Alhaji Abdullahi Remawa was the state director of budget.

Winner of Female Food Hero Award, Mrs. Susan Godwin (left), receiving the farmers' award from the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Elizabeth Emuren (right), yesterday in Abuja. With them is Oxfam Campaign and Communications Coordinator, Mrs. Brenda Bepeu (middle).

Photo: NAN

Jonathan meets with oil sector operators over state of refineries

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday at the State House, Abuja held a meeting with the operational and technical executives of the nation's existing four refineries to mull over how to fix them and bring them to full production capacities.

Speaking with State House correspondents after the meeting, the Minister of Petroleum, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke who led the operators, said the meeting followed a retreat organised for the executives where solutions were proffered for the refineries.

The essence of the meeting, according to her, was to brief the President on the outcome of the retreat concerning the challenges facing the refineries and possible solutions to the problems in the short and medium terms.

“The President was also briefed on the greenfield refines, turn around maintenance and governance structure and a general overview of what came out from the retreat,” the minister said.

The major challenges facing the refineries, she said including loss of crude "through incessant and very high volume being lost to vandalisation, infrastructural problems," noting that some of the refineries were out modeled and with outdated equipment and instrumentation.

She noted that in spite of the global economic downtown which

ensured that refineries were making marginal profits, government would ensure that its refineries were brought to at least 80-90 percent capacity utilisation range "because whether we like it or not, we must improve and maintain continuous improvement in the ability to refine our own products and supply at least the higher quantum of refined products for the country's use. That is a critical necessity and tShe continued: "So, we are looking not just at the challenges but fashioning a strategy framework, very robust and aggressive one

for moving forward, making a major step change in the way our national refineries are addressed," she said.

“For every accreage that is allocated to be attached to a refinery is impossible. For instance if you give 25 licenses, we cannot be expecting 25 refineries to be built. What we are trying to do is to rationally determine the commercial viability and the quantum of refineries that will be needed in the country over and beyond the traditional national refineries and to attract that green field investment with private equity and the least government equity involved," the minister declared.

Kogi Speaker escapes impeachment From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

P

lans to impeach the Speaker of Kogi State House Assembly, Honourable Abdullahi Bello were yesterday been thwarted by members loyal to him.

The House sat yesterday under heavy security guard in and around the Assembly complex.

Sources close to the State Assembly disclosed to our correspondent that the recent crisis on who to take over the mantle of leadership of the state after the Supreme Court judgment on tenure elongation was one of the reason behind the

plan to impeach the speaker.

According to the source, the former Chief Whip, Alhaji Suleiman Babadoko, who was impeached alongside with Deputy Chief Whip were not happy with the development as it was gathered that they made an attempt to gather signatures of some members to impeach the Speaker.

However, 20 out of 25 of the state Assembly members declared their support the Speaker.

Some members who spoke with journalists said they have passed vote of confidence on the Speaker adding that they will always given him that support as long the Speaker is doing the right thing.

FG, FRSC to brainstorm on road safety management

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku and the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) are to brainstorm at a public lecture on sustainable strategies towards raising the stakes on road safety management and traffic administration in Nigeria.

The Minister of Information, would chair the occasion, under the platform of Television Enterprise and Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) on March, 8, 2012 at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre, Abuja.

In a press release issued by the Staff Officer of the corps, Ohaeri Osondu, the details of the lecture would be found in the theme “Road Safety in Nigeria: The Journey So Far”.

The release further stated that the public presentation was a platform for all stakeholders on road safety to appraise the current trend, exchange ideas and chart the way forward with regards to policy initiatives and other issues associated with road safety, in accordance with efforts tailored towards actualising the United Nations Decade of Action on Road Safety (2011-2020).

Wamakko tasks perm secs, DGs on ghost workers, diversion of funds From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

S

okoto state government has urged permanent secretaries and heads of departments in the state to prevent ghost workers from receiving the new minimum wage.

Speaking during a meeting with permanent secretaries at Government House, Sokoto, Wamakko advised them to block all loopholes and ensure that government funds were not diverted.

According to him, as heads of their respective ministries and departments, they should redouble efforts to ensure that ghost workers were exposed.

“We will commence payment of new minimum wage, so you should make sure that ghost workers do not receive the new minimum wage that will commence this month”, Wamakko said.

He described the second mandate given to him by the electorate as a challenge to work hard to meet their yearning and aspirations of the people.

Wamakko decried the level of indiscipline in the civil service and warned that government would no longer accept negative attitude to work.

Also speaking, the Head of Service, Alhaji Abdullahi Wali, said the state government has spent N7.5 billion on the welfare of civil servants in the state in the last four years including provision of affordable housing units, car loans and food items during the Ramadan.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 8

Delta to lead food security scheme L-R: Niger state governor, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu, presenting a souvenir to Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsudeen Usman, during the flag off of state gross domestic product computation in Nigeria, at the Justice Idris Legbo Kutigi International Conference Centre, recently in Minna.

5000 YES-O cadets protest nondeployment, unpaid arrears by Oyo govt From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

F

ive thousand cadets of the Youth Empowerment Scheme of Oyo State(YESO) yesterday stormed the Agodi Governor’s office to protest nondeployment for duty, unpaid three month arrears of allowances and other entitlements by the state government The youths trooped out dressed in lemon jackets with printed (YES-O) logo to express dissatisfaction over nonpayment of their accumulated allowances since December last year when the scheme was inaugurated.

Spokesperson for the irate youths, Oyedeji Muyideen Olabamiji with Identification number YES0118903706 told journalists that, only 2000 out of 7000 cadets inducted and trained at Iseyin Orientation camp were deployed.

He further explained that majority of those employed were not present in camp at Iseyin, alleging injustice from some politicians who later imposed lists at expense of authentic and trained youths for the scheme adding that some did not have identification number.

In his word:”those who participated in the two-week induction training held at Iseyin were yet to be assigned to specific jobs, those who did not take part in the induction were given jobs on the strength of being sponsored by powerful politicians.”

Oyedeji hinted that, against the governor’s instruction to deploy candidates from Ibadan and its environs first, some powerful politicians hijacked the posting process and included their wards and relatives.

The protesters disclosed that,

1000 cadets were dispatched to the Ibadan Waste Management Authority under the Ministry of Environment to serve as road sweepers while remaining 1000 cadets were deployed to the Ministry of Works for traffic control.

Responding, the government through the Special Adviser to the governor on Media, Dr Festus Adedayo, said it attached importance to

the scheme and was deploying the beneficiaries on instalment basis so as not to create logistic challenge by assigning all of them at a time, assuring all those trained of adequate deployment by month end.

Dr. Adedayo said, “We do not want to unleash untrained cadets on society. The state government has fully kitted all 7,000 trained, save for uniforms which they receive on

deployment. All 7,000 should be fully posted by the end of March. The huge multimillion naira investment by government on training the cadets and kitting them makes it mandatory that deployment will follow.

“YES-O is a programme we take seriously and which has become a reference point in Nigeria’s saturated unemployment market.”

Bauchi pleads with external donors to stay

By Muhammad Rukaiya & Ahmed Kaigama

I

n appreciation of the efforts of Donor Agencies in the state, the Bauchi state government yesterday prevailed on the international donor agencies not to withdraw from the state.

The Bauchi state Commissioner for Local Government, Alhaji Abubakar Ahmed Faggo, made the plea while declaring open the local development plan stakeholders forum which was organised by a non-governmental organization (NGO), Women Development Association for Self sustenance (WODASS) with support from Water Aid, the coordinator of Network for Water and Sanitation (NEWSAN), held at the Zaranda Hotel, Bauchi.

He described Bauchi state government as a people-oriented government which believed in participatory and transparent governance.

He urged international donor agency, such as Water Aid, not to withdraw from Tafawa Balewa Local Government Area of the state as they impact meaningfully on the lives of the people in that area.

Ahmed Faggo, said that the

Yuguda-led government was a pacesetter in human development, adding that the state government was ready to deliver dividends of democracy to the people of the state.

According to the commissioner, "the outcome of the government laudable programme to fast track development will be seen by all residents of Bauchi State in no distant future."

Faggo, noted that the state was poised to ensure proper planning and implementation to serve as a major road map for the

achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in the state.

In his remark the coordinator of WODASS, Mr. Musa Gindau, said the forum was organized to facilitate planning that would increase access to water and sanitation at the local government level in the state.

Also speaking the Bauchi State chapter, Coordinator of the NETWOK Mrs. Lydia Tsammani, said the network was a coalition of civil society organizations in water and sanitation, which came into being in 2000.

From Etuka Sunday, Asaba he World Bank has asked the Delta State Government to lead the Feed Africa Programme (FAP), a scheme to battle malnutrition and ensure food security in the African continent.

Speaking at the launch of the programme in Abeokuta, the Ogun State Capital, Former President Olusegun Obasanjo said that the choice of Delta State to lead the scheme was due to the state’s pedigree in agriculture.

He praised the Delta State government for contributing to agricultural development in Nigeria and for identifying with Otta farm in developing its agricultural sector.

Meanwhile, the Vice President (Africa) of the World Bank, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, who was also present at the launch of the programme, noted that inadequate investment on irrigation was partly affecting food production in sub Saharan Africa.

T

Suspected cultists docked over alleged possession of human parts

S

ix suspected secret cult members were yesterday arraigned before an Ebute Metta Magistrates’ Court, charged with alleged acquisition and possession of human parts.

The suspected cultists were Hope Ajuzie (30), Ifeanyi Edward (60), Chigozie Bob (40), Ego Edward (38), Nnabike Boniface (29), and Allwell Egbu (40).

They are facing a four-count charge of felony, unlawful possession of human parts and unlawful oaths.

The accused persons, who were suspected members of “seven stars and moon,” fraternity, were arraigned before Magistrate Adesola Ikpatt.

The prosecutor, Asp Innocent Effiong, alleged that the accused, all of whom resides in Ejigbo, a Lagos suburb, were arrested on Dec. 20, 2011 with human parts.

The prosecutor said that the offences were contrary to section 35, 41, 130 and 409 of the criminal code, Laws of Lagos State, 2011.(NAN)

Kidney diseases: Expert urges Nigerians to live oordinator, Nathan Kidney Nigerians could not afford.

Foundation, Mr Banke healthy lifestyle Ajomale urged Nigerians to

C

Ajomale yesterday said that Nigeria recorded about 15,000 new cases of end stage kidney failure, requiring dialysis annually.

In a statement issued ahead of the 2012 World Kidney Day yesterday, Ajomale said that the increase in cases of kidney failure had also increased the population of Nigerians living with hypertension and diabetes.

He said that kidney diseases often developed slowly, adding

that the symptoms only appeared at late stages when the patient already had advanced kidney failure and might even need dialysis or renal replacement therapy to live.

According to him, many Nigerians with kidney problems were not aware of their health challenges, explaining that renal transplant which was the definite treatment for the disease was an expensive procedure which most

avoid lifestyles or habits which could predispose them to kidney problems, adding that it was much easier to prevent the disease since there was lack of adequate health facilities for treatment.

“In Nigeria, there is little or no access to renal replacement transplant, meaning many people simply die; in essence, kidney failure is usually a death sentence if not detected early and managed appropriately. (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

FG to empower women in agriculture, says minister

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

o reduce the high rate of poverty and unemployment in Nigeria, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, has said that government is to establish a National Grassroots Revolving Loan Fund that will provide social welfare support to women farmers at the grassroots.

Maina made this disclosure while delivering a presentation on the giant strides being taken by the Federal Government in addressing poverty and hunger, especially amongst rural dwellers,

at the on-going 56th Special Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nation, New York.

She said the Fund would contribute to the success of the Transformation Agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan and fast track the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) in Nigeria.

She equally argued that the grassroots which constitutes over 80% of Nigeria’s population contribute about 7 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

The minister observed that Nigerian women, especially the

farmers, produce about 80 percent of what is consumed in the country, hence, the Nigerian government has set up an Inter-Ministerial Committee on Women in Agriculture to promote women’s access to agricultural land, inputs and resources, as well as make them benefit from the Nigeria Incentive-Based Risk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) programme.

Maina therefore called for systematic and comprehensive strategies to empower women in rural areas to maximise their potential in combating extreme poverty and hunger, and help

them facilitate sustainable development in their communities, especially in subSaharan Africa.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Secretary-General, Asha-Rose Migiro, said, “This session of the

Commission on the Status of Women is an opportunity to solidify consensus among governments and civil society on those actions needed to make a real difference in the lives of rural women.”

ECOWAS Parliament raises alarm over insecurity in Sahel-Sahara

By Richard Ihediwa

M

embers of the ECOWAS Parliament have raised alarm over the worsening security situation in the Sahel-Sahara.

The Community’s lawmakers are also worried about the possible adverse effect of the Libyan crisis on the West African sub-region.

The position of the lawmakers was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a seminar on “The Role of the ECOWAS Parliament in the West African Integration Process” held in Accra, Ghana for members of the ECOWAS Parliament.

Rising from the seminar, the parliamentarians in the communiqué read by the Secretary-General of the Parliament, Mr. Muhamesd Diakete lauded the ECOWAS position on the skirmishes in the

Sahel-Sahara zone, especially on the rebel activities in northern Mali.

On economic integration, participants at the workshop deplored the very low intraregional trade profile of West Africa and “the pressure brought to bear by the European Union on trade liberalisation between the two zones”.

They lamented that the situation was having adverse effects on the West African region’s economy and the financial autonomy of its institutions”.

Speaking at the event, Speaker of the Parliament and Nigeria’s Deputy President of Senate, Senator Ike Ekweremadu reiterated the resolve of community’s parliamentarians to play greater roles in freeing the sub-region from poverty, ignorance, corruption, and to enhance its security.

Bauchi denies second poorest in Nigeria ranking From Ahmed Kaigama and Muhammad Rukaiya

R-L: Akwa Ibom state governor, Obong Godswill Akpabio, and Director General, Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF), Mr. Asishama Okauru during their visit to brief President Goodluck Jonathan on the outcome NGF meeting, at the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Kogi Assembly urges FG to complete prison project From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

K

ogi House of Assembly at yesterday’s plenary, called on the Federal Government to put machinery in motion to ensure that the prison project at Koton-Karfe is completed on time.

This followed an announcement on matters of public importance made by the member representing Lokoja/KK constituency, Salihu Akawu.

He said that the call has

become imperative owing to constant fears the community has been thrown into since Boko Haram sect stormed the prison.

Akawu noted that it is time to move the prison built in 1934 with mud bricks from the city centre to an outskirt.

According to the lawmaker, a couple of days ago the community had to run into hiding over a rumoured attack by the Islamic sect on the prison again.

In the same vein, Hon Haruna

Idoko representing Idah constituency, said it was expedient for the government to turn the prison into a rehabilitation centre, adding that prisons in the country would further harden the suspects, and therefore seconded the motion.

The Speaker, Abdulahi Bello, in his ruling stated that the prison reformation should be of priority since most of the prisons in the state are located in the centre of the city.

NEMA donates relief materials to Yauri storm victims From Ahmed Idris, Brinin Kebbi

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ollowing last month’s natural disaster in Yauri local government area of Kebbi state which killed scores and destroyed houses and properties, the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) yesterday, donated building materials to the affected victims.

The Director General NEMA, Sani Sidi, who presented the relief materials to the Emir of Yauri, Zayannu Abdullahi in his palace at Yauri, said that the Agency was created in order to help the less privilege who have been affected either by fire, flood and other natural disasters in the country.

Sidi, who was represented by the Acting Coordinator North-

West zone, Musa Ulalah, added that the building materials were to assist them to start a new living, while urging the people to support the present administration its transformation agenda.

Responding, the Emir of Yauri, Zayannu Abdullahi, expressed delight with NEMA, for assisting the affected people in the area.

B

auchi state government has denied that the state is the second poorest state in the country according to the recent survey by the Federal Bureau of Statistics.

The state Commissioner of Poverty Alleviation, Alhaji Muhammad Wabu, who made the denial yesterday in Bauchi stated that it was a wrong assertion by the office of statistics to rank Bauchi state second poorest in the country.

Wabu said the indices and

parameters used in assessing the state were not satisfactory, adding that Bauchi is one of the few states in the country that introduced numerous human empowerment programmes aimed at alleviating poverty among the people.

He explained that the present administration in the state has since its inception established skills acquisition centers in all the 20 local governments of the state where thousands of youths are being trained on various occupations and trades, in order to transform them to be self reliant.

Members commend new Lagos NURTW exco From Adesoji Oyinlola, Lagos

M

embers of the Ojodu Berger unit of the National Union Of Road Transport Union (NURTW)have commended the newly inaugurated executive members in Lagos State, saying the composition is capable of leading the union to greater height.

Speaking on behalf of other members, Chairman of the unit, Prince Ade Adedube, said the new executive that has Alhaji Tajudeen Agbede as chairman and Tokunbo Sheriki as financial

secretary was capable of attracting positive development to the union.

He described the two leaders and other members of the recently inaugurated executive members of the union as people with good tract records from their former place of services, saying members should tap from their wealth of experience to move the union forward.

He conveyed the readiness of his unit to cooperate with the new state executive to make their task of overseeing the Lagos State chapter of the union an easy one.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

USAID commits N60m to fistula treatment in Kwara From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he United States Agency for International Development (USAID) has committed about N60 million ($350,000) to the Kwara state government on Fistula treatment among financially challenged grassroots women every year in the state.

The Country Project Manager of the agency, Mr. Iyeme Efem who

confirmed this on Monday while speaking during his courtesy visits to commissioner of Health, Dr. Kayode Issa and Kwara state specialist hospital, Sobi, Ilorin said other implementation activities in the state would include capacity building, training, provision of medical supply, consumables and direct support for community mobilisation, among others.

Efem Who lauded the Kwara state government on on-going efforts in fistula intervention, said things are working well in the state with the government efforts on rehabilitation of fistula patients on free feeding during pre and post operation.

He also requested that the state government should take its collaborative efforts on the programme to the next level by

developing a budget line item for fistula intervention to enable adequate planning and implementation without depending on other sources, more so the donor agency programme has time lag.

Out of 13 fistula patients at State specialist hospital, Sobi, Ilorin, 10 are from Kwara North zone, in Moro area, and one each from Oyo, Osun and Kogi states.

The agency representative however appealed to the management team of Life Empowered Anchors Hope (LEAH) charity foundation; a pet project of wife of the governor, Mrs. Omolewa Ahmed, to support the women to continue to live normal life, considering their poor financial background and the stigmatisation they face in their communities.

Sokoto govt assures of potable water supply From Muhammad Abdullah, Sokoto

S

R-L: Lagos state Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola, congratulating the new Permanent Secretary, Radio Lagos/Eko FM, Mrs. Tinuade Sewande Aina-Badejo, after her swearing in at the Lagos House, on Monday in Ikeja.

okoto state government is to ensure that all rural communities across the state would be provided with potable water by December 2012.

Governor Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko made the pledge yesterday, during a meeting at Government House, Sokoto with 23 local government council chairmen.

Wamakko said the state government will collaborate with local councils to provide potable water to all communities in the state in this fiscal year.

The governor directed the chairmen to conduct a survey in their local government areas within two weeks in order to compile the list of communities that were not provided with potable water.

He announced that his administration will provide 1,500

irrigation pumping machine to each of the 23 local government areas in the state for onward distribution to farmers.

Wamakko said the provision of irrigation pumping machine was aimed at boosting irrigation farming in all nooks and crannies of the state.

He stated that, in the year 2013, rural electrification projects will be given much priority so that every community will be connected to the national grid.

The governor warned the 23 local government council chairmen in the state against embezzlement of public funds.

Wamakko maintained that, the fund is meant for the provision of services to the people.

He also warned the chairmen and their staff against lateness to duty.

NUJ receives N50m pledges for secretariat

Illiteracy rate in Bauchi worries T civil society body From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

A

Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA) has expressed worry over the alarming rate of illiteracy among young children in Bauchi state.

CSACEFA described as alarming the high rate of children between the ages of 5 and 16 years who are unable to read and write in the state as indicated by the Nigeria Education Data Survey

(NEDS) recently conducted, despite the high priority given to the education sector by the Yuguda-led administration.

The programme officer of the group Helen John stated this in Bauchi saying that Bauchi State has 52 percent of children between the ages of 6 and 16 years who have never attended school, especially girls.

Mrs. John said based on NEDS 2010 survey, Bauchi State is moving in a slow space, and opined that the state might lose the race to meet

MDGs education for all by 2015.

She noted that with 11 years gone out of 15 years, set out for attainment of the Millennium Development Goals, (MDGs), the state still has a long way to go in attaining the set goal in education in the areas of Universal Primary Education, completion of the full course of primary school, promoting gender equality and eliminating gender disparity in primary and secondary education, before 2015.

According to Mrs. John, the 2006 census in Bauchi State showed that out of a population of 4,653,066, 2,283,800 are females, with a growing rate of 3.4 percent, while in the adult literacy rate category, the males recorded 50.3 percent and the females 28.5 percent, which, according to her, has resulted in child labour, exposure to illness, malnutrition, drugs and sex abuse.

She, therefore, called on the state governor, Isa Yuguda to declare a state of emergency in the sector by convening a meeting of all stakeholders in education in the state.

NDPHC targets 4,770 megawatts in 2014

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Managing Director of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Mr James Olotu has disclosed the company’s plans to step up its current power generating capacity in 2014 by contributing 4, 770 megawatts into the national grid.

Olotu also disclosed that gas shortage in the power plants scattered round the country had affected the company’s generating capacity, adding that if the commodity is made available to the plants in larger quantity,

3,486 megawatts could be generated in December, 2012 and this may rise to 4,770 in 2014 with the completion of the 10 ongoing power plants and availability of gas. This he added, “be made available to complement the quantity of power supplied by PHCN successor companies.”

Olotu who spoke with reporters in a media briefing in Abuja yesterday, noted that Olorunsogo power plant which had the capacity to deliver 450 megawatts of electricity, is only supplying 150 megawatts because only 2 of its 4 completed units were operational.

He said Sapele power plant was generating electricity at a limited capacity too because of the same issue of gas constraint.

He therefore said that the 563 megawatts of electricity target in January, 2012 could not be met.

“We have however initiated dialogue with the gas people, we understand their challenges but we are working together and hopefully, we will get the quantity of gas required for the power stations and fulfill our targets,” the MD said.

He continued: “If we are able to fix the challenges, even the

Calabar plant would take off. As for Bayelsa power plant, which has little or no gas challenge because of the location, it would take off this year and it is capable of delivering between 225 and 250 megawatts.

Depending on availability of gas, Olotu said, both Omotosho and Geregu plants would deliver 750 megawatts to the country.

The NDPHC boss lamented the challenge of increased compensation cost being faced by the NDPHC and sought the assistance of all agencies of government to reduce its financial burden.

he Nigerian Union of Journalists (NUJ) has received about N50 million from pledges made to it during the 2011 fund-raising for the construction of its national secretariat.

The NUJ President, Malam Mohammed Garba, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Tuesday in Jalingo that part of the amount had been spent on architectural design and building plan of the secretariat.

He said that construction of offices, sinking of boreholes at the site had reached about 60 per cent completion, and vowed that before his tenure ended, NUJ would stop paying rent.

“The issue of paying of rent has remained our greatest challenge since 2005. In 2012, the rent stood at more than N14 million both for NUJ and the International Institute of Journalism (IIJ).

“We are working tirelessly to ensure that this structure is put in place. I want to assure you that before my tenure ends, we will stop paying rents,” he said.

He said that the union had earlier acquired a 5.04 hectares at Mabuchi in Abuja valued at N750 million, for the construction of the permanent secretariat.

The president, however, said that the union was still striving to pull more funds for financing the fencing of the NUJ land.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 11

Atuche: Judge dismisses objection to trial

L-R: DirectorGeneral, National Youth Service Corps (NYSC), Brigadier-General Nnamdi OkoreAffia, Commandant General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corp (NSCDC), Prof.

Ade Abolorin and Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Mrs. Fatima Bamidele, during an interactive session with House of Representatives Committee on Reform of Government Institutions with stakeholders, at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

J

ustice Adeniyi Onigbanjo of a Lagos High Court sitting in Ikeja, yesterday dismissed the preliminary objection of the former Managing Director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Mr. Francis Atuche to his trial.

The former bank chief through his legal team had prayed the court to quash the charges of stealing brought against him and a former director of the bank, Lekan Kasali by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).

But Justice Onigbanjo in his ruling dismissed all the arguments raised by Atuche.

On the argument that it was an abuse of the court process for the EFCC to bring him before the State High Court when similar charges were pending against him at the Federal High Court, Justice Onigbanjo said the cases were different.

Justice Onigbanjo said the charges at the Federal High Court bordered on his alleged granting of credit facilities illegally while that before his court had to do with stealing and conspiracy to steal.

The trial judge also maintained that the two matters before him and the one before Justice Lateefat Okunnu had to do with different transactions that Atuche was allegedly involved in though all the alleged offences were committed when he was the chief executive officer of the defunct Bank PHB. The trial judge also overruled the argument that the way the case was being handled could prejudice his right to fair hearing.

Atuche had sought an order striking out his name from the charge on the basis that transactions on the charges in the Federal High Court and the Lagos High Court were interlinked.

He added that the EFCC, acting for the Attorney-General of the Federation, can only prosecute a crime under a federal law, and not under the administration of criminal justice law of Lagos state.

The court had on Wednesday February 22, 2012, rejected an application for stay of proceedings filed by a former director of Bank PHB (now Keystone Bank), Funmi Ademosun, pending the determination of his appeal.

Ademosun who was answering charges of theft with Atuche prayed the court to stay proceedings in his trial till the Court of Appeal determines his appeal against the earlier order made by the same court delivered on December 2, 2011 at the Court of Appeal.

Ogun NDLEA arrests 40-year-old man with 47 bags of cannabis From Iliya Garba, Minna

A

40-year-old man has been arrested by men of Ogun state command of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) with 47 bags of drugs suspected to be cannabis sativa.

The commander of NDLEA in the state, Mr. Mohammed Mohammed, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN)

yesterday in Abeokuta that that the suspect was arrested in Abeokuta.

Mohammed said that the suspected illicit drugs were concealed in a specially made compartment in a lorry for onward movement to Ibadan where the buyers were waiting.

According to commander, the drugs, neatly concealed inside 47 bags weigh 461 kilogrammes.

He said: “Tests conducted by

our laboratory confirmed the content to be cannabis sativa”.

Mohammed further revealed to NAN that the arrest of the suspect and subsequent interception of the drugs was as a result of surveillance by his men.

He said that officials of the agency were on trial of the suspect for more than 48 hours before he was eventual arrested.

While commending his men for the gallant performance,

Mohammed said the command would leave no stone unturned in its determination to clean the state of illicit drugs.

The NDLEA boss said that the suspect would be arraigned in court as soon as possible.

However, the suspect who denied knowledge of the content of the container told NAN that “the driver of the vehicle just gave me a lift from Lagos to Abeokuta.

(NAN)

Girl, 17, murdered in Nyako’s hometown Ogun reads riot act to land speculators From Blessing Tunoh, Yola

A

damawa state police has said the lifeless body of a 17year-old girl simply identified as Amina Adamu, was last week found in a stream at Unguwan Yelwa of Mayobelwa council area of the state, hometown of Governor Murtala Nyako.

An account of the ugly incident from one of the residents alleges that the late Amina was stabbed severally by a yet to be identified person before her corpse was dumped in the stream.

Adamawa Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Altine Daniel said the matter was reported to the headquarters by the Divisional Police Officer in charge of the area who in turn reported to the command that a

young girl suspected to have been murdered by unknown person was seen by residents of Unguwan Yelwa, and that the corpse has been deposited at the Mayo Belwa Cottage Hospital.

She said detectives of the criminal investigation department are working round the clock to unravel the circumstances surrounding the dastardly act and the masterminds; but expressed dismay that parents of the slain girl are not cooperating with the police in its efforts to track down the culprits.

“Our men invited the father of the deceased but he was not forthcoming to avail us of any useful information that would lead to the whereabout of the lady the day before the unfortunate incident occurred”, the PPRO stated.

From Dimeji Kayode-Adedeji, Abeokuta

O

gun state government has warned that it will not condone acts of lawlessness and indiscipline by land speculators popularly called “omoonile”, noting that their activities are inimical to the state’s development agenda, especially on agricultural development.

The state governor, Senator Ibikunle Amosun gave the warning in Abeokuta while receiving settlers at the Coker Farm Settlement in Ifo local government area of the state who were protesting the invasion of their farmlands by land speculators.

Represented by the secretary to the state government, Barrister

Taiwo Adeoluwa, the governor while condemning the activities of the land speculators said government would immediately exercise its powers to ensure the safety of lives and property of the farm settlers.

“For us, agricultural development is sacrosanct and we are determined to pursue it to the letter. We will not fold our arms and watch some disgruntled elements jeopardize our efforts”, the governor said.

Speaking earlier, spokesman of the protesters, Mr. Eddy Akinwande, had said the assailants had in recent times made life unbearable for the inhabitants of the settlement with attendant destruction of their farmlands and agricultural produce.

15-year-old handicapped, rape victim in dilemma over child’s paternity From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

A

15-year-old primary five pupil of Idinebo primary school, Uzea in Esan Southeast local government area of Edo state is in a dilemma over the circumstances surrounding the father of a yet to be named six

months old baby.

Vivian, who is battling with short-sightedness, alleged that she was raped by one Sunday Idiaghe, 22 in January 2011 on her way to the stream.

She alleged that after her successful delivery, the alleged father of her child, Idiaghe, denied

knowing her and the situation prompted them to seek traditional means to resolve the dispute.

Elder brother of Vivian, Goddy Ogbeide who claimed to have borne the burden Vivian’s ante-natal care, said though the police is already handling the matter, he vowed to go to the

highest authority to contest the issue.

Idiaghe denied raping the victim let alone been responsible for the child before the police who had arrested him on ‘trial by ordeal’ alongside the mother of the baby and her child, granted them bail in the sum of N5,000.

The father of the accused, who identified himself as Mr. Iziudu Idiaghe who on interrogation had disagreed to make any financial commitment towards the upkeep of the child, however agreed to raise the sum of N150,000 for a DNA test billed for April 30, this year.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

The London conference on Somalia

L

ate last month, British Prime Minister David Cameron invited 40 world leaders, including our own President Goodluck Jonathan, to London to deliberate on a “new international approach” to crisis torn Somalia in the Horn of Africa. Key elements of this approach included the formation of a supreme authority in the World’s only failed state and a joint financial management board to coordinate how donor and domestic funds and resources are to be used as well as increased funding for the African Union force, Amisom, and Somali security forces. A much more bizarre suggestion was submitted by the Italian government which wanted an international government, formed by the United States, the European Union, to replace the transitional federal government whose tenure will expire this August.

The British initiative is good on paper, more so as it seeks to address the twin problem of piracy and terrorism that Somalia has come to symbolize. However, it suffers from the same flaws that hampered previous attempts at resolving the Somalia quagmire. A major flaw, of course, is what has been termed as a “top-down Eurocentric” approach, which fatally ignores the fact that Somalis

are today without a united country but they are hypersensitive to anything that suggests an attempt at taking away their independence and sovereignty. The Americans who were forced to beat a hasty and humiliating retreat from Somalia in the early 1990s know this too well.

Indeed, the tragedy of Somalia is that there has been too much

“

It may not be popular among ordinary Somalis but it is still a force to reckon with.

Therefore any attempt at rebuilding that country without its own input will ultimately fail outside interference in its affairs.

After the Americans came the Ethiopians and lately the Kenyans.

Another flaw is that Al Shabab, the fundamentalist Islamic sect that occupies a greater part of Somali territory was not invited to the London conference because it is considered a terrorist group. It may not be popular among ordinary

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Somalis but it is still a force to reckon with. Therefore any attempt at rebuilding that country without its own input will ultimately fail.

Interestingly, most Somalis dismissed the British government’s initiative and those before it as a new attempt at re-colonizing their country. This is a view shared by many.

A couple of options have been suggested, including one that says Somalia should be left to Somalis themselves to sort out. Those who are pushing this viewpoint hope that Somalis would soon tire of fighting and resolve on their own to talk peace instead. However, there is as yet no sign of this ever happening anytime soon. The war in that country has been on since the death of President Siad Barre in 1991.

The other option is one of a “new paradigm”. This recommends an engagement with less intrusive partners. A name that has popped up time and again is Turkey, a Muslim country that is already doing a lot of humanitarian work in Somalia. It remains to be seen whether Ankara would like to scale up its engagement with Somalia, seeing it is already distracted by the crisis in neighbouring Syria.

Which brings us to this conclusion: only Somalis can heal their country.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 13

The hypocrisy in calls for Sovereign National Conference

By Mohammad Qaddam Sidq Isa

N

igeria’s political landscape has oscillated along the indices of relative stability and instability ever since the country’s independence.

However, it is obvious that, even during its relatively best circumstances, it has never been smooth enough, which has stirred debates on the imperative or otherwise of convening a sovereign national conference to review the country’s terms of corporate existence.

In Nigeria’s largely dirty political game, where nothing including conscience is beyond compromise and/or manipulation, the so-called sovereign national conference issue has itself been manipulated as a tool for political blackmailing and intimidation by some largely desperate politicians and other elites, who have lost out in the game to reclaim their (though largely ill-gotten) relevance.

Notwithstanding where one stands with respect to the call for convening such a conference, it is obvious that the inconsistency of its proponents is too obvious that it implies their hypocrisy. Being largely ideologically bankrupt and uncreative intellectually hence incapable of proposing, advocating and following through realistic alternatives, they simply drive on regional and ethnic emotions to manoeuvre their ways to achieving their personal interests.

They have always disguised as

patriotic members of their respective ethnic groups to bring up and push for convening the conference, giving the impression that it is the only panacea to the country’s predicament.

Incidentally, however worse the country’s predicament is, most of such proponents of the SNC have in the past been actively involved in creating and/or exacerbating it.

What is particularly hypocritical of them is that, when they are in the system, and no matter how rotten it is, they dismiss any call for such a conference only to switch side when they are removed or lose out. For instance, Olu Falaye was rightly considered one of the principal architects of IBB’s disastrous economic policies, and Oladipo Diya was not only Abacha’s second in command but was actually one of the masterminds undermining and frustrating any move to enthrone MKO Abiola; his own tribesman, as Nigeria’s President though he was widely believed to have won the 1993 presidential election.

Moreover, they seem to be too dull to realize how they frustrate one another, because by the time some of them lose out hence switch side some others have already got there and are busy sharing the loot hence would not only tolerate any distraction but are even prepared to go to any extent in order to maintain the continuation of the status-quo, until they also lose out for others to call the shots and do the same,

and the same circle and scenario continue.

So, probably once President Jonathan and indeed the entire southern politicians and even some of those who come from the north central currently calling the shots leave their offices, they would switch side and transform into self-acclaimed regional champions claiming to be pushing for restructuring the country’s structure for better benefit for their people. However, they would also be frustrated as another set of politicians would have by then already stuck their own fangs in the nation’s blood vein sucking as much or even worse as their predecessors.

Interestingly, perhaps it is only in Nigeria where a person who has held influential positions in national level including presidency would after leaving office relegate himself into a mere ethnic bigot and/or regional champion.

Yet what baffles and indeed saddens me is how these crooks get away with such crude tactics by deluding their people into believing them. Their people should wonder why these so-called ethnic and regional champions did not seriously push for their strategic regional interests when they were in the position of power in the first place. How I wish their people realized that such so-called ethnic champions are mere bloody opportunists, who are not prepared to sacrifice even their positions for the sake of their course even if there is one at all.

Incidentally, though I despise

making specific references to ethnic groups especially in terms of comparison between them, however in analyzing Nigeria’s peculiar socio-political environment one sometimes finds himself compelled do so, so as to make his point clear enough.

This is quite necessary because as I pointed out earlier, such controversial elements largely operate under their respective regional and/or ethnic platforms, for which they set up various socalled umbrella organizations to purportedly represent the voice of their respective tribesmen.

Yoruba for instance have Afenifere while Ndigbo have Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo and both have their own militia i.e. OPC and MOSOB respectively. By the way, much to the credit of HausaFulani ethnic group, they are the only major ethnic group in the country, who don’t have any ethnic based organizations to represent them let alone an umbrella organization for that matter.

Afenifere and its like-minded individuals for instance have been particularly deceptive and blackmailing. They have always tricked their arch-rivals; Ohanaeze Nd’Igbo into joining them to push for an agenda of purported common interest, only to double-cross them at the end and get away with it.

They had also managed to blackmail the north into making that foolish decision to literally select Olusegun Obasanjo and manoeuvre him back into the presidency; the price of which the

country at large is still paying.

They largely succeed by manipulating the media sector in which they maintain a considerable control hence manipulate it in order to achieve their vested interests.

Incidentally, in as much as I believe in the option of radical restructure of the country’s corporate structure, I don’t see any credibility in those ethnically motivated movements. After all, they aren’t even that ethnic champions in reality, instead they simply disguise in ethnic colours to achieve their individuals’ goals.

So, if credible people-oriented movements actually, voluntarily and overwhelmingly choose to advocate for convening a sovereign national conference then so be it, after all, Nigeria’s remaining united or going divided is not and should not be a do or die issue.

This is even though it is obvious that the country has no better alternative to remaining united but with strict adherence to the principles and provisions of good governance, which is defined by accountability, transparency, competency and creativity.

Because no matter how many entities the country is divided and/or subdivided into, the same people who have ruined it when it was called Nigeria will still ruin its breakaway entities whether they are called Oodua Republic, Republic of Biafra or whatever.

Mohammad Qaddam writes from UAE. www.qaddamsidq.blogspot.com

Goodluck Jonathan’s golden opportunity

By Anthony A. Kila

S

tudents of strategy and history will agree that in all forms of government rulers are motivated by and subsequently judged based on the legacy they live behind them.

Whilst in power they strive to shape their legacy through their deeds and the statements they make.

Their level of success naturally depends on the social context in which these leaders operate but also on their character, charisma and vision of the world. One must therefore judge differently the way a roman emperor treated war from the way a modern day prime minster or president will treat war.

Needless here to dwell upon on the fact that rulers with more powers like those ruling within an undemocratic system have more scope to define their own legacies than those operating within a system laden with checks and balances. One of the features that limits and characterizes democratic governments is the limited tenure in which they have

to operate. Such feature forces a democratic government to focus on relatively few and rather quick to achieve objectives. Technically speaking, democratic rulers are like managers or administrators who can only deal with mere mundane albeit essential matters such as the building and maintenance of good infrastructures, provision of security and maybe balance the budget. A good example is former USA president, Bill Clinton who most analysts consider perhaps the greatest politician of his generation; he had to force his way into such historical heights through efficient administration and charisma. Just a political administrator, lucky them in USA. When we give it all a closer ascetic look, what exactly did the great Chief Obafemi Awolowo do to have gained such status even after death? Like any good administrator, he simply managed what he had and used it to provide the very much needed infrastructure for his western region of Nigeria. Lucky them in that Western Nigeria.

Unlike Bill Clinton, Obafemi Awolowo also had the opportunity to be the first to provide those services to his people, it must be said at this junction that other premiers in Nigeria had that opportunity too, but Obafemi Awolowo was one that had the vision and vigor to make history. Lucky Obafemi Awolowo.

Rarely do these political administrators get the chance to write their name in history through grand unforgettable deeds that none has done before them, they don’t often get the opportunity to forge a nation, to lead a generational change, to reshape or lead the trajectory of a people and by so doing the change also the course of history.

The current president of Nigeria, Dr Goodluck Jonathan has an opportunity most of his peers around the globe will give an arm for: being part of world history without having to raise tax, sell national assets or fight a war. Goodluck Jonathan has the opportunity of becoming the president under whose watch Nigerians are given the

opportunity to truly sit down to examine and discuss issues related to our sovereignty and our mode of government in order to perfect our union. As some observers have had occasions of pointing out, what we call our constitution today in Nigeria is in fact a military decree handed down to the people the ways military decrees are forced on people. Does that matter? Yes it does.

In democracy, a constitution is not just a body of laws, it is also a moment and the mode in which a people manifests its intention to live together, it outlines the manner of such union and clarifies how much power it is willing to surrender to and for the success of such union. In many cases, it is the constitution and the practices it inspires that help turn a state into a nation. No wonder therefore, that most constitutions are declared in the name of the people, many indeed start with the phrase “we the people” and therein lies the sad and worrisome peculiarity of the Nigerian present system for it is operated within a constitution that lacks

the input of its people. Goodluck Jonathan can change all that by simply allowing a sovereign national conference to hold.

Those of us calling for a conference to discuss issues related to our sovereignty and our mode of government are doing so not only to help perfect our union but also to help put Nigeria amongst the group of truly democratic nations.

Many of us find it hard to understand why a self evident and common knowledge about the most important and most central document to our living together as a country should not have taken a central position in our political and social discourse and proceedings ever since the country began its current democratic experience.

The need to give Nigeria a people’s constitution is long overdue and this president has the opportunity of making that happen and by so doing reserving himself a place of honor in history without having to fight a war, raise tax or sell our national assets.

Will he make use of such opportunity?

PAGE 14

By Abdullahi Mu’azu Shawane

T

he effect of corruption in Nigeria has many dimensions related to political, economic, social and environmental effects.

In political sphere, corruption impedes Nigerian democracy and the rule of law. In a democratic system public institutions and offices may lose their legitimacy when they misuse their power for private interest. Corruption may also result in negative consequences such as encoring cynicism and reducing interest of political participation, political instability, reducing competition, reducing the transparency of political decision making, distorting political development and sustaining political activity based on patronage, clienlelism and money, etc In our society, the impact of corruption is often manifested through political intolerance, problems of accountability and transparency to the public low level of democratic culture, principles of consultation and

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Corruption: The major cause of insecurity in Nigeria participation dialogue among profile projects at the expense private and personal property, of the much needed projects inflation, imbalanced economic others.

The economic effects of such as schools, hospitals and development, weakling work ethics and corruption can professionalism, be categorized hindrance of as minor and t h e m a j o r . development of However, both Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text fair in market in one way or messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written structures and the other contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 unhealthy have serious words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and competition impact on the a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed there by individual to: deterring community competition. and country.

The Editor, Large scale First and corruption foremost, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, hurts the corruption 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. economic and leads to the Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com impoverishes depletion of SMS: 07037756364 e n t i r e n a t i o n a l population. wealth. It is In social sphere, corruption often responsible for increased roads, or the supply of potable diversion and discourages people to work costs of goods and services, the water, funneling of scarce public misallocation of resources, together for the common good. resources to uneconomic high conversion of public wealth to Frustration and general apathy

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among the public result in a weak civil society. Demanding and paying bribes becomes the tradition. It also results in social inequality and widened gap between the rich and poor, civil strive, increased poverty and lack of basic need like food, water and drugs, jealous and hatred and insecurity. In Nigeria, corruption is said to have been factors for the down fall of past regimes by way of undermining the legitimacy of the governments and weakening their structures, reducing productivity, hindering development, worsening poverty, marginalizing the poor, creating social unrest and then to their down fall.

Abdullahi Mu’azu Shawane is of the Department of Mass Communication, University of Maiduguri

Tribute to Alhaji Sabo Sarki Mohammad

T

he death of Sabo Sarki Mohammad - a thorough bred journalist, PR guru and author on Monday March 5, 2012 at Kano Teaching Hospital AKTH has robbed Kano, Nigeria and Africa of a communication expert, nationalist and humanist.

A dogged fighter for freedom of the press, human rights and detribalised Nigerian, Alh. Sabo Sarki Mohammad was renowned by

By Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele

J

os, a foremost town North central Nigeria, is known for its hospitable climate coupled with the hilly nature and scenic attractions of nature co-habiting in a once peaceful town known for its tourist and white settlers whom has taken this natural inhabitant of climatic weather blessed with one of the best ever green topography as theirs. Jos is located at the rain forest zone north central of Nigeria with very rich resources such as tin, coal, and gold with a well maintain structure well sculptured by nature like arts. It has every natural endowment one can think of owing to its beautiful landscape with a conducive atmosphere that has nature evolved from it.

The history of this unique town on the Plateau dates back to the 40’s when our colonial masters came to Nigeria and were captivated by what they saw and met in Jos. With an altitude of 4,062 feet above sea level, it enjoys a more temperate climate than much of the rest of Nigeria from mid November to late January. Night time temperatures drop as low as 11 degrees Celsius, resulting in chilly nights .There are also the presence of hailstones during the

friends and foes alike as a man who lived and died a humble and patriotic Nigerian.

Sabo Sarki Mohamemd was not only a brilliant writer, an author and charismatic but a jolly go round fellow who lived life to the fullest.

As the first president from northern Nigeria of Nigerian Institute of Public Relations NIPR, Alh. Sabo was from grass to grace by reaching the top of his profession.

He shun blind accumulation of wealth to acquire knowledge and wisdom by dint of hard work. He lived life skillfully and successfully. He was dedicated, religious and kind to a fault. As my colleague of more than four decades, Alh. Sabo Sarki was a trail blazer of high reputation in the media whose image would be difficult to duplicate.

Sabo exhibited an unequalled patriotism as one time Kano State Commissioner and as

former chief press secretary of Late Major General Shehu Yar’Adua – the then Chief of Staff Supreme Headquarters.

He once worked for the British Broadcasting Corporation and Voice of Germany with a vision of a country where every citizen shall live without fear. He was the chief press secretary to the first military governor of Kano State. He had a vision of a country well governed and devoid of

vultures of tribalism, religious nepotism, sectional cabalism, ethnic segregation and a great nation that would not be rendered weak by the vultures of corruption and greed. May his gentle soul rest in perfect peace (Amen).

Prince Ajayi Memaiyetan JP,FNIPR He was the first Kano State Chairman of NUJ and NIPR email:adbizpresspr@yahoo.com

Jos: Periscoping the ordinary rainy season due to the cool high altitude weather. These cool temperatures means that from colonial times to present day, Jos is a favorable holiday destination for both tourists and expatriates based in Nigeria. Jos is linked by road, rail and air to the rest of the country. Due to its cosmopolitan nature and humane environment coupled with a climate not seen anywhere before, visitors to the city will notice massive road projects embarked upon by the present state administration. The city has extensions into the town of Bukuru to form the Jos – Bukuru metropolitan axis. The city is home to the University of Jos built in 1975, St Luke’s Cathedral, an airport and a railway station. It is serviced by several teaching hospitals like ECWA Evangel hospital, Jos University hospital (JUTH), a federal government funded referral hospital, the Nigeria College of Accountancy based in Dogon Dutse area of Jos with a population of about 3000 students. The natural museum in Jos was founded in 1952 by Bernard Fass. It has been left to ruin as is the case with most of the cultural establishments in Nigeria. It houses the pottery hall

which also boasts of the specimens of NOK terra cotta heads and an artifact dating from 500BC to AD 200.It also incorporates the museum of traditional Nigerian architecture with life size replicas of a variety of buildings, from the walls of Kano, the mosque at Zaria to a Tiv village. Articles of interest from colonial times relating to Jos history can also be found here displayed and a school for museum technicians attached to the museum established with the assistance from UNESCO while the Jos museum is also located beside the zoo. Jos has two golf courses, the Rayfield and the plateau including a polo club, a stadium and other sports/ entertainment hotspots scattered allover the town. The Hillcrest school, Napo private school are one of the several international schools located in Jos which have been running for years. The Jos wildlife park is a popular local attraction and includes animals such like lion, python and hippopotamus.

Other local enterprises are food processing, beer brewing and the manufacture of cosmetics, soaps, furniture, etc including having industry for cement and asbestos crushed into stones, rolled steel. Jos is also a centre for the construction

industry with several printing and publishing outfits.

During the British colonial rule, Jos was an important centre for tin mining, but in recent years, it has suffered violent religious clashes between muslims and christians, between settlers and indigenes and between political actors and gladiators in 2001, 2008, 2010, 2011 and 2012 with so many lives lost, properties worth millions of naira damaged or destroyed and a town isolated from its past glory to what we have today, where everybody lives in fear and suspicion of the other.

The city of Jos is divided into three local government areas of Jos North, Jos South and Jos East.

The city proper lies on Jos north and Jos South while Jos East houses the prestigious national centre for remote sensing. The Jos North is the state capital and the area where most of the commercial activities take place.

The governor’s office is located in an area in Jos north called “Jise” in Berom language, “Gise” in Jarawa language or “Tundunwada” in Hausa language. Jos South is the seat of the deputy governor’s office which is

situated in the old government house in Rayfield and the industrial nerve of Plateau due to the presence of industries like NASCO, grand cereals and oil mills, Zuma steels, standard biscuits, Jos International Breweries etc. while Jos south also houses the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), the National Veterinary Research Institute, the Police Staff College, the NTA Television College including the Nigeria Film Corporation. Jos north has the University of Jos to its credit and Teaching hospital.

The earliest known Nigerians in Jos were the NOK people skilled artisans from the Jos area who mysteriously vanished in the late first millennium. According to historians like Senator Luka Gwom, the area known as Jos today was inhabited by indigenous tribes who were mostly farmers. Bill Dudley, the British colonialist used direct rule for the indigenous tribe on the Jos plateau since they were not under the Fulani emirates where indirect rule was used.

Omoba Kenneth Aigbegbele can be reached on kenneth _aigbe@yahoo.com To be continued

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

By Abdullahi Bego

A

nyone looking to understand the basis of the modest progress that Yobe State is making today – progress that makes some changes in education, healthcare delivery services, roads construction, housing development and youth empowerment, amongst others, possible – need to look no further than Governor Gaidam’s very humble but profound conception of the meaning of leadership and its implications on the leader and the led.

Forever consumed by the belief that the leader is responsible not only to the people who elected him to power but also to the Almighty God who will ask him to account for the opportunities and obligations invested in him, Governor Gaidam remains fired up and powered up by a singular desire to make a difference in the life of the people of the state.

And although every demographic group in the State has both peculiar and overlapping needs, the challenges of development facing Yobe State and indeed Nigeria today means that youth in particular require, and must get, a special attention, as we seek to navigate to a future of hope, peace, productivity and opportunity.

As the most active segment of Yobe’s population, every investment in the future of youth is therefore justified.

Unfortunately, despite their best efforts, past administrations in the State could not address all the issues that could have led our youth to a life of more positive activity and entrepreneurship.

Happily, development is always a work in progress and it is never too late to pull our youth back from the apparent sense of despair in which they justifiably feel enmeshed. This is what Governor Gaidam is currently

PAGE 15

As Gov Gaidam addresses youth unemployment in Yobe doing in Yobe State – providing the building blocks that could shape up a more sanguine future for the youth in the State.

In a two-pronged strategy, Governor Gaidam focuses on both the literate and the non-literate sections of the youth population, ensuring that an opportunity is extended to everyone who is willing to grasp it.

For those who have formal school qualifications such as a diploma, an NCE or a University Degree, the office of the Head of Service had been directed to collect and process applications for employment into the State Civil Service. Three weeks ago, 194 Diploma, NCE and Degree certificate holders were recruited and deployed to various ministries, agencies and schools as entry-level workers and teachers. Two thousand more applications are currently being processed and more will be as they reached the office of the Head of Service.

In 2010, 600 holders of similar school certificates were recruited as maths and science teachers in an effort to prop up the State’s teaching corps.

Governor Gaidam has also directed that officers who have reached the mandatory age of retirement be accordingly retired. Up till today in Yobe State, there are many people who have put in the maximum 35 years of service or who have reached 60 years of age but have remained unwilling to take the honourable path of retirement.

In a speech in Damaturu recently, the Governor said that while the fear of the unknown that drives the decision of those who should retire but have

refused to do so is understandable, the laws of the civil service must be followed and respected.

Moreover, observing the rules of the civil service will ensure that youth who have graduated with new Bsc degrees and with more energy to contribute to the development of the State get a chance to come on board.

Ongoing attempt at sanitising the State and Local Government wage bills is also intended for similar effect. With the savings being made from the verification exercises, more youth could be engaged both by the State and the Local Governments.

Unfortunately, in the recent past, there have been not a few complaints that the Chiromariled Committee set up by Governor Gaidam to weed out ghost workers and multiple entries in the LG salary bill had been ‘uncompromising’ and in part because the exercise is still ongoing, much of that complaint still subsists.

In an interactive session with

select elders and community leaders from across the State recently, however, Governor Gaidam had assured that the Committee’s work will not affect any genuinely recruited workers, that anyone affected but has a valid case will have his case reviewed and that the whole exercise is driven by the need to do what is right as an obligation that the Governor shoulders.

The Gaidam administration is also keen to support the teeming non-literate youth in the State to help them channel their energies to more productive uses. From 2007 when the administration first came to power, thousands of youth had benefitted from a skill acquisition programme in which they were taught to be carpenters, welders, mechanics, tailors and owners of other small-scale businesses. The Yobe State Government provided for the tools they needed to set up their own businesses at the end of every training session.

Two months ago, in a

“

For those who have formal school qualifications such as a diploma, an NCE or a University Degree, the office of the Head of Service had been directed to collect and process applications for employment into the State Civil Service

ceremony at the Government House Damaturu, 356 more youth who participated in the skills training programme were presented by Governor Gaidam with certificates and the tools they needed to practice what they had learnt.

Unfortunately, reports say that some of the youth who were fortunate to benefit from the programme sold off the tools given to them to set up their small-scale businesses, thereby defeating the very sense for which they were selected and trained. This is a concern that parents, community leaders and elders must help, and team up with, government to address.

The youth must be made to understand that their capacity for upward mobility is tied to how patiently they stay the course to build up their lives from the scratch.

On the whole, however, the programme has been a success and this is why Governor Gaidam plans to set up a new Skill and Craft School soon to extend the impact of the government’s youth empowerment programme to more youth across the State.

These modest interventions appear to be paying off. But it is a work that must be carried on both by the government and the private sector for more people to feel the impact. Possibly then Yobe (and Nigeria as a whole) will be in a position to ensure a brighter future for its future leaders.

Bego writes from Government House Damaturu. He can be reached at abdullahibego@yahoo.com

Edo governorship and the gathering of tribes (II)

By Sufuyan Ojeifo

H

ow many roads, which were reportedly awarded to contractors at inflated sums in Edo South, have been completed and commissioned?

Why has the expansion of the 8kilometre stretch of Benin Airport road, originally awarded for N4 billion, revoked and reawarded for over N6 billion, become tedious to complete?

There are reports that the contract sum has been further varied upwards.

Why has Oshiomhole politicized the Oluku-UgbowoDawson road rehabilitation project (a federal road), which is being done by the Federal Ministry of Works, by laying claim to the contracted job? Is he trying to clip the wings of the PDP in the state and at the same time taking on an assign of the Federal Government-Architect Mike Onolenmemen, the Minister of Works, who is an indigene of the state and one of the leaders of the PDP? Has there been any

shoddiness on any road project in Etsako area where the comrade governor comes from? Why has there been a cry of marginalization by the AkokoEdo and Owan people in Edo North (Oshiomhole’s Senatorial District) in the location and execution of road infrastructure and other development projects?

He is from Etsako.

In Edo Central, Oshiomhole’s claim of road development has been more of taunting political

campaigns than genuine development efforts. He is wont to claim that he has tarred the road that leads to the home of Anenih. But all of these claims will be subjected to acceptability test by the people as they vote on July 14, this year.

But, significantly, will the tribe of godfathers within and outside the ACN allow Oshiomhole to eclipse it? Even though his claim that he had buried the godfather (Anenih) of

“

In Edo Central, Oshiomhole’s claim of road development has been more of taunting political campaigns than genuine development efforts. He is wont to claim that he has tarred the road that leads to the home of Anenih. But all of these claims will be subjected to acceptability test by the people as they vote on July 14, this year

politics in Edo has been proved to be tenuous, should that not give him away to the harried godfathers in the ACN that Oshiomhole is a desperate power monger who wants to be the only cock that crows in the political firmament of Edo? Will they gleefully watch as he transmogrifies into the grand patron of godfathers in their party? Where are the Tom Ikimis, Tony Omoaghes and Osagie Izze-Iyamus of this world?

Is it not possible that these men are smarting in silence from the onslaught against their tribe in the party they labored to form in the state? Won’t they be disposed to reaching out quietly to the tribe of godfathers outside the party for a concert of forces to edge out a man who has vowed to eclipse them?

It is a fact that Anenih has been the first and the last man standing in and out of the PDP? He now has formidable supporters in multi-billionaire businessman-politician, Captain Hosa Okunbor and Chief Mike Oghiadhome (former Deputy

Governor and Chief of Staff to the President). Where is Samuel Ogbemudia? Where is former Governor Lucky Igbinedion with his camp who provided the structure that made Oshiomhole’s governorship candidature of the ACN in 2007 possible? Where is the patriarch of the Igbinedion family, Chief Osawaru Igbinedion (the Esama of Benin)? Are they suffering Oshiomhole’s political antics gladly?

These represent the finest crops of political elite (read godfathers) in Edo politics. Will they allow an opportunistic late entrant into the political field to decimate their tribe using the instrumentality of state power which they can avert by collectively mobilizing the electorate to vote for another candidate? Can Oshiomhole, on the basis of his self-acclaimed achievements and in spite of the tribes, win the governorship battle on July 14? Time will tell.

Ojeifo sent this piece from Abuja.

Concluded

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Guzape-Sunrise by-pass for commissioning tomorrow

By Josephine Ella

...As minister launches three new districts

he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has concluded arrangement to commission the Multi-billion Naira Guzape-Sunrise by-pass tomorrow.

When commissioned, the project is expected to improve vehicular movement and reduce the traffic bottlenecks now being experienced around Mogadishu Cantonment and the entire Karu/ Nyanya axis.

A statement issued in Abuja by the Chief Press Secretary to the FCT minister, Muhammad Hazat Sule, said that the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed will proceed to perform the ground breaking of three new districts after commissioning the project.

The ground breaking ceremony of the districts, Jahi, Maitama Extension and Wuye, is expected to take place at the site

T

office of Jahi District site office along Ring Road II, in the Phase II of the Federal Capital City, Abuja.

According to the statement, the provision of infrastructure to these districts is significant because over 1,292 hectares of land will be opened for immediate development with Jahi District allotted 650 hectares; Wuye 411 hectares and Maitama Extension covering 231 hectares.

The ground breaking ceremony is the official launch of engineering infrastructure which will provide road network, construction of culverts & bridges, water mains, storm water drainage, sewage lines, telecommunication ducts, electrical power supply as well as other auxiliary facilities.

The statement said that these three new districts will provide about 3,500 residential and commercial plots that will help decongest the Federal Capital City by increasing the chances of additional residential accommodation, business and employment opportunities to the teeming FCT populace.

Man, 25, arraigned for impregnating house-maid

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Gbagyi natives photographed here returning from their farm in Gwagwalada Area Council recently.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

he police on Tuesday arraigned a 25-year-old furniture maker, Shola Adeboyo, of Lugbe Village, Abuja at an Abuja Senior Magistrates' Court charged with abduction.

The police prosecutor, Cpl. Pascal Njoku, told the court that the offence was committed on Jan. 27, and was reported to the police by one Boladale Bolale of Army Housing Scheme, Kurudu Abuja.

Njoku said that on Jan. 26, the accused abducted the complainant's house maid, one Tope Ajimo of the same address and kept her for one month.

He added that during investigation, it was discovered that Tope was two months pregnant.

Njoku said that the offence contravened Section 272 of the Penal Code.

Lassa fever: AEPB charges residents on sanitation

By Josephine Ella The Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) has appealed to residents to step up sanitation in their homes and surroundings in order to prevent outbreak of Lassa fever in the FCT. Briefing the press yesterday, the Deputy Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Mrs Aishat Adebayo said that the board has commenced a house-house inspection at Bissau Street, Wuse Zone 6 as part of the necessary precaution to stay healthy from the disease.

Although, she admitted that officials may not be able to go round the city, the deputy director said she hoped that the exercise would be completed within one week, from where the board would move to another

area.

On the efforts being made at the area councils to avert outbreak of the disease, she said that the board has given the Environmental Sanitation Department of each of the six councils the necessary assistance to ensure this.

"An Environmental Sanitation Department has been established in all the six area councils and we have collaborated together so that they will be able to stand on their own because AEPB cannot be everywhere so the area councils also have their statutory function to ensure that the environments in the councils are clean.

"Whatever is necessary to be done to avert this disease, I believe that the department is up and doing to do their bits," she said.

Also speaking on the disease, the Assistant Director, Environmental Health and Safety, Dr. Akuchie Emma said that about 80 per cent of patients infected by the virus are asymptomatic, i.e. they have the sickness but do not manifest any symptom, while only 20 per cent manifest symptoms which are like any other fever.

He listed fever, headache, sore throat, weakness, body pain and in extreme cases, liver, kidney, spleen infection as some of the symptoms of the disease.

He said that the disease is often mistaken for malaria, advising that when a sick person does not recover after a protracted fever, Lassa fever should be suspected.

Continuing, he added: "In severe cases it could come with facial swelling, or there could be

bleeding in cavities, gastro intestinal tract, diarrhoea and vomiting. When a person comes in with this kind of situation, you start thinking of Lassa fever.

"There could be seizures in extreme cases, tremor, disorientation and at times the patient could go into coma and death".

Speaking on how the disease can be prevented, a director in the board, Ms. Ogbonna Kath, advised residents to cultivate the habit of keeping their surroundings clean to prevent the disease.

"You can prevent this disease by using sanitary waste bins with covers; you don't have to dispose your waste on bare ground. You should avoid open defecation, avoid bush burning because in doing this the rats will go into homes natural," she said.

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

Gwagwalada assures artisans on operating sites

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Chairman, Gwagwalada Area Council, Alhaji Zakari Angulu, FCT has assured artisans under the auspices of National Automobile Technicians Association (NATA) operating in the council of providing them with a central operating site for the members, which near completion.

Angulu, who stated this in Gwagwalada during an interactive forum with members of NATA said the meeting was to brainstorm on issues bordering on the site noting that basic amenities would be provided by the council before moving members of the association there.

The council boss said the essence was to enhance development in the council as well as check the activities of criminals especially car snatchers.

"As council administration, it is our duty to provide amenities at the site and ensure that every member of your association is allocated a workshop.

"My appeal to every one of you is to support the council administration to serve you better because our desire for you is to have a secured environment to operate your businesses. " One thing I want us to agree on today is that we must all move to the site when the project is completed and anybody that fails will be force to do so," he said.

In his remark, Mr. John Gabriel, NATA chairman commended the council for the gesture pledging the commitment of the association to support the project.

He said the move was timely considering the number of people in the association displaced from their workshops following the ongoing dualisation project on Zuba-Lokoja road

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Tel: 09-2349080-98

Maitama - 08038485123 Central Police Station - 08033568389 Lugbe - 08077657371; 08037882321 Wuse - 08053088102 National Assembly - 08065777706; 08045317637 Asokoro - 07028134449 Nyanya - 08046115181 Utako - 07055888119; 07038621264

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- 08075804475 - 07030800531 - 080 33062496 - 08060568342 - 08057467369

FCT HOTLINE AEPB 09 - 4603600-9

08065560315

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 17

Man, 30, docked for alleged cheating T

Absence of prosecutor stalls trial of 20-year-old for culpable homicide

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30-year-old man, Philip Yuke, of Durumi, FCT, on Tuesday appeared before the FCT Upper Area Court charged with cheating.

The prosecutor, Mr Eze Okwuchukwu, told the court that the accused collected a Nissan Sunny car on Aug. 2, 2011 from Mr Emma Nze also of Durumi on the agreement that he would make weekly remittances.

The registration number of the car, which was for commercial purpose, is XF 258 BWR. Okwuchukwu said further that the accused realised N464, 500

within a period of two months, returned the sum of N392, 500 and converted the sum of N72, 000 for his personal use.

The accused was charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating, which contravened Sections 322 and 312 of the Penal Code.

However, the accused pleaded not guilty to the offence.

In his submission, counsel to the accused, Mr Maxwell Opara, prayed the court to grant his client bail.

Opara argued that the offences were bailable, adding that the

investigation would not be prejudiced if the accused was released on bail.

He said that his application was pursuant to Section 34 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CPC) and Section 36 of the constitution.

The prosecutor did not oppose the bail application.

The Judge, Malam Adamu Waziri, therefore, granted the accused bail in the sum of N80,000 and a reliable surety resident within the jurisdiction of the court.

The case was consequently adjourned to April 27, for hearing.

(NAN)

he absence of the police prosecution counsel at an Abuja High Court on Monday, stalled the trial of an accused, Tombra David, 20, who is standing trial over an alleged culpable homicide.

David is standing trial for the alleged killing of one Ms Barbara Ama, 37 on Nov. 6, 2011 in Gwarimpa, FCT. The office of the Commissioner of Police of the FCT arraigned David before Justice Abubakar Umar on Monday, Dec. 12, 2011.

He is being accused of causing grievous body harm to the deceased contrary to Section 242 of the Penal Code and punishable under Section 247 of the same code.

The police said that David stabbed

2nd Abaji fishing festival holds in April – official

T 15.

he second edition of the Abaji Fishing festival in the FCT will hold between April 13 and April

Mr Abuo Ojie, the Head, Public Relations Department, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, disclosed this on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

Ojie said that the festival, earlier scheduled for March, was shifted to April, to ensure that the water level at Yaba River in Abaji was favourable for fishing. ``We were advised to move the date of the festival forward because the water level at Yaba River will be high in March which is not good enough for fishing. ``So we moved the festival to April with the belief that the water level will be low and good for the fishing.''

Ojie said registration of fishermen for the festival would commence on April 13, while the fishing contest, exhibition of farm produce and fishing equipment would hold on April 14.

According to him, the festival, to be held at the Yaba Fishing Village in Abaji Area Council, will attract about 1,000 participants.

Ojie told NAN that of the 1,000 participants, 53 nominees would be awarded with various categories of prizes. ``We are expecting promoters of fish and fishing products to come and exhibit their products. ``We are also expecting members of the diplomatic corps to grace the occasion.''

Unity Bank and Dabo Farms would partner with the secretariat to finance the festival, he said.

NAN recalls Mrs Olvadi Madayi, the Secretary, FCT Agriculture and Rural Development Secretariat, announced last year that the sum of N50, 000 would be awarded to the winner of the fishing festival.

Madayi also said that second and third prize winners would take home N30,000 and N15,000 respectively, while 50 other contestants would be awarded would be awarded N10,000 each as consolation prize.

The first edition of the fishing festival, organised to promote fishing and tourism in the FCT, was held in 2006. (NAN).

Ama, which caused her death contrary to Sections 96, 97 (b) and punishable under section 221 of the same code.

At the resumed hearing, prosecuting counsel, Mr Adama Musa, had written a letter to the court, dated March 5, 2012, seeking an adjournment on grounds of ill-health.

The counsel to the accused, Mr Chukwu Ogbonna, also told the court that he received a letter to that effect on Monday, adding that the prosecutor (Musa), said he was suffering from malaria fever.

He said that since this was the first time the prosecutor would be asking for an adjournment on the grounds of ill-health, he should be granted. ``We are conceding to the application for an adjournment; the issue of health is a serious one; we will not object to the adjournment,'' he said.

Umar adjourned the case to April 19, and directed that the prosecution should be ready with all its witnesses so that the case could be given accelerated hearing.

He also directed that notices should be issued to the office of the FCT Commissioner of Police, informing it of the adjournment. (NAN)

Electric spark causes scare in Karu council

By Stanley Onyekwere

S A bulldozer demolishing an illegal structure at Galadimawa village, yesterday, in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Abaji to pay exam fees for 32 students

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Chairman, Abaji Area Council, Alhaji Yahaya Mohammed, has offered to pay the sum of N5, 000 to each of the 32 students of the Agency for Mass Education as his contribution in ensuring that students were registered for their final exams.

Mohammed who made this pledge in Abaji when a delegation of the final year students of the agency paid him a courtesy visit,

he added that the gesture was a way to encourage more students to enrol in the Agency.

He also pledged the commitment of his administration to ensure that illiteracy and poverty was reduced to the barest minimum through educational development.

Mohammed therefore called on the students to remain focused and committed to their studies adding that the council would not relent in its commitment to better the lots

of residents.

Earlier, Mr Isah Cook, the leader of the delegation had commended the council boss for the gesture pledging the commitment of the students to continue to support the council administration.

He said the gesture was a clear demonstration of the council administration's commitment towards making learning easy both at the literacy and the vocational centres of the agency.

ome staff of karu Local Government Area were thrown into panic yesterday when an electric control switch in one of the corridors, near the office of the Director of finance and supply of the council sparked and caught fire.

The incidence, which occurred at about 11:00 O'am caused pandemonium around the affected area as some of the staff and visitors alike were seen rushing out of their offices to safety.

Our correspondent, who witnessed the incident, reports that one of the staff upon noticing a smoke coming from the place, started shouting fire, fire, in an effort to warn others of the development, which they responded to, only to discover that it was just a little fire caused by a spark from the switch.

Bail revoked for man after jumping bail

A

n Abuja High Court on Tuesday revoked the bail granted a former staff of NITEL, Loveday Lawrence, for jumping bail since Aug. 10, 2010.

Justice Abubakar Umar, who revoked the bail, also endorsed a request by one of Lawrence's sureties, Mr Jacobs Chukwu, a member of staff of the Ministry of Housing and Urban Development, to back out from the bail bond he entered into for Lawrence.

Lawrence is standing trial in a six-count charge bordering on

forgery and conspiracy to steal, brought against him by the EFCC in June 2010.

He is accused of forging a property title document and Certificate of Occupancy (C of O) of Plot No. 1367, Cadastral Zone II, in Jahi District of Abuja.

Umar said that a court had the inherent power to revoke the bail granted an accused in order to protect its processes. ``While bail is granted in the ordinary course of events, an accused by his or her actions, can forfeit his or her right to bail and a court is under a duty to protect

its processes. ``The inherent power to revoke the bail granted an accused may extend to custody in advance of trial when the court's own processes are jeopardised. ``The court has the inherent power to confine the accused at the pre-trial stage as well as during trial.''

Umar said that the breach of condition of release by Lawrence was a sufficient reason to revoke his bail.

Earlier, EFCC Counsel Mathew Obekwe had told the

court that it took the EFCC operatives three months to locate the accused who had jumped bail. ``The EFCC operatives put in concerted efforts in order to arrest the accused who jumped bail.

Obekwe prayed the court to remand the accused in Kuje Prison and not to grant him bail again, until the case was determined.

However, counsel to the accused, Mr Chris Henry, prayed the court to grant his client another bail.

Umar fixed Thursday, April 19 for hearing in the suit. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

Dangote assures shareholders....

Mob: 08033644990

FAAC allocation for the month of January 2012 shared in February, 2012 S/N

BENEFICIARIES

SUB-TOTAL (N bn)

1 2 3 4

173,447 87.974 67.825

5 6 7

FG (52.68%) States (26.72%) L/govt Councils (20.72%) Derivation (13% of Mineral revenue-oil/gas) Value Added Tax (VAT) Augmentation for the month Refund by NNPC

8

Grand Total

614.604

38.940 51.111 187.090 7,617

Nigeria tops in illicit cash flights from sub-Saharan Africa - Report

I

n a groundbreaking report which uses World Bank and International Monetary Fund (IMF) data to estimate the quantity and patterns of illicit financial flows coming out of developing countries, the Global Financial Integrity (GFI) has documented Nigeria as the leading source of illicit financial outflow from subSahara Africa during the past decade.

The report shows that developing countries lost

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

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US$903 billion in illicit outflows in 2009. While this marks a significant decrease from the US$1.55 trillion they lost in 2008, the global financial crisis accounts for the vast majority of the decrease, rather than improved governance or economic reforms.

Developing countries lost between US$723 billion and US$844 billion per annum on average through illicit flows over the decade ending 2009.

Despite the onset of the global financial crisis, illicit flows increased in current dollar terms by 15.19% per annum from US$386 billion at the start of the decade to US$903 billion in 2009.

Adjusted for inflation, illicit financial flows still grew by 10.6%.

(Source: afrricaundisguised.com)

Private refineries’ licences to be reviewed, says Kalu Idika Kalu

By Muhammad Nasir

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hairman of the newly inaugurated Special Task Force on National Refineries, Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu yesterday said the task force would, in-line with its terms of reference conduct a very technical, financial and manpower review of existing refineries in the country.

Dr. Kalu Idika Kalu stated this at the inauguration of the Special Task Force on National Refineries at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), in Abuja. The Task Force was

inaugurated to conduct the assessment of the Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna refineries.

He maintained that the Task Force is committed to developing a framework that will not only turn around the dependence on the nation but go further to present a platform for the industry for export of petroleum products to original markets and even beyond.

“We would review existing licenses which have been established for private refineries and to the readiness of these operators to utilise the licences,

and we are also fully aware of the role of the petroleum sub-sector to the development of a robust production to the economy and to provide jobs for our teeming population”.

He restated that the Special Task Force is required to carry out a comprehensive review of the existing production capacities and challenges of the existing petrochemical facilities with a view to developing local production of petro-chemical biproducts such as fertilisers and other derivatives of the oil and gas industry.

Access Bank customers stage protest in Kano From Edwin Olofu, Kano

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ustomers of former Intercontinental Bank now Access Bank in Kano yesterday staged a peaceful protest in various branches following their inability to carry out their transactions at various branches of the bank.

Some of the customers at Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital branch of the bank were seen confronting security officials manning the entrance gate when they were refused entry

into the premises of the bank.

One of the security guard on duty was heard shouting and urging the stranded customers to visit other branches of the bank, saying “Our network is down here and we cannot entertain savings or withdrawals here”.

Peoples Daily check revealed that the near chaotic situation at the AKTH branch was witnessed in all nearly all the branches in the ancient city.

In areas like Bank Road branch of Intercontinental bank,

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Murtala Mohammed way customers complained of “ill treatment” by officials, who they said “left them in the dark as to why they could not access normal services”.

Our correspondent gathered that the Automated Teller Machine (ATM) of the defunct Intercontinental Bank had ran out of cash while the ATM card holders could equally not access cash from other banks’ ATM. A customer of the Bank who also identified himself as Muhammad Tijjani Abdul told

reporters in Kano “the hiccup, occasioned by unifying the banks records has visited untold hardship on hundreds of customers”.

He appealed to the management of Access Bank to do everything possible to cushion the effect of their internal exercise.

All efforts to speak with officials of the bank proved abortive as none of them was ready to provide Information regarding the emerging development.

Management Tip of the Day

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LOS-KANO: 6.15 LOS-KANO (SAT/SUN): 16.30 KANO-LOS: 07.30 KANO-LOS (SUN/SUN): 10.30

Bauchi state Governor, Malam Isa Yuguda (middle), inspecting facilities at the China Machinery Engineering Company (CMEC), during a working visit to the company, recently in China.

O

Encourage innovation on your team

rganisations need innovation on all fronts, not just in new products, services, or technologies. But many managers don’t innovate because they don’t think it’s their job. Here’s how you can build a stronger innovation culture on your team: Implement an immediate innovation. As a

team, identify ideas that will reduce costs, save time, or improve customer service. Pick one or two to implement right away to demonstrate success.

Identify an ambitious goal. Once your team has confidence in its ability to innovate, set a larger goal. Can you reduce costs by 50%? Can you combine services to help

customers?

Continually foster innovation.

Include “Innovation” as a category in performance reviews. Recognize colleagues who try new approaches even if the results aren’t perfect. And, give people time to think and experiment.

Source: Harvard Business Review

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS KPMG alumni advises family businesses to list on NSE

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xperts at KPMG Alumni Seminar were unanimous in their submission that for businesses to thrive even after the exit of the original promoters, they need to list on the Nigerian Stock Exchange and ensure they have adequate capital to support their activities.

NIPEN looks to enhance future performance with injection machines

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igerian Ball-Point Pen Industries Plc (NIPEN), a manufacturing subsidiary of CFAO Group in Nigeria has revealed that in its bid to plan ahead for future growth, the company has purchased, installed and commissioned two units of 500ton injection machines for the production of Plastic Crates for Nigeria’s beverage industry.

Dangote assures shareholders of bumper returns

By Aminu Imam

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resident of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has assured the company’s shareholders of good returns on their investment on any of the group’s subsidiaries.

Speaking recently on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Dangote informed the stockbrokers that the expanded capacity for Dangote Cement will surely lead to increased turnover, profitability and ultimately dividend.

Noting that shareholders are very important in any company, he promised to safeguard their investments in the Dangote group and also ensure the enhancement of their investments value.

“I can assure you that we will continue to enhance the shareholders value on all our stocks and also work to increased turnover, profitability and also the dividend payout for our highly esteemed shareholders”, Dangote said.

Some of the stockbrokers who also spoke on the floor, lauded the group for ensuring that its investors are happy at the end of each financial year.

It would be recalled that three of the group companies, listed on the floor of the NSE, paid a total dividend of N74.36 billion for the 2010 financial year.

Dangote recently projected that the companies in the Group would be worth $60 billion by 2015.

“We are working towards making Dangote the biggest conglomerate in Africa. Now that we are training youths in the Dangote Academy, we are targeting that by 2015, Dangote will have $60 billion market capitalisation. When you look at the equivalent, the total reserve of Nigeria is about $35 billion, by the next four years.

Our own market capitalisation should be somewhere around twice the reserve of Nigeria, and that means in the cement side, by this time 2014,we should be producing more than 50 million metric tonnes in more than 14 countries excluding Nigeria. And in sugar, we are trying to do the same thing. The same thing we did in cement, we are going to replicate in sugar.”

Dangote further informed the stockbrokers that the six million metric tons per annum Ibeshe

plant, recently commissioned will be expanded to 12 million metric tonnes per annum capacity.

With the planned commissioning of production linethree of the Obajana Cement plant in Kogi state next month and the extra one million metric tonnes expected from Gboko plant Benue state, Dangote Cement is set to become the world largest cement

Hasal Mfb disburses N7.7bn loans in 3 yrs

By Abdulwahab Isa and Tinuade Oredoyin

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asal Microfinance Bank Limited has put its total loans disbursement in the last three years of its operation at N7.7 billion and the bank shareholders’ fund in excess of N529 million.

The development comes as the bank secures $500 million grant from Enhancing Financial Innovation and Access (EFInA), a financial sector development organisation which promotes financial inclusion in Nigeria. The grant is to be deplored to promote

Odu’a set to establish tomato processing plant in Ogun

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du’a Investment Company Limited, an industrial conglomerate owned and controlled by Governors of five Southwest states has concluded arrangements to expand its business interest by establishing a tomato processing plant in Imeko-Afon Local Government area of Ogun state.

World Bank sees FDI streaming into Nigeria, others in 2012

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apital flows into Africa are seen growing significantly in 2012 as investors seeking higher returns out of Europe, look at the continent for better opportunities in infrastructure projects, a World Bank’s senior official has said.

Oando bags ‘Company of the Year’ award

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wholly-owned Nigerian firm, Oando Plc, was presented with the ‘Company of the Year’ award by the CWC Group, organisers of the annual Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) conference held recently in Abuja.

producer. These projects, he noted, will be ready in the next 26 months. Dangote, said that the group was planning to build a 1.5 million metric tonnes per annum cement factory in Calabar, adding that with the abundance of gas in the area, it would be easier to produce clinker in Calabar and export the same to Gabon for cement production in the country.

L-R: Chief Operating Officer of Dangote Group, Mr. Olakunle Alake, Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE), Mr. Oscar Onyema, and President of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, ringing the bell to close the market at the floor of NSE, recently in Lagos.

…secures $500m grant to execute cashless banking

cashless banking and enhance Hasusu savings product.

The bank’s Managing Director, Mr. Rogers Nwoke gave the figures yesterday in Abuja, on the occasion of the bank’s foray in to cashless banking model. He said the bank has recorded tremendous expansion, growing from a modest unit branch in 2008 to 14 business offices in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), covering Abuja Municipal and Bwari area council.

He added that the bank has surpassed the Central bank of Nigeria (CBN) restructuring licence category, as according to him, “HASAL is currently operating under the state license category, which means that it can operate its business in all of the FCT”.

Nwoke disclosed that the bank management was working towards upgrading its license to a national license in the nearest future when its shareholder’ funds will be recapitalized to N2billionm as required for a national microfinance bank.

Meanwhile, the bank has emerged the microfinance bank pioneer trail blazer to fully integrate its operation with the Interswitch network for the implementation of cashless banking services.

The bank formally launched its Point of Collection (POC) network yesterday, which it hopes will lead to the creation of additional 250 jobs.

Senate pledges support for BPP From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he National Assembly have pledged to support the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) and its Director-General to ensure the realisation of its aims and objectives in the interest of the development of the nation’s infrastructures.

Vice-Chairman of the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Senator Babajide Omoworare, who spoke on behalf of the Committee Chairman, Senator Dahiru Awaisu Kuta at the special session of the workshop for Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), organised by the BPP on the review of the 2012 budget, said the nation

should do nothing less at this crucial time of our development.

He said, “The Senate and the National Assembly, through its committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs (the committee with the responsibility of oversight on the BPP) has resolved to support the BPP to the fullest, to ensure the realization of its objectives (as contained in the BPP Act)”.

The committee, he added, will also leave no stone unturned in ensuring that its oversight function is properly and effectively done, including but not limited to ensuring transparent bidding process, ostensible procurement procedure, accountability and judicious utilisation of the nation’s

wealth for accelerated development.

This, he said, is in conformity with the senate’s constitutional responsibility as provided for under Sections 4 and 88 of the country’s Constitution.

The senator stressed that one of the blights of growth, national and economic development is the existence of disconnect between yearly appropriated funds and its effect on the living conditions of poor Nigerians and this is largely due to the culture of waste and fiscal indiscipline in the nations fiscal system.

“Therefore, the BPP has great role to play in ensuring that those saddled with procurement responsibilities in the MDA’s are

transparent, fair, accountable and fiscally disciplined in all sectors of our economy in general and our public procurement sector in particular”.

He expressed the hope that at the end of the workshop, a lot of explanation would have been done to ensure transparency, accountability and efficiency regarding procurement and award of contracts.

“All these (are) geared towards guaranteeing the full implementation of year 2012 budget. It is instructive to note that there is a fundamental linkage between the activities of BPP and the socio-economic and infrastructural development of Nigeria.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 21

Yankari Game Reserve: Park in dire need of transformation

By Miriam Humbe with agency report

Otunba Olusegun Runsewe

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igeria is naturally blessed and boasts of a wide variety of tourist attractions such as extended and roomy river and ocean beaches which are ideal for swimming and other water sports, unique wildlife, vast tracts of unspoiled nature ranging from tropical forest, magnificent waterfalls, some new rapidly growing cities and climatic conditions in some parts particularly conducive to holidaying. Other attractions include traditional ways of life preserved in local customs; rich and varied handicrafts and other colourful products depicting or illustrative of native arts and lifestyle, and the authentic unsophisticated but friendly attitude of the Nigerian people.

However, many of these attractions are still largely untapped and even at their natural and virgin stages and are still being enjoyed by few outsiders, either very rich visitors in quest of exoticism or adventurous people in search of new challenges and experiences.

The Yankari National Park is situated in Bauchi state, North East of the country is the premier game reserve in Nigeria. Yankari Park and Wikki Warm Springs are located around the Gagi River, a distance of approximately one and a half hours by road, southeast of Bauchi Town. Located at 225km east of Jos, Yankari is simply Nigeria's best national park (admission N300, camera permit N100-1000) for observing wildlife. The beauty and size of the Yankari Game Reserve makes it the most popular reserve in Nigeria.

Set up in 1956 and opened to the public in 1962, the main game-viewing areas of the reserve are open all year round and lovers of tourism as well as Japanese, Western Europeans, Americans and Southeast Asian tourists visit this park in large numbers. The reserve covers approximately 2,058 sq. km. of savannah woodland and is well-stocked with elephants, baboons, waterbucks, bushbucks, oribi, crocodile, hippopotamus, roan antelope, buffalo and various types of

monkeys. Lions are occasionally spotted as well, despite their natural cam-ouflage. The biggest draw is the 500-strong population of elephant and it's possible that lion may also survive. The birdwatching is excellent.

The best time to see animals is from late December to late April, before the rains, when the thirsty animals congregate at the Gaji River. You are permitted to drive your own vehicle if you take a guide; otherwise the park has a safari truck that takes two-hour tours (N300) at 7.30am and 3.30pm daily.

The Wikki Warm Springs is one of the best features of the game reserves. Flood-lit at night, it is wonderful after a hot day's gameviewing to relax in the warm water. The spring gushes out from under a cliff, where the water is at least 6 ft. deep, with a bathing area that extends for 600 ft. to an open area. The park is inhabited by a variety of birds, including the huge saddle bill stork, golliath heron, bateleur eagle, vultures, kingflshers, bee-eaters and more.

It is excellent for serious birdwatchers. Yankari's other main attraction is the Wikki Warm Spring (admission N200), near the park camp site. The crystalclear water is a constant 31째C, forming a lake 200m long and 10m wide. Bring your swimming gear - the spring is a real highlight and shouldn't be missed.

The Wikki Warm Springs Hotel is set high above the spring and has a serene view over the lush area. There's a decent restaurant and bar.

You can get to the park gate at Mainamaji by minibus from Bauchi (N600, five hours). After paying the entrance fee, you'll need to arrange transport to the camp around N2800 in a taxi or N1000

by motorcycle, also known as okada. There are recent disturbing reports, however, of the dwindling state of infrastructure at the game reserve which requires urgent government attention.

There are however, impediments to tourism, which the civilian administration under President Goodluck Jonathan has been tackling since assumption of office in order to transform the sector and give it a lifeline. Investors, both foreign and local are therefore called upon to come and invest in the abundant tourism potentials in the country. The richness and diversity of Nigeria's tourism resources coupled with economic liberalisation policies will provide investment opportunities in various areas of economic development.

The entrance to Yankari Game Reserve

Since his resumption of duty as Minister of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation, Chief Edem Duke has left no one in doubt as to his ability to reposition the tourism sector and make it economically viable and a second highest revenue earner for the nation's economy. His understanding of the issues regarding the culture and tourism sector is heartwarming to say the least. The successful hosting of the Abuja Carnival, ''Dress Nigeria'', a fashion exhibition organized by a group of indigenous fashion designers in collaboration with the ministry of culture and tourism to draw awareness to African fabrics and designs as a means of wealth creation for the youth and refurbishment of some museums across the country are some of the

Wiki Warm Springs, Yankari National Park

Chief Edem Duke achievements of the tourism minister within a period of eight months in office.

While receiving tourists from Australia, Ireland, the United States of America and the United Kingdom in February, the minister, who has never let a good opportunity to sell Nigeria as a tourist's haven described it as ''an attractive and fascinating country in spite of the current challenges of nationbuilding''.

In the renewed drive to promote domestic tourism, the Otunba Olusegun Runsewe led Nigerian Tourism Development Corporation, NTDC has, on its part, been keenly focusing on local cultural carnivals, a move which has led to many carnivals and festivals recently attaining limelight. In particular, NTDC is one of the promoters/supporters of the celebrated Calabar carnival.

As may have become a tradition, the NTDC sustained its participation in all the segments of the carnival, and went further to donate a large consignment of promotional materials for distribution during the event.

Each year, the NTDC gives out high-quality branded materials to participants, including a colourful prize to the winning band. The corporation was reported to have given out the largest hampers in Africa as part of its support for the international festival.

The NTDC's efforts therefore, did not go unnoticed as Senate President, David Mark, while commending the NTDC for their innovative strides said, "I will like to commend the NTDC under the leadership of Chief Olusegun Runsewe, who has been introducing innovative tourism products, including the biggest cultural hamper we are all here to witness today," he said.

The success streak of Otunba Segun Runsewe, the hardworking boss of the nation's tourism sector, the NTDC, is being celebrated and acknowledged as a pacesetter in tourism revolution in Africa.

This is epitomised in the several laurels that he has won in recent times. One of the awards was the 'Evergreen Award in Tourism' given by Leadership newspaper and 'Evergreen Media-Tourism Personality Award' which he won in last year's Media Nite-Out Award, MNA. With the combined team of Chief Duke and Otunba Runsewe at the helm of affairs therefore, it is expected that the desired face lift necessary to bring the Yankari Games Reserve and National Park back to its former glory will soon become a reality.

This can be achieved in the true spirit of the Transformation Agenda of the Federal Government.

PAGE 22

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

S/Africa diplomatic row: Passengers want FG to put house in order Stories from Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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igeria passengers at the international wing of the Murtala Mohammed Airport in Ikeja yesterday said the Federal Government must first put its house in order as a step toward towards resolving the current diplomatic row with the Republic of South Africa over the latter’s decision to repatriate 152 Nigerians back to the country citing health-related reason.

Some of the passengers, who spoke to our correspondent said the government should explore other measures rather than punitive in reaching an amicable

agreement with the country, which some of them affirmed that Nigeria help bring out of the apartheid regime.

A passenger on the British Airways flight to the United Kingdom (UK), who simply identified himself as Chukwuemeka said government must first ensure that Nigerians adhere strictly to laid-down procedures for entry into any sovereign nation before they are allowed to board any aircraft, saying most Nigerians choose to obtain virtually everything through dubious means.

“I reside in the UK but

frequent the Johannesburg route very often. I’ve never been harassed by any airport official.

The problem with most Nigerians is that we think we export our cutting-corner mentalities to neighbouring”, he lamented.

According to him, “What does it take for one to obtain the yellow fever papers in a certified health centres? But some will rather choose to buy it from unregistered outfits and even touts inside the airport terminal and we think we can always get away with it”.

Another regular flyer to the

Nelson Mandela country, Mutiu Adebayo said Nigerians in South Africa are now been viewed as a threat to the economy of the nation as they are gradually taking over everything over there, affirming that the government has failed to provide the enabling environment for the citizens to live a decent live, hence the rush to places like South Africa to seek for greener pastures.

“Look at Nigerians trooping out of this country daily. If we have job opportunities here, what is attractive in the UK and America that we cannot live in our country? How many Libyan nationals are living in Nigeria, yet, we have many of our citizens languishing in that country’s jail; let the government tell us what they are doing to bring them back home”, he stated.

For Mrs. Nelson Oshiobugie, the action of the Federal Government amount to putting the cart before the horse. She said the government should

take an holistic overview of all related cases involving Nigerians all over the world rather than single out that of South Africa as a case in point.

“An uncountable number of Nigerians are rotting in jails across the Asian continent whereas the Asians are worshipped here when we know they are jobless in their home country before coming here, they get away with all manners of abuses of our rules and regulations because we claim they brought investment to us while they throw Nigerians into jail at the slightest excuse”, she said.

However, while they all condemned the action of the South African authorities, they advised both countries to sit round a table and iron out their differences and advised Nigeria to create job opportunities and tackle graft in high places, which has made it difficult for the country to make progress.

NAMA MD eulogises late Ojukwu, says he was a Nigerian hero

I Arik aircraft on tarmac

Aviation agencies to commence bio-metric audit

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he Federal Government’s determination to fish out ghost workers in its workfold is set to put the agencies under the aviation ministry under scrutiny beginning next Monday, to verify the exact number of both current and pensioners the ministry have in its employment.

A circular issued by the ministry in Abuja and obtained

by Peoples Daily indicates that the bio-metric exercise will run through the Federal Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), the Accident Investigation Bureau, (AIB), the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, (NAMA) the Nigeria Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA) and the Nigerian Metrological Agency (NIMET).

Confirming the exercise, Special Assistant to the Minister of Aviation, Mr. Joe Obi, said the essence of the forth-coming exercise is to establish the true

number of staff in the various agencies.

Obi affirmed that the biometric exercise will further help to fish out ghost workers in the agency and where there are vacancies, qualified Nigerians who are in need of jobs will be allowed to apply.

“The bio-metric exercise will establish the staff strength, the actual number of staff and pensioners and where vacancies exists in the agencies under the aviation ministry”, he said.

Consequently, staff of the affected agencies have been asked to bring along staff identity card, birth certificate, letter of appointment as well letter of last promotion, one government issued identity card, which should be either an international passport, national identity card, a driver’s license and a passport photograph.

For the pensioners, the circular disclosed that retirees are to come with original and retiree or pension identity card, birth certificate, letter of appointment, letter of last promotion, letter of retirement, one government-issued identity card, which should be either an international passport, national identity card, driver’s license and a coloured passport photograph.

He advised both staff and pensioners to ensure that they present themselves physically for the exercise, as failure to do so will lead to a stoppage of further payment of salaries and pension beginning from May 2012.

It further disclosed that staff will be captured at the location of their primary assignment while pensioners will be captured at agencies nearest to them.

The exercise is expected to terminate on the 20th of March.

t was a gathering of the kith and kin of the Biafran warlord late Ikemba Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu last Friday at the Cargo village of the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos when sons and daughters of Igbo origin converged to pay their last respects to the man many of them described as one of the visionary leaders Nigeria has produced.

Addressing the mammoth crowd, Managing Director of the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) who is PresidentGeneral of Arochukwu, an Igbo socio-cultural association, Mr. Nnamdi Udoh said the late Ikemba provided a compass for which the country was able to chart a course for its development ever since he came to limelight.

Udoh noted that Ojukwu was the example of a country’s selfless leader, who fought vigorously for the common man irrespective of their affiliation and tribe.

He said “You know every Igbo man respect Ojukwu; he was a man who came from a wealthy background but he chose to fight for the common man of the Igbo extraction”.

“So, we are all here today to say goodbye to a great leader who has lived all his life for his people” he added.

According to him, the vacuum that his death has created as the Eze Ndigbo Gburugburu could still be filled by either his son or his wife with a different style of leadership qualities.

He told the gathering, “I don’t believe in the principle of vacuum because God never left a vacuum. I think that his wife or even his son can take over the position and anybody who has the same calling and vision upon his life”.

“Like President Goodluck Jonathan rightly said that we must begin to transform the country, so, we must have a new Ojukwu who is equally transforming” the NAMA boss affirmed.

He also noted that the late Ojukwu could be immortalised but added that, for him, he would prefer to respect the virtues of the late Biafran leader for his selfless, devoted lifestyle to the struggle of the common man.

Also, Chairman of Ndigbo Freight Forwarders Association, Mr. Nwamazi Udeaglia Nwosu noted that the Igbos all over the world were busy celebrating the virtues of the late Ojukwu, hence the reason why those at the airport decided to celebrate him at the facility.

He said “Ojukwu has been our hero; we are celebrating him and all Igbo’s all over the world are celebrating him, So, most of us who cannot travel to Owerri are here celebrating him; he was a very good leader”, he stressed.

He however called on the Igbos to ensure that the unity of the country was strengthened as Nigeria should continue to remain as one united country.

He stressed that Chief Ojukwu would always be remembered as a hero whose life would be continually celebrated by the Igbos.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 24

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ocated along Abujakeffi axis, Angwan Baba, is a small settlement in the New Nyanya part of Karu local government area, Narasarawa state, where the survival of the fittest reigns supreme due to the absence of basic amenities like water, electricity, access road, health care and security associated with any modern society in the world.

With an estimated population of about 200,000 residents, the place remains extremely difficult and hardship ridden for its inhabitants to enjoy life in today’s world as its prevalent features paints the picture of a primordial society, where man lived like animals. Seemingly abandoned and rejected by the ruling class.

A visit to the place, paints a picture of a stack primordial society, as there appears to be near total absence of government as it should be in any modern society. Surprisingly, the glaring non –existence of formal instrumentality through which most modern societies are well directed, in this settlement area has remained a mystery, giving its proximity to Abuja city and its derivable potentials for Narasarawa state.

Gaining access into the area either from Keffi or Abuja is possible through two major entry points; double pole and New Nyanya bus stops on the keffi road, just few meters away from Karu local government Secretariat.

The outlook of these entry points succinctly tells anyone desirous to explore the place on what to expect there.

Going by way of the double pole junction, one is greeted by rocky and pothole ridden earth surfaces, flanked on both sides by multifarious unorganized structures

PAGE 25

Angwan Baba: A community in dire need of attention serving as ‘battle fields and refuge places’ for the inhabitants.

Similarly, going to Angwan Baba through New Nyanya the atmosphere of the dust-filled road leaves a recognisable mark or substances on passers-by, at least for the purpose of identifying with the place.

Perhaps it’s a way of embracing her visitors and inhabitants alike who troop into the place on a daily basis for different purposes.

At night, tick darkness covers the whole place due to the absence of electricity, except for a few rays of electric lights coming from generators in a few of the shelters scattered in the area to brighten the atmosphere during this time of the day.

With the attendant unpleasant sounds from this energy source, giving the impression of awkward animal sound in a jungle or a typical primordial village setting.

As electricity supply eludes the area, many residents rely on generators for energy supply to their homes and shops.

Among the basic needs of man, water stands out as the most indispensable but residents of the area have been grappling with acute water scarcity. Like many who live in the shanty towns which have grown outside

With the demolition of illegal structures in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), most residents of these demolished houses have since relocated to other settlements outskirts of the city. However, despite the influx of people into these settlements, basic needs of life have remained elusive to such communities. Stanley Onyekwere writes on the plight of a community in Nasarawa state called Angwan Baba Abuja, they get most of their water supply from wells and streams of doubtful hygienic source.

At present, depending on their income, some residents sink a bore hole or rely on water vendors (Mai ruwa) to fill up their reservoirs. It is from sources like this that tens of thousands of residents in this settlement get their drinking water and also for other domestic use.

Many residents in the area have now adapted to the ugly reality of going about their daily businesses without having their bathe, not out of their own volition, but due to the persistent water scarcity that has made life miserable for them.

Many residents in unisome bemoan their fate especially at this period of the year when the rains have refused to come.

Though this is the case all year round, it however gets

Angwan Baba settlement, no roads, water and electricity despite its proximity to the FCT

worse in the dry season.

Consequently, it has led to boom in the activities of water vendors popularly known as (Mai Ruwa), in the area as this group make water available to the door steps of residents at a relatively higher cost but stress free for those who can afford to pay for their services. Although, there are certain health issues related to this heavy

Again, the non availability of security presence like police post or patrol team assigned to the area paints a picture of insecurity in the mind of visitors and inhabitants alike.

Consequently, unscrupulous elements in the community and other neighbouring settlements are at liberty to make life difficult for people as they unleash terror on innocent

“

Lamenting the situation, the village head, Mr. Agubi Baba, whose name, the place was named after, said the condition of living in the place has remained a cause of sleeplessness to him reliance on borehole water for satisfaction of the human need for water. But according to the saying; “when the desired is not available, the available becomes the desired”.

Another worrisome feature is the absence of medical care in the area.

There is no single hospital, either privately or publicly owned; to carter for the health needs of the people in the community, thus, many residents seeking medical services are left with no option than travel long distances to places like Masaka, Karu, Mararaba, Nyanya and even as far Abuja metropolis.

The implication of this reality to human survival, especially in emergency situations, can better be imagined.

inhabitants without fear of arrest. Hence, the noticeable increasing incidence of bag snatching and other social vices by the minority ‘strong’ against the majority ‘weak’ in the area. Although, police patrol team visit the area; this they do on invitation from the community leader.

The question remains how effective is this kind of security arrangement to make the place safe.

Lamenting the situation, the village head, Mr. Agubi Baba, whose name, the place was named after, said the condition of living in the place has remained a cause of sleeplessness to him.

Baba, 80, a farmer who first settled in the place with his family in 2004, claimed that when he moved into the place on arrival from Plateau state, there was no single house there as the place was infested with dangerous animals and snakes.

“Now it’s no longer fear of

This untarred road typifies roads found in the community

snakes or other dangerous species that threatens lives in the community but the absence of basic amenities is of greater threats to our continued existence as human beings; this has continued to bring untold hardship on us.

“We are in dire need of accessible road, good drinking water, health care facilities, electricity, and fertilizers to support agricultural produce as majority of our people are farmers.” “So we are calling on the government for urgent attention”, he appealed.

Expressing similar view, Obida Balawundu, a resident and Contractor, who said he has been in the area since 2006, said the place has remained the way he met it apart from the increase in number of people and houses.

“Our people who cannot afford to buy borehole water for their house

chores, are forced to walk long distances to fetch water from a stream in Agwan Gwari, a nearby community, not minding the attendant hardship on them; even at that, the water is not good for human consumption”, he said.

Notwithstanding the prevalent harsh realities of this small settlement, the place has witnessed rapid growth in terms of human population and housing in recent times as people keep trooping into the area for the purpose of settling there.

Ironically, its inhabitants consist of divergent social class of people found in any ideal modern society. It is interesting to note that during the day, most leave the ‘jungle’ for the city with the features of any ordered society, in search of their daily bread; only to make a return to the area to meet the harsh reality that the place offers. However, at weekends these class of people, who are mostly civil servants and working class are forced to stay back home doing one thing or the other given the nature of their jobs and come face to face with the reality the place has to offer.

To relax, most residents rely mostly on generating sets to power their electronics and home appliances to make life a little meaningful, but this is for those who can afford them. However, to some residents having a generator set is not enough since they have to contend with the high cost of buying petrol no thanks to the recent hike in the price of the essential product in the country. This leaves only an insignificant few with the financial muscle to continue providing electricity for use in their homes, to the exclusion of many in the area.

Village head, Mr. Agubi Baba, who the settlement is named after Ordinarily, many of its inhabitants would not have favoured settling in this community, short of basic amenities but for the prevailing high cost of living and incidences of demolition exercises in the nation’s capital. For them, it provides a place to lay their heads at a relatively low cost when compared with the city.

Due to prevailing state of insecurity in some parts of the country, people have now seen Narasarawa state as a haven. In most

settlements in the state; population has grown and the infrastructures available (if any) over stretched.

Surprisingly, despite its proximity to the nation’s capital city, the obvious and unfortunate perpetual failure of the current and previous administrations in Narasarawa state, to take advantage of the over-lap from Abuja over the years, gives no hope that the cry of the people in this humble settlement for the much

desired change would be heard.

This underscores the need for calculated steps to be taken by the concerned authorities towards the provision of these basic amenities required to make life meaningful in any given modern society. Only when this is done that society such as Angwan Baba would experience meaningful development, to transform from its ‘jungle’ status to a true modern society and pride of Nasarawa People and the nation at large.

Angwan Baba settlement in New Nyanya, Nasarawa state, “rusty and dusty like old china in the sun”

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

By Nuel Shepherd

The BMW X6 facelifted B MW's X6 received a steady mix of contempt and admiration when it was first launched three years ago.

However, the German automaker has since sold more than 150,000

units across the world, with 20,000 units in the U.S. alone.

It is the SUV for a younger, more affluent driver who wants the ability to move about at will and go wherever life takes them, while traveling in a comfortable, appealing conveyance.

Presently, the Bavarian automaker has revealed a refreshed version of the highriding coupe, which comes complete with all of the latest styling and content currently defining the BMW brand.

At first glance, one might not even spot any difference at all, but on closer inspection, one should notice a considerable amount of detail-oriented changes from front to back.

For instance, the front of the X6 now gains a new fascia, complete with a new grille, foglamps and optional adaptive LED headlamps (Xenons come standard).

Xenon was the king not long ago. However, with the advancement of technology, a new

3

. Check the fluids: You should check the level of your antifreeze, oil, transmission fluid, power steering fluid, and brake fluid, very regularly: like every time you buy gas. Even if your car doesn’t leak fluids, it can develop a leak and quickly have a dangerously low level of something.

You should also check the color of some of these fluids. Some of these have see-through plastic tanks that you can look through, and some have dipsticks. Antifreeze should be either pink, green, or yellow.

Green for old cars with plain Ethyl-Glycol, and green or yellow for cars that have been flushed and filled with universal antifreezes...brown antifreeze should always be flushed, it either has rust or a lot of dirt in it, probably both. Also, never mix antifreezes; if you don’t know what color

top performer in the headlight realm - LED - has emerged. The bright white light that is characteristic of LED headlamps ensure optimum visibility, while their cosmetics serve up a new interpretation of BMW's hallmark twin circular headlamps.

The three dimensionally shaped luminous rings of the adaptive LED headlights are leveled off both at the top and bottom and are overlaid at the upper edge by an LED-fed accent light. The l i g h t sources

f o r low and high beam light are LED units positioned on a horizontal bar at its centre, feeding their light into the reflectors in front.

Continuing the LED theme are the taillights, which are newly designed and feature two LED-fed light banks with horizontal alignment - continuing the overall flow of the vehicle's style.

As an alternative to the standard bi-xenon light, the new BMW X6 is the first vehicle in its segment to be fitted optionally with adaptive LED headlamps.Additionally, the X6 in Germany now gets an M Sport Edition (which the U.S. still misses out on).

The package includes 20-inch M light alloy wheels in double spoke design and bi-colour finish with mixed tyres, adaptive LED headlamps, BMW Individual high-gloss Shadow Line, black surrounds for the fog lights and M door sill cover strips.

Inside the M Sport Package comes with the sports seats with electrical adjustment and memory

function, M-specific Alcantara/ Nappa leather combination in black with M-style welt and contrast stitching, M leather steering wheel with shift paddles, M driver footrest, stainless steel pedals, interior strips in Aluminium Flywheel black and the BMW Individual roof liner in anthracite.

Engines The V8 engine of the BMW X6 xDrive50i delivers 300 kW/407 bhp, while in the BMW X6 xDrive35i an in-line 6-cylinder petrol engine with 225 kW/306 bhp ensures supreme athletic performance.

The in-line 6-cylinder diesel engines of the models BMW X6 xDrive40d and BMW X6 xDrive30d mobilise 225 kW/306 bhp and 180 kW/245 bhp respectively.

M Performance Package (engines) - U.S. available As an additional option, the M Performance Package is available.

It includes an engine upgrade of +15hp and +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive35i giving it 315 hp and 330 lb-ft. The increase is +40 hp +30 lb-ft of torque on the X6 xDrive50i for total peak output of 440 hp and 480 lb-ft.

BMW X6 M50d Together with this 2013 facelift, the German automaker unveiled the much anticipated X6 M50d.

The model is equipped with the newly developed tri-turbo 3.0litre six-cylinder in-line diesel engine, which outputs 381 HP (280 kW / 375 bhp) at 4,000 4,400 rpm. This is achieved as a resultof the three-turbos working in concert, throttle response is instantaneous. Its maximum torque is 740 Newton metres.

With an acceleration rate of 5.3 seconds for the sprint from zero to 100 km/h, the BMW X6 M50d even outdoes 8-cylinder models, while its average fuel consumption in the EU test cycle is still only 7.7 litres per 100 kilometres.

Power Acceleration [0 - 100 km/h (62 mph)]: 5.3 seconds, top speed: 250 km/h (155 mph), average fuel consumption: 7.7 litres/100 kilometres (36.7 mpg imp), CO2 emissions: 204 g/km, exhaust standard: EU5.

Your car needs human-like treatment (II) antifreeze your car has, buy a universal brand. Oil should be relatively clear, not black - black oil has been left in the engine for too long.

Oil that looks white and creamcoloured has water in it, probably from an internal antifreeze leak, or very rarely, just a large amount of condensation. Transmission fluid should be bright red, and should not smell burnt...it probably needs to be changed if it’s brown or smells burnt.

4. Change the oil regularly: This will improve your gas mileage and protect your engine. The recommended mileage between oil changes is 3,000 - 5,000 miles (or 5000 - 8000 kilometres) or every 3

to 6 months. Doing this could make it possible for your vehicle to attain 200,000 miles. Change the oil filter as well - there is no sense in putting clean oil through a dirty filter, and filters are very cheap and available at any parts store. You can contact your dealer for your car’s specific needs.

5. Change the air filter:This is something you can do easily at home without using tools, and should be done approximately every 20,000kilometres. You can buy a matching filter at nearly any auto parts shop and your owner’s manual will show you where your air filter is located. A dirty, dusty filter can lower gas mileage.

6. Flush these fluids every two

years: power steering fluid, brake fluid, and cooling system antifreeze. Check this timetable against your owner’s manual. Newer cars generally allow longer intervals between changes.

Change transmission fluid & filter at least every 60,000 to 65,000 kilometres.

If you have gone over 50,000 miles without a change, on many transmissions, it is best NOT to change it and hope for the best.

Often putting new transmission fluid in a trans that has too many miles on the fluid will actually cause problems because it can break down ‘varnish’ and other gums/solids that have built up in the trans due to over-used fluid.

7. Monitor your brake pad

thickness and don’t let the pads wear down to metal - this will cause damage to your brake rotors (“discs”) at least and possibly your calipers as well. Rotors and calipers are much more expensive to replacethan pads. There is no such thing as “cleaning” a brake pad while it is still on a car - the friction between the pad and rotor will eradicate any outside substance almost immediately.

8. Rotate the tires. Changing tire position is very important and reduces uneven wear and tear on the tread, thus extending the life of the tires. The recommended rotation cycle is twice a year or every 8,000 kilometres.

To be continued

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 27

Nigerian fraudster hijacked identities of soldiers and nurses to open 752 bank accounts in £1.3m benefits swindle A

womanising fraudster who hijacked the identities of soldiers and nurses in a £1.3million benefits plot has been jailed for six years.

Chibuikem Uzoma-Ubani, 29, persuaded several lovers to help him launder the profits from the swindle that targeted tax credits and Sure Start maternity grants.

Denisa Camacho, 28, of Godmanchester, Cambridgeshire, and Katrina Papiernikova, 27, of Romford, Essex both had relationships with Uzoma-Ubani, after arriving in the UK from Slovakia and were accused of turning a blind eye to his activities.

Uzoma-Ubani, of Romford, Essex, married Camacho married in 2004, then divorced her and had two

children by Papiernikova.

The women both insisted they knew nothing about his crooked schemes and were both cleared of money laundering, but a third lover Ornela Miguel, 26, admitted the offence.

Uzoma-Ubani and fellow Nigerian Leonard Nwannenah, 33, of Dagenham, Essex, opened a ‘bewildering’ 752 bank accounts using the names of hard-working medics and members of the armed forces over a six-year period.

The pair were jailed for six years each while Miguel was handed a three-month sentence, suspended for 12 months.

Nwanneneh’s younger brother Okechi Nwannenah, 30, of Dagenham and Okechi’s wife Jennifer Okonkwo, 29, also allowed their bank accounts to be used to launder the proceeds.

Okechi was conditionally discharged for 18 months while Okonkwo will be sentenced later.

Prosecutor Peter Finnigan QC said the gang netted at least £665,000 and would have made £1.3million had all of the bogus applications for benefit payments been successful.

He said: ‘This case concerns the sophisticated and professional fraud operation which went on for a number of years.

‘This was done by targeting the UK’s benefit system and by cheque fraud.

‘They used a bewildering number of post office and bank accounts which numbered in the hundreds.

‘Some of the accounts were in the names of the f r a u d s t e r s themselves, some were in the names of others who were willing to help them, and yet others were in the names of identities which had been hijacked by the fraudsters.

‘They did not get away with everything they tried because f r a u d u l e n t applications were weeded out.

‘In one such Tangled web: Papiernikova (pictured) and instance, a serving Uzoma-Ubani's ex wife Denisa Camacho (not member of the army, pictured), insisted they knew nothing about his had his identity hijacked, and not only crooked schemes

Chibuikem Uzoma-Ubani, left, was jailed for six years for money laundering while the mother of his two children, Katrina Papiernikova, right, was cleared.

In on it: Uzoma-Ubani's third lover Ornela Miguel, left, admitted money laundering, while Jennifer Okonkwo, right, admitted she had allowed her bank account to be used to launder money were cheques diverted to Mr UzomaUbami, but applications for benefits were made in his name, albeit in Uzoma-Ubami’s hand writing.’

The prosecutor added that Uzoma-Ubami had 159 bank accounts, either in his name or an alias, and police seized £200,000 from them.

Leonard Nwanneneh controlled at least 42 accounts and admitted he had used many more after illegally entering the country.

‘The total number of bank accounts was 752, used in the identity frauds,’ said Mr Finnigan.

‘Of those 752, 282 and were active accounts in that they received the proceeds of the frauds, and during the course of the investigation over £1million had passed through them.

‘The remaining 360 or so accounts were being prepared for future frauds.’

Sentencing at The Old Bailey

today, Judge John Price said: ‘It was an extremely sophisticated fraud using three different types; intercepting cheques, tax credit fraud, and false maternity grants.

‘These required several false identities, and false national insurance numbers.

‘In some cases they assumed the identity of nurses, falsifying their pin numbers to potentially have taken £1.3million over a number of years.

‘This was a substantial fraud that targeted the benefits system.

‘Tax credits are there to help poor people, the money you took, took it away from them.’

Jailing Uzoma-Ubani for six years he said: ‘I have no doubt that you were a leader of this group, who organised it and kept it running.

‘I will sentence you on the basis that it was sheer good luck, that you didn’t manager to acquire the full £1.3 million.

‘If you have any money hidden away, the authorities will find it, and you will pay it back, or you will spend more time in prison.’

Sentencing Leonard Nwannenah to six years jail Judge Price said: ‘The worst thing about you in this case is that you got your brother and his wife involved, and for that you should feel guilty.’

Speaking after sentence a spokesman for the Ministry of Defence said: ‘Uzoma-Ubani and his co-conspirators had attempted to swindle the Government departments and many individual victims out of more than £1.3m.

‘Their sole motivation appears to have been greed; to fund their lifestyles.

‘This was a long and complex investigation which involved preparing 5,000 exhibits, analysing more than 100 fingerprints, 800 bank accounts and preparing more than 25,000 pages of evidence.

‘The conviction of this gang should act as a warning to others that the UK’s law enforcement agencies will use all the methods at our disposal to root out their corrupt practices and bring those responsible to justice.’

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Accomplices: Leonard Nwannenah, right, helped Uzoma-Ubani to open 752 bank accounts while his younger brother Okechi Nwannenah, left, admitted he had allowed his bank account to be used

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 28

A

MUM and dad told of their pride after raising the world’s biggest albino family.

White-skinned Indian couple Roseturai Pullan, 50, and wife Mani, 45, have eight other family members who are albinos.

They have overcome years of prejudice and hardship — but now the unique ten-strong group are in line for official recognition with a Guinness World Record.

Sons Vijay, 25, Shankar, 24 and Ramkishan, 19, and daughters Renu, 23, Deepa, 21 and Pooja, 18, inherited their albinism.

Renu wed another albino Rosheh, 27, and their two-year-old son Dharamraj also has the condition.

The family — who live in a crammed one-bedroom flat in Delhi — all have pale skin, white hair and poor vision, a side-effect of being albinos.

Roseturai told The Sun: “I’ve heard people call us ‘angrez’, which means ‘English’. It’s hard for people to understand we’re born and bred Indian.

“All we know is that we can’t see properly, and we can’t sit under the sun for long, but we live the best we can.”

Roseturai and Mani had an

Family of ten are world’s biggest albino clan arranged marriage in 1983. They moved from Tamil Nadu in southern India to Delhi, where Roseturai sells eggs from a stall.

He said: “Our parents thought it best we marry as we were ‘the same’. In South India we were told if you marry a person with albinism it signals good luck and riches.

“Well, that hasn’t been true of us yet. We had a very tough life, especially in the South where people thought we had a disease and treated us like outsiders.

“People in Delhi are a little more open-minded, but many think we’re foreigners.”

He vowed: “Albinism won’t get us down.”

Mani admits she went to hospital for a hysterectomy after her first child was born, determined not to bring any more albinos into the world. She said: “I didn’t want my children to suffer as we did, but the

doctor got scared just looking at me and sent me home. I never went back and have had many children, all with albinism. Now I see it as a gift from god.”

Mani, who has an albino sister, added: “I was teased and called various names as I grew up. It made me cry so many times. It’s hard living as we do in a country like India, but we’re still happy now.”

She said their children — who all went to a school for the blind and use

a magnifier to read — have already accepted they will not get good jobs due to their sight problems. Oldest son Vijay said: “I’m qualified to work with computers, but my vision means a job is hard to find.” He added that when he has saved enough to wed he wants to have an albino wife.

“It’s easier if I marry a girl with the same condition as me. I just need to find her.”

The family hope they will soon

be officially awarded a Guinness World Record.

The next biggest albino families — six-strong — live in the US and Canada. Guinness World Records last night said staff would be contacting the Pullans to verify the record.

The family are looking forward to global recognition. Roseturai said: “We’re a great family so it’d be nice for people to know who we are.”

Source: TheSun.co.uk

We're all-binos ... the Pullans pose for family snap at their home in India

Fairly happy ... son Vijay

A family of fair ... relatives gather outside the one-bed flat all nine of them share in city of Delhi

Beyond the pale ... the latest addition to the family, little Dharamraj, two, plays with cuddly toy

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 29

The storyteller from Easterly BOOK REVIEW

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa Nnamdi

Z

imbabwe’s writers have lately being taking me by the literary hand and lovingly showing me wondrous places in the heart of their country - using beautiful prose.

I cannot get enough of their works, starting with the late great and greatly troubled Dambudzo Marechera, then Brian Chikwava and now Petina Gappah. Ah! I have just finished reading Petina Gappah’s An Elegy for Easterly published by Faber and Faber, Inc. and now I am in love with Zimbabwe. The streets of Zimbabwe keep patrolling my mind creating gentle vistas and memories of a beautiful place that refuses to go away despite the horrific efforts of President Robert Gabriel Mugabe. And Oh, what a book.

You should see this book. It is drop-dead gorgeous, an attractive spirit that stirs things in my heart and loins each time I spy it showing itself off on my coffee table. Quite simply, An Elegy for Easterly is a pretty book of gorgeous short stories and Gappah will probably end up being one of the smartest new writers to come out of Africa in a long time. I must say that her publisher, Faber and Faber knows how to put together a beautiful book.

The workmanship shows professionalism and pride in an output. I looked and looked and looked and I could not find a single editorial fault with the book. The result is, well, dropdead gorgeous. This is an attractive book, Africa as life, breathing deeply and richly out of its pretty cover, a book so pretty I was too intimidated to write notes on its pages.

In Gappah’s book, freshlybaked story-loaves fill my reading world with the complex smells of Zimbabwe. And Africa, that persistent lover, comes calling again. These are all tender stories told by a master story-teller. The brilliance of this book is its universality – short stories about Zimbabwe morph into a grand tour of our humanity. Sadness and joy envelop issues that are common to all of us – disease, injustice, corruption, patriarchy, sexuality, etc. The prose in these stories is pretty and gently muscular, just throaty enough to still keep you hanging on to the edge of your seat. At the Sound of the Last Post is a well aimed catapult salvo of insults fired gleefully at the house of Robert Mugabe. Gappah’s words are pretty little daggers gently drawn, plunging lustily into the manhood of oppressive beasts.

The sweet bitterness of her words extracts sweet victory from felled dictators. Tart prose cuts everything in its path to bite-sized sniveling pieces as she expertly documents the circus that has hijacked authentic

leadership in Zimbabwe, and by extension, much of Africa.

Zimbabwe’s government is exposed as populated by buffoonleaders goose-stepping to the pretty drum-beats of pretend rituals pilfered from more purposeful and serious societies.

In Gappah’s stories, we go to places of despair now owning only pretty names and precious little else. But comedy steals past filthy skirts of despair and it is really funny. The chaos is uniform and universal. It is too early to compare her to Jhumpa Lahiri but her debut book is on par with Lahiri’s latest, Unaccustomed Earth. Indeed, where Lahiri is proprietary and almost insular (albeit in a disciplined way), Gappah expertly reaches out beyond the boundaries of Zimbabwe to speak to all of us.

The title story An Elegy for Easterly is an elegant, intimate story of a man hyper-dancing to the rhythm of Zimbabwe’s fading fortunes. It is quite simply beautiful, this story and it showcases Gappah’s intimate, loving mastery of the Zimbabwe landscape. The story At the Sound of the Last Post explodes with guns gently blazing at Zimbabwe’s handlers: “It is three months since inflation reached 3,000,325 percent per annum, making billionaires of everyone, even maids and gardeners.” (p9). Keep reading, gentle reader; the prose gets even more scrumptious, if that is possible.

Our Man in Geneva Wins a

The book cover

Petina Gappah, the author Million Euros is easily one of the funniest stories of greed fueled by need that I have ever read in

my lifetime. It is delectable and masterfully done. The main character is caught in a 419 money scam; told he has won a million Euros, he dreams of riches that he will use to quell the raging financial demands of his nuclear and extended family.

The story races breathlessly to a predictable end, but still leaves the reader sighing with an overwhelming sense of sadness and empathy for the victim, and us. Gappah is that good. It is easy to forget that like Zimbabwe, the characters in these stories mostly go nowhere fast. The banality of impoverished existence haunts and poetry rises to sweetly ambush the reader already wary of sad Africa stories. And sad and haunting is the prose-poetry.

Just when you think Africa has exhausted her store of sad stories, a fresh batch unearths itself. Is there an end to this?

The Maid from Lalapanzi is a heartbreaking love story, beautiful in its simplicity and in its complexity. The story spoke, in joyous prose, of a time when there were tight physical boundaries and it was easier to fight for freedom than to flee from terror. In this story Gappah warmly travels through the remains of Zimbabwe, planting seed-stories of life. The heartbreak is of the good kind multiplied many times over and it in turn mass produced multiple sighs from my rugged heart. This writer is good. The Maid from Lalapanzi will stay with me for a very long time for it unleashed in me a warm gush of childhood and adolescent memories. I

grinned as I read the love letters.

Love blooms happily and lustily, even in the terror-infested weeds of Zimbabwe. The love letters were penned Onitsha Market literature style: “My sweetheart Blandina… Time, fortune and opportunity have forced me to take up my hand to pen this missive to ask how you are pulling the wagons of existence and to tell you how much I love you. My heart longs for you like tea longs for sugar. I wish for you like meat wishes for salt, and I miss you like a postman would miss his bicycle…” (p139) Hilarious. And sweet.

Meticulously researched details are important to Gappah.

Not even the most private of details escapes her eyes. She notes everything including the invasiveness of the new commercialism: “The women from Johnson and Johnson had come to the school, and separated us from the boys so that they could tell us secrets about our bodies. They said the ovum would be released from the ovary and travel down the fallopian tube and, if it was not fertilized, it would be expelled every twenty-two to twenty-eight days in the act of menstruation. It was an unsanitary time, they said, Our most effective weapon against this effluence was the arsenal of the sanitary products that Johnson and Johnson made with young ladies like us in mind, they said, because Johnson cared.” (p137) In this story, we witness crass commercialism promoting self-loathing to sell the excess of capitalism. Lovely.

It is fortunate and refreshing that Gappah’s stories do not follow the formulaic patterns favored by the story minting machines of MFA programs. However, there is probably enough to quibble about in the stories.

Every now and then, Gappah tries too hard to end a story and it becomes an unwieldy elephant that has been wrestled down and lashed together with weak cords of incredulity. An Elegy for Easterly gathers her wrappers too tightly and clatters too quickly to an ungainly full stop. They say most writers begin with autobiographical stories. One or two of Gappah’s stories come across as fairly autobiographical. Also there are all these lovely stories that trick the reader into forgetting that sometimes, their key ingredient is their improbability. But so what? Life can be improbable, life is an untidy mess. Like Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, Gappah could be accused fairly or unfairly of spreading contempt for African men. There is this persistent hint of misandry – the stories are populated by weak waves of weak men fashioning absurd rules to fit their anxieties.

That, plus her thinly veiled contempt for Mugabe exposes her to the charge a number of her stories are political statements masquerading as short stories.

My verdict: I don’t care, I love this book.

Source: African writer.com

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Nigeria’s reading culture is better – Seun Odukoya

By Joan Okolie-Iginla

W

hen and why did you begin writing?

Seun Odukoya; It was early in my secondary school I really began to embrace writing.

I was quite ‘ugly’; with a big butt and large tummy so I had no friends. I found solace in my own company – and the writing evolved from there.

I used to write a lot of poetry and draw when I was young (primary school); but the emphasis was on drawing. And then I woke up one day and couldn’t draw anymore. That’s the truth.

How is it like writing Cowards and Christmas Chickens? Did it make you feel you were sharing too much?

Seun Odukoya ; Not in the slightest. It was just one of those childhood amemories I’m comfortable laughing about these days so…

And I honestly like any excuse to think about Peju…so I was quite comfortable writing it.

Do you have a specific writing style?

Seun Odukoya; I should hope not!

Do you have a major theme that runs through most of your work?

Seun Odukoya; If I had to choose themes; I think it would have to be (wait for it)…creativity (is that even a theme in the ‘theme’ sense of…themes?! LOL!!).

I think. I just like to challenge people – challenge formulas.

What books have most influenced your life most?

Seun Odukoya; Strangely, Barbara Cartland romances novels; as ‘silly’ as they could be sometimes, were some of my earliest reads. Westerns; read a lot of that too. Read the Lord of the Rings Trilogy when I was fourteen; a punishment from my pa for burning some of his original works by Dickens accidentally (unbelievable; I know). Stephen King too…Dickens, Huckleberry Finn, a lot of books. I like ‘The Picture of Dorian Grey’ by Oscar Wilde.. A lot of books o!

What books are you reading now?

Seun Odukoya; Just finished

Winner of the 2011 Chistell International short story competition and author of the book, Cowards and Christmas Chickens Seun Odukoya has raised the ego of Nigerian’s reading culture while admitting in an online interview that reading culture in Nigeria is getting better.

Seun Odukoya fell in love with words at a very tender age, thanks to his parents who fed him novels and poetry books, which led to his discovery of the use of writing to best express himself.

He is currently working on a full-length romance novel alongside other short stories. An E-book containing some of his short stories is scheduled for publication in the nearest future. Some of his greatest writing influences are Stephen King and Louis L’amour amongst a host of others.

When he is not writing, he enjoys reading, watching movies and listening to music. Enjoy his interview.

Seun Odukoya ‘A Storm of Swords’ by R.R Martin, the third in the ‘A Game Of Thrones’ trilogy. Now reading ‘The Art of Seduction’ by Robert Greene and ‘Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul part II’.

What are your current projects? Any goals for 2012?

Seun Odukoya Working on two short stories in the horror/ science fiction categories…wrapping up my first full-length novel ‘Sometimes’; it’s romance…and editing two short story compilations. Mine. Just finished editing Xikay’s ‘Devil’s Pawn’ – an INTERESTING experience.

Wrote the pilot episode for a new TV series; it’s been shot and I’ll soon start work on the first season proper.

Goals? To see all of the above shared by the rest of the world – plus a few more besides…

Do you see writing as a career?

Seun Odukoya; Of course.

Why spend so much time at it if it’s not…if I don’t see as that?

Can you share a little about your writing with us?

Seun Odukoya I don’t write genres. I am a writer. I always challenge myself – I’m always trying to outdo myself. Every time I write, I try to give the reader something new – something different from what he/she got last time. Sometimes I’m bothered that the ‘unrestricted genre’ thing might be an issue – like it might backfire; but no one has spoken

to me about it, so…

Is there anything you find particularly challenging in your writing?

Seun Odukoya So many things…but I love challenges.

Why not…is what I always think when facing one of those. WHY NOT?!

Who is your favorite author and what is it that really strikes you about their work?

Seun Odukoya Stephen King.

Loius L’amour. James Hadley Chase. Plus ten billion others.

King because he taught me anything can be a story…anything.

L’amour because he’s so on point with his descriptions and characters.

There’s something poetic about the way he writes. Chase because he taught me the value of research. He’s a Frenchman – (Rene Brabazon Raymond was his real name) who only visited the States twice during his life. Yet he wrote about it in so great detail…I also like the way he describes stuff. Simplicity was/is his benchmark.

What do you think of the Nigerian publishing industry?

Seun Odukoya; Things seem to be moving on up lately…it’s interesting to note that so many publishers are springing up out of the woodwork. I just hope they take the writers and their works seriously – as seriously as we take our stuff.

What comments do you have about the reading culture in the country?

Seun Odukoya; Forget what you think you know – Nigerians read. And it is getting better and better with reading workshops everywhere. IT IS GROWING and expanding.

Korea–Nigeria Poetry Fiesta 2012 holds March 21

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rojah Concepts, in collaboration with the Korean Cultural Centre of the Embassy of Republic of Korea invites interested poets to send in entries for the 2nd Korea-Nigeria Poetry Fiesta which is scheduled to hold on Wednesday 21st March 2012 in commemoration of this year’s World Poetry Day. Meanwhile, the first ever Korea /Nigeria Poetry Fiesta was held to commemorate the

2011 World Poetry Day with theme Culture of Friendship, with a cross-cultural anthology titled From Here to There scheduled for release later this year.

In view of these, interested poets are expected to send in 5 poems each based on the theme: Intangible Cultural Heritage ties between Korea-Nigeria to arojahconcepts@yahoo.com on before 10th March 2012.

Intangible Cultural

Heritage means the practices, representations, expressions, knowledge, skills – as well as the instruments, objects, artifacts and cultural spaces associated therewith – that communities, groups and, in some cases, individuals recognize as part of their cultural heritage. This intangible cultural heritage, transmitted from generation to generation, is constantly recreated by communities and groups in response to their

environment, their interaction with nature and their history, and provides them with a sense of identity and continuity, thus promoting respect for cultural diversity and human creativity.

Selected poems will be featured/performed at the World Poetry Day event, the Korean Cultural Centre website and in a proposed cross-cultural anthology.

PEOPLES POEM OF THE WEEK Title: Our Happy Place

By Biodun Idowu In this place we call love I make new discoveries I'm yet to determine if they're good or bad.

My heart pounds with the excitement of it all.

In this place we call love I approach the door with a mix of exciting fear.

I am unsure of how unforgiving the clasp of your emotions will be.

There is trepidation in these feet.

In this place you call love The furnishings are bright, warm.

The clangs of security chain, cold.

I am the smiling resident whose stay might end up unwilling.

Should I call into the night for help?

In this place you call love I tread carefully, afraid to jolt your emotions, live gingerly with your tendencies to rage passionately.

It is love that rules you, moves you to hurt, bruise and scare.

In this place, I look through bars of cold comfort, open my mouth for a song, nothing comes, so I purse my lips to whisper instead into the night, maybe Sense will hear me.

Instruct you in loving me, if not Set me free.

QUO TE UOTE “A man may die, nations may rise and fall, but an idea lives on.”

— John F. Kennedy

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

ANALYSIS The insurgency in Afghanistan is savvy and strategic - and will likely weaken Western resolve to stay in the country.

Quran burning: When history repeats itself

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any lives were entangled, and some were taken, including those of at least six US soldiers.

Even the dead were ensnared. In Libya, the graves of British soldiers from the Second World War were vandalised.

Of course, it is not the torching of holy books on its own that generates these effects around the world. It is worth reflecting on the help provided by the overall situation, and by other actors and forces.

Crucially, we should think about what we do not see, what is obscured, when we frame and name events as Quran burning as protesting about it, apologising for it, or writing news stories about it.

Afghans are not just protesting burned books, but the fact that it was a foreign, occupying army that did the burning. That army and the war it brought with it have been in the country for over 10 years.

For much of that time, the West has promised social and political development, as well as Afghan self-determination. It has instead delivered violence and incompetent, corrupt governance. In the rush for an exit, it will leave behind a civil war.

In these circumstances, the humiliation of occupation, rage at the loss of kin and the bitterness of hope denied, together find their expression in protest over burnt Qurans.

After all that has happened, there are the Americans, torching the equivalent of the US Constitution and the Bible combined in a garbage dump.

Cultural awarness lacking The failures of leadership and of the most basic cultural awareness and respect among some US troops have handed their enemies a made-to-order lightening rod for organisation and action.

Such moments are opportunities for the actors behind the insurgency. NATO is on the back foot, publicly embarrassed. The bounds of acceptable protest expand along with social pressures among Afghans to take action.

Insurgent networks have used the Quran burning to turn out popular demonstrations, inspire fighters in the field, and motivate suicidal action among lone bombers and gunmen.

The results so far have exposed the fragility and tenuousness of the Western presence in Afghanistan - in the civil society, the government and the security forces.

Particularly notable is the

Afghans are not just protesting burned Qurans, but the fact that they were burned by a foreign army intensification of the ongoing attacks on NATO advisers and trainers, who must of necessity work closely with Afghan personnel.

Any orderly exit for the West from its Afghan imbroglio requires sufficiently strong Afghan security forces. Their task will be to hold off the Taliban for a “decent interval” before the collapse of the Karzai regime and the rise of a new dispensation.

They might then regroup as the armed forces of a rump NATO/ US-supported entity in the North.

The insurgent ability to strike directly at the trainers is therefore a matter of utmost strategic significance. One such attack (before the Quran burning) killed four French trainers. It led Sarkozy, rather indecently and facing an election campaign, to announce the withdrawal of French forces a full year earlier than planned.

This is a classic example of the entwining of Western domestic politics with faraway “small wars”. The French decision registers the fact that the West no longer has the will to continue its project of modernisation in Afghanistan.

Insurgent strikes In the wake of the Quran burning, two field-grade US officers were shot dead inside the Afghan Ministry of the Interior.

This led to the temporary withdrawal of NATO personnel from Afghan ministries, a clear victory for the insurgents. More insidious and long-lasting will be the increased fear and suspicion infecting personal relationships between Western advisers and

their Afghan counterparts and trainees.

It is very difficult for officers and soldiers to develop warm and effective advisory relationships with one finger on the safety of their weapons.

Of little consequence is whether each attack on advisers is a planned Taliban or Haqqani operation, or the act of a loner suddenly inspired - perhaps by the Quran burning or by some more personal incident - to turn on the Westerners around him.

General John R Allen, the ISAF commander, condemned the perpetrator of the Interior Ministry killings as a “coward”.

Given that he killed a US lieutenant-colonel and a major, inflicted a significant defeat on his enemies, and got away to tell the tale, he should instead be studied as an exemplary insurgent by both sides.

In any case, in a war in which one side ambushes trainers resting in their tents while the other strikes its targets from the safety of drones, conventional constructs of heroes and fair

fights only serve to cloud thinking.

As with visions of sneaky but spineless Oriental assassins, thinking in terms of Quran burning risks loss of clarity.

Framing events in this way makes it all too easy to imagine Afghans as primitive people, who react out of instinct to the desecration of their totems. It is as if they are killing Western soldiers and demonstrating outside NATO bases because the Westerners did not salaam three times in the proper way.

Instead, the mistakes of a few US troops and a chain of all-toohuman bureaucratic snafus at Bagram prison have given a savvy and determined enemy a strategic opening, which it has exploited to good effect.

The US should be thankful it is facing such a fragmented opposition in Afghanistan and that its efforts to decimate Taliban leadership have been so successful.

Images of Western soldiers being stabbed in the back by their Asian apprentices is a powerful

“

In any case, in a war in which one side ambushes trainers resting in their tents while the other strikes its targets from the safety of drones, conventional constructs of heroes and fair fights only serve to cloud thinking

[Reuters] means by which to undermine Western self-confidence. An allout assault by terrorist means on NATO trainers and advisers might measurably weaken the West’s remaining commitment.

It might also torpedo the advisory mission. But the coordination and resources necessary are probably beyond the insurgents and their backers.

In any case, such an operation is hardly necessary to see off Western troops from Afghanistan, who are scheduled as it is to leave in 2014.

For instinctual reactions to the burning of holy books, we have the US Republican presidential candidates Newt Gingrich and Rick Santorum assisted by Sarah Palin. They exemplify the wounded, overcompensating masculinity that so characterises a sector of the US right. In a series of statements ready-made for Taliban propaganda, they insisted that it is Karzai who should apologise to Obama for the fact that Afghans have been killing Americans.

It is as if, in 1776, an English politician demanded American revolutionaries beg forgiveness of King George III for killing his redcoats.

The view is understandable, but unrealistic.

Most of it all, it displays the petulance of a punctured pride.

Unfortunately for the West, Afghans at large have demonstrated a sophisticated grasp of the situation at a critical juncture in the war. Their attacks on advisers show an instinct for the exposed jugular of the Western exit strategy.

Source: Aljazeera

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 32

Egypt MP quits over nose job cover up

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Founder of Tunisian ‘religious police’ eschews

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he head of a group that has government permission to seek to promote religious teachings in Tunisia says he will use persuasion and protest but not violence to encourage Islamic behaviour in one of the Arab world's most secular countries.

Adel al-Ilmi, a date merchant by trade, said he changed the name of his organisation from the Group for the Promotion of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice, as it conjured up images of Saudi Arabia's religious police, which beats women who are not properly veiled or men caught outside the mosque at prayer time.

Renamed the Group for Moderation and Reform, Ilmi said its members would not wield sticks but might approach an amorous couple or a scantily-clad woman in the street and try to persuade them that their behaviour was un-Islamic.

"We reject any spectacle that offends Islam and Muslims, any spectacle that opposes the morals of Muslims, especially if it is in the street or in a public place," he told Reuters.

"As a group we would not use force ... even in extreme cases. We are civil. There are situations where we would pressure the government and public institutions to apply the law and if there is no law we will call for a law."

At the foreront of the Arab Spring after an uprising deposed secular President Zine al-Abdine Ben Ali, Tunisia is now ruled by a coalition that is led by a moderate Islamist party but includes partners who want to keep religion out of politics.

While most Tunisians are Muslims, Tunisia is considered one of the most laid-back countries in the Arab world. Alcohol is served in restaurants and sold in supermarkets, many Tunisian women shun the veil and jealously guard legal rights in marriage and divorce that are among the most progressive in the region.

n Egyptian MP has been forced to resign from parliament and his Islamist party after claiming the injuries to his heavily bandaged face were from a beating to cover up a plastic surgery to his nose, The Al-Nour party said in a statement on Monday that the MP, Anwar al-Balkimy, "has resigned from the party and from parliament".

"In light of the regretful incident involving Al-Nour party lawmaker Anwar al-Balkimy, the head of the party, Emad Abdel-Ghafour, went to the hospital with a team of party members to question the lawmaker,"

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heavy bandages that only his eyes, mouth and black-bearded chin could be seen.

According to Egyptian media reports, al-Balkimy checked into a Cairo hospital on February 28 for plastic surgery on his nose and the next day checked into a second hospital, where doctors said he tried to claim he had been beaten and mugged.

He also reported to police that he was attacked during an attempt to steal his car while he was driving on the outskirts of Cairo. He also claimed his attackers robbed him of more than $16,000.

His false claims led to an outcry against the government for failing to address a crime wave that has been plaguing Egypt since last year's uprising toppled President Hosni Mubarak. Just days before the false

report, an Islamist presidential hopeful was beaten in a carjacking, and another Islamist lawmaker was injured in a hit-and-run.

The episode was a major embarrassment for Al-Nour, fresh off its strong showing in parliamentary elections, which turned out to be the biggest surprise of the first free and fair democratic vote in Egypt in decades.

It captured a quarter of seats in both houses of parliament, making it the second largest party.

The state prosecutor is waiting for al-Balkimy's diplomatic immunity to be lifted before interrogating him.

If the MP, from the northern province of Menoufia, is found guilty of filing a false police report, he could face prison on charges of "creating anxiety among the public" and "worrying public officials".

Mali government forces fail to lift garrison town siege

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Abdel-Ghafour, the party chief, went to the hospital to question the MP and found his claims were not true [Reuters]

alian army units trying to resupply the remote northern garrison of Tessalit, besieged for weeks by rebels, have been beaten back after days of heavy fighting, rebel, army and local officials said on Monday.

Fighting over Tessalit has been fierce as the town is close to the border with Algeria and losing it to rebels fighting for an independent north would leave Malian government forces with little presence in the remote border region.

"The convoy has pulled back," said

Uganda ruling party clears c.banker of graft: Sources

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awmakers from Uganda's ruling party, the National Resistance Movement, voted to clear the central bank governor of corruption allegations and dismiss a recommendation by a parliamentary report calling for his sacking, sources said yesterday.

In the report issued last month, parliament's public accounts committee recommended that Governor Emmanuel TumusiimeMutebile, who is serving his third five-year term, be sacked on suspicion of sanctioning an illegal multi-million dollar payment to a businessman.

Eastern Libya declares semi- autonomy ribal leaders and militia commanders in oil-rich eastern Libya have declared a semi-autonomous region, raising fears that the country might disintegrate following the fall of Muammar Gaddafi.

Libya's National Transitional Council (NTC), the interim central government based in the capital Tripoli, has repeatedly voiced its opposition to the creation of a partly autonomous eastern region, warning it could eventually lead to the break-up of the North African nation.

Thousands of representatives of major tribal leaders, militia commanders and politicians made

the statement said. The party said it found al-Balkimy's claims of an attack were not true.

"Based on what the hospital officials said, we decided to expel him from the party, and so he submitted his resignation," Al-Nour spokesman Nader Bakar was quoted on the group's official Facebook page as saying.

"We are trying to bring forth a new set of social values in politics based on Islamic principles," Bakar said. "He may be suffering from an emotional disorder."

Local media have been awash over the past few days with pictures of al-Balkimy's face swathed in such

the declaration on Tuesday in a ceremony held in the eastern city of Benghazi.

They vowed to end decades of marginalisation under Gaddafi and named a council to run the affairs of the newly created region, extending from the central coastal city of Sirte to the Egyptian border in the east.

The gathering appointed Ahmed al-Zubair, Libya's longest serving political prisoner under Gaddafi, as leader of its governing council.

Al-Zubair, who is also a member of the NTC, pledged to protect the rights of the region but also said his council recognises NTC to run Libya's international affairs.

Two sources including a senior government official told Reuters that Tumusiime-Mutebile, who has also been praised for having moved quickly to tame an 18-year record inflation last year, was cleared of any direct culpability for the scandal.

"The caucus was convinced by the president (Yoweri Museveni) that the governor was only following directives. So we voted and an overwhelming majority voted to exonerate the governor," one of the sources told Reuters.

Parliament is expected to debate and take a final vote on the governor's fate on Tuesday

afternoon but the ruling party has an overwhelming majority and its caucus position is almost certain to prevail.

Together with other factors, the uncertainty over the governor's fate has been fuelling a fall in the shilling currency, which has lost more than 8 percent against the dollar in the last two sessions.

Two ministers quit last month over the same multi-million dollar scandal and there has been growing calls even outside parliament for the governor to go, but Tumusiime-Mutebile has said he would not resign because he was innocent.

a senior member of northern Mali's Arab community, referring to three units trying to punch their way into Tessalit, where hundreds of soldiers and civilians are cut off from the rest of the country.

Two Malian military sources also confirmed the pull-back but gave no casualty toll. "We are going to have to reorganise our troops," said one of the sources, asking not to be named.

The source added that the Tuareg-led MNLA fighters had received reinforcements from Chad, Algeria and Nigeria but did not give further details.

The MNLA have been bolstered by heavily armed Malian Tuareg returning from fighting alongside pro-Gaddafi forces in Libya. The clashes have added a new layer of insecurity to a zone awash with smugglers and plagued by fighters linked to al Qaeda.

Dozens of people have been reported killed and some 120,000 have fled their homes since the rebels launched a push south in midJanuary.

Mali's government issued a statement confirming heavy fighting on Sunday but gave no details on the convoy's status.

It repeated charges that the MNLA rebels were fighting alongside drug dealers, al Qaeda factions and other Islamists. The rebels have repeatedly denied the charge.

Algeria promises Libya it will rein in Gaddafi family

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he most senior Algerian official to visit Libya since its revolution promised on Monday that members of Muammar Gaddafi's family given refuge on Algerian soil will not be allowed to meddle in Libyan affairs.

Algeria's relations with Libya were strained by the rebellion that overthrew Gaddafi last year, disrupting security cooperation between the neighbours that Western states believe is crucial to combating al Qaeda in the Sahara desert.

The decision to allow Gaddafi's daughter, wife and two of his sons to enter Algeria after they fled their homes last year deepened a row that had already been simmering over

Libyan allegations Algeria had been too slow to back the revolt.

Algerian Foreign Minister Mourad Medelci, speaking to reporters after meeting his Libyan opposite number Ashour Bin Hayal, sought to repair the damage.

"Algeria took them (Gaddafi family members) in on humanitarian grounds. At the same time we will never allow them to interfere in Libyan affairs," he said.

The dispute between Libya and Algeria has been rancorous. Some Libyans accused Algeria of supplying weapons to Gaddafi during last year's revolt against his rule, an allegation Algeria denies.

When Gaddafi's family members

turned up in Algeria after Tripoli fell to the rebellion, a senior Libyan official accused Algeria of an "act of aggression."

Algerian Foreign Mourad Medelci

Minister

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 33

Netanyahu: Nuclear-armed Iran must be stopped

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inyamin Netanyahu, Israel's prime minister, has stated his country's right to defend itself against the possible threat of a nucleararmed Iran and said the world cannot wait much longer to take action against Tehran.

Netanyahu was addressing the American Israel Public Affairs Committee (AIPAC), the powerful pro-Israel lobbying group, in Washington on Monday, after earlier holding talks with US President Barack Obama.

"Israel will always reserve the

right to defend itself," Netanyahu said in an uncompromising speech.

"We are determined to prevent Iran developing nuclear weapons. We leave all options on the table and containment is not an option. The Jewish state will not allow those who seek Israel's destruction the means to achieve that goal. A nucleararmed Iran must be stopped."

Iran denies that it is seeking to develop nuclear weapons and says its nuclear programme is for civilian purposes.

In an apparent retort to

Obama's address to AIPAC a day earlier in which the US president called on Israel to allow time for US-led sanctions against Iran to take effect, Netanyahu said: "We've waited for diplomacy to work, we've waited for sanctions to work; none of us can afford to wait much longer."

Netanyahu's visit to Washington comes amid speculation, in the press and in public statements by Israeli officials, that Israel is planning a strike against nuclear facilities in Iran.

Netanyahu told AIPAC that he would not talk about what Israel would or would not do, but reiterated that Israel would not allow Iran to acquire nuclear weapons.

"As prime minister of Israel, I will never let my people live in the shadow of annihilation," he said.

The Obama administration

has not said whether it would support Israeli action against Iran, and in recent weeks has said it sees no evidence that Iran is building a nuclear weapon.

James Clapper, the US director of national intelligence, testified before Congress in January that he believed Iran had not yet decided whether or not to build a bomb.

Iran ‘to allow military site inspection’

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ran has said it will allow international inspectors access to its Parchin military complex, according to the ISNA news agency, after the head of the UN nuclear watchdog raised concerns about activities at the site.

The Iranian news agency reported yesterday that Iran's diplomatic mission to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Vienna had confirmed that inspectors could visit the site. “Parchin is a military site and accessing it is a time-consuming process, therefore visits cannot be allowed frequently ... We will

allow the IAEA to visit it one more time," the statement said.

AN IAEA team were denied access to Parchin during highlevel talks in Tehran in February.

The statement did not set a date for a further visit, while Iranian diplomats and IAEA officials have not commented on the statement.

Yukiya Amano, the head of the IAEA, said on Monday that Iran had tripled its monthly production of higher-grade enriched uranium and expressed "serious concerns" about possible military dimensions to Tehran's atomic activities.

Iran says that it is developing nuclear technology for peaceful

civilian purposes.

But an IAEA report last year said that Iran had built a large containment chamber at Parchin, southeast of Tehran, to conduct explosives tests that were "strong indicators" of efforts to develop a nuclear device.

Parchin is a weapons development site owned by Iran's Defence Industries Organisation, a group of state-owned military companies.

The IAEA was granted access to parts of the facility in November 2005, and a subsequent report documented no "unusual activities" nor the presence of nuclear material.

Iran recently unveiled what it described as "very big achievements" in nuclear science [Reuters]

US senator calls for airstrikes in Syria

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veteran US senator has urged Washington to launch airstrikes against Syria's military in response to its use of heavy artillery to bombard and devastate residential areas in protest hubs across the country.

Speaking in the Senate on Monday, John McCain said US President Barack Obama had been too soft on Damascus and cited moral and strategic obligations to help force the government of Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian president, out of power.

The Republican, who stood against Obama for the presidency in 2008, said that helping arm the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups would not be enough to "stop the slaughter of innocent civilians" and pave the

way for democratic transition.

"Providing military assistance to the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups is necessary. But at this late hour, that alone cannot be sufficient to stop the slaughter and save innocent lives," he said.

"The only realistic way to do so is with foreign air power."

McCain said the US should use its "full weight of air power" to crush Syria's year-long crackdown on dissent that has claimed thousands of civilian lives.

"The United States should lead an international effort to protect key population centres in Syria, especially in the north, through airstrikes on Assad's forces," he added.

"The benefit for the United States of helping to lead this effort

directly, is that it would allow us to better empower those Syrian groups that share our interests.

Those groups that reject al-Qaeda and the Iranian regime, and commit to the goal of an inclusive, democratic transition, as called for by the Syrian National Council."

McCain has long been more hawkish than both the Obama administration and his fellow legislators in his advocacy of the use of US military power to back uprisings against repressive governments.

Last year, he called for the US and NATO to step up its air campaign in Libya and support for rebels fighting against Muammar Gaddafi, describing forces battling to topple the country's longtime leader as "heroes".

Rahul Gandhi had staked his political future on reviving his party's fortunes in Uttar Pradesh [AFP]

Setback for India ruling party in polls

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ndia's ruling Congress party is trailing in fourth place as vote counting neared its end in the country's most populous state of Uttar Pradesh, indicating a midterm blow for the national government and a setback for the fortunes of the Gandhi political dynasty.

Yesterday's early results meant bad news for Congress party General Secretary Rahul Gandhi who had staked his political future on reviving his party's fortunes in the key northern state.

Gandhi, scion of the NehruGandhi dynasty that has ruled India for most of its 65 years of independence, had campaigned tirelessly to revive his centre-left party in a politically crucial state where it has not held power for 22 years.

The campaign was also seen as a test of his fitness to take over from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh after federal elections due in 2014.

Elections to provincial

assemblies were held in five states over a period of one month, but it is the outcome from Uttar Pradesh where 200 million people live amid deep levels of poverty that is considered to be the most significant.

With partial results in for 386 of the 403 assembly seats in Uttar Pradesh, Congress and a regional ally were leading in just 38, according to the Election Commission.

Congress, which heads the federal coalition government, won only 22 of the state's seats in the last poll.

This could mean a return to power for Mulayam Singh Yadav, a former wrestler who first governed Uttar Pradesh from 1989, when Rahul's father, Rajiv, was still alive.

However, Yadav's party - the leftist Samajwadi Party (SP) - looked set to fall short of an absolute majority, and so it may seek a coalition with Congress to rule the state.

Hundreds held after anti-Putin rallies

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housands of Russians have rallied in Moscow and other cities to challenge Vladimir Putin's victory in Russia's presidential election, prompting hundreds of arrests.

Police said they had arrested 250 people in Moscow and 300 in Saint Petersburg on Monday after moving in roughly to break up demonstrations against what opposition activists say was a rigged vote.

About 20,000 anti-Putin protesters turned out in Pushkin Square in central Moscow chanting "Russia Yes! Putin No!".

The opposition supporters, who had been granted permission by authorities to protest for an hour, gathered in front of a stage emblazoned with the slogan "For fair

elections".

Al Jazeera's Christopher True, reporting from the square, said: "After the allotted time for the demonstration was up, there was some heavy-handed tactics by police to clear the area.

"Officers formed rings and herded protesters down into the entrances of the Moscow metro.

Dozens of people were arrested, including some of the main opposition leaders at the event."

Putin, who has dominated Russian politics since the beginning of the 21st century, won more than 63 per cent of Sunday's vote, according to the nearly complete official returns, but the opposition has alleged widespread fraud and independent monitors said the vote was skewed in Putin's favour.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Thousands flee Australia flooding

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mergency services have ordered more than 8,000 people to evacuate a New South Wales town, in southeast Australia, threatened by rising floodwaters.

New South Wales emergency officials and police ordered thousands to evacuate the centre of the town of Wagga Wagga yesterday as the Murrumbidgee river threatened to breach the

town's levee barriers.

People had already been ordered to evacuate homes in the surrounding area after the river burst its banks in places.

On Sunday, about 13,000 people around New South Wales were also asked to leave their homes due to the flooding.

Floods hit three eastern states this week, sweeping two men to their deaths after they attempted to cross

waterways in cars.

The rising rain waters inundated more than 250 properties and isolated a number of rural communities causing millions of dollars in damage.

Julia Gillard, the Australian prime minister, said earlier that the military had been deployed to several areas and was on standby to help other stricken towns if the crisis deepened.

"We've got floodwaters across New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria," she told reporters.

"For the people of Wagga particularly, this is a very anxious time."

"There is a significant risk that the levee will overtop or potentially breach," said Andrew Richards, the New South Wales State Emergency Service (SES) spokesperson.

Flood warnings issued as thousands of residents evacuated their homes in the town of Wagga Wagga [Reuters]

Earthquake shakes buildings in Philippines

A

moderately strong earthquake in a central Philippine province has sent people rushing outside in panic.

Renato Solidum of the Philippine Institute of Volcanology and Seismology said the quake with a preliminary magnitude of 5.2 struck yesterday morning and was centered just three kilometres north of Masbate City on the island province of Masbate.

The quake, which was caused by movement in a local fault, was felt in nearby provinces.

Socrates Tuason, the mayor of Masbate, told The Associated Press news agency by telephone that there were no immediate reports of major damage, and power and communications were unaffected in his hillside city of 90,000 people.

But the quake caused cracks and shattered windows in houses and some

buildings, one of which had to be cleared of people while safety officials ensured its stability.

Large numbers of people rushed out of homes, offices, hospitals and schools and stayed in the streets as an aftershock hit less than an hour after the quake.

At least five people were slightly injured by falling objects, he said.

"I was having breakfast with my wife when everything started

to shake. The TV set and glasses fell off the table," Tuason said. "When I got out, I saw all the people in the community were on the streets."

Disaster-response and first aid teams were deployed across the city, Tuason said, adding that he had sent officials to check a report that an abandoned, three-story building has collapsed in a downtown residential area, Tuason said.

Saudi diplomat found dead in Bangladesh

A

Saudi diplomat has been shot dead in Bangladesh's capital Dhaka, authorities

said.

Police found the body of Khalak al-Ali yesterday at an interesection near his apartment building in the Gulshan district and rushed him to a hospital where he died three hours later, Lutful Kabir, a local police

deputy commissioner, told the AFP news agency.

"He was hit by a bullet in the left chest," Kabir said.

Yusuf Jamil, a spokesman for United Hospital, said the diplomat had been admitted to the intensive care unit after he was brought in by police but could not be resuscitated.

Kabir said police were

investigating the murder of the 45-year-old, who headed the embassy's citizens' affairs department.

Abdullah Al Bussairy, the Saudi Ambassador to Bangladesh, told the local UNB news agency: "One of our diplomatic staff was killed near his house in Gulshan this morning. This is sad."

The killers might have shot the Saudi official somewhere else and dumped his body on the road in Gulshan, Khandker Lutful Kabir, deputy commissioner of Gulshan division, told The Daily Star newspaper.

"Police did not see any sign of blood at the place the body was found," he said.

Russian activists unbowed by detentions

R

ussian activists say they plan to continue protesting against Vladimir Putin's victory in presidential elections after hundreds of people were detained at opposition rallies in Moscow and Saint Petersburg.

Police reported detaining 250 people in the Russian capital and another 370 in Putin's home city on Monday night, although they said most had been released on Tuesday morning.

"Tens of thousands will be

coming out on the streets of Moscow and other cities and refusing to leave," Alexei Navalny, a popular anti-corruption blogger who has become a figurehead of the antiPutin movement, told reporters on Tuesday following his release. "We will keep doing this until our demands are met."

Navalny and two other activist leaders were due to attend hearings on Tuesday after refusing to break up a rally in Moscow late on Monday when police told protesters to

disperse.

Putin won Sunday's presidential election with 63.6 per cent of the vote and in May will be sworn in to serve for a sixyear term.

Putin has dominated Russian politics since the beginning of the 21st century, serving two terms as president between 2000 and 2008, before stepping down to become prime minister under current President Dmitry Medvedev.

Police officers detain one of the Russian opposition's leaders, Alexei Navalny, at Moscow's Pushkin Square.

Photograph: Alexander Nemenov/AFP/Getty Images

US polls open for ‘Super Tuesday’

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olls have opened in Ohio as the primary and caucus contests in 10 US states gets under way, heating up the battle for the Republican Party's presidential nomination.

Alaska, Georgia, Idaho, Massachusetts, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Vermont and Virginia will also have their say on a day dubbed "Super Tuesday" that has traditionally been decisive in determining who goes on to claim the nomination.

Frontrunner Mitt Romney hoped to keep momentum on his side and deliver a major blow to chief rival Rick Santorum yesterdayas the two candidates waged a closely fought battle over Ohio, seen as the biggest prize of the day.

The sheer number of states in play, with their diverse demographics and political leanings, could break open a candidate's pathway to the nomination, or spell the end of a failing campaign.

Super Tuesday essentially ended the Republican nomination battle in 2008, when Romney capitulated and Senator John McCain went on to become the nominee.

Four years later, Romney is in the lead and could possibly seal the nomination on Tuesday. However, Santorum is close behind, still hoping to pull off a stunning upset by drawing on growing support among the Republicans' conservative base.

Newt Gingrich and Ron Paul are also still in the race.

But many analysts predict that no clear winner will emerge.

"I'm not sure Tuesday means that much other than more of the same," said veteran strategist Neil Oxman, co-founder of The Campaign Group.

"What's going to happen is, Santorum is going to do well enough to continue," while Romney will emerge from Super Tuesday as "the favourite, but not the overwhelming favourite," Oxman told AFP news agency.

With some 437 delegates to August's Republican National Convention at stake - nearly 40 per cent of the 1,144 needed to secure the nomination - Romney and Santorum have been criss-crossing the country in a frenzy of campaigning.

Romney got a boost going into Tuesday's votes with a win in the Washington state caucuses, but that contest was non-binding.

Romney, Santorum and Gingrich all spent Monday campaigning in Ohio, which for decades has served as a "bellwether" for the general election, voting for the eventual winner.

One important factor is Gingrich, who is hoping to inject some new momentum into a flagging campaign. He is polling ahead in Georgia, the state he served in Congress for 20 years, and which has Tuesday's largest haul of 76 delegates.

Gingrich has been vying with Santorum to be the conservative alternative to Romney, but has faltered since a January win in South Carolina.

With the back-and-forth competition still undecided, some are starting to speculate about a possible brokered convention when the Republican Party gathers to select their candidate later this year.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 35

Man’s waist measures more than his height T

he 25-year-old 'human He said: "I like my nan's active than I was. I'm swimming doughnut' stands just 5ft bolognese; I like any food. I think three times a week "I feel lighter and 3in tall but is a gut-busting that's the problem. healthier and want to keep losing 6ft 6in around his girth.

"I do think my nan feeds me more more."

And while experts recommend than she should but I think that's a There are no figures available for a body mass index for healthy folk granny thing, she wants to spoil me." the number of people who are bigger based on height and weight of up to Rob is now desperately trying to round the waist than they are tall 25, supersize Rob's is a terrifying 86. lose weight and can be seen battling as it is a statistic that is not normally Each day he tucks into cream his food addiction on the Channel 4 compared. doughnuts, chocolate, biscuits and TV show Supersize v Superskinny.

But Professor David Haslam of cakes and washes it all down with a He swaps diets with foodaphobic the National Obesity Forum said: "It gallon of fizzy drinks - clocking up an Hayley Payne, 25, who weighs just is extremely rare for someone's waist amazing 7,000 calories.

6st 12lbs - and has already lost two circumference to be greater than Rob, of Bridgend, South Wales, stone and trimmed 10 inches off his their height. has been told he could drop dead stomach.

"This chap is in big trouble - the unless he starts to lose weight.

He said: "I'm eating more fruit, waist is the worst place to store fat.

He said: "My addiction is mostly more vegetables and I've cut out the "If he does not do something about for sweet stuff, like chocolate, biscuits rubbish, including cream cakes. it rapidly he is going to lose decades and cakes - and I quite like a pie, once "I don't miss them - I'm more of his life - up to two or three decades." in a while.

"I don't like what I see in the mirror but when I see the food I just want to eat it. And eat, eat, eat.

"I don't smoke - my addiction is fizzy drinks and cake."

Youth worker Rob cries himself to sleep because he has no girlfriend and can't live the life of an average 25-year-old.

He admits: "I don't chat to girls. I just don't see the point anymore.

"I want to lose weight so I can fit into fashionable clothes, be one of the lads, go out and meet friends.

"But I do like my doughnuts with cream in, they're my favourites, although I will eat most cakes.

"I'm a picker, I like to pick things and I'm always picking."

Rob blames his grandmother for ROTUND Rob Gillett - who tips the scales at a massive 35st 10lb - is a rare feeding him up since he was a child. example of someone whose waist measurement is bigger than his height.

Lip service ... the Face Slimmer Exercise Mouthpiece offers a daily lift to saggy chops. London Media

Big ... Rob Gillett.

Wales News Service

They are 50 per cent of who I am: The woman addicted to growing her toenails - even though it is risking her health

A

woman who was once addicted to growing the nails on her hands has now grown her toenails to a staggering four inches, limiting her motion and jeopardising her health.

Known as Ayanna, the 54year-old is the latest quirky character to appear on TLC's show My Strange Addiction on which she refuses to cut her curly claws calling them her 'babies.'

'They're just sexy and sassy. I am considered a long-nailed

Awkward: The grandmother has to wear flip-flops year round except when she cuts the ends of tennis shoes

goddess,' Ayanna told the lifestyle network's cameras much to the dismay of her godson Kuwait and friend Vincent.

As if Ayanna's addiction does not already impinge on everyday life, she was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, a disease which requires activity and exercise to beat.

But the extreme nailenthusiast is adamant, despite what her family say, that she 'will fiercely protect them at all costs.'

Forced to walk slowly like a penguin on her heels and climb stairs sideways, Ayanna rarely sleeps on her back because the

blanket feels like a 'brick is sitting on top of my toe nails,' she explained.

Furthermore, she can't wear socks or any other shoes except flipflops which she must endure year round, changing only into tennis shoes when she can cut the end out of the foot.

At the age of 24, Ayanna began growing the nails on her hands freakishly long but five years ago, her addiction spread to her feet.

Her longest toenail she estimates measures four inches while her shortest competes at an unimaginable two.

Nailed it! A 54-year-old woman has become so obsessed by growing her four inch toenails, she won't even cut them to exercise despite being diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes

Frustrated by his friend's inability to even play with her grandsons and her stubbornness when it comes to taking control of her diabetes, Vincent takes Ayanna to a dance class in order to show her the extent to which she has disabled herself.

But the grandmother gives up after she spends most of the session worrying that he is going to step on her toes and the point of the exercise seems totally lost on her.

Determined to try one more time to convince her that she needs to change her ways he goads her into trimming the nails to which she counters: 'They are 50 per cent of who I am. I will absolutely not cut them.'

Freakish: Ayanna has been growing her toenails for five years and considers them vital limbs

Determined: Despite not being able to walk properly, play with her grandsons or sleep on her back, Ayanna refuses to cut her 'babies'

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Taking vitamin E supplements may actually weaken bones, study shows I

t is dubbed the anti-ageing vitamin. But vitamin E may make bones old and frail before their time.

Animals fed on a diet supplemented with the vitamin had bones 20 per cent weaker than those that ate normally, a preliminary study found.

Worryingly, the effect was seen after just eight weeks.

The scientists behind the research said that given the popularity of vitamin E supplements, a larger study on people is now warranted.

The vitamin, which occurs naturally in cereals, nuts, olive oil and egg yolks, is credited with helping hold back the hands of time by ‘fighting ageing from within’.

Benefits are said to include cutting the risk of heart disease, cancers and cataracts, as well as helping keep the mind sharp into

old age and the skin supple.

One of the world’s most popular supplements, it is taken daily by hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of Britons.

In the US, more than one in ten adults take vitamin E tablets.

The latest study, detailed in the journal Nature Medicine, looked at the effect of alphatocopherol, the most common form of the vitamin, on bone strength.

Bone is constantly changing, with old bone broken down and new bone being built.

Osteoporosis occurs when old bone is broken down by the body far more quickly than it is replaced.

In the Japanese study, mice genetically modified to have low levels of the vitamin in their blood, grew bones that were extra-thick.

This was found to be due to them being poor at breaking down old bone, rather than good at making new stuff.

When vitamin E was added to the animals’ diet, their bone density returned to normal.

In another experiment, giving normal mice alphatocopherol vitamin E supplements at doses equivalent to those taken by people, led to their bones thinning by a fifth in just two months.

The same result was seen in rats.

Researcher Dr Shu Takeda, of Keio University in Tokyo, called for a larger study on the vitamin’s effect on human bones.

Professor Helen MacDonald, an advisor to the National Osteoporosis Society, said: ‘There is nothing to worry about if you are getting plenty of

The latest study looked at the effect of alpha-tocopherol, the most common form of vitamin E, on bone strength

vitamin E from your diet but those taking high doses of the nutrient in supplements need to be wary.

‘You have to remember this research was carried out on animals and findings in humans can be very different. But more

research is needed.’

An estimated three million Britons have osteoporosis, with 230,000 breaking weakened bones each year and 1,150 dying each month after fractured a hip.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Vitamin E could make bones weaker according to a new study

Children who snore ‘more at risk of behavioural problems’

Y

oung children who snore or suffer from night-time breathing conditions have a higher risk of developing behavioural problems, a study has found.

Researchers followed more than 11,000 children living in the UK for over six years, and found that those who snored or had sleep apnoea were more likely to develop hyperactivity or aggressiveness.

They were also more likely to struggle when forming friendships with their peers.

Dr Karen Bonuck, a professor of family and social medicine who led the research, said breathing difficulties could be harming the children’s brain development.

She wrote in the journal Pediatrics: ‘This is the strongest evidence to date that snoring, mouth breathing, and apnoea [abnormally long pauses in breathing during sleep] can have

serious behavioural and socialemotional consequences for children.

‘Parents and pediatricians alike should be paying closer attention to sleep-disordered breathing in young children, perhaps as early as the first year of life.’

Around one in 10 children regularly snores and between two and four per cent suffer from sleep apnoea, in which breathing is interrupted during sleep.

Enlarged tonsils and adenoids are two of the most common causes of sleep disruption in children.

The team from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University asked British parents to fill out questionnaires about their children’s symptoms at various points, when they were between six and 69 months of age.

The team from the Albert Einstein College of Medicine at Yeshiva University asked British

parents to fill out questionnaires about their children’s symptoms at various points, when they were between six and 69 months of age.

The parents were also asked to

give their own assessment of the child’s behaviour.

The research revealed that children who snored or had sleep apnoea were between 40 to 100

Sleeping soundly? Research following 11,000 children has found that those who snore or suffer from night-time breathing conditions have a higher risk of developing behavioural problems

per cent more likely to develop behavioural problems by the age of seven, compared to those without breathing difficulties.

Dr Bonuck said that a reduction in oxygen passing to the children’s brains could be hindering the restorative benefits of sleep, meaning children found it harder to pay attention, plan ahead, or control their emotions.

‘Although snoring and apnoea are relatively common in children, pediatricians and family physicians do not routinely check for sleep-disordered breathing,’ Dr. Bonuck said.

‘In many cases, the doctor will simply ask parents, “How is your child sleeping?”

She said parents of children who snore or experience sleep apnoea should ask the child’s doctor if they need to be seen by an ear, nose and throat or sleep specialist.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 37

PDP Chairmanship contests upbeat as Bello introduces youthfulness, dynamism FEATURE

By Lawrence Olaoye

F

ollowing the ratification of the much speculated zoning arrangement by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), the coast is now clear for those jostling for the exalted party position from the North East zone.

Stakeholders from the region wishing to contest the positions have brought in with them intimidating profiles that have the capacity of confusing the delegates. But there are certain conditions that would either make or mar some of the candidates.

If feelers from the state governors are anything to go by, then some of the conditions for their support for any of the candidates currently aspiring for the party's topmost position are youthfulness, administrative experience, thoroughness, wide acceptability and above all, dynamism.

Although some of the frontline contestants including former Nigerian Ambassador to the United States of America, Alhaji Hassan Adamu and the Chairman of African Business Roundtable and former governor of old Gongola state, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, have all the requisite qualifications to lead the self acclaimed biggest party in Africa, they may not possess the physical agility to perform the strenuous physical activities required of them should any of them clinch the position. Notwithstanding, Tukur has dismissed this submission by insisting that leading the PDP is not a bout of boxing requiring physical agility but a job requiring wisdom that comes with age and experience.

Others coming into the race with equally intimidating profiles and with age on their sides include the incumbent Acting National Secretary of the party, Dr. Musa Babayo (Bauchi); the party's National Publicity Secretary, Professor Rufai Ahmed Alkali (Gombe); Senator Mohammed Abba-Aji (Borno), the former Special Adviser to President Goodluck Jonathan on National Assembly matters and lately Mallam Adamu Bello (Adamawa), former Minister for Agriculture under the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The entrance of Mallam Bello, the Adamawa born politician and administrator has brought glamour into the race and there are indications that the party's stakeholders including President Goodluck Jonathan, members of the party's Board of Trustees( BoT) and the state governors, particularly those from the Norh-East zone, may find the choice a candidate among the arrays of candidates with intimidating resume Herculean.

However, Political observers are of the opinion that Bello, who is also a frontline contender for the position has demonstrated his capacity to lead the party beyond reasonable doubts, having served the country meritoriously in several capacities in the past.

Mallam Adamu Bello, an indigene of Adamawa State, was born to the

Mallam Adamu Bello, Former Minister of Agrculture. family of Justice Muhammad Bello in Numan, Adamawa State in 1951 and after the death of his father, was raised by his older brother, Justice Aminu Bello along with many brothers and sisters.

For his education, young Adamu attended Government School MayoBelwa before proceeding to Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Economics in 1975. Subsequently, he earned his Master's in Business Administration (MBA) Degree from the University of Pittsburgh in the

United States in 1982 where he was invited to the prestigious Beta Gamma Sigma Honor Fraternity on the strength of his academic achievements. Mallam Adamu Bello is an alumnus of famous Harvard Business School's Advanced Management Programme (AMP) where he earned his Certificate in 1990.

An accomplished banker, Mallam Bello started his career in 1976 as an Investment Executive with the New Nigerian Development Company (NNDC). Between 1976

Bamanga Tukur, Former governor, old Gongola state

and 1981, he rose to become the General Manager of New-Devco Finance, a subsidiary of NNDC. Mallam Bello was also an authorized stockbroker on the Nigerian Stock Exchange where he served on the committee that transformed the Lagos Stock Exchange into the Nigerian Stock Exchange of today and concurrently served as a member of the Council of the Nigerian Stock Exchange in the 1970s.

It was after that, in 1983, that Adamu Bello joined the new Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd. as Deputy Managing Director and rose to become the first indigenous Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the bank in 1988, a position he held until 1994. During his time at Habib Bank, the bank rose to become the best rated private bank in the country and Ninth overall. He then proceeded to become a financial adviser, a real estate mogul and major shareholder in numerous ventures.

This was followed by his nomination as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the newly started Intercity Bank Plc. in 1998. This was then followed by his return to Habib Nigeria Bank Ltd in 1999 as the Chairman of the Board of Directors, where his experience as the first indigenous Chief Executive Officer of the company served him well in setting a direction for the bank that took it to higher heights.

It was from this position that he received his nomination as the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, GCFR in January 2001. Having reached the pinnacle of his banking career, he accepted the national assignment.

Musa Babayo, Acting National Secretary, PDP.

“

If feelers from the state governors are anything to go by, then some of the conditions for their support for any of the candidates currently aspiring for the party's topmost position are youthfulness, administrative experience, thoroughness, wide acceptability and above all, dynamism.

Mallam Bello's tenure as the Honourable Minister of Agriculture & Rural Development saw the establishment of many initiatives to better the living conditions of the Nigerian farmer, with the growth rate of the agriculture sector moving from 4% in 2001 to 14% in 2006. His success led to President Obasanjo once again nominating him into just as he retained his portfoho after being in May, 2003.

In conjunction with other Ministries and also with international organisations such as the United Nations, and just as often independently, the Ministry of Agriculture & Rural Development under Mallam Adamu Bello has been able to greatly improve conditions of rural areas, where most of the nation's agriculture occurs through the improvement of road networks to urban markets, the construction of numerous storage silos and also through the provision of water facilities to aid the irrigation of farmlands.

His effectiveness in his portfolio has seen him become the longest-serving member of the Federal Cabinet along with only two other Ministers - Chief Babalola Borishade and Professor Turner Isoun and the longest-serving Minister of Agriculture in Nigeria ever.

Due to these records of sterling service to his nation in both the private and public sectors, Mallam Adamu Bello has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours. In 1989, he was conferred with the chieftaincy title of the "Dan Iyan Adamawa" by the chieftaincy council of his native Gongola State (Adamawa and Taraba States) at the time.

Mallam Adamu Bello was made a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Bankers of Nigeria (FCIB) in 1992.

He has since been made a Fellow of the Society of Agricultural Engineers (FSAE) and a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Administrators (FCIA). In 2003, he was given another chieftancy title; "Otun Babalakin" in Ekiti State and in 2006, he was conferred with an Honorary Doctorate (Honoris Causa) by the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (Lautech) of Oyo State.

In December 2006, Mallam Adamu Bello was conferred with the National Honour of Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic (CFR) becoming the first serving member of the Federal Cabinet to be thus decorated by the President, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo.

Today Mallam Adamu Bello, CFR, wishes to serve his nation once again as the National Chairman of the premier political party in all of Africa, and Nigeria's ruling party since the dawn of the Fourth Republic - the great People's Democratic Party (PDP) - where he will bring the same virtues of dedication, innovation, honour, integrity and effectiveness that he has brought to every field of endeavour.

Mallam (Dr.) Adamu Bello, CFR is married to Hajiya (Pharm.)

Lubabatu Adamu Bello and is a proud father of six children.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Complaints trail PDP’s Wards congresses in Plateau Bayo Alabira, Jos

T

railed by irregularities, the Chairman, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Kanke local government area of Plateau state, Honourable Fedelis Wuyep, on be half of the seven wards chairmen has lodged a complain to the state Chairman PDP Congress Committee over the last Saturday's ward congresses held throughout the state.

In a complaints letter written and made available to our correspondent in Jos on Tuesday, the PDP chairman in Kanke LGA told the State Congress Committee that he received series of complaints from seven Wards Chairmen in his local government on the exercise that was marred by irregularities.

According to him, there were nonaccreditation of party members before voting, non-availability of forms for intending aspirants, massive participation of civil servants who are not card carrying members of the party as well as hijacking of election materials by a cabal with impunity and classical deenfranchisement of party members by some hired security agents using tear gas on members, assault and injuries respectively.

They added that the wards affected

Zamfara Assembly extends tenure of LG caretaker committees

T

he Zamfara state House of Assembly yesterday extended the tenure of the local government caretaker committees in the state from January to June 2012.

The Assembly had last July approved the formation of the caretaker committees with a mandate to serve for a maximum of six months, with the hope that elections into the councils would be conducted in January 2012.

Its Majority Leader, Alhaji Salisu Tsafe, said at the presentation of the bill that it sought to amend the law establishing the caretaker committees.

He said the decision was in accordance with section 18, sub section 4 of the state's local governments' law.

Tsafe explained that the law had given the house absolute powers to terminate or extend the tenure of local government councils.

He argued that in the event that the state government could not conduct elections into positions in the local government councils, the House could extend the tenure of the councils to allow the conduct of the elections within the period covered by the extension.

After debating the matter, the House unanimously agreed that the tenure of committees be extended from Jan. 29 to June 2012 during which elections should be conducted. The extension would give the state government an opportunity to conduct free and fair elections into the local council offices.

are Amper Central and Amper/Seri in Amper zone, Gyangyang, Nemel and Dawaki wards in Kabwir zone and that of Mr. John Danjuma from Amper Central ward respectively. "It is also interesting to note sir that the election congress commission sent to Kanke did not officially report to the party secretariat as demanded by the PDP constitution but preferred to settle in an undisclosed location unknown to the party leadership".

Lamenting further, the Kanke Party's Chairman continues, "While we were waiting for the committee with electoral materials at the party secretariat with INEC, the Police, and the State Security Services (SSS), we were made to understand that elections have already started in the various wards".

Therefore, he said he was touched by the weight and seriousness of the letters of complaints written and forwarded to him by the leadership of the party in various wards concerned

AdamawaState Governor, Admiral Murtala Nyako (left) answering questions from a journalist on the political situation in his state, during a visit to the State House, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

PDP chairmanship: ‘North-East chapter yet to endorse anyone’ From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he North East Chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has declared that it has yet to endorse anyone of the candidates jostling for the position of the party's National Chairman in the forthcoming National

Convention scheduled to hold on March 24th.

The Publicity Secretary of the Party in North East, Alhaji El-Amin Sani, stated this in an interview with journalist in Bauchi saying that every group within the political party has right to exercise their support for any candidate but their

support should not be perceived as support declared to the candidate by the leadership of the party.

He said that politicking in progress will determine those that will grace the national delegate's conference and vote for the candidate of their own choice.

According to him, there are

agitations for various candidates from the North East but the zone's leadership will go along with any candidate that is the people's choice.

Al Amin stressed that the aim of the PDP members was come out with an experienced leader who will steer the party to successes and progress.

appraised the current political situation in the country and came to the conclusion that Mua'zu is suitable and qualified for job.

According to him, Mua'zu is known for fear of God, advocating for freedom, justice and equity as well as man of the people who respects the yearning and aspiration of the people.

He said "In throwing our weight behind Adamu Muazu, we were not swayed by parochial or

sectional interest. Rather, we were guided by the aspirant's impressive public service records, his strong drive and commitment for excellence .Besides, age is on his side -a prerequisite for the arduous task of running the affairs of a large party like the PDP".

The group called on all and sundry to rally round the candidature of the Mua'zu saying his administration would better the lots of the party and make a truly largest political party not only in Nigeria but the whole of the West Africa.

PDP chairmanship: Group drums support for Mua’zu’s candidature

From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

A

group under the umbrella body of National Association of Arewa Youths in Politics (NAAYIP) has thrown its weight behind the candidature of the former governor of Bauchi state, Alhaji Ahmadu Adamu Muázu for the post of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)'s national chairmanship.

The group told newsmen yesterday Jos, Plateau state

capital, that Mua'zu, who is also a member of PDP Board of Trustees, appeared to be the most qualified person to pilot the affairs of the largest political party in west Africa Coordinator of the group, Alhaji Hassan Abdullahi Usman said the background of Muázu as a Construction Manager and an accomplished Quantity Surveyor qualified him for the position.

The group said it had

PDP Ward Congress: Taraba adopted consensus, not election-Stakeholders From Yusha'u Alhassan, Jalingo

S

takeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Taraba state have confirmed that the party did not hold Ward Congresses elections in the state last Saturday but rather adopted the consensus option to select their delegates.

A member representing Gassol 1 constituency in the state House of Assembly Tanko Adamu Maikarfi said the PDP adopted the process of electing its officials by consensus because of the mutual understanding among its members.

Maikarfi explained that because of the understanding, members of the

party at the ward level willingly selected their officials without any grievance.

He observed that with the security threat in most parts of the country the adoption of consensus by the party was aimed at avoiding creating room for hoodlums who might take the advantage of large crowd to commit crime.

Commenting on the issue, Special Assistant to the Governor on Taraba state Independent Electoral Commission (TSIEC) Husseini Umar described the exercise as free, fair, transparent and acceptable.

Husseini Umar said electing the party officials by consensus was the best and would boost the strength of the

party in the wards.

In their comments, the caretaker Chairman of Jalingo Local Government Hassan Bappa and that of Gassol Local Government Ahmed Dahiru Liman supported the election of the wards officials by consensus.

The chairmen explained that every section of their local governments was equally represented and that no official was imposed on the members in any of the wards.

They commended members of the party in their areas for their understanding in making the election of the officials of the party at the ward level by consensus possible.

Meanwhile the Deputy Speaker of

the Taraba state House of Assembly, Abel peter Diah, has commended members of the PDP for peaceful conduct of the party ward congresses last Saturday.

Abel peter Diah made the commendation while speaking with Peoples Daily reporter on the outcome of the congresses. He said the peaceful conduct of the ward congresses was an indication of the oneness of the party in the state.

Diah however appealed to the party members to continue to be loyal and steadfast for the success of the forthcoming Local Government, State and the National Congresses of the party.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 39

Yakowa tasks lawmakers on youth restiveness

K

adunan state governor, Patrick Yakowa yesterday charged lawmakers in the state House of Assembly to initiate economic empowerment

programmes to curb youth restiveness.

Yakowa gave the task while speaking at a special recognition award programme organised in

honour of Alhaji Muhammad Ali (CPC-Kawo).

Represented by his Special Adviser on Political Affairs, Mr Edward Pate, Yakowa commended

L-R: Enugu state Governor, Mr Sullivan Chime, with Speaker, Enugu State House of Assembly, Hon. Eugene Odoh, during the signing of the 2012 budget into law, recently in Enugu.

Nasarawa PDP declares congresses successful From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

N

asarawa state chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP) yesterday disclosed that despite the violent protest that greeted the commencement of the Ward congresses exercise in the state last Saturday, the exercise was conducted successfully with results being awaited.

Making this disclosure to journalists at the secretariat of the party, state Chairman, Yunana Iliya, said out of the

147 electoral wards in the state, only one, that of Laminga was conducted yesterday no Monday.

Aggrieved party supporters Saturday stormed both the secretariat of the party along Jos road and the Lafia LGA party office, to protest non availability of delegate forms, which they alleged were cornered by the state executive council.

Also speaking on the matter, Musa Ahmed Mohammed, Speaker of the

state Assembly, who arrived the secretariat to show solidarity with the party leadership over the protest, confirmed that the congresses held, explaining that the only reason why the exercise was delayed in Laminga was because of a disagreement on whether the congress should be a general one, before it was agreed that only card carrying members who participated in the last PDP revalidation exercise would be allowed to take part.

Niger PDP endorses Umoru for National Youth Leader From Iliya Garba, Minna

P

eoples Democratic Party PDP Niger State has endorsed Alhaji Garba Umoru for the position of the as National Youth Leader of the party.

The position of the National Youth Leader has been zoned to the North Central geopolitical zone of the country.

Niger State Chairman of Peoples Democratic Party PDP, Dr Abdulrahaman Enagi made this known yesterday in a press conference after the completion of the ward congresses in 274

wards of the state. He said that the party endorsed Alhaji Umoru for the position because "he is already conversant with the terrain, he is the present Acting National Youth Leader of the party so we feel that it is better for us to seek this position".

Dr. Enagi said that the state would not field candidate for the position of Legal adviser also zoned to the North Central geopolitical zone even as he added that with Umoru's vast experience, the party is sure he would deliver.

The Chairman described

the conduct of the ward congresses in the state as very peaceful and quite free, saying that "our members conducted themselves in orderly manner".

17 executive members were elected for each of the ward and the local government and state elections will hold this weekend on the 17th of this month, he asserted.

Dr. Enagi appealed to party members to continue to remain peaceful during and after the remaining elections so that the good image of the party would not be dragged to mud.

the recipient for the outstanding services to his constituents.

He acknowledged that the human resource development centre initiated by the legislator was helping to address the problem of youth restiveness, unemployment and poverty in the constituency.

The governor also charged other members of the assembly to emulate Ali by training youths on various skills across the state.

According to him, 38 million youths and indigent women will be empowered over a period of four years in the state if they replicate the efforts of their colleague.

Yakowa solicited for peaceful coexistence and support to enable him to deliver democracy dividends to the people. ``Democracy is all about impacting positively on the lives of the people,'' he stressed.

In a goodwill message, Mr. Festus Okoye, a Kaduna legal practitioner, urged public officers, political appointees and wealthy individuals to contribute to improving socioeconomic lives of the people as panacea to the country's security challenge. ``Going by the success story of Hon. Ali, I believe that an individual can make a lot of difference in the lives of our people,'' Okoye said.

Earlier, Ali said he was gladdened and humbled by the four different

awards conferred on him at the occasion by different organisations.

He said that the awards would spur him to double his efforts since it was being appreciated by the beneficiaries and the larger society. ``I sought for people's mandate to bring about positive change in the society through wider consultations, initiatives, scholarship and economic empowerment. ``I also represent the hard core poverty stricken populace of Kaduna State and must continue to do everything possible that will improve their lives.''

The legislator, who called on other privileged stakeholders to empower the people, said: ``together, we can make Nigeria great irrespective of our ethnic, religious and political differences.''

Mr. Olu Folurunsho, the National Coordinator of Media Monitors, the organisers of the event, said that Ali had trained and empowered more than 3,000 youths and women in various trades and education within six months in office.

The event was attended by some of the beneficiaries of the programme, the state's CPC Chairman, Alhaji Ahmadu Cocacola, various women and youth groups, as well as representatives of security agencies in the state. (NAN)

Judge denies scuttling governorship election in Bakassi LG

J

ustice Adeniyi Ademola of the Federal High Court, Calabar, has denied issuing an injunction stopping the conduct of the Feb. 25 governorship election in Bakassi Local Government Area of Cross River.

The judge made the clarification while addressing newsmen in Calabar on Monday.

Ademola said contrary to reports, he only issued an order on Feb. 23 that the governorship election in Bakassi and subsequent ones be conducted in accordance with ward delineation, based on the current Bakassi created pursuant to law No.7 of Cross River State House of Assembly.

The judge said he also ordered that the elections in the council area should not be based on the ward delineation that existed before the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon.

The judge sad further that he made, "a declaration that given the decision of this Honourable Court in suit No. FHC/ CA/CS/41/2011 delivered on July 8, 2011, the defendants cannot disregard the three wards of Ikang as the current Bakassi LGA nor do anything contrary to the orders of the said judgment ".

The claimants in suit No: FHC/CA/ CS/21/2012, were Edet Etim Asuquo, Chief Antigha Cobham, Chief Bassey Etim and Chief Effiong Iman for themselves and on behalf of the Ikang people of Ikang Clan, Esighi Clan, Antigha Ene Eyo Clan and Edihi Idim Ikot Eyi Clan, respectively of Bakassi.

The defendants were INEC and the Resident Electoral Commissioner in Cross River.

Following the order, elections were not conducted in Bakassi Local Government Area, leading to the protest by 6,000 registered voters in the area led

by Sen. Florence Ita-Giwa.

In his reaction, the State Resident Electoral Commissioner, Mr. Mike Igini, who referred to Section 115 of the Constitution, said that the National Assembly had not approved the alteration made by the state House of Assembly.

He also said the power to delineate wards was that of INEC, while the power to adjust boundaries was vested in the National Assembly.

According to Section 115 of the Constitution "where the boundaries of any state constituency established under section 112 of this Constitution are altered in accordance with the provisions of section 114 of this Constitution, that alteration shall come into effect after it has been approved by the National Assembly and after the current life of the House of Assembly".

Since the ceding of Bakassi to Cameroon in 2002, leading to the creation of a new Bakassi from Akpabuyo Local Government Area by the state government, "returnee" Bakassi people are in constant conflict with their new "land lords" in Akpabuyo.

The returnees of Bakassi want Day Spring as the headquarters of the New Bakassi while their "landlords" and the state government recognized Ikang.

INEC recognised Day Spring as the actual Bakassi and not Ikang because the Federal Government document does not recognize Ikang as being part of Bakassi.

PAGE 40

I want Nigeria divided, says Jigawa CPC governorship candidate From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

he Congress for Congress Progressive Change, (CPC) governorship candidate for Jigawa state in the last April election, Hon. Faronk Adamu Aliyu, has declared that he personally want the country divided.

Speaking in an interview with newsmen in Katsina, Aliyu wondered why some people from the north were afraid of convoking a national conference to divide the country.

He added "if, like the agitators think, we should push the constitution aside I'm for it; I as a northerner, as a Muslim am tired of this nonsense; I'm tied of staying in Nigeria".

Aliyu complained that he was specifically tired of having President Jonathan as a president who he alleged was ruling the country with arrogance because he came from an oil producing area.

"Look at the lopsidedness of allocation to certain parts of the country. How can there be peace? How can you give Akwa Ibom N28 billion and states like Plateau are getting N3 billion how can there be peace" he fumed.

He similarly said that the only way to save the country from its myriad of problems was by pushing the PDP led government out of power, adding that Nigerians decided to remain docile, then they should be ready for the consequences.

Aliyu noted that people like him would never join the PDP as according to him " opposition powers the engine of sustainable and vibrant democracy".

He also warned those crossed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) from the CPC who joined t should consider themselves dismissed from the party, stressing that the CPC does not believe in a unity government arrangement.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Gombe deputy gov campaigns for Bamanga Tukur From Auwal Ahmad, Gombe

G

ombe state Deputy Governor, Mr. Tha'anda Rubainu, has urged delegates from the state to vote for Bamanga Tukur at the forthcoming National Congress of the Peoples Democratic Party scheduled for March, 24 to enable him effect the changes he had

promised to make in the party.

This came as a surprise to many because Gombe state has one of its citizens eyeing the seat Bamanga is vieing for, and the state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo is moving round mobilising suport for him.

Professor Rufai Alkali, current National Publicity Secretary of the PDP is in the race for the party’s

chairmanship, and he is a native of Gombe state who Dankwambo is campaiging for.

The deputy governor made the called while receiving National Chairman Candidate at government house Gombe recently.

He said since the position was zoned to the North East, they should vote a member who would lead the party effectively as well as protect

R-L: Chairman, House Committee on Power, Hon. Patrick Ikhariale, Managing Director, Nigerian Electricity Liability Management, Dr. Samuel Agbogun, and the Vice- Chairman of the Committee, Hon. Ibrahim Ebbo, during an oversight visit by the committee to the agency’s office, recently in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

the interest of the zone at the federal level.

According to him, "From what you have said, Bamanga is not a new person in politics, but that he wants to bring changes in the party".

He added, "We pray God to give us the opportunity to vote him so that he would bring the changes he is talking about because all of us like changes.

"And I believe if we elect him, we in the North East and Nigeria as a whole, will have got an elder who has the requisite experiences in civil service, politics and other positions in the world and has the intention to give quality leadership. You who are charged with the responsibility of electing the leaders should ensure that you vote him to lead him to progress", Rubainu said.

Addressing party members earlier, Alhaji Bamanga Tukur, promised to unite its members and bring back party members who defected to other parties, if elected as chairman.

Tukur also said as one of the founding members of the party, he would work towards reconciling members to bring back those who had left PDP for other parties.

He said some of the founding members of the party had left the party and that there was the need to bring them back to the party and correct some mistakes, adding that he would ensure that the people's votes counted in every affairs of the party.

"I believe that there some lapses and I have some value to add, we want people's votes to count", he said.

Katsina CPC gets sole administrator From Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

F

ollowing the dissolution of the executive committee of Congress for Progressive Change in Katsina state, Alhaji Faruq Adamu Aliyu from Jigawa State has been appointed as the sole administrator of the party in the state pending the reconstitution of a new executive council.

The sole administrator who arrived the state yesterday would be supported by the following persons in the discharge of his

responsibility: Alhaji Ja'afaru Rimi, Alhaji Shu'aibu Katsayal, Alhaji Bala Abubakar, Alhaji Idris Abdullahi, Alhaji Maje Sayyadi and Hajiya Safiya Daura.

Speaking to party members at its Batagarawa Local Government office, Aliyu noted that they were in Katsina State to restructure the party while promising to be fair and just in dealing with the various interest of the party.

He similarly added that he would visit all the aggrieved parties in the dispute in order to find an

amicable ways of resolving the many crises that crippled the progress of the party in the state and prepare it for the challenges ahead.

It would be recalled that two weeks ago the National Secretary of the party, Alhaji Buba Galadima announced the dissolution of the Katsina executive of the party headed by Dr. Yusha'u Armaya'u over alleged political ineptitude and anti-party activities.

Part of the alleged sins of the former executive, according to

Galadima include supporting the PDP in the 2011 general election, accepting an appointment in the PDP led state governments contraption called 'unity government' and gross act of indiscipline.

However the Katsina CPC was factionalized along supporters of former Speaker of the House of Representatives, Alhaji Aminu Bello Masari, and that of Senator Yakubu Lado Danmarke. The power tussle between the two groups robbed the party the chance of clinching the governorship seat of the state.

PDP zoning: Imo rejects Woman Leader as Adeniran submits form for Nat. Sec.

By Lawrence Olaoye

A

head the conduct of the national convention of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) scheduled to hold on March 24th, members of the party from Imo state yesterday rejected the position of Woman Leader zoned to it.

This is coming as the former Minister for Education, Professor Tunde Adeniran, submitted the nomination form for the position of the party's National Secretary already zoned to the South-West. The zone is also billed to produce candidate for the position of the PDP's National Auditor.

The National Executive committee

of the party after its 59th meeting in Abuja had last week ratified zones that would produce elective offices with the North East billed to produce the National Chairman of the party.

Stakeholders of the party in the South East however met over the weekend in Enugu and agreed that Anambra state should produce the National publicity Secretary; Ebonyi, Deputy National and Imo, Women leader.

One of the contestants for the post of National Publicity Secretary from Imo, Chyna Iwuanyanwu, who had last week picked the nomination form however protested the exclusion of his state from contesting

the post.

Scores of Iwuanyanwu's supporters besieged the National Secretariat of the party yesterday in Abuja to register their protest for zoning Women leader to Imo state even as the former Minister for Aviation, Kema Chikwe has already been penciled down for the position.

Meanwhile, Adeniran from Ekiti had submitted his nomination forms to join the race for the position of the National Secretary which already has Chief Ebenezer Babatope and the incumbent PDP National Legal Adviser as frontline contenders.

Adeniran told newsmen after submission of the form that he wanted

to run for the National Secretary position because, as a founding member, he knew the internal workings of the system.

He said "I know the challenges that we have been facing. I know that so far we have been trying to do our best to answer to the call of Nigerians in terms of fulfilling certain responsibilities as a political party".

Asked if he has been endorsed by former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Chairman, Board of Trustees (BoT) of the party, he said "God has anointed me.

No human being has anointed me".

On his plan for the party as he looks forward to the national convention, Adeniran said "we believe that Nigeria needs repositioning. What I'm bringing

about is that you have to bring the repositioning of the country. You have to reposition the government and you can only do that through the party and through the key operators of the party.

I want to believe that by repositioning, we will be able to really do a number of things, particularly with regards to getting the government to be more responsive to the needs of the Nigerian people.

"By the government, I mean the three arms of government will have to work together as a team. The party gave birth to government and as a result of this, we have to really be up and doing to ensure that we rise up to the challenges before us," he clarified.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 41

UEFA Champions League

ITA to give awards to organisations at CBN Junior Tennis final

Barcelona on course for quarterfinals

T

he International Tennis Academy (ITA), Lagos, says it will give awards to persons and institutions that help to facilitate its objectives.

The Director of ITA, Godwin Kienka, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) yesterday at the opening of the academy’s sixth Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) sponsored Junior Tennis Circuit.

Te junior circuit, a prelude to the CBN Senior National Open, is holding at the Lagos Lawn Tennis Club, Onikan.

Kienka said that the awards would hold at the final of the junior circuit on Sunday.

“We will have four categories of awards outstanding player development, outstanding sponsor, outstanding support and outstanding junior player and we shall keep the full list close to our chest,” he said.

Kienka said the awards were to show appreciation to the individuals and corporate bodies that had contributed to the success of the academy.

He added that the aim of the junior circuit was to provide a platform for junior players from various programmes around the country to develop their skills.

Kienka said that the players, who would start to compete from the age of 10, would as teenagers become champions at the senior levels.

“In pursuit of these objectives, ITA established tournaments in age categories for U-10, U-12, U14 and U-16 and also allowed them to play in the next age group.

“Many players from the lower age groups are often surprised at how well they coped in the higher categories,” Kienka said.

The director said competitions were held in Kaduna, Jos, Enugu, Port Harcourt and Lagos which helped the junior players to gain experience and confidence.

He added that the competitions culminated in outstanding performances

by ITA Junior Tennis Circuit players in the national senior tournaments and collegiate competitions abroad.

Leonel Messi

B

arcelona are favourites to book their place in the quarterfinals of the UEFA Champions League tonight when they play the second leg of their round of 16 tie against Bayer Leverkusen.

The Catalans won the first leg 3-1 in Germany two weeks ago, leaving Leverkusen with the tough task of having to score at least three goals to stay in the competition.

Barcelona are unbeaten at home this season and they maintained their impressive record at the Camp Nou with a

3-1 win over Sporting Gijon on Saturday night.

Lionel Messi, who missed the match against Sporting through suspension returns for Pep Guardiola’s side to join the likes of Xavi Hernandez and Andres Iniesta, who dominated the midfield yet again on Saturday.

However, Barca were dealt a blow when forward Alexis Sanchez, who scored a brace in the first leg, was ruled out for the second leg due to a thigh injury that is expected to keep him out for two weeks.

Defender Eric Abidal has not recovered from the groin injury that kept him out of the Sporting game and will not be available for this clash, while midfielder Thiago Alcantara is still recovering from a shin injury.

Leverkusen, on the other hand, have been poor on the road in the Champions League and have failed to win in their last 12 Champions League matches played away from home.

However, Robin Dutt’s men will not be short of confidence following their 2-0 win over Bayern Munich on Saturday.

Swiss attacker Eren Derdiyok, who

missed the first leg due to injury, came on as a substitute against Bayern early in the second half and his return will be another boost for the German side.

Danny da Costa and Corluka are doubtful for this match after missing Saturday’s clash due to thigh injuries.

Despite all this, Leverkusen coach Robin Dutt says although Barcelona are one of the best sides in the world, they are not invincible.

Meanwhile, Lyon will hope to hold their heads high by qualifying for the quarterfinals of the Champions League at the expense Apoel Nicosie. This would therefore be their fifth participation in a quarter final in ten years in the most prestigious of European competitions.

However, Apoel Nicosia will again try to defy expectations and overturn a 1-0 deficit against Lyon. APOEL have already become the first Cypriot team to reach the round of 16 of the tournament and will rely on its home-field advantage to go even farther.

The team has only lost once in 10 European matches at Nicosia’s GSP stadium, and earned group-stage wins over Shakhtar Donetsk and Porto there.

The small club is still considered the underdog against a much more experienced Lyon, which is playing in the last 16 for the ninth straight season.

London 2012 Volleyballers lament over hunger, abandonment in camp

By Albert Akota

N

igeria’s hope of qualifying for the London 2012 Olympics in volleyball may suffer a setback following players’ complaint of hunger and abandonment in their Abuja camp where they are currently preparing for the qualifiers.

Complaining furiously on behalf of his colleagues, Kayode Agilore, lamented their plight in the camp noting that they were being ravaged by hunger because the Nigeria Volleyball Federation which brought them to camp has been negligent. “ We are slowly dying here unknown to Nigerians. Let me tell Nigerians that we were brought here to the camp to prepare for the Olympic qualifier scheduled for Mauritius on April 8. “ But we have been abandoned by the NVBF. There is no food for us to eat, no water and even kits for us to train with. And yet they expect us to train well and qualify for the Olympic Games. Tell me, how can we compete favourably with our counterparts in Mauritius on April 8?,” he queried.

According to the player, series of representations have been made to officials

of the federation to no avail, a situation he said has forced them to draw the attention of the National Sports Commission (NSC) to their plight.

“Let me use this medium to tell Nigerians we are not here on our own, we are here to represent the country and hope to make the nation proud in London. Besides, we want to draw the attention of the National Sports Commission, (NSC) to the poor feeding condition here in camp.”

Further, they appealed to the commission to intervene and safe from ravaging hunger and abandonment. “We are begging the NSC to come to our rescue, because we have been abandoned to malnourishment by the volleyball federation,” he pleaded.

Also, he urged the president of the federation, Engr. Habu Gumel, to consider arranging a friendly for the team in order to assess te mental and physical readiness of the players.

I still want to beg the President of the NVBF Engr Abu Gumel who knows the important of the game to organize a friendly match for the team before the Olympics qualifier that will serve as an added advantage to the players,” Agilore begs.

Dr. Patrick Ekeji, DG, NSC

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Olofa donates N1m to WAUG

NSF officials jet out to Senegal for FINA course

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he Oloffa of Ofa, Oba Mufutau Muhammad Gbadamosi Oloyede Esuwoye II, has donated the sum of N1m to the University of Ilorin as part of his contributions for the successful hosting of the forthcoming West Africa University Games (WAUG Oba Gbadamosi made the donation in his palace while receiving a delegation of the University of Ilorin led by the Chairman, WAUG Local Organising Committee and Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Management Service), Prof. Albert. B. Olayemi.

The Oloffa, who appreciated the courtesy visit, said he was delighted to identify with the university adding that he support was borne out of his believe that WAUG would further expose his local community and people to the outside world.

The royal father said the Games would afford people the opportunity of knowing how hospitable Kwarans are saying that WAUG would also definitely contribute to the socioeconomic development of the State.

He added that as a farmer he understands that sports is good for the healthy living of the people apart from providing means of living for several people.

Earlier in his speech, the Chairman of WAUG 2012 LOC, Prof. Olayemi, noted the excitement of the University of Ilorin to know that the Oloffa would want to donate to the University as it prepares to host West African universities.

He stressed that the Games was being used as an opportunity to further develop the university and thus to serve humanity better stressing that the University had already spent about N500 m on infrastructural development while it still has some areas of need in hosting the Games successfully.

Dodan Warriors Vs Niger Potters Kano Pillars

Union Bank blames inexperience for DSTV Men’s Basketball League loss

T

he Union Bank of Nigeria Basketball Club of Lagos on Monday blamed their loss in the Week Two fixtures of the ongoing DSTV Men’s Basketball League on inexperience.

Union Bank had won their opening game against city rivals Chariots 77-70, lost to Dodan Warriors 61-82 on Sunday in Lagos, leaving Warriors with two consecutive wins.

Coach Johnson Ayinla claimed that many of his players were young and inexperienced and attributed the loss to this and the loss of two key players to other clubs.

However, Ayinla said that the league was just beginning and as such, he believed that better days were ahead and that the team would play in the Final Eight.

In the other matches played in Atlantic Conference, Royal Hoopers defeated visiting Lagos-based Customs 67-57 on Sunday.

On Saturday, Chariots Basketball Club of Lagos beat their hosts Ebun Comets also of Lagos 73-67 after 10 minutes extra time,

while Lagos Islanders recorded their second victory after defeating Police Baton of Lagos 77-52.

In the Savannah Conference, Immigration Basketball Club of Kano defeated Tapgun Rockets of Jos 67-65 on Saturday, while Yelwa Hawks of Bauchi beat Niger Potters of Minna 76-60.

On Sunday, three times winner of the league Kano Pillars overran Bauchi Nets 8846, while Kada Stars defeated newly promoted Nigeria Civil Defenders of Abuja 92-68.

The week three fixtures promise to trill basketball fans with exciting matches in the two conferences.

On Saturday in the Atlantic Conference, Dodan Warriors of Lagos will host city rivals Police Baton, while Lagos Islander will receive Royal Hoopers of Port Harcourt.

The Sunday matches will see Customs of Lagos hosting Union Bank, while Chariots tackle Ebun Comets of Lagos.

T

wo technical officials of the Nigeria Swimming Federation (NSF) will depart trhe country for Dakar, Senegal to attend a two-day Open Water swimming course, as part of the federation’s efforts to keep its technical officials abreast on modern expertise.

The course, organised by the world swimming body, FINA, is scheduled to hold between today and tomorrow, according to National Coach, Saheed Obadina, who disclosed the coaches would be required to impart knowledge acquired to their colleagues. He described the course as a “train-the-trainers course”.

Obadina said that the course would afford the officials the opportunity to update their knowledge with the current rules guiding the aquatic sport. The coach also said that the training would assist the NSF to organise swimming competitions to discover talented swimmers who would help reclaim the lost glory of the sport.

Obadina explained that when the coaches are well trained and understand the rules of the sport, it would help them to be more efficient in their duties.

The coach said that himself and Samuel-Ebito-Jesimiel, the Chairman, Lagos State Swimming Association, would both attend the course.

Commonwealth ECOWAS H’ball

3 Nigerian referees to officiate at tourney Union Bank basketball club of Lagos Sunday stepped up its bid to finish

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MISS MARY M. NZEMARAOBA, NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS MRS. MARY M. IKPEABUBA. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. FEDERAL POLYTECHNIC BIDA, NYSC AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD PLEASE TAKE NOTE.

By Patrick Andrew

T

hree Nigerian referees are to officiate at the 2nd Commonwealth ECOWAS Handball Championship scheduled for next month in Abuja.

This was confirmed yesterday by the Secretariat of the Commonwealth Handball Association which indicated that two the pair of CAHB badged referee Bosede Momoh/ Ngozi Eze and Tobi Peter/ Solomon Anthony and one IHF badged referee Sikiru Ahmed/ Ahmadu James will represent Nigeria in the championship.

Reacting to the development, the president of the Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) Alhaji Yusuf Dauda, said the appointments has vindicated the hardwork of his board to improve the technical competence of referees as well as sustained developmental projects meant to keep both technical and administrative officials abreast.

“I believe that we have been trying our best to help revitalize the game of handball in Nigeria. After the two CAHB badged referees must have participated in this championship, we will start the process of helping them to upgrade to IHF” “Right now, we are going to embark on a two week training camp to get our players fit for the championship. As you know, Nigeria won the last edition of this championship and I strongly believe that with the effort we are making we are going to do Nigeria proud once again” he concluded.

He recalled that that the last time a Nigerian referee officiated at an IHF World Championship was 20 years ago when the then Major Yakubu Uduamokhai had that honour.

Meanwhile, the Commonwealth Handball Association has released the names of some of its official partners for the championship.

According to a released by the Executive Director of the Association, Mallam Attahiru Garba, Vine Hotel Abuja is the official hotel while D&B Limited is the official technical partner. Others will be named shortly before the championship begins.

Hon. Bolaji Abdullahi, Supervising Sports Minister

HFN seeks fresh talent at Sokoto U-18 Championships

T

he Handball Federation of Nigeria (HFN) has said that it has concluded arrangements to organise a U-18 male and female championships in conjunction with the Sokoto State Government.

HFN secretary Olusola Luke said yesterday in Lagos that the championships would from take place from April 19 to April 29 at the Gingiya Stadium, Sokoto.

Luke added that the championships, which were earlier scheduled for Feb. 23 to March. 4, had to be postponed because of the security situation in the country.

The secretary said that the championships would be used to scout for talents by the HFN’s technical officials.

He also said that selected players from the championships would be kept together for a follow-up programme, while outstanding ones would be invited to be part of the national team.

“We intend to regenerate the existing national teams and we cannot just pick players on the spur of the moment until we have seen them play,”the HFN secretary said. Luke added that the federation was making frantic efforts to get sponsors for its programmes to avoid a dormant year.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

Dolphins not scared of Cotonsport, says player

C

otonsport Garoua may CAF Champions League pedigree following their semi-finals feat two seasons ago, but they don’t represent any serious threat to the amtions of Nigeria’s flag bearer in this year’s campaign, according to Otis Asonye.

Dolphins will face the Cameroon team in the second round of the CAF Champions League following their 6-0 aggregate win over Equatorial Guineans, CD Sony Ela Nguema in round one of the competition.

“We have resolved to support the club in both home and away games domestically and on the continent this season,” Chairman of the Dolphins supporters club, Otis Asonye told SuperSport.com.

Dolphins have reinforced this term and look noticeably stronger than last season when they edged out Sunshine Stars for the Nigeria Premier League title.

Uche Oguchi and Mutiu Adegoke were the main high profile departures while Egwim, Olawale, Hassan Hussein all led the new arrivals as Dolphins commenced their push to become the second Nigerian side, after Enyimba, to win the CAF Champions League title.

“We want to win this title for Nigerians. It’s been a long time since a Nigerian club won the title and I joined Dolphins because I believe the club can win the title,” Egwim told SuperSport.com.

Dolphins will host the Cameroonians in the first leg of their second round contest at the Port Harcourt Liberation Stadium on the weekend of March 23 and 25 and travel to Garoua for the return leg two weeks later.

PAGE 43

Disciplinary Committee meets over Kwara Utd, Sunshine Stars

T

he Nigeria Football Federation Disciplinary Committee will next week meet over the fracas that occurred in Ilorin last weekend during the Kwara United versus Sunshine Stars.

The NFF, which clarified on the temporary punitive action meted out to both clubs by the NPL secretariat, said after being formally informed about the ugly incident, it has decided to refer the case to the a p p r o p r i a t e authority:Disciplinary Committee.

Chairman of the committee, Barrister Olaleye Adepoju, said the sanctions were temporary.

“Of course, the Secretariat of the NPL has the power to issue temporary sanctions to offenders pending the meeting of the NFF Disciplinary Committee. We will look at the case on its merit and in its entirety when we sit, and review all sanctions accordingly. I will reach out to my members and probably fix a meeting of the Disciplinary Committee for next week”, Barrister Adepoju said.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the acting executive secretary of the NPL, Tunji Babalola had on Monday reeled out some punitive measures against both clubs.

“Sanctions issued by the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Premier League, Mr.

Victor Baribote

A

temporary measures.

Babalola had docked Kwara United three points and three goals, bannished them to Old Parade Ground Abuja and directed that the team pays an aggregate fine of N2.4 million.

Its opponent in match that led to the fracas, Sunshine Stars are to pay a cumulative fine of N3 million for encroachment into the pitch and failing to submit the video clips of the match, while its team team manager, Gabriel Aborowa, was placed on indefinite suspension.

Kwara State’s other premier league club, ABS FC, will suffer a spillover effect of the incident as it has been compelled to play their home matches behind closed doors.

Mayhem erupted three minutes to the end of the Premier League clash between the two leading clubs when some fans were said to have invaded the pitch of the Ilorin Township Stadium, furious at suspected unfavourable calls of the centre referee. Scoreline was 1-1 at the time of the disturbances.

Football reform will create youth employment, says Kawu

C

hairman, Nigeria Nation Wide League (NNWL), Alhaji Ahmed Kawu, says the ongoing reform in the football sector will create more employment opportunities for youths in the country.

Kawu said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja yesterday even as he reiterated the determination of NNWL to carry out internal reform “This the first time this board has an elected leadership, so, our main aim and objective is to reform the system of football in the country, also complement an agreement with government effort in trying to produce the best talents among the youths by producing them to the subsequent league sport -like premier and pro, and also by producing the best talent to the National teams, right from U-

17, U-20 U-23 and the super eagles.”

Further, he said that the board of NNWL would continue to complement the efforts of government in providing employment to the youths, adding that the youth has a major role to play in the country.

“We wanted to help the government in augmenting their effort towards providing employment; this structure is the central vertebral column of this country.

“For any country to achieve

basketball league and needed to be encouraged to continue the good work.

He stressed the need for the private sector to participate in developing sports, adding that everything should not be left to the government.

Receiving the items, comprising 15 sets of jersies and basketballs, the Chairman, Bauchi State Sports Council, Alhaji Tanimu Sa’idu, commended Maijama’a for the donation and urged others to emulate him.

what it wants to achieve, must make sure population, particularly the youths, are being taken care of.”

He said that the NNWL’s board was focused towards rehabilitating and sanitising the football system.

“We are trying to catch them young and make sure things are in a better position, which means we are not only giving them employment but also giving hope to other youths.

“We believe that if more support, effort and concentration is given to the

youths, starting with football at the grass root, Nigeria would be blessed and experience a new beginning.” ‘’Nigeria is facing so many problems, like drug abuse, insecurity and unemployment, so by giving more attention and focus to sport, it will motivate them and boost their moral.”

NAN gathered that the Nigeria Nation Wide League, formerly called Nigeria Amateur League, was created in 2008 by the Nigeria Football Association.

NFF ratifies technical director tomorrow

T

he Technical Committee of the Nigeria Football Federation (NFF) is

NBBF member donates kits worth N.1m to Bauchi basketball team member representing the North-East Zone in the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF), Alhaji Shehu Maijama’a, has donated sports kits worth N100,000 to Bauchi State Basketball team, Bauchi Nets.

Presenting the kits on Monday in Bauchi, Maijama’a said that the gifts were his token contribution to the upliftment of the game in the state.

He noted that the team had been doing well in the

Tunji Babalola, to clubs and their officials over the violence that attended Saturday’s Nigeria Premier League match between Kwara United FC and Sunshine Stars FC at the Ilorin Township Stadium are temporary,” the NFF clarified even as it affirmed the

Sunday Oliseh

expected to rubber stamp the name of a technical director tomorrow.

It was learnt that the technical sub-committee of the federation will decide on the vacant post when it meets in Abuja.

The committee is also likely to make recommendation on appointing a new head coach for the Nigerian women’s team, the Super Falcons.

“The technical committee of the NFF is scheduled to meet in Abuja on Thursday barring any hitch to decide on the role of the technical director. “Also the vacant position of the Super Falcons’ coach will be addressed during that meeting,” an NFF source confirmed.

However it is unclear when the NFF will name a technical director for the national teams after the recommendation of its technical committee.

Belgian Tom Saintfiet and former Super Eagles’ captain,

Sunday Oliseh were linked with the technical director’s job in the past.

Tom Saintfiet

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

World Indoor Championships Istanbul 2012

Can Emelieze break into the sub 45 seconds in 60m?

By Patrick Andrew with agency report

P

eter Emelieze’s personal best this season in 60m is 6.60seconds. That’s a far cry from Trell Kimmons’ 6.45 seconds, a leading world best time in the race.

And there is also Justin Gatlin whose 6.47 seconds in the race makes him second to Kimmons and equals Lerone Clarke of Jamaica on the world list.

Two days from today, Emelieze would attempt to not only to emulate Uchenna Emedolu, who won similar world championship some years ago, equally to at least level up with Gatlin or possibly unseat Kimmons.

That may be a tall dream, but nothing is impossible in athletics where the zeal and determination flows in abundant in an individual.

Indeed, a lot can change between the 60m point of a 100m sprint and the finish line, which is precisely what makes the 60m indoor championship distance so exciting and unpredictable. Istanbul 2012 promises to be no exception.

In Istanbul, the race for glory in 60m won’t be different and the venue may even provide a better ambience for determined ones to excel.

The Albuquerque venue is 1512m above sea level, probably giving the two Americans a bonus of a few hundredths.

Ceding the title to a Jamaican is fraught with difficulty, too.

Despite the Caribbean nation’s fabulous recent record outdoors, no male Jamaican sprinter has won the 60m at the world indoors. The 13 editions of the World Indoor Championships have yielded just a solitary silver medal, to Michael Green in 1997.

Clarke won the Commonwealth Games 100 in 2010. Joining him in Istanbul is Nesta Carter, a 9.78 man outdoors and an Olympic and World championships gold medallist with the Jamaican 4x100M Relay.

So it’s all up for grabs then, with defending champion Dwain Chambers (6.58) by no means out of it. Chambers will be chasing a medal for a third consecutive World Indoor Championships.

400m Grenada had not won an outdoor world championships gold medal until Kirani James won the 400 in Daegu last year, and the precocious 19-year-old will be favoured to win again in Istanbul.

Should he succeed, James will not be the first - Alleyne Francique won consecutive world indoor 400 titles in

Budapest in 2004 and Moscow in 2006 – but he will add more lustre to his burgeoning career credentials.

James ran his list-leading 45.19 in Fayetteville last month, defeating another top contender for the gold medal in Istanbul, Demetrius Pinder of The Bahamas. He also won in Stockholm on 23 February.

With defending champion Chris Brown, who will be going for a medal at his fourth championships in a row, the Bahamas will field a strong duo.

Gil Roberts won the US title with a 45.39. He and teammate Calvin Smith will be trying to win the USA’s first gold medal since Tyree Washington in 2003, a surprising statistic given its outdoor dominance in the same event.

Britain’s Nigel Levine burst into contention with his 45.71 to 46.17 victory in Birmingham recently over Brown and could challenge for a medal. Others in

the mix include Levine’s teammate Chris Buck and Pavel Maslak of the Czech Republic.

800m Doha 2010 second, third and fourth – Boaz Lalang (Kenya), Adam Kszczot (Poland) and Ismail Ismail (Sudan) are in the front burner in the absence of Abubaker Kaki of the Sudan who was the youngest-ever winner of a world indoor title in 2008 when he won this race and in 2010, he made it back-to-back wins.

The Pole heads the annual list at 1:44.57 in Lievin and must stand a great chance of moving to the top of the medal dais.

Ismail does not have much recent form to recommend, but as silver medallist from Beijing 2008 he must be respected.

Mohammed Aman, the Ethiopian teen who ended David Rudisha’s two-season winning streak at the end of last year, finished fifth in that race, but in a bizarre twist, set his best time

James Kirani

of 1:45.40 in winning in Birmingham with Kszczot in fifth place.

Marcin Lewandowski (Poland) was second in Birmingham, with Lalang third, so the form line is nothing if not inconsistent. Any of these four could win if they produce their best on the day.

Timothy Kitum, second in Lievin, is Kenya’s other entrant and along with Britain’s Joe Thomas and Andrew Osagie could also come into the reckoning.

1500m Can Abdalaati Iguider of Morocco go one better than last time and progress from silver to gold? He heads the world list (3:34.10) and defeated two of his strongest opponents to win in Lievin.

Second-placed Ilham Ozbilen Tanui, the former William Biwott Tanui of Kenya, was second in that race and now represents Turkey.

Silas Kiplagat, third in Lievin, was silver medallist at last year’s

Tosin Oke

Will Claye

Mohammed Aman

World Championships in Daegu and fastest in the world in 2010.

Matt Centrowitz, the surprise bronze medallist in Daegu, lost the US title to Leonel Manzano in a big kick finish, but has the third-fastest indoor mile of 2012.

Manzano will not be in Istanbul, with Galen Rupp the second US representative.

Iguider, too, has strong backup with another Daegu finalist, Amine Laalou, also representing Morocco. Ciaran O’Lionaird of Ireland, another Daegu finalist, has moved to the US to train with Alberto Salazar. This will be the biggest international test of his improvement.

Ethiopia’s Mekonne Gebremedhin and Spanish pair, Francisco Javier Abad and David Bustos, are other who could come into the reckoning.

If the race is slow, as championship 1500s often are, position will be everything in the final two or three laps.

Triple Jump Tosin Oke is another Nigeria that will be competing for podium honours in Istanbul on Friday. And he stands a chance especially in the absence of Teddy Tamgho who closed the Doha competition with a World record in the Triple Jump.

The Frenchman won’t be in Istanbul, though, as he is serving a French Federation six months suspension for fighting with a female athlete during a training camp.

Though Oke’s personal best is 17.22m as against the records of American Will Claye with the 17.63m which makes him the favourite, the Nigeria has self believe and hopes to put that in action on Friday.

Nonetheless, with his 17.63m long that won him the US championship, Claye has a 40centimetre buffer at the top of this year’s world list. If he does both jumps though, he will be faced with the triple jump qualifying competition on the Saturday morning and the Long Jump on Saturday evening.

Christian Taylor electrified the outdoor world championships last year with his 17.96m performance to take the gold medal. He cleared 17.21m for second to Claye in the US champs, and will be well placed to take advantage of any fatigue or mis-steps by the favourite.

Arnie David Girat and Alexis Copello form a formidable onetwo combination for Cuba. Girat found 17.36m good enough for only a bronze medal last time.

Fabrizio Donato, 36 years old but still at 17.24m this year, and his teammate Daniele Greco (also 17.24) likewise give Italy two shots at a medal.

France’s Benjamin Campoare jumped 17.14m behind Donato in Lievin, while others in the mix include Russia’s Lyukman Adams, China’s Bin Dong and another experienced campaigner in Marian Oprea of Romania.

For added intrigue, there is Henry Frayne of Australia, ninth in Daegu and an outdoor 17.14m this year, and the Ukraine’s Sheryf El-Sheryf, who produced that amazing 17.72m in Ostrava last year but nothing comparable since.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

PAGE 45

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE It is not because things are difficult that we do not dare; it is because we do not dare that things are difficult — Seneca

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 2012

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Spain FA rejects govt funds to help economy

W

orld Cup champion Spain is doing its part to help the country’s ailing economy by voluntarily rejecting its allotment of government money.

Spain’s soccer federation says that because of the “precarious circumstances of the economy” it wants the funds put to the “benefit of other sports.”

The federation reportedly receives $4.3 million in public funds annually, which will be diverted among the other 65 sports federations. The world and European champions left open the possibility of receiving these funds again next year.

Spain’s government announced a deficit reduction package that includes spending cuts and tax hikes to help ease its bloated deficit and unemployment rate of nearly 23 percent.

Prince Harry runs with Usain Bolt in Jamaica

I

t wasn’t much of a race, but then it really couldn’t have been as the world’s fastest man and Britain’s Prince Harry met up on a track Tuesday in the Jamaican capital.

The prince got off to a false start and was about 50 meters down the track as Usain Bolt bent over with laughter. The Olympic medalist then jogged up to Harry, making one of his signature skyward points for a crowd of onlookers at the University of the West Indies in the Jamaican capital.

Later, the two exchanged pleasantries and talked about running for an audience made up mostly of university students, including many athletes. The prince noted Jamaica’s international reputation as a track and field powerhouse and said it was impressive for a small nation of nearly 3 million.

Prince Harry

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Goldsmith speaks to PDP A fool may have his gown embroidered with gold. But it is a fool’s coat, still.

B

ritish statesman and literary guru Oliver Goldsmith provides a good peg for today’s column. The decision a week ago by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, to reinstate its policy on zoning and rotation of key offices after it was set aside to allow the incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan to run in 2011 is welcome. We hope it means that the rotation of the office of the President between the North and South of the country is definitely reinstated.

Apart from it being a sound winning trick for the party, zoning and power rotation policy has given this country its first ever 13 years of unbroken stretch of democratic governance. It may have been a turbulent flight, but this is just what a fragmented polity, in which sectional and sectarian appeals easily work, needs to have so as to achieve relative stability.

The reinstatement of the policy comes against the backdrop of a relentless controversy that flared up lately following the plans for a national convention to choose new leaders for the party. As it approached this important convention, it became clear that the party appeared short on confidence and conviction and stood in clear danger of failing to retain the good starts it made in many parts of the country over the years.

For some years running, precisely from the later years of President Obasanjo, a period in which he exercised a totalitarian control over party and government, the party has lived in constant fear due to its unwillingness to work in an environment of transparency.

The logical outcome of the failure of transparency is the failure of accountability and this has been PDP’s albatross.

So while it is not by accident that PDP is once again playing the zoning card, considering that this is what has given it a winning streak, the party must find a way to manage both the short term and the long term gains it estimates it would be making from return to

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Ag. PDP National Chairman, Alhaji Abubakar Baraje

principle. The party must find a way to curtail the greed for power, more and more power by the occupants of the presidential villa. Failing to do this, the long term effect might turn this policy into a millstone around the party’s neck, much like its decision to support President Obasanjo’s third term bid.

Abandoning the principle of unity, balance, equity and fairness in power sharing among the contending political interests in Nigeria was the PDP’s biggest moral blunder.

The consequences of hypocrisy are always embarrassing.

Hypocrisy has short legs; it has ephemeral lifespan and ultimately exposes the moral Achilles heels of those who pursue it as a policy. General

Obasanjo was a major beneficiary of zoning but gave it a kiss of death for purely opportunistic reasons. And those who argued against the repudiation of zoning were dismissed as unpatriotic and greedy for power. The skeletons of hypocrisy of those PDP leaders who sabotaged this policy came crashing with the election of Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal as Speaker of the House of Representatives. When it came to the choice of the leaders of the National Assembly, the party desperately attempted to force what were the remnants of the PDP zoning formula. But the leadership suffered a humiliating rebuff. The Southwest sub-region that has been crying of marginalization is today a victim of zoning fallout.You cannot eat your cake and have it. Against this background, the situation in Senegal must be truly desperate; no, maybe the true reason is that the AU-ECOWAS have a diabolical sense of humour to have sent Obasanjo, the former Nigerian ruler following his role in this totally contrived problem, to mediate in that country's third term crisis.

The PDP should not only pride itself as the largest party in Africa but should also aspire to be the most credible and most

respectable. It must be faithful to principles and agreements.

For 13 years zoning had served the purpose of unity and significantly reduced the fear of domination by one section of the country over the other. The PDP must get its act together to be seen as a credible organization of gentlemen and women.

The ruling party has too little time and too many things to do to fix Nigeria. It has wasted too many opportunities to provide for the welfare and wellbeing of the Nigerian people. Its reckless and repeated misuse of opportunity has given reason to fellow countrymen and foreigners alike to ask the question whether Nigerians deserve to rule themselves.

Some politicians, for example the late Second Republic Governor of Imo state, Chief Sam Mbakwe have said openly that we need a colonial ruler. Yet others say only the military can manage the nation.

PDP must bring down the iron curtain that separates party and the people. The party membership should own and control this party. This won't come easy. They have to fight hard to retrieve it from the present crop of tasteless, socalled guru politicians carrying on as leaders but behaving like an aristocracy.

The transformation bogey should not be limited to the executive branch of government. It must be used to move the PDP from a successful electoral machine to a strong pillar of democracy. As it is, this party is sullied to such an extent that its new leaders, whoever they are, when they emerge, must shed the fool's garment, then walk the extra mile to retrieve the lost credibility.

“

The PDP should not only pride itself as the largest party in Africa but should also aspire to be the most credible and most respectable. It must be faithful to principles and agreements. For 13 years zoning had served the purpose of unity and significantly reduced the fear of domination by one section of the country over the other

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com ISSN: 2141– 6141