Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015. Weekend Edition. by Peoples Media Limited

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Saturday, November 7, 2015 Muharram 25, 1437 AH

. . . P utti ng the p eop l e fi r st

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N150 Vol. 4 No. 68

Unemployment

FG to block foreign unskilled workers R-L: President Muhammadu Buhari; National Security Adviser, Maj. Gen. Babagana Monguno and Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar during Atiku’s visit to the Presidential Villa, yesterday in Abuja.

Pg 6

CCT: Again, Court dismisses Saraki’s suit >>Pg 10

Photo: Joe Oroye

‘8 million Nigerian women have VVF’

>>Pg 23

The Juju curse on Nigerian sex workers >>Pg 4-5

Police clampdown on Biafra campaigners in Asaba >>Pg 6

Crisis looms in Borgu emirate over stool

>>Pg 13

572 Days after

Will the abducted Chibok schoolgirls ever be rescued?

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Interview

‘Arts work can curb youth unemployment’ When did you begin your works of art? started my work of arts since I was little; that was when I developed my interest, I am also an in-born artist. Growing up was great because my mother as of then, was into pottery which means she was also an artist as well as my dad, so watching them doing that was fantastic. When I was in my primary school at Agwada in Nasarawa State my drawings were outstanding. I even drew better than my teachers and classmates. Also, while I was in Ahmmaddiyya Community Secondary School, in Nasarawa none of my classmates drew better than I did. After my secondary school I served as apprentice under an artist who owns the Spino Graphics in Keffi between 1989 and 1990, from there Keffi Local Government Council employed me as a graphic arts assistant. As of then I didn’t actually know that this will end up being my career, because God later sent someone who advised me to develop it into a career. So I resigned from government work in 1993, went back to the studio full time as an artist and then proceeded to College of Education Akwanga and studied Fine and Applied Arts and after graduation here I am doing what I know how to do best, and as God will have it, I am imparting this knowledge on youths. What inspired you into doing works of art? Nature has been my inspiration. You know as of then, there were no artists in the village, but I was able to develop myself because of the burning passion I have in me for art. One thing that also gives me inspiration is my beautiful village, that’s Agwada Development Area in Kokona Local Government of Nasarawa State. The settlement is full of nature, the environment has pictorial images that made it so simple for me to draw and paint what my heart desires. Art work is broad, what is your specialty? I am into drawing, graphic printing and painting. How many art works have you done so far? Wow. Can I remember now? I believe it should be more than 200 works. You know, I have done so many works and am still on. People usually have mentors in every profession, who can you say is your mentor? Spino Graphics was my mentor he is late now, and Henry Ossawa Tanner. He is the first artist in Africa who

Mr Okanduna Kwogoh Tanko is the Managing Director of T K Okanduna International Arts Nigeria in Keffi, Nasarawa State. An in-born artist who believes in imparting his skills on youths said his inspiration comes through nature. In this interview with Mashe Umaru Gwama, he expresses his thoughts on how priceless the work of art is and how it can be used to curb unemployment.

Mr & Mrs. Okanduna Kwogoh Tanko top left

developed himself without anyone coaching him. What can you say are the challenges you are facing in your career? Our society does not value or appreciate works of art, most especially for those of us that are in the North; but those that are from East, West and South cherish these works a lot . You will see that those people value and have the understanding of art work; they beautify their houses, offices and even hotels with crafted art works. The International Community values such works because of the understanding they have on those works of art. The matter here is that people in this of society ours need to be sensitive about art work for them to really appreciate it, but notwithstanding people who have travelled out of the country and exposed have the ability to understand and appreciate art. How good is the art market generally? The market always depends on an individual handwork, this definitely makes people patronize such an artist; this goes a long way to attract customers. As you can see, there are many artists around but we have different levels of patronage.

Where do you get your materials from? The materials we use for our work are very expensive; we usually buy them in Abuja and other places. How expensive is an art work? Art work is priceless in as much as it is priceless we sell it based on how people value it. What relationship does your organization have with some tertiary institutions that bring students for industrial training (IT) here? Institutions like the State College of Education Akwanga, Federal Polytechnic Nasarawa and Technical School Ozoro Abuja, have been sending students for industrial training and corps members that study Fine Arts also come for their primary assignment in my organization. Have you ever participated in any Art exhibition? Yes, I participated during the art exhibition of Nigeria at 50 in Abuja and Nasarawa State arts exhibitions. How can you advise parents whose children have interest in taking art work as their career? My advice to parents is that they should look at the ability of their kids especially when they realize that their

child likes to draw or paint, they should help them build it as a career because some children are in - born artists like us. Parents should also keep their children’s dreams alive and not force them on careers they do not have interest in; in order for them to follow their God-given talents, every course is so important, it all depends on our Interest and what God has for us. If a child chooses Fine Arts as a course, allow him because his best will be proved there, at times parents’ influence what their wards should read in the universities, polytechnics and colleges; at the end the child will not perform well, we can only guide them to have a better future. Art work is very lucrative, in as much as it has many branches whatever one chooses and the end its worth it by making one an independent and industrious person. What advice do you have for youths and government? No matter what your area of specialty as a youth is, one should ensure that he or she learns a skill. We cannot say we will wait for a white-collar job; we need to diversify because looking all around in Nigeria one discovers that we have so many graduates, even master’s degree graduates walking our streets without jobs. But when they all have one form of skill or the other it will definitely go a long way in curbing the menace of unemployment in Nigeria. Youths can still survive without white-collar jobs only when they do not only focus on government job. Even when one has a government job it should be combined with skills to enhance a better economy and he or she will also contribute their quota to the nation’s economy. Some youths have come to my organization to enrol and learn skills apart from their profession, I have graduated more than 40 apprentice and all of them are employers of labour today; it gives so much enthusiasm seeing that they have turned out to be great contributors to their societies. So I advise young people, that they too can follow this footprint. I’d also love the youths to ponder upon this, after graduating; what do I want to achieve in life, for the next five years setting goals right and working on them. This will help them in doing other entrepreneurship jobs because they want to achieve their goals, it will also keep them away from focusing only on white-collar jobs. Government can come in by financially supporting those youths that have developed the interest of art work business and other entrepreneurship schemes and also collaborating with agencies to promote more indigenous art work exhibitions at the local, state, national and international levels to enable our talented youths to showcase their works to the world, it will bring tourists and boost the economy of our country.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Feature

Intensifying efforts to eliminate malaria in Nigeria by 2020 By Naomi Sharang

ecently, health experts converged on Abuja to discuss ways of intensifying efforts to eliminate malaria in Nigeria by 2020. At the roundtable, the experts agreed that one of such ways was for individuals to undergo laboratory tests to confirm if their ailment was actually malaria fever before commencing treatment. ``Malaria has been with us for a long time; there is the temptation to guess that any fever is malaria and commence treatment with the wrong medicine,’’ they said. ``We need to have a change of attitude; we need to have a complete reorientation in our efforts to treat fever,” they added. However, Mr Linus Awute, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health, said that government had formulated a policy on malaria. He said that the policy stipulated that the diagnosis of all suspected cases of malaria should be carried out before treatment, while underscoring the need for individuals to strictly adhere to that policy. Awute, who was represented by Dr Bridget Okoeguale, the Director of Public Health, said the Federal Government, via the current National Malaria Strategic Plan, was committed to achieving a pre-elimination status and a reduction of malaria-related deaths to zero by 2020. He, nonetheless, stressed that for Nigeria to eliminate malaria by 2020, the citizens must adopt a culture of testing for malaria before beginning treatment. ``We want to see increased uptake and utilisation of Artemisinin-based Combination Therapies (ACTs). ``We want to see increased attendance of pregnant women at antenatal clinics and improved utilisation of Long Lasting Insecticidal Nets (LLINs). ``We want to see a drastic reduction in malaria-related mortality and morbidity in the country,” he said. Awute noted that the Federal Government, through the National Malaria Elimination Programme and the Roll Back Malaria partners, had procured LLINs for beneficiaries in states across the country. ``Diagnosis and treatment commodities, including the Rapid Diagnostic Test (RDTs) and ACTs, have also been procured and distributed across the country,” he said. Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Nnenna Ezeigwe, the National

Coordinator of National Malaria Elimination Programme, said: ``Malaria is still the foremost public health issue in Nigeria in spite of all the concerted efforts of governments and partners.’’ She said that the 2010 Nigeria Malaria Indicator Survey (MIS) showed that the prevalence rate of malaria in the country was 44 per cent. ``However, at present, this figure has reduced substantially.

blueprint to provide the directional thrust for programming of advocacy, communication and social mobilisation for malaria by all partners,” Ezeigwe said. In the same vein, Dr Godwin Ntadom, the Head of Case Management Branch, National Malaria Elimination Programme, said: ``In 1990, 75 per cent of any group of people tested for malaria would definitely turn out having the parasite.

``By 2011, the situation changed significantly and Nigeria was rated as mesoendemic (Mesoendemic is a situation where if 100 persons with fever symptoms are tested, about 25 per cent of them are likely to be positive). ``Furthermore, in 2015, the policy was reviewed. In the revised policy, an individual must be tested to confirm if the fever is malaria before any treatment.

Malaria is next in line in elimination; we dealt with Ebola Virus Disease, polio, and guinea worm. The focus now is on malaria. ``Nevertheless, the focus has changed from malaria control to elimination. By 2020, we should get to the pre-elimination stage; this is a point where prevalence should be less than 5 per cent and there will be no death from malaria.’’ According to Ezeigwe, virtually all the proven antimalaria interventions have been introduced in Nigeria and they are actually being scaled up with the support of the Roll Back Malaria partners. She commended the country’s journalists for being worthy partners in the crusade against malaria. ``We urge the media to take advantage of the National Malaria Advocacy Communication and Social Mobilisation (ACSM) Guideline to improve their coverage and reporting of malaria issues in Nigeria. ``The ACSM Guidelines 2014 was produced to serve as a

``This is because at that time, Nigeria’s status on malaria was `holoendemic’. ``A holoendemic disease is one for which a high prevalent level of infection begins early in life and it affects most of the child population, leading to a state of equilibrium, such that the adult population shows evidence of the disease much less commonly than children. ``That situation was what made us to advise people that when they present symptoms of fever, they should treat malaria straightaway. Then, every fever was interpreted to mean malaria,” he said. Ntadom, however, said that the situation changed dramatically in 2005 when the Roll Back Malaria Programme came into existence. He said that the national policy on malaria, all individuals above the age of five should be tested before treatment of malaria, while for children less than five years, treatment should commence immediately. ``This is because children less than five years are most likely to die as a result of malaria.

``You can either do microscopy through the laboratory or use the Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) for malaria diagnosis,” he said. The World Health Organisation (WHO) says Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs) assist in the diagnosis of malaria by detecting evidence of malaria parasites (antigens) in human blood. ``RDTs are an alternative to diagnosis based on clinical grounds or microscopy, particularly where good quality microscopy services cannot be readily provided,’’ it adds. All the same, Mr John Ocholi, the Programme Analyst, Society for Family Health, said that the objectives of the National Malaria Strategic Plan included the provision of appropriate preventive measures to cover at least 80 per cent of the target population. He listed some of the achievements so far recorded in the malaria elimination project as the distribution of over 58 million LLINs and the improved distribution of ACTs at both private and public health facilities.

`ÀCTs are widely available and are over-the-counter. That is, you can walk into any pharmacy store and get these commodities at any time. `Èvidence from project implementation shows that about 79 per cent of ACTs distributed in Nigeria are got from private patent medicine vendors. ``That is why we must work with them to achieve results,’’ he added. Ocholi, however, emphasised that malaria treatment had improved at all levels, adding that the prevalence of malaria was reducing globally and nationally. Also speaking, Mr Omini Efiong, Senior Technical Advisor, Advocacy of Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) Nigeria Project, underscored the importance of community mobilisation in the fight against malaria. `Òur intervention should be evident and strategic. The National Malaria Elimination Programme has put in place some strategic documents, policies and guidelines, which I urge partners working within the National Malaria Response Plan to use in community mobilisation efforts,” he said. Efiong also called on the partners to utilise functional systems and structures available in different communities as tools for mobilising those communities. As regards the media, Rabi Abdallah, Head of the Health Desk in Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), said that the media were an indispensable ally in efforts to promote public health issues. She said that the media conveniently played the role of a source of ``correct information on health matters as well as an advocate for desirable health behaviours. ``When the media reports from the point of knowledge, it makes a lot of impact and brings about the change that we want to bring about. `Às change agents, when we do stories, we are doing the society and ourselves good,” she added. Abdallah urged the media to adopt and apply a multi-sectoral approach to communications on malaria. ``We can replicate the efforts mobilised to fight Ebola in fighting malaria. Nigerian journalists have the willpower and vibrancy to achieve this,’’ she said. While describing malaria as a ``harbinger of poverty and death”, Abdallah called on individuals to maintain good hygiene by cleaning their environment to keep mosquitoes at bay. All the same, observers insist that increased public awareness about malaria will facilitate improved commitment and behavioural change toward the elimination of malaria. ``There is more to be done to close knowledge gaps around transmission, prevention and diagnosis of malaria,” they say. (NANFeatures)

Special Report

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

The Juju curse on Nigerian sex workers

By Philip Obaji Jr

or many of the girls in Benin City, a town about 300 kilometres east of Lagos, the journey to a life of prostitution in Europe begins with a bizarre ritual. Before they leave, they are taken to traditional shrines where they are often forced to undergo a juju oath-swearing ritual that commits them to repaying the money they owe to their smugglers on pain of death or insanity, and not to denounce them to the police. In what has become a very common ritual in Benin City, girls are made to undress. They have been told to wear underwear stained with menstrual blood, and that is taken from them. Their pubic hair and toenails are cut, and they are forced to swear over the blood of an animal, usually a chicken, that they would never betray their “benefactor.” According to traditional beliefs, which are strong in Benin City, this gives the priests power to punish erring women wherever they are in the world. One juju priest who claimed to have carried out an oath-taking exercise involving hundreds of girls told The Daily Beast that a small charm which serves as a concrete expression of the agreement, and which also is expected to bring luck for the journey, is usually prepared and handed to the young women to take with them on their travels. “Any girl who fails to keep to this agreement is struck with a terrible gynaecological disease. That is why we take their blood-stained underwear,” said the juju priest. “The blood of the chicken we kill represents the blood of the girl, and that puts her life in our hands.” A young woman we’ll call Deborah, who spent many years working as a prostitute in Italy, told The Daily Beast she believes in the

very common traditional notion that girls who fail to keep their oath become mad or die. One, she told us, was struck with a terrible illness for failure to keep to the agreement. But other stigmas that might be attached to sex work are less present in Benin City, where human trafficking is a major industry and potential prostitutes are seen by many as investments, expected to pay back more than the costs of sending them away and keeping them in Europe. The idea of women working as prostitutes to make money for the family has, over time, been accepted by many in the community, and some parents pressure their daughters to go to Italy, especially when familiar faces return home after years in Europe and show off their exotic lifestyle. Deborah made the trip to Italy with help from her aunt. Her next-door neighbour, Osas, travelled there to be a prostitute as well,

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with assistance from her schoolmate. In the same compound, Folake was approached by her hairdresser, who arranged for her to travel to Italy. She was told a lucrative job awaited her, but not prostitution. Once she was there, however, she had little choice. “My hairdresser called me on the phone one evening and said she knew someone who could help me travel to Italy and help get a job for me as well,” said Folake, who asked that we not use her real name. She is the first born in a family of nine, she said. “I was so desperate for a job. My family lived from hand to mouth.” She eventually made it to Italy after a horrible journey across North Africa during which several women died of hunger and thirst, she said. She arrived in Italy with nothing, and after months working on the streets, Italian authorities deported her back to Nigeria without a penny, having only managed to pay a fraction of the $35,000 she

Amid the massive number of migrants reaching Europe over the past year, most of them refugees from Syria and other battlefields, there were also a record number of women from Nigeria. A report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said over 1,200 Nigerian women went to Italy by boat in 2014 compared to 300 the previous year.

owed her mistress. “I returned empty-handed, without anything to show for all my efforts and the risk I took. It made me contemplate suicide,” said Folake when we met her in Lagos. Amid the massive number of migrants reaching Europe over the past year, most of them refugees from Syria and other battlefields, there were also a record number of women from Nigeria. A report by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), said over 1,200 Nigerian women went to Italy by boat in 2014 compared to 300 the previous year. And historically, according to United Nations estimates, more than 80 percent of Nigerian women trafficked abroad to work in the sex trade come from Edo State, where Benin City is located. In 2011, the UN Office for Drugs and Crime named Nigeria as one of the eight worst countries in the world for human trafficking. A number of local reports suggest local traffickers have approached one in three women in Benin City with promises of jobs if they go to Europe. EUROPOL has identified Nigerian trafficking-related organized crime as one of the greatest law enforcement challenges to European governments. Nigerian crime syndicates run many of the operations, and throughout the women’s journey to Europe, many of them are raped, beaten, and psychologically abused by members of the gangs that control the trade. The syndicates’ use of systematic violence is aimed at preparing the women for intensive exploitation once they reach their destinations. The history of this massive traffic began in the 1980s when free-market economic

Contd on Page 5

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Special Report Curse on Nigerian sex workers Contd from Page 4 reforms led to massive job losses that impoverished many in the West African country. Attracted by Italy’s demand for low-skilled labour in agriculture and services, Nigerians began migrating there in large numbers. At that time, women who worked as prostitutes in Italy usually did so on their own and were not trafficking other women. But as the trip became more difficult in the 1990s, prospective emigrants became more and more dependent on large loans in order travel to and settle in Europe, and traffickers saw the prospect of large revenues in the Italian prostitution market. So more and more young women—mostly teenagers from poor backgrounds— were enticed with promises of very lucrative jobs, and subsequently forced into prostitution in order to repay their debt. That much is a story as old as human trafficking. But it’s also true that in Benin City the financial success of many female emigrants who worked as prostitutes in Italy is highly visible. There are grand houses and flashy cars acquired with remittances. Former prostitutes often become madams, recruiting young women from within their own community. Now add to that mixture the breakdown of anything resembling law and order along the overland route many take to get to Italy. Migration analysts say the fighting in Libya has emboldened existing criminal networks in that country, making it easier for traffickers to ship women and children out across the Mediterranean. An immigration official told The Daily Beast that young girls, mostly from the Niger Delta region in the south, are taken to the northern city of Kano. In the past, the traffickers would take their victims through Kano airport and fly them to Libya or even Europe using fake and stolen passports. But new security measures introduced by the Nigerian immigration service to check identity fraud, including sophisticated passport reading machines and data bases with high profile arrests, meant the traffickers

A sex worker being arrested resorted to driving the victims overland to Niger then Libya. From there they may be shipped out on some of the notoriously unseaworthy scows that sink in the Mediterranean so often that even when hundreds of the people on board are killed, the tragedies draw little international attention. According to the United Nations Interregional Crime and Justice Research Institute (UNICRI), Italy has been the destination of more than 10,000 Nigerian prostitutes, trafficked from Benin City to the different corners of Italy, including the Via Domitiana, a stretch of potholed highway north of Naples that has become a hub for the smuggling gangs and prostitutes. Italy is an especially attractive destination because under Italian law (PDF), victims of sex trafficking have been granted residency in order to access the state-run welfare system. But despite new measures

adopted to cater to victims of trafficking, the Italian government’s Equal Opportunities Office, responsible for protecting these persons, is currently struggling to cope with the huge increase of arrivals and cuts in its budget. In any case, the trauma and abuse to which the women are subjected during their journey often dissuades them from trying to obtain a residence permit when they reach Italy, and many of the women wind up as virtual slaves. “I lived in Italy like a prisoner— not allowed to leave the brothel except to work for money,” said Osas, who has lived in Lagos since the Italians deported her two years ago. “I was required to bring back at least €120 [about $135] every night, and whenever I failed to do so, I got beaten by my madam.” Osas said half of the money usually went into paying her debt and other bills, which required her

to work for at least 12 hours a day. “I stayed in Italy for three years, and all through I was paying my madam for my food and accommodation, and to meet up with these demands, I had to hook an average of five or more clients per day.” “They said I’ll be working in a garment factory,” Deborah told The Daily Beast. “But I didn’t get the job they promised me,” she said, and “unfortunately I was tied to an oath and I had to pay off the debt or face repercussions.” But girls that return from Italy empty-handed are usually stigmatized, even by their own family members. “It’s the reason why many stranded girls in Italy don’t want to return,” Deborah said. “People will say you are a fool for spending many years there without making money. Your family members might even kill you for that reason. Even if they don’t, the thought of failure and

Some sex workers avoiding camera

wasted years will.” Friends for many years during their stay in Benin, Deborah, Osas, and Folake have reunited in Lagos where they live together in a miserable rented room and work as petty traders, hoping to rebuild their broken lives. “We don’t want to return to Benin because people will point fingers at us, and call us terrible names,” said Osas. “Staying in Lagos will keep us safe from being stigmatized and offer us a chance to rearrange our lives.” Obaji Jr. is the founder of 1 GAME, an advocacy and campaigning organization that fights for the right to education for disadvantaged children in Nigeria, especially in northeastern Nigeria, where Boko Haram forbids western education. Follow him @ PhilipObaji thedailybeast.com

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News

Taraba Govt confirms Sambo as new Kpanti Zing-elect

he Taraba Government on Friday announced Alhaji Suleiman Sambo as the Kpanti Zing-elect to succeed late Alhaji Abass Sambo who died in the 2015 Hajj stampede in Mecca. Alhaji Bello Yero, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, disclosed this at a news conference in Jalingo. Yero said the confirmation followed Sambo’s election by the 22 king makers of the Zing kingdom. He disclosed that Sambo polled 22 votes to defeat four other candidates who got no votes each. He added that “five persons; Alhaji Muhammed Tumba, Alhaji Abdu Kombranko, Malam Dahiru Kombranko, Alhaji Abubakar Kombranko and Alhaji Suleiman Sambo contested for the post. “Sambo polled the available 22 votes to defeat four other candidates who got zero votes each.’’ The permanent secretary said the final pronouncement and coronation would soon be done by Gov Darius Ishaku after due consultation with the Taraba Traditional Council. He urged the people of Zing to remain law abiding and cooperate with the new chief to enhance development in the area. (NAN)

1.3m voters to participate in Kogi governorship poll

he Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has confirmed that 1,397, 786 voters will participate in the governorship election holding in Kogi on Nov. 21. Mr. Daniel Kure, the Director, Voter Education and Publicity, INEC, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lokoja on Friday. He said that the number included the 47, 389 voters newly registered during the continuous voter registration held in September. Kure said that the distribution of permanent voter cards to the newly registered voters will commence on Nov. 9 and end on Nov. 20. The Director told NAN that old registrants, who are yet to collect their voter cards, should come out and collect them. He said that only voters with permanent voter card will be allowed to vote on the election day, adding that card reader machine will also be deployed for the election. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Buhari decries influx of foreign construction workers …Says FG to address shortage of skilled Nigerian artisans By Osby Isibor

resident Muhammadu Buhari Friday in Abuja directed the Federal Ministries of Works and Lands, Housing and Urban Development to urgently prepare and present for approval and implementation, a plan of action for the speedy revitalisation and expansion of the nation’s vocational training centres. President Buhari gave the directive after being told at a meeting with the Board of Directors of a leading construction company in the country that because of a shortage of competent construction

workers and artisans in the country, many construction companies were forced to bring in skilled workers from abroad. Observing that this practice was very detrimental to his administration’s commitment to boost employment opportunities for young Nigerians, President Buhari pledged that his administration will move quickly to address the shortage of skilled construction workers in the country. The President, who demanded a report on the current status of existing vocational training centres established by the Federal Government, said that his administration will take all necessary

action to rapidly reposition them as efficient producers of skilled workers for Nigeria’s building and construction industry. A press statement issued yesterday by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Garba Shehu, said President Buhari assured members of the Board of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc that his administration will act swiftly to ensure that the Building Craft Training School and Skill Improvement Centre in Lagos are fully revamped, staffed and equipped to produce more skilled electricians, brick and block layers, carpenters, painters, welders, fabricators, plumbers and other

artisans. Reaffirming his administration’s commitment to the proper education and training of Nigerian youth for the current demands of the labour market, the President said that the Federal Government will act expeditiously to remove all impediments to the fulfillment of its promise of more jobs for unemployed Nigerians. He also assured the Julius Berger Directors led by Mr. Mutiu Sunmonu that in spite of present funding challenges, the Federal Government will continue to do everything possible to settle genuine outstanding payments due to contractors.

Pastors praying at the Deeper Life Liberation crusade in Suleja, Niger, on Thursday night

Police clampdown on Biafra campaigners in Asaba

From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

bold attempt by members of the indigenous Biafra secessionist movement to stamp its authority on the Delta State capital of Asaba and neighbouring towns was Friday botched as the police forced them to disperse. The police also arrested a large, but yet unconfirmed, number of the Biafra campaigners who they allegedly tried to prevent members of the public from freely going about their daily activities. Acting Delta State Police Command spokesman, Mr. Charles Muka, a deputy superintendent of police (DSP), told our correspondent on phone at about 2.45pm on Friday that he could not confirm the number of persons arrested by the police during the clampdown on the Biafra campaigners. “Well, it is true that we successfully repelled the attempt by pockets of the group to cause a breach of public peace, but I cannot tell you how many people were

arrested because we are still on it”, Muka said. He advised members of the public to go about their normal lawful business without any fear of molestation. “We are on top of the situation, people should be free to go to the market or any lawful business”, the police spokesman said, adding that no group had been authorized by the police to engage in protest march in Asaba or environs. It was learnt that the coordinators of the group had Wednesday gone round many parts of Asaba telling residents to stay away from the Ogbogonogo Modern Market in Asaba metropolis to express solidarity with the cause of the indigenous Biafra organisation. Some residents on Anwai Road and Nnebisi Road Asaba told our correspondent that the group also warned the people to keep their children and wards from going to school on Friday as a mark of support for the group. Although, government and security announcements later advised residents to disregard the

threats by the pro-Biafra group and reassured the people of their safety, many people stayed away from the huge and usually busy Ogbogonogo Market on Friday especially in the morning hours apparently out of fear of possible attack by the Biafra campaigners. However, as early as 7.30am the police clashed with members of the group as the latter reportedly attempted to block the BeninAsaba expressway around the everbusy Summit Junction, Asaba. Eyewitness accounts said that the police fired severally into the air to scare off the pro-Biafra protesters who appeared determined to resist been forced from the point by the riot policemen. They said some people had initially thought that the police were probably involved in crossfire with some armed robbers due to the sporadic shooting and many have run for cover. However, a huge smoke from numerous teargas canisters fired by the police soon enveloped the whole area around the Summit Junction as far as DBS Road and

Jesus Saves Street junction, forcing people to run helter-skelter and motorists making quick turn from the area at about 8.15 am. Nonetheless, it was learnt that it took a detachment of mobile policemen to disperse members of the same Biafra group who had barricaded the strategic BeninAgbor-Asaba-Onitsha expressway at Umunede during late morning hours and attempted to disrupt traffic flow on the road. Several persons were also reportedly arrested by the riot or mobile policemen at Umenede and Agbor area on the road. However, a confirmation of the number of arrests by the police spokesman was still being expected at the time of filing this report. Since the reported arrest by the Federal Government about three weeks ago of the general coordinator of Radio Biafra (operated by the group), Mr. Nnamdi Kanu, the tempo of activities of the group seems to have increased, with the security agencies equally stepping up their offensive against the group.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Page 7

Cover

How fraudsters sell water as kerosene in Delta

Long queus for kerosine at a fuel station By Osakhare Erese, Asaba

ersons believed to be fraudsters operating within Asaba and its environs in Delta State have formed strategies to defraud unsuspecting members of the public through sales of water as kerosene. These fraudsters our investigations revealed have ripped-off several persons in the last two weeks including a middleaged lady identified as Mrs. Kate Ndulue, an Asaba-based businesswoman. It was reliably gathered that the victim, a cooking gas seller along Okpanama road in Asaba, was allegedly defrauded by a twoman gang of fraudsters who offered 25 litres of water to her as kerosene. Mrs. Ndulue who narrated her ordeals in the hands of the fraudsters said, “I was in my shop looking for customers to come when suddenly two well dressed young men came down from a tricycle and came straight to me, after introducing themselves as businessmen claimed they were hungry and I directed them to a nearby restaurant and a few minutes later they came out saying they have exhausted their money and they can no longer go back to Benin.” Speaking further, she said: “They told me they have 25 litres of kerosene and they brought it out and I gave them N2,000 as they requested. As soon as they left, I

took some to cook for my children only to discover it was water and not kerosene, the substance smells kerosene. I raised the alarm that attracted neighbours to my store but the fraudsters have disappeared to an unknown destination.” Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mrs. Celestina Kalu confirmed that the police were on the trail of the fraudsters who in the recent times have defrauded several persons in Asaba and its environs and warned members of the public to be wary of persons who disguise as businessmen to rip them off. Further investigation revealed that these fraudsters have allegedly recruited agents who woo unsuspecting members of the public especially food operators to buy fake kerosene products from them. Meanwhile, the police in Abraka in the state have killed a notorious robbery suspect identified as Boy Raggae during a gun battle. It was learnt that the suspect, 25 years old, has been on the neck of the people of Abraka in the last two years and had allegedly robbed many of them at gun point before he met his waterloo. Confirming the incident, Mrs. Celestina Kalu, Police Public Relations Officer in the state said nemesis caught up with the suspect when the police got information of his criminal act and trailed him to his

hideout where he engaged the police in a gun battle. She said: “Police in synergy with vigilante group upon a tip off stormed the hideout of the suspect where the suspect opened fire on the officers but he was shot and later gave up the ghost in an undisclosed hospital, adding that the community recovered one automatic cut to size English double barrel gun, television sets, handsets, and other items stolen from his victims. In a similar vein, the Anambra State police command has detained 16 persons allegedly involved in rape and robbery activities in the last two weeks. Police Public Relations Officer in the state, Mr. Ali Okechukwu who confirmed the arrest and detention of the suspects, said the suspects were arrested by Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) in Akwuzu, in Oyi Local Government Area of the state and commended the people of the area for availing the police to achieve the feat. He said, “I want to assure the people of the state of the readiness of the police to make this year yuletide period peaceful and crime free; among the suspected armed robbers and rapists, is one Chinenye Egeonu of No. 3 Ugoji street, Aba who allegedly snatched a trailer load of cement belonging to a popular businessman in the country, the incident took place on the 3rd of September, 2015 and on a tip off, SARS

went to Aba and recovered the trailer with registration No. XMI 314 XA and arrested the said Chinenye Egeonu”. The Police image maker disclosed that one Maxwell Obemana, Chukwunonso Nwosu, Ugochukwu Simon, attached to Udide Vigilante service in Akwa were arrested for robbery and rape of one Amaka Chukwudi an undergraduate of Nnamdi Azikiwe University, adding that others were gang of bandits who at gun point collected Mack trailer with registration No. SMK 575 from a businessman who loaded with 187 daylong uncoupled motorcycles. He said: “On a tip off, SARS operatives arrested one Ebuka of Arochukwu ommunity, Ifeanyi Udeozor of Awgwu in Enugu State and recovered the truck with 187 daylong motorcycles” saying that one Ebube Okeke in Ihiala, Chijoke Okwueso of Okija, Onyedika Kennedy Enugu and Amah Chinyere Theodore of Umunamehi were arrested for robbing one Toyota Rav-4 jeep with Reg No KJA852 BC at gun point. Mr. Okechukwu further disclosed that the case of one Emmanuel Eze and Irochukwu Ohamara were arrested for allegedly robbing N300,000 from a retired army colonel in a new generation bank in Ogidi, Idemili Local Government Area of the state, adding that all the suspects would be charged to court on completion of investigations.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Dilemma of women, child stone crushers

By Emeka Inwerogu

he diverse resources in Nigeria and the management of these assets have in the last few years taken the fore in national discourse, shifting government and public interest to other sectors beside oil in a bid to create multiple sources of revenue.As a result, solid minerals now receive immense attention, with discussions centred on control and sustainable uses. Emerging as a veritable complementary resource is granite, a hard, usually grey rock matter widely used in building and construction. The Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel Development lists granite as a solid mineral,

with deposits in the region of billions of metric tonnes, and it can be foundall over the country in states including Ebonyi, Ekiti, Enugu, Kogi, Ogun and Plateau. Though there are quarrying companies that engage in large scale industrial stonecrushing, indigenous and artisanal stonecrushers have increased over the years, and the activity has become a viable business venture for many. It actually became popular during the early Nok Era – an ancient West African civilisation that disappeared around 300AD – as the need for craft and construction materials increased at the time. The mining of other solid minerals and precious stones may also have paved the way for the now popu-

lar trade to commence. In the face of an economic meltdown during the Nigerian Civil War, stonecrushing became a major income source in the late 1960s, with many people engaged in it. Pa Abu Ochono has been crushing stones since 1968. Working on a quarry site in a remote are in Kaduna State, he said: “We used to buy a truckload (of granite) from the quarry at much cheaper rates, but it now sells for 12,000 naira.” Sunday David, a third-year mechanical engineering student and a second-generation stone crusher says, “I inherited the business from my mum who is old now. I still live with my parents, but they are incapable of

working now, so I use the money I earn from stonecrushing to pay my way through school, and for my personal upkeep.” As tedious and physically demanding as stonecrushing is, ironically, women and children are the most common participants, spending hours crushing granite and suffering exposure to harsh, unhealthy and unsafe working conditions. But the profits some of them make is enough incentive for them, even though the exercise is mainly subsistent for several others. “This job keeps me going. It is from the proceeds here that I feed my family. I have built a house, and I am presently saving up to either build another house or get a plot of land,” says Mrs.

Haruna, a middle aged woman from Kaduna. Depending on the size, a bag of crushed stone costs between 200 to 250 naira, and a van costs about 3,000 naira. A 1,500 feet hill [measuring about 457 metres] could sell for an estimated 12 million naira [at 12,000 naira per truckload]. There are attendant personal risks as well as environmental hazards associated with quarrying, starting from the very first activity; rock blasting. The huge, natural-occurring rockfirst has to be broken down into smaller manageable boulders, and this is done by drilling a hole under Contd on Page 9

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Contd from Page 8 neath the rock, setting fire to it, and leaving it to burn for as many as three days. This softens the rock, and when it is molten enough, it explodes. Workers are to completely evacuate rock blasting sites to avoid being struck by flying shrapnel. Even more worrisome is the direct health effect on the workers themselves as Michael Simire, a mining expert goes on to say, “During the quarrying activities, a lot of dust is generated, with some of the dust particles potentially carcinogenic. That means, they have the capability to induce the growth of cancerous cells.” Decades of unregulated and unsustainable stonecrushing activities also poses an environmental risk, as it rids the soil of its natural protective covering over time, exposing it to erosion and other harmful environmental effects. Putting all of these into context, Mrs. Benahi Osoba, an environmental consultant, weighs in: “Now, there is lots of land use; farming, cattle-rearing, and people probably live on these designated mining sites. You talk of land degradation and there are many abandoned mining pits, especially in quarries where they excavate sub-surface. During the rainy season, rainwater collects in these pits, breeding mosquitoes and things like that. Furthermore, she says, “Apart from that, you tend to have issues with the blasting, with the vibrating affecting people’s homes. And with cracks appearing on the walls, the houses are no longer as durable as they ought to be.” Nature and wildlife are not spared the harmful effects of

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Dilemma of women, child stone crushers unchecked quarrying either, as according to the environmental consultant, “Some of these quarry sites harbour ecosystems – flora and even fauna, and when you remove these (natural) rock formations, you lose these ecosystems.” “Quarrying is a form of mining,’ he continues. “It leaves the land largely degraded.” “After the quarrying activities may have ended and the site evacuated, unsuspecting individuals may move into these locations and try to build. And because the land is depressed compared to the general surface area, it is easily flooded. Some of these lands are even geologically unstable, and they could be susceptible to vibrations once in a while.” The risks and hazards notwithstanding, quarrying is more or less inevitable, and it is an activity that must go on. Mrs. Osoba posits, “… whether we like it or not, there will always be quarry systems because there is development. We need granite to be able to develop. We can’t import when we have it here just because of aesthetics. But now, how much the government agencies are able to control the rate of loss of this goes a long way.” For this reason, the National Environmental Standards Enforcement Agency (NESREA), a government agency responsible for the protection and controlled development of the environment was set up in 2007. The agency has already drawn up the National Blasting and Quarrying Operations 2013 Regulations, which unfortunately has yet to be passed into law. And until that

Some young men crushing stones

happens, there will remain regulatory and enforcement gaps of what ought to be done at state and local government levels. Engineer Olusegun Oladipo, a retired director at the ministry disclosed that “The ministry has tried to organise local miners into mining cooperatives. They have assisted some (of those who have adhered and have come together), and there is still more to be assisted. But one thing is, when these people are organised, big companies will start coming in. And these big companies will not go after the marginal deposits. They will want the big deposits. And when they get the big deposits, they will not be worried about the marginal deposits. These marginal deposits will then be available for the

mining cooperatives to mine the mineral and sell it to the companies at a fair price.” The National Blasting and Quarrying Operations 2013 Regulations law when passed, hopes to address activities in the quarry industry that might affect the environment, as well as induce penalties on defaulters. Regulatory authorities expect artisans to observe environmental safety standards and ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE). According to the Nigerian Mineral and Mining Act 2007 and 2011: “Holders must carry out rehabilitation or land reclamation to allow land re-use, and to reduce harmful environmental impact“, because if there is proper follow-up for land reclamation, you tend to have the land back in use. “Experts could come in and do an assessment of the usability of the land after quarrying; whatever it can be used for. Such results can now tell what the land can be used for. It could still even be used for residential purposes,

“

Women stone crushers at work

depending on what you have there. But continuous quarrying activities within the area may be detrimental to health because of the dust particles given out.” Respiratory problems – cough, shortness of breath and chest pains are common health problems quarry workers face. As such, NESREA has ordered the use of PPE. Unfortunately, none of the workers visited at the site were seen wearing any. “Sometimes, we have cough,” Sunday David admits. “But then, once we see the doctor, everything is okay. As you can see, I am fine,” he said smiling. However, everyone admits that, with proper regulationof this alternative means of making a living, workers involved can earn decent wages and turn a profit, whilst also averting drastic environmental impact in the course of their activities. Inwerogu writes from Lagos and can be reached on emekainwerogu@gmail. com

The National Blasting and Quarrying Operations 2013 Regulations law when passed, hopes to address activities in the quarry industry that might affect the environment, as well as induce penalties on defaulters. Regulatory authorities expect artisans to observe environmental safety standards and ensure the use of personal protective equipment (PPE).

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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News

Court dismisses Saraki’s suit to stop CCT’s trial

From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

Federal High Court sitting in Lagos, on Friday struck out a suit by Senate President Bukola Saraki seeking to stop the Code of Conduct Tribunal’s (CCT) trial for false asset declaration. Justice Ibrahim Buba in his ruling held that the court lacked jurisdiction to entertain the suit. The embattled Senate president, who is being tried for false asset declaration at the CCT, has tried to stall his trial before now but failed. Saraki had filed the suit through his lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Oluyede, on Sept. 30. Joined as respondents in the suit are: Attorney General of the Federation, Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission. Other respondents are: Inspector General of Police, Code of Conduct Bureau, Code of Conduct Tribunal and Justice Danladi Umar. Also joined are: Mr. Ataedze Adza, Mr. Sam Saba, Mr. Mohammed Diri and Mr. M.S Hassan. Oluyede had earlier brought an exparte application before the court, but Justice Buba had ordered that the respondents be put on notice. The court also raised the issue of jurisdiction and ordered the counsel to address the court on whether it had jurisdiction to hear the suit.

When the matter was mentioned on Friday, counsel to Saraki informed the court that all parties to the suit had been respectively served with the court processes. Buba, however, told counsels to address the court on the issue of jurisdiction. Addressing the court, Oluyede argued that his client’s right to fair hearing was been threatened by the respondents. e said this arose out of a political situation in which they desired him to vacate his office as Senate president. Justice Buba in a short observation, warned Oluyede to confine himself to the provision of section 46 (1) of the Constitution as it relates to a state. Oluyede told the court that other steps taken by the respondents, was to draw up charges against Saraki and his wife, and ensure he is convicted at all cost. He argued that this constituted an infringement on his rights. He, therefore, submitted that the applicant was at liberty to commence a fundamental right action anywhere, so far he feels his rights were been infringed upon. In response, counsel to the respondents, Mr. Rotimi Jacobs (SAN) urged the court to dismiss the applicant’s suit for lack of merit. According to Jacobs, the applicant’s suit was an attempt to obtain a black market order adding that it amounted to judicial rascality.

Money laundering: EFCC arraigns Zamfara SUBEB Chairman From Ibrahim Sidi Muh’d, Gusau

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arraigned the Zamfara State Chairman of the Universal Education Board, Murtala Adamu Jangebe, before a Federal High Court sitting in Gusau over money laundering related charges. The EFCC slammed the former Zamfara SUBEB Chairman with 10-count charges and he pleaded not guilty to the charges filed against him. Prosecuting counsel,

Barrister Sadisu Abubakar, said the former Zamfara SUBEB boss has been accused of laundering N32 million while in office. The offences charged upon the accused are contrary to section 15 2(a) and sub section 2(b) of the money laundering act and enshrined to be punishable under section 15 and sub section 3 of the same act. The accused has however been granted bail base on the submission of the sum of N5million and a senior civil servant who would serve as surety and must surrender his international passport to the court.

CHANGE OF NAME I, FORMERLY KNOWN AS MOHAMMED SANI BARMO NOW WISH TO BE KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS SANI MASTER. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS REMAIN VALID. CONCERNED AUTHORITIES AND GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD TAKE NOTE

CHANGE OF NAME I, formerly known as Ummi Liman Lapai now wish to be known and addressed as Amina Abdulhamid. All former documents remain valid. General public should please take note.

.L R Group Head,E-Banking,Heritage Bank ,Tobe Nnadozie,President Guardian of the Nation International (GOTNI), MR.Linus Okorie ,Deputy General Manager,Total E & P Nigeria Limited,Sonye Allanah, and Political Counselor,Embassy of the United States of America, Shawn Flatt,at the 2015 Emerging Leaders Conference yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-owo

APC vows to fulfill N5, 000 unemployment package By Osby Isibor

he All Progressives Congress (APC) has assured Nigerians that it will not renege on its campaign promise to pay N5, 000 each monthly to 25 million most vulnerable Nigerians, while calling on citizens to ignore the “mischievous” attempt by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to confuse and mislead them on this issue. The party said with the Treasury Single Account of the Buhari administration, N1.4 trillion has been mopped up from various banks and are now safely in the TSA. The party also said the

government has set aside $2.5 billion for various infrastructural projects and another N2.5 trillion as special intervention fund. In a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by APC National Publicity Secretary, Lai Mohammed, the APC said even though the PDPled Federal Government plundered the common wealth in its time, it has devised creative means not only to pay the money, but also to fulfill its other campaign promises to Nigerians. It said the nonimplementation of the payment policy so far is due to the fact that it was not included in the 2015

budget, which was prepared by the PDP-led Jonathan Administration, and also because of the need to first block all financial leakages. ”Now, the Buhari administration has been busy putting into place measures that will make it possible to start the implementation of this project. Such measures include the aintroduction of the Treasury Single Account (TSA). ”We are happy to inform Nigerians that as at the end of September 2015, over 1.4 trillion Naira – which hitherto was lying unproductively in various commercial banks – has been recovered and paid into the TSA,” APC said.

Nigerian Senators were on Tuesday sharply divided along party lines when PDP members canvassed a motion for the payment of N5000 stipend to all unemployed youth as promised by the APC. The motion appeared an attempt by the opposition party to mock the APCgovernment that is already struggling with severe revenue shortage. The PDP later issued a statement on Wednesday saying the APC Senators were only doing the bidding of their party, which it said only used the monthly stipend as campaign strategy and that the party never intended to implement it.

PCRC tasks government on financial aid By Usman Shuaibu

apital Territory (FCT), Chief Tobias Obiechiua, has called on the government to provide financial assistance for the management of PCRC. Obiechina, who made the call in an interview with newsmen after he received an award of recognition

from the PCRC during the security awareness summit in Gwagwalada, also urged the government to take the PCRC along in the scheme of things in the country. He charged Nigerians to always give useful information to PCRC/Police that will lead to the arrest of criminals in the society, saying as a member of PCRC, he will continue to work with

the police to safeguard the lives of the people. He appealed to policemen not to reveal the sources of their information whenever vital information is passed to them, as according to him, police are the friends of the community. He further pleaded with traditional rulers to work hand in hand with

their subjects for the sake of security in the society, and urged them to report suspicious movement of any person to the police. Obiechina, however, expressed joy over the award being bestowed on him by the PCRC and commended the authorities of the PCRC for what they have been doing in the area of security in the FCT.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

News Emir of Zazzau commends NSCDC From Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

he Emir of Zazzau and Chairman, Kaduna State Council of Traditional Rulers, Alh. Shehu Idris, has commended the Kaduna State Command of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) for their efforts towards sustaining peace and security in the state. He stated this when he received the state Commandant of the corps, Alhaji Modu Bunu, who

paid a familiarization visit to his palace yesterday. The emir, who also commended the NSCDC for effectively discharging security duties in the state, urged the corps to consolidate on its performance. He said the corps has performed appreciably in anti-vandalism drive specifically in protecting critical Infrastructure and national assets, disaster management and crowd control among other things. The emir requested that more personnel be deployed to the

Emirate to assist in maintaining law and order, assuring the corps of cooperation from the emirate. Responding, Commandant Bunu promised to maintain a cordial working relationship with the traditional institution especially Zazzau Emirate council noting that the command has received different forms of assistance from the emirate. The commandant thanked the emir for donating a vehicle to the Zaria Division of the corps in August this year, adding that such

support will spur personnel of the corps to perform optimally. Bunu remarked that the familiarization visit to the emir’s palace which preceded his visit to the commissioner of police and Comptroller of Immigration was to enable the command succeed in the task expected of the corps. He pledged to sustain the synergy between NSCDC and other security agencies, cautioning that rivalry and acrimony are counter-productive which must be avoided.

Federal Government Girls College Owerri Alumni, distributing items to internally displaced persons (IDPS), during their global reunion outreach to IDPS camp, yesterday at Durumi, Abuja .

Internet governance effective in developed countries- CITAD From Mustapha Adamu, Kano

xecutive Secretary, Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD), Malam Ya’u Zakari Ya’u, has described the issue of internet governance as feasible and realistic in developing countries, as the need for awareness has become imperative. Speaking to newsmen at a one-day workshop organised by CITAD in conjunction with Nigeria Internet Forum held at Mambayya House in Kano,

yesterday, Yau said the world has attained an appreciable level of sophistication in terms of espousing the real indices of good governance via the websites, stressing the need for Nigeria to take a cue from advanced democracy. According to him, most developing countries were becoming apathetically reticent to embrace the new emergent practice either for lack of proper awareness or language barrier which tend to have a propound impact on the system, adding that lack of adequate infrastructures

was also a major snag militating against the system in many developing countries. “The system is only limited to elite in the corridors of power and representatives of government in notable position of authority and that a concerted effort is highly needed to ensure adequate participation of those outside the government circles.” He said CITAD is fully conscious of the task that lies on its shoulders in bringing to the fore the real benefits to be derived from the modern practice of governance via the websites

stressing however that with firm commitment and the ability to prevail on all stakeholders to embrace the system nothing could ever stand as a cog in the wheel of achieving the desired objective. He, however, stated with clear and comprehensive understanding of the subject matter, apologists of good governance via the internet would prevail on their respective audience in making a headway adding that many of the countries that had succeeded in that regard had used their language in facing the challenges.

Bauchi distributes N10m drugs in rural health centers From Ahmed Kaigama Bauchi

auchi State government has procured and distributed N10 million worth of drugs for underfive children in rural healthcare centres across the state. Acting Chairman of Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency (BASPHCDA), Dr. Yerima Yahaya, disclosed this during

the distribution of free drugs to various health facilities across the state. According to him, the free drugs is in line with the governor’s five-point health agenda. He further disclosed that despite the scarce resources available, the Governor Mohammed Abubakar is not compromising on his commitment to revamping the health sector.

Dr. Yahaya emphasized that this is the first phase of the pilot scheme in the state, adding that eight health facilities were chosen. He called on all stakeholders to appreciate the effort of the government toward reinvigorating the sector. “We have put in place adequate measures to ensure that this drugs are not diverted from its original purpose anyone caught trying to divert or sabotage government’s

effort will have himself to blame,” he stressed. The State Vice chairman, Ward Development Committee, Abdullahi Lawal Kafi, assured government of their support at the state and the local level. He stated that they would deploy their members to monitor the programme at the local level and to ensure that the drugs get to the health facilities and the stipulated rule are followed.

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Dwindling oil price: Okowa canvasses measures to check job loss From Osakhare Erese, Asaba

elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has called for urgent measures to check the loss of jobs in the country due to the dwindling price of oil in the international market. Speaking on Friday in Asaba when the National President of National Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers (NUPENG), Comrade Igwe Achese, led members of his executive to pay him a courtesy call, Senator Okowa said the dwindling revenue from oil has become a major challenge that must be tackled through partnership between the state and federal government to diversify the economy. According to him, the oil and gas sector was not the only sector being affected by the nose-dive in the price of oil, disclosing that the construction sector has been greatly affected and urgent steps must be taken to address the situation and its attendant effects. “We are beginning to lose jobs in the oil companies, the construction companies are even affected because they employ more workers, especially youths, when they are working, the youths in their areas of operation are employed,” he stated, adding that, “today, it is affecting the construction of roads and other infrastructure, we believe that with the coming of the dry season, we will be able to engage the construction companies and they will in turn, engage the youths and our people.” While calling for patience and understanding from Nigerians and urging them to be positively engaged, Okowa emphasized that the economy can be diversified with Nigerians going back to agriculture, agro-based business, small and medium scale enterprises. Earlier, Comrade Achese said they were in the state to felicitate with him on his electoral victory and disclosed the union’s efforts towards ensuring that tankers were parked properly without constituting nuisance to other road users. Comrade Achese informed the governor that the down-turn in the oil prices has taken its toll on oil workers were nine hundred persons have been laid off in Chevron’s operations in Delta State and same was applicable in other multi-national oil companies and called for urgent steps to check the situation.

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Photosplash

Members of the FRSC special marshals, Kuje branch, controlling traffic at tipper garage, during the ‘drive safely into 2016’ campaign0, yesterday at Kuje in Abuja

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Newly constructed Library at Federal College of Education (technical) Bichi , under new provost , Professor Bashir Mohammed Fagge, Kano State.

A cross-section of coaches and players at a basketball clinic in Onitsha, Anambra,

Former Chairman, Oyo state universal basic Education Board, Professor. Soji Adejumo; Chairman of the occasion, Mr Bode Oyewole; Former Speaker, Oyo state house of Assembly, Mr Kehinde Ayoola, and Guest Speaker, Mr Peter Idowu, at a lecture titled: youth participation in politics - prospects and challenges, to mark Oyo state NUJ correspondents chapel’s press week, yesterday in Ibadan

Members of the Mothers Union/Women Guild of the Anglican Diocese of Enugu North led by the Bishop’s wife, Mrs Achugaonye Eze, in a protest March in Enugu over the increasing cases of rape by Fulani herdsmen in adjourning Udi, Ezeagu and Enugu North LGAs of Enugu state.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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News

Crisis looms in Borgu Emirate over stool From Yakubu Mustapha, Minna

hree ruling houses in Borgu Emirate Council have written a protest letter to the Niger State governor, Alhaji Abubakar Sani Bello, alleging 80 years of marginalisation, abandonment, neglect, denial and their quest for fairness and redress.

The protest letter which was made available to our correspondent in Minna yesterday stated that the four known and recognized ruling houses eligible to produce an emir for Borgu Emirate Council were Kitoro, Kpandara, Kigera and Funli Gijin. Accordingly, the Kigera ruling house has dominated the helm of affairs for over 80 years now, while

the remaining three have been supportive. Apparently, Muhammad Sani ruled between 1935 to 1968, Musa Muhammad Sani in 1968 to 2000, while Ishaku Musa Jikantoro ruled from 2000 to 2005 and Sen. Dr Haliru Dantoro from 2005 to 2015, all from Kigera ruling house alone, stressing that the time has come for other ruling houses to rise up

to their respective responsibility. The letter came less than a week after the demise of late Mai Borgu, Alhaji Haliru Kintoro 111, which was signed by the representative of the three ruling houses. It charged the leaders to used their wisdom, fear of God and good reasoning to support the shift of the emirate stool to any of the long abandoned three ruling

houses for fairness and justice. They advised that such rotation like it is practiced in Bida Emirate will ensure peaceful coexistence and tranquility in the emirate, just as they urged Governor Bello to look at the matter passionately for approval and implementation. It reads ‘Marginalization, abandonment, neglect and denial of other ruling houses and quest for fairness and redress’ sent by the three acclaimed marginalized ruling house of Borgu Emirate and was copied to the Niger State speaker, Ministry of local government, kingmakers, security agencies and other relevant bodies.

Delta to set up committee on LG salary arrears From Oskhare Erese, Asaba

D Director, Relief and Rehabilitation, National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Mr Ezeh Udemezue (L) presenting relief materials to Gov. Samuel Ortom of Benue State for victims of flood in the state , yesterday with them are: ExecutiveSsecretary, Benue State Emergency Management Agency, Mr Boniface Ortese (2nd R) and the Senior Administrative Officer, NEMA, Hassa Ciroma

Gaidam commended over road project From Uche Uche, Damaturu

he people of Machina Local Government Area of Yobe State yesterday trooped out to welcome Governor Ibrahim Gaidam, expressing their gratitude for being accorded recognition and assisted with a road construction that would have been impossible to build in such a desert terrain covered with sand dunes. This situation made residents of the community to transport their

goods and services using traditional means such as donkeys and camels, as using vehicles is very difficult during the rainy season. In January 2014, the governor awarded the contract for the construction of a 55 kilometer road from Nguru local government to Machina at the cost of N6.533 billion to Rik Rock Construction Nigeria ltd. Speaking during the inspection, the governor said he felt the road work is important as it would assist the community living along the

length of the road to transport their goods and service with relative ease and it would consequently open up the rural areas to outside big cities where there are available markets for their products and equally eases access to health facilities when the need arise. He added that his administration would continue to focus on such projects in all local governments before the end of its tenure in 2019. Speaking earlier, the state Commissioner of Works, Alh.

Surajo Wakil, described the road as a touching project with a long history in the hearts of the people who stand to benefit maximally from project when fully completed. The road, according to the state commissioner of works, which has a completion period of 18 months is at 69 percent completion when the governor visited for inspection, pointing out that the major works; the earth and sub-base has been completed while the stone-base and asphalt overlay has gone about 16 kilometer completion.

Provost pledges to produce highly motivated teachers

By Mohammed Usman

he Provost, Federal College of Education (Technical), Bichi, Kano state, Prof. Bashir Mohammed Fagge, has expressed his vision of making the college an outstanding centre of excellence in teaching, research and community service to enable it achieve the objective of elevating the college not only for the benefit of Nigeria, but also for the Sub-

Saharan Africa. Prof. Fagge, who was recently appointed, said his main objective is “the full scale utilization of both human and quality material resources available in the college to impart appropriate and quality education for the would-be teachers in Nigeria at the primary and junior secondary school levels in science and technical subjects, and therefore laying a solid foundation for Nigeria’s technological

advancement and growth”. The provost also stated the college is an NCE awarding institution in specialized areas of vocational, business and technical education. The college was ranked as the third best institution in Business Education, Agricultural education and Home Economics out of the 53, 53 and 47 such institutions respectively. In Technical Education, the college came first out of 37 institutions

offering technical education in Nigeria, Prof. Fagge proudly added. Also according to him, out of 20 Federal Colleges of Education, FCE (Technical) Bichi came out first. Until his appointment as provost, Fagge served as a professor of animal science (animal products processing), Bayero university, Kano and a member and fellow of many professional associations and bodies

elta State Governor, Senator Ifeanyi Okowa, has disclosed that the state government would set up a committee to monitor the effective use of the bailout fund by local governments for the payment of salary arrears to workers. Governor Okowa, who disclosed this on Friday when he received chairmen and members of organised labour led by the State Chairman, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade David Ofoeyeno, on a solidarity visit in Asaba, stated that the bailout funds for local government would be released to them at Joint Account Committee meeting next week warning that a committee to monitor the strict usage of the funds for the payment of salary arrears would be set up. According to him, “From the bailout funds we have been able to clear some outstanding debts and we hope that by the time we sit at the Joint Account Committee Meeting next week we will also be able to release some funds to the Local Government Councils to address part of the salary arrears and we will also be setting up committees to monitor the fund that will be released principally for the payment of salaries and to make sure that not a kobo is going to be diverted outside salaries. “Obviously it may not be able to take care of all the backlogs but it will bring a cushioning effect now that we are very close to the Christmas season,” he said. Earlier, Comrade Ofoyeno who led the organised labour team on the visit said that they were in Government House to declare their support for the governor and to show that they are solidly behind him in his efforts to transform Delta State. While commending the organised labour for their support and solidarity, Dr. Okowa promised to always partner with Labour on issues affecting workers in the state.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Crime Cycle

Mashe Umaru Gwamna pmlcrimecycle@gmail.com 08138559513

Entertainer in court for impersonating Air Force Officer A

29-year-old entertainer, Dare Tijani, was on Thursday arraigned in an Ikeja Chief Magistrates’ Court for impersonating an Air Force officer at the Iyana Ipaja Police Station. Tijani, who resides at No. 17, Kajola Street, Ejigbo, Lagos, was arraigned on a threecount charge bordering on impersonation and breach of public peace. He pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Prosecutor, Insp. Simon Imhonwa, told the court that the offences were committed on Aug. 13 at about 11.15 a.m. at the Iyana Ipaja

Police Station. Imhonwa said the accused wore the complete uniform of an Air Force officer to the police station in an attempt to intimidate the policemen on duty to release his band instruments that were seized. “Tijani bragged about his ability to disrupt the activities at the station if his instruments were not released to him. “He threatened to mobilise fellow Air Force officials to attack the policemen, while shouting and breaching the public peace,” he said. He said that accused claimed to be an Air

Force officer, recruited in 2010 in Kaduna. The prosecutor said that the Air Force authority had formally indicated that there was no record of the accused employment or dismissal. He said the offences contravened Sections 77, 78 and 166 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Bola Osunsanmi, granted bail to the accused in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties in like sum. O s u n s a n m i adjourned the case till Nov. 23, for trial. (NAN)

CJN Mahmud

Man gets 20 years for cocaine trafficking

Federal High Court in Lagos recently convicted and sentenced a businessman, Ifenna Emmanuel, to 20 years imprisonment for attempting to export 1.2 kilogrammes of cocaine to China. Justice John Tsoho handed down the verdict after founding Emmanuel guilty of a onecount charge brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency

(NDLEA). The agency prosecutor, Oigoga Ichakpa, had told the court that the offence was contrary to Section 11 (b) of the NDLEA Act of 2004. Ichakpa had also told the court that the convict was arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport on July 1, 2012 during outward clearance of passengers to China. But after the convict was brought before the court

Woman caught with 4.450kg of cocaine in Lagos

on December 18, 2012, he jumped bail, and refused to attend trial for about a year until he was re-arrested in Port Harcourt through the help of his brother who stood surety for him. In his judgement, Justice Tsoho ordered that the $1,000 recovered from the convict be forfeited to the Federal Government should there be no appeal against the judgment within 90 days.

The judge further directed that Emmanuel’s passport should be withdrawn and that all drugs recovered from him must be destroyed if the judgment is not appealed against. The court also faulted a medical report that tendered by the lawyer to the convict to show that the convict was seriously ill and was suffering from severe abdominal pain.

woman caught with 4.450 kilogramme of cocaine at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport, Lagos has blamed her ill-health for her participation in the illegal act. Abdulrasaq Modinat Alake, a trader, is one of two women detained at the Lagos airport by officials of the anti-narcotic agency, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). Some of the reasons adduced for their participation in drug trafficking include ill-health and lack of support from their husband. NDLEA in a statement recently said the two suspected female drug traffickers are currently assisting narcotic investigators with pertinent facts relating to the exportation of 4.450kg of cocaine to India and 7kg of cannabis to China. Modinat, 44 years old and indigene of Kwara State told investigators that she became involved in drug trafficking after she suffered an ailment that took away all her resources.

10 cautious tips to keep you alert

) Be Friendly with Neighbours | Maintaining a positive relationship with your neighbours go a long way in ensuring a safe neighbourhood. This breeds a lookout situation for every suburb and thus guarantees a watchful and vigilant locality.

2) Simple Lifestyle | Living a simple and responsible lifestyle thoroughly drives off attention from criminals and hoodlums. Conducting activities moderately and avoiding glitz and glamour help to make one less of a censurable and threat personality.

hysteria. Always ensure cogent information about you or members of your family are shared amongst those trustworthy. Never give vital information to persons unfamiliar to you.

5) Keep Gadgets Close at Night | Over the years, it has become common knowledge that having gadgets like radios, phones(loaded with airtime) and even the torchlight close to our easy reach permanently helps us during danger times. SOS Phone calls help to save lives as well as other home appliances.

3) Be Vigilant | Being alert and watchful is a wisdom element. Every individual has to be sharp spirited and psyched up to happenings around them. Be observant, be perceptive and report any unwholesome/unusual behaviour immediately to the appropriate authorities.

6) Ensure Availability of Home Security Equipment | For the Home, security has never been a more talked about situation than now. Basic security appliances like lights, windows, doors and gates should be available and secured at night time. Doors should be locked, curtains drawn and gates closed.

4) Never Give Out Information Carelessly | This seems rather normal for most Nigerians, secret memos and data leak out of our lips either willingly, in pubs or even in an atmosphere of

7) Identify Weaknesses | Every individual/ corporate body should always note the weaknesses in their home/organization and work hard to solve it. Weaknesses such as bad

locks, a bad door or even a faulty bulb could be an incentive for opportunistic theft and thus attract burglars. 8) Avoid Late Night Outings | Taking the security situation of the country into consideration, it is wise for individuals to keep off late night activities. Depravity, evil doings and libidinousnessmostly typify and peg night life in Nigeria. 9) Maintain a Conscious Mind | Nowadays in Nigeria, every home is apotential target but the more we maintain a sense of conscious, neighbourless and community togetherness, security and defence would sooner than later become a problem of the past. 10) Examine Visitors | Ensure to always check and vet external bodies that visit your homes. Some are hoodlums who act on uniform as NPF or PHCN Staff. Always scrutinize such individuals and visitors and keep them at a distance. We alone as a people can only secure ourselves. There is no surveillance like individual surveillance. Note that your safety is paramount and no officer can protect you more than you can.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

For the records

PAGE 15

The Work of Restoration and Renewal of Nigeria Is Urgent and Immense

Protocols t is with great pleasure that I address you today, my ministers-designate, at this retreat in preparation for your swearing–in as the cabinet that will run this administration. We must count ourselves privileged to have been chosen among millions of our compatriots at this historic time to be the instruments that will deliver the change we have promised. Let me congratulate you for your success at the various levels of screening that culminated in your confirmation by the Senate. I would like to reiterate the point I made at my inauguration about the uniqueness of this moment for our country and for us. Shakespeare’s words ring true for us as they did when he first wrote them centuries ago” “There is a tide in the affairs of men Which taken at the flood leads on to fortune; Omitted, all the voyage of their life Is bound in shallows and in miseries. On such a full sea are we now afloat, And we must take the current when it serves, Or lose our ventures.” The work of restoration and renewal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge.

“

Being President Muhammadu Buhari’s opening remarks at the Presidential retreat for Ministersdesignate at the State House Conference Hall on November 5, 2015.

Our main task is to turn our manifesto promises to practice and results. Over the next two days I expect you to have a better understanding of the context in which we have taken the challenge of serving our country, as well as the strategies we have adopted to tackle them. I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us. President Buhari

I have invited you to join me in this urgent mission for our country. I am convinced that in accepting this invitation you are also equally determined to take part in this patriotic undertaking. This retreat, therefore, marks your first official contact with the machinery of government, of which you will soon be an integral part. It is important that you are fully acquainted with the direction and priorities of this government so that we can all move together as a team. My election as President of this country was hinged on my promise to tackle corruption, insecurity and revive the economy. We have already taken deliberate measures to plug leakages of government revenue and resources. You all know the steps we have taken to tackle Boko Haram. We have degraded them and in desperation, they are resorting to attacks on soft targets, killing innocent people. Diversification of the economy away from oil will be a major focus of this government. We will intervene in mining and agriculture and upgrade the country’s physical and social infrastructure, which will broaden our revenue base and significantly improve the level of employment, especially among the youth. Our economic focus will be policies that will ensure inclusive growth and we will count our achievements based on the number of Nigerians we move out of poverty. The objective of this retreat is clearly reflected in the choice of topics which you will be dealing with during the sessions. The need for observing the rule of law is being emphasized to ensure that impunity is removed from government conduct. You are coming on board the ship of governance at an interesting time. So much has been said about the state of our economy. It is expected that we make the running of government at all levels as lean as possible, avoid waste and conserve resources. As ministers, you must be the vehicle that will administer the change. Our main task is to turn our manifesto promises to practice and results. Over the next two days I expect you to have a better understanding of the context in which we have taken the challenge of serving our country, as well as the strategies we have adopted to tackle them. I would also expect you to be even more determined to work as a team, and to live up to the high standards of probity and integrity which Nigerians expect of us. Before I close, let me remind you that clear and effective communication at all levels is vital in modern management. You must keep in touch with your fellow ministers and share information, so that the conduct of government will be more efficient. In addition, all communication and appointments from you to the Presidency should be routed through the Office of the Chief of Staff as is normal in this Presidential System. I wish you useful deliberations.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Page 16

Politics News

Corruption war: Ex-Gov Shekarau supports Buhari T

he immediate-past Minister of Education, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, has expressed support for the anticorruption crusade of President Muhammadu Buhari. He made this known while speaking with journalists in Kano on Friday on the occasion of his 60th birthday. Shekarau, who is also a former governor

of Kano State, said he was in support of the Federal Government’s fight against corruption. “When we were in government, we put in place all necessary measures to check corrupt practices. There was no contract of any project awarded which did not follow due process. I am totally in support of the crusade but there should be fairness,” he said.

He noted that the current fight against corruption in the country could only succeed if there was fairness. “There has to be due process and I hope there will be no segregation in the fight,” Shekarau said. The former minister also said for President Buhari’s government to succeed in tackling the security challenges, it had to address four

fundamental issues. He listed the issues as welfare of security agents; training and retraining of security personnel; equipping the personnel and addressing their pension matters. “I pray that the government will address the fundamental issues raised,” he said. (NAN)

NASS: Not everyone must be chairman —Rep By Muhammed Usman

President Muhammadu Buhari right Welcoming the Director Admin of the Julius Berger PLC, Engr Zubairu Bayi 2nd left with the Company Director Mr George Mark,the Managing Director Engr. Detlev Lubasch and Mr Mutiu Sunmonu during the Visit of the Board Members of Julius Berger Visit the State House Abuja yesterday. Photo Joe Oroye

Kano govt to improve North West University By Muhammed Usman

ano state government is working out a suitable funding regime for North West University to enable it improve its teaching facilities in order to provide qualitative training to students. This was disclosed by the Kano State Deputy Governor and commissioner of education, Professor Hafiz Abubakar when he received the management of the university on a courtesy call in his office. H e s a i d government will provide funding for manpower development in order

to provide opportunity for the university to sponsor its staff to attend conferences and seminars as well organise same locally. A statement by Usman Bello, Director Press to the Deputy Governor said Abubakar also disclosed that Governor Ganduje is passionate about the development of the university, hence his commitment towards the completion of Faculty buildings as well as provision of necessary facilities to meet accreditation standard of the National University Commission. He then assured that the governor has accepted to personally open the university’s first International

Conference coming up next week. Earlier, the leader of the delegation who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University and dean Faculty of Science, Prof Fatima Bashir Muktar, stated that they were in his office to intimate him on the forthcoming Science and Technology International Conference organized by the University as well as invite him to serve as the Chairman. She said about 200 participants from around the globe are expected to attend the conference. Prof Fatima then appealed to the State to support the programme to achieve the desired goal.

lawmaker representing Darazo/ Ganjuwa federal constituency of Bauchi State Hon. Hariru Dauda Jika has said that it is not possible for everyone to be committee chairman. In a chat with our reporter, the visibly elated Chairman, House Committee on Police Affairs, stated that there was no way every member can be chairman or deputy chairman and that the primary issue for all and sundry was to place their hands on deck and work assiduously to move the National Assembly and the

nation in particular forward in all material issues. He further added: “We are not here to work for our own pockets or to serve selfish interests, but to work for the betterment of the society; so let us close ranks and support the House leadership to ensure the advancement of the House legislative agenda.” On the fight against corruption, he commended P r e s i d e n t Muhammadu Buhari for decisively tackling the hydraheaded monster of corruption afflicting Nigeria. The legislator said: “I believe that only a courageous leader like President

Buhari can seize the bull by the horns and confront the cabal that has been looting the nation’s treasury and resources since time immemorial.” According to him, “Past leaders were too fearful or too neck deep in corrupt practices to fight the war that President Buhari is now waging and you can see that it has led to many corrupt officials voluntarily handling over their criminal loot while others have surrendered assets running into billions of naira. I know that Buhari will not relent until justice and equity is done and the country will be on the right track.”

Petition against Amaechi controversial —Ndume

By Mohammed Usman

gainst the backdrop of confirmation of all ministerial nominees despite petitions against some of them, the Senate majority leader, Senator Ali Ndume has said that all the ministersdesignate met the constitutional requirements even as he indicated that petition against Amaechi was controversial. The majority leader, who brought this to the fore while fielding questions on Nigeria Television Authority (NTA) programme ‘Good Morning Nigeria’ monitored by Peoples Daily weekend said, “All I am saying is that Senate’s responsibility was not to ensure the disqualification of anybody, but confirmation. And what do we confirm; it’s whether that individual has met the constitutional requirements. And as far as all the candidates we cleared, they met the constitutional requirements for them to become ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. On petitions against some

ministers-designate, the senator said: “As I said, some of the petitions were withdrawn, and the last controversial one which I think I should open up for which I think that is why you call me here is that of Amaechi.” Ndume, who also said that it is not theresponsibilityofthesenatetobecause of frivolous petition disqualify anybody added: “Well, as far as the documents available to the Senate were concerned, and as the Senate committee indicated, the judicial panel of inquiry did not indict Amaechi anyway.” He further stated that the rule of the Senate is very clear on the ground that section 41 that deals with petitions and most especially section 7 of the standing order says that the Senate will not entertain any petition that has judicial remedy. Ndume also stressed that the Senate is satisfied with the process and they hope Nigerians too are satisfied as they tried to improve on the usual process. He however said they were constrained by some limitations identifying one of them

to be the non-indication of portfolios on the list. He said having the list without portfolios indicated for Senate confirmation is the tradition for now, adding that they hope for a change of it to a situation whereby the list of ministerial nominees will be accompanied by their portfolios. “That is the tradition for now, but I know that the president is somebody that is availed to change; and that is the mantra of our party; and I am personally concerned and interested in making proposal to that whether it is the law or whatever is amended in order to make this more useful. I think there should be improvement on what we are doing now and improvement can come when the president nominates people with their portfolios, that way, as a Senator, and you know that a certain individual is proposed to be a Minister of Justice for example, then you will know how to prepare questions and you will know what to expect,” the majority leader buttressed.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Politics

Why West African labour leaders assembled in Abuja By Our Correspondent

orried about the hazards in work environment, poor remuneration of workers, outsourcing of jobs, casualization of workers, unfavourable government policies against workers, as well as non-payment of salaries by employers of labour within the continent, leaders of trade unions across West African sub-region under the aegis of Organization of Trade Unions of West Africa (OTUWA) assembled at the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to deliberate and proffer solutions to the myriad of challenges confronting the workers in the continent. The two days conference which is tagged ‘Abuja Renewal Congress’ attracted participants from Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) member countries including delegation from the host country and the biggest labour union in Africa, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC). The choice of Abuja for the revival conference is apt considering the fact that the above identified challenges confronting workers in the sub region is rife in Nigeria, following activities of multinational oil corporations and ever-growing Chinese firms in the country that has penchant for dehumanizing labourers in their payroll. Another factor that confered legitimacy to the choice of Abuja for the conference is the continual non payment of salaries of workers by state governments across the country as well as the attendant consequences of such action on the socioeconomic life of the workforce within the affected states. Though federal government had designed a palliative aimed at helping the states navigate this huge burden of paying backlog of salary arias through the famous central government bailout funds to states. Consequently, even when the move is commendable, it however does not address the remaining challenges enumerated in the preceding paragraph. It is nonetheless, in line with that fact and in a determined effort to tackle and mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the aforesaid problems and the need to cub them that these union leaders in the sub region gathered at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre venue of the revival conference to contribute ideas on how best to rejuvenate labour movement in the continent. The General Secretary, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Peter Ozo Eson while fielding questions from newsmen during the conference in Abuja gave more insights on OTUWA. His words, “Reviving OTUWA is a positive effort aimed at building a regional labour Centre in West Africa that can engage the policies of ECOWAS so that the labour issues can be placed on the agenda of the regional body. The outgoing leadership of the union had appealed to leaders across the sub region to support the initiative. Meanwhile some of us from the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) will be taking the lead by bearing the burden of the financial

Wabba

“

It is nonetheless, in line with that fact and in a determined effort to tackle and mitigate the socio-economic consequences of the aforesaid problems and the need to cub them that these union leaders in the sub region gathered at the Shehu Yar’Adua Centre venue of the revival conference to contribute ideas on how best to rejuvenate labour movement in the continent.

resources that is required to make the effort in resurrecting the union a success.” He however attributed the menace of casualization and outsourcing of jobs in the sub-region to the negative effect of globalization. According to him, “Abuja is one of the worst hit cities as some government establishments also outsource jobs to consulting firms instead of engaging the unemployed citizens to benefit from the existing opportunity. globalization is a two edged sword, it had affected labour movement in Africa negatively in terms of the neo-liberal policies that accompanied globalization, which of course had led to economic crisis in a number of countries. As a result, reforms, such as privatization, monetization and other policies had affected labour union nega-

tively. Under these policies, we have seen the emergence of issues like casualization, outsourcing and other anti labour practices. “Nonetheless, globalization has also helped in entrenching labour cooperation, to the extent that we no longer look insular ie we no longer look at labour as it affect Nigeria alone but West Africa, Africa at large as well as our role in the global labour union.” Also conferring authority to the aforesaid view, the acting General Secretary, National Union of Civil Engineering Construction, Furniture and Wood Workers (NUCECFWW) Comrade Ibrahim Walama also condemned outsourcing and casualization of workers, describing it as anti workers. “Casualization of workers for me is anti

labour and anti worker. These are some of the effect of International Monetary Fund (IMF) policies on third world countries. Jobs that are permanent in nature are casualized because they want to maximize profit to the detriment of the workforce. It is bad and dehumanizing; we are talking about decent work, so a worker should be treated like a worker. So this nomenclature of permanent and casual has to stop and that is why we are advocating for decent work environment for workforce with the sub region. “We have been engaging the authority on how to put a stop to this inhuman practice against workers in the continent but the challenges is that they will tell you that their door is open but their heart is locked against making changes to favour workers in Africa. “The West African Trade Union have decided to come together so as to address the numerous challenges confronting the sub region trade union. It will also encourage healthy networking and integration amongst member state.” On his part, the National Vice Chairman Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Amechi noted that African workers will use the platform to fight any form of government attempt to divide labour union within the continent, in a bid to always have their way. “With the revival of the regional union, we will use the platform to encourage workers across the sub-region, particularly Nigerian workers to always come together to fight government effort at dividing labour union across Africa with the view to weakening their strength base which is embedded in unity. Nigerian Labour Congress will contribute its quota in ensuring that the objective of this revival conference is actualized.” Earlier in a welcome address at the occasion, the President of Organization of Trade Union of West Africa (OTUWA) Comrade Alex Bonney expressed confidence that the revival assembly will help in regional integration. “Today is a great day in the history of Trade Union development in Economic of West African States (ECOWAS) as we gather here in Abuja for the rejuvenation of Organization of Trade Union of West Africa. “We should recollect that sub-regional trade unions have a key role to play in their respective regional economic communities to make sure that labour and employment issues become central to all socio-economic policies and programme of the regional economic communities. For trade unions to play this critical role in the globalized world, they must be strong, influential and adequately organized, “Therefore there is need to consolidate and strengthen sub-regional trade union organization for them to remain relevant in their respective regional economic communities. We have a duty to contribute effectively to ECOWAS regional integration process. However, it is very unfortunate that our organization has been inactive for a number of years and has not claimed its rightful position in the region.”

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Politics

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Buhari to ministers designate: No to large convoys, retinue of aides By Lawrence Olaoye

resident Muhammadu Buhari has outlawed the use of large convoys and retinue of aides by the ministers designate. This revelation was made by a minister designate, Dr. Chris

Ngige, who briefed State House Correspondents at the end of a two day retreat held for the 36 ministers-designate at the Presidential Villa yesterday. According to him, the order was in line with the nation’s economic reality. Asked whether Buhari

told them anything about the economy, Ngige said “Yes, lean economy because we are going to block areas of leakages, retinue of aides, protocol staff, large convoys of cars are things that will not fly in this administration.” On ongoing debates on portfolio for ministers, he said “If

you have portfolio, if you don’t have portfolio, it is one single Federal Executive Council (FEC). You bring whatever it is on the table. That is not a problem at all. We have a right discuss things around the ministries because it is one single cabinet. “The important thing is that

we want to move our people from where they are now, they are in abject poverty which concerns about 75 percent of the populace. So, we need to actually restructure the political and social moment of the country and that is what we are going to do. That means poverty will reduce.”

Saraki: NBA to probe lawyers over walkout at CCT

L-R: Commandant-General, Nigeria Security and Civil Defense Corps, NSCDC, Abdullahi Gana Muhammadu, in a handshake with the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) Babachir David Lawal, during commandant courtesy visit to SGF recently. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Bailout: PDP Govs forum warn CBN against partisanship By Ahmed Abubakar

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been advised against becoming a tool in the hands of the ruling All Progressives Congress in the release of bailout funds to states that deserve them The advice is coming on the heels of the failure of the apex bank in releasing the bailout fund

for Kogi State, while other states mostly of the APC states have received theirs. In a press statement in Abuja on Friday, Earl Osaro Onaiwu, coordinator of the PDP Governors Forum, accused the CBN of having allowed itself to be dictated to by the ruling APC on which states get the bailout fund despite Kogi having fulfilled all the requirements.

Osaro urged the CBN to insulate itself from politics and the control of the ruling party if it does not want to create political and financial crises in the country. “How come almost all APC states that applied for bailout have gotten theirs but states like Kogi that have fulfilled all the requirements have been denied theirs with no explanation from

the CBN? “The CBN governor, Mr. Emefiele, has to insulate the apex bank from the shenanigans of politicians to avoid serious political and economic dislocation in the country. “It is important and urgent that the CBN releases the N50billion bailout due Kogi to ease the suffering of the common people in the state,” Osaro stated.

IBL to provide 200 Tricycles to NATOMORAS annually

s part of its business strategy and effort to assist and encourage the activities of National Commercial Tricycle and Motorcycle Owners and Riders Association (NATOMORAS), the Chief Executive Officer of Integrated Benefits Limited, Mr. Darlington Anyanwu has promised to provide 200 tricycles to the association annually. Anyanwu who made this promise at a one day training and signing of agreement between

Road Integrated Benefits Scheme, (RIBS) and NATOMORAS also described the association as a critical and strategic power block in the country. His words, “We have gathered here today to train the executives of NATOMORAS from 21 states who had been invited by the national leadership of the association, on the operational modalities of Road Integrated Benefits Scheme, (RIBS). In order for them to have first hand information of the technicalities of the scheme; the

benefits and all other things they needed to know about the product before putting pen to paper. “This scheme is more or less a social benefit scheme that has living benefits imbedded in it. The implication of that is that, you don’t need to be involved in an accident, get old or retire from active service before you can enjoy the benefits. You can actually access the benefit at every stage of your working life, unlike the insurance products and services we have in the country that offers benefits at retirement,

such as pension scheme.” In his welcome address at the occasion, the National President of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Hassan said that the partnership will help to take care of the health need of their members in case of accidents. On his part, the FCT Chairman of NATOMORAS, Alhaji Musa Ibrahim expressed confidence in the partnership, while also commending the National President for coming up with such laudable initiative.

he Nigerian Bar Association has said it would investigate the action of the senior counsel who represented the President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki, at the Code of Conduct Tribunal on Thursday. The NBA General Secretary, Afam Osigwe, said on Friday in Abuja that the association would undertake the investigation to ascertain facts of what transpired at the tribunal before taking a position. “We got different accounts in the media and would need the correct details to allow the NBA to react from an informed position. “From the accounts we got through the media some said the lawyers walked out while others said they withdrew. “So, due to the inconsistent choice of words, we cannot speak on the matter until we get the full and accurate details,’’ he said. The lawyers, Mahmud Magaji and Ahmed Raji, had withdrawn their services as lawyers representing Saraki at his trial on allegation of false asset declaration before the tribunal. They had also staged a walk out with the junior lawyers who appeared with them before the tribunal concluded the case. The lawyers openly announced their withdrawal following their perceived dissatisfaction with the ruling of the tribunal on their application for stay of proceedings. They said that they were displeased with the decision of the tribunal refusing the application to stay proceeding in the trial pending the determination of an appeal they filed before the Supreme Court. Specifically, Mr. Magaji had said: “This is a judicial rascality and I cannot be part of this process. I therefore withdraw my representation as the respondent’s counsel.’’ Speaking in same vein, Mr. Raji said: “We have pending application before the Supreme Court. “I believe that in the hierarchy of court we have the tail and the head and the tail cannot dictate for the head as we have seen here. “I also withdraw my services as lawyer to the respondent.” (NAN)

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Tourism

Wiki warm Spring: Yankari’s tourist high point Y

ankari National Park is a large wildlife park located in the south-central part of Bauchi State. It covers an area of about 2,244 km² (870 mi²) and is home to several natural warm water springs such as the wiki warm spring, and a wide variety of flora and fauna. Its strategic location in the heartland of Nigeria makes it a unique way for tourists and holiday makers to watch wildlife in its natural habitat and isone of the most popular ecodestinations in West Africa. The open country and villages that surround Yankari National Park are populated by farmers and herders, but there has been no human settlement in the park for over a century. There is, however, evidence of earlier human habitation in the park, including old iron smelting sites and caves. Yankari National Park lies in the southern part of the Sudan Savannah. It is composed of savannah grassland with welldeveloped patches of woodland. It is also a region of rolling hills, mostly between 200m and 400m. Kariyo Hill is the highest point at 640m. Annual rainfall in the park is between 900mm and 1,000mm. The rainy season is from May to September. Temperatures range

between 18C and 35C. During the dry season, the harmattan wind blows from the Sahara, often bringing dusty skies and night temperatures fall as low as 12C. The hottest period falls in March and April, when temperatures can rise above 40C in the day. In the dry season, larger wildlife in the park depend on the Gaji river and its tributaries for survival. This river is the only watershed and cuts the park in two. Marshall estimated the area of the Gaji River Valley used by elephants in the dry season at about 40 km². This increases the chances of seeing elephants at this time of year. The Park’s main entrance is at Mainamaji village, about 29 km from Dindima. It is located within the Duguri, Pali and Gwana districts of Alkaleri LGA, Bauchi State. This LGA has a population 208,202 people occupying a total land area of 7,457.78 km². The whole park lies on the Kerri formation, of Tertiary age, which is composed of sandstone, silt stones, kaolinites and grits. Underneath this lies the Gombe formation, of Cretaceous age, composed of sandstones, silt stones, and ironstones. The valleys of the Gaji, Yashi and Yuli Rivers are filled with

Alluvium of more recent age. Sandy loans and clayey soils of riverine alluvium occur in the valley of the Gaji Yashi and Yuli Rivers. East of the Gaji valley is a 5–7 km wide band of very poor sandy soils that support a shrub savanna formation Yankari has rich wildlife resources. The park is an important refuge for over 50 species of mammal including African Bush Elephant, Olive Baboon, Patas Monkey, Tantalus Monkey, Roan Antelope, Western Hartebeest, Lion, African Buffalo, Waterbuck, Bushbuck and Hippopotamus. It also has a large and diverse freshwater ecosystem around its freshwater springs and the Raji River. here are also over 350 species of bird found in the Park. Of these, 130 are resident, 50 are Palearctic migrants and the rest are intra-African migrants that move locally within Nigeria. These birds include the Saddle-billed Stork, White-rumped Vulture, Guinea fowl, Grey hornbill, and the Cattle Egret. Yankari is recognized as having

one of the largest populations of elephants in West Africa, estimated at more than 300 in 2005. The growth of the elephant population has become a problem for surrounding villages at times as the animals enter local farms during the rainy season. The elephants have also stripped the park of many of its baobab trees. More than 330 species of birds have been recorded in the park. Due to underground geothermal activity, Yankari National Park also features four warm water springs. The camp is named after the most well known of these, the Wikki Spring, from the local Duguri language with “Wikki” meaning “where are you?”. The Wikki Warm Spring is the largest spring and is about 13.0 metres wide and 1.9 metres deep. It daily flows 21,000,000 litres of clear, spring water into the Gaji river. The spring has a constant temperature of 31.1°C through the year during both day and night and has been developed for recreation. The other warm water springs

are Dimmil, Gwan, and Nawulgo springs. A fifth spring, Tungan Naliki, is the only cool spring in the park.Yankari is located in Africa Nigeria The “Wikki Camp” is the tourist centre of the Park. Located about 42 kilometers from the main entrance gate, the camp is built beside, and named after, the Wikki warm spring, which is open for swimming 24 hours a day. There are 110 furnished chalets with varying size and quality, ranging from the ‘’presidential’’ suites to the youth hostel, all of which are being upgraded in phases. The camp also provides a restaurant, bar and conference centre. Daily safari trips depart at least twice from the camp. he museum in the camp is well stocked with a variety of skins, tusks, bones and fully mounted stuffed game from the park. It is educational while also acting as a conservation centre, displaying hunting gear and traps taken from poachers.

Cometonigeria.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

PAGE 20

Homes

By Miriam Humbe

ust like the diner booth that everyone piles into, small living rooms can be magnetic social spaces. Hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s how to squeeze in more entertaining comfort and decorating panache. Expand on the Architecture Small living rooms offer clues about ways to expand their function and style. For example, if you have a nook or cranny that is underutilized, tuck in a bench or desk. If you have an interesting feature, such as a coffered ceiling or a fireplace, make the most of it with decorative treatments. Hang a chandelier to draw the eye to the ceiling. Place eyecatching artwork above the mantel to make the fireplace stand out. Or, play up the windows with elegant curtains that highlight their shape and size. Work Your Way Up When you emphasize its height, a small room feels bigger. Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t overlook the wall space just below the ceil-

ing as potential for decorative attention. Mount the window treatments at that height to make the window appear grand. Create a grouping of art or photographs that reaches up to the ceiling. Or attach picture-rail molding around the room about 18 inches down from the ceiling and paint the wall space above it a coordinating color. Forget Elbowroom Snug rooms are a chance to get cozy. To seat a crowd, ditch the sectional sofa (no one wants to sit in the corner anyway) in favor of small seats packed closely together. A love seat and two chairs add up to more cushions than a three-seater sofa, for example. Keep the profiles of the pieces trim and tight: no beefy arms or hefty wing chairs. Look for chairs with straight sides -- armless slipper chairs are even better -- that can be placed hip to hip. Layer It Nudging one piece of furniture in front of another is a

way to build necessary function or storage into a tiny living room. Place a console table or low dresser against the back of sofa to add table surface for lighting, as well as a place to put drinks. Tuck poufs or floor pillows under the coffee table so you have extra seating. A bookcase arranged with books and collectibles can be an elegant backdrop for a desk or sofa. Tie It All Together Often, the living room serves also as the entry, home office, or dining space. To smoothly incorporate these other functions, keep the overall color palette (including wood tones) similar. Also carry through any decorative touches: Does the entry rug coordinate with the living area rug? Do the seat cushions on the dining table work with the sofa and pillow upholstery? When the areas work as a unit, the space will feel comfortably cohesive.

d n e k e e W

a g a

ent m n i a t r e t n E

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Fashion

s Beauty Tip

d Kannywoo

Hollywood

Bollywood

PAGE 21

Eddie Murphy expecting 9th baby with girlfriend

PG 36

I’m an honest, loyal actress —Halima Abubakar PG 37

Hollywood magazine film festival honours Egor Effiok PG 36

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Page 22

Your Body, Image & U

Is your skin older than you?

n a country where so much is happening concerning endless Economic reforms and ziggyzaggy leadership issues/tussles, most Nigerians are caught up in a web of struggle to survive. Too much hustling! . Hustling? Oh yea, there is so much hustling in this country that most people cannot even remember what good living is all about anymore. After the day’s hustling , they go home without the neccessary basic facilities to help them relax not to talk of good food. Good food to most Nigerians is a great luxury if you ask me. How do you explain a situation where you get home late at night from a day’s job, tired, hungry,and same time being confronted with total blackout, no water? Visualize this ugly situation and think of how someone can really maintain a healthy body Image. Somehow, Nigerians have developed very thick skin to the lack of neccessary /basic things of life that can make the lives of the average Nigerians a little bit comfortable and enjoyable. Such fraustrating lifestyle practically turns most Nigerians into shadows of themselves and the last thing on their mind is achieving a good, decent as well as happy life. The question now for such Nigerians is –how do such people who find themselves in this economic rut step out with their heads up and not being embarrased by their ugly skin? For those who always get home and no water to take a good refresh-

ing bath, electricity to relax, most of them slip into very bad habit of not keeping a good body hygiene. A good night bath refreshes one’s body and skin and makes people sleep well and by the time you wake up the following day, you will be energetic to face your duties at your work place. No need to mention of such persons having the pleasure of eating some good nourishing foods because most people who find themselves in this ugly situation, end up feeding badly too. To this group of people, anything that can fill their stomach goes as food . Such people can not be free from skin problems like eczema, pimples, sunburn, blemishes, acne, skin darkening and dull skins. Men and women who find it difficult to take two regular baths daily always end up with bad skin which can lead to the skin looking older. Night

“

baths in particular is very vital because all through the day, people sweat and their body attracts all kinds of dirt/dust sticking to their body. Now each time i talk about Night baths, those who are opportuned to have some element of good facility like riding in an airconditon cars, working in an air condition office, think that their body need no bath at night especially the male folks. You are damned wrong here guys..absolutely wrong!! Even if you did not sweat all through the day, your entire body has open pores and they releases oils etc regularly. For those of you that complains of having very oily face, even when you did not apply any cream/ lotion, ever wondered how the oils came out on your face? Your skin has tiny openings which you can not see with your naked eyes and any thing the skin brings out from the

inside must be cleaned up or else it develops into skin problems. So if you are in the corporate industry and you feel there is no need for you to take your night bath, think again. Try this...when next you wear your white cripsy shirt to work, at the end of the day when you get home, check your collar and see if it is clean or not. Again, what most people do not understand about having a smooth and radiant skin is that, what you feed your body in the inside contributes so much to how your skin will look on the outside. Last time, i talked about junk foods and healthy foods. I made it clear in that publication, that no matter your economic standard, you can always eat healthy but sadly enough, most people can not even differenciate between healthy foods and junks. For these Nigerians who are

Such people can not be free from skin problems like eczema, pimples, sunburn, blemishes, acne, skin darkening and dull skins.

With Jacqui Iwu bwreforms@gmail.com 08184825606 (sms only) hustling without having the basic things of life, their entire body system are always rioting and it looks as if they have no control over their body. Some keep wondering what is happening to them but cannot really figure out what exactly. You see folks, it has got to a stage in this country when most people does not give a hoot about what their body and skin looks like and all the concenterate on is ‘’chasing cash’’. The most worried part is, even when they have this cash, they still move around like they do not have a ‘’body’’....just floating!! I keep counseling such person to have a focus and pamper their body because in the midst of all the chase and craze for so much money, that body you have been negelcting , feeding it all kinds of junks, applying on it all kinds of cheap/fake soaps, creams, lotion you buy from the open –sun market, will break down or even stop funtioning. When this happens, what do you do? I have seen young ladies being refused their dream job due to their overweight body and acne infested face. I have also seen some male applicants being rejected for job placement because they have unkept skin with shaving bumps, body ordor etc. No kidding here...this is real! If you are aiming for corporate jobs and your entire body image is unkept and nauseating, it will be a big battle for you, no matter your high educational qualifications. This is not the issue of drowning your body with perfume. To be honest, if your body has bad ordor, no amount of perfume can stop it till you take time to pamper your skin with good quality skin products suitable for your skin and body. I get lots of request from men and women with this ugly body issue ‘’body ordor’’ and one thing they have in common is their confession of using expensive perfumes but the ordor still ‘’zooms’’ out! There are people who keep switching soaps, lotions week after week without getting good results but rather worsening their skin problems. Every skin has its own peculiar pampering stuff and till you discover what skin products suits your skin, your outside skin will be a mirage. When you finally get what suits your body on the outside, combine it with healthy diet and your entire body will ‘’sparkle’’!!! Jacqui IWU is a BodyImage, Life &Career Coach A Stress Management Expert &Conference Speaker Media Relations Personnel BLOG: http://bluntjacqui. blogspot.com FB: http://facebook.com/ beautifulwoman.column

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Page 23

Womanhood

800,000 Nigerian women living the nightmare of Vesicovaginal Fistula (VVF)

bstetric fistula, otherwise called Ve sicovag inal Fistula (VVF), is a nightmare in the world of women. It is estimated that two million women suffer from obstetric fistula globally. But Nigeria has the highest prevalence of VVF in the world, with 800,000 women living with the problem and about 20,000 new cases occurring annually. It could even mean death. Statistically, 90 percent of these cases go untreated. This implies that about 55 women are infected by VVF and 18,000 cases are untreated daily. VVF is an abnormal hole between the bladder or rectum and the vagina characterized by continuous and uncontrollable leakage of urine and/or faeces following childbirth. Obstructed labour without timely intervention is by far the most common cause of obstetric fistula. With these great numbers of women suffering from this health nightmare, it indeed becomes a phenomenon that must be addressed. The scourge has reached a stage where all well-meaning individuals need to rise up to tackle it. Surprisingly, as critical as the situation is, majority of Nigerians are ignorant of VVF. When it happens to their colleagues or relatives or even wives, they see it as a sign of punishment from the ‘gods’, or a consequence of promiscuity. This development propelled a celebrated Nollywood actress, Stephanie Linus, and the Fistula Care Plus Nigeria, with the support of the Federal Government and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), to premier a movie, ‘Dry’, to narrate the ordeal faced by women, majority of whom

“

AVVF patient

are from the northern part of the country. The movie reveals child/early marriage, religion beliefs which prevent pregnant women from accessing medical care (antenatal) and the obnoxious African culture that forces them to resort to the use of traditional way of delivery, as major causes of VVF. ‘Dry’ is a movie based on the true story of Zara and Halima who find themselves in the same cultural trap regardless of their backgrounds. They struggle to give meaning to their lives. Speaking during the premier at Silverbird Cinema in Abuja, the country manager of Fistula Care Plus Nigeria, Dr. Habib Sadauki, and Linus stressed

We ourselves need to change our perception of things, of cultural practices that are not moving us forward as a nation; even women are also to be blamed. We are complaining about men, but we are also causing the problems for our fellow women; so all of these people need to be aware.

the need to improve on primary health care system in the country. Sadauki said; “We are at a critical time in Nigeria, where we can make even greater impact so that more women living with fistula can be treated. We also must help prevent fistula from happening in the first place.” Linus explained that women were going through a lot in the country, but sometimes people pretend not to see their situations, stressing the need for a collective effort to address the problem. According to her, the culture has relegated women to the background, takes away their voice and right to life as human beings. “The culture has made them to be like objects of exchange for wealth/ money, sold into slavery for sexual pleasure and baby making purposes”, the actress stated. “When your childhood, your innocence is taken away from you, you can never get it back. Allow them to be children, let them grow up, so that they can make positive decisions about what happens to their body, what happens to their lives, and they will become more productive. “Give them access to education, good medical care and when you give them all of this, you know you are building wom-

en, who are sustainable and can also be able to take care of the family. “We have all the fantastic laws that we need to be enforced, we need the parents to play their roles; we need the medical part of it, doctors and hospitals to also play their roles. “We ourselves need to change our perception of things, of cultural practices that are not moving us forward as a nation; even women are also to be blamed. We are complaining about men, but we are also causing the problems for our fellow women; so all of these people need to be aware. “The first point of action is to bring it to the table; we don’t want to keep it in the background, because it is never going to solve any problem. It is not good to deny or pretend that we don’t have such in our society, but we are bringing it to the forefront, so we can talk about it and move forward especially in this 21st century. “It is not only in Nigeria, it happens across Africa, across Asia; it is a world problem and that is why we want to shine enough search light, and that also it is not a northern thing, something you can find it across Nigeria”. Culled from City News.ng

PAGE 24

Kiddies World SIGHTS AND SOUNDS

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export earnings. Unknown to the youth of today, Kojut Muazugal Quarters, a high rising building in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State which served as the headquarters of the defunct Bank of the North now Unity Bank, was once the epicentre of the renowned groundnuts pyramid of the north. In the same vein, a wide expanse of yet to be developed land (Polo Ground) known be the haven for groundnut activities in the early 50’s has now been converted into a playing ground for the youth. A Kano State based football club uses the ground as a training pitch while political parties are not left out of the scramble to use the venue for rallies and other political activities. Therefore, with the conversion of the ground for the ground nut pyramids’ boom, a halt has been put to the dreams of the founding fathers of the region. Gradually, the charmed world of the nuts castles has disappeared. The glow bestowed by the pyramids that once turned the ancient emirate to a Mecca of sorts has vanished.

Unknown to the youth of today, Kojut Mazugal Quarters, a high rising building in Dala Local Government Area of Kano State which served as the headquarters of the defunct Bank of the North now Unity Bank, was once the epicentre of the renowned groundnuts pyramid of the north.

With Miriam

Humbe

ABCDE

HIS AND HERS CORNER

The groundnut pyramids of Kano

roundnut pyramids can be described as the systematic way of arranging groundnuts in a large building, constructed in form of square or triangle which is specifically for that purpose (storing of groundnut). The formation of groundnut pyramids was the idea of late Alhaji Alhasan Dantata, a business magnate who was also a merchant of Kola-nuts, based in Kumasi, Ghana from where he shipped his goods to Nigeria by sea. In 1919, late Dantata returned to Kano at the height of the groundnut boom and became the most prominent Hausa trader to benefit from its commercial success and in five years of his involvement, he became a major supplier of groundnuts to the Royal Nigerian Company (RNC). Kano state in northern Nigeria became famous in world commerce following the magnificent groundnut pyramids during Nigerian’s period of agricultural boom, especially between the 50’s and 70’s and it contributed 70 percent of the region’s

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Cartoon

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Kiddies World

PAGE 25

With Miriam

AFRICAN TALES AFRICAN TALES

Why Ijapa the tortoise has a rough shell

ong time ago, there was a famine in the animal kingdom; Ijapa the tortoise has noticed that food was hard to come by. However, he found out that all the birds in the forest were preparing for the great annual bird feast in the sky and those who had been lucky enough to attend this annual event could testify to the abundance of food at the feast. Since the feast took place in the sky, only the birds could attend, but Ijapa the tortoise was not one to give up so easily, he went to every bird and borrowed a feather making up one excuse or the other, then, he glued all these feathers to his back and all over his body and soon, he was the most colourful bird you had ever seen. On the day of the feast, Ijapa the tortoise joined the other birds to make the trip to the great feast in the sky. The other birds could not recognize this strange colorful bird and asked him who he was; Ijapa said his name was All of us? When it was time for the feast, all the food was laid out on a table; Ijapa the tortoise asked, who does this food belong to? And all the birds answered, all of us. Ijapa the

tortoise said, that is me, and my name is all of us! And he ate all the food while the birds had none. The birds were so angry that they grabbed â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;all of usâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;, but as they grabbed him, his feathers would come off until the tortoise was revealed. To punish him, the birds decided to leave him in the sky; they would not fly him back to land. Tortoise begged the birds to give a message to his wife. He asked his wife to lay out as many mattresses as she could find so he could have a soft landing. The birds who were still angry asked his wife to bring out all the furniture in the house and that was what she did. Then, tortoise jumped from the sky, but instead of landing on a soft mattress, he landed on wood furniture and his shell broke into many pieces. His wife collected these pieces and glued them together and that is why the tortoise does not have a smooth shell.

CREATIVITY

Humbe

ABCDE

MODEL OF THE WEEK

Zainab Musa (Mummy) clocked two recently

ACTIVITIES

How to make a paper aeroplane Instructions Get a sheet of A4 paper Fold the paper exactly in half long ways, to create a centre line Now fold the two edges at the top of the paper to meet the centre line. Fold again towards the middle of the paper, only this time, it should look like a dart on both sides. Fold the middle of the paper in half The two parts at the top of each side should be folded towards your left on one side and on the other side. By the time you finish, it should look like a dart airplane

Using the right colours, shade the image below. Describe your action and show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

PAGE 26

e-Learning

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

How describing yourself on your CV as a ‘hard-working, team player’ hinders your career

or those who have applied for a job and never heard back, you may want to read on. Whilst you may be convinced your CV is top notch thanks to an array of buzzwords indicating your potential as a prospective employee, it could be these very words that are hindering your chances. Experts have revealed that using cliché words to describe your talents - such as dubbing yourself a ‘hard-working, reliable team player’ - only sets you up to fall at the first hurdle. The experts at PurpleCV. co.uk carried out research to discover what words were the most overused by candidates and underrated by prospective employees. Topping the list was ‘hardworking’, which a quarter of employees say is the most cliché word you can use on your CV. Clients also dislike the buzzwords ‘results-driven’ and ‘dedicated’, which, they say, is arguably something that can really only be agreed with once you’ve actually started the job. They also believe that describing yourself as ‘dynamic’,

The experts carried out research to discover what words were the most overused by candidates and underrated by prospective employees. They found that describing yourself as a ‘hard-working, reliable team player’ is one of the worst offenders

for example, is bound to make a potential employer roll his or her eyes, as it’s not something

you can prove on paper, and is really only for others to judge. Nearly a fifth of us say we’re ‘reliable’, while just over 11 per cent of us are a ‘team player’. Considering we’ll probably find ourselves working with other people, this should go without saying, argue the experts. So why should we avoid clichés on our CV? ‘These days it just looks dated, not to mention lazy,’ says Andrew Arkley from the company. ‘It won’t make you stand out, because it’s what nearly everyone else is saying on their resume.’ So how can we improve our CVs? ‘Firstly, it is imperative

“ So why should we avoid clichés on our CV? ‘These days it just looks dated, not to mention lazy,’ says Andrew Arkley from the company

there are no spelling, punctuation and grammar mistakes,’ he said. ‘This is something almost everybody glosses over and glaring errors are often missed. Likewise with formatting sending a PDF version of the CV often helps eliminate this risk. ‘While the above may seem obvious, we’re never ceased to be amazed at the number of people who do all the hard work and then let themselves down with basic errors. ‘These days, a generic CV that you blast out to dozens of employers will seldom do the job (pardon the pun!). Employers want to see that you have taken a particular interest in

them so research, research, research. Use LinkedIn to see if you can find the hiring manager and tailor your CV / covering letter appropriately. ‘Make sure you read the job specification so you can sprinkle some well-chosen “keywords” from the spec directly into the CV - the more a hiring manager can pair you up with what they’re looking for, the better. ‘Avoid jargon and corporate speak and you’ll be half way to standing out anyway, purely because you’ve avoided using any clichés!’ Mailonline

Make sure you read the job specification so you can sprinkle some well-chosen “keywords” from the spec directly into the CV - the more a hiring manager can pair you up with what they’re looking for, the better.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

PAGE 27

Laugh out loud (lol)! er:

The child and his moth- look at the monitor, let out a pierc-

A curious child asked his mother: “Mommy, why are some of your hairs turning grey?” The mother tried to use this occasion to teach her child: “It is because of you, dear. Every bad action of yours will turn one of my hairs grey!” The child replied innocently: “Now I know why grandmother has only grey hairs on her head.”

Wrong email address:

A couple going on vacation but the wife was on a business trip so he went to the destination first and his wife would meet him the next day. When he reached his hotel, he decided to send his wife a quick email. Unfortunately, when typing her address, he mistyped a letter and his note was directed instead to an elderly preacher’s wife whose husband had passed away only the day before. When the grieving widow checked her email, she took one

ing scream, and fell to the floor in a dead faint. At the sound, her family rushed into the room and saw this note on the screen: Dearest Wife, Just got checked in. Everything prepared for your arrival tomorrow. P.S. Sure is hot down here.

Will’s experience at the airport:

After his return from Rome, Will couldn’t find his luggage in the airport baggage area. He went to the lost luggage office and told the woman there that his bags hadn’t shown up on the carousel. She smiled and told him not to worry because they were trained professionals and he was in good hands. Then she asked Will, “Has your plane arrived yet?”

Clever kids:

A police officer found a perfect hiding place for watching for speeding motorists.

One day, the officer was amazed when everyone was under the speed limit, so he investigated and found the problem. A 10 years old boy was standing on the side of the road with a huge hand painted sign which said “Radar Trap Ahead.” A little more investigative work led the officer to the boy’s accomplice: another boy about 100 yards beyond the radar trap with a sign reading “TIPS” and a bucket at his feet full of change.

Mouthology:

A Professor was traveling by boat. On his way he asked the sailor: “Do you know Biology, Ecology, Zoology, Geography, physiology? The sailor said no to all his questions. Professor: What the hell do you know on earth? You will die of illiteracy. After a while the boat started sinking. The Sailor asked the Professor, do you know swiminology & escapology from sharkology? The professor said no. Sailor: “Well, sharkology & crocodilogy will eat your assology, headology & you will dieology because of your mouthology.

Captain:

A navy captain is alerted by his First Mate that there is a pirate ship coming towards his position. He asks a sailor to get him his red shirt. The captain was asked, “Why do you need a red shirt?” The Captain replies, “So that when I bleed, you guys don’t notice and aren’t discouraged.” They fight off the pirates eventually. The very next day, the Captain is alerted that 50 pirate ships are coming towards their boat. He yells, “Get me my brown pants!”

Elephant:

The class teacher asks students to name an animal that begins with an “E”. One boy says, “Elephant.” Then the teacher asks for an animal that begins with a “T”. The same boy says, “Two elephants.” The teacher sends the boy out of the class for bad behavior. After that she asks for an animal beginning with “M”. The boy shouts from the other side of the wall: “Maybe an elephant!”

Leisure

Rack your brain!

What gets wetter and wetter the more it dries? You throw away the outside and cook the inside. Then you eat the outside and throw away the inside. What did you eat? What goes up and down the stairs without moving? What can you catch but not throw? I can run but not walk. Wherever I go, thought follows close behind. What am I? What’s black and white and red all over? What goes around the world but stays in a corner? I have holes in my top and bottom, my left and right, and in the middle. But I still hold water. What am I? Give me food, and I will live; give me water, and I will die. What am I? The man who invented it doesn’t want it. The man who bought it doesn’t need it. The man who needs it doesn’t know it. What is it?

Let’s see if you can solve this puzzle

Beauty TIPS

Compiled by Isioma Nwabasha

How to exfoliate your skin E

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Page 28

xfoliation removes dead skin cells, leaving your skin radiant and smooth. If you just want a soft and clean skin, exfoliating from head to toe will make you glow. Many women exfoliate their faces but forget about other body parts. There are a lot of great benefits and it is very important to exfoliate your skin on a regular basis. But, when you exfoliate your skin you should make sure you don’t overdo it and don’t do it too often. Many women don’t know how to exfoliate and how often to do it, and this is the major reason why many of us end up having severe breakouts. In fact, it is recommended to exfoliate your skin once or twice a week. Beneath that rough, flaky outer layer of facial skin lies a lustrous canvas of beautiful and silky skin. But it won’t shine out on its own, you have to give it a little help by exfoliating regularly to regenerate your skin and encourage new cell growth. If your skin is especially stubborn, you can also visit a dermatologist to discuss more dramatic options such as a chemical peel or a microdermabrasion treatment.

Exfoliation items

Here are a few tips to follow to exfoliate your skin without any damage. Items needed Exfoliating cleanser Loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves Pumice stone Body lotion Tips: Buy the right exfoliating product: There are tons of exfoliating products available in the market these days and it is extremely difficult to choose the best one. You need to buy an exfoliating product specially made for your body and another for your face. Before stepping into the shower, brush your dry skin with your loofah, body brush or exfoliating gloves. This will help remove the loose skin and prepare your skin for the exfoliating process. Begin with the soles of your feet, working your way up your body. Before applying your exfoliating product, get your skin wet. This will allow all the ingredients to sud up for a while and will help make your face and body super soft. Wet your body from head to toe. Don’t exfoliate

Woman exfoliating your skin if you are sunburned or have any open cuts or wounds. Start applying your exfoliator in small circular motions to ensure that you do not miss any spot. This way, it will feel like a mini massage, which is incredibly beneficial for your face and body. Begin with your face and work your way down your body, taking care to get every nook and cranny, including the back of the knees and the insides of the elbows. On larger body parts, you can widen your circles and use smaller ones on areas such as the soles of your

Exfoliating scrub

feet and your face. Use a pumice stone on your feet to eliminate rough spots and calluses. If your feet are extremely rough, soak them in a basin of warm water mixed with a cup of milk for 30 minutes before getting into starting the exfoliating process. Use a body brush to exfoliate your back and other hard-toreach places. Be gentle on your face, particularly around your eyes and mouth. Use an exfoliating product, especially formulated for the face, which is gentler than products designed to be used on the body. Don’t forget about your hands. You want them to look and feel soft and smooth too! When you are done, rinse the exfoliator off. Don’t leave it on your skin for too long, or you will end up having dry, itchy skin and no lotion will help you cope with such problems. It is recommended to exfoliate your skin in the shower or bath. Quickly wash it off with lukewarm water and a blast of cold water to close your pores. Apply a shower gel to soften your skin, if you like. After stepping out of the shower, apply a moisturizing body lotion all over. Body lotions and facial moisturizers containing

alpha or beta hydroxy acids are ideal choices because these acids continue to remove dead skin cells. Use a body moisturizer once a day. Exfoliation is drying to the skin, so you must keep your skin hydrated. After your exfoliating treatment, apply a great dousing of lotion to your skin. Apply a facial cream to your neck, face and hands and use a body cream on your arms, torso and legs. Make sure you apply your lotion right after washing the exfoliator off. This way, you will seal in the moisture and keep your skin hydrated, soft, radiant and healthy. Select exfoliating cleansers that contain sea salt, sugar, ground almonds, walnuts, seeds or other grainy components. Do you exfoliate your skin regularly? Exfoliating once or twice a week is usually enough to achieve silky skin; however, women with oily skin should exfoliate more often than those with dry skin. If your skin becomes excessively dry or irritated after exfoliation, don’t scrub so hard. Cut back on how often you exfoliate and explore the possibility that you may be allergic to the products you used.

Compiled by MIRIAM HUMBE

Fashion

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Kela

Page 29

The wrap dress: One work attire to try out

ashion is limitless and endless, but many times we lose inspiration and creativity. When this happens, we simply need to see things in a different light. For your work outfits to look both fashionable and professional you need experiment more often. That way you get to find out what suits you the most and what works best for you. If you donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have a standard work attire, the best way is to look around and notice what your colleagues have on, this way you can determine how you should dress to work. For work attire the first rule is comfort, always have on comfortable clothings. Below are some work ideas to try out. Color Block This color block idea is absolutely fantastic, Kela pairs a red wrap knee length dress with a purple blazer, black belt with gold buckle, dark blue hand bag, gold accessories and gold ankle strap heels. Kelaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Kloset Who says you can only rock an outfit the same way? Here kela rocks the red wrap dress with an orange jacket this time, she accessorizes with a golden brown waist belt, vintage gold accessories, black with brown hand bag and leopard print peep toe heel. Rad in Rose Red Stylist Rose Lazard schools us on the corporate casual look as she rocks a Zara rose red loose pant with a white flannel shirt, a white and brown suede leather bag and black suede pumps. Stripe Shea rocks a wrap black and white wrap dress paired with brown sandal heel and a brown fendi bag. This look is minimal and simple.

Kela

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

PAGE 30

Pots & Pans

With Miriam Humbe

Utilize your peanuts into a nice (Dakuwa) snack

Tanfiri or Donkwa (dodonkwa) is a savory Nigerian snack made with corn meal and groundnuts (peanuts). It’s one of those snacks that does not require cooking. It is soft and melts in the mouth, and is often confused with Kuli kuli.

Ingredients: * 250 grams corn meal (made from roasted corn) * 70 gram ground peanut/groundnut or groundnut powder * 2 pinches of ground chili powder ( optional, but add it if you want to get the classic donkwa taste) *1 tablespoonful sugar * 1 pinch of ground clove (optional) * 2 tablespoons of peanut oil (sunflower or canola oil is also okay) *2 tablespoons of water

Fresh grape juice Think grape juice only comes in a bottle? Try this fresh version and you’ll never go Ingredients: •1 pound seedless grapes, any combination of red, green and black Preparation -Fill the jar of your blender 3/4 of the way with grapes and add a splash of water. Blend on high at least 1 minute. Strain through a fine-mesh sieve over a large bowl, pressing down on the solids in the strainer with a large spoon to

Preparation: * Pour the corn meal, groundnuts, sugar, ground chili powder (optional) and ground clove (optional) into a blender and grind until all the ingredients are well combined to form a smooth fine powder. * Transfer the fine powder into a large bowl. Then scoop out some of the powder into a smaller bowl, gradually add drops of water and oil, mix well and mould into balls. Don’t add too much oil or water, so that it doesn’t look soaked or sodden. Note: if you like Yoruba-style tanfiri, you can leave out the water and only add oil, but the combination of a little water and little oil gives the perfect consistency for the Tanfiri paste.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Relationship

Living peacefully with your step children

rom time immemorial, step mothers have always been portrayed as evil. The role of a step mother is a very difficult one. Some might never be welcomed by the children and trying to act like their real mother can cause altercations, in which case the step mother finds herself in a very tricky situation. Most children feel loyalty towards their biological mother and therefore struggle to hate their step mother. Disciplining them and setting new limits can be very challenging. Children, when offended with their step mother turn to their biological father for succour, and if this continues, your relationship with your partner might get strained. It is always a very tough task for women and their step children when it comes to coping with each other. If you eventually decide to settle down with a man that has children, don’t forget you are going to share his love with them. The mistake most women make is that they easily forget that there are other people, possibly grownups, who were there before them. It is not possible to have the man all to yourself. If you are in love with a man with children, the first thing you should do is to strive to establish a very good relationship with his children. You would be making a very big mistake if you decide to relate with them as their step or biological mother. It is wise relating with them as friends and part-

Happy stepmum/stepchild ners, this way they feel respected and wanted. Many women who are married to single parents fight so hard to establish their place in the home. Maybe you are afraid that his divorced partner might come into the home. You are threatened by the presence of the children and

Adjusting to a stepmother/stepchild relationship

their relationship with their mother. It is a natural thing and there is nothing you can do about it. No matter how much the children love and accept you, it will be foolish to think they will love you like their biological mother. In the case of divorce, you should know they are not happy that their mother is not in the home. Some of them may even end up seeing you as the reason for the unsettled differences between their parents, especially if you met the man not too long after the separation. It is easier relating with your step children if they are very young, but if they are adults, it will take extra efforts to have a good relationship with them. They may even insist on having their mother visit sometimes and that, I know, is what you dread. Women need to know that you aren’t going to be close with your stepchild instantly. A step-parent/ stepchild relationship grows over time. Take it slowly when trying to establish a relationship. Take small steps to show them that your love and support is sincere. Also spend time on your relationship with your stepkids. As time moves on, make efforts to spend one-onone time with them without your spouse. This will allow the children get to know you better and establish a solid relationship with you. It will also allow you all make your own memories together. It is tempting as a step-parent to help mold your stepchild, but he/she already has parents for that. What he/she really needs is someone to encourage and cheer

him on. Friend, parent, spiritualadvisor, life coach, road-block, critic... these are what a stepparent isn’t. As a step-parent, the best way to navigate is through the eyes of a cheerleader. So, how do you encourage stepchildren? You are there to cheer on a good relationship between them and their parents, to cheer on a good relationship between them and your children. And in doing so, you will be cheering on your own relationship with them. As with any new relationship, affection is going to take time to develop. Care, love and affection will come with a good relationship, but you have to give it the time and space to grow. Don’t force it forward. Let the child take the lead on demonstrations of affection. Be warm in spirit, but don’t try to hug or embrace the child. If she wants to hug you -- and you want to -hug her back. Know how to recognize, appreciate and acknowledge shows of affection. You want them to be making requests from you, but this may never happen. They want you to know that they are closer to their father than you are. Some of them will intentionally do things to make life miserable for you, especially the girls. No one wants to feel like a third wheel, a guest or an outsider, so don’t let your stepkids fall into that place. Let them be a part of everything. Children should also be involved in making decisions. When they feel they have been heard, they will be less resistant to family rules. If the children have a say in devising reasonable punish-

ments for infractions, they will feel the rules are more fair. Consistency is important, and so is setting boundaries. Change is difficult for everyone, so understand that it will take a while for things to settle down. Women, please stop complaining about your step children. Don’t go about making them look evil. Your own children may fight, steal, disobey and do all sorts at home and you try to hide it. But the moment your step child does a little thing, the whole world hears about it. This is absolutely wrong. Stop seeing their occasional rudeness as rejection. Begin to see it as the usual thing with children. Most importantly, if you do not live together with your step children never refuse them from visiting their father. You can struggle so much to keep them away from the home, but definitely not from the man’s heart. Remember, most men have their will and you can never say what is in it. The best way to get a man to even love you more is by accepting his children. There are countless childless women that are being loved unconditionally by their step children and you can never know they are not their biological offspring(s). Your step children could be your hope in the nearest future. You are the one to decide how happy you will be in your home despite their presence. Finally, if you want your husband to accept and love you unconditionally, please accept and love his children (your step children) unconditionally.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Fiction

The first grand-child in the family

he person was moving so silently like a cat after a mouse. Lillian wished she had kept her mouth shut at the supermarket. She wished she had… The bathroom door flew open. Lillian gave a loud scream as she directed the hot water at the intruder with her eyes closed. “Surprise! …Jesus Christ! Lillian?!” Lillian opened her eyes and swallowed. Louisa was drenched. Lillian started to laugh. “It is not funny, Lillian.” “I am sorry. I thought you were a burglar.” Louisa took one of the dry towels and started dabbing herself with it. Lillian made to help her but Louisa brushed her hand away. “What are you doing here? Are you not supposed to be in Baltimore? What of mummy?” Louisa eyed Lillian briefly before she replied. She was in town for a conference and wanted to surprise her twin sister. “I guess I should make reservations now before I come so as not to be attacked with a maze the next time I come here.” Lillian apologized again for what happened and they both went downstairs with Lillian trailing behind with her clothes in her hands. Louisa was Lillian’s only sister. She was married to Kojo, a computer scientist from Ghana who naturalized when they all came out of the university. Louisa had waited for Lillian to find the right person so after Gerald proposed she married Kojo. The sisters’ weddings were done a week after the other. There was nothing physically different between the two sisters when you look at them. They were so identical that there dad sometimes mistook one for the other. The sisters were always up to their neck in twin mischief when they were still young. But they both had different characters. Louisa was the gentle and shy one. And funny enough she was the most liked. She loved mathematics and studied it at the university while Lillian adored anything that had to do with words thus her work as the chief editor of a fashion magazine. Louisa put the kettle to boil and looked steadily at Lillian as she got dressed right there in the kitchen. “How are you, Lillian?” Lillian paused in between putting her left leg into her pajama trouser and shrugged. She finished dressing and sat on the counter in front of Louisa. “What are you up to these days? How is that crazy friend of yours?” Lillian laughed. Louisa had a dislike for Bunmi. They were always at each other’s throats whenever they had to

meet. Bunmi though Louisa was a proud Miss-goody-two-shoes. Louisa felt Bunmi was a barbarian loud mouth. “She is doing okay. She and her loud mouth had helped me out of a lot of tight situations, you know. You may not like her but for my sake, endure her,” Lillian pleaded. “She is such a blabber mouth. I wonder what her life is about. She needs deliverance, you know.” “We all do. We all should rededicate our life to Christ every day, so don’t even go there,” Lillian said in defense of her friend. “They say people that bear that name of hers in Nigeria are as quiet as a mouse but hers is a different case,” Louisa replied and Lillian smiled as she got up to get the tea cups. She placed the cups on the counter and waited for Louisa to make the tea. She asked after their mum. Louisa said she was okay and that their mother had told her to tell Lillian that she should come over soon. Lillian’s phone started ringing. It was Larry. “Hello Larry. Did you get home okay…yes, I did…Louisa is here…will do…thanks again for a great night… bye.” Louisa rolled her eyes. Lillian smiled. “It is not what you think, Louisa.” “What do you think I think, Lillian? Is that Larry…Larry?” “Yes it is the same Larry. He is coming back on track and I am helping him take one day at a time, pastor is helping too. He truly needs Jesus in his life.” Louisa nodded as she sipped her tea with a sly grin on her face; Lillian shook her head and smacked Louisa lightly on the shoulder. Louisa never bothered about boys. She was too busy with being born-again and university stuff to have time to go on dates. She was a pretty born-again

“

nerd unlike her sister who was just a party-freak church-goer. Lillian was always the life of every party they went back in school. She was always the one to chair one group or the other, she even ran for the president once but she lost to cunning, cheerleading red head named Cindy that had beaten her to it. When Louisa brought Kojo to her as her boy friend, Lillian had laughed out so loud that he felt embarrassed not knowing that she was just surprised that Louisa could actually have found someone to call a boyfriend. Louisa had said he was the one she received. Lillian thought it was a joke but they went along well. “I have good news to share with you. I have not told anyone, not even Kojo.” Oh-oh. She is pregnant. “I am pregnant” I thought so. “Congratulations Louisa. How long gone are you?” Louisa put up two fingers. “Are you two weeks or two months gone?” Louisa said she was two months pregnant. Lillian was happy for her. They had always joked about who would have the first child. Louisa would tease Lillian with it as she always had a boy hanging around. She would say that at the rate Lillian was going, she would be the first one to be a mother. “I just want you to be the first to know and if you are okay with me taking your place,” Louisa said and smiled. Lillian hugged her. They remained like that for a few minutes. They had been through a lot together. There were tough times and there were good times. They loved each other and that was all that mattered. “I am happy for you. I am so proud of Kojo. He has been a good son-in-law to mummy in spite of her hesitation in the beginning. He is a good man and I am sure he will

There was nothing physically different between the two sisters when you look at them. They were so identical that there dad sometimes mistook one for the other. The sisters were always up to their neck in twin mischief when they were still young.

be elated to hear this news.” Louisa smiled and got up. She bid Lillian good night. She said she had to sleep early so she could wake up early for her conference. She yawned and went up the stairs. Lillian sat at the counter and silently sipped her tea. Louisa was pregnant. That was wonderful news to end a wonderful day. She called Bunmi and told her. She screamed. “Is she there?” Bunmi asked. “No, she has gone to bed and I do not think she would want to know I told you.” “That is rubbish and you know it. You know, she knows that you can’t keep anything from me. She doesn’t like me but I am going to like her baby,” Bunmi said at the other end. “I know and I am sure you will,” Lillian replied. Bunmi loved kids. “I have to go. One of our interns is not around so I might have to do this piece myself. Good night Lil,” Bunmi said. “Are you in the office?” Lillian asked. “Not even if there is a gorgeous white cream there. I am home. Bye,” Bunmi said finally and hung up. Lillian rinsed the cups and switched off the lights in the house. She sat on the couch and switched on the television. She stared blankly at the screen but her mind was way outside the house out there on the streets roaming for a place that will bring her peace. She took the Bible by the sofa and opened to the book of Psalms. Her mind couldn’t retain anything from there either. There were some shooting going on in the movie so Lillian turned it to another station. There was nothing interesting going on so she turned the television off. She sat deeper into the couch and closed

her eyes. She was happy for her sister. They had always wanted a baby unlike Lillian and Gerald who wanted to have fun first before they started a new family. Tears gathered in Lillian’s eyes as she thought of her dead husband. He had left her a lot. She was rich courtesy of him but nobody knew how much she was worth and she liked it that way. When Gerald died, she changed. For months after his death, Lillian suffered depression and was always moody and always looking unkempt. Lillian loved her husband to a fault. Louisa had her reservations when she brought the guy home but when they all got to know him, they too fell in love with him. The floorboard creaked upstairs and Lillian opened her eyes briefly. She wondered why she was on edge. The incident at the supermarket had ended with a statement at the police station. Bunmi had brought her home and had reassured her that the duo thieves were out of the state by then. Lillian still felt uneasy but she knew it might actually and truly be unnecessary. She closed her eyes again. “Tomorrow will come and everything will become new again.” Tomorrow always comes with a new thing and she hoped that that particular tomorrow would be for her. She was living a good life. Nothing could really go wrong. Christ was with her, His grace was abundant in her. The night sounds came into the sitting room. The dogs were barking. There were cars moving on the street. Lillian liked the night. It was her favorite time of the day. It was the time to reflect and plan as you let all your worries wait another day. Lillian lay down on the couch. She curled up and slept. Naijastories.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Too busy for love (II)

PAGE 33

Romance

He finally popped the big question

he D-day finally arrived, Nonso picked her up at exactly 7.00 pm, his dark good looks and impeccable attirecustom-tailored suit, crisp white shirt and elegant silk tie- drew the interested glances of every unattached woman as he passed and few glances from the attached ones, as well. He escorted her from the quarters to his car with one hand under her right arm, with such solemn concern that he seemed convinced that she would dissolve if touched by one drop of rain or shatter into pieces if she fell. Considering the difference in their size-she at five-five, she felt she was going on a date with an older brother. She was not a petite woman, but in his arm and under his umbrella she felt positively tiny. The dinner lasted for about two hours, Bukunmi could see what Nonso meant by his mother being stubborn though with a woman in her late sixties, it was expected. She took a proper look at the woman and wondered how beautiful she would have been in her early years and saw where Nonso got his looks from. She’d been impressed by his intelligent questions concerning medicine and for a lawyer, he knew a lot. She noticed he didn’t say anything about his Father during dinner and she didn’t ask. All the way from the car to the door, he apologized for his lousy cooking, and she repeatedly assured him that she was not in the least disappointed even though she saw he was just being modest. Bukunmi crashed into her bed once she got home, there was this unusual feeling tingling in her and as much as she tried, the feeling still lingered. ‘I’m definitely going to miss church tomorrow’ she could hear herself say as her eyes struggled to stay open, ‘or maybe I’d just spend the day with Chioma’. She giggled lightly to herself, imagining her friend’s reaction to her escapade. The hours rolled and soon, another week surfaced.

“Bukunmi! Hold the elevator.” Nonso ran in before it closed. “Nonso,” Bukunmi raised her eyebrows in surprise. “Thank you again for the dinner and a pleasant evening. I really had a great time.” She grinned. “Am glad you did, if I’d gotten your number it would have saved me so much effort.” “Well, you didn’t ask.” She smiled and scribbled her number on a piece of paper then handed it to him. “Thank you, now this would conserve energy.” There was an awkward silence and Nonso decided to break it. “So Bukunmi,” He smiled. “What if I asked you to come have lunch with me this Friday?” He bit his lips nervously. “Well if you did, I probably would tell you I’ll be busy here.” “What if I brought the lunch to you?” He raised an inquiring eye brow and added, “I’m sure you must be tired of eating in the cafeteria, what do you say?” “That would be nice then.” She replied as the elevator shook lightly, coming to a halt. “Well this is my floor; I’ll see you around and say me hi to your mom.” “I sure will.” Nonso muttered sheepishly with a broad smile plastered on his face as he caressed the piece of paper between his fingers, watching his crush walk away. Nonso managed to be part of Bukunmi’s life and Bukunmi found herself letting her guard down gradually. Movies, dinners and a lot more seemed to make their busy life worth living. She remembered a time Nonso took her to this restaurant he said just opened they sat down at their tables and were giving their menus, but even before the waitress could ask if they would like a drink, Nonso said, “This is no good, this is all wrong, let’s find another place.” Surprised, she asked why. “No style, no atmosphere it is all wrong.” They returned to the car, drove for about thirty minutes and packed in front of an unpretentious-looking restaurant

in a strip shopping center. Later that month he called if she could have lunch with him and she gave a condition “Once we sit down in the restaurant, promise me we’ll stay there.” She knew he was hardheaded about some things but she just had to try. It came as a bit of surprise when Nonso had called that day asking that they had lunch together. “Nonso what’s with the mystery, you sounded different on the phone.” Bukunmi, I know we’ve been friends for six months now and I’m a kind of guy who doesn’t like wasting time, I go for what I want. I always believe life is too short to waste any time, after all, you only live once right?” Bukunmi simply nodded still unsure of where this conversation was heading. “Well, in other words Bukunmi, I want us to make this official, let’s take our relationship to the next level. Life is too short; I want to live it loving you. What do you say?” “Nonso, I don’t know what to say.” Bukunmi replied honestly, quite undecided of what she wanted out of this thing they had going. “Tell me you are willing to try this out, to make us work. We wouldn’t know unless we give it a trial.” “Okay, I’ll give it a trial, if not with you then I don’t know” Bukunmi finally replied after a split second of consideration. “Thank you so much. I love you Bukunmi right from the moment I met you I knew it, I just felt it. You know, you only live once and if you live it right, once is enough, let’s make a toast.” They raised their glasses. “Together forever till death do us part.” “Not if I go first.” Bukunmi said. Being with Nonso, holding him within her, she felt so close to him it almost seemed as if they were one person- one body and one mind, one spirit, one dream. She loved him wholeheartedly, yes, but

that feeling of oneness was more than love, or at least different from love. By their first Christmas together, she understood that what she felt was a sense of belonging not experienced in a long time. Days grew into weeks, weeks to month and then years and now, here they were, seated in one of the most exquisite places in town, pretty much every lady’s dream right? A Mr. Perfect who treats her like Princess Fiona. “Nonso this place is great; I’ve never actually been to a Chinese restaurant. Did Chioma put you up to this?” Bukunmi asked, excitement being very obvious in the way she spoke. “Sweetheart this is our third year anniversary and you need the best, I could take you to China itself for what it’s worth.” Nonso replied, cupping her face in his hands. Bukunmi giggled nervously. “Gimme a moment, you could order some wine.” “Nonso?” “It’s a surprise hun, just going to the car.” He said, placing a kiss on her forehead and then hurried out of the tremendous hall. “Madam, Can I take your order now?” “No, not yet I’m fine with the wine.” She paused, stealing a glance at her Swatch wristwatch, “he’ll be back soon.” Bukunmi replied anxiously as she had done thirty minutes ago but Nonso still wasn’t back yet. ‘He said he was going to take something from the car how long does that take?’ she asked herself. She got up and went to the parking lot, still no sign of Nonso-or the car. Where could he have gone to? She hurried back into the restaurant more uneasy. “Hello? Nonso where are you? I’ve been waiting for almost an hour; you just left me all by myself.” “Sorry but the owner of this phone was just involved in an accident. He’s in a bad state and we are rushing him to St. Nicholas Hospital.” Bukunmi disconnected and immediately started screaming. She sat on the chair holding her ears as tears rolled down her

cheeks uncontrollably. This drew the attention of people around her; she ignored their voices asking if she was ok, all she could ask was directions to St. Nicholas Hospital. “I’m here for Mr. Nonso he was rushed in here some minutes ago.” Bukunmi said, in a shaky voice. “Ma please wait for the doctor in charge, he’ll soon be here.” The nurse said without looking at Bukunmi’s face twice. Bukunmi paced back and forth wiping off the tears in her eyes; all she could do was pray. “Ms. Bukunmi?” A doctor called out from the reception. “Yes! Yes! I’m here, how’s he doing? When can I see him?” Bukunmi asked abruptly, the words left her lips so quick she couldn’t mince her words before they erupted. “Take it easy ma, he had this package on him.” Bukunmi opened it and found a ring and a card attached to it that read ‘we only live once and with you in my life it’s going to be eternity, together forever’. “We tried our best but we…” Bukunmi walked away from the doctor, she wore the ring and stared at it for a while, and back at the doctor then smiled and started laughing hysterically making the doctor confused. “You think he’s dead but he isn’t, I’m a doctor I can do something. Excuse me!” Bukunmi shouted angrily. “Madam, please control yourself.” “Nurse! Nurse!! Can I get some nurses here?! Hold her down!” Bukunmi was strapped down and injected. She held on tight to the card until she could struggle no more; the voices around her went faint, images became blurred as she stared into the light, a flash of grieve like fire from an explosion swept through her as she glimpsed at future without Nonso, a vision so starkly illuminated and of such dreadful power that she blacked out. Naijastories.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

PAGE 34

Nollywood

My wife not attention seeker —Teju Babyface

etite, but versatile comedian, Teju Babyface, is an entertainer that commands huge respect in Nigeria. While his Teju Babyface Show aired on television stations in Nigeria, he kept many people glued to their tubes. The comedian, in 2012, walked his beau, Tobi Banjoko, down the aisle at a wedding ceremony held in Lagos and attended by several dignitaries. Speaking about his marriage, Teju described his wife as serious minded person, who is not after attention like other women despite being a former beauty queen and a modlel. “My wife is far from the traditional romantic woman, which is the exact reason I married her. She is not the type who would

How I once walked unclothed at Silverbird Galleria —Bryan Okwara

jump at a gift without knowing the reason behind it. She is a very serious minded type who does not really need a man before getting things right.

“She doesn’t crave for attention like many women do. There was a time we forgot our wedding anniversary and when we remembered, we laughed at it. I would

not have lasted with a woman who will nag or sob at things like that. She is a strong woman. And that is the best romantic experience I enjoy with my wife,” he told Vanguard.

Controversial rapper, VIC O gets first endorsement deal

he surviving power of a man is not tested on how educated he is but how he is able to walk himself through the huddles of life, this is exactly that case of controversial Nigerian rapper, Vic O. Vic O, who made headlines a few months back when he dropped a diss track directed at American rappers Meek Mill and Drake, who were then fighting each other over a woman, has since

ormer Mr Nigeria and Nollywood actor, Bryan Okwara, is darling to many not only because of his attractive looks, but for his acting skills too. Aside those two attributes, he has a good sense of fashion, which make many ladies fall at the sight of this young man. Bryan, while engaging his fans recently, disclosed that he was almost made to walk without his clothes on to his car at the popular Silverbird Galleria in Lagos. The actor said that incident was one of his most embarrassing moments and that this happened after he played a game of truth or dare at a restaurant located inside the public place. “I once played a game of truth or dare at a restaurant and I was dared to strip to my boxers and after I proceeded with the dare, my friends took my clothes to the car and I had to walk out in boxer shorts all the way down to the car. I was so embarrassed (laughs),” he said.

gained large followership on social media. Surprisingly, the singer has landed his first endorsement deal with Lollipops Party (a party suppliers and party concierge service outfit). Celebrating his new achievement, the rapper said, “Glory be to God. Endorsement deal sealed, shout out to all my haters. Drinks on me tonight! I don get alert. We talking six zeros.”

You can’t catch me womanising —Victor Olaotan

ollywood actor, Victor Olaotan, has proven over time that he is nononsense actor and would not accept any form cheating in the industry especially among the practitioners of the same craft with him. The actor, who recently left the popular TV series, ‘Tinsel,’ claimed that actors are being cheated especially those on contract. Explaining why he left ‘Tinsel, Victor said, “Towards the end, I found out that the company was not taking care of us like they should. We were contractors and we didn’t get any bonuses. I expected that we should be able to live in big houses and drive in nice cars and these were our demands.” On his love life, the actor stated that he is

still in love with his woman and cannot allow any form of temptations to come between them. “I keep away from such temptations because of my Christian life. I even know some women in the industry who are very disciplined.” “A lady walked up to me at the airport one day and asked to have my number. When I asked her what for, she said ‘I want to be one of your girls’. I said I don’t have girls. The only girls I have are my daughters,” he narrated. “I worked with Tinsel for seven years and I never messed around. Some of the girls on set could even come and sit on my laps, but I have never fallen for anyone of them,” he boasted.

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Hollywood

Mel C wants Spice Girls comeback at Hyde Park

Rihanna ‘not ready to perform new music’

ihanna reportedly pulled out of performing at the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show because she wasn’t ready to perform new material. The singer was due to unveil a brand-new track at the highprofile runway show next Tuesday (10Nov15), but cancelled with just days to go. Sources close to the star claim Rihanna didn’t feel confident about showcasing the previously unheard music, so decided not to appear at the New York event. “She’s still working on some stuff and (the music) isn’t to a point where she wants to perform it,” a source told Page Six. “Things are supposed to be further along, but she’s still not ready.” While some insiders claim the material isn’t yet finished, other sources insist Rihanna does have a fresh track to perform. However, it has been suggested that the 27-year-old star decided it was more important to continue working on the rest of her new album, so put that before the fashion show. “She does have something to perform,” another source told the publication. “But the album isn’t finished yet, and finishing it is the priority. She couldn’t take the time to rehearse and perform and finish the album. It just all didn’t come together.” Rihanna has already revealed the artwork and name of her upcoming eighth record, Anti, but a release date is so far yet to be confirmed. Her father recently claimed that there was still a great deal of work to be done on the album, which is her first release since 2012’s Unapologetic. “Robyn is not happy with the new album,” Ronald Fenty told Britain’s The Sun newspaper. “She’s not comfortable with it. When she went over the songs she found all these little things she wanted to change and was worried about it. It’s a long process and isn’t easy.” © Provided by Cover Media There have been reports Rihanna will showcase new songs in a special appearance on Saturday Night Live in the next few months. The star has been replaced at the Victoria’s Secret show by British singer Ellie Goulding. While Ellie has enjoyed success around the world, insiders are believed to be disappointed that Rihanna had to be replaced at the last minute. “She’s no Rihanna,” a source added to Page Six. “It is what it is,” another insider commented. “It hasn’t seemed that anyone is upset. It’s business as usual. They’re just relieved that everything is still moving and are thrilled Ellie was able to pick the ball up on such short notice. They’re pumped that she’s game.”

he Spice Girls at the London Olympics in 2012 Mel C wants the Spice Girls to perform in London’s Hyde Park next year. The 41-year-old singer - who starred in the chart-topping group alongside Mel B, Emma Bunton, Geri Halliwell and Victoria Beckham - revealed the group has already held talks about getting back together and she admitted the open-air venue would be an “amazing” place to do it. She said: “We’ve talked about it, but we just haven’t got our act together. “We’re a bit useless. But performing at Hyde Park would be amazing. “I went to see Taylor Swift there this year and it was so wonderful. It was a really good, fun gig. I think for the Spice Girls that would be appropriate. It’s a bit more friendly.” However, Mel rubbished speculation they’ll reunite for the annual Brit Awards in February because she doesn’t think they could be ready in time. The singer - who was known as Sporty Spice during her time with

the group - told the Daily Mirror newspaper: “There’s definitely no chance we’ll get our act together by then. “It’s a shame, actually. We need to stop procrastinating and get on with something.” Meanwhile, Mel B recently said a

Spice Girls reunion must feature all five members of the group, following speculation Victoria does not wish to be involved. She insisted: “If we do something, it has to be all of us. That’s the whole point.”

The Spice Girls at the London Olympics in 2012

Gwen Stefani: My life ‘blew up in my face’ following divorce

wen Stefani’s life “blew up in [her] face” when she split from her husband. The ‘What You Waiting For’ hitmaker - who has nineyear-old Kingston, seven-year-old Zuma and 20-month-old Apollo with Gavin Rossdale - admits it was hard at first when the pair ended their 13-year marriage but insists she is feeling inspired in her “pretty awesome” new life. Speaking on 97.1 AMP radio, she shared: “My life is so extreme right now. My life basically blew up in my face. And now I’m in this new life, and it’s pretty awesome I have to say I’m so inspired and being back on the show, and just being in a new place. Everything just feels new. I just feel inspired. I don’t know how else to describe it.” Meanwhile, the 46-year-old star recently admitted she’s been “living in the moment” following the pair’s split. When asked how she keeps herself in such good shape, she explained: “I haven’t really been working on my physical appearance. I’ve been working on my spiritual exercising. “And really trying to connect and be grateful, considerate, being present and living in the moment, and so that’s where I’ve put a lot of my exercise right now. So, if that’s what you’re seeing, that’s awesome, because I’ve been working really hard on that.” At no 5 is. G CLICK with the song titled BUSY MAN , produced by Romzy

Gwen

‘Lost’ Oswald bunny hops back in Disney cartoon restoration

“lost” film featuring Disney’s first animated character, Oswald the Lucky Rabbit, has been unearthed in a British archive and will be shown for the first time in 87 years. A print of the cartoon, called Sleigh Bells and produced in 1928, was rediscovered by a researcher browsing the BFI National Archive’s online catalogue. Walt Disney Animation Studios has restored the cartoon, which is around six minutes long, and it will have a world premiere next month. Oswald was created by Walt Disney and Ub Iwekrs in 1927 for Universal before the pair went on to create Mickey Mouse following a contract dispute with the film company. © A still from Sleigh Bells (Walt Disney Animation Studios/PA) Oswald the Lucky Rabbit The BFI said while other Oswald cartoons survived, Sleigh Bells had been feared lost and had not been seen since its original release. Robin Baker, head curator at BFI National Archive, said: “What a joyful treat to discover a long-lost Walt Disney film

in the BFI National Archive and to be able to show Sleigh Bells to a whole new audience 87 years after it was made. “The restoration of this film will introduce many audiences to Disney’s work in the silent period – it clearly demonstrates the vitality and imagination of his animation at a key point in his early career.” Andrew Millstein, president of Walt Disney Animation Studios, added: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with the BFI National Archives in the restoration of the ‘lost’ Oswald short, Sleigh Bells, and to be sharing this delightful animated discovery with audiences in the UK as part of this special Disney holiday programme. “The Oswald shorts are an important part of our studios’ history, and we have been working with film archives and private collectors all around the world to research the missing titles.” The premiere of the cartoon will take place on December 12 at BFI Southbank in London as part of a screening of festive Disney shorts.

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Celebrity Gists

I’m an honest, loyal actress —Halima Abubakar

Blake Shelton, Gwen Stefani confirm dating rumours

ollywood actress, Halima Abubakar, is just having fun all the way after releasing her movie titled ‘How I was Raped,’ which is now showing in all media platforms. Enjoying the fruit of her labour, the actress said she is open to any criticism about her work which will enable her improve on subsequent movies. The actress pointed out that people have failed to see the good side of others, but rather tend to see the mistakes they make and hold it against them. ‘‘They will never notice your laughter, they will never notice your tears, they will never notice your kindness but they will notice your mistakes and forever hold on to them. Pay them no mind. I’m honest and loyal.”

fter weeks of speculation surrounding Blake Shelton and Singer Gwen Stefani’s dating life, a rep for Shelton confirms to ET that the pair are officially an item. A rep for Stefani also confirmed the news in a statement to Us Weekly, saying: “Gwen and Blake are long time friends who have very recently started dating.” The news comes amid reports that Stefani and Shelton had flown together from Los Angeles, California, to Nashville, Tennessee, on Tuesday. The duo have been busy promoting the current season of NBC’s The Voice, and dat-

ing rumours have followed them throughout. The newly-single coaches performed an interesting duet on The Tonight Show last week, and were spotted leaving a Halloween party in Hollywood hand-in-hand over the weekend. On Tuesday, Stefani jokingly called Shelton “hot” in an interview with Ryan Seacrest on KIIS FM. Shelton and ex-wife, singer Miranda Lambert, divorced quickly and quietly in July, while Stefani and Gavin Rossdale announced their separation in August. Stefani recently settled their divorce and will share custody of their three sons.

Rick Ross calls off engagement to Lira Galore

apper Rick Ross got engaged a few weeks ago to former stripper, Lira Galore and he has already called it off. TMZ reports that ‘‘Rick Ross and Lira Galore have called off their engagement, less than two months after making the leap. We are told they had a major blowout, although it is unclear what it was about, but it was serious enough that Lira moved her stuff out of Rozay’s Georgia mansion.’’ Ross spontaneously popped the question back in mid-September while they were jewellery shopping in New York. They’d only been dating a few months at that point. As for the giant 11 carat, $350,000 rock he gave her ... so far there’s been no discussion on whether she’ll return it. She still had it on her ring finger in a photo she posted a day ago.

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Entertainment Sean Tizzle releases video for ‘Eruku Saye Po’

ean Tizzle has re-released the video for his hit single, ‘Eruku Saye Po’. The previous video had issues with sound which was described as an error from the production team. The Mex directed video/film was shot at the African Shrine in Lagos, Nigeria, all powered & managed by 7:15 Media Group.

Katy Perry named Forbes highestpaid woman in music

inger, Katy Perry, is the highest-earning non-boxer on Forbes 2015 Celebrity top 100 list, thanks to her Prismatic World Tour. Perry grossed more than $2 million per city over the course of 126 shows, 75 of them overseas, while pulling in an astounding $20 per head in merchandise sales. She also pads her coffers through deals with Coty, Claire’s and Covergirl, and from a new Perry-themed mobile game due out soon which combined to earn her $135 million this year, tens of millions of dollars ahead of the rest of the women on the list. “I am proud of my position as a boss, as a person that runs my own company,” Perry told Forbes. “I’m an entrepreneur, I don’t want to shy away from it. I actually want to kind of grab it by its balls.” Taylor Swift earned the number two spot on the list, nabbing $80 million. Her own tour, the 1989 World Tour, helped her cinch the high ranking, but couldn’t measure up to her rumoured rival, Perry’s haul. Her album “1989” sold more than 3.6 million copies and was the top release of 2014. Others are Fleetwood Mac- $59.5 million, Lady Gaga- $59 million, Beyoncé- $54.5, million, Britney Spears-$31 million, Jennifer Lopez- $28.5 million, Miranda Lambert- $28.5 million, Mariah Carey - $27 million and Rihanna - $26 million.

Eddie Murphy expecting 9th baby with girlfriend A

ctor Eddie Murphy, 54, is going to be a dad again. The Oscarnominated actor and his girlfriend, Paige Butcher, 36, will welcome a new baby in May 2016. This will be the comedian’s ninth child, his first with Butcher. He couldn’t be happier. Eddie really is a family man and loves all of his children, so he is so excited about having another one on the way,’ a source close to the entertainer exclusively told Daily Mail Online. Murphy has five children, Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella, ranging in ages from 26 to 13 with his ex-wife, Nicole Murphy, whom he divorced in 2006. He also has a son Eric, 26, by Paulette McNeely; a son, Christian, 25, by Tamara Hood; and a daughter, Angel Iris, 8, by former Spice Girl singer, Melanie ‘Mel B’ Brown. Even though he has eight children by four different women, they all come together on holidays and for sporting events and hang out at his mansion as one big blended family.

Hollywood magazine film festival honours Egor Effiok N ollywood producer, Egor Efiok, was honoured with The Award of Excellence at the Hollywood Weekly Magazine Film Festival on November 1. The festival held at the Dick Clark Screening Room in Santa Monica, screened two Nollywood movies, “Beyond Blood” by Greg Odutayo, who is a member of PFN (Professional Filmmakers of Nigeria); “Unge’s War” produced by Bernard Kawaja and coproduced by Egor Efiok. These will be the first Nigerian films ever to be screened at the film festival. Egor said, “I thank God for his faithfulness in my life. I also thank my friends, family and the public, for without their support, love and encouragement, I would not be where I am today. I will also use the opportunity after screening ‘Unge’s War,’ to showcase my new Hollywood Meets Nollywood film, ‘Death ATLAS,’ which is still in its preproduction stage and will be the first of its kind paranormal film ever to be shot in Nigeria and the first time I will be bringing international stars down to Nigeria to shoot.”

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

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

Chairman Malam Wada Maida, Oon, Fnge Director/Editor-in-Chief Rufa’i Ibrahim Editor, Daily Hameed M. Bello

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ISSUES How LASTMA is sabotaging Ambode’s efforts By Gbenga Olorunpomi

riving on the streets of Lagos has always been a hassle. For a city that is over ten times overpopulated and suffered decades of lack of investment in road infrastructure pre-1999, vehicular traffic congestion is expected to be an unfortunate part of its culture. New York, Cairo, London are just some of the few mega cities around the world that suffer from the same challenge. However, the traffic congestion on most Lagos roads has become unbearable for many road users lately. The social media postings of many Lagosians recently has been laced with their frustrations about the situation. They complain that the trips that used to take 30 minutes now last double or triple the time. Every morning, Facebook and Twitter is filled with pictures of unhappy drivers, snailing their way to their businesses and offices. There is a lot of cyber anger out there, but unfortunately it is all aimed at the wrong guy. When former Governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu created the Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) by signing it into law in the year 2000, many residents thought it was a timely idea. Finally, an agency of the state government had been empowered to reduce deaths, injuries and economic losses from road traffic accidents, conflicts, congestion and delays on the public roads in the state by employing modern traffic management techniques. The agency also created jobs for thousands. Soon, most Lagosians began to see the wisdom in creating the agency. In fact, some states now have their versions of LASTMA. The officers of the agency became the most feared on Lagos roads. The fear of LASTMA became the beginning of wisdom. Every driver’s worst fear was to see a man or woman in cream-coloured shirt and maroon trousers knock on their windows or sternly ask them to park their cars on the side of the road. When that happened, you either begin talking very fast or start calling your government contact. Or, as a final resort, prepare to pay a heavy fine. No one wanted

WRITE TO US

Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com adverts@peoplesdailyng.com pictures@peoplesdailyng.com contact@peoplesdailyng.com that, so most former offenders learnt to keep traffic rules. Defaulters were punished and knew not to commit the offence again. Life was getting good. However, the story changed when certain corrupt LASTMA officers began to implement another set of rules they had written for themselves. They found a loophole in the system and exploited it mercilessly. Instead of preventing traffic gridlocks, they began hunting offenders and taking bribes. Some would create impossible situations on the roads and await unsuspecting victims. Some even tampered with traffic lights simply to ensnare innocent drivers. Cars properly parked were sometimes towed away and the owners left in distress. LASTMA officers became almost lawless; Lagos’ Enfant Terrible. One of the first things the new administration under Governor Akinwunmi Ambode did was to seek to re-brand LASTMA and re-jig its operations. Having attended countless town hall meetings and read reports from focus group discussions during the election campaigns, Governor Ambode knew the LASTMA he was inheriting needed to change to fit the vision he has for the state. So, he ordered that all seized vehicles in the possession of LASTMA be released. The Transport Ministry also announced some new guidelines for the officers of the agency, one of which meant adopting a system where traffic

offenders are booked instead of confiscating their vehicles. Oluseyi Whenu, the permanent secretary of the ministry of Transport, said the new policy is aimed at ensuring the free flow of traffic in the metropolis. Mr. Whenu said the government was implementing a better traffic management and documentation procedure where traffic offenders are booked and given a grace period for payment and defaulters apprehended at home through the information on the motor vehicle database. “Since LASTMA officials are a reflection of the state government, they should ensure that their activities add value to the government’s covenant with Lagos residents to make life easier for them,” he said. Since this announcement, there has been a marked drop in the efficacy of the field officers in LASTMA. They have almost totally abandoned their duty posts. There used to be at least two sets of LASTMA officers on the Eko Bridge every morning. These days, you would be lucky to find one at his duty post between the Mainland and Ikoyi. Drivers used to avoid the BRT lanes like plagues. These days, private car owners and Danfo bus drivers are so bold that they would use the BRT lane right in front of the Government House at Marina. No one stops them because LASTMA officers are sulking. The big babies! That is why the city is experiencing such

traffic gridlock. LASTMA has downed tools and Lagosians are suffering for it. Robberies in traffic are back. So are the heartaches that come with accidents and injuries. It is heartening that members of the public now know whom to blame for this. The Lagos State House of Assembly has summoned the General Manager of LASTMA, Mr. Bashir Braimah, to explain the persistent gridlock. Mr. Jude Idimogu, representing the OshodiIsolo II, said the gridlock was as a result of the deliberate action of LASTMA officers in reaction to the demand by Governor Ambode that they behave better at their jobs. “Many of the officers will be at the traffic prone areas, standing akimbo and be watching the situation unperturbed,” Idimogu said. Mr. Tunde Braimoh, another representative for Kosofe II went further to ask the Lagos Government to disengage the officers for displaying such behaviour. “Now that the governor came up with a modern way of enforcement, what the officers do now contradicts their ‘modus operandi’. If there is need to drop all of them and recruit others, we have to do so. They cannot disregard the law of the House and the state,” Braimoh said. Mr. Segun Olulade, representing Epe II said, “(The) transport situation has degenerated in the state because of lawlessness of drivers and LASTMA. I have seen some sort of collaboration in sabotaging the government. Some so called LASTMA disobey traffic laws.” Any society that allows a section of itself to operate above the rule of law toys with danger. Lagosians must support the stance of their beloved governor that LASTMA operates within the bounds of civility while carrying out their legitimate duty. They must stand with Governor Ambode in his quest to modernise the process of traffic management in Lagos. LASTMA should not hold us to ransom. They are not bigger than the people. Governor Ambode, please deal with them! Within the bounds of the law, of course. Culled from Ekekeee.com

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Opinion

Time to start asking PMB the pertinent questions By Aboo Sayyied Faseel

espite not being a loyal party man (I belong to no party and I belong to any party whose candidate is credible and have the masses interest at heart), I supported General Muhammadu Buhari before, during and after the last elections and his subsequent victory and I know of many other youths who did the same, many of us vouched for him solely based on his past antecedents of being highly disciplined and incorruptible man of integrity with strong commitment to rule of law and nation building. On that basis, I think it will be hypocritical of us not to ask the President these pertinent questions nearly six months after his inauguration and with the country’s status quo remaining the same if not worst. During the last electioneering campaigns, the APC and Mr President did well in letting Nigerians know of their plans to move the country forward, but all that we are witnessing now are mere talks, oversees travels, photo sessions and no actual action talk less of results. The question here is how long would it take for the implementation phase to take effect? Our main area of concern is that of youth involvement in governance, which is the

current trend in all developed and developing nations, as the youths population of any country serve as the backbone of growth and development of that country, by providing new ideas, strategies, vigor and enthusiasm to move that country forward. But in our Nigerian setup reverse is the case, our youthful population is being continuously sidelined, ignored and marginalised, while the people of yesteryears are being regurgitated and recycled to handle the affairs of the country

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and even those that exclusively have to do with the youth. The question here is, what went wrong? Mr. President is aware of the unhealthy rate of youth unemployment in the country and its adverse effect on all aspects of our life as a nation. Yet since he assumed office, there is little or no hope that the trend would soon come to an end. The question here is, what is the government doing to address this issue? The most worrying issue of insecurity

Mr. President is aware of the unhealthy rate of youth unemployment in the country and its adverse effect on all aspects of our life as a nation. Yet since he assumed office, there is little or no hope that the trend would soon come to an end. The question here is, what is the government doing to address this issue?

all over the country is still yet to be properly addressed and the promise of bringing an to the insurgency in the northeast by December is far from being actualized. The question here is what measures are in place to ensure the realization of the December deadline? Lastly, Mr President’s penchant desire for oversees travel should be at least limited to the most vital outings that are meant to foster the actualisation of the new Nigerian dream as outlined in the APC’s manifesto, because no matter how lean the presidential entourage is considerable amount of state resources is being utilize to finance such outings. The question here is Mr President why not invite other world leaders here in order to showcase Nigeria’s potential to them? Mr President sir, I still foresaw light at the end of the tunnel and still have enormous confidence in your ability to steer the wheels of this country to the promise land, but your Excellency sir I think now is the best time to stop talking and start working, there’s a huge mountain of expectations for you to climb, may Allah SWT make it easy for you and the rest of your entourage. Ameen. Culled from Omojuwa.com

Saraki: ‘Remember November 5’ By Oluwatosin Fabiyi

owards the climax of the movie ‘V for Vendetta’, a 2006 pop classic set in a futuristic and dystopian United States, it was revealed that the Fingermen, a draconian secret police, were systematically persecuting political deviants and non-conformists. This big reveal was the catalyst and turning point for Evey – the movie’s protagonist – that led to her making a series of decisions that led to the domino-like crumbling of the villainous regime that was in place. After all the hope and ample trust that Nigerians placed in the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), it is troublesome to think that after many months of wrestling for the change that we recently attained under this government, questionable elements have shown by their actions that the jostle for power in the last elections was not to secure Nigeria from the failing status quo, but to subjugate the country and its citizens for personal gain – using any means necessary. If this situation continues, it can spell doom for the ruling party, the APC, and Nigeria’s judicial system as a whole. The political dance of recent times – a tango of manipulative innuendos – has been controlled by the Machiavellian music of certain ‘rhythm-makers’ – scheming individuals, that have their sights set on the 2019 presidential elections. One of the victims of these machinations has been the Senate President, Dr. Bukola Saraki, whose emergence as the Number 3 citizen in the country has been met with obstacle after obstacle – a situation that has led many outside observers to believe that Saraki is being targeted by those who may wish to prevent his potential ascension to higher office. In John Locke’s Second Treatise of Civil Government, Locke states that the sole aim of the “law is not to abolish or restrain, but to preserve and enlarge freedoms.” In this

regard, to preserve and sustain our freedoms, the letter of the law must be safeguarded for both the small and the mighty; for both political conformists and non-conforming mavericks like Saraki, and; for friends and foes – regardless of the situation. Locke’s treaty tells us that to tarnish or taint the law in favour of an ulterior motive or goal – as the Code of Conduct Bureau and Tribunal (CCB/T) seems to be doing in the institution of Saraki’s case – is to restrict the freedom of a Nigerian citizen under our federal legal code. A clear example of such a restriction of Saraki’s freedoms under the law can be seen in the method in which the CCT brought the case to his attention. The law demands that an accused person must be personally served with a summons from the CCB, and given an opportunity to respond to the allegations proffered against him or her. However, Nigerians have seen a situation whereby the Number 3 citizen of the country was served with a summons to a tribunal of our federal republic on the front pages of newspapers and the homepages of online platforms. Needless to say, this situation

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spells out to everyday Nigerians that if such an embarrassing handling of a fundamental legal precedent in the institution of a case can be meted out against the Chairman of the National Assembly – everyday citizens should be very wary of how they are treated in our courts. Another cause of worry is the make-up of the tribunal that is sitting to adjudicate the Senate President’s case. WhereinSection 15(1) of the 5th schedule of the 1999 constitution states: “There shall be established a Tribunal to be known as Code of Conduct Tribunal which shall consist of a chairman and two other persons.” However, the tribunal that is currently trying the Senate President is only comprised of the Chairman of the Tribunal, and one Commissioner. Although the Court of Appeal recently commented on this issue, and ruled that the interpretation act duly addresses the composition of the court, many legal luminaries, like the former President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Olisa Agbakoba, have said that the split decision ruling of the Court of Appeal was akin to a negative rewrite of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of

With all of the blockades being placed on the judicial process, forcing the actual commencement of the case for November 5, the CCT and other relevant institutions must be aware that the whole country is watching. As it has been said recently, in the fundamental application of the law, justice must not only be done, justice should appear to have been done.

Nigeria. With all of the blockades being placed on the judicial process, forcing the actual commencement of the case for November 5, the CCT and other relevant institutions must be aware that the whole country is watching. As it has been said recently, in the fundamental application of the law, justice must not only be done, justice should appear to have been done. Hence, a situation whereby Saraki’s case at the CCT continues – under its current uncertain and unsound legal foundations – Nigerians will begin to question whether the anti-corruption mandate that this administration was swept into office on is a crusade that is founded upon the legal backing of the law, or the selective tendencies of a few unnamed powerful men that are out to get their pound of flesh. For this reason, as Saraki returns to the courts, no matter what side of our numerous political divides that we fall on, for the simple reason that there are inconsistencies present in the case, as citizens of this country, we must all be watchful and vigilant. November 5 will tell the true story of our country. It will tell us whether we are still a country of laws, or a nation governed by special interests. We must always remember that if the law can be maneuvered against a perceived political free spirit, then our laws our only tools in the hands of the few privileged few that wield our institutions of government as tools and weapons of their own discretion. As we journey forward towards the Code of Conduct Tribunal hearing, we must all “Remember, remember, the fifth of November” When Saraki returns to the courts, I know many reasons, Why we must support Saraki this season, So that our laws we do not distort. Fabiyi posted this piece on Abusidiqu. com

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Comment Before everybody becomes an election rigger By Amir Abdulazeez

t takes a morally bankrupt conscience to rig an election, but it takes a more morally bankrupt one to legitimise and affirm it. One wonders where the aggrieved person in an election can find justice if he can’t find it in the tribunals. Before and after elections, multiple alarms of foul play are being raised in different quarters and during the course of the elections, many candidates usually complain of rigging, violence, manipulation and oppression, but all INEC could do was to tell them to head to court if they were not satisfied. Does this mean INEC is satisfied with all elections it presides, no matter how dirty and those dissatisfied should go to court? The election petition tribunals in 2011 did not fare any better than those of 2003 and 2007. Over the past few weeks, outcomes of various 2015 election tribunals have left many people baffled and dejected. Some of the outcomes are simply bizarre to say the least, even though not all were completely unexpected. It has gradually become very clear that once you were not declared winner after the polls, you stand virtually no chance of reclaiming your mandate in the courts. First, the tribunals give much emphasis on flimsy technicalities and often dismiss several petitions on such grounds. Secondly, they often summarize all arguments and evidences brought before them as having failed to prove the case ‘beyond reasonable doubt’- an ambiguous phrase now so popularly and notoriously used to dismiss many competent cases. There are so many problems bedevilling the quest for electoral justice in Nigeria. The first starts

with the constitution of the tribunals themselves. Quite often judges and tribunal members are hurriedly constituted from entirely different areas from where the elections took place, leaving them with virtually zero knowledge on what happened in the area or how the area is. Although, every tribunal is expected to only rely on arguments presented before it and not otherwise, we cannot say that knowledge of an area will not help a judge to make better informed decisions on so many things. The time frame for settling electoral cases and the unnecessary delays and adjournments of proceedings within such time frames is also another critical problem. The ‘winners’ are allowed to be sworn in and properly settle in power while petitioners are left to wander and wallow in search of justice. Winners, after being sworn in may use state resources to not only diligently prosecute their defence in the tribunals through

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competent and experienced lawyers, but also to scuttle any efforts for justice to be done against them. This is apart from the likelihood of using same resources to adequately prepare and gain upper hands in case of a re-run. Secondly, the tribunals are themselves inadequate. Two tribunals are set up per state; one for the governorship and the other for the national and state assembly elections with very few-often an average of one per geo-political zone- Appeal Courts serving the entire country. The national and state assembly elections are packed with several cases which are expected to be settled within limited time. As such, the tribunals hardly give enough attention to each case. Elections are not perfect, that is why we have election tribunals and their duty is to ensure speedy justice. Justice must not be delayed because it is totally unfair and unacceptable for someone to continue sitting on an illegal

or stolen mandate for long just because the tribunals are dragging the case for whatever reason. Thirdly, INEC is not playing the role of a truly unbiased electoral umpire in the hearings of election petitions. In the cases, INEC’s objectives should not be about defending its actions no matter how wrong during the elections, it should be about defending the truth; it doesn’t matter whether the truth was discovered after the polls. The fourth is the cost of justice in Nigeria. Prosecuting an average case in a Nigerian court needs huge financial resources and time. Many a time, you can’t get justice when you don’t have good lawyers who are hired at exorbitant costs. In election petitions, one may also need the services of forensic experts, data analysts, huge logistic arrangements and other expenses. This often costs a petitioner with a good case but without money his victory in courts. The fifth but also the most

The entire Nigerian justice system comprising the police, judiciary and other bodies are perceived by many to be corrupt. Indeed the tribunals are seen as some of the worst. There were allegations in 2003, 2007 and even 2011 that judges jostle and lobby to be appointed to preside over election tribunals because of the lucrative prospects involved. Power-hungry politicians would stop at nothing to influence and manipulate the tribunals and comprise their officials in order to stay in power.

crucial is corruption. The entire Nigerian justice system comprising the police, judiciary and other bodies are perceived by many to be corrupt. Indeed the tribunals are seen as some of the worst. There were allegations in 2003, 2007 and even 2011 that judges jostle and lobby to be appointed to preside over election tribunals because of the lucrative prospects involved. Power-hungry politicians would stop at nothing to influence and manipulate the tribunals and comprise their officials in order to stay in power. Currently, most of the rulings coming out of the 2015 elections petitions tribunal are not showing a significantly different pattern from the dismal ones of the past, even though there are some signs of little improvement. Many of the judgments are seemingly unjust and hard to comprehend with. The level of success of the Appeal Courts in correcting these anomalies would determine the future confidence level of people in the judicialelectoral process. All eyes would now be on the Appeal Courts who are expected to thoroughly review most of these cases. One of the most popular opinion among Nigerian politicians is that it is better to rig elections and be taken to court than get rigged out and go to court. One of the problems with election rigging is that no matter how hard you try, you cannot completely hide it, although you may get away with it and even get the chance to repeat it. The law says everyone is innocent until proven guilty but in reality some people are guilty until proven innocent. Culled from Omojuwa.com

Expanding access to early child education By Adesewa Olorunpomi

Abdulazeez-

avour lives with her parents in a slum in Lagos State. Her father is a bus conductor and her mother hawks carbonated drinks in traffic. Sending her two older sisters to primary school already puts a financial strain on the poor couple, and with this, they simply cannot afford to enroll Favour in preschool. Like Favour, over 10 million school age children are out of school in Nigeria because their families cannot afford their fees, especially pre-school, which is presently not state-funded. There is an urgent need to expand the access of early childhood education as the importance cannot be over emphasized. Past governments have only always spent a fraction of the United Nation’s recommended national investment on education, and this has had a negative impact on the quality and accessibility to education, especially preschools. Most high quality preschools in the country are privately owned and inaccessible to disadvantaged families because of the cost. Children are made to stay at home at an age (0-5 years),

where research has shown that the human brain is developing – therefore representing a critically important window of opportunity to develop the child’s full potential and shape key academic, social, and cognitive skills that determine a child’s success in life and in school. This early gap in learning affects a child’s capacity and motivation to learn. The child enters primary school without having the prerequisite skills – reading, writing and a proper

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introduction to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Mathematics) – which prepares them for academic work, ignites their curiosity and promotes skills for 21st century: critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. In extreme cases, children with no preschool education tend to lag behind when compared to those who go through preschools. We are talking about lower grades and perhaps a higher likelihood to drop out of school before they complete basic education. This is

more probable for children from disadvantaged families. Education helps people improve their life and earn a better living. It means higher income, lower poverty rate and less inequality in our society. Education helps to break the poverty cycle. This is why it is very essential to make early education accessible to children like Favour from disadvantaged families. The earlier the children start school, the more likely they will stick to schooling and go further

Education helps people improve their life and earn a better living. It means higher income, lower poverty rate and less inequality in our society. Education helps to break the poverty cycle. This is why it is very essential to make early education accessible to children like Favour from disadvantaged families.

than basic education, and the more education they get, the better their prospects in future and the more likely they can make life better for their families and the community they come from. That’s why at the Orderly Society Trust; we are working with our partners through the Preschool4All initiative to expand accessibility to early childhood education. We work with disadvantaged children from slum communities across the country to increase access to nonfee paying, high quality childhood education. The schools make use of our specialised preschool curriculum, which focuses on literacy, numeracy, life science, coding, ethics and practical living. Our goal is to ensure every Nigerian child, irrespective of his or her economic status, is actively engaged with age appropriate technology tools and educational resources in meaningful ways that ignite curiosity and foster skills for 21st century readiness – critical thinking, communication, collaboration and creativity. Adesewa posted this piece on Ekekeee.com

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Govt must empower domestic operators to compete favourably with foreign carriers - Mshelia Abraham says: Great talk, Mr Mshelia. We only hope those who should listen, listen. We have brains everywhere developing other economies as our looted money has also done same. God bless you

Mbaka’s sacriligious manipulation of pulpit Okeke says: I thought Ebije would have just poured out his anger on Father Mbaka over his comments instead of taking on the entire Igbo by claiming that Igbos are not comfortable with visitors. Yet he failed to tell us how he or someone else wanted to build houses anywhere in Igboland and they were stopped from doing so by Igbos. He could not resist showing his hatred for Igbos. He had deliberately ignored the fact that guilt can make someone keep a distance from someone he has hurt so badly. So I advise him to, next time, vent and pour his anger and venom on someone who has made comments on the issues which he hates to hear instead of taking on innocent people that are not involved in such comments. Please show more respect to the Igbo.

Kalu J. Okafor says: What most people forgot to consider was the fact that this “man of God” turned the heat against Jonathan once he realised he was doomed to lose election. Ebije was unable to tell us how Father Mbaka knew Jonathan, a sitting president would lose the election. it might be that ebije told him. It is therefore pertinent to ask Father Mbaka why people from other parts of the country do not invest monumentally in the South-Eastern part of Nigeria. Why is it so hard to find a Northerner investing in a project as inconsequential as a “hut”. The question is not farfetched. Not many Igbos feel relaxed or welcoming once a Northern name is mentioned. Aside paucity of land, which has forced many Igbos to build generational skyscrapers with each floor belonging to different landlords, some are yet to accept the Gowon’s three Rs. It is indeed common knowledge that travellers across Igbo states cannot urinate without paying for it or face bouts of harassment.

Shareholders engage Okocha, wife in legal battle over misappropriation Deji Olu says: Ibo with money, they can do anything.

Senate confirms Amaechi, 17 others Forward to F says: What a wonderful God we all

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Online Comments

Amaechi

Okocha

serve, he does his things in his own way despite all manipulations by man. As Nigerians, lets forget the past and look forward to the future despite all the odds. God has blessed us with a man full of compassion and good thought for the state and nation at large……..Lets walk together with him (Rt.Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi) as he gives us the best of his services as we look up to see a better Nigeria from and through him by God’s divine grace only. God bless Nigeria forever. Amen.

warts are bribing petition tribunals to nullify elections not won by the party. Rather than focusing on the economy and improving the standard of living in the country, the party is busy witch-hunting opposition parties members. God sees and those involved will be humiliated at the appointed time!

Amb. Iwedi Godsave James says: Thanks to the lord ……for you have finally given amaechi victory and room to continue his good deeds in rivers state and the nation at large. Keep the fire burning your excellency sir. I am one of your students at Ambassador Nne Furu Kurubo Model Secondary School, Ebubu Eleme.

Niger Gov sacks CPS after assembly resolution Mohammed Lawal says: That serves him right.

AJnr

Rivers tribunal sacks 10 House of Assembly members Rev. Mbaka

Anonymous says APC are jokers! The party’s stal-

Miyatti Allah leadership weak – Fulani group Fo16 says: Hi everyone, it’s my first visit at this website, and post is genuinely fruitful designed for me, keep up posting such content.

NESO to partner FG in fight against insurgency Oshinuga Odunayo Micheal says: I pray to God in havean as a day is rise, neso will rise all over the world and Almighty God will touch the heart of our president. Hally Godfrey Emeka says: Now Nigeria citizens can now sleep with the eyes closed. Thank you NESO. Mrs Agnes Makir Philip says: Congrats, CG. may the Almighty grant you more wisdom to lead NESO to their throne. Amen. Long live NESO. Long live Nigeria.

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PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Biographies

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Chadli Bendjedid 1929 – 2012)

hadli Bendjedid was the third President of Algeria; his presidential term of office ran from 9 February 1979 to 11 January 1992. Early life and career Bendjedid was born in Bouteldja on 14 April 1929. He served in the French Army as a non-commissioned officer and fought in Indochina. He defected to the National Liberation Front (FLN) at the beginning of the Algerian War of Independence in 1954. A protégé of Houari Boumediene, Bendjedid was rewarded with the command of the Constantine Military Region Oran, Algeria in 1964. After independence he rose through the ranks, becoming head of the 2nd Military Region in 1964 and Colonel in 1969. He commanded the 2nd Military Region from 1964 to 1978, and there supervised the evacuation of French military forces stationed at Mers el-Kebir in conformity with the Évian Accords, and the monitoring of the frontier between Algeria and Morocco which was the site of significant tension. Ascent to presidency Bendjedid was minister of defense from November 1978 to February 1979 and became president following the death of Boumédiènne. Bendjedid was a compromise candidate who came to power after the party leadership and presidency was contested at the fourth FLN congress held on 27 - 31 January 1979. The most likely to succeed Boumediene were Mohammad Salah Yahiaoui and Abdelaziz

Bendjedid Bouteflika. The latter had served as a foreign secretary at the United Nations for sixteen years. He was a prominent member of the Oujda clan and regarded as a pro-Western liberal. Yahiaoui was closely affiliated with the communists, permitting the Parti de l’AvantGarde Socialiste (PAGS) to acquire jurisdiction over the mass trade union and youth organizations. In office, Bendjedid reduced the state’s role in the economy and eased government surveillance of citizens. In the late 1980s, with the economy failing due to rapidly falling oil

prices, tension rose between elements of the regime who supported Bendjedid’s economic liberalization policies, and those who wanted a return to the statist model. In October 1988, youth marches protesting the regime’s austerity policies and shouting slogans against Benjedid, evolved into massive rioting now known as the1988 October Riots which spread to Oran, Annaba and other cities; the military’s brutal suppression of the rioters left several hundred dead. Perhaps as a political survival strategy, Bendjedid then called

for and began to implement a transition towards multi-party democracy. However, in 1991 the military intervened to stop elections from bringing the Islamist Front Islamique du Salut (FIS) to power, forcing Bendjedid out of office and sparking a long and bloody Algerian Civil War. Post-presidency life Bendjedid was put under house arrest in Oran but freed in 1999 after the rise to the presidency of Abdelaziz Bouteflika. In a 2002 interview, he revealed his willingness to accept the results of the 1991 poll and work with the FIS while avoiding their takeover of all government institutions. He believed the constitution gave him the power to do so, but he failed to win over the support of the military establishment. He returned to the public eye in late 2008 when he gave a controversial speech at a conference in Al-Tarif, his hometown. The publication of his memoirs was announced on 1 November 2012, coinciding with the 58th anniversary of the outbreak of the War of National Liberation. Illness and death Bendjedid was hospitalized in Paris in January 2012 for cancer treatment and returned to hospital again in May and October 2012. On 3 October 2012, Bendjedid was admitted to the intensive care unit of a military hospital in AinNaadja in Algiers. State-run media announced that he died of cancer on 6 October 2012. He was buried at the El Alia Cemetery.

The remains of former President Chadli Bendjedid, draped in the national flag and carried by officers of the People’s National Army, arrived 7 October 2012 afternoon at the People’s Palace, Algiers where a last tribute will be paid to him. Chadli Bendjedid passed way Saturday in Algiers after a long illness.

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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Archives Ancient Salvadoran village perfectly preserved by volcano eruption 1,400 years ago as its inhabitants fled for their lives

cientists have taken a fresh look at a Maya village in El Salvador, which was frozen in time by a blanket of volcanic ash 1,400 years ago. Their study has found that around 200 people who called Ceren their home lived with little influence from elites over their daily lives. They had full control over their architecture, crops, religion and economics, according to ongoing research by the University of Colorado Boulder. The village of Ceren was covered in 17ft ash, at 7pm on an August evening, as the Loma Caldera volcano erupted less than a third of a mile away. Discovered in 1978 by University of Colorado Boulder anthropology Professor Payson Sheets, Ceren has been described as the ‘New World Pompeii’. The ash has preserved the village so well that researchers can see the marks of finger swipes in ceramic bowls and human footprints in gardens. But exactly how the villagers lived has long been a subject of speculation. Some Mayan archaeological records document ‘top-down’ societies where the elite living among palaces, pyramids, temples and tombs.. The documents suggest they made most political and economic decisions in a particular region, at times exacting tribute or labour from villages. But at Ceren, the villagers appear to have had free reign regarding their architecture, crop selections, religious activities and economics. ‘This is the first clear window anyone has had on the daily activities and the quality of life of Maya commoners back then,’ said Sheets, who is directing the exca-

vation. ‘At Ceren we found virtually no influence and certainly no control by the elites.’ A paper on the subject appears in the current issue of Latin American Antiquity published by the Society for American Archaeology. The 10-acre Ceren research area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993. Ceren is believed to have been home to about 200 people. So far twelve buildings have been excavated, including living quarters, storehouses, workshops, kitchens, religious buildings and a community sauna. There are dozens of unexcavated structures, and perhaps even another settlement or two under the Loma Caldera volcanic ash, which covers an area of roughly two square miles, he said. So far, no bodies have been found, which suggests earthquake may have given residents an early warning before the eruption. The only relationship Ceren commoners had with Maya elite was indirect, through public marketplace transactions in the Zapotitan Valley. There, Ceren farmers likely swapped surplus crops or crafts for coveted specialty items like jade axes, obsidian knives and colorful polychrome pots, all of which elites arranged to have brought to market from a distance. Virtually every Ceren household had a jade axe - which is harder than steel - using it for tree cutting, structure building and general woodworking. About a quarter of the hundreds of pots found in the village were polychrome, said Sheets. ‘The Ceren people could have chosen to do business at about a dozen different marketplaces in the region,’ said Sheets. ‘If they thought the elites were charging too much at one market-

Scientists at the University of Colorado Boulder have taken a fresh look at a Ceren Maya village in El Salvador, which was frozen in time by a blanket of volcanic ash 1,400 years ago place, they were free to vote with their feet and go to another.’ One of the excavated community buildings has two large benches in the front room, which Sheets believes were used by village elders when making decisions. One decision would have regarded organising the annual crop harvest festival, a celebratory eating and drinking ritual that appears to have been underway at Ceren when the Loma Caldera volcano abruptly blew just north of the village, said Sheets. He believes the villagers would have fled south, perhaps along a white road leading away from the village discovered during the 2011

Professor Payson Sheets, former doctoral student Christine Dixon and two Salvadoran workers excavating maize by filling ash hollows left by the plant stalks with dental plaster

field season under about 15 feet of ash. There also is evidence that residents of particular households at Ceren were responsible for the upkeep of certain community structures, said Sheets. One household, for example, contained an inordinate amount of pots and firewood that the researchers speculated were used during activities in the domed community sauna building. That sweat bath, which could comfortably seat about a dozen people, had a central firebox where water was poured to create the desired steam and heat, Sheets said. In 2009 Sheets and his team

discovered intensively cultivated manioc fields at Ceren that yielded at least 10 tons of manioc shortly before the eruption 1,400 years ago. It was the first and only evidence of intense manioc cultivation at any New World archaeology site. Sheets and others believe such large manioc crops could have played a vital role in feeding indigenous societies living throughout tropical Latin America. Powder from dried manioc is used today in the region to make tortillas and tamales, and fermented manioc is used to make alcoholic beverages. Mailonline

A structure at Ceren used by a female shaman. Ceren is believed to have been home to about 200 people. Twelve buildings have been excavated, including living quarters, storehouses, workshops, kitchens, religious buildings and a community sauna

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

aced with injustice, we’ll try to alleviate it – but, if we can’t, we’ll do the next best thing, psychologically speaking: blame the victims of the injustice woman in alley How much sympathy you have for this woman probably depends on whether you feel the universe is a just place. If you’ve been following the news recently, you know that human beings are terrible and everything is appalling. Yet the sheer range of ways we find to sabotage our efforts to make the world a better place continues to astonish. Did you know, for example, that last week’s commemorations of the liberation of Auschwitz may have marginally increased the prevalence of antisemitism in the modern world, despite being partly intended as a warning against its consequences? Or that reading about the eye-popping state of economic inequality could make you less likely to support politicians who want to do something about it? These are among numerous unsettling implications of the “just-world hypothesis”, a psychological bias explored in a new essay by Nicholas Hune-Brown at Hazlitt. The world, obviously, is a manifestly unjust place: people are always meeting fates they didn’t deserve, or not receiving rewards they did deserve for hard work or virtuous behaviour. Yet several decades of research have established that our need to believe otherwise runs deep. Faced with evidence of injustice, we’ll certainly try to alleviate it if we can – but, if we feel powerless to make things right, we’ll do the next best thing, psychologically speaking: we’ll convince ourselves that the world isn’t so unjust after all. Hence the finding, in a 2009 study, that Holocaust memorials can increase antisemitism. Confronted with an atrocity they otherwise can’t explain, people become slightly more likely, on average, to believe that the victims must have brought it on themselves. The classic experiment demonstrating the just-world effect took place in 1966, when Melvyn Lerner and Carolyn Simmons showed people what they claimed were live images of a woman receiving agonizing electric shocks for her poor performance in a memory test. Given the option to alleviate her suffering by ending the shocks, almost everybody did so: humans may be terrible, but most of us don’t go around being consciously and deliberately awful. When denied any option to halt her punishment, however – when forced to just sit and watch her apparently suffer – the participants adjusted their opinions of the woman downwards, as if to convince themselves her agony wasn’t so indefensible because she wasn’t really such an innocent victim. “The sight of an innocent person suffering without possibility of reward or compensation”, Lerner and Simmons concluded, “motivated people to devalue the attractiveness of the victim in order to bring about a more appropriate fit between her fate and her character.” It’s easy to see how a similar psychological process might lead, say, to the belief that victims of sexual assault were “asking for it”: if you can convince yourself of that, you can avoid acknowledging the horror of

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Digest

Believing that life is fair might make you a terrible person

How much sympathy you have for this woman probably depends on whether you feel the universe is a just place. the situation. Advertisement What’s truly unsettling about the just-world bias is that while it can have truly unpleasant effects, these follow from what seems like the entirely understandable urge to believe that things happen for a reason. After all, if we didn’t all believe that to some degree, life would be an intolerably chaotic and terrifying nightmare in, which effort and payback were utterly unrelated, and there was no point planning for the future, saving money for retirement or doing anything else in hope of eventual reward. We’d go mad. Surely wanting the world to make a bit

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more sense than that is eminently forgivable? Yet, ironically, this desire to believe that things happen for a reason leads to the kinds of positions that help entrench injustice instead of reducing it. Hune-Brown cites another recent bit of evidence for the phenomenon: people with a strong belief in a just world, he reports, are more likely to oppose affirmative action schemes intended to help women or minorities. You needn’t be explicitly racist or sexist to hold such views, nor committed to a highly individualistic political position (such as libertarianism); the researchers con-

trolled for those. You need only cling to a conviction that the world is basically fair. That might be a pretty naive position, of course – but it’s hard to argue that it’s a hateful one. Similar associations have been found between belief in a just world and a preference for authoritarian political leaders. To shield ourselves psychologically from the terrifying thought that the world is full of innocent people suffering, we endorse politicians and policies more likely to make that suffering worse. All of which is another reminder of a truth that’s too often forgotten in our era of extreme political polarization and 24/7

After all, if we didn’t all believe that to some degree, life would be an intolerably chaotic and terrifying nightmare in, which effort and payback were utterly unrelated, and there was no point planning for the future, saving money for retirement or doing anything else in hope of eventual reward. We’d go mad. Surely wanting the world to make a bit more sense than that is eminently forgivable?

internet outrage: wrong opinions – even deeply obnoxious opinions – needn’t necessarily stem from obnoxious motivations. “Victimblaming” provides the clearest example: barely a day goes by without some commentator being accused (often rightly) of implying that somebody’s suffering was their own fault. That’s a viewpoint that should be condemned, of course: it’s unquestionably unpleasant to suggest that the victims of, say, the Charlie Hebdo killings, brought their fates upon themselves. But the just-world hypothesis shows how such opinions need not be the consequence of a deep character fault on the part of the blamer, or some tiny kernel of evil in their soul. It might simply result from a strong need to feel that the world remains orderly, and that things still make some kind of sense. Facing the truth – that the world visits violence and poverty and discrimination upon people capriciously, with little regard for what they’ve done to deserve it – is much scarier. Because, if there’s no good explanation for why any specific person is suffering, it’s far harder to escape the frightening conclusion that it could easily be you next. The Guardian.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

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International

China’s ‘leftover’ women II Cont’d. from last Weekend Changing attitudes

oday, Roseann Lake spends most of her time in the US. Formerly based in Beijing, the journalist spent three years travelling across China, meeting and interviewing more than 100 women for her upcoming non-fiction book about the ‘leftover’ phenomenon. She subsequently produced and directed the ‘Leftover Monologues’, a unique spin-off from the American Broadway hit ‘Vagina Monologues’. The show involves more than a dozen Chinese and foreign women and men, each individually taking to the stage to share stories, in what Lake describes as an “insight into the complexities of love, sex, marriage and relationships in China - with an emphasis on the unrealistic societal pressures and expectations that accompany all of the above”. Debuting in Beijing in July 2014, a second rendition was performed in May this year, in both the capital and Shanghai. “I think attitudes in China are changing, albeit slowly,” says Lake. “More and more parents are understanding and accepting that their daughters want a different kind of life.” Before her time If Chinese attitudes about women have only recently started to shift, then Lily Lu was ahead of her time. The 51-year-old welcomes me into her apartment like an old friend, hurriedly preparing tea and a range of biscuits and fruits for us to snack on. “All of these I brought back from America, food in China just isn’t safe any more and you have to be careful,” she says. A retired retail buyer, Lu’s apartment is full of souvenirs and trinkets picked up during her extensive travels. “It’s my hobby and keeps me very busy,” she says, proudly giving a brief tour of her collection. “Even though I’ve never been married, I have a full life.” Born in 1964, Lu was raised just outside Beijing in a rural commune close to the Japanese company where her father, a retired military officer, worked. Most families in the area relied on farming, but Lu and her two siblings were comparatively better off. “In the 1970s, most families could survive on less than 20 yuan a month because food was cheap and housing was allocated. But my family had more than 80 yuan a month, so we lived very well,” she recalls. As a little girl, Lu says she loved to listen to radio programmes about love stories and romance novels. “I’ve searched for love my whole life. I dreamed of being Cinderella and finding my Prince Charming. Many boys chased me at school, but I was proud and had high standards.” After school, Lu started working at her father’s company, fixing watches while completing her diploma in finance part time at China’s ‘television university’. She says it was common to study this

In a Beijing park, the parents of unmarried women and men gather in the hope of finding a spouse for their offspring [Katrina Yu/Al Jazeera] way, watching relevant lectures broadcast two or three times a week on a designated educational channel and attending a local school for tutorials. Though Lu says she enjoyed working with her hands, she craved more social interaction and at 23 moved to Beijing to take up a position as a salesperson at a large suit company. “I’d ride my bike around the city, showing my friends and people I knew. The clothes were cheap but good quality, so even though the fashion was a bit dated people still bought them.” By 25, Lu says she was one of the top salespeople in her company, but still single. “Most of my friends had settled down by 24 and I was already considered quite ‘leftover’. People were always trying to set me up with men, but I didn’t like any of them. People generally didn’t marry someone they fell in love with, but someone who was ‘close enough’. I refused to do this,” says Lu. When the suit company she worked for merged with a large Japanese retail company, Lu was promoted to buyer. It was during this time that she met her first boyfriend, a tailor who lived nearby. “Being with him was my first sexual experience. I was clueless about sex, which was taboo and I think it frightened me.” The relationship was cut short when Lu discovered her boyfriend with another woman, but she has no regrets. “Chinese people say once you lose your virginity it’s hard to find true love but I never believed it.” Although the following years proved uneventful for Lu’s love life, her career sky-rocketed. When a new major department store was opened in Beijing in 1994 she visited only to be shocked by a myriad of problems with the merchandise, stock and display. “I returned a few times and wrote a report of what could be improved, telling a staff member to give it to the manager. I had no idea who he was

but thought he should know anyway. After that they offered me a job,” she laughs. Employed as the nationwide buyer for female apparel, Lu was the only woman among a group of 10 men who shared the same rank within the company. She stayed there for 10 years, visiting different parts of China for work, and eventually using every holiday opportunity she had to travel the world. She acquired a portfolio of properties, as well as a varied collection of antiques, but still felt something was missing. “I was almost 50 and everyone around me was talking about having grandchildren, while I still didn’t even have a son.” In 2011, Lu retired and decided to spend more time overseas. “I gave up on finding a Chinese partner. Chinese men think your value decreases with age.” She moved to the US and, at the recommendation of a friend, started online dating. Last year she met her current boyfriend. Charles is a construction company manager. “I hope young ‘leftovers’ today don’t give up on finding true love,” says Lu. “In China this kind of love is not the most important thing. But I don’t care what they think.” Lu says she has no regrets. “I don’t think having a family and a career are mutually exclusive. I didn’t plan to be so involved in my job, I just loved what I did and I did it better than many men.” Marriage marketing Back in the restaurant, Zhang Lin speaks about her career in academia. She looks serious as she asks that the name of the university she works for not be mentioned in the article. “I love my job and am protective of my position. But the worst part about being unmarried at my age is how my colleagues view me,” she sighs. While Lu says she never felt discriminated against because of her unmarried status, Zhang

tells a different story. “My female supervisors talk about me and treat me like a weirdo because I’m unmarried. They make me feel like I mustn’t be able to do my job properly because I don’t have a husband. It’s the worst feeling and it’s always there.” But the researcher and lecturer is at peace in the knowledge that she’s made every effort to please those around her. The summer she spent with her mother at Beijing’s marriage market wasn’t all she did. “My mother was productive; she was actually able to find someone who was ready to marry me. He was also at the market, standing on the other side of the park with his aunt,” she says. Although Zhang felt nothing for him, she started seeing him to appease her mother. “One day he told me he wanted to buy an apartment. He brought me there and said: ‘Isn’t this apartment nice? Do you have money to buy an apartment? Apartments in Beijing are expensive and if we don’t have enough money we should ask our families to support us.’ I refused and told him I didn’t have the right to ask my parents for such a thing, and anyway I didn’t have money. So I told him to go ahead and buy an apartment for himself. He was very disappointed and I guess finally realised that I had no intention of marrying him,” Zhang recalls. “My mother was furious and wanted to kill me. She felt I had done the worst thing imaginable to her. She said: ‘Fine, if the guy I found for you wasn’t good enough then you find someone yourself, and as soon as possible.’” Zhang says she learned a lot from the experience. “Before all that I believed that it was my fault that I couldn’t find someone. My parents and others would tell me, ‘you know as a girl, you shouldn’t be spending your money on this and that, travellling here and there’. If

Chinese guys know you travel a lot and spend a lot of time abroad they will assume that you don’t know how to take care of a family, they won’t be happy with you. But that wasn’t me at all. I’d rather be single.” Finding independence Zhang Lin, Li Yuan and Lily Lu all agree that building independence, financial and otherwise, is the key to decreasing any stigma associated with being single. “The sad thing is most Chinese girls will never be truly independent,” says Zhang. “It’s worse in Beijing because of the cost of living and housing. If a girl doesn’t have a house she can’t feel secure. So young people tend to be more desperate here, because they believe if they at least find someone they can solve this problem together.” In a city where properties sell at an average of 33,000 yuan (around $5,170) per square metre, and the average monthly salary is less than 7,000 yuan (around $1,098), the financial stress in understandable. “Money helps,” adds Zhang. “But you have to build your own psychological independence.” And while traditional ideas about marriage in China aren’t being abandoned altogether, they are evolving. “More and more women are slowly changing their minds, especially in big cities where things are slowly opening up,” says Zhang. This year she joined the cast of Roseann Lake’s ‘Leftover Monologues’, telling packed audiences of young women and men about the humiliation she endured trying not to be ‘leftover’. “Before I was made to feel shame, and now I’m proud, comfortable. The mind-set, in bigger cities especially, is changing,” says Zhang. “China’s becoming more open and people are starting to talk about it and even laugh about it. Slowly, we’re getting over being ‘leftover’.” Source: Al Jazeera

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Business Assessing the gains of 3rd O Summit of India-Africa Forum By Sani Adamu

ver 40 African leaders, including Nigeria’s President Muhammadu Buhari, as well as professionals, entrepreneurs and industrialists from Africa and India recently converged on New Delhi for the Third Summit of IndiaAfrica Forum. The four-day summit, which was held between Oct. 26 and Oct. 30, was convened to deliberate on how best to tackle Africa’s development challenges, including terrorism, poverty and dwindling economic fortunes. Foreign affairs analysts describe the summit as the single largest transnational event hosted by the Indian government since the 1983 Non-Aligned Summit. Available records show that the trade volume between India and Africa is in excess of 70 billion dollars a year. On global diplomacy, India and Africa have also been agitating for permanent seats in the United Nations (UN) Security Council by means of a pragmatic reform of the UN system. Observers say that the summit has proved to be a veritable tool for advancing Indo-African relations. In his welcome speech at the summit, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Indian government would provide 10 billion dollars concessional credit to Africa within the next five years. He said that this was in addition to a 600-million-dollar grant given to Africa, adding that the gesture was distinct from ongoing credit programmes on the continent. Modi said that the grant would include ``an India-Africa Development Fund of 100 million dollars and an India-Africa Health Fund of 10 million dollars”. According to him, the assistance will also include 50,000 scholarships domiciled in India over the next five years to support to strengthen skills enhancement, training and learning efforts of institutions in the 54 African countries. He also announced that India would increase its cooperation with Africa in the area of maritime security so as to counter “terrorism and extremism’’. Besides, Modi said that India would support the African Union (AU) by training African peacekeepers in India and Africa. “We wish to deepen our cooperation in maritime security and hydrography, in countering terrorism and extremism. “We must have a UN Comprehensive Convention on International Terrorism; we must also have a stronger voice in decisions on UN peacekeeping missions,” he said. Referring to India and Africa as ``the two bright spots of hope and opportunities in the global economy”, Modi underscored the need for India and Africa to speak with one voice on UN reforms. Addressing the summit, Buhari stressed that Nigeria and other African countries must work harder to achieve greater political stability and security before they could enjoy the full benefits of international partnership arrangements such as the IndiaAfrica Forum. He, however, said that as part of designed efforts to attract massive investments to the continent, African countries must overcome the challenges of unemployment and inability to create wealth. Buhari also stressed that all African countries must establish policy environments which guaranteed the sanctity of contracts on the basis of the rule of law. Speaking on Nigeria, the president said that since the inception of his administration on May 29 this year, it had been working assiduously to establish these preconditions so as to provoke the country’s socio-economic growth and re-focus its governance on the real needs of the citizens. “As a government, we have demonstrated our strong determination to change the direction and content of governance, including the management of our resources through accountability, transparency and result-orientation in governance. “We are confident that India, as a tested friend and dependable partner of Nigeria, will always stand shoulder-to-shoulder

President Muhammadu Buhari (L), being received by the India prime minister, Narendra Modi, at the Hyderabad house, during his official visit for the 3rd India-Africa forum summit in New Delhi, India.

with us in efforts to discharge the mandate entrusted to us by our people,” he said. Buhari, nonetheless, expressed the hope that the India-Africa Forum would deepen, in practical terms, the South-South Cooperation which the countries of the South had desired for a long time. ``The current international economic and political environment is far from being favourable, particularly for developing countries. Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms. ``Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cybercrimes have all added to the new global threats that demand our collective action. “Furthermore, the world is facing the challenge of climate change, in which Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability. “From the West to the East, the North to the South; virtually every country in our respective regions is faced with unacceptable levels of poverty, unemployment and youth bulge. “India and Africa must develop a new spirit of solidarity, cooperation and partnership to confront these emerging threats. We must recognise that, in this globalised age, we all live interconnected lives in a fragile planet. “We must, therefore, work together to uplift the lives of our people in a manner that preserves the sustainability of our living environment. “These challenges call for a renewed sense of urgency among African countries for economic development. It is an open secret that Africa possesses all the prerequisites to become a major growth region of the world. “There is, therefore, the need for India and Africa to strive together to build a virile framework for partnership and cooperation in order to address common challenges in key areas including health, education, interconnectivity, power and employment generation. “We should also work together for the strengthening of institutions of governance and democracy,’’ he added. Buhari said that even though African countries had a number of partnership arrangements with other countries of the world, the India-Africa Forum was unique ``as it is not only a partnership between friends but also between countries and peoples who have had similar historical experiences of colonial rule”. He, however, appealed to leaders of countries of the world to address problems like stock market crash, political conflicts and terrorism that were threatening global peace. Buhari also cautioned developed nations

against applying double standards in their approach to globalisation which, he said, should allow for the free movement of goods and services without any hindrance. ``As the global economy appeared set to recover from the economic crisis of the recent past, the positive trend is now threatened by the current stock market collapse in some parts of the world and commodity crisis in others. ``Fresh political conflicts have erupted, accentuated by terrorism and extremism in the most awful forms. Trans-border crimes, illegal arms trade, irregular migration and cybercrimes have all added to the new global threats that demand our collective action. “Amidst all these challenges, we now have double standards in defining globalisation. We must collectively insist that globalisation, as defined by the international community, should mean free movement of goods, services and people without any hindrance or exception. “Furthermore, the world is facing the challenge of climate change in which Africa remains badly affected with severe threats to food security and social stability.” Besides, Buhari proposed the reformation of global institutions of governance, saying: “The global institutions of governance are outmoded and under extreme stress, calling for new approaches that reflect changing realities and shift of economic and political power.” Addressing the Nigerian community in India before the commencement of the summit, Buhari reaffirmed the commitment of his administration to fighting corruption and recovering funds stolen from Nigeria. He pledged to plug all the loopholes in public sector accounting and deploy the available resources for the good of all Nigerians. He said that the anti-corruption crusade would be on for many years, adding that his administration had a good knowledge of the effects of the diversion of public funds into private pockets. “In the meantime, we will continue to prosecute those who have been indicted for corrupt practices and ensure that stolen funds are recovered, to serve as deterrent to others who nurse the ambition of seeking public office solely for illegal personal gains,” he said. Buhari promised to address infrastructure challenges facing Nigeria and end insurgency in the north-eastern part of the country by the end of the year, adding that he was fully aware of the expectations of Nigerians who elected him into power. ``We are seeking to create jobs through agriculture, mining, industrial value-addition and promotion of small scale enterprises. ``We are also taking steps to address

criminality across the country. ``We are tackling the menace of terrorism posed by Boko Haram head-on and I am pleased to note that although sporadic attacks on soft targets have not stopped, the overall capacity of Boko Haram to hold territory and determine the course of the conflict has been severely degraded,” he said. In an interactive session with the chief Executives Officers (CEOs) of Indian companies with interests in Nigeria, Buhari gave the assurance that in spite of the dwindling oil prices, his administration would remain fully committed to maintaining macro-economic stability and improving investor confidence in Nigeria. He said that since Nigeria had a lot of human and material resources, the national economy would not have to suffer unduly from low oil prices despite its severe impact on government revenues. ``What is required of us, to which we are strongly committed, is the implementation of tight expenditure controls, effective fiscal and monetary policies, including the husbandry of scarce resources, which our introduction of the Single Treasury Account has begun to address. ``We are aware some of these measures may hurt operations of some businesses in the short term but we believe they are right for a sustainable economy,” he said. Acknowledging that India had always been a dependable ally of Nigeria, Buhari urged the Indian business executives to expand their firms’ investments in Nigeria ``so that we can, together, turn our engagements into a win-win situation for our two countries. “We can increase the current volume of our bilateral trade beyond 16.36 billion dollars and diversify into other critical sectors such as agriculture, green technologies in power generation; infrastructure; information and communications technologies. “We can also diversify into the services sector, education and industry, especially textiles and solid minerals, among others,’’ he added. The president urged the Indian business executives to accept policy changes being introduced by his administration and observe all extant Nigerian laws while running their business in the country. Buhari, nonetheless, warned that his administration would not tolerate the importation of sub-standard goods, especially foods and medicines, into Nigeria. All in all, foreign affairs experts believe that the India-Africa Forum will continue to be a veritable means of attracting foreign direct investments into Nigeria to boost the nation’s economy, reduce poverty and create more employment opportunities for the citizens. (NANFeatures)

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Business

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Interbank rate flat on ample liquidity A

Nigeria not losing revenue under auto policy, says official

By Mohammed Usman with agency report

nterbank lending rate was flat on Friday at 0.5 percent after additional cash inflows from public sector wages hit the banking system and raised level of liquidity, traders said. The secured open buy-back (OBB) - the rate at which lenders can borrow from the interbank market using treasury bills as collateral - held steady at 0.5 percent same level last week, far below the Central Bank of Nigeria’s (CBN)13 percent benchmark interest rate. Reuters added that traders said remittance for public sector’s wages of about 150 billion naira was injected into the system on Friday, while refund

on cash reserves requirements (CRR) and foreign exchange intervention were also credited to the accounts of some banks, further boosting liquidity. Banks’ credit balance with the CBN opened at 514 billion naira on Friday, from a surplus of about 385 billion naira last week, but traders said with the fresh inflow on Friday, the banking system liquidity should exceed 800 billion naira. “Since the central bank has not been mopping up excess liquidity in the market for over three months now, cost of borrowing among banks will continue to trade at the present level,” one dealer said. Traders said some commercial lenders transacted overnight placement at 1 percent on Friday,

same level last week. “We expect the system to remain liquid next week and intearbank rate trading at the prevailing level,” another trader said. Meanwhile, according News Agency of Nigeria(NAN), the market indices of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) on Friday appreciated by 0.50 per cent, reversing the four days downward trend. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the market capitalisation rose by N50 billion or 0.50 per cent to close at N10.029 trillion against N9.979 trillion recorded on Thursday. Similarly, the All-Share Index which opened at 29,030.97 appreciated by 144.38 points or 0.50 per cent to close at 29,175.35

due to price gains by some blue chip equities. Beta Glass topped the gainers’ chart with a gain of N2.31 to close at N48.51 per share. UACN garnered N1.32 to close at N27.73, while Nigerian Breweries increased by 96k to close at N36.02 per share. Cadbury gained 95k to close at N20.10 and Stanbic IBTC rose by 61k to close at N20.87 per share. Malam Garba Kurfi, the Managing Director, APT Securities and Funds Ltd., attributed the development to low price of equities at the nation’s bourse. Kurfi said that smart investors were taking the advantage to increase their stake in the market in order to make quick profit.

L-R: President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Alhaji Remi Bello; Oba of Lagos, Oba Rilwan Akinolu; Deputy President, Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry(LCCI), Chief (Dr.) Nike Akande CON; National Vice President of Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines & Agriculture (NACCIMA),Jani Ibrahim, and Chairman, Trade Promotion Board, LCCI, Chief(Dr.) Michael Olawale-Cole, at the official opening ceremony of the 2015 Lagos International Trade Fair, yesterday in Lagos

NDIC says judiciary critical to achieving its mandate of ensuring financial stability

he Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) says the judiciary was a critical institution toward achieving its core mandate of depositor protection and its contribution to financial system stability. The Managing Director and Chief Executive of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, made the assertion on Friday in a statement by the corporation’s Head of Communications and Public Affairs Department. The statement quoted Ibrahim, as saying through the corporation’s Executive Director, Operations, Mr Aghatise Erediauwa, that in spite of NDIC’s extant laws, it needed legal support from the judiciary to achieve its mandate.

It also said that the corporation would continue to seek the cooperation and understanding of the judiciary. The statement added that cooperation and understanding was important because the judiciary was constitutionally vested with the powers of interpretation of statutes and laws in the federation. It said that it was intended to address the challenges being faced by the corporation in its bid to successfully discharge its mandate. The statement enumerated some of the major challenges as the menace of protracted and complex bank liquidation related litigations and their attendant consequences. It identified others as the execution of court judgments against the assets of the corporation

as the liquidator of failed banks and lack of proper understanding of its proper legal status. It said that its role as a deposit insurer was distinct from its status as a bank liquidator. The statement urged stakeholders to critically examine those challenges with a view to proffer a lasting solution to empower the corporation to effectively discharge its mandate. Meanwhile, Keystone Bank says it is committed to supporting female entrepreneurs through its Pink Network, a training program aimed at growing businesses by women. The bank said in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos that the training, termed ‘PinkPreneur’, was it’s the first edition of sessions

that would be held regularly. According to the statement, the training is on ways to use social media to promote businesses and on business education. The bank said that the training was also on the importance of creating a sustainable business structure and educating participants on the benefits of the flagship Pink account. Mrs Temitayo Olutoye, the bank’s Divisional Head, Product and Marketing Support, was quoted as reiterating the bank’s pledge to support female entrepreneurs. Olutoye said that the bank’s commitment was the strategic reason for creating the Pink Network and the training sessions. (NAN)

n official of the National Automotive Design and Development Council (NADDC), Mr Luqman Mamudu, says the country is not losing revenue under the automotive policy contrary to speculations in some quarters. He told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Friday, that the speculations were the handiwork of those still opposed to the policy for their selfish interests. Mamudu, who is the council’s Director of Policy and Planning, said that the policy would boost government revenue, especially with the recent hike in vehicle import tariff. ``Before the NAIDP, the duty on vehicles below 3000 cc was 20 per cent and most vehicles imported into the country fall under this category. ``In the past, only cars above 2000 cc attracted 35 per cent. But with the policy, the duty on all cars is now 35 per cent. ``Commercial vehicles attracted 10 per cent before the policy, but now, all fully built commercial vehicles attract 35 per cent. ``The so called concessionary import granted assemblers is 20 per cent for commercial vehicles and 35 per cent for cars. So, where is the loss of revenue?’’ The director argued that even the duty on semi-knocked-down (SKD) kits imported by assemblers for commercial vehicles were in some cases as high as 10 per cent. According to him, only completely-knocked-down (CKD) kits with very high employment potential along with equipment imported to build vehicles attract zero per cent. Mamudu said that the concessions granted to assemblers under the policy were carefully selected to make the industry fairly attractive to local and foreign investors. ``This is a point that the NADDC has tried to explain to other stakeholders, including the Nigeria Customs Service, especially some individuals in its past management. ``The concessions granted to assemblers were carefully selected to ensure that local and foreign investors find it fairly convenient to invest in a very capital intensive industry. ``This is without loss of revenue to government or excessive increase in prices of products coming out of the assembly plants.’’ He explained further that vehicle assembly at SKD level was a global provision to allow easy entry into the industry by investors. As investors’ confidence grow in the market, according to him, they then graduate to the labour intensive operations at CKD level. ``Basic as SKD operations seem, they represent almost 18 per cent value added for cars and about 60 per cent for commercial vehicles, especially when you have to build bodies locally,’’ he added. (NAN)

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Oddities

Man mistakenly orders $3,750 wine instead of $37.50 A

n occasional wine-drinker, Joe Lentini, asked a waitress to recommend a decent wine for him and his guests at a meeting. She recommended one and said it cost “thirty seven fifty”. Thinking she meant $37.50, he ordered the wine and was given a huge bill of $4,700.61, including tax. It was a bottle of the vintage wine, Screaming Eagle, Oakville 2011. According to Lentin, ‘‘I asked the waitress if she could recommend something decent because I don’t have experience with wine. She pointed to a bottle on the menu. I didn’t have my glasses. I asked how much and she said “Thirty-seven fifty,” Joe said. When the dinner was over and the waitress brought the bill, Joe, who hadn’t paid much attention to the wine, sat up... “We were shocked. We couldn’t believe it. The total bill was $4,700.61, including tax. The bottle of wine cost $3,750. I thought the wine was $37.50,” Lentini said. Lentini said he called the waitress over and said there was a problem, explaining that he never would have ordered such an expensive wine and repeated that when he asked about the price, the waitress said “thirty-seven fifty,” not “three-thousand, sevenhundred-and-fifty.” The waitress disagreed, and a manager was called over. He

offered to give separate bills, so the dinner bill, which wasn’t being disputed, could be paid. Lentini said he was told that the best price the restaurant could offer was $2,200. He couldn’t afford that, but to be able to leave, he and two other diners agreed to split the bill. US scientists discover ‘stupidity virus’ Researchers from Johns Hopkins School of Medicine and the University of Nebraska were studying throat microbes when they found traces of algal virus ATCV-1 in swabs drawn from the throats of otherwise healthy volunteers. The virus is believed to attack DNA and can significantly impair a person’s intelligence and memory. Their studies revealed that the virus, which only infects a particular species of green algae, was linked to a lower attention span, decreased spatial awareness and reduced visual processing capabilities in those who were infected by it. The scientists couldn’t explain exactly how the virus had managed to infect so many of the volunteers but concluded that there was no evidence that it was particularly contagious. “My best guess is that these viruses may infect another microorganism besides the algae that we have been studying. This other micro-organism may be the way

that the virus gets into the throat,” Professor James Van Etten said. Blind woman cured after hitting her head on a table A woman who lost her sight as a child found that she could see again after banging her head on a table. 38-year-old Lisa Reid from Auckland in New Zealand hadn’t been able to see anything at all from the age of 11 due to a tumour in her head pressing down on

her optic nerve, but after a freak accident at the age of 24 she suddenly regained her sight. Reid had been kneeling down to kiss her guide dog one evening when she hit her head on a coffee table. Thinking little of it she went to bed only to find out when she awoke the next day that her sight had been inexplicably restored. “Nobody knows what happened or can explain it. I can’t really find words to describe how

Goldfish undergoes surgery to remove tumor

10-year-old goldfish made headlines when the owners decided to pay for a costly $200-$300 surgery to save it when it developed a large tumor. George, the goldfish, underwent a surgery to remove a tumor protruding from its head. Dr. Tristan Rich, head of the exotic and wildlife veterinary team at Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Melbourne, Australia, conducted the procedure by first having the fish swim around in anesthetic

Doctor Rich examining the Goldfish

laced water. According to the hospital, the procedure went well, George survived and is doing very well, even with the large scar on its head. Interestingly, the doctor inserted a tube into the fish’s mouth to wash a ”lower dosage of anesthetic water over its gills.” Rich removed the tumor and sealed the wound with four stitches. At the end of the surgery, George was

given painkillers and put into a “recovery unit”: a bucket of regular water where it started swimming around soon afterward. “The surgery went swimmingly and George has now returned home with his loving owner,” the hospital wrote on Facebook. A spokesperson from Lort Smith said the surgery cost about $300 and, despite how unusual it seems, it is not the first of its kind.

it felt, amazing, fantastic. You can imagine not being able to see and then you can, you can’t really describe that. To see the world again visually is a gift.” Reid took the decision to come forward with her story in an effort to help raise awareness for the Blind Foundation Charity which helped her during the years in which she was unable to see. “I am grateful for what they have given me,” she said.

Zoo sells rights to name giraffe for $50,000

Dallas Zoo has sold the naming rights for a recently born giraffe for $50,000 to a bidder who asked to remain nameless, a zoo official said. No name has been selected for the six-foot male calf born on October 26 whose naming rights were sold at an auction at the zoo’s annual fundraiser recently, spokeswoman, Laurie Holloway, said. “There was a lot of interest in choosing a name so the timing was perfect since an auction was already planned,” she said. The money will be used for giraffe conservation efforts in African countries where the animals roam. The baby giraffe is the 12th in the Dallas Zoo’s herd, which is among the largest in the United States, Holloway said.

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Healthy Living

Boost your health with ginger

n addition to its use as food, this plant has many medicinal benefits. Commonly known as ginger, Zingiber officinale was named by an English botanist, William Roscoe in the early 1800s. With green stems that can grow to a metre high, the plant is valued for its rhizomes that can be consumed fresh or dried. Ginger has been used in Asian, Arabic and Indian cultures as a herbal medicine. This plant is used in many recipes and, in some Asian cuisines, it is pickled and served as an accompaniment. The healing property of ginger comes from the volatile oils, such as gingerols that are responsible for its strong taste. The rhizomes from younger ginger plants are generally used for cooking because the older the plant is, the more essential oils are present and the stronger the flavour. Rhizomes from older plants are harvested for medicinal uses. Ginger products can be bought in dried form, powdered, as oil, tinctures or extracts. It aids digestion, ginger

is believed to increase saliva and other digestive fluids, alleviating indigestion and associated problems such as flatulence. It relieves nausea and morning sickness. If you take ginger for morning sickness, use it for no longer than four days. Ginger is recommended for those who suffer motion sickness. It is believed to have antiinflammatory qualities that may relieve swelling, it also eases headaches and sore throats or assist if you have a cold or flu. Fresh ginger is used for asthma, coughs, colic, heart palpitations, swellings, dyspepsia, loss of appetite and rheumatism, while the dried root is used to “strengthen” the stomach, inhibit vomiting and treat diarrhoea. However it may interact with some prescription medications. Side effects may include bloating, gas, heartburn and nausea. Children under two should not have ginger. If you are taking medications, consult a health practitioner, as all herbs interact with other medications. Avoid ginger if you have a bleeding disorder or if you are taking blood thinners, including aspirin.

Discover the dangers, benefits of detoxing A detox is a plan that requires you to follow a particular diet over a certain period of time in order to cleanse the body. It may also include herbal supplements or other methods, such as co-

lonic irrigation, all of which aim to remove environmental and dietary toxins from the body. There are various detox diets from juice-only type regimens to those that simply stipulate consuming unprocessed

foods, particularly organic foods and foods high in fibre and water, while eliminating all sugars, salt, caffeine and alcohol. Toxins are agents that can potentially harm the body. External (exogenous) toxins are things such as pollution from cars, cigarette smoke, factories and foods; endogenous toxins are viral or bacterial infections and autogenous toxins result from normal cell activity in the body that produce compounds such as lactic acid and ammonia. Detox proponents say periodic cleansing is needed to flush toxins from the body that if left to accumulate will lead to health problems such as headaches, sluggishness and chronic diseases. Weight loss through detox diets is usually short-term, as these diets aren’t sustainable. Having completed the diet, most people feel they can go back to eating what they want anyway and return to their pre-diet weight. Other claimed benefits of detoxing such as helping to relieve headaches, are linked to lifestyle changes such

“

as not drinking alcohol or coffee. Reduced bloating, for example, is probably a result of eating less while better skin may be due to drinking more fluids. Are detox diets dangerous? Experts say the biggest danger with detox diets is that they don’t provide enough nutrients. Insufficient carbohydrates can drain you of energy. Other downsides may include blood sugar problems, fatigue, nausea and a decrease in the body’s ability to fight infection. Laxatives are not advised and colonic irrigation is deemed unnecessary and may result in bowel infection or perforation. Our bodies have an amazing detox system already in place and there is no need to spend on expensive treatments and products. A better and more sustainable investment in your health would be to eat more natural foods, cut back on sugar, salt, additives, caffeine and alcohol and follow the 80/20 rule of sticking to a healthy diet majority of the time, but allowing yourself the occasional treat.

Toxins are agents that can potentially harm the body. External (exogenous) toxins are things such as pollution from cars, cigarette smoke, factories and foods; endogenous toxins are viral or bacterial infections and autogenous toxins result from normal cell activity in the body that produce compounds such as lactic acid and ammonia.

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Four steps to your breakthrough (II)

faith in God for with God nothing shall be impossible. (Luke 1:37) Don’t forsake God, your stronghold. “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.” (Prov 18:10 NKJV) • Seek divine guidance. Why do you need divine guidance? Ps 33:16-17 tells us the answer. “No king is saved by the multitude of an army. A mighty man is not delivered by great strength. A horse is a vain hope for safety; neither shall it deliver any by its great strength.” (Ps 33:16-17 NKJV) In the stronghold where David withdrew to, he sought divine guidance on the line of action to take. “So David inquired of the LORD, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’” (2 Sam 5:19 NKJV) Did you see that? David did not go out on presumption. He enquired of the Lord if he should go to fight the Philistines and if God would hand them over to him. God’s answer was in the affirmative, and he had victory. But after this victory, the Philistines returned in verse 22. David again enquired of the Lord, and God’s instruction to him this time round was different. “Therefore David inquired of the LORD, and He said, ‘You shall not go up; circle around behind them, and come upon them in front of the mulberry trees. And it shall be, when you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the mulberry trees, then you shall advance quickly. For then the LORD will go out before you to strike the camp of the Philistines.’ And David did so, as the LORD commanded him; and he drove back the Philistines from Geba as far as Gezer.” (2 Sam 5:23-25 NKJV)

From the Pulpit green pastures By Pastor T. O. Banso

’m glad to welcome you to your favourite column. Last week, I started talking about one of the four steps to your breakthrough but I wasn’t able to conclude on that, and that was “fear not.” As I said, the word “breakthrough” is used only two times in the New King James Version of the Bible. First in 2 Sam 5:20 and second in 1 Chron. 14:11 and both scriptures refer to the same event. Please note that the four steps this message focuses on are taken from 2 Sam 5:17-20. I said previously that if you’re going to experience breakthrough, you must not fear. I’ll continue from where I stopped last week. In the battle of Ai, the same thing the Lord said: go forward. “Now the LORD said to Joshua: ‘Do not be afraid, nor be dismayed; take all the people of war with you, and arise, go up to Ai. See, I have given into your hand the king of Ai, his people, his city, and his land. And you shall do to Ai and its king as you did to Jericho and its king. Only its spoil and its cattle you shall take as booty for yourselves. Lay an ambush for the city behind it.” (Josh 8:1-2 NKJV) Of course, breakthrough was certain because, Achan, who violated God’s instruction in the earlier battle of Jericho, had been judged together with members of his family so failure had ended. In order to have your breakthrough, you must get rid of fear which has kept many people from moving forward in life, has kept many from taking the steps of faith which God would have magnified. “And David said to his son Solomon, ‘Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God — my God — will

be with you.’” (1 Chron 28:20 NKJV) You need to look the opposition in the face, look the barrier and the adversaries in the face, and declare like David did: “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” (Ps 27:1 NKJV) David didn’t fear, and he had his breakthrough. In Ps 56:3-4, David said, “Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God (I will praise His word), In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?” (NKJV) Fear not! You’ll have your breakthrough too. Those four lepers in Samaria analyzed the situation correctly. “Why are we sitting here until we die? If we say, ‘We will enter the city,’ the famine is in the city, and we shall die there. And if we sit here, we die also. Now therefore, come, let us surrender to the army of the Syrians. If they keep us alive, we shall live; and if they kill us, we shall only die.” (2 Kings 7:3-4 NKJV) These lepers took the bull by the horns and went to the camp of the Syrians. The option they never imagined was what they met – an empty Syrian camp. They didn’t imagine this possibility but it happened. They didn’t die but ate to the fullest, gathered excess and actually became the agents of salvation for the rest of the Israelites who were dying in the city of hunger as a result of famine. Don’t be afraid of death if you’re going to have your breakthrough. You shall not die but live and declare the works of God. (Ps 118:17) Don’t allow the terror of death to overpower you. (Ps 55:4) Don’t be afraid of death, the unknown, possible failure, rejection, etc. Have

Exodus 12:29,42; Luke 11:5-13; Acts 16:25,26; 20:7; Judges 6:13; Acts 6:8; 8:6

The miracle in your mouth

pecial miracles are associated with midnight in Scripture. God’s promise to Abraham to set the Israelites free from Egyptian captivity so they can inherit Canaan finally came to pass at midnight after Moses’ several demands with spectacular signs were resisted by King Pharaoh. When we deny ourselves some comfort and wait on the Lord till midnight like Paul and Silas did, He will answer us. Tarrying at midnight shows how serious and determined we are in seeking God for blessing. A midnight cry, the loudest you can make to the Lord, opens the door of heaven for miracles of life for the dead, healing for the sick, deliverance for the oppressed, dominion for those who are delivered, supernatural supply for the poor, release of wife or husband for singles and children for the barren. Many believers are ignorant of the fact that the key to open the portals of heaven for needed miracles is in their hands. God has prepared a blessing for everyone who believes. And if we place our trust and confidence in Him, He will do great things in us and through us. With a new revelation of God’s words and promises, we should be able to confess the miracles the Lord has

deposited in our mouth like saints in the Bible did. God performed great miracles through Old and New Testament characters like Moses, Joshua, Elijah, Elisha, David, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego; our Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostles, disciples, etc. The Lord is always willing to use righteous believers who manifest faith in His word, their positions notwithstanding. Although Stephen was not reckoned as an apostle, He did great wonders and miracles among the people. Like these believers, if we wholeheartedly follow the Lord and manifest faith in His promises, He will perform great miracles through us. 1. EXTRA-ORDINARY MIRACLES THROUGH A WARRIOR’S MOUTH Exodus 14:13,14; Joshua 10:1214; 1 Samuel 17:45,46; 1 Kings 17:1215; 2 Kings 7:1,2; Mark 16:20. Believers who fight the battle of faith are warriors who perform miracles by the word of their mouths. Before the Red sea was divided for the children of Israel to pass through, Moses knew that there was a miracle in his mouth. Thus, he prophesied about the end of the Egyptian armies. “And Moses said unto the people, Fear ye not, stand still, and see the salvation of the

cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 On previous occasions, David had also enquired of the Lord for direction and God answered him and gave him victory. (1 Sam 23:24, 10-13, 30:8) David didn’t act presumptuously. “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” (Prov 3:5-6 NKJV) For you to experience breakthrough, you need to be led by God; you must have His approval for the assignment or project. If God is with you on your mission, it won’t matter who is against you. (Rom 8:31) If God is leading, you’ll prosper in your way. As you step out in faith, God wants to lead you, and expect Him to lead you. Be assured of His presence. “When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you. When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you.” (Isa 43:2 NKJV) Has God spoken to you through this message today? Please permit me to stop here today; I’ll conclude the series next week. I urge you to act on whatever you’ve learn from this message. Till next week, you’re blessed in Jesus’ name. TAKE ACTION! If you’re not born again, you need to make yourself ready for eternity. I urge you to take the following steps:*Admit you’re a

By Pastor W.F Kumuyi LORD... for the Egyptians whom ye have seen today, ye shall see them again no more forever”. God honours the words of our mouth as His children. And when we make utterances in line with His word, He hears and grants us our heart desire. So, we must reserve our mouth for speaking only the words of miracles, power and authority. When fear, doubt, unbelief, discouragement and depression fill the heart, learn to keep quiet. But when there is faith, inspiration, anointing and remembrance of the omnipotence and unfailing promises of God, make prophetic utterances. Many believers today talk when they should be quiet and vice versa. For Joshua, he said the right thing at

the right time; his focus was on the essentials, not the non-essentials. As a warrior, he destroyed the enemies of God’s people when he spoke to the sun and moon: “And the sun stood still, and the moon stayed, until the people had avenged themselves upon their enemies.” With God’s words and promises in our mouth, we shall inherit our blessings and possess our possessions. Our God delivers, saves, and protects His own people from challenges and troubles of life. David overcame Goliath even before he struck him with the stone. With the words of his mouth, God wrought a great victory for His people through him. “Then said David to the Philistine… This day will the LORD

sinner and you can’t save yourself and repent of your sins. *Confess Jesus as your Lord and Saviour. *Renounce your past way of life – your relationship with the devil and his works. *Invite Jesus into your life. *As a mark of seriousness to mature in the faith, start to attend a Bible-believing, Bible -teaching church. There you will be taught how to grow in the Kingdom of God. Kindly say this prayer now: “0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I repent and confess my sins. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved. Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God” I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations! You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be. I’ll be glad to hear from you. May the Lord be with you.

deliver thee into mine hand; and I will smite thee, and take thine head from thee… that all the earth may know that there is a God in Israel”. When we centre our thoughts on God’s past faithfulness and promises in our lives, like David, we would be able to surmount every challenge that stands on our way. Through the words of Elijah, the widow of Zarephath and her child were sustained throughout the period of famine. The words of God’s prophets in our lives supersedes the ones from the camp of the enemies. Elisha had in his mouth the miracle that ended the famine of a whole nation. “Then Elisha said... Tomorrow about this time shall a measure of fine flour be sold for a shekel, and two measures of barley for a shekel, in the gate of Samaria”. The mouth carries the power of misery, death and life, disease and healing, defeat and dominion. We must pray to God to purge our mouth and give us convicted, cleansed, controlled, consecrated, circumcised, commanding and confirmed mouths that will bring uncommon prosperity, victory, healing, power, wisdom and breakthrough in all aspects of life as we enter the New Year.

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Sp or T s

PEOPLES DAILY Weekend, Saturday 7 - sunday 8, november, 2015

Experts prefer Mali, Nigeria for FIFA U-17 World Cup in

Mourinho hopes his absence will inspire players against Stoke City

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“Who join Bayelsa, Taraba for NPFL relegation race” Page 54

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Sports

Who join Bayelsa, Taraba for NPFL relegation?

Swaziland coach plots upset against Super Eagles By Albert Akota

Both Kwara and Dolphins are fighting against relegation By Albert Akota

he battle for survival in the Nigeria league will be fiercer than the battle for the championship as two teams are set to join Taraba and Bayelsa United on relegation with Kwara United, Dolphins, Sharks, Lobi Stars and El Kanemi Warriors all in danger. FC Taraba and Bayelsa United are already doomed for relegation to the Nigeria National League (NNL) with two rounds of games to the end of the season on November 15. Both teams currently with 34 points from 36 games cannot tally more than 40 points with two games to go which won’t be enough to save them from going down to the second-tier of Nigeria league. Kwara United look destined to make an instant return to the Nigeria National League (NNL) having secured promotion to the elite league just last

Adeniji top scorer in NPFL

season. With 39 points, Kwara can be sure of three points from the remaining two games. On Sunday, they travel to fellow strugglers Sharks who must win the game to escape the drop. Their final game will be at home against IfeanyiUbah, which they are expected to win, but with 42 points from 38 games, Kwara could still be demoted. Dolphins currently with 41 points got some respite coming their way after Sharks were docked three points from their accrued points following the abandonment of a Week 36 game against Nasarawa United in Lafia. Their final two matches are at home against Heartland and away at Shooting Stars. Dolphins city rivals Sharks were good to escape relegation until the LMC hammer fell on them after they abandoned a Week 36 game at Lafia against Nasarawa United.

They had 42 points before the LMC decision and now they have 39 points after three points were deducted from what they had previously for violating the rules. They are now in a must-win situation for the last two games so as to end with 45 points with their last two games at home to Kwara United and away to Abia Warriors. Lobi Stars and El Kanemi Warriors are not safe with 43 points and 46 points respectively. Lobi have an outstanding game, an abandoned Week 37 game at Sunshine Stars, which they were leading 1-0 and which will now be completed on November 11 in Abuja. If Lobi held on to the 1-0 lead, they would only need to win their home game against Rangers to end with 49 points, while El Kanemi need at least three points from two games – vs Wikki (home) and vs Heartland (away) to be sure of their premiership status.

unshine Stars striker Tunde Adeniji is now the leading scorer in the Nigeria Professional Football League (NPFL) with 16 goals. He toppled Gbolahan Salami and Esosa Igbinoba of Warri Wolves and Nasarawa United respectively who have 15 goals each. Adeniji scored a brace to help Sunshine beat Rangers 5-1 in a rescheduled Week 34 games in Lagos.

waziland coach, Harris Bulunga says his team can create a major upset by knocking out one of Africa’s football powerhouse, Nigeria, from the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. The Shilangu will face the three-time African Champions at the Somholo National Stadium on Friday, November 13. Bulunga’s men edged out Djibouti 8-1 on aggregate in the first round of the qualifiers, and he is adamant they can go past the Super Eagles despite their underdogs tag. “We are still a young team and the underdogs going into the game, but with hard work, we could get a result,” Bulunga told Brilla fm on Thursday. “We are looking at showing that we are a growing football nation; we will not go out to embarrass ourselves. “We have seen all the games your team (the Super Eagles) have played. We analysed the strength and weakness of the Nigerians. “We respect Nigeria and know what they are capable of, but we are going out there to make a name for ourselves.”

Swaziland Coach

Chisom Chikatara and Bright Ejike of Abia Warriors and Heartland have 13 goals each. Mubarak Umar and Ocheme Edoh of Wikki Tourists and Giwa respectively have scored 12 goals each. Lobi Stars Tony Okpotu has scored 10 goals. Last season, Mfon Udoh of Enyimba set a new goals record in the league when he netted 23 goals.

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Mourinho hopes his absence will inspire players against Stoke City

Sports

Rafa needs Ronaldo back at best

ith Coach Rafa Benitez under-fire for Real Madrid’s perceived lack of attacking threat, the Spaniard needs Cristiano Ronaldo to return to his very best at Sevilla on Sunday. Real are joint top of La Liga with Barcelona on 24 points from 10 games but they have looked subdued up front in several matches and there were whistles from the crowd during the 1-0 win over Paris St Germain in the Champions League on Tuesday. Benitez has pointed to injuries to key players and clearly any side would miss Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, who were sidelined against PSG, while James Rodriguez was only fit for a place on the bench. In previous seasons Real have been able to call on Ronaldo to lead from the front, in a similar style to Lionel Messi at Barcelona, but the Portuguese has fallen below his high standards this term. As part of the remodelling of the side under Benitez this season, Ronaldo has featured as a traditional No 9 rather than in his preferred position as a striker drifting in from the left. Ronaldo has a good return of 13 goals from 14 games this season but that is largely down to the five he scored against Espanyol. At the same stage last season he had notched 20 goals. Real face Europa League champions Sevilla who are 11th in the table but showed their potential with a victory over Barcelona a month ago.

helsea travel to Stoke City today without banned manager Jose Mourinho, who hopes his absence will not prevent the players from picking up a much-needed victory. The Premier League champions had a crucial win in Europe against Dynamo Kiev on Wednesday to lighten the mood around Stamford Bridge, but that does not help their precarious predicament domestically. Chelsea sit 15th in the table with just 11 points from as many outings and are already well off the pace of joint-leaders Manchester City and Arsenal. Six league defeats already matches Mourinho’s worst return in his career and Chelsea face a trip to the Britannia Stadium, having already faltered there in last week’s League Cup penalty-shootout elimination. As Mourinho serves a one-game stadium ban after being dismissed at West Ham recently, the Portuguese hopes his players can motivate themselves out of his presence. Stoke have had an up-anddown campaign to date, with a run of four straight league wins halted by a poor return of one point from their last two games against Watford and Newcastle United. Only four of their 13 points have been picked up at home and defender Erik Pieters cannot put his finger on why they have been more successful on the road. As well as long-term absentee Thibaut Courtois, Chelsea have been without Branislav Ivanovic (hamstring) and Radamel Falcao (muscle injury) during recent matches, although Pedro made a return as a substitute against Kiev. Stoke are without Marc Muniesa (hamstring) and Shay Given (knee).

Africans clash as PSG hosts Toulouse

Manchester City a step up from Liverpool —Sterling

anchester City attacker Raheem Sterling has noticed a step up in quality since arriving at the Etihad Stadium from Liverpool. The England international joined Manuel Pellegrini’s side in July in a deal which could eventually be worth £49 million and has gone on to score six goals in his first 15 appearances. Sterling insists he has found the quality of his new teammates at City superior to the stars he played with during a five-year stay at Liverpool. “Obviously, Liverpool had many great players as well but the players here have been at the highest level for many years and you can definitely see that on the training pitch. “The tempo, the passing, the two-touch movement in training; it’s really surprised me. It’s really sharp, really good to be involved in.” Sterling scored his first Champions League goal for City in their 3-1 win over Sevilla on Tuesday, which he acknowledged was a moment to remember as his side sealed their place in the last 16. The 20-year-old continued: “It was definitely a special goal for me - my first in the Champions League.

PSG’s Serge Aurier (L)

P Mourinho

aris Saint Germain is set to welcome Toulouse as they aim at consolidating their top of the log spot in their French Ligue 1 match today. Cote D’Ivoire international defender Serge Aurier is set to be in action for the hosts as he welcomes his fellow Africans in the likes of Mali’s Tongo Doumbia and Cameroon’s Jean-Armel KanaBiyik. The hosts will hope to bounce back to winning ways following their

1-0 loss to Real Madrid in the UEFA Champions League on Tuesday night. Turning to their domestic league run, PSG, are cruising as they have registered three successive wins over Rennes, Saint Etienne and Bastia respectively. PSG are sitting at position one with 32 points from 12 matches thus far and the visitors are placed at the 19th spot with nine points from six draws plus one victory. Laurent Blanc’s men are

favourites to bag another three points against their visitors who are experiencing a poor run of form. In their past four matches, Toulouse drew two against Montpellier and Gazelec Ajaccio whilst succumbing to two defeats by Olympique Lyonnais and Angers. Coach Dominique Arribage will hope to see his players including the Malian international, Doumbia help to bottle PSG’s movements in the midfield and Cameroon’s defender, Kana-Biyik to be stable at the back.

Raheem Sterling of Manchester City

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Sports

Experts prefer Mali, Nigeria for FIFA U-17 World Cup in Chile

Nigeria

lthough the biannual tournament has never produced an all-African final since the first edition in 1985 in China, this year’s edition looks quite promising for the two African nations. Nigeria ranks higher than any other team in the competition, having emerged winners four times and runnersup thrice. The west African nation are the defending champions after beating Mexico 3-0 in the 2013 edition hosted by the United Arab Emirates. Mali, who is yet to lose a match in the tournament, will be looking to end their opponent’s dominance by reaching the finals and lifting the prestigious trophy. However, on the other hand, Nigerian will come all out to hunt for their fifth trophy in the history of the global competition. The two African sides have registered impressive results so far and would want to prove a point by facing each other in the finals on Sunday if they beat their Thursday opponents. Nigeria have scored a total of 17 goals so far, 14 from open play and three from set pieces while their African counterparts have scored nine goals after 114 attempts. Mali boasts of one of the best attacking records in this year’s tournament but has had 29 of their shots blocked, 31 saved and 45 off-

targets. Emmanual Amunike’s team are privileged to have the tournament’s top scorer Victor Osimhen, who has bagged eight goals and provided two assists so far for his team. Out of the eight goals, only one has been scored from the spot. Mali’s top scorer, on the other hand, is Sidiki Maiga with two goals and one assist. Judging from the statistics, fans should expect a highly offensive match, particularly from Nigerians, if the two teams make it to the finals. Mali seem to have a better defensive record compared to Nigeria so far, having conceded only one goal in their last five matches. On the contrary, despite being clinical and ruthless in front of goal, Nigeria’s defense line has soaked in two more goals than their potential weekend opponents. The Aiglonnets could rely on this fact to penetrate the Golden Eaglets’ defense line if they meet in the finals, and score quick goals to seal off the match early enough. Nigeria and Mexico have met previously in the 2013 finals. The African

and conceded three. Nigeria’s Osimhen will most-likely torment Mexico defenders by virtue of being the tournament’s top scorer with eight goals and two assists. The 17-year-old has attracted interest from top Premier League sides such as Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester City. Mali’s star player Sidiki Maiga has managed to score only two goals and provided one assist, but his impressive team work and individual energy makes him standout. The talented forward is well-known for his selflessness and composure in front of goal, a decisive factor that could tear Belgium apart. It would be interesting to witness the first-ever all-African grand finale at the FIFA U-17 World Cup. If the two African sides meet, Mali will most likely carry the day by drawing inspiration from their unbeaten run and willingness to overwrite history. Sidiki Maiga

outfit beat their South American rivals 3-0 to clinch the FIFA u17 World Cup. When the two sides meet again in the semi-finals this year, Nigeria will have an upper hand, having appeared in the final seven times. The other side, Mali’s unbeaten run could inspire them a w i n i n

the semi finals against the Red Devils who have only scored five goals Victor Osimhen

BIG PUNCH The work of restoration and removal is urgent and immense. The expectations of Nigerians are high. Our determination to succeed and change the fortunes of our country must be equal to the challenge. Peoples Daily WEEKEND, SATURDAY — SUNDAY, november 7-8, 2015

Saturday Column By

Reuben Abati

rofessor Wole Soyinka was quoted saying his latest book is the “nastiest” that he has written so far. InterInventions: Between Defective Memory and the Public Lie- A Personal Odyssey in The Republic of Liars (Ibadan: Bookcraft, 2015, 136pp) is quite close to being just that. But who knows if an even nastier book may follow as Soyinka embarks on the task of exposing lies in our Republic as he has promised that InterInventions, a follow up to Interventions series (I-IV) will be dedicated solely to the dismantling of lies in the public space: malicious and non-malicious lies, lies told, lies magnified, lies fraudulent, murderous lies, accidental lies, uttered from depraved minds whose sole intention is to create burdens for their victims, malign, impugn and lower the other so they can be raised or their stomachs can be nourished at other’s expense. This is nevertheless, a publication in which Professor Soyinka settles strictly personal scores, but this is no pamphleteering that he modestly alludes to, but a fine, extended essay in the distinguished tradition of that form. He is polemical, punchy and critical - without mercy or measure! There is no deceit, no pulling of punches, not much of deliberate concealment; it is Soyinka wielding a Bazooka in one hand, and a gilt-edged knife in the other, shooting down the hypocrisy and pretensions of representative figures in a Republic of Liars, where defective memory, an affliction worse than amnesia, but much closer to dementia, and psychosis, is standard fare. He deploys language dramatically and draws blood even if his mood remains charismatic and entertaining as he laughs at human folly, and the verminous antics of his named and shamed traducers. The writer focuses on his personal experiences as a victim of the burden of being lied to, being lied against and being pushed to defend his right not to be lied against, but his theme is probably far more important than his content and mood. He ends up inviting us to think further about a social malaise, a missing, distorted, disjointed ethical link, and so his subjects - including Obasanjo, Chinweizu, Adewale MajaPearce, Peter Enahoro, Major Salawu, Gbenga Daniel, Abiola Ogundokun, Olagunsoye Oyinlola Advert: business: news: lagos:

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- rise off the pages, as illustrative archetypes of a hydra-headed crisis at the heart of society, namely how self-delusion, ego, power and an obsessive, compulsive, alimentary propensity turns adults into liars. Other associated themes along this line of moral exhortation will include the sheer uncertainty of life, the unpredictability of human character, and the nearhelplessness of victims in a nation of fabulists. Thus, the entire narrative is organic, with the humanistic import of the content, imbued with a personal orientation as it were, taking us closer to larger questions of ethics, humanity, the inviolability of truth. Man and his foibles is the central subject of inquiry invariably; there is a certain universality in the tendency of man, including those who quote the Bible with practiced ease, to be nasty and brutish. I recommend this book for everyone’s reading pleasure and instruction. It is quite affordable, only N1, 000 per copy, and certainly, a temptingly quotable book - more so as the reader is reassured by the author’s statement of indemnity. Here goes: “My publishers are hereby fully indemnified by me against court processes, as well as the consequences of any libel suits that may arise from this maiden number of the InterInventions series” (p.93). The stoutly flagellated figures in the book, who are described as “the greatest public liars I have ever known”, thus ridiculed have every reason to be angry but obviously, Soyinka in taking his pound of flesh cannot be bothered. There can be no greater denigration to be sought beyond his depiction of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, as the philosopher-king who is “an overgrown child of circumstance;” “Double-O-Seven”, “an infliction”, “a hypocrite”, and “irredeemable egomaniac” or Chinweizu as “Chichidodo”, a bird that feeds on shit, or Adewale Maja-Peace as “the area-boy of letters”; or Peter Pan as “lying, opportunistic, contemptible”; Olagunsoye Oyinlola as “the Prince of Darkness”; Gbenga Daniel as “DaaniElebo”.Professor, ki lo de? Or when of Maja-Pearce, whom he calls “Ade-Boy!”, the writer says: “It is a time to remind him that the stern rod of Ogun awaits all lying tongues.” (p.38). Professor, ewo ni t’epe! Of Abiola Ogundokun, Soyinka thunders: “Of all the loathsome

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—President Muhammadu Buhari

WS: A sojourner among liars

Soyinka lumps of slime that ever oozed from the sump of human depravity to aspire to human form, none comes close to the two-legged parasite that goes by the name of Abiola Ogundokun”. Whaa-a-t? And in taking on Major Rasaki Salawu, he says “Howu Salawu” – a vocalic alliteration which cryptically summarizes the subject-matter; a considerable part of the book is devoted to a profiling of the selfsame Salawu in a manner that evokes shame or the equivalent of a mortal decapitation. Soyinka’s anti-heroes owe themselves a duty to say something in self-defence, for the naming and shaming tends to stick, with all the stamp and authoritativeness of the inimitable WS. Audi alteram partem. Which is why I was surprised that President Olusegun Obasanjo in a reported interview with The Punch, made light of it: Reporter: While you were away from the country, your friend Prof. Wole Soyinka inaugurated (sic) a book in which he called you a child of circumstance. OBJ: (Talking in Yoruba: Se o so be?) Meaning: Did he say so? Reporter: He even said he won’t eat any food you give him without you eating from the food first. OBJ: (Continues in Yoruba: Mi o mo o) Ehnhenhn? I don’t know. Obasanjo irritated by the Soyinka questions, gets up and walks out of his study during the interview…but the reporter keeps throwing questions at him. Reporter: Why are the two of you always quarrelling?

OBJ: Kini wahala yin? (What is your problem?) Indeed, what is our problem? But just in case President Obasanjo has not read the book, I recommend that he should especially as Soyinka has promised a follow-up shake down edition: “a collective effort, a corroborative-or self-cancelling-anthology by many long-suffering victims…dedicated solely to the Otta phenomenon.” (p. 53). Our Republic of Liars is a temporary space for Soyinka; his reputation in the world of letters places him historically, in the long run, beyond local dog-fights; but as for this book, emotional responses to the vengeful biographical dimensions cannot be unexpected. Take-away, though: our problem – we do have a problem as a collective - is the sobering realization that Nigerians enjoy telling lies, much more than any other community that we know, and that we are indeed, a Republic of Liars. We are a nation of fabulists, richly imaginative, when that asset is well-conditioned, it produces excellence, but misapplied, the tale bearer becomes a professional aproko, as they say, a self-made radio station, transmitter, booster, conditioned to promote untruths, and as the tale travels from one mouth to another, new layers are invented and added, often so viciously that the original source often finds it unrecognizable. But much damage is done, and it is this wickedness of man to man – as theme and principle- that Soyinka deplores. The rise of the internet has even

made lying so easy and convenient, the anonymity that the social media offers allows a lie to grow until its continued affirmation imposes it on public memory as received wisdom. Lies pollute the public mind; they damage relationships and destroy a sense of community. Soyinka insists on the inviolability of the truth and decent conduct, but the rot is widespread, the phenomenon is a new normal reality. Politicians lie to the electorate, win the votes and turn around shamefacedly to say they never said whatever even in the face of concrete evidence made possible by electronic reproduceability. This culture of deception remains unchecked because the institutions for seeking redress remain inchoate: libel cases can go on forever, or they may run into a technical hitch concocted by lawyers, requiring that they be started de novo. And to worsen it all, the followership enjoys the lies and the lying, compelling an assessment of our Republic in real and fictive representations as the biggest lie in search of truth. Soyinka does not recommend a resort to self-help; but he inflicts punishment with his pen, and laments in a memorable instance: “Chei! There is Death o!” Let’s add:“Chei! There is God o!”- The ultimate judge. Abati, can be reached via abati1990@gmail.com

DAN GAYE

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