Peoples Daily Newspaper, Tuesday, August 08, 2012

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

Vol. 8 No. 98

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Kin of deceased policemen protest in Abuja >> PAGE 2

. . . putting the people first

Police confirm renewed car snatching in Kaduna >> PAGE 5

Ramadan 20, 1433 AH

FAAC to harmonise FG, states, LGs budgets in 2013 >> PAGE 6

N150

Ramadan Timing for Abuja Magrib 6.51

Alfijr 5.09

See other towns on Page 3

Gunmen kill 2 soldiers in Okene mosque attack Death toll in Church attack rises Govt imposes curfew, bans Okada From Sam Egwu, Lokoja and Lambert Tyem, Abuja

A

dawn to dusk curfew has been imposed on Okene, Kogi state, following an attack on the Okene Central Mosque yesterday resulting in the killing of two of the soldiers on guard.

The incident came less than 24 hours after gunmen killed 16 persons in a night attack at the Deeper Life church in the same town. The death toll in that attack rose to 20 yesterday. The slain soldiers were deployed to the town after the church attack to prevent reprisals in the area.

The attack on the soldiers came barely two days after a suicide bomber killed eight soldiers when he rammed a vehicle into a Joint Task Force pickup van carrying the soldiers in Damaturu,Yobe state.

An eyewitness said the armed men who attacked the Okene Mosque came in a Toyota hilux pickup van. Worshippers were at the Mosque for the tafsir (Ramadan) lectures when the gunmen struck.

Peoples Daily gathered that the Contd on Page 2

Kogi state Governor, Captain Idris Wada, sympathising with one of the victims of Deeper Life Church attack, yesterday at the General Hospital, in Okene.

PHCN bid: Nobody has approached us for extension – BPE

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE) has challenged firms canvassing for an extension of the deadline for the submission of bid documents for Power Holding Company of Nigeria’s (PHCN) generating companies (GENCOs)

and distribution companies (DISCOs) to make public their identities.

This is just as it declared at the door is firmly shut against gatecrashers into the exercise.

BPE spokesman, Mr. Chukwuma Nwokoh, told Peoples Daily exclusively that nobody had approached the bureau to demand

an extension of the July 31 deadline for whatever reason.

Peoples Daily has gathered that lately, the Presidency has come under tremendous pressure from firms that narrowly missed the deadline to shift it a little to accommodate their bids.

They had cited the centralized nature of the bid process which

requires every interested company to file their bids at the BPE head office in Abuja and transportation difficulty as treasons for their failure to meet the deadline.

However, speaking to Peoples Daily yesterday in Abuja , the BPE spokesman, said no prospective bidder that missed the bid

submission deadline had made a formal application for an extension of time.

According to him, no such letter was submitted to BPE and he challenged the firms to make public their identities rather than assuming the status of anonymous bidders.

Contd on Page 2

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

CONTENTS News

2-11

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-20

Property

25-28

Motoring

26

Arts

29-30

Families of slain police officers protest unpaid entitlements

By Lambert Tyem

O

ver 1,000 family members of slain Police Officers who died in service yesterday gathered in front of the Louis Edet House Force Headquarters, Abuja to protest what they called the deliberate delay in the payment of their benefits.

The protesters comprising wives, children and other relatives of deceased police officers gathered

at the police headquarters at about 7:30 am with placards with various inscriptions chanting “give us our cheque”.

Our reporter gathered that what prompted the protest was as a result of an advertisement placed in some national dailies by the police in July asking the prospective beneficiaries to come to Abuja for “final screening”.

But the protesters had interpreted the advert to mean that they had been invited to come

and collect their cheques but were agitated when pension administrators were involved in the process.

Joseph Mike, one of the protesters, said what they needed from the police was their entitlements.

“We were expecting this money since January but nobody called us until last week. They gave us a date of Aug. 6 and Aug. 7 for interview for the collection of our cheques.

The representative of the IGP, Suleiman Fakai, a Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG), however, assured protesting kin of deceased police officers that the pensions of their late bread winners would soon be paid.

Fakai, DIG ‘A’ Department (Finance and Administration) stated this while speaking to some journalists after a meeting with relatives of the late officers.

Fakai explained that the delay was as a result of “minor problem” adding that they would be paid as soon as those problems were sorted out.

Constitution amendment: Govs in crucial meeting in Abuja

By Richard Ihediwa

T

he governors of the 36 states of the federation under the aegis of Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) were yesterday night locked up in a crucial meeting apparently to harmonise their differences on a number of controversial issues penciled out for consideration in the next round of constitution amendment by the National

Assembly.

Some of the knotty issues for which there are divisions among the governors include state creation, revenue formula, fiscal federalism, revenue allocation, state police and tenure of executive offices.

Also, there are speculations that the governors will table the impeachment threat against President Goodluck Jonathan by the House of Representatives

over the poor implementation of the 2012 budget.

There are already fears that the meeting may witness stormy sessions as the governors had already formed very strong differing positions along geopolitical lines on some of the issues.

While the governors from the 19 states of the north are demanding for a review of the revenue formula in such a way

that the states will receive more fund from the Federation Account, those from the South South states are demanding for a reworking of the constitution to pave way for the entrenchment of fiscal federalism in which they propose that states be allowed total control of mineral finds in their territories out of which proceed they pay royalty to the Federal Government.

Gunmen kill 2 soldiers in Okene mosque attack Contd from Page 1

APGA crisis: How Obi’s script is playing out, Page 37

International 32-34 Digest

36

gunmen opened fire on the Mosque, resulting in the death of the two soldiers while others were wounded attempting to repel the attackers.

The soldiers it was learnt succeeded in killing one of the attackers.

Kogi state Police Public Relation Officer, Simon Ile, who confirmed the incident said two of the soldiers died instantly but could not give the exact number of those wounded.

Governor Idris Wada, in a broadcast yesterday imposed a dusk to dawn curfew on Okene even as he announced the restriction of the operation of commercial motorcyclists in Lokoja, the state

capital from 6am to 6pm.

Also the Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar, has ordered a round-the-clock patrol of suspected flashpoints in the state.

Wada, who visited the victims of the Deeper Life Church attack yesterday at the Okene General Hospital, vowed to smoke out those behind the attacks even as he was informed by medical officials that the death toll from the attack has risen from 16 to 20.

The governor expressed shock over the attacks and lamented the wanton killings in the state and other parts of the country.

He urged the bereaved to have faith that the dead were killed

serving God and announced that the Kogi state government will pay the medical bills of the victims.

The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr. Mohammed Katsina, who conducted the governor round, said that two attackers arrived at the church on foot at about 7. 30 pm and switched off the electricity supply before opening fire on worshippers.

Meanwhile, the InspectorGeneral of Police (IGP) Mohammed Abubakar has ordered a 24 hour surveillance to all places of worship and other vulnerable areas in Okene and other parts of the state.

The IGP also ordered the immediate deployment of

additional units of riot policemen from other Squadrons to beef up the security arrangement in the state.

Abubakar also appealed for calm, promising that the perpetrators of the heinous crime would soon be arrested and brought to book.

In a statement issued last night by police spokesman, Frank Mba, the IGP ordered the increased security measures and advised the general public to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious movement to police.

He also advised parents to keep watchful eyes on their wards and protect them from all negative external influences.

Politics

37-40

PHCN bid: Nobody has approached us for extension – BPE

Sports

41-47

Contd from Page 1 The National Council on Privatisation (NCP), the apex organ in charge of the privatisation programme, chaired

by Vice-President Namadi Sambo and BPE Director-General, Ms. Bolanle Onagoruwa, had insisted that last Wednesday, August 1, remained the deadline for bidders to turn in their bids.

The BPE boss had declared at a forum in Abuja, after her meeting with President Namadi Sambo at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, last Monday, that the bureau would stick to the Wednesday deadline.

According to Onagoruwa, the NCP meeting, last Monday, reiterated the sacrosanct nature of the Wednesday, 5 pm deadline for the bids for the power distribution companies.

It is recalled that the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) said that as at 5 pm on July 31that it had received several bids, but they had not been collated to ascertain how many bidders met the deadline.

Having concluded due diligence, 152 bidders were given

Columnist

48

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

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

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till 5pm that to submit their technical and financial proposals along with their bid bonds.

It was at that stage that the desperado firms sought to throw the entire process askew with their late bids, Peoples Daily learnt.

However, the privatisation agency, sticking to its guns, said only 25 bidders had met the deadline.

A statement by BPE’s Head of Public Communications, Chukwuma Nwokoh, said proposals had been received from 25 potential investors for six electricity generation companies.

The statement said that the technical bids would be evaluated between Aug. 14 and Aug. 28, while the National Council on Privatisation (NCP) would approve the final result on Sept. 11.

“The deadline for the shortlisted bidders of the generation companies to submit their letters of credit is Sept. 18, while Oct. 2 is for shortlisted bidders for the distribution companies.

“NCP’s approval will pave the way for the opening of financial

bids of the shortlisted investors.”

The statement added that between Sept. 25 and Oct. 10, the financial bids of prospective investors for the privatisation of the successor companies created from the PHCN would be opened.

It said that the NCP would announce the preferred bidders for the 22 successor companies on or before Oct. 23.

In spite of the BPE’s resoluteness, criticism has continued to trail the process with critics pointing out that interested bidders who are cronies of influential people in government are trying to subvert the process.

The Chairman of Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), Dr. Sam Amadi was quoted to have also warned that the country was on the verge of selling off its power facilities to prospective investors.

Amadi, in an interview with journalists, expressed his reservations about the on-going PHCN privatisation process, saying that “perhaps the Nigerian government isn’t in control of the

process.”

According to the NERC chairman, the real challenge is “proactive disclosure and transparency”.

He said: “I suggest to the BPE to publish the names of all bidders, publish their owners and promoters.

Remove every obstruction so that there will be no mystery man at the end of the day.

Let the media and civil society groups be part of the process.”

He noted that “the law empowers NERC to approve the transactions. I won’t approve any transaction that is shady; I will insist that we do the right thing. I will like to see a credible bidder win in a fair and transparent process and take over the entities and improveefficiency.”

The BPE, however, has denied that it is engaged in any clandestine move.

Head, Public Communications, Chukwuma Nwokoh, told Peoples Daily that all interested bidders queued up by 5pm at the BPE gate on Tuesday, July 30, to submit their proposals.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 3

RAMADAN TIMING Day 20

Families of deceased police officers protesting delay in payment of their entitlements, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Banks shut over Boko Haram scare in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

S

oldiers, police and other security operatives armed to the teeth, yesterday took over the streets of Lokoja, the Kogi state capital, as suspected members of Boko Haram sect were allegedly said to be around with their articles of trade.

Banks and business centres closed doors to customers as it was alleged that a bomb- like substance was detected at the Revival Church adjacent Total Filling Station, along

Lokoja-Army barracks-Kabba road at about 10am.

In the melee, the state governor, Capt Idris Wada who was on his way to Okene where some worshipers were attacked and 16 killed in a church, was delayed on the road for hours.

The incident brought commercial activities in the city centre to a temporary halt causing unspeakable confusion with parents rushing to pick their children from school.

People and motorists stampeded

themselves at the popular Ganaja Junction with attendant injuries to many.

A visit to police command headquarters in Lokoja, saw heavy stones used to block the road leading to the command, with an Armoured Personnel Carrier, APCs stationed at the main entrance to the command.

The Police Public Relations Officer, PPRO, Assistant Superintendent of Police, Simon Ile, confirmed the incident but allayed fears that it was not Boko Haram.

Crash: Another DANA aircraft has hydraulic pressure problem, witness tells coroner From Francis Iwuchukwu, Lagos

T

he General Manager, Air Worthiness, Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), Engineer Kayode Ajiboye, yesterday, told a Lagos Coroner that another aircraft belonging to DANA Airline had hydraulic pressure problem.

Ajiboye made this known before the Coroner court, presided over by the Abule Egba division Magistrate, Mr. Alexander Oyetade Komolafe.

The GM who was answering questions said the incident happened before the June 3, 2012

crash of DANA aircraft registration 5N-RAM. Ajiboye clarified that contrary to the views in some quarters, the aircraft that crashed was not the one that lost hydraulic pressure while air-borne.

He explained that the aircraft, registration 5N-SRI, on May 10, 2012 was on return trip to Lagos from Uyo when it lost hydraulic pressure in the air.

Because of this problem, the plane had to be quickly cleared ahead of others, to make emergency landing on arrival in Lagos.

According to him, some of the passengers in the plane later called

the Consumer Protection Department of the NCAA to complain about the state of the aircraft including failed airconditioning.

He said that the plane was however taken for repairs by MiTechnic Company Limited, Turkey, an aircraft maintenance and servicing company.

The Managing Director of SO Aviation Fuel Limited, a subsidiary of Sahara Group of Companies, Mr. Alistair Morrison told the court that his company supplied 4,000 litres of aviation fuel to DANA Airline between 5.00 pm and 6.00 pm on June 2, 2012 in Abuja.

3 Edo varsity students killed in cult war From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

T

hree students of Ambrose Alli University (AAU), Ekpoma, were reportedly killed yesterday following a violent clash between two cult groups, Vikings and Black Axe. One other student was said to have been injured in the clash.

According to sources, a former member of the Vikings who later

became a member of an anti cult group in the university had an altercation with a Black Axe member which quarrel was reportedly settled.

But unsatisfied with the settlement, Black Axe members were said to have mobilised and attacked members of the Vikings cult group, resulting in the death of the two students.

The identities of the dead students were unknown at press time, as the Public Relations Officer of the university, Sir. Chris Adamaigbo said he was in a meeting and could not speak to our correspondent.

However, the spokesman of Edo state Police Command, DSP Anthony Airhuoyo confirmed the incident when contacted yesterday.

Towns

Magrib

Alfijr

Aba Abakaliki Abeokuta Abuja Akure Argungu Ankpa Auchi Azare Bama Bauchi Benin Bichi Bida Birnin Gwari Birnin Kebbi Biu Calabar Damaturu Daura Dutse Enugu Funtua Gombe Gwoza Gumi Gusau Gwadabawa Hadejia Ibadan Ife Ilorin Jalingo Jere Jos Kabba Kafanchan Keffi/Nasarawa Kaduna Kano Katsina Kontagora Lafia Lagos Lokoja Maiduguri Makurdi Malumfashi Minna Port Harcourt Potiskum Ringim Shagamu Sokoto Warri Yola Zaria Cotonou-Benin Ndjamena-Chad Niamey – Niger Younde – Cameroun

6.47 6.45 7.04 6.51 6.55 7.06 6.47 6.52 5.43 6.29 6.42 6.54 6.51 6.56 6.54 7.08 6.31 6.42 6.36 6.51 6.47 6.47 6.55 6.38 6.29 7.03 6.56 7.04 6.45 7.02 7.01 7.02 6.34 6.50 5.45 6.55 6.48 6.45 6.52 6.50 6.55 6.59 6.47 7.03 6.52 6.31 6.45 6.55 6.55 6.47 6.40 6.50 7.02 7.04 6.53 6.30 6.52 7.06 6.34 7.17 6.28

5.11 5.11 5.28 5.09 5.20 5.12 5.09 5.16 4.52 4.39 4.58 5.21 5.00 5.14 5.10 5.15 4.40 5.12 4.45 4.57 4.57 5.12 5.05 4.52 4.41 5.12 5.05 5.10 4.52 5.25 5.22 5.21 5.02 5.06 5.01 5.16 5.04 5.04 5.06 4.59 5.01 5.15 5.04 5.28 5.13 4.40 5.06 5.01 5.11 5.17 4.51 4.59 5.26 5.10 5.21 5.24 5.04 5.33 4.43 5.21 5.00

RECOMMENDED DU’A FOR DAY 20 Pray a 8 Raka’at, after Nawafil. In every Raka’ah, after the recitation of Al-Faatihah, recite Sura Al-Zilzaal or any Surah.

After the Salaam recite 100 times: “Allaahumma Swalli ‘Alaa Muh’ammadin Wa Aali Muhammad”. Then say this DU’A: Allahummaf-tah lee feehi abwaabal jinaan wa aghliq ‘annee feehi abwaaban neeraan wa waffiqnee feehi li-tilaawatil Qur’an yaa munzilas-sakeenati fee quluubil-mu’mineen.

Meaning: O Allah, on this day, open for me the doors of the heavens, and lock the doors of Hell from me, help me to recite the Qur'an, O the One who sends down tranquility into the hearts of believers.

Source: Mafatihul Jinan

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

THE PAGE 4 REPORT

Clark/IBB face-off: Where Edwin Clark got it wrong on Boko Haram As a corporate entity, Nigeria is currently going through what is arguably its worst moment in peace time, at least in terms of the frightening level of insecurity in the land. To be sure, the country is no stranger to criminal activities. Militancy, armed robbery, kidnapping for ransom and oil bunkering as well as ethnic and religious clashes have been with us for a long time.

However, the current level of general insecurity in the country is unprecedented due to the government’s absolute lack of clue as to how to handle the insurgency of the so-called Boko Haram sect that has unleashed a reign of terror in the northern part of the country in the name of religion. How to contain the activities of and, especially, reign in the misguided irredentist group has in the past year taken the front burner with finger-pointings in the debate to arrive at a lasting solution. With the debate increasingly becoming acrimonious, Lawrence Olaoye takes a look at the contributions of two elder citizens and what they portend for the quest for the way out of the insecurity quagmire the nation has found itself in.

C

hief Edwin Clark, the octogenarian Ijaw leader and a former Minister for Information needs no introduction. He is a strong voice in the movement for the emancipation of the people of the oil-rich region of the South-south and a confirmed ‘godfather’ to President Goodluck Jonathan.

His recent comments on Boko Haram linking former Military President Ibrahim Babangida, his predecessor, General Muhammadu Buhari and other northern leaders to the insurgents in some parts of the north has stoked a fire that, if not immediately quenched, could conflagrate and consume even the innocent.

Clark has obviously summoned the courage to speak the minds of some Nigerians who have been alleging that some northern leaders are behind the insurgents in order to frustrate Jonathan’s administration.

Many people, mostly from the southern part of the country, have always discussed, albeit in hushed tones, that the insurgents are only playing out the scripts of belligerent northern politicians who lost out in the Presidential contest to the incumbent.

Speaking in Abuja recently as the guest lecturer at the Nigerian Institute of Advanced Legal Studies’ (NIALS) annual lecture on the State of the Federation, Clark, who is a staunch supporter and major beneficiary of the Jonathan’s government declared that; “IBB should have spoken on the Boko Haram issue long before now, why has he been silent all this while. Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has visited Maiduguri, why has IBB and General Buhari not visited the place?

‘’IBB and Buhari have been meeting surreptitiously, yet he (IBB) and Obasanjo went to issue joint statement on Boko Haram scourge. Why can’t IBB and Buhari do the same? The joint statement is a suspect, after all, they are all in Boko Haram. Some prominent politicians vowed to make the country ungovernable if the 2011 election did not reflect the wishes of the people. They should be arrested and prosecuted,” the Ijaw leader said.

Clark submission cannot be divorced from the position of the sacked National Security Adviser, Andrew Owoye Azazi, who had once attributed the activities of the dreaded Boko Haram to the outcome of the politics of imposition in the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), especially with the manner its Presidential candidate emerged in the 2011 Presidential elections. Azazi eventually paid with his job for making such ‘reckless comments’. But the combustive political volatility that culminated in the emergence of President Jonathan as the PDP’s candidate and the provocative statements attributed to some politicians who felt cheated by the party’s politics of exclusivity obviously lends credence to the NSA’s submission. President Jonathan himself confirmed the ubiquitous nature of the dreaded sect when he cried out that its members have infiltrated his government.

Because of Clark’s acerbic comments on the alleged roles of some political leaders, including Gen. Mohammadu Buhari, IBB and former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar, may well be viewed in the context of his closeness to the Presidential Viklla. Such weighty allegations coming from

IBB the Ijaw leader may be ‘misconstrued’ to be the position of those in power and as such demands immediate attention and appropriate response.

IBB, in a statement issued on his behalf by his spokesman, Kassim Afegbua, denied ever backing the Boko Haram even as he reiterated that he had retired from active politics. He accused the aged Ijaw leader of senility and ethnicism, just as he urged the President to be proactive in the handling of the issue of insecurity in the country. He said “Rather than crucify Gen. IBB for nothing, Chief Edwin Clark should blame the corruption in the system and the several incompetence and inadequacies of the present system.”

Although he conceded to the fact that Jonathan inherited the challenge of insecurity in the country, IBB challenged Jonathan to be more proactive by consulting more with Islamic Clerics in the north and consult with former Presidents and political leaders with a view to resolving the logjam.

Babangida stated further, “With ethnic mindset of a Chief Edwin Clark, we can understand why the country appears fixated and why there has not been nationally accepted approach to combating this Boko Haram menace.

“Anyone who sees the Boko Haram menace as strictly a Northern affair would be exhibiting crass ignorance about leadership in a multi-ethnic configuration like Nigeria. The earlier we began the patriotic process of viewing challenges as collective responsibility, the better it would be for getting

Edwin Clark solutions to the problem. When ethnic jingoists speak and reason in the manner that Chief Edwin Clark did, then we have a huge problem on our hands.”

The IBB/Clark face-off has begun to generate reactions from a cross section of the country with some positing that the octogenarian comments were out of place and amount to buckpassing. Ijaw youths under the aegis of the Ijaw Peoples Development Initiative (IPDI) through its National Coordinator, Comrade Ozobo Austin described IBB’s defence as ‘face-saving’ and ‘weakling’. Conversely, Comrade Morris Alagoa, Secretary of the Civil Liberty Organisation (CLO), argued that the allegation leveled by the Ijaw leader against northern leaders was ‘tribal sentiment’ alleging that Jonathan was shying away from his responsibility as the Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces and President of the nation.

Speaking on the development in Yenagoa, Alagoa said though the Ijaw leader’s comment was not new “the way it came was wrong. It has too much ethnic coloration. I think the Ijaw leader is doing what he is doing because an Ijaw son is the President and handling issues of terrorism.

“The Ijaw leader should know that the same Jonathan and other security agencies announced that they knew those behind the terrorist attacks. But Jonathan is handling the issue with kid gloves and not hitting hard as a President should. Our Chief is not a security agent and if the President is leaving the gap on the matter to the detriment of the people, surely the statesman has no option but to fill the seemingly

vacant position of authority.”

Equally commenting on Clark’s outburst, maverick politician, Senator Arthur Nzeribe, challenged the elderstatesman and the government to be courageous enough to mention the names of those suspected to be members of Boko Haram sect, arrest and prosecute them. He said “I don’t seem to agree with the way the President is handling the matter. The President once said the Boko Haram people have penetrated the government, why has he not made any arrest? We should know who they are beyond the President telling us that they are in his government.

“On Clark’s statement that Babangida and Buhari should openly condemn the sect, I thought Clark has a platform to say what he has in mind. He has been the spokesman of the government for quite sometime now. Why is he throwing the balloon in the air for it to burst?

He should tell us what he knows.

Clark did not go the full hog. If he has fingered one or two persons, then we would have known where he was going. “ Ibrahim Mustapha, a public commentator observed “No doubt, the activities of the Boko Haram sect have become a wedge in the unity and progress of this country. The verbal war between the two elderstatesmen is indicative of the mutual suspicion pervading the ranks of our political leaders.

The government must act fast to stop the unending bickering among the leaders over Boko Haram so that it would not lose focus on the issue of insecurity in the land.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

From Mohammed Adamu, Kaduna

T

he police in Kaduna state have confirmed attempts to snatch cars within the city metropolis in recent times.

An attempt last Saturday night by two suspected gunmen to snatch a Honda Corolla vehicle at gunpoint along Kerawa road, Tudun Wada, a suburb of Kaduna metropolis failed.

It was gathered that the incident which happened around 9 pm, threw the residents of the area into confusion as some of them ran for safety after hearing gunshots fired by the gunmen.

Cleric tasks FG on corruption

PAGE 5

Police confirm several carsnatch attempts in Kaduna Report showed that the gunmen shot thrice on the ground in their attempt to scare the owner of the car who was trying to pack the car when they approached him.

Some of the residents who were outside when the gunmen arrived the house on motorcycle said they saw one of them standing close to the house and few minutes later another person was brought on motorbike.

"They both stood there but we never knew their intention.

Until Alhaji came out of his house to pack his car that was when we heard gunshots… In fact, the person holding the gun was wearing a police uniform. But when we saw Alhaji come out of the car and ran away, we decided to join him in running to save our lives," said an eyewitness.

According to him, few minutes after the gunmen left the

scene, an Operation Yaki police van arrived the area as they later joined the team that went after the car.

Narrating his ordeals, owner of the car (names withheld) said he came out of his flat to re-pack the vehicle as he prepared to go to bed when two men approached him with a gun asking him to step out. " At first, I taught he was a policeman so I told him that I owned the car . But he insisted I

must come out by shouting at me. When he shot thrice on the ground I came out and ran away…that was when I called my office in Lagos to tell them what happened so as to track the vehicle and that they succeeded in doing," he said.

It was later learnt that the gunmen abandoned the car along Gumi College, just about 200 meters away from the scene with the front seat of the car completely damaged.

By Usman Shuaibu

T

he Pastor of the Redeemed Christian Church (RCCG) in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Pastor Jide Oluwajobi has urged the Federal Government to fight corruption which has made the country ungovernable.

He also urged security agents to wage war against corruption in order to change behavioural patterns of Nigerians towards corruption.

Oluwajobi, stated this in an interview with Peoples Daily during the Youth Special Programme, held at the church's premises at Gwagwalada.

He noted that no nation achieves greatness by allowing its citizens to engage in corrupt practices unchecked.

The cleric, however, appealed to Muslims and Christians to continue to tolerate one another in the interest of peace and progress of Nigeria.

Abducted Anambra monarch set free 8 days after

T

he traditional ruler of Ukpo Community in Dunukofia Local Council Area of Anambra state, Chief Robert Eze, on Monday regained his freedom, eight days after abduction.

The Anambra Police Public Relations Officer, Mr Raphael Uzoigwe, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka yesterday, that the traditional ruler was released before midnight on Monday.

Uzoigwe, however, did not give details of the condition for his release but said that the traditional ruler was in good health.

The image maker said that the perpetrators would not go unpunished and commended the public for their patience.

The traditional ruler was abducted on July 29 at his palace after returning from a church service at about 11:20 a.m.

The abductors had requested 100 million dollars (about N154 billion) for the release of the traditional ruler.

Preliminary investigation by the police revealed that four gunmen carried out the operation but that no life was lost.

Eze, a first class traditional ruler, was the fourth traditional ruler to be kidnapped in the state in the past two years. (NAN)

L-R: President Goodluck Jonathan, Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang Buba, and Minister of Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Reng Ochekpe, during a meeting between the Federal Government and Berom delegation, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Christians, Muslims have failed this country- Jonathan’s aide FCTA

By Albert Akota

S

enior Special Assistant to the President on Youth and Students matters, Jude Imagwu has said that Nigerians of Christian and Muslim faiths have failed the country for the role they have played in causing insecurity as well as inability to empower youths for meaningful engagements.

Imagwu, the immediate past president of the National Association of Nigeria Students, (NANS) who disclosed this yesterday in Abuja during the Nigeria youths multi-stakeholders

dialogue summit, said both religious groups have allowed the devil to use their holy names to perpetrate evil.

He noted that it would be unfair for the older generation in their 70s to draft a transformation agenda only for the youths not to witness them because of their vulnerability to the violence currently sweeping across the country.

He therefore called on youths to shun crisis and embrace peace and unity in order to realize President Goodluck Jonathan's noble agenda.

"Several challenges the youths are suffering today, we talk about unemployment, insecurity and

engaging the youths in good governance. Mr. President is ready to partner with youth of the country but Christians and Muslims have failed this country in their responsibility by allowing evildoers to hide under the holy name for atrocity," he said.

Speaking earlier, chairman of the summit, Abdullahi Abdulmajeed said that major youth leaders and associations spanning ethnic and religious groups in the country have signed a memorandum of understanding to unite under a single umbrella for peace and harmony towards the growth of Nigeria.

Flood kills many, destroys property in Kebbi From Ahmed Idris, Birnin Kebbi

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heavy early morning downpour yesterday rendered many residents of Birnin Kebbi homeless and caused the death of a 70-year-old woman.

The rains, which lasted from 3.30 am to 10.30 am, also caused the death of livestock, flooding of major roads and the collapse of

residential houses.

The deceased septuagenarian, Hajiya Aishatu Azumi, who lived in Gandu quarters, was believed to have died as a result of the flooding which rendered many areas including Bayan Tasha, Bayan Kara, Gesse Badariya and Aliero quarters inaccessible.

Owners of water pumping machines made brisk business

rendering services to many shop owners whose premises were flooded, while many roads were turned into one way traffic due to the floods.

A statement by Alhaji Abubakar Muazu , the Press Secretary to Governor Saidu Dakingari, said that the Deputy Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Aliyu, had set up a committee to ascertain the extent of damages.

commences e-vetting of building plans

By Josephine Ella

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he Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has said that its Department of Development Control has commenced electronic vetting (evetting) of all drawings submitted to fast-track all the processes of building plan approval in Abuja.

The FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed said yesterday in a statement issued by his Chief Press Secretary, Muhammad Hamza Sule that with the introduction of evetting, all building plan approval processes are now being captured in the Development Control Information System (DevCis), the first of its kind in Nigeria.

He said that physical files are gradually being withdrawn to keep faith with new ways of improving delivery to the residents of the FCT in line with what is obtainable in other advanced cities across the globe.

PAGE 6

Law maker sues for religious tolerance; donates food items From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi he member representing Dass, Tafawa-Balewa and Bogoro Federal constituency, Hon. Yakubu Dogara, has charged followers of the two religions on religious tolerance, just as he donated food items to Muslims faithful.

Dogara who made the charge while donating food items to Muslim faithful in his constituency, said that the gesture was part of his campaign promises to improve the plight of his people, saying he is determined to consolidate on the gains of democracy and to alleviate the sufferings of the people.

The law maker added that religious tolerance is the only solution towards peace and unity and challenged stakeholders to put hands together to ensure a classless socitey.

Among the food items distributed include 400 bags of rice, millet and sugar, including cartons of milk and 20 cows, as well as 60 rams.

He said his vision and mission to continue to serve his people formed the major reason why he joined politics, adding that plans are underway to execute sustainable projects in the constituency.

Dogara stressed that his giant strides to provide sustainable democracy dividends demonstrated his commitment to alleviate the plights of his people, whom he said are ravaged by abject poverty.

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Justice, panacea for stability Dankwambo

By Muhammad Nasir

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igerians have been urged to embrace peace and stability and contribute to culture of co-existence and mutual understanding and to maintain common values of humanity such as trust, equity, justice, tolerance, compassion and dialogue.

The call was made yesterday by the Governor of Gombe state, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwambo, at the 1st dialogue and peace dinner organised by Ufuk Dialogue Foundation for the purpose of promoting the culture of peaceful coexistence and mutual understanding among Nigerians, at the Transcorp Hilton Hotel, Abuja.

In his statement, Dankwambo said: "Dialogue is something I encourage and promote and something that every one of us should encourage."

He called on Nigerians to shun misunderstanding and suspicion between the two religions saying that this kind of misunderstanding should be cleared by trusting others as leaders.

Also speaking, the Minister of Information, Labaran Maku noted that the challenge of today and the future is that all human beings must learn to live together to embrace peace and stability in Nigeria. "The only two religions that share the same ancestry are Islam and Christianity because we believe in one God", he noted.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Terrorism: FG taps Israeli security T

By Lambert Tyem

…Urges banks, private sector players to key into programme

he Federal Government, yesterday, expressed its readiness to provide the enabling environment for private sector initiatives aimed at tackling the rising insecurity in the country.

Minister of Interior, Abba Moro, who spoke on the topic: "The Challenges of Homeland Security in Nigeria in an Era of Terrorism"

at the opening of a 5-day Advanced Security Training Programme on Homeland Security held at the Public Service Institute of Nigeria, Abuja, also said government would endorse such initiatives aimed at building the capacity of the civil society to effectively respond to security threats.

He said the programme

demonstrated the readiness of Nigerians to take the right steps in moving the nation forward.

He said the involvement of Israel was apt in view of its experience in counter-terrorism initiatives and manufacture of equipment capable of neutralising terrorist operations.

"My hope is that this training

will not end with just this batch.

Nigeria is a country of over 160 million people and 36 states plus FCT with countless organisations; the need to entrench homeland security in our respective microcosmic communities which can be made to fit into the larger government security programme cannot be over emphasised.

R-L: Former Zenith Bank Managing Director, Chief Jim Ovia, Chairman Fort Oil, Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, Chairman IBTC, Mr. Atedo Peterside, former Agriculture Minister, Chief Kola Jamodu, Anambra state Governor, Mr. Peter Obi, and Adamawa state Governor, Alhaji Murtala Nyako, during the National Economic Management meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye

FAAC to harmonise FG, states, LGs budget by 2013 From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

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he Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) sub-committee on the roadmap for the adoption of the International Public Sector Accounting Standards (IPSAS) in Nigeria, on Monday disclosed plans to harmonize the budgetary system of the three tiers of government before the end of 2013.

The FAAC secretary, subcommittee on IPSAS, Mr. James Nongo disclosed this in Ibadan, while speaking at a two-day sensitisation workshop for stakeholders in the SouthWest zone.

Nongo explained that, the harmonisation process will be achieved through a uniform chart of accounts system for the three tiers.

He said that it will be followed after due approval by relevant stakeholders involved in budgetary and financial management in the three tiers of government.

He also said that the stakeholders' workshop for the South-West is the fourth in the series of programmes organised by the FAAC subcommittee for the six geopolitical zones, as part of strategies to get the buy-in of key players for smooth

adoption of the new accounting standards.

While declaring the workshop open, the Accountant General of the Federation, Jonah Otunla, represented by Adeseye Senfuye, Accountant General of Ogun state, noted that government was presently taking concrete steps to ensure that all general purpose financial statements of the three tiers of government become compliant to the provision of IPSAS before the end of 2012.

According to AGF, the theme of the event which is "the adoption of IPSAS in Nigeria-the

role of stakeholders" was carefully selected to get the buy-in of political office holders and professionals needed to achieved the process.

He noted that Federal Executive Council (FEC) had approved at its meeting of 28th July, 2010 that Nigeria adopt the provisions of the International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and IPSAS for the private and public sectors respectively.

"Consequently, the FAAC at its meeting held on 13th June, 2011 set up a sub-committee to provide a roadmap for the adoption of IPSAS in the three tiers of government in Nigeria," he said.

Crisis has hardened Nigerian youths - Emir From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he Emir of Wase, His Royal Highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Sambo Haruna, yesterday disclosed that the lingering social, political and religious unrest in the country has hardened the minds of Nigerian youths, as because the youths found refuge in drugs during crises.

Haruna who was bestowed

with an award at the 37th annual national convention of the Pharmaceutical Association of Nigeria Students held at the University of Jos, noted that due to pressure of unemployment, poverty, high rate of illiteracy, armed robbery, mental disorder, 419 syndrome are other factors that make some youths to become drug addicts while

some become rapists.

According to him, drug abuse hurts both those who abused the drugs and the people around them, explaining that drugs has effect on both the brain and body, which lead to malfunctioning of the human system causing as depression.

He said that most of the drug takers suffer mental health problem and liver diseases.

The Emir however, advised parents to sincerely re-orient their children on the adverse effects of drug abuse, especially as regards their health, society and human dignity, stressing that charity begins at home.

He added that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency should intensify the campaign against drug abuse in order to have a drug free society and productive youths.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 7

Minister charge consuls on bilateral relationships

By Joy Baba

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he Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Olusegun Ashiru, has charged Consuls-Generals and Honorary Consuls to Nigeria on ensuring good bilateral relationship between the countries they are representing and Nigeria, urging them to help make their countries conducive for Nigerians

resident in their various countries.

Ambassador Ashiru gave the charge in Abuja yesterday when he received letters of commission from 10 Consuls-General and Honorary Consuls representing their countries in Nigeria to enable them function officially as Consuls in Nigeria.

The minister appeal to

them to make accessing of visas to their various countries easier than what it is now for Nigerians especially Saudi Arabia which has large number of Nigerians going there every year. He urged the Saudi Arabia ConsulGeneral to take the issue of quota given to Nigeria up with his government considering her large population.

. . .FG urges Saudi Arabia to consider Nigeria’s population

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igeria has urged Saudi Arabia to consider its large population in the quota allocation of pilgrims for the annual Hajj to the Holy Land.

The Minister of Foreign Affairs, Amb. Olugbenga Ashiru, made the call in

Abuja yesterday during the presentation of letters of authority to the Saudi Consul-General, Mr Majid Elqahtani.

Ashiru also stressed the need for a simplified visa process, considering the cordial relations between both countries.

Saudi authorities approved 95,000 pilgrims for Nigeria in the 2012 Hajj.

In his response, Elqahani, who spoke through an interpreter, said Nigeria’s concerns would be reported to his government for consideration.(NAN)

Again Plateau warns officials against MTN From Nankpah Bwakan, Jos

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he Plateau state g o v e r n m e n t yesterday reemphasised that the boycott of MTN services still stands, calling on civil servants and citizens of the state to follow suit.

It would be recalled that the management of the Jos MTN Call Centre, Comunication and

Support Service Limited (CNSSL) had announced the closure of the call centre in Jos on the grounds of insecurity a move which angered the state government.

The state commissioner for information Mr. Yiljap Abraham in a statement, said already the citizens of the state are getting used to the alternative networks.

According to the statement "This is not just an attack on our sensibility but an affront to Mr. President in all steps he has taken to bring peace to Plateau. Perhaps the Special Task Force (STF) should explain to the Chief of Defence Staff whose mandate they are executing how unsafe Plateau is to MTN business".

Police arrest man with dud cheque in Zamfara From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau uck ran out of a 35year-old civil servant in Zamfara state (names withheld) when he tried to withdraw N60, 000 illegally through the use of forged signature, but arrested by the police.

An eyewitness told our reporter that the incident occurred when the suspect came to the bank on a new brand motorcycle and immediately went to the counter to withdraw the money.

Unknown to him, the bank had received a signal from their headquarters that a particular cheque belonging to a female customer in Zaria was stolen.

The circular directed every branch to remain vigilant and ‘fortunately or unfortunately for the accused he came to withdraw money with this particular cheque.’

When the cashier was trying to find out whether he was the real owner of the cheque, he became suspicious and before the cashier could raise an alarm, the

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suspect hurriedly ran out of the banking hall and took to his heels.

The mobile policemen who were on duty were intimated about what happened and they pursued the suspect until he was finally arrested.

On interrogation, it was gathered that the previous week he had stolen a cheque from

somebody and even withdrew the sum of N7.5m from one of the new generation banks When contacted the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO) DSP Haruna Abdulmalik confirmed the incident but was quick to add that the suspect will be handed over to C.I.D. for further interrogation.

Katsina to rehabilitate 3 dams From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina he Katsina state Commissioner for Water Resources, Alhaji Jamilu Muhammad has disclosed that the state government would rehabilitate three major dams, one in each of the three senatorial zones of the state.

The commissioner, who made the disclosure in an interview with newsmen, stated that already contract has been awarded for the rehabilitation of Dutsinma zone.

Muhammad further disclosed that the state government would soon award contracts for the rehabilitation of two more dams in Funtua and Daura senatorials zones.

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Similarly, the commissioner said the government had embarked on the refurbishing and rehabilitation of high and low lifts at the Ajiwa dam site that provided water for the Katsina metropolis.

He noted that as part of efforts to improve water supply at the rural areas, the state rural water supply and sanitation agency, in partnership with MDG, Federal Government and the state government had provided 3,000 motorised hand pumps.

According to him, efforts were also on to upgrade water supply in semi-urban centres in seven local governments that cover, Batsari, Mai’adua, Kankia, Mani, Zango, Danmusa and Faskari.

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

L-R: Chancellor, Anglican Diocese of Okrika, Justice Sika Aprioku, Primate of All Nigeria Anglican Communion, Most Reverend Nicholas Okoh, and the Church Prolocutor, Reverend Isreal Okoye, during the opening ceremony of the 2nd Anglican Communion Conference of Chancellors, Registrars and Legal Officers, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Youths reading newspaper at a vendor’s stand, yesterday in Bakin Kura, Bauchi state.

Photo: NAN

Simulation exercise to demonstrate how accident victims could be rescued, during the launch of re-branded state ambulance service and global action on decade of road safety, yesterday in Abeokuta.

Photo: NAN

L-R: Training Associate, Chemical and Waste Management Programme of United Nations, Virginia Doss, Director Pollution Control and Environment, Ministry of Environment, Olufunke Babade, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment, Taiye Haruna, and Migration Advisor Embassy of Switzerland, Andreas Broger, during the national inception and awareness raising workshop, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye.

PAGE 9

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Lunatics take over Benin business district E From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

do state government’s bid to rid the business district in the state capital of undesirable elements has suffered a setback as the activities of beggars and lunatics

in the area have assumed an alarming dimension.

The problem, our reporter gathered, may be linked with the sack of the former Commissioner for Women

Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Inumidun Idehen by Governor Adams Oshiomhole on 29th May this year.

Our correspondent reports that the former commissioner

had led some officials of War against Indiscipline, WAI and the taskforce on Environment, Anti Street Trading and Removal of Obstructions to evict over 70 lunatics at two separate

occasions for rehabilitation.

A high ranking government official who spoke on condition of anonymity, assured that governor is in advance talk on the matter.

Zamfara registers 91, 000 farmers From Salisu Zakari Maradun, Gusau bout 91, 000 farmers have so far been r e g i s t e r e d under the Federal Government’s e-wallet agricultural transformation agenda in Zamfara state.

This was disclosed by the Minister of State for Agriculture Alh BukarTijjani while flagging off the sales of fertiliser and insecticides to targeted farmers in the state.

The minister, who was represented by the North-West Regional Director, Dr. Leo Nyam, said about 91,000 farmers have registered under the new agricultural scheme, adding, “this figure clearly demonstrated that the state is an agrarian state”.

According to the minister, five redemption centres were created to carter for the needs of the farmers across the state, adding that the centres were established in Gusau, Talatan Mafara, Kaura Namoda, Bukkuyum, and Tsafe local government areas respectively for effective service delivery.

He said the scheme was intended to last for three weeks would increase efficiency and productivity in the agriculture sector, stressing that it was for this reason that the Federal Government decided to subsidise the sales of fertiliser by 25 percent.

Speaking at the occasion, the state acting governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Wakkala explained that the state was reluctant to participate in the programme because of the inherent difficulty farmers in the state would encounter in accessing their activities through the internet.

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L-R: Chairman, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Professor Attahiru Jega, Executive Secretary, National Universities Commission (NUC), Professor Julius Okojie, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETF), Dr. Musa Babayo, Minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Ahmed Rufa'i, and Executive Secretary, TETF, Professor Mahmood Yakubu, during the 2012 strategic planning workshop for benefitting institutions organised by TETFUND, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

LG boss seeks support for Katsina almajiri schools From Lawal Sa’idu Funtua, Katsina

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he caretaker chairman of Faskari Local Government Area of Katsina state, Engineer Isiyaku Ahmad Faskari, has called on wealthy individuals in the state to support almajiri schools spread across the state.

Faskari, who made the call in an interview with newsmen in Katsina, noted that the support to such schools by the wealthy would further assist in achieving the purpose of establishing them.

“The only way to ensure the survival and sustainability of these almajiri schools is for the wealthy individuals to support.

We have a lot of them in Katsina that can make the difference”, he added.

The council boss commended the administration of Governor Ibrahim Shema for initiating the almajiri schools project which, he said, would go a long way in addressing the many challenges faced by the operators of such

schools.

Faskari therefore advised the beneficiaries of the almajiri school initiative to assist the government by making good use

of the facilities provided and rededicating themselves to Islamic scholarship and learning.

He promised to support those

Land tussle: Ibeju residents lament role of royal father From Matthew Aramunde, Lagos esidents of Ibejuland in the Ibeju-Lekki council area of Lagos state are living in palpable fear even as they have continued to lament the role of the royal father of the area, Oba Rafiu Olusegun Salami, who, they allege, is pitching land owners and head of families against each other, thus causing land tussle.

They further alleged that the royal father was disposing off parcels of land belonging to other families even as he is illegaly imposing fines arbitrarily on the residents, a situation which has triggered off a face-off between most families, land owners and prospective buyers.

A community leader Alhaji

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Shamusudeen Rafiu, who was visibly angry, told our reporter that the action of the Oba was becoming too over bearing and that was why they invited the police to avert breakdown of law and order and unnecessary bloodshed. “He is pitching community leaders against each other, illegally selling parcels of land belonging to the community and failing to remit the sales proceeds to their rightful owners”.

A resident, Mr. Bassey Etim, said because of the brewing crisis, he has concluded plans to relocate to neigbouring Epe town because he is piqued that the hitherto peaceful community has been invaded by hoodlums who at the instance of the Oba, continue to unleash mayhem,

Again, judiciary unions issue 21-day ultimatum to Al-makura From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

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ll may not be well with workers in Nasarawa state as the Judiciary Staff Union (JUSUN) and Magistrates Association of Nigeria (MAN), joined their colleagues in the state owned tertiary institutions, to issue yet another 21-day ultimatum to Governor Umaru Tanko Almakura, to press home their demands for improved service conditions.

Only yesterday, the Joint

Unions of Tertiary Institutions (JUTI), issued a 21-day ultimatum to the governor for his inability to fulfill his own part of an agreement entered into earlier on with the unions regarding outstanding 18 months allowances.

Addressing newsmen shortly after a joint meeting of the two organs aimed at harmonising their positions at the Chief Magistrate Court 3, Lafia, the chairman of JUSUN, Comrade Musa Jimoh, said this has become

operating within his domain, stressing that no effort was too small in making the operators of these schools to be self reliant and independent of the society.

imperative given the discriminatory treatment meted out against their members by the hierarchy of the Judicial Service Commission and other judiciary organs in the state.

Comrade Jimoh pointed out that the Judiciary Service Commission does not promote nonlawyer members of the judiciary to directorate cadre which is a common practice in other states in addition to irregularities in promotion resulting in situations where those who

have strong backing and connection from the big shots in government get prompt promotions and appointments.

However, responding to the allegations, State AttorneyGeneral and Commissioner of Justice, Mohammed Abdullahi, said the “Nasarawa State Judicial Service Commission is vested with constitutional powers in relation to employment, promotion and discipline of staff from directorship cadre downward”.

enforcing the extortion of transporters, issuance of tickets to sand and gravel transporters and imposing levies on developers and illegal acquisition of land.

265 pilgrims leave Lagos for Saudi Arabia From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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65 Muslim pilgrims from Lagos state will be leaving for Makkah and Madina, Saudi Arabia today.

The Commissioner for Home Affairs & Culture, Alhaji Oyinlomo Danmole disclosed this during the one-day Umrah Seminar for intending pilgrims for this year’s Lesser Hajj. He urged the pilgrims to be of good behaviour, and also good ambassadors of the state.

He further disclosed that the number of this year pilgrims is more than the last two years, adding that it was the repositioning and re-engineering of the board that brought about the large number of pilgrims.

The commissioner explained that on Hajj matters, Lagos state is a role model to other states in the federation and the state cannot afford to fail in any of its operations.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

NOA, ministry to embark on tree planting campaign

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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Archbishop of Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja, Rev. John Onaiyekan (middle), receiving award from Gombe state Governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Hassan Dankwanbo (right), during the 1st dialogue and peace Iftar dinner, organised by Ufuk Dialogue Foundation, on Monday in Abuja. With them is President, Ufuk Dialoge Foundation, Mr. Oguzhan Drirkan (left).

PHOTO: MAHMUD ISA

No special convocation at Unilorin, says VC From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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he outgoing ViceChancellor of the University of Ilorin, Prof.

Is-haq Oloyede has said that he is not planning to hold a special convocation before he leaves office on October 15, 2012.

Oloyede who made this clarification at the end of the 227th Senate meeting where the final year degree and diploma examinations results of the 2011/2012 academic session were approved, said there was no truth “in the rumour” stressing that the convocation date remains October 23, 2012 as originally planned in the university calendar.

He said, “As a matter of tradition, the university does not celebrate individuals but achievements. Whoever is the incumbent Vice-Chancellor no matter how new he is on the seat, would statutorily preside over the convocation ceremonies.”

It was gathered that preparations for the convocation ceremonies for the diploma, first and higher degree graduands of the university have commenced in the institution.

Lagos issues ultimatum over registration of commercial vehicles Mark From Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

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he Lagos state government has slammed a 90-day ultimatum on commercial transport operators in the state to re-register their vehicles.

The Commissioner for Transportation, Comrade Kayode Opeifa who gave the directive at a meeting attended by members of the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW), Road Transport Association in Nigeria (RTEAN), Motorcycle Operators Association of Lagos State (MOALS) and All Nigeria

Auto Bike Commercial Owners and Workers Association (ANACOWA) held in the conference room of the ministry said the measures was to ensure safety and security of residents.

Opeifa explained that a new data base would be created by the government to identify the owner of the vehicle, driver as well as the vehicle conductor, adding that Hackney permit would be issued as one of the vehicle particulars that commercial bus operators will henceforth have in the state.

In the new transport regime,

he said the hackney permit would be placed inside and outside the vehicle for easy passenger identification.

The commissioner who harped on the newly signed traffic law and released white paper, said though the government recognised the need for operators to form unions, it was illegal for its members to collect money from operators on the highways.

He tasked them on the need to be orderly in their operations rather than converting bus stops into motor-parks thereby creating traffic gridlock on the roads.

Lesser Hajj: Kwara gov urges Nigerians to be good ambassadors From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

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s Muslims across the world converge in the holy land of Mecca in Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj, the Kwara state governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has advised Nigerian Muslims performing the spiritual exercise, to be good ambassadors and pray fervently for Nigeria to overcome her prevailing security and other challenges for the

preservation of her pride in the international community.

Governor Ahmed made the call in Ilorin in a message to Muslim faithful on the eve of their departure to Saudi Arabia for the Lesser Hajj.

The governor in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Alhaji Abdulwahab Oba, noted that it was only in a peaceful atmosphere that the potentials of Nigeria could be achieved.

He also called on the people of the state to remain ceaseless in their support and prayers for the realisation of his administration's shared prosperity programme designed to transform the state from a core civil service state to an economic hub of the nation.

Governor Ahmed urged all Muslims and Nigerians at large to use the remaining period of the holy month of Ramadan to imbibe the spirit of good neighbourliness and good practices in their individual and national lives.

Forum expresses support for Sarkin Hausawa candidate

By Stanley Onyekwere

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he Arewa Journalists Forum, an umbrella of journalist of northern Nigeria has expressed support for the candidature of Bello Mohammed Sa’idu for the presidency of the Hausa Community (Sarkin Hausawa) in

lans are in top gear for the National Orientation Agency (NOA), in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Environment to launch a tree planting campaign aimed at protecting the environment.

The NOA Director General, Mr. Mike Omeri and the Minister of Environment, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim Mailafia, made this known during a courtesy visit by the latter to seek closer ties to facilitate public sensitisation on environmental protection, with emphasis on afforestation.

Omeri said the agency’s strategy was to make afforestation a people driven, rather than a demand driven programme, which he said would keep in the consciousness of Nigerians, the need to practice afforestation on a regular basis rather than a reactionary practice to the impacts of deforestation.

A statement issued yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary, in the agency, Paul Odenyi, noted that Nigerians could reverse the trend of climate change by doing the right thing in their environment instead of waiting for special environmental protection programmes.

Abuja.

The forum, in a statement jointly signed by its president, Hassan Galaldima and secretary, Abraham Sule, said Sa’idu, if elected, would promote peaceful coexistence among the multi-cultural, multi- religious and multi-tribal groups in Abuja, including the unity,

progress and peace of the country at large.

According to the statement, the endorsement of his candidature was in recognition of his selfless service to humanity irrespective of religious, tribal and ethnic affiliations.

AJF called on the Hausa communities in Abuja to come out

enmasse and vote for Sa’idu, on the election day.

The statement read in part: “We in conjunction with the Northern Professionals Forum hereby endorse Sa’idu as the Sarkin Hausawan Abuja because of his outstanding performance and wealth of experience as a community leader...”

advocates vigilance over Boko Haram

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

S

enate President David Mark yesterday called on Nigerians to be more vigilant in their daily activities, condemning the renewed attack on places of worship by members of the Boko Haram sect, particularly the deeper Life Church in Okene.

In a statement issued by his Special Adviser, Media and Publications, Kola Ologbondiyan, urged Nigerians to routinely check their environment, noting that the communal living of Nigerians is being abused by the violent sect.

“We can no longer take our communal lifestyle for granted.

We should begin to ask questions when we find strange people and strange development around us.

The dictum of being our brothers’ and sisters’ keepers has to be reexamined. When you find strange people and strange things around your environment, make immediate report to security agencies that are close to you for immediate and necessary action”, Senator Mark further said.

Describing the activities of the sect as more daring, the he urged Nigerians to make information about the sect available to security agents or those who occupy elective offices around their constituencies.

He also advised security agents to take routine surveillance of their beats very seriously, saying that the attack on the Deeper Life Church, Okene, Kogi state, as well as the places of worship in other states is “ungodly and wicked.”

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 11

MONEY SENSE 10 tips for effective money management Outlining the very first steps to take in order to get your financial life under control

By Muhammad Sada

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o have a stress free life and enjoy financial independence in life it is very important that you have control on your income and expenses. For this you don’t need to be a financial professor to have control of your budget just live within your means with a few financial tools and money management tips to increase your wealth. Here are few tips that could work effectively in managing your money: Tip 1: Set a financial goal: Achieving your financial dreams isn’t always easy; set yourself long-term and short-term goals, everything comes under itpaying debt, securing money for future use, etc. All these come into reality only by setting proper goal and require commitment, dedication to achieve your goals.

Tip 2: Pay your debts: Prioritize your debts, and pay more than the minimum amount each month because the longer you take to pay off your debt, the more interest they will accumulate and you’ll be left with less cash at the end of the day.

Tip 3: Track your income: You will be able to maintain your finances in positively only by tracking your income. Make sure you’re spending less than what you earn, and also make sure that you keep a set amount from your income for future use.

Tip 4: Track your expenditures: Tracking your spending is useful and can be implemented in your budget to manage your money. Ensure you have control on your temptation to overspend and buy unnecessary things.

Tip 5: Make a savings account: This is the best way to save and expand your wealth.

You can invest a small amount from your budget to your savings account regularly and this could be beneficial for when you need cash in emergencies.

If you don’t find any resources,

or a friend to help opt for a pay day loans since these loans are ideal in emergencies.

Tip 6: Invest wisely: Instead of saving your money in an account for a prolonged period, you can use it to invest, so that you get paid back with an extra amount.

Tip 7: Stop using credit cards: Keep credit cards only for major purchases or better still you should stop using them because these cash advances usually come up with higher interest rates and become cumbersome to pay off.

Tip 8: Avoid taking loans: Go for an alternative- borrow amount from your friends or family members instead of going for a loan every time you need cash.

Tip 9: Earn extra money: Make other alternatives to earn extra money; as your wants increase, you need to acquire other sources of income. Since your income is shrinking and managing all your needs and wants with a single income would be hard these alternatives put some pounds in your pockets until you become financially

stable.

Tip 10: Take professional advice: If you find no improvement in your financial status even after implementing different management tips for a long time, then you can seek advice from financial wizards.

Money management is not just for big corporations. It is for you and I as well. It doesn’t need to be labeled with terms like money management or budgeting. If you are where I was, it means nothing more than GETTING RID OF THE CHAOS.

Leadership and how to start on becoming a leader

E

ffective leadership can happen on the dance floor of conversation.

Leadership is an interactive conversation that pulls people toward becoming comfortable with the language of personal responsibility and commitment.

Leadership is not just for people at the top. Everyone can learn to lead by discovering the power that lies within each one of us to make a difference and practicing the law of reciprocity.

Leadership is applicable to all facets of your life: competencies that you can learn to expand your perspective, set the context of a goal, understand the dynamics of human behavior and take the initiative to get to where you want to be. Through discovering who you are and your life’s work, you develop the self-awareness and confidence required to lead.

Coached to success insights help you to develop the leadership skills necessary to become the master of yourself so you will be ready, willing and able to lead others. Self leadership happens through self-learning and selfcoaching. As you build your capability to lead, people become attracted to you and this opens the door for trusting you. When they trust you, people will be open to listening to what you have to

say.

Leadership positions almost always come with power, which can be a real problem. Research suggests that leaders often fail for a few common reasons: due to unclear or outsized expectations, a failure to build partnerships with key stakeholders, a failure to learn the company, industry or the job itself fast enough, a failure to determine the process for gaining commitments from direct reports and a failure to recognize and manage the impact of change on people.

Rather than spending so much of our time and effort on what we will do as leaders, we need to focus our attention, first and foremost, on the reactions that we want, and only then think about what actions we will engage in to elicit them.

The first major, unnatural solution for leaders is to shift their focus, to start thinking less about their own desires and perspectives and more about their team members’ desires and perspectives. As mature adults, most leaders know themselves pretty well. But how well do they know their team members? Great leaders take their focus off themselves and target their team members.

The Leadership Law: Think of the reaction that you want first, then determine the actions you can take to maximize the chances that those reactions will actually happen.

Active Listening Active listening is an old leadership communication

technique that gets too little play these days, and not for any good reason.

Active listening encourages listeners to pay attention so they can repeat, in their own words, what the speaker has just said.

Don’t just listen, listen actively. “Let em try to tell you

what I just heard. I want to make sure I got it right.” This is a simple script that you can use to respond to important messages that come your way during your everyday work; it is also something that you can ask of your team members. Obviously you don’t want to overdo it: it’s best to save active listening for important exchanges of information.

Follow the Leadership Law Avoid thinking of your own actions first; instead think of the reactions you would like to see from your team members. Only after you have identified your hoped-for outcomes should you start thinking about how you can mold your own actions to achieve them.

QUO TE UOTE

There is a recognition that there is no such thing as ‘quiet wealth’ anymore - Jonathan Crystal of Frank Crystal & Company, talking about the dangers of ID theft and associated threats to the wealthy.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 12

EDIT ORIAL EDITORIAL

L

Those that Nigeria should celebrate and honour

ast year’s list of awardees for the national honour drawn up by President Goodluck Jonathan was roundly condemned because most of those who made it were people whose only claim to fame, not to talk of deserving of honour, in the estimation of most Nigerians, is their dubious connection to the corridors of power.

Except for few deserving names, the list was seen to be mostly made up of apologists and or sponsors of the ruling party’s overbearing influence on the political space. The list was clearly shorn of the kind of patriots whose activities remain the saving grace for a country that not long ago earned the dubious distinction of being the most corrupt nation on earth.

Such unsung heroes we have aplenty in our midst, but remain so only because our values and priorities are misplaced. Only last week, the National Orientation Agency (NOA) rewarded an honest Abuja taxi driver, one Mr. Umeh Usuah, with N30,000 for returning N18million left in his car by a passenger he had taken to a hotel.

Usuah said he was at the carwash when he discovered a bag left in his car by a passenger he had earlier taken to a hotel and he decided to do the right thing by returning it to the owner.

At a time when there is infectious cynicism about honesty in a nation blighted by an unprecedented level of corruption in high places, and

when many, if not most Nigerians, daily struggle to find one meal to eat, Usuah’s decision “to do the right thing” is clearly more than can be valued on monetary terms.

We commend and agree with the NOA Director General not only for the reward, but for recognising and acknowledging that exemplary

“

The Usuahs, Ibrahims, Tarzeas and their like in our midst are those more deserving of our national honour than the flotsam and jetsam that congregate in the corridors of power without adding any recognised value to the Nigerian entity behaviour such as Usuah’s deserves to be celebrated. Also, we are pleased that the representative of the Aviation Minister, Mr. Oche Elias, has recognised the conduct of citizen Usuah as “a rare display of honesty, integrity and trust”. We cannot agree more.

But Usuah is not alone in this unique class of honest Nigerians who

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”

would rather starve than soil the name of their country by committing dishonourable acts. In April this year, one Mr. Salami Ibrahim, on the staff of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), found and returned a wallet containing foreign currency totalling N7.3 million while cleaning an aeroplane. A cabin cleaning team leader, Ibrahim found the wallet containing £25,000 and •5,000 inside an aircraft at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Lagos, during routine cleaning. That was the second time that Ibrahim returned money found while cleaning aircraft.

In December 2005, Mr. Samuel Tarzea, an employee of Abujabased exclusive Perniel Apartments Hotel, returned N95 million ($700, 000 USD) to a visiting Ivorian General who had not even as yet realised he had lost the money until it was handed back to him the following day.

The Usuahs, Ibrahims, Tarzeas and their like in our midst are those more deserving of our national honour than the flotsam and jetsam that congregate in the corridors of power without adding any recognised value to the Nigerian entity. The trio of Usuah, Ibrahim and Tarzea may well and should indeed be the poster faces of the crusade for moral regeneration in the country. They are the ones deserving of celebration and honour.

OUR PEOPLE

OUR VISION

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

CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER ALI M. ALI

HEAD, ADVERT/MARKETING HUSSAINI ABDULRAHMAN, CNA

ACTING EDITOR, WEEKEND JAMILA NUHU MUSA

MANAGER, ADMINISTRATION HASSAN HAMMANYAJI

HEAD, LAGOS BUREAU ADESOJI OYINLOLA

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 13

The hurdles of doing business in Nigeria

By Uddin Ifeanyi

I

n their Report on the 2011 Article IV Consultation with the country, IMF staff point to the Nigeria section in the 2012 World Bank “Doing Business Report”, noting “a need to address difficulties in paying taxes, registering property, and carrying out international trade”, and the familiar plaint over “high cost and inadequate supply of electricity”.

Nigeria!

Accursed and beloved in the same breath! In the teeth of some of the most incompetent and corrupt leadership to be met with anywhere in the world, examples abound of the rich potentials hidden in the nation’s fraying fabric.

I suppose these contradictions drive the endless debates in the country over both the preferred path if the economy is to meet the most basic of our people’s expectations, and the pace at which we should proceed.

We just cannot agree over whether the glass we’ve been drinking from (since 1960, or, again, is it 1999?) is half-full or half-empty. In spite of the robust debates over how ingenuous the current administration is, I wager that we share a lot more common grounds: spaces, not exactly white, but not as brawly

as their surroundings.

Electricity, is one such. The pros and cons around this are part of the national folklore, and are not worth a going over. The vicissitudes of the manufacturing sector of the economy are another.

Contributing 1.12% of total output growth in the first quarter of this year, there is little question that a lot is wrong with the sector. The problem with our manufacturing sector, as with other economies making their way up the production value chain, is not that we have seen services contribute a growing share of GDP, it is instead that there are clear and present obstacles to manufacturing activity in the country.

Conversely, the observed growth in the services sector, wholesale/ retail trade to be precise, speak to what has been described as the burgeoning “informalisation” of the economy, and the serious issues of unemployment/underemployment that piggyback on this phenomenon.

The National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) estimates unemployment (national) at 23.9% last year, just a little under the 24% for Spain, which most commentators on that country’s dwindling fortunes describe in fin de siècle terms.

That the unemployment numbers are kinder to urban dwellers (17.1%) than they are to rural dwellers (25.6%) speaks to levels of immiseration in the villages and farmsteads that will continue to act against the possibilities of a subsistence, rainfed agricultural sector remaining for long the main driver of domestic output growth.

Understandably, females (24.3%) are slightly worse off than their male counterparts (23.5%). But I suspect that there is an enumeration problem added here.

Most females in “employment” in the country are in informal, temporary type work that could slip through the gaps in the bean counters’ categories.

So how do we address these problems? In their Report on the 2011 Article IV Consultation with the country, IMF staff point to the Nigeria section in the 2012 World Bank “Doing Business Report”, noting “a need to address difficulties in paying taxes, registering property, and carrying out international trade”, and the familiar plaint over “high cost and inadequate supply of electricity”.

Apparently, in Nigeria, an investor seeking to do business (it is insignificant whether this

be of the domestic variety, or an FDI-bearing type), and who includes construction of office spaces as part of the necessaries, would spend upwards of 504.8% of the nation’s per capita income on 15 procedures. Then s/he (or they, it doesn’t matter) would have to cool their heels for 85 days waiting for the necessary construction permits.

Unfortunately, competition is not often so lenient; and is wont to soldier ahead regardless. Still, the costs to our would-be domestic operator pile up relentlessly. Our hypothetical investor could find less destructive use of the time spent waiting for the construction permit, than dwell on the 50 days and 6 procedures it took to register the business in the first place. Weak legal rights, nonexistent public registries and private credit bureaux, and abysmally shallow credit information, mean that access to credit (once the business gets going) will be up hill all the way.

Here, the advantage shifts in favour of the non-resident investor with access to funding from outside the country (if things hold as they are, then count on the Indians’ and Chinese’ growing dominance in the economy).

But even the new Asian

imports will have to contend with difficulties in enforcing contracts: the confidence trickster’s milieu.

Thirty-eight different steps. Over 810 days of litigation. And at a cost usually equal to 35.3% of the initial claim. After this, you’d have thought it couldn’t get any worse. Still, exporting whatever is produced is even more cumbersome. The World Bank estimates “cost to export” from Nigeria at about US$1,070 per container (US$500 in China, and US$1,013 in Ghana). 29 days to export. The imponderables are endless.

Not surprisingly, Nigeria ranked 133 of the 183 countries sampled by the World Bank and the International Finance Corporation in their June 2011 survey of “regulations that enhance business activity and those that constrain it”.

Thus, the test of government’s effectiveness cannot just be in the diverse estimates of percentage implementation of budget numbers (exotic, though this may seem). But in the extent to which we have lowered these hurdles (where we may not be able completely to dismantle them). And on this, there cannot be too much argument. This government is not passing muster.

Uddin Ifeanyi is a retired civil servant

Social media: ‘To become my friend isn’t by force’

By Biodun Shaiban

I

stand to be corrected, but the social media may have arrived in the 1990s with the first most recognised being Hi-5.

There was some reluctance to jump on the social media bandwagon at the initial stages especially in Nigeria, where most people were completely ignorant or could not just afford to get on the internet. The average Nigerian internet user basically used the internet for serious business and not mundane business like social media. Of course, in the 90s only the rich could afford having a computer and maybe internet at home.

It was almost impossible to see a cyber cafe with brand new computers at the time. The Cafes made use of CPUs and monitors, which were mostly dumped in Nigeria from Western countries.

Visiting a cyber cafe then was quite cumbersome. I remember how we queued only to check emails. The norm was to have an operator sit with the computer which moved at snail speed, while people waited in turns to enter their addresses and passwords. Hi-5 with time became popular in Nigeria especially among the youths (mostly students). After Hi-5, came facebook, bebo, myspace, twitter etc and full embrace of social media by the world and Nigerians alike. A factor that sped up that embrace especially in Nigeria was the introduction of GSM operators who were licensed in August 2001. At first,

only the well fed could afford phones and the operators’ charges. But today, all that is history. With the introduction of more GSM licences, mass shipment of phones (including smart phones), laptops, tablets etc into Nigeria, almost everyone now has a device and can easily use the social media.

I also embraced the social media too but significantly for a reason which I have in common with the founder of facebook, Mark Zukerberg. He founded facebook to meet the opposite sex.

Most Nigerians, especially males, also embraced the social media for this reason too. I am sure our female counterparts can confirm the fact that they got and still get several friend requests from unknown males. If you want a bombardment of friend requests on social media, just put a picture of a beautiful lady on your display and you will experience what I am talking about. So generally, due to the random requests and acceptance, most people have ‘friends’ who they themselves sometimes wonder how they met because you have little or nothing in common. But the social media has a double-edged sword; you meet both very good and bad people.

Recently, especially on twitter and facebook, a lot of criticisms, accusations, counteraccusations and outright abuse have become very rampant especially amongst those who are politically conscious. I couldn’t help but single out one of the accusations and it goes thus: ‘Is

anyone (especially a critic of the government) who blocks or deletes a ‘friend or follower’ because of criticism and abuse not behaving like the very government officials they themselves are criticising ?’ The accusation sometimes goes further and accuses them of hypocrisy, bigotry, intolerance and arrogance just as is possessed by an average Nigerian politician.

This makes me wonder: How much rights do we have to block or delete on social media especially because of criticism and abuse ? A euphemism for abuse could also be ‘freedom of speech’.

Now everybody (especially those in democratic countries) have the right to speak freely. But freedom of speech should be within the limits of the law. The law in this context could be dictated by both the authorities and individuals.

Now, since we are talking of

social media here, the authorities consist of the founders and the individuals who will be the owner of the profile or handle as it may apply on facebook or twitter respectively. I will focus on the laws of the individuals here. One thing to note here is that as expected, all individuals have an unwritten law. It doesn’t have to be stated publicly. Nobody on earth will like being punched or slapped. That does not have to be publicly stated. No one likes to be abused especially on their ‘property’.

I will use this analogy: any man will walk or chase out any abuser who comes into his house to insult him especially if the abuser is not well known or doesn’t pay his bills for him. For those who do not catch my drift yet, note this fact, a profile or handle is the property of the individual who opened it. He/she has a right to tolerate or not tolerate intrusion in whatever

“

Of course, abusers will claim to have the right to ‘freedom of expression and speech’ but often leave out the fact that every individual also has a right to ‘freedom of association’. If anybody wants you out or off their property, they reserve the right to. No one is bound by any law to allow anyone follow or be friends with anyone on social media

way he/she deems just like we all will do in our own houses or rooms.

Even in entrenched democracies, hecklers are bundled or walked out of public functions or buildings in spite of the fact that the public official uses the hecklers’ (supposedly a taxpayer’s) money for the function (i.e. build or rent the building/room). The point here is that it is about doing the right thing, at the right time and at the right place. Someone’s profile or timeline is definitely not the right place to be abused by someone else. So how do you now claim to have a right not to be deleted or blocked from someone else’s property after raining abuses on them especially when they don’t spend your money and are not accountable to you in any form? This applies to those criticised and those who criticise.

Of course, abusers will claim to have the right to ‘freedom of expression and speech’ but often leave out the fact that every individual also has a right to ‘freedom of association’. If anybody wants you out or off their property, they reserve the right to. No one is bound by any law to allow anyone follow or be friends with anyone on social media. As said in Nigeria sometimes: ‘Friendship no be by force’.

This makes me think– no one has the absolute right to abuse anyone on his property (profile or timeline) and not want to face the consequences meted out by the property owners. Thank you.

Biodun Shaiban is on Twitter @beeshaiban

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Federal character: The hunter and the hunted

By Uche Igwe

E

arlier this week, I read an unsettling account about the alleged lopsided nature of recent recruitments into the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). I am sure interested parties will in their own time verify the accuracy of the issues raised in that report..

However, after reading the report I decided to take a cursory look at the Federal Character Principle to get a more nuanced understanding of how it has been implemented so far in the Nigerian Federal Civil Service.

For the sake of clarity, the federal character principle was promoted during the constituent assembly and later emerged in the 1979 Constitution.

It calls (at least in principle) for the equitable distribution of federal appointments to reflect the dimensions of the nation’s ethnic, regional and religious diversity and heterogeneity.

Promoters of the law believed that it would promote a sense of belonging, patriotism and loyalty to the nation. Some scholars suggest that its forerunner was the quota system that sought to give opportunities in education and employment to disadvantaged groups in the Nigerian federation. To the undiscerning, these intentions may seem noble, however I will use a few examples to argue that the federal character principle

has only managed to further individuals in the name of federal Nigerian Customs Service, deepen disunity, promote character while genuine National Pension Commission incompetence, and advance unemployed but qualified people etc. The list may not be inequality, sectional nepotism and from other parts of the country exhaustive but one will see an corruption. The extent to which were informed that the embargo unhealthy dominance of people this principle has been used to on employment had not been lifted. from a particular part of the insult the sensibilities of Nigerians In one particular agency ,a country. Out of naivety, one is simply unimaginable. consultant rented for the federal could ask: why is there intense First, this principle has been character hatchet job. He searched competition in some agencies u s e d while there is unequally. In very little the civil interest in s e r v i c e , others?

How different qualified were Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text qualifications these people at messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written are used to the point where contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 recruit people they were words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and from different recruited? Were a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed parts of the they the best to: country. While q u a l i f i e d there is a glut of available at that well qualified time? My main The Editor, people from worry is that Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, certain parts of some of these 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. the country, agencies are in Email: let ters@peoplesdaily-online.com o t h e r charge of core SMS: 07037756364 disadvantaged activities of parts usually government and have a paucity of qualified people. for three months before he could how then can we expect such In the name of federal character, manage to fill those reserved agencies to be effective when they opportunities are reserved for less positions with ‘his’ people. I was are deliberately filled with qualified individuals while more reliably informed that they , incompetent individuals? qualified individuals are denied ‘Toronto ‘ certificates were Furthermore, the few competent due to geopolitical considerations. arranged quickly packaged for persons among them do not have any incentive to perform as they What an injustice! During the five them . years I grudgingly spent within Secondly, let me draw are often in a minority and will the civil service, I saw situations attention to the tribal distribution be naturally submerged by the where unscrupulous chief of people in specific federal agencies other side.

My third and final point took executives also appointed under which include National Petroleum the banner of the federal character Corporation, Central Bank of me to the department of finance, principle, dubiously and hastily Nigeria, Office of the Accountant supplies and administration of loaded federal government General of the Federation, Federal many of these agencies. If you agencies with incompetent Capital Development Authority, take a quick census of those who

WRITE TO US

populate those units, then you will wonder why the Nigerian civil service will remain a cesspit for corruption. Apart from majorly coming from particular parts of the country, they are deliberately chosen with sticky fingers to steal, loot and plunder. This is because oil revenue-derived federal allocation is perceived as public money and in the name of federal character, civil servants are incentivised to compete for positions in the service.

During my last days within the service I witnessed several instances when the manipulation of the so called federal character was going on. Sadly it was in the full glare of the representatives of the Federal Character Commission who themselves became emergency employment contractors, bringing in names of people who neither have relevant experience nor applied for the job to hurry into stage managed interviews to satisfy their ‘share’ of the federal character largesse.

Many of those who saw the mess early procured ‘Toronto’ certificates and they are now high up in that agency. What a shame!

That is how a noble idea which had potential of fostering unity and equity has been converted into a tool in the hands of the unscrupulous.

Uche Igwe wrote in from Institute of Development Studies, University of Sussex, and can be reached on ucheigwe@gmail.com

How antipathy to politics breed bad leaders

By Michael Oluwagbemi

C

hances are that if you ask most Nigerians about what ails the country, almost all will say lack of quality leadership.

Indeed, former Archbishop of Lagos, Okogie, said as much recently upon his retirement, that “Although government has come and gone in the country, both military and civilian, most of them did not have the interest of Nigeria or Nigerians at heart.

They were in power to sustain their own personal agenda and their activities revolved around their own narrow circle of friends and appropriations outside government.”

Of course, the Archbishop knew what he was talking about.

After all, whenever we lament a dearth of infrastructure, epidemic of corruption, decay in the education or health sector or the poor governing structure of the country year in, year outwhat we speak of is a lack of leadership to fix these problems, or sheer lack of will (spine, some say) by those parading themselves as leaders!

When we lament the insecurity or unemployment rate in our land, what we speak of indeed is a lack of good leaders committed to fixing them for the good of all. Essentially, Nigeria has been blessed with the most greedy, selfish and self-hating leaders of every tribe, hue and colour in human history!

Think about it, a lack of selfless

leadership ensures that leaders make short term calculations for their own self interest like third term bid, repeated electioneering without a chance to win- instead of building up, persistent bending of rules to retain oneself in power, nonchalant attitude towards building self sustaining institutions to prosecute the war on corruption and of course turning such endeavor into a tool to silence internal or external opposition.

If selfish and greedy leaders were bad, a worse kind of leadership (the worst being a combo) perhaps is the weak one as we are currently entertaining in Aso Rock. This leadership style unfortunately also has its day (many times) in Nigeria, starting from the first, second and fourth republic; and yes, that interim government! Leaders without spine ensure government soon becomes a laughing stock, ensuring the perpetual ban of our collective hopes to the dark alleys of regression. Decisions are made and changed, and we all look like fools. Corruption is rife, and the so-called “spineless leader” can do nothing about it! Nigerians unfortunately, bear the brunt.

So more than fifty years after independence, we are still in this endless search for durable leadership. What will give, and where are the leaders? Instead of gripping about the problems, how about we figure out why it has been near impossible to produce

good leaders and go about solving that first? Going to basics, it is often said that every society deserves its leaders. This is an about way of saying, leaders are only a reflection of their followers. So if you have selfish, greedy and weak leaders then they only must have been a product of selfish, greedy and weak willed people!

In Nigeria this is true, even for you my readers. How many Nigerians will come out of a comfortable living and thrust themselves into the hard work of organizing their fellow citizens to change the current paradigm?

Are there leaders who for no promise of quick return of riches, put themselves to the arduous tasks of educating their fellow citizens, organizing, fixing community problems and empowering ordinary people instead of enjoying the borrowed heat of the enemy’s fire in distant lands? I dare say, not many!

Don’t get me wrong, we’ll return home if there is promise of business (self). If there is promise of appointment (self)- perhaps they will go. If there is a promise of a multinational expatriate work (self)- Nigeria begins to sound better. But to otherwise jeopardize our comfortable and secured living for that mess? No! From the perspective of weakness, the moment we smell that Ghana must go, the faster we lose our moral high standing against bribery, corruption and the plague of kick backs that is destroying our country. We are a

people of quicksand morals and selfish ambitions. Indeed, a friend once told me that there are only two types of Nigerians: those who are stealing and those who are waiting to steal! How sad!

Essentially, the greatest problem that stands between Nigeria and good leadership is that good, honest Nigerians are as selfish as the bad, dishonest ones! They are so selfish, they’ll keep their goodness to themselves, their families and pledge allegiance to every other land but theirs to escape the reality of a morally bankrupt society!

Educated, smart and reliable Nigerians rule politics out early, and warn their children to stay away from it. The dumber, more rascally you are growing up- the more likely you will end up in the corridors of power! No wonder, Nigeria is a mess!

In Nigeria, leaders are rare; those that are far and in-between have no substantial base and power or/and lack the organizing ability. The current crop of leadership lack the mental backbone, the moral foundation or intestinal fortitude to orchestrate any sort of meaningful reforms that will remake the country the way it really needs to be. Both the government in power and its cheerleaders, and those erstwhile men of power (like El Rufai, Fani Kayode and co) are not really rooting for Nigeria when they argue; they are in this for themselves!

The only way we can begin to turn this around is for the few good people (maybe like you my reader) to begin to identify and organize themselves far before 2015 towards making a difference. Town hall meetings need to begin to make it difficult for riff-raffs to win primaries in any party. We need to start organizing to demand that our vote count and anti-intellectual provisions in the electoral law that prevents e-voting should be removed immediately.

Nigerians must also demand that corrupt ex-leaders and their baggage men, be retired from politics permanently. We don’t need old, moribund ideas masquerading as fresh ones because the current occupant of Aso Rock is a non-starter. Was it not their horrible attempt at leadership that produced him?

IBB, Obasanjo, Buhari, Fani Kayode, Goodluck Jonathan, Edwin Clark, David Mark, Jerry Gana and whatever is in between them must go!

These crops of leaders have failed, and it is time for good Nigerians to rise up and reclaim the country from these failures!

And yes, being cynical and feeling powerless about our current circumstances to be so immobilized to push for change is exactly where the current crop of so-called rulers hope we find ourselves. But I hope you shake that feeling off; it won’t be easy, but the earlier we start: the better.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 15

What Mr. President told me in London (II) L ess than five minutes after he hurriedly climbed the spiral staircase to answer the president’s call, Preye Nelsa (the President’s orderly) returned. He went directly to the State House Chief of Protocol, Ambassador Olutola Onijala, who was discussing with some guests in the opposite waiting room.

Nelsa then entered into our waiting room, smiling. “I have informed His Excellency of Mr. Jaffar’s presence, and he asked me to invite you alongside Ambassador,” he told Abati, who stood up and joined Ambassador Onijala. Together, they climbed upstairs to see the president.

About 10 minutes after, the duo came out and politely beckoned to me to join them.

My Casio wristwatch said 3:10am after my screening to see the president. As the orderly gently placed his thumb on a blinking glass surface, the door opened. Abati and I proceeded while the orderly remained outside and closed the door behind us. There was a dazzling display of opulence in the room. In contrast to what could just pass as a plantation of lightening downstairs, the president’s living room was a forest of glittering chandeliers.

Patching on the walls were lamps of iridescent glass spheres. In a lavish splash, the onyx and Skyros marble added a majestic touch to the place.

Sitting cross-legged in a threeseater, watching TV, was Mr. President. He was wearing a sky blue short-sleeve T-shirt, black slacks and shoes—yes, shoes.

Mr. President ignored us for some seconds for the upshot of an action film scene he was watching on a lifesize 3D plasma TV. I could notice his slight darting movements, obviously

By Femi Fani-Kayode

C

ontrary to Clark’s assertions, I was the one that actually investigated and exposed the embezzlement of 6.5 billion naira from the 19.5 billion aviation intervention fund which had taken place just before I became Minister in 2006. I was the whistleblower in that matter, I was the one that wrote to President Obasanjo and reported it and it was after I did so that he referred it to the security agencies for further investigation. Yet after we left office and in a manner that is so typical of Nigeria when it comes to such matters, I was punished for doing so and I was later accused of committing the very crime that I had exposed. Is that not absurd? In their zeal to effect the orders of the late President Umaru Yar’adua and to ‘’get me at all costs’’, the Farida Waziri-led EFCC, without any prior investigation into the matter, detained me for 10 days in their custody and proceeded to charge me in an Abuja magistrate’s court for the supposed misappropriation of the said 6.5 billion naira. Yet one month later, after realising the futility of their cause and after establishing all the relevant facts, they withdrew those charges against me and instead prosecuted my predecessor in office for that same offence at the Abuja Federal High Court.

Chief Clark claimed that I ‘’embezzeled the money’’ that I was given ‘’to use to stop the plane

the North; spate of kidnapping in the South East; militancy in the Niger Delta; decaying infrastructure; unreliable power supply across the country and; corruption at all levels of government, how would you sweattalk the investors to put this picture behind their back?” I asked.

“You see Mr Japheth... em... em...

Jafar, they are not big problems to scare investors away from Nigeria.

It’s all about oratory, with which I am enamored. Let me tell you my solution to all these problems.

Through dialogue, Boko Haram will cease to exist. Amnesty is bringing militancy to an end, and Bianca Ojukwu’s appointment is pleasing the South East kidnappers. That is why I renamed UNILAG after Moshood Abiola. Through that, I silenced the vocal South West. On corruption and power problem, we are doing our best.

You can see the committees I am inaugurating everyday,” he explained. “Many Nigerians are of the belief that your wife is wielding a lot of influence... Are you taking some measures to...?” The First Lady issue seemed to draw the president’s ire as he angrily cut in.

“I don’t know what Nigerians want,” the president interjected.

“They make noise a lot, even on issues that are too personal to a person.

Nigerians always tell all manner of stories against my wife, saying her grammar is bad, she’s not seasoned civil servant... all that jazz! Look, my brother, Patience thought me English grammar at home.

That is why I speak Queen’s English like her. She memorized Biola and Alade textbook at a very tender age.

She knows English Without Tears very well. When Nigerians laugh at her English, we laugh back at them because they are the ones who don’t know the grammar,” he said, almost fuming.

Sitting almost contiguous with the president afforded me the opportunity to notice that he was wearing not just ordinary shoes but Edward Green. I shuddered inwardly as I recalled the unmistakable Edward Green brogue shoes I saw in Paris when I visited a shoe store on Boulevard St. Germain early this year. That same Edward Green stood at 3,000 dollars.

“Sir, many people call you a clueless person who doesn’t have the clout to rule a country as big as

Nigeria, what is your take on this?” I asked, still shifting my glance on his Edward Green and Favre-Leuba wristwatch. Favre-Leuba’s bow-tie like logo design is as distinctive as the shape of Edward Green shoes. FavreLeuba is one of the oldest Swiss timepiece brands in existence since 1737.

“Nigeria is not as complex as tilapia’s brain,” Mr President retorted toughly, “There are about 100 species in the cichlid tribe of tilapia. Whoever studied these complex creatures, can easily understand the behaviour of Ijaw, Izon, Nembe, Ogbia and EpieAtissa, Hausa, Igbo, Yoruba, Kanuri, Itsekiri, etcetera. On the issue of corruption, let me tell you that fighting corruption is very difficult in Nigeria. A fighter may end up behaving like the corrupt as we witnessed recently in the House of Reps,” he explained.

“In that case, can I now infer that studying the behaviour of fish for years can make one think or behave like fish?” I asked allusively.

My blunt question angered the president. While Mr President’s facial expression abruptly changed, Abati stood up, protesting the question was as embarrassing as it was out of contest. “Reuben call the CSO for me, now! This stupid journalist! Let him seize his recorder!” the visibly livid president yelled, punching the buzzer button.

Suddenly, what English writer Lobsang Rampa called “silver cord” drew my astral body back to its casing when my wife’s persistent tap brought my encounter with President Goodluck Jonathan to an end. “Since you refused to wake up for your sahur meal, now you should wake up for the dawn prayer,” she said.

in a Lagos High Court on December 2008, 6 months after the first set of charges had been withdrawn, had nothing to do with the 19.5 billion naira intervention fund. It was obvious from the outset that all those charges were malicious and politically-motivated yet for the last four years I have kept my cool, honoured the conditions of my bail and avoided discussing the issue publically for obvious reasons. I have resisted and fought those charges vigorously for all those years and the likes of Chief E.K Clark and all the others that have sworn to see my end can be rest assured that I will continue to do so as long as I have breath in me. In God’s time and in God’s way He will vindicate me. It is however most unfair for Chief Clark to pronounce me guilty in this matter and to label me as a criminal when a court of law has not done so.

This is especially so when our constitution confers on me the presumption of innocence unless and until I am proven guilty.

Let me end this write-up with a word about political persecution and the usage of politically-motivated charges to intimidate those that are perceived by the government of the day as being vocal and dangerous enemies that must be silenced at all costs. This is nothing new. And regardless of its success or otherwise it changes nothing when it comes to God’s purpose. When God’s hand is

on a man for leadership or greatness you can lock him up in the deepest and darkest dungeon below the sea and throw the keys away but when the time is right God will spring him out again in order for him to fulfil destiny. The problem with people like Chief Clark and those that do not understand the power of God and the pull of destiny is that they refuse to learn from history. Let me give you some examples.

Three of the greatest leaders that Nigeria ever had, namely Chief Obafemi Awolowo, Sir Ahmadu Bello and President Olusegun Obasanjon, all suffered persecution at one point or the other in their lives and every single one of them was convicted by a court of law and spent some time in jail.

Awolowo was wrongly accused of treasonable felony and spent three years in jail, Obasanjo was wrongly accused of plotting a coup and spent three years in jail and Ahmadu Bello was wrongly accused of stealing public funds and spent some time in jail. All three of them were targetted by the powers that were at that time who thought that they had successfully silenced and discredited them forever by jailing them. Yet when the time was right circumstances suddenly changed and God’s purpose spoke for all three of them. Awolowo was brought out of jail to become the de facto Prime Minister of Nigeria, Obasanjo was

brought out of jail to become the President of our country and Bello went on appeal, won his case and went on to join politics, becoming the greatest leader that northern Nigeria has ever known. Destiny and the power of God spoke for all three of them and delivered them from the hands of their tormentors.

My point is simple and clearregardless of what the powers that be decide to subject us lesser mortals to, God alone rules in the affairs of men and determines the destiny of nations. Even though some that stalk the corridors of power today believe that they have the power over life, liberty and death and that they control everything, in reality they control and they have nothing. This is because the God of Heaven alone controls all that is.

Any man that has been so intoxicated by power or by his access to the President, to the extent that he is ready to play God at every given point in time, ought to be pitied for his naivety rather than be the object of our anger. Chief Clark, the all-powerful former Minister of Information, the great leader and elder of the Ijaw ‘nation’ and the political and spiritual father of President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, in my view, ought to be viewed in such a light.

Concluded Femi Fani-Kayode is a former Aviation Minister.

giving in to the optical phantasm of 3D technology.

Moments later, Mr President sighed, paused the movie and removed his 3D eyeglasses. Abati and I were still standing when he turned to us. “Hello Mr Jafar,” Mr President said, omitting ‘a’ in pronouncing my name. “Have a seat here,” he offered me a seat next to him as he stoop up to receive me.

Together we sat, while Abati took the opposite seat.

“Hi, Your Excellency,” I responded, clearing my throat to gain confidence. “I always request for brief audience every time I learn you are here. I hope I am not bothering.

You know the nature of our country, events unfold every passing minute,” I added, fidgeting with a ballpoint pen I purposely bought earlier in the day at W.H. Smith.

Barely a minute after we sat, top State House steward Mr Amos Babre, flooded the centre and side tables with drinks. Babre poured cognac in a glass near Mr President and then requested for my choice. I pointed at a bottle of water, which he served and left. In a general Villa staff shakeup carried out immediately after the death of President Umaru Yar Adua, Mr Babre replaced Aminu Ahijo.

Banters were thrown before the interview proper. “Why are you in London this time round? It seems you are not on official engagement as most Nigerians are not aware of your departure,” I asked, pushing the mic

orifice of the voice recorder close to him.

“Well, I will only stay here for a couple of days. I am here to woo investors back to Nigeria. You know my minister Olusegun Aganga is doing a lot in the area of trade and investment. So my presence will help immensely,” he said.

“With the Boko Haram terror in

crashes’’ yet the truth is that not only did I not embezzle one kobo but also that not one plane crash took place under my watch. This is despite the fact that 5 crashes had taken place the year before I became Minister. The fact of the matter is that by God’s grace my team and I put an end to those crashes and saved lives. It was as a consequence of our hard work, our prayers, our dedication to duty and the solid reforms that we put in place that those crashes stopped and did not occur again for at least one year after we left office. Yet without knowing these facts, Chief Clark got up in a public forum on live television and not only made the most scurrilous, slanderous and outrageous allegations against me but he also pronounced me guilty of a crime that I did not commit.

Is it a surprise that we are in such a mess in this nation when an elder statesman behaves in this indecorous way. It is common knowledge that he is the GodfatherIn-Chief of this administration but the question is whether he is making more friends or enemies for his son, President Goodluck Jonathan, when he behaves in this way and when he throws all caution to the wind and pontificates about issues that he knows nothing about? Perhaps I should point out the fact that the charges that were preferred against me by the EFCC

Chief Clark and his moral icons (II)

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Air lines rejected me but Indians saved my life – Accident victim

By Josephine Ella

I

brahim Mohammed, a civil servant with the Kano state government was in very high spirits that fateful morning of July, 2012, when he set out for a journey.

It did not cross his mind that disaster was lurking as he picked up his bags and bid his family farewell.

However, what he envisaged would be a pleasant voyage turned out to be an ugly experience that has incapacitated him.

On his sick bed at the Primus Super Specialty Hospital in Karu where he is now receiving medical attention, Mohammed narrated to our correspondent how he was abandoned to his fate after the ghastly motor accident along Kano-Katsina road.

He said that the accident left him with a serious spinal cord injury and as a result he could not move any part of his body and his bladder could not hold urine.

After the accident, he had been conveyed to the Aminu Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano by a Good Samaritan where he was placed on treatment.

However, he was moved away from the hospital because his situation was deteriorating rather than improving.

Mohammed’s world came crashing when all hope of going abroad for a surgery to put him back on his feet was dashed.

He told how his family members procured a visa for him to travel to India for this purpose, but sadly, all the airlines they approached rejected him, due to his rather critical condition.

Ibrahim Mohammed on his sick bed in Karu. Standing beside him is his wife Sadiya Ibrahim “I was admitted at the Kano Teaching Hospital in Kano for three weeks after the accident, but my condition was not improving. I did not even have the confidence that they could carry out an operation on me successfully.

“So we decided to travel to India for surgery. My family obtained a visa for me to travel but unfortunately, no airline agreed to lift me in my condition,” he narrated.

It was in this helpless state

that someone informed him about the Primus Hospital in Karu.

Continuing, Mohammed said: “So we decided that since the Indian people are now in Nigeria and we have confidence in them, we would go there”.

The middle aged man, who could now talk with ease and move his body, following a successful spinal cord surgery performed on him last week Thursday, was delighted at his

present condition.

An obviously happy Mohammed said in appreciation: “I thank God for bringing this Indians to help us in this country. I was rejected but they saved my life. I really appreciate these doctors; even after the operation they are doing their job.

“It is a challenge to Nigerian doctors. We don’t have this type of hospital. I really commend the Indians for such an investment”.

Man bags three months for stealing goat

O

ne Ishaya Kaduna has been sentenced to three months imprisonment by an Upper Area Court sitting in Gwagwalada for stealing a she goat.

The Presiding Judge, Mr Babaginda Hassan, who handed the judgment on Monday, however, gave the convict an option to pay

N15, 000 fine.

Kaduna, a resident of Gwako, in the FCT, was arraigned on a twocount charge of theft and committing unnatural offence.

Police Prosecutor, Martha Paul had earlier told the court that on August

2, Kaduna stole a she goat, valued at N7,000 belonging to one Ugwu Hyacinth of the same address and had sexual intercourse with it.

She said that during investigations the convict admitted committing the offence.

Paul said that the offence

contravenes the provisions of Sections 287 and 284 of the Penal Code.

Kaduna pleaded guilty to stealing the goat, but denied having sexual intercourse with it, and Hassan adjourned the case to September 26, 2012 for hearing in it. (NAN)

Pastor, six others held for constituting nuisance

A

pastor, Ejike Okpanachi, 37, was among seven persons, who have appeared before an Abuja Senior Magistrate’s Court for disturbing public nuisance.

The other accused persons are Ejike Okpanachi; Francis Jeremiah, 25; Emmanuel Lura, 22; Ikenna Okpanachi, 15; Wisdom Picos, 18; Sylvanus Moses, 21; and Stephen Amos, 21,

all residents of Kapwa village in Lugbe, Abuja.

Prosecutor Paul Anigbo told the court that the accused persons engaged in a fight, which breached the peace of the people living in the area.

He said that during the fight, Jeremiah, Lura and Picos were injured and rushed to the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC)

Hospital Lugbe, for treatment.

The prosecution said that the accused standing trial on a onecount charge of breach of peace, which contravened the provisions of Section 113 of the Penal Code.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the accused, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor prayed the

court for another date for further mention of the case.

Magistrate Tony Ubani in his ruling granted bail to the accused in the sum of N30, 000 each with a surety in like sum, who should reside within the jurisdiction of the court.

He adjourned the case to August 13, 2012 for hearing.

(NAN)

On enquiry, the Spine Surgeon who carried out the surgery on Mohammed, Dr. Ankush Garg confirmed that the patient was improving.

Garg explained that the patient has had an accident following which he was not able to pass urine and was not able to move all his limbs but he was brought to the hospital after one month, after which he tested, investigated him and planned a surgery for him.

“Immediately after surgery the patient showed sign of improvement. He is regaining power in his left side of his body.

He has already gain the power to control urine and is passing it out on his own which he was not able to do before surgery,” the surgeon confirmed.

He explained that the patient had sustained a dislocation of his 5th and 6th cervical vertebrae and got his spinal cord damaged due to the accident.

“We removed the part of the 5th cervical bone and with the help of a microscope relived all the pressure from the spinal cord and joined the cervical 5th to the 6th so that this slippage can be prevented from progression”, Garg further explained.

According to him, this type of surgery needs a lot of equipment and expertise which with the help of all those facilities available in primus, the surgery was properly done.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Traders, commuters convert Abuja bus-stops to public toilets T raders and commuters are converting some bus-stops in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) into urinal due to the absence of public toilet facilities, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) has observed.

NAN reports that the practice is prevalent at bus-stops with heavy human traffic, especially around Wuse Zone 5 and 6, Jabi motor park, and Utako area, among others.

It is a common sight to see men in particular, urinating in public view, thereby polluting the environment.

Reacting to the situation, a civil servant, Mr Ibrahim Mohammed, expressed regret that two bus stops between Wuse Zone 5 and 6 were no longer comfortable for passengers waiting to board vehicles to their destinations.

Mohammed also described the environment around the area as “unhygienic”.

“Besides the inconvenience, the situation posed to passengers waiting to board vehicles.It is an embarrassing situation for the

Students, six others accused of snatching handsets

By Stanley Onyekwere

S

Two men engage in open defecation amdist refuse dumped indiscriminately on the street country. Foreigners use this route, it is a bad remark on our identity before them,” he said.

Also commenting, a resident in a building close to the bus stop, Mr Moses Atte, told NAN that the environment was uncomfortable for residents of the area.

Atte appealed to the FCT administration to provide public toilets to discourage people from converting public facilities into public toilets.

Another resident, Mr Idowu Sani, described the situation as unacceptable in view of the status of Abuja as the Federal

capital city.

Sani urged the Abuja Environmental Protection Board to take the necessary action to provide public toilets at strategic locations to prevent the ongoing abuse of the environment with waste materials, including human waste. (NAN)

By Stanley Onyekwere

T

wo students, a businessman and four others have been arraigned before an Abuja Chief Magistrate’s Court for allegedly snatching two Nokia handsets from one Mercy Ijeoma of Aku village, Mararaba in Nasarawa state.

The accused persons; David Olawale and Umaru Anthony, both 17-year-old, Henry Obasi, 20, (businessman), Freedom Eze, 23 and four others (now at large) allegedly jointly accosted the victim while she was trying to make calls at Cachez Garden located in Wuse, Zone 5 and forcefully collected the said phones valued at N50,000.

Police Prosecutor, Udeh Daniel, said the offence committed was criminal Joint Act and Theft, contrary to Sections 79 and 287 of the Penal Code.

After the police charge sheet was read out to the hearing of the four accused persons in court, they all pleaded not guilty.

However, the Magistrate, Aminu Eri granted bail to the accused persons in the sum of N50, 000 with one reasonable surety each.

But all the accused persons were taken to prison custody as none was able to meet the terms of the bail.

The case was adjourned to August 22, 2012 for continuation of hearing.

Demolition: Mpape residents appeal to Jonathan to intervene

Traders and buyers queue to recieve free medical services organised by the Health and Human Services Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory(FCT) administration in collaboration with Primus International Super Specialty Hospital in Wuse market last Friday.

Photo: Adeola Tukuru

ome residents of Mpape district, under the auspices of Non Indigenous Dwellers of Mpape, have appealed to President Goodluck Jonathan to intervene by prevailing on the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA) to have a rethink on its plan to demolish their houses on August 31, 2012.

In a communiqué titled ‘three million people under executive fire Issued’ by the concerned residents at a press conference, yesterday in Abuja, they said the plan would displace 3 million people, Create, rumble and violence in the FCT similar to Jos, thereby stamping Jonathan’s government as uncaring and non responsive.

According to the Zonal Secretary, Zone 1, of the group, Umar B. Usman, who read the communiqué, it is in the overall interest of the common man in the country, that the Jonathan’s-led government should reverse the policy to avert the many dangers that accompanies it.

“It is our position that any policy of government, however well articulated that seeks to displace 3 million plus families in a swoop runs contrary to the spirit and intent of Article 18 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples Rights, which provides that family shall be the natural and basis of the society; and as such is illegal”, Usman said.

Stressing on the need for the Jonathan- led Executive to rescind its stand, the group cautioned the administration not to hide under the law to perpetrate social injustice against the people.

The communiqué reads in parts: “The three million plus residents of Mpape comprised of Nigerians from various states, who were lured to the FCT with promises of paradise on earth.

There is no gainsaying that government has failed in its primary duty of providing for the ‘security and welfare of the people’, Nigerian citizen, particularly the residents of Mpape who were coerced into providing for their own welfare”.

Three invade church, threaten pastor with arms during night vigil

By Stanley Onyekwere with agency report

T

hree men, Richard Offor, 35, Ann Offor, 27, and Faith Samuel, 35 have been remanded in prison for allegedly invading a church during a night vigil and threatened the pastor with arms.

A Mararaba Senior Magistrate’s Court, Nasarawa state ordered the remand of the accused persons, all of no fixed address, who were charged with

criminal conspiracy, house trespass and criminal intimidation.

The Police Prosecutor, Joseph Ahuwa, told the court that one Pastor Koyede Sade, of Mountain Mover Fire Ministry Church, Mararaba, reported the matter at Division ‘A’ Police Station in Mararaba, Nasarawa on August 3, 2012.

Ahuwa said that on the same date, while Sade was conducting a night vigil in the church, the three

accused and five others, now at large, conspired and entered the church premises.

He said that they were all with harmful objects such as cutlass and they threatened to deal with Pastor Princewell Basil, the senior pastor of the church.

The prosecutor said that the offence contravenes Sections 97,349, and 397 of the Penal Code.

The accused pleaded not guilty to the charge.

The prosecutor objected to the

application for bail, saying the accused should not be granted bail to enable him carry out his investigation successfully.

Chief Magistrate, Mr V. D. Ishaku, refused to grant the application for bail, saying that the accused persons’ bail be should applied for formally through their counsels and ordered that the accused be remanded in prison custody.

She adjourned the case to September 13, 2012 for continuation of hearing. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 17

A man hawking umbrellas, yesterday in Garki, Abuja.

A middle aged-man engaged the service of a local barber to shave his head, yesterday in Kubwa, Abuja.

AEPB cleaners sweeping the street, yesterday in Area 8, Garki, Abuja.

A young man hawking plastic products, yesterday in Nyanya.

A young man hawking toothpaste and toothbrushes, yesterday in Apo village, Abuja.

Photos: Mahmud Isa

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Email: amunuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 21

NNPC, Genesis Electricity sign MoU on power supply to PHRC

Mob: 08033644990

MFBs: NDIC kicks-off site visit to monitor payment compliance

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

L-R: Special Adviser to the President on Monitoring and Evaluation, Prof. Sylvester Monye; Agricultural Minister, Akinwumi Adesina; Chairman, Heirs Holdings, Mr. Tony Elumelu and Governor, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mallam Sanusi Lamido Sanusi during the Inauguration of Agricultural Transformation Implementation Council, recently at the State House, in Abuja.

Corporate governance: CBN code forbids family stranglehold on banks

By Abdulwahab Isa

T

he Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) which is set on reviewing the extant code of corporate governance for banks in Nigeria has ruled out two members of the same extended family occupying the positions of Chairman and MD/ CEIO or Executive Director of the bank and Chairman or MD/CEO of the bank’s subsidiary at the same time.

In a circular dated July 31, 2012, signed by Director, Financial policy and Regulation Department which it posted on its website yesterday, the apex bank said the review would help in strengthening governance practices, eliminate perceived ambiguities and align the code with current realities and global best practices.

Part of the provisions of the draft document spells out separation of power in respect to positions of the board chairman and the Managing Director/CEO.

The draft further states that positions of the board chairman and the Managing Director/CEO shall be separate, emphasising that no one person shall combine the two positions in any bank at the same time.

Besides working on the review of extant code for best

6th August, 2012

CFA • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 0.27 191.887 241.2099 41.2916 154.86

SELLING 0.29 193.1261 242.7675 41.5582 155.86

PARALLEL RATES • £ RIYAL $

BUYING 207 258 40 165

SELLING 209 260 42 169

for whistle –blowing, which all financial institutions under supervisory purview of CBN shall be required to comply with.

The draft review of the document, CBN says is being exposed to the public to elicit comments and suggestions.

AMCON seeks Citigroup advise on banks sell-off

By Aminu Imam with agency report

T

he Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON), an agency set up to buy bad debt from the nation’s banks, has appointed Citigroup Inc. and Renaissance Capital to value and advise on plans for three lenders it nationalised last year before deciding on the best way to privatise them.

AMCON Chief Executive Mustapha Chike-Obi confirmed the appointments in a message to Reuters yesterday but gave no further details.

Citigroup was picked to advise on Mainstreet Bank Ltd., with Renaissance taking on Keystone Bank Ltd. and Enterprise Bank Ltd., Chike-Obi said yesterday in a mobile-phone interview. They have three to six months to report back to AMCON, he said.

The banks were among eight bailed out by the Central Bank of Nigeria in 2009 as a lending crisis threatened the financial system in Nigeria’s economy.

While five were later acquired by other banks, three were nationalised in August after regulators decided they couldn’t meet banking requirements.

Listing the banks’ shares on the Nigerian Stock Exchange may be a possibility, Chike-Obi said. “If they advise a share sale then we will go ahead,” he said.

It could be recalled that in March AMCON advertised that it was seeking advisers for the possible sale of the three banks.

In June, Chike-Obi said 44 had responded and that the agency shortlisted 11 of them to submit of proposals.

While the central bank is not directly involved in the sale of the banks, Governor Lamido Sanusi said Feb. 15 that it’s “expecting a smooth process.”

Management Tip of the Day

EXCHANGE RATES

CBN

practices and corporate governance to guide practitioners and the industry players, it said it had also developed guidelines to guide whistle- blowing in the Nigeria banking industry.

It said the guidelines represent minimum standards

T

Motivate your problem employee

here’s one on every teamSomeone who just doesn’t live up to his potential.

Here is a process to inspire this problem employee to change: Better understand the problem. Start by looking at the issue from the employee’s point of view.

Is he unmotivated by the work? Does

he not like his co-workers?

Could you be part of the problem?

D e f i n e alternatives. Generate several possible solutions. Don’t assume there is a right answer.

Meet to discuss the problem. Sit down with the employee, describing the

problem and pointing out that it cannot continue. Ask questions to find out whether your assumptions are correct.

Present several of the possible solutions and work with him to come up with a resolution that works for both of you.

Source: Harvard Business Review

o ensure Deposit Money Banks (DMBs) designated by the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) to pay depositors of closed Microfinance Banks (MFBs) are complying, NDIC has commenced on-site visit to selected agent banks to assess their compliance level.

The exercise, which kickedoff on July 30, by Claims Resolution Department (CRD) of the Corporation, is to cover 93 selected branches of the agent banks, which are spread across the country.

To effectively conduct the exercise, the 93 agent banks branches had been selected on zonal basis. While 27 branches would be visited in the SouthWest, 24 in North-Central and 13 in the South-South, the corporation would visit 15 branches in the South-East, 8 in the North-East and 6 in the North-West zones.

A statement issued yesterday by NDIC states the objectives of the visit to include, to confirm that payment to depositors is carried out expeditiously and in conformity with the operational guidelines already given to the agent banks by the corporation; assess and ensure that payments of both insured and uninsured deposits remitted to the banks are made to the depositors of the closed banks without let or hindrance and to ensure that the banks properly keep the payment documents forwarded to them by the corporation such as mandate files, signature cards, Liquidator’s certificates, Deposit Registers, to ensure that payment to the depositors are not impeded by the absence of these records; Other reasons that informed the visit, NDIC said, include: to identify and address areas of challenges being faced by the agent banks that may hinder them from making payment to depositors of the closed banks; and to further train the desk officers in charge of payment where the need arises.

It would be recalled that the corporation conducted a similar exercise in 2009, which involved 72 selected agent banks branches in the South-West, North-Central, North-East and North-West geo-political zones of the country.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Caverton Helicopters

N

igeria’s beleaguered aviation sector received a major shot in the arm recently when Caverton Helicopters was designated as the authorized service centre in the country for AgustaWestland, a leading manufacturer of military and commercial helicopters.

This is the first time a major aircraft manufacturer would appoint a service centre in Nigeria and the entire West African sub-region.

MTN, GTBank

M

TN Nigeria, GTBank Plc, Consolidated Hallmark Insurance and Kakawa Discount House emerged the 2012 Web-Jurist overall best websites in the telecommunications, banking, insurance, and discount market segments of the economy, in the 10th edition of Web Jurist awards conducted by Philips, in Lagos, at the weekend.

The Web-Jurist rating and awards is an initiative of the Technology Division of Phillips Consulting Limited, aimed at measuring the effectiveness of websites in the private sector.

Bristow Helicopters

B

ristow Helicopters, the company that currently holds 35 percent of oil and gas operations in the airline industry says it is eagerly expecting the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) into law by the National Assembly, saying it expects the move to boost its operations into and out of the oil rich regions.

Sesame seed export

N

igeria can earn more than 600,000 dollars per annum (N96.6million) from sesame seed export with proper harnessing of the crop, the Minister for State for Trade and Investment, Dr Samuel Ortom, has said.

Ortom said this on Monday in Makurdi at a national workshop on ``Exploiting the potentials of Sesame Seed Value Chain for Economic Sustainability'', organised by the ministry, adding that commodity trade would expand the economy and earn more foreign exchange for the country than crude oil.

DANA crash: The economic imperative of averting future disasters

A

visit to the Murtala Mohammed Airport Terminal Two, otherwise known as MMA2, in Ikeja gives an impression of a facility deserted by its former avid users, just like a plagued site in Biblical history But for those familiar with the hitherto boisterous nature of MMA2, the present situation at the Lagos terminal would have been different, no thanks to the ill-fated flight 0922 which left Abuja on the 3rd of June and airborne for Lagos before it disappeared from the Air Traffic Controllers (ATC)’s radar at the gigantic tower of the international wing of the airport and plummeted into the congested Iju-Ishaga suburb on the Lagos/ Ogun state border axis.

The incident is now history as the DANA Air MD 83 plane eventually went down killing all its 153 occupants and scores of others on the ground and razed down buildings which are yet to be quantified.

No sooner has the incident happened that the MMA2 terminal, which hitherto had clients like Dana Air, Aero Contractor, Chanchangi Airline, First Nation Airways, Air Nigeria airline, Associated Airways, IRS Airline, etc suddenly lost all, except Aero and IRS airlines.

W

hile the investigations, a c c u s a t i o n s , condemnations and reorganisation, both within the airlines, the regulatory agencies and the government is still ongoing, the economic realities on ground paint a glooming state of affairs, whether in the present or future for the terminal operators; the airlines’ staff have suddenly disappeared, this time from the ground and not radar, as well as the regulatory agencies and other numerous businesses and supply chains that services the industry.

One wonder if the country’s National Bureau of Statistic has the data on revenue lost since the crash and the number of people currently idle and/or will soon be out of job except palliative measures are put in place.

Sitting inside the food court of the MMA2 last week was Azeez, who until the June 3rd disaster has found a way to fend for himself and his family by selling flight tickets to travellers; sometimes it is faster to reach than even approaching the airlines themselves because numerous others like him that were a common sight at the terminals in Lagos have devised a way of exploiting the system with alleged connivance with the airlines staff who have their cut from such transactions, albeit illegal.

“I must survive,” he told me, “This is Nigeria, and whatever l need to do to feed my family, l will do it. After all, our leaders don’t care about the citizens and nobody wants to know how you made your money.” With an air of finality, he bid me farewell at the

Two months since the aftermath of the unfortunate Dana Air mishap, Suleiman Idris reflects on the stark reality such incident posits for the country’s aviation industry.

Scene of the DANA aircraft crash recently in Ido-Ishaga, Lagos top floor of MMA2 that is now bearing a gloomy face for over two months now.

Azeez predicament mirrors the present situation that the tragic end of Flight 0922 has thrown countless Nigerians and foreigners into, out of job and businesses; but what remains to be seen is what the FederalGovernment comes up with and how fast, in order to save an industry so germane to the growth of the nation’s economy but which appears to have been left to find a way of piloting itself while thousands of the citizens groan under unbearable but avoidable pain.

Q

uestions begging for answers on how we find ourselves in this mess stares us in the face are: How come an industry like aviation was allowed to rot by those saddled with the responsibility to checkmate sharppractices among its players? Will anyone be asked to explain why more than five airlines suddenly disappeared from operations for apparent lack of following laid-down rules on standards and recommendedpractices?

When will the government present a blueprint on how to salvage the industry, having been furnished with numerous recommendations in time past, which if followed, would have made an El Dorado in other places where action, and not intentions, are the in-thing?

Going by DANA Air’s estimation, the airline may have lost in the region of N4 billion since 3rd June for lack of operations. If we are to make a similar calculation for Air Nigeria, First Nation Airways and others, the

industry could have lost close to N10 billion in more than 60 days, yet the country carries on as if nothing has affected it.

T

he staff of the all the airlines grounded by the Nigerian Civil Aviation Authority (NCAA), presently have no means of livelihood to cater for their families; the Nigeria Airspace Management Agency NAMA, the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria FAAN and the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET) and NCAA itself are organs of government saddled with the responsibility of providing services to the airlines and those generates revenues; revenues has been put on hold for now.

However, while those in the employ of government are not denied their salaries, whether revenues come from the airlines or not, the same cannot be said of employees in the carriers who are privately-owned and profit-driven.

Other service providers in the chain have equally experienced a lull in businesses while operators of the MMA2 , Bi-Courtney Aviation Services bear the most excruciating pains of losing a chunk of its revenue. The company’s PRO, Mr. Stephen Omolale-Ajulo rightly put it, that the Federal Government must as a matter of urgency find a soft landing for airlines in the country, to enable them return to business.

Perhaps again, the FG should heed quickly to the recommendations of the Technical and Administrative Review Panel on Domestic Airlines (TARPDA), set up by the Minister,

Princess Stella Oduah in the aftermath of the Dana crash, which claimed it made “Bold recommendations that will not only strengthen the safety standards of operating airlines in Nigeria but also sanitise the industry and prevent the reoccurrence of the sad incident of 3rd June 2012.”

The panel pointed out to the authorities in plain language that aviation is a “highly sensitive sector, requiring serious dedicated concentration from all its personnel including the political and administrative leadership.” and advised that those saddled with the responsibility should heed to, in order to ensure an accidentfree airspace should be allowed to pay attention to their primary assignment.

Noteworthy among its key 41recommendations among others, is the need for the Federal Government to commence the implementation of an Aviation Program Sector Emergency (ASEP) and ensure safety inspectors from NCAA are given requisite training.

Germaine to a return to its usual bustling activities is the panel’s recommendation that “the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) should empower commercial banks to create a window for longterm low interest funding for direct lending to aviation”, for which it said the industry will require at least N500 billion.

Experts posit that no country in sub Saharan-Africa will survive a similar catastrophic hurricane without reactions from its citizens.

The onus is on the Federal Government to act quickly and put the country’s aviation business back on track.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 21

Ramadan: Restaurants record low patronage in Abuja

By Muhammad Nasir

O

wners of restaurants in the Federal Capital territory (FCT) have complained of low patronage by members of the public as the Ramadan fast enters its third week, investigation has revealed.

Some restaurants in the FCT where our reporter visited, which hitherto are usually busy with customers, now record low patronage since the fasting began.

Some of the customers who often patronise restaurants told our reporter that they resolved to stay off because it was a period to be devoted to God. Mrs. Mary James, a food seller at Utako Market, said the Ramadan fast had really affected the level of her sales, adding that sales had drastically reduced.

She said that since the

Ramadan fast commenced, she only made 40 per cent sales of her normal income from her business. ”Before the Ramadan fast, I used to sell more than 50 pieces of fish, but now I hardly sell 30,” she said.

Another food seller at Area 1 Shopping Center, Hajiya Aisha Isma’il also has this to say: “Most of my customers are

Muslims; since the inception of Ramadan, I have recorded low sales. Before now, we do make sales of N100,000 per day because we offer good package to our esteemed custiomers.

We also offer home service where we deliver food and snacks to their taste, “she added.

The manager of Progress

Restaurant in Peace Park Plaza at Utako, Madam Progress also told our reporter that patronage had gone down and attributed it to the on-going Ramadan fast, saying business has been at its lowest ebb, saying. “Before Ramadan fast, we use to make up to N50, 000 per day, but now we hardly make up to N25, 000 in a day.

NNPC, Genesis Electricity sign MoU on power supply to PHRC

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and Genesis Electricity Ltd have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) designed to bolster power supply to the Port Harcourt Refining Company (PHRC), and

strengthen its production capacity.

According to a statement issued yesterday by the NNPC Group General Manager, Group Public Affairs Division, Fidel Pepple, the Group Managing Director of the Corporation, Engr.

Andrew Yakubu stated that the MOU would give PHRC a new lease

L-R: Managing Director, Netserve Africa, Mr. Adenusi Adebola, first prize winner, Sir. William Park, and Head, SAP Business One, West Africa, Mrs. Lydia Oladokun, during the Fate Foundation 2012 Annual Business Plan Competition, recently in Lagos.

of life and curb unstable power supply to the facility.

Engr. Yakubu applauded the Federal Government for its commitment to addressing the power situation in PHRC and assured government of its readiness to meet the ambitious target given to the Corporation in the petroleum sector.

“We all know that power is strategic to all our operations and with this lengthy and conscientious agreement with an indigenous company on electricity, I believe that PHRC power situation would further improve and impact positively on the product output of the PHRC,” Engr. Yakubu asserted.

He expressed optimism that this new model with the company would help the Corporation re-evaluate how to address the power and utility challenges of NNPC installations nationwide.

According to him, “we hope that this arrangement will be a win-win situation and it will be a test case that will add value to our installations.”

In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of Genesis Electricity Ltd, Mr. Akinwole Omoboriowo assured the management of the NNPC of its preparedness to deploy the best power technology in the world to PHRC and provide qualitative electric power supply to the plant.

The restaurant boss said that although the Ramadan fast was observed by Muslims, Christians should also use the period to ‘seek the face of god for peace in the country’.

“I am appealing to all Nigerians to use this season to seek the for Allah’s assistance in the current crisis in Nigeria for peace to be restored to our dear country”. For Nigeria to develop, we must promote dialogue, peace and tolerate each other, she noted.

Muhammad Uthman, who also spoke to our reporter said that patronising restaurants during the Ramadan period was not wrong, but added that Muslims can only be there during Iftar to break their fast which marks the end of the fast for a day. He urged all Muslims faithful to pray for the peace and development of Nigeria.

Another owner of a restaurant also in Utako called Home Treat restaurant, Mr. Fred Anthony, traced the low patronage to the Ramadan fast, saying before Ramadan fast they usually sell up to N80,000 per day, but now they hardly make up to N40,000 per day. According to him, a plate of food which used to cost N400 now cost N300, in order to attract more customers most especially the Christians faith, adding that few Muslims patronise them during their Iftar (Period of breaking fast) in the evening.

“The garden is more or less empty; the low level of business is affecting the profit that should be made”, he said.

Fred called on the Muslim faithful to use this period of Ramadan to pray for the peace of the nation, especially in the northern part of the country.

“When there is peace, the country will be a better place for us, and it will aid the development of our nation”, he further stated.

CPC secures N300,000 compensation for aggrieved consumer

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

T

he Consumer Protection Council (CPC) has secured a N0.3million compensation for an aggrieved consumer, who felt shortchanged by the attitude of an automobile dealer through mediation mechanism.

The consumer, Dr. Olajire Fagbola, a Senior Lecturer/ Consultant at the Department of Agronomy, University of Ibadan and Mandilas Enterprises Limited (motor division) had been locked in a legal suit over an aborted purchase of a motor vehicle after N3.3 million had been paid to the dealer, before the case was brought to the SouthWest Zonal Office of CPC in Osogbo,

Osun state.

According to the fact of the case, Dr. Fagbola paid N3.3million for one unit of Toyota Corolla car on 13th May 2010 to the respondent, Mandilas Enterprises Ltd Ibadan, but the company failed to deliver the car within seven days, the timeframe agreed upon by both parties after date of payment by the customer, though the company claimed non-availability of the required model from its principal supplier, Toyota Nigeria Ltd. However, two months later, in a letter of “refund of payment”, Mandilas forwarded a First Bank cheque No 09292513 dated 15th July 2010 for the sum of N3.3M to represent “full and final refund of amount

deposited” by Dr Fagbola, while “apologizing for any inconvenience” caused him.

But the consumer was not satisfied with Mandilas settling only the original sum paid by him for the car after two months delay, claiming the price of same model of car had increased by N250,000; insurance by N30,000; while he also incurred N310,750.00 legal, telephone & postage fees within those two months delay.

In addition to his claim to psychological torture, stress and health related hazards he suffered, Dr. Fagbola demanded a gross sum of N4 million as general damages from Mandilas Ent. Ltd in his letter dated August 31, 2010 to the motor dealer

company.

CPC spokesman, Abiodun Obimuyiwa stated that: “The stalemated scenario was what CPC inherited about two years later when Dr Fagbola’s complaint reached the Council’s South-West Zonal Office and after series of intervention strategies, including conciliation, negotiation and mediation meetings, Mandilas finally offered the aggrieved consumer, a CPC-brokered upward review sum of N300,000.00, conveyed in a letter to the South-West Director/ Zonal Coordinator, Mr. Ola Raheem.”

While presenting the First Bank Plc cheque No 88554443, dated 2nd July 2012 for the sum of N0.3Million to the consumer

on Tuesday 31st July 2012, the Director General, Mrs. Ify Umenyi, represented by the Zonal Director, commended Mandilas for behaving as a responsible corporate organization in Nigeria by taking this commercial decision towards satisfying one of its valued consumers.

Mrs. Umenyi, while describing this as a celebration of the growth of consumerism in the country, noted: “This is another encouraging scenario in Nigeria that an aggrieved consumer of a product not yet supplied will still earn this much monetary compensation of N0.3million after having been fully reimbursed the amount originally paid in advance”.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 22

Standard Chartered shares plunge over 18%

S

hares in London-listed Standard Chartered bank plunged more than 16% as markets opened yesterday, in the wake of US regulators claiming it was a “rogue institution”.

The price drop comes on top of a 6% fall just before markets closed on Monday after officials in New York state released a report about the bank’s alleged activities on behalf of so-called Iranian entities.

Standard Chartered has strenuously denied the allegations made by US authorities.

The New York state department of financial services (DFS) has threatened to strip Standard Chartered of its right to operate in the state, saying the British bank hid

$250bn (£160bn) in transactions tied to Iran, in violation of US law.

“The group strongly rejects the position or the portrayal of facts as set out in the order issued by the DFS,” Standard Chartered said in a statement, adding that it does “not believe the order issued by the DFS presents a full and accurate picture of the facts.”

However investors have reacted swiftly to the claims and in early Tuesday trading was down as much as 19%.

The bank’s Hong Kong listed shares dropped as much as 20.7% - the biggest ever intraday plunge.

The bank has now lost around a quarter of its value roughly £7.9bn.

(Source: SkyNews)

L-R: Executive Director, Elaine David Ltd, Mr Ayodeji Akinyemi, Lagos state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Mrs Sola Oworu, CEO Elaine David Ltd, Mrs Monisola Akinyemi, during the official opening of Elaine David Ltd's office, recently in Victoria Island, Lagos.

Oil reserves can grow to 40 billion by 2020-Diezani

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke says the nation’s oil reserve could grow to 40 billion barrels by 2020 with daily production capacity of four million barrels.

Alison-Madueke, represented by the Group Managing Director, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Mr. Andy Yakubu said this recently at a three-day annual conference and exhibition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) in Lagos.

Alison-Madueke, while

highlighting the strategies to be implemented to achieve growth in the nation’s economy, said that the Nigerian deep and shallow waters have the capacity to increase the productivity level.

She said that this could generate additional one million barrel per day within the next few years.

Alison-Madueke said that it would also contribute to the global supply of oil and gas, if it could be achieved before year 2020.

The minister said that the aggressive reform embarked upon by the Federal Government

would reposition the oil and gas industry.

She said, “Critically, the current Nigerian crude oil reserve is over 36 billion barrels and a production capacity of about 2.5 million per day.”

The minister said that these had made Nigeria the high supplier of crude oil, adding that the opportunity should be used to increase the country’s production capacity.

Alison-Madueke said that if the oil and gas sector was further exploited, “it shall provide the much needed increase in revenue, employment generation for our

youths and further increase in the growth of other sectors of the Nigerian economy”.

She commended the efforts of the society toward addressing some issues that were very crucial to the industry.

The minister, commenting on the deregulation of the downstream sector, said that it would lend a helping hand to the investors since it would guarantee the recovery of their investment.

“There is no doubt that the deregulation of the industry is going to help investors because it will guarantee their investment.

“The deregulation of the downstream, particularly as it affects kerosene and petrol are very critical to return on investment,” she said.

Sir Ikechukwu Okafor, the SPE Chairman, said that the conference would provide a forum for healthy dialogue and purposeful engagement between the stakeholders on the future of oil and gas development.

“The aim is to stir our members and the general public to embrace and promote environmentally sustainable development of oil and gas in Nigeria,” he said.

energy sector would be made by the leadership of both countries soon.

It could be recalled that the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, Andrew Yakubu recently called on the South African government to

partner with Nigeria to explore the investment opportunities now available in the nation’s energy sector.

He described the various opportunities in the Nigeria oil and gas industry as limitless, stressing that through such partnerships, the two nations

stood to gain a lot for the benefits of their economies.

Mr. Yakubu stated that Nigeria was ready to partner with South Africa in order to harness and develop the natural gas endowment of the nation from upstream to the downstream in order to move the

continent forward just as he explained that President Goodluck Jonathan had already initiated some key projects which in the next four years would enable the country to utilise maximally its abundant gas resources towards national development.

South Africa to partner with Nigeria on energy

By Muhammad Nasir

T

he government of South Africa will be partnering with its Nigerian counterpart on the development of the energy sector which it considers as a major way to boost its economy.

In a press statement issued recently in Cape Town, the South African government said that it was important to trade with Nigeria in this area as a result of the glaring opportunities that abound in the energy sector of the Nigerian economy, adding that Nigeria is a strategic partner of South Africa, the news release pressed further that the partnership between both countries in the area of energy sector would help boost the economies of both nations.

According to the statement, all the arrangements required to seal the deal between Nigeria and South Africa in order to have a smooth partnership in

Oil hits 11-week high amid Syria fears

O

il prices rose to an 11-week high on Monday amid growing concerns about the escalating civil conflict in Syria and the potential spread of unrest to other countries in the oil-rich Middle East.

The reports of the deepening unrest surrounding Syria followed an agreement between Moscow and Damascus, that Russia would deliver refined products to Syria in return for its crude oil.

“Going forward, it seems to be increasingly clear that the Syrian issue can only be

resolved within Syria itself, effectively setting the stage for a protracted and painful process,” said analysts at consultants JBC Energy in Vienna.

Geopolitical worries deepened as an explosion on the Kirkuk-Ceyhan oil pipeline, which carries about a quarter of Iraqi crude exports to Turkey, took it offline, with repairs expected to take up to 10 days.

Meanwhile, although the dispute between Sudan and South Sudan is expected to be

resolved with the two countries striking a deal on oil fees, many analysts do not expect a final deal to emerge before the end of August when the religious month of Ramadan ends.

This meant a delay in the resumption of exports of some 350,000 barrels per day, and officials are predicting that once a final agreement has been signed, the restart of oil production could take “anywhere from six weeks to six months”, said JBC. Brent has also been supported by tightening stocks in the North Sea, with volumes for Forties, one

of the crude streams that make up the crude oil benchmark, expected to fall due to scheduled maintenance in the Buzzard oilfield.

The oilfields that supply Norway’s Troll oil stream are also expected to undergo maintenance.

The expected fall in North Sea supplies has been pushing up the premium for Brent for September delivery over the following month’s futures contract – a situation known as “backwardation” – since early July.

(Source: Financial Times)

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 25

By Udenna Orji 07055652553

Aluminium: Harness Potentials in Aluminium Industry, Says Vidson Boss 26

An all-steel home by steelmaster

Housing rights activist freed of fraud charges

A

Jubilation Bethel Estate, Lokogoma District, near Apo, Abuja. Integax Resourcery has a portifolio of beautiful estates.

Integax Resourcery boosts homeownership with JUBILATION BuildEasy Housing Scheme

I

ntegax Resourcery Limited, a household name in estate development and mortgage advisory has continued to heed the Federal Government's call for developers to build

high quality but affordable homes to enable Nigerians become homeowners.

Integax Resourcery has enabled more than 500 people to become homeowners through its famous

JUBILATION BuildEasy Housing Scheme; an a f f o r d a b l e homeownership scheme which allows average income earners to become landlords. The icing on the cake is that this

Abuja-based reputable developer also has a Mortgage Assistance package which makes it easy for people with moderate means to become homeowners without much hassle.

Chinese appeals court Friday threw out a fraud conviction against a rights activist who has fought on behalf of people forcibly evicted from their homes, but it upheld a separate conviction against Ni Yulan for causing a disturbance, her lawyers said.

A lower court had ruled that Ni and her husband Dong Jiqin acted in an unruly way when they failed to pay for their stay at a hotel - where they had been detained by police - and mistreated staff. It also ruled Ni had received money through deceit.

Defense lawyer Cheng Hai said the higher court Beijing First Intermediate Court rescinded the fraud conviction and cut Ni's prison sentence by two months to two years and six months after the person who gave Ni the money told the court it was a donation.

"We consider it a success," said Dong Qianyong, another lawyer for Ni. Public disturbance convictions against the couple remain, and Dong Jiqin's two-year sentence handed down by the lower

court stands, Cheng said.

Cheng said he plans to appeal again for Ni's release.

Ni is not as well-known internationally as some Chinese dissidents, but she has been the target of "sustained police persecution" for the past decade, according to Chinese Human Rights Defenders, a Hong Kongbased organization.

She has been jailed twice before - first in 2002 and again in 2008 for "obstructing official business."

Ni and her supporters say she is being punished for her years of activism, especially her advocacy for people forced from their homes to make way for the fast-paced real estate development that remade Beijing for the 2008 Olympics.

In early 2011, thenU.S. Ambassador Jon Huntsman visited Ni to show support for her.

After her earlier sentencing this year, current U.S. Ambassador Gary Locke urged Beijing to release her, and the State Department said her case was raised during the annual U.S.-China human rights dialogue that ended in Washington on Tuesday.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Aluminium: Harness Potentials in Aluminium Industry, Says Vidson Boss

By Udenna Orji

A

s the Federal Government continues its consultation with stakeholders on the means of actualizing its new National Housing Policy, the problem of high cost of building materials has proved almost intractable. The new National Housing Policy which was approved by the Federal Executive Council in June envisages the construction of 1 million housing units annually in order to erase the nation's deficit of 16 million housing units. Stakeholders have pointed at the paucity of locally made building materials and the mounting importation of building materials as one major problem that will hinder government's target of construction 1 million affordable housing units annually.

Imported inputs contribute significantly to the high cost of houses in Nigeria.

It was to use the housing sector as one of the launching pads for reviving the Nigerian economy that led to the approval of the new National Policy on Housing and National Policy on Urban Development by the Federal Executive Council last month.

Speaking on the approval of the new policies recently, the Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple said "the approved policies are veritable instruments for empowering the ministry to reposition and revitalize the sector to optimize its contributions to the development of our national economy, especially in the area of job and wealth creation as well as enhanced contribution to the

Aluminium profiles

GDP". The two new policies are expected to deliver about one million housing units annually to Nigerians.

Confirming these feelers from government, Muhammed Jibrin, Chief Executive Officer of Abuja-based Sun Trust Savings & Loans Ltd, a mortgage bank, said "I am aware that the Minister of Finance and the Coordinator of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi OkonjoIweala, is committed to and looking at the housing sector as a catalyst for growth and employment generation. The Minister of Housing and Urban Development, Ms. Ama Pepple has been holding stakeholder meetings with the sector. She has set up committees, she is doing a great job honestly and the Federal Mortgage Bank has been providing the necessary support to this effect. I know that the housing and finance ministers have been working together to ensure that the housing sector is jump-started seriously this year.

It is on top of their radar. The idea is to create jobs in the economy.

A recent World Bank report says Nigeria has the potential to become Africa's foremost economic power, with an average GDP of six per cent per annum, buoyed by a young and growing population of 160 million. Morgan Stanley, an investment banking institution, also predicted that Nigeria's economy would outperform South Africa's by 2025 to become the biggest in Africa. The macroeconomic outlook is favourable. With an expected stable inflation rate, five per cent rural to urban immigration, and three per cent population growth, experts say Nigeria is a huge real estate market by all standards.

Vidson Boss, Wale Popoola Concurring with the statistics, the Jibrin noted that "in the highly developed economies, the average contribution of the real estate and housing sectors to the GDP is 40

per cent. In every economy, there is an engine room for that economy. The Nigerian housing sector can serve as that engine room as we seek to diversify our economic base. The sector has the

potential to generate and create huge economic activities.

As a means of diversifying the economy and creating jobs, the General Manager of Vidson Ventures, Northern Region, Pastor Wale Popoola has called on the Federal Government to harness the abundant potentials of the aluminium industry in order to lay a solid foundation for the industrial and economic development of Nigeria".

Pastor Popoola, an aluminium expert said, "the aluminium industry is a vast industry because people make massive use of aluminium worldwide. Much of what we see in automobiles and aircraft is aluminium. This is because the components are durable.

Although it is used in large quantities abroad, in Nigeria, it is scantily used. Even in the building industry, we are yet to use up to 10% of the potential of aluminium. We have about 4 notable aluminium extrusion plants in Nigeria and this is grossly inadequate. Billets are the primary products you work upon to get aluminium products.

They are extruded to get aluminium. Nothing less than 65% of the aluminium used in Nigeria is imported from Europe.

Nigeria can accommodate 60 70 aluminium extrusion plants.

They say aluminium plants are capital intensive but Nigerians are wasting foreign exchange importing aluminium. This nation should invest in extrusion plants. However, the erratic electric power supply in Nigeria will be a problem because aluminium is power-based. If you run the extrusion plant with a generator, you may go under.

Government should fix the power sector.

According to the aluminium expert, "All we are doing in Nigeria is trade in imported aluminium. But we should produce it here. Many industries need it. It is important in our industrial development and in employment creation. It will conserve foreign exchange.

Government should do the right thing. They should back up policies with concrete action.

There are always good policies but poor implementation. When we talk about the Asian tigers, it is because these people discovered the needs of their nations. In the 80's in Nigeria, people worked in shifts in factories but those industries are moribund today. We should focus on manufacturing to jumpstart the economy and aluminium development will help industrialize Nigeria because diverse manufactured products are made with aluminium. A fraction of the money we realize from oil if judiciously spent can industrialize Nigeria. Nigerians are industrious people. If an enabling environment is created, this country will be greater than the big European countries"

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 27

Steel Building Technology Arrives Nigeria

By Udenna Orji

N

igeria's housing industry is about to rise a notch higher with the entry into the country of the revolutionary SteelMaster Building Systems.

Considering Nigeria's housing deficit now put at over 16 million units, and the worrisome scarcity and high cost of building materials especially cement, individuals, corporate organizations and government institutions will no doubt find the beauty, strength, longevity and diverse applications of SteelMaster building systems highly functional, irresistible and costeffective.

Represented in Nigeria and all of West Africa by housing technology giant, Steel-Tech Projects Ltd, SteelMaster building systems are manufactured by SteelMaster, an American company supplying the highest quality prefabricated steel buildings across the globe for over 28 years.

These unique aesthetically inviting steel buildings are located in every state in the Unted States and on 6 continents and in over 40 countries. The company is the most reliable and largest global producer for steel arch buildings and roofing materials. The construction of SteelMaster building systems is fast, simple and very efficient.

SteelMaster steelbuildings, metal buildings and prefabricated buildings are designed for a broad range of residential and commercial uses including garages, carport, workshops, agricultural storage, airplane hangers, government buildings, military buildings, commercial buildings, roofing systems, batting domes, retail

stores, architectural, athletic facilities, specialty buildings, Industrial storage buildings, housing, custom buildings, green buildings, commercial warehousing etc.

According to the managing director of Steel-Tech Projects Ltd, Mr. Agodi Kanu, "the beauty of it all is that its maintenance-free. You don't have to treat it, paint it or maintain it. With a steelmaster, you just enjoy it. The Galvalume-Plus coating provides years of maintenancefree use. The sizes are customizable to your specific needs".

Kanu who is a respected name in the housing technology market noted that SteelMaster Metal Workshops are globally sought-after by all types of professionals including woodworkers, metalshop owners, classic car professionals, healthcare experts, oil and gas industry operators as well as numerous types of businesses around the globe.

"SteelMaster workshops, prefabricated workshops and metal shops are the perfect place to organize, store and protect your valuable tools and machinery as well as provide comfort, security and durability against

fire, hurricane winds, snow and other destructive weather elements. With 100% usable space, you have the flexibility to truly customize the inside of your shop. You can easily hang lighting, run conduit, build shelving, add a loft, insulate and/or heat/cool your building", Mr. Kanu said.

Steel-Tech Projects Ltd will also be coming to Archibuilt with DuraRoof, steel-based roofing tiles (silicacote and stone coat). Each DuraRoof covers a wide area and is very light which means that installation is quick and easy.

It requires less support timber

so there are considerable savings of materials, time and money.

DuraRoof allows builders to invest their money in the roof and not the structure. It is completely weatherproof and maintenance-free, saving you time, inconvenience and money in the future.

Perhaps to consolidate its reputation as a housing technology giant, Steel-Tech Projects Ltd will also arrive Archibuilt with high-tech battery and solar-powered gate systems that open and shut gates on their own, without the help of humans.

Poor insurance penetration hindering mortgage development in Nigeria

T

he financial challenges hindering the development of Nigeria's housing sector have been blamed partly on the low level of insurance penetration and

Managing Director, FMBN, Mr. Gimba Kumo

awareness in the country.

The Managing Director of Union Assurance Company Limited, Mr. Godwin Odah who made this known in a statement issued to newsmen said no economy could successfully thrive without a vibrant insurance sector which would breed entrepreneurship that would lift the housing sector.

Odah described insurance as a mechanism for mobilizing funds, adding that housing remained scarce because there were no funds.

"We need long term funds, which is what life insurance provides", Odah said.

The Union Assurance boss said that at the moment, there was acute shortage of long-term funds which should ordinarily be available to entrepreneurs to grow the economy because Nigerians have yet to buy into life insurance as a natural way of saving for their long-term

needs.

"Life insurance comes in the category of 5, 10 and 15-year plans and so on. If a sizable number of Nigerians, with the country's huge population, invests just a small proportion of their income in insurance, the economy will expand because the money will be made available to investors who can then grow their businesses on long-term basis," Odah explained.

According to him, funds at the disposal of banks are shortterm in nature and most times, have a maximum tenor of 90 days before the owners will come calling and "with this condition, banks can only lend short-term at high interest rates that are largely a disincentive to the entrepreneur in the real estate business. But the situation will be better if banks had insurance life funds."

Odah said it was not possible

to achieve sustainable expansion in the housing sector without mortgages which he explained would be easier if the insurance component was available to make the dream of housing for all a reality.

"The insurance component takes care of the initial deposit required by the mortgage firms.

But because insurance companies are backward in terms of patronage of life products, these long-term funds are not available for development. Pension funds, which are another component of insurance, have generated within a short period, about 2 trillion naira. Talks are ongoing to develop a framework for investment of the money for infrastructural development and in other sectors. This is a demonstration of what life insurance funds can do for national development", Odah said.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

How low income earners are building their own houses

By Udenna Orji ow income earners in the city of Abuja and its environs have been thanking God for making it possible for them to build and own their own modern and decent houses courtesy of the housing development activities of The Fuller Centre, Nigeria.

The Fuller Centre for Housing is a world-wide non-profit humanitarian organization that is focused on helping low income earners to build and own their own individual homes through small financial contributions over a short period of time.

Already, The Fuller Centre, Nigeria which is the Nigerian office of the global organization is developing housing estates at Luvu-Madaki, Masaka, near Abuja and so far, close to 100 low income families who previously could hardly rent one room are now proud owners of their own houses in the estate, based on their little deposits, equally small monthly contributions and their labour input in developing the houses.

Mrs. Maria Eleje, her husband and their three children and two dependants formerly lived in a rented car garage of an uncompleted building in Garki, Abuja. The car garage had neither toilet, bath nor kitchen. On July 24, 2007 the agent in charge of the property served Maria's family a quit notice. As she read the letter at the door, her husband who had been ill, slumped in the house and eventually died on the way to hospital.

If the quit notice was a shock, her husband's death was even more so. In an instance, she suddenly became a widow bearing on her shoulders alone, all the family's responsibilities. Her three children and two dependants are all students and it seemed the odds were totally against Maria, who collects waste papers and sells them to earn some money.

With all of these problems, the family did not know where to turn to for help as all the money they had saved to rent a decent house was diverted for her husband's burial expenses. One day, at the Summit Bible Church in Abuja, Maria heard about The Fuller Centre for Housing and made further enquiries about the organization.

Her findings confirmed the The Fuller Center builds and sells houses to low-income earners at no-profit and no-interest. She got to know that a Fuller house costs only three hundred and sixty thousand naira. However, she did not have such money to pay for the house. Fortunately for Maria, her church came to her aid and paid off the initial deposit of sixty thousand naira. The church also agreed to help with the balance of three hundred thousand naira as required by The Fuller Centre.

Today, Maria lives happily in a Fuller house with her four children. "We love this place," she says. "In fact my children are very happy with this house. They enjoy it because it has facilities which were absent in our former house.

We are grateful to our Pastor and

L

•Prospective house owners besiege Fuller Centre Nigeria office •1 Bedroom and 2 Bedroom flats to be ready soon

Fuller Centre for Housing has helped to put smiles on the faces of its beneficiaries The Summit Bible Church, for helping us pay for the house."

The Fuller Centre LuvuMadaki, Masaka Estates have one room self-contained apartments, one bedroom and two bedroom flats. The first set of lucky homeowners got their one room self-contained apartments with own kitchen, toilet and bathroom inside the apartments at N360,000 each.

Now, one bedroom flats (1 parlour + 1 bedroom + kitchen, toilet/bathroom) and 2 bedroom flats (1 parlour + 2 bedrooms + kitchen, toilet / bathroom) are soon to be available for deposits of N120,000 and N240,000 respectively with small monthly

deposits spread over a period of time. It is also necessary for prospective homeowners to make labour input (called Sweat Equity Programme) in the construction of the houses in the estates.

Prospective homeowners can have a friend or family member make the labour input.

Fuller Housing also takes the growing family's housing dream and breaks it into smaller, more easily achievable steps encouraging the migration of lowincome families into increasingly larger housing units once the mortgage for a smaller unit is fully paid.

In this way, a young family or school leaver can move from a 1-

“

Today, Maria lives happily in a Fuller house with her four children. "We love this place," she says. "In fact my children are very happy with this house.

They enjoy it because it has facilities which were absent in our former house.

room unit, to a 2-room unit and on to a 3-room unit and so forth over a few short years, when ordinarily, having to move directly into a- room or 2-bedroom unit may have been impossible.

Fuller Housing promotes the administration of small housing loans called micro-mortgages.

The Fuller Centre Nigeria is working out a collaborative arrangement with Aso Savings and Loans Plc to further help lowincome earners receive mortgage assistance in accessing the houses.

To ensure it is only low income earners in both the formal and informal sectors that access the houses, a senior official at the Fuller Centre Nigeria, Bukkie Aderinto told Peoples Daily that "we ensure the houses are accessed only by people who don't own their own houses. We visit your place of work and where you live. And once you buy a Fuller Centre House, you can neither sell nor rent it out.

If you do, it means you didn't need the house in the first place. You can only sell it back to the Fuller Centre for re-allocation to another needy person."

The Fuller Centre For Housing is in several countries and was founded by Millard Fuller. A millionaire before the age of 30 years, Fuller gave away his million-dollar wealth to the poor and chose to serve God instead, traveling to Zaire (now DRC) in Central Africa as a missionary. On his return to his native America in 1976, he established Habitat for Humanity International, a non-profit housing organization which he led into 100 countries of the world.

Due to board disagreements however, he left the organization which he founded and established The Fuller Centre for Housing Inc. to continue the work which God had called him to do.

The Fuller Centre is funded through the kind donations of foundations, corporate bodies and individuals who wish to contribute in helping low-income families obtain a simple, decent and affordable shelter.

The Fuller Centre for Housing, Faith driven and Christ centered, promotes collaborative and innovative partnership with individuals and organizations in an unrelenting quest to provide adequate shelter for all people in need.

The Fuller Centre, Nigeria also organizes free Housing Seminars for prospective house owners every Wednesday between 10 - 11 am.

According to the National Director of The Fuller Centre, Nigeria, Mr. Sam Odia, "work continues unabated at our site at Luvu-Madaki, near Abuja. We have also begun preliminary work in the Niger Delta with The Shell Petroleum Development Company in a project that promises to bring hope to the teeming population of Bayelsa state and beyond. We welcome you to be a part of this exciting, life-changing ministry through your contribution of cash and inkind donations and of course, your prayers. May God bless you also, as you seriously consider making a gift that will help put one more needy family into a new home".

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

BOOK REVIEW

By Myne Whitman

A

LOVE REKINDLED is all about love and romance.

As a Nigerian , I chose to write this novel to provide insight into two characters in a loving relationship as well as the ethnic violence I witnessed in Nigeria. I believe romantic fiction with African characters and settings is an unexplored niche both in Nigeria and internationally and I plan to write a series of such books. My first novel, A Heart to Mend, also set in Nigeria, was very well received and garnered a substantial following on blogger, Facebook and Twitter.

It was also subsequently published, to good reviews, in Nigeria.

In A Love Rekindled, I explored the possibility of reuniting with a first love. There are a lot of anecdotes from people, positive and otherwise.

Most people seem to think it is not a good idea to try to rekindle love, especially that first love one finds when still young and idealistic. But what if it were possible? What if after what one believes to be a life changing, heart breaking episode, fate gives this second chance to love again? From a Nigerian perspective, I give my hero and heroine the chance many only dream of.

There are a couple of issues

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A Love Rekindled that came up while I was writing this book; First, the reason most given for not rekindling love with an earlier partner is usually that an ex is an ex for a reason, and for some that is true. But in some cases, you are parted from your exs because of circumstances. I have read about people who meet their first love again on Facebook, Twitter and other social media sites, and because they are now married, they don’t know what to do about it. But what if these people weren’t married and were single and still attracted to the ex, would they not try to find ways to rekindle their love?

The next theme was forgiveness.

Personally, I believe that one should forgive 70 times 7 times but I also know itt can be difficult. Some create a difference between forgiving and forgetting. Some say they will forgive but never forget. Be that as it may, I always say that forgiving is a two way street. It is not enough to just forgive but the person that you are forgiving needs to know what happened and get the opportunity to make allowances. You both have to own that forgiveness in order to fully heal.

Short Synopsis Ten years ago, Efe Sagay

dreams of winning the United States Visa Lottery and escaping a country torn apart by instability, until she meets Kevwe Mukoro, a fellow university student. Kevwe is happy to remain in Nigeria; only he wants Efe by his side.

Over time, Efe finds true love with Kevwe, and promises to marry him after graduation.

Their dreams clash when Efe wins an American Visa and fresh violence erupts between their warring ethnic groups. People close to them use this conflict to their own ends and their love becomes one of the casualties. Efe travels to America, nursing a broken heart.

Now, Efe is back in Nigeria to take up a high profile job in Abuja. Closer home, pressures to get married mount, and her nights are plagued by nightmares of Kevwe’s betrayal.

When another Mukoro comes to her office, she knows it’s a matter of time before Kevwe returns to her life.

They finally meet again, yet renewed desire is no match for bitter memories of heartbreak.

Kevwe claims he’s never stopped loving her, but while she does not want to lose him, the traumatic events of the past have to be resolved before she can give in to rekindled love.

Source: Nigerian village Square.com

Crossing Boundaries with ‘the Length Of Light’ BOOK REVIEW

By Temitayo olofinlua

I

n The Length of Light, a collection of fourteen short stories written between 1997 and 2009, Unoma Azuah succeeds in telling tales that cross borders.

From the very traditional setting to the contemporary Lagos life of survival, to the life of loneliness and longing for belonging in foreign lands. With themes definite to time and place, yet, reminiscent of more collective realities, the writer stays true to changing times as she takes us into her world of fiction.

She takes on a variety of themes: culture and religious clashes; migration and social acceptance; poverty and its effects on the human mind; lesbianism, marital infidelity, forced marriage, and the helplessness of man. Azuah strikes a chord with the first story, “The Sacred Lake,” with the interplay of religious beliefs and blood ties.

It focuses on a sister’s allegiance to a river goddess and her brother’s devotion to Christ; it’s a battle of superiority and ego that’s reminiscent of Chinua Achebe’s Arrow of God. Suspensefilled “Walking Into My Groom” centres on reincarnation and takes us into the ethereal. The story revolves around a woman, who falls in love with a man;

marries him and has to solve the puzzle of his roots.

Somehow, as the story unfolds, there is a part of the reader that seems to know what is happening, but the suspense is so strong that one wants to know how the story will end-you hold on, take a breath and maybe like the main character; you are holding on to some dead things that are in the past.

Lagos also features in its darkness and mystery in a couple of the stories as a play of tricks and gimmicks. In “Ma Own Don Finish” a policeman is mysteriously implicated in the death of a colleague after a “sexcapade” with a mad woman; in “The Bulging Bag,” Mr. Akpan, a drug vendor, quarrels with two men over the ownership of a bag found in a molue bus, leading to a macabre find. “Obtained by Trick” reveals how a young lady is duped by a trickster; the trickster is also an ex-boyfriend.

Azuah’s writing is very controlled: she carefully describes her scenes; puts words in the voices of her characters in conversations; makes each word flow into the other, each character seen as unique even as each story evolves.

The writer’s feminist leanings are revealed as most of her female characters fight for their freedom in a patriarchal society; whether for sexual choices, marital decisions, economic independence or social acceptance. In “Rebel,” Alice, the

protagonist, makes a difficult choice between a man and her love for another woman; and in “Season of Scorch,” a young girl runs from an imposed marriage to an older man. In “Lady Chatterley’s Mansion” history is

revisited as the ghost of an enslaved African woman haunts the mansion of her slave owner; it takes the memories of an immigrant African student to exorcise the ghost.

The characters are neither

comic nor tragic; they are not heroes: they are either victims of fate, cultural beliefs or social realities trying to strangle their humanity out of them. Despite these, they are fearless and they have a certain quality that makes them human and enduring: they keep trying at life even as they take us on a stroll into worlds that exist via other people.

The language used is accessible and realistic with each tongue sitting well with each character in dialogues. The language is determined by the character in focus-from the street slangs and use of pidgin English as seen in “Ma Own Don Finish”; Americanisms in “Sirens” to the free use of Igbo in “Sacred Lake”-as they reflect the times, moods and drive the plot of the stories.

The beauty of these stories is almost marred by typographical errors rearing their heads once in a while: scars of imperfection in an almost perfect book. I questioned how there could be “two keg” of palm wine or how money could be “countered.”

However, the reader would easily forgive as the writer takes us across the yawning chasm between people and the fulfilment of their dreams into different worlds. The Length of Light shows that Unoma Azuah is a storyteller that has spent time mastering the art of writing.

Temitayo Olofinlua is a writer and editor based in Lagos.

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PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

A Swamp Full Of Hyenas (I) BOOK REVIEW

By Ikhide R. Ikheloa

G

iven the opportunity to read Michael Peel’s new book about Nigeria A Swamp Full of Dollars I groaned inwardly. Oh no, not another condescending, smirking tome written by a white man about Nigeria, corruption, decay, injustice, crude oil, blah, blah, blah. I remembered painfully reading Karl Maier’s This House Has Fallen and that was the best of them. As I held the book, wondering whether to toss it into the heap of “I go read am” books, inside me, EsuElegbara, the god of my impish spirit roared, “Man Up! Read the book! If you don’t like it drop it like the dozens of other books littering your life!” I give thanks to Esu for making me read the book. I could not drop this book. It was written with respect, and it turned out to be a purposeful book written by a focused, purposeful journalist.

Before you die, please read this book. A Swamp Full of Dollars is the definitive book about the ravages of the Niger Delta written by a man who actually prowled the delta with the best and the worst of us. Let me put it this way, I am still recovering from a harrowing 17 day mostly road trip through the ruins of Nigeria. This man spent years there. He deserves whatever prize they give to journalists that brave, or some would say, that reckless.

I love this book. In A Swamp Full of Dollars, Peel reexamines a familiar tale of the devastation of Nigeria’s Niger Delta by oil conglomerates and thieving Nigerian leaders. Fortunately, in Peel’s expert hands, it is reborn and told with fierce courage and gentle but damning conviction. The narrative is delivered in fresh, brilliant prose, shorn of clichés.

This is not Karl Maier’s This House Has Fallen. You do not suffer the exhaustion of listening to drumbeats of despair. It is a sermon, but not in a sententious way. I appreciate that Peel writes a really sad story with respect and compassion for those at the receiving end of multiple pipes of greed. If you don’t read anything else, please read the prologue, Trigger Point. It is easily one of the best essays I have read in decades.

Focused, disciplined, lush and crisp, this is great, data-driven prose.

Bereft of the narcissism of messianic African writers, it is at once instructive and entertaining.

We need to read this. And the world needs to hear this. Someone is getting away with genocide in Nigeria’s Niger Delta.

This book is not merely a clinical rendering of the tale of a catastrophe. The rendering is impressive in its delivery. In the prologue, talking about an encounter with a peasant in the island of São Tomé and Príncípe, Peel makes this observation: “When I give her dobras worth about £1.50, she grips my hand with a strength unnerving in one apparently so frail. The intensity of her gratitude fills me with

loathing, both for the economic gulf from which it springs and for the feeling of power it awakens in me.” (xiv) How many of us Nigerians have not felt the rush of power from giving our crumbs to our dispossessed? It is a great shame that such haunting, evocative words about the suffering of our own people come from an outsider looking in. Here is fresh prose neatly describing decay, despair, and dilapidation: “Around the corner, at the Royal Niger Company’s old headquarters, the corrugated metal walls of the ground floor were corroded beyond repair and the upper floor had disintegrated. A once sturdy safe in the corner was a mess of stone and mangled metal. The building’s only occupant was a bare-breasted old woman, made pitifully thin by age and deprivation. She sat eating from an orange plastic bowl and begging visitors for food and money.” (p 33) A Swamp Full of Dollars is a neatly compiled, carefully documented history coated in appealing prose. It is chock full of current statistics about Nigeria.

This one is a keeper. And some of the data is frightening. During Peel’s time living in Nigeria, “oil sales typically accounted for about three-quarters of government revenues and more than 95 percent of export earnings. In Britain, where production levels are similar, crude accounted until 2006 for less than one-tenth of exports.” (p 27) This book should be in every Nigerian classroom.

Every Nigerian intellectual should own this book; the data between the covers is priceless. The book’s attention to detail seems fueled by

Peel’s photographic memory. He captures every Nigerian drama as if it is a sad Vaudeville act. It is also an immensely readable tutorial on the oil and geo- politics of the region. He documents the grisly atrocities carried out on the people of the Delta in a “democracy” run

by Mr. Olusegun Obasanjo. He outlines Shell’s role in the Nigerian Civil war and he argues that Shell’s and Western interests arose from the fact that the war was interrupting the flow of crude. He goes further to explain, with the help of really good data, why Nigerian oil is of strategic importance to the West especially the US. Peel’s analysis is refreshing on many levels. He constantly makes the connection between the suffering in the Delta and the material comfort in the West, In other words, our comfort in the West is paid for by the bloody suffering in the Niger Delta. Peel gets it. ”I could see the obscene asymmetry between the smoothness of my oil-fuelled life in Britain and the toxic impact of crude on one of its main source regions. Like other horrors that we tolerate in the West because they happen to people elsewhere, the disturbing story of Nigeria’s oil became harder to ignore once it was no longer abstract. What had been faraway and theoretical had now become up close and personal.” (p 14) It is profound how Peel returns again and again to themes of connections between the West and Nigeria’s oil. He also attempts to make, in my view, unconvincing parallels between the oppression of the people of the Delta and the poor in the West: “Already I could see

many common themes. The rich men’s houses in impoverished Oloibiri were no more obscene than their counterparts in London; their opulence was simply starker compared with the general standard of living. Nor were the Delta resource control disputes so different in essence from the campaign of the Scottish nationalists for dominion of the UK oil pumped off Scotland’s shores.

That, too can be cast as a story of historical oppression and growing resistance to a nation state that some see as an unwanted fiction.

In Nigeria, guns and deeper poverty have simply bolstered the polemic.” (p31) Nigeria’s poor would kill to be America’s destitute.

Peel does offer a great point about the harmful effects of what he terms reverse racism - Westerners treating “progressive” but flawed African leaders like china that might shatter if subjected to the normal wear and tear of political debate. He points out for example that folks were dissuaded from asking hard questions about Obasanjo’s administration. Today, we are reeling in shock from the extent of that administration’s graft.

It is particularly telling that not one of the Nigerian leaders interviewed in the book had anything of substance to contribute to the discourse at hand.

They sounded like hapless fools wondering what to do with the mantle in their hands. Indeed, Peel’s impressions of the Niger Delta activist Dokubo Asari reads like the making of a tragic-comedy. Asari comes across as a money grubbing opportunist whose “freedom fighters” have surreal, silly names like “KKK.” Peel visits Asari’s military hide-out, and is witness to a theatre of the absurd: “A man dressed in an orange Shell jumpsuit, inseparable from his Kalashnikov caught my eye. He and some others started wrestling, sprawling in the mud. Some of the photos I took turned out to be hilarious: the scene looked more like a reality game show with guns than the training base of a militia movement.” (p 11) There is more of this farce: “A well-muscled young fighter, wearing nothing but tight black underpants, started to move around jerkily, like a Convent Garden mime artist.

Water ran to the ground off his bare chest. The whole atmosphere, charged with testosterone and a certain homoerotic tension, seemed more camp militancy than militants’ camp. Whether I was watching spontaneous ecstasy or a performance for a foreign visitor was open to question, although I didn’t get the sense of being much noticed until I started taking photos.” (p 12) Peel sees in the military camp a strange, bizarre world “in which weapons, spiritual belief, ideology and mercantilism combined to such deadly effect.” (p13) Unfortunately, Peel provides no pictures in the book. I wonder what he is going to do with those pictures.

Perhaps we should look forward to a coffee table book.

Source: Nigerian village Square.com

PEOPLES POEM OF THE WEEK Title: TWO KINDS OF GREED

By REGHA JULIUS ........two kinds of greed on the east west road, the placid midday sun stood aside, as a more finer flame execute the day's task on the east west road, men, of dust,blood and flesh were served as suya before their greedy gods and gloomy faced, vultures on the east west road like sacrificial goats ,they lay on the tar, unattended to,check or turn, on government barbecue rack , they were left to burn spiced with smoke, a meal of black and white, a buffet even the vultures abhor. on the east west road, angry flames initiated by democratic dividends sustained by man's deposition ushers 200 mortals to the other side on the east west road, billions of naira expended on structures, that expedite man's dreaded re-union with his Creator and expose us to a breath of stench air.

Source: OnlineNigeria.com

QUO TE UOTE Peace is not merely a distant goal that we seek, but a means by which we arrive at that goal –– Martin Luther King, Jr.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 31

The failure of Republican economics ANALYSIS

T

hose clinging to Bush-era ideologies and illusions show they simply do not understand economics.

What's wrong with this picture? The George W Bush Institute has just released a book, The 4% Solution: Unleashing the Economic Growth America Needs with a foreword by former President George W Bush. A better question would be, what's not wrong with this picture? It's not just the matter of timing - the former Republican president releasing a book just as the current Republican nominee is struggling to establish his own identity and political bona fides. Nor is it simply the additional embarrassment that the book's subject is economics, which Mitt Romney pretends to be an expert on. It's not even just the fact that Bush had his chance at producing four per cent growth for eight long years and never once managed to even come close. In fact, he only managed three isolated quarters when the economy grew that rapidly.

It's all that and much, much more. Because Republicans in general are downright terrible at producing four per cent growth, while Democrats are relatively good at it. In fact, since FDR took office in the depths of the Great Depression, Democratic presidents have produced four per cent annual growth an average of three out of every five years - 60.5 per cent of the time - while Republican presidents have only managed it a little more than one year out of every four - 27.8 per cent of the time. With figures like that, it's a nobrainer: the best thing you can do to produce four per cent growth is to vote for a Democrat for president.

The five fastest years of economic growth all took place under a Democratic president.

His name was Franklin Delano Roosevelt. In fact, the 11 fastest years of economic growth all took place under Roosevelt or Truman. Democrats presided over 16 of the 20 fastestgrowing years, 22 of the fastestgrowing 30 years, and 28 of the fastest-growing 40 years.

There have only been 36 years in which growth has actually topped four per cent, and Democrats were in charge during 26 of them.

George W Bush was in charge during zero of them. His best year clocked in at 3.5 per cent growth - in 41st place.

Republicans love to idolise Ronald Reagan - even though they'd never nominate him if he were running today. His record of raising taxes more often than he lowered them would immediately disqualify him, even though the cuts far outweighed the increases, and tilted heavily in favour of the super-rich. So how did Reagan

do on the growth front?

Relatively well for a Republican. He topped four per cent growth in four out of eight years - 50 per cent exactly.

Bill Clinton did it five times out of eight. And Clinton produced that better record while turning massive federal deficits into a surplus, while Reagan almost tripled the federal deficit during his two terms.

In fact, since Reagan took office in 1980, Republican presidents have only produced four per cent growth or better 20 per cent of the time, compared with 45.5 per cent of the time under Democrats.

Republicans like to argue that they are the party of business and therefore the party of economic growth.

Democrats are the party of economic redistribution.

Republicans grow the pie, Democrats cut it up. This is what Republicans argue, and the so-called "liberal media" largely echoes their message.

But the facts simply don't add up.

Since 1932, growth under Democrats has averaged 4.8 per cent annually, while growth under Republicans has averaged just 2.7 per cent. For a two-term presidency, this amounts to a growth rate almost double under the Democrat: 45.5 per cent growth, compared with 23.8 per cent growth under the Republican.

And if it's sustained growth, year after year that you're looking for the sort of growth that Bush is dishonestly promising, the results are even more lopsided.

When's the last time since 1929 that a Republican president presided over four straight years of four per cent GDP growth? The answer is simple: Never. When's the last time a Democrat did it? Bill Clinton, from 1997 through 2000. Democrats also put together four or more years of four per cent + GDP under Kennedy/Johnson (five years: 1962-66) and FDR - twice.

First was a four-year stretch from 1934-1937, followe d by a six-year stretch, 1939 to 1944.

The only year FDR missed four per cent + GDP growth over an 11-year span was 1938, the year he fell prey to the rhetoric of deficit hawks and cut back spending to try to balance the budget. It scared the bejesus out of folks, fearful that the Great

Former US President George W Bush's new book might be poorly timed [GALLO/GETTY] Recession would return full force and Roosevelt never considered it again. But that budget-slashing disaster is exactly the same "solution" that Republicans are pushing today - and demonising Obama because he's reluctant to go along with them.

Obama recently told CBS News that there was a significant difference between running a business and running an economy: "When some people question why I would challenge his Bain record, the point I've made there in the past is, if you're a head of a large private equity firm or hedge fund, your job is to make money. It's not to create jobs. It's not even to create a successful business - it's to make sure that you're maximising returns for your investor.

Now that's appropriate. That's part of the American way. That's part of the system. But that doesn't necessarily make you qualified to think about the economy as a whole, because as president, my job is to think about the workers. My job is to think about communities, where jobs have been outsourced."

This is a valid point, and economist Paul Krugman justly backed him up, his point that "business is not economics" linking to a 1996 paper where he makes the larger argument about the systemic differences between

“

a micro-economic and a macro-economic view of the economy - that is, that "a country is not a company".

But the problem remains, that despite what Obama is saying, he sounds like he's saying something else. He still sounds like he's talking about cutting up the pie particularly given the conventional wisdom cited above. But he's really talking about growing it.

In fact, Democrats are so much better at growing the economy that even superwealthy Republicans do better when a Democrat is in the White House. Attention has repeatedly been focused on the Bush tax cuts for highincome Americans. But those tax lower tax rates pale in comparison to the much stronger income growth under Clinton. So what if you're paying four per cent more in taxes, if you're earning way more than you otherwise would?

That's exactly what's going on, if you compare the records of income growth under Clinton and Bush - as I did back in August 2009 at Open Left. At the time, 2008 data wasn't yet available, but I turned necessity into a virtue. Forget the disastrous financial collapse of late 2008 and the Great Recession that followed. Let Bush off entirely for that horrendous mess. His economic record was still a

When's the last time since 1929 that a Republican president presided over four straight years of four per cent GDP growth?

The answer is simple: Never.

disaster, even without the last year on his record. How bad was it? Comparing income growth rates using US Census data, it was no surprise that I found Bush was worse for those at the 20th percentile (those making more than 20 per cent of other US citizens and less than 80 per cent). From 2001 to 2007, they made $18,898 less than they would have if incomes grew under Bush at the same rate they grew under Clinton. What was surprising, though, was that everyone else came up short as well. In fact, the more money you made, the more you came up short under Bush.

Those in the 60th percentile, for example, made $37,085 less under Bush than they would have done under Clinton's growth rates, and those in the 95th percentile made $135,049 less. But things really get bad when you move on up from there, using data from the IRS. (Census data stops at the 95th percentile). Those in the 99th percentile - the bottom of the one per cent - lost a whopping $622,022 to slower income growth in the Bush years compared with Clinton's. The bottom of the 0.1 per cent lost almost $5 million ($4,834,752, to be exact) and the bottom of the one per cent of the one per cent were the biggest losers of all. They lost out on a whopping $41,993,216.

So Republicans aren't just bad for the economy as a whole. They are especially bad for obscenely wealthy Republicans such as Mitt Romney.

Obama's message on the economy is getting better, clearer, sharper. But it's still got a long way to go to match the lopsided reality of the historical record.

Paul Rosenberg is the senior editor of Random Lengths News, a bi-weekly alternative community newspaper.

Source: Al Jazeera's

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 32

Regional heads to confer on DR Congo conflict

T Ivory Coast violence: Gbagbo allies ‘attacked Abidjan’

he presidents of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic Congo will take part in a regional summit in Uganda to agree on a neutral force tasked with policing their border and neutralising rebel

groups, officials said.

Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will from Tuesday host the two-day summit of 11member International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) at a lakeside

resort outside the capital Kampala.

A three-month-old uprising

by M23 rebels in eastern DR Congo has killed an unknown number of people and displaced around 280,000.

Twenty

A three-month-old uprising by M-23 rebels has displaced around 280,000 people in eastern DR Congo [Reuters]

F

ighters loyal to ex-Ivory Coast President Laurent Gbagbo carried out recent attacks in Abidjan, killing 11 soldiers, a minister has said.

Hamed Bakayoko told Radio France International (RFI) he believed the attackers received their orders from Gbagbo loyalists in neighbouring Ghana.

One assailant was also killed in the gun battle on Monday in the Riviera district of Abidjan, the main city.

Ivory Coast is recovering from months of unrest after a disputed poll.

The attacks on Sunday and Monday were said to be the biggest in Abidjan since Mr Gbagbo was ousted in April 2011.

"They [the attackers] were people who come from the myriad proGbagbo militiamen and former armed forces nostalgic of the Gbagbo regime," Mr Bakayoko told RFI. He believed that "everything was ordered" by pro-Gbagbo militiamen who fled to Ghana after they were ousted from power in Abidjan, RFI reports.

Mr Bakayoko told state TV the army would step up its presence across the country.

"The orders have been given, our instructions are firm," he said.

"From today, you'll be able to note this by the presence of our men in all the districts of Abidjan as well as towns in the interior."

This attack certainly gives Ivorians the jitters - especially those tempted to believe the violence of the past 10 years was finished.

The assailants may not have had much chance of taking control of the Akouedo base, which has a UN peacekeeping base at its heart, but it shows the Ivorian army is vulnerable to surprise attacks, and many soldiers complain of being woefully underequipped.

This incident will also increase tensions between those in the new unified armed forces about who is loyal to whom.

The army struggles both from a lack of weaponry because of the continuing UN arms embargo, but also from its mixed make-up of former rebels from the north, regular troops and recent volunteers due for disarmament.

The army is conducting extra patrols looking for the attackers

thousand UN peacekeepers are already based there.

Kigali confirmed on Monday that Rwanda's Paul Kagame would attend the summit while airport sources in Kinshasa said Congolese President Joseph Kabila was already on his way there.

The UN will also dispatch a representative to the summit, which aims to defuse mounting tensions between Rwanda and DR Congo, who have traded accusations of supporting each other's rebels.

Kinshasa charges that Rwanda is arming the M23 mutiny which has battled regular forces in the eastern DR Congo since May while Kigali accuses its neighbour of plotting attacks with Rwandan Hutu rebels based in the same region.

A UN report published in June said there was ample evidence that Kigali was actively involved in the M23 rebellion led by a renegade Congolese general who is wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Violent clashes continue in Sudan’s Darfur

F

our people have been killed after gunmen attacked a market and set fire to a police station during several days of violence in Sudan's Darfur region, international peacekeepers have said.

Gunmen surrounded a camp for displaced people in Kassab in North Darfur state, burnt down a police station and looted the main market, African Union/United Nations peacekeepers UNAMID said in a statement on Monday.

UNAMID said it had received reports that four people had been killed and 600 injured since the first incident last Wednesday.

Since then more looting and fighting between government forces and gunmen had taken place over several days in the Kassab camp as well as the nearby Kutum town and Fataborno camp.

Banditry, inter-ethnic fighting and clashes between rebel groups and government forces continue in Darfur, in Sudan's far west, nearly a decade

after rebels first rose up against the Arab-dominated Khartoum regime.

Mainly non-Arab rebels took up arms in Darfur in 2003, complaining

Gunmen surrounded a camp for displaced people in Kassab in North Darfur state, UNAMID peacekeepers said [Reuters]

the central government in Khartoum had neglected the remote western region.

Violence has since subsided from its peak, but law and order has collapsed in many parts of the vast territory and clashes have continued to erupt between rebels and government forces.

Following the most recent incidents, UNAMID "requested the government investigate the reported attacks and abuses on civilians and the destruction and looting of equipment belonging to humanitarian agencies," it said on Monday.

Sudan's army said two soldiers were killed and two wounded when troops moved into Kutum to restore order, the state-linked Sudanese Media Centre said late on Sunday. It said the situation was now under control.

Kenyan MPs get new $3,000 seats

K

enya's newly refurbished parliament, which has been dogged by criticism over the cost of chairs for MPs, has been opened by President Mwai Kibaki.

Costing about $3,000 (£1,900) each, the 350 red chairs were made by the country's prisons department.

The original tender was given to a company outside the country but was cancelled when some MPs discovered that each chair would cost $5,000.

Officials say the $12m renovation brings parliament into the digital age.

He said electronic voting would let MPs vote according to their conscience rather than be forced to vote in a certain way by party whips.

"Now the member will be completely on his own, he will be independent, he will make up his mind and just press a button."

MPs crowded into the renovated

costing and tendering process, our reporter says.

MP John Mbadi, on the public investments committee, led the uproar over the original order.

"We couldn't understand how members of parliament would sit on a seat costing about 400,000 Kenyan shillings - about $5,000 - that by any standards could put up some small house for someone," he told Al-Jazeera.

"It was just completely ridiculous," he said.

Our reporter says many argued the eventual cost of the chairs was still too high.

David Langat, who looks after industrial activities within Kenyan prisons, said all the materials were sourced locally but the chair moulds were expensive.

At the moment Kenya has 220 members of parliament, but the chamber

chamber as the president and the speaker led proceedings during the opening ceremony.

The refurbishment began in April 2010 and was scheduled to take one year to complete but this was delayed because of the controversy that surrounded the MPs in Kenya are among the highest paid in Africa

has been fitted with 350 chairs - the number of MPs to be elected next March under the country's new constitution.

Kenyan MPs have often been criticised for giving themselves salary increases - they are among the highest paid in Africa.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 33

Mexico captures cartel ‘operations chief’

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ederal police in Mexico have presented an alleged operations chief of the New Generation cartel who is suspected of overseeing extortion and drug trafficking activities for the drugs gang across various states.

A handcuffed Eliot Alberto Radillo, also known as "El Pancho", appeared alongside masked police officers in front

of the media on Monday after his detention with another alleged member, Juan Carlos Salazar.

The arrests came after a dramatic police operation in the city of Zapopan in the Pacific state of Jalisco.

According to authorities, Radillo had worked his way up Jalisco's New Generations cartel ranks to become

operations chief, and is believed to report directly to the cartel's kingpins.

"Eliot Alberto Radillo, also known as 'El Pancho,' was identified as an operations leader for the New Generation Jalisco Cartel," said Anti-Drug Division Chief for Federal Police, Ramon Eduardo Pequeno.

"He was the boss of operative cells and was in charge of

controlling drug distribution and extortion [activities] for the group as well as confronting rival gangs in the metropolitan area of Guadalajara."

The suspect is facing a host of charges, including murder and extortion.

Police presented heavy assault rifles and ammunition reportedly seized from the suspects.

Since sending in the army nearly six years ago to crack down on cartel activity, Mexican President Felipe Calderon has made a point of targeting top drugs chiefs but at an increasingly bloody cost.

More than 55,000 people have been killed since soldiers were deployed across the country to stem the flow of drugs smuggling into the US.

Standard Chartered denies laundering claims

Eliot Alberto Radillo faces a host of charges, including murder and extortion [Reuters]

T

he British bank Standard Chartered has rejected a US regulator's claim that it hid $250bn in transactions with Iranian banks in violation of US sanctions.

The denial came on Tuesday, a day after New York's Department of Financial Services (DFS) threatened to revoke the bank's licence and impose fines, as the regulator branded the London-based lender as a "rogue bank".

"The group strongly rejects the position or the portrayal of facts as set out in the order issued by the DFS," group company secretary Annemarie Durbin said in a statement.

"The group does not believe the order issued by the DFS presents a full and accurate picture of the facts."

Shares of Standard Chartered

Pussy Riot prosecution calls for jail term

A

The Standard Chartered bank made a pre-tax profit of $6.8bn in 2011 [Reuters]

The members of Pussy Riot are charged with hooliganism and inciting religious hatred [AP]

Russian state prosecutor has asked a Moscow court to impose three-year jail sentences on three women from the Pussy Riot punk band who performed a "punk prayer" in an orthodox cathedral.

Maria Alyokhina, 24, Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 22, and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29, could have faced a maximum sentence of seven years for storming the altar of Moscow's main Christ the Saviour cathedral on February 21.

While in the cathedral the woman belted out a "punk prayer" calling on the Virgin Mary to rid Russia of Vladimir Putin, who is now president.

"The actions of the accomplices clearly show religious hatred and enmity," state prosecutor Alexei Nikiforov said in closing arguments on Tuesday.

"Using swear words in a church is an abuse of God." Given the "severity" of the crime, he said, the "requisite punishment must be a real deprivation of freedom," said Nikiforov.

The prosecution of the Pussy Riot band members has caused a sharp public divide and drawn protests from rights groups who have declared them prisoners of conscience.

On Monday, Violetta Volkova, the women's lawyer, criticised the way the trial was being conducted.

"I myself witnessed how the journalists were sent away, kicked downstairs," she said.

fell by as much as a quarter in trading in London and 7.5 per cent on the Hong Kong stock exchange, as there are fears the bank could lose its operating license in the USA. The US regulator accused the bank of systematically disguising foreign exchange deals with Iran in a breach of controls that potentially opened up the US banking system to terrorists and criminals.

The regulator said that Standard Chartered had hidden 60,000 such secret transactions from 2001 to 2010.

It has ordered the bank to

Texas set to execute ‘mentally retarded’ man

A

man whose lawyers say is clinically "mentally retarded" is set to be put to death by lethal injection in Texas.

Marvin Wilson was convicted of fatally shooting a police drug informant nearly 20 years ago, with the sentence of death by lethal injection.

The US Supreme Court soon afterwards found the penalty to be in violation of the constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment when imposed on the mentally retarded.

Commenting on the case, Simon Whitaker, a clinical psychologist from the UK, told Al Jazeera: "This is a miscarriage of justice, he [Wilson] would have the same reasoning powers of a five-year-old child, if a fiveyear-old child killed someone we would not execute them in part.

"Texas courts have judged Wilson as not mentally retarded - even though psychologists measured his IQ in the bottom one percentile, about equal to that of an average five-year-old child.

"With his diagnosis he cannot make rational decisions, there will be a clear problem for him to think things through," said Whitaker.

Texas is one of 33 states, along with the federal government, which still maintains the death penalty, which still has widespread support.

A recent poll indicated more than 70 per cent of Texans approve of capital punishment for murder.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

US says PM’s exit shows Assad rule crumbling Patrick Ventrell, the US State Department's acting deputy spokesman, said the defections "indicate that the regime is crumbling and losing its grip on power".

Jay Carney, the White House spokesman, said: "This is a sign that Assad's grip on power is loosening.

"If he cannot maintain cohesion within his own inner circle, it reflects on his inability to maintain any following among the Syrian people that isn't brought about at the point of a gun."

The White House repeated its call for Assad to step aside and end the violence gripping the country since an uprising againist Assad's rule which began in March last year.

Hijab announced on Monday through Muhammad el-Etri, his spokesman, that he was joining the opposition, after state television reported that he had been sacked.

The former prime minister said

four decades of Assad family rule were collapsing.

Hijab, a leading Sunni Muslim in Assad's minority Alawitedominated regime, became the highest-ranking official to flee Assad's regime in the nearly 17month uprising when he crossed

into Jordan on Sunday night.

He arrived in Jordan after being smuggled across the border, Jordanian authorities confirmed to Al Jazeera on Monday.

Hijab is to leave Jordan for Qatar within days, following the example of other high-profile defectors, Etri Syrian Prime Minister Riad Farid Hijab abandons Assad's crumbling government

told the AFP news agency.

He was appointed prime minister on June 23 after parliamentary elections that the opposition termed a sham.

On Tuesday, Turkey's Anatolia news agency said that about 1,137 Syrians, including a general, have fled to Turkey overnight. The latest group brought the number of Syrian refugees in Turkey to nearly 50,000.

Meanwhile, the Syrian army continued to shell areas of the key battleground city of Aleppo on Tuesday, a human rights group said.

Rebel fighters fought with troops in the Bab Antakya, Aziziyeh, Bab Janin and Sabaa Bahrat areas of the city centre and near the Palace of Justice in the west, the Britainbased Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said.

The army also bombarded the Shaar, Sakhur and Qatarji districts in the east, it added.

... Iran pledges support for ‘vital partner’

I

ran's security chief has told President Bashar al-Assad that Syria is part of a vital regional alliance that Tehran will not allow to be broken.

During talks in Damascus, Saeed Jalili said Syria was an essential part of an "axis of resistance".

The statement came a day after Syrian Prime Minister Riad Hijab defected to the opposition.

Syrian TV showed President Assad greeting the envoy - the first time he has been seen on TV for two weeks.

President Assad's TV appearance was his first since 22 July - four days after a bomb killed four security chiefs in Damascus.

State TV said Mr Assad had told Mr Jalili of "the determination of the people and government of Syria to cleanse the country from the terrorists and fight against terrorism unreservedly".

He said Syria would "continue on the path of national dialogue" and that it was "capable of thwarting the foreign

conspiracies".

Mr Jalili was quoted as saying: "Iran will not any allow the axis of resistance, of which it considers Syria to be an essential part, to be broken in any way."

Syria's caretaker Prime Minister Omar Ghalawanji headed an emergency cabinet meeting on Monday, stressing that all the ministers were there.

He was due to chair a further session on Tuesday.

The BBC's Jim Muir, in neighbouring Lebanon, said state media were giving the impression of it being business as usual in Damascus.

Opposition activists said that apart from the prime minister, two other ministers had also defected and a third - Finance Minister Mohammad Jalilati was arrested as he tried to escape.

But footage of the cabinet on state TV showed two of the ministers who had supposedly defected and Syria's information minister played down the significance of Mr Hijab's departure.

"We haven't heard anything

from the former prime minister and he didn't appear on TV," Omran al-Zoubi was quoted as saying by state news agency Sana.

Syria was a state of institutions, the information minister said, and the flight of some of its individuals would not affect the state, however prominent they were.

But reports of defections have continued, with Turkey's foreign ministry announcing on its Twitter feed that a general was

was destroyed in the blaze, first reported at about 3:30am, the Jasper County Sheriff's Office said.

Investigators from the FBI, the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms and the Jasper County Sheriff's department were at the scene all day, moving the rubble with a bulldozer and other

equipment.

Meanwhile, a small group of Muslims gathered for evening prayer on the lawn of the destroyed building.

It was the second time this summer that investigators had been called to the Islamic centre, located in a former church on the outskirts of Joplin.

A fire reported around the same time on July 4 has been determined to be arson, but no charges have been filed.

The FBI has released a video of a suspect caught on surveillance video and offered a $15,000 reward for information leading to an arrest in that fire.

Michael Kaste, special agent in charge of the Kansas City office of the FBI, said the investigation into Monday's fire was in the preliminary stages, and that about 30 people had been assigned to the investigation.

among more than 1,300 refugees who fled across the border overnight.

The number of Syrians who have crossed into Turkey has risen to 47,500, Ankara says.

The UK said on Tuesday it was quadrupling its aid for refugees fleeing fighting in Syria.

Riad Hijab, appointed as prime minister less than two months ago, is the most prominent Syrian figure to defect so far.

President Assad has not been seen on Syrian television for more than two weeks

I

No injuries were reported in Monday's blaze which destroyed the Joplin mosque [AP]

A 40-year-old US army veteran has been identified as the gunman who killed six worshippers at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin, authorities said.

T

he assailant, shot dead by police at the scene on Sunday, was on Monday identified as Wade Michael Page and authorities were investigating possible links to white supremacist groups and his membership in skinhead rock bands.

Page served as a soldier in the army from 1992 to 1998, said police chief John Edwards in the Milwaukee suburb of Oak Creek where the 400-member temple is located.

A day after his attack on the suburban Milwaukee temple, fragments of Page's life emerged in public records and interviews.

But so far, his motive remained largely a mystery and police suggested investigators might never know why he targeted a temple full of strangers.

"We have a lot of information to decipher, to put it all together before we can positively tell you what that motive is - if we can determine that,'' Edwards said.

US media outlets and officials, speaking on the basis of anonymity, said on Monday that Page had links to racist groups in the US.

Morales vows to fight Bolivia poverty

B

Missouri mosque razed by second fire in weeks nvestigators are looking for evidence of arson after a mosque in southwest Missouri was burned to the ground in the second fire to hit the Islamic centre in little more than a month.

No injuries were reported in the fire on Monday, but the Islamic Society of Joplin's building

US army veteran named in Sikh temple attack

Imam Lahmuddin, who leads the mosque and was in the building until late Sunday, said he was "sad and shocked" about the fire.

"Maybe there is something we are supposed to learn from this," he said.

A Washington-based Muslim civil rights organisation meanwhile called for more police protection at mosques and other houses of worship following the Joplin fire and a deadly attack at a Sikh temple in Wisconsin on Sunday.

The Council on AmericanIslamic Relations also offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of whoever started the mosque fire.

About 50 families belong to the Islamic Society of Joplin, which opened in 2007 as a mosque and community centre.

olivian President Evo Morales has called for the complete eradication of extreme poverty in his country by 2025, in an address marking his country's Independence Day. Morales delivered his annual message, which also serves as a kind of "State of the Union" address, in the western city of Oruro on Monday.

The speech focused on his goals for fighting poverty and improving access to basic services by the time Bolivia celebrates its bicentennial in 2025, 200 years after the country gained independence from Spain.

Morales came to power in 2006, promising to improve the lot of the country's indigenous populations [AP]

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Fizzy drinks, frankly they’re evil, says leading biologist (III) S

oft drinks play a major role in the U.S.’s obesity crisis, the campaigners say, and they want a study into them similar in scale and impact to the SurgeonGeneral’s landmark report on the dangers of smoking in 1964.

Kathleen Sebelius, the former Governor of Kansas, who campaigns on behalf of the American Cancer Society, declared: ‘An unbiased and comprehensive report on the impact of sugar-sweetened beverages could perhaps begin to change the direction of public behaviour in their choices of food and drinks.’

Legislators are already starting to act. In May, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, announced a ban on serving cartons bigger than 16oz (a pint).

Last year, the Hungarian government imposed a tax on unhealthy drinks and foods.

CITRIC ACID: HELPING FIZZY DRINKS ROT YOUR TEETH Citric acid gives lemons, oranges and grapefruit their kick and cola its bite, helping to make the drink nearly as corrosive as battery acid when it comes to teeth.

Prolonged exposure to cola and other fizzy drinks strips tooth enamel causing pain, ugly smiles and — in extreme cases — turning teeth to stumps.

A study in the journal General Dentistry found that cola is ten times as corrosive as fruit juices in the first three minutes of drinking.

The researchers took slices of freshly extracted teeth and immersed them in 20 soft drinks. Teeth dunked for 48

Doctors are in no doubt - the biggest danger from cola doesn't come from the hidden additives, flavourings or colourings, but from sugar. hours in cola and lemonade lost more than five per cent of their weight.

A study in the British Dental Journal found that just one can of fizzy drink a day increased the risk of tooth erosion. While four cans increased the erosion risk by 252 per cent.

And, earlier this year, France imposed a tax on sugary soft drinks after a study

Dr Hans-Peter Kubis says he no longer touches soft drinks after his research.

found that more than 20 million of its citizens are overweight.

Health campaigners here are pressing for a similar tax.

Researchers at Oxford University calculate that a 20 per cent tax on soft drinks would reduce obesity and overweight in Britain by 1 per cent — roughly 400,000 cases across Britain.

‘We don’t get anything like

that level of success from trying to educate people about healthy eating,’ says researcher Dr Mike Rayner.

‘I am not suggesting that people should never have soft drinks,’ he stresses. ‘I myself like drinking them. But they really

should be restricted to weekends and holiday treats.’

Understandably, the idea of a tax has met stiff opposition from the British Soft Drinks Association.

Its spokesman, Richard Laming, argues that ‘soft drinks, like any other food or drink, can be consumed in moderation as part of a balanced diet, and there is no reason to tax them’.

On top of that, he says, UK soft drink manufacturers are producing more low-sugar products.

‘About half of the soft drinks market in the UK is made up of reduced or zero calorie drinks nowadays.’

Nor is Mr Laming impressed by last week’s Bangor University findings.

‘The study lasted only four weeks and had only a tiny sample size of just 11 people.

That is no basis on which to make claims about effects that last a lifetime.’

Dr Kubis acknowledges the study’s limitations and says that he is working to produce a much larger trial to see if the findings are confirmed in people who start consuming large amounts of sugary soda.

In this, he faces one significant problem.

‘It is difficult to find young people who have not previously been exposed to a lot of soft drinks,’ he laments.

Concluded Source: Dailymail.co.uk

Diet Coke has no sugar - but still contains chemicals that can rot the teeth.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 37

APGA crisis: How Obi’s script is playing out

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

T

he crisis in the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) appears to have reached the feverish point. However, despite its latest dangerous twist, it is important not to lose sight over the interests that heralded it, because this is the only way the clandestine roles being played by the notable actors and the sole objective of the whole scheme could better be appreciated.

South East has long been lamenting over marginalisation since the end of the civil war.

People from this ethnic group have insisted that the failure of a President to emerge from the area amounts to grave injustice since both the Hausa and the Yoruba tribes have occupied the highest office after the end of the war.

It was in pursuant to this that APGA was formed as a political party to gratify the political aspiration of the Igbo people. To further promote this agenda, the late Biafra warlord, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu, was unanimously adopted as the Presidential candidate of the party for the 2003 elections.

When Ojukwu saw that the political landscape of the country at that time was not favourable for him to emerge as a President from the Igbo extraction, as a visionary leader, he co-opted the governor of Anambra state, Peter Obi, as a successor, having considered his potentials.

However, since his death, the biggest challenge before Obi is how to come close to the Aso rock.

Unlike Ojukwu, Obi has convincingly seen that the first step to the ambition is to display a national identity as against the late Ojukwu who was generally perceived as a tribal leader.

This informed why Obi, despite coming from an opposition APGA, has worked closely with the PDP led Federal Government. Unlike other opposition governors who are more out to criticise the PDP government each time there is an unpopular policy, Obi will rather device an economic justification.

As it is now, despite coming from opposition, Obi has become a force to reckon with in the PDP government. He goes on foreign trips with President Jonathan.

To further clear any opposition or ethnic connotation to his name, he cleared his way and became mainstreamed into the Federal Government through the National Economic Management Team of President Jonathan.

Political pundits have linked this mainstreaming as a strategy that will bring Obi to familiarity with the cabinet

Governor Peter obi politics of the Aso Rock, particularly in the face of the Igbo’s demand for a President of their origin. As it appears, there is no strong Igbo politician now who could both be acceptable to Nigerians and also retain the confidence of the people of south east.

While former Vice President Alex Ekwueme may be acceptable to PDP as a potential President, many observers have argued that his nomination is most likely to spark off conflict and dispute in the South East, particularly as he is perceived as a selfish politician who does not command respect like the late Ojukwu.

Moreover, PDP is not as popular as APGA in the South East. This has created the chances that if the 2015 elections are free and fair, as in Edo state, PDP may not garner the required votes as APGA. It is on this basis that Obi intends to have APGA diversified so as to have more entrants from other ethnic groups, such that even if Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) will merge in 2015, PDP can ally with APGA to burst the impact of such merger or alliance.

In this alliance, according to observers, while PDP will nominate the President, APGA will nominate the vice President so as to accommodate both the Igbo and the northern interests.

Therefore, when there is a northern President and South/ Eastern Vice, it is obvious that the raging nerves in the South East and the north will be appeased.

In addition, it is a common knowledge that Obi is a sound technocrat, who will do well as a

Chief Victor Umeh

Alhaji Sadiq Masalla Vice President under whoever will emerge as the PDP’s candidate. The indication is that while ACN and CPC might be negotiating merger, Obi may be watering the ground for an alliance between APGA and PDP. It will be recalled that one of the cardinal sins of Victor Umeh, according to Obi’s faction, is that the former had gone into alliance talks with ACN, CPC, and ANPP, without consulting the party’s elders and stakeholders. It is based on this that Obi is seeking to remove the current chairman of APGA so as to clear the coast for a chairman

that will be able to key into the agenda. This is because it is apparent that if the status quo is maintained, Umeh will rather have Rochas Okorocha, the current governor of Imo state, run for the Presidency, even if the party has the potential to lose the election.

Although many times, the factional leader of APGA, Sadique Masalla, has denied that he was being sponsored by Governor Obi, the sudden resurgence of Dr. Ifedi Okwenna as the Acting Secretary of the faction, after he was sacked by Obi as the Commissioner for Environment during his first

tenure, raises more questions than answers.

As it is, it appears that Dr. Okwenna is the foot soldier for Obi in the struggle to have the script perfectly played out without hitches, as he is the contact person between Obi and the Masalla led APGA faction.

Moreover, just few weeks ago, the faction suffered a setback in the INEC when the Commission failed to recognise the legitimacy of the group. INEC had condemned the faction for overthrowing the constitution of the party in the purported removal of Umeh.

In response to this, the next option of the faction was to approach the judiciary. It would be recalled that Obi broke the record of making the impossibility possible through the judiciary.

Analysts have therefore argued that the resort to the Enugu High Court was an attempt to re-enact what played out in 2006.

In the current state of the crisis, INEC is the only legal institution that has continued to recognise Umeh as the leader of APGA, as it has accused the Masalla’s faction of not following the due process of the party’s constitution in removing Umeh.

However, how long this recognition by INEC will last remains an issue especially as the Chairman of the Commission, Attahiru Jega, had been emphasising that the Commission will always stick to the rule of law and the decision of the court.

If Umeh is finally pushed out, then Obi will have a field day in determining, not just who takes over from him in the 2014, but the place of APGA in the 2015 politics with regards to his Vice Presidential ambition.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PDP suit withdrawal excites Oshiomhole From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin

P

Vice President Namadi Sambo (left), being congratulated by Deputy Chairman, Caretaker Committee, State House press corps, Mr Chukwuma Onuekwusi (right), after receiving a birthday card on his 58th birthday, yesterday at the State House, in Abuja. With them are, his Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Malam Umar Sani (2nd left), and chairman of the corps, Mr Kehinde Amodu (2nd right).

Photo: Joe Oroye

eoples Democratic Party (PDP), Edo state chapter's decision to withdraw its petition filed before the Tribunal challenging the declaration of Governor Adams Oshiomhole by INEC.as winner of the July 14th gubernatorial election in the state has been described as a step in the right direction.

The ruling Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) Governor said the decision to backpedal has further affirmed his party’s overwhelming victory across the 18 local government areas of the state.

He urged PDP's governorship candidate, Maj. Gen. Charles Airhiavbere (Rtd), and the chieftain of the party, Chief Tony Anenih to close ranks and work with his government in providing dividend of democracy to the people.

He said "I wish to extend my hand of fellowship to all men of goodwill to join hands with government to move the state to the next level, because, despite all the successes recorded in

Suntai appoints 14 LG secretaries From Yusha'u Alhassan, Jalingo

G

overnor Danbaba Suntai of Taraba state has approved the appointment of secretaries of fourteen local government areas of the state.

They are Innocent Bala for Ardo-Kola, Solomon Gana, Yorro, Yusufu Ezra Zafi Jigam, Lau, Gideon Wulu, Bali, Macdona Obadiah, Zing, Yahya Ya'u, Gassol and Silas Magaji Takum. Others are David Trande Ussa, Lamido Wali, Gashaka, Sadanu Galadima, Ibi, Arosi Ibrahim Kadong, Sardauna, Haruna Umaru,

Kurmi, Isa Aliyu, Jalingo and Policarp Saman, Donga.

A statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the governor, Malam Hassan Mijinyawa, said the appointments take immediate effect. Similarly, the governor has approved the appointment of Chairmen and members of five additional boards in the state.

They are College of Health Technology, Teaching Service Board, Taraba Television Corporation TTV, Board of Internal Revenue and Taraba State Broadcasting Service TSBS. The Board for College of Health Technology Takum has

Yusuf Kunini as Chairman while J.P Dangoje and Abdulkarimu Maunde are members.

Jonathan Manga is the Chairman Taraba State Technology Service Board, with Titi Adamu Yamusa, Paul Nagantem and Aliyu Muhammed as members. The Taraba Television Corporation has Gambo Umar as its Chairman, Silas Jafta, Michael Vakai and Tanko Tabena as members. Other members are Bilyaminu Adamu, Hosea Waziri and Ismaila Ahmadu.

The Board of Internal Revenue is still headed by the

incumbent Executive Chairman, Yusuf Galadima.

Members include Simon Dangana, Moses Ayu and Ayuba Danjuma Dan While a representative of the ministry of justice will serve as secretary.

Edwards Daloba chairs the Taraba state Broadcasting Service TSBS, with Samon Bodejo, Stephen Othaniel and Mohamm,ed Gome Ardo Sanda as members. Other members are Barau Obadiah, Zakaria Ishiaku and Ibrahim Sule.

Taraba Suntai advised wealthy indigenes of the state to establish more secondary schools to boost education.

Sovereign national conference imperative – PDP chieftain

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chieftain of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Rivers, Mr Tonye Princewill yesterday called for a sovereign national conference to secure a united and prosperous future for the country.

Princewill told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Port Harcourt that the conference was imperative to chart a new path for the country.

He said that a round table discussion was necessary in the wake of insecurity and distrust among Nigerians. ''If that does not happen, I am afraid that we will continue to rely on trial and error, for whatever reason or the other. ''We would not have a proactive, well thought out Nigeria; instead we will have a reactive nation that reacts to circumstances spontaneously and negatively,'' he said.

Princewill suggested that Nigerians should come together and resolve whatever problems that were facing the nation. ''There is a need for a national discourse, where we can sit down and talk about our ideals: where are we going? ''What do we want to achieve as a country? Where do we stand on the issue of zoning or no zoning?'' he said.

He called for a national conference that would not have

restrictions in areas of discourse to strengthen Nigeria's unity. ''I believe that the majority will opt for one Nigeria that is based on equity, fairness and justice; one Nigeria where the leadership is transparent and accountable. ''If we can provide that kind of a Nigeria, then we will stay as Nigerians and continue to thrive as Nigerians. So, I don't think there should be no-go areas,'' he said.

the last three and half years, Edo state is still work-in-progress.

"I look forward to more collaboration between my government, other political parties and interests in the state. I want to restate my full respect for the PDP leader, Chief Tony Anenih, whom I hold and will continue to hold in high respects.

"I also wish to assure the PDP candidate, Maj.-Gen Charles Airhiavbere (rtd) whom I regard as a friend, that now that we have put the elections behind us, my doors are open so that together, we may lift our state to the high level where it should be.

"I however wish to state that other issues raised by the PDP will be commented upon on another occasion", he said.

Leadership requires integrity, competence and popularity to succeed — Olurode

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N E C N a t i o n a l Commissioner Lai Olurode yesterday called on the National Assembly to place more emphasis on a candidates’ integrity, competence and popularity for any leadership position in the country.

Olurode told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that it was time the country moved out of ethnic, religious sentiments and made decisions to settle for the best.

The national commissioner was reacting to the plan by the National Assembly to review one of the key sections of the constitution which dealt with rotation of political positions in the country.

“I think the legislators should emphasise more on competence, capability and popularity of a candidate, which is not to say that if we decide to zone the presidency to a particular region, we will not be able to get somebody that is capable there.

“The most popular candidate, the candidate that is most and generally acceptable, that exhibits a lot of sensitivity than diversity should be the one to be put in a leadership position,’’ he said.

According to him, during the time of late Abiola and his running mate, in spite of the fact that both of them were Muslims they were generally accepted and selected on that basis by the entire country.

Berom elders urge FG to implement all reports on Plateau crisis

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he elders of Berom, an ethnic group in Plateau, have called on the Federal Government to implement all the recommendations in the reports on the crises in the state.

The group made the call after a closed door exploratory meeting with President Goodluck Jonathan on how to find a lasting solution to the perennial crises in the state.

Addressing State House

correspondents after the meeting which ended in the early hours of Tuesday, the Gbong Gwom Jos, Da Jacob Gyang-Buba, said the implementation of the recommendations would douse the crisis in the state.

Gyang-Buba, a retired Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, said the ethnic crisis between Berom and the Hausa/Fulani ethnic group in the

state should not continue unabated.

He said both ethnic groups must talk and proffer amicable solutions that would end the wanton killings and destruction of property in the state.

Gyang-Buba added “you are aware of the fact that there have been security challenges on the Plateau just like so many other states.

“But that of Plateau has been on

for quite a while and so the National Security Adviser invited us to meet with Mr President so they can hear from us what really are the issues and what are the suggestions for the way forward.

“We cannot allow such things to continue indefinitely; we must be able to talk and come out with what the real issues are and then resolve them appropriately.’’

The Gbong Gwom Jos said that

the real issues involved in the crisis “are contained in the reports of the Judicial Commission of Enquiry, as well as that of other Administrative Committees set up by the government on the crises”.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the President is billed to meet with the leaders of the Hausa-Fulani group from the state to further explore the way out of the crisis.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 39

Activist calls for Jonathan, Iweala, Diezani’s exit

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

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n internationally acclaimed anticorruption crusader, Comrade Timi Frank, yesterday called for the immediate impeachment of President Goodluck Jonathan from office in view of the crisis surrounding the failure to implement the 2012 budget.

Timi, who is the Director of Outreach of the Anti-corruption Network, an organisation fighting for a free society in Africa, said his organisation

has concluded plans to mobilise five million Nigerians to take over the popular Eagle square and sustain the calls for the impeachment of Jonathan and the sack of the two high profile ministers.

Timi also asked Ministers of Finance and that of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Ngozi OkonjoIweala and Diezani AlisonMadueke respectively to quietly step down for their incompetence, inefficiency and failure to guide the government before Nigerians force them to quit.

The activist in a statement signed by him and made available to the media yesterday, said “only such a revolution can bring back the lost glory to good governance in Nigeria and achieve the desired change in a fast growing world that Nigeria has refused to be a positive player”, the statement said He further accused the Jonathan’ administration for empowering unproductive people in government, whom he said only siphon money from government coffers.

”We are tired of people who cannot work and yet forcefully holding on to political power.

The level of corruption has grown geometrical from being in billions to trillions now, and no thieve is being dealth with.

“Look at the fuel subsidy drama where thieves are exchanging pleasantries and the anticorruption agencies like the EFCC and the ICPC are watching like films in a movie.

It is very shameful that both the EFCC and the ICPC have compromised and are not doing their jobs”, he alleged.

Edo assembly passes 1 bill, 5 resolutions in first quarter

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he Speaker, Edo House of Assembly, Mr Uyigue Igbe, said yesterday that the House passed one bill and five resolutions in the first quarter of its legislative year which ended on Aug. 6.

Igbe told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Benin that the bill passed into law during the period was a law to amend the pension rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007.

He added that with the amendment it now included all past governors who were excluded in the Principal Law 2007.

He said that during the period 14 reports were received, eight of the reports were duly considered out of which one was returned to the appropriate committee for more detailed investigation.

The speaker said the second report was struck out for lack of merit, adding that the third report was disallowed because the issues were before a court of law.

“By the calendar, the first quarter of the first session ends on Aug. 17, but shall allow the remaining days for committee activities because there are many committee investigations and reports that are outstanding.

“We need to clear the backlogs before the commencement of the second quarter,’’ he added.

L-R: President, National Youth Council of Nigeria, Mr. Ajani Olawale, Senior Special Assistant on Youth Development to the Speaker of House of Representatives, Comrade Mohammed Umar, Senior Special Assistant to President on Youth Development, Comrade Jude Imagwe, and Chairman Youth Stakeholders Dialogue Summit Group, Mr. Abdullahi Abdulmajeed, during the first Nigerian Youth Multi- Stakeholders Dialogue Summit, yesterday in Abuja. Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

ACN, ANPP to form coalition in Benue From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

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pposition parties including the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) in Benue South Senatorial district has lamented the failed promises of the Peoples' Democratic Party, PDP in the area.

The parties expressed their

displeasure during a meeting held in Otukpo yesterday presided over by Gen. Lawrence Onoja and also attended by Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN governorship candidate Prof.

Steven Ugbah.

Speaking at the meeting, a former member of the House of Representative Hon. Nelson Alapa regretted that the PDP has failed in providing

infrastructures in the area. The ANPP stalwart therefore called for a coalition with the ACN in the zone to oust the PDP in the forthcoming local government election.

Ugbah urged the party faithful to remain supportive of the party assuring that they are seriously mobilizing for the local government polls slated for November 24th 2012.

APGA: Court restrains Masalla from parading himself as national chairman

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n Abuja High Court yesterday restrained Alhaji Sadiq Masalla from parading himself as the national chairman of APGA, pending the determination of a suit.

It will be recalled that on July 16, a faction of APGA, led by the Deputy National Chairman (North) Massala, sacked Chief Victor Umeh as national chairman.

The faction also sacked the National Secretary, Alhaji Sani Shinkafi, over allegations of spending party funds without due process.

The Masalla-led faction of the party accused both Umeh and Shinkafi of several constitutional breaches in the running of the affairs of APGA. The faction then appointed Masalla as National Chairman and Mr Morgan Anyalechi, the National Vice-Chairman (South) as Deputy Chairman.

The vacation judge, Justice Hussein Baba-Yusuf also ordered Masalla, Anyalechi “not to take any step toward convoking any national, state or local government executive committee meeting of the party.”

In his ruling on a “motion of urgency” filed on behalf of Chief Victor Umeh by his counsel, Chief Patrick Ikwueto (SAN), the judge prayed the court to restrain the group led by Masalla from parading themselves as the national officers of the party.

Umeh in the motion, also prayed the court in the interest of justice, grant the order for peace to reign in the party.

He also urged the court to hold that his purported “suspension” was unconstitutional.

Umeh in the suit, wants the court to hold that under Article 19.2 of the Constitution of APGA, can a chairman be removed from office?.

Baba-Yusuf also restrained Masalla from expelling any member of APGA, pending the hearing and determination of motion on notice fixed for hearing on Aug. 16.

The judge also ordered that a substituted service of all originating processes in the suit be served on Masalla and Anyalechi by publishing in The Sun Newspaper.

Traditional ruler urges ALGON members to be prudent in use of resources

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traditional ruler in Nasarawa state, Alhaji Halilu Usman, urged members of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) to prudently manage resources at their disposal.

Usman made the call in Udege Development Area when ALGON members in the state paid him a courtesy visit in his palace.

He said for the country to develop, all political office holders must be prudent in the

management of resources at their disposal.

He advised ALGON members to be prudent and patriotic in the discharge of their duties.

He said “sharp practices, like corruption, have affected our development adversely.

“You should not use your position to enrich yourselves, rather, use your position to work for the masses.’’

The traditional ruler also advised the ALGON members on

the need to uphold transparency and accountability in their duties.

“You must endeavour to be transparent and accountable in the discharge of your duties, as this would make the people to have confidence in you,’’ Usman said.

He the group that poverty and the absence of infrastructure knew no tribe, religion or political affiliation and urged the members to work harder to

improve the living standards of the people.

“It is time for the realisation of the yearning and aspiration of the common man on the streets of Nasarawa State to be achieved,’’ Usman said.

He advised the ALGON members not to depend solely on the federal and state allocations but to explore alternative avenues of generating revenue internally.

Usman also encouraged them

to maintain peace in their respective local government areas.

The Chairman of ALGON, Alhaji Dahiru Musa, who is also the Chairman of Lafia Local Government, said that they were in the palace to congratulate Usman on his election as Osu Agiri of Afo. Musa thanked the traditional ruler for his fatherly advice and assured him of their support and prayers.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 41

Eagles new boys Asuquo, Sanni tickle Keshi S

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eam Nigeria’s hope of winning at least a medal in athletics at the 2012 Olympic Games in London wasrevived yesterday following some impressive results by three athletes.

Selim Nurudeen qualified for today’s semifinals in the men’s 110 metres hurdles after placing second in heat six with a time of 13.51 seconds. And it was his personal best for the season so far.

The 29-year-old kept his cool to avoid the distractions of the race to prevent him from reaching his Beijing 2008 limit.

A semi-finalist in the same event at the last Olympics, Nurudeen remained composed when others fell victims to the misfortune which befell the race’s favourite and Olympics record holder, Liu Xiang.

The Chinese had failed to compete at home then, owing to injury, and had been the favourite this time in the build-up to the Games.

But, running from lane four, he clattered into the first hurdle and fell to drop out of the race, and he was later taken out of the stadium in a wheelchair.

Also, Shane Brathwaite of Barbados and Artur Noga of Poland in lanes two and five respectively also fell and did not finish the race, while Moussa Dembele of Senegal in lane one was disqualified.

This left the heat with only five competitive athletes in the race.

In the midst of all, Nurudeen who was in lane nine kept his head to finish second, with a personal best that was 0.03 better than the former time of 13.54.

He will now run in today’s semi-finals slated for 19.15 p.m, with hopes of a place in the final

scheduled for two hours later.

Seun Adigun had late on Monday failed to go beyond round one in the event’s women race, the 100 metres hurdles, finishing fourth with 13.56 in heat two.

She had narrowly lost out, with just 0.05 behind Ivanique Kemp of Bahamas who finished third with 13.51 in the race won by Beate Schrott of Austria in 13.09.

In the men’s triple jump, Tosin Oke, who has a 17.23 metres season best qualified for Thursday’s final from the Qualification Group, after his jump of 16.83 placed him fifth.

He had a first jump of 16.59 and failed the jump in his third, but his second jump was enough to place him among the top 12 for the final scheduled for Thursday 19.20 p.m.

Ajoke Odumosu had also qualified for Wednesday’s final in the women’s 400 metres hurdles, after winning heat three on Monday night with a time of 54.40 and setting a national record.

She had finished third in her first round race with a time of 54.93 on Sunday night, and she now look a medal prospect with her progression.

However, in the men’s 200 metres, Noah Akwu failed to advance from the first round, finishing fifth in heat one in 20.67 from lane six.

Olympics and world champion, Usain Bolt, who was in lane five, won the race in 20.39.

Late on Monday, the duo of Christy Udoh and Gloria Asumnu had failed in round one of the women’s 200 metres race.

Udoh finished fifth in heat one with a time of 23.19, failing to earn the fastest qualifier ticket with just being 0.09 behind the last qualifier. On her part, Asumnu had finished sixth with 23.43 in heat three.

the entire team,” he said.

Keshi commended “Azuka, who showed the type of fighting spirit I’ve always expected from him”, stressing that the Eagles are gradually becoming a collector’s item.

Peoples Daily Sports recalls that the team will depart Abuja for Niamey Tuesday next week for the encounter against Niger Republic. Officials say the team will depart through the Sokoto International Airport for the game that will be played on Wednesday in the Nigerien capital.

Selim Nurudeen

Olympics: Nurudeen, Oke, Odumosu revive Nigeria’s medal hope in athletics

Republic friendly game.

Keshi, who praised the national team players for being outstanding during the CAF Champions League match between Sunshine Stars and ASO Chlef of Algeria, stressing that it was important they showed sterner stuff as true senior national team players.

“What I always insist is for national team players to distinguish themselves in their clubsides, so that they can be called worthy national team callups and you demonstrated that on Sunday, congratulations to

Tosin Oke

have been a ‘television goal’ and earned the rare applause of the coaching crew. Sanni was no less impressive as his flashes of brilliance did not go unnoticed by Keshi, who nodded with delight with every move he made.

Meanwhile, all 26 players called up for the international friendly duel against the Mena of Niamey trained yesterday following the arrival in camp of the four Sunshine Stars players.

Godfrey Oboabana, Izu Azuka, Moses Ocheje, and Kwambe Solomon joined in battle for the 23 shirts available for the Niger

Joke Odumosu

Philip Asuquo

uper Eagles newcomers, Philip Asuquo and Sanusi Sanni, caught the attention of the technical of the technical crew of the team tom themselves with impressive performances during yesterday’ training.

Philip, a fair complexion attacking midfielder with 3SC twinkled like a star as he doled out incisive passes and outwitted dependable regulars in the squad like Azubuike Egwueke and Papa Idris in the process and even Sunday Mba, some of the supposed big boys of the Eagles.

Philip was to score what would

Federation Cup: NFF bows to Heartland, Pillars over clash of date

By Patrick Andrew

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he NFF is mulling a shift in the date of the Federation Cup semi-finals matches following written complaints by Heartland and Kano Pillars that they would be denied the services of the players should the August 15 date be sustained.

This is because the date clashed with the international fixture involving the Super Eagles and

the Mena of Niger Republic in Niamey. No fewer than six players- who are regulars for their teams and also the Eagles will be missing in the Federation Cup matches since they will be on duty for the country same day.

Defending champions, Heartland FC of Owerri are scheduled to battle Prime FC of Oshogbo, while Kano Pillars Kano will tackle Lobi Stars of Markurdi in Ilorin and Calabar respectively

for the final tickets.

However, whereas Pillars and Heartland will have some of their players on national service, neither Lobi Stars nor Prime FC would suffer such disadvantage and both Pillars and Heartland complaint to the NFF. Obinna Nwachukwu, Francis Bejamin and Kabir Umar are from Heartland while Gabriel Reuben, Papa Idris and Umar Zango from Pillars are in the

Eagles camp.

NFF Director of National Competitions, Dr. Sanusi Mohammed said yesterday that the federation was considering shifting the date of the semi finals clash of the Federation Cup following complaints from the two clubs.

Sanusi said the rules of the competition allow the teams to have the services of their players and added that the Organising and Disciplinary Committee of

the NFF will be meeting to deliberate on the matter, but was definite that the date will be shifted.

“The rule permits the clubs to make use of their players. Also, the joy of the Federation Cup will come when clubs are allowed feature their best players in the matches. So, there are indications that a new date may be taken for the semi-finals of the Federation Cup,” Sanusi said.

PAGE 42

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

Seven Cameroon athletes go missing

S Coe orders investigation on Bolt’s skipping rope

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ondon Games boss, Sebastin Coe has ordered investigation into Usain Bolt’s complaint that his skipping rope which he uses for training was snatched from him by security officials minutes before the 100m finals on Sunday.

Besides, the world’s fastest man, plans to smuggle the skipping rope into the stadium even as Coe declared that the rope “is not expressly banned” and has such does not constitute a threat.

But the Jamaican sprinter said yesterday that he had also been irritated when an official told him to “stay in a straight line” before his 100m triumph, the showpiece event of the Games, watched on television by hundreds of millions worldwide.

“Oh my God, why are there so many rules?! You can’t do nothing,” he told reporters after opening the defence of his 200m title with an easy heat win.

“It’s weird, some of the rules. I was coming in a while ago and I had my skipping rope in my bag and they said I can’t bring it in. I was like, ‘Why?’. ‘It’s just the rules’,” he said.

“I am going to do it tomorrow ... I am going to stick it under my bag, bottom of my bag or something.”

Coe, the Games chief, said skipping ropes were “not expressly banned. I will look

Tirunesh Dibaba

at this,” he said. “I presume the skipping rope was a warm-up aid so I will look at that.”

It was not clear at what exact point Bolt’s rope was taken off him.

“If it was taken away before the stadium, then that is not correct,” said organising committee spokeswoman Jackie BrockDoyle. “If it was taken before he entered the field of play (track), then that is probably correct. We are still looking into it.”

Bolt’s victory, in a new Olympic record time, gave his home nation of fewer than 3 million people an extra reason to celebrate on the eve of its 50th anniversary of independence from Britain.

Bolt’s Jamaican training partner Yohan Blake won silver while a third Jamaican, Asafa Powell, finished last after struggling with a groin injury.

Their compatriots ShellyAnn Fraser-Pryce and Veronica Campbell-Brown won gold and bronze respectively in the women’s 100 metres on Saturday.

Bolt, who turns 26 this month, has more than 714 000 followers on Twitter and is arguably Jamaica’s most famous son since the late reggae singer Bob Marley.

At the Beijing Games in 2008, Bolt won three golds in the 100 and 200 metres and the 4x100m relay all in world record times.

even Cameroon athletes have disappeared while in Britain for the London Olympics, the Ministry of Sports and Physical Education said on Monday evening.

The seven five boxers, a swimmer and a soccer player, were suspected of having left to stay in Europe for economic reasons.

“What began as rumour has finally turned out to be true. Seven Cameroonian athletes who participated at the 2012 London Olympic Games have disappeared from the Olympic Village,” David Ojong, the mission head, said in a message sent to the ministry.

Ojong said a reserve goalkeeper for the women’s soccer team, Drusille Ngako, was the first to disappear. She was not one of the 18 finally retained after pre-Olympic

training in Scotland.

While her team-mates left for Coventry for their last preparatory encounter against New Zealand, she vanished. A few days later, swimmer Paul Ekane Edingue and his personal belongings were also not found in his room.

Ojong added that five boxers eliminated from the games, Thomas Essomba, Christian Donfack Adjoufack, Abdon Mewoli, Blaise Yepmou Mendouo and Serge Ambomo, disappeared on Sunday from the Olympic village.

It is not the first time Cameroonian athletes have disappeared during international sports competitions.

At past Francophonie and Commonwealth games, as well as junior soccer competitions, several Cameroonians have quit their delegation without official consent.

Instructor says D’Tigers deserve praises, not condemnation

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tephen Okafor, a B a s k e t b a l l Instructor, has urged sports enthusiasts in the country to commend the efforts of the national male Basketball team, D’Tigers, at the London Olympics, instead of condemning them.

Okafor said in Abakaliki that the team’s

performance at the London Olympic Games were true examples of patriotism and dedication to duty.

D’Tigers lost 73-79 to France on Monday, a result that put an end to their campaign in the basketball event of the ongoing Games.

“Qualifying for the

Olympics for the very first time was a big achievement for the team, as it put the nation among the comity of top basketball nations.

“The players braved the fatigue of traversing the globe in search of a qualification ticket, to compete against more

D’ Tigers

Dibaba on course for distance double D

e f e n d i n g champion Tirunesh Dibaba of Ethiopia qualified fastest for the final of the 5000m yesterday as she chases a second consecutive Olympic long distance double.

The Ethiopian, who has already won the 10000m in London, won her 5000m heat in a time of 14min 58.48sec, edging out Athens 2004 gold medallist Meseret Defar (14:58.70) Double 2011 world champion Vivian Cheruiyot of Kenya, who

finished third in the last week’s 10000m, also qualified for Friday’s final in 15:01.54.

Dibaba was the first woman to complete the 5000-10000 double in Beijing and successfully defended her 10000 title on the opening day of the track and field programme in London.

Defar said her plan was to save energy and qualify for the final.

“It was a good race and everything went according to plan. I am ready for the final. I have a good chance. I’m in good

shape and I’m feeling fine, but there are other strong athletes in the field and I will never stop fighting for it,” she said.

Other qualifiers include Viola Kibiwot, who has twice won the world cross country title, and Kenya’s Sally Kipyego, who took silver in the 10000m in London.

The women’s 5000m became an Olympic event at the Atlanta 1996 Games, succeeding the 3000m. Ethiopia lead the table with two gold and three bronze medals.

established teams.

“Though they could only win one game against Tunisia, they became the highest scoring African side at the Olympics which places them as the best in the continent,” the basketball instructor said.

According to him, the team had to cope with some unforeseen circumstances that blighted the overall performance of the team at the London Games.

“Most of the players played with nagging injuries, while they also faced the problem of inexperience, being their first time at such a big stage.

“The team reminded us of one of the Super Eagles teams of the ’90s which made tenacity and total commitment its watchword,” Okafor said.

He called on the Nigerian Basketball Federation (NBBF) to build on the team’s performance at the Games, for a better performance in future competitions.

“The NBBF should avoid the mistake of disbanding the team because of its poor performance and build on the experience the players have been able to acquire from the event.

“The players should be kept together and blended with some new promising players to form a more formidable team.

“Adequate incentives should be given to them for motivation, as is the case with football teams that have performed creditably in international competitions,” he said.

Okafor, however, noted that the dismal outing of Team Nigeria at the Games was a sad reflection of the current state of the country’s sports sector.

“Maladministration has continued to be the bane of the country’s sports and it is only when this recurrent issue is frontally addressed that we may see some semblance of improvement,’’ Okafor said.

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

West Brom sign Rosenberg

Suarez signs new Liverpool contract uis Suarez has signed

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a new long-term contract with Liverpool.

Suarez, 25, has been linked with Juventus recently but Liverpool have moved to secure his services and ward off any suitors.

The Uruguayan has scored 21 goals in 52 games since joining from Ajax for £22 million in January 2011 and is viewed as one of the most dangerous forwards in the Premier League.

Juve were ready to pounce for the 25-year-old after being rebuffed in their attempts to sign Robin van Persie from Arsenal, but Liverpool have beaten them to the punch with what is believed to be a four-year deal though to 2016.

The forward is expected to be a cornerstone of Brendan Rodgers’ new-look Liverpool team and the club is continuing their hunt to sign £15 million-rated Joe Allen from Swansea.

PAGE 43

Markus Rosenberg

Sweden international Markus Rosenberg has signed a three-year deal with West Bromwich Albion, the Premier League club said yesterday.

The 29-year-old striker, who represented his country at Euro 2012, was out of contract after leaving Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in May and his move remains subject to international clearance.

Baggies head coach Steve Clarke was delighted with the club’s fourth summer signing after Ben

Rangers signs Sandaza, Cribari,Kyle

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angers have completed the signing of former St Johnstone striker Francisco Sandaza along with Emilson Cribari and former Gers striker Kevin Kyle.

Sandaza, 27, moved to Ibrox after rejecting a new deal at McDiarmid Park and has signed a two-year contract.

The Spaniard could make

his Rangers debut in Tuesday’s Scottish Communities League Cup match at home to East Fife, and aid he had always hoped to play for Rangers.

Brazilian defender Emilson Cribari, who was on trial at Ibrox, has also signed a two-year deal with the club.

Kyle was also announced as the final signing of the

Sunderland make final Fletcher offer

Mancini rules out van Persie switch

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anchester City manager Roberto Mancini has said he does not expect Arsenal captain Robin van Persie to join the Premier League champions.

Van Persie, whose current contract expires next summer, revealed in July he would not be signing a new deal at the Emirates Stadium.

City, Manchester United and Juventus have failed with offers for the Netherlands striker, 29. The Dutch international is in the Arsenal squad that travels to Germany for the club’s pre-season training camp this week.

Last month Mancini, who is yet to make a single addition to his squad this summer, warned that City need new signings to boost their Premier League title defence.

underland is preparing a final bid for Wolves striker Steven Fletcher, according to reports in the North-East.

Fletcher, 25, has been a long-time target for the Black Cats, who had recent £10 million offer rejected

by Championship side Wolves.

After the rejection of that bid, Wolves chief executive Jez Moxy said the club would not sell their best players in attempt to warn Sunderland off the Scottish striker.

But it is now believed the Wearsiders will make a take it or leave it offer for the former Burnley player in a bid to push through a deal.

Black Cats boss Martin O’Neill has struggled to bring in attacking reinforcements this summer following the departures of Nicklas Bendtner and Asamoah Gyan. He has made Fletcher, who has scored 36 times in three seasons, the focal point of his summer business.

But with just two weeks left until the Premier League season begins, O’Neill now seems ready to abandon his pursuit of Fletcher if his latest offer is rebuffed.

day. Having been on trial with the club for a week, the Stranraer native, capped ten times by Scotland, has put pen to paper on a oneyear deal.

He told the club’s official website: “There is only one attraction, and I’m sure that’s the same for all the signings - this is Rangers, and it doesn’t get any bigger than this.

Chelsea approaches Cesar

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Joe Allen

Foster, Yassine El Ghannasy and Claudio Yacob.

“He is an experienced striker who has scored goals in three of Europe’s top leagues, as well as in the top European competitions, and is determined to prove himself in the Barclays Premier League,” Clarke said.

Rosenberg has scored 83 goals in 186 league matches in Sweden, Holland, Spain and Germany, as well as six goals in 30 appearances for the national side.

Cesar Azpilicueta rench side O l y m p i q u e Marseille have confirmed Chelsea have made an approach for defender Cesar Azpilicueta.

With the start of the Premier League season looming large on the horizon, clubs are looking to finalise their squads.

Chelsea have been active

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players in the transfer market already, bringing in Eden Hazard, Marko Marin and Oscar.

Blues boss Roberto Di Matteo may not be done though, with it believed that he wants to add a striker and defender particularly a right-back following the departure of Jose Bosingwa.

He has held a longstanding interest in Azpilicueta and Marseille have confirmed the Blues have stepped up their interest in the Spanish right-back.

Marseille president Vincent Labrune revealed: “Chelsea have made a serious approach for Cesar.”

Lille off-load Enyeama to Maccabi Tel-Aviv

N

igerian international goalkeeper Vincent Enyeama has been loaned by Ligue 1 side Lille to Israeli outfit Maccabi Tel-Aviv, the French club confirmed yesterday.

The 29-year-old arrived in northern France last summer but played just three matches for Lille last season.

Enyeama was second in the pecking order behind former France international goalkeeper Mickael Landreau, but has seen Lille coach Rudi Garcia bring in Steeve Elana from Brest to provide extra competition between the posts this coming season.

Enyeama previously played for Maccabi’s city rivals Hapoel Tel-Aviv.

Transfer

The season is over. Clubs are counting their blessing as well as losses and would like to make amends and even beef up their squads where noticeable lapses exist. And the transfer market is agog barely 24 hours after major European leagues dropped the curtain.

And so to keep abreast with latest rumours, we begin daily doses of movements within the market both for players and coaches like.

Cazorla signs for Arsenal

S

pain midfielder Santi Cazorla has signed for Arsenal and joined up with the pre-season training camp in Germany after completing a £15 million move from Malaga.

The Spanish club’s financial problems initially delayed the deal being finalised but he is now on course to make his Arsenal debut in Sunday’s friendly against Cologne after the announcement was made.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said: “Santi Cazorla is a great signing for us. He is a player with good experience at both club and international level, who will add significant quality to our squad.

Seven years have passed since Arsenal lifted any silverware, but Cazorla believes fortunes will change following a flurry of transfer activity in north London that has seen Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud join the club.

Cazorla joined Malaga just 12 months ago for •19 million, and the playmaker’s performances in guiding the club to fourth spot in La Liga and a Champions League qualifying position should have increased his value even further.

Cazorla could soon be joined at the Emirates by another La Liga-based midfielder, with Real Madrid’s Nuri Sahin seemingly set to arrive on loan for the 2012-13 season.

Jose Mourinho has said the Turkey international is free to leave the Bernabeu.

Sprint star Bolt wants United trial

O

lympic sprint superstar Usain Bolt has called on Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson to hand him a trial.

Bolt cemented his position as the fastest man on the planet when defending his Olympic 100m title on Sunday. The Jamaican has been musing about his next move, with a step up to 400m a possibility.

But he is not short of confidence and has often claimed he has the skill to make it as a footballer.

He is a huge United fan, has met Ferguson and the players in the past, and has put out a call for a trial.

“People think I am joking, but if Alex Ferguson called me up and said, ‘OK let’s do this, come

Usain Bolt and have a trial’, it would be impossible for me to say no,” Bolt is quoted as saying in the Sun. He added: “I am in Britain for a few more days. If Alex Ferguson wants to give me a call he knows where I am.”

Liverpool swoop for £20m Allen

M

ichael Laudrup has told Liverpool that they will have to dig deep to prize Joe Allen away from Swansea.

Swansea appear resigned to losing Allen, with Reds boss Brendan Rodgers making clear his desire to sign a player he nurtured during his time with the Welsh club. But the Swans do not have to sell and with that in mind they will look to eke out every last pound from Liverpool.

It had appeared that £15

million would be enough to secure Allen, but Laudrup has suggested that figure could be on the low side.

“Their manager knows if he wants to change the way Liverpool play he needs a midfielder like Joe who is young and can play at the highest level.

“We saw they bought a couple of midfielders in the last few years for a lot of money but Joe is on a level above.

“If one is worth £17 million then he is worth more, perhaps £20 million or so.”

PAGE 44

Top 10 Men’s 100-Meter Races in Olympic History

Gabriele Reinsch Jim Hines

himself in the Olympic record books when he matched Owens’ shortdistance sweep decades later in Los Angeles. Lewis won the 100 meter, 200 meter, long jump and 4x100 relay. He would later repeat as the long jump gold medalist in 1988, 1992 and 1996.

Lewis also repeated as the 100-meter gold medalist in 1988.

6.

Bailey enters record books, 1996 Atlanta Donovan Bailey held the world record in the 100 meter for 12 years before Bolt came onto the scene.

Bailey set the mark in Atlanta when he finished in 9.84 seconds to beat

Women’s Field Events World Records

T

he Olympics brings together the best competitors that women’s field events has to offer. In the 2012 London Olympics, we may see new world records set.So here is a look at the current world records in the various events: High jump World record holder: Stefka Kostadinova (Bulgaria) Set: August 30, 1987 (World Championships in Athletics, Rome) Mark: 2.09m (6 ft 10.25 in) How it happened: This record is the oldest in women’s athletics. One of Kostadinova’s 197 times that she exceeded the 2.00m mark. Video can be seen here.

Triple jump World record holder: Inessa Kravets (Ukraine) Set: August 10, 1995 (Göteborg World Championships) Mark: 15.5m (50 ft 10.25 in) How it happened: Kravets improved her own world record by 45cm.

Long jump World record holder: Galina Chistyakova (USSR) Set: June 11, 1998 ( Leningrad, Russia) Mark: 7.52m (24 ft 8.25 in) How it happened: Chistyakova set this mark at a routine meet in her home country. You can see ithere.

Shot put World record holder: Natalya Lisovskaya (USSR) Set: June 7, 1987 (Grand Prix Moscow,Russia) Mark: 22.63m (74 ft 3 in) How it happened: Lisovskaya actually owns the top four throws in the world record book. See this amazing shot here.

Discus World record holder: Gabriele Reinsch (Germany formerly East Germany) Set: July 9,1988 ( Neubrandenburg) Mark: 76.80m (252 ft) How it happened: Without a doubt, this was Reinsch’s finest performance. This would be a full 5

Frank Fredericks by .05 seconds for the gold medal.

7. Hines breaks the b a r r i e r , 1968 Mexico City Jim Hines will forever be remembered as the first modern athlete to break the 10-second barrier.

Hines posted a final time of 9.95 seconds to win a gold medal in Mexico. His world record stood for 15 years until broken by Calvin Smith.

8. Johnson stripped of gold, 1988 Seoul Ben Johnson shed light on doping problems in track and field when he bested Lewis for the gold medal at Seoul. Johnson ran a world record time of 9.79 seconds.

It changed three days later

Maurice Greene

Yelena Isinbaeva

obliterated the 12-year world record in the 100 meter. The Jamaican sprinter won in 9.69 to claim his first gold medal.

4.

Gatlin wins fantastic finish, 2004 Athens There are few races in any sport that can match the hotly contested finish for the 100-meter gold medal in Athens. Justin Gatlin became the most recent U.S. sprinter to finish atop the podium when he crossed the line in 9.85 seconds. Just .04 seconds separated Gatlin from fourth-place finisher Shawn Crawford.

5. Lewis mirrors Owens, 1984 Los Angeles: Carl Lewis put

Linford Christie

seconds to beat his record of 9.69 set four years earlier in Beijing. He has now run the three fastest times for the 100m on record.

2. Owens defies Hitler, 1936 Berlin Jesse Owens foiled the grand plans of Adolf Hitler to use the Olympics as a Nazi political statement by winning the 100 meter, 200 meter, long jump and 4x100 relay.

Owens’ quartet of victories forever changed the sports landscape and paved the way for the recordbreaking efforts of modern sprinters like Bolt.

3. Bolt sets world record, 2008 Beijing The world was introduced to Bolt when he

when Johnson tested positive for steroids. He was stripped of his medal and Lewis repeated as champion.

9. Greene for Gold, 2000 Sydney Maurice Greene set a world record for the 100 meter a year before running in Sydney with a time of 9.79 seconds. Greene was the favorite in 2000 and he did not disappoint.

He won the event with a time of 9.87 seconds to claim his only gold medal in the 100 meter.

10. Christie defies age, 1992 Barcelona: Linford Christie became the third British sprinter to win a gold medal in the 100 meter when he won at Barcelona with a time of 9.96 seconds.

The most notable part of his victory was that Christie won at 32 years old an age when most sprinters are past their prime. He became the oldest 100-meter Olympic champion by four years.

Usain Bolt

N

o track and field event captures the attention of sports fans everywhere quite like the 100-meter dash. It is typically one of the most watched events at the Summer Olympics.

The winner of this event earns the right to be called the fastest man or fastest woman in the world. World records set in these races like the one Usain Bolt established on Sunday, Aug. 5 are part of what gives the 100m its enduring thrill.

These 10 men’s 100meter races rank as the best or most notable in Olympic history: 1. Bolt races into history, 2012 London: Usain Bolt made a case for being considered the all-time greatest sprinter with his victory in the 100m on Sunday. For the second consecutive Olympics, he shattered the previous Olympic record in the event. Bolt won in 9.63

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

meters longer than any other she made.

Hammer throw World record holder: Tatyana Lysenko (Russia) Set: July 5, 2012 (Cheboksary) Mark: 78.51m How it happened: Lysenko broke her previous mark of 77.80m that she set back in 2006.

Pole vault World record holder: Yelena Isinbaeva (Russia) Set: August 28, 2009 (IAAF Golden League Zurich, Switzerland) Mark: 5.06m How it happened: Three-time IAAF World Athlete of the Year, Isinbaeva was the first woman in the world to break the 5.0m mark in 2005. She improved on that mark when she set the new record of 5.06m.

Javelin: World record holder: Barbora Spotakova (Czech Republic) Set: September 13, 2008 (IAAF Finals Stuttgart, Germany) Mark: 72.28m

PEOPLES DAILY, WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

PAGE 47

Quick CrossWord (2)

JOKE

Technological Doctor

O

ACROSS 7 Bluntly (6) 8 Dummy (4-2) 9 Awry, distorted (4) 10 PSV (4) 11 Faulty (4) 12 Lay into (6) 14 Violate (6) 15 Whisky, perhaps (6) 19 General name for some of the bigger wasps (6) 21 Remaining (4) 23 Any hard-shelled fruit (3) 24 Plectrum (4) 25 Bluish dye (6) 26 Trap in a net (6) DOWN 1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

Lobes of a whale’s tail (6) State of anxiety (4) Logo (6) Caused mirth (6) Iraqi missile in the 1991 Gulf War (4) 6. Accomplish (6) 13 Creative activity (3) 15 Long way off (3) 17 Moulding between a wall and ceiling (6) 18 Wait a minute! (4,2) 19 Milliner (6) 20 Tax (6) 22 Precipitation (4) 24 Solemn splendour (4)

DO YOU KNOW...

Citrus fruit can calm your nerves. German researchers subjected 120 people to a public speaking task, and those who took large doses of vitamin C, found in oranges, felt less stressed and had lower blood pressure Source: Dailymail.co.uk

ne day, a man complained to his friend, “My elbow really hurts, guess I should see a doctor.”

His friend said, “Don’t do that. There’s a computer at the drug store that can diagnose anything quicker and cheaper than a doctor. Simply put in a sample of your urine, and the computer will diagnose your problem and tell you what you can do about it. And it only costs $10.00.”

The guy figured he had nothing to lose, so he filled a jar with a urine sample and went to the drug store. Finding the computer, he poured in the sample and deposited the $10.00. The computer started making some noise andvarious lights started flashing. After a brief pause, out popped a small slip of paper which read: You have tennis elbow.

Soak your arm in warm water, avoid heavy labor.

It will be better in two weeks.

That evening while thinking how amazing this new technology was and how it would change medical science forever, he began to wonder if this computer could be fooled.

He decided to give it a try. He mixed together some tap water, a stool sample from his dog, and urine samples from his wife and daughter. To top it off, he masturbated into the concoction. He went back to the drug store, located the computer, poured in thisample and deposited the $10.00. The machine again made the usual noises,flashedlights, and printed out the following analysis:

Your tap water is too hard. Get a water softener.

Your dog has ringworm. Bathe him with anti-fungal shampoo.

Your daughter is using cocaine. Put her in a rehabilitation clinic.

Your wife is pregnant....twin girls. They aren’t yours. Get a lawyer.

And.... if you don’t stop jerking off, your elbow will never get better!

Source: Jokesandriddles .com

Photo Of The Day

Yesterday’s answer

Flood blocking the access road to Federal Medical Centre in Birnin Kebbi after heavy downpour, yesterday.

Photo: NAN

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

. . . putting the people first

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 8, 2012

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE It is not acceptable by law for FRSC to come within the ter ritor y of an y sta te territor ritory any state and mana ge tr af manag traf afffic ic.. You cannot, I am sor y opinion; it is the la w of my law sorrr y. It is not m this countr y. country — La gos sta te Go v. Ba ba tunde F ashola Lag state Gov Baba batunde Fashola

SPORTS This Constitution amendment is a sham!

LA TEST LATEST

Pearson edges Harper in Olympic 100 hurdles final

S

ally Pearson provided a rare bright spot for Australia at the London Games, earning the country's fourth gold medal by edging defending champion Dawn Harper of the U.S. to win the 100-meter hurdles in an Olympics-record 12.35 seconds yesterday.

Under a steady rain, Pearson barely crossed the line ahead of Harper, who was clocked in 12.37. The U.S. also took the bronze, with Kellie Wells finishing in 12.48.

Lolo Jones, the favorite who fell at the ninth of 10 hurdles four years ago, was fourth in 12.58.

It took several seconds for the scoreboard at Olympic Stadium to display the final results, with Pearson and Harper both staring and waiting. When Pearson's named appeared first, she let out a yell, then dropped to her knees and fell on her back.

Brazil get closer to Olympic soccer gold

F

ive times World champions, Brazil are closer to breaking an Olympic soccer jinx as they yesterday sealed a spot in the final of the London Games final after beating South Korea 3-0.

The star-studded South Americans that parded the likes of Neymar, Hulk, Thiago Silva, Marcelo and Oscar among other prodigies dominated the game and demonstrated flashes of individual and team brilliance throughout the match.

They led 1-0 at half time and complete the rout of the Koreans under 15 minutes of resumption of the second half.

Goals by Romulo Borges Monteiro in the 38 minutes and a brace by Da Silva Santos in the 57 and 64 minutes effectively sealed qualification for Brazil who desire nothing but an Olympic soccer medal Earlier Mexico stunned Japan 3-1 to also book a final match and a battle for the Olynmpic gold.

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I

t gives me no pleasure coming to terms with glaring facts that the ongoing attempt to amend or change the subsisting Constitution of Nigeria has degenerated into a plot to preserve the privileges enjoyed by a few, or divide Nigeria using political chicanery.

An opportunity for massive amendments and legislations for fulfilling the wishes of the citizens is thus being sacrificed on the altar of selfishness and greed.

Instead, it has become one big opportunity to settle longstanding scores between the North, East, the West and the South-south.

Senator Ike Ekweremadu who leads the entire amendments process, the hub of which is the National Assembly, manifests a tendency towards aligning with the South-eastern agenda. At all cost, the east wants one more state to rival the Southsouth and the South-west which parade six states each.

But the country’s President, Dr. Jonathan Goodluck, was the first to foul up the waters by raising an early hand for an extended term of office, whether six or seven years, different from the current position which allows two four-year terms.

The President of the Senate, David Mark, parades himself as the “pride of the Idoma”- instead of pride of Nigeria which I think he richly deserves considering his contributions to national stability – a title and insignia he displays on branded Mont Blanc pens issued to visitors to the Senate President. His own people, the Idomas, want Apa state at any cost, to liberate themselves from the dominance of the Tivs in Benue state. For them, there is no better opportunity to gain this than now, when their son presides at the Senate.

I read the resolutions of the Northern Governors on the proposed amendments and they seemed to stand against whatever the South say they want. They spoke for their people on a majority of issues – revenue allocation, derivation, state police etc. My problem with them is that they seemed stuck to 19 century idea of the Republic and failed to see the momentum centripetal forces have gathered thus far. This country will either break into pieces or at best remain a weakened Federation. Things will not remain as they are in the long run.

The governors seemed totally uninterested in addressing the

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MUSINGS By

Garba Shehu garshehu@yahoo.co.in

Senate President David Mark

other saliencies on the public’s mind, such as the issue of their increasing powers vis-à-vis the lack of accountability to the general public. Governors are like emperors nowadays who carry on as if they own our rights and liberties. It is this failure to make them accountable that makes them to give a short shrift to our priorities such as education, security and health.

If Governors in the North are doing their work as they should, would there have been Boko Haram? Would there have been rampant cases of robbery and kidnapping in the South?

Unfortunately, this scramble for personal and political advantage has given rise to a process that is at best, clouded and unresponsive to the aspirations of the general public. As a result,

there are a thousand problems lying underneath that nobody wants to talk about.

This country’s judicial infrastructure is in a shambles.

The lower levels of the courts system have so deteriorated that it is hard, if not impossible, for the poor and the illiterate to get judicial remedies for wrongs done to them. They are often victims of greedy law officials. The higher levels of the judiciary are, in the view of many, compromizable and unproductive.

Now, Nigerians look to U.K. courts for any high-profile convictions and the return of stolen wealth.

In Nigeria, justice to the poorest is the biggest challenge because here, the rule is “Might is Right”. Truth is, the richer you are, the more likely you can get or escape justice. The criminal justice system has virtually become a vehicle for the miscarriage of justice.

How about cyber-crimes for which Nigerians are gaining world-wide notoriety? Is anyone concerned about all that? How many times have you been forced to pay bribes or to pay for service that is well below par? If constitution amendment is not about these, what is it for?

Electoral reforms have remained a wishful thinking and key issues in that regard are still outstanding. Under the present conditions, even hard core

“

Can this democracy thrive on the culture of selfishness and greed by leaders?

Constitutional amendments are designed to promote the larger good of society. In our own case, public interest is almost always superseded by private political ambitions. In 2006, important constitutional amendments died on account of Obasanjo’s obsession to rule perpetually

criminals can contest and win elections. How can they make good laws for the country?

The best investment for any country is in human development. In that respect, our very high young population warrants a system in which investment in human development is compulsory.

Nigeria indeed has a long way to go in the coming decades. It is the coming generations, not this one that will take Nigeria forward. In line with this, changes in law and the constitution must aim at boosting education infrastructure to fuel the aspirations of the youths. They need to understand the country’s problems and come forward to rectify them. The challenge is beyond this crop of leadership.

It is up to those leaders at the centre and the states to follow the principles of good governance to save Nigeria from further decay or we just take it easy and surrender ourselves to their common desire of becoming rich and powerful.

The new laws that the country needs must ensure that religion, language, region and illgotten wealth are not used to divide Nigeria. Corruption must be dealt with; to be reduced to zero or somewhere near that, otherwise no system or constitution can improve Nigeria.

Can this democracy thrive on the culture of selfishness and greed by leaders? Constitutional amendments are designed to promote the larger good of society. In our own case, public interest is almost always superseded by private political ambitions. In 2006, important constitutional amendments died on account of Obasanjo’s obsession to rule perpetually.

Can we or should we continue like that? When legislators and leaders at other levels manipulate the constitution for selfish gains, do you expect the citizens to trust their leaders, let alone be convinced that those they “elected” are working in their best interest? As brilliantly argued by a former Minister of Justice in the Second Republic, Chief Richard Akinjide, the problem of our democracy has nothing to do with whether we are operating a presidential, parliamentary, unicameral or bicameral system. He said the character of the people being elected is largely the drag on our democracy.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Lagos Office: No.8 Oliyide Street, off Unity Road, Ikeja, Lagos, Tel: +234-09-8734478. Cell: +234 803 606 3308. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141