Peoples Daily Newspaper, Saturday 09, February, 2013

www.peoplesdaily-online.com

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. . . putting the people first

Gunmen kill 9 health workers in Kano VOL. 3 NO. 26 SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, JANUARY, 2013

RABI’UL AWWAL 27-28, 1434 AH

N150

Centenary:

Govt hiding behind private sector —Balarabe Musa >>Page 12

Kannywood: Meet Kannywood make-up artist, Mansur Isma’ila >>Page 24

...Jonathan condemns attack >>Page 4

ACN’ stalwart Ismaila Asta kidnapped in Kogi

Lugga: Ten years of charismatic Waziriship

>>Page17

$620,000 bribe: Court admits Farouk, Emenalo to bail >>Page 5

>>Page 14

Cover

Nigeria: The last 100 years WWW.PEOPLESDAILYNG.COM

>> Pages 9,10 & 11

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My thoughts With Ayodele Samuel 08074420617 (SMS only)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

News

Victor Moses: From Kaduna riot to World Stage

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h i s week, My thoughts focuses on the touching story of a Kaduna boy whose parents were killed in the Kaduna riots in 2002, it is being reproduced here to encourage youths who have given up on Nigeria, who the failure of government at all levels had cause many pains and concluded never to contribute positively to the development of the country.

Despite his bitter experience, PATRIOTISM, LOVE, FORGIVNESS, FAITH and living a PURPOSEFUL life spurred him on.

He was aged 11 years at the time.

His parents, Mr. Austine and Mrs. Josephine Moses, were missionaries until they met their untimely death.

The boy left his house to play football but returned home to see that all his parents had laboured for had been razed down and he would never see his mother and father again.

He was taken to London by his uncle almost immediately after the incident. While in London, he began deploying his football skills. Though his parents were murdered, his passion for football was never killed. He played football for his school and later for a local Tandrige League club until Crystal Palace FC approached him.

From that point, his career progressed in leaps and bounds.

This player played for England's under 16, 17, 19 and 21 teams between 2005 and 2010 scoring 11 goals for England during this period. He later moved to Wigan Athletic and now he plays for Chelsea.

This footballer is called Victor Moses.

His story is a touching one, we share his pains. We also share his courage. He had a choice not to step into Nigeria again but he didn't take that option. When the call to serve his fatherland came, Moses dumped England and embraced Nigeria. That is patriotism! Today, we see a Victor Moses bringing joy to every Nigerian.

On Sunday, Moses would stand for the National Anthem and pledge allegiance to a country that couldn't defend his parents. That is faith!

Moses would deliver the "African Cup of Nations" trophy to Nigeria not minding what had happened in the past.

That is forgiveness!

Moses rose through bitterness and despair to the limelight of hope and courage.

He never gave up on his country.

He persevered. That is purpose!

If someone like Victor Moses, despite his bitter past, never gave up on Nigeria, then why should we youths do so? We must strive very hard to contribute to the history of Nigeria.

If only our political leaders will learn, many talented youths are becoming orphans, jobless and homeless due to their failure to deliver dividends of democracy. Thank God we didn't lost Victor Moses like many hundreds that must have wasted away.

We youths can still rebuild hope through self- development; we must break out of our past and move on with life.

Open defecation in Cameroon increases risk of Cholera

Tackling open defecation in Bauchi communities From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

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bout 35 Kilometres from Dass Local Government in Bauchi State, is a community where open defecation is common.

It is not only in this community that the practice is inherent, most traditional communities in Nigeria and other African countries make available to themselves, open spaces for use when such nature's compulsion beckons.

Open defecation by residents of such communities on the farms, market place, and even behind residential areas and local government office areas have been the norm for long, and despite the country's level of civilization much is still left to be desired in this aspect because in such communities latrines are not accorded the necessary priority in their construction or maintenance. However, investigation by Peoples Daily Weekend in Dass, Bauchi showed that the habit of open defecation is most prevalent among men while women, aside from this, battle poor sanitary towel issues.

However, through the intervention of the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, Department for International Development (DFID) and the United Kingdom-supported Sanitation, Hygiene and Water Project in Nigeria (SHAWN), health hazards associated with poor sanitation in about 351 communities of Dass local government area of Bauchi state may become history.The groups, in partnership with the Community-led Total Sanitation (CLTS) initiative, have embarked on mass sensitization campaigns in the areas apart from water supply through construction of a number of hand pump bore-holes.

The intervention efforts also target the unhealthy practice of open defecation by residents which they carry out on farm lands, markets and even behind residential areas and also near Churches and Mosques.

According to a joint UNICEF and WHO 2012 report, more than 1.1 billion people across the world engage in open defecation with 626 million from India, 63 million

from Indonesia, 40 million from Pakistan, Ethiopia 38 million and Nigeria 34 million.

"Construction and maintenance of toilets as well as maintenance and periodic evacuation of the household excrements are priorities," according to Malam Adamu Danladi, the Water, Sanitation and Hygiene (WASH) Coordinator in the area.

Experts say that CLTS is a communitybased approach with emphasis on the sustainable use of sanitation facilities rather than the construction of infrastructure. The approach depends on the engagement of members of the community ranging from individuals, schools and traditional leaders.

Speaking at a recent media interaction programme in Bauchi, the UNICEF Water and Sanitation Officer, Bioye Ogunjobi, explained further that, "Community Approaches to Total Sanitation (CATS), now being supported by UNICEF in 50 countries around the world, including Nigeria, have already reached more than 39,000 communities, with a total population of over 24 million people, being declared free of open defecation within the last five years." And, UNICEF estimates that with support from governments and other partners, an additional 88 million people now live in communities free of open defecation Under the SHAWN Project, the UNICEF D-Field Office in Bauchi supports 10 states of Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe Jigawa, Kano, Nasarawa, Plateau, Taraba and Yobe.

With the sensitization efforts, the communities may have begun to abandon some of the unhealthy practices which reports said might not be unconnected with a number of avoidable diseases and deaths recorded in the affected areas.

Investigations by our reporter indicate that the habit of open defecation is most prevalent among the men in most communities while women in the affected communities share sanitary towels and rags during their menstrual cycles.

Speaking in an interview with Peoples Daily Weekend, a women leader at the Yalwa community of Dass, Malama Hafsat Malami, who is also a women leader in the

Yalwa community of Dass, regretted that apart from sharing their sanitary rags, the women do not also thoroughly clean such rags for future use. According to her, "we had to embark on massive campaign in all the 351 households to explain to the women, the inherent danger of sharing sanitary rags or napkins and how to clean them after every use. The women often recycle such rags for as long as two years of which we advised them to always dispose of every three to four months. When they wash the rags they hide them under their beds or hang them at corners until their need is required again.

"We have taught them to use soap or ash to wash the rags and we stopped them from hiding them under their beds but instead, to spread them under the sun for a long time, by so doing chances of infections must have been reduced."

Another community leader, Malam Isyaka Abubakar, also told our reporter that it had been the norm of the people to defecate freely outside their houses not minding the consequences, as a result of which, he noted, the community had constantly been ravaged by regular outbreaks of cholera.

According to him, "every rainy season is known to be characterized with cholera outbreaks in which lives were always lost in our community. After visits by UNICEFsupported CLTS teams, it became clear that the outbreaks were as a result of age-long poor hygiene habits of the communities where they openly passed excreta in the bush.

A resident of Dass, Malam Inusa, who is a petty trader with two wives, said that he later realized that the death of his two children would have been averted if his household and the community had not been using open space as toilet.

According to the community's Ward Head, Malam Adamu Sani, "we have known relative peace in terms of premature deaths resulting from gastrointestinal disorders as I recall a particular year that we buried over 20 children who were then thought to have been struck by evil spirits but only to be told that they died of infections."

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

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Feature

Boom in Kano bicycle market With the recent decision of the Kano state government to ban commercial motorcycles in the metropolis, Mustapha Adamu reports that the demand for bicycles has recorded a sharp increase in the area.

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arely a month after the Kano state government banned the use of commercial motorcycles (achaba) in the metropolis, residents have resorted to the use of bicycles as alternative means of transportation. The development, according to investigations, has brought about tremendous boom for bicycle traders who have started smiling to the banks.

However, unlike in the law of demand and supply where the price of a particular commodity goes up as a result of increase in the demand, prices of bicycles in major markets in Kano has remained the same in spite of the urgent rush for the product.

A dealer in bicycles at Fagge Takudu in the city, Suleiman Ibrahim, told our reporter that, "contrary to people's perception, there is no increment in the prices of bicycles after government's decision to ban Achaba and carrying passengers on motorcycles. We sell more bicycles now more than ever before. As I talk to you now, we sell about 20 to 30 bicycles a day unlike before when we used to sell between five to 10 bicycles daily."

A bicycle shop in Fagge

Residents have embraced bicycles following motorcycle ban in Kano Prices differ depending on the models and brands but some of the popular ones include Phoenix, Ranger Max, Suzuya (for ladies), Avon and Rally.

According to Ibrahim, "Suzuya is more patronized by the youth as it appears more fashionable and has softer pedals and a basket in the front

that can be used to keep some small personal belongings."

Since the ban on achaba has become a reality, a resident, Ali Na Ya'u, lamented that he had no choice than to opt for a bicycle as, according to him, "I was compelled to go for a bicycle because of banning achaba as my office is far from

my residence and there is no taxi or bus to take me there. It is common knowledge that tricycles fares are very expensive and even getting them is extremely difficult because they are not many.

One has to trek a long distance before you get a tricycle and I always get fatigued whenever I return home."

But, for Saifullahi Surajo, bicycle has always been there for as he explained that, "I am used to riding bicycle to school.

It helps me a lot because my father has no car to take me to school and that is why bought a bicycle for me."

However, some other residents ride bicycles for reasons other than the ban on commercial motorcycles.

According to Alhaji Rabiu, a textile trader at the Kwari market, although he has a Toyota car and a scooter motorcycle, he also rides a bicycle for his health as well as part of the tricks to escape traffic holdups. "I bought a bicycle because of my health and traffic jam as I use it as an exercise tool for the good of my body and to be free from traffic jam that I find disgusting,"Rabiu said.

A physician at the Murtala Mohammed Specialist Hospital, Dr. Ojubolamo Tope, confirmed that regular bicycle ride has immense health, especially

among those with terminal illnesses such as high blood pressure, diabetes. According to him however, bicycle should by no means be an alternative to the normal means of transportation. As Tope put it, "bicycle riding is a very good form of exercise and it is a very good development especially among those that have diseases such as hypertension and diabetes because during exercise it burns calories. But it has its own limitations because you cannot ride it on the express road or high way and mind you, it is not a substitute for a car or motorcycle. Of course people should be encouraged to ride bicycles especially within the confines of their houses."

Known in local parlance as Keke, the use of bicycle as means of movement is not exactly a new phenomenon as it has always been there for centuries. But with modern and faster means of transportation, bicycles began to receive lower patronage especially in the urban centres as people found it more convenient and comfortable using motorcycles whether for private or for commercial use. If the current rush for bicycles in Kano continues, it may indeed threaten the business of commercial buses, tricycles and taxi drivers.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

News Gunmen massacre 9 health workers in Kano

happened around 9am at a clinic called Shargalle at Filin Cashew in Unguwar Uku when gunmen in a tricycle appeared and opened fire on the in Filin Kashu, Unguwa He added that seven vaccination officers, Uku area of the Kano female health workers killing two workers and metropolis. were killed by another set wounding four others, hospital sources have confirmed.

Earlier reports had said four of the workers were killed in the attack.

The attacks came on the heels of Inspector General of Police, Mohammed Abubakar's proposed visit to Police College, Wudil, Kano state.

Kano state Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran who spoke on phone, said six women were attacked in Filin Kashu, Unguwa Uku, two were killed on the spot while four are currently receiving treatment in a hospital in Kano.

Meanwhile, President Goodluck Jonathan condemned the attack yesterday night, ordering security agencies to e n h a n c e s a f e t y m e a s u r e s Governor Sullivan Chime of Enugu State yesterday arrived Enugu to the waiting hands of aides, commissioners and the deputy governor after 141 days of absence from work. The governor for health workers pin high risk areas. arrived the Enugu International Airport on chartered jet.

A statement signed by his spokesman, Dr Rueben Abati said: "On behalf of himself and the Federal Government, President Jonathan extends ownership of Daily Times Ikechukwu Obiora.

By Augustine Aminu does not hold water as the a It said that a respondent c o m m i s e r a t i o n s t o t h e case on the matter is at a court of superior families of the victims and government and he management of Folio subsisting at the Appeal Court jurisdiction cannot run to a t h e lower court to become a in Lagos. people of the state.

Communications In a statement issued plaintiff.

He assures the bereaved Limited said it is still the yesterday and signed by its "If a Federal High Court f a m ilies that the loss of owner of Daily Times of Nigeria as 96.5 percent of the Group Managing Director , sitting in Abuja or anywhere t h e i r l o v e d o n e s w i l l n o t pioneer media outfit is under Noel Anosike, Folio said for that matter gives ruling be in vain as the Federal running from the Appeal on a case subsisting at the G o v e r n m e n t w i l l e n s u r e its control.

The company said a Court to obtain a secret Court of Appeal, that so- that the mission to totally polio from purported ruling of an Abuja judgement from a court of called ruling or judgement is e r a d i c a t e Federal High Court on lower jurisdiction, amounts null and void and therefore Nigeria in which they were Wednesday on the to desperation on the part of of no consequence. This is p a t r i o t i c a l l y e n g a g e d i s the position of the law in carried out to a very Nigeria and this too is well known to even primary successful conclusion."

The statement school pupils. c o n t i n u e d : " President This matter is presently at the Court of Appeal in Lagos. J o n a t h a n f u r t h e r a s s u r e s The matter came up on a l l N i g e r i a n s a n d t h e Tuesday 5th February 2013 international community, and is reserved for e s p e c i a l l y i n t e r n a t i o n a l judgement. For any High h e a l t h o r g a n i s a t i o n s a n d committee would work management of various health Court which is of a lower N i g e r i a ' s development without prejudice with the facilities in this assignment is jurisdiction to give ruling on partners that the Federal existing Drug and Consumable desirable as the committee is to the matter is another case of G o v e r n m e n t w i l l n o t b e Distribution Committee of the supplement the primary politicians using dubious d i s t r a c t e d from its state Central Medical Store. responsibilities of the means to make a mockery of o b j e c t i v e o f a c c e l e r a t i n g He said that the monitoring management of health the nation's judiciary and the reduction of maternal committee was charged with facilities, " he said. abuse court processes," the and child mortality in all the responsibility of ensuring Omede said that the concept statement said. parts of Nigeria by that proceeds from drug sales of the Essential Drugs Revolving "Every Nigerian is aware mindless acts of terrorism. were remitted to designated Scheme was to ensure that basic that Folio Communications While the Government financial institutions. drugs were available and Limited bought Daily Times will continue to do The commissioner urged accessible all-year-round in through a transparent e v e r y t h i n g p o s s i b l e t o the distribution committee to government hospitals for transaction that conformed track down and apprehend hold on to its schedule in rightful prescriptions. with due process and the Acts agents of terrorism in the servicing the health facilities Responding on behalf of establishing the BPE. Folio and called for cooperation of other members of the communications owns 96.5 country, the President has departments in the ministry committee, its chairman, Mr percent share capital of Daily d i r e c t e d t h a t e n h a n c e d with the monitoring Joseph Achem, assured that the Times. This was gazetted by s e c u r i t y m e a s u r e s b e p u t committee. committee would be diligent the Federal Government and i n p l a c e i m m e d i a t e l y f o r ``The maximum and committed to ethical nothing has happened to health workers in high-risk areas." cooperation of the standards. (NAN) change that position.

•Jonathan condemns attack

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem & Edwin Olofu

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nknown gunmen in separate attacks in the early hours of yesterday laid ambush on health workers who were on the mandatory polio vaccination exercise in Kano metropolis, killing nine of them.

Kano state Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Magaji Musa Majiya, who spoke on phone said gunmen killed two women health workers at a community health center

NUJ boss urges NASS, Executive to resolve budget impasse From Nasiru Mu'azu Isa, Kaduna

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resident of the Nigeria Union of Journalists , Mallam Muhammad Garba has advised the Federal Government and National Assembly to put behind their differences and harmonize the 2013 budget.

Mallam Muhammad Garba disclosed this during a press conference in Kaduna , noting that the delay in signing the 2013 budget will definitely put a cog in the wheel of socioeconomic development.

Commenting on the ongoing Constitutional review, Mallam Muhammad commended the leadership of the National Assembly for conducting the constitutional review exercise in a transparent and orderly manner.

Folio still owns Daily Times – Anosike

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Kogi inaugurates 5-man essential drugs monitoring committee

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ogi Government has inaugurated a five-man committee to monitor the supply and sale of essential drugs in government hospitals under its drugs revolving scheme.

Inaugurating members of the committee on Friday in Lokoja, the state Commissioner for Health, Dr Idris Omede, said the measure had become necessary to ensure accountability and sustainability of the scheme.

Omede said that the committee was also to complement the Health Ministry in the management of the scheme.

He said that the monitoring

of gunmen in Hotoro Haye area in another health center shortly after the first incident.

He said their remains had since been deposited in a morgue in the city.

The first incident

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

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News

$620,000 bribe: Court admits Farouk, Emenalo to bail From Sunday Ejike Benjamin

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n Abuja High Court on Friday granted bail to the chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Education and an Assistant Director in the National Assembly, Mr. Boniface Emenalo in the sum of N10 million each.

The accused persons, who have spent one week in detention at the Kuje Prisons in Abuja are standing trial for allegedly violating the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related offences (ICPC) Act 2000.

The trial judge, Justice Mudashiru Oniyangi, in his ruling on the bail application said the accused persons must also provide sureties each in like

sum.

Other condition for bail, the judge held, was that the accused persons must deposit their travel documents with the Registrar of the court and that they must not travel outside the country without the permission of the court.

The embattled lawmaker and his co-accused who were chairman and secretary of the House of Representatives Ad-hoc

Committee on Fuel Subsidy regime were arraigned for allegedly receiving a bribe of $620, 000 from oil magnate, Femi Otedola to remove the name of his company, Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the list of companies indicted in the fuel subsidy regime fraud.

Lawan and Emenalo pleaded not guilty to the seven-count charges preferred against them by the Federal Government.

Count one of the charge which was signed by the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Federation, Mrs. O. O.

Fumilayo reads: "That you Hon Farouk Lawan (M) and Mr. Emenalo Boniface (M) sometimes in April 2012 or there about at Abuja within the Federal Capital Territory under the jurisdiction of this court did while acting in the course of your official duties as chairman and secretary (respectively) of House of Representative Ad-hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy Regime conspired between yourselves and with each other to corruptly obtain $3 million for yourselves from Mr. Femi Otedola, Chairman,

No accreditation, no exams, UNIABUJA students tell authorities

By Stanley Onyekwere

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FG inaugurates council on shelter belt and afforestation

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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ice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo has inaugurated the National Council on Shelterbelt and Afforestation, with the pledge to ensure all issues regarding ecological problems are speedily addressed.

The Vice President, who is also the chairman of the council, chaired its maiden meeting yesterday at the State House, Abuja.

He charged members to put in their best to ensure the success of the activities of the council saying “Mr. President has directed that this project must be taken very seriously and diligently.”

He recalled that the council was set up on 19th January, 2004, with the Vice President as chairman, however noting that with the coming on stream of the Great Green Wall initiative in 2005, the council became dormant.

“With the launch of the Programme in Nigeria, the National Council for Shelterbelt, Afforestation, Erosion Control and Coastal Zone management became dormant as its afforestation functions were carried out by the Presidential Afforestation Initiative, mandated to carry out the Great Green Wall programme, which is now desirous of urgent attention in view of the time lag since inception.

As a wake up action , the Federal Executive Council decided to resuscitate the Council for Shelterbelt and Afforestation and its underlying institutional arrangement, the programmes and activities that will be put in place to achieve the national and by extension sub-regional objectives,” the Vice President said.

Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd as inducement to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the House of Representative Ad-Hoc Committee on Monitoring of Fuel Subsidy's Regime report and did cause the House of Representatives to remove the name of Zenon Petroleum and Gas Ltd from the list and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 26 (1) (c) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000 and punishable under Section 8 (1) of the same Act".

L:R: The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Special Duties, Dr. Henry Akpan welcoming the new minister, Barr. Kabir Tanimu Turaki (SAN) who resumed office yesterday in Abuja.

Minister of Special Duties assumes office

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he newly appointed Minister of Special Duties, Barrister Kabiru Tanimu Turaki, (SAN) has assumed duty in the Special Duties Ministry with a challenge to the staff of the Ministry to double their efforts and work hard to achieve President Jonathan's transformation Agenda.

The Minister was speaking yesterday in Abuja during his maiden meeting with the Top Management Staff when he

received some briefs from the Permanent Secretary, Dr. Henry Akpan.

In his remarks, the Minister thanked the Permanent Secretary, Directors and top management staff of the office, stating that he is a team player, who is ready to carry every body along, to achieve the mandate of the Ministry.

Stressing further, Barrister Turaki enjoined the staff of the office to maximize their Human

Potential in the line of duty to ensure maximum output, even as he takes cognizance of the fact that every human being is endowed with certain qualities which when harnessed could bring out the best for the betterment of the society.

"We must strategize to surmount challenges and any impediment in the course of our duties because challenges would strengthen our resolve to achieve results" He added.

AFCON finals: Mark leads FG delegation to Johannesburg

By Abdulrahman Abdulraheem

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o further boost the morale of the Super Eagles ahead of the AFCON 2013 finals, President Goodluck Jonathan is sending a high-powered delegation led by the President of the Senate, Senator David Mark to represent him and the Federal Government at the match in Johannesburg tomorrow.

President Jonathan who, because of urgent official commitments in London and Paris, cannot be physically present in

Johannesburg to cheer the Super Eagles as he would have wished, has charged the delegation to ensure that the members of the team are properly motivated and in the best possible spirits to win a resounding victory for the nation.

The President asked the delegation which also includes Governor Peter Obi of Anambra state, Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi state and the Minister of State (Foreign Affairs) Prof. Viola Onwuliri, the Minister of Police Affairs, Navy Capt. Caleb Olubolade and the Minister of State

(Works), Ambassador Bashir Yuguda to reassure the team of his full support and best wishes for victory.

They are to also inform the team that President Jonathan will host a dinner reception for them at the State House Banquet Hall at 7pm on Tuesday, February 12, 2013 to personally thank and honour them for their positively transformed performance in South Africa which has undoubtedly re-established Nigeria as a major power in international soccer.

head of February 11 slated by the management of the University of Abuja for the commencement of the institutions controversial second semester examinations for 2011/ 2012 academic session, some students of the institution have declared that: “no accreditation, no exams!”

The students also issued a twoweek ultimatum to the management to invite the relevant authorities for inspection and assessment of facilities in affected faculties and departments for due accreditation.

This development came on Friday on the heels of the reopening and the fixing of semester examinations by the university management, without resolving the lingering problem of accreditation bedeviling the institution that led to numerous protests by the students and subsequent closure of the university in November last year.

Apparently provoked by the developments, the affected students who spoke at a meeting with the management of the institution, did not hide their dismay as they openly lashed out on the management’s insistence to resume academic activities, without concrete steps to solving the problems before holding exam or even meeting with them as it had enough time to dialogue with the students since the university was shut down.

Majority of the affected students, who were those from the medical, engineering and veterinary sciences, particularly questioned the management’s moral justification of holding the exams for non affected students without them knowing their fate; which they vowed to resist at all cost.

Some affected students, had earlier on Monday, in a communiqué made available to newsmen, amongst other things resolved that the school should remain closed until lingering issues are resolved.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9— SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

News 2013 budget: PDP carpets opposition Reps … says NASS, Presidency on same page

KRPC graduates 105 students From Nasiru Mu'azu Isa, Kaduna

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05 graduating students of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company Limited (KRPC) have been

called upon to use the knowledge they have acquired to contribute positively to the development of the nation.

The call was made by the Executive Director Services, KRPC, Idi Mukhtar during the

fourth graduation ceremony in Kaduna.

Mukhtar observed that for the NNPC/KRPC, "it is about action. - Action to give fresh hope to our young people, to retool and prepare them to

By Lawrence Olaoye

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he Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), yesterday, dismissed as empty boast, the threat by opposition members from the House of Representatives to override President Goodluck Jonathan over the signing of the 2013 budget.The party in a press statement signed by its National Publicity Secretary, Chief Olisah Metuh, said the lawmakers were merely playing to the gallery and do not have the muscle to set agenda for the PDP-controlled National Assembly.

A handful out of the 160 opposition members in the House of Representatives on Thursday rose from a closed door meeting threatening to override the President over the budget.

The National Assembly is made up of 469 members.The party in a statement yesterday waved off the threat but added that Jonathan was taking his time in studying the budget to ensure that the provisions were in the general interest of all Nigerians."Our attention has been drawn to reports in the media that a handful of opposition members from the House of Representatives had threatened to override the President on the budget.

That is an empty boast. The PDP has the majority in the two chambers of the National Assembly. So it is clear that the opposition members cannot set the agenda for the National Assembly.

They are merely playing to the gallery instead of addressing issues", the statement said.The party said it was clear that the President, in his usual meticulousness and based on the powers conferred on him, is studying the budget to ensure that its provisions were in line with his commitment towards the welfare of Nigerians.

It said that the National Assembly was on the same page with the President adding that it was unpatriotic for the opposition lawmakers to seek to overheat and stampede the system.

Sympathizers with Security Personnel attached to the Convoy of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu waziri Tambuwal rescuing accident victims along Kaduna - Abuja, yesterday

Robbery scare: Banks remain closed in Omu-Aran

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ome commercial banks in Omu-Aran, Kwara state, have remained closed to business since Tuesday following rumours of possible robbery attacks, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Many of the banks located on Aperan Way as well as Landmark University Road, remained closed for business on Friday.

NAN investigation revealed that the branch manager of an old generation bank claimed to have received a text message threatening that the bank would be robbed.

A print-out of the purported text message made available to NAN had directed the manager to produce N2 million to avert an attack.

The text sent from mobile phone number 08062822878 read: “Hello Mr. Oyetunde, if you value your life, the life of your workers and your families, you should drop N2 million or else we will attack you.

“If you don’t want what happen in Lokoja, Osogbo, Oro banks to happen to you, the life of your customers, workers and families is in our hand, we will tell you where to drop the money, expect our call anytime”, it said.

An official of the bank, who preferred anonymity, told NAN that the directive to close down the bank's branch was received from its headquarters.

But contacted on the development, the Divisional Police Officer at Alakaka, Mr Rasak Adebayo, said the

command had assured the banks to ignore the threat and open for business.

He said that the command had taken up the issue of the SMS alert with the appropriate authorities, adding that the command received reinforcement from the state police headquarters to contain any threat to security.

“I do not know why they have refused to open for business after much assurance that we have put everything in place to curb any threat to security, especially within banks' vicinities,” he said.

Already, the closure of the banks had been having adverse effect customers, majority of who are local government employees yet to receive their January salaries. (NAN)

US to partner Nigeria on airport upgrade, commends FAAN From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

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he United States has said it is prepared to partner with Nigeria in upgrading airport facilities in the country in order to meet global standards, stating that the country has made remarkable strides to reposition the sector in the last few years.Mr. Jerrod Hanssen, Consular Officer of the US Embassy in Lagos, gave the hint when he led a delegation of economic officers from the consulate to visit the Managing

Director of the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria, Mr. George Uriesi in Lagos.Commending the efforts of the authority, Mr. Hanssen disclosed that the visit was necessitated by US government’s desire to extend a hand of fellowship to FAAN which he said was making remarkable strides in repositioning Nigerian airports.Uriesi said the upgrade of infrastructure at the airports in recent times was geared towards building a greater aviation future in the country, among other development initiatives. He

affirmed that the agency was determined to change passengers’ experience of service delivery at all Nigerian airports stressing that airport terminals of the past were for travelling only while modern airports have turned to commercial centres.Furthermore, the FAAN helmsman reiterated that the transformation agenda of President Jonathan Goodluck is geared deliberately towards implementing the aerotropolis concept which will change the mindset of airport business in Nigeria permanently.

contribute to the growth of the national economy at large".

In his speech at the event, Kaduna state governor, Alhaji Mukhtar Ramalan Yero, expressed his administration's determination towards youth empowerment.

Gov. Yero said his administration will empower 6000 youth both male and female in all the sectors of the economy in the state, adding that the youth would be engaged from the 23 local government areas of the state.

The Governor congratulated the beneficiaries and appealed to other corporate organisations in the state to emulate KRFC's gesture especially in training more youth in skills acquisition programmes.

In his remarks at the occasion, the Minister for Youth Development, Inuwa Abdulkadir, urged the beneficiaries of the programme to make use of what they have learnt in order to start their own businesses.

In his address at the occasion the Group Managing Director of NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, pointed out that in consideration of the limitations of government in providing employment to all the teeming products of various educational institutions, it is evident that this innovation by KRPC is the only way forward in the battle against unemployment.

Bauchi justifies civil servants’ salary deductions From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Bauchi state government has said the reason for the deduction of 10 percent of civil servants’ salaries from the month September to December 2012 was aimed at sustaining salary payment in the state as at when due. It added that the state within the period, generated N880 million from the deductions.

The state’s Head of Service, Mr. Abdun Dalla Gin, disclose this on Friday while addressing newsmen on the withdrawal of workers allowances which commenced this year, saying that the development followed the present economic predicaments faced by the state.

According to him, “The financial situation of government was still not better as at 31st December, 2012 when the deduction was halted. The contribution of workers in that regard added to its meager resources to first sustain salary payment as at when due and allow government proceed with the funding of projects”.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

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News Husband sues wife for alleged renaming their son

A

29-year- old man, Emmanuel Agaku, on Friday urged a Makurdi Magistrates' Court to dissolve his marriage with Juliet for allegedly renaming his son and constant insults.

Agaku told the court that he did not believe there was still marriage between them.

"I married Juliet in 2009 under the Native Laws and Customs of the Tiv people and the marriage has irretrievably broken down. The marriage is blessed with a son, Mark Agaku.

"My wife left my house two years ago and under the influence of her parents. She has now renamed my son 'Msughter Agbaduh', without my consent.

"Based on the new name, my son now does not only have a new name but also shares the same surname with my fatherin-law," he said.

Agaku further explained that the wife's behaviour prevented him from enjoying peace throughout the marriage.

"Shortly after the marriage, my wife behaved in a way that is not in consonance with her marriage vows and humanity.

Bauchi partners NSCDC to improve security From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

G

overnor Isa Yuguda has expressed the commitment of his administration to partner with the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps to improve on the security situation in the state.A press release issued by the Chief Press Secretary, Ishola Michael Adeyemi made available to newsmen in Bauchi, yesterday, said government will continue to maintain good working relationship with the corps and all the security agencies in the order to secure the state from all forms of criminality.

According to the release Yuguda made the commitment when he received the Commandant of Bauchi state command of the NSCDC, Jibril Mohammad Shuaibu, who paid him a courtesy call at the Government House, Bauchi.Yuguda described security as the onerous responsibility of government, pointing out that no responsible government would want toy with it and used the occasion to blame previous crisis in the state on ethnicity and political instigation.

While commending the commandant and other top ranking officers of the corps for identifying with government’s aspirations towards ensuring lasting peace and security in the state, Governor Yuguda promised to look into their requests for the provision of conducive office accommodation, operational and official vehicles and a guest house as well as an ambulance.

Customs officer detains FAAN staff From Suleiman Idris, Lagos

A

mild drama took place yesterday at the Hajj Camp of d Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos when officers of the Nigerian Customs Service, Airport Command, forcefully locked up a Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) security officer, including its contractor

Jang set to resuscitate Nigerian Standard

I

n a bid to resuscitate the Nigerian Standard newspaper owned by the Plateau state government, the state has signed a contract worth N749m for the supply of modern printing equipment and vehicles for Plateau Publishing Company (PPC) and Plateau Printing Press (PPP).

The Commissioner for Information and Communication, Mr. Yiljap Abraham who signed the contract on behalf of the state government on Friday, said the installation of the machines will enhance the quality, production and circulation of the state owned newspaper - the Nigerian Standard.

Mr. Yiljap further stated that this action will restore the glory of the newspaper which he described as "a strong voice that could not be ignored" in its heydays.

Husband sues wife for alleged renaming their son

A

29-year- old man, Emmanuel Agaku, on Friday urged a Makurdi Magistrates’ Court to dissolve his marriage with Juliet for allegedly renaming his son and constant insults.

Agaku told the court that he did not believe there was still marriage between them.

“I married Juliet in 2009 under the Native Laws and Customs of the Tiv people and the marriage has irretrievably broken down. The marriage is blessed with a son, Mark Agaku.

“My wife left my house two years ago and under the influence of her parents. She has now renamed my son ‘Msughter Agbaduh’, without my consent.

“Based on the new name, my son now does not only have a new name but also shares the same surname with my fatherin-law,” he said.

Agaku further explained that the wife’s behaviour prevented him from enjoying peace throughout the marriage.

“Shortly after the marriage, my wife behaved in a way that is not in consonance with her marriage vows and humanity. (NAN)

for allegedly causing traffic holdup.

The customs men accused the construction firm of blocking the road leading to the Hajj Camp where their office is situated hence the decision to briefly detain them.

Our reporter, who was at the scene of the incident, followed the arrested men to the customs office where they were thrown into a lock-up cell for more than 10 minutes by armed customs men.

The site engineer of the construction firm - Maczoll Nigeria Ltd, Mr. Bewaji Kayode, told reporters that the Deputy Comptroller of Customs in charge of tarmac operations at the airport, whom he identified as Usman, had

driven to the barricaded road under construction and demanded to know the reason for the barricade.

Usman was not satisfied with the explanation offered by the FAAN security officer who told him the directive was handed down by the Chief Security Officer (CSO) of FAAN to allow for the accelerated construction work.

"The road is being constructed for the ongoing remodeling of the cargo terminal being constructed opposite the customs office at the Hajj Camp Cargo Terminal."

"We told the customs boss that the order was from the FAAN CSO in order to allow for free working of the contractors on the site."

"But the custom boss said that the FAAN authority has no right to block the road and that the security officer on the site was on a suicide mission," Kayode told journalists.

Kayode said at that point, the Usman ordered armed customs men to arrest and detain the FAAN security officer on the site and the site engineer.

"We expect better synergy between FAAN and the customs than for them to take the laws into their hands.

"We are using this opportunity to solicit for the cooperation and understanding of the airport users. This project is a key agenda of the Federal Government transformation agenda," he said.

L-R: Special Adviser, Office of the Vice President, Senator Isaiah Balat, Iranian Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Saeed Koozeachi, Chairman, House of Representatives, Committee on Foreign Affais, Hon. Nnanna Okejie, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Martin Uhomoibhi and Deputy Chief Whip, House of Representative, Hon. Mukhtar Ahmed, during the Iranian National Day Celebration, on Thursday in Abuja. Photo: Mahmud Isa

BACATMA boss charges media on fight against HIV/AIDS From Ahmed Kaigama, Bauchi

T

he Executive Chairman of Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/ AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (BACATMA), Dr. Mohammed Sambo Liman has charged media practitioners to use their medium in sensitising the people on the dangers inherent in HIV/AIDs in order to eradicate the pandemic in the society.

Liman made the charge yesterday during a one-day workshop organised by Civil Society for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (CISHAN) in collaboration with Ministerial Action Committee Against AIDS (MACA), Ministry of Information and BACATMA.

He stressed the need for chairman disclosed that the rate journalists to educate and of people infected with HIV/AIDs inform the public on the has dropped to two percent in dangers HIV virus poses to their Bauchi state against 6.8 percent health especially the youth and that it was in 2001 assuring of women who are most government's determination to reduce it to zero level. vulnerable.

He urged the media to always He stated that BACATMA established a strong educate the people on the need partnership with media to stay negative by avoiding organisations as part of its effort unprotected sex and multiple in the fight against HIV/AIDS in sexual partners as well as go for testing and counseling before the state.

Liman expressed optimism marriage. that with the collective effort of the CHANGE OF NAME media, CSOs and other I, FORMERLY KNOWN AND ADDRESSED AS HAJARA ALIYU, NOW WISHED TO BE stakeholders ADDRESSED AS HAJARA IBRAHIM the virus MOHAMMED. ALL FORMER DOCUMENTS will be REMAIN VALID. GENERAL PUBLIC SHOULD eradicated.

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE. T h e

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2012

Focus

Peace initiative in Otukpo between herdsmen and Idoma From Uche Nnorom, Makurdi

F

u l a n i herdsmen and Idoma people of Otukpo local government area of Benue State, home country of the Senate President Senator David David Mark have lived peaceful for many years.

Most of the Fulani people like the Ardo of Otukpo, Alhaji Sule and his counterpart the Sarkin Hausawa Alhaji Bala Dahiru, aged over 75 years old were even born in Otukpo and have lived all their lives in peace and harmony with the host community.

That harmonious relationship however came to a head on Saturday 26th January 2013 and would have strained the friendship between the two groups but for the timely intervention of the local government chairman Dr. Innocent Onuh as well as the Police in Otukpo.

Explaining the genesis of the crisis, Dr. Onuh said "youths around Otukpo local government area were celebrating their annual hunting festival in Amla. It is a very big festival where all the villages that make up the area gather and there is usually lots of excitement. It was in the process that one of the youths shot a Fulani man, and what followed was death of three Fulani herdsmen and the killing of over 8 cows as well as the destruction of their houses", Onuh said.

As a way of averting any reprisal attack, the chairman quickly held a security meeting with the Divisional Police, the Ardo of the herdsmen as well as the Sarkin Hausawa in the area to pacify the people while investigation into the matter commenced immediately.

"We have consistently appealed to the Fulani people for calm and understanding and they have exhibited real maturity. We held meeting and resolved that anyone, no matter how highly placed found to be responsible for this nefarious act would be apprehended and prosecuted accordingly", the LG boss said.

Onuh said he took proactive steps towards averting reprisal attacks as has often been the case in recurring clashes between Fulani herdsmen and Tiv farmers in Guma, Gwer west and Agatu local government areas of the State.

Benue State Commissioner of Police Mr. Christopher Katso personally visited Amla village in Otukpo-Icho to assess the level of damage and deployed his men to ensure strict security in the area.

"The incident is rather unfortunate especially considering the fact that these people have lived together as brothers for so many years. But we will apprehend the culprits. We are already on their trail. All the chiefs including the chairman have given us assurances that there won't be any further crisis. Our men have been deployed to avert any fresh crisis", Katso assured.

One unfortunate and painful death was the murder of the Ardo's son, 15 year old Muhammed Isah Sule. Sule had gone in search of his missing cow against the warning of his father and met his untimely death. Another 80 year old man Alhaji Dule was also killed.

The Ardo who has since buried his son described the death of his son as the will of God saying "It is Allah who gives and takes, May His name be praised".

He was however commended the local government chairman for his prompt intervention in nipping the crisis in the bud.

"The chairman attended the Muslim

prayers for my son and others who were killed during the conflict as well as their burial. He footed the bills of the burial. If not for him, the crisis would have assumed a different and frightening dimension. We respect him for this great gesture and show of concern. While we urge our people to remain calm, I appeal that the perpetrators of this devilish act be brought to book", Alhaji Sule stated.

Sarkin Hausawa Alhaji Bala Dahiru condemned the incident, noting that such has never happened in Idoma land.

He observed that his council has maintained cordial relationship with the Och' Otukpo Chief John Enyimonye as well as the local government council, stressing that they will continue to insist on peace as the only panacea for development and lauded the timely effort of the council chairman, Dr. Onnuh in stemming the crisis.

"The Chairman is an intelligent man.

He has been consulting with me since the incident happened. He has also appealed to me and the Ardo to beg our people to be calm and we have done so", the royal father said.

Same were the words of the Och'Otukpo Chief John Enyimonye who expressed sadness over the incident and assured that there will not be a repeat of the crisis.

He also promised that the culprits will be arrested and made to face the law.

Meanwhile, as a step towards assuaging the pains of the over 450 Fulani herdsmen with their families who are now displaced, the council chairman has relocated them to a camp and provided relief materials including grains, mattresses, blankets and other items to cushion the effect of their hardship.

But Dr. Onuh said the magnitude of the incident is beyond the scope of the local government and appealed passionately for intervention from the State government, NEMA, spirited individuals as well as corporate organizations, saying "Our resources are too lean to cater for the displaced persons. So I am appealing for assistance from the State government, NEMA and well meaning individuals".

Dr. Innocent Onuh appeealing for calm amd understanding.

Displaced Fulani community in Otukpo

Ardo Otukpo, Alhaji Sule

Relief materials donated by Otukpo LG

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9— SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 9

Cover

Nigeria: The last 100 years

By Abubakar Jimoh, Nasiru Mua'zu Isa and Ali Abubakar Abare

T

he centenary ceremony, which is the celebration of Nigeria's one hundred years, the federal government has said, would go beyond just lighting of the Centenary Torch.

Speaking through the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, SGF, Senator Anyim Pius Anyim, the presidency said the country has good reasons to celebrate its one hundred years of existence despite the several challenges that had confronted and still confronts the nation. "On January 1, 1914, the Northern and Southern Protectorates were officially amalgamated into one nation, giving birth to modern day Nigeria. January 1, marks the 100 years of our union as a nation," Anyim said. "Notwithstanding our struggles and challenges, this is a period that deserves celebration by the citizens and government of Nigeria."

He went on to posit that the events and projects to mark the commemoration of Nigeria's hundred years of existence will generate over 15,000 jobs. Speaking at a private sector stakeholders' engagement forum where he presented a document on the celebrations tagged, 'The Centenary Project', the senator pointed out that the event will be a yearlong event that would culminate at the new year of 2014, and conclude on first of October same year, he also enumerated some of the activities that will mark the celebration to include; the centenary lottery programme, centenary concerts in Lagos, London and the USA, centenary music competition and comedy night show and Miss centenary beauty pageant.

Others include; the trade and investment road shows by MDAs and state governments, centenary festivals and carnivals, special centenary legislative session and centenary sports contests. Each of these events which he said is proposed to hold monthly

throughout the year will generate over 15,000 direct and indirect jobs to Nigerians.

"The centenary project will provide potentially 5000 direct jobs and over 10,000 jobs indirectly. It will also provide an economic boost especially to the informal sector, the petty traders and the hospitality sector service providers."

The forum which held at Harbourpoint, Victoria Island, Lagos was aimed at wooing members of the organized private sector to invest in the centenary project. According to the senator, "the whole idea is to seek consultation with the organized private sector."

But a Statesman, who is also former Governor of Kaduna state and politician, Mallam Balarabe Musa said the celebration is a smokescreen. "Certainly 100 years is worthy of celebration but only by Mosques and Churches". " Asking the private sector to undertake this is uncalled for and it will

not receive any credibility because it will be seen as part of the corrupt practices in Nigeria, because the private sector would not just fund such a gigantic event.

The government will use its corrupt processes to finance the private sector to do it and say that it was the private sector".

Musa cited an instance, when Obasanjo as then President, wanted to hold a Constitutional Conference and the legislature refused to provide money for it and he went ahead to source the money from the private sector "through the corrupt process and conducted the National Conference which achieved nothing", he posited.

For a University Don, Dr. Uji Wilfred, who is Acting Head of Department of History at the Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa State, since the coming together of Nigeria, the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914, the country has been able to weather the storms and made a lot of progress and achievements

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9— SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 10

Cover

Nigeria: The last 100 years

Late Sir, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa in several fields of endeavour.

"We are grateful to God that we are still together as a nation. We had a civil war from 1967 to the 70s and despite it, we are still together. He observed that though Nigeria, since 1960, was slated among other nations of the world to emerge as great nations by the turn of the twentieth century, with countries like India, South Korea, Brazil, among all these countries, it is only Nigeria that has failed to really achieve this dream. Wilfred queried, what happened to the beautiful dream of our founding fathers?

What happened to Nigeria's industrialisation? Looking back, he wondered why we can no longer have factories that packaged and assembled products in Nigeria, "factories

Late Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, Governor General

that were packaging together a lot of manufactured products, from automobiles, Peugeot, Volkswagen, etc, to electronics and beverages. Companies like the Lever Brothers, Nasco Group, etc and of course, the Arewa Textiles in Kaduna, all these have collapsed over the years while poor infrastructure, lack of education, poverty, corruption, insecurity etc have now bedeviled the country". He concluded that Nigeria has deviated fundamentally from the plans of our past leaders.

As Nigerians celebrate 100 years commemoration of the 1914 amalgamation of the Southern and Northern protectorates, there have been pockets of questions about the celebration; as the country is

currently faced with series of socio-political, economic, and security challenges.

Meanwhile, the celebration has been criticized on the ground that such project would be an unjust opportunity to shift attention from the major problems confronting the country especially the security challenges.

It was reported that the request by President Goodluck Jonathan to secure a convenient date to brief both Chambers of the National Assembly on the proposed programme for Nigeria's Centenary celebrations sharply divided the lawmakers at a recent plenary.

The debate in both houses began after the presiding

Late Sir, Ahmadu Bello officers of both chambers read the President's letter at the separate sittings. The President had indicated that the appearance will enable the Presidency lay bare its proposal for the centenary celebration as well as enable the legislature contribute to the framework of the preparation for the celebration.

However, while the letter was received without questions at the Senate, it however sparked off a debate in the lower chamber. Some of the Reps who kicked against the celebration held that Jonathan has no justification to seek audience with them after refusing their earlier invitations meant to interface with him on other state matters.

House Speaker, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal had read at Wednesday's plenary Jonathan's letter dated January 10, 2013 requesting the House to allow the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, to brief it on the preparation for the centenary celebration.

But coming under personal explanation, Deputy Minority Leader, Samaila Kawu (Kano/ ANPP) stated that the letter was in breach of privilege of the House because the President had refused to honour invitation from the House last year.

"Mr. President had refused to honour our invitation in the past, so we cannot honour his own too", he said.

In the same vein, House Minority Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila (Lagos/ACN) held that the planned centenary celebration was an economic drain. He called on the House to disregard the proposal from the Presidency, as payback for his 'refusal' to appear before the House over insecurity.

His words: "A centenary celebration could cause this country billions. If we are saying there is no money to implement budgets, so I don't see why a centenary celebration should be a priority.

Respect should be reciprocal.

We should ignore the letter the way he ignored our resolution last year summoning him to come and brief us insecurity in the country, because respect begets respect".

But Reps Emmanuel Jime (Benue/PDP), Abike Dabiri (Lagos/ACN) and Linus Okorie (Ebonyi/PDP) differed.

Jime, told lawmakers that there was no need to be negative about the centenary celebration as the event

11 Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo

President Goodluck Jonathan

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Cover 10

provided an opportunity for Nigerians to celebrate the country's unity.

Dabiri posited that "there was no big deal or an issue to be made out of the decision by the Presidency to mark 100 years of our unity".

Okorie on his part warned that "the House should not constitute itself to an opposition against the Presidency on every issue".

Ruling on the matter, Tambuwal urged his colleagues to exercise patience pending the time a resolution was taken on the matter.

In response to many who have said that the country is facing too many challenges and has many problems it needs funds to tackle, a Nigerian political analyst, Gbenga Salau reported that the promoters, apart from saying that the project would be fully private sector driven with government committing nothing financially.

"It is important to underscore the fact that the Amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914 is the foundation and the beginning of our journey to a great future as a nation. As a nation, we have experienced challenges that have severally challenged the unity of our nation leading many to call for a sovereign National Conference, re-negotiation of the basis of our co-existence.

Many have blamed the country's woes on incompatible ethno-cultural groups etc. However, let me ask- how many countries in the world do not have multi-ethnic groups constituting its citizenry? Is it China, India, USA, Brazil, Indonesia, Pakistan, Germany, United Kingdom or Italy to name a few?

"At our age and experience as a people, we know that there is no country like Nigeria. I am proud of Nigeria and proud to be a Nigerian. If we cannot celebrate Nigeria, then it means that we are not proud of Nigeria.

We have every reason to celebrate Nigeria and the time to do so is now.

"We must use the occasion of our centenary celebration to affirm to ourselves that Nigeria is not an accident. Indeed, in the words of Lord Lugard on the occasion of the amalgamation, Nigeria is the product of a long and mature consideration.

"It is because of the size of our domestic market and enormous natural resources that many global economists and well respected investment institutions have predicted that Nigeria's economy is on track to become the largest in the continent in the next decade.

According to Salau, the promoters also prescribed how the centenary should be celebrated. They said it should be strong and forceful in replacing pessimism with optimism, elevating the idea of one indissoluble Nigeria based on the shared colonial

PAGE 11

Nigeria: The last 100 years experience, common humanity and national destiny.

"The centenary celebration is expected to inspire confidence in our ability and determination to rise above our present challenges to build a strong and united nation. It will signify the beginning of something new, a celebration of a new future for Nigeria. It will be colourful and rich, harnessing and projecting our diversity in culture, the distinctiveness of our vibrant population, joyously proclaiming the journey to a new national order for future generations and the world to note", their said.

Reports have it that at a recent event in Lagos, former Military Head of State, General Ibrahim Babaginda took some time to comment on the centenary celebration while delivering his speech saying that Nigerians have cause to rejoice because within the hundred years, Europe has endured two world wars, Russia had gone through a revolution, a civil war and finally gone from being Russia

to Soviet Union and back to Russia.

"As other countries have overcome the mistakes in their history and moved on, so we Nigerians also have caused to rejoice that even though in our history we have met with obstacles, we have experienced ups and downs, each generation had sought to the best of its ability to tackle these obstacles. That we are still a united nation is sufficient cause for congratulation."

He stated that though the problems are not over, it is a continuous process which makes a heavy demand on government and the people.

The Pro-National Conference Organisation on Monday also described the planned centenary celebration of the 1914 amalgamation as a jamboree.

In a statement by PRONACO's spokesperson, Olawale Okunniyi, the celebration lacked depth and substance, and would only reveal the nation's unfortunate history.

It said, "Instead of the

organisers of the centenary jamboree thinking of how to enrich themselves during the historical occasion, the Nigerian Government should rather facilitate a solemn process of renegotiation by a Constituent Assembly to effectively fashion a national consensus and collective ownership of the renewal of a united and stable Nigeria beyond 2014.

"The implication of the present wrong-footing on the centenary will mean that the basis of the current unity and the subsisting Federal Government at the centre will become legally void so that any of the federating components can be morally leveraged to opt out of the foisted amalgamation by colonial Britain to last for 100 years."

Funding the celebration Senate President, David Mark has also expressed fears that the Federal Government's claims of a wholly private sector sponsored event, might turn out to be untrue at the end of the day.

"Am just worried that if truly it is going to be private sector driven, then we can ask

General Yakubu Gowon

Col. Odumegu Ojukwu

General Olusegun Obasanjo

General Muhammadu Buhari

a committee to take a look at it and make suggestions and give to the businessmen if they are interested," he said.

In a meeting with the House of Representatives, Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Anyim Pius Anyim claimed that the country had remained united in spite of the challenges it had faced in the last 100 years.

The SGF said this belief informed the choice of the theme of the celebrations, 'One Nigeria, Great Promise,' and that funding will come from "commercial marketers", who will use the event to market their services.

"In this way, funding will come for the event. We are also looking at the option of centenary lottery.

So, funding will not be by public funds," he stated.

"The centenary celebration will be multifaceted and multi - location event. It holds much promise for corporate product commercials, more so provide unique opportunity for corporate organisations to properly present themselves as part of Nigeria's success story.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Cover Interview Government is hiding behind private sector to fund centenary celebration – Balarabe Musa A Statesman and former Governor of Kaduna state, Mallam Balarabe Musa is doubtful about funding of the centernary celebration despite government claim of private sector involvement. However he maintains that what is worth celebrating is the unity of the country despite its challenges in this interview with Nasiru Mu’azu Isa. What is your view about the centenary celebrations planned by the government?

I don't think government has the moral and political justification for celebrating 100 years of existence of Nigeria. There is definitely the need to do so because there is something worth celebrating but definitely it should not be by government because government has disappointed Nigerians over the past hundred years, particularly since 1960 when Nigeria became independent. If you take into account the resources for development that came to Nigeria during this period and you compare it with the achievements, rarely there is anything to celebrate; particularly when the celebration is conducted by government. But obviously hundred years of existence is something that is very important. I think it will be justified if Christian and Muslims, Mosques and Churches celebrate this because that we remained one country these hundred years is in spite of us, it is an act of God and God's mercy that enabled us to do this. And so we should thank God because left to us, Nigeria would have disintegrated since. This should be done not by government which has been part and parcel of the negative state of the nation as we experienced and we've been experiencing for a very long time.

Do you believe the claim by government that the whole celebration would be privately funded?

Certainly 100 years is worthy of celebration but only by mosques and churches. Asking the private sector to undertake this is uncalled for and it will not receive any credibility because it will be seen as part of the corrupt practices in Nigeria because the private sector would not just fund such a gigantic event.

The government will use its corrupt processes to finance the private sector to do it and say that it was the private sector. We had this before, there was a time when Obasanjo as the president wanted to hold a constitutional conference and the legislature refused to provide money for it and Obasanjo got money from the private sector

Balarabe Musa

through the corrupt process and conducted the National Conference which achieved nothing and I don't think even the

political parties should take part.

The FCT minister has asked for some money to renovate the Vice Presidential guest

“

We had this before, there was a time when Obasanjo as the president wanted to hold a constitutional conference and the legislature refused to provide money for it and Obasanjo got money from the private sector.

houses at the sum of 150 million, construction of two city gates at the sum of 7bn naira and building of First Ladies mission house at 4bn naira. With the deteriorating standards in the FCT, do you think this spending is it justified?

No, it is one of the wastages bothering on corruption so it is definitely condemnable. The constitution of Nigeria does not recognize First Lady and since it is not recognized by the constitution or any law in Nigeria, it means public funds should not be used to create such a building which is also condemnable.

What is your view on the merger talks among opposition parties?

The merger is a very good thing and we need it to get the PDP off our back because without the PDP off our backs, we can never have peaceful change in Nigeria. We can never make any progress because PDP will stand in the way. I urge all patriotic Nigerians to support it.

Since the attack on the Emir of Kano, a lot of the state governments in the North are considering the ban of Okada in their states. Being that for a teeming population of young men, Okada riding is their only legitimate source of income, do you believe the ban is the best step forward?

Well there are problems connected with Okada transportation, some of the problems border on security and the other problems border on safety on the road and so on but I don't think the solution is to ban Okada riders. Government has many ways to remove the problems without banning Okada.

For example, government can find ways and means of doing what the Okada transporters do. For these Okada transporters, there are places where they go where cars cannot go. They are more flexible on the road but of course there are problems but these problems are not the fault of Okada riders for instance, disorder on the road which is directly the result of government indifference. Anybody can drive any vehicle including motorcycle without passing through road test, without having a license to drive and a motorcycle can take any number of people which is very dangerous but these are not the responsibility of Okada riders. There are laws and Okada riders should be made to follow the rules and this is not being done. I think it will be more beneficial for all if government allows the Okada riders to compete for passengers with easily available taxis and buses which at the moment now are not enough.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9— SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 13

Cover Interview Nigeria has fundamentally derailed, we have poor refineries, collapsed industries – University don As Nigeria celebrates her centenary anniversary, Dr. Uji Wilfred, Acting Head of Department of History, at the Federal University Lafia, Nasarawa state said though Nigeria has weathered many storms it is yet to achieve dreams for a great nation as documented in the World Report in the 60s. He spoke with Ali Abare Abubakar in Lafia.

N

igeria is about to celebrate her 100 years of existence as a nation, how can you review the journey so far?

The journey so far is a combination of both good and bad things, and of course, there are also the ugly trends, in spite of our being together as a nation. But then we should note that this is not just peculiar to Nigeria alone.

All nations in history pass through their good and bad times.

There are things that rock a nation but then we find our strength most of the times in our weaknesses, like it is often said, there is a lot of unity in diversity.

So despite all that we have passed through since the coming together of Nigeria, the amalgamation of the southern and northern protectorates in 1914 we have been able to weather the storms, to make a lot of progress and achievements in several fields of endeavour. We are grateful to God that we are still together as a nation. We had civil war from 1967 to the 70s and despite it, we are still together. We have seen the worst of military dictatorship, disagreements in our democracy, ethnic and religious crises on the worst scale but despite all these we are still together.

There is general perception among Nigerians that the country has so far, derailed from the objectives of our founding fathers. Do you agree with this?

Yes, on one hand, but on the other hand I say no. Yes in the sense that if you look at the visions and aspirations, the dream of our founding fathers was to see a Nigeria that will emerge as one of the greatest nations by the 21st century. I have always taught students that I am quite challenged by the kind of legacy that the late Sir Ahmadu Bello, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa and a host of others left behind. If you look at our politics today and you look back at what these people did, indeed it was a great sacrifice that they made so that the nation can be great. To some extent these dreams have come to pass and of course we can see it in our national polity. On the other hand No! In the sense that the dreams of these leaders have not been realised in the real sense of it, it has been a fundamental deviation from

what Nigeria ought to have been.

In the 1960s, the World Bank report published and slated Nigeria among other nations of the world that would emerge as great nations by the turn of the twentieth century, countries like India, South Korea, Brazil. Among all these countries it is only Nigeria that has failed to really achieve this dream of industrialisation and great transformation. Now we have not been able to sustain the vision of our founding fathers.

Can you expatiate this?

Look back to the 1960s; we had packaging and assembling factories in Nigeria, factories that were packaging together a lot of manufactured products, from automobiles, Peugeot, Volkswagen, etc, to electronics and beverages, local beverages that we consumed in our domestic fronts. Companies like the Lever Brothers, Nasco Group, etc and of course, the Arewa Textiles in Kaduna, now all these have collapsed over time. If they were sustained, together with the refineries that were built Nigeria we would have been a great nation. So, what has happened to our industrialisation and our brilliant economic policies? If you look at the second and third national development plans even that of the fourth, we are supposed to have emerged as one of the greatest nations. Look at infrastructure for instance, that was contained in these plans, we are not suppose to experience the crisis of the bad state of the roads we are seeing in Nigeria, this near collapse of infrastructure that has become the order of the day. Look at corruption, like I said

Dr Uji Wilfred comparatively, 1960 and now. It is on the worst scale now. People stealing billions and nothing happens to them. So we have really deviated from these ideals and dreams and we pray we should get back on track so we can realise the visions of our founding fathers.

What specifically hindered Nigeria from attaining her potential, of being great country as documented in the World Bank report in the 60s?

The basic problem with Nigeria, if you look at it again and again, is that of leadership. After Tafawa Balewa and Ahmadu Bello, we never had the kind of leaders that are quite visionary, nationalistic and of course, leaders that have the interest of this nation at heart. Every country that ever became anything in world history would attribute it to its leaders. When we read the history of the United States of America for instance, we forget the fact that America had great leaders, leaders who saw into the future of the country. As a matter

“

of fact leaders who were able to see 200 years into the future and even a 1000 years into the future and up to date, America still does the same thing, it does not play with leadership and those who occupy the position of leadership must know what to do and must show patriotism and nationalism towards their country. And these leaders made America become what it is today. Take even a country like Ghana for instance, we know what leadership has done to Ghana in recent times, beginning from what Jerry Rawlings did and what John Kuffor and the recent president that passed on. So a nation is what it is by the virtue of leadership. In Nigeria, that has been a crisis.

Even in Nigeria whenever we had a good leader things would begin to pick up. If you look at when the late General Murtala Mohammed was Head of State, we know exactly what happened during that time, also take General Mohammadu Buhari, during his regime despite its limitation in

Look back to the 1960s; we had packaging and assembling factories in Nigeria, factories that were packaging together a lot of manufactured products, from automobiles, Peugeot, Volkswagen, etc, to electronics and beverages, local beverages that we consumed in our domestic fronts. Companies like the Lever Brothers, Nasco Group, etc and of course, the Arewa Textiles in Kaduna, now all these have collapsed over time.

terms of being described as a military dictatorship, that regime achieved so much for this country in terms of discipline, restoring this sense of direction that Nigeria needs. I have always said nobody has to be unemployed because we are so endowed that we can apply our minds to achieving greatness and succeed.

But the values that we inherited from the past, that sometimes we believe we should be given money for doing nothing and also lobbying for positions have reduced us to ridicule, especially under this present democratic dispensation begging and sycophancy are the major trademarks of our society.

Another big challenge in Nigeria is lack of education which has led to vices, sentiments, prejudices and to some extent ethnic and religious bigotry. Education is supposed to help us overcome our stereotypes, prejudices and shortcomings in terms of the way we look at each other. Iam meeting you (Reporter) for the first time I didn't bother to ask whether you are Yoruba or Igbo but we have striked a rapport on the basis of ideas, a society that flourishes on good ideas and ideals will definitely succeed.

Do you foresee the country surmounting these challenges as did other developed nations?

Nigeria will and to a greater extent. And let me say clearly first that education is not the only challenge, there is a deepening poverty and helplessness, and our leaders use it against us, as cannon fodders so that we can fight bloody ethnic and religious wars. We can overcome this; other countries have been able to do that. Like in Ghana, how many times have you heard people fighting on the basis of ethnicity or religion? At a personal level we can cautiously overcome it, after all poverty does not recognise tribal marks; whether you are Hausa, Yoruba or Igbo, if you are poor you are poor. That should teach us a lesson on unity we can be together and avoid these sorts of tools used by our desperate political elites.

What is the way forward?

The way forward is first, we need re-orientation in terms of our values and attitudes. Yes, we can criticise but we can also look at the constructive side, what can we do about it? We must redefine our values toward work, hard work, creativity, innovation.

Looking inward to see what you can do and in doing whatever you are doing, well. Like Dr. Luther Martin King said in America, if you are a shoe polisher, polish it well, if you are a hairdresser, do it well. Whatever you find yourself doing, keep doing it well be your best. I always say that if you are best in everything you do you will be noticed someday no matter how long it takes. So we can redefine our values and attitudes and get this country working again.

PAGE 14

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Celebration

Lugga: Ten years of charismatic Waziriship

By Lawal Sa'idu Funtua, Katsina

T

e n years ago, the late Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Muhammad Kabir Usman, announced appointment of Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga as the Wazirin Katsina at the Launching of Katsina Islamic University Appeal Fund on Saturday, 26th October 2002. He said, "Finally, I would like to end my speech by restating that we are grateful to Allah (SWT) for making it possible for us to attend this appeal fund launching ceremony for the establishment of the first Islamic University in Nigeria. Government gives National Medals and Awards to persons who excel in the service of humanity. We, in the traditional institution, appoint such deserving persons into traditional offices (if they inherit it) or give them traditional titles. The Secretary General of Katsina Islamic Foundation, the founder of this Islamic University project, has been the main pillar of the project and has served in similar capacities in many community projects for the benefit of humanity.

For example, he was the chairman of the planning committee of Katsina State Development Foundation (Gidauniyar Jihar Katsina) and the chairman of Publicity Committee for the establishment of Katsina State Education Trust Fund. The person is Alhaji Sani Abubakar Lugga, the grandson of the first Wazirin Katsina, Alhaji Haruna. With the stool of the Wazirin Katsina currently vacant, I hereby bestow the title and office of Waziri of Katsina on him. May Allah guide him in the discharge of the duties of this important office, Amin", Wazirin Katsina Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga who was turbaned on Saturday, 28th December 2002 was born on the 28th day of August 1950 in Katsina. Th e Wazirin Katsina is the grandson of the first Wazirin Katsina, Sheikh Haruna. Sheikh Haruna the leader of the Waziri dynasty in Katsina was born in Kanem Bakashe around 1277 Hijrah, which is equivalent to around 1857 of the Gregorian Calendar. Leaders of the family of Sheikh Haruna were renowned Islamic Scholars who ruled Kanem Bakashe under Islamic rules and regulations. Historical sources had it on good authority of Alhaji Ilyasu Kanem Bakashe, son of Sarki Wage, who died recently at the age of about 118 years, that the grandfather of Sheikh Haruna , Sarki Son-Allah (lover of Allah) who reigned between 1854-1882 was so named because he personally killed Sarkin Katsinan Maradi Dan Boura during a battle in 1853. He did so while assisting the

Usman Dan Fodio led Jihadists near the Katsina-Maradi-Kanem Bakashe borders.

Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga as the fifth Waziri of Katsina, obtained his West African School Certificate from Government College, Katsina in 1968, with credits in all the subjects he sat for.

Waziri then had the option of enrolling straight into the University but as fate would have it he enrolled into Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria for a Diploma in Agriculture where he graduated in 1970. His quest for knowledge also saw him obtaining a Higher Diploma in Marketing from the Kaduna Polytechnic in 1975. He similarly obtained a Diploma in Manufacturing from the Warwickshire, England in 1980 and a certificate in Management f r o m Hanover, Germany in 1 9 8 5 .

However the high point of Waziri's quests for knowledge a n d scholarship came when he obtained a Master of Business Administration from British West Indies in 2002 and he capped it with a Doctorate Degree in Management from the same British West Indies in 2003. From 1970 to 1994, Wazirin Katsina has attended several in-service courses in Nigeria and abroad.

Wazirin Katsina, Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga started his working career as a teacher with the Katsina Native Authority in 1969. After obtaining his diploma in Agriculture he worked with the former NorthCentral state Ministry of Agriculture as an Agricultural Assistant from 1971-1973. After furthering his education and completing the mandatory National Youth Service (NYSC) at the Sokoto-Rima River Basin Development Authority in 1977/1978, Dr. Lugga joined Arewa Consultancy Centre, Kaduna as Agro-Marketing Service Executive in 1978. In 1979 he joined the German based Northern Cable Processing and Manufacturing Company Ltd, (NOCACO), Kaduna as the first

Administrative Manager. In 1981 he

General Manager of Sambo Farms Ltd in 1983. In 1984 Dr. Lugga went back to NOCACO where he became the first Nigerian to attain a General Management position. Wazirin Katsina voluntarily retired from NOCACO in 1992 and was appointed as Commissioner for Works, Housing and Transport Katsina State in 1994.

The main hobby of Wazirin Katsina is community service. It was his thirsts for community service that saw him serve on two committees that established Katsina State Development Trust Fund, and Katsina State Education Trust Fund.

Dr. Lugga as a trustee and SecretaryGeneral of Katsina Islamic Foundation, shouldered the main responsibility of establishing the first community owned Islamic University in Nigeria, registered by the National Universities Commission as Katsina University to date. Wazirin Katsina has been lecturing in that university without collecting a single kobo as salary or allowance.

Wazirin Katsina as hardworking intellectual is a member of several professional bodies, among which include a Member of the Institute of Personnel Management of Nigeria, Member British Institute of Manufacturing, Member of the American Institute of Management, Member of the N i g e r i a Marketing Association, Fellow

Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga was appointed as the first Group Marketing Manager of Sambo Farms Limited, Funtua, Hamada Carpets Ltd, Katsina and Hamada Agricultural Company Ltd, Kaduna and was later appointed as the

of the Institute of Industrials and Corporate Administration, Fellow of the Institute of Management Consultants of Nigeria, Fellow of the Institute of Professional Financial Managers, UK, Fellow of the Nigeria

Institute of Commerce of Nigeria and Fellow of the Nigerian Institute of Management. Wazirin Katsina is also the Patron of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, (NUJ), Katsina State Council.

One of the notable intellectual acumen of Dr. Lugga was the publication of several academic books on history, issues and autobiography.

He co-authored a book on Wazirin Katsina Isa Kaita, The Great Province, Gawurtaccen Lardi, Wazirin Katsina- Sheikh Haruna, Conflict Management In Hausa land, Nigeria, Katsina College, Mu So Juna, Mu Guji Hassada, The Twin Universities, Dikko Dynasty, Leaders and Conflicts, A Glossary of Management Terms, Re-Branding Nigeria, Risala among others. He was also the publisher of the now rested News World Magazine and its sister Hausa Publication, Labarun Duniya.

The achievements of Wazirin Katsina Dr. Lugga are appreciated by the society as he has won several merits awards. Among which are, Academic prizes at the Government College Katsina, Certificate of Appreciation by Katsina State Government, Certificate of Honour

by Katsina Solidarity Group, Merit Award by Nigeria Union of Journalists and Katsina Local Government Merit Award among several others.

Wazirin Katsina as a peacemaker is currently involved in several national committees promoting dialogue among various interests across the country. In Katsina, Dr. Lugga always preaches peace, fear of God and love for one another. One of the landmark peace initiatives of Wazirin Katsina in Katsina State was his periodic hosting of Christian Association of Nigeria, (CAN) members in Katsina to dinner to discuss peace and peaceful coexistence. Waziri's wealth of experience is adding value to the way Katsina Emirate Council runs its affairs. Since the time of Late Muhammad Kabir Usman to the incumbent Emir, Alhaji Abdulmumini Kabir Usman, Dr. Lugga has remained a trusted confident and good adviser to the Katsina emirate.

Wazirin Katsina Dr. Sani Abubakar Lugga has four wives, although one of them, Hajiya Umma is now late. He has 21 children, 10 males and 11 females and most of them are university graduates.

The Wazirin Katsina at his residence being congratulated just after the turbaning by dignitaries

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2012

PAGE 15

Politics

Governor Shema’s prebendal politics

By Abdu Labaran Malumfashi

I

have nothing but contempt for the kind of governor who is afraid, for whatever reason, to follow the course that he knows is best for the State.?

Sophocles in Antigone, circa 441 BC. Convinced that Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema of Katsina state had done enough good work in the state to warrant a second term, the Emir of Katsina, Alhaji Abdulmunin Kabir Usman went public sometime in 2010 to urge the governor to contest for reelection, failing of which he (Emir) would go to court to compel him (Governor) to do so.

So strong was his conviction that even when it was pointed out to him that it was wrong of him to take sides as father to all in the state, the Emir insisted that he had no apology for publically endorsing Shema for a second term, even when the Governor himself had yet to declare his intention to contest the 2011 elections for a second and final term. But although it was not every eligible voter in Katsina state that was one with the Emir’s assessment of the governor’s performance, a lot of water has since passed under the bridge and the rest, as they say, is now history.

But Governor Shema’s second term is turning out to be not quiet what the people of the state, including the Emir of Katsina, wanted it to be; for it would seem that those who entertained no such illusions are not getting any reasons to rue their initial skepticism in the light of the arrogance that has come to define the style of governance in the state.

Indeed, as one of the staunchest believers in Governor Shema’s capacity for doing good, the Emir of Katsina must also be one of the most worried by the governor’s seeming willful efforts to turn capacity for doing good on its head. In other words, it would seem that the calculus of felicity does not mean much to the governor beyond his political calculations.

Barely two weeks ago, the Emir had given his blessing to a new transportation enterprise christened Pleasant Transport Limited, embarked upon by Engineer Muttaqua Rabe Darma, the immediate past Executive Secretary of the Petroleum Technology Development Funds (PTDF). According to Engineer Darma, the new business has already employed the services of 30 drivers, equal number of conductors, six guards, some mechanics, managers, supervisors and messengers all of whom are indigenes of the state.

Katsina state Gov. Alhaji Ibrahim Shema Not only that, the new transport company, which for the moment boasts of 15 60seater buses and has its the terminal along IBB Way in Katsina metropolis, offered cheaper fare than even the state owned transport company, KtSTA, charging N200 and N500 for journeys to Kano and Katsina respectively to the state transport company’s N500 and N800 for the same journey.

Giving his imprimatur, the Emir had enthused that Engineer Darma had made Katsina Emirate proud, even as he urged him “to carry on the good gesture”.

Sadly for the Emir and the teeming citizens who stood to benefit from this good-Samaritan gesture, but certainly not for the benefactor, the euphoria for this progressive move had hardly died down when the Katsina state government announced the

suspension of the operation of the transport service in the state.

According to Alhaji Lawal Dan-Ade, a Director of the company, the suspension of the service by the state government came as a surprise to the management “because we have obtained permission from the state Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport before we commenced operation. After we have applied for permission, the ministry approved our request through a letter dated 18th December, 2012 and signed by one Mallam Salisu M Bello, Director VIO and RT Department. But after we commenced operation, another letter from the ministry dated 29th January, 2013 and signed by the same director was sent to us intimating us about the suspension of our operation”.

The suspension letter reads:

“The 1999 constitution under schedule 4 paragraph (1) sub E has clearly vested only the local governments with constitutional right and sole powers to operate motor parks… Proliferation of motor parks in the state is currently on check and is not being allowed for individuals or group to establish new ones”.

Clearly, there is more to the suspension than the official reason given by the authorities.

A private transport company, Peace Mass Transit, owned by an indigene of and has its headquarters in Enugu state, operates its own deport along IBB Way in Katsina town. Besides, was the Ministry of Works, Housing and Transport not aware of the constitutional provision when it initially granted approval?

If it is any consolation, Engineer Darma should know

that he is not the first to fall victim of this prebendal politics playing out in Katsina state.

Two Abuja-based indigenes of that state, who are allegedly readying themselves to succeed the governor, are not having it easy in their efforts to do the Good Samaritan bit. They cannot assist flood victims, they cannot repair cemeteries, they cannot repair mosques and they cannot render any form of assistance in the open without drawing the wrath of Governor Shema and his band of supporters, it would seem.

Any time they attempt to do any of those things, police and or thugs would be sent to stop or disrupt the event. The excuse always is that it is government’s responsibility to do that which the good Samaritans are trying to do. Of the two, Alhaji Umaru Abdullahi, a.k.a. Tata, a directorate-level staff in the Presidency, is the most vulnerable. He has reportedly suffered so many arrests in the state at the behest of the governor for doing nothing more than complementing the government in areas where his humble means can allow. On many occasions, where he was not arrested, thugs were sent after him simply for being the philanthropist with a cause. And there are so many scars on his body and vandalised vehicles for his troubles.

The other, the ComptrollerGeneral of the Nigeria Custom Servise, Alhaji Abdullahi Dikko Inde is however more fortunate because he is at the moment beyond the thuggerish reach of anybody in the state because he moves everywhere with a retinue of heavily armed subordinates as his minders.

A serving Senator, Hadi Sirika, also thought he was complementing the government’s efforts when he donated free inoculation against the cattle disease, Rinderpest. But nobody was willing to accept the medication because the state government was said to have directed District, Village and Ward heads not to do so, warning that anyone who does so will lose his turban.

And to think that responsible governments and leaders everywhere, bar Katsina, are always exhorting encouraging their citizens to do all they could to lessen the ever burgeoning burden on government, which it alone simply can’t shoulder to the satisfaction of all.

At a time when all hands are needed to be on deck to salvage the society, it is a sad commentary on the state of politics in Katsina that the collective interest of the people of the state is subordinated to the ego of those in power.

PAGE 16

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Tourism

Kenya's Masaai Mara T

h e Masai Mara National Reserve is Kenya's premier wildlife park. It was established in 1961 to protect wildlife from hunters. The Masai Mara is the reason many visitors come to Kenya and its beauty and abundant wildlife won't disappoint. At the Masai Mara you will be told what animals you can expect to see, the topography of the area, where to stay, how to get there, and what there is to do beyond the game drives.

The Masai Mara is in southwestern Kenya on the border with Tanzania. The reserve is situated in the Rift Valley with Tanzania's Serengeti Plains running along its southern end.

The Mara River runs through the reserve (north to south) hosting plenty of hippos and crocodiles and making the annual migration of over a million wildebeest and hundreds of thousands of zebras an extremely dangerous undertaking.

Most of the Masai Mara is made up of hilly grassland which is fed by plentiful rain, especially during the wet months between November and June. The areas bordering the Mara River are forested and are home to over several hundred bird species.

Masai Mara's wildlife The Masai Mara reserve is Kenya's most popular game park because it's relatively small (a little smaller than Rhode Island) yet it hosts an amazing concentration of wildlife. You are almost guaranteed to see the Big 5. Lions abound throughout the park as do leopards, cheetah, hyenas, giraffe, impala, wildebeast, topi, baboons, warthogs, buffalo, zebra, elephants, and of course hippos and crocodiles in the Mara River runs through the reserve (north to south) hosting plenty of hippos and crocodiles and making the annual migration of over a million wild beast and hundreds of thousands of zebras an extremely dangerous undertaking.

The best time to go to Kenya is between July and October when the wildebeest and zebra are at their highest number and offer plenty of food for lions, cheetahs, and leopards. The best time to view animals is either at dawn or dusk.

Because the reserve has no fences you can actually see as much wildlife within its boundaries as outside in the areas inhabited by the Maasai tribes. In 2005/6 a visionary conservationist, Jake GrievesCook approached the Maasai who owned the land adjacent to the Reserve and offered to lease parts of it from them. In exchange, the Maasai promised to vacate the land and not graze their cattle on it. The land quickly reverted to dense grassland and wildlife is thriving. The Maasai are paid rent, and many families are benefiting from employment at some of the eco-friendly camps that have been set up. Tourist numbers and safari vehicles are strictly

limited, which translates into a much better safari experience all around. Within the reserve, it's not unusual to see 5 or 6 safari vehicles full of tourists taking photos of one lion with its kill.

Things to do in and around the Masai Mara Reserve -Game drives. If you have flown straight to the Masai Mara Reserve then your safari package will usually include several daily game drives. If you've rented your own vehicle then it is recommended you find a map of the reserve or take an askari (guard) with you.

-Walking safaris. If you enjoy a little adventure try a walking safari with a Maasai guide. The best ones are outside the reserve boundaries in the Conservancies.

-Cultural tours with the Maasai. Visiting a traditional Maasai village is frequently included in a safari package to the Masai Mara. While not really an authentic experience you may learn something about the Maasai.

You can also take some excellent cultural tours to learn more about the Maasai.

Hot air ballooning is a popular pastime that provides an expensive but unique experience. Every lodge and camp will be able to set up a flight for you. The balloons usually fly at dawn and last about an hour, upon landing most balloon companies offer breakfast to tourists.

How to get to the Masai Mara The Masai Mara Reserve lies 168 miles from the capital city of Nairobi. The trip takes at least 6 hours by car because the roads are quite poor and should not be attempted unless you have a 4WD vehicle. If you do plan to drive, avoid the rainy season since many of the roads become totally impassable.

Many tourists choose to fly into the Masai Mara National Reserve because of the poor quality roads.

But flying makes your safari quite a bit more expensive (since you have to then add the game drives to your tour) and you miss out on some of the adventure of traveling in one of Africa's more remote areas.

‘Wildebeest’ migration

Mara Buffala camp

A Masaai

Visit to Daktari wa Miti Shamba

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 17

Feature

Tackling challenges facing kidney failure patients in Nigeria

By Olayemi Okeniyi

L

ast year, the Nathan Kidney Foundation reported that 15,000 new cases of end-stage kidney failure emerge annually in the country.

The foundation says that this development can be attributed to the increase in the number of Nigerians living with hypertension, diabetes, obesity and glomerulonephritis -- a kidney disease.

Mr Banke Ajomale, the foundation's Executive Director, says that kidney diseases develop slowly and often show symptoms at later stages.

It is, therefore, not surprising that kidney and urinary tract diseases are ranked 12th in the list of major causes of death in the world by the World Health Organisation (WHO).

Ajomale says that without warning signs, kidney failure could have reached an advanced stage before the victim knows that something is wrong.

He describes such situations as unfortunate because once a person's kidneys are damaged; they are left with the limited options of dialysis or renal replacement therapy to live.

He says that dialysis is the process of repeatedly using a blood-cleansing machine to perform kidney functions, while the renal replacement, also known as kidney replacement, involves getting a kidney transplant. ``Unfortunately too, most Nigerians cannot afford a renal transplant or to pay indefinitely for dialysis. ``Presently, dialysis costs about N5 million annually, while a kidney transplant costs about N4 million and a patient needs about N150, 000 monthly to get immunosuppressive drugs after a successful transplant. ``In essence, kidney failure is usually a death sentence if not detected early and managed appropriately,'' Ajomale says.

Faced with such grim situations, what then is the hope of survival for people suffering from kidney failure?

Prof. Oladipo Akinkugbe, the first President of the National Association of Nephrology, gives an insight into what could be a respite.

He stresses that prevention is the major solution to kidney failure problems, stressing that the association, since its inception, has focused its attention on the last stage of kidney disease.

He says that the association's focus will later be on prevention. ``What is important is to see the things that cause chronic kidney disease and prevent them in our environment,'' he says.

Corroborating this viewpoint, Dr Oluseyi Oniyangi, the Head of Paediatrics at the

National Hospital Abuja, says that eating good food, undertaking physical exercises regularly and going for regular medical checkups help in sustaining healthy kidneys.

She stresses that kidneys play essential regulatory roles in keeping the body in good shape, adding, therefore, that they should always be kept healthy.

Oniyangi expatiates that kidneys are essential for the removal of waste from the body, regulation of blood pressure, balancing of sodium and potassium and production of hormones that help build red blood cells and bones.

She, however, notes that some risk factors of chronic kidney diseases include congenital dysfunction, hypertension, diabetes, sickle cell anemia, alcohol, HIV and certain drugs.

She stresses the need for people to take adequate precautions to curb kidney failures. ``Make sure you change your underwear daily, clean up properly, wash your hands after using the toilet and drink plenty of water to keep the kidneys healthy. ``Besides, avoid intake of too much salt, make sure you go to the hospital early when you are sick, complete your medication and avoid indiscriminate consumption of pain killers. ``People should also avoid bleaching creams and soaps, while hypertensive and diabetic patients should endeavour to take their prescribed medication,'' he further warns.

All the same, Dr Raheem Raji, Senior Registrar, Nephrology Unit, Lagos University Teaching Hospital, examines the major causes of kidney diseases.

He says that the causes include diabetes, hypertension and kidney infections that are common among people who live in small communities and shun regular medical checkup.

Raji also says that the ingestion of certain herbal medication could, over time, affect the kidney. ``The problem of lack of awareness about kidney disease ought to be addressed, as these people do not know they have the disease until the situation degenerates before coming to the hospital,'' he says.

He emphasises that the government has a huge role to play in efforts to create the muchneeded public awareness.

Raji said that the disease is one of the major public health concerns in Nigeria, as the level of morbidity is very high; adding that proper awareness at the grassroots will, however, reduce the disease burden.

However, Prof.

Evelyn Unuigbe, the President of the Nigerian Association of

Nephrology, underscores the need to establish a national kidney institute in the country.

She says that the institute would address issues relating to all types of renal care, while stemming the current wave of medical tourism to foreign countries for the treatment of kidney diseases.

Unuigbe, however, notes that facilities for kidney failure treatment in the country have improved in the past 25 years to such levels that more than 60 centres are now able to provide renal replacement therapy.

She observes that seven government hospitals and a private hospital also have kidney transplant capability. ``Unfortunately, such facilities are sparsely located and the rest are ill-equipped to offer optimal services to patients, compelling a good number of the patients to seek help in countries like India, South Africa, Britain and U.S. ``Nigeria has a lot of qualified doctors who could handle serious kidney and heart-related diseases if they are properly supported by the government,'' she says.

Besides, Unuigbe calls for a national renal care policy, saying that it will standardise the practice of kidney care and stipulate government's subsidy for kidney care.

According to her, the U.S, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, and Tunisia are able to treat renal diseases because their governments funded renal care.

She says that small-scale community studies and hospitalbased studies carried out by members of the association have given some insight into the epidemiology of kidney diseases in Nigeria.

Unuigbe says that result from the studies of chronic kidney disease, carried out on adults in small communities, reveal that about 19 to 30 per cent of the sampled group have kidney problems. ``The situation is so grave in Nigeria where we have found that kidney diseases accounted for six to 12 per cent of medical admissions and it affected young people between the ages of 25 to 40 years. ``This is an age where the people are expected to be economically productive and contribute to national development. ``Sadly, the disease is largely unrecognised and inadequately diagnosed; hence, the emphasis on prevention and detection of the early stages of the disease,'' she says.

Unuigbe stresses that the situation is particularly bleak for small children who need dialysis, even as the Minister of Health, Prof.

Onyebuchi Chukwu concedes that the cost of kidney treatment remains a major

Prof. Onyebuchi Chukwu challenge.

Nevertheless, Dr Chinwuba Ijoma, the immediate-past President of the Nigerian Association of Nephrology, says that the establishment of a national renal institute will be quite helpful. ``The national renal institute is supposed to be a well-established, well-funded and welladministered institute that would quality provide clinical services for patients. ``It should also provide training for all cadres of personnel; the nephrologists, surgeons, nurses and technicians. ``It should as well conduct research, particularly in areas relevant to the management of

News

kidney disease in our environment. ``The institute is also supposed to be a referral centre and we expect that people from even outside Nigeria can come there to acquire training in the management of kidney disease. ``The National Association of Nephrology had articulated a comprehensive renal care policy, which we has been submitted to the Federal Ministry of Health,'' he says.

Ijoma stresses that that the association has been calling for the establishment of the centre for over a decade, adding that changes in the federal administration are, however, responsible for the delay.

ACN stalwart kidnapped in Kogi From Sam Egwu, Lokoja

A

CN Stalwart, Alhaji Ismaila Asta, has been kidnapped in Lokoja, Kogi state. The incident occurred at about 5. 35 pm, Friday.

Investigations by Peoples Daily Weekend correspondent in the state, revealed that the kidnappers stormed the politician's filling station, Asta filling station located along Idah road, Anyimba and seized the ACN stalwart.

"The kidnappers came in a Murano Jeep and kidnapped

the politician, and also collected mobile phones of all those at the filling station before they sped off".

Eye witness account said while the kidnapping was going on, attendants overheard the kidnappers, whom they said were 4 in number and spoke Igbo, saying the politician was proving to be difficult.

Attempts to get details from the police proved futile as the Police Public Relations Officer (PPRO), of the Lokoja Police Command, Ajayi Okasanmi said, the case was yet to be reported to the police.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 18

Relationship If you have any relationship story you want to share with our readers, please send to the above address.

Let's share your love story.

Things you must do on a first date (II)

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

Re - My sister is dating my ex

O

h sweet heart I feel so bad for you. You should definitely tell your sister how you feel. Say that when she is all over your ex, it makes you feel sick and all.

Also, it seems like there was no time for you to get over it. I mean she tells you to get over it but no girl can ever get over a guy that fast. Only a hooker could get over a guy that fast.

(I'm not saying that your sister or anyone is a hooker or anything) You should also talk to your ex about the whole situation. I know that u wouldn't dream of talking to him from what has happened but sometimes a girl just has to do what's needed to get what is right. When you

B

e too concerned: Remember you're out with someone who's matured enough to think and take care of herself. You can ask her occasionally if she's comfortable or if she requires something but don't keep popping the same question to her again and again. It can get really annoying. Just enjoy the conversation and relax. Don't push your protective and concerned act too far.

And if you find yourself running out of things to talk about, stop asking her if she's having fun.

Instead, be comfortable and speak about something else. Usually the four magic words - music, work, movies, and shopping, will take the conversation really far and you can also have a great time getting to know each other.

You could also use the awesome six conversation starters on a date to start great conversations. And another thing, if you both have something in common in these four words, then you can go ahead and book your next date's dinner reservation.

Reveal too much: It is fun to be with this girl who's so much fun to hang out with and you want to prove that you're a great guy to hang out with to her. So what do you do? You tell her about all the brave, silly and hilarious encounters of yours.

You start off right from the first time you ripped your pants in school, and go on all the way to the latest incident. Stop! First of all, she doesn't want to know all of that, even if she seems like she loves hearing all of that and

secondly, spare some loving and exploring for later.

You don't want her to know everything about you on the first date itself, do you? Give her a chance to learn more about you by herself. Let there by mystery in your togetherness, and let her wonder what else you have in store for her, the next time you meet up.

Your view and hers: This is a very touchy situation to handle.

It's obvious that both of you have different views about different things. Arguing about anything is a big turn off for a girl.

Anything about religion, politics, or moral issues should be avoided at any cost. Even if this does crop up, don't tell her outright that you don't want to talk about it, instead try sweeping the topic under the carpet without a big fuss.

Just answer the question in a vague and abrupt manner and bring up something more exciting to talk about.

Do not be dominating about any of your views, or be very boisterous about voicing your opinion.

Even if she supports something you're firmly against, just give a small laugh and tell her 'Well, that's one thing that I'm not too sure of because I've always felt the other way about that' and complete the sentence saying, 'but I obviously respect your view and our difference in opinions.' 'Anyway tell me about the last time you…'

Change the topic as subtly as you can.

Getting distracted: Well, this is really easy to fall for. One of

the things you have to pay the most attention to. When you're out with a lady, she expects to be treated like one.

Don't sit across the table and dream or doze off. Worse, don't squint your eyes so that you can focus one eye on her while the other eye scrutinizes that girl with those never ending legs walking past you in short skirts.

Pay a lot attention to her and listen to what she has to say.

For crying out loud, is she's wearing something with a deep neckline, stop staring at her bosoms and trying to judge how much more cleavage is concealed!

This is not the time and definitely not the place either.

Staring at a girl's cleavage is a big no-no, unless, of course, you know the art of staring at a girl like a gentleman.

Concentrate on her face and have a great conversation. Be attentive to her needs. If you see her glass of water half empty, have a waiter refill it. If she wonders what 'a-la-carte' means and if you can't figure it out, then let the waiter help you with that. Basically don't distract yourself with things that can be put on hold, and pay a lot of attention to her needs.

If you can pay attention to these little details, it's more than definite that your first date would only take you further into the next, and then the next.

Every date has a potential to be a great one just as long as you remember the things you need to avoid on a first date, and remember the things you need to do. So go on, enjoy yourself.

Have a perfect first date! www.naij.com

see those two all over each other, you need to act like you do care. Show them that it is killing you on the inside. I know that your sister cares. If not then your ex will see that it is too soon and eventually break it off.

Stay strong and don't let anyone push you around. You should go out more and get yourself some more friends and maybe have a new boyfriend to help you through this problem. The more people around you, the less time you have to think about them.

Just remember now that everything will work out! Stay strong and keep calm! I hope that this helped you! Good luck!

—Concerned reader

How can I tell if its love or lust I feel for him

I

liked this man but compared to me he is nine years older. I developed feelings for him, I practically needed him. I dreamed about him I thought about him We were like best friends. When he was away, I overdosed pills

and had to go to hospital. I still cry over him and my world is just so Empty, lost I can barely breathe without him but all I need to know is if it is love or lust. Please help me.

—Patience

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 19

Beauty Tips

B

ody brushing: Dry body brushing is a simple and effective way to beautify the body, especially before your wedding day. It not only boosts circulation which will help skin to radiate and glow, but it also reduces cellulite and aids lymphatic drainage which are effective ways to eliminate toxins from the body.

Dry body brushing can be done daily for five to 10 minutes, so it won't take up too much time from your wedding planning schedule. Use firm, long strokes in the direction of your heart, starting from the soles of your feet and you'll be left feeling as smooth as a baby.

Massage: There are so many reasons why massage is such a great beauty treatment. Massage helps to calm you and it eases stress, which is ideal in the build-up to your wedding day. A stressfree mind not only brings peace to your day, but also brings out the best in your skin.

Massage also boosts circulation, which helps nourish the skin and gives you a healthy bridal glow. Massage treatments should usually be carried out on a monthly basis, but if your wedding has eaten your budget, then opt for just one massage about a week before the big day.

Eyebrow shape: Perfect brows will emphasise the bride's features for her special day, so it's worth booking in for a brow shape before your wedding. Ideally, brow shaping should be done on a regular basis (every four to six weeks), but if you have never had your brows professionally shaped, see a reputable brow specialist about three to six months before your wedding to ensure you achieve the ideal brow shape in time for your wedding.

Your final brow shape or 'brow tidy' appointment should be done about five to seven days before your wedding to make sure any irritation has cleared.

Hands and feet: Regular manicures and pedicures are a great way to get your hands and feet in tip-top condition. Hands in particular are a focal point of your wedding day and you will want them to look good in any close-up photos of your rings. Manicures and pedicures are deeply hydrating and can improve skin and nail condition, so consider booking an appointment in the weeks running up to the big day. Your final manicure or pedicure treatment should be done a day or two before your big day, but remember to apply cuticle oil daily to keep nails hydrated.

Pre-wedding beauty treatments for brides (II)

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 20

Learning Book Review

With Augustine Aminu 07038749120 julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Sue Nyathi's 'The Polygamist'

H

ave I said that I absolutely love literature from Zimbabwe? Because I do.

I am yet to find a novel from that country that I haven't enjoyed. And I have another one to add to the list.

The Polygamist is Zimbabwean author, Sue Nyathi's, debut novel. I was sent a copy of the book by the author (thank you) and was able to read it this weekend.

I'm just going to start off by saying I really enjoyed it.

Set in Zimbabwe, The Polygamist tells the story of four different women who all have one thing in common Jonasi Gomora. Jonasi is a selfmade man and one of the few richest black men in Zimbabwe. But there's only one thing he wants - women and lots of them.

There's Joyce Gomora - the loving and doting first wife of Jonasi. She thinks she has it all. She was 16 and he 21 when they met and back then he had 'N.O.T.H.I.N.G'.

They rose from rags to riches and Joyce was truly, madly, deeply in love with Jonasi, until she finds out he had an affair.

Then there's Matipa, who sees 'power, money and sex [as] the biggest aphrodisiacs in life'. The second Matipa sets her eyes on Jonasi, she knew she wanted him and she was going to do everything in her power to have him. But it doesn't stop there. Part way through the book, we find out Jonasi has another lady hiding in the township where he grew up. In fact you could say Essie was his first love. Essie and Jonasi grew up in the same neighbourhood and after marrying Joyce, he took Essie as his (secret) second wife. But Essie knows her place - she was second fiddle. She had been around the longest in Jonasi's life and seen girls come and go, but one thing was constant when things were great with a new woman she wouldn't see him, but when things went sour he was back at her door expecting Essie to listen to his woes about his latest woman and also service his needs. As Jonasi gets older his insatiable appetite for women doesn't end, and he soon meets Lindani,

who has one goal in life to elevate from girlfriend to wife position. She had many "boyfriends" who gave her money for rent, food, to get her hair and nails done (very essential in the lives of 'It' girls) and anything else she desired.

After meeting Jonasi she feels she's found her answer. If only she knew.

The Polygamist is about these four women their thoughts, feelings, lives - and the impact this one man has on them. At first individually, but with time (and as the secrets and lies unfold) their lives all intertwine and they are affected collectively - even Jonasi.

As for Jonasi, in his own weird, twisted and warped way he loved them all, but there was nothing to like about Jonasi Gomora. Actually there was one - he adored

his children (he had 8 that we knew of).

Initially, you thought what a lovely man, but as the story unfolds and you get deeper into the lives of the 4 women (that we know of! knowing him there was probably more), you find out that Jonasi has no redeeming qualities.

It really was all about him and his needs. As the women said - he really was a selfish prick.

I really enjoyed the novel. Sue Nyathi isn't afraid to portray African society as it is today. The truth is polygamy still exists (albeit in a different form). Along with their wives, men have mistresses, secret wives, and other random women on the side. But Sue Nyathi doesn't portray women as victims. Women too can

be ruthless in their quest to find Mr. Right. I also loved the fact that Sue Nyathi wasn't scared to be frank and straight to the point.

African women have desires, they have needs, and have sex (and enjoy it) and she writes about it.

The women in The Polygamist swore, got even, got ruthless, but they too were flawed.

Most of all The Polygamist really made me think. When you see the impact of Jonasi's polygamy and desire for women, you wonder is it really worth it, especially in the modern African society?

Bearing in mind the possible consequences of multiple (usually u n p r o t e c t e d ) relationships based around money, power and sex.

Did you know facts!!

• 11% of people are left handed • August has the highest percentage of births • Unless food is mixed with saliva you can't taste it • The average person falls asleep in 7 minutes • A bear has 42 teeth • An ostrich's eye is bigger than it's brain • Most lipsticks contain fish scales • No two corn flakes look the same • Lemons contain

more sugar than strawberries • 8% of people have an extra rib • 85% of plant life is found in the ocean • C o c a - C o l a originally contained cocaine • Frogs don't drink (they absorb water through their skin) • The average person will consume 100 tons of food and 45,424 liters (12,000 gallons) of water in their lifetime • Apples are more effective at waking you up in the morning than coffee.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2012

Healthy Living It is possible to recover from autism (II)

By Chloe Lambert

A

longside ABA, Christopher and Rhona researched and tried a multitude of strategies, some of which worked and some of which didn't.

When he was three and a half, they had him tested for levels of mercury, as some theories link autism to metal poisoning from mercury in the environment.

Jamie's levels of mercury were found to be six times higher than expected for his age, and he was given capsules of a drug called dimercaptosuccinic acid which binds to mercury, allowing the body to excrete it.

His parents say it had a dramatic impact and soon afterwards, Jamie started drawing having never been able to do so before.

At four, Jamie started at a mainstream primary school for two mornings a week, having ABA at home for the rest of the time. By the time he was seven, he was attending school fulltime, with a dedicated teaching assistant.

Christopher believes that being in a mainstream school environment has, in itself, been instrumental in Jamie's improvements. "Special schools teach a narrow curriculum, to the lowest common denominator," he said, meaning children come out with no GCSEs and institutionalisation becomes inevitable.

But not everyone is convinced that autism is such a malleable condition. Richard Mills, of Research Autism, says many parents find

interventions such as ABA useful but warns that in the stress of diagnosis, it can be easy to succumb to claims of 'miracle cures.'

"The placebo effect can be powerful," he added. "If you feel it's doing well, then continue but be honest with yourself and if it's not working, then stop doing it. There are lots of extravagant and groundless claims made for treatments which don't hold up and which cost lots of money."

This was June Cox-Smith's experience. Her son Edward, now 15, underwent ABA between the ages of three and seven.

"It was ÂŁ15,000 about (N3.8million) a year. I sold my jewelry to pay for it," says June, 58, who lives with her husband Patrick, a retired banker, in Ilkesham, Sussex. They have two other children, Alexandra, 21, and Mark, 17.

"ABA was relentless and very hard working," she said.

We'd sit and make ten attempts with him to say one sound, take a break, and then start again.

"The first few sessions were a nightmare, but over a year Edward's behaviour became much better. Within two and a half years, we had taught him to speak which is an amazing achievement."

Within another year, Edward could read. At the age of six, he began attending mainstream school, with June there as his ABA assistant.

But something was wrong, "In the school setting, Edward just regressed," said June. "He didn't understand what was going on. He was used to working one-to-one, not sitting quietly in a group and listening to a story. If ever I wasn't there,

he would become upset and try to escape.

"Within eight months, I'd transferred him to a special school."

Although June says ABA was what got Edward to speak and to read, she now believes she was overly optimistic about curing her son.

"We spent thousands of hours teaching him things like math, geography and history, which are all gone now.

"All those play skills too, were forced. Autistic children don't play.

"The practitioners put forward all this propaganda reports of children who had been cured and I just wanted it to be true. You suspend your disbelief because you're so desperate for your child to do well."

June now believes that while children with autism may learn to cope with their condition, they will never get better.

"Nothing will change the way they see the world. Their brain is damaged and you can't change it. If you think your child was cured, then they couldn't have been autistic in the first place.

"In fact, I've come to the conclusion that it's wrong to want to "cure" them. My son is like a sweet, gentle bear who happens to be a little different."

Indeed, many parents say that, if anything, their child's autism has worsened, not improved, with age.

Paul Stuart's son Andrew was diagnosed with autism aged four.

"To an extent, youth masked some of the problems, and people said "He'll grow out of it",' says Paul, 59, a retired teacher from Glasgow.

"Now he's 16, it's much more prominent because people expect more from him than when he was eight."

Paul, who is married to Isobel, 46, and has a daughter Suzanne, 22, and another son, Peter, 19, says he understands why parents want to treat the condition.

"Parents, understandably, want to somehow change them and put them in mainstream education but in my experience it never works. I wish you could use a magic wand to wave autism away, but you can't."

Paul and Isobel decided early on that rather than spend time on intervention techniques, they would immerse themselves in Andrew's world and try to structure his life so that he could function as easily as possible.

"Andrew is at his worst in the mornings," says Paul. "Left alone, he'd wear the wrong trousers, forget his lunch money, forget his coat, forget to clean his teeth and so on.

"So we made a check list for him to follow every day and now, nine times out of ten, he gets it right.

"But it's not because he's thinking differently.

It's because he is being conditioned to do it. The autism isn't going away, and he will never do it automatically, like I do."

Andrew is currently

attending a special school, but he goes to a course in football training at a mainstream college and is popular among friends at his local church's youth group. His parents hope he will be able to live independently when he's older.

"Andrew is desperate to be independent, and I'm not going to be around forever, so when the time is right we'll get him into supported accommodation so that he can get used to it," said Paul.

Christopher and Rhona Robertson are all too aware that their son will face a new set of challenges as he reaches adolescence and are researching more strategies to ensure he doesn't regress.

"The challenges are already here and we've already gone way beyond ABA," said Christopher. "We both know we have to keep teaching Jamie the social skills he needs.

"There is no magic bullet, and we can't say that our formula would work for everyone.

"But my fear is that other parents are told the same disheartening things we were told about autism and they don't have the resources to show otherwise.

"I believe that it is possible to recover from autism but the child needs all the help they can get."

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

With Aunty A'isha

Sights and sounds

Sokoto caliphate

PAGE 23

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

SHOR T ST OR Y SHORT STOR ORY

The jungle contest (I) The vulture looked down balefully.

"What about me?" he said. "I spell doom to those I hover over!"

The others shuddered! They knew that if the vulture ever came near, it meant death was near.

"No one comes near me!" said the jackal.

S

o k o t o Caliphate is the new state that arose during Usman dan Fodio's jihad, which was named after his capital at Sokoto. Founded in 1809, the caliphate was a loose union of emirates that was known as the commander of the faithful, the sultan.

When Usman dan Fodio died in 1817, he was succeeded by his son, Muhammad Bello. A dispute between Bello and his uncle, Abdullahi, resulted in the division of the caliphate into eastern and western sides, although the highest authority of Bello as caliph was upheld.

The division was established through the formation of a twin capital at Gwandu, which was responsible for the western emirates as far as modern Burkina Faso formerly Upper Volta and initially as far west as Massina in modern Mali.

Later, the eastern emirates were more and larger than the western ones, which protected the supremacy of the caliph at Sokoto.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, there were thirty emirates and the capital district of Sokoto, which itself was a large territory although not really an emirate.

All the important Hausa emirates, including Kano, the wealthiest and most populated, were directly under Sokoto.

Adamawa, which was established by Fulani forced to leave Borno, was the biggest, stretching far to the south and east of its capital at Yola into modern Cameroon.

Ilorin, which became part of the caliphate in the 1830s, was initially the headquarters of the Oyo cavalry that had provided the backbone of the king's power. An attempted coup by the general of the cavalry in 1817 backfired when the cavalry itself revolted and pledged its loyalty to the Sokoto Caliphate.

The cavalry was largely composed of Muslim slaves from farther north, and they saw in the jihad a reason for rebellion.

In the 1820s, Oyo had been torn asunder and the defeated king and the warlords of the Oyo Mesi retreated south to form new cities, including Ibadan, where they carried on their resistance to the caliphate and fought among themselves as well.

Usman dan Fodio's jihad created the largest empire in Africa since the fall of Songhai in 1591.

By the middle of the nineteenth century, when the Sokoto Caliphate was at its greatest extent, it stretched 1,500 kilometers from Dori in modern Burkina Faso to southern Adamawa in Cameroon and included Nupe lands, Ilorin in northern Yorubaland, and much of the Benue River valley.

In addition, Usman dan Fodio's jihad provided the motivation for a series of related holy wars in other parts of the savanna and Sahel far beyond Nigeria's borders that led to the foundation of Islamic states in Senegal, Mali, Ivory Coast, Chad, Central African Republic and Sudan.

Culled from Nigeria table of content.

"You're cunning, that's why!" retorted the tiger. "No one is scared of you!"

The monkey was swinging on top of the oak tree.

"YOU ARE NOT BRAVE!" shouted the monkey.

"Come down, you insolent, puny creature!" snarled the wolf.

"Shall I climb the tree and gobble him up?" asked the cheetah, his tawny eyes blazing with anger.

"I'll tell you whom you are scared of!" yelled the monkey.

"MEEEEE!" squealed a voice.

"Who spoke?" roared the lion.

"MEEEEE!" squealed the voice again. "The mighty ANT! Can I rest inside your BIG ears, elephant?

"NOOOOOOOO!" trumpeted the elephant, trembling in fear.

Up on his perch the monkey jumped up and down, clapping his hands in delight!"

"I know someone the lion is scared of!" shouted the monkey.

"MEEEEEEE!" squeaked someone.

"Who spoke?" roared the lion angrily, swishing his tail to and fro.

"Meeeeeee! Itchy itchy FLEA!" squeaked the flea. "May I live in your lovely fur, lion? My dear, dear friend! I want to BITE you!"

"Noooooooo!" roared the lion, shuddering with fear.

"Here come the folks that all of you are scared of" screamed the monkey.

"Bzzzzzzzzzzz!" hissed the wasp. "Let me STING you!"

"Nooooooooo!" yelled the others.

"Hmmmmmm!" buzzed the mosquito. "May I BUZZ in your ear?"

"Nooooooooo!" trumpeted the elephant in alarm. "Don't you dare do that!"

"HERE WE COME!" warned the ant, the wasp, the bee and the mosquito and everyone ran away!

The End

HIS AND HERS CORNER

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 22

With Aunty A'isha

rajia39ishabiola@yahoo.com 08082071393.

AFRICAN TALES

MODEL OF THE WEEK

The lucky bird (II)

B

u t the bird fell to the ground. "My end is near," she moaned, "I come from the family of lucky birds. We bring luck to men, but we are destined to die if ever caught by humans."

The woodcutter was unhappy, he asked, "Is there any way I can help you?" The bird said, "When I die, pluck a feather from my wing and show it to the fire; you'll be transported to my home. Give my feather to my family and tell them the truth." Saying this, the Lucky Bird died.

The woodcutter did as he was told. In an instant, he found

himself amidst the Lucky Bird's family.

He showed them the feather and narrated his story to them.

"Oh, we must act fast!" said the Father Bird. He kept the Lucky Bird's feather on the ground and began to hop around it. After ten rounds, the Father Bird touched the feather. And lo! The Lucky Bird's lifeless body was transported there.

The Mother Bird and the Sister Birds then brought some green leaves and grass that could raise the dead and stuffed them into the Lucky Bird's beak.

In no time, the Lucky Bird opened her eyes.

The woodcutter was delighted to see her alive again.

The Lucky Bird then spoke, "Luck appears and disappears; and so do us Lucky Birds but we don't stay with those who are greedy."

The woodcutter cried, "I have lost you because of my foolishness!" "Don't be saddened, friend!" said the Lucky Bird. "You have helped me, and so I shall return to you once again but you will have to wait for that time."

The woodcutter returned home with a heavy heart but with the hope that the Lucky Bird would return someday.

The End

CREA TIVITY CREATIVITY

How to make egg carton flowers

T

here are times when you want to give a special gift to a friend or family member and want them to know that you took a great deal of trouble to make it yourself. On days when you feel like that why not try making flowers that always bring a smile to the sternest of faces! How's this for a great brainwave flowers made of egg cartons.

What you need: -An empty egg carton -Poster colours -Brushes -Glue -Scissors -Thick straws What to do: Cut one egg cup from the carton.

Make six to four cuts on the

broad part of the cup.

Bend and curl the cuts in different ways.

Your flower petals are ready and you can make a budding flower or a flower in full bloom by the way you arrange the 'petals'.

Stick a thick straw to the

bottom of the cup and the flower stem is ready. You could even use a piece of wire for the stem.

Now give this flower the shades of colour that you want.

The choice is yours - whether you want to give a bunch of roses or a mixed bouquet!

Raji Mohammed Raji

ACTIVITIES Using any colour of your choice, paint the picture below. Describe the action of the two girls. Show your work to your teacher for correction. Cheers!

PAGE 24

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Kannywood

Entertainment

I was inspired by horror films — Mansur Make Up Mansur Isma'il also known as Mansur Make Up, is one of the budding makeup artistes currently making an impact in the north. For Mansur, doing make up was a childhood dream come true. In this interview with Nasiru Mu'azu Isa, he talks about his lifelong fascination with horror movies, which partly inspired him to become a makeup artist.

H

o w long have you been doing make up?

I have been doing make up for the past six years.

What motivated you to do make up considering that make up is associated with ladies?

Actually it's not restricted to women only and when we talk about makeup, it's not just making people look pretty but there is a difference between ordinary make up that ladies do and make up for movies. When you do make up for movies it is a different ball game, as a makeup artiste for a movie, you might be required to make someone look older or younger or create wounds or blood or you can be called to cut off someone's head or limb and in such a case you can clearly see that it's more than making someone look lovely.

What motivated you into going into make up?

Well, from childhood, I have

always been interested in movies like Indian films and American films but I was most especially interested in horror movies. I wanted to be able to create what I saw in horror and war films, to be able to cut off heads and limbs, of course all in a movie. Since then I have been interested in also being able to create such effects and I'm

very happy that I am now doing what I have always wanted to do.

Most young people faced problems with their parents on the choice of joining the Kannywood industry. Did you face such problems?

Actually I didn't. When I told my parents about it they just told me to be honest in my dealings with everyone and prayed for my success.

When you decided this is what you wanted to do, how did you start or were you already trying your hands at it or attended a makeup school?

I had never tried it before but I had some people who were already in the business such as Tahir. It was Tahir and Auwal Danja who taught me the job but I also attended a makeup school in Jos for a week and that's how the whole thing started.

I can't actually say how many movies I have worked on because they are many but a few movies I remember I worked on include, " Shahuda", "Izna", "Sultan", and "Ahlil Kitab" which I did with my boss Auwal Danja and the film required us to create injuries from war. We had to create someone who had his neck cut during war.

At some point we had to bring in Tahir who is now a producer.

Where do you get your materials from?

The items we use mostly come in from Lagos but we also order from outside Nigeria. Things like hair, masks and other items.

How profitable is make up?

It is, depending on the kind of makeup you are required to do.

Sometimes I get jobs worth 150 thousand naira.

What are the challenges you face as a makeup artiste?

“

When you do make up for movies it is a different ball game, as a makeup artiste for a movie, you might be required to make someone look older or younger or create wounds or blood or you can be called to cut off someone's head or limb and in such a case you can clearly see that it's more than making someone look lovely.

Our challenge is with our clients the producers; they don't realize that we need to know what will be required from us in good time. Producers don't realize that we need the script as soon as it is ready but most times it's during the shoot you will realize that you need something you did not bring.

What of the industry as a whole?

We need support from the public and not just money but their cooperation and assistance when we come asking for something. There are times when we ask for help with location and other things but people find it difficult to give us and the truth is when you give us a house, you can designate of limits areas and

we would not go there and we have a system of keeping track of everything we do and use in the house. Before we leave we make sure that your house is as you gave it to us. We have a whole crew of people whose job it is to ensure that nothing goes wrong with your property.

There is also the negative perception people generally have about us that we are just hopeless people "playing" and our actresses are loose women and drug addicts.

It is an unfair perception because we are just like other people with good and bad eggs. The other major challenge is piracy; people should never buy movies on the street. Go to a shop and buy your films, those on the street are

pirated films of low quality.

What is your advice to those who want to do make up and the film industry?

First, people need to know that you need permission from either your parents or guardian. If you come to us, that is, Danja Make Up, know that you will have to assure us that you have that permission before we sign you on.

And to our viewers and fans, we are as human as you are with our strengths and weaknesses. If we do something wrong, let us know and we would do something about it and just like every other profession, we have our own bad eggs and should not be judged by the actions of the few.

PAGE 25

Nollywood

Dbanj to perform at the closing of AFCON 2013 INTERNATIONALLY-acclaimed Nigerian musician D'Banj, real name Dapo Daniel Oyebanjo, is excited about being asked to perform his popular motivational ditty, Top of the World, at the Afcon closing ceremony at National Stadium in Crown Mines outside Soweto on Sunday evening.

"I am honoured and words fail to describe the warmth I get from my fans in this country," D'Banj said. "I am looking forward to having more than 6.6-billion viewers globally watch my performance."

D'Banj will share the stage with local acts including Micasa, Kelly Khumalo, Zonke Dikana, and Thembisile Ntaka.

Micasa's frontman, J Something, whose real name is Joao da Fonseca, - said for the group, just being on that stage was a blessing in itself.

Solid Star, Oshadipe Twins, Others For Soul-Ties Exclusive Couples Night Out

C

o m e Saturday, February 16, 2013, couples will be treated to a fun-filled night out at 'Our Place' event centre in Ikeja, Lagos as C2RU in collaboration with Flaming Hypermedia stages Soul-Ties Exclusive Couples' Night Out. Nigerian music stars like Solid Star, Yemi Alade, Oshadipe Twins, Saeon, Maytronomy, 2sec and Eyo of Project Fame will dazzle couples at the event with good music.

Ribs will be cracked by Baba De Baba, MC Headmastar, MC Icewater, Xtreme, L4J and several other acts.

The event starts with a red carpet by 4pm heralding the main show by 5pm.

Couples will be treated to a couples' game show. They will also have the opportunity to interact with celebrity couples who are doing well relationshipwise in the Nigerian entertainment industry (Nollywood, Music, Comedy, OAPs).

Sunmbo Ajaba now legally married to Pastor Adeoye

S

u m b o Ajaba and her pastor are now legally married according to sources. Their court wedding took place in South Africa. The Pastor has announced to his ministers that the proper wedding will have only 50 guests.

20 from Sunmbo's family, 20 from his own family while 10 will be from the church.

Diamonds don't last forever.

Sorry My Dear, we have been duped!

My Dear, Sorry, we have been duped.

Diamonds don't last forever.

Ira Weissman has exposed the scam of the De Beers who fooled the entire Hollywood and the rest of the world to believe that diamonds can last forever when the truth is that diamonds "can chip, shatter, and be incinerated".

Dr. Wayne Taylor, diamond expert and mineralogist from the Research School of Earth Sciences (RSES) confirmed what Weissman said.

"Most diamonds never see the light of day, but are dissolved and recycled back into shifting masses of rock deep within the earth".

He noted that diamonds do last a very, very long time and the oldest are about 3.5 billion years old, or three quarters the age of the earth itself. And that must be why the De Beers' must have concluded that they last forever.

Well if our love can even last long, that would be forever enough for mere mortals.

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Hollywood/Bollywood Adele rakes in a Vir Das, Kangna in whopping £41,000 Revolver Rani EVERY day

S

h e

were worth £341,000 last year before her recently took music took off in time out from America. her music She recently career to splashed out concentrate on £600,000 to buy her family life her hardworking after she became single mother a mother for the Penny Adkins a first time. plush new pad in And now it's Notting Hill, west clear why Adele London, as a wasn't in a rush thank you for to get back to working two jobs work as new to support her reports show the daughter's singer makes ambitions to £41,000 a day. become a According to star.Adele is accounts for the Money maker: It's been reported that c u r r e n t l y 24-year-old's spending a bit of Adele makes £41,000 a day company Melted her hard-earned Stone Ltd she has £10.3 million in the cash renting Sir Paul McCartney's old Los bank and a further £4.6 million due in Angeles mansion for £47,000 a month while royalties. she rehearses for the Oscars.

Her huge fortune is down to the She is due to serenade the crowd with phenomenal success of her second album hit song Skyfall as part of the 50th 21, which has sold 25 million copies anniversary James Bond celebrations on worldwide, outselling her debut 19 three February 24 and is said to be extremely times over. The soulful singer's accounts anxious about her performance.

Miss Nicole takes it back in harem styled pants

H

e r sense of style has earned her a role as a mentor on NBC's Fashion Star.

And proving that she is the right woman for the job, Nicole Richie put on

Taking it back: Nicole Richie stepped out in a pair of harem pants on Thursday for an appearance on Extra

a chic display on Thursday at The Grove in Los Angeles.

Making a guest appearance on Extra, which is hosted by Mario Lopez and Maria Menounos, the 31-year-old took it back as she stepped out in a pair of harem pants.

Keen to keep the audience's attention on her, Nicole's grey slacks were beautified with white printed images of snakes.

Richie teamed her trousers with a well structured high neck black long sleeved top.

Strutting along in leather black strapped pointed heels, the mother-ofone added the right amount of height to her ensemble.

Wearing her honey coloured hair down in a side parting, Nicole brightened up her look with a turquoise necklace.

Hiding her eyes behind a pair of grey rimmed sunglasses, the reality television star accessorised with a small black and gold bag.

Keeping her make-up simple, Richie opted for dark eyeshadow as she flashed her perfectly manicured scarlet talons.

Having enjoyed her time on the show, Nicole wasted no time taking to her Twitter account to take about her appearance.

She tweeted: 'Love talking w Maria Menounos about Fashion Star, QVC, and digging for gold'.

It was quite the star studded day at the shopping mall as Julianne Hough and Aubrey O'Day were also in tow.

V

i r Das, popular standup comedian turned actor, shot into the limelight with the Imran Khan starrer Delhi Belly. Now we hear that the actor has been roped in to play the lead role in the film Revolver Rani. The Tigmanshu Dhulia, Rahul Mittra co-produced film which is directed by Sai Kabir

features Kangna Ranaut opposite Vir. Revolver Rani which is said to be an action flick will feature Vir playing the lead role for the first time. While it is scheduled to go on floor in March, the lead pair will be attending a series of workshops with the director before the shooting begins.

Akshay's next to be directed by Sajid-Farhad

A

k s h a y Kumar may be all set with the release of his film Special 26 today; however the actor is already moving on to his next film. The film which will mark the debut of writer duo Sajid-Farhad will be produced by Ramesh Taurani featuring Akshay in the lead.

Confirming the development, Taurani says, "Yes we have signed on Akshay to play the lead role in the film, while it has been written and will be directed by Sajid and Farhad. Both of

them have proved themselves with five films they wrote for Rohit Shetty as well as Housefull 2. This film will mark their debut as directors. However, we have yet to finalize the female lead for the film."

When quizzed about the yet untitled film's story, Taurani adds, "The film will be an all out entertainer, but currently it is too early to say much more. We will be going on floors with the film this June."

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Cuisine

Soya milk treat and health benefits

How to prepare: Buy dried soya beans in bulk at the market. About one mudu worth of it produces

almost 30 cups of milk! How can you beat that? Fresh soya milk can be covered and stored in the fridge for up to 3 days.

Pots & Pans

With Hajiya Ramatu Usman Dorayi

Yam porridge

C

u t the yam tubers into chunky cubes and boil in salted water until almost soft about 20 minutes.

Add cooking cubes and blend the red bell, tomatoes and onions and pour into yam and water. Add sliced onions and powdered pepper, some parsley spice and stir Leave it to boil for yam to soak in the soup for about 8 minutes then add the palm oil, it gives it a lovely red/orange look. When the soup thickens, stir until some of the yam cubes break to turn into porridge then add vegetables and leave to simmer on low heat for about 5 minutes and then it is ready to serve.

Ingredients: " 1/2 cup dried yellow soy beans " 1/8 tsp salt " 1/8 cup granulated sugar, plus more to taste Method Rinse dried soy beans thoroughly and drain. Soak in cold water overnight in a large bowl. Drain again. Pick through beans and remove those that have not expanded and softened.

Put soybeans and 2 1/2 cups of water in a blender.

Cover lid tightly and puree until smooth and milky.

Transfer the puree to a large stockpot and add 3 additional cups of water. Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly and skimming off foam, as necessary. Turn heat to low and simmer, stirring occasionally for 25 minutes.

Strain milk through a finemesh sieve into a bowl, pressing on soybeans to squeeze as much liquid out as possible. Stir in salt and sugar, adding more sugar to taste. Serve piping hot or ice cold.

Health benefits of soy milk S

o y milk, which is made from soaking, grinding and boiling soy beans with water, is a very nutritious drink. Soy is naturally high in essential fatty acids, proteins, fiber, vitamins and minerals.

These nutrients provide energy and keep your body functioning at its optimum level. Below are the six most important health benefits you can acquire from drinking soy milk.

1. Improves lipid profile The most important attribute of soy milk is its ability to improve your blood lipid profile. Unlike dairy milk, which is high in saturated fat and cholesterol, soy milk fat is mostly unsaturated with zero cholesterol.

The monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids in

soy can inhibit the transport of cholesterol into your blood stream. Studies have shown that regular intake of soy can significantly lower you blood concentrations of triglyceride and low density lipoproteins (LDL) and raise the level of high density lipoproteins (HDL). This combined effect makes soy milk an ideal drink if you have high cholesterol or have a family history of coronary heart diseases.

2. Strengthens blood vessel integrity The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids as well as the powerful phyto-antioxidants in soy can effectively protect your blood vessels from lesions and hemorrhage. These compounds bind to the blood vessel lining and defend your lining cells from free

radical attacks and cholesterol deposits. The binding of these nutrients also improve the fluidity and flexibility of your blood vessels so that they are much more resilient to blood pressure changes.

3. Promotes weight loss Soy milk is naturally lower in sugar content than regular milk. Cow's milk has about 12 grams of sugar per cup as opposed to only 7 grams in soy milk. This is why a cup of whole soy milk has only 80 calories, which is the equivalent of skim milk.

In addition, the monounsaturated fatty acid in soy milk can inhibit your intestinal absorption of fat, which is another great advantage for weight loss.

Drinking soy milk also gives you an extra dose of fiber, keeping

your feeling fuller for longer time.

4. Prevents prostate cancer Soy milk is a rich source of phytoestrogen, a unique plant hormone that can inhibit the production of testosterone in men. Reduced testosterone levels can significantly cut the risk of prostate cancer. Studies have shown that men who eat a soyrich diet are less likely to develop prostate hypertrophy or prostate cancer.

5.

Prevents postmenopausal syndromes During menopause, a woman's natural production of estrogen drops to a minimum.

The sudden reduction of estrogen creates a number of health problems for postmenopausal women. Postmenopausal women

have higher risks of heart disease, diabetes and obesity.

They are also more vulnerable to depression, mood swings, insomnia and other psychological disorders. The phytoestrogen in soy is an effective estrogen replacement.

Regular intake of soy is a great way to prevent and alleviate these postmenopausal syndromes.

6. Prevents osteoporosis Osteoporosis is another age and hormone related disease. The phytoestrogen in soy can help accelerate calcium absorption by your body and prevent the loss of bone mass. For the maximum benefit, make sure to buy the soy milk that is fortified with extra calcium and vitamin D.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Womanhood Helping your spouse overcome financial hardship O n e of the top ten reasons marriages break up is money problems. In our climes, when this happens, the women suffer much more because they are economically more backward. It is one of the most common reasons for fights between married couples and is a constant stressor for many couples. You can overcome financial hardships in a marriage without letting it become a huge monster of a problem or a reason for divorce.

Start by not neglecting your spouse and the marriage itself.

When communication and intimacy is lacking in a marriage, the fights about other things, like financial hardships, become more frequent. Overcome these fights by nurturing the marriage and your spouse on a regular basis.

Keep your eyes open for problems. Instead of being so blissfully happy to be married to the person of your dreams, and ignore the financial hardships or strains in the marriage, overcome this blind spending by beginning, and maintaining, your marriage with a strong grasp of your future goals.

Turn a blind eye to who makes more money in the relationship. Whether it is the man or the woman, any amount of money brought into the union by either party is money that you both have a right to claim and discuss. Don't let jealousy or a feeling of superiority get in the way of the marriage and cause financial hardships that you can't overcome.

Begin a system where you keep each other in check. You must realize that your debt is not just your own when you are married. Because your debt now affects your spouse, you should have an open door policy for monitoring the spending on all fronts and paying down the debt that you both owe.

Create a budget that allows for a bit of spending money for each party. You can call it a

weekly allowance, or you can simply split what money is left over after all of the bills are paid, but make sure the allowance is even and fair for each of you.

Overcome financial hardships in a marriage by keeping joint, and separate, accounts. Make sure your joint account is used for all mutual bills and expenses, and allow for personal accounts for daily spending cash and personal items.

Be brutally honest with your hopes and dreams for the present and future. You should both have a firm grasp of each other's thoughts about money and your budget before any firm decisions are made. After all, in a marriage each of you should have an equal say in what is done with your money.

Woman engaged in weaving for economic sustenance

Sit at home working mother

PAGE 30

Archives

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Do you have old pictures for memories?

Send them to julius2001_a@yahoo.com

Shehu Sani,MKO Abiola,Hajia Gambo Sawaba,Kaduna,1993.

Hotel in the Western Region of Nigeria in the 60s.

Louis Armstrong meets Ahmadu Bello.

The guard of Nigerian Mounted police on the occasion of the visit by the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Commissioner (C.V.Harrison) at the Northern Police College, Kaduna.

Oladele Adebayo Ajose -- OBE (1907- 1978), a promoter of primary health care, University Vice Chancellor & one of the first Africans to 'hold a professorial chair'.

Headquarters of the Western Region Housing Corporation, Ibadan, Nigeria.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 31

Leisure WORD SEARCH

Photo of the day

With Augustine Aminu

A Real Lagos Child

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

Pumpkin Word Search Puzzle

AUTUMN BAKING CANDLE CARVE FACE FIFTY TYPES FRUIT FUNNY FACE HALLOWEEN JACK O'LANTERN MAMMOTH GOLD MUNCHKIN ORANGE PULP PUMPKIN PATCH SEEDS SPOOKTACULAR SQUASH STEM VINES

African quotes "You don't choose your family. They are God's gift to you, as you are to them."

– Bishop Desmond Tutu "Creativity is the power to connect the seemingly unconnected."

– William Plomer "Last year I built a Courage Machine, but I thought it might be noisy and was too afraid to turn it on. So I coated it with glue, covered it with cat hair, mounted it on my wall, and started claiming it was an exotic animal I killed on a Safari in Africa. I'd like to believe people believe me, on account of it being so strange that it has to be true."

– Jarod Kintz, "You know you are truly alive when you're living among lions."

– Karen Blixen, Out of Africa "I've never really wanted to go to Japan.

Simply because I don't like eating fish. And I know that's very popular out there in Africa."

– Britney Spears

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

African proverbs • The length of a frog can only be determined after it dies.

•Do good because of tomorrow.

•You must act as if it is impossible to fail.

• So many little things makes a man love a woman in a big way.

Do not follow the path. Go where there is no path to begin a trail.

• If a blind man says he will throw a stone at you, he probably has his foot on one.

• Got a stone but didn't get a nut to crack, got a nut but didn't get a stone to crack it with.

• It is the calm and silent water that drowns a man.

• It is easy to become a monk in one's old age.

• No one tests the depth of the river with both feet.

• Where error gets to, correction cannot reach.

CARTOON

PAGE 32

F

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Compiled by Jamila Nuhu Musa

Gold Sense

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 33

Business

L-R - Roberts Orya, MD/CEO, NEXIM Bank, Chief Don Etiebet, Executive Chairman, OBODEX Group, and The Honourable Senator Don Meredith of the Canadian Senate at the "CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY" ROUNDTABLE with the Honourable Ed Fast, the Canadian Minister of International Trade at EKO HOTEL & SUITES, Victoria Island, Lagos

NSE market indices grow by 0.28%

A

total of 628.95 million shares valued at N3.25 billion were traded by investors in 7,416 deals on the Nigerian Stock Exchange yesterday.

This was against the 702.09 million shares worth N3.9 billion exchanged in 7,314 deals on Thursday.

The market indices appreciated by 0.28 per cent as a result of price gains by some blue chip stocks.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the All-Share Index also rose by 94.28 points to close at 33,313.48 from the 33,219.20 achieved on Thursday.

The market capitalisation, which opened at N10.628 trillion, grew by N30 billion to close at N10.658 trillion.

Unilever led the gainers' chart with N2.04 to close at N49.43 per share.

It was followed by Cadbury which gained N1.85 to close at N38.87, while Presco gained N1.76 to close at N26.96 per share.

CAP gained N1.60 to close at N33.74 and Dangote Cement appreciated by N1.50 to close at N144 per share.

On the other hand, Nestle led the losers' chart, dropping N15.05 to close at N814.96 per share.

NewGold lost N11 to close at N2,557 per unit, while Nigerian Breweries dropped N3.01to close at N163.50 per share.

UACN trailed with N1.94 to close at N50 per share, while Forte Oil lost 87k to close at N16.67per share.

Transcorp emerged the most traded stock with an exchange of 85.58million shares worth N134.12million.

RMB Nigeria affirms resolve to boost NSE capitalization, deepen NCM From Ngozi Onyeakusi

R

M B , a South African leading Investment Bank, officially operating in Nigeria on Thursday announced plans to invest heavily in the Nigerian Capital Market (NCM).

The company's investment areas of interest include equity merchant, fixed income trading and corporate lending.

Addressing stock brokers at the trading floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) in Lagos RMD Nigeria Chief Executive Officer, Michael Larbie, assured that the company has the capability to finance long term infrastructural projects, even at an affordable rate.

According to him, the mother company, FirstRand, is a $20billion market capitalisation company, adding that the company has resolved to support the objectives of the Nigerian Stock Exchange to increase its volume of shares and market capitalisation, as well as help deepen the market.

"We hope to support the objectives of this market to increase its volume and market capitalization and we would be part of this market till many years to come. Our track record and long -standing partnerships are proof of our capabilities and appetite for business in Africa.

Our knowledge of local financing requirements, legal and jurisdictional framework,

together with the expertise and balance sheet of FirstRand, enables us to serve the rapidly expanding Nigerian economy.

"We have been doing business in many other parts of Africa. Many infrastructure developmental projects, cross-boarder transactions and property and structured finance deals in over 30 countries have been completed over the past two decades.

"RMD Nigeria provides full spectrum of investment banking services to all industries, including corporate advisory, equity capital markets, infrastructure and project finance. We have our balance sheet and we can tap in tour Mother Company with regard to balance sheet to lend if needed.

We would push the market and we will be connected to trading."

He assured.

RMD is a division of FirstRand Limited South Africa's largest banking group, operating in Nigeria since 2012 but through a representative office.

Commending the company for its commitment to the market, the Former President, Association of Stockbroking Houses of Nigeria, Rachidi Yussuff , stated"we are happy you want to operate as a merchant bank to add to the creativity of the NSE. We shall hold you to every word and we believe we have tremendous opportunity to grow the capital market. We are engaged in a healthy competition but we see ourselves as one."

FAAN is determined to upgrade infrastructure at airports —MD

By Augustine Aminu with agency report

T

h e ongoing upgrading of infrastructure at the airports is aimed at building a greater future for the aviation industry, the Managing Director of Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN), Mr. George Uriesi, said.

Uriesi made the state yesterday while receiving a delegation of economic officers,

led by the U.S. Consular in Lagos, Mr. Jerrod Hanssen, who paid him a courtesy visit.

He said that FAAN was determined to change passengers' experience of service delivery at all Nigerian airports.

Uriesi said airport terminals of the past were meant for travelling only but modern airports had turned to commercial centres.

He said that some airports around the world would have folded up if they had relied solely

on aeronautical sources of revenue. ``Whereas the present trend which FAAN has adopted is offering more commercial opportunities that will encourage business, entertainment and leisure at airports, `` he said.

The managing director said that the transformation agenda of President Goodluck Jonathan being implemented by the Ministry of Aviation was geared toward implementing the

`aerotropolis concept`.

He said the concept would change the mindset of airport business in Nigeria permanently.

He said that FAAN would be embarking on a number of projects in Lagos in the next few months, including a multi-storey car park, hotel and a new international terminal. ``The same experience will be replicated in Abuja, Port Harcourt, Kano and on a smaller scale, at other airports across the country, `` he said.

PAGE 34

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Interview

‘Youths of today are in a hurry to make it’, former Perm Sec His background Just like most Nigerians, Alhaji Abdullahi Ogiri Oji started his life from the scratch. Born in 1962 to the family of Mallam Yakubu Oji Ladoga, from the royal house of Ogu in Keana local government of Nasarawa state, he attended various schools and occupied various offices of responsibility before he finally retired as a Permanent Secretary at the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs in May last year. While appreciating God for a successful career as a civil servant, having started from nowhere but gradually rising in profile till he reached the pinnacle of his profession, Ogiri Oji attributed his achievements to the time tested qualities of patience, perseverance and dedication to duty. According to him, “you must give the best of yourself and try to improve on whatever you find yourself doing at the time.” Through the din of hard work, dedication to duty and honesty, he was able to build a career for himself that he is proud of, qualities which the retired perm sec, lamented are lacking among the youths of today.

Accepting that the world is fast changing and quite unlike the period when they were growing up, what with the advancement in technology, with the world now a global village, with cut throat competition being the trend, Ogiri Oji is of the view that even after attending school, one must work hard to become successful in life.

“One must be a complete gentleman, have the fear of God, commitment to duty and the strong believe in ones future , that it will be good.” He decried the slide in moral upbringing among the youths of today, who he said, are the harbingers of the “now, now philosophy.” According to him, ”a lot of the younger generation wants to be successful now, now and immediately, as if there is no tomorrow but in the process of having it now, now, they crash.”

He said as a result of the rush for success, many do not go through the rudiments of the service, with many more not able to see the next day, as their career ended up abruptly. Chirping in a word of caution, he advised the youths on the need for decency in their conduct, as according to him, “ being patient, honest and hard working still remain the winning qualities, with the sky being the limits. This time around, there is every opportunity to achieving greatness. Unlike before, now you have all the information one may require to build a successful career, at your finger tips. Then you have to labour hard, going from one library to another, for instance.

But now, one can download every available information from an internet cafe, and almost free.” He said that all the youths of today may require to become successful are the qualities of perseverance,

Alhaji Abdullahi Ogiri Oji, a dedicated and disciplined Civil Servant, retired as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs of Nasarawa state. In a session with our Lafia correspondent, Ali Abare Abubakar, Oji recounted his experience in life and even has a word of caution for the youths of today, who he said, are in a hurry to make it.

Excerpts: hard work, dedication to duty, steadfastness and above all, honesty, warning that cheating and greed does not pay but only the fear of God and commitment to ones chosen career.

H i s experience while growing up Ogiri Oji agreed that while growing up and as a youth, may be because they had leaders that were good and honest, who set good examples for them to follow, things were not so bad.

“May be today

leaders are no longer like that, people are so eager to acquire wealth unnecessarily. I mean I can’t imagine when someone calls himself a leader and such a person acquires too much wealth. Why do you need all these?” He agreed during his days, the leaders were so disciplined and it was easy to impact that quality on the younger ones growing up. While urging the present crop of leaders to own up and live by example, to serve as a guide to the younger generation, he maintained that if the leaders continue to show bad example, there is no way that the youths will not imbibe such negative and anti-social behaviours.

The retired perm sec lamented that most leaders in the state and country at large, lack the essential quality of being disciplined. “Most of the leaders that we have now, lack discipline and because of that, you find out the younger ones are being brought up in similar fashion, imbibing this get-richquick attitude.” According to him, leaders must be disciplined in order to set good examples for the younger ones to follow. He is of the view that all that one require to be

Now that he is retired, with no schedule to adhere strictly to, Ogiri Oji said he spends most of his leisure time reading, watching films, as well as going out swimming and horse riding. He said after his retirement, he did not seek any other employment but dedicated his time to the worship of God. Most of the time also, he dedicate himself to the fear of Allah, reading the holy books and giving the best he can to the less privileged in the society. “That is how I manage my leisure. I rest whenever I want to rest, I don’t have anything to disturb my rest, because I believe God has given me everything, at my age, Iam still strong and can do almost everything. I take care of my time and rededicate myself to the worship of God.” On the reason why the local government system has failed From his experience while at the administrative head of the local government system in the state, Ogiri Oji, looking back with all sense of fulfilment and commitment to duty, agreed that the single factor responsible for the failure of the system is the lack of f i n a n c i a l independence.

He is of the view that if Alhaji Abdullahi Ogiri Oji the councils, as the third that we hope to motivate the tier of government, are granted younger ones that are coming full autonomy, things will change behind us, to emulate some of these for the better at the grass roots. qualities, and for us to start According to him, “if the councils thinking of what we are taking to are granted autonomy as the third the next life and not amassing tier of government, there will be unnecessary wealth.” He further competition in terms of bringing maintained that his motivation development between the federal came from leaders who not only , state and local governments.” He dwell on issues of this world but said the idea of withholding council who prepare for life after death, funds, only to be released piece while thanking God for making meal, is the greatest setback responsible for the failure of the him what he is today.

About his immediate system.

Because local governments are family Ogiri Oji is married with two not free but tied down to conditions, wives and he is blessed with 12 the seasoned administrator insists, children. Six of the children are is the reason why there is no university graduates. He said as a improvement at the councils level. disciplinarian, he has been able to “I believe if the councils are granted inculcate the qualities of modesty autonomy, there will be a marked and humility in his children, improvement in the running of making them understand that in the councils. The failure of the life, hard work, honesty and system is tied down to the politics perseverance are the gateway to a of autonomy.” He said the way the successful life. While appreciating councils are being funded God for blessing him with children presently gives no room to place that could listen and act on his advice, he was however quick to the responsibility of the failure of point out that he made them not the system on council staff because to so much depend on his successes according to him, ”when you don’t give a person what is actually due but to fend for themselves.

How he spends his leisure to him, how can you accuse him of underperformance?” time

most of their time to building a new future, which has been a source of inspiration, not now or today, but a future built through hard work and perseverance. “Some of us were motivated by the kind of leadership we met , they were not too eager to make it, get rich quick but they were eager to encourage us to become something tomorrow, which we are today.”

He disclosed that looking back, some of them opportune with such desirable leadership, are now happy and fulfilled, not because they are rich but because they were sufficiently and p o s i t i v e l y motivated. “It is my wish

successful is to be happy in life and not necessarily rich, stressing that once one is happy, one is rich. He explained that the fundamental problem turning the Nigerian society upside down is the quest for unnecessary wealth, with the youths in so much hurry to make it because of the believe that the leaders are not sincere, honest and disciplined. “My advice to leaders is that, why is that until they acquire everything before you think you are successful? It is only disciplined people that can instil discipline in the society and so our leaders must be discipline or that all those that found themselves in the position of leadership must be disciplined, so that those coming up may follow in their path.”

Source of motivation The retired permanent secretary was quick to point out that his source of motivation have always being those people that he had to pass through them while building his career, who had all the while encouraged him in his desire to attain success in life. He said he has gone through them in the family, whom all they wanted was for him to become something tomorrow. Also, leaders who gave

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 35

Interview

2013 will bring bigger harvest to Nigeria if… —Pastor Mike Ochai W

h a t inspired you to start God's D e s t i n y Ministries?

God's Destiny Ministries International Inc. was borne out of the passion for the destinies of men; to liberate them from the shackles of the devil and help them discover their God - given destinies, through preaching, teaching and fervent prayers.

What are the challenges and achievements so far?

When one is out for an important task not just for man but for God, there is bound to be challenges. As the tasks and assignments unfold in segments, each unfolds with its challenge. Well, it is obvious that the church is facing challenges materially, financially and otherwise.

There are challenges ranging from building a large auditorium which can contain the inflow of members, getting good public address system musical equipments, evangelism bus and how to put some programmes on radio to reach out to as many as possible.

There are other challenges which we are trusting in God to see us through.

Talking about achievement, well, the church has achieved not quite much from the plans she had, and that which God has assigned her to do.

Among the assignments that have been given to us since the inception of God's Destiny Ministries International, is the wide spreading of the gospel through a national convention tagged "Destiny Encounter" which brings people together from all over the country. It is a destiny discovery and life changing experience with God, and the testimonies flying all over the place have proved that God is with us.

The growth of the convention has been so tremendous that the church auditorium has become too small.

However, the church was able to acquire a sizeable camp ground for the convention which is yet to be developed.

Numerically, God is helping us and new converts are recorded at every service to spread our tentacles to other places; branches of the church have been established in some places around the state and outside

Rev. Mike Ochai is the senior Pastor of God's Destiny Ministries Int'l Inc., Otukpa in Benue state. In this chat with Sonde Abbah, he speaks on sundry spiritual and national affairs, including what Nigerians must do in order for the nation to move to greater heights this year. Excerpts: the state. God has promised to take us to another level this year and we trust God for e x c e p t i o n a l breakthrough this year.

The programme held in your church a few weeks ago, what is it all about?

God has mandated us to liberate men from bondage and given their lives a meaning by helping them discover their God - given destinies as I earlier said. As expedient and significant as the destinies of men are, we take it as a responsibility to bring people together.

As a result of this we set September of every year as a month for people to encounter God - given destinies. However, September 2012 was when the last

Rev. Mike Ochai episode of Destiny Encounter was held and God showed himself tremendously. Also recently held was the December programme tagged "Whose Star is This?" where at Christmas we gathered in His presence as others made merry in the Christmas celebration.

That has been a tradition. The most recent was the one week prayers and fasting we had a few weeks ago when we gathered before God to seek His face and directives for the New Year.

How could fake pastors be distinguished from the genuine ones?

The issue of fake pastors and the so-called prophets has eaten deep into Christendom and it is getting out of hand. The Bible says in Matt. 7:15, "Beware of false prophets, who came to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves." Then verse 16 says: "You will know them by their fruits…" This is where people, especially the Christians, failed. They are too carried

away by miracles and have refused to look at the fruits such of pastors or prophets. The Bible said something in I John 4:1, it says "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone into the world."

Verse 2 says: "By this you know the Spirit of God; every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh of God". If we will be able to test every spirit before we give in to them through the leading of the Holy Spirit, then we can differentiate between the real pastors and the fake ones.

Some of them do not have the real word of God to offer; and if you are versed in the word of God and led by the Spirit of God you w i l l definitely know the fake ones f r o m what they say. But above all one should be able to test the spirit(s) behind such a pastor.

What, in your view, will be Nigeria's destiny in 2013?

Nigeria is a great nation blessed by God with a lot of prospects, magnitude, blessings and great opportunities. If we will allow God in, to rule our nation and deviate from corruption then 2012 will be a year of greater harvest. Proverbs 14:34 says "Righteousness exalts a nation

and sin is a reproach to any people. 2013 will be a year of great economic reform. What the people of Nigeria should do is to run back to God so that the judgment that God is about to release this year will elude us.

It is only those who fear God that will escape this judgment, mostly among those that matter in Nigeria. God has package aloe for Nigerians this year but the key to break into it, is when we trace our ways back to him.

What message do you have for your members in particular and Nigerians in general?

Well, the sole purpose for our existence on earth as believers is to dominate the earth and make sure we capture and prepare men for his second coming. The Lord is coming to rapture the church that is without spot nor wrinkle so I will say to my members and other Christians in Nigeria and around the world that no matter what they are involved doing in this present earth, they should not forget that Jesus is coming very soon and they should do whatever it will cost them to make it there, depopulate the kingdom of Satan, and populate the Kingdom of God and above all, live a life worthy enough to take them from eternal condemnation in hell to eternal peace with God in Heaven.

“

Nigeria is a great nation blessed by God with a lot of prospects, magnitude, blessings and great opportunities. If we will allow God in, to rule our nation and deviate from corruption then 2012 will be a year of greater harvest.

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

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Re: Sovereign wealththe fund The Task before new Defence Minister

M

o n d a y 4th February 2013 marked yet another epoch making event in the administration of the President Jonathan Goodluck when he swore in Kabir Tanimu Turaki, the Kebbi born Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), and Professor Chinedu Nebo, former Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria Nsukka as cabinet ministers. What interested observers like us was the charge from the President that the new helmsmen should go extra miles to improve the lives of impoverished Nigerians. In his words, the performance of these new ministers is calculated to improve grey areas of failure that require strengthening. He enthused that their failure would mean more castigation of his government for inaction, hence the need for fresh ideas that would bring government closer to the people.

For the benefit of any doubts, the assignment before the new ministers is not an easy one. This is against the backdrop that the average Nigerian has no confidence in the political system that has woefully failed the electorate. A minister coming at a time when a government employed thief who stole our collective wealth of N32 billion and was given a twoyear jail term must have a lot in his sleeves to convince the ordinary Nigerian that he is here to serve.

But to some of us in the social and media circle who know the antecedents of the K.T. Turaki, erstwhile Kano-based legal luminary, the task before him might not be difficult if he is given a free hand to run his ministry without undue interference.

Turaki who doubles as a social critic, publisher and lawyer might not find his new posting anything different. Turaki who always taunted by friends as the governor Kebbi state never had is the doyen of the Kebbi youth. Having served as Secretary of the Youth Wing of the National Party of Nigeria in 1981, Turaki had contested the Kebbi governorship race for at least four times between 1996 to the 2011. He was denied the chances to govern his people. His current appointment is seen by observers as compensation for service

WRITE TO US Peoples Daily Weekend welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed to: The Editor, Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja.

Email: opinion@peoplesdailyng.com aspiration fulfilled. His activism can be said to be highly responsible for the consciousness of the of Kebbi youth when it comes to political engineering and elections. Kabir has been in the forefront of responsive and accountable governance in Kebbi state.

Born on the 3rd April, 1957 at Nassarawa Quarters of Birnin Kebbi, he attended Nassarawa Primary School Birnin Kebbi, Barewa College Zaria, State College of Arts and Science, Sokoto, University of Jos, Nigerian Law School, Lagos, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, Islamic Finance Institute of Southern Africa among other institutions. Turaki who was called to the Bar in 1986 was elevated Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) in 2002. Though he spent a larger part of his career in Kano, he was always home at Kebbi most weekends. In 1992 due to pressure from the youth in Kebbi state, Turaki was compelled to set up two tabloids NewsMarshal Newspaper and Festival News Newspaper as publisher. These publications were in the forefront of the social struggle to entrench good governance in Kebbi state and expose the economic potentialities of the annual Argungu fishing festival.

Turaki is a detribalized Nigerian, highly accessible and with a high sense of human relations. He has friends that cut across political, ethnic and religious divides. He is an asset to the present government in view of his outstanding social connections. Kabiru as he is fondly called had a stint as a senior counsel with Tijjani and Co. legal firm in Kano and soon set up the K.T.Turaki and Co. legal firm where he was Principal Partner. This

law firm handled a lot of cases that touched on the needs of the underprivileged and injustices perpetuated against the ordinary man and in most cases he had offered free legal services.

A feature that might likely stand out Turaki among his peers and which may be an advantage to the Jonathan government is that this legal czar is a thorough and frank character. It is our expectations that such a minister would not be frustrated by political maneuvers and hanger-ons, whose stock in trade is to taint outstanding achievers not doing their dirty biddings. Of course, Turaki who has been involved in a lot of activism to entrench good governance is a man to beat when it comes to integrity protection. No wonder, he became one of the youngest SANs from the North West.

The new minister’s involvement in arbitrations, political and social reformist committees in the past will be of great advantage to the Jonathan government. For instance, Turaki had served in committees and commissions like Kano State Law Report, Body of Benchers for Resolution of NBA Crisis, Review of Northern States Penal Code Law, Body of Benchers for the Reform of the Laws Regulating the Legal Profession in Nigeria, Chairman NBA Committee on the Judiciary, Chairman, Nigerian Copyright Commission and Kebbi State Law Review Committee, among several others.

Turaki who is the Danmasanin Gwandu is a fellow of several Institutes like Africa Business School, Chartered Institute of Arbitrators, North America branch, among others and also member of several

organizations like the NBA, Africa Bar Association, Commonwealth Bar Association, International Bar Association, Governing Board Nigeria Judicial Institute, Council of Legal Education, ministerial committee on the implementation of the reform of the Nigeria Police, National Working Group on the Reform on Investment Laws in Nigeria, National Political Reform Conference, among others.

The new minister who was a students’ union leader, a political activist and media guru has a lot to offer Nigerians. We expect fundamental changes in his ministry especially with the current insecurity in the country. Turaki must address issues relating to operations of the JTF in volatile states as to conform to democratic norms and as well reflect the protection of human lives and property particularly the innocent citizens. The military is in dire need of reforms where merits are sacrificed for mediocrity in the name of federal character balancing. Training of officers must be on the priority list of the new helmsman at the Ministry of Defense.

Udenyi is Publisher/Media Consultant based in Kano.

“

The new minister’s involvement in arbitrations, political and social reformist committees in the past will be of great advantage to the Jonathan government.

For instance, Turaki had served in committees

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 37

Opinion Iyobosa Iwugiaren and taking undue advantage of media

By Isaac Onyeso

O

ne was shocked to read a piece published in the Leadership Newspaper of Wednesday 6thFebruary 2013 titled, "Abuja Land Department, AIGS Stinks." It was written by one Iyobosa Iwugiaren, said to be management staff of the national newspaper which carried the story.

In the piece, Iyobosa on a full page of the national newspaper to make a personal case of how he is being threatened by a supposed owner of Plot 67 Kafe, at a suburb in Gwarinpa area of the FCT. He ended the piece with a near-blackmail on the FCT Minister whom he asked to quickly make moves to 'clear up the mess in his ministry and clear up his name.'

Before he gave that marching order to the Minister, Iyobosa had painted a very ugly picture of both the Land Department of FCDA and the Abuja Geographic Information System (AGIS), saying that they both stank. But like a cheap and beggarly manipulator, the writer added that the rot in the system did not start with the administration of Bala Mohammed and that he inherited it.

What is Iyobosa's case? As he wrote in the piece, he and some 200 others bought parcels of land at Plot 67 Kafe and as they built their houses, a dispute arose between

Alhaji Kabiru Haruna who sold the place to them in the name of Saraha Homes Limited and Winning Clause Limited, over the right title to the land. Winning Clause in the process, dragged Saraha Homes and Kabiru Haruna to court for illegal possession of land. Iyobosa and others who bought land at plot 67 Kafe have been subjected to harassment by people and security agencies from FCDA, and threatening to demolish their houses.

That was his reason for calling AGIS and Land Department of FCDA all manner of names.

Ironically, before Iyobosa poured insults on these FCT agencies on Wednesday, several online blogs and newspapers had written stories revealing happenings over plot 67 Kafe that is in contention.

According to the media publications, a version of which was even published in Iyabosa's newspaper of Tuesday this week, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had invited Alhaji Kabiru Haruna for questioning following a petition written by Winning Clause Limited alleging that Haruna entered and sold their land, plot 67 Kafe to 200 unsuspecting buyers each of who paid him N5 million.

The media report which was titled "How land grabber allegedly duped

Saraha Estate residents of billions of Naira," revealed that the land in question was allocated to a company called Winning Clause Limited by the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, and that no allocation was granted to Saraha Homes or to Alhaji Kabiru Haruna from whom Iyobosa and his co-buyers got the land.

The media reports, including that of Leadership of Tuesday equally revealed that Alhaji Kabiru Haruna, acknowledged his wrongs on the matter and has met with Winning Clause Limited with a view to offering compensation to the company over his illegal encroachment and sale of Plot 67 Kafe so that the matter can be resolved.

The reports said that Alhaji Kabiru's wife had also met with representatives of Winning Clause, as a mediator in order to find lasting solution or settlement so that her husband can quietly walk away from the land deal.

This write-up or response to Iyabosa is not intended to take side with any of the two disputing parties. Rather it to say that those who are opportune to occupy strategic positions in the society should not take undue advantage of their platforms to stand the truth on its head and mislead the public.

Controversy over land is an age-long

affair and dates back to the days of the early man. Also, land disputes and allegations of sharp practices are not limited to the FCT, studies have shown, and this is the consensus of majority of media organizations, that the FCT land allocation process is more transparent than what obtains in many other parts of the country. That Iyobosa has a personal case on land matters in the FCT does not mean that he should use the media platform the way he likes.

Instead of resorting to taking advantage of the national newspaper to peddle lies and mislead the public, Iyobosa, having purchased the land at Plot 67 Kafe, should seek proper information as to the rightful owner of the title to the land because the occupiers of those houses built on that land cannot obtain certificate of occupancy on their properties unless it is through the right title owner.

Iyobosa should have tried to find out whether it is true that the man who sold the land on which he is building a house has gone to beg the true owners of the plot as well as making offers towards peaceful settlement of the case before resorting to cheap blackmail in the name of being a 'newspaper owner or publisher'.

Onyeso lives at Jabi, Abuja. He can be reached on onyesoisaaca@yahoo.com

Need for Presidential aide on Space matters

By Salihu Dantata Mahmud

S

pace explorations in recent years have no doubt drawn humanity to greater heights by integrated global systems especially with international cooperation as it has been used to manage natural disaster relief, mitigation and prevention. These natural disaster management initiatives are mainly derivations from earth observation satellites, communication satellites and other areas of space coverage.

NASA in one of its previous researches stated clearly that "Saturn Orange Titan has hundreds of times more liquid hydrocarbons than all the known oil and gas reserves on Earth" hence, the use of space-based solutions and information has significantly increased since UNISPACE III has however proved useful in risk assessment, mitigation and preparedness phases of disaster management. For example, the Tsunami in 2004, recent 2012 Sandy and flooding in the USA and Nigeria respectively, etc.

Space technologies have a viable role to play in providing early warning to countries that are most likely to be at risk. On this note, the developing countries were advised by the United Nations to incorporate the use of space-based solutions, increase awareness, build national capacity, and develop customized solutions appropriate to suit their countries.

Nigeria's position in the comity of nations and the quest to compete amongst her contemporaries in 1998 developed Space Agency to support the existing program Remote Sensing but lacking effective performance as expected. This agency after inauguration in 2001

came up with a policy of study of basic space science in order to lay the foundation for deriving maximum benefits from the nation's participation in the space enterprise.

For the attainment of space capabilities, Nigeria's efforts require focus on research and rigorous education, engineering development, design and manufacture, particularly in the areas of instrumentation, rocketry and small satellites as well as in satellite data acquisition, processing, analysis and management of related software and this is where the establishment of a national earth observation station for remote sensing and satellite meteorology data acquisition becomes imperative.

Such infrastructure can enhance the indigenous capability to adopt, modify and create new techniques for national resources inventories, monitoring, evaluation and management as well as the provision of efficient, reliable and adequate telecommunications services in Nigeria in order to enhance the growth of the industrial, commercial and administrative sectors of the economy.

These policies, no matter how laudable the intentions, raise so many questions. For example, how can huge amount of money of about $40 billion be voted to something that is not visible (launching of satellites no by-products), how can NASRDA be the best in award of such as the British Interplanetary Society, by launching satellites without ground stations, one wonders why the aviation sector suffers immense misfortunes, how did we have flooding that killed Nigerians, frustrated the agricultural system for a full agricultural season, how can we

have funds for the purpose of assisting flood victims diverted into private pockets, thereby creating wealth for few individuals?

Why the need for high number of scholars on space related studies, trainings and conferences without tangible by-products, why are we still having vandalization of pipelines when space explorations can remedy the situation? Why is the Netherlands (power house in GIS/RS applications) not happy with Nigeria as a result of our inability to utilize the training received? There are so many questions begging for answers and that informed the suggestion for the appointment of a competent professional to advise the Presidency on adequate monitoring of events in the sectors related to space in order to achieve the best and derive lasting solutions to the requirements from the United Nations, the Western world and the Asian countries instead of relying on them for everything.

We should by now be able to boast of building satellites, launching sites, building ground stations, building software for prediction modeling as advised by the UN with the training of space professionals instead of waiting for the year 2025 as proposed by NASRDA. If the satellites do not have ground stations, how do we expect a good data (satellite imagery) management system?

By now, we should be envisaging lots of integrations expected between the Agency, Ministry of Science & Technology and the educational institutions like universities, polytechnics, among others, on satellite image use. The ongoing broadband fiber optic system of which a committee has been setup seeing Phase-3 Telecoms to take

charge should have integration with the Space Agency as the proposal expects using PHCN poles for routing data. However, it is not happening, rather things of this nature are done blindly due to lack of proper monitoring.

Again, that is why we suggest the position of an adviser in the capacity of a Senior Special Assistant (SSA) to the President to promote best strategic solutions because most of our politicians are not specialists in the areas of Oil & Gas, Finance, Agriculture, to mention a few. One can only imagine the disputes that may arise during a public hearing between NASRDA and NIGCOMSAT. However, issues of this nature can adequately be handled when an expert who understands the sector is named the SSA as he/she will deploy his or her expertise to brief Mr. President on the best line of action to take. It pains, when the average Nigerian politician sees the sector as not relevant probably because of huge financial requirements needed but the space is our home. The USA, Russia, Europe and Asia manage their space policies with the best hands available. Taking into consideration recent research findings by the Global Network on Environmental Awareness and Protection Initiative (GNEAPI), an environmental related NGO, one is made to believe that we are only advancing arithmetically, space wise, instead of geometrically, as expressed by one George Ansa, Head of Operations of the NGO when comparisons are to be made with countries that have fared better on space related issues.

Dantata Mahmud is Head of Strategy, Planning and Publicity of the Global Network on Environmental Awareness and Protection Initiative.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2012

Feature

Kwara:

Inside story of Offa/Erin-Ile crisis From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he age-long rivalry between the neighbouring Offa and Erin-Ile communities in Offa and Oyun local government areas respectively of Kwara state came to the fore again on January 28, 2013 when warriors from both sides unsheathed their weapons and went on a killing spree which lasted three days. Historically, the two communities have been known to be at daggers-drawn for the past 40 years over land and boundary issues. In 1982, the communities had engaged each other in an ethnic war and in 2006 another fracas had erupted with several casualties and accompanying loss of property.

After the 2006 conflict, the state government had constructed a "unity road" separating the two communities ostensibly to prevent them from invading one another.

The latest incident, according to eyewitness accounts, ensued after a minor dispute a m o n g transporters from the two communities, a situation which l a t e r degenerated into a full scale war as the youth, armed with different w e a p o n s , trouped out in their numbers, attacking and defending their territories. The sister towns of Erin-Osun and Erin-Papa, along Olofa of with some other Ofa, Oba communities M u f t a u were said to Gbadamosi have also Esuwoye II mobilized their fighters in solidarity with the sides they perceive as friendly neighbours.

At the end of three days, normalcy returned to the areas as detachments of men of the Nigerian Army were deployed but the casualty figures were high with an unspecified number of students of the Federal Polytechnic Offa, killed. A popular hotelier, Alhaji Bukola Lawal, was also killed in the mayhem, allegedly by gunmen from Erin-Ile, along with one of his female staff and a policeman who was beheaded while trying to intervene. The late Lawal owned the Central Hotel, Offa, and was at a time, Chairman of

the Offa branch of NASFAT. Eyewitness accounts gave gory details of his death as his attackers were said to have invaded the hotel, hacked him to death and cut him into pieces.

The state government later clamped down on the two councils, suspending the chairmen, Prince Saheed Popoola and Alhaji Ibrahim Omoniyi along with their councilors. Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Alhaji Isiaka Gold, who announced the suspension explained that the Governor's decision was in exercise of the powers conferred on him by the Kwara State Law Number 4 of 2006 (Kwara State Local Government (Amendment) Law 2006. Gold argued that the chief security officers

P u b l i c Relation Officer (PPRO),

But politicians believe the entire saga has certain elements of political undertone especially with suspension of the local councils.

Offa local government area is under the control of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and the party believes the move may not be unconnected with alleged efforts by the People's Democratic Party (PDP)-led state government to bring it under its control in 2015. The ACN in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described government's action as a knee-jerk response to a

of their respective councils, the chairmen failed to protect the welfare of the people and maintain public order in both communities.

About a week after the incident, the Kwara State Police Command announced the arrest of an Oshogbo-based transporter, Ganiyu Oyeyemi Ogunjobi at his hide out in Osun state, for alleged complicity in the attacks. Peoples Daily Weekend gathered that no fewer than 13 policemen from Ilorin were drafted to Osogbo to effect the arrest of Ogunjobi popularly known as Fadeyi Oloro, along with three other unnamed suspects. According to the Police

DSP Olufemi Fabode, the suspects will be charged to court along with nine others arrested in the course of the Offa/Erin-Ile bloody incident.

deep-rooted problem which may aggravate the matter. According to the party, "we at the ACN will like to say unequivocally that the Kwara state government was

“

A minor dispute among transporters from the two communities, a situation which later degenerated into a full scale war as the youth, armed with different weapons, trouped out in their numbers, attacking and defending their territories.

wrong in dissolving the councils because it has not been found that the crisis erupted due to any acts of omission or commission by the council chairmen or officials."

The statement noted further that the council chairmen were not in control of the policemen and that the traditional rulers of the towns ought to have been dethroned instead.

And, for the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), suspension of the council chairmen was done in bad faith as, according to the party's National Deputy Chairman, Alhaji Soliu Mustapha, "if the Governor expected a standing ovation for firing the council chairmen, then he must be mistaken because this move is no doubt a dangerous ill wind that blows no one any good. The move is as reckless and thoughtless as it is feckless and insensitive."

But in its reaction, the PDP Publicity Secretary, Alhaji M a s ' u d Adebimpe, said that, "the reckless remarks by the ACN and CPC on the ugly situation are testimonies of d e v i l i s h intentions of the parties and further confirms their shallow knowledge of the state as well as their lack of sense of history about the feud between Offa/ Erin-Ile which dates back to the military era."

Meanwhile, Governor Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed has inaugurated a Commission of Inquiry to probe the incident and vowing to bring to book all persons found to have been involved. According to him, "in spite of government's efforts to nip the problem in the bud through the quick deployment of security agents to Offa and Erin-Ile and the involvement of stakeholders within and outside the two communities, the situation escalated into violence resulting in the loss of lives and damage to property. Never again will this kind of carnage be allowed to happen in any part of the state as we will not tolerate unlawful border disputes that result in violence and impair the welfare of our people. Those trying to turn our communities into theatres of violence will fail."

PAGE 39

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Interview

How do you assess Federal Government's efforts at tackling terrorist activities in parts of the country?

The government is just beating about the bush, moving aimlessly but giving the impression that it is trying to handle the situation. Terrorism is multidimensional and does not require a one-way approach to solving the problem and we should also realize that the present state of insecurity in Nigeria did not start today. It began a very long time ago and terrorism is simply a manifestation of institutional malfunction.

There are so many questions one should ask.

Is government living up to expectations of the people?

Has government been able to make any positive impact on the ordinary people instead of embarking on selfish endeavours? I wish to use my experience as an example. I am from Ogun state and I am on the verge of rounding up my PHD program in the next two months or so but my state government did not contribute in any way to my education. Do you expect me to pay allegiance to the state or to defend the state and my ethnic group? In combating terrorism, government must begin to address the real issues.

There is so much injustice in the land, that is why different groups spring up every now and then and hold the country to ransom.

Injustice has permeated every segment of the society, in educational, industries, banks, sports, the military and government itself. If you recall during the regime of Gen. Ibrahim Babangida, when a low ranking officer was appointed Governor and his superiors were left out.

People were retired without benefits and some others were made to vacate their official quarters because they had no connection.

The institution of terror appeals to class of people who suffered these injustices and that is why government is not winning the war on terrorism. If Potiskum is peaceful today, terrorism will tend to overrun another the next day. As far as I am concerned, except government faces the crux of the matter which is injustice, there will be no respite. That is why you see that there are people who agree to carry bombs. If he believes that the injustice meted out to him can be revenged through that way, there will never be lack of people willing to carry bombs. There will always be people who are ready to continue to shield terrorists.

There are reports that some terrorists are arrested but nobody seems to hear anything about them?

In the first instance, there

'Terrorist activities will continue unless‌.'

Mr. Dasaolu Oluwole is a senior lecturer at the Federal University Dutse, in Jigawa state. In this interview with Ahmed Abubakar, Oluwole traces the recurrent acts of terrorism to what he describes as pervasive injustice in the land and government's insincerity in all spheres.

Oluwole are people who sympathize with the terrorists because they have suffered one form of injustice or another and they lack the courage to come out openly to support the terrorists but covertly they assist them. There are men in the police force, there are men in the military, there are men in the universities and there are men everywhere who have sympathy for these terrorist groups and they assist them as much as possible. Then the legal system is complex and confusing, up till now, we still have laws that date as far back as 1800. Terror is a new phenomenon and of course you know that there is need for a whole lot of legislation and the judiciary in Nigeria is not the kind of judiciary that can speedily bring out these laws. So, even if you take a terrorist to court, there are loopholes in the law that they can use to get themselves out and cannot get conviction. Then of course corruption, judges are bribed to throw away cases, some lawyers are there to bring in frivolous court injunctions to frustrate the cases. How many people have been convicted in Nigeria since 1999? Do not forget these terrorists have godfathers in the military, Air Force, Navy, politics.

I lived in Potiskum for 12 years. I was there when the

state of emergency was introduced. Now look at the politicians, is there any law that permits them to provide personal guards for themselves?

They are supposed to seek protection from the police but anytime they go for campaign you see them with political thugs that can kill. Is it a constitutional requirement for ministers or senators to have a group of political thugs? Where are the police? It is these political thugs that metamorphosed into terrorists after they have been used and dumped. You may not have to blame them. So, as far as I am concerned, these are issues that should be looked into. We do not have a comprehensive terrorism law in Nigeria. There is one loophole or the other and the lawyer is there to exploit these loopholes to his advantage and that of the terrorists.

So, who is to blame?

All of us because most of us have assisted the perpetrators of injustice one way or the other and when you do that it has a ripple effect. If you say Jonathan is to blame, when did he come on board? That is why we are to blame.

Do you not think that there is a certain level of achievement so far?

The only thing that has been achieved is further acts of terrorism on the people.

Look at Yobe state, I know many Igbos who built houses and have to abandon them unceremoniously.

They could not sell them because nobody will buy them. Yet nobody has been arrested. The soldiers sent to keep peace are interested in only sleeping with women, making money, buying cars.v What should be done to salvage the situation?

The federal, states and local governments as well as every Nigerian should begin to do justice wherever we find ourselves, that is the only solution. You see a just society is always a crimefree society.

In Potiskum, people who had no guns, their houses were ransacked and their property taken away by soldiers and there were no arms discovered. No arms were found yet people were beaten. These are actions that fuel the act of terrorism.

While I was in Potiskum there was curfew that was to commence by 4 pm. I left my office by 2 pm to beat the curfew but when I got to a check point they ordered me to start sweeping and I asked why? Curfew is by 4 pm already many persons were undergoing the punishment. The major problem in the fight against terrorism is that the entire north is becoming militarized to the extent that everybody is now imbibing the military

mentality.

If the curfew is 4 pm why punish people by 2 pm? The military have compounded the issue. That is why the worst is yet to come because government has not led by example.

So, there is a link between terrorism and corruption?

Of course, injustice manifests in various corrupt practices. There is no corrupt practice that is just and so the victims of the corrupt practices who are not courageous to come out may sympathize with terrorists.

How many Nigerian retirees receive their pensions as at when due? Do you think they would be happy to see the government succeeding?

There are people who hide terrorists all over the place.

Look at the Nigerian Police. I felt sorry for the InspectorGeneral of Police when he was appointed because the image of the police was not battered in one day it was battered over a long period. The average Nigerian does not have the slightest respect for the police and the same thing has extended to the military.

If care is not taken, we may become another Somalia.

Already there are lots of arms everywhere. Very soon, we may soon begin to have warlords like in Somalia, who will command certain sections of the country by themselves. Look at the cattle market raid in Potiskum, how could that have happened in a place where there was a state of emergency?

There are insinuations that government has a hand in all these?

There are sympathizers with the terrorists and they are located everywhere. If that is not the case, how was it possible to bomb Jaji, a military cantonment? It is like saying somebody wants to bomb Pentagon or CIA headquarters. Of course when you say government, it includes its agents, ministers, retired generals but somebody may be a retired general but he is a member of a board and is sympathetic with the course of terrorists.

Do not be surprised that some of their sponsors may be those who government allocated oil wells, so they do not care, they can always give them what they want.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Lifestyle Hong Kong housing crisis: Home is metal cage for the poor F or many of the richest people in Hong Kong, one of Asia's wealthiest cities, home is a mansion with an expansive view from the heights of Victoria Peak. For some of the poorest, like Leung Cho-yin, home is a metal cage.

The 67-year-old former butcher pays 1,300 Hong Kong dollars ($167) a month for one of about a dozen wire mesh cages resembling rabbit hutches crammed into a dilapidated apartment in a gritty, working-class West Kowloon neighborhood.

The cages, stacked on top of each other, measure 1.5 square meters (16 square feet). To keep bedbugs away, Leung and his roommates put thin pads, bamboo mats, even old linoleum on their cages' wooden planks instead of mattresses.

"I've been bitten so much I'm used to it," said Leung, rolling up the sleeve of his oversized blue fleece jacket to reveal a red mark on his hand. "There's nothing you can do about it.

I've got to live here. I've got to survive," he said as he let out a phlegmy cough.

Some 100,000 people in the former British colony live in what's known as inadequate housing, according to the Society for Community Organization, a social welfare

Cheng Man Wai, 62, sleeps in his cage group. The category also includes apartments subdivided into tiny cubicles or filled with coffin-sized wood and metal sleeping compartments as well as rooftop shacks. They're a grim counterpoint to the southern Chinese city's renowned material affluence.

Forced by skyrocketing housing prices to live in cramped, dirty and unsafe conditions, their plight also highlights one of the biggest headaches facing Hong Kong's unpopular Beijing-backed

leader: growing public rage over the city's housing crisis.

Leung Chun-ying took office as Hong Kong's chief executive in July pledging to provide more affordable housing in a bid to cool the anger. Home prices rose 23 percent in the first 10 months of 2012 and have doubled since bottoming out in 2008 during the global financial crisis, the International Monetary Fund said in a report last month.

Rents have followed a similar trajectory.

The soaring costs are

Lee Tat Fong, 63, shares a space with her grand children

Yeung Biu, 77, relaxes in his cage measuring 1.5 square metres

putting decent homes out of reach of a large portion of the population while stoking resentment of the government, which controls all land for development, and a coterie of wealthy property developers.

Housing costs have been fuelled by easy credit thanks to ultralow interest rates that policymakers can't raise because the currency is pegged to the dollar. Money flooding in from mainland Chinese and foreign investors looking for higher returns has exacerbated the rise.

In his inaugural policy speech in January, the chief executive said the inability of the middle class to buy homes posed a threat to social stability and promised to make it a priority to tackle the housing shortage.

"Many families have to move into smaller or older flats, or even factory buildings," he said.

"Cramped living space in cage homes, cubicle apartments and sub-divided flats has become the reluctant choice for tens of thousands of Hong Kong people," he said, as he unveiled plans to boost supply of public housing in the medium term from its current level of 15,000 apartments a year.

His comments mark a distinct shift from predecessor Donald Tsang, who ignored the problem. Legislators and activists, however, slammed Leung for a lack of measures to boost the supply in the short term. Some 210,000 people are on the waiting list for public housing, about double from 2006. About a third of Hong Kong's 7.1 million population lives in public rental flats. When apartments bought with government subsidies are included, the figure rises to nearly half.

Anger over housing prices is a common theme in increasingly frequent antigovernment protests.

Legislator Frederick Fung warns there will be more if the problem can't be solved. He compared the effect on the poor to a lab experiment.

"When we were in secondary school, we had some sort of experiment where we put many rats in a small box. They would bite each other," said Fung. "When living spaces are so congested, they would make people feel uneasy, desperate," and angry at the government, he said.

Leung, the cage dweller, had little faith that the government could do anything to change the situation of people like him.

"It's not whether I believe him or not, but they always talk this way. What hope is there?" said Leung, who has been living in cage homes since he stopped working at a market stall after

losing part of a finger 20 years ago. He hasn't applied for public housing because he doesn't want to leave his roommates to live alone and expects to spend the rest of his life living in a cage.

His only income is HK$4,000 ($515) in government assistance each month. After paying his rent, he's left with $2,700 ($350), or about HK$90 ($11.60) a day.

"It's impossible for me to save," said Leung, who never married and has no children to lean on for support.

Leung and his roommates, all of them single, elderly men, wash their clothes in a bucket.

The bathroom facilities consist of two toilet stalls, one of them adjoining a squat toilet that doubles as a shower stall.

There is no kitchen, just a small room with a sink. The hallway walls have turned brown with dirt accumulated over the years.

While cage homes, which sprang up in the 1950s to cater mostly to single men coming in from mainland China, are becoming rarer, other types of substandard housing such as cubicle apartments are growing as more families are pushed into poverty. Nearly 1.19 million people were living in poverty in the first half of last year, up from 1.15 million in 2011, according to the Hong Kong Council Of Social Services.

There's no official poverty line but it's generally defined as half of the city's median income.

Many poor residents have applied for public housing but face years of waiting. Nearly three-quarters of 500 lowincome families questioned

by Oxfam Hong Kong in a recent survey had been on the list for more than 4 years without being offered a flat.

Lee Tat-fong, is one of those waiting. The 63-year-old is hoping she and her two grandchildren can get out of the cubicle apartment they share in their Wan Chai neighborhood, but she has no idea how long it will take.

Lee, who suffers from diabetes and back problems, takes care of Amy, 9, and Steven, 13, because their father has disappeared and their mother - her daughter - can't get a permit to come to Hong Kong from mainland China. An uncle occasionally lends a hand.

The three live in a 50square-foot room, one of seven created by subdividing an existing apartment. A bunk bed takes up half the space, a cabinet most of the rest, leaving barely enough room to stand up in. The room is jammed with their possessions: plastic bags filled with clothes, an electric fan, Amy's stuffed animals, cooking utensils.

"There's too little space here. We can barely breathe," said Lee, who shares the bottom bunk with her grandson.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 41

Weekend Super Eagles wary of Burkina Faso’s threat

Jonathan Pitroipa

By Albert Akota

N

i g e r i a are one win away from ending a 19-year wait to reclaim the African Nations Cup but the favourites are wary of the threat posed by surprise finalists Burkina Faso in tomorrow's showdown at Soccer City.

When they drew 1-1 in their opening Group C match 18 days ago there was little to indicate that the two West African nations would meet again in the final.

However, both teams have shown grit, determination and a winning mentality that promises an excellent finale to the three-week long tournament in front of a sell-out crowd.

Nigeria appear to hold most of the keys to success having no real injury worries apart from some concerns over forward Victor Moses who has been outstanding but picked up another niggling problem in Wednesday's 4-1 defeat of Mali in the semifinal.

In contrast, Burkina Faso will have to do without Alain Traore, who scored three goals at the start of the tournament but

Emmanuel Emnenike has missed out on the knockout rounds because of injury.

They might also be missing defender Mohamed Koffi who went off injured in the 3-2 penalty shootout victory over Ghana in their semifinal on Wednesday.

Burkina Faso also look as if they will have to cope without one of their most effective and important players, Jonathan Pitroipa, who was sent off after being shown two yellow cards by Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi against Ghana.

However, Jdidi was suspended by Confederation of African Football (CAF) officials on Thursday because of his poor performance and if an appeal against the dismissal from Burkina Faso is successful, Pitroipa will be reprieved and will play.

Style of playing The two teams, who both like to go forward quickly and play to their attacking strengths, have reached the final in contrasting style with Nigeria in impressive form to beat favourites Ivory Coast 2-1 in the quarterfinals before producing an even better performance to

rout Mali in the semis.

Burkina Faso had to battle to a 1-0 extra-time victory over Togo in their quarterfinal and then played for another two hours without breaking the deadlock against Ghana in a match that finished 11 and went their way on penalties.

Their never-say-die spirit and determination could test Nigeria to the full on Sunday if the Stallions defence can keep at bay a Super Eagles attack which was rampant against Mali, hitting three goals in a 20-minute first half blitz.

Koffi has been impressive at the back for Burkina Faso along with Paul Koulibaly and Bakary Kone but Nigeria are a handful going forward with Moses and John Obi Mikel, teammates at European champions Chelsea, showing their class in midfield.

Up front Emmanuel Emnenike, with three goals, has been dangerous and scored against the Burkinabe in their opener.

The key to success on Sunday could even be decided before the match starts because if Pitroipa or Moses is missing,

the balance could tip in favour of the opposition.

If both are ruled out, Nigeria would seem to have the greater strength in depth.

However, Burkina Faso possesses an astonishing team spirit and determination personified by the indefatigable Aristides Bance, one of the stand-out players at the tournament, and not just because of his unique dyed-blond hairstyle.

Audacious penalty The powerfully-built forward, who plays in Germany for FC Augsburg, had some indifferent early games but never stopped running, working and shooting against Ghana.

He had eight goal attempts, saw a header and a crisp close-range shot saved on the line and took the most audacious penalty in the shootout when he calmly dummied goalkeeper Fatau Dauda and then raised his hands and smiled in mock-belief as if to say, "How did I just do that?"

If he is on that sort of form again, the Nigeria defence will have a real battle on their hands.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Mali meets Ghana today, hoping to repeat history M

a l i hope history is repeated when they face Ghana on Saturday for the bronze medals at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations tournament.

Ghana defeated Mali 2-0 in the first round of the 2012 championship only for the losers to bounce back and win the third-place play-off by the identical score thanks to a Cheick Tidiane Diabate brace.

A Mubarak Wakaso penalty earned Ghana a 1-0 win over Mali in the first round of this year's edition at Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium in Port Elizabeth and that is where the teams play again this weekend with the Eagles seeking revenge.

These play-offs are usually decided in favour of the team that carries less psychological baggage into the game, and Mali were clearly more up for the battle in Equatorial Guinea a year ago.

This time, though, both teams are hurting after Mali were

thrashed 4-1 by rampant Nigeria in Durban and Ghana lost on penalties to surprise package Burkina Faso in Nelspruit after a controversial 1-1 draw.

In a swift reaction to a number of strange decisions, including a soft penalty to Ghana and the harsh red carding of Burkina Faso star Jonathan Pitroipa, Tunisian referee Slim Jdidi has been suspended indefinitely.

Mali captain and talisman Seydou Keita believes his Eagles failed to soar against Nigeria because the players did not work together like they had done in ousting hosts South Africa 2-1 in the quarterfinals.

But the former Barcelona player warned against finger pointing in the Malian camp as they try to win for the second time in five bronzemedal play-offs with the losses coming against Nigeria (twice) and Ivory Coast.

Seydou Keita

Asamonh Gyan

CAF President happy NBBF set to build secretariat in Abuja with refereeing

By Albert Akota

C

AF President Issa Hayatou admits referee Slim Jedidi, who took control of the AFCON2013 semifinal between Ghana and Burkina Faso, did not produce the best performance, but says CAF are happy with the officiating overall.

"Everybody saw this referee did not perform well, but the Secretary General has told me the referee wrote a letter to say he was mistaken," said Hayatou, before touching on the topic of the Jonathan Pitroipa dismissal which would result in the Burkina Faso player missing the final.

"The case will refer to the disciplinary commission to make the decision at this point we cannot comment on what will happen," added the president.

"But the referee said he recognised his mistake and acknowledges it.

Again I say, this matter will be dealt

Referee Slim Jedidi

with by the disciplinary commission and the decision will be made today."

Pitroipa's Burkina Faso teammates have pleaded with CF to overturn the red card, based on video footage, and allow their star player to be available for the Cup Final.

Nonetheless, despite this acknowledgement of guilt by Jedidi and wide spread criticism of the overall officiating at AFCON 2013, President Hayatou is happy with the officials and their performances.

"On the whole in CAF we are satisfied with African refereeing, for this tournament we experienced some errors, especially the one between Burkina Faso and Ghana.

"We have noticed some deficiencies, but on the whole African refereeing is good and we are satisfied during the tournament," concluded Hayatou.

T

he Minister of Sports Mallam Bolaji Abdullahi has approved a space of land to the Nigeria Basketball Federation (NBBF) to build it national secretarial in Abuja.

Making this known to newsmen in Abuja, NBBF President Alhaji Tijani Umar said the federation has resolved at the National Youth Programme Forum to build the basketball headquarter for the betterment of the game.

He noted that the approval plot of land by the minister would be completed with a buffeting building as soon as the national team returns from the RIO Olympics in 2016.

"We are happy that minister has approved a plot of land for to build our buffeting headquarter in Abuja.

"We want to first implement the Road map for our Olympic Games Qualification in 2012; work has reached advantage stages on our 4 year strategic plan.

"The plan for 2013-2016 which we will deploy the desirable mileage and create a window to and fro of our national and international programmes.

"We have unveiled our workin-progress website which will give Nigeria an insight as to how the final product will be when it is activated and placed in the public domain in a month's time.

Umar revealed that the mission and vision of the federation is to strategies and scrutinize innovative where critic can objectively criticized.

which ruled in the cyclist's favour.

Armstrong took the company to an arbitration hearing in Dallas in 2005 and won, because the contract between the parties stipulated the insurance money would be payable if Armstrong was the "official winner"

of the Tour. He was awarded $2.5m in damages and costs.

But, after Armstrong's confession of doping to Oprah Winfrey last month, SCA is looking to recover a total of $12m, which includes payments after the 2002 and 2003 races.

US firm sues Armstrong $12m

A

Texan company has filed a lawsuit to recoup $12m (ÂŁ7.6m) from disgraced cyclist Lance Armstrong.

SCA Promotions insured bonuses paid to Armstrong when he claimed his fourth, fifth and sixth Tour de France wins.

The American has admitted using performance-enhancing drugs for all seven of his Tour victories.

The insurance policy was taken out by Tailwind Sports, owner of the US Postal team, to cover performance bonuses payable to Armstrong if he claimed his fourth, fifth and sixth Tour victories.

Armstrong's representatives have issued a document which it says shows the two parties signed a "fully and forever binding" compromise settlement in February 2006, following the arbitration proceedings

Lance Armstrong

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 43

Manchester United distractions give Manchester City hope M a n c h e s t e r City hopes to capitalize on Manchester United's Champions League distractions by re-launching the defence of their Premier League title, starting with today's trip to Southampton.

City's 2-2 draw at home to Liverpool last weekend enabled United to stretch their advantage at the top of the table to nine points, with only 13 games of the season remaining.

However, while United will have half an eye on Wednesday's trip to Real Madrid when they host Everton on Sunday, City's own failure in the Champions League means their agenda is free of European commitments.

Aside from a home game against secondtier Leeds United in the FA Cup on February 17, City can therefore channel all their resources into the pursuit of United.

Ivory Coast's quarterfinal exit at the Africa Cup of Nations means that City manager Roberto Mancini will have both Yaya and Kolo Toure at his disposal for Saturday's visit to the English south coast.

Yaya Toure played a key role in last season's drive to the title, when City came from eight points behind to pip United on the final day, and he says the experience of the 2011-12 campaign proves it is too early to abandon hope.

Everton's last visit to Old Trafford, in April last year, saw them come back from 4-2 down to force a 4-4 draw that played a pivotal role in tilting the momentum of the title race in City's favour.

As well as a two-legged tie with Madrid in the Champions League last 16, United are also scheduled to face Reading in the FA Cup, but manager Alex Ferguson is happy with the depth in his squad.

The contest for third place took an intriguing turn last weekend, with Chelsea's 2-2 draw at Newcastle United enabling

Tottenham Hotspur to close the gap on them to just a single point.

Spurs host improving Newcastle today lunchtime and with Chelsea playing at home to Wigan Athletic later that afternoon, victory for Tottenham will provisionally take them above their London rivals.

In another part of the capital, bottom club Queens Park Rangers are running out of time to close the six-point divide that currently separates them from safety.

Ahead of QPR's visit to League Cup finalists Swansea City on Saturday, new signing

Christopher Samba says he saw encouraging signs in last weekend's 0-0 draw with Norwich City.

With nearest rivals Wigan, Reading and Southampton all facing sides in the top half of the table, second-bottom Aston Villa could make up ground in the fight for survival by defeating West Ham United on Sunday.

Meanwhile, Jamie Carragher can expect an emotional reception when Liverpool welcomes West Bromwich Albion to Anfield on Monday, having announced that he will retire from football at the end of the season.

Messi signs Barcelona deal, hints at Argentina move

L

i o n e l Messi has hinted he may finish his career in Argentina after extending his Barcelona contract to June 2018.

The Argentina forward, 25, who has signed a two-year contract extension, enjoyed a record-breaking 2012 for club and country, scoring 91 goals.

Messi signed a new deal on Thursday

afternoon and follows Carles Puyol and Xavi, who both signed their extensions last month.

Defender Puyol and midfielder Xavi agreed new deals until 2016.

Barcelona is top of La Liga with a ninepoint cushion over nearest rivals Atletico Madrid. They play the first leg of their last 16 tie in the Champions League away at AC Milan on 20 February.

Messi has been in the best goal-scoring form of his career and surpassed Gerd Mueller's 40-year-old record of 85 goals scored in a calendar year with a brace in a 2-1 win over Real Betis on 9 December.

Last month he was awarded the Ballon d'Or for a fourth year running ahead of Barcelona team-mate Andres Iniesta and Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid.

WEEKEND FIXTURES Africa Cup of Nations Mali v Ghana Sunday Nigeria v Burkina Faso Barclays Premier League Tottenham v Newcastle Chelsea v Wigan Norwich v Fulham Stoke v Reading Sunderland v Arsenal Swansea v QPR Southampton v Man City Sunday Aston Villa v West Ham Man Utd v Everton French Ligue 1 St Etienne v Montpellier AC Ajaccio v Bordeaux AS Nancy v Reims Troyes v Sochaux Nice v Lorient Valenciennes v Brest Sunday Evian TG v Marseille Rennes v Toulouse Lyon v Lille German Bundesliga B/Dortmund v Hamburg B/ M'gladbach v B/Leverkusen VfB Stuttgart v Werder Bremen Hannover 96 v TSG Hoffenheim Greuther Furth v Wolfsburg E/Frankfurt v Nurnberg Bayern Munich v Schalke 04 Sunday Augsburg v Mainz SC Freiburg v Fortuna Italy Serie A Juventus v Fiorentina Lazio v Napoli Sunday Parma v Genoa Atalanta v Catania Cagliari v AC Milan Sampdoria v Roma Bologna v Siena Udinese v Torino Palermo v Pescara Inter Milan v Chievo Spanish Primera Liga Mallorca v Osasuna Celta Vigo v Valencia Levante v Malaga Real Madrid v Sevilla D/La Coruna v Granada Sunday Barcelona v Getafe Real Zaragoza v Real Sociedad Athletic Bilbao v Espanyol Rayo Vallecano v Granada

Ba return to Chelsea with face mask

C Lionel Messi

helsea boss Rafa Benitez has been given a much-needed boost with news that Demba Ba could be set for a quick return to action after breaking his nose at Newcastle last weekend.

Ba was forced out of the action in his first game at St James' Park since leaving Newcastle in January after a clash with Fabricio Coloccini that left Benitez fuming and insisting his side should have been awarded a penalty.

But it seems the damage is not long lasting, with the Senegal international in contention to play a part in Saturday's game against Wigan at Stamford Bridge after returning to training on Thursday sporting a black mask.

Ba flew to Milan earlier this week to have the face mask fitted and posted a picture on his Twitter account confirming he was heading to Italy to get the face gear, which should ensure his speedy return to first team action.

Demba Ba

PAGE 44

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND, SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PICTORIAL

Frank Lampard's agent insists Chelsea has not yet made an attempt to extend his contract, as the midfielder narrows his focus on playing through until at least the 2014 World Cup

With Nigeria’s coach Stephen Keshi chasing history as the Super Eagles seek to end a two-decade CAF Africa Cup of Nations drought, Burkina Faso are lurking as dangerous dark horses. FIFA previews the continental decider.

Lionel Messi hints he may finish his career in Argentina after extending his Barcelona contract to June 2018.

England is battling to stay alive against Australia in their first Super Six match at the Women's World Cup in Mumbai.

British Lionhearts inflict a first defeat on Kazakhstan in the World Series of Boxing to guarantee a spot in the play-offs.

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PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

Online comments JTF arrest mastermind of Ado Bayero attack The arrest is only a hoax. They’ve arrested innocent people. All the killings are initiated by some elements in the Nigerian army and SSS. They can deny it but time will tell.

Sanusi A. Yar’Adua

Yobo remains Captain, says Enyeama

Merger or joining the party is not the problem, but where will it lead them?

How am I sure it is not for selfish reasons or ambition? Look at Borno and Yobe governors; what do they have to offer Nigeria but crisis? They could do anything for their states to change the lot of their common people, if Rochas and Babatunde are talking, it is understood.

Where is Anambra state governor? Is he not part of the joining party?

Abdullah Musa

Where’re we heading to? Who can stand firmly? Same thing he did when Jonathan refused to give his daughter Iyabo senator, after Jonathan accepted he bounced back to their camp.

Terlanga

FG approves smoked fish factory in Akwa-Ibom

If after the merger a credible presidential candidate emerges, who will be accepted across Nigeria’s landscape, then the merger is worth the efforts.

Smiles

2015: Rise of sectionalism against national interest Could you please remind the people of Nigeria that “amalgamation” comes to an inglorious end in 2014? That is Nigeria’s most opportune moment when the people must sit down and discuss the future of that country and the future of their union. If Nigeria misses out on this opportune moment its failure as a state of society would have been total and final.

Odogwu_Aganaga

Yobo

Good talk Vincent. You are simply civil and decent. Your own time will come.

Damian

Obasanjo makes shocking appearance at Aso Villa

Nigeria’s Igbo Jews: ‘Lost tribe’ of Israel?

dismissal, investigates Bauchi caretaker committee Akpabio Where will the centre be sited? Why is the centre not mentioned? I hope it will not be in Essien Udim. Everybody knows James Town (Ibake) is the headquarters of fish and fishing in West Africa. Stop politicising natural endowments!

Nyene Obot

Fadama III disburses N12m loan to fadama user groups in Bauchi

These Nigerian Igbos claiming Jewish ancestry, are living in the world of fantasy. I sympathize with them for their foolishness.

Auta 62 Whoever you are and wherever you come from, please leave the Igbos alone.

What you don’t know is greater than you.

So, you can sympathize with your own self.

Godwin

Yuguda

Obasanjo

2015: Govs endorse opposition merger

I am a Soldier with farming ambition and I have the following animals in my custody such as: Gazelle, higher breed guinea fowl, chickens, rabbit, and quails, turkey, duck fowl, parrots and a fish pond.

Therefore I solicit for your assistance please.

Yahaya Ibrahim Rimi

The CPC leadership should have done the same to the un-ending crisis of (10) Katsina state NASS members, of which they are fully aware.

Bashir

Senate slams N4bn First Ladies House It is a shame to this country that people are crying for their basic needs while the FCT is planning to waste 4billion Naira on such assumed project.

Well, it has been the character of our leaders to build houses on the moon.

Anosike Peter Just when are we going to wake up in this country?

What is wrong with this Goodluck or rather Badluck administration?

Billions for the first lady mission house? Who is she anyway? Let this man go and rest after all he has already lost focus.

Commissioner

CPC reverses Gamawa’s

How gunmen killed nurse at midnight shooting in Kogi

By Sam Egwu, Lokoja

A

p p a r e n t l y re-energized after a month-long leave, Mr Luke Egwu returned to his duty post at the at Griimard Catholic Hospital in Anyigba on Friday January 18. He had no doubt enjoyed the brief period he was away from work especially as few days earlier, his wife was delivered of bouncing baby twins. What else can a man desire? That morning, he kissed the twins and promised he would be back.

Egwu actually returned home but in the early hours of Saturday, yet to be identified gunmen invaded his compound on Old Egume Road and shot him to death in the presence of his wife

and children.

Reports of the sad development soon spread like wild fire, throwing the entire Ayingba community into confusion and mourning. Several questions were asked but nobody could provide any answers.

Who did it? Could he have offended somebody? Was it a case of mistaken identity? Questions and more questions but no answers were forthcoming.

Residents point accusing fingers at a hotel close to the late Egwu’s compound which is believed to be a haven for cultists and miscreants. Reports said that the deceased had actually on a number of occasions confronted some of the youth who parade the area, demanding their mission. Peoples Daily Weekend further

Late Luke Egwu

learnt that the late Egwu at a time reported the matter to the police who made some arrests and the suspects were taken to Lokoja but later released.

Born on April 21, 1969 into the family of Mr. and Mrs. Shaibu Emmanuel Egwu of Awo Akukunda, Ankpa local government area of Kogi state, the late Egwu attended LEA primary school Awo Efiga between 1974 and 979. He then proceeded to Swo Community Secondary Commercial College, Awo in 1979 and obtained his GCE in 1984. He also attended the Benue State School of Nursing, Makurdi between 1988 and 1991. The late Egwu also studied at the National Orthopedic Hospital, Kano, from where he had additional training in Nursing.

PEOPLES DAILY WEEKEND SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

PAGE 47

From the Pulpit Beware of ingratitude and pride (II)

GREEN PASTURES

Praise the Lord! I began this message last week and I spoke about Hezekiah's pride in showing the ambassadors from Babylon his silver and gold, the spices and precious ointment, all his armory and all that was in his palace. (Isa 39:1-2, 2 Chron 32:24-25) But was it not God who gave Hezekiah all the treasures he displayed to the envoys? "Hezekiah had very great riches and honor.

And he made himself treasuries for silver, for gold, for precious stones, for spices, for shields, and for all kinds of desirable items; storehouses for the harvest of grain, wine, and oil; and stalls for all kinds of livestock, and folds for flocks.

Moreover he provided cities for himself, and possessions of flocks and herds in abundance; for God had given him very much property.

This same Hezekiah also stopped the water outlet of Upper Gihon, and brought the water by tunnel to the west side of the City of David.

Hezekiah prospered in all his works." (2 Chron 32:27-30 NKJV) Riches and honor are temptations to pride and Hezekiah had both. He should not have seen them as personal accomplishment to be paraded for self aggrandizement. 1 Cor 4:7 says, "What makes you better than anyone else? What do you have that God hasn't given you?

And if all you have is from God, why boast as though you have accomplished something on your own?" (NLT) "He who trusts in his riches will fall." (Prov 11:28 NKJV) What could have made Hezekiah to proceed on this ego trip? Did the

respect nations started giving him following Judah's defeat of Sennacherib make him begin to have a sense of self importance?

"From then on King Hezekiah became highly respected among the surrounding nations, and many gifts for the LORD arrived at Jerusalem, with valuable presents for King Hezekiah, too."(2 Chron 32:23 NLT) That is the problem many people have. They don't know how to be humble in honor; they don't know how to manage the honor people give them. It is not people's fault if they honor you; it is your fault if you allow it to go to your head. Could the honor Hezekiah people gave him have triggered off pride in him?

But it wasn't the weapons in his armory that he showed the envoys that gave him victory over Sennacherib of Assyria. Hezekiah's army never fired one shot so what show of power was he trying to display to Babylon who was trying probably to seek his support to defeat Assyria. 2 Chron 32:20-22 tells us how Hezekiah defeated Sennacherib. "Then King Hezekiah and the prophet Isaiah son of Amoz cried out in prayer to God in heaven.

And the LORD sent an angel who destroyed the Assyrian army with all its commanders and officers. So Sennacherib returned home in disgrace to his own land. And when he entered the temple of his god, some of his own sons killed him there with a sword." (NLT) It wasn't Hezekiah that performed the feat of killing the Assyrian soldiers. Isa 37:36 puts it thus: "And the angel of Jehovah went forth, and smote in

What a great privilege praying is.

It is a privilege we have not studied, learnt or practised enough. Every believer and every preacher would do more good in life if he knew what Christ taught in this passage. It will do us a world of good to lay all excuses and speculative theories on prayer aside and take the words of Christ at face value. Christ, Himself, prayed and got supernatural answers like no other man before Him. And His teaching on prayer is higher than any man’s concept on prayer as the heavens are higher than the earth.

Our Lord and Saviour assures us of the absolute certainty of answers to our prayers. He, the Son of God, is the perfect Example for all the sons of God. He said “Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me ALWAYS” (John 11:41,42). He prayed with absolute trust and peaceful confidence. His expectation was based on His relationship with the Father. That is the true basis for firm expectation in prayer relationship with the heavenly Father. Sinners cannot have absolute certainty of receiving the children’s bread (John 9:31; Psalm 7:11). The goodness of God is to lead sinners to repentance (Romans 2:4).

“God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

The first and only prayer a sinner can pray with absolute assurance is prayer of repentance, forgiveness and salvation in Christ. This makes him to be born again, truly born into the family of God. Now, with Christ as his Saviour and God as his Father, the promises of God to all members

Assurance of answered prayer for everyone of His family are also his. With the proper relationship with God, we can ask and receive whatever the Father has promised His own children.

1. THE IMPARTIALITY OF GOD IN ANSWERING PRAYER Matthew 7:8; Luke 11:10; Numbers 21:8,9; Acts 10:34,35,43; Romans 2:11; 10:11,12; Psalms 32:6,7; 65:2; Isaiah 55:1-3; James 1:5.

Partiality is often found in the human family because of man’s sinful nature (Genesis 37:3; 25:28).

Partiality, favouritism, preference, injustice and unfairness will always cause problems whether they are found in the human family or in the church family. God’s Word condemns partiality in clear terms and it should not be allowed to manifest in our families or in the church (2 Chronicles 19:7; Proverbs 24:23; 28:21; James 2:1,9; Colossians 3:25; Ephesians 6:9).

God’s perfection assures us of His impartiality (1 Peter 1:17).

In His response to prayer, God is fair and impartial to all His children. “Everyone that asketh receiveth.” God is more faithful and infinitely more just than any man that ever lived. After giving us promises, sometimes, man in his earthly, sensual, devilish wisdom (James 3:15) may find reasons and arguments not to keep them - God is infinitely more righteous and impartial than man. Most parents, even non-christian parents, because of natural love and affection will

the camp of the Assyrians a hundred and fourscore and five thousand; and when men arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies." (ASV) The Babylonians might not have known how the victory came but Hezekiah knew that the weapons that killed a hundred and fourscore and five thousand soldiers in one night did not come from his armory. He knew his army didn't kill the soldiers. He should have praised God before these envoys rather than trying to magnify himself.

Managing wealth and honor If a man cannot manage riches (wealth) and honor well, he will go astray. See what happened to Jehoshaphat in 2 Chron 17:2-6.

"And he placed troops in all the fortified cities of Judah, and set garrisons in the land of Judah and in the cities of Ephraim which Asa his father had taken. Now the LORD was with Jehoshaphat, because he walked in the former ways of his father David; he did not seek the Baals, but sought the God of his father, and walked in His commandments and not according to the acts of Israel. Therefore the LORD established the kingdom in his hand; and all Judah gave presents to Jehoshaphat, and he had riches and honor in abundance. And his heart took delight in the ways of the LORD; moreover he removed the high places and wooden images from Judah." (NKJV) But after all these good deeds, Jehoshaphat went into a wrong relationship with Ahab.

"Jehoshaphat had riches and honor

By Pastor T.O. Banso cedarministryintl@yahoo.com GSM: 08033113523 in abundance; and by marriage he allied himself with Ahab. After some years he went down to visit Ahab in Samaria; and Ahab killed sheep and oxen in abundance for him and the people who were with him, and persuaded him to go up with him to Ramoth Gilead. So Ahab king of Israel said to Jehoshaphat king of Judah, 'Will you go with me against Ramoth Gilead?' And he answered him, 'I am as you are, and my people as your people; we will be with you in the war.'" (2 Chron 18:1-3 NKJV) I tend to believe that verse 1 shows a connection between the abundant riches and honor of Jehoshaphat, a good king, and the wrong alliance with Ahab, an evil king. Jehoshaphat nearly died in that battle in which Ahab had disguised himself to the battle making the Syrians to almost kill Jehoshaphat mistaking him for Ahab. God rebuked Jehoshaphat for this wrong alliance. "Then Jehoshaphat the king of Judah returned safely to his house in Jerusalem. And Jehu the son of Hanani the seer went out to meet him, and said to King Jehoshaphat, 'Should you help the wicked and love those who hate the LORD? Therefore the wrath of the LORD is upon you.

Nevertheless good things are found in you, in that you have removed the

FAITH DISCOURSE WITH

Pastor W. F. Kumuyi provide necessities of life for their children. “How MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him? ” 2. THE IMPOSSIBILITY OF GETTING ANTITHETIC ANSWERS IN PRAYER Matthew 7:9,10; Luke 11:11,12; Proverbs 25:21,22; Job 4:17; Psalms 85:12,13; 145:9,19; John 16:23,24; Deuteronomy 32:4; Psalm 103:1-5; James 1:16,17.

Religious people have developed many theories on prayer. These theories are to excuse their unbelief so they can give some comfort to those who fail to receive expected answers to prayer. Some of these “comforters” (Job 16:1-3) in an attempt to unravel the mysteries of life say that we may pray for something and God may give us the exact opposite - evil instead of good, sickness instead of health, poverty instead of wealth, defeat instead of victory, sorrow instead of joy, setback instead of progress, weakness instead of strength,

oppression instead of deliverance, etc. Some Christians believe such theories so much that they resign to fate and say, ‘Thy will be done’! They think they are resigning or submitting to the will of God when in reality they might be yielding, giving themselves up to the will of Satan. What would have happened if Jabez, Hannah, David (during the treachery and treason of Absalom), Esther, Hezekiah, Jochebed (the mother of Moses) or Jonah had believed such theory of prayer? Not only they themselves alone but their nation and the world would have suffered a great loss. Our Lord asks a series of questions with obvious answers. (1) “What man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone? ” (Matthew 7:9). Will you? No. Are you better than God? (2) “Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent? ” (Matthew 7:10). Will you? No. Are you more considerate than God? (3) “Or if he shall ask an egg, will he offer him a scorpion? ” (Luke 11:12). Will you? No. Are you more loving and

wooden images from the land, and have prepared your heart to seek God." (2 Chron 19:1-3 NKJV) I believe God has spoken to you already. Beware of ingratitude and pride. I'll stop here today and conclude this series next week. You are blessed in Jesus' name.

TAKE ACTION! If you are not born again, kindly say this prayer now: "0 Lord God, I come unto you today. I know I am a sinner and I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died on the cross to save me and resurrected the third day. I confess Jesus as my Lord and Saviour and surrender my life to him today. I invite Jesus into my heart today. By this prayer, I know I am saved.

Thank you Jesus for saving me and making me a child of God" I believe you have said this prayer from your heart. Congratulations!

You will need to join a Bible believing, Bible teaching church in your area where you will be taught how to live your new life in Christ Jesus. I pray that you flourish like the palm tree and grow like the cedar of Lebanon.

May the Lord make you a Cedar Christian. May you grow into Christ in all things becoming all God wants you to be.

compassionate than God? When you ask for something good from God, especially when it is something He has promised in His Word, He will give what is good and beneficial, not what is evil and injurious.

3.

INSIGHT INTO GOD’S AFFECTION FOR HIS PEOPLE Matthew 7:11; Luke 11:13; Psalm 103:11-13; Isaiah 49:15,16; 1:2-4,1518; 30:8-10,15,18; Romans 8:14-17; 1 John 2:12-17; 3:8-10,19-22; Luke 15:11-32.

“If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how MUCH MORE shall your Father which is in heaven give GOOD THINGS to them that ask Him? ” (Matthew 7:11). “HOW MUCH MORE shall your heavenly Father give THE HOLY SPIRIT to them that ask him? ” (Luke 11:13).

“How much more? ” By how much is God more loving, more compassionate, more benevolent, more faithful, more righteous, more gracious, more merciful than man?

Infinitely more! God loves His children infinitely more than any human parent could possibly love his own offspring. No earthly parent would want his children to lack good things (morally, materially, spiritually) if he could prevent it.

Earthly parents do their best to provide everything necessary to keep their children healthy, prosperous and happy. Will God do any less? Certainly not! God, in His infinite love, will do infinitely more for us than earthly parents could ever do.

BIG PUNCH “Rather than el-Rufai feeding the public with such fabrications, the former Minister should have provided or quoted the authority for such claim since he was not at the private meeting between former President Obasanjo and Vice President Atiku Abubakar.”

– Atiku Abubakar faulting the contents of Nasir el-Rufai’s new book, ‘The Accidental Public Servant’

SATURDAY 9 — SUNDAY 10, FEBRUARY, 2013

The drum of Empire

‘A

f r i c a ,' writes Simon Jenkins in The Guardian 30/1/13, while commenting on the ongoing recolonization of Mali by France, 'still answers to the drum of empire.'

Africa, perhaps, is the only continent on the globe that has in most part refused to be free, refused to grow to maturity, and is happy to remain in bondage, in perpetual servility. After more than fifty years of independence, colonial powers still feel free and obliged to interfere in Africa at will, and at little or no cost, all they need to do to recolonize is just to invent new lies, new deceptions and new falsehoods. In the case of Mali what is no more than, in Jenkins words, 'a ragtag coalition of Tuaregs, gangsters and dissidents, armed with weapons mostly released by Nato's regime change in Libya', and according to some estimates no more than eight hundred in number, is quickly elevated to a monster of global proportion which poses existential threat to countries such as Britain, France and USA and could even topple the entire world order.

Jenkins exposes the hypocrisy, the politics of fear, the Cobra-fevered imagination of Wester powers, acted so perfectly by David Cameron, Prime Minister of Britain. Cameron, he writes, descended into his Cobra bunker, his lips quivering with the thrill of fear. Like every prime minister who uses that place, he emerged feeling he had to talk Churchill. He told the Commons: "We must frustrate the terrorists with our security. We must beat them militarily. We must address the poisonous narrative they feed on. We must close down the ungoverned space in which they thrive, and we must deal with the grievances they use to garner support." Yet, when France entered Mali, there were no enemies in sight, they had vanished in thin air, the world was told.

The game, as explained by Jenkins, is like this: 'the national threats exaggerated for the sake of glory, the enemies underrated, allies unreliable, warnings ignored, peoples craving revenge, above all the arrogance of an unspoken racial supremacy, that "our values" are better than theirs'; and the end result of this immoral game, if all goes according to plan, is like this: 'As in Sierra Leone - now a British protectorate - so in the former French colonies, European powers are drawn back to redefine and reclaim their old responsibilities.' So Mali returns to France, and other countries in the region could be apportioned to whatever master the

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powers might decide. That, in essence, is Colonization Phase 2.

What is of utmost interest in all this is the role of Nigeria. Simply put: Nigeria answers to the drum of empire. As if there are no democratic institutions, as if the country is inhabited only by sub-humans, Nigeria plunges headlong into what essentially is a recolonization process by countries which intend to stay as masters on the African continent for decades and generations to come, as David Cameron has stated.

Reconquest of Mali, according to French President, is to secure the future of France. Then America joins in the scramble, eyeing the uranium of Niger Republic. A slave thinks only with the mind and heart of his master and acts only at behest of the master. And this is the unfortunate situation in which Nigeria finds itself.

Hakeem Baba-Ahmed [Daily Trust 5/2/13], traces the descent of Nigeria from a nation which had emerged as a self confident regional power, well on its way to being a potential world economic power to one in deep decline and decay. He recalls Nigeria's role during its ascendency in the decolonization process in Africa and in particular the dismantling of Apartheid system, and its being the rallying point for West Africa. 'Nigeria had registered its presence and credentials as a leader, and the world took notice, and accorded it its place.

It needed no one's approval, resources or support to rally West African countries to contain rebellions and civil wars in Chad, Liberia and Sierra Leone,' Baba-Ahmed observes. But now as it crashes and declines inexorably it has become a laughing stock and nations which once viewed it with awe and respect walk away, or join the queue in exploiting its collapse while its corruption and serial incompetence in managing its affairs permit others to peddle doomsday scenarios about its future.

Its oil and gas may be loved, but itself is generally despised and loathed.

So low indeed is the esteem of Nigeria that a leader of another country would announce to the world his intention to investigate how its leaders had squandered the one hundred trillion dollars it earned in just one year, and how they created the gigantic black hole which sucked its other earnings. Nigeria has returned to the status of a slave nation: 'without muscle, vision or respect,' as Baba-Ahmed would say, it is now a cheerleader for a French blitz in Mali. This is the nation which is now a spectator in an unfolding

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WEEKEND with

Ibraheem Sulaiman sa427420@gmail.com

CBN Gov. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi drama which will expand the threats in Africa, and secure strategic, long-term interests of western nations.' Its best reward will be what a master grants a slave, a condescending nod for a job well done.

France will bury each and every one of its dead with full honors, Nigeria with the contempt and anonymity in which it holds its citizens, who can die for the sake of France, Britain or America.

This brings us to the issues we have been discoursing, Nigeria's squandered assets, squandered vision and squandered opportunities.

Just one example suffices to illustrate our point. Since 1989 Nigeria recorded a breakthrough in respect of Hajj management when the enabling law mandated the Nigerian Hajj Commission, for the first time, to establish the Hajj Saving Scheme and the Islamic Bank.

Nothing happened until now regarding the Saving Scheme. We have seen, for example what Malaysia has achieved through its own Hajj Saving Scheme, which has evolved into a giant investment institution involved in industry,

housing, real property, agriculture, banking, and a host of other ventures, creating jobs for millions of people, and managing assets of its own worth close to ten billion dollars.

The country took the strategic decision since the onset of Islamic banking to be the world's most important hub for Islamic Finance.

Today, Malaysia leads the world in the thought process as far as Islamic banking and finance is concerned, it also dominates the global market for sukuk, or Islamic bonds. According to The Economist [5/1/13], Malaysia issued the world's first sovereign sukuk in 2002; in the first three quarters of 2012 it was responsible for almost three-quarters of total global issuance, a big achievement for a small nation.

'Malaysia's Muslim heritage,' The Economist writes further, 'outwardlooking nature and links with financial hubs like Britain and Singapore made the place a natural candidate to bridge the worlds of religion and capitalism.' To consolidate its preeminence Malaysia established two major institutions: first, the International

Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF), established in 2005, is the world's leading university for the study of Islamic finance; second, the Islamic Banking and Finance Institute of Malaysia (IBFIM), which specialize in vocational training, offering a variety of certificates in Islamic finance and acts as a consultancy to banks and firms that want to become sharia-compliant. On top of that, Malaysia is home to the Islamic Financial Services Board, an international standard-setting body.

Thus does the country carve for itself a niche in Islamic Finance.

Britain, on its part, has been fighting hard to maintain its position as the hub of Islamic Finance in Europe and beyond, and deriving much benefit as a result. In a speech at Industry Forum, London, on October 17, 2007, Clive Briault of the Financial Services Authority, FSA, stated that London is most suited to be the hub, because it is innovative, it responds flexibly to new ideas, it has deep liquidity markets, and, quite significantly, English law is already the preferred jurisdiction for Islamic transactions.

Clive Briault said further: 'As banking regulators, the Bank of England and then - from 1998 - the FSA have been open to the development of Islamic finance for some time. One important signal came in a speech by Eddie George, then Governor of the Bank of England, in September 1995. In this, he recognised "the growing importance of Islamic banking in the Muslim world and its emergence on the international stage". This approach was taken forward by Sir Howard Davies, when he was Chairman of the FSA. In a speech in Bahrain in September 2003, for example, he noted that a soundly financed and prudently managed Islamic institution would be "good for Muslim consumers, good for innovation and diversity in our markets, and good for London as an international financial centre".

Britain is the leader in Islamic Finance in the West, the ninth in the world, in an industry growing fast in more than seventy countries, whose asset, by 2015 would be in the region three trillion dollars. London's issuance of Islamic bonds on the London Stock Exchange yielded some 19 billion dollars.

When all this was happening Nigeria was arguing back and forth whether Islamic Finance was desirable or not. Nigeria appeared not to be a part of the New World.

Published by Peoples Media Limited, 35, Ajose Adeogun Street, 1st Floor Peace Park Plaza, Utako, Abuja. Kano office: Plot 3, Zaria Road, Opposite Kano State House of Assembly. 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