Peoples Daily Newspaper, Thursday 09, May, 2013

www.peoplesdailyng.com

Vol. 10 No. 94

Thursday, May 9, 2013

. . . putting the people first

Jimadal Akhir 29, 1434 AH

N150

Money laundering: 2011 polls cost EFCC nabs, quizzes Nigeria N122bn ex-gov Sylva >> 3 - INEC >> 2

Militia kills 23 policemen in Nasarawa – Al-Makura From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

N

asarawa State Governor, Umar Tanko al-Makura has confirmed the killing of over 23 policemen Tuesday by cultists known as the Ombatse

militia group at Alakio village, about 10 km from Lafia, the state capital.

The deceased met their untimely deaths as they went about their lawful duty of dislodging the group that has

besieged the state for long, trying to destabilize the government.

Ombatse in Eggon language means 'time has come', which insinuates, an official of the state explained, that the group is causing commotion and

insecurity in order to upstage the government.

Al-Makura, who was at the State House in Abuja to brief Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo on the menace of the group and seek the assistance of the

federal government, told correspondents that the state government had a year ago dislodged the group, but they resurfaced about a fortnight ago, unleashing more mayhem.

Contd on Page 2

Insurgency: Mass revolt imminent, warns Shettima From Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

G

overnor Kashim Shetima of Borno state yesterday warned the political leadership of the country of an imminent revolt against them if they failed to provide the fundamental needs of the led, especially the youths.

Governor Shettima gave the warning while receiving the 32member Senate Joint Committee on the massacre in Baga, which paid him a courtesy visit at the Gvernment House, in Maiduguri.

He lamented that the only issue agitating the mind of the political class was how to amass ill-gotten wealth and perpetuate themselves in power.

“The most important issue in Nigeria is leadership, but I don't know why we are obsessed with power when poverty and destitution have remained the primary factors propelling the current insurgency", he decried.

He equally expressed fears that the country would likely be plunged into a more complex situation if proper planning for the future was not done in good time “Underneath the mayhem of Boko Haram, the youths of this country will start chasing us Contd on Page 2

Adopts kids of slain policeman

Borno state Governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima (left), yesterday sympathizing with families and relations of the 22 policemen killed in last Tuesday’s Bama deadly attacks. The state Police Commissioner, Abdullahi Yigusa, is by the right of the governor.

NSCIA, ACF, ACN condemn Baga killings

>> 3

PAGE 2

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

CONTENTS News

2-10

Editorial

12

Op.Ed

13

Letters

14

Opinion

15

Metro

16-18

Business

19-22

Stockwatch

23

S/Report

24-25

Earth

26-27

Update

28-29

NGF chairmanship: Can Amaechi survive Jonathan's onslaught?

Page 4

Int’l

31-34

Strange World 35 Digest

36

2011 polls cost Nigeria N122bn - INEC

T

he Independent National Electoral Cpommission said yesterday that Nigeria spent N122.9bn to conduct the 2011 general elections, according to a statement issued in Abuja yesterday by the Chief Press Secretary to the National Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission, Mr. Kayode Idowu.

Contd from Page 1 away, the sooner we unveil effective strategies, the better.”

The governor said he had trust and confidence in the senate as an independent and impartial arbiter, and emphasised his conviction that the committee's report would finally erase the controversy surrounding the incident in Baga.

Earlier, the Chairman of the Senate Joint Committee on the Baga Mayhem, Senator George Thompson Sekibo, had told Governor Kashim that they were in the state to carry out an onthe-spot assessment of the problem, make investigations and recommend the necessary measures to be taken to forestall a recurrence.

He said they had even commenced their assignment.

"We have started doing some work, we will expedite action as much as we can to complete the assignment within the stipulated time frame", Senator Sekibo added.

The joint committee is made up of the Senate Committee on Defence and Army, that of National Security and

Sports

41-45

Contd from Page 1

Leisure

47

Columnist

48

Gov. Al-Makura, who was visibly worried, insisted that his administration is set to uproot the group by whatever means available to it, adding that after his visit to the Vice President yesterday he intends to quickly hold an emergency meeting of the state's security council to deliberate on the matter and decide what action to take.

According to him, the state government thought it has subdued the group about a year ago only for it to resume hostility by attacking and forcibly initiating people from their tribal group into their group by making them to drink a prepared portion which hallucinates them and makes them do their biddings.

He said in the latest wave of violence the cultists attacked people in churches and mosques, reaching a peak on Tuesday when the slain policemen stormed their shrine to flush them out. But before the policemen could strike

letters@peoplesdaily-online.com pictures@peoplesdaily-online.com contact@peoplesdaily-online.com

Phones for News: 070-37756364 09-8734478

He added that the commission appreciates and fully shares Nigerians’ concern over the huge financial costs of elections in Nigeria.

He said the thrust of INEC’s strategic planning was to seek ways of remarkably cutting back on expenditure while safeguarding the integrity of the electoral process.

Intelligence, as well as the Senate Committee on Police.

Meanwhile, Governor Kashim Shettima of Borno state yesterday adopted three children of one of the 22 policemen killed in the Tuesday morning coordinated attacks by suspected Boko Haram insurgents on various security formations in Bama local government area of the state.

The adopted kids, Saviour, Emmanuel and John lost both their father and mother in the bloody attacks, when the invaders raided the Bama mobile police barracks. The siblings were presented to the governor by top police officials.

Governor Shettima announced the adoption of the children when he visited various scenes of the incident as well as 35 mobile squad base, where families and relations of the slain police personnel were rehabilitated, following the total destruction of their barracks by the rampaging insurgents.

While at the refugee camp, where 300 Internally Displaced Persons, (IDPs) - mostly women and children - were being sheltered the governor, who was

visibly piqued by the onslaught, urged the breaved families of the victims to consider the ugly trends as an acts of God. Shettima, who was led by the Bama Police Area Commander, ACP Sagir Abubakar, assured that government has adopted concrete security measures to forestall recurrence of the incidents.

While appealing to the people to remain calm, Shettima equally donated the sum of N5 million for the relations and families of the slain police officers as a palliative intervention to cushion their sufferings.

The state chief executive also told families of the victims that he resolve adopting the three orphans in order for them to feel a sense of belongings and offer meaningful contributions to their up-bringing.

"Actually it is not easy to lose a single soul, but the case of these children is quite different as they lost their entire parents. For this I'm personally adopting them and will treat them as my own blood children. In fact from now on they will be under my care, their feeding, education, shelter and other needs, will be under

my responsibility.

In his remarks, the Police Area Commander thanked the governor for the gesture, saying the police are ever ready to continue partnering with the state government to see to the end of the insurgency.

He also told the governor that the whereabouts of the divisional police office (DPO) of the area remained unknown as he was neither found dead or alive and that contact with him was still not established.

Earlier, the governor had visited the palace of the Shehu of Bama, Alhaji Kyari Ibn Ibrahim El-Kanemi, which shares same fence with the Bama prison yard where 14 prison personnel were killed in the onslaught.

Our correspondent reported that Shettima, who returned to the Governnent House in Maiduguri late evening, came in company of the adopted kids.

Similarly, several wounded police officers have also came with the governor who declared that government will offset the medical bills, upon being taken to the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital (UMTH) for proper treatment.

Militia kill 23 policemen in Nasarawa – Al-Makura

37-40

The Peoples Daily wants to hear from you with any news and pictures you think we should publish.

You can send your news and pictures to:

involved in the voter registration exercise, is N66.3 billion for recurrent expenditure and N56.6 billion for capital expenditure – making a total of N122.9 billion or, if you like, $800.6 million at an exchange rate of N153.5 to $1 which prevailed at the time.

“This represented a saving of N9 billion on a total of N131.4 billion that was appropriated.”

Insurgency: Mass revolt imminent, warns Shettima

Politics

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM YOU

Idowu said the amount showed that N9bn was saved from N131.4bn initially budgeted for the exercise.

The amount spent, he added, included N66.3bn on recurrent expenditure and N56.6bn also on capital expenditure.

He said, “contrary to lingering speculations, the actual cost of the 2011 elections, including all costs

at them they were ambushed and killed.

Gov. al-Makura said the situation is grave as the militia members carry arms and attack any area having conflict with their members, stressing that the situation is unacceptable and must be contained.

The police said at least 23 mobile police men deployed to raid a suspected armoury allegedly belonging to a militia group in Alakyo, Lafia local government area of Nasarawa state were killed during a gun battle with militants in the area while 9 others sustained various degrees of gunshot injuries and were currently receiving treatment at the Dalhatu Araf Specialist Hospital, Lafia.

Police authorities confirmed that only 19, out of 60-man squad deployed for the assignment, have returned to Lafia, the state capital as members of the ‘Ombaste’, alleged to be an Eggon ethnic militant group, reportedly ambushed the mobile police men on their way to raid the secret

armoury, burning down about nine police vans.

The Ombatse militia group has in recent times been in the centre of allegations that the group was behind subsisting communal clashes across the state.

Nasarawa state command police spokesman, DSP Michael Ada who confirmed the number of casualties in a telephone interview with our correspondent, further disclosed that other members of the team are still missing but that search parties have since been dispatched to try to locate them and bring them back to base.

Narrating his ordeal to journalists, one of the surviving Mobile police men who pleaded anonymity, revealed that most of their members were killed by the militants during the incident.

“What we saw in that area was hell. As I speak to you, some of our members who were killed are still in the bush while others are missing” According to him, “right from

the onset of our take-off for the assignment, I suspected that something amazing was going to happen because they had given us N5,000 each which used to be less than that” The state Commissioner of Police, Mr. Abayomi Akeremale who had earlier confirmed the incident to journalists in his office, explained that the command had, on Tuesday evening, dispatched a team of mobile policemen to raid a suspected armoury belonging to the Ombatse in Alakyo Lafia in Lafia local government area but the team was ambushed following which 9 members of the team were injured, with the attackers escaping into the bush.

He warned that the command would not fold its arms as members of the Ombatse, whom he recalled, some months back, opened fire on a team of soldiers on patrol in Nasarawa Eggon, along AkwangaLafia road and who he said have relocated to Lakyo with their shrine, and now resort to kidnapping and forcing their victims to an oath of allegiance.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 3

EFCC arrests ex-Gov Sylva

By Lambert Tyem

T

L-R: Secretary, PDP Board of Trustees (BoT), Senator Wali Jibrin, Chairman, PDP Board of Trustees, Chief Tony Anenih, Speaker, House of Representatives, Hon. Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, and Deputy Speaker, Hon. Emeka Ihedioha, during the BoT members’ visit to the Speaker at the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Outrage trails Bama shootout Jonathan, NSCIA, ACF, ACN condemn killings

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam, Abuja, Mohammad Ibrahim, Kaduna, Ayodele Samuel, Lagos & Mustapha Isah Kwaru, Maiduguri

A

cross section of Nigerians and organizations yesterday rose in condemnation of Tuesday’s killing of about 55 persons during a clash between members of the Boko Haram insurgent group and soldiers in Bama, Borno state.

President Goodluck Jonathan in a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Dr. Reuben Abati, described the incident as callous and wanton attack on innocent Nigerians, in the face of ongoing efforts to establish a workable framework for dialogue and the peaceful resolution of security challenges in northern Nigeria.

According to the statement, “the President warns that the Federal Government’s consideration of dialogue as an option for the elimination of some current threats to security should not be seen as a weakening of its resolve and determination to use all the forces at its disposal to crush all brazen affronts to the powers and sovereignty of the Nigerian nation.

“The President urges the Armed Forces and Police not to be disheartened or daunted by the loss of their colleagues but to remain focused and undeterred in discharging their responsibility for the security of lives and property in all parts of Nigeria with the assurance that the Federal Government will continue to give the Armed Forces and Police the fullest possible support to enhance

their ability to meet the continuing challenges of terrorism and insurgency.”

Also reacting to the killings, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA) appealed to insurgents to accept the amnesty that may be offered by the Federal Government and stop further spilling of blood and wanton destruction of property in the region.

The group also described the in the spate of killings in the north eastern part of the country as unfortunate as it condemned the Baga and Bama massacre as heinous crimes against humanity and calls upon the Federal Government immediately set up a judicial commission of inquiry to ensure that justice is done.

According to the NSCIA in a communiqué at the end of its meeting in Kaduna, “the Council calls on the insurgents to accept the amnesty that may be offered by the Federal Government and stop further spilling of blood and wanton destruction of property.

“The Federal Government, should as a matter of urgency, call to order those making inflammatory statements on the forth coming elections, so that the fragile peace in the country will not be jeopardized.

“The Council frowns at the continual failure of the state and FG to implement the white paper of their commissions/panels of inquiry on various ethno-religious crises and conflicts in the country.

“The Council calls on the FG to act immediately to restore normalcy and ensure enduring peace and security by resettling and protecting Muslims that have been unjustly displaced in crisis ridden areas including Tafawa Balewa in Bauchi state, scores of villages in Wase local government in Plateau state as well as in Southern Kaduna where Muslims had been massively massacred sequel to the 2011 general elections.

“The Council urges all Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government and other well-meaning Nigerians regardless of religion or geo-political affiliations, to fight corruption.”

Also reacting, the Minister of Interior, Comrade Abba Moro, condemned what he called the the gruesome killings of 13 officers of Nigerian Prisons Service, including the Chief Superintendent in charge of the Prisons yesterday at the ancient city of Bama in Borno State by suspected members of Boko Haram sect.

According to a statement by the Special Assistant to the Minister on Media, George Udoh, Moro urged security agencies in the country to stop at nothing in unraveling the identities of those behind the heinous acts.

And, for the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the killings were most unjustifiable.

A press statement by the ACF National Publicity Secretary, Mr. Anthony Sani, said that, “the reported attacks of Bama in Borno state by gun men which resulted in the death of many people and

loss of property is as unjustifiable as it is seriously condemnable, precisely because it has no imaginable aim, considering the acceptance of dialogue by the authority through which all grievances can be addressed for the good of all parties and for all Nigerians.

“ACF therefore appeals to those who enjoy taking other innocent people's lives to stop forthwith by laying down their arms and embrace peaceful means of resolving perceived differences.

“Our heart goes to the government and people of Borno state as well as to those who have lost their lives and properties.”

On its part, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, described the incident as “barbaric and callous.”

According to the party, “nothing in the world can justify the kind of killings we have witnessed in recent times, and it is high time those who are behind these orgy of violence stopped and retraced their steps. ''This unflattering portrayal can only have negative consequences for our country, which needs all the goodwill of its global partners, all the foreign investments it can muster, as well as an environment conducive for urgent growth and development.''

The ACN urged the Federal Government to work closely with other key stakeholders to find a lasting solution to the Boko Haram crisis, saying the time for flipflopping and foot-dragging is over.

he Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) yesterday arrested the former Governor of Bayelsa state, Timipre Sylva, in Abuja.

EFCC spokesman, Wilson Uwujaren, said Sylva was picked up yesterday at his Maitama home in Abuja, at about 10.00.

Uwujaren explained that EFCC operatives were initially told that the ex-Governor was not in town but they insisted on conducting a search on the house, having obtained a warrant from the court.

"During the search, vital documents were obtained.

Ironically, the ex-governor who was said to be out of town was later found hiding in a dingy corner in the upper chamber of his expansive mansion.", EFCC said.

It said that Sylva was immediately whisked away, and was being interrogated at the Abuja headquarters of the antigraft agency.

He was grilled in connection with fresh evidence linking him with a bouquet of fraudulent transactions that borders on money laundering. Part of the new evidence includes a number of eyepopping real estate acquisitions in Abuja.

The arrest of the former governor is sequel to his refusal to honour invitations by the Commission. Rather than appear before the EFCC, he got his lawyers to inform the Commission that he was unable to appear because he was sick, and hospitalised in Lagos.

The lawyer had promised to appear with his client on May 7, 2013 but failed to do so.

NNPC has never remitted Kobo to the federation account, Reps

By Umar Muhammad Puma

T

he House of Representatives yesterday disclosed that many key revenue generating agencies of the federal government have not been remitting trillions of Naira in internally generated revenue.

The worst offender, according to the House, is the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) which, he said, has never remitted what is ought to remit to the federal government's account in terms of IGR and gas revenue.

The chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Rep. Abdulmumin Jibril (PDP Kano state), who made the revelations yesterday said the failure contravenes provisions of the Fiscal Responsibility Act and other extent laws.

Speaking while hosting the management of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission to a sitting of the committee yesterday, Hon Jibril said the level of disregard for such laws informed the committee's decision to reinforce the Act establishing the commission to make the laws more proactive.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

NGF chairmanship: Can Amaechi survive Jonathan's onslaught?

By Lawrence Olaoye

T

he fact that President Goodluck Jonathan allegedly does not want the incumbent Chairman of the Nigeria Governors' Forum (NGF) and Rivers state governor, Hon. Rotimi Amaechi, to retain his seat in an election scheduled to hold anytime from now is no longer hidden.

Surreptitious political moves have been made by the Presidency to frustrate Amaechi's continued leadership of the obviously most powerful political organization in the country.

This becomes even more poignant when recently Jonathan's Special Adviser on Political Matters, Dr. Ahmed Gulak, stated in an interface with newsmen that the President would be willing to work with whoever takes over from Amaechi as the NGF's Chairman among the governors on the platform of the People's Democratic Party (PDP). Meanwhile, it has been variously speculated that the Presidency is solidly rooting for the emergence of the Katsina state governor, Ibrahim Shema, as Amaechi's replacement.

Commenting on the possibility of President Jonathan working with Amaechi should he survive the current onslaught and reemerge the NGF's chairman, Gulak foreclosed the possibility as he stated " Amaechi's tenure as NGF chairman is ending this April, so nobody is talking about his removal. When Bukola Saraki's tenure ended, he handed over to Amaechi. Since Amaechi's tenure is ending too, he must hand over to somebody else. The President is interested in any PDP governor, not necessarily Shema, taking over from Amaechi at the expiration of his tenure. There is no re-election for Amaechi. His tenure has expired except if he wants to extend his tenure and there is no tenure elongation in the NGF." To the Presidency, Amaechi can no longer be trusted to head the powerful NGF because of his conduct in his first tenure. Although the Rivers state governor is of the PDP, discerning political watchers have observed that his leadership of the NGF has played more of the opposition to Jonathan's policy, even as the party leadership is particularly uncomfortable with his continued leadership of the powerful body. The NGF under Amaechi was vociferous against the establishment of the National Sovereign Wealth Fund (SWF), a policy aimed at establishing a reserve fund to be saved for the proverbial raining days. The NGF maintained that there was no need for such savings because the raining days are here considering the nation's urgent need to build infrastructures.

Again, Amaechi drew the ire of the President when he declared his intention to contest the Presidency alongside a northern candidate even when it is obvious that Jonathan is interested in re-contesting the Presidency come 2015. Amaechi,

President Goodluck Jonathan

Governor Rotimi Amechi

whose posters as the running mate to the Jigawa state governor, Alhaji Sule Lamido, have begun to adore major cities on the country has never hidden his ambition to become the nation's number two citizen by 2015. This ambition, if not checked, would affect Jonathan's chance of retaining the Presidency and everything must be done to stop him, the Presidency reasoned.

The resolve to stop Amaechi at all cost, it was reasoned, accounted for the mobilization of Jonathan's staunch supporters in the ranks of the governors including the Bayrlsa state governor, Henry Seriake-Dickson; Benue state governor, Gabriel Suswam and his Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Godswill Akpabio to drum up support for Governor Shema as the Rivers state governor's replacement.

These governors are mandated to frustrate the holding of the NGF election until enough governors, especially under the platform of the ruling party, are mobilized to support Shema. It is however not yet clear whether this lobby group has succeeded in this enormous mandate.

This is because feelers from the NGF indicate that the governors are wary of playing into the hands of the President as doing so would amount to the clipping of the wings of the NGF as

a body. This much was made known recently with the declaration made by the Chairman of the Northern States, Governors Forum (NSGF) and the Niger state governor, Dr. Mua'zu Babangida Aliyu that nobody could clip the wings of the body.

To further ostracize the Rivers state governors and make him unmarketable among the northern governors, the PDP leadership which has become uncomfortable with Amaechi's uncompromising roles at the head of the NGF, established the PDP Governors Forum (PDPGF) and installed Akpabio its Chairman. It is believed that the Akwa-Ibom state governor, who has recently become the face of PDP performance in the comity of governors, has the wherewithal to persuade his colleague governors on the platform of the ruling party to see reasons with the Presidency to ditch Amaechi and support Shema for the NGF leadership.

The political calculation, however, is that northern governors would not be comfortable with Amaechi's leadership of the NGF since his kinsman from the South-south, Akapabio, is already at the head of the PDPGF consisting of 23 governors on the platform the party. The Presidency obviously took the support of the PDP governors for granted and failed to factor the influence of the opposition

“

Although the Rivers state governor is of the PDP, discerning political watchers have observed that his leadership of the NGF has played more of the opposition to Jonathan's policy, even as the party leadership is particularly uncomfortable with his continued leadership of the powerful body.

governors who are sympathetic to Amaechi's course.

Apparently realizing that the , 'operation stop Amaechi at all cost' may be Herculean, the PDP leadership dispatched the Chairman of its Board of Trustees (BOT), Chief Tony Anenih, to all the governors on the platform of the party to persuade them to buy into the Amaech Must Go project. Anenih and his entourage met with the governors and specifically with the Chairman of the Soth-south Caucus, Liyel Imoke, the Cross Rivers governor in Calabar over the matter.

At the Calabar meeting, Anenih told newsmen that "He is the chairman, South South Governors' Forum and a strong member of NGF and as such, we discussed who becomes the chairman of NGF with him. But for now, it is not for the press to know what we discussed. When the election is held, the press will know the outcome," he said.

In order to decimate Amaechi's influence even in his home state, the party leadership encouraged dissension in the Rivers State chapter of the PDP as an Abuja High Court on April 15, sacked the Akeh-led leadership of the PDP in the state. Justice Ishaq Bello, in his ruling endorsed the election of the party faction loyal to the Minister of State for Education, Nyson Wike, led by Felix Obuah and the entire members of the factional executive.

In order to stop the NGF chairman from junketing across the states of the federation soliciting support from his colleague - governors for the retention of his seat, it was suspected that the government influenced its aviation authorities to ground his private jet.

Development following the grounding of the aircraft by the nation's aviation authorities became even more appalling when it was alleged that the cost of the aircraft was inflated by a whopping sum of $10million. This introduced a criminal dimension to he whole saga as it is expected hat the antigraft agencies would soon begin investigations into the matter and this is even as it was alleged that the aircraft was equally operating illegally in the nation's airspace.

Regardless of the series of contrivances against Amaechi, there are indications that some of the governors still believe that he should not be rubbished by the Presidency as doing so, they reason, would rub off on their integrity and the effectiveness of the body. As things stand now, the Presidency has gotten to a point of no return as the whole issue have snowballed into an ego conflict. The President, whose ego is bound to be depleted should he lose the war to unseat Amaechi is not ready to back down. Yet, many of the governors, who have already vowed to resist any attempt to have their wings clipped, are also ready to fight back to ensure that their ranks are not infiltrated. Should we wait for a re-enactment of the emergence of the leadership of the House of Representatives under Speaker Aminu Waziri Tambul in defiance of the PDP leadership directives? Only time will tell.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

By Sunday Etuka

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan yesterday said that despite recent economic growth and success story of the African continent continent, infrastructure deficit across transport, energy, and communication remain constraints to further growth acceleration and the inability of the area to fight poverty.

The President who stated this in his opening remarks at the ongoing Infrastructure Summit, tagged “the World Economic Forum Africa 2013” at Capetown in South Africa said that, “inadequate and poor infrastructure in Africa remains a major constraint to the continent’s realization of its full economic potential.

“Due to the relatively poor infrastructure and low connectivity on the continent, we have the lowest level of inter-regional trade.

“While we account for about 12 per cent of the world’s population, our share of global trade is just about two per cent. “This is also a reflection of the fact that our economies are less diversified compared to other global regions.

PAGE 5

Jonathan decries infrastructure deficit in Africa “Poor infrastructure serves as additional burden and cost to our businesses, making it difficult for them to compete, and accompanied by structural and high level of u n e m p l o y m e n t .

“To effectively tackle these challenges, diversify our economies, reduce poverty and provide employment opportunities for our bulging

. . . Explains power sector privatisation

youth population, we must build necessary infrastructure in Africa across transport, communication and energy sectors.

“My administration has embarked on a number of reforms especially in the power and energy sectors,

road construction and infrastructural development to mention but a few.

“Just in the last two weeks, my government completed the biggest transfer of power assets in Africa to private investors.

“The power sector in

Nigeria is now totally privatized, except for the transmission company which is concessioned to a private firm to manage.

“Following these critical reforms, we expect an annual US 10 billion investment to follow for the next decade.”

Former Borno Gov, Amin dies at 75 From Mohammad Kaduna

Ibrahim,

A

former Governor of Borno state, Group Captain Mustapha Amin (rtd), died yesterday in Kaduna at the age of 75.

He served as Governor of the defunct North-Eastern Nigeria between 1976 and 1978.

Hundreds of sympathizers thronged his residence to condole with his family.

Some of the sympathizers who also attended the burial of the deceased included former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari.

The Chief Imam of Sultan Bello Mosque, Sheikh Balele Wali, performed the fidau prayer on him at about 1 pm before he was taken to the cemetery for burial.

Speaking on Amin, Buhari said, “ I knew him while we were in the military, he was a nice man, God-fearing. May Allah forgive him, amin.”

Another elder statesman, former Adviser to Premier of Northern Region, Sir Ahmadu Bello Sardauna, Alhaji Mamman Kankiya described late Amin as a straight forward man.

“I knew him for a long time since he moved to this area and I was with him just last week before he died.

“He was an honest, straight forward and gentle human being, we are all going to miss him.” He prayed to Allah to forgives him his sins and give the family the fortitude to bear the irreparable lost.

Late Mustapha Amin left behind a wife and five children.

L-R: Vice-President Mohammed Namadi Sambo discussing with Minister of Aviation, Princes Stella Oduah, during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by the vice president, at the State House, in Abuja.

Photo: Joe Oroye.

FG set to domesticate MLC

Nigeria signs oil deal with South Africa

he Federal Government is set to domesticate the 2006 Maritime Labour Convention (MLC) ratified by 39 states representing 68 per cent of global shipping in Geneva, Switzerland more than half a decade ago.

This was one of the outcomes of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting presided over by Vice President Muhammad Namadi Sambo yesterday in Abuja.

The FEC also deliberated on the receipt of a preliminary report on the Canada Conference held in Toronto.

Ministers who were at the conference gave reports of the successful hosting of the convention while the report showed that the reform program of the Federal Government

By Etuka Sunday

T

received positive global review.

Minister of Information , Labaran Maku, who alongside his Labour and Transport counterparts, Chief Emeka Nwogu and Senator Idris Umar respectively, briefed State House correspondents, said that for seven years, Nigeria was unable to domesticate the agreement despite the various advantages attached to it.

The MLC is an an ancillary of the International Labour Organization (ILO) Convention established as the fourth pillar of the international maritime law embodying various extant international maritime labour conventions and recommendations as well as the fundamental principles to be found in other international labour Conventions.

A

s part of efforts to further transform the Nigerian Petroleum Sector, the Federal Government and the Republic of South Africa have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in the oil and gas sector to reinforce and strengthen the existing symbiotic relationship between the two largest economies in Africa.

Speaking on the sidelines of the Nigeria and South Africa Business Forum in Cape Town, South Africa, the Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani Alison-Madueke, said that the visit and MOU were aimed at boosting the volume of oil and gas trade between the two countries.

Mrs. Alison-Madueke stated that the interface between the two nations would further develop and deepen their bilateral relations to develop synergies that would impact positively on the two nations and the continent of Africa at large. ”The historic visit to South Africa has afforded the Nigerian Government the opportunity to sign nine memoranda of understanding in different areas of the economy. Specifically, the MOU on Oil and Gas Sector is to basically help in the transfer of knowledge, skills, capacities and technology. This will ultimately help in transferring South African footprint into the Nigerian hydrocarbon industry,” Mrs Alison-Madueke stated.

PAGE 6

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

NSCIA: Atiku, Ahmed congratulate Oloyede, Arisekola appointments G

Aliyu wants law to regulate number of wives/children for couple

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

F

ormer Vice-President Atiku Abubakar has congratulated Alhaji Abdulazeez Arisekola Alao and Prof. Isiaq Oloyede over their appointments as Deputy National President and Secretary General, respectively of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs (NSCIA).

Atiku, in a press statement by his media office in Abuja, said the emergence of Arisekola and Oloyede both respected voices in the Islamic affairs of the country, marks the birth of a new era in the promotion of inter-faith dialogue and unity in Nigeria.

He said Oloyede, a renown

and cerebral scholar of Islamic studies will bring added impetus to the promotion of inter-faith relations in the country.

"It is cheering news to hear about the emergence of Arisekola and Oloyede as the new Deputy National President and Secretary-General, respectively of the Nigerian Supreme Council of Islamic Affairs.

"Their backgrounds will invariably add more gusto to the promotion of inter-faith relations in the country and the promotion of peace in Nigeria," Atiku said.

Also, Kwara state Governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed also lauded the appointments Oloyede and Arisekola.

Ahmed in a statement yesterday said the appointments were testimonies of their unquantifiable contributions to Islamic knowledge and religious harmony in the country.

According to the statement, "Prof. Oloyede's achievements at the University of Ilorin has not only become a reference point in university administration in Nigeria but as an Islamic scholar of international repute with bias for inter-religious harmony and peaceful coexistence among various socio-religions groups.

"As co-Secretary of Nigeria Inter-religious Council, Prof.

Oloyede, has contributed immensely to the current interreligious understanding and

peaceful cohabitation between Muslims and Christians in the country.

"Alhaji Azeez Arisekola, has invested his enormous resources in the promotion of Islam and Muslim communities and associations."

The Governor expressed hope that the injection of the new blood into the running of the affairs of the NSCIA will sustain the values of the organization as the umbrella body for all Muslims in the country.

He also prayed that Professor Oloyede and Alhaji Alao will bring their wealth of experience to bear in building bridges of unity and understanding across all religious and ethnic climes in the country.

overnor of Niger state, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, has advocated the promulgation of a law to regulate the number of wives and children any family can have in the country.

He also advised religious clerics to preach against keeping large families, in the mosques and churches.

Aliyu spoke yesterday in Minna when he received some members of the Niger state chapter of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (IFWL).

The Governor criticized the practice by some men who get married to another wife without first seeking the consent of the senior wife, describing the practice as un-Islamic.

According to him, "the scripture provides that before a man can take a second wife, he should first of all seek the consent of the senior wife to make her realize why the action is necessary.

"We should do things that are convenient for us and for the wife and the children so that when we go to the great beyond no one will be rain abuses on us."

2015: Anenih in meeting with Tambuwal

By Umar Muhammad Puma

C

L-R: Chairman, Media Committee, Nigerian Supreme Council for Islamic Affairs (NSCIA), Alhaji Femi Abbas; Secretary General, NSCIA, prof. Ishaq Oloyede, and deputy secretary general, Prof. Tijani Miskeen, at a news conference on the National Executive Council meeting of the council, yesterday in Kaduna

Insecurity: Army establishes quick response group

By Joy Baba

A

s part of it measure to curtail the security challenges in the country, the Nigerian Army has established a Quick Response Group (QRG) to patrol major high ways nationwide.

Director of Army Public Relations (DAPR), Brig-Gen Ibrahim Attahiru, stated this yesterday in Abuja while addressing journ a l i s t o n t h e latest development within the Army.

Attahiru said the QRG would provide quick

...United Nations takes over AFISMA operations reinforcement of troops to troubled spots, operate along designated routes to check the spate of armed robbery, arms trafficking and kidnapping, as well as any other acts of terrorism.

A c c o rding to him, the United Nations (UN) Security Council has adopted a resolution 2100 and

consequently approved a 21, 600 strong UN Peacekeeping Operation to be known as UN Multidimensional Stabilisation Mission in Mali, (MINUSMA).

He said that consequently, MINUSMA was expected to take over from African-led International Support Mission to Mali (AFISMA) on 1st June, 2013. he noted that based on the

development, AFISMA Nigerian Battalion II troops would become part of the MINUSMA force.

According to the Director, the Chief of Army Staff, Lt-Gen. Azubuike Ihejirika, has reiterated the need to ensure that Contingent Owned Equipments are adequately are adequately provided to in line with UN standards, to enhance the combat efficiency and operational capability of Nigerian troops in the mission.

hairman, Board of Trustees (BOT) of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Anthony Anenih, and members of the BOT, were yesterday in a closed door meeting with the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal that lasted for several hours.

Although, no reasons were for the meeting, a competent source hinted it was designed to convince the Speaker to drop his alleged political ambition and support President Jonathan's candidacy in the 2015 presidential election.

When asked to comment on the purpose of their visit, Anenih said the meeting was to discuss the insecurity in the country, relationship between the Executive and the Legislature as well as relationship with the party and other arms of government.

"I am a politician and I came to see a politician like me for the good of our party," Anenih said.

He also said that the National Assembly has demonstrated its competence, through various laws passed, that they are capable of representing the interests of every segment of the Nigerian public.

Tambuwal stated that the House had been working to ensure the implementation of the party's programme provided in its manifesto.

He also acknowledge the cooperation and harmonious relationship enjoyed by the ruling party from lawmakers in the opposition party in the parliament noting that the House has carried out its legislative functions with less acrimony.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Briefly Olofa stool: Appeal Court commences hearing

A

n Appeal Court sitting in I l o r i n yesterday commenced hearing in the suit filed by the Olugbense ruling house against the High Court ruling which upheld the appointment of Oba Mohammed Mufutau Gbadamosi as the Olofa of Offa in Offa local government area of Kwara state.

The lower court had in July 2012 dismissed suit filed by Alhaji Sheu Oyeniyi, Magaji of the Olugbense ruling house, seeking to invalidate the appointment of Oba Gbadamosi.

In the appeal, counsel to the appellants, John Olusola Baiyeshea (SAN), prayed the court to set aside the judgment of the High Court, which was in favour of Oba Gbadamosi.

From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

500 orphans get Yobe assistance

A

total of 500 orphans yesterday benefitted from the Yobe state government’s gesture in cash and material gifts to mark this year’s Orphans Day celebration.

Commissioner for Women Affairs, Hajja Asma’u Kabir Kolo, noted that Governor Ibrahim Gaidam had earmarked N34 million in the 2013 budget for programmes and activities in respect of orphans in the state.

According to her, out of the amount, the Governor approved the release of N15 million for the commemoration of the Day. She said that 215 orphans in schools would receive N5000.00 each for their school uniforms in addition to the gift of learning materials, a bag of rice, a carton of spaghetti, a carton of toilet soap and a carton of bar soap.

From Uche Uche, Damaturu.

Jigawa spends N2.6bn on scholarships

J

igawa state government has spent N2.6 billion on domestic and foreign scholarship for students in the last six years, according to the Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Prof. Haruna Wakili.

Wakili told newsmen in Dutse yesterday that 117 of the beneficiaries had graduated from a university in Singapore in various courses.

According to him, government has been sponsoring 100 best students in WAEC and NECO to study medicine and engineering in universities outside the country since 2009.

He noted that some beneficiaries of the scholarship scheme were in Cyprus and Egypt and that government had also sponsored graduates with First Class for Masters’ Degree programmes abroad.

From Ahmed Abubakar, Dutse

PAGE 7

Contractors abandon Munya road in Niger

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

M

essrs KCN Construction, contractors handling the construction of the 10kilometre road in Munya of local government area Niger state, may have abandoned the project.

The Niger state government had awarded the contract as

By Ikechukwu Okofarodi

T

part of efforts to open up the area for rapid socio-economicdevelopment.

According to the Monitoring and Evaluation Team that visited the site, there was no activity going on there as it also gathered that there were dilapidated equipment at the site which the team said was covered by over grown weeds.

None of the company's

Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu to wade into the matter as the concept of the construction of 10-kilometre road networks in all the 25 local government areas is one of the landmark achievements of his administration.

He added that any attempt to rubbish this laudable step towards the actualization of vision 3:2020 of the state should be discouraged.

Groups laud Aliyu over Dokubo

he Northern Emancipation Network (NEN) said yesterday that its members were solidly behind Chairman of Northern States Governors' Forum who is also the Niger state Governor, Dr. Muazu Babangida Aliyu, over his demand for the arrest of Asari Dokubo.

Describing Dokubo as "Niger Delta terrorist leader," the group described Aliyu as "the only vocal protector of northern interests."

The statement signed by the group's Secretary General, Ahmed Mohammed Billy, also warned Nigerians that President Goodluck Jonathan is not qualified to contest the 2015 presidential polls.

According to the statement, "irrespective of the distracting remarks made by the likes of Ahmed Gulak, the north, particularly the youth have noted that Jonathan is not even competent to contest in 2015 as recently disclosed by the Northern States Governors' Forum.

"We are also aware that it is based on this reality that Dokubo, Kuku and Gulak were commissioned to threaten the peace of the nation."

Another group, the Stewart Citizens Action for Change (ACAC), also said in a statement yesterday that it was compelled to respond to the threats by Dokubo and Kuku, not because they were the first to make such threats but because, "the youth no longer consider them as empty threats."

The statement signed by the ACAC Secretary, Malam Sani Darma, said, "we are now convinced that these threats are no mere coincidences but part of a sinister agenda that has the backing of the Presidency.

"We are so convinced because while Dokubo

NAFDAC vows to eradicate fake drugs

By A’isha Biola Raji

T

officials was available for comments.

When contracted, Chairman of the council, Alhaji Danjuma Baje Baro, told the Team led by the Director General, Mallam Iliyasu Dhacko, that he made several complaints to the relevant authorities and that the contractor refused to respond.

He appealed to Governor

he new board of Governing Council of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) yesterday assured Nigerians that the agency would ensure total eradication of fake and counterfeit drugs in the country.

Speaking after the maiden meeting of the board in Abuja, Chairman of the Council, Prof.

John O. Ibu, noted that fake and counterfeit drugs have reduced drastically under the leadership of Director General, Dr. Paul Orhii.

According to him, “the President and Minister of Health have tasked us to carry out our assignment and under the leadership of Dr. Paul Orhii, we will eradicate fake drugs as we were told by the Minister, to ensure the country is rid of the remaining four per cent in circulation.

“NAFDAC with its mandate to safeguard the health of all Nigerians will also have impact on improving the economic growth of the country.”

*Accuse Jonathan of sponsoring threats on 2015 presidency may have spoken in his capacity as a lawless tout, Kuku on the other hand, was by every interpretation speaking for President Jonathan as a Special Adviser.

"These two presidential trouble shooters should be reminded that nobody, not even the entire battalions of Niger Delta terrorists have monopoly of rascality, abusive utterances or even violence.

"These unguarded, though guided utterances, could also explain why some regions of the federation, particularly the north, has been thrown into a pestering security situation and the government's refusal to adopt reasonable proposal for a peaceful resolution.

"These utterances have further confirmed that the current spate of insecurity in the country is calculated to perpetuate Jonathan's stay in office.

"Let them be reminded that this is a democratic setting in which every Nigerian has the inherent right to aspire to any position including the presidency.

"It should therefore be known that Jonathan would be fiercely challenged in the 2015 if he dares join the presidential contest irrespective of Dokubo or Kukuh's threats."

PAGE 8

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Corps Marshal, Federal Road Safety Commission (FRSC), Mr. Osita Chidoka, leading other officers of the corps, during the 2nd UN Global Road Safety Week and relocation of the national headquarters of FRSC to Wuse Zone 3, yesterday in Abuja.

L-R: Former governor of Ekiti State, Otunba Niyi Adebayo; newly sworn-in deputy governor, Prof. Modupe Adelabu; Governor Kayode Fayemi; and his wife, Erelu Bisi Fayemi, during the swearing-in of Prof. Adelabu as a deputy governor, yesterday in Ado-Ekiti

Some sections of the Bama Police Station which was alleged to be burnt by the insurgents.

Photo:

R-L: Managing Director, Vibes FM 97.3, Benin City, Mr Peter Tongo, shows Governor Adams Oshiomhole the workings of a digital radio during a courtesy visit to the governor in Benin City, yesterday

L-R: Director Elizabeth Foundation, Princess Chioma Enyinnnaya, Chief Executive Officer of the Organisation, Mrs Angel Adelami, Senior Special Assistant to the Senate President on Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) Matters, Mrs Nehi Okunmwendia and one of the beneficiary of the NGO's assistant, Hayiya Jummai Muktar, during the foundation's distribution of items to widows and the destitutes, yesterday in Abuja. Photos: Mahmud Isa, Justin Imo-Owo, Mustafa Isa Kwaru & NAN

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 9

FG set to copy Czech’s technical, vocational education model

By Maryam Garba Hassan

T

he Federal Government has initiated moves to copy and implement the Czech model of technical and vocational education.

Minister of State for Education, Ezenwo Nyesom Wike, stated this when he led a Federal Government delegation to the Czech Republic where they met with officials the Vitkovice

Secondary School, Czech’s largest vocational institution.

The delegation had a tour of the institution’s expansive school facility at Ostrava, about 400 kilometres from Prague, that country’s capital city.

The delegation and the school’s administration deliberated on the implementation process of collaboration with Nigeria on the promotion of technical and

Drug peddling: NDLEA arrests 265 suspects in Edo, Gombe From Osaigbovo Iguobaro, Benin & David Hassan, Gombe

E

do state command of the National drug Law enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has said that a total of 231 suspected drug traffickers are to face prosecution.

Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the agency, Mr. Ahmadu Giade, gave the indication yesterday during the burning of 102.715 kilogrammes of narcotics and psychotropic drugs running into billions of naira.

He said that 81,541.71 kilogrammes of the illicit drugs were ceased last year and that the cannabis was traced and seized from vehicles and secret warehouses.”

There could not have been a better time to launch a fatal blow on drug barons who produce and

sell drugs to others given their usual sadness when we destroy their wares,” he said adding that a total of 480 acres of cannabis sativa farmland had been destroyed.

And, in Gombe, the NDLEA Commander, Mr. Aliyu Adole, told our correspondent that about 66.38 kilogrammes of cannabis was recovered while 34 suspects were arrested by his command between January and April 2013 while 15 suspects have been convicted.

As part of efforts drug peddling in the state, he noted that the command has organized a campaign to sensitize the general public on the effects of hard drugs.

According to Adole, 13 suspects are awaiting trial at the Federal High Court in Gombe and called on parents to always discourage their children from drug abuse.

vocational education, fashioned out alongside the Czech Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport.

Wike said that Nigeria would take advantage of the 180-year experience of the school in the use of technical and vocational education to develop the Czech national economy.

A press statement from the Ministry of Education noted that negotiations with the authorities of the Vitkovice Secondary School were fruitful.

According to the Minister,

“we are working towards a comprehensive overhaul of our technical and vocational schools to ensure that they are relevant to our economy.

“We believe that the partnership we are forging with the Czech government will assist us achieve our goal.

“Our fundamental objective is to have a technical and vocational education that trains the youth in relevant trades that will make them self-reliant and also equipped with the capacity to work in companies within their

environment.”

Lubomir Gogela of the Vitkovice Secondary School told the delegation that the institution was prepared to put its 180-year expertise in technical and vocational education at the disposal of the Nigerian Ministry of Education.

According to him, the school has experience working in different countries of the world, pointing out that it has developed pragmatic ways technical and vocational education to improve the living condition of the youth.

House of Reps visit Unilorin over utilisation of capital allocation From Olanrewaju Lawal, Ilorin

T

he House of Representatives Committee on Education has commended the University of Ilorin for its accomplishments in the areas of academic excellence, efficient system of administration, environmental beautification, infrastructural development and sustained high ranking among universities in the world.

Chairman of the committee, Hon. Shehu Garba, made the commendation during a visit to the the university on Tuesday, as part of its oversight tour of Federal Government

educational institutions.

After an inspection tour of projects on the campus, Garba said, “as a Nigerian I am very proud to be at the University of Ilorin.

“I graduated close to 30 years ago and I am worried by what has become of the standard of education in our country since then. But, for me, from what I have seen, I feel hopeful and elated that in the midst of the decay, we have an institution of excellence with very beautiful infrastructure.

“I believe that it is not just the beautiful infrastructure, we are all aware of the ranking of the University of Ilorin in the comity

of universities in the world.

“You are one of the few universities in the country that is often mentioned outside Nigeria as a centre of academic excellence. “So, I feel very proud seeing things for myself and I must commend the ViceChancellor and his able team for the good things they are doing.

Garba explained that they were in the school to know how the university was faring with regards to the utilisation of capital allocation from the Federal Government and how the institution has been able to generate revenue internally and how it has been using this to supplement its running cost.

PAGE 10

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Briefly Group condemns Dokubo’s outburst

Ex-service men protesting for nonpayment of their 53% arrears of pension, at the Entrance of the National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

T

he no-Jonathan-in-2015 no-Nigeria tough talk by the ex-militant leader, Asari Dokubo, has been described as “wicked and Satanic”.

In an interview with journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, a socio-political group, National Peace Vanquard (NPV) lambasted Dokubo for being “reactionary, divisive and arrogant”.

According to the NPV chairman, pery Ukende, Dokubo’s outburst was provocative and “unwarranted”.

Government, he added, should call him to order.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

By Gladys Kenneth

NSCDC parades motorcycle thief

T

Stakeholders say new aviation

policy emasculates NCAA

he Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) in Nasarawa state has paraded one Umar Jure, 26, for allegedly stealing a motorcycle in Shafa area of the state.

Parading the suspect, the NSDC state Commandant, Andekin Amos Musa, told journalists in Lafia that Jure was arrested following an alert by the people of the area.

Musa explained that the suspect, along with his accomplice, one Bonge, who is still at large, laid ambush for the owner of the motorcycle, Danladi Adebishi, at around 7.30 pm when the victim was returning from work and seized his motorcycle and other valuables.

takeholders in the nation's aviation sector have described Federal Government's new aviation policy as a move to emasculate the Nigeria Civil Aviation Agency (NCAA) and strip it of its regulatory powers.

Speaking on Tuesday at an interactive meeting with the Minister of Aviation, Princess, Stella Oduah, owners and operators of foreign and Nigeria registered business aircrafts, frowned at what they called unnecessary bottlenecks from the ministry before getting

From Ali Abare Abubakar, Lafia

By Sunday Ejike Benjamin

FRSC flags off 'operation shield.'

A

s part of renewed determination to mitigate against the prevalent occurrence of road crashes along critical corridors of the nation's highways, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) has flagged off a nationwide special patrol tagged "Operation Shield", slated for 6th - 12th may, 2013.

A statement yesterday by the Corps Public Education Officer (CPEO) Jonas Agwu, said that the all-inclusive exercise which coincides with this year's edition of the United Nations Global Safety Week, will witness massive deployment of 191 personnel, 43 patrol vehicles, 7 ambulances and four heavy duty tow trucks.

By Tobias Lengnan Dapam

By Ibrahim Kabiru Sule

S

approval to import aircrafts.

According to an operator of a private airliner, Bala Ibn NaAllah, while expressing displeasure at most of the provisions of the new policy, observed that although, "it is a global practice to come up with a policy but when regulation stipulates one thing, and a policy says another thing, then we begin to wonder what to do."

Another stakeholder, Roland Iyayi, who is the President of TOPBRASS Aviation, stated that he had once applied for import approval of three aircrafts from the ministry but had to wait for

about 13 months before some highly "influential individuals" facilitated the approval.

Also washing hands off the new policy was Captain Muhammad Joji who noted that the policy contravenes the International Aviation Act. He quoted some international civil aviation regulations which stipulate how the industry is supposed to be run, adding that the new policy "only enlarges the functions of Ministry and curtails the powers of NCAA." Several other aviation stakeholders, captains of

industries and airline executives bared their minds about the new policy.

In her opening address, the Minister who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Aviation, Anne Enne-Itta, said the interactive session was a follow up to the presentation of the new civil aviation policy.

She disclosed that submissions and complaints of stakeholders about the new policy would be noted, adding that plans were "almost concluded for the floating of a national carrier."

Akume certificate forgery suit: Late service stalls hearing

L

ate service of originating summons yesterday stalled the hearing of the suit against former Governor of Benue state and Senator representing Benue North-West Senatorial District, George Akume, over allegation of certificate forgery The plaintiff, Comrade Philip Agbese, had dragged Akume to court for allegedly forging his West African Examination Council (WAEC) certificate, praying the court to declare that whatever documents Akume presented to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), was false.

When the matter came up yesterday, Agbese's counsel, Chief Amobi Nzelu, cleared the air on the controversy that trailed his inability to appear in court at the last adjourned date of March 21, 2013 saying that he was before another judge at the Federal Capital Territory

High Court.

Akume's counsel, Chief Sebastine Hon (SAN) asked the court for time within which to respond to the plaintiff's originating summons.

He said he was served last Thursday and needed time to respond to the issues raised in the summons.

The court, sitting before

Justice Abubakar Mohammed, adjourned till June 17, 2013 for further mention of the case and ordered that all processes must be properly filed and served.

Agbese, through his counsel, is praying the court for a declaration that Akume did not possess the certificate number SCO 39633 allegedly issued to him by Government Secondary

School Oturkpo, Benue State in 1971.

Joined in the suit are WAEC, INEC, Inspector General of Police and the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) as 2nd to 5th defendants.

The plaintiff also asked the court for an injunction restraining Akume from parading himself as a Senator.

Ministry set to revamp nation's roads

By Joy Baba

M

inister of Works and Housing, Mike Onolememen, has said the ministry had started addressing the rampant cases of dilapidated roads in the country.

He spoke in a message he sent at a programme organized by the Nigerian Building and Road Research Institute (NBRRI).

Represented by the Permanent Secretary in the ministry, Alhaji

Muhammed Koro, Onolememen said that. "I am piqued by critical issues of road sector in Nigeria.

"The first stems from the fact that Nigeria's federal road network of 200,000 kilometres is one of the largest in Africa.

"I can confirm to you that government is not complacent with this record because of our ideals of Vision 20: 2020 and the need to provide appropriate infrastructure to kick start and sustain Nigeria's rapid socio-

economic development."

According to him, there are already efforts to construct and rehabilitate strategic roads in the six geo-political zones.

On his part, Minister of Science and Technology who was represented by Professor, Sunday Thomas, said the federal road network constitutes a great national asset spanning an estimated 200,000 km and valued at over US $25bn (N3,500bn) by a 2003 estimate.

PAGE 11

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

MONEY TIP

Make plans to enjoy a better relationship with money

Try to revolve M round your means

M

ost people fall into three general financial profiles.

They either spends above their means spend just what they have, or they spend less than their means. There have been studies done which show that 90% of the world's wealth is held by 10% of the population, and that even if this wealth were redistributed equally, it would be back in the hands of the 10% within seven years.

This illustrates that most people would find it difficult to change their normal spending habits, but in fact, this is the most important thing to guarantee personal financial health.

What this comes down to is learning what profile you fit in, and then learning how to change those spending, budgeting, and saving habits to meet your goals. Although many of these strategies will require discipline, the long term goals are clear: once you decide on a path, make the commitment to stick to it and you will find within a few months, you will begin adjusting your lifestyle to your new financial habits, which will, in turn, reinforce these new practices.

If you often spend more than your needs, you best first step is to focus on a budget, looking for areas that are unnecessary and can be trimmed, and be prepared to have the discipline to stick to your new budget.

If you often spend to your means, your best starting point is look for opportunities to build up your savings, which helps to reduce the risk and impact of unexpected expenses, and allows you to begin saving for the future.

Quote "I will tell you how to become rich. Close the doors. Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful."

- Warren Buffett

aking a plan is one of the most simple and effective things you can do, not just for living frugally, but for living life. There are few great things that were not made with some sort of plan.

I'll admit that talking about planning's awesomeness is easy for me. I am a natural planner.

It's a quality that has both benefits and problems. On one hand, I love that it helps me get things done. But I also have to work to accept changes when a plan is modified for reasons beyond my control. I get jealous of people who easily adjust to the unexpected.

There are benefits to both sides, of course and by learning to balance planning and spontaneity, we can all save more money and live better.

Make small plans A lot of the common frugal living advice: bring your own lunch, don't go to the coffee shop, these are small plans. You have to plan ahead to buy the food for lunch, and plan the time to put that food together. When you make lots of little plans like this, the savings can really add up.

And there are thousands of ways to save money with small plans, including: " Buying products when they're at their cheapest " Making your own coffee " Preparing home-cooked meals " Using daily deals vouchers " Searching for the right travel deals, and many more.

Make Big Plans Big plans often require, well,

big planning. They can take time not just to achieve, but to simply plan. And making big plans can be challenging. I mean, some of the well-paid people out there are essentially master planners, such as architects, engineers, and so on.

But big plans also have the biggest payouts. Big plans are what make the most epic movies, the tallest skyscrapers, and elite athletes. These plans take time and commitment.

In the world of personal

finance, big plans are things like your budget and the steps to achieve your finance-related life goals: things like buying a house, sending your child to college, or creating a submarine that honks its horn and tailgates James Cameron as he travels to the bottom of Challenger Deep (OK, that's not really a goal I have, but I just think it would be hilarious, and cost a lot of money). Big plans are there to inspire you, remind you of what you're working towards, and give you concrete

steps to reach those goals. And when you feel off track, big plans are there to help you get back.

When it comes to saving money, big plans are like a calzone, with lots of small plans making up the delicious filling.

If you already have all those small plans prepped, making that big plan is pretty easy.

You might think that you can start saving more without a plan. And maybe, maybe you can. But honestly, it's not likely.

Improve your financial pose with simple adjustments

T

hey say "money can't buy happiness,' but it certainly can be a source of happiness. Whether you don't have enough money or much of it, almost everyone has worries about their finances. In this article, you'll find some ideas that can help your money work for you without going through so much stress.

Refinance your major purchases if you need to: Get pre-approved for a mortgage before you purchase a new home and think about refinancing your vehicle, too.

Watch out for high interest rates, and do not refinance your possessions if you do not really need to, since you will end up paying interest rates.

Consider transferring the change out of your checking account every day, and moving it to your savings account. This is a small change you won't miss coming out of your checking account. However, you will manage to save money by doing this every day.

If one has knowledge in repairing electronic items, then they can earn money for their personal finances. Items such as video game consoles can be repaired for a fee. These items can come from friends, neighbours, or other customers gained through advertisement.

One can earn a nice amount of

money by simply repairing other people's game consoles.

Ask family and friends what they are doing: This is not so much so that you can do what they are doing, but to give you ideas about options that might be available that you haven't heard of.

Finding out what other people are doing is a good way to find

what will work best for you.

Talk to different loan officers before you sign anything: Make sure to read over the lending contract very carefully to ensure that you are not getting into a mortgage that has hidden charges, and that the terms of the loan are just as you and the lender had agreed to.

One of the things that you can

do in order to effectively manage your personal finances is by being a smart shopper. Do not spend your money on cheap deals that you will not even use.

The money spent on these items can be spent on more important things such as rent.

A simple piece of advice that is proven time after time to save money is to avoid buying your groceries when you're feeling hungry. If you head to the grocery store when you're hungry, you'll buy a lot more food because you're craving it.

Furthermore, always make a list, and stick to it.

Pensions: Start planning your retirement early.

Take advantage of everything your employer offers in terms of pension contributions, and invest as much as possible in alternative options.

Don't underestimate the cost of retirement: most people need 70 percent of their current income to live comfortably.

Unless you win a grand prize, you'll probably always have to worry about money. However, if you develop good personal spending habits, it'll go from an overwhelming stress to a minor concern. This piece of writing has armed you with the information you need to improve your financial situation. All you have to do is use it.

Share your Money Tip: do you have a business/money idea, and you want to share it with our dear readers? Then, send it to: ikabirsule@gmail.com or (text it to 08091904890)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

By Michael Egbejumi-David

J

onathan is the latest stooge occupying our national centre stage. We all know the story: Obasanjo drafted-in an uninterested, unhealthy and unprepared Umaru Yar'Adua largely so OBJ could stick his middle finger to the rest of the country for torpedoing his attempt to perpetuate himself in office. Also, OBJ needed someone whose performance in office would be so bad, so sad, it would make his (OBJ) time seem like the Great Renaissance. Then, he paired up the colourless Yar'Adua with an even less colourful Jonathan.

We all bear witness to the unsatisfactory result of that dastardly experiment today.

Before anybody heard of brother Jonathan, the man was a lecturer in a school, minding his own business. He left the management of his day-to-day life in the large hands of his wife.

He taught some young people who were sufficiently interested the exciting life of fauna. He was utterly uninterested in the administrative end of things.

Even just reading passages to a roomful of students was a painfully tedious task for him.

He kept largely to himself and kept his head well down. Life was easier for him that way.

Then entered DSP Alamieyeseigha, freshly booted out of the Nigerian Air Force.

However in Bayelsa, Alamieyeseigha was the Alpha Centauri. He shone the brightest there post 1998 and ruled the roost unchallenged. To keep matters that way, Alamieyeseigha plucked a docile Jonathan from the obscurity of school life and made him his

PAGE 13

Jonathan, Obasanjo and‌ Deputy. A star-struck Jonathan however continued to entrust the management of his daily life to his faithful wife. Jonathan and everyone else in Bayelsa stood by and watched while Alams went about his grim thieving business.

But Alamieyeseigha outdid himself, and a combination of Obasanjo, Nuhu Ribadu and the British kicked Alams out on his ear and into undignified, feminised, internal exile. A petrified Jonathan was thus thrust into the limelight. Even then, for 18 months, Jonathan kept his head well down and continued to live as uninspired and as anonymously as he could as governor. As vice president, the strains began to show. Abuja and national politicking was a different matter. But Jonathan was still keeping his head well down. He still left the

management of his life largely in the steady hands of his wife, although Mrs Jonathan was beginning to rampage all over the place - as much as she was able to get away with under the unsmiling gaze of Turai Yar'adua.

But Jonathan was a truly absent VP. He was not in the mould of, say, Atiku or Dr Ekwueme. He wasn't entrusted with any genuine State or Administrative duties, responsibilities or functions and he never asked for one. He never demonstrated any discernible managerial desire, skill, or capacity. While whiling away, Jonathan tried once to play Godfather and dabble in local Bayelsa politics from Abuja. But he got his fingers badly burnt and quickly retreated into his shell. He never attempted that

pastime again. It was an unhappy and a horrified Jonathan that watched Yar'Adua's health plummet not even halfway into their first term. Yar'Adua didn't help matters by smoking like a chimney all the time.

Eventually, his "catarrh" caught up with him in a Saudi Arabian hospital and Yar'Adua's shell was smuggled back into Nigeria. So Jonathan inherited the big seat but not before our Northern brothers gave him a taste of hell or two.

To give credit to the man, Jonathan only wanted to see out the remainder of Yar'adua's term and return home to the relative comfort of the Niger Delta but others won't let him.

OBJ wouldn't let him throw in the towel even after being mentally pummelled by some

“

To give credit to the man, Jonathan only wanted to see out the remainder of Yar'adua's term and return home to the relative comfort of the Niger Delta but others won't let him. OBJ wouldn't let him throw in the towel even after being mentally pummelled by some junior Northern officers/officials. The Americans would not let Jonathan give up either. In particular, the US was going through a dreadful recession and saw in Nigeria and in Jonathan an opportunity to keep in check the skyrocketing oil and fuel prices in their country

junior Northern officers/ officials. The Americans would not let Jonathan give up either.

In particular, the US was going through a dreadful recession and saw in Nigeria and in Jonathan an opportunity to keep in check the skyrocketing oil and fuel prices in their country. Jonathan was summoned to the White House.

There, he again expressed his desire to return home but the Americans told him to man-up.

They assured him that they are behind him like eczema. To help him out administratively, the Americans persuaded a reluctant Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala to return to Nigeria and become Jonathan's de facto Prime Minister.

Now, nearly everyone seems surprised that Jonathan has dropped the ball. We all seem shocked that even with a PhD, the fellow cannot pass muster.

But are we right to demand from someone something they never had? How can we ask a person to provide us what he demonstrably lacks? Isn't the joke on us? And that has been the story of Nigeria, I'm afraid.

When you have OBJ, Mrs Patience, Leadership Newspaper, Tinubu, Alamieyeseigha, Boko Haram, Social Media and Obama breathing down your neck all of the time, what would you do?

Wouldn't you drink too - even if the kai-kai is packaged in a fetching Nestle Nesquick plastic container? demdem@hotmail.co.uk; Twitter: demdemdem1

Between inordinate ambition and good governance

By Akintokunbo Adejumo

A

s the race for political offices in 2015 begins to be perceived as elephant meat that every Tom, Dick, or Harry, including those that are unfit for public office fraudsters, murderers, thieves, convicts, etc. - want to slice off a piece , all kinds of people are coming out to vie for elective offices, including the Presidency and , Governorship in 2015. The kinds of people who appear to be crawling out of the woodwork in recent times confirm our longheld suspicion that these previously revered positions are still not being accorded the dignity they deserve.

Most, if not all, of these men are corrupt and inept. They are corrupt politicians and rulers (I refuse to call them leaders) who pretend to be concerned about the future of the country but are men who will further erode the fine traditions of multi-party democracy, further entrench corruption, negate socio-political development, entrench backwardness and promote disrespect for fundamental human rights that we so desperately crave. One only needs to examine the records of these men when they rigged

themselves into governance to conclude that they lack the moral fibre and fitness to be in their current political offices and positions, to even condemn others, let alone contest for the Presidency.

A former member of the House of Representatives Hon. Mohammed Kumali, says inordinate ambition and ego trips are the causes of Nigeria's political crisis. According to him, "Nigeria's polity is ravaged by politicians who want to dominate the political space for life. Political leaders fail to distinguish between their offices and their personal egos, and have side-lined the led." Even, President Jonathan who spoke at the end of the convention of the PDP in March 2013 in Abuja told the members "to resist the temptation of allowing inordinate ambition and what appears to be a growing obsession with the politics of succession in 2015 to cause disaffection within the ranks of the party".

Look around us. Already, serving ministers (who did not contest elections or failed at elections and were recompensed and appointed ministers) and federal legislators having stolen enough money are now trying

to force themselves into contention to be governors of their home states. Some serving governors succeeded through this route. Some senior civil servants, nearing retirement are considering this route. At the state level, similar scenarios exist. Deputy Governors, of course, and erroneously, expect that it is a natural career or political progression for them to become the next governor of the state. Inordinate ambition, again. Commissioners have abandoned their service and are scheming and campaigning to be governors. They are also joined by state legislators (members of the House of Assemblies) and local government chair-persons and even some ambitious councillors.

Inordinate ambition also applies when a person is striving for position or power that is actually beyond their capabilities, intelligence or abilities. Some recognise their own lack of these virtues, but still want to obfuscate and cheat their way around; others don't and think they do. Examples abound in our political, and actually in our way of life. An instance of this is the dishonesty of our politicians when it comes

to their educational attainment or achievement. Certainly, they are, or such people feel inferior because they have low levels of education, even though they have the minimum requirement as stipulated by legislation, sometimes, none at all, so they resort to forgery.

How do you expect a forger to perform in governance? How do you expect a forger to provide the right services to the people?

A forger of educational certificate is definitely in the political system to steal and exploit the system.

These types of politicians have ambitions not commensurate with their abilities. That is why we find that many of our legislators, federal or states can spend an entire four years in the hallowed chambers and never contribute a word and idea to any issues on the floor of the house. Go and look at the records, The surge in the number of Nigerians wanting to run for political office is breeding mayhem in the country. In the First Republic, the desire for people to contest elective positions was not so strong. For example, local government councillors only received sitting and transport allowance but in this

unrestrained 1999-political dispensation and era, the huge salary, un-merited allowances and other huge sums of money being paid to political aides, constituency offices, domestic, utility allowances, which legislators converted to their pockets as part of their takehome pay every month, has made elective legislative positions a do-or-die affair.

It is no wonder we are in big trouble with people like these; people with inordinate ambition and of low intelligence at the helm of affairs of a country as complex and yet so blessed as ours. They just can't handle it.

They do not have the intelligence, the vision, the focus, the sensibilities, the conscience, the commitment, the selflessness, the wherewithal, the capabilities, the moral ground and character to lead people. It is impossible for a stupid goat to lead a pack of dogs. They are frittering away our common wealth and opportunities. Please, compatriots, let's make it impossible for these opportunists, parasites and people of inordinate ambition in 2015!

Adetokunbo Adejumo is on www.facebook.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 14

By Peter Claver Oparah

C

hibuike Rotimi Amaechi, the governor of Rivers state, is of the PDP, the party most of us believe, has been behind the monumental wreck of the Nigerian state in the past fourteen years. I took note of his political activities during the period he took on the PDP for whimsically disowning his governorship candidacy because the father of PDP, Olusegun Obasanjo, woke up one sultry morning feeling that Amaechi's candidacy had k-leg. He fought the battle to the end and was rewarded with the plum office of Rivers' governor by the highest court in the land. Then, he walked back to the PDP and the revelry continued. Today, he is besieged and hemmed in on all sides by the same PDP. The battle against Amaechi is premised on the wild permutations on the 2015 presidency. The Jonathan presidency, after a humbling score sheet, desires an encore and in this desire and with performance not favouring it, the regimes needs every rough tactics to strengthen its quest for a second term. Not that Amaechi has expressed interest in the presidency and not that he has given any flesh to the robust rumour that he is tagging as running mate to a northern governor in the run up to the 2015 presidency.

Rather, much of his alleged sins are still domesticated on how he respects or greets the president and his spouse. They are still located on how the minders of the Jonathan presidency read his body language and his swagger.

A battle Amaechi must fight a huge payoff In a Jonathan from making presidency enemies for made up of him. They are commissioned those whose job Peoples Daily welcomes your letters, opinion articles, text and non briefs revolve commissioned messages and ‘pictures of yesteryears.’ All written not around how courtiers, contributions should be concise. Word limits: Letters - 150 to improve the gossips, idlers, words, Articles - 750 words. Please include your name and dawdy face of meal time statecraft in a valid location. Letters to the Editor should be addressed jokers, petty Jonathan's lickspittles, to: Nigeria but ethnic denizens, finding who mercenary The Editor, disrespects or activists, the Peoples Daily, 1st Floor Peace Plaza, abuses the business of president and 35 Ajose Adeogun Street, Utako, Abuja. scavenging for that remains who disrespects, Email: opinion@peoplesdaily-online.com the tragedy of frowns at and SMS: 08134607052 Nigeria under abuses the Jonathan's presidency has watch. But, we become a is where the similarity ends. may be making the mistakes of lucrative venture. For a Amaechi struggled and fought our lives to limit the present onpresidency, not gifted with the and won power from outside the going feud to an Amaechifaculty of discernment and PDP ring while Jonathan had Jonathan jostle for political highly susceptible to mind power thrust on his laps by the supremacy or one of the usual manipulation by desperate sleight of hands of the powers PDP family matters that are hustlers to corner the larger that be. Amaechi is street wise, settled with heavy deployment chunk of the free meal that fires witty and a practical political of state resources. This issue is the pin of the presidency, this becomes a potent weapon to hunt artist while Jonathan depends on about democracy and rule of law the benevolent gods to crack his and concerns all Nigerians that down Amaechi. kernel for him. While Jonathan have the least concern about the He and Jonathan have believes so much in the talisman state of health of our greatly things in common as members in his Goodluck name, Amaechi mismanaged democracy. of the PDP, a party that covets knows that he had to pull himself It is about the fate of our power for its own face value and by his bootstraps. While Amaechi wobbling democracy and how nothing more. The party does has tried to acquit himself in we can rescue the democracy not believe that there is power, Jonathan has been a we all sweated and slaved for responsibility attached to power huge disappointment, from the hands of pocket and in this power heritage blundering and sleep walking dictators and demigods who mentality, it is wont to apply through the enormous afflictions have employed it as tools to any crooked means to corner enslave us and enrich power. It is the party of the fixers of the country.

While Amaechi possesses the themselves. Not that Amaechi and enablers and both Amaechi attributes of a veteran fighter, is fighting for us anyway but it and Jonathan subscribe to this Jonathan shadow-boxes through is absolutely wrong for him to base template. Both came to a retinue of aides who predicate be witch-hunted on the basis of power on this pedestal. But that

WRITE TO US

perceived ambition or who he relates with or how he expresses his mood. I may not agree that Amaechi's performance has been very spectacular, as his menservants have put forth but after a visit to Rivers penultimate week, I feel he stands out from a motley crowd of PDP governors who feel they owe nobody any decent performance to nick any available office.

Most importantly, he stands head and shoulder above a wobbling presidency that has put every wrong foot forward in meeting Nigerians' expectations from a democratic civilian government. He towers above his traducers whose penchant for pedestrian politics has led to finagling an endless war front where perceived and real enemies are destined to be crushed through a bland and often illegal deployment of state power and force.

It is within Amaechi's constitutional rights to dream dreams. It is within his individual rights to associate with any person or political shade he elects to. He is not overstepping his inalienable rights if he decides to back any candidate or even throw his hat in the ring for the 2015 presidency. He is not constitutionally barred from pursuing any ambition and owes no one any apology for any intent that does not infringe the laws of the land.

Peter Claver Oparah peterclaver2000@yahoo.com)

Ekiti: Stepping into the shoes of a Moremi

By Dele Agekameh

I

can bet it with any serious politician in Ekiti State today that the choice of Adelabu as deputy governor has given Fayemi another victory, a resounding victory at the yet-tobe-contested and conducted 2014 polls. It was swift and well calculated to deliver a big, maximum political punch on Ekiti politics. Perhaps, that is the only mild manner the sudden appointment last weekend of Modupe Adelabu as the deputy governor of Ekiti State could best be described. A professor of Education, Adelabu replaces the immediate past deputy governor, late Eunice Oluwafunmilayo Adunni Olayinka, who passed on, on April 6, 2013, following a protracted battle with cancer.

Olayinka was an amazon gifted with guts, gumption and iron in her backbone while her sojourn on planet earth lasted.

Unfortunately, her poise, finesse, elegance and mental acuity had been consumed by a notorious cancer that cut her down. The outpouring of emotions, grief, tributes, and the wellchoreographed rites of passage with which she was 'escorted' from her death bed to her final resting place at Ado-Ekiti, the fast growing capital of Ekiti State, attested to the high esteem the Ekitis usually accord their heroes and heroines, living or dead. No wonder many people, especially her kindred in Ekiti, knighted her "Moremi Ekiti". This is a great honour and perhaps,

the first time in the history of Yoruba land, that someone is considered worthy to literarily step into Moremi's shoes.

Moremi, in Yoruba mythology, was a damsel who was abducted (or kidnapped) by some bandits from a particularly nagging tribe that perennially invaded Ile-Ife, the cradle of Yoruba land many, many years ago. On one of such raids, Moremi was taken along among the supposed captives, easily one of the spoils of wars then. Legend has it that Moremi allowed herself to be captured by her own volition. Before then, the Yoruba were always voting with their feet whenever the masqueradelooking invaders who they ignorantly referred to as 'araorun' (spirits) invaded Ile-Ife. Moremi stopped all that. During her period in captivity, she spied on the so-called invaders who had tormented her people for a long time. One day, she escaped and meandered her way back to IleIfe. There she revealed to her people that the recalcitrant invaders were actually human beings disguised in regalia made of raffia palm and dressed like masquerades to frighten and terrorise the people.

Now loaded with the gift of insider knowledge, the Yoruba started plotting how to confront the terrorists. By the time they came on their next expedition, they were not only confronted by the now emboldened Yoruba, they were massively slaughtered and rooted. The trick was simple.

Long bamboo sticks were mounted with 'oguso' (dried palm

fruits waste), which was highly combustible. It is still used in some African rural settings to make bonfire till date. So many of them, stored in various 'armouries' all over the ancient town, were released. Bonfires were then made of them and the 'masquerades' were set on fire one by one. Before they realised what was happening, the invaders had been rooted. Those who managed to escape, if any, never dared the Yoruba again.

It is to the everlasting memory of the heroism of Moremi that the Yoruba worship and equate her with a deity, which she really was. It is in commemoration of the titanic battle that the Ife people celebrate her annually with what is known as 'Edi' festival, which holds towards the end of the year. It is an event which attracts people from all walks of life, including

the Diaspora, to Ile-Ife. During the festival, which runs for about seven days, the fourth day called 'ina-osan', 'noon fire' is celebrated by inducing a mock 'war'. Here, able-bodied men carrying thick and long fire-bearing sticks, usually emerge from the innermost recess of the palace of the Ooni of Ife. With the ferocious fire burning all through the streets, crisscrossing Itakogun and Arubidi quarters of the town, a distance of about six or more kilometers to the palace. The procession terminates at a sacred grove located deep inside a thick forest (Igbo Oro), in the Iyekere area of the ancient and historical city, close to present-day Ondo Road. This procession is held amidst drumming, singing, dancing and acrobatic displays by various traditional, gender, age and cultural groups in the town.

After the fire-bearing men

“

This is a big challenge for the new deputy governor who is stepping into such giant-size shoes. Do I call it Queen-size? I am quite sure that she is up to the task. This is because Adelabu's academic standing speaks volumes about her talents

has exited the palace, another group of tall and huge men dressed in the costume of the 'masquerade' invaders of old, will emerge from 'hiding' and dance round Enuwa quarters located just by the gate of the palace.

They also dance inside the palace with youths and young children trooping behind them. The final day of the Edi festival is marked by the appearance of 'Tele'.

That seven-day revelry that accompanied the annual Edi festival was the equivalent of what the Ekitis did for Olayinka all through her death to her final interment. That was more than what a princess, which she was, deserved because Olayinka proved that it was possible for a lady to combine beauty with brain and sparkling achievements. By doing that, she joined the lengthy list of eminent women who are today occupying sensitive places in the hall of fame not only in Nigeria or Africa but the world at large.

This is a big challenge for the new deputy governor who is stepping into such giant-size shoes. Do I call it Queen-size? I am quite sure that she is up to the task. This is because Adelabu's academic standing speaks volumes about her talents.

Kayode Fayemi, the workaholic, incumbent governor of Ekiti State, had initially wanted her as a deputy, but the case of her ailing husband at the time was more compelling for her total attention. Hence she politely turned down the offer.

Dele Agakemah is on www.facebook.com

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

By Olajide Jatto

I

see us as a people who are too busy looking up while moving forward forgetting we might run into others in front of us or even worse trample on those lying down. It seems almost embedded in us humans to take into reckoning only those of our class and ilk and ignore completely those that are below our level in class, status, financial, spiritual or whatever other inclination you choose to judge by. How about we try looking forward from time to time while looking up?

In the same world where there are those who live on two dollars per day, millionaires go into depression for not being on the Forbes list of billionaires. In the same world where others struggle to have any form of connection with a spiritual side, other 'anointed' ones take issue with God for giving them less anointing than a fellow 'anointed' one. Churches are too busy 'sinner-hunting' to care about the homeless. The guy with two children is too busy wanting a third to spare a word of encouragement for the barren.

And we wonder why it is a dog-eat-dog world? And we

PAGE 15

Consider others... wonder why wickedness persists? No one spares a thought for those less advantaged in whatever ramification. If the only ones we consider human or permit into our private worlds are those who have something to offer, is there any wonder why those left out of the human circle sometimes due to no fault of their own- will do anything to

become significant? We wonder why third world citizens that are neglected become urchins or cyber criminals in the developed world? Isn't it inevitable? See, human survival instincts are enormously unbelievable and if you choose to show off your food to a hungry man without giving him anything to eat, he will rob you of it. Simple!

I condemn crime in the

strongest possible terms. Not just for my religious beliefs, but from a personal moral standpoint as well. When the ruling class chooses to trample on the lowly classed, create no jobs, make life unbearable and they turn around to claim they are being robbed when they drive through certain places, what did they think would happen? Prayers for them? A line in MJ's We are the

“

And saving our own lives is exactly what we'll be doing in lending a hand to those who need it. A shoulder to those in tears.

A glass of water to the thirsty. Warm clothes to those in need of warmth. It might mean a lot for you to let it go but it certainly means more to those who are receiving it. Someone once said the poor will one day become so poor, they'll have nothing else to eat but the rich. And I tell you, we're moving towards that place. I hope we don't get there but for my wish to come true, some things have definitely got to change

World says: There's a choice we're making We're saving our own lives And saving our own lives is exactly what we'll be doing in lending a hand to those who need it. A shoulder to those in tears. A glass of water to the thirsty. Warm clothes to those in need of warmth. It might mean a lot for you to let it go but it certainly means more to those who are receiving it. Someone once said the poor will one day become so poor, they'll have nothing else to eat but the rich.

And I tell you, we're moving towards that place. I hope we don't get there but for my wish to come true, some things have definitely got to change.

I hear people tell me of the ills in doing good. I hear of the backlash that might potentially come from being good to others.

And I know more than most actually, of being paid ill for good. But should that put an end to doing good? Shouldn't that just mean we should be careful in doing good? I think many people just want excuses to stop doing the uncomfortable. Spare a thought for the less privileged.

God likes it. Humans like it. And you just might be doing yourself some good.

Olajide Jatto is reachable on LinkedIn.com

God will never forgive my teachers By 'Sola Fagorusi

M

y generation is one of the last that witnessed a sane post-primary public educational system. Sane here is used comparatively. The public education system had its last fall around the year 2000 and it has since not been helped back on its feet 13 years after.

This week's news from the desk of Professor Dibu Ojerinde, the man who calls the shot from the Suleja Road, Bwari Head Office of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board is enough to rouse any sincere government into a day or two of unfathomable mourning.

Nothing, in my judgement is worse than one seeing his or her future being frittered away under preventable circumstances. It's like a father watching all his children pouched skilfully by death. But this is debatably the case with Nigeria. There is a fast decent of the educational system into a calamity of catholic dimension and the major stakeholder government, seems disconcerted.

The professor of Test and Measurement and former Registrar of National Examination Council (NECO) had informed all in summary that about 1.6 million people applied for the Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination with only 10 scoring above 300 marks out of the possible 400 and about 127,000 scored less than 200 marks. The last West African Examination Council organised General Certificate Examination, GCE is no different with only about 38% obtaining

credit in 5 subjects, Mathematics and English inclusive.

Whoever says we are sitting on a keg of gun power may not be telling us the truth. The real situation is that we have a fully loaded and properly serviced gun on our heads with our hands fidgety on the trigger. What kind of nation pays lips service to education, if not one ready to sell its future for a pot of porridge?

The effect of the Universal Basic Education remains to be seen despite the billions pumped into it. It's instructive that the generation of leaders we have today are all products of the public school system. The biographies, autobiographies and memoirs of the Odimegwu Ojukwus, Ayo Rosijis, Nuhu Ribadus, Chinua Achebes, Ajibola Iges and Akinwande

Soyinkas are replete with accounts of how rich the public education system was. School then was a melting pot for different cultures and ideas. Back in my secondary school days, I cannot remember knowing that my classmates were from different parts of the country or that one's father was richer or poorer than the other. There was no social caste in the learning process. Sadly, the better part of the period I reference was under military leadership.

The massive failure we witness today in national examinations would be child's play if this is not arrested with deeply pragmatic measures. I recall the quality of teachers that were available then. My biology teacher, Wole Oniyide of blessed memory, stood out. He taught us

“

The massive failure we witness today in national examinations would be child's play if this is not arrested with deeply pragmatic measures. I recall the quality of teachers that were available then. My biology teacher, Wole Oniyide of blessed memory, stood out. He taught us beyond biology. He taught us how to live. I remember my dedicated elderly chemistry teacher, Mrs. Maduka and one of my English teachers, Mr. Biodun

beyond biology. He taught us how to live. I remember my dedicated elderly chemistry teacher, Mrs. Maduka and one of my English teachers, Mr. Biodun - the one we call 'Paddin' Scallywag and Nincompoop as those were his words on erring students. Deaconess Adebule, T.O, our no nonsense principal is not one you forget in a hurry.

Education, the sound type is the only hope the child of the poor man has to a good life. It's the least the government can give all. The current system where teachers in public school are those who have tried every other option but failed and opted for teaching will take us nowhere. A system where teachers are poorly remunerated and paid late is not in the interest of the students. A society that cares less about school infrastructure and welfare of students but is ready to build mansions and feed annually with a billion naira would never likely have a bright future. A society where quality education is now available almost only in private schools and expensive ones at that is not ready to be called a developed country. One look at the curriculum, teachings and methods of some private schools and you will know the interest is solely money making.

While doing the compulsory National Youth Service Corps scheme in a government establishment in the North, in the company of a friend, I administered a private home tutorial and our method was to recruit other capable corps members on request for our clientele. I recall an instance.

We had coached a student for the General Certificate Examination. She saw the result and could not interpret all. She promptly sent me a text. 'Sir, I have seen my result, what is B? This was about 9 years after the examination body had reviewed A2 and A3 grades to B2 and B3 respectively.

I wondered at her method of preparation without a grade in mind. I also noticed that parents were only interested in results.

The process counted for nothing for them. Once school session was over, we were out of business. That parents conspire to help their children pass examinations dishonourably brings tears to the eyes. The drudgery of everyday living and the materialism fad has made it almost impossible for parents to be around to complement teachers' effort. Let me not attempt a review of the educational system in the North here where corps members in some places become principals and vice principals and most students in secondary classes cannot communicate in the basest English form.

Unfortunately again, we live in the ICT age where television no longer resumes at 4pm but is a 24 hours affair. Video games and all forms of distractions are available to compete for the student's time as well. We seem done for and it would be a miracle if, at this pace, we do not record only one student scoring above 300 in subsequent JAMB examinations.

Follow Sola Fagorusi@SolaFagro on Twitter.

PAGE 16

FCTA set to develop tourism potentials, says Director

T

he Director of Tourism, FCT Social Development Secretariat, Malam Abdulsalam Yahaya, has said efforts were on to develop the tourism potential in the territory.

Yahaya told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that tourism was vital to the economic growth of FCT. He said the administration would optimise the territory’s huge potential for conference, sports, education, medical and cultural tourism.

According to him, the administration has outlined many initiatives to develop the tourism potential of the nation’s capital.

He listed some of them to include, the development of Nigerian Art Master Mosaic and Sculpture Park.

Yahaya explained that the Art Master Mosaic was a gallery where works of renowned artists were kept.

The director said that the Minister of FCT, Alhaji Bala Mohammed, had approved the establishment of three parks for the Social Development Secretariat (SDS) namely, Sculpture, Festival and Horticulture Parks.

“The administration will partner with the Federation of Tourism Association of Nigeria towards achieving the full tourism potential of the territory..

“Tourism is very important to the FCT and Nigeria in general and the Federal Government through the Federal Ministry of Tourism, Culture and National Orientation has initiated programmes to develop tourism,’’ he said.

Yahaya said that the government was set to utilise tourism for nation building and physical growth.

According to him, tourism helps preserve the environment rather than destroy it.

He said that tourism also opened up the rural areas to development, as well as support good image building and would alleviate poverty.

“Tourism triggers rapid development and sustainability of basic infrastructure, such as electricity, water and roads, among others,’’ he said.

He called on the private sector to support government’s effort in the development, promotion and marketing of tourism products in the country.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

AEPB not doing enough to rid Abuja of dirt, Gwarimpa residents cry out

R

esidents of Gwarinpa Estate in Abuja have said that the infrequent disposal of waste by the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) posed a health hazard to residents of the area.

The residents, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said that the board had shown “some laxity” in carrying out its duty within the estate.

Mr Paul Adei, a businessman, who resides at 6th avenue, Gwarinpa, observed that most times, waste remained in front of his house for weeks, resulting in bad odour pervading the environment.

Adei, therefore, appealed to the board to be more serious in the discharge its duties, stressing that the absence of an efficient waste disposal strategy posed a threat to human life.

Mrs Shade George, a civil servant and resident, said it was saddening to observe that waste lay unattended

for long periods around the estate.

“This is not acceptable. There are people in charge of disposing this waste; but anytime I pass round some areas in the estate, I see waste by the road side.”

George called on the board to assist in keeping the environment clean by assigning a monitoring unit to always move round to ensure proper waste disposal.

Mrs Aisha Habu, a house wife, told NAN that people brought out waste from their homes on daily basis and if not properly disposed, it would continue to pile up.

She said it was unhealthy for waste to pile up in residential areas and advised that the relevant authorities should be alive to their responsibilities so that environment could remain clean and habitable.

Reacting to the issue, Mr Joe Ukairo, the Head, Information and Outreach Programme of the board, explained that in the last two

months, there had been a remarkable improvement in waste collection and disposal in Gwarinpa.

He said that the development followed several complaints by some residents late last year about the laxity of the waste management contractor handling the area.

“We have since then changed the contractor in charge of the estate, who has been working for two months now.”

He said that contractors faced a challenge in terms of the size of the estate, addig that by August 2013, more contractors would be assigned to the area.

Ukairo also explained that residents had a duty and responsibility to complain to the board, if they were not receiving appropriate services.

“AEPB operates an open door policy whereby residents are free to call our SERVICOM hotline or the

Gbagi girls entertaining guests at a public function recently in Bwari.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

FCT Call Centre toll free lines and register their complaints.

He called on residents to play their part for efficient service delivery by purchasing standard waste bins to store their waste, pending the time the contractor would come around.

Ukairo noted that most times, residents deposited waste on the bare floor, thereby defacing the environment, adding that defaulters would face appropriate legal sanctions.(NAN)

UATH advises health workers on injection safety

By Usman Shuaibu

A

member of Injection Prevention and Control Committee of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital (UATH) in Gwagwalada Area Council of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Mr. Kumode Onimisi Stephen, has advised the health workers on injection safety and hand hygiene.

Stephen, who gave the advice in an interview with Peoples Daily during the workshop organised for the health personnel at the Specialist Hospital in Gwagwalada, said that the objective of the workshop was to enlighten the nurses, doctors and laboratory scientists on the importance of injection safety policies and control.

He urged the participants to make use of what they had learned into practice to enhance professionalism at work.

He called on the Federal Ministry of Health to organise this type of workshop for health workers across the hospital in the country.

Stephen, however, commended the Chief Medical Director (CMD) of the hospital, Dr. Peter Alabi for providing enough money for the programme.

Village head advocates for re-introduction of sanitary inspectors

T

he village Head of Nyanya, Chief Bawa Pyape, has urged the FCT administration to re-introduce sanitary inspectors in the nation’s capital.

Pyape made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.

He said that such initiative would curtail some of the environmental challenges the city was currently facing caused by population explosion.

Pyape noted that if such measure was put in place, the menace of indiscriminate dumping of refuse and incessant open defecation would have been curbed.

“Let us go back to the old system whereby health workers went round to inspect people’s houses and the environment.

“It has come to our notice that these days, most of the landlords do not have toilets in their houses, even the local pit latrine.“ The village head stressed that such practice was harmful to the public, adding that the environment was no longer safe for healthy living.

“Sicknesses like cholera and measles contacted most especially by children who are vulnerable, is as a result of filthiness of our environment,” Pyape observed.

Mr Ikim Ikpima, a resident,

appealed to the three tiers of government to be decisive over environmental issues, saying that it would help check the high rate of health challenges.

“Most local governments in the country do not even have refuse collection bins or containers, let alone a waste disposal truck.

“It would be a strange tale today to talk about street cleaners in many local government areas in Nigeria. “ I am calling on our leaders in the legislative arm of government to enact and enforce laws that will bring back the good old days of the public health inspectors.

Ikpima noted that the health risk of exposure to cholera and other

related sicknesses would have been largely reduced, if public health workers still existed.

He called for sensitisation programmes by the government to enlighten the people on importance of living in a clean environment.

He, therefore, urged the government to educate the citizens, particularly the rural dwellers on personal hygiene.

“Today, neighbourhoods and streets are littered with water sachets, empty tins, and heaps of waste.”

He described the situation as not only hazardous to the health of residents within the area, but also a causative agent of cholera and other infectious diseases. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 17

Hypertension: Minister charges FCT health section on awareness Promoter remarked that Hypertension is making it difficult to control at communicable diseases like tasks parents, By Adeola Tukuru hypertension have in the a silent killer responsible for that stage.

According to him, globally, recent years posed great teachers on he FCT Minister, Senator over 10% of all Nigerian adult Bala Mohammed has death and that over 25% of hypertension is responsible for health challenges across the culture directed the Health and Nigerian adults suffers from estimated 45% of deaths due to world. heart diseases and 51% of Dr. Onakomaiya reiterated Services Secretariat to the disease. that according to the 2010 He stated that the World deaths due to stroke. development Human create aggressive awareness so In his keynote address, the World Health Organization’s Health Organization has

T

A

n Abuja-based culture promoter, Mr Bernard Akomay, has called on parents and teachers to join hands in promoting cultural development among the youths.

Akoma told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Wednesday in Abuja that culture contributed largely in the promotion of unity.

“In a society of rapid changes it is important that those in charge of upbringing and education like parents and teachers work together in influencing cultural development,” he said.

Akoma said that politicians, churches and voluntary organisations were agents of socialisation that could help to inculcate cultural values in children.

He advised that the media, multinational business or tradition should not be used to decide what part of the country’s culture should be kept.

Akoma said that indiscriminate addition or removal of some parts of the culture should also not be encouraged.

“It will be a great task to try to keep the traditions that are good, right and enjoyable,” he added.

He said that children should be taught the traditional hair styles, olden days’ style of building houses with sand and grasses as it would encourage them to learn their culture.

The culture promoter advised that children should also learn early how to greet and respect elders.

He added that the adoption of the local way of life would do the young ones more good than the western culture.

Akoma, however, said everybody needed to think and consider his or her culture as regards what should be discarded or kept and what could be adopted or learnt from others.

He said that this would go a long way to help the children learn their society, make use of it and develop it. (NAA dietician has advised that substituting one serving a day of red meat with other sources of protein like fish and chicken will enhance one’s health.

The dietician, Ms Yemisi Olowookere, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Wednesday that red meat should be eaten moderately.

Olowookere said that red could be harmful to the health if taken excessively because of its high fat, it could contribute to heart diseases, diabetes and other substances that could promote cancer.

She said that when taken in small amount; meat might be beneficial to the health.

“Meat is an important source of nutrients such as proteins, iron, zinc and several B vitamins,’’ she said.

She said that concerns about meat arose from studies that found an overall increase in early deaths in people with high intake of red and processed meat. (NAN)

that FCT residents will avail themselves of this opportunity to live a better and quality life; insisting that all the residents of the Territory must know and control their blood pressure through appropriate means.

Senator Mohammed

identified Hypertension as the most important preventable risk factor for premature death; lamenting that most times it remains undiagnosed until life-threatening complications sets in, thereby

Secretary of FCT Health & Human Services Secretariat, Dr. AdemolaOnakomaiya who was also represented at the occasion by Dr. Benjamin Udofia, Director Medical Diagnostics said that non-

(WHO) Global status reports on non-communicable diseases, the African region, has the highest prevalence of hypertension, estimated at 46% of adults aged 25 and above.

L-R: Director of Engineering, FCDA, Engr. Adamu Abu, Commandant, NSCDC, FCT, Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Kofarso, and the SA Media to the FCT Minister, Mr. Nosike Ogbuenyi; inspecting sewer drainage covers recovered from vandals in Abuja recently.

FCTA warns against theft, destruction of public facilities

By Adeola Tukuru

T

he Federal Capital T e r r i t o r y Administration (FCTA) yesterday warned against theft and destruction of critical public facilities in Abuja while calling on residents to help.

The warning was given at a joint press briefing by the Nosike Ogbuenyi, SA Media to the FCT Minister, Senator Bala Mohammed, Director of Engineering in the Federal Capital Development Authority (FCDA), Engr.

Adamu A. Abu and the Commandant of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), Alhaji Aminu Abdullahi Kofarsoro.

The briefing took place during a meeting to deliberate on ways of tackling the

incidents of vandalizing public facilities in the FCT. Others who attended the meeting include representatives of the Departments of Urban Affairs, Facilities Management and Abuja Environmental Protection Board among others.

The meeting identified some of the items being vandalized as sewage, manhole and drainage covers, electricity transformers, street lights and telecommunication cables.

They called on all residents of the FCT to be vigilant and to protect public infrastructure in various places around.

According to the Director of Engineering, Engr. Abu, the removal of sewage and drainage covers along the city roads and other areas constitutes grave danger to residents, including

pedestrians and motorists. He expressed concern that if the trend was not checked immediately, it may result in infrastructure failure in some critical areas within the Federal Capital City as the bulk of infrastructure provided are underground.

Abu noted that the removal of the manhole and drainage covers could lead to grievous injuries to pedestrians while some people including little children could easily fall into the open manholes and drainages.

He said the children could be swept off by rain storm through the open underground tunnels, thereby resulting in death or incapacitation. Apart from that, he alerted that vehicles intending to park by the road sides could have their tyres and rims destroyed when they glide into such open

manholes and drainage channels.

He stated that the removal of the covers could also result in debris collecting inside the manholes and drainage channels leading to blockages and flooding in the city. Apart from that, the drainage chambers could also be damaged permanently because of such activities, he warned.

Speaking in the same vein, Mr. Ogbuenyi said that a situation whereby very expensive infrastructure facilities which cost government billions of naira to put in place, such as telecommunication ducts, sewage covers, transformers and others are being vandalized cannot be tolerated.

He said the full wrath of the law would be visited on any person caught vandalizing the facilities.

PAGE 18

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Recharge card seller wins N283,000 debt case against 2 businessmen

A

n Abuja High Court on Tuesday ordered two b u s i n e s s m e n , Boniface Ini-Edo and Magnus Onumajuru to pay the N283,205 debt they owed a female GSM recharge card seller, Mrs Helen Nwosu.

Delivering judgment in the matter, Justice Angela Otaluka also ordered the two defendants to pay 10 per cent interest on the said amount from the date of judgment till the debt was fully paid.

“From the evidence before the court, it is clear that the defendants have no defence whatsoever in the matter.

“The court hereby orders them to pay the sum of N283,205 being the balance of the plaintiff’s money which they owe,’’ Otaluka said.

Mr Boniface Aleke, Counsel to the plaintiff had moved an application for a leave of the court to enter judgment in favour of his client since the defendants did not enter defence.

Aleke argued that the matter had been placed under the undefended list which meant that the defendants had refused to enter both appearance and defence of the matter in court.

He, therefore, asked the court to grant his client summary judgment.

“We have made several demands and entreaties to the defendants to pay the balance of N283,000 and they willfully refused to pay.

“I believe that the defendants have no defence whatsoever in the instant suit,’’ Aleke said.

The News Agency of

Nigeria (NAN) reports that Nwosu had sued the defendants for breach of contract, having collected GSM recharge cards from her worth N400,000 without paying the money in full.

In her statement of claim,

Nwosu said that the businessmen, both residents of Airport Road, Abuja, conspired to cheat her by paying an initial payment of N116,795 and refusing to pay the balance.

She said that while Ini-Edo

collected the cards from her, Onumajuru stood in as surety for him.

Nwosu said that all efforts to recover her money from the accused proved futile as they kept on giving her false promises. (NAN)

Man, 32, docked for alleged land fraud

T

A local drummer entertaining guests yesterday in Karu, Abuja.

Photo: Justin Imo-Owo

Pastor docked for breach of trust, gets bail

A

INSIDE FCT COURTS

he police yesterday arraigned a 32-year-old man, Samson Zakiri before a Kubwa Upper Area Court for alleged fraud.

The police prosecutor, ASP Peter Odeh, told the court that the case was reported at the Kubwa Police Station on Sept.

14, 2012 by Basil Okorie of Byazhin, Kubwa.

Odeh said that on Dec. 30, 2011, the accused allegedly collected the sum of N400, 000 from Okorie for a piece of land in Byazhin.

“Knowing that the land did not belong to him, he dishonestly converted the money to his personal use.

“He also failed to make the land documents available to the complainant.

“During the police investigation, the accused was granted bail, but jumped bail.

“The accused also refused to report back until he was rearrested on May 3,’’ Odeh said.

Odeh said that the accused committed the offences of criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The offence, the prosecutor said contravened sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.

Section 312 states that “whoever commits criminal breach of trust shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with imprisonment or with both’’.

Section 322 states that, “whoever cheats shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with imprisonment or with both’’.

The accused pleaded not guilty.

The prosecutor applied for an adjournment to enable him assembles his witnesses.

The presiding judge, Malam Munir Lawal ordered that the accused be remanded in prison.

He adjourned the case to June 6,2013 for hearing.

(NAN)

n Abuja Grade Two Area Court in Kado on Tuesday granted bail to one Pastor Mike Akhigbe, who is standing trial for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

The presiding judge, Ahmed Ado, granted the accused bail in the sum of N500,000 with two sureties in like sum, after he pleaded not guilty to the offences.

Ado ordered that the sureties must be residents within the jurisdiction of the court and one of the sureties must be a civil servant of not lower than Grade Level 9.

He, however, adjourned the case to June 3 for further hearing.

Earlier, the police prosecutor, Friday Idi, had told the court that Dr Leonard Nzenwa had lodged

A

3 men jailed for stealing iron rods

n Abuja Senior Magistrates Court yesterday sentenced three men to two months in prison each for stealing 15 pieces of iron rods belonging to Botanic Garden, Abuja.

They are Joel Alhassan, John Mboh and Titus Maikudi, all of DeiDei, Abuja.

Senior Magistrate Simisola Adeniyi, who passed the judgment after the convicts pleaded guilty to the offence, however, gave each of them an option to pay N3,000 in fine.

Earlier, police prosecutor Monday Akor told the court that the convicts, together with one Bala Usman and Lawal Bala, conspired to steal the rods.

Akor said that while on patrol, one Ins. Balogun Rasaq and his team arrested the men and brought them to Maitama Police Station on May 5.

The prosecutor said the offence contravened sections 79 and 288

a report about Akhigbe at the Gwarinpa Police Station.

“Akhigbe of Area A in Nyanya, Abuja collected N1 million from Nzenwa, who is of 24 Crescent, off Second A v e n u e , Gwarinpa, for oil business,’’ he had alleged.

Idi said the accused pretended and promised to return the money after one week, after he would have

of the Penal Code.

Section 79 stipulates that when a criminal act is done by several persons, each of such persons is liable for that act in the same manner as if it were done by him alone.

Section 288 states that “whoever commits theft in or from any building, tent or vessel which is used as a human dwelling or for custody of property or in or

supplied the oil.“But he refused to refund the money,’’ he said.

The prosecutor said that after Nzenwa made several efforts to recover his money, the accused gave him a bank cheque which was returned due to insufficient funds.

He said the offences contravened the provisions of sections 312 and 322 of the Penal Code.(NAN)

from any railway carriage, lorry, omnibus or aircraft used for the conveyance of passengers or goods, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or with fine or both.’’

Usman and Bala pleaded not guilty to the charges of joint act and theft after the First Information Report was read to their understanding.

Adeniyi granted each of them bail in the sum of N100, 000 with two sureties each in like sum who must reside within the court’s jurisdiction.

She said the official and residential addresses of the sureties must be verified by the prosecutor and officials of the court.

Adeniyi then adjourned the matter to June 3, 2013 for hearing. (NAN)

BUSINESS

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Email: aminuimam@yahoo.co.uk

PAGE 19

INSIDE

- Pg 20

New Lagos seaport to gulp N240bn

Mob: 08033644990

NDIC extends premium cover to non-interest banks’ depositors

By Abdulwahab Isa

D

epositors interest

of nonbanks will

be indemnified with deposit insurance cover of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation(NDIC) in the event of bank failure, the NDIC has assured.

The Corporation also announced that Jaiz Bank Plc, Nigeria’s foremost non-interest banking is set to commence payment of premium contribution to the corporation having clocked one year in operations.

The Managing Director/ CEO of NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim made the disclosures yesterday in Abuja at an interview session with newsmen shortly after declaring open a sensitization seminar for the NDIC solicitors.

Umaru said that, similar to the conventional commercial deposit banks, depositors of noninterest banks would be paid up front, a maximum premium of N500, in the event of failure of non-interest banks and N200, 000 in the case of Micro finance (non-interest) banks.

He said the Corporation had completed works in respect to

premium cover for the noninterest banks assuring that “we are true with that. In a couple of weeks, the Jaiz Bank will start paying premium or contribution having clocked one year. We have assessed their deposit liability and we will soon request them to continue to pay”.

Apart from Jaiz Bank which operates on principle of noninterest banking, IBTC/Stanbic Bank also operates a window for non-interest Islamic banking and NDIC Managing Director expressed satisfaction that the Bank has already begun premium contribution.

Espousing further on criteria to be adopted by the Corporation in channeling premium collected on various investments, Umaru said it will be guided by the same principle setting up noninterest banking.

He said: “As a depositor, they don’t charge you interest; So, what we do is, the money we collect by way of premium will be separated from premium collected from interest lending banks so that things are not mingled together. They will be invested in non- interest instruments to be floated jointly by the Central Bank of

L-R: Director, Legal, Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC), Barrister Alheri Nyako, Managing Director, NDIC, Alhaji Umaru Ibrahim, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Dr. Aliyu Salamani and Principal Partner, Alhaji Shuaib Mustapha, during a sensitisation seminar for NDIC solicitors, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa Nigeria(CBN) and Debt Management Office (DMO), so that if such goes under, as a depositor , when we come to reimburse you, you will receive pure money that is non-

First Bank sponsors World Economic Forum in South Africa

By Aminu Imam

D

etermined to ensure that Nigeria and indeed, Africa finds its feet among the world’s economic power blocks, Nigeria’s foremost financial institution, First Bank of Nigeria Plc has thrown its weight behind the 2013 World Economic Conference on Africa.

The three-day event, which kicked-off in Cape Town, South Africa yesterday, precedes the World Economic Forum coming up later this year in Davos, Switzerland.

The annual event, which is expected to attract leaders in business, finance, civil society groups and policy makers presents a good platform for African business leaders to brainstorm and come up with a road map on how to tackle issues that encumber the socioeconomic development of Africa.

As the Regional Associate partner to WEF, First Bank was the sponsor of both WEF corporate session in Lagos in 2012 and an active participant at the Addis Ababa conference also in 2012.

During conference, the bank will host exclusive breakfast meeting where critical economic issues bothering on deployment of capital in frontier markets,

adapting innovative technologies and services, and fostering a friendly regulatory environment will be discussed.

The objective is to come up with strategies that would unlock business and investment opportunities in Nigeria.

Commenting on First Bank’s sponsorship, Head of Marketing & Corporate Communications, Mrs. Folake Ani-Mumuney said the bank’s support for the conference is in sync with its position as a thought leader in Nigeria’s quest to grow its economy and the desire to drive infrastructural development through collaboration with business leaders and institutions across the continent and the world at large.

“We are enthusiastic at the countless opportunities the conference platform offers to engage attendees from

different spheres of life, throwing up meaningful strategies for maximizing the potential that abounds in direct investment in the Nigeria and the continent as a whole.

First Bank of Nigeria Plc is Nigeria’s leading financial services institution by total assets and gross earnings.

With more than 5 million customers, First Bank has over 700 branches and five (5) subsidiary companies, providing a comprehensive range of financial services.

The Bank has international presence through its subsidiaries, FBN Bank (UK) Limited in London, and Banque International de Credit (B.I.C) in the Republic of Congo, as well as its Representative Offices in Johannesburg, Beijing and Abu Dhabi.

interest compliant”.

Umaru pointed out that one of the major hiccups that has remained a challenge to the mandate of the Corporation is debt recovery from debtors. He said he Corporation could not recover as much debt as anticipated because of bumpy process in the judiciary system.

He said: ”The NDIC was one of the financial safety net players established by Decree No. 22 of 1988, now the NDIC Act, 2006, to operate Deposit Insurance scheme in Nigeria.

A Deposit insurance scheme

Outlook mixed for Nigeria foreign reserves, says Sanusi

N

igeria’s foreign-currency reserves will probably keep expanding while facing risks from lower-thanprojected oil output and falling prices, Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Governor Sanusi Lamido Sanusi has said.

Quantitative easing by central banks in the U.S., the U.K. and Japan “all point to a likelihood of strong capital flows to emerging and frontier markets” that may benefit Nigeria, Sanusi said yesterday

Management Tip of the Day

Don’t listen to customers — observe them

E

very business wants to know what influences their customers. So, they should just ask them, right? Not so fast. There’s a fundamental problem with asking people what will persuade them to change: Most of the time they won’t know the answer. It’s not that they won’t give one. They’ll give you

plenty. But those answers are likely to be wrong.

Asking someone to pinpoint what will influence them in the future is a bit like saying, “Tell me how you will behave when you are not thinking about what I have just asked you about.”

Instead of listening to your customers, watch them.

is a financial guarantee to protect depositors in the event of a bank failure and also to offer a measure to reduce the risk of severs financial crisis.

In more than twenty years of making giant strides towards ensuring that Nigeria develops a formidable deposit insurance scheme in Nigeria, the NDIC was faced with numerous challenges such as problems of excessive litigations which make it difficult for the Corporation to wind-up failed banks and settle depositors and other creditors within reasonable time.

Set up small field tests and controlled studies that observe what they actually do. In most instances, these experiments will be lot cheaper than traditional market research, and the insights will be much more revealing.

Source: Harvard Business Review

in an e-mailed response to questions.

Still, “the combination of lower global oil prices and weak output performance in Nigeria may lead to a slowdown.”

Oil production in Africa’s biggest producer fell to 1.81 million barrels a day in March, the lowest level since September 2009, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.

Nigeria relies on crude exports for about 80 percent of government revenue and more than 90 percent of foreign income, according to the central bank.

Foreign-currency reserves rose 33 percent to $48.9 billion on May 3 from a year earlier, according to data published by the Central Bank.

“We always said that the budget based on projections of about 2.5 million barrels per day was founded on overly optimistic and unrealistic assumptions,” Sanusi said.

(Source: Bloomberg)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 20

COMPANY NEWS Chemical & Allied Products Plc

C

hemical & Allied Products Plc, a paints and household goods manufacturer, headed for its highest on record recently after announcing a dividend and bonus shares.

The company advanced 9.9 percent to N46.8 naira yesterday, in Lagos, the commercial capital.

A close at this price would be the highest since at least Feb. 5, 2002, when Bloomberg started compiling data on the stock. Net income climbed to N1.1 billion ($6.9 million) from N1 billion a year earlier, the Lagosbased company said in a statement published on the website of the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE).

FITC

A

s part of her strategic transformation, Financial Institutions Training Centre (FITC), a special purpose professional services firm, has concluded plans to storm the Nigerian markets with new innovative products.

The four new products are: FITC Virtual Learning, FITC Erecruitment, FITC Virtual library and the Nigerian version of the IFC Corporate Governance & Board Leadership Training Curriculum.

The products are aimed at enhancing FITC’s service delivery in line with emerging situations of its stakeholders as well as on-going reforms in the broader Financial Services Sector and national economy, for global competitiveness.

Indomie

T

aking corporate social responsibility to the next level involves placing high priority on outcomes that are qualitative and not easily measurable.

This is what Dufil Prima Foods plc, maker of noodles brand, has continued to do year in year out, for five consecutive years and is set to make it even better this year, following the commencement of the search for three new heroic children for the sixth edition of its laudable corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative, the Indomie Independence Day Award for Heroes of Nigeria (IIDA).

The announcement for the commencement of the search and call for entries for the award for deserving Nigerian heroic children was made by Deepak Singhal, CEO/ Managing Director of Dufild Prima Foods, at a national press conference held in Lagos.

New Lagos seaport to gulp N240bn Stories by Ayodele Samuel, Lagos

T

he Lagos state Commissioner for Commerce and Industry, Olusola Oworu has said the proposed Lekki seaport will gulp N240 billion ($1.5 billion).

Speaking at a ministerial press briefing in Lagos, Oworu said the need for another seaport in the state was due to the inadequacy of facilities at the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports.

“The Lagos state government, in collaboration with the Federal Government, through the Nigerian Ports Authority and a private investor-Lekki Port Lekki FreeTrade Zone Enterprise (LPLE) has commenced the development of the Lekki Deep Seaport in Akodo, Ibeju-Lekki Local Government area of the state,” she stated.

Oworu disclosed that presently shareholders agreement has been executed while preliminary works has started at the site, saying that when completed, the port would relieve the pressure on the Apapa and Tin-Can Island ports and would also support business activities at the Lekki Free-Trade Zone.

“The construction of the port is expected to last for about four years and over 10,000 jobs are projected to be created directly and indirectly during the construction period while over 169,000 jobs would be generated directly and indirectly when it becomes fully operational,” she explained.

On the proposed Lekki-Epe International Airport, the commissioner said since the

Lekki Free-Trade Zone would soon become a haven for investment, the government thought it fit to have an international airport in the area.

“The state government has commenced works on the development of the Lekki-Epe International Airport to complement activities at the zone and also provide alternative air transport services in the state. The state government has successfully obtained the site approval for the airport from the Federal Ministry of Aviation and has also completed the master plan of the 3,500 hectares of land earmarked for the project.

“The Lekki-Epe International Airport is designed to handle about five million passengers annually with provision for a modular terminal for future expansion. Preliminary works on the airport project have commenced with the clearing of 150 hectares (runway), 4.5km of the access road and 9km of perimeter road.

“The Lands Bureau has successfully completed the crop enumeration exercise on the designated site for the airport to facilitate the payment of compensation to affected land owners and farmers. In line with

the policy of the present administration on publicprivate partnership, the proposed airport will be built and managed by private investors,” Oworu explained.

She added that towards this end, the process for the selection of private investors to develop and manage the airport has commenced, saying that to handle this process, a team of local and internationally acclaimed consultants namely: Stanbic IBTC (Financial Advisers), Arup PTY (Technical Consultants), Norton Rose (Offshore Legal Consultants) and Banwo and Ighodalo (Local Legal Consultants) have been engaged.

On the informal sector reform programme, the commissioner said a lot of daily massive transactions were going on unnoticed under a shadow economy, saying this scenario “leaves much to be desired in terms of the ability of operators in this sector to leverage on their assets for the creation of the much needed capital essential for the growth and expansion of their businesses.

“To address this development, the state

government, in collaboration with the Institute for Liberty and Democracy (ILD), a Perubased Non-Governmental and Research-Oriented Organization has begun the process of collecting data on assets existing in the informal markets / extralegal economy, classified as ‘Dead Capital or Locked Assets’.

“LASG-ILD initiative is thus intended to assist the state in identifying the various constraints inhibiting enterprise and business units in the informal / extra-legal economy and aid their eventual transition to the formal sector,” she explained.

According to her, the programme would help to develop key institutional reforms which would be implemented by the state government to encourage this transition, adding that incidentally, the pre-diagnostic study conducted by the ILD in September, 2009 revealed that 90.2% of real estate assets in the state estimated at about $48.2 billion is located in the extralegal sector with concomitant under-capitalization of business undertakings, and impoverishment of the masses.

Banks killing SMEs in Nigeria, says P/ Harcourt Chamber of Commerce

T

he Port Harcourt Chamber of Commerce, Industries, Mines and Agriculture (PHCCIMA) has blamed the dwindling fortunes of the Small and Medium Scale Enterprises (SMEs) on banks’ reluctance to grant loans.

President of the chambers, Emeka Unachukwu, said the challenge is the major problem facing the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

He lamented that despite the impressive performances of banks, they demonstrate insignificant consideration for lending to the SMEs, adding that they deserve greater attention as the nucleus of a developing economy.

He charged the government to desist from entrusting banks with the mandate of implementing government’s policies on SMEs. He prescribed greater involvement of the OPS to ensure that loans are granted to the stakeholders as a step towards speedy development of the country and its economy.

L-R: Director, Caranda Management Services, Col. Aminu Isa Kontagora, Chairman, Dr. Evans Woherem and Managing Director, Mr. Nura Kakura at the 5th Annual General Meeting of the company at Protea Hotel, Asokoro, on Tuesday, Abuja.

Nigeria committed to multi-lateral trading system – Ortom

M

inister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Samuel Ortom, has reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to the principles and objectives of the multi-lateral trading system through the pursuit of liberalised trade and dynamic economic policies.

He stated this at the opening of a 5- day workshop on World Trade Organisation (WTO) Trade Facilitation National Self Assessment of Nigeria’s needs and priorities in Abuja.

According to a statement, the minister said that Nigeria is

committed to the objective of trade facilitation and trade related financial services aimed at ensuring smooth and effective import and export procedures relating to customs and port clearance, border management and performance monitoring systems, trade documentation and tariff development.

He said that the President is committed to the reform and customs modernisation that will create the enabling environment for investment and trade facilitation.

In his words: “It will also

enable our seaports, which have excellent facilities to regain their pre-eminent position in the West African sub-region.

The government is committed to continue with the reform of the Nigeria Customs Service, which started in 2004.

The objective of the reform is to have a service that is responsive to the demands of a rapidly globalized economy in terms of human capacity and ICT infrastructure which are necessary for the effectiveness of trade facilitation”.

Ortom stressed.

PAGE 21

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Nigeria, South Africa to give priority to intra-regional trade - Jonathan

P

resident Goodluck Jonathan has said that Nigeria and South Africa must give priority to intraregional trade and play leading roles in boosting inter-regional trade in the continent.

Jonathan made this known on Tuesday at the start of the Nigeria/ South Africa Business Forum which took place in Cape Town, South Africa on Tuesday.

According to the president, the forum which has been long overdue, is expected to bring significant improvement to trade and investment between Nigeria and South Africa .

“My aspiration is that the vision of President Jacob Zuma and I will be realised in the near future,’’ Jonathan said.

A correspondent of the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) at the conference said that deliberations at the forum focused on mines, power, banking, finance, oil and gas He said the success story of the forum would not only bring about stronger bilateral and economic relation between the two countries but would strengthen bonds of business and friendship among Nigerians and South Africans,.

“The forum is also expected to improve on other socioeconomic activities, as well as increase the volume and value of trade between the two countries,’’ Jonathan said.

In remarks, President Jacob Zuma said that the two countries already have a growing and warm bilateral relations, structured through the Bi-National Commission which was inaugurated in 1999.

“We have today witnessed the signing of new agreements and Memorandum of

Understanding (MoU) between our countries,’’ he said. ”Our ministers will ensure the effective implementation of these instruments and the conclusion of outstanding ones.

“I am certain that South Africa-Nigeria Business Forum that is meeting today in Cape Town will further boost economic relations between our two countries and peoples,’’ Zuma said.

He said over 100 companies in South Africa were doing business in Nigeria, with the biggest investment being in the telecommunication sector.

“We will welcome the participation of South Africa business in other sectors of

the Nigerian economy such as engineering, construction, media, banking, retail, hospitality, oil and gas exploration and services.

The Nigeria Minister of Trade and Investment, Dr Olusegun Aganga, said that the “business forum between two countries which are the largest economies in the continent is a step in the right direction”.

“The signing of the MoU between the two countries is a pointer to the resolve by the two countries to drive and expand the economy of Africa and create more jobs for its teeming population .

He said the business

communities in the two countries have decided to take economic relationship between the two countries to the next level.

Alhaji Aliko Dangote, leader of the Nigerian business delegation, said the issue of visas needed to be addressed for business dealing between the two countries to thrive.

“No serious businessmen will go and wait for 10 days for issuance of visas. There is need for partnership in area that the two countries have comparative advantages in mining, automobile industry so that we can have synergy,’’ Dangote said.

He said South Africa and

Glo wins excellent customer service award

By Etuka Sunday

N Mr Olusesi John, Account Officer, Retail, UBA being decorated with the special lapel pin as a Most Valuable Performer (MVP) by the Group Managing Director/ Chief Executive Officer, UBA Plc, Mr. Phillips Oduoza during the recognition ceremony organised by the bank to recognize and appreciate its top performers recently.

Divestment: IOCs’ assets to go to local companies – NNPC

By Etuka Sunday

B

etter days lie ahead for indigenous oil companies in Nigeria, as the Federal Government has maintained that all divestments by international oil companies (IOCs) will be handed over to local companies.

The Federal Government has promised that all the assets that have been slated for divestment would be awarded to indigenous companies, and that Nigerians should harbour no doubts over the exercise, as their interests would be given priority.

“There is no cause for alarm over the on-going divestment of petroleum assets by multinational oil companies operating in the country, since those assets are readily taken up by indigenous operators, said Andrew Yakubu, group

Nigeria should create tax holiday for investment on bilateral bases in addition to promoting government policies.

Dangote stressed the need for mutual trust and respect to engender confidence between the parties so that businesses could grow in the two countries.

“There is need to set up a Nigeria-South Africa trade and investment commission to be made up of 10 businessmen each from the two countries.

“This will foster better relations as we explore business opportunities in both countries with attendant benefits to our citizens as we strive to eliminate abject poverty from Africa,’’ Dangote said.

President of South Africa Black Business Council, Xoleni Qhubeke said the two business delegations had robust business discussions on ways of growing business in the continent.

(NAN)

managing director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC).

Yakubu, who made this assertion at the on-going Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) taking place in Houston, Texas (USA) said government would soon start the bidding process for some of the abandoned assets of the oil majors and that it is currently conducting a review of the assets.

He said the Department of Petroleum Resources, (DPR) has listed a number of the assets that had been neglected by the International Oil Companies (IOCs) and that they are receiving presidential attention. As soon as they are properly compiled, the bid rounds will commence and the assets will be made available to local investors, he added.

The NNPC boss observed that a lot of the oil assets that have been

divested by the oil majors have mostly been abandoned and that it would bode well for local participants to take them over for exploitation and production of crude.

He observed that multinational oil company, Shell ,divested about five assets which were taken up by indigenous operators, adding, “We also have other assets that are being listed for farming-in by indigenous participants because they have not received adequate attention by the IOCs”.

He observed that there had been more divestments by the IOCs, including Conoco Phillips, Total and Exxon Mobil, and that those assets were expected to end up in indigenous hands. “There is a conscious effort to build the capability and capacity of indigenous operators in the upstream sector of the oil and gas

industry. That is the good news,” he added.

He said Nigeria is very central and strategic in contributing to the energy mix of the world. “As at today, the country has over 36 billion barrels of crude reserves and 187tcf of gas reserves, and that makes us about the 12th largest reserves in the world,” he said, adding that the country has a very huge asset base and a very robust reserve-to-production ratio and that for a long time to come, it would remain central and strategic in the sub-Saharan sub-region.

“These reserves are spread across mainly the Niger Delta basin. There is of course additional potential which has not been exploited and it is estimated that we are going to strike almost 600tcf of gas,” he said.

igerian Globacom has been awarded the best ‘Excellent Customer Services’ award

by Ben Television of London, in Abuja.

Minister of Information, Labaran Maku, who handed the award to Globacom at the ceremony held at Sheraton Hotels and Towers, Abuja, said that recognising excellence is another booster to improving the way we do things in our various places of work. He therefore encouraged Nigerians to put in their best so that we can collectively develop the country.

Receiving the award on behalf of the company, Globacom’s Postpaid Cluster Head (North-West Territory), Ralph Ehimhen, dedicated the award to the company’s millions of customers. He noted that the reward for excellence will inspire the company to work harder in order to give value to its customers and pledged the commitment of Globacom to continue to offer more value to Nigerians through ICT. He thanked the organisers, Ben TV London for recognizing Globacom, and urged the founder, Mr. Alistair Soyode to continue to add value to the image of Nigeria abroad through his medium.

Globacom Nigeria recently made history as the first single, privately owned company to build an $800m high capacity fibre-optic cable known as Glo 1.

Globacom is the first successful submarine cable from the United Kingdom to Nigeria which was conceived to enhance excess bandwidth capacity that is designed to improve the lives of Nigerians.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 22

FG to float new development bank, recapitalise others

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Federal Government is currently working on the establishment of a new development bank for the country.

This is apart from the efforts being made by the government to recapitalise the Bank of Industry and the Bank of Agriculture.

Vice-President Namadi Sambo disclosed this on Tuesday while receiving a ministerial trade delegation from Sweden at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.

“Our Minister of Finance is looking at recapitalising our Bank of Industry and Bank of Agriculture. We are also looking at developing a new Nigeria

development bank. This is another area where Swedish financial institutions can also come and invest in, and with your experience, we will be able to achieve that,” Sambo said.

The vice-president told members of the delegation that they made the right choice by coming to Nigeria, saying the nation boasted of one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

To sustain the feat, he said the government was investing heavily in the power sector with an ultimate target of generating about 40,000 Megawatts by 2030.

“Our plan is that by 2016, we will be able to wheel about 20,000MW of power, and by 2030, we want to be in the region

of between 30,000MW and 40,000MW, that will meet our development requirements,” he said.

Sambo said the government was looking forward to increasing trade and corporation between the two countries.

He observed that the trade volume between the two countries increased from $26m years ago to about $800m at present, but said the figure was still far below expectation.

The vice-president suggested that a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed by both Nigeria and Sweden in 2011 should be looked into in order to improve the countries’ bilateral relations and allow for faster growth of economic development.

He said, “Probably, with proper understanding and agreements on how our trade cooperation can be enhanced, it will improve our trade relations and cooperation will be enhanced.

“Also, we recall the MoU we had earlier with some of the Swedish companies regarding development of small and medium hydro power plants.

This, I can say, is taking very long time.

Shell Q1 profits up despite Nigerian disruptions

R

oyal Dutch Shell Plc, Europe’s biggest oil company, reported an increase in first-quarter earnings on new projects and refining, despite some disruptions to its Nigerian operation.

Earnings excluding onetime items and inventory changes rose 3 percent to $7.5 billion from a year ago, Shell said yesterday in a statement.

That beat the $6.4 billion average estimate of 11 analysts surveyed by Bloomberg.

Shell last month shut the Nembe Creek pipeline and declared force majeure on Bonny Light oil exports for the second time this year because

of sabotage and theft in Nigeria.

Its gas supplies to Nigeria LNG Ltd. were also disrupted in the quarter.

“Shell’s volumes are impacted by increased levels of bunkering in Nigeria,” Oswald Clint, a London-based analyst at Sanford C. Bernstein & Co., said before the earnings statement.

Shell is the fourth-largest gas supplier from the U.K. North Sea fields and together with Exxon Mobil Corp. is pumping the fuel from the Dutch Groningen field, one of the largest in the world.

Shell plans to raise volumes to about 4 million barrels a day as soon as 2017.

‘Drop your appetite for stolen Nigerian crude’ - FG tells international community

By Etuka Sunday

T L- R: Director, Social Statistics and Demographic Department , Mr. Louis Gambo , World Bank , Country Director, Mrs. Marye Nelly , and Statistician - General, National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Dr. Yemi Kale, at a Stakeholder's Consultative Forum on the Production and Management of MDAs' Sector Statistics, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Extractive Revenues Transparency: NEITI welcomes positive global devts

By Etuka Sunday

T

he Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) yesterday welcomes with encouragement the unfolding positive developments around the world on extractive industry transparency and good governance.

NEITI, in a statement, said that one of such developments is the recent courageous decision of the United State Court of Appeal to dismiss a law-suit instituted by organizations in oil industry to challenge the Dodd-Frank Act, a U.S law which requires all U.S. and foreign companies to mandatorily disclose publicly all payments made to U.S and foreign governments where they operate.

“NEITI finds the courageous decision of the U.S Court of Appeal as a major test of the Dodd-Frank

legislation enacted by the U.S Congress in 2010.

“The decision to dismiss that suit in favor of this major anticorruption legislation (DoddFrank Act) is worthy of emulation by all countries that subscribe to the global Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) including Nigeria,” it further said.

“NEITI is delighted that this unethical business practices is beginning to attract the global attention it rightly deserves. For instance, from NEITI independent audit reports that focused on public disclosure, Nigeria government has so far recovered about $2billion while inter agency efforts led by NEITI to recover another outstanding sum of $9.6billion from companies is being intensified.

It is the view of NEITI that addressing problems associated

with poor management of natural resources wealth remained the fundamental basis for tackling the increasing trends of global inequality, poverty, social conflicts and insecurity which are common in resource-rich countries.

“NEITI is excited about these developments especially at this time when public demands and agitation for reforms in Nigeria’s extractive sector is on the increase especially through the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB).

“The PIB now before the National Assembly for passage into law is another great opportunity for Nigeria to align its extractive industry governance to international best practices and ensure that revenues from its oil, gas and mining sector support national development,” the statement concluded.

he Federal Government has called on the global community and International oil traders to drop their appetite for stolen crude oil from Nigeria and join in the fight against the nefarious activities of oil thieves and pipeline vandals.

The appeal signalled a major focus in tackling the demand side of the global oil theft matrix which is a growing menace to the smooth operation of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

Speaking at the presentation of the keynote address at the ongoing Offshore Technology Conference (OTC), in Houston, Texas, Minister of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Diezani AlisonMadueke, who was represented by the Group Managing Director of the NNPC, Engr. Andrew Yakubu, stated that it is imperative to halt the appetite for stolen crude oil from Nigeria if the country must make appreciable progress in this regard.

“The President is taking this matter seriously and the minister is working at it aggressively. It takes two to tango, if those stealing our crude do not find a market for it there would be no incentive to steal, that is why we are appealing to the international community to take action.

“The tracing of our crude by DNA to the destination is being looked into to ensure that the finger prints of our crude are traceable to the various destinations. I can tell you that as an industry we are happy to work with government in this

regard,’’ Engr. Yakubu stated while fielding questions on the sidelines of the conference.

The address, which dwelt on the theme: “Development Efforts in the West African Exploration Zone”, described the sub-region as the most important petroleum province in the World.

“The natural advantages of the region’s open and unrestricted sea lanes and light sweet crude makes it one of the most important petroleum provinces in the World,” the minister stated.

The Minister noted that, as the dominant player in the subregion, Nigeria has pioneered some set of initiatives geared towards ensuring positive impact on the economy.

On the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB), Mrs. Alison-Madueke noted that the proposed law is further designed to increase exploration and development activities in the region by creating a more competitive environment for both independent and major oil and gas companies .

“This in addition will attract investment into the sector.

Therefore, West Africa will continue to play a significant role in the global oil and gas energy supply mix post-Shale oil and gas discoveries in the world,” she said.

Earlier on Monday, Engr.

Yakubu declared open the Nigerian Pavilion at the OTC, with NNPC and a record number of indigenous Nigerian operators and oil service companies making active participation at the global oil and gas industry theatre.

PAGE 23

PEOSPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Report as at Wednesday, May 8, 2013

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 24

PAGE 25

Abuja Land Swap Programme: The fuss, the facts Ever since the much hyped Abuja land swap deal materialised, controversy, facts and fictions have been swirling across the capital city. Rogers Edor Ochela, in this insightful report, periscopes the heart of the matter.

O

n Friday, 26th April, 2013, Abuja’s landscape was set aglow when the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, (FCT) Senator Bala Mohammed played host to Nigerians from all walks of life at a Town Hall Meeting held at the International Conference Centre, Abuja.

At the meeting which was meant to deliberate on the Land Swap policy instituted by the FCDA recently to help quicken the pace of infrastructural development in the nation’s capital city, the minister said that it was to open a level playing field from all people with diverse shades of

opinion to step forward and put them on the table in a democratic manner.

Senator Mohammed further opined that the much hyped land swap policy was borne out of the need to ‘’fast-track the provision of infrastructure and to stave-off pressure on public utilities and housing in FCT’’.

It would be recalled that FCDA under Senator Bala Mohammed’s leadership had recently pulled out a joker card tagged Land Swap policy in an uncommon determination to tackle the infrastructural deficit confronting the nation’s capital city of Abuja.

FCT Minister, Sen. Bala Mohammed

The policy, as conceptualized by the FCT helmsman, involves the granting of Greenfield lands to competent real estate developers who will in turn provide infrastructure such as roads, electricity, potable water, drainages, sewer lines, communication dots to residents without any financial or technical demand on the government.

“This, in my opinion, is a laudable policy which is expected to rake in a princely sum of N300billion from banks in and outside the country and also generate over one million jobs for the teeming unemployed Nigerians”, said an estate developer, Haruna Eyine. “It is a well conceived policy, but the poser is, will it be well implemented?”

In fact, this policy is not peculiar to Nigeria alone as many developed and developing countries like France, Japan, USA, China, Germany, Egypt, India Denmark have adopted landbased financing techniques during periods of rapid urban development as is currently being experienced in Abuja. It is equally a policy that has been endorsed by the World Bank as suitable for any country experiencing budget crisis like Nigeria.

Like all bold initiatives in the world, the land swap policy of the Federal Capital Territory Administration is not without its attendant legal and financial implications. For starters, it is predicated on sound legal and institutional frameworks. It is also a wellknown fact that the land tenure system in Nigeria, which is regulated by the Land Use Act, is based on the country’s legal jurisprudence and has been described as a constitutional

legislation with overriding capacity.

In the case of Abuja, the entire land within the federal capital territory has been declared as urban land.

The importance of this classification, according to legal experts, is that while the Governor grants statutory rights of occupancy, the customary rights of occupancy are within the ambit of the local government authorities.

While the Land Use Act vests all lands in the Governor, lands in FCT are vested in the Minister of the FCT. The word ‘vested’ used in the Act is synonymous with ‘ownership’.

The vestment was deliberate as the Act specifically obligates the governor to hold such land in Trust. While it is true that a Trustee has the legal title, it is arguable whether trust right is that of ownership.

By describing the Minister as a Trustee, the law imposes upon him an obligation of Uberrima fidei or utmost good faith, an obligation that is comprehensively regulated under the common law. To further underscore this Trust relationship, the Act goes to create wide-ranging

Some Abuja indigenes protesting recently in respect of land issues powers exercisable by the Minister under the Act. Under section 5 of the Act, the Minister has the power to grant land to any Nigerian. The size, object or

“

Experts are of the opinion that it will be difficult for the FCTA to afford the cost of infrastructure as envisaged by Abuja’s founding fathers without adopting revolutionary measures like Land Swap

subject of grant is not restricted under the Act. It is to strengthen the Minister’s exercise of his discretions as a Trustee under the Act that a window was created in section 8 to enable him exert maximum value in the grant.

The section reads Statutory Right of Occupancy granted under the provision of section 5(1)(a) may be granted subject to the terms of any contract which may be made by the governor and the holder”. According to a source close to the minister, it is in his efforts to exercise the utmost good faith as required of a Trustee under the law that the incumbent Minister of the FCT introduced the concept of the land swap, especially against

the context of FCT developmental challenges.

“At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask: What are the financial implications of the land swap programme?” Eyine added.

“A proper understanding of this policy will reveal that in the short run, houses will not be cheap since the private investors are not father Christmas or a public authority that would build property at the cost of N250 million only to sell it at a fraction of that cost. The truth is that land swap houses would not be as expensive as what is obtainable in the present Abuja property market, but they would compare favorably with their counterparts in other capital cities of the world.

“ In fact, if the economic forces of demand and supply are anything to go by, the prices of houses and rental values are expected to come down in the long run. Should this happen, the land swap policy would be a bonus for all.”

Investigations revealed that the average cost of standard plot of land in Asokoro, Maitama, Wuse and Garki is a whopping N250 million, while that of Maitama Extension, Gudu, Wuye and Guzape hovers around N70 million. The cost of land in Mabushi, Kado, Gwarimpa, Katampe and Jabi is N30 million.

Even in the mass housing district of Lokogoma and Kafe, the cost of land averages between N6 – N13 million. These lands are

being freely traded with no kobo accruing to the FCTA, not even to other tax authorities. The logical question to ask and answer is: Should the Administration continue to watch while these acts go?

History, it is often said, forgives those who take wrong decisions, but will certainly not forgive those who fail to take any decision at all. Moreover, Section 8 of the MoU recently signed by the FCTA with the land swap investors gives the FCT Minister the power to revoke the contract in the event of any breach of terms of agreement by any investor.

The point must be stressed also that under the land swap policy, the investor is permitted to sell plots of land or houses to

individuals, companies and institutions as the case may be, provided he has serviced the district with stipulated infrastructure.

The intention is to narrow the gap between plots/housing demand and supply.

Experts are of the opinion that it will be difficult for the FCTA to afford the cost of infrastructure as envisaged

by Abuja’s founding fathers without adopting revolutionary measures like Land Swap.

Lending credence to this widely-held view, Mr. Faruk Sani, Coordinator of Abuja Infrastructure Investment Centre (AIIC) declared thus: ‘’Available records show that as at December 2012, the FCTA had an infrastructure liability of over N420 billion. This did not include

the N150 billion liabilities needed for resettlement and compensation of original inhabitants. These liabilities should be juxtaposed against the annual national budgetary allocations to the FCT Administration, which had not averaged more than N50 billion in the last five years. In fact, in 2011, it was not more than N46 billion while in 2012, the actual money released to the FCTA was just N33 billion.’’

From all intents and purposes, the FCT land swap model is a product of necessity that arose from the noble intention of the Minister whose selfless zeal is to fulfill the aspirations of Abuja’s founding fathers.

Soruce: The Factual Telegraph

PAGE 26

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Earth observation technologies as tools for flood control

By Magdalene Ukuedojor

M

emories of the 2012 flood disaster across the country are still fresh; and citizens, particularly those living in flood-prone areas, are eager to know what measures could be taken to avert a recurrence.

Apart from warnings by Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), environmentalists insist that the use of earth observation technologies should be adopted as part of the measures put in place to forestall a repeat of the disaster.

They note that previous flood disasters in the country would not have been so devastating if the technologies were utilised to control flooding in the first instance.

The experts reiterated such views at the African Monitoring of the Environment for Sustainable Development (AMESD) programme that was recently held in Abuja.

Scientists describe the earth observation technologies as instruments for gathering data on the earth's physical, chemical

and biological systems via remote sensing technologies.

The technologies are used in monitoring and assessing the status and changes in the natural and built environment to minimise their negative impacts and improve the people's socio-economic wellbeing.

The campaign for the use of earth observation technologies in Nigeria is pioneered by AMESD. As part of efforts to support the agenda, Dr Johnson Boanuh, the Director Environment, ECOWAS Commission, announced that the EU had supported the AMESD programme with 1.9 million euros.

He said that AMESD became operational in 2010 with the installation of a satellite monitoring earth station at Nigeria Hydrological Services Agency's zonal office in Kaduna.

The station, according to media reports, is established for the purpose of gathering data on various environmental indicators and products emanating from AMESD's activities.

In spite of this, experts at the AMESD programme stressed that the Federal Government should build up its capacity in interpreting and using satellite products arising from AMESD monitoring to avert environmental disasters.

They also emphasised that the information gathered from various earth satellites would help Nigeria to develop its environment, agricultural and water sectors.

They, however, underscored the need for Nigerian experts to expand the people's access to information on the environmental sector by training them on how to access and use information facilities.

Boanuh noted that with the experts' complementary roles, the projects would enhance data processing on environment and water conflict zones, as part of efforts to initiate better mitigation measures and purposeful response strategies. ``The objectives of the Millennium Gevelopment Goals (MDGs), especially those relating to the attainment of a sustainable environment by

2015, would improve through these available technologies and mechanisms. ``The satellite projects will ensure environmental security, while curbing challenges impeding the achievement of the objectives,'' he said.

Sharing similar sentiments, Dr Lapodini Atouga, the Commissioner for Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources in the ECOWAS Commission, said that the project would address environmental issues on agriculture, water and meteorology.

In the same vein, Mrs Sarah Ochekpe, the Minister of Water Resources, said that in view of the previous flood disaster, experts should conduct critical assessments of the flood indicators obtained from the flood-prone areas.

She also urged the hydrologists and technicians to avail themselves of the numerous training workshops on utilising satellite products for sustainable development. ``In this era of climate change, Nigeria requires more

When fire razed about 300 houses in Ijawkiri, Nembe Local Government Area of Bayelsa State

and better equipped manpower that are capable of improving our knowledge base and capable of devising adequate mitigation and adaptive measures to confront environmental challenges. ``It is my fervent hope that this will improve our knowledge and skills in using the products and services derived from the AMESD programme. ``At the end, Nigeria would be better positioned to tackle the current challenges of water resources and environmental management, thereby reducing poverty and promoting sustainable development in our nation,'' she said.

Mr Patrick Nlekwa, the coordinator of AMESD in Nigeria, said that workshops had been organised to equip participants with the ability to derive and use data and products from the satellite reception station in Kaduna.

He stressed that the review of the data and evaluation of the station's effectiveness as tools for monitoring agricultural and natural resources' management as well as early warning mechanisms to gauge the country's food security should be taken seriously.

Nlekwa stressed that as part of efforts to enhance the AMESD's activities, projects and its application, the programme would soon enter into the next stage known as Monitoring of Environment and Security in Africa (MESA). ``The next stage will handle the extension of water monitoring for agriculture and livestock management to the coastal zone. ``It is also related to the monitoring of marine and coastal resources, particularly fisheries, and the monitoring of pollution of coastal water resources,'' he added.

All in all, stakeholders believe that if the earth observation technologies are fully harnessed, they will be used to indicate flooding areas, provide solutions and specify other disaster flashpoints. (NANFeatures)

Nigeria Loses N50bn to Fire Outbreak Yearly

By Mohammed Kandi

C

ommandant General of Federal Fire Service (FFS), Engr. Olusegun Okebiorun has disclosed that Nigeria losses at least, N50 billion to fire disaster every year.

Okebiorun made this known while speaking at a press conference to mark the International Fire Fighter's Day at the Service headquarters in Abuja at the weekend.

He quoted statistics which

showed that in the first four months of 2013, Nigeria had lost more to fire outbreak than in the same period of previous years.

"In the past few years, we have noted that this country has lost an average of over N50billion annually. In fact, in the past four months, our statistics show that we have lost much more than we have lost in the first four months of other years."

The FFS boss expressed dismay that the number of fire

service units in the country was grossly inadequate, stressing that it made it difficult for the Service to adhere to the standard practice of three-minute response time.

"The world all over, today is striving towards response to emergencies within three minutes or less but today, what we have (in Nigeria) is far beyond that," he said.

The FFS Boss attributed this to the few numbers of fire stations in the country, stressing

that it was impossible to respond to emergencies earlier than twenty minutes after a fire outbreak.

According to the Commandant General, Nigeria has 270 Fire Stations presently but needs an additional 212 to be able to cover the country adequately.

He called on government and private bodies to assist in providing supports to the FFS, saying "reduction of these emergencies, especially the man

made ones falls on each and every one of us as citizens of this country by keeping to the tenets of safety in our environment."

"In our homes and offices, we should abide by the safety codes that are necessary for our living."

The International Fire Fighter's Day, marked on 4th May of every year, was in commemoration of the death of some Australian fire fighters that died on duty in 1998.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 27

FCT in desperate search for pollution-free environment

By Gladys Kenneth

W

orried by the alarming trend of widespread environmental pollution in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and its environs, residents have lately intensified calls on the Federal Government to provide a lasting solution for this worrisome recurring decimal.

They are particularly concerned with the ubiquitous refuse dumps; heaps of waste and hazardous liquid substances that are emitting dangerous stench in the air at almost every corner of the FCT metropolis, and especially in the suburbs, thereby raising health concerns among the residents.

Pollution, according to the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary is "the process of making water, air, soil dirty." In the analysis of some environmental experts, environmental pollution implies any discharge of material or energy into water, land, or air that causes or may cause acute (short-term) or chronic (longterm) detriment to the Earth's ecological balance or that lowers the quality of life.

Besides, pollutants may cause primary damage, with direct identifiable impact on the environment, or secondary damage in the form of minor perturbations in the delicate balance of the biological food web that are detectable only over long time periods.

Unlike in some industrialized societies where introduction of motorized vehicles as well as the human population explosion has heightened the rate of environmental pollution, Nigeria's peculiar circumstance could be likened to shared carelessness on the part of the people themselves or negligence on the part of the governments.

Narrowing down to the FCT, despite the constant public outcry by residents for a permanent solution, only little or nothing is being done by the authorities concerned to ameliorate the situation. The situation is even more pervasive in some Area Councils like Kuje, Dutse, Gwagwalada and other suburbs where some basic social amenities are lacking and waste collectors do not frequent the metropolis and the suburbs to collect the refuse, and littering the environment has become the order of the day.

Answers to posers as to why the nation's capital is in such disgraceful environmental shape are not far-fetched. "It is obviously negligence; criminal negligence," said Dr. John Ukah, a medical Doctor based in Kubwa. "The structures are there but have long been neglected or lacked proper check up.

Poor management of resources has been another issue of the capital

territory constituting pollution.

If well checked, our environment today cannot meet the minimum standard."

According to him, the most shameful aspect of the whole thing is the human waste that oozes from broken pipes in different parts of the metropolis.

"As someone who has travelled to different part of the, I have never seen this sort of criminal negligence in any civilize country of the world." For example, if you drive through

people. A brisk glance at the Federal Capital from a distance only gives an impression that it is neat but a closer assessment proves otherwise. A visit to some areas in the FCT will prove this.

As the city capital of the nation, one would expect that the FCT should perhaps be the neatest and healthiest place in the country or at least, neater than some other states. But with this development and laxity on the part of especially the FCT Administration, the necessary

is the way out?

Although most people have blamed this malaise on poverty and illiteracy believing that if they had proper education, there will be more money to obtain a decent living for all, the fault should go to the people themselves and by extension the government.

According to health analysts, people living in dirty environments constitute a larger proportion of those who frequent the hospital for one health issue

neatness in the FCT. Exactly three months ago, the Abuja Environmental Protection Board (AEPB) raided some illegal hawkers in the FCT in a bid to keep them off the streets. In the process, commodities worth millions of naira were burnt as ordered by the then Director of the AEPB, Alhaji Isa Shuaibu.

Shuaibu said it would serve as a preventive measure to other illegal hawkers. He went further to explain that the reason why the goods were burnt was to avoid

How FCT residents are battling with stench even on pedestrian routs the Kubwa-AYA- express ways in Abuja, you would perceive a very dangerous stench exactly alone the Mogadishu barracks.

Another location where a similar odor had remained untouchable is around Jabi, opposite Mr Biggs, just to mention but a few areas.

Moreover, Doctors have said that some of these stinks are even more dangerous to health than the refuse jump itself. But, environmental pollution within the FCT could be attributed to inadequate facilities for work.

When a community lacks an outfit to take charge of the environment, residents of such community are left with little or no choice than to dispose-off filth where they feel is convenient for them. A society with a poor drainage is also likely to have a polluted environment.

In the case of Abuja residents, they prefer to reside in healthy surroundings but as the saying goes, "when the desired is not available, the available becomes the desired", this has turned out to become the case of these

measures and results to reverse this ugly trend will be difficult to achieve.

Living in dirty surroundings could be hazardous as it has an adverse effect on the human body system. It is said that "Health is wealth" and in another fact, "cleanliness is next to Godliness".

If this is the case, the milliondollar question is; how healthy are residents in the FCT? How wealthy are they? What are the causes of these pollutions? What

or another. These categories of people are poverty stricken and in most cases could not even afford the bills allotted to them or the recommended drugs.

In a country like Nigeria, where the average man cannot live in an urban area, the outcome is definitely the increasing rate of pollution in and around the environment.

Recently, some efforts have been put together by those in charge of improving the level of

“

Answers to posers as to why the nation's capital is in such disgraceful environmental shape are not farfetched. It is obviously negligence; criminal negligence.

possible accusation that the board workers had taken the items to be theirs. He also gave the assurance that the board will soon clamp down on the hawkers of sachet water, popularly called "pure water", to prevent the street from being littered by the cellophanes.

The major purpose of this exercise was to get rid of the pollution. The action is intended to gradually put the people littering Abuja to a halt against all odds.

It is important to note here that environmental protection and preservation is everyone's business. Until more awareness and advocacy is really put in place by the authorities concerned, this ugly trend would continue to linger not only in the FCT suburbs but in the city capital. On its own part, there is the need for the government at all levels to consolidate the effort of individuals, organisations and association that have taken up the huge task of ensuring cleaner environment.

PAGE 28

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

EMERGENCY UPDATE Agency sensitises vulnerable communities against imminent flood in South-East

I

n an effort to avert dire consequences of flood this year, the National Emergency Management Agency, NEMA, South-East zone, has kicked-off an aggressive sensitization campaign in vulnerable communities in the area.

NEMA had carried out the sensitization in various communities including Ohaozara Local Government Area, Ebonyi State, Egbema in Imo State, as well as Uzo-Uwani and Ikwuano Local Government Areas of Enugu and Abia States respectively.

Speaking during a campaign in Otucha, Anambra East Local Government Area of Anambra State, the Director-General of NEMA, Alhaji Mohammed Sani Sidi, expressed his sympathy for the victims of flood disasters that devastated eight Local Government Areas in Anambra State in 2012.

The DG, represented by NEMA South-East Zonal Coordinator, Dr. Onimode Abdullahi Bandele, told participants that the essence of the early warning was to inform them that what happened last year may occur in 2013 based on NIMET rainfall prediction.

While appealing to state governments to initiate radio

A group of NEMA officials taking inventory of some relief items provided by the agency as intervention for the victims of Baga disaster jingles and advocacy visits, Sani-Sidi called for strict adherence to the early warnings messages.

He emphasized on the need for community and grassroot participation in disaster risk reduction (DRR) and management strategies.

Earlier, the Secretary to the

Anambra State Government, Mr. Oseloka Obaze, expressed his appreciation to the Federal Government for its continuous support as well as provision of relief materials to 2012 flood victims in the state.

While emphasizing on the essence of the sensitization

campaigns, the SSG said that NEMA had also assisted in rehabilitation of displaced persons at different IDPs Camps in the affected communities, adding that, the exercise has helped in reducing the casualty figure during last year's flood disaster.

He said: "Because of early

warning meeting held at Abagana last year, the State recorded six (6) deaths compared to what was recorded in twenty-three (23) other States of the Federation that were affected by the same flood disaster; so we are indeed grateful to NEMA".

NASS proposes flood mitigation and insurance department for NEMA

A

bill for an Act to amend the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) Act of 2004 passed the second reading at the House of

Representatives.

The bill, which seeks to amend the NEMA law and create a Department of National Flood Mitigation and

Insurance Programme in the Agency, was sponsored by Rep Emmanuel Jime.

Leading debate on the merits of the bill, Jime argued

The Executive Secretary of Enugu State Emergency Management Agency, Hon. Offor Josephat delivering welcome remarks at a One-Day Meeting on Mass Casualty Handling in an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Incident held in Enugu recently

that the essence of the proposed legislation was to make NEMA more proactive in its activities.

According to him, information received from relevant agencies indicated that the country would likely witness more flooding within the year.

The lawmaker, who is also the Chairman of the House Committee on the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), stressed the need to have a department under NEMA that would be saddled with the duties of ensuring that standards of building were properly provided and strictly followed.

He pointed out that proper ordinances are not put in place before buildings standing in the way of flooding are erected just as he added that the proposed department which would be under NEMA would ensure that proper procedure was followed.

The Coordinator of Journalists Against Disaster Initiative (JADI), Sanya Adejokun has commended the new initiative which he described as "a good development for the emerging disaster management subsector of the economy."

In a statement, Adejokun also highlight the benefit of

insurance cover as recovery measure against disaster. He said it was high time that Nigerians begin to take the matter of insurance more seriously especially with increasing disaster occurrences across the country arising from climate change phenomenon.

He noted that in other economies, most of the loses arising from perennial disaster incidences were being mitigated by insurance companies and called on regulatory authorities to also take steps to boost the confidence of citizens in the insurance industry by prompt settlement of claims.

Section 65(1) of the 2003 Insurance Act states that: "Every public building shall be insured with a registered insurer against the hazards of collapse, fire, earthquake, storm and flood."

Public building, in this section comprises a tenement house, hostel, a building occupied by a tenant, lodger or licensee and any building to which members of the public have ingress and aggress for the purpose of obtaining educational or medical service, or for the purpose of recreation or transaction of business.

PAGE 29

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

EMERGENCY UPDATE

NEMA to assist Congo on disaster management Stories by Mohammed Kandi

F

ollowing myriad of commendations on the proficiency of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) in the treatment of disaster situations, the Republic of Congo (Brazzaville) has requested the assistance of the Agency to improve on its skills in Emergency management.

The Congolese Minister of Social Affairs, Humanitarian Action and Solidarity, Mrs Emilienne Raoul, made the request when she led a delegation to the head office of NEMA in Abuja recently.

Raoul, who delivered the appreciation of her country to Nigeria said the visit was necessary to sought NEMA's support, just as "we enjoyed last year during the ammunition

depot explosions that occurred in Brazzaville and displaced over 14, 000 persons".

In a statement issued by NEMA's Press Officer, Manzo Ezekiel, Raoul was particularly impressed at the swift response and support given to the Brazzaville, saying such was possible due to solidarity between the two countries.

She said: "I must acknowledge and justify the existence of a vibrant structure for disaster management in Nigeria which my country could further benefit through NEMA." Director-General of NEMA, Muhammad Sani-Sidi, who received the delegation said, the Agency has developed a number of policies and a platform for disaster management which are carried out in collaboration with the stakeholders.

He assured of NEMA's

continuous support and readiness to deploy its gadgets, as well as the human resources to enhance emergency management capacity of the Republic of Congo.

Sani-Sidi said: "the humanitarian assistance delivered abroad was in the spirit of international solidarity as approved by the President Jonathan cater for the immediate needs of the people that were affected by disasters."

It would be recalled that on 4th March 2012, there was explosion at the ammunition depot in Brazzaville in which about 200 lives were reported lost and 14, 000 displaced by the disaster. The incident was followed up by the delivery of humanitarian supports, including food items, toiletries, beddings, clothings, medicaments and assorted household materials.

The North-East Zonal Coordinator of NEMA, Alh. Muhammed Kanar, directing officials at the emergency clinic set up by the agency for displaced persons in Baga in Borno state recently

NEMA supports displaced persons in Wukari, sensitizes NYSC in Kwara

F

ollowing the recent violent crisis that rocked rival ethnic groups in Taraba State and killing about 30 persons, the Gombe Operations Office of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has promised to assist over 3, 000 displaced persons in Wukari, in Taraba state.

The agency's head of operation, Apollos Jediel, made the disclosure in Jalingo shortly after assessing the extent of damage in the area recently.

"We have discovered that 39 persons were killed, 30 were injured, 32 houses burnt and over 3,000 displaced.The displaced persons are currently living in 13 makeshift camps in the area," he said adding that the Red Cross was still registering more victims.

Jediel said that the agency's Director-General, Alhaji Mohammed Sani-Sidi, has directed his team to carry out an assessment of the incident with a view to approving the

necessary relief materials to the victims as soon as possible.

Meanwhile, against the backdrop of prediction of heavy rainfall by the Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMET), NEMA has charged members of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in Kwara state to sensitize the communities they serve on the need to engage in proactive work against heavy rainfall and flooding.

The Zonal Coordinator of the Abuja NEMA operations office, Mr. Isaiah Isah Chonoko, said at a training programme on emergency and disaster management for members of the NYSC Emergency Management Vanguard that, the sensitisation would assist in avoiding the reoccurrence of last year's flood.

Represented by a Planning Officer, Mr. Babatunde Reuben Shola, Chonoko noted that, "disaster loss is on the rise with grave consequences for survival, dignity and livelihood of individuals and communities, charging the corps members to

be at the vanguard of awareness campaign," saying, "You are the eye of the community in your place of primary assignment."

"The knowledge acquired today will first help you in the event of any emergency and also enable you to render help to others. Last year, there was flood and many people were affected.

"With NIMET predictions of a likely flood in 2013, it is expected that you will become effective vanguards in creating the needed awareness on what communities should do before, during and after the floods as may be the case in other disasters," he said.

He added, "The NEMA/NYSC Emergency Management Vanguard project is aimed at using NYSC corps members as vanguards for a uniform proactive disaster management nationwide. Rural communities are most affected when disasters occur because they are more vulnerable and do not have adequate coping capacity."

YOUTHS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY

By Abubakar Jimoh abujimoh01@yahoo.com

Disaster management is everyone's business- Sani-Sidi (1) "

I

t is therefore, everybody's business and we must all put our hands on deck to ensure effective disaster management by regularly evolving strategies, policies and programmes so as to reduce loss of lives and property in our communities, thereby facilitating development", says the Director-General of National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Alhaji Muhammad Sani-Sidi, in his newly published book titled Disaster Management is Everyone's Business.

The 190 pages book comprises 30 compilations from various speeches delivered by the SaniSidi in spheres of disaster management-preparedness, prevention, mitigation, and response in the last two years as the Director General of NEMA. Hitherto, it is undisputable that the NEMA boss has strategically made disaster management everyone's concern since his appointment as the Agency's head. In order to make his intention clear, in the page 10 of the book, Sani-Sidi stated: "One of the commitments I made as soon as I took over as the Director General of NEMA, was to make disaster management everyone's business."

As part of his efforts to make disaster management everyone's business, he stated further that, "NEMA has flagged off the setting up and training of Community Resilient Network and Peace Brigade in all the geo-political zones in the country," noting that NEMA had so far, under strict and vibrant leadership and supervision, NEMA has inaugurated other voluntary schemes like Executive Volunteers Against Disaster, Grassroots Emergency Vanguard, Disaster Risk Reduction Club.

He recalled that the Agency had under his leadership facilitated the formation of Journalists Against Disaster (JAD) and Youths Against Disaster Initiative (YADI), all in a bid to make disaster management everybody's business.

On lead poisoning and eventual death of hundreds of children in Zamfara state resulting from dangerous artisanal gold mining and processing operations, in order to ensure quick intervention into the dreadful poison, Sani-Sidi assured all relevant stakeholders of constant support and cooperation when the needs arise.

The incident attracted both local and foreign humanitarian supports like the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF), which opened clinics in the affected villages amounting to 2000 for chelation

therapy.

However, he did not hide his feeling by soliciting the support of emergency responders both local and international for other contaminated communities where remedial actions are yet to be carried out in the state.

While emphasizing on capacity building using our local resources (human and materials) to combat the impacts of climate change, in page 25 of the book, he states "[as] the world struggles to agree on how best to pursue the four building blocks of mitigation, adaptation, technology and finance, we as a nation need to look inward and take steps to contain the adverse effects of climate change in Nigeria."

Sani-Sidi's sense of diplomacy and humour reflects in page 29 to 35, containing his remarks at Conference on Large-Scale Natural Disasters held in Japan, where he raised alarm that intensive exploitation of natural resources has accelerated biodiversity loss and the depletion of genetic pool in especially developing countries with little capacity for adaptation. He further explained the strategic goals of Nigerian domesticated Hyogo Framework for Action (HFA).

On pages 36 and 40 of the book, he reminded that disaster management was multidisciplinary, multi-stake holding, multi-resource and multi-jurisdictional; and that "it is in this regards that NEMA always bring together it critical emergency management stakeholders under one roof to deliberate and chart roadmap towards avoiding possible impacts of disaster and associated risks."

It is noteworthy that Sani-Sidi also drew public attention to pages 41 and 46, which extensively analysed the economic benefits of preparedness and mitigation of disaster, saying "if we invest in disaster resilience, countries and communities should be much better prepared to cope and bounce back when disasters happen. Building disaster resilience will become more pivotal as countries seek to protect disasters which can wipe out development gains since every $1 spent on disaster resilient results in $2.9 saved in the form of reduced humanitarian spend, avoided losses and development gains."

Sani-Sidi's sense of patriotism was no doubt revealed on page 44, where he lamented that disaster occurrences are no respecter of rich or poor nations, their impacts on development is felt by poorer or developing nations.

PAGE 30

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2012

Beyond the Nasarawa demolitions The Governor Tanko Al-Makura adminisration seems poised to sanitise Nasarawa State in general and its towns bordering the FCT in particular. But can this mission be accomplished? Sundey Ejike Benjamin x-rays the germane issues

Demolished at Maraba Market

I

n his bid to bring environmental sanity to Nasarawa state, the State Governor, Alhaji Tanko Al-Makura commenced the demolition of illegal structures along the Abuja/Keffi Expressway.

The on-going demolition exercise in various locations in Karu Local Government area of the State, which links the state directly to the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the governor noted was strictly in the interest of the common man, against the beliefs by many that the action will translate to bringing untold hardship to residents and house owners in the affected areas.

Before the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB) rolled in its bulldozers to pull down the illegal structures in Mararaba along the AbujaKeffi dual carriage way of eth state, governor Al-Makura gave the people ample notice, aside the notice of demolition served on the owners and occupants of eth illegal structures.

Al-Makura had, during a working visit to the Nasarawa State Urban Development Board (NUDB), Karu local government secretariat and the Nasarawa Geographic Information System (NAGIS) also announced that the state will start the enforcement of new development control policy in the state immediately after the demolition exercise.

In the words of the governor: "We are calling on those trading by the side of the road that have caused gridlock and traffic congestion to quickly get them out of the way because from Monday (February 18, 2013), we will ensure that traffic is allowed to move smoothly,

this is why we are coming back to the site of construction of Karu-Panda Road to reduce the congestion on the road.

"I am here to give you the support and morale because you are going to work for 24 hours to ensure that our new land reform policy becomes successful, so that very soon there will be no difference between the environment situation in Abuja and ours," Al-Makura said.

The governor was quoted while addressing a select group of journalists in Abuja, recently as saying that, the ongoing exercise was in the interest of the masses and would better the life of all if properly executed.

Governor Al-Makura said the demolition exercise was necessary as the Karu corridor which comprises of Mararaba, Karu, Nyanya Gwandara,

Ado, Gurku down to Masaka was in dire need of sanitation.

"Over the years, the place has turned into a slum, and into a centre of criminality within the vicinity of the federal capital. I have a duty as a neighboring governor to the Federal Capital, to contribute my quota to the security, sanity, peace and stability, not only of my state, but my neighbor, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Not only that, if you look at the pattern of development in the Karu area, you will discover that there is no proper regularisation, no computerisation of titles; it is just a mad place where everybody builds whatever he wants and in any place he so chooses. So the essence of this is to sanitise the place so that we can promote peace, good health, environmental conditions and

“

I am here to give you the support and morale because you are going to work for 24 hours to ensure that our new land reform policy becomes successful, so that very soon there will be no difference between the environment situation in Abuja and ours

liveability," Governor Al-Makura said.

The governor also stressed that most of the persons affected by the demolition exercise were first and foremost, illegal occupants, as they were never issued titles on those plots of land, and even those who had titles had been compensated while the Nyanya/Keffi expressway was being constructed.

He however assured that in the end, every resident of the area would benefit from this ongoing exercise. According to him, "My administration will be the last that will cause harm, distress, destruction to the common man because he is already battling with lack of care and abandonment and lack of support from areas that he is supposed to get. That is why we are working hard to enhance a better environment, better health and sanity. You will see very soon that even traffic flow will be sanitised such that people can reach Abuja within the shortest possible time. This is our intention."

He assured further: "In the next three months, you will be able to see the kind of pattern of development that will go simultaneously with the FCT. We already have a NAGIS office which is a geographic system of information with regards to land procedures, and it is even more sophisticated than the one in the FCT. It is just a matter of time and you will see that the Karu corridor will soon be a new city like the FCT and that is our motive to make Karu what Maryland is to Washington DC." Responding to lamentation by the acting Zonal Manager of NUDB, Sunday Auta that hoodlums prevented them from enforcing environmental laws, the governor said: "Very soon we are going to face lots of challenges of sanitising the development pattern of the Greater Karu Area, part of our promise when we came in is to ensure that all development are in consonant with the best practices. What is more important is that we are a neighbour to the FCT, if we look at the nature of development of FCT, you will notice the adherent to best practice is total, we cannot afford to be a slum, we will begin the full implementation of our land reforms. There would be a lot of demolitions that would involve a lot of sanitisation that would involve lots of review of how documents of lands are processed to have the synergy like the FCT", he said.

NUDB had, long embarked on a demolition of all illegal structures along the expressway, after over three months of repeated notices.

Nasarawa State, created on 1st October 1996 by the Abacha government from Plateau State, is accessible through Benue State to the South and Kogi State to the West, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja to the North West, Kaduna and Plateau to the North -East, and Taraba State to the South East.

Nasarawa State, with land mass of 27,118 square kilometres has a population of over 2 million people. The state is made up of about 300 ethnic, sub ethnic and cultural groups each with a distinct heritage; living in peace and social harmony with one another.

Nassarawa is made up of thirteen local government areas namely; Wamba, Kokona, Keana, Nassarawa/Eggon, Toto, Awe, Akwanga, Keff, Karu, Lafia, Obi, Doma and Nassarawa. It is bounded in the north by Kaduna state, in the west by the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, in the south by Kogi and Benue States and in the east by Taraba and Plateau States Among the ethnic and sub-ethnic groups are the Algo, Eggon , gbagyi, Gwandara, Egbira , Migili, Kantana, Fulani, Housa, Kanuri , Tiv, Afo , Gade, Nyankpa, Jukun, Mada, Ninzam, Buh, Basa, Agatu, Arum, Kulere, Ibo, Yoruba etc. People from other parts of the country co-exist peacefully with the indigenes.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

ANALYSIS

By Abdi Farah Shirdon

W

hen al-Shabaab terrorists attacked the Mogadishu courthouse on April 14, they were attempting to reverse the country's dramatic trajectory of progress. They failed.

Although there was a tragic loss of life, the courts are re-opening and life is already back to normal.

I visited the courthouse shortly after the attack and spoke to survivors in hospital. Nowhere did I see defeat - or anything like it.

Instead I saw the typical Somali resilience that is one of my people's greatest characteristics.

Al-Shabaab, though they do not yet understand this, belong to the past. Somalis have seen for themselves the horrors of their nihilistic foreign agenda and want no part of it. As a result, our enemies have seen their territory and morale, their fighters and finances diminish rapidly, as they acknowledged in a desperate open letter last month to Ayman al Zawahiri, their ideological puppet master in al-Qaeda.

The truth is that Somalia has turned a corner and there is no going back. I lead a reforming government that is restoring Somalia to the community of nations. Every week brings fresh evidence of the new normality: human rights legislation, diplomatic visits, security sector reform, sports clubs reopening, the extension of government to newly liberated areas, new businesses opening, economic recovery, piracy attacks declining, international partnerships strengthening, international relations expanding.

On April 13, the IMF recognised our government for the first time in 22 years. Notwithstanding the terrible tragedy of the lives lost a day later, this was an event of far greater importance for Somalia.

While our enemies are becoming a thing of the past, economic recovery is the order of the day and the path of the future. The IMF's decision was a major milestone in the country's long road to economic recovery. It paves the way, once the country's arrears of approximately $352m are settled, for a resumption of full borrowing rights, the latest vote of confidence from the international community in our government and another key achievement in the accelerating process of normalisation.

Restoring partnerships with international financial institutions will play a huge role in restoring the economic stability and growth that have been denied to Somalis for far too long. We will be developing strong partnerships with the African Development Bank and the World Bank to sustain our growth. Our public financial management reforms, which are already being praised by partners such as USAID, will increase the confidence in the integrity and transparency of our systems.

Corruption, the scourge of good governance, must be eliminated.

I described the administration I have the honour to lead as a reforming government because what we are undertaking is

PAGE 31

A bright future for Somalia is within touching distance

Somali band WaayahaCusub recently headlined the Mogadishu Music Festival, the first event of its kind in more than 25 years, and the first time the anti-al-Shabaab group have performed in their home city [Phil Moore/Al Jazeera] nothing less than the entire rebuilding of a state. Decimated by war for decades, Somalia has to recover from a generation of missed opportunities. How do we do that?

To begin with we have had to provide security, as vital for Somalis as the air we breathe. From the very beginning of this government's term in office last year, security has been our greatest priority and our greatest success. Recent headlines about al-Shabaab do not disguise the plain fact that they have been militarily defeated and reduced to a shrinking guerrilla force on the brink of extermination. We are in no way complacent about the threat they still represent, however, and are working overtime, supported by our brothers and sisters in the African Union's AMISOM force, to finish the job. We are achieving steady success in transforming a clan-based militia into a national defence force trained and equipped to fight a challenging counter-insurgency. An elite counter-terrorism unit has been established to dismantle and disarm terrorist cells in the capital.

However successful we have been on the battlefield, we recognise that the best way to persuade young men that they have options in life that go beyond blowing themselves

up and killing innocent Muslims in a perversion of our great faith is to provide them with jobs. And as any country with a Somali population will know, Somalis are a highly commercial people, imbued with a dynamic entrepreneurialism. Give Somalis security and they will thrive.

Security breeds stability. In Mogadishu we have already seen the joyful evidence of this in so many areas. Somalis are returning from the diaspora to rebuild their homes and help rebuild the country. They are opening new banks, airlines, factories, shops, supermarkets, hotels, restaurants, cafĂŠs and any other businesses that spring to mind in a city that until a few weeks ago did not even have a single petrol station. Livestock exports, the cornerstone of the agricultural economy, recently resumed for the first time in 22 years. Sport, once prohibited by alShabaab on pain of death, is back with a vengeance. The football season kicked off in the capital on April 19 and the Somali women's basketball team is also back on court. As one commentator put it, "this basketball team is one of the biggest inspirations to women, education, and humanity I've ever seen". Every day brings new such

“

stories to inspire a nation.

As security and stability return, we must ensure the legal underpinnings of the Somali state are strongly built. Laws are the foundation of a functioning state, which is why my council of ministers has been sending a steady stream of legislation to parliament for debate and ratification mandating reforms on human rights, security, police, local government and the judiciary. Our ambition is to restore the rule of law across a nation in which for too long the law was the barrel of a Kalashnikov. Laws on their own, of course, do not suffice. They must have robust, transparent and credible institutions that people trust, hence the comprehensive programme of judicial reform that is one of my government's greatest priorities. Attacks in Mogadishu will do nothing to check this reforming agenda or prevent us rebuilding the institutions of state - parliament, the judiciary and the executive - and establishing the rule of law, step by solid step.

Human rights, trampled over so mercilessly by our enemy and other miscreants, need to be respected. There must be an end to a culture of impunity, the legacy of a broken state that we have

Security breeds stability. In Mogadishu we have already seen the joyful evidence of this in so many areas. Somalis are returning from the diaspora to rebuild their homes and help rebuild the country.

inherited. New legislation has been enacted and new institutions established to ensure that human rights abuses on the current unacceptable scale become a thing of the past. We are working with our partners in support of the Somali-owned Human Rights Roadmap to ensure that sexual violence against women is also consigned to the dustbin of history.

It is an outrage against humanity, completely against Somali culture, and must be punished without mercy. I will settle for nothing less than radical human rights reform.

What are our next steps? Now, more than ever, we need to consolidate the impressive progress we have made on so many fronts.

On May 7, the eyes of the world will be on us as we co-host the Somalia Conference in London. Here we will share our plans for developing our armed forces, police and judiciary, together with the latest reforms of our public financial management systems. We will clearly set out our programme of nation-building and how we are redefining the balance of power between the centre and the regions, establishing the trust and confidence of local communities.

Our effort to reach out to the regions is well underway.

During my recent "listening tour", I spoke to my brother and sister Somalis across the length and breadth of Somalia.

I listened to the people's concerns, helped communities establish local administrations and signed landmark political, economic and security agreements. This outreach will continue.

For its part, the international community at the London Conference will be telling us how it plans to support us in these critical reforms, because the formidable challenges that stand before us cannot be achieved by Somalia alone.

International partners also need to adjust to the progress here. We are a sovereign government and partners need to treat us like one, supporting line ministries directly rather than through third-party NGOs. The old way of doing business undermines the government and limits our capacity. We look forward to serious and constructive discussions in London about the arrears process.

With concerted efforts terrorism, piracy and famine must be overcome for good. We must maintain the momentum that has delighted Somalis and astonished the world. There is a long way to go, but just look at how far we have come. No one dismisses us anymore as a failed state or the most dangerous country in the world.

With the support of our friends and partners the progress must be made unstoppable. A bright future for Somalia is within touching distance.

Source: Al Jazeera

PAGE 32

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Nigeria to partner Sweden on economic cooperation

By Abdulkadir Isa

Girls as young as six raped by Congolese soldiers in Minova - U.N.

D

emocratic Republic of Congo troops raped at least 97 women and 33 girls, some as young as 6, in the country's volatile east after they fled from advancing M23 rebels in late November, according to a U.N. report released on Wednesday.

The majority of the rapes by the Congolese army (FARDC) occurred in Minova during a two-day period, and most cases documented by U.N. Joint Human Rights Office were committed in the same manner.

"FARDC soldiers entered houses, usually in groups of three to six and, after threatening the inhabitants, looted whatever they could find," the Joint Human Rights Office, which is part of the U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, wrote in its report on abuses in eastern Congo between November 15 and December 2.

"One or two of the soldiers would leave with the looted goods and at least one would stand guard as the remaining FARDC soldiers raped women and girls in the house," the report said. "Most victims were raped by more than one soldier."

Twelve senior officers, including the commanders and deputy commanders of the 41st and 391st battalions, have been suspended over the Minova incidents and "were to be put at the disposal of military justice authorities."

The 391st battalion was trained by the United States in 2010 as "a model for future reforms within the Congolese armed forces," according to the U.S. Africa Command website.

The U.S. Defense Department said last month it condemned the crimes in Minova "irrespective of which unit is accused" and that U.S. training included teaching respect for human rights and prevention of gender-based violence.

The report said the United Nations threatened on February 4 to withdraw support for battalions 41 and 391 over the accusations of rights abuses in Minova but decided to continue working with them after the commanders and deputy commanders were suspended.

The U.N. peacekeeping mission in Congo, known as MONUSCO, has a mandate to protect civilians and support operations by the Congolese army. There are more than 17,000 U.N. troops in Congo, a country the size of Western Europe.

Peacekeepers have been stretched thin by the M23 rebellion in the resource-rich eastern Congo.

U.N. experts said last year the M23 rebels were backed by Rwanda, but Rwanda has repeatedly denied any involvement.

V

ice President of Nigeria, Arc Namadi Sambo has called for increased bilateral ties with Sweden for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

In a statement issued by the Ministry of Information, Sambo made this call when he received a Ministerial delegation from Sweden, led by the country's Minister of International Development Cooperation, Mrs.Gunilla Carlson, on courtesy call in his office at the State House, Abuja.

The Vice President said "We assure you that we deeply

appreciate our relations, we are looking forward to increasing our economic cooperation."

Vice President Sambo, however, observed that the trade value of the two countries was below expectation, urging that the Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2011 between the two countries be revived, to allow faster growth of the economies of the two counties.

Sambo also called on Sweden to tap into the huge potentials in the power, agriculture, railways, waterways, ports, education, healthcare services, manpower development, finance and other

sectors of Nigeria's economy, with huge returns on investment.

He used the opportunity to entreat Sweden to fast-track on the development of Nigeria's small and medium hydro-power plants, which he said would open up more economic corridors for wealth and job creation, emphasising that Nigeria has over 200 existing dams.

Mr. Anders Borg who led the Swedish delegation and doubles as the Minister of Finance of Sweden, in his remarks stated that they were in the country to enhance greater economic ties based on cooperation, mutual understanding and beneficial investment, adding that

Nigeria has one of the fastest growing economies in the world with a strong demographic push and investment opportunities.

The representative of the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador KabirGarba, had earlier stated that the relationship between Nigeria and Sweden had been "traditionally cordial and very strong".

He noted the trade imbalance between the two countries, stating that exports from Nigeria in 2011 amounted to about $26 million dollars only, a huge drop from that of 2010, which was $88 million.

Egypt court refuses 'Camel Battle' appeal

E

gypt's court of cassation has refused an appeal by prosecutors over the "Camel Battle" trial.

In October, a court

acquitted 24 loyalists of deposed president Hosni Mubarak who had been accused of organising an attack in which assailants on horses

and camels charged into crowds of anti-regime protesters on February 1 and 2, 2011.

The 24 were found innocent

Egyptians are still waiting for anyone to be held accountable in the attacks in February 2011 on protesters [Getty]

on charges of manslaughter and attempted murder.

The mounted attack, which included whip-wielding riders, became a symbol of the revolution and led to street clashes.

"The court has made this final decision on the fate of the 24 defendants who were accused of conspiring to kill protesters in that infamous incident," said Al Jazeera's RawyehRageh, reporting from Cairo.

The scenes were televised around the world at the height of the uprising.

"These defendants were acquitted last year, sending shockwaves into the Egyptian community," our correspondent said.

"That has been confirmed today, with the court initially saying that there was not any 'sufficient evidence' to incriminate these men. Surely, a lot of people will be disappointed because Egyptians have been waiting for a long time for anyone to be held accountable in this attack, one of the worst against protesters during the uprising."

Kenya condom advert opposed by Catholic Church

K

enya's Roman Catholic Church has condemned a Catholic group for a billboard and newspaper advertising campaign promoting condom use.

The US-based Catholics for Choice was planting "negative attitudes" that could destroy the nation's "moral fibre", church leaders said.

Catholics for Choice defend it, saying it could curb the spread of HIV. Around 1.6 million people out of Kenya's population of 41.6 million are living with HIV, according to the UN. Catholics are heavily divided over the use of condoms.

A television advert urging married women to use condoms was recently pulled from Kenyan television following an outcry from religious groups.

Catholics for Choice has said its "condoms4life" campaign shows "an authentically Catholic message".

The group has run

advertisements in newspapers and billboards in Kenya showing a smiling couple with the slogan: "Good Catholics Use Condoms".

"We believe in God. We believe that sex is sacred. We believe in caring for each other. We believe in using condoms," the advert reads.

But Cardinal John Njue, chairman of the Kenya Conference of Catholic Bishops, said the church promoted pro-life, not pro-choice.

"Catholics for Choice are not Catholics in the sense of the one, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church," he said in a statement.

Cardinal Njue called for the advertisements to be stopped.

"Remember if the moral fibre of any nation is destroyed, then you have destroyed the nation as well," he said.

Catholics for Choice said it launched its campaign after pressure from religious groups forced the

Kenyan government to drop an advertisement in March promoting condom use in marriage.

"The campaign is vital because the bishops' recent activities are not representative of Catholic teachings or beliefs. Catholics do support the use of condoms, and they do use them to protect themselves and their partners," campaign co-ordinator Jon O'Brien said in a statement last month.

The Kenyan bishops' anti-condom remarks contradict the view of Emeritus Pope Benedict XVI who stated in 2010 that "where the intention is to reduce the risk of infection" condoms can be "a first step in a movement toward a different way, a more human way, of living sexuality", Mr O'Brien said.

Pope Francis was chosen as the head of Catholic Church last month after Pope Benedict stepped down,

saying he was too frail to carry on in the job.

The new pope has not commented about the use of condoms since his elevation to the papacy.

A Giant billboard carries the pro-Condom advert.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Asia and Middle East

C

hina on Wednesday accused the United States of sowing discord between China and its neighbors after the Pentagon said Beijing is using espionage to fuel its military modernization, branding Washington the "real hacking empire".

The latest salvo came a day after

PAGE 33

China calls U.S. the “real hacking empire� after Pentagon report China's foreign ministry dismissed as groundless a Pentagon report which accused China for the first time of trying to break into U.S. defense computer networks.

The Pentagon also cited progress in Beijing's effort to develop advanced-

technology stealth aircraft and build an aircraft carrier fleet to project power further offshore.

The People's Liberation Army Daily called the report a "gross interference in China's internal affairs".

"Promoting the 'China military

threat theory' can sow discord between China and other countries, especially its relationship with its neighboring countries, to contain China and profit from it," the newspaper said in a commentary that was carried on China's Defense Ministry's website.

The United States is "trumpeting China's military threat to promote its domestic interests groups and arms dealers", the newspaper said, adding that it expects "U.S. arms manufacturers are gearing up to start counting their money".

Thousands rally against Malaysia vote result

UN names North Korea human rights investigators

housands of Malaysians, dressed in mourning black, have gathered to denounce elections which they claim were stolen through fraud by the coalition that has ruled for 56 years.

Malaysia's opposition leader is heading the demonstration against alleged electoral fraud in Sunday's election.

Anwar Ibrahim, leader of the opposition Pakatan Rakyat, or People's Pact, called for support from people after he lost the race to become prime minister.

The gathering is being held in a stadium outside the capital Kuala Lumpur, with protesters spilling out of the stands and onto the football field.

"We have picked a stadium to allow our supporters to gather so that Anwar can explain the irregularities in the election and how he plans to move forward," said Tian Chua, vice president of the Pakatan Rakyat, adding that the assembly posed no security threat.

Previous election reform protests have ended in wild scenes, with police using tear gas and water cannon. Police had earlier threatened to arrest participants in Wednesday night's rally.

But with tension high over the country's closest-ever election result, police backed off and a festive atmosphere prevailed as rallygoers waved opposition party flags and blared vuvuzela horns.

"I think they should redo the election," said university student Tan Han Hui. "I'm here to support democracy. I feel the election is so unfair and there are so many dirty tricks."

Anwar has called for a "fierce" campaign for electoral reform and said the opposition would soon produce evidence backing its claims that Prime Minister NajibRazak's government committed fraud.

Najib, who was sworn in on Monday after his BarisanNasional, or National Front, coalition, insisted the polls were totally free and fair.

A joint report released on Wednesday by two independent election watchdogs disputed that claim, saying the elections were marred by bias and irregularities that added up to "serious flaws" in the electoral system.

The report by the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (IDEAS) and the Centre for Public Policy Studies (CPPS) cited continued questions over the integrity of the electoral roll.

The election was "only partially free and not fair," it said.

he UN has named the three panel members for its firstever human rights investigation into North Korea.

Retired Judge Michael Kirby will chair the inquiry, working with UN special rapporteur MarzukiDarusman, and human rights activist Sonja Biserko.

The panel will examine reports of prison camps, torture and food deprivation, reporting back in March 2014, a UN statement said.

North Korea has previously denounced the investigation as a political ploy.

It is highly unlikely that North Korea will give access to the investigators, so the panel will have to rely on satellite imagery and testimony from defectors.

However, Michael Kirby, a former justice of Australia's High Court, said the panel would approach the inquiry with "complete independence" and no "preconceptions", and that North Korea would be given "due process".

"I certainly want to try to engage with North Korea so that we can get the best and most reliable material and report that to the United Nations which, after all, is the eyes and ears of the world," he told Australian broadcaster ABC.

T

T

Protesting students at the stadium near Kuala Lumpur.

Imran Khan 'recovering' in hospital after rally fall

L

Retired Judge Michael Kirby will chair the inquiry.

Khan at the hospital with stiches in the head.

eading Pakistani politician Imran Khan is recuperating in hospital after falling off a makeshift lift that was taking him onto a stage at an election rally in Lahore.

Doctors say that the former cricketer received stitches in the head and treatment for injuries to his spine.

But they say that his spinal cord has not been seriously damaged and he has been moved out of intensive care.

Meanwhile there has been more violence ahead of the elections.

At least three people have been killed and about 25 injured including six policemen - in a suicide bombing outside a police station in the Bannu region of northwestern Pakistan.

Police said that it was not clear if the target was the police station itself or a nearby rally being held by the Awami National Party (ANP).

The Pakistani Taliban have threatened to prevent the ANP, as well the Pakistan People's Party (PPP) and the MQM party, from conducting their election campaigns because they are considered by the militants to be too liberal.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 34

Europe and Americas Sex crimes soar in US military

S

exual assaults in the US military are a growing epidemic across the services and thousands of victims are still unwilling to come forward despite a slew of new oversight and assistance programs, according to a new Pentagon report.

Troubling new numbers estimate that up to 26,000 military members may have been sexually assaulted last year, according to survey results released on Tuesday.

The report comes just days after the Air Force's head of sexual assault prevention was arrested on charges of groping a woman in a Northern Virginia parking lot. And it follows a heated debate over whether commanders should be stripped of the authority to overturn military jury verdicts, such as one officer did in a recent sexual assault conviction.

The documents show that the number of sexual assaults actually reported by members of the military rose 6 percent to 3,374 in 2012. But a survey of personnel who were not required to reveal their identities showed the number of service members actually assaulted could be as many as 26,000, but they never reported the incidents, officials said Tuesday.

That number is an increase over the 19,000 estimated assaults in 2011.

The statistics highlight the dismal results that military leaders have achieved in their drive to change the culture within the ranks, even as the services redoubled efforts to launch new programs to assist the victims, encourage reporting and increase commanders' vigilance.

While the latest cases involve Air Force members, the problem extends across all the military services.

According to Pentagon documents, the key conclusion of the report is that "sexual assault is a persistent problem in the military and remains vastly underreported."

The report says that of the 1.4 million active duty personnel, 6.1 percent of active duty women - or 12,100 - say they experienced unwanted sexual contact in 2012, a sharp increase over the 8,600 who said that in 2010.

For men, the number increased from 10,700 to 13,900. A majority of the offenders were military members or Defense Department civilians or contractors, the report said.

In a sharp rebuke on Tuesday, President Barack Obama said he has no tolerance for the problem and that he had talked to Defence Secretary Chuck Hagel about it. He said any military member found guilty of sexual assault should be held accountable, prosecuted and fired.

"I don't want just more speeches or awareness programs or training, or ultimately folks look the other way," the president said. "We're going to have to not just step up our game, we have to exponentially step up our game to go after this hard."

Kurdish PKK rebels 'begin leaving Turkey' after truce

K

urdish rebel fighters have begun leaving southeastern Turkey for their safe havens in Iraq under a ceasefire, Kurdish sources say.

"We know that they have started moving," SelahattinDemirtas, a proKurdish politician involved in the peace process, told AFP news agency.

The Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) announced last month a phased withdrawal to start early in May. More than 40,000 people have died in their 30-year fight against Turkey.

GultanKisinak, who co-chairs the Peace and Democracy Party (BDP) along with Mr Demirtas, told the Associated Press news agency that a first group of fighters had started to move toward the border with northern Iraq.

The PKK is believed to have up to 2,000 fighters inside Turkey and their full withdrawal may take up to four months.

They are expected to cross the border on foot, heading for their bases in the Qandil Mountains of Iraq.

Abdullah Ocalan, the veteran PKK leader in prison in Turkey, ordered the withdrawal in March as part of peace negotiations with Ankara.

A PKK spokesman, BakhtiyarDogan, told the Kurdish newspaper Hawlati that between 200 and 500 fighters would withdraw on Wednesday.

They would, he said, leave from the Semdinli and Sirnak areas of Turkey "on three fronts".

According to AFP, PKK fighters

complained on the eve of the withdrawal that the Turkish state had increased its forces in the border area and was carrying out surveillance flights.

Such actions, they said, were "delaying the peace process" and paving the way for "provocations and clashes".

Photos have been released of PKK fighters crossing the mountains on foot.

Brazilian Azevedo to head WTO

Roberto Azevedo will take over from Pascal Lamy

A

Brazilian trade diplomat has been named as the next head of the World Trade Organisation (WTO).

Roberto Azevedo will succeed France's Pascal Lamy in

The Turkish army did not confirm any extra measures but said their "fight against any terrorism" continued.

The PKK's acting leader, Murat Karayilan, warned in April that the fighters would strike back and the withdrawal would halt "immediately" if they were attacked.

September, the Brazilian government says.

Mr Azevedo, Brazil's ambassador to the WTO since 2008, was competing for the post with Mexico's former trade

minister Herminio Blanco.

The WTO is expected to formally announce Mr Azevedo as its new director-general on Wednesday.

He will be the first Latin American to head the WTO since its creation in 1995.

The process of choosing a new head has taken six months, with nine hopefuls putting their names forward for the post.

The Brazilian President, DilmaRousseff, issued a statement congratulating the diplomat.

"This is not just a victory for Brazil or a group of countries, but for the whole WTO," the communiquĂŠ read.

Mr Azevedo will be busy from the very start of his new job. The WTO's biennial meeting of ministers takes place in Bali in

Indonesia in December.

The WTO is battling to get agreement in the run-up to the meeting, even though it has scaled back its ambitions to liberalise trade, after the socalled "Doha" round collapsed following ten years of talks.

The aim of the Geneva-based WTO is to facilitate global trade, making the flow of goods and services around the world as free and fair as possible.

The WTO replaced the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) which had been overseeing the rules of commerce since 1948.

The GATT covered trade in goods, while the WTO also deals in the trade of services, inventions and designs.

While trade disputes were heard under the GATT rules, the process is faster under the WTO, even though trade cases can still run for years.

Questions mount on how Ohio women's captivity went undetected

E

uphoria over the rescue of three Ohio woman from a decade-long kidnapping ordeal gave way to questions of how their captivity inside a house on a residential street in Cleveland went undetected for so long.

The women, freed when a neighbor was alerted to their presence by screams for help, huddled privately with family under FBI protection on Tuesday as investigators combed through the house, seeking evidence against the accused captors.

Three brothers were arrested as suspects Monday evening just after the women escaped and are expected to be formally charged soon. One of them, Ariel Castro, a former school bus driver and the owner of the house,

was thought to have lived there alone.

Mayor Frank Johnson confirmed on Tuesday that child welfare officials had paid a visit to the house in early 2004 because Castro was reported to have left a child on a school bus while he stopped for lunch at a fastfood restaurant. But the ensuing inquiry found no criminal intent, officials said.

Contrary to unconfirmed accounts of several neighbors, the mayor denied that authorities had overlooked or failed to respond to suspicious activity at the modest, twostory home.

The women's imprisonment came to a dramatic end after a neighbor, drawn by the sound of

screams, broke through the door to rescue Amanda Berry, whose 2003 disappearance as a teenager was

widely publicized in the local media.

He helped her place an emergency call to authorities.

Ariel Castro (centre) and his brothers are in custody

PAGE 36

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Snorers who lie-in are twice as likely to develop bowel cancer

By Emma Innes

S

norers who sleep more than nine hours a night are twice as likely to develop bowel cancer than snorers who get seven hours of sleep a night, according to new research.

The study showed a significant link between long periods of sleep and the development of colorectal cancer, especially among people who are overweight or who snore.

As a result, it is believed that obstructive sleep apnoea the a form of snoring that causes interrupted breathing during sleep - could contribute to an increased risk of cancer.

This is because people with sleep apnoea snore and tend to sleep for longer because their sleep is disrupted, making them more tired.

'Our current study adds to the very limited literature regarding the relationship between sleep duration, sleep quality and colorectal cancer risk,' said lead author Dr Xuehong Zhang, of the Department of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.

'The novel observation of increased risk among regular snorers who sleep for long periods raises the possibility that sleep apnoea and its intermittent [oxygen deprivation] may contribute to cancer risk.'

The researchers asked

According to the Harvard study, snoring isn't just annoying it poses serious risks to a person's health

participants to estimate their total hours of sleep in a 24-hour period and asked them if they snore.

Of 76,368 women and 30,121 men the researchers documented a total of 1,973 cases of colorectal cancer.

They broke the participants into subgroups which showed that men and women who were

overweight, or who were regular snorers, and who reported sleeping nine hours or more per day, had a 1.4 to 2fold increased risk of developing colorectal cancer compared to overweight people, or snorers, who got seven hours sleep a day.

The general recommendation is that most

Sleep apnoea, a dangerous form of snoring, causes tiredness which could explain why some snorers in the study slept too much

adults should get about seven to eight hours of sleep a night.

The authors suggest that the association between long sleep duration and colorectal cancer may be explained by obstructive sleep apnoea, which involves repetitive episodes of complete or partial upper airway obstruction during sleep.

The most common cause of obstructive sleep apnoea is excess body weight, and loud snoring is a common symptom of the condition.

The researchers believe that sleep disruption caused by sleep apnoea may reduce sleep quality and increase sleepiness, resulting in longer reported sleep durations.

In addition to this, intermittent oxygen deprivation, similar to that which occurs in people with sleep apnoea, has been shown in animal models to promote tumour growth.

'Future studies should focus on different populations and evaluate to see whether sleep duration and sleep quality is a novel risk factor for colorectal cancer and to understand the mechanisms behind this association,' said Dr Zhang.

Other recent research has shown that people who sleep for less than six hours a night are at a significantly increased risk of stroke.

Researchers at the University of Alabama found that those in middle age who skimped on sleep were more likely to suffer stroke symptoms than those who got at least nine hours of shut-eye even if they were a healthy weight and with no family history of stroke.

The scientists found that sleep apnea made the problem worse as it reduced the quality of people's sleep.

Source: Dailymail.co.uk

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY,MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 37

2015 Presidency: Why are northern governors reluctant?

ANALYSIS

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

J

ust recently, the on going brick-bat between former President Olusegun Obasanjo and his estranged political godson, President Goodluck Jonathan, was reported to have stemmed from the later not being a lackey as earlier supposed by the former.

After his election in 2011, President Jonathan had metamorphosed into the proverbial dog that does not spare even the hand that fed it.

The mystery adopted by Jonathan to defeat Obasanjo in the choice of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) Board of Trustees (BoT) chairman remains a bitter pill yet to be swallowed by the former President and his loyalists. Before the PDP convention that ushered in Bamangar Tukur as PDP Nationala Chairman, observers gave slim chances to the potency of Jonathan’s capacity in restraining Obasanjo from installing his stooges.

The immediate past BoT chairman is renowned for never loosing any war he made up his mind to fight, until Jonathan broke the jinx with a strategy that got analysts bewildered.

Before this sudden takeover of PDP structures by Jonathan, the common believe was that the President is an amateur in Nigerian politics, apparently because of his characteristic reserved and easy approach to issues.

The PDP politics is essentially formed to give whoever controls the structure a leverage to call the shots on who gets what.

Expectedly, the northern governors are not oblivious of this fact and this explains their apparently reluctance regarding 2015.

However, in addition to his fast mastery of Nigerian political system, the system has been skewed to make it extremely difficult for the incumbent to concede defeat, even in the face of alliance or merger of opposition. A saying goes that a Nigerian serving President is already in merger with state apparatus, including security agencies, electoral commission, the judiciary, anti corruption agencies, even the financial framework of the contenders This has been adjudged a major reason why governors from the north are yet to

Gov. Mu’azu Babagida Aliyu summon courage to declare interest in the 2015 Presidential race; even including those insisting that power must return to north. Experts have argued that the gentle sail with which Jonathan has been gliding his way through the obviously turbulent and contentious political waters has forced these governors to reconsider their options and impression ahead of 2015.

At the moment, PDP structures are absolutely in the grips of President Jonathan. In addition, he has established himself as a silent but ruthless politician, who knows what he wants; how to get it and goes for it when the time is ripest. His public perception as a weak leader, especially among political observers, began to change the day he dealt with his successor in Bayelsa state, Jonathan, a blow, which has threatened the political career of the later.

Even the intervention by Diepreye Silva, leadership of the PDP, including the leadership of Nigeria Governors Forum, Southsouth governors, even former President Obasanjo, could not prevent Jonathan from having his way in rooting Silva out of Bayelsa state government house.

Apparently enraged by Diepreye insistence on having his way over Silva despite pleas by both NGF and South South governors, who invariably played a cardinal role for him during Late Yar’Adua’s saga, Rivers state governor was tempted to challenge the powers of the President.

By the time Jonathan began to gradually clip Amaechi’s

Gov. Sule Lamido

Gov. Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso wings by first of all braking the ranks of his NGF and redefining its hitherto unquestionable hegemony, other governors who were underestimating his incumbency powers began to beat retreat. When the kite of Sule Lamido/Amaechi ticket was gathering momentum, Jonathan immediately visited Jigawa in a sudden two day working tour. While the visit lasted, issues over Lamido’s ambition in 2015 was apparently discussed, leading to the current soft treading by the governor.

This episode was later followed by the arrest of Lamido’s son by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for alleged money laundering.

Though Lamido publicly

pointed out that the arrest of his son was not unconnected to the determination of the Presidency to intimidate him out of his reported ambition for 2015, feelers have continued to emerge that the governor has dropped the ambition, even though his aides are flaunting his posters across the length and breath of Kaduna state.

Another northern governor who appears to have shelved his ambition is Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso.

He will be completing his second and final tenure in 2015. There are reports that Kwankwaso’s Presidential ambition was originally designed by his advisers to sail by all means, whether on PDP platform or the opposition APC. Reports indicate that the various closed door meetings between him and

Congress for Progressive Change (CPC)’s leader, Mohammadu Buhari, was to iron out the strategy through which Kwankwaso could be adopted by APC on CPC wing.

Similarly, it seems the governor is withdrawing his interest after it was alleged that the Presidency has gathered enough dossier on him, regarding his alleged N2.5 billion house in Abuja. From antecedents, Kwankwaso does not need to be reminded that the President will stop at nothing to rubish his career should he remain adamant.

In a press statement issued by his Media Aide, the governor was denying publications in the media where he was quoted to have said that he will declare his 2015 Presidential ambition at the right time.

Debunking this statement which he allegedly made during his visit to Borno state governor, Alhaji Kashim Shettima, Kwankwaso, through his media aide said “ he never made any such statement that suggests his intent to contest the presidency of the country come 2015”.

Though speculation is rife that the northern governors are seriously plotting a synergy that will oust Jonathan, the undoubted fact is that the tremendous powers which the President wields, is substantially keeping the northern governors on check. Nevertheless, how far these governors can go to break the jinx of preventing an incumbent from coming back for a second tenure is yet to be seen, especially with a ruthless President that now prefers to act more and talk less.

PAGE 38

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY,MAY 9, 2013

APC: APGA says Okorocha is in political desert

By Ikechukwu Okaforadi

A

L-R: Labour Minister, Emeka Wogu, Information Minister, Labaran Maku and Transport Minister, Senator Idris Umar jointly briefing the State House journalists on the Transportation System in the Country held in Abuja yesterday.

Photo: Joe Oroye

Group lauds IBB, Mark, others over priest’s 5th anniversary book

By Gladys Kenneth

A

socio-cultural group, Nassarawa Progressive Front (NPF), has lauded former military ruler, Gen. Ibrahim Babangida; Senate President David Mark; expolice Inspector General, Mike Okiro; Senate Minority Leader, George Akume; and several others for honouring a catholic priest recently during the celebration of the cleric’s fifth

anniversary and book launch Revd. Fr. Lawrence Soja Anyembugu, the parish priest of St. Sylvester Catholic Church, new Nyanya, Nassarawa state, marked his fifth year as a priest and also launched his seminar book, “Shadows of Existence” recently. IBB, Mark, Akume, Okiro and a host of other prominent personalities graced the colourful occasion.

Chairman of the NPF, Barr.

Simeon Atule, said “as a great son of Nassarawa state, we feel proud that Revd. Lawrence has been honoured like that by distinguished personalities such as Babangida, David Mark and a host of others.”

He added: “bearing in mind that Revd. Fr. Lawrence is not only a renowned cleric but also an accomplished author with two critically acclaimed books in his favour, the honour done him by IBB and a number of

others is particularly deserved.”

We wish to urge him (Revd.

Fr. Lawrence Anyembuguy) to see all these as a stepping stone and aim higher. He should redouble his efforts in the Lord’s vineyard and also touch more lives with his pen (books) and humanitarian efforts such as the recent free eye tests which he sponsored for his parishioners and others recently.

Politician calls for dialogue to resolve Anambra-Kogi dispute

A

frontline politician in Anambra, Mr. Emmanuel Nweke, has called for dialogue to resolve the misunderstanding in border communities between Anambra and Kogi following the discovery of oil in the area.

Nweke made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Awka yesterday, while regretting the loss of lives and property in the area due to the unrest.

He called on the states to engage in more robust enlightenment of their people in the area to assure them of their safety and development.

He commended the Federal Government for according Anambra the status of an oilproducing state and urged it to effect the benefits accruable to the status.

He also commended Gov. Peter Obi for his efforts in attaining the status.

“There is the need for peace in

the oil field area, and I am calling for a more robust dialogue between the governments of the states for the benefits of the oil to be realised.

“Dialogue is a way out of the situation because these are some of the challenges the next administration in Anambra will face.

“We need to consolidate on the success of Gov. Peter Obi so far in securing the oil status for the state.

We need to develop the area to accommodate multinationals that

would come into the state for business,’’ he said.

The gubernatorial aspirant said that if elected to lead the state, he would apply the best of diplomacy in addressing the problem because human life was precious and should be protected.

Nweke also said there was the need to create more business clusters in the state to quicken economic growth and enhance the welfare of the citizens.

He said investors would embrace

the state if there was an enabling business environment.

“You can only attract investment to the state by providing all the necessary elements of a friendly business environment.

“We need more commercial areas and industrial centres apart from Onitshsa, Nnewi and Awka.

“There is the need to link the towns and villages with good roads, adequate security and power supply, as these would attract investors,” he said. (NAN)

gainst the backdrop of yesterday's formal declaration for All Progressive Congress (APC) by Governor Rochas Okorocha of Imo state, All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) has warned him to rethink, to avoid becoming an orphan wandering in Nigeria's political horizone.

In a statement issued yesterday by the party, APGA reminded Okorocha that APC has not been registered as a political party by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), adding that the acronym is even being contested by another political association.

"Since Governor Okorocha was elected on the platform of All Progressives Grand Alliance in April 2011, the party wishes to advice him to have a re-think on his decision to join APC. "APGA gives this timely advice to Governor Okorocha to save him from becoming a political orphan wandering in political wilderness in Nigeria's political horizon.", APGA warned.

It said that since June 2002 that APGA was registered by INEC, the party has been growing from strength to strength, adding that it is currently being repositioned, restructured and reengineered to be the third leg in Nigeria's political tripod.

It therefore expressed confidence that the party's electoral fortune will increase in the 2015 general election, assuring that APGA remains a party to beat in the forthcoming Anambra governorship election.

It also condemned the attitude of Victor Umeh, accusing him of working surreptitiously with C-21 to mortgage the soul of APGA for a mere political proposal called APC. According to the party, "this is the reason Chief Umeh was being silent on Owelle Okorocha's plan to join APC." The party reiterated that it is not in any merger plan with any party or political association, saying it is against the vision of the founding fathers of APGA.

Disabled lawmaker pledges robust legislative debate

A

member representing Dutse Constituency in Jigawa House of Assembly, Alhaji Adamu Shuaibu, has pledged to provide effective representation for the physically challenged.

Shuaibu, a physically challenged person, made the pledge in an interview with the News

Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Dutse recently.

He said he was elected into the assembly to protect and defend the interest of the physically challenged.

“I am also happy to inform you that the administration of Gov. Sule Lamido has introduced various policies and programmes that touch

the lives of our physically challenged people.

“One of these policies is the introduction of social security allowance of N7,000 to our members every month which they are enjoying .

“This policy is not an executive decision alone, but was an issue that

was presented to the State House of Assembly and was deliberated upon by me and my colleagues in the house before it was passed into law, “ he said.

Shuaibu said people living with disabilities in the state would continue to support the Lamido administration because of its love and care for them.

(NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY,MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 39

‘No amount of criticism ’ll deter Al-Makura’

By Umar Muhammad Puma

S

enior Special Assistance to the governor of Nasarawa state on Media and Press Affairs, Sani Musa Mairiga, has said that the criticisms of the person and administration of governor Umar Tanko Almakura of Nasarawa state by a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Aliyu Ahmed Wadada, are very unfortunate and a calculated attempt to drag the governor’s name in the mud in order to rubbish the good work he is doing for the people of the state.

Mairiga, in a statement issued on behalf of the governor, satiated that Wadada has spent eight years in the hallowed chamber without doing anything to better the living standard of the people he represented other than building filling stations and a polo turf along Abuja-Keffi dual carriage.

“It is rather unfortunate that Aliyu Wadada is yet to understand that it is not business as usual; it is not longer PDP led government where money meant for the provision of social

amenities to the masses found their way into private pockets; “He should summon up courage to tell us what he has done to uplift the standard of the people when he was a member of the House of Representatives despite smiling home with quarterly constituency allowances for eight years; “I challenge Wadada to be bold enough to tell us how much he received as constituency allowances for eight years and the projects he executed during the peroid with the money”.

Wadada had on a Radio programme monitored in Abuja recently accused Governor Umar Tanko Al-makura of wasting so much money on the proposed construction of a Mini-

Airport in Lafia, the state capital, saying Nasarawa state is not yet ripe for such project.

According to him, “it is unbecoming of a former member of the House of Reprsentatives to say that Nasarawa state would not benefit from the construction of an airport. The Governor has said it time without number that the airport would boost the socio economic well being of the state, and also take some pressure off the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport in Abuja”.

The statement added that Wadada cast aspersion on the CPC led administration in Nasarawa out of sheer envy because what their PDP led government failed to achieve in

twelve years in the state, the CPC has done in less than two years.

“He wanted to gain cheap political goal, but he has failed because no amount of blackmail from opposition will make Tanko Al-makura succumb in his ever burning desire to take democratic dividends to the door steps of the electorate. I want to state here without mincing words that there is no going back on the construction of the airport, intimidation,name calling will cowed Tanko Al-makura in the course of service to his fatherland.”

The statement appealed to the people of Nasarawa state to accord the government of Umar Tanko Al-makura their support and cooperation in its efforts to transform the state.

Kwankwaso inaugurates 26 new magistrates’ courts

K

ano State Governor, Dr Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, has recently inaugurated 26 new magistrates’ courts in the state.

During the ceremony in Kano, the governor called on lawyers to desist from acts capable of tarnishing the image of the judiciary.

He said the state government provided the courts across the state to bring justice closer to the people.

Kwankwaso said the move was part of his administration’s agenda to reduce crime in the state.

The governor said transforming the judiciary would help in reducing crimes among the citizenry and appealed to the judiciary to always respect the rule of law.

Commenting on the new buildings, the Chief Judge of the state, Justice Shehu Atiku, described the effort as a welcome development to the sector.

Atiku said the aim was to provide a suitable working atmosphere for the judiciary, adding that “with this kind of project, judges will be encouraged in the discharge of their duties.”

(NAN)

Members of the Kwankwasiyya Vanguard listening to the address by Kano state Governor, Engr.

Rabi'u Musa Kwankwaso at Government House as part of activities marking the Kwankwasiyya Day.

Utomi, Dabiri-Erewa task civil society groups, professional bodies on FOI implementation

M

rs Abike Dabiri-Erewa and Prof. Pat Utomi, on Tuesday tasked Civil society groups in the country on the implementation of the Freedom of Information (FOI) law.

The duo spoke at a seminar to mark the 2013 World Press Freedom Day, jointly organised by the U.S. Consulate, the Nigeria Guild of Editors and Pan African University, for journalists in Lagos and Abuja.

Utomi said that it was “not enough to just enact’’ the FOI bill into law, but its implementation was significant.

The President of the Centre for Values and Leadership (CVL) said that civil society groups and the professional bodies, like lawyers

had important roles to play in its implementation.

“It is important to know that it is only when people have access to information that we can say that the FOI law has worked.

“It is, therefore, important for civil society groups and professional bodies to become more active in the implementation of the FOI law,’’ he said.

Utomi said that the FOI law, when effectively implemented, would be valuable in building institutions in the country.

He noted that the country had been lagging in her socioeconomic development due to lack of access to information.

Dabiri-Erewa, the House Committee Chairperson on

Nigerians in the Diaspora, said that the FOI law was meant to bring about transparency and accountability.

The House Committee Chairman said that the law could only work when it was understood

by Nigerians.

“FOI is not about being vindictive, but to bring about the positive change that we all need right now.

“FOI can only work in this country when all of us join hands in making it work.

Dabiri-Erewa, therefore, enjoined media owners to always build journalists’ capacity, as well as give them better remuneration from time to time.

(NAN)

ACN accuses Ladoja of setting people against Ajimobi From Inumidun Ojelade, Ibadan

T

he Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Oyo State chapter, has accused former governor of the state, Senator Rashidi Ladoja, of setting people of the state against the government, for an ulterior aim of profiting from the division.

The ruling party in Oyo state made this known in a release issued by its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Dauda Kolawole, in response to a statement made on crisis relating to State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

It would be recalled that the former governor recently blamed the ACN-led government for the impasse in the rotational chairmanship of the State Council of Obas and Chiefs.

According to the ACN, what Ladoja was doing in the state recently could be likened to a “rehash of the politics of hate and falsehood he is known for, targeted towards gaining undue advantage in the hearts of a section of the people”. The party counseled him to accept that Oyo State had since left that era.

The party said that being a chief of the Olubadan, the former governor could not claim ignorance of the fact that the issue of the rotation of the council was already in court, blaming the statement of the Accord Party chief on his penchant for promoting disharmony among peace-loving people.

“The issue of the rotation of Obaship in Oyo State is in court already. That Ladoja is bringing it up, with the aim of setting the governor, on one side, against a man he reveres and whom he has great respect for and on the oher side, the Obas against one another, is not new to us. What is new is that, this time, he has chosen to disrespect the judiciary by commenting on a matter that is at present before it,” the ACN said.

Reminding the former governor that it was the same judiciary he disrespects which rescued him when his former colleagues in the PDP, whom he now hobnobs with, illegally impeached him just as the ACN warned that this could breed anarchy in the land.

Stating that the relationship between the Olubadan and the governor was that of a father to his son, the release added that in appreciation of the role being played by the governor in changing the landscape of Ibadanland, the Olubadan would, next week, install the governor as the Aare Atunluse of Ibadanland.

“We pity Ladoja. He is frustrated that, in spite of all his attempts at pitching the Ibadans and the Olubadan against the governor, this shenanigan has not worked. He is further frustrated that the Olubadan, in defiance to his campaign of calumny, is appreciating the governor and the Olubadan-in-Council is not hiding its pleasant surprise that an Ibadan governor could change the face of the city this much,” the party enthused.

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY,MAY 9, 2013

PAGE 40

Edo Assembly dissolves state SUBEB

T

L-R: Chairman Board of Trustees of PDP Chief Tony Anineh, Senate Leader, Senator Victor NdomaEgba and President of the Senate, Senator David Mark after their visit to the President of the Senate, at National Assembly, yesterday in Abuja.

Photo: Mahmud Isa

Plot to recall Senator Gumba thickens

By Umar Muhammad Puma

A

Bauchi youth political group, Youth for Democracy (YD), has begun to mobilize the electorate in Bauchi South Senatorial zone for the recall of their Senator, Ibrahim Adamu Gumba, following an alleged dismal performance and bogus claims.

Gumba was accused of failing to initiate tangible development projects in his domain compared to what his colleagues in other states have been doing to their people.

It was gathered that the group has now reactivated its earlier effort to ensure that

Gumba is recalled from the National Assembly for failing to sponsor, initiate or support any bill that would bring development to the people despite their patience over the years.

The group’s spokesman, Adamu Barkindo Yoladoka, informed is reporter that their decision to recall the Senator is constitutional and intended to ginger other legislators from the state to perform rather than indulge in wealth accumulation at the detriment of people.

“Senator Gumba has failed the people woefully and survives through deceit of performance of claiming to have provided few boreholes and

support to dry season farming that cannot be authenticated.

A check shows that no benefit has accrued to Bauchi south senatorial zone since his being in the Senate since 2010. We studied his activities at the floor of the Senate in terms of performance and representation even at development of the senatorial zone, there has been nothing to justify his election. We toured the entire Senatorial zone to ensure that we are not trying to victimize him, but our action is justifiable as nothing tangible was seen other than few boreholes at Narabi, Muda Lawal market and few other places”, he said.

Imo guber tussle: S/Court fixes June 4 to hear Okoracha’s application

T

he Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed June 4 to hear an interlocutory application filed by the Imo Gov. Rochas Okorocha, to bar Dr Ikedi Ohakim from challenging his election.

Ohakim, an erstwhile governor of the state, and the PDP were granted leave by the Appeal Court in Owerri to challenge the constitutionality of the May 6, 2011 supplementary election held in the state.

The Imo Governorship Election Tribunal upheld the constitutionality and legality of the May 6, 2011 supplementary election and therefore returned the applicant as governor.

The applicant had also obtained victory at the Federal High Court, Owerri, as some parties, including Ohakim, were shut out of the trial.

Not satisfied with the decision of

the Appeal Court, Okorocha and his party, APGA, approached the apex court.

The Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its 2011 general election governorship flag bearer, Sen. Ifeanyi Ararume, challenged the decision in a suit against INEC and Okorocha.

At the resumed session, Mr Adeniyi Akintola (SAN), the Counsel to Okorocha, announced to the court that the interlocutory appeal was ripe for hearing, adding that the appellant (Okorocha) had done the needful.

He, however, said that substantial number of the respondents was yet to file their processes.

Efforts by the counsel to Ohakim, Chief Wole Olanipekun (SAN) to compel the court to hear the matter, failed as the Court held that the matter was not listed for hearing.

Justice Christopher Chukwuma-Ene, a panelist,

interjected, saying “Wole look at the list very well, the matter is not set for hearing today.

Olanipekun argued that the non-filing of brief of arguments by some respondents should not be used to frustrate the expeditious handling of the application.

“After all My Lords, the traditional responsibility of respondents in a matter is simply to defend the decision or judgment of the lower court and therefore, we are on the same page.

“I urge the court to take judicial notice of the fact that the matter has time limit because it is challenging the election of a governor who has already spent two out of the four-year tenure,’’ he said.

Justice Walter Onnoghen, the Presiding Judge, held that the proceeding was meant to prepare grounds for the beginning of the hearing. (NAN)

he Edo House of Assembly yesterday approved the dissolution of the State Universal Basic Education Board (SUBEB) for alleged gross misconduct and violation of the constitution.

The motion for the dissolution was moved, under matter of urgent public importance, by the Chairman, House Committee on Education, Folly Ogedengbe, representing Owan East constituency.

Ogedengbe alleged that the board contravened the constitution by spending money from an unclaimed salary account to carry out direct labour.

"These board members have been found wanting for withdrawing fund from an unclaimed salary account without the approval of this honourable house of assembly.''

He implored the house to set up an ad-hoc committee to investigate the alleged complicity of civil servants in the activities of the board.

The committee chairman further stated that money from the unclaimed salary accounts were usually repatriated to the state treasury, adding that no

government official had the constitutional power to spend such money.

The Majority Leader, Philip shaibu, said it was illegal for government officials, ministries and parastatal agencies, including the governor office, to spend money without the approval of the house of assembly.

The Speaker, Mr Uyigue Igbe, who approved the dissolution, constituted a fiveman ad-hoc committee led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr Festus Ebea, to investigate the alleged complicity of civil servants in activities of SUBEB. The house also struck out a petition, signed by Mr Johnson Esezoobo, challenging the appointment of retired Maj. Lawrence Loye and Mr Wole Iyamu as Permanent Secretaries into the civil service of the state.

The house described the petition as lacking in merit.

According to the report of the ad-hoc committee which looked into the petition, Gov. Adams Oshiomhole acted within the ambit of the law by adhering to the 1999 Constitution as amended.

(NAN)

Anambra guber: S/Court reserves Nov.13 to entertain application against Gov. Peter Obi

T

he Supreme Court on Tuesday fixed Nov. 13 to hear an application seeking the nullification of the court’s judgment which upheld the election of Peter Obi as governor of Anambra in 2007.

The apex court had on June 14, 2007 declared Obi, who contested the election on the platform of APGA, duly elected to occupy the office of the governor till March 17, 2010.

The court further ordered that the incumbent governor, Chief Andy Uba of the PDP should vacate office.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Justice Katsina Alu held that INEC erred in law by conducting election in Anambra when Obi’s tenure had yet to expire.

However, Mr Ifeanyichukwu Okonkwo, the applicant, approached the apex court, asking it to set aside the judgment, as according to him, the applicant in Obi’s case shut him out of the matter.

He argued: “I was not served with either the hearing notice or any other processes by Obi before the judgment was given even though I was a party’’.

Okonkwo is therefore praying the court to set aside the judgment on the grounds that he was not given fair hearing in the matter.

Nevertheless, Obi, had through his Counsel, Chief

Onyechi Ikpeazu (SAN) in the preliminary objections, argued that the application was an academic exercise and should not be heard.

He claimed that the application had no life in it as the tenure of the governor which was being contested expired in 2010.

He added that the application had no bearing with the present tenure of the governor.

NAN reports that parties were allowed to argue the application substantially before an observation concerning the impropriety of the panel was raised.

Justice Walter Onneghen, who presided over the case, held that the panel was not properly constituted as one of justices participated in the adjudication of the case at the Court of Appeal.

“It is clear that the matter is not properly constituted. It is indeed unfortunate as one of us participated in the matter at the lower court.

“In the circumstance, we shall adjourn the matter to another date when parties will appear again to argue their stands.

“Parties are therefore ordered to file and exchange processes within 14 days and respondents who are not here should be put on notice. The application will be heard on Nov.13. (NAN)

PEOPLES DAILY, THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

Some Interesting Facts

PAGE 47

•A group of geese is called a gaggle.

•The life span of a taste bud is ten days.

•The average garden variety caterpillar has 248 muscles in its head.

•A group of owls is called a parliament.

•A goldfish has a memory span of 3 seconds.

•Many hamsters blink one eye at a time.

•The shortest TV advertisement ever was only 4 frames of a second.

•A group of ravens is called a murder.

•The inventor of the flushing toilet was Thomas Crapper.

•Pi has been calculated to 2,260,321,363 digits.

•A group of bears is called a sleuth.

•The billionth digit in Pi is 9.

•12 or more cows is called a flink.

•The first 100 numbers of Pi are:

•A baby oyster is called a spat.

•More people are killed annually by donkeys than in airplane crashes.

•14 15 92 65 35 89 79 32 38 46 26 43 38 32 79 50 28 84 19 71 69 39 93 75 10 58 20 97 49 44 59 23 07 81 64 06 28 62 08 99 86 28 03 48 25 34 21 17 06 79.

•The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds.

•Alfred Hitchcock had no belly button for it was eliminated during surgery.

•Chickens can't swallow while they are upside down.

•In the October 22, 1945 edition of Life magazine there was a picture of a chicken with its head cut off. It was alive too!

•The average human produces 10,000 gallons of saliva in a lifetime.

•The average bed is home to over 6 billion dust mites.

•Starfish have no brain.

•Dolphins sleep with one eye open.

•Ernest Vincent Wright wrote a novel with over 50,000 words, none of which containing the letter "E".

•Pinocchio was made of pine.

•A stretched out Slinky is 87 feet long.

•The hundred billionth Crayola crayon was Perriwinkle Blue.

•Bulls are colour blind.

•Apples are more effective at keeping people awake in the morning than caffeine.

•A can of SPAM is opened every 4 seconds.

•"Babe" was played by over 48 pigs.

•Mosquitoes have 47 teeth.

•Lip stick contains fish scales.

•Ants never sleep.

•The Poison Arrow frog has enough poison to kill 2200 people.

•The largest known kidney stone weighed 1.36 kilograms.

•Kidney stones come in any colour from yellow to brown.

•Dr.Seuss pronounced "Seuss" so it rhymed with "rejoice".

•A mule won't sink in quicksand but a donkey will.

•The plastic things on the end of shoelaces are called aglets.

Say what?

•Babies are born without knee caps.

They appear when the child is 2-6 years of age.

•An iguana can stay under water for 28 minutes.

•Emus can't walk backwards.

•A group of unicorns is called a blessing.

•Women blink twice as many times as men do.

•A group of kangaroos is called a mob.

•A bowling pin only has to tilt 7.5 degrees in order to fall down.

•A group of whales is called a pod.

SUDOKU

PHOTO OF THE DAY

Last edition’s solution

A penguin colony makes its way back across a sea sprayed landscape, in Returning from the hunt, Source: Dailymail.co.uk

by Michael Lohmann.

www.peoplesdailyng.com

. . . putting the people first

THURSDAY, MAY 9, 2013

SPORTS LA TEST LATEST

Ronaldo, Blatter Platini, pay tribute to Ferguson

C

ristiano Ronaldo has led the reaction in Europe to the news that Sir Alex Ferguson will step down as Manchester United boss at the end of the season.

Ferguson, 71, has won 38 trophies during his 26 years at Old Trafford.

Real Madrid winger Ronaldo, who was named Fifa World Player of the Year in 2008 while with United, said on Twitter: "Thanks for everything, boss.

Elsewhere, Fifa president Sepp Blatter and Uefa president Michel Platini also praised the Scot's record.

“His achievements in the game place him without doubt as one of the 'greats Blatter tweeted."Will his longevity at the top ever be repeated?

Platini said: "Sir Alex has made a massive contribution to football, not only in Scotland and in England, but across Europe and beyond. His dedication, his attention to detail and his unique eye for talent, as both the manager of Manchester United and Aberdeen, has brought rich rewards over a 30-year period.

Denmark goalkeeper Peter Schmeichel, who won five Premier League titles, three FA Cups and one Champions League from 1991-1999, expressed his shock at the announcement.

Footballers from across the continent joined in, with Barcelona and Brazil defender Dani Alves tweeting: "A football legend has retired, he is the kind of professional that helps makes this profession make sense.

Real Madrid loanee Michael Essien clashed with Ferguson's Manchester United side several times while with parent club Chelsea, and he added his tribute by tweeting.

Across the Spanish capital, Atletico Madrid striker Falcao urged people to applaud Ferguson's career. "Stand up, put your hands together and give him a big round of applause.

EPL result Chelsea 2 Tottenham 2

ADVERT: BUSINESS: NEWS: LAGOS:

0803 0805 0803 0805 0803

QUO TABLE Q UO TE UOT QUO UOTE You do not win elections by frightening people, and even if you win, the victory will be pyrrhic.

— Governor of Niger state and Chair, Northern states' Governors Forum, Dr. Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu on President Goodluck Jonathan's 2015 ambition

A country at the last minute T

his country is a wonder … everything works at the last minute! These were the breathless but exultant words of the songstress wife of a former German ambassador to our country. It was funny. She was speaking at the end of a concert held in Abuja shortly before she and her husband's departure. Her clearly outgoing nature has imbued her with a more than average understanding of our country.

Unlike the usual expressions of exasperation from foreigners (and locals) this gracious lady preferred to give our 'wonderful' shortcomings a positive spin: It all comes right in the end.

After some reflection, you realise that she may indeed be right. You think over what she may be referring to … a music school that she is confident will be established despite the obstacles, just as the concert she has just been a part of was a roaring success, in the end. Her diplomatic credentials did not let her dwell on the problems but you can imagine them: rehearsals that were never held on time or with everyone present; sound equipment that threatened to cease working with power fluctuations, singers who missed flights or faced road hold-ups, dresses delivered to the wrong address or instruments stolen by robbers… you name it.

The more you think about it, you know that 'at the last minute' is how we do things if at all, not because we don't know what we want or what is required. We know very well that prompt rehearsals are important, but how is it possible to be prompt? You could not sleep because there was no electricity and the infernal, oppressive noise of your neighbour's generator had you silently screaming by morning.

You are screaming but you do not know it, your nerves are on edge, your temper fraying and you just

CAR TEL OPIA CARTEL TELOPIA With Aisha Yolah ayolah06@yahoo.com 08086296783 (text only please)

President Goodluck Jonathan don't know why.

Between your bed and the cool, caverns of the concert theatre you have to contend with an hour long hold-up caused by a broken mains, three calls from broke, jobless relatives and a husband who is distraught at the new, murderous target slapped on him by his 'bank' manager. You have uttered another quiet prayer. And thought, at least the weather is beautiful. But you are of course late.

And that is just your story for a day. Simple things, like getting a document printed and photocopied - ordinarily a matter of minutes, can in Nigeria take 30. If you also have to access the document for printing through your email…. And then drive through late morning/mid day

“

traffic...you are probably done for.

How could you possibly have known in good time that on this important Tuesday, internet access at least in Abuja has been stymied? Answer: you should have got an inkling when it took 15 minutes for you to attach the document and send through your own email account..

I suppose the lessons for me (yet again) are that our country operates differently. There are a different set of rules, even an entirely different communications system. I mean for instance where else but in President Jonathan's Nigeria can a serving minister confidently confirm the existence of a (secret) contract given to an Israeli company to spy on at least 45 million Nigerians known to currently use the

I suppose the lessons for me (yet again) are that our country operates differently. There are a different set of rules, even an entirely different communications system. I mean for instance where else but in President Jonathan's Nigeria can a serving minister confidently confirm the existence of a (secret) contract given to an Israeli company to spy on at least 45 million Nigerians known to currently use the internet? How else can this happen at this time in our nation's history?

311 689 606 327 454

7458 1765 3308 1969 0344

internet? How else can this happen at this time in our nation's history?

Substance, meaning - all are irrelevant. We may as well be speaking in double-Dutch to each other. Probably not much would change at all if we were!

O what another challenging week it is promising to be. By the time you read this it will be Thursday. One prays fervently that while the President is feted in Southern Africa he will spare a thought for his bleeding country.

He might even express (fake ) happiness at the fact that a 92 year-old man who has served at the highest levels of government , Dr. Shettima Ali Monguno has been released by kidnappers.

Better late than never eh? But I personally think such a message will never come..

Peoples Daily yesterday published an op-ed written by a Diaspora Nigerian - Adeolu Ademoyo. He spells it out clearlythe contract is an indication that that there is treachery in the air…

I would comfort him and tell him not to worry. Word on the streets is that it will probably not yield much by way of spying - In much the same way as all the trillions being spent on security since 2010 have not yielded much.

Well- that is if we discount the possibility that the Israeli government may be whooping for joy at the ease with which it has been given access to the internet postings of at least 70 million Muslim Nigerians who in contrast to their National Security Advisers are more sympathetic to the landless Palestinians that of the Zionist occupiers. What do you think?

The news of how this Elbit Systems will be paid $40 million to spy on you and me who are internet friendly - rather fittingly came to us through the intrepid online publication Premium Times!

The last minute realisation that a government cannot continue to condone extra-judicial killings (of whoever) is yet to come also.. Instead security leaks are telling us half our North is now under BH occupation while bona fide military spokesmen are now giving us news of criminal activities in advance! They tell us there is no government somewhere and the next thing, that place goes up in flames, blood and death. To say nothing of this sudden kidnapping expertise of the BH. It may be immaterial to point out that security forces are supposed to prevent such horrors, not announce them in advance.

We have no choice but to hope it will all come right in the end.

Despite this government.

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 7007 759. e-mail: contact@peoplesdaily-online.com; pmlnewsdesk@gmail.com ISSN: 2141– 6141